By Bill Finley
For the past few days, we have been hearing from top judges on whose progeny will come out of the gate flying.
MIKE RYAN
Top pick: Omaha Beach (War Front-Charming, by Seeking the Gold). Spendthrift Farm, 2023 fee: $30,000.
My pick is Omaha Beach. There is a tremendous amount of quality and class there. He is a beautifully-bred horse. He was very fast and he got great support from the breeders and was well-supported in the sales ring. It's a close call, but he is my pick over Audible.
Under-the-radar picks: Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief-Reina Maria, by Songandaprayer). Spendthrift Farm: 2023 fee: $7,500; and Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro-It's Tricky, by Mineshaft). Darley, 2023 fee: $5,000.
I bought two Enticeds at the March sale and was very impressed with them on the track. Maximus Mischief is a son of Into Mischief, which is a tremendous source of precocity. He was well supported among the lower end stallions. He's out of a Songandaprayer mare, so there's plenty of speed and precocity there, as well.
JACOB WEST
Top Pick: Vino Rosso (Curlin-Mythical Bride, by Street Cry {Ire}). Spendthrift Farm, 2023 fee: 15,000.
Because I work for Mike Repole, I am contractually obligated to pick Vino Rosso. But I really do believe that he will be number one. At the 2-year-old sales this year, they really did catch my eye. They were doing something that you wouldn't think would be in their wheelhouse, showing that early, precocious speed. He was such a durable horse and had talent and ability and was bred to a nice group of mares in his first book. We're seeing that so far as how they sold as yearlings and as 2-year-olds. My second choice would be Omaha Beach, a well-bred horse who covered a lot of mares.
Under-the-radar pick: Copper Bullet (More Than Ready-Allegory, by Unbridled's Song). Darby Dan, 2023 fee: $7,500.
He was precocious himself. There were quite a few at the Fasig July sale that we liked. One in particular was a half-brother to Colonel Liam. He was a very nice horse. He was bred to a limited book of mares, but it looks like his horses will be precocious and I can see him doing well.
JUSTIN CASSE
Top pick: Mitole (Eskendereya-Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie). Spendthrift Farm, 2023 fee: $15,000; Omaha Beach.
I would say Mitole for the number of winners and Omaha Beach for leading in earnings. Every indication thus far is that the Mitoles are fast, as they should be, and precocious. He's also got a good number of live foals. Actually, I believe Omaha Beach and Mitole have the most live foals of the freshman sires. From speaking to the consignors and breakers around Ocala, there is a lot of excitement surrounding Omaha Beach's progeny. I expect to see them flourish as the juvenile races get further in distance, which is generally when the purses increase.
Under-the-radar pick: Flameaway (Scat Daddy-Vulcan Rose, by Fusaichi Pegasus). Darby Dan, 2023 fee: $7,500.
Flamaway has all of the qualities necessary to be a good sire. Pedigree, looks, performance and precocity. He won multiple stakes at two. He also won on poly, dirt and turf. Scat Daddy's sons have been very impressive with their number of 2-year-old winners.
EDDIE WOODS
Top pick: Omaha Beach
The pick is Omaha Beach. The Omaha Beaches are all very stylish. A lot of them appear to have a lot of speed and they are good, classy acting horses.
Under-the-radar pick: Preservationist (Arch-Flying Dixie, by Dixieland Band). Airdrie Stud, 2023 fee: $10,000.
The pick here is Preservationist. I have a couple of Preservationists and they're just big, good movers.
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