Second Chances: Collaborate

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

After holding his own with his Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained stablemate and last year's narrow GI TVG.com Haskell S. runner-up Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) in a weekend breeze, the highly regarded Collaborate (c, 3, Into Mischief–Quiet Temper, by Quiet American) will look to earn his diploma going a mile at second asking at Gulfstream Park Saturday.

The Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing colorbearer, a $600,000 FTSAUG yearling, was working up a storm at Joseph's Gulfstream base heading into his debut and was off as the 7-5 chalk in a deep-looking maiden special weight going six furlongs in the slop in Hallandale Feb. 6 (video).

Off a beat slowly from post 10, Collaborate was immediately outfooted and under a ride beneath Tyler Gaffalione in the early stages. He began to find his stride and advanced some while hung out about four wide down the backstretch and got into the race a bit more from sixth with a quarter of a mile to go. He continued with a steady grind in the stretch and rallied between horses to finish a close fifth–beaten just 1 1/4 lengths–in a blanket finish. The race was won by the Todd Pletcher-trained, first-time starter Democracy (Quality Road). Collaborate earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He had a really strong work with Ny Traffic the other day [five furlongs in 1:00.29 (2/28) at Gulfstream Feb. 21], and since the race, he's done well,” Joseph said.

“We're going to stretch him out to a mile Saturday–it looks like the track is going to be fast this time–and, hopefully, we get to see the horse that we think he is.”

Collaborate will face 10 rivals–including first-time starter Bennyfromthebronx (Tapit) from the Chad Brown barn, a half-brother to the talented Charlatan (Speightstown)–in the fifth race on the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. undercard. He will exit from post four with Gaffalione back in the irons.

The son of leading sire Into Mischief is out of 2010 GII Fair Grounds Oaks heroine Quiet Temper and hails from the extended female family of Phipps GISWs Furlough, Dancing Spree, Fantastic Find, Heavenly Prize and Oh What a Windfall. The Triple Crown nominee was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys.

“Obviously, we wanted to win first time out and there was some disappointment, but having said all that, I thought he gained valuable experience and a lot of education from it,” Joseph said.

“Hopefully, we can build on it this Saturday and get a much better result.”

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), and MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).