Drosselmeyer: From Racehorse to Stud

I can list them easily: Animal Kingdom, Awesome Feather, Blind Luck, Drosselmeyer, Euroears, My Miss Aurelia, Shackleford, Uncle Mo, Weemissfrankie, and Winter Memories. These are the horses of 2011 that captured my heart and had me screaming at the top of my lungs throughout the year. Some of them never got to show just how good they were, some of them couldn’t quite live up to expectations, and some of them flaunted their brilliance when it counted most. Drosselmeyer could be categorized in the latter group.

Photo by Mary Cage

It took Drosselmeyer a while to get going, but he finished up the year better than one could imagine by winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). As a two-year-old, Drosselmeyer broke his maiden in his fourth start, winning by six lengths at Churchill Downs. He then won an allowance by nearly two lengths at Gulfstream Park, defeating future grade one winners Prince Will I Am and Stately Victor, multiple graded stakes-placed Guys Reward, and stakes-placed No Shenanigans.

Kentucky Derby dreams had formed and the colt made his way to Louisiana for the Risen Star Stakes (GII). I’d heard of the colt and was eager to see how he would do. He made a rally on the inside to finish fourth behind Discreetly Mine. I wasn’t discouraged at all, as it didn’t seem like he’d enjoyed his trip along the rail.

Photo: Terri Cage

Yet that’s exactly what he had to deal with next out in the Louisiana Derby (GII). He rallied along the inside yet again and finished third. I still could tell he was still very talented and I hoped that he would have enough earnings to enter the Kentucky Derby. However, he fell short on the earnings list and was excluded from the Run for the Roses.

Prepping for the Belmont Stakes (GI), Drosselmeyer finished second behind Fly Down in the Dwyer Stakes (GII). Drosselmeyer may have been defeated by six lengths, but he also broke slowly and had traffic problems.

Four weeks later, the Belmont was a different story. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith for the first time, Drosselmeyer emerged late on the outside to score a win in the Test of the Champion. Finally, the colt had been able to show the world just how talented he was.

After his Belmont win, Drosselmeyer injured his ankle and was out indefinitely. It broke my heart that the colt would be out, but I hoped that he would come back strong as a four-year-old.

While visiting Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup last year, we stopped by WinStar Farm for a stallion tour. We were informed that Drosselmeyer was across the street at WinStar’s training facility. I ached to go over there to see the colt, but I knew I couldn’t and instead I just remained glad that he was doing well.

Photo: Terri Cage

After exactly nine months off, the striking chestnut son of Distorted Humor returned in the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, finishing fourth. After a disappointing fifth in the Skip Away Stakes (GIII) at Gulfstream Park, Drosselmeyer returned to his winning ways in the One Count Stakes at Belmont Park. Though it was just a $60,000 stakes race, he defeated eventual grade two winner Birdrun, grade three victor Inherit the Gold, multiple stakes winner Alma d’Oro, eventual Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GII) winner Afleet Again, and stakes-winning Edgewater.

Birdrun got revenge on him next out in the Brooklyn Handicap (GII), defeating him by nearly four lengths. Drosselmeyer then returned to the surface he’d run his first two career starts over: turf. In the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (GI), Drosselmeyer didn’t show much affinity for the grass and finished seventh.

Drosselmeyer returned to the dirt in his next race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI). Having run mostly against marathon horses – which nowadays are not considered to be of the same class as horses that run a maximum of ten furlongs – prior to the prestigious race, not much attention was on Drosselmeyer. However, Drosselmeyer closed impressively on the outside to finish second, relishing being on the dirt again.

Photo by Mary Cage

As the 2011 Breeders’ Cup approached, I was mostly drawn to the star power. Attending morning workouts, I kept my eyes peeled for horses like Flat Out, Havre de Grace, and Uncle Mo. But when a gleaming golden chestnut stepped into my view and I read the name Drosselmeyer on the yellow saddle towel, my love for Drosselmeyer was renewed.

