Pedigree Stars: Saratoga maidens on opening day
The Saratoga and Del Mar meets are like Christmas to racing fans. So many pricey, well-bred babies are unveiled, and fans are eager to see how they perform, everyone hoping to catch a rising star with the bragging rights, "I saw their first race."
Can you believe it's already opening weekend at the Spa? We will kick off the season with a pair of 5 1/2-furlong sprints for 2-year-old fillies. First-crop sire sensation Gun Runner plus siblings to Grade 1 winners Peace and War, Nitrous and Street Fancy are on display.
Thursday – Race 2
In her debut at Delaware, Seduce (Into Mischief - Assertive, by Blame) came out running and speed-dueled her way around the track. She bore out about four-wide around the turn and continued to battle between horses down the stretch, ultimately finishing third in a photo, beaten by three-quarters of a length. The final time for five furlongs was a strong 59.81 seconds. Second-place finisher R B's Star graduated next time out. The Graham Motion trainee's post-race breeze was comparable to her pre-race times, indicating that she should move forward in her next start.
Pedigree: Seduce is a first foal. Although her dam did not win in seven starts, she was out of the money only once. Assertive is a half-sister to Starlet (G1) winner Street Fancy. The second dam Bold Angel is a stakes-winning miler. Seduce is a direct descendant of Angel Fever, the dam of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner and sire Fusaichi Pegasus.
Speedometer and Zmuda were mentioned in the June 25 Pedigree Stars post in two separate races. Both finished behind Schuylerville Stakes (G3) entrants Pretty Birdie and Pipeline Girl, respectively.
Speedometer (Tapit - Speedinthruthecity, by City Zip) was slightly rank early on the Churchill rail behind Pretty Birdie and had to tap on the breaks, costing her about a length. Down the stretch Speedometer was closing on Pretty Birdie but reacted to the left-handed whip. Ricardo Santana Jr. had to steady and straighten out Speedometer. The filly raced greenly, switching to her left lead and turning her head trying to bear out. Her antics cost her second place. The June 18 maiden race produced two next-out winners and a Grade 3 entrant.
Pedigree: Speedometer is a full sister to multiple-stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Nitrous. Their dam is a stakes-winning sprinter who placed in three juvenile stakes.
Zmuda (Violence - Always Pleasant, by Awesome Again) broke inward in her Churchill debut, bumping hard with Gimmick. She raced near the back of the pack and made up some ground to finish fourth. Zmuda kept a straight path and stayed on the correct lead, but she paddled with her right foreleg.
Pedigree: Zmuda's unraced dam is a half-sister to Linda Mimi, a stakes-placed sprinter. The second dam Miss Pleasant is a stakes-winning miler, and Miss Pleasant's half-sister, the precocious Love Lock, won the Hollywood Starlet (G1), Golden Rod (G3), and Churchill Debutante (G3).
Unraced fillies to watch
Frosted Oats (Frosted - More Oats Please, by Smart Strike) brought $250,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale. The Bill Mott trainee has a strong three- and four-furlong breeze pattern at Saratoga; all works were within the top 10 of the day. However, the filly's conformation indicates she will be happiest racing two turns.
Pedigree: Second-crop sire Frosted's offspring improve with time and distance. He has 13 percent winners and 38 percent in the money with juvenile first-time dirt sprinters.
Frosted Oats's half-sister Peace and War won the 2014 Alcibiades Stakes (G1), and she placed in the following year's Cotillion Stakes (G1), Delaware Oaks (G3) and the listed Our Mims Stakes. In addition, an unraced half-sister bore Rushie, winner of last year's Pat Day Mile (G2) and in the money in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Bluegrass Stakes (G2), and Oaklawn Mile. Frosted Oats's second dam Miss Yiayia was a multiple stakes-placed black-type producer. Third-dam Miss Baja was a Grade 2 winner whose descendants include 2019 champion 2-year-old filly British Idiom.
Prima Della (Into Mischief - Delladonna, by Elusive Quality) has had a series of steady breezes at Monmouth, including two top-five works. She had a pre-race three-furlong spin around Saratoga in 37.22 seconds, second-best of 15 works.
Pedigree: Into Mischief has 18 percent winners and 47 percent in the money with juvenile first-time dirt sprinters.
Prima Della is the first foal out of an unraced full sister to stakes-placed sprinter Katie's Garden. Prima Della's second dam Tarlow won the Santa Margarita Invitational (G1) and La Cañada (G2) and as a juvenile placed second behind champion 2-year-old filly Halfbridled in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2).
Microbiome (Twirling Candy - Sonja's Angel, by Smoke Glacken) brought $100,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. The Tom Amoss charge worked a bullet five furlongs from the gate in 1:00.0 at Churchill before shipping to Saratoga.
Microbiome fired another bullet work of four furlongs in 47.67 seconds over the wet track in company with Schuylerville Stakes-bound Cartel Queen. While breezing on the rail, Microbiome stayed ahead of her stablemate without urging. Cartel Queen was urged late to pass. I give the nod to Microbiome for the easier movement.
