TDN RISING STARS

November 23, 2019 - Del Mar, Race 6, Msw, USD $52,000, 6F, .0000

Ancient Warrior, C, 2, 2017 by Constitution

1st Dam: Wellington Beauty, by Forestry
2nd Dam: Gauze, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: D'Youville Nurse, by Dr. Blum

Owner: Al Graziani
Breeder: Al Graziani (KY)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

Al Graziani homebred Ancient Warrior (Constitution) headed into his Del Mar unveiling Saturday off of five straight bullet breezes, capped by a :48 1/5 move from the gate here Nov. 17. Away at 12-5, the bay seized command from the gate to dole out splits of :22.10 and :45.13. He was challenged at the head of the lane by race favorite Garth (Into Mischief), second to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile upsetter Storm the Court (Court Vision) on debut and unseen since finishing a distant sixth in a weirdly run GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 2. He quickly slammed the door on that foe before opening up to air by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:09.72 and earning the 'TDN Rising Star' nod. Fellow firster Snap Chap (Into Mischief), a $1.2-million KEESEP yearling, was devoid of early speed, but made a big move to just miss third. The winner becomes the 23rd for his first-crop sire (by Tapit), whose impressive first group of runners include the likes of leading soon-to-be sophomores Tiz the Law and Independence Hall. Ancient Warrior is the first foal out of his winning dam, who was claimed for $4,000 out of her final start in 2015 and hails from the female family of graded winners Unbridled Hope, sugar Shock and Bearpath. Wellington Beauty produced a Constitution filly earlier this term and was bred back to the WinStar inmate for 2020.