Tales from the Crib: Majesto

May 03, 2016 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Majesto is making his second appearance in “Tales from the Crib.” How is that possible, you ask, since a 3-year-old Thoroughbred has just one shot in the Kentucky Derby (G1)?

That’s because he was born on the Sunday of Derby Week in 2013, just six days before his half-brother, Overanalyze, competed at Churchill Downs. When speaking with Diamond A Farms’ manager Mac Carr about Overanalyze as a baby, he helpfully commented on his dam’s newborn.

“The mare just foaled yesterday morning about 4 o'clock,' Carr said. 'He's as big as a yearling — I've never seen a foal that big in all my life.

'And I started foaling in '78, so I've seen a bunch of foals.'

Hence baby Majesto got himself a mention in the inaugural “Tales from the Crib” in 2013.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as a Keeneland September yearling, the son of Hall of Famer Tiznow brought a top bid of $300,000 from Grupo 7C Racing Stable.

Like Derby rivals Mo Tom and Whitmore, Majesto went through his early training program at GoldMark Farm near Ocala, Florida. (So did his Kentucky Oaks [G1]-bound stablemate Paola Queen, whose picture is second in the above gallery.)

Todd Quast, who serves as general manager and trainer at GoldMark, described Majesto as a “later developing” sort.

While recognizing that it’s a tall task to go straight from a maiden score, to finishing second to Nyquist in the Florida Derby (G1), to tackling the Kentucky Derby, he believes that Majesto is capable of pulling it off.

“He has enough raw talent to do that,” Quast said. “Definitely an improving type of horse.”

Yet Majesto will have to take a leap forward to close the gap on Nyquist.

Quast hasn’t been involved with Nyquist, but he has been in a position to observe him up close – and to know that the unbeaten champion is mentally bombproof.

“That horse is so professional, so laid back, with the right demeanor and temperament, he’s not going to beat himself,' he said of Nyquist. “He’s a horse who sure takes care of himself.”

Photos of Majesto and Paola Queen (the second one in the above gallery) courtesy of Todd Quast.