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Racing Analysis by Steve Haskin

Pletcher, O’Neill, Pletcher, O’Neill. Yes, the selection process is getting repetitive, but it is difficult looking past trainers Todd Pletcher and Doug O‘Neill when searching for top Derby contenders this year.

Now, we come to Great Hunter, who was O’Neill’s most accomplished 2-year-old last year, but who must now come back firing off a four-month layoff to regain his top status in the barn following the big efforts put in by Notional and Liquidity during that time.

Unlike the two aforementioned colts, Great Hunter will be attempting to buck history by having only two starts prior to the Run for the Roses. Only one horse since 1947 has been able to accomplish that feat, and that horse, Sunny’s Halo (in 1983) had 11 starts as a 2-year-old.

Great Hunter, who, like Notional and Liquidity, is owned by J. Paul Reddam, does have one thing in his favor, and that is a strong 2-year-old foundation. In seven starts, from 41⁄2 furlongs to 11⁄16 mile, he finished in the money every time. It appeared obvious from his early sprint races that the son of Aptitude was crying out for longer distances. Despite this, he still managed to finish a strong second in three graded stakes, including the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), in which he was equipped with blinkers for the first time.

In his first two-turn race, he used his familiarity with synthetic surfaces (training at Hollywood Park) to upset 2-5 favorite Circular Quay in the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland. He closed out the year with a third-place finish in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

He is on an excellent work pattern for his scheduled debut in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II), with seven works, including a pair of solid six-furlong drills. If he can continue to move forward and is ready to go 11⁄4 mile off two starts, he will be a factor on Derby day, based on his consistency, running style, and pedigree

Pedigree Profile by Avalyn Hunter

After a slow start at stud, 2001 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Aptitude (A.P. Indy—Dokki, by Northern Dancer) was North America’s leading second-crop sire of 2006. His best runner so far has been Great Hunter, who won the 2006 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) and placed in four other graded races including the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Great Hunter is out of Zenith, a stakes-winning daughter of the top South American sire Roy. Brought to Kentucky after proving himself in Chile, Roy was only a modest success in the Northern Hemisphere and eventually returned full-time to South America, but probably did not receive the quality of support in Kentucky that he did in the Southern Hemisphere. Sequins, the second dam of Great Hunter, is an example; a winner of one of four starts, she is by the undistinguished Northern Dancer horse Northern Fashion out of unplaced Brilliant Touch, by Gleaming.

Northern Fashion, however, may have been a key to Great Hunter’s pedigree. He is a grandson of Fashion Verdict, whose family has crossed with A.P. Indy to produce Horse of the Year Mineshaft, European champion Flagbird, and grade I winners Tomisue’s Delight and Runup the Colors.

More immediately, Northern Fashion is also closely related to Dokki as both are by Northern Dancer out of daughters of Buckpasser. A.P. Indy himself has done well with mares by Buckpasser, getting Aptitude and Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Friends Lake among others from this cross, and early indications are that this may also be working with sons of A.P. Indy. Great Hunter is inbred 5x4x5 to Buckpasser, and his pedigree line breeds to the War Admiral/La Troienne cross via Buckpasser’s dam Busanda and the full sisters Busher and Striking, both found in the pedigree of Seattle Slew.

On paper, Great Hunter should continue developing as he matures, and any forward steps from his good juvenile form will keep him in the Derby hunt.