Derby Hopeful: Union Rags

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.

Union Rags, the early Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite, was one of the most impressive juveniles of 2011. After winning his first three starts by a combined 14 ¼ lengths, Union Rags fell a head short to the fleet Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Yet as the sun set on 2011, many felt that Union Rags was the best two-year-old of 2011.

Union Rags
Photo by Mary Cage

Most didn’t expect to see the early Kentucky Derby favorite in the seventh race at Delaware Park on July 12, 2011, let alone did they assume it would be Union Rags – 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, trainer Michael Matz – most famous in horse racing for training the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro – 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.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile seemed like his for the taking, but a brilliant gray colt that had dominated Turfway Park 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 may have lost the race, but he left a lasting impression on followers of the sport. He clearly has plenty of learning left to do, but he has already showed incredible racing ability. In addition, he has a spectacular pedigree that hints he will only get better.

Union Rags is inbred 3 X 4 to Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector, two of the most influential sires of all-time. His sire is the two-time grade one-winning Dixie Union, who was sadly euthanized in 2010 at age thirteen due to a worsening neurologic problem. The son of the outstanding Dixieland Band also sired the grade one winners Dixie Chatter and Hot Dixie Chick. The sire traced back to many influential sires such as Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, and Seattle Slew.

Union Rags
Photo: Terri Cage

Union Rags’ dam, Tempo, is by the incredible sire Gone West and out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Nijinksy mare Terpsichorist. Tempo is also the dam of the stakes-placed Geefour, Union Rags’ full brother. Tempo is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed Dancing Devlette and the multiple ungraded stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Marry Me Do.

In addition to his spectacular racing talent and pedigree, Union Rags is very athletically built. The bay colt has a very intelligent face, as well as a clean throatlatch and thin neck. He has a very strong shoulder and its angle allows him to be a very well-balanced individual. He has a strong topline, which is shorter in correlation to a longer underline, which in part allows him to be easily divided into even thirds. He is very structurally correct, possessing short, sturdy cannon bones and very straight legs and angular pasterns.

Union Rags brings to the table all that you want to see in a racehorse. There have already been comparisons to Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner that is the horse for which Matz is most famous for training. This is a brilliant colt and he is definitely the rightful early Kentucky Derby favorite.

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Caracortado Zooms Home in Daytona

As the horses galloped home in the Daytona Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita on Sunday, race caller Trevor Denman said, “Caracortado did not fire today.”

Seconds later, he likely regretted those words. His words as Caracortado crossed the finish line were completely different than the ones he had announced at the top of the stretch: “Caracortado: amazing!”

Caracortado
Photo: Terri Cage

On the day after Christmas in 2009, a California-bred two-year-old galloped across my television screen en route to a beautiful victory in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes. He captured my attention and my heart while doing so and seven weeks later, the chestnut made his three-year-old debut when he won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (GII).

Caracortado remained on the Triple Crown trail and six months after a disappointing finish in the Preakness Stakes, the Mike Machowsky trainee returned, making his turf debut in a six-furlong allowance optional claiming at Hollywood Park. He won impressively, leaving the future 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) winner, Amazombie, behind him.

Eight of Caracortado’s last nine starts have been on turf, three of which have been wins. He even made a start in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII), finishing fifth behind the victor, Regally Ready. On Sunday, he got revenge on Regally Ready, defeating the Breeders’ Cup champion with ease.

After a slow start under Rafael Bejarano, Caracortado – whose name means “Scarface” in Spanish because of a scar on his face – raced last in a field of four as the turf sprinters came down the hill at Santa Anita. He raced several lengths off the leaders, seeming to drop farther and farther back. It looked as if he had no chance.

At the top of the stretch, Caracortado could not be seen on the television. Suddenly, his chestnut form reappeared as he accelerated in jaw-dropping fashion. With ease, the California-bred flew past a Breeders’ Cup champion, a multiple graded stakes winner, and a multiple graded stakes-placed horse without any urging from Bejarano in the final stages, earning a celebratory fist pump from the jockey.

“My horse, he showed me a big kick,” Bejarano told HRTV’s Zoe Cadman after the race.

