Churchill Downs, Races 4 – 8 and Race 11 Sunday, October 27, 2024
For information on Past The Wire’s annual Breeders’ Cup Seminar, the very best in the game CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE for information on Tracking Trips, your second set of eyes in Horse Racing
By The 2YO EdgeMan
CD4:102724 – One Mile and 1/16th on the Turf
My Pick = #6 Flying Mohawk (2/1 ML fav) – this is the only ML favorite that I’ll be picking on this card that contains six unrestricted Two-Year-Old MSW races. This colt is making his fourth start – his last was at the G2 level up in NY. In that 1 1/16th mile event, he led until the final furlong on a yielding turf course and posted fast fractions. His sire is Karokonite (Turf = 13/52, 25.0%), and his mom, by Twirling Candy (BM = 8/48, 16.7%), was winless in three tries and this is her first baby. Last year, this guy sold as a yearling for $72,000 (2/18) and he has had two half-mile breezes since his last race, but here at CD. Whit Beckman (M = 0/4) will sling the saddle and Tyler will pick up the mount.
CD5:102724 – One Mile and 1/16th on the Dirt
My Pick = #2 Lady Liberty (5/1) – Constitution (Dirt = 16.7%) is this filly’s daddy and his mama hails from an Indian Charlie (BM = 14.5%) mare who was a fine race mare winning four of her 19 starts and collecting $415K in purse money. Three of her four foals of racing age started at age two, but none of those were victorious, however, three did win in subsequent years on the dirt. $625K was the hammer price for this gal last summer when she was a yearling (8/66). Cherie DeVaux (M = 3/27, 11.1%; 2nd Start at Meet = 2/6, 33.3%) has sent her out for one previous race which covered 6f on CD’s dirt. In that affair, she took a while to get runnin, but came strong to only get beat by only one length, finishing third to Souk Plaza. Brian Hernandez, Jr. gets the return riding assignment.
CD6:10/27/24 – Six Furlongs on the Dirt
My Pick = #7 Purple and Gold (5/1) – Brad Cox (M = 21.2% 2nd Start = 23.3%) will send this filly out for her second try after tiring in a six-panel race on the slop at Churchill after competing for the lead going fast fractions. She is by Freshman sire, Echo Town (9 winners, 27 starters), and sold for a nifty $310K this past May as a 2YO (that is the most in her class of 24 babies, second highest was $240K). Her dam (by Lion Heart – BM = 10.9%) was unraced and she’s produced two of five 2YO winners from her seven other foals of racing age. She’s put in four works since her last race and her most recent earned her a small bullet – 5/8th of a mile in 1:01 (1/9). Luis Saez gets the call to pilot her.
CD7:102724 – Six Furlongs on the Dirt
My Pick = #9 Confront (4/1) – This colt is a First-Time starter and also comes out of the Brad Cox (M = 21.2%; FTS at Meet = 22.0%) barn. He’s a son of Constitution (Dirt = 16.7%) and his dam only won one race from six tries, but that one was her third start as a two-year-old. She earned $41,000 and was sired by Union Rags (BM = 9.1%) – this is her first foal. Today’s competitor has put in 14 works (55 furlongs) in prep for today’s debut and four back, on 9/20/24, he blitzed a half-mile on today’s oval in 46.3 seconds (1/51). Additionally, back on 9/12/24, Brad had him working (stride for stride) with 4YO Giant Mischief (4/8, $428K). Florent will get the leg up.
CD8:102724 – One Mile on the Turf
My Pick = #2 Fortunate (4/1) – War Front (Turf = 19.1%) is responsible for this filly who will be making her debut for Brendan Walsh (M = 6/52, 11.5%; FTS = 1/16, 6.3%). Her mom, by More than Ready (BM = 14.2), was the victor in her first-ever start at age two and went on to capture a total of four races from the 11 that she ran and banked $249K. Her only other foal of racing age has won on the lawn, but that one did not score as a juvenile. This runner is a homebred from the Heider Family Stables. Tyler gets the keys to drive.
CD11:102724 – One Mile and 1/16th on the Dirt
My Pick = #3 Limited Edition (4/1) – This colt is a Godolphin homebred who has started one time for conditioner Brendan Walsh (M = 6/52, 11.5%; 2nd Start = 2/16, 12.5%). In that one-mile race here at CD, he struggled at the break, but then gathered himself and made a terrific run to finish second, 3 ¼ lengths shy of the winner, Heavenville. His pops is Not This Time (Dirt = 23.3%) and his mama is a Street Sense (BM = 13.9) mare that was one-for-ten with $78,000 in purse money – this filly is her first foal. Walsh has pumped three drills into her under the Twin Spires since her race and he has tapped Tyler for a return engagement in the saddle. Note: I can’t close without mentioning the #1 horse in this event – Bisou. He’s the first foal from the amazing race mare, Midnight Bisou. I can’t wait to see this Curlin offspring.
This is one of the most exciting days of the year if you are a lover of the babies. Enjoy it and I hope that you win boatloads. Most importantly, stay safe and be well my Edgie Fanatics.
