Derby Hopeful: Orb

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 white and red silks of the Janney family are among the most iconic in the sport of horse racing. Associated with the ill-fated but brilliant all-time great Ruffian, the silks were also carried to victory in many prestigious races by the likes of Coronado's Quest, Icecapade, and Private Terms. But despite this stable's rich history, never have these silks visited the Kentucky Deny winner's circle, and neither has Shug McGaughey, one of the most respected trainers in the industry.

2013 could be the year that changes. Carrying these silks to Louisville is a McGaughey trainee from the same family as Ruffian: Orb. Conqueror of Florida's two most prestigious Derby prep races, Orb appears to be one of the strongest forces on the Derby trail.

It took Orb four times to break his maiden. In his debut at Saratoga, Orb reared at the start but closed impressively to finish third behind eventual grade one winner Violence. He acted up in the gate yet again in his next start, finishing fourth. Fourth again in his following start behind future graded stakes winner and Derby candidate Vyjack and black-type winner Clawback, Orb finally "figured it out" in his final start as a two-year-old. Closing impressively from off the pace, Orb maintained his momentum despite going wide, scoring by two lengths while defeating eventual graded stakes winner and Derby contender Revolutionary in the process.

All three of Orb's starts as a sophomore have come over the main track at Gulfstream Park. In his three-year-old debut, Orb encountered trouble in the early stages of a nine-furlong allowance optional claiming but once he settled, he steadily made up ground, rallying to win by a length.

Shortening up by a sixteenth of a mile for his graded stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII), Orb broke sharply from the rail in a nine-horse field. Settling comfortably off the pace, Orb raced several lengths off the leaders down the backstretch. Around the far turn, Orb made an imposing rally, gaining ground on the frontrunners with every stride. As grade one winner Violence – at the top of many Derby lists at the time – took the lead at the top of the stretch, Orb wore down the favorite, accelerating nicely once he drew even with that rival. Under a vigorous hand ride, the bay colt crossed the wire a half-length ahead.

Turning in his final prep race for the Run for the Roses in the Florida Derby (GI), Orb was sent off as the third choice behind Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) winner Itsmyluckyday and 2012 Two-Year-Old Champion Male Shanghai Bobby, who had suffered his first career defeat in the Holy Bull. Leaving the gate cleanly, Orb went wide around the clubhouse turn, rating just a few lengths off the lead as the horses galloped towards the backstretch, which made his position the closest he’d been to the pace since his second career start. As the field approached the final curve, Orb inched closer to the pacesetters, floating to the outside as the horses neared the homestretch. Orb was put into a drive by jockey John Velazquez as Itsmyluckyday struck to the lead and with ground-eating strides, the Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable homebred wore down the favorite, coasting to an easy 2 ¾-length victory.

Though Orb is approaching the Derby with four consecutive wins – two of which were graded stakes victories against tough company, he has generated doubt with his running style and the slow times of his races. His time of 1:50.87 in the nine-furlong Florida Derby was not only the slowest since the track’s renovation, but was nearly two seconds – the equivalent of about ten lengths – slower than Dreaming of Julia’s time in the nine-furlong Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) earlier on the card. The filly, with the potential to become a superhorse, won that race by 21 ¾ lengths. In addition, Orb’s running style of closing hasn’t been incredibly successful in recent years at the Derby.

Orb's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

But an advantage Orb does have on his side is his distance-oriented pedigree. Orb's sire, Malibu Moon, is a son of A.P. Indy, winner of the Belmont Stakes (GI) and Breeders' Cup Classic (GI). One of the most prominent sires in recent years, A.P. Indy - a son of Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew - has produced the likes of the brilliant distance horses Bernardini, Mineshaft, and Rags to Riches. Malibu Moon himself has produced many successful routers, including Ask the Moon and Life at Ten, though he has excelled with sprinters and milers.

Out of the Stuart Janney mare Lady Liberty, Orb is a half-brother to Cause of Freedom, an earner of more than $100,000 who never won at a distance shorter than nine furlongs and won at up to eleven furlongs. A daughter of Derby and Classic victor Unbridled, Lady Liberty provides Orb with the same broodmare sire as the Preakness-winning Shackleford and that horse's half-sister, Lady Joanne, a grade one winner at ten furlongs. Lady Liberty's dam, Mesabi Maiden, was a graded stakes winner at nine furlongs that was successful up to eleven furlongs.

Orb’s tail female line is abounding with Reine de Course mares, perhaps the most notable being Shenanigans, dam of not only the track record-setting graded stakes winners Buckfinder and Icecapade, but also the great champion Ruffian. Residing in Orb’s family as his fifth dam, Shenanigans is just one of seven Reine de Course mares found in Orb’s female family. Other direct descendants of this great broodmare include Coronado’s Quest, who was a grade one winner at ten furlongs and Air Support, a graded stakes winner at ten furlongs on multiple occasions.

The stallions that line the bottom side of Orb’s pedigree are also very intriguing. The sire of Orb’s granddam is Cox’s Ridge, who was capable of winning at up to a mile and three-sixteenths – the distance of the Preakness Stakes (GI), the second leg of the Triple Crown. The great Damascus produced Orb’s third dam, the stakes-winning Steel Maiden. Damascus – considered one of the greatest racehorses of all-time – 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. Bold Ruler, perhaps most well-known for siring Triple Crown victor Secretariat, is the sire of Orb’s fourth dam. Bold Ruler held this same position in the pedigree of Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide.

Derby Hopeful: Itsmyluckyday

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.

In football, the revered event is the Super Bowl. For baseball, it’s the World Series. For horse racing, it’s the Kentucky Derby (GI). The Breeders’ Cup gathers a variety of talented Thoroughbreds with unique abilities, but the Derby is certainly the most esteemed tradition in the sport of kings. Ask one who is unfamiliar with horse racing if they’ve heard of the Kentucky Derby and chances are, he or she will answer with a yes.

One of the most exciting times for horse racing is the beginning of the new year: a time when the two-year-olds become three-year-olds. Dreams for the first Saturday in May are formed and hopes are placed upon young Thoroughbreds. The prestigious race is still months away, but one cannot help but fantasize about which horse could become the next Kentucky Derby winner.

Itsmyluckyday has certainly made a case for himself as a top Derby contender. Though rather unpretentious as a juvenile, Itsmyluckyday has turned over a new leaf as a sophomore.

Runner-up in his debut at Monmouth Park, Itsmyluckyday found his best stride in his second outing, breaking his maiden on the New Jersey track by two lengths, drawing clear in the late stages of the race. Following a third-place finish in the Tyro Stakes, Itsmyluckyday shipped south to Calder, where he captured a pair of black-type races – one of which was run over a sloppy track – by a combined 7 lengths.

Journeying to Louisiana for a run in the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (GIII), Itsmyluckyday crossed the wire a lackluster sixth, but his chances may have been harmed by the bullring track, a course some horses do not have an affinity for. A return to Florida also saw Itsmyluckyday tackle the turf when the colt faced nine adversaries in the Dania Beach Stakes. Although he did not garner a victory, Itsmyluckyday showed improvement from his previous start, displaying a notable turn of foot to finish fourth.

Itsmyluckyday’s trend of progress continued, as evident when he revisited the dirt, contesting in the Gulfstream Park Derby. Competing over a one-turn mile, the Eddie Plesa trainee settled off the front-running assembly for a brief period before accelerating between horses to race in second, galloping just behind the leader, who was setting very brisk fractions. With minimal asking from Paco Lopez, the dark-colored colt accelerated around the far turn, obtaining the lead as the field rounded the bend. As Lopez glanced behind him to note the threat of competition, the rider sensed that no real menace towards he and his mount existed. Itsmyluckyday drifted toward the center of the stretch as the Thoroughbreds entered the straightaway, but the Eisaman Equine graduate was clearly the best competitor, effortlessly posting a 6 ¾-length victory.

The Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) twenty-five days later served as Itsmyluckyday’s most difficult test to date. Joining Itsmyluckday in the starting gate for the mile and one-sixteenth test at Gulfstream were nine rivals, including the 2012 Champion Two-Year-Old Male Shanghai Bobby, as well as a graded stakes winner, two graded stakes-placed runners, a stakes winner, and three stakes-placed runners. Itsmyluckyday found a comfortable stalking position in third, rating off the pacesetters as the field rounded the clubhouse turn. Racing on the outside with Elvis Trujillo aboard, the colt inched closer to the lead as the backstretch gave way to the final curve.

Within just a handful of strides, Itsmyluckyday became even with champion Shanghai Bobby, passing him at the quarter pole and appearing prepared to gallop further ahead once the field arrived in the homestretch. Though he required vigorous asking to surpass Shanghai Bobby, once clear of the champion, Trujillo resorted to a hand-ride, coasting to a 2-length triumph and registering a new track record of 1:41.81. Itsmyluckyday’s final time was the fastest mile and one-sixteenth running of the Holy Bull since 1994, when Go for Gin captured the race when it was named the Preview Stakes. Go for Gin would go on to win the Kentucky Derby.

A simple glance at Itsmyluckyday’s pedigree may create doubt concerning the colt’s ability to be successful at classic distances. But a thorough study of his ancestry suggests that, though he is not exactly bred for a race like the St. Leger, Itsmyluckyday could excel at ten furlongs.

Itsmyluckyday’s ill-fated sire, Lawyer Ron, was a top contender in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, blazing through Arkansas prior to finishing twelfth in the Run for the Roses. This may be discouraging, but Lawyer Ron – winner of several nine-furlong races, including a pair of grade ones, one in which he set a track record – finished a very game second in the ten-furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup Handicap (GI) behind Curlin, crossing the wire just a neck behind the eventual two-time Horse of the Year after a taxing stretch duel.

Tragically, Lawyer Ron died after his second season at stud, leaving Itsmyluckyday to be a member of Lawyer Ron’s second and final crop. The 2007 Champion Older Male’s offspring have primarily shone as sprinters and milers, but his son, Stealcase, won the nine-furlong Ontario Derby (GIII), drawing off in a manner much like Itsmyluckyday that suggested he could be triumphant at longer distances.

Lawyer Ron’s sire, Langfuhr, was a champion sprinter that has produced runners of the same type, but also the likes of Wando, winner of the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown – which presents races of the same distances as the American Triple Crown. Other successful distance horses sired by Langfuhr include Jambalaya – a multiple grade one winner who won at or beyond ten furlongs on several occasions; Interpatation – a grade one winner at twelve furlongs; Marlang – a Canadian classic winner at twelve furlongs; and Gangbuster – a stakes winner at thirteen furlongs that was also stakes-placed at fourteen furlongs.

Worry regarding Itsmyluckyday’s ability to be victorious at classic distances may also be created due to his broodmare sire, Doneraile Court, a graded stakes-winning miler. But Doneraile Court is a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, a proven stamina influence in the pedigree of American Thoroughbreds. In fact, Seattle Slew can be found in the bloodlines of three of the past five Belmont Stakes (GI) winners. Doneraile Court himself produced Cocoa Beach, a multiple grade/group one winner that won the UAE Oaks (GIII) at about 9.5 furlongs.

Doneraile Court is too young to have much of a record as a broodmare sire, though he has also produced the dam of another talented three-year-old, the graded stakes-winning Circle Unbroken. But Doneraile Court’s sire, the great Seattle Slew, has proven to be an outstanding broodmare sire of distance horses, such as Astra, Boboman, Dangerous Midge, Hearthstead Maison, and Offlee Wild.

Itsmyluckyday’s black-type-placed dam, Viva La Slew, never won beyond a mile, but her damsire, Crafty Prospector, finished a narrowly-beaten second in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (GI) when it was run at ten furlongs. Crafty Prospector, though chiefly effective with horses that ran at distances between seven and nine furlongs, also yielded distance horses, including the multiple group one-winning Japanese champion Agnes Digital – winner at approximately ten furlongs on several occasions.

Notably, the sire of Itsmyluckyday’s stakes-winning third dam, Viva Sec, is the legendary Secretariat. The brilliant 1973 Triple Crown winner has served as a strong stamina influence, one example being his daughter Weekend Surprise, the dam of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.

Interestingly, Itsmyluckyday has a Rasmussen Factor – or inbreeding to a superior mare – to Secretariat’s dam, Somethingroyal. The broodmare sire of Lawyer Ron, the late champion Lord Avie, is a grandson of Sir Gaylord – a half-brother to Secretariat – through his sire, Lord Gaylord. Sir Gaylord, the third foal out of Somethingroyal, was an incredible sire, producing the likes of Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor, as well as the dam of the multiple grade one-winning millionaire Track Barron. The trace of Somethingroyal in Itsmyluckyday’s dam side is, of course, found through his third dam. Other horses that have a Rasmussen Factor to Somethingroyal include not only the champion juvenile Declan’s Moon, but the distance horses Union Avenue – graded stakes winner at 9.5 furlongs; High Blues – stakes-placed at thirteen furlongs; and Church Service – graded stakes- and stakes-placed at distances at or beyond twelve furlongs and a steeplechase winner at seventeen furlongs.

Itsmyluckyday is also a striking physical specimen, being a very well-balanced individual. His short, strong topline makes a smooth transition from loin to croup, yielding a round, muscular hip. Not only does the bay colt possess impressive muscularity, but he presents an overall smooth appearance. His conformation serves as a reflection of his rich ancestry, which combined with the right connections, has allowed Itsmyluckyday – owned by Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa – to become a brilliant athlete. For a conformation photo of Itsmyluckyday, please click here.

The new “points system” for the Derby Trail may complicate Itsmyluckyday’s path to Louisville, but should he continue to show the improvement and talent he has exhibited, he could continue to prove himself as a top contender for the most anticipated race of the year. He will have to conquer possible distance limitations and the qualifying system, but Itsmyluckyday has shown the potential to be a prominent candidate for the 139^th Kentucky Derby.

