Kentucky Derby Close Look - Meet the 2015 Lineup!
May 1, 2015 13:42:32 GMT -5
Haubing and Celestia like this
Post by Neco on May 1, 2015 13:42:32 GMT -5
Burning Acres - Owned by Jez
Burning Acres is a farm with a storied history on SS, with some of the oldest lines on the forum but only a recent player in the Thoroughbred industry. In2 013 they made noise on the Triple Crown trail with the filly Barb, who was one of the first fillies to compete in the Kentucky Derby. Since then, Burning Acres has expanded its stake in the Thoroughbred bloodline and acquired a number of new horses that are following in Barb's footsteps in this year's classics. Owner/trainer Jez has high hopes that her trio of colts this year can take home the Roses on that first Saturday in May.
This is your second year with any of your horses competing in the Derby. How does it feel to make it into the big race?
It feels pretty good! I wasn't really expecting to make it in with all of my designated competitors, but we did it!
Citation ran one of the best races of his life in his final prep - do you feel that sets him up for a good effort in the Derby compared to the other entrants?
I think so, the Wood Memorial tends to be very telling of a horse's potential before the Derby. Of course, sometimes it doesn't really work out that way, but I think Citation stands a good chance against his fierce competition. I am a little worried about his ability to take on Athena Watchover bringing her A-game
After finishing a solid third in his final Derby prep, Citation has a three furlong blowout two days before the race to "open up the pipes" as many trainers are fond of saying
Tell us a bit about your other horses - why did you decide to run Texas Hold Em and Whirlaway in the Derby?
Texas Hold 'Em is a colt we purchased from Conversano, by Bardowick and out of Two of Clubs, two of CV's prized racehorses, and I bought him with the purpose of exploring his untapped potential, figuring there would be no better way to do so than to run for the Triple Crown. Whirlaway, I'll be honest, I was not expecting to run, but wherever Texas Hold 'Em goes, he follows, so into the Derby preps the chestnut colt went, and qualified. He's yet to win a race, but I think he's wisened up in his last few starts, so hopefully he won't get caught in traffic too terribly on the day of the big race.
Texas Hold Em walks to the track for an early morning gallop, with a nervous Whirlaway galloping to keep up
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
I feel pretty good about Texas Hold 'Em and Citation at the moment. I may have put poor Whirlaway in way over his head, but if nothing else, he'll have had the experience of running in the Kentucky Derby. But you never really know, he could still surprise us on Derby Day.
Citation vogues for the camera, while in the background Texas Hold Em does his best to escape his ever present shadow in Whirlaway
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Hard Tack Stables - Owned by Neco
Hard Tack was one of the first Thoroughbred breeding farms established on SS and has hit the ground running in recent years. They hold the first Triple Crown winner and a record three Derby winners, along with a number of graded stakes winners among their ranks. This year they come into the Triple Crown light, with only one colt competing in the Run for the Roses. Owner/trainer Neco says she's overflowing with horses, but none with the prodigious talent and drive it takes to win the Kentucky Derby.
Congratulations on qualifying for this year's Derby! How do you feel coming into the big race?
I feel great! The Derby has always been an exciting time for me and I always tend to get caught up in the excitement of the race. I'm so stoked with the quality of horses that are entered this year and can't wait for everyone to get into the gate on Saturday.
Prince of Thorns was the 2yo champ. Do you feel like there's a "curse" for the 2yo male champion coming into the Derby?
Prince of Thorns eyeballs his next door neighbor, two year old Dracarys, who really has no business looking so calm just a day before the Derby
Well it does seem like there's something to that now doesn't it. [laughs] I don't feel like there's a curse; I just feel like some horses mature quicker than others, and sometimes there are just horses that get better with age and peak in May. Then you have to put the fillies in on top of everything who tend not to run against males as juveniles and you have a perfect storm for an upset in the Derby! That said, there is a very good filly that's beaten us in a number of preps, as well as some fantastic colts, so there's going to be some fierce competition this year. Prince was fairly precocious as a juvenile and he seems to be holding his form well so here's to hoping he does well in the big one.
Prince takes a shortcut across the well-kept lawn of the Churchill paddock - he's a horse with a mission and those cookies aren't going to eat themselves
Is there any comparison between him and your previous Derby winners?
Well I made the stupid decision to run him against last year's Derby winner and he definitely got beat in that race. [laughs] He just couldn't match Lionheart's kick, though he did try. He and Prince share the same sire, both being by my Secretariat, and have similar running styles - Lionheart is a dead closer while Prince tends to sit a bit closer to the pace. Seattle Slew, the 2013 winner, loved being on the lead and he tended to run his rivals over their feet, while 2012 winner Seabiscuit was another come from behind horse that had a fantastic turn of foot. They're all great horses and please don't make me choose, they're all my favorites!
After having to go widest of all, Prince of Thorns tries to run down 2014 Derby winner Lionheart, only to come up short at the wire
How do you feel about your horse's chance come the first Saturday in May?
