Juvenile Spotlight: Brown Almighty

Among the most popular horses of the past decade, Big Brown was a spectacular racehorse, winning the Kentucky Derby (GI) and Preakness Stakes (GI) in impressive fashion en route to a divisional championship title. He retired to Three Chimneys Farm, joining a strong stallion roster. Hopes of the champion becoming a top sire soared, but like any other new sire, doubt was involved.

The dual classic-winning son of Boundary has quickly begun erasing that doubt. So far, Big Brown has sired three winners from his first crop: Ruby Brown, Brown Eyes Blue, and Brown Almighty.

The latter debuted at Arlington Park this past Saturday, going to post in one-mile maiden special weight for juveniles over a firm turf course. Breaking well from the third gate, the chestnut settled into third behind the leaders as the two-year-olds rounded the first turn. With Francisco Torres – who won four races on the card – aboard, Brown Almighty remained in third, but gained on the leader, Wild Slew, down the backstretch.

Brown Almighty appeared trapped behind horses as the field turned for home, remaining behind rivals as the wire grew closer. However, Torres found room for the blaze-faced two-year-old, sending him in between horses. The son of Big Brown accelerated beautifully, galloping to an easy 1 ¾-length victory for trainer Tim Ice, who trained 2009 Champion Three-Year-Old Male Summer Bird.

A member of the first crop of a young sire showing serious potential to become a very effective stallion, Brown Almighty looks to further endorse Big Brown’s success as a sire. The indicators exist that Big Brown will continue to be successful, as he is a grandson of the great sire Danzig, who produced such sires as Chief’s Crown, Danehill, Exchange Rate, Langfuhr, and War Chant. In addition, Big Brown’s damsire, Nureyev, is the broodmare sire of such outstanding stallions as Kingmambo and Zabeel.

Brown Almighty’s dam is the black-type-placed Gone Goodbye, whose only other runner is Shea Goodbye, a winning filly who finished fourth in the New York Stallion Series Stakes. Gone Goodbye’s sire is Gone for Real, a graded stakes-winning sire who stands stud in New Zealand. Notably, Gone for Real is a son of Gone West, who is the broodmare sire of such grade one winners as Awesome Feather, Brilliant Speed, Game Face, Healthy Addiction, Motivator, and Union Rags.

Brown Almighty is a member of female family twenty, which is the same female family that includes the champions Alysheba, Royal Delta, and War Emblem.

This talented young colt should not be classified as solely a turf horse. After all, his sire dominantly took a turf maiden at Saratoga in his career debut prior to winning four grade ones on dirt. Perhaps his pedigree is not absolutely spectacular other than his quickly blossoming sire, but Brown Almighty could certainly become one of his sire’s best offspring, as I believe the best of this colt is yet to come.

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Union Rags: Another Matz Superstar

With some paragraphs drawn from Derby Hopeful: Union Rags

The sun shone down on the crowd gathered at Churchill Downs as fans awaited the next race, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI). Regally Ready had just flashed across the finish line en route to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) and many people milled around the winner's circle following the race. Among those people was Michael Matz, whose brilliant juvenile colt, Union Rags, would run later that day in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI).

Meanwhile, I stood nearby with my family. I caught sight of Matz, who had been one of my favorite trainers since 2006, when he had trained the ill-fated Barbaro to a brilliant Kentucky Derby (GI) victory. Not only do I respect him for his brilliance at training, but I admire him for the talent he displayed in his Hall of Fame equestrian career and the courage and compassion he showed in saving the lives of four children after a plane crash in 1989.

Photo by Mary Cage

I clutched my program and a Sharpie and walked toward Michael Matz, asking him for his autograph. Very graciously, he smiled and signed beside Union Rags’ name in my program. Before parting ways, I wished him luck.

Of course, Union Rags fell just a head short to Hansen later that day in the Juvenile, drifting out in the stretch while closing. Though Hansen was presented the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, many – including me – felt that Union Rags was the most talented juvenile of 2011.

