In an interview in Thursday's 'Second Chances' column profiling Collaborate (Into Mischief) after a useful debut fifth in the Gulfstream slop Feb. 6, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said that, “Hopefully, we get to see the horse that we think he is [Saturday].”
Did we ever.
The $600,000 FTSAUG yearling, campaigned in partnership by Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing, ran to the billing with a 12 1/2-length daylight victory, easily good enough for 'TDN Rising Star' honors.
Favored at 7-5 in a deep-looking maiden special weight going six furlongs on debut, the handsome bay broke slowly and took some time to get his footing over the saturated surface as they flew through fractions of :22.19 and :44.88. He still, nonetheless, got into the race entering the far turn and grinded his way to a very solid effort, getting beaten by just 1 1/4 lengths rallying between rivals in the stretch in a blanket finish.
Collaborate, meanwhile, tipped his hand in the interim, working in company with his year-older stablemate and last year's narrow GI TVG.com Haskell S. runner-up Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), covering five furlongs in 1:00.29 (2/28) at Gulfstream Feb. 21.
Getting a fast track this time and some additional real estate to work with stretching to a one-turn mile, the even-money favorite broke on top and it was pretty much over from there. He traveled very nicely beneath Tyler Gaffalione under token pressure through fractions :23.72 and :46.57. Under confident handling rounding the far turn, he hit the quarter pole in complete control, and, after a couple of taps on the right shoulder to switch over, Collaborate was in a race of his own in a flash, running up the score in the stretch to win for fun.
Bennyfromthebronx (Tapit), a half-brother to GISW and game Saudi Cup runner-up Charlatan (Speightstown), ran well in defeat to complete the exacta following a flashy four/five-wide sweeping move on the far turn after getting sawed off at the start. Like the winner, he is also out of a Quiet American mare.
The Triple Crown nominated son of red-hot leading sire Into Mischief is out of 2010 GII Fair Grounds Oaks heroine Quiet Temper (Quiet American) and hails from the extended female family of Phipps GISWs Furlough, Dancing Spree, Fantastic Find, Heavenly Prize and Oh What a Windfall.
Quiet Temper is also represented by a Gun Runner 2-year-old filly. She was bred back to the 2017 Horse of the Year for the 2021 season.
5th-Gulfstream, $45,000, Msw, 2-27, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.35, ft, 12 1/2 lengths.
COLLABORATE, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Quiet Temper (MGSW, $633,643), by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Dead Aim, by Silver Deputy
3rd Dam: Loping Along, by Easy Goer
Sales history: $600,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $27,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Three Chimneys Farm & e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
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