I believe Prince has a great chance. I try not to think too much about the 2yo "curse" or his apparent case of "seconditis" - more than half of his starts are seconds, jeez - but I'm trying to just put some extra training into him to get him more focused. I just try not to get into his way too much and give him a job to do on the mornings, so I'm hoping that pays off in the long run this year. I'm very excited to see the turnout this year!
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Hawkstone Stables - Owned by Anomaly
Hawkstone has quite the history with the Triple Crown and in the Thoroughbred industry. After several near misses, they finally prevailed in 2013 with Sent By Ares striking in the Preakness and preventing archrival Seattle Slew from a Triple Crown sweep. Ares would consequently go on to be voted champion older horse and Horse of the Year for 2014, and his daughter Athena Watchover is just one of a cadre of horses owner/trainer Anamoly has gunning for the roses this year.
Congratulations on qualifying for this year's Derby! You had a number of horses that had enough points to enter - how hard was it to make the cut?
It wasn't very difficult, honestly, to decide which horses should go in the Derby. Derringer and Danger Keep Away have both been targeting the Derby from day one, and after Athena began dominating the Oaks preps and we tried her against the colts, she proved that she more than deserves a chance at the roses.
Buddies to the end, chestnut Derringer and black Danger Keep Away often work together in the mornings - shown here galloping just a few days out from the Derby
A filly has never won the Derby on Seeing Stars, and your Athena Watchover figures to be one of the heavy favorites. Do you feel any pressure for her to perform well?
A little bit, yes. She's an incredibly talented filly with a lot of hype to live up to. I'll certainly be disappointed if she doesn't hit the board. Training a homebred filly like her to be the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby would be absolutely amazing.
Athena practically skips to the track in the mornings - she's not only favored for the Derby, but is the morning line choice for the Oaks as well
Tell us about your horses. Is there any comparison of these horses to your previous Derby entrants?
I think these three could all be competitive, and overall the best crop of three-year-olds Hawkstone has ever had coming into the Kentucky Derby. Athena is easily the best horse I've ever had at this stage in her career; her sire, Sent by Ares was lackluster in his Derby preps before blossoming in what turned out to be an epic Triple Crown run against Seattle Slew. That was really the turning point in his career. Animosity had won the Wood Memorial in his final Derby prep before running an even 5th on the first Saturday in May. Derringer actually reminds me a bit of Ares with how he's coming into this race - he's been running well consistently and flashed some real brilliance on a couple of occasions. Athena Watchover is head and shoulders above any horse I've ever run in the Kentucky Derby, though.
It's a sea of Hawkstone yellow as all three contenders hotwalk the shedrow after their respective gallops
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
I'm reasonably optimistic about our chances. As I said, I'll be very disappointed if Athena doesn't hit the board, but I don't think Derringer or Danger Keep Away can be discounted, either. Derringer, in particular, has shown that he has the raw ability to be competitive against the best horses we have on SS, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him coming at the finish to get a piece of it. While Danger would need to step up his game a bit, he is a half-sibling to Duality, who ran 4th in last year's Kentucky Derby (and actually is by the same sire as Caprido, who ran 5th in that same race). I don't know if the Triple Crown will be his time to shine, but I know he has a breakout performance somewhere.
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Honey Hoof Estates - Owned by Celestia
Honey Hoof has a long history on SS but like many of the stables participating in the Triple Tiara, they are relatively new in the Thoroughbred scene. With specific running teams called "The Wonderbolts," Honey Hoof has burst onto the scene with a bang with horses old and new. They have only one filly in this year's Oaks, but she's proven that she's just as tough as her competition. Owner/trainer Celestia is holding onto a Molotov cocktail of a horse and she's taking dead aim at those lilies this weekend.
Unfortunately, Celestia was unable to speak with us, but commentator Neco has some observations about Spitfire and Ranger that she'd like to share.
About Spitfire: I bred Spitfire in conjunction with Celestia and she turned out to be a great filly. She's out of a Breeders' Cup winner by Cel's top handicapper Cigar, a horse I've always admired and a very tough stallion. She was a very rangy foal and sort of a bully - she'd boss the other foals around and had this swagger to her that you usually find in colts. Pistol Perfect, her dam, is much the same way and Spitfire looks very much like her mum; she's a fiery filly and had a tendency to grab the bit in workouts as a yearling when she was just getting started.
I've been observing her training this week up to the Derby and it seems like she hasn't changed a bit, personality wise. She's not intimidated at all by all the colts and has to be held back in some of her gallops, as all she wants to do is just race anyone else that runs by. Most of the time you'll see her jog with her neck bowed, because she's just so insistent to go faster and can't understand why her exercise rider won't let her go. She can be quite aggressive when the time calls for it, and that'll set her up well in a race full of some tough colts and fillies. This is probably the most fillies we've had in the Derby yet [three] and I feel she's right up there with the best of them in the field. I'm so excited to see her in both of the big classics this spring and can't wait to see her run.
