Sunday's Racing Insights: $950K Medaglia d'Oro Filly Debuts at the Spa

1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:10 p.m. ET
Stonestreet Stable's CANTATA (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for Steve Asmussen, who is winning with 20% of his runners at the current meet. Purchased for $950,000 at Keeneland last September, the bay is the second foal out of Stoweshoe, who is also responsible for Desert Peace (Curlin), who realized $1.3 million from Godolphin at the same venue one year earlier. The Doug and Felicia Branham-bred filly has been training steadily at Saratoga, including a four-furlong move two back Aug. 6 (XBTV Video). Working in tandem with Lutescoot N Boogie (Midnight Lute)–who finished third in her debut at Saratoga Aug. 31–Cantata completed the task in :49.33 over the main surface. Also making her career debut is Alpha Delta Stables' Nevisian Sunrise (War Front), who is trained by Chad Brown. The homebred filly is out of GSW My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), who also finished runner-up in the 2014 GI Kentucky Oaks. TJCIS PPs

9th-DMR, $55K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 9:06 p.m. ET
Qatar Racing Ltd & Three Chimneys Farm NORTH POLE (Pioneerof the Nile) kicks off his career for Simon Callaghan, who has been connecting with 28% of his first-time starters. A $1.05 million KEESEP graduate, the dark bay is out of dual stakes winner Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), who realized $630,000 at two at the OBSMAR sale in 2015. Watson, Pegram and Weitman's Defunded (Dialed In) gets his start for Bob Baffert, who also saddles Magnier, Tabor and Smith's Man Friday (American Pharoah) in this contest. The former brought $210,000 at Keeneland last fall, making him the second highest priced yearling by the sire–and the top-priced colt–of 77 sold in 2019. The latter, a $325,000 FTKNOV weanling purchase, is out of Grade I-winning Emma's Encore (Congrats). TJCIS PPs