DRF Breeding Standout: Due Diligence dominant in debut

Due Diligence took command early and never looked back, showing a powerful kick down the stretch to win his debut effort by 7 1/2 lengths on Monday at Saratoga Race Course.

The dark bay or brown War Front colt completed the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race in 1:02.65 over turf labeled as firm, with jockey Javier Castellano aboard. Due Diligence earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut.

Due Diligence is owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, and is trained by Chad Brown. Klaravich purchased the colt for $190,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.

"We expected him to run well; he had trained flawless all spring and summer, but with unraced 2-year-olds you never know until you actually run them," Brown said. "It's nice to see when they go ahead and run to their training, and this horse ran to his training today."

War Front, an 11-year-old son of Danzig, stands at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky. for an advertised fee of $80,000. He is currently tied for second among North American sires by number of graded stakes winners in 2013, with five.

Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider, Due Diligence is out of the stakes-winning Pulpit mare Bema, who is the dam of five winners from as many foals to race, including Grade 3-placed winner Ocasta. Bema was bred to Exchange Rate for the 2014 foaling season.

On Aug. 7 at Saratoga, full brother Console won an optional claiming race by 2 1/2 lengths, going 5 1/2 furlongs – the same distance as Due Diligence’s maiden score.

Other notable family members of Due Diligence include Grade 2 winner Dancinginherdreams and Grade 3 winner Siebe.