Hangin' With Haskin : kentucky derby

Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

aspradling — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:16:00 GMT

When the field goes to the post for the 138th Preakness Stakes (gr. I), don’t be surprised if two of the participants, who could go off as the two top choices, begin gaping at each other, as two childhood playmates might do meeting years later.

With horses at Pimlico sharing the same grazing area, the two could very well cross paths prior to race day, just as they did every day grazing together as babies at Claiborne Farm.

Kentucky Derby winner Orb and one of his main threats in the Preakness, Departing, grew up together in the same paddock, along with seven other colts. For nine months they interacted on a daily basis without a care in the world. Now they are finely tuned athletes about to confront each other in one of racing’s most competitive arenas.

“They were together from Sept,. 2010 until June, 2011,” said Claiborne farm manager Bradley Purcell. “We had nine colts in that paddock and they were two of them. How neat is that? We liked both of them quite a lot. They were both very strong, classy individuals and easy to handle and had very good heads on their shoulders. We couldn’t have asked for anything better out of them. Now, everyone wants to know if they used to race each other and who won? It was great to see Blame grow up go on and win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and now the excitement is starting all over again.”

Orb, like all the Phipps--Janney horses, was sent to Niall Brennan’s farm to be broken, while Departing, like all the Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider horses, was sent to Jane Dunn’s Holly Hill Training Center in South Carolina.

Said Purcell, “We just kind of oversaw them to make sure they stayed healthy and strong, and Mother Nature did the rest.”

Did she ever. What is ironic is that one of the horses who could now stand in Orb’s way in his quest for the Triple Crown not only was his old childhood buddy, he comes into the Preakness off an impressive victory in the Illinois Derby, the race that was snubbed by Churchill Downs and prevented from remaining a viable Kentucky Derby prep. With zero qualifying points, Hawthorne was forced to move the race up two weeks and make it a prep for the Preakness.

While Orb continued to exude class and professionalism at Niall Brennan’s and later at the racetrack, Departing began taking after his mother, Leave, who was considered a bad actor and whose two previous foals had to be gelded. It didn’t take long for Departing to start exhibiting those same characteristics and he soon would join the ranks of the gelded.

“I was the one who gelded him,” Dunn recalled. “The mare could be exceedingly difficult and her foals are inclined to be that way. As Dell Hancock would like to say, ‘His mother was coming out in him.’ They have no control over their behavior; it’s the hormones that kick in. You don’t normally see it on the farm. It isn’t until they get to a training center that somebody asks them to start focusing on one thing. When they’re babies they do what they want when they want other than getting led in and out. Nobody on the farm tells you to look down the racetrack and pay attention to yourself, not the horses next to you or the birds or any other distractions. It’s sort of like taking a kid who’s always done what he wanted and putting him in boot camp and telling him what to do.

“He was a late-developing colt, and I don’t believe he’d be the horse he is today if I hadn’t gelded him. Seth Hancock has always been very good whenever I’ve called and said we need to geld a horse. I’ve never had him tell me no. Mentally, it took him a while to come around. I always liked him once he started behaving. He just had attention deficit disorder, worrying about everything other than what he was supposed to be doing. Once I gelded him he was a different horse; very focused and professional. And he’s always been a beautiful moving horse. Even before we gelded him he was very talented, but he could never connect it together for any particularly long sequence. After he was gelded he didn’t have all these other distractions going on in his brain.”

And so the Phipps-Janney-Claiborne connection keeps growing, evoking images of years past when champions such as Buckpasser, Easy Goer, and Ruffian, just to name a few, came off Claiborne Farm to carve their place in the history books.

Will Orb continue on his path to immortality, bringing Shug McGaughey and the Phippses to the threshold of where they thought they would be in 1989 with Easy Goer, or will Orb’s former paddock mate end the dream, just as Claiborne’s dream ended in the 1984 Preakness when their Kentucky Derby winner Swale finished seventh as the 4-5 favorite before winning the Belmont Stakes?

And remember, after Bull Hancock’s death in 1972, it was the three-man advisory committee, which included Ogden Phipps, who played a major role in Seth Hancock taking over Claiborne Farm instead of his older brother Arthur, who was devastated by the committee’s recommendation of Seth. Arthur then built up the neighboring Stone Farm into a major breeding establishment, and it was his colt, Sunday Silence, who upset the Phipps’ Easy Goer in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and later in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to nail down Horse of the Year honors. And it was Easy Goer who thwarted Sunday Silence’s Triple Crown attempt in the Belmont Stakes.

Whatever happens, this is racing at its finest and classiest, filled with drama and compelling storylines. The link between the Phippses and Claiborne Farm has been one of the sport’s most enduring relationships. The great Phipps and Wheatley Stable horses were born at Claiborne, stood at stud at Claiborne, gave birth to future stars at Claiborne, and are buried at Claiborne. You can’t get more enduring than that.

Derby Launched Into Orb-it

aspradling — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:19:00 GMT

The day finally had arrived. Everything had gone perfectly for Orb and trainer Shug McGaughey. So perfectly in fact that one couldn’t help but feel there were forces guiding the colt every step of the way, from the early days this winter at Payson Park to his breakout performances in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) and Florida Derby (gr. I).

With every breeze, every gallop, and every race, the son of Malibu Moon – Lady Liberty, by Unbridled became stronger, constantly moving forward both mentally and physically. As each obstacle was cleared, such as the colt’s final work and the dreaded post position draw, McGaughey grew more outwardly confident and excited, which in some ways seemed out of character for the usually taciturn trainer, who keeps his emotions in check and lets his horses do all the talking. Well, Orb was doing a lot of shouting and the Kentucky-born McGaughey couldn’t help but feel his life-long dream of grabbing the coveted roses was about to come true.

While all the Derby starters remained in their respective barns on a damp overcast Derby morning, with steady rains approaching quickly, two lone figures made their way in the darkness toward the track at 5:45. Orb stood calmly with exercise rider Jen Patterson aboard, as McGaughey leaned against the rail and took one final look at the colt before having him jog once around.

“I’m excited,” McGaughey said. “And I’m excited about this afternoon.”

Some 12 hours later, Orb, with Joel Rosario up, came charging through the slop from 17th in the 19-horse field to win the $2,174,800 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) by 2 1/2 lengths as the $5.40-1 favorite.

The Derby gods had indeed worked their magic. Despite the deep, talented field that had assembled for the 139th Derby, this was the year when McGaughey and the Janney and Phipps families were destined to restore the Sport of Kings to the way it was and the way it was meant to be, when true sportsmen and their private stables and homebred Thoroughbreds ruled the Turf.

Turn the clocks back to 1988. As the field swept around the far turn of the Gotham Stakes (gr. II), two horses came charging up to the leaders eyeball to eyeball, moving as a team. In the red and white silks of Stuart Janney Jr. was the 10-1 Maryland invader Private Terms, trained by Charlie Hadry. Right alongside him, matching stride for stride, was the 3-5 favorite Seeking the Gold, trained by Shug McGaughey, in the familiar black silks and cherry red cap of Ogden Phipps.

The undefeated Private Terms began separating himself from Seeking the Gold, opening a two-length lead at the eighth pole. But the Phipps colt came back at him, falling three-quarters of a length short. Both colts would meet again two weeks later in the Wood Memorial, with Private Terms again defeating Seeking the Gold, this time by 1 1/2 lengths in stakes-record time.

Their rivalry would continue in the Kentucky Derby, won by Winning Colors, and come to a conclusion in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I), with Seeking the Gold getting beat a nose by Claiborne Farm’s Forty Niner in an epic stretch duel, as Private Terms narrowly missed third by a half-length.

In September of that year, Stuart Janney Jr., who had been married to Ogden Phipps’ sister, Barbara Phipps Janney before her death the previous year, was killed in an automobile accident at age 81, suffering a heart attack while driving to his home at Locust Hill Farm in Glyndon, Md. The Janney stable, which had reached its apex in 1975 with the legendary ill-fated Ruffian, eventually was taken over by Janney’s son, Stuart Janney III. In 2002, Ogden Phipps died, with his son Ogden Mills, better known as Dinny, becoming patriarch of the longtime racing dynasty.

It has been 25 years since the two families clashed in those memorable 1-2 finishes in the Gotham and Wood Memorial. Still looking for their first Kentucky Derby victory after so few attempts over the years, the Janneys and Phippses joined forces, racing as partners in a well-bred Malibu Moon colt named Orb, who they also bred in partnership, although Dinny now kids how he didn’t like Orb’s dam, Lady Liberty, and tried to persuade his cousin to sell her. “But he outsmarted me and bred her to Malibu Moon and here I am,” Dinny said.

The fourth dam of Orb, is Laughter, who is by the Phipps family’s great racehorse and stallion Bold Ruler, out of Ruffian’s dam, Shenanigans, so this racing and breeding partnership goes back five generations. To come up with a horse like Orb, they reached into the pedigrees and descendants of racing titans Damascus and Dr. Fager, who were involved in the epic 1967 Woodward Stakes showdown with Ogden Phipps’ mighty Buckpasser.

It seemed as if the Derby gods or whatever other-worldly entity you care to attribute it to had finally found the perfect year to reward not only two long-established families, but the Sport of Kings itself. This was Thoroughbred racing at its purest, with the blood of champions being regenerated through the decades to give the sport a sense of continuity, while serving as a reminder of where it came from. The Phipps family in particular is the last of a dying breed of sportsmen who built a foundation strong enough to withstand the passage of time and an ever-changing world, where tradition and sportsmanship have been eroding with each passing year.

McGaughey, the Phippses, and Janney are the last remaining pillars of strength, and as long as their familiar silks continue to adorn horses like Orb, those pillars will never crumble.

Ogden Phipps must have felt a Kentucky Derby victory was imminent after his 30-1 shot Dapper Dan’s powerful stretch run in 1965 fell a neck short of catching the fully extended winner Lucky Debonair.

“I was here that day and I bet on Dapper Dan,” said Dinny, now 72, as he was being wheeled from the track following the winner’s circle presentation. “And I’ll bet you I didn’t make 10 bets before that or 10 bets after. I just had a feeling that he would run well. That was a long time ago.”

But Ogden Phipps would have only two more Derby starters over the next 37 years – Seeking the Gold in 1988 and Easy Goer in 1989. Dinny would run only one – Awe Inspiring in 1989; and his daughter, Cynthia, racing in her grandmother’s Wheatley Stable colors, would have only one – Saarland in 2002. Wheatley Stable, owned by Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, had attempted the Derby seven times from 1928 to 1967, but never even finished in the money, despite being represented by champions Bold Ruler, Bold Lad, and Successor.

The Phippses have always been known for their longevity in keeping trainers and not interfering in racing decisions, which is another aspect of the sport that has changed dramatically. McGaughey has been their trainer for 27 years through both prosperous and lean years. The old school operation goes beyond McGaughey and the well-bred horses right down to the help, most of whom have been with McGaughey for 25 to 30 years.

McGaughey and his main assistant, Buzzy Tenney, have known each other since elementary school and were in the Cub Scouts together in the same den. When McGaughey took over as trainer for the Phipps family in 1985 he asked his old friend, who had been working for trainer Steve Penrod in Aiken, S.C. to come work for him.

“Our stable is one of the last of its kind,” Tenney said. “Shug has maintained the excellence of the old school. He always takes time with the horses and has them spending a lot of time outside their stall. The Phippses and Stuart Janney are patient people and let you get through the lean times and give a horse the time he or she needs. The horses are sound and happy, and it’s pretty much a hay, oats, and water operation.”

In 1989, it looked as if the Phipps family and McGaughey had found the ultimate racehorse they had been seeking for so many years. If any horse was going to give them their first Kentucky Derby victory it was Easy Goer, a chestnut Adonis that appeared to have everything – pedigree, looks, speed, class, and stamina. Following his championship 2-year-old season, Easy Goer had jaws dropping at Aqueduct when he cantered home in the Gotham Stakes, winning by 13 lengths and missing Dr. Fager’s sacred world-record mile of 1:32 1/5 by a fifth of a second.

Easy Goer’s defeat in the Kentucky Derby to Sunday Silence was a bitter disappointment to McGaughey, who doubted he would ever bring a horse to the Derby with the God-given talent of the son of Alydar.

In 1997, Ogden Phipps and McGaughey looked to have another big shot at their first Derby with the late-running Accelerator, who had finished a fast-closing second behind Derby favorite Captain Bodgit in the Wood Memorial. But one week before the Derby, Accelerator pulled up lame during a workout at Churchill Downs, suffering a cannon bone fracture. It was another crushing blow and neither Ogden nor Dinny would be back until this year.

The Janneys have maintained that same philosophy of not running in the Derby unless they had a good chance and if it was in the best interest of the horse. In a move you would rarely, if ever, see today, Stuart Janney III and McGaughey teamed up in 1998 to win the Wood Memorial (gr. I) with Coronado’s Quest, who came within a fifth of a second of Private Terms’ record. But win or lose, the Derby was not under consideration, due to the colt’s immaturity and wild and crazy antics at Gulfstream Park that winter, which seemed to disappear once surgery was performed to free an entrapped epiglottis. By showing patience and giving him extra time, they were rewarded with victories in the Dwyer, Haskell, and Travers.

So, one could easily see why the Derby gods would be inclined to smile down on Janney, the Phippses, and McGaughey this year, just as they did with Frances Genter, Paul Mellon and Mack Miller, William T. Young, W. Cal Partee, Charlie Whittingham, Robert and Beverly Lewis, Jerry and Ann Moss, James Tafel, and other owners and trainers who had demonstrated the class and sportsmanship that have always exemplified the spirit of Thoroughbred racing.

As for Orb, he was broken and received his early training at Niall Brennan’s farm in Ocala, Fla. Among the other 2-year-olds there at the time were Revolutionary and Palace Malice, both of whom would also compete in the Kentucky Derby.

“Orb was always a nice big strong colt,” Brennan recalled. “The Malibu Moon colts tend to lack focus like teenagers who want to get in trouble. But Orb was very good for a Malibu Moon colt. He was playful, but he was forward enough, and being such a big strong colt, you knew he was only going to get better and better, especially in Shug’s program, where they get a chance to develop. He was a good mover, with a big stride and a good tough attitude.”

For most of the winter, the Derby trail was all about the powerhouse arsenals of Todd Pletcher in the East and Bob Baffert in the West. Baffert’s big horses kept falling off the trail until he was left with not a single round of ammunition by Derby Day. Pletcher, on the other hand, lost his two Derby favorites, Shanghai Bobby and Violence, but still managed to get five horses there – Wood Memorial (gr. I) and Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) winner Verrazano, Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Revolutionary, Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner Overanalyze, and Palace Malice and Charming Kitten, the two-three finishers of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

Last year’s Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill was back with Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Goldencents, and four-time Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas had stakes winners Oxbow and Will Take Charge. Other contenders included Wood Memorial runner-up Normandy Invasion, Blue Grass winner Java’s War, and Louisiana Derby runner-up Mylute.

When McGaughey shipped Orb to Churchill Downs, he loved what he saw right from the start. In his second morning there, the colt was feeling so good, McGaughey asked Patterson if he was playing or if there was something wrong with him, She assured him he was only playing. Each day he became more settled and his gallops got stronger.

“This horse is a bit of a throwback to more of an old-time horse,” McGaughey said outside his familiar Barn 43, where he always stables. “There’s nothing in his family that’s ever been a sales horse where they tried to make them bulky and speedy-looking in order to do well at the sales. I was amazed how this horse changed mentally and physically between the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby.

“I’ve spent a lot of time at Churchill Downs right here in this barn. I’ve been in this barn before I had the Phipps horses. Where else would you want to be on Derby Week than right here. If we can get the next 10 days behind us I’ll think he’ll be a presence. He appreciates the colder weather coming from Florida, and this morning he was fresh and feeling good. When I went into the winter I never thought I’d be standing here now talking about Orb, but he gave us some pretty exciting days and has really come around quickly. I thought he’d be running at Aqueduct right now. After he broke his maiden there, I said, ‘His style won’t suit Gulfstream.’ But we got a pleasant surprise and here we are.”

McGaughey said that he was happy to see Janney and Phipps enjoying the ride, and looked forward to bring them their long-awaited Derby.

“Dinny and Stuart are very close and they’re having fun,” he said. “They’ve obviously been close working together at Bessemer (Trust), but I think this horse is one of the things that have brought them closer, because they’re enjoying him together. This was a merger with old Mr. Phipps and Stuart, and Stuart had a great affection for Mr. Phipps. They enjoy the game and they enjoy their horses, but they do a lot to try to help the game.”

The universal feeling around the backstretch was the rooting interest for McGaughey, who is one of the most respected trainers in the game, and whose methods are applauded by racetrackers everywhere.

“I’m rooting so hard for Shug,” said trainer David Carroll, who worked for McGaughey from 1985-90 and was the regular exercise rider of Easy Goer. “Shug was a tremendous influence on me. I came from Europe where the background is to be patient. My father and brother were jockeys and I worked for John Oxx for six years. In Ireland it’s all about patience and doing right by the horse, and that was they way Shug trained; the way he takes care of the horse and develops them. And look how long everybody’s been working for him; they’ve all been there forever. When you get to Shug’s barn it’s home. It would be fantastic for racing and breeding to have Shug win it for the Phippses and the Janneys. Everybody on the backside is rooting for him. I’m even nervous for him. I was having dinner last night and was saying I won’t relax until after the draw.”

But first there was the colt’s final work to get through. McGaughey still has vivid memories of Accelerator’s final work, in which he was pulled up on the turn, missing the Derby.

All Orb did in his work was increase McGaughey’s confidence level, breezing a half in company in :47 4/5 and doing it with smooth, effortless strides, pulling well clear of his workmate. McGaughey was thrilled.

“I know we’ve still got the draw, but I’m going in with the attitude that as of April 29, we’ve done everything we can do to make things happen right, and so far they have all happened right. My people have done an absolutely wonderful job of handling the situation and being as all-in as I am.”

As Dinny Phipps’ daughter, Daisy, said, “We haven’t taken this horse here, he’s taken us here. Having our two families own the horse together, it’s sort of the perfect package.”

Derby Week, however, always provides plenty of anxiety, and there was enough to go around for McGaughey and his wife Alison, as they sat at the post position draw and watched most of the desirable posts get taken, while posts 1, 2, and 3, where they did not want to wind up, were still open.

Finally came the pill pull for No. 16 followed by the name Orb. Allison broke out in a smile, while a relieved McGaughey just nodded his head in approval.

That was it; the final obstacle had been cleared. All that was left now was the waiting. Not even the ominous weather forecast seemed to dampen McGaughey’s spirits. It was time for the dream to become reality.

“I know come Thursday the nerves are going to set in, but we came here with the idea that we’re going to have fun with it,” McGaughey said. “Every year when we get a bunch of 2-year-olds, I’m hoping one of them will be the horse that gives us the opportunity to get here. All we want is the opportunity. I feel when race day comes, what will be will be. I know we’ve got to get the trip, but if it doesn’t go our way, hopefully we’ll get a chance again.”

Another set of events that had been playing out was on the jockey front, which saw Orb’s rider John Velazquez choose to ride Verrazano in the Derby. McGaughey understood that Velazquez had an allegiance to Pletcher, but he needed a rider, and that is where another important piece of the puzzle came together perfectly.

Rosario’s agent, Ron Anderson recalled, “When I first went over my list of horses I ride for Shug, I pointed out Orb and Shug said, ‘You know what, I don’t care to run him here again; I’m not sure he likes these turns at Gulfstream that much.’ He said there was an open allowance race at the end of the month that will probably be easier than the Fountain of Youth and that he’d probably consider that race or ship him out of town.”

Because McGaughey was so hesitant about running, he freed Anderson to get another mount for the Fountain of Youth, so he signed on to ride Speak Logistics. McGaughey then decided at the last minute to run in the Fountain of Youth, and the colt surprised him by winning impressively with Velazquez aboard, and then kept progressing, winning the Florida Derby. By losing the mount on Orb, Rosario was free to ride Animal Kingdom in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) the same day as the Florida Derby, which he won easily. When Velazquez jumped off Orb to ride Verrazano in the Kentucky Derby, Rosario was given the mount back. But instead of winning $1.4 million purses in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, he won $10 million in purses in Dubai and wound up right back on Orb for the Kentucky Derby.

The projected rain on Derby Day came as expected, turning the track sloppy. In a surprise move, Palace Malice, equipped with blinkers, outran all the expected speed horses and opened a three-length lead, while setting blazing fractions of :22.57 and :45.33. Goldencents, Falling Sky, and Verrazano took up the chase, but in the end, the blistering pace would cook all four horses, who would retreat quickly to finish at the back of the pack.

Rosario, meanwhile, took Orb well off the pace and had only two horses beat down the backstretch, while trailing by nearly 20 lengths. Back there with him were Golden Soul, Revolutionary, and Mylute, all of whom would take advantage of the suicidal pace and finish strongly down the stretch.

As they continued down the backstretch, Oxbow made a strong run along the rail to move into second. Around the far turn after three-quarters in a gut-wrenching 1:09.30, Palace Malice began shortening stride after setting the fastest fractions in Derby history on a wet track. Verrazano and Falling Sky called it quits as Normandy Invasion, under Javier Castellano, made a big move on the outside and surged to the front nearing the quarter pole in an attempt to run everyone off their feet and get the jump on the closers.

For a brief instant, it looked as if Normandy Invasion was home free until Orb came flying around horses without a straw in his path out near the middle of the track to reach contention. Golden Soul was on the move behind him, and Calvin Borel, as usual, was hugging the rail with Revolutionary, who was picking off horses as well, occasionally having to idle briefly waiting for an opening.

But down the stretch, it was obvious Normandy Invasion wasn’t sustaining his move and Orb was the strong horse, as he collared Normandy Invasion at the eighth pole and began to draw clear. Rosario had merely been hand-riding the colt, throwing a couple of crosses. But Orb has shown a tendency to start relaxing a little once he gets the lead, so Rosario roused him with a couple of left-handed whips. He was never in any danger of getting caught, but behind him there was a furious battle for second.

Golden Soul kept on relentlessly to get second, a length ahead of Revolutionary, who was a head in front of Normandy Invasion, who in turn finished head in front of a fast-closing Mylute. There was gap of six lengths back to sixth-place finisher Oxbow, who was the only horse in the first five early to finish in the first half of the field. The final time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:02.89.

“I don’t even know where I’m at,” an emotional Alison McGaughey said. “It’s crazy. When we get home and sit down and realize what just happened I’m sure we’ll be bawling our eyes out. Right now I’m just so caught up in the moment I don’t know what to say. I just can’t wait to go back and see Orb; he’s waiting for his candy. For him to win for Stuart and Dinny together, you can’t make it up. On April 24, I celebrated my 50th birthday. Shug was already here and I was in Florida. I said, ‘Look, I’ll be 50 all year, if you win the Derby that’ll be my present.”

Stuart Dillender, who has worked on and off for McGaughey as foreman for 30 years, has been waiting for this moment a long time.

“I’ve wanted to win this for Shug for 30 years,” he said. “He deserves everything he’s gotten. This is very special, just because this is the one race that he hasn’t won and deserved to win. It’s a blessing. I’ll do anything for the man. There are no organizations like this around anymore. They’ve all been around and have gone away, but this one never has. We try to make it a team effort; you can’t win without a team. From Dinny to Daisy and Stuart, you can’t find a better family. They care about us and they care about the horses and they care about the breed.”

Back at the barn that night, McGaughey arrived and hugged Patterson, who has devoted so much of her time to Orb. “You’ll never know how much we appreciate all you’ve done for us.” said McGaughey, who paid tribute to all his help.

Kentucky Derby 139 will be remembered as the race in which the old timers rejoiced in the memory of how the sport used to be in simpler times, while the younger generation got a rare opportunity to enter a portal of time to witness something they may never see again.

Longtime veterinarian Mark Cheney, who has done work for McGaughey for 30 years and has been close to Orb all year, was flushed with pride and excitement, and there was only one remedy for that, and that was a good stiff drink with an old friend.

“This is the thrill of my life,” he said. “I’m about to have a heart attack. I know another fellow who’s up there watching this and having a big shot of bourbon right now and that’s Mr. Phipps. I think he made it happen. I wish I was up there with him because I’m about ready to die for a bourbon and water.”

Derby Weekend photos, all photos by Steve Haskin. Please do not take without asking.

Orb and Jen Patterson heading out for one of their final gallops.

Shug McGaughey checks out Orb one last time on Derby morning.

WWII Normandy veterans meet Normandy Invasion -- an unforgettable experience listening to their stories

Hal and Molly Harsh of Kansas City got married outside Itsmyluckyday's barn on Derby morning

Orb (left) and Revolutionary lead the walkover. They would finish 1.3.

Normandy Invasion in the post parade

Orb is ready for action.

Orb is taken to the back of the pack by Joel Rosario.

Alison McGaughey plants a kiss on Orb following the Derby.

Haskin's Derby Report: Pletcher on Parade

aspradling — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:36:00 GMT

You want Derby works, boy do we have Derby works. A total of eight Derby horses had their final drills Saturday morning, many of them moved back a day due to the impending rain expected later today and tomorrow.

Heading the day’s activity was the Todd Squad, which is made up of Verrazano, Revolutionary, Palace Malice, Overanalyze, and Charming Kitten, who collectively have won or place in 15 stakes.

Of the Fab Five, Verrazano was the first to work, going five furlongs in company with Authenticity. The big, handsome son of More Than Ready broke smoothly and laid just off his workmate through fractions of :11 4/5, :23 1/5, :35, and :47. With no urging at all, he came home his final eighths in :12 4/5 to complete the five panels in :59 4/5, while finishing 1 1/2 lengths ahead his workmate. He then galloped out three-quarters in 1:13. This was a very good work for him, and as is often the case at Churchill Downs, he looked better than he did in his first work over the track and just seemed to be going smoother over it this time.

One of the top works of the day belonged to Revolutionary, who went off noticeably slower, going in :24 4/5 and :36 3/5 inside stablemate Charming Kitten. Turning for home, Calvin Borel, as is his custom, steered the colt closer to the rail and proceeded to hug the fence. Once he got Revolutionary to settle into stride, he cruised clear of Charming Kitten, who was unable to keep up. Revolutionary, as usual, switched over to his left lead inside the eighth pole, then quickly back to right lead, and finally back to his left lead crossing the wire. The son of War Pass has been doing this his whole life, and despite the lead changes, he flew home his final eighth in :11 3/5 and then dusted Charming Kitten in the gallop-out, pulling some six or seven lengths clear, while galloping out five panels in 1:00 3/5, which means he went :12 2/5 in the gallop-out. Back at the barn while getting his bath he was not blowing in the slightest. What I like most about this colt is how he always wants to do more before and after the wire, as if he’s just getting started.

Following Revolutionary came the tandem of Overanalyze and Palace Malice, who locked horns at the quarter pole, with Palace Malice, wearing blinkers again, on the inside. With Gary Stevens on Overanalyze and Mike Smith on Palace Malice, the two colts matched strides every step of the way. Overanalyze looked to be going a bit smoother than Palace Malice, but both colts were striding out beautifully, coming home their final eighth in :11 4/5 to complete the half-mile in :47 1/5 (clockers actually got Overanalyze, who broke off a bit behind) in :47 and Palace Malice in :47 1/5. Both colts then galloped out an additional eighth in :12 3/5, in what amounted to a good sharpener for each one. Pletcher said afterward that Palace Malice would wear blinkers for the first time in the Derby.

As for the other works, Normandy Invasion was the first one out on the track at 5:45, and he was sharp right from the beginning, breaking off quickly and zipping his opening eighth in :11 4/5 and three-eighths in :34 2/5. After a half in :46 3/5, he came home his final eighth in :12 2/5 to complete the five furlongs in :59 flat., out six panels in 1:11 4/5. This colt has been showing a lot of early lick and likely will show more speed than most people would anticipate. He needs to return to his running style in the Remsen and make his big move earlier, which he appears ready to do. What I liked most about the work was how smoothly he did it, with his ears up.

Right after Normandy Invasion came Mylute, and trainer Tom Amoss said beforehand not to expect anything flashy, just a nice easy maintenance half-mile, and that is precisely what he got. With Rosie Napravnik aboard, he pretty much cruised around there, getting his half in :50 3/5. He is not much of a gallop-out horse, and shuts it down after the wire, which accounted for the 1:05 4/5 gallop-out.

Black Onyx came out between 7 and 7:30 and worked a half in company with jockey Joe Bravo aboard. The son of Rock Hard Ten spotted his workmate a couple of lengths coming into the stretch and methodically wore him down, pulling away at the end, with the reins fully extended as if he wanted to do more. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.

The final pair to work were the Kenny McPeek duo of Frac Daddy and Java’s War, with Frac Daddy on the inside. After fractions of :24 4/5, :37, and :49 3/5, Frac Daddy took a length lead into the final sixteenth, and even with the exercise rider looking back for Java’s War, he still finished ahead of his stablemate, while under wraps, completing the five panels in 1:02, with a final eighth in :12 2/5. I liked the way Frac Daddy moved over the track, and this looked to be a sneaky good work.

Itsmyluckyday arrived from Calder this morning just past 11 o’clock, while Goldencents got in a little after 1 p.m., along with Kentucky Oaks contender Beholder.

