Derby Hopeful: Mylute

Derby Hopefuls feature the horses I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Each horse spotlighted in a Derby Hopeful will join the 2013 PTG Derby Hopeful roster, found on the right side of the blog. Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in a Derby Hopeful may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Triple Crown trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.

Mylute, or at least his scheduled rider for the Kentucky Derby (GI), could mark a pivotal point in horse racing history. If the colt wins the Run for the Roses, Rosie Napravnik will become the first female rider of all-time to win the Derby, much like she became the first female jockey to capture the Kentucky Oaks (GI) last year.

Although the colt was defeated by 9 ¼ lengths in his debut – a five and one-half-furlong maiden special weight – behind the eventual graded stakes-winning Circle Unbroken, his second career start came in stakes company. Competing against six rivals in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes, Mylute suffered a very poor trip but was able to rally to finish second, beaten by just a neck.

A return to the maiden special weight level resulted in Mylute’s first win. Traveling six furlongs over Arlington Park’s all-weather track, the dark gray colt found a spot just behind the leaders and ran very keenly, requiring restraint from his rider. Boxed in around the far turn, Mylute found room to run as the curve gave way to the homestretch. Striking to the lead authoritatively, the Tom Amoss trainee appeared to play around once he took the lead, but managed to win by a rather comfortable 2 ¼ lengths.

After a disappointing fifth-place effort in his graded stakes debut, the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII), Mylute shipped south to Louisiana, where he would spend his winter. Making his Louisiana debut at Delta Downs in the Jean Lafitte Stakes, Mylute faced a tough opponent in the graded stakes-winning Bern Identity, who would go on to outfinish Mylute despite the latter’s late gain.

The toughest test of Mylute’s juvenile campaign came in his following start, the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (GIII), in which he took on four horses that had won or would go on to win graded stakes, as well as a Breeders’ Cup winner. As usual, Mylute flashed very little early speed, racing at the rear of the field before beginning to rally down the backstretch, gaining ground on the adversaries ahead of him. Midway through the far turn, the colt had advanced to second, but the early beginning to his run and his wide trip around the curve of the bullring track put a dent in his momentum, leaving him to finish third behind future Santa Anita Derby (GI) victor Goldencents.

Heading to post one last time as a two-year-old, Mylute faced a small field in an allowance optional claiming event going a mile and seventy yards at the Fair Grounds near the end of December. Sent off as the second choice behind General Election, a horse who was coming off a dominant maiden victory at Churchill Downs and would later go on to be a graded stakes-placed stakes winner, Mylute raced wide but showed his supremacy, effortlessly winning by 10 ¾ lengths.

Given approximately two months away from the races, Mylute made his juvenile debut in the Risen Star Stakes (GII). Rank as the horses entered the backstretch, the dark charcoal-colored colt raced along the rail just off the pacesetters. At the top of the stretch, Mylute appeared to be competitive, offering up a fight, but weakened in the late stages, finishing seventh. Despite a beautiful trip that gave him several chances to take the lead, the colt had lost, although he was less than four lengths behind the winner at the finish.

Perhaps it was the removal of blinkers, or maybe he had disposed of the rust he had collected during his time off, but Mylute redeemed himself next out in the Louisiana Derby (GII). Taking on a difficult competitor in the favorite, the graded stakes-winning Revolutionary, Mylute broke fairly slowly, joining the horses near the back of the pack as the three-year-olds raced past the stands for the initial time. Traveling wide throughout, Mylute swung to the very far outside around the far turn, continuing to race down the middle of the stretch as the horses galloped down the lane. The colossal horse drew even with the top betting choice, appearing to briefly get ahead of Revolutionary, only to be outdueled by the Todd Pletcher trainee, losing by just a neck.

Mylute’s race record resembles a scatter plot, but the colt has finished in the top three in seven of his nine starts. He is a hard-trying athlete and although his pedigree is suspect for ten furlongs, a handful of distance influences can be traced in his bloodlines.

Mylute's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

At first glance, Mylute's pedigree appears geared toward speed. His sire, Midnight Lute, was never victorious beyond seven furlongs, but he did miss winning at a mile and one-sixteenth by just a nose and was less than two lengths away from winning at nine furlongs in his only try at that distance. Trainer Bob Baffert – who conditioned the two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) champion – always believed the horse would be a top ten-furlong runner, but setbacks always kept Midnight Lute from chasing lofty goals set for him. Considering Mylute is a member of Midnight Lute’s first crop, not many statistics exist regarding the champion sprinter’s ability to sire routers. However, he has produced Govenor Charlie – winner of the nine-furlong Sunland Derby (GIII) – and Midnight Lucky – victress of the mile and one-sixteenth Sunland Park Oaks.