The colt debuted at Delaware Park last July as one of seven first-time starters in the nine-horse field. Sent off at nearly 8-1, Phyllis Wyeth’s colt settled in seventh as the horses began their run down the backstretch in the five-furlong maiden special weight. Jockey Julian Pimentel asked the two-year-old to make his run around the far turn and Union Rags responded eagerly, making an impressive move as the juveniles grew closer to the homestretch. His powerful stride ate up ground as Pimentel urged the colt forward and with an imposing turn of foot, Union Rags swept past Jake N Elwood near the furlong pole to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of 58.25. The final eighth of a mile was run in 12.14 seconds.

After his excellent debut, his connections pointed Union Rags to the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (GII) at the renowned Saratoga Race Course. Over a very sloppy track, Union Rags broke from the rail and raced alongside three other horses as the juveniles galloped along the backstretch. Ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time, the bay colt edged away with the favorite, Stat, as the two-year-olds entered the turn. The two ran neck and neck until the field reached the top of the stretch. Then Union Rags accelerated over the sealed track and drew away under Castellano despite drifting out badly in deep stretch. He crossed the wire 7 ¼ lengths ahead of the rest of the field, immediately appearing on plenty of watch lists, including mine.

To solidify his position as the leading two-year-old colt in the nation, Union Rags made his final start before the Breeders’ Cup in the esteemed Champagne Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. As the juvenile colts galloped down the backstretch in the one-turn mile, Union Rags settled in mid-pack and was forced to take up slightly when he came in contact with Takes the Gold. He recovered quickly, quickening as the horses entered the final half-mile. Castellano guided the talented colt through traffic on the far turn, nearly taking the path along the rail until an opening appeared and the pair aimed for the lead on the outside. With his beautiful stride carrying him over fast track, Union Rags effortlessly opened up on the field and swept across the finish line with 5 ¼ lengths separating him and the others.

Photo by Mary Cage

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile seemed like his for the taking, but Hansen kept Union Rags from wearing the blanket of flowers in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle. Breaking from post ten in a thirteen-horse field, Union Rags broke smoothly and made his way to the middle of the pack. Due to his post position, the colt was forced to race very wide throughout the race. Castellano asked him for more speed as the two-year-old colts swept into the final turn and Union Rags responded, going widest of all. At the top of the stretch, it seemed as if he could catch the front-running Hansen, but he drifted out in the homestretch and finished a head behind Hansen before galloping out ahead of the winner.

Union Rags finished second in Eclipse Award voting for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, but was made the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He solidified that title on February 26 in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park. Though the race had lost much luster after the scratch of the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) winner, Algorithms, it also featured blossoming horses like the stakes-placed Casual Trick, the clear winner of two races at Calder in Csaba, the extremely impressive two-time winner in just as many starts in Discreet Dancer, the multiple stakes-winning Fort Loudon, the hard-knocking Neck ‘n Neck, and the promising News Pending. After breaking cleanly from the gate, Union Rags settled off the pace and though he was challenged at the end of the clubhouse turn by News Pending, he continued to rate under Julien Leparoux – who was riding him for the first time. Around the far turn, his long, powerful strides carried him to the lead, which would flourish into an effortless four-length victory in which the whip never touched him.

Of course, one of the major concerns revolving a Derby contender is the horse’s ability to stretch out. Though his pedigree does not scream distance, it does not restrict him to races under a mile and one-quarter, either.

His late sire, Dixie Union, was never considered much of a distance horse. Most of his victories came at a sprinting distance, though he won the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational Handicap (GI). However, the one time he attempted ten furlongs was in the 2000 Travers Stakes (GI), in which he did not rally strongly enough and finished fourth. Dixie Chatter, his multiple grade one-winning son, never won beyond a mile and one-sixteenth and Dixie Union’s brilliant grade one-winning daughter, Hot Dixie Chick, was never victorious at a distance longer than seven furlongs.

