Oxbow: An Old-School Preakness Victory

Orb’s old-school connections of Shug McGaughey, alongside the Phipps and Janney families, seemed to be the perfect team to end the 35-year drought that racing fans have heartbreakingly endured. Approaching the Preakness Stakes (GI), the Kentucky Derby (GI) victor created an abundance of anticipation among the racing world. Could he be the one?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is no. Despite his old-school connections that seemed fit for the crown, it was not meant to be for Orb. But the 2013 Triple Crown, despite Orb’s loss in the Preakness, remains old-school through some of the most renowned names in the industry: Gary Stevens, D. Wayne Lukas, and Calumet Farm.

Oxbow was dismissed at 15-1 odds as nine Thoroughbreds loaded into the gate at Pimlico. All eyes were on gate one, where Orb stood beneath Joel Rosario. In the sixth gate stood a horse most had forgotten, allowing him to be sent off as the second-longest shot in the field.

A horse that caught my eye when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs last fall for the brilliance he displayed then, Oxbow has caught many eyes along the Triple Crown trail this year, simply for the uniqueness of his coloring. He appears to be gray or roan, but gray horses must have a gray parent and both of Oxbow’s parents are bay, or dark bay/brown. Oxbow, registered a bay, is a misfit, and not just because of his coloring.

Oxbow
Photo by Brittlan Wall

His career began in rather unconventional fashion, despite the fact that he debuted at Saratoga, the land of promising juveniles. In this debut, Oxbow was pulled up and vanned off. His succeeding pair of starts resulted in lackluster performances, causing the $250,000 price he’d commanded at the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to be questioned. Was he really worth a quarter of a million dollars?

When Oxbow broke through with a victory in his fourth career start, he began to pave a path to answering that question with a yes. Dominating a maiden special weight beneath the Twin Spires, Oxbow would then enter stakes company and not look back.

After shipping west for the CashCall Futurity (GI), in which he finished fourth, Oxbow proved that he was a high-caliber racehorse with an authoritative 11 ½-length triumph in the LeComte Stakes, one of the first races on the Triple Crown trail. Racing enthusiasts lined up for a seat on the Oxbow bandwagon, only to abandon it as he accumulated a collection of three losses leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

In the Derby, Oxbow was forwardly placed and appeared ready to fight for victory at the top of the stretch. But he weakened late and finished sixth as Orb stormed home to a triumph that created large waves of excitement within the racing world.

Oxbow was forgotten as Orb prepared to continue his Triple Crown bid. Few noted his final work before the Preakness, in which Stevens – who was aboard for the breeze – gathered more confidence in his mount.

So now Oxbow stood in the starting gate, forgotten by many. But he did not know this. All he knew was that this was his job, his passion.

He emerged from the gate, only to be bumped by his stablemate, the powerfully-built Will Take Charge. But this did not prevent him from immediately pursuing the lead with Stevens aboard. Racing to the front as the field thundered past the grandstand for the first time in the two-turn event, Oxbow seized a clear, comfortable lead as he commanded the pace. Recording the initial quarter-mile in a steady 23.94, Oxbow was the lone speed as the field galloped around the clubhouse turn.

Oxbow leading the field past the stands for the first time
Photo by Brittlan Wall

Oxbow had become a dangerous competitor for his opponents. He was alone in the vanguard, galloping along easily as he posted moderate fractions. With his ears perked as the nine-horse charge raced down the backstretch, Oxbow was receiving a dream trip. His nearest rival was Goldencents, who offered very little pressure, rating two lengths behind Stevens’ mount.

Meanwhile, Orb was making an early move, growing closer to the leaders. Racing several paths away from the rail – which was the deepest part of the track –, Oxbow continued to lead in an easy manner, completing the first half-mile in 48.60. He’d slowed down, but remained the clear-cut leader. It was the perfect journey for a pacesetter.

As Orb lost ground, Oxbow continued to lead, maintaining the eager, content look upon his face as he led his rivals around the far turn. Beginning to lengthen his advantage on the field, people began to take notice. Orb was not firing, but Oxbow was digging deep, finding more left in his tank after the easy trip he’d experienced.

Oxbow was clearly enjoying what he was doing. Continuing to lead, he raced into the homestretch three lengths ahead of the others. Galloping in an authoritative manner, Oxbow charged home, prepared to repel any threats. Despite rallies from Itsmyluckyday and Mylute, Stevens called on every ounce of effort Oxbow had within and Oxbow responded with a stunning display of determination, holding firm to prevail by 1 ¾ lengths.

Spectators watched as Stevens stood in the irons, thrusting his fist in the air victoriously, shouting "Are you kidding me?!" This display of triumph was far from new. In fact it was old, something that, in November of 2005 seemed to be a thing of the past.

Stevens, a Hall of Fame jockey, had announced his retirement in late 2005, hanging up his tack after a career that saw him capture a plethora of prestigious races, including eight Triple Crown races and just as many Breeders’ Cup races. He left the saddle and became a television anchor for companies like NBC, HRTV, and TVG, covering racing. He even played roles in the film Seabiscuit and the television series Luck. But in early January of this year, Stevens announced he was returning to racing. He quickly found success again, winning his first graded stakes race since announcing his comeback just over a month after returning to the races.

Meanwhile, D. Wayne Lukas – a Hall of Famer himself – was preparing a handful of newly-turned three-year-olds for the Triple Crown. Among them was Oxbow. Lukas had had grand success in Triple Crown races, but a victory in one of the three classics had eluded him since 2000. Since then, he’d brought a multitude of three-year-olds to the Triple Crown, only to be plagued by disappointment. He could only hope that 2013 would be the year in which he would stand within the winner’s circle of a Triple Crown race yet again.

In January, as Stevens’ comeback commenced, D. Wayne Lukas – a trainer for which Stevens had garnered three of his Triple Crown race wins – contacted the soon-to-be 50-year-old jockey. He informed him of the three-year-olds he was preparing for the Triple Crown, including a colt named Oxbow.

Oxbow and Gary Stevens, in Calumet Farm's silks
Photo by Brittlan Wall

The colt was owned by Calumet Farm, one of the most illustrious names in the racing industry. Any racing fan that has ever visited the heart of the Thoroughbred world – Lexington, Kentucky – is sure to have seen the picturesque white fences, the elegant white, red, and green barns, and the gentle, rolling hills of the historic farm. Once a powerhouse, Calumet had won seventeen Triple Crown races prior to 2013, including Triple Crown sweeps with Whirlaway and Citation. But a win in one of the spring classics had evaded the farm since 1968.

Calumet fell on hard times and, in 1992, was purchased by Henryk de Kwiatkowski for more than $17 million. Last May, the farm was again sold, this time for $36 million to Brad Kelley. The famous red and blue silks were replaced by Kelley’s black and gold colors, but the farm had been revitalized. It was ready to return to the battlefield of the Triple Crown and with Oxbow in its possession, it had the chance to again rejoice within the thrill of a Triple Crown race victory.

On May 18, 2013, each of these storied histories came together in the Preakness Stakes all thanks to Oxbow, the misfit. Dreams of a Triple Crown reached a crashing halt, but the pain of Orb’s loss was alleviated by the scene of these old-school connections rejoicing in the winner’s circle, ending their own Triple Crown droughts.

Stevens’ and Lukas’ first words to each other after the victory? “I love you.”

Gary Stevens celebrating his Preakness victory aboard Oxbow
Photo by Brittlan Wall

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: 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.