That was an understatement. The final quarter mile of the race was run in 22.39 seconds and the final sixteenth was run in 6.17.

Caracortado has definitely found his niche on the turf. This horse has an absolutely incredible turn of foot and on the turf, it is even more impressive. I am thrilled to see a colt that I have followed since he was a two-year-old continue to do well as an older horse. I am expecting a great year from Caracortado in 2012. After all, the Breeders’ Cup is at Santa Anita this year.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

How Much Would They Earn Now?

Curlin
Photo: Terri Cage

In 2008, we saw the spectacular Curlin become the richest North American racehorse of all time, retiring with earnings of $10,501,800. When he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) as a four-year-old, he surpassed Cigar, who earned $9,999,815. Many will argue that Skip Away was the richest North American horse of all-time, as he did not travel to Dubai like Curlin and Cigar did and earn money outside of North American.

Though the three previously mentioned horses are some of the greatest racehorses of all-time, many of the other greatest racehorses of all-time – such as Man o’ War, Native Dancer, and Secretariat – did not earn near as much as Curlin, Cigar, or Skip Away. Why? The answer is simple: on average, purses were much smaller when many of the greats ran.

Had the purses for the races the following fifteen horses ran in been the same as they were in 2011 or the last time those specific races were run, this is approximately what they would have earned:

Curlin:
Race Record: 16 Starts – 11 Firsts – 2 Seconds – 2 Thirds
Notable Wins: Preakness Stakes (GI)
                          Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (GI) – twice
                          Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI)
                          Dubai World Cup (GI)
                          Stephen Foster Handicap (GI)
                          Woodward Stakes (GI)
Real Earnings: $10,501,800 (without Dubai earnings: $6,796,800)
Approximate “Now” Earnings: $12,804,927 (without Dubai World Cup: $6,699,927)

Skip Away:
Race Record: 38 Starts – 18 Firsts – 10 Seconds – 6 Thirds
Notable Wins: Haskell Invitational Handicap (GI)
                          Woodbine Million Stakes (GI)
                          Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) – twice
                          Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI)
                          Donn Handicap (GI)
                          Gulfstream Park Handicap (GI)
                          Pimlico Special Handicap (GI)
                          Hollywood Gold Cup (GI)
                          Woodward Stakes (GI)
Real Earnings: $9,616,360
Approximate “Now” Earnings: $8,803,903
*Many of the races in which Skip Away ran in have since been lowered in purse amounts, been downgraded, or were not run at all. He is the only one on this list whose earnings would be lower now.

Cigar:
Race Record: 33 Starts – 19 Firsts – 4 Seconds – 5 Thirds
Notable Wins: NYRA Mile Handicap (GI)
                          Donn Handicap (GI) – twice
                          Gulfstream Park Handicap (GI)
                          Oaklawn Handicap (GI)
                          Pimlico Special Handiap (GI)
                          Hollywood Gold Cup (GI)
                          Woodward Stakes (GI) – twice
                          Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI)
                          Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI)
                           Dubai World Cup (GI)
Real Earnings: $9,999,815 (without Dubai earnings: $6,999,815)
Approximate “Now” Earnings: $14,047,986 (without Dubai earnings: $8,047,986)

Alysheba:
Race Record: 26 Starts – 11 Firsts – 8 Seconds – 2 Thirds
Notable Wins: Kentucky Derby (GI)
                          Preakness Stakes (GI)
                          Super Derby (GI)
                          Charles H. Strub Stakes (GI)
                          Santa Anita Handicap (GI)
                          Philip H. Iselin Handicap (GI)
                          Woodward Handicap (GI)
                          Meadowlands Cup Handicap (GI)
                          Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI)
Real Earnings: $6,679,242
Approximate “Now” Earnings: $8,782,586                     

John Henry:

Race Record: 83 Starts – 39 Firsts – 15 Seconds – 9 Thirds

Notable Wins: San Luis Rey Stakes (GI) – twice
                          San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (GI)
                          Hollywood Invitational Handicap (GI) – three times
                          Oak Tree Invitational Stakes (GI) – three times
                          Santa Anita Handicap (GI) – twice
                          Arlington Million (GI) – twice

                          Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI)
                          Hollywood Turf Cup (GI)

