Southern Phantom Set for Debut at Saratoga

When a startlingly white-headed, blue-eyed colt was born in the summer of 2016 at Southern Equine Farm in Midway, Ky., the racing world sat up and took note.

And then took lots and lots of pictures. 

"In 35 years in the industry, I've never seen a Thoroughbred like this," said trainer Eric Guillot.

From the third crop of WinStar's Bodemeister , out of the Bernardini  mare Out for Revenge, the colt's unique visage set off a social media frenzy that inspired Southern Equine's owner, Mike Moreno, to partner with BloodHorse in a naming contest. 

Originally scheduled to run for a week, the contest was flooded with so many proposed entries that it had to be closed only days after it began. Louisiana native Mary Beth Woods was awarded the winning submission. 

"As soon as I saw him, I thought of 'Phantom of the Opera,' and since he's from Southern Equine Farm, I came up with Southern Phantom," Woods said. 

Now a 2-year-old, Southern Phantom is finally ready to make the transition from social-media star to racehorse. The colt will make his debut July 21 at Saratoga Race Course in an $85,000 maiden special weight going 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. 

Owned by Calumet Farm and Southern Equine Stable, Southern Phantom has put in nine timed works at Saratoga since May 19, including a bullet four furlongs in :47.55 July 13, when he was clocked as the fastest of 33 at the distance. He will break from post 8 Saturday under jockey Joel Rosario.