By Joe Bianca
Undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}) has come a long way in just three starts. From graduating first-out with a sharp six-furlong win in blazing time Feb. 21 at Gulfstream, to wiring the seven-panel GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct Apr. 9, to conquering his stiffest test last out in Belmont's GII Peter Pan S. going 1 1/8 miles May 14, the bay has done everything right in his nascent career. He also showed the ability to rate in his first route try, sitting third through the opening half-mile before taking over on the turn and holding off the late bid of Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon), who subsequently finished fourth in the GI Belmont S. with significant traffic trouble.
The Centennial Farms charge will have to clear another hurdle in the Grade III Pegasus S., the major prep for the GI Haskell Invitational, to be run July 31. The $325,000 Fasig-Tipton August grad is attempting to tackle two turns for the first time, despite cutting back one-sixteenth of a mile in distance from the Peter Pan. He has had several stamina-building works in preparation, including a seven-furlong breeze June 2 at Belmont and a sharp six-panel spin in 1:12 4/5 there eight days later. He also put in a three-furlong tightener in :36 1/5 Thursday. Regular rider Jose Ortiz will be in for the mount.
The favorite's chief competition appears to come from horses with good form at Parx. Jean Mahoney's Saratoga Jack (Emperor Tiberius) owns the highest last-out Beyer Speed Figure, running a 100 when crushing an optional claiming field by 10 3/4 lengths in the Bensalem slop May 22. Stonehedge LLCs' Abiding Star (Uncle Mo) won five consecutive races, including the May 7 Parx Derby, before fading to finish 11th at 40-1 in the GI Preakness S. May 21. Donegal Racing's Donegal Moon (Malibu Moon) earned a 99 Beyer for a 13 1/2-length allowance romp at Parx Mar. 5. The Todd Pletcher trainee then ran eighth in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 9 at Keeneland before finishing a respectable fourth in the Sir Barton S. on Pimlico's Preakness undercard.
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