However, some Dixie Union offspring have shown affinity for distance. For instance, four of Grasshopper’s five wins came at one mile or farther and he lost to the Kentucky Derby-winning Street Sense by just a half-length in the ten-furlong Travers. Dixie Union also sired Gone Astray, a two-time winner at nine furlongs. In fact, those two nine-furlong wins by Gone Astray came in graded stakes races in which the horse looked capable of going an extra furlong.

Union Rags’ dam, Tempo, is by the influential sire, Gone West, a son of Mr. Prospector who won three graded stakes races at one mile or longer. He also sired many talented distance horses, such as Pacific Classic (GI, 10 furlongs)-winning Came Home, Belmont Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Commendable, Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Johar, and Pattison Canadian International Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)- and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Marsh Side. In addition, he is the sire of Elusive Quality, sire of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (GI)-winning Smarty Jones.

Tempo’s grandsire is Nijinsky II, winner of the 1970 English Triple Crown who sired many distance horses, including the winner of the 1986 Kentucky Derby and the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI, 10F) in Ferdinand, the winner of the 1983 Prix du Jockey Club (GI, 10.5F) and International Stakes (GI, 10.5F) in Caerleon, and the winner of the ten-furlong Canadian Maturity Stakes and Seagram Cup Handicap, the Rothmans Ltd. International Stakes (GI, 12F), the Early Times Manhattan Handicap (GII, 10F), the Arlington Handicap (GII, 10F), and the Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (GI, 12F) in Sky Classic.

Tempo has also produced the stakes-placed Geefour, a full brother to Union Rags. Tempo is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed Dancing Devlette – who was capable of winning at nine furlongs – and the multiple ungraded stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Marry Me Do – who was also successful at nine furlongs. Through Tempo, Union Rags hails from female family number thirteen, the same family that produced the winner of the 1977 Triple Crown, Seattle Slew.

Though Union Rags’ pedigree may give one reason to doubt his ability to get the Derby distance, the colt has undeniable heart and brilliance. His long, authoritative stride shows that Union Rags could likely handle more ground, as does the way he effortlessly pulls away from fields.

You can always find at least one fault in a Derby contender. Union Rags has his own share of them, most notably the room for doubt in his pedigree as far as stamina is concerned. However, he has arguably been the most impressive horse on the Kentucky Derby trail yet this year. Racings fans have every right to be excited about him. Michael Matz has already had a horse in his stable that captured the hearts of racing fans; who's to say he can't have another one?

Union Rags
Photo: Terri Cage

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Raging Fever: Meant to be a Star

There’s no doubt that when Edward P. Evans sent Pennant Fever to Overbook Farms to visit Storm Cat in 1997 that he was expecting a future star. Pennant Fever came from a long line of champions and Storm Cat – standing for $150,000 – had sired many talented horses himself, including the Preakness Stakes (GI)- and Belmont Stakes (GI)-winning Tabasco Cat. The two together had already produced Stormin Fever, who would go on to win the Sport Page Handicap (GIII) and place second in two runnings of the Vosburgh Stakes (GI).

Pennant Fever’s bloodlines hinted that she would become a sensational broodmare. She was by the great sire and 1977 Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew, and out of the black-type-placed Letty’s Pennant, who also produced the grade three-winning R. Associate. Her third, fourth, and fifth dams were all Reine De Course mares. Her third dam, Nalee, was a multiple stakes-winning mare who produced a group one winner, five graded stakes-placed horses, two ungraded stakes winners, and two black-type-placed horses. Her fourth dam, Levee, was the multiple stakes-winning 1970 Broodmare of the Year and dam of four stakes winners, including the champion Shuvee. Pennant Fever’s fifth dam was Bourtai, a stakes-placed mare who produced six black-type horses and two Broodmares of the Year.

Like Pennant Fever, her 1998 foal would descend from female family number nine, which is most famous for producing the multiple group- or grade-one-winning horses Alydar, Galileo, Sea the Stars, and Shergar, the first Triple Crown winner in Sir Barton, the only horse to defeat the great Man O’ War in Upset, and some of the most influential sires of all-time in Bull Lea, Fair Play, Mahmoud, Nasrullah, and Royal Charger.

