Colonel John

Colonel John (foaled March 4, 2005 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 2008 Santa Anita Derby.

Bred and raced by WinStar Farm, he was sired by Tiznow, the 2000 American Horse of the Year and a two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic. His dam is Sweet Damsel, a daughter of Turkoman, the 1986 American Champion Older Male Horse, who was a son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Alydar.

Conditioned for racing by Eoin Harty, in 2008 Colonel John won the Sham Stakes and the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. His performances in these races made him an early favorite for the 2008 U.S. Triple Crown series, despite his racing experience consisting of only races on Cushion Track synthetic dirt. Ultimately, Colonel John finished 6th in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. In July, "The Colonel" finished third in the Swaps Stakes to Tres Barrachos and Two Step Salsa. Then in August, Colonel John won the Travers Stakes by a nose over Mambo in Seattle and other well-regarded contenders such as Pyro, Harlem Rocker, and Macho Again in a time of 2:03.20.

Colonel John was a finalist for the Eclipse Award's American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse for 2008.

After not racing since December 2008, he came back on July 31, 2009, to win the $91,970 Wickerr Stakes at one mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar Racetrack. Garrett Gomez was in the saddle. He then ran 5th in the Pacific Classic Stakes - Gr.1 earning $20,000 for his fifth place effort to the upset winner Richard's Kid. He also was entered in the Goodwood Stakes and ran second by a neck to Gitano Hernado while earning $70,000. Colonel John closed out his career in the 2009 BC Classic by running 5th to the great racemare Zenyatta, earning $150,000 in his final start. He then retired to stand at stud at Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., for a fee of $15,000. He was booked full for 2010.

Stud career. March 6th, 2010 Colonel John has his first mare scanned in foal. Jonespartyofwon is a daughter of 2004 Kentucky Derby winner and champion 3yr old colt Smarty Jones. She is also a half sister to Volponi, the longshot winner of the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic.