Derby fever runs hot whenever there is a good looking two year old. The first Saturday in May might be months away from now, but dreams of roses are already running through the minds of many. Earlier I profiled Biblical, Good Magic, Bolt d’Oro, and Engage, who have all shown potential to become top contenders come spring. Now I’m going to show you part two of my early Derby picks. A lot can happen between now and May, but so far these colts are on the right path.
Enticed is a colt that was bred to do big things. I have liked this colt even before he started racing because of his regal bloodlines. He is by Medaglia d’Oro, one of my favorite studs, and out of It’s Tricky, who I have always been a fan of. It’s Tricky was a very talented racer, having won multiple stakes races and running second in the illustrious Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 2011. When I saw that she produced a colt with Medaglia d’Oro, I was very intrigued by the potential that the young colt possessed.
Enticed made his first start on September 4th at Saratoga. It was a six furlong race on a muddy track. The mud made for conditions that were less than ideal for a young maiden, but Enticed never faltered as he powered over the ground. The dark bay loped behind the field without a care in the world, but when his jockey gave him the que to go, he dove right into the thick of it. Enticed launched forward with strong acceleration, quickly sweeping by one horse after another. Forced wide into the stretch, Enticed lengthened his mighty stride and kicked for home. He made short work of his competition in the stretch, easily rising to the top and drawing clear with total ease. It was an incredible performance for a horse that had never raced before.
Enticed took a step up in class in his next start, taking on a lofty group of runners in the G1 Champagne Stakes. He ended up running third, but it was a strong effort. He closed steadily the entire way, keeping the rest of the field safely behind him. The two horses that were able to beat him were very talented in their own right, making Enticed’s third place effort look even better than it really was. The winner, Firenze Fire, had already won two races in a row, including a score in the Sanford Stakes. And the runner up, Good Magic, went on to win the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in convincing fashion. The fact that Enticed was able to do so well against the likes of horses of Good Magic and Firenze Fire’s caliber in only his second start suggests that this colt could be something special.
The fact that Enticed has shown nothing but talent in his first two races makes him a very interesting contender moving forward. He showed adversity to break his maiden, and determination and proficiency to finish third in a stakes race that contained some of the finest thoroughbreds of his age group. His royal breeding along with his brute strength and intrepid attitude has him very high on my list of Kentucky Derby hopefuls. This colt is already showing fleeting signs of sublimity, and with only two races under his belt, I cannot wait to see what this colt can do as he gains more experience. I fully expect this colt to move on to higher ranks as he matures into a three year old. The future is very bright with this one.
The next horse I want to discuss is very interesting to me. That colt is Mendelssohn. The majestic bay is by the late sire, Scat Daddy and out of the mare, Leslie’s Lady. Leslie’s Lady is the very mare that produced the great Beholder, so naturally this young colt came into the world carrying high hopes to follow in his famous sister’s hoof prints, all the way to the winner’s circle.
Interestingly enough for a Derby prospect, Mendelssohn has never raced on the dirt before. The Aidan O’Brien trainee made a name for himself on the turf, breaking his maiden on his second try. He ran a disappointing seventh in his next start before taking a step forward to claim second in the Dewhurst Stakes. His strong effort gave his connections the confidence to enter the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and the young colt did not disappoint.
Mendelssohn won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with ease. It was clear that the horse possessed an uncanny amount of power and strength as he stormed down the stretch of Del Mar. When it comes to the Kentucky Derby you don’t generally pay attention to turf horses, but Mendelssohn’s explosive win got people talking.
In the wake of the Breeders’ Cup, Aidan O’Brien decided that Mendelssohn was too good of a horse not to take a chance on for the Kentucky Derby. The talent was there, that was known. The only question is whether or not his masterful form can translate to the dirt. If he can bring his same game to the surface of the Kentucky Derby, this colt will be very dangerous to all who challenge. He has speed, stamina, class, and most importantly, the desire to win. Luckily, this regal colt has plenty of time between now and May to try out a different surface. It will be interesting to see what he can do as he moves forward.
I want to end this with an honorable mention. There is not much to say about this colt yet, as he has only competed in one race, but I think Freedom Factor is a horse to watch for the future. I first noticed him in the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Two Year Olds in Training Sale earlier this year. I liked his pedigree, and wrote him down as one to follow. The aristocratic bay is by The Factor and out of the mare, Freedom Ridge. There was just something about him that stood out, and so far he’s still looking good.
Freedom Factor’s first race took place at Louisiana Downs, traveling a mile and seventy yards. The brave youngster wasted no time going after the pacesetter, Combat Command, and turned things into a fight right from the start. Freedom Factor and Combat Command dueled the entire way around the track, neither one giving an inch as they relentlessly tested one another. The tenacious pair were cooking each other out there, but Freedom Factor proved unflappable, even in battle. The stretch was looming ahead and despite doing all of the dirty work, Freedom Factor was not done yet. In fact, he was just getting started. Looking more like a seasoned professional instead of a young, first-time starter, Freedom Factor found another gear and kicked for home. Bolting forward, Freedom Factor flew by Combat Command like he was standing still and made a frenzied dash for the wire. Soaring forward, he distanced himself from the rest of the runners and claimed victory with complete ease. After a flawless performance like that, it makes me wonder what else this horse can do.
Mystery surrounds a horse that has only raced once, but first impressions are important, and Freedom Factor really made his count. The colt appears to have immense ability, and so far, I can’t find any fault with him. He has been training well since his breakout win, and I will be watching him closely to see what happens next.
Here is a link to part one of my early Derby picks https://chelsealowman66.wixsite.com/mysite/single-post/2017/11/19/Early-Derby-Thoughts
And here is a link to a previous article I wrote about other potential future stars of the sport https://chelsealowman66.wixsite.com/mysite/single-post/2017/10/29/Future-Stars-of-Horse-Racing
Be sure to follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/Down2TheWire_