Breakout Beyers: Scolding may be better than figure suggests

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

SCOLDING

May 2, 2nd race, Oaklawn, MdSpWt60k
Beyer: 80
6f, dirt fast, 1:10.02, 1st by 6 lengths
ch. f. 3, Carpe Diem – Rebuke, by Carson City
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland Sept. yearling 2018 – $75,000, OBS April 2yo 2019 – $475,000
Owner: Phoenix Thoroughbreds III
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: AR Enterprises

Flashier visually than her Beyer, which barely made the 80 cutoff for this list (another Asmussen-trained Carpe Diem, Earner, just missed with a 78 at OP). Kept up easily with quick pace set by filly to her inside, put her away without being asked at the quarter pole and race was over in upper stretch. Long-legged and has a low, relatively efficient action in front, but also doesn’t stride out all that far. Not much black type in several generations down female side.

SUPERFECTO

May 2, 3rd race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt38k
Beyer: 82
1 1/16M, dirt fast, 1:43.39, 1st by 4 1/2 lengths
b.c.3, Constitution – American Angel, by Ghostzapper
Noteworthy siblings: Spokane Eagle (Speightstown) – 10-time winner $250K earnings
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018 – OUT
Owner: Irving Cowan
Trainer: Ralph Nicks
Breeder: Irving Cowan

Caveats apply – front-running winner at Gulfstream – but a nice second start for colt who’d split a seven-furlong GP maiden race in his March 30 debut. Veteran owner-breeder Cowan had some really nice horses and this colt descends directly from a couple of them, Love That Jazz (Superfecto’s third dam) and her daughter, Society Selection. Was ridden aggressively for speed breaking from inside draw and while he made the lead, that tactic fired him up, and he pulled hard, getting his head up a couple times, around the clubhouse turn and early on the backstretch before settling down. Went a third quarter-mile in a lively 23.81 and came home in a decent 24.68, easily holding off his nearest rival and galloping out well in front. Well above par for a spring 3-year-old maiden route winner.

TALAKO

Beyer: 83

May 6, 8th race, Tampa Bay, MdSpWt20k
1M, turf firm, 1:36.69, 1st by 3 lengths
b.c.3, Karakontie – Sobinka, by Sadler’s Wells
Noteworthy siblings: Valiancy (Tale of the Cat) – multiple stakes-placed
Auctions: Keeneland Sept. 2018 – RNA’d $37,000
Owner: John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock
Trainer: Jorge Abreu
Breeder: John Gunther

Sometimes not being able to sell a horse turns out to be a good thing. Not only did he RNA for a low sum as a yearling, he was 22-1 debuting at TAM. Was actually tapped for speed breaking from post 1 but had none. After that, colt by a very capable young sire did nearly everything right. He ran into contention under his own courage on the backstretch, attacked the leaders three or four wide at the quarter pole, briefly turned his head toward the empty stands at the furlong grounds but quickly corrected and powered to the wire under just one crack of the jock’s crop. Strong gallop-out. He’s a medium-built colt with a likable way of traveling. Interesting horse.

HUNT THE FRONT

May 2, 6th race, Oaklawn, MdSpWt60k
Beyer: 82
1 1/8M, dirt fast, 1:49.97, 1st by 1 length
b.c.3, Revolutionary – Best of Times, by Mineshaft
Noteworthy siblings: Promise of Spring (Drosselmeyer) – graded stakes-placed, $250K earnings
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018 – $80,000
Owner: Dream Walkin Farm
Trainer: Nick Zito
Breeder: Bottom Line Stables, Rowland Hancock, Dick Walker

Got it done sixth time out following three straight second-place finishes. Has run at least decently all along and had caught three wet tracks he might not have loved. Got a very favorable setup racing near the rear as the leaders went an intemperate tempo, and was full of run as far out as the five-furlong pole. Solid, not spectacular.