Breakout Beyers: Spice Is Nice is really nice

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

Bulwark

Jan. 9, 4th race, Aqueduct, MdSpWt60k
Beyer: 86
6 1/2f, 1:19.51
b. g. 4, Hard Spun–Awesome Bull, by Holy Bull
Owner: Edition Farm
Trainer: Richard Schosberg
Breeder: Edition Farm (NY)

Big Beyer jump, hitting a career top by 18 points, in his fourth start. You can kind of see where it came from – layoff, needed comeback race, failed to handle sloppy track – so the figure might be real. On the other hand, this was a radical racing surface; shockingly laboring (look at the raw time) and strongly favoring front-runners.

Caracaro

Jan. 11, 6th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 92
1m, 1:35.61
b. c. 3, Uncle Mo–Peace Time, by War Front
Owner: Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Breeder: SF Bloodstock (Ky.)

Improved from a 79 in his first start to post the fourth-fastest 3-year-old male Beyer of 2020. Three high maiden numbers from this card, but given the raw time and the margin of victory, this figure seems perfectly legit. Put to some pressure but not under an all-out drive, and smooth goer galloped out strongly. Lots of big names in pedigree, but not a lot of black type. Still very much one to watch on the Florida fork of the Triple Crown trail.

Merchants of Cool

Jan. 10, 5th race, Turfway, MdSpWt40k
Beyer: 83
6 1/2f, 1:16.05
gr/ro. g. 3, Trappe Shot–Brie’s Snowflake, by Tale of the Cat
Owner: Wesley Ward
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Breeder: Dixiana Farm (Ky.)

First foal from an unraced dam out of the underrated (and exported) Trappe Shot is from family of excellent sprinter Lost in the Fog. Wesley Ward bred the horse and bought back the gelding for a mere $10,000 at a yearling auction. Debut on dirt in lone previous start last April at Keeneland was nothing like this performance, where he showed rateable speed, went three wide around the turn, and dominated. Question is whether he just needed to grow up or is a synthetic-favoring horse.

Mungojerrie

Jan. 10, 4th race, Tampa, MdSpWt20k
Beyer: 89
7f, 1:22.14
ch. g. 4, Declaration of War–Jellicle Song, by Street Cry
Owner: Lael Stable
Trainer: Arnaud Delacour
Breeder: Roy and Gretchen Jackson (Ky.)

Strange how many offspring of Declaration of War, supposedly a turf-leaning sire, have been improving when switched to dirt. This gelding, making his third start, sure did. First foal to race out of dam whose brother is the useful horse Divining Rod. Deeper family is pedigree power-packed. Four-year-old maiden winner caveats apply, and his stride isn’t so pretty, but he did this EASILY and looks like he’ll go farther.

Silver Ratio

Jan. 11, 1st race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 82
6f, 1:10.40
gr/ro. c. 3, Liam’s Map–Mystic City, by City Zip
Owner: Paul Pompa Jr.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Woods Edge Farm (Ky.)

Well bet here in debut and wore down 9-5 second-time starter Mr. Philly Dilly (73 Beyer from LRL debut) after being ridden pretty much every step of the way. Despite having to be pushed along from the start, he galloped out pretty well and the dam was a stakes-winning route horse. Slightly high head carriage.

Spice Is Nice

Jan. 12, 6th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 84
1m, 1:36.06
ch. f. 3, Curlin–Dame Dorothy, by Bernardini
Owner: Robert and Lawana Low
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: B. Flay Thoroughbreds (Ky.)
First foal to race out of a Grade 1 winner has to be the star of the week in this space after this scintillating debut. Saved all the ground but did have to race inside horses, wait, and come through a small gap in a one-turn mile, solid stuff for an unraced filly. Scopey and bouncy and after winning by 12 she must’ve galloped out 20 in front.

Summer Assault

Jan. 10, 7th race, Tampa, MdSpWt20k
Beyer: 80
5f, turf, 56.69
b. g. 3, Summer Front–Quality Included, by Include
Owner: Kevin Marko, Last Call Racing, Union Park Thoroughbreds, Cherrywood Racing
Trainer: Michele Boyce
Breeder: Brereton Jones (Ky.)

First-timer from under-appreciated barn traveled like a winner from the start. Got a perfect trip stalking a strong, contested pace on a lightning-fast turf course, but did make the most of it. On pedigree should at least get a mile.

Violent City

Jan. 11, 4th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 81
6f, 1:10.51
b. c. 3, Violence–Dazzletown, by Speightstown
Owner: Lothenbach Stables
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Breeder: Woods Edge Farm (Ky.)

Trainer Wilkes rarely wins with first timers, but this colt sure was live. Between horses early, inside a rival around the turn, he had a nice burst to briefly go clear past the half-mile pole, then pulled swiftly away in upper stretch. Lone sibling to race was a sprinter and not much gallop-out, for whatever that’s worth. Breeder landed two on the list this week.

War Stopper

Jan. 11, 3rd race, Aqueduct, MdSpWt68k
Beyer: 94
1m, 1:37.54
ch. c. 3, Declaration of War–Mira Alta, by Curlin
Owner: Salerno Stables
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Breeder: Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds (Ky.)

Another Declaration of War (see Mungojerie above) who has prospered with a move from turf to dirt. First-time blinkers here and his Beyer jumped 28 points, equaling Chance It for highest Beyer so far in 2020 for a 3-year-old male. Set strong pace and did it smoothly. Won clear and note it was nearly 22 lengths from place horse back to show. Jump straight to stakes seems likely.