After the Auction: Lemon Belle

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. This is the ninth edition in a blog series called "After the Auction" that will feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

Victory is especially sweet when it supersedes disappointment. This proved true when Lemon Belle coasted to victory in her fourth career start and initial start as a three-year-old. Once a very promising filly, Lemon Belle had finished off-the-board and well-beaten in her previous three races, but had finally learned how to win.

Consigned by de Meric Sales to the 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale under the pending name Beyond Belle, Lemon Belle became one of my selections in the auction due to her remarkable pedigree and her impressive breeze in the under-tack show. Sold as hip 44, Lemon Belle was purchased for $400,000 by trainer Chad Brown on behalf of Martin Schwartz, a team that would later that year win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (GI) with Zagora.

With a high price tag and a famous sibling in Unrivaled Belle, high hopes were placed upon the bay filly. But when she debuted at Belmont Park in October, Lemon Belle finished mid-pack, running sixth in a twelve-horse field, though she did show some late acceleration. The disappointment only continued when the Chad Brown trainee finished fifth and ninth in Aqueduct and Gulfstream maiden special weights, respectively.

Lemon Belle had gone her entire juvenile campaign without even one on-the-board finish. But in her first start as a sophomore, the filly faced state-bred company for the first time, which served as a likely easier level for her. Facing four rivals in a six-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park, Lemon Belle, as she had in her earlier races, displayed minimal early speed, quickly dropping several lengths off the leader as she trailed the small field. With little space separating her four rivals, who all ran ahead of her, Lemon Belle dropped multiple lengths behind.

But around the far turn, jockey Joel Rosario began to urge the filly and the newly-turned sophomore picked up the pace, gaining ground on her opponents as the track began to curve. By the quarter pole, Lemon Belle had passed a pair of her adversaries, swinging to the outside of the two leaders as the field turned for home. With the same imposing stride she displayed in her 10-second breeze in the preview show of the Keeneland April sale, Lemon Belle swept past her rivals en route to an easy 5-length victory.

Perhaps it was the easier state-bred level that allowed Lemon Belle to finally garner a win, or maybe the filly finally learned how to win. One can only hope that, with her triumph, Lemon Belle has found the confidence to perform well from now on.

Another tool that could be used to possibly assist Lemon Belle in being more successful would be a stretch-out in distance. A filly that has yet to race beyond one mile, Lemon Belle has the pedigree to go farther.

Lemon Belle is a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, a five-time grade one winner that is best known for winning the 1999 Belmont Stakes (GI). The Champion Older Horse of 2000 has sired the grade one winners Citronnade, Christmas Kid, Lemons Forever, Richard’s Kid, and Santa Teresita. A son of the multiple group one-winning sire Kingmambo, Lemon Drop Kid has been among the top fifty sires in North America every year since 2006.

Out of the graded stakes-winning mare Queenie Belle, Lemon Belle is a half-sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) victress Unrivaled Belle. Lemon Belle descends from a strong tail female family, which is largely influenced by Thoroughbreds from the British Isles. In fact, the bay filly is a direct descendant of the Reine de Course mares Admiration and Pretty Polly, the latter of which is viewed as one of the greatest racemares and producers of all-time. Winner of 22 of her 24 lifetime starts, Pretty Polly won some of Europe’s most prestigious races, including the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks, and the St. Leger Stakes, the latter in which she defeated males. Other direct descendants of this great mare include the greats Brigadier Gerard and Nearctic.

Lemon Belle’s racing career may have commenced in disappointing fashion, but the filly surely gained confidence when breaking her maiden and could certainly progress. If the potential she displayed in her breeze prior to the Keeneland April sale and her spectacular pedigree are any indication, a bright future could be ahead for Lemon Belle should she continue to improve. 

Endorsement: Confirming It Is Possible

Endorsement, fresh off an impressive graded stakes victory, seemed to have a very reasonable chance to perform well. Like every other horse expected to run in the race, he had a shot at wearing the coveted garland of red roses while standing before the Twin Spires. But the Wednesday before the 2010 Kentucky Derby (GI) was run, the chestnut son of Distorted Humor was withdrawn from consideration for the race due to a displaced condylar fracture of his right front leg – an injury that would prevent him from racing for over a year and one-half.

Nearly twenty-one months after his three-length victory in the Sunland Derby (GIII), Endorsement finally returned to the races. His return came in a six-furlong allowance optional claiming over Gulfstream Park’s dirt surface, in which he was forwardly placed but could not catch the eventual winner and finished second. Following another runner-up finish in an allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream (this time at one mile), Endorsement broke through with a victory. Not only did he impressively win the mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream Park by 2 ¼ lengths, but he set a track record while doing so, running the clock to 1:42.35.

Endorsement after winning the Texas Mile
Photo by Mary Cage

Endorsement continued his rise on April 28 in the Texas Mile Stakes (GIII) at Lone Star Park. Forwardly placed, the robust chestnut settled behind the leaders beneath Robby Albarado as the field of ten galloped around the track. Rounding the far turn, the horse surged to the outside of the stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed California shipper, Canonize, and the multiple stakes-winning Lone Star veteran, Coyote Legend. Endorsement battled those two down the homestretch before galloping past Canonize with a sixteenth of a mile left to go. Once he made it to the front, Endorsement effortlessly coasted to a two-length victory under Albarado, who had ridden the horse brilliantly.

Notably, Endorsement contested in the Texas Mile without Salix (Lasix), the common diuretic used to prevent exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) – or bleeding in the airways of a horse’s lungs. The other nine horses that competed in the race ran on the anti-bleeding medication, and interestingly, Endorsement easily defeated them despite the fact that furosemide (Salix) has shown to be performance-enhancing.

When Endorsement was approaching the Triple Crown, he was owned by WinStar Farm, who ended up winning that year’s Kentucky Derby with Super Saver. At the time, Bill Casner was part of the partnership of WinStar Farm with Kenny Troutt, but in October of that year, the partnership was dissolved and Casner focused on his Casner Racing, whose silks display the green diamond with the initials KC scribed in white for Casner’s late daughter, Karri Casner, who tragically lost her life in a 2002 terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia.

Casner is among those who believe in the prohibition of the use of furosemide. In fact, he contributed to The Blood-Horse of December 3, 2011 (No. 48, Page 3429), in which he wrote the article The Choice to Rebuild the Sport is Clear. In reference to banning Salix, Casner wrote, “Horses will run as well as they did before without Salix, and we will be in step with our global racing community. It is the right thing for the horse and for our industry.”

Pairing with trainer Eoin Harty, Casner has raced a plethora of horses without Salix and has been quite successful. These horses include Dubai World Cup (GI)-winning Well Armed’s full brother, Arm Force, who impressively won a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in February, and Right to Vote, a grade one-placed runner who earlier this year triumphed in an allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream.

