Breakout Beyers: Far Bridge downs tough rival, could be a Cinderella story

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

Far Bridge

Jan. 21, 8th race Gulfstream, MdSpWt70k
Beyer: 88
1 1/16 miles turf 1:39.57 – 1st by a head
b. c. 3, English Channel – Fitpitcher, by Kitten’s Joy
Owner: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Breeder: Calumet Farm

The win margin between two first-time starters was a head, with an Irish-bred Lope de Vega colt named Carl Spackler just nipped at the wire, but it was six lengths back to the favored third-place finisher, then 6 1/4 lengths from third to fourth in an 11-horse field. When you see margins like this, you can fairly guess it was a strong race. Carl Spackler got up into a stalking/pressing trip from post 9, but rail-drawn Far Bridge raced midpack along the fence around the first turn and down the backstretch. The jockey, Joel Rosario, saw the rail open ahead of him approaching the half-mile pole, and let Far Bridge run up into the space, which the colt did willingly to get into third early on the far turn. Carl Spackler and his pace rival quickened just as Far Bridge found his spot in the pocket, and by the time the leaders hit the top of the homestretch, Far Bridge still had some five lengths to close; without knowing the outcome at that point, one would’ve thought it’d be impossible to bridge that gap, but with long, bounding strides, Far Bridge got up just in time. This appeared to be an unusually strong early season 3-year-old turf race, and it’d be no surprise if these two prove among the best in the division through late winter and spring. Offspring of English Channel almost always improve with age, and you’d have to imagine more racing and longer distances could bring out even more from Far Bridge.

Harlocap

Jan. 22, 6th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt69k
Beyer: 85
1 1/16 miles 1:43.81 – 1st by 4 1/2 lengths
b. c. 3, Justify – Mezinka, by Bodemeister
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $150,000; Fasig-Tipton Florida March select 2-year-olds 2022 – $275,000; Fasig-Tipton Timonium 2-year-olds 2022 – $400,000
Owner: Villa Rosa Farm and Harlo Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Breed First

It’s not only the vast number of appearances Bob Baffert-trained horses have appeared in this space over the last six months, but the high rate with which they emerge from a loss in a maiden race won by another Baffert horse. Such was the case here, Harlocap coming out of a second-place finish to the promising Mr Fisk while making his second start, first around two turns. Harlocap had shown speed in that encouraging defeat and did so again here breaking from post 2, dictating a moderate tempo while getting into a great rhythm down the backstretch and racing professionally. A longshot tried to press up on him going toward the three-furlong marker, but jockey John Velazquez gave Harlocap a little more rein and his mount instantly responded, widening his margin into the stretch and going even farther clear from the three-sixteenths pole to the wire before being shut down early in the gallop-out, typical for a Baffert maiden. This colt looks like a strong, efficient galloper, his way of going reminiscent of his sire, Justify.

First Defender

Jan. 21, 7th race Fair Grounds, MdSpWt65k
Beyer: 83
6 furlongs 1:10.88 – 1st by 5 1/4 lengths
b. c. 3, Quality Road – Love and Pride, by A.P. Indy
Noteworthy siblings: Bella Runner (Gun Runner, foaled 2019) – stakes winner, $238K earnings; Princesinha Julia (Pioneerof the Nile, foaled 2017) – stakes winner
Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm

The colt went off at 4-5 in his career debut and made that price look reasonable in a performance perhaps even better than the speed figure. First Defender broke a half-beat slow, came between horses in the first half-furlong, and dueled through an opening quarter-mile in a strong 21.48. Caught between rivals on the lead between the five-sixteenths and the quarter pole, he drew quickly away from both horses and never was challenged, changing leads on cue and striding nicely to the wire. The distant second-place finisher was almost five lengths in front of the third horse. The two horses next to him at the quarter pole went their final furlong in 14.18 and 14.95; First Defender got his in 13.12, easily best among 10 runners. The sisters’ stakes wins both came in routes, and this colt, while very fast, is bred to go longer.

Slip Mahoney

Jan. 21, 8th race Aqueduct, MdSpWt80k
Beyer: 87
1 mile 1:38.96 – 1st by a head
gr. c. 3, Arrogate – Got Lucky, by A.P. Indy
Noteworthy siblings: Overtook (Curlin, foaled 2018) – multiple graded stakes-placed
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $150,000
Owner: Gold Square
Trainer: Brad Cox
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Philip Steinberg

The winning margin was a head over Crupi, a talented enough Todd Pletcher-trained colt who was making his fourth career start and got the run of the race, slipping up the rail while passing rivals around the turn and coming into the homestretch with all the momentum. Meanwhile, Slip Mahoney had broken from the rail and set the pace from the outset, taking plenty of pressure through legitimate splits. When Crupi drew abreast, Slip Mahoney was ready, willing, and able to give more. The pair fought tooth and nail through the final furlong, Slip Mahoney never giving an inch. The next horse home among the seven rivals behind them was 15 lengths back at the finish. Third-time starter Slip Mahoney had narrowly been second last out to another Pletcher horse, Tapit Trice, who since has relocated to Florida. Slip Mahoney has a murderer’s row of broodmare sires: A.P. Indy, Deputy Minster, Mr. Prospector, and Northern Dancer. On pedigree and appearance, he could be even better when he gets out to two turns.

Mama’s Gold

Jan. 21, 3rd race Aqueduct, MCL25k
Beyer: 96
6 furlongs 1:11.32 – 1st by 21 1/4 lengths
b. c. 3, Bolt d’Oro – In Spite of Mama, by Speightstown
Noteworthy siblings: Rotknee (Runhappy – foaled 2019) – multiple stakes winner, $256K earnings; Lookin for Trouble (Into Mischief – foaled 2018) – multiple stakes-placed, $171K earnings
Owner: William Butler
Trainer: Mike Maker
Breeder: William Butler

The track announcer didn’t sound very impressed, and it’s probably a good idea to cast a cold eye on a winner of a New York-bred $25,000 maiden claimer, but 21 1/4 lengths is a whopper of a margin, and Mama’s Gold ran his fifth furlong in 11.97 and his sixth in 12.32, strong by any standards on this tiring surface, without being asked for a thing. Dropping out of a pair of New York-bred maiden-special races in which he’d shown much less, Mama’s Gold was claimed out of this race by owner-trainer Chad Summers, who had to feel a welling sense of excitement through the stretch run. Besides the class drop, there was the addition of Lasix, and Mama’s Gold for the first time raced on the lead. He was fast on this day; we’ll see if that translates to actually good.