TDN RISING STARS

January 4, 2017 - Gulfstream Park, Race 7, Msw, USD $46,000, 5 1/2F

Malagacy, c, 3, 2014 by Shackleford

1st Dam: Classiest Gem, by Dehere
2nd Dam: Classiest Carat, by Pleasant Colony
3rd Dam: Halo Dancer, by Halo

Owner: Sumaya U.S. Stable
Breeder: John Trumbulovic (KY)
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Malagacy–scratched out of a $75,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream Dec. 16–fired a best-of-four five-furlong bullet workout in 1:01 at Todd Pletcher’s Palm Beach Downs base Dec. 30 and was a bit chilly on the board at odds of 5-1 considering his connections for his debut here. The chestnut was hard ridden from the stalls and vied for early command as three of them went at it through an opening quarter in :22.25. He put away the favored first-time starter The Hardest Way (Uncle Mo) on the far turn, straightened for home in complete command, and ran up the score in the stretch to graduate by 15 lengths, good for ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors. Longshot Into Belief (Into Mischief) rallied from the back for second. The winner’s unraced dam Classiest Gem, purchased by Twilight Stables for $17,000 at the 2014 KEENOV sale, is also represented by a 2015 Shackleford filly and a 2016 Revolutionary gelding. Classiest Gem is a half-sister to Canadian champion Impossible Time (Not Impossible {Ire}).