On the second Sunday on January, new Falcons offensive line coach Mike Tice is part owner of a colt who’s taken his first steps toward racing on the first Saturday in May.
Midnight Hawk, a three-year gray colt, won Saturday’s Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park by 1 3/4 lengths. In victory, Midnight Hawk earned 10 points toward qualifying for the 2014 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
“It’s pretty exciting; it’s nice to be a part of a winner,” Tice said after the race, according to Claire Novak of the Blood-Horse. “Any time you win it’s exciting, in anything: tiddlywinks, horse racing, or football.”
Tice was named the Falcons’ offensive line coach last week.
Midnight Hawk set or chased the pace throughout, took the lead near the quarter pole and plugged away for the win, his first in stakes company and his second in as many starts.
Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is also a co-owner of the horse, who is trained by Bob Baffert.
Other stakes races seem likely for Midnight Hawk as Baffert further tests his readiness for the rigors of the Triple Crown trail. While Midnight Hawk is no sure thing to run in the Kentucky Derby, his career is off to a good start.