The fact that horses like Endorsement are succeeding in graded stakes races gives hope that American Thoroughbreds can compete without being medicated with furosemide. This anti-bleeding medication is not used in other nations, which, of course, is one of many arguments that people like Casner use to push for the prohibition of Salix. Personally, I think we should search for ways to ban race-day medication and that organizations like Casner Racing are very important, persuasive, and supportive in the assistance of banning Salix and other medications.

According to the Blood-Horse online article KHRC to Discuss, But Not Vote on, Salix Plan, dated May 7, 2012, "The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission confirmed it will discuss but not take final action May 16 on a proposal for the three-year phase-out of race-day furosemide in graded and listed stakes." You can read the rest of the article, written by Tom LaMarra here.

As for Endorsement, the five-year-old horse is quickly returning to top form and should he keep improving, he could become one of the top handicap horses in the nation. Texas native Bill Casner even hinted after the race that the horse could certainly go on to bigger and better things.

An earner of half-a-million dollars, Endorsement is beautifully bred. His sire is WinStar Farm’s impressive stallion Distorted Humor, the sire of such horses as the Belmont Stakes (GI)- and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI)-winning Drosselmeyer, the Kentucky Derby- and Preakness Stakes (GI)-winning Funny Cide, and the Travers Stakes (GI)-winning Flower Alley - who is the sire of Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another.

The sire power in Endorsement’s pedigree does not come to a halt there. His broodmare sire is the great A.P. Indy, one of the best horses to ever stand at stud in the United States. Extremely successful with his own offspring, he is also a very productive sire of sires and broodmare sire. Like his own damsire, the great Secretariat, A.P. Indy has proven himself to be a very successful broodmare sire, being the damsire of such horses as the champions Royal Delta and Wait a While, as well as the fellow grade one victors Any Given Saturday, Bluegrass Cat, Morning Line, Mr. Sidney, Plum Pretty, and Super Saver.

Endorsement is not lacking in his dam line, either. Descending from the same female family of many great horses, including Cigar, Northern Dancer, Point Given, and Secretariat, in female family two, Endorsement comes from a dam line full of Argentinian flair. His second through ninth dams are all Argentinian-bred mares, including his third dam, Chaldee. This chestnut granddaughter of Raise a Native was a group two-placed mare who produced four group one winners – two of which were champions – and a multiple group stakes-winning runner. Endorsement’s second dam, one of those champions, was transferred to the United States when her racing career was over, where she produced Endorsement’s dam, the multiple graded stakes-placed Charmed Gift, who was ironically ridden by Robby Albarado in seven of her fifteen starts.

The appearance of the names Distorted Humor and A.P. Indy are not just “pretty faces” in Endorsement’s bloodlines. The cross between the 2011 leading sire and the Hall of Famer has been tremendously successful, producing many graded stakes victors. Among those horses are the grade one winner Any Given Saturday, the grade three winners Brethren and Z Humor, the ungraded stakes winners Al Muhtasib and Bank the Eight, and the graded stakes-placed horses Attempted Humor, Buen Verso, and Cal Nation. It is no surprise that this cross is rewarding, as A.P. Indy mares have typically crossed well with stallions from the Mr. Prospector sire line, producing such horses as the champion Royal Delta (by Empire Maker), the multiple stakes-winning Ravi’s Song (by Unbridled’s Song), the multiple graded stakes-placed And Why Not (by Street Cry), and the multiple grade one-placed Dunkirk (by Unbridled’s Song).

As a horse with spectacular breeding that is capable of succeeding at upper levels of racing without Salix, Endorsement displays the epitome of what a Thoroughbred racehorse should be. Though he received an injury that kept him from competing for over twenty months, he was injured during a time period in which he ran on Salix. Now, the magnificently bred colt is improving and rising through the ranks without the diuretic that is given to most American racehorses. If Endorsement continues his winning ways and improvement, he could set a huge example for American racing. Kudos to Bill Casner and Eoin Harty for the decisions they’ve made with this talented horse!

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Derby Hopeful: Take Charge Indy

With wins in the Alcibiades Stakes (GII), the Silverbulletday Stakes (GIII), the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), and the Ashland Stakes (GI) under her belt, the bay daughter of Dehere loaded into the starting gate for the prestigious Kentucky Oaks (GI) as the favorite. But it was a 20-1 shot that upset the field, leaving the favorite 1 ¼ lengths behind.

Nonetheless, the Oaks favorite continued to be successful in graded stakes races, triumphing in the Dogwood Stakes (GIII), the Spinster Stakes (GI) twice, and the Arlington Matron Handicap (GIII). With $2,480,377 in earnings, Take Charge Lady retired.

Over four years after her final race, the mare was bred to the great sire A.P. Indy. The result of this mating was Take Charge Indy, who made his racing debut as a juvenile at the end of July of 2011 at Arlington Park, going six furlongs over the synthetic surface at the Illinois track. After rating off the pace, Take Charge Indy took command late in the race to draw away to a 6 ½-length win.

He started next in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII), falling a length short to Shared Property after coming from off the pace. Behind Take Charge Indy were the future winners of one grade three and two ungraded stakes races.

Take Charge Indy then took on a tough field at Keeneland in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI), settling off the leaders before gamely trying to catch them in the homestretch. However, he did not have the needed acceleration in the stretch and finished fourth behind the future Blue Grass Stakes (GI)-winning half-brother to Mine That Bird in Dullahan, the graded stakes-winning Majestic City, and the multiple graded stakes-placed Optimizer. He defeated a deep cast, however, finishing ahead of two graded stakes winners.

His performances as a two-year-old were enough to convince trainer Patrick Byrne and owners Chuck and Maribeth Sandford to send the colt to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Running mid-pack, Take Charge Indy settled along the rail with dead aim on Hansen. Despite willingly trying to chase the leaders around the far turn and into the homestretch, Take Charge Indy yet again lacked the needed kick and was nailed by Dullahan at the wire, finishing fifth behind Hansen, Union Rags, Creative Cause, and Dullahan. Despite being beaten by over 5 lengths, Take Charge Indy defeated runners that had altogether won or would go on to win six graded stakes and seven ungraded stakes, as well as horses that had placed or would go on to place in nine graded stakes and one ungraded stakes in total.

Take Charge Indy’s sophomore debut came in a mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming over a sealed track at Gulfstream Park. That day, however, he contested against the graded stakes-placed and future graded stakes-winning El Padrino. The son of Take Charge Lady pressed the pace before El Padrino swept past him, leaving him 2 lengths behind. It was clear that Take Charge Indy was much better than the rest of the group, however, as he finished 13 ¾ lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

Take Charge Indy
Photo: Terri Cage

Take Charge Indy did not race for two months, but when he returned, it came in Florida’s premier Run for the Roses prep, the Florida Derby (GI). For the first time, Take Charge Indy set the pace, posting steady fractions. Despite the fact that he had the brilliant grade one-winning Union Rags and El Padrino after him, Take Charge Indy dug in beneath three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel to score by a length.

