Coming Soon to a Stakes Race Near You

Today the blue-blooded babies will see action in two strong maiden races on the card today at Saratoga. The sixth race at Saratoga, maidens traveling 1 1/16 miles over turf, includes offspring from three freshmen sires. The eighth race, a six furlong dirt sprint, includes offspring from three Champion Juveniles, and freshman sire Bernardini, plus full and half siblings to graded stakes winners. Look for these promising youngsters in stakes races down the road.  Below are the pedigree profiles, race analysis and selections:

Race 6 | Maiden Two Year Old Fillies | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) | Purse: $51,000

Henny's Hurricane Photo Candice Chavez

Henny's Hurricane (Henny Hughes – Amarillo, by Crafty Prospector) Freshmen sire is off to a slow start at stud, with only 3 winners from 15 starters. Dam has two runners who started but didn’t win at two, however, one runner won a stakes race at three. The dam was a stakes winner at four and is a half sister to a stakes winner and stakes placed runner. Henny's Hurricane has primarily a dirt based pedigree, but her second damsire Apalachee was a Group 1 miler in England. Henny's Hurricane draws the one post for her debut and the jock is only 5% with turf runners.

More Than Real (More Than Ready – Miss Seffens, by Dehere) Both the sire and damsire were precocious juveniles. The More Than Ready – Dehere cross has produced a Grade 3 stakes placed runner. Dam was unplaced on one attempt over the lawn, but was a stakes winning dirt sprinter and the second dam was also a stakes winner. More Than Real has turf influences in her second and third generations and her sire and damsire get runners over all surfaces. The filly shows good works over dirt and turf and has high percentage winning connections.

My Sparky (Dehere – Head For Home, by Whisky Wisdom) Dam was unplaced in one start over the lawn. She is a half sister to a turf stakes winner. My Sparky owns a good last out work over turf, but the Weaver barn is only 3% with debut turfers.

Dynamic Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday – Dynamic Cat, by Dynaformer) This filly has a strong distaff pedigree. She is a half sister to a turf stakes placed runner and the dam was a stakes winner over turf. Dynamic Holiday was a distant second over Tapita in June. Her works have been steady and she shows a slow work over the turf. The barn is 22% with turf runners and she attracts a strong jockey.

High Strider (Aragorn – High Maintenance, by Danehill) High Strider has the strongest turf pedigree in the race and a rare double Rasmussen Factor inbreeding. She is inbred to Natalma through Northern Dancer and his half sister Spring Adieu. Another inbreeding occurs to South Ocean, who is High Strider’s fourth dam and also the dam of Storm Bird, Aragorn’s third sire. This filly has a quality distaff family full of champions. High Strider’s freshman sire was a brilliant turf miler. He is represented only by three winners, but it is early in the year and his offspring should do well as the season progresses. High Strider represents the Pletcher barn which surprisingly only wins with 10% of first time starters over turf.

Sunlight Sonata Photo: Sheri Pitzer

Sunlight Sonata (Unbridled’s Song – Storm Away, by Storm Cat) was the most expensive baby in the race, brining $340K at last year’s Fasig Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. Her dam is an unraced half sister to a stakes winner, but the class is a few generations back in this pedigree. Sunlight Sonata’s second dam Sun Blush is a half sister to stakes winner Maria’s Storm, the dam of Giant’s Causeway. Third dam Immense is a half sister to Champion tow year old Dearly Precious and the fourth dam Imsodear is a blue hen. Sunlight Sonata also has inbreeding to the good mare Grand Splendor. Sunlight Sonata didn’t show much in her debut over the muddy Belmont track but she has had two eye-catching turf works since that race.

Gulch’s Way (Thunder Gulch – Chestnut Way, by Horse Chestnut) Gulch’s Way’s half sibling has won over turf. Her dam is a half sister to Invisible Ink, who is by Thunder Gulch. Gulch’s Way shows a couple of average works over the turf, but the Nicks barn gets 25% first time winners over turf, which are the best stats in this field.

Speedy’s Gal (Yes It’s True – Rash, by Miswaki) Dam has a 3-1-1-1 record over turf. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Milwakee Brew. Speedy’s Gal owns a string of average works, including one over turf. The Donk barn is 0-23 for first time starters over turf.

