The battle for the 2022 Kentucky Derby began yesterday with the running of the Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga. Only one winner in the last 25 years of this race was ever competitive in the Derby (Afleet Alex finished 3rd in the Derby, but won the Preakness and Belmont). The other winners either stayed sprinters (Fienze Fire and City Zip) or faded into obscurity. Scat Daddy did win the Florida Derby and sire Justify.
In the battle of speed versus stamina, score a point for speed. The winner of the Sanford, Wit, is a son of sprinter Practical Joke. Practical Joke is a son of the ever present Into Mischief and a sprinter mare, A son of my favorite Honor Code did sneak in for 3rd, and a son of Gormley got 2nd.
It was also a big win for the “empty mare” theory. Repole and partners paid $575,000 for a son of Practical Joke (the next highest price for a PJ was $400,000) from and unraced mare, The mare was a daughter of the great Medaglia d’Oro, and she did produce a stakes winner in Barkley, so perhaps she should best be called “sneaky” rather than “empty”. Wit’s 2nd dam was a solid router that won over $200,000 (by Afleet). The 3rd dam was a stamina oriented French horse.
Maybe Wit is the next super horse, or maybe he is just a precocious sprinter. The female family gives him a chance to be an above average horse.
The Schuylerville was won by a Marylou Whitney filly sired by Bird Song (already sent to Saudi Arabia). The last decent horse to win this race was Countess Diana in 1997. The second place finished was an interesting horse named, Mainstay, by the new sire Astern. Let’s keep an eye on Astern.
Buying A Race Horse 