Breakout Beyers: Calibrate impresses on debut

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

Calibrate

Aug. 15, 5th race, Saratoga, MdSpWt72k
Beyer: 80
6 1/2f, 1:17.55, 1st by 4 1/2 lengths
b. c. 2, Distorted Humor–Glamor and Style, by Dynaformer
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $340,000
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Don Alberto Thoroughbreds

Bet to 2-1 favoritism and had to endure a demanding trip for a first-timer, prevailing nonetheless with speed to spare. Like so many Asmussen-trained firsters, this colt broke alertly and got right into the race, but while showing speed he got pinned down along the fence with, at different points, one or two rivals stacked to his outside. Rather than suck out of the spot, Calibrate held position nicely, responding to aggressive encouragement at the three-sixteenths pole to pull steadily away. Good B+ level debut from a colt who, interestingly, is bred top and bottom (bottom especially) for the grass.

Inject

Aug. 15, 5th race, Ellis Park, MdSpWt46k
Beyer: 82
5f, 57.67, 1st by 6 lengths
b. f. 2, Frosted–Appealing Zophie, by Successful Appeal
Noteworthy siblings: Ride a Comet (Candy Ride) – Multiple SW, G2 winner; Tapwrit (Tapit) – Multiple GSW (Belmont S.)
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $390,000
Owner: Louis Wright
Trainer: Stanley Hough
Breeder: My Meadowview

This 2-year-old filly, from Frosted’s first crop, might be really good. Yes, this was merely a five-furlong dash, but her three-quarter brother Tapwrit won the Belmont Stakes. Didn’t break on top but had an eye-catching burst through the first half-furlong to get into a pressing position, and at 7-1 in her career debut, she buzzed past the 3-1 pacesetter in upper stretch like that filly was going backward, which she wasn’t. The good gallop-out (she was reined in fairly quickly around the turn, seemingly by design) offered a further sign she can effectively get a middle distance at some point this year. A proverbial “hits the ground hard” way of going, but she does reach out and cover a lot of distance with every stride. Very interesting prospect.

Cantata

Aug. 16, 1st race, Saratoga, MdSpWt72k
Beyer: 74
6 1/2f, 1:18.12, 1st by 10 1/2 lengths
b. f. 2, Medaglia d’Oro–Stoweshoe, by Flatter
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $950,000
Owner: Stonestreet Stables
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Doug Branham and Felicia Branham

This filly’s Beyer falls below the 80 threshold typically required to make the list, but we’ll let her in since she’s a 2-year-old. This was a relatively slow week for truly high figures in maiden races, and she ran like a horse with a future. Stonestreet sure thought she had a future when they paid just shy of a million bucks for her as a yearling. She’s the second foal from a stakes-winning dam who’s a sister to Grade 1-winning Taris, whose best trip might have been seven furlongs. Cantata looked like she can get that trip and a second turn, as well, after sitting third here, roaring to the front while under hand urging in upper stretch, and drawing away impressively under only light urging. Important to note – the impressive part was more to the eye than on the clock (and figure), and while she seems capable of improving, the number no doubt does not match the visual.

Adare

Aug. 15, 2nd race, Del Mar, MdSpWt55k
Beyer: 84
6 1/2 furlongs, 1:16.12, 1st by 2 1/4 lengths
b. c. 4, Medaglia d’Oro–Ocean Goddess, by Stormy Atlantic
Noteworthy siblings: Ocean Knight (Curlin) – G3 winner, Nero (Pioneerof the Nile) – $234K earnings
Auctions: Entered in and withdrawn from two sales
Owner: Thoro-Bred Stables
Trainer: Neil Drysdale
Breeder: Thoro-Bred Stables

This colt began posting published works in autumn of his 2-year-old season but only made his first start as a 4-year-old this summer. Solid dirt-sprint debut, showed much less second out in a turf route, and broke through comfortably when back to a dirt sprint. The usual caveats regarding 4-year-old maidens apply. Professional stalk-and-pounce trip with an outside rally and won going away, but at his age, in his third start, and at this Beyer Figure, he looks more like a future allowance horse than stakes performer.

Robin Sparkles

Aug. 13, 5th race, Saratoga, MdClm40k
Beyer: 90
5 1/2f, turf, 1:01.43, 1st by 4 3/4 lengths
b. f. 3, Elusive Quality–My Sparky, by Dehere
Noteworthy siblings: none
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton preferred Saratoga yearling 2019 – $30,000
Owner: Michael Schrader
Trainer: Bruce Brown
Breeder: Hibiscus Stables

Only maiden Beyer of the week to hit the 90 mark came in a $40,000 maiden-claimer, but this filly won’t be in for a tag next time (will she?) after this sizzling second-start maiden score. Flew out of the gate and set a wicked pace that took no toll at all, as she cruised across the wire nearly five clear. Is there class and quality to come close to the raw display of speed? Hard to say, but for the class level, this was several orders of magnitude above par.