By Jill Williams
Those who tried to beat traffic by leaving Churchill Downs after the Derby but before the last race Saturday missed a 'TDN Rising Star', while Belmont had an 11-length victor in the slop a few hours prior. Each may have debuted late, but could make some noise while the season progresses as additional members of this year's outstanding 3-year-old crop.
THURSDAY'S INSIGHTS: Godolphin Debuts Well-Bred Tapit Colt at Belmont
6th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-5, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:23.38, fast, 1 1/2 lengths.
A former claimer beat a slew of well-regarded prospects…no, not this weekend's GI Kentucky Derby, although that happened there, too. In this tough maiden, BALTASAR (g, 4, Bodemeister–Full Moon Frolic, by Vindication) shook off a string of misses to soundly defeat featured debuting 3-year-olds Shreveport (Tapit) and Mugged (Street Sense), in addition to intriguing second-timer Breakwater (Flatter). Godolphin homebred Shreveport is out of MGISW Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), making him a full-brother to GSW & GISP Lake Avenue, while Mugged is a Centennial Farms-owned $140,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling who traces back to a Phipps blue hen in Lady Be Good (Better Self). Breakwater is a Janney homebred whose fifth dam is flagship mare Glowing Tribute (Graustark). The winner, bred by Mike Pletrangelo and Liz Crow and let go for $25,000 as a Keeneland November weanling, used his experience and age Thursday and gave them all a schooling. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
FRIDAY'S INSIGHTS: Expensive American Freedom Filly Looks to Stay Perfect
12th-Churchill Downs, $128,924, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 5-6, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.89, sy, 1 3/4 lengths.
SOCIETY (f, 3, Gun Runner–Etiquette, by Tapit) stayed unbeaten in two starts to deny Wish You Well (American Freedom) the same status. Wish You Well, the highest-priced sales juvenile by her second-crop sire, was featured in a previous Insight Outcomes when taking her unveiling with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. She hesitated at the start here, got away last, and never got into contention as the 2-1 choice in the slop. Second-choice Society took up the mantle with ease, notching a pillar-to-post victory after digging in during the stretch run to repel a threat. The second-generation Peter Blum homebred's immediate family has been quiet lately, but Society may be ready to add some noise as she has foundation mare Missy Baba (My Babu) as her fifth dam and threw down some fierce fractions (:21.92 and :45.13) to follow her tracking debut win at Keeneland last fall. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
9th-Laurel, $51,500, Msw, 5-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.73, sy, 3 1/4 lengths.
Featured Aioli (Medaglia d'Oro)–a Godolphin homebred out of $3.1-million Keeneland September purchase Chimayo (A.P. Indy), who has since produced GISW Secret Spice (Discreet Cat)–scratched when the race was moved off the turf and will have to find another spot to make her career bow. New York-bred PATRIA (f, 3, Bustin Stones–Tall Timbercowgirl, by Prime Timber) stepped in for a wire-to-wire win. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
SATURDAY'S INSIGHTS: Full to Vino Rosso Debuts in NY
6th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-7, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m (off turf), 1:43.52, sy, 11 lengths.
EFFICIENCY (g, 3, Gun Runner–Sunday Sonnet {MSP, $152,915}, by Any Given Saturday) spoiled the unveiling of News Carver (Curlin), who was born the same year his full-brother, Vino Rosso, was named Eclipse champion after winning the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. News Carver was making his debut as a homebred for John Gunther, but didn't have the smoothest of starts, bumping early and never getting involved to finish more than 30 lengths in arrears. By contrast, Efficiency, who was second by a nose in his maiden bow Mar. 20 going seven furlongs at the Big A, contested the early lead before taking command with ease. Despite being green in the stretch, he romped home 11 lengths the best in an eased-up hand ride. The Klaravich Stables colorbearer, who was a main track-only entrant, was a $290,000 Keeneland January purchase as a short yearling. Another Keeneland buy–this one for $350,000 at Keeneland September–Oglethorpe (Arrogate), a grandson of GISW Starrer (Dynaformer), was also 'Insighted' for this race but scratched when it came off the turf. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
14th-Churchill Downs, $121,904, Msw, 5-7, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.71, ft, 4 1/2 lengths.
STROBE (c, 3, Into Mischief–Flashing {MGISW, $633,226}, by A.P. Indy) has every qualification to be a superstar and put it all together with a 'TDN Rising Star' debut to close out the Derby card. He's got the right sire in multiple leading sire Into Mischief, the right dam in 2009 GI Test S. and GI Gazelle S. winner Flashing, and the right connections to get every opportunity as a Godolphin homebred in the Brad Cox barn. His preparation included four bullets out of his last seven works, including a final prep breeze in :47 1/5 (1/82) at Keeneland. Strobe came out firing, looking every bit the professional as he set serious fractions of :21.73, 45.34, and :56.93 en route to a powerhouse 4 1/2-length domination in a hand ride. This is a colt to watch. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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