ALPHA (KY)
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Godolphin Stable
Breeder: Darley
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Bernardini (A.P. Indy, Cara Rafaela)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Munnaya (Nijinksy (CAN), Hiaam)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 7-6-19-4-0 (36) 1.67
Foal Date: March 11, 2009

Alpha has turf influence in his breeding. He's out of the Nijinsky II mare Munnaya, who won an English listed stakes. Munnaya has produced four horses with black type, including Mystic Melody, who in France captured a listed stakes and placed in two Group 3 events.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Alpha finished twelfth, beaten 19 1/4 lengths. The chart call: "Alpha awkward at the start, was outrun early, raced six wide into the stretch and could not menace."

KIARAN MCLAUGHLIN – “It’s disappointing. He really kind of lost it in the paddock. I felt like he was really hot and bothered. It’s tough on horses, the preliminary stuff. He was great in the gate, but he did get very hot in the paddock and he just ran dull. Not a good effort.”

RAJIV MARAGH – “Not the finish I was expecting but in the early part of the race it was happening really good, just the way I had hoped – a speed duel and just settle down. But after that he just couldn’t pick it up.”

April 7, Grade I Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 MIle. Alpha, at 2-1,  finished well after being steadied in the first turn while inside;  Alpha was beaten a neck by 6-5 Gemologist. Usually a forwardly-running influence, Gemologist was content to rate in third  behind a pace set by The Lumber Guy, who led the field through rank fractions of :23.04, :47.56 and 1:12.  My Adonis was positioned in second until the field turned for home, closer to the early pace than many expected. Leaving the far turn, both My Adonis and Gemologist moved to overtake The Lumber Guy, and both did. But Gemologist soon put away My Adonis and then held off an advancing Alpha. Gemologist and Javier Castellano hit the wire first to finish the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.96.

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of Alpha: “Ramon said he thought maybe the winner was waiting for us a little bit. We had a true test, and we passed our test, we just didn’t win. He was very good in the gate. I don’t know if people noticed, but nobody was in the gate with him. We asked for no handler today. He was very good in the gate, he got checked into the first turn hard, but he still ran great with a little traffic and took the dirt well. We got beat “a zop”, but we’re going on to May 5.

"It was a good race and a good test, he did everything right except not win. Gemologist won, so he’s a very nice horse and a great outfit. You have to respect Todd and the ride and the horse; he’s still undefeated. This actually probably was the most impressive race as a trainer with Alpha because of everything that happened. He wasn’t out three wide in the clear, and he was running against quality horses and ran very well. So, we’ll make sure with Simon Crisford that we’re going on to May 5, but that’s what we intend to do, and we’ve got the earnings now. Great run, we just missed.”

Ramon Dominguez, rider aboard Alpha: “The only unfortunate thing that happened was going into the first turn, there was a lot of pressure coming from the outside. I had to take up because I was almost on the rail, they were kind of bouncing into me, and it cost me some position going into the first turn. It didn’t take long after that to get him into gear. From there I had a great trip.

Turning for home, I got excited. I thought I was going to run down the winner. It seemed like the closer I got to him, the other horse was kind of looking around somewhere. When he felt my pressure, he went on again. I’m very happy with my horse, I thought he took a step forward from his last race. Today he got tested, he was towards the inside getting kickback, had trouble on the first turn and despite all that it was a very solid performance.”

April 2 NOTE: In New York now for the Grade I Wood Memorial.

March 27 NOTE: Not entered in the Louisiana Derby.

March 22 NOTE: He's going to the Grade II Louisiana Derby or the Grade I Wood Memorial.

March 18 NOTE: Reported a couple of days ago that there are three options: the Florida Derby, the Wood and the Louisiana Derby.

March 7 NOTE: Looks like Alpha will in fact stay put for the Grade I Florida Derby on March 31 instead of going back North for the Grade I Wood Memorial. “Considering the way Union Rags and Hansen won their last starts, we won’t be favored in either race,” trainer McLaughlin said to DRF.com. “But at the moment I’m leaning more towards staying down here now for the Florida Derby. I love the timing, the field size should be small and we get to keep Ramon.” Ramon Dominguez is the regular rider for both Alpha and Hansen.

Feb. 29 NOTE: “We’re taking a strong look at the Florida Derby. It might come up a five-horse field. And we know Ramon will be here that day to ride Grace Hall in the Oaks,” trainer McLaughlin told DRF.com.

Feb. 10 NOTE: Alpha will train at Palm Meadows and is being pointed to the Wood Memorial next. "There is a plane going back to the Gotham if we change our minds," trainer McLaughlin told DRF.com on Feb. 8.

Feb. 5 NOTE: Trainer McLaughlin said Alpha is in good shape and would likely remain in New York. If Alpha were to skip the Gotham and run in the Wood Memorial, McLaughlin said he might ship to Florida to train. “We’ll look at the Gotham/Wood, talk to Simon Crisford and see if we want to run him two more times, or one more time,” said McLaughlin. "We like having him here in New York.”

Feb. 4, Grade III Withers Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 Mile. Alpha easily won and will move on to the Gotham Stakes via the New York route to the Kentucky Derby -- or not.

As expected, How Do I Win set the pace on the inner dirt course and led the field through fractions of :23.71, :48.04 and 1:12.71. Alpha, the 1-4 favorite, broke well from the gate and went three wide into the first turn where he and Hakama, who was stalking How Do I Win, bumped. Meanwhile, 44-1 and by far the longest shot in the field, Speightscity was not far from the lead.

After Alpha relaxed down the backstretch, the shape of the race began to change on the far turn. Alpha began moving up on the outside of horses when Ramon Dominguez roused him. Alpha took over in upper stretch and led by four lengths with a furlong left. Speightscity and Tiger Walk passed tired horses Hakama and How Do I Win in the stretch. Meanwhile, Alpha was geared down as the approached the wire. Alpha prevailed by 3 1/4 lengths over Speightscity, who was in turn 1 3/4 length ahead of Tiger Walk at the finish. They were followed by How Do I Win, King Kid and Hakama. The winning time for 1 1/16 mile was 1:44.23.

Kiaran McLaughlin: “He was a little wide into the first turn, looked like a couple came out into him and forced him even wider, but then on the backside he settled back in. He had to move a little bit early but he responded when asked, so it was an impressive race. It was impressive the way he finished. Ramon knows him well, he’s got great hands and he’s a great jockey, so we’re just happy with things. Anytime you’re 1-5 you get a little bit nervous. It’s nice to be 1-5 because they have you to beat, but it’s also a little nerve-wracking. We were hoping he’d win like that.”

“He was great in the gate. We’ve been schooling him a lot. It worked out today. Obviously it’s nice to be outside, but at some point he’s going to have to be inside, so we’ll see how our schooling is working.”

“I think he improved some [from the Count Fleet] because of how wide he was both trips, and he was better in the gate. He gets a better grade for this race – if it was a ‘B’ last time, he gets an ‘A’ this time.”

“The plans will be to talk to Simon Crisford from Godolphin to see which way to go. He’s here in New York right now, but he could relocate, or he could run back in the Gotham in a month. We’ll just have to talk about it. At least we got $120,000 in graded earnings [today] going forward to the first Saturday in May. That’s important.”

“There are some good 3-year-olds around the country and it’s hard to tell what he actually beat today. Union Rags is out there, Todd Pletcher has what looks like a shedrow full of them, Out of Bounds in California for Darley  … whatever direction he goes, there’s some nice 3-year-olds out there. We hope we fit in there well with them all.”

Ramon Dominguez: “He was excellent [in the gate]. He walked in there and my idea was to bring him along and try not to mess with him. The [starter] had to push him back to get him into position and he was perfect. I know they have done a lot of schooling and [the gate] wasn’t an issue today.

“I was a little concerned, of course. You always want to save ground, and after I went wide through the first turn my main goal was to try and get him to relax. I felt like to do that, I had to get him behind the horse that was directly in front of me. He switched off and relaxed to the point that I really had no idea whether I had any horse or not. I was going through the motions.

"Past the half-mile, when I tried to put a little pressure to start making my run, he jumped on the bridle and was pretty handy from there. I was a little more familiar with the horse [today] and I kind of knew what to expect, but I thought he moved forward from his last race. Although that race was good to begin with, I was very happy with his race today. I thought he improved. He finished up nice, and the last eighth he was really doing it on his own and galloped out good. Just the way you want to see.

Jan. 30 NOTE: “Very, very happy, in hand, just stretching his legs,” assistant trainer Artie Magnuson said. Magnuson told DRF.com that Alpha worked only once between starts because he'd been shipped from Florida shortly before the Count Fleet and is small.

Jan. 29 NOTE: “The thought is all of them,” said assistant trainer Artie Magnuson. “We could skip one if we want, but the thought is to just do all four. The Kentucky Derby is very important, but this series is very important. These aren’t preps, these are important races, so we’re treating them that way. We take the Withers very seriously, and the Gotham. We’ve won a stake and that’s nice, and this is graded, that’s important, everything’s very important. Apha needs to show up, needs to run, but we couldn’t be happier with him now.” Alpha still needs gate work and is getting it, Magnuson said.

Jan. 7, Count Fleet Stakes, Aqueduct, One Mile 70 Yards. Odds-on favorite Alpha took the race by 2 1/2 lengths over Stephenoatsee.Alpha raced in third, well off the rail, as Il Villano carried the field of seven through an opening quarter in :24.48, a half in :49.06 and three-quarters in 1:13.91. How Do I Win followed in second. Edging up three-wide on the turn, Alpha took aim on the front-runners and gained the lead with 220 yards to go, cruising under the wire in 1:42.83.

Kiaran McLaughlin by telephone from Florida: “Alpha was just a great win. We’ll probably leave him there.... We’ll probably go to the Withers and on to the Wood with Alpha. For sure we’ll have to talk to the Godolphin people, but that’s what we’ll look at for right now.”

Art Magnuson, assistant to McLaughlin: “He was kind of on his own schedule. He was up at Greentree this summer. There’s no hurry to run any of the 2-year-olds; we have so many. There’s three or four that kind of put themselves at the front of the pack around Saratoga, so we get them started. When he won first time out going seven-eighths, that was a good sign. Ramon was pretty impressed (today). He seemed to think it was going to be even better in the future. He said ‘I’m tracking a slow pace going three-wide and he galloped out very well after that.’ We’re very hopeful for the future.”

Ramon Dominguez: “We were three-wide throughout the whole race; we were tracking the leaders. They went pretty slow. Two sprinters were in the front, and I wasn’t overly concerned about having him any closer, but because of the lack of pace his move was kind of gradual. We were just grinding. Turning for home, he responded every time I asked him. He galloped out so strong that I had to get an outrider to pull him up. You always have to go just by what you have seen, but judging by today he should be able to handle more distance.”

Jan. 2 NOTE: “We do think about the future with Alpha, and hope he’s a Derby-type horse,” said assistant trainer Art Magnuson despite the fact that Alpha was recently returned to New York from Florida, where he'd breezed at Palm Meadows on Dec. 24.

Here's what trainer McLaughlin had to say: “We sent him to New York last Wednesday, and he worked very well this morning. We have several 3-year-olds we think highly of, including Alpha and Consortium and some others who haven’t started yet, and we’re trying to split them up. We have had great success in New York with our runners during the winter. At the Breeders’ Cup, he lost it in the gate, and we’re hoping he will step up off that effort. He’s a nice horse.”

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Sept. 3, Maiden Special Weight, Saratoga, Seven Furlongs. He won by six and was timed in 1:23.97 after laying about five lengths back of early splits of :22.59 and :45.27. Ten ran. Alpha was 6-1. Favored Africanist was 7-5 and finished third. The chart call: "Alpha was hustled from the start then urged along on the inside, came under a strong ride while inside early on the turn, moved off the rail while advancing near the five-sixteenths pole, stormed to the front in upper stretch and drew away under steady urging."

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin: “He drew down toward the inside, the 3 hole he had, and I was afraid of two who had already started (Invocation and Africanist) because seven-eighths is a hard distance first-time out. It was a ‘wow’ performance. He ran huge. Everything went right for him and he won easily. We don’t win that often first-time out, so that was nice.

“We try to get them all started on the dirt, and he trained well on the dirt. We will probably look at the Champagne on October 8. It’s a big step up, but that’s what you have to do these days. We’ll also see what Sheikh Mohammed and his people want us to do.”

Sept. 18 NOTE: “He’s smallish-framed, so he doesn’t need to work every week,” said trainer McLaughlin.

Sept. 23 NOTE: Following a Sept. 21 workout, the trainer said the stable colors would be switched from Darley's to Godolphin's. “He’ll work one more time for the Champagne,” said trainer McLaughlin. “He’s going to change jerseys. He’ll have a blue jersey on him. He’ll run under my name, but a different jersey. He’ll go from maroon to blue  We’ll take it one race at a time. If he graduates from McLaughlin High School and goes on to college, we’ll be proud and hopeful.”

Sept. 30 NOTE: "Stepping up to a grade I is not easy, but we want to see where we stand. Alpha, we figure he belongs for sure. Going from seven-eighths to a mile, he wants the distance," trainer McLaughlin said.

“They take us there,” said McLaughlin. “We’re not trying to win impressively first-time out to sell them. We don’t usually sell any, and we don’t put them behind dirt and work them, work them, and work them. We would rather have them race and learn from the race and get experience in the race. Usually, they improve a lot second time, but neither (Alpha or stable mate Miss Netta) can probably improve a lot; they ran great and were more ready than we thought.”

Oct. 8, Grade I Champagne Stakes, Belmont Park, One Mile. Alpha, the 2-1 second choice, closed from last to gain second, a neck ahead of longshot Right to Vote. But 6-5 favorite Union Rags abruptly changed course in mid-stretch after being blocked and went on to a 5 1/4-length victory.

With Javier Castellano aboard, Union Rags was bumped at the break and had to settle in fifth behind Right to Vote and Power World as they took the field of eight juveniles through an opening quarter-mile in :22.74 and a half in :45.84.

With nowhere to go as they headed for home, Castellano first tried to steer Union Rags between horses, but then angled sharply to the outside. Once clear, the big colt took off with a rousing late run that carried him under the wire in 1:35.55 for the mile.

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of runner-up Alpha: “I was happy with the way he ran in only his second start. He finished second to a very nice horse. We’ll go on to the Breeders’ Cup with him.”

Alan Garcia, rider aboard runner-up Alpha: “He was acting up a little bit in the gate and he broke a little slow out of there. It cost me a lot the first part of the race, but he was running very hard at the end.”

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Alpha raised a ruckus at the gate, then finished twelfth, beaten 19 1/4 lengths by Hansen, after being placed fifth after a quarter-mile.

Dec. 22 NOTE: Trainer McLaughlin said he is considering the new Gulfstream Park Derby for Alpha, who had problems at the gate in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and tired to eleventh in an effort considered below his best by connections.

Dec. 31 NOTE: Alpha wasn't entered in the Gulfstream Park Derby.

 

 

BODEMEISTER (VA)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Zayat Stables LLC & Southern Equine Stable
Breeder: Audley Farm, Inc.
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Empire Maker (Unbridled, Toussaud)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Untouched Talent (Storm Cat, Parade Queen)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-9-12-0-2 (32) 3.00
Foal Date: April 28, 2009

Photo by Reed Palmer Photography, Churchll Downs

$260,000 Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Bodemeister set a fast pace that eventually got to him, but he still finished second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by I'll Have Another. The chart call: "Bodemeister vied for the early lead near the rail, took over before a half, led the field through a fast pace into the second turn, increased his lead under urging approaching the stretch, stayed on gamely to the final sixteenth but could not cope with the winner late."

BOB BAFFERT – “He was doing it easily. He was within himself. He was being pressed, but he’s a brilliant horse. That’s the way he wanted to run. We talked about it before. I told Mike, ‘Look, if he breaks great and feels like running, we can win it.’ He ran his race. He was there and he just got tired a little bit. He’s only run four times. I was really proud of him. He’s a super impressive horse.

“When they were coming for him, I was thinking about War Emblem, except War Emblem got :46 and change. If the half could have been in :46 it would have been good, but Mike rode him perfect. I have no complaints there. We got beat. You get beat. But he showed up and that’s all a trainer can ask for is that his horse shows up on the big days, and he showed up.

“I wasn’t surprised. He’s a very fast horse and I didn’t want to change his style. Actually the jockey of Trinniberg had a hold of his horse as best he could, but I knew he was there. That’s horse racing.  The reason I didn’t get pumped up all week is that in a 20-horse Kentucky Derby anything can happen. He ran his race and that’s all you can ask for. That’s the only time I’ve run second where I’ve been happy because he ran his race.”

MIKE SMITH  – “I’m very disappointed, but at the same time I’m just so proud of him. He’s brilliant. He really is. He was flying leaving there. He was two in front leaving the gate. He didn't finish first, but he's still the winner. He's such a free running horse that I couldn't take that away from him. At the top of the stretch, I really thought we had it, but I knew we were in trouble when I saw Doug's horse coming.”

April 14, Grade I Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 Mile. First by a half-length after a quarter-mile and 1 1/2 length after a half, Bodemeister won by 9 1/2 lengths. Under Mike Smith, he was timed in 1:48.71 after setting fractions of :23.02, :46.55, 1:11.36 and 1:36.74. Secret Circle was second all the way and finished second after drifting out and in badly in the stretch. Just behind him were Sabercat and Cozzetti, the former edging out the latter by a head to complete the superfecta. Smith had committed to ride Daddy Nose Best in the Kentucky Derby. After the Arkansas Derby, Smith was less than committal.

Bob Baffert: “The key to this horse is keeping him quiet in the post parade. He got really hot in his last race. It’s exciting to see a young horse develop like this.

“I told both riders that I didn’t care what they did as long as they ran one-two. I let them each run their own race. Bodemeister really ran huge. It’s a great feeling to run one-two in a million dollar race. We’ll see what this took out of them and then we’ll start talking Derby. Oaklawn is a very kind surface, and the horses have been coming back great. Bodemeister should be in great shape. He ran hard and fast. We know distance won’t be a problem.”

“We took some really nice horses there. They all ran well and had been training well. I have a great staff, and Jimmy Barnes does a great job.”

Assistant Trainer Jimmy Barnes: “What a race. That was sweet. We knew he was good, didn’t know quite how good but he moved up a lot after his last race. We are very happy.”

Mike Smith: “It was extremely impressive. You could see it as well as I could feel it. I had been watching him work, watching him run. I had seen his last two works and I was very impressed. He was ultra impressive. That was eighth was something. I was looking around about a length or so in front of the other horse and I set him down just in case someone was going to be coming, but then I looked up at the big TV board and I was like, whoa…I was like seven in front. I’m just going to enjoy this right now. I don’t even know if I’m going to get to ride this horse back, because I was really just kind of filling in. I’m just going to enjoy it and we’ll see. We all know how much things can change this time of year before the Derby.”

