Weekend Eye Catchers - August 29-September 1

By Will Humphrey

By Will Humphrey ©

I hope that you all had an enjoyable and successful few days of wagering, where plenty of clues were provided to help us cash future tickets. Here are a few horses from the weekend to keep an eye out for going forward. 

Thursday, Saratoga, Race 10: TENACIOUS LEADER (2nd)

Not so much a weekend eye-catcher, but TENACIOUS LEADER deserves inclusion in this week’s blog for his game runner-up effort in Thursday’s With Anticipation Stakes (G3) at Saratoga. 

After breaking his maiden by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths in an off turf MSW, August 10, TENACIOUS LEADER was again hammered down from his 10/1 ML odds on Thursday to besent off as the 9/5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, who pushed him forward from the outside post and stalked the moderate pace being set by 16/1 long shot, NUDGE. Having traveled comfortably down the back stretch, Todd Pletcher’s traineewas then asked to make an outside move rounding the home bend and menacingly drew up alongside the leader, before poking his head in front at the top of the stretch. At the same time though, Flavian Prat was glued to the fence and had his hands full on the eventual winner, ZULU KINGDOM, who appeared to be full of run and looked as if he was going to burst on through to score under wraps. Prat managed to do half of that - finding a dream rail split which allowed him to edge his mount into a 3/4 length lead at the 1/16th pole -however, TENACIOUS LEADER was not done, and tenaciously (see what I did there!) battled on gamely to close the margin back down to a neck at the wire. Another couple of jumps, and he would have gotten back up back up, but he had to settle for second before galloping out strongly, half a length in front of the winner. 

It goes without saying that both of these two-year-olds look to have bright futures and nothing can be taken away from the winner, but when the margin of victory is so small, one has to think that the wide trip resulted in the best horse on the day finishing second. A three wide trip as opposed to a rail skimming one was the difference between victory and defeat. 

Despite the fact that he was turned over at a short price, there was little to dislike about how TENACIOUS LEADER shaped in what was his turf debut. His admirable attitude that saw him fight back at the wire will be a huge asset to him going forward, and on top of the fact that he physically looks to have all the required attributes to make it to the very top, I loved the way in which he was only ever doing enough and not over-racing under Irad, yet he was still very willing to give his best effort when asked. 

Based on the fact that he has been sent off at under 2/1 in all three of his career starts, expectations are clearly high for this colt and when you take a look at his pedigree, it makes sense as to why that is the case. 

A $375,000 yearling purchase owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC and Repole Stable, TENACIOUS LEADER is by leading stallion NOT THIS TIME, out an un-raced CURLIN mare, who herself is a half-sister to G2 winner and 2016 Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up, LAND OVER SEA, as well as three time GSW, WAR STROY, who made over $3.2 million in his career. 

With this having been only his third lifetime start and turf debut, it would be a surprise if TENACIOUS LEADER didn’t continue to take large steps forward over time, and quite frankly, I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t bag a graded stake before the year is out. He looks an exciting prospect to follow.

Saturday, Kentucky Downs, Race 8: ROTHSCHILD (3rd)

Tim Yakteen made a rare visit to Kentucky Downs on Saturday with ROTHSCHILD, who massively outran his odds in the $3,100,000 Nashville Derby (G3), and looks to be steadily developing into a very talented turf router. 

Hailing from a long line of stakes winners, the $700,000 son of UNCLE MO broke his maiden impressively on the dirt at the second time of asking last year but was then firmly put in his place by PRINCE OF MONACO in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), and MUTH in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1). With some turf influence in the pedigree, Yakteen then tried ROTHSCHILD on the weeds for the first time in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3) last December, where at odds of 23/1, he came up just a neck short of four-time stakes winner, STAY HOT. 

Following a 230-day break, ROTHSCHILD returned to the track as a 3yo in the Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes, July 20, where he was sent to post at odds of 9/1 and again outran his odds to finish 3rd, only two lengths behind Sunday’s Del Mar Derby (G2) winner, FORMIDABLE MAN. That performance was arguably even better than appears on paper, as he broke from the outside and was caught extremely wide around both turns, but still managed to edge into the lead late on before the lack of race fitness got to him. It was a huge career best effort that earned him a Beyer of 82. 

Yaketeen then really threw his trainee into the deep end on Saturday as he made his second start off the bench and only third lifetime start on the turf, pitching him in against the likes of BELLUM JUSTUM, CARSON’S RUN, CAMEO PERFORMANCE and CUGINO. It was a case of sink or swim for ROTHSCHILD, and bettors seemingly expected him to sink, sending him to post at odds of 29/1. 

He broke well from the inside post though, traveled powerfully throughout while stalking the pace, responded well to his rider’s encouragement, and even after being floated six wide into the stretch, continued to battle on gamely. He more than held his own against some of the best three-year-old turf routers around to eventually cross the wire in 3rd, just missing the place spot in a photo with recent Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1) winner, CARSON’S RUN. 

