Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Racing Roundup

©2019 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby presents two marquee races this Saturday with the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse and the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Let’s look at the 106^th running of the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) where GOUVERNEUR MORRIS heads a herd of 10 runners as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Post time is 5:39 p.m. ET.

Gouverneur Morris comes into this race off maiden win at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

GOUVERNEUR MORRIS bumped with a foe just after the start, chased the leading duo from third, went four then five wide early on the turn, ranged up closer in the sixth path passing the five-sixteenths, took over into upper stretch, dropped in while moving clear around the three-sixteenths and drew away under a mild hand ride to win handily.

Gouverneur Morris looked good in the slop winning his maiden debut by an impressive nine lengths.

Constitution, the sire of Gouverneur Morris, didn’t race until he was three years old but was a competitive runner that compiled a 4 -0-1 record in eight starts with $1,031,596 in career earnings.

Despite the late start, Constitution showed promise and was undefeated in three starts including a win the Florida Derby (G1). But a hairline fracture kept him out of the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1). He came back eight months later to close the season with a third-place finish in the Clark Handicap (G1).

At the age of four, Constitution was 1-0-0 in three starts with a win in the Donn Handicap (G1).

As a stallion, Constitution’s first runners are two years old in 2019. A couple of his runners on the Derby trail are By Your Side (6-1) who is also entered in this race and Tiz the Law who is running in the Champagne Stakes (G1).

Gouverneur Morris has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. While he has the breeding to be competitive, there are others I like better in this race.

AJAAWEED (3-1) comes into this race off a nice maiden win for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin at Belmont Park. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

AJAAWEED gradually worked his way into the pocket proceeding along the backstretch, getting stationed there by mid-point, was patiently ridden keeping watch on the front runners, was forced to remain on hold caught in traffic behind a threesome during the final jumps of the run around the bend, angled to the outside, arrived at the three-sixteenths pole with a freshly created seam in path three for the asking, got cued up and eagerly dove onto it, emerged at the eighth pole as the new leader, one that was full of momentum, kicked clear under good handling.

Ajaaweed looked good breaking his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths. The final time of 1:36.44 is what I like to see young colts run on the Kentucky Derby Trail.

Curlin, the sire of Ajaaweed, was an outstanding racehorse that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career earnings.

Curlin did not start as a two-year-old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Other important stakes wins include the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1), Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy Handicap.

In seven crops as a stallion, Curlin has sired the 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Palace Malice and the 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Exaggerator. In addition, Curlin produced the classic-placed runners Good Magic (second, 2018 Kentucky Derby), Tenfold (third, 2018 Preakness), Ride On Curlin (second, 2014 Preakness), Keen Ice (third, 2015 Belmont) and Irish War Cry (second, 2017 Belmont).

Ajaaweed has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

A long shot I like is ENFORCEABLE (15-1) who comes into this race with a 1-1-1 record in four starts for trainer Mark Casse. He broke his maiden on his last start running nine furlongs at Saratoga. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

ENFORCEABLE caught leaning to the outside as the field was sent off and running, took up position two wide in mid-pack during the initial stages, began to inch to the outside late on the first bend, eventually taking the three path for entrance onto the backstretch, kept watch on the pacesetter, began to close the gap after the third fraction had been finalized, was bearing down hard on MO AND GO as both headed onto the top of the lane, arrived at the three-sixteenths marker and challenged in earnest, fought its way past a resolute foe, that being the aforementioned one, inside the eighth pole, then edged away stride by stride.

I like the way that Enforceable dug in and fought his way to victory, breaking his maiden on the fourth start.

Tapit, the sire of Enforceable, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 3-0-0 record in six starts with $557,300 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, Tapit was undefeated in two starts including a win in the Laurel Futurity (G3).  Tapit was troubled by a lung infection for much of his three-year-old season but he did win the nine-furlong Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) in route to a ninth-place finish in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

At stud, Tapit has sired numerous graded stakes winners including the Belmont Stakes (G1) champions Tapwrit (2017), Creator (2016) and Tonalist (2014).

A full brother to Mohaymen and a half-brother to New Year’s Day, Enforceable is a colt (Hip 76) we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.

MAXFIELD (12-1) comes into this race off a maiden debut win for trainer Brendan Walsh. Here’s the video and chart call:

MAXFIELD broke a tad slow at the start and raced back early on, swung into the sixth path in the turn, rallied down the lane and edged clear in the final stages.

