Not that the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, but we did have some advancement of sorts with the unveiling of the logo for the 138th running// Another week without any major stakes for 2-year-olds, but that’s all about to change with three upcoming graded races. The highlight will be the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga on Monday, but Derby starters have graduated from the With Anticipation (G2) and Sapling (G3) as well.
Notable Performers
Midnight Serenade
8/27/11 Seacliff Stakes- Calder
Trainer: Stephen DiMauro
Jockey: Jose Alvarez
Chart: Equibase
Video: Bloodhorse Replay
Beyer/BRIS Speed: 75/94
Articles: Calder Race Quotes
What makes juvenile horse racing so frustrating yet fascinating is how quick a 2-year old can surprise and progress. Midnight Serenade, trained by Stephen DiMauro, ended up out of the money in his first two starts before being dropped to the claiming ranks. He was able to finish first in his maiden claiming debut (and avoid a claim), but was eventually disqualified for impeding a rival.
Sensing he had a horse with promise, DiMauro moved him back up to special company where he finally broke his maiden. This past Saturday Midnight Serenade made his stakes debut at Calder and earned what was once an unthinkable black-type score.
DiMauro credits apprentice jockey Jose Alvarez with suggesting the gelding could excel as a closer. Beginning 10th of 11th Midnight Serenade bided his time in the back while his competition set a dawdling pace up front. Usually a closer will need quickness in front in order to pass tired horses, but Midnight Serenade turned on the afterburners nonetheless and made a wide sweeping move into the final turn to blow past all of the entries.
Midnight Serenade is the son of Kentucky Derby starter Bandini (himself the son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus), who won the Bluegrass Stakes and finished 2nd in the Fountain Of Youth along the trail. On the dam side, Midnight Serenade is out of a winning mare, who is a half-sister to two stakes winners and two stakes placed runners that raced primarily at a mile or less.
Midnight Serenade’s catalog page can be viewed here
Fire On Ice
8/27/11 Saratoga Maiden Special Weight
Trainer: John Kimmel
Jockey: David Cohen
Chart: Equibase
Video: YouTube
Beyer/BRIS Speed: 88/99
Articles: Saratogian
Yes, another quick maiden winner from Saratoga. This makes CTD NP #6 from the short meet, and Fire On Ice did it in much the same fashion as the rest: bolt out of the gate, set the pace up front, and never look back. His Beyer of 88 was the highest of the week and well above any of the seven juvenile stakes races. The winning margin was an off-the-screen 10 3/4 lengths.
A $160,000 purchase, Fire On Ice is by Unbridled’s Song out of a Storm Cat mare. This represents the second CTD NP sired by Unbridled’s Song, who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby, and Wood Memorial in the lead up to his 5th place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
The unraced dam is a half sister to champion sprinter Squirtle Squirt, which could suggest Fire On Ice might not prefer stretching out. His full catalog page can be viewed here
2YO Non-Graded Stakes Results:
8/26/11 CTHS Sales S- ASD- Winner: Danger Rules- chart
8/27/11 Seacliff S.- CRC- Winner: Midnight Serenade- chart
8/27/11 Fasig Tipton Turf Dash- CRC- Winner: Musical Flair- chart
8/27/11 Florida Stallion Affirmed S.- CRC- Winner: Fort Loudon- chart
8/27/11 Birdcatcher S.- NP- Winner: Dougs Buddy- chart
8/27/11 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association Lads S.- EMD- Winner: Chu And I- chart
8/27/11 Western Heritage S.- MD- Winner: Langfuhr Max- chart
Works:
8/22/11 Sum of the Parts CD- 4F- 51:00- B- 16/34
8/22/11 Worthington RP- 4F- 52:38- B- 21/21
8/23/11 J C's Pride SAR- 4F- 48:60- B- 14/32
8/23/11 Bay Park Boy SAR- 4F- 48:30- B- 10/32
8/24/11 Power World SAR- 4F- 50:93- B- 48/60
8/24/11 Tarpy's Goal BEL- 3F- 39:88- B- 13/13
8/26/11 Twelve Hundred AP- 5F- 59:20- B- 1/29
8/26/11 Majestic City DMR- 6F- 1.12:00- H- 1/8
8/27/11 Thursby FH- 4F- 49:20- B- 5/9
8/27/11 Team Six FH- 5F- 1.02:00- B- 1/6
8/27/11 Hogy AP- 1M- 1.40:60 B- 1/1
8/27/11 Currency Swap MTH- 5F- 1.02:00- B- 7/28
8/28/11 Secret Circle DMR- 7F- 1.29:40- H- 7/8
Articles:
Kentucky Derby logo revealed (Churchill Downs)
Top 2YO Speed Figures
Top winning 2yo BRIS figs last week: Fire On Ice - 99; Midnight Serenade - 94; Musical Flair - 94; A Toe By Three - 93; Fort Loudon – 92
Winning 2yo Beyers last week: Fire On Ice - 88; Midnight Serenade - 75; Musical Flair - 75; A Toe By Three - 77; Fort Loudon - 68
Futures:
