Breakout Beyers: Control proves to be bargain

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

Control

July 25, 4th race Ellis Park, MdSpWt51k

Beyer: 83

5.5f 1:04.17 – 1st by 2 1/2 lengths

ch. f. 2, Creative Cause – Circumstance, by Vindication

Noteworthy siblings: Absolutely Stylish (Uncle Mo) – stakes winner; Hoffenheim (Midnight Lute) – stakes-places, $263K earnings

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton select yearling 2020 - $38,000 (RNA); Fasig-Tipton November yearling 2020 - $4,000

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Breeder: Olin B. Gentry

Talk about falling through the cracks. Note the $38,000 reserve that wasn’t attained in the first yearling sale she went through, and even more so the $5,000 for which she sold later in 2020 – next to a giveaway. Was withdrawn from a 2-year-old sale earlier this year, and don’t know how she wound up with Eclipse, but this filly can run. This was far from the standard “show speed and finish it off” 2-year-old debut performance that often wins these short sprints. Control lacked gate speed, and after a furlong she was last in this group. The rider sat chilly and his mount raced accordingly, moving up bit by bit past the half-mile pole and into the turn to get into decent striking position. Swung wide before the quarter pole, the filly readily joined the fray, dueled with odds-on Brad Cox-trained first-time-starting favorite Juju’s Map past the furlong grounds, but put that filly away while still going well within herself. It was eight lengths from second to third in a very sharp performance from Control, who very much looks like a horse who will at least handle longer one-turn tests.

Murray

July 25, 2nd race DMR, MdSpWt70k

Beyer: 78

5.5f 1:04.37 – 1st by 10 3/4 lengths

b. c. 2, Street Sense – Not Now, by Tiznow

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $300,000

Owner: Golconda Stables, Madaket Stables, SF Racing, Siena Farm, Starlight Racing

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Breeder: Kim Nardelli, William Nardelli, William Werner

Wasn’t even close to being favored here – whoops – as Drink the Wind, trained by Peter Miller, was just over even-money making his career debut. Drink the Wind made the lead here as Murray and Flavien Prat broke on top but settled into a stalking position from second. Blinkers and a shadow roll for Murray – standard operating Baffert procedure – and the colt traveled comfortably enough, starting to go after the leader at the three-furlong pole, collaring him before the quarter pole, and meeting very little resistance from the chalk, who wound up last. Maybe with Drink the Wind doing little running there just wasn’t much to this race, because Murray went farther and farther clear while under nearly no pressure. You’d think a nearly 11-length pasting in a DMR MSW would produce something higher than a 78 Beyer, which is good, not great, but, again, the competition might’ve flattered the winner. The colt keeps his head down, goes pretty low to the ground, and on pedigree and appearance definitely looks like one to go on at longer distances.

Dance to the Music

July 24, 7th race Del Mar, MdSpWt71k

Beyer: 77

5.5f 1:04.44 – 1st by 4 3/4 lengths

ch. f. 2, Maclean’s Music – Beautified, by Congrats

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $40,000; OBS spring 2yo 2021 - $575,000

Owner: Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal

Trainer: Mark Glatt

Breeder: George Krikorian

Whoosh. Straight to the front from an outside draw and was clear in the blink of an eye, no rival ever really coming close to her. Can be hard to rate this type of performance beyond the obvious – that the filly is very fast. How would she act if challenged? Can she rate? Go between horses? Run athletically? Can’t say, but speed is a very positive characteristic in a young horse, and that she has. The definition of a home run as a pinhook, fetching more than 14 times her yearling auction price at a 2-year-old sale. There’s some stamina on the female side, but quickness could prove her forte.

Girl With a Dream

July 24, 6th race Ellis Park, MdSpWt45k

Beyer: 72

5f 57.06 – 1st by 6. 3/4 lengths

ch. f. 2, Practical Joke – Henley, by Corinthian

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $115,000

Owner: Jim Bakke

Trainer: Brad Cox

Breeder: Machmer Hall and D J Racing Stable

The first crop from Practical Joke off to a nice start, and this filly was more impressive than her Beyer Speed Figure. Bet down to 6-5 for her debut, she broke sharply from post 10 and pressed the leader, passing willingly in upper stretch and running by herself to the wire. She came under some urging from Florent Geroux when asked to leave the pace rival behind, but once clear she finished under her own courage and was geared down the final 30 yards, victory well in hand. Debuted in a short sprint but has a pretty nice reaching stride that should take her places.

Sonnyisnotfunny

July 25, 3rd race Ellis Park, MdSpWt50k

Beyer: 77

5f 58.17 – 1st by 8 3/4 lengths

b. c. 2, American Freedom – Never Quicker, by Hennessy

Noteworthy siblings: Baccarat Fashion (Old Fashioned) - $210K earnings

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling 2020 - $37,000; FTI spring 2yo 2021 - $65,000

Owner: Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso

Trainer: Mike Maker

Breeder: Sally Thomas and New Dawn Stable

Mike Maker, not historically known for his work with first-time starters, had a couple debut winners during the week, including this little fellow. Can see why they ran him five furlongs first time out. He’s quite the compact model, and after breaking well, showed a lot of early speed. Raced wide and in the clear into the homestretch, and when the favorite tried to come outside him for a challenge, Sonny kicked away and drew off to a very easy victory. Rapid stride turnover and modest size hint he could be an early developer who wouldn’t want much more than six furlongs, but we shall see.