Zipse’s
Kentucky Derby Daily – Day 19
Pedigree Spotlight written by Scott Dick
In honor of
the beautiful ladies in the sport of horse racing, I will be changing gears this
week by turning my attention to a couple of the best 3-year-old fillies in the
nation and two of the most likely winners of this year’s Kentucky Oaks.
The
precocious Joyful Victory started her career in the hands of trainer Anthony
Dutrow. The gorgeous silky gray broke her maiden at first asking, routing at
Delaware Park. She made an impressive move to take the Maiden Special Weight by
a neck. Her connections were so thrilled with her first race they threw her
in the grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. She was defeated just 5 lengths
by the winner A.P. Warrior and just 3 and ½ lengths behind 2nd place finisher
and Kentucky Oaks hopeful R Heat Lightning. She went on to run a respectable
5th in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, behind 2-year-old Champion Filly
Awesome Feather.Joyful
Victory was moved to the barn of Larry Jones for her 3-year-old season. She's
been nothing but impressive in 2 starts as a sophomore. She buried her foes in
the grade III Honey Bee Stakes at Oaklawn Park, winning by some 9 lengths. Following
that impressive performance she would face a challenge in the Fantasy Stakes,
it would be in the form of Arienza, daughter of Champion Azeri. The Victorious
filly sat right behind Arienza from the word go, and when Arienza made her move
for the lead at the ¼ pole, Joyful Victory moved with her and ran right by her,
going on to win by a stylish 7 lengths.
The sire of
Joyful Victory is Tapit. Tapit was brilliant in his short 6 race career, winning
the grade III Laurel Futurity and the grade I Wood Memorial. Tapit went on to
run in the Derby, where he didn't take to the sloppy track and ran 9th. He
finished his career with over $550,000 in earnings. In a short time in the
breeding shed, Tapit has been remarkable. The female progeny of Tapit have done
amazing things on the race track. He is the sire of the filly Careless Jewel. Careless
Jewel won 5 of 7 races. She won the grade I Alabama Stakes at the 10 furlong
distance at Saratoga, she also won the grade II Delaware Oaks.Tapit also
sired a “Star,” in the filly Stardom Bound. A phenom at two, she broke her
maiden in the grade I Delmar Debutante Stakes. She followed that win up with
another grade I victory in the Oakleaf Breeder's Cup Stakes. She went on to win
the grade I Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, and was eventually named 2-year-old
Champion Filly. Tapit is also the sire of Kentucky Oaks hopeful Zazu. Zazu won
the grade I Las Virgenes Stakes. Tapit has also sired graded stakes winners in
- Testa Matta, Tell A Kelly, Tapitsfly, Laragh, Hightap, Dancinginherdreams (Oaks
Hopeful), and Concorde Point.
The Dam of
Tapit is Tap Your Heels. Tap Your Heels won just 1 race in 9 career starts. She
has been a very productive broodmare. She is the dam of 3 winners, including
Overandabeauty. Overandabeauty was a sprinter who won 3 races in 15 starts with
earnings over a $158,000.
The dam of
Joyful Victory is Wild Lucy Black. Wild Lucy Black won 1 race in 7 starts. She
broke her maiden at Keeneland, running at the 1 mile and 1/16th distance. As a
broodmare she has produced 4 winners, including - Wild Lucy Dancer. Wild Lucy
Dancer won 2 races, 1 win going around 2 turns and the other at the 7 furlong
distance. She earned $129,000 in purse money.
The sire of
Wild Lucy Black is Wild Again. Wild Again was a top race horse, he won the
grade I Suburban Handicap, the grade I Meadowland Cup Handicap, the grade II
Oaklawn handicap and the grade II New Orleans Handicap, but he is best known
for winning the inaugural Breeder's Cup Classic, lighting up the tote board at
odds of 31-1. Wild Again was a very useful sire. He is the sire of the filly
Shine Again. Shine Again won 14 times in 34 starts with graded stakes wins in –
Ballerina Handicap (GI) (twice), First Flight Stakes (GII) (twice), Genuine
Risk Handicap (GII). Wild Again also sired Milwaukee Brew. The Canadian twice
won the prestigious Big Cap. He also won the grade II Ohio Derby and the grade
II Marline Stakes.
