Derby Hopeful: Black Onyx

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.

The Spiral Stakes (GIII), which has been contested under various names, is a rather underestimated prep race when it comes to the Kentucky Derby (GI), considering it has produced two Derby victors. In recent years, horses like 2011 Derby champion Animal Kingdom, 2007 Derby runner-up Hard Spun, and 2012 impressive fourth-place finisher Went the Day Well used the Turfway Park Derby prep as a launching pad for the first Saturday in May. How will it set up this year’s Spiral winner, Black Onyx?

A dark-colored colt with a contrasting white blaze, Black Onyx made his first two starts in races that had originally been scheduled for the turf but were instead held over fast dirt tracks. The colt was second in his debut at Belmont Park in October of his two-year-old campaign and although he was defeated by 6 ¼ lengths in that start, he was clearly second best, finishing 6 ½ lengths ahead of the third-place finisher. A month later, the colt broke his maiden going one mile at Aqueduct, sitting off the pace before drawing away to an easy 2 ¼-length victory.

Black Onyx’s 2013 season began with a loss in a mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming event over Gulfstream Park’s dirt surface. But a start in a race of the same level at the same track and the same distance – but on turf – saw the colt make his second lifetime trip to the winner’s circle. Coming from off the pace, Black Onyx rallied to win by 1 ¼ lengths, besting a field that included the stakes-placed and future graded stakes-placed Redwood Kitten, the future stakes winner Crop Report, and the graded stakes-placed Tesseron.

Making his graded stakes debut in the Spiral over the Polytrack surface at Turfway Park, Black Onyx raced mid-pack and on the outside throughout the race. Racing several paths off the rail down the backstretch, Black Onyx appeared prepared for a big rally as the field approached the far turn. The Kelly Breen trainee reached the front at the quarter pole and despite racing on the incorrect lead throughout the first portion of the homestretch, Black Onyx repelled any threats from other horses down the lane, winning by a comfortable 1 ½ lengths.

Black Onyx's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Rock Hard Ten, the sire of Black Onyx, was a versatile racehorse, winning over a range of seven to ten furlongs. Winner of the mile and one-quarter Santa Anita Handicap (GI), Rock Hard Ten was second in the 2004 Preakness Stakes (GI) behind Smarty Jones. A large percentage of Rock Hard Ten's progeny is made up of graded stakes performers, including those that have won at ten furlongs: Capital Plan, Nereid, and Utopian. Rock Hard Ten is a son of Kris S, who has proven to be a top stamina influence. Sire of numerous distance horses – such as Arch, Kicken Kris, Kissin Kris, Kudos, Prized, Roberto, Soaring Softly, Symboli Kris S, and Whitmore's Conn – Kris S has served as the grandsire - on either the top or bottom side of the pedigree - of Breeders' Cup Classic (GI, 10F) winners Blame and Zenyatta, as well as the additional distance horses Arravale, Delightful Kiss, and Pine Island. Rock Hard Ten’s dam is the group one-winning mare Tersa, who is a half-sister to Kentucky Derby victor and Belmont Stakes (GI) runner-up Gato Del Sol.

Black Onyx's dam, Kalahari Cat, earned $106,760 on the track, where she only won up to a mile. Her greatest success has certainly come as a broodmare, as – in addition to Black Onyx – she has produced the stakes-winning Francois and the graded stakes-placed Quality Council. Kalahari Cat is a daughter of Cape Town, who finished fifth in the 1998 Kentucky Derby, in which he was beaten by less than 4 lengths and made a slight late gain in the final stages. At stud, Cape Town sired the multiple grade one-winning champion Bird Town, as well as graded stakes winners Cape Hope and Capeside Lady. Although his progeny principally have principally encountered success at or below nine furlongs, he has produced the group one-winning Venezuelan, Dubai Queen, who won at 2,000 meters (approximately a mile and a quarter). Cape Town is a result of the mating between Seeking the Gold – a grade one winner at ten furlongs – and a daughter of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew named Seaside Attraction, who won the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and went on to be a spectacular broodmare, producing not only Cape Town, but also the multiple grade one-winning champion Golden Attraction and the group/graded stakes-winning horses Cape Canaveral and Red Carnival.

The granddam of Black Onyx is Desert Stormette, who produced the stakes-winning Desert Gold – who won up to nine furlongs. Desert Stormette is a daughter of the late, great sire Storm Cat, who produced many distance horses, including After Market, Bluegrass Cat, Cat Thief, Giant’s Causeway, Good Reward, Storm Flag Flying, and Tabasco Cat. Notably, Black Onyx’s third dam is a daughter of the great Damascus, won two legs of the Triple Crown (the Preakness and Belmont), as well as several other distance races, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Travers Stakes, and the Brooklyn Handicap. Damascus holds this same position in the pedigree of fellow Derby contender Orb. Black Onyx’s fourth dam – a daughter of Canadian Triple Crown winner New Providence – produced Canadian champion Sound Reason (who won the first leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, the ten-furlong Queen’s Plate Stakes).

Black Onyx could certainly enter the Derby as a rather unnoticeable candidate, but he is bred to be successful at classic distances and has shown talent from the beginning. He may run greenly at times and may have faced easier competition than many other contenders, but he is a gifted horse that should not be completely overlooked. 

Derby Hopeful: Goldencents

Trainer Doug O’Neill and the young, rather unknown jockey Mario Gutierrez teamed up to win last year’s Kentucky Derby (GI) after capturing the Santa Anita Derby (GI). Approaching this year’s Run for the Roses, the scene is quite similar for O’Neill. But this year, he will place Kevin Krigger’s saddle upon the back of Goldencents. Like I’ll Have Another, Goldencents won the Santa Anita Derby. Like Gutierrez, Krigger – though more well-known than Gutierrez was – has the chance to let his name shine at the pinnacle of the sport.