Many worry about Take Charge Indy’s running style, afraid that his early speed will take too much of a toll on him, especially with horses like Bodemeister, Hansen, and Trinniberg slated to run. However, Take Charge Indy has made most of his starts with a stalking style and when he did set the pace, the fractions were certainly not overwhelming fast. The colt could definitely settle off the pace in the Kentucky Derby.

Just by glancing at his parents, you know Take Charge Indy is beautifully bred. If you dig a little deeper, you will be even more impressed by his bloodlines. Not only is his sire, A.P. Indy, a stamina-influencing champion sire and his dam a multiple grade one winner, but Take Charge Indy’s damsire is Dehere, who is also the broodmare sire of the champion sprinter Midnight Lute, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII)-winning More Than Real, the graded stakes-winning First Passage, and the multiple graded stakes-winning Friesan Fire – who is bred on the same A.P. Indy/Dehere cross as Take Charge Indy. When crossed with sires of Secretariat descent, Dehere mares have produced a total of fourteen stakes winners.

Take Charge Indy is inbred 3 X 4 to the great Secretariat, tracing back to him through A.P. Indy’s dam – the great Weekend Surprise – and through Dehere’s dam. Inbreeding to Secretariat appears in the pedigrees of several grade one winners, including Bluegrass Cat, D’Wildcat, Sky Mesa, and Speightstown. Prominent sires such as Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, and Turn-To, as well as the great mare Somethingroyal, appear frequently in Take Charge Indy’s bloodlines.

The 2012 Florida Derby winner descends from female family twenty-two, which not only yielded the great champions Blushing Groom and Goldikova, but also the Derby victors Count Turf and Street Sense.

Take Charge Indy will need to run the best race he’s ever run in his life in the Kentucky Derby, but should he live up to his pedigree, Take Charge Indy would give A.P. Indy his first Kentucky Derby winner near the end of the line of the great sire’s progeny’s racing days. This colt is clearly gifted, but the field he is slated to face is not an easy one to compete against. He’ll need to settle off the leaders and provide great acceleration in the stretch, but if any jockey can ride a Derby winner, it’s Calvin Borel.


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Oaks Contender: In Lingerie

Empire Maker has proved to be a top sire of fillies, producing such horses as Acoma, Acting Happy, Mushka, and Royal Delta. He has two of the leading fillies on the Kentucky Oaks (GI) trail, Grace Hall and In Lingerie, the latter of which is much less experienced. Nonetheless, In Lingerie has a logical shot at an Oaks victory.

In Lingerie is bred on the very successful Unbridled/Storm Cat cross, which has produced such horses as the grade one winners Buddha and Magnificent Song, the grade two winners Half Ours and Santa Catarina, the grade three-winning Broken Dreams, and a Kentucky Derby (GI) contender in Bodemeister.

The second dam of In Lingerie is the 1993 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Phone Chatter, who captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Santa Anita. Phone Chatter in turn produced the grade two-winning dam of In Lingerie, Cat Chat. In Lingerie descends from a strong dam line, being the direct descendant of five Reine De Course mares. This is female family three, which is most notable for producingthe great horses A.P. Indy, Nashua, Sunday Silence, and Tom Fool.

Though In Lingerie has only started three times, she has been quite remarkable in those three races. She debuted on January 14, 2012 at Turfway Park, setting the pace in the six-furlong race before drawing off to a 6 ¼-length victory. She then shipped south to Gulfstream Park in Florida for a one-mile allowance optional claiming in her first start on dirt. She was left 4 ½ lengths behind by Zo Impressive,who would go on to finish second in the Gulfstream Oaks Stakes (GII) behind Grace Hall.

In Lingerie received a perfect confidence boost next out, when she returned to Turfway Park for the Bourbonette Oaks (GII) for her first start for new trainer Todd Pletcher and new owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber. She effortlessly won her graded stakes debut by 6 lengths. The most accomplished filly she defeated was the graded stakes-winning More Than Love, but that filly finished second-to-last. This makes the form of the race questionable and leaves you wondering if In Lingerie is solely a Turfway freak.

However, last fall, there was a certain horse that was considered just a Turfway freak: Hansen. The colt crushed inconspicuous fields at the Florence, Kentucky track before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Churchill Downs. Also, last year, Animal Kingdom triumphed in the Spiral Stakes (GIII) at Turfway prior to winning the Kentucky Derby. It is clear that horses that perform well over Turfway, though the fields they face may be insipid, tend to run well over the Churchill Downs surface.

This filly clearly has immense racing talent and is blossoming under Todd Pletcher. The trainer has proven that he can condition the winner of the Kentucky Oaks, as he trained the winner of the 2007 edition, the great Rags to Riches. With a highly impressive pedigree, dominant performances, and an accomplished trainer, In Lingerie should not be underestimated.


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Oaks Contender: Grace Hall

With the defections of My Miss Aurelia and Weemissfrankie, Grace Hall became the sole top finisher of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) to remain on the Kentucky Oaks (GI) trail. In fact, for many, she is the top contender for the race that is labeled as the Kentucky Derby (GI)’s sister.

Grace Hall was a brilliant juvenile, winning her first three starts by a total 10 ½ lengths. She, like Union Rags, debuted at Delaware Park without even going off favored before traveling to Saratoga for a graded stakes race. This graded stakes was the prestigious Spinaway Stakes (GI), in which the Tony Dutrow trainee edged away to triumph by 1 ¾ lengths. She then returned to Delaware Park for her final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, effortlessly winning the ungraded Blue Hen Stakes by 5 ¾ lengths.

In the Juvenile Fillies, Grace Hall ran into the tremendously talented My Miss Aurelia and could not keep up with the eventual champion, finishing three lengths behind the Stonestreet homebred. However, she was six lengths clear of the dual grade one-winning Weemissfrankie and left behind twelve fillies.

Grace Hall made her much-anticipated sophomore debut in the Davona Dale Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park, but was beaten a neck by Yara, a 64-1 longshot. Grace Hall ran gamely but simply could not outduel Yara. She avenged the loss next out in the Gulfstream Oaks Stakes (GII), settling off the pace before striking to the lead under Javier Castellano to score by a dominant 6 ½ lengths. Behind her were seven other fillies, including Yara and the highly-touted Zo Impressive.

With her Gulfstream Oaks victory, Grace Hall verified that she will have no issue with the nine-furlong distance of the Kentucky Oaks, as the Gulfstream Oaks shares the same mile and one-eighth distance. Her pedigree also suggests that she will not have a problem with the distance of the Oaks, as she is by Empire Maker and out of an Ezzoud mare.

