Juvenile Summer Stakes Horses Part I

Moving into the second half of the year, juvenile race distances are lengthening. Later maturing babies are starting to appear and overtake their more precocious counterparts.  As we slowly gear up for the Breeders’ Cup, let’s review the top two year olds from around the country. In this three-part series, we’ll focus on stakes winners and notable stakes placed runners at the major tracks. This week, we’ll start with the track where you can’t turn around without being stepped on by a blue blooded baby. You can find more of this season’s two year olds on the 2015 Kentucky Derby Contenders and 2015 Kentucky Oaks Contenders lists. 

 

ANGELA RENEE (Bernardini - Pilfer, by Deputy Minister)

Race record: 3-1-1-1 ($120,000)

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Siena Farm LLC

Breeder: Siena Farms LLC

Auction: None

 

Pedigree: The homebred filly is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire TO HONOR AND SERVE and a half to stakes placed Elnaawi. Their stakes winning miler dam is a half to graded stakes winner INDIA and Irish stakes winner SING SOFTLY. Second dam MISTY HOUR is also a stakes winner.  Angela Renee’s brother won up to 1 1/8 miles.

 

Outlook: After winning her 5 furlong maiden in a sharp :57.90, Angela Renee was second to Cavorting in the Adirondack and placed third behind Condo Commando after bumpy start in the Spinaway.  At this point, she’s a nice filly, but not at the top of her class. She has plenty of growing to do and is one to watch.

 

 

 

BIG TROUBLE (Tiz Wonderful - Silver Lullaby, by Najran)

Race record: 2-2-0-0 ($235,000)

Trainer: Tony Dutrow

Owner: Team D

Breeder: Columbiana Farm

Auction: KEESEP12 $230K

 

Pedigree:  Big Trouble has a sprinter/miler pedigree.  For the most part, his sire’s offspring are best up to 1 1/16 miles.  Big Trouble is a full brother to the stakes placed sprinter Silver Lining John. Their dam is a half to graded stakes winners SUNSHINE FOR LIFE and TUBOK. Big Trouble might go as far as 1 1/16 miles.

Outlook:   The precocious Big Trouble won his maiden in June at Belmont.  He followed up with a desperate neck score over a very troubled Mr. Z in the Sanford Stakes.  Currently, it appears that Big Trouble is out of action, as his last recorded breeze was on August 1.

 

CAVORTING (Bernardini - Promenade Girl, by Carson City)

Race record: 2-2-0-0 ($265,000)

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Owner: Stonestreet Stables LLC

Breeder: Swettenham Stud

Auction: KEENOV13 $360K

 

Pedigree:  The well-bred Cavorting is s a daughter of the 2006 Maryland Champion Older Mare Promenade Girl. This is the distaff family of the multiple graded stakes winners ANOTHER REVIEW (Californian S., etc.), DANCE COLONY (Adirondack S. 2^nd in Gazelle), Swaps hero BLUESKIESNRAINBOWS, and Santa Barbara Handicap heroine NO REVIEW.  The fourth dam Dumfries is a blue hen. Cavorting should handle up to 1 1/16 miles. After that, it gets iffy.

 

Outlook: After embarrassing just three other fillies by 11 lengths in her debut, Cavorting took on winners in the Adirondack Stakes.  Sitting wide the entire way, the daughter of Preakness hero Bernardini passed the well-bred Angela Rene and listed stakes winner Wonder Gal on her way to a 1 ¾ length victory.  Cavorting could face Fashion Alert in the Frizette Stakes.

 

 

CONDO COMMANDO (Tiz Wonderful - Yearly Report, by General Meeting)

Race record:2-2-0-0 ($243,600)

Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez

Owner: Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables & The Elkstone Group

Breeder: Spendthrift Farm, LLC

Auction: KEESEP13 $72K

 

Pedigree:  Condo Commando is a half to the multiple graded stakes placed sprinter Checklist. Their dam is a multiple graded stakes winner from 7F to 1 1/8 miles. The second dam FISCAL YEAR is also a stakes winner. Condo Commando has a sprinter/miler’s pedigree.  1 1/16 miles may be as far as she’ll go, although she may place going longer with maturity.

