Hatchett's 2-year-olds ready to make impact

MIAMI - There was little doubt trainer Jim Hatchett had far and away the best crop of 2-year-olds on the grounds at the mid-point of the season, with such promising youngsters as Hear No Evil, Massive, Crimson and Roses, Awesome of Course, and Scrubs in the barn.

Unfortunately for Hatchett, only Scrubs was eligible for the rich Florida Stallion Stakes. And during the summer at Calder there are virtually no options for talented juveniles ineligible for the Stallion series.

So Hatchett sent Massive to the farm, shipped Hear No Evil, Crimson and Roses, and Awesome of Course off to Saratoga with trainer Tim Ritvo, then spent most of the summer biding his time until his young stars came home.

They all figure to be major factors in the remaining 2-year-old stakes on the schedule, beginning Nov. 16 with the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile and its filly counterpart, the $150,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies Stakes.

Hear No Evil figures to be among the favorites in the Jack Price Juvenile. A son of Carson City, Hear No Evil won three straight starts, including the Criterium Stakes, during a six-week span from May 25 through July 6. After being overmatched when sent north for the Sanford and Sapling stakes, Hear No Evil got a brief freshening before returning here and finishing second behind Super Fuse in the Birdonthewire Stakes.

"I'm sure glad Super Fuse is not eligible for this one," Hatchett said. "We ran our race in the Birdonthewire but that horse was a monster. He went six furlongs in 1:10 and one and you don't see too many 1:10 and ones around here."

Hatchett is also strongly considering starting Crimson and Roses in the seven- furlong O'Farrell.

Crimson and Roses has been idle since finishing a tiring fifth in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes on Aug. 12. She was also fourth in the Grade 2 Schuylerville.

Prior to shipping north, Crimson and Roses won her maiden by 11 lengths and then finished second behind Heavenly Miss in the J j'sdream Stakes.

Crimson and Roses worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 here Tuesday and will work again early next week. Hatchett will then make a decision on her status for the O'Farrell.

"She ran some nice races but was up against some of the best 2-year-old fillies in the country in New York," Hatchett said. "She's really bred to go long on the grass and I'm really looking forward to getting her on the turf."

As for the aptly named Massive, Hatchett decided to give the colt some time to mature following his impressive 11-length debut win on June 15.

"I'd like to bring him back slow so we'll pass the stakes and point for a one-other-than allowance race on the 30th," said Hatchett. "Hopefully he's as good as we think he is and will be ready to take on the big boys when we get to Gulfstream."

Like Hear No Evil and Crimson and Roses, Massive is owned by the Jacks or Better Farm.