Magnum Moon is one of the hottest horses entering the Kentucky Derby. The horse has won four straight races including the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes. Magnum Moon is one of four horses trained by Todd Pletcher heading into Churchill Downs.
Like Justify, Magnum Moon is also looking to break Apollo's Curse as no horse has won without racing as a two-year-old since 1882. Pletcher spoke with the USA Today about how Magnum Moon is something special.
“Magnum Moon is an impressive individual,” Pletcher explained to USA Today. “I can remember seeing him at my dad’s training center in December as a yearling when he was just starting to gallop, and he’s just one of those horses who has a tremendous presence about him. He gets over the ground really well. We felt going all the way back to then that he hopefully could turn out to be something special, and he has.”
Magnum Moon has experienced jockey Luis Saez on the saddle, and the backing of Robert and Lawana Low. The Lows look like their $380,000 investment in Magnum Moon has already paid off. The Kentucky Derby details why Magnum Moon has emerged as one of the favorites heading into Churchill Downs.
"Magnum Moon was a debut winner at Gulfstream in January posting a 99 BRIS Speed figure," The Kentucky Derby notes. "He then came from off the pace to win an allowance races at 1-5 odds at Tampa Bay Downs in February. Pletcher than gave the Malibu Moon colt his first stakes try, and it was another success, going clear and pulling away in the stretch to defeat the favorite Solomini by more than 3 lengths in the Rebel while posting a 100 BRIS Speed figure. The Arkansas Derby solidified Magnum Moon as one of the Derby favorites, and he’ll have to buck history to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby. No horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Kentucky Derby without a start as a 2-year-old, but Magnum Moon will attempt to break the ‘Curse of Apollo’ on May 5 when he makes his Run for the Roses. He’ll also try to become the fourth winner of the Rebel and Arkansas Derby to capture the Kentucky Derby, following Sunny's Halo (1983), Smarty Jones (2004) and American Pharoah (2015)."
At times, Magnum Moon has been overshadowed by some of Pletcher's other horses including the favorite, Justify. Magnum Moon entered race day fourth in the odds to win the Run for the Roses. With the horses recent hot streak combined with Pletcher's training, Magnum Moon has every opportunity to be wearing roses after the 2018 Kentucky Derby. Click the next button to learn more about Magnum Moon's jockey, trainer and owners.
Magnum Moon's Jockey: Luis Saez
Luis Saez was born in Panama City. According to America's Best Racing, Saez has won $85.39 million over his jockey career, and has 1,907 victories. Saez has had 5,104 top-three finishes in his 11,094 starts. This equates to $7,697 for Saez every time he jumps on the saddle. Saez is looking for his first win in an American Classic, but has had success at the Breeders' Cup. America's Best Racing provides an overview of Saez's career.
"A native of Panama City, Saez calls Calder race track his home base since moving to the states in 2009," America's Best Racing notes. "Saez picked up a mount in the 2013 Belmont Stakes aboard Freedom Child after piloting the son of Malibu Moon to a victory in the Peter Pan Stakes. Later in 2013, Saez experienced great success with Will Take Charge, guiding him to victories in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and Grade 1 Clark Handicap as well as a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic."
According to the Sun Sentinel, Saez's younger brother, Juan, was an up-and-coming jockey who died in a 2014 fall while riding a horse. The two brothers had just raced the previous week at Keeneland. Saez spoke with the Sun Sentinel on how he has tried to overcome his brother's loss.
"The other night, I saw him standing there in front of me, and he said, 'Don't worry, I'm fine,'" Saez told the Sun Sentinel. "That made me he feel better. He said, 'Tell everyone I'm OK.'..."He then started racing, and he was great at it. I felt so happy, because it was all looking good for [both of us]. I was doing good. He was doing good. We were doing what we wanted...He was as good a brother as you could have."
Magnum Moon heads into the 2018 Kentucky Derby with four straight wins, including a big victory in the Arkansas Derby. After the race, Saez spoke about the horse's performance.
“I thought there was going to be a little speed,” Saez told the Paulick Report. “We were in a good position he broke really sharp. I'm not going to choke him I am just going to stay there and he was very comfortable into the turn he was traveling pretty good. When I came to the stretch I felt like he was looking at the gate marks so when we got there I touched him a little and he went. We will see what happens.”
Saez is teaming up with trainer Todd Pletcher, who has four horses in the Derby. Saez may not have the resume of some of the other top jockeys, but he has already put together a solid start to 2018. Saez recently won the Jockey of the Week award. The Paulick Report detailed the honor.
"With his second seven-win day this year, Luis Saez swept the panel to be named Jockeys' Guild Jockey of the Week for March 26 – April 1, 2018," The Paulick Report notes. "The award is voted on by a panel of experts for riding accomplishments by members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 riders in North America...Luis Saez' seven-win day and stakes record last week at Gulfstream was more than enough to earn Jockey of the Week honors, even against performances from Dubai World Cup day on Saturday."
