Horse racing enthusiasts had started to view Brody’s Cause as a ‘one hit wonder’ following a disappointing 7th place finish in last month’s Tampa Bay Derby. He’d entered the year with a great deal of promise after a successful two year old campaign. There’s never any shortage of horses that look like champions as a juvenile and just can’t make the jump in class to their three year old campaign. Many horse racing pundits had started to dismiss Brody’s Cause as the latest in that long line.
But not so fast. Brody’s Cause is back among the serious Kentucky Derby contenders after an impressive win in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 Million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course. Although the field wasn’t especially impressive (Brody’s Cause was the only previous stakes winner) his win not only qualifies him for the Kentucky Derby but was heartening to trainer Dale Romans–he did his job in a big race and that’s all that can be asked.
Brody’s Cause earned 100 qualification points for the win and Romans is excited about his chances at Kentucky. Horse racing experts like Brody’s Cause’s pedigree suggesting that he’ll be good at longer distances. If this is true, he could be a ‘dark horse’ challenger to Kentucky Derby betting favorites Nyquist and Mohaymen. At any rate, Romans is happy: “We’re on to the Kentucky Derby with a real chance.”
Brody’s Cause gained notice among horse racing enthusiasts with a win in last September’s Breeders’ Futurity–giving him the rare distinction of coming into his tree year old campaign with a Grade 1 victory. He also finished third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (won by Nyquist). There was a lot of excitement for his three year old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby and every expectation that he’d dominate an underwhelming field. Instead, he ‘didn’t fire’ and finish seventh. The skeptics immediately began to suggest that Brody’s Cause success as a two year old was a ‘fluke’ and that he’d never be a competitive challenger against older horses and in more competitive fields. That still remains to be determined but for now it appears that Brody’s Cause is on the right track.