Breakout Beyers: Bella Sofia modest in pedigree but has abundance of ability

Bella Sofia

May 6, 2nd race Belmont Park, MdSpWt90k

Beyer: 93

6f 1:09.69, 1st by 11 1/4 lengths

b. f. 3, Awesome Patriot – Love Contract, by Consolidator

Auctions: OBS 2yo & horses of racing age 2020 - $20,000

Owner: Michael Imperio, Vincent Scuderi, Sofia Soares, Gabrielle Farm, Mazel Stable

Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez

Breeder: Two Tone Farms

Who is the sire, Awesome Patriot, you ask? He’s a 13-year-old son of Awesome Again standing in Ohio, whose published 2020 stud fee was $2,500 and this filly’s 93 Beyer is the highest figure ever earned by one of his offspring, the previous top being 89. Some solid pedigree deeper into the female family, but, in any case, this filly went off at 8-1 and utterly dominated a Belmont sprint. She’s a larger, raw-boned looking horse who showed good gate speed, pressed the leader, took over in upper stretch and ran away to a blowout victory, albeit under pretty strong urging until the final 50 yards. Changed leads on cue and posted a legitimately fast time, and already has worked back. Easily the fastest North American maiden winner so far this May.

Southern District

May 14, 6th race Churchill Downs, MdSpWt97k

Beyer: 87

1 1/16M 1:43.13, 1st by 3 lengths

b. c. 3, Union Rags – Open Water, by Include

Noteworthy siblings: Raucous (Speightstown) – stakes winner, graded-stakes placed, $113K earnings

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Kentucky mixed 2018 - $295,000 RNA; Keeneland September yearling 2019 - $335,000

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm

Came out of two turf races to try dirt for the first time and, somewhat ironically, won a dirt race that was run like a turf race. Was tapped for speed out of the gate and stalked/pressed the pace while racing three paths wide around both turns. Opening half went in a tepid 49.74 after which Southern District turned in seriously negative splits, going his third quarter mile, mainly around the turn, in 23.83 seconds and his fourth quarter in a rapid 23.52. That means Southern District ran his second half-mile in 47.35 seconds, roughly 2.4 seconds faster than the opening half, which is pretty remarkable for an American dirt race. Already had this sewn up past the eighth pole after taking the lead at the head of the homestretch, got his final half-furlong in 6.04, and galloped out with bounding, energetic strides. Has an appealing way of going and this was a very nice forward move to graduate, the final-time figure obviously tamped down by the sluggish early pace. Second dam is by A.P. Indy and his third dam is the champion, Flanders. Plenty to like here.

Mr. Impossible

May 16, 6th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt61k

Beyer: 87

1M 1:36.77, 1st by 1 1/4 lengths

ch. c. 3, Munnings – Qaraaba, by Shamardal

Noteworthy siblings: Harvest Moon (Uncle Mo) – multiple graded-stakes winner, $383k earnings; Californiagoldrush (Cape Blanco) – graded-stakes winner, G1-placed, $322K earnings

Owner: Alice Bamford & Michael Tabor

Trainer: Simon Callaghan

Breeder: Alice Bamford

This colt debuted nicely in January with an encouraging second behind Concert Tour but in three subsequent sprints, the last of them on turf, failed to show much development. Two things changed at the same time for this start – blinkers off, first route – so it’s difficult to say exactly what propelled him to what was easily his best performance. Guess the colt’s speed, way he acted, and the sire – sprinter/miler leaning Munnings – convinced connections to keep him at one turn until this, but both noteworthy siblings are true route horses, and Mr. Impossible had no trouble staying this mile despite a demanding trip. Led into the first turn but was displaced on the engine by the horse with whom he’d eventually battle to the wire. Jockey Umberto Rispoli held his position along the fence, keeping the leader from clearing and crossing over, while allowing a couple other horses to stack up outside Mr. Impossible. At about the quarter-pole, Rispoli asked his mount to engage the leader, which he did, willingly, sticking his head in front before the eighth pole and gradually drawing away. Was more than nine lengths back to third in what seemed a solid performance from the top two, the winner especially.

Demodog

May 15, 3rd race Churchill Downs, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 84

1M turf 1:36.21, 1st by three-quarters length

b. c. 3, American Pharoah – Turn the Tide, by Theatrical

Noteworthy siblings: Black Tide (Hold Me Back) – multiple stakes winner, $563k earnings; Avanzare (Grand Reward) – multiple graded-stakes winner, $574k earnings

Auctions: None

Owner: Donato Lanni & John Youngblood

Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset

Breeder: Lanni Bloodstock & Westport Management

Have to give plenty of credit to jockey Chris Landeros, who was able to help this first-time starter overcome his intemperate instincts during the early stages of this two-turn turf mile. Broke on top from the fence and made the lead comfortably through a moderate opening quarter mile, throwing his head a bit, fighting mildly to run faster than the jockey desired. Demodog never really got in a wrestling match with Landeros, keeping his ears pricked while still slightly over-racing onto the backstretch, but Landeros had subtly slowed his pace, the half-mile going in a slow 49.45. Could Demodog do something with the tactical edge thus established? Yes, indeed. Quickened somewhat around the far turn and really unleashed a strong burst in the stretch, getting his final quarter mile in 22.42 seconds, never looking like anything but a winner. Was withdrawn from a sale and had posted a host of workouts last summer at Woodbine before connections stopped on him. Encouraging unveiling, for sure.