Saturday Insights: $725k Union Rags Colt Debuts at the Big A

3rd-AQU, $80K, 2yo, 8.5fT, 12:50 p.m. ET
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, William Freeman and Michael Valdes's AVIANO (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for trainer Todd Pletcher, who recorded his 5,000th career victory last weekend and becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021. Out of graded stakes winner Bryan's Jewel (Rockport Harbor), the April foal realized a $775,000 final bid from Eclipse at last year's Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling sale in Saratoga. Bryan's Jewel, a daughter of $650,000 Fasig-Tipton buy Saphiria (Touch Gold)–trained by Pletcher–is also responsible for a Bodemeister filly ultimately named Empress Sophia, who brought $400,000 at KEESEP in 2017. Stuart Janney III's Proven Innocent (Blame&log=#tot">Blame) kicks off his career for Shug McGaughey. The hombred is out of the prolific Janney mare Meghan's Joy (A.P. Indy), dam of MGSW and MGISP Ironicus (Distorted Humor), GSW Hunting (Coronado's Quest), MGSW On Leave (War Front), in addition to graded winners Quiet Harbor (Silver Deputy) and Norumbega (Tiznow). This is the extended family of MGSW Wild Applause (Northern Dancer), dam of Grade I scorer Eastern Echo (Damascus) and graded winners Yell (A.P. Indy), Roar (Forty Niner) and Blare of Trumpets (Fit to Fight). TJCIS PPs

5th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 1:45 p.m. ET
DYNAMIC ONE (Union Rags) gets his start for the partnership of Repole, Phipps and St. Elias Stables while under the guidance of Todd Pletcher. A $725,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, the colt was the third highest-priced colt by his sire in 2019. He hails from the family of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account) through her daughter MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer). The Phipps family-bred is a grandson of My Flag's champion daughter Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), a half-sister to Miner's Mark (Mr. Prospector) and Traditionally (Mr. Prospector). TJCIS PPs