Derby Post # 16: 2YO Champ Half A World Away
HAWA is a familiar acronymn to Sim fans. You gotta know that it stands for the reigning 2 year old main track champion Half A World Away. A handsome chestnut colt with a silver star on his forehead, HAWA commands your attention as long as his memorable name. He was the people’s “one to watch” last season, hero of the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile, multiple graded winner who just missed in a heartbreaking loss on Del Penn Day. The big red colt with a tidy disposition — he enjoys his races neat (thank you!). A spurious pace battle joined early just for the fun of it. Choke ’em to wire. Throttle ’em up close and break their spirit. Come the finish line, see ya! Half the World Away can put some daylight on ya…… and thensome.
Talk about a lean, mean main track machine. Nextbonus’ Half A World Away wowed Sim railbirds in 2005. They all marked him down on the Bluegrass Derby trail and couldn’t wait for his ’06 debut.
And, boy, did he deliver. HAWA got off to a great start in 2006, taking the Silver Fence Derby(G3) as classy as can be. The Belong To Me son went off at odds-on and poured it on thick, dominating the field much the best by 4 1/2 lengths. It was a superb effort over 1 1/16 miles — eventual Derby starter San Pellegrino counted among the place finishers.
The fans wanted to see more of their champion and so Nextbonus sent Half A World Away to the Equinics. Over 9.5 furlongs, the colt faced a stellar field. Unfortunately, HAWA didn’t get the jump out of the gate, yet fought hard, missing out by only a length on the widespread photo finish to winner Peacenik (Derby contenders San Pellegrino, Remember Tampero, Depravity also ran that day).
At this point, a lesser trainer might’ve backed off their prime charge, but not Nextbonus of foxvbullet stable. ‘Bonus listened to the fans, sending HAWA to the bigtime Derby prep races. Half A World Away threw in a dull 6th-place in the Florida Derby(G1), but railbirds knew that their star couldn’t get a hold of the deep Florida surface and and the sun-burning weather.
Instead, they looked forward to his warm but mild west coast foray. HAWA did just that in the California Derby(G1), his final Bluegrass prep. He adored the California sunshine, switching tactics and displaying newfound versatility in a runner-up performance to So Slew Me (Alastor, Toxixsuperfreakout also in field). It was his career best 100 SP# and he came from off pace too.
As the #2 ranked 3YO Classic Dirt Colt, Half A World Away brings million-dollar earnings, award-winning credentials, graded black type, and thorough competitive heart to the table. What a wonderful victory it would be to bring home a win for his longtime Sim trainer, Nextbonus! From a G-ranked ol’ Gone West horse to an A-ranked champion of the Sim, HAWA is the stuff of Sim dreams and more. He tries to be the first Sim Eclipse 2YO champion since Tower Storm (2002) to win the Bluegrass Derby.
Can he do it or is he a short router? Will jockey N Bonus bring HAWA home a winner for trainer Nextbonus? Ha!
All the karma is there. And that chestnut colt with a silver star awaits Saturday’s great race. A date with Destiny it shall be….. but one thing’s for certain above all: his fans will be rooting him on.
Go, HAWA, GO! Good luck, Nextbonus.