TDN RISING STARS

June 2, 2016 - Belmont Park, Race 4, AOC, USD $77,000, 1M, NW1$X

Squeeze, f, 3, 2013 by Lemon Drop Kid

1st Dam: Winner, by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
2nd Dam: Pennant Champion, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Personal Ensign, by Private Account

Owner: Robert Evans
Breeder: Siena Farms LLC (KY)
Trainer: Christophe Clement

Squeeze closed into a modest pace to score impressively in her 1 1/16-mile debut at Keeneland Apr. 23 and was given a 3-1 chance in this second go after being scratched from a few other spots. Bumped at the break and pushed into Secure Access (Lemon Drop Kid) when her inside neighbor Desert Tune (Street Cry {Ire}) bore right exiting the gate, the $350,000 KEESEP buy tracked from fifth as her stablemate and “TDN Rising Star� Width (Blame) and 50-1 shot Annie Rocks (A.P. Warrior) battled it out through sharp early splits of :22.31 and :45.86. Blocked in behind a wall of horses turning for home, the bay was slipped through a seam in early stretch by Junior Alvarado and unleashed a powerful four-wide rally, sweeping past the leaders to win going away by one-length. Favored She Doesn’t Mind (Fr) (Meshaheer) made up ground after falling out of the gate to deny Width second by a neck in a photo for place. Squeeze is a half-sister to fellow “TDN Rising Star� Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense), GSW & GISP, $827,360, who won the 2014 GIII Delta Downs Jackpot and was third in the 2015 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. She has an unraced 2-year-old full-brother named Volcanic Island, who was purchased by Godolphin’s John Ferguson for $320,000 at last term’s Keeneland September sale and sent to England. The winner’s dam produced a Bernardini colt last year and foaled a Union Rags filly Mar. 28. Squeeze also hails from the deep Phipps-bred family of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account) and champion Storm FlagFlying (Storm Cat). These connections also campaigned fellow“TDN Rising Star� and MGISW Tonalist (Tapit), who joined Squeeze’ sire Lemon Drop Kid at Lane’s End after his retirement last fall. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $82,200.