I like the way Maxfield rallied from off the pace to get up and win his maiden debut by three quarters of a length.

Street Sense, the sire of Maxfield, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 6-4-2 record in 13 starts with $4,383,200 in career earnings.

As a two year old, Street Sense finished third in both the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G3) and the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He followed that with a win in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and was tabbed as the Eclipse Champion Two Year Old.

Street Sense won his season debut as a three year old in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) en route to a 2¼ length win over Hard Spun in the 2007 Kentucky Derby.

Maxfield has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. He has room to improve in his second start of the season and, perhaps, upset at a nice price.

Honorable mention goes to January Won (20-1), Life On the Road (12-1) and Tap It to Win (3-1).

January Won was a colt (Hip 88) we profiled at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton July Kentucky Select Yearling Sale and he has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. Life On the Road was a colt (Hip 1775) we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and there three races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019/2020 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Eight Rings, 10, Bob Baffert

2. Dennis’ Moment, 10, Dale Romans,

3. +Scabbard, 4, Eddie Kenneally

4. American Theorem, 4, George Papaprodromou

5. Storm the Court, 2, Peter Eurton

6. Lebda, 2, Claudio Gonzalez

7. Letmeno, 1, Ian Wilkes

8. +Express Train, 1, John Shirreffs

          + = Express Train (Hip 1016) and Scabbard (Hip 802) were colts we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Champagne Stakes Racing Roundup

©2019 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby presents two marquee races this Saturday beginning with the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse and wrapping up with the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Let’s look at the 147^th running of the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) where GREEN LIGHT GO heads a herd of seven runners as the 8-5 morning line favorite. Post time is 5:39 p.m. ET.

Undefeated in two starts, Green Light Go comes into this race for trainer Jimmy Jerkens off a win in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

GREEN LIGHT GO settled nicely off the pace, moved closer outside the half-mile, drafted in the two path while full of run early on the turn, was given his cue while shifting thee wide at the five sixteenths, rallied outside into upper stretch, drifted in then brushed with TUGGLE while taking the lead at the three-sixteenths, shook clear after being put to a left-handed whip outside the sixteenth pole then was given two strikes before being eased up while much the best.

Green Light Go tracked the leaders to the stretch then took command to easily win his graded stakes debut by 3¾ lengths.

Hard Spun, the sire of Green Light Go, was undefeated in three starts as a two-year-old, including wins in the Port Penn Stakes and Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. As a three-year-old on the Derby trail, Hard spun was 2-0-0 in three starts including wins in the Le Comte Stakes (G3) and Lane’s End Stakes (G2).

Hard Spun went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and rounded out his classic campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

As a stallion, Hard Spun’s best runner on the Kentucky Derby trail was Wicked Strong who finished fourth in the 2014 Derby. His other top runners include: Le Romain, Hard Aces, Hard Not to Like, Someries, Gatting, King’s Spun, Promising Run, Questing and Hardest Core.

Green Light Go has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him competitive in this race. He’s been training good and I look for him to continue to impress on Saturday.

TIZ THE LAW (5-2) is stepping up in class and comes into this race off a maiden win for trainer Barclay Tagg. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

TIZ THE LAW stalked the front runners toward the two path, was put to snug hold after inching up to them during the final strides of the run around the bend, angled into the path four for clearance spinning into the lane, chopped away the deficit to assume control, got steadied lugging in while switching leads in the vicinity of the eighth pole, continued to edge away from the second place finisher, then completed the final sixteenth wrapped up.

Tiz the Law looked, a bit green, but still looked good winning his maiden debut, impressively, by 4¼ lengths.

Constitution, the sire of Tiz the Law, didn’t race until he was three years old but was a competitive runner that compiled a 4 -0-1 record in eight starts with $1,031,596 in career earnings.

Despite the late start, Constitution showed promise and was undefeated in three starts including a win the Florida Derby (G1). But a hairline fracture kept him out of the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1). He came back eight months later to close the season with a third-place finish in the Clark Handicap (G1).

At the age of four, Constitution was 1-0-0 in three starts with a win in the Donn Handicap (G1).

As a stallion, Constitution’s first runners are two years old in 2019 and a couple of his best runners on the Derby trail are By Your Side who is also entered in this race and Gouverneur Morris who is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

  Tiz the Law has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him competitive in this race.

