Breakout Beyers: Baffert adds another quick juvenile with Arabian Lion
Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Arabian Lion
Oct. 9, 6th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt62k
Beyer: 92
6 furlongs 1:09.78 – 1st by 3 lengths
b. c. 2, Justify – Unbound, by Distorted Humor
Auctions: OBS spring 2-year-old 2022 – $600,000
Owner: Zedan Racing
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Bonne Chance Farm
First-time starter broke slightly inward but recovered to set the pace, going his first quarter in 21.96, obviously the fastest in the race, and coming home his final furlong in 12.42, also the fastest in the race. His Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Elwood Blues tried to turn up the heat at the quarter pole, but Arabian Lion was going easy around the turn while also going fast and had plenty left, winning as much the best before quickly being geared down on the gallop-out. What can one say at this point? Baffert has collected a group of 2-year-old colts this year that is amazingly talented. Arabian Lion’s third dam is the great Personal Ensign, and while his dam and second dam have not been an elite wing of the family, his brother Malibu Star got a 90 Beyer in his third start before failing to further develop and winding up a claiming horse. The dam was a sprinter who did most of her racing in Japan before coming to America for two dirt sprint stakes starts in 2014.
Blessed Touch
Oct. 8, 4th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt62k
Beyer: 90
1st by 8 3/4 lengths – 6f 1:10.17
b. f. 2, Girvin – Blushing Touch, by Street Boss
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $32,000; OBS spring 2-year-old 2022 – $140,000
Owner: Pierre Jean Amestoy, Leslie Amestoy, Roger K. Beasley
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Breeder: Brereton Jones
Well, that was impressive. Missed the break in her Del Mar debut and was last of 10 before putting in a sneaky little late run for fifth, but here, her speed shined bright. She made the lead and laid down wicked splits, a 44.56 half-mile proving far too much for the favored Bob Baffert-trained first-time starter Riley G, who chased and was off the bridle before the quarter pole, tiring to fourth. There was no tiring from Blessed Touch, who went strongly to the finish (12.90 final furlong – good for a fast-paced 2-year-old maiden race) and proceeded to gallop out even farther in front. Is that a red herring, though, regarding her ability to stretch out? Yet another flashy juvenile from the first crop of Girvin, but the dam’s side tilts pretty strongly toward sprinting.
Frank’s Honor
Oct. 1, 7th race Churchill, MdSpWt122k
Beyer: 82
1 1/16M 1:44.35 – 1st by 5 lengths
b. c. 2, Honor Code – Kidoro, by Medaglia d’Oro
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $60,000
Owner: Dell Ridge Farm
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Breeder: Dell Ridge Farm
The Beyer pattern from Frank’s Honor’s three starts, going from six furlongs to a one-turn mile to this 1 1/16-mile true route: 45-66-82. That’s a classic improvement pattern from a horse meant to run long, and this looks like a classic, strong-galloping type of stamina-laden colt – you know, a Belmont Stakes horse. Not saying he’s that good, but this particular race was pretty good. Broke from post 1 and eternally underrated jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. patiently eased his mount into the lead by the first turn. Frank’s Honor stayed cool when taking some backstretch pressure as horses stacked to his outside, and when he came into the homestretch, Hernandez still hadn’t moved on him. His was no electric turn of foot, but after the rider encouraged him – he got but one pop of the crop – he pulled steadily clear to the wire and galloped out well in front. This is the first foal from a winless dam, and he was entered and withdrawn from a 2-year-old auction. Most of the broodmare sires going back in the pedigree -- Medaglia d’Oro, Broad Brush, Cox’s Ridge – are sources of a plethora of stamina.
Good Sam
Oct. 2, 1st race, Belmont at Aqueduct, MdSpWt95k
Beyer: 81
6 1/2 furlongs (sloppy) 1:17.28 – 1st by 4 3/4 lengths
b. f. 2, Good Samaritan – Twizzler, by Twirling Candy
Noteworthy siblings: Zanado (Mineshaft – foaled 2017) – stakes-placed, $114K earnings
Auctions: Keeneland January all ages 2021 – $110,000; Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $310,000
Owner: Peter Brant
Trainer Chad Brown
Breeder: Maccabee Farm
The filly must’ve put forth a great physical impression to fetch so much money at auction, since she’s by a $7,500 stallion and out of a mare who did little on the track and has not yet produced a horse of note. She won this career debut by nearly five lengths, and it could have been more had the rider not eased her to the wire after Good Sam showed a nice upper stretch turn of foot to turn a modest lead she’d established right out of the gate into a wide advantage. Speed on a sloppy track means to some extent you have to take the performance with a grain of salt. Has the body type of a sprinter-miler. Did a lot right before swapping back to the “wrong” lead in midstretch.
Fashionably Fab
Oct. 9, 2nd race Woodbine, MdSpWt/Md40K
Beyer: 88
7 furlongs 1:22.38 – 1st by 11 1/4 lengths
b. c. 2, Silent Name – Flashy’s Legacy, by Curlin
Noteworthy siblings: Souper Flashy (Souper Speedy – foaled 2019) – multiple stakes-placed, $145K earnings
Owner: Terra Racing
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Breeder: Terra Farms
Hesitate to put too much stock into this, since the second-time starter made an easy lead and this wasn’t even a straight maiden race, but he won by a pole while not asked for very much and if nothing else could turn into a Canadian-bred stakes horse. Failed to change leads the entire stretch – not that it mattered. Improved stretching to seven furlongs from 5 1/2 and looked like he could comfortably handle a middle distance. Only sibling to race was a very useful Woodbine horse.