Churchill Downs, Race 4 – Friday, June 21, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
CD4:062124 – 5 1/2f on the Dirt. The ladies filled the entry box with 13 names, so one will have to wait and hope to make the field as an Also Eligible. Only two of the 12 have any racing experience with one gal having started one time and another that has done the racing thing twice. Lot’s of circles on my page denoting solid trainers – Amoss, Maker, Lovell, Walsh, Cox, Mark Casse, Lobo, and Riley Mott. We’ve also got some strong sires that include Practical Joke, Street Boss, Justify, Into Mischief (Spendthrift Farm), Street Sense, Not This Time, Ghostzapper, and Liam’s Map. We’ve also got three Debut Sires – Tiz the Law, Maximum Security, and Instilled Regard. This oughta be fun, so let’s dive right in and look closely at five of these gals…
#1 – You’ll Be Back (4/1) – Tom Amoss will saddle up this FTS filly who comes to us from a cross of Practical Joke and a mare by Empire Maker. Mom was unraced and has three foals of racing age. Today’s runner was sold as a weanling back in 2022 for $115K (2/22) and then put through the ring again last year as a pinhook and that venture was successful as she brought $575K as a yearling (2/90). Tom has had this gal working at Keeneland where she’s been out on eight morning moves (30 total furlongs). She showed that she was serous the first time that she ever stepped foot (hoof) on the track on 4/20/24 when she traveled three furlongs in 35.4, earning a solid bullet (1/66). In fact, her last four drills have all been less than 48 seconds for a half mile, including her best spin of 47.2 seconds on 5/28/24, notching her second bullet work (1/45). Luis Saez will be her pilot.
#4 – Hereforagoodtime (8/1) – Triple Crown champ, Justify, will send out this First-Time starter and she’ll get her saddle placed by Brendan Walsh. Speightstown is the sire of her dam that was winless in three tries and this is her first foal. Today’s competitor did well in the sales ring bringing $400K as a yearling (17/70). She got one work in at Keeneland and then shipped over to Churchill for five more (21 total furlongs). On 5/25/24 she earned a bullet breezing from the gate in 35.8 seconds (1/14) and a week later stretched out to a half mile and she did that in 47.6 seconds (12/166). Edgar Morales will slip his books into the irons.
#6 – Eclatant (3/1) – Brad Cox is the conditioner for Stonestreet homebred who is sired by the great Into Mischief. She’s a debut runner and is out of a Scat Daddy mare that only found the Winner’s Circle one time in the eight races that she was a part of, bringing home $63,000. Mom has thrown four others of racing age and one of those was quite a runner. This gal’s full brother, who’s now a 6YO, was three for six on the track, including not only a win first out in August of his 2YO year at Saratoga with an 89 EBSF, but also a score in a Grade 2 event while a baby, earning a total of $259K. Brad has certainly not rushed today’s runner to the track; he’s given her seven morning works – the first two coming at Keeneland (both at 3f) and her most recent five here under the Twin Spires (all at a half mile) for a total of 26 furlongs. Her times have been solid, but not spectacular. Flo will ride.
#8 – Panache (12/1) – This Not This Time filly will be making her first start and she’s trained by Cherie DeVaux. Her mom is by Tapiture and she was winless in four tries – this is her first foal. $275K was the final bid on this gal when she was a yearling (22/62) and that came from Belladonna Racing. Seven works (26 furlongs) at Keeneland has been her preparation for today’s inaugural run. On 5/24/24 she went a nifty half mile in 47.2 seconds from the gate (2/25). Derby hero, Brian Hernandez, will be on board.
#10 – Studio Hall (10/1) – This filly is a Larry Best (OXO Equine) homebred by First-Crop sire, Instilled Regard. Her dam (by Tapit) sold for $1 million back when she was a 2YO, but never scored in her two tries on the track. She’s thrown three other foals of racing age, but nothing to write home about. Six Keeneland drills (23 furlongs) has been her preparation and she’s completed her last two, both at a half mile, in 47.4 seconds – her second back from the gate (2/37 and 2/66, respectively). Cristian Torres will be her man in the saddle.
Pick – #1 You’ll Be Back – I am typically drawn to Lobo runners and Cox has another Into Mischief homebred from Stonestreet, but Amoss is due for a winner and this filly may just be his first 2YO MSW of the year to visit the Winner’s Circle. His daddy does well with these babies (18.2% on dirt in these races with a purse of $30,000+) and this gal has been working sharply. She also has been fancied in the auctions and Luis in the irons is a big plus. Let’s give her a shot!
More action on Sunday at CD and we’ll plan to cover that affair. Take care and be safe, my Edgie Circle.