ROTHSCHILD once again put up a career best performance on Saturday and visually looked to have taken another huge step forward, as he confirmed himself to be a legitimate graded stakes contender. He has a beautiful mix of speed, stamina, tactical versatility, and an admirably determined attitude as well. 

Although he isn’t yet held in the same regard as the likes of STAY HOT and FORMIDABLE MAN (the 1-2 finishers in Sunday’s Del Mar Derby and leaders of this division on the West Coast), based on Equibase and TM speed figures, ROTHSCHILD has now comfortably blown past them and he is sneakily looking as if he could just emerge as the best of the bunch back in California. (Beyers are yet to be published at time of writing).

Tim Yakteen is also becoming a really solid turf trainer (19% in turf stakes; 9 for 47), and just like he did with JOHANNES, he seems to be nurturing his horse from an average dirt performer into a big-time turf router. There’s nothing to suggest that ROTHSCHILD has finished improving just yet and with an honestly run 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita looking as if it might just bring out the best in him, races such as the Twilight Derby (G2) come to mind. He’s often overlooked at the betting windows but is continuously proving people wrong and following Saturday’s effort, it will only be a matter of time before he wins a graded stake. 

Saturday, Del Mar, Race 3: SPYCATCHER (2nd)

Richard Mandella’s JOYRIDER broke his maiden in race three at Del Mar on Saturday, holding off the 3/2 favorite, SPYCATCHER who earns the award for ‘Unluckiest Loser of the Week’. 

A $220,000 5yo gelded son of NOBLE MISSION, SPYCATCHER developed into a high-class turf router as a 3yo, accumulating just under $175,000 in purses with ITM finishes in the 2022 Del Mar Derby (G2), the Let It Ride Stakes, and the Hollywood Derby (G1). Incredibly, he achieved all of this while remaining a maiden. 

A 280-day layoff followed the 2022 Hollywood Derby, before he returned for what proved to be his one and only start of 2023. Sent to post as the 3/5 favorite that day, SPYCATCHERsat a perfect stalking trip and loomed menacingly on the outside of horses turning for home, but ultimately had to settle for second, as there was no catching future stake winner and multiple GSP performer, DANDY MAN SHINES. 

Connections were unlucky to bump into one that day and probably expected that next time would finally be the charm. Well, they had to wait another 357-days to find out, as SPYCATCHER suffered another year long layoff before hereturned to the track as a first-time gelding this weekend.  

The lengthy layoff certainly didn’t turn bettors away from SPYCATCHER on Saturday, as he was bet down from his 5/2 ML odds to go off as the clear 3/2 favorite under Antonio Fresu, who took the mount for the first time. Breaking cleanly from gate nine, Mark Glatt’s trainee tugged his way forward to race just in behind the pace setters, who sliced through fractions of 22.46 and 47.11 for the one-mile test. SPYCATCHER was keen throughout and traveled powerfully under Fresu, who had his hands full all the way down the back stretch and had tucked in behind horses, helping SPYCATCHER to settle. The field started to bunch up rounding the home bend as the leaders began to feel the effects of the swift early tempo and the trailers closed in around them, meaning that Fresu found himself with a ton of horse underneath him, but absolutely nowhere to go. Unfortunately for his supporters, that was how things remained for the majority of the stretch, as Fresu remained motionless while all his rivals were hard at work and Mike Smith was on his way to victory with JOYRIDER. A seem finally opened at the 1/16 pole that SPYCATCHER willing burst through, instantly drawing clear from the majority of his rivals in an attempt to catch the lone leader but agonizingly he failed by a nose and yet again, kept his maiden tag intact.

This was as bad a trip as you will find and without doubt, the best horse finished second. Nevertheless, positives can still be taken away from this performance as the newly gelded SPYCATCHER showed that his ability and love for the game is still somewhat intact and physically, he didn’t look any less of a racehorse. It goes without saying that he is a far better horse than the bare result and speed figure (79 Beyer) would suggest, so keep that in mind if you’re someone who doesn’t tend to watch replays when ‘capping a card. Whether or not he will ever return to his glory days remains to be seen, but for now, a maiden breaking win from SPYCATCHER looks imminent.

Sunday, Del Mar, Race 1: BULLARD (1st)

Two-year-old maidens sprinted 6f in the opener at Del Mar on Sunday, where BULLARD announced himself as a horse with a future and became the latest ‘TDN Rising Star’.

Sent to post as the 3/1 second favorite under Umberto Rispoli, BULLARD was reluctant to load into the gate and then slow away from it when the starter sprung the latch, spotting the field a good four lengths as they ran down the back stretch. Roused into stride by Rispoli, Michael McCarthy’s trainee then gathered a strong forward momentum and began to make eye catching headway as the field rounded the turn for home, passing rivals one by one, now under only mild urging from Rispoli. Bob Baffert’s odds-on favorite, KALEA BAY, turned into the stretch with a commanding three length lead and on any other day, would have won by a street, however, BULLARD’s strides just never shortened in the stretch, and he continued to determinedly wear down the long-time leader. With just over 50yds to go, BULLARD inhaled KALEA BAY with any amount of ease and hit the line hard 1 1/4 lengths in front, with a further six lengths back to the third-place finisher.

