Second Chances: Ambivalent

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

After kicking off his career with a promising runner-up effort at Santa Anita last month, the highly regarded 2-year-old Ambivalent (Constitution) will look to go one better at the upcoming Del Mar meeting.

“Being a son of Constitution, which is just a huge feather in your cap, he's a horse that we've been excited about from day one,” two-time GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill said.

Purchased for $550,000 by Reddam Racing at OBS March after gliding through a quarter in :20 4/5 from the Wavertree Stables consignment, the long-striding dark bay was sent off as the 2-1 second choice in his unveiling going 4 1/2 furlongs June 21 (video).

Outfooted in fourth in the early stages, Ambivalent traveled nicely on the inside behind the top three approaching the quarter pole. Kept along the fence by Mario Gutierrez as the front-running Weston (Hit It a Bomb) left the rail open as they straightened, Ambivalent continued on nicely while scraping the paint down the lane and reported home 1 1/4 lengths adrift the sharp pacesetter.

“He acts like the longer, the better,” O'Neill said. “He didn't have the cleanest of trips in his debut, and going 4 1/2, it's hard to win if you don't have a real good, clean trip. I thought he ran dynamite. The goal is July 18–it's the second straight maiden at Del Mar going 5 1/2, so he'll have an extra furlong to navigate, which should benefit him.”

Bred in Kentucky by J. Stephen McDonald, Ambivalent was a $95,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Red Wings prior to bringing the second-highest price for a colt in Ocala this March. He was produced by a Smart Strike-winning daughter of MGSW Roshani (Fantastic Light).

Ambivalent returned to the worktab with an easy three-furlong breeze in :36.40 (2/5) in Arcadia July 1.

“He's doing really well,” O'Neill concluded. “We just put a little easy breeze into him and he's down at Del Mar now. We're hoping to breeze him this Friday, that's the game plan. He came out of his debut in good shape. Like all these athletes, you just got to keep them injury free. The sky's the limit with this guy. He's got a real bright future.”

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Candy Tycoon (Twirling Candy).