Breakout Beyers: Tuscan Gold shows scope to go distance in maiden win

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

Tuscan Gold
Jan. 31, 7th race Gulfstream, MdSpWt70k
Beyer: 84
1 1/16 miles 1:46.42 – 1st by 6 1/4 lengths
b.c.3, Medaglia d’Oro – Valadorna, by Curlin
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2022 – $600,000
Owner: William Lawrence, Walmac Farm, and Stonestreet Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings

It’s not hard to make the case that this colt could wind up considerably better than the number this second-start maiden win produced, which itself was good. This marked Tuscan Gold’s first start since his debut in a one-turn Aqueduct mile on Nov. 4, a race in which he encountered significant trouble and that was won by his highly regarded stablemate Sierra Leone. The colt looks fairly enormous and runs like the sort of large-framed, later-developing horse who can improve markedly with racing. Breaking from post 6, he was, unsurprisingly given his stature, somewhat slow to start, lurching slightly outward and going into the turn five paths of the rail. Tuscan Gold never got closer to the rail than the No. 3 path, if he even got there, and turning into the backstretch was being ridden to hold position by Tyler Gaffalione, who even flagged the colt with his crop a couple times at about the six-furlong marker. In fact, Gaffalione had to stay busy on Tuscan Gold almost the entire trip, but in the end his mount proved very willing, getting closer to the leaders before the far turn, coming between rivals to engage the favored pacesetter, Skip the Line, and eventually taking control of the race in upper stretch. Tuscan Gold changed leads on cue, pricked his ears, and drew steadily and powerfully away to the wire. This horse absolutely will benefit from shorter turns and a longer homestretch than Gulfstream provides, and from all appearances, 10 furlongs ought to be well within his scope. His dam was a real route horse and a sister to Grade 1 winner Complexity, also trained by Chad Brown.

Ultimate Authority
Feb. 2, 8th race Santa Anita, MdSpWt67k
Beyer: 90
1 mile 1:38.99 – 1st by 1/2
b.f.3, Practical Joke – Arbitress, by Tiznow
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2021 – $35,000; OBS spring 2-year-old 2023 – $100,000
Owner: Pierre Amestoy, Leslie Amestoy, Roger Beasley
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Breeder: Romar Farm & BRS

Hard to imagine a horse that travels so nicely and already is so fast selling for a mere $35,000, but there you go. This filly debuted in a race won by the high-level Kopion, then stretched from a sprint to a route and narrowly was beaten in a highly rated maiden mile by She’s a Tempest. That was a four-horse field, but seven other sophomore fillies participated in this one-mile contest, and the half-length margin of victory obscures the strength of the performances from the top two. Runner-up Where’s My Ring ran a tremendous race, carving out fast fractions, fighting to the finish, and finishing nearly 18 lengths in front of the third-place horse. Ultimate Authority got the better trip, stalking from third, several lengths off the pace down the backstretch, before coming up to engage the leader around the turn. Where’s My Ring wasn’t giving an inch, but Ultimate Authority had that outside momentum and pushed past before the stretch call. Flavien Prat shut down his mount just after the finish as Where’s My Ring galloped out far in front. Ultimate Authority, with Quiet American and Great Above showing up as broodmare sires, has a pedigree nicely melding speed and stamina. She brings a solid three-race foundation into late winter and looks very much like a stakes horse.

Tipsy Tammy
Feb. 1, 8th race Fair Grounds, MdSpWt57k
Beyer: 89
6 furlongs 1:10.50 – 1st by 2 3/4 lengths
b.f.3, Arrogate – Peggy May, by Lemon Drop Kid
Noteworthy siblings: Doc Boy (Into Mischief, foaled 2017) – multiple stakes winner
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2022 – $600,000
Owner: Rigney Racing
Trainer: Phil Bauer
Breeder: Sierra Farm

Tipsy Tammy had been an odds-on favorite in her career debut and ran a winning race but could only finish second to a Brad Cox-trained first-time starter named Impel. This time, despite failing to change leads, she comfortably held off another Cox-trained first-timer, Upon a Star, who might be pretty nice in her own right. Tipsy Tammy, who races in front bandages (for whatever that’s worth), did awkwardly change leads in her first start, but this time, leading as she had in her debut, the filly clipped along on the wrong leg through the homestretch and still put up an 89 Beyer. She appeared to win easily and galloped out with good energy, but at some point during the gallop-out dumped her rider before being corralled by an outrider. While Tipsy Tammy has sprinted twice, she has a route-oriented pedigree that also leans toward turf. Her most successful sibling, Doc Boy, was a grass route runner, and Tipsy Tammy’s second dam is Perfect Sting, a top-class turf route horse back in her day.