Breakout Beyers: Likeable shows future appeal
Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Likeable
Sept. 19, 6th race, Belmont, MdSpWt61k
Beyer: 81
1 mile, 1:37.56, 1st by 8 1/4 lengths
b. c. 2, Frosted–Dashing Debbie, by Medaglia d’Oro
Noteworthy siblings: Dawn the Destroyer (Speightstown) – SW, $556K earnings; Bronze Star (Tapit) – SW $196K earnings
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $350,000
Owner: Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Stonestreet Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Imagine the winning margin if he’d changed leads before the shadow of the wire! That aside, this was an eye-catching performance to some extent, all the more so because the colt, making his second start after a troubled Saratoga debut, over-raced in the early stages. Likeable finally came back to Luis Saez after the first furlong and a half or so and settled into a comfortable rhythm around the turn, perking up when asked for more gas before the quarter pole. Granted, there were only a handful of rivals here, but this win came easy and by a wide margin, and given his pedigree, he definitely rates as an interesting prospect for the rest of this year and next season.
Charlie’s Penny
Sept. 17, 8th race, Arlington, MdSpWt44k
Beyer: 82
5 furlongs, Polytrack, 58.46, 1st by 7 lengths
gr. f. 2, Race Day–Sweet Lorraine, by Warrior’s Reward
Noteworthy siblings: Mom’s Red Lipstick (Race Day) – stakes winner
Auctions: None
Owner: Lothenbach Stables
Trainer: Chris Block
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables
Unraced 8-year-old dam is off to a roaring start. First foal to race, Mom’s Red Lipstick, won her debut (64 Beyer) as a 2-year-old and captured the Arlington-Washington Lassie in her second start. This filly got a considerably higher number and has more speed than her sister, going up to contest the pace after breaking from post 1. She buried this field in upper stretch and won as the rider pleased, yet her size and the rapid leg turnover hints at a horse who might not want more than one mile. Highest 2-year-old Beyer of this abbreviated Arlington season, in any case.
Great Island
Sept. 17, 5th race, Churchill Downs, MdSpWt75k
Beyer: 81
1 1/16 miles, turf, 1:43.96, 1st by 3 1/4 lengths
ch. f. 4, Scat Daddy–Voyage, by Rahy
Noteworthy siblings: Face the Music (Stormy Atlantic) – $146K earnings; Vagabond (Arch) $126K earnings
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2016 – $100,000; Keeneland September yearling 2017 – $300,000
Owner: Alpha Delta Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Ben Walden Jr. & Larry Taylor
Guess they liked the filly in her first start since October since she paid $3! And one can see why, since in her lone previous start, last fall at Keeneland, she finished second to Mean Mary, who is a very, very high-quality filly. Chad Brown brought her back into action with his Kentucky string, and we can probably expect to see her back at Keeneland in October. The unraced dam is a sister to Point of Entry and Pine Island, but she hasn’t produced a ton up to now. This filly certainly can run. She’s got a lot of scope to her, and one would think she can get at least nine furlongs. She sat second behind a runaway leader who stopped and wound up totally dominating this group while never asked for much run. Yes, she’s only a few months from turning 5, but there’s something here.
Bakers Bay
Sept. 15, 1st race, Kentucky Downs, MdSpWt92k
Beyer: 84
6 1/2 furlongs, turf, 1:16.33, 1st by 2 1/4 lengths
ch. g. 4, More Than Ready–Abaco, by Giant’s Causeway
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Phipps Stable
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Breeder: Phipps Stable
First foal to race (there are two others on the ground, including 3-year-old who has started) out of the multiple graded turf-stakes winning mare Abaco. They tried a pair of turf routes with this horse to start his career during spring 2019, but nothing doing there. Missed almost a year and returned this past spring on dirt, running one good race from three with blinkers now added to his equipment package. Got out as far as 1 3/16 miles in the spring, so it was interesting to see the Hall of Fame trainer bring him back after a 10-week layoff in a sprint, and even more interesting that he went to the front. Evidently, blinkers and turf were what he needed, as this was an easy score, albeit over just seven foes. It’s taken a good long while to even knock out the maiden win, so while he can improve off this, the sky’s not the limit.
Rock On Luke
Sept. 14, 8th race, Parx Racing, MdSpWt40k
Beyer: 85
6 furlongs, 1:10.72, 1st by 6 1/4 lengths
ch. g. 3, Conveyance–Slammin Beauty, by Grand Slam
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland January all ages 2018 – $7,500
Owner: Jennifer Trueheart
Trainer: Regina Brennan
Breeder: Samuel Santiago
Definitely was 4-5 for a reason in this short maiden field. The gelding has good speed and traveled comfortably while far superior to his rivals. Cropped twice left-handed, but that wasn’t really required since the race already was well in hand. Can at least say he’s proven much more valuable than the bargain-bin auction price, and this breakthrough followed three capable runner-up finishes, but in the end, we’re talking about a September 3-year-old maiden winner performing away from the major venues. The ceiling almost certainly can’t be that high.