                          Sunset Handicap (GI)

                          Turf Classic (GI)

Real Earnings: $6,591,860

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $7,256,740

Spectacular Bid:

Race Record: 30 Starts – 26 Starts – 2 Seconds – 1 Third
Notable Wins: Champagne Stakes (GI)
                           Laurel Futurity (GI)
                           Florida Derby (GI)
                           Flamingo Stakes (GI)

                           Blue Grass Stakes (GI)

                           Kentucky Derby (GI)

                           Preakness Stakes (GI)

                           Marlboro Cup Handicap (GI)

                           Charles H. Strub Stakes (GI)

                           Santa Anita Handicap (GI)

                           Californian Stakes (GI)

                           Amory L. Haskell Handicap (GI)

                           Woodward Stakes (GI)

Real Earnings: $2,781,608

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $7,424,430

Affirmed:
Race Record: 29 Starts – 22 Firsts – 5 Seconds – 1 Third
Notable Wins: Hopeful Stakes (GI)
                           Futurity Stakes (GI)
                           Laurel Futurity (GI)
                           Santa Anita Derby (GI)
                           Hollywood Derby (GI)
                           Kentucky Derby (GI)
                           Preakness Stakes (GI)
                           Belmont Stakes (GI)

                           Charles H. Strub Stakes (GI)
                           Santa Anita Handicap (GI)
                           Californian Stakes (GI)
                           Hollywood Gold Cup (GI)
                           Woodward Stakes (GI)
                           Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI)
Real Earnings: $2,393,818

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $7,251,100


Seattle Slew:

Race Record: 17 Starts – 14 Firsts – 2 Seconds – 0 Thirds

Notable Wins: Champagne Stakes (GI)

                           Flamingo Stakes (GI)

                           Wood Memorial Stakes (GI)
                           Kentucky Derby (GI)
                           Preakness Stakes (GI)
                           Belmont Stakes (GI)
                           Marlboro Cup Handicap (GI)
                           Woodward Stakes (GI)
Real Earnings: $1,208,726
Approximate “Now” Earnings: $5,763,260

Secretariat:

Race Record: 21 Starts – 16 Firsts – 3 Seconds – 1 Third

Notable Wins:  Hopeful Stakes

   Laurel Futurity
   Kentucky Derby (GI)

   Preakness Stakes (GI)

   Belmont Stakes (GI)
   Marlboro Cup Handicap
   Man O’ War Stakes

Real Earnings: $1,316,808
Approximate “Now” Earnings: $6,109,890

Dr. Fager:

Race Record: 22 Starts – 18 Firsts – 2 Seconds – 1 Third

Notable Wins: Champagne Stakes

                          Vosburgh Handicap – twice

                          Californian Stakes

                          Suburban Handicap

                          Whitney Handicap

                          United Nations Handicap

Real Earnings: $1,002,642

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $2,858,070

Buckpasser:

Race Record: 31 Starts – 25 Firsts – 4 Seconds – 1 Third

Notable Wins: Hopeful Stakes

                           Champagne Stakes

                           Flamingo Stakes

                           Travers Stakes

                           Woodward Stakes

                           Jockey Club Gold Cup

                           Malibu Stakes

                           Metropolitan Handicap

                           Suburban Handicap

Real Earnings: $1,462,014

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $3,915,425

Northern Dancer:

Race Record: 18 Starts – 14 Firsts – 2 Seconds – 2 Thirds

Notable Wins: Summer Stakes

Remsen Stakes 
  Coronation Futurity

  Carleton Stakes

  Flamingo Stakes

  Florida Derby

  Blue Grass Stakes

  Kentucky Derby

  Preakness Stakes

  Queen’s Plate

Real Earnings: $580,647

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $5,159,830
                                               

Native Dancer:

Race Record: 22 Starts – 21 Firsts – 1 Seconds – 0 Thirds

Notable Wins: Saratoga Special Stakes

                          Hopeful Stakes
                          Wood Memorial Stakes
                          Preakness Stakes
                          Belmont Stakes

                          Dwyer Stakes
                          Travers Stakes
                          Metropolitan Handicap

