By Joe Bianca
On an action-packed stakes weekend, insights were relatively light, featuring an upset of perennial 2-year-old powerhouse Wesley Ward in the Keeneland meet opener Friday and the unveiling of a $1.25-million purchase on the Aqueduct turf Saturday.
Friday's Insights: Laoban Full-Sister Debuts at Keeneland
1st-Keeneland, $60,904, Msw, 4-8, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :53.16, ft, 5 lengths.
The annual tradition of Wesley Ward dominating Keeneland's April 2-year-old races early and often was immediately interrupted by emerging California juvenile trainer Luis Mendez–starting his first-ever horse at Keeneland–and Flavien Prat thanks to five-length winner KING ADROCK (c, 2, Uncaptured–Gardening Leave, by Colonel John) in Friday's meet opener. The $25,000 Fasig-Tipton October buy prompted the pace, took over early in the stretch and kicked away smartly as the clear 51-10 second choice behind 2-5 Ward baby Dominicana (Uncle Mo). Favored as a filly facing males, the $300,000 Keeneland September buy wasn't away all that great and showed brief speed before retreating to finish sixth. Dominicana still possesses plenty of upside, as a full-sister to Laoban, who broke his maiden in his eighth start–at 27-1 in the GII Jim Dandy S. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Saturday's Insights: $1.25-Million American Pharoah Colt Debuts
3rd-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 4-9, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:39.96, gd, 1 length.
Speedway Stables' Colton Charlemagne (American Pharoah) brought intrigue to this Big A turf mile as a $1.25-million Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling buy and half-brother to MGSW/GISP Travel Column (Frosted), but the dark bay broke several lengths behind the field and never got involved as BAY STREET MONEY (g, 5, Street Sense–Collect the Cash, by Dynaformer) broke through in his ninth career start. One to watch coming out of this race is 16-1 runner-up Howe Street (Honor Code) for trainer Jorge Abreu. Breaking from the outside post in a 12-horse field, the John Gunther homebred was second-last out of the stalls, got carried wide into the clubhouse turn and bravely weaved through traffic in the stretch to finish a fast-closing second before blowing by the winner in the gallop-out. The dark bay earned an 81 Beyer for the effort. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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