Promising 2-Year-Olds Set to Debut at Churchill

Highlighted by a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird, a number of well-bred 2-year-old colts will be making their debuts Saturday at Churchill Downs where the excitement for new Derby prospects is always brewing on the backside.

Zayat Stables LLC’s Thirtysevenliveson is not only a half-brother to Mine That Bird but also a half to multiple Grade I-winner Dullahan, who finished third in the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Debuting in Saturday’s seventh race, Thirtysevenliveson is trained by Dullahan’s conditioner Dale Romans, who said that their personalities are similar.

 

“I don’t know too much about Mine That Bird, but Thirtysevenliveson and Dullahan have about the same personality,” Romans said. “They’re both class horses who are all business.”

 

Thirtysevenliveson, a son of three-time champion sire Giant’s Causeway, was a $675,000 purchase at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. While Romans acknowledged the similarity to Dullahan, he did not seem to feel much pressure entering Saturday’s 6 ½-furlong maiden event.

 

“I don’t get nervous about any of them anymore,” Romans said. “The first start doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot to me; you just have to wait and see how they develop.”

 

Dullahan finished third in his maiden debut at Churchill Downs in June 2011, but did not break his maiden until his fifth start, which was subsequently the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland that October.

 

“When they’re training is when I really start getting excited about them,” Romans said. “I know Thirtysevenliveson can run and I know he’s going to be a mile-and-a-quarter horse. I’d love to see him win this race, but there’s more to it about getting him going than just worrying about winning this first maiden race.

 

“Thirtysevenliveson is one who I think needs to get a little more distance,” Romans said. “Going six-eighths (of a mile), he might need a little more (distance) to really show his form, but at the end of the day I think he’s going to be a very special racehorse.”

 

Also on Saturday’s card, Romans will saddle West Point Thoroughbreds LLC’s first-time starter Toasting Master in the fifth race, who is a half-brother to three stakes winners including 2012 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) runner-up Broadway’s Alibi.

 

“Toasting Master is a little different,” Romans said. “He wasn’t quite as expensive but I do think he’s the type that can win first time out. I just think he’s a little more ready.”

 

Toasting Master will take on Jerry Durant’s Peacenquiet for trainer Steve Asmussen, who was first in 2-year-old wins during Churchill Downs’ 2014 Spring Meet with six, five of which were first-time starters.

 

“Peacenquiet was a pretty expensive yearling, obviously he’s attractive,” Asmussen said. “I think that he’ll stretch out nicely and I think it’s a good starting spot.”

 

Asmussen has high hopes for Peacenquiet, a $170,000 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton’s 2013 July Sale.

 

“A lot of time and patience has been put in to getting them to this point,” Asmussen said. “It’s anxious anticipation; you don’t want to put too much pressure on the situation but you’re obviously hoping for huge things.”

 

Asmussen still is seeking his first Kentucky Derby victory, his best effort coming with Nehro for Zayat Stables in 2011.

 

The fifth race, a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight, is scheduled for an approximate post time of 2:51 p.m. (all times Eastern).

 

Facing off against Thirtysevenliveson in Saturday’s seventh race is another first-time starter in Charles Fipke’s homebred Tale of Beaucette, whom trainer Dallas Stewart is hoping to develop into yet another young success.

 

“We took our time with him,” Stewart said. “We had him up in Saratoga but he just wasn’t quite ready to run there. So we brought him back to Churchill and he’s had a couple of really good works. It looks like he’s a talented horse.”

 

Stewart campaigned the last two runner-up finishers in the Kentucky Derby with West Point Thoroughbreds’ Commanding Curve in 2013 and another Fipke homebred, Golden Soul, in 2012. Both Commanding Curve and Golden Soul made significant starts under the Twin Spires as 2-year-olds.

 

Commanding Curve finished sixth last year in his debut at Saratoga, then broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in his fourth start last November. Golden Soul was a runner-up in his debut at Churchill Downs and won in his next start at Fair Grounds.

 

“When they get accomplished as a 2-year-old going long, you feel like you have a chance,” Stewart said. “Going short, you just don’t know yet, but if they can stretch out and win at a mile, or even like Commanding Curve going two turns, you feel like you have a shot early.”

 

Stewart did not acknowledge that Tale of Beaucette would be his next Derby success, but said he should get a better feel for the 2-year-old son of Tale of Ekati after Saturday’s start.

 

“This race here is six-and-a-half (furlongs), so it’s a good place for this horse to start,” Stewart said. “We’ll know a little more after this race.”

 

Saturday’s seventh race is scheduled for an approximate post time of 3:53 p.m.

 

Gillian S. Campbell’s Aireofdistinction will look to give both Campbell and trainer Steve Asmussen a consecutive victory in Saturday’s $100,000-added Open Mind at Churchill Downs.

 

“She had a bit of a crowded trip in her last start at Mountaineer,” Asmussen said. “It was a credible and hopefully we can get her back to her winning ways here on Saturday.”

 

Aireofdistinction placed third in her last start, the West Virginia Secretary of State at Mountaineer on Aug. 2.

 

“She had a really good Oaklawn meet earlier this year,” Asmussen said. “Then we gave her the summer off. She’s doing great now though, and I think she will benefit from a smaller field and hopefully we can another win under her belt.”

 

The horse Asmussen trained to victory in last year’s Open Mind, Vuitton, has since changed hands and now is in the barn of conditioner Eddie Kenneally.

 

Vuitton is entered in both the Open Mind and the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Saturday. Kenneally said Thursday morning that he was still undecided as to where the mare’s next start would be.

 

The Open Mind will go as the ninth of 10 races on Saturday’s card with an approximate post time of 4:55 p.m.