Second in Super Derby (G2) on Sept. 22 at Louisiana Downs
Grasshopper's stakes race debut, the Travers Stakes (G1) on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course, had a few people wondering if trainer Neil Howard wasn't expecting too much of the three-year-old colt.
In addition to the huge class jump, Grasshopper would be running against the far more experienced and proven Street Sense, last year's champion two-year-old male and winner of this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Ant reservations about Grasshopper's presence in the Travers were soundly dismissed as the Dixie Union colt battled Street Sense nose and nose down the length of the Saratoga stretch before Street Sense was finally able to edge away for a half-length victory.
Experience may have proven to be the deciding factor at the finish, a point not lost on Grasshopper's jockey, Robby Albarado.
"Street Sense is a good horse," Albarado said. "He has been in these battles; [Grasshopper] hadn't. It was all brand new to him."
With the benefit of that experience, Grasshopper was sent to Louisiana Downs to contest the Super Derby Powered by Youbet.com (G2) on September 22, a race that kept him within the three-year-old division.
Sent off the 3-to-10 favorite, Grasshopper again gave a good account of himself, but again had to settle for second as Going Ballistic charged from last to first to fly past Grasshopper nearing the wire for a one-length victory.
It was a particuarly impressive performance by Going Ballistic, who was closing on soft fractions, but apparently not enough to send him to the Breeders' Cup, trainer Donnie Von Hemel indicating that the Lite the Fuse colt would most likely be sent to Remington Park for the October 21 Centennial Oklahoma Derby.
Jockey Robby Albarado, aboard Grasshopper, felt that his charge ran a good race but was basically outrun at the end.
Trainer Neil Howard will discuss Breeders' Cup possibilities with the owners.