TDN RISING STARS

August 9, 2020 - Ellis Park, Race 6, Stk, USD $100,000, 7F, 83.7100

Crazy Beautiful, F, 2, 2018 by Liam's Map

1st Dam: Indian Burn (SW & GSP, $236, 158), by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Christmas Affair, by Black Tie Affair (Ire)
3rd Dam: Anna Lisa Beth, by Topsider

Owner: Phoenix Thoroughbred, Ltd.
Breeder: Carolyn R. Vogel (KY)
Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek

Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) worked her way out of a tough spot in the lane to blow away the field in Sunday's Runhappy Debutante S. at Ellis and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' nod. The grey was one of now three good-looking debut winners for Ken McPeek so far this meet when she ran to 19-10 favoritism going long on the lawn July 5, and she was the public's tepid pick in this full field to handle a different surface and sharper trip. Sluggish at the start and ridden along by Rafael Bejarano to steadily advance down on the fence, Crazy Beautiful caught the eye while traveling strongly from midpack heading for home after a :45.46 half. Initially guided wide to go around a wall of horses into the stretch, she bounced twice off of Xtrema (Exaggerator) and had to find a Plan B. Bejarano guided his mount back down to the inside as the horses who were occupying that part of the track were backing up, and Crazy Beautiful kicked on willingly to blow away her foes with good-looking strides while stopping the clock better than a fifth of a second faster than the boys went in the Runhappy Juvenile S. Longshot maiden Mania (Run Away and Hide) was second, and looked briefly like she might just inherit the victory as the stewards took some time to review an objection lodged by Xtrema's rider against Crazy Beautiful.

"My horse was much the best in the race," Bejarano said. "I was in perfect position. Behind horses she was fine. But as soon as you got close to the horses, she kind of got excited, angry because of the first time dirt in her face. Last time she was on the turf. I came out a little bit, but [Extrema] pushed me in and tried to make me look bad. This is going to be a really good horse."

McPeek added, "She trained like a good thing from the beginning. I was a little nervous because she hadn't run on the dirt yet. But it looks like she's just as good on that as she was on the turf."

McPeek said Crazy Beautiful would most likely run next in the GIII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Sept. 3, but would also be nominated for the Sept. 7 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies as a grass option.

The winner's SW and GSP dam sold for $20,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale carrying a Midnight Lute filly and was exported to Saudi Arabia.