Bio for Spangled Star
Trainer Rick Dutrow saddled the odds-on favorite and Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the 2008 Belmont, but will be represented by a longshot in this year’s renewal. Spangled Star, who has raced primarily in the Midlantic* region, broke his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths at Laurel in his sixth start, then was third in allowance at that venue in his first start against winners. Dismissed at 28-1 in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct, he picked up the pieces after the pacesetters faltered to finish third, 5 ¾ lengths behind the winner Afleet Again. The Belmont Stakes will be another step up in class for Spangled Star, who has never competed over a distance longer than 1 1/16 miles.
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Prep Recap
| Date |
Trk |
Race |
Chart |
Distance |
Finish |
BSF |
Video |
| 4/24 |
AQU |
The Withers GIII |
Chart |
1 mile |
3rd |
87 |
 |
Profile by Mike Welsch
Strengths: His Beyer Figures have improved with every start at 3, peaking in his most recent outing with a career-best 87 for his third-place finish in the Withers. Has some versatility, having run well from both on and off the pace, and the lack of a lot of pace players in this year's Belmont could find him close up from the outset. Top-flight connections of Rick Dutrow and Garrett Gomez always a plus.
Weaknesses: Despite the fact he's coming off a career topper in the Withers, he will still have to improve plenty from a Beyer standpoint to be in a league with the major players. The distance is also a question mark -- he has yet to race beyond 1 1/16 miles. The fact he remains eligible for an entry-level race does not bode well for a horse stepping into Grade 1 company.
Strategy: Has shown some early foot in several of his races and there might be some inclination to put him into the race early with the hopes of getting a jump on some of the major contenders.
Value: If you're looking for a bomber, this is your horse. Figures to be one of, if not the longest price on the board. Still, it makes sense not to settle for anything less than about 40-1.
Pedigree Analysis By Dan Illman
Sire: Distorted Humor was a good miler during his three-year racing career, winning three graded stakes races between seven furlongs and a mile, but he will go down in history as the sire of Funny Cide, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Funny Cide finished third when attempting to capture the Triple Crown in the 2003 Belmont Stakes. Distorted Humor earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in 15 of 23 races, including the 118 top he received when nosed for the victory in a money allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs. He has been a very productive stallion. Besides Funny Cide, his progeny have won such historic races as the Travers (Flower Alley) and Whitney (Commentator, twice).
Dam: Spangled Star is the first starter from Spangled, a listed winner at one mile on the turf in France. Spangled is a half-sister to Grade 3 route winner Anklet. The second dam is a half-sister to 12-time stakes-winner Grecian Comedy, six-time stakes winner Evzone, and Grade 1 winner Grecian Flight.
Outlook: Distorted Humor's versatility coupled with the class from the dam-side pedigree gives Spangled Star a chance to handle the distance.