Proxy

Carrying the royal blue colors of Godophin, Proxy became a Grade 1 winner late in his 4-year-old season when he won the $750,000 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Proxy debuted at Monmouth Park as a 2-year-old on Oct. 24, 2020, closing to lose his first race by just a neck. Sent to Fair Grounds for his next start on Nov. 26, he went gate-to-wire to break his maiden by two lengths in impressive style. In his following race against non-winners of two allowance types at Fair Grounds on Dec. 19, he once again set the pace and won by 2 1/2 lengths. 

Proxy started his 3-year-old season with a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 16. In his next start, the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 13. He subsequently was fourth in the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby on Mar. 20 after a rough trip. Trying to garner enough points for a start in the Kentucky Derby, Proxy shipped to Keeneland for the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes on April 10 but finished fourth in what would be his final start of 2021.

After a 10-month layoff, Proxy returned to make his 4-year-old debut on Feb. 25, 2022, and won an optional claiming race at the Fair Grounds at 1 1/16 miles by 3 3/4 lengths. He subsequently tried his luck several more times in stakes races during 2022, with respectable results including a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Bel Ali at Keeneland on April 23, a second in the $200,000 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 4, and a third in the Grade 2 $750,000 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs on July 2.

Proxy's stakes breakthrough came in the Grade 1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25, when he topped a six-horse field that included 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike. Proxy pressed the pace much of the way and then challenged front runner West Will Power turning for home and outlasted that foe after a stretch battle to get the victory by 3/4 of a length. Proxy ran the 1 1/8 miles in a time of 1:48.89.

Proxy got back into the win column early in his 5-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 2 $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 22, 2023. He won by a head in a three-way photo finish over Last Samurai and Stilleto Boy. 

After a loss in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on July 1 at Ellis Park, Proxy rebounded with a victory in the Grade 3 $400,000 Monmouth Cup on July 22.  Sent off as the 2-5 favorite in seven-horse field in the Monmouth Cup, Proxy led from the start and gamely fended off bids for the lead by separate challengers into the far turn and then again into the stretch before putting away the competition and extending to a 2 1/2-length win in a 1 1/8-mile winning time of 1:49.99.

Proxy nearly pulled off a second career Grade 1 win in his next start, finishing a nose behind Bright Future in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Sept. 2 at Saratoga. He closed out his racing career with a late-running third in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Proxy was trained by Michael Stidham. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Tapit out of the mare Panty Raid by Include.