March 10, Grade II San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Bodemeister was a prominent pace factor and finished second. American Act set the pace and marked fractions of :22.95 and :46.98, with Bodemeister nearby, and Creative Cause in perfect stalking position in fifth. Rounding the far turn, Bodemeister put American Act away, but Creative Cause was getting geared up and threatened to take the lead at the top of the lane. Instead, Creative Cause and Joel Rosario went wide into the stretch, losing some ground on Bodemeister. The remainder of the race consisted of Bodemeister coming out and Creative Cause coming in, switching leads and then digging past Bodemeister in the last few yards to win by three parts of a length. The 1 1/16 mile was timed in 1:41.84. Bodemeister took home $60,000 of the $300,000 purse.

Bob Baffert: “He ran well. He just got a little tired. He ran a pretty hard race.”

Rafael Bejarano: “My horse ran a really good race. He broke really well from the gate. I was in the perfect position. He was really comfortable. He showed me a big kick in the stretch. The other horse had to run really hard to beat me. He tried really hard. It’s only his third time.”

Feb. 15 NOTE: “I’ll have to give extra time and run him back (in a stakes race) in March somewhere,” Baffert said, expressing confidence. “I’ll have to find a spot.”

Feb. 11, Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita, One Mile. He didn't look all that great at the gate, but Bodemeister won by 9 1/4 lengths, timed a little bit faster than Fed Biz went two days earlier: 1:34.45 versus 1:34.74. Bodemeister led at each call and set fractions of :23.09, :46.95 and 1:10.72 under Rafael Bejarano. He led by six lengths with a furlong left to run. He was the 2.4-1 third choice. Welter Weight (2.1-1) and Stirred Up (2.1-1) were second and third across the finish line, separated by a neck. The chart call for Bodemeister: "A bit washy at the gate, (he) sped to the lead three deep then outside a rival, inched away and angled in, set the pace inside, opened up on the second turn, was ridden along for several strides to widen in midstretch and was under a long hold the final sixteenth.

Jan. 17, Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita, 5 1/2 Furlongs. Bodemeister finished second to American Act. After stalking in third behind the pacesetting American Act, Bodemeister finished second, beaten two lengths under Rafael Bejarano. The winner's time was 1:02.39 after initial fractions of :21.41 and :44.17.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Unraced.

 

 

CREATIVE CAUSE (KY)
Trainer: Mike Harrington
Owner: Heinz Steinmann
Breeder: James C. Weigel
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat, Mariah's Storm)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer, Mary's Dream)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-2-23-0-0 (28) 1.43
Foal Date: April 6, 2009

Photo by Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire

$135,000 Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Creative Cause finished fifth, beaten three lengths. The chart call: "Creative Cause in hand early mid pack, was in close quarters three wide entering the first turn, angled to the outside on the backstretch, made an eight wide run out of the second turn and finished willingly."

MIKE HARRINGTON – “It didn’t look like he had any trouble. He just got outrun, I guess."

JOEL ROSARIO – “He was doing everything perfect as we went around; everything was good. Turning for home, we were in great shape, but he seemed to get a little tired the last part.”

April 7, Grade I Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Mile. It was all Blueskiesnrainbows, a 42-1 shot, for most of the race, but I'll Have Another and Creative Cause rallied to run one-two. Blueskiesnrainbows set fractions of :23.11, :47.11 and 1:11.14, while I'll Have Another tracked the longshot, followed by Longview Drive and Senor Rain. The race went with those four in charge until the far turn. Senor Rain andLongview Drive began dropping back while Blueskiesnrainbows and I'll Have Another kept going. Creative Cause and Joel Rosario had been positioned fifth, then sixth, then fourth while saving ground, and they began running at the leader. As Creative Cause straightened toward the wire, he put away Blueskiesnrainbows and got the jump on I'll Have Another. But I'll Have Another came back, and I'll Have Another won by a nose with his head down at the wire. I'll Have Another was timed in 1:47.88. It was the fastest time in the Santa Anita Derby since 2000.

Mike Harrington, trainer of Creative Cause: “(Joel Rosario) rode him good, he said the horse tried, he just got outrun. That happens. I thought the horse ran a helluva race. I thought Joel rode him perfectly. The other horse beat us today, but will he beat us next time? I don’t know.”

Will blinkers stay off for the Kentucky Derby? “Sure, I mean, why not? He was more focused. I mean, he never bobbled today. He ran his race. He just got outrun. That happens in this sport. He’s not tired. He’ll come out of this race. He ran such a huge race last time, he couldn’t improve on that race too much. I mean, how far can you go? He ran a zero Thoroughgraph in the last race, so how much further can you go?

“This will set him up. He ran hard. It didn’t hurt him. He’s still got a lot left in him. Maybe the other horse had to run too hard to beat him. We won’t know for four weeks.”

Joel Rosario, Creative Cause: “Everything went well. I’ve ridden the winner before, and he can run. My horse gave me 100 percent, but I think we were second-best today. Sometimes it’s hard to keep winning. I waited inside and had a perfect trip. No excuses today, just second best.”

April 4 NOTE: Blinkers off for the Santa Anita Derby.

March 25 NOTE: “He’s starting to work faster on his own, which is a good sign,” trainer Harrington said. “It shows he’s full of energy.”

March 10, Grade II San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. American Act set the pace and marked fractions of :22.95 and :46.98, with Bodemeister nearby, and Creative Cause in perfect stalking position in fifth. Rounding the far turn, Bodemeister put American Act away, but Creative Cause was getting geared up and threatened to take the lead at the top of the lane. Instead, Creative Cause and Joel Rosario went wide into the stretch, losing some ground on Bodemeister. The remainder of the race consisted of Bodemeister coming out and Creative Cause coming in, switching leads and then digging past Bodemeister in the last few yards to win by three parts of a length. The 1 1/16 mile was timed in 1:41.84.

Midnight Transfer came running late to finish third -- he was sixth of of 10 after one-half mile -- and looped over to the rail in deep stretch, beaten three lengths.
Liaison was ninth, 5 3/4 lengths off the lead after a half-mile and seventh, five lengths back after six furlongs. He finished fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind Midnight Transfer.

Creative Cause won $180,000, upping his total graded stakes earnings to $686,000.

Mike Harrington: “He was a little late switching (leads), but Joel said he didn’t have any trouble. I don’t know exactly what the story was. Once he switched, he took off.

“I guess any win is good. They got to work if they win it. This horse will run back in the Santa Anita Derby.

“It’s a real relief to get these kinds of things over with. This was a $300,000; he didn’t have to win it, but these are the kind of races you like to win. I wouldn’t have been disappointed if he didn’t win because he’s got money enough to go.

“I said all along it’s a progression, and the only thing I hope is he doesn’t peak in the Santa Anita Derby instead of the Kentucky Derby. That’s my job to kind of keep that from happening. I felt he would run big off the San Vicente. A lot of people thought the San Vicente was a bad race. I was ecstatic with it.”

Joel Rosario: “The race set up perfect today. There were a couple horses with speed up front, and when I saw tha,t I just let him find his stride and go from there. My horse was a little green at the top of the lane, but I wanted to make sure that he didn’t wait for another horse to come beat him. He galloped out good after the wire, which helps to show he may be the right horse for the Derby. That means a lot to me.

"I’m happy to get a chance to ride in it, and I want to win the race. Mike doesn’t say too much, but he’s really smart, and he’s done a really good job with this horse.”

March 7 NOTE: “He worked alone. I was looking for something closer to :48 or :49,” trainer Harrington said to Bloodhorse.com. “It didn’t seem to take a whole lot out of him; he did it completely on his own. He just doesn’t usually work that fast by himself. I guess he felt like working today.”

March 7 NOTE: Good to go for Saturday's Grade II San Felipe. “I’m going to run them both,” trainer Harrington told Bloodhorse.com. “I started out with a program for (Creative Cause) and along the way (Empire Way) came along, and I considered keeping them apart. But the timing for both of them kind of dictates that I run them this weekend, and then I’ll go from there. Creative Cause will lay close and the other horse will come from back. They won’t interfere with each other as far as running styles, it’s just that I need earnings for Empire Way, and if the other horse beats him, I’m shooting myself in the foot. But you have to do what you have to do sometimes.” Joel Rosario will be on Creative Cause.

Feb. 29 NOTE: “He ran a 4 last time going seven-eighths. He doesn’t have to improve. If he runs a 4 in the San Felipe he will probably win it. I think the added distance will make for an improved effort," trainer Harrington told Bloodhorse.com on Feb. 28.

Feb. 19, Grade II San Vicente Stakes, Santa Anita, Seven Furlongs. Drill, who'd been through a five-month winner's circle drought, figured things out. American Act took the lead from the gate, and Drill fell in behind him through a quarter-mile in :22.78. Drill kept tracking the leader through a half-mile in :45.83. Let's Get Crackin ran behind them, and Creative Cause, who was taken up slightly on the backstretch to get outside, was fourth At the top of the stretch, Drill was ever more threatening as he was getting to American Act. Creative Cause had never been very far back but was last of the four.

A furlong from the wire, six furlongs had gone in 1:09.27, and Drill and Martin Garciahad stuck a head in front of American Act. Let's Get Crackin was beginning to regress, and Creative Cause was under pressure from Joel Rosario and gaining despite switching leads back and forth.

A few jumps from the wire, American Act tried to come back on Drill, and Creative Cause, though making a late surge, had come up short. Drill prevailed by a nose, and Creative Cause was beaten one length. Let's Get Crackin was another 1 1/4 length back. Smoking G and Captain Obvious were scratched.

The final time was 1:21.28.

Creative Cause, who had $488,000 in graded money going in, picked up another $30,000.

Mike Harrington, trainer of Creative Cause: “We got what we wanted out of the race. He’s a route horse, not a seven-furlong horse. We hope he moves forward off of this. Did you see him gallop out? He’ll definitely move forward. I don’t know, because I’ve got the other horse (Empire Way), so I haven’t figured that out yet (his next race). It probably will be the San Felipe for one of them, I don’t know which one.”

Joel Rosario, aboard Creative Cause: “Everything set up perfect, but the other horse was much the best today. The last two times my horse ran, he was going a longer distance, but he shortened up to seven furlongs today, and I think that had something to do with it. He’ll have a little time off after this, so the main thing is that he comes back good. It looks like my horse wants to go a little bit further. He came back good. He galloped out good."

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Aug. 7, Grade II Best Pal Stakes, Del Mar, 6 1/2 Furlongs. Creative Cause made it two-for-two in his brief career with a powerful victory. He had been given a 98 Beyer in his first race.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Creative Cause stalked dueling leaders I'll Have Another and Brigand until the top of the stretch where he moved to the outside and unleashed a rally to an easy, 1 3/4 victory. I'll Have Another held on well to be second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Mighty Monsoon, with Brigand a fading fourth, another 4 1/4 lengths back in the field of six. The race was timed in 1:15.62, very good, and the fastest time for the race since Polytrack was installed as Del Mar's main track surface in 2007.

Creative Cause was the 4-5 favorite. There was a minus show pool of $6,276.

Mike Harrington: “The horse ran exactly the race I wanted to see him run. He had a lot of background before I ran him the first time, so I wasn’t worried about him bouncing.

"(Steinman) spent a lot of money for three horses. I might have a couple better than this one, but you won’t see them for a while. Maybe this fall, maybe next year. We bought them all for 3-year-olds and we’re in no hurry with any of them."

Rafael Bejarano: “Perfect trip. I couldn’t have asked for better. It set up just right for me. He gave me a big kick, but I got after him and let him gallop out strong. He’s a good horse. And I think the farther the better for him.”

Sept. 7, Grade I Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar, Seven Furlongs. Drill prevailed in a race that was roughly run due to Majestic City coming out on Creative Cause nearing the finish line, blocking Creative Cause and causing a chain reaction. The winning jockey dropped his whip a hundred yards out. The winning margin was a neck. The time was 1:22.16. Majestic City, who finished second, was disqualified to third. Creative Cause, who was beaten a length after stalking the pace, moved up to second after taking the worst of it from Creative Cause. Gun Boat, who set the pace and was untroubled by the fracas, was just a nose behind Creative Cause at the wire.

Rafael Bejarano: “I don’t know if it cost me the race or not. My horse was still running at the end. There was no doubt about that. When (Majestic City) came out on me, that was the end of that. That was a total shut off. I’m not sure if I’m going to beat the winner if I’m clear, but my horse was still running.”

Oct. 1, Grade I Norfolk Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Creative Cause, at 9-5 odds, drilled 3-5 Drill. Ruler of Dubai set the pace, which was prompted by Creative Cause. Meanwhile, Drill was fourth on the rail and looking for running room entering the turn. He found a seam and came out three wide into the stretch, but by then Creative Cause had opened up a little bit on the field, and the latter one defeated Drill by 3 1/4 lengths. Ruler of Dubai hung to get third, beaten 6 1/2 lengths. Basmati was gaining and finished another half-length back in fourth. Six ran. The winning time was 1:42.66.

Joel Rosario: “The race set up good and he did everything easy. He showed me that he was the best horse in the race. This was his first time going long. The horse on the front had an easy lead, and I was just tracking him. When I asked him to go, he just took off. I don’t know how good he is, but he ran his best race today.”

Mike Harrington: “Yes, we will take him to the Breeders’ Cup off of this race. That’s the reason we ran him. It’s a ‘Win and You’re In’ race. Yeah, he’s the best horse I’ve ever had. He raced in a perfect position, when Joel asked him, he ran by them and drew off by many, so I’d have to think he’s the best horse on the West Coast, the best 2-year-old.”

Asked about finishing a troubled third to Drill in the Del Mar Futurity: “If he hadn’t have been knocked around there he’d have won then, too.

"I’m planning on the Breeders’ Cup. Where I train him, I don’t know.”

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. At almost 6-1, Creative Cause and Joel Rosario came in third, beaten only a length. He was third or second at each call of the race while tracking Hansen and Speightscity in the initial stages. At 7-1, Hansen led at each call and won, holding off a determined, even-money Union Rags by a head. Behind Creative Cause, it was another five lengths back to Dullahan. Creative Cause earned $198,000.

Hansen's fractions were :23.26, :47.39, 1:12.24 and 1:37.61 before finishing in 1:44.44, so the final 5/16 mile went in :32.20. He was free-wheeling by 1 1/2 to two lengths the first six furlongs.

Mike Harrington: “He ran a really good race. He just got outrun. We’re going to give him a little break and bring him back next year. We’ll look for really big things from him then.”

Joel Rosario: “We had a nice trip. We were moving about the same time as Union Rags, and I was trying to leave enough, but the winner was just a little bit better. He got a little aggressive in the post parade from all the noise and the people, and I think it might have cost us a little bit in the end.”

On Dec. 30, Creative Cause breezed three in :37.00 (5/8) at HOL.

 

 

DADDY LONG LEGS (KY)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Owner: Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier & Derrick Smith
Breeder: Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Scat Daddy (Johannesburg, Love Style)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Dreamy Maiden (Meadowlake, Sparrow Lake)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 11-1-3-3-0 (18) 3.00
Foal Date: Feb. 12, 2009

$100,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Daddy Long Legs did not finish. The chart call: "Daddy Long Legs close up along the inside, failed to respond when hard ridden late on the backstretch, stopped and was eased."

T. J. COMERFORD, head traveling lad for trainer Aidan O’Brien – No quotes available.

COLM O’DONOGHUE – “He broke really good from the gates and he traveled really well down to the six-furlong marker, but the surface was too slow for him. He needs a really sound surface. In American terms the track is rated fast and obviously the fractions are really quick, but he really needs a sound surface where he can really feel everything underneath him.”

How did he handle the break with the rest of the field coming over on him? “He was fine. He had loads of tactical speed and he’s able to stop-start, but he found that the surface is just too slow for him. There’s just that difference between the Tapeta surface, obviously, and the dirt. In the lane he was really backing off and they were coming around him so when he wasn’t handling it I wasn’t going to push him. He’s got a long year ahead.”

NOTE: Dr. Larry Bramlage said the colt overheated and was fine after getting some water and being swabbed down. “His rider knew what was happening and just quit asking him.”

March 31, Group 2 UAE Derby, Meydan Racecourse, 1 3/16 Mile. Timed in 1:58.35 on the Tapeta surface, Daddy Long Legs took the lead at the top of the stretch and won. He and stable mate Wrote, who finished third, both appear to be Kentucky Derby-bound, according to comments made by trainer O'Brien after the race. Daddy Long Legs has plenty of earnings for the first Saturday in May. Daddy Long Legs came away from the race with a prize of $1,200,000 from the $2 million UAE Derby purse. That pushed his total graded stakes money to $1,294,030.

Running second, beaten 1 1/4 length, was the French 3-year-old Yang Tse Kiang. Wrote finished three parts of a length behind Yang Tse Kiang. Mickdaam, the Al Bastakiya winner trained by Mike de Kock, finished fourth. Daddy Longs Legs was sent off at 10-1 odds at TwinSpires.com. Yang Tse Kiang was  23-1; Wrote was 7-2; and Mickdaam was 4-1.

Daddy Long Legs was washed out at the gate.

Aiden O'Brien, winning trainer: "Yeah, that was the plan. Let the two of them come here and see if we have a Kentucky Derby contender. We're looking at them at the moment."

Colm O’Donoghue, winning jockey: “Had a dream run in second. He quickened really well.  It’s a great training effort by Aidan to win this in his first run of the season against horses who were already primed and at their best.  Hopefully he can keep improving from this. I think he can.”

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

After winning his Aug. 10 debut going seven furlongs on good to firm turf at Gowran Park and finshing fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths in the Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster on good to firm turf, Daddy Long Legs won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes going a mile Newmarket.

In the Royal Lodge on Sept. 24, Daddy Long Legs was timed in 1:37.77 and led throughout. The chart call: "Made all, ridden 3 furlongs out, driven and forged clear 2 furlongs out, stayed on well and in command after." Colm O'Donoghue rode. The ground for him was again good to firm.

 

 

DADDY NOSE BEST (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Cathy and Bob Zollars
Breeder: Patricia Ann Elia Trust
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Scat Daddy (Johannesburg, Love Style)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Follow Your Bliss (Thunder Gulch, Follow the Money)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-1-5-1-0 (12) 2.43
Foal Date: March 3, 2009

Photo by Reed Palmer Photography, Churchll Downs

$34,000 RNA Keeneland November 2009.
$35,000 Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Daddy Nose Best finished tenth, beaten 11 1/2 lengths. The chart call: "Daddy Nose Best steadied when forced in early, gained good position soon after, made a good run between rivals to the quarter mile marker, was bumped in midstretch and tired."

STEVE ASMUSSEN – “He had position, he just didn’t do anything with it.”

GARRETT GOMEZ – “He left the gate well, placed me in a wonderful spot all the way around the track. At the half-mile pole, I was traveling OK but I need him move forward but he was a little hesitant about doing so. He just didn’t finish up the way we were hoping. It’s a shame since he handled everything else so well.  Hoepfully he goes on with a stellar career.”

