Terribly Great 2's: Overanalyze

Around this time in 2010, a powerful, bay colt burst his way onto the juvenile scene, making national headlines with each start. Uncle Mo, decked in the blue and orange of Repole Stables, stamped his names in the history books with one of the most dominating victories since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile's initiation. While illness got in the way of his 3 year old season, eventually resulting in an early retirement, the early brilliance of Uncle Mo is not likely to be forgotten by those who saw him perform.

Today, we saw flashes of Uncle Mo's greatness in another dominant performance from a Mike Repole two-year-old. In the first start of his career, Overanalyze burst to the lead and took charge, cutting sharp fractions of 22.20 and 45.61 before cutting loose into the stretch under a vigorous hand ride by John Velazquez. His lone challenge came in the form of another Pletcher trainee, Nevada, who was simply unable to keep up with Overanalyze, who concluded the race still a good length ahead. The final time of 57.48 was a full second faster than the only other 5 furlong event (also a maiden special weight) held at Saratoga in the past two days. While he may not be your next 2-Year-Old Champ, there's no denying that Overanalyze is a gifted colt.

Which is Uncle Mo, which is Overanalyze? See if you can find out!

Overanalyze's pedigree houses an interesting cast of characters.

His dam, Unacloud, never ran in a race; she has foaled seven times. Her first foal, Raptora, never won in six starts. Her next, Meadow Breeze, was significantly better, finding victory in the Grade 1 Matron Stakes, and finishing in the money in three other black type events. Her third offspring, Rock Rain, raced only once, didn't win, and never ran again. Unacloud's 2006 foal, Good Measure, raced only four times in a career that saw her visit the Winner's Circle once, in a mile and a sixteenth maiden special weight. Her fifth foal gathered a single victory in a claiming race out of eight total starts. Unacloud's 2009 foal, Mighty Monsoon, has gone to post twelve times so far, finishing in the money over half of the time. Mighty Monsoon came in third in the Lost in the Fog Stakes, the Everett Nevin Alameda County Stakes, the Best Pal Stakes (G2), and the Charlie Palmer Futurity.

Overanalyze's damsire is Unaccounted For, winner of the Jim Dandy (G2) and Whitney (G1), both at one and one eighth miles. In the United States, one of his most successful runners is Grundlefoot, winner of the Baltimore Breeders' Cup Handicap (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, and the Kelso Stakes at 1 3/16 miles. Unaccounted For is sired by Private Account, who also won the Jim Dandy (G3) and the Widener Handicap (G1), at 10 furlongs. Private Account was the sire of the great, undefeated Person Ensign. At distance of 10 to 11 furlongs, his offspring win at a 35% rate -- his highest rate at any distance category. Overanalyze's granddam is Cloud's Ambre, who is sired by Two Punch -- a stallion known best for his ability to produce sprinters such as G1 winner Smoke Glacken.

Heading the paternal side of Overanalyze's pedigree is his sire, Dixie Union. While primarily known for producing milers and sprinters such as Dixie Chatter and Hot Dixie Chick, Dixie Union recently sired Belmont winner Union Rags. Overanalyze's grandsire, Dixieland Band, is the broodmare sire of Kentucky Derby winners Street Sense and Monarchos. His sire is the great Northern Dancer, who, along with his own legacy, dates back to the great distance influences of Nearctic and Nearco. Dixie Union's dam is She's Tops,  winner of the 7 furlong Railbird Stakes (G2). She's Tops is sired by Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Capote, who is sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

In short, there appears to be a nice deal of a stamina in Overanalyze's pedigree. He should be able to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles, at the very least. Like the other "terrible twos" on my watch, I will greatly anticipate watching him run.