Watch List Recap

During the two and early three year old seasons, I create the monthly Watch List, noting promising juveniles who are well-bred and/or won their debuts or other races impressively. Now that these babies have developed into mature three year olds, let’s wrap up the highlights of last season’s watch list before turning our attention to the two year olds of 2011.

I watched Astrology (A.P. Indy – Quiet Eclipse, by Quiet American) finish third in his debut on my birthday at Saratoga last year and immediately tagged him as a colt to watch. A half brother to three stakes winners with a stamina oriented pedigree, Astrology earned his own stakes win in the Iroquois (G-3) and was second to Santiva in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G-2). This year, Astrology began his year with a couple of second place finishes before charging from the back of the pack in the Preakness Stakes to grab the show spot. Astrology doesn’t appear to have the psyche and will to win, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope he’s just a late maturing colt. No doubt we’ll be seeing him in the big races this summer and fall.

Last August, the pedigrees and talent of three colts caught my eye and had me dreaming of the Kentucky Derby. Everyone had Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie – Playa Maya, by Arch) in their sights after his 14 length blowout in his debut. He went on to an undefeated season and took Champion Two Year Old honors. Uncle Mo became ill after the Wood Memorial, but wasn’t scratched from the Kentucky Derby until after the post positions were drawn. Hopefully we’ll see him race again, possibly this Fall.

Santiva (Giant’s Causeway – Slide, by Smarten) and Stay Thirsty (Bernardini – Marozina, by Storm Bird) both had blue-blooded two turn pedigrees and appeared to have the talent to be major players in their three year old season. Unfortunately, Santiva wound up six and Stay Thirsty was twelfth in the Kentucky Derby, but I predict both have good futures ahead, especially if Stay Thirsty is allowed to develop his own career instead of playing the role of Uncle Mo’s workmate.

His connections, Bobby Flay and Todd Pletcher, thought so highly of Sensational Slam (Grand Slam – Roman Romance, by San Romano) that they skipped the maiden conditions and sent Sensational Slam into a stakes race in his first start. He rewarded their faith by winning the Clarendon at Woodbine then turned around three weeks later to take the Vandal Stakes at the same track. Sensational Slam has been unplaced in two graded stakes, the With Anticipation and Blue Grass, but won the Fred “Cappy” Capossela earlier this year. The colt has been working consistently at Saratoga.

Smash (Smart Strike – Dixie Holiday, by Dixieland Band) was $400K purchase at 2010 OBSC March Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He was a precocious baby, and won his five furlong debut on July 18 over the Hollywood Cushion Track by 2 ½ lengths in :57 4/5 while on cruse control. Not surprisingly, Smash was injured and missed the rest of his juvenile season. He recently started his three year old campaign and placed second in a six furlong allowance race at Hollywood Park. Smash has been working steadily since that contest. His trainer Bob Baffert will certainly aim towards a stakes campaign for Smash, so keep an eye out for him in the Mid-summer races at Saratoga or DelMar.

In Florida, a state known for producing precocious juveniles, Awesome Feather (Awesomeofcourse – Precious Feather, by Gone West) swept the Florida Stallion Stakes then dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The undefeated miss earned top Two Year Old honors, but was injured, delaying the start of her three year old season. Awesome Feather recorded her first work for 2011 at Belmont Park on May 24, breezing three furlongs in 36.78. Hopefully, we’ll see her resume her career in late summer or early fall.

Alienation (Rock Hard Ten – Alienated, by Gone West) put up a fight to win her five furlong debut over Hollywood’s turf course, and then traveled east to contest the juvenile stakes races over the dirt. After pressing swift fractions in the Adirondack Stakes (G-2), Alienation finished a good second. She again finished second after a stumbling start in the Spinaway Stakes , but was toasted in the Oak Leaf (G-1) upon returning to Hollywood Park. The Baffert barn gave her some down time, and Alienation has been working steadily at Santa Anita for her comeback and perhaps we’ll see her back on the lawn this summer.

Excited (Giant’s Causeway – Path of Thunder, by Thunder Gulch) offered a professional win in her debut on August 27 traveling 1 1/6 miles in 1:45.17  over the firm Saratoga turf. She’s competed exclusively in stakes races and was third in the Good Mood as a juvenile. At three, Excited placed in the Sweetest Chant and Grade 3 Herecomesthebride before winning the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico on May 20.

Royal Delta (Empire Maker – Delta Princess, by A. P. Indy) stormed out of the back of the pack to win her debut by 12 lengths Belmont Park and immediately jumped to the top of my list for Kentucky Oaks contenders. By a Belmont Stakes winner out of a mare by a Belmont Stakes winner, Royal Delta is the second foal for her dam, a multiple graded stakes winner over turf. Delta Princess is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Indy Five Hundred and she is a half sister to the Group 1 winner Biondetti, who competed in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Royal Delta’s third dam Proud Delta won the Beldame and Top Flight Handicaps (both Grade 1) as well as four other stakes races over dirt. Royal Delta had a late start to her three year old season and missed the Kentucky Oaks, but was a convincing winner of the recent Black Eyed Susan Stakes. Royal Delta will aim for the Grade 1 Alabama this summer at Saratoga.