March 25, Grade III Sunland Park Derby, Sunland Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Laying back of a surprisingly fast pace set by 8-5 favorite Castaway and fifth-choice Ender Knievel, Daddy Nose Best and Isn't He Clever came on in the second turn to run one-two all by themselves in the Grade III Sunland Derby. Castaway and Ender Knievel vied through opening fractions of :22.48 and :46.24. Initially, Isn't He Clever and Stirred Up ran third and fourth, while Daddy Nose Best was reserved in sixth by Julien Lepraroux. As the field hit the second turn with six furlongs run in 1:10.83, Isn't He Clever made an explosive move to grab the lead, while the two former front-runners were putting it in reverse. Isn't He Clever led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong left in the race, but Daddy Nose Best and Julien Leparoux were taking aim. They took control in the final strides. Timed in 1:48.59,  Daddy Nose Best prevailed over Isn't He Clever by three-quarters of a length. Another 7 1/4 lengths back, Stirred Up checked in third. Daddy Nose Best earned $400,000 to add to the $145,558 graded earnings he already had in the bank.

Feb. 18, Grade III El Camino Real Derby, Golden Gate Fields, 1 1/8 Mile. Daddy Nose Best outdueled Lucky Chappy to the wire to win by the barest nostril. Handsome Mike finished third, followed by longshot Unveiled Heat. The three lowest odds horses in the field finished one-two-three.

With the win, Daddy Nose Best picked up $120,000 to push his total graded earnings to $145,558.

The race unfolded with Handsome Mike and 94-1 All Squared Away leading through fractions of :23.31, :47.57 and 1:12.28. All Squared Away was in front and Handsome Mike was in closest pursuit down the backstretch and into the turn. Lady of Fifty and Cahill Chrome weren't far behind. Meanwhile, Daddy Nose Best was tracking in fifth, and Lucky Chappy trailed the field in tenth until he started picking off horses heading to the far turn. Lucky Chappy went from eighth to a short lead with only a furlong remaining in the race. Daddy Nose Best was blocked briefly at the quarter-pole but got to the fore of the field in the stretch and outgamed Lucky Chappy to the wire. The winning time was 1:50.46.

Julien Leparoux traveled from his South Florida base to ride Daddy Nose Best for the seventh consecutive time. The winner was shipped to Golden Gate from Santa Anita for his first try on synthetic track, in this case Tapeta.

Julien Leparoux, aboard Daddy Nose Best: “I didn’t know if I won or not. It was too close to call.  It was nice to see the horse fight back.”

Darren Fleming, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen: “We came here because of the added distance and his experience on turf which carries over to synthetic. Winning last year with Silver Medallion helped our decision.  He’s been getting better with time, and he’s trained with a different mindset since his last race. He’s been showing us he wanted more ground, so we’ve had to wait for the races to catch up to him.”

Co-owner Bob Zollars: “He was named after that old TV show Father Knows Best, and his sire is Scat Daddy."

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Daddy Nose best raced eight times, won twice, finished second twice and finished third once.

His first two races were at Churchill Downs going short on dirt, and he lost by about 15 lengths combined. He was switched to two turns on turf at Saratoga and broke his maiden in his fourth start going 1 1/16 mile. He got up late to beat Coach Royal by 1/2 length.

Shipped to Woodbine, he finished third, beaten four lengths by Finale in the Grade III Summer Stakes. Excaper was second by less than a length. Daddy Nose Best rallied from a 7 1/2-length deficit.

Daddy Nose Best ran next in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and finished sixth, beaten only 3 3/4 lengths by Wrote. He was tenth in the early going, about seven lengths back.

The colt was kept at Churchill Downs and won a one-mile turf allowance over Saturday Launch by 3 1/4 lengths.

He finished his 2-year-old campaign at Santa Anita with a fifth-place finish behind Chips All In in the Eddie Read on turf, beaten 3 1/4 lengths. He was sixth, four lengths back, at the first call.

Julien Leparoux rode Daddy Nose Best in his final six races as a 2-year-old.

 

 

DONE TALKING (KY)
Trainer: Hamilton Smith
Owner: Skeedattle Stable
Breeder: Skeedattle Associates
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Broken Vow (Unbridled, Wedding Vow)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Dixie Talking (Dixieland Band, Gin Talking)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-6-10-2-2 (30) 2.33
Foal Date: Jan. 30, 2009

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Done Talking finished fourteenth, beaten 23 1/2 lengths. The chart call: "Done Talking in tight at the start, was outrun while wide, came in to soundly bump El Padrino near the half mile marker then failed to menace."

HAMILTON SMITH – “He had a good trip. They went fast up front but they weren't backing up none too much. Speed held well the last two days, and the track was hard and fast by Derby time. He sure didn't close much. We won't go to the Preakness. We'll let him get over this one and maybe thinking about trying him on grass or something. We'll see."

SHELDON RUSSELL – “No complaints. He’s a pretty easy horse to ride. Just a dead-aim closer. When I asked him to go at the half-mile pole, I think he had gotten so much dirt, it’s really hard for a horse to pick up when you’ve gotten that much dirt, especially in a 20-horse field. I was right next to Went the Day Well when he picked it up, and I just couldn’t go with him.”

April 7, Grade III Illinois Derby, Hawthorne, 1 1/8 Mile. The Kentucky Derby got a new contender from out of the blue when Done Talking won. Entering the the stretch run picture late in the game, Done Talking snuck by a tired Morgan's Guerilla to snatch the win by three parts of a length. Twelfth in the field of 14 after a quarter-mile, Done Talking and Sheldon Russell slowly advanced on fractions of :23.94, :48.64 and 1:13.14. After a half-mile, he was 8 1/2 lengths back of pacesetter Frankie Is Rock. Our Entourage led after six furlongs, but Done Talking was 13 1/2 lengths off the lead by then. He had moved from twelfth of 14 to ninth.

When the field came out of the far turn, Our Entourage still had command, but he was very tired and succumbed to Morgan's Guerilla before the furlong marker. Morgan's Guerilla appeared to have the win within his grasp, but he began gasping for air as well and lost the race in the final strides.

Sheldon Russell: “We wanted to take the horse back early. He’s kind of a one-run horse, and we weren’t too keen on using him early going into the first turn. The trainer did tell me to look to make that early move. I tried moving at about the five-eighths pole, people told me that this is one of the longest stretches in the country, so I just wanted to get my horse close enough so that when he did kick in he was going to be close enough to get there. I was very surprised turning for home that we were in about fourth place. I just knew then that I still had some horse. He’s the type that you have to keep at him, but if you do, he will give you everything that he has.
 
“You always look for what is happening in front of you, and when I saw Morgan’s Guerilla drifting out just when I was getting close to him, it made my job a little bit easier in regards to riding the horse and steering him at the same time."

Hamilton Smith: "The kid did a great job of riding him. Hopefully, it’s on to Louisville from here. The mile and a quarter should suit him with his late run, which is what you want. When the speed is backing up, hopefully he’ll be kicking on.”

March 3, Grade III Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 Mile. Done Talking finished tenth after being placed tenth at all calls but one, when he was twelfth. He was beaten 20 3/4 lengths by Hansen.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Done Talking opened his career with three starts at Delaware Park, and he broke his maiden in the third one going a mile and 70 yards in 1:43.57 under Rosie Napravnik. At 4-5 odds, Done Talking was rank off the pace in fourth but then drew clear by 1 3/4 length. Five ran.

Nov. 7, Entry Level Allowance, Parx, One Mile. Done Talking won again by 1 3/4 length. He was ridden by Sheldon Russell. He saved ground while fifth of six, four lengths behind the first half-mile pace of :48.26 before coming home in 1:39.63.

Nov. 26, Grade II Remsen Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 Mile. Done Talking finished fourth, beaten a length by O'Prado Again. Under Alan Garcia in a ground-saving trip, he was last of 10 after six furlongs, 6 1/4 lengths off the pace and a time of 1:15.05,  then closed well.

 

 

DULLAHAN (KY)
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Donegal Racing
Breeder: Phil Needham, Judy Needham & Bena Halecky
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Even the Score (Unbridled's Song, Ashtabula)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Mining My Own (Smart Strike (CAN), Aspenelle (CAN))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 8-8-10-0-0 (26) 4.20
Foal Date: Feb. 8, 2009

Photo by Keeneland

$250,000 Keeneland September 2010.

A half-brother to Mine That Bird

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Dullahan finished  a solid third, beaten 1 3/4 length by I'll Have Another. The chart call: "Dullahan broke in and bumped Union Rags, was in tight entering the first turn when reserved, continued under a rating hold for six furlongs, commenced his rally three wide once in the second turn, came seven wide into the stretch and closed well late."

DALE ROMANS: “I told him to get out in the clear, and he came running. He had to go a lot wider than he wanted to, but he finished strong. It was just an unlucky break.”

KENT DESORMEAUX – “He was starting to get disgruntled because of all the sand he had eaten. I was encouraging him to go faster but he was slowing down. When I made my move turning for home, two horses peeled out in front of me, and I ended up going nine wide.”

April 14, Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 Mile. Dullahan was far back in the early going, but he came on strong in the stretch and won his second career race -- and second grade I. Dullahan was tenth in the 13-horse field after a half-mile but caught Hansen inside the final 100 yards to win by 1 1/14 length. He was timed in 1:47.94. Kent Desormeaux rode the winner.

Hansen established himself at the fore of the field -- his first half-mile was timed in :46.64. Hero of Order was a length off Hansen, and Gung Ho and Midnight Crooner were vying for third. Heading into the far turn, Hansen had run six furlongs in 1:11.32, Hero of Order was dropping out of it, and Gung Ho was a length behind the leader. Dullahan was ninth and beginning to uncork a strong move going around the bend. Turning for home, Hansen still led and Dullahan was about to move up to third after he found space to get through. At the furlong marker, the pacesetter had a 2 1/2-length advantage over Gung Ho and Dullahan was another 1 1/2 length back. Dullahan switched leads, and, in the jockey's words, "he just exploded." Hansen stayed clear for second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Gung Ho. Gung Ho finished a length ahead of a closing Holy Candy.

Dale Romans: “He did everything that a good horse has to do to win. When it’s time to accelerate, he had enough horse to split through. He gets the job done. He’s just a special horse. I felt good about (the initial fractions). I was just worried about him getting boxed in. A horse with a turn of foot like he has can get himself out of trouble. He looked great to me. I don’t think the distance will be a problem. The further the better.”

Kent Desormeaux: “He switched leads, and he just exploded. As soon as he straightened, there was a hole. He ran through that and then he said, ‘Now what I do?’ And I asked him to keep going. He was very strong all the way to the wire.

March 11, Grade III Palm Beach Stakes, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Howe Great and John Velazquez sat inside and a length to the rear of Scorcher as that longshot set initial fractions of :23.87, :47.52 and 1:11.53. Going down the backstretch, Csaba and Coalport sat off Howe Great, and Dullahan and Argentine Tango stayed at the rear of a fairly compact field of six. The real running started leaving the far turn, when Howe Great scooted a couple of lengths away. Dullahan had mounted a rally on the turn and got ahead of Csaba in the stretch while Scorcher backed away. Howe Great crossed the finish line fully extended and a length better than Dulllahan, with Csaba another 2 3/4 lengths back. The race was timed in 1:46.56. Dullahan increased his graded earnings to $405,000 with his $30,000 share of the $150,000 purse.

Dale Romans, trainer of Dullahan: “I’m very pleased. I thought that was a perfect race for him in his comeback. He finished good; we just wanted to see him finish good at the end. The one horse is a quality race horse. This sets us up good, so we’ll go from here to the Blue Grass.”

Kent Desormeaux, rider of Dullahan: “I think the race was perfect for him. He’s so good he’s getting ready in a stakes. The other horse had the recency, and we loomed large around the far turn, but the winner possessed another gear. I’ll possess that gear next time.”

Paco Lopez, up on Csaba: “I had him in the best position, but when I moved him at the quarter pole he tired a little. He’s a nice horse.”

Feb. 8 NOTE: Dullahan is battling a cough, trainer Romans told DRF.com. “He’s got a little bit of a cough, and we had to skip a couple of week’s breezes,” he said. “We had gotten a little bit ahead of ourselves with him anyway, so it shouldn’t be a big problem. We still have plenty of time. He’s still on track for the Palm Beach if we don’t encounter any other issues.”

Jan. 25 NOTE: Looking for a work from Dullahan.

Jan. 11 NOTE: Dullahan is being pointed to the Kentucky Derby with a two-prep schedule. Trainer Romans said he has slated the Grade III Palm Beach, a Gulfstream Park turf stake on March 11, and the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland. Romans used the same schedule for Paddy O’Prado before coming in third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

We know he likes the grass. (The Palm Beach) is a mile-and-an-eighth race, and I want him to go at least a mile-and-an-eighth,” said Romans. “And he ran well at Keeneland, so the timing’s right for both races. I wanted to run him twice before the Derby.”

Jan. 7 NOTE: “They (Dullahan, O'Prado Again and Shackleford) all went well. We got just what we wanted for their first breezes, said trainer Romans. “We hope to get Shackleford to the Donn. There is no specific target for the two 3-year-olds, but we’re where we want to be with them at this point.”

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

In his race before the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, Dullahan was third in the Grade III With Anticipation on the turf at Saratoga. He had hit the board in two of three maiden special weights on dirt before that.

Oct. 8, Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, Keeneland, 1 1/16 Mile. Dullahan, a maiden, won the race.

At 17-1 odds off a 15-1 morning line, Dullahan came from ninth after a half-mile--and fourth with a furlong to go--to run down the win. Majestic City, who stalked the pace before taking the lead inhe far turn, hung on for second. Optimizer closed from twelfth of the 13 runners to take third. Take Charge Indy was fourth after running evenly in or close to that positon throughout the race.

Musical Flair led the field of 13 through early fractions in :22.67 and :46.15 with Majestic City in closest pursuit and Dullahan in mid-pack. Majestic City took command leaving the backstretch and opened a daylight lead entering the stretch. Kent Desormeaux had moved Dullahan into fourth place with a three-wide move and clear sailing at the leader that he passed in the final 50 yards.

Dullahan was timed in 1:43.12 for the 1 1/16 mile. The time was identical to that of Stephanie's Kitten, winner of the Grade I Alcibiades the day before.

Dale Romans, winning trainer of Dullahan: On whether Dullahan would race in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: “We’re going to have to talk about it. It’s a little different; this is a little short and on the (Polytrack) and whether we’re going to go to dirt. But there’s a good shot of it.

“This is a special horse, and we’ve known it all along. We felt like he was a grade I-caliber racehorse. He showed it today. When you can overcome adversity and win a grade I, you’re a really good horse.

“I thought he’d be laying a little closer to the pace. He closed more ground than I expected. We’ve really had high hopes for this horse. He’s trained like a top horse all along. His brother won the Derby. He’s a serious racehorse.

“I think (he was unlucky before). He’s a graded stakes-placed horse coming into the race. I think with a little luck he would have broken his maiden. We knew he was up for a big race; he might as well do it in a grade I.”

Kent Desormeaux, winning rider: “The race went exactly opposite of what we had planned. I almost fell around the first turn. He had to get his legs back underneath him and he did do that quickly, but I had to make a five-eighths of a mile run down to the wire. He accomplished it – super horse.

“The horse inside came out, and I caught his hock actually. That’s how close I was to him. Got clear of that and put him to work, and he got the job done.”

Jerry Crawford, managing partner of winning owner Donegal Racing: “Buy horses at Keeneland, give them to those two guys (Romans and Desormeaux) and the rest is history.”

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. At 17-1, Dullahan and Kent Desormeaux came in fourth, beaten six lengths. Whether he jumped at the start or was bumped at the start, Dullahan was last of 13 the first half-mile, eleventh after six furlongs and ninth with a furlong left, so he finished well. At 7-1, Hansen led at each call and won, holding off a determined, even-money Union Rags by a head. Creative Cause was third, beaten a length. Dullahn picked up a check for $120,000.

Hansen's fractions were :23.26, :47.39, 1:12.24 and 1:37.61 before finishing in 1:44.44, so the final 5/16 mile went in :32.20. He was free-wheeling by 1 1/2 to two lengths the first six furlongs.

Kent Desormeaux: “He could have won the race except that he jumped at the start, and that cost us six or seven lengths.” NOTE: The chart says he was bumped at the start. Perhaps Desormeaux was misquoted.

 

 

EL PADRINO (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Let's Go Stable
Breeder: Emory A. Hamilton
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Pulpit (A.P. Indy, Preach)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Enchanted Rock (Giant's Causeway, Chic Shrine)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 11-5-20-0-0 (36) 2.60
Foal Date: Jan. 22, 2009

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire

$210,000 Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. El Padrino finished thirteenth, beaten 20 lengths. The chart call: "El Padrino rank when breaking slowly, trailed for five furlongs, was roughed between rivals near the half mile marker then passed tiring rivals."

TODD PLETCHER – No quotes available.

RAFAEL BEJARANO – “My horse broke so slow from the gate. He was standing good but for some reason he didn’t break good. But when I saw the number three (Take Charge Indy) cross me right away and I nearly clipped heels. I needed to stay behind after that and try and find position and try and make a good run.”

March 31, Grade I Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 Mile. El Padrino didn't show a closing kick and finished fourth. Take Charge led a carousel of sorts to victory. Meanwhile, heavily favored Union Rags settled for third after a less than ideal trip, and Reveron ran second all the way to finish second. Take Charge Indy and Calvin Borel went through fractions of :23.60, :47.71, 1:12.09 and 1:35.96 en route to a final time of 1:48.79. Neck 'n Neck, who was third most of the way, backed out of it in the stretch. And El Padrino, fourth at the first three calls and fifth at the fourth one, finished fourth. The only horse to make up any ground was Union Rags, but he had trouble finding room and was taken to the rail by Julien Leparoux in upper stretch. He was 3 1/2 lengths back with a furlong left in the race. By the time he mounted a rally, it was too late. Take Charge Indy defeated Reveron by a length, followed a neck by Union Rags. They were followed across the finish line by El Padrino, Neck 'n Neck, Fort Loudon, News Pending and Z Camelot.

El Padrino, who had $200,000 graded money going in, now has $250,000.

Todd Pletcher: “He got kind of a wide trip around there, but Javier had Union Rags down inside of him and got a clean trip. He just didn’t finish. We’ll see how he comes out of it and decide where to go from there.”

Javier Castellano: “I was in a good spot, stalking the pace on the outside in control of the pace. That worked out great, but, unfortunately, he didn’t respond. He didn’t kick, he just continued on steady. He just didn’t have it today.”

Feb. 29 NOTE: A connection left the door open for a different option, saying that El Padrino may not run back in the Grade II Louisiana Derby. “We haven’t committed to one race or the other,” co-owner Kevin Scatuorchio told Bloodhorse.com. “The logical choice would be to go back to New Orleans, but we could keep him in Florida for the Florida Derby. There isn’t much difference. They’re both a mile and an eighth, they have the same time span going into the Kentucky Derby, and the same break from the Risen Star. It’s all going to come down to how the races shape up. Obviously, Union Rags will be going in the Florida Derby, and we’ll have to take that into consideration very significantly."

