The crystal ball: Analyzing Saratoga, Del Mar maidens
Summer is in full swing, with seven 2-year-old fillies and colts counted among strong maiden runners in the summer's featured meets at Saratoga and Del Mar, including the first winner for freshman sire Liam’s Map.
Pedigree: Cleverly named January Won may be best as a sprinter/miler, and turf could be a possibility down the road. He runs with his head held up and has high knee action. Both of his full siblings are winners, one on dirt and mud, the other on turf. January Won’s distaff line is modest, but the third generation has several blacktype earners, including multiple graded stakes-winning miler Remind, and graded stakes-winning turf mare War Thief.
Pedigree: Sweet Kisses has a sprinter/miler pedigree. She was a little green in the stretch, swishing her tail and shifting out, not happy with the aggressive handling by Ortiz. However, she runs correctly with no wasted leg motion. Freshman sire Carpe Diem, a precocious son of Giant’s Causeway, has two winners from eight starters. His offspring should handle all surfaces from sprints to middle distances. Sweet Kisses is a half-sister to Grade 3 stakes-placed miler Tiz Kissable and to Grade 3 stakes-placed sprinter One True Kiss, who also placed in the Sorrento Stakes as a juvenile. Their dam is a restricted stakes-winning sprinter. She’s a half to Grade 1 stakes-winning miler Silver Max. The third generation includes multiple graded stakes winner and sire, Yes It’s True, Canadian Champion 3-year-old Kiss a Native and Haskell Invitational (G1) winner Girvin.
Pedigree: Despite her sprinter/miler breeding, the chestnut filly has the conformation and running style of a horse that should appreciate two turns. She’s the first foal out of a stakes-placed 2-year-old turf miler. The third generation includes Grade 1 stakes-winning 2-yaer-old Adieu and her descendants stakes-winning sprinters Greeley's Rocket and Laurie's Rocket.
SEQUIN (Bayern - Hot Roots, by Indian Charlie) bounced out of the gate and immediately grabbed the lead. She led every step of the way, but couldn’t hold off the furious charge of Fly So Pretty.
Pedigree: Sequin attracted the winning $500,000 bid at the Fasig-Tipton sale of 2-year-olds in training. She has a miler’s pedigree. Freshman sire Bayern has four winners from 13 starters. His foals’ conformation varies from sprint to classic types. Sequin’s dam is a stakes-placed sprinter, and she’s a half-sister to two blacktype earners: Mother Mother, a stakes-winning miler who was also multiple graded stakes-placed, and Commanding Curve, who placed second in the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
SHARING (Speightstown - Shared Account, by Pleasantly Perfect) settled off the pace, ran into traffic trouble on the turn, and put in a late rush down the stretch. She missed the victory by only a neck and nose.
Pedigree: Sharing has a miler’s pedigree. Two of her three half siblings own blacktype; Riley's Choice is a restricted stakes-winning miler, and I’m Pretty Strong is a stakes-placed miler. Their dam won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Pedigree: Basin has a miler's pedigree and may handle all surfaces, especially turf. Freshman sire Liam’s Map, winner of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, has six starters, and Basin is his first winner. Basin is a half-brother to Grade 3 stakes-winning juvenile Rise Up. Their dam is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning sprinter Bourbon County, and her half-sister bore multiple stakes-winning turf miler In The Rough.
COLLUSION ILLUSION (Twirling Candy - Natalie Grace, by First Dude) chased a hot pace, then made a run down the center of the track to win by a half-length Sunday at Del Mar.
Pedigree: Collusion Illusion has a miler’s conformation and pedigree. He’s the first foal out of an unraced half-sister to multiple stakes winners. The second generation includes multiple graded stakes winning sprinters Bahamian Squall and Apriority, plus Big Tiz, who was second in the Hollywood Starlet (G1) and placed in three other stakes.