Midnight Lute’s ability to sire distance horses is enhanced by his sire, Real Quiet. A horse who missed winning the 1998 Triple Crown by a scant margin, Real Quiet produced the likes of Wonder Lady Anne L – a grade one winner at ten furlongs – and Bull Ranch – a stakes winner at eleven furlongs. Midnight Lute’s dam, Candytuft, is a daughter of Dehere – a son of Deputy Minister, a strong stamina influence. A Canadian Hall of Famer, Deputy Minister has appeared within the first three generations of numerous distance horses, including Curlin, Paynter, and Rags to Riches. He was a tremendous broodmare sire, producing the dams of many talented distance horses, including the multiple group one-winning Kane Hekili and Sarava, winner of the 2002 Belmont.

Although his sire was a champion sprinter, the bottom side of Mylute’s pedigree provides more cause for worry regarding his long distance abilities. His dam, the black-type-winning Stage Stop, did not win beyond one mile and neither did her sire, top southern stallion Valid Expectations. Her 2009 colt, She Digs Me, was a graded stakes-winning sprinter that never even attempted to race beyond six furlongs.

The first stamina influence on the dam side of Mylute's pedigree is the sire of the colt's granddam: Strike the Gold. A Kentucky Derby winner and Belmont runner-up, Strike the Gold - a son of "Triple Crown runner-up" Alydar - was sent to Turkey after finding little success in the American breeding industry.

The sire of Mylute’s fourth dam is Hawaii, Horse of the Year in South Africa and a winner of numerous long-distance races, such as the United Nations Handicap and the Man O’ War Stakes. A significant note regarding Mylute’s pedigree is the presence of the great racehorse and sire, Ribot, as the sire of Mylute’s fifth dam. A horse who won up to 3,000 meters (about fifteen furlongs), Ribot won a wealth of prestigious distance races, including the Gran Premio del Jockey Club, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (twice), the Gran Premio di Milano, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Mylute's consistency and stamina may form a huge question mark, but his talent is undeniable. Despite the few and far between stamina influences in his ancestry, Mylute appears to draw strength from those that do exist. Furthermore, to his advantage is his experience, which many of the horses he will face in the Derby lack.

Breeders' Cup 2012: Highlights

By Mary Cage

Every renewal of the Breeders’ Cup is always abounding with special moments and 2012’s edition of the prestigious event was no different­. From the week leading up to the Breeders’ Cup to the culmination of the fifteenth championship races, the Breeders’ Cup is full of excitement, drama, and emotion. Wrapped up in the action of the spectacular event for several days, I continue to reflect on my extraordinary time at the Breeders’ Cup, which is truly an event like no other.

Mornings at Clocker’s Corner

Santa Anita provides a unique experience by allowing one to venture to the Clocker’s Corner each morning to watch morning works, gazing at the heroes of the racetrack as they waltz past. From my first morning in Southern California to my final day there, I attended morning works at the Great Race Place, my eyes fixed upon the stream of Thoroughbreds pouring onto the track, dotted in large numbers of Breeders’ Cup contenders.

As a Breeders’ Cup horse loomed, the commotion of the fans and media gathered at Clocker’s Corner would grow, the horse’s name slipping from the lips of many, especially if it was a “big horse” such as Royal Delta, Animal Kingdom, or Groupie Doll. As fog hugged the track, morning dew clung to every surface, the crisp morning air leaving me to find warmth in the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted. My eyes rarely left the track, watching some of the best racehorses in the world wander past me, sometimes just inches separating me from them.

While these grand athletes milled to and fro, I had the ability to talk to other racing fans gathered at Clocker’s Corner, which left me reeling with happiness and hope. There really are others out there infected with the incurable racing bug. And not only was a mass of spectators gathered around to watch the horses, but some of the most well-known people in racing walked among you as well: Bob Baffert, Doug O’Neill, Corey Nakatani, Todd Pletcher, Graham Motion, among others.

Morning works at Santa Anita
Photo by Terri Cage

The Marathon

Often, the Marathon is among the Breeders’ Cup races that get pushed aside, that few people fondly reminisce upon. But this year’s was different, all thanks to the horse that strode to an easy 4 ¼-length victory. That horse was the underdog Calidoscopio, who was sent off at odds of 17-1.

