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Breeders' Cup Bios
Search the Breeders' Cup biography database for complete bio listings of participants and horses that are on the road to the Cup. Biographical information is updated regularly, statistical information is updated daily.

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John Shirreffs
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Top Associated Horses: Neko Bay, Milyone, Zenyatta, Life Is Sweet, Zardana, Mast Track
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2009 Record: (99-21-7-22)
2009 Earnings: $5,706,892
2009 Win %: 21% In-The-Money %: 50%

  • Born: June 1, 1945, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
  • Residence: Arcadia, Calif.
  • Family: wife, Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs
  • Racing Background: Grew up around horses on his family's farm near Neufields, N.H. Father bred horses with Peter Fuller, owner of disqualified 1968 Kentucky Derby winner Dancer’s Image and Hall of Famer Mom's Command ... Shirreffs served in the Marine Corps with a tour in Vietnam. After being discharged, he settled in California after meeting Henry Freitas, then-manager of Loma Rica Ranch. He later walked hots for trainer Gene Cleveland in the early 1970s and broke yearlings for Ed Nahem at Lakeview Thoroughbred Farm
  • Racing Career: Took out his trainer’s license in 1978 and operated a small stable in Northern California before moving south as an assistant to the late Brian Mayberry and Bill Spawr ... Was private trainer for Ed Nahem and Marshall Naify’s 505 Farms from 1994 until Naify’s death in 2000 ... First stakes winner was Jade Ring, in the 1980 John Peri Stakes at Stockton ... Has two extremely talented distaff runners in his barn in 2009. For Marty and Pam Wygod, he trains Life is Sweet, moved to his barn at the end of 2008. Shirreffs saddled her to win the G1 Santa Margarita Handicap, and the G2 El Encino and La Canada Stakes in 2009. She finished second to stablemate Zenyatta in the G2 Milady Handicap, and third to Rail Trip in the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, racing against males ... For Jerry and Ann Moss, his 2009 stakes winners are undefeated Zenyatta, G3 Inglewood Handicap winner Madeo, and stakes-placed Tiago. With her repeat victory in the G1 Lady's Secret stakes, Zenyatta earned a berth in this year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, which she won last year on her way to championship honors. She enters this year's Ladies' Classic a career winner of 13 races, 11 of them stakes wins. Racing at five, she has won three G1 tests and the G2 Milady. Last year at four, she won the G1 Apple Blossom, Vanity and Lady's Secret as well as the G2 Milady, Clement Hirsch, and El Encino. The mare's name is derived from an album by The Police, a rock band which recorded on the A & M Records label of owner Jerry Moss ... Saddled 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, the third-longest shot to ever win the race, when he paid $102.60 to win (behind 1913 winner Donerail who paid $184.90 and 2009 winner Mine That Bird, $103.20). The son of Holy Bull competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown, finishing third in the Preakness. He also won the G2 San Diego Handicap and finished fourth in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic as a 4-year-old ... Shirreffs also trained Giacomo's half-brother Tiago to two Grade 1 victories. In 2008, Tiago won the G2 Oaklawn Handicap, was second in the G1 Goodwood and third in the Breeders' Cup Classic in front of fourth-place Curlin, the 2008 Horse of the Year. Lightly raced this year because of an intestinal illness, Tiago finished third in the G2 San Antonio in February ... Shirreffs has saddled 15 Breeders' Cup starters through 2008, his best two finishes being 2008 Ladies Classic winner Zenyatta and Tiago, third in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic and seventh in the 2007 Classic ... Shirreffs' trainee Hollywood Story is one of a handful of horses to make four Breeders’ Cup appearances, with her best result a fourth-place finish in the 2003 Juvenile Fillies ... Conditions about 50 horses, basing his stable at Hollywood Park ... Had best career year to date in 2008, saddling the winners of more than $4 million ...  Past major stakes winners include: Manistique, Starrer, After Market, Tarlow, Stanley Park, Bertrando, Borodislew, Radu Cool, David Copperfield, Proposed, A.P. Warrior, Makeup Artist, Private Chef and Van Rouge ... Shirreffs' wife, Dottie, is racing manager for Jerry and Ann Moss.  She and her son, bloodstock agent David Ingordo, were instrumental in the purchase of Zenyatta for $60,000 as a yearling ... Shirreffs is an Oakland Raiders fan ... Known for his patience, Shirreffs has started his horses only 87 times as of Oct. 25, 2009, but the stable has won 18 races and earned $1,818,332.

Breeders' Cup Record
Starts1st2nd3rdEarnings
15101$2,276,400

1994ClassicBertrando6th
1997DistaffRadu Cool4th
1999DistaffManistique8th
2002DistaffStarrer4th
 Juvenile FilliesSea Jewel4th
2003Juvenile FilliesHollywood Story4th
 Juvenile FilliesTarlow9th
 SprintYankee Gentleman5th
2004DistaffHollywood Story10th
2005DistaffHollywood Story8th
2006ClassicGiacomo4th
 DistaffHollywood Story10th
2007ClassicTiago5th
2008ClassicTiago3rd
 Ladies' ClassicZenyatta1st

Related Links
NOTE: Bio stats include North American and selected international races. Click here to view selected international race list. Biographies on jockeys, trainers and owners are from the Breeders' Cup World Championships events from 2001 through 2009, and are intended as informational resources. Biographies will be updated if an individual is again a participant in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Biographies are available for most horses appearing in the top 100 money earnings list, and/or for those who are frequently making headlines in the news starting with the 2006 Triple Crown season.
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