Racing fans didn't have to wait long for the New Year's first 'TDN Rising Star' as Juddmonte homebred Impel (Quality Road) sat off hot early fractions and pounced into the lane to graduate at first asking Monday.
Facing a field of mostly first-time starters, all making their 3-year-old debuts, Impel took money into the teeth of race favorite Tipsy Tammy (Arrogate), breaking at 7-2 and going right out to be three wide with that rival along with Golden Degree (Goldencents) on the rail. That trio sped through an opening quarter in :21.89 and Impel had work to do to keep up around the far turn. Patiently handled under Florent Geroux, the homebred got back onto even terms passing the quarter pole and, as the rest of the field faded behind him, took Tipsy Tammy into the final sixteenth before clearing away to hit the wire alone. The first two fillies were nearly 11 lengths clear of the rest of the group which included fellow first-timer Who's Ticket (Quality Road).
Impel is the first foal out of SW/GSP Your Love, who was purchased by Juddmonte for $480,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland November Sale in foal to More Than Ready. Your Love is a full-sister to GSW/GISP Economic Model and a half to MSW/GSP Jimmy Simms (Lost Soldier), GSW/GISP Happy American (Runhappy) and GSW/GISP Well Monied (Maria's Mon), who herself produced the dam of GSW/MGISP Will's Secret (Will Take Charge) and GSP Ben Diesel (Will Take Charge). After losing her 2022 War Front foal, Your Love produced a Curlin filly last year and was bred to Not This Time for 2024.
6th-Fair Grounds, $52,000, Msw, 1-1, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.15, ft, 3 1/4 lengths.
IMPEL, f, 3, Quality Road
1st Dam: Your Love {SW & GSP, $335,000}, by Flatter
2nd Dam: Queen of America, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Our Dear Ruth, by Bladski
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,200. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
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