1st-Churchill Downs, $117,143, Msw, 5-27, 2yo, 5f, :58.78, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
OWEN'S LEAP (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Defy Gravity {SW, $171,240}, by Bandini) became his freshman sire (by Medaglia d'Oro)'s third winner with a powerful performance here on unveiling. Sent off at 5-2 for the contest, the Tom Amoss trainee stalked the early pace of :22.86 and :46.35 from third, challenged outside through the far turn, and came five wide into the lane to take over in the upper stretch. Kept under strong handling, the $175,000 KEESEP alumnus came home 1 3/4 lengths best over 9-5 favorite Justafever (Justify) and $500,000 KEESEP purchase Summonyourcourage (Practical Joke). Owen's Leap hails from a productive racing and producing family being a half-brother to Ellis Park Debutante S. winner Green Destiny (Super Saver) and three other winners from four of racing age. His 3-year-old half-sister by Uncle Mo named Gravitation is unraced, and he has a yearling half-brother by Justify. Defy Gravity is a half-sister to GISW Callback (Street Sense)–the dam of recent Caesars S. runner-up Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro)–and is expecting a foal by McKinzie this season. This is the female family of several sires including Cyrus Alexander, Brethren, Accelerator, Harborage, Girolamo, Imagining, Bluegrass Cat, and Super Saver. There are no fewer than 12 graded-stakes winners beneath his second and third dams. Sales history: $175,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,460. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Michael McLoughlin; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss.
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