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Racing Analysis by Steve Haskin

It’s almost time for "Reddam’s Rangers" to hit the Derby trail once again. Owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill have already made an auspicious debut, winning the San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) with Notional. On Feb. 3, they send out Liquidity in the Sham Stakes (gr. III), followed by Great Hunter in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) March 3. Both races are at Santa Anita.

Great Hunter is the most accomplished of the three, but will be lightly raced before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), having only two starts.

Liquidity showed marked improvement in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) with the addition of blinkers, getting beat a neck by Norfolk (gr. II) winner Stormello after a furious stretch battle.

Everything about Liquidity suggests he still has room for improvement. He has the pedigree and the tactical speed, and if his five-furlong work in :584⁄5 Jan. 20 is any indication, he should come out firing in the nine-furlong Sham.

Much was expected of the colt after his maiden victory at Santa Anita in 1:09.34. But a trip to New York for the one-mile Champagne Stakes (gr. I) proved disastrous, as he only beat one horse in the 10-horse field.

"Shipping across the country was just too much to overcome second time out," O’Neill said. "We ran him back in the Real Quiet Stakes (in which he finished third) and he was prepared for it, but it was more like a paid workout. We gained some knowledge from that race. Alex Bisono said he ran very spotty. It was obvious after that he was a blinkers horse."

He confirmed that opinion with his gutsy second in the Hollywood Futurity. "He always displayed a ton of talent, and I think the blinkers just put everything together and got his attention on running." O’Neill said.

Prior to his five-furlong work, Liquidity turned in six-furlong breezes in 1:15 and 1:141⁄5, so he appears to have the foundation and the sharpness. "He’s training awesome and we’re looking forward to the Sham," O’Neill said.

Pedigree Profile by Avalyn Hunter

Among the mares Colonel E.R. Bradley sent to War Admiral in 1940—the stallion’s first year at stud—was Baba Kenny, the consensus champion 2-year-old filly of 1930. The resulting filly, Bee Mac, created a sensation in 1943 with back-to-back wins in the Spinaway Stakes against her own sex and the Hopeful Stakes against colts before breaking down. Her career helped to establish War Admiral as a successful sire, and his influence is still felt.

Bee Mac produced five stakes winners including Better Self, a fairly successful sire. Her seven daughters, however, produced but six stakes winners among them, and successes for her female line have been scattered since then.

Liquidity, a fourth-generation descendant of Bee Mac’s daughter Bemuse, has a long way to go to prove himself a great horse. Nonetheless, if the son of Tiznow can move forward off his runner-up effort in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), he may become a horse to contend with this year.

On paper, Liquidity should improve considerably with maturity. Not only was Tiznow a late developer, but Rahy, the sire of Liquidity’s dam Boa, turned in his best performance at age four in the 1989 Bel Air Handicap (gr. II). Roberto, Liquidity’s second damsire, was a good 2-year-old but also improved later on, winning the 1972 Epsom Derby (Eng-I).

Stamina also should not be a problem for Liquidity, whose sire was one of the best 10-furlong horses of his time. Rahy has sired a fair number of horses that stayed distances, and Roberto’s credentials as a stamina influence are impeccable. Tom Fool, the third damsire, could stay 10 furlongs, and Princequillo, the fourth damsire, hardly needs introduction as a source of staying ability.

Should Liquidity develop into a fine horse, it is questionable how much credit can be given to Bee Mac, who after all is five generations back in his pedigree. Nonetheless, it would be nice to think a spark of class from War Admiral’s first top daughter has played a part in the making of a potential Kentucky Derby starter.