Q-Racing Blog: Chasing a GSW

By Ty Wyant
 

J and SM, Inc.’s Daou will be after a breakthrough win in the $158,060 West Texas Derby (G3) on March 1 at Sunland Park.

Daou has been successful with eight on-the-board finishes from nine starts while competing against top company. Yet a win in the West Texas Derby would add a graded stakes win to his consistently successful resume.

Sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the second of five trials, Daou ran a spotless race in his trial. He started well and had plenty of racing room. He went to the lead and showed his superiority while rolling to a half-length win. His time of :19.135 for 400 yards was the fastest qualifying mark.

The Fred Danley-trained Daou displayed his stakes class ability when he finished second in the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile and third in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile.

In the Rainbow Juvenile, Daou got off to an excellent start and trailed odds-on favorite Hard To Politic. Daou made an impressive late run and finished one-half length behind Hard To Politic.

In the Ruidoso Juvenile, Daou came in at the start and then found his stride to stay in contention. Space Cowwboyy, sent off at 6-1 odds, finished with a rush to get the one-half length win over Lethal Cowboy 123, who defeated Daou by a neck as both horses battled in the last half of the race.

In the $200,000 All American Juvenile, Daou had a rough start when the horse inside of him came out and hit Daou. That cost Daou any chance of an on-the-board finish and he ended up in fifth place, his only off-the board finish.

Daou and his first three dams were bred by MJ Farms, while his fourth dam Champagne Lane was bred by MJ Farms co-owner Janis Spencer.

In a rare instance, the top two West Texas Derby qualifiers are out of the same mare, Donelli. Daou is sired by FDD Dynasty while second-fastest qualifier Harken is sired by Eye Am King. Donelli also produced the stakes-placed Marisma.

A daughter of Big Daddy Cartel, Donelli won seven of 13 starts with wins in the $386,196 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) and the $252,077 New Mexico State Fair Derby.

Harken is a stakes winner with his victory in the $163,566 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2).

Tres Of Alice is Donelli’s dam. Tres Of Alice was a winner and Donelli is her only black-type performer.

Tres Of Alice’s dam Alice K White is one of the highlights in Daou’s female family. Alice K White was named champion 3-year-old filly with wins in the $250,000 Golden State Derby (G1) and the $236,100 La Primera Del Ano Derby (G2).

Alice K White is the dam of champion 3-year-old filly Astica along with three other graded stakes winners and four stakes-placed runners. Astica won the $140,000 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship (RG1), $85,000 Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes (RG2), $161,412 Zia Derby (RG2), $146,578 First Moonflash Stakes and the $60,000 Pelican Stakes.

Alice K White is out of the tremendous mare Champagne Lane. She won the $142,182 Diamond Classic Futurity (RG1), the $109,840 La Primera Del Ano Derby (G2) and the $20,000 Town Policy Handicap (G3). She then produced world record holder and multiple Grade 1 winner Kendall Jackson along with graded stakes winners Jesse Lane, Zuccardi, Wilmon and Jess One Looke. She also added three stakes-placed runners.

Daou is after a career highlight win in the West Texas Derby. He has the race record and pedigree to get the job done.

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