Norman Asbjornson

Barbara D. Livingston

Date	Track	Race	Finish	Chart	Distance	Time	BSF	Video
5/21/11	PIM	Preakness	11th		1 3/16 mile	1:56.40	84
4/9/11	AQU	Wood Memorial	4th		1 1/8 mile	1:49.80	87
3/5/11	AQU	Gotham	2nd		1 1/16 mile	1:44.60	83

Norman Asbjornson Owner: Thomas McClay and Harry Nye Trainer: Christopher Grove Record: 7-2-1-0 Best Beyer: 87 Breeder: Thomas G. McClay, Harry C. Nye III & Horseshoe Valley Tomlinson Distance Rating: 359 Auction: Homebred Dosage Profile: 5-4-5-0-0 (14) Dosage Index: 4.60 Center of Distribution: 1.00

PROFILE

By Mike Watchmaker

STRENGTHS
From a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint, each race since his maiden victory last December has been faster than the one before, and he has managed this while taking some significant class jumps. Even if he was soundly beaten by Stay Thirsty, he was a very game second in the Gotham Stakes two starts back. In the process, he finished a length ahead of Toby’s Corner, despite having to steady in deep stretch. Toby’s Corner, of course, came right back to win the Wood Memorial, handing 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo the first defeat of his career. Finally, his fourth in the Wood Memorial last time out was a creditable performance. He made a good run from last into slow fractions, and while the slow pace didn’t compromise the first two finishers – Toby’s Corner and Arthur’s Tale – he had to make his move from much farther off the early pace than he had been since before his maiden victory.

WEAKNESSES
He has not yet won a stakes race of any sort and has yet to demonstrate he can be anything more than only moderately competitive with some of the better members of his generation. His most effective running style to date has been being on or right with the early lead in slow-paced routes. He will likely face a much stronger pace scenario in the Preakness, which suggests he will have to come from off the pace. He did show in the Wood that he can make a run from off the pace, but he has not yet shown that he can sustain a closing rally or actually win with such a running style.

BETTING VALUE
He’s going to be a big price, probably 30-1 or so. He would have to manage an unforeseen major breakthrough to win, but he wouldn’t be the worst bomber to throw in underneath in trifectas and supers.

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PEDIGREE ANALYSIS

By Dan Illman

Sire:
Real Quiet came within a scant nose of sweeping the Triple Crown in 1998, falling short by a hair in the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes. A stout performer, Real Quiet won at distances ranging from 1 1/16 miles to 1 ¼ miles, including a 115 Beyer tally in the 10-furlong Hollywood Gold Cup at four.

At stud, Real Quiet is the sire of champion sprinter Midnight Lute, a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Other top progeny include Wonder Lady Anne L, the winner of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at ten furlongs and Pussycat Doll, a three-time Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs. Pussycat Doll was able to successfully stretch out to 1 1/16 miles. She, like Norman Asbjornson, is out of a Citidancer mare.

Dam:
Norman Asbjornson is a half-brother to Essenceofthemoon, the winner of the $100,000 Charles Town Juvenile at 4 ½ furlongs. Essenceofthemoon was purely a sprinter and never made a route start after 23 trips to the post.

The dam won four of 12 starts including the $95,000 Maryland Million Distaff Handicap at six furlongs. Like Essenceofthemoon, she never started in a route race. Merryland Missy is a half-sister to Who Was, the runner-up in the seven-furlong Maryland Million Lassie.
The third dam, She Can Add, was a stakes-winner on turf at 1 1/16 miles.

Outlook:
Although Real Quiet gives the pedigree stamina, there are lots of speed influences in the immediate female family. Norman Asbjornson may be best-suited to races at distances up to 1 1/16 miles.