Owner Paul Pompa Jr. has decided to retire Backseat Rhythm and plans to breed the Grade 1-winning mare to Big Brown, reported thoroughbredtimes.com.
Backseat Rhythm did not show her best form this year, finishing unplaced in a pair of stakes races on the Gulfstream Park turf. The five-year-old El Corredor mare won the 2008 Garden City Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and two other graded stakes in four seasons of racing.
While her three stakes wins came on turf, Backseat Rhythm also showed precocity and affinity for dirt in her two-year-old season, finishing second in the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Moved to turf in her three-year-old season, she won the Garden City, the Lake Placid Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, and finished second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course. Last season she won the Hillsborough Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
“She gave us a lot of enjoyment and memorable moments right from the start,” Pompa said. “She showed a lot of heart in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and then emerged as a top three-year-old filly with big efforts at Saratoga, Belmont, and Keeneland.”
Pompa purchased Backseat Rhythm for $75,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale, through agent Hidden Brook.
Pompa also owned Big Brown, winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). After Big Brown won his career debut by 11 ¼ lengths in 2007 at Saratoga Race Course, Pompa sold the Boundary colt to IEAH Stables but retained a minority interest in Big Brown. Big Brown stands for $55,000 at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky and will shuttle to Vinery for the southern hemisphere season.
Watch video of his 2yo turf debut and his Triple Crown victories.
