Breakout Beyers: Distance suits Envoutante

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

ENVOUTANTE

April 2, 7th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt38k
Beyer: 95
1 1/16M, dirt fast, 1:43.51, 1st by 6 ½ lengths
b. f. 3, Uncle Mo-Enchante, by Bluegrass Cat
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland Sept. yearling 2018 - $250,000
Owner: Walking L. Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Breeder: Jumping Jack Racing

Good in a two-turn turf mile to start debut, good in a one-turn dirt mile her second start, and really impressive here going two turns on dirt for the first time. Dueled inside on a strong pace, putting away her pace rival before the top of the homestretch. Yes, she was ridden along as far out as the three-furlong pole and came under strong urging to forge to the front, but this filly had plenty left in the final stages. She was slow to change leads, finally doing so 12 strides before the finish, and after pulling quickly away through the final half furlong, she galloped out a mile in front, noteworthy given how quickly she’d gone in the early and middle stages. Strong stakes prospect now.

CANDY MACHINE

April 3, 6th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt38k
Beyer: 95
1 1/16M, dirt fast, 1:43.31, 1st by ¾
b.c.3, Candy Ride-Viva Carina, by Giant’s Causeway
Noteworthy siblings: Sultry (foaled 2015) – won Spendthrift Juvenile Stallion S.
Auctions: Keeneland Sept. yearling 2018 - $475,000
Owner: Peter Brant and Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm

Very encouraging second career start following a solid sprint debut, though, to be fair, the runner-up in this race, Or’effice, might well have won with a better trip. Or’effice was full of run at the quarter pole when trapped inside a horse pressing Candy Machine and stuck behind the latter, and an attempt turning for home to squeeze Or’effice through a narrow gap between Candy Machine and the rail ended badly. Candy Machine, who raced along the inside while pressed for the first five furlongs by a longshot, opened up as Or’effice was checked and lost momentum, and the runner-up was gaining good ground on the winner the final furlong. The top two finished more than seven lengths clear of the show horse and Candy Machine ceded race experience to Or’effice. He appears, like many Candy Rides, to be of moderate size with a nice, efficient stride and a dangerous mix of stamina and speed.

EVER DANGEROUS

April 2, 9th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt38k
Beyer: 81
1 1/16M, turf firm, 1:41.76, 1st by 4 lengths
b.c.3, Kitten’s Joy – The Rahy Angel, by Rahy
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland Sept. yearling 2018 - $135,000
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and R.A. Hill Stable
Trainer: George Weaver
Breeder: Knowles Bloodstock

Very well prepared for career debut at two turns on turf by Weaver. Jockey had to tap on brakes as the top pair scrummed for the lead into the first turn, but the trip wound up working out very well. No blinkers, no shadow roll, no problem accelerating nicely around the far turn and finishing the job with a final-furlong push in a decidedly above-average unveiling.