|
|
PEDIGREE HANDICAPPING AUGUST 29, 2009 The Legends by Tim Holland The biggest new spender in the 2008 yearling market was the somewhat unique "Legends Racing" venture headed by Olin Gentry. A total of 39 yearlings were purchased for $15,425,000 and then divided among the three legendary trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert and Nick Zito, who have trained nine Kentucky Derby (G1) winners between them. The three trainers, who were all involved in the initial selection of the yearlings, were involved in a draft process near the end of the Keeneland September Sale to decide who would train which horses. Bob Baffert's 13 choices represented the highest aggregate cost at $6,005,000, including colts by El Prado (Ire) and Mr. Greeley that had each been knocked down for $1 million. Lukas' 13, which cost a total of $5,940,000, include a colt by Storm Cat who had cost the venture $1.2 million and a $1.15 million purchase by Unbridled's Song. The most expensive of Zito's selected yearlings, which had sold for a total of $3,480,000, is a Tiznow colt who had realized $700,000. The Legends juveniles trained by Lukas have been the most active so far, with five of the 13 in his care having started. These five have made 10 starts between them with one winner, WILDCAT NATION (Yes It's True) who, after finishing eighth in his late July debut at the Spa, in typical Lukas fashion, showed much improvement in his second start to win by a fairly easy 3 1/4 lengths to break his maiden at Saratoga on August 26. A $400,000 purchase, Wildcat Nation is a half-brother to last year's King's Bishop S. (G1) winner Visionaire (Grand Slam). INDIAN COUNCIL (Indian Charlie), who cost the venture $150,000, made a very promising debut when third after making a strong run at Churchill Downs, and much was expected of him in his second start at Saratoga on August 17. However, this race was lost when he stumbled badly at the start and the colt, who is out of Bewitch S. (G3) second-place finisher Noble Cause (Diesis [GB]), should be given another chance. Lukas will saddle the sixth of his team in the 8TH race at Saratoga on Saturday. MOONLARK (Gone West), who will break from post 8 under Jamie Theriot, was purchased for $625,000. He is out of a half-sister to four stakes winners including Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Value Plus (Unbridled's Song), and he has a sharp recent work listed over the Saratoga training track. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited of Lukas' 13 is LAMBEAU LEGEND, the Storm Cat colt that cost the venture $1.2 million as their highest overall purchase. The chestnut is a half-brother to the 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given (Thunder Gulch) and looks close to racing, having posted several recent workouts at the Spa. Baffert trained the first winner for the Legends Racing Stable when TINY WOODS took his Del Mar maiden field wire-to-wire in late July. A son of Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), who Baffert trained to win the 2005 Haskell Invitational H. (G1), Tiny Woods is out of a half-sister to Champagne S. (G1) and Hollywood Futurity (G1) winner, Toccet (Awesome Again). Tiny Woods made his second start as the favorite in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) but, after setting furious fractions, he stopped badly with a minor breathing problem subsequently offered as a likely explanation. The day after Tiny Woods made his first start, Baffert debuted SERIOUSLY (Gulch), who at $170,000 was the least expensive purchase of his 13. Out of a stakes-winning mare that has also produced the Grade 2-placed Quasicobra (Wild Rush), Seriously ran a promising race to be fifth and built on that when finishing well to be second, beaten three-quarters of a length in her next start, also at Del Mar. Two others that could be racing soon for Baffert are BROKEN TANGO (Broken Vow) and GLAMORISTA (Unbridled's Song), who have been working well at Santa Anita. The former, who cost $625,000, is out of a half-sister to this year's leading turf runner, Gio Ponti (Tale Of The Cat), while Glamorista is a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Critical Eye (Dynaformer) and was secured for $325,000. None of Zito's juveniles owned by Legends Racing have started, but a few look like they are nearly ready. These include HOT PURSUIT, who is by Successful Appeal and was purchased for $240,000. A half-brother to Jupiter Pluvius (Johannesburg), who was third in last year's Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), Hot Pursuit has been working recently at Belmont. Meanwhile, ACCESSORIZE (Fusaichi Pegasus), a $300,000 yearling, is a half-sister to Summer S. (Can-G3) winner Prussian (Danzig), and has been training regularly at Churchill Downs along with LATIGO SHORE, a $335,000 purchase by Malibu Moon. Bob Baffert Tiny Woods, c. Roman Ruler--Brooklynsangel, $180,000. D. Wayne Lukas Saratoga Fling, f. Pulpit--Cherish Destiny, $210,000 Nick Zito Accessorize, f. Fusiachi Pegasus--Crystal Downs, $300,000
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