About Ranger: Ranger I'm quite accustomed with - he's beaten my horses a few times. [laughs] He's a dead closer, that one, and in the Derby, that can be a great asset. He has the chance to keep out of the way of all the horses jostling in front and has already proven he's ready and willing to go between horses or around them. He's shown he's a very tough colt from the start of his career, finishing a solid fourth before recording three straight in the money placements afterward before participating in a few of this spring's Classic preps. He's also quite a correct looking colt - he's nice and leggy, with a beautiful stride and it's just lovely to watch when he's told to go, because he'll drop that head and just charge like a cavalry horse .
He's been training quite well over the surface and doesn't seem to be as aggressive as Spitfire is in his behavior. It's obvious that he loves to run and he takes direction quite well; he'll grab the bit, but he'll always have an ear cocked to his rider as he gallops around the oval. He's a cheerful guy and goodness does he know when the camera is around - even running, I've noticed him cock his head toward the rail whenever he sees someone point a camera at him and eyeball them until he has to watch where he's going. The only question mark I see is the distance - he's really only run in sprints and miles and hasn't had too much experience over route of ground. That said, he's quite the talented colt and I hope to see him do well this Saturday!
Ranger happily checks out the track before running, while Spitfire can't even be bothered with a "how do you do?" as she practically drags them to the oval
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RKO Haven Stables - Owned by katann
RKO Haven is the grand dame of Thoroughbred racing on SS, having one of the oldest farms with some of the best bred stock on the forum. Though they have yet to strike the iron in a Triple Crown race, every time an RKO horse is entered, people take notice; they have some of the oldest bloodlines in the country, with storied families such as those of Fair Play and his get, and a line that has produced some of the best long distance runners in the family of their Barbaro. Owner/trainer Katann comes into the Triple Crown with a number of good distance horses and comes out with guns blazing straight from Texas.
Congrats on qualifying for the Kentucky Derby! This is your third year competing - how do you feel your entrants this year measure up to your horses from years' past?
Well this is the first big race that horses of RKO Haven breeding will run, they do not have the speed since I do not race very often but they have heart and will give the other horses a good run to take lead from my horses. Otto is a 3rd gen. stallion from some of RKO's first racers, he is strong and beautiful, he does have many races under his bridle and he is picking up speed too. Fair Play has game but he is still learning the ropes on this racing thing. Over all I think my babies will have a good chance at staying with the pack.
Otto heads to the track as Player trots to the gap after a particularly spirited gallop
Otto seems to be a shrewd choice on your part - he's bred to go long and should have no problem getting the distance. What made you decide to enter him out of your entire stable?
Otto of the foals I bred myself, he goes back to RKO's first Thoroughbred when GR came to SS. I am very proud of Otto and it would be nice to see him in the winner's circle, but he will have to work very hard to do it. The other horse that will race with him on Derby are all wonderful and fast, so I just hope that Otto will stay with the pack.
Homebred Otto is the pride and joy of his owner - here he shows off his good nature after unloading from the long Texas drive to Kentucky
Player seems to be more of a sprinter type but on a few occasions has carried that speed longer. Do you feel that he'll be a big pace factor in this race? He's one of three confirmed front runners.
Ah, Fair Play, now he is a horse that gives it his all. He has not raced much but is picking up all the tricks of the racing game. Player is a speedster so he tends to slow down when he gets to the stretch, I keep telling him that he is a Thoroughbred and not a Quarter horse, but he is set in his ways. [laughs] I keep trying to train him to save some of that speed for later in the race, will he figure it out - only time will tell. Fair Play is a strong beautiful horse and I think he will be one of the horses to set the pace in the Derby.
Player is all business in his final five furlong work - he completes it in 1:01 flat, displaying his low head carriage and tendency to grab the bit
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
I feel good about them, I trained them well and gave them love and now it is up to them. I think they will hang with the pack, but it would be something to see one of them in the winner's circle.
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Rose Gate Stables - Owned by Akmu
Rose Gate is a new shooter in this year's Triple Crown trail, having qualified with their first entrants. While they may be new on the scene, they haven't been quiet - they've invested in stock from Hard Tack stables and acquired a dangerous son of Man o War that has been making noise recently against his older competition. They also possess a number of dangerous fillies that will be appearing in the Oaks this year, and owner/trainer Akmu's looking to dethrone some of the older, more established stables in the Thoroughbred industry.
Congrats on qualifying for the Kentucky Derby! This is your first time competing - how does it feel to have it made it in with your horses?
Well of course Rose Gate Stables is very excited to be here! The staff and the horses have worked very hard to get here; we have been pushing ahead to show what sort of horses we have for this year's Classics. The season has been hard, we've been learning more about our horses, with some of them surprising us and some disappointing us, but all that has lead up to this amazing experience. We are so proud of Colt Pistol and Magnhild for their hard work and determination in the races to get us here.
Tell us a bit about Colt Pistol and Magnhild. They both have different running styles and seem to complement each other well.
