Round Pond (horse)

Unraced as a juvenile, Round Pond made her racing debut as a sophomore in February 2005 at Oaklawn Park. She finished third, but broke her maiden in her second start two weeks later.[7] She made her stakes debut next in the listed Honeybee Stakes, winning impressively, before winning her first graded stakes afterwards in the Fantasy Stakes. Round Pond captured her first Gr.I when she defeated Smuggler in the 2005 Acorn Stakes. After running second in the Delaware Oaks, it was discovered that Round Pond had developed a bone chip in her knee. Despite given promise by veterinarians that Round Pond could be healed in time for the Gr.I Alabama Stakes, a race that owner Rick Porter desired to win, he decided not to run her as to not risk further injury.[8] Round Pond received surgery for her knee and was sidelined for the rest of the year.

Due to her efforts, Round Pond was nominated for 2005 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, but the award was given to Smuggler, the filly she had previously defeated in the Acorn Stakes. Round Pond was fourth place in the voting, with a total of 16 votes.[9]

Round Pond resumed racing the following February and made her 2006 debut, an allowance race at Oaklawn Park, a winning one that she followed with another graded win- the Azeri Stakes. After the Azeri Stakes, Round Pond developed foot issues that kept her sidelined until late summer.[10] To prep for the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs, Round Pond ran in the Molly Pitcher Stakes and Beldame Stakes, finishing second and third, respectively.[11][12]

Round Pond was sent off at outsider odds of 14–1 in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff, the bettors giving most of the attention to Fleet Indian, who was entering the Distaff on an 8-race win streak.[13] Round Pond tracked in fourth for most of the race, along the inside of the field. As the field came to the top of the stretch, Round Pond took the lead and pulled away down the stretch to win by 5 ½ lengths with a final time of 1:50.50. The impressive victory was marred, however, as the favored Fleet Indian was injured and vanned off after the race, never to race again, and 3-1 second choice Pine Island broke down entering the backstretch and was euthanized.[14]

Round Pond was once again nominated for an Eclipse Award for her racing efforts in 2006. Though she once again did not win, Round Pond was runner-up in the voting, with 48 total votes to winner Fleet Indian's 213.[15]

Now a Breeders' Cup winner, Round Pond returned to racing once again the following year, hoping to defend her title in that year's Distaff. She made her first of only two starts in 2007 in Gulfstream Park's Rampart Stakes, finishing fourth, the worst finish of her career.[16] She improved upon her poor finish in her next start by finishing third in the Apple Blossom Handicap.

Round Pond's racing career unfortunately came to a close in April 2007, when she fractured her knee during training.[17] She retired with a record of 13: 7-2-3 and earnings of $1,998,700.[18]