Well, I find myself playing catch-up again. Losing track of things is one of my least favorite traits about me. I apologize for the wait, for those of you who read this daily. Anyway, let's get up to date on workouts:
SUNDAY WORKOUTS:
At Palm Meadows, Abraham went four furlongs in 50.08 and Overanalyze worked five furlongs in 1:01.30.
At Gulfstream Park, Frac Daddy and Java's War each traveled five furlongs in 1:00.56.
My Name is Michael worked a half mile in 49 flat at Keeneland.
Manando worked four furlongs in 50.40 at Santa Anita Park.
At Churchill Downs, Mylute worked a half mile in 50.20 and Falling Sky worked five furlongs in a sharp 59.60.
MONDAY WORKOUTS:
At Santa Anita, Den's Legacy went four furlongs in 47.80.
Giant Finish worked a half mile in 48.20 at Fair Hill Training Center.
West Hills Giant, at Belmont, worked five furlongs in 1:00.47.
The big news of this week so far is the defection of Flashback due to a knee chip. You can imagine my reaction in hearing that news; I won't put it in print.
But there is still hope for me on the Derby Trail. There's a horse running in the Arkansas Derby this weekend that I am very keen on, and I want to talk about him right after the page break.
I have two D. Wayne Lukas horses in my fantasy stable. In this day and age, where the trainer's name is becoming a joke to many fans, it is strange for me to type that first sentence. There's no doubting, though, that the veteran trainer has a nice hand this year. If Will Take Charge's name pops up in the entries for the Blue Grass Stakes, there's a chance that Lukas could sweep the two major preps this weekend. (At least, that's what I'm hoping for.)
Oxbow has been on my mind for a while now. This colt is sired by Awesome Again, best known for winning the Breeders' Cup Classic in a thriller. Awesome Again won four stakes at ten furlongs, including the Queen's Plate, which is Canada's version of the Derby. And he's passing that stamina on to his progeny. Ghostzapper, Game on Dude, Ginger Punch, and Awesome Gem have all won Grade 1 races at ten furlongs. Paynter - who, by pedigree, is a blood brother to Oxbow (they are by the same sire and their dams are full sisters - even finished second in the twelve furlong Belmont Stakes. No, while many doubts have been cast over the sireline stamina of other Derby contenders this year, Oxbow need not worry, being sired by one of the best sires in the business.
It gets even better. Oxbow is out of the Cee's Tizzy mare Tizamazing, who never raced. Now, when you think of Cee's Tizzy, who immediately comes to your mind? That's right - Tizamazing is a full sister to Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow. That Awesome Again - Cee's Tizzy nick is working wonderfully for these breeders. Oxbow's full brother Awesome Patriot is a stakes winner, and Paynter won the Haskell Stakes before coming down with some bad luck in illness. The dark bay colt is making a miraculous recovery to the races as we speak.
So while Tiznow was Cee's Song's highlight as a broodmare, her daughters have held up remarkably well as broodmares. Their female family goes back to Argentinian origins, which came from French origins, which, of course, came from Great Britain, the cradle of the Thoroughbred. There are stakes winners in every generation going back many years. It is a solid family, one that makes sires. Tiznow has done remarkable in the shed, siring two Grade 1 winners at ten furlongs, Well Armed and Colonel John. It bodes well for Paynter and even Oxbow in the future.
Oxbow made a mockery of a weak field in the LeComte Stakes in January, showing great pace and drawing away to win by open lengths. He then showed he could rate in the Rebel Stakes, coming off the pace to finish a game second. He was just nabbed at the wire by his stablemate Will Take Charge, who came flying from behind.
This bay colt will get a new jockey in the Arkansas Derby - Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, who is doing wonderfully in his return from retirement. The thought gives me chills - a Hall of Fame trainer giving the leg up to a Hall of Fame horse, who is riding under the name of Calumet Farm. Anyone who knows anything about racing knows the significance of the name Calumet. In their heyday, they bred and raced many champions. Eight Derby winners raced in their silks, including Whirlaway and Citation, who later became Triple Crown champions. The farm is making a comeback as well after being purchased by successful owner Brad Kelley, whose operations were formerly known as Bluegrass Hall, LLC.
The sky is the limit for this colt. Oxbow will do well at nine furlongs and even better at ten, with the pedigree he boasts. Who knows how good he can be? As a young three year-old colt, he still has much growing and developing to do. I have as much hope for this horse as I do Orb and Revolutionary. Those three horses, I feel, are the biggest contenders to take this year's Kentucky Derby.
So is it too late to switch out Flashback for Revolutionary in my fantasy stable? This loss hurts! Oh well, that's racing. You're bound to suffer some kind of disappointment, and if you don't, you're just not taking big enough of a chance. Anyway, the entries for the Arkansas Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes come out tomorrow, and you bet I'll be waiting for those lists to come out with baited breath. After all, this is horse racing...truly the grand passion of my life.
Thank you for reading and I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday!
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