Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff (foaled 1989 in Kentucky, died 2014) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by John Ed Anthony's Loblolly Stable, he was a son of Danzig and grandson of the 20th century's most important sire in the United States, Northern Dancer. His dam, Rowdy Angel, was a daughter of two-time North American Champion sire Halo. Early racing career In his debut in 1991 at age 2, Pine Bluff broke his maiden, then was sent into graded stakes races. He was shipped to upstate New York, where he finished third in the grade one Champagne Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. In mid-September 1991, he finished third to future Preakness qualifier Agincourt of Nick Zito's stable in the seven-furlong grade one Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park. In late October, he won the Grade III Nashua Stakes over a mile on the grass at Aqueduct under jockey Craig Perret in 1:46.14. Pine Bluff finished the year in late November with a win in the grade two Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, finishing the mile and one eighth in 1:50.80 also under rider Craig Perret. At age three, Pine Bluff was shipped to Arkansas, home of his owner John Ed Anthony and Loblolly Stable (based in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas) to race in the three-year-old series held at Oaklawn Park. In mid-February 1992, he started his sophomore campaign by running second in the one-mile Southwest Stakes to future Preakness qualifier Big Sur of D. Wayne Lukas's stable. In mid-March, he won the grade three Rebel Stakes with a time of 1:42.80 for the mile and one sixteenth with the nation's premier jockey, Jerry D. Bailey. In mid-April, Pine Bluff won the grade two Arkansas Derby by a neck over Lil E. Tee in a field of six. Bailey again rode him and won the mile and one eighth race in 1:49.40 over a fast track. 1992 Triple Crown series Loblolly Stable entered Pine Bluff in the 1992 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, to be run the first Saturday in May. Eighteen runners were entered, but the buzz centered on the overwhelming favorite, Arazi. Pine Bluff was listed as the third choice at 5–1. Jockey Jerry Bailey chose to ride second choice Technology at 2–1; Craig Perret, who had previously ridden Pine Bluff, was hired for the Derby. He broke well and settled in fourth going in the turn. Nearing the end of the back stretch, Pine Bluff moved into second behind only Dance Floor, clocking the first 3/4 of a mile in 1:12.37.