Empire Maker, winner of the 2003 Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F), is also the sire of the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (GI, 9F) winners Acoma and Mushka, the Personal Ensign Stakes (GI, 10F)-winning Icon Project, the Santa Anita Derby (GI, 9F)-winning and Kentucky Derby (GI, 10F) runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, and the Alabama Stakes (GI, 10F)- and Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI, 9F)-winning Royal Delta. The stallion, who is inbred 4 X 3 to the Man O’ War sire line descendant, In Reality, also exhibits two crosses of Aspidistra, Buckpasser, Native Dancer, and Rough’n Tumble in the first five generations of his pedigree. When bred to Grace Hall’s dam, Season’s Greetings, the two form a 4 X 3 cross of Mr. Prospector, a 4 X 5 cross of Northern Dancer, and a 4 X 5 cross of a Reine De Course mare.

Season’s Greetings, an Irish-bred by a victor of multiple prestigious group ones, was a stakes winner in France owned by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. This, of course, makes Grace Hall bred by Darley. The top side of Season’s Greeting’s pedigree is primarily European while the bottom side is chiefly American. Through her dam, Grace Hall is a direct descendant of a string of Reine De Course mares from Calumet Farm that begins with her seventh dam, Nellie Flag, a daughter of the 1924 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Nellie Morse. Nellie Flag was in turn a champion, garnering the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 1934. Nellie Flag produced three black-type winners, including a champion and the Kentucky Oaks-winning Nellie L, Grace Hall’s sixth dam. Nellie L continued this strong dam line by producing Comely Nell, the dam of the champion Bold Forbes.

Grace Hall has a valid chance at repeating the feat of her sixth dam, Nellie L. Not only is she wonderfully bred for the Kentucky Oaks, but she has proved that she possesses remarkable racing talent. It would be no surprise to see Grace Hall standing before the Twin Spires with a blanket of beautiful lilies draped over her withers. 


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Union Rags: Another Matz Superstar

With some paragraphs drawn from Derby Hopeful: Union Rags

The sun shone down on the crowd gathered at Churchill Downs as fans awaited the next race, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI). Regally Ready had just flashed across the finish line en route to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) and many people milled around the winner's circle following the race. Among those people was Michael Matz, whose brilliant juvenile colt, Union Rags, would run later that day in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI).

Meanwhile, I stood nearby with my family. I caught sight of Matz, who had been one of my favorite trainers since 2006, when he had trained the ill-fated Barbaro to a brilliant Kentucky Derby (GI) victory. Not only do I respect him for his brilliance at training, but I admire him for the talent he displayed in his Hall of Fame equestrian career and the courage and compassion he showed in saving the lives of four children after a plane crash in 1989.

Photo by Mary Cage

I clutched my program and a Sharpie and walked toward Michael Matz, asking him for his autograph. Very graciously, he smiled and signed beside Union Rags’ name in my program. Before parting ways, I wished him luck.

Of course, Union Rags fell just a head short to Hansen later that day in the Juvenile, drifting out in the stretch while closing. Though Hansen was presented the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, many – including me – felt that Union Rags was the most talented juvenile of 2011.

The colt debuted at Delaware Park last July as one of seven first-time starters in the nine-horse field. Sent off at nearly 8-1, Phyllis Wyeth’s colt settled in seventh as the horses began their run down the backstretch in the five-furlong maiden special weight. Jockey Julian Pimentel asked the two-year-old to make his run around the far turn and Union Rags responded eagerly, making an impressive move as the juveniles grew closer to the homestretch. His powerful stride ate up ground as Pimentel urged the colt forward and with an imposing turn of foot, Union Rags swept past Jake N Elwood near the furlong pole to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of 58.25. The final eighth of a mile was run in 12.14 seconds.

After his excellent debut, his connections pointed Union Rags to the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (GII) at the renowned Saratoga Race Course. Over a very sloppy track, Union Rags broke from the rail and raced alongside three other horses as the juveniles galloped along the backstretch. Ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time, the bay colt edged away with the favorite, Stat, as the two-year-olds entered the turn. The two ran neck and neck until the field reached the top of the stretch. Then Union Rags accelerated over the sealed track and drew away under Castellano despite drifting out badly in deep stretch. He crossed the wire 7 ¼ lengths ahead of the rest of the field, immediately appearing on plenty of watch lists, including mine.

To solidify his position as the leading two-year-old colt in the nation, Union Rags made his final start before the Breeders’ Cup in the esteemed Champagne Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. As the juvenile colts galloped down the backstretch in the one-turn mile, Union Rags settled in mid-pack and was forced to take up slightly when he came in contact with Takes the Gold. He recovered quickly, quickening as the horses entered the final half-mile. Castellano guided the talented colt through traffic on the far turn, nearly taking the path along the rail until an opening appeared and the pair aimed for the lead on the outside. With his beautiful stride carrying him over fast track, Union Rags effortlessly opened up on the field and swept across the finish line with 5 ¼ lengths separating him and the others.

Photo by Mary Cage

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile seemed like his for the taking, but Hansen kept Union Rags from wearing the blanket of flowers in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle. Breaking from post ten in a thirteen-horse field, Union Rags broke smoothly and made his way to the middle of the pack. Due to his post position, the colt was forced to race very wide throughout the race. Castellano asked him for more speed as the two-year-old colts swept into the final turn and Union Rags responded, going widest of all. At the top of the stretch, it seemed as if he could catch the front-running Hansen, but he drifted out in the homestretch and finished a head behind Hansen before galloping out ahead of the winner.

Union Rags finished second in Eclipse Award voting for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, but was made the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He solidified that title on February 26 in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park. Though the race had lost much luster after the scratch of the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) winner, Algorithms, it also featured blossoming horses like the stakes-placed Casual Trick, the clear winner of two races at Calder in Csaba, the extremely impressive two-time winner in just as many starts in Discreet Dancer, the multiple stakes-winning Fort Loudon, the hard-knocking Neck ‘n Neck, and the promising News Pending. After breaking cleanly from the gate, Union Rags settled off the pace and though he was challenged at the end of the clubhouse turn by News Pending, he continued to rate under Julien Leparoux – who was riding him for the first time. Around the far turn, his long, powerful strides carried him to the lead, which would flourish into an effortless four-length victory in which the whip never touched him.

Of course, one of the major concerns revolving a Derby contender is the horse’s ability to stretch out. Though his pedigree does not scream distance, it does not restrict him to races under a mile and one-quarter, either.

His late sire, Dixie Union, was never considered much of a distance horse. Most of his victories came at a sprinting distance, though he won the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational Handicap (GI). However, the one time he attempted ten furlongs was in the 2000 Travers Stakes (GI), in which he did not rally strongly enough and finished fourth. Dixie Chatter, his multiple grade one-winning son, never won beyond a mile and one-sixteenth and Dixie Union’s brilliant grade one-winning daughter, Hot Dixie Chick, was never victorious at a distance longer than seven furlongs.

However, some Dixie Union offspring have shown affinity for distance. For instance, four of Grasshopper’s five wins came at one mile or farther and he lost to the Kentucky Derby-winning Street Sense by just a half-length in the ten-furlong Travers. Dixie Union also sired Gone Astray, a two-time winner at nine furlongs. In fact, those two nine-furlong wins by Gone Astray came in graded stakes races in which the horse looked capable of going an extra furlong.

