Ellis Park, Race 4 – Friday, July 5, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
ELP4:070524 – 5 1/2f on the Dirt. 11 colts are entered. Ten are First-Time starters and one has raced four times already.
#2 – Max Mischief (8/1) – You can quickly tell by his name that this colt is a son of Spendthrift Farm’s Maximus Mischief (M = 19.7%; FTS = 15/65, 23.1%). He is out of a Langfuhr mare, Sweetie Tiy who was only 2/32 on the track with $22,000 in purse money. She’s thrown four others, but nothing to note. Prepped by Steve Asmussen (M = 10.1%, FTS = 6.5%), this dude sold for $37,000 in 2022 as a weanling (3/13) and then was pinhooked back for $80,000 last year as a yearling (12/65). 26 furlongs, by way of seven works, is listed on his work tab in preparation for his first afternoon outing. Jamie Torres gets the call to ride.
#6 – First Resort (7/2 ML fav) – This colt is a Darley homebred trained by Eoin Harty (M = 1/1 with a firster). Uncle Mo (ALL = 16.5%; FTS = 14.1%) is his pops and mom, Fair Maiden, comes by way of a successful Street Boss mare who was four for ten in her racing days bringing home $324K. One of her victories was in her second outing in July of her 2YO season at Arlington Park when she earned a sizzling 95 EBSF. Another of her scores was later in her career at the G1 level and this is her first foal. Today’s dude been doing some terrific work in the morning up in Northern Kentucky on the All Weather track at TP. Prior to backing him down a bit in his last, the three drills before were all bullets at a half mile. He’s been out in the morning a total of six times (22 furlongs). Rafael Bejarano will be in the saddle
#9 – Extradition (6/1) – Sired by the terrific Gun Runner (ALL = 19.8%; FTS = 20.6) this colt will be making his first start today. His mama, If Not For Her, (by Not for Love) fashioned a race record of 3/13 with $123K of loot earned. She has thrown two others of racing age – his full sister, who is now a 4YO, is 2/6 with $58,000 of prize money won. Today’s competitor is a Three Chimneys homebred who was bought into by Winchell. Conditioner Steve Asmussen (M = 10.1%; FTS = 6.5%) has had him out for seven morning spins (the last two over today’s ELP surface) and he’s clicked off 24 total furlongs. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will have the opportunity to be his guide.
Final Analysis – Although I tend to gravitate to Gun Runner babies (for good reason), my pick is #6 First Resort. His dam was a Grade One winner who scored early in her juvenile year and was an excellent race mare who now gets to show her stuff as a dam. Today’s colt has been fantastic in the morning and you’ve always got to respect Darley homebreds. The fact that Harty is one-for-one at this meet over the past five years is also encouraging and lastly, Uncle Mo ain’t no swiss cheese.
More Two-Year-Old racing action from Ellis on Saturday as they’ve got two set to run – and you’ll know we’ll be all over them here on www.PastTheWire.com. Until then, take care, be safe and enjoy. Thank you, my Edgie Followers.
