by Jeff Lowe
In baseball, Rob Murphy relished his specialized role as a left-handed relief pitcher for eight Major League teams during 11 seasons. In shifting passions to Thoroughbred racing, Murphy has enjoyed the chance to take a precise approach, both at public auction and on the racetrack.
Murphy is looking to the NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) as an opportunity that could fit Golden Spikes just right on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Golden Spikes has settled nicely into the sprint division with consecutive victories in the six-furlong Unbridled Stakes and Carry Back Stakes (G2) at Calder Race Course after flirting with the Triple Crown trail this spring. The Seeking the Gold colt finished fifth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), second in the Illinois Derby (G2), and fourth in the Peter Pan Stakes (G2).
“We had stretched him out, ideally hoping he was a [Kentucky Derby (G1)] horse,” said Murphy, who operates as M375 Thoroughbreds Inc. “We realize that at a mile-and-an-eighth, these races were just a touch too far. We also found that his best races early were when he had a horse to run at.
“I think this is going to be the real test. This is the proverbial home run here. This horse was born to be a sire. He’s from the female family of Mr. Prospector, Seattle Slew, Elusive Quality, and Forestry. Very few families have top-line sires like in the tail-female line, as this horse does. … When you look at the opportunity to run in a race like the King’s Bishop, where successful sires More Than Ready, Tale of the Cat, and Forestry have won this race and gone on to good stud careers, it means everything here.”
Florida Marlins catcher Paul Lo Duca is one of Murphy’s partners in Golden Spikes, along with Pablo Suarez, who also was a partner in 2006 champion sprinter Thor’s Echo.
Murphy used a computerized program to help him select Golden Spikes in the Keeneland September yearling sale. He paid $250,000 to purchase the colt out of the A.P. Indy mare A. P. Interest, a half sister to Forestry and 1999 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Cash Run.
Murphy said he began developing the program when he was in the low rungs of the Cincinnati Reds minor league system in 1983. His major league debut came two years later.
“My baseball career took off when I was put into a more precision-laden role, when I went into the bullpen,” said Murphy, 48. “As a relief pitcher, you’re almost a hero or a goat every night. I loved that. With the horses … I wanted to have a precise program that could filter down a catalog of let’s say 5,000 yearlings, and that’s what we did with Golden Spikes. I think the precision path is what I enjoy that is a parallel with both sports.”
True to form, Murphy has done his homework in setting his sights on the seven-furlong King’s Bishop. Murphy, a Miami native and resident, spends a lot of time at Calder Race Course, and he is well aware that horses coming out of victories on the Summit of Speed card have performed well at Saratoga in recent years.
“The Smile [Sprint Handicap (G2)] and the Carry Back have had some great form coming up to Saratoga,” Murphy said. “Lost and the Fog and Valid Video have pulled off the Carry Back-King’s Bishop double. Orientate and Pomeroy won the Smile and then came up here and won the Forego. The races in the Summit of Speed have been very formful coming up here.”
Golden Spikes’s competition will include J Be K, Kodiak Kowboy, Desert Key, and Gentleman James, the runner-up in both the Unbridled and Carry Back.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer