Cowboy Cal |
 |
| Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club |
2008 Prep Recap
| Date | Trk | Race | Chart | Distance | Time | BSF | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1 | Crc | Tropical Park Derby (G3) | Chart | 1 1/8m | 1:46:4 | 93 |  |
| 2/16 | GP | HllndBch77k | Chart | 1 1/16m | 1:40:1 | 91 | |
| 4/12 | Kee | Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) | Chart | 1 1/8 m | 1:49 | 92 | |
Analysis (by Dennis Dodge)
Strengths: His Blue Grass effort was fine, especially considering the two-month layoff, and his tactical speed gives him a great shot at a good trip in the big Derby field. No real doubts about his ability to get 10 furlongs, since he has ample stamina on both sides of his pedigree, and he hails from a powerhouse barn. Both works at Keeneland were strong, and he finished and galloped out strongly last Saturday. Seems to be coming up to the Derby in prime form.
Weaknesses: He has no dirt form at all, and Pletcher compounded the problem for handicappers by giving him his last two workouts on Polytrack. His Beyers are low, so he will need a breakthrough effort to be competitive, and the barn, for all its accomplishments, has yet to solve the Derby puzzle.
Strategy: Don’t really see him going to the front with other, probably superior speed in the field, but he won’t be far away in the early going and he has demonstrated a passing gear on turf. Look for him to be among the top four early, and he should be within easy striking distance when they turn for home.
Value: The fact that he is unproven on dirt and the need for a substantial Beyer boost to contend should make him upwards of 20-1, and that’s pretty enticing for a runner who has been in the exacta in 5 of 6 starts. Unlikely to win, but he could enliven the exotics.
|
|
Owners: Stonerside Stable |
Pedigree Profile (by Lauren Stich)
Sire Line: Giant’s Causeway won 9 of 13 starts and was second in the other four. The best racehorse sired by Storm Cat, he was a champion at 3 in England and Ireland and lost the Breeders’ Cup Classic – his only race on dirt – by a heartbreaking nose to Tiznow. One of the most successful stallions of the 1990s, Storm Cat’s runners are versatile, winning on dirt and especially turf, but only a handful of his sons were effective at routes (Tabasco Cat, Cat Thief, Bluegrass Cat, Vision and Verse).
Female Family: His dam, Texas Tammy, is a half-sister to Behrens, a $4.5 million earner and multiple Grade 1 stakes winner. Second dam Hot Novel won the Santa Ynez and Moccasin stakes and is by the Northern Dancer stallion Mari’s Book, also the damsire of Congaree.
Pedigree Pattern: Giant’s Causeway does get winners on dirt (First Samurai, Fairbanks, and Noble Causeway), but the majority of his offspring are infinitely better on grass. Damsire Seeking the Gold adds more class and his second and third damsires, Mari’s Book and Believe It, are additional turf influences.