Ministers Wild Cat worthy chalk
ALBANY, Calif. - Timing is an important factor in all sports, including in the development of young horses.
The timing of Sunday's $60,000-added Golden State Mile works out perfectly - well, almost perfectly - for trainer Neil Drysdale, who will send Ministers Wild Cat north to meet seven rivals.
"It's obviously not an ideal spot to have to ship a young horse to San Francisco for his third race," Drysdale said.
But other than that, everything is perfectly aligned for the half-brother to 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile winner War Chant.
Ministers Wild Cat, by Deputy Minister out of Hollywood Wildcat, ran second in his debut at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. He graduated Jan. 11 in wire-to-wire style in a seven-furlong race.
Drysdale, who is coming north to saddle Ministers Wild Cat and is bringing along jockey Kent Desormeaux, gives an understated evaluation of his colt.
"So far, he's just had two runs," Drysdale said, "but he's come along well."
Sunday's one-mile race continues the natural stretchout progression and gives the colt a four-week space between starts.
Even the shipping, Drysdale admits, is part of the learning experience that a talented colt must undergo, and the race should be an easy spot although spiced with enough competition to make it more than a simple workout.
Ministers Wild Cat drew post 4 in the field of eight.
Natural Balance, who showed speed when third in the Gold Rush Stakes on Dec. 14, and Es Special, who shipped up from Southern California and was a wire-to-wire maiden winner on Jan. 30, both drew inside of Ministers Wild Cat.
On the rail is Demon Warlock, who has won three straight six-furlong sprints and will be attempting his first try around two turns. A stalker sprinting, Demon Warlock showed increased early foot last time.
Ministers Wild Cat has the speed to do whatever Drysdale and Desormeaux want him to early. But he will have to finish, too.
Winning Stripes, a winner of two straight at Sunday's distance, has stalked and finished well to win on both turf and dirt. Always Remember closed well to take the lead before losing a photo in the Gold Rush, and was making up ground late when he ran fifth in
the Grade 3 Golden Gate Derby on Jan. 11.
Ministers Wild Cat will be an odds-on favorite. He should win with ease as he prepares for the Triple Crown chase.
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