Breakout Beyers: Mr Fisk improving exponentially

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

Mr Fisk

Jan. 2, 9^th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt69k
Beyer: 81
1 mile 1:37.91 – 1^st by three-quarters length
b. c. 3, Arrogate – Plein Aire, by Maduro
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Sunny Brook Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Sunny Brook Stable

This homebred colt lacks brilliance but has made great progress in three starts, his sprint debut on Oct. 30 having ended in an 18-length defeat. Stretched to a two-turn mile on Nov. 25, Mr Fisk improved exponentially, rallying resolutely through the final furlong to finish second, less than a length behind Reincarnate, winner of the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes for Mr Fisk’s trainer, Bob Baffert. He ran a similar race here, this maiden route turning into another intramural affair, the Baffert-trained Harlocap the lone horse standing between Mr Fisk and victory after the turn into the homestretch. By then, Mr Fisk had ably negotiated an inside trip from post 1, his lack of early speed no hindrance to him taking a contending position just behind the lead pack at the half-mile pole. He reached out gamely to reel in Harlocap, the finishing splits nothing noteworthy, though that’s often the case even in good SoCal dirt races. Raced for the first time on Lasix while his Beyer actually dropped two points from an 83. First foal to race from a mare, an Italian import turf horse, who won the Astra Stakes for Baffert. Hardly the stable’s shiniest toy but coming along nicely.

Clear the Air

Jan. 6, 5^th race Turfway, MdSpWt70k
Beyer: 80
6 furlongs Tapeta 1:10.31 – 1^st by 5 ¼ lengths
b. c. 3, Ransom the Moon – Marsali, by More Than Ready
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 -- $95,000
Owner: Cypress Creek Equine
Trainer: William Walden
Breeder: Calumet Farm

First Lasix, first synthetic in second start following a decent fifth of 10 in a fairly fast Ellis Park dirt sprint. Must have been working well enough over the Turfway Tapeta as he was bet to 5-2 facing 11 rivals, and that price wound up looking like a bargain. Clear the Air stalked from mid-pack while well in hand and going comfortable before being tipped wide past the three-furlong marker and producing instant acceleration to come up on the leaders. Clear the Air had made the lead by the time he straightened for home, switched leads right on cue, and leveled out nicely for a win more visually impressive than the solid Beyer. Nice-moving colt seemingly with plenty of substance to him. Was withdrawn from a 2-year-old in training sale last year. The dam had a three-start Irish career of little consequence, and her lone previous winner from three foals was a sprinter of very modest ability.

Bobbie Sox

Jan. 5, 8^th race Turfway, MdSpWt49k
Beyer: 81
6 furlongs Tapeta 1:11.68 – 1^st by 6 ¾ lengths
ch. f. 3, Coach Bob – Pahiatua, by Tribal Rule
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Aubrey Adams, Jorge Viramontes, Tom Gerstel, Jeff Kitchen, Reina Gonzalez
Trainer: Reina Gonzalez
Breeder: Jeff Kitchen et al

The track announcer said the filly “ran them off their feet,” but that’s not really how it went down. This 14-1 first-time starter lacking pedigree and from lower-profile connections broke a half-step slow but quickly made the front, only for the jockey to take a hold, asking his mount to wait a bit, pressing two other pace rivals while racing outside from third. Bobbie Sox always was travelling strongly, and when given just a bit of rein on the turn she quickly ran away from the other frontrunning horses. It was fairly impressive that she had so much speed yet also turned in easily the fastest final furlong among a dozen runners, 12.82. Looks like she has plenty of size for a filly her age. Debuted in front wraps and blinkers, for whatever that’s worth. No obvious major defects in the stride and one has to think purchase offers have come in for a horse by an obscure stallion with an advertised $1,500 stud fee.

Sassy Nature

Jan. 7, 3^rd race Santa Anita, CA-bredMSW68k
Beyer: 88
6 furlongs 1:09.45 – 1^st by 9 lengths
b. f. 3, Straight Fire – Renee’s Queen, by After Market
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling 2021 - $60,000
Owner: C T R Stable
Trainer: Luis Mendez
Breeder: Straight Fire LLC

Broke on top, led through a 22-flat opening quarter, then blasted a final furlong in a robust 12.36 while drawing away to a powerhouse win. Was fully of run past the wire and into the gallop-out and would’ve opened up 20 lengths around the clubhouse turn had the rider not shut her engine off a half-furlong after the finish. The good finishing time and encouraging gallop-out aside, the filly, a second-time starter, has without a doubt the raw physical look of a sprinter. This was her second start, first on Lasix and with blinkers removed after she essentially ran off during the early stages of her Del Mar debut before fading badly through the final three furlongs. She merely beat five rivals in a California-bred maiden, so we’ll tamp down the enthusiasm, but Sassy Nature was a sharp winner here whatever comes later.