GOZILLA (6-1) comes into this race for trainer Steve Asmussen with a 1-0-1 record in two starts including a third-place finish in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at

Saratoga. Here’s the video and chart call:

GOZILLA got engaged with AMERICAN BUTTERLY shortly after the field had been sent on its way, participated in it from the two path, being the one of that twosome clinging to a slim advantage, was still holding it spinning into the lane in reserve, contrasting the drive the nemesis has just been put to, saw the rider go to work a sixteenth down the road, with BASIN having made its presence felt, proved no match, ventured onward losing ground to the aforementioned opponent, wound up getting necked for the place.

Gozilla ran a respectable race but faltered in the final yards to finish third 6¾ length off the victor, Basin.

Flatter, the sire of Gozilla, was a decent middle-distance horse who competed, mostly, in maiden and allowance races and in his only stakes start he finished third in the 8½-furlong Washington Park Handicap (G2). But in six starts, Flatter compiled a 4-0-1 record and was a winner from 7½-furlongs to 9-furlongs.

As a stallion, his leading runners include West Coast, Flat Out, Upstart, Kobe’s Back, Taris, Lucy’s Bob Boy, Tar Heel Mom and Apart to name a few.

Gozilla has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to be competitive in this race.

Honorable mention goes to Alpha Sixty Six (5-1) and Three Technique (7-2).

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and there three races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019/2020 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Eight Rings, 10, Bob Baffert

2. Dennis’ Moment, 10, Dale Romans,

3. +Scabbard, 4, Eddie Kenneally

4. American Theorem, 4, George Papaprodromou

5. Storm the Court, 2, Peter Eurton

6. Lebda, 2, Claudio Gonzalez

7. Letmeno, 1, Ian Wilkes

8. +Express Train, 1, John Shirreffs

          + = Express Train (Hip 1016) and Scabbard (Hip 802) were colts we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

American Pharoah Stakes Racing Roundup

©2019 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby will span two continents this weekend with the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on Friday. The European Road to the Kentucky Derby starts Saturday with the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) at the Newmarket Racecourse Rowley Mile in Suffolk, England. The European road to Derby glory continues Sunday with the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Group 2) at Naas Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland.

Let’s look at the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) which is the first Grade One race on the Kentucky Derby Trail and a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race.

Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert sends EIGHT RINGS to the starting gate as the 9-5 morning line favorite and he comes into this race with a 1-0-0 in two starts. His last race was the Del Mar Futurity (G1) where he lost his jockey out early in the race. So, here’s a look at video and chart call of his maiden debut win at Del Mar on August 4:

EIGHT RINGS had speed off the rail then dueled thee deep, took the lead on the turn, kicked clear and angled to the inside leaving the turn and drew off under a brisk hand ride a couple backhanded taps of the whip and steady handling late.

Eight Rings looked good to win his maiden debut by an impressive 6¼ lengths.

Empire Maker, the sire of Eight Rings, was a good, competitive runner that compiled a 4-3-1 record in eight starts with $1,985,800 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old his most notable race finish was third in the Remsen Stakes (G2).

At the age of three, Empire Maker won the Florida Derby (G1), Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). He finished second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Sham Stakes.

As a stallion, Empire Maker has sired numerous outstanding runners such as Royal Delta, Pioneerof the Nile, Grace Hall, Emollient, Bodemeister, Mushka, Acoma and In Lingerie to name a few.

Eight Rings has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to run a good race

EXPRESS TRAIN (4-1) comes into this race with a 1-1-0 record in two starts including a maiden win last out at Del Mar on August 28. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

EXPRESS TRAIN had good early speed and set a pressured pace inside, dueled between foes a half mile out, regained the advantage into the second turn, inched away a bit off the rail leaving that turn and drew off under some urging with the whip turned down and hand urging, then a left-handed crack of the whip a sixteenth out.

Express Train showed his talent and looked good breaking his maiden by an impressive 14 lengths. Also, in his debut he finished a respectable second to Eight Rings.

Union Rags, the sire of Express Train, was a competitive colt on the trail to the 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1), compiling an overall 5-1-1 record in eight career starts with $1,798,800 in earnings.

As a two-year-old, he won the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special (G2) and Champagne (G1) stakes and finished second in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) stakes.

At the age of three, Union Rags won the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) stakes and finished third in the Florida Derby (G1) en route to a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He finished his career with a narrow win by a neck over Paynter in the Belmont (G1) stakes.

As a stallion, Union Rags’ leading lifetime runners with career earnings over $500,000 include: Paradise Woods, Free Drop Billy (a yearling we profiled [Hip 104] at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale), Union Strike, Dancing Rags, Tequilita, Catalina Cruiser, and No Dozing.

