After the Auction: Early Entry

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. These posts are generally just brief overviews of these horses’ racing records and pedigrees.

The first four career starts of Early Entry’s career took place at Calder Race Course, serving as a launching pad for the young chestnut colt. The first two starts of Early Entry’s career were disappointing, resulting in fourth and sixth place finishes, respectively. But in his third outing, the chestnut colt gave his connections hope, finishing second.

In his fourth start, Early Entry finally discovered the path to the winner’s circle. Pressing the pace throughout the six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight, the colt drew clear in the final stages of the race to score by 1 ½ lengths.

This victory gave his connections enough optimism to enter him in today’s Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Going six furlongs over the main oval at the western Florida track, Early Entry will face seven others – including Cool Cowboy, who owns two runaway victories at tracks in Illinois, and Pallium Prize, a stakes-placed runner.

As one of my selections from this year’s OBS March Sale, Early Entry failed to reach his reserve, attaining a final bid of only $32,000. But he has taken steps toward proving reluctant buyers wrong and he will do just that should he find stakes success, whether it come in today’s Inaugural Stakes or a later black-type event.

Pedigree Analysis

Early Entry is a son of the multiple graded stakes-winning Keyed Entry, who is the sire of the black-type-placed Hyena in his young career as a stallion. Keyed Entry is a son of Honour and Glory, who produced numerous grade one winners, including the champions Caressing and Indio Glorioso.

The dam of Early Entry, Bright N Early, has also produced the multiple black-type-winning mare Bright Gold. Bright Gold, in turn, begat a pair of black-type runners. Early Entry descends from a prolific female family, being a direct descendant of Ormonda, an outstanding broodmare who was the granddam of Triple Crown hero Whirlaway.

Early Entry clearly comes from humble beginnings. His pedigree, though respectable, is far from magnificent. No one wanted him when he was offered at the OBS March Sale. And his racing career got off to a slow start at the underestimated Calder Race Course. It is a long shot that he will reach stardom, but Early Entry seems to be on track for proving his doubters wrong.

After the Auction: I Will Be Free

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. *Note: If an “After the Auction” features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a “Juvenile Spotlight.”

The OBS March Sale has recurrently produced talented racehorses, including the grade one winners Camp Victory, Plum Pretty, and Spring in the Air. Looking to add her name to the long list of successful OBS March graduates is I Will Be Free – one of my selections from this year’s OBS March Sale.

Prior to being sold for $115,000, I Will Be Free impressed me with her 10-second breeze in the preview show, having noteworthy lift to her shoulder, which allowed her to run with lengthy, athletic strides while remaining quick-legged. Three months after this breeze, I Will Be Free debuted at Calder Race Course and despite a less than perfect trip, rallied to finish a good second.

As a result of her noteworthy performance in her debut, I Will Be Free was sent off as the heavy favorite in her second start. Facing five rivals over a five-furlong journey at Calder, I Will Be Free pressed the pace set by the second betting choice prior to edging to the front around the far turn. I Will Be Free drew away and remained clear to score by 2 ½ lengths.

I Will Be Free is a member of champion sprinter Kodiak Kowboy’s first crop. Through his multiple graded stakes-winning sire, Posse, Kodiak Kowboy is a grandson of Silver Deputy, the sire of a multitude of millionaires – including the Hall of Famer Silverbulletday – and a handful of successful stallions, such as Badge of Silver and Spring At Last. The dam of I Will Be Free is the graded stakes-placed Mrs. M, which makes her a half-sister to the black-type-placed Dan the Tin Man.

In spite of her less than spectacular bloodlines, I Will Be Free has quickly found success and could easily prove to be a useful racehorse. What the future holds for her is a mystery, but she clearly has talent.

Juvenile Spotlight 9/17/12

Revolutionary (9/3): For the first time ever, a horse that has not yet won a race is being featured in a Juvenile Spotlight. That horse is Revolutionary, who debuted on closing day at Saratoga. After a terrible start, the favorite suffered an unfortunate trip and despite his rough expedition, he closed to finish an impressive third. By the late champion War Pass, Revolutionary is out of a grade one-winning A.P. Indy mare, Runup the Colors. This beautifully bred colt is full of potential.

Tizracer (9/8): Fourth in his debut, Tizracer had better luck in his second start, leading from start to finish in a one-mile maiden special weight at Belmont Park. The race clearly belonged to him, as he drew off to a 10 ½-length victory. The final time of 1:38.38 was uninspiring, but understandable considering the headwind. By Tizracer and out of a graded stakes-placed sprinting daughter of Elusive Quality, this colt is an example of breeding speed to stamina. It will be interesting to see what his future holds.

