Breakout Beyers: Colton’s Command flies late

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

Colton’s Command

March 27, 1st race Gulfstream, MdSpWt45k

Beyer: 86

1M turf 1:34.82, 1st by 3 3/4 lengths

b. c. 3, Twirling Candy – Baublette, by Unbridled’s Song

Noteworthy siblings: None

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $75,000

Owner: NK Racing

Trainer: Bill Mott

Breeder: Merriebelle Stable

Trainer Bill Mott is having quite an early part of 2021, as is this colt’s sire, Twirling Candy. This five-figure yearling purchase clearly showed some morning zip since he went off at just 7-2 facing 11 foes in the Florida Derby card opener – and he definitely showed plenty in this, his career debut. Broke decently but rider took a hold to rate him from midpack, and Colton’s Command fell into a favorable spot, racing without anyone around him down the backstretch. Racing free of pressure from rivals can really benefit an inexperienced horse like this, but in any case, the jockey got an immediate response when he asked his mount to gain position around the far turn. At the quarter pole, Colton’s Command still was about four lengths behind the leader, which means he would run his final quarter-mile in roughly 22.80 seconds as he stormed to the front at the furlong grounds and widened to the wire. His rider, Junior Alvarado, mainly relied on a vigorous hand ride, only going to the stick for a tap or two, gearing the colt down the final 50 yards in one of the better 3-year-old maiden wins, turf or dirt, seen at this meet. Not a ton of black type in the close-up female family, but his fourth dam is the great Heavenly Prize. Pedigree aside, this colt is a real runner.

Mr. Wireless

March 27, 11th race Oaklawn, MdSpWt93k

Beyer: 87

1M 1:37.11, 1st by a nose

b. g. 3, Dialed In – Voissoir, by Arch

Noteworthy siblings: Ain’t No Elmers (Goldencents) – stakes-placed, $169K earnings

Auctions: None

Owner: John Kerber & Iveta Kerber

Trainer: Bret Calhoun

Breeder: JIL Stable

Won by a couple inches in a two-turn, short-stretch mile where running positions didn’t much change throughout. Mr. Wireless, who pressed from second, just edged longtime leader Stiletto Boy. He was a troubled fifth sprinting in lone previous start, a Fair Grounds sprint, improving 21 Beyer points from his first to second race. His 4-year-old sister, Ain’t No Elmers, so far has not fulfilled the ample potential she showed in her first few starts. This guy, already gelded, has the body of a sprinter-miler and goes nicely enough, and he kept to nearly a straight line (though pushed out very late when the place horse drifted off his own path) through the homestretch despite being under heavy pressure. The show horse, Cash Rocket, showed talent – he was second to another talented Calhoun 3-year-old, Run Classic, in February at Fair Grounds – and this could turn out to be a productive race.

Supremacy

March 27, 5th race Turfway, MdSpWt31k

Beyer: 80

6f Tapeta 1:10.25, 1st by 3/4 of a length

b. c. 3, Constitution – Nurse Donna, by Vindication

Noteworthy siblings: None

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $160,000

Owner: Twin Creeks Racing Stables, Ronald Ortyl, 4G Racing

Trainer: Brad Cox

Breeder: Brandywine Farm

Sleek, racy colt with plenty of speed. Lone previous start came last fall at Churchill, where he caught a sloppy track and went decently for fifth of 12, racing sans Lasix, which he added here in his 3-year-old debut. Broke slightly flat-footed under Florent Geroux but made a very quick move to go up and press the pacesetting favorite down the backstretch. An eye-catching, fast-twitch burst at the five-sixteenths pole took care of the leader, and though a horse came rolling late to make it fairly close at the finish – the winning margin looked more like a full length than three-quarters – Geroux already had wrapped up, and Supremacy reigned more supreme than the margin of victory. The dam, a low-level claimer, was a sprinter, same for this horse’s most successful sibling, Whole Scoop, so a stretch-out might not be in the cards.

My Sea Cottage

March 28, 9th race Gulfstream, MdSpWt45k

Beyer: 82

1M turf 1:34.94, 1st by 2 1/4 lengths

b. c. 3, Shalaa – Shim Sham, by Danehill Dancer

Noteworthy siblings: None

Auctions: Goffs Orby Sale 2019 – $70,490

Owner: Gary Barber

Trainer: Mark Casse

Breeder: Mubarak al Naemi

Required four starts to clear the maiden ranks, but to be fair, his debut came on dirt and this was only his second race around two turns. Has the look of a sprinter-miler type and wouldn’t expect him to enjoy much more distance than this. Seemed like he wanted to get a little strong into the first turn, but the jockey was able to settle him in second behind the speed. Collared the pacesetter easily enough in upper stretch but came home much more one-paced than, say, a true standout maiden performer like Colton’s Landing. Brings a pure Euro pedigree to the table.