Pedigree: Twirling Candy has 20 percent winners and 41 percent in the money with juvenile first-time dirt sprinters.
Microbiome's dam is a Grade 3-placed sprinter, and she is the only black-type earner out of the stakes-placed miler, Fly Away Angel. Microbiome's third dam Copelan's Angel is Grade 3-placed.
Thursday – Race 5
Lady Scarlet (Union Rags - Exclude, by Include) dueled the pacesetter the entire way in her five-furlong debut at Churchill but could not get by. The final time for five furlongs was a quick 57.36 seconds. It was good experience for the Brad Cox trainee. Lady Scarlet showed a liking for Saratoga when she drilled a pre-race bullet four furlongs in 47.32 seconds. Working solo, Lady Scarlet was under a light hold and had plenty left as she galloped out.
Pedigree: Lady Scarlet might become the first in her immediate family to win a race. Her two half-siblings are 0-for-13, but hit the board eight times. Although she handles the dirt just fine, turf is an option for Lady Scarlet if she cannot get the job done on the main track.
Her dam Exclude is a half-sister to multiple graded winner Exhi and to French listed router Diluvien. Exclude's half-sister Soldata bore multiple stakes-winning turf miler Alda and French Group 2 router Alignment. Lady Scarlet's second dam Soldera is a listed stakes-winning turf miler. Lady Scarlet is a descendant of Canadian horse of the year, U.S. champion 3-year-old filly and rene-de-course (superior mare) Fanfreluche.
Echo Zulu (Gun Runner - Letgomyecho, by Menifee) sold for $300,000 at the Keeneland September yearling auction. She may well turn out to be a bargain. The Steve Asmussen trainee gave a flash of talent in her June 15 bullet gate drill at Keeneland, zipping four furlongs in 47.40 seconds. Then she took a pre-race spin around the Saratoga training track in an easy 49.33 seconds for four furlongs.
Pedigree: Leading first-crop sire Gun Runner has six winners from 15 starters, and 70 percent of his offspring have hit the board, including Wicked Halo, who was third in the Debutante Stakes on Churchill's closing day.
Grade 2-winning sprinter Letgomyecho is a terrific producer. Her offspring include last year's H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) winner Echo Town, J Boys Echo, who won the Withers (G3) and Gotham (G3) in 2017, plus a pair of precocious graded-placed runners – Unbridled Outlaw, third in the 2015 Iroquois (G3), and Dragic, who finished third against the boys in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile and Belmont Futurity. Echo Zulu's half-sisters bore this year's Triple Bend (G1) runner-up Shooters Shoot and Deputy's Echo, who is multiple listed-placed between 5 1/2 furlongs and 1 1/8 miles.
Solasta (Goldencents - Greer Lynn, by Speightstown) was a $300,000 Keeneland Fasig-Tipton select yearling purchase.
Breezed in company on the outside of 3-year-old maiden winner Iaintfraidanoghost (Ghostzapper). The pair raced as a team, Solesta not moving quite as easily as her stablemate but game nonetheless, just a neck behind. Solesta pushed her neck in front near the wire and continued to eyeball her rival on the gallop out. The pair breezed four furlongs in 49.66 seconds. Previously, Solesta had a bullet gate work in 47.66 seconds.
Pedigree: Goldencents's offspring improve with time and distance. He has 14 percent winners and 41 percent in the money juvenile first-time dirt sprinters.
Solasta is a three-quarter sister to multiple graded-winning Mia Mischief, who captured the 2019 Humana Distaff (G1) and was second in last year's Madison (G1) to Guarana. In addition, Solasta’s half-brothers Lawton and Wonderful Luster are stakes-placed juveniles.
Mommasgottarun (Maclean's Music - Love in Tokyo, by Tiznow) sold for $100,000 at the Keeneland September yearling auction. The Tom Amoss trainee has a steady pattern of four- and five-furlong breezes, all at Churchill.
Pedigree: Maclean's Music has 21 percent winners and 44 percent in the money juvenile first-time dirt sprinters.
Mommasgottarun is the first foal out of the unraced Love in Tokyo. Her second dam Lisa T is a multiple stakes-placed sprinter-miler and is a half-sister to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver plus Grade 3 winners Brethren and Cyrus Alexander. The third generation also includes Grade 1-winning miler Callback.
Long shot potential
At 20-1 Li Li Bear (Liam's Map - Lil White Dove, by Indian Charlie) is worth a closer look to fill out the exotics. She has a consistent work pattern at Saratoga dating back to May, and she drilled back-to-back four-furlong bullets at the end of June to add fitness. Trainer Phil Gleaves rarely races juveniles, but 13 of his 24 starters have hit the board, including four winners.
Pedigree: Liam's Map gets only 8 percent first-time winners, but 46 percent of his juveniles hit the board.
Two of Li Li Bear's three half-siblings placed in their debut, including one for Gleaves. Li Li Bear's half-sister Fouzia was third in last year's Untapable Stakes for 2-year-olds at Kentucky Downs.