Pennant Fever’s second foal by Storm Cat was born on April 2, 1998. The nearly black filly grew into a beautifully built racehorse by the name of Raging Fever. Edward Evans sent her to trainer Mark Hennig in New York, where the filly reeled off five victories in her first five starts. Among these wins were trips to the winner’s circle in the Adirondack Stakes (GII), the Matron Stakes (GI), and the Frizette Stakes (GI). Though she was sent off as the favorite in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), she weakened to finish sixth.

Despite her disappointing run in the Breeders’ Cup, Raging Fever continued her glory. She began her sophomore campaign with a second-place finish in the Dame Mysterieuse Stakes at Gulfstream Park and a third-place finish in the Beaumont Stakes (GII) at Keeneland. She was entered in the prestigious Kentucky Oaks (GI), but it was never a very serious entry and she was scratched.

Due to a fracture of the growth plate in her stifle, Raging Fever did not start again until December. She made her return in the Garland of Roses Handicap at Aqueduct, sweeping to victory for the first time since October of the previous year. She wheeled off another win in her subsequent start, the First Lady Handicap (GIII) at Gulfstream.

Following a defeat in the Shirley Jones Handicap (GII) at the same track, Raging Fever scored two more consecutive wins in a pair of graded stakes: the Distaff Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GII) and the Bed o’ Roses Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GIII). After being beaten by a longshot in the Shuvee Handicap (GII), Raging Fever crossed the wire victoriously in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (GI). She had found the winner’s circle in a grade one race for the first time since her two-year-old campaign.

It was nearly another year before Raging Fever won again. Yet, she placed in four graded stakes races between her triumph in the Ogden Phipps and in her repeat victory in the Bed o’ Roses. However, her win in the 2003 Bed o’ Roses was the final time Raging Fever entered the winner’s enclosure.

Raging Fever left the racetrack with $1,458,198 in earnings from eleven wins, seven seconds, and three thirds in twenty-six starts. She found a home at Evans’ Spring Hill Farm in Virginia and was first sent to the prosperous sire Gone West. Raging Fever has not yet produced a stakes winner, but if her pedigree is any indication, it would be no surprise if she did.

In November of 2011, the complete dispersal of the deceased Edward P. Evans’ estate continued at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Raging Fever, her full sister in Last Fever, and her 2011 Smart Strike filly were offered at the sale. Last Fever sold for $65,000 to Elaine Lawlor, Raging Fever’s 2011 filly sold for $1,000,000 to Stonestreet Stables & George Bolton, and Raging Fever – in foal to Quality Road – sold for $725,000 to R.J. Bennett, agent.

Raging Fever may never have been presented with an Eclipse Award, but she is still a champion. As I said in my blog post To See a Champion, “a champion is any horse that has accomplished great things.” Raging Fever is not just a champion for winning three grade ones or for being royally bred, but she is a champion for enduring hardships while still maintaining an impressive race record. Perhaps she will not be the broodmare she was expected to be, or perhaps she will someday produce a champion. Nevertheless, Raging Fever was bred to be a star and she accomplished just that.

Raging Fever
Photo by Terri Cage

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Derby Hopeful: Discreet Dancer

In 2011, I posted “Juvenile Spotlights” about two-year-olds I had followed since early on in their careers. Now that it’s 2012, everyone’s focus is on the Kentucky Derby. Some horses from past Juvenile Spotlights will be featured, as well as additional horses on the Derby trail.

Of all the three-year-old colts I’ve seen, Discreet Dancer is one of the most impressive to me. A colt that I picked to win his maiden race off of pedigree the day before it was run, Discreet Dancer has impressed many.

In his first start, which was a maiden special weight for Florida-bred juveniles at Gulfstream Park, Discreet Dancer was sent off at odds of 0.70-1. After a decent start, jockey Javier Castellano urged the Todd Pletcher trainee to battle for the lead. The chestnut colt took the lead with about three-eighths left in the race and didn’t look back. His lead only grew from there and with hardly any asking from Castellano, Discreet Dancer accelerated as the horses entered the homestretch. He was ridden briskly in the stretch, but Castellano’s urging was clearly just a method of teaching the colt to continue running. The E. Paul Robsham homebred crossed the wire 9 ¾ lengths ahead of the others with a final time of 1:02.34, which was a new track record for five and one-half furlongs. He completed the final sixteenth in an imposing 5.88 seconds.

