Done Talking
Kentucky Derby
Contender Profile
5/5/12
(Starts: 7 Win: 3 Place: 0 Show: 2 Earnings: $381,200)
Trainer: Hamilton Smith (14.9%)
Jockey: Sheldon Russell (16.4%)
THE CONNECTIONS: Hamilton Smith is a relatively small time trainer, but a very good one none the less. He has handled Done Talking with expert precision to get him in a position to win the Kentucky Derby. This is by far the best horse he has ever had. Jockey Sheldon Russell rode Concealed Identity to a tenth place effort in last year’s Preakness Stakes. His top mounts include stakes winners Ah Day and Rahystrada. This will both jockey and trainers first trip to the Run for the Roses.
THE HORSE: Done Talking showed his talent early on, winning around two turns at Delaware Park in his third start. After that, he went to Parx and drew clear to win against allowance company. His final start as a juvenile was a very good Fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes where he was beaten only a length after closing into a very slow pace. His sophomore campaign started with a well beaten 10th place finish in the Gotham Stakes. He made this field by virtue of his Grade 3 Illinois Derby heist. He closed from far back to get up for a ¾ length win over Morgan’s Guerrilla. That horse returned to finish dead last in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes.
THE PEDIGREE: Sire Broken Vow won 9 of 14 races and was quite adept in route races. He passes his stamina onto his progeny as proved by Grade 1 Beldame Stakes winner Unbridled Belle. Broken Vow’s broodmare sire, Nijinsky II, was a Canadian Triple Crown winner and one of the best sOurces of stamina in recent history. Broodmare Dixie Talking was a Grade 3 has also produced restricted stakes winner Table Talking. Her family tends to produce runners that succeed at shorter distances, but Done Talking has shown us on the track that he finishes races strongly and enjoys extra ground.
CONCLUSION: This long shot will be the sentimental choice for many and given the recent success of horses like Giacomo and Mine That Bird, it’s not impossible for him to win. However, his low speed figures tell us that it will take something really freaky for that to happen.
PEDIGREE GRADE: B
OVERALL GRADE: D
FAIR ODDS: 50-1