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.
Sea Vista (c, 2, Street Sense–Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon) gained valuable racing experience in his unveiling, finishing second over a muddy, sealed track at Saratoga Aug. 3.
The Godolphin homebred got the better of his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Immersive (f, 2, by Nyquist)–a smart debut winner earlier in the meet July 21–going four furlongs in :48 4/5 (40/118) at Churchill Downs July 27 and was one of three runners well-backed at odds of 3-1.
Sea Vista broke in at the start and was quickly outsprinted while under a ride by Florent Geroux through an opening quarter in :22.12. Last of seven heading into the far turn, he began to find his footing around the bend.
Hung out seven wide at the top of the stretch, he raced shoulder to shoulder with the slightly favored third-time starter I Got Game (Game Winner) and bumped repeatedly with that rival as they straightened for home.
Sea Vista leveled off from there and came running down the lane to fall just 1 3/4 lengths short of the Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter Uncaged (Curlin), who enjoyed the run of the race beneath leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.
The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.55. Sea Vista earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
A stewards' inquiry into the turn focusing on Sea Vista and I Got Game resulted in no change to the order of finish.
“I thought it was a positive race,” Cox said.
“Honestly thought he'd break a little sharper and be maybe a touch more involved early. But he kinda found himself where he was and he did well to make up some ground with a little bit of a wide trip.”
Cox continued, “I think he's a good colt. We would've never taken him up to Saratoga if we didn't think highly of him. We thought he was a horse that could win first time out. He ran very very well and obviously got a lot from it. He came out of it in good order. As of right now, we're looking toward running him back in the seven-eighths at the end of the month at Saratoga.”
Sara Louise, who defeated the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra in the 2008 GIII Pocahontas Stakes, is also the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Nash | Sarah Andrew
Carrying the colors of Eldon Farm, Sea Vista's dam Sara Louise defeated the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra for trainer Dale Romans in the 2008 GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed's operation and turned over to Saeed bin Suroor after finishing second to the aforementioned Hall of Famer in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, Sara Louise added a pair of graded wins to her resume for the 'Boys in Blue' and also finished within a head of two-time champion Indian Blessing in the GII Gallant Bloom Handicap.
Sara Louise–a half-sister to GSW Just Louise (Five Star Day), the dam of MGSW & GISP Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah)–has also produced the Cox-trained 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Pat Day Mile Stakes runner-up Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) and GSP Sara Street (Street Sense).
Sea Vista is bred on the same Street Sense x A. P. Indy cross as GISWs Maxfield and Speaker's Corner, who were produced by Bernardini mares.
“He's a young horse,” Cox concluded. “I think the best is yet to come.”
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).
UNCAGED, the 2YO son of @HillnDaleFarm stallion Curlin, breaks his maiden in the fifth race with @iradortiz up for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/sLbgpmgZVK
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 3, 2024
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