Not having raced since his victory in the General Belgrano (GII) in Argentina, the nation from which the nine-year-old gelding hails, the bay gelding became the oldest racehorse to ever capture a Breeders’ Cup race. Choose whichever aspect of his win you want; no matter which one you choose, it is undeniable that Calidoscopio’s triumph was an eccentric, yet touching one.

Among the most intriguing facets of this horse’s Breeders’ Cup venture was his appearance in the mornings. Not only did he wear an eye-catching bonnet on his head in the mornings while training, but Calidoscopio’s exercise rider galloped him around the Santa Anita oval without a saddle, an Argentinean tradition. It was truly a fascinating experience to watch Calidoscopio prepare for race day, traveling about the track in a unique style that was sure to catch the eye.

But as interesting as his appearance in the mornings was, the moment of Calidoscopio’s win I found most intriguing was his return to the frontside after the race. His connections ran up to the gelding, hugging him as they gave jockey Aaron Gryder high-fives, celebrating the victory with great joy. I was moved to tears in that moment, touched by the unmistakable love for the horse, and, of course, the thrill of a huge victory displayed Calidoscopio’s connections.

Calidoscopio training for the Breeders' Cup
Photo by Terri Cage

The Ladies’ Classic

Standing along the wall that lines the tunnel through which horses enter the track for the post parade at Santa Anita Park, I held my breath in anticipation for the grand fillies that would soon grace my vision. I’d seen them all before, whether it be at a previous Breeders’ Cup or at the morning works, or perhaps both, but something about the moment left me breathless as I eagerly waited for the field for the 2012 Ladies’ Classic to emerge from the tunnel, their necks arched as their fierce jockeys sat aboard them, the call to post sounding as they pranced onto the dirt oval.

And suddenly the classy field stepped out of the darkness of the tunnel and into my vision. Thereby stepped the talented Grace Hall, followed by the undefeated My Miss Aurelia, the latter of which my eyes latched onto. I’d followed My Miss Aurelia’s career since her noteworthy debut as a juvenile, a race in which I’d selected her prior to race day due to her outstanding pedigree. There she pranced before me, her legs dancing over the dirt as she cavorted on to the track, her neck arched as she left me riveted, taking my breath away. The star-studded field only continued from there and as soon as Awesome Feather appeared, my eyes locked upon her, taking her in. A filly with a flawless record, I’d also followed Awesome Feather since early on in her career and have great respect and adoration for the spectacular individual.

But just behind Awesome Feather was Royal Delta – the horse that took my breath away. I focused my vision on her, watching her in awe as she and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith sauntered onto the track. I was left in absolute wonder of the reigning champion, feeling a chill as she gazed right at me, inches from me as she strolled through the tunnel.

The race did not quite play out as expected and I found myself focusing primarily on the spectacular Royal Delta, who set blistering fractions, leading the others into the homestretch with My Miss Aurelia and Include Me Out hot on her heels. But Royal Delta called upon all her class and dug deep, leaving me beaming as she crossed the wire to defend her title.

Her trip back to the frontside was an unforgettable moment. Each winner had been applauded and cheered for upon its return to the winner’s circle, but the stands roared in admiration for Royal Delta and as the grand filly trotted up beneath a jubilant Mike Smith, I found myself crying tears of joy as the magnificent Royal Delta traveled before me, receiving the blanket of flowers for her outstanding victory.

Royal Delta after her Ladies' Classic victory
Photo by Terri Cage

The Filly & Mare Sprint

One of the biggest stars at this year’s Breeders’ Cup was Groupie Doll. Having dominated the division throughout 2012, most fans gathered at Santa Anita or watching the Breeders’ Cup on television pondered how large of a winning margin the stunning chestnut would win the race by. The answer? 4 ½ lengths.

What made Groupie Doll’s victory so special, you may ask? It wasn’t just her brilliance, but who she won it for: breeder, trainer, and co-owner Buff Bradley. One of the most genuine persons in racing, Buff Bradley is known for his adventures with the hard-knocking Brass Hat and the wonderful King of Speed. Seeing the tremendously gifted Groupie Doll win for Buff Bradley was icing on the cake.

Groupie Doll after her Filly & Mare Sprint win
Photo by Terri Cage

The Juvenile

It was in 2003, ten years after she became the initial female rider to capture a Triple Crown race in the Belmont Stakes (GI), that Julie Krone became the first female jockey to pilot a horse to Breeders’ Cup victory when she rode Halfbridled to a win in the Juvenile Fillies. In 2012 alone, Rosie Napravnik became the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and the second female jockey to find the winner’s circle in a Breeders’ Cup race and the first to do so in the Juvenile.

