Synchrony has look of major talent

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Stars of Tomorrow cards aren’t necessarily the only ones that produce exciting 2-year-olds at the Churchill Downs fall meet. A good horse is eligible to spring forth from just about any 2-year-old race at Churchill – such as an allowance held as the second race last Saturday.

Synchrony, a Pin Oak Stable homebred colt, won for the second straight time and stamped himself as a top prospect for the major 3-year-old stakes this winter at Oaklawn Park.

“We think he’s got a real future,” said trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.

Synchrony earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure in outnodding another promising colt, Uncle Walter, in the 7 1/2-furlong race. The victory followed a 3 3/4-length maiden triumph Oct. 11 at Keeneland.

Synchrony is by leading sire Tapit and is the third foal to race from Brownie Points, a Pin Oak homebred who won eight stakes and more than $950,000 from 27 starts from 2005-08.

“He’s pretty straightforward,” said Von Hemel. “The only real quirk to him is after he trains, he gets a little rambunctious – just like his mom did.”

Synchrony will move with the rest of the local Von Hemel string to Oaklawn shortly after the 21-day Churchill fall meet ends Nov. 29.

Meanwhile, Von Hemel said that Gold Medal Dancer has been retired and will not be in the lineup for the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap, the first of four graded stakes here during closing week. Gold Medal Dancer ran third Nov. 7 in the Chilukki to end a career in which she earned $639,699.