Breakout Beyers: Business Model has potential to outperform past efforts

Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.

Business Model

June 13, 10th race Churchill, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 89

1 mile 1:34.53, 1st by 2 lengths

b. c. 3, Candy Ride – Innovative Idea, by Bernardini

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Breeder: Godolphin

Colt made three starts at age 2 and after a tepid sprint debut showed a hint of spark in a pair of two-turn contests, but those were nothing like this performance. Whether through maturation, the addition of Lasix, or some combination of the two, Business Model came back an entirely new model in 2021. Racing in a bit of traffic, then coming wide in this one-turn mile, he rated comfortably for his jockey until being asked to move on the turn, then came with a sharp run to reach contention and a stretch punch that easily finished off what seemed like a solid group of nine rivals, though one horse ran riderless after dumping his jockey. Visually impressive, both the acceleration, the sustained run, and the way the colt travels: He has a smooth, straight, efficient stride, a good mover with gears. No “noteworthy siblings” but is the first foal to race from his dam, a graded stakes-winning sprinter-miler type who’s a sister to graded stakes-winning turf route horse Lucullan.

Candy Landing

June 11, 4th race Churchill, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 70

5 1/2f 1:03.61, 1st by 4 1/2 lengths

b. c. 2, Twirling Candy – Pearl Bay, by Rush Bay

Owner: Mueller Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Breeder: Mueller Thoroughbreds

Quick racing surface, but here we had a 17-1 first-timer from trainer Brendan Walsh, hardly a hotbed of live 2-year-old debut runners, going head and head through fractions of 21.57 and 44.57 with 2-1 Steve Asmussen-trained second-time starter Woodline. Yet it was Candy Landing on the outside who began pulling away at the three-sixteenths pole, extending her advantage to the wire in a strong performance for a 2-year-old this early in the year. Good gate speed and the body language said he was really into the race from the start, and this kind of speed and precocity will take a young horse a long way, at least through the end of August. Obviously did just fine on dirt, but the high knee action is typically associated with turf horses, and the colt is made narrowly through his front legs to the extent his ankles come close to touching while he’s in full stride. Homebred is not long on pedigree (confession: had barely even heard of the dam’s sire) but fast is fast, right?

Miles D

June 12, 2nd race Belmont, MdSpWt90k

Beyer: 85

1 mile 1:36.94, 1st by 2 1/4 lengths

b. c. 3, Curlin – Sound of Trumpets, by Bernardini

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $450,000

Owner: Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta

Trainer: Chad Brown

Breeder: River Bend Farm

One start at age 2, in a very productive October maiden race at Belmont, which produced subsequent stakes winners Caddo River and Greatest Honour, and in which he was a close, encouraging fourth. Long wait for the second outing, but colt showed he has grown up and improved in what was a very nice win that to the eye probably exceeded the 85 Beyer. Fifth going to the half-mile pole while racing along the rail, he was angled to the two path by Joel Rosario, coming willingly between rivals to get into the heart of the action past the three-furlong pole and heading toward the head of the homestretch. Racing as the middle part of an equine sandwich didn’t bother Miles D, who was only under a hand ride until he straightened for the wire and didn’t require much real encouragement to draw away from his rivals. First foal to race from an unraced sister to champion Storm Flag Flying, and really thought I could see that great Phipps family (tracing to My Flag and Personal Ensign) in the way he strode out when asked to go on and win. Should get two turns with a good chance to improve at a longer trip. Not a huge number, and it’s getting late for 3-year-olds, but seemingly some substance here.

Beyond Brilliant

June 13, 4th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt79k

Beyer: 87

1 mile 1:37.62, 1st by 7 lengths

b. c. 3, Twirling Candy – Summer on the Lawn, by First Defence

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $50,000 RNA; Fasig-Tipton spring 2yo 2020 – $200,000

Owner: C R K Stable

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Breeder: Fred Hertrich, John Fielding, and Robert Tribbett

Two turf sprints to start career, but this was his second dirt mile, which appears to be a much better trip for the colt. Lost two back to Mr Impossible, who didn’t exactly cover himself in glory last weekend in the Affirmed Stakes, and might not have improved much in this start either, benefitting from making a clear, easy lead while facing just four foes. Appealing enough way of going and made the most of the favorable setup but have to wonder if the ceiling is not especially high.

Atomic Drop

June 13, 8th race Santa Anita, California-bred MdSpWt61k

Beyer: 88

6f 1:09.16, 1st by 8 lengths

b. g. 3, Mucho Macho Man – Always Sweet, by Street Sense

Auctions: Santa Anita Fall Yearling 2019 – $45,000

Owner: Little Red Feather Racing Enterprises

Trainer: Phil D’Amato

Breeder: Richard Barton Enterprises & Robert Traynor

Well, he did run pretty fast, but there are caveats. Showed some speed, not like this, in two dirt sprints to start career, after which he tried nine furlongs on turf, fading off the pace. Made the front comfortably in this start but seemed to immediately lose focus (turned head, not running straight) and waited for another horse to come lead. Seized command again past the three-furlong marker and dominated the race from there as the favorite totally failed to fire. Races in a big shadow roll and blinkers, which is fine, but the head carriage is too high, and his legs go all over the place. Can’t deny the effectiveness of the total package here but in circumstances more demanding than a California-bred maiden things might not come as easily.