Colonel John

Colonel John (foaled March 4, 2005 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2008 Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes.

Background
Bred and raced by WinStar Farm, Colonel John was sired by Tiznow, the 2000 U.S. Horse of the Year and a two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic. His dam is Sweet Damsel, a daughter of Turkoman, the 1986 American Champion Older Male Horse, who was a son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Alydar. Colonel John was trained by Eoin Harty. Colonel John is named for a service member who helped Bill Casner and his wife after their daughter was killed in the 2002 Bali bombings, and not after the paternal grandfather on 7th Heaven.

Racing career
In 2008, Colonel John won the Sham Stakes and the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. His performances in these races made him an early favorite for the 2008 U.S. Triple Crown series, despite his racing experience consisting of only races on Cushion Track synthetic dirt. Ultimately, Colonel John finished 6th in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. In July, he finished third in the Swaps Stakes to Tres Barrachos and Two Step Salsa. In August, Colonel John won the Travers Stakes by a nose over Mambo in Seattle and other well-regarded contenders such as Pyro, Harlem Rocker, and Macho Again in a time of 2:03.20.

Colonel John was a finalist for the Eclipse Award's American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse for 2008.

After not racing since December 2008, he came back on July 31, 2009, to win the Wickerr Stakes at one mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar Racetrack ridden by Garrett Gomez. He then ran 5th in the Pacific Classic Stakes to the upset winner Richard's Kid. He also was entered in the Goodwood Stakes and ran second by a neck to Gitano Hernado. Colonel John closed out his career in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic by running 5th to Zenyatta.

Stud career
Colonel John retired to stand at stud at WinStar Farm near Versailles for an initial fee of $15,000. He proved a moderately successful sire, with several stakes winners including Airoforce, Cocked and Loaded, and Dalmore. In September 2016, he was sold to the Korea Thoroughbred Breeders Association for an undisclosed price. He stood stud in Jeju-do, Korea beginning in 2017.

Colonel John is the damsire of 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

Notable progeny
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