Sunday, January 28, 2007

Gable Dodge

2 December 1995 - 9 January 2007

The great Gable Dodge has passed into history. He was the U.S. number one sire from 2004 through 2006 and produced five All Americans, Gable Oscar, Gable Vermilion, Dodgem By Design, Jawa Leonas Best, and Ethereal Force.

Gable Dodge was one of 12 pups in a litter by Wigwam Wag out of CJ Ima Bahama, many of whom went on to win top grade races at Gulf Greyhound Park. Wigwam Wag was the top U.S. sire of 1998. His grandsire Understood was a true "Sire of sires" as his line is still viable through a number of sons and grandsons. CJ Ima Bahama was a daughter of Hall of Fame and U.S. #1 sire Dutch Bahama. Her dam, SP’s Glitz, was third in the U.S. Dam Standings in 1996. Gable Dodge descends from the productive Transpat damline that numbers among its descendants Mar Dilly, Katy Did, Wise Katy, Wise Liz, Jock’s Warrior, He’s My Man, Ethereal Force, and many others.

He broke in at Corpus Christi, but soon moved up the coast to Gulf Greyhound Park near Houston, then one of the five most competitive tracks in the country. There he won 11-straight on one occasion and ran a record six races under 30 seconds, including four in succession. His only stake win was the 1997 Gulf Au Revoir. He ran third after much trouble in the 1997 Ye Royal Race at Gulf and made the final of the Wood Memorial, his only stake opportunities at Gulf before he and his brother were shipped to Hollywood, Florida for the 1998 World Classic, the premier open sprint race in the country. He was seriously injured in a grade A race in preparation for the race and had to be withdrawn. His brother Gable Chevy went on to win the World Classic Consolation and set the fastest time of the meet in the process. After a five-month lay-off, Gable Dodge returned to action at Gulf and ran under 30 seconds in his last start. Unfortunately, he sustained a career-ending injury in that race and was retired to stud.

He was an average breaker, but possessed a good rush to the turn and tremendous pace from the top of the backstretch to the line, traits he passed on to a number of his progeny. He was especially complemented by damlines that provided early speed, and he crossed well with a vast array of domestic and foreign bloodlines, especially Australian.

Gable Dodge leaves behind a tremendous legacy that will impact the breed for generations to come. Already more than twenty sons stand at stud in the U.S. and Australia. Dodgem By Design is currently fourth in the U.S. Sire Standings. Stan’s Boy Flyer is eighth and sired All American team captain Ozzie The Man. Gable Oscar, Jawa Leonas Best, Lonesome Cry, and in Australia, Gable LaFourche have increased his influence with winning offspring. Only time will reveal the future direction of the breed, but there can be little doubt that Gable Dodge will be a major force in determining where it goes from here.

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