JUVENILE

ALPHA
CREATIVE CAUSE
CRUSADE
DADDY LONG LEGS
DRILL
DULLAHAN
FORT LOUDON
HANSEN
OPTIMIZER
PROSPECTIVE
SPEIGHTSCITY
TAKE CHARGE INDY
UNION RAGS

Past Performances
 

ALPHA (KY)
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Godolphin Stable
Breeder: Darley
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Bernardini (A.P. Indy, Cara Rafaela)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Munnaya (Nijinksy (CAN), Hiaam)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 7-6-19-4-0 (36) 1.67
Foal Date: March 11, 2009

No public sale.

Alpha has turf influence in his breeding. He's out of the Nijinsky II mare Munnaya, who won an English listed stakes. Munnaya has produced four horses with black type, including Mystic Melody, who in France captured a listed stakes and placed in two Group 3 events.

Sept. 3, Maiden Special Weight, Saratoga, Seven Furlongs. He won by six and was timed in 1:23.97 after laying about five lengths back of early splits of :22.59 and :45.27. Ten ran. Alpha was 6-1. Favored Africanist was 7-5 and finished third. The chart call: "Alpha was hustled from the start then urged along on the inside, came under a strong ride while inside early on the turn, moved off the rail while advancing near the five-sixteenths pole, stormed to the front in upper stretch and drew away under steady urging."

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin: “He drew down toward the inside, the 3 hole he had, and I was afraid of two who had already started (Invocation and Africanist) because seven-eighths is a hard distance first-time out. It was a ‘wow’ performance. He ran huge. Everything went right for him and he won easily. We don’t win that often first-time out, so that was nice.

“We try to get them all started on the dirt, and he trained well on the dirt. We will probably look at the Champagne on October 8. It’s a big step up, but that’s what you have to do these days. We’ll also see what Sheikh Mohammed and his people want us to do.”

Sept. 18 NOTE: “He’s smallish-framed, so he doesn’t need to work every week,” said trainer McLaughlin.

Sept. 23 NOTE: Following a Sept. 21 workout, the trainer said the stable colors would be switched from Darley's to Godolphin's. “He’ll work one more time for the Champagne,” said trainer McLaughlin. “He’s going to change jerseys. He’ll have a blue jersey on him. He’ll run under my name, but a different jersey. He’ll go from maroon to blue  We’ll take it one race at a time. If he graduates from McLaughlin High School and goes on to college, we’ll be proud and hopeful.”

Sept. 30 NOTE: "Stepping up to a grade I is not easy, but we want to see where we stand. Alpha, we figure he belongs for sure. Going from seven-eighths to a mile, he wants the distance," trainer McLaughlin said.

“They take us there,” said McLaughlin. “We’re not trying to win impressively first-time out to sell them. We don’t usually sell any, and we don’t put them behind dirt and work them, work them, and work them. We would rather have them race and learn from the race and get experience in the race. Usually, they improve a lot second time, but neither (Alpha or stable mate Miss Netta) can probably improve a lot; they ran great and were more ready than we thought.”

Oct. 8, Grade I Champagne Stakes, Belmont Park, One Mile. Alpha, the 2-1 second choice, closed from last to gain second, a neck ahead of longshot Right to Vote. But 6-5 favorite Union Rags abruptly changed course in mid-stretch after being blocked and went on to a 5 1/4-length victory.

With Javier Castellano aboard, Union Rags was bumped at the break and had to settle in fifth behind Right to Vote and Power World as they took the field of eight juveniles through an opening quarter-mile in :22.74 and a half in :45.84.

With nowhere to go as they headed for home, Castellano first tried to steer Union Rags between horses, but then angled sharply to the outside. Once clear, the big colt took off with a rousing late run that carried him under the wire in 1:35.55 for the mile.

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of runner-up Alpha: “I was happy with the way he ran in only his second start. He finished second to a very nice horse. We’ll go on to the Breeders’ Cup with him.”

Alan Garcia, rider aboard runner-up Alpha: “He was acting up a little bit in the gate and he broke a little slow out of there. It cost me a lot the first part of the race, but he was running very hard at the end.”

CREATIVE CAUSE (KY)
Trainer: Mike Harrington
Owner: Heinz Steinmann
Breeder: James C. Weigel
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat, Mariah's Storm)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer, Mary's Dream)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-2-23-0-0 (28) 1.43
Foal Date: April 6, 2009

$135,000 Keeneland September 2010.