She’s On Parade (9/9): Debuting at Arlington Park, She’s On Parade found a position just off the lead, remaining with the frontrunners throughout the race. Despite She’s Lit Up’s generous lead on the field as the fillies turned for home, She’s On Parade kicked into gear to overtake the leader down the homestretch, galloping to a 3 ½-length victory. By Fusaichi Pegasus and out of a Storm Cat mare, this filly is bred for success.

Quinzieme Monarque (9/15): This colt’s career got off to a slow start, as he finished fourth in his first two career starts, which came at Saratoga. But when he made his third start – this time at Belmont – Quinzieme Monarque found the winner’s circle after closing from the back of the pack in a mile and one-sixteenth turf maiden special weight to score by 4 ¾ lengths. By Rock Hard Ten and out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, this colt appears to be bred for versatility.

Rose to Gold (9/15): This filly made her first career start in the Lindsay Frolic Stakes last month at Calder, romping by 13 lengths. Coming off that brilliant performance, Rose to Gold dominated the Brave Raj Stakes at Calder on Saturday by 13 ½ lengths. It remains to be seen what she can do outside of listed stakes at Calder, but look what Awesome Feather accomplished after a path of that sort. By Friends Lake and out of a Tabasco Cat mare, Rose to Gold is likely to not only continue to be successful, but be able to stretch out.

Breeders' Cup Sprint

The Breeders’ Cup Sprint could be described as a clash of titans that are faster than any other Thoroughbreds on the planet at short distances. The 2011 edition will feature some of my personal favorites, including a horse that has become a blazing bullet. Expect legs working like pistons, the thunder of hooves over the dirt surface, the battling of Thoroughbred champions, and a quick final time. It’s time for the elite sprinters to take center stage; it’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint time.

Here are my top four picks for the Sprint:

1. Euroears: I know him as the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen. I fell in love with Euroears in the spring of 2010, when I saw him in person twice. I knew who he was: a hero in the South, especially in Louisiana. For several years, the son of Langfuhr was trained by Bret Calhoun, who has made quite the name for himself, especially in the South.

Euroears won his first six starts, three of which were stakes races. Euroears formed a string of three disappointing losses when he visited Churchill Downs, Penn National, and Philadelphia Park. Then came two consecutive victories, one of which he garnered another stakes victory in Louisiana. After two losses in stakes races at the Fair Grounds, trainer Bret Calhoun brought the horse, six years old at the time, to Lone Star Park for the horse’s first try at graded stakes company.

Euroears
Photo: Terri Cage

That’s when I first saw Euroears in person. As soon as the gleaming chestnut came into my view, I noted his impeccable conformation. He was as stout as a quarter horse, exhibiting quality muscling, and carried himself like a champion, arching his neck and traveling with class. He finished second by a neck in the Texas Mile Stakes (GIII) before finishing third in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII) at a mile and one-sixteenth. In his final start for Bret Calhoun, Euroears finished a disappointing thirteenth in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) over the Churchill Downs turf course.

Then he was transferred to Bob Baffert’s barn in southern California. He recorded breathtaking workouts before winning the Palos Verdes Stakes (GII) at Santa Anita by 2 ¼ lengths in a brisk final time of 1:07.23 for six furlongs.

Bob Baffert was so confident in the seven-year-old that he shipped him to Dubai for just his second start under his care. Euroears finished a very strong second behind Rocket Man in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) before returning to California.

Euroears did not run again until the very last day of July, when he won the Bing Crosby Stakes (GI) in track record time. He’d proved he was the best sprinter in southern California. Baffert, who is extremely high on the incredibly quick horse, ran Euroears in the Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park next out.

Unfortunately, Rajiv Maragh came over on Calibrachoa not long after the start and impeded Euroears, causing him to bump into Apriority, which removed any chance the son of Langfuhr had. The careless riding was very similar to the incident Maragh caused in the Belmont Stakes (GI) earlier in the year. Euroear’s performance in the Vosburgh should have a line drawn through it, as he had no chance after the incident.

In his most recent work, Euroears worked five furlongs at Santa Anita, completing the workout in an incredible final time of 56.60, which is faster than the track record. Don’t be worried about how fast he went, though. He was not being asked and it is completely normal for Euroears to go blazingly fast in the mornings. What makes him dangerous is he is just as blazingly fast, if not faster, in the afternoons as he is in the mornings.

