freshman sire

2nd-Indiana Grand, $34,000, Msw, 9-20, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.86, sy, 3 1/4 lengths. AWESOMELY SHY (f, 2, Gormley--Awesome Story, by Awesome Again) was pegged at morning-line odds of 9-2, but was completely friendless in the market and was off at 12.50-1 for a high-percentage outfit based south and east at Belterra Park. Straightened out after breaking a bit to her right, the homebred cut out a decent pace on the front end, increased her advantage in upper stretch and was punched out to best even-money Abuela's Humor (Distorted Humor)...

Hootenanny (Quality Road) became the latest freshman sire off the mark when the Kevin Ryan-trained Louisiana-bred filly Esken Rose shed maiden status on debut in Thursday's Northern Commercials Service, Sales & Parts Novice S. at Pontefract. The $4,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling and £38,000 Goresbridge@Newmarket breezer, who sported the colours of Hambleton Racing, made all to defeat Clarets Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) by a length. 1st-Pontefract, £7,200, Nov, 9-16, 2yo, 6fT, 1:16.39, g/f. ESKEN ROSE (f, 2, Hootenanny--Eskenforandreya, by Eskendereya) was the sharpest of nine into stride and seized...

4th-Del Mar, $71,500, Msw, 9-2, 2yo, f, 5fT, :57.42, fm, 1/2 length. BRANDON'SMYLAWYER (f, 2, Astern {Aus}--Ivory Pearl, by Pulpit), looking to become the fourth U.S. winner for freshman Astern, was sent off the 8-5 choice following a bullet four-furlong move in :47.40 at San Luis Rey Aug. 28. Rushing into contention but a hair behind the pacesetters, the dark bay was forced back slightly but recovered well to sit in a rail-hugging third through a :22.22 quarter. Moved to the outside turning for home, the Richard Baltas trainee caught...

Lucky Seven Stable's Behave Virginia (Unified) launched her career in style, rolling home an impressive 5 1/2-furlong winner at Churchill Downs Friday to become the first winner for freshman sire Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}). Narrowly in front into the far turn, she was briefly headed by 6-5 favorite Trade Secret (Goldencents), but wrested the lead back from that rival turning for home. In command from there, the 7-1 chance drew clear through the stretch, crossing the wire 5 1/2 lengths ahead of Trade Secret while under a hand ride. Her...

Whatstheconnection became the first winner for freshman sire Connect (Curlin) at Indiana Grand Tuesday. Given an 8-1 chance in this debut, the chestnut broke on top from his rail draw and shot out to a clear lead, clicking off a :22.31 opening quarter. Turning for home in front, the homebred held off a pair of late challengers to win by a half-length. Mowins, a son of freshman sire Mohaymen, completed the exacta. Connect was a four-time stakes winner, topped by a victory in the 2016 GI Cigar Mile for the...

2nd-Santa Anita, $64,562, Msw, 5-21, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :53.12, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. ROYAL O'HAIGAIN (f, 2, El Deal--Dreaming of Susie {GSP}, by Cowtown Cat) posted a blazing :34 flat bullet (1/33) at Santa Anita May 17, prompting her to be backed down to 4-5 favoritism for this unveiling. Quickly to the front, the Louisiana-bred was given the go-ahead after Alexis Centeno took a quick peek under his right arm nearing the quarter pole and spurted clear turning for home. Moving with purpose from there, the bay crossed the...

1ST-CAPANNELLE, €13,200, Mdn., 5-9, 2yo, 1200m (AWT), 1:13.50. DON CHICCO (GB) (128, c, 2, El Kabeir-Otrooha (Ire), by Oasis Dream {GB}), a distant second locally going 1000 metres over soft ground when unveiled on May 1, was tabbed the even-money pick in this quick return. Trying the all-weather surface for the first time, the bay battled with a rival for the advantage from the bell and sat a neck second on the far turn. He re-bid for the lead in upper stretch and forged clear to win by three lengths...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Msw, 12-9, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.24, ft, 13 1/4 lengths. WITSEL (c, 2, Nyquist--Bailzee {SP, $152,580}, by Grand Slam), sent off at 5-1 to become the 16th career winner for his GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire (by Uncle Mo), showed good early foot to settle just behind pace setter Thrown For A Loupe (Gemologist), who showed the way through a :22.62 quarter. Scraping the paint while 8-5 choice Equuleus (Maclean's Music) loomed three wide as the leading charged for the quarter-mile pole, Witzel gained the advantage turning for...

8th-Belmont, $63,000, Msw, 10-16, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.43, sy, 8 lengths. TEN FOR TEN (c, 2, Frosted--Summer Vacation, by Eskendereya) kicked off his career with a second-place effort sprinting six panels at Saratoga Sept. 7 and was backed down to slight 2-1 favoritism while getting blinkers in his route debut. Hustled to the front by Jose Ortiz straight off the blocks, the $410,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase repelled a bid from 2-1 chance Savoy (Honor Code) approaching the quarter pole and spurted clear through the lane, scoring by an impressive...

4th-Churchill Downs, $69,074, Msw, 9-20, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.50, ft. DECADE (f, 2, California Chrome--Emma Carly, by Unbridled's Song) was pounded down to 1-5  after a close-up second in her career debut at Ellis Aug. 15. Firster Color of Dawn (Exxaggerator) jumped to the lead early and Decade was hustled into a stalking position through an initial quarter in :22.82. Asked for more by Ricardo Santana Jr. leaving the far turn, the heavy favorite collared Color of Dawn and was on equal terms with her rival turning for home....

6th-Ellis, $46,200, Msw, 8-30, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.52, ft. UPSTRIKER (c, 2, Upstart--Casanova Striker, by Smart Strike) opened with the money on but drifted up to a generous 11-1 at the off while looking to become his first-crop sire's fifth winner and second in as many days after the impressive unveiling Saturday at Saratoga of pricey Founder. Showing good speed to chase in second, the dark bay confronted pacesetter Bluegrass Pharoah (American Pharoah) after a :45.98 half. He went by willingly at the top of the lane, and widened at...

The year 2020 will have an asterisk next to it in racing history, but there will nevertheless be a leading first-crop sire at year's end, and Taylor Made's Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) might be the stallion atop it. As we head into September, Not This Time leads all N. American-based first-crop sires by number of winners, with nine, and he's a close third behind Ashford's Air Force Blue (War Front) and WinStar's Speightster (Speightstown) on the progeny earnings list. The major 2-year-old graded events the next few months leading...