Christopher's Joy lights up Parx

As the Florida Filly, I normally stick to racing in the Sunshine State, but sometimes a horse strikes my fancy and I just have to write about him. This is one of those times. I will admit that my sentimental and superstitious side has kicked in here, but please just bear with me. Up in Pennsylvania trainer Anthony Dutrow has an Exclusive Quality colt in his barn by the name of Christopher’s Joy. The dark bay colt started late, not running his first race until December 12 of last year. The late start suited him, though, because he not only won his debut race but also went on to score his second victory in as many tries in an allowance race at Parx Racing this afternoon.

 

 

In his debut race, Christopher’s Joy faced a short field due in part to two colts being scratched. The colt broke sharply, vied for the lead with Flashy Felipe, drew clear after three furlongs, and was kept focused by jockey Stewart Elliot to post a 3 ½ length victory. Cheops cruised under the wire in second, Flashy Felipe faded to third, and Safari Joe and Silken Dandy finished fourth and fifth respectively. Christopher’s Joy was sent off as the third choice and returned $15.00, $5.20, and $3.60. With Cheops completing the order, he paid $100.20 for the exacta. He completed the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.11, running the first quarter in 22.37 and the half in 46.14.

 

 

Parx Racing fans must have really liked what they saw from the dark bay colt in his debut because he was sent off as the extremely short priced favorite in a field of eight. Starting from the 3 hole, Christopher’s Joy again broke sharply to immediately go out and vie for the lead. By the half mile pole, he had wrested command of the race away from Noiffswhatsorbuts, blazing through fractions of 21.93 and 44.45. He then drifted in slightly in the stretch drive but won driving, holding off Noifswhatsorbuts by a length. Francesco Rules finished third after a wide trip, and Won the War completed the superfecta. Runnin Bull and Bristol Dancer, with the 2011 Eclipse Award winner for Top Apprentice Jockey Kyle Frey on board, finished in a dead heat for fifth. Special Congrats ran seventh, and Jonestown Jonesy, a Smarty Jones colt, ran eighth. The Exclusive Quality colt returned $3.60, $2.60, and $2.10 and completed the six furlong race in 1:09.40. Elliot had the return call.

 

 

Christopher’s Joy’s pedigree is an interesting mix of sprinting, routing, dirt, and turf. The colt’s sire Exclusive Quality only raced four times. He never finished worse than second, and all of his races were sprints. His biggest win was the 6 ½ furlong Spectacular Bid Stakes. His sire’s sire Elusive Quality was a Grade 3 winning sprinter/miler who won on both dirt and turf. Christopher’s Joy’s dam Tea Pot Joy was unraced, and his damsire Joyeux Danseur was a Grade 1 winning turf router. Tea Pot Joy’s damsire was the great Devils Bag, a Grade 1 winner who only lost once in 9 starts. Based on everything we know, it looks as though surface should not be an issue for the colt and that he could stretch his speed out to routes. If you give Dosage Index numbers much attention, then you will be interested to know that this colt’s DI is 1.33, meaning that, according to the numbers, Christopher’s Joy will have a preference for the longer distances. 

 

 

The colt only has two races under his belt, but I am excited about him. He still has much to prove, but something tells me that we may be seeing a lot more from this colt. If Dutrow intends to try to get his charge to the Kentucky Derby, then he is working on borrowed time, but, as we all know, it only takes one big win to make the field. Either way, this colt looks to me to be one to watch.