Near the end of the Del Mar’s meet, which has been known to unveil future superstars, Goldencents turned in one of the most impressive maiden victories of the summer at the Southern California track. The favorite in a field that had only one experienced runner, Goldencents led from start to finish, galloping to a 7 ¼-length triumph. As if the winning margin wasn’t remarkable enough, the final time for five and one-half furlongs – 1:02.79 – was only .09 seconds off the track record.

Shipping to New York for the Champagne Stakes (GI), Goldencents set the pace of the prestigious one-mile event but was overtaken by future Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old, Shanghai Bobby. The next month, Goldencents broke through with his first graded stakes victory in the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (GIII). Serving as the pacesetter once again, the bay colt never looked back as he led the field from start to finish, winning the race by 1 ¾ lengths.

Goldencents made his three-year-old debut in the Sham Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita Park, facing just four rivals in the one-mile event. Rather than leading his opponents, Goldencents tracked the pace set by Manando prior to running all out to surpass that competitor in the stretch, winning by 1 ½ lengths.

The poorest performance of Goldencents’ career to date came in the San Felipe Stakes (GII). Although it appeared as if the colt would press the pace set by Salutos Amigos, he rushed to the front down the backstretch, entering a speed duel with Flashback. He heartily tried to stay in the competition for victory but faded in the final stages to finish fourth.

Goldencents avenged his loss next out in a more important race, the Santa Anita Derby. Sitting just off Super Ninety Nine throughout the nine-furlong contest as quick fractions were posted, Goldencents was forced to be restrained by Krigger to avoid going to the front too early. Near the end of the far turn, Goldencents surged forward as Flashback loomed on his outside, gamely digging in to hold off that rival throughout the backstretch, warding off Flashback to win by 1 ¼ lengths in a good final time of 1:48.76.

Goldencents' pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Goldencents is a member of his sire’s, Into Mischief, first crop. Into Mischief was a grade one-winning juvenile, taking the mile and one-sixteenth CashCall Futurity (GI), but was kept out of the Derby due to injury and only raced three times – each start at seven furlongs – as a sophomore. Into Mischief has proven himself in the breeding shed with his first crop, as he is also the sire of the graded stakes-winning and grade one-placed Derby contender Vyjack and the multiple black-type-winning filly Sittin at the Bar.

The sire of Into Mischief, Harlan’s Holiday, won at nine furlongs on four occasions, but after triumphs in the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes (GI), the son of the grade one-winning sprinter Harlan finished seventh in the Run for the Roses. However, he did place in several ten-furlong races, including runner-up efforts in the Dubai World Cup (GI) and Hollywood Gold Cup (GI). As a sire, Harlan’s Holiday has predominantly flourished with sprinters and milers, though he has sired the likes of Willcox Inn – winner of the American Derby (GII, 9.5F) – and Denis of Cork – runner-up in the Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F) and third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby.

Goldencents' dam, Golden Works, is sired by Banker's Gold, who won up to nine furlongs but was primarily a sire of sprinters. The colt's multiple stakes-winning granddam is a daughter of Bold Ruckus, a horse who is known for speed, although he did sire Canadian classic winner Kiridashi.

Goldencents' family is lined with sprinters, although the sire of his fourth dam is Hidden Treasure, a horse who, despite excelling as a sprinter, won several distance races, including the Breeders' Stakes - the final race of Canada's Triple Crown, contested at twelve furlongs. The distance influences become less scarce as you look more deeply into Goldencents' pedigree. Following alongside his tail female line, you will encounter the likes of Daumier - the winner of several Italian classics, including the St. Leger Italiano at a mile and three-quarters - and Triple Crown champion Count Fleet.

Goldencents will need to rely on his talent to win the Derby, as he is bred to have a distance limit of nine furlongs. He certainly has a will to win – as well as a trainer who knows how to win – and will try his hardest to fight for triumph. Distance is a question for Goldencents, but heart is not.

Derby Hopeful: Will Take Charge

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.

Will Take Charge is as royally bred as they come, being not only sired by a champion and top sire, but also being out of a grade one-winning dam of a grade one victor. But even bloodlines so rich do not guarantee they will produce a talented racehorse. However, it has worked for Will Take Charge.

A $425,000 yearling purchase, Will Take Charge is not only beautifully bred, but he is also an absolutely stunning individual. Displaying impressive muscularity, the colt is a breathtaking blaze-faced chestnut with three stockings. But despite his remarkable pedigree and good looks, the colt’s career got off to a rough start – literally. Breaking hesitantly from the gate in his debut at Saratoga, the powerfully-built colt went on to finish fifth.

But a trip to Keeneland in the fall of 2012 saw Will Take Charge capture his first victory as he closed to win by a length in a seven-furlong maiden special weight over the Polytrack. His losing ways returned, however, when he finished last of thirteen in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs. In spite of an enviable, rail-skimming trip, the colt was simply outrun.

Shipping to Remington Park for the Springboard Mile Stakes, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee contested the pace before finishing second to a 128-1 longshot, Texas Bling, to close out his juvenile campaign. But Will Take Charge avenged this loss in his sophomore debut approximately six weeks later, defeating Texas Bling by a neck in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park after tracking the pace.

Still, Will Take Charge had not said goodbye to sound losses. In his following start, the Southwest Stakes (GIII), the colt was defeated by 18 lengths. However, it must be pointed out that this race was contested over a sloppy track he did not take to and the winner – a horse that relished the mud – won the race by 11 ¼ lengths.