Riding the undefeated Shanghai Bobby, Rosie Napravnik appeared to be home-free aboard the short-priced favorite as the field turned for home, but down the stretch, a contingent of horses threatened the lead she and her mount had established. Vigorously, the talented jockey set to work on her mount, asking him for all he had as the other juveniles loomed large, particularly He’s Had Enough. In a thrilling finish, Rosie Napravnik rode her handsome mount to victory, returning to the winner’s circle to the admiration of the crowd.

Rosie Napravnik and Shanghai Bobby after their Juvenile triumph
Photo by Terri Cage

The Turf

It is often expected that the foreign horses will dominate this race and rightfully so. Prior to this year’s running, the last American horse to capture the Turf had been English Channel in 2007. With foreign invaders such as reigning champion St. Nicholas Abbey, the looming Japanese horse Trailblazer, and the brilliant filly Shareta, the American horses had a tall task ahead of them, but great hope was invested in Point of Entry, who was coming off of three grade one wins.

However, Point of Entry was not the American that dethroned the foreign horses in this year’s renewal of the Turf. It was Little Mike , who, like Calidoscopio, is quite the underdog. Despite having won two previous grade ones this year, including the prestigious Arlington Million Stakes (GI), Little Mike was dismissed at 17-1. But, showing shades of his Million victory in the stretch, the plucky gelding – for which many believed had distance limitations – dug deep in the straightaway, repelling all challengers to capture the victory, leaving his connections exultantly celebrating all the way down to the winner’s circle.

Just part of the celebration after Little Mike's Turf victory
Photo by Terri Cage

The Mile

Featuring one of the toughest fields of the weekend, the Mile did not disappoint as far as displaying the greatness of the Thoroughbred athlete was concerned. Among the horses in the force was a Kentucky Derby winner in Animal Kingdom, a horse who had been lurking in the shadows of Frankel in Excelebration, and a horse who needed no explanation as to the degree of his brilliance in Wise Dan.

As I had done for the Ladies’ Classic the previous evening, I stood along the wall of the tunnel as the horses entered in the Mile made their way from the paddock to the track. Each horse had a bounty of credentials to catch my eye, but my eye locked upon three main horses: Wise Dan, Animal Kingdom, and Excelebration.

As Wise Dan strutted past me, I focused on the regal chestnut, amazed by the sight of him. This was the horse that had put together one of the best, and certainly the most versatile, 2012 campaigns. My expectations were high for the stunning individual; despite the tough field, I anticipated the gelding would conquer the field en route to victory.

But Wise Dan wasn’t the only superstar in the field. One of my favorite racehorses soon followed, gazing right at me as he left me breathless. Animal Kingdom. Never before had I seen a Kentucky Derby victor contest in a race, but there he was, just feet away from me as he headed to the track to make his comeback. And just behind him? Excelebration, the horse who had been living in the shadow of the legendary Frankel.

The Mile certainly played out as one of the most terrific races of the weekend. Wise Dan stalked the pace set by the talented Obviously with Excelebration not far behind. Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, galloped near the end of the field along the rail. With his striking turn of foot, Wise Dan overtook Obviously near the top of the stretch, galloping home-free towards the wire. But Animal Kingdom, having experienced traffic issues, kicked into gear in late stretch to finish second as Wise Dan captured the race, eclipsing the course record with a spectacular final time of 1:31.78.

Among the best part of the Mile was, again, the horses’ arrival at the frontside following the race. Animal Kingdom appeared before Wise Dan, but the crowd cheered for him as loudly as they had for any winner on the day, praising the Kentucky Derby winner for his grand performance. Of course, the magnificent Wise Dan received his own roar of admiration for his incredible victory. One cannot help but anticipate what the superstars will bring next year.

Wise Dan after his triumph in the Mile
Photo by Terri Cage

The Classic

It’s the richest race in North America, the culmination of the Breeders’ Cup, and, of course, one of the most renowned races in the world. The field assembled for this year’s running was full of talented horses, featuring nine grade one winners and three other gifted Thoroughbreds. Yet again, I stood along the wall of the tunnel, my eyes gazing towards the paddock as I awaited the field for the Classic.

And like the sun peaking through the clouds, the first horse stepped out of the darkness, followed by eleven more brilliant equine athletes. My eyes took in the classy individuals, looking over the likes of such horses as Flat Out, Fort Larned, Game On Dude, Richard’s Kid, Ron the Greek, and Mucho Macho Man. In that moment, I was sure it would be a great race.

