Connections Consider Tumultuous Derby Journey With Messier

Connections Consider Tumultuous Derby Journey With Messier

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve (G1) is seldom an simple one to vacation.

Still for Messier , it has been an unusually tumultuous journey.

Though he has been regarded just one of the main 3-12 months-olds since a dominant win in the Feb. 6 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, the Empire Maker colt did not secure his area in the Might 7 opening leg of the Triple Crown until finally the final moment when he concluded second April 9 in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) to accumulate his initial batch of qualifying points and vault into a secure spot on the Leaderboard for the 20-horse common at Churchill Downs.

“It hasn’t been the finest knowledge,” explained Sol Kumin, the head of Madaket Stables, “But it can be driving us now and it really is labored out so that the exhilaration can start to develop.”

Messier, who is 16th in factors as a result of April 16, is just one of two probable Kentucky Derby starters who ended up previously experienced by Bob Baffert and were being ineligible for Kentucky Derby details thanks to Churchill Downs Inc.’s two-year ban on the Corridor of Fame trainer immediately after his 2021 Run for the Roses winner Medina Spirit failed a article-race drug take a look at and was in the end stripped of that victory in late February.

Indicator up for

As a consequence of the suspension, horses educated by Baffert have been ineligible for Kentucky Derby points even though they could compete in qualifying stakes at non-CDI tracks. As a outcome, the 10 qualifying details that would have commonly been awarded to Messier for his lopsided 15-size victory in the Lewis had been vacated—as ended up 4 factors from a next in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

In late March, as Baffert’s hopes of overturning the CDI ban or the April 4 commence of 90-day suspension imposed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission evaporated, Messier was one particular of many horses from his possession team shifted to coach Tim Yakteen. That created the Ontario-bred son of the Intelligent Strike  mare Checkered Earlier eligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points and the 40 he accrued for his runner-up end in the Santa Anita Derby acquired him a location in America’s most renowned and coveted race.

“We try to individual these horses in a smart and considerate fashion because of the funds, but we are also undertaking this to have enjoyable,” Kumin reported. “So, to go through all the drama took some of the pleasurable out of it for us. Definitely what we experienced was not approximately as undesirable as what Bob experienced to go via. We treatment about him as a particular person and we regard him greatly as a coach, so I sense badly for him, but it was significantly less enjoyment for a though.”

Sol Kumin stands in his dining room at his home adjacent to the Oklahoma Training Center Aug. 14, 2020 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.  
Picture: Skip Dickstein

Sol Kumin at his house in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Messier is owned by a big group headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. Jack Wolf, the taking care of companion of Starlight Racing, agreed with Kumin that the tension and uncertainty of the winter season has eventually presented way to a common sensation.

“Everybody in Starlight required to be in the Kentucky Derby if we had a excellent horse, but we didn’t know how the legal matters would switch out and how the horses would changeover to a new trainer. It was difficult that we didn’t know what would happen,” Wolf said. “I would say our interest was diverted in the wintertime and I felt poor for what Bob was heading as a result of. There wasn’t a whole lot of entertaining right up until following the Santa Anita Derby, but now I am again to small business as typical and savoring owning a horse in the Kentucky Derby. Tom Ryan (of SF Racing) did most of the do the job dealing with every thing for us, and I recognize that.”

Although Messier’s possession group also includes Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Money, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Steady, and Siena Farm, his order for $470,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Picked Yearlings Showcase was portion of about 20 yearlings ordered via the pooling of money and bloodstock assets by SF, Starlight, and Madaket and despatched to Baffert.

It marked the 3rd enterprise for the trio that was dubbed “The Avengers.” With Baffert coaching the horses, they hit not just a home operate but a walkoff grand slam with the initial group, amassing far more than $50 million in full worth and earnings, led by 2020 Kentucky Derby and Longines Breeders’ Cup Typical (G1) winner and Horse of the Yr Authentic  . He was a single of three grade 1 winners from that bundle of horses who secured a stallion offer, a trio that also contains Charlatan   and 8 Rings . The 2nd team unsuccessful to flip a financial gain and Messier promises to engage in a critical purpose in determining the fortunes of the third course.

Whilst Messier was second in the Santa Anita Derby, the race has manufactured 19 Kentucky Derby winners with its most the latest formal winner staying the aforementioned Reliable, who was also 2nd in the 1 1/8-mile quality 1 prep.

“We have been upset in getting rid of, but you will find no shame in currently being 2nd in the Santa Anita Derby,” Wolf said.

Jack Wolf poses for a photo before Justify won the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown Saturday, June 9, 2018 in Elmont, New York
Picture: Barry Williams

Jack Wolf at Belmont Park

Messier, making his to start with get started in two months, was the 6-5 next option guiding the favored Forbidden Kingdom  in the Santa Anita Derby and pressed the speedy even-income option. While Forbidden Kingdom light to past in the stretch with a breathing concern that knocked him off the Triple Crown path, Messier forged to the front but could not switch apart a late rally from Zedan Racing Stables’ Taiba , yet another gifted 3-year-previous who was moved from Baffert to Yakteen and posted a 2 1/4-size victory.

“There are a few some others that are entitled to to be shorter odds than Messier, but I feel he can acquire,” Kumin mentioned about the Kentucky Derby. “I would put him in the top rated 5 or 6. He was blowing really hard right after the Santa Anita Derby off an eight-7 days rest but it was actually a very good race. (Jockey John Velazquez) reported he was actually focused on not allowing Forbidden Kingdom get away and he may possibly have been surprised by the way Taiba ran. There was nothing at all about Messier’s performance that states he can’t manage the mile-and-a-quarter (of the Kentucky Derby) or that he would not belong in the prime group of horses.”

Ryan echoed the perception that the winner of 3 of 6 starts and $435,600 earner turned in a “enormous” effort.

“It was a massive performance with 62 days concerning races. The basis is there, and he appears to be quite genuine as properly as mentally and physically mature,” Ryan claimed about a colt bred by Sam-Son Farm.

Tom Ryan<br>
Keeneland September Sales from Sept. 7 to Sept. 23, 2018. Sept. 14, 2018 Stonestreet in Lexington, Kentucky.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Tom Ryan at Keeneland

Starlight and Madaket have won the Kentucky Derby twice as they acquired the racing legal rights to Justify prior to his 2018 Triple Crown sweep for Baffert. Yet this time, instead of relying on Baffert, their horse will be handled by Yakteen, who was a Baffert assistant for the Run for the Roses wins by Silver Charm, True Tranquil, and War Emblem but in Messier and Taiba will deliver out his initial Kentucky Derby starters in his 18 years as a coach.

Judging by the 1-2 complete in the Santa Anita Derby, the early returns are really promising for Yakteen.

“Tim is a good coach he appreciates the horse perfectly and did a good career last weekend taking into consideration all the force he is facing,” Wolf claimed.

As the initially Saturday in May well attracts closer, while some important points have changed and the path to Churchill featured far more curves than ever, there is also a element to the Messier tale that harkens back again to the recent past for the thriving proprietors. Particularly, it really is the assurance that their 3-year-previous is able of a potent energy on the sport’s largest phase.

“We are quite fired up,” Ryan said. “Messier has a wonderful sample coming in the Derby. I feel his efficiency with a 99 Beyer (Speed Determine) and pairing his prior race Ragozin figure (about an 8) speaks to how he’s settled in with Tim.”