Haskin's Derby Trail: Points of No Return

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:10:00 GMT

It’s starting to get hairy, folks. If there is one thing we’ve learned from the new points system, it’s that you’re playing with fire by skipping the 50-point races and going straight from the wee little 10-pointers to the big, bad 100-pointers.

By putting all your eggs in the one proverbial basket, in many cases having to finish first or second to secure a spot in the Derby, you better hope a) you don’t run into a monster like Verrazano, b) you don’t draw a terrible post, c) you don’t have a nightmare trip and get stopped at a crucial point in the race, and c) you don’t run your eyeballs out only to get beat two noses. The new-look Kentucky Derby doesn’t accept excuses.

It is obvious that many trainers are learning as they go along, but at what price? Or maybe they’re not learning. We won’t know until next year when they map out their Derby plans.

At this point, we really can’t say what the cutoff will be. Churchill Downs is estimating it to be about 30 points. That 30-point line, or whatever the line may be, could be the Derby trail’s 38th parallel. On one side is the comfort and safety of knowing you likely will be in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. But on the other side is enemy territory -- the cold, unfriendly environs of missed opportunity and second-guessing.

Getting through the 50-point obstacle unscathed and assured a spot in the Derby are Verrazano, Orb, Vyjack, Hear the Ghost, and probably Flashback. Again, that is using 30 points as the cutoff. It could be more or it could be less.

So, we already have a strong nucleus, as small as it might be. But what about those who passed the 50 pointers and headed straight to the major preps? It’s scary to think about it, but big-name horses Itsmyluckyday, Revolutionary, and Normandy Invasion, who are ranked very high on most lists (especially the first two), basically have to finish first or second in their respective final preps to secure a spot in the Derby. A third for Itsmyluckyday or Revolutionary would put them right on the bubble at 30 points. And then it’s finger-crossing time.

Although it’s not likely to happen, Todd Pletcher, with Violence already gone and Verrazano in the Derby, could be in danger of losing three more horses if Revolutionary, Palace Malice, and Overanalyze fail to finish in the top two in their final preps. Even last year’s 2-year-old champion, Shanghai Bobby, is not yet guaranteed a spot with one race left. Again, most of those horses should run well enough to qualify, but you can never take anything for granted in racing, and the new points system is very unforgiving if you should make even the slightest mistake.

That is the nature of the new beast that has been created, which in the long run will cull out the weak. The feeling here is that the vast majority of pretenders will be weeded out, and the field assembled will be deeper than any we’ve ever seen, consisting of nothing but horses who are in top form. It is true that, as Wayne Lukas says, the point system does not reward body of work, but the object of trainers with top-class 3-year-olds has always been to have them peaking in April and May. And with the new system, they had better figure out how to accomplish that. No more hot-shot 2-year-olds or early 3-year-olds coasting through March and April, knowing they’re already in the Derby.

There are a number of promising, but late-developing 3-year-olds who already are down to one shot to get in the Derby. If they finish first or second in their 100-point prep, they get in at the last minute, while keeping more experienced horses out. If they don’t, it’s on to Baltimore or New York. These new faces include Treasury Bill, Code West, Rydilluc, Departing, Shakin It Up, Elnaawi, Ground Transport, Mr. Palmer, War Academy, and My Lute to name a few.

For the trainers who skipped the 50-point races, some will second-guess their decision, while others more philosophical will let fate dictate whether they get in the Derby or not. They took what they thought was the best course of action and let it go at that. Still others who missed out in the final prep and are desperate to get in the Derby, might try to sneak in the Lexington Stakes or Derby Trial to get enough points to put them over the top.

So, as the 100-point races approach, it’s now or never. Do or die. It’s time for sweating bullets. You have put all your eggs in one basket and are skating on thin ice and playing with fire. On race day, you will be as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. If you’re waiting for your ship to come in, but that ship has sailed, remember, you reap what you sow. If, in the end, you get caught with your pants down and miss by a hair, take it like a man and lick your wounds. No use crying over spilled milk; there’s always next year. Remember, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.

Haskin's Derby Trail: The Unlikely Story of Vyjack

aspradling — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:09:00 GMT

The Kentucky Derby is like a mountain. It never changes and never withers with time. But in some ways it does change, as every year, new climbers gather on its slopes and attempt to reach the summit, disregarding the many perils along the way. There is no greater feeling an owner can have than to see his or her colors planted atop that mountain. There is no greater feeling a breeder can have than to have created something with the speed, strength, and heart to conquer the sport’s highest peak. And there is no greater feeling a trainer can have than to guide an equine athlete up such a rigorous path and emerge victorious.

If there is one thing you can count on each year on the Kentucky Derby trail it’s that you’re going to meet new people, experience new horses, and hear new stories, as you join the horses and their connections on their ascent up the mountain.

One of those stories unfolded at Aqueduct this past Saturday, about midway down the stretch of the Gotham Stakes.

If you were unable to see the number “7” on the saddleclotch of the streaking figure blowing by horses, there was no way you would have thought it was Vyjack.

In his three previous career starts, all victories, the son of Into Mischief – Life Happened, by Stravinsky had never been worse than third at any time and never farther back than two lengths, and that was in an overnight sprint stakes, in which they went a half in :46.20 in the slop. This was a 1 1/16-mile race, in which they went a half in :48.68, and the horse gobbling up ground with every giant stride was coming from 10th in an 11-horse field.

Then, as they passed the eighth pole, came the words of track announcer John Imbriale: “And on the far outside, here comes Vyjack! And Vyjack has stormed to the lead. Vyjack now drawing away in deep stretch.”

The final margin was 2 1/4 lengths, and just like that, the Derby trail had a new shining star, who had undergone a transformation unlike anything seen by a young 3-year-old in quite awhile.

And so, the fascinating journey of Vyjack continues. Here is a horse whose dam was bred to freshman sire Into Mischief only because breeders Sandy Willwerth and Carrie and Craig Brogden of Machmer Hall Farm in Kentucky had a live foal breeding contract to Bernstein, who stood at Castleton Lyons Farm at the time. On the day Life Happened needed to be bred to Bernstein, Carrie was informed that the stallion was completely booked that day. Not wanting to miss the mare’s cycle, she substituted another mare to breed to Bernstein at a later date, and now desperately needed a stallion for Life Happened that same day.

Brogden called Spendthrift Farm and asked stallion director Ken Wilkins, with whom she was friendly, what stallions were available to breed to that afternoon. She was told Into Mischief was open. She liked the fact he was a grade I-winning son of Harlan’s Holiday and decided on the spot to send Life Happened to him that afternoon. So, the mating of Vyjack came about strictly by accident…or perhaps a better word would be fate.

“Life Happened had had a beautiful Bernstein colt that sold for $475,000 as a yearling,” Carrie Brogden said. “We had been the underbidders on him as a weanling when he sold for $50,000, and that’s when we bought her, barren, in front of him for $4,500. We loved the Bernstein colt so much and saw that he had sold great, we booked the mare back to him.”

But it wasn’t to be, as all his slots were filled that day and there were no cancellations. So, it was off to Spendthrift and a date with Into Mischief. As it turned out, the Bernstein colt on which Carrie had been the underbidder, named Prime Cut, went on to place in the Peter Pan, Lexington, and Curlin Stakes. Carrie did breed Life Happened to Bernstein the following year and she had a beautiful filly that Carrie sold at the Saratoga yearling sale for $140,000.

On Feb. 11, 2010, Vyjack was born. What he was as a baby bore no resemblance to what he would become as a yearling.

“He was always a very uncomplicated horse,” Carrie said. “He was big and strong and was always a good doer. He vetted clean and had a great big throat. We decided to take him to the Kentucky July yearling sale. Some people gave me grief because he was so big and heavy, but the horse lived on air and water. I think that in the end, those kind do great at the track. The only major thing that changed with him is that when we got to the July sale, he discovered fillies. He had to have Vicks in his nose 24/7 and lived in a lip chain when he was being shown, because he was more interested in the fillies than anything else. We had never seen this before, because in our barns, the colts and fillies are completely separated and never see each other.

“Al Pike loved him and was interested in buying him. At the time, Into Mischief was just a ho hum stallion, retired too early in his career and not much in demand. I told Al that if he bought him we would stay in on the colt and then take him to the 2-year-old sale.. He did buy him for $45,000, and the following year we took him to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale at Timonium.

“He had a strong work and was scoped seven times as I recall. I was never there, but Al kept me filled in and did a great job with the colt. After his breeze show, Sobhy Sonbol (former racing manager for Zayat Stables) Facebooked me about the colt, saying he was looking for a new client and what did I think? Sobhy and I had developed a good relationship and he knew I would, like Al Pike, always tell him the truth. I told Sobhy that I had not seen the horse since we sold him as a yearling, but Al had always told me that he was sound without issues. I did mention that the only thing that Al had told me was that the horse loved the ladies and was a bit studdish.”

Enter Dave Wilkenfeld, not exactly the most likely person Brogden would expect to buy this colt. Wilkenfeld had grown up in Hewlett Harbor on Long Island and was playing the horses as a teenager, eventually going to Manhattan to bet at the OTB teletheaters, where he began using the Ragozin Sheets. In 2003, he and several friends teamed to hit a Pick-Six at Churchill Downs for $1.3 million. Five years later, in 2008, he was supposed to meet some friends at the Meadowlands to go in partnership on a Pick Six ticket at Santa Anita. The friends never showed, so Wilkenfeld put together a $4,320 ticket by himself and he not only wound up hitting it, but he held the only winning ticket, worth $3,3 million.

Through the years, he had gone in partnership on a few claimers, but nothing of note. Then, in 2012, he decided to buy his first horse at auction.

“I liked this horse’s three-furlong work,” Wilkenfeld said. “His female family was strong. I thought there would be some value there, because he was by a freshman sire. This was the horse we wanted. We had it narrowed down to six after vetting and watching videos and doing all the pedigree analysis, but this was the one who stood out to me and Sobhy, who was very instrumental in helping me with the whole process.”

Wilkenfeld, 55, bought the colt for $100,000 and named him after his parents Vivienne and Jack. “Theyre the most amazing parents and it’s a great honor and thrill to name my first horse after them,” he said.

After the sale, Pike told Carrie that the colt came into the back ring trying to breed any filly near him and that he had been afraid some of the interested buyers would have been scared off by his antics.

“He was always a massive horse with good bone and a killer body, so I can bet that he was dragging the handler around,” Carrie said. “Sobhy emailed me that they had bought him and how thrilled they were. I was thrilled, too, as I knew he was staying in the U.S. and would be in good hands.”

But about two months later. Sonbol called Carrie to tell her they were having trouble with the colt, who had been sent to Bruce Jackson at his Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center to get his early training. He was getting more aggressive and wanted no part of training.

“He was a good-looking horse and a lovely mover,” Jackson said. “David sent him to me right from Timonium with the idea of giving him some time and letting him recover from the 2-year-old sale. I knew Sobhy from when he worked for Mr. Zayat, so that’s how the horse came to be sent here. So, we gave the horse some time, but when he started back in training, he was very very difficult and very aggressive and studdish. He was not focused at all on what he was doing and didn’t want to train.

“We persevered for a while, but it became obvious he needed to be gelded to get the best out of him. I also spoke to the consignor (Al Pike) and he confirmed that the horse had been that way at the sale. So, after putting all that information together, David and Sobhy quite rightly decided to go ahead and have him gelded. It took a while, but we finally got him going forward and put him back in training. We did a lot of work with him away from the track. The fact that he didn’t want to train when he got on the racetrack, I decided it was best to totally remove that from his program, and we just trained him in the fields and hills and everywhere around Fair Hill for as long as we could. Then, I finally worked him back into the racetrack and he was fine. He turned around mentally and never looked back.”

As for his Gotham victory, Jackson said, “That was a big turnaround. That was special. He’s a lovely looking horse and he looks the part, he really does.”

The next task was to find him a trainer. Jackson had sent some difficult horses to Rudy Rodriguez in the past with good results.

“When David asked me what I thought of him, I told him I had sent him some horses with a similar mindset as Vyjack that he’s gone on and done very well with,” Jackspn said.

So, Wilkenfeld sent Vyjack to Rodriguez, who had been a part-time jockey for many years and who exercised horses for Bobby Frankel and more recently Rick Dutrow. He had also worked for Dutrow’s father, Dick, years ago.

“Rudy is really hard-working and he gets up on the horses in the morning,” Wilkenfeld said. “And I didn’t want to get lost in a big stable. I heard good things about him and spoke to Bruce Jackson.”

Rodriguez came to the U.S. from Mexico, and his first job was picking oranges and cucumbers in Florida. He feels privileged to have hooked up with Frankel and Dutrow and feels he he’s learned from the best.

“I was very blessed to work for Bobby,” he said. “I still miss him, that’s for sure. He was very good to me and always tried to teach me what was going on. If you paid attention you learned. Trainers like Bobby and Rick Dutrow are the kind of people you want to work for, as was Rick’s father.”

Following Vyjack’s head victory in the Jerome Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 5, in which he was up close to the pace and had to fight back to eke out a head victory, Rodriguez began working with the gelding, teaching him to relax behind horses.

“We taught him to do pretty much what we wanted him to, and in these big races you don’t want a horse who has to go to the lead. He’s always been very aggressive and he still wants to play games sometimes and doesn’t want to train. You have to play with him and let him know you’re his friend. So far it’s working. I didn’t want him on the lead too soon, because he has a tendency to pull himself up. He reminds very much of Empire Maker (who he was around with Frankel). As soon as Empire Maker made the lead he would start fooling around. So we tried to teach this horse not to do that. There’s always somebody coming behind you and you don’t want your horse taken by surprise. You’re better off coming from behind and making that big move.”

That’s exactly what Vyjack did, as he roared by horses with huge, effortless strides and quickly drew clear under new rider Joel Rosario, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.09. West Hills Giant, with first-time blinkers, set all the pace and hung on well to be second, a half-length in front of Elnaawi. Overanalyze, who got good position after breaking from post 11, came up empty on the far turn and raced evenly to finish fifth.

“This was amazing,” said Wilkenfeld, who races under the name Pick Six Racing. “Words can’t describe it. The way he won today was just superb. You buy a horse and you hope for this, bit it’s not something you really think about. I was nervous when I saw him that far back. I’ve been watching the races all day and every winner was either first or second or right there. It was unbelievable the way he closed. I didn’t have time to process it, actually.”

It was a bold move by Wilkenfeld to take Cornelio Velasquez off Vyjack after winning all three of his starts.

“I made the decision to switch riders, and all I can say is, Joel is a great rider and he fit the horse well. He got him to relax, but it is what it is.”

With a Gotham victory comes visions of roses and mint juleps and Twin Spires. “The way he ran today, you definitely start thinking more seriously about the Derby,” Wilkenfeld said. “But I like to take one race at a time. I’ve been in the game long enough to know you can’t take anything for granted. But I think he showed today if he stays healthy he’s definitely a Derby horse.”

Carrie Brogden remains the horse’s biggest fan and keeps in contact with Wilkenfeld through Facebook, and he sends her videos of Vyjack’s workouts

Before the Gotham Carrie said, “Al did a tremendous job, and Sohby and Dave kept the faith and did what was right for the horse in managing him and picking the trainer…and here we are. I am keeping all fingers and toes crossed.”

Well, she did a lot more than that. When Vyjack won the Gotham, she admits she lost control and made a spectacle of herself at the Thoroughbred Club, which is located just outside Keeneland Race Course.

“You should have seen me,” she said. “I only made about the biggest buffoon out of myself. I literally was jumping and screaming from one side of the bar into the simulcast room and back. Thank God no one videotaped it. It was ridiculous. Once he crossed the finish line I could not help myself. I have really long thick hair that I usually wear up but for some reason I had taken the hair band out of my hair and was chewing on it, probably from nerves.

“Well, they tell me that I jumped up and down like a jack rabbit and I was yelling and screaming with happiness. I went into the simulcast room that is a very warm place with about 10 tables in it, full of horse people, and was jumping and yelling. I was told I looked like a heavy metal rocker on the stage, flinging my hair around. I stopped and turned to the crowd and blurted out: ‘I bred that horse and this is why I am a breeder!” Cheers and applause resounded all around once everyone knew the reason for my crazy behavior. Needless to say, about 15 minutes later I was as embarrassed as hell for doing that. My phone was just blowing up with texts from well wishers. I’m getting goose bumps all over just thinking about it”

If Carrie gets this excited winning the Gotham, imagine what she’ll be like if Vyjack should win the Kentucky Derby.

She realizes it’s still a long way to Churchill Downs, and all you can do is hope the horse stays sound and healthy. But for now, the thrill and excitement of winning a major Derby prep is more than enough, and there is always that one thought to keep the dream alive.

As the song Run for the Roses goes, “It’s the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance.”

And Carrie keeps thinking,, “If Bernstein had not been full that day, this horse would not have existed. That is fate.”

Haskin's Derby Trail: Big Two Locked and Loaded

aspradling — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:23:00 GMT

Patton vs. Rommel! Lee vs. Meade! Washington vs. Cornwallis! Pletcher vs. Baffert? Yes, the armies are massing and they could confront each other on the banks of the Ohio on the first Saturday in May. It could really happen and there’s nothing to stop it. For example, on one expert's poll in the Louisville Courier-Journal, 11 of his top 14 horses are soldiers commanded by either Pletcher or Baffert. And there are a lot more waiting in the trenches.

Gen. Pletcher is well-equipped for battle with names like Violence and Revolutionary. Gen. Baffert is hoping to match that with War Academy. And who else to bring Baffert back to the glory days of his greatest triumphs than Flashback? Let’s not forget, Baffert’s last Derby victory was with a horse with “War” in his name. And his first was a gray, just like Flashback.

While Pletcher has the luxury of staying put for the most part and have Baffert come to him, Baffert’s Army of the West is confined to one place and he, as he normally does, will have to send some of his troops out on scouting missions in the East to test the strength of the opposition by engaging them in some of the earlier minor skirmishes, while saving his main Army for the big conflict.

Last year, he exposed the Oaklawn Park horses by sending his miler, Secret Circle, to Hot Springs for the Southwest Stakes and Rebel Stakes and left the locals beaten and battered. Then he applied the coup de grace with his big gun, Bodemeister, in the Arkansas Derby. He is planning on using that same strategy this year by sending his miler, Super Ninety Nine, to Oaklawn for the Monday’s Southwest Stakes.

And who can forget Pletcher’s powerhouse platoon from last year, with Algorithms, El Padrino, Discreet Dancer, and Gemologist, as well as several others. That army eventually crumbled into harmless fragments. Some of them were wounded in action, while others were last seen in full retreat on the day of the battle. How difficult is it to keep an army of 3-year-olds intact for four months, especially your most seemingly invincible warriors? Just mention the names Eskendereya and Uncle Mo to Pletcher.

Perhaps this year it will all come down to a mano-a-mano fight between Pletcher’s Achilles, Verrazano, and Baffert’s Hector, Flashback. Now, now, all you Baffert followers, that is not to imply the history books have already revealed the result. Remember that famous incident regarding a certain someone’s heel.

We all know that on the Derby trail things are not always as they seem, and the journey has a tendency to take strange unexpected turns. We often see powerful forces marching to Louisville and it’s the little guy armed with a single cannon that sneaks in and steals all the thunder while the big guys are napping (Remember George Washington and crossing the Delaware River, and the sleeping Hessians?). So if you’re looking for one of those this year, remember one of the little guys, Itsmyluckyday, and his trainer E. Plesa, whose name coincidentally is an anagram for “Asleep.” In other words, watch out for the sleeping giant and don’t get caught napping yourself.

We have established that is unlikely the Pletcher and Baffert armies will make it to Louisville intact without any casualties. We all know the Derby trail every year is strewn with the injured and the vanquished.

But as the battle lines are drawn, watch out for the three Bafferts – War Academy, Shakin it Up, and Belvin -- in Sunday’s San Vicente Stakes, and the two -- Manando and Carving -- in Saturday's El Camino Real Derby, and Super Ninety Nine in the Southwest, and Flashbanck in the San Felipe Stakes, and Code West and Den's Legacy and Curly Top and Tiz the Truth in some other far off battlefield who knows where.

On the Pletcher front, watch out for Verrazano in the Tampa Bay Derby, Violence in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, Shanghai Bobby in the Florida Derby, Overanalyze in the Gotham Stakes, Palace Malice in the Risen Star Stakes, Revolutionary in the Wood Memorial, and Delhomme and Capo Bastone, and Doherty, and Forty Tales, and Charming Kitten, and anyone else in Fort Pletcher who is getting armed and loaded for battle.

Yep, it’s unlikely most of these will make it to the final conflict on first Saturday in May, but good luck trying to figure out which ones will and which ones won’t. In the meantime, it’s gonna start getting awfully noisy around here…BANG!

Haskin's Derby Trail: Points of Interest

aspradling — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:49:00 GMT

The Kentucky Derby graded earnings system is gone, thank goodness. No more one-time 2-year-old hotshots getting a free pass and riding the gravy train all the way to Louisville. Those lucrative 2-year-old races no longer will get you a starting berth in the Derby, although we feel some tweaking is needed to separate the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Champagne, and FrontRunner from the other 10-point juvenile races. Perhaps 20 points for those three stakes would serve the system better. They still produce the marquee names on the Derby trail until they either prove themselves unworthy or others come along to replace them.

Another possible change would be an upgrade to 20 points for the Holy Bull and Robert Lewis Stakes, which has attracted top horses the past two years. But those are suggestions to ponder for the future.

What is most fascinating about the new point system is that we really don’t know how many points it’s going to take to assure a spot in the field. Churchill Downs is estimating around 40, with a group tied at 30 fighting for the final spots, which will be decided by earnings in non-restricted stakes. Those estimations are based on how it would have played out last year had the point system been implemented, and extensive research over the past several years.

While we as prognosticators, speculators, and fans can just sit back and enjoy the show and deal with everything as it develops, the trainers are going to have to do a great deal of adjusting on the fly, while figuring out when to call last-minute audibles and leaving themselves room at the back end in case their original plans don’t materialize as hoped.

You would think the new points system would encourage trainers to run their horses three times instead of two, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Therefore, many trainers will be relying heavily on their horse’s performance in the Second Level stakes, worth 100 points to the winner.

Although there is always the danger of good horses, such as Shanghai Bobby, Violence, Normandy Invasion and others with two scheduled starts encountering an unforeseen roadblock along the way, the result of a terrible start or bad trip in their final race, there is the satisfaction of knowing that the Derby field will be comprised of horses who are all in top form, making the race even more competitive than in past years. This year could turn out to be a learning experience for trainers who took the conservative route and left themselves with no back-up plan, and in the end failed to get in.

One of the reasons we don’t have Triple Crown winners anymore is that the Derby is so much deeper and more competitive than it used to be back in the 60s and 70s when anyone could run in the race and often did, from cheap claimers to bad allowance horses who were still eligible for nonwinners of two after 15- to 20-plus career starts. With the new point system, the Derby will be even more difficult to win, with basically the entire field coming off a top effort.

As for horses like Violence, Normandy Invasion, Uncaptured, Overanalyze and other top-class 2-year-olds scheduled to make their two starts in a 50-point race and 100-point race, if they can’t earn more than 20 points in those two races to go along with their 2-year-old points, perhaps they’re just not good enough or ready to tackle the Derby. They can’t hang their hat on the Remsen or Kentucky Jockey Club or CashCall Futurity. They can only hope if they are on the bubble, those 10 points will provide that extra little push to get in the race.

Also, as much as we all feel badly for Hawthorne having the Illinois Derby omitted completely from the qualifying stakes list, it will force trainers to run their horses against the top contenders in their final prep instead of using the much easier Illinois Derby as a backdoor entrance into the Derby, as in past years. Hawthorne recently upped the purse of the race, and if they can establish it as a legitimate 50-point race and perhaps eventually a 100-point race by attracting better quality horses then they will have a good chance of becoming a serious Derby prep. In the meantime, the omission of the Illinois Derby, as bad as it is for Hawthorne, will weed out horses who used to get in the Derby, even though they didn’t measure up against the real contenders.

The bottom line is that the Derby trail is going to be a fascinating, entertaining, thought-provoking journey.

Pedigree strikes it rich

It looks as if Steve Asmussen has himself a potential Derby trail horse in Proud Strike, who demolished a maiden field at Fair Grounds going 1 1/16 miles, despite having to go four-wide into the first turn after breaking from the 10-post, rallying three-wide around the far turn, and racing a bit greenly in the stretch, ducking in toward the rail.

Brian Hernandez hit him left-handed after turning for home, then switched to a right-handed whip and kept hitting him right-handed even as he was bearing in. Once he got to the rail, he ran perfectly straight, displaying a smooth, efficient stride, and kept widening his margin, gliding past the wire 7 1/2 lengths in front.

Not only was this colt extremely impressive, even with questionable competition, the first five generations of his female family reads like a Who’s Who of Blue Hen producers and racing champions. You would be hard-pressed to find a greater collection of racing and breeding legends in a single female family.

Gallorette – One of the greatest fillies of all time, she defeating colts 14 times, including victories in the Met Mile, Whitney, Brooklyn, and Carter, while competing against the likes of Stymie, Armed, and Assault. Dam of Irish St. Leger winner White Gloves II.

Flower Bowl – Foundation mare for Darby Dan Farm. Dam of Graustark, champion sire His Majesty, and champion 3-year-old filly Bowl of Flowers.

Misty Morn – Champion 3-year-old filly and Handicap Filly and Mare, Broodmare of the Year and dam of champions Bold Lad and Successor.

Grey Flight – Phipps family foundation mare, dam of nine stakes winners, including What a Pleasure and Misty Morn.

Natalma – Dam of Northern Dancer and three other stakes winners, as well as four stakes-placed horses. Granddam of legendary international sire Danehill and undefeated 2-year-old champion filly La Prevoyante, who finished the year an amazing 12-for-12.

Flaming Page – Won the Queen’s Plate and Canadian Oaks and was second in the Kentucky Oaks. Dam of England’s last Triple Crown winner, the great Nijinsky II and top-class producer Fleur.

Fleur – Dam of English and Irish Derby winner The Minstrel and three other stakes winners, including French group winner and top sire Far North.

Minstrella – Three-time group I winner in Europe and champion 2-year-old filly in Ireland. Dam of multiple graded stakes winner Colonial Minstrel. Granddam of Jim Dandy winner A Little Warm

Flight Dancer – Dam of Misty Gallore, winner of eight stakes, and European champion Minstrella. Granddam of top sire Silver Ghost, and great granddam of Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Saint Liam.

Oh, yes, and Proud Strike’s sire is Smart Strike and his broodmare sire is Pleasant Colony, in case you were wondering about his distance capabilities. This is pretty much the history of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in North America, wrapped up in one female family.

Now, a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Fair Grounds that was originally scheduled for the grass (he was entered main track only) is a far cry from becoming a legitimate contender on the Derby trail, but it sure is a start, and if he can get over the next hump, facing better quality horses, then you have to regard him as a serious horse. Until then, we can just drool over his pedigree.

This was his third career start, but it must be noted that the only two horses to finish in front him were Bradester, who came back to win an allowance race at Gulfstream, and the brilliant and highly regarded Titletown Five, who was coming off a neck defeat to Violence.

New faces of the week

Treasury Bill -- This Ron Ellis-trained colt, owned by Gary and Mary West of Flashback and Power Broker fame, looked awesome breaking his maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita, in which he came from far back with a powerful stretch run to win by 1 1/4 lengths while still under wraps. He may have the best stamina pedigree of any horse on the Derby trail this year, which makes his sprint score all the more impressive. Watch out for this one.

Transparent – Well-bred Darley colt finally put it all together and broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles by almost six lengths at Aqueduct, despite being wiped out on the backstretch and carried out past the middle of the track.. Son of Bernardini had previously run second to the exciting Revolutionary.

Cerro – Another find for Team Valor, this former Italian-trained son of Mr. Greeley looked good wiring his field by 2 1/2 lengths in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Gulfstream, running a full second faster than Orb in the second division. Strong female family and should have no problem getting classic distances.

Orb – Shug McGaughey colt by Malibu Moon, owned by Stuart Janney III and the Phipps family, scored his second straight win in the second division of the nine-furlong allowance, winning by a length. He has a victory over Revolutionary and was third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, by Violence.

Tiz a Minister – After eight starts on grass and synthetic, he made his dirt debut in the California Breeders Champion Stakes and came from the clouds with a spectacular late run to defeat the odds-on favorite Omega Star, who ran an excellent race himself.

Haskin's Derby Trail: The Powers of Illusion

Blood-Horse Staff — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:57:00 GMT

Not everything on the Derby trail is what it seems. There are so many twists and turns it is often futile to plot a course and expect every step to go as planned. This applies to everyone, not just trainers and owners.

So, when all the “experts” say a horse can’t go a mile and a quarter or is too slow or is regressing instead of moving forward, that doesn’t necessarily make it so.

Picture the following scenario. A horse begins his career in spectacular fashion, but does so against maidens, state-breds, and in a non-graded stakes that is not known for producing Derby winners. On top of that, his sire was a sprinter/miler who had not produced any distance horses; his dam never won over a mile in 39 career starts, and his broodmare sire was a champion sprinter.

