2004 Eclipse 2YO Male: Declan's Moon

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Jay Em Ess Stable shelled out $125,000 for Declan's Moon at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic September yearling sale. A year and a few months later, the gelding has banked $507,300, and the stable has the recipient of the Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male category.

The partners in Jay Em Ess, Samantha Siegel and her father, Mace Siegel, have been prominent owners in the Thoroughbred game for some time. They had to wait a while for Declan's Moon to make his 2-year-old debut, but the gelding made it worth their time.

Declan's Moon, by Malibu Moon   out of the Norquestor mare Vee Vee Star, was bred in Maryland by Brice Ridgely. He didn't make his first start until July 31 at Del Mar, where he defeated six foes by five lengths in a maiden special weight test.

Though the win was impressive, lots of 2-year-olds look good breaking their maidens in their first starts. In his next start, however, Declan's Moon served notice he wasn't just another 2-year-old with a maiden win under his belt.

Trainer Ron Ellis entered Declan's Moon in the Sept. 8 Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) despite the presence of the highly touted and heavy favorite Roman Ruler, who was undefeated in two starts, including the grade II Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.

Declan's Moon was 6-1 in a four-horse field, but his sustained rally carried him past Roman Ruler for a neck win over the 1-9 favorite. That put the Siegels and Ellis on the bubble. Should they point Declan's Moon toward the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) or toward two late-season stakes at Hollywood Park?

"Your first thought is the Breeders' Cup, frankly, after the (grade I Hollywood) Futurity," Samantha Siegel told The Blood-Horse. "But when you look down and see that your horse isn't Breeders' Cup-eligible, and you've got to pay $135,000 (in a supplemental fee) to run a gelding, you stop thinking about it."

Stud value isn't an issue with Declan's Moon, so the stable opted for the two Hollywood stakes. The first, the Nov. 20 Hollywood Prevue (gr. III), produced yet another strong performance by Declan's Moon.

With Victor Espinoza riding for the second consecutive time, Declan's Moon again rated just off the pace, took over in the lane, and won easily in a sharp 1:21.74 for seven furlongs. The victory laid the groundwork for an intriguing scenario in the Dec. 18 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), which lured Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko, who was another finalist for champion 2-year-old male of 2004.

A win by Wilko would have all but given him the championship. However, it was Declan's Moon who won by a length. Wilko checked in third with a fine effort.

The Futurity, at 11/16 miles, marked the first two-turn race for Declan's Moon, who appeared prepared to embark on a campaign toward the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Ellis had a plan last fall. "Numbers-wise, he ran speed figures that were off the charts for a 2-year-old," the trainer said. "It's different going seven furlongs and a mile and a quarter, but he showed he has the talent, and you start thinking, 'What's the best way to get (to the Derby)?' The best way to get to the Derby was to skip the Breeders' Cup."

Declan's Moon heads into his 3-year-old campaign a perfect four-for-four on a Triple Crown trail loaded with talent at the outset.

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