Breakout Beyers: Timberlake shows he’s ready for big stage with Ellis win

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

Timberlake
July 21, 2nd race Ellis, MdSpWt70k
Beyer: 85
7 furlongs 1:23.38 – 1st by 9 1/4 lengths
b.c.2, Into Mischief – Pin Up, by Lookin At Lucky
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2022 – $350,000
Owner: Siena Farm and WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Breeder: St. Elias Stable

This colt was bet to even money making his career debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Ellis on June 19 – and checked in sixth, beaten more than 14 lengths. What a difference one start worth of experience and the addition of blinkers made. The distant runner-up is named West Saratoga, and had this 2-year-old maiden run this way at the Spa, he’d have set the racing community buzzing. Instead, this standout juvenile performance took place out of the spotlight, but if Timberlake builds on it, he’ll find his way to a big stage soon enough. He easily kept up with the pacesetter while racing outside him, took over without being asked, drew away in upper stretch under minimal encouragement, and racked up the wide win margin despite being seriously geared down the final 50 yards or so. The dam raced in Europe, and while not especially successful, was campaigned as far as 1 3/4 miles. This colt, while fast, absolutely has the look and stride rhythm of a horse who will want to go long, making him a prime player for major races later this summer and fall.

Sam’s Treasure
July 23, 6th race Saratoga, MdSpWt105k
Beyer: 78
6 furlongs 1:11.22 – 1st by 5 3/4 lengths
b.f.2, Munnings – Malibu Treasure, by Malibu Moon
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling 2022 – $700,000
Owner: Breeze Easy
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Breeder: Baron Thoroughbreds

There’s not a whole lot of black type up close in this filly’s pedigree, meaning her high-end purchase price came more from her looks and conformation. Indeed, she appears to be a powerful, well-made individual, and one with ample talent. They debuted the filly on turf at Belmont and she was a good second, though nowhere near as sharp as in this showing. Breaking decently, not great, she took up a pressing position just behind a fast opening quarter-mile. The jockey had a hard hold of Sam’s Treasure until just past the half-mile pole, where he let her out half a notch and the filly immediately jumped on the leader. Sam’s Treasure took command midway around the turn and never came close to being threatened with the rider going to the crop a few times just to make sure. That little move going into the turn as much as the many lengths back to second suggest this is very much a stakes prospect.

Crazy Mason
July 20, 5th race Saratoga, MdSpWt (restricted) 83k
Beyer: 75
5 1/2 furlongs 1:04.75 – 1st by 9 1/2 lengths
b.c.2, Coal Front – Izshelegal, by Maria’s Mon
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2021 – $20,000; Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling 2022 – $27,500
Owner: Donna Wright
Trainer: Gregory Sacco
Breeder: Gmbracstables, Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Rangel, and Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Madden

Was prepared to be underwhelmed by a second-time starter from Monmouth winning a maiden race restricted to horses who sold for $50,000 or less but came away with the opposite impression – that this colt might be pretty good. Lacked speed and rallied decently for second going five furlongs in his debut, the addition of blinkers getting him into this race much more quickly and helping produce a 30-point Beyer jump. Crazy Mason, after a moderate break, put himself into a sweet spot pressing outside a pace rival, whom he overwhelmed at the quarter pole. He drew steadily clear while initially failing to switch leads, and when he finally did switch a little before the sixteenth pole, Crazy Mason straightened up and came across the line nicely, then galloped out very well. Low purchase prices aside, he appears to be a very good-looking colt with some scope to him. The dam was a decent allowance-class route horse who hasn’t yet thrown much, but this colt’s broodmare sires are Maria’s Mon, A.P. Indy, Storm Cat, and Mr. Prospector. That’s a powerhouse lineup and one that suggests he should go farther than this, no problem. He’s the third winner already from eight foals to race among the first crop of the sire Coal Front, and this was a top Beyer for the stallion by 20 points.

Dr. Venkman
July 21, 2nd race Del Mar, MdSpWt85k
Beyer: 91
6 1/2 furlongs 1:15.18 – 1st by 5 1/4 lengths
b.c.3, Ghostzapper – Theory of Change, by Archarcharch
Noteworthy siblings: Tranche (Collected, foaled 2021) – stakes winner
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 – $105,000
Owner: Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, James Hailey, Philip Wood
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Breeder: Ghostzapper Syndicate and Hidden Brook Farm

The funny thing is his 2-year-old sibling, Tranche, debuted more than three months before he did and won a stakes last month at Santa Anita. Can’t remember seeing a career workout pattern like Dr. Venkman’s: He posted his first published work in May 2022 and worked with some regularity all the way through December while never starting. Then came a gap in works until May, after which he breezed steadily into this smart debut victory. Dr. Venkman broke somewhat flat-footed from post 6 but traveled strongly into the race through the first furlong, and by the turn he was eagerly in the bridle while stuck down on the rail behind three pace horses. The rider had so much horse that he was able to bull his way into the clear before the quarter pole despite having a rival not far off his flank. Dr. Venkman came into the stretch about four paths wide with all the momentum. He swept to the lead before the furlong grounds while going back down to the fence to finish well clear. The gallop-out was solid, not memorable, for what that’s worth. He’s a stout-looking colt, one of four foals to race out of a dam who made two turf-route starts at age 2 before the racing part of her career ended.