After the Auction: Our Amazing Rose

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. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. *Note: If an “After the Auction” features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a “Juvenile Spotlight.”

Each year at Saratoga, Todd Pletcher unveils a multitude of brilliant two-year-olds – juveniles that display scintillating speed as they coast to dominant victories. This year has been no different, but perhaps his most impressive two-year-old maiden winner at the Spa this year is a filly named Our Amazing Rose.

One of my selections from this year’s OBS March Sale, the filly – consigned as hip 296 by Top Line Sales, LLC – was purchased by Repole Stables for $325,000, ranking her among the fifteen most expensive horses sold. Now, as an impressive debut winner at Saratoga for Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher, she has joined the likes of champion Uncle Mo and grade one winner Overanalyze.

Sent off as the heavy favorite in a five-furlong maiden special weight over Saratoga’s dirt oval, Our Amazing Rose raced in second as the only filly with racing experience, Zip On, took a clear, early lead. With that pair several lengths clear of the other runners, Our Amazing Rose overtook Zip On with ease around the far turn, galloping past that rival as if she was standing still. In a breathtakingly effortless manner, she coasted to the front, lengthening her advantage on the field as she turned for home. With great power and grace, she finished 7 ¾ lengths clear of the rest.

Our Amazing Rose will try to join a long, star-studded list of open-length maiden winners at Saratoga that have gone on to be elite athletes. Only time will tell if she can become the next Indian Blessing, but she has certainly looked the part thus far.

Pedigree Analysis

Yes It's True
Photo by Terri Cage

Our Amazing Rose is among the talented army of Yes It’s True juveniles that have accumulated a large amount of wins this year, leaving him as the leading sire of two-year-olds in North America and the second-leading sire of juveniles on an international scale. Our Amazing Rose shares her sire with the graded stakes winners Actin Good, Aikenite, Chantrue, Off Duty, Nordic Truce, Proud Accolade, Yesbyjimminy, and Yes He’s the Man.

The pedigree of Yes It’s True is rather understated, but also lined with indicators that he would become the successful sire he is. His sire, Is It True, only produced a pair of grade one winners – including Yes It’s True himself – but is by Raja Baba, the leading North American sire of 1980. Raja Baba was a fairly productive sire of sires, producing not only Is It True, but Royal Ski and Well Decorated.

The dam of Yes It’s True, Clever Monique, was a profitable producer, also yielding the multiple stakes-winning Honest Deceiver. Intriguingly, Yes It’s True’s seventh dam is Dancing Date, the dam of Terrang, who captured a record ten stakes events at Santa Anita. Yes It’s True is a descendant of American family one, the same female family that has yielded the grade one victors Gato Del Sol, Germany, and Tizway.

Yes It’s True’s broodmare sire is Clever Trick, who was also the damsire of such grade one winners as Came Home, Elegant Fashion, Nothingtolose, and Victors Cry. Clever Trick’s sire is Icecapade, a half-brother to the great Ruffian. Interestingly, Yes It’s True only has one trace of Native Dancer in his pedigree, which comes through Shenanigans – the dam of Icecapade and Ruffian.

The dam of Our Amazing Rose, Just For You, is a daughter of Silver Deputy – a terrific broodmare sire. The son of Deputy Minister – a champion racehorse and broodmare sire – is the maternal grandsire of the likes of champion Groupie Doll, as well as the grade one-winning sires El Corredor and Roman Ruler and the additional graded stakes winners Miraculous Miss, Preachinatthebar, and Quiet Temper.

Just For You is a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning Minister’s Melody, who yielded the grade one-winning Bob and John. She is a granddaughter of the great broodmare Too Bald, a stakes-winning Reine De Course mare that was honored as Broodmare of the Year in 1986. Dam of five stakes winners, Too Bald’s most notable foals were the ill-fated, eleven-time grade/group one winner Exceller and champion Capote. Our Amazing Rose’s fourth and fifth dams – Hidden Talent and Dangerous Dame, respectively – are also Reine De Course mares.

Some paragraphs were drawn from my article "Stallion Feature: Yes It's True" from July 5, 2012

Palace Malice: A Heartwarming Belmont Victory

Racing enthusiasts spend months awaiting the Triple Crown, scouting talented young Thoroughbreds as they embark upon the search for the horse that can finally quench our thirst for a Triple Crown winner. And within a matter of five weeks – weeks that seem to pass within the blink of an eye – it is over.

Yet another year has passed without the capture of the coveted Triple Crown. For the sixth time in the past ten years, three different horses won each leg of the prestigious series, not only eliminating the dream of a Triple Crown triumph being achieved for the first time in thirty-five years, but discombobulating the three-year-old scene.

But one theme was recurrent throughout the 2013 Triple Crown: old-school. Beginning with Orb’s victory in the Kentucky Derby (GI) for the classic connections of Shug McGaughey and the Phipps and Janney families, the throwback feeling continued when Oxbow– ridden by Gary Stevens, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and owned by Calumet Farm – upset the Preakness Stakes (GI).

The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes (GI), was promoted as a rematch between the Derby and Preakness victors, but twelve additional Thoroughbreds aligned to contest against that pair to form the largest Belmont field since 1996. Among those fourteen starters, only three – Orb, Oxbow, and Will Take Charge – had contested in each jewel, but only four horses in the field had not contested in a single Triple Crown race. In fact, half of the field was directly exiting the Kentucky Derby.

Amid those horses was Palace Malice, the eccentric pacesetter of the Kentucky Derby. Equipped with blinkers for the first time in the Run for the Roses, the bay son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin had essentially taken off with Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, and after setting a blistering pace, he weakened to finish twelfth.

Palace Malice
Photo by Brittlan Wall

It was immediately decided that the blinkers would be taken off the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) runner-up. The colt departed the Derby in good order, working very well as he prepared for the Belmont Stakes, posting a trifecta of noteworthy breezes at Belmont Park as trainer Todd Pletcher looked on.

Palace Malice entered the Belmont under morning line odds of 15-1. Of Pletcher’s record five Belmont starters, the colt was the second-longest shot on the morning line. To the roar of more than 47,000 people gathered at the New York track, Palace Malice loaded into the twelfth stall alongside his rivals over a track that had dried enough to be labeled fast – a day after it had been an oval of slop.

Palace Malice broke well and Mike Smith immediately guided him to the vanguard, angling his mount closer to the inside as Preakness winner Oxbow also galloped to the front. Meanwhile, along the inside, Frac Daddy and Freedom Child also charged to the lead.

Racing wide around the wide clubhouse turn, Palace Malice was only a small matter of lengths behind the early leader, Frac Daddy. As a brisk initial quarter-mile of 23.11 was set, Palace Malice remained comfortable in a stalking position, edging closer to the front midway through the first curve. As Frac Daddy, Freedom Child, and Oxbow formed a cluster at the front of the pack, Palace Malice sat just behind them, inching closer as a half-mile clocking of 46.66 – the fastest since Secretariat’s record-breaking victory in 1973 – was recorded.

As Frac Daddy began to drop back, Oxbow seized the lead over Freedom Child, allowing Palace Malice to advance to the third position. Less than two lengths separated Palace Malice and Oxbow as the backstretch began to transform into the far turn. Threatening the Preakness victor on the outside, Palace Malice began to rally beneath a stationary Mike Smith, drawing even with Oxbow in the early stages of the final curve.

Palace Malice established a narrow advantage over Oxbow near the end of the far turn as the pair abandoned their remaining rivals by more than three lengths. Leading his thirteen opponents into the long, grueling stretch of Big Sandy, Palace Malice began to kick clear, opening up on Oxbow and the closers that were gradually gaining ground on the frontrunners.

This moment of drawing away proved crucial for Palace Malice, as he staggered home. However, the rest of the field did the same, allowing the bay colt to maintain his wide lead as he captured the 145^th installment of the classic by 3 ¼ lengths. As trainer Todd Pletcher celebrated gleefully in the grandstand, Mike Smith galloped Palace Malice out with a euphoric grin upon his face, gazing up at the heavens as he pumped his fists victoriously. Meanwhile, Cot Campbell – president of Dogwood Stable, which owns Palace Malice – relished the victory, his first Triple Crown race win since Summer Squall carried the Dogwood green and yellow silks to victory in the 1990 Preakness.

The 2013 Triple Crown was over, but not without style. Old-school had reigned again, treating racing fans with a glimpse into the past.

Palace Malice
Photo by Brittlan Wall

While Pletcher may not appear to fit with the theme of old-school, it must not be forgotten that he is a former assistant to D. Wayne Lukas, having worked under “The Coach” for seven years. During this time, Pletcher was associated with the likes of Derby and Belmont winner Thunder Gulch, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) champion Flanders, and champion filly and winner of thirteen grade ones, Serena’s Song.

And although Mike Smith has graced many headlines in recent years – especially during his years of riding the popular Zenyatta– the 47-year-old jockey has made his name be known in racing since the early 1990s. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, Mike Smith had won one edition of each Triple Crown race prior to this year’s Belmont.

But the true old-school story that Palace Malice carried into the winner’s circle with the garland of carnations was that of Dogwood Stable. Founded in Aiken, South Carolina in 1973, Campbell’s Dogwood Stable has sent a plethora of high-caliber Thoroughbreds to the racetrack, including not only Summer Squall, but the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1996, Storm Song. For 23 years, a Triple Crown race win had eluded the storied stable, but with two of the most recognizable faces in racing in Pletcher and Smith, Campbell was finally able to attain yet another victory in one of the sought-after spring classics.

After the race, 85-year-old Campbell, who had led his horse into the winner’s enclosure with a heartwarming smile upon his face, summed it up best: “This is the mother of all great moments, I’ll tell you that. I’m proud for Dogwood and for my great partners. . . And I’m proud for Aiken, South Carolina; they’ll be dancing in the streets. . . And I’m proud of Todd, one of the great trainers of all-time and Mike Smith, one of the great riders. And, for the horse, the horse, the horse! I’m so proud of him.”

While Palace Malice’s connections carry an old-school story, Palace Malice carries a story of fate. The dam of Palace Malice, Palace Rumor, was trained by small-time trainer Burl McBride, who sent the daughter of Royal Anthem to Hal Wiggins’ barn at Churchill Downs for a start beneath the twin spires in 2005 while the remainder of his small stable remained at Ellis Park. Although he planned to send Palace Rumor – two years old at the time – back to Ellis Park after her race, he decided to keep her overnight at Churchill following a taxing effort.

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

One year later, Palace Rumor was bred to Curlin. The result was Palace Malice, who McBride attempted to purchase but was never able to, although he has eagerly followed the colt.

And so now, the colt who exists by the intervention of fate has won one of the greatest races in the United States for the trainer who learned the ropes from a Hall of Famer, for the Hall of Fame rider that had searched for redemption, and for the owner who truly loves the game and the animals that make the game what it is: the horses.

Palace Malice
Photo by Brittlan Wall

Princess of Sylmar Shocks the 139th Kentucky Oaks

Some of the best female racehorses in this era of girl power have captured the Kentucky Oaks (GI) in recent years. In 2007, Rags to Riches overwhelmed her rivals in the Kentucky Derby's (GI) sister race, which served as a prelude to her historic Belmont Stakes (GI) victory. Rachel Alexandra annihilated the Oaks field in 2009, conquering the race by 20 1/4 lengths, as part of her Horse of the Year campaign. A year later, Blind Luck provided fans with a thrilling edition of the Oaks, rallying to win by a nose.

This year marked the 139^th installment of the Kentucky Oaks, which presented one of the most competitive fields in memory. But it wasn’t a favorite that was bestowed the garland of lilies; it was a 38-1 longshot: Princess of Sylmar.

Princess of Sylmar
Photo by Brittlan Wall

A Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Majestic Warrior, Princess of Sylmar hails from humble beginnings. A homebred for Ed Stanco of King of Prussia Stable, Princess of Sylmar was fourth in her debut at Penn National – a track that is not exactly heralded as a high-caliber track that produces classic winners.

But Princess of Sylmar soon let it be known that she is the type of horse that proves doubters wrong on a regular basis. In her second start, the chestnut filly demolished a maiden special weight at Penn National, crossing the wire an astounding 19 lengths ahead of her nearest rival. With her impressive triumph, it was on to Aqueduct in New York for the small chestnut filly.

Following a romp in an allowance optional claiming event, Princess of Sylmar entered stakes company. Her past two races – both of which she’d won in a breathtakingly easy manner – earned her respect in her black-type debut. She was sent off as the heavy favorite in her first two stakes races and lived up to her short odds, dominating the Busanda Stakes and the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct by a combined 14 ½ lengths.

The filly was riding a hot streak. She was proving herself to be a special filly, but as soon as she was beaten by Gulfstream Park shipper Close Hatches in the Gazelle Stakes (GII), a mass of people abandoned her bandwagon. A single loss had driven supporters away from her, allowing her to approach the Kentucky Oaks under the radar.

Her chances at taking home the “Lilies for the Fillies” seem to further diminish after her first work at Churchill Downs. The Todd Pletcher trainee appeared rather flat in her first breeze beneath the twin spires and less focus was put on her as race analysts paid more attention to the race’s favorites.

However, Princess of Sylmar rebounded in her second work over the track, breezing a half-mile in 49.20 seconds. She got over the track in a much flashier manner, suggesting that she was beginning to blossom. Still, few took notice.

When race day dawned, little attention remained on Princess of Sylmar, leading her to be sent off as the second-longest shot in the deep field of ten. Breaking from the sixth gate, Princess of Sylmar was involved in the wrestling match that occurred within the first few strides of the race, being squeezed by rivals and losing ground. She recovered quickly, but was left nearly eleven lengths behind the pacesetter, Midnight Lucky, by the end of the first quarter of a mile.

Finding a position just behind her favored stablemate, Dreaming of Julia, in ninth as the fillies entered the backstretch, Princess of Sylmar appeared very comfortable with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard as Midnight Lucky set brisk fractions in the vanguard. Gradually, Princess of Sylmar made up ground, advancing between horses down the backstretch as Smith piloted her closer to the lead.

Racing three paths off the rail as the field entered the far turn, Princess of Sylmar had upgraded to fourth by the time the horses reached the three-eighths marker. Smith guided her into an even wider position, beginning to ask the filly to begin her rally as the horses neared the quarter pole. As Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) victress Beholder stormed to the lead at the top of the stretch, Princess of Sylmar closed on the outside, steering around undefeated stablemate Unlimited Budget.

As the final furlong commenced, Princess of Sylmar found her best stride, drawing even with the frontrunners prior to surpassing Beholder within the final sixteenth, securing victory by a half-length as she switched leads at the finish. The filly had proved doubters wrong and achieved the impossible, taking on and defeating one of the toughest Oaks fields in history despite her long odds and peculiar path to Churchill Downs.

Princess of Sylmar’s Oaks win served as Mike Smith’s first triumph in the race and trainer Todd Pletcher’s third. Beholder, who had become worked up prior to the race and had even nearly fallen – dismounting jockey Garrett Gomez – in the post parade, performed valiantly to finish second in her attempt to become the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner to capture the Oaks since Silverbulletday in 1999. Like Princess of Sylmar, the third- and fourth-place finishers – Unlimited Budget and Dreaming of Julia, respectively – were conditioned by Pletcher. Dreaming of Julia, also a victim of the vicious break, had received a very poor trip but made a gallant rally nonetheless.

There was very little focus on Princess of Sylmar prior to the Oaks, but at the culmination of the prestigious race, all attention was on the “fun-sized” filly. After the race, as Mike Smith was interviewed by NBC’s Donna Barton Brothers aboard Princess of Sylmar, he summarized the Kentucky Oaks winner perfectly, “She’s not very big, but she’s got a big heart.”

Mike Smith celebrating aboard Princess of Sylmar
Photo by Brittlan Wall

Derby Hopeful: Palace Malice

Derby Hopefuls feature the horses I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Each horse spotlighted in a Derby Hopeful will join the 2013 PTG Derby Hopeful roster, found on the right side of the blog. Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in a Derby Hopeful may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Triple Crown trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An important stamina influence in Palace Malice’s pedigree is Curlin’s broodmare sire, Deputy Minister. A horse who has appeared in the first three generations of the likes of successful routers such as Paynter and Rags to Riches, the Canadian Hall of Famer was a tremendous broodmare sire, producing the dams of many talented distance horses, including the multiple group one-winning Kane Hekili and Sarava, winner of the 2002 Belmont.

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

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

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

Palace Malice's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

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

Derby Hopeful: Overanalyze

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.

Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher have been a dynamic duo in the sport of racing over the past handful of years. Carrying the bright blue and orange silks of Repole Stable and the trademark white bridle of the Pletcher barn, many popular horses have raced for this team in recent years: Caixa Eletronica, Calibrachoa, Stay Thirsty, and Uncle Mo among them. The racing world has come to know the party atmosphere the enthusiastic Repole brings to the races, but can one even imagine how he would react to one of his horse’s winning the Kentucky Derby (GI)?

Repole has already made the trip to Louisville when he brought two colts in 2011, but it ended in great disappointment when his Eclipse champion, Uncle Mo, was scratched prior to the race and his future multiple grade one winner, Stay Thirsty, finished twelfth. But Repole has a chance to overshadow his experience at the 2011 Kentucky Derby with Overanalyze, a colt the co-founder and former president of Vitaminwater acquired for $380,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Overanalyze won at first asking, capturing a five-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga in August of 2012. Making his graded stakes debut in the seven-furlong Hopeful Stakes (GII) at the Spa, Overanalyze raced off the pace but failed to fire, finishing fourth behind eventual Champion Two-Year-Old Male Shanghai Bobby.

But Overanalyze made a splash in his subsequent race, a 3 ¼-length victory in the six-furlong Futurity Stakes (GII) at Belmont Park. A rough start left Overanalyze several lengths off the leaders, trailing the field down the backstretch. However, he made a stunning rally around the far turn, going widest of all to close in on his rivals. With an impressive turn of foot, the bay colt easily coasted to his first graded stakes conquest.

Making his first start outside of New York at Churchill Downs in the Iroquois Stakes (GIII) next out, Overanalyze raced among the front-running group, though he dropped back, losing position as the field began to enter the far turn of the one-turn mile event. Traveling wide around the bend, Overanalyze seemed to have lost his momentum as the field battled down the homestretch and finished a distant third behind Uncaptured.

Returning to New York for his juvenile finale, Overanalyze took on nine rivals in the nine-furlong Remsen Stakes (GII) at Aqueduct, which would be his two-turn debut. After breaking cleanly from the starting gate, Overanalyze found a position off the leader as he raced wide into the clubhouse turn. Settling just off Delhomme, Overanalyze found himself in a comfortable position as the two-year-olds galloped into the backstretch.

As a steady pace was set, Overanalyze remained content in his stalking position before commencing his rally around the final bend. Struggling to change leads as the field turned for home, Overanalyze seemed hopelessly beaten as Delhomme began to kick clear and Normandy Invasion made a stirring rally on the outside. But he suddenly dug deep, finding more in late stretch to outfinish Normandy Invasion by a nose.

