TDN RISING STARS

October 18, 2017 - Woodbine, Race 3, AOC, CAD $48,715, 6F, .0000, NW1X

Grace and Dignity, f, 2, 2015 by Animal Kingdom

1st Dam: Precision Farming, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Health Farm, by Pleasant Colony
3rd Dam: Lean Cuisine, by In Reality

Owner: Michael & Jules Iavarone, Edward Hart & Bob Sauter
Breeder: Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (ON)
Trainer: Catherine Day Phillips

Grace and Dignity (Animal Kingdom), an overwhelming 2-5 favorite to go two-for-two to kick off her career, made those short odds look like a bargain as she streaked home a dominant and promising winner worthy of the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction at Woodbine Wednesday evening. Airing by 5 1/2 lengths and earning a solid 82 Beyer Speed Figure when unveiled on GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile Day Sept. 16, the chestnut was further flattered when the third finisher from that event came back to win last Friday. With Michael and Jules Iavarone and Bob Sauter having bought out her breeder since the debut, she broke a half-step slowly, but quickly rushed through rivals to seize command. Opening up to lead by a length through an opening quarter in :22.42, Grace and Dignity started to build on that advantage into the bend and got the half in :44.56. Nobody was catching her in the stretch, and she kicked home under wraps to air by 5 1/4 lengths in a snappy 1:08.77. Delamar (Into Mischief) was second. The winner’s dam Precision Farming (Smart Strike), who posted wins in turf and synthetic sprints during a seven-victory career, was purchased by David Anderson’s Anderson Farms for $52,000 at the 2014 Keeneland January Sale. Out of SW Health Farm (Pleasant Colony), Precision Farming hails from the family of local graded stakes winners Dream About, Lockout and Legarto. Grace and Dignity was her first foal, and she returned to Animal Kingdom the following year but was barren. She produced a colt by the Darley resident this term before being bred back to Hard Spun. Michael Iavarone–of IEAH fame–and his wife Jules also won a Belmont maiden special weight on Wednesday with Purely Lucky (Lookin At Lucky).