Merit Man wins the 2013 Spectacular Bid.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Merit Man wins the 2013 Spectacular Bid.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Courtney Heeney
Merit Man works at Santa Anita 10/29/2012.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Merit Man works at Santa Anita 10/29/2012.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt| Trainer | Robert B. Hess, Jr. |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Kent J. Desormeaux |
| Owner | Chandler, Bruce, McKee, Robert H. and Purple Shamrock Racing |
| Breeder | Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds & Stephen Barberino |
| Merit Man View Five-Cross Pedigree | With Distinction | Storm Cat |
| Extravagant Woman | ||
| Precise Strike | Precise End | |
| Nora November |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBSOCT2010 Hip 523 |
Weanling | Donna Jordan | Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent | $2,200 |
| OBSAPR2012 Hip 875 |
Two-year-old | Xavier International Bloodstock, agent for Hess Racing | Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent | $75,000 |
Mylute, runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), continued his preparations for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a six-furlong breeze in 1:12 1/5 the morning of Apil 14 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Shug McGaughey said he was waiting for Orb to take him to Louisville, and the Hall of Fame conditioner should be on his way with the colt's big win in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 30.
A field of 10 has been entered for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 30 at Gulfstream Park, although three horses are getting almost all of the attention: Itsmyluckyday, Shanghai Bobby, and Orb.
Champion Shanghai Bobby breezed five furlongs at Palm Meadows Training Center on the morning of March 24 in final preparation for a scheduled start in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I).
Baffert's Flashback, Power Broker and Tiz the Truth also work for upcoming preps
Perretti Racing Stable's highly regarded Forty Tales heads a group of thirteen sophomores who stay sprinting -- at least for now -- in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park on March 2.
Merit Man is just a nose short of perfection in four starts for trainer Bob Hess Jr., but the 3-year-old son of With Distinction will have to travel a furlong farther than he has before in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes.
Merit Man proved his mettle in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes Jan. 1, coming back off a runner-up finish to Hightail in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint to prove his class at Gulfstream Park.
Bruce Chandler, Robert McKee and partners' Merit Man will be the horse to beat in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes for newly-turned 3-year-olds on the Gulfstream Park New Year's Day card.
Hightail, exploiting a slight opening at the rail in upper stretch, upset 1-2 favorite Merit Man in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 2, giving trainer D. Wayne Lukas his 19th lifetime victory in the Championships.
Bob Hess Jr. trains 8-5 morning-line favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint.
Jim Glavin, co-owner of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint candidate Merit Man, wanted a stable name and colors that stood out.
On a cool morning Oct. 26 at Keeneland, 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom turned in a workmanlike breeze preparing for his upcoming start in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.
| Ben's Cat |
| Up With the Birds |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Untapable |
| Palace Malice |
| California Chrome |
| Clearly Now |
| Bodemeister |
| Close Hatches |
| Imperative |
