Bred by Tartan Farms, the muscular bay Ogygian left his mark on 1980s racing as the "swift but star-crossed"[1] fastest son of Damascus.
Named after Ogygia, the island of the nymph Calypso in Homer's Odyssey, Ogygian was raced as a homebred by Tartan Farms.
Remembered as "the nation's fastest 2-year-old of 1985",[2] Ogygian won the 1985 Belmont Futurity Stakes (G1) but a shin injury prematurely ended his two-year-old campaign.
Ogygian began his three-year-old season with a second in an overnight handicap at Aqueduct, then followed this effort with wins in an allowance race and the Riva Ridge Stakes on Belmont day, 1986.
Next, he won the Dwyer (G1) in front-running style over John's Treasure and Personal Flag, then stalked sprint-champion-to-be Groovy in the Jerome Handicap (G1) before running past him to win.
Retired in 1987, Ogygian stood at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, until 1995, where he sired two dozen stakes winners, including Denim Yenem, D'hallevant, Dice Dancer, Digital Dan, Flyn J Bryan, and the speedy but ill-fated Ramblin Guy, among others.
Old Friends Equine returned him to the United States, and he resided at Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky.