This past Saturday, the traditional prep race for the three year old males was run at the Spa. The prep race; the Jim Dandy Stakes, named for the 100-1 longshot who defeated Triple Crown winner; Gallant Fox in the 1930 running of the Travers Stakes. This year, the Triple Crown trail had a "standout" leader just a few weeks before the running of the Kentucky Derby . His named was Uncle Mo, who was trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable. He WAS head and shoulders over all other three year old runners at the time. Even though there was "another" three year old in the same barn, named; Stay Thirsty, he was only second fiddle behind his well known and well met stablemate. That would soon change.....well, maybe it took a few months!
Now, with a few weeks before the "Mid-Summer's Derby ", the Travers Stakes, Uncle Mo is NOT the most interesting three year old horse in the world. That title goes to the appropriately named; Stay Thirsty. Now, HE is the most interesting three year old in the world! He broke his maiden at Saratoga , just like his better known stablemate.....but, not in the same style! He ran second behind the horse that Uncle Mo beat a few weeks later at Belmont Park in the Champagne Stakes; Boys from Tosconova. He would win the Gotham Stakes on the Aqueduct "Inner-track", while his "better" stablemate, Uncle Mo would fail to win a stakes prep race. He was starting to show interest as possibly the "most interesting three year old" in the world.
While questions arose whether Uncle Mo would make the Kentucky Derby , Stay Thirsty would compete in the Florida Derby and then be the stable bearer at the Kentucky Derby for Repole Stable. The stage was set for Stay Thirsty to come out of the shadows of Uncle Mo. Interesting to say the least, but there was a bump in the road. Shipping from the "dead of weather" in the northeast to sunny and warm Florida meant a not so good effort in the Florida Derby . With "Mo" not making it to Louisville , Stay Thirsty (my friends) would be his replacement.
I even gave him a chance to run well going the mile and a quarter distance the first Saturday in May. I thought he was a good "longshot" play, but he was no factor in the "Run for the Roses" and it looked to be back to the drawing board for him. But this most interesting journey returned in the final leg of racing's Triple Crown. Five weeks later, Stay Thirsty returned in the Belmont Stakes, the "Test of Champions". Who would have thought that THIS Repole runner would be representing the stable in this race. But, Stay Thirsty became the "most interesting horse" in the race with a narrow defeat at 17-1 in the Belmont Stakes. Now, who is the most.....well, you know what!
This past Saturday, Stay Thirsty stamped himself as the "leading" three year old male when he won the Jim Dandy Stakes in convincingly style. Stakes placed as a two year old, stakes winner as a three year old with a grade I placing, Stay Thirsty has become the "most interesting horse" in the three year old category. His "bigger" stablemate has a lot of catching up to do. On the road to recovery, Uncle Mo in my opinion is second fiddle behind his stablemate now. The rolls have reversed and Stay Thirsty is the leader. He is the new version of Cat Thief, another runner from the past who wasn't really thought of until he won the Breeder's Cup Classic in upset fashion. Stay Thirsty is the leader in the clubhouse going into this year's Travers and the spotlight is him. Out of the shadows and into the light, he is the "most interesting horse .....in the world!" Remember, STAY THIRSTY ......my friends!
No comments:
Post a Comment