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Program # 14 |
Post Position:  |
Photo By: Sue Lustig McPeek |
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Recent Developments |
Trainer Ken McPeek listed Starlight Stable's Harlan's Holiday, the beaten Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite, as "possible" for the Preakness Stakes (GI). He said the Ohio-bred son of Harlan came out of the race well, but would wait a few days before making a final decision on his next step.
"I think physically he's ready," McPeek said. "He's capable of going, but no decision has been made yet."
McPeek attributed much of the colt's disappointing Derby performance to the lackluster pace of the race.
"I just think we kind of got caught with our drawers down the first half-mile - like everybody else," he said. "I looked at it on paper and I didn't think there'd be any speed a week ago, but I can't anticipate that. That's Edgar's (jockey Edgar Prado) call. But I think we all kind of assumed there was going to be some, but it didn't happen.
"This horse is capable of going :47 or :46-and-change for a half-mile and keep going. In hindsight, I should have just told him to send the horse. That's my fault and that's horse racing."
Assistant trainer Helen Pitts said that Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Repent, who was second to War Emblem in the Illinois Derby (GII) in which he sustained a minor ankle injury to the left front, would return to training in June.
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As A 3-Year Old |
Was the beaten favorite in Kentucky Derby (GI) 128, finishing seventh, 12 1/4-lengths off War Emblem
Won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) on Apr. 13 by 4 1/2-lengths over Booklet
Won the Florida Derby (GI) on Mar. 16 by 3 1/2-lengths over Blue Burner
Finished second to Booklet in GIII Holy Bull Stakes in sophomore debut
Finished a nose shy of Booklet in the GI Fountain of Youth Stakes
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As A 2-Year Old |
Broke his maiden in a stakes race at Thistledown
Won four of six starts, all coming in stakes races
Won the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs
Earned $341,564
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Derby Starter Analysis By: Steve Fugitte |
Probable Derby favorite looked great winning the Blue Grass stakes last out and will ride a winning streak that dates back to the Florida Derby into this key event. Wide-open field will make a lukewarm favorite and that seems to bother Ken McPeek - who insists his horse should be 5-2 in here. He'll be more like 9-2. Still McPeek has put together a dream season by winning every major three-year-old colt and filly race he has entered. Horse will be schooled out on the all hype because the media has been chasing him around like crazy for two weeks now. Son of Harlan will need all his stamina to stay it but the performance of Menifee behind Charismatic in '99 eases concerns about the sire. Running style and rider are definite plusses but it's hard to take the favorite as wide open as this race looks on paper. Much respect but others will get my win money. |
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Pedigree Anlysis By: John Gaver III |
Dosage Index: 2.33; Born: April 6, 1999
The ultra-consistent Harlan's Holiday is by the relatively young sire Harlan (by Storm Cat), a Grade I winning sprinter and sire of 4 crops, 95 foals, 64 starters and five stakes winners including Menifee, an earner of $1,732,000 lifetime, winner of the Grade I Haskell Invitational and runner-up to Charismatic in Kentucky Derby 125 (GI); British Columbia Derby (GII, Can.) winner Wandering and the listed stakes winners Karley's Harley and Curious Conundrum. While Harlan has been somewhat of an oddity as a stallion (a sprinter as a racehorse who tends to get runners who are capable of staying a route of ground), Christmas in Aiken, Harlan's Holiday's dam, provides an additional source of stamina, as she is by Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Christmas in Aiken is a full-sister to the minor stakes placed runner Bandito Barney and she is the dam of four foals, three have made it to the racetrack, and all of them have won. Harlan's Holiday is an example of the Northern Dancer-Raise a Native nick (or cross), a popular source of stamina on the sire line and speed on the distaff side of the family.
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