Overanalyze - Pletcher's Latest Star

Photo: Adam Coglianese / NYRA

Overanalyze won a thrilling rendition of the Remsen Stakes (G-2) on November 24, holding off the onslaught of the swiftly-closing NORMANDY INVASION by a nose. Piloted expertly for the first time by Ramon Dominguez, Overanalyze settled into second while tracking the pace setter DELHOMME for much of the race. In mid-stretch, it appeared that both horses were tiring and that Overanalyze wouldn't go by that rival. Meanwhile, Normandy Invasion made a huge move from the back of the race and it appeared that he would pass the leaders steps before the finish.
 
Re-energized by the momentum of Normandy Invasion, Overanalyze dug deep and found the determination to fight to the wire. Delhome was only ¾ a length behind in third. It was 16 ¾ lengths back to the fourth place horse QUINZIEME MONARQUE. The final time of 1:50.13 for the 1 1/8 miles was a tick off of the final times of 2010 Remsen hero To Honor And Serve (1:50.03) and 2011 victor O'Prado Again (1:50.07). The Remsen Stakes Record is held by the 1977 winner Believe It (1:47.80). The last horse to complete the Remsen/Kentucky Derby double was Thunder Gulch in 1994/1995.

 
OVERANALYZE (Dixie Union - Unacloud, by Unaccounted For) was a $380K Keeneland September 2011 Yearling purchase by Repole Stable. Before his gutsy victory in the Remsen Stakes, Overanalyze won his debut in a five furlong maiden sprint at Saratoga by 1 ¼ lengths in a sharp :57.48. Brought back in the Hopeful Stakes (G-1), the Todd Pletcher trainee dueled on the lead and faded to fourth behind his stablemate likely Two Year Old Champ Shanghai Bobby. Overanalyze redeemed himself with a victory in the Belmont Futurity (G-2). He learned an important lesson that day, sitting behind the field and making a five wide move around the far turn to win by 3 ¼ lengths. A month later Overanalyze was no match for Uncaptured, winding up eight lengths behind his rival in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill. Uncaptured won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G-2) on the same day as Overanalyze won the Remsen Stakes. Overanalyze has compiled a 5-3-0-1 ($344,381) race record.
With his Remsen victory, Overanalyze earned ten points in the new Kentucky Derby ranking list. Let's review his pedigree and running style to see if the colt is a legitimate early Triple Crown contender.
 
Sire:
Overanalyze's sire Dixie Union is the best son of Dixieland Band to stand at stud and he is a descendant of the Northern Dancer sire line. On the track, Dixie Union was victorious from 5 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Overall, he won 7 of 12 starts and placed 3 times.
Dixie Union's stakes winning offspring are predominately successful from sprints through middle distances up to 1 1/8 miles. Of course, there are no absolutes in horse racing and Dixie Union's son Belmont Stakes hero Union Rags is his sire's only stakes winner past 1 1/8 miles, mainly due to his stamina oriented female family. Dixie Union stood at stud for only ten years. Unfortunately, the aspiring young stallion was put down in 2010 due to a deteriorating neurological condition. This year, he is represented by his last crop of two year olds.

DIXIE UNION (Dixieland Band - She's Tops, by Capote)
Race record: 12-7-3-0 ($1,233,190)
 
Career highlights:
1st - Malibu Stakes (G-1) – 7F
1st – Haskell Invitational - 1 1/8 miles
1st - Norfolk Stakes (G-2) - 1 mile (Grade 2 in 1999)
1st – Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G-3) - 6F
1st - Best Pal Stakes (G-3) – 6 ½ F (G-3 in 1999)
Female Family:
Overanalyze's dam Unacloud (Unaccounted For – Clouds Ambre, by Two Punch) is unraced. She bore nine foals of racing age, including Matron (G-1, 7F) heroine Meadow Breeze (by Meadowlake) and Mighty Monsoon (by Forestry), a multiple stakes placed sprinter. Overanalyze's full sister Under Wraps has won once in eight tries.
Unacloud is a half sister to two stakes placed runners. One, Ilusoria (by Maria's Mon) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Peak Maria's Way (by Pyramid Peak) and stakes placed Cajun Mon (by Jambalaya Jazz). Overanalyze's second dam Clouds Ambre (Two Punch - Arctic Cloud, by Yukon) won one sprint in eight starts. The third dam Arctic Cloud (Yukon - Pervation, by Elevation) was a good race mare. She compiled a 35-11-6-5 ($319,022) record including six stakes wins.
 
 
Damsire:
Overanalyze's damsire Unaccounted For won the Whitney Handicap (G-1) and Jim Dandy Stakes (G-2), both at 1 1/8 miles. He placed three times at 1 ¼ miles, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic, both races won by Cigar.
Unaccounted For is the damsire of 11 stakes winners, including the aforementioned Meadow Breeze and California two year old sensation Executiveprivilege, runner-up in this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. None of offspring of Unaccounted For's daughters have won a stakes race beyond 1 1/8 miles, however two have placed at 1 ¼ miles over dirt.
UNACCOUNTED FOR (Private Account - Mrs. Jenney, by The Minstrel)
Race record: 17-6-4-2 ($998,468)
Career highlights:
1st - Whitney Handicap (G-1) – 1 1/8 miles
1st - Jim Dandy Stakes (G-2) – 1 1/8 miles
2nd - Jockey Club Gold Cup - 1 ¼ miles
2nd - Discovery Handicap (G-3) – 1 1/8 miles
3rd – Breeders' Cup Classic (G-1) 1 ¼ miles
Overanalyze's second damsire Two Punch (Mr. Prospector - Heavenly Cause, by Grey Dawn II) won a stakes race at six furlongs. He was a top sire in Maryland for many years. His daughter's offspring are mostly sprinter/miler oriented, although Two Punch is the damsire of three winners at 1 ¼ miles.
Summary:
Overanalyze is a well-conformed colt with a similar build to his sire. He has a smooth, extended gait without excessive leg movement. He is tractable with the ability to sit wherever his jockey puts him in the race. Overanalyze appeared to loose focus slightly in the stretch of the Remsen until he was challenged by Normandy Invasion, and then showed tenacity in denying that rival a victory.
Overanalyze has the pedigree to handle middle distances, but it is borderline for 1 ¼ miles and farther. Neither his sire or damsire were able to win beyond 1 1/8 miles, despite multiple chances. Only one of Dixie Union's progeny, Union Rags, has won at a classic distance, but in comparison, Union Rags has a greater stamina influences in his distaff line and overall, Union Rags has a larger physique than Overanalyze. Although he is a winner at 1 1/8 miles, Overanalyze may find 1 ¼ miles too far, however, other factors could propel him to success. Overanalyze will winter in Florida and we may see him next in the Fountain of Youth.

Read More

Zipse: Retiring Post Time leads the age brigade on Saturday
Forget the youth, at my rapidly advancing age I can’t help but to root for the old guys....
Santa Anita postpones opening day to Sunday because of rain
Blame it on the rain that is forecast to fall all week in Southern California. The forecast led...
Kentucky Derby prep: 34-1 long shot upsets Springboard Mile
Folks in the horse-racing business did not think much of a yearling named Express Kid when he was...
Chip Honcho gives Asmussen third Gun Runner victory
Chip Honcho prevailed in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds, giving trainer Steve Asmussen his third...
Saturday's speed figures: Wolfie's Dynaghost leads top 10
Wolfie's Dynaghost led all performers with a 141 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Gulfstream Park in the...