By Steve Sherack
In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.
There was a fair bit of steam behind Admiral Dennis (c, 2, Constitution–Gulf Coast, by Union Rags) as he entered the starting gate first time out for trainer Brad Cox in a deep maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Sept. 19. There will be even more next time.
Off as the 5-2 favorite, the Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer broke in at the start and was outsprinted in seventh in the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong affair. Fifth and on the move beneath Florent Geroux through an opening quarter in :22.35, Admiral Dennis, now just behind the leaders in an inside fourth, raced under a tight hold while stuck in some traffic around the far turn and never really got a fair shake from there.
Still with nowhere to run as they left the quarter pole behind, Geroux was forced to alter course multiple times down the stretch, and ultimately found a lane along the rail close to home. Admiral Dennis ran on admirably without threatening the top two, finishing two lengths behind Big Much (Outwork) and I Got Game (Game Winner).
Admiral Dennis earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
“You think you have a good horse, but going into that first race, you really don't know for sure,” Albaugh Family Stable's General Manager Jason Loutsch said.
“Getting boxed in was an unbelievable education that I think is gonna prove beneficial down the line. All in all, other than not winning, we were really excited with the result and what he showed us.”
Loutsch continued, “We're really excited for his next race and going into next year. Brad (Cox) said that we'll see what comes up at the end of Keeneland or that first weekend of Churchill in the fall. That's probably what we'll point to.”
Admiral Dennis's sire Constitution is responsible for 36 graded/ group winners worldwide, including the Albaugh Family-owned and Cox-trained Catching Freedom (Constitution), winner of this spring's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and fourth-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby.
The WinStar Farm-bred Admiral Dennis, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Dennis Albaugh's operation (yes, he is named after the stable's patriarch), is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Gulf Coast, who hails from the extended female family of the legendary A.P. Indy. Admiral Dennis is bred on the same Constitution x Dixie Union cross as GSW By Your Side.
“We've been trying to buy Constitutions for a long time,” Loutsch said. “Two years ago when we bought Catching Freedom ($575,000 KEESEP yearling purchase), that was our first Constitution. He was also bred by WinStar and we're hoping for a similar result. We think a lot of this colt and just pray that he stays healthy and takes that next step. I think we'll have a fun 3-year-old campaign with him.”
The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).
#10 Big Much upsets at 17/1 on debut in R5 at @churchilldowns for trainer Norm Casse with @RSantana_jr in the irons! 💰
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/d0J36GWIFZ
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 19, 2024
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