insights

3rd-Del Mar, $84,500, Msw, 9-2, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.43, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. WINE ME UP (c, 2, Vino Rosso--Deanaallen'skitten {SW, $374,246}, by Kitten's Joy) found his feet after bobbling a touch at the jump and took no time getting to the front, speeding through :22.01, and :45.44 early splits as D'Oro Dash (Bolt d'Oro) hounded him from second as part of the lead trio. Vying with challengers through the turn, Wine Me Up had to dig, but found more in the stretch to kick away from his longtime shadow and...

7th-Ellis, $70,000, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.80, ft, 2 3/4 lengths. AWESOME ROAD (c, 2, Quality Road--Orate, by A.P. Indy) was bet down to even money and had plenty of early speed, racing between foes in a three-pronged battle for the lead. With the best closing kick of the trio, the $600,000 Keeneland September grad was left to contend only with Stronghold (Ghostzapper) into the lane and turned that rival back in the final sixteenth to score by 2 3/4 lengths. Chryso Alogo (Bolt d'Oro) checked in fourth while Loma...

5th-ELP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:45 p.m. Shadwell's MUAZARAH (Into Mischief) leads a battle of the homebreds in Sunday's fifth race at Ellis Park. The Todd Pletcher trainee is out of a half-sister to the dam of a pair of prolific European runners in MG1SW Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who debuted at Shadwell Stud this season, and MG1SW Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Just to his outside, Unreasonable (Honor Code), racing in the Calumet Farm colors, is out of a half to both GISW Geri (Theatrical {Ire})...

1st-SAR, $136k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:10 p.m. ET The Niarchos Family's Flaxman Holdings went to $1.3 million for GI Jenny Wiley S. heroine Daisy Devine (Kafwain) at the 2013 Keeneland November Sale, and her daughter CARINA NEBULA (Into Mischief) gets her first taste of the races Sunday. The versatile dam, who also won the 2011 GII Fair Grounds Oaks, is a 100% producer from five to the races, and Carina Nebula makes the trip up from Fair Hill, where she most recently breezed five furlongs over the all-weather...

1st-SAR, $136k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET His full-brother Mage is about three hours south at Monmouth Park to contest Saturday's GI TVG.com Haskell S., but DORNOCH (Good Magic) could still represent the family should the Saratoga opener be transferred to the main track. Whereas Mage cost $235,000 at Keeneland September in 2021 (before fetching $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale last year), Dornoch was a $325,000 acquisition in Lexington. The pair's dam SW & GSP Puca (Big Brown), a 'TDN Rising Star' and also responsible...

1st-Saratoga, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET PIRATE (Omaha Beach) has been made the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the Saturday opener from the Spa and is bred to be any kind. The $350,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Starlight Racing and Harrell Ventures is the latest foal from Peter Blum's Treasure (Medaglia d'Oro), herself a debut second going this distance on Saratoga debut for Jimmy Jerkens in August 2014, who has since gone on to become a prized member of the Blum broodmare band. A mid-march foal,...

4th-ELP, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:13 p.m. EDIFIED (Tapit), a half-brother to GI La Brea S. winner Constellation (Bellamy Road), makes his afternoon debut Saturday for owner Courtlandt Farms and trainer Steve Asmussen. A $650,000 yearling purchase out of Keeneland September last autumn, the colt is out of the stakes-winning mare For Royalty, who brought a final bid of $2.1m from Summer Wind Equine at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. For Royalty is herself a half-sister to champion imported 2-year-old colt in Puerto Rico El Viento (El Corredor) and GSW/GISP...

2nd-ELP, $120K, MSW, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 2:20p.m. BC Stables's Cowboy Code (Into Mischief) gets a start for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Bred by Aaron and Marie Jones, the grey was a $1-million yearling purchase out of the Taylor Made Sales consignment at Keeneland last September. Out of Not In Jest (Unbridled's Song), the filly is a granddaughter of MGISW Stop Traffic (Cure the Blues). OXO Equine's Balta (Munnings) debuts for trainer Paulo Lobo. Working sharply at The Thoroughbred Center, the half to SW Opus Forty Two is...

11th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, post time: 5:58 p.m. ET METHODOLOGY (Uncle Mo) is the latest foal to the races out of Grade III winner Innovative Idea (Bernardini), who took her career debut in 2014 who has since gone on to become the dam of Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile), victorious in the GI Acorn S. for the Brad Cox barn last season and a latest upset winner of the GI Derby City Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6. Innovative Idea is a daughter of MGSW/GISP Golden Velvet...

1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 1:00 p.m. As he is prone to do, Wesley Ward will send members of his stable to Belmont--this time a pair of juveniles--who have been working at his home base at Keeneland. The 4-5 morning line favorite is PRINCESA CELINA (Quality Road), who RNA'd at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in 2021 for $545,000, and is out of dam Lastofthsummerwine (Sky Mesa). She produced a trio of solid earners in GSW Conquest Panthera (Kitten's Joy) and his full-brother, GSP Maniacal, plus GSW Happy Like A...

4th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 2:15 p.m. ET LE LEVRE (Le Havre {Ire}) makes her first trip to the races for the sneaky debut barn of Al Stall, Jr. and is a half-sister to four winners from as many to race out of Sunny Again (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), whose notable produce include Italian highweight and Group 3 winner Elisa Again (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}); Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}), a winner at listed level in England and narrowly beaten in the 2020 G1 Pertemps St Leger; and...

6th-KEE, $100k, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 3:40 p.m. ET SOLEVO (City of Light) is the second foal to the races out of the stakes-placed Pleasant Mine (Mineshaft), who was acquired by Windylea Farm New York for $200,000 with this foal in utero at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The Kentucky-bred dark bay colt made a solid return on that investment when hammering for $170,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Sale and fetched $685,000 from trainer Cherie DeVaux at last year's OBS April Sale after breezing a furlong in...