Given a chance to redeem himself next out in the Rebel Stakes (GII), Will Take Charge was a bit green leaving the gate but settled in well mid-pack. Using his powerful strides to catch up to the leaders around the far turn, Will Take Charge swung wide as the field turned for home to maneuver traffic. It initially appeared as if the colt would merely hang on the outside, but he kicked into gear just outside the final furlong, gaining ground on his stablemate, Oxbow, and surpassing him to win by a head. Although the time for the race was very slow, the colt’s determined rally was certainly noteworthy.

Rather than using one more prep race for the Kentucky Derby, Lukas chose to train this horse up to the Derby. This certainly raised an abundance of questions, but you cannot overly criticize a Hall of Fame trainer that has won four Derbies. Furthermore, Will Take Charge has trained powerfully over Churchill Downs surface and seems to take to it better than he did as a two-year-old.

Will Take Charge's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

A son of popular stallion Unbridled's Song, Will Take Charge's sire was fifth in the 1996 Kentucky Derby, bested by about four lengths, and never won beyond nine furlongs. Although his offspring have principally been successful at nine furlongs or less, he has produced a handful of horses that have won at ten furlongs or more, such as Octave - who won the Coaching Club American Oaks (GI, 10F); Grey Song - who won the VRC St. Leger Stakes (GIII, 14F); and Political Force - winner of the Suburban Handicap (GI, 10F). The very prosperous sire has also yielded the ill-fated Derby runner-up Eight Belles and Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F) second-place finisher Dunkirk.

Unbridled's Song is a son of Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic (GI, 10F) champion Unbridled, who produced numerous distance horses, including Banshee Breeze, Empire Maker, Grindstone, Niigon, Smuggler, and Unshaded. Unbridled's Song's broodmare sire is Caro, a leading sire who won several long-distance races, including the mile and three-quarter Prix Dollar (GII), and sired a wealth of successful routers.

Will Take Charge's dam is the multiple grade one-winning Take Charge Lady, who won up to nine furlongs. Another son of this mare left his mark on the Derby trail last year: Take Charge Indy won the nine-furlong Florida Derby (GI) but finished a disappointing nineteenth in the Run for the Roses, but was discovered to have endured an injury that required surgery.

The sire of Take Charge Lady is 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.

The sire of Will Take Charge's granddam is Rubiano, who – although he was a champion sprinter – is a son of Fappiano, the sire of not only Unbridled, but the additional distance horses Cryptoclearance and Defensive Play, as well as the sire of near-Triple Crown winner Real Quiet, Quiet American.

Notably, Will Take Charge's third dam is a daughter of Blushing Groom. A winner of several championship honors as both racehorse and sire, Blushing Groom excelled as a miler but produced many distance horses, including Nashwan, Rainbow Quest, and Runaway Groom - all of which were grade/group one winners at ten furlongs or more. But perhaps Blushing Groom's greatest success came as a broodmare sire, as he is the sire of the dams of a wealth of grade/group one winners, including those that have been victorious at ten furlongs or beyond: Awesome Again, Flute, Haafhd, and Mezzo Soprano.

It is also worth noting that brilliant distance horse and Derby victor Swaps is the sire of Will Take Charge's fourth dam. Swaps produced Derby and Belmont winner Chateaugay, as well as the additional distance horses Primonetta and Tradesman.

Will Take Charge’s pedigree is somewhat on the fence regarding the stamina, but should be sufficient in carrying him over classic distances. Perhaps more worrisome is his inconsistency, his poor finish in his only start at Churchill Downs, and the fact that he is merely training up to the Derby. However, he is trained by one of the most successful trainers in the history of racing and has trained very well beneath the twin spires in the time he has spent there preparing for the Run for the Roses. Will Take Charge will need to give the best effort of his life to be victorious in the Kentucky Derby, but he should not be forgotten or ignored, especially due to his versatility and power.

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.

Derby Hopeful: Java's War

Java's War is a cherished Thoroughbred, as he is among one of just a limited amount of crops sired by champion War Pass, who tragically died at the age of five. In fact, Java’s War was his first winner, winning a maiden special weight over Ellis Park’s turf course last July. Since then, he has proven to be one of the late sire’s best progeny, alongside fellow Derby contender Revolutionary.

Prior to becoming War Pass’ initial offspring to capture a race, Java’s War was fifth in a five-furlong turf maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. The added three-eighths of a mile in his following start were to the colt’s benefit, allowing the bay colt to kick clear to a 1 ¾-length triumph.

Sent to Louisiana for his stakes debut, the Sunday Silence Stakes over Louisiana Downs’ turf course, Java’s War faced a tough opponent in the highly-touted Brown Almighty, who was coming off an easy win in the Sunny’s Halo Stakes, contested over the same grass oval. Away rather slowly from the gate – which would become his trademark –, Java’s War progressively gained ground on the frontrunners with a rail-skimming trip. By the time the field had commenced their run into the far turn, Java’s War had upgraded to a position among the first half of the field. He swung wide as the two-year-olds turned for home, using powerful strides to close in on Brown Almighty, surging past that rival to score by a neck.

Java’s War made his first start away from the turf on a rather similar surface – the Polytrack at Keeneland – in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) in his subsequent race. Rating off the pace between horses, Java’s War found himself behind a barrier of horses rounding the far turn but, when angled to the outside, began to close in on the leader. However, with a furlong of the race remaining, the rivals to both sides of him – Pataky Kid and Dynamic Sky – drifted toward him, squeezing him and thus harming his momentum. But Java’s War managed to finish third, bested by just 1 ¾ lengths.

