The presence of Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day aboard tipped fans that this big bay colt came to Golden Gate Fields highly regarded. But little did they realize the development in store.
The first time Day rode him, Ten Most Wanted finished a close third behind Ocean Terrace and Ministers Wild Cat in the El Camino Real Derby on March 8. Neither of the top two finishers have accomplished much since.
But Ten Most Wanted has blossomed this summer into one of the nation's top 3-year-olds. By Breeders' Cup Day, he may be No. 1 of any age group.
Saturday at Louisiana Downs, he headlines the $500,000 Super Derby, a race won by his sire -- Deputy Commander -- in 1997.
Trainer Wally Dollase, who also conditioned Deputy Commander, has kept Ten Most Wanted following in the father's hoofprints. Ten Most Wanted arrived in Bossier City, La., off a huge victory in the $1 million Travers Stakes, just as his dad did six years ago. Before that race, Ten Most Wanted ran second in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park -- just like Deputy Commander.
Following the Super Derby, Deputy Commander finished second to Skip Away in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic, run that year at Hollywood Park, where Dollase is based.
With another Breeders' Cup in California, Dollase hopes Ten Most Wanted can do better in the $4 million Classic, to be run Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. But first, the colt has to be focused on the Super Derby and undefeated rival Soto.
A dark bay, Ten Most Wanted comes from Deputy Commander's first crop of offspring and looks like a duplicate of his sire, right down to the little white star on his forehead. That helped convince Dollase to buy Ten Most Wanted at auction for $145,000 for an 11-person California partnership, including himself. So far, the colt has earned $1.2 million. In addition to the Travers, he won the $500,000 Illinois Derby and ran an impressive second to Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes.
And Deputy Commander was a late bloomer, too.
"They look a lot alike," Dollase said. "He's a big strong horse, and he's coming around just like his father. He has been more professional in every race."
A lot of observers -- including Day -- thought Ten Most Wanted would win the Kentucky Derby.
"There wasn't a horse in Kentucky training any better than him," said Day, who was impressed by the colt from the first moment he saw him at Golden Gate in Albany.
But a world of Derby trouble resulted in a ninth-place finish behind Funny Cide. (His Derby performance line reads, "off slow, bumped, checked.") The stumbling and bumping were so bad, the colt threw his back out of alignment and could barely walk. Dollase called in a chiropractor and, after a few adjustments, Ten Most Wanted has been running fast and straight ever since.
On the Breeders' Cup trail -- Perfect Drift beat Congaree in last weekend's Kentucky Cup Classic, winning by a length. But trainer Murray Johnson flatly said "No!" to any possibility that Perfect Drift will be entered in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic. The gelding finished last in a field of 12 behind Volponi in last year's Classic. That bad experience still has Johnson peeved.
Farm tour -- Bill Nichols of Mares' Nest, a thoroughbred nursery in Wilton, is taking reservations for the annual stallion tour of local horse farms. The itinerary is still in the works, but should include about six to seven farms and 25 stallions. The Oct. 18 tour costs $15 including bus and lunch with reservations and is filling up fast. For more information or reservations, call Nichols at (916) 687-6331.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/7442928p-8385627c.html
The first time Day rode him, Ten Most Wanted finished a close third behind Ocean Terrace and Ministers Wild Cat in the El Camino Real Derby on March 8. Neither of the top two finishers have accomplished much since.
But Ten Most Wanted has blossomed this summer into one of the nation's top 3-year-olds. By Breeders' Cup Day, he may be No. 1 of any age group.
Saturday at Louisiana Downs, he headlines the $500,000 Super Derby, a race won by his sire -- Deputy Commander -- in 1997.
Trainer Wally Dollase, who also conditioned Deputy Commander, has kept Ten Most Wanted following in the father's hoofprints. Ten Most Wanted arrived in Bossier City, La., off a huge victory in the $1 million Travers Stakes, just as his dad did six years ago. Before that race, Ten Most Wanted ran second in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park -- just like Deputy Commander.
Following the Super Derby, Deputy Commander finished second to Skip Away in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic, run that year at Hollywood Park, where Dollase is based.
With another Breeders' Cup in California, Dollase hopes Ten Most Wanted can do better in the $4 million Classic, to be run Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. But first, the colt has to be focused on the Super Derby and undefeated rival Soto.
A dark bay, Ten Most Wanted comes from Deputy Commander's first crop of offspring and looks like a duplicate of his sire, right down to the little white star on his forehead. That helped convince Dollase to buy Ten Most Wanted at auction for $145,000 for an 11-person California partnership, including himself. So far, the colt has earned $1.2 million. In addition to the Travers, he won the $500,000 Illinois Derby and ran an impressive second to Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes.
And Deputy Commander was a late bloomer, too.
"They look a lot alike," Dollase said. "He's a big strong horse, and he's coming around just like his father. He has been more professional in every race."
A lot of observers -- including Day -- thought Ten Most Wanted would win the Kentucky Derby.
"There wasn't a horse in Kentucky training any better than him," said Day, who was impressed by the colt from the first moment he saw him at Golden Gate in Albany.
But a world of Derby trouble resulted in a ninth-place finish behind Funny Cide. (His Derby performance line reads, "off slow, bumped, checked.") The stumbling and bumping were so bad, the colt threw his back out of alignment and could barely walk. Dollase called in a chiropractor and, after a few adjustments, Ten Most Wanted has been running fast and straight ever since.
On the Breeders' Cup trail -- Perfect Drift beat Congaree in last weekend's Kentucky Cup Classic, winning by a length. But trainer Murray Johnson flatly said "No!" to any possibility that Perfect Drift will be entered in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic. The gelding finished last in a field of 12 behind Volponi in last year's Classic. That bad experience still has Johnson peeved.
Farm tour -- Bill Nichols of Mares' Nest, a thoroughbred nursery in Wilton, is taking reservations for the annual stallion tour of local horse farms. The itinerary is still in the works, but should include about six to seven farms and 25 stallions. The Oct. 18 tour costs $15 including bus and lunch with reservations and is filling up fast. For more information or reservations, call Nichols at (916) 687-6331.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/7442928p-8385627c.html