 

Outlook: Condo Commando got away with a maiden claiming win in her debut. She was totally in command of the Grade 1 Spinaway, splish splashing to a 13 length victory. I expect the Frizette will be her next start.

 

COMPETITIVE EDGE (Super Saver - Magdalena's Chase, by Cape Town)

Race record: 2-2-0-0 ($259,800)

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner:  Favreau, Nancy, Psoinos, Kathy and Tabor, Michael B.

Breeder: WinStar Farm

Auction: FTFMAR14 $750K

 

Pedigree: Competitive Edge is by the top freshman sire and he is the first foal produced by his sprinter stakes placed dam. Competitive Edge and his dam Magdalena's Chase own the only blacktype in the first two generations of this female family.  So why so expensive? Competitive Edge zipped a furlong in :10 flat at the Fasig-Tipton March 2YO in training sale. The colt has the pedigree to handle two turns.

 

Outlook:  Competitive Edge exploded onto the Saratoga racing scene with a ten length win over maidens in his debut, getting six furlongs in an eye-catching 1:09.89, not bad, considering that the track record is 1:08 flat.  For an encore, the son of Super Saver beat winners in the Hopeful Stakes by 5 ¾ lengths, including Saratoga Special hero I Spent It.  I expect we’ll see Competitive Edge installed as the favorite for the Champagne Stakes on October 4.

 

 

FASHION ALERT (Old Fashioned - Titan Queen, by Tiznow)

Race record: 2-2-0-0 ($250,000)

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: George Bolton & Barry Hall

Breeder: Mike Abraham & Jacob Nance

Auction: KEESEP13 $125k

 

Pedigree:  Fashion Alert is a half-sister to Santa Ynez Stakes (G-2) winner RENE’S TITAN, The dam is a full sister to Roman's Run, who is UAE stakes placed, plus she’s a half to G-2 winner BIG BAND SOUND and stakes winner SILVER PROSPECTOR.  Fashion Alert has the pedigree to successfully stretch out to 1 1/16 miles and could also enjoy middle distances.

 

Outlook: Fashion Alert skipped the maiden races and went straight for the blacktype. The daughter of Old Fashioned made all of the pace in the Astoria Stakes. Although the Pletcher trained miss raced greenly, Fashion Alert made short work of her opponents in the 5 ½ furlong race, winning by 4 ¾ lengths. A month later in the Schuylerville Stakes, the Pletcher filly sat second before drawing off to a 1 ½ length victory over the very well bred Take Charge Brandi. We’ll likely see Fashion Alert take on challengers in the Frizette Stakes on October 4.

 

 

I SPENT IT (Super Saver - Rateeba, by Sky Mesa)

Race record: 3-2-1-0 ($335,000)

Trainer: Tony Dutrow

Owner: Alex and JoAnn Lieblong

Breeder: Dixiana Farms LLC

Auction: FTFMAR14 $600K

 

Pedigree: I Spent It blazed a furlong in 9.4 at the Fasig-Tipton March 2YO in training sale. His dam is a half to the dam Saratoga Special winner ZAVARTA, plus she’s a half to Cocky, who placed in the San Raphael (G-2) and to a Japanese stakes winning sprinter. This is the female family of multiple G-1 winner and sire DIXIE UNION.  I Spent It has a blend of stamina and speed in his pedigree. He may handle up to 1 1/16 miles, but that will probably be as far as he’ll want to go. I expect that he could develop into a top sprinter/miler.

