Precocious Talent in the Bashford Manor

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

Teardrops in the Debutante

For over 200 years, aristocratic fillies have won the Churchill Downs Debutante Stakes. The roll call of winners include Alcibiades, Bewitch, Furl Sail, Hollywood Wildcat, Silverbullitday, Chilukki, and Cashiers Dream, who set a 5 ½ furlong record of 1:02 2/5. Fillies that placed in the Debutante but later went on to championship seasons are Countess Dianna and Rachel Alexandra.

The Debutante past performances read more like an allowance race than a stakes. All eleven fillies are last out maiden winners. Six of them appear to have a strong shot of having their picture taken in the winners' circle.

The pretty gray TEARDROP (Tapit - Wild Vision, by Wild Again) is one of the best bred fillies in the Debutante. She's a full sister to War Echo, who placed in the Golden Rod (G-2) as a juvenile and was victorious in the Silverbulletday (G-3) at three. Teardrop is also a ¾ sister to the multiple graded stakes winning miler Pyro (by Pulpit), hero of the Forego (G-1), Louisiana Derby (G-2), etc. Another ¾ brother, Longview Drive, is a stakes winning juvenile and placed in the Delta Jackpot (G-3). Teardrop was very green in her debut. She broke slow, veered to the outside, blew the turn going seven wide and passed the rest of the field in the stretch like they were tied to the rail. She flashed under the wire 3 ¾ lengths in front, getting 5F in :58 2/5.

Teardrop's stablemate DEL MAR HOLIDAY (Sharp Humor - Harvest Girl, by Apollo) needed two starts to win her maiden. She dueled on the lead, then pulled away to win the over a wet-fast track by two lengths, getting 5F in :59 1/5. Next out winner Mi Perlita finished fourth. Del Mar Holiday is a half sister to the multiple stakes winning sprinter Winning Image (by Southern Image).

YOKOHAMA MAMA (Purim - Mon Cherie, by Afleet) came from off of the pace to win her debut. She owns a last out bullet breeze of 4F in a sharp :47 2/5. Her half sister to Flying Kiwi (by More Than Ready) placed in a stakes at two. Trainer Randy Morse takes over her conditioning. The stable is 9% with maidens to stakes angle.

FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD (My Golden Song - Hadif Cat, by Hadif) sat behind the pace until being loosed in the stretch, blowing them away by 10 lengths at Lone Star in a very sharp :57 3/5 for 5F. The pretty gray is a half to two Texas stakes winners. Fiftyshadesofgold has been training forwardly with two strong works at Churchill. Her trainer Bret Calhoun wins with 25% of his shippers

MORE THAN BEAUTY (More Than Ready - Brown Eyed Beauty, by Miswaki) zipped 4 ½ F in :52 flat in he debut, beating Debutante entrant Deliver by more than five lengths. She's posted three consecutively faster breezes including a last out bullet. The Borel brothers team up here and trainer Cecil is 31% with two year olds.

SILVER VALLEY (Silver Train - Panorama Valley, by Peaks and Valleys) won her debut at Lone Star by 4 ¾ lengths. Her dam went 3-3 in her career, including two stakes as a juvenile.

MEDALBU (Medallist - Malibu Moment, by Malibu Moon) could be an interesting long-shot. She made up over nine lengths in her 4 ½ F debut. Her times weren't the greatest, but she owns the second highest speed figure in the field. Her sire Medallist produced last year's Debutante winner Blueeyesintherein.

SELECTIONS

TEARDROP is the top pick based upon sheer talent and class. She can't goof off with this field and hopefully gained some experience in her first start. When a trainer has two horses in the field, always pay attention to the less-notable stablemate. That would be DEL MAR HOLIDAY. She has more experience than Teardrop, although Rosie jumped off of her, Del Mar Holiday's speed figures show improvement. FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD has the highest Bris speed figure in this group and on paper, appears the fastest. She doesn't appear to be speed crazy and will be dangerous. Have to respect the Borel brothers. MORE THAN BEAUTY has been working very well. MEDALBU and SILVER VALLEY are long-shots to watch.

#8 TEARDROP

#10 FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD

#7 MORE THAN BEAUTY

#2 SILVER VALLEY – long-shot pick

Willie B in the Willard L Proctor?

With the Triple Crown contests in the history books, the new crop of two year old colts are taking the first baby steps of their careers in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park. This year's winners may be the last in the race series, which began in 1953.

Some distinguished colts had their beginnings in this stakes race. In just the second edition of the WL Proctor, a colt named Swaps finished third. He would continue on to win the Kentucky Derby and be named Horse of the Year. One of the top sprinters and sires of his time, Fleet Nasrullah won in 1957. His offspring went on to produce King's Bishop, Ancient Title, Flying Paster and other top runners. Other victors of the WL Proctor top California sire Swiss Yodeler and Champion Sprinter Squirtle Squirt.

In 2011, Willard Proctor Memorial champ J P’s Gusto, was one of the better juveniles in California, winning not only the Willard Proctor, but also the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (G-3), Best Pal (G-2) and Del Mar Futurity (G-1).

This year, nine promising colts will take their spot in the starting gate.