Discreet Dancer made his second start and three-year-old debut on January 7 in an allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds at Gulfstream. Not only was he facing winners and open company for the first time, but he was stretching out to the one mile distance. However, he did not struggle with the new conditions. He broke well from the outside and went to the lead under Javier Castellano. He settled well, running the first quarter mile in 24.19. He began to draw away from the field as the newly-turned three-year-olds swept into the far turn, moving effortlessly under Castellano. With slight urging from the jockey, the chestnut colt drew off effortlessly.

“There’s no telling how good he is!” track announcer Larry Collmus exclaimed just before Discreet Dancer flashed under the wire with 5 ½ lengths separating him and the others in a final time of 1:36.32.

Collmus was completely right. Discreet Dancer has been incredibly impressive, but he has not yet faced stakes company. Yet, going off his past performances and pedigree, he should fare well. After all, if his connections want to take him to the Kentucky Derby (GI), he must have enough graded stakes earnings.

Many believe his pedigree will give him distance limitations. However, there is plenty in his pedigree that suggests he can stretch out in distance. Though his sire, Discreet Cat, was predominantly successful at a mile, Discreet Cat’s sire, Forestry, sired the 2011 Preakness Stakes (GI, 9.5F) winner in Shackleford. Through his sire, Discreet Dancer traces back to several sires capable of producing talented distance horses, such as Storm Cat, Private Account, and Pleasant Colony.

Discreet Dancer’s dam, West Side Dancer, has also produced the graded stakes-winning Travelin Man. Though the longest distance West Side Dancer ever won at was seven furlongs, West Side Dancer is a half-sister to Lieutenant Danz, a multiple stakes-placed horse whose maximum winning distance was nine furlongs.

The sire of West Side Dancer is the influential Gone West, who was successful at distances over one mile. The son of Mr. Prospector won three graded stakes races at one mile or longer. He also sired many talented distance horses, such as Pacific Classic (GI, 10 furlongs)-winning Came Home, Belmont Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Commendable, Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Johar, and Pattison Canadian International Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)- and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Marsh Side. In addition, he is the grandsire of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Smarty Jones.

Through his dam, Discreet Dancer traces back to many influential sires such as Danzig, Alydar, and Buckpasser. He is inbred to Secretariat 5 X 4, to Raise a Native 4 X 5, to Northern Dancer 5 X 4, and to Buckpasser 5 X 5.

The colt also has the build of an athlete. Despite being inexperienced, Discreet Dancer carries himself with extreme class. He is a very well-balanced individual, having a sloping shoulder that causes him to be very evenly balanced and therefore have a shorter topline in correlation to a longer underline. He also possesses impressive muscularity, as he is wide through the chest and from stifle to stifle.

If Discreet Dancer can prove that he can stretch out and face the best competition, he will be extremely dangerous. He definitely has an impressive pedigree, beautiful conformation, and sheer talent. He has several different tests to pass, but if he is able to pass those tests, he will be something special.


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Derby Hopeful: Union Rags

In 2011, I posted “Juvenile Spotlights” about two-year-olds I had followed since early on in their careers. Now that it’s 2012, everyone’s focus is on the Kentucky Derby. Some horses from past Juvenile Spotlights will be featured, as well as additional horses on the Derby trail.

Union Rags, the early Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite, was one of the most impressive juveniles of 2011. After winning his first three starts by a combined 14 ¼ lengths, Union Rags fell a head short to the fleet Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Yet as the sun set on 2011, many felt that Union Rags was the best two-year-old of 2011.

