Breeders' Cup Distaff: Thorpedo Anna's little brother makes career debut at Churchill on Friday
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DEL MAR, Calif. – One day before Thorpedo Anna starts favored in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar, her half-brother McAfee is scheduled to make his debut in a 2-year-old maiden race at Churchill Downs.
McAfee, a colt by Cloud Computing, is a longshot in race 10 Friday at Churchill, but perhaps bettors should disregard McAfee’s 12-1 morning line and simply bet him blind. After all, the first two runners from broodmare Sataves also outran their debut price.
Sataves’ first runner was sired by Tourist. Charlee O paid $61.50 winning her career debut as a 2-year-old in a turf sprint at Belmont Park. The mare’s second runner is a star by Fast Anna. Thorpedo Anna paid $10.02 romping in her debut as a 2-year-old last fall at Keeneland.
More are on the way according to Judy Hicks, who bred and co-owns Thorpedo Anna, and owns her dam, Sataves. Those include a weanling filly by Known Agenda. Hicks bred Sataves to Gun Runner this spring. “I had to up it,” Hicks said, meaning breed to a high-caliber proven stallion following the success of her first foal Charlie O and the early career success of Thorpedo Anna.
Sataves could be around for a while. “She’s [only] 9, she’s got 10 years or more” to produce, Hicks said this week at Del Mar. The dam’s first runner, Charlee O, retired from racing this winter after winning two of 18. Hicks said Charlee O is currently in foal to Bolt d’Oro.
Thorpedo Anna, the second runner from Sataves, is expected to race next year at age 4. As for McAfee, the first colt from Sataves to make it to the races, he is by Cloud Computing, whose juvenile debut progeny win at a slightly below average 9 percent clip. The colt’s trainer Rick Dutrow is 2 for 27 with debut 2-year-olds since he resumed his career.
But maybe sire and trainer stats do not matter in this case. After all, both progeny of the colt’s dam won first time out. McAfee has big shoes to fill racing six furlongs in the final race Friday at Churchill. Post time is 6:45 Eastern.
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