Express Train is a colt we profiled (Hip 1016) as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale and he has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. I look for him to run a good race and, perhaps, upset.

NUCKY (10-1) comes into this race for trainer Peter Miller with a 2-1-0 record in five starts including a win in the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) last out. Here’s the video and chart call:

NUCKY dueled outside then four wide into the turn and three deep leaving the turn, bumped with a rival while taking the lead in upper stretch, inched away in mid-stretch, drifted in and won clear under urging.

Coming into the Del Mar Futurity off a 10-length victory last out, Nucky looked go to claim his first graded stakes win by 2¾ lengths.

Ghostzapper, a 2012 Hall of Fame inductee and the sire of Nucky, was an incredibly talented, multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 9-0-1 record in 11 starts with $3,466,120 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, Ghostzapper won his maiden special weight debut by nine lengths and was 1-0-0 in two starts. At the age of three, Ghostzapper won the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) and finished third in the King’s Bishop (G1), compiling a 3-0-1 record in four starts.

As a four-year-old, Ghostzapper was undefeated in four starts winning the Tom Fool Handicap (G2), Philip H. Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3), Woodward Stakes (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1). In addition, Ghostzapper was selected as the 2004 Eclipse Horse of the Year and Eclipse Champion Older Horse.

In his only start as a five-year-old, Ghostzapper was a 6 ¼ length winner of the one-mile Metropolitan Handicap (G1).

As a stallion, Ghostzapper’s leading lifetime runners include: Shaman Ghost, Moreno, Judy the Beauty, Paulassilverlining, Better Lucky, Stately Victor, Molly Morgan, Contested and McCraken to name a few.

Nucky has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him competitive in this race.

AMERICAN THEOREM (5-1) comes into this race off a maiden debut win for trainer George Papaprodromou. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

AMERICAN THEOREM stalked off the rail, waited off heels into the turn, came out three deep into the stretch to gain the lead in upper stretch, inched away in mid-stretch, drifted to the inside and proved best by under a steady hand ride and hold late.

American Theorem stalked the pace for most of the race until he took the lead in the stretch and pulled away to win by an easy 1½ lengths.

American Theorem has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

American Pharoah, the sire of American Theorem, was an outstanding runner and the 2015Triple Crown winner that compiled a 9-1-0 record in 11 starts with $8,650,300 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, American Pharoah was 2-0-0 in three starts with wins in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and FrontRunner Stakes (G1).

At the age of three, American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). In addition, he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1) and Rebel Stakes (G2). He finished second in the Travers Stakes (G1).

As a stallion, American Pharoah’s first crop of runners began racing in 2019. One of his runners, Monarch of Egypt, is a colt we profiled (Hip 554) at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he’s running Saturday in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) at Newmarket Racecourse. A bay colt by American Pharoah out of Up (IRE) by Galileo (IRE), Monarch of Egypt has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and four races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019/2020 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer

1. Dennis’ Moment, 10, Dale Romans,

2. +Scabbard, 4, Eddie Kenneally

3. Lebda, 2, Claudio Gonzalez

4. Letmeno, 1, Ian Wilkes

          + = A young colt we profiled as a yearling (Hip 802) at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Iroquois Stakes Racing Roundup

©2019 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The much anticipated journey on the 2019-2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby begins Saturday at Churchill Downs with the 38^th running of the $200,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3). DENNIS’ MOMENT, the 9-5 favorite, heads the field of 10 runners that will go to the post at 5:26 p.m. ET.

Dennis’ Moment comes int this race for trainer Dale Romans off an exciting 19-length maiden win at Ellis Park on July 27. Here’s the video and chart call:

DENNIS’ MOMENT was away early to set the pace at the outset, was off the rail into the lane then drew off from rivals with ease down the lane under a brisk drive and demolished the field.

Dennis’ Moment looked good breaking his maiden with ease by 19 lenghts, perhaps, giving us a preview of more good things to come.

Tiznow, the sire of Dennis’ Moment, was a multiple graded-stakes winner and an outstanding router who compiled an 8-4-2 record in 15 starts with $6,427,830 in career earnings.

Tiznow did not race until he was three years old, making nine starts and compiling 5-3-0 record with $3,445,950 in earnings. His stakes wins include the Affirmed Handicap (G3), Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2), the Super Derby (G1) by six lengths and he finished the season with a win in the most 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) where he defeated the European champion Giant’s Causeway by a neck.

