ITM Players' Newsletter - Breeders' Cup WAYI Recap
Plus Weekend Eye Catchers!
Players’ Podcast: International Breeders’ Cup Prep Race Action
The show kicks off with PTF and Nick Tammaro recapping a loaded weekend of racing across Canada and the United States including four Grade 1s in the Great White North and the first Kentucky Derby points race of the year.
Next up Vanessa Ryle joins us with her views on the Breeders’ Cup WAYI races from Irish Champions Weekend.
Last but not least, Meg Koloskie of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga is here to tell us about their fundraiser on October 5. Tickets are selling fast so get yours today.
Assiniboia Downs Tuesday 9/17/24 and Contest Jockey Reboot
Mike Pribozie hosts Jackson Muniz for this week’s ASD Players Podcast. They cover the last 4 races for Tuesday September 17, 2024. The Late Pick 4 is a $1 minimum on those last 4 races with a $50,000 guarantee. Contest Jockey is also offering a FREE contest on the first 6 races on Tuesday Night with a Cash Prizes. Go to contestjockey.com and Sign Up for FREE.
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Weekend Eye Catchers - September 12-15, 2024
By Will Humphrey ©
There was no shortage of eye-catching performances and informative races for us to digest this past week and quite honestly, I could have made this article far longer than it already is! Nevertheless, with an unintentional focus on two -year-olds, here are five horses from the past week who I hope will be profitable to follow going forward.
Thursday, Churchill Downs, Race 8: BIG BOAT (1st)
Questions remain about what type of field BIG BOAT beat in the nightcap at Churchill on Thursday, but the way in which he went about breaking his maiden on debut suggests that he could have a bright future.
Going out for trainer Jimmy DiVito, the expensive son of NYQUIST broke well from gate seven but was then content to settle into mid-pack under Cristian Torres, taking kickback well in behind legitimate fractions of 21.77 and 45.10 for the six-furlong contest. Under steady encouragement throughout, BIG BOAT never once shortened his strides, gradually working his way through the field rounding the bend and into the stretch, where he then efficiently changed leads and drew away from the field to score by a clear 3 1/2 lengths. He stopped the clock in 1:09.98 (0.17 faster than the OC 100k/N2L allowance run two races prior) and earned a 73 Beyer. The most taking aspect of the performance came after the race though, as he then galloped out very powerfully with ears pricked, around fifteen lengths ahead of the field and was a real handful for Torres to pull up.
There was little to dislike about this debut from BIG BOAT, who hails from a long line of high-quality stake horses and cost no less than $460,000 at auction. His relentless strides and strong gallop out would suggest that he could come into his own when stretching out to seven furlongs or one mile, and it will be interesting to see in which direction he is now pointed. Regardless of where he shows up next, the absence of big-name connections could see him going off at larger odds than he should, but he’s been bred and purchased to achieve a high level and following this start to his career, I for one will be wary of leaving him off my tickets.
Friday, Laurel, Race 10: HIGH BREEZE (4th)
It’s unlikely that any superstars are going to emerge out of the two-year-old fillies MSW that went as race ten at Laurel on Friday, but it will be worth keeping an eye out for when fourth place finisher, HIGH BREEZE, makes her next start.
Sent to post as the 7/2 joint favorite on debut, HIGH BREEZE broke a touch slowly from the gate and was pinched badly under Jorge Ruiz, spotting the leaders over fourteen lengths at the first point of call. Ruiz didn’t panic, but just let her find her stride and one by one the pair started to pass horses along the rail. Slipping through tight openings under only a hand ride, HIGH BREEZE made up almost nine lengths on the leaders inside the final quarter mile to cross the wire 2 1/2 lengths back in fourth.
Whether or not she would have won had she not been checked at the start will forever remain unknown. However, the way in which she was consistently making up ground during the entire race was eye-catching, and I liked how she was readily willing to burst through small openings that other debutants may have backed out of. Despite running at full tilt throughout, her strides never shortened, and she also galloped out powerfully ahead of the field which strongly suggests that two turn races will see her to best effect. That’s unsurprising when you consider that she is a half sister to MGSP turf router WICKED FAST, and her dam is also a half sibling to five-time G1 winning turf router/leading turf sire, ENGLISH CHANNEL.
Provided that route trips are indeed the path that she takes in her upcoming starts, this educational first run should have set her up perfectly to break her maiden before long, and she looks a winner in waiting.
Friday, Churchill Downs, Race 8: NOSLEEPTILBROOKLYN (2nd)
Having disappointed when hammered down into favoritism on debut, it was pleasing to see the exceptionally well related NOSLEEPTILBROOKLYN show much more promise in the eighth at Churchill on Friday.
