Thursday Insights: Quartet Of Well-Related Fillies Tackle Tampa

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

9th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:33 p.m.

Facing a full field of 13 from the inside gate, JUST THE SKY (Justify), a homebred for Eurowest Bloodstock with her freshman sire's (by Scat Daddy) connections John Gunther also involved, stretches out over the grass for trainer Chad Brown. Out of a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Honorable Duty (Distorted Humor), Just the Sky traces back to broodmare of the year Toussaud (El Gran Senor), herself the dam of MGISW & late sire Emire Maker (Unbridled), GSW & MG1SP Chester House (Mr. Prospector), and GISW Honest Lady (Seattle Slew) who went on t produce GISW First Defence (Unbridled's Song) and SW & GSP Honest Mischief (Into Mischief). Just the Sky was the fastest of 14 works Dec. 10, going four furlongs in :49.1 (1/14).

Just to her outside, Lightress (City of Light) was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling pick up for West Point Thoroughbreds and Robert Masie. She is the first foal out of a full-sister to GSW Send It In and debuts Thursday for trainer Christophe Clement.

Further outside, Godolphin homebred Fancy Dress (Cairo Prince) makes her afternoon bow for trainer Eoin Harty. Out of a daughter of broodmare of the year Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), her dam is a half-sister to no less than MGISW & late sire Bernardini (A.P. Indy) and to the dam of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy).

Breaking from the outside of the 13 and looking to improve off a pair of on-the-board finishes, Coffee House (Medaglia d'Oro) is another Godolphin homebred from the Eoin Harty barn. Her dam has already produced SW & GSP Zorion (GB) (Smart Strike) and GISP Zip Top (Ire) (Smart Strike) and is herself a half-sister to GISW Zo Impressive (Hard Spun), dam of MGSW Souper T apit (Tapit). She is also a half to GISW Zaftig (Gone West) who produced MGSP Spinoff (Hard Spun.) Under the third dam are full-siblings  GSW Verve's Tale (Tale of Ekati) and GI Preakness S. runner up Tale of Verve. TJCIS PPS