5th-Ellis, $51,085, Msw, 8-8, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.79, ft, 2 3/4 lengths.
FREELANCER (c, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Libreta {SW, $128,660}, by Girolamo) joined Baladi (Pioneerof the Nile) as the second juvenile Godolphin homebred unveiled on Ellis Park's card Sunday by Brendan Walsh to graduate at first asking. Sent at 16-1 from the outside gate, Freelancer rushed up to duel with Blue Kentucky (Include) for the lead with the two exchanging head decisions at the :22.41 quarter mark and the :45.36 half-mile mark. The bay took over for good with two furlongs to go and sailed home on top, drawing away to finish 2 3/4 lengths in front of a chasing Gunoe (Into Mischief), a $1-million Keeneland yearling last year. Freelancer got the six panels in a sharp 1:09.79, more than a second faster than stablemate Baladi earlier on the card. He had tuned up for his debut with a half-mile bullet in :48 3/5 (1/14) over the surface Aug. 3. The winner's dam died in 2019, leaving only Freelancer and an unraced sophomore filly named Dazzle Her (Street Sense). Her granddam is GSW Sahara Gold (Seeking the Gold), dam of MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper) and herself out of 1995 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer (Storm Cat). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.
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