Union Rags’ dam, Tempo, is by the influential sire, Gone West, a son of Mr. Prospector who won three graded stakes races at one mile or longer. He also sired many talented distance horses, such as Pacific Classic (GI, 10 furlongs)-winning Came Home, Belmont Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Commendable, Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Johar, and Pattison Canadian International Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)- and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Marsh Side. In addition, he is the sire of Elusive Quality, sire of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (GI)-winning Smarty Jones.

Tempo’s grandsire is Nijinsky II, winner of the 1970 English Triple Crown who sired many distance horses, including the winner of the 1986 Kentucky Derby and the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI, 10F) in Ferdinand, the winner of the 1983 Prix du Jockey Club (GI, 10.5F) and International Stakes (GI, 10.5F) in Caerleon, and the winner of the ten-furlong Canadian Maturity Stakes and Seagram Cup Handicap, the Rothmans Ltd. International Stakes (GI, 12F), the Early Times Manhattan Handicap (GII, 10F), the Arlington Handicap (GII, 10F), and the Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (GI, 12F) in Sky Classic.

Tempo has also produced the stakes-placed Geefour, a full brother to Union Rags. Tempo is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed Dancing Devlette – who was capable of winning at nine furlongs – and the multiple ungraded stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Marry Me Do – who was also successful at nine furlongs. Through Tempo, Union Rags hails from female family number thirteen, the same family that produced the winner of the 1977 Triple Crown, Seattle Slew.

Though Union Rags’ pedigree may give one reason to doubt his ability to get the Derby distance, the colt has undeniable heart and brilliance. His long, authoritative stride shows that Union Rags could likely handle more ground, as does the way he effortlessly pulls away from fields.

You can always find at least one fault in a Derby contender. Union Rags has his own share of them, most notably the room for doubt in his pedigree as far as stamina is concerned. However, he has arguably been the most impressive horse on the Kentucky Derby trail yet this year. Racings fans have every right to be excited about him. Michael Matz has already had a horse in his stable that captured the hearts of racing fans; who's to say he can't have another one?

Union Rags
Photo: Terri Cage

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Derby Hopeful: El Padrino

Several “wise guy” horses emerge along the Kentucky Derby trail each year. One of the first ones to arise on the 2012 trail to the Run for the Roses is El Padrino. He has certainly appeared to be a top Derby contender and currently ranks sixth on my top ten list.

El Padrino debuted on August 20, 2011 at Saratoga over a fast track in a seven-furlong maiden special weight, in which the chestnut colt closed gamely to finish second by three-quarters of a length. He found the winner’s circle about two months later at Belmont Park after remarkably winning a one-mile maiden special weight over a sloppy track. In that race, he settled off the pace before striking to the lead and galloping to a 12 ¾-length victory.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Let’s Go Stable then ran the colt in the Remsen Stakes (GII) at Aqueduct, in which the colt found a position off the frontrunners before being asked for run by John Velazquez around the far turn. Down the stretch, it didn’t appear as if El Padrino would gain any ground on the leaders, but once he was angled out in deep stretch, he seemed to find a gear and rallied to finish third before galloping out ahead of the others.

He made his sophomore debut on January 29, 2012, coming from off the pace to score by 2 lengths over a sealed track labeled ‘good.’ Impressively, he strode past the talented, graded stakes-placed Take Charge Indy to finish the mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming in a final time of 1:42.68. The mile split (1:36.28) was just .11 seconds slower than stablemate Algorithms’ final time in the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (GIII).

El Padrino is expected to make his next start in the Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds Race Course on February 25, in which he could face Mr. Bowling, winner of the Lecomte Stakes (GIII).

El Padrino’s pedigree hints that he will certainly be able to handle the ten-furlong Derby distance, as he is by A.P. Indy’s outstanding son, Pulpit, and out of a Giant’s Causeway mare. Both his sire and dam side should allow El Padrino to attain the distances of the Triple Crown races.

A.P. Indy, of course, won the 1992 Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI, 10F) and was by the Triple Crown-winning Seattle Slew. Pulpit, El Padrino’s sire, produced Essence of Dubai, who won the U.A.E Derby (GII) when it was competed at the distance of 2,000 meters (about ten furlongs) and the Super Derby (GII, 9F). Pulpit is also the sire of Rutherienne, winner of the Del Mar Oaks (GI, 9F), and Ice Box, winner of the Florida Derby (GI, 9F) and runner-up in the Kentucky Derby.

The dam of El Padrino, Enchanted Rock, is by the 2000 European Horse of the Year in Giant’s Causeway, who won at the distance of ten furlongs several times and has produced horses capable of winning distance races. For example, he has produced Giant Oak: winner of the Clark Handicap (GI, 9F) and Donn Handicap (GI, 9F), runner-up in the Washington Park Handicap (GIII, 9.5F) and Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII, 10F), and third-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Marathon (GII, 14F). Other horses Giant’s Causeway has sired include Delaware Handicap (GII, 10F) winner, Swift Temper, and winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (GI, 10F), Heatseeker.

El Padrino’s fourth dam, Remedia, is a Reine De Course mare who produced the grade one-winning dam of Chic Shirine – winner of the Ashland Stakes (GI, 8.5F) – and the three-time grade one-winning 1991 Champion Older Female, Queena. Queena in turn produced Brahms – victor of the River City Handicap (GIII, 9F) and the Early Times Hollywood Derby (GI, 9F), La Reina – winner of the Tempted Stakes (GIII, 8F), and Olympic, winner of the ten-furlong Mataji Stakes. Chic Shirine was the dam of Tara Roma, winner of the Ladies Handicap (GII, 10F).

El Padrino hails from female family thirteen, the same family from which Sinndar – winner of the Epsom Derby (GI, 2423 meters), the Irish Derby Stakes (GI, 2414 meters), and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI, 2400 meters) – descends from. Another remarkable descendant of this family is the 1977 Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew.

El Padrino also possesses the conformation of a top racehorse, having a long and slender neck that ties in extremely well to his shoulder, which is quite powerful. Though his shoulder could have a more sloping angle to it, it is still angled well enough to allow him to be very evenly balanced. He is very strong through the loin, having a short, sturdy topline. His croup is rounded and long, tying smoothly into his defined gaskins. This allows him to move with drive and impulsion, therefore having a long stride. He is also quite structurally correct, possessing short, strong cannon bones and angular pasterns.

This colt has every aspect of a top Derby contender with his impressive conformation and pedigree, and his performances on the track enforce this. Should he continue his classy performances, El Padrino could very well be on the way to stardom.


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Derby Hopeful: Algorithms

In 2011, I posted “Juvenile Spotlights” about two-year-olds I had followed since early on in their careers. Now that it’s 2012, everyone’s focus is on the Kentucky Derby. Some horses from past Juvenile Spotlights will be featured, as well as additional horses on the Derby trail.

