Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint

The Sentient Jet Juvenile Sprint is the newest addition to Breeders’ Cup weekend. Though many find it unnecessary, I see it as a great opportunity for two-year-old sprinters to showcase their talent for the Breeders’ Cup crowd. The following four colts are the ones I believe have the best shot. However, there will be plenty of other talented juveniles in the field, so it is not guaranteed that these four will perform the way I expect them to. It’s horse racing; anything could happen. Here are my top four picks for the Juvenile Sprint:

1. Secret Circle:  I have followed this colt since his maiden win, in which he immediately became my favorite juvenile colt. He may possibly run in the Juvenile instead, but it seems more likely that he will run in the Juvenile Sprint. In his maiden race on July 23 at Del Mar, the son of Eddington dominated the field, winning by 7 ¼ lengths. On October 10, Secret Circle easily won the Jack Goodman Stakes at Santa Anita. Though he is likely to run in the Juvenile Sprint, the bay colt has a good chance of stretching out in the future. Check out the Juvenile Spotlight I wrote about him at: http://pastthegrandstand.blogspot.com/2011/08/bafferts-next-superstar.html

2. Vexor:  This son of Wildcat Heir is coming off a win in the Nashua Stakes (GII) at Belmont Park, in which he battled with Trinniberg before crossing the wire three-quarters of a length in front. He seems to be very talented, but I am worried that the stretch duel may have taken too much out of him. However, in his only work since the Nashua, he worked a good 48.10 for a half-mile. Besides, by the time the Breeders’ Cup rolls around, it will have been nearly five weeks since he last ran.

3. Trinniberg: After finishing second at 68-1 in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (GI), Trinniberg battled with Vexor to finish second in the Nashua. The son of Teuflesberg seems to be no worse for the wear, as he turned in a bullet work at Churchill Downs for a half-mile in 48.20 on October 20. The colt has only been off the board once, when he finished fifth in the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (GI) to Union Rags. Don’t count him out.

4. Hunt Crossing:  Despite hitting the gate in his first start, Hunt Crossing won his debut by an impressive four lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher. I followed him after that win, but the bay son of Corinthian did not have a good race over the slop in the Hopeful. However, he rebounded with a three-length victory in the Monmouth Park NATC Futurity. He recently worked four furlongs in 49.20 at Churchill Downs, which was the fifth fastest work out of forty. This is Todd Pletcher with a two-year-old; watch out.

*Update: Hunt Crossing is out with an injury.

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Juvenile Spotlight: Secret Circle

One of my favorite things to do is find young horses that have the potential to be superstars. It is very entertaining and rewarding to "discover" two-year-olds before they go on to record prestigious victories. Juvenile Spotlights highlight some of the two-year-olds I have "discovered." Some Juvenile Spotlights feature horses right after they have broken their maiden or after they record their first major victory. Either way, I have followed these horses since before they hit the headlines. I don't do a Juvenile Spotlight on every two-year-old I "discover", but I try to feature as many as I can.

Eddington has been one of my favorite studs since 2007. He has not had tremendous success as a sire, producing just nine stakes horses - none of them graded winners - in his three crops of racing age. However, his sire, Breeders’ Cup Classic and Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled had much success as a sire, siring forty-nine stakes winners.

Eddington at Claiborne Farm

I had no idea who Eddington was until I visited Kentucky for the first time in 2007. I was blown away by Eddington when I visited the esteemed Claiborne Farm. Maybe it was his shining copper coat and refined head. Maybe it was the fact that he was one of the first grade one winners I ever touched. Nonetheless, I have been a fan of him ever since.

One of Bob Baffert’s two-year-olds could be Eddington’s first superstar. The colt’s name is Secret Circle. He is a bay colt out of the stakes-winning Dixieland Band mare, Ragtime Hope. Ragtime Hope’s dam, Good ‘N Smart, has produced one stakes winner other than her, Really Polish, who is also grade three-placed. Secret Circle’s full brother, Eddington Limit, has raced solely at Woodbine, recording one win and one second in five lifetime starts. Secret Circle could add to the black-type horses in his pedigree.

If he did, he most definitely would not surprise Baffert or anyone who saw his maiden win at Del Mar on July 23. Sent off as the favorite in a field of ten two-year-old maidens, Secret Circle led the whole way under jockey Rafael Bejarano, crossing the wire first by seven and one-quarter lengths. Bejarano was so impressed he even pumped his fist as they galloped out past the wire after an easy hand ride.

2009 Champion Two-Year-Old Male
and 2010 Champion Three-Year-Old Male,
Lookin at Lucky
Photo: Terri Cage

Owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, the colt is a possible contender for the Del Mar Futurity (GI) on September 7. He will be one to watch not only throughout his two-year-old season, but his three-year-old season as well. After all, his connections had the 2009 Champion Two-Year-Old Male and 2010 Champion Three-Year-Old Male in Lookin at Lucky and have a top three-year-old this year in Haskell Invitation (GI) winner Coil. As of now, he may just be an impressive maiden winner, but Secret Circle is on many watch lists, including mine.




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Juvenile Spotlight: Sweet Swap

One of my favorite things to do is find young horses that have the potential to be superstars. It is very entertaining and rewarding to "discover" two-year-olds before they go on to record prestigious victories. Juvenile Spotlights highlight some of the two-year-olds I have "discovered." Some Juvenile Spotlights feature horses right after they have broken their maiden or after they record their first major victory. Either way, I have followed these horses since before they hit the headlines. I don't do a Juvenile Spotlight on every two-year-old I "discover", but I try to feature as many as I can.

Sidney's Candy
Photo: Terri Cage

On July 31, grade one-winner Sidney’s Candy won the Fourstardave Handicap (GII). On August 20, his little brother, Sweet Swap, impressively won a five and one-half furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar. Though Sidney’s Candy is now owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, he began his racing career with the Craig Family Trust and John Sadler. His two-year-old full brother, Sweet Swap, is with Sidney’s Candy’s original connections.

Both are chestnut sons of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Storm Cat mare, Fair Exchange. In Sidney’s Candy’s second start, he set a track record for five and one-half furlongs at Del Mar in 1:02.71. Nearly precisely one year later, Sweet Swap won his debut in 1:03.76. Though almost exactly a second slower, Sweet Swap was very impressive in a field full of first-time starters.

Needless to say, the two-year-old colt has many hopes pinned to him. His full brother is a graded stakes winner on dirt, turf, and synthetic and a breaker of two track records. Though Sweet Swap may not have the same success as his older brother, he very well may be a future superstar.

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