Breakout Beyers: Spielberg wins in shallow water

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

Spielberg

Nov. 1, 1st race Del Mar, MdSpWt57k
Beyer: 85
1 mile, 1:38.97, 1st by a neck
ch. c. 2, Union Rags – Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 - $1,000,000
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Sienna Farm
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey

Obviously, the connections had hoped to race their million-dollar baby in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in early November, but the fading third in the G1 American Pharoah, his route debut, apparently led them to this maiden race rather than Keeneland. And here, he had to work to win his first race, though the John Shirreffs-trained runner-up looks a decent horse in his own right and had more than eight lengths on the third-place finisher after Spielberg surged in the final yards to push on to victory after a head-and-head stretch battle. Spielberg raced three wide most of the trip and lost a lot more ground than did the inside pace-setting runner-up, and while Spielberg lacks brilliance, it’s somewhat surprising he showed as much as he did sprinting as a summer 2-year-old since his frame is large and his entire carriage and bearing that of a horse who will be much better as a route-racing 3-year-old than a one-turn juvenile. Is he top class? Surely not yet, but not without hope of getting there.

Sun Path

Nov. 8, 2nd race Churchill, MdSpWt83k
Beyer: 81
7f, 1:23,37, 1st by 3 lengths
ch. f. 2, Munnings – Touch the Star, by Tapit
Noteworthy siblings: Bonny South (Munnings) – G2 winner, $493K earnings
Auctions: None
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Brad Cox
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms

This was an impressive second start out, and the filly, a full sis to Fair Grounds Oaks-winner Bonny South, still did some things wrong. That began with the start, where she got away slowly and was last early, and the second error was pulling too hard for her head down the backstretch run as jockey Florent Geroux let her gradually move into contention. Geroux made Sun Path wait for 50 yards or so, as she lost a position going to the half-mile pole, and learning to conserve her energy will be important if the plan is to get her out to route racing. The other mistake was racing with her head turned toward the stands in upper and midstretch, though as soon as Geroux glanced at the infield video board, saw the race was all over and eased up on any pressure, Sun Path turned her head forward and finished going straight. On the plus side, the filly showed push-button acceleration when Geroux did allow her to run into contention at the start of the turn, and even though she coasted to the wire, she continued on with a monster gallop-out.

Known Agenda

Nov. 8, 4th race Aqueduct, MdSpWt80k
Beyer: 79
1 1/8 miles, 1:55.89, 1st by a head
ch. c. 2, Curlin – Byrama, by Byron
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton select yearling Saratoga 2019 - $135,00 RNA
Owner: St. Elias Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: St. Elias Stable

Nice 6 1/2-furlong debut where he was second to Highly Motivated, a sharp KEE winner during the two-day Breeders’ Cup meet. And yes, stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for his second start, he only won by a head, but it was 21 lengths – yes, 21! – back to the third-place finisher. Caught three and four wide around the first turn, he had to deal with a sustained, serious stretch challenge from runner-up Greatest Honour, who should not long be a maiden. Owner-breeder had designs on selling the colt as a yearling – didn’t work out. Two dirt races to begin career though the dam’s side is 100-percent grass.

Scarred

Nov. 5, 7th race Churchill, MdSpWt83k
Beyer: 80
7f, 1:23.58, 1st by 1 3/4 lengths
b. c. 2, Into Mischief – Truly Gifted, by Afleet Alex
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 - $360,000
Owner: William and Corrinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables, Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Drumkenny Farm, American Equistock, Circular Road Breeders

Nice-looking colt – good size, appealing action though not a huge stride length. Like so many Asmussen 2-year-olds, he did everything right, breaking on top, showing good, controllable speed to take up a pressing position, facile lead change in the stretch, finished off with good energy. Looked like he really got down to business – far more purpose than a standard-issue debut winner – when asked for his best at the three-sixteenths. First foal to race from a dam who’s a sister to three graded-stakes winners, including G1 winner Latent Heat. Should at least get a middle distance through the winter and into spring.

Angkor

Nov. 1, 7th race Churchill, MdSpWt83k
Beyer: 80
6f, 1:10.02, 1st by 4 lengths
gr. c. 2, Anchor Down – Afleet Lover, by Northern Afleet/
Noteworthy siblings: Afleet Destiny (Hard Spun) – stakes-placed, $249K earnings
Auctions: Kee. Sept. yearling 2019 - $250,000
Owner: Rigney Racing
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Breeder: Wynnstay and H. Allen Poindexter

Bet to 5-2 in debut, and with good reason. Broke on top, battled briefly for lead with one other horse while inside, but when two more came farther out to contest the pace, jockey Gabriel Saez eased back and let the speed go. Saez switched Angkor to the no. 2 path, the colt came nicely between horses to engage the leader at the 5/16 pole, flicked his head out when Saez first went to the crop past the quarter-pole, but ran straight and strong from there, starting to pull away at the sixteenth pole and really going clear at the finish. The pedigree isn’t a slam-dunk with regard to route racing, but he has the stride length and rhythm of a horse who will at least get a mile.

Never Surprised

Nov. 8, 1st race Aqueduct, MdSpWt80k
Beyer: 88
6f, turf 1:09.19, 1st by 3 1/2lengths
b. c. 2, Constitution – Tiz Dixie, by Tiznow
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2018 – $30,000; Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $200,000
Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Golden Pedigree

This little colt never had worked on grass, didn’t have an obvious grass pedigree, yet connections were dead right debuting him on grass, as he scooted around the course to a definitive score at odds of 5-2, albeit while hard-ridden the final furlong. Bargain sales purchase as a weanling must’ve had a nice physical as a yearling to fetch $200K, since he’s the first foal to race out of an unraced dam with a decent but far from spectacular family, near-term, at least. From the appearance of this start, one would guess turf races at one mile or under are in his near future.

Drunk Dial

Nov. 7, 9th race Woodbine, MdSpWt77k
Beyer: 80
6f, Tapeta, 1:09.58, 1st by 5 1/2 lengths
b. f. 2, Dialed In – Candy Sioux, by Indian Charlie
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Kee. Jan. all ages 2019 – $140,000
Owner: LNJ Foxwoods
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Breeder: Tom Evans, Marjac Farms, Ted Forrest

Loads of speed and a pretty brilliant debut from a filly who must’ve tipped her hand in the morning, going off at 2-1 in a big field. Didn’t get away cleanly but had an outside draw and slid quickly into pole position in the first furlong. The two most impressive things about this showing were the way she traveled around the turn and the burst she gave, putting this race to bed, when the rider shook her up after turning for home. The dam was just 1-14 in her career heavy on sprint races and is a sister to the incredible BC Sprint winner Midnight Lute. Talent, obvious; fair to wonder how far she’ll stretch that speed.