In the horse’s fourth career start, going a mile in a non-graded stakes, he opens a two-length lead at the eighth pole and then has to be hard-ridden in the final furlong, hanging on to win by three-quarters of a length, while coming home his final half in a sluggish :51 3/5 and slowing down to a :26 1/5 final quarter.

His last three three Beyer figures drop from a 105 to a 97 to a 95.

Clearly, this is a horse who will not get a mile and a quarter and who is going the wrong way, getting slower instead of faster. In short, this is a good horse, but not a Kentucky Derby horse.

That horse was named Smarty Jones. To demonstrate how unpredictable this sport is, Smarty’s dam, I’ll Get Along, sold as a yearling to small-time Pennsylvania owners and breeders Roy and Pat Chapman for $40,000. In 2001, I’ll Get Along dropped an Elusive Quality colt who they would name Smarty Jones after Pat Chapman’s mother. Later that same year, the Chapmans sold I’ll Get Along at the Keeneland November mixed sale for $130,000 to Cloverleaf Farm, just a few weeks before their trainer, Bob Camac, and his wife were murdered. Crushed over losing their trainer and good friend, the Chapmans decided to get out of the sport and sell all their horses, but were dissuaded from selling the Elusive Quality colt by their farm manager, who thought he could be something special.

We all know what happened after that. Smarty Jones improved with every start following that mile non-graded stakes (the Southwest), winning the Rebel, Arkansas Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness (by a record 11 1/2 lengths), becoming one of the most beloved and popular horses in history and a hero to the city of Philadelphia. Later that same year, Cloverleaf Farm took advantage of Smarty Jones’ nationwide popularity, selling I’ll Get Along, in foal to Elusive Quality, at the Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale for $5 million.

The resulting foal, however, would run 16 times, with only one win, one second, and one third, and eventually was sent to Argentina. Of I’ll Get Along’s next six foals, three were unraced, one was born dead, and the remaining two won a combined three races in 13 starts.

This is just one example of why we should always expect the unexpected on the Derby trail, and in fact all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry, from the racetrack to the breeding shed. While there are those who are more experienced and knowledgeable, whether at handicapping, training, or breeding, it is always wise to adhere to the old saying, “There is nothing like a horse to make a person look like an ass.”

If you don’t think that’s true, how did Mine That Bird win the Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, despite having a feeble high Beyer figure of 81 and finishing out of the money at Sunland Park? How did Animal Kingdom win the Derby in his first ever start on dirt, something that had never been done before? How did a New York-bred gelding win the Derby when no New York-bred had ever won and no gelding had won in 74 years? How did Giacomo win the Derby having won only one of seven career starts and coming off five consecutive defeats? How did I’ll Have Another win the Derby from post 19, having had only one start in the previous three months and ridden by an unknown jockey from Hastings Park in Vancouver, Canada? And how did Big Brown win the Derby from post 20, while becoming the first horse in 93 years to win with only three career starts?

Statistical formulas, history, and even common sense are fine for occupying your mind as you follow these noble steeds on the perilous Derby trail. But if you expect them to actually pinpoint the Derby winner in that 20-horse cavalry charge, you’re likely in for a rude awakening. That’s not to say we shouldn’t try. What else are you going to do in January and February? Those lucky (and I stress the word lucky) enough to actually ferret out that elusive Derby winner and cash a ticket will have bragging rights for an entire year. And the earlier you find him the harder you can beat your chest. Just don’t take the search or the conquest too seriously. You can bet there is a horse right around the corner just waiting to make you feel like an ass.

Wait a minute. How about that first-time starter Integrity who won so impressively at Gulfstream Thursday? Sure looks like a Derby horse to me…“Gee, that’s better. Muddah, Faddah kindly disregard this letter.”

Destination Louisville

aspradling — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 01:39:00 GMT

New Year’s Day has come and gone and that means the race for the Kentucky Derby has begun. Some are ready to become immersed in it, while others aren’t quite ready to smell the roses and taste the mint juleps this early in the year.

But regardless of whether you’re ready or not, the long, arduous journey has begun. Picture the masses gathering at the Verrazano Bridge for the New York Marathon, knowing they have 26 grueling miles ahead of them. Now picture the mass gathering of four-legged steeds and their trainers, from Florida, Louisiana, and Arkansas up to New York, and west to California. Ahead of them are approximately 26 perilous furlongs, each one filled with exultation or heartbreak. By the first Saturday in May, only 20 will qualify to enter the realm of immortality.

Some of the human participants will have only one shot at glory, knowing their quest could end with each race, with each workout, with each gallop, with each innocuous little stone on a horse path, and with each kick against the stall wall. Others will begin their march with a battalion of Derby hopefuls. But even sheer numbers do not assure a starting berth.

We have seen an interesting group of 2-year-olds stamp themselves as potential Derby horses, but how they make the transition from 2 to 3 remains to be seen. And there is the excitement of knowing that for the next month and a half, each maiden race or rare allowance race could bring a new exciting face on the scene.

Although lists of Derby contenders change on a daily basis, here is our first feeble attempt to rank some of the leading hopefuls, both proven and unproven. We have separated the proven horses from the maiden winners, as we have seen way too many horses break their maidens as if they are the next superstar only to plummet back to earth when they face winners. Yes, there will be horses some feel belong on here that have been omitted. That is because it is impossible to catch every promising maiden winner or runner-up, while others will be left off due to simple oversight. So, feel free to add any names you feel are deserving of mention.

1—Violence (Todd Pletcher/Medaglia d’Oro) – He is the one horse with no knocks. He is undefeated in three starts at three different racetracks on both coasts, at three different distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, and he is already a grade I and grade II winner on dirt and synthetic. He is bred to run all day and is from one of the most potent tail-female lines in America. And unlike a lot of Pletcher’s previous Derby hopefuls, he has the perfect running style, settling early in fifth, fourth or third and wins by only as much as he has to, while appearing to have a lot in reserve. He also is as impressive looking a 3-year-old as we’ve seen and just seems to glide over the ground. For him to travel to California and win a grade I in his first try over a synthetic surface, just cruising past the leader inside the eighth pole, was extremely impressive. In short, he seems to have everything you look for in a Derby horse.

2—Power Broker (Bob Baffert/Pulpit) – This is a high ranking for a horse who finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at odds of 2-1 and who is a bit on the light side, with the hot blood of Pulpit running through him. Baffert will have to handle him with kid gloves and we doubt you’ll see him have more than two starts before the Derby. With that said, his 6 1/2-length romp in the grade I FrontRunner Stakes in his dirt debut was brilliant, and he was given zero chance in the Breeders’ Cup by going six-wide on both turns and in fact was wide every step of the race. He still managed to make a threatening move to reach contention in the upper stretch over a speed-favoring track, but failed to sustain it after having lost so much ground. He still was beaten only five lengths. If he can keep together and cool off that hot Pulpit blood, he can go a long way, especially with his strong tail-female family, being inbred to Buckpasser, and his dam being a half-sister to Miss Shop, a grade I winner of over $1.1 million.

3— Shanghai Bobby (Todd Pletcher/Harlan’s Holiday) – Boy, if only his female family had a bit more stamina, he would be hands-down the number one Derby contender. With names like Orientate, Mt. Livermore, Carson City, and Valid Appeal on the dam side, we just don’t know how far his extraordinary talent is going to carry him. Yes. Carson City is the broodmare sire of Barbaro, but Barbaro was by Dynaformer, one of the great stamina influences. With that said, you simply cannot ignore what this colt has accomplished, winning the Hopeful, Champagne, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which is just what we’ve been looking for in our next Triple Crown winner. His victory in the Hopeful was brilliant, and his five-length romp in the Champagne (the classiest 2-year-old race in the country in our opinion) was extraordinary, as he tracked a solid pace and flew home his last quarter in :24 1/5. He showed his courage winning the BC Juvenile after tracking a blistering pace (:45 2/5, 1:10 1/5). Even though they crawled home, there were a lot of good horses behind him and he could be excused for regressing after his Champagne score and traveling cross-country. Based on his talent and accomplishments, this colt right now is in a class by himself.

4—Normandy Invasion (Chad Brown/Tapit) – The jury is still out on him, only because his female family is so speed-oriented, with broodmare sire Boston Harbor and great-grandsire Capote, and his tail-female family tracing to Royal Serenade, a champion sprinter in England. His third dam, Gay Serenade, did produce two-turn stakes horses Gulls Cry and Sole Mio (who made some noise on the Derby trail), but there is a lot of speed to overcome. With that said, his nose defeat in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes was one of the most impressive races by a 2-year-old last year, as he unleashed an explosive move on the far turn and was able to sustain it to the wire. At this point, we just don’t know if he hung a little at the end or the victorious Overanalyze ran his guts out to hold him off. Maybe it was a combination of both. We just have to decide whether he wants to keep going or whether he reached his limit at nine furlongs. For now, that move he made and the smoothness of his stride is enough to keep him in the Top 5.

5—Dewey Square (Dale Romans/Bernardini) – This well-bred son of Bernardini somehow wound up breaking his maiden by nearly 12 lengths at Hoosier Park before easily taking an allowance race at Churchill Downs. He then finished a strong third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Kentucky Jockey Club. He’s been turning in some strong works at Gulfstream and should come out running in 2013. Love his inbreeding to Dr. Fager and Secretariat, with classic winners Pleasant Colony and Assert also in his female family. Add sire Bernardini and his descendants Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid and you have a ton of class, speed, and stamina top and bottom. Dale Romans is a heartbeat away from a Derby score, having finished third twice in the last three years with grass and synthetic horses. He finally has a pure dirt horse, who already has won at Churchill Downs.

6—He’s Had Enough (Doug O’Neill/Tapit) – One of the oddest race records we’ve seen for a young 3-year-old, and until he runs again you have to throw out his three out-of-the-money finishes on synthetic and grass and just go by his remarkable second, beaten a head, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, in which he overcame a horrendous trip to just miss catching the 2-year-old champ. In his last start, the CashCall Futurity, he again had a bad trip, breaking slowly and dropping back to 11th and then getting bumped in the upper stretch. All things considered, his fifth-place finish wasn’t all that bad. His pedigree is strong on both ends. Third dam, Courtly Dee, a granddaughter of War Admiral, produced major stakes winners Althea, Native Courier, Twining, and this colt’s second dam, Aquilegia. He’ll follow last year’s Derby winner I’ll Have Another and debut in the Robert Lewis.

7—Uncaptured (Mark Casse/Lion Heart) – We don’t know how far his sire can carry him, but Lion Heart did win the Haskell and was runner-up in Smarty Jones’ Kentucky Derby. Although this colt’s tail-female family is pretty obscure, his dam is by Arch and he is inbred top and bottom to Hail to Reason, one of the great classic influences. With six victories in seven starts, he has a strong foundation, and his six wins have come at six different distances from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. What is even more impressive is that he never tailed off, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in his final start in one of the gutsiest performances of the year, defeating a tough colt in Frac Daddy and the aforementioned Dewey Square, who is ranked ahead of him based mainly on pedigree. In his previous start he trounced Belmont Futurity winner Overanalyze by eight lengths in the Iroquois, and that colt came back to win the Remsen. This colt looks like a throwback to the tough, hard-knocking horses of the past.

8—Overanalyze (Todd Pletcher/Dixie Union) – He is obviously a talented, gutsy colt, but he needs to show more consistency. His first two wins were followed by a well-beaten defeat (seven and eight lengths), but his victory in the Remsen over Normandy Invasion was a big effort, and you have to love it when they dig in the way he did. He’s been galloping steadily and reportedly is progressing beautifully for his debut. Pedigree isn’t exactly inundated with stamina, so we don’t know how much farther he wants to go, although we do like his broodmare sire, Unaccounted For, who spent the end of 1995 chasing Cigar.

9—Goldencents (Doug O’Neill/Into Mischief) – His victory in the Sham was more workmanlike, and he was a under a heavy barrage of whips by Kevin Krigger, who hit him about a dozen times left-handed and then eight times right-handed through a final eighth in :13 3/5. He’s by a relatively obscure stallion (until Saturday) and he has a relatively obscure tail-female family, and seemed one-dimensional until the Sham when he was outrun early by the Baffert-trained Manando and sat off the pace for the first time, which made this a big step forward. He is a flat-out runner with a world of speed and the ability to carry it a distance. How far, we still have no idea. Following his 7 1/4-length romp in his career debut going 5 1/2 furlongs over Del Mar’s Polytrack, he was ambitiously shipped east for the one-mile Champagne Stakes, coming with a ton of hype. Sent off at 7-2, he went to the front and ran hard the whole way, finishing second to Shanghai Bobby. Not being nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, he waited for the rich Delta Jackpot and scored a wire-to-wire victory, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over Bern Identity. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here as far as looking like a classic-type horse.

10—Bern Identity (Kelly Breen/Bernstein) – He’s never run a bad race in seven starts and has proven to be a strong stretch runner, despite an abundance of speed in his pedigree and three unraced mares in his tail-female family. We don’t know how far he wants to go, but you can be sure he’ll be making a good deal of noise on the Derby trail. He broke his maiden by nearly 14 lengths going five furlongs at Belmont and followed that up with a classy score in the Sanford Stakes. After a lackluster third in the Hopeful, he won a prep for the Delta Jackpot by three lengths before closing strongly to finish second to Goldencents in the Jackpot. You had to love the way he was gobbling up ground down that short stretch. So far, it’s hard to knock him.

11—Frac Daddy (Kenny McPeek/Scat Daddy) – Hard to get a good grasp of his pedigree, as he seems to have a little of everything, but nothing outstanding. The Scat Daddys are runners, but we don’t know how far they want to go, and his broodmare sire Skip Away, hasn’t produced any classic horses. His tail-female family traces to Fast Hilarious, who had a ton of speed, but could carry it a mile and a quarter. And his great-grandsire, Fast Play, should give him some stamina. He nearly beat the far more experienced Uncaptured in the Kentucky Jockey Club, coming off a 9 3/4-length rout in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Churchill. He settles off the pace nicely and like several other top contenders this year, has good tactical speed. There are few more dangerous trainers than McPeek, who knows how to get a horse geared up for a big race.

12—Shakin It Up (Bob Baffert/Midnight Lute) – He’s improving with every start and was closing strongly to be finish third in the Hollywood Prevue. He had a few issues after that, but is back in serious training and has three strong works under him. Most are anxious to see him at two turns, considering he’s by sprint champ Midnight Lute, but remember, Midnight Lute is by Real Quiet, out of a Dehere mare and was only a sprinter because he had a breathing problem. Dam is by Vindication, out of Hall of Famer Silverbulletday, so his pedigree is all Baffert top and bottom. His tail-female family has strong Rokeby Stable blood combined with stamina influence Tom Rolfe.

13—Fury Kapcori (Jerry Hollendorfer/Tiznow) – He’s tough, has plenty of speed, and can carry it. His only two victories have come at Fresno and Golden Gate, but strong seconds in the CashCall Futurity and Real Quiet stamp him as a class horse. Any son of Tiznow with speed and class has to be respected as a tough competitor and he fits that bill. In fact, he can boast of having a two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner as sire and a front-running Kentucky Derby winner (Go For Gin) as broodmare sire. He won’t get much help from his tail-female family. Hollendorfer always dangerous, but has had tough luck on the Derby trail. Back working at Hollywood.

14—Capo Bastone (Todd Pletcher/Street Boss) – He’s been turned over to Pletcher and is now another foot soldier in that vast army of Derby hopefuls. Street Boss, a pure sprinter, may turn some off, but Street Boss is by Street Cry, out of an Ogygian mare, so don’t let that bother you too much. His broodmare sire is Handicap Triple Crown winner Fit to Fight. Not much going on in tail-female family. He’s been progressing from race to race, finishing fourth in the Del Mar Futurity, third in the FrontRunner, and a fast-closing third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He should like the tracks back east.

15—Dynamic Sky (Mark Casse/Sky Mesa) – His only dirt appearance was a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but we saw enough in that race to believe he is a live future book longshot. Every one of his four career starts has been in stakes and he broke his maiden in the Simcoe Stakes at Woodbine in a gutsy performance. After a good second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, he hit the dirt at Santa Anita and was moving inside Power Broker on the turn when Capo Bastone came charging inside him and basically wiped him out, shoving him out into Power Broker and putting him in a tight squeeze with two horses leaning on him from both sides. His jock finally bailed out and then yanked him hard to the inside. By then he was pretty much done, but still was beaten only 5 1/4 lengths. Casse emerging as an elite trainer, and owner John Oxley won the Derby with Monarchos.

16—Mylute (Tom Amoss/Midnight Lute) – He’s certainly well seasoned with seven starts and he appears to be improving with each one. His second to Bern Identity in the Jean Lafitte stamped him as a colt with promise, and he followed that up with a strong third in the Delta Jackpot behind Goldencents and Bern Identity. Sent to Fair Grounds, he decimated a good allowance field by 10 3/4 lengths going a mile and 70 yards. Finishing second was the highly regarded General Election, who was coming off an impressive three-length maiden score at Churchill Downs. His broodmare sire, Valid Expectations, is known more for speed than stamina, but it does give him 5x4 inbreeding to In Reality, and his maternal great grandsire is Strike the Gold, who is a rare find in American pedigrees. He also traces to Al Hattab, and they don’t come any tougher than that hard-knocking gray.

17—Itsmyluckyday (Eddie Plesa Jr./Lawyer Ron) – Have no idea what to make of this colt. He came up through the ranks at Monmouth and then Calder, where he won back-to-back stakes at five furlongs and a mile and 70 yards. He can be excused for his sixth in the Delta Jackpot, and his fast-closing fourth in the Dania Beach on grass was a good effort. But who could have predicted he’d win the Gulfstream Park Derby by 6 3/4 lengths in a startling 1:34 1/5 for the mile. And this after stalking a :44 4/5 half and 1:09 three-quarters. He still came home his final two eighths in a respectable :12 2/5 and :12 3/5. He should handle longer distances, and other than his sire being inbred 5x5 way on top to Nearctic, he is pretty much an outcross. His next against better company will tell a lot.

18—Delhomme (Todd Pletcher/Dixie Union) – He hung tough after setting all the pace in the nine-furlong Remsen Stakes, finishing third and getting beat only three-quarters of a length. Prior to that, he broke his maiden on the front end at Belmont, covering the mile in a sharp 1:35 2/5. He did, however, come from sixth to finish second in his career debut at Saratoga going six furlongs. Dixie Union, as everyone knows, sired last year’s Belmont winner, dispelling doubts he couldn’t sire a distance horse. His broodmare sire, Out of Place, won the Clark and placed in the Whitney and Donn Handicaps among others, and his maternal great-grandsire is El Prado, so distance should not be a problem. He would move up with a good debut coming from off the pace.

19—Brown Almighty (Tim Ice/Big Brown) – This is another horse who had a horrible trip in the Breeders’ Cup; his coming in the Juvenile Turf. After breaking from the outside, he was moved prematurely on the backstretch to take the lead, normally the kiss of death on the grass. He hung tough and was still right there in the upper stretch when Fantastic Moon and Kieran Fallon ducked in sharply and knocked him off stride and into a crowd of horses. Desormeaux had to take up, and pretty much wrapped up on him and let him coast to the wire. So, ignore that ninth-place finish and hope he takes to the dirt at Oaklawn. He is a stakes winner at Louisiana Downs and was beaten a neck in the Sunday Silence Stakes and 1 1/2 lengths in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland. The Big Browns should handle the dirt, but his tail-female family is pretty obscure. Broodmare sire Gone For Real is a son of Gone West, out of a Drone mare, and Drone is one of those hidden gems.

20—Balance the Books (Chad Brown/Lemon Drop Kid) – All his races have been on grass and his tail-female family is mostly European grass breeding, but the rest of his pedigree cries dirt and that’s where we’d like to see him next. By Lemon Drop Kid, out of a Seeking the Gold mare and inbred 4x4 to Buckpasser, that’s pretty much all you need to know. He is a relentless and powerful stretch runner and came flying late to win the With Anticipation and Bourbon Stakes before finishing a fast-closing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, coming from 12th in a 14-horse field and encountering traffic problems in the stretch. It’s time to see if he’s a Derby horse. If he doesn’t handle the dirt, no harm done. But if he does, watch out. We’d have him ranked higher, but he hasn’t worked since the Breeders’ Cup.

21—Gulfport (Dale Romans/Unbridled’s Song) – It wouldn’t be the Derby trail without a talented Unbridled’s Song and wondering if he’ll stay sound. This colt, out of the million-dollar earner Dream Supreme, is one of those horses who has excelled only at Churchill Downs, where he has two victories and a second, while getting beat 7 1/2 and eight lengths in his two starts at Belmont and Saratoga. But his last two races at Churchill were very impressive and he recently turned in a six-furlong drill in 1:12 2/5 at Gulfstream. Now we just have to see how he’ll handle Gulfstream in the afternoon and how far he wants to go.

22—Den’s Legacy (Bob Baffert/Medaglia d’Oro) – He needed to run a big race in the Sham to wipe out his poor FrontRunner performance, which was his only start on the dirt in eight career starts. He ran well enough, but had the perfect ground-saving trip and looked like a potential winner after cutting the corner into the stretch. But he didn’t show much punch through the stretch and just sort of plodded his way into second through a final eighth in :13 3/5. His female family is OK, especially his inbreeding to Tom Fool. Baffert has several maiden winners that probably are higher on his radar, but you have to at least admire his consistency and ability to handle all surfaces.

23—Avie’s Quality (Josie Carroll/Elusive Quality) – Although Elusive Quality sired Smarty Jones, there is always the question of stamina with his offspring. However, this colt has run four times, all around two turns, and his last two victories – the Display and a maiden race – were impressive enough to suggest he wants to keep going. There is also the matter of his never having run on dirt. You can’t tell much from his two slow breezes at Palm Meadows. His broodmare sire, Lord Avie, recently died at age 34 and he would be a fitting legacy to a tough, gallant warrior. His maternal great-grandsire is the classy Arctic Tern, a son of Sea-Bird, and his third dam is by the stamina influence Pretense, so his female family should carry him a long way if he handles the dirt. If you’re a follower of the Rasmussen Factor (RI), he is inbred to Somethingroyal through Secretariat on top and Sir Gaylord on bottom.

24—Fortify (*Kiaran McLaughlin/Distorted Humor) – Finishing second in the Hopeful, third in the Champagne, and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and having a strong pedigree top and bottom normally would put him a lot higher, but he’s been sent to Dubai, so we have no idea how much progress he’ll be making at 3 and how he will handle the Tapeta surface at Meydan. Even if he does handle it, will racing on that surface help him get to the Derby as a legitimate contender? Way too many question marks with him to rank him any higher. Love his inbreeding top and bottom to Tom Rolfe.

25—Tulira Castle (James DeVito/War Pass) – He’s alternated wins and seconds in his four starts and is coming off a strong allowance victory at Gulfstream going a mile in his dirt debut. He now needs to step up and face better quality horses. He certainly has the pedigree. Although we don’t know much about War Pass as a sire yet, his potential is unlimited and this colt’s female family is chock full of intriguing horses you don’t see in many pedigrees, such as broodmare sire General Assembly (Record-breaking Travers winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up to Spectacular Bid), Unconscious (California Derby winner and favorite for the 1971 Kentucky Derby), and Unconscious’ sire Prince Royal II (a son of Ribot who won the 1964 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe). And his fourth generation sire in his tail-female family is Tom Fool, who rarely appears that close up in a pedigree anymore.

Others to watch -- Archwarrior Remember him? He was once the next coming…before he even started. So strong was the hype preceding his debut, many felt his 3 1/4-length victory was below their expectations, despite running the six furlongs in 1:10 flat. He still was bet down to 3-1 in the Champagne Stakes, but after a lackluster fourth-place finish, he pretty much disappeared. He returned to the work tab with an easy three-furlong breeze on Dec. 24, but we’re still waiting for his next work. Vyjack remained undefeated with a gutsy win in the Jerome, but the two horses he beat were 41-1 and 39-1, so we don’t really know the quality of the field. He still has to prove he wants any part of classic distances. Runner-up Siete de Oros, a Parx shipper, battled gamely the length of the stretch with blinkers on. Purple Egg, undefeated in three starts and a stakes winner at Tampa, was scratched out of the Gulfstream Derby, so we'll have to watch him closely. Avare looked impressive winning the off-the-turf Eddie Logan Stakes, but we really don’t know what he beat and he still has questions to answer. Manando ran a big race in the Sham, coming off a maiden victory and hanging on stubbornly to finish third after outrunning Goldencents early. Bradester and Gunderman ran one-two in a recent allowance race at Gulfstream, but the latter lost a lot of ground and was coming back at Bradester at the finish. My Name is Michael ran a strong second in the Display Stakes at Woodbine, but has never run on dirt. Maryland-based Whiskey Romeo is bred for speed, but has been untouchable in three career starts. Always in a Tiz finished second to Vyjack in an allowance race after breaking his maiden in his career debut. Forty Tales looked good winning an allowance race at Parx for Pletcher and is now two-for-two. Distinctiv Passion is a fast horse who’s won two in a row sprinting in California, but distance is a big question, despite maternal great-grandsire Greinton. Same with Spectacular Bid winner Merit Man. Look for third-place finisher Little Distorted to improve stretching out. Smooth Bert is a solid New York-bred who won the Damon Runyon going a mile in his last start. Two Pletcher colts, Darwin and Micromanage, have a ton of ability, but probably will be heard from later on.
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MAIDEN WINNERS

1—Verrazano (Todd Pletcher/More Than Ready) – His career debut was a near-perfect victory, in which he did displayed a good deal of class for a first-time starter. There is always the question of distance with his sire, but he is a half-brother to last year’s highly ranked Derby contender El Padrino. He settled nicely in third and seemed comfortable tracking a :22 1/5 and :45 flat pace. He cruised up to the leader at the head of the stretch, switched leads on cue, and drew off with complete authority under a hand ride, while striding out beautifully at the finish. He has good length to him and appears to be a powerful, well balanced colt.

2—Revolutionary (Todd PLetcher/War Pass) – There is no telling how good this colt is and how much room for improvement he has after breaking his maiden in his fourth start going a flat mile. What was more impressive than his 8 1/2-length margin and how effortlessly he drew off was the fact that he did it while racing very greenly in the stretch. He was on such cruise control down the lane that Ramon Dominguez turned around to see if anyone was near him. Whether the colt was getting bored or was just green, he switched leads three times in the final sixteenth. He changed to his right lead turning for home and seemed to be moving smoothly when he switched back to his left lead for two strides, then back to his right lead, and back to his left nearing the wire. We loved the way he was striding out and how strong he was galloping out. His female family is loaded with class and stamina (out of an A.P. Indy mare), and his tail-female family traces to fourth-generation stallions Tom Rolfe and Herbager, two of the great stamina influences of our time.

3—Flashback (Bob Baffert/Tapit) – He was highly touted going into his debut and lived up to the billing, drawing off to a 3 1/2-length victory after settling nicely in fourth early, while about seven off the rail. He changed leads smoothly, and after a single cross by Julien Leparoux, drew clear while throwing his ears around. Love the fact that this was a seven-furlong race, which made it more a test of class than pure speed. Third-place finisher, Appealing Tale, came back to break his maiden at a mile by 6 1/4 lengths. His broodmare sire, Mr. Greeley, isn’t known for stamina, but his tail-female family has Pleasant Colony in the third generation and Nijinsky in the fourth, and he’s inbred 4x4 to Nijinsky. The only issue we have right now is the fact that he’s had physical problems since that race and we’ll have to monitor his progress very closely. With only the one start, there isn’t much room for error or any setbacks.

4—Omega Star (John Shirreffs/Candy Ride) – From a visual standpoint, he was as impressive as anyone, displaying a combination of class, speed, and professionalism in his first start since being transferred from Jimmy Jerkens to Shirreffs. Breaking from the disadvantageous rail going 6 1/2 furlongs, he eased back to seventh, while rating beautifully for Corey Nakatani. With swift fractions of :21 4/5 and :45, he bided him time patiently, waiting for an opening. As soon as a seam developed, he just glided right through, opened a clear lead and drew off under no urging in the slightest, showing off his long, fluid strides, in much the same manner as his broodmare sire, Fusaichi Pegasus. You might say his stride was somewhere between his sire’s and broodmare sire’s. Love his inbreeding top and bottom to Lyphard and having Roberto in his tail-female family. If you’re not familiar with his maternal great-grandsire Alzao, he is the broodmare sire of Japanese superstar Deep Impact.

5—Mountain Eagle (Nick Zito/Birdstone) – This is the best of the Whitney family blood, with Birdstone on top and Silver Spoon on bottom through her classy, well-bred daughter Inca Queen. With a pedigree likes this, it is unfortunate he had to be gelded. After a decent fourth at 29-1 in his debut at Churchill Downs, he turned in a huge effort stretching out to a mile at Gufstream, tracking the pace and then coming home his last quarter in :24 2/5, while drawing off to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:35 4/5. The fact that he was able to accomplish that while never switching leads makes you wonder how much he can improve if he gets his lead changes straightened out.

