Kentucky Downs, Race 1 & 5 – Saturday, August 31, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
KD1:083124 – One Mile on the Turf. 16 fillies are entered, 12 will start. Four are First-Time starters, five have raced one time previously, one has been out twice, and one has four starts under her belt.
#5 – Wonderland (4/1 ML fav) – Medaglia d’Oro (Turf = 9.6%) is the stallion responsible for this filly and her dam is by More Than Ready. Mama was three for 16 on the track and earned $220K, including a victory first out while a 2YO at Santa Anita. She also went on to win a stakes race on the grass and also ran second in a G2 event. She’s thrown two other foals of racing age, won in his third try as a baby at GP, and has gone on to have earnings north of $100K. In the auction ring, this gal failed to bring her reserve amount of $235K as a yearling but did sell for $385K earlier this year in April down at Ocala as a 2YO (2/13). Mark Casse (M = 2/25, 8.0%) will send her out for her second start – her first outing was a SAR on the lawn going 1 1/16th mile on 8/15/24 when she finished nicely to be fourth, beaten by three lengths in a field of 10. Jose gets the return assignment.
#6 – Destino d’Oro (6/1) – Brad Cox (M = 3/27, 11.1%) trains this FTS filly who is sired by Bolt d’Oro (Turf = 14.5%). Her dam by Lion Heart and she won three times from 24 starts and one of those was a win at 2YO in her second start at Saratoga. Her earnings were $242K and she did finish as the runner-up in a G1 event as a baby. She’s tossed six other foals of racing age, but only one has earned $100K+. Today’s gal has been sold three times already – as a weanling, she sold for $20,000 (19/21), then as a yearling for $25,000 (64/71), and then finally, earlier this year as a 2YO for $185K (12/39). To prep for her debut, she has worked a dozen times, all at Ellis Park (51 furlongs), including five of her last six at 5/8th of a mile. Florent will manage the reins.
#10 – Indigo Stunner (6/1) – This filly by Spendthrift Farm’s Freshman sire Authentic (4 winners from 38 starters) comes out of the Brendan Walsh (M = 7/30, 23.3%, ROI = $4.24) barn. Her mama (by Street Sense) is unraced, but she’s done well in the breeding shed having three of her four foals of racing age win as 2YOs – two of those won more than $300K and one of them scored in a G2 race on the lawn as a baby. Today’s competitor hammered for $310K last year as a yearling (27/92). Brendan has been getting her ready for her debutant performance starting with three works at Keeneland and then six works on the All-Weather surface at Turfway Park for a total of 36 furlongs. Her times have been solid, but not blistering. Tyler will be in charge in the saddle.
Final Analysis – Although the fav, #5, has a lot of my boxes checked, my pick is #10 Indigo Stunner. Brendan is so good here at Kentucky Downs and he likely moved her training to TP when he realized that he’d point her to the turf. I like the offspring that her mama’s thrown and Authentic seems destined to break out at some point soon.
KD5:083124 – Six furlongs on the Turf. The entry box was full with 16 colts being put forward, but just 12 will race. Five will make their racing debuts, six have started one time previously, and one wily veteran has done the racing thing four times.
#5 – Crooked Bullet (15/1) – Trainer Mike Maker (M = 9/56, 16.1%) will saddle this daughter of Bolt d’Oro (Turf = 14.5%) for his debut performance. His unraced Distorted Humor dam has thrown seven other foals of racing age but has no 2YO winners. He failed to bring his reserve of $45,000 as a yearling but did get a bid of $70,000 earlier this year in May as a 2YO (21/39). Mike has been prepping this guy on the All-Weather surface at Turfway Park. He’s been out ten times and his work on 6/25/24 covering four furlongs in 48 seconds flat (2/17), is his fastest. Jose will slip his toes into the irons.
#7 – Perfect Magic (9/2) – is a $300K yearling (7/114) by Maclean’s Music (Turf = 9.6%) and he’s conditioned by Steve Asmussen (M = 5/43, 11.6%). His mom is by Yes It’s True and she was five for 24 on the track with earnings of $245K, including a win at first asking at Monmouth. Additionally, she finished second in a G3 and third in a G2 later in her career. In the breeding shed, she’s produced seven other foals of racing age, two that won as babies and two that won north of $100K (one brought home more than $700K). He’s making his second start today – his first was a turf sprint at ELP when he made a nice run at the lead, but faded to fifth, beaten a little over three lengths (at odds of 13/1). He’s had time for one half mile work since his run. Steve’s son Erik will climb about again today.
#10 – Esmark (12/1) – Victoria Oliver looks for her first win at KD since 2019 in this her twelfth start in a 2YO MSW with this colt by Constitution (Turf = 9.9%). His dam (by Scat Daddy) was unraced and has seven others of racing age – two have won more than $100K and scored victories as babies. This guy sold for $400K as a yearling in 2023 (15/66). He’s been making his first start today and he’s worked a total of ten times, all at KEE (40 furlongs). On 7/9/24, he went four panels in 47.6 seconds (3/45). Johnny V has accepted the request to ride.
#12 – Hit That Review (3/1 ML fav) – No Nay Never (Turf = 4/40, 10.0%) is the stallion responsible for this colt who is out of an unraced, British-bred Machiavellian mare. She’s thrown eight others of racing age, two that won at age two and one that bested the $100K earnings mark. In the sales ring, this guy brought $166,594 as a yearling overseas (41/81). Brendan Walsh (M = 7/30, 23.3%, ROI = $4.24) will saddle this fella for his second competitive effort. In his first run, he closed well to finish third, just over a length shy, on the grass at ELP over 5 ½ furlongs. Tyler will guide him for the first time.
Final Analysis – my pick is #12 Hit That Review. Although his daddy is only 10.0% with babies on the turf in MSW events, he’s a turf sire through and through. Additionally, his mama is bred in Great Britain and has had two babies win while 2YOs. Oh yes, he’s trained by Brendan and as a bonus, he gets the services of Tyler.
Three more 2YO MSW affairs at Kentucky Downs on Sunday – I’ll work to dig into them, so please keep your eyes focused on PastTheWire.com. Take care my Edgie Friends – and be safe and well.
