Flashback: Ranking Harlan’s Holiday’s 4 greatest races

On Saturday at Gulfstream Park, the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) will be renewed for the 10th time. The 1 1/16-mile race honors the memory of Harlan’s Holiday, a Gulfstream Park standout who enjoyed a successful stud career until his death in 2013.

Over the course of 22 starts in the early 2000s, Harlan’s Holiday recorded nine victories and earnings of $3,632,664. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and rank his four greatest performances:

Victory in the 2003 Donn Handicap (G1)

Harlan’s Holiday arguably peaked during the first quarter of 2003, with the Donn Handicap (G1) ranking among his best efforts. Facing 10 rivals, Harlan’s Holiday settled about four lengths behind a steady early pace, then rallied gamely into contention around the far turn. Despite carrying top weight of 120 pounds (conceding 4-9 pounds to his challengers), Harlan’s Holiday forged clear late to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Runaway romp in the 2002 Florida Derby (G1)

Harlan’s Holiday’s affinity for Gulfstream was made readily apparent in 2002, when he dominated the Florida Derby (G1) with a snappy performance. Content to settle as many as 7 1/2 lengths behind an early speed duel, Harlan’s Holiday charged readily to the front when called upon and cruised home by 3 1/2 lengths in a strung-out field.

Domination of the 2002 Blue Grass Stakes (G1)

A month after his clear-cut score in the Florida Derby, Harlan’s Holiday reiterated his status as an elite Kentucky Derby contender with a confident victory in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. Rating as usual in the second tier of runners, Harlan’s Holiday unleashed his trademark rally around the far turn, charging to the front before widening to score by 4 1/2 lengths. This victory stamped Harlan’s Holiday as the favorite for the 2002 Kentucky Derby, though he could finish only seventh under the Twin Spires.

Fresh off his victory in the Donn Handicap, Harlan’s Holiday took his game on the road for the 2003 Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba. Facing 10 rivals in an international field, Harlan’s Holiday was ultimately no match for five-length winner Moon Ballad, who had finished third against elite competition in the 2002 Epsom Derby (G1). But Harlan’s Holiday did battle gamely to gain the runner-up spot, in the process picking up a significant chunk of his lifetime earnings.

What’s your favorite memory of Harlan’s Holiday?

J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, videographer, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. You can follow him on Twitter at @J_Keelerman.