Nyquist looks tough in the Del Mar Futurity

Laurie

Ashley

Nightly News—(Misremembered—Shameful, by Flying Chevron) raced wide the entire way in his debut and kicked into gear from off of the pace to gain the place spot.  He understandably got a little tired while racing a mile.   By Santa Anita Handicap hero and freshman sire Misremembered, Nightly News hails from a family filled with stakes horses.  He is  a three-quarter brother to stakes placed  Spaniard (well bred, fragile under-achiever) and a half to Champion mare  INDIAN BLESSING.  He’s also a half-brother to G-3 stakes winner ROMAN THREAT, and that one’s full brother, stakes placed Maker Or Breaker.    Nightly News had a solid debut and is a legitimate threat in the Futurity.

Nightly News—Laurie, I have to agree. After being parked wide throughout the entirety of his debut and being asked to go a mile, a cutback in distance and drawing the rail post can only help Nightly News move forward. Additionally, this gelding hails from the Bob Baffert barn and gets the services of Rafael Bejarano, a deadly combination. He had a nice bullet, 3 furlong sharpener on August 23 and looks like a solid contender.

Annie’s Candy—(Twirling Candy—Wildcat Princess, by Forest Wildcat) Mounted a challenge in the Best Pal Stakes but nobody was about to catch entry mate Nyquist.  Annie’s Candy got a little tired in the stretch and was unable to hold off Swipe for second place, missing by ½ length. There’s little blacktype in his distaff line.  His dam is a half to a couple of minor stakes placed runners and his second dam is also stakes placed. Annie’s Candy breezed twice over the lawn and scratched from the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in favor of running here.  I don’t like the plan switch and don’t feel that Annie’s Candy is a win contender, although he may pick up a minor award.

Annie’s Candy—May be a cut below the best in this spot. Like Laurie, I don’t like the change in plans with the scratch out of the DM Juvenile Turf after posting a couple works on the lawn in preparation for that start. Additionally, while the colt has been competitive on the West Coast, it took a trip east to Laurel in order for Annie’s Candy to pick up his maiden win. A minor placing is about all I see Annie’s Candy accomplishing here, too.

Swipe—(Birdstone—Avalanche Lily, by Grand Slam) was best of the rest in the Best Pal Stakes, and no contest for Nyqyist.  The youngster certainly has some quality. He was third in the Tremont at Belmont and won the Summer Juvenile Championship Stakes. By a Belmont Stakes winner out of a modest but hard working distaff line, Swipe is bred to run two turns so the added distance should help.  His speed figures have improved in each of his four races and he owns the second highest late pace speed figure in the field.  He’s a legitimate win contender.

Swipe—Is another that finally picked up his first win by shipping; however, Swipe at least nabbed that initial win in a minor stakes race. The big downside to Swipe here, for me, is that the winner of the Tremont, Cocked and Loaded, a race in which Swipe ran 3^rd, severely backpedaled to run 6^th in the G3 Sanford and 5^th in the G3 Arlington-Washington Futurity. Laurie, you might like Swipe, but I’m not so sure myself. I think I will have to pass in favor of another contender.

Mt Veeder—(Ghostzapper—Glenbriar Girl, by Gold Case) is the stablemate of Nightly News.  The well-developed, muscular Chestnut won his debut with ease, tracking the leader from second before taking over in the stretch to win by a handy 2 ¼ lengths without seriously being challenged.  His dam is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winning mare TWO ITEM LIMIT (Demoiselle, Black Eyed Susan S., etc.).  Mt. Veeder won his 5 ½ furlong debut in a slow 1:04.41.  The colt recorded a quick five furlong pre-race breeze, out-working stablemate Dream Team, a two year old Tapit colt who was third in his debut and who was a $1 Million Dollar Yearling.  Have to respect him because of the Baffert/Garcia convection.

Mt Veeder—Time only matters if you’re in prison, and as easily as Mt Veeder won his debut, there was no reason to empty the tank just to prove a point. I trust in Baffert to well spot his charges, and I rather like Mt Veeder in this spot. He may not be quite good enough to win just yet, but he is a danger to fill out the exotics.

Nyquist—(Uncle Mo—Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry) won his debut over Annie’s Candy by a head in June, then blasted home by 5 ¼ lengths in the Best Pal Stakes.  The winner of the Best Pal is generally the favorite for the Del Mar Futurity, however, the last horses to win both races was J PS GUSTO in 2010.  In 2011 and 2012 the Best Pal winners finished second. That being said, Nyquist was so dominant in the Best Pal, it’s hard to imagine him losing here.  He’s by the hot new sire Uncle Mo, who was a Champion Two Year Old.  Nyquist’s dam is a half-sister to SEEKING THE SKY, a graded stakes winner and the dam of Metropolitan Handicap winner SAHARA SKY. Nyquist has the makings of an excellent sprinter/miler and must be respected here.

Nyquist—has yet to do anything wrong for the connections that brought us 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another. His speed figures are the highest in the field, and he’s the only entrant to post two triple digit figures. There really isn’t much else to say. Contender.

Archaeo—(Arch—Design for Life, by Aptitude) just ran around out there in his debut, not showing much.  He adds blinkers, but doubt that he’s up to this level of competition.  He’s bred for classic distances and should be a later maturing type. His classy distaff line is filled with French Group winners, so this son of Arch may find himself more at home on the lawn.  Unless he has a 360 degree turn around, I don’t see him being competitive here.

Archaeo—Why Doug, why? To say Archaeo did nothing much in his debut is an understatement. He was beaten 22 ½ lengths under hall of famer Gary Stevens. He gets a step down on the jockey front and a huge step up in the class department. Thanks, but no thanks.

Blameitonthelaw—(Blame—Letter of the Law, by Stormy Atlantic) had a handy debut. In a race similar to Mt. Veeder, this son of second crop sire Blame tracked a fast early pace, took command and opened up, winning by 4 ½ lengths without effort.   Blameitonthelaw has the pedigree to enjoy running two turns.  He’s a half-brother to Arapahoe Park Classic (9F) winner BOURBON SENSE.  Their dam was a turf sprinter and won a minor stakes as a juvenile. This is another colt who could move forward off of his debut.

Blameitonthelaw—Looked sharp in his debut. He obviously has the tactical speed to sit close to a quick pace without burning himself out before taking over and making the rest chase him. I really like his series of 5 and 6 furlong works in preparation for this race. I can definitely see this one moving forward for trainer John Sadler.

Rockin Bayou—(Forefathers—La Salle Glory, by Lit de Justice) pressed the pace three wide in his debut, then dueled down the stretch to earn the victory by a determined head in his debut. He earned a poor speed figure due to the race being held over a sloppy track, and both Rockin Bayou and the runner-up looked tired at the end. He’s had some time to regroup. The colt recorded a second to last bullet, but was pushed along in his last breeze, not a good sign.  Pass.

Rockin Bayou—His debut in the slop begs the question as to whether or not he will be a mudder or whether he will be able to win on a fast track. Off since his mid-July debut also begs the question of just how much his maiden win took out of him. Pass.