Who's a Spinelessjellyfish?
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 25, 2001) - Steve Sahadi, who bred him and owns him in partnership, wants to set the record straight about the origin of the name of the defending champion of the Khaled Stakes, Spinelessjellyfish.
He felt compelled after hearing the horse's trainer (who happens to be Steve's sister, Jenine Sahadi) say in a televised interview that the horse wasn't a spineless jellyfish, but her brother was.
"He's named after my sister, Jenine," Sahadi said. "She's a spineless jellyfish. She's the spineless one in the family. I had to protect her in her youth from deer and wild turkeys. I say it with love and mutual admiration, but the facts are the facts. Owners name the horses. Not the trainers."
We're not sure about the owner or trainer, but the horse definitely is not spineless. The son of Skywalker will be out to defend his title Saturday in the $150,000 Khaled Stakes as part of the $1.25 million Gold Rush Day for California-breds at Hollywood Park.
The Khaled, at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is shaping up as one of the most competitive races on the card. In addition to the defending champ, the race figures to attract millionaire Native Desert and 2000 Snow Chief Stakes winner Grey Memo.
Spinelessjellyfish is out of the Desert Wine mare Silky Sand Sammy, who also was bred by Sahadi's Cardiff Stud Farm and raced until claimed away for $50,000. When she showed up in a $6,250 claiming race at the end of her career, Sahadi claimed her back, retired and bred her to Skywalker in the stallion's last California season.
He put the mare and the weanling through the Barretts 1997 sale. Bart Heller was the top bidder for the weanling at $18,000. Sahadi accepted Heller's offer to retain a share.
Spinelessjellyfish debuted at age 2 and won his second race, but missed the next eight months with a fractured tibia. He worked his way through his allowance conditions and peaked in last year's Khaled Stakes, winning as the favorite by a neck over Road to Slew with Macward, another possible entrant Saturday, third.
A month later at the Lone Star Handicap, Spinelessjellyfish suffered a chipped knee and was sidelined another eight months. The Khaled will be his fourth race this year. He has won seven of 16 career starts for earnings of $309,874.
The story of Grey Memo is one of generosity.
Pat Thompson of Ridgeley Farm had to notify Ron Manzani that his Memo foal had died.
"I felt bad because he had nothing to race, so I told him I would give him half of another Memo foal that we bred (out of a Snow Chief mare, B. Mozelle)," Thompson said.
Manzani respectfully declined. Thompson offered again. Manzani said no. According to Manzani, this went on for six months.
"She kept insisting," said Manzani, a San Fernando Valley pharmacist. "One day she asked what I wanted to name our Memo foal. She said it was the only grey Memo, so I said, `Okay, name him Grey Memo.' It was completely at her insistence.
"It's almost embarrassing how nice she is. Losing that foal wasn't her fault, but she felt bad. She knew I was having a string of bad luck. She cares about her clients. She keeps track. I take things hard, but I'm a big boy, I understand how this game works. She didn't have to do that. Now look what happened."
What happened is that Grey Memo won three of his first four starts for trainer Warren Stute, and now has won multiple stakes, including the Grade III Hollywood Prevue and last year's $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds on Gold Rush Day.
He comes back Saturday in the $175,000 Khaled Stakes on Gold Rush Day II and he will have more people rooting for him than just Thompson and Manzani. In keeping with the generosity theme, Manzani gave away half of his half to his longtime partner in racing, Russ Sarno.
Why?
"Because we're partners in everything," Manzani said about Sarno. "He'd do the same for me. It's automatic."
Grey Memo now is Grade I-placed after picking up a third place in the San Carlos Handicap two starts back. He has five wins in 21 races and career earnings of $424,691.
Gold Rush II Nominees