I was riveted by him once again. It was my first time to ever see him in person, so my eyes locked on him as he jogged alongside a pony horse. My heart thudded in my chest, my head turned as I followed him, and my camera clicked as I took pictures of him and videoed him. He looked spectacular. He carried himself with tremendous class, his coat shining liking a brand new penny and his legs moving so smoothly he could pass as a show horse. Sure, I was picking Flat Out on paper, but from appearances on the track in the morning, Drosselmeyer was my Classic horse.

So, as I stood along the rail near the winner’s circle and finish line during the Classic, my heart soared as Drosselmeyer flew along the outside, eclipsing the talented Classic field. I punched my fist into the air, letting out a shout of joy as Drosselmeyer, reunited with Mike Smith, galloped into the history books. I turned around to face my family, cheering one word with bliss: “Drosselmeyer!”

The colt soon jogged up with my favorite jockey, Mike Smith, aboard and I felt a grin stretch across my face as I recorded the horse entering the winner’s circle on my phone. Just feet from me, the stunning horse entered the winner’s circle under the Twin Spires. Not only was the Classic a story of redemption for Mike Smith (Drosselmeyer Dances Home in the Classic), but it was a story of redemption for Drosselmeyer.

Photo: Terri Cage

Just days prior to Drosselmeyer’s victory, I had visited WinStar Farm for the third time. We were told that the colt would go to New York for his stud career. My heart sank, knowing I’d better relish seeing him at the Breeders’ Cup, as I likely wouldn’t get to see him if he stood in New York.

But after his spectacular Classic win, WinStar faced a decision: should Drosselmeyer go to New York as planned or should he stay in Kentucky now that he’d won the Classic? A win in America’s richest horse race added another question: should he retire or should he continue racing?

I knew that if he was retired, he would go to stud in Kentucky. After all, he was a Belmont Stakes winner that had just won the Breeders’ Cup Classic. However, I didn’t want him to retire just yet. My love for Drosselmeyer had just escalated even more and I wanted to see him run another year.

But that wasn’t the case. On Friday, it was announced that Drosselmeyer was retired to stud at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. Understanding that right after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic was a good time for him to enter stud, I was disappointed to know racing fans wouldn't get to enjoy him for another year. Yet, I look forward to visiting him at WinStar someday so I can reminisce on watching him race and can see that beautiful gleaming chestnut coat again.

Now Drosselmeyer will begin his new career alongside his sire, Distorted Humor, who is the leading sire in America. Distorted Humor has sired 42 stakes horses, including 17 stakes winners and 9 graded stakes winners. Ever since his first crop, he has sired at least 10 stakes winners a year and has produced an incredible 9 millionaires and 12 grade one winners. Big names he has sired include Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, two-time Whitney Handicap (GI) winner Commentator, and Travers Stakes (GI) winner Flower Alley. Clearly, Distorted Humor is an incredible racing sire, but he is one of the best commercial sires at stud as well. In fact, he holds the highest three-year yearling average in the nation. Standing for $100,000, Distorted Humor is most definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Drosselmeyer’s dam side is definitely not lacking talent. His dam, Golden Ballet, is a multiple grade one winner and earner of $732,145. She obviously is a good producer, having produced Drosselmeyer, but he is not her only talented offspring. She has also produced Stage Luck, who won the Affectionately Handicap at Aqueduct prior to finishing third in the Rare Treat Handicap, fourth in the Next Move Handicap (GIII), and third in the Ruffian Handicap (GI).

A photo I absolutely love by Terri Cage

Tracing back to influential sires such as Northern Dancer, Seattle Slew, and Mr. Prospector, Drosselmeyer looks to be a successful stallion. His stud fee is set for $17,500. Before we know it, we’ll see little Drosselmeyers collecting prestigious victories.

And for now, as we wait for the breeding season to begin, we can muse over Drosselmeyer’s Classic victory. It was a race that will always be dear to my heart, a race that showed me redemption is possible, a race that evoked feelings of joy for me, and a race that I can always watch and say, “I was there. I was right there.”

Drosselmeyer on the track the Thursday before his Classic win

Video by Mary Cage

Drosselmeyer after winning the Classic

Video by Mary Cage

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Who's Horse of the Year?