 

Outlook: This son of Super Saver won a contentious edition of the Saratoga Special. He was bullied by Mr Z in the final stages of the race, but still put that rival away by 2 ¾ lengths. He was no match for Competitive Edge in the Hopeful, but I Spent It still finished nine lengths ahead of the third place runner, Sharm.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL STAR (Fusaichi Pegasus - Parlez, by French Deputy)

Race record: 3-1-2-0 ($110,000)

Trainer: Mike Maker

Owner: Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey

Breeder: Katharine M. Voss & Robert T. Manfuso

Auction: FTMSEP13 $85K

 

Pedigree: International Star is a half to stakes winning sprinter FOOLS IN LOVE. This is the distaff line of multiple graded stakes winner HALORY HUNTER and his half brother, the Group 1 winner and sire VAN NISTELROOY. International Star is a winner over the lawn and has placed in a dirt sprint.  He could develop into a miler over either surface.  

 

Outlook: International Star had a more eventful trip in the With Anticipation than his rival Startup Nation.  The son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus was wide on both turns and had to check behind that rival in the stretch of the race. By the time he got going again, it was too late.  A DQ against Startup Nation was disallowed.  I expect we’ll see International Star at Keeneland for one of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.

 

 

MR. Z   (Malibu Moon - Stormy Bear, by Storm Cat)

Race record:4-1-2-0 ($99,726)

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC

Breeder: Richard D. Maynard

Auction: FTKOCT13 $135K

 

Pedigree: Mr. Z is a half brother to the UAE stakes placed Ibn Al Nafis. Their dam Stormy Bear is a half to Champion Turf Horse CHIEF BEARHEART, Hollywood Derby (G-1) winner EXPLOSIVE RED, stakes winner RUBY RANSOM and the stakes placed runners Memorized and Sundown Serenade. Other notable stakes winners in this female family include the multiple graded stakes turf router STRUT THE STAGE and Vosburgh hero PRIVATE ZONE.  Mr. Z has a 4 x 4 Rasmussen Factor inbreeding to the blue hen Gold Digger, who is Mr. Z’s fourth dam. Gold Digger is also the dam of Mr. Prospector, Malibu Moon’s damsire. Mr. Z is fairly precocious, yet has the pedigree to stretch out to middle distances.

 

Outlook:  The tenacious, gritty Mr. Z had troubled trips in the Sanford and Saratoga Special, yet still finished second in both races.  Instead of resting up for the Champagne Stakes, Mr. Z was sent to Churchill to contest the Iroquois Stakes.  In his previous stakes attempts, the colt sat off of the pace before making his run, but switched to lead the pace in the Iroquois. That didn’t end well, as the colt tired to fifth place. Mr. Z has shown ability and could develop into a very nice colt if he could get a trouble-free trip.  We might see him at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup may be on the agenda.

 

 

PARTISAN POLITICS (More Than Ready - Bluegrass Princess, by Dynaformer)

Race record:

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owner: Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H.Lawrence

Breeder: Dell Ridge Farm, LLC

Auction:  KEESEP13 $175K

 

Pedigree: Partisan Politics’ dam won the 1 1/16 mile Valley View Stakes (G-3) and placed in two graded stakes at 1 1/8 miles over the lawn. The second dam AMERICA AMERICA is a multiple stakes winner over dirt and turf at 1 1/16 miles.  Partisan Politics has the pedigree to handle middle distances. 

 

Outlook: Partisan Politics had an eventful trip in the P. G. Johnson Stakes, having to go wide and endure a game of bumper cars before prevailing by 2 ½ lengths over a field of seven eager fillies. Racing in the same silks, Partisan Politics and Start Up Nation swept the juvenile turf stakes at Saratoga for Chad Brown. I expect we’ll see Partisan Politics in the Jessamine stakes at Keeneland on October 9.