Feb. 25, Grade II Risen Star Stakes, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 Mile. El Padrino got up in the final strides to outmatch Mark Valeski with Z Dager 5 1/2 lengths back and Hero of Order six. Hero of Order, at 79-1 odds, led the field through fractions of :24.44, :48.72 and 1:13.15. Tracking him were Mark Valeski to his outside, El Padrino and Z Dager just behind those two.Just as they left the second turn, Mark Valeski jumped out to a short lead over Hero of Order, and he was soon joined by El Padrino to the outside. The two bumped each other repeatedly the final 100 yards as El Padrino inched by to prevail by a nose. At the end of the race, runners placed in the top four at every call of the race made up the superfecta.

El Padrino was timed in 1:42.96 and picked up $180,000. Added to his earnings from the Remsen, he now has $200,000 graded stakes money.

Javier Castellano, winning rider: “I was riding head-to-head with (Rosie Napravnik) and hitting my horse right-handed and she was hitting left-handed. You know I thought it not a big deal. Before the wire, we were real tight. We never had big contact, though, and I think it was a good race and a very exciting race.”

Todd Pletcher by telephone: “I thought it was a huge effort shipping into the track for the first time, and the track appeared it was playing to speed the last couple days. We chased down a really good horse, it looked like. You hope it’s the kind of race that he’ll improve forward and become battle-tested a little bit, and he’s getting a little bit more professional all the time and, hopefully, learning how to win.

“We’ll bring him back to Palm Meadows on Monday, and we’re certainly happy enough with the race today that (the Louisiana Derby) will be one of our first options. I’ll get together with the Lets Go guys and we’ll come up with a game plan but that’ll certainly be high on our list.

“I think racing is going to help him. He’s got two good mile-and-a-sixteenth races under his belt now, so this year we’ve got a good foundation, but he’s a big, strong colt, carries plenty of condition, and he’s a big, laid-back horse on a daily basis, so I think he’s the kind of horse that needs racing to get more and more fit. He’s not one to give you a huge effort every day, and that’s good in the long run, but sometimes those kind of horses take a little longer to reach their peak.”

Feb. 10 NOTE: “He’s a talented colt that we’ve thought a lot about from the very beginning. We felt in the allowance race he really put it all together. He’s maturing at the right time,” trainer Pletcher said. “He’s strong, well-minded colt, so we’re keen on him." Plans still include the Grade II Risen Star on Feb. 25.

Jan. 29, Entry Level Allowance, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 Mile. On a sealed track rated good -- it looked a little wetter than that, perhaps -- El Padrino laid in fourth on the backstretch while longshot Bartolome cut out honest-to-taxing fractions of :23.49, :47.12 and 1:10.95. Just behind the Bartolome was Take Charge Indy, while favored Casual Trick took third. In the turn, Take Charge Indy took command while Bartolome rapidly retreated -- and Casual Trick also began backing off. But El Padrino wasn't done, and he started cutting into Take Charge Indy's lead with with every stride. El Padrino had taken the lead late in the stretch and was easing away when the wire came up. Take Charge Indy was two lengths back in second. A late running Argentine Tango got third, but he was beaten 15 3/4 lengths by El Padrino. Casual Trick finished eighth of nine. The winner was timed in 1:42.68 under Javier Castellano.

El Padrino's time was the fastest at the distance of the meet so far, and it was more than two seconds faster than Revron’s win of the Gulfstream Park Derby.

Todd Pletcher: “He’s a nice colt. We thought a lot of him from day one. He’s still figuring things out, but he’s a pretty talented horse who should continue to improve.” Pletcher said the Fountain of Youth is a possible next start for El Padrino, but that he might send the colt on the road.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

El Padrino finished second behind B Shanny in his debut at Saratoga on Aug. 20. He encountered shin issues and did not run again until Oct. 29, splashing to a 12 3/4-length maiden victory going a mile over a sloppy track at Belmont Park.

Nov. 23 NOTE: “We did what we had to do and backed off him a little bit,” said Pletcher assistant Whit Beckman. “He’s a big horse, one of the bigger 2-year-olds that we have in our program, height, but also just body. He’s a real, powerful, well-built thick individual. He’s always trained well, breezed well, and done everything like he was going to be a good horse, but we knew it was going to take just a little bit more time to let everything catch up. The way he’s bred, I don’t think the distance will be any problem. He does everything like he wants to go two turns.”

Nov. 26, Grade II Remsen Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 Mile. El Padrino finished third, and he wasn't beaten by much. O’Prado Again was content to track Souper Speedy and Our Entourage as they dueled through an opening quarter of :24.38, a half in :49.97--and six furlongs in 1:15 and change. Meanwhile, El Padrino was shufflled back a bit during the first half-mile O'Prado Again took command inside the eighth pole and he prevailed over Souper Speed by three parts of a length, with El Padrino a head back in third, another head to Done Talking and a length to Our Entourage.

The winner ran in 1:52.07. The chart call for El Padrino: "El Padrino, between rivals, came home with good, but belated foot, en route for the show."

Todd Pletcher: “We were pleased with his effort. We felt like he was a little bit green being inside horses for most of the race, but he seemed to find his best stride late when he was able to get out in the clear. We were pleased with his finish, and he galloped out very strongly. For a young and inexperienced horse, it was a promising effort.” Pletcher said El Padrino would ship to Palm Meadows on Nov. 29.

 

 

GEMOLOGIST (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust 2
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy, Cee's Song)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Crystal Shard (Mr. Prospector, Sulemeif)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 12-2-13-1-0 (28) 2.73
Foal Date: Jan. 28, 2009

Photo by NYRA, Adam Coglianese

$310,000 Keeneland November 2009.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Gemologist finished sixteenth, beaten 30 lengths. The chart call: "Gemologist drifted out at the start, came in carrying several rivals in soon after, raced close up three wide and faded."

ELLIOTT WALDEN, President/CEO of WinStar Farm – “He didn’t run much. It’s very disappointing. He broke extremely slow and then got into the bridle way too much, pulling hard under the wire the first time. From the backstretch on he just backed up and didn’t show up."

JAVIER CASTELLANO – “I had a beautiful trip. I saved all the ground into the first turn, very comfortable down the backside. We were able to relax right behind the speed. Unfortunately, I don’t know why he didn’t run his race today. It was hot today. Who knows? Unfortunately today wasn’t his day.”

April 7, Grade I Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 MIle. Gemologist, favored at 6-5, won. Usually a forwardly-running influence, Gemologist was content to rate in third  behind a pace set by The Lumber Guy, who led the field through rank fractions of :23.04, :47.56 and 1:12.  My Adonis was positioned in second until the field turned for home, closer to the early pace than many expected. Leaving the far turn, both My Adonis and Gemologist moved to overtake The Lumber Guy, and both did. But Gemologist soon put away My Adonis and then held off an advancing Alpha, the 2-1 second choice. Alpha finished well after being steadied in the first turn while inside. Gemologist and Javier Castellano hit the wire first to finish the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.96, with Alpha only a neck back in second.

Todd Pletcher, winning trainer: “It looked like he got the trip we wanted. Javier said he waited a little bit when he made the lead, and that he was proud of him for finding more when Alpha loomed up on him. Not only Gemologist, I thought Alpha ran a terrific race as well, overcoming a bit of traffic trouble on the first turn.

“So far, it would be hard to be unhappy with anything he’s done so far his whole career. It was great to see. It looked like he had a little something left after the wire, so I think from a conditioning standpoint, with a good mile race and a good 1 1/8-mile race under our belt, hopefully we can have a good month of training leading up to it.

“When he came back, he wasn’t blowing like an exhausted horse. I think his fitness level is pretty good. I think he can (improve). He’s still waiting a little bit. Javier said he was still looking around a little bit. He’s still learning.”

On the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby: “Being by a dual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, one of those at Churchill Downs, and with this horse being two-for-two at Churchill Downs, I think he’d have as good a chance as anybody.”

Javier Castellano, winning jockey: “It worked out great for me. He settled perfectly. I wanted a target. I didn’t want to be on the lead. I had a great trip. Turning for home, he was looking around at horses. When I asked him, he took off again. I like that. I was concerned (when I saw Alpha closing) because my horse was still looking around at the crowd. When he saw the horse coming, he took off again.”

Elliot Walden of WinStar Farm, winning owner: “That’s a great win, he’s a great horse. This stamps him as a Derby prospect, which we’re excited about. We needed the earnings today. More importantly, it puts him in our stallion barn, and that’s what we look for is horses that we can bring home eventually. Winning a grade I like the Wood Memorial, it’s one the best races to win as a 3-year-old, so it’s great that way as well.”

March 16, Entry Level Allowance, Gulfstream Park, One Mile. Gemologist was hand ridden by Javier Castellano to an easy one-mile victory timed in 1:35.95. Currency Swap alone attended the pace set by Gemologist, :24.93, :47.58 and 1:11.26 --  with five running, it turned out to be a two-horse race. But when they turned for home, Gemologist spurted away with Castellano sitting motionless. Rajiv Maragh and Currency Swap stayed on to run a well-beaten second.

Todd Pletcher:“We talked about it before the race and thought he might sit behind a horse, but  he broke so sharp Javier just let him go on and get into his rhythm. Physically, I thought he got everything he needed out of the race that we had hoped for, running a mile in 1:35 and four, and he galloped out really well. Elliott and I will discuss options for his next race over the next few days, but from a time standpoint it will be a race on either Apr. 7 or Apr. 14, and we’ll decide whether it will be better to have four weeks or three weeks to the Derby.”

Javier Castellano: “He came off the layoff with a great performance. He was amazing. He did it on his own. He did it so easy. I was very impressed; he did it the right way and he’s heading in the right direction.”

March 11 NOTE: According to a message on the WinStar Farm Twitter account Sunday afternoon, Gemologist will not compete in Saturday's Grade II Rebel and will stay put in Florida. According to the message, there's "no plane for a return trip, so he would have to van back." The message cryptically concludes, "Plus it's a five horse field instead of 14."

Feb. 9 NOTE: Gemologist to the Rebel on March 17, says DRF.com.

Feb. 8 NOTE: "He came back to us 30 days ago, and we got a month of galloping into him and his first breeze, so everything is going well so far. We're trying to follow same pattern as Super Saver, two preps before the Derby. What we're thinking about right now is the Tampa Bay Derby on March 10 or the Rebel on March 17," trainer Pletcher told Bloodhorse.com.

Jan. 29 NOTE: A two-race campaign is planned before the Kentucky Derby.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Gemologist reeled off strong victories in his racing debut at Turfway Park (won by five) and a 1 1/16-mile allowance race (won by two) on the Stars of Tomorrow program that kicked off the Churchill Downs Fall Meet.  

Nov. 23 NOTE: “He’s a lot of horse and a fantastic looking animal,” assistant trainer Mike McCarthy said. “I think he’ll get better with racing and I see no reason why he won’t develop into a nice 3-year-old. He’s still got a lot of maturing to do; not so much physically, but mentally. I think Gemologist will be fairly forwardly placed (in the Kentucky Jockey Club). It’d be nice if someone would go to the lead and we could sit off him and have Gemologist learn a little something.”

Nov. 26, Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. In the stretch, this turned into a two-horse race with Gemologist wearing down Ever So Lucky from his outside. However, a late run by Timely Tally made it closer than it looked for second. Gemologist won by 1 3/4 length, while Timely Tally came from the clouds to get third, beaten two lengths for it all.

Gemologist hit the wire in 1:44.46 under Javier Castellano.

Ever So Lucky set the early pace, then conceded it to Seve, then got back in front with six furlongs timed in 1:12.62. Meanwhile, Gemologist loomed at all times before siezing the lead past mid-stretch.

Todd Pletcher: “He ran well. He overcame an outside post, got a good trip and dug in when it counted. I think it certainly helped to have a race over the track, and to have that two-turn experience around there. It always helps when you have some confidence that they’ve handled the surface already.

“It’s always exciting when you have a good 2-year-old turning three. It kind of gives you something to look forward to when you head South for the winter. We’re always hoping to be back at Churchill in the spring. We’ll give him a little bit of a break off that, and I’ll get with Elliott and we’ll come up with a game plan. I’d say we’d try to follow a similar path (to Super Saver), hopefully two starts before the big race if things go well.”

Kenny Troutt, owner: “What I saw in there was a horse get a lot of learning experience and still win a race. He had a little problem in the starting gate, but he broke well and relaxed. He went wide, but still won and looked like a very nice horse coming down the lane.”

Javier Castellano: “We had a beautiful trip. It was a dream trip. He’s a really nice horse. Today he was very professional. He sat behind the leaders and targeted the speed. He responded when I asked him. He did it the right way today. I’m very lucky to ride nice horses like him.

“I think he just got a little anxious, and he was ready to go. He reared up and hit the gate with his legs, but thank God he didn’t hit his head. He was very lucky.”

Nov. 27 NOTE: Gemologist exited his victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club in good order, assistant Mike McCarthy said. “He came out of the race well. He’ll go to WinStar Farm on Monday for a brief freshening and then make his way down to Palm Meadows.” Plans for his next start weren't disclosed.

 

 

HANSEN (KY)
Trainer: Mike Maker
Owner: Kendall E Hansen & Sky Chai Racing
Breeder: Dr. Kendall Hansen
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Tapit (Pulpit, Tap Your Heels)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Stormy Sunday (Sir Cat, Thinkin'straight)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-5-6-1-0 (18) 3.50
Foal Date: April 23, 2009

Photo by Bob Mayberger/Eclipse Sportswire

Hansen's dosage index numbers were originally reported as 6-5-5-0-0 (16) 5.40; however, there was an error in the original calculation.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Hansen finished ninth, beaten 10 1/4 lengths. The chart call: "Hansen carried in early, was a bit eager when forwardly placed between rivals, made a mild run into the stretch but tired."

MIKE MAKER – “We didn’t have the best horse. Ramon had him in a great spot and he had every chance if we were good enough. We weren’t good enough. Turning for home, it looked like we were in a good spot but couldn’t make up any ground at the eighth pole. He said ‘I’ve had enough.’ “

RAMON DOMINGUEZ – “He ran well. We didn’t have any excuse. He was a little bit eager in the first part of the race as I suspected he would be. After the first three-sixteenths of a mile, he came back to me beautifully and we sitting in a good spot. He didn’t finish as good we would have liked. Today it appeared it was a little too far.”

April 14, Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 Mile. Hansen finished second after setting the pace in :23.10, :46.64, 1:11.32 and 1:35.46

Going up the backstretch, Hero of Order was a length off Hansen, and Gung Ho and Midnight Crooner were vying for third. Heading into the far turn, Hero of Order was dropping out of it, and Gung Ho was a length behind the Hansen. Dullahan was ninth and beginning to uncork a strong move going around the bend. Turning for home, Hansen still led and Dullahan was about to move up to third after he found space to get through. At the furlong marker, Hansen had a 2 1/2-length advantage over Gung Ho and Dullahan was another 1 1/2 length back. Dullahan switched leads, and, in the jockey's words, "he just exploded" to win by 1 1/4 length. Hansen stayed clear for second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Gung Ho. Gung Ho finished a length ahead of a closing Holy Candy.

Mike Maker: “The pace was too fast. I knew in the first quarter.  It was quicker than we wanted. But he was fresh today. The next one is the big one.”

Ramon Dominguez: “I had not really made up my mind as far as where we were going to be. We all knew that the object was to get him to relax. He’s a very fast horse, came away from there very sharp, but believe it or not, although he was running very fast fractions, too fast to go 1 1/8 miles, he wasn’t rank. Today he came back to me to some extent, but that was about as slow as he was willing to go. I thought it was a very solid effort going the distance. He continued to keep a great pace and galloped out as he usually does.”

“I knew he was running fast, and I know he was really slowing down at the end. We all want to win these big races, and I hope to continue riding him because I think that distance is not an issue. If he allows himself to settle even a little more, it'll make a big difference.”

Dr. Kendall Hansen: “I know he broke really well. I was kinda hoping he’d tuck in. He went about three or four lengths faster than he should have; it was 46 and change. But what’s great is the last furlong he went about 12 and 2, and he finished strong. Dullahan was just sharp today. I heard Dale Romans loved him all week, so I wasn’t surprised. We have another chance in three weeks. He ran great, great times. He did all the work on the front end. It’s all right.”

March 3, Grade III Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 Mile. Breaking from post 12 with blinkers off, Hansen went into and through most of the clubhouse turn, not on the lead as is his usual style, but four wide and in fourth or fifth position. King and Crusader and Maan set the early pace and took the field through the first quarter-mile in :23.68 with Hansen and Dan and Sheila in close attendance. As the field entered the backstretch, Hansen settled in second while attending the pace of King and Crusader. The half-mile was timed in :47.51 and six furlongs in 1:11.79. As they rounded the far turn, Hansen and Ramon Dominguez inched forward and came up to the outside of King and Crusader. Maan had already backed up to last place, and Dan and Sheila was in serious retreat.  Hansen siezed the lead before he hit the home stretch. My Adonis came running after Hansen, and from there, it was a two-horse race -- and then Hansen was all alone at the finish in 1:43.84 on a drying-out track rated good. My Adonis was three lengths back in second, and he was six lengths in front of three horses who hit the wire in a blanket finish.

Michael Maker, winning trainer: “Obviously, I didn’t like losing all that ground, but of more concern to me was he didn’t leave the gate as quick as he normally has. But Ramon said it was no big deal, he settled nice and that’s what we were looking for. More impressive, he lost all that ground and wasn’t rank behind horses and settled. Ramon said his gallop out, he had to call the outriders to come and get him. Great. He did everything perfect today, and I don’t have to be embarrassed after his last race. I hope we can keep him figured out for the next couple of months. The Wood Memorial, yes. That is why we came up here, with that in mind. I think I might take him back to Kentucky to train and come back.”

Ramon Dominguez, winning jockey: “He really took the step forward as far as maturing. He actually did it better than I expected – he was so relaxed. Coming to the three-eighths pole, when he switched to his left lead and I got after him, he went on beautiful. He really did it as nice as I could expect. I was hoping that he could take the step forward, mind-wise, but he really took it further than I expected. Awesome. Galloped out like a freight train, too.”

Dr. Kendall Hansen, winning co-owner: “To see him relax and see him finish up strong, that’s really what I wanted. This is perfect. I’m a little bit more relaxed when he’s tucked in and just tracking another horse and just takes it easy. As far as running on (an off track), he’s bred for it. Tapit's do well on that surface.

“I wish the timing was better for the Spiral. I really want to run at my hometown track, and it’d be an odd circumstance where Mike says, ‘Gosh, we really have to run him in three weeks.’ That’s what I’d really like to do, but the Wood is a really famous race. A lot of history, and it’d be a real thrill to have a chance to win that. We don’t have to run again. We may make that decision, whatever is best for the horse. As long as everything stays on schedule, we’ll probably run him one more time. I think a mile and an eighth would be good for him to build up to a mile and a quarter.”