Transferring to the dirt for his juvenile finale, Java’s War took on twelve rivals in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs. The race was essentially over for the colt from the beginning, when he broke slowly from the rail post, ahead of only one rival as the field entered the first bend. He improved his position down the backstretch, closing the gap between himself and his rivals as he raced on the outside. Remaining very wide around the far turn and down the lane, Java’s War flattened out in the homestretch, crossing the wire sixth.

The Kenny McPeek trainee made his three-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby (GII), competing against the highly regarded, undefeated Verrazano. Away from the gate very snaillike yet again, Java’s War was the trailer by an abundance of lengths as the field headed into the clubhouse turn. Although he appeared to have no chance down the backstretch as he lagged behind by double-digit lengths, Java’s War made up remarkable ground on the rest of the field, passing all but three horses by the middle of the final curve.

Going wide around the far turn, the colt set his sights on the drawing-away Verrazano, effortlessly gaining ground on him despite running greenly. Although Verrazano was an easy winner of the race, the rally Java’s War had made was breathtaking, as he had made up a plethora of lengths within a short amount of time. His final quarter-mile of 25.02 seconds was the third-fastest final two furlongs of any Derby prep of the season recorded by Trakus.

Java’s War’s final prep for the Derby resulted in a return to Keeneland’s Polytrack for the Blue Grass Stakes (GI). The colt again left the gate very sluggishly, hesitating and thus being left several strides behind his thirteen competitors. Again double-digit lengths behind the leaders, Java’s War seemed hopelessly beaten early on down the backstretch, racing several lengths off even the nearest adversary. After a half-mile, the colt finally began to grow closer to the rest of the field and at about the three-eighths pole, he kicked into gear, passing his closest rivals.

Maneuvered to the outside by Julien Leparoux, Java’s War raced incredibly wide as the field turned for home. But this did not deter his impressive rally; powerfully, the bay grew closer to the front, passing multiple rivals as he determinedly chased the frontrunners. Achieving what seemed to be the impossible, Java’s War got up in time, overtaking Palace Malice by a neck to take the winner’s purse of $450,000.

Java’s War had traveled more ground than the majority of his rivals in the Blue Grass and his final two furlongs of 24.01 was the fastest of any last quarter-mile recorded by Trakus during the 2013 Derby prep season.

Java's War's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Java’s War’s pedigree should assist him in traveling a route of ground over dirt. The colt’s sire – the late, undefeated champion juvenile War Pass – won up to a mile and one-sixteenth but came within a half-length of winning at nine furlongs. War Pass was a result of the mating between Cherokee Run, a champion sprinter who produced nearly fifty black-type winners, and a black-type-placed Mr. Prospector mare, Vue. Though this side of Java’s War’s pedigree implies that he is limited to short distances, the bottom side of the colt's pedigree provides much greater distance implications.

Out of the British-bred Java, a mare who won up to ten furlongs, Java's War is a half-brother to Coffee Bar, a stakes-placed runner at nine furlongs that won up to a mile and a sixteenth. Java's sire is Rainbow Quest, a European champion that proved brilliant over long distances, winning many prestigious races over a route of ground, including the 2,400-meter (approximately 1 1/2 miles) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. At stud, Rainbow Quest was outstanding, producing more than 100 stakes winners - many of which won at the group level. He sired a wealth of grade/group one winners that were victorious at ten furlongs or beyond, including Colour Vision, Croco Rouge, High and Low, Millenary, Nedawi, Quest for Fame, Rainbow Dancer, Raintrap, Saumarez, Spectrum, Sunshack, and Urgent Request. Rainbow Quest has also proven to be a spectacular broodmare sire, producing the dams of the group one-winning distance horses Look Here and Spanish Moon – both of which won at twelve furlongs.

Java’s War’s granddam, Island Jamboree, was a multiple stakes-winning miler that was also graded stakes-placed. A daughter of Explodent, Island Jamboree was a terrific broodmare, foaling the multiple grade one-winning champion turf female Fiji, who won at ten furlongs twice, and the multiple group stakes-winning Capri, victorious at 2,400 meters on numerous occasions.

Java’s War's third dam is a daughter of Wing Out, a successful distance horse that won or placed in several long distance events, including a trifecta of grade ones. The colt's fourth dam, Careless Notion, was a fantastic broodmare, producing the grade one-winning Cacoethes, who won multiple mile and one-half races, as well as the additional grade one winner Fabulous Notion and the stakes-winning Margaret Booth.

The sire of Java's War's fifth dam is Nasrullah, a champion who won the prestigious Champion Stakes at ten furlongs. He has been very influential in the ancestry of the Thoroughbred and as a sire, he sired numerous distance horses, including Nashua - who won the Preakness and Belmont after finishing second in the Derby; Bold Ruler - Preakness victor and sire of Triple Crown winner Secretariat; Bald Eagle - a champion that excelled in route races; Belmont champion Jaipur; and an impressive abundance of other brilliant distance horses.

The main worry regarding Java's War's chances in the Kentucky Derby pertains to the questions about his ability to break sharply. In his past few starts, Java's War has left the gate very slowly, which could be detrimental in the Derby. However, he has left the gate well in the past. In addition, there may be doubts regarding his affinity for Churchill's dirt due to his sixth-place effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club over the Louisville oval last fall. But that number is deceiving, as Java's War turned in a better performance in that race than one may think. He could easily become underrated and surprise many on race day with a superb performance.

Derby Hopeful: Oxbow

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.

The Kentucky Derby (GI) is no new territory for the connections of Oxbow. Although the esteemed Calumet Farm now has new owners and is now represented by black and gold silks rather than the immortalized blue and red, Oxbow is owned by the farm that owned eight previous Derby victors. His trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, has saddled four winners of the Run for the Roses and Gary Stevens, the colt's jockey, has guided three horses to Derby glory – two of which were trained by Lukas.

