Pender Likes New Prospect Paynes Prairie

Trainer Mike Pender is just getting to know Paynes Prairie, having only purchased the 2-year-old son of Tale of Ekati a little over a week ago. But Pender said he likes what he sees in a colt that won a maiden race in his third start for trainer Steve Asmussen on July 4 at Belmont Park.

 

Prior to that, Paynes Prairie had been second in a maiden race at Churchill Downs on May 23 and second, 13 days later,  in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park.

 

“The horse really impressed me in his three races,” Pender said. “For him to run in a stakes in his second start, moving from Churchill Downs to the Big Sandy, Belmont Park, in two weeks and from a maiden race to a stakes in two weeks. Not a lot of horses can make that transition.

 

“Everybody knows that Belmont Park, with its sand base, is one of the most tiring tracks in the country. And he handled it with aplomb. Then when I watched him break his maiden with ease, I knew I had to have him. There aren’t a lot of good 2-year-olds for sale. When you’ve got one, you hold on tight. But they were willing to sell and we were willing to buy.”

 

Paynes Prairie was purchased for an undisclosed price for owner Jack McShayne.

 

The purchase was quickly completed, Pender said, on July 24 and the colt, who stands 16 hands high, was quickly brought to Del Mar. Payne’s Prairie worked four furlongs in :48.20 on Wednesday.