Algorithms is ranked highly on several Kentucky Derby (GI) lists, including mine, on which he is currently ranked third behind Union Rags and his stablemate, Discreet Dancer. After all, he is undefeated in three starts and in his most recent start, the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII), he defeated the 2011 Champion Two-Year-Old, Hansen.

Algorithms made his debut at Belmont Park on June 3, 2011, sitting just off the leader before taking the lead around the far turn. Under Javier Castellano, the Todd Pletcher trainee handily put away a field of four other horses by 5 ¼ lengths in an impressive final time of 57.55 for five furlongs.

He did not return to the races until six months later, when he made his final juvenile start in an allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park going six and one-half furlongs. He settled well under Castellano, running in third before digging deep in the stretch to defeat the highly regarded Consortium by one length in 1:15.51.

Algorithms ran against graded stakes company for the first time on January 29 in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, taking on the undefeated champion Hansen, who stumbled out of the gate before setting blazing fractions. Over a sloppy track, Algorithms found himself in third for much of the backstretch. He quickly gained ground around the far turn, effortlessly taking the lead at the top of the stretch. He continued on from there, crossing the wire 5 lengths ahead of the others in 1:36.17 according to the Teleview Racing Patrol timer at Gulfstream Park and in 1:35.09 according to Trakus.

His pedigree definitely suggests that distance will not be a problem. His sire is the 2006 Champion Three-Year-Old Male, Bernardini, a son of the Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F)- and Breeders' Cup Classic (GI, 10F)-winning A.P. Indy. After winning a one-mile maiden special weight, the Withers Stakes (GIII, 8F), the Preakness Stakes (GI, 9.5F), the Jim Dandy Stakes (GII, 9F), the Travers Stakes (GI, 10F), and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI, 10F) by a combined 40 lengths, Berardini finished a good second in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. In his first crop, Bernardini has sired six group or graded stakes winners, including Stay Thirsty - winner of the Jim Dandy and Travers - and To Honor and Serve - winner of the Cigar Mile (GI). Bernardini is currently the leading North American sire by earnings for 2012 and not only did he land twenty-fourth on the leading sires list for 2011, but he also was the leading second-crop sire of 2011.

Algorithms' dam, Ava Knowsthecode, finished third in the Senorita Stakes (GIII, 8FT) as a three-year-old. She has also produced the winner of the Woody Stephen Stakes (GII, 7F) in Justin Phillip, the winner of the Hutcheson Stakes (GII, 7.5F) and the Deputy Minister Handicap (GIII, 6.5F) in Keyed Entry, and the winner of the I Take All Stakes (8.5F), Miami Mile Handicap (GIII, 8F), and the Elkwood Stakes (8F) in Successful Mission. Though the mare has not yet produced a horse that has won a stakes at a distance longer than a mile and one-sixteenth, the fact that her sire is Cryptoclearance - sire of the Belmont Stakes-winning Victory Gallop, the Prince of Wales (9.5F)-winning Cryptocloser, and the Breeders' Cup Classic-winning Volponi - and her dam is a black-type-winning and producing mare by the winner of the Santa Anita Derby (GI, 9F), the Belmont Stakes, and the San Luis Rey Stakes (GI, 12F) in Avatar, Algorithms has plenty of potential for routing from his dam side.

In addition, Algorithms is a direct descendant of the Reine De Course mare Qurrat-Al-Ain, who produced a Reine De Course mare in Queen of Shiraz. Qurrat-Al-Ain is the second dam of Gallant Man, a Hall of Fame inductee who won the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes.

Not only does Algorithms come with impressive performances on the track and a solid pedigree, but he has very correct conformation as well. He has a very sleek build, possessing a long, thick neck that ties in well to his powerful, sloping shoulder. The angle of his shoulder allows him to be easily divided into thirds, therefore making him very well-balanced. His strong croup is long and round, which aids in the propulsion of his hind legs. He is also quite structurally correct, having short, strong cannon bones and angular pasterns.

Algorithms has everything you could want in a Kentucky Derby contender. With his obvious talent on the racetrack, auspicious pedigree, and commendable conformation, there is no doubt that he is a top contender for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby.

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2012 Florida Sunshine Millions Day

On Saturday, the sun shone down on Hallandale Beach, Florida as top-class Florida-bred horses showed their athleticism and talent in the Florida Sunshine Millions. The Sunshine Millions used to be known as a contest between Florida- and California-bred horses competing with races evenly divided between Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park, but in November of 2011, it was announced that California would not be participating. However, the new format of the Sunshine Millions was not disappointing in the least.

Awesome Feather (#4)
Photo: Terri Cage

The fifth race on Gulfstream’s card began the Sunshine Millions and was perhaps the most anticipated of them all: the Distaff. The heavy favorite in the race was the undefeated filly Awesome Feather, who was voted the 2010 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and won the 2011 edition of the Gazelle Stakes (GI). A personal favorite of mine and a filly I have adored since before her Breeders’ Cup victory, Awesome Feather found herself in a speed duel with Tiz the Argument. Though Delightful Mary seemed to be gaining ground on the undefeated filly, Awesome Feather seemed to be shot out of a cannon as the field turned into the stretch. In jaw-dropping fashion, Awesome Feather crossed the wire 5 ¾ lengths ahead, running her perfect record to nine-for-nine.

The Sunshine Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes was the next race run over the Hallandale Beach track. The race featured the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint victor and 2011 Champion Female Sprinter, Musical Romance, but it was It’s Me Mom that dominated the race. It looked as if Musical Romance wasn’t firing at all and she began dropping back, but she didn’t give up and found enough within herself to finish fourth despite grabbing a quarter and nearly pulling her shoe off. Instead, it was It’s Me Mom that swept to a 6 ¾-length victory.

The male rendition of the sprint was up next. Soaring Stocks made it two consecutive victories when he crossed the wire a half-length in front in the six-furlong race. Behind him were six stakes winners.

The racing moved to Gulfstream’s grass oval for the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, in which Hooh Why closed beautifully to get up under John Velazquez. Possibly most famous for winning the Ashland Stakes (GI) at age three, the six-year-old chestnut mare came from mid-pack to gallop smoothly to victory.

Racing over the same course as the mares just had, the males took command of Gulfstream’s turf course in the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. Little Mike showed his heart by prevailing in a spectacular final time of 1:45.94 for nine furlongs. He is now five-for-six over Gulfstream’s turf course.

The final Sunshine Millions event was the Classic. Attracting a strong field of Florida-breds, the race featured four graded stakes winners, including the 2011 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher, Mucho Macho Man. After sitting off Turbo Compressor, the gigantic colt swept to the lead around the far turn and did not look back, drawing off impressively to win for trainer Kathy Ritvo.

The performances of the Florida Sunshine Millions winners were nothing short of spectacular. From the dominant wins by Awesome Feather and It’s Me Mom, to the game victories by Soaring Stocks, Hooh Why, and Little Mike, and to Mucho Macho Man’s stirring Classic triumph, the Florida-breds showed their class and brilliance in the new format of the Sunshine Millions.


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