But none of these connections have visited the Derby winner’s enclosure as of late. Calumet’s most recent Derby victory was in 1968, Lukas’ was in 1999, and Stevens’ was in 1997. However, this year, these three could team up together for the first time to win the roses with the help of a stunning bay colt named Oxbow.

Oxbow’s career got off to a slow start. Pulled up and vanned off in his debut at Saratoga, the colt then finished fourth in a maiden special weight at Keeneland behind future Lexington Stakes (GIII) victor Winning Cause prior to turning in a third-place effort in a maiden at Churchill Downs.

The colt finally broke through with a win on closing weekend at Churchill Downs. Breaking from one of the outside posts, Oxbow set a brisk pace before drawing off to win by 4 ¾ lengths and thus earning himself a spot on my watch list.

Shipping to California for the CashCall Futurity (GI), Oxbow was sent off as the second longest shot in a field of eleven. Leaving the gate from the far outside post, Oxbow raced very wide into the clubhouse turn but gained ground on the pacesetters, finding a position just off the leaders as the field entered the backstretch. Tracking the pace from the outside, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee attempted to keep up around the far turn, but weakened as the horses turned for home, finishing a distant fourth.

Oxbow returned strong as a three-year-old, making his sophomore debut in the LeComte Stakes (GIII) at the Fair Grounds. Drawing a post closer to the inside than the outside for the first time since October, Oxbow led from start to finish, coasting to a breathtaking 11 ½-length victory.

Remaining at the Fair Grounds for his following start, the Risen Star Stakes (GII), Oxbow drew an outside post yet again. Once again forced wide around the first bend, Oxbow pressed the pace down the backside prior to taking the lead near the five-sixteenths pole. He led rivals into the lane, maintaining his advantage down Fair Grounds’ long homestretch before weakening just before the sixteenth pole, finishing fourth, beaten less than a length.

Finishing his Derby trail in Arkansas with Oaklawn Park’s two most significant Derby preps, Oxbow made his penultimate start before the Derby in the Rebel Stakes (GII), his third mile and one-sixteenth race of his career and second of the season. Receiving yet another outside post, Oxbow broke well but raced widest of all around the far turn. As he had in several previous starts, the colt quickly moved into a position behind the frontrunners. Initially rating several lengths off the leaders down the backstretch, Oxbow – along with the rest of the field – gained ground on the pacesetters as the horses reached the end of the far stretch.

Remaining on the outside, Oxbow rallied around the far turn, easily taking the lead midway through the curve. Despite drifting in as he led the field into the homestretch, Oxbow maintained his lead, beginning to draw clear of his opponents. But his stablemate, Will Take Charge, closed powerfully, getting up in the final strides to defeat Oxbow by a head.

Oxbow’s run of outside posts did not culminate in his final race before the Kentucky Derby, the Arkansas Derby (GI). With Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens – who had come out of retirement earlier in the year – aboard for the first time, Oxbow broke from the outside post and was not guided to the vanguard as he had been in his previous starts, but rather near the rear of the field. Although his usual speed was not used, he did race wide around the first turn as he had recurrently done in previous starts.

Galloping several lengths off the lead down the backstretch, Oxbow was asked for a run around the far turn by Stevens, but came up on a wall of horses and therefore had to travel wide around the far turn. Offering a subdued rally down the stretch, Oxbow did not find his best stride until it was too late, crossing the wire fifth. After the race, it was revealed that Lukas would have preferred for Oxbow to be ridden nearer the pace – as he had been in his previous races.

Oxbow's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Oxbow is bred very similarly to Paynter, a grade one winner at nine furlongs that was a close second in the Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F), being his three-quarters brother. Both Oxbow and Paynter are sired by Awesome Again, winner of many ten-furlong races, including the first leg of Canada's Triple Crown - the Queen's Plate Stakes - and the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI). Awesome Again has sired an abundance of distance horses, including Awesome Gem, Game on Dude, and Ginger Punch - all of which are grade one winners at ten furlongs. Oxbow should inherit stamina from Awesome Again's sire, Deputy Minister, who has appeared within the first three generations of numerous distance horses, including Curlin, Paynter, and Rags to Riches. The Canadian Hall of Famer 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.

Awesome Again is a son of 2000 Broodmare of the Year, Primal Force - a daughter of Blushing Groom. A recipient of several championship honors as both racehorse and sire, Blushing Groom excelled as a miler but produced many distance horses, including Nashwan, Rainbow Quest, and Runaway Groom - all of which were grade/group one winners at ten furlongs or more. But perhaps Blushing Groom's greatest success came as a broodmare sire, as he is the sire of the dams of a wealth of grade/group one winners, including those that have been victorious at ten furlongs or beyond: Flute, Haafhd, and Mezzo Soprano.

Like Paynter, Oxbow is out of a full sister to two-time Breeders' Cup Classic hero Tiznow. Oxbow's dam, Tizamazing, was a million-dollar yearling and has also produced Oxbow's full brother, Awesome Patriot - a stakes winner at nine furlongs. Aside from Paynter's dam - Tizso - and Tiznow, Tizamazing is also a full sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning Budroyale, who won at nine furlongs on multiple occasions and was runner-up in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic; Tizbud, a stakes winner and graded stakes-placed runner; and the graded stakes-winning sprinter Tizdubai. She is also a half-sister to the stakes-placed C'mon Tiger.

Cee's Song, Tizamazing's dam, is a daughter of Seattle Song, a group one winner at twelve furlongs and a son of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. The sire of Tizamazing is Cee's Tizzy, who was graded stakes-placed at ten furlongs. In addition to Budroyale and Tiznow, Cee's Tizzy also sired champion Gourmet Girl, who captured several nine-furlong races.

