Weekend Eye Catchers - November 23-24, 2024
By Will Humphrey
Following an informative weekend of high-quality racing from all over the country, here are a few horses who will be worth following in the near future.
Saturday, Del Mar, Race 3: OCALA KID (3rd)
After a troubled third place finish in Del Mar’s third race on Saturday - a MC 50k sprinting 5f on the turf - OCALA KID will be a horse to keep onside going forward.
The $120k son of GIRVIN had recorded a miserable Beyer of 27 in his one prior start - a MSW going six furlong on the dirt, way back in August 2023 - and had a lot to overcome in this race as he drew the rail off a 476 day layoff while making his turf debut as a fresh gelding.
Regardless of the fact that he didn’t appear to have a lot going for him, he took a little money at the windows on Saturday and ultimately, was unlucky not to reward his supporters. After a swift break, he traveled well along the rail in third and looked to poised to strike rounding for home. When the leader then started getting out on the bend, creating a gaping hole towards the rail at the top of the stretch, it looked as he could be gifted the trip of all trips as well. However, the eventual winner CERTITUDE had already committed to the same opening and beat OCALA KID to the punch, forcing Antonio Fresu to take up and angle his mount back towards the centre of the track in search for room. He then sent OCALA KID through a slim opening in between runners at the 1/16 pole which they narrowly squeezed through before they stayed on well to finish third, even though Fresu was never once able to use his crop or get into a full drive. Here’s the stretch run.
Was he ever going to beat the clear winner? Probably not. However, with the trouble that he met, I thought that this gelding shaped better than the margin of defeat and speed figure would suggest, especially as he hadn’t run for 476-days and had never run on turf before either. That offers hope that, with this run now behind him and a cleaner trip next time, he will be able to take a step forward from this 67 Beyer earning effort and make amends in a similar contest. At this point, it’s worth highlighting that with horses making their second starts off 300+ day layoffs, Peter Miller hits at 31% (11-for-35) while posting a $3.45 ROI. And if you specifically focus that down onto maiden sprinters making their second starts off 300+ day layoffs, he is 4-for-7 (57%) with a $4.14 ROI.
So, while OCALA KID might not be a superstar in the making, but I’d encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for him anyway following this eye-catching effort, as he looks a sure-fire winner in waiting.
Saturday, Churchill Downs, Race 10: AK SAR BEN DERBY (3rd)
The $0.50 trifecta came back at a respectable $124.61 in Saturday’s Commonwealth Turf S. (G3) at Churchill Downs, thanks in part to the huge effort put in by the improving 16/1 shot, AK SAR BEN DERBY.
Even though the John Ortiz trained, Millard R Seldin Revocable Trust owned son of TAPITURE had earned his first stake win in the Hawthorne Derby last time out, bettors had many reasons to oppose this colt in Saturday’s race and did so willingly. He had only graduated out of the maiden ranks at the sixth time of asking two starts back with a 76 Beyer, while the moderate speed figure that he earned in what was a low quality stake last time left him with plenty to find against Saturday’s key players, both in terms of form and figures.
He ran a super race though; having adopted his customary hold-up position, he traveled well along rail before gathering steam on the home bend, then weaved his way into the centre of the track in the stretch and burst his way into the camera shot late to finish a clear third before galloping out well. Here’s the replay.
Okay, so he got an ideal pace set-up to suit his running style, and he didn’t have any real excuse for the defeat either. However, that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that this horse continues to improve with each and every start, and when stretching back out to his preferred distance of 1 1/8 miles - the distance both of his prior wins came over - he could land a similar contest before long. In fact, you’d have to think that he’d have gone very close if Saturday’s race had been around nine panels.
His last five starts have produced a Beyer speed figure pattern of 62, 73, 76, 83 and now 89, yet he may still have more to offer and as a runner who will likely continue to be overlooked somewhat in the wagering, he’s a perfect type to keep onside.
Sunday, Churchill Downs, Race 7: PRETTY SASSY (5th)
With such deep pedigrees and lofty price tags on display, it seemed inevitable that this loaded MSW would throw up an eye-catcher or two and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the form work out well. 25/1 shot SHARED VISION eventually managed to get the better of the 3/5 favorite KEEPSAKE in a thrilling finish, but it was the Godolphin owned, Brendan Walsh trained, PRETTY SASSY, who caught my eye back in fifth.
Now, this was a fairly messy race, and I’d encourage you to go back and watch the head on replay to see just what goes on down the back stretch. About a furlong and a half into he race, as the field gradually continued to cross down towards the rail, several runners were put in tight spots - the obvious one being VINO BELLA, who made severe contact with with the inside rail and was ‘protected thereafter’ as the chart comment read. Although racing more towards the outside of the pack, PRETTY SASSY was also put in a tight spot between horses at the same time and jostled around also, forcing Martin Garcia to check her. The pair were put on the back foot and pushed from the three path to the fifth in just two strides. Having then found themselves racing around seven lengths off the lead while wide, Garcia had to get busy on PRETTY SASSY just to keep her in the race and did so all the way to the wire. Somewhat unsurprisingly, she lacked the speed required to reach the leaders or have any significant impact on the race, but she did respond willingly to Garcia’s urgings; maintaining strong strides and her position well, she passed tiring rivals while weaving through traffic in the stretch to just miss the fourth spot by a stride. She then went and galloped out strongly in third. Here’s the stretch run and some of that gallop out.
