Breakout Beyers: Another Declaration of War for dirt
Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Eve of War
Feb. 2, 6th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 88
6f, dirt, fast, 1:11.01
ch. f. 3, Declaration of War–Special Thanks, by Broken Vow
Owner: Treadway Racing
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Jeff Treadway
First foal to race out of an unraced dam who herself is out of the excellent mare Bedanken. Especially promising here was fact that a filly bred to run long had excellent speed and aired in a six-furlong sprint. You’ve already read in this space how offspring of young sire Declaration of War keep popping, somewhat surprisingly, on dirt. Filly broke a step slow but easily made the front and did this all well within herself. Very promising.
Fancy Liquor
Feb. 2, 3rd race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 81
1m, turf, good, 1:38.51
b.c.3, Lookin At Lucky–Brandy’s Secret, by Secret Romeo
Owner: Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Racing
Trainer: Mike Maker
Breeder: Hot Pink Stable and Skychai Racing
Trainer Maker doesn’t win often with first-timers but this one, debuting in blinkers, made the front and raced professionally in this two-turn turf mile. Was headed at the furlong grounds and came back to win by a nose before galloping out a length or two in front of the nearest pursuer. Pedigree gets pretty obscure pretty quick, but decent mix of stamina and speed.
Palm Springs
Feb. 1, 7th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 82
1m, dirt, fast, 1:37.16
b.c.3, Uncle Mo–Sweet Bliss, by Street Cry
Owner: China Horse Club and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Wygod Equine
Million-dollar baby from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Sweet is the second foal to race from dam with modest accomplishments. Was odds-on sprinting in career debut, finishing a no-match-for-winner second, and watching this race you can see why he lost sprinting. Doesn’t have a ton of speed and is more grind than brilliant. Favorable trip and had to hold on to win a tight photo but still raced somewhat green and gives impression of colt with latent talent.
Sixto
Jan. 30, 5th race, Aqueduct, MdSpWt65k
Beyer: 81
6f, dirt, fast, 1:13.27
b.c.3, Curlin–Drift to the Lead, by Yonaguska
Owner: Southern Equine
Trainer: Eric Guillot
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich and John D. Fielding
Can see from the final time that this colt debuted over a tiring surface, something fairly common this winter at Aqueduct. Ignored on tote and lacked a lot of early gas while ridden to keep up down the backstretch, but once he changed leads past the quarter pole, colt with appealing way of going (if slightly high knee action) really leveled off nicely. Appealing finish from a prospect that ought to at least get a mile.
A complete list of maiden winners with 80+ Beyers since Nov. 2019 can be found here.