Breakout Beyers: Whatmakessammyrun outruns sale price in Belmont 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.

Whatmakessammyrun

Oct. 8, 10th race, Belmont, MdSpWt51k
Beyer: 89
7f turf 1:23.39, 1st by 8 3/4 lengths
b. c. 2, We Miss Artie – Reggae Rose, by Touch Gold
Noteworthy siblings: Shakhimat (Lonhro) – Multiple graded turf-stakes winner, $516K earnings
Auctions: OBS Spring 2yo 2020 - $30,000
Owner: Sterling Racing
Trainer: George Weaver
Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

What was pretty crazy about this performance – the horse didn’t even hit the front until past the quarter pole. Usually, these vast-margin maiden victories come from a front-runner, but this guy stalked the pace while wide. Ran like a wild horse the last quarter mile, racing somewhat green while showing an incredibly fast leg turnover that carried him far clear of all rivals. Another somewhat crazy thing – his $30K price tag at a sale earlier this year! “A good horse can come from anywhere” lives on. His second dam was a sister to the excellent turf horse Perfect Sting, and she produced a graded-stakes winner. There’s also Sammy’s accomplished older sibling, noted above. He should get a longer distance. Nice prospect.

California Lily

Oct. 8, 8th race, Woodbine, MdSpWt83k
Beyer: 83
5 1/2f Tapeta 1:03.38, 1st by 5 1/2 lengths
ch. f. 2, California Chrome – Wildcat Lily, by D’Wildcat
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Summer Kentucky 2019 - $80,000; OBS March 2yo 2020 - $80,000; OBS July 2yo and HRA – not sold
Owner: Gary Barber
Trainer: Mark Casse
Breeder: Perry and Denise Partin

Not only is she the first horse by California Chrome to make this list, she was bred by Perry Martin, one half of the DAP (Dumb Ass Partners), who campaigned California Chrome. Strange sales history as she was listed sold twice as a 2-year-old at OBS, once in March, again in July, but I don’t believe there was any sale in March. In any case, mega-owner Gary Barber wound up with her and found a runner. Broke on top, controllable speed, turned back two challenges, and dashed home as she pleased. On pedigree and performance, one wonders how far she’ll run, but it’s cool to see Cal Chrome with a nice horse.

Speaker’s Corner

Oct. 11, 8th race, Belmont, MdSpWt63k
Beyer: 80
7f, 1:23.05, 1st by 3/4
b. c. 2, Street Sense – Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Breeder: Godolphin

First foal to race out of an unraced daughter of Round Pond, a Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner. The dam is a sister to multiple stakes-winner Long River. Second-time starter was 3-5 finishing a well-beaten third making his career debut at Saratoga and was the 2-1 favorite here, so, apparently, he merely ran to expectations. Confident ride, too, allowing colt of modest scope to take his time and find his way around the turn racing well behind a quick pace. Came nicely into contention while green to the stick, especially left-handed, drifting out even as he was running down the place horse, who had taken a 2 1/2-length lead to the stretch call. Surely they’ll be looking to start stretching this colt out in his next start.

Malathaat

Oct. 9, 4th race, Belmont, MdSpWt63k
Beyer: 77
7f 1:23.37, 1st by 1 3/4 lengths
b. f. 2, Curlin – Dreaming of Julia, by A.P, Indy
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 - $1,050,000
Owner: Shadwell Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings

Was bet to her auction price, evidently, going off at 4-5, albeit facing just five foes. Off a half-beat slow, steadied slightly between horses just after the start, putting her behind the leaders the first furlong, but she bowled her way to the front and had the lead into the far turn. Took a sustained run from debuting Caramel Swirl, turned her away, and went on to a convincing win with the place horse more than 11 lengths in front of the third-place finishers. Dam, who had yet to produce anything, was a G1 winner, and this filly has the look of a route-made horse with speed, a most tantalizing recipe. She comes across as still somewhat unrefined, racing on talent, and is one to follow into the winter.

Saffa’s Day

Oct. 11, 9th race, Keeneland, MdSpWt68k
Beyer: 76
6 1/2f, 1:17.98, 1st by 5 1/4 lengths
ch. c. 2, Carpe Diem – Shytoe Lafeet, by King of Kings
Noteworthy siblings: Ontology (Tapit) – Graded-stakes placed, Another Lemon Drop (Lemon Drop Kid) – stakes-placed
Auctions: Keeneland November breeding 2018 - $19,000 RNA; OBS Yearling 2019 - $50,000; OBS Spring 2yo 2020 - $125,000
Owner: L & N Racing and Clark Brewster
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Breeder: SF Bloodstock

Intelligent-looking, well-balanced colt broke like a rocket in his career debut. No blinkers, no shadow roll, favorable outside pressing trip, took over in upper stretch with a good burst, finished comfortably. Note the initial RNA in 2018. Stakes-level turf-route dam had thrown a couple useful horses, so hard to know how this one fell through the cracks. On pedigree and apparent disposition, he should get at least a mile. Didn’t show like a super-elite prospect, but the professionalism and talent came through right away.

Hard Love

Oct. 10, 7th race, Belmont, MdSpWt63k
Beyer: 79
1 1/16M turf, 1:42.42, 1st by two lengths
b. r. 2, Kitten’s Joy – Hard Lovin Woman, by Rock Hard Ten
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 - $80,000 RNA; OBS Spring 2yo 2020 - $200,000
Owner: Robert LaPenta and Augustin Stable
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas
Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

Second Ramsey-bred on the list this week. Got into this race right away, attending the pace and pushing past the leader in upper stretch. Got low and stretched nicely to the finish – good speed figure for a 2-year-old turf route this time of year, and the third-place horse was 3 1/2 lengths behind second in a strung-out field. This colt doesn’t appear to have the physical presence of Catholic Boy, a very advanced 2-year-old turf horse for the same trainer. He does have speed and, from the look of his debut, plenty of sense and life about him.