Breakout Beyers: Doctor Jeff easy as he pleases
Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Doctor Jeff
July 10, 1st race Belmont, MdSpWt87k
Beyer: 78
6f 1:10.70 – 1st by 2 1/4 lengths
ch. c. 2, Street Boss – Wild Bea, by Wild Rush
Noteworthy siblings: Flattering Bea (Flatter) – multiple stakes winner, $441k earnings; Queen of Beas (Flatter) – graded stakes-placed, $181k earnings;
Auctions: Keeneland Sept. yearling 2020 - $90,000
Owner: Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Breeder: James Arrison
Debuted at odds of 13-10 in an off-turf sprint so the dirt works must have been encouraging enough, and even in a field watered down by the surface switch, this was an eye-catching performance. Was ridden some out of the gate to make the lead, but that was the only time this colt was asked during the easiest of wins, as he was totally geared down the final furlong and all but eased across the wire. Loved the way his ears perked right up when the jock took his foot off the pedal – this horse was looking for more competition. Somewhat long-legged with a stride and body hinting he could go a middle distance. And as good as he was on the main track, the stallion is an ace grass sire (turf sprints especially) and the female family is loaded with turf influences, and in the end, he might be even better on grass.
Verylittlecents
July 11, 2nd race Ellis Park, MdSpWt50k
Beyer: 69
5f 57.41 (good) – 1st by 2 1/4 lengths
b. f. 2, Goldencents – Pinch Me, by Arch
Noteworthy siblings: Bold Thirst (Stay Thirsty) – stakes-placed, $105,000 earnings
Auctions: Keeneland January all ages 2020 - $50,000; OBS March 2yo 2021 - $95,000 RNA
Owner: Randy Patterson
Trainer: Randy Morse
Breeder: Kellie Holland, Tim Holland, Ramon Rangel
Second-time starter had been fourth first out in the Churchill Downs maiden race won by Saratoga stakes-bound Pretty Birdie, and that race seems to be coming back all right. Liked this filly better than her relatively modest debut number. She ran on the lead while inside and under pressure the entire trip, briefly getting headed as the leaders turned for home, but under a left-handed crop she pulled clear through the final furlong and looked pretty darn good crossing the wire with her ears up. Galloped out far in front, and this distance likely was short of her best. She has an easy, efficient action. Further improvement seems likely.
Fourteeneightyfour
July 5, 3rd race Delaware, MdSpWt40k
Beyer: 70
5f 58.62 – 1st by 9 lengths
b. c. 2, Straight Fire – It’s High Time, by Gone Astray
Owner: Jimenez Valentin
Trainer: Baltazar Galvan
Breeder: Straight Fire LLC
First-timer went off at 52-1 and won like breaking sticks. Started from the rail, sat third behind two leaders while racing along the fence, was tipped to the no. 3 path into the far turn, and at the three-eighths pole he ran past the pair in front of him like they were tied to a post. Went far clear past the quarter pole and when the jockey looked back and saw nothing close to him, Fourteeneightyfour was ridden out to the wire. Quite the victory for a horse totally dismissed in the wagering. He’s the first winner from five runners for his little-known sire, and while the female family is blue collar for sure, his dam was a Florida-bred stakes winner who banked well over $200,000, and his second dam is a sister to Grade 1-winning sprinter Black Seventeen. Didn’t see any huge conformation flaws on the race video and he surely came back to the winner’s circle with a “for sale” sign on him.
Water’s Edge
July 10, 4th race Belmont, MdSpWt (NY-bred)75k
Beyer: 92
6.5f 1:15.91 (good) – 1st by 3 1/4 lengths
b. c. 3, Candy Ride – Sandra, by Bluegrass Cat
Owner: Empire Equines
Trainer: David Donk
Breeder: Empire Equines
Older New York-bred maidens not exactly fertile ground for breakout maiden winners, but this was a good Beyer, New York-bred maiden or not, and this second-time starter had run well enough in his debut to suggest the figure here is valid. Good speed but goes along kindly enough and given the pedigree (turf route influence all over the bottom) he ought to be able to run farther, though the fact he wasn’t allowed to gallop out much after drawing away late means we got little clue from the post-finish performance. Hardly has star potential, but New York-bred stakes competition could be within his scope.
Bourbon’s Hope
July 9, 4th race Belmont, MdSpWt (NY-bred)74k
Beyer: 70
5.5f 1:04.87 (sloppy) – 1st by 3 lengths
ch. g. 2, Exaggerator – Paz the Bourbon, by Mission Impazible
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton fall mixed 2019 - $35,000
Owner: Charlton Baker and Francis Paolangeli
Trainer: Charlton Baker
Breeder: SF Bloodstock
Leggy if not especially large 2-year-old firster showed decent speed pressing the leader, took over in upper stretch, fended off even-money favorite – another first-timer – in a solid if unspectacular victory over fellow New York-breds. Only stakes winner in three generations is Vinceremos, who won the Sam Davis at Tampa Bay, a two-turn 3-year-old stakes, but probably topped out as a seven-furlong type at heart.
Nineties Country
July 11, 6th race Ellis, MdSpWt51k
Beyer: 65
7f 1:22.88 (good) – 1st by 1 1/4 lengths
b. c. 2, Connect – Majestic Singer, by Majestic Warrior
Noteworthy siblings: Strong Will (Strong Mandate) – stakes placed, 94 Beyer, $150K earnings, $775,000 2yo purchase
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 - $65,000 RNA; Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $75,000 RNA; OBS March 2yo 2021 - $90,000
Owner: Flurry Racing Stable, Starsky Weast, David Flannigan
Trainer: Brad Cox
Breeder: Golden Pedigree LLC
Twice failed to meet reserve at auction before finally getting sold as a 2-year-old this past spring. Third in Churchill debut and really had to work to get it done here as the even-money favorite, putting away an inside pace rival who appeared to have gotten the better of Nineties Country at the furlong grounds before flattening out. Solid looking but less than a top-tier prospect off this.