Colt Pistol is a fiery boy with great bloodline. He came to us as a foal from Hard Tack, by Man o War out of Pistol Perfect, and he has grown into a powerful young stallion. The instant he hit the track he proved the power in his blood and hasn't stopped since. This colt is a real competitive boy and there is no quit in him at all.
Colt Pistol is nothing but professional in his final furlong work - :49 seconds and change after keeping a steady tempo throughout the breeze
Magnhild was imported to Rose Gate from Burning Acres when she was a yearling. She's been a lovely filly to run, though in the stables she and Colt have a bit of competition between one another. We actually had to move their stalls further away from each other so we could get them to refocus on training. Mags tends to be very sleepy in the stables but when she hits the track she wakes up and she'll give you everything she's got.
Magnhild schools at the gate - or that was the plan anyway. Stubborn as the goddess she was named after, Mags has her own ideas of how she wants to do things on the track
Colt Pistol seems to be the toughest of your two horses - do you feel that as a whole, colts have a bigger advantage in the Derby than fillies? A filly has never won any Triple Crown race in SS history.
I think that the question of sex is meaningless, it's up to bloodlines and talent, in my opinion. There are horses in this race with excellent bloodlines, and there are horses just trying to scratch out a name. Whatever may come, colt or filly I believe between the two Colt Pistol will be the victor.
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
Well, that's a complicated answer. Part of me wants to be confident and say we'll beat them all but in truth it's up to the horses; I believe even the worst runner on the field has a chance to steal a victory. I think that no matter what the outcome we're just honored to have taken part and been able to show our stuff.
Magnhild is all attitude as she glares at a much calmer Colt Pistol from their stalls - one of the reasons why they had to be separated late in their training
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Sweet Secrets Stables - Owned by GallopandStorm
Sweet Secrets is one of the few non-US based Thoroughbred farms on SS and boasts some of the best horses on the forum. Last year they missed by a nose the Triple Crown with 2014 champion 3yo colt Costa; this year they come in with a daughter of superstar mare and producer Bramble and a son of hot sire Man o War. Sweet Secrets is no stranger to success, boasting the best mare in racing history on SS so far and a number of classic wins on their resume. Though light on entrants this year, owner GallopandStorm has what is arguably her best two horses yet to enter in the spring classics.
GallopandStorm unfortunately was unable to connect to us for an interview, but her interim trainer Neco gave us some observations about Tyka.
Congrats on Tyka qualifying for the Kentucky Derby! This is Gallop's third year competing in the Derby. Do you [Neco] do anything different training wise to get a horse ready for this race in particular?
Neco: Tyka is a fireball when it comes to running, so it was mainly trying to get that attitude under control. I've trained him since a two year old and he's been incredibly headstrong since he was a baby - he wants to do things his way and to hell with everyone else. Blinkers and a shadowroll have calmed him down some and let him focus without worrying too much about the other horses; it seems like he can get overloaded sometimes and he just wants to try and run it off. I've been working him behind horses to get him used to dirt in his face and that seems to be helping, though he still bites around the barn.
Tyka gallops around the Churchill oval in the muck after a bad rainstorm the night before - but nothing can perturb the superb son of Man o War
Last year Sweet Sweets won the Preakness and Belmont with Costa. How does Tyka compare to the double-classic winner from last year?
Neco: Costa was actually a very easy colt to train; he liked to sit behind horses and give them one big run, so it was never a problem to get him used to running behind rivals in training. Costa, despite his talent, was sort of a loaf; he would respond to the rider but he'd really only extend himself if he felt like it. Tyka, on the other hand, just wants to go-go-go and it can be a challenge to keep him from going around the track again after a workout. He likes to be on the pace and away from the rest of the field and can be very temperamental if he's challenged by other horses. He'll tough them out but sometimes he just burns himself out fighting his rider or bouncing out on the lead. They're both great horses, just vastly different personalities.
That's a whole lotta nope! Tyka shies at the small saddling stall in the Churchill paddock, leading his trainer to decide to saddle him on the path later on
This colt is by the hot emerging sire Man o War. Do you feel his breeding gives him an edge against the rest of the competitors? (Sire was 3rd in the 2012 Derby)
Neco: I don't want to say that it does, but he definitely did get some of his sire's personality and temperament. There can be something said about bloodlines determining a horse's talent but I've seen so many horses outrun their pedigrees that I feel like it's more about the individual horse; sure, certain genes can give you a physiological edge but it's more mental with racehorses sometimes I think. I've handled a number of basketcases that have great breeding but can't decide what the heck they want to do on the track and don't live up to their potential. I think it's all in Tyka's head and the mix of Man o War and Bonnie blood is just a bonus for him.
All horse-eating paddocks forgotten, there's nothing better than a roll in turnout as Tyka kicks up his legs behind the barns
How do you feel about your horse's chances come the first Saturday in May?
Neco: Tyka has been very forward in his training and races so I feel he has a good shot to hit the board. He won several preps and has proven to be very tough and on par with the level of talent that's just loaded in this year's Classics and I hope he can live up to all of that on the first Saturday in May.