Oxbow may not bring to the table the most fashionable race record, but when he is at the top of his game, he is a fierce competitor. Should he draw a more beneficial post and be given a more fitting ride in the Derby, he could turn in a grand performance. Furthermore, although he has appeared to tire in the final stages of a handful of his races, he has had a taxing campaign and though this could be worrisome for his chances in the Derby and the Triple Crown series, the colt is bred for distance.

Derby Hopeful: Palace Malice

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.

Last-minute changes in plans can leave a huge impact on life. Their effect is being felt along the 2013 Kentucky Derby trail, as at least two Derby contenders – Vyjack and Palace Malice – would never had existed if it weren’t for such changes. Whereas Vyjack is sired by a horse that his dam wasn’t intended to be bred to – meaning, had things gone as originally planned, he would not have existed –, Palace Malice’s dam escaped death – or at the very least, severe injury – due a quick change of schedule.

The dam of Palace Malice, Palace Rumor, was trained by small-time trainer Burl McBride, who sent the daughter of Royal Anthem to Hal Wiggins’ barn at Churchill Downs for a start beneath the twin spires while the remainder of his small stable remained at Ellis Park. Although he planned to send Palace Rumor – two years old at the time – back to Ellis Park after her race, he decided to keep her overnight at Churchill following a taxing effort.

Early the next morning, a tornado ripped through Ellis Park, killing three of the seven horses McBride had stabled there. Palace Rumor – who, by the intervention of fate, had remained safe at Churchill Downs – was the only horse he had left. She would go on to be a black-type winner, accumulating career earnings of $271,135 before being sold for $140,000 to William S. Farish of Lane’s End Farm at the 2008 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale while in foal to Tiznow.

One year later, Palace Rumor was bred to Curlin. The result was Palace Malice, who McBride attempted to purchase but was never able to, although he has eagerly followed the colt, owned by Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable.

Second in his debut behind the later graded stakes-placed Carried Interest, Palace Malice was shipped to Saratoga for his second attempt at breaking his maiden. After being anxious while loading into the gate, the bay colt broke sharply, finding a position just off the pacesetters. Tracking the leaders throughout, Palace Malice raced wide while sitting just off the brisk pace of the six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight. In authoritative fashion, Palace Malice took the lead around the far turn prior to storming to a 3 ½-length victory. Among the horses finishing behind him was Hightail, eventual winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint.

Palace Malice’s first start as a three-year-old resulted in a runner-up effort in a seven-furlong allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park. This set him up for a run in the Risen Star Stakes (GII) at the Fair Grounds, his first try around two turns. After a clean break, the Todd Pletcher trainee settled near the rear of the main group of horses. Finding a gap between horses as the field entered the far turn, Palace Malice surged forward, gaining ground on the leaders. Guided to the outside to maneuver traffic, Palace Malice ran greenly, veering in and out, but managed to finish third, beaten less than ¾ of a length.

Disappointment embodied the colt’s next start, the Louisiana Derby (GII). Receiving a ground-saving trip, Palace Malice made a stunning rally down the backstretch, coasting closer to the leaders to prepare himself for a run in the final portion of the contest. Having upgraded from eighth to fourth, Palace Malice was forced to check on the far turn when he became boxed in, thus allowing an abundance of horses to pass him as his remarkable rally came to a forced halt. Although his rider searched for room down the homestretch, he had no luck. Once he finally found room in the late stages of the race, Palace Malice’s momentum had been ruined and he could finish no better than seventh.

But the colt’s fortune improved next out in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland. Contesting over a synthetic surface for the first time in his career, the son of Curlin broke inwardly but galloped away well, taking a position near the rail behind the pacesetters. Appearing comfortable as he settled approximately five lengths off the leader as the field reached the backstretch, Palace Malice again received a ground-saving trip along the rail, growing closer to the leaders down the backstretch to assume the third spot.

The favorite, Rydilluc, led the field by 3 ½ lengths as the fourteen horses turned for home, but Palace Malice accelerated, being angled to the outside to attempt to gear down on him. Reaching Rydilluc outside the eighth pole, Palace Malice incorrectly changed leads at the sixteenth pole – either a sign of fatigue or greenness, the latter of which is a trait he has been known to exhibit – but took the lead, only to be passed by Java’s War in the very final strides as he switched back to the correct lead. Palace Malice was second by just a neck.

Palace Malice (green & yellow silks) coming down the homestretch of the Blue Grass
Photo by Brittlan Wall

Although Palace Malice appeared to be getting tired in the final stages of the Blue Grass, each race has been a learning experience for the colt and this race was only adding to his foundation. Moreover, he is bred through and through for classic distances.

His sire, all-time leading money earner Curlin, was an excellent distance horse, finishing in-the-money in all three of the competitive 2007 Triple Crown races: he was third in the Derby, first in the mile and three-sixteenths Preakness Stakes (GI), and second in the mile and one-half Belmont Stakes (GI). The two-time Horse of the Year was victorious at ten furlongs on five occasions and came within a head of winning at twelve furlongs. Considering Palace Malice is a member of his first crop, there is not much to measure Curlin’s success as a sire just yet. However, in addition to Palace Malice, he has also produced Zimniy Dvorets – a group stakes winner in Russia, the black-type-winning Countess, and the graded stakes-placed runners Blue Violet and Liberated.

