Unique-looking horse fan favorite
With his white head and blue eyes, Southern Phantom already getting rock start treatment from fans, media
Without even winning a race, colt Southern Phantom was already a star at the Saratoga Race Course.
The bay colt out of Bodemeister and Out for Revenge, by Bernardini was an attraction even before the meet began.
Southern Phantom is similar to many horses in Saratoga, but rather than a typical white blaze (stripe) down the front face of the animal, Southern Phantom’s entire head is white, while also sporting blue eyes.
The name is also unique for Southern Phantom, not official named by his owners, but through a contest in partnership with the Bloodhorse magazine.
Southern Phantom was relaxed in the paddock, getting the rock star treatment from the media and other horse racing fans as cell phones, cameras and video cameras were at the ready as he was walked around the paddock and then saddled by trainer Eric Guillot and ridden by Joel Rosario in Saturday’s sixth race, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds and five and one-half furlongs.
Southern Phantom finished fifth, 5 and a-half furlongs behind Nitrous, Putheglassdown, Most Mischief and Binary.
Trainer Eric Guillot was happy with what he saw late in the race along with jockey Joel Rosario.
“This is horse racing, last week he broke like a rocket and really maybe three, four weeks back at the Okla-
the Oklahoma when he had the bullet out of the gate, I put him about seven off the lead and he came flying in,” an excited Eric Guillot said. Joel (Rosario) his eyes were big when he came back, ‘Man, did you see the gallop out?’ So I think he’s going to be fun. Joel loves him.”
On July 13 Southern Phantom ran four furlongs, breezing from the starting gate in 47.55 seconds and was the top horse of the morning with that time giving Guillot hope for the future.
“We just let him develop and go further and he’ll put himself a little bit closer obviously,” Guillot said. “But
I really think, he got beat three-quarters from third from all the bunch there and he said the gallop out was amazing. I think he’ll be alright.”
If racing fans missed Southern Phantom on Saturday, they’ll should have another chance to see the uniquely painted colt this summer.
“As long as he pulls up good, three, four weeks we’ll run him back one more time for sure. Honestly he’s bred to go a distance, the Bodemeister out of a pretty good Bernadini family,” Guillot said.
Happy with the on-track performance, the Cajunborn trainer was not surprised by his demeanor in a crowded paddock, despite his own lack of face time.
“The horse has a great
mind, unbelievable mind, he’s as quiet as a pony and I don’t know, maybe when they were in the gate,” Guillot said. “Here when you are out at one or two in the morning, they put them in and they break them, there is not a lot of action here.
“He probably fell asleep in there (gate), they were having trouble with the six (horse), he’s so laid back, he was tired of probably all you people taking pictures at the gate, I think what happened.”
The outgoing trainer commented on the attention the July-born two-year colt was getting.
“I videoed all the people taking pictures, I was like ‘I can’t believe it,’” Guillot said. “Usually the camera is on me. I’m jealous!”