Second Chances

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After bringing $325,000 from John Fort's Peachtree Stable at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, the expectations were always high for Cape Trafalgar (c, 3, Lord Nelson--Goldrush Girl, by Political Force), who kicked off his career with an encouraging second-place finish on debut at Gulfstream Mar. 12 (video). "He had trained extremely well, but we had a couple of setbacks," Fort said. "I honestly believe that if we...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. In a race that didn't deserve a loser, Stonestreet homebred Marsalis (c, 3, Curlin--Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) came up a head short on debut after running hard the entire way on the GII Risen Star S. undercard Feb. 19 (video). The well-bred chestnut's worktab was highlighted by a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :59 4/5 (1/47) at Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's Fair Grounds base...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After getting checked sharply in the early stages of his belated unveiling at Fair Grounds last weekend, $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic topper Vinco (c, 3, Quality Road--Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat) produced a serious rally from last to finish a strong second Jan. 22 (video). Off at a well-supported 7-2 sporting a 13-strong worktab for the patient Dallas Stewart barn dating back to late October, the West Point Thoroughbreds...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Backed as the 9-5 favorite in his six-furlong unveiling for John Sadler at Del Mar Nov. 28, Got Thunder (c, 2, Arrogate--Ask the Question, by Silver Deputy) stamped himself as one to watch with a very promising second-place finish. The gray flashed good early speed from the fence while three of them lined up through an opening quarter in :22. Beginning to give way--or at least appearing to...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After finishing a well-beaten third behind potential GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Corniche (Quality Road) sprinting on debut at Del Mar Sept. 4 (video), the promising War At Sea (c, 2, War Front--Serene Melody, by Street Cry {Ire}) stretches to two turns at Santa Anita Friday. Off at 24-1 in his unveiling for the patient Ron Ellis barn, War At Sea chased from an inside fifth as Corniche...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After storming home with an eye-catching rally to finish a close third on debut at Saratoga, A Mo Reay (f, 2, Uncle Mo--Margaret Reay, by Pioneerof the Nile) will get her shot at the big leagues in Sunday's 'Win and You're In' GI Frizette S. at Belmont Park. The My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm LLC colorbearer, off at 6-1 in her six-furlong unveiling for Todd Pletcher Aug....

7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 9-6, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.53, my, 2 lengths. DON'T WAIT UP (c, 2, Upstart--Lovely Marissa, by Proud Citizen) was sent off the even-money choice to build on a nose second to GI Hopeful S. starter Power Agenda (Nyquist) on debut Aug. 14. Scratched down into gate three, the bay colt, the subject of Steve Sherack's Second Chances column Sept. 3, veered sharply inward when the gates flew, causing Matt Doyle (Violence) and the well-backed Commandperformance (Union Rags) to take evasive action. From there Don't Wait Up was ridden...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Nominated to Monday's GI Hopeful S. after a too-good-to-lose second on debut at Saratoga Aug. 14, Don't Wait Up (c, 2, Upstart--Lovely Marissa, by Proud Citizen) will instead return in a maiden special weight on the closing day card. Given a 7-1 chance to win at first asking going six furlongs, he was away last of 10 from post nine after veering in and bumping with a rival...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Nothing seemed to go Cricket West (f, 2, Majestic City--Special Charm {Ire}, by Dansili {GB})'s way in her unveiling sprinting versus fellow New York-breds over the Saratoga lawn Aug. 12 (video). And she still came within a neck of getting her picture taken that day. The Bloom Racing Stable homebred, off at odds of 10-1 for trainer Jorge Abreu, was bumped from both sides at the start and...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. It was a tale of two trips with James Aloysius (c, 2, More Than Ready--Olorda {Ger}, by Lord of England {Ger}) having to settle for an educational second on debut behind the well-meant firster Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy) going 1 1/16 miles over the Saratoga lawn on opening weekend (video). Off at 4-1, the rail-drawn dark bay brushed with a rival just after the start, and, after slightly...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. A day before capturing the final leg of the Triple Crown with 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), Godolphin unveiled another sophomore to keep an eye on during the GI Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Sent off as the 3-1 second favorite on debut, Cody's Wish (c, 3, Curlin-Dance Card, by Tapit) raced in a close fourth through an opening quarter in :22.68 over the harrowed, muddy going. Caught...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. After holding his own with his Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained stablemate and last year's narrow GI TVG.com Haskell S. runner-up Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) in a weekend breeze, the highly regarded Collaborate (c, 3, Into Mischief--Quiet Temper, by Quiet American) will look to earn his diploma going a mile at second asking at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing colorbearer, a $600,000 FTSAUG yearling,...