Real Earnings: $785,240   

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $5,144,060

Citation:       
Race Record: 45 Starts – 32 Firsts – 10 Seconds – 2 Thirds

Notable Wins: Futurity Stakes

                          Flamingo Stakes

                          Kentucky Derby

                          Preakness Stakes

                          Belmont Stakes

                          Jockey Club Gold Cup

                          Pimlico Special

                          Hollywood Gold Cup

Real Earnings: $ 1,085,760

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $5,816,240
                                         

Man O’ War:           
Race Record: 21 Starts – 20 Wins – 1 Second – 0 Thirds

Notable Wins: Hopeful Stakes

                           Futurity Stakes

                           Preakness Stakes

                           Belmont Stakes

                           Dwyer Stakes

                           Travers Stakes

                           Jockey Club Gold Cup     

Real Earnings: $249,465

Approximate “Now” Earnings: $3,895,175          

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Brilliant Speed: Always Brilliant

With turf superstars such as Gio Ponti and Cape Blanco retired to stud, the turf male division must direct its attention to new turf stars for 2012. Though we will lack many of the classy turf horses we've seen in past years, the division will still be deep. Acclamation should return after his spectacular year in 2011, as should the prospering gelding Sanagas and the spectacular Mr. Commons, but where do we look to make the division deeper? We look to the underrated, grade one-winning Brilliant Speed.

Despite carrying the well-known black, red, and white silks of Live Oak Plantation onto the track, Brilliant Speed didn’t exactly turn heads when he made his racing debut. Not only was his performance unimposing, but the colt went off at odds of 20-1, which made him the third longest shot on the board.

Brilliant Speed
Photo: Terri Cage

Most people’s attention was on the winner of the race, Boys at Tosconova, who had debuted in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes (GIII) – finishing third – and would eventually go on to be a grade one winner. Boys at Tosconova won the five furlong maiden special weight over Belmont Park’s dirt surface by twelve lengths while Brilliant Speed finished 19 ¼ lengths behind him, finishing fourth in a field of seven.

Next out, Brilliant Speed tried the Saratoga dirt surface in a seven-furlong maiden special weight, but turned in yet another lackluster performance, finishing seventh of nine. The bay son of Dynaformer finished behind two future graded stakes winners in that race: the grade three-winning Joe Vann and the grade two-winning and Kentucky Derby (GI) third-place finisher, Mucho Macho Man.

Four weeks later, the Tom Albertrani trainee made his return to Belmont, making his turf debut and finishing third at odds of 9-1 behind the late multiple graded stakes-winning Banned while finishing willingly. He finished third on the Belmont turf yet again in his next start, showing a good turn of foot while going wide to finish behind the future multiple stakes-placed Beachcombing and grade three-winning Derby Kitten.

Brilliant Speed didn’t race for over two months, returning in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs. Despite traffic problems, the bay colt crossed the wire a length and one-half in front of the others.

Ever since, Brilliant Speed has faced only stakes company. Three weeks after his breakthrough maiden victory, the half-brother to the now graded stakes-placed Souper Speedy made both his three-year-old and stakes debut in the Dania Beach Stakes. After encountering traffic problems, Brilliant Speed finished second by a nose to Adirondack Summer. While doing so, the Live Oak Plantation homebred defeated six future stakes winners.

With just inches keeping the colt from his first stakes win in the Dania Beach, Albertrani pointed Brilliant Speed to the mile and one-sixteenth Hallandale Beach Stakes, in which he faced many of the same horses he had competed against in the Dania Beach. However, the colt was to face trouble and just miss yet again. After being forced wide by King Congie, who was later disqualified to third, Brilliant Speed crossed the wire in third and was moved up to second.

Brilliant Speed
Photo: Terri Cage

After over two months away from the races, the Dynaformer colt faced his biggest test yet: the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland. Not only would it be Brilliant Speed’s first try against grade one competition, but it would be his first race over a synthetic surface. In spite of being sent off at 19-1, the colt swept to a narrow victory under Joel Rosario, leaving in his wake horses that had won or would go on to win a total of five graded stakes and eight ungraded stakes.

Even though Brilliant Speed had run primarily on non-dirt surfaces, the talented three-year-old was pointed toward the greatest two minutes in sports – also known as the Kentucky Derby – which of course is run on dirt. After all, the Blue Grass winner had run in the Derby for twenty-eight consecutive years.