Burning Acres is a farm with a storied history on SS, with some of the oldest lines on the forum but only a recent player in the Thoroughbred industry. In2 013 they made noise on the Triple Crown trail with the filly Barb, who was one of the first fillies to compete in the Kentucky Derby. Since then, Burning Acres has expanded its stake in the Thoroughbred bloodline and acquired a number of new horses that are following in Barb's footsteps in this year's classics. Owner/trainer Jez has high hopes that her trio of colts this year can take home the Roses on that first Saturday in May.
This is your second year with any of your horses competing in the Derby. How does it feel to make it into the big race?
It feels pretty good! I wasn't really expecting to make it in with all of my designated competitors, but we did it!
Citation ran one of the best races of his life in his final prep - do you feel that sets him up for a good effort in the Derby compared to the other entrants?
I think so, the Wood Memorial tends to be very telling of a horse's potential before the Derby. Of course, sometimes it doesn't really work out that way, but I think Citation stands a good chance against his fierce competition. I am a little worried about his ability to take on Athena Watchover bringing her A-game
After finishing a solid third in his final Derby prep, Citation has a three furlong blowout two days before the race to "open up the pipes" as many trainers are fond of saying
Tell us a bit about your other horses - why did you decide to run Texas Hold Em and Whirlaway in the Derby?
Texas Hold 'Em is a colt we purchased from Conversano, by Bardowick and out of Two of Clubs, two of CV's prized racehorses, and I bought him with the purpose of exploring his untapped potential, figuring there would be no better way to do so than to run for the Triple Crown. Whirlaway, I'll be honest, I was not expecting to run, but wherever Texas Hold 'Em goes, he follows, so into the Derby preps the chestnut colt went, and qualified. He's yet to win a race, but I think he's wisened up in his last few starts, so hopefully he won't get caught in traffic too terribly on the day of the big race.
Texas Hold Em walks to the track for an early morning gallop, with a nervous Whirlaway galloping to keep up
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
I feel pretty good about Texas Hold 'Em and Citation at the moment. I may have put poor Whirlaway in way over his head, but if nothing else, he'll have had the experience of running in the Kentucky Derby. But you never really know, he could still surprise us on Derby Day.
Citation vogues for the camera, while in the background Texas Hold Em does his best to escape his ever present shadow in Whirlaway
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Hard Tack Stables - Owned by Neco
Hard Tack was one of the first Thoroughbred breeding farms established on SS and has hit the ground running in recent years. They hold the first Triple Crown winner and a record three Derby winners, along with a number of graded stakes winners among their ranks. This year they come into the Triple Crown light, with only one colt competing in the Run for the Roses. Owner/trainer Neco says she's overflowing with horses, but none with the prodigious talent and drive it takes to win the Kentucky Derby.
Congratulations on qualifying for this year's Derby! How do you feel coming into the big race?
I feel great! The Derby has always been an exciting time for me and I always tend to get caught up in the excitement of the race. I'm so stoked with the quality of horses that are entered this year and can't wait for everyone to get into the gate on Saturday.
Prince of Thorns was the 2yo champ. Do you feel like there's a "curse" for the 2yo male champion coming into the Derby?
Prince of Thorns eyeballs his next door neighbor, two year old Dracarys, who really has no business looking so calm just a day before the Derby
Well it does seem like there's something to that now doesn't it. [laughs] I don't feel like there's a curse; I just feel like some horses mature quicker than others, and sometimes there are just horses that get better with age and peak in May. Then you have to put the fillies in on top of everything who tend not to run against males as juveniles and you have a perfect storm for an upset in the Derby! That said, there is a very good filly that's beaten us in a number of preps, as well as some fantastic colts, so there's going to be some fierce competition this year. Prince was fairly precocious as a juvenile and he seems to be holding his form well so here's to hoping he does well in the big one.
Prince takes a shortcut across the well-kept lawn of the Churchill paddock - he's a horse with a mission and those cookies aren't going to eat themselves
Is there any comparison between him and your previous Derby winners?
Well I made the stupid decision to run him against last year's Derby winner and he definitely got beat in that race. [laughs] He just couldn't match Lionheart's kick, though he did try. He and Prince share the same sire, both being by my Secretariat, and have similar running styles - Lionheart is a dead closer while Prince tends to sit a bit closer to the pace. Seattle Slew, the 2013 winner, loved being on the lead and he tended to run his rivals over their feet, while 2012 winner Seabiscuit was another come from behind horse that had a fantastic turn of foot. They're all great horses and please don't make me choose, they're all my favorites!
After having to go widest of all, Prince of Thorns tries to run down 2014 Derby winner Lionheart, only to come up short at the wire
How do you feel about your horse's chance come the first Saturday in May?
