TDN RISING STARS

February 15, 2018 - Tampa Bay Downs, Race 7, AOC, USD $27,500, 1M 40Y, .0000, NW1X

Magnum Moon, c, 3, 2015 by Malibu Moon

1st Dam: Dazzling Song, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Win McCool, by Giant's Causeway
3rd Dam: Win Crafty Lady, by Crafty Prospector

Owner: Lawana L. & Robert E. Low
Breeder: Ramona S. Bass, LLC (KY)
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Add another sophomore from the loaded Todd Pletcher barn to your stable mail.

Magnum Moon (c, 3, Malibu Moon-Dazzling Song, by Unbridled’s Song), a sharp debut winner with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure going six furlongs at Gulfstream Jan. 13, took care of business in his two-turn debut at Tampa Thursday, good for ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors.

With the third-place finisher that day Machismo (More Than Ready) returning to air by 11 1/2 lengths in Hallandale Feb. 3, Magnum Moon tuned up for this with a four-furlong bullet in :48 3/5 (1/6) at Pletcher’s Palm Beach Downs base Feb. 8.

Hammered down to 1-10 favoritism in this scratched-down, five-horse affair, the $380,000 KEESEP yearling purchase tucked in behind the leaders to settle in fourth through fractions of :23.60 and :47.73. Tipped out four wide on the turn for home, Magnum Moon began to roll from there and was never seriously asked in the stretch by Luis Saez while winning going away with his ears pricked in a near track-record setting performance. It was two lengths back to stablemate Hyndford (Street Cry {Ire}) in second.

The winner’s second dam is GSW Win McCool (Giant’s Causeway), and his third dam is GSW Win Crafty Lady (Crafty Prospector), who in turn produced Grade I winner Harmony Lodge (Hennessy) and millionaire Graeme Hall (Dehere). Dazzling Song, an unraced $825,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, had a filly by Uncle Mo last year and was bred back to War Front.