By Brian DiDonato
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
6th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:51 p.m. ET
The first of two strong-looking groups of sophomore fillies line up here in Hot Springs. Brad Cox-trained second timer Firewolves (Practical Joke) gets the tepid morning-line nod coming off a runner-up outing over track and trip Dec. 3 that earned her a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. The $140,000 Keeneland September yearling is half to MGSP Tap for Luck (Tapit) and to the dam of GSW/GISP Jeltrin (Tapizar).
Peace Peddler (Gun Runner) set a solid pace in her unveiling Dec. 18 before finishing third behind a pair of pricey foes. A $200,000 KEESEP pick-up, she is out of Canadian champion older mare and MGSW Embur's Song (Unbrided's Song) from the family of Classic winner Exaggerator (Curlin).
Xtreme Gem (Tapit), a daughter of GISW juvenile Gomo (Uncle Mo), also makes her second start. The $475,000 FTFMAR RNA and $625,000 Fasig Midlantic seller (:10 1/5) was fourth after taking some money in an off-the-turfer at Keeneland in October (re-opposing Madelyn's Magic {Hard Spun} was second that day). She now gets the addition of Lasix and blinkers for the Mac Robertson barn.
Among the noteworthy newcomers signed on is Courtlandt Farm's $500,0000 FTKSEL purchase Campaigning (Nyquist). The Steve Asmussen pupil is half to GSP Aurelia Garland (Constitution) out of a daughter of 2002 GII Alcibiades S. winner Westerly Breeze (Gone West).
Alex Venneri homebred Decade of Dreams (American Pharoah) is half to versatile GISW and young sire Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile). Muse (Into Mischief) is out of a half-sister to last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Max Player (Honor Code). TJCIS PPs
9th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 5:13 p.m. ET
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's $475,000 KEESEP acquisition Hot and Sultry (Speightster) leads the split division of the aforementioned sixth race. The Steve Asmussen representative finished up well to be a strong second in the mud here Dec. 18. A half to SW and GSP turfer Tracksmith (Street Sense), her third dam is brilliantly fast GISW and champion Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat). Chesterette (Practical Joke), who cost $300,000 at OBS April off a :9 4/5 bullet, was fourth in that same race. The $165,000 KEESEP yearling's dam Jenny's So Great (Greatness) was a graded winner on the turf.
Charles Matses homebred Beguine (Gun Runner) was third first out against three-and-ups Jan. 7. Out of a stakes-winning juvenile, she's half to GSW/MGISP Favorable Outcome (Flatter), last year's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mouheeb (Flatter) and SW/MGSP Bellamentary (Bellamy Road).
Comedy Act (Practical Joke) was fourth behind the subsequent Gowell S. runner-up after setting solid splits at Churchill Nov. 28. She was a $77,000 September RNA and $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile (:10 1/5). Little Mombo (Into Mischief) was also fourth on debut after showing early zip–this one locally Dec. 3. Rigney Racing's $500,000 KEESEP buy is out of a stakes-placed turf router from the family of GSWs Nany's Sweep, Economic Model and Well Monied.
Bicameral (Constitution), bought for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase, cuts back after finishing far back on the stretch out Dec. 17. She was previously third in the GI Del Mar Debutante.
Joe Sharp-trained $200,000 FTKOCT buy Heartyconstitution (Constitution) is half to GSW sprinter Chateau (Flat Out). China Horse Club homebred Scripps (Curlin), bought back for $75,000 at September, is out of two-time Grade II winner Spelling Again (Curlin). TJCIS PPs
8th-SA, $69K, Alw/OC ($50K), 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 7:13 p.m. ET
Pegram, Watson and Weitman's late on the scene $385,000 Keeneland September purchase Distractedprincess (Distorted Humor) looks to go two-for-two here for Bob Baffert. The daughter of Brazilian Horse of the Year Celtic Princess (Brz) (Public Purse) crushed three foes by 13 lengths here going seven furlongs Dec. 31. She's just 1-5 on the morning line while spotting her competition significant experience. TJCIS PPs
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