6—War Academy (Bob Baffert/Giant’s Causeway) – Pedigree-wise, it doesn’t get much better, with Giant’s Causeway on top, broodmare sire A.P. Indy, and a strong tail-female family, with Gone West and Nureyev and the classy mare Gay Missile. His career debut going 6 1/2 furlongs wasn’t anything flashy, but he showed all the signs of a good horse. Settling off the pace in third, he was hard-ridden on the turn, responded to a left-hand whip and ran hard to put away his stablemate Denzel, while being forced out a bit in the stretch. We love the way he built up momentum in the final furlong and the way he was striding out at the finish.

7—Belvin (Bob Baffert/Empire Maker) – Another impressive Baffert maiden winner, he was coming off a strong fast-closing second in his career debut to Distinctiv Passion, who came back to win an allowance race on the front end in 1:08 3/5. Although he had to battle for a length victory in his next start, after sitting just off the pace, it was a fast-run race, with blazing fractions of :21 3/5 and :44 2/5 and a final time of 1:14 4/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. He showed a lot of fight, turning back the serious challenge of Forest Boy, who came charging up alongside him in the upper stretch. But he dug in and was easing clear at the wire before opening up by five lengths on the gallop-out. He is inbred top and bottom to In Reality, one of the more potent inbreeding stallions of recent years.

8—Appealing Tale (Peter Miller/Tale of the Cat) – Stamina is a question mark, but he did break his maiden going a mile, while drawing off to a 6 1/4-length victory in his third start. In his previous start, he was third behind Flashback and Mentor Kane. He has good tactical speed and is showing marked improvement with every start. By Tale of the Cat, out of an Unbridled’s Song mare, and Valid Appeal his maternal great-grandsire, there are major distance concerns, but the way he’s been running, he should be effective at least up to a mile and an eighth.

9—Palace Malice (Todd Pletcher/Curlin) – He hasn’t run since his impressive maiden score at Saratoga Aug. 4, but has been working steadily at Palm Meadows. In his career debut he was beaten a half-length by the talented Carried Interest, and then captured a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by 3 1/2 lengths in a sharp 1:16 2/5. This is an appropriate year for Cot Campbell and Dogwood to finally land the roses, and this colt certainly has the pedigree. The Curlins have come out running, and broodmare sire, Royal Anthem, was a classy horse who could run all day. Tail-female fourth generation is strong, with Roberto and BC Classic winner Skywalker.

10—Declan’s Warrior (Nick Zito/Majestic Warrior) – Not much to tell yet based on his only start back in October at Belmont, in which he closed like a rocket from far back to just get up by a neck going 5 1/2 furlongs in a sprightly 1:03 4/5. Sent off at 34-1, he dropped back to last from the rail and saved ground every step of the way. He closed relentlessly after appearing to beaten at the eighth pole. His most recent work was a sharp three-furlong drill in :35 flat. Not quite sure about Majestic Warrior as a classic sire, but he is by A.P. Indy, out of a Seeking the Gold mare. No distance concerns at all in female family, tracing to Hail to Reason, Herbager, Northern Dancer, and Prince John.

(We wanted to put Orb on the list off his mile maiden score in November, but he had one work in Florida on Dec. 24 and hasn’t worked back. We’ll keep an eye on him on the work tab.

Haskin's Derby Trail: Remember Mark Valeski?

aspradling — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:55:00 GMT

The Kentucky Derby trail and short memories go hand in hand. Remember not too long ago when Mark Valeski was the next up-and-coming star, grabbing everyone’s attention with his gutsy nose defeat to El Padrino in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II)?

Well, following one throw-out loss in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), it’s now Mark who?

Even owner Brereton Jones is wondering if the Derby is the right spot for the son of Proud Citizen.

“I’m not 100 percent sure we’ll be in the Derby,” Jones said while waiting for his Kentucky Oaks filly Believe You Can to come out on the track for her work. “It all depends on how he works tomorrow. In all honesty, he might be better off in the Peter Pan. It’s a grade II and we haven’t won a graded stakes yet. And he won’t have to run against 19 other horses. But his (speed) numbers actually are not bad, and Larry (trainer Jones) thinks he really belongs. So in the final analysis, I’m going to leave it up to Larry. He’s a great horse trainer and a lot of owners make the mistake of telling their trainer what to do.”

A few minutes later, Mark Valeski came jogging up to the finish line with Jones aboard and stopped for a few seconds. The colt looked fantastic. He is extremely athletic looking with great muscle tone and definition. From a physical standpoint, he looked coiled and ready to unleash the real Mark Valeski.

With the 180-pound Jones in the saddle, he barreled around the racetrack at a strong clip and didn’t sound as if he were blowing at all.

“As of right this minute, I’m not saying that it’s 100% we’ll be in the Derby,” Jones said. That work tomorrow is gonna be important. He has to show me, ‘I’m better now than I’ve ever been.’ I just want to make sure he gets over this track really well.

“Brereton is trying to get cold feet. He just doesn’t want to do something that’s gonna look stupid and have everyone say he got Derby fever.”

The reason for all the uncertainty is Mark Valeski’s recent upset in the Louisiana Derby to the 109-1 shot Hero of Order.

“I beat Hero of Order the race before (the Black Gold) with Icon Ike and I can’t mention Icon Ike and Mark Valeski in the same sentence,” Jones said. “Ike is a good horse but he ain’t no Mark Valeski.”

Most people are aware that Mark Valeski threw a shoe before the Louisiana Derby, but not many realize that he got bumped at the start and stepped on, likely by his own stablemate Mr. Bowling, tearing off a chunk of his foot.

“My other horse apparently stepped on him,” Jones said. “He was the only horse who got close enough to him to do it. All I saw was that they bumped coming out of the gate. But he came back with the whole bulb ripped off of his foot. So he had to have gotten hit by a horse and Mr. Bowling is the only horse who got close enough to him. A 109-1 shot wins the race, I blow a shoe in the post parade, and get run over by my other horse. This is divine intervention. I had nothing to do with it. It came from above. I just wasn’t supposed to win that race.

“Everybody uses the turf to dirt angle for handicapping or synthetic to dirt. Well I’m gonna use the shoe off to shoe on angle. Every time I’ve lost a shoe and still run a good race I’ve never been beaten in the next race back. I’ve won every time. So that’s my angle.”

Jones also feels that, despite the recent defeat, Mark Valeski’s speed figures measure up well in this field.

“If you really look at this horse’s Ragozin numbers, he’s almost a mirror image of Hard Spun coming into the race,” he said. “If he throws in a Hard Spun kind of race we’ll be alright. He ran a “6 ½” in the sprint, and then came back and ran a “6” in the Risen Star in his first race going long. He came back and threw in a “5 ¼” with the shoe off and picking up six pounds. This horse has never taken a backward step. A lot of these have bounced after running a big number.”

As for Mark Valeski being a forgotten horse, Jones said, “That’s Good. I’m enjoying this part of it. I remember a horse called Giacomo. I was stabled next to that sonofagun and I didn’t know John Shirreffs, but we talked a lot and we got to know each other that week. I had to ask him what the name of his horse was. I had never hard of him. I didn’t remember it until after the race. He won, and like us, he didn’t win a prep that year.”

Jones never used to gallop Mark Valeski, but he got tired of his exercise riders taking the easy way out on the colt, so he began getting on him himself.

“I gallop him because he used to be lazy,” Jones said. “He didn’t want to gallop. He’d go out there and do as little as he could and just what you made him do and nothing more. The exercise boys loved him, because it made their work easy. I would tell them, “He’s not getting anything out of it; you’ve got to make him gallop. They’d say, ‘No that’s that way he wants to gallop.’ So, I’d tell them, ‘Well then you’re fired off of him. You can ride other horses and I’m gonna ride him. Y’all get mad because I start riding the good horses when were coming up on the big races. Well that’s because y’all want to do it your way’

“With all the speed in there he can be placed anywhere. He’ll sit wherever we put him, and Rosie (Napravnik) has such a knack of figuring out the pace real quick that she can put him in the spot he’s supposed to be in.

“I told Brereton, ‘When I go over, I’m not leading him over there and saying, ‘Man I hope I hit the board.’ When I leave this barn I’m thinking, ‘I’m gonna win this race.’”

Now all he has to do is work well tomorrow. If he does and runs in the Derby, you can have confidence knowing that Jones believes he can win it.

*Listen to more of Larry Jone's thoughts on Mark Valeski on Talkin' Horses with The Blood-Horse.

Haskin's Derby Trail: Riders on the Storm

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:02:00 GMT

This year’s Kentucky Derby contenders are so evenly matched, there is a good possibility the winner will be determined by who gets the best trip and/or the best ride.

It is imperative that the jockeys, especially the ones riding the major players, are on their game, because with so little separating these horses, even a minor lapse in judgment could mean the difference between victory and defeat. They must take advantage of every opportunity presented them and avoid mistakes that could cost them the race.

The Derby often is won by the horse who finds the right hole or holes and gets there first. Many believe Sea Hero and Grindstone would not have won the Derby had Jerry Bailey not taken advantage of every opening and steered them through as if it was the Red Sea parting. Many believe the 1986 Derby result would have been different had Bill Shoemaker, on Ferdinand, not beaten Pat Day, on Rampage, to a hole at the head of the stretch. And how important was Calvin Borel and his daredevil, rail-skimming rides aboard Street Sense and Mine That Bird?

In 2000, Aptitude had a clear path on the rail going into the first turn, but Alex Solis decided he didn’t want to risk getting pinned down in there and moved Aptitude out, which would seem to be the smart move. Kent Desormeaux, however, saw the vacated area and decided to take advantage of it with Fusaichi Pegasus, even though he might very well have been putting his colt in harms way if the inside became congested. As it turned out, the entire field moved well off the rail down the backstretch, leaving a gaping hole for Fusaichi Pegasus to have an easy, unimpeded run. That might very well have been the difference in the outcome, as Fusaichi Pegasus got first run and defeated Aptitude by 1 ½ lengths.

You have to believe Gary Stevens and Stewart Elliott contributed to the victories of Silver Charm and Smarty Jones, respectively, by becoming aggressive early when the going got tight and getting their horses into the clear before it was too late.

We’re mentioning all this because there are several issues regarding this year’s Derby that need to be addressed. Having all the respect in the world for jockeys, these observations and suggestions are only being mentioned in the hope that all the horses in the field, especially the leading contenders, are given every chance to win.

For the longest time, we’ve been talking about the use of the whip on Creative Cause, a horse who in his first three career victories never felt the whip once. But this year, Joel Rosario has gone to the whip in every race, and each time, Creative Cause reacted to it by shying from it and failing to keep a straight course.

In the Santa Anita Derby, Creative Cause, racing without blinkers for the first time and down on the inside, some five lengths off the pace, made a big move on the far turn, and pulled just ahead of I’ll Have Another, who was moving with him on the outside. As they turned for home, Creative Cause cut the corner beautifully and put several paths between him and I’ll Have Another, as they both bore down on the front-running longshot Blueskiesnrainbows. But nearing the three-sixteenths pole, Rosario hit Creative Cause with a left-handed whip and the colt again shied from it, drifting out several horse paths and winding up right alongside I’ll Have Another. He then drifted back in toward Blueskiesnrainbows and only then got back on a straight course. Rosario put the whip away, but who knows how much that loss of momentum cost him? Rosario hand-rode him the rest of the way, just waving the whip at him, but by then, I’ll Have Another had gained a narrow advantage. Creative Cause, now back in sync and running straight, battled back gamely, but missed by a nose.

We’re apprehensive about the Derby, where the temptation to go to the whip is so strong. Even in Creative Cause’s only victory this year in the San Felipe, Rosario went to the whip, and as a result it wasn’t what you’d call a pretty win, as he was all over the track. We’d like to have seen just once what would have happened had Creative Cause been given a chance to show what he could do on his own, with no whip encouragement. Now, we just have to wait until the Derby to see what Rosario does.

We’re a big fan of Rosario’s and believe he’s one of the most gifted riders in the country. He rode Creative Cause perfectly in the Norfolk Stakes and we’d like to see the colt be allowed to run the way he did in that race.

Some tips for other Derby riders

These tips are merely based on observation and opinion and are not meant to sound instructional or highbrowed in any way. They are intended as a light approach to this year’s Derby jockeys.

To Julien Leparoux on Union Rags: It is very possible you are on the most gifted 3-year-old in the country, a versatile colt who is dangerous anywhere on the racetrack. Whether he has a clear run outside horses or is down on the inside in traffic he can handle anything if given even the smallest opening. Not many young horses can do what he did in the Champagne Stakes. This horse has a quick-fire move on the far turn, as he demonstrated in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Fountain of Youth. Many Kentucky Derbys are won with that kind of move and he has to be allowed to make it without fear of moving too soon. He’s talented and tough enough that he can be aggressively ridden when the opportunity occurs. Leparoux is known for his patience, which is necessary in Europe. While patience is important in the Kentucky Derby, when the time is right to move, whether it be at the three-eighths pole or half-mile pole, it is important to pull the trigger. Not only does it allow the horse to build momentum and reach contention before the tired horses start backing up into his face, it gives him more time to extricate himself out of any traffic problems he may encounter.

To Javier Castellano on Gemologist: No rider in history has been on and off more top Derby candidates in one year. Whether by choice or circumstance, you’ve been on Union Rags, off Union Rags; on Algorithms, off Algorithms; on El Padrino, off El Padrino; and finally have landed on another of the leading contenders, Gemologist, who you’ve ridden in his last four starts. Regardless of what happens in the Derby, consider yourself incredibly fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to ride so many top-class horses. There is a reason why you’ve been given this opportunity. You’re one of the most reliable jockeys in the country and you give your horses every chance to win. Remember that when the race unfolds. Oh, and one other thing: remember not to let Gemologist start goofing off in the stretch if he gets the lead. Remind him to keep those ears pinned back until the wire.

To Ramon Dominguez on Hansen or Alpha: Not to put any pressure on you, but if Hansen wins the Blue Grass Stakes, you’ve got one tough decision to make. It would be awfully hard to take off the champ, but you’re well aware that Alpha is a natural mile and a quarter horse who should improve off the Wood Memorial after a two-month layoff and encountering his share of trouble. On the other hand, Hansen has potential greatness in him. An impressive victory by White Lightning at Keeneland will have him all the rage at Churchill Downs. Good luck.

To Mario Gutierrez on I’ll Have Another: It takes a lot of chutzpah (you’ll have to ask someone what that means) to leave Hastings Racecourse and come to Santa Anita without an agent and then hiring 85-year-old Ivan Puhich. Despite your apparent talents, be thankful that an owner like Paul Reddam spotted your skills and went way out of the box and put you up on his big Derby horse. That’s the ultimate in having faith in someone. What makes this all the more humorous is the time you worked I’ll Have Another so Doug O’Neill could see how you got along with him, and after the work telling your agent, “That’s a really good horse; there’s no way they’re gonna let us ride him.” Reddam refers to you as “The real Cinderella story.” He admires your confidence, your natural ability, and the fact that the day before the Santa Anita Derby you watched tapes of all nine horses in the race on your own. So, you don’t need me to tell you not to get rattled by the Kentucky Derby experience and to keep your cool through “My Old Kentucky Home,” the loading and frantic start, and the run into the first turn. After that, it’s just another horse race.

To Calvin Borel on Take Charge Indy or less likely Najjaar: I have one piece of advice for you. Don’t change a thing. Do just what you did in 2007, 2009, and 2010. Four Kentucky Derby wins in six years for four different trainers and four different owners? It’s a rail, I mean real, possibility.

To John Velazquez on Went the Day Well: That “V” on the Team Valor silks is starting to take on a different meaning. You look good in green.

To Rosie Napravnick on Mark Valeski: You got your initial goosebumps experience out of the way last year, so this should be a piece of cake, right? Yeah, sure. There isn’t much more you can do for this colt other than make sure his shoes are on securely. Most of the pre-Louisiana Derby hype is gone, and the big efforts by the leading contenders have sort of pushed him to the background, which is right where you want to be. The best thing you can hear after the Derby is, “Geez, I forgot all about him.”

To every other rider except Rafael Bejarano, who will be on one of Bob Baffert’s horses: Why isn’t your agent beating down Steve Asmussen’s door to get the mount on Daddy Nose Best? This is a live horse who is worth groveling for.

Haskin's Derby Trail: My Adonis Heads to Gotham

Blood-Horse Staff — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:07:00 GMT

When Kiaran McLaughlin announced that Alpha would skip the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and go directly to the Wood Memorial (gr. I), the connections of Hansen might have thought they were all but home free over Aqueduct’s speed-favoring inner track. But as it turns out they might be looking over their shoulder in the final furlong after all. My Adonis should be closing in fast, just as he did the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III).

Trainer Kelly Breen said that the son of Pleasantly Perfect likely will make his next start in the 1 1/16-mile race March 3. In the Holy Bull, last year’s champion 2-year-old barely held off My Adonis for second behind Algorithms. What made My Adonis’ performance so impressive was the fact that he came from 20 lengths back after a half-mile over a speed-conducive sloppy sealed track, and was still nearly a dozen lengths back at the head of the stretch. In the final furlong, My Adonis made up seven lengths on Hansen, who was too keyed up early after stumbling coming out of the gate and scorching his second quarter in :22 flat.

My Adonis’ performance actually was totally out of character, as he previously had been a pace stalker in all his races, other than his career debut when he rallied from a dozen lengths back going 5 ½ furlongs.

After romping in a mile and 70-yard maiden race at Monmouth in the mud, he ran off with the one-mile Jean Laffitte as a prep for the rich Delta Downs Jackpot. But in the Delta Jackpot he got caught up in a suicidal speed duel (:22, :45 2/5) with the Bob Baffert-trained Drill, with both colts folding badly and finishing up the track.

Sent to Palm Meadows, he became a terror in the mornings, rattling off three consecutive bullets works – five furlongs in :59 2/5 breezing, a half in :47 breezing, and three furlongs in :34 4/5 breezing.

In the Holy Bull, he bumped with Consortium at the start and took himself out of the race, dropping back to last, far off the pace. The unfamiliar scenario didn’t seem to faze him, as he unleashed a powerful run and nearly got up for second.

“I think he’s a top horse,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “We’ve worked him with Ruler On Ice and Pants On Fire and he’s always gone head and head with them.”

When asked what his best running style is, Breen replied, “I don’t know. In the Holy Bull he looked like one of those Nick Zito horses that close from far back all the time in the Florida Derby (gr. I). It wasn’t until halfway through the Monmouth meet that he decided to run and put it all together. I think the addition of blinkers might have helped. Early on, he didn’t have the speed and would just keep going in :12s every eighth. After Monmouth, the light bulb went on and he got his mind together.”

As for his decision to run in the Gotham, Breen said, “I have horses up there, he’s training well, and it just seems to make sense.”

Breen has never let good horses scare him away from big races, and when asked if he was concerned about the possibility of Hansen getting loose on an easy lead over a speed-favoring track, he simply said, “It is what it is.”

My Adonis looks to be an improving horse who will love the mile and a quarter, especially being sired by Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) and Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Pleasantly Perfect. Some may doubt his distance capabilities because of his broodmare sire Elusive Quality, who did sire Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. It should be noted that Elusive Quality, as fast as he was, is out of a Rokeby Stable mare, Touch of Greatness, who is by Hero’s Honor, a long distance grass horse that won the United Nations, Bowling Green, and Red Smith Handicaps. Hero’s Honor also is a half-brother to Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Sea Hero. Touch of Greatness is out of Ivory Wand, who won the Test Stakes and placed in the Spinster twice. Ivory Wand is by English Derby winner Sir Ivor, out of Natashka, winner of the CCA Oaks and Monmouth Oaks, and the dam of top-class stayers Arkadina, who placed in the English and Irish Oaks; Blood Royal, winner of the long-distance Jockey Club Cup and Chester Vase; Gregorian, winner of the Group I Joe McGrath Memorial; and Truly Bound, winner of the Ashland, Fair Grounds Oaks, and Cotillion and second in the Spinster.

But it is My Adonis’ tail female family that is worth taking notice of. Four of his first five dams are sisters to major stakes winners. His dam, Silent Justice is a half-sister to Ancient Title (gr. III) winner Lakota Brave, and third dam, Stream, is a half-sister to Rokeby’s Prides Profile, winner of the Gazelle and Diana Handicaps and placed in the CCA Oaks, Alabama, and Mother Goose. Fourth dam, Hillbrook, is a half-sister to one of the leading handicap stars of his era, Hillsdale, a winner of 15 major stakes who swept the Strub Series and captured the Hollywood Gold Cup, Californian, Aqueduct Handicap, San Antonio, and San Carlos. He also finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap and came within a head of being named Horse of the Year, dropping a narrow decision to Sword Dancer in the Woodward Stakes, while finishing ahead of Round Table in what was billed as the Race of the Decade. My Adonis’ fifth dam, Johann, is a half-sister to American Derby winner and 3-year-old champion Fighting Step.

Breen also said that last year’s Belmont (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice, who ran poorly in the recent Donn Handicap (gr. I), has been sent to owner/breeder George and Lori Hall’s farm in Kentucky for a little R & R.

“He got a little banged up, and considering he’s never had a break, we felt it was time give him some time off and get ready for the big races later in the year,” Breen said.

Breen and the Halls have another able representative in the older horse division in Pants On Fire, who runs next in the Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at Fair Grounds, where he won the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) last year.

Haskin's Derby Trail: It's All in the Blood

Blood-Horse Staff — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:29:00 GMT

How big a role does pedigree play nowadays in determining the Kentucky Derby winner? With fewer stamina-oriented stallions, there was for a while more of a tendency to look at the female family in determining a horse’s chances of getting a mile and a quarter, knowing that speed-oriented stallions such as Boundary (Big Brown), Elusive Quality (Smarty Jones), and to a lesser degree Holy Bull (Giacomo) were capable of siring a Derby winner. Last year, speed over stamina was again the equation, but with grass horses Leroidesanimaux and the German-bred stamina specialist Acatenango.

But when you can find a strong female family to go with a sure-fire stamina stallion, such as Street Cry (Street Sense), Dynaformer (Barbaro), Birdstone (Mine That Bird), and Maria’s Mon (Super Saver), it has to boost one’s confidence level when ferreting out that elusive Derby winner.

So, each year, we still look for those royal pedigrees to assure us that a horse will have no problem at a mile and a quarter.

This year, unlike most years, the vast majority of Derby contenders are bred to go a mile and a quarter, making it more difficult in eliminating potential pretenders.

The following is a “Derby Dozen” in alphabetical order of our favorite 2012 contenders based on pedigree.

ALGORITHMS – This smooth-striding colt has a wonderful blend of speed and stamina, with the emphasis on stamina. Undefeated in two starts, he will stretch out from 6 ½ furlongs to a mile in next weekend’s Holy Bull Stakes. By Bernardini, out of a Cryptoclearance mare, that all but assures his ability to go 10 furlongs, even though he is a half-brother to sprinters Justin Philip and Keyed Entry, both of whom are by speed-oriented stallions. Second dam, Ava Romance, is by Belmont Stakes winner Avatar, a son of the classic Graustark. The female family gets a good deal of its speed from tail-female fourth generation sire Gallant Romeo, one of the more versatile stallions of his era. He passed on incredible speed to sprint champion Gallant Bob and to the great My Juliet, a champion sprinter who also defeated the colts in the nine-furlong Michigan Mile and an Eighth. Gallant Romeo also sired Preakness winner Elocutionist and Hollywood Oaks winner Nicosia, who equaled the track record for 1 1/4 miles at Arlington Park in the Sheridan Handicap. Algorithms is inbred 3x4 to Dr. Fager’s grandson Fappiano, one of the most influential stallions of modern times.

ALPHA – Winner of the Count Fleet Stakes and runner-up in the Champagne. Another son of Bernardini, he is out of the Nijinsky mare Munnaya, winner of the English Oaks Trial at 1 3/8 miles. Second dam, Hiaam, is a half-sister to multiple grade I winner Gorgeous, as well as Queen’s Plate winner and Canadian 3-year-old champion Key to the Moon and Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction, dam of 2-year-old filly champion Golden Attraction and Florida Derby winner Cape Town. Third dam, Kamar, by Key to the Mint, out of a Quadrangle mare, won the Canadian Oaks.

CASUAL TRICK – Finished a game second in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Derby in only his third career start and first start after breaking his maiden sprinting. Still another son of Bernardini, he is out of English Oaks winner Casual Look, a daughter of Red Ransom, sire of Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist. His second dam, Style Setter, is a daughter of grass champion and Hall of Famer Manila. Third dam, Frizette winner Charleston Rag, is by General Assembly, a son of Secretariat who ran the second fastest Vosburgh (1:21) of all time and the fastest Travers (2:00 flat) of all time. He also is inbred to Secretariat through Weekend Surprise (dam of A.P. Indy).

CONSORTIUM – And the Bernardinis just keep on coming. He is scheduled to meet Agorithms and 2-year-old champ Hansen in the Holy Bull after finishing second to the former in an allowance race. He is out of Arlington Oaks and Iowa Oaks winner Marietta, by Machiavellian. Second dam, Minister Wife, won the Demoiselle Stakes. Third dam, Dowery, was a graded stakes winner who placed in the Spinster, and is a half-sister to grade I winner and $800,000 earner Reluctant Guest. Fourth dam, Vaguely Royal, is a daughter of major stamina influence Vaguely Noble.

CREATIVE CAUSE – Won the Norfolk Stakes going away and was a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Love his sire, Giant’s Causeway, and his female family, while devoid of major influences, is loaded with stamina through broodmare sire Siberian Summer, winner of the 1 ¼-mile Charles H. Strub Stakes, and tail-female stallions Skywalker, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Relaunch, and Properantes, winner of the 1 ¾-mile San Juan Capistrano. With In Reality and Rising Market in his female family he has inbreeding twice to Man O’ War (through War Relic twice, War Admiral, and American Flag).

El PADRINO – Impressive maiden winner came back to finish a close third in the Remsen Stakes. He is by Pulpit, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, a half-sister to grade II Ladies Handicap winner Tara Roma and grade II True North Handicap winner Waldoboro. His second dam, Chic Shirine, a full-sister to champion mare Queena, won the grade I Ashland Stakes and is out of Too Chic, winner of the grade I Maskette Stakes and second in the Alabama. His fourth dam, Remedia, is by Dr. Fager, out of Monade, winner of the English Oaks and runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe who was voted 3-year-old filly champion in Europe and champion older mare in France the following year.

LIAISON – Winner of the CashCall Futurity and Real Quiet Stakes. Although Uncle Mo was not considered a mile and a quarter horse, mainly because of his sire Indian Charlie, there is absolutely no reason why Indian Charlie cannot sire a Derby horse, especially with the right dam. Indian Charlie is by In Excess, who ran the fastest mile and a quarter (1:58 1/5) in the history of New York racing. And this tenacious colt definitely has the right dam, Galloping Gal, a multiple stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles who is by Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop. His third dam, Indy Flash, is a daughter of A.P. Indy, out of a mare by Calumet Farm’s Gleaming (a son of major distance influence Herbager), who won or placed in multiple 1 ½-mile stakes on the grass. Liaison’s tail-female family traces back five generations of Calumet Farm breeding to Bull Lea (two times) through his Hall of Fame daughters Real Delight and Twilight Tear.

RUSSIAN GREEK – Winner of the California Derby and Gold Rush Stakes. This son of Giant’s Causeway is out of a Grindstone mare. Second dam, Train Robbery, is a multiple graded stakes winner by Alydar, out of Track Robbery, a three-time grade I winner and champion older mare. Breeders should love Russian Greek, who is a complete outcross through his first five generations, where he is represented by seven Kentucky Derby winners.

SABERCAT – Impressive winner of the Delta Downs Jackpot and Garden State Stakes, he is a son of the promising young stallion Bluegrass Cat, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, who is out of an A.P. Indy mare and traces to the great Phipps mare Numbered Account. His dam, Miner’s Blessing, is a daughter of Travers and Haskell winner Forty Niner, out of a Halo mare. Miner’s Blessing is a half-sister to Conquistadoress, second in the Ashland and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. This family is four generations of Stuart Janney Jr. (breeder of Ruffian) and his son Stuart Janney III breeding, and we love old traditional families that span several generations. Prior to Janney, this was a solid Wheatley Stable family that traces to Man O’ War and La Troienne. Sabercat’s dam also is inbred to major stamina influence Tom Rolfe, by Ribot.

SKY KINGDOM – Impressive allowance winner last time out. He is by Belmont winner Empire Maker, out of the Kingmambo mare Sky Beam, who is out of Weekend in Seattle, a full-sister to A.P. Indy and half-sister to Summer Squall. Third dam, Weekend Surprise, in addition to producing A.P. Indy, Summer Squall, and graded stakes winner Honor Grades, is a half-sister to Charming Lassie, the dam of champion older horse and Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid. Sky Kingdom is inbred to two of our favorite inbreeding influences, In Reality and Buckpasser.

SPRING HILL FARM – With only a brilliant maiden victory to his credit, he has a lot of catching up to do, but also has a magnificent pedigree. He’s by Smart Strike, who sires champions in almost every category, whether at classic distances on dirt and grass or sprinting. His dam, Colonial Minstrel, is a multiple graded stakes winner by the great classic influence Pleasant Colony. His second dam, Minstrella, is a three-time group I winner in Ireland and England, who also produced Minidar, the dam of Jim Dandy Stakes winner A Little Warm. His third dam, Flight Dancer, produced, in addition to Minstrella, multiple stakes winner Misty Gallore and Misty Dancer, the granddam of Horse of the Year Saint Liam. His fourth dam, Courbette, is by Native Dancer, out of the great Gallorette.