Curlin’s sire, Smart Strike, is among the best sires on the continent, having been North America’s leading sire in 2007 and 2008 and a consistent top-five sire. Smart Strike is the sire of numerous distance horses, including champion English Channel – victorious in five grade ones at eleven furlongs or longer; champion Lookin’ At Lucky – winner of the 2010 Preakness; Kazakhstan champion Nodouble Destiny – a group one winner at 2,400 meters (almost 12 furlongs); Fleetstreet Dancer – victor of the Japan Cup Dirt (GI) when it was contested at 2,100 meters (approximately 10.4 furlongs); Tenpins – winner of the mile and three-sixteenths Washington Park Handicap (GII) and runner-up in the Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII) at ten furlongs; Strike a Deal – a graded stakes winner at eleven furlongs; and Smart Bid – a stakes winner at twelve furlongs.

An important stamina influence in Palace Malice’s pedigree is Curlin’s broodmare sire, Deputy Minister. A horse who has appeared in the first three generations of the likes of successful routers such as Paynter and Rags to Riches, the Canadian Hall of Famer 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.

Palace Rumor, who won up to a mile and one-sixteenth, is a daughter of Royal Anthem, a multiple group one winner who won up to twelve furlongs. A son of outstanding distance horse Theatrical, Royal Anthem sired several brilliant routers, including Divine Fortune – a multiple graded stakes-winning steeplechaser that has won up to two and one-half miles – and Presious Passion – a multiple grade one winner known for his speedy turf races that won at a mile and one-half on three occasions.

Palace Malice’s granddam, Whisperifyoudare, is a daughter of Red Ransom, who sired a wealth of distance horses, including Ekraar, Electrocutionist, Perfect Sting, and Roc de Cambes. But Whisperifyoudare was a successful broodmare of sprinters, including the multiple black-type-winning horses Jumpifyoudare and Maya’s Storm. However, her dam, Stellar Affair, was a stakes winner at nine furlongs and is a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI, 10F) winner Skywalker. Stellar Affair is also the dam of Sweet Trip, the dam of Rail Trip, a grade one winner at ten furlongs.

The fourth dam of Palace Malice – Fawn and Hahn, who gave Eddie Delahoussaye his 4,000^th career victory – is a daughter of Grey Dawn II, the only horse to ever defeat the great Sea Bird. Although the French champion was primarily a successful sprinter/miler, the son of the great distance horse Herbager produced a fair share of routers, including Bounding Basque, Christmas Past, and Vigors. A leading broodmare sire, Grey Dawn II sired the dams of many talented distance horses, such as Itsallgreektome, Silver Patriarch, and Waquoit. Fawn and Hahn is out of the group stakes-placed Ecstatica, who is out of a productive mare and is sired by the great Damascus, third-place finisher in the Derby who went on to win the Preakness and Belmont.

Palace Malice's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Palace Malice could easily fly into the Kentucky Derby under the radar and although he is merely the winner of a maiden race, he is a natural talent whose bloodlines could easily carry him over classic distances. Questions around Derby contenders, particularly one that hasn't won since his maiden victory as a two-year-old, are always abounding, but one thing is certain: Palace Malice's story will allow him to gallop into the hearts of the public. I encourage you to read his story in the words of the great turf writer Steve Haskin here.

Derby Hopeful: Vyjack

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.

Vyjack was never intended to exist. Those words are harsh, but Vyjack is a result of a last-minute change of plans. His breeders, Sandy Willwerth and Carrie and Craig Brogden of Machmer Hall Farm, had a live foal breeding contract to Bernstein and planned to breed an unraced daughter of Stravinsky, Life Happened, to the son of Storm Cat. But on the day Life Happened was ready to breed to Bernstein, the stallion was booked full. In order to not miss Life Happened’s cycle, last-minute plans were made to breed the mare to freshman sire Into Mischief.

The result was Vyjack, who was gelded as a two-year-old after having shown unacceptable studdish behavior. Vyjack quickly began to show that it was a good thing he did exist, even if he was never intended to. Making his racing debut in November of 2012 in a six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct, Vyjack pressed the pace before battling the future black-type-winning Clawback down the stretch before drawing away in the late stages to win by almost two lengths at nearly 18-1 odds. Interestingly, eventual Florida Derby (GI) victor and fellow Kentucky Derby (GI) contender, Orb, finished fourth behind Vyjack.

Facing just three others over a sloppy track in his stakes debut, the Traskwood Stakes, Vyjack rated in third in the early stages of the seven-furlong event before gradually inching his way into second as the field entered the far turn. Putting his long, effortless strides to use, Vyjack commandingly took the lead as the horses reached the end of the curve, kicking clear with ease to score by 5 ¾ lengths.

Taking on graded stakes company for the first time in his sophomore debut, the Jerome Stakes (GII), Vyjack would also be going two turns for the first time in his career, as the race was contested at a mile and seventy yards over Aqueduct’s inner track. Although he initially sat behind the pacesetters, Vyjack became the leader shortly after the field reached the backstretch. Strongly pressured by rivals around the final bend, Vyjack was passed by longshot Siete de Oros but drew even with that opponent in the homestretch, dueling with him down the straightaway to gamely prevail by a head.

Vyjack would win his succeeding start, the mile and one-sixteenth Gotham Stakes (GIII), in a much easier manner. Competing against ten adversaries, the bay gelding broke somewhat slowly and rather than finding a position near the pace like he had in his previous races, Vyjack was maneuvered to near the rear of the field, racing wide and several lengths off the frontrunners around the clubhouse turn.

Remaining a wealth of lengths off the pace down the backstretch, Vyjack slowly picked up the pace as the field entered the far turn. As the horses approached the quarter pole, the bay gelding accelerated impressively, swinging wide to go around rivals. He seemed to find a new gear once he changed leads in the homestretch, soaring on the outside as he passed competitors as if they were standing still, crossing the wire 2 ¼ lengths ahead.

