Fayette Warrior, Divine Fashion Humble Heroes of 2023

Although many racehorses never see their names in the limelight, every horse has its own unique story. These horses may lack the star power of the inimitable Cody's Wish   with his heartwarming made-for-Hollywood tale or the history-making heroics of 2023 Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1) stakes winner Arcangelo  , but two horses from different backgrounds accomplished a feat unmatched by any of the better known equine athletes in 2023: they each earned their win picture 10 times.

Fayette Warrior , a diminutive gelding who raced mostly in the elevated bullrings out West, and the hardy Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races sensation Divine Fashion , ended 2023 sharing the title of "winningest horse of the year." Fayette Warrior went to post for 18 starts and Divine Fashion for 17.

Minnesota-based trainer Troy Bethke initially had noticed Fayette Warrior in the spring of 2020 when he was dropped in for a claiming tag at Canterbury Park. Taking note of the Exchange Rate gelding's back class—he earned his maiden win at Kentucky Downs in his second start and was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old that 2018 season for Wesley Ward—Bethke put a claim in but lost the shake. He kept tabs on Fayette Warrior and when the chestnut was dropped in for $5,000 in late April 2022 at Fonner Park, where Bethke maintained his winter and spring stable, he rolled the dice again. This time he got him.

Fayette Warrior would go on to become a beloved member of Bethke's barn, and a personal favorite for Bethke's son, Scott.

Scott Bethke, a multiple stakes-winning jockey in Nebraska and the Midwest, took an immediate liking to the pint-sized Fayette Warrior. Bethke partnered the gelding to all 10 of his victories in 2023.

"They're a good pair," Troy Bethke said. "One, my son likes to win—he's a very competitive rider, and two, he knows the horse inside and out. He's back at the barn taking care of him every day. He gallops him, he breezes him, and even hand-walks him himself. He told me he doesn't want me riding him and messing him up."

After winning two races with Fayette Warrior at Fonner Park during the first half of the year, Bethke decided to send Scott and his girlfriend, assistant trainer Kate Zechman, to run their own string of horses in Wyoming for the summer. Fayette Warrior thrived, winning five consecutive starter allowance races at Energy Downs 307 Horse Racing and Wyoming Downs and seven races total during his tenure out West as he later added a pair of wins at Sweetwater Downs.

"The horse was out in the Wyoming meets all summer. He was in the right spot this year," Bethke said. "He's a pretty useful horse. He's got speed. He's just one of those horses when you get to the cheaper level he does very well. I know people will say he's just a cheap horse but my theory is that when they win and they keep winning like he does, it's a good horse. He's a good horse."

Fayette Warrior made his final two starts of 2023 at the Columbus race meet in Nebraska. He won once and was second before shipping to Bethke's family farm in Minnesota, just west of Canterbury Park. He had earned his keep for the year, bankrolling $42,106.

"He had a harder campaign than I typically do with my horses but it just worked out where we started early in the year with him and then we had a great summer with him," Bethke said. "He just ran steady and hard each time.

"His Equibase (Speed Figure) numbers kept climbing and climbing. Going from the 70s to a 97. That's pretty good for a horse that was claimed for $5,000."

While Fayette Warrior has outrun his eligibility to compete in $5,000 starter allowance contests because he was claimed in 2022, Bethke fully intends on racing the 8-year-old in 2024.

"So life goes back to being tougher again. I’m hauling him to Nebraska tomorrow," Bethke said Dec. 29. "He’s been on my farm in Minnesota since November. He'll start back at Fonner Park and start running there again when the meet starts."

Fayette Warrior had held the title of winningest horse by his lonesome until the very last weekend of 2023. In that final weekend, the then 4-year-old Maryland-bred filly Divine Fashion dashed to a 9 1/4-length victory, her finest of the year, in a six-furlong starter allowance at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

Divine Fashion's trainer, Anthony Farrior, was well aware of the accolades at stake when his filly went to the post for her 17th start. She had been tearing up the Charles Town bullring all summer and fall but had failed to win outside her favorite West Virginia track. Farrior had his doubts entering the Dec. 30 contest, but Divine Fashion silenced them in the most resolute way—with a romp.

"It was very impressive and to win the way she did and get the 10th win; it was the most special win all year," Farrior said. "She had a lot of wins this year but you're only as good as your last win that's how I look at it."

Farrior had claimed Divine Fashion on behalf of owner Richard Burnsworth out of her maiden win (her fifth start overall) at Timonium in August 2022. She has gone on to collect nearly eight times her $25,000 tag, and finished 2023 with $140,332 in season earnings.

Divine Fashion certainly faced her share of obstacles on her journey to the winningest horse crown. After easily scoring while running for a $5,000 tag in January, Divine Fashion ascended into the starter allowance ranks, where she ran into a roadblock in the form of a stablemate. Divine Fashion finished behind the tough Mineshaft   mare Dulcimer Dame  in three different outings. When Farrior was able to separate the two, Divine Fashion was able to find her winning groove again.

But then disaster struck. Following two sultry July wins at Charles Town, Divine Fashion was stricken with colic. Farrior shipped Divine Fashion, who was stabled at Laurel Park in Maryland, to New Jersey's Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, one of the premier clinics on the East Coast.

"She was at the clinic five days," Farrior said. "The surgeon kept calling me every day and said she's not there yet to do surgery let's give it more time. I give it to them; they weren't "surgical happy" and they waited and she finally came out of it."

Divine Fashion was able to make a full recovery, and two months later returned to the starting gate. The valiant filly prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths under the Charles Town lights, leaving her connections in awe.

"I was very impressed when she won that one," Farrior said. "You really don't know how they're going to react and perform after colic and going through all that. She's special to us, she always tries. We'll probably keep her after this year when she's done and breed her."

Farrior said Divine Fashion will join his farm in West Virginia, where Burnsworth keeps his broodmares and be bred to a Kentucky stallion upon her retirement. Before that, however, he's looking forward to another year of racing.

"We'll keep racing her for the same condition," Farrior said. Divine Fashion will retain her $5,000 starter allowance eligibility throughout 2024. "She brings her race with her. She can go to the lead, she can come off the pace, she can come way out of it. She's still on the younger side too so hopefully she keeps getting better."

Five days into the new year, Divine Fashion has already made strides into retaining her winningest horse title. Friday night, the daughter of Divining Rod   drew away to a 5 1/4-length triumph at Charles Town.

One down.