Harvey Diamond, winning co-owner: “I think he ran the race we felt he was capable of running, and I think Mike Maker made the correct move and made some adjustments. Ramon was also very helpful in making those adjustments. Obviously, he isn’t a one-dimensional horse. And he showed he can run on an off track, and I think we’ll move forward from here and hope and pray he comes out of this race sound and goes on to the next level.”

Jan. 29, Grade III Holy Bull Stakes, Gulfstream Park, One Mile. Hansen led early but lost the race to Algorithms. Algorithms (5-2) took aim at the front-running Hansen (4-5) and ran him down in the stretch to win by five lengths.

Hansen took an unchallenged lead from the one-mile chute at Gulfstream. After a short run-up to the timer, he was timed in :23.63 for the first quarter-mile and :45.67 for the half.  With the second quarter-mile in the book in 22 seconds, Hansen began to slow under Ramon Dominguez. With that, Javier Castellano asked the tracking Algorithms to go. He was timed in 1:36.17.

My Adonis (22-1) bumped with Consortium leaving the gate and was either reserved or couldn't keep up in the early going -- but he and Elvis Trujillo were flying late and finished just a half-length behind Hansen. Fort Loudon, Silver Max and Consortium followed at the finish line.

Mike Maker (Hansen) - “After he stumbled, he popped up and jumped right in the bit. He was a little headstrong and fresh, but other than that it was a good effort. He galloped out strong so we’re pleased.”

Ramon Dominguez (Hansen) – “He has a lot of speed, and he might have been a little bit fresh today, too, which is why we went a little faster than I was looking for. He stumbled coming out of the gate and he picked himself up pretty quickly, but sometimes that scares a horse a little bit and they go a little fast. The stumble probably didn’t help, but it’s not an excuse. I’m not happy that he didn’t win, but I’m not totally disappointed. When he got passed he really dug in, and he galloped out really well.”

Jan. 22 NOTE: “It was nothing out of character,” trainer Maker said of Hansen's breeze. “He worked just fine. We’ve had no bumps in the road. Hopefully, that trend continues." What about Hansen's front-running style? "It’s no different than a closer, you’re dependent on the pace. You just hope no one makes him go quicker earlier than he has to," Maker said.

Jan. 11 NOTE: “If you know Mike, you know that he’s a man of few words,” co-owner Hansen said.  “When I heard the words ‘absolute superstar’ it got my attention. Mike was around Cat Thief and Serena’s Song when they were 2-year-olds, and he said he thought this horse could be in the same category as Serena’s Song.When your trainer says he’s pointing your horse to the Breeders’ Cup before his first race, you have to think you have something good.”

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Hansen broke his maiden at first asking Sept. 9, leading gate to wire to win a maiden special sprint at Turfway by 12 1/4 lengths.

Sept. 24, Bluegrass Cat Kentucky Cup Juvenile, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 Mile. At 1-2 odds, Hansen delivered the goods for a trainer who had a very good day. Hansen broke from the outside and blew away his seven rivals with every step thereafter, cruising effortlessly home to win by 13 1/4 lengths. He was only mildly urged in mid-stretch. The race was the third of five wins on the card for trainer Maker.

Hansen set the pace in :23.83, :46.91 and 1:11.48. The mile went in 1:38.68, and he finished in 1:45.83.  Fine was second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Downtown Driggs in third. Fourth and following were Space Traveler, Pryce’s Posse, Hollywood Script, My Newfound Saint, and Future.  

Michael Maker: It’s nice when you get a young horse and he delivers. I’m very excited. We were thinking Breeders’ Cup before they ran this race today. I ran him here instead of at Keeneland because I worried that if we didn’t get in at Keeneland, we might be in a little trouble. I’m not going to run him back at Keeneland now. I think this race today will get us in to the Breeders’ Cup. We’ll
point to the dirt, not the turf.

Victor Lebron: He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden. The way he ran last time, he took to the front and relaxed. He actually ran off, I couldn’t pull him up until the 5/8th pole. That told me he could go long, all day if you let him. Hopefully he’s my Derby horse. They came up to me a little early, I got him to relax, and he cleared off again. He’s a push button horse. I could put him
anywhere if I wanted to."

Sept. 26 NOTE: "In his stall he’s like a puppy dog. After his first race he wasn’t even breathing. I think he has some gears he hasn’t shown yet,” owner Hansen told Bloodhorse.com.

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. At 7-1, Hansen led at each call and won, holding off a determined, even-money Union Rags by a head. Creative Cause was third by a length. It was another five lengths back to Dullahan. Hansen's fractions were :23.26, :47.39, 1:12.24 and 1:37.61 before finishing in 1:44.44, so the final 5/16 mile went in :32.20. He was free-wheeling by 1 1/2 to two lengths the first six furlongs. Ramon Dominguez was aboard.

Hansen earned $1,080,000 with the win.

Michael Maker: “He’s a natural. Obviously his performance speaks for itself. That’s the way he wants to run and we weren’t going to change a thing. It’s just that natural ability. Obviously he’s got a lot of speed and he’s always shown it. He’s also got a lot of fight; a bunch of good characteristics. We pointed to the Breeders’ Cup before he ever ran. I only told that to the owners, and they’re as crazy as I am.”

Ramon Dominguez: "He ran superb for me. Going into the first turn, he was a little aggressive. That made me a little concerned. When we got to the backside, he switched to his right (lead) and he came back to me and relaxed beautiful. I got pressed pretty early, around the three-eighths pole, but he continued coming for me. I'm very pleased. He’s special."

 

 

I'LL HAVE ANOTHER (KY)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Owner: J. Paul Reddam
Breeder: Harvey Clarke
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Flower Alley (Distorted Humor, Princess Olivia)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Arch's Gal (Arch, Force Five Gal)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 2-4-7-1-0 (14) 2.11
Foal Date: April 1, 2009

Santa Anita Photo

$11,000 Keeneland September 2010.
$35,000 OBS Two-Year-Olds in Training 2011.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. I'll Have Another won the race by 1 1/2 length after never being too far behind the pace set by Bodemeister. He was timed in 2;01.83 after breaking from post 19. The chart call: "I'll Have Another angled in early and gained a forward position, eagerly pulled his rider up between rivals late on the backstretch, continued to make progress on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch, reeled in the leader near the sixteenth marker and drew clear late."

DOUG O'NEILL, WINNING TRAINER -- "This race is unbelievable.  I can't believe it. Paul, he's a big owner, but he's also a big fan. It's an incredible feeling."

MARIO GUTIERREZ, WINNING JOCKEY -- "He broke sharp, as he usually do.  He's such a professional horse.  He's a really calm horse.  I know he was going to help me 100% through the first part.  In the end, he just give 100% all the time.  As soon as you ask him, he throws everything on the race, and he didn't disappoint today."

April 25 NOTE: I'll Have Another was placed on the vet’s list in California after undergoing shock wave therapy on his back, which has a tendency to tighten up a little. The listing is mandatory when that therapy is used. “It’s just a pulse that brings blood to an area,” owner Reddam said. “The horse had absolutely nothing wrong with him. Doug just did it because he could do it, and his owner will pay for it. He’s just leaving no stone unturned. In California, you can’t use it within 10 days of an upcoming race, so you have to report it and go on the vet’s list."

April 20 NOTE: One more workout set at Hollywood Park on April 27 before shipping to Kentucky. Mario Gutierrez retains the mount.

April 13 NOTE: I'll Have Another will ship to Louisville on April 28, the same day as Creative Cause.

April 8 NOTE: Shipping plans to Louisville uncertain for I'll Have Another.

April 7, Grade I Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Mile. It was all Blueskiesnrainbows, a 42-1 shot, for most of the race, but I'll Have Another and Creative Cause rallied to run one-two. Blueskiesnrainbows set fractions of :23.11, :47.11 and 1:11.14, while I'll Have Another and Mario Gutierrez tracked the longshot, followed by Longview Drive and Senor Rain. The race went with those four in charge until the far turn. Senor Rain andLongview Drive began dropping back while Blueskiesnrainbows and I'll Have Another kept going. Creative Cause had been positioned fifth, then sixth, then fourth while saving ground, and he began running at the leader. As he straightened toward the wire, Creative Cause put away Blueskiesnrainbows and got the jump on I'll Have Another. But I'll Have Another came back, and I'll Have Another won by a nose with his head down at the wire. I'll Have Another was timed in 1:47.88. It was the fastest time in the Santa Anita Derby since 2000.

Doug O'Neill: “It was a great ride by Gutierrez. To me, he’s the closest thing to Bejarano we’ve got. He’s such a brilliant rider, and he’s got real finesse. He’s confident but a humble kid. If you can’t get Bejarano, why not Gutierrez?

Asked what was going through his mind down the stretch: “I saw Creative Cause come up on the inside and I thought for a split second, running second in the Santa Anita Derby is pretty freaking good. All the wins are big at the time, but right now, this feels as big as it ever gets.

“I loved the way the race unfolded and how Mario had him positioned going into the first turn. Creative Cause coming up on the inside definitely gave me a scare, but our horse fought on. He’s doing so good. Hopefully, he comes out of this good and if he’s 100 percent, it’s on to Louisville.”

Assistant trainer Dennis O'Niell: “I was thinking of the biggest wins in your life and I always thought Stevie Wonderboy (2005 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) was it, but this tops it. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s great for Paul Reddam. This is why you’re in the game.”

Mario Gutierrez, aboard I'll Have Another: “This is so unbelievable. He is such a good horse, and he gave me a big kick at the end. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind that my horse would give me everything in the stretch leading up to the wire.”

Feb. 7 NOTE: I'll Have Another will wait for the Santa Anita Derby to make his next start. “We were so elated with his win. Here’s a horse coming off a five-month freshening, going two turns for the first time, and he never turned a hair. So we don’t think he needs any extra experience from that standpoint. He’s pretty close on earnings, so, with a good run in the Santa Anita Derby, he should have enough," trainer O'Neill told DRF.com. O'Neill said I'll Have Another has bounce written all over him if brought back too soon.

Feb. 4, Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. I'll Have Another upset at odds of 43-1. Isn't He Clever took the early lead in the field of eight. I'll Have Another was close to the lead tracking in second up the backstretch, with Groovin' Solo and Liaison stalking those two. Isn't He Clever registered times of :23.03, :46.77 and 1:10.52 during the first six furlongs. At that juncture, Isn't He Clever began to tire.

I'll Have Another began mounting a rally in the far turn and took over entering the stretch. Midway through the lane, Groovin' Solo ran into the path of Liaison, who was slowing down noticeably, unseating Rafael Bejarano.  Meanwhile, I'll Have Another and jockey Mario Gutierrez were gone. Empire Way made a late run from last position -- he was still sixth after six furlongs -- to finish second, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Groovin' Solo crossed the wire third.

Rousing Sermon finished fourth. He was 6 3/4 lengths in arrears overall after running evenly in fifth or sixth. At the furlong marker, he was still sixth, but he lost 3 1/2 lengths on the leader from there on.

Mario Gutierrez: “This is my biggest win. It’s a great thrill.”

Doug O'Neill, winning trainer:  “He’s an incredibly talented colt, and we decided to take a chance in here. We thought he could hit the board and we’d move forward, but he ran unbelievable. Mario gave him a great ride. He’s always trained fantastic, but we never saw this coming to be honest with you. This is incredible. We’ll look at the Santa Anita Derby if all goes well.

“Paul (Reddam) saw Mario ride about a month or so ago here and said, ‘If we ever get in trouble, think about using that kid.’ That’s how that came up. Then he came over and worked the horse; he worked great and it couldn’t have worked out any better. We just didn’t want to get into a head and head crazy duel, not get caught up in a speed duel, and he did just that.”

Assistant trainer Dennis O'Neill: “We bought him at the OBS in April of last year and we’ve loved him since day one. He trained like a really good horse from day one, trained like a two-turn horse from day one. He came out of his Saratoga race with sore shins, so when we got him back going, Paul said to take our time with him.

“We paid $35,000 for him. It’s great for Paul. Paul’s put a lot of money in the game, and this is fantastic for Paul.”

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

I'll Have Another debuted with a win going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on July 3. He won on the lead but was pressed the whole way.

Aug. 7, Grade II Best Pal Stakes, Del Mar, 6 1/2 Furlongs. Creative Cause stalked dueling leaders I'll Have Another and Brigand until the top of the stretch where he moved to the outside and unleashed a rally to an easy, 1 3/4 victory. I'll Have Another, who broke from the outside post, held on well to be second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Mighty Monsoon, with Brigand a fading fourth, another 4 1/4 lengths back in the field of six. The race was timed in 1:15.62--very good--and the fastest time for the race since Polytrack was installed as Del Mar's main track surface in 2007.

Joel Rosario: “He ran a good race for me. He’s a nice horse. I got a little more pressure early than I wanted, but he was doing it fairly easy. The winner was just too good today. My horse, he’ll like it when they run farther.”

Sept. 5, Grade I Hopeful Stakes, Saratoga, Seven Furlongs. Maybe he didn't like the sloppy track, but then again, maybe that's not all there was to it. I'll Have Another finished sixth at 11-1 odds, beaten 19 lengths by Currency Swap, who was timed in 1:26.16.

 

 

LIAISON (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Arnold Zetcher LLC
Breeder: William A. Carl Estate
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Indian Charlie (In Excess (IRE), Soviet Sojourn)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Galloping Gal (Victory Gallop (CAN), Indy Flash)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 1-4-5-0-0 (10) 3.00
Foal Date: March 18, 2009

Photo by Reed Palmer Photography, Churchll Downs

$290,000 Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Liaison finished sixth from post 20, beaten seven lengths. The chart call: "Liaison within striking distance four wide, held on well to midstretch, bumped with Daddy Nose Best soon after and tired.

BOB BAFFERT – “He ran like he was training. He got back in the groove. He ran a great race."

MARTIN GARCIA – “I broke good and then my horse handled the track well. We expected to him to run that good, and he did.”

April 7, Grade I Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Mile. Liaison got a good trip but there was no rally, and he finished sixth, beaten 9 1/4 lengths by I'll Have Another and Creative Cause.

Rafael Bejarano, Liaison, sixth: “My horse broke really good from the gate, and I had a really nice trip. I just followed instructions from the boss. I was right behind the favorite, Creative Cause, and I had a good trip by the rail, but by the three-eighths pole, he started jumping. He didn’t feel like he really liked the track. I tried to come between horses, but he started getting tired and jumping, and he was done after that. He tried hard, but I don’t think he really feels comfortable on this track.”

March 14 NOTE: Liaison will go in either the Santa Anita Derby or the Wood Memorial next time out as trainer Baffert continuously reasseses prospects for his string of horses.

March 10, Grade II San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Liaison was ninth, 5 3/4 lengths off the lead after a half-mile and seventh, five lengths back after six furlongs. He finished fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind Midnight Transfer, who was beaten three lengths by winner Creative Cause, who was timed in 1:41.84.

Trainer Baffert said Liaison would remain at home for the Santa Anita Derby.

Feb. 16 NOTE: “I worked him without blinkers, and he worked really well,” trainer Baffert told DRF.com on Jan. 15. “I don’t think he suits this track. I’ve got to figure out the best way to get him to the Kentucky Derby. (Three-year-olds in my stable will) be nominated everywhere, and whoever is doing good that week will get on a plane and go.”

Feb. 7 NOTE: “We’re learning about these horses all the time,” trainer Baffert said. “He got rank, and Rafael should have let him go. He fought him all the way down the backside, and you can’t do that.”

Feb. 5 NOTE: Trainer Baffert said Liaison is OK today after his fall in the Lewis.

Feb. 4, Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Midway through the lane, Groovin' Solo ran into the path of Liaison, who was slowing down noticeably, unseating Rafael Bejarano. Stewards disqualified Groovin' Solo, ridden by Victor Espinoza, and placed him last.

Bob Baffert: “This was a weird run race. (Liaison) was up there, but he was a little fresh today. He got a little rank with (Bejarano) and then he was trying to get him to relax and get back, but he just emptied out.

Rafael Bejarano, aboard Liaison:  “I had my hole when I saw two horses that split out. I had plenty of room in between horses. When I asked my horse to go, he was coming little by little, but the horse on the outside  was lugging in a little bit. I started screaming to let him know I was there and (Victor Espinoza) tried to correct his horse, but at the same time when he corrected his horse, he was just coming in too much.

"The horse on the inside (Isn’t He Clever) didn’t even give me a chance to check his horse because he was coming out too. At least the outside horse (Groovin Solo)tried to correct himself but the other horse from the inside (Isn’t He Clever/Corey Nakatani) didn’t do that. He just kept going and was coming out little by little, but he didn’t even try to check his horse. That’s why it felt so tight and I clipped heels. I ended up clipping heels with Victor’s horse because Corey Nakatani’s horse was coming out and it was enough to push me out. Other than that, I feel good. I’m just a little sore."

Jan. 28 NOTE: “He just keeps moving forward,” trainer Baffert told DRF.com on Jan. 27.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Liaison was third in his debut at Del Mar in early September, a one-mile special weight. It was almost as if he figured out what he was doing as the race was winding down. At the furlong marker, Liaison was in ninth place, nine lengths out of it. When he finished, he was beaten only 2 3/4 lengths. Hurry Home Clover won the race, timed in 1:37.50.

Oct. 14, Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita, Seven Furlongs. Rafael Bejarano hand rode Liaison to a 2 3/4-length win timed in 1:22.61. At even money odds, Liaison laid fifth of a field of six, inched up in the backstretch, started moving leaving the turn and put away Sir Allison leaving the furlong marker.

The chart call: "Liaison settled on the outside down the backstretch, moved closer three deep on the turn, came into the stretch four wide, bid for the lead leaving the furlong marker and drew out late under a strong hand ride."

Nov. 12, Real Quiet Stakes, Hollywood Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Liaison won his two-turn debut in a professional manner. Timed in 1:44.72 and never too far off the pace, Liaison and Rafael Bejarano stayed wide and out of trouble. At 4-5 odds, Liaison won by a half-length over the closing Rousing Sermon. The third finisher, Senor Rain, was beaten 4 1/4 lengths.

The chart call: "Liaison, four wide into the first turn, stalked outside then alongside a rival, bid three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch, gained the lead outside Senor Rain in midstretch, inched away while drifting in a bit and held gamely under left handed urging."

Dec. 17, Grade I CashCall Futurity, Hollywood Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Liason was bet at 5-1 as the second choice, but he got it done again with a rousing stretch effort after a professional early effort. Fourth in the early going, Liaison started moving in the far turn and was a length off the lead with furlong left. He was best in the late going and won by a neck. Rousing Sermon flew from the clouds to get second. The time was 1:42.86. Rafael Bejarano rode the winner. It was trainer Baffert's sixth win of this race. The pacesetters were Handsome Mike and Drill, with 3-1 favorite Majestic City to their outside.

The chart call: "Liaison angled in and stalked the pace inside, came out for room leaving the second turn and into the stretch, bid three deep, gained the advantage past the eighth pole, inched away under urging and held gamely."

