Early Bird Catches the Winners

By: Greg Melikov

In the fall, an old horseplayer’s fancy turns to thoughts of winning the Kentucky Derby in the spring. At least mine do.I’ve paid more attention to 2-year-olds during the 21st Century for several reasons. Let’s face it - you can never do too much research on prospects for America’s Race.

If you have the time I do, it pays off in the long run.

Back on Jan. 18, 2003, I saw Funny Cide run a game race in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. I was captivated after he hit the gate breaking from post 13, encountered trouble and traveled wide the entire 1-1/16 miles, but covered the distance in a respectable 1:44 2/5.

In early March, the son of Distorted Humor stayed close to the pace in the Louisiana Derby, rallied in the stretch, dropped back, came again along the rail and finished third to Peace Rules. It was another troubled trip. The gelding was placed second when Kafwain was disqualified.

Later, in mid-month, I decided to take a shot on Funny Cide with a Derby futures wager at 59-1 - basically just because the odds were so high.

On Derby Day, I viewed the simulcast from Retama Park in Greater San Antonio, where I was having a good Saturday afternoon after hitting several exactas at Churchill Downs.

I played a $1 trifecta for $23, keying Funny Cide, Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted on top of all three and Offlee Wild in the middle; leaving Empire Maker out underneath, but including Funny Cide, Offlee Wild, Ten Most Wanted and Peace Rules. I also bet $2 on Funny Cide’s nose.

Funny Cide didn’t disappointment - returning $27.60 on the front end. The trifecta paid $332.40. And the futures bet rewarded me with $120.80.

On September 7 this year, a 2-year-old son of Gulch attracted my attention when he came from way off the pace in his six-furlong debut at Turfway Park.

The colt broke sluggishly, moved from last to sixth more than 5-1/2 lengths behind the leader after a half-mile, made up more than five lengths in the stretch and finished second - beaten by only a half-length. He ran the final quarter in 24 2/5.

I kept tabs on Court Vision the remainder of this racing year. He was great! He ran at three different tracks and three different distances; on conventional dirt and Polytrack; during the daytime and at night.

On October 6 at Keeneland, he was three lengths back in fourth after a half-mile, advanced to third in the stretch and drew clear by 1-3/4 lengths at 1-1/16 miles. Three weeks later at Churchill Downs, Court Vision fanned more than six wide in eighth for the drive, closed determinedly in the stretch to make up 4-1/2 lengths and won the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes at a mile by a half-length.

On November 24 at Aqueduct in the $200,000 Remsen Stakes, the dark bay raced 2-1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, dropped to fourth in tight after six furlongs, came out for room in the stretch, bumped with two rivals down the lane and scored by a neck at 1-1/8 miles.

The last Remsen winner to win the Kentucky Derby was Thunder Gulch in ‘94 - also sired by Gulch. Hall of Famer Bill Mott, looking for his first victory on the first Saturday in May, trains Court Vision.

Mott’s best showing came in ‘98 when Favorite Trick - the ‘97 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ and Horse of the Year - finished eighth to Real Quiet.

Another Mott prospect, Majestic Warrior, missed this year’s Juvenile because of a hoof injury suffered running sixth in the $400,000 Champagne Stakes.

Belmont’s Champagne at a mile went to undefeated War Pass (trained by Nick Zito) who later captured the Juvenile leading at every call; just as in all five of his victories. The last Champagne winner to smell the roses was Sea Hero in ‘92.

Zito, who won the Champagne five times, saddled two Kentucky Derby winners: Strike the Gold in ‘91 and Go for Gin in ‘94.

Future 3-year-olds worth watching are:

  • Pyro, trained by Steve Asmussen, who was runner-up to War Pass in the Champagne and Juvenile.
  • Mott’s Z Humor, third in the Champagne and fifth in the Juvenile, who dead-heated for first in this month’s $1 million Delta Jackpot Stakes.
  • Asmussen’s Kodiak Cowboy, second in the Belmont Futurity, who finished third in the Juvenile.
  • Barclay Tagg’s Tale of Ekati, winner of the Futurity, who ran fourth in the Juvenile.

    • Greg Melikov, a native Chicagoan and retired South Florida newspaperman who resides in Greater San Antonio, has been handicapping and writing about thoroughbreds for decades. His articles and columns appear globally in print and online, including on his own site: www.horsingaround.info. He became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park. He can be contacted at gmelikov@satx.rr.com.

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