In 2006 while Barbaro was winning the Kentucky Derby, a Storm Cat colt ridden by Ramon Domingez and trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by WinStar Farm was finishing in second. His name was Bluegrass Cat and he would go on to win the Haskell before finishing his career in Travers finishing second behind that year's champion Bernardini. As a stallion, Bluegrass Cat is off to a wonderful start with an Oaks favorite in Kathmanblu.
However today, his half brother Cal Nation made his debut in impressive fashion. By Distorted Humor out of the AP Indy mare She's a Winner, Cal Nation hails from one of the hottest female families in the past few years. Not only did Bluegrass Cat finish second in the Derby, but Super Saver who won last year is from the same family (She's a Winner and SS' dam Supercharger are full sisters, their full brother Girolamo won the Vosburgh last year as well). This makes CN a cousin to Super Saver's half brother Brethren who also happens to be by the 2003 winning Derby winning sire. But like Super Saver, Brethren and his brother, Cal Nation is owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher.
However, dispite the title that his stablemate Uncle Mo should watch out, there are a few things that need to be cleared up. First off is history, no horse has won the Derby without starting at 2 since Apollo did it in 1882. Secondly, this was only his first start and it may have been against poor company. It will be interesting where he does go next, however he is a horse who should get better as the distances get longer. This horse could be a special one to follow this year and may well end up being the best of the Pletcher bunch.
It's going to be a fun Derby trail down in Florida that's for sure.
Showing posts with label Brethren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brethren. Show all posts
February 5, 2011
January 2, 2011
Horses to Look Foward To in 2011
Well welcome to 2011! I for one am happy that 2010 is finally over and that we can look ahead to this year's Triple Crown and beyond.
Here are some of the horses that I'm looking foward to seeing this year, all of these horses are three and up.
Dixon Lane (Pulpit)- His half sisters are graded stakes winners and his niece will go down as one of the best 3yo's of all time. Dixon Lane has some big shoes to fill for Steve Asmussen. Two years after Curlin and a year after his niece Rachel Alexandra. He's made all of his starts on turf so far, but being by Pulpit I would not be suprised to see him on dirt soon.
Souper Spectacular (Giant's Causeway)- His half sisters are G1 winners with one of them being one of the best horses of all time. Luckly for this Seth Benzel trainee, he can make his own name out of the shadows of his sisters Balance and Zenyatta. His career started on the dirt before moving to turf. He was 4th in his first stakes try, look for him to improve that next time out.
Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) vs Havre de Grace (Saint Liam)- I'm fully looking foward to Round 5 in this rivalry. Right now it's "Clover" (a name giving by her breeder's daughter) 3 Grace 1, although it's really 2-1 since neither of them won that fourth meeting. Although Grace will be having a new trainer in Larry Jones, I will still think that Jerry Hollendorfer will send his charge to Oaklawn like he did last year.
Giant Oak (Giant's Causeway)- Okay so he finally got over his losing streak, but not actually crossing the wire first. Still his Clark was one of the most impressive losses (or wins depending on what way you look at it) in a way. Hopefully this Chris Block trainee can keep things together and we'll see him in the winner's circle more often in the future.
Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), Brethren (Distorted Humor), R Heat Lightning (Trippi)- Last year Todd Pletcher finally got over the hump by winning the Derby. Now Uncle Mo could be the best chance to win the Triple Crown, however not if Super Saver's little brother has anysay. Brethren is undefeated and more importantly like his brother did when he was 2, he has a win at Churchill. In matter of fact as the year goes on I expect him to slowly creep onto everybody's radar and Uncle Mo to slip considerbly. It's very hard for a 2yo champion to show the same form they did as a 3yo. Mo is up against it. As for RHL, I don't think she'll be an Oaks contender, however she will fill the void that was left with the retirements of Dubai Majesty and Gabby's Golden Gal (who where recently sold to Japanese connections).
