Rubiano (March 26, 1987 – November 19, 2002) was an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Trained by Hall of Fame racehorse trainer, Scotty Schulhofer, Rubiano began his racing career as a three year old in 1990. He won three races that season and placed in several allowance races before finishing second in the G2 Jamaica Handicap, his first graded stakes appearance, although he struggled in his first G1 start in the NYRA Mile. Rubiano later established himself as a leading New York-based stakes horse in 1991. He won the G3 Westchester Handicap and earned his first G1 victory in the NYRA Mile at four.
In 1992 at five, Rubiano won the Westchester Handicap before winning the Carter Handicap, Tom Fool Stakes, and Forego Handicap. His victory in the Forego pushed his career earnings past $1 million and further cemented his reputation as one of the country's top sprinters. Later that year, he delivered another outstanding performance in the G1 Vosburgh Stakes, defeating the five other G1 winners in the race, including European champion sprinter and Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Sheikh Albadou and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fly So Free. Rubiano entered the 1992 Breeders' Cup Sprint as the favorite, where he again rallied from well off the pace and finished third behind Thirty Slews and Meafara. Following the race, Rubiano was retired. He won 13 of his 28 starts, including three G1 races.
His dominant 1992 season earned him the Eclipse Award for American Champion Sprint Horse.Throughout his career, Rubiano was also particularly known for his ability to close from behind with a powerful late finish. Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone, who rode him that year, called Rubiano one of the best horses she's ever ridden. In 1993, he entered stud at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, where he went on to achieve considerable success as a sire.
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Background
Rubiano was a powerful, well made, "near-white" gray (registered as roan) stallion, standing at approximately 15.3½ hands (161 centimeters tall), with a white stocking on his left leg bred by Third Kirsmith Racing Associates in Virginia, who had also owned his dam Ruby Slippers. Rubiano was known to have a bit of a fierce temperament; during races, he was described as being very competitive and having a habit of attempting to bite horses who crowded him.
He was later purchased for $650,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale by Centennial Farms. His sire, Fappiano, was a successful sire and a winner of the Metropolitan Handicap and Forego Handicap in 1981. Fappiano's other notable progeny include Cryptoclearance, Unbridled, Tasso and Quiet American.
His dam, Ruby Slippers, was by the 1970 English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky. She had won 5 of her 14 starts. Through Ruby Slippers, Rubiano was also a half brother to Tap Your Heels, who's best known as the dam of Tapit.
Racing career
1990: three year old season
Rubiano did not race as a two-year-old, instead debuting as three-year-old. Rubiano won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park on January 30 by four lengths. From March 2nd to September 26, he competed in seven different allowance races, winning 2 of the races and placing second in 3 of them.
Making his graded debut on October 20th, he placed second to Confidential Talk in the G2 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park. Rubiano had started leading late into the race before being caught in the final strides by the undefeated horse Confidential Talk, who had won his fourth consecutive race by a neck with a time of 1:35.60. Despite being overtaken for the win, Rubiano fought to hold second place by half a length over Sunshine Jimmy, the 9-10 favorite who rallied for third after a poor start.
He then entered his first G1 race on March 11th, the NYRA Mile at Aqueduct. In the race, Quiet American stayed in third place along the backstretch, just one length behind the leader, Norquestor. Around the far turn, jockey Chris McCarron urged the horse forward. Quiet American answered instantly, catching up to Norquestor on the outside and taking the lead at the start of the final stretch. Rubiano on the other hand, wasn't able to catch up to the rest of the horses in the final stretch, falling behind to finish dead last in 12th place. Quiet American won by five lengths in 1:32.80, tying Dispersal's winning time from the year before.
1991: four year old season
On January 14, 1991, Rubiano made his first start as a four-year-old by winning an allowance race by a length at Gulfstream Park. Next, he entered the Donn Handicap on February 9th. The undefeated Jolie’s Halo took an early lead, pulling away to win by eight lengths in 1:47.2 for his fifth consecutive victory. Rubiano showed determination in the final stretch, making a late push and rallying between horses to improve his position but finished sixth. Sports View finished second, followed by Secret Hello, while the favored Rhythm struggled throughout the race to end up eighth.
In the Listed Broward Handicap on March 2nd, the race was won by Chief Honcho, who pulled away from the field in midstretch to defeat No Marker by 4½ lengths in 1:48.10. Barkada finished third, while the multiple-stakes winner Sports View was fourth. Rubiano, however, was unable to challenge the leaders and remained well back of the top four horses, finishing sixth place again. The jockey of Chief Honcho, Mike Smith, described the race as a "picture-perfect trip," saying he had little to do other than stay aboard. Trainer Bill Mott was also pleased with Chief Honcho's performance.