STEPHANOATSEE – Runner-up in the Count Fleet Stakes. This son of A.P. Indy is a half-brother to last year’s Preakness winner Shackleford and to Alabama winner Lady Joanne. His dam, Oatsee, is a daughter of Unbridled, out of a Lear Fan mare. His third dam, Amo, is a half-sister to millionaires Tappiano and A P Jet. And his fourth dam, Taminette, is a full-sister to 2,000 Guineas winner and top sire Known Fact and a half-sister to Met Mile and United Nations winner Tentam and to Secrettame, dam of Gone West.

The Loss of a Thoroughbred

Blood-Horse Staff — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:47:00 GMT

Invisible Ink died today at Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pa. at the age of 13. Although he was far too young, every day of his life was a miracle. His owner, John Fort of Peachtree Stable, has built Peachtree into a successful operation, with dozens of stakes winners, and this year has one of the leading sprinters in the country in Flashpoint.

But it was Invisible Ink, or Inky as he was known, who launched Fort into national prominence by finishing second in the 2001 Kentucky Derby at odds of 55-1. It is worth noting that the winner, Monarchos, ran the second fastest Kentucky Derby of all time, behind only Secretariat.

I came across the amazing story of Invisible Ink about a week before the Derby and wrote a story about it and the horse, which is reprinted below.

One of my fond recollections was of Fort, who was looking to get a halter and nameplate made up for Invisible Ink, and I suggested he leave the nameplate blank. When anyone asked Fort why there was no name on it, he would reply, “The name is on there; it’s written in invisible ink.” It was meant as a joke, but that’s exactly what Fort did, and he still treasures that halter and blank nameplate today.

I watched Invisible Ink graze each afternoon and could see his coat blossom more by the day. He had finished third to Monarchos in the Florida Derby, so it was no stretch by any means to consider him a live longshot. I wound up betting a $2 exacta of Monarchos over Invisible Ink in the Derby and cashed the largest ticket of my life. It was the only time I had to fill out an IRS form.

Over the years, Invisible Ink’s name still brought back wonderful memories of a very special Derby. Those memories were rekindled with sadness earlier today when a grief-stricken Fort called to inform me Invisible Ink had died of a neurological disorder. Most of Fort’s words were indecipherable, as he tried unsuccessfully to get them out through the tears that flowed freely and the distinct quaver in his voice. Finally, he was forced to end the conversation. Fort truly had lost a member of his family.

He now has to decide whether to try to find a suitable resting place in Kentucky at a place of prominence that would be willing to memorialize the horse with a proper monument or just keep the horse close to him at his home in South Carolina.

Here then is the incredible story of Invisible Ink, as written on April 29, 2001.

Inky’s Return From the Dead

No matter where Invisible Ink finishes in the Kentucky Derby, he will depart Louisville a winner. Just the fact that the son of Thunder Gulch, nicknamed "Inky," is here and considered a legitimate contender is enough of a miracle to those who stood by this colt and never gave up hope when all seemed hopeless. By all rights, Invisible Ink should be nothing more than a tragic memory in the hearts and minds of the people who raised him and broke him and treated him. Instead, he is at Churchill Downs, about to run in America's greatest race. And all because he refused to die, thanks to a handful of people who refused to let him die.

In March of his 2-year-old year, while being trained at Bryan Rice's Woodside Ranch in Ocala, Invisible Ink developed a superficial cut on his ankle, which didn't heal as quickly as they had hoped. To stave off infection, he was treated with antibiotics and a small amount of butazolidan (Bute). But the colt began eating and drinking less and less, and eventually developed colitis. Rice decided to send him to Peterson-Smith clinic in Ocala. Something was spreading throughout the colt's body, and his condition continued to deteriorate. Eventually, he couldn't eat or drink at all, and his blood and body functions broke down. His blood protein levels dropped so low, all the fluids he was being administered flushed into his body and he developed edema.

"You could barely tell where his head and body joined," owner John Fort said. "His stomach area and testicles were the size of a beach ball. From the appearance of the throat and stomach, it was as if somebody had poured battery acid down this horse's throat. It completely stripped the skin and ulcerated the horse's stomach to the point where it hurt him so badly, he couldn't swallow water. His whole insides were like raw meat. The poor thing couldn't even pick his head up. He'd accumulate all this saliva and would drink that. The vets had never seen anything like it before. One thought was that someone mistakenly had given him a massive overdose of Bute, thinking they were helping him."

The colt was sent to Peterson-Smith, where he deteriorated so badly, he went from weighing 900 pounds to 500 pounds. It finally reached the point where the insurance company gave permission to have him euthanized. But Fort and veterinarian Carol Clark, with the help of Dr. Robert Copelan, wouldn't give up hope. Fort went to see the horse, and he and Dr. Clark and Dr. Copelan discussed on a conference call just what actions they could take. Fort assured Clark that they would try everything possible to save the horse.

"You can't imagine what this horse looked like," Fort said. "I was in Viet Nam and I've seen creatures who were dying, whether it was a bird or a dog or a person. You know when someone or something is beyond hope. I had never seen a creature sink this low. He was virtually on life-support system. We were giving him plasma at a rate of $1,000 a day. It was hour to hour, trying to save his life. This horse was dead."

Clark would spend nights with Invisible Ink, coaxing him to eat. She would hold dissolvable food pellets called Purina Equine Junior in her hand, one at a time, trying to get him to take it. They also treated him with medication to help stop the acids from flushing back into his throat.

Dr. Copelan finally suggested they give him buttermilk that was left out in the sun to reintroduce bacteria and help restore the colt's immune system. They found an old-fashioned farm in Ocala where the owners made their own buttermilk, and left it out in the 90-degree heat. After it became, as Fort said, "filthy and disgusting," they fed it to Invisible Ink through a tube inserted in his stomach. They combined that with stomach medication. Soon, the colt began to respond. Once they were able to stabilize his manure and got him to where he could drink and eat on his own, the horse was on the first step to recovery.

By Memorial Day, Invisible Ink had turned the corner, and by mid-July he had regained the weight he had lost. Soon, he began to blossom, and eventually was sent to trainer Todd Pletcher. Now, he is a week away from running in the Kentucky Derby. Before the Blue Grass Stakes, Dr. Copelan paid a visit to Invisible Ink and told Fort, "I can't believe it. I'm treating this horse for the Blue Grass, and a year ago I was trying to save his life."

"With Dr. Copelan's consultation and the inspiration of a young girl named Carol Clark and her traditional medicine, we were able to virtually bring this colt back from death," Fort said. "People frequently give up in the things they try to do, but nature never gave up here. Nature was trying to restore this horse's body back to health. Once we got out of nature's way, it was able to succeed. That this horse was able to survive is one of the most miraculous things I've ever seen.

"Winston Churchill once gave a famous speech to a group of youngsters at a boys school in England, in which he concluded, repeating over and over for several minutes, 'Don't ever...ever...ever...ever give up."

Roses For Smarty

Blood-Horse Staff — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:32:00 GMT

This story appeared in the May 8, 2004 issue of The Blood-Horse, with several new graphs added.

Get out the cheese steaks and pretzels. It's party time in Philly. After Pennsylvania-bred Smarty Jones' stirring May 1 victory in the 130th Kentucky Derby, the City of Brotherly Love has found the real Philadelphia flyer.

Although it sounds like a children's novel, “The Legend of Smarty Jones” reads like a soap opera, complete with murder, misadventure, and debilitating illness. But most of all it's a story about perseverance and loyalty, and a very special horse, the likes of whom has not been seen in this country for a very long time. As if riding in on the tail of the Seabiscuit and Funny Cide comets, Smarty Jones has carved his own niche in racing folklore. And like The Biscuit and Funny Cide, he has transcended the sport of Thoroughbred racing, reaching deep into the heart of mainstream America.

The legend was spawned on Roy and Pat Chapman's 100-acre Someday Farm in Chester County, Pa., where a chestnut colt by Elusive Quality out of I'll Get Along, by Smile, was born on Feb. 28, the same birthdate as Pat Chapman's mother, Mildred, whose nickname of Smarty Jones was passed on to the young horse. The prologue had been written.

But the story of the little colt with the children's book name took a sudden detour when the Chapmans' trainer, Bob Camac, who had picked out I'll Get Along and recommended they breed her to Elusive Quality, was murdered in December 2001 by his stepson, who also killed his mother, Camac's wife, Maryann.

With Camac's death and Roy Chapman in ill health, suffering from emphysema, the Chapmans sold most of their horses, leaving themselves with only two Pennsylvania-bred weanlings, one of whom was Smarty Jones.

"When Bobby got killed, it took the starch out of Chappy," said the Chapmans' former trainer, Mark Reid. The Chapmans decided to keep Smarty Jones after getting a call from their farm manager, telling them he thought the colt was something special. The decision was made to keep the horse and train him at Philadelphia Park. When Roy Chapman contacted Reid, now a noted bloodstock agent, and asked him about a possible trainer, he recommended his former assistant, John Servis. End of Chapter One.

The wheels were now in motion. The magical journey of Smarty Jones had begun. Seven races and seven victories later, Smarty, as he is now affectionately known, has captured America's greatest prize; a $5 million bonus offered by Oaklawn Park; and the hearts of a nation crying out for heroes.

What was perceived to be the most muddled Kentucky Derby picture in memory turned out to be crystal clear after all. With severe thunderstorms rocking Louisville, and dark, ominous clouds hovering over Churchill Downs as the Derby horses paraded to the post, Smarty Jones emerged from the murk and the slop like a beacon of light.

The city of Philadelphia erupted, as if their beloved Flyers had just captured hockey's coveted Stanley Cup, minus the ticker-tape parade. When Smarty Jones won the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), the head-on finish shot took up almost the entire front page of the Philadelphia Daily News, with the headline reading: "Our Horse in the Derby."

After the Kentucky Derby, fans at Philadelphia Park let out a rousing ovation never before heard at the Bensalem track. While most of Servis' employees back at Philly Park watched the race from either the grandstand or track kitchen, assistant trainer Maureen Donnelly went home an hour before the race and watched it with her boyfriend.

Donnelly was still having a tough time believing what Smarty Jones had accomplished. It was Donnelly who was on a young 2-year-old having his first gate-schooling session last spring. She watched in horror as another of their colts, Smarty Jones, reared up, hitting his head on one of the iron bars that runs across the top of the gate.

Smarty Jones fell to his knees, blood pouring out of his mouth and both nostrils. "It was pretty messy," Donnelly recalled. "The next day, we thought for sure he was going to lose the eye, because you couldn't even see the eyeball. It was just the flesh coming out from inside the socket. He looked like something out of a horror movie."

The scene shifts to the Cream Ridge, N.J., home of veterinarian Patricia Hogan, who operates the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, with founder Dr. Scott Palmer. Hogan watched the Derby with family members and several employees from the clinic, and when Smarty Jones crossed the finish line in front, "there was a lot of crying and screaming."

Hogan has vivid memories of the colt who was rushed to the clinic looking so hideous they nicknamed him Quasimodo. "His whole face was horrible, and his left eye was so swollen it wasn't even visible," she said. "I really wasn't sure if I could save it or not."

In addition, Smarty Jones had suffered multiple fractures of his skull, fractured his sinus cavities, and the orbit (the circular bone that holds the eyeball) was broken.

When Hogan received the report on Smarty from track veterinarian Dan Hanf, who explained to her the severity of the injury and how grotesque the colt looked, she feared the worst as the van pulled into the clinic.

Hanf had described the horse as being extremely swollen and with blood coming out of both nostrils. He told her this was “a real emergency and needing removal of a ruptured eyeball.” When the van arrived, Hogan went out to meet it, thinking that the horse might have difficulty unloading or be quite stressed. But as she walked out through the barn to the doorway, she heard "clip-clop, clip-clop," and here came Smarty “trotting” around the corner of the drive, dragging his handler, whinnying, and with his ears straight up. As awful as he looked, he was as bright as could be and actually acted, as Hogan said, “Like he was THE MAN and was trumpeting his arrival to the stable.”

“I was really shocked at his demeanor,” Hogan said. “His head was terribly swollen because the sinuses had leaked so much air through the fractured portion that it filled up like a balloon under the skin. The left eye was unrecognizable -- it was swollen shut with orange-red tissue bulging out of the slit where his eyeball should have been. It was that appearance that led all of us to believe he had ruptured his eye and required an emergency removal of the injured eyeball. But when we ultra-sounded his head, we saw that the eyeball was indeed intact underneath all the swelling and the discolored tissue bulging out was actually the inner lining of the socket that had prolapsed.”

Hogan injected all of the swollen tissue with medication using a very long needle directly into the eye socket and wrapped his entire head with a large pressure bandage to limit the amount of swelling and air that was seeping through all the fracture lines. Only the horse’s ears and his right eye were visible. The rest of his head was wrapped up tight.

“That was why we nicknamed him Quasimodo,” she said. “But his attitude was so impressive, and he was so intelligent. He had a real charisma about him and he was all about ‘fun.’ The way he looked at you and communicated to the other horses, and the way he carried himself, he was just so confident and exuded such star quality. He acted like the proverbial Big Man on Campus.

“We had him at the clinic for two weeks and I remember everything about him. He was a nothing 2-year-old at the time, but for some reason, he and all of us here knew he was special. That has to mean something. I examine a few thousand horses a year, and yet I remember every hair on this horse's head. Something had to be at play there."

When Smarty returned to Philly Park, any fears about his attitude toward training and the racetrack were quickly put to rest. Not only did he exhibit no psychological trauma from the injury, he couldn’t wait to get back to training.

After he returned to the track and began racing, everyone at the clinic followed his career closely, clipping out articles about him and posting them in the surgery room.

"I'm beside myself," Hogan said after the Derby. "It's unbelievable. He was such a special horse and I am so proud of him." End of Chapter Two.

The next chapter begins in the paddock at Philadelphia Park on Nov. 22, 2003. Smarty Jones had just won his career debut 13 days earlier in open company by 7 3/4 lengths. On this day, he was facing 10 opponents in the state-bred Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. Standing in the paddock was Mark McDermott of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. What he saw that day prompted him to start making phone calls, telling people about a very special Pennsylvania-bred colt who had renewed his enthusiasm for racing.

"There was this squirrel that owned the paddock at Philly Park," McDermott said. "He'd walk right up to the horses, and people would feed him. When Smarty Jones walked in the paddock, the squirrel came over to check him out, like, 'You're on my turf now.' Smarty jumped straight up in the air, with all four legs off the ground at the same time. He turned his body while in midair and lashed out with his hind legs. The squirrel turned and ran, and no one has seen him since. Smarty landed on all fours and calmly went about his business. It was the most athletic move I've seen by a horse. Then he goes out and wins the Nursery by 15 lengths (in 1:21.88 for the seven furlongs) and gets a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. I knew right then this horse was something out of the ordinary."

After the Nursery, Servis and the Chapmans began having visions of grandeur that would take them far beyond the realm of Philadelphia Park. Forget about being a Pennsylvania-bred and Philly Park horse; the Twin Spires were beckoning. Roy Chapman, head of Chapman Auto Group, had been ill with emphysema for more than 10 years, and his health was deteriorating. He required oxygen and a wheelchair to move about, and had recently come down with a case of pneumonia. So, when Servis planted the seeds of Derby roses in his head, Chapman said to him, "Do whatever you have to; just get me to the Derby."

Servis mapped out a plan where Smarty Jones would get his first two-turn test in Aqueduct's Count Fleet Stakes on Jan. 3, and then head to Oaklawn Park for the Southwest Stakes, Rebel, and Arkansas Derby. He felt so strongly about the colt's ability, he was confident with this plan, despite the fact Smarty Jones would not accumulate any graded stakes earnings until the Arkansas Derby. Everything he did before that would mean nothing if he didn't finish first or second.

With Oaklawn celebrating its 100th anniversary, track president Charles Cella came up with the idea to offer a $5 million bonus to any horse that could win the Rebel, Arkansas Derby, and Kentucky Derby in the hope of luring America's top 3-year-olds to Oaklawn.

One victory after another followed. Smarty Jones captured all three of Oaklawn's Derby preps, and just like that, the pride of Pennsylvania was on the verge of winning $5 million and becoming only the fifth undefeated Kentucky Derby winner, and first since Seattle Slew in 1977.

The Derby trail had been in chaos from the start, with longshots winning most of the major stakes. Only Imperialism, trained by 21-year-old Kristin Mulhall, and Limehouse had been able to win more than one graded stakes this year. The picture cleared a bit on April 10 when top-ranked 2-year-olds Tapit and The Cliff's Edge captured the Wood Memorial and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, respectively, the same day Smarty Jones won the Arkansas Derby. In the Rebel, Smarty had earned a Thoro-Graph speed rating that was the fastest ever given to a 3-year-old.

Offers to buy the colt, which had started months earlier, were now rolling in, and reaching figures well into the millions. Jockey agents from all over the country were hounding Servis, trying to get him to replace Smarty's regular rider, the Philly Park-based Stewart Elliott, even though he had ridden the colt perfectly every time. Servis remained loyal to his rider and stuck with him. The last Derby winner to have a first-time jockey and trainer was Spectacular Bid in 1979, when Bud Delp and Ron Franklin combined to win the roses.

After the Arkansas Derby, Servis sent Smarty Jones to Keeneland, where the atmosphere was quiet. On Thursday, April 22, nine days before the Derby, Smarty Jones arrived at Churchill Downs. Unlike most horses, he came charging off the van and strutted into Barn 42 as if he were announcing to all the occupants he was taking over, as he had done at the clinic the year before. Several stalls down, Imperialism, racing's other Cinderella story, was calmly nibbling on hay. On the opposite side of the barn was Todd Pletcher's 12-strong legion, including Derby starters Pollard's Vision and Limehouse, and Kentucky Oaks contender Ashado.

"The big dogs are on the backside," Servis said, as he helped get Smarty Jones settled in. "But I feel like I'm coming with a loaded gun. The way he charged off that van, he knows something big is in store."

On the Saturday before the Derby, Smarty Jones went out for his final work with jockey Willie Martinez up. By the time he was finished, all of Churchill Downs knew that this was no ordinary horse. With Martinez motionless throughout, Smarty Jones breezed five furlongs in :58 as if he were out for a morning stroll. His feet barely touched the ground as he glided smoothly over the Churchill strip. He was a powerhouse galloping out, and wasn't even blowing coming off the track.

Meanwhile, trainer Bob Baffert, who had withdrawn San Felipe winner Preachinatthebar from the Derby after an unsatisfactory work, was now in danger of losing jockey Jerry Bailey, who was to ride Baffert's main Derby hope, Wimbledon, winner of the Louisiana Derby. One more withdrawal and Bailey would jump back to Eddington, who was next in line to get in the field based on graded earnings. But Baffert had just seen something to make him forget his jockey woes.

"All I know is that after watching Smarty Jones work today, we're all in trouble," Baffert said. Nick Zito, trainer of Derby starters The Cliff's Edge and Birdstone, had seen Smarty Jones gallop at Keeneland earlier in the week, and all he could say was: "Whew! I can't believe the way he attacks the ground."

After the work, Martinez, who has been a major part of the Smarty Jones team, couldn't stop raving about the colt. "When you're undefeated, you know you're the man," he said. "I've been riding for 16 years and I know the feeling when a horse's confidence level keeps rising and rising. I don't think anyone really knows how good this horse is or how good he's going to be. Right now, the Smarty Jones puzzle is coming together and people are starting to see what this horse is all about. They look at his pedigree and knock him, and he just keeps kicking butt. What else do they want him to do?"

In his gallops following the work, Smarty Jones literally dragged his 170-pound exercise rider, Pete Van Trump, around the track like a rag doll. After two days of Van Trump being forced to stand straight up in the irons, trying to rein in this rampaging bundle of power and energy, Servis finally had to gallop alongside Smarty Jones on the pony, keeping a firm hold of him. As he returned with the colt one morning, all Servis said was, "Man, I wish the Derby was tomorrow."

"I don't know how to describe him, I really don't," Van Trump said. "There's just such an adrenaline rush to be on something like that. He's so headstrong; all he wants to do is train. No matter what we do we can't get him tired."

When entries were drawn, Servis selected post 15, with the dangerous speed horse, Lion Heart, winding up in post 3. That meant Smarty Jones would have to break sharply and contend with two outside speed horses, Pollard's Vision and Quintons Gold Rush, while Lion Heart was sure to take an easy lead into the clubhouse turn.

The morning before the Derby, Wimbledon scratched with a tendon injury and Santa Catalina winner St. Averil was withdrawn with sore feet. That meant Eddington and the lightly raced colossus, Rock Hard Ten, missed getting into the Derby by two days. They'll now try to catch up with Smarty Jones in the Preakness.

The Chapmans arrived at the barn later that morning and went over last-minute details with Servis. Their main concern was getting Roy to the winner's circle in his wheelchair. Roy, as feisty as his colt, told Servis through sandpaper-lined vocal cords, "I told them if he wins he is not going in that winner's circle until I get down there. They called me back and said, 'We'll get you in. We don't know how but we'll get you in.' The first time we spoke, the guy said, 'We're going to carry you across.' I said, 'Let me tell you something; you ain't carrying me across that damn track in front of 150,000 people.' "

Servis then jumped in: "Unless they carry you on their shoulders. Just watch they don't dump any Gatorade on you." Servis then had the Chapmans listen to a phone message he had received from Cella, who told Servis, "I just want you to know I got the other half (of the bonus money) covered, so go get the money, honey!"

Heavy rains Friday into Saturday morning turned the track sloppy, but track superintendent Butch Lehr managed to get it fast after several races. A little after 9 a.m. Lion Heart arrived by van from Keeneland. Trainer Patrick Biancone had thrown down the gauntlet by selecting post 3, letting everyone know his intentions. His instructions to jockey Mike Smith were short and simple: "Come back with your silks clean."

At 4 p.m. a thunderstorm of biblical proportions swept through Louisville, quickly turning the track sloppy again. As the rain whipped through Barn 42, flooding the entrance, both Servis and Mulhall welcomed the prospect of a sloppy track. Smarty Jones and Imperialism never turned a hair as loud claps of thunder rocked the barn.

Finally, the rain let up, and it was time for the pieces of Derby 130 to come together. Smarty Jones went off as the 4-1 favorite, followed by Lion Heart at 5-1, Tapit at 6-1, and The Cliff's Edge at 8-1. Up in their box, Servis turned to Roy Chapman and said, "Chap, whatever happens, we've had a great ride." Chapman couldn't agree more, and simply replied, "Absolutely."

As expected, Lion Heart shot to the lead. Smarty Jones had a clean break, but was caught in tight quarters between Read the Footnotes and Pollard's Vision as they charged by the stands the first time. Elliott was able to bull his way through and took up a comfortable position just outside Pollard's Vision and Quintons Gold Rush as they headed around the turn after a stiff opening quarter in :22.99. Lion Heart continued to lead, easing two lengths clear of the battling threesome through a half in :46.73 over a track that was a bit slick and sticky.

Behind them, the closers were trying to get their footing, but no one was able to make any headway down the backstretch. Quintons Gold Rush was the first to retreat, as Read the Footnotes rolled past Minister Eric into fourth. As they hit the far turn, the three-quarters in 1:11.80, Elliott had Smarty Jones in gear and he began cutting into Lion Heart's lead.

Around the turn, The Cliff's Edge was making a run from far back, while Imperialism was beginning to roll, weaving his way between horses. Limehouse was improving his position along the rail, outrunning Borrego to his outside. But Lion Heart was still going strong as Smarty Jones moved in for the kill nearing the quarter pole. The pair had opened a four-length lead on Read the Footnotes, who was unable to sustain his move.

Turning for home, Smarty Jones, who was racing on Lasix for the first time, had Lion Heart measured, as Elliott shook the reins at him. Kent Desormeaux gave Imperialism a crack of the whip left-handed at the five-sixteenths pole, and steered him sharply to the outside where he likes to run. But he was too far back to make any impact on the two colts slugging it out on the lead.

Elliott hit Smarty Jones twice right-handed, then switched to two left-handed whips and two more right-handed. By the sixteenth pole, Smarty Jones was clear of a gutsy Lion Heart and splashing his way into history. He crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths in front, with Lion Heart 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Imperialism, who in turn was two lengths clear of Limehouse. The Cliff's Edge, who threw two shoes in the race, had little punch in the stretch and had to settle for fifth. The time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:04.06.

Roy Chapman had to sit down and take several deep breaths before embarking on the longest journey to the winner's circle in Derby history. But there was no way he was going to miss out on the moment of his life. As the signal was given to bring in the horse, Servis quickly jumped in. "No, leave the horse," he said. "This man needs to be in the picture."

It was several minutes past 6:30 when Chapman finally was brought out from behind one of the hospitality tents after being led through the tunnel to the infield. When the large entourage waiting in the winner's circle saw him, they let out a roar, with many of them raising single roses over their heads. As Chapman was wheeled in, they shouted, "We want Chap. We want Chap."

Pat Chapman looked numb as she made her way to the media pavilion. "Actually, I slept well last night," she said. "I was a little nervous this morning, but I said, 'You know what? What's the worst that can happen?' We won't win, and I can handle that. And then I calmed down."

While the Chapmans and Servis were celebrating at the Kentucky Derby Museum, Kristin Mulhall was getting ready to leave, having to catch an early flight back to California the following morning. Although she was feeling pride and elation, she wasn't too eager to face Smarty Jones again in the Preakness. "I don't think we can beat him going a mile and three-sixteenths," she said. "That horse is a freak."

Smarty Jones showed no signs of having just raced a mile and a quarter, as he kept digging into his hay rack and butting it with such force it would fling back and hit him in the face. The following morning, his feed tub, as usual, was licked clean.

Smarty Jones, his Kentucky Derby odyssey over, now ships back home to Philly Park, where Donnelly and the crew wait to give him a hero's welcome. "I can't believe this is happening," Donnelly said Sunday morning. "We're just little people from Philadelphia."

So ends the latest chapter in the Smarty Jones fairy tale. No one knows where it will lead, and which hallowed corridors of the heart and soul it will touch next. But it really doesn't matter. It has already woven an unforgettable saga in the vast tapestry of the Kentucky Derby and the Sport of Kings.

Smarty Jones - Cinderella Story Continues

aspradling — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:22:00 GMT

This story appeared in the May 22, 2004 issue of Blood-Horse magazine

Get the golden coach ready; we're heading to the ball again. After so many failed attempts, maybe this time Smarty Jones can fit into that elusive glass slipper, and Thoroughbred racing and the Visa Triple Crown finally can live happily ever after.

If it's going to happen, this is the year. You can feel it. No one writes a fairy tale with such a flawless script only to have reality creep in and spoil the ending.

After watching the son of Elusive Quality put on a display for the ages in the 129th Preakness Stakes (gr. I), is there anyone now who has doubts that divine forces are guiding this remarkable colt and his supporting cast of colorful characters?

Following his 11 1/2-length annihilation of nine talented opponents May 15, the largest margin in Preakness history, people all through Pimlico wept openly, touched by the magic of Smarty Jones. Not even the sweltering heat and high humidity could prevent goose bumps from popping up on even the most hardened of skeptics.

It was a time for hugs and high-fives, as chants of "Smarty! Smarty! Smarty" resounded throughout Old Hilltop. Smarty Jones' groom, Mario Arriaga, threw his arms around barn foreman Bill Foster and said, "My heart go boom, boom, boom." That could have easily been the sound of the Pimlico grandstand rocking like it hadn't rocked since a plain bay colt named Seabiscuit showed up one November afternoon in 1938.

"Awesome," said Foster, as he looked off in the distance for his horse. "He's a runnin' machine."

Donna Chapman, daughter of Smarty Jones' owners, Roy and Pat Chapman, was sobbing uncontrollably. "Oh, my God, I can't believe it," she said, cupping her hands over her mouth. "He blew everybody away."

Also having difficulty holding back the tears was trainer John Servis' wife, Sherry. "I'm so shaken," she said, her voice quavering noticeably. "It's just a gift from God."

Two days earlier, Sherry had trouble speaking for another reason. She had come down with a case of laryngitis that she admitted could have been stress-related. "But it's a good stress," she said as she followed Smarty Jones to the track for his first gallop over the Pimlico strip. She was still trying to make sense of the Smarty Jones hysteria that had swept the country following the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), and disrupted her and John's once-quiet life in the Philadelphia suburb of Bensalem.

"I feel like I'm in a dream and I'm watching everything moving around me," she said. "It gives me chills every time I think that it's really happening. You think of all the years of hard work, and you ask, 'OK, when is it all going to stop?' And whenever you think it's going to stop it gets harder again. And then, out of nowhere, something like this happens. It's scary how everything has fallen into place and worked out just as John had planned. It's like you're reading it in a book."

The previous chapter of the Smarty Jones saga ended with his victory in the Derby. Then came the “Seven Days in May” that turned what was an already incredible tale into an epic. That's when the city of Philadelphia opened its heart to Smarty, and an instant love affair was born. The people of Philadelphia embrace their heroes like small-town folk. They turned the fictitious character of Rocky into a living, breathing legend. Now, in Smarty Jones they have the real Rocky, a four-legged brawler with a heart as big as the Liberty Bell.

