Pangburn, a 5-year-old gelding whose owners are donating 5 percent of his winnings to thoroughbred retirement nonprofit Second Stride, will run in the fifth race at Keeneland on Friday.
Pangburn was listed Wednesday as the third betting choice at 5-1 in a field of eight for the race, a 1 1/16-mile, $37,000 claiming for 4-year-olds and up. He will carry high weight of 120 pounds with Rafael Bejarano aboard.
Since his owners agreed to donate part of his winnings last month, Pangburn has won Second Stride over $500. A horse with tactical speed, he won his first start around two turns in a $26,700 mile allowance race at Turfway Park on March 10, and then came back for a close second 19 days later at Turfway in a $40,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. In his only start at Keeneland in October, Pangburn won a 6-furlong claiming race. His overall record is 5-2-1 in 10 starts.
Trainer Thomas Drury Jr., a member of Second Stride's board of directors and Pangburn's half-owner, said he decided to donate a portion of Pangburn's winnings "because he reminds me so much of some of the horses that have went through Second Stride in simply needing a chance." Pangburn's half-owner and breeder Elizabeth S. Lavin, of Lavin Bloodstock, generously agreed.
A chestnut son of Mighty out of Misty Mom by Arts and Letters, Pangburn was foaled in Kentucky in 2002. He was to be sold at Keeneland by Lavin Bloodstock as a yearling but got cast in the stall the night before he was to be auctioned and was injured.
Since he couldn't be sold, he was sent to Drury late in his 2-year-old year to get started in training. Once he was ready, he was transferred to a top Kentucky trainer. But Pangburn was injured twice more.
After his third injury, Lavin told Drury he could have Pangburn back if he wanted him, but Drury would have to assume a half interest. Drury agreed.
Since then, "he has been one of the most consistent horses I
have ever had in the barn, and is a pleasure to train," Drury said.
Second Stride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for retired thoroughbred racehorses headquartered in Prospect, Ky., outside Louisville. Second Stride provides retraining and services to give retired racehorses a new career in dressage, jumping or trail or companion use. For more information, visit www.secondstride.org.