I’ll continue to follow these talented horses throughout their racing and breeding careers. Maybe one will become the next Northern Dancer or a noted blue hen.

Breeders’ Cup Watch List of Promising Juveniles

No matter how quickly today’s two year old runners become stars, they can quickly disappear from view by tomorrow. That’s simply the nature of juvenile racing. It’s wise to start a watch list from mid-summer through the end of the year to become familiar with the up and comers.

Last week, the racing world was buzzing with the dominating performances by Position Limit in the Adirondack Stakes and Kantharos in the Saratoga Special. But does anyone remember the dominating performances of last year’s winners? How about their names?

For the record, last year Worstcasescenario cruised home by 4 ½ lengths in the Adirondack and wasn’t heard from again until her three year old season when she placed in two turf races. D’Funnybone was a runaway winner of last year’s Saratoga Special and he fared a bit better, carving out a niche as a nice sprinter this year as a three year old.

The following list could have Breeders’ Cup implications and become the basis for next year’s Triple Crown hopefuls. The watch list articles will be on-going throughout the year. Below are a few talented youngsters that may compete in up-coming stakes races.

While Position Limit was dazzling, keep an eye on Alienation(Rock Hard Ten – Alienated, by Gone West). She put up a fight to win her five furlong debut over Hollywood’s turf course, and then traveled east to take on winners over the dirt. Alienation pressed swift opening fractions of :21 3/5 and :45, and still gave a brief challenge to Position Limit when the other pace pressers backed up. Alienation’s sire won over dirt, but as we predicted in last year’s Sire Guide, he’s starting to make a name for himself as a producer of turf and synthetic track runners that need time to mature. Alienation’s dam won over dirt and placed on the turf and some very good runners have descended from this distaff family including 2006 Champion European Two Year Old Teofilo. If she can rate, Alienation will be one to watch as she matures and adds distance. Time will tell whether dirt or turf is her best surface, or if she’ll become one of the good fillies that can run over anything.

Smash

Bob Baffert continues to open the stable doors and unleash his herd of pricey babies. Smash(Smart Strike – Dixie Holiday, by Dixieland Band) could be one to watch. A $400K purchase at 2010 OBSC March Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Smash is a half brother to Holiday Runner, winner of two stakes races as a juvenile. The dam is a half sibling two stakes placed runners. Smash won his five furlong debut on July 18 over the Hollywood Cushion Track by 2 ½ lengths in :57 4/5 without being asked. The bay colt sat off the pace three wide, cruised past the front running leader without being asked and won professionally.

Awesome Feather - Photo: Jim Lisa

In Florida, a state known for producing precocious juveniles, Awesome Feather (Awesomeofcourse – Precious Feather, by Gone West) reigns undefeated at Calder after winning the JJ’s Dream and Desert Vixen Stakes. Awesome Feather is descended from a family of stakes winners. Although her sire is fairly obscure and won only a couple of minor sprint stakes races, Awesome Feather’s dam Precious Feather was a multiple stakes winner and her second dam Last Feather was a Group 3 winner in France. Third dam Quill was champion two year old filly and blue hen. Awesome Feather may appear in the next leg of the Florida Stallion Stakes series, The Brave Raj on September 28.

Stay Thirsty - EclipseSportswire

Meanwhile at Saratoga, we selected the winner of the eighth race on July 14 in our Play of the Day at Horse Racing Nation. Stay Thirsty(Bernardini – Marozina, by Storm Bird) was the only horse in the race with experience and he cruised to a sensational 5 ½ length victory over a well-bred group of maidens, including Heisman, the full brother to Any Given Saturday. Stay Thirsty is a half brother to freshman sire Andromeda’s Hero and his precocious full brother Superfly. His pedigree indicates that he’ll love stretching out and he should improve with maturity.

Sensational Slam Photo Crystal Jones

Speaking of sensational, don’t let Sensational Slam (Grand Slam – Roman Romance, by San Romano) pass you by. The Bobby Flay owned, Todd Pletcher trained colt is undefeated in two starts, both stakes wins at Woodbine. A $240K OBS Select Two Year Old, Sensational Slam has a fantastic pedigree. His dam is a multiple stakes winning sprinter and he can trace his distaff family directly back to Best In Show, through her daughter Sex Appeal. Sex Appeal is a half sister to Blush With Pride, the granddam of Rags to Riches. Several champions were produced from this family including Peeping Fawn, Aldebaran, Spinning World, Domedriver, etc.

Sensational Slam has Rasmussen Factor inbreeding (inbred to a superior mare within five generations) to two excellent dams. As mentioned, he traces back to Sex Appeal and she produced Sensational Slam’s fourth dam, Northern Prancer a full sister to El Gran Senor, who is Gone West’s damsire.

The second inbreeding is to Tamerett. She is Gone West’s second dam, and she produced Tentam, the second sire of San Romano. For now, Sensational Slam is beating up on the Canadian Colts, but he could venture south of the border as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile draws near.


Next week, we’ll review other promising juveniles on the road to the Breeders’ Cup.