Second Chances

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. "Executive finished with a flourish to get third." Those were the words of Saratoga track announcer Frank Mirahmadi--with an emphasis on flourish--as Executive (c, 2, Constitution--Low Pressure Zone, by Curlin) flew home to round out the trifecta going 1 1/16 miles over the lawn on debut at the Spa Aug. 31. Overlooked at 16-1 in his unveiling for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Executive lunged at...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. There was a fair bit of steam behind Admiral Dennis (c, 2, Constitution--Gulf Coast, by Union Rags) as he entered the starting gate first time out for trainer Brad Cox in a deep maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Sept. 19. There will be even more next time. Off as the 5-2 favorite, the Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer broke in at the start and was outsprinted in...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. How stacked exactly was this year's Travers day 2-year-old maiden? Even the fourth-place finisher should be on your radar. In a race completely dominated on the front end, Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (c, 2, Into Mischief--Crowned, by Bernardini) kicked home impressively from last of 10 on debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott to stamp himself as one to watch. The 11-1 chance broke on top from...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Trainer Danny Gargan launched the careers of GI Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic) as well as GIII Matt Winn Stakes winner Society Man (Good Magic) during the 2023 meeting at Saratoga. Both starters in this year's GI Kentucky Derby, neither won on debut. Dornoch finished a strong second behind fellow future Classic winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate) in his unveiling in the Saratoga slop while Society...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Mancuso (f, 2, McKinzie--Medaglia d'Argento, by Medaglia d'Oro) came within a neck of putting an exclamation point on a banner weekend for her high-profile connections at Del Mar last Sunday. Given a 7-1 chance in her unveiling for trainer Phil D'Amato, the Little Red Feather Racing colorbearer broke well from her inside draw and was ridden along by Antonio Fresu to chase in a joint second while...

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...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.   After losing just about any chance at the break, Praetor (c, 2, Into Mischief--Curlin's Approval, by Curlin) showed plenty of promise in defeat finishing third behind ultra-impressive 'TDN Rising Star Ferocious (Flatter) on debut at Saratoga Aug. 3. Well-backed at 7-2 for trainer Chad Brown over a muddy and sealed surface, Praetor was bumped and pinched back at the start and trailed the field of nine through...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. With a ton of steam behind impressive debut winner Just a Touch (Justify) heading into Saturday's GIII Gotham S., the second-place finisher's come-from-behind effort over a sloppy, sealed track that day at Fair Grounds may look even better after this weekend. Off at debut odds of 10-1 for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Gun Party (c, 3, Curlin--Carina Mia, by Malibu Moon) trailed the field of eight...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Cornishman (c, 3, Curlin--Penwith, by Bernardini) came flashing home to finish a bang-up second sprinting on debut on the GIII Lecomte undercard at Fair Grounds Jan. 20. Off as the 3-1 second choice with his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Exploration (Curlin) receiving the bulk of the action at 3-2, the Godolphin homebred was bumped from both sides after exiting from post nine and trailed the field of 11...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Tipsy Tammy (f, 3, Arrogate--Peggy May, by Lemon Drop Kid) ran a winning race on debut. She just didn't win. Those were the words of trainer Phil Bauer, who saddled the highly regarded $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase to a strong second-place finish behind 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road) on debut at Fair Grounds Jan. 1. Sporting a pair of bullet breezes on her worktab, the...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After working in company with his elder graded stakes-placed stablemate Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) in an Aug. 19 move for trainer Brad Cox over the Oklahoma training track, there was plenty of chatter behind Air of Defiance (c, 2, Quality Road--Faypien, by Ghostzapper) heading into his Saratoga debut. Despite proving no match for the jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) across Union Ave. six days later,...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Against the flow of the race from the outset, Locked (c, 2, Gun Runner--Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon) rallied smartly from last after some trouble at the start to finish a very encouraging third sprinting on debut at Saratoga Aug. 5. Chilly on the board at 12-1 for trainer Todd Pletcher, the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm colorbearer was forced to take up sharply shortly after...