Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
9th-DMR, 57K, Msw, 2yo, 5fT, post time: 4:30 p.m. ET
When a pricey yearling works a couple of bullets as a 2-year-old for meticulous preparer and Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, that debut bears watching. Sarah Kelly's VELVET (American Pharoah) brought $875,000 last year at Keeneland September–fifth-highest of her sire's yearlings in 2019–and began working in earnest in August, getting three bullets since, including four panels in :47 (1/87) Aug. 30 at Del Mar and five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 (1/21) Oct. 7 at Santa Anita. Out of 2010 GI Mother Goose S. runner-up Connie and Michael (Roman Ruler), Velvet comes from a family with plenty of black-type, none better than her fourth dam's half-brother, champion and four-time Grade I winner Wajima (Bold Ruler).
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