After the Derby, the colt arrived at his home base of Philadelphia Park with police sirens blaring and the whirring sounds of TV helicopters that had followed his van all the way from the airport.

The media flocked to Philly Park. And then the fans came, 5,000 strong, young and old, to watch Smarty gallop on the Saturday after the Derby. They came with cameras of all kinds and Smarty Jones hats and t-shirts. Young children sat atop the shoulders of their fathers straining to get a quick glimpse of this equine legend in the making.

Servis' fellow Philly Park trainers took time out from their daily chores and gathered along the outside rail on the backside to see the horse they all have dreamed about having. One of those trainers was Marty Ciresa, who was so excited his only regret was that he didn't bring his camera. And this was a trainer who was preparing his colt, Little Matth Man, to take on Smarty Jones in the Preakness.

"This is just great," Ciresa said as he watched the fans begin to gather across the track just after 8 o'clock. "You sit around here year after year, and everyone hopes and dreams, and you don't think it could really happen. And then the guy a few barns down wins the Kentucky Derby. It's a strange feeling. I want to win the Preakness, but I don't want to beat him."

On the front side, as fans filled the apron and lined up along the rail nine- and 10-deep, Philly Park CEO Hal Handel took pride in his track and the state of Pennsylvania. It was that pride that made Handel toss back a dart thrown at the state by Churchill Downs CEO Tom Meeker.

"After Meeker made a crack about Pennsylvania, I sent him a basket of Pennsylvania produce and other stuff, from scrapple to soft pretzels, and told him to get used to it," Handel said.

Smarty Jones came out to a hero's welcome, then put on a show galloping twice past the stands before returning to the barn. Although the show was short, everyone was thrilled to have gotten a quick look at this Philly phenom. Afterward, presentations were made in the winner's circle by local and state dignitaries, and the following day, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell read a proclamation honoring Smarty Jones. The festivities concluded on Monday when Oaklawn Park president Charles Cella presented the Chapmans with a $5-million bonus check for winning the Rebel, Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and Kentucky Derby.

The day before he was scheduled to leave for Baltimore, Smarty Jones galloped so strongly that Servis, on the 23-year-old pony Butterscotch, had a hard time reining him in. "Whoa, big boy, whoa," he shouted to Smarty. As he returned, Servis said, "Man, I do this every day and I'll be down to riding weight. I'm trying my best to slow him down, but the last three-eighths he was hurtin' me."

The next morning, Smarty Jones boarded a van to Baltimore to continue his remarkable Triple Crown odyssey that had begun on a cold winter's day in January at Aqueduct.

Servis felt the Preakness would be the toughest race of Smarty's career. Kentucky Derby runner-up Lion Heart was back, and with three 2004 starts under him now, he figured to be tougher this time. The connections of third-place finisher Imperialism, who had a disastrous trip in the Derby, decided to try Smarty Jones again. Also returning from the Derby field were The Cliff's Edge, who lost two front shoes in the race; Borrego, who had chased Smarty home in the Arkansas Derby; and Song of the Sword. Two new dangers were the fresh horses, Rock Hard Ten and Eddington, who both failed to get in the Derby field due to a lack of graded earnings. The field was completed with Maryland's hero, Water Cannon, winner of five straight, Derby Trial (gr. III) winner Sir Shackleton, and Little Matth Man.

Lion Heart's trainer, Patrick Biancone, offered only a sly grin and a French twinkle in his eye to anyone who asked him about strategy. It was like Napoleon divulging his plans for the battle of Austerlitz. But when Biancone selected post one, the secret was pretty much out.

Biancone commended Smarty Jones' jockey, Stewart Elliott, for his ride in the Derby. He had been hoping Elliott would tackle Lion Heart at the half-mile pole, because his colt was much stronger going into turns than coming out of them, and Biancone was confident Lion Heart could have repulsed the challenge. But Elliott didn't go for it. He waited, taking on the gutsy chestnut nearing the quarter pole. Biancone also praised Servis for selecting post seven at the Wednesday night draw.

"He's shrewd," Biancone said the following morning. "He looks at the statistics. He knows that (post) eight and out on this track you're dead. So he takes seven to make sure I don't go outside of him. Yes, he's shrewd. Trust me, he's a good trainer. He knows what he's doing. All I can do is try to beat (Smarty Jones), and if we don't I will take my hat off to him again. He's a tough cookie and a great champion."

Jason Orman, trainer of Rock Hard Ten, who missed the Derby because he was disqualified from second and placed third in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), knew it was asking a lot of his big colt to take on Smarty Jones and some of the others off only three career starts. But he felt the colt's natural talent would make him competitive in the Preakness, while also serving as a prep for the June 5 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). And he had Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens flying in from France to ride the colt.

As in 2003, a jockey controversy surfaced when it was discovered Elliott had failed to mention on his license application in Kentucky that he pleaded guilty to assault charges several years earlier, adding to the soap opera part of the story. But the rider, who was slapped with a $1,000 fine, put it all behind him and focused on the Preakness.

On Friday, Nick Zito, who has had more than his share of bad luck this year, was forced to scratch The Cliff's Edge after the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) winner suffered a foot bruise two days earlier.

The closer the Preakness got the more frenzied Smarty Fever became. Credential requests went from a record high 1,548 last year with Funny Cide to 1,706. Requests from Philadelphia newspapers and TV and radio stations skyrocketed from two in 2003 to more than 100. By the end of Friday's early bird wagering, $600,000 had been bet on Smarty Jones at Philadelphia Park, which was more than its fans bet on the entire 18-horse Kentucky Derby field.

Preakness morning brought with it a blanket of stagnant air and an oppressive heat that increased as the day went on. Servis showed up at the barn and appeared cool and calm.

"I'm calm now after yesterday," he said, referring to his near disaster while saddling Stephan's Angel in Friday's Adena Stallions' Miss Preakness Stakes (gr. III). "She almost killed me," he said. "She jumped in the air on all fours, and both hind legs fired at me. I had nowhere to go and she nailed me on the shoulder, and almost kicked me in the head. I'll tell you, that was close."

Servis need not have worried. Divine forces, remember? He did remember on Saturday afternoon in the dining room when someone came over to him and said, "Mr. Servis, I know you'll appreciate this." He then proceeded to show him a copy of the program from the 1934 Kentucky Derby. Although that particular Derby had no significance, Servis opened the program to the Derby field, and there among the starters was a horse named Quasimodo, the nickname given Smarty Jones when he was at the New Jersey Equine Clinic to be treated for a severe eye injury that had left him "hideous looking."

Servis was shocked later that afternoon when he was told Smarty Jones was the 2-5 favorite, up from 1-5. "No way," he said. "That's the kiss of death."

Smarty closed at 7-10, with Lion Heart next at 9-2, and Rock Hard Ten and Imperialism at 6-1. A record crowd of 112,668 poured through the gate, topping the old record of 104,454.

The start was delayed when Imperialism threw a shoe in the saddling area, and then again when Rock Hard Ten refused to be loaded. Finally, at 6:25, they were off, with Smarty Jones almost out-breaking the gate. Lion Heart came charging up along the inside to take a narrow lead into the clubhouse turn, with Imperialism surprisingly third, followed by Song of the Sword and Sir Shackleton. Rock Hard Ten was back in seventh, but only about five lengths off the lead.

Lion Heart again surged to the lead, cutting through fractions of :23.65 and :47.32 over the deep track. Although the Derby runner-up took the first turn wide, Elliott elected to stay outside him and remain in control.

Smarty Jones and Elliott, as usual, were poetry in motion down the backstretch. Smarty stalks his opponents like a cheetah waiting to pounce on its prey. Once he does, the attack is swift and deadly. Lion Heart increased his lead to 2 1/2 lengths, but was still wide, remaining out in the middle of the track around the far turn. "My horse was running so easy, I just took him to the inside and he did the rest," Elliott said.

Smarty Jones' power and class and smooth, effortless way of moving are something that hasn't been seen in a long time. Unlike the Derby, Lion Heart had no answer for Smarty, who charged past him on the inside. No one was threatening from behind, and the crowd, sensing the procession that was to follow, let out a long, sustained roar. Elliott gave a couple of underhanded flicks of the whip, then sat back and enjoyed the rest of the trip, as Smarty tore through the wall of noise, increasing his margin with every stride. He kept throwing his ears around as if he were out for an afternoon romp in the field, then cocked them straight up as he crossed the finish line.

Stevens made a good run to finish second with Rock Hard Ten, but could only admire the chestnut figure getting smaller and smaller off in the distance. "That horse is as good as any horse I've ever seen," Stevens said. "He really reminded me of Secretariat the way he pulled away. I asked my horse for another gear and he gave it to me, and I thought I had shot turning for home, but Smarty had seven gears left.”

Eddington just got up to beat out Lion Heart and Imperialism in a three-horse photo for third. Smarty's final fractions on the way to a final clocking of 1:55.59 were :24.91 and :19.15, which were amazing on such a deep racetrack. With the victory, Smarty Jones is now undefeated in eight starts.

Everywhere you went after the race, the word "freak" was heard, as emotions ran rampant. Gov. Rendell, who has become one of Smarty Jones' biggest fans, spoke with a fervor reminiscent of one of his own political rallies. "That was just awesome, wasn't it?" he said. "It was great for Pennsylvania, but it was great for racing. You look at this little horse and you compare him size-wise to the others and you ask, 'How does he do it?' It's right in here (pointing to his heart). If he wins the Triple Crown, people in Philadelphia will want him to be trucked down Broad Street. The best thing to be tonight in terms of money is a Philadelphia bar owner."

Even from afar, Smarty Jones' greatness could be felt by hard-core realists. "I believe he's as good as any Triple Crown winner, and one of the greatest horses of all time," said Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who watched in New York. "He has no chinks in his armor. When they made this horse they threw away the mold."

Looking ahead to the next three weeks, Servis said, "We're gonna have fun in Philly. We're gonna have a good time and root the Flyers home, and hopefully, we can all have a parade down Broad Street."

Roy Chapman, as crusty as ever, had everyone in stitches in his defense of his rider, who had just given a description of the running of the race. "When he was getting aboard that horse in Kentucky, someone called him 'Stu Who, a novice rider,' " Chapman said. "You just heard him describe that race. If that sounds like a novice rider I'll kiss your you know what."

He later added, "I want to make one announcement. I love the press, but my wife and I are going to take up residence in Nome, Alaska, for the next three weeks. We'll see you in New York."

Back home in Philly, several thousand fans attending the Flyers/Lightning Stanley Cup playoff game remained at the Wachovia Center after the Flyers' victory to cheer on Smarty Jones.

Following the post-race interviews, John and Sherry Servis made their way through the grandstand, stopping briefly to watch the replay of the Preakness for the first time. When it was over, John turned around and shook his head in amazement. "Oh man," was all he could say. Sherry continued walking, still shaken by the experience. "I've got chills all over," she said.

By now, a crowd had gathered and was following the Servises, with the chant of "Smarty! Smarty!" starting up again. Sherry could only watch with pride as John signed autographs and posed for pictures. As they finally broke free and headed to a party at the stakes barn, John turned to the security officer leading him and said, "I'm glad you're with me; I know that."

The party lasted well into the night, and as morning broke, the only remnants remaining outside the stakes barn were littered beer cans and water bottles. Smarty Jones nibbled on hay, occasionally nuzzling Butterscotch next door. When Servis showed up, he went over to check on Smarty, and Arriaga showed him the colt's feed tub that had been licked clean. "You're like Smarty," he told Arriaga. "You're a machine."

Amazingly, Smarty was on the muscle as he had his poultice removed and was washed down. He shoved Servis around and kept nipping at him until the trainer finally had to give him the leather strap of the shank to bite on to keep him occupied. At around 10 o'clock, Smarty headed home to Philly Park and another hero's welcome. Soon, he will be off to Belmont Park, where immortality awaits. People all over the country truly believe this time there will be a happy ending when the clock strikes midnight.

There is a saying, "Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown."

Smarty Jones has taken us to the unknown...and beyond.

Smarty Jones Tribute

aspradling — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:35:00 GMT

The following story first appeared in the April 28, 2007 issue of Blood-Horse magazine, with a few additions thrown in. This feature, about Team Smarty and what became of everyone, will kick off our “Smarty Jones Tribute Week,” in preparation for his departure for Uruguay next month. Each day we will reprint some of our favorite Smarty Jones stories and try to recapture one of the most extraordinary chapters in racing history. We reprinted our recaps of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 2009, so we will not include those (they can be found on the Hangin’ With Haskin blog archives, Dec. 13 and 15). All the stories reprinted this week also will be archived as soon as they are replaced by a new one. At the conclusion of this story we have provided a more recent update on the team members and Smarty himself.

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The Candles Will Never Dim on Smarty Party

A cold, early April rain beat against the sheet-metal rooftop of Barn 11 on the Philadelphia Park backstretch. Inside, the shedrow was eerily empty for 8 a.m., normally a peak hour for activity. But on this morning, not a horse or person stirred. Then, a sole figure appeared around the corner of the shed, pushing a wheelbarrow. Groom Thelma Aguila, the only employee of trainer John Servis on duty, was making her morning feeding rounds.

This was a Wednesday, the “slow day” in Servis’ barn. After the horses walk, the barn shuts down, and the only sounds are the horses nickering for their breakfasts. Peering over the webbing in Stall 38, unaware of the hallowed ground on which she stood, was the 4-year-old filly Missile Warning. Three years ago, this was the home of one of the most exalted equine heroes Thoroughbred racing has ever known.

Yes, it’s been three years since those glorious, frenzied days when Smarty Jones ruled the racing universe and captured the hearts of a nation. And to the city of Philadelphia he was as revered as the fictional character of Rocky, to whom they erected statues. Who can forget those two magical Saturday mornings between the Derby and Preakness and Preakness and Belmont when approximately 5,000 and 9,000-- fans, respectively, jammed Philly Park just to watch Smarty gallop. People waited for hours, some arriving at 5 a.m., and then dashed through the doors to secure a spot by the rail, many with young children in tow or on their shoulders. The majority of kids were decked out in Smarty Jones t-shirts or caps. “Smartymania” had swept the country.

Now, Barn 11, although still adorned with two Smarty Jones banners, is once again just another barn on the Philly Park backstretch. Gone are the TV and radio station helicopters whirring overhead. Gone are the hordes of media that made the unlikely pilgrimage here during the Triple Crown. And gone are the police escorts and Pentagon-like security. Smarty still is the last horse to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated and was scheduled to be the cover boy for Time magazine had he won the Belmont. He even was featured on A&E’s “Biography.”

For Servis, this is a time for rebuilding. His gaudy $8.9 million in earnings accumulated during Smarty Jones’ magical year in 2004 dwindled down to slightly more than $1 million in 2006. This year, through April 17, he has won nine races from 80 starts for earnings of $235,000, while splitting his stable between Philly Park and Oaklawn.

A major blow was losing his longtime client Rick Porter, who took with him eventual Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Round Pond and Triple Crown contender Hard Spun, whom Servis picked out as a yearling. But with the increase in purses in Pennsylvania, Servis has taken on several new and influential clients, and has a barnful of horses.

Servis hasn’t been the only member of the Smarty Jones team who has had to make major adjustments following Smarty’s premature retirement. Exercise rider Pete Van Trump, groom Mario Arriaga, and assistant trainer Maureen Donnelly are no longer with him. Only foreman and hotwalker Bill Foster, and exercise rider and assistant Bobby Velez remain.

Van Trump gallops a few horses in the morning for trainer Patricia Farro, and helps out his girlfriend, trainer Diane Day, doing chores around the barn. On most afternoons he heads up to jockey Stewart Elliott’s farm in Lambertville, N.J., and takes care of the 20-acre establishment while Elliott is away riding. Arriaga returned home and bought a coffee plantation in Guatemala with the money he earned from Smarty, and now rubs horses for trainer Ramon Preciado. Donnelly left Servis only a few weeks ago.

Foster became involved in a relationship and eventually lost all the money he made from Smarty, as well as the new truck he purchased from Smarty’s owner, Roy Chapman. He took a part-time security job in the recreation hall on the Philly Park backstretch, and last fall returned to Servis’ barn as manager. In December, he was run over by a horse in the shed and has since undergone knee surgery and physical therapy, while collecting workmen’s compensation.

Smarty’s co-owner, Pat Chapman, has been trying to keep busy following the death of her husband, Roy, in February 2006. She divides her time between Bucks County, Pa., and Boca Grande, Fla., where she is involved in community work. She also has three horses in training with Servis.

To many, it seems like only yesterday that the name Smarty Jones was on everyone’s lips, as hundreds of thousands of letters came pouring in to the Servises and the Chapmans. One person who became caught up in “Smarty Mania” was Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

“It was such a great story, for me personally and as a sports fan,” Rendell said. “I went to the Preakness and sat with the Chapmans. I’m a great football, baseball, and basketball fan, but when Smarty started blowing the field away, it was as thrilling a moment as I can remember in sports. The Belmont was an absolute zoo, and there were so many people from Philadelphia there. When they saw me in the stands, I stood up and led them in a cheer: ‘Gimme an S…gimme an M…gimme an A…’ It was crazy; people were going nuts.

“All I kept thinking was, ‘How are we going to have a parade for Smarty? You can’t put this valuable horse on a flatbed truck.’ The town was starved for a winner, and Smarty was our champion. I thought it was going to happen at the top of the stretch, but then it all began to unravel before our eyes. It was the saddest thing I can remember in sports. I was so depressed I couldn’t shake it off for weeks. But it was a great ride.”

Rendell credits Smarty Jones for playing a major role in the state getting slot machines. “As Smarty caught fire, and it hit home, he absolutely captured the imagination of the legislature,” he said. “All of a sudden horse racing was big in Pennsylvania, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that Smarty got us the extra votes that we needed down the stretch, and that his tremendous run helped us pass the law.”

Servis is now hoping to reap those rewards, as he awaits the deluge of purse money that is expected this summer. He has put the Porter breakup behind him and is looking forward to training for new outfits, such as WinStar, Vinery, and Little Red Feather Racing, the syndicate that owned 2004 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Singletary.

“I didn’t know much about John other than what I had seen from Smarty,” said Little Red Feather manager Billy Koch. “But he was recommended by one of my partners, Bob Brittingham (part-owner of Afleet Alex). I flew to Philly and met with John over breakfast, and I realized this guy is a true horseman. When I left the meeting I knew John was our guy.”

Servis still finds it hard to believe all that has happened since Smarty. “It took a while for it all to sink in,” he said. “It’s like the last three years have flown by. It just doesn’t seem like it was that long ago.”

He recalls driving with Stewart Elliott shortly after Smarty’s retirement and telling him, “You know, Stew, what this horse has done for horse racing, people are going to be talking about Stewart Elliott long after you’re dead and gone, buddy.”

Soon, there likely will be another Servis, in addition to John and his brother Jason, training horses. Servis’ 16-year-old son Tyler began galloping horses at a farm in Lancaster, Pa., last summer after working a summer at Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., and now has joined his father part-time. “He really loves the horses,” Servis said. “He’s hooked.”

Servis admits he was disappointed when Pete, Mario, and Maureen left. “Smarty bought Maureen a house, he bought Pete a house and a pickup truck, and he bought Mario the coffee plantation,” he said. “They did real good, believe me. But when you’re working together with people seven days a week things can get tough.”

Pat Chapman cherishes the memories of Smarty, and was happy that Roy, who suffered from emphysema, was able to enjoy them while still in relatively good health. “It was such an incredible time,” she said. “It was like living a movie. My only regret was the negative press we received when we retired him. There was a great deal of misunderstanding, and I think we got a bad rap, because there was so much the media wasn’t aware of regarding the extent of his injury. My husband and I went through the letdown that everyone goes through who comes down after being on top of the mountain. But our letdown was a lot different, because we went down being crucified.

“Those things, however, don’t take away from all the great moments we had. And the timing was unbelievable, because my husband died less than two years later. We had bought a new house in Doylestown when we knew Chappy was approaching the end, and we needed to have him in a place that was easier to get around. We moved there in November 2005, and he only spent one month there. After we went to Florida for the winter, he went downhill rapidly.”

Pat said she has been keeping busy and is helping Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, in their quest to build a racing museum devoted to the top horses from the Maryland/Pennsylvania/Delaware region. “I’ll be so supportive of anything they want to do,” she said. “They’ve been so wonderful for horse racing.”

Foster, who is happy to be back working with the horses again, said he and Servis talk about Smarty all the time. “That will never happen again,” he said. “It was an unbelievable time. A lot has happened since. I met a lady and we had two horses together, one of whom is a pretty nice horse named Mr. Boxcar, who’s made over $60,000. But unfortunately, I ran out of money and haven’t made any from the horse. We race him under the name Smarty’s Gift Stable.

“I spent a lot of money and we made some investments. As it turned out, I couldn’t afford the payments on my truck anymore and lost that. I don’t want to make this into a sad story. I just lost my money and have had to start all over. That’s when I started working in the afternoons as a security guard in the rec hall. I was at John’s house for Easter, and he wasn’t happy, because he wasn’t winning a lot of races. John’s a good guy and we talked about all the success we had together. After Maureen left, he called me and asked me if I’d like to come back to the barn as manager.”

Foster had been laid up for a while after his accident, in which he was holding a horse that was being shod. The horse got spooked and stepped into the blacksmith’s tray of nails. That spooked him even more and he lunged forward, hitting Foster in the knee, knocking him to the ground. Foster suffered five bone chips and torn cartilage, which necessitated surgery. But that is all in the past. “I’m happy to be back with John,” he said. “This is where I belong.”

As for Van Trump, his split with Servis was not an amicable one. “I see John on the backstretch, but I don’t say anything to him,” he said. “Right now, I go up to Stu Elliott’s farm in the afternoons and do work for him while he’s away. He has no horses there, but there’s plenty to be done, like taking care of the yard and chopping firewood. In the mornings, after getting on a few horses, I help out my girlfriend, cleaning the stalls, hotwalking, and hauling her horses.”

Van Trump still has one remnant from the Smarty days that grabs people’s attention. “I have a Smarty Jones sticker on my truck, and people will look at it and say things like, ‘Oh, yeah, I know who you are,’ or ‘Look, there goes Smarty,’ ” he said.

Donnelly, who ran the barn at Philly Park in 2004 while Servis was at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs, tried to get used to life after Smarty, but admitted it wasn’t easy at first.

“It was tough getting back to reality, especially when the next day you’re running a horse for a $4,000 claiming tag,” she said. “But having all the horses in the barn kept you pretty busy. I worked for Jan and John Nerud through most of the ’80s, and as John would always say, ‘You’re gonna have good horses and you’re gonna have bad horses, but you always get that same feeling when you’re in the winner’s circle.’ All I know is that I was able to buy a house in Bensalem because of Smarty. He paid for my down payment.”

Smarty, of course, was retired to Three Chimneys Farm, where he greeted hundreds of visitors each week. Perhaps his most special guest was 9-year-old Patrick Monroe from Long Island. As an infant, Patrick suffered from water on the brain and had to have surgery to place tubing inside his body to move the water from his brain to his abdomen. When he was 4, the tube malfunctioned on Christmas Eve night and he awoke Christmas morning to the realization he was blind. Then, in late 2003, his father, a Long Island firefighter, passed away. Months later, Patrick discovered horses and began taking riding lessons at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian for kids with disabilities.

For the first time in his life Patrick had a sense of freedom. He had found euphoria on the back of a horse and eventually would win numerous ribbons for riding. Patrick had only one wish – to meet his favorite athlete, Smarty Jones. All he wanted to do was touch him. Through the Make-a-Wish Foundation and ESPN’s My Wish Series, Patrick was brought to Three Chimneys Farm to meet his hero. Wearing his Smarty Jones hat, he was taken to the horse by farm owner Robert Clay, and with a perpetual smile on his face proceeded to stroke Smarty along his withers, on his neck, and on the side of his head. He then was brought outside as Smarty was being turned out, so he could hear him galloping at full speed across his paddock. From the look on his face, he clearly could see the horse in his mind’s eye. Before leaving, Patrick was given a braided lock of Smarty’s mane, as well as other gifts. That lock of mane would be proudly displayed alongside his ribbons, a reminder of one of the most memorable days of his life.

That is just one example of the effect Smarty Jones had on people. No one, however, was affected by the horse more than those who worked with him every day and lived through that incredible eight-week fairy tale from the Arkansas Derby to the Belmont Stakes.

Although they came from different walks of life, and most have gone their separate ways, the group known as Team Smarty banded together for one brief, but magical, moment to become a part of something so special it transcended the Sport of Kings and carved its place in racing lore for all time.

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This story (minus several additions) appeared in the Blood-Horse magazine four years ago. To update what we have been able to find out, John Servis is still training at Philly Park and is doing well enough to remain content, even though he has not had a major stakes horse since Smarty. He has become actively involved with the horsemen’s association and has a radio spot on KYW 1060 AM, where he expounds on the many virtues of slots in Pennsylvania. Bill Foster is now Servis’ nightwatchman and Bobby Velez works as Servis’ foreman, but no longer exercises horses. Pete Van Trump is still working with the horses trained by his girlfriend Diane Day, and Maureen Connelly reportedly has left the racetrack. Pat Chapman still divides her time between Florida and Doylestown, Pa. and also spends a good deal of time in Maryland. She still races a few horses. Stewart Elliott, like Servis, hasn’t had a major horse since Smarty, but did pass the 4,000-win mark, and is now up to 4,343 career wins through June 16.

Smarty Jones’ main contribution to Pennsylvania is being a major impetus in the state getting slots , as Gov. Rendell said, and his one-time home, Philadelphia Park, is now called Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park and is part of a new glittering complex that includes a state-of-the-art casino next door to the track. Sadly, there is no statue or reminder of any kind of the horse who put the racetrack on the map and enabled it to boost purses from the slots and draw many of the country’s top stars over the past few years, such as Morning Line, First Dude, Blind Luck, and Havre de Grace last year alone. Sculptor Jean Clagett had been commissioned by Philly Park to do a statue of Smarty, and did deliver the cold casting last September and the completed bronze in early December. But she said she has not heard a word back from Philly Park officials since, despite constant efforts to contact them. Our luck hasn’t been any better. After receiving payment, she has put the project behind her and gone on to other things. Only time will tell if Smarty’s much-deserved statue will ever be displayed at Philly Park.

As for Smarty himself, he was never really given a chance in Kentucky, despite siring multiple graded stakes winner Backtalk; graded stakes winner Rogue Romance, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and considered a top Kentucky Derby contender before getting hurt; graded stakes winner and grade I-placed Gilded Gem; Federico Tesio winner and grade III Pegasus runner-up Concealed Identity; grade I Alcibiades runner-up Be Smart, as well as stakes winners in Japan and Puerto Rico. He was being bred to only 50 mares at Three Chimneys Farm when Pat Chapman pulled the plug and shipped him back home to Pennsylvania to stand at Ghost Ridge Farms near York, Pa., where he was bred to about 80 mares this year. Stallion manager Dan Suttle said “it’s been fun” working with Smarty. “He has a rock star attitude,” he added. “It’s like he knows what he did. People who come visit him love that he’s back in Pennsylvania and has come full circle. It’s going to be a bittersweet day next month when he leaves.”

Smarty is scheduled to depart next month for Uruguay, where he will be bred to approximately 100 mares before returning to Ghost Ridge in December. In Uruguay, he will take up residence at Haras Cuatro Piedras, owned by Claudia (Rosas) and Pablo Salomone, a young affable couple who have developed the farm into one of the finest breeding establishments in the country. The farm is located in the region of Progreso, about 30 minutes from the capital city of Montevideo. Having been to Haras Cuatro Piedras and treated to a wonderful dinner, a stallion show, and the warm hospitality of the Salomones, I have no doubt Smarty will be well taken care of. Other American-raced stallions who stand or have stood at Cuatro Piedras are Real Quiet, who stood one year there before returning to the U.S., where he died in a paddock accident at Penn Ridge Farm in Pennsylvania in 2010; Mane Minister, and Eyeofthetiger. Two other farms – Nahuel and Virginia – have also been instrumental in bringing Smarty to Uruguay and, along with Cuatro Piedras, will fill the vast majority of his book.

“We are really excited because of Smarty Jones,” Claudia Rosas said. “He is arriving in Uruguay on the 12th of July. This is an incredible opportunity for Uruguay to receive such a successful stallion for this season. He will breed approximately 100 mares. We will accommodate the horse at the farm and will take part in 50% (of his mares).

“To be prepared to receive important stallions like Smarty Jones we have constructed a new building to put up the stallions and we are just finishing a small hospital.

“Unfortunately, Real Quiet died last season in Pennsylvania, so we have only one crop that we will sell next year, but his foals are really marvelous.”

Tuesday: Smarty’s Preakness recap

Haskin's Derby/Preakness Wrap-up: Fortnight Follies

Blood-Horse Staff — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:56:00 GMT

The next time a trainer mentions his or her concerns about running back in two weeks after the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), can we pay no attention to it? It is now 25 of the last 28 Preakness (gr. I) winners that ran in the Derby, and one of the ones who didn’t was Rachel Alexandra, who ran two weeks earlier in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Despite the fantastic performance turned by Bernardini in the Preakness, let’s remember, the Derby winner, Barbaro, only ran an eighth of a mile before suffering an injury. The only other new shooter to win the Preakness was Red Bullet in the mud.

