Breakout Beyers: Ice Dancing coming around

Marcus Hersh|Dec 07, 2022

Benoit Photography Ice Dancing impressed in her fourth career start, laying down solid splits while going a mile.

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

ICE DANCING

Nov. 22, 2nd race Del Mar, MdSpWt70k
Beyer: 77
1 mile 1:35.59 – 1st by 1 length
gr. f. 2, Frosted – Welcome Dance, by Henny Hughes
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Perry Bass and Ramona Bass
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Breeder: Ramona Bass

Took her four starts to win and she beat just five rivals, but the filly could be all right. Highly regarded enough that connections tried her in the Grade 2 Chandelier as a maiden, but there she was done in by dueling on a hot pace. She appears to be a large, robust specimen for a 2-year-old filly, and while this was a front-running victory, she laid down a solid-to-fast tempo while hounded by the Bob Baffert-trained second choice who wound up finishing second, more than 13 length clear of third.

VAHVA

Nov. 26, 4th race Churchill, MdSpWt120k
Beyer: 76
7 furlongs 1:23.25 – 1st by 3 lengths
b. f. 2, Gun Runner – Holiday Soiree, by Harlan’s Holiday
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $280,000
Owner: Belladonna Racing, Edward Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, LBD Stable, Nice Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, Runnels Racing, Steve Hornstock, and Twin Brook Stables
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Breeder: Woodford Thoroughbreds

Appealing win visually, though this third-time starter, who was favored, got a great trip stalking a moderate tempo outside and in the clear. A distant fifth in her career debut at Saratoga during the early portion of the meet when the main track was very deep and laboring, Vahva improved second time finishing second by a head in a Saratoga maiden, so there was a solid foundation coming into this. She definitely possesses that Gun Runner look and strode nicely to the finish through a final furlong in 12.23 seconds. The dam’s lone stakes win and highest Beyer (96) came in the six-furlong Shine Again. Vahva’s 3-year-old brother Signal From Noise just scored a

9 1/4-length maiden win Nov. 17 at Aqueduct.

REINCARNATE

Nov. 25, 8th race Del Mar, MdSpWt71K
Beyer: 84
1 mile 1:37.41 – 1st by 3/4 of a length
Gr. c. 2, Good Magic – Allanah. By Scat Daddy
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $775,000
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Woods Edge Farm

Possibly Baffert’s seventh or eighth string in the 2-year-old male division this year – and still hit an 84 Beyer winning his maiden fourth time out. Reincarnate raced twice in turf routes to start his career, suggesting connections thought he needed two turns to show his ability. Second in his dirt debut to the Baffert-trained Fort Bragg, who was coming off a second-place finish behind the Baffert-trained Hejazi, Reincarnate made all the running while looking very much the grinding type who will “run all day,” as the saying goes.

TEA N CONVERSATION

Dec. 3, 1st race Del Mar, MdSpWt74k
Beyer: 80
1 mile turf 1:35.47, 1st by 1 1/2 lengths
b. c. 2, Candy Ride – Lady Ten, by Rock Hard Ten
Noteworthy siblings: Nucky (Ghostzapper, foaled 2017), G1 Del Mar Futurity
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $400,000
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Breeder: Barry Becker and Susan Becker

Petite filly was relatively hapless making her first two starts sans blinkers, was better though hardly impressive first-time blinkers, then shipped to NoCal but failed to win a maiden heat rained off turf onto Tapeta. She took a major fifth-race leap forward to clear the maiden ranks. Tea N Conversation did get a favorable trip stalking a strong pace, but the deeper closers failed to make any real impact because they failed to turn in the strong penultimate quarter-mile that Tea N Conversation mustered: Her 24.15 third quarter was fastest among a dozen runners as was her 23.75 closing fraction. Almost certainly a grass horse going forward and ought to have room to grow.

POINT PROVEN

Nov. 26, 5th race Churchill, MdSpWt120k
Beyer: 79
1 1/8 miles 1:50.80 – first by 5 lengths
b. c. 2, Gun Runner – Secret Jewel, by Bernardini
Noteworthy siblings: Twenty Carat (Into Mischief – foaled 2018), graded-stakes winner; Mystic Knight (Into Mischief – foaled 2017), $273K earnings,
99 Beyer
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $675,000
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm

Not particularly eye-catching but this third-time starter did comfortably see out 1 1/8 miles at the site of the Kentucky Derby. Added front wraps to the race-day equipment package, for whatever that’s worth. Tracked the pacesetter, who wound up second, from third, taking over in upper stretch, drifting right a bit, winning easily.

MI HERMANO RAMON

Dec. 1, 1st race Del Mar, MdSpWt73k
Beyer: 78
1 mile turf 1:35.34 – 1st by 1 1/4 lengths
ch. g. 2, Creative Cause – Sassy Suances, by Suances
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Red Baron’s Barn
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Breeder: Red Baron’s Barn

Got a perfect trip in great part because the gelding relaxed so sweetly making his career debut in a grass route. He came off the fence in upper stretch, split the leader and the fading pace-presser, and comfortably outfinished favored Dandy Man Shines, who was dropping in class after four stakes starts. The dam was a sprinter but already her son has gotten a route of ground.