Though there is still over a month of 2011 left, the discussion of which horse will be crowned Horse of the Year is gracing headlines of many racing publications. Though there are some divisional championships that need no discussion, there is plenty of confusion over many of the awards, including the most coveted of them all: Horse of the Year.

The past two years, Horse of the Year has been a raging debate that included a great mare by the name of Zenyatta. Fans of Rachel Alexandra, Blame, and Zenyatta argued over which horse should be named Horse of the Year, giving plenty of reasons as to why they were on the side they were on.

This year won’t be such a heated debate, however. Though lacking the battle between horses like the debate of 2009 Horse of the Year and 2010 Horse of the Year featured, 2011 Horse of the Year is still a tough decision. As we look back on the 2011 racing season, it is very unclear. By the conclusion of the Breeders’ Cup, no horse emerged as the top horse in the nation. Voters have a tough decision to make. Though there are plenty of horses deserving of this award, I have listed just five contenders for Horse of the Year in alphabetical order.

Drosselmeyer
Photo: Terri Cage

Drosselmeyer: He’s no longer the forgotten Belmont Stakes (GI) winner. Drosselmeyer is now one of the first horses that comes to mind when one thinks of the top horses in the nation. Of course, this is due to his recent Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) win under Mike Smith. Though Drosselmeyer recorded the most prestigious win of all the Horse of the Year contenders, he does not have enough on his résumé to take home the award. His only other win this year came in the $60,000 One Count Stakes at Belmont Park. Despite the fact that he defeated eventual grade two winner Birdrun (who would defeat Drosselmeyer next out), grade three victor Inherit the Gold, multiple stakes winner Alma d’Oro, eventual Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GII) winner Afleet Again, and stakes winner Edgewater, the race was not Horse of the Year material. One of Drosselmeyer’s most impressive performances this year was a closing second to Flat Out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) prior to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Though I think Drosselmeyer is the best older horse in the country, I do not believe he has enough credentials to earn Horse of the Year, let alone Older Male.

Game on Dude
Photo by Mary Cage

Game on Dude: Excluding Drosselmeyer, who likely will not receive Horse of the Year, Game on Dude had the best Classic finish of the top Horse of the Year candidates. In the Classic, he finished a hard-trying second and was just passed in the final strides. He defeated the talented filly Havre de Grace, who is considered the top choice for Horse of the Year by many, by a length and a half. He won two grade ones this year, the Santa Anita Handicap and the Goodwood Stakes. He missed out on winning three grade ones by just a nose when stablemate First Dude nipped him at the wire in the Hollywood Gold Cup Hanidcap. Game on Dude finished out of the top three just once in eight starts this year, when he finished fourth over a track he did not care for in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (GI). Only three of his races were not grade ones: his impressive win in an allowance optional claiming at Santa Anita, his second place finish in the Charles Town Classic Stakes (GIII), and his third place finish in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII). Game on Dude was on the scene all year, competing at the highest level. In fact, his last four starts were all grade ones. Unfortunately, I do not believe Game on Dude will be voted Horse of the Year, but if I could vote, I would choose Game on Dude for his success and competitiveness at the highest level all year.

Havre de Grace
Photo by Mary Cage

Havre de Grace: Many of the people who are claiming Horse of the Year a mess are also claiming that they believe Havre de Grace will be Horse of the Year. Though she is not on the same level as the past two female winners of Horse of the Year (Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta), the daughter of Saint Liam is very talented. Of all Horse of the Year candidates, she had the most grade one wins. However, her Breeders’ Cup performance wasn’t quite worthy of Horse of the Year. Like Game on Dude, three of Havre de Grace’s starts were not grade ones. Two of those three were wins. The one that was not was a loss to champion Blind Luck. Though Havre de Grace won three grade ones this year, including a win against males in the Woodward Stakes (GI), her race against the best in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was not what she needed to secure Horse of the Year. She was defeated by three lengths in the Classic, with Drosselmeyer, Game on Dude, and Ruler on Ice finishing ahead of her. Zenyatta may have won Horse of the Year despite losing the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year, but she was only beaten by half a head. I believe Havre de Grace will come away with the title of Horse of the Year and though I don’t think she is as deserving as Game on Dude, I do think she is plenty worthy of the award.