I believe Prince has a great chance. I try not to think too much about the 2yo "curse" or his apparent case of "seconditis" - more than half of his starts are seconds, jeez - but I'm trying to just put some extra training into him to get him more focused. I just try not to get into his way too much and give him a job to do on the mornings, so I'm hoping that pays off in the long run this year. I'm very excited to see the turnout this year!
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Hawkstone Stables - Owned by Anomaly
Hawkstone has quite the history with the Triple Crown and in the Thoroughbred industry. After several near misses, they finally prevailed in 2013 with Sent By Ares striking in the Preakness and preventing archrival Seattle Slew from a Triple Crown sweep. Ares would consequently go on to be voted champion older horse and Horse of the Year for 2014, and his daughter Athena Watchover is just one of a cadre of horses owner/trainer Anamoly has gunning for the roses this year.
Congratulations on qualifying for this year's Derby! You had a number of horses that had enough points to enter - how hard was it to make the cut?
It wasn't very difficult, honestly, to decide which horses should go in the Derby. Derringer and Danger Keep Away have both been targeting the Derby from day one, and after Athena began dominating the Oaks preps and we tried her against the colts, she proved that she more than deserves a chance at the roses.
Buddies to the end, chestnut Derringer and black Danger Keep Away often work together in the mornings - shown here galloping just a few days out from the Derby
A filly has never won the Derby on Seeing Stars, and your Athena Watchover figures to be one of the heavy favorites. Do you feel any pressure for her to perform well?
A little bit, yes. She's an incredibly talented filly with a lot of hype to live up to. I'll certainly be disappointed if she doesn't hit the board. Training a homebred filly like her to be the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby would be absolutely amazing.
Athena practically skips to the track in the mornings - she's not only favored for the Derby, but is the morning line choice for the Oaks as well
Tell us about your horses. Is there any comparison of these horses to your previous Derby entrants?
I think these three could all be competitive, and overall the best crop of three-year-olds Hawkstone has ever had coming into the Kentucky Derby. Athena is easily the best horse I've ever had at this stage in her career; her sire, Sent by Ares was lackluster in his Derby preps before blossoming in what turned out to be an epic Triple Crown run against Seattle Slew. That was really the turning point in his career. Animosity had won the Wood Memorial in his final Derby prep before running an even 5th on the first Saturday in May. Derringer actually reminds me a bit of Ares with how he's coming into this race - he's been running well consistently and flashed some real brilliance on a couple of occasions. Athena Watchover is head and shoulders above any horse I've ever run in the Kentucky Derby, though.
It's a sea of Hawkstone yellow as all three contenders hotwalk the shedrow after their respective gallops
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
I'm reasonably optimistic about our chances. As I said, I'll be very disappointed if Athena doesn't hit the board, but I don't think Derringer or Danger Keep Away can be discounted, either. Derringer, in particular, has shown that he has the raw ability to be competitive against the best horses we have on SS, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him coming at the finish to get a piece of it. While Danger would need to step up his game a bit, he is a half-sibling to Duality, who ran 4th in last year's Kentucky Derby (and actually is by the same sire as Caprido, who ran 5th in that same race). I don't know if the Triple Crown will be his time to shine, but I know he has a breakout performance somewhere.
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Honey Hoof Estates - Owned by Celestia
Honey Hoof has a long history on SS but like many of the stables participating in the Triple Tiara, they are relatively new in the Thoroughbred scene. With specific running teams called "The Wonderbolts," Honey Hoof has burst onto the scene with a bang with horses old and new. They have only one filly in this year's Oaks, but she's proven that she's just as tough as her competition. Owner/trainer Celestia is holding onto a Molotov cocktail of a horse and she's taking dead aim at those lilies this weekend.
Unfortunately, Celestia was unable to speak with us, but commentator Neco has some observations about Spitfire and Ranger that she'd like to share.
About Spitfire: I bred Spitfire in conjunction with Celestia and she turned out to be a great filly. She's out of a Breeders' Cup winner by Cel's top handicapper Cigar, a horse I've always admired and a very tough stallion. She was a very rangy foal and sort of a bully - she'd boss the other foals around and had this swagger to her that you usually find in colts. Pistol Perfect, her dam, is much the same way and Spitfire looks very much like her mum; she's a fiery filly and had a tendency to grab the bit in workouts as a yearling when she was just getting started.
I've been observing her training this week up to the Derby and it seems like she hasn't changed a bit, personality wise. She's not intimidated at all by all the colts and has to be held back in some of her gallops, as all she wants to do is just race anyone else that runs by. Most of the time you'll see her jog with her neck bowed, because she's just so insistent to go faster and can't understand why her exercise rider won't let her go. She can be quite aggressive when the time calls for it, and that'll set her up well in a race full of some tough colts and fillies. This is probably the most fillies we've had in the Derby yet [three] and I feel she's right up there with the best of them in the field. I'm so excited to see her in both of the big classics this spring and can't wait to see her run.