Union Rags
Photo by Mary Cage

Most didn’t expect to see the early Kentucky Derby favorite in the seventh race at Delaware Park on July 12, 2011, let alone did they assume it would be Union Rags – one of seven first-time starters in the nine-horse field. Sent off at nearly 8-1, Phyllis Wyeth’s colt settled in seventh as the horses began their run down the backstretch in the five-furlong maiden special weight. Jockey Julian Pimentel asked the two-year-old to make his run around the far turn and Union Rags responded eagerly, making an impressive move as the juveniles grew closer to the homestretch. His powerful stride ate up ground as Pimentel urged the colt forward and with an imposing turn of foot, Union Rags swept past Jake N Elwood near the furlong pole to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of 58.25. The final eighth of a mile was run in 12.14 seconds.

After his excellent debut, trainer Michael Matz – most famous in horse racing for training the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro – pointed Union Rags to the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (GII) at the renowned Saratoga Race Course. Over a very sloppy track, Union Rags broke from the rail and raced alongside three other horses as the juveniles galloped along the backstretch. Ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time, the bay colt edged away with the favorite, Stat, as the two-year-olds entered the turn. The two ran neck and neck until the field reached the top of the stretch. Then Union Rags accelerated over the sealed track and drew away under Castellano despite drifting out badly in deep stretch. He crossed the wire 7 ¼ lengths ahead of the rest of the field, immediately appearing on plenty of watch lists, including mine.

To solidify his position as the leading two-year-old colt in the nation, Union Rags made his final start before the Breeders’ Cup in the esteemed Champagne Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. As the juvenile colts galloped down the backstretch in the one-turn mile, Union Rags settled in mid-pack and was forced to take up slightly when he came in contact with Takes the Gold. He recovered quickly, quickening as the horses entered the final half-mile. Castellano guided the talented colt through traffic on the far turn, nearly taking the path along the rail until an opening appeared and the pair aimed for the lead on the outside. With his beautiful stride carrying him over fast track, Union Rags effortlessly opened up on the field and swept across the finish line with 5 ¼ lengths separating him and the others.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile seemed like his for the taking, but a brilliant gray colt that had dominated Turfway Park kept Union Rags from wearing the blanket of flowers in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle. Breaking from post ten in a thirteen-horse field, Union Rags broke smoothly and made his way to the middle of the pack. Due to his post position, the colt was forced to race very wide throughout the race. Castellano asked him for more speed as the two-year-old colts swept into the final turn and Union Rags responded, going widest of all. At the top of the stretch, it seemed as if he could catch the front-running Hansen, but he drifted out in the homestretch and finished a head behind Hansen before galloping out ahead of the winner.

Union Rags may have lost the race, but he left a lasting impression on followers of the sport. He clearly has plenty of learning left to do, but he has already showed incredible racing ability. In addition, he has a spectacular pedigree that hints he will only get better.

Union Rags is inbred 3 X 4 to Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector, two of the most influential sires of all-time. His sire is the two-time grade one-winning Dixie Union, who was sadly euthanized in 2010 at age thirteen due to a worsening neurologic problem. The son of the outstanding Dixieland Band also sired the grade one winners Dixie Chatter and Hot Dixie Chick. The sire traced back to many influential sires such as Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, and Seattle Slew.

Union Rags
Photo: Terri Cage

Union Rags’ dam, Tempo, is by the incredible sire Gone West and out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Nijinksy mare Terpsichorist. Tempo is also the dam of the stakes-placed Geefour, Union Rags’ full brother. Tempo is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed Dancing Devlette and the multiple ungraded stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Marry Me Do.

In addition to his spectacular racing talent and pedigree, Union Rags is very athletically built. The bay colt has a very intelligent face, as well as a clean throatlatch and thin neck. He has a very strong shoulder and its angle allows him to be a very well-balanced individual. He has a strong topline, which is shorter in correlation to a longer underline, which in part allows him to be easily divided into even thirds. He is very structurally correct, possessing short, sturdy cannon bones and very straight legs and angular pasterns.

Union Rags brings to the table all that you want to see in a racehorse. There have already been comparisons to Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner that is the horse for which Matz is most famous for training. This is a brilliant colt and he is definitely the rightful early Kentucky Derby favorite.