My Miss Aurelia
Photo: Terri Cage

My Miss Aurelia: I’ve followed this special filly since the post parade before her maiden race. She is one of many deserving Horse of the Year contenders. In fact, she could have the best credentials of all of them. She’s undefeated, a winner of three graded stakes, a dual grade one winner, and a dominant Breeders’ Cup champion. She had a flawless campaign and in four starts, she had a total winning margin of nine and three-quarters lengths (an average winning margin of nearly two and one-half lengths). I believe My Miss Aurelia is a very deserving Horse of the Year. However, it is unlikely that a two-year-old will be voted Horse of the Year.

Royal Delta: In what I saw as one of the most impressive Breeders’ Cup victories, Royal Delta won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) by two and one-half lengths. Her other grade one win besides that championship win was a dominant win in the TVG Alabama Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. Royal Delta’s other graded stakes appearances include a win in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII), a third place finish in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (GI), and a second place finish to Havre de Grace in the Beldame Invitational Stakes (GI). The main thing that will prevent Royal Delta from winning Horse of the Year is her eight and one-quarter-length loss to Havre de Grace in the Beldame. Royal Delta will not be Horse of the Year, but she will be Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Royal Delta
Photo: Terri Cage

All of the mentioned horses are very talented. However, as mentioned, if I could vote, my vote would go to Game on Dude. It’s a tough decision for me between My Miss Aurelia and Game on Dude, but I believe as an older horse, Game on Dude has an edge over My Miss Aurelia. There are also the extremely talented and multiple grade one-winning turf horses Acclamation and Cape Blanco. Yet, I don’t think these horses will be crowned the champion of the year. Likely, Havre de Grace will become the third female in a row to be voted 2011 Horse of the Year.

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Breeders' Cup Wrap: Day Two (Beautiful Bluegrass: Day Four)

Afleet Again
Photo by Mary Cage

Day one of the Breeders’ Cup was over. It was Saturday and nine more championship races would be run. The Marathon kicked off Breeders’ Cup Saturday as 41-1 shot Afleet Again upset the mile and three-quarters race. I stood at the rim of the winner’s circle as the gray son of Afleet Alex entered the winner’s circle, snapping my pictures before the four-year-old gelding headed back to the barns.

After watching the Irish-bred Wrote cross the wire victoriously in the Juvenile Turf, I took a picture of the strikingly beautiful colt in the winner’s circle. Though the colt’s win was spectacular, my mind (and heart) was set on the next race.

Though I want to have a career in the racing business, I am a fan and horse lover first. I care more about the safety of and affection for the horse than anything. In the upcoming race, the Sprint, was one of my personal favorites, Euroears. However, it was not Euroears' day. Rather, the California-bred Amazombie came away with the win.

Euroears
Photo by Mary Cage

The sting of Euroears finishing last was eased slightly by the fact that my favorite jockey, Mike Smith, had pulled off the victory. His win in the Sprint gave him his fourteenth Breeders’ Cup triumph, which put him in second behind Jerry Bailey for the number of Breeders’ Cup wins.

The Turf Sprint, run in a final time of 56.48 for a distance of five furlongs, was won by Regally Ready. He became the only favorite to win on Saturday and gave jockey Corey Nakatani his second Breeders’ Cup victory of the weekend. Again, I stood alongside the winner’s circle as Regally Ready entered the winner’s circle, draped in a purple and gold blanket of flowers.

Next up was one of the Breeders’ Cup races I anticipated the most: the Dirt Mile. Shackleford, a colt I had followed since his maiden, fascinated me as he moved energetically through the post parade. Yet it was the very talented Caleb’s Posse that came away with the win, crossing the finish line four lengths ahead. I recorded him entering the winner’s circle prior to snapping pictures of him inside the winner’s enclosure.