Big Drama winning the 2010
Breeders' Cup Sprint
Photo: Terri Cage

2. Big Drama: He’s the defending champ of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Two months after winning the championship race, the son of Montbrook set a track record at Gulfstream Park in winning the Mr. Prospector Stakes (GIII). However, he did not race again for nearly eight months, as his connections decided to give him some time off.

On September 4, the 2010 Male Sprinter of the Year returned with a 2 ¼-length win in the Whippleton Stakes, a $75,000 stakes at his home track of Calder. He was expected to make his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup in the Vosburgh, but a fever kept him out of it.

The five-year-old worked between races at Calder on October 15, going six furlongs in 1:13.80. His most recent work was a bullet work in company with Apriority at Calder, in which he traveled 1:00.40 for five furlongs. The reigning champion is training very well, but I worry that he is not on top of his game. He’s only raced twice this year and has not been tested. Big Drama is still a very good horse, but I worry that he may not be as good as he once was.

3. Amazombie: A hard-knocking California-bred, Amazombie has not finished out of the money this year, which has been his only year to ever compete in stakes races. In fact, every single one of his races this year has been a stakes race. Of his eight starts in 2011, five of Amazombie’s races have been graded stakes. By Northern Afleet, the five-year-old is coming off a win in the Ancient Title Stakes (GI).

Amazombie has finished first three times this year, all at sprinting distances. He is extremely consistent and one of the classiest sprinters around. The William Spawr trainee is training very well at Santa Anita. His last work came on October 22, when he worked a half-mile in 46.60. He has failed to keep up with Euroears, but Amazombie will surely give it his all on Breeders’ Cup weekend.

4. Giant Ryan: To string together six consecutive victories is not an easy feat, but Giant Ryan has done it. Raced primarily in New York and Florida, the son of Freud has made his last two victories graded stakes, including the Vosburgh.

The five-year-old does not get the respect he deserves. This is likely because he has not competed much at the highest level, but how can you disrespect a horse that has defeated some of the top sprinters in the nation in his last two starts? Of course, people believe his win in the Vosburgh was on a speed-biased track, but the New York-bred has done nothing but win since March. He faces a tall task in the Breeders’ Cup, but he is definitely a horse that knows how to win.

Honorable Mention:
Trappe Shot: I’ve followed him for nearly two years and he has become extremely impressive at sprinting distances. He finished a disappointing fourth in the Vosburgh last out, but he looms dangerous. Dirt Mile is his first preference.

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Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

It’s the classic rivalry of East vs. West. It’s the trend of girl power and underdogs. It’s the race full of stories that will tug at your heart. It’s horse racing at its best. It’s the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and it's going to be one of the best Breeders’ Cup races of the weekend.

Here are my top four picks for the Juvenile Fillies:

1. Weemissfrankie: Maybe I’m partial because I’ve followed her since her maiden and she greatly resembles my horse’s looks and personality, but this filly has impressed me tremendously. In the post parade for her maiden race, I noticed how impeccable her conformation was. She had a beautiful neck that was long, thin and tied in perfectly at her shoulder. Her chestnut legs were strong, possessing short cannon bones and pasterns that were angled correctly. Though her back was hidden by the saddle, I have seen photographs of her without it on and have noticed that it is strong and short, just as it should be. Her hip is powerful and muscled just like the rest of her. This all adds up to her beautiful, fluent stride that covers much ground.

After her maiden win, Weemissfrankie was victorious in the Del Mar Debutante (GI), crossing the wire over a length in front of Self Preservation. In her final start before the Breeders’ Cup, the Oak Leaf Stakes (GI), she was still third at the sixteenth pole in her first try over a dirt surface. Suddenly, she hit another gear and flew past Candrea. Once she was even with the Bob Baffert trainee, Rafeal Bejarano hand-rode her to the wire. Her speed figures may be lower than other top fillies, but in her three starts, she has come home very quickly. Her final eighth of a mile in her first two starts was 12 ^1/5 seconds and her final sixteenth of her third start was 6 ^2/5 seconds. In fact, she broke the Del Mar track record for five furlongs in her debut.

On Saturday, the daughter of Sunriver turned in her latest work. Traveling five furlongs over the Santa Anita dirt track, she effortlessly worked 59.40. It was very similar to her work on October 15, in which she readily worked a half-mile in 46.60. According to an HRTV Diary, those around her are very happy with how she’s doing.

