By Stefanie Grimm
1st-SA, $65K, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 3:30 p.m.
A pair of pricey Bob Baffert stablemates make their anticipated debuts Saturday to open the card at Santa Anita. NORMANDY LANDING (Gun Runner), out of a daughter of MGISW and Kentucky Oaks heroine Flute (Seattle Slew), brought $1,050,000 from the 'Avengers' as a yearling at Keeneland. Dam Perfect Flute, who has already produced this runner's winning full-sibling, is herself a half to GSW/MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast) and to the dams of GSW Current (Curlin) and GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft).
He'll break outside of stablemate Maymun (Frosted), a successful pinhook who brought a top-five price of $900,000 from Zedan Racing Stables at last year's OBS April sale after selling for just $50,000 as a yearling at Keeneland the year prior. The son of Frosted seems to have plenty of speed, tuning up for this debut with a best-of-65 drill Jan. 13 (four furlongs in :47).
Attempting to split the pair is second-time starter Mc Vay (Constitution), a $1.25m FTSAUG yearling himself who ran greenly in his Del Mar debut behind Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) Sept. 2. He removes the blinkers in this spot for trainer John Shirreffs. TJCIS PPS
11th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 5:05 p.m.
On the East Coast, Coinvest (City of Light) brings yet another million-dollar price tag on the day for Todd Pletcher and the partnership of Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds. The $1.1m KEESEP grad will seek to emulate the success of his half-siblings including MGSW/MGISP Wit (Practical Joke) and GSW Barkley (Munnings).
Opposing him is $600,000 KEESEP yearling and stablemate Linesman (Uncle Mo) along with Peter Brant's European invader Zapata (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for trainer Chad Brown. TJCIS PPS
5th-FG, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 3:00 p.m.
Kicking off Lecomte day at the Fair Grounds, Kentucky West Racing homebred Saint Damasus (Justify) debuts for trainer Kenneth McPeek. The colt is a half to GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational winner Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway).
He'll face second-time starter Hall of Fame (Gun Runner), a $1.4m FTSAUG yearling who ran second as the beaten favorite in his Churchill debut Nov. 26 for Steve Asmussen. TJCIS PPS
6th-FG, $60K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:30 p.m.
Yes Indeed (Bolt d'Oro) debuts for Cherie DeVaux and Laul Stables after bringing $850,000 at OBS April last Spring. Her dam's first foal, she was a $350,000 yearling who impressed after breezing in :10. TJCIS PPS
8th-FG, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:30 p.m.
In the final maiden special weight of the day at Fair Grounds, Exploration (Curlin) starts for a lengthy partnership led by Spendthrift Farm. The $900,000 KEESEP yearling is out of a half to GISW Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song), who went on to produce GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby winner Capensis (Tapit). This is also the family of GI NetJets King's Bishop S. winner Visionaire (Grand Slam), GSW Scarlet Fusion (Curlin) and GSW/MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike).
He'll face Godolphin homebred Cornishman (Curlin), a son of GSW/MGISP Penwith (Bernardini). Second dam Composure (Touch Gold), purchased by Godolphin for $3.6m out of KEENOV in 2003, is also responsible for MGISP Centring (A.P. Indy) and GISP Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy) along with the dam of MGSW Shared Sense (Street Sense). TJCIS PPS
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