Sire Arazi Dam Mari's Sheba Foaled 1998 Species Equus caballus Owner Stonerside Stable Sex Stallion | Grandsire Blushing Groom Damsire Mari's Book Country United States Parents Arazi Trainer Bob Baffert Earnings 3.267 million USD | |
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Congaree (foaled April 20, 1998 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Out of the mare Mari's Sheba, a granddaughter of Northern Dancer, his sire was Arazi, the 1991 European Horse of the Year.
Trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Baffert, Congaree won the April 2001 Wood Memorial Stakes over Monarchos, then finished third behind that rival in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby while setting a record for the fastest opening mile in Derby history. He also finished third in the Preakness Stakes and did not compete in the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes, opting instead to return to his California home base, where he won the Grade 1 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park before returning East for a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
Congaree went on to race very successfully at age four and five, becoming the first horse to win the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap in consecutive years. His time for the 2002 Cigar Mile of 1:33.11 was the fastest mile run in North America in 2002. Starting in 22 consecutive graded stakes races, Congaree won ten graded stakes (including five Grade 1 races) and was an Eclipse Award finalist as Champion Sprinter, Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year.
Congaree was retired in June 2004 at age six and stood at stud beginning in 2005 at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs in Midway, Kentucky. Adena Springs later moved operations to Paris, Kentucky, where Congaree stood through the 2009 breeding season. Beginning in 2010, Congaree stood at stud at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York. He is still owned by Robert and Janice McNair, who bred and raced him in the name of their Stonerside Stable. After selling their Stonerside Stable property in Paris, Kentucky along with the majority of their bloodstock in October 2008, the McNairs began using the stable name Magnolia Racing Stable for their Thoroughbred holdings, which include Congaree, Cowboy Cal, Bob and John, and Stonesider.
Congaree has sired eight stakes winners from his first two crops to race, including multiple Grade 1 winner Jeranimo and Grade 3 winner Mythical Power.