This was as impressive a debut effort as it gets, especially over this track which has been playing very kindly to front end speed. His gate pre-race gate antics can be forgiven for now, as this was his first career start, and although he lacked early speed in this 6f affair, this shouldn’t be a concern going forward because his physical build, stride, and the way that he ran, all suggest that he needs a route of ground, which will naturally help him sit closer in the future. Physically, he looked more like a hardened older horse than a first out two-year-old, and the way in which he was energetically powering through the stretch while incorrectly remaining on his left lead, shows how vast his engine must be. He did eventually correct his legs as he crossed the wire and then galloped out with his ears pricked like a fresh horse, looking as if he could have gone around again. 

Maybe I’m getting carried away with this performance, but it really did get my blood pumping and when you analyze his pedigree, he has everything required to go a very long way in this game. 

A $675,000 son of leading sire GUN RUNNER, BULLARD is out an un-raced half-sister to Bob Baffert’s lightly raced G3 winner, CAN THE MAN, making him a half-brother to two time stakes winner, MUNDAYE CALL, as well as Chad Brown’s trainee, CASCAIS, who recorded a 101 Beyer when going gate to wire in a NX1 allowance at BAQ, May 04. Going further back in the pedigree, you will discover that BULLARD’s granddam, SMOLENSK, was a two-time GSW and G1 runner-up on the turf in Europe. 

The other aspect of this performance worth highlighting, is that Michael McCarthy doesn’t hit all that often with first out 2yo’s (15 for 135 in the last five years prior to Saturday), but when he does, the horses are usually pretty smart. In fact, of McCarthy’s fifteen debut 2yo victors since 2019 (excluding BULLARD), thirteen of them went to hit the board in stakes races, seven of them went onto win stakes races, and three of them became graded stake winners, including 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, ROMBAUER. That’s pretty good company for BULLARD to be keeping.

I guess this is my long-winded way of telling you that BULLARD’s performance on Sunday really did impress me, and I for one am excited to see what he can do next.  

Others to Mention…

Elsewhere this weekend, there were a couple of smart looking winners who also deserve a mention. 

Starting at Colonial with Michael Stidham’s ALMAFI DRIVE;this 2yo son of MEDAGLIA D’ORO took his career record to two-for-two in the second race on Saturday, as he impressively drew away from his rivals to score by 4 1/2 lengths in an OC 50k/N1X allowance over 6f. 

Owned and bred by Godolphin, ALMAFI DRIVE is out of a GSP half sister to listed stake winner and G1 placed performer, NASH, as well as stakes place performer, SPA CITY. Going further back in the pedigree, you will find that ALMAFI DRIVE’s granddam is/was three-time GSW, SARA LOUISE, who finished 4th in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint (G1). 

Although his Beyer speed figures wouldn’t set the world alight (61, 68), he’s now turned both of his races to date into demolition jobs, scoring by a combined 10 1/4 lengths while visually looking as if he has stakes on his agenda. With top connections behind him, it will be interesting to see how far up the ranks ALMAFI DRIVE can climb. 

Meanwhile, back at Saratoga, FEDERAL JUDGE earned the right to retry stakes company as he blew apart race five on Saturday, an OC 62k/N2X allowance over 6 1/2f. 

Originally trained but Rodolphe Brisset, the $200,000 son of ARMY MULE won both of his first two starts with respective Beyers of 97 & 90 last year, but then went unseen for 406-days following a 4th place finish to ARABIAN LION in the 2023 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1). 

Following a gelding operation and barn switch to Brad Cox, he resurfaced with a hard-fought runner-up effort that earned him a Beyer of 91 on July 20, and with that run underneath him, he convincingly stepped forward from that on Saturday, finishing six lengths ahead of multiple GSP performer ACCRETIVE with a Beyer of 95. 

He clearly has an immense amount of ability but remains lightly raced, and with the potential to improve further upon his 95 Beyer, he could be an exciting four-year-old to follow.  

Past Eyecatcher’s with current entries:

09/05 - Kentucky Downs R9: OLIVIA MARALDA

09/05 - Kentucky Downs R9: STIR CRAZY

09/05 - Kentucky Downs R9: SHE’S LOOKIN LUCKY (AE)

09/07 - Colonial R8: DETERMINED KINGDOM

09/07 - Colonial R9: ONCOURTCOMMENTATOR

09/07 - Colonial R10: DETERMINISTIC

09/07 - Colonial R10: ZVEREV

09/07 - Kentucky Downs R1: LA FANTASTICA

09/07 - Kentucky Downs R7: KAIRYU

09/07 - Kentucky Downs R8: FUNTASTIC AGAIN

09/07 - Kentucky Downs R9: HOWARD WOLOWITZ