Breakout Beyers: Essential Quality’s sibling impresses in second start

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

Famed

Oct. 30, 10th race Keeneland, MdSpWt83k

Beyer: 84

About 7f (Beard course), sloppy track, 1:28.42 – 1st by 7 3/4 lengths

b. f. 2, Uncle Mo – Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality

Noteworthy siblings: Essential Quality (Tapit) – multiple G1 winner, champion, $4.76 million earnings

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Breeder: Godolphin

Her 3-year-old brother, now off to stud, had a pretty decent run. This filly was bet to short favoritism debuting at Churchill but was beaten by Sweet Dani Girl, who came right back to capture a listed Keeneland dirt-sprint stakes. Cox and Godolphin stretched Famed from six furlongs to an extended seven furlongs at Keeneland, where Famed had to overcome the rail post and a very wet track. She showed enough speed to vie for a contested lead and caught at least a little break when the pace-presser blew the turn and bore out before the five-sixteenths pole. That left Famed alone, and while she didn’t corner perfectly and failed to change leads until the sixteenth pole, she drew clear for an easy win. An obvious two-turn prospect but will note the “difficult” stride action especially involving her right front leg.

Radio Days

Oct. 31, 4th race Belmont, MdSpWt90k

Beyer: 81

6f, sloppy track, 1:11.64 – 1st by 1 1/2 lengths

b. f. 2, Gun Runner – Remembered, by Sky Mesa

Noteworthy siblings: Bowie’s Hero (Artie Schiller) – multiple G1 winner, $1.6 million earnings

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 – $750,000

Owner: Allen Stable

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Breeder: Hinkle Farms

The filly was 9-5 for her career debut, which means “they” liked her off the training visuals and timing. Not a standard debut-winning 2-year-old by any means as she broke a half-step slow and wound up several lengths behind the pacesetter while stalking on the outside. Lost a lot of ground on the turn but responded before the three-furlong marker when asked by her rider to get some position. Came five paths wide into the homestretch and by then had gotten head and head for the lead, and after some competitive racing to the furlong grounds, Radio Days drew away to win decisively, holding if not widening her advantage through the gallop-out. She was by no means a flashy winner, nor does she possess a big, long stride, but she did travel efficiently enough. Her sibling Bowie’s Hero was very much a grass horse and there’s more turf deeper in the pedigree, but with a debut dirt win and an 81 Beyer, she’s sure to be given every chance on the main track in coming months. Yet another horse to make this list by the mighty first-crop sire, Gun Runner.

Marissa’s Lady

Oct. 31, 11th race Churchill, MdSpWt131k

Beyer: 85

6f 1:10.18 – 1st by a head

gr. f. 2, Violence – Marissa’s Joy, by Cee’s Tizzy

Noteworthy siblings: Richard’s Boy (Idiot Proof) – multiple stakes winner, $1 million earnings

Owner: Harold Tillema/Pamela Tillema and Ron Boone Family Trust

Trainer: William Morey

Breeder: Boone Family Trust and Tillema Family Trust

Won by just a head but the place horse finished nearly seven lengths clear of show in a race that had 11 runners, so the margin of victory carries little weight beyond showing this filly has some fight to her. Broke a step slow making career debut but was not rushed into the fray, waiting in seventh near the inside as Promises to Dance, the eventual runner-up, set the pace. Marissa’s Lady was switched outside midway around the turn and asked at the five-sixteenths pole to make a move, responding immediately with some high-level acceleration to reach the leader at the quarter pole. Promises to Dance had something left, fought back, and these two went down to the wire, Marissa’s Lady just getting her head down as they proceeded to gallop put together. That move to get into contention was impressive, especially for a first-time starter, and this filly has a solid stride, though her build is that of a sprinter and her most noteworthy sibling was very much a speedy type.

Striker

Nov. 7, 9th race Woodbine, MdSpWt70k

Beyer: 93

6f Tapeta 1:08.50 – 1st by 3 lengths

gr. c. 3, War Front – Dreamologist, by Tapit

Owner: LNJ Foxwoods

Trainer: Josie Carroll

Breeder: LNJ Foxwoods

Late in the year for a 3-year-old maiden to make this list, but the performance was fast on the clock, yielded a high Beyer ,and was visually impressive. The race had all the hallmarks of being legitimate, the top two drawing away through the final three-sixteenths as the field wound up spread all over the track at the finish, many unable to keep up – understandable when you note the winning time. This turned out to be a demanding trip for a debut runner, with Striker showing some speed but unable to make the front and racing in fairly tight quarters between horses down the backstretch. No room, and the jockey was forced to gently steady Striker back off the leaders to sit behind horses around the turn, guiding his mount to the outside to launch an attack at about the quarter pole. A strong attack it was, with Striker pouncing on the leader with long, energetic, bounding strides and drawing clear under moderate pressure at the furlong grounds but none through the final 50 yards, a big gallop-out following the victory. Great family, the second dam being champion Dreaming of Anna.

Sy Dog

Oct. 24, 3rd race Belmont, MdSpWt70k

Beyer: 79

7f turf 1:22.19 – 1st by 4 lengths

b. c. 2, Slumber – My Love Venezuela, by Scat Daddy

Owner: Head of Plains Partners and Madaket Stables

Trainer: Graham Motion

Breeder: Head of Plains Partners

Granted, this race had a strong early pace and Sy Dog raced in front of only one rival into the far turn, but the pace didn’t entirely collapse, and he was easily the strongest finisher. In fact, the colt, though he drew off by a wide margin, was somewhat lucky to keep the win as he ran soundly into the runner-up while being wheeled from the inside to the far outside past the quarter pole. That move came after the jockey had initially taken a hold of his mount and steered toward the rail after making a strong move at the three-furlong pole to get into contention. Clearly, Sy Dog was the best horse, and on pedigree this extended sprint would be on the low end of his distance range.

B Sudd

Oct. 31, 7th race Churchill, MdSpWt121k

Beyer: 81

7f 1:23.68 – 1st by a neck

b. c. 2, Jimmy Creed – Five Funs, by Empire Maker

Owner: Offshoot Farm

Trainer: Dallas Stewart

Breeder: Offshoot Farm

Second-time starter had run a solid race to finish third in his debut and took a nice step forward to win, with the place horse six lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Broke alertly before being eased back to stalk the pace, the jockey stoking his mount at the five-sixteenths to come abreast of the leader and eventual runner-up, Unpredictable Bay, in upper stretch. B Sudd, who raced with good balance and appealing action, pulled away to lead by almost two lengths before he lost his momentum, allowing Unpredictable Bay to narrow the margin late. Unsure whether that was a question of him tiring going seven furlongs or losing focus after making the front, but he did swap leads in the final half-furlong while hanging on for the victory. It’s an Empire Maker dam, yes, but the family leans speed over stamina at least regarding the most accomplished runners.