Mississippi will be taking on the daunting challenge of making his stakes debut in the Grade 1, Florida Derby. The field is loaded with fierce contenders that will all be ready to fire their best shot in what will be their final clash before going head to head for the roses in May. This is no doubt a laborious task for a horse who has never competed in a stakes race, let alone a Grade I, but if you stop and take a closer look, Mississippi may just be a long shot that you'd want to consider. The odds will be against him for sure, but this horse has the class and stamina of countless champions coursing through his veins, and if he can find the courage and skill to go with it, it just might be enough to carry him through the imposing challenge that lies ahead.
Mississippi first caught my attention when he went through the 2016 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland. The athletic bay went through the sale as hip 888, and sold for $280,000. He would later sell for a higher price when he was entered in the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, and the final bid ended at a whopping $700,000. When you look at the bloodlines of the stunning individual, it's not surprising that this colt was so desirable. His regal pedigree is deep with class, speed, and stamina, and alludes to the possibility of serious potential.
Mississippi is by the infamous Pioneerof the Nile, who is the producer of countless winners, including the immortal, Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah. During his career as a racehorse, Pioneerof the Nile won five of his ten races, including victories in the CashCall Futurity (Gr.1), the Robert B. Lewis (Gr.2), the San Felipe (Gr.2), and the Santa Anita Derby (Gr.1). His winning streak came to an end when he ran second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, behind the stunning underdog, Mine That Bird.
Pioneerof the Nile comes from royal blood himself, being by Empire Maker, who won multiple Grade I races, which include the Florida Derby, the Wood Memorial, and the testing 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes. The class continues through Empire Maker's pedigree, as he is by Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Unbridled, and out of the multiple graded stakes winning mare, Toussaud.
The line of champions doesn't end on Mississippi's paternal side of the pedigree. The talent and nobility continues through his dam, Katz Me If You Can. Katz Me If You Can is by the legendary Storm Cat, and out of the Mr. Prospector mare, Cuddles, who is a multiple graded stakes winner. With classic names such as Mr. Prospector and Storm Cat in her family history that link back to timeless champions such as Secretariat, Raise a Native, and Nashua, it is fair to say that Katz Me If You Can held an esteemed place among the broodmares thanks to her bloodline alone. But it wasn't just her family tree that alluded to Mississippi's potential. Katz Me If You Can possesses an impressive race record of her own, having won the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (Gr.3), and the Genuine Risk Handicap (Gr.2), and placed in eight other stakes races during her racing career. To date, she has also gone on to produce several winners as a broodmare, who themselves have gone on to produce black type offspring.
Class and endurance runs deep on both sides of Mississippi's pedigree, suggesting that he should get better with age and distance. He certainly has the breeding to be a Kentucky Derby contender, but champions aren't made from bloodlines alone. Mississippi must prove that he has the skill and the mindset to go with his impressive lineage. Having never been in a stakes race, Mississippi is behind his peers in terms of experience. With that being said, Mississippi has never put fourth a bad performance out of the four races that he has been in, and that is a fact that brings hope for this gallant long shot.
After running fourth in his debut at the age of two, Mississippi broke his maiden with ease in a one mile race at Churchill Downs. He scored by nearly two lengths, leaving eleven rivals in his wake. He then suffered two narrow defeats in a row, running second to eventual Louisiana Derby winner, Noble Indy, and then finishing just behind the highly regarded Storm Runner, in his latest attempt.
Mississippi has consistently competed against quality horses and has shown nothing but grit and determination, even in defeat. This colt is fit and loaded, and will be looking for a breakthrough as he boldly sets off into the Florida Derby. His connections couldn't have picked a more arduous race for his stakes debut, but with time running out to make it into the Kentucky Derby, Mississippi doesn't have a lot of options left. He will have to step it up big time and show whether or not he truly belongs. Going against the likes of Audible, Strike Power, Catholic Boy, and Promises Fulfilled will be no easy task, but stranger things have happened in this mysterious sport. Mississippi certainly has the pedigree to go the distance, and on Saturday he will finally get his chance to prove how far he can really go when challenged by the elite.
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