 

 

STARTUP NATION (Temple City - Pennyrile, by Wagon Limit)

Race record: 2-2-0-0 ($163,800)

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owner:  Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H.Lawrence

Breeder: Spendthrift Farm

Auction: FTNAUG13 $95K

 

Pedigree:  Startup Nation is the first stakes winner for his freshmen sire, Temple City.   Startup Nation’s dam is a stakes placed sprinter. She’s half to a listed stakes winner. Startup Nation’s third dam INFINIDAD is multiple Grade 1 winner in Chile and the U.S.  Startup Nation has the pedigree to go long on the turf.  He might also handle Polytrack.

 

Outlook: While his stable mate Partisan Politics was relaxing after her modeling gig in the winners’ circle for the P. G. Johnson Stakes, Startup Nation, was not to be outdone. He captured the 1 1/16 mile With Anticipation Stakes over the lawn, defeating a full field by 4 ½ lengths. There are only two Breeders’ Cup Challenge races in North America for colts entering the Juvenile Turf, the Summer Stakes at Woodbine and the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland.  I expect we may see Startup Nation contest the later.

 

 

SUNDAY SONNET (Any Given Saturday - Red Piano, by Red Ransom)

Race record: 3-1-2-0 ($84,800)

Trainer: Kelly Breen

Owner: George & Lori Hall

Breeder: PTS Ranch, LLC

Auction: KEESEP13  $115K

 

Pedigree: Sunday Sonnet is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 turf star PIANIST. Her damsire was a leading sire in England and Australia, while her second damsire was the Classic chef-de-race and top turf horse NUREYEV.  Sunday Sonnet‘s dam is a half to multiple G-3 placed Stanislavsky.This is the distaff family of Champion Irish Miler Prince of Birds. This talented youngster has shown the ability to run over various surfaces. She should develop into a nice two-turn runner.

 

Outlook: Sunday Sonnet was second to Angela Renee in her debut. She came back to beat three other maidens over a sloppy track before her runner-up finish in the P.G Johnson Stakes over the lawn.  Sunday Sonnet has a variety of options, since she has raced well over dirt, mud and turf.

 

 

TAKE CHARGE BRANDI (Giant's Causeway - Charming, by Seeking the Gold)

Race record: 4-1-1-0 ($68,983)

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Owner: Willis D. Horton

Breeder: Charming Syndicate

Auction: KEESEP13 $435K

 

Pedigree: Take Charge Brandi’s dam is a half sister to Florida Derby winner TAKE CHARGE INDY and multiple G-1 winner WILL TAKE CHARGE. The second dam is multiple stakes winner, TAKE CHARGE LADY, who is rapidly approaching blue hen status.  Take Charge Brandi should appreciate running two turns. By Giant’s Causeway, the youngster might also take to the turf. Her half brother Siete C (Unbridled’s Song) was first or second in in six starts over the lawn.

 

Outlook: After triumphing over a herd of seven maiden fillies at Churchill in June, Take Charge Brandi was out-classed by Fashion Alert in the Schuylerville Stakes. It was over seven lengths back to the third place horse. Take Charge Brandi was four wide in the Adirondack and most recently, the Pocahontas Stakes and was fifth is both starts.  She should improve with maturity, and possibly a surface switch.

 

 

WONDER GAL (Tiz Wonderful - Passe, by Dixie Union)

Race record: 2-1-0-1 ($95,000)

Trainer: Leah Gyarmati

Owner: Treadway Racing Stable

Breeder: Apache Farm LLC

Auction: OBSMAR13 $250K

 

Pedigree: Wonder Gal’s unraced dam is a half to the multiple graded stakes winner SOCIAL QUEEN. The second through fifth dams all own blacktype.  Wonder Gal’s third dam is a half sister to the multiple graded stakes winning veteran PERFECT DRIFT.  Wonder Gal has a sprinter/miler pedigree.

 

Outlook: After winning her maiden in the Lynbrook Stakes by 14 lengths over four other fillies at Belmont, Wonder Gal raced along the rail and was in tight in the final stages of the Adirondack Stakes, but held her position to finish third. This promising filly has raced only twice and should improve through her three year old season.