Breakout Beyers: Tamara does Beholder proud in first-out maiden victory

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

Tamara

Aug. 19, 7th race Del Mar, MdSpWt85k
Beyer: 80
6 1/2 furlongs 1:17.37 – 1st by 2 1/4 lengths
b.f.2, Bolt d’Oro – Beholder, by Henny Hughes
Noteworthy siblings: Teena Ella (War Front, foaled 2020) – graded stakes winner
Auctions: None
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm

The fourth foal to race out of the great mare Beholder began her career from post 1 stumbling one stride into her debut. Recovering quickly enough, Tamara coasted up into a stalking position under Mike Smith and held her spot along the fence, relaxed enough and always traveling well, into and around the turn. At the quarter pole, the pace pressers lost a little ground on the leader, 17-10 favorite Hope Road. This was what Smith had been waiting for and he steered right, Tamara quickly jumping into the fray and coming up to challenge Hope Road. Hope Road tried to fight back while failing to change leads, but the more serious Smith got, the more Tamara gave, and she quickly was drawing clear at the finish, going under the wire and out into the gallop-out with her ears pricked. Beholder got a stakes-winning filly this May when Teena Ella captured the Senorita, a turf sprint, but Tamara got over the dirt just fine and from the look of things will be able to stretch out.

Risk It

Aug. 19, 1st race Saratoga, MdSpWt105k
Beyer: 79
6 furlongs 1:10.75 – 1st by 4 1/2 lengths
b.c.2, Gun Runner – Wedding Jitters, by Broken Vow
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2022 – $500,000
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: Gun Runner Syndicate, De Sousa Stables, Cranford Bloodstock

The Beyer came back just good, not great, but there was a lot to like about this debut performance. For starters, the colt was good at the gate, breaking sharply from post 1 to make the lead, and while he was easily fastest through the first quarter-mile, Risk It appeared relaxed enough under a rating hold around the turn. And Risk It not only was the fastest horse early, his final quarter-mile in 24.75 easily was best among the seven runners. The dam wound up her career claimed for just $16,000, but she was a route horse. Seems like this colt at least should get one mile.

Stormcast

Aug. 19, 5th race Woodbine, MdSpWt63k
Beyer: 83
7 furlongs turf 1:20.85 – 1st by 3 1/2 lengths
b.f.2, Mitole – Scolara, by Quiet American
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2021 – $40,000; OBS March 2yo 2023 – $95,000
Owner: K E M Racing
Trainer: Mark Casse
Breeder: Dan Hyka

A good second in her debut and a good third second time out in the My Dear Stakes, Stormcast tried turf and a longer sprint for the first time and looked like a better version of her already solid self. She was fast enough to make the lead in a big field but very kind rating on the front end for Declan Carroll. Carroll sat chilly until he and Stormcast had passed the three-sixteenths pole, but even in upper stretch when she wasn’t being asked, Stormcast was at least holding her own if not edging clear. Set down, she produced a field-best 12.60-second final furlong to win easily and – at least to the eye, though not especially regarding the speed figure – impressively. She’s the sixth foal to race out of her dam, a route horse, but the first to show this kind of ability.

Golden Canary

Aug. 20, 8th race Woodbine, Soaring Free97k
Beyer: 80
6 1/2 furlongs turf 1:15.47 – 1st by a neck
b.f.2, Medaglia d’Oro – Black Canary, by War Front
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: OBS March 2yo 2023 – $175,000
Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber
Trainer: Mark Casse
Breeder: Bonne Chance Farm

Second in her debut, Golden Canary improved 14 Beyer points as trainer Mark Casse made a move he frequently employs with 2-year-olds at Woodbine, running a maiden in a stakes race. Golden Canary broke alertly and made her way to the front end, and while the Casse-trained Daring Duchess made a strong bid from the furlong grounds to the wire, Golden Canary was holding her gamely and did maintain her advantage through the gallop-out. Gary Barber, co-owner of this filly, campaigned the dam, a turf-sprinter that Casse trained. This filly gets stamina from the sire but one-turn grass racing might in the end be her calling, and if you were to choose the sharpest 2-year-old filly turf-sprint winner from the Casse barn over the weekend, you might choose Stormcast over this one.

Secret Chat

Aug. 19, 7th race Gulfstream, Fla.-bred MSW50k
Beyer: 79
6 1/2 furlongs 1:18.03 – 1st by 7 lengths
gr.c.2, Union Rags – La Vie Ross, by Medaglia d’Oro
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Gelfenstein Farm
Trainer: Roderick Rodriguez
Breeder: Gelfenstein Farm

Florida-bred maiden winners are few and far between in this space, but Secret Chat gets a mention because he won so well. Breaking slowly from the rail and last by several lengths a furlong into his debut, Secret Chat smoothly cruised up into contention into the turn before mowing down the leaders while barely seeming to get out of a gallop. Not only did he overcome his slow start and lack of speed, he won by a wide margin while appearing to have plenty left at the wire, galloping out like a route horse. Might be better than the figure and certainly was far too good for Florida-breds.