By Jill Williams
An abundance of well-bred runners went to post this week with some very satisfying visits to the winner's circle. A Grade I winner kickstarted her 2022 campaign with a win before facing tougher company, while a number of first-time starters ran with promise, perhaps foreshadowing bigger things down the road.
Thursday's Insights: Mandy Pope Starts Pair at Oaklawn
4th-Oaklawn, $90,000, Msw, 3-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:44.99, gd, head.
Regally bred SALUTE THE FLAG (f, 4, Curlin–Private Ensign {GSP, $124,384}, by A.P. Indy) gamely wore down a loose-in-the-stretch late leader to win by a head with the rest of the field more than 10 lengths behind. The Larry Jones trainee for Fox Hill and Siena Farms traces back to undefeated champion and Broodmare of the Year Personal Ensign (Private Account). Meanwhile the Whisper Hill-owned pair of Dance It (Tapit), a $500,000 purchase at Keeneland September, and Goldena (Medaglia d'Oro) finished off the board. Dance It was making her career debut only to hop awkwardly out of the gate and prove a bit rank early, but finished evenly. Goldena had added blinkers for what was her third start after working two bullets at Oaklawn in a month. Like winner Salute the Flag, both also hail from exceptional female families, with Dance It tracing to Starlet Storm (Storm Bird), dam of and granddam of, respectively, champions Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and Surfside (Seattle Slew); and Goldena tracing to Numbered Account (Buckpasser), 1971's champion 2-year-old filly and the dam of both GISW Dance Number (Northern Dancer), the ancestress of several GISWs, and MGISW Private Account (Damascus), sire of the aforementioned Personal Ensign. In spite of the results of this maiden race, Mandy Pope and her Whisper Hill operation didn't fare too badly over the weekend, with homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) finishing a green but exciting second in the GI Florida Derby. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Friday's Insights: Maracuja Begins 2022 Campaign at Oaklawn
8th-Oaklawn, $108,000, Alw (NW4L)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 4-1, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:44.51, ft, 2 lengths.
MARACUJA (f, 4, Honor Code–Patti's Regal Song {SP}, by Unbridled's Song), vanquisher of both champion Malathaat (Curlin) and GISW Clairiere (Curlin) in last year's GI Coaching Club American Oaks, kicked off her 2022 campaign by overcoming a bumpy start–literally, as she ricocheted repeatedly off her inside rival out of the gate–and circling the field wide with enthusiasm to storm past all by two lengths. It was the classy filly's first start since fourth behind Clairiere in the Sept. 25 GI Cotillion S. Trainer Rob Atras is reportedly considering Oaklawn's Apr. 23, $1-million GI Apple Blossom S. as a next start for the gray. Both Clairiere and reigning Eclipse older female champion Letruska (Super Saver) are also pointing to the race. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Saturday's Insights: Karen With an I Flies Beholder's Colors on Debut
8th-Santa Anita, $68,500, Msw, 4-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.27, ft, neck.
Debuting MY KENTUCKY GIRL (f, 3, American Pharoah–Easy Living {SP, $153,300}, by Big Brown) raced very wide, failed to change to her proper lead until late stretch, and got no more confidence from the public than 20-1, but none of it mattered as she rallied late to win by a neck. The dark bay sold for $475,000 as a 2020 Keeneland September yearling, making her among the top 10 highest-priced yearlings by her sire that year. The Jonathan Wong pupil had been working steadily over the Golden Gate all-weather surface for this unveiling. Bred by Stonehaven Steadings and owned by Tommy Town, My Kentucky Girl beat another filly also 'Insighted' in the race, Karin With an I (Curlin). The latter has had a close following since birth as the second foal and first daughter of superstar mare Beholder (Henny Hughes). A Spendthrift homebred, Karin With an I had been working nicely for this debut, but broke from the rail and never quite got involved. For the record, Beholder didn't win first-time out either and things worked out just fine for her. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
8th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 4-2, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.97, ft, 1/2 length.
The highest-priced 2-year-old by her now-sophomore sire when she hammered for $550,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Gulfstream sale last year after working in a sharp :10, WISH YOU WELL (f, 3, American Freedom–Listen to Libby, by Indian Charlie) debuted accordingly. The Brereton Jones-bred chestnut leaped eagerly out of the gate, pricked her ears, led the field through :22.10 and :44.75 fractions, and held off fellow 'Insighted' filly Inventing (Union Rags) to win gamely. The George Weaver trainee is a half-sister to GSW Chanteline (Majesticperfection). Their dam is undoubtedly named for Libby Jones, co-proprietor of Airdrie Stud, where this filly was bred and where American Freedom stands. Fellow firster Inventing, a $390,000 Keeneland September purchase now in Todd Pletcher's barn, targeted Wish You Well on the turn and was closing with every stride, but couldn't quite catch her rival. She had stumbled at the start and will surely be stretched out down the road, as she's had family members appreciate a little extra distance, including GI Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status (A.P. Indy) and GI Alabama S. winner Dunbar Road (Quality Road). Easy to Love (Empire Maker) also debuted in this spot. The Bill Mott-trained Gainesway homebred broke inwardly from the outside and set off a chain reaction of bumps. All seven of her siblings are winners, including half-brother Lukes Alley (Flower Alley), who is a Canadian champion and U.S. GISW, and another half-sister who is a SW and GSP, so don't count her out yet. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Sunday's Insights: Hall of Famer-Trained Maidens in at Gulfstream
7th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 4-3, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.50, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
Pedigree handicappers may have had a tough time with this race, as a slew of well-bred and/or expensive sophomores contested this spot. MENDENHALL (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Mamma Kimbo {GSW, $242,250}, by Discreet Cat) got the job done at second asking after two bullets at Payson since his Mar. 5 seventh-place debut for Bill Mott. He had dwelt at the start that day and was never an active part of the race, but what a difference a little experience makes. The $675,000 Keeneland September OXO Equine purchase took command early and never left the result in doubt with Tyler Gallalione riding him confidently to a 1 1/2-length win after easing up late. His GII Fantasy-winning dam is a granddaughter of Canadian champion Deputy Jane West (Silver Deputy) and has produced two stakes winners from her six foals to race. Mendenhall was also a part of 'Insights' for his first career start. Logico (Violence) closed from last to second after being bumped at the start and has been knocking heads with some major players in his previous starts, including Saturday's GI Florida Derby winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and runner-up Charge It (Tapit) in their respective maiden wins. The debuting Stuart Janney III homebred Breakwater (Flatter) finished third. That left other 'Insighted' horses Days of Yore (Street Sense), Gate Runner (Arrogate), and Broken Spur (American Pharoah) off the podium in their respective unveilings. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
9th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Moc ($50K), 4-3, 3yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:31.02, fm, neck.
Great Uncle (Uncle Mo) debuted in this softer spot while not in for a tag and just missed the win against a bevy of more seasoned competitors. He broke from the rail, set all the pace with ears flicking back and forth early, and got a good education, as he was pressed most of the way and repelled that protracted challenge to pull away from the field before just getting caught at the wire by MR MAC QUHAE (g, 3, Classic Empire–Starlight Lady, by Elusive Quality). The Live Oak homebred, a half to MGSW Souper Tapit (Tapit), is trained by Mark Casse and is the second foal to race out of GISW Zo Impressive (Hard Spun), who is out of GISW Zoftig (Cozzene) and is a half-sister to GISW Zaftig (Gone West). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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