A lily from St. Nicholas
Abbey's blanket of
flowers
Photo by Mary Cage

Then it was time for the Turf, which ended up being one of the most entertaining Breeders’ Cup races. Aidan O’Brien’s son, Joseph O’Brien, became the youngest jockey to ever be victorious in a Breeders’ Cup race when he won by over two lengths aboard St. Nicholas Abbey. At 5’11”, Joseph likely does not have much time left to ride flat races, but no matter how abbreviated his career, he will always have a Breeders’ Cup win under his belt. The race, which was already special, became even more special when I received a white lily that had fallen off of St. Nicholas Abbey’s blanket of flowers. Someday I hope to win an entire Breeders’ Cup blanket of flowers, but I can always look back and remember that I received a flower from one of those blankets.

Hansen
Photo by Mary Cage

When I look back on the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, I smile and chuckle. At the same time, I get an earache. As the horses loaded into the starting gate, a large group of people appeared between our seats and the winner’s circle, standing just behind me. They screamed at the top of their lungs the entire race and by obtaining bits and pieces of their conversation, I realized they were cheering for Hansen. In a thrilling stretch duel, Hansen held off a drifting-out Union Rags. I was slightly upset that the Michael Matz trainee had not gotten up in time, in part because I had met Matz and received his autograph earlier that day, but the joy of the people around me wore off on me. Come to find out, they were part of Hansen’s connections.

As the next race approached, tension rose. Goldikova was going for her fourth straight Mile win. However, it was not meant to be. Court Vision narrowly pulled off a huge upset at 64-1, defeating Turallure by a slim nose. Goldikova crossed the wire in third, but an objection by Patrick Valenzuela aboard Courageous Cat was lodged against Olivier Peslier aboard the great mare. The stewards decided to make no change. The decision must have angered many bettors and connections, but when it was announced that no change would be made, a cheer went up from the crowd. Goldikova had already lost; her fans did not want to see her taken down.

As the sun sank lower and lower, the Classic horses made their way to the saddling paddock. Classy horse after classy horse passed me. My eyes locked on Havre de Grace, Uncle Mo, Flat Out, and Drosselmeyer. I began feeling extremely excited. I was seeking redemption from the year before, when I had witnessed with devastation Zenyatta fall short in the Classic.

Drosselmeyer
Photo: Terri Cage

It worked out beautifully. Drosselmeyer, who I had picked off of looks and class, swept by everyone in late stretch to win. As soon as the striking chestnut finished ahead of every horse, I pumped my fist in the air. I was trembling with bliss. Drosselmeyer had won! Redemption had come for not just me, but for Mike Smith as well. One year after Zenyatta’s heartbreaking loss, Drosselmeyer captured the $5 million race to give Mike Smith and many Zenyatta fans, including me, some consolation. Not only did the copper-colored Thoroughbred gallop into the history books, he galloped into my heart and ran a race that I will never forget and will always hold dear to my heart.

Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith after winning the Classic
Video by Mary Cage

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Drosselmeyer Dances Home in the Classic

Last year, I watched in devastation as Zenyatta fell half a head short in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. As distraught as I was, it was nowhere near what Mike Smith must have felt. However, the 2011 Classic brought redemption for the Hall of Fame jockey.

Drosselmeyer on the track
Thursday morning
Photo by Mary Cage

On the Thursday before the Breeders’ Cup, Drosselmeyer was one of many Breeders’ Cup horses I saw out on the track in the morning. He blew me away with the class he carried, traveling down the track beautifully. I knew in that moment that the son of Distorted Humor would run a huge race. Click here to see the clip of Drosselmeyer on the track in the morning, along with video footage of other Breeders' Cup horses.

I saw him again on Friday morning and he still looked fit and composed. He was the most impressive of all the Classic horses I saw. I had Flat Out as number one on paper, but Drosselmeyer impressed me most with looks and class. I voted for him on Twitter to win, as he was definitely the most imposing Classic horse I saw on the track in the mornings. Throughout Breeders’ Cup weekend, I had the best feeling about Drosselmeyer and so it was no surprise to me that he crossed the wire first.