Aug. 7, Grade II Best Pal Stakes, Del Mar, 6 1/2 Furlongs. Creative Cause made it two-for-two in his brief career with a powerful victory. He had been given a 98 Beyer in his first race.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Creative Cause stalked dueling leaders I'll Have Another and Brigand until the top of the stretch where he moved to the outside and unleashed a rally to an easy, 1 3/4 victory. I'll Have Another held on well to be second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Mighty Monsoon, with Brigand a fading fourth, another 4 1/4 lengths back in the field of six. The race was timed in 1:15.62, very good, and the fastest time for the race since Polytrack was installed as Del Mar's main track surface in 2007.

Creative Cause was the 4-5 favorite. There was a minus show pool of $6,276.

Mike Harrington: “The horse ran exactly the race I wanted to see him run. He had a lot of background before I ran him the first time, so I wasn’t worried about him bouncing.

"(Steinman) spent a lot of money for three horses. I might have a couple better than this one, but you won’t see them for a while. Maybe this fall, maybe next year. We bought them all for 3-year-olds and we’re in no hurry with any of them."

Rafael Bejarano: “Perfect trip. I couldn’t have asked for better. It set up just right for me. He gave me a big kick, but I got after him and let him gallop out strong. He’s a good horse. And I think the farther the better for him.”

Sept. 7, Grade I Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar, Seven Furlongs. Drill prevailed in a race that was roughly run due to Majestic City coming out on Creative Cause nearing the finish line, blocking Creative Cause and causing a chain reaction. The winning jockey dropped his whip a hundred yards out. The winning margin was a neck. The time was 1:22.16. Majestic City, who finished second, was disqualified to third. Creative Cause, who was beaten a length after stalking the pace, moved up to second after taking the worst of it from Creative Cause. Gun Boat, who set the pace and was untroubled by the fracas, was just a nose behind Creative Cause at the wire.

Rafael Bejarano: “I don’t know if it cost me the race or not. My horse was still running at the end. There was no doubt about that. When (Majestic City) came out on me, that was the end of that. That was a total shut off. I’m not sure if I’m going to beat the winner if I’m clear, but my horse was still running.”

Oct. 1, Grade I Norfolk Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Creative Cause, at 9-5 odds, drilled 3-5 Drill. Ruler of Dubai set the pace, which was prompted by Creative Cause. Meanwhile, Drill was fourth on the rail and looking for running room entering the turn. He found a seam and came out three wide into the stretch, but by then Creative Cause had opened up a little bit on the field, and the latter one defeated Drill by 3 1/4 lengths. Ruler of Dubai hung to get third, beaten 6 1/2 lengths. Basmati was gaining and finished another half-length back in fourth. Six ran. The winning time was 1:42.66.

Joel Rosario: “The race set up good and he did everything easy. He showed me that he was the best horse in the race. This was his first time going long. The horse on the front had an easy lead, and I was just tracking him. When I asked him to go, he just took off. I don’t know how good he is, but he ran his best race today.”

Mike Harrington: “Yes, we will take him to the Breeders’ Cup off of this race. That’s the reason we ran him. It’s a ‘Win and You’re In’ race. Yeah, he’s the best horse I’ve ever had. He raced in a perfect position, when Joel asked him, he ran by them and drew off by many, so I’d have to think he’s the best horse on the West Coast, the best 2-year-old.”

Asked about finishing a troubled third to Drill in the Del Mar Futurity: “If he hadn’t have been knocked around there he’d have won then, too.

"I’m planning on the Breeders’ Cup. Where I train him, I don’t know.”

Oct.19 NOTE: “It’s just a maintenance work. He didn’t need a lot. I think he’s doing quite well,” trainer Harrington told DRF.com. Creative Cause will have two more workouts at Hollywood Park and be shipped to Churchill Downs on Nov. 1.

CRUSADE (KY)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Owner: Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier & Derrick Smith
Breeder: La Traviata Syndicate
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Mr. Greeley (Gone West, Long Legend)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): La Traviata (Johannesburg, Piedras Negras)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-5-6-0-0 (20) 5.67
Foal Date: March 11, 2009

Crusade finished eighth in his debut on Aug. 19 on good to soft ground, then broke his maiden second time out, nine days later, going six furlongs on good ground at Curragh.

On Sept. 22, Crusade was fourth, beaten about three lengths, in the Group 3 Tattersalls at Newmarket. He "chased leaders, ridden over 2 furlongs out, driven and chased winner just over 1 furlong out, kept on same pace final furlong, lost 2 places close home." The ground was rated good to firm.

From Bloodhorse.com: "Longshot Crusade benefitted from a strong ride by jockey Seamie Heffernan as he charged between horses to capture the $234,000 Emaar Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket on Oct. 8.

