By Stefanie Grimm
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
10th-SA, $67K, Msw, 3yo, 6fT, 8:09 p.m.
Breaking from the far outside post in the nightcap at the Great Race Place, NUCLEAR (Justify) looks to start earning back some of his $1,550,000 price tag with a turf debut for trainer John Sadler. Out of GIII Schuylerville S. runner-up True Feelings (Latent Heat), the colt is a half-brother to SW Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief) and GSP Royal Act (American Pharoah) while Metro, his 2-year-old half-brother by Quality Road, outshone his brother in sales ring by bringing $2.5m from Talla Racing, Woodford Racing, and West Point at last year's Keeneland September Sale. True Feelings is herself a half-sister to the dam of champion 3-year-old filly Wait A While (Maria's Mon). This is also the extended family of dual Eclipse winner and successful sire Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike).
On the complete opposite side of the gate, Precision Strike (Gun Runner) makes the races after bringing $485,000 out of last year's OBS April Sale. He's out of a half-sister to MGISW Winchester (Theatrical {Ire}) and MGSW Middleburg (Lemon Drop Kid) and starts Saturday out of the Doug O'Neill barn. TJCIS PPS
1st-TAM, $32K, Msw, 3yo, 1m 40yd, 12:25 p.m.
Another son of Gun Runner, St. Elias Stables LLC's ARCH RUNNER, kicks off the day's action in Florida for Todd Pletcher. A $750,000 Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale grad and a half-brother to MGSW & GISP Proctor's Ledge (Ghostzapper), the colt picks up jockey Luis Saez.
One gate to his inside, Champagne Juan (Justify) has put in a trio of bullet drills for trainer Christophe Clement and owner RT Racing Stable. The $500,000 Keeneland September yearling is a half to the dam of GSW & MGISP Will's Secret (Will Take Charge) while his own dam, GSW & MGISP Well Monied (Maria's Mon), is a half to GSW & GISP Economic Model (Flatter) and GSW Happy American (Runhappy). TJCIS PPS
10th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 4:37 p.m.
Rounding out the action in Florida, DREAMLIKE (Gun Runner) was a $975,000 St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable pick up out of Keeneland September in 2021. His dam is a full-sister to champion 3-year-old Untapable as well as a half to GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}). Also under the second dam is 2023 Triple Crown contender Red Route One (Gun Runner). TJCIS PPS
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