TDN RISING STARS

September 14, 2014 - Monmouth Park, Race 7, Msw, USD $36,000, 5 1/2f

Mr. Jordan, G, 2, 2012 by Kantharos

1st Dam: Miss Skeetd, by Cloud Hopping
2nd Dam: Leggy Super Model, by Vigors
3rd Dam: Seed The Cloud, by Al Hattab

Owner: Melin, Ellman & L Plesa
Breeder: Phillip & Karen Matthews (FL)
Trainer: Eddie Plesa Jr

The word was out Melin, Ellman & Laurie Plesa's Mr. Jordan, who was sent off the 9-10 chalk in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Park. Moving so quickly that it appeared at times that jockey Paco Lopez might be dislodged, the nearly white colt left there running and sped through an opening quarter mile in a snappy :22.10 with Lopez's feet in the dash. With the rider looking around for any challengers, the Florida-bred floated a bit wide into the lane, but the mission had already been accomplished at that point, as Mr. Jordan slam-dunked the competition by 6 1/4 lengths to become the fifth winner for his freshman sire (by Lion Heart). Well-meant firster Top Clearance (Majestic Warrior) was left in the wake. As a $63,000 purchase out of last year's OBS August Sale, Mr. Jordan was the third most-expensive of his sire's 20 youngsters to sell in 2013. Consigned to that auction house's April Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by de Meric Sales, agent, the colt sped through a quarter mile in :21 2/5 and was purchased by this shrewd trainer for $155,000, the highest-priced of the 24 Katharos juveniles to sell this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $20,520.