This year, horses coming out of the Derby (five of them) finished first, second, and fourth, and another horse finished sixth after losing a shoe and getting cut up in the race.

Is it possible that today’s Thoroughbreds are more resilient than most trainers think? The belief here is that horses get on a roll, or an adrenaline high, which is why the majority of Derby–Preakness winners run more impressively in the Preakness. If the Derby takes such a toll on a horse how come Funny Cide and Smarty Jones were able to come back in two weeks and win the Preakness by nine and 11 lengths, respectively? How could Afleet Alex have come back in two weeks after a hard race in the Derby to run one of the most amazing races in Triple Crown history? Where was Big Brown’s regression in the Preakness after his stunning Derby victory in only his fourth career start? After his gut-wrenching stretch battle in the Derby, how could Silver Charm have come back in two weeks and score another gut-wrenching victory? Why were Real Quiet and Charismatic able to come back in two weeks and improve off their Derby victories?

And we’re just talking about the so-called “fragile” horses of recent years. Did finishing 16th in the Derby prevent Louis Quatorze from equaling the stakes record in the Preakness? Did finishing 10th in the Derby as the favorite prevent Hansel from winning the Preakness by seven lengths?

Isn’t it time for trainers to stop worrying about coming back in two weeks, especially when they run their horses in the Derby off five- and six-week layoffs? In the 1940s and ‘50s, of the 20 Kentucky Derby winners, 12 of them ran four days before the Derby, and many of them worked a half-mile in between. The Blue Grass was nine days before the Derby and the Wood Memorial and Arkansas Derby were two weeks before the Derby.

We’re not criticizing trainers for voicing their concerns about coming back in two weeks. That is the conservative thinking that is ingrained in many of today’s trainers.

The bottom line is five trainers this year did indeed come back in two weeks, concerns or no concerns, with mainly successful results, and however reluctant they were to do it, they at least did and deserve credit for that. All we’re saying is that perhaps it is not as excruciating a task as one might think, as long as the horse comes out of the Derby in good shape. After all, the horses keep proving year after year they are more than up to it. And if they do get past the Preakness, then trainers can start concerning themselves with keeping them going in the Belmont. That will take more skill and horsemanship than getting them ready for the Preakness.

Pace perception

Sometimes there is more to pace than just the bare numbers. One of the main topics of conversation since the Derby was how slow the pace was, and how Shackleford set the slowest three-quarter fraction (1:13.40) since 1947. There is no disputing that time, as that is what the teletimer read.

But there are times when your eyes and brain contradict what the teletimer says. It has been widely acknowledged by several trainers that the Churchill Downs surface on Derby Day was very deep and cuppy as it dried out following more than a week of rain. They felt the surface, while obviously safer, wasn’t as tight as it used to be when we had several years of blistering fractions. Those were the days when they had deep and often-times cuppy surfaces in the days and weeks leading up to the Derby and then a rock-hard surface on Derby Day.

The point we’re trying to make is that from a visual standpoint, it did not look as if they were going in 1:13.40. Going that slow you would expect the majority of the field to be pretty well bunched up. Instead, the field was strung out nearly 20 lengths, hardly an indication of an extremely slow pace. That would mean the favorite, Dialed In, ran his three-quarters in almost 1:17. This is a horse whose average three-quarter split going into the Derby was 1:12.20. Did Dialed In really run 24 lengths slower than he’d ever run before, legitimately?

It’s true that the field as a whole came home very fast, but we still have our doubts that pace-setting Shackleford and his closest pursuers were merely loping along and not expending any energy. If they were, then the Derby was the oddest looking slow-pace scenario we can recall seeing. In short, the eyes contradicted the tote board.

As for the Preakness, the slow second and third fractions following a rapid opening quarter was said to be the main contributing factor to Animal Kingdom’s and Dialed In’s defeat. Although they went in :22.69, :46.87 and 1:12.01, let’s not forget that in the 1 1/16-mile William Donald Schaeffer Stakes (gr. III), solid older stakes horses like the pace-setting Colizeo went in :24.38, :48.83, and 1:13:19, and Colizeo was caught in the stretch by Apart. The bottom line here is, the three-quarter split, as slow as it may have been following such a fast opening quarter, still was a full second faster than older horses went going an eighth of a mile shorter.

Crop dusting

OK, so this is a mediocre crop of 3-year-olds, one of the slowest ever. What else is new? We hear that almost every year. One of those years we heard it was in 1987 after a stumbling Alysheba picked himself up and still ran down a weaving Bet Twice to win the Kentucky Derby in a sluggish 2:03 2/5, the slowest Derby in 13 years. Alysheba’s jockey, Chris McCarron, in defending his colt, put it best when he said, “He’s still just a kid.” When Alysheba breezed a half in :50 3/5 before the Preakness, the media all but threw him out for working so slowly. Now, most horses don’t even work between the Derby and Preakness.

Fast forward to the fall of 1987 and just about everyone is proclaiming that very same crop one of the greatest ever, with the likes of Alysheba, Bet Twice, Gulch, Java Gold, Lost Code, Gone West, Cryptoclearance, Afleet, and Polish Navy.

As a point of interest this year, we’re all aware that Animal Kingdom came home the second-fastest final quarter and half-mile in the history of the Derby, second only to Secretariat. Well, for good measure, he came his final three-sixteenths in the Preakness in about :18 3/5, again one of the fastest in the history of the race. And Shackleford’s :19 1/5 was one of the fastest closing fractions by a horse on the pace.

How about if we wait for these kids to grow up before putting the stamp of disapproval on them?

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Our condolences to Shackleford’s co-owner and co-breeder Mike Lauffer who celebrated his colt’s Preakness victory on Saturday knowing he’d be attending the funeral of his future son-in-law on Monday. His daughter’s fiancé had died unexpectedly in his sleep several days earlier at the age of 25.

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It looks as if five horses from the Derby who skipped the Preakness will come back in the Belmont Stakes, where they will square off with the three hearty souls – Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, and Mucho Macho Man -- who dared to compete in all three races. They are Nehro (second), Master of Hounds (fifth), Santiva (sixth), Brilliant Speed (seventh), and Stay Thirsty (12th). Look for Nehro and Master of Hounds to take heavy action at the windows.

****

Going a bit off topic, is there any chance that in the year of the Royal Wedding, Carlton House is not going to give The Queen her first ever English Derby victory? Good luck betting against that one. If you want to see the wildest celebration ever at Epsom make sure you tune in to the Derby telecast this year.

Haskin's Derby Report: The Hound of the Louisvilles

Blood-Horse Staff — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:28:00 GMT

With the all mysteries and unknown factors surrounding the 137th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), there is no greater mystery than Master of Hounds, who was out on the racetrack for the first time Thursday.

Most feel the Ballydoyle boys are looking through rose-colored glasses running this colt in the Derby, but whether you do or not, let’s once again give thanks to Coolmore and trainer Aidan O’Brien for taking a shot and sending a top-quality horse to the United States for a major stakes race and their continued support of American racing.

Although Master of Hounds has never run on dirt and has only one victory in seven career starts, the son of Kingmambo is still a top-quality colt who has been farther than any horse in the race, having gotten a beaten a nose in the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby (UEA-II) in his only start this year.

In that race, he showed his courage by digging in and battling back when confronted by the classy UAE Oaks (UEA-III) winner Khawlah, despite coming off a 4 ½-month layoff. Behind him was a collection of Southern Hemisphere “older” horses, including the Brazilian-bred Xin Xu Lin, winner of the group I Carlos Pellegrini (South America’s equivalent of the Arc Triomphe), Brazilian Derby, Brazilian 2,000 Guineas; Mahooba, a group I winner in Australia and winner of the UAE 1,000 Guineas (UAE-III); Zanzimar, a stakes winner in South Africa and a fast-closing second in the UAE 2,000 Guineas; and the Australian-bred Reem, who trounced the colts in the Al Bastakiya, the second leg of the UAE Triple Crown.

Also behind him were the UAE 2,000 Guineas winner Splash Point; the American colt Sweet Ducky, a multiple stakes who was second to Kentucky Derby favorite Dialed In in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III); Japanese-trained Laser Bullet, winner of two of three career starts; and his stablemate Alexander Pope, winner of his last two starts in Ireland.

“We’ve always liked him,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien, who is scheduled to arrive from Ireland tonight. “After he broke his maiden at Tipperary, we ran him in the (group I) Racing Post Trophy over soft ground and he missed the break and fell back early and ran well to finish third.”

He was sent off as the 7-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) and steadied early and had to go four-wide, finishing sixth, beaten three lengths.”

“He might have still been too immature for what we were asking him to do,” O’Brien said. “We nominated him to the Triple Crown, because we still felt he was the right kind of horse for America. He’s a big scopey kind of cruiser who travels well on the bridle. He likes to grind it out and keep galloping, and he’s tough as nails. We just thought he was a Kentucky Derby type of horse.

“We thought the UAE Derby would tell us we were going with him, either the 2,000 Guineas or the Kentucky Derby. We were absolutely delighted with his performance in the race, especially considering it was his first start of the year. He’s worked very well on our Polytrack surface at home and made the transition from grass to synthetic. I know it’s different running on the dirt, but I’ve heard that grass horses take to Churchill Downs, and he’s handled every surface we’ve put him on.”

O’Brien said he is not going to give jockey Garrett Gomez an extensive list of instructions. He just wants him to put the horse in a good spot several lengths back and keep grinding them down from there.

Master of Hounds, it must be remembered, is by Kingmambo, who has sired his share of dirt horses, including Eclipse champion Lemon Drop Kid, winner of the grade I Belmont and Travers among others.

O’Brien who has been represented in the Breeders’ Cup Classic numerous times, trying to land a big American dirt race, has tried the Kentucky Derby once before, sending over Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Johannesburg along with Castle Gandolfo in 2002.

Johannesburg had only one seven-furlong race before the Derby and wasn’t bred for a mile and a quarter, whereas Master of Hounds is bred to run all day and has a lot more bottom, competing at 1 3/16 miles over a very slow, deep surface at Meydan.

And how much would Coolmore like to win the Derby with a colt out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, having just lost their great stallion on April 26 at the age of 30.

Post postscript

So what kind of impact will the post position draw have on the Derby? Most of the talk has been about Archarcharch drawing the dreaded rail. But if he can break cleanly and can escape the first sixteenth of a mile unscathed and get a good position along the inside somewhere near midpack he should be OK. But he’ll have to have good racing luck and everything to fall his way. It’s certainly not ideal, but it’s not something that can’t be overcome. And if he does have good racing luck, he actually could get a dream trip like Fusaichi Pegasus did in 2000 when he had the rail all to himself for most of the trip, found a seam approaching the quarter pole and was gone.

Uncle Mo, who was crawling out of his skin galloping this morning, his first gallop since working last Sunday, drew post 18, and again he’ll need good racing luck to avoid getting hung wide on the first turn.

Decisive Moment and Comma to the Top, breaking from post 5 and 6, respectively, likely will vie for the early lead, with Pants On Fire sitting right off them from post 7. Shackleford and Soldat are the other pace horses breaking from the outside, in post 14 and 17, respectively, and likely will try to tuck in right behind the leaders, along with Uncle Mo. Shackleford, however, has the speed to go right up and challenge, but has to make sure he doesn’t use himself too much. Midnight Interlude, breaking from post 15, has the speed to be close up, but is rateable enough to take back to midpack, depending on what Victor Espinoza decides to do.

Two horses who will have to drop right out of it early are Brilliant Speed, breaking from post 2, and Nehro, breaking from post 19. The morning line favorite Dialed In drew well in post and the big, long-striding Mucho Macho Man is in a great spot, breaking from post 13.

Haskin's Derby Report: Shack Attack

Blood-Horse Staff — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:40:00 GMT

It has been stated here on several occasions how well Shackleford has looked each morning in his gallops and his dominating physical presence. How that equates to his performance on Saturday is anyone’s guess, just as it is with every other horse in the race.

With a 30 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, it may be time to start thinking about handicapping the race for an off track, just in case one those storms happens to find its way to Churchill Downs.

The two obvious horses based on past performances are Soldat, who won a 1 1/8-mile allowance race in the slop at Gulfstream by 10 ¾ lengths, earning a 103 Beyer speed figure, the highest Beyer fig by any Derby horse this year, and Pants on Fire, who broke his maiden by seven lengths in the slop at Delaware Park last year. Another horse who would move up in the slop is Sunland Derby (gr. III) winner Twice the Appeal, who won over a wet fast track at Santa Anita, and who has a terrific “slop” cross with the Valid Appeal/In Reality line on top and the His Majesty line on the bottom.

Which brings us back to Shackleford, whose pedigree is inundated with slop influences. In addition to having Pleasant Colony/His Majesty on top, he is inbred to In Reality on the bottom and inbred top and bottom to Dr. Fager, who relished the slop and is a major slop influence. In fact, if you go back one more generation, he is inbred three times to Dr. Fager’s dam Aspidistra, twice through Dr. Fager and once through her daughter Magic, a daughter of another major slop influence Buckpasser.

If you go to Shackleford’s tail-female line, you will find Tamerett, the dam of Tentam, who won the Met Mile (gr. I) in the slop, and Speak John, who is a yet another major slop influence from the Elmendorf Farm family and the sire of mud lover Verbatim.

He also has a strong 418 Tomlinson wet-track figure. The highest Tomlinson figure in the field goes to Twice the Appeal, with a 423. By the way, did we mention that Twice the Appeal is being ridden by Calvin Borel, who has won the last two Kentucky Derbys in the slop?

With his running style, Shackleford could run a Smarty Jones-type race on a sealed sloppy track, where speed often holds up. But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves, considering the weather forecast changes around here constantly. But it is good to know just in case we are indeed confronted with an off track.

If we are, you want to pay close attention to Shackleford, Twice the Appeal, Soldat, and Pants on Fire, and, yes, Uncle Mo, who has a number of slop influences, especially in his female family through Delta Judge, Cyane, and Rollicking. You will find Cyane in the pedigree of Smart Strike, sire of Curlin, who romped in the slop in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I). and Uncle Mo has a 419 Tomlinson number, second to Twice the Appeal.

Now that we’ve just assured a fast track for Derby Day, let’s briefly get back to Shackleford, who not only has flashed excellent speed both sprinting and routing, but has shown a great deal of maturity with each race. That he was able to make the jump from a seven-furlong maiden race to a 1 1/8-mile allowance race and win as impressively as he did, despite racing greenly, shows what kind of ability he has. And he has on two occasions demonstrated his heart and willingness to fight by coming again after being passed in his maiden victory and by battling back when confronted by Dialed In in the Florida Derby (gr. I). And you had to love how strongly he galloped out in that race.

If you are concerned by his Fountain of Youth (gr. II) performance, he was not the only horse to run an inexplicably bad race in a major Gulfstream prep this year, and he did get worked up in the starting gate and banged his head to the extent that jockey Jesus Castanon said he appeared to be in a daze and had nothing that day. The fact that he bounced back with such a powerful performance against the early Kentucky Derby favorite in the Florida Derby makes that a throw-out race.

He then came to Churchill Downs and turned in a pair of bullet works, one in 1:00 1/5 breezing in the slop and his final work in a blazing :58 4/5. And he has put in powerful gallops every days since.

So, with a decent post and a good stalking trip, all the ingredients are there for a big performance on Saturday.

Who is catching the eye

We’ll just focus on a few of the horses who caught the eye this morning, as the horses finally had an opportunity to gallop over a fast track. Despite his lack of dirt form and only four career starts, Animal Kingdom, who we wrote about extensively on Monday, is looking better by the day, physically and in his gallops. He is looking more and more now like the “now” horse. If he can incorporate that into dirt form we’re looking at a live longshot.

The other horse who looked terrific this morning and who turned in his best gallop to date is Pants On Fire, who we also wrote about extensively last week. He was really into the bit and full of life as he glided over the track with powerful strides.

Archarcharch galloped by himself this morning after yesterday’s gallop/work and is still looking strong out there.

Haskin's Derby Report: Repole Pair Sole Breeders' Cup Survivors

aspradling — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:54:00 GMT

First off, before we get to the Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty works, let’s at least acknowledge both colts for getting this far. The two Mike Repole-owned and Todd Pletcher-trained colts are the only horses from the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) that are still around. Boys at Tosconova, Rogue Romance, Jaycito, J P's Gusto, and Riveting Reason all have fallen off the Derby trail, and Biondetti, J B's Thunder, and Murjan never even made it to the trail. So, if it wasn’t for these two colts, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile would have left an ignominious legacy as a springboard to the classics.

As for their works Sunday morning, they went in company over a track that turned sloppy from several hours of heavy thunderstorms. Both worked well and finished up together, coming home their final eighth in :12 2/5, galloping out another eighth in :13 3/5, and then pulling up seven furlongs in 1:28. It was solid work, nothing spectacular. But it wasn’t meant to be. It’s just a question now of how battle-tested both colts are heading into the Derby, as neither got as much out of their respective last starts as was hoped.

The other big question regarding Uncle Mo is whether he’s still the same brilliant horse at 3 as he was at 2. That’s something we’ll just have to find out. If someone said right now that this year’s Derby winner is going to win by six lengths, is there any horse it could be other than Uncle Mo? That’s what makes him so intriguing in here.

One of the knocks against Uncle Mo is that he’s a big question mark a mile and a quarter. He may not have the most ideal 10-furlong pedigree, but it’s not nearly as bad as it’s made out to be and certainly no worse than the pedigrees of several recent Derby winners, such as Smarty Jones or Big Brown, both of who were by sprinter/miler sires and didn’t have a particularly strong female family.

Uncle Mo’s sire, Indian Charlie, has at least proven he can sire a mile and a quarter horse, as evidenced by his daughter Fleet Indian, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Personal Ensign and Delaware Handicap.

Indian Charlie’s sire, In Excess, ran the fastest 1 1/4 miles ever in New York, winning the Suburban Handicap in 1:58 1/5. He also won the nine-furlong Woodward in 1:46 1/5 and the Whitney. Indian Charlie’s tail-female family traces to major stamina influence Round Table.

Uncle Mo’s broodmare sire, Arch, won the 1 1/4-mile Super Derby and the 1 3/16-mile Fayette Stakes in track-record time. Arch has sired two major stakes winners at 1 1/4 miles -- Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame and Alabama winner Pine Island, and also is the sire of Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch, who is a leading Derby contender this year.

Arch’s sire, Kris S., sired Prized, winner of the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf and 1 1/4-mile Swaps Stakes, defeating Sunday Silence. He also sired Santa Anita Derby winner Brocco among others. Kris S. is by English Derby winner Roberto, who has sired such classy distances horses as Dynaformer, Brian’s Time, Silver Hawk, Bob Back, and Touching Wood

Uncle Mo’s fourth generation in his female family includes Northern Dancer and Danzig, as well as Cyane, who is a great-grandsire of Smart Strike, sire of Breeders’ Cup winners Curlin and English Channel and Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky.

Is this a great stamina pedigree? Let’s say there are a lot better and a lot worse. If Uncle Mo is as good this year as he was last year, and brings enough conditioning into the Derby, we just don’t see why his pedigree would be a deterrent, as so many people claim it to be.

First Set in Stone Wager

On March 9, I wrote a column titled "Derby Material," where I ranked my Top 15 horses, based on who had the look of a Kentucky Derby winner, in other words those who exhibited the attributes that normally win the Derby and who I could picture charging down the Churchill stretch to victory. This ranking had nothing to do with the Derby Dozen, which takes into account other factors.

Several of those on the list have fallen off the Derby trail due to injury, while some just didn’t pan out, with a number of late developers showing up virtually out of nowhere since then. But of those left, it is looking more and more like I will be able use some of them with confidence in the exotics.

Those horses are, as ranked on March 9, 1--Dialed In, 2--Mucho Macho Man, 3--Soldat, 7--Archarcharch, and 13--Toby's Corner. Two others in the Top 15 who are still in the Derby picture are 4--Santiva and 5--Stay Thirsty. So that's seven of the 15 still very much in the Derby picture.

Not wanting to use more than five horses in a trifecta box, I will go with Dialed In, Mucho Macho Man, Archarcharch, Toby's Corner, and Soldat. And I might do a little something with Stay Thirsty and/or Santiva to save at a huge price.

I figure, if these horses looked like Derby material two months ago, before the victories of Dialed In in the Florida Derby, Archarcharch in the Arkansas Derby, and Toby’s Corner in the Wood Memorial, they surely look like Derby material now. So in a confusing year such as this, why not go with initial observations and gut feeling and forget about the Johnny-come latelys? All five in the exotics box have been around since January and are battle-tested, and all still have room for improvement.

So, regardless of what we come up with in Friday’s selection column, this bet is already locked in.

Uncle Mo at that time still had not started, Midnight Interlude and Nehro were still maidens, Shackleford had just been beaten 23 ½ lengths in the Fountain of Youth, and Animal Kingdom was beaten in a grass allowance race.

We will not be making our usual picks based on works, because we arrived too late to see the majority of works. We’ll comment on the gallops and overall appearance and incorporate that into the Friday selections. But this is a good bet to get out of the way without having to do any thinking.

We will repeat this section in Friday’s column.

Tomorrow, we will catch up on Animal Kingdom’s Saturday work, which we got a chance to see on tape, and explain why this horse, despite appearing to be bred strictly for the grass, has every right to run big on the dirt.

Ky. Derby Trail: Macho Man Was Born to Run

aspradling — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:25:00 GMT

Ponche de Leona was three weeks overdue. The 9-year-old mare kept showing signs she was about to foal, and her owner Carole Rio, who leases 40 acres of Rose Grove Farm near Ocala with her husband John, had been staying up day and night with her. Whenever she was unable to, John would take over. They eventually decided to put her out in the field to make her more comfortable.

It was Father’s Day, June 15, extremely late for a mare to give birth. But when the Rios purchased the daughter of Ponche at the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale for $33,000 from Adena Springs, in foal to Macho Uno, they knew she was a June cover and would foal late, but were expecting her to give birth in May.

It was already the middle of June and Ponche de Leona, despite all the signs, still hadn’t dropped her foal. Her placenta looked fine and everything appeared normal. Carole had to leave the farm on this day to attend to her champion miniature pinchers. When she and her husband left, Carole told the farm manager Jeff Sekay, “This mare is ready to foal, but I really don’t know when, because she’s looked the same for the past three weeks. But I need to get off the farm and attend to my dogs, so just keep an eye on her.”

At 3:30 in the afternoon as they drove back to the farm, Carole received a call from Sekay saying the mare was foaling.

“Oh, damn,” exclaimed Carole, who said she doesn’t like foaling mares out in the field.

“I told him I was five minutes away,” she said. “A few minutes later he called back and said, ‘I think this foal is dead, he just doesn’t look alive.’

“When we arrived, Jeff and his wife were there and they’re standing over the foal and praying. I was doing my own praying on the way there. When I arrived I looked at him and he was lifeless, and I couldn’t see any breathing. I started rubbing him and finally I just stopped and we all prayed together. Just then this sucker jumped up and started running. He didn’t just stand up he jumped up and then ran off from the mare. It was bizarre.

“I remember saying to my husband, ‘Well, here’s your Father’s Day present.’ He said, ‘We’ll find out in two years how good of a gift it is.’”

They find out alright. The foal, believed to be dead at birth, was eventually named Mucho Macho Man and is now one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

“After he ran off in the field, Jeff’s wife said, ‘We ought to call him Lazarus.’ And that was his name on the farm,” Carole said.

“He was a character from day one, and was tall and lanky, and my husband used to call him Mr. Green Jeans. He’s older than me and I asked, ‘Who the heck is Mr. Green Jeans?’ He said he was a character on Captain Kangaroo who was this tall, skinny guy. That was way too far back for me. So, I kept calling him Lazarus, but my husband said he couldn’t stop calling him Mr. Green Jeans.”

The Rios’ foaling adventures with Ponche de Leona did not end with Mucho Macho Man.

“What’s weird is that this mare had a Chestertown Slew foal this year, and this time we had her in a stall,” Carole said. “I’ve foaled out thousands of mares, working at Due Process Farm and so many breeding farms since I was a kid, but I’ve never seen anything like this mare and her foals. This foal goes to get up and jumps up on her feet and stayed up for almost two full hours before lying back down. I don’t know what’s going on with this mare. These were the first two foals I had out of her. This foal naturally couldn’t run off because she was in a foaling stall, but I have no doubt she would have done it had she been out in the field.

“She’s a normal foaling mare, but not a normal acting mare. If she didn’t lie down and have that foal at 7:30 in the morning I would have sworn she wasn’t having a foal. I was just working in the barn and I could hear her water break. I couldn’t believe it because she hadn’t walked the stall or pawed or anything. She just lied down and had the foal; it’s amazing. All I can think of is the mare has a very high pain tolerance. If I would have turned her out in a small paddock she would have had it out in the field again.”

Perhaps she passed that high pain tolerance on to Mucho Macho Man, who ran every step of the way in the Louisiana Derby with only three shoes and came out of the race a bit foot sore.

“When I saw him lean in down the stretch, I said, ‘Oh my God, tell me this horse didn’t just get hurt,’ Carole said. “Whenever a horse does that who had never done it before it usually means something happened to him. When I heard he had lost the shoe I figured it had to hurt him. And it was his white foot which is more sensitive, and his right front, which would cause him to lean in if it was stinging him.”

Not only did the Rios breed and foal Mucho Macho Man, they broke him and gave him his early training.

“I’m kind of humbled by the whole experience,” Carole said. “He was the easiest foal to be around. We had him out with Special Kid, who placed in the Borderland Derby for Doug O’Neill; that’s who he was weaned with. They were the only two foals we had that year. When Mucho Macho Man was running around the paddock it was like he was cutting daisies.

“While we were training him on the farm you couldn’t go far enough with him. He never got tired. And he kept his fitness himself. He’s rangy and lanky and has always been that way. A lot of horses don’t keep their fitness and you have to get them fit. He maintained himself. This horse has always been easy on himself and real smart.

“He was so laid back and took everything in stride. The only thing he had a problem with was walking in the wash rack at the farm and the training center. At both places he wouldn’t walk forward into the wash rack; you had to back him in every day. He backed up so easily it was like maneuvering a car. A month ago, my husband met the van driver who took him to the airport and he said he wouldn’t load on the plane and they had to back him in. But everything else he did was perfect. Whether it was his first time on the racetrack or his first time in company it was as if he had done it his whole life.”

Mucho Macho Man was so big and gangly they didn’t want to push him, so they gave him only one easy work at the training center. They then shipped him to trainer Bill White and he ran six weeks later, finishing second.

“You tell me how much talent he’s got?” Carole said. “It’s not like he had four works here. He had one easy open gallop down the lane, that’s it. Normally I give them four works at the training center before I send them to Bill. He usually runs them six to eight weeks off the farm. When he got him, he saw what a late foal he was. I told him, ‘Bill, physically this horse is late, but mentally he’s way ahead.”

One person who had followed Mucho Macho Man when he was a young horse on the farm was Jim Culver of Dream Team Racing. He watched him develop and grow and said he had a funny feeling he was going to be something special. Just prior to the colt turning 2, Culver purchased him from the Rios, who retained a share.

Ironically, the Rios wound up consigning Ponche de Leona to the 2009 Ocala Breeders Sales Company October mixed sale, a move Carole was against. If she was against selling her before the sale, she certainly was even more so when the mare brought only $5,000.

“There was a miscommunication, and the reserve was not set properly,” Carole said. “Thank God my friend Kathy Paul of Fanlew Farms in Louisiana purchased her for a client. I let the sale go, and when I started training the colt I realized he was a good horse. My husband and I looked at one another, and I said, ‘I got to get the mare back, because I think I’m going to really regret selling her.’

“I contacted Kathy about buying her back before he started, but she was unsure about it. The owner she purchased her for wound up embezzling money and Kathy had to sell out to try to get her board money back. So I wound up buying ‘Ponchie’ back, and she was already in foal to Chestertown Slew. I would have regretted it for sure had I not gotten her back. So, it’s really weird how it all worked out and having the mare back with me. The whole story is freaky.

It got even freakier when Mucho Macho Man was entered in his career debut on July 10 at Calder, but had to be scratched when the horse in the stall next to him flipped in the gate, and he got nicked up enough to be scratched by the vet.

When he was entered back again seven days later he finished a good second to a highly promising colt named Gourmet Dinner. After the race, Dean and Patti Reeves were looking to buy a young horse and were touted on Gourmet Dinner, but when Dean watched the tape of the race he liked Mucho Macho Man more than Gourmet Dinner and purchased majority interest in him instead from Dream Team Racing.

“Had he started that first time, I think he would have won and the Reeves’ never would have seen him in the maiden race with Gourmet Dinner. It was in the cards for the Reeves to own him and Kathy Ritvo to train him. I think it all worked out best for this horse. I feel the horse really connected to Kathy. There was a reason why they scratched him from that first start. It’s just amazing to me the way it wound up. He’s just meant to be where he is.”

