Odysseus Tribute

Odysseus was foaled January 28th, 2007. He was by Malibu Moon, out of Persimmon Hill. He was sold in the August 2008 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale for $110,000, and again in the 2009 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March selected two-year-olds in training sale for $250,000.

Odysseus raced only once as a two-year-old, running second in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct. He returned in 2010 to break his maiden at Gulfstream Park before moving to Tampa Bay Downs where he dominated an allowance by over 15 lengths.

He then went on to his stakes debut in the Tampa Bay Derby. Eventual Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver set the early pace with Odysseus just in behind him on the outside of Uptowncharlybrown. As they ran through the final turn, Schoolyard Dreams came up on the outside in a rush with Super Saver struggling to hold onto the lead and Gleam of Hope struggling to make a run on the far outside. Odysseus, tucked in behind them, looked like he didn't stand a chance. Odysseus tried to move to the outside, but he was boxed in. He was moved back to the inside and burst through a narrow opening between Super Saver on the rail and Schoolyard Dreams on the outside, surging up to win in a head-bob photo finish.

Tampa Bay Derby replay

With his stakes win, he burst into the Triple Crown scene but that dream came to an end when he finished last of nine in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes and came out of the race with a hyper extended knee. While it was clear the colt would miss the Triple Crown, it remained hopeful that he would return to racing.

He never did. The three-year-old colt was retired with a record of 3-1-0 from five starts and earnings of $223,670. He was euthanized August 9th due to complications from laminitis while undergoing treatment for colitis.

RIP Odysseus. It was far too soon. You never got to show everyone the true talent you had.