By Jill Williams
From a new 'TDN Rising Star' to the first winner for a freshman sire, races highlighted in Insights were full of intrigue this past week. In addition, a runner-up at Keeneland on Saturday had such a spectacular gallop out that he'll be one to watch next out.
Wednesday's Insights: Well-Related Duo Debut at Keeneland
1st-Keeneland, $75,320, Msw, 4-13, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :53.09, gd, 1 3/4 lengths.
How fitting to see Motown record label founder Berry Gordy honored with namesake MR. GORDY (c, 2, Mo Town–Sky Trail, by Congrats) getting Coolmore's freshman Mo Town off the mark with his first winner as a sire. The 21-1 shot in the field of seven debuters went pillar to post for trainer John Hancock, outrunning the Wesley Ward-owned, -trained, and -favored Alibi Ike (Munnings), whose race was over when the gates opened. The chestnut broke last, hit a bit of traffic, and threw in the towel after making a move on the turn. Alibi Ike's dam is a half to champion Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), GISW Echo Town (Speightstown), and GSW J Boys Echo (Mineshaft). Ward has won just one of Keeneland's baby races this spring despite having entrants in all four to date, an uncharacteristically slow start for a trainer who usually dominates in this category. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
4th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-13, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:18.10, gd, 1 1/2 lengths.
Victoria Oliver's BE LIKE WATER (f, 4, Majesticperfection–Mount Kellett, by Empire Maker) spoiled the coming-out party of Todd Pletcher's Charging Lady (Medaglia d'Oro). Be Like Water charged down the rail on her wrong lead to win, while Charging Lady never got involved. The latter is the first foal out of Whisper Hill's $2.2-million 2013 Keeneland September purchase I'll Take Charge (Indian Charlie), making her a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Florida Derby runner-up Charge It (Tapit). Her granddam is the influential Take Charge Lady (Dehere). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Thursday's Insights: Mopotism Full-Brother Debuts at Keeneland
5th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-14, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:17.94, ft, 3/4 length.
First-time starter and $775,000 Keeneland September graduate Nabokov (Uncle Mo), a full-brother to GSW & MGISP Mopotism, looked a winner, yielding the early lead to RUNPAT (c, 4, Runhappy–Miss Mary Pat {MSW, $102,863}, by Service Stripe) and tracking from the rail before taking command down the lane. However, Runpat–who has had notes of “green” on the footnotes and chart comments of all three of his previous starts and once again acted far less experienced than he is in the stretch–overcame his antics this time, fighting back to don cap and gown for Brad Cox. Nabokov may not have won, but the Chad Brown-trained/Peter Brant-owned runner held second, showing plenty of upside as the lone 3-year-old in a field of older horses. The Shug McGaughey-trained East to the Dawn (Empire Maker) was another debuter in the field who got a race under his belt while connections will likely look to his future mindful of an immediate female family that specializes on turf at more distance. After a wide trip and getting bothered by a rival coming off the turn, the Joseph Allen and Helen Alexander runner wasn't a factor. He hails from the Aquilegia (Alydar) branch of Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee (Never Bend). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Saturday's Insights: Well-Bred Sophomores Debut on East Coast
4th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.73, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
In a face off of powerhouse homebred programs, it took a 'TDN Rising Star' performance from WinStar's UNDER OATH (c, 3, Speightstown–Jojo Warrior {MGSW & GISP, $396,231}, by Pioneerof the Nile) to tarnish the debut of Juddmonte's Artorius (Arrogate). The secret was out regarding Todd Pletcher's Under Oath, who was bet down to 6-5 based on his Mar. 12 Gulfstream unveiling that culminated in a third and an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He ran to his price, closing wide into the stretch and driving clear. A chestnut with a chrome-splashed face, Under Oath had been offered at the 2020 Keeneland September sale, but WinStar brought him back home after he was an $170,000 RNA. Second choice at 3-1, Artorius, who had registered eight works at Payson for Chad Brown before shipping to Keeneland, also looks special as he circled the field to make a huge run late. He swapped to his wrong lead in mid-stretch and kicked into high gear, blowing past all but the winner with a huge gallop out that propelled him well past Under Oath after the wire. Artorius was always intended to race as a homebred for Juddmonte, who privately purchased his MGISW dam (Paulassilverlining {Ghostzapper}) mid-career in order to ensure she was part of the late Arrogate's first book. Another firster featured here was Kansas Comet (Uncle Mo), who broke slowly and was saved for another day after he lost touch with the field in the stretch. Trained by Dale Romans, he was purchased by the Albaugh family for $600,000 at the first session of Keeneland September in 2020. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
5th-Laurel, $56,654, Msw, 4/16, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:37.98, 3 lengths.
Graham Motion's Mrs. Postman (Pioneerof the Nile) made her career debut in this spot, hesitating slightly out of the gate to get away last. The dark bay, a My Meadowview homebred and a half-sister to MGSW Tin Type Gal (Tapit), trailed the field, made a mild move while wide on the turn, and finished evenly midpack. Her Grade I-winning dam, Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), is a half-sister to GSW Trappe Shot (Tapit) and to the dam of GISW Power Broker (Pulpit). The Maryland-bred winner, I'M BLUSHING (f, 3, Mosler–Blushing Bride, by Miesque's Son), is a homebred for John and Cheri Banner. Her young conditioner, Brittany Russell, is third among trainers by number of wins at the current Laurel spring meet. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Sunday's Insights: Arrogate Filly Debuts for Bridlewood
3rd-Gulfstream, $50,000, Msw, 4/17, 3yo/up, f/m, about 1 1/16mT, 1:42.75, 1 length.
Ralph Nicks pupil OGLALA (f, 4, Social Inclusion–Naughty Matilda, by Indian Charlie) last saw competition more than 10 months ago, but shook off the rust under strong handling in the stretch to score her first win at the cost of 'Insighted' Usurped (Arrogate). The big-striding Usurped, a Brendan Walsh-trained Bridlewood homebred, took a left turn out of the gate and never got uncorked, simply getting outrun in her unveiling against older fillies. She is a half-sister to MGISW and $2.8-million Keeneland November purchase Iotapa (Afleet Alex). Like Arrogate's GI Kentucky Oaks prospect, Secret Oath, Usurped has a broodmare sire from the Mr. Prospector line. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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