Just as Ponche de Leona is meant to be where she is.

“If it ended now it still would be a wonderful ride,” Carole said. “I had only two foals on the ground that year and they’re both stakes horses. One of 35,000 foals a year get to start in the Derby and what’s the likelihood of me having one of them?

“Then, of course, I have the dogs. Right after the Derby I have to fly out to Minnesota on Monday. My dog is competing in the miniature pincher nationals, which has 300 entries and she’s the favorite. Also, her mother is going to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. It’s just amazing. My husband says, ‘You won’t need a plane to fly to Minnesota if this horse wins the Derby.’”

Ky. Derby Trail: Pre-Derby Awards

Blood-Horse Staff — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:12:00 GMT

Before we get really perplexed and befuddled by the morass of statistics, opinions, and rumors, here is one person’s opinion of the best of what we have and what we’ve seen, listed by categories. You may be surprised by the horse who finished first in the most categories and who could be a very live Derby horse at a decent price, but we will explain later in this column why it shouldn’t be as much of a surprise as one might think. And because of this, he will move up several places on next week’s Derby Dozen.

Can you guess who it is? Well, think blazing britches or charred trousers or scalding slacks. If you haven’t gotten it yet, you won’t have far to look.

BEST PEDIGREE – The winner is Pants On Fire. He is by A.P. Indy’s son Jump Start, who is out of the Storm Cat mare Steady Cat, who placed in five stakes. Jump Start’s second dam, Hopespringsforever, is a full sister to Miswaki. Pants On Fire’s broodmare sire, Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Cape Town, is by Seeking the Gold, out of the Seattle Slew mare Seaside Attraction, winner of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and dam of 2-year-old filly champion Golden Attraction, as well as Cape Town.

Pants On Fire’s second dam is by Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner and champion older male Bates Motel, whose daughter, Barbarika, is the granddam of Curlin. Bates Motel’s sire, Sir Ivor, won the English Derby (Eng-I), 2000 Guineas (Eng-I), and Washington D.C. International.

Pants On Fire is inbred 4 x 5 to Graustark’s son Key to the Mint, winner of the grade I Travers, Woodward, Whitney, Brooklyn, and Suburban and champion 3-year-old male. He also is inbred three times top and bottom to the classic sire Buckpasser. In addition, he is inbred to Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Mr. Prospector.

Honorable mention goes to Stay Thirsty, a son of Bernardini and a half-brother to Belmont Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Andromeda’s Hero. His tail-female family is the crème de la creme of King Ranch breeding, as well as Rokeby Stable through Arts and Letters. His second dam is by English Derby winner Roberto, giving him Darby Dan breeding as well.

TOUGHEST – The winner is Mucho Macho Man, a big, rugged colt who was foaled incredibly late, June 15, yet still made his career debut in July of his 2-year-old year and has run a total of eight times, six at a mile or longer, and has run big at Calder, Saratoga, Monmouth, Aqueduct, Gulfstream, and Fair Grounds. He also was tough enough to run the entire way in the Louisiana Derby with a missing shoe that he lost at the start and still finished a close third, coming out of the race a little sore. Runner-up goes to Archarcharch, who has run in November, December, January, February, March, and April at five different distances from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, and finished third in the Rebel after getting cut up and bruised by a thrashing Alternation in the next stall. And we have to give an honorable mention to Comma to the Top, who has run 13 times at nine different distances, starting back in May at Hollywood Park, and nearly pulled off the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). And he has raced on or just off the pace in every race but his debut.

GUTSIEST PERFORMANCE – We have co-winners -- Master of Hounds, who returned off a 4 1/2-month layoff, traveled to Dubai and ran his heart out to be beaten the shortest of noses, while racing on a synthetic surface for the first time and stretching out to 1 3/16 miles over an incredibly deep and slow track. The other co-winner is Pants On Fire, who dug in gamely when challenged by Mucho Macho Man on the outside and Nehro on the inside in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), and held off both horses to win by a neck, despite having only one half-mile breeze in five weeks due to a lung infection and ring worm-like condition on all four of his legs (more on that later). Honorable mention goes to Dialed In, who had to really lay his body down to wear down the front-running Shackleford in the Florida Derby over a speed-favoring track. Shackleford as well gets honorable mention, as he dug in when challenged and fought back courageously, giving way only in the final strides. Mention also has to be made of Midnight Interlude, who ran a similarly game race in the Santa Anita Derby when he kept coming, despite Comma to the Top veering out into his path twice, causing him to lose his momentum each time.

FASTEST RISE TO STARDOM – The winner is Dialed In, who came off a 6 1/2-furlong maiden win, his only career start, to defeat many of the leading Derby contenders in Florida in the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), blowing by everyone in the stretch to win going away in a sharp 1:35 flat. Honorable mentions go to Midnight Interlude and Nehro, who also came off maiden victories to quickly establish themselves as major Derby contenders with bang-up performances.

MOST VERSATILE – The winner is Nehro, who broke his maiden with an explosive move on the far turn, coming from 11th, 12 lengths back, to win by 4 1/2 lengths. He then was beaten a fast-closing neck in both the Louisiana Derby and Arkansas Derby, rallying on inside at Fair Grounds and the outside at Oaklawn, and coming from third in the Louisiana Derby and 10th in the Arkansas Derby. It is apparent that is doesn’t matter where this horse is running, he’s stil going to give you that big run. Runner-up goes to Archarcharch, who has the speed to win the six-furlong Sugar Bowl Stakes in 1:10 2/5, tracking a :22 1/5 quarter and :46 half, and was able to rally from 10th to win the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby.

FASTEST – The winner is The Factor, with his blistering speed from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and three consecutive 100-plus Beyer figures. Runner-up goes to the 2-year-old Uncle Mo, whose 102 maiden Beyer and 108 in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) made him one of the fastest 2-year-olds we’ve seen in a while. He hasn’t duplicated those figures at 3, but you never know when he’s going to break out.

THORO-GRAPH FIGURES – Best number this year -- Archarcharch (1). Best pairing this year – Soldat (1 1/2, 1 1/4). Best numbers at 2 -- Uncle Mo (0,0,0), Mucho Macho Man (3/4).

BIGGEST DANGER ON A SLOPPY TRACK – This is extremely close between Pants On Fire, Toby’s Corner, and Soldat, the only three horses who have won impressively in the slop. From a pedigree standpoint, the edge goes to Pants On Fire, who has a ton of slop influences, with his inbreeding to Seattle Slew, Mr. Prospector, Key to the Mint (Graustark), and Buckpasser, not to mention Seeking the Gold. His seven-length maiden romp in the slop at Delaware Park was not by chance. Soldat had the most powerful performance in the slop, with his 10 3/4-length romp at Gulfstream. We’ll give honorable mentions to Stay Thirsty because of all the classy slop breeding throughout his pedigree, and Animal Kingdom, based partially on gut feeling and the number of German-breds in his female family. Many German-breds seem exceptionally tough going long distances and on soft ground, and his broodmare sire, Acatenango, was as tough as they come. We’ll see if that can translate to dirt. Also, his paternal grandsire, Candy Stripes, is the sire of Invasor, who won the Uruguayan 2000 Guineas easily over a very muddy track.

BEST MOVE ON THE FAR TURN – The winner is Archarcharch in the Arkansas Derby, with Animal Kingdom in the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes a close second. The most explosive move was by Nehro in his maiden race, but he apparently towered over that field, so you have to give more credit to the moves in major stakes races.

BEST MOVE FROM THE QUARTER POLE TO EIGHTH POLE – Dialed In in the Holy Bull and Florida Derby and Archarcharch in the Arkansas Derby.

BEST MOVE FROM THE EIGHTH POLE TO THE WIRE – Nehro in the Arkansas Derby and Brilliant Speed in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I).

BEST OVERALL TURN OF FOOT – The winner is Archarcharch for his quick acceleration in both the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) and Arkansas Derby.

BEST MIDPACK GRINDER – The winner is Mucho Macho Man, who just keeps coming at you and can sustain his run a long way. Honorable mention goes to Toby’s Corner, who probably is more comfortable racing in midpack and can also sustain his run.

PACE HORSE/TRACKER MOST LIKELY TO CLOSE – The winner is Pants On Fire, who has already demonstrated his ability to rate off the pace in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II), in which he put in a huge run from seventh and looked like a winner circling his field, moving right up to the leaders while forced very wide. He made that move with a :23 4/5 quarter, but was unable to sustain his run and tired. He came out of the race with the aforementioned lung infection and skin condition (see more farther down). In the Louisiana Derby, he rated comfortably in second, took over the lead turning for home, and held off his two challengers with a solid :12 3/5 final eighth. He is capable of racing anywhere from fifth to seventh in the Derby and closing well, getting the jump on the late closers.

Runner-up goes to Uncle Mo, who closed his final quarter in :24 flat in the Champagne (gr. I) after blazing a :45 4/5 half; you just don’t see horses doing that, especially 2-year-olds. In the Timely Writer this year, he set a slow pace and came home his final quarter in :22 4/5. In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he came home his final sixteenth in :06 1/5, so this colt does have a powerful closing kick. Honorable mention goes to Midnight Interlude, who hadn’t closed fast in his two one-mile maiden races, but did close his final eighth in about :12 1/5 in the Santa Anita Derby.

So, the only horse to win four first-place awards is Pants On Fire. Archarcharch won three, with two runner-up awards. Dialed In, Nehro, and Mucho Macho Man won two each.

Pants On Fire wins for pedigree, the ability to close after tracking the pace, gutsiest performance, and most likely to relish a sloppy track.

Archarcharch wins for best move on the far turn, best move from the quarter pole to the eighth pole, and best overall turn of foot. He also was runner-up as toughest and most versatile.

Mucho Macho Man wins for toughest, and best midpack grinder. Nehro wins for most versatile and best move from the eighth pole to the wire, and gets an honorable mention for fastest rise to stardom. And Dialed In wins for fastest rise to stardom and best move from the quarter pole to the eighth pole, and receives an honorable mention for gutsiest performance.

So, if anyone is surprised at the results of these awards, especially the overall winner, it just might be time to reevaluate Pants On Fire, especially his performance in the Louisiana Derby.

As mentioned, he came out of the Risen Star with a little blood and mucus, and by the time he arrived back at Palm Meadows he had a full-blown lung infection, as well as a ring worm-like condition on all four of his legs. It was as if his entire immune system had gone haywire.

In the five weeks between the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby, he had only that only one little :48 3/5 half-mile breeze.

“His immune system to say the least was weak, and this really knocked him out after the Risen Star,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He had to be harboring something going into the Risen Star. When we got him back to Palm Meadows he was pretty sick. That’s why he had only one workout. He just wasn’t healthy enough; he was still having problems with his lungs. We treated him and got it cleared up enough to run him in the Louisiana Derby.

“When he shipped him to Fair Grounds for the race he left Palm Meadows and went to Ocala. He stopped at Barry Eisaman’s farm, which is a little less than halfway and rested overnight and then continued on the next day. At Barry’s he was given an IV of antibiotics just to make sure the shipping didn’t set something off again. We did everything to make sure he was healthy.”

As for the skin condition, Breen said, “Normally when a horse gets ring worm they’ll get it on their back and neck, but he had it on all four legs, more so behind than in front. We don’t know if he got an allergic reaction to something; perhaps the solution the bandages were washed in. For the next month we didn’t train him with any bandages. I didn’t want anything touching his legs. We treated him with a steroid, prednisone, for a couple of days. You can still see the remnants of the skin condition. It looks like someone laid onion rings underneath his skin. Our vet said he’s seen this maybe once or twice in his life. And in that case the tests came back as an allergic reaction, so that’s how we treated it.”

It makes sense now why Pants On Fire’s big run in the Risen Star fizzled out when he looked so good one minute and so bad the next, and why his Louisiana Derby is even better than it looked visually and on paper.

“When he ran in the LeComte (in which he was beaten a head right on the wire by Wilkinson) I didn’t even think of scoping him or anything like that because I thought he ran well enough,” Breen said. “But who knows if he was sick or bled a little in that race? The more I think about it I wish I had scoped him back then just to check him, because sometimes these things just slip by.

“In the Risen Star he was in an absolutely great spot and made that good run. What impressed me about his race in the Louisiana Derby, and I may be wrong, but watching the race on DVD, I put it on fast forward through the stretch, and when both of those horses came up to him it looked like had they gone around three more times he wasn’t going to let Nehro or Mucho Macho Man get by him. He really dug in.

“Everything is good now, except for the remnants of the ring worm on his back legs.”

Unlike his one little half-mile breeze before the Louisiana Derby, Pants On Fire has already begun to crank it up big-time, breezing five furlongs in :58 3/5 at Palm Meadows. He then had a solid maintenance breeze in 1:00 4/5 Saturday and was scheduled to ship to Louisville Saturday evening at 6 or 7 o’clock when it was a little cooler. He is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs at around 11 o’clock on Sunday morning.

Form-wise, he had been running “5s” and “6s” steadily on Thoro-Graph, but after recovering from his lung infection he jumped to a career best “2 3/4” in the Louisiana Derby. With a four-point improvement from the Risen Star, he most likely will benefit from the extra time off, and it is encouraging to see him bounce out of it with two excellent works.

If you’re looking for a relatively big price on a proven stakes winner who has not gotten much hype, Pants On Fire just might be the horse, based on what he’s been through, his attributes listed above, and how much he’s improved. If he can take even a small step forward on May 7 he should be a serious contender.

Ky. Derby Trail: Brilliant Speed Revisited

Blood-Horse Staff — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:49:00 GMT

The Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) was once a great race that attracted many of the leading Derby contenders. Since the switch to Polytrack it no longer is regarded as a top Derby prep, attracting mostly grass and synthetic horses. It did get eventual Derby winner Street Sense, who pretty much used the race merely to set him up for the big one, and he was beaten in a four-horse photo by longshot Dominican. The three horses in the photo with him would finish 11th, 12th, and 17th in the Derby.

This year proved to be a similar type of race, minus a horse of the caliber of Street Sense. It attracted few dirt horses and was run like a grass race, with form tossed out the window. The first four finishers went off at 19-1, 24-1, 13-1, and 17-1.

So, do we ignore this race or actually try to make a case for the victorious Brilliant Speed, who was strictly a grass horse and was beaten a total of 40 lengths in his two dirt appearances?

We’re not going to attempt to tout Brilliant Speed as a potential Derby winner, but we certainly can for hitting the board and being part of the exotics. If anyone buys into it, they can then take it another step if they wish after looking at the tote board.

First off, let’s address his two dirt races. As a long, lean son of Dynaformer, whose offspring develop late and want to a distance of ground, he had no shot in his career debut going five furlongs at Saratoga. His fourth, beaten 19 lengths, looks terrible on paper, but let’s not forget that the winner, eventual Hopeful (gr. I) winner Boys at Tosconova, won by 12 lengths in a blistering :56 flat, while he broke slowly and raced greenly. So we can certainly give him a pass on that race.

In his second start, going seven furlongs at Saratoga, he again broke slowly, was rushed up to chase a :45 3/5 half, while down on the rail, but was rank and green, and drifted to the outside turning for home before tiring badly.

Did he not like the dirt or was he just extremely green and immature?

Trainer Tom Albertrani switched him to the grass and stretched him out to two turns at Belmont and he ran a pair of solid thirds over yielding courses. Albertrani gave him a couple of months off to grow and mature and brought him back at Tampa.

Breaking from the rail, he swerved a bit at the start, raced along the inside and ran up behind a wall of horses nearing the head of the stretch. When an opening appeared down on the rail, he shot through and drew off to win in hand.

Dropping back from 1 1/16 miles to a mile in the Dania Beach, he broke sharply, but got squeezed back to sixth, some seven lengths off the pace. Nearing the top of the stretch, instead of swinging wide, John Velazquez elected to stay put and wait for racing room. But it quickly became apparent there would be no way through, so he looked over his right shoulder to make sure he was clear and steered Brilliant Speed, who was still stuck on his left lead, to the outside. When he changed leads, he burst to the front, but was just nipped on the wire by the late-charging Adirondack Summer.

In the Hallandale Beach, he broke from the far outside and raced in fourth through the early going, about four lengths off the lead. He swung out widest of all turning for home and was full of run, but his stablemate, King Congie, kept drifting out into his path, continuously forcing him out. Not only did King Congie, who crossed the wire first, hamper his stablemate, his drifting allowed Master Dunker to slip through inside him to get second. That also cost Brilliant Speed the win, as King Congie was disqualified to third, with Master Dunker being placed first.

Albertrani ran both horses back in the Toyota Blue Grass and pretty much gave up on Brilliant Speed down the backstretch, when he dropped back to 12th and last behind snail-like fractions of :50 3/5 and 1:14 3/5. Albertrani just figured he wasn’t handling the Polytrack. But when Joel Rosario asked him to pick it up, Brilliant Speed swung off the rail to the far outside and came charging down the stretch, only to encounter a repeat of the Hallandale Beach, as King Congie again came out into him, forcing him out several more paths. But this time, he wasn’t going to be denied. Despite having to go seven-wide at the top of the stretch and losing his momentum having to deal with King Congie’s antics again, he still managed to fly home his last three-eighths in a sensational :34 2/5, with closing fractions of :22 4/5 and :11 3/5. How this translates to dirt we have no idea, considering the surface, but that is still flying, especially under the circumstances.

“He’s never had a chance to really stretch his legs out before the Blue Grass,” Albertrani said. “He’s always had to check or steady, and even at Tampa he had to steady behind horses, and then found his way through. He’s a really good finisher and I’d love to see if he can run the same race back again in the Derby as he did in the Blue Grass. When I saw him last on the backstretch, I’m thinking to myself there is no way he’s going to close on this track; he’s way too far back. He was farther back than I thought he’d be and I could only think he wasn’t getting hold of the track.

“Then I saw him make his move, and I tell you what, Rosario gave that horse such a good ride. He didn’t lose an inch of ground. He went from the rail and switched right out to the middle of the track in three strides. Then I saw him coming and said, ‘Wow, this horse is rolling.’”

What we really like about Brilliant Speed is his lean, chiseled look and refined head, like a European stayer. He has beautiful action and has shown the ability to overcome bad trips, whether it’s coming inside horses, in between horses, or outside horses. That kind of adaptability and willingness to go wherever he needs to should serve him well in a 20-horse field. And he can really motor once he gets going. In the Dania Beach, he closed his final quarter in :23 3/5 and came home his final sixteenth in :05 and change in the Hallandale Beach.

And for the Beyer pundits, his Beyers have gotten faster in each of his last six starts – 32, 65, 69, 79, 84, and 93.

He has done all his training on dirt, and has handled it well, according to Albertrani. As for his pedigree, Dynaformer sired Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, who also started out as a grass horse. Brilliant Speed’s broodmare sire, Gone West, sired Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Commendable, and his second dam, Daijin, is a full-sister to Belmont and Haskell (gr. I) winner Touch Gold. It is also important to note that Dynaformer’s offspring have won three grade I stakes on dirt and two of them came at Churchill Downs – Barbaro in the Derby and Perfect Drift in the Stephen Foster.

For Albertrani, April has been the proverbial roller coaster of emotions. Two weeks ago, he had no Derby aspirations at all. Then Arthur’s Tale, a son of Albertrani’s greatest horse Bernardini, nearly pulled off a shocker in the Wood Memorial (gr. I), getting beat a neck, and just like that Albertrani had a legitimate Derby contender. A few days after the race, Arthur’s Tale was off the Derby trail with a splint bone injury and so was Albertrani. Now, here he is back on the Derby trail with a grade I winner…all within a week.

“I think it’s great that we’re going to the Derby,” Albertrani said. “This is like a dream come true for Mrs. (Charlotte) Weber.”

From a historical standpoint, Mrs. Weber finished second in the Kentucky Derby nearly 30 years ago when her 18-1 shot Laser Light rallied from 19th under Eddie Maple. Her Live Oak Plantation is the only established long-time stable participating in this year’s Derby, so just maybe the Derby gods have her in their sights this year.

Ky. Derby Trail: Arch of Triumph

aspradling — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:40:00 GMT

Talk about no respect. First Archarcharch gets dropped from the final Future Wager pool because of a third in the Rebel (gr. II), in which he had a ton of excuses. We expressed all the reasons why we felt that was a mistake in a March 30 column, titled “Fallen Arches.” Then, as a final indignity, he goes off at an insane 25-1 in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), despite being a house horse and being ridden by the popular Jon Court and trained by the popular Jinks Fires.

We won’t rehash all this horse’s attributes and why he was sitting on a huge race. Let’s just say he was totally overlooked. And you know what? He’s going to be overlooked again in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), because Nehro was running down his throat at the wire. If you’re looking for a big bandwagon horse on May 7, look no further than Nehro, who is going to take a ton of money.

From the time Archarcharch broke his maiden in the six-furlong Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds in a sharp 1:10 2/5, despite being bred for stamina, he has had the look of a good horse. He had excuses in his only two defeats, but looked like Kentucky Derby material in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) and certainly in the Arkansas Derby, both times exhibiting the turn of foot you want to see in a Derby horse.

One of those surprised at his odds in the Arkansas Derby was his owner Robert Yagos.

“If I had known what odds he was going to be I would have brought more money to the track,” he said. “The morning line was 12-1 and I thought he’d probably drop down to 10-1. I knew most of the money was going to go on The Factor. But when he went off at 25-1 I couldn’t believe it. My grandkids were there and I was giving them money to go bet, and they had a great time.”

If you liked the Mike Smith story and angle in 2005 you’re going to love Jon Court’s story. The 50-year-old journeyman has been so close to the Derby on several occasions, but has never been able to make it to the starting gate. Now he’s on his way for his father-in-law, Jinks Fires. This whole story is all about family.

Court’s son, Justin, has been Archarcharch’s blacksmith in Kentucky, and when the colt has been out of town over the winter, Fires’ brother, Teddy, and his nephew, Richard, have shod him. Justin is looking forward to shoeing him again before the Derby. Also, one of Yagos’ sons helps out on the farm and takes care of the horses when he and wife are away.

“This has been a dream come true,” Justin said. “It’s quite a thrill for all of us.”

Court, Fires, and Yagos have been a team for quite a while and will bring hordes of family and friends to Churchill Downs on May 7.

“Jon is a great jockey,” Yagos said. “I wouldn’t trade him for anybody for any reason. Not only because he’s Jinks’ son-in-law and he’s a good friend of ours and has ridden a lot of our horses. We try to put him on every horse we have because I have a lot of confidence in him. Not only is he a good rider, he has the best interests of the horse at heart. He won’t push a horse farther than he thinks the horse can stand it. He wants them to come back safe, but he’ll never quit on a horse. He’s just a good jockey and he’s smart.”

One of the reasons Archarcharch is a perfect fit for Kentucky Derby is his disposition and his easy-going manner. If there is one thing that’s for sure, the pandemonium of the Derby is not going affect him.

“He’s always been a calm laid back horse,” Yagos said. “I own a salvage yard and after we bought him we had him on our 40-acre farm that’s right next to the salvage yard and two miles from the end of the runaway of an Air Force base, so he’s been used to the sounds of forklifts and trucks and equipment and those big C-130s flying in and out all the time. The noise and activity during the day never affected him. He’s a smart horse who pays attention to everything, but he doesn’t let anything bother him.”

That will serve him well in Fires’ barn at Churchill, which faces the often busy and loud Longfield Ave.

It was a stroke of good luck that brought Archarcharch to Yagos and Fires.

“Jinks picked him out,” Yagos said. “Usually I go down to the Keeneland sales with him, but I couldn’t get away. He knew what we were looking for, and there were four or five other ones before him that we tried to buy, but they just went too high. Jinks and I talked about this colt and put a maximum on him. Jinks called me while the auction was going on and we were prepared to go higher on him, but it was late on a Sunday afternoon towards the end of the sale and we just got lucky and were able to get him for $60,000. Jinks put him on a van and sent him here to the house. When I saw him I was impressed.”

If he was impressed then, he has to be enamored with the colt now, which is why he has turned down several offers for him.

“We had a bunch of offers for him after the Southwest and they just kept going up and up and getting ridiculous, and we finally just decided we’re going to keep him,” Yagos said. “This is why we’ve been doing this for 20 years and we’ll probably never get another one like him. Whatever happens from now on he’s made us look good.”

OK, so we’ve got a horse who is a grade I winner, one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby, and has a Derby pedigree and running style. But what do the Derby gods think of their beloved race being won by a horse named Archarcharch? If they have a sense of humor they won’t mind a bit.

“We were trying to figure out something to go with his pedigree, and he’s by Arch,” Yagos recalled. “I told my wife we need to pick out something the announcers will have fun with, and, hopefully, if he’s the kind of horse we think he is he’ll go a long way and people will remember him. And we felt Archarcharch was a name people will remember.”

If he keeps running the way he has, people will remember him alright, but not because of his name.

The Nehro bandwagon

As we stated earlier, expect Nehro to take a good deal of money in the Derby. People love to see horses closing like that, especially in their final Derby prep, and throughout the years have supported them at the windows.

Nehro certainly is looking extremely live for the Derby, and you had to be impressed with the power he exhibited in the final quarter mile and the relentless manner in which he came charging at Archarcharch, who was closing fast himself. He flew home his final three-eighths in :36 and change and galloped out like a bear.

There are several reasons why we have Archarcharch ranked slightly ahead of him. First off, he was giving Nehro four pounds, but most important, he showed a quicker turn of foot on the far turn, where many Derbys are often won. Going into the turn, Archarcharch was a length in front of Nehro. When the jocks on each horse asked them for their run, Archarcharch quickly kicked into another gear and in a flash was five lengths ahead of Nehro, who was just beginning to pick up steam.

Archarcharch came charging down the stretch and rolled past Sway Away and Dance City at the sixteenth pole and began drawing away. But here came Nehro chopping into his lead with every stride. Archarcharch, because he can be so inquisitive, as Yagos mentioned, has worn blinkers his whole career. When he began to lose interest a little after opening a clear lead in the Southwest, Fires opened up his blinkers a little. We’ll see if he opens them up a little more for the Derby, although we can’t imagine him losing interest in the Derby with all the noise and the crowd.

What we love most about Nehro is that in a three-week period after breaking his maiden with an explosive move around horses, he has closed fast in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and Arkansas Derby over two distinctly different surfaces. And he did it coming on the inside at Fair Grounds and the outside at Oaklawn, and from three lengths back at Fair Grounds and 10 lengths back at Oaklawn. In short, this colt can be placed anywhere on the track and still come with his powerful run. That is a trainer and jockey’s dream. As we said, bandwagon horse.

The Factor preempted…for now

Yes, The Factor was disappointing as the 4-5 favorite. But if he trains well at Churchill Downs and runs in the Derby, don’t be surprised even a little to see a big rebound performance.

As fast as he is, when a horse busts out of there in a 1 1/8-mile race and is hustled to the lead in :22 2/5, it would be crazy to try to outrun him. Not only did The Factor try to take back a little, he was crowded into the rail by Dance City. When Martin Garcia grabbed hold of him and took him off the rail, The Factor displaced so badly that Garcia could hear him gurgling all the way down the backstretch.

If The Factor makes it to the starting gate on May 7, you can be sure he will be allowed to run, and when this horse is allowed to run there isn’t anyone who can outrun run. Any horse that tries to will not be around for very long, and no one is going to want to offer their horse as a sacrificial lamb in the Kentucky Derby. So, it’s not inconceivable to see a Spend a Buck or Winning Colors type of performance, at least for as far as his speed can carry him.

Horses often will run a monster race after displacing or having any problem that hampers their breathing. Look at Holy Bull, who displaced in the Fountain of Youth and finished far up the track, then came right back and blew his field away in the Florida Derby, earning an outrageous 115 Beyer speed figure. And the Derby has shown us on a number of occasions that a bad performance has little bearing on what a horse does coming back in a couple of weeks.

Hansel, Snow Chief, Louis Quatorze, Lookin at Lucky, Point Given, Tabasco Cat, Little Current, and Pine Bluff are just some of the horses who finished out of the money for whatever reason in the Derby and came right back two weeks later to win the Preakness. And two of those – Point Given and Lookin at Lucky – were trained by Bob Baffert.

No one knows whether The Factor can carry his speed 1 1/4 miles, but if Baffert feels he’s ready for the Derby, it would be wise to at least take him seriously.

Blue Grass with the emphasis on grass

We’re not even going to begin analyzing the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). The only major Derby contender in the field, Santiva, never threatened, and you can choose to throw the race out if you wish. The only question with him is whether he got enough out of the race to go into the Derby off only two starts this year. We’re not going to hold this race against him, not on that surface.

The winner, Brilliant Speed – an oddly named horse considering his running style, appears to be a good horse, but looking at the race strictly as a Derby prep, let’s just say that the three horses in the photo – Brilliant Speed, Twinspired, and King Congie – have run in a combined five dirt races in their career and were beaten a total of 83 1/2 lengths, for an average margin of defeat of 16 3/4 lengths. And that is actually below the winner’s average of 20 lengths.

This was basically a grass race, and run as a grass race, and there really isn’t much more you can say about it, except for this: Brilliant Speed's sire, Dynaformer, has sired Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. His broodmare sire, Gone West, sired Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Commendable. And his second dam, Daijin, is a full-sister to Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold.