Derby Hopeful: Flashback

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

Flashback
Photo by Casey Phillips

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

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

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

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

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

Flashback winning the Robert B. Lewis
Photo by Casey Phillips

Did You Know...?

Photo: Terri Cage

This blog post is a bit different than the others I’ve written. Instead of writing an article, I decided I would write a list of “Did you know…?” questions about horses pointing towards the Breeders’ Cup.

Did you know that…?

·         BC Marathon contender Birdrun is a former claimer, having won a maiden claiming at Saratoga by over ten lengths as a three-year-old

·         If Holiday for Kitten runs in the BC Turf Sprint and wins, she will be the first filly or mare to win the race, though females have contested in the race nine times

·         The dam of BC “Win and You’re in” Natalma Stakes (GIII) winner Northern Passion  also ran in the Natalma, finishing fourth, beaten just 2 ¼ lengths

·         Dual grade one-winning juvenile filly Weemissfrankie, who so far has raced solely in California, is New York-bred

·         BC Juvenile or Juvenile Turf contender Dullahan is a half-brother to Mine That Bird

·         If Turbulent Descent wins the BC Filly & Mare Sprint, she will have won four grade one races at four different tracks

·         Jackson Bend did not win any races last year, but if he wins the BC Dirt Mile, he will have three victories this year, including two grade ones

·         If Goldikova wins the BC Mile for the fourth year in a row, she will surpass $8 million in earnings

·         Top BC Juvenile contenders Union Rags, Creative Cause, and Hansen have won eight races together, with a combined winning margin of 49 ½ lengths

·         The dam of America’s top candidate for the BC Filly & Mare Turf, Stacelita, was a stakes winner

·         In the last sixty days, BC Sprint contender Euroears has had four bullet works

·         Secret Circle, possible starter in either the BC Juvenile Sprint or Juvenile, has won his first two starts by a total winning margin of 12 ½ lengths

·         Mike Smith rode BC Ladies’ Classic contender Zazu in three of her first four starts

·         BC Turf contender Dean’s Kitten has only finished off the board once this year in seven starts

·         BC Classic contender Uncle Mo has had two bullet works in the last sixty days


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Prayers for the Chestnut Blur

I grew nervous as the field for the Lady’s Secret Stakes (GI) headed towards the starting gate. I kept my eyes focused on Blind Luck as she went into the the first slot in the gate. An odd feeling was beginning to grip me. I felt as if something was wrong.

Blind Luck
Photo: Terri Cage

As the fillies and mares rounded the clubhouse turn, I didn’t like how far back Blind Luck was. My dread grew as the horses continued down the backstretch. Blind Luck had allowed Zazu to pass her and was dropping farther back. Finally as the horses came around the far turn, Blind Luck was nowhere to be found. She’d dropped several lengths off the leaders and there was no way she would be in contention.

For the first time ever, Blind Luck finished off the board. My little chestnut blur had become dull and finished last. I was extremely worried about the beloved filly.

HRTV viewers, including me, were told that Blind Luck had galloped out and come back fine, but that she couldn’t keep up and that something was amiss. I will have updates on her on my Facebook page, but for now, let’s all pray for Blind Luck.


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