As a four-year-old, Tiznow was 3-1-2 in six starts and $2,981,880 in earnings with stakes wins in the San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2), the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and he successfully defended his title of champion in Breeders’ Cup Classic when he defeated the European invader and formidable winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Sakhee, by a nose.

As a stallion, his leading lifetime runners include: Well Armed, Tourist, Colonel John, Tizway, Morning Line, Tiz Miz Sue, Folklore, Bullsbay, Tough Tiz’s Sis, Gemologist, Da’ Tara and Strong Mandate.

Dennis’ Moment has an F Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

A long shot I like is JANUARY WON (15-1) who steps up to stakes competition off a maiden debut win for trainer Ken McPeek. Here’s the video and chart call:

JANUARY WON settled into the two path after the field had been sent off and running, pursued the pace from between rivals for the majority of the run around the bend, stepped onto the head of the stretch, narrowed in, shoe-horned itself in between the ones to catch inside the sixteenth pole, wrested away the advantage in the final forty yards and shook free.

January Won showed a lot of grit in his debut win and I like the way he wrestled between horses in the final yards to get up for the win.

New Year’s Day, the sire of January Won, only raced as a two-year-old and he was a colt I liked to win the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stake (G1). In December, New Year’s Day showed some tenderness in his right hind after a gallop and X-rays showed that he had a sesamoid injury.

His connections retired New Year’s Day who finished his career with a 2-0-1 record in three starts including a 1¼-length win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1).

As a stallion, New Year’s Day’s most notable runner is Maximum Security who finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) but was placed 17^th due to interference with War of Will at the top of the stretch.

Other leading  progeny include Bourbon Resolution, Fighting Mad, Direct Order and New Year’s Wish to name a few.

January Won was a colt (Hip 88) we profiled at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton July Kentucky Select Yearling Sale and he has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.

It remains to be seen if he can step up to win in stakes competition. However, January Won has room to improve in his second start of the season, and, perhaps upset at a nice price.

FLUTE MAKER (8-1) is also trained by Ken McPeek and he comes into this race off an impressive maiden win at Saratoga on August 21. Here’s the video and chart call:

FLUTE MAKER broke a half step slow, recovered to track the vanguard down the backstretch, advanced four wide to make a bid midway through the turn then took a short lead, was asked while moving out five wide outside the quarter-pole, shook clear into the sixth path into the stretch, was put to a right-handed whip outside the furlong marker, widened under the whip until outside the sixteenth-pole then was placed under a strong hand ride, continued under a strong hand ride until the final seventy yards before being eased up while much the best.

Flute Maker looked good breaking his maiden over a sloppy track by an impressive 11-length margin.

Sky Mesa, the sire of Flute Maker, was a multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 3-1-1 record in six starts with $633,076 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, Sky Mesa was undefeated in three starts with stakes wins in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G2).

At the age of three, Sky Mesa compiled an 0-1-1 record in three stars with a second-place finish in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G2) and third-place in the Dwyer Stakes (G2).

As a stallion, Sky Mesa’s notable leading lifetime runners include General Quarters, Sky Diva, Perfect Alibi, Ami’s Mesa, Dynamic Sky and Thiskyhasnolimit to name a few.

Flute Maker has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to take another step forward.

SCABBARD (5-1) comes into this race with a 1-1-0 record in two starts for trainer Eddie Kenneally including a second-place finish in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

SCABBARD came in while breaking near the back of the field, settled towards the rear of the field, saved ground while roused on the turn, swung three wide into the stretch then came under the whip an safely secured the place while no match for the winner.

Scabbard finished a respectable second in his stakes debut just 3¾ lengths shy of victory.

More Than Ready, the sire of Scabbard, was a multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 7-4-1 record in 17 starts with $1,026,229 in earnings. He won the WHAS-11 Stakes, Flash Stakes, Tremont Stakes (G3), Sanford Stakes (G2), Hutcheson Stakes (G2) and finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in route to a fourth-place finish in the 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1).

At stud, More Than Ready made quite a mark with in Australia with his sons Phelan Ready and Sebring who were champion 2-year-colts with over $2 million in career earnings. Some of his best runners in America have been the turf-sprinter Regally Ready with over $1 million in career earnings and Pluck, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (G2) and Summer Stakes (G3) with $727,290 in career earnings, and Verrazano.

Scabbard Has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

Honorable mention goes to Rowdy Yates (7-2), Letmeno (10-1) and Lebda (10-1).