O'NEILL'S 'HUNTER': 2X pre-Derby
 

Doug O'Neill appearing on ATRAB tonight suggested that J. Paul reddam's Great Hunter will make only 2 starts leading up to the Kentucky Derby. O'Neill will most likely run the Breeders' Futurity winner in the Gr. II Bob Lewis and Gr. I Santa Anita Derby in advance of a run for the roses. The son of Aptitude, third in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, has amassed earnings of $630,000 in 7 careers starts winning twice, second four times and third once.

O'Neill also indicated that San Rafael winner Notional, also owned by Reddam, will travel to Fair Grounds for his next step on the Derby Trail, and a start in the Gr. II Risen Star. The third Derby hopeful from the powerhouse Reddam-O'Neill shed, Liquidity, will next be seen in the 9f Gr. III Sham in February.

Although reluctant to compare any of his three potential Derby horses, he seemed to think that Great Hunter was the most advanced at this time

Great Hunter.....
 

Was certainly one I had my eye on during the BC. Doug O'Neil is one of the top trainers in the sport. If 2 preps is what Doug feels like is enough to have the horse peak on Derby day, then who's to say that won't pay off. It may not be the conventional path, but I can't argue with O'Neil's ability to know his horses, and what's best for them.

Although I'm still not a fan of the 2 prep idea as a whole, Great Hunter at least has 7 races under his belt already, so he probably has a decent amount of experience and conditioning. The last 2 prep Derby winner, Sunny's Halo, ran 12 times during his juvenile campaign... I suppose if they race more at 2, the horses don't need as much foundation building later on.

I believe they are only planning two preps for Street Sense too (and one of those is on poly). This year's Derby seems like it is going to be even more difficult to cap than ever. A lot of these horses will not have a lot of starts as 3yo, and with all the poly preps.....studying the past performances might do us about as much good as consulting psychics.