As One acquired its youngest member of the stable in April 2023 when it bought Hip No. 130 at the OBS April Two Year in Training Sale, a then two-year-old bay filly by the stallion (father) Street Sense out of the broodmare (mother) Cali Thirty Seven. The father was the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner and the mother is a stakes winner herself with a promising future as a broodmare, including two other offspring currently racing. Our new filly comes from the same family as McKinzie, winner of multiple Grade I stakes races and second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 4.
As a young horse still growing and developing into her body, trainer Brendan Walsh and the As One team were patient with her as a two-year-old to let Murphy develop as part of her long term plan. She began her racing career in September 2023 with a solid first effort at Churchill Downs and followed up with another race in November where she continued to show improvement. After those two races, Murphy’s Gift was given some time off to rest and continue to grow. She is now back in training and ready to begin her 2024 campaign.
The filly’s name, chosen by the As One partners, is a nod to Isaac Murphy, a black jockey from the late 1800s who once dominated the sport. Enshrined in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, Murphy was a three time Kentucky Derby winner and believed by many to be one of the greatest jockeys to ever ride. As One hopes that Murphy’s Gift can bring more attention to Isaac Murphy and make sure the history of African American jockeys continues to be told more and more.