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Juvenile Spotlight: Discreet Dancer

One of my favorite things to do is find young horses that have the potential to be superstars. Two-year-olds I have discovered this year before they went on to bigger and better things include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) winner, My Miss Aurelia, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner, Secret Circle, two-time grade one winner, Weemissfrankie, and grade three winner, Pure Gossip. It is very entertaining and rewarding to discover two-year-olds before they go on to record prestigious victories. Juvenile Spotlights highlight some of the two-year-olds I have discovered.

Everyone’s talking about him after his dominant, track record-breaking win in the third race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Yet I knew about him before he ever loaded into the starting gate for the race. The previous day, I had researched the pedigrees of the two-year-old colts in the race and was most impressed by that of Discreet Dancer.

Obviously, his sire, Discreet Cat, was very remarkable on the racetrack. As a three-year-old, the son of Forestry won the one-mile Jerome Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GII) by ten and one-quarter lengths before winning the Cigar Mile Handicap (GI) by three and one-quarter lengths. Out of a blue hen, Discreet Cat is a half-brother to grade one-winning Discreetly Mine, graded stakes-placed Discreet Treasure, stakes-winning and multiple graded stakes-placed Pretty Wild, and the dam of grade one-winning Awesome Maria.

Discreet Dancer’s notable pedigree does not stop there. His dam, West Side Dancer, is a half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed Lieutenant Danz. Even more impressive, West Side Dancer has already produced Travelin Man, who won the Swale Stakes (GII) earlier this year after finishing second in the Hutcheson Stakes (GII).

Though many may not believe this is enough to suggest that Discreet Dancer would like a stretch out in distance, his grandsires on both sides of his pedigree support his case. Forestry, the sire of his sire, Discreet Cat, was mostly successful at distances under a mile, but he did win the Dwyer Stakes (GII) at a mile and one-sixteenth and finished a close third in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (GI), though the chart says he “weakened late.” However, Forestry is known for siring Shackleford, who won this year’s Preakness Stakes (GI) at a mile and three-sixteenths.

Gone West, the sire of his dam, also won the Dwyer. The son of Mr. Prospector won three graded stakes races at one mile or longer. He also sired many talented distance horses, such as Pacific Classic (GI, 10 furlongs)-winning Came Home, Belmont Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Commendable, Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Johar, and Pattison Canadian International Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)- and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Marsh Side. In addition, he is the grandsire of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Smarty Jones.

As if his pedigree was not enough to excite me, his build left me even more impressed. My eyes took in his copper-colored coat, his impressive muscularity, and his imposing balance. Despite the fact that it was his first race, the Todd Pletcher trainee walked with extreme class, strutting before the grandstand. He was a shoe-in to win.

I had a gut feeling he would win impressively. Yet he fascinated me even more than I thought he would. In the five and one-half furlong maiden special weight for Florida-bred juveniles, Discreet Dancer broke from the third gate and was roused to the outside of the leader, Someday Came, by Javier Castellano. As the flashy chestnut colt sat just off the front-runner, the pair ran the first quarter in 22:12 seconds. When the field reached the beginning of the far turn, the E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC-owned colt stuck his nose in front. By the quarter pole, Discreet Dancer led by over a length.

Under strong urging that was clearly just to remind the son of Discreet Cat to keep running, the Todd Pletcher trainee effortlessly opened up on the field. He was gliding over the track, his hind legs driving up underneath him to propel him forward. His front legs reached in front of him, his lead leg forming a straight line as it stretched out before him. He is a beautiful mover, which is no surprise considering how great his conformation is.

As he crossed under the wire nine and three-quarters lengths ahead, a striking time flashed up on the tote board: 1:02.34. It was enough to break the five and one-half furlong mark for Gulfstream’s main track. Discreet Dancer had come home in an imposing final time of 5:88 seconds for the final sixteenth of a mile.

Everything about this colt screams impressive: his pedigree, his conformation, his action, his speed, and his class. The three-year-old races for 2012 already look very interesting, but now that Discreet Dancer has been added to the mix, they have become even more intriguing.

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