Da' Tara |
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| Barbara D. Livingston | |
2008 Prep Recap
| Date | Trk | Race | Chart | Distance | Time | BSF | Video |
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| 3/29 | GP | Florida Derby (G1) | Chart | 1 1/8m | 1:48 | 67 |  |
| 4/26 | CD | Derby Trial | Chart | 1 m | 1:28 | 89 | |
| 5/17 | PIM | Barbaro100k | Chart | 1 1/16 m | 1:42 | 92 |
Pedigree Profile (by Frank Mitchell)
Pedigree: Da’ Tara is by Horse of the Year Tiznow, who was represented in the Kentucky Derby by Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John. That colt finished off the board while failing to improve with the 10-furlong distance or while finding his first race on dirt too strange an experience for an optimal effort.
Although descending in male line from the noted miler In Reality, Tiznow has taken much of his physical attributes from others in his pedigree, such as Seattle Slew and The Axe. And Tiznow has become one of the most reliable sires of big, scopy individuals who appreciate, and sometimes appear to need, a route of ground before showing their best form.
Da’ Tara, second in his only start at 2, has won a maiden race and placed second in the Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico most recently.
Racing Type: A good-sized colt with a considerable amount of stride, Da’ Tara appears to have the capacity to sit up near the pace and wear down some opponents as the distances stretch out.
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Owners: Robert V LaPenta |
Analysis (by Mary Rampellini)
Strengths: Da’ Tara has proven he can handle the Belmont Park surface, finishing a solid second at the track in his career debut here last September. He showed fight in his most recent start, when after setting the pace in the $100,000 Barbaro at Pimlico he held his ground late to finish second by a half-length to Roman Emperor. Da’ Tara’s trainer is Nick Zito, who sent out Birdstone to spoil a Triple Crown bid in 2004, when the colt defeated Smarty Jones in the Belmont. On Saturday, Da’ Tara reunites with Alan Garcia, who rode him in his debut and who won his first Breeders’ Cup race last year – with his first mount in the event, Lahudood in the Filly and Mare Turf.
Weaknesses: Da’ Tara has yet to win a stakes, and in his one race against Big Brown he finished 23 lengths behind him in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. There is also some question regarding Da’ Tara’s ability to get 1 1/2 miles since as his dam, Torchera, was a sprinter. However, Da’ Tara did win his maiden at 1 1/8 miles, and Torchera is a full sister to Private Persuasion, a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles. Da’ Tara also gets stamina from his sire. Tiznow, a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Strategy: A front-runner, Da’ Tara should get a more favorable pace scenario with the move to 1 1/2 miles than he had at 1 1/16 miles in the Barbaro, when he ran the opening six furlongs in 1:10.60.
Value: One of the longest prices in the field, he seems best used underneath Big Brown and Casino Drive.