By Christie DeBernardis
1st-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 11:35 a.m. EDT
The star-studded GI Runhappy Travers S. day card kicks off with a pair of juveniles events, starting with this main track sprint. VERIFYING (Justify), a $775,000 KEESEP acquisition by the Coolmore contingent, is one of the most intriguing firsters in this event. The Brad Cox pupil is out of GSW Diva Delite (Repent), who summoned $1.2 million with this colt in utero at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. That makes Verifying a half-sibling to champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), who brought $5-million at the 2020 FTKNOV sale. Steve Asmussen unveils Courtlandt Farms' King's Glory (Speightstown), a $575,000 KEESEP buy. Out of MSP Jax El (Unusual Heat), the chestnut is a half to GSW & GISP Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky). Mike Rutherford's $400,000 KEESEP purchase Game Warden (Tapit) also debuts in this spot for Bill Mott. The bay is out of a daughter of SW Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy), who is a half to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), who is the dam of Horse of the Year and top young sire Gun Runner. TJCIS PPs
2nd-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 12:08 p.m. EDT
Turf-routing juveniles get their chance next with a trio of interesting first timers. Wertheimer and Frere homebred TRIPLE START (American Pharoah) looks to get off the mark for Todd Pletcher here. The chestnut is a half to GI Personal Ensign S. winner Persistently (Smoke Glacken) and a full to SP Award It. Her second dam is champion Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold), dam of MGISW Good Reward (Storm Cat) and GSW sire Pure Prize (Storm Cat). This is also the family of Grade I winners Instilled Regard (Arch), Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) and Dancing Forever (Rahy). Chad Brown unveils one from a family he's pretty familiar with in Take Me to Jimmy (Kitten's Joy). The $335,000 FTSAUG buy is a half to Brown-trained MGSWs Tammy The Torpedo (More Than Ready) and Seek And Destroy (Verrazano). His dam is a half to MGSW Criminologist (Maria's Mon). Highland Lord (Lord Nelson) makes his first trip to the post for Barclay Tagg. The Young homebred is a half to MSW & GISP Highland Sky (Sky Mesa) and SW & GSP Highland Glory (Sky Mesa), both trained by Tagg. He also hails from the family of GISW Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs
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