By Jill Williams
With juvenile racing heating up, three of our featured horses this past week won, all on debut. In addition, Coolmore Ireland's U S Navy Flag became the first freshman sire of the season to record a 'TDN Rising Star' on American soil, although fellow freshman Kessaar (Ire) got one a fortnight previously at Newmarket.
TUESDAY'S INSIGHTS: Well-Related Goldencents Firster Right To the Races
3rd-Parx Racing, $47,208, Msw, 4-26, 2yo, 2f, :23.27, ft, 1 length.
FERRARI KID (c, 2, Goldencents–Catch the Flag, by A.P. Indy) won this baby sprint at first asking, but that might not be the biggest update to his pedigree in the next week as his half-sister produced 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), who is set to break from post six in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby. Ferrari Kid was a $100,000 buy at OBS March by Richard Malouf after working in :21 1/5. Trained by Scott Lake for this Quarter Horse-like debut, the bay shot to the lead to win by a driving length under a vigorous ride. His unraced dam is out of Canadian champion Catch the Ring (Seeking the Gold). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
FRIDAY'S INSIGHTS: U S Navy Flag Filly Debuts for Ward & Stonestreet Stables
2nd-Keeneland, $51,276, Msw, 4-29, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.33, fm, 9 3/4 lengths.
Debuts don't come much more impressively than the unveiling of LOVE REIGNS (IRE) (f, 2, U S Navy Flag–Humble And Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), who motored to the front and dared the others to catch her. With an efficient stride that hinted at the ability to do much more if asked, the bay–the third winner for her MG1SW freshman sire (by War Front)–was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' after posting a 9 3/4-length victory. A half to 2018 GI Sword Dancer S. winner Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), the winner was a €160,000 Goffs Orby purchase for Stonestreet. Love Reigns topped an Irish-bred, Wesley Ward-trained exacta, as his Rivka (Ire) (No Nay Never) was the runner-up. In third was Delight (Mendelssohn), who closed from last to overcome a rough and intimidating trip for the show. The Jonathan Thomas pupil was a $400,000 OBS March purchase by Augustin Stable after a :10 1/5 work. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
5th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-29, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.93, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
DOMINICAN PIONEER (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Heatherdoesntbluff, by Old Trieste) donned cap and gown to become the third consecutive 'Insighted' horse to win. Always part of the early fray, the dark bay took command at the sixteenth pole and pulled clear late to win with authority. The R T Racing Stable colorbearer helped push trainer Wesley Ward to his sixth Keeneland Spring Meet title. The winner, a $325,000 Keeneland September purchase, is a half to GISW Killer Graces (Congaree) and to MGSW Chocolate Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
SUNDAY'S INSIGHTS: Seven-Figure Shadwell Buy Debuts
4th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.51, fm, neck.
Christophe Clement's CANISY (f, 3, Point of Entry–Soother, by Rahy) played spoiler to featured Contemporary Art (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sahlabiya (Medaglia d'Oro). The trio of debuters all raced closely together in midpack, took varying paths to the front, and emerged from the fray with only each other as valid threats. In the end, it was Canisy by a neck over Contemporary Art, who had a neck on Sahlabiya. The winner campaigns for Blue Devil Racing Stable and is a half to MSW, GSP, and Saratoga course record setter Carotari (Artie Schiller). The runner-up is a Bobby Flay homebred and the first foal out of GSW and $1.6-million Fasig-Tipton November purchase Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The mare is out of European champion Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), making her a half to European champion U S Navy Flag (War Front), sire of the above-mentioned 'TDN Rising Star' Love Reigns, and to British MG1SW and 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front). Trifecta bookend Sahlabiya was a $1.6-million purchase at Keeneland September for Shadwell Stable. Half-brother and 'TDN Rising Star' Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) brought $1.1 million at the same sale three years earlier and is a graded winner in England. The top three all ran extremely well on debut against a more seasoned field, proved they were each up for a fight, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see any or all of them do bigger things down the line. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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