Breakout Beyers: Gamine shines with hand ride

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

Gamine

March 7, 6th race, Santa Anita, MdSpWt53k
Beyer: 87
6 1/2 furlongs, dirt fast, 1:16.59
b. f. 3, Into Mischief–Peggy Jane, by Kafwain
Owner: Michael Lund Peterson
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Grace Thoroughbred Holdings

The female version of stablemate Charlatan – minus 19 Beyer points in the debut. Fetched $220K as a yearling, $1.8M as a 2-year-old – beyond a mere home run in the pinhooking game. This was a glorified front-end workout, with only light hand-urging to the wire. Has the scope and stride rhythm of a route horse but obviously is very fast, though she looked less aggressive than the fierce Charlatan. Sky’s the limit.

Drop the Chalupa

March 7, 2nd race, Santa Anita, MdSpWt53k
Beyer: 80
6 1/2 furlongs, dirt fast, 1:17.19
ch. g. 3, Liam’s Map–Monono, by Whywhywhy
Owner: Doubledown Stable
Trainer: Ron Ellis
Breeder: Taylor Brothers Properties, To Kalon

American Code was 3-5 here debuting for Bob Baffert, but Chalupa, who broke from an outside post and got a clean but wide outside closing/stalking trip, ran right over American Code at the furlong grounds. Dam was a stakes winner, and her only other foal to race was a stakes winner, yet this solid-looking colt, who has a powerful hind end, was withdrawn or failed to meet a reserve at five auctions before selling for a mere $35,000 as a 2-year-old. Not especially fast, but solid and should get a mile, at least.

Liam’s Pride

March 7, race 4, Oaklawn, MdSpWt87k
Beyer: 80
6 furlongs, dirt fast, 1:10.17
gr/ro. c. 3. Liam’s Map–Indian Snow, by A.P. Indy
Owner: Tom Mansor, Richard Pushor, Robert Roy, Chadwick Calvert, and Caroom
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Breeder: Dell Ridge Farm

Dam with more than a dozen named foals, the best of which has been Grade 1 winner Morning Line. Really, really strong female family. Fourth start for this robust colt but just second with blinkers, and though he won comfortably, he still raced greenly through the stretch, looking around, carrying his head a bit high at the three-sixteenths pole, swapping leads. Pedigree says he should route, and his modest performance at a mile came before blinkers.

Juulstone

March 7, race 1, Gulfstream Park, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 81
1 1/8 miles, turf firm, 1:48.85
b. c. 3, American Pharoah–Hessonite, by Freud
Owner: DATTT Stable
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Breeder: DATTT Farm

Not your typical fifth-start maiden winner. They gave him three tries on dirt, and he got progressively worse, but a move to turf woke him up. RNA’s for nearly $500K as a yearling, so there have been hopes, and yes, he can run. Wears blinkers now and traveled smartly throughout, waiting patiently for a hole and bursting through with a nice turn of foot when it opened in upper stretch. Galloped out like a house afire. Will stay 10f at least, you’d think.

Will Sing for Wine

March 7, race 1, Aqueduct, MdSpWt68k
Beyer: 80
1 mile, dirt fast, 1:39.82
ch. c. 3, Will Take Charge–Miss Singhsix, by Singspiel
Owner: Team Valor International and Edward Potash
Trainer: Bill Mott
Breeder: Normandy Farm

Diminutive fellow likes to gallop along with his nose down toward the ground, but he was effective on this day while cutting back from a nine-furlong dirt race at Gulfstream to a one-turn mile for Mott, who took over training following a meh career debut. Dam was a turf stakes winner; this colt sold for a mere $25,000 as a 2-year-old. He can be better than this, and he was decent here, but his ceiling can’t be especially high, and wouldn’t be shocked by a switch to turf at some point.