Bob Baffert: "We’ve had emotions all week about Indian Charlie (who was euthanized two days earlier). He was such a good horse and he didn’t get going as a sire until the very end. Winning this race is very important. It’s the last chance to run at a big pot other than the Breeders’ Cup. This race is very pivotal for future stars. It’s where they start separating themselves. I’m glad I was on the front end of the separation."

Rafael Bejarano: "He’s just going to improve off this race. I’m really happy with this horse. Bob has done an awesome job with him. He broke so well, but I knew there were a few speed horses in there, so I just put him right in behind them. I was just waiting and waiting, and when I found the right opportunity, I swung him out in the stretch and he showed a big kick."

Dec. 18 NOTE: "Nothing definite yet," trainer Baffert said. "We all need to sit down and see how he's doing. He's on the Derby program."

Dec. 20 NOTE: Trainer Baffert mentioned the Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4 and the San Felipe Stakes on March 10 as being under consideration for Liaison's next start. But of course other races could be under consideration as well.

 

 

OPTIMIZER (KY)
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Owner: Bluegrass Hall, LLC
Breeder: Bluegrass Hall, LLC
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): English Channel (Smart Strike (CAN), Belva)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Indy Pick (A.P. Indy, Fantastic Find)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-9-17-0-0 (36) 3.24
Foal Date: March 8, 2009

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Optimizer finished eleventh, beaten 12 lengths. The chart call: "Optimizer reserved early along the inside, steadied approaching the stretch after angling out a bit, moved back to the inside for the drive but could not threaten."

D. WAYNE LUKAS – “I know we stayed on the rail more than we needed to. I know that’s the shortest way around, but I didn’t want to be down there that long. I knew the trip was going to be key for us. They run it every year; I’m not going to worry about it.”

JON COURT – “The inside post hurt us, but it was a perfect trip. I just couldn't get him to the outside. I'm happy with his effort.”

April 14, Grade I Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Optimizer finished ninth, beaten 20 1/2 lengths by Bodemeister, who was timed in 1:48.71 after setting fractions of :23.02, :46.55, 1:11.36 and 1:36.74.

Jon Court: “A little rough leaving the gate, but my horse settled and got position. In the late going, I didn’t have as much horse as I hoped and couldn’t make up much ground.”

March 17, Grade II Rebel Stakes, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Optimizer came running late to get up for second at 27-1 odds. Secret Circle won despite having less than a dream trip. Unbridled's Note scooted to the early lead, and he led the field into the first turn with Scatman in hot pursuit, followed closely by Cyber Secret and Secret Circle. The first quarter-mile was timed in :23.43. In the backstretch, Unbridled's Note and Scatman dueled for the lead while Cyber Secret rated behind them and Secret Circle was four wide and looking like he was threatening to fall back. Hitting the far turn, it was Unbridled's Note that began waving the white flag while Scatman went on, with Cyber Secret and Secret Circle still in pursuit. The half-mile went in :47.09, the first six furlongs in 1:11.42.

Scatman led as the field turned for home, but he wasn't shaking Secret Circle. With the latter one lugging out a bit, he slowly cut into Scatman's lead and took the lead with about 100 yards left. Just as that happened, Optimizer was closing ground with every stride to get up for second while Secret Circle held him safe, breaking up the Secret Circle-Scatman exacta.

D. Wayne Lukas: “We are real proud. We didn’t get beat by much – only about a half-length. They only get longer and tougher from here. That’s the way it goes.”

Jon Court: “I had to come four wide in the final drive. Two more jumps and I think I would have gotten there. I won three races today, and I think I would have traded them for this one. I’m not complaining because this horse is really nice.”

Feb. 25, Grade II Risen Star Stakes, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 Mile. Optimizer was tenth or eleventh at each call and finished ninth, beaten 13 lengths by El Padrino.

Feb. 19 NOTE: Optimizer wasn't entered in the Southwest.

Feb. 16  NOTE: It's hard to tell what's going on here. “He’s the best horse, to be sure,” said trainer Lukas. “A lot of the other horses have to improve, move forward and increase their figures, but talent-wise he’s already there. Problem is, the distance (of the Southwest) isn’t ideal for him. He’s doing really well. He needs more ground. He’s going to excel at a mile-and-an-eighth and at some point later, I think, a mile-and-a-quarter. So many horses in races like the Southwest are just milers. They are looking at a gut check later. We have to enter and take a look to see how we draw, because at this point he could be compromised.”

Feb. 12 NOTE: Now said to be probable for the Grade II Risen Star on Feb. 25.

Feb. 9 NOTE: “Optimizer’s work was outstanding,” trainer Lukas said. “I didn’t even see how fast it was relative to the others. I just know, boy, he looked really good.”

Feb. 7 NOTE: Pointing to the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 20.

Jan. 16, Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park, One Mile. Optimizer finished sixth at 2-1 odds, a big disappointment for his barn and backers alike. He was beaten 6 3/4 lengths by Junebugred. He was sixth or seventh at each call under Terry Thompson. Early fractions were moderate.

The chart call: "Optimizer settled off the pace, continued evenly off the inside, lacked the necessary response in the drive."

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Optimizer has three starts with a win, a place and a show. The show was in his most recent race, the Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. He has won a maiden race on turf at Saratoga and was second in the Grade II With Anticipation Stakes on turf at Saratoga. All three of these races were 1 1/16 mile.

Oct. 13 NOTE: He's said to be pointed to the Juvenile or Juvenile Turf.

Oct. 25 NOTE: Plan is for him to be in the Juvenile.

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Optimizer ran eighth at odds of 32-1. He was beaten 11 lengths by the front-running Hansen, who was timed in 1:44.44. Optimizer started slowly and did not impact the race.

Nov. 26, Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Optimizer finished fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Gemologist. Optimizer had a bad trip--he was four or five wide both turns, positioned seventh of 11 in the early going. In the stretch, this turned into a two-horse race with Gemologist wearing down Ever So Lucky from his outside. However, a late run by Timely Tally made it closer than it looked for second. Gemologist won by 1 3/4 length, while Timely Tally came from the clouds to get third, beaten two lengths for it all, and Optimizer stayed on for fourth.

Gemologist hit the wire in 1:44.46. Ever So Lucky set the early pace, then conceded it to Seve, then got back in front with six furlongs timed in 1:12.62. Meanwhile, Gemologist loomed at all times before siezing the lead past mid-stretch, and Timely Tally, ridden by Calvin Borel, came from last of 11 after six furlongs.

 

 

PROSPECTIVE (KY)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: John C. Oxley
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy, Macoumba)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Spirited Away (Awesome Again (CAN), Cape North)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 8-5-11-0-0 (24) 3.36
Foal Date: Feb. 22, 2009

Photo by Reed Palmer Photography, Churchll Downs

$250,000 Fasig-Tipton August 2010

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Prospective finished eighteenth, beaten 34 1/2 lengths. The chart call: "Prospective bumped at the start, clipped heels and stumbled in traffic in the initial furlong, was outrun early, bumped El Padrino near the half mile marker and faded."

MARK CASSE  – “We never had a shot. He clipped heels and almost went down about 10 jumps out of the gate. I didn't see it live with the craziness, and then I went to talk to Luis and asked if he had any excuses. He said 'Are you kidding me? I thought I was going down and lucky to stay on.' It's just disappointing to bring him along to such a big race and lose your chance right away."

LUIS CONTRERAS (Prospective, 18th) – “I clipped heels at the start and I almost fell. I just had a bad trip but I was just happy to be part of the race. It was a great experience.”

April 14, Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 Mile. Prospective finished sixth, beaten 6 1/2 lengths by the closing Dullahan, who was timed in 1:47.94.

Luis Contreras: “My horse ran OK. I got a little trouble in the first turn. If it wasn’t that thing in the first turn, probably I’d be closer. My horse ran good but had had a little bad trip in the first turn. That was the only thing.”

On March 27, Prospective breezed five in 1:03.00 (3/4) at CD.
On April 2, Prospective breezed five in 1:01.20 (2/5) at CD.

April 10 NOTE: Looking for a workout.

April 2 NOTE: The Grade I Toyota Blue Grass is definite. “We are going to run Prospective in the Blue Grass rather than the Wood so he can run out of his own stall,” said Norman Casse, assistant trainer to his father, Mark. “He’ll ship from Churchill the morning of the race. It worked out well for him when he shipped from Palm Meadows to Tampa the morning of the Tampa Bay Derby.”

March 22 NOTE: The Grade I Wood Memorial looking likely.

March 11 NOTE: Trainer Casse said after the Tampa Bay Derby that Prospective would have to race once more before the Derby and cited the Grade I Wood Memorial as a possibility.

March 10, Grade II Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Prospective, bet down to 3-1 from an 8-1 morning line, saved ground from post 1 en route to winning by 3/4 length. Ridden by Luis Contreras, Prospective broke alertly and settled in sixth position early and fourth down the backstretch while Cajun Charlie set the early pace in :22.69 and :47.08. Unexpected to trainer Mark Casse, Prospective took the lead in the final turn with six furlongs run in 1:11.61. Shortly after that, he repelled 2-1 favorite Spring Hill Farm, and then held off Golden Ticket. Prospective was slowly edging away as he passed the finish line in 1:43.65. From the $350,000 purse, Prospective won $210,000. He now has a total of $365,452 in graded stakes earnings

Winning trainer Mark Casse: “I rode him pretty hard. Was I worried? Well, I wish he could have won by five. But was I worried, you know, he’s a fighter, I didn’t really think anybody would beat him once he made the lead. I was shocked he made the lead so early. I was like, well, OK, but with the blinkers he was much more aggressive today. He’s a character—he just does what he has to do.

“He is a fighter. What happens now is a good question, I want to talk to Mr. Oxley about. We had a long discussion whether to put the blinkers on and we decided, we need something to maybe give us a length or two. This horse to make it to the Derby -- I think this horse thrives with racing, so we definitely would have to run another time somewhere. Maybe the Wood Memorial.

“He was in a position he’s never been in before, making the lead so early, and I gthought Kenny’s horse (Golden Ticket) was one of the ones to beat. He had run a good race last time and it didn’t surprise me that he was right there.

“We put blinkers on to get him to focus a little more. When we watched him in the Sam F. Davis, he was running down the backside the entire way with his head cocked and he was kind of looking at things. Luis said about the three-eighths pole of the Davis he was finished, and then when the horse came outside him he started running again. I said, (the blinkers) will get him a little closer in the early running, and it worked.

“I think we ran 60 feet farther than the winner last time. Normally, 1 is not where you want to be but it is better than 12.

“Mr. Oxley had hip surgery a couple of weeks ago. He is doing very well, and I’m sure he’s very happy, and I’m sure he’ll be fine for the next one. Mr. Oxley and the Oxleys have stepped up and given me the opportunity to be able to go out and buy horses, so to be able to reward them with something like this is special.”

Winning jockey Luis Contreras: “Man, did he want to run today! We saved all the ground early; the pace was much faster than in the Davis, and the blinkers seemed to make him more aggressive. But he let me keep him in hand when there was an opening between horses making the far turn. I asked him again entering the stretch, and I thought we had it won, but then (Golden Ticket) came up inside us and he had to respond again and we came on again.

“I got a perfect trip. My horse was a little bit excited with the blinkers on, but he just ran hard. I had too much horse in the backstretch, I just tried to keep him quiet and save a little close to the end and to keep giving me everything from the quarter pole. (The Kentucky Derby) is my dream. It is all jockeys’ dream.

“He moved a little earlier than I expected, but I just tried to keep him quiet and save as much horse as I could for the stretch. The inside post really helped me a lot going into the first turn, because I saved a little ground.

“I was looking at (Golden Ticket). That is why I kept hitting my horse with the left hand, and he just kept going. He never quit.”

Feb. 4, Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Prospective broke from the far outside and and made a good late run to finish second. Battle Hardened, prominent throughout, came on in the stretch to win, breaking his maiden.

The Davis was straightforward through the backstretch. State of Play broke from post 1 and took the early lead, followed by longshot Fox Rules, Reveron and Battle Hardened. They took the field through splits of :23.79, :47.81 and 1:12.55. Hitting the turn, State of Play began facing serious challenges as Reveron and Battle Hardened moved up on him and Prospective came charging widest of all.

Entering the stretch, State of Play was starting to falter, and Reveron took over, opening up a little space, and leading a then-fading Fox Rules by a half-length at  the furlong marker. But Battle Hardened wasn't done, and Prospective continued his late charge. At the wire, Battle Hardened was best by 1 1/4 length, and Prospective got up at the last jump to nip Reveron by a nose. Ravelo's Boy, at odds of 69-1, came fourth.

Battle Hardened's time was 1:44.58.

Mark Casse, trainer of runner-up Prospective: “You know, he ran really funny. I thought turning for home he was through, but Luis said as soon as (Battle Hardened) came outside him, he took off again. So if that can get him to try, he’ll be really good. We might make a few little changes and hopefully come back and try him again.”

Luis Contreras on runner-up Prospective: “The outside post didn’t help us a bit. He broke real well and I was able to take him back and settle in the middle of the field. He was relaxed and getting to the turn, when I asked him he put in a super run. I took hold of him again near the stretch because I didn’t want to go wide with him. Then there was an opening and he went through it like a good horse does. He closed very well for me in the stretch.”

Jan. 14, Pasco Stakes, Tampa Bay Downs, Seven Furlongs. Prospective came back from a dismal Breeders' Cup experience to win this race. Ninth of 10 in the early running, he got up to win by 1/2 length and was timed in 1:23.88. The time was .21 seconds off the stakes record. Prospective endured some early bumping out of the gate, but trainer Casse and Luis Contreras said it was no problem since he does his best running late.

Mark Casse: The trainer said the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 4 could be next. “(Tthe Juvenile) disappointed me. Whenever you see a race like that. … but, I have a little more faith after today. He did get bothered a little bit, but I wasn’t expecting him to be close, anyway. So it kind of worked out fine. I thought coming off his route races he wouldn’t be able to keep up early, and he didn’t. I thought it might be déjà vu after the Gasparilla when (Wildcat Creek) was ahead of him, but my horse is bred to run on.”

Luis Contreras: “He broke very well and settled down nicely. In the turn, I asked him to close on the leaders, and he closed very quickly and just swept by them. I really like this horse. The Breeders’ Cup was really disappointing, but I’d like to get back to Churchill with him again.”

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

He ran on turf first time out and finished second after a four-wide rally. Prospective broke his maiden second time out with a pressing trip going seven furlongs on Woodbine's main track on Aug. 27. Patrick Husbands rode him each time.

Oct. 9, Grade III Grey Stakes, Woodbine, 1 1/16 Mile. Prospective won the race after running prominently throughout. He was a close fourth or fifth, then third heading out of the first turn and third or fourth down the backstretch. He took the lead just past the furlong marker. Prospecitve finished two lengths ahead of his nearest competition, Lockout. After trailing most of the field of eight most of the way, Bluedacious finished very willingly to get up for third, just behind Lockout and just ahead of race-time favorite Excaper.

The colt earned $120,000 by winning the $200,000 Grey on the main track, timed in 1:44 2/5. At 8-1, Prospective paid $18.50 to win. Trainer Casse trained all three of the top finishers.

Oct. 25 NOTE: Looks like he'll go in the Juvenile.

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Something had to finish last, and in this case it was Prospective. After a slow start, he regressed to the rear of the field. Thirteen ran. His odds were 41-1, and he was ridden by Luis Contreras.

 

 

ROUSING SERMON (CA)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Lucky Pulpit (Pulpit, Lucky Soph)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Rousing Again (Awesome Again (CAN), Rousing)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-3-10-0-0 (18) 2.60
Foal Date: Feb. 27, 2009

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Rousing Sermon finished eighth, beaten 8 1/4 lengths. The chart call: "Rousing Sermon unhurried early, saved ground after five furlongs, waited off the inside with three furlongs to go, was blocked when attempting to split rivals in upper stretch, angled back in and showed some late interest."

JERRY HOLLENDORFER – “He ran all right. He had a decent trip, we just didn’t get there. The Derby is a tough race to win.”

JOSE LEZCANO – “He broke well and got good position early. But he didn’t seem to have a lot steam today. He gave me a little run when I asked him to, but it wasn’t enough.”

April 1, Grade II Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 Mile. Rousing Sermon got up late to get third, beaten two lengths and a nose in front of Cigar Street, who had been in third position in the first turn, backstretch and second turn. Rousing Sermon was in eighth place after six furlongs. But Hero of Order had a perfect trip tracking pacesetter Comisky's Humor through initial fractions of :23.39, :47.27 and 1:11.55. On the far turn, Hero of Order grabbed the lead and scooted out to a 1 1/2-length margin with a mile run in 1:36.66. Not to be denied, he held off a late bid by Mark Valeski to prevail by a half-length. He was timed in 1:50.13. The late-running Rousing Sermon picked up $100,000, pushing his graded earnings total to $270,000.

Jerry Hollendorfer by phone, Rousing Sermon, third: “He had a good effort. Mike said he lost momentum. I don’t know. We were back far enough, and we had to go wide. It probably gives us enough earnings, but I’ll have to confer with the owners. Distance is no problem for this horse. That’s the difficult part for me. I know this is a good horse, but do we want to push on or maybe find a spot to win a race and then look at a race like the Belmont? I think he wants as much ground as they run horses on.”

March 10, Grade II San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Rousing Sermon finished fifth, beaten 7 3/4 lengths by Creative Cause. Rousing Sermon was tenth, 7 3/4 lengths back of the pace, after a quarter-mile, so he ran evenly while passing tired horses.

Feb. 4, Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Rousing Sermon finished fourth. He was 6 3/4 lengths in arrears overall after running evenly in fifth or sixth. At the furlong marker, he was still sixth, but he lost 3 1/2 lengths on the leader from there on.

I'll Have Another upset at odds of 43-1. Isn't He Clever took the early lead in the field of eight. I'll Have Another was close to the lead tracking in second up the backstretch, with Groovin' Solo and Liaison stalking those two. Isn't He Clever registered times of :23.03, :46.77 and 1:10.52 during the first six furlongs. At that juncture, Isn't He Clever began to tire.

I'll Have Another began mounting a rally in the far turn and took over entering the stretch. Midway through the lane, Groovin' Solo ran into the path of Liaison, who was slowing down noticeably, unseating Rafael Bejarano.  Meanwhile, I'll Have Another and jockey Mario Gutierrez were gone. Empire Way made a late run from last position -- he was still sixth after six furlongs -- to finish second, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Groovin' Solo crossed the wire third but was DQ'd.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

After winning his debut at Hollywood, Rousing Sermon got a pair of third-place finishes in the Graduation and I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar. Next out at Santa Anita, he won against fellow Cal-breds in the 1 1/16-mile Cal Cup Juvenile on Oct. 29, timed in 1:43.52.

