Freshman Oscar Performance Off the Mark at Keeneland

2nd-Keeneland, $76,240, Msw, 4-28, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.85, fm, 2 lengths.
ANDTHEWINNERIS (c, 2, Oscar Performance–Run Like the Boss, by Scat Daddy) was sent off the 4.10-1 second choice and showed a decisive turn of foot in the final eighth of a mile to become the first winner for his Mill Ridge-based freshman sire (by Kitten's Joy) at Keeneland Thursday afternoon. Void of early speed, Andthewinneris raced last but one early and improved by one position as they hit the turn. Traveling smoothly inside on the bend, he was angled out sharply approaching the quarter pole and steamed home down the center of the course to take it by a handy two-length margin. The blaze-faced bay clocked his final two furlongs in a slick :22.77, fully 0.72 seconds faster than any of his vanquished rivals, according to Trakus data. Bought back on a bid of $67,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, Andthewinneris has a yearling half-brother by Enticed and a foal half-sister already named Bonne Fille (Cupid). Racing as a homebred for Amerman Racing, Oscar Performance won the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile and added the GI Belmont Derby and GI Secretariat S. at three, both going 10 furlongs. He set a Belmont course record of 1:31.23 in winning the GIII Poker S. in 2018 and achieved additional Grade I glory at four in the Woodbine Mile. Oscar Performance is standing the 2022 breeding season for a fee of $12,500 LFSN. Sales history: $67,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,880. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Susan Moulton (KY); T-Wayne M Catalano.