Breakout Beyers: Despite slower fig, final time, Justique shows more promise

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

Justique

July 31, 8th race Del Mar, MdSpWt82.5k

Beyer: 72

5 1/2 furlongs, 1:04.29 – 1st by 2 1/4 lengths

b. f. 2, Justify – Grazie Mille, by Bernardini

Noteworthy siblings: Mo Town (Uncle Mo, foaled 2014) – multiple graded-stakes winner, won G1 Hollywood Derby, $520K earnings

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 - $725,000

Owner: C R K Stable

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Breeder: John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock

This filly maiden-special race was considerably slower than Jackstown’s 5 1/2-furlong clocking to open the card, that despite the Bob Baffert-trained pacesetting 1-2 favorite Home Cooking blistering her opening quarter mile in 21.44 seconds, .99 seconds faster than Jackstown went. That said, the race did not fall apart, as the filly stalking in third finished second and Home Cooking held on for third, but it was very much a fast-early, slow-late race shape. That can make a deep closer like Justique look better than she is, and the Beyer didn’t come back anything special, but I’d still be bullish on this filly. She might have more natural speed than she showed, and she was last because of a slow start. Justique really launched herself into the thick of things past the half-mile pole, running the turn very athletically while showing off high-level handiness. She inhaled the leaders at the eighth pole and was throttled down to low gear well before the finish while showing the stride of a two-turn horse. Very interested to see where this goes.

Newgate

July 30, 6th race Del Mar, MdSpWt82k

Beyer: 80

5 1/2 furlongs, 1:03.89 – 1st by 3 1/2 lengths

b. c. 2, Into Mischief – Majestic Presence, by Majestic Warrior

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 - $850,000

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Breeder: Town and Country Horse Farms

One of several Baffert-trained first-timers over the weekend who went off at odds of 1-2, and he lived up to that price. An outside post led to a perfect pressing trip and the outcome here never looked in doubt, Newgate assuming control under mild urging and winning off mainly under his own courage. Initially swamped on the gallop-out having been geared down while others were being asked to finish, he perked back up again when passed and wound up galloping out in front, for whatever that’s worth. And it might be worth something. This colt ran pretty fast while not appearing to be going that quickly and did not give the impression of being merely a precocious sprinter – not at all, in fact.

Prank

July 31, 6th race Saratoga, MdSpWt105k

Beyer: 91

5 1/2 furlongs, 1:03.94 – 1st by 9 3/4 lengths

b. f. 2, Into Mischief – Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit

Noteworthy siblings: Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo, foaled 2019) – multiple graded-stakes winner, Belmont Stakes winner, $1.5 million earnings

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 - $500,000

Owner: StarLadies Racing, LNJ Foxwoods, Gainesway Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Breeder: Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stable

It’s hard to believe that this filly, who broke like a rocket, contested a strong pace (adjusted for speed of track), and ran away to a romping debut win in a short sprint is the sister of the colt who won the Belmont Stakes less than two months ago. Prank is the third foal to race from a dam who had a modest career but obviously is off to a roaring start as a broodmare. Did “they” like Prank first time out? They did. She was 1-2, and watching the two workout videos available online, one can see why. Her July 11 breeze, recorded as five furlongs, had at least a seven-furlong gallop-out, perhaps even a mile; the filly had a huge foundation under her to accompany the speed. After going well clear, she actually was hard ridden (why?) to the sixteenth pole, and one wonders if this race will take something out of her. I’m always suspicious of fast horses whose competent connections start them off in short sprints, but then, on the other hand, there’s the Belmont-winning brother. Lots of hype around this filly, that’s for sure. Try to imagine that her Beyer was a full 10 points lower than the sidelined 2-year-old filly Munnys Gold got for this same barn debuting June 17.

Jackstown

July 31, 1st race Del Mar, MdSpWt81.5k

Beyer: 82

5 1/2 furlongs, 1:03.47 – 1st by 1 1/4 lengths

ch. c. 2, Speightstown – No Name Needed, by Medaglia d’Oro

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 - $160,000

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Breeder: McCann Bloodstock, B J Scott, E D Richards, Mark Kelder, Speightstown Syndicate

Jackstown’s Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Massimo was the 4-5 favorite compared to 3-1 on this colt, but it was no contest between the two of them. Massimo chased and came under pressure while trying to keep up midway around the turn, while Jackstown led from the start and traveled on the bridle under no encouragement until upper stretch. He kicked home gamely, held clear a bid from a horse making his second start, and went on to win the gallop-out, and while this was just a 5 1/2-furlong dash, he had the look of a horse who can go farther. He’s the second foal to race from a dam who won her debut for a $40,000 tag, a somewhat surprising launch point for a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro.

Comanche County

July 30, 3rd race Del Mar, MdSpWt82.5k

Beyer: 70

1 mile, turf , 1:36.76 – 1st by three-quarters length

b. f. 2, Highland Reel – Honey Hunter, by Sharmardal

Owner: Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, Marsha Naify

Trainer: Phil D’Amato

Breeder: Honey Hunter Syndicate

Someone unearthed an Irish gem here. The filly raced in April and May at Naas in Ireland, and after a solid debut she showed little second time out. In her North American debut, Comanche County really popped. The final-time figure wasn’t great, but the pace was moderate and Comanche County after breaking alertly enough raced from fourth-last in a field of 10. She appears to be petite, but she raced with confidence, making multiple moves to establish position before finishing off the race with a far better turn of foot than any of her rivals could muster. Neither the dam nor her two other foals to race were anything like graded-stakes class, but they all wanted to go 10 furlongs and longer. This could be the best 2-year-old turf-route filly in California.

Be Your Best

July 31, 2nd race Saratoga

Beyer: 70

1 1/16 miles, turf, 1:43.97 – 1st by 3 1/4 lengths

b. f. 2, Muhaarar – Kamakura, by Medaglia d’Oro

Auctions: N/A

Owner: Michael Ryan

Trainer: Horacio De Paz

Breeder: St. Croix Bloodstock

Owner/breeder Mike Ryan has a handful of mares in Ireland, Kamakura among them, and bred this filly as St. Croix Bloodstock. Ryan held her out of a 2-year-old sale, he said, to try and support the dam - and support the dam Ireland-bred Be Your Best did in her debut. Rating along mid-pack, she came with a wide run around the turn and sustained it to the wire, going her final 2 1/2 furlongs in 29.17 seconds, looking a lot like a stakes horse in so doing.