Weemissfrankie has a story that will pull on your heart strings. Her name may seem silly, but if you divide it into three words, leaving out a letter, you will see that it has a very special message: We miss Frankie. The stunning chestnut filly, owned by a partnership, is named after Frank Alesia, who had been part of the group of owners with his wife, Sharon. In addition to the touching factor of her namesake, Weemissfrankie is part of just two crops of her late sire, Sunriver, who died in August of 2009 at the tender age of six. It doesn’t end there, as she provided her trainer, Peter Eurton, with his first graded stakes win when Weemissfrankie won the Debutante and is now taking him to the Breeders’ Cup. Just imagine how many hearts it would touch if this filly won the Juvenile Fillies. I believe she has a good chance to do so.

2. My Miss Aurelia: I’ve followed this filly since her maiden as well and she has quickly become the most highly regarded two-year-old filly in the nation. A daughter of stakes-winning My Miss Storm Cat, the bay daughter of Smart Strike is a half-sister to stakes-placed Albergatti. The filly is a homebred for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC.

Prior to her maiden, I noticed that My Miss Aurelia had the build of a racehorse. She had quality muscling that was very distinct. Her heart girth was deep, indicating that she had a large set of lungs that would allow her to breathe well. In addition, she had a perfect neck that shined like rich mahogany.

In her maiden, My Miss Aurelia gamely won by a length at Saratoga. She made her next start in the Adirondack Stakes (GII), also at Saratoga. She battled with Millonreasonswhy down the stretch, prevailing by a neck. The two finished nearly fifteen lengths ahead of the third place-finisher, Bellacourt, who won the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Belmont on Saturday.

In her final prep race for the Breeders’ Cup, My Miss Aurelia easily won the Frizette Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park by 5 ½ lengths in an impressive final time of 1:35.22 for a mile. She can obviously come home well, but she will also provide a good pace for Weemissfrankie to run at in the Juvenile Fillies.

My Miss Aurelia also comes with a touching story. She’s owned by Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton. We all know that Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables passed away in April, which automatically makes one want to see any Stonestreet horse do well. It gets even more emotional from there. Jess Jackson named the filly after George Bolton’s mother not long before his death. It would be wonderful for the filly’s connections to be triumphant at the Breeders’ Cup, in which she will likely be the top betting choice. If she can last up front, she will be dangerous to catch in the stretch.

3. Grace Hall: My top three fillies are all undefeated in three starts. Grace Hall has won all of her races by a total of 10 ½ lengths. After a three-length maiden victory at Delaware Park, Grace Hall impressively won the Spinaway Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. She then returned to Delaware Park for the Blue Hen Stakes, which she won without any effort at all, crossing the wire in front by 5 ¾ lengths.

She is training up to the Breeders’ Cup very well, having worked a half-mile in 48 seconds flat at Delaware Park on Saturday. A week earlier, she recorded a bullet half-mile in 47.20. The daughter of stakes-winning Season’s Greetings must have her connections feeling pretty confident in their filly that is built like a tank. I don't know that she quite has the class of my top two, but I don't think we've seen the best of her yet.

4. Awesome Belle: How can you forget Awesome Feather’s stirring win in the Juvenile Fillies last year? From Awesome Feather’s beginnings comes Awesome Belle. Awesome of Course is the sire of both fillies, who were both bred by Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Awesome Feather came into the Breeders’ Cup owned by Jacks or Better Farm and trained by Stanley Gold, as will Awesome Belle. Awesome Feather entered the Juvenile Fillies with a romp in the Florida Stallion My Dear Girl Stakes, as will Awesome Belle.

However, “Belle” is not coming into the Breeders’ Cup with an undefeated record like “Feather” did. Awesome Belle didn’t win her debut, but rather broke her maiden in her second start. She then finished second to stablemate Redbud Road in the J J’sdream Stakes, which Awesome Feather had won in 2010 prior to sweeping the Florida Stallion Stakes series. After her encouraging second in that race, Awesome Belle finished a disappointing fifth to Redbud Road in the Florida Stallion Desert Vixen Stakes. In her next start, she had a rough trip and finished third behind Queen Drama and Redbud Road.

Then came her defining moment. Leading the entire way, Awesome Belle dominated the My Dear Girl Stakes, winning by 7 ½ lengths. It is not expected by many that she will put in a performance like Awesome Feather did in the Juvenile Fillies, but it is quite remarkable that her connections have a chance to win back-to-back runnings of the race with a similar filly.

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Sprinter Showdown

Big Drama, Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) 2010 winner and Eclipse Champion for 2010 Male Sprinter, will be making just his third start of the year in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. However, he will have to face two of the top sprinters in the nation: Euroears and Trappe Shot.