Overanalyze did not begin his sophomore campaign until March 2 in the Gotham Stakes (GIII) at Aqueduct. The colt received an easy trip, rating just off a fairly slow pace. But around the far turn, Overanalyze lost ground and remained flat in the homestretch, finishing fifth.

But a trip to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby (GI) – a race that has yielded a pair of Kentucky Derby victors and six Preakness Stakes (GI) winners – served as redemption for the colt. Breaking from the ninth gate in a field of ten, Overanalyze was forced to go wide around the initial curve, leaving him to settle several lengths off the leaders down the backside.

Given much space as he galloped contentedly down the backstretch, Rafael Bejarano put Overanalyze into a drive around the far turn and the Todd Pletcher trainee responded with a burst of speed, looming large on the outside. The colt easily took the lead as the field reached the straightaway, coasting to an effortless 4 ¼-length victory reminiscent of his Futurity win as a two-year-old.

Although the final time of 1:51.94 was the slowest final clocking of the nine-furlong Arkansas Derby since 1978, the pace was slow and thus called for a slow final time. This has been a recurrent theme along the Derby trail and therefore shouldn’t be used against Overanalyze in the Run for the Roses, as he is not the only horse that has recorded slow final times in his races.

Overanalyze’s pedigree may lean more towards short distances than long distances, but like Normandy Invasion, he runs like a horse that wants more ground. In addition, further study of his pedigree does provide more hope for his chances at classic distance than a simple glance at his bloodlines.

Overanalyze's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

His late sire, Dixie Union, was never considered much of a distance horse. Most of his victories came at a sprinting distance, though he did win 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.

But the same distance worry was placed upon a son of Dixie Union during last year’s Triple Crown in Union Rags, who would go on to win the twelve-furlong Belmont Stakes (GI). Other offspring of Dixie Union have shown affinity for distance as well. For instance, four of his son 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.

Unacloud, Overanalyze's dam, never raced, but has been a rather fruitful producer, foaling not only Overanalyze, but the grade one-winning Meadow Breeze, once a precocious juvenile that won up to the distance of seven furlongs. She is also the dam of the graded stakes-placed Mighty Monsoon. Although Unacloud has mainly excelled with producing sprinters and milers, her sire – Unaccounted For –won at nine furlongs twice. Not only did Unaccounted For defeat Preakness and Belmont winner Tabasco Cat in the  Jim Dandy Stakes (GII, 9F), but he also finished just a length behind the great Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI, 10F) prior to finishing third behind that legend as the second choice in the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic (GI, 10F). Unaccounted For is a son of Private Account, a direct descendant of the great La Troienne - who is found in the direct tail female line of four Derby winners - that won the Gulfstream Park Handicap (GI, 10F) and the Widener Handicap (GI, 10F) and produced many distance horses, including the legendary Personal Ensign.

Overanalyze's second dam, Cloud's Ambre, only won once – breaking her maiden at six furlongs – and was principally a dam of sprinters. Her sire, Two Punch, has served as a speed influence, and her broodmare sire, Yukon, was chiefly a sire of successful milers, including Overanalyze’s third dam, the multiple stakes-winning Arctic Cloud.

Despite appearing to be rather lacking in outstanding stakes success, Overanalyze’s tail female line traces back to Muzzie II, a mare imported from Great Britain in 1931 that produced the multiple stakes-winning Shot Put – a gelding that equaled and set numerous track records at various distances, including 2 ¾ miles and 2 ¼ miles.

A Rasmussen Factor – or inbreeding to a superior female through siblings – is present in Overanalyze’s pedigree, as the colt is inbred 5 X 5 to Gold Digger through Mr. Prospector and his half-brother, Yukon. Inbreeding to Mr. Prospector himself – which is included in Overanalyze’s bloodlines with a 4 X 4 cross – has been widely successful, being present in the pedigrees of a plethora of grade/group one winners, including the routers Flower Alley, Shadow Cast, and Volponi. Inbreeding to Gold Digger has also been an effective tool in producing talented horses, including Ready’s Gal – a multiple graded stakes winner that won up to nine furlongs – and Kwik – a stakes winner that won up to fourteen furlongs.

And although Overanalyze’s genealogy may appear to be predominantly geared towards nine furlongs or less, the colt is bred on the same cross as the group stakes-winning Menhoubah, winner of the 2,200-meter (approximately 11 furlongs) Italian Oaks.

It must be pointed out that Overanalyze has never won consecutive races, having strung together a win-lose-win-lose pattern. This could be worrisome, as he is entering the Derby with a victory, but this colt also seems to be coming into his own and could certainly end this pattern  - at some point, at the very least. As for the worry his pedigree may generate regarding his distance abilities, despite the many speed influences that reside in his ancestry, he has strong support from stamina forces as well. Moreover, Overanalyze has endured wide trips in many of his races, thus traveling more ground than his rivals. He also finishes as if he would like more ground and therefore could relish the added distance in the Derby.

