Kentucky Downs, Race 2 – Saturday, September 9, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
KD2:090923 – One mile (on the grass, of course since there is no dirt at KD). Sixteen dudes have been submitted as entrants in this field, however, only twelve will load into the starting gate. Two colts have competed twice, six have been out once prior to today and four will be making their first foray into the world of racing. We’ve got top trainers saddling horses in this one, including Wilkes, Cox, Arnold, Maker, Chad, Bill Mott and Gargan. Additionally, we’ve got some great grass sires such as two from Constitution and one each from Uncle Mo, Bernardini, War Front, English Channel, Mendelssohn and Street Sense. Let’s break this thing down…
#2 – Uncle Truly (5/1) – Trainer Jonathon Thomas sends out this Uncle Mo colt for his first afternoon effort and he’s never gone through a public auction. This guy’s mom had a short, but successful career on track as she won half of her six races and $119K. She’s thrown two other foals in addition to today’s runner and one of those has banked over $200K already with a sparkling record of 4 for 6. Today’s colt has prepped on six mornings at Turfway Park and his best was probably done on 8/17/23 when he covered four panels in 48.2 seconds coming out of the gate (6/25). Declan Cannon will be his guide
#4 – Dirbas (8/1) – The first of two by Constitution is out of a Majestic Warrior mare and conditioned by Brad Cox. Mom won her initial two starts at age two – first a MSW at KEE in April (Equibase Speed Fig of 90) and then a stakes race at Belmont in June. She never won again in four more tries, but did end with $129K in the bank. Today’s colt was picked up for $105K back in May at the FT Midlantic 2YO sale (16/29). He’s been out one time before – on 8/12/23 he battled one mile on the dirt at ELP with a pretty even effort ending 5th of 8, beaten by three lengths. Since that race, he’s been out for two half mile drills at Ellis with his most recent being completed in 49 seconds flat (3/17). Florent will ride him for the first time this afternoon.
#8 – British Sea (6/1) – English Channel is the proud pops to this colt and his broodmare sire is Divine Park. His stakes winning mom brought home $150K, with three wins in 24 attempts. At the sales, this colt brought $75,000 as a yearling at KEE Sept. He’s raced one time – at today’s distance on today’s surface, back on 7/14/23 at Ellis Park. On that day, he ran well and got beat by only a nose and ran an EBSF of 75. Trainer Mike Maker has sent him back for six more works since his run – five at ELP and his most recent was done at SAR. The last one at Ellis was a three pole move of 36.8 seconds (2/14). Tyler will be on board for the first time.
#9 – Vivaldi (9/2) – Is a Calumet homebred who’s a new shooter making his first ever start today for trainer Chad Brown. This colt hails from Mendessohn and his dual G3 winning dam earned $344K with a sparkling 5 for 13 record. She has also thrown two other foals that have earned north of $140K while racing – one finished second in a G1 and one was runner up in a G3. To get ready for the big day today, Chad has pumped a dozen works into him, all under the Twin Spires. His best was likely his second back – on 8/25/23 he covered four panels in 48.2 seconds (5/62). Irad will be the man in charge during the running.
#12 – Double Your Money (7/2) – The Morning Line fav is by Demarchelier and was thrown by a now 22YO mare who did win in her 2YO year over in England during her third run. She ended with $118K is prize money and a record of 4 for 19. This guy was picked up for $42,000 as a two-year-old down at OBS in June (7/13). He’s run once, back on 8/19/23 at Ellis Park he ran close up in a 5 ½ furlong sprint over their grass and ended only one length behind in third place, also at odds of 7/2. He’s had one maintenance move at CD since the race for conditioner Brian Lynch. Keith Asmussen picks up the return engagement.
Pick – #4 Dirbas – I very much like the precociousness that his mama showed on the track and he ran a somewhat credible race back in August and I think the change to grass will propel him forward. Brad Cox training for a top-level outfit with the reins being handled by Florent at 8/1 ML? Yes, sir, I’ll take a slice of that! Man9or Stables is the lucky owner of this colt in the fantastic Game of Silks.
