Prospective preparing at Churchill Downs for the Blue Grass Stakes
John C. Oxley’s 3-year-old colt, Prospective, has probably chosen the toughest spot out there en route to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on 5 May, 2012, but either now or then, Prospective will have to go against Hansen either way in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue
Grass Stakes at Keeneland on 14 April. So, his connections thought they should send the Kentucky bred Malibu Moon colt now to face the white ghost.
Winner of the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on 10 March, 2012, where he defeated a long shot, Golden Ticket, in second place and Cozzetti in third while covered the 1 1/16 mile distance in 1 minute and 43.35 seconds.
Prospective wasn’t challenged much in the Tampa Bay Derby, and a tame challenge in the stretch is not enough to recognize the potential of the horse, which is destined to run in the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby.
It was a brave choice but the right one made by Oxley and trainer Mark Casse. Other than Hansen, Prospective will go up against the Bob Baffert trained, Drill, who is also exiting a win in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes.
Dullahan will be right up there among the challengers, as the Even the Score colt is coming off a second place finish in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes.
Out of mare Spirited Away by Awesome Again, Prospective turned in a workout ahead of his immediate race when he turned in five furlongs in 1 minute and 1 1/5 seconds on 2 April, 2012, on a fast track at Churchill Downs.
“We are going to run Prospective in the Blue Grass rather than the Wood (Memorial) so he can run out of his own stall,” said Norman Casse. “He’ll ship from Churchill the morning of the race. It worked out well for him when he shipped from Palm Meadows to
Tampa (Bay Downs) the morning of the Tampa Bay Derby.”
Melanie Giddings was aboard Prospective for his workout session, and the pair closed out the work with a sprint going quarter mile and covering it in 21 4/5 seconds.
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