Willie B Awesome (Awesome Gambler - Cause I'm Tricky, by Nineeleven) appears to be the stronger of the two entrants from the Solis barn. He' is a full brother to Willa B Awesome, who was third in the Cinderella Stakes in 2011. Willa B continued on to win/place in 13 of 19 starts, including victories in the San Ysabel (G-3) and Santa Anita Oaks (G-1). Willie B Awesome encountered trouble in his first start, having to steady in traffic in the race won by Street Icon. Two weeks later Willie B came back at the same level. He broke inward from post two and was outrun early. He started making up ground on the front runners in the stretch and inherited the lead from Randio, who hit the rail and fell. Slightly green Willie B Awesome won by ½ length over Go First. Willie B Awesome showed speed figure improvement in his last two races and holds a second last bullet work.

His stablemate Time for a Hug (Time to Get Even - Action Girl, by Wild Rush) dueled the entire way and drew off to a 1 length win in his debut against state-bred maidens. There's no blacktype in his immediate family, but all three half sibs to race are winners. Time for a Hug's second dam Craftimae is a juvie stakes placed runner. WL Proctor entrant California Chrome strode nicely to get up for second and that won won next time out. Time for a Hug has recorded three consecutively faster works. Unfortunately his trainer Walther Solis is 0-26 with the maiden to stakes angle.

California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit - Love the Chase, by Not For Love) came from off of the pace to finish a narrowly beaten second in his debut going 4 ½ furlongs. That's a tough thing to do. Next time out, the good looking Chestnut was up dueling for the lead and proved best, pulling away to win by 2 ¾ lengths. His speed figures improved and he tossed a 5F bullet in his last work. He's the first foal produced by his dam. No blacktype in the first two generations, but his third dam is a MSW. Trainer Art Sherman is 21% with last out maidens winning stakes.

Street Icon (Street Boss - Legion of Merit, by Danzig) matched strides early with Geldautomat in their debut, yet never let that one by. Street Icon was green in the stretch bearing in slightly on Geldautomat. Street Icon finished a comfortable ¾ length in front of that rival. All four of Street Icon's half sibs to race are winners, but none own blacktype. Their unraced dam is a half to a SP runner and the second dam Ophidian is G3 placed. Trainer John Sadler is 21% with the maiden to stakes angle.

Street Icon's stablemate Kobe's Back (Flatter - Well, by Well Decorated) was the fourth expensive OBSMAR13 seller at $480K after working a furlong in :10.1. He's a half to G-3 winning sprinter Well Spelled. The pretty gray colt has a string of quick works. Sadler is 22% with first timers.

One More (Holy Bull - See Rock City, by Tapit) is the only filly in the race. It isn't a big deal this time of year, because both colts and fillies are on pretty even footing. In fact, similar to their human counterparts, young fillies are often more mature than the colts. That being said, only two fillies have won the WL Proctor, the last was in 1995 and the winner of the inaugural race was also a filly. It would be fitting to have another filly to close out the series. Despite the gray color of her sire and damsire, One More is a bay. Her entire female line back to her fifth dam are chestnuts. One More is the first foal borne by her dam, Rock City. That one is a half to a juvenile SW and a Juvie SP runner. Trainer Doug O'Neil is 13% with debut starters.

Solid Wager (Birdonthewire - G Ma, by Valid Wager) broke from the 1 post in his maiden claiming debut eight days ago. He hopped slightly at the start, and needed some time to get into gear. At one point he was 6 lengths behind the pace setters in this 5F race. Solid Wager cut the corner on the turn and wore them down, winning by 2 ¼ lengths in a strong :59 4/5. Trainer Peter Miller is 14% with the maiden to stakes winner angle and has won three of the last six editions of the WL Proctor.

Geldautomat (Fusaichi Pegasus - Sophie's Destiny, by Two Punch) was willing in his debut, but Street Icon refused to be headed. Geldautomat was slightly bothered by his rival coming in on him in the stretch, but to his credit, the son of Fusaichi Pegasus didn't give up. He was bested only ¾ lengths and held off the third place finisher by ½ length. Geldautomat is the first foal produced by his dam. Both his dam and second dam are unraced, although his dam Sophie's Destiny is a half sib to SW Grand Appointment and to two SP runners. His third dam Sophisticated Girl placed in the Oak Leaf (G-1) and she'd the dam of sire Doneraile Court and second dam of sire Souvenir Copy. This is also the family of MG1 winner Excellent Meeting. Trainer Kristen Mulhall wins non-graded stakes at 27% .

Go First (Kafwain - Go Ruby Go, by Rubiano) bore in on Willie Be Awesome at the start of their debut then drifted out slightly down the backstretch. Going four wide on the turn, Go First made up ground down the center of the stretch to get up for second, ½ length behind Willie B Awesome. Go First has recorded a couple of swift breezes and trainer Dean Pederson is 20% with second time runners.

Selections

Since 2000, seven winner sat second or third in the WL Proctor,before taking over in the stretch. One sat mid-pack (4^th) while one ran them down from 8^th place. No maiden has won, and all except two winners won/placed in their debut. Another interesting bit of trivia, only two winners were foaled in California, the rest were bred in either Kentucky or Florida.

That being said, the California horses look to be stronger than their Kentucky counterparts this year. California Chrome has experience running on and off of the pace, shows a speed figure increase and a last out bullet, all signs that he's a very live horse. Willie B Awesome had an excuse in his first and ran like a good one in his second. He isn't speed crazy either. Solid Wager is the only one with experience at 5F. His race was good, but he appears to be more of a grinder. Street Icon is a stubborn horse and refused to yield to Geldautomat. He should be respected. Go First recorded the highest late pace speed figure in the group. The extra distance should suit him and hopefully, he won't be as green.

#6 Willie B Awesome

#7 California Chrome

#8 Street Icon

#5- Go First