Churchill Downs, Race 3 – Thursday, June 27, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
CD3:062724 – 6f on the Dirt. Open Company. 12 colts entered. The number of FTSers = 9, One start = 1, Two Starts = 1, and Four Starts = 1.
#1 – Tap Into This (6/1) – As you likely would expect, this colt is by Tapit (ALL = 17.4%, FTS = 14.6%) and his broodmare sire is Hard Spun. Mom (bred in IRE) won $65,000 in her racing days and has thrown one other foal and you probably will recognize his name – Extra Anejo. He’s already banked over $1/4 million and is 3/5, including a win first out in October of his 2YO season at KEE sporting a zippy EBSF of 99. Today’s runner hammered for $525K as a yearling (12/37) and will be making his first foray into racing. Trainer Steve Asmussen (M = 22.6%, ROI = 1.50) has plugged seven drills into him for a total of 27 furlongs. Three moves ago, on 6/1/24 he zipped 4f in 47.4 from the gate (4/143). Last time in the morning he completed 5/8th of a mile. Tyler gets tapped for the mount.
#2 – Restore (20/1) – Bred in France, this FTS colt is conditioned by Dallas Stewart (M = 4/6, 66.7%, ROI = $21.50), however, he’s 0/4 during this 2024 CD Spring meet. This guy’s daddy is Uncle Mo (ALL = 16.5%, FTS 14.1%). Mama, by War Front, won one race from her two starts and that was her second outing at GPW in October in her juvenile season – she’s thrown two others, neither very successful. Today’s dude sold for ‘only’ $100K as a yearling (53/75) and was wheeled back and sold for $150K as a 2YO (13/20). This fella has had a work pattern very similar to the horse that will break to his inside as he’s also worked seven times, 27 total furlongs, and his last was done over five panels.
#5 – Exuberant Mischief (10/1) – This First-Time starting son of Spendthrift Farm’s All-World stallion – Into Mischief (ALL = 17.8%, FTS = 15.8%) is prepped by Tom Amoss (M = 44.0%, 11/25, ROI = $6.95; 0/7 in 2024 at CD). His dam (by Archarcharch) won nearly $1/4 million in purse money and was victorious as a 2YO winning in her third start at SA in Oct. She’s produced one other, but nothing to mention. The bidding stopped on him at $400K last year when he was a yearling (42/69). His work tab also shows seven works (31 furlongs), including three at 5/8th with two of those three done in 1:00.2 (2/51 & 4/14).
#6 – Normandy Coast (6/1) – Yet another debut runner, this colt, as the name foreshadows, hails from Omaha Beach (ALL = 18.3%; FTS = 13/54, 24.1%). Mom (by Congrats) only ran six times, won two times, and banked $87,000. She has tossed three others, but not much to write home about. The sales price was very reasonable as he sold as a yearling for a ‘relatively meager’ $60,000 (72/99). Eddie Kenneally (M = 5/15, 33.3%) is his conditioner and he’s had this guy out for eight morning drills (30 furlongs) with his penultimate spin being a dazzling 45.4 seconds over a half mile (1/24). Luis Saez climbs atop this colt.
#9 – Voodoo Daddy (7/2 ML fav) – Brian Lynch (M = 2/10, 20%) will toss the saddle across this colt who will be starting for the first time today. The fast-rising Good Magic is his sire (ALL = 13.9%, FTS = 12/82, 14.6%) and mom only earned $37,000 going 1/3. He didn’t sell well as a weanling only bringing $49,000 (11/12), but made his pinhookers some coin when the hammer fell at $370K last year when he was a yearling (6/45). Eight morning spins covering 34 furlongs is the base that this dude has under him, including three spins at 5f. His work on 5/31/24 from the gate at 5/8th was finished in 59.8 (1/19) and then a week later, he covered the same ground in 100.0 flat (4/18).
#12 – Sandman (6/1) – A second colt by Tapit (ALL = 17.4%, FTS = 14.6%) is entered and will start on the extreme outside. His broodmare sire is by Distorted Humor and mom was 3/8 with earnings just shy of $100K. She’s produced three others – one won in her third two-year-old start at CD and went on to score later in her career at the G3 level, ultimately winning $883K of prize money. Today’s competitor lit up the action board with a final bid of $1.2 million in March of this year down in Ocala as a 2YO (1/10 and double to cost of the second-highest in his class). Mark Casse (M = 10.8%, ROI = $0.63) has put relatively light work into this fella only sending him out five times in the morning, all at 4f. He’s had two brisk spins, including his most recent, completed in 47.2 (6/166 & 2/39, respectively). Jose gets the call to pilot him.
Final Analysis – So much potential talent makes so many to choose from. The rail goes to Asmussen (#1) who’s by Tapit and his a half-bro that is a dynamite racehorse. I’d be surprised to see the meet close and not have Stewart guide one into the Winner’s Circle and #2 is by the ever-dangerous Uncle Mo, however, I think his breeding screams ‘Turf’, but 20/1 has my attention. #4 has by far the most experience and he’s finished in the money in all three of his runs. An Into Mischief colt (#5, by a 2YO winner) should never be ignored, especially at the juicy ML odds of 10/1 and Amoss is another that would be surprising to ship out with no baby winners in our MSW races.
The combo on #6 – Kenneally, Omaha Beach, and a 45.4 work – is silly good. Rusty Arnold’s charge (#7) has run twice, both third; and is another that could certainly win at this level. There’s also plenty to like about Bryan Lynch’s Good Magic runner (#9). Even The Coach’s #10 horse, by the excellent sire, Justify out of a Giant’s Causeway mare could make some noise. And how about the #12 on the outside? An auction stopper by Tapit with a G3 winning half-sis that’s banked nearly $1 million in earnings. That’s 75% of the field that has something going for them – wow! But, as always, I always choose just one.
My pick is #1 Tap Into This – I’ve been a big fan of Extra Anejo since he broke his maiden at Keeneland almost two years ago. Of course, he is also trained by Steve and ridden by Tyler. His drill on 6/1/24 tells me that he can run with the big dogs and the 6/1 ML odds are too enticing to pass up.
As far as the MSW baby races go (and what else is there any way?), Friday’s affair (CD8) for the little girls will be the last race of the meet here under the Twin Spires – I’ll cover it right here on www.PastTheWire. As always, it’s been a blast and we look forward to moving our tack to Ellis Park and then mainly on to the hallowed grounds of Saratoga. You all continue to be the best part of our efforts, my Edgie Contingent. Take care and be good to each other.
