Breakout Beyers: Slider freezes competition in impressive Del Mar win

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

Slider

Sept. 9, 4th race Del Mar, MdSpWt85k
Beyer: 86
5 1/2 furlongs 1:03.55 – 1st by 3 lengths
b.c.2, Jimmy Creed – Days Like This, by Congrats
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: OBS Spring 2yo 2023 – $240,000
Owner: Hall Racing, Pearl Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds
Trainer: John Sadler
Breeder: Jason Hall, Stephen Baker, Herschel Martindale, and Mike Riordan

Debuted July 29 with a good second facing the standout winner Heartland (no works since Aug. 26, missed DMR Futurity) and got a perfect pressing trip on the way to a solid if less than spectacular second-start score here. He ran 5 1/2 furlongs first time out and came back at the same distance, suggesting connections view him as a sprinter. A look at the colt would suggest the same thing – got a bit of the American football fullback to him. Tracked the pacesetter, second-time starter E J Won the Cup, who had been a close second at Ellis Park (home of the low 2yo Beyer – went from a 46 debuting to a 79) and battled back in upper stretch before giving way while finishing 3 1/2 lengths clear of show in a 10-horse field. Those wide margins from the top two finishers are a good sign, and Slider did gallop out like a horse who ought to go at least a little farther. The dam was a sprinter of no great standing who has four foals to race, the most accomplished of them Pete Marwick, who started his career in Kentucky with a hint of promise and wound up in Puerto Rico, then the Dominican Republic.

Mirinda

Sept. 10, 2nd race Del Mar, Cal-bred MdSpWt85k
Beyer: 82
5 1/2 furlongs 1:03.77 – 1st by 6 1/2 lengths
b.f.2, Mitole – Whim, by More Than Ready
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton California yearling and horsers of racing age 2022: $190,000
Owner: Thomas Nichols
Trainer: Gary Mandella
Breeder: Richard Barton Enterprises

A day after Richard Mandella was shown to be training the best 2-year-old filly in California, Tamara, his son Gary Mandella sent out this first-time starter, who looks like the best 2-year-old California-bred filly. Her capability at least in statebred-restricted competition was not unexpected – Mirinda went off at even money facing nine rivals. She was not quickest out of the gate but was quickest after 30 yards, and after making the lead never had an anxious moment. She traveled smoothly around the turn, jockey Mike Smith merely moving his hands a little more vigorously at the quarter pole as Mirinda bent nicely into the homestretch and cantered home the easiest of winners. She hit the wire still full of run despite not being asked for anything late, galloping out with bouncy energy and her ears up, looking for more. The dam and second dam were no stars, but both could get a middle distance around two turns.

Piper’s Factor

Sept. 10, 10th race Woodbine, MdSpWt62k
Beyer: 82
1 1/16 miles Tapeta 1:44.49 – 1st by 2 lengths
b.c.2, The Factor – Piper’s Future, by Niigon
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Chiefswood Stable
Trainer: Katerina Vassilieva
Breeder: Chiefswood Stable

He had a troubled sprint debut, finishing eighth, and this trip going two turns wasn’t as easy as a typical front-running victory. It started out simply enough, Piper’s Factor making an easy lead and going a modest opening quarter mile in 24.58, but favored Devil’s Playground, last early, was let loose at the head of the backstretch, coming all the way up to make the front and quicken the pace to 24.38 for the second quarter. That dragged Frontiersman forward, too, and going into the far turn, Piper’s Factor was third, stuck down inside. He held his position willingly around the bend and upon reaching the homestretch was getting away from the other speed. The colt changed leads right on cue, then swapped back to the wrong lead before the eighth pole when the rider switched from a left- to right-handed crop. Holding firm to the finish, Piper’s Factor vastly increased his lead after it no longer counted, galloping out far in front. Though he faced only five foes, more than nine lengths separated second and third, and if nothing else, Piper’s Factor looked like a real route horse.

Done Enough

Sept. 10, 4th race Monmouth, MdSpWt59k
Beyer: 81
6 furlongs (sloppy, sealed) 1:10.83 – 1st by 8 1/2 lengths
b.f.2, Flameaway – Revengefulpleasure, by Stephen Got Even
Noteworthy siblings: Owen’s Pleasure (Mark Valeski, foaled 2018), stakes placed, $237k earnings
Auctions: Fasig Tipton October yearling 2022 – $17,000; OBS March 2023 2yo – $55,000
Owner: Starry Night Racing
Trainer: Kent Sweezey
Breeder: Paul Knapper

Sloppy track, short field, and a front-end winner making her third start – circumstances that make one wonder just how much of a breakout this truly was. That said, she dueled on a swift pace, put away the other speed, and was all alone through the short Monmouth homestretch. Done Enough had looked decent with a debut second sprinting on dirt at Gulfstream but didn’t show up second time out in a turf route. She is the eighth winner already from the first crop of Flameway and the third horse he’s sired to produce a Beyer higher than 80.