War Clan

War Clan (War Front – Ashley’s Clan, by Seattle Slew) Freshman sire War Front is a son of Danzig. Most of his babies will be late maturing and prefer two turns. War Clan’s well bred dam won one of six attempts over the lawn. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Pure Clan and Grade 2 winning sire Greater Good. The second dam Gather The Clan won a Grade 3 turf race and the third dam What a Summer was a Champion Sprinter. War Clan showed nothing sprinting over the dirt last month. She represents the highly respected Mott barn.

Selections:

Experience is key in maiden races, especially in a full field where anything can happen.

In her debut, Sunlight Sonata was fourth behind Position Limit who is entered in tomorrow’s Adirondack Stakes (G-2). Sunlight Sonata shows a live (fast/slow/fast) work pattern after that race. War Clan shows a good last out work over the turf and should find this surface and distance to her liking. Dynamic Holiday has the turf breeding and while her works aren’t as fast as others in here, she has experience and attracts a high percentage jock. High Strider has the best turf pedigree in the race and should do well at this distance. Keep an eye on More Than Real, she’s bred to win early and has very good works.

Sunlight Sonata
High Strider
More Than Real
War Clan – longshot
 
Race 8 | Two Year Old Maidens | 6 furlongs | Purse: $50,000

Heisman (Distorted Humor – Weekend in Indy, by AP Indy) Full brother to Any Given Saturday makes his debut. Any Given Saturday was second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at two. Colt had the unfortunate luck to draw the rail and his works are rather slow for the Pletcher barn.

Magnet Cove (Aptitude – Toni Denitto, by Quiet American) Modest but durable distaff family. Dam won twice in 11 starts, both past a mile. The works are good, but he will likely find this distance too short.

Washington's Rules (Roman Ruler – Petite Charme, by Silver Charm) is working well. Dam is an unraced half sister to Canadian G-3 winner Raylene, and stakes winning sprinter Princess Janie. Trainer is 0-9 with maidens this week, but in the money 63%.

Orsonian (Officer – Miss Speed, by Forty Niner) has win early speed top and bottom and the works to win first time out. Orsonian has a rare inbreeding to La Troinne. His dam and sire trace directly back to the important mare through their respective female families. He is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Amazing Speed and stakes winning sprinter Wild Speed. Second dam is a G-3 winner.

Brock

Brock (Distorted Humor – Tomisue’s Delight, by AP Indy) is a half brother to Grade 1 turf winner Mr. Sidney and stakes placed turf runner Save Big money. Dam was a multiple Grade 1 winner and full sister to Mineshaft. Second through fourth dams are blue hens and colt’s distaff family also traces back to La Troinne. Brock shows strong works and the barn wins with 21% first time runners.

Call the Ball (Vindication – Cattleya, by Forestry) has precocious speed top and bottom in his pedigree. Colt’s half sister won her debut at two. Second dam was a G-3 winner and a full sister to the handicap horses Include and Encaustic. While the pedigree indicates plenty of speed, the works are slow and the barn wins 11% with first timers.

Fair Whit (Birdstone – Slew Smarts, by Seattle Slew) Half brother won tow of three starts at two and is stakes placed. Not much blacktype (stakes wins) in the first few generations, however the fourth dam won the Kentucky Oaks. The works aren’t bad, but this colt will likely want two turns.

Eltheeb (Bernardini – El Rabbi, by Fusaichi Pegasus) By Champion three year old and freshman sire Bernardini. Dam is a half sister to English Gr. 1 two year old winner Saratoga Springs and stakes winner Populist. Strong pedigree, good works, high win percentage barn.

Stay Thirsty - EclipseSportswire

Stay Thirsty (Bernardini – Marozina, by Storm Bird) is the only horse in the race with experience. He’s a half brother to freshman sire Andrommeda’s Hero and his precocious full brother Superfly. The second dam was a multiple stakes winner.

Selections:

He who gets a sharp break can likely win, since 43% of the sprint races this week have been won wire-to-wire.

Stay Thirsty has experience and was a gaining second at 5 ½ furlongs last out. The rest must be selected based upon pedigree, works, trainer and jockey stats. Brock shows very strong works for a high percentage barn.

Orsonian has a very precocious pedigree and the only 3 furlong “lung opener” in the group. Trainer stats are low for this group and Gomez is 0-9 in the maiden department this week, but this one could be a live longshot. Eltheeb also has good works. Trainer has only 3 maiden starters this week, but has been in the money with two of them. Many eyes and dollars will be on Heisman, however maidens seldom win from the rail and his works aren’t that fast. Hard to overlook a runner from the Pletcher barn and he could run in the money, but there are others with better works.

Stay Thirsty

Brock
Eltheeb
Orsonian – Longshot