Euroears
Photo: Terri Cage

Since Euroears has been one of my favorites for nearly two years now, I may be a little biased, but Bob Baffert is very high on the seven-year-old son of Langfuhr. The chestnut horse kicked off the year with an impressive win in the Palos Verdes Stakes (GII), winning in an impressive time of 1:07.23 for six furlongs. Euroears followed up that win with a commendable second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI). Euroears returned to the races with a track record-breaking victory in the Bing Crosby Stakes (GI) on July 31. His final work before the Vosburgh came in half-mile breeze at Santa Anita in 47.20.

Big Drama should not be counted out, though. He has won three straight, but those wins have been very spaced out. Yet the five-year-old seems to be in great form again. His first win of the year came in the Mr. Prospector Stakes (GIII), in which he broke the six furlong track record at Gulfstream Park. After nearly eight months off, Big Drama returned with an easy win in the Whippleton Stakes at Calder Race Course. The Vosburgh will definitely be his biggest test yet this year, but Big Drama is coming into the race strong, as his final work was a bullet five furlong work at Calder.

Big Drama and Euroears aren’t the only big threats in the Vosburgh.  The 9/5 morning line favorite, Trappe Shot, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. The colt who I have followed since early in his career will try to return to his winning ways after closing in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (GI) to miss by a nose. Prior to that race, the son of Tapit dominantly won the True North Handicap (GI) on Belmont day in the slop. Considering there is a chance of rain at Belmont on Saturday, the track may end up muddy or sloppy, which would likely give Trappe Shot the edge.

Trappe Shot, Big Drama, and Euroears make up what looks to be the top three, but the other horses in the field should not be counted out. The Repole entry, Calibrachoa and Caixa Eletronica, is a competitive one. Calibrachoa kicked off the year with two grade three wins and has since finished third in both the True North and the Vanderbilt. Caixa Eletronica, winner of the Westchester Stakes (GIII) in April, is coming off two starter handicap wins. However, the six-year-old ran poorly in the James Marvin Stakes prior to those wins.

Force Freeze, who has raced mostly in the United Arab Emirates, is coming off a win in the Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth, in which he defeated 2010 Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (GI) winner Jersey Town soundly. Also in the field are graded stakes winners Giant Ryan and Justin Phillip, as well as graded stakes-placed Apriority.

With three of the top sprinters in the country, the Vosburgh looks to be a preview for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. We will know much more about this year’s sprinters after the talented horses cross the finish line. It ought to be a Vosburgh for the ages.


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Waiting for an Awesome Return

I had heard about yet another Jacks or Better Farm two-year-old in south Florida. The filly was introduced as Awesome Feather and I planned on watching her race that afternoon, the Florida Stallion My Dear Gal Stakes. However, I ended up riding my horse that evening while the race was run. It is not often for me to miss a race I am looking forward to, but I guess a ride in beautiful weather was too good to pass up and I lost track of time.

I came inside to find out that she had won by over eight lengths. Though I had missed the race, I had found a new horse to cheer for. I must admit, I love Calder two-year-olds. To me, it is like finding a diamond in the rough or an underdog to cheer for. Awesome Feather was that underdog for me.

Awesome Feather battling with R Heat Lightning
before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Photo by: Terri Cage

While at the Breeders’ Cup in November 2010, I found myself cheering for the bay daughter of Awesome of Course as she and R Heat Lightning battled down the stretch. I was thrilled when the filly drew off to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) under Jeffrey Sanchez. It ended up being one of my favorite races of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup.

Two days later, Awesome Feather was sold for $2,300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November select mixed sale. She was purchased by Frank Stronach under the name of Adena Springs and was transferred to Chad Brown’s stable.

Just days before being named Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, it was announced that Awesome Feather had an issue with a tendon and would be sidelined for an unknown amount of time. By February, she was walking under tack and by the end of the month, she returned to jogging. She returned to the work tab on May 24, breezing three furlongs at Belmont Park in 36.78. She breezed four more times until some minor issues appeared.

After two more months off, Awesome Feather returned to the work tab yet again. Since August 30, the three-year-old filly has worked four times at Belmont Park. Since returning after her most recent break, Awesome Feather has breezed a half-mile twice and five furlongs twice. 

Trainer Chad Brown believes the filly could be ready to race again in a month. It will be exciting to see last year’s champion juvenile filly return. After all, she is still undefeated. However, we cannot necessarily expect her to win her first time back, as it is difficult for a horse to come back after such a long layoff. Nonetheless, I will be eagerly cheering on the hard-trying bay filly.


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