2012 Eclipse Award Choices

Held each January, the Eclipse Award ceremony honors the elite horses and humans of the industry, bestowing the best of each division their own award. Each year, some championship categories contain a clear winner, whereas others can become contentious areas of debate and suspense. The awards for 2012’s racing season, which will be held January 19 at Gulfstream Park, are no different.

Two-Year-Old Male: Shanghai Bobby

This Todd Pletcher trainee is an obvious winner of this award. Undefeated in five starts, his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) secures him as this year’s Champion Two-Year-Old Male.

Two-Year-Old Filly: Beholder

Prior to the running of the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I), this division garnered much controversy. Had Executiveprivilege made up the length she was beaten by Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), there would not be much debate over this award. However, when Beholder – who had been defeated a mere nose by Executiveprivilege in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (gr. I) – turned the tables on Executiveprivilege, this category became a difficult decision. But Executiveprivilege’s poor performance in the Starlet leaves Beholder the likely honoree of this award.

Three-Year-Old Male: I’ll Have Another

In a division that seemed to end several months early, I’ll Have Another is the irrefutable recipient of this accolade. With a flawless 2012 record that includes three grade one victories, highlighted by the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), I’ll Have Another is the obvious champ.

Three-Year-Old Filly: Questing

Had My Miss Aurelia been victorious in the La Brea Stakes (gr. I), this division would become an even more heated discussion, as both My Miss Aurelia and Questing would have two grade one victories for 2012. Though My Miss Aurelia defeated Questing both times they faced each other this year, she only narrowly defeated her in the Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) while carrying less weight than Questing and the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) clearly can have a line drawn through it for Questing. Both fillies are outstanding athletes, but Questing raced nearly twice as many times as My Miss Aurelia this year and captured a pair of grade ones whereas the talented My Miss Aurelia only triumphed in one. This award could go either way, but my choice is Questing.

Older Male: Wise Dan

In a rather contentious division, the dazzling Wise Dan looks to be the recipient of this award for his three grade one wins – including a Breeders’ Cup victory – and overall brilliance. However, respect should be given to Little Mike – winner of three grade ones, including two of the most prestigious turf races on the continent – and Point of Entry – also a victor of three grade ones. Also, Fort Larned and Game On Dude, with four grade ones between them this year, should garner respect.

Older Female: Groupie Doll

Though the outstanding Royal Delta may very well win this award, as her distaff campaign that saw her compete in middle distance races is more “fashionable” than sprints, Groupie Doll holds three 2012 grade one victories versus Royal Delta’s two. Both are very much deserving of this award and with greater weight placed upon the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) than the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), the breathtaking Royal Delta will likely be crowned the winner of this honor, though my choice would be Groupie Doll.

Male Sprinter: Trinniberg

With the most graded stakes wins of any elite sprinter, as well as a victory in the division’s championship race, Trinniberg looks to be the recipient of this award. Stellar throughout the first half of 2012, Trinniberg tailed off, only to come back with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I). Although there is no true standout in this category, Trinniberg is as close to one as there is.

Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll

Choosing an honoree for this award is as simple as it gets. With her utter dominance of this division in 2012, Groupie Doll is the obvious winner of this prize.

Turf Male: Little Mike

Wise Dan will likely win this award, but if I had a vote, it would be for Little Mike. Each have three grade one victories over the turf this year, but Little Mike captured perhaps the two most renowned turf races in North America – the Arlington Million (gr. I) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I) – as well as the esteemed Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I). He became the initial United States-based horse to capture both the Arlington Million and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same year. In addition, Little Mike raced solely on turf in 2012 whereas Wise Dan contested over three different surfaces. Point of Entry, runner-up in the Turf and also a winner of three turf grade ones, should also receive some respect. Though the deserving, brilliant Wise Dan is the probable winner of this award, Little Mike would get my vote.

Turf Female: Zagora

Among the best female turf runners throughout the entire year, Zagora only has one grade one victory this season, but won three other graded stakes and finished in the money in two additional grade ones. Most importantly, Zagora won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I), defeating the other candidates for this award. Having displayed class throughout her season prior to culminating it with a win in the division’s championship race, Zagora is my choice for Champion Turf Female. However, respect should also be given to Marketing Mix and Lady of Shamrock.

Steeplechase: Pierrot Lunaire

This division serves as one of the toughest decisions of the Eclipse Awards. Primarily an argument between Demonstrative and Pierrot Lunaire, those two lead this division in number of grade one victories. Both horses have two grade one victories this year, but Pierrot Lunaire not only earned more money, but also crossed the wire ahead of Demonstrative each time they faced each other in 2012, though conditions may not have been pleasant for Demonstrative. This award could easily go to either horse, but my choice would be Pierrot Lunaire.

Owner: Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.