Photo: Terri Cage

Having to go extremely wide, Drosselmeyer flew on the outside, nearing the front runners just before the sixteenth pole. In a turn of events that even the makers of a movie couldn’t come up with, Mike Smith on Drosselmeyer passed his ex-fiance Chantal Sutherland on Game On Dude in the final strides. In a great call by Trevor Denman, he described Drosselmeyer as “a ghost on the outside.”

Of course, Drosselmeyer was best known before the Classic as the 2010 Belmont Stakes (GI) winner. Mike Smith also rode the striking chestnut in that race, recording his own Triple Crown. This win in the Classic obviously meant much to him after the heartbreak with Zenyatta last year. I’m overjoyed that Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith won and not just because I picked Drosselmeyer, but because it was just one day after I had met Mike Smith in person and had given him a big hug. It was wonderful to see my favorite jockey pull off the upset on one of my favorite horses in a race of redemption.

Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith after winning the Classic

Video by Mary Cage

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Breeders' Cup Classic

The past two years of the Breeders’ Cup Classic have been all about Zenyatta. This year, the focus shifts to another brilliant female in Havre de Grace, as well as to the popular Uncle Mo and many others. After nearly a whole year of wondering who the top horse in the nation is, a champion will be crowned in a race full of talented horses. Who will the champion be?

1. Flat Out: This son of Flatter just may get the mile and one-quarter distance better than most of the horses in this race. Many say that Flat Out can only run at Belmont Park, but that’s not true. Trainer Scooter Dickey is confident in the way Flat Out is handling the Churchill surface.

Flat Out
Photo by Terri Cage

As a three-year-old in 2009, Flat Out easily won the one mile Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He then finished fourth in the Southwest Stakes (GIII) before crossing the wire sixth in the Arkansas Derby (GII at the time). After the Arkansas Derby, he was not seen in a race for over a year and one-half, due to a cracked shoulder and chronic quarter cracks.

He returned late in 2010 as a four-year-old, winning an allowance option-claiming race at Fair Grounds Race Course impressively.  However, he did not race again until Memorial Day 2011. He came back in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII), closing quickly to finish second to Awesome Gem. Standing along the rail during that race, I was blown away by Flat Out’s kick.

Less than three weeks later, he raced in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI). Though he finished sixth, he was only beaten by about three lengths. Two weeks later, he shocked many by winning the Suburban Handicap (GII) by six and one-half lengths in an impressive time of 1:46.64 for a mile and one-eighth.

In his next start, the Whitney Invitational Handicap (GI), Flat Out finished a good, closing second to Tizway, who was considered one of the top older males in the country prior to his retirement. In his following race, the Woodward Stakes (GI), Flat Out finished yet another respectable, closing second, this time to the imposing filly Havre de Grace.

With his closing finishes, Flat Out looks like he needs more ground. Though his sire, Flatter, has had most of his success with his offspring at sprinting distances or a mile, he has sired graded stakes winners at a mile and one-eighth. Flat Out’s dam, Cresta Lil, was a two-time stakes winner and was capable of winning at a mile. In addition to producing Flat Out, she foaled Our Best Man, who won a stakes race at a mile.

His pedigree may not suggest that he will enjoy the added distance of a mile and one-quarter race, but his running style definitely does. The five-year-old is coming off an impressive win in the mile and one-quarter Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (GI), in which he defeated horses such as Drosselmeyer and Stay Thirsty.

The Scooter Dickey trainee turned in his final work for the Classic on Sunday, flying through a half-mile to record a time of 46.60. It was the fastest work of fifty-eight at the distance. Many worry that the work was too quick, but Flat Out usually works quickly anway. Scooter Dickey is confident and as long as the trainer is confident in the horse, I am as well.

Many will make the argument that Havre de Grace already defeated Flat Out, but that was at a mile and one-eighth. Flat Out was rallying in that race, obviously wanting more ground. He is better than ever and I expect I huge performance from Flat Out on Saturday.