About Ranger: Ranger I'm quite accustomed with - he's beaten my horses a few times. [laughs] He's a dead closer, that one, and in the Derby, that can be a great asset. He has the chance to keep out of the way of all the horses jostling in front and has already proven he's ready and willing to go between horses or around them. He's shown he's a very tough colt from the start of his career, finishing a solid fourth before recording three straight in the money placements afterward before participating in a few of this spring's Classic preps. He's also quite a correct looking colt - he's nice and leggy, with a beautiful stride and it's just lovely to watch when he's told to go, because he'll drop that head and just charge like a cavalry horse .
He's been training quite well over the surface and doesn't seem to be as aggressive as Spitfire is in his behavior. It's obvious that he loves to run and he takes direction quite well; he'll grab the bit, but he'll always have an ear cocked to his rider as he gallops around the oval. He's a cheerful guy and goodness does he know when the camera is around - even running, I've noticed him cock his head toward the rail whenever he sees someone point a camera at him and eyeball them until he has to watch where he's going. The only question mark I see is the distance - he's really only run in sprints and miles and hasn't had too much experience over route of ground. That said, he's quite the talented colt and I hope to see him do well this Saturday!
Ranger happily checks out the track before running, while Spitfire can't even be bothered with a "how do you do?" as she practically drags them to the oval
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RKO Haven Stables - Owned by katann
RKO Haven is the grand dame of Thoroughbred racing on SS, having one of the oldest farms with some of the best bred stock on the forum. Though they have yet to strike the iron in a Triple Crown race, every time an RKO horse is entered, people take notice; they have some of the oldest bloodlines in the country, with storied families such as those of Fair Play and his get, and a line that has produced some of the best long distance runners in the family of their Barbaro. Owner/trainer Katann comes into the Triple Crown with a number of good distance horses and comes out with guns blazing straight from Texas.
Congrats on qualifying for the Kentucky Derby! This is your third year competing - how do you feel your entrants this year measure up to your horses from years' past?
Well this is the first big race that horses of RKO Haven breeding will run, they do not have the speed since I do not race very often but they have heart and will give the other horses a good run to take lead from my horses. Otto is a 3rd gen. stallion from some of RKO's first racers, he is strong and beautiful, he does have many races under his bridle and he is picking up speed too. Fair Play has game but he is still learning the ropes on this racing thing. Over all I think my babies will have a good chance at staying with the pack.
Otto heads to the track as Player trots to the gap after a particularly spirited gallop
Otto seems to be a shrewd choice on your part - he's bred to go long and should have no problem getting the distance. What made you decide to enter him out of your entire stable?
Otto of the foals I bred myself, he goes back to RKO's first Thoroughbred when GR came to SS. I am very proud of Otto and it would be nice to see him in the winner's circle, but he will have to work very hard to do it. The other horse that will race with him on Derby are all wonderful and fast, so I just hope that Otto will stay with the pack.
Homebred Otto is the pride and joy of his owner - here he shows off his good nature after unloading from the long Texas drive to Kentucky
Player seems to be more of a sprinter type but on a few occasions has carried that speed longer. Do you feel that he'll be a big pace factor in this race? He's one of three confirmed front runners.
Ah, Fair Play, now he is a horse that gives it his all. He has not raced much but is picking up all the tricks of the racing game. Player is a speedster so he tends to slow down when he gets to the stretch, I keep telling him that he is a Thoroughbred and not a Quarter horse, but he is set in his ways. [laughs] I keep trying to train him to save some of that speed for later in the race, will he figure it out - only time will tell. Fair Play is a strong beautiful horse and I think he will be one of the horses to set the pace in the Derby.
Player is all business in his final five furlong work - he completes it in 1:01 flat, displaying his low head carriage and tendency to grab the bit
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
I feel good about them, I trained them well and gave them love and now it is up to them. I think they will hang with the pack, but it would be something to see one of them in the winner's circle.
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Rose Gate Stables - Owned by Akmu
Rose Gate is a new shooter in this year's Triple Crown trail, having qualified with their first entrants. While they may be new on the scene, they haven't been quiet - they've invested in stock from Hard Tack stables and acquired a dangerous son of Man o War that has been making noise recently against his older competition. They also possess a number of dangerous fillies that will be appearing in the Oaks this year, and owner/trainer Akmu's looking to dethrone some of the older, more established stables in the Thoroughbred industry.
Congrats on qualifying for the Kentucky Derby! This is your first time competing - how does it feel to have it made it in with your horses?
Well of course Rose Gate Stables is very excited to be here! The staff and the horses have worked very hard to get here; we have been pushing ahead to show what sort of horses we have for this year's Classics. The season has been hard, we've been learning more about our horses, with some of them surprising us and some disappointing us, but all that has lead up to this amazing experience. We are so proud of Colt Pistol and Magnhild for their hard work and determination in the races to get us here.
Tell us a bit about Colt Pistol and Magnhild. They both have different running styles and seem to complement each other well.
Colt Pistol is a fiery boy with great bloodline. He came to us as a foal from Hard Tack, by Man o War out of Pistol Perfect, and he has grown into a powerful young stallion. The instant he hit the track he proved the power in his blood and hasn't stopped since. This colt is a real competitive boy and there is no quit in him at all.