Midwest Thoroughbreds may have the most starts of any owner (by far), but they lead in wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, and total amount of money earned, again, by far. The operation boasts an impressive 29% winning percentage and 62% in-the-money percentage despite having more than 1,800 starts this year. In addition, Richard and Karen Papiese's Midwest Thoroughbreds set the record for amount of single-season wins with their total of 542 wins in 2012.

Breeder: Adena Springs

The recipient of this award every year since 2004 aside from 2009, Adena Springs certainly made many more starts than other breeding operations, but Frank Stronach’s farm is the clear leader in number of victories and total earnings. Game On Dude was among the notable horses of 2012 bred by Adena Springs.

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez

Another contentious category, this division seems to be mostly a debate over Ramon Dominguez, Javier Castellano, and John Velazquez. But with the most victories in 2012 and the greatest amount of total earnings, as well as a 24% win percentage, Ramon Dominguez is my selection.

Apprentice Jockey: Jose Montano

A rather debatable division, this category appears to be primarily between Jose Montano and Angel Suarez. Though Suarez has more total earnings as an apprentice, he only earned $83,863 more than Montano, who garnered 62 more victories as an apprentice than Suarez.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

A five-time winner of this award, Todd Pletcher leads trainers in total earnings and victories while maintaining a strong win percentage of 27% and a large amount of grade one wins.  One of the most contentious divisions of the upcoming Eclipse Awards, strong cases can be made for several trainers, including Dale Romans, Bob Baffert, and Chad Brown. This award is rather wide open.

Horse of the Year: Wise Dan

In a division abounding with deserving winners, such as Little Mike, Point of Entry, Royal Delta, Groupie Doll, and Fort Larned, Wise Dan’s versatility and brilliance that was evident in his five victories will likely earn him racing’s highest annual honor. Wise Dan is my choice and the likely 2012 Horse of the Year. For more on this award, click here.

Wise Dan
Photo by Terri Cage

Juvenile Spotlight: Jocosity and Fortify

The Distorted Humor sire line has proven to be a very productive one. Not only has it provided us with numerous grade one victors, but it has given us two of the most impressive maiden winners at the Saratoga meet yet in Jocosity and Fortify. Both two-year-old colts dominated their races, coasting to imposing victories and instilling racing fans with hope that they could be future superstars.

Jocosity

Yet Todd Pletcher juvenile to win in remarkable fashion at Saratoga, Jocosity dominated a two-year-old maiden special weight at the Spa on Friday, August 3. Though his name relates to humor, there was nothing humorous regarding his impressive victory on Friday. With his win, Jocosity displayed that he could very well join the likes of the champions Big Brown and Uncle Mo – horses that strikingly broke their maidens at Saratoga prior to becoming a champion. Those are large shoes to fill for Jocosity, but he could certainly become a top racehorse.

Jocosity broke extremely sharply, going immediately to the lead beneath John Velazquez. With his outside post, Jocosity was forced to race wider than the others, but stayed near the lead as the juveniles continued down the backstretch. First-time starter Judge Wiley pressured him from the inside, but by the time a quarter of a blistering 21.79 had been set, Jocosity had opened up a one-length advantage that was widening.

As Velazquez remained stationary aboard him, the bay colt approached the homestretch with a blossoming lead on the six others. As Jocosity neared the conclusion of the far turn, Solis glanced behind him to evaluate the advancement of their rivals. But there were no real threats.

Velazquez set down on him as they reached the stretch, but it was only a learning experience for Jocosity. The others had no chance. Despite running a tad greenly, Jocosity continued to open up on the field, sailing to the wire with ease. Crossing the wire 7 ½ lengths in front, Jocosity posted an impressive final time of 1:02.85 – just 0.34 seconds off the track record.

Prior to breaking his maiden, Jocosity had contested twice – both starts coming twice over Woodbine’s all-weather track. In his first start, which came this June in a four and one-half-furlong maiden special weight, Jocosity did not come away from the gate well, breaking inward abruptly. He sat off of the pace set by Bear’s Fur while racing wide and was unable to catch that horse in the stretch, finishing second by 1 ½ lengths.

Interestingly, Jocosity already has stakes experience. In his second start, the colt finished second in the Clarendon Stakes at Woodbine in a trip that saw him stumble and come in contact with another horse at the start. Despite the troubled he endured, Jocosity crossed the wire in second. The fact that Jocosity’ s connections had enough confidence in her ability to send him into a stakes race in just his second start and before he had even won is very encouraging.

Not only has Jocosity been impressive on the track, but he is remarkably bred as well. Bred on a cross similar to that on which the graded stakes winners Cowtown Cat and Shumoos were bred, Jocosity has a pedigree fit for a gifted Thoroughbred.

Jocosity’s sire is Sharp Humor, a graded stakes-winning son of Distorted Humor who came within a half-length of defeating the late, great Barbaro in the Florida Derby (GI). In his rather young career, Sharp Humor has sired the graded stakes-winning Hero of Order, as well as such black-type winners as Angelica Zapata, Glint, Mildly Offensive, and Princess Cecilia. Sharp Humor’s sire, Distorted Humor, is one of the best sires in the nation, being last year’s leading sire in North America and the sire of such grade one winners as Commentator, Don Dandy, Drosselmeyer, Flower Alley, Funny Cide, Hystericalady, and Pathfork.

