Endlessly Targets an Oscar Performance in Juvenile Turf

Discerning Breeders' Cup fans understandably will experience a déjà vu moment when Juvenile Turf (G1T) participants take their place in the starting gate at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3. Front and center, under the white-trimmed, navy blue silks of Amerman Racing, will appear Endlessly , a bay colt seeking to duplicate the efforts of his sire seven years ago.

On that 2016 day at Santa Anita, Oscar Performance  , a homebred for the husband-and-wife team of John and Jerry Amerman, burst forth on the final turn after a pace-prompting trip to capture the Juvenile Turf at odds of 6-1. Now, it is homebred Endlessly's turn to follow in those hoofprints.

Certainly, Endlessly's early credentials portend well for the possibility. Since arriving in California and settling into trainer Michael McCarthy's shedrow, Endlessly has been a model of consistency. At Del Mar at the end of July, he made his initial outing a winning one in maiden special weight company going a mile on the turf. Brought back to that seaside oval in September, he scored in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3). And then, in a test on the Santa Anita lawn, Endlessly landed the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T).

Talk about consistency—each of his three victories have come at a mile on the grass. Each time he faced seven foes. And in all three, his margin of victory was exactly 2 1/4 lengths.

Endlessly thus far has been a gift that appears out of the blue—untethered to an occasion. Dream Fuhrever, a Langfuhr mare also bred by Jerry Amerman, foaled Endlessly at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky.

"He was always a nice horse," noted Price Bell, general manager of the historic Mill Ridge, "a racy type with quality. But nothing told you he'd be the second coming of Oscar Performance."

Sent to Barry Berkelhammer's Florida facility for early training, the bay colt continued his steady, if unspectacular, journey forward.

"He didn't come in with much fanfare," said McCarthy. "They said he had trained well and done everything right, and was easy to get along with. And I agree. He's been very professional from day one.

"It seems like the further along we go in his training, the better he's getting. His workouts aren't flashy or fast, but they're always solid, and he never seems to tire. The more things we've thrown at him, the easier he seems to handle them. He's given all the signs that he has a touch of class."

Oscar Performance was a bit more fiery early in his career. He wasn't above scattering onlookers in proximity to him, as he did in the Saratoga Race Course paddock before earning his maiden win in the summer of 2016. Once trainer Brian Lynch smoothed out the rough edges, the son of Kitten's Joy kept his rampaging to the racetrack. As a 3-year-old, Oscar Performance followed his juvenile success by taking the Secretariat (G1T) and Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) stakes. At 4, he scored in the Woodbine Mile (G1T), making it three consecutive seasons with grade 1 victories. 

For good measure, at 3, and racing without Lasix, he set a world record when completing a mile in 1:31.23 to win the Poker Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. He finished with more than $2.3 million in earnings, and has continued on to a strong start in his stallion career. With two crops to race, he has sired, in addition to Endlessly, graded stakes winners Andthewinneris  and Red Carpet Ready .

As with any Breeders' Cup race on the grass, besides the top United States-based runners there also is trepidation among American connections about who will be sent from Europe (and now, Asia as well) to compete against the best domestic runners. It should be noted, however, that Oscar Performance defeated a strong and deep field that included international runners such as Lancaster Bomber , an eventual champion and group 1 winner in Ireland.

While top competition awaits, including international runners from the Coolmore and Godolphin operations, Endlessly gets the benefit of running out of his own stall, having a triumphant outing on the Santa Anita grass, and likely firm turf as well.

"It was some relief to get a win at Santa Anita," said McCarthy, "but with each outing the competition gets deeper and deeper. Numbers-wise, Endlessly has been consistent in all three of his races. Facing the best from Europe, it should be very interesting."

The Amermans have enjoyed steady Breeders' Cup success at Santa Anita. In addition to Oscar Performance, they won the 2003 Distaff (G1) there with longshot Adoration, who defeated favorite Sightseek soundly with a stout front-running effort. Ironically, Sightseek was the pride and joy of trainer Bobby Frankel, with whom the Amermans enjoyed several grade 1 victories courtesy of performers such as Lido Palace and Happyanunoit. Frankel left his mark on the owners.

"Bobby, who I always loved, always said to me, 'John, never give an interview before a race. See if it works first,'" said John Amerman. "I'm very superstitious. Bobby was so good for us. I thought this whole business was easy when we were working with him. But you find out it's pretty hard."

Before following the advice of the Hall of Fame trainer, Amerman did allow that Endlessly "is a talented horse, with a nice turn of foot, and we're pleased to have one like him."

The Amermans also have raced standouts such as Siphonic and Balance, and have contributed to the sport in aftercare and in John's service as a California Horse Racing Board commissioner. But it is their love of the Thoroughbred that stands out, and that has come back to reward them in a direct way with Endlessly.

Some years back, Dream Fuhrever developed laminitis. Up to that point, she hadn't produced much of note in her broodmare career. Some may not have persevered. The Amermans did.

"John and Jerry went to every effort they could to save her and continue her quality of life," said Bell. "They did everything right by the horse. And then she rewards them with a horse like Endlessly."

Despite what some may believe, meteorologically, lightning has a better chance of striking the same place twice than it does hitting at two random locations. Don't be surprised, then, if Endlessly matches his sire's exploits come Breeders' Cup Friday.