The dam of
Wild Lucy Black is Lucy Black. Lucy Black was winless in 4 career starts. As a
broodmare she produced 4 winners, including Fine Impression. Fine Impression
won 5 races in 35 career starts and boast earnings exceeding $230,000.
Joyful
Victory has been simply spectacular in her 2 starts this season. She is regal in
appearance and the perfect example of a beautiful filly. The way she romped
through the 3-year-old filly stakes at Oaklawn, was Rachel Alexandra like. I
have nothing but good things to say about this filly, her sires proven to put
out great fillies and fillies that can run a distance of ground. Her dam was
able to go around 2 turns and her progeny has also been able to do the same. I
see more good things coming for this spectacular filly, I really do believe
we're in for a treat come Kentucky Oaks Day. She will be my selection.
You hear
the sound of thunder and you wait for the spark of “Lightning”. R Heat
Lightning has sparked up plenty of praise so far in her career. She has been
ultra- consistent, boasting a record of 4 wins in 8 starts with 3 second place
finishes. As a juvenile the Todd Pletcher trainee was no worse than 2nd in 5
starts. She won the grade I Spinaway Stakes at 7 Furlongs, and also ran extremely
well in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, finishing 2nd to the unbeaten
champion Awesome Feather. R Heat Lightning started her 3-year-old season with a
mediocre 4th in the grade II Forward Gal Stakes. She put away any doubts about
her talent in the grade II Davona Dale Handicap, crushing by over 7 lengths. She
followed that win up with another eye popping performance, this one coming in
the grade II Gulfstream Oaks. She scored in the easiest of manner, under a hand
ride of jockey John Velazquez, The Lightning struck with a dominating 8 ¼
length victory.The sire of
R Heat Lightning is Trippi. The son of End Sweep was a dynamite sprinter,
winning several graded stakes, including the grade II Tom Fool Handicap, grade
II Riva Ridge Stakes, and the grade III Swale Stakes. He finished his career
with over $666,000 in purse money. Trippi has been a solid and steady sire. He
is the sire of numerous stakes winners, including Jamaican Champion
Psychedelic. Psychedelic has won over $792,000 in his career. He is also the
sire of top sophomore colt, Gourmet Dinner. Gourmet Dinner won the grade III
Delta Jackpot Million stakes.
The dam of
Trippi is Jealous Appeal. Jealous Appeal won 4 times in 18 career starts,
earning just over $80,000. As a broodmare she has been excellent, producing 7
winners. She is the dam of the colt Appealing Skier. Appealing Skier won 8
races in 26 starts. He won the grade II Kentucky Cup Sprint, setting a track
record. He also won the grade II Withers and the grade II Hutcheson Stakes.The dam of
R Heat Lightning is Yellow Heat. Yellow Heat won 3 of her 5 career starts, all
of the wins came sprinting. As a broodmare she has produced 2 foals to race, R
Heat Lightning and the filly Hot Trip. Hot Trip has won 2 races in her career.
A 1 turn mile victory and a 2 turn 1 1/16th mile victory.
The sire of
Yellow Heat is Gold Fever. Gold Fever won 7 times in 18 starts. He won the
grade I NYRA Mile, the grade II Riva Ridge, and the grade III Discovery
Handicap. As a sire Gold Fever has been useful. He is the sire of Gold Mover. Gold
Mover won several graded stakes including - grade II Schuylerville Stakes and
the grade II Princess Rooney Stakes.
Golden
Fever also sired 2004 3-year-old Canadian Champion and 2004 Horse of the Year,
A Bit O’Gold. A Bit O’Gold won the Queen’s Plate Trial Stakes, the Ontario
Derby, Prince Of Wales Stakes, Breeders' Stakes, and Dominion Day Handicap.
The dam of
Yellow Heat is The Real Thing. The Real Thing was unplaced in 1 career start. As
a broodmare she has produced 6 winners, including the filly, East Breaks. East
Breaks won 7 times in 23 starts boasting earnings over $238,000.
R Heat
Lightning has been sizzling so far in her career. When the thunder comes the
lightning follows and R Heat Lightning has been striking with some serious
performances. Her pedigree definitely suggests sprint, but so far in her career
she has been able to stretch her speed out. My mind tells me, with this
pedigree, she j may well struggle in the final 1/8th against the best when she
needs it to win the Kentucky Oaks, but my eyes and my heart are telling me she could
be a super filly. Time will tell us how good she truly is.
