insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-KEE, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 4 1/2f, post time: 2:45 p.m. ET Tom Durant's TEJANO TWIST becomes the first starter for the much-hyped freshman sire Practical Joke for the potent 2-year-old barn of Bret Calhoun. A son of the Grade III-placed Haley's Lolipop (Cuvee), the homebred is a half-brother to Game Day Play (Violence), a second-out maiden winner last August and two starts later victorious in the Clevor Trevor S. at Remington Park. Second dam Two Foxie (Fair Skies) produced the fleet GSW & GISP Maddalena...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 7th-Keeneland, $81K, Alw (N2L), 3yo, 6f, post time: 4:24 p.m. ET THERIDEOFALIFETIME (Candy Ride {Arg}) sandwiched a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy graduation over this strip last July between runner-up efforts to top juvenile Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind that one on Churchill debut in June and three lengths adrift in the GII Saratoga Special S. in August. Stretched out to the one-turn mile for the GIII Iroquois S. on the Derby undercard Sept. 5, the homebred was sent to the front and...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 11th-KEE, $79K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 6:38 p.m. ET A pair of Pioneerof the Nile brothers to high-profile champions look to go one better off of runner-up debuts to close out the Keeneland card Saturday. John Gunther homebred Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) is half to none other than Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) as well as the ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense). A $950,000 Keeneland September RNA, the Chad Brown trainee was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by super impressive 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-Keeneland, $83K, AOC, 4/up, f/m, 8.5f, post time: 3:51 p.m. ET Robert and Lawana Low's current crop of 4-year-olds includes leading U.S. turf horse Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and 'TDN Rising Star' SPICE IS NICE (Curlin), who dips down into allowance company for her seasonal debut. An impressive 12-length maiden winner at first asking last January, she was runner-up in the GII Davona Dale S., but only fifth to Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. An easy Belmont allowance winner last July,...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2f, 5:08 p.m. ET MISSY P. (Into Mischief), a full-sister to GISW millionaire and 'TDN Rising Star' Mia Mischief, opens her account in this sprint for Spendthrift Farm and Richard Mandella. The lone 3-year-old in a field of seven, the bay shows a half-dozen strong works over the local main track, including a three-furlong bullet from the gate in :34 4/5 (1/47) Jan. 27 and a six-panel move in 1:11 2/5 (2/6) Feb. 26. Drawn outside, the homebred is...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-Gulfstream, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, post time: 1:24 p.m. ET Given his name, it might be more fitting if Peter Brant's BENNYFROMTHEBRONX (Tapit) were making his first trip to the races at the Jersey Shore, but instead, the half-brother to GISW 'TDN Rising Star' and recent Saudi Cup runner-up Charlatan (Speightstown) gets his career started at Gulfstream Park Saturday afternoon. The bay, a $300,000 Keeneland September acquisition, is the latest to the races from his dam, two-time graded winner and three-time Grade I-placed Authenticity (Quiet...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-Aqueduct, $80K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 3:25 p.m. ET ROYAL REALM (Empire Maker) gets his career underway for Centennial Farms and trainer Jimmy Jerkens. A $250,000 Keeneland September acquisiton, the Triple Crown-nominated dark bay is out of an unraced daughter of Golden Sheba (Coronado's Quest), the dam of Godolphin's two-time GISW Wedding Toast (Street Sense), whose son Ya Hayati (Dubawi {Ire}) won the Listed Zabeel Turf at Meydan last month. The colt's third dam includes the recently deceased MGISW Congaree (Arazi) and SW/GISP Sangaree...

5th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo, 6fT, 5:42 p.m. ET NAISMITH (Medaglia d'Oro) will lace them up for the first time for MyRacehorse and Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. The half-brother to GISW and young Darby Dan stallion Klimt (Quality Road) and GSP West Coast Chick (Malibu Moon) was a $385,000 KEENOV weanling and $150,000 OBS July 2-year-old. The rail-drawn Epidemic (Orb) has some bullets in the holster for his unveiling as well. Ryan Hanson trains the half-brother to millionaire Stanford (Malibu Moon), who most recently brought $165,000 as an OBS March...

8th-Gulfstream Park, $50K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, post time: 3:42 p.m. ET RICHEBOURG (Curlin), an $800,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Alpha Delta Stable, kicks off her career for Chad Brown. Produced by a half-sister to MGISW Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet), she is a half-sister to GI Triple Bend S. winner Denman's Call (Northern Afleet). Scarlett Lace (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to ill-fated champion sprinter Points Offthebench (Benchmark), debuts for Brian Lynch. She RNA'd for $500,000 at Keeneland September. TJCIS PPs 7th-Oaklawn Park, $85K, Alw, N3L, 4yo/up, 6f, post time:...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 2.29 p.m. ET A number of freshly minted sophomores who were pricey sales horses kick off their careers in this six-panel maiden, led by Tom Durant's RUN CLASSIC (Runhappy), a $475,000 OBS purchase  (:20 3/5) and the highest-priced juvenile to sell by his sire. Trainer Bret Calhoun sends him to post, where he will have to face former $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling Constituency (Candy Ride {Arg}). The CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm runner, who is conditioned by Dallas...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-Gulfstream, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 1:05 p.m. ET One week after 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq made a victorious sophomore debut in the Mucho Macho Man S., Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stable is set to be represented by another son of Into Mischief in the form of first-time starter LAMUTANAATTY. Pegged as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, the $177K Fasig-Tipton November weanling turned $700K Keeneland September yearling is out of a winning daughter of MSW Win's Fair Lady (Dehere), a full-sister to...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency HALF TO RUNHAPPY BEGINS HIS CAREER 8th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:42 p.m. EDT PRAYER BOOK (Uncle Mo) gets the new year and his career started for seven-time Eclipse-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Stonestreet bred the half-brother to champion and triple Grade I winner Runhappy (Super Saver), then sold him for a $500,000 hammer price at Keeneland September and stayed in to race the now 3-year-old in partnership with Harrell Ventures LLC. Stonestreet had purchased his dam for $1.6 million in 2015 just...