Zipse: As stars exit, a pair of 2-year-olds will be fun to watch

As two of the nation’s biggest stars Adare Manor and Dornoch have come to a close in their racing careers, there is always a new wave of talented horses to pique the interest. Now is the right time to start talking about the 2-year-olds, and a pair who caught my eye are Ferocious and With the Angels.

One is a high-priced 2-year-old-in-training purchase. The other is a New York-bred filly. They each have made two career starts, and I have loved what I have seen from both.

Dornoch has bone bruising, is retired to stud.

Despite being beaten last time out, Ferocious remains a juvenile colt who I cannot wait to see more. I was told about his promise before his first race by one of his owners, Ramiro Restrepo, and the handsome son of Flatter has not disappointed.

From many of the same connections who brought us the 2023 Kentucky Derby hero Mage, Ferocious was plucked from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction in March for the hefty sum of $1.3 million and joined the barn of Gustavo Delgado Sr.

Making his debut Aug. 3 at Saratoga, he roared to an emphatic 7 3/4-length victory over a field that included the promising next-out winner Praetor.

Off that six-furlong win, the powerfully built dark bay was sent to the post as a hot favorite for the Grade 1 Hopeful one month later. Bumped at the start, and not seeming completely comfortable for sections of the race, Ferocious finished strongly late to come in a half-length behind the unbeaten winner Chancer McPatrick. Second best in the historic, seven-furlong race at Saratoga, he had lost a shoe during the running.

Ferocious already has had three workouts since the Hopeful, including a bullet, five-furlong move Saturday, which will set him up for a trip to Kentucky and another try in Grade 1 company. His connections are excited to try him at two turns, and they will get that shot in the 8 1/2-furlong Breeders’ Futurity on Saturday at Keeneland.

Having ridden him in his impressive debut win, Javier Castellano will be back in the saddle after missing his second start due to injury. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for the Hopeful, but Castellano, who rode Mage to victory for the team last year, will regain the mount.

The two-turn test will be a good one for a colt who looked to leave plenty on the table in his stakes debut. An impressive-looking individual, I remain high on the grandson of A.P. Indy and very much look forward to seeing him in person in what could be a prelude to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Like Ferocious, With the Angels was a 2-year-olds-in-training purchase for a large ownership group. After originally fetching $65,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale, the Empire State-bred daughter of promising young sire Omaha Beach was bought for $350,000 this spring.

Trained by Linda Rice, With the Angels made a big impression in her unveiling. Sent off as even-money favorite off some solid workouts, the racy, dark bay filly dominated a New York-bred maiden race at Saratoga from start to finish. Crossing the wire first by better than 11 lengths Aug. 22, it was clear the filly has some serious talent.

With José Ortiz back in the saddle for her second start, Sunday’s Joseph A. Gimma Stakes turned out to be little more than a public workout. The seven-furlong sprint for state-bred fillies at Aqueduct was won with disdainful ease. The 9 3/4-length cakewalk served only as a prep for bigger things to come.

After the dominating score, Rice stated the impressive performance by With the Angels may be enough to bring her right back for the Frizette (G1) on Saturday at the Big A. The one-turn mile is a win-and-you’re-in event for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies four weeks later at Del Mar.

The 13-day turnaround is a question as is the bump up in competition she will have to face moving forward, but the fluid stride of With the Angels has me believing she could well be up to the task.

She has won her first two starts at two different tracks by a combined margin of better than 21 lengths. She is running fast and making it look all too easy. With the Angels appears to be the most talented juvenile filly I have seen so far this year despite the lack of competition.

Things can change quickly among these young horses, but each in search of their first Grade 1 victories on Saturday in Kentucky and New York, I can’t wait to see more from Ferocious and With the Angels.