The 111 running of the Bashford Manor is the first graded stakes race held for two year olds. Typical of early season juvenile stakes races, distance challenged sprinters are prevalent in the six furlong event held at Churchill Downs. The last colt to win/place in the Grade 3 event and have an influence on the following year’s Classics was 1989 Bashford Manor champ Summer Squall. The back to back winners in 2006 and 2007, Circular Quay and Kodiak Kowboy, became multiple graded sprinter/milers.
This year's Bashford Manor field holds seven contestants and two from the Asmussen barn.
The stronger of the entry, D'CAJUN CAT (D'wildcat - Rabiadella, by Dynaformer), broke from the #2 position in his debut, sat professionally behind the dueling speed and collared them around the turn. He raced briefly with the second place finisher before drawing off easily by 5 ¼ lengths over a sloppy track. D'cajun Cat was one of the top-priced juveniles to sell at the OBSMAR sale for $300K after working a furlong in :10 flat. He's a half to seven winners, including the ultra precocious multiple stakes winner Say a Novena, who set a track record at Monmouth at two. D'cajun Cat is also a half to the G-2 winner Diadella and stakes winner El Kingdom.
In his debut, GUN ROAR (Bernstein - Roaring Twenties, by Dixieland Band) broke well, but couldn't keep up with the leaders early on. Down the sloppy stretch, he appeared beaten, but with constant flogging by his jock, quickened on the inside to catch the fighting leaders by a neck. Gun Roar
is the seventh foal born of his dam to make it to the races. Three of his half siblings are winners, one is a stakes winner and one is graded stakes placed. Their dam won the G-1 Selena Stakes.
DEBT CEILING (Discreet Cat - Top Marks, by Marquetry) won both starts by a combined seven lengths, including the Rollicking Stakes at Pimlico. All five of his half sibs to start are winners, including the stakes placed veteran, Dean's List. Both his dam and second dam top Princess are stakes winners. Debt Ceiling worked a bullet for the Bashford Manor. Trainer John Robb is 0-4 in graded stakes, but wins with 20% shippers.
What's a two year old race at Churchill without Wesley Ward? His charge HOLLYWOOD TALENT (Talent Search - Intrinsic Value, by Johannesburg) grabbed the lead in his debut and never looked back, winning his 4 ½ F race in :51 by 3 ½ lengths at Keeneland. Hollywood Talent's young sire is #5 on the freshman sire leader board with six runners and two winners. There's no blacktype in the first two generations of his female family.
RUNKLE (Yes It's True - Elizabeth Street, by Street Cry (IRE)) and SANDBAR (War Pass - Summer Cruise, by Vicar) were courageous in their debut. With three horses fighting it out down to the wire, Runkle came in slightly, creating a pinball effect with Sandbar on the outside. Runkle drew off to win by a couple lengths, but was disqualified, giving Sandbar the win. Both colts immediate distaff families are light on blacktype, however Sandbar's dam is a stakes winning sprinter.
MY CORINTHIAN (Corinthian - Texas Rush, by Wild Rush) blew away maidens by over seven lengths in his inaugural race, going 5F on turf. His dam is a stakes placed dirt sprinter and overall, his pedigree is strongly dirt oriented. The Kobiskie barn is 22% with shippers.
SELECTIONS
D'CAJUN CAT is the best-bred colt in the field and is sent out by the strong Asmussen barn, whose Del Mar Holiday placed in last week's Debutante. DEBT CEILING exited a stakes race and breezed two sub 1:00 5F. He'll be sharp and doesn't need the lead to win. It would be dangerous to overlook the connections of Ward/Ramsey at Churchill. Their HOLLYWOOD TALENT has been working forwardly at Keeneland. MY CORINTHIAN owns the highest late-pace speed figure in the race.
#6 D'CAJUN CAT
#3 HOLLYWOOD TALENT
#2 MY CORINTHIAN
#4 DEBT CEILING – longshot pick
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