For all the world, PRETTY SASSY shaped here as if she’s a two-turn horse in the making - unsurprising considering that she’s by 3x G1 winning router MEDAGLIA D’ORO (AWD 7.6f), and a half sister to last year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner, PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS. For a first out two-year-old filly, I thought that she showed a likable attitude throughout - both in terms of recovering from the early jostling and fighting all the way to the wire - and I also liked the way that she was striding out through the contest.
Brendan Walsh’s debutants often improve for their first starts and so while the bare result and speed figure (62 Beyer) wouldn’t make anyone jump out of their seat, I wouldn’t be surprised to see PRETTY SASSY develop into a nice two turn type with this pleasing and educational experience now behind her. Watch for her next time.
Sunday, Gulfstream, Race 9: BOPPY O (2nd)
With Gulfstream gearing up for the start of the highly anticipated Championship Meet on Thursday, it seemed apt to highlight an eye-catcher from Hallandale this week - a runner who hopefully can keep us warm this winter! I’ve laid that burden down on the Mark Casse trained BOPPY O, who I thought ran another encouraging race in the ninth on Sunday - an OC 62k/N2X allowance going 1m 70yds on the synthetic.
A G3 winner as a two-year-old and a listed stake winner last year aged three, the Gary Barber and D J Stable LLC son of BOLT D’ORO broke well from the two post on Sunday and then proceeded to power his way down the back stretch along the rail in third position. As the field hit the far turn and began the sprint for home, Edwin Gonzalez had a ton of horse underneath him, however, the moderate early pace had resulted in the field still being well bunched at the 1/4 pole and therefore, while glued to the rail, BOPPY O had absolutely nowhere to go and was shuffled back to fifth at the top of the stretch. Having then lost momentum and been forced to angle out into the four path to find room, the big bay gelding was eventually allowed to gather a full head of stream and proceeded to run on strongly into second, although there was no catching the victorious YAMATO.
Whether or not having to wait for room cost BOPPY O the win here is questionable, although the fact that he’s a big horse to takes time to find top gear could lean towards the answer being yes. Nevertheless, his performance marked the second promising start from this horse since he was gelded during a 271-day layoff earlier this year. He returned to action on October 18 with a career best 115 TUS rating/89 Beyer, and while the figures are yet to be published for Sunday’s race, it would be harsh to suggest that this was a step backwards, especially when you factor in the troubled trip. He could be better again when making his third start of the form cycle next out and with the back class to remain competitive in these types of races, he looks one to keep onside this winter - especially if he continues to go off at a similar price to the 7/1 we were getting about him on Sunday. Gelding operations can’t be pleasant for horses, but they sure can be for our bankrolls!
Others to Mention…
I finally want to give a quick shoutout to three impressive winners who caught the eye this past week, starting at Churchill on Saturday with RIPASSARE (77 Beyer), who I thought was very good in breaking her maiden second out over one mile on the weeds. She’s out of a GSP turf router and a half sister to stake winner/GSP performer SISTER LOU ANN, so is certainly bred to be talented and could be destined for big things.
Wheeling back to the aforementioned seventh race at Churchill on Sunday - the one in which PRETTY SASSY finished fifth - I’d be inclined to keep a close eye on the winner from that race, SHARED VISION. George Arnold doesn’t hit overly often with first time starters (9% last five years), but this filly showed guts and determination to hold off a highly touted Cox runner and looked good in doing so. Different speed figures offer different views as to how fast the race was, but I wouldn’t be shocked if this gal turned out to be alright.
And finally, I’ll give a shoutout to HOT PROPERTY who produced this impressive gate to wire debut performance at the Fair Grounds on Sunday. Trained by Brad Cox, this two-year-old colt is a half to 2x graded stake winner ACTRESS, out of Woodbine Oaks winner/2x G1 runner- up, MILWAUKEE APPEAL. It’s a fairly impressive two turn family that he’s a part of and following this debut, there’s nothing to suggest that HP can’t further the pedigree’s glory.
Former Eye-Catchers With Current Entries
Wednesday
CD R9: NAY V BELLE (7/2)
Thursday
GP R8: CIVETTA (9/5)
FG R6: GOLDEN AFTERNOON (3/1)
CD R6: NEOM BEACH (15/1)
CD R11: STIR CRAZY (7/2)
CD R11: SHE’S LOOKIN LUCKY (10/1)
Friday
CD R10: MINOUSHKA (9/2)
CD R11: MOST WANTED (7/2)
Dmr R5: SABERTOOTH
Dmr R9: WRIGLEYVILLE
Saturday
AQ R9: LIFE TALK
GP R10: RATED BY MERIT
CD R1: LA FANTASTICA
CD R11: FIRST RESORT
Lrl R7: ELLEN JAY
I hope that you had an enjoyable and successful past week at the windows, good luck this week, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!