Nov. 12, Real Quiet Stakes, Hollywood Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Rousing Sermon came a close second after odds-on favorite Liaison got the jump on him. Meanwhile, Liaison won his two-turn debut in a professional manner. The winner was timed in 1:44.72. The third finisher, Senor Rain, was beaten 4 1/4 lengths. The chart call for Rousing Sermon: "Rousing Sermon chased inside then a bit off the rail leaving the backstretch, came out into the stretch and finished willingly."

Dec. 17, Grade I CashCall Futurity, Hollywood Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Rousing Sermon flew from the clouds to get second. The time was 1:42.86. Liason got it done again with a rousing stretch effort after a professional early effort and was best in the late going to win by a neck. The pacesetters were Handsome Mike and Drill, with 3-1 favorite Majestic City to their outside. The chart call: "Rousing Sermon chased outside or off the rail, swung six wide into the stretch and finished full of run."

Dec. 23 NOTE: Assistant trainer Dan Ward said Rousing Sermon is probable for the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4. 

 

 

SABERCAT (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Breeder: Lantern Hill Farm LLC, William J. Punk Jr. & Lighthouse Group
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat, She's A Winner)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Miner's Blessing (Forty Niner, Bless You)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-4-13-0-1 (28) 2.73
Foal Date: April 8, 2009

Photo by Reed Palmer Photography, Churchll Downs

$120,000 Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Sabercat finished fifteenth, beaten 24 3/4 lengths. The chart call: "Sabercat outrun early five wide, made a mild run to the quarter mile marker but tired in the drive."

STEVE ASMUSSEN – “He just got a little wide into the first turn, and that’s it.”

COREY NAKATANI – “I was a little bit wide but I was right behind the horse I wanted to track. I was right behind Rosario (Creative Cause), thinking that he’ll get me from Point A to Point B. We were in about the four-path, which was a really good spot to be. The way the track’s been playing you had to be forwardly placed. As fast as they went, I thought for sure we’d be able to come and pick up the pieces. It’s just been carrying speed all day, as you can tell with the track records. I just feel bad for this little horse, and Steve and Mr. Winchell, because this horse has been doing so great. Just happened to catch a track where it was really fast.”

April 14, Grade I Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Sabercat was ninth at the first three calls an then finished third, beaten 9 3/4 lengths by Bodemeister. The winner was timed in 1:48.71 after setting fractions of :23.02, :46.55, 1:11.36 and 1:36.74.

Steve Assmussen: “I was very pleased with it. It was encouraging. It was the step in the right direction we were expecting and looking for – the move forward we needed. It looked like a very good experience for him. We needed to see improvement and at this time of year, that’s the important thing in each start. The winner ran an incredible race. To think he ran so much faster than the Oaklawn Handicap went just 30 minutes earlier, that gives you an idea of what he did today.

Corey Nakatani: “Bodemeister is tough. He is a very, very nice horse he deserved to win today because he outran everybody. Sabercat put his heart out there and ran a big race and this is his second race after a little lay-off so he moved forward the way we wanted him to, except for not winning the race, but I think going forward to the next race, the Kentucky Derby he’ll be spot on.”

“I just go out there and try to give every horse chance to win. Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, like the way the race shook for Nehro. They just crawled along out there and he never got comfortable. But in the big race, take nothing from Bodemeister, but my horse moved forward like we hoped and hopefully we can move forward a little more going to the next one. I think I definitely would have been second if it wasn’t for Secret Circle weaving around. I had to dive inside him, and that cost me a little bit of momentum, but hopefully he did enough to get third and hopefully Steve was pleased with it.”

March 17, Grade II Rebel Stakes, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 Mile. After six furlongs, Sabercat, the second choice in the betting, was in tenth place,  7 3/4 lengths back after lagging nearly 15 in arrears at the first two calls. He finished eighth, beaten 6 1/4 lengths. The chart call: "Sabercat lacked speed, two path while continuing near the back, lacked a significant late response when asked in the drive."

March 7 NOTE: Sabercat is definite for the Grade II Rebel on March 17.

March 4 NOTE: Stable now leaning toward putting Sabercat in the Grade II Rebel on March 17.

Feb. 20 NOTE: The Grade II San Felipe on March 10 confirmed to be next.  “We’re expecting the Kentucky Derby to be his third race off the layoff. He’s got plenty of two-turn experience,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi told DRF.com.

Jan. 29 NOTE: The Grade II San Felipe would be next as part of a two-prep campaign according to Jennie Rees of the Louisville C-J.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Sabercat debuted on May 26 at Churchill Downs, finishing fourth on a sloppy track, then he was third on a fast one at the same venue, both races going six furlongs. Sent to Saratoga and stretched out to 1 1/16 mile on Aug. 6, he finished eighth, beaten seven lengths by Optimizer in a subpar performance.

Sept. 5, Maiden Special Weight, Monmouth Park, One Mile. Sabercat broke his maiden in this, his fourth career start. On the inside, he had a narrow lead at each call while taking hard pressure and put down fractions of :49.75 and 1:14.42 before hitting the wire in 1:39.78.

Oct. 2, Garden State Stakes, Monmouth Park, One Mile 70 Yards. Sabercat made it two straight by winning this $75,000 race. He sat in third, a couple of lengths off the lead and a pace of :47.37, before launching a three-wide bid. He won by six lengths and was timed in 1:41.94.

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Sabercat was expected to be entered, but he wasn't. He went ahead and put in a workout--connections were eyeing a different spot.

Nov. 19, Grade III Delta Downs Jackpot, Delta Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. On a day/evening when speed was king at Delta Downs, Sabercat, after dwelling in last place behind a fast pace, came off the far turn to sweep to a four-length victory over Basmati. He earned $600,000 graded money at 8-1 odds and was timed in 1:46.62. Gerard Melancon was the sixth different jockey to ride Sabercat.

Sabercat won his third consecutive race against horses that were shipped in from California, New Jersey, Kentucky, Florida and Canada. Sabercat was bumped at the start. Favored Drill and third choice My Adonis took the field through the first half-mile in 45.41.  Sabercat rallied heading into the far turn but had to wait behind the tiring front runners before angling three wide at the top of the stretch.  He launched a strong drive to pass Basmati, who made a nice late run himself to get second.

Gerard Melancon: "We had a terrible start out of the gate, I got slammed hard, but once I get his feet back under him, we were able to save some ground. I knew the front runners were moving pretty fast, and when we got to the 3/8ths pole, we were moving. He got to the horses pretty quick. Once I got the lead, I thought just hold on baby."

Wwner Ron Winchell: "We still have a long way to go, but this was a good start."

On Nov. 28, Sabercat breezed four in :53.00 (46/46) at FG.
On Dec. 5, Sabercat breezed five in 1:01.80 (4/16) at FG.

No workouts the rest of the year.

 

 

TAKE CHARGE INDY (KY)
Trainer: Patrick Byrne
Owner: Chuck and Maribeth Sandford
Breeder: Eaton Sales
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew, Weekend Surprise)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Take Charge Lady (Dehere, Felicita)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-13-19-0-0 (38) 3.00
Foal Date: March 27, 2009

Photo by Arron Haggart/Eclipse Sportswire

$80,000 RNA Keeneland September 2010.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Take Charge Indy finished nineteenth, beaten 50 lengths. The chart call: "Take Charge Indy within striking distance along the inside, gave way."

PAT BYRNE – “He was walking good when he first got back, but he’s walking a little gingerly on his left front.  Dr. Bill Baker was here to look at him and felt we probably needed to X-ray the left front ankle and the left front fetlock so we’re going to send him over to Dr. Baker’s at the first of the week for further evaluation.

“Obviously something went wrong. He’s not 100 percent cooling out. It looks like we need to further examine him. We don’t know what’s exactly wrong with him at this point in time. Calvin thought he bled, but we scoped him and it doesn’t appear that he bled. It’s disappointing, but we’ll move on. We know it wasn’t a talent issue. Something obviously went wrong.”

CALVIN BOREL – “I had a super trip, a dream trip really, but I knew we were in trouble at the quarter pole. He just stopped. He got choked up and that's not like him.”

March 31, Grade I Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Take Charge led a carousel of sorts to victory. Meanwhile, heavily favored Union Rags settled for third after a less than ideal trip, and Reveron ran second all the way to finish second. Take Charge Indy and Calvin Borel went through fractions of :23.60, :47.71, 1:12.09 and 1:35.96 en route to a final time of 1:48.79. Neck 'n Neck, who was third most of the way, backed out of it in the stretch. And El Padrino, fourth at the first three calls and fifth at the fourth one, finished fourth. The only horse to make up any ground was Union Rags, but he had trouble finding room and was taken to the rail by Julien Leparoux in upper stretch. He was 3 1/2 lengths back with a furlong left in the race. By the time he mounted a rally, it was too late. Take Charge Indy defeated Reveron by a length, followed a neck by Union Rags. They were followed across the finish line by El Padrino, Neck 'n Neck, Fort Loudon, News Pending and Z Camelot.

The million-dollar purse added $600,000 to Take Charge Indy's bankroll; he now has a total of $698,400 graded stakes earnings. Trainer Byrne said he'd ship Take Charge Indy to Churchill Downs April 11 and train up to the Kentucky Derby there.

Patrick Byrne: “I wasn’t surprised at all. He’s been training great, and the jock did a super job. When we ran Jan. 28 (sic), we really didn’t think he’d run as hard as he did against El Padrino. He ran hard that day, and he got tired. He needs five, six weeks, at least, so that’s the reason we took aim at the Tampa Bay race. When we were sitting there, and he drew the 10 hole, Chuck and I and Marybeth were talking about it, and we said ‘That colt is doing so well, why don’t we take a shot in the Florida Derby.

“We knew he liked the racetrack. We’re not surprised. It’s a great result with that pedigree and a Grade 1. Chuck and Marybeth have been in the business two years, and this is their first grade I. They deserve it. We’ve been fortunate over the years.

"The past two years, I kind of wasn’t feeling that great. I kind of backed away from the business a little bit. I was just playing around with seven, eight, nine horses. I actually now train…all my owners are friends of mine. I don’t get the aggravation of the hustle and bustle. Like, for instance, making the decision not to go to Tampa and come here, which was a last minute deal. Those kinds of things don’t always work out but it certainly worked out today. The horse is a good horse, we have a great rider in Calvin and we have wonderful owners, so it’s a really good day.

“I didn’t feel there was any pressure on me going in. I was seven, eight to one. Mike was 1-5 (sic). It’s nice to be 1-5 because it usually means you have the best horse on that day. But I wouldn’t trade places with him. This was a solid race today.  I appreciate owners like Chuck and Maribeth Sandford for giving me an opportunity. I’m blessed to have a horse like Take Charge Indy.”

Calvin Borel: “He needed the last race, I don’t care what anybody says. This horse, he has the potential; he has the breeding behind him. Pat’s been to the big dance, so he wasn’t coming to play, I’ll tell you that.”

“He’d been off for a while, and I didn’t want to take anything from him. I think we got enough out of the race last time for today, and it set him up just right. This horse has the breeding to go on down the road.

“I wasn’t going to go :47 like I did last time.  I let him do his thing last time, and it took its toll a little bit.  We were trying to get him ready.  I think we were able to go in 1:12, and I was pretty comfortable with that.  When we hit the five and a half furlong pole, I knew it was going to take a good horse to run me down.  The other horses were coming.  We finished up pretty good.  It wasn’t like nobody was coming.  I think this colt will get better in time.”

Owner Chuck Sandford: “We’ve been in the business about 2 1/2 years. I used to go to OTB in Illinois all the time and look at the Racing Form and I saw Patrick wasn’t racing much anymore. I admired him for years. I said, ‘My God, I can get a horse if this guy will train him for me…one of the best in the country.

“I’m still in shock over winning this race. We knew we had a nice, top-bred colt. His breeding screams race horse. But some day he's just got to get out there and do it. I talked to Pat coming down here today. ‘Will you look at the races we’ve run in? We’ve put this poor sucker in two Grade I’s and a Grade III. He’s only run five times. Well, now he’s in three Grade I’s and we finally got one of them. Calvin has been the perfect answer. He fits the colt to a tee. And the nice thing about the colt is he has front-end speed, he’s tactical, which Calvin is so magical when you have that kind of horse.”

March 9 NOTE: Scratched from the Tampa Bay Derby, trainer Byrne citing outer post (10 of 12) and unfamiliar track surface. Florida Derby next.

March 8 NOTE: Entered in Saturday's Grade II Tampa Bay Derby.

Feb. 7 NOTE: Take Charge Indy is being pointed to the Tampa Bay Derby next. “In hindsight, I probably should have taken him to Tampa for the Sam Davis instead of running him in that allowance race here the previous week,” trainer Byrne told DRF.com. “But at the end of the day, I decided it was easier just to send him down the road to Gulfstream, even though I know there is no such thing as an easy allowance race this time of year down here. My horse ran his race, and now we’ve got the allowance race out of the way and need to start looking for some more graded earnings. Tampa Bay makes more sense than the Fountain of Youth or Florida Derby. I don’t want to meet up with those monsters down here just yet. It’s a long year."

Jan. 29, Entry Level Allowance, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Take Charge Indy ran a good race and finished second. On a sealed track rated good -- it looked a little wetter than that, perhaps -- Take Charge Indy and Calvin Borel laid in second on the backstretch while longshot Bartolome cut out honest-to-taxing fractions of :23.49, :47.12 and 1:10.95. Just behind Take Charge Indy, favored Casual Trick was in third, and El Padrino was a close fourth.

In the turn, Take Charge Indy took command while Bartolome rapidly retreated -- and Casual Trick also began backing off. But El Padrino wasn't done, and he started cutting into Take Charge Indy's lead with with every stride. El Padrino had taken the lead late in the stretch and was easing away when the wire came up. Take Charge Indy was two lengths back in second. A late running Argentine Tango got third, but he was beaten 15 3/4 lengths by El Padrino. Casual Trick finished eighth of nine. The winner was timed in 1:42.68.

El Padrino's time was the fastest at the distance of the meet so far, and it was more than two seconds faster than Revron’s win of the Gulfstream Park Derby.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

July 30, Maiden Special Weight, Arlington Park, Six Furlongs. Take Charge Indy showed a lot of talent in his debut, winning by 6 1/2 lengths after pressing the pace, then lugging in during his stretch run. He was timed in 1:12.52.

Sept. 10, Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity, Arlington Park, One Mile. Shared Property made a late rally in the center of the track to catch Take Charge Indy and win by a length, covering the distance in 1:37.93.

There was a fast pace up front with 45-1 outsider Ville and 99-1 shot Fairy Cat vying though a :22.88 opening quarter, :46.36 alf and three-quarter split of 1:11.50 before they both faded turning for home. Take Charge Indy, the 2-1 favorite, assumed the lead in the stretch but was unable to hold off the 3-1 winner. Motor City closed from far back to get up for third. Thirteen ran.

James Graham: "He's still kind of green. Coming down the stretch, he was looking at the outside fence. But he's growing into himself."

Oct. 8, Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, Keeneland, 1 1/16 Mile. Take Charge Indy was fourth after running evenly in or close to that positon throughout the race. Dullahan, a four-race maiden, won the race.

At 17-1 odds off a 15-1 morning line, Dullahan came from ninth after a half-mile--and fourth with a furlong to go--to run down the win. Majestic City, who stalked the pace before taking the lead inhe far turn, hung on for second. Optimizer closed from twelfth of the 13 runners to take third.

Musical Flair led the field of 13 through early fractions in :22.67 and :46.15 with Majestic City in closest pursuit and Dullahan in mid-pack. Majestic City took command leaving the backstretch and opened a daylight lead entering the stretch. Kent Desormeaux had moved Dullahan into fourth place with a three-wide move and clear sailing at the leader that he passed in the final 50 yards.

Dullahan was timed in 1:43.12 for the 1 1/16 mile. The time was identical to that of Stephanie's Kitten, winner of the Grade I Alcibiades the day before.

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Take Charge Indy was sent off at 25-1 odds and finished fifth, beaten 6 1/4 lengths. After being positioned seventh at the first call--he had been steadied--he ran evenly in fifth and fourth thereafter before losing ground in the stretch. At 7-1, Hansen led at each call and won, holding off a determined, even-money Union Rags by a head. At almost 6-1, Creative Cause was third, beaten only a length. Behind Creative Cause, it was another five lengths back to Dullahan, beaten six lengths for all of it. Take Charge Indy earned $60,000.

Hansen's fractions were :23.26, :47.39, 1:12.24 and 1:37.61 before finishing in 1:44.44, so the final 5/16 mile went in :32.20. He was free-wheeling by 1 1/2 to two lengths the first six furlongs.

 

 

TRINNIBERG (KY)
Trainer: Bisnath Parboo
Owner: Shivananda Parbhoo
Breeder: J M Stables, Inc.
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Teuflesberg (Johannesberg, St. Michelle)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Bella Dorato (Goldminer's Gold)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-0-3-0-0 (6) 3.00
Foal Date: March 16, 2009

$1,500 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall 2010.
$21,000 OBS 2011 2-Year-Olds in Training.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Trinniberg finished seventeenth, beaten 31 1/2 lengths. The chart call: "Trinniberg chased a fast pace, held well to the stretch and gave way."

BISNATH PARBOO – “The jockey said he didn’t like the going. He likes an easier going.”

WILLIE MARTINEZ – “I couldn't be prouder of my horse. A mile and a quarter just isn't his game. I wasn't surprised to see Bodemeister go to the lead, but I didn't want to be that close.”

April 7, Grade III Bay Shore Stakes, Aqueduct, Seven Furlongs. Trinniberg went to the lead and set uncontested fractions of :23.46, :47.41 and 1:11.50 while under a hand ride, then eased away to win in 1:23.46, prevailing by three lengths over favored Hardened Wildcat. Trinniberg picked up $150,000 of the $3250,000 purse.

Willie Martinez, winning jockey: “You should never be too confident going into a race. It’s horse racing – anything can happen – but I was overwhelmed with confidence. Once I cleared the chute I knew it was all over. I was just trying to be the passenger. He’s the pilot.”

Shivananda Parbhoo, winning owner: “The performance was amazing. I knew he would go to the lead. He’s the class of the race. [Jockey Willie Martinez] didn’t even use him at all. The plans are the Preakness, but let me see how good he comes out. There’s a 15 percent chance for the Kentucky Derby. I want to go long. I wanted to do that [and run him in the Wood Memorial], but I don’t think he was ready. I wanted to go to the New Orleans race [the Louisiana Derby], but I canceled 15 minutes before the race. Me and my pops [trainer Bisnath Parboo] are an amazing team.” On stretching out: “Every time he runs and you ask him, he wants to give more. You see this race, and it’s unbelievable.”

March 10, Grade III Swale Stakes, Gulfstream Park, Seven Furlongs. Trinniberg was much the best, winning by six furlongs after setting the pace with splits of :22.65 and :45.00. His final time was 1:21.69. Willie Martinez was in the saddle.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

This colt broke his maiden at Calder, winning by 5 3/4 lengths. Next time out, in the Saratoga Special, he was beaten very badly.

