Stay Thirsty to take his time with the 2012 debut
The colt who has spent almost all of his racing career under the shadow of a much accomplished Mike Repole owned colt, Uncle Mo, finally has the room to ride his own success, but since last year with Uncle Mo being on the sidelines due to an injury he incurred
right before the 2011 Triple Crown, Stay Thirsty had the opportunity to show his mettle, and he availed the opportunity and showed his skills by taking on star studded lineups in the heavyweight races for three-year-olds.
Also trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Mike Repole, Stay Thirsty was Uncle Mo’s replacement in the Triple Crown last year, and after a 12th place finish to Animal Kingdom in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, nothing much was expected of him on what
lied ahead in the two remaining Triple Crown races.
He was scratched off the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, and then it was decided that the son of Bernardini would go for the Belmont Stakes, a decision that will make people look at Stay Thirsty in a whole new different way.
He was a whisker away from making his connections jump out of their seats, as on a wet track, Stay Thirsty showed an amazing turn of foot as he evaded challenges left, right and centre, eluding a chain of bumps and still managing to finish second in the
biggest race of his career to Ruler on Ice.
That second place finish was enough for him to be considered as a top notch sophomore right there with Uncle Mo. In his stable mate’s absence he ruled the last year’s Saratoga meet by winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes and then went on to land the Grade
1 Travers Stakes over the Classic’s distance.
Third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and then capped off a superb season with an eleventh place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
He is back, and working towards his 2012 debut mid-season this season with Saratoga on mind, Todd Pletcher wants him to be readier than last year when it comes to Saratoga, with the same races he did so well in last year on the agenda.
“We’ve been pointing for the second half of the year and we know he likes New York,” Pletcher said. “We’re looking to give him a prep at Belmont, then race in the Whitney and Woodward at Saratoga, then the Jockey Club Gold Cup before we hopefully go on the
Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I)."
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