Ellis Park, Race 2 – Friday, June 23, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
ELP2:062323 – 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. Eight fillies are set to go postward in this affair that is comprised solely of first-time starters – no past performances to fall back on (I love this!). Plus, trainers such as Asmussen, Lukas, O’Neill, Devaux and Arnold. Add to that, some fine stallions – Good Samaritan (WinStar), Liam’s Map, Arrogate, Good Magic, Twirling Candy and the exciting first-crop sire from Spendthrift Farm, Mitole. Lots to get to, so let’s make this happen…
#4 – Mystical Chant (3/1) – This filly has been tabbed as the morning line favorite and is a product of Liam’s Map. Ed & Susie Orr traveled to Ocala this past March to sign the ticket on this two-year-old in training and they spent $345K in doing so (5/20). She zipped two furlongs in her under tack performance in a swift 21.2 seconds. Her dam is unraced and hasn’t produced anything of significance from the three previous foals that she’s thrown. Five works at Keeneland followed by two at Churchill for this young lady and they are typical for his trainer – Steve Asmussen – not overly fast, but solid. Florent Geroux has been tapped to be her jockey.
#5 – Saratoga Secret (4/1) – BC Stables has certainly loaded up on quality two-year-olds and seem to be placing most in the experienced hands of ‘The Coach’, D. Wayne Lukas. This Arrogate filly was a $200K yearling at Fasig-Tipton’s November sale in Saratoga last fall. Not much to go on by way of her dam as she was unraced and this is her first foal. Five workouts at Churchill comprise this gal’s preparation for today’s clash and she’s been moving quite well. Her first work, done over three panels, was completed in 35.8 seconds (1/18). Her most recent two, both covering four poles, were polished off in 48 flat (7/44) and then 48.4 seconds (7/76). First call rider, Luis Saez will pilot her.
#6 – Bossy Bruin Gal (4/1) – Good Magic, sire of this year’s KY Derby winner, Mage, is the proud papa to this filly who is trained by Doug O’Neill. Mom never was able to find her way to the winner’s circle, even after 15 tries and she’s not produced anything worth noting. Today’s runner was picked up for $110K at Keeneland’s September Yearling sale (34/81). Doug has had her stabled up in Lexington and working at Keeneland. Of the seven works that she’s put in there, her last was her best – 3f in 35.4 seconds breezing from the gate, earning her a bullet (1/44). Rey Gutierrez gets the call to tickle the leather.
#7 – Candy Lover (7/2) – No surprises here on the name as this filly is by Twirling Candy and out of a Mineshaft mare who was unraced, but demanded $210K as a broodmare prospect in the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale. The owner of today’s contestant, Martin Schwartz, went to $230K on her to pluck her out of the KEE Sept Yearling sale (12/82). She, too, has been doing her prep work at Keeneland having worked eight times there with her last six going a ½ mile. Her fastest is her last – 48.6 seconds (7/38). Trainer Cherie Devaux will give Cristian Torres the leg up into the saddle.
#8 – Raconteuse (6/1) – Ian Wilkes will sling the saddle onto this filly by Mitole – Spendthrift Farm’s dynamic first-crop sire. Her dam, by Street Cry, ran in just one race (did not win), but she did produce a gelding who broke his maiden on his second try at Golden Gate in December of his 2YO year and scored a fine E-Speed Fig of 83 while doing it. $70,000 was the amount when the bidding stopped on this gal last October in Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky yearling sale (56/116). In typical Wilkes fashion, he’s not pushed this gal hard in the mornings, but she has been out eight times, all at CD, and the majority of her efforts have been at a ½ mile and has even gone five furlongs, two back on 6/9/23, from the gate in 1:01.4 (10/26). Rafael Bejarano will be in the stirrups.
Pick – #4 Mystical Chant – We could certainly go a few different ways on this race, but the fact that Steve tapped Florent’s shoulder to ride this filly catches my eye. Plus, Ed & Susie Orr are fine horse people and typically gravitate to horses that can run. Orr’s 2YOs that are trained by Asmussen are 4 of 20 (20%) in MSW races from 2018 thru 2022. Lastly, I hate to put too much emphasis on under tack times, but 21.2 seconds is eye catching. Best of luck to the owner of this gal in the Game of Silks – Alpha Dragon Lair.
Belmont also has two juvenile races carded for today (6/23/23), but both are restricted to NY-breds, so we are going to take a pass on both of those. ELP has another of our races scheduled for Saturday, but it’s restricted to <$50,000 ‘auction’ horses, so we’ll chew on that and see if it makes sense to break down. Bottom line, we are here for you and look forward to serving you, my Edgie Wizards.