Magnum Moon's Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Lawana and Robert Low knew exactly who would train Magnum Moon, Todd Pletcher. Robert Low explained to the Springfield News-Leader why Pletcher and Magnum Moon form a great team.
“Like most of the thoroughbred folks, we have been aware of Todd Pletcher and his success,” Low told the Springfield News-Leader. “We have watched Todd’s career for a long time...Todd has liked him all along. He’s had a lot of good horses and is not inclined to throw around compliments unless they are warranted. When Todd says he has a good one, you can pretty much go to the bank with it.”
Magnum Moon may be one of the most talented horses heading into Churchill Downs, but Pletcher has his hands full with a total of four horses in the Kentucky Derby. At times, Magnum Moon has been overshadowed by Audible, one of the other Derby favorites trained by Pletcher. Pletcher is trying to help Magnum Moon become the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old since Apollo did it in 1882.
“It's very difficult to do what he's done since Jan. 13, break his maiden, to now be 4 for 4 and win the Rebel and Arkansas Derby and be a Grade 1 winner in his fourth start,” Pletcher told the Paulick Report. “It's a real tribute to the horse's talent.”
Pletcher has often been criticized for his lack of success at Churchill Downs relative to the quality horses he has had over the years. It seems like an unfair criticism given the trainer won his second Kentucky Derby in 2017. Pletcher explained to Blood Horse he goes into the big race with a plan for each horse, but sometimes it is up to the riders to improvise based on what happens during the race.
"We have a game plan, but as you know, when the gates open, those game plans can change," Pletcher told Blood Horse. "I'm confident we have four top-class riders that all are capable of making good decisions when the gates do open. You can know what you plan to do, but you don't know what everyone else is planning to do. Sometimes the race shape you see—your opponents don't see it the same way and don't apply the tactics we expect them to."
Pletcher is one of the best trainers in horse racing, and has three Belmont wins in addition to his two Kentucky Derby victories. According to America's Best Racing, Pletcher's success has earned him more than $358 million. Pletcher-trained horses have notched 4,552 victories along with 10,375 top-three finishes.
Magnum Moon's Owners: Lawana and Robert Low
Magnum Moon was purchased by Lawana and Robert Low at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling sale for $380,000. The couple founded Prime Inc., a trucking company, and own a Springfield, Missouri thoroughbred farm called Prime. The Lows also own Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi. The couple owned Steppenwolfer, who finished third in the 2006 Kentucky Derby. According to the Sun Herald, Prime Inc. started in 1970 with just one dump truck, and now has become a $50 million operation. The company is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri near the family farm. Prime's website provides an overview of the company.
"Prime Inc., North America's most successful refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal carrier, provides safe, reliable and continuous on-time service to its expanding international customer base," Prime's website details. "At Prime, we have built a strong and enviable reputation for providing superior transportation services throughout North America. Our commitment to providing unsurpassed world-class customer service continues as we seek new methods, technical advances and systems which enable us to meet the ever-increasing demands of the shipping industry."
According to Equibase, the couple has been a part of 153 victories and 426 top-three finishes. The couple has earned $7.67 million thanks to their involvement in horse racing.
Magnum Moon's pedigree has drawn a lot of attention. The horse is the product of sire Malibu Moon and dam Dazzling Song. Daily Racing Form explains why many are impressed with Magnum Moon's background.
"The A.P. Indy sireline is responsible over the past five years alone in the classics for Tapit, represented by three Belmont Stakes winners in the last four years, and Lucky Pulpit, the sire of dual classic winner and champion California Chrome," Daily Racing Form notes. "..In recent years, the Unbridled sireline has also taken center stage in the Triple Crown series. Magnum Moon is out of Dazzling Song, an unraced daughter of the late Unbridled’s Song, who has emerged as a leading broodmare sire, with major representatives in that category including champion Unique Bella and Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Tourist."
The Lows are doing their best to enjoy the process, and not put any pressure on Magnum Moon.
“You don’t want to get ahead of yourself and start talking big noise,” Robert Low told the Springfield News-Leader prior to the Arkansas Derby. “You let the horse do the talking and enjoy the ride. That’s the objective...He’s [Magnum Moon] doing great, he seems bright and alert and his coat is shining,” Low said. “We’re pleased with his condition.”
The couple has given Magnum Moon every opportunity to succeed thanks to trainer Todd Pletcher, and jockey Luis Saez. Magnum Moon came from the Bass family breeders based in Fort Worth, Texas.
"It is pretty exciting because we still have the mare and two sisters of Magnum Moon," Co-owner Perry Bass told Blood Horse. "The mare is still young. We have given her every chance with good stallions, and she's done it so far. It is a little less pressure not being the owner, but it is plenty of excitement as the breeder...As a business decision, we typically sell the first colts out of a mare to try to make some money back for what we spent for her, and keep the fillies," said Perry Bass, who also earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. "Magnum was a big, growthy, pretty colt that had everything going for him, and being raised at Claiborne was a perk. We were extremely happy with the price, and he's turned out to be a good deal for everybody."
Magnum Moon: Meet the Horse, Jockey, Trainer & Owners