Court Vision |
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| Barbara D. Livingston |
2008 Prep Recap
| Date | Trk | Race | Chart | Distance | Time | BSF | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/24 | GP | Fountain of Youth (G2) | Chart | 1 1/8m | 1:50 | 88 |  |
| 4/5 | AQU | Wood Memorial (G1) | Chart | 1 1/8m | 1:52 | 90 | |
Analysis (by Mary Rampellini)
Strengths: He has been tested for class, as he exits the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in which he finished a close third to Tale of Ekati and 2-year-old champion War Pass. He also brings surface success to the table. In his lone start at Churchill Downs, he won the Grade 3 Iroquois. Court Vision’s consistency also stands out. He has won 3 of 6 career starts, and has never finished worse than third. His wins include the Grade 2 Remsen at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct last November. Just two months later, the prominent ownership group IEAH Stable bought an interest in the colt, who will be ridden by Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez.
Weaknesses: He is a closer, making him dependent on pace and a decent trip in the large field of 20. He also has yet to crack triple digits on the Beyer Speed Figure scale, with the career-best 90 he earned in the Wood rating 16 points lower than the 106 earned by probable Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown in his final prep, the Florida Derby.
Strategy: He could get a great pace to run at down Churchill’s long stretch, thanks to front-runners Big Brown, Bob Black Jack, Gayego, Recapturetheglory, and perhaps the filly Eight Belles.
Value: There is reason to believe he could be coming into a peak race for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in his third start off the layoff. But win backers should get good value on him with the betting focus expected to be on horses who won major preps in their final starts before the Kentucky Derby.
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Owners: WinStar Farm. & IEAH Stable |
Pedigree Profile (by Lauren Stich)
Sire Line: Gulch was a champion sprinter/miler, but also won the Wood Memorial at nine furlongs and placed in the nine-furlong Woodward and Whitney, and finished third in the Belmont Stakes. He has sired many high-class stakes winners at classic distances, including Derby/Belmont winner Thunder Gulch, European champion Nayef, Japanese star Eagle Cafe, Wallenda, and The Cliff’s Edge. Mr. Prospector was a dazzling sprinter but became a rare pre-potent stallion, getting champions on all surfaces and at all distances, siring Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Preakness winner Tank’s Prospect, and Belmont winner Conquistador Cielo. Raise a Native was undefeated in four lifetime starts, and sired 1969 Derby and Preakness winner Majestic Prince, Exclusive Native (sire of 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed and 1980 Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk) and Alydar, runner-up in all three 1978 Triple Crown races and sire of Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer.
Female Family: Unraced Weekend Storm is a full sister to Summer Squall, runner-up in the 1990 Derby and winner of the Preakness, and she is also a half-sister to Belmont winner A.P. Indy. Second dam Weekend Surprise is a half-sister to Charming Lassie, the dam of Belmont Stakes winner and sire Lemon Drop Kid.
Pedigree Pattern: By Gulch and out of a Storm Bird mare, Court Vision has the same cross as 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch. There are no holes in this pedigree and he is one of the best-bred 3-year-olds for 1 1/4 miles and beyond.