National Pride

[Rudeboyelvis]

2yo son by Macho Uno seems to flying under the radar...Steve Haskins mentioned him in his Blood Horse column last week:



http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleind...e.asp?id=42108

>>>Sometimes, a young horse catches your eye, and it’s fun to follow his progress to see if he can duplicate that effort and continue rising through the ranks. Breaking ones maiden going six furlongs at Aqueduct is a far cry from being a stakes-caliber horse, but if you’re looking for near-perfection in a young horse’s career debut, then you have to love what you saw from National Pride in his maiden score at the Big A on Nov. 17. The son of Macho Uno, trained by Gary Contessa, not only came from seventh to run down a tough opponent in the speedy Saratoga Russell, who had opened up by nearly four lengths in midstretch, he came home his final quarter in a shade under :23 4/5 and final eighth in just under :11 4/5 to win going away by almost two lengths. To demonstrate how big a race the runner-up ran, he finished eight lengths ahead of the third horse in a field of 11.

You could tell when National Pride kicked into gear leaving the three-eighths pole that he was going to run a huge race. And that he did, showing a combination of power and determination. And if you have any questions regarding his stamina, keep in mind that in his first five generations there are six Travers (gr. I) winners – Holy Bull, Corporate Report, Damascus, Key to the Mint, Buckpasser, and Sword Dancer. He also is inbred on his dam side to Buckpasser, one of the great classic influences in American breeding. Buckpasser has been a tremendous influence, mainly through his daughters, and National Pride is inbred to him through two of his most successful daughters – Numbered Account and Passing Look. Yes, it’s early to get excited over a six-furlong maiden winner, but he is worth keeping an eye on.<<<

He ran a 104 BSF in his first start, getting home in 1:09.1. I've heard from a friend of a friend that a bidding war between Pletcher and Sheik Mo took place shortly afterward, and He will be going to Sheik Mo, for a sickly large amount of money- in the neighborhood of 1.8 mil...again, this is backside gossip - no facts but if remotely true not bad for a 60k purchase....