Texas Fever (BC Juv. Turf)
If there's one horse out of the Breeders' Cup you must put on your watch list, it's TEXAS FEVER from the Juvenile Turf 10/26. Offered in my selections as the Best Value horse in the new BC event, watch the replay of this Mike Stidham/Stonerside trainee as he gets hipchecked at the top of the stretch by the runner-up and loses his action. After re-gathering, the 42-1 shot is then checked as many as three times with Gomez continually trying to find an opening. Every time a seam appears, someone jumps up to block the Victory Gallop colt.
Texas Fever never stopped trying, and once clear past the sixteenth pole, still surges forward to finish 6th, beaten a length and two noses for third and less than 4L for everything. His performance should produce the ultimate 'hidden horse' (as Andy cites them), as the chart caller does not bother to note Texas Fever's journey down the lane. In addition to the trouble late, Texas Fever was 4 wide down the backstretch and checked hard earlier in the trip. But the most notable issues came in the crucial stages, and with the replay easily available, I urge everyone to see Texas Fever's effort for themselves.
I also spoke to Stidham at length Sunday, and he and the Stonerside team were thrilled with Texas Fever's try and saw exactly what I describe above as well. They knew going in they had a really nice horse, and while they exit the Cup with nothing to show for it, are very excited about his future.
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Last edited by Kasept : 10-29-2007 at 06:11 AM.
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