Vyjack put his undefeated record on the line in the Wood Memorial Stakes (GI), in which he would not only extend to nine furlongs, but would also have to contest against perhaps the most glorified horse on the Derby trail, the undefeated Verrazano. Leaving the fifth gate in good order, Vyjack quickly joined the front-running unit, settling just behind the leaders as the field raced into the first turn.

Vyjack raced a handful of lengths off the leader as the field reached the backstretch, appearing comfortable while galloping to the outside of rivals. As the horses entered the final curve, Vyjack began to speed up the tempo, looming large on the outside and gaining ground on Verrazano, who had assumed the lead at the half-mile marker. Going wide around the bend, Vyjack set his sights on Verrazano, who would prove to be a very tough rival in the stretch. With all his might, Vyjack strove to surpass the undefeated Todd Pletcher trainee and although he gave Verrazano the toughest test he had yet to face, he could not keep up in the final stages and was narrowly edged out by Normandy Invasion to finish third.

Vyjack's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

This gelding is as hard-trying as they come and though he is undoubtedly talented, he will have to run the race of his life to win the Derby. His racing endeavors easily outshine his pedigree, which provides much worry regarding this gelding’s ability to be victorious at classic distances. Vyjack is a member of his unintended sire, Into Mischief’s, first crop. Into Mischief was a grade one-winning juvenile, taking the mile and one-sixteenth CashCall Futurity (GI), but was kept out of the Derby due to injury and only raced three times – each start at seven furlongs – as a sophomore. Into Mischief has proven himself in the breeding shed with his first crop, as he is also the sire of grade one-winning Derby contender Goldencents and the multiple black-type-winning filly Sittin at the Bar.

The sire of Into Mischief, Harlan’s Holiday, won at nine furlongs on four occasions, but after triumphs in the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes (GI), the son of the grade one-winning sprinter Harlan finished seventh in the Run for the Roses. However, he did place in several ten-furlong races, including runner-up efforts in the Dubai World Cup (GI) and Hollywood Gold Cup (GI). As a sire, Harlan’s Holiday has predominantly flourished with sprinters and milers, though he has sired the likes of Willcox Inn – winner of the American Derby (GII, 9.5F) – and Denis of Cork – runner-up in the Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F) and third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby.

Stemming from a strong Maryland-bred female family, Vyjack’s unraced dam, Life Happened, has also produced the multiple graded stakes-placed Prime Cut – who is actually sired by Bernstein. Still currently racing, Prime Cut has won up to about a mile and one-sixteenth and has placed three times at a mile and one-eighth. He finished eleventh of twelve in the 2011 Belmont.

Life Happened is a daughter of the black-type-placed Round It Off, who is also the dam of the graded stakes-winning Disco Rico, a champion sprinter in Maryland. Vyjack’s third dam, Capp It Off, won several black-type races and produced Miss Slewpy, a multiple graded stakes winner who won at nine furlongs on six occasions and was triumphant in the Ladies Handicap (GII), contested at a mile and one-quarter.

Maryland royalty is present in Vyjack’s tail female line: his fourth dam, Turn Capp, was Maryland Broodmare of the Year in 1996, having produced an abundance of black-type horses: Capp Ice, Capp it Off, Capp the Power, Say Capp, and Twilight Prince. Vyjack is thus a direct descendant of the Reine de Course mare, Chelandry, who is the foundation mare of family 1-n. Other direct descendants of this outstanding racemare and broodmare include Americain – who won the Melbourne Cup (GI) at 3,200 meters (nearly 16 furlongs), Bodemeister – runner-up in last year’s Derby, and Swale – the ill-fated 1984 Derby and Belmont champion.

Vyjack’s sixth dam, Noble Nurse, is sired by Count Fleet – winner of the 1943 Triple Crown that captured the Belmont by 25 lengths – and is out of a daughter of 1937 Triple Crown champion War Admiral – a son of the great Man O’ War. Her granddam is a daughter of Sir Gallahad, sire of a trifecta of Derby winners, including 1930 Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox.

Vyjack’s broodmare sire, Stravinsky, was a brilliant sprinter in Great Britain, but is a son of Nureyev – sire of champion Theatrical, who won several long distance turf races – and the grade one-winning mare Fire the Groom, who won up to a mile and three-sixteenths – the distance of the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (GI). Fire the Groom is a daughter of Blushing Groom, one of the finest sires and broodmare sires of the breed. A winner of several championship honors as both racehorse and sire, Blushing Groom excelled at a mile but sired many distance horses, including Nashwan, Rainbow Quest, and Runaway Groom – all of which were grade/group one victors at ten furlongs or more. But perhaps Blushing Groom’s greatest success came as a broodmare sire, as he is the sire of the dams of a wealth of grade/group one winners, including those that have won at ten furlongs or beyond: Flute, Haafhd, and Mezzo Soprano.

Although stamina influences can be found in Vyjack’s bloodlines, you have to search diligently to find them and they are greatly overshadowed by forces of speed. To add to the doubts surrounding Vyjack is his ability to take to Churchill Down’s surface, as he has only competed at Aqueduct. Fortunately, the gelding will have approximately two weeks to adapt to the dirt beneath the twin spires.

Despite having many circumstances stacked against him, Vyjack does bring many advantages to the Derby. The gelding is a very versatile runner, as he can set the pace, press the pace, settle just off the pace, or close from far back. This versatility should serve as a benefit for Vyjack in the Run for the Roses. Furthermore, he possesses not only pure talent, but an outstanding determination to win. Regardless of how great Vyjack’s chances are at Derby glory, it’s hard not to cheer for a horse with a story like his. I encourage you to read his story in the words of the great turf writer Steve Haskin here.