Englishman is just the start of DeVaux’s 2-year-old crop
Englishman is the star of Cherie DeVaux’s 2-year-olds for now, but there are plenty more in the pipeline.
At Churchill Downs last week, the Maxfield colt led at every call in a seven-furlong maiden special weight and pulled away to win by 7 1/4 lengths. Purchased as a yearling for $400,000 and owned by C R K Stable, he earned a 129 Horse Racing Nation speed figure and a 97 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing form for his performance.
“We were excited to get him started,” DeVaux told HRN on Thursday. “He's very talented. We don't really ask a whole lot of them in the morning, so when they go out and do something like that, kind of on their own ability, so impressive.”
She hasn’t decided on what's next for Englishman. “We’'re trying to develop him along, see if he can handle the two turns. And that's what we'd like to do next, is a one-turn mile. So probably try and wait for Churchill. We're not going to try to squeeze him into the Breeders' Cup. His future's in front of him.”
He’s one of about 45 juveniles in DeVaux’s barn. “This is my biggest two-year-old crop by far,” she said. Overall, she has about 115 horses in training.
Looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup for her older horses, DeVaux said she has two definites, She Feels Pretty, who would be 4-for-4 this year if not for a near miss in the Grade 1 Diana, and Rebel Red, who was runner-up in the Sword Dancer (G1) and will start in the Joe Hirsh Turf Classic (G1) on Saturday. Vahva is pencilled in ahead of a start in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a win-and-you’re in for the Filly & Mare Sprint.
Back to the 2-year-olds, DeVaux discussed some who recently got started or will soon.
Soaring High. This Curlin filly is a homebred for Whisper Hill Farm, and she debuted Thursday night with a seventh-place finish at Churchill Downs in a maiden special weight at 6 1/2 furlongs. In her most recent work, she breezed four furlongs from the Keeneland gate in 47.6 seconds, fastest of 27 at the distance. “Another exciting prospect,” DeVaux said before her race. “She's definitely, well I wouldn't say definitely because you never know, she looks two turns. She's shown a lot of precocity in the morning, she's been quick in a couple of her works. Right now, we're just going to get her started, and she's another one that looks like she'll get better with time and distance.”
Awesome Gun. Also a Whisper Hill Farm homebred, this Gun Runner colt has his first start in Friday’s seventh race at Churchill, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. “He's been a bit inconsistent in his work. He was working with Englishman early on and Englishman got the better of him, but you know hindsight being 20-20, that horse is immensely talented. And it kind of took a little while to put things together. We put blinkers on him for his last couple works, and that seems to have done the trick. He's been straightforward, he's been really focused on what he's doing. He's kind of one that looks like time and racing will help.”
Atropa. This Into Mischief filly was a $450,000 yearling purchase and is owned by Belladonna Racing, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing and B.C.W.T. She finished sixth in her only start, going six furlongs on the dirt at Saratoga in July. Atropa was entered in a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill on Saturday, but DeVaux said she has been scratched. “She's been training at Keeneland so we're going to point to Keeneland for her. She's been doing great. Kind of disappointed in her debut that she didn't really show much, but it was a muddy track. So with her, it's kind of been what we've been wanting to do. She's bred on the same cross as Sovereignty, so it'll be exciting to see how she does when she stretches out.”
Rain Gold. Owned and bred by Helen Alexander, this More Than Ready filly was third in her August debut at Ellis Park in August then won a maiden special weight at Churchill by a half-length going one mile on turf. “She's shown a lot of talent in the morning. She is a very opinionated filly. She had a great debut, and she built on that and won her last time out. So again, she's just back to the track. I like to get them back training before we start to come up with a plan, but very precocious, super talented, nice filly.”