Colt Pistol is nothing but professional in his final furlong work - :49 seconds and change after keeping a steady tempo throughout the breeze
Magnhild was imported to Rose Gate from Burning Acres when she was a yearling. She's been a lovely filly to run, though in the stables she and Colt have a bit of competition between one another. We actually had to move their stalls further away from each other so we could get them to refocus on training. Mags tends to be very sleepy in the stables but when she hits the track she wakes up and she'll give you everything she's got.
Magnhild schools at the gate - or that was the plan anyway. Stubborn as the goddess she was named after, Mags has her own ideas of how she wants to do things on the track
Colt Pistol seems to be the toughest of your two horses - do you feel that as a whole, colts have a bigger advantage in the Derby than fillies? A filly has never won any Triple Crown race in SS history.
I think that the question of sex is meaningless, it's up to bloodlines and talent, in my opinion. There are horses in this race with excellent bloodlines, and there are horses just trying to scratch out a name. Whatever may come, colt or filly I believe between the two Colt Pistol will be the victor.
How do you feel about your horses' chances come the first Saturday in May?
Well, that's a complicated answer. Part of me wants to be confident and say we'll beat them all but in truth it's up to the horses; I believe even the worst runner on the field has a chance to steal a victory. I think that no matter what the outcome we're just honored to have taken part and been able to show our stuff.
Magnhild is all attitude as she glares at a much calmer Colt Pistol from their stalls - one of the reasons why they had to be separated late in their training
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Sweet Secrets Stables - Owned by GallopandStorm
Sweet Secrets is one of the few non-US based Thoroughbred farms on SS and boasts some of the best horses on the forum. Last year they missed by a nose the Triple Crown with 2014 champion 3yo colt Costa; this year they come in with a daughter of superstar mare and producer Bramble and a son of hot sire Man o War. Sweet Secrets is no stranger to success, boasting the best mare in racing history on SS so far and a number of classic wins on their resume. Though light on entrants this year, owner GallopandStorm has what is arguably her best two horses yet to enter in the spring classics.
GallopandStorm unfortunately was unable to connect to us for an interview, but her interim trainer Neco gave us some observations about Tyka.
Congrats on Tyka qualifying for the Kentucky Derby! This is Gallop's third year competing in the Derby. Do you [Neco] do anything different training wise to get a horse ready for this race in particular?
Neco: Tyka is a fireball when it comes to running, so it was mainly trying to get that attitude under control. I've trained him since a two year old and he's been incredibly headstrong since he was a baby - he wants to do things his way and to hell with everyone else. Blinkers and a shadowroll have calmed him down some and let him focus without worrying too much about the other horses; it seems like he can get overloaded sometimes and he just wants to try and run it off. I've been working him behind horses to get him used to dirt in his face and that seems to be helping, though he still bites around the barn.
Tyka gallops around the Churchill oval in the muck after a bad rainstorm the night before - but nothing can perturb the superb son of Man o War
Last year Sweet Sweets won the Preakness and Belmont with Costa. How does Tyka compare to the double-classic winner from last year?
Neco: Costa was actually a very easy colt to train; he liked to sit behind horses and give them one big run, so it was never a problem to get him used to running behind rivals in training. Costa, despite his talent, was sort of a loaf; he would respond to the rider but he'd really only extend himself if he felt like it. Tyka, on the other hand, just wants to go-go-go and it can be a challenge to keep him from going around the track again after a workout. He likes to be on the pace and away from the rest of the field and can be very temperamental if he's challenged by other horses. He'll tough them out but sometimes he just burns himself out fighting his rider or bouncing out on the lead. They're both great horses, just vastly different personalities.
That's a whole lotta nope! Tyka shies at the small saddling stall in the Churchill paddock, leading his trainer to decide to saddle him on the path later on
This colt is by the hot emerging sire Man o War. Do you feel his breeding gives him an edge against the rest of the competitors? (Sire was 3rd in the 2012 Derby)
Neco: I don't want to say that it does, but he definitely did get some of his sire's personality and temperament. There can be something said about bloodlines determining a horse's talent but I've seen so many horses outrun their pedigrees that I feel like it's more about the individual horse; sure, certain genes can give you a physiological edge but it's more mental with racehorses sometimes I think. I've handled a number of basketcases that have great breeding but can't decide what the heck they want to do on the track and don't live up to their potential. I think it's all in Tyka's head and the mix of Man o War and Bonnie blood is just a bonus for him.
All horse-eating paddocks forgotten, there's nothing better than a roll in turnout as Tyka kicks up his legs behind the barns
How do you feel about your horse's chances come the first Saturday in May?
Neco: Tyka has been very forward in his training and races so I feel he has a good shot to hit the board. He won several preps and has proven to be very tough and on par with the level of talent that's just loaded in this year's Classics and I hope he can live up to all of that on the first Saturday in May.