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(Awesome Again x Tizamazing, by Cee’s Tizzy)

• Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas (Optimizer, Gulch, Charismatic)
• Jockey: Gary Stevens (First Derby since 2003 6th place with Buddy Gil)
• Owned by: Calumet Farm
  
• Record: 9:2-1-1
• Earnings: $383,500
• Best speed figures: 95 Beyer, 110 Equibase

Background: A member of my watch list since his CashCall (I) race, Oxbow lit up the board and hopes for a resurgence of classic D. Wayne Lukas and Calumet victory passes upon winning the Lecomte (III) earlier this year. Given a harsh blow of bad luck time after time with repeatedly bad outer posts in his prep races, Oxbow is doing as he has done all year— just hanging in there to make the Derby gate.

Prep Schedule: It took him 4 tries to do it, but Oxbow broke his maiden in a 7-furlong event at none other than Churchill Downs as a two-year-old, then shipped out west to run a decent 4th in the CashCall (I) on polytrack. Bouncing back in 4 weeks’ time, he wired the Lecomte (III) going 1 1/16 miles, winning by an impressive 11 1/4 lengths. Assigned the outside 10 stall, he ran a wide but determined 4th next out in the messy Risen Star (II), losing by a half-length. Next, he ran an unexpected second-fiddle to stablemate Will Take Charge, who nipped him at the wire after Oxbow gained the lead in the stretch of the 1 1/16 mile race. In his final prep in the 9-furlong Arkansas Derby (I) and first time under Gary Stevens, he ran at the back of the tightly-knit group and made steady progress late to be 5th, losing by 5 1/4 lengths.

Pedigree: As I detailed in a prior post, Oxbow has some big shoes to fill that he may not start growing into right away. By Breeders’ Cup Classic winner (and sire of one) Awesome Again, he is automatically advantaged to get the 10-furlong distance, and even more so being out of a full sister to two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow. The Awesome Again and Tiznow families have spawned many G1 winners at 9 furlongs and beyond, and when crossed, have produced names like the unforgettable Paynter, who flashed extreme ability at the classic distance. Inbreeding-wise, Oxbow carries 3 traces up close to Northern Dancer.

Estimated TrueNicks Rating: A++ Variant 33.70

Running Style: Midpack, off-the-pace

Pros: A horse who sticks up front and fights it out at the end, Oxbow has been looking good in his recent works and should keep on making progress while others regress at 10 furlongs.

Cons: He appeared to regress in the Arkansas Derby (I) last out, and he has yet to have a more than a month-long break between races since he first started running.

Final Word: Oxbow was a horse full of potential at the beginning of the year, and while he still has something to offer, I think he has more than completed his form cycle. Add to this, most Awesome Agains do not really hit their best stride until later on (Game On Dude missed the Derby and was 4th in the Belmont, Paynter made the Belmont, Ghostzapper didn’t make a stakes start until the King’s Bishop). Watch for him later, not now.

It’s hard not to love Paynter after his dramatic yet brief three-year-old campaign that concluded with an emphatic G1 win in the Haskell Invitational. It’s even harder to not associate good feels with the bay colt after a winning battle with multiple ailments that left him at death’s door for a stretch of time. With the son of Awesome Again slowly returning to full health, there is few greater joys than seeing his younger relations do well for themselves on the Derby trail.

Experiencing mild success this year with Optimizer, Hamazing Destiny, Hightail, and a few others, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has had some on-and-off success training, but looks to have a solid performer in Paynter’s 3/4 brother Oxbow. A bay son of Awesome Again out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Tizamazing (who is also a full sister to dual-Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow and Paynter’s dam Tizso), he broke well from the far outside to win his 7-furlong maiden special weight over the weekend at Churchill Downs.

Favored in the betting, Oxbow did not have a favorable beginning in racing, being pulled up and vanned off the Saratoga main in his dead-last debut against speed demon Jocosity. No harm done, however, when all things are considered: Paynter never made a start as a two-year-old, never mind 4 races with a win and a third. Oxbow is obviously doing something right after being suddenly favored in the Churchill race after racing third to Gulfport in his prior start at nearly 17-1, and his works suggest he’ll be even quicker as a three-year-old.

Also making 4 starts is Paynter’s cousin (by Speightstown out of Tizsweet, another full to Paynter’s dam) is Tizexx, a two-year-old gray/roan trainee of Bobby Barnett who also ran this past Saturday. She raced three-wide on the Churchill main to tire in the stretch of the 7-furlong maiden race to finish 5th holding her own. She has flashed ample speed in her workouts— she went :47 2/5 in her last 4-panel hum— so this is another one I think will require some time.

Paynter’s full brother racing this year named Fire Flight, will definitely be needing additional time, and I’m not even sure he was ready for his debut going by his short list of published works. Helmed by Keith Asmussen, he was towards the back of a Retama maiden early and dragged his heels upon feeling the stick, losing by some 10 lengths back in 9th.

If lightning can’t strike twice in the same family, I guess we can always wait on Paynter’s highly-anticipated return.

The Travers winners could meet again in Pennsylvania Derby!!!!… No one gives a f—k, or certainly at least not me.

RIP Theatrical [IRE], a really underrated sire.

Could someone please name a good Empire Maker baby Empire Strikes Back?

I was told that the Stanley Cup made an appearance where I work. No one was apparently allowed to hold it, and I couldn’t help but remember that Go For Gin was allowed to drink from it.

Can you imagine how empty D. Wayne Lukas’s stable would be if Bluegrass Hall pulled their runners? At least to me it feels like they’re his only client!

Archwarrior… I do love the baby Arches, but with Todd Pletcher training them to the Derby I might have to flake out when deciding my fantasy Derby stable. That guy bruised my standings two years in a row with his fragile brilliant runners.

FREDERICKSBURG! Early choice for the Juvie Turf!

Who is worthy of a 17-way shake? Apparently Lime Rickey, who was much the best winning R3 at Del Mar yesterday downgrading a ways to the claiming ranks.

When is Super Saturday going to get here?

The Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic is looking like potentially the best race so far if everyone makes it… Awesome Feather, Questing [GB], Royal Delta, It’s Tricky, My Miss Aurelia…

Javier and Abel Castellano both had new baby boys born an hour apart on August 28. Both jockey dads must have been pretty disappointed their sons weren’t in a lighter weight percentile.

Good to see an old favorite of mine will be going to a high profile farm once he retires. Brilliant Speed, one of the longest shots I’ve ever picked to win in last year’s Blue Grass (20-1), takes sire Dynaformer’s place at Three Chimneys.

I’m glad to see Rudy Rodriguez get another nice filly with My Happy Face.

New favorite horse name to be added to the ranks: Giacomo Strap. (Thanks Reinier)

Tweet o’ the Week

Terlingua, Secretariat’s most famous daughter and the dam of Storm Cat, was very feisty and spirited as a young horse. Her trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, took to bathing her himself with Breck shampoo.