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TIN CUP CHALICE'S BIO

OWNERS: Michael Lecesse and Ray Brook residents Scott Vanlaer, a forest ranger, and Michale Glennon, a Wildlife Conservation Society biologist

TRAINER: Michael Lecesse

JOCKEY: Normally Pedro Rodriguez, but Hall of Famer Edgar Prado will ride him in the Japan Cup because Rodriguez reportedly had passport problems.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: He has eight wins and one second in nine career races. Earlier this year, Tin Cup Chalice became the first horse to win the OTB Big Apple Triple by sweeping the Mike Lee Stakes, New York Derby and Albany Stakes. This fall, he was named Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack Horse of the Year.

EARNINGS: $858,680, according to Bloodhorse.com.

FAST FACTS: Tin Cup Chalice was raised on Ray Brook's Glen Laer farm. The 3-year-old gelding overcame two near death experiences as a foal and a weaning. He was put up for sale at an auction in Saratoga Springs in 2005, but there were no takers. That has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the owners, as the horse now wins race after race.

RAY BROOK - A horse raised in this hamlet will be racing in one of the world's richest races this weekend.

Tin Cup Chalice is one of three American horses competing in the $2.4 million Japan Cup Dirt Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse in Takarazuka, Hyogo. The horse is owned by Forest Ranger Scott Vanlaer and Wildlife Conservation Society biologist Michale Glennon, who are married and live in Ray Brook on Glen Laer Farm.

"It's kind of like getting the option to go to the Kentucky Derby," Vanlaer said. "If you're invited, you go and hope for the best. But it's just an honor to be invited."

In nine career starts, Tin Cup Chalice has eight wins and one second-place finish. In August, the 3-year-old gelding won the Albany Stakes race at Saratoga Racecourse to become the first horse ever to win the Big Apple Triple. He now lives full-time in the Finger Lakes.

Tin Cup Chalice is expected to be a longshot to win, but he's been one his whole life, so this is nothing new. He nearly died of botulism at one week old and then later had another brush with death while suffering from colic. Expectations were so low for the horse at one time that when he was put up for auction in Saratoga Springs in 2005, the owners found no takers.

But that's all changed. This weekend, Tin Cup Chalice will be ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, who was inducted into the U.S. Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs earlier this year.

"I've never teamed up with this horse, but I've raced against him two or three times and have the impression that he's a very strong horse," Prado said in the Hanshin Racecourse training report Thursday. "He was very relaxed this morning during his exercise, the dirt feels good, and he seems to have recovered from the long trip. After seeing the final list of the field, I'll consider what kind of pace I'll race him."

Prado himself has had a strong year. Horses ridden by the 41-year-old Peru native have earned $16,646,035 in 1,208 starts this year alone. In his career, Prado has three Breeders' Cup wins and more than 6,000 in his career. In 2006, he won the Eclipse award for outstanding jockey and ESPY jockey of the year award.

Tin Cup Chalice is one of three American horses in the Japan Cup Dirt. Mast Track, trained by Robert Frankel, and Frost Giant, trained by Richard Dutrow, are the others.

Tin Cup Chalice arrived in Japan on Nov. 21, spent a couple of days in quarantine, and has been training ever since. He was followed by his trainers, and then Vanlaer and Glennon, who departed on Monday. All expenses that the owners incur are being paid for by the Japan Association for International Horse Racing.

The Japan Cup Dirt is 1,800 meters or about a mile and an eighth on a dirt track, and for horses 3 years and older.

The track should be crowded Sunday. Horse racing is extremely popular in Japan. Last year, the Japan Cup Dirt attracted 60,000 spectators. Its sister race, The Japan Turf, recently drew 120,000 fans.

"It's real big there," Vanlaer said. "It's much more mainstream than the U.S. It's like baseball or football here."

For this race, the horse will have to make some adjustments if it wants to do well.

"There's a lot of quirks that are different in Japan than the U.S. that we're having to adjust to," Vanlaer said. "The biggest is (racing) in the opposite direction, and the horse has taken to that very well."

The starting gate will also be different. In Japan, there's no pony to lead the horse to the starting gate. There will also be no one in the starting gate to hold the horse's bridle. That person stays with the horse until the gate opens and a bell rings to initiate the race.

"That's a little difficult for our horse because he just tends to get a little more rambunctious and nervous," Vanlaer said. "In Japan, the horse has to stand in there with just the rider on his back. Our horse isn't a great gate horse. That's my big concern, is the lead-up to the start. I think if he can stay calm, get into the gate and stay there, we'll be OK."

Vanlaer said he hopes the horse finishes in the top 10 or better. Past winnings for the horse have allowed Vanlaer and Glennon to install geothermal heating and solar panels at their Ray Brook home. A win here could be even more rewarding.

"If we come in the top five, I'll be ecstatic," Vanlaer said with a laugh. "If we win, I'll retire."

Contact Mike Lynch at (518) 891-2600 ext. 28 or mlynch@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.