New York trainers Nick Zito and Bill Mott, both Hall of Famers who call Saratoga Springs home, have strong hands as the classics campaign of 2008 gets underway.
The 134th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be run on May 3 at Churchill Downs, followed by the 133rd edition of the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico and the 140th edition of the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Belmont Park.
The distances of the Triple Crown races are 1 ¼ miles for the Derby, 1 3/16 miles for the Preakness, and 1 ½ miles for the Belmont.
Following is my first ranking of the 3-year-olds of 2008.
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* 1. War Pass: Owned by Robert V. LaPenta and trained by Zito, this son of Cherokee Run was unbeaten last year.
He clinched the division championship with a runaway victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which followed a score in the prestigious Champagne Stakes.
War Pass, who won his first two career starts at Saratoga last summer, is from a classic family that includes Belmont Stakes winner Coastal and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Slew o’Gold.
He gets his speed from Cherokee Run, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
* 2. Court Vision: Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Mott.
Court Vision concluded a very productive season with an aggressive victory in the Remsen Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
The son of Gulch bulled his way to the wire while being blocked in the stretch drive.
Court Vision also won the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last fall.
Pedigrees don’t get much better than his.
Court Vision is out of Weekend Storm, who is a half-sister to champion and top sire A.P. Indy as well as Preakness winner Summer Squall
* 3. Pryo: Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen.
A very interesting runner who has a speedy pedigree, yet rallied from far back to be second to War Pass in the Champagne and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Pyro is a son of Pulpit, a top sire who can get a long-distance runner.
However, his family includes the juvenile speedster Cuvee, winner of the Saratoga Special, and the good miler Wild Wonder.
* 4. Into Mischief: Owned by B. Wayne Hughes and trained by Richard Mandella.
Came on the scene late with a California flourish, winning the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 22.
Into Mischief, by first-crop sire Harlan’s Holiday, kicked home very strongly in the Hollywood Futurity at 1 1/16 miles.
He is from a family that includes Roanoke, winner of the Californian Stakes.
* 5. Ana Nakal: Owned by Four Roses Thoroughbreds and trained by Zito.
Surprise package in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs at 8-to-1 odds.
This son of Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop has shown that he likes to fight, always a good sign when the brutal classics trail unfolds.
Ana Nakal comes from a family heavily slanted toward turf.
* 6. Etched: Owned by Darley Stable and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.
His victory in the Nashua Stakes over Ana Nakal was flawless; he barely got out of a gallop to win by more than six lengths.
Etched is a son of Forestry, the sire of Cigar Mile winner Discreet Cat, out of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Unbridled Elaine.
He will be trained this winter in Dubai.
* 7. Tale of Ekati: Owned by Charles E. Fipke and trained by Barclay Tagg.
His victory in the Belmont Futurity was marked by a bold inside move somewhat unusual for a youngster.
Tale of Ekati is by Tale of the Cat, winner of the King’s Bishop at Saratoga and the sire of Haskell Invitational winner Lion Heart.
He descends from a high class family that includes Maplejinksy and her daughter Sky Beauty, both Alabama Stakes winners, and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home.
* 8. Majestic Warrior: Owned by Kinsman Stable and trained by Mott.
The Hopeful Stakes winner thus far in his career is a certified stretch runner.
Majestic Warrior is by the great A.P. Indy out of Dream Supreme, who along with her mother Spinning Round won the Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga.
Mott also trained Dream Supreme.
* 9. Mushka: Owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Mott.
This filly was purchased for $1.6 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.
Mushka is by Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, which automatically makes her a threat at classic distances.
Her female family includes Santa Anita Oaks winner Lakeway and Belmont Stakes winner Bold Forbes.
In other words, her pedigree is awesome.
* 10. Country Star: Owned by Stonerside Stable and trained by Bobby Frankel.
Also a filly by Empire Maker, she won the Alcibiades and Hollywood Starlet, both Grade I events.
Country Star’s mother won the Grade I Ashland Stakes.
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Um...no.
here to start.
1. if you are going to put fillies on this list, the list has to start with country star. No if ands or buts about it. If you are going to put fillies on the list, how do you not put the winner of the breeders cup juve fillies in there?
2. how in the hell is cowboy cal not on the list? Hell right now he's honeslty in my top 3.
3. Pyro has taken the thrown of most overrated horse from the roundhouse. the horse hasn't won anything
4. how is tale of ekati rated better than majestic warrior?
5. if etched wasn't going to dubai he would be no worse than 2nd on anyone's list. this is Sheik Mo's best young colt he had since Street Cry IMHO and is going to be a legit shot in the triple crown trail
6. Jury's still out on Into Mischif
7. I'm a court vision fan.. b ut I don't know if e is my derby horse. I'm more im pressed with cowboy cal and etched.
8. Hell I started the war pass bandwagon, but a son of cherokee run will not be on the top of my list to win a 10F race.