Switch (Quiet American)- While R Heat Lightning is facing 3yo's, John Sadler filly should take the early lead in the Sprinting ranks. She almost set a track record in the La Brea (which was eventually set by her stablemate Twirling Candy). However, dispite how souped up the track this is a filly with a future. She could have some challenges by Glided Gem (who is 1/2 to the dam of Droysselmeyer), but she should blow away the Sprint division.
That's it for now. As the year goes on, there will be more horses that pop up. But for now, these are the ones that I'm most looking foward to.
Here are some of the horses that I'm looking foward to seeing this year, all of these horses are three and up.
Dixon Lane (Pulpit)- His half sisters are graded stakes winners and his niece will go down as one of the best 3yo's of all time. Dixon Lane has some big shoes to fill for Steve Asmussen. Two years after Curlin and a year after his niece Rachel Alexandra. He's made all of his starts on turf so far, but being by Pulpit I would not be suprised to see him on dirt soon.
Souper Spectacular (Giant's Causeway)- His half sisters are G1 winners with one of them being one of the best horses of all time. Luckly for this Seth Benzel trainee, he can make his own name out of the shadows of his sisters Balance and Zenyatta. His career started on the dirt before moving to turf. He was 4th in his first stakes try, look for him to improve that next time out.
Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) vs Havre de Grace (Saint Liam)- I'm fully looking foward to Round 5 in this rivalry. Right now it's "Clover" (a name giving by her breeder's daughter) 3 Grace 1, although it's really 2-1 since neither of them won that fourth meeting. Although Grace will be having a new trainer in Larry Jones, I will still think that Jerry Hollendorfer will send his charge to Oaklawn like he did last year.
Giant Oak (Giant's Causeway)- Okay so he finally got over his losing streak, but not actually crossing the wire first. Still his Clark was one of the most impressive losses (or wins depending on what way you look at it) in a way. Hopefully this Chris Block trainee can keep things together and we'll see him in the winner's circle more often in the future.
Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), Brethren (Distorted Humor), R Heat Lightning (Trippi)- Last year Todd Pletcher finally got over the hump by winning the Derby. Now Uncle Mo could be the best chance to win the Triple Crown, however not if Super Saver's little brother has anysay. Brethren is undefeated and more importantly like his brother did when he was 2, he has a win at Churchill. In matter of fact as the year goes on I expect him to slowly creep onto everybody's radar and Uncle Mo to slip considerbly. It's very hard for a 2yo champion to show the same form they did as a 3yo. Mo is up against it. As for RHL, I don't think she'll be an Oaks contender, however she will fill the void that was left with the retirements of Dubai Majesty and Gabby's Golden Gal (who where recently sold to Japanese connections).
Switch (Quiet American)- While R Heat Lightning is facing 3yo's, John Sadler filly should take the early lead in the Sprinting ranks. She almost set a track record in the La Brea (which was eventually set by her stablemate Twirling Candy). However, dispite how souped up the track this is a filly with a future. She could have some challenges by Glided Gem (who is 1/2 to the dam of Droysselmeyer), but she should blow away the Sprint division.
That's it for now. As the year goes on, there will be more horses that pop up. But for now, these are the ones that I'm most looking foward to.
October 18, 2010
Derby Siblings
With his win at Belmont on Saturday, Brethren avoided what I like would like to call "The Derby Sibling Curse". What is that you may ask? While winning the Kentucky Derby is the biggest accomplishment in most horses careers, it might spell doom for their younger siblings.
Just ask Coincide, Rockcide and Homicide, 2 sons and a daughter of the Slewacide mare Belle's Good Cide. Three black sheep in one family, now Coincide won a couple of races, but the other two did not. Who was the good sheep for their dam? That would be none other then the Gusty Gelding himself, Funny Cide. Now of course Rockcide redeemed herself by being the dam of G3 winner Rule, but still she never won a race on flat and her lone try over the jumps.
