Visionaire |
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| Barbara D. Livingston |
2008 Prep Recap
| Date | Trk | Race | Chart | Distance | Time | BSF | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | GP | Alw 40500n1x | Chart | 1m | 1:36:4 | 90 | |
| 2/9 | FG | Risen Star Stakes (G3) | Chart | 1 1/16m | 1:44:3 | 85 |  |
| 3/8 | Aqu | Gotham (G3) | Chart | 1 1/16m | 1:44:3 | 98 | |
| 4/12 | KEE | Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) | Chart | 1 1/8 m | 1:49 | 82 | |
Analysis (by Art Gropper)
Strengths: The trainer scored here with Barbaro. Visionaire appears to have no distance limitations based on his late-running style. He rallied from last in the Blue Grass to pass more than half the field and appeared to be screaming out for more distance. He raced too close to the pace when finishing evenly behind Pyro and Z Fortune in the Risen Star, but reverted back to his late-closing style when scoring his Gotham photo victory, posting a new Beyer Speed Figure top over a sloppy track. He is about the only one hoping for rainy skies and a less than fast track on Derby Day.
Weaknesses: Not sure what to make of this year’s edition of the Blue Grass, since so many horses just did not run their race. He rallied 10-wide from post 12 in that event. His Risen Star effort, finishing third behind Pyro and Z Fortune leads us to believe he is a ranked a notch below that group and meets a whole new set of shooters Saturday. He could get shuffled back and need traffic help being a deep closer in a 20-horse field.
Strategy: Regular rider Jose Lezcano has ridden him four straight times, so he knows him well. He obviously prefers to settle from far back and make one huge run. sometimes that works in the Derby, especially if there’s a pace meltdown, but clearly he will need a favorable trip with things breaking the right way after rallying from so far back.
Value: Has never been under 4-1 odds and was not a highly-bet commodity in the Blue Grass. He should be 30-1 odds or more on a fast track; wet-track 98 Beyer is the best in the field and soars his betting value and exotics chances if the track comes up wet.
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Owners: Team Valor Int’l & Vision Racing |
Pedigree Profile (by Lauren Stich)
Sire Line: Grand Slam was a top 2-year-old, winning the Champagne and Futurity stakes, and won the Peter Pan at 3. He was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and also placed in the Swaps, Jerome, Haskell, and Lexington. Most of his offspring, such as Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat and Dubai Golden Shaheen runner-up Alke, prefer distances under one mile, but some have won at nine furlongs. Gone West is one of Mr. Prospector’s most successful sons at stud, whose runners are as prolific on turf as they are on dirt. Gone West’s offspring are defined by their speed (Speightstown, Proud Citizen, Dance Master) and also established as superior wet track performers. Proud Citizen was second in the Kentucky Derby, Commendable won the Belmont, and Johar dead-heated with High Chaparral in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Among his best runners are two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Da Hoss, European champion Zafonic, and multiple stakes winner Came Home.
Female Family: Stakes-placed Scarlet Tango won 4 races from 18 starts and Visionaire is her second foal. Second dam, Silver Tango, raced five years, winning 17 races from 47 starts and was a multiple stakes winner who placed in the Pimlico Oaks. Affirmed Handicap winner and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Point Determined descends from this female line.
Pedigree Pattern: While I’d love to see Visionaire eventually try grass (with names like Grand Slam, French Deputy, and Silver Badge in his pedigree), his pedigree leans more toward miler speed, but he has enough stamina in his pedigree to snare a minor share at 1 1/4 miles.