Breakout Beyers: Chewed-up footing can’t contain Breaker of Chains

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

Breaker of Chains

Sept. 11, 2nd race Kentucky Downs, MdSpWt134k

Beyer: 89

1M turf 1:34.37 – 1st by 2 3/4 lengths

b. f. 3, Bernardini – Amansara, by War Chant

Noteworthy sibling: Siem Riep (Tapit) – stakes winner, $377K earnings, 96 Beyer; Grey Stark (Tapit) – 3-10 wins, $177K earnings, 89 Beyer

Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2018 – $30,000

Owner: Fergus Galvin, R.A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thoroughbreds, John Arenson, Alan LeFevre

Trainer: George Weaver

Breeder: Godolphin and Spartan Team Investments

American-bred filly sold for a song as a weanling, raced twice in Ireland for current part-owner Galvin, and ran a remarkable race here making her third start and U.S. debut. Broke better in her second race after a slow start in her debut but completely flubbed the break here spotting the rest of the field at least five lengths. Went from last going into the far turn to a contending fourth a quarter-mile later while losing a vast amount of ground coming widest and did so while still traveling well within herself. A temporary rail had been dropped for this card and the fresh ground along the inner paths appeared the best place to race, yet Breaker of Chains didn’t get off the worse, chewed-up part of the course until the final half-furlong, winning by open lengths, nonetheless. Was shipped overseas less than a month ago and this without question was a very promising American unveiling.

Kamui

Sept. 11, 9th race Los Alamitos Racecourse, MdSpWt46k

Beyer: 82

5.5f 1:03.04 – 1st by 6 lengths

b. c. 2, Quality Road – Chiding, by Blame

Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 – $400,000; Keeneland September yearling 2020 – $875,000 (RNA)

Owner: Baoma Corporation

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Breeder: Fred Hertrich and John Fielding

Was disqualified from second in lone previous start, a Del Mar maiden won by Forbidden Kingdom but in which this colt’s Baffert-trained stablemate Rhetoric almost certainly was best. No issues here as the 1-5 chalk. Broke alertly and raced head-and-head for the lead while on the outside of the pacesetting pair, took the speed rival’s measure before turning into Los Al’s extremely long homestretch, and widened to the wire in a very easy win. Initial stages of the gallop-out were fine, for what that’s worth, though the field did eventually catch him. Very pricey yearling-sale buyback and must have been quite the impressive young physical specimen since the pedigree is good, not great. Interesting that after Kamui’s 5 1/2-furlong debut, connections came back at the same distance. Encouraging start to career but might not be tip-top of the heap.

Yuugiri

Sept. 17, 10th race Churchill, MdSpWt120k

Beyer: 79

6f 1:09.55 – 1st by 7 1/4 lengths

b. c. 2, Shackleford – Yuzuru, by Medaglia d’Oro

Owner: Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara

Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset

Breeder: Sekie Yoshihara and Tsunebume Yoshihara

How fast has the Churchill main track been playing for this colt to go 1:09.55 and not even hit an 80 Beyer? Same with Cogburn, also on the list this week. Not just the final time, but Yuugiri pressed splits of 21.32 and 44.91, taking over from his pace rival at the quarter pole and gliding to the easiest of wins while under very little pressure. Homebred is all legs! Very long-legged colt with some powerful deep pedigree going to the third and fourth dam (Angelic Bay and Ballade, respectively). He’s the first foal from a dam who was a stakes-winning turf-route performer, and what makes this colt especially appealing is the super speed he showed coupled with a body type and bloodlines that suggest longer races could be his forte.