This time unloved by bettors, Brian Lynch’s $500,000 two-year-old son of GHOSTZAPPER broke out of gate ten at odds of 14/1 under Ricardo Santana, Jr, where he quickly established a forward position to stalk a hot 21.86, 46.18 pace being set up front. Despite being caught wide, he traveled powerfully rounding the bend and into the stretch, switched leads upon straightening and fought gamely through the wire to finish second by just under three lengths. He then galloped out strongly alongside the winner, well in advance of the remainder of field with a much-improved Beyer of 75.
NOSLEEPTILBROOKLYN wasn’t benefited by being caught wide throughout and was unlucky to bump into one here (EVANESCENCE, who had a more ground saving trip and himself looks a very talented colt worth following in the future), but visually and attitude wise, there wasn’t much to dislike. With a relentless stretch run, he looked as if he is crying out for route distances which would fit his pedigree as he is a half-brother to Bob Baffert’s current superstar mare, ADARE MANOR, out of six-time stakes/G3 winning router, BROOKLYNSWAY.
Eleven horses in this race to had previously passed through the action ring for combined price of $2,930,000 and it had the feel of a maiden that could work out very well. I think the first two finishers have bright futures and when NOSLEEPTILBROOKLYN does get the chance to go long, I expect that he will be very tough to beat in maiden company.
Saturday, Woodbine, Race 9: FIRST RESORT (4th)
Without ever looking as if he was going to trouble the place judges on Saturday, there was lots to like about FIRST RESORT’s fourth place finish in the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.
Somewhat surprisingly, Umberto Rispoli wasn’t overly aggressive from the gate on the Godolphin owned and bred son of G1 winner FAIR MAIDEN, which resulted in the pair being shuffled back in a scrum to seventh position early on. Racing in behind horses for the first time, he didn’t appear to be traveling overly well and had to be squeezed forward into the bridle by his rider; however, the further he went, the better he got. When he found clear sailing in the stretch, the son of UNCLE MO efficiently changed his leads, extended his stride well and finished nicely to cross the wire behind NEW CENTURY in fourth. The resolute stretch run and strong gallop out that followed makes one think that, with a cleaner opening quarter mile and a more favorable early position, he could have actually gone pretty close.
Nevertheless, this was an encouraging performance from Eoin Harty’s trainee, especially as it was his first start on turf, first time routing, and as he had to use a brand-new running style for the first time (had set the pace in both prior starts). I expect that he learnt a vast amount on Saturday, and he will only step forward from this effort next time.
He might not be a Breeder’s Cup quality juvenile, but he has shown here that he is supremely talented by hitting the board in a graded stake sprinting on the dirt, and then going close in a G1 turf route, which not too many horses can do. His Beyer speed figure pattern now reads 73, 73, 86, and there’s no reason why, with more racing experience and the benefit of time, he won't continue to get better. I’ll be keeping him onside wherever he shows up next.
Saturday, Churchill Downs, Race 11: HANDSOME PANTS (1st)
Having been beaten only a neck by AUTHENTIC STRIKE on debut, both the betting public and trainer Dale Romans were very high on the chances of 3/5 favorite KINETIC CONTROL, in the Saturday nightcap at Churchill. By following up his 72 debut Beyer with an improved 77, he looks a nice progressive horse to follow; however, he kept his maiden tag intact as he couldn’t get by the only first-time starter in the field, HANDSOME PANTS.
Going out for the KY Derby and Oaks winning team of Kenny McPeek and Brian Hernandez, Jr, HANDSOME PANTS couldn’t have been much more impressive in this race. He traveled powerfully and took kickback well in mid division, before gliding his way through the pack under a firm hold rounding into the stretch, where he then quickened nicely and drew off to score by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths. He galloped out well having stopped the clock in 1:45.11 for the 1 1/16 miles test and earned a Beyer of 80 - a figure that theoretically would have seen him finish third in the Iroquois Stakes.
It’s always impressive when debutants can turn away an entire field of horses who already had prior racing experience, especially when the trainer is not renowned for having their horses ready to fire first time out. In fact, when you look back at McPeek’s record with first out two-year-olds over the last three years, you will find that prior to September 2024, he was only 12-for-183 (7%). Of those twelve winners, nine of them went onto hit the board in stakes races, seven became GSP performers, five became stake winners, and two became GSW’s - highlighted of course by THORPEDO ANNA. That’s pretty good company for HANDSOME PANTS to be keeping.
Visually, HANDSOME PANTS looked the part and as a $140,000 son of DAREDEVIL with a black-type pedigree such as his, there’s no reason why he too can’t go onto reach a high level. He looks an exciting horse to follow.
Past Eyecatchers with current entries:
09/19 - Churchill Downs R6: KINETIC
09/21 - BAQ R8: MIDNIGHT MILE
09/21 - Churchill Downs R8: NEOM BEACH
09/21 - Churchill Downs R9: JEFFERSON STREET
09/21 - Churchill Downs R10: MISS JUSTIFY
09/22 - Churchill Downs R7: CLAIRE’S CHARM
09/22 - Churchill Downs R9: GOLD LUCK