DIALED IN

My interest in this horse began right after I watched him win the Holy Bull,, a Derby prep race, January 30, 2011.  I loved his "come from behind" style and his style, along with his shadow roll reminded me a lot of Zenyatta, perhaps the most famous come-from-behnd horse to come along in a long while.  I went back and watched his maiden race (all of his races are below the jump) in November of last year and instantly fell in love.  Then, in the Florida Derby, he ran the same way, coming from farther behind.  As a closer, he is probably at a disadvantage for the Derby, but he seems to know what he's supposed to do and he's not afraid of a fight (watch him run down Shackleford in the Florida Derby!).

Links, videos and more after the jump.
TVG Profile of Dialed In

Dialed In's Maiden Race
November 12, 2010 - Race 7, Churchill Downs. This is absolutely an amazing example of what this horse can do! I never get tired of watching this best of all maiden wins! Our hero did everything wrong: "Dialed In missed the break badly", "Dialed In has blown the turn". Still "Here comes Dialed In from the clouds"...."a remarkable performance"..."How did Dialed In win?" "Dialed In could be a star!" "Dialed In wins on debut, from the clouds!"  I fell in love when I saw this for the first time in February, right after I watched him win the Holy Bull! - #3 Blue saddle cloth in the race
BloodHorse results page with video replay

The Holy Bull - January 30, 2011 - #9
Holy Bull - January 30, 2011 - Dialed In is horse #9

Florida Derby - April 3, 2011
Being a "closer" may not favor him in the Kentucky Derby, but he is the most thrilling horse to watch since Zenyatta, who was also a closer.  And they both wear that easy to spot white shadow roll!  #7 in the race.

Florida Derby - 2011

Thoroughbred Times - April 4
Dialed In defies a "speed favoring track"

 BloodHorse report - April 3
Dialed In Pushes Button in Florida Derby!
The criticism in the Fl Derby was that it was slow and that the only two horses that really showed up for the race were Dialed In and Shackleford.  Here is what Steve Haskin had to say about that:  "As for the Florida Derby itself, some are knocking the slow closing fractions, but in defense of the only two horses who did anything in the race, Dialed In overcame a speed biased track, on which none of the other winners came from farther back than 1 1/2 lengths. He had to run a :47 flat half within the body of the race just to maintain his position, which was at least a dozen lengths off the pace. He then unleashed a powerful run on the far turn, but had to swing six-wide turning for home. Shackleford was well into the stretch while Dialed In was still on the turn. He shaded :13 for the final eighth, with jockey Julien Leparoux giving him only three left-handed whacks and hand-riding him most of the way. In short, Dialed In won this race on his own talent and determination."  I realize as a closer he may be at a disadvantage for the Derby, but, if he lucks out with track conditions in his favor, he just may pull it off.  He's not afraid of a challenge, that we know.

Thoroughbred Times - April 3
Dialed In Scores Emotional Florida Derby win for Zito

L'vl Courier Journal - Dialed In's Jockey

Dialed In's official Facebook page