Breakout Beyers: Keep an eye on My Prankster

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

My Prankster

Aug. 21, 7th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 92

6.5f 1:16.27 – 1st by 10 lengths

b. c. 2, Into Mischief – My Wandy’s Girl, by Flower Alley

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton select yearling 2020 - $600,000

Owner: Robert and Lawana Low

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings

One of the fastest figures of the year from a 2-year-old. Didn’t even break very well – and also wasn’t favored in his career debut for Pletcher and Saez, which is to say “they” didn’t know since we’re talking here about a 10-length Saratoga maiden winner. Didn’t watch this race live and only viewed it for the first time working on this exercise, and came away from the replay – underwhelmed? This was the opposite of one of those dazzling performances where the horse travels in hand and never seems to take a deep breath; Saez started riding pretty hard at the half-mile pole and had his mount under a solid drive at the quarter pole, only easing up in the shadow of the wire, the competition having been left far behind. Was late to change leads, which doesn’t help the visual, but the strides, even after he switched, were more staccato than long and smooth. No gallop-out to speak of, but then he’d already been geared down at the finish while the chasers were being ridden. Second foal to race out of My Wandy’s Girl, a Puerto Rican star whose lone mainland stakes win came in the seven-furlong Barbara Fritchie. Interested to see where things go from here.

H P Moon

Aug. 10, 2nd race Pimlico, MdSpWt47k

Beyer: 81

6f 1:10.76 – 1st by 9 3/4 lengths

b. r. 2, Malibu Moon – Fun Affair, by Distorted Humor

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling 2020 - $100,000; Fasig-Tipton March select 2yo in training 2021 - $385,000 (RNA)

Owner: K E M Racing Stable and Five Hellions Farm

Trainer: Lacey Gaudet

Breeder: Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate

Horse already was a little famous after being scratched July 31 at Saratoga because the horse identifier had some questions about his identity. Can see why they wanted to debut under those bright lights – he’s a runner. Two scratches left him with the inside post and he tried to jink toward the gap leaving the gate but fortunately had broken with speed and power and already was clear of his outside rivals when the jockey quickly steered to the right. One horse tried to run with him at the half-mile pole, but H P Moon let things out one notch and left that rival in his dust. Decent if somewhat exaggerated lead change. Jockey, hand-riding, looked back before the furlong grounds and saw no one near him, was literally patting his mount’s mane crossing the wire. Moves like a horse that will be able to get two turns as a 2-year-old. Dam winless in two starts but her mother is 2000 BC Juvenile Fillies winner Caressing.

Hidden Connection

Aug. 17, 5th race Colonial, MdSpWt51k

Beyer: 84

5.5f 1:02.21 – 1st by 7 1/2 lengths

b. f. 2, Connect – C J’s Girl, by Awesome Again

Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 - $49,000 (RNA); Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $40,000; OBS spring 2yo 2021 - $55,000 (RNA); OBS 2yo & horses of racing age 2021 - $85,000

Owner: Hidden Brook Farm

Trainer: Bret Calhoun

Breeder: St. Simon Place

Seventh winner from first-crop sire Connect, and easily the highest Beyer among any of those horses. Second foal to race from dam, who started only once; her dam, C J’s Leelee, was second over 1 1/16 miles on dirt in the 2007 Golden Rod and second over 1 1/8 miles on turf in the 2008 Regret. So, while this filly debuted in a short sprint, there’s reason to believe she can go longer. Jockey rode with confidence while tracking the pace from third and got a good response when he asked for more at the head of the stretch. She wandered to the outside a bit but changed leads right on cue and straightened her path through the final furlong and a half, going across the wire with her ears pricked, getting her last half-furlong in a quick 5.95 seconds followed by a good gallop-out.

Forbidden Kingdom

Aug. 21, 4th race Del Mar, MdSpWt71k

Beyer: 82

5.5f 1:04.04 – 1st by 1/2 length

ch. c. 2, American Pharoah – Just Louise, by Five Star Day

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Select yearling 2020 - $300,000

Owner: MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Breeder: Springhouse Farm

For starters, he managed to beat two Baffert runners, no small accomplishment, though to be fair, the Baffert-trained Kamui ran interference for Forbidden Kingdom, depriving the Baffert-trained Rhetoric of room in the final furlong when the latter tried to split horses. Kamui was disqualified and Forbidden Kingdom, who also drifted out off his line, was somewhat fortunate not to be taken down himself. Fortunate, as well, that Rhetoric didn’t get through because that horse looked poised to win the race and quickly galloped out in front. Take little away from Forbidden Kingdom, however, who didn’t break the sharpest but showed excellent early speed to lead this group. Took pressure from Kamui starting about five-sixteenths out and held gamely, especially for a first-time starter. Looks to be a robust colt, big and strong with extra weight, perhaps, still to shed. His dam’s stakes win came in an early season 2-year-old race, the Debutante at CD, though this fellow could be later developing. Appealing blend of speed and stamina in pedigree.

Major General

Aug. 21, 1st race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 77

6.5f 1:16.69 – 1st by a neck

b. c. 2, Constitution – No Mo Lemons, by Uncle Mo

Auctions: Keeneland January all ages 2020 - $265,000; Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $420,000

Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Breeder: Circular Road Breeders

First foal to race from an unraced dam, herself a foal of 2015, making her a very young mare. Her son raced so green it’s a wonder he was able to win his debut. Broke sharply and led, and all was well until he cornered for home, at which point he first drifted out, then skated quickly back toward the rail, eyeing something or other. Just lucky nothing was directly to his inside, as he was able to jink left with no deleterious consequences other than compromising his win chance. Failing to change leads also was an impediment, and, to top things off, he bumped in the final furlong with an onrushing foe who looked poised to go right past – but didn’t. Narrow margin of victory definitely did not tell all. Bred to run longer.

Ain’t Easy

Aug. 21, 1st race Del Mar, MdSpWt71k

Beyer: 71

5.5f 1:04.65 – 1st by 5 1/4 lengths

b. f. 2, Into Mischief – Ameristralia, by Fastnet Rock

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 - $400,000

Owner: Old Bones Racing Stable, Michael Lombardi, Joey Platts

Trainer: Phil D’Amato

Breeder: Spendthrift Farm

Broke on top, but then went through a complicated trip for a first-time starter, yet she won under a hand ride, Rosario never cocking his stick. Did manage to save ground all the way, which helped her cause, but hard not to be impressed, despite the lowish figure, with how she handled everything. Very rapid stride turnover; moved with authority. Second-dam Heart Ashley campaigned in America, wound up a broodmare in Australia.