xfile
04-10-2008, 08:19 AM
VISIONAIRE - Team Valor International and Vision Racing’s colt worked on Saturday (April 5) morning. With regular rider Jose Lezcano aboard, Visionaire worked five furlongs in company with stablemates Ambersham and Full Charge. He was clocked in 1:002 and galloped out 6f in 1:130.
“He’s not a very good work horse,” trainer Michael Matz said. “I just needed to work him with some other horses. He always works with other horses. He’s very quiet and has a good disposition. He does just what you ask him to, not any more. That’s just him. He’s ready to run.” Matz said Visionaire appears to like Keeneland’s Polytrack. “Every surface we run him on he never complains,” he said.
The Toyota Blue Grass will mark the sixth career start at the sixth different track for Visionaire, who already has raced at Laurel Park, Delaware Park, Gulfstream Park, Fair Grounds and Aqueduct.
No matter how good he trains there is still a big question about his pedigree to get a classic distance. But as we have said - "horses these days frequently outrun their pedigree".
Sports an excellent career mark of 5-3-1-1 and even though he may be light in the pedigree department he is definitely a very game colt with a big heart. Another positive for this colt is his trainer, Michael Matz, who won the Kentucky Derby a couple of years ago with Barbaro.
Won the Grade 3 Gotham in the slop at Aqueduct on March 8 with a strong late run. He was the only horse with anything left for the final eighth of a mile as they appeared out of the fog.
On February 9 he finished 3rd to PYRO and Z FORTUNE in the Grade 3 Risen Star and those 2 are obviously very talented.
One thing to note is that he beat ELYSIUM FIELDS as a 2yo to break his maiden and that one went on to a placing in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.
Even though his pedigree lends questions to distance limitations, he seems to want more ground and he does have solid late pace numbers so far at 1 mile and 1 1/16 miles.
VIDEO: Jill Byrne Analysis (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/836)
VIDEO: Gotham Stakes (G3) (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/711)
VIDEO: Risen Star Stakes (G3) (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/499)
VIDEO: Allowance Race - Gulfstream (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/751)
VIDEO: Maiden Win - Laurel (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/749)
NEXT START - Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 12 at Keeneland
http://www.fullcardreports.com/CAP/2008-Kentucky-Derby-Contenders.htm
“He’s not a very good work horse,” trainer Michael Matz said. “I just needed to work him with some other horses. He always works with other horses. He’s very quiet and has a good disposition. He does just what you ask him to, not any more. That’s just him. He’s ready to run.” Matz said Visionaire appears to like Keeneland’s Polytrack. “Every surface we run him on he never complains,” he said.
The Toyota Blue Grass will mark the sixth career start at the sixth different track for Visionaire, who already has raced at Laurel Park, Delaware Park, Gulfstream Park, Fair Grounds and Aqueduct.
No matter how good he trains there is still a big question about his pedigree to get a classic distance. But as we have said - "horses these days frequently outrun their pedigree".
Sports an excellent career mark of 5-3-1-1 and even though he may be light in the pedigree department he is definitely a very game colt with a big heart. Another positive for this colt is his trainer, Michael Matz, who won the Kentucky Derby a couple of years ago with Barbaro.
Won the Grade 3 Gotham in the slop at Aqueduct on March 8 with a strong late run. He was the only horse with anything left for the final eighth of a mile as they appeared out of the fog.
On February 9 he finished 3rd to PYRO and Z FORTUNE in the Grade 3 Risen Star and those 2 are obviously very talented.
One thing to note is that he beat ELYSIUM FIELDS as a 2yo to break his maiden and that one went on to a placing in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.
Even though his pedigree lends questions to distance limitations, he seems to want more ground and he does have solid late pace numbers so far at 1 mile and 1 1/16 miles.
VIDEO: Jill Byrne Analysis (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/836)
VIDEO: Gotham Stakes (G3) (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/711)
VIDEO: Risen Star Stakes (G3) (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/499)
VIDEO: Allowance Race - Gulfstream (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/751)
VIDEO: Maiden Win - Laurel (http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/videos/749)
NEXT START - Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 12 at Keeneland
http://www.fullcardreports.com/CAP/2008-Kentucky-Derby-Contenders.htm