Derby Hopeful: Flashback

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.

Flashback
Photo by Casey Phillips

Siblings of famous racehorses often have high hopes pinned upon them and oftentimes, they do not live up to those standards. However, so far is not the case for Flashback, a full brother to the grade one-winning filly, Zazu. Though Flashback is campaigned by different connections than Zazu was, he shares the same gray coloring and class.

Catching my eye with an easy win in his debut at Hollywood Park, Flashback has been among my favorites for the Derby trail since December. In his sophomore debut, Flashback proved himself to be a top contender for the Kentucky Derby (GI) with a dominant victory in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (GII) at Santa Anita, a race eventual Kentucky Derby champion I’ll Have Another won in 2012.

Though facing just three rivals in the Lewis, Flashback’s adversaries included the graded stakes-winning Den’s Legacy and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) runner-up He’s Had Enough. Breaking cleanly from the second gate in the mile and one-sixteenth event over Santa Anita’s dirt oval, Flashback immediately went to the lead beneath Julien Leparoux. Though pressured by his opponents, the gray colt appeared very comfortable down the backstretch, his ears moving back and forth contentedly.

Flashback posted steady fractions as He’s Had Enough continued to press the pace, but the full brother to Zazu remained relaxed as he led the small field into the final curve. Around the bend, Flashback began to prove that he was head and shoulders above the rest, effortlessly easing away from his rivals before even reaching the quarter pole. Once into the homestretch, Flashback continued to kick clear, drawing off to win by an impressive 6 ¼ lengths in an easy manner.

Being inexperienced and having not yet faced the stiffest competition, the extent of Flashback’s talent remains uncertain. However, Flashback possesses undeniable potential and is clearly among the top contenders along the road to Louisville. Please read about this colt in greater detail in my Horse Racing Nation article about him, dated 12/18/12, “Flashback: A Star on the Rise.”

Flashback winning the Robert B. Lewis
Photo by Casey Phillips

Juvenile Spotlight 12/16/12

Dr Figawi (12/6): Commencing his career with a six-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds at Aqueduct, Dr Figawi set a quick pace before drawing off to score by an impressive 11 lengths. By Stormy Atlantic and out of a black-type-winning mare, Dr Figawi is a half-brother to the black-type winners Dance Gal Dance and Dr Disco, as well as the black-type-placed runners Dr Rico and Judge Margaret.

Flashback (12/8): Upon debut, this colt stalked the pace of a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Hollywood Park before going wide to take the lead midstretch, drawing clear to a 3 ½-length victory. Sired by the prosperous Tapit, Flashback is a full brother to the grade one-winning Zazu, as well as a half-brother to the black-type-winning Corinthian’s Jewel and the group stakes-placed Art Princess.

Asiya (12/9): A homebred for Shadwell Stable, Asiya finished third in her career debut prior winning by an astounding 11 lengths in her second start, which came at Aqueduct. Sired by a grade one-winning son of Awesome Again in Daaher, Asiya is out of the black-type-placed Elusive Quality mare Khalila, thus making her a direct descendant of the Hall of Fame racehorse and Reine de Course mare Real Delight, who descends from multiple Reine de Course mares.

Clawback (12/12): A colt that played the role of runner-up in his initial two starts, Clawback set the pace in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct in his third race, drawing off to win by 3 lengths. A son of the graded stakes-winning and -producing Put It Back, Clawback has the advantage of having Dixieland Band as his broodmare sire, therefore providing him with the same damsire as the Kentucky Derby (GI) victors Monarchos and Street Sense, as well as the additional grade one winners Diamondrella and Southern Image.

Hear the Ghost (12/15): A first-time starter in an eleven-horse field that featured only one horse with experience, Heart the Ghost debuted at Hollywood Park, stalking the rapid pace of the six-furlong maiden special weight before kicking clear to a 3 ¼-length triumph. Sired by a Hall of Fame son of Awesome Again in Ghostzapper, Hear the Ghost is a half-brother to the grade one-winning Mani Bhavan, as well as the black-type-placed Dattt Echo.