Big Brown's little sister My Chestnut Girl has won only 1 race over in Europe.
Smarty Jones' little brother and sister Speedy Jones and Elusive Moment have a combined 1 win. EM is the lovely horse pictured above when she was a 2 year old. No she didn't win that day either sadly, I actually saw her again as a 3yo and she finished last.
Elusive Sparkle and Broadway Ticket, both little sisters to Street Sense did a little better then the average Derby winning sibling, but not as well as their champion brother.
Since 2003, the most successful Derby winners sibling has been Tiago who of course is Giacomo's little brother. He won the Santa Anita Derby and the Goodwood (the later as a 3yo), and had finished third in Belmont and the BC Classic. Then again he was born the same year as Street Sense, Hard Spun, Curlin, Rags to Riches etc.
It's really unfair to put Brother Bird (Mine That Bird's kid brother), Lentenor and Nicanor (Barbaro's brothers) in the conversation for a few reasons.
For Brother Bird, he has only made 7 starts in his career and has won his 2 races this year. Plus he just finished 5th in a stakes race on his first try and he's only 3. As for Nicanor and Lentenor, it's asking alot considering how beloved Barbaro was. Also Dynaformer's are better on turf then they are dirt, with that being said Nicanor has had some success on dirt and Lentenor finished 4th in this year's Florida Derby.
As for Brethren, he's only had one race under his belt. Weather he turns out to be a G1 winner like Super Saver or a claimer like their big brother Hedge Fund (who was retired a few months ago to WinStar) it remains to be seen. Whatever happens, he will be a special part of 2010 KY Derby for who his big brother is.
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| Elusive Moment (IRE) (Elusive Quality x I'll Get Along (Smile)), full sister to 2004 KY Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. Taken before her first start (October 20, 2007 at Delaware Park) She finished 4th. Photo by me (Rachel Levine) |
Just ask Coincide, Rockcide and Homicide, 2 sons and a daughter of the Slewacide mare Belle's Good Cide. Three black sheep in one family, now Coincide won a couple of races, but the other two did not. Who was the good sheep for their dam? That would be none other then the Gusty Gelding himself, Funny Cide. Now of course Rockcide redeemed herself by being the dam of G3 winner Rule, but still she never won a race on flat and her lone try over the jumps.
Big Brown's little sister My Chestnut Girl has won only 1 race over in Europe.
Smarty Jones' little brother and sister Speedy Jones and Elusive Moment have a combined 1 win. EM is the lovely horse pictured above when she was a 2 year old. No she didn't win that day either sadly, I actually saw her again as a 3yo and she finished last.
Elusive Sparkle and Broadway Ticket, both little sisters to Street Sense did a little better then the average Derby winning sibling, but not as well as their champion brother.
Since 2003, the most successful Derby winners sibling has been Tiago who of course is Giacomo's little brother. He won the Santa Anita Derby and the Goodwood (the later as a 3yo), and had finished third in Belmont and the BC Classic. Then again he was born the same year as Street Sense, Hard Spun, Curlin, Rags to Riches etc.
It's really unfair to put Brother Bird (Mine That Bird's kid brother), Lentenor and Nicanor (Barbaro's brothers) in the conversation for a few reasons.
For Brother Bird, he has only made 7 starts in his career and has won his 2 races this year. Plus he just finished 5th in a stakes race on his first try and he's only 3. As for Nicanor and Lentenor, it's asking alot considering how beloved Barbaro was. Also Dynaformer's are better on turf then they are dirt, with that being said Nicanor has had some success on dirt and Lentenor finished 4th in this year's Florida Derby.
As for Brethren, he's only had one race under his belt. Weather he turns out to be a G1 winner like Super Saver or a claimer like their big brother Hedge Fund (who was retired a few months ago to WinStar) it remains to be seen. Whatever happens, he will be a special part of 2010 KY Derby for who his big brother is.
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