At nearly 28-1, Brilliant Speed raced extremely wide and despite closing well, he finished seventh in a tight three-horse photo finish. In nearly any other race, a seventh-place finish is quite a blemish, but by finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby, Brilliant Speed defeated twelve horses, ten of which had won or would go on to win seventeen graded stakes races altogether.

His connections opted to skip the Preakness Stakes (GI) and aim for the Belmont Stakes (GI), the final leg of the Triple Crown. The Florida-bred colt went off at much lower odds in the Belmont than he did in the Derby – 11-1 – due to the fact that he was a “wise guy” horse. Racing wide yet again, Brilliant Speed rallied well over the sloppy track but couldn’t hang on and finished third in the mile and one-half race.

Following seven weeks away from the races, Brilliant Speed returned in the Jim Dandy Stakes (GIII) on Saratoga’s dirt surface. He finished fifth, defeating just two horses: the future stakes-winning Will’s Wildcat and the grade three-winning Scotus.

It was decided that Brilliant Speed would make his return to turf, which he had not raced on since finishing second in the Hallandale Beach Stakes in February. Just over five weeks after his disappointing performance in the Jim Dandy, Brilliant Speed went off as the favorite in the Saranac Stakes (GIII), a nine-furlong turf event contested over Saratoga’s inner turf course. With an imposing turn of foot, the athletic bay struck to the lead in the final furlong, sweeping by the others to score by 2 ½ lengths. Beaten by Brilliant Speed were the winners of seven stakes races total.

Brilliant Speed competed against grade one company on the turf in his next start, the Jamaica Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park. Due to the sluggish pace, the Albertrani trainee sat near the pace throughout the race, though he usually closes from mid-pack. Brilliant Speed and Western Aristocrat, who was making his North American debut, battled neck and neck around the far turn and though Brilliant Speed tried valiantly, he could not pass Western Aristocrat and finished second, beaten a length.

Brilliant Speed
Photo by Mary Cage

Brilliant Speed’s final race as a three-year-old would be one of his toughest tasks to date: the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (GI) at Churchill Downs. Facing some of the most talented grass horses in the world, Brilliant Speed was one of four American-trained horses in the nine-horse field. As the third longest shot on the board, the three-year-old made a rally on the outside on the far turn and took the lead at the top of the stretch, maintaining it until inside the final furlong, when he was overtaken by the gifted European horses St. Nicholas Abbey and Sea Moon.

Brilliant Speed has always faced quality fields, even while he was still running in the maiden ranks. The colt will return for a four-year-old campaign in 2012 and will hopefully continue to display his ability to run against the best. If he does, he will likely be pointed toward some of the nation’s top grass races, as Brilliant Speed has never finished out of the money on the turf and has earned$460,000 – nearly 44% of his earnings – on the grass. The turf is clearly where his brilliance shines.

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Derby Hopeful: Hierro

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.

A colt I have followed since his second career start, Hierro is one of the newly-turned three-year-olds that impressed me the most last year. After two good efforts – the second of which he landed on my watch list –, the son of the grade one-winning Hard Spun brilliantly broke his maiden at Churchill Downs.

Hard Spun, his sire, was a versatile racehorse and was 2011’s second-leading first-crop sire. A multiple stakes winner at two, the son of the influential Danzig won four graded stakes as a three-year-old, including the seven-furlong King’s Bishop Stakes (GI). He also finished second in two prestigious ten-furlong races: the Kentucky Derby (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). In fact, Hard Spun placed in four grade ones as a sophomore, three of which were classics. The beautifully bred bay won at a range of five and one-half furlongs to nine furlongs and won on two different surfaces: dirt and synthetic. With a versatile sire and dam, Hard Spun should pass on his versatility to his offspring.

Hierro’s dam, the grade-three placed Brief Bliss, has also produced a multiple stakes winner who is also graded stakes-placed, a stakes-placed filly, winners on every surface, and winners in sprint and route races. Through his grandsire Navarone, Hierro traces back to Never Bend, who traces back to the incredibly influential mare La Troienne.