Cogburn

Sept. 16, 5th race Churchill, MdSpWt122k

Beyer: 82

6f 1:09.79 – 1st by 4 1/4 lengths

b. c. 2, Not This Time – In a Jif, by Saintly Look

Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 – $52,000; Fasig-Tipton select yearling 2020 – $310,000; OBS spring 2yo 2021 – $150,000

Owner: Clark Brewster, William Heiligbrodt, and Corinne Heiligbrodt

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Breeder: Bellary Bloodstock

Second-time starter debuted Aug. 21 at Saratoga, where he dueled on a hot pace and faded to a distant fourth behind My Prankster, who won by 10. No duel this time despite Cogburn breaking a half beat slow from the rail before flying to the front and opening a clear lead before the turn. Never came close to being seriously challenged and after cruising around the turn, he responded well to jockey encouragement at the three-sixteenths pole, switching leads a couple strides later than ideal, but then widening his advantage, victory entirely assured at the furlong grounds. His Indiana-bred dam was a pure sprinter, though her dam, Damie’s Peanut, is a successful Indiana broodmare who has produced offspring with a variety of capabilities. This colt, who has quite the unusual auction history, now has laid down very fast splits in both his starts and has the look of a sprinter. Worth noting the horses behind him were spread out all over the track.

Great Escape

Sept. 18, 5th race Churchill, MdSpWt120k

Beyer: 79

7f 1:22.75 – 1st by 2 1/4 lengths

b. c. 2, Midnight Storm – Chickasaw Gal, by Indian Charlie

Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 – $65,000; Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling 2020 – $200,000

Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm

Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset

Breeder: Usquebagh Stables

Second-time starter was bet to favoritism here off a solid second going six furlongs in career debut, appreciated the added furlong, and from all appearances should have no issue going farther into the fall. Sturdy-looking colt from a first-crop sire has the body type and stride of at least a middle-distance horse, and his dam, who raced only twice, won her career debut over one mile on turf. Raced in minimal equipment and was a little green after making the lead in upper stretch, wanting to cock his head toward the stands and lean out a bit, though the jockey was able to correct him with a few right-handed thumps.

El Pando

Sept. 15, 9th race Remington, MdSpWt33k

Beyer: 86

5f 57.74 – 1st by 8 3/4 lengths

b. c. 2, Outwork – Queen Negwer, by Speightstown

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton October yearling 2020 – $10,000; Texas 2yo 2021 – $80,000

Owner: Jaylan Renay Clary

Trainer: Jaylan Clary

Breeder: Mike Abraham

Not easy winning a five-furlong race by a margin this wide – and try to believe that El Pando at the three-sixteenths pole was only head-and-head for the lead after tracking the pace from third. The term “exploded” is kind of silly when applied to racehorses, but if ever there was a time to employ the word, this was it: He was launched from a cannon at the eighth pole, going his final furlong in 11.84 seconds, and won by a mile. He’s a big guy – to the extent I had to recheck the past performances to make sure I wasn’t looking at a 3-year-old maiden race. The dam raced as an allowance-class sprinter. Debuted in front bandages (for what that’s worth) and does seem to hit the ground pretty hard. Surely the subject of some private-purchase interest from a lesser-known owner and trainer.

Enbarr

Sept. 18, 8th race Los Alamitos, Capote S75k

Beyer: 78

6.5f 1:16.33 – 1st by 1 length

b. c. 2, Brody’s Cause – Star of Gallantry, by Warrior’s Reward

Noteworthy siblings: Carimba (Kantharos) – 3 wins from 5 starts, stakes-placed, 86 Beyer

Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 – $40,000; Fasig-Tipton October yearling 2020 – $200,000

Owner: Baoma Corporation

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Breeder: H. Allen Poindexter, Mark Toothaker, Denny Minnehan, Wynnstay

Second in his debut behind Pinehurst, who returned to win the Del Mar Futurity, Enbarr turned in a performance comparable to his first start while winning this restricted stakes. Just a four-horse field here and Enbarr broke sharply to engage two early pace rivals before being taken back off dueling leaders, one of which (eventual runner-up Montebello) is his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate. The front-runners spurted some five or six lengths clear into the turn before Enbarr was put into the game past the three-furlong marker, reaching contention quickly. Montebello, tiring and slow to change leads, was no match for Enbarr, who did require some time to push past while looking like a sure winner at the top of the homestretch. Solid victory but for now he’s a cut below the best 2-year-olds in his barn.