Rubiano won his first graded stakes victory the following month in the G3 Westchester Handicap at Belmont Park on the 29th in 1:34.94 by 1¾ lengths. Senor Speedy, who set the early pace, finished second, while Killer Diller was third. The favorite Profit Key, who placed fourth, never challenged. He continued to face good competition throughout the spring.
In the Carter Handicap on May 4, he finished fourth behind the winner Housebuster, the last year's sprint champion. Housebuster had defeated Black Tie Affair by 2 ½ lengths in 1:21.20. Rubiano raced near the front early but faded in the final stretch, finishing fourth. Senor Speedy also weakened late and finished sixth.
Later that month, on May 27, Rubiano faced Housebuster, Black Tie Affair, and Senor Speedy again in the Metropolitan Handicap. Rubiano turned in one of the more surprising performances of the Metropolitan Handicap, finishing second behind the Irish-bred, English-trained runner In Excess as a long shot at 243-10 odds. In Excess pulled away to win by more than two lengths in 1:35.40, while Rubiano finished another 1¾ lengths ahead of Gervazy in third. Housebuster, the 4-5 favorite, broke sharply and led for much of the mile, but he began to shorten his stride near the quarter pole and faded badly in the stretch to 8th place. As In Excess moved past him on the outside, Rubiano also surged forward to win second, while five other horses passed the tiring favorite. Gervazy held on for third, while Black Tie Affair faded to ninth and Senor Speedy, who had stayed in the middle of the field early, tired to finish 13th.
1992: five year old season
Rubiano began his five-year-old season strong on March 22, winning the G3 Westchester Handicap, rallying from just behind the leaders to claim his second win in the race. He defeated Out Of Place by a nose, while jockey Jose Santos also earned his second Westchester victory after previously winning the race with King's Swan in 1987.
He returned to Aqueduct for the Carter Handicap on May 2, where he had finished fourth the previous year behind Housebuster. This time, Rubiano turned the tables, capturing the Carter Handicap and defeating In Excess, who finished third. In the race, Nine Carat took the early lead and held a narrow advantage around the far turn, where In Excess soon moved forward to take the lead. Two Freedom also began gaining ground as the field entered the home stretch. Entering the final furlong, Kid Russell made a strong move on the outside and briefly took the lead. In Excess fought back, while Rubiano closed rapidly from the outside. Nine Carat faded from contention as the race came down to the final strides. Rubiano and In Excess battled with Kid Russell toward the finish, but Rubiano would end up winning in 1:21.20 by a head over Kid Russell, with In Excess finishing third.
Rubiano returned to the Metropolitan Handicap on May 25 at 4-1 odds, facing a field that included Dixie Brass In Excess and Pleasant Tap. However, unlike his finish in the previous year, Rubiano struggled to place high and finished eighth in the 11 horse field behind the winner Dixie Brass, it was his first defeat in the season and his first defeat in six races. The pace was exceptionally fast, with Dixie Brass completing the first quarter-mile in 22.4 seconds and the half-mile in 44.8. As the field approached the final turn, In Excess moved closer and was only about a length behind Dixie Brass, while Twilight Agenda also remained within striking distance. Rubiano, however, was still well back, roughly nine lengths off the lead. Despite the pressure from the older runners, Dixie Brass still maintained his advantage.
Pleasant Tap then made a strong late move, while In Excess and Twilight Agenda tried to challenge for the minor placings. Dixie Brass continued to pull away and won wire-to-wire in 1:33.60. Pleasant Tap finished second, with In Excess fighting Twilight Agenda for third place. Rubiano, who had been sent off at 4-1 odds, struggled to make an impact, finishing eighth. The result was also disappointing for In Excess, last year's Metropolitan Handicap winner and New York handicap champion. His trainer, Bruce Jackson, commented that the horse was not yet performing at the same level he had shown the previous season, saying "I guess he's not back to where he was at this time last year. Hey, things happen." Twilight Agenda, another highly regarded older horse, also failed to challenge for the victory despite breaking well and staying near the front early in the race.
Stud record
In 1993, Rubiano entered stud at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, where he would find great success as a sire. Rubiano produced over 360 winners, and 33 stakes winners from 510 named foals. His most notable progeny are the G1 winners Burning Roma and Impression, Too Much Bling, Starry Dreamer who's also the dam of War Front, with War Front being the sire of Declaration of War, Air Force Blue, Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag, Omaha Beach, War of Will, and many others. Rubiano's son, Impression, was a successful racehorse in Argentina and was the sire of Gloria De Campeao, a champion Brazilian racehorse and the highest money earner in South America.
Rubiano was euthanized on November 19, 2002 at Lane's End Farm after developing laminitis.