Breakout Beyers: Key Point won’t be restricted
Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Key Point
Aug. 12, 5th race Saratoga, NY-bred MdSpWt85k
Beyer: 82
6f 1:10.89 – 1st by 3 1/4 lengths
b. c. 2, Into Mischief – Polite Smile, by Distorted Humor
Owner: Jeff Drown
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Jeff Drown
Debuted in a New York-bred maiden, but from the look of things, this is a New York-bred in name only, with a big-time pedigree and open-company talent. Second foal to race from dam who’s a sister to multiple graded stakes winner American Anthem, and there is plenty more pedigree deeper into the family, the third dam is Banshee Winds, sister to the great Banshee Breeze. Was entered and withdrawn from an auction. Not just that he won by more than three lengths, and did so going away, but the gap between third and fourth in a nine-horse field was more than 11 lengths. Showed flashy mid-race acceleration at the half-mile pole, then did his best work in the homestretch. Went off course, drifting outside, before the eighth pole, but once he straightened out, the end came quickly for Key Point’s rivals, and he won this very, very easily. From the look of the colt one might wonder whether true routes will be his calling, but he ought to be able to go farther than this in the near term.
Power Agenda
Aug. 14, 6th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k
Beyer: 77
6f 1:11.30 – 1st by a nose
b. c. 2, Nyquist – Dream Dance, by Afleet Alex
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 – $120,000
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Stoneway Farm
Standard operating procedure in these quarters is to take down at least a half peg these sharp maiden winners who do all their work on the lead but won’t take that tack with this colt. Yes, he led all the way in a debut victory, but he broke from an inside post and was assailed by outside pace rivals throughout a claustrophobic trip, showing lots of fight to the wire. Narrow win margin but the field was gapped out, a positive sign for the top two home. Sprinter-miler on pedigree. Been a nice little spurt recently for this colt’s dad, Nyquist.
Gimmick
Aug. 15, 5th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k
Beyer: 77
6f 1:11.60 – 1st by 2 lengths
b. c. 2, Into Mischief – Quick Flip, by Speightstown
Noteworthy siblings: Following Sea (Runhappy) – Grade 1-placed, 100 Beyer; Inspeightof (Orb) – stakes-placed, $128K earnings
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Select yearling 2020 – $450,000
Owner: e Five Racing Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm
Doesn’t happen at the same pace for every talented young horse, does it? This colt debuted in May and was 1-2 at Churchill first time out, failing to show much of anything finishing a distant second. Improved considerably in his second race and took a major leap forward here, in his third start. Broke poorly in his debut but was away well enough this start and got into a lovely pressing position. The leader floated him wide in upper stretch, but Gimmick always was going better and pushed clear to a decisive score. Now, did he give anything like the impression his 3-year-old brother, Following Sea, made in his maiden win earlier this year? Not at all, but the colt is a work in progress. Upside, yes, but how far he wants to go, hard to say.
Lady Danae
Aug. 15, 5th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k
Beyer: 85
5 1/2f turf 1:01.81 – 1st by 2 lengths
ch. f. 2, Klimt – Anea, by Unbridled’s Song
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2019 – $25,000; Keeneland September yearling 2020 – $50,000; OBS Spring 2-year-old 2021 – $210,000
Owner: Scott Dilworth, Evan Dilworth, Randy Andrews, Susan Andrews
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Breeder: Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden & Craig Brogden
Did get a great pace setup racing outside, in the clear, and midpack behind some very swift splits. Came very wide into the homestretch and pounced on the leaders past the three-sixteenths pole. Briefly lugged in before being corrected and swapped her leads (might’ve been jumping tire tracks or shadows on the course – she raced without a shadow roll) several times in the final half-furlong. Didn’t matter, as she had all the momentum and finished with plenty of energy. Good little run the last several weeks for young sire Klimt. This filly is a very compact model – wouldn’t count on her going much farther than this for the time being. Note she was sold three times, and she must have impressed at the breeze-up sale to hit that number. Legit figure here for stakes try next out – possibly at Keeneland?
Daufuskie Island
Aug. 12, 1st race Saratoga, NY-bred MdSpWt85k
Beyer: 76
6f 1:11.33 – 1st by 5 lengths
b. c. 2, Goldencents – Livermore Valley, by Mt. Livermore
Owner: Robert Hahn
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Breeder: Robert Hahn
Ran well in debut, but not only did Key Point go faster in a split of this NY-bred maiden sprint later on the card, he had a somewhat more demanding journey and looked better in racing, going with a smoother action. This colt showed some nice, rateable speed from the start to work himself into a perfect pressing trip. Made the front in upper stretch and went on about his business while looking somewhat sprinty – which the pedigree also suggests.
Baby Blythe
Aug. 14, 4th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k
Beyer: 90
1 3/16 milles turf 1:53.35 – 1st by 7 lengths
gr. f. 3, American Pharoah – Susie’s Baby, by Giant’s Causeway
Noteworthy siblings: Family Way (Uncle Mo) – stakes-placed
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $325,000
Owner: Courtlandt Farm
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Breeder: Diamond Creek Farm
Ran okay in her first two starts but was hard to see this blitz coming. Surely the stretch from shorter trips to 1 3/16 miles had something to do with the breakout, but the filly also surely was coming forward and set for something stronger even at a shorter trip. Shug has come up with some very nice maiden winners this summer. Getting late in the year for 3-year-old maiden winners, but this one has stakes potential.