Breakout Beyers: Therideofalifetime could go on

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

Therideofalifetime

July 11, 2nd race, Keeneland, MdSpWt69k
Beyer: 85
6f, 1:09.81, 1st by 8 1/4 lengths
ch. c. 3, Candy Ride–Cosmic Evolution, by Proud Citizen
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Stephen Fidel
Trainer: Ignacio Correas IV
Breeder: Stephen Fidel
Second-time starter had given futile chase to Asmussen-trained debut winner Jackie’s Warrior going five furlongs at Churchill, running well, and took a considerable step forward in this six-furlong Keeneland maiden race – considerable to the extent that his 85 Beyer equaled Prisoner’s for the top 2-year-old figure so far this year. Broke like a rocket under Jose Ortiz and led throughout, Ortiz giving him three left-handed reminders at the three-sixteenths pole before hand-riding to an impressive victory, including a final furlong in just more than 12 seconds, very encouraging for a July 2-year-old. Besides the obvious ample speed, there is plenty of stay on both sides of this pedigree (broodmare sires: Proud Citizen, Ghostzapper, Seattle Slew, Private Account). Very nice prospect.

Militarist

July 9, 9th race, Keeneland, MdSpWt69k
Beyer: 85
1 1/16m, turf, 1:43.18, 1st by 3 1/2 lengths
Gr. c. 3, Liam’s Map–Hay Jude, by Wavering Monarch
Noteworthy siblings: Little Mike (Spanish Steps) – Multiple G1 winner (BC Turf, etc), Little Nick Colonel John) – multiple stakes winner
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018 – RNA $80,000; OBS Spring 2yo 2019 – RNA $295,000
Owner: Carlo Vaccarezza, J & G Stables, Nicholas Vaccarezza
Trainer: Carlo Vaccarezza
Breeder: Carlo Vaccarezza

Twenty-five-year-old dam, Hay Jude, has 11 foals to race, including turf superstar Little Mike, and she’s still getting runners. This horse’s 4-year-old half-brother, Parkland, was a neck from winning a Keeneland turf-route maiden special on July 12. Militarist finished a very encouraging third in a one-turn Gulfstream dirt mile to start his career but failed to follow up on that in his two subsequent starts, including a switch to turf. This, however, truly was a breakout. The race had a fast pace and the field was strung out all over the course, but Militarist, racing midpack, always appeared to be going well under Florent Geroux and moved up without being asked on the far turn. Pine Knoll, who would finish third, was being hard ridden to gain ground to the quarter pole, for instance, and Militarist jumped on him without Geroux really even moving his hands. Colt with good size really finished this off with aplomb, his rider providing minimal encouragement before a strong gallop-out. Looked like a potential stakes horse, to be honest.

Pop A Choc

July 9, 6th race, Belmont, MdSpWt64k
Beyer: 84
7f, 1:21.77, 1st by 5 1/4 lengths
Gr. f. 3, Bernardini–Chocolate Pop, by Cuvee
Noteworthy siblings: Airoforce (Colonel John) – Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), Bourbon (G3)
Auctions: Keeneland September Yearling 2018 - $330,000
Owner: Gary Barber and John Oxley
Trainer: Mark Casse
Breeder: Camas Park Stud and Lynch Bagas

Modest performances in a pair of turf miles to start her career this spring at Gulfstream, so this came somewhat out of nowhere, as indicated by the 13-1 odds. Broke well enough from the rail but had to work to come through along the inside and lead. They stacked up four wide outside her at the quarter pole but by the three-sixteenths Pop A Choc who forged forward, going clear, and while she appeared to tire in the final half-furlong, no one came close to catching her. The improved speed and a 25-point Beyer jump going turf to dirt suggests this could be a point of departure, more than a one-off flash, for a filly who is bred to get farther.

Red Hierarchy

July 12, 8th race, Woodbine, Ontario-sired MdSpWt or $40kMcl – purse $47k
Beyer: 83
6 1/2f, Tapeta, 1:16.14, 1st by six lengths
Ch. g. 3, Signature Red–Majestic Red, by Rahy
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Norsemen Racing Stable
Trainer: Jamie Attard
Breeder: Howard Walton

Debuted in blinkers, broke a half-step slow but came up to be part of a five-horse early pace tussle before rider let three horses fight for the lead while sitting four wide on the outside down the backstretch and to midway around the far turn. Pounced at the five-sixteenths, made the front turning for home, and really opened up to the finish, getting his final half-furlong in a fast 5.86 seconds. Has a nice bounding stride and very much above average for an Ontario-bred first timer.