Could 2015 finally bring Afleet Alex a Kentucky Derby?

Afleet Alex took the racing world by storm in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. In 2004, he was the most consistent juvenile in the United States, winning two graded stakes at Saratoga before finishing second in both the Champagne and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. In 2005, he was even better. He arrived in Louisville as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. Afleet Alex ran big under the famed twin spires, but his strong move into a fast pace may have cost him, and he finished a good third, beaten barely a length.

With a Triple Crown sweep off the board, Afleet Alex quickly proved to be the best of his crop with an unforgettable victory in the 2005 Preakness, before absolutely dominating the Belmont. That was to be the last time we would see the Tim Ritchey-trained champion, though, as a few minor injuries cropped up and prompted a retirement from racing. He went to stud with a glowing 12-8-2-1 record, and the respect of every race fan from coast to coast.

Currently standing at Gainesway Farm, Afleet Alex has been a good sire, but the son of Northern Afleet has yet to father the kind of superstar of his own ilk. Good horses like: Afleet Express, Iotapa, Afleet Again, and Dublin have kept the now 13-year-old stallion relevant in the breeding game, although a true champion sired by Afleet Alex has yet to be seen. That could be changing in a big way. In my estimation, Afleet Alex now has two of the most talented three-year-olds on the American racing landscape, less than four months from the first Saturday in May.

We all know about Texas Red. The son of Afleet Alex raced in to American households when he zoomed from last to first in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. With the victory at Santa Anita, Texas Red built upon the late running potential he had hinted at in his first four races, and established himself as one of the best juveniles in the land, as well as a bona-fide contender for next spring’s classics, starting with the 2015 Kentucky Derby.

Under the handling of Keith Desormeaux, Texas Red will need to continue to develop, and obviously maintain his health, but barring a real setback, he looks like the real deal. In my opinion, Texas Red is a far cry from the same old BC Juvenile winner, precocious and fast, with little chance to repeat the success in the following year’s Triple Crown. Instead, I see him much more like Street Sense, the only Juvenile winner to come back and earn the roses. Texas Red is well suited for the distance and rigors of the Kentucky Derby and beyond, and he is not the only son of Afleet Alex who may have the talent to do so.

The Curse of Apollo notwithstanding, on Sunday, Todd Pletcher unveiled a colt who looks talented enough to quickly join the Derby trail fray. A powerful looking son of Afleet Alex, Materiality rolled to a 4 ¼-length romp over a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park. Sent off as the 8-5 second choice in his career debut, he stalked the pace before taking over and drawing off in the stretch. Materiality stopped the six furlongs in 1:10.32, and the colt, bred for distance, gave every indication that he will move on in both distance and class. Pletcher explained why it took the well-liked colt so long to make it to the races.

“He had some baby stuff,” said Pletcher. “He came out of the Fasig-Tipton Timonium sale and needed some time off after that.” He needed to get acclimated down here and get some training done and before you know it, it’s January.”

Bred by John D. Gunther, Materiality brought $400,000 from Alto Racing last May as a son of Afleet Alex and the Langfuhr mare, Wildwood Flower. This dam makes the strapping bay a half-brother to graded stakes winner, and Kentucky Oaks runner-up, My Miss Sophia. Pletcher said he looks to stretch the impressive debut winner out for start number two.

It’s a long, often bumpy road to Louisville, but in Texas Red and Materiality, Afleet Alex, the stallion, is on the Kentucky Derby trail like never before. He was on the trail himself ten years ago, falling just short from immortality. Perhaps one decade later, a son of Afleet Alex will win the one race that their outstanding sire did not.