Kentucky Downs, Race 1 – Saturday, September 2, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
KD1:090223 – One Mile (on the grass, of course since there is no dirt here at KD). A full complement of fillies (16) have been entered to do battle and we only have room for the first 12. Half have made one previous run, one has been out twice before and five are First-Time Starters. The list of top level trainers is a bit shorter than usual, but we do have entries from Romans, Chad Brown, and Brad Cox. On the sire side, you may be interested in two by American Pharoah, or one each from Malibu Moon, Constitution, Hard Spun, Demarchelier, West Coast and Mendelssohn. This opener in Day 2 of Kentucky Downs 2023 meet should be a competitive one, so let’s have at it…
#2 – Fun Loving (9/2) – Trained by Victoria Oliver, this filly is by Constitution and from a fine race mare by Empire Maker. Mom won two Grade 2 events, along with three other races, in the 24 total races that she competed – that was good for earnings of $750K. Additionally, she’s produced two foals that have won $100K+ on the track. Today’s filly is a homebred from G. Watts Humphrey, Jr and she’s been out in the afternoon on one occasion. On that day, over Ellis Park’s turf track on 8/13/23, she started at the back of the twelve horse field, but worked her way up to only get beat by one length as the fourth place finisher. She’s put in one four furlong breeze at Keeneland since her race, but it was not fast. Rafeal Bejarano gets a second chance to ride her today.
#4 – Pharoah’s Wine (6/1) – No surprise that this filly is sired by the Triple Crown Champ, American Pharoah. She was thrown by a mare that cashed in for $187K in earnings, broke her maiden as a two-year-old right here at Kentucky Downs, and won at the G3 level. Dale Romans has saddled today’s gal twice previously for races at ELP – her first over the dirt didn’t go well, but in her most recent over the lawn, she led for much of the race before being passed near the head of the lane and settling for the runner up spot, 1 ¾ lengths shy of a victory. She was put back to work in the morning three times since that affair, all at CD and all at a half mile. Martin Chuan will be piloting her today, just as he has in all of her prior runs.
#8 – Watchtower (7/2) – The tepid Morning Line favorite is owned by Peter Brant, but she’s never been through a public auction. The British bred – Demarchelier – is this filly’s daddy and her mom is by Exchange Rate. Speaking of mama, she was 2 for 11 in her racing days, but one of those wins was her second time out as a two-year-old at Belmont Park in October, where she posted a fine 80 Equibase Speed Figure. Back to today’s runner, she has never competed before, but Chad Brown started her workout regime down at Payson Park in April. After two there, she shipped up to Saratoga where she did her stuff on the dirt training track five times, before being shipped to Churchill Downs in July for seven more drills. From a time standpoint, her best was probably on 7/31/23 at CD when she went a half mile in 48.2 seconds (3/38). Tyler has been called to be her guide.
#11 – Enigmatic (5/1) – Brad Cox will cinch the girth on this filly by West Coast. Her dam is by Giant’s Causeway, but she never made it to the races. Gary and Mary West bred this gal and they’ve retained ownership in her. This will be the first race of her young life. To prep her, Cox has kept her in KY – with six works at Keeneland followed by four breezes at CD. In her first ever drill, on 6/18/23, she went three poles in 36.4 seconds (2/17) and her last work at KEE on 7/25/23, she covered a half mile in 47.4 seconds (3/36). Florent will be the man in the saddle.
Pick – #4 Pharoah’s Wine – I love that her dam not only won at two, but also that it came over today’s course. Am Pham has done very well with his offspring on the grass and the two races of experience should be a plus. From 2018 thru 2022, Romans is 0 for 9 in these 2YO MSW races here at KD, but surely that goose egg will soon disappear – hopefully today. I don’t like to play favorites, but my man – Vshakerfarms – is her lucky owner in the Game of Silks – best of luck!
Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. Thank you once again for all your support and positive feedback. I’ll be back to you next week with more of our tremendous two-year-olds. Bye for now.