We have frequently seen how important a prior start over the Churchill surface is for horses in the Kentucky Derby. For instance, Super Saver won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs as a two-year-old, Street Sense ran twice at Churchill Downs as a juvenile – including a dominant victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI), Monarchos raced under the Twin Spires once as a two-year-old, Real Quiet ran at Churchill three times as a juvenile, and Grindstone made one start at the Louisville track as a two-year-old. If Hierro makes it to the Kentucky Derby, he will already have not only a start at Churchill Downs to his credit, but a win.

It is not just the fact that Hierro already has a Churchill victory to his credit that is impressive. The way he won that start is even more imposing. He showed the ability to rate, sitting just off the leaders for most of the race before taking the lead just before the quarter pole. From then on, he easily drew away from the field to win by 5 ¼, running the final eighth in 12.66 seconds despite never really being asked.

Hierro’s next start should come at the Santa Anita meet, where trainer Steve Asmussen has stabled many horses. The Stonestreet Stables-owned colt has worked five times over Santa Anita’s dirt surface, the most recent an impressive 47.60 half-mile breeze. He is being pointed toward the Sham Stakes (GIII) at one mile at Santa Anita on January 7, where he will likely meet up with my favorite three-year-old colt, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint-winning Secret Circle.

With his versatile pedigree and racing style, Hierro looks like a force to be reckoned with. We should soon find out how he competes against graded stakes company. Should he be competitive and stay sound and healthy, Hierro will be a threat on the Derby trail.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Derby Hopeful: Secret Circle

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.

Secret Circle captured my attention more so than any other two-year-old in 2011. On July 23, 2011, I kept my eyes glued to the television for the third race at Del Mar. As a two-year-old race, I was eager to see how the race would play out. A superstar could very well come out of the race.

When Secret Circle overcame his rail position and pounced to the lead in the early stages of the race, my eyes focused on the flashy bay. I had missed the post parade, so I hadn’t gotten a good look at the horses prior to the race. However, this colt just screamed class and I could tell he was a Bob Baffert trainee with his Mike Pegram silks and blue shadow roll. My eyes were riveted by the bay two-year-old and I didn’t look at any other horse as the juveniles raced down the backstretch of the synthetic track.

Secret Circle
Photo: Terri Cage

He moved beautifully, his knees flat and his stride fluid as he galloped along on the lead. With slight asking from Rafael Bejarano, Secret Circle accelerated and drew away from the field. In the final stages of the race, Bejarano geared the colt down and even pumped his fist after they crossed the wire. Secret Circle had impressed me exceedingly and galloped his way into my heart.

Immediately following the race, my words were, “I found my Derby horse!”

Not only had Secret Circle impressed me with the way he ran, but when I looked at his pedigree, I was left even more fascinated. He is by one of my personal favorite stallions, Eddington, who is by the Kentucky Derby (GI)- and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI)-winning Unbridled. He is the second foal out of his dam, Ragtime Hope, who was a multiple stakes winner.

Secret Circle earned his spot in my Equibase Virtual Stable © and I followed him closely. However, he did not start for over eleven weeks. He made his return in the Jack Goodman Stakes at Santa Anita. Not only was it his first start against stakes company, but it was his first start on dirt. It was not a problem, however. The son of the grade one-winning Eddington drew off to win the stakes by 5 ¼ lengths and was geared down late, though he drifted in slightly.

With his two remarkable victories, the last stop for the Bob Baffert trainee’s juvenile career was the inaugural Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs. I was excited to see the colt in person and was impressed by the class he carried himself with as he strolled past me, just inches away. I knew the race was his.

Photo: Terri Cage

The win didn’t come as easily as expected, at least in terms of winning margin. Secret Circle and Trinniberg set an absolutely wicked pace: the first quarter in 20.96, the first half in 44.55, and the initial five furlongs in 56.99. Secret Circle didn’t come home very quickly (13.53), but that was to be expected with the slow track labeled “good” and blazing fractions. He drifted out severely, but surely he was weary from the intense fractions and tiring track. Plus, he was running with blinkers for the first time.