It was. Despite the fact that the favorite, Game On Dude, did not perform like his normal self, the stretch run was incredible. One of my personal favorites and top selections, Mucho Macho Man, chased at Fort Larned, who had formed a comfortable lead. Showing great perseverance, Mucho Macho Man loomed on Fort Larned’s outside, battling with Fort Larned down the stretch in a thrilling duel. But it was Fort Larned that dug deep, prevailing on jockey Brian Hernandez’s 27^th birthday.

The Classic was everything it should have been. Yes, a 9-1 shot captured the race rather than the heavy favorite, but Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man displayed the characteristics I most admire in a Thoroughbred racehorse: heart and determination. The Classic was a race to remember. It’s not every day that we are able to witness two top-class Thoroughbreds battle it out in one of the richest races in the world, displaying their great will to win.

Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man crossing the wire in the Classic
Photo by Terri Cage

And another special moment? The presentation of the National's Anthem on BC Saturday. Read about it in this post.

Rosie Napravnik Becomes the First Female Jockey to Win the Kentucky Oaks

With her body lowered against the filly’s neck and withers, Rosie Napravnik asked the three-year-old filly beneath her for all she had. On the outside, the pair flew like a freight train. The wire was just ahead. Along with crossing that wire in front came the most coveted garland of lilies in the world, and, of course, the prestige of winning the greatest race for sophomore fillies in the world, the Kentucky Oaks (GI).

But it was not meant to be. Rosie Napravnik and St. John’s River finished a neck behind Plum Pretty in the 2011 Lilies for the Fillies. Two months later, Rosie Napravnik received an injury to her left arm and after four surgeries and her wedding, Napravnik was able to return to the races.

Rosie Napravnik
Photo: Terri Cage

For the second year in a row, Napravnik garnered the title of leading rider at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Along with riding the talented colt Mark Valeski for trainer Larry Jones and former governor of Kentucky, Brereton Jones, Napravnik guided the gifted filly Believe You Can to wins in the Silverbulletday Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) for the same connections.

Four years after Larry Jones and Brereton Jones took the Kentucky Oaks with a daughter of Proud Citizen, the eventual champion Proud Spell, they returned to the race with yet another daughter of Proud Citizen – this time with a filly named Believe You Can. Prior to the Oaks, Believe You Can – like Proud Spell – turned in a blazing final work. The Fair Grounds Oaks winner completed five furlongs in an official clocking of 58.40 seconds, though others clocked her even faster.

Five days later, before the second largest crowd in Kentucky Oaks history, Believe You Can and thirteen other elite Thoroughbred fillies loaded into the starting gate before the grandstand at the historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to contest in the greatest race for three-year-old fillies in the world. Side by side, the fillies stood in the gate, their eyes focused on the vast dirt oval ahead of them. Rosie Napravnik and the other jockeys settled aboard their mounts, prepared to ride a tremendous race. With one clang and an enormous cheer from the crowd, the young female Thoroughbreds leapt from the gate en route to a contest for the most sought-after lilies in the world.

Shortly after her clean break from the gate, Believe You Can was guided to the front by Napravnik, though it was the brilliant Broadway’s Alibi that took the lead as the field rounded the clubhouse turn. Rating just off the pace, Napravnik and Believe You Can found a good position in second as the fillies galloped down the backstretch, settling just to the outside of Broadway’s Alibi. Relaxing beautifully beneath twenty-four-year-old Napravnik, Believe You Can began to inch closer to the leader around the far turn.

As the fillies swung into the homestretch, it was clear that Believe You Can, with Rosie Napravnik aboard, and Broadway’s Alibi, with veteran jockey John Velazquez in the irons were headed into a fierce battle. With the riders asking their mounts for all they had, the two fillies dueled down the stretch before Believe You Can surged forward just before the sixteenth pole to draw off to a ¾ of a length victory. Triumphantly, Rosie Napravnik punched her fist into the air, a joyous grin spreading across her face.

With her victory aboard Believe You Can, Rosie Napravnik not only acquired her first grade one triumph, but she also became the first female in the one hundred thirty-eight runnings of the Kentucky Oaks to ride to victory. Her victory aboard Believe You Can is surely a source of inspiration for young women aspiring to have a career in the sport of kings, as well as a race that will never be forgotten and will forever be etched in the history books.

Rosie Napravnik wasn’t done yet. She came back after the Kentucky Oaks to win the nightcap at Churchill Downs, further putting an emphasis on her incredible talent and, of course, Girl Power.

As for Believe You Can, she was one of my featured "Oaks Contenders," so you can read more about her here.


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