Jace's Road (c, 2, Quality Road–Out Post, by Silver Deputy), a $510,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, put on a show at Ellis Park Saturday afternoon en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors.
The bay worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 (2/90) at Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base July 29 and was hammered down to 7-5 favoritism while drawn on the outside in post nine against this deep-looking bunch.
He chased on the outside in third though an opening quarter in :22.47, loomed boldly under confident handling while three-wide on the turn for home and took off impressively down the stretch while under wraps to win going away by 6 1/4 lengths. Second-time starter Retained (Bayern) was second.
This is the 13th 'Rising Star' for Quality Road.
The multiple stakes-placed Out Post, from the same female family as champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) and GISW Forest Secrets (Forest Wildcat), brought $250,000 from breeder Richard Santulli as a KEESEP yearling. After producing a filly by Curlin this year, the winner's dam was bred back to Quality Road.
Jace's Road is bred on a similar cross (Quality Road x Deputy Minister) as champion Abel Tasman and GISW Spring Quality.
Winning co-owner West Point Thoroughbreds was also represented by promising debut winner and $500,000 FTSAUG graduate Battle of Normandy (City of Light) in the opener on Saratoga's Whitney card.
3rd-Ellis, $60,170, Msw, 8-6, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.80, ft, 6 1/4 lengths.
JACE'S ROAD, c, 2, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Out Post (MSP, $203,690), by Silver Deputy
2nd Dam: Secret Wildcat, by Forest Wildcat
3rd Dam: Garden Secrets, by Time for a Change
Sales history: $510,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
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