Sept. 5, Grade I Hopeful Stakes, Saratoga, Seven Furlongs. Currency Swap, at odds of 9-5, wore down 68-1 shot Trinniberg with a gritty run through the final yards to win by three parts of a length, timed in 1:26.16 on a track rated sloppy. Trinniberg was the only one in the field with off-track experience, but he was beaten 26 lengths in that effort, the Saratoga Special.
 
Currency Swap was kept on the outside about four lengths off the lead by Rajiv Maragh as Trinniberg zipped through opening fractions of :21.91 and :45.14. Currency Swap began cutting into the front-runner’s lead on the turn and drew alongside in midstretch. Digging in, the longshot refused to fold, and the two slugged it out to the end.

Bisnath Parboo: "I think he’ll run better going shorter than longer.

“Shoot. I thought we’d get it, but that’s racing. The problem with this horse is the gate. He gets nervous in the gate. He weaves around. We have tried to get him in the gate and settled in. He’s got a lot of speed and he’s been training better every time. The older he gets and the more training he gets, he keeps improving. I don’t know what happened to him in the Saratoga Special. I think he needed the experience of the mud.

Cornelio Velasquez,: “My horse broke well and went to the lead easy. He ran well, he liked the mud. The horse who beat me is a nice horse, too. My horse ran big.”

Oct. 2, Grade II Nashua Stakes, Belmont Park, Six Furlongs. Vexor, at 18-1 the longest shot in the field, came to the outside of pacesetter Trinniberg to challenge for the lead, and he took over in the stretch to prevail by 1 3/4 length. The time was 1:10.71. Seeker was a frustrating third after a ground-saving trip, beaten 5 1/4 lengths at 5-2 odds. Jagati was fifth, and the post-time favorite at 7-5, She Digs Me, was not a factor and finished last of six.

Nov. 4, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, Churchill Downs, Six Furlongs. Trinniberg finished seventh after being pressed on the lead for about a half-mile. He weakened at the top of the stretch.

 

 

UNION RAGS (KY)
Trainer: Michael Matz
Owner: Chadds Ford Stable
Breeder: Phyllis M. Wyeth
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Dixie Union (Dixieland Band, She's Tops)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Tempo (Gone West, Terpsichorist)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-1-10-2-0 (22) 2.14
Foal Date: March 3, 2009

Photo by Gulfstream Park

Owner Wyeth sold Union Rags at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton August sale for $145,000, but decided she'd made a mistake and bought him back at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old sale for $390,000.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Union Rags finished seventh, beaten 7 1/2 lengths after he lost all chance at the break. The chart call: "Union Rags bumped and squeezed back at the start, was outrun along the rail, took up once in the second turn behind Daddy Long Legs, angled outside that one, swung to the outside for the drive and made a late gain."

MICHAEL MATZ – “Julien said he just didn’t get a good break. He just had a rough trip, he said.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX – “He broke a step slow, and he usually breaks well from the gate. Then he got bumped and we dropped far back. After the first turn and on the backside, I tried to find room inside but I had nowhere to go where I can make a move. At that time, I knew it was going to be tough to come back. It’s unfortunate.”

March 31, Grade I Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Take Charge led a carousel of sorts to victory. Meanwhile, heavily favored Union Rags settled for third after a less than ideal trip, and Reveron ran second all the way to finish second. Take Charge Indy and Calvin Borel went through fractions of :23.60, :47.71, 1:12.09 and 1:35.96 en route to a final time of 1:48.79. Neck 'n Neck, who was third most of the way, backed out of it in the stretch. And El Padrino, fourth at the first three calls and fifth at the fourth one, finished fourth. The only horse to make up any ground was Union Rags, but he had trouble finding room and was taken to the rail by Julien Leparoux in upper stretch. He was 3 1/2 lengths back with a furlong left in the race. By the time he mounted a rally, it was too late. Take Charge Indy defeated Reveron by a length, followed a neck by Union Rags. They were followed across the finish line by El Padrino, Neck 'n Neck, Fort Loudon, News Pending and Z Camelot.

Union Rags made $100,000 and now has $1,170,000 in graded money.  

Michael Matz:  “He sprung his right hind shoe in the paddock, but I don’t think it was a big deal. We had to tack it back on.

“Julien said Javier (Castellano) was on him the whole time down the backside, but that’s just race-riding. He said he should have been closer the way the track has been right now. Horses aren’t coming back. (Take Charge Indy) got an easy lead, and he got a head start on me, and we just couldn’t get him. Julien said he just didn’t get out in time, and the way the track is today, you had to be close to the pace. I’m not going to trade with anybody. It’s just unfortunate how it turned out today, but he can’t help that. It was just one of those things.”

Julien Leparoux:  “He ran good, and he finished good. We were in traffic and they were riding me. My horse finished well, especially the last 1/8. It was just bad luck. He is a professional. He doesn’t care about being on the rail, in behind, or dirt (in his face).  Nobody paid attention to the winner, they let him go. I guess they just target the favorite.

Feb. 29 NOTE: The Grade I Florida Derby is next. "He really only ran the last quarter-mile, if that, and from the looks of him today the race doesn’t appear to have taken anything out of him. The timing is real good, and with these two races in him, we certainly won’t be over-racing him going into the Kentucky Derby,” trainer Matz said to DRF.com.

Feb. 26, Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Union Rags won by daylight, establishing himself as the clear leader on the Derby Road. Discreet Dancer broke well and meted out measured fractions of :24.50, :48.11 and 1:1205. News Pending was rushed up to sit off Discreet Dancer's flank early in the backstretch, and Casual Trick rated behind those two. Union Rags and Julien Leparoux patiently sat back in fourth, a couple of lengths off the lead, give or take. Rounding the turn, Leparoux asked Union Rags for a little more, and he responded by capturing the front as they turned for the short stretch home. In short measure, Union Rags was getting away without being touched by Leparoux. Discreet Dancer faltered a bit, allowing News Pending to stay up for second. Union Rags crossed the finish line four lengths clear, timed in 1:42.68.

Union Rags picked up $240,000 of the $400,000 purse of the Fountain of Youth, pushing his graded stakes earnings to $1,070,000. The Grade I Florida Derby is next.

Winning trainer Michael Matz: “He’s such a smart horse, and he does everything so easy on himself for such a big horse. You never know after a four month rest; do you have the horse fit enough, did you do this, did you do that. You always go through 51 questions. I guess we did it right this time. The next stop will be the Florida Derby and hope we can go to the Kentucky Derby.”

“Julien said he didn’t even touch him with a whip. He did everything on his own. He said when he said ‘Time to go,’ he just went beautifully. I couldn’t be more pleased right now.

“Usually there are always a couple glitches along the way, but so far everything has gone in the right direction, and he did it the right way, and I’d only think if he runs a race like this his second or third races, we’ll be pretty good.

“I think anytime you have a race under your belt, it gets you a little tighter. Julien said he didn’t get tired and galloped out well. (Assistant trainer) Peter (Brett) did a nice job with the horse, working the horse. He’s a big help to me because he’s on the horse, and it is an extra tool to use in the training.

"If it wasn’t for maybe two feet, he'd be undefeated, also (like Barbaro at this point). I think he’s a real good horse, he’s a got a real good disposition, and I certainly don’t think there’s any problem with distance with him.”

Julien Leparoux: “I was hoping he would run a good race, but I was not expecting that. He’s such an easy horse to ride and did everything so easily. I didn’t hit him once. I just showed him the stick a couple times. I’m sure he was not 100 percent today, which means he should just get better.”

Owner/Breeder Phyllis Wyeth: “We were just out for a practice run. Can you believe that one? And we didn’t want him to peak to soon. We were not expecting him to win..and giving pounds to Discreet Dancer.”

Jan. 24 NOTE: "He always sweats, he's a big sweater. That's been him from the start. But he has a good disposition," trainer Matz told DRF.com.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

Union Rags made his debut at Delaware Park on July 12, rallying from seventh to post a 1 3/4-length victory, going five furlongs in :58.25.

Aug. 15, Grade II Saratoga Special, Saratoga, 6 1/2 Furlongs. Union Rags put away favored Stat at the top of the stretch and splashed his way to a 7 1/4-length victory, his second in as many starts.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Union Rags hugged the rail while vying with Stat, Indian Evening and Trinniberg through an opening quarter-mile in :21.78 and a half in :45.55 over the sloppy track. Shaking free of all but Stat on the far turn, the Dixie Union colt outfooted the favorite once straightened for home, drawing off despite veering out into the middle of the track.

His winning time was 1:18.33. He was the 3-1 third choice in the field of six.

Stat, the 8-5 favorite, finished three lengths in front of Indian Evening, who in turn was followed by Banner Bill, Trinniberg, and Italo.

Javier Castellano: “He’s an unbelievable horse. I got a phone call last week from my agent; he wanted me to work some horses on Tuesday. Jockeys usually take off on Tuesdays since we race six days a week, but I’m so glad he did that to me. When I showed up and worked the horse in the morning, it was unbelievable. I’ve never worked a horse like that, and I’ve been very fortunate to ride horses like Ghostzapper and Bernardini. I’ve been a very lucky, fortunate guy, but this horse is unbelievable and special.

“After working him in the morning, I was so confident today. I didn’t worry about the one hole at all, and for 6 1/2 furlongs, it’s a tough post. For a young horse, you don’t know how they’ll react and plus the rain and the sloppy track, but he did it so well. He broke sharp, he was right there, he followed the other horses. It was a tight trip, but it didn’t matter. He showed up today.

“(In the stretch), I wanted to stay off the rail a little bit and when I did that, I think he saw the screen board. Today it’s dark, rainy and the light is so bright. I think he saw the light from the board and kind of got scared a little bit and jumped. I corrected really quickly, and after that he continued to run. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he’s going to be a superhorse. I think he can run all day.”

Michael Matz: “He’s a very sensible colt. He worked here last week and worked like a real good horse. When he worked so well, we expected him to run well, and if he doesn’t you say what did I do wrong? He proved he is a good horse, and I’m really excited about him. Phyllis, the owner, is a great person. She has had a lot of horses for me, and she told me that one day she would get me a good one. Hopefully we have it.”

On his ducking out in the stretch: “We didn’t really know what he was doing. Javier said he was looking at the screen a little bit. I was real nervous (about the early fractions). He said he broke well and felt like he was traveling very easily. He is the one riding, not me.

"We’ll get him back at the barn and see what we look like, speak with the owners and see what we want to do. Obviously our main goal is for next year, but we’ll just have to see how he is and look for something in about a month or five weeks.”

Oct. 8, Grade I Champagne Stakes, Belmont Park, One Mile. Caught behind horses with less than 300 yards to go, 6-5 favorite Union Rags abruptly changed course in mid-stretch and went on to a 5 1/4-length victory.

With Javier Castellano aboard, Union Rags was bumped at the break and had to settle in fifth behind Right to Vote and Power World as they took the field of eight juveniles through an opening quarter-mile in :22.74 and a half in :45.84.

With nowhere to go as they headed for home, Castellano first tried to steer Union Rags between horses, but then angled sharply to the outside. Once clear, the big colt took off with a rousing late run that carried him under the wire in 1:35.55 for the mile.

Alpha, the 2-1 second choice, closed from last to gain second, a neck ahead of longshot Right to Vote.

Michael Matz, winning trainer: “He’s always acted like a nice horse from when we first got him. He’s trained well this period he’s been off. The timing is great now. The seven weeks didn’t hurt him between races. The (traffic) is going to happen with 2-year-olds, and they find a way out of it, don’t they? I think he’s a real good horse. Anytime you can win going five-eighths with me, you know they’re nice horses. I’ve had horses on and off for Mrs. (Phyllis) Wyeth, and she said to me, ‘I’m going to have a good one for you,’ and I think she does.”

Javier Castellano, winning jockey: “My plan ‘A’ was to be close to the pace. He’s a really nice horse, and you can put him wherever you want. Unfortunately, in the first jump (Right to Vote) squeezed me. He bumped really hard, and I lost the momentum right there. Now I had to change my plan to ‘B’ – come from behind horses. But he’s an amazing horse – nothing bothers him. He got dirt in the face, he was blocked all the way on the trip. I tried to wait for my best opportunity to make that move.

“He’s a big horse with a huge stride. He lost all the momentum, but I decided it was my best opportunity, and he did it. When he saw daylight, he took off. He’s a special horse.”

Phyllis Wyeth of Chadds Ford Stable, winning owner: “I can’t even talk. We didn’t know what kind of horse we really had. I think he’s good.  We always had hopes for him, but it’s really an honor, because my mother bred all the mares, and (he's) by my father’s stallion. It’s what they all lived to produce. It really is an honor.”

Oct. 9 NOTE: "He will train at Fair Hill and go down to Churchill in sufficient time for the race,” said trainer Matz.

Nov. 5, Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 Mile. Union Rags finished second by a head as the even-money favorite after he was wide on both turns under Javier Castellano. At 7-1, Hansen led at each call and won, holding off a determined Union Rags. Creative Cause was third by a length. It was another five lengths back to Dullahan. Hansen's fractions were :23.26, :47.39, 1:12.24 and 1:37.61 before finishing in 1:44.44, so the final 5/16 mile went in :32.20. He was free-wheeling by 1 1/2 to two lengths the first six furlongs. Meanwhile, Union Rags was sixth of thirteenth the first quarter-mile and half-mile. He advanced on the second and emerged into the stretch to challege Hansen, but he just could not get by.

Union Rags earned $360,000 with the place.

 

 

WENT THE DAY WELL (NY)
Trainer: Graham Motion
Owner: Team Valor International and Mark Ford
Breeder: James Patrick Delaney
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Proud Citizen (Gone West, Drums of Freedom)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Tiz Maie's Day (Tiznow, Sweet Roberta)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 4-1-11-0-0 (16) 1.91
Foal Date: Feb. 21, 2009

Photo by Bob Mayberger/Eclipse Sportswire Inc.

$15,000 November 2009
$43,385 Tattersalls October 2010.
Private purchase 75% interest TVI.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE THREE

May 5, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 Mile. Went the Day Well finished fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by I'll Have Another. The chart call: "Went the Day Well bumped at the start, was outrun for a half four wide, angled in into the second turn, moved back out seven wide entering the stretch and closed well between rivals."

GRAHAM MOTION – “Johnny said he just had a tough trip. As good a trip as he got last year, he had a tough trip this year. He galloped out in front.”

JOHN VELAZQUEZ – “We didn’t break out of there well, and it was screwed up from there on. I was actually just beating Julien (Union Rags) into the first turn, so that’s how far back we were. The horse next to me clipped heels coming out of the gate, so now I’ve got to steady and go inside of him. We go to the first turn and he gets pushed over and I have to steady again. Now I’m far back with Julien. Now I have to go around the horse in the first turn, got outrun three-wide, went back to the inside, and I got a good trip from there, but I was so far back I couldn’t make up that much ground, no way, not on this kind of track the way it is today.”

Does that make this one of the worst Derby trips you’ve had? “Nah, not at all, are you kidding? I just got shut off and I lost my position twice, but in the first quarter-mile. There were a couple Derbys where I clipped heels and was practically on the ground. This was not my worst trip, but it was a bad trip.”

March 24, Grade III Spiral Stakes, Turfway Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Went the Day Well stalked the pace under John Velazquez before making a winning move heading into the stretch. Heavy Breathing, the 2-1 favorite, took the field through early fractions of :23.10, :46.98 and 1:11.86. Ill Conceived, Went the Day Well and Tizanexpense pursued up the backstretch. Rounding the far turn, Went the Day Well and 25-1 longshot Holiday Promise began threatening Heavy Breathing. With a furlong left, Went the Day Well had the lead for good. He won the race by 3 1/2 lengths. Heavy Breathing hit the wire a length behind Holiday Promise, followed another two lengths back by Handsome Mike, who trailed the field in the early going after breaking from post 12. The race was timed in 1:51.33. Went the Day Well won $282,000.

Barry Irwin, Team Valor: "Based on what Johnny said, we might want to run him one more time. The Lexington. I've got to talk to Graham, so that's off the top of my head. If this horse hadn't gotten stuck in quarantine 10 days extra, he'd run one more time. He's going (to the Kentucky Derby). This horse runs on the dirt. This horse trained every day of his career (last year) on Polytrack. He runs on this stuff. I would take this horse (over the other three 3-year-olds we own). He wants to run a mile and a quarter, that is for sure.

"Lucky Chappy's gone to Dubai. We're not going to run him there and then run him (in the Derby). That would be far-fetched. I'm sure if he won, some of my partners would want to do it, but I might have to put a few of them in straight jackets.

Do you think John Velazquez is committed to ride this horse in the Derby? "I have no idea. Let's face it, there are some really damn good horses. No jock in his right mind is going to commit right now unless he's riding Union Rags or something. When it comes to the Derby, there are really no loyalties.

Graham Motion: "I was very impressed with him. He was in a tight spot, and Johnny got him out of there. I thought this horse was explosive today." Will he race again before the Derby? "I think that the beauty of this race is that you have the option of running again or not running again. I feel confident (about the Derby), and I would not have told you that last year, necessarily. It's going to be a question of giving him a week to see how he comes out of it. The Lexington is the only option (if he races again before the Derby). He'll stay at Keeneland."

John Velazquez: "He did everything great today. I thought he was going to be a little farther back, but the track is playing pretty fast so I didn't want to be too far back, so he got a good position going into the first turn, and I took advantage of that -- saved all the ground and pulled him out at the quarter pole. When he got to the lead, he started waiting and lugging in, and then he just went on. He still doesn't know very much. You can tell, as soon as he pulled out at the quarter pole and he found himself on the lead, he didn't know what to do. I think this horse will go all day."

March 3, Maiden Special Weight, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Went the Day Well skipped the Battaglia Memorial and broke his maiden with a nice stalking trip and good stretch move. He was timed in 1:44.78 and beat Tiz Yankee by 1 1/4 length under Javier Castellano.

March 1 NOTE: Went the Day Well wasn't entered in the Gotham. He's in the fourth at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight.

Feb. 25 NOTE: “Went The Day Well has blossomed as hoped for following his U.S. and dirt debut and will be flown Wednesday to New York, where Edgar Prado will ride him in the Gotham Stakes. I don't ever recall running a maiden in a graded race, but we are running out of time with him to make the classics, a result of him having been stuck in quarantine an extra ten days,” Barry Irwin told Bloodhorse.com.

Feb. 4, Maiden Special Weight, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Went the Day Well finished fourth, beaten 1 1/2 length by Teeth of the Dog. The running time was 1:51.03. Went the Day Well was off slowly but made up 2 1/2 lengths on the leader from the furlong marker to the finish line. He was 3-1 in a seven-horse field. Edgar Prado was up.

PERFORMANCE AT AGE TWO

In his debut at Haydock Park on Sept. 24, Went the Day Well got away slowly but finished well for second place in a one-mile race on turf.

His second start came on Oct. 11 at Leicester going a mile and 60 yards on turf, and he finished second by a head after getting the lead late.  Went the Day Well was brought back over to the U.S.