2. Havre de Grace: Havre de Grace has been part of a rivalry with champion Blind Luck for quite some time now, but now that Blind Luck is unfortunately out of the picture, Havre de Grace is taking center stage. If the filly wins the Classic, not only will she become Horse of the Year, but she will be just the second female to win the race, after the great Zenyatta.

After finishing third in the Ladies’ Classic here last year, Havre de Grace kicked off 2011 with an easy win in the Azeri Stakes (GIII) over Blind Luck at Oaklawn Park. About a month later, she earned her first grade one victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap (GI). By then, the Larry Jones trainee had the attention of the racing world.

After an easy win in the Obeah Stakes (GIII) at Delaware Park, Havre de Grace finished a nose behind Blind Luck in the Delaware Handicap (GII). Despite the grueling race, the daughter of the late Saint Liam raced next against males in the Woodward Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. The filly impressively won that race, becoming the second female to do so.

In her final prep for the Breeders’ Cup, Havre de Grace dominantly won a muddy Beldame Invitational Stakes (GI). She is scary good and is improving, which makes her very dangerous. She ought to run a big race.

3. Uncle Mo: As much as I’d like to put him on top, Uncle Mo has a lot going against him. He has not won at a distance longer than a mile and one-sixteenth in his career. In 2011, he has not won at a distance longer than one mile. However, this colt is special and has plenty of sheer talent.

Uncle Mo
Photo by Terri Cage

Uncle Mo began 2011 with an easy win in the one mile Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream prior to finishing a very disappointing third in the mile and one-eighth Wood Memorial Stakes (GI). The colt continued to train for the Kentucky Derby despite the fact that he wasn’t quite himself. However, he was scratched from the race and was later diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis, a liver disease that causes inflammation of the bile passages and liver, irregularly causing hepatic failure.

For several months, Uncle Mo recuperated at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. No one knew if he would ever race again, but after some much needed rest and recovery, Uncle Mo returned to the track. His first race back was the tough Foxwoods King's Bishop Stakes (GI), in which he finished a narrow seconded to Caleb’s Posse in the seven furlong race.

Then we saw the Uncle Mo of old. On Super Saturday at Belmont Park, Uncle Mo dominated the Kelso Handicap (GII) at one mile, defeating Jackson Bend. The final time for the race over a muddy track was an impressive 1:33.82. The race reminded Uncle Mo what it felt like to win, which gives a horse more confidence than you would think.

Most people believe he can’t get the mile and one-quarter distance. Many think his pedigree won’t help him get the distance, but I see potential. His grandsire on his dam side is Arch, who of course sired last year’s Classic winner, Blame. Besides, Uncle Mo’s sire Indian Charlie did sire the late Fleet Indian, who won two grade ones at the distance of a mile and one-quarter. Uncle Mo has a much better chance to get the distance than most think. I hope to see Uncle Mo prove those who think he can’t get the distance wrong. In case you haven't guessed yet, he's the one I'll be cheering for.

4. So You Think: This European has won four group races this year, including three group ones. He is one of Europe’s top horses and will be very dangerous. The son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) winner, High Chaparral, can definitely get the distance. His last eleven races have been a mile and one-quarter or longer. Though coming off a disappointing loss in the Champion Stakes (GI), So You Think is a very classy horse and will be very dangerous here.

Honorable Mentions:
Drosselmeyer: We all know the 2010 Belmont Stakes (GI) will have no trouble with the distance of the Classic. Coming off a good second to Flat Out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Drosselmeyer has been training well. His last three works have been at Churchill and all three have been ranked in the top ten, one of which was a bullet. I had the privilege of seeing him on the track this morning and he looked terrific. Don’t forget about him.
Stay Thirsty: This could be the top three-year-old in the nation. After a slightly disappointing first half of the year, Stay Thirsty has become an “it” horse. He won the Jim Dandy Stakes (GII) and Travers Stakes (GI) impressively at Saratoga this summer before finishing third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The colt is training well and has definitely been improving.

Drosselmeyer jogging at Churchill on 11/3/11

Video by Mary Cage

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