Gargan, Beckman have ambitious plans for impressive youngsters
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The colt Golden Tornado and the filly Carmel Coast were both impressive juvenile debut winners here over the weekend and are both likely heading to Grade 1 stakes at Aqueduct in the fall.
Golden Tornado, a son of McKinzie trained by Danny Gargan, won a six-furlong maiden race by 3 1/4 lengths over the highly regarded and heavily bet Oscar’s Hope. Golden Tornado ran the distance in 1:10.87 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
“He ran good. He was a little green. When he gets out there by himself, he looks around, he plays around, but I thought for a first race he was pretty impressive,” said Gargan, who trains the colt for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Gainesway Stable, and Legendary Thoroughbreds.
Golden Tornado, a $475,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale, will be pointed to the Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct. As of Monday, the New York Racing Association had not released its Belmont at the Big A fall stakes schedule, but the Champagne figures to be run Oct. 4.
On Sunday, Carmel Coast, a daughter of Omaha Beach, won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths, running the distance in 1:17.25 and also earning an 86 Beyer. Trainer Whit Beckman said Carmel Coast was doing well at Keeneland, but when he got her to Saratoga, “she just absolutely flourished when getting on the main track.”
“She had some really solid works,” added Beckman. “She’s got all the things you need. She’s got a real solid mind, a desire to compete. She’s just a very solid horse for us.”
Beckman, who is typically based in Kentucky, said he plans to keep a division at Saratoga through September, and Carmel Coast is one who could stay and point to a race like the Grade 1 Frizette, also presumably on Oct. 4.
Beckman hopes to have a 2-year-old he could consider for a race like the Champagne when he runs Hero Declared in a maiden race on Saturday. A $575,000 2-year-old-in-training purchase at OBS March, the son of Maclean’s Music is set to debut going 6 1/2 furlongs.
“He’s very talented. He’s one we liked all along,” Beckman said. “Obviously, they got to put it together in the afternoons, so all we can say at this point is he’s very talented in the morning. Jose Ortiz is going to ride him. He’s been working him for me and seems to like the horse a lot and wants to stick with him.”
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