Churchill Downs, Race 5 – Thursday, June 20, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
CD5:062024 – 5 1/2f on the Dirt. Ten boys, all colts, are set to tangle in this solid, unrestricted event. Seven will be making their first attempt at racing and three have performed one time in the afternoon. We’ve got a strong list of trainers including two from Mark Casse and Asmussen, along with singles from Amoss, Lukas, Maker, Lynch, and DeVaux. The sires that I’ve circled are Not This Time (two entries), Street Boss, Daredevil, Munnings, Speightstown, and Constitution. Additionally, we have three fine First-Crop Sires with one runner represented – Game Winner, Authentic (Spendthrift Farm), and the late Improbable. Several of them interest me, so let’s dig deep into seven of these colts…
#1 – Dream On (6/1) – The first of two from Not This Time is a First-Time starter and is also the first one in here trained by Mark Casse. His Discreet Cat dam won two of her five starts and banked a hefty $242K. She’s produced seven other foals of racing age and her best was her first – that colt went six for 36 and brought home $372K in purse money and was a winner at two in a MCL at DMR in August, sporting an 89 EBSF. It took three sales to move this colt, but after RNA’s as a weanling for $295K and another as a yearling for $245K, this dude hammered for $380K last March down in Ocala as a 2YO (6/17). Casse has had him out for work on five mornings – his first three were done at Casse’s Training Center and then two more here under the Twin Spires for 15 total furlongs.
#2 – I Got Game (7/2) – Freshman sire – Game Winner – is the stallion behind this Morning Line favorite whose Ohio-bred mama is by Flatter. She only found the Winner’s Circle on one occasion while a race mare from 11 tries ($69,000), but that one was in her second start in July of her 2YO campaign in a stakes race at JACK Thistledown. She’s thrown one other foal of racing age and that guy also won as a two-year-old – at SA in his fourth effort in December when he earned a lofty 88 EBSF. Today’s combatant was an RNA as a weanling when the tag was set at $85,000 back in 2022, but then did sell as a yearling last year for $130K (19/73). This Tom Amoss charge has run in the afternoon on one previous occasion – on 5/30/24 at Churchill he was only beaten by 1 ¼ lengths while earning the runner-up’s share of the purse. Edgar Morales will handle the riding duties again.
#3 – Innovator (5/1) – The Coach trains this FTS Authentic colt who was a $900K purchase as a yearling by BC Stables last year – the most of any by his sire in his class of 2023 (1/92). His mom is by Unbridled’s Song and was a fine race mare having won eight times from 22 runs with a bankroll of $439K. In the breeding shed she’s thrown seven other foals of racing age – three have won north of $100K on the track and two won as two-year-olds. D. Wayne has had him out for six works, all at CD, for a total of 22 furlongs. His times have been brisk and include a ‘small bullet’ on 5/15/24 when he zipped three panels in 34.4 seconds (1/6) and a week later he went a half mile in 46.6 seconds (2/45) – he looked to do it quite easily and galloped out solidly. Jamie Torres will be his guide.
#5 – Maybe Eye’ll Call (6/1) – This LA bred is another colt from a Freshman Sire – Improbable. Asmussen will sling the saddle over him as well as his stablemate who will start just to his right. Can the Man is the sire of his mom who was unraced. Additionally, she’s produced two others of racing age, but neither of those two has made it to the races yet. This guy RNA’ed for $95,000 as a yearling but then did sell earlier this year as a 2YO for $75,000. He’s been preparing for his first start in Lexington working six times at Keeneland (21 total furlongs). His last two were sharp – on 6/5/24 he went a half mile from the gate in 47.8 seconds (3/34) and then on 6/12/24 he traveled the same distance in 47.2 seconds, also from the gate, to earn a nice bullet (1/31). Cristian Torres will tickle the leather.
#6 – Bob’s Carrot (9/2) – The second from Asmussen, this colt is by Daredevil and is out of an Into Mischief mare who won one of her four starts on the track and collected $52,000 in purse money. She’s produced three other foals of racing age, one of them was a stellar eight for 14 on track, including a win in her second time out in September of her 2YO campaign at Belmont when she fashioned a sharp 85 EBSF. All told, she banked a half million dollars. Kirk and Judy Robison picked today’s dude up for $160K as a yearling last year (3/29). In his only start, on 5/16/24 at CD, he ran forwardly and had to settle for third place, 6 ¾ lengths behind the victor. He’s been able to fit in two works since his competition. The jockey in charge will be a return engagement for Ricardo Santana, Jr.
#7 – Art Fair (10/1) – Munnings is the stallion responsible for this colt who comes from an Into Mischief mare that only won once in 19 outings, but the lone score was in her 5th try at Kentucky Downs in September of her 2YO campaigned and she logged lifetime earnings of $178K. This is her first foal. This cross has produced only one 2YO who started for $30,000 in an MSW race and that horse won on their third effort in September at Churchill. Today’s runner has never been sold at public auction. Trainer Mark Casse has slung the saddle on him for one previous race, however, it was not a successful effort. After a bump at the start, he never really got into the race and ended seventh of eight runners. Tyler will try his luck in the saddle again today.
#10 – States’ Rights (8/1) – This firster was bred in VA and is by Constitution. His mama is by Pioneerof The Nile and she won north of $100K on the track, winning three of 13 races and this is her first foal of racing age. This guy’s cross is the same one that produced Catching Freedom who won first-time out. In the sales ring, he sold for $225K as a weanling (1/2) and then was pinhooked back as a yearling when he brought $350K (18/66). Cherie DeVaux has put some work under this fella’s girth with eight drills over at Keeneland for a total of 32 furlongs (eight miles) – including one spin of 5/8th of a mile. His quickest move was on 5/24/24 when he clipped off four panels in 47.2 seconds coming from the gate (2/25). In this effort, he broke alertly (on the inside), was never pushed, and galloped out the best of his two workmates. Interestingly, DeVaux has not started a 2YO in a Maiden Special race at Churchill in the spring since at least 2019. Luis Saez will get the leg up to ride.
Pick – #10 States Rights – I’m gonna take a shot on this 8/1 ML colt by Constitution. I’m not sure what to think about DeVaux taking her first shot in the spring at Churchill in a baby MSW race, but maybe she feels like this guy is ready to roll. I certainly like the cross that produced this fella and I certainly like his sire. Luis Saez in the saddle makes me confident that he’ll get a good trip from the outside, so let’s see how this guy fares.
Check back in at PastTheWire.com soon for my ‘PPP’ piece on Friday’s baby race for the fillies. Until then, enjoy this one, and be safe! Thank you for all of your support.