Sobhy’s Gal, Jocosity’s young unraced dam, has also produced the winning filly Tell Her. Her own dam produced Miss Lola, an earner of over $175,000 who contested in three stakes races. The sire of Sobhy’s Gal is Stormy Atlantic, a son of the great Storm Cat. Though relatively new as a damsire, Stormy Atlantic’s future in that department looks bright, as Storm Cat is the broodmare sire of the champions Folklore and Speightstown.

The sire of Jocosity’s second dam is Carson City, the broodmare sire of Barbaro and Havre de Grace. Jocosity is a descendant of the prolific female family four, which has produced the Triple Crown winners Assault and Gallant Fox, as well as the champions Proud Spell, Real Quiet, and Zenyatta.

Perhaps Jocosity’s jaw-dropping maiden victory on Friday was an indication of what the future holds, or maybe we will never see the same brilliance from him again. But with what he has shown on the track thus far, combined with his excellent pedigree, Jocosity could become an intimidating top racehorse that thrills and delights racing fans with his performances. Only time will tell.

Fortify

A regally bred colt, this Darley homebred is a son of Distorted Humor, who, as aforementioned, is the sire of such grade one winners as Commentator, Don Dandy, Drosselmeyer, Flower Alley, Funny Cide, Hystericalady, and Pathfork. Distorted Humor has been ranked as one of the top five leading sires on the continent six of the past seven years, peaking at number one last year.

Fortify’s dam is the English mare Kotuku, who is a result of the mating between the great A.P. Indy and the group one-winning highweight mare Flagbird. This makes Kotuku a full sister to the graded stakes-winning Anasheed, as well as a half-sister to the listed-placed horses Dubai Belle and Marhoob. Flagbird is a daughter of the Reine De Course mare Up the Flagpole, the graded stakes-winning dam of three grade/group one winners, one grade two winner, and four stakes winners. Interestingly, one of those grade one winners is Prospectors Delite, the dam of the champion Mineshaft and the grade one winner Tomisue’s Delight.

Up the Flagpole herself is a daughter of a Reine De Course mare in The Garden Club, who also produced the multiple graded stakes-winning Nostalgia, the stakes-winning Blushing Cathy. This dam line is full of Reine De Course mares, as it is the Baby League branch of the La Troienne dam line. La Troienne, one of the greatest broodmares of all-time, can be found in the dam lines of such horses as the Kentucky Derby winners Go for Gin, Sea Hero, Smarty Jones, and Super Saver, as well as the champions Busher, Caerleon, Easy Goer, Folklore, Mineshaft, Pleasant Tap, Prairie Bayou, Princess Rooney, Rhythm, and Woodman.

Fortify’s broodmare sire, A.P. Indy, only adds to the excellence of this colt’s pedigree. The son of the great Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew has yielded the dams of many top racehorses, including such grade one winners as Bluegrass Cat, Mr. Sidney, Plum Pretty, Royal Delta, Super Saver, and Wait a While. A.P. Indy has been among the top twenty-five damsires on the continent for the past six years, peaking at number four last year.

Fortify’s spectacular pedigree shone through on Saturday, August 4 when he made his debut at Saratoga. Going six and one-half furlongs over the dirt, Fortify was restless in the gate, but broke well, joining a contingent that went to the lead. He took the lead for a short moment, but Boss Man Rocket – the only horse with experience in the eight-horse field – shot up his inside, leading the way as the two-year-olds raced down the backstretch.

Fortify settled beneath Joe Bravo, allowing Boss Man Rocket to lengthen his advantage to a length and one-half as an initial quarter of 21.73 was recorded. The Darley homebred loomed on Boss Man Rocket’s outside, overtaking him as the far turn began. As Bravo sat still aboard him, Fortify commanded the field as the track began to curve. Nearing the conclusion of the turn, Bravo began to urge the bay colt he was aboard, keeping several lengths between his colt and the others as they swept into the homestretch.

With a half-mile time of 44.93 appearing on the toteboard, Fortify galloped into the homestretch with overwhelming ease and dominance, frolicking down the straightaway while the others failed to keep up with him. Bravo kept to work aboard him, but Fortify had the race in hand, galloping to a 5 ½-length victory, leaving racing fans commending his debut as excitement grew within them regarding this colt’s future.

Fortify certainly has future superstar stamped next him in my books. With one of the most impressive, regal pedigrees you could come across and a debut that could not have been much more remarkable, Fortify is a name racing fans should get used to saying, hearing, and reading about. I could rave not only about his bloodlines all day long, but also his racing talent. Though just a two-year-old with only one race under his belt, this Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is a special Thoroughbred.