TDN RISING STARS

August 24, 2014 - Del Mar, Race 1, Msw, USD $75,000, 6f

Conquest Panthera, G, 2, 2012 by Kitten's Joy

1st Dam: Lastofthsummerwine, by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: French Line, by Boundary
3rd Dam: Clef D'Argent, by Key to the Mint

Owner: Conquest Stables LLC
Breeder: Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey (KY)
Trainer: Mark Casse

Conquest Stable's Conquest Panthera was pounded into can't lose territory and was sent off the 1-2 chalk in the Pacific Classic day opener at Del Mar, but those who swallowed the short price were forced to hold their collective breaths for the opening two-thirds of the six-furlong affair. Bumped and subsequently steadied at the start from the two hole, the long-striding chestnut made forward progress up the fence into a close fourth entering the turn. With three pacesetters stretched across the track at the quarter pole, Mike Smith was sweating on a run, but the gap came three off the inside at the three-sixteenths, and the colt burst through that hole and kicked away to score by a 1 1/4-length margin that belies the impressive nature of the score. Madiba (Candy Ride {Arg}) was second. A $125,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, Conquest Panthera went his furlong in :10 flat over the SafeTrack at OBS March and was hammered down to the team of Ernie Semersky and Dory Newell for $475,000, the most expensive of his top sire's 23 juveniles to sell at this year's 2-year-old sales. It was the second high-profile juvenile win on the day for the Casse stable, which was also represented by Flashaway (Eskendereya) at Woodbine. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000.