By Jill Williams
As Keeneland winds down and Derby week visibly looms on the horizon, it was quiet on the Insights front this past week, with just two races highlighted and one of the major contenders scratching. Previous GI Kentucky Derby winners Super Saver (2010) and American Pharoah (2015) had juveniles step up with a stretch battle in their career debuts.
WEDNESDAY'S INSIGHTS: Tapit Half to Dual GISW Debuts at KEE
4th-Keeneland, $58,964, Msw, 4-20, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.33, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
With the featured Magic Tap (Tapit)–a half to MGISW and $3-million Fasig-Tipton buy American Gal (Concord Point)–a late scratch, firster SIMPLY SUPER (c, 2, Super Saver–So You Know, by Jump Start) picked up the slack to get his debut win. Simply Super tracked also-highlighted Talkin Pharoah (American Pharoah) behind :22.98 and :45.92 fractions, drawing on even terms in the lane. The two dueled down the stretch with Simply Super kicking clear late to get the better of Talkin Phaorah by 1 1/2 lengths. A Mike Maker pupil, the winner was a $30,000 private purchase by Legion Bloodstock at Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic Fall Yearlings sale and is from the last U.S. crop by his now-Turkish-based sire. The runner-up is a Wesley Ward trainee who brought $260,000 at Keeneland September. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
SATURDAY'S INSIGHTS: $550k Uncle Mo Colt Kicks Off at Keeneland
2nd-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-23, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.94, gd, 2 1/2 lengths.
It was ATRAS (g, 3, Astern {Aus}–All About Allison, by City Zip) who covered the most ground in this maiden, circling the field after sitting midpack to accelerate down the center of the course, finishing a much-the-best 2 1/2-length victor for trainer Vicki Oliver. The big-blazed sophomore is a member of the first crop of Medaglia d'Oro's fellow Darley-based son Astern. 'Insighted' Wesley Ward trainee Lawmaker (Uncle Mo) broke sharply, pressing the pace while three wide, but dropped back on the turn and faded to follow the field home. The $550,000 Keeneland September purchase was making his career debut. He had shipped from Keeneland to the Spa last summer, got in one work over Saratoga's training track, then didn't reappear until a work at Keeneland in late fall. He's been steadily preparing for this unveiling with 14 official works in the books since November and undoubtedly got an education here. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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