Secret Circle returned to the work tab thirteen days after his Breeders’ Cup victory and has recorded six works since that win. The point of these works was to teach the fast colt to relax. He has been worked with and without blinkers, though the bay colt seems to be more relaxed without them. On December 22, he worked in company with Candrea without blinkers, relaxing several lengths behind her before catching up. Six days later, the colt went six furlongs in 1:10.80. He is expected to make his three-year-old debut in the Sham Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita on January 7, which would also be his two-turn debut.

Many people doubt Secret Circle’s ability to go long, but I believe that if Bob Baffert continues to train the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint-winning colt to relax, Secret Circle will have no problem routing. His sire, Eddington, was by Unbridled, a horse that placed in the top four of all three 1990 Triple Crown races – including a victory in the Kentucky Derby –, won the ten-furlong Breeders’ Cup Classic as a three-year-old, finished second in the ten-furlong Secretariat Stakes (GI) on turf, and finished third in the Breeeders’ Cup Classic as a four-year-old. Eddington himself won two mile and three-sixteenth races: the Pimlico Special Handicap (GI) and the Gulfstream Park Handicap (GII). He also finished third in the mile and three-sixteenths Preakness Stakes (GI), fourth in the twelve-furlong Belmont Stakes (GI), and third in the ten-furlong Travers Stakes (GI).

The longest distance Secret Circle’s dam, Ragtime Hope, won at was a mile and one-sixteenth. Ragtime Hope is also a half-sister to Really Polish, whose greatest victory came in the mile and one-sixteenth Dogwood Stakes (GIII). Really Polish, whose longest winning distance was nine furlongs, also finished third in the nine-furlong Kentucky Oaks (GI).

As long as Secret Circle has the mental toughness to learn how to relax, he has the ability to go long. He is an extremely fast, talented colt that I will be closely following for the rest of his career. Hopefully this is only the beginning of his journey.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Diary of Dexter: A December Day

Diary of Dexter is a series within Past the Grandstand about my retired racehorse, Wet Paint (AKA Dexter). Periodically, the blog will feature updates on the grandson of Storm Cat. You will really grow to love this wonderful horse.

Dexter
Photo: Terri Cage

Much of this December has been full of cold, dreary days emphasized by cloudy skies, fog, pouring rain, and annoying drizzle. However, in the past couple of days, the sun has lit up the bright blue sky, leaving the temperatures in the mid-60s. That is what I call perfect riding weather.

The problem is, the weather has been damp quite a bit lately, which left the ground muddy for quite some time. Therefore, I did not get to ride as often as I wanted to. Yet, in these last few days of December, the ground has been ideal for riding, as has the weather.

Dexter had not been ridden in much too long. So when I saddled him in a Western saddle, I didn’t know what to expect. I led him out to the round pen, beginning to longe him. He behaved beautifully and soon I swung myself into the saddle.

“Good to be back,” I murmured to Dexter, leaning forward and petting his neck.

After some bending exercises and walking, I urged Dexter into a jog. He trotted along energetically, responding to my cues. After several laps around the round pen at a jog, I asked Dexter for a lope.

Since it had been so long since I’d last ridden him, I wasn’t sure if he would get his leads right. Yet he picked up the correct lead in each direction on the first try. As always, loping him brought a smile to my face.

Meanwhile, my mom was riding my mare and Dexter’s best friend, Pebbles, in the riding area outside of the round pen. I rode Dexter out of the pen to meet her and we rode around leisurely, doing some exercises to help Dexter remember that he didn’t always have to be in front of the other horse. He caught on quickly, behaving beautifully despite the clanging of someone building a fence nearby.

Just before we dismounted, I mentioned to my mom that three of the last four horses I have ridden have been Thoroughbreds, which is abnormal since I normally ride Quarter Horses, as I show them in 4-H. In fact, two of the past Thoroughbreds I have ridden were horses with touching stories that won over half-a-million dollars: Lights on Broadway and King of Speed.

Dexter only managed to win $32,851, but like Lights and King, Dexter is incredibly intelligent. I admire off-the-track Thoroughbreds greatly, especially because of their breathtaking intellect, and to have my own is an opportunity I have always dreamed of. Now I’m living the dream. Thank you, Dexter and thank you, Remember Me Rescue for my wonderful boy.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.