"Dismissed at odds of 25-1...Crusade was forwardly placed by Heffernan as B Fifty Two went to the front to set the pace. Hot on his heels was West Leake Dimon, with the majority of the 16-runner field being tightly bunched with only a few lengths separating first from last. The lone exception was the 40-1 shot Balty Boys....

"With just over a furlong left it was anyone’s race, as Reply, under Ryan Moore, edged to the front to gain a short lead. Lilbourne Lad came up to challenge, as Crusade rallied between those two. The three colts battled it out to the wire, with Crusade prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Lilbourne Lad.

"The final time for the six furlongs was 1:10.75 over the good to firm going."

DADDY LONG LEGS (KY)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Owner: Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier & Derrick Smith
Breeder: Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Scat Daddy (Johannesburg, Love Style)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Dreamy Maiden (Meadowlake, Sparrow Lake)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 11-1-3-3-0 (18) 3.00
Foal Date: Feb. 12, 2009

Pre-entered for both the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.

After winning his Aug. 10 debut going seven furlongs on good to firm turf at Gowran Park and finshing fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths in the Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster on good to firm turf, Daddy Long Legs won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes going a mile Newmarket.

In the Royal Lodge on Sept. 24, Daddy Long Legs was timed in 1:37.77 and led throughout. The chart call: "Made all, ridden 3 furlongs out, driven and forged clear 2 furlongs out, stayed on well and in command after." Colm O'Donoghue rode. The ground for him was again good to firm.

DRILL (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman
Breeder: Stonewall Farm Stallions
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr (CAN), Donation)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Cat Dancer (Storm Cat, Poppy Dancer)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-5-9-1-0 (18) 2.27
Foal Date: March 1, 2009

$300,000 Keeneland September 2009.

Drill had a bad experience in the starting gate in his July 30 debut, finishing eighth of 10, then he won second time out on Aug. 13 at Del Mar.

Sept. 7, Grade I Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar, Seven Furlongs. Drill prevailed in a race that was roughly run due to Majestic City coming out on Creative Cause nearing the finish line, causing a chain reaction. The winning jockey dropped his whip a hundred yards out. The winning margin was a neck. The time was 1:22.16. Majestic City, who finished second, was disqualified to third. Creative Cause, who was beaten a length, moved up to second after taking the worst of it from Creative Cause. Gun Boat, who set the pace and was untroubled by the fracas, was just a nose behind Creative Cause at the wire.

The chart call for the winner: "Drill chased outside a rival then a bit off the rail, inched forward inside leaving the backstretch, came out for room on the turn, angled out into the stretch, bid five wide under left handed urging past midstretch, had the rider lose the whip nearing the sixteenth marker, was bumped hard in the final strides but got up late."

Bob Baffert: I was sort of nervous. I knew the other horse (Baffert’s Gun Boat) would be on the lead, because that was his only chance. I told (Martin Garcia) ‘I want you to teach him something today, but I want you to win also. Take him back, let him get some dirt in his face and ride him with a lot of confidence.’ And he did.

“This horse is just learning. He’s been working well here, but I really don’t think he like the Poly that much. I think he’ll prefer the dirt. I got a little nervous the last part when he got bumped, but I’m glad he came through.

“A horse like this has shown us a lot. The first time he ran, he got in a fight with the iron starting gate and lost that battle (eighth of 10 in July 30 racing debut). But he’s come back since then.

“They’re all exciting. But the way he (Drill) won made it more exciting for me because we’re always looking for the big horse. He won it the right way, and now I guess my job is to just keep him happy and healthy.”

Martin Garcia: “I lost my stick turning for home. Rafael’s horse (Creative Cause) came out and I got it caught in his tail. It went flying. But that was OK. He responded fine anyway. I’ve been working him in the mornings, and he’s been doing great; really working well. We were looking for a big race from him today.

"Bob said: ‘Don’t rush him today. Give him a good experience. Let him learn from this race.’ He broke real sharp, but I took him back and put him in behind horses. Then when the time came, he was running. He finished strong. I got banged right at the end, but he was still strong. He’s a nice colt. How nice, we’re going to see.”

Sept. 28 NOTE: Drill is the 5-1 favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in Las Vegas’ Wynn/Encore future book.

Oct. 1, Grade I Norfolk Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Drill, favored at 3-5, was upset by 9-5 Creative Cause. Ruler of Dubai set the pace, which was prompted by Creative Cause. Meanwhile, Drill was fourth on the rail and looking for running room entering the turn. He found a seam and came out three wide into the stretch, but by then Creative Cause had opened up a little bit on the field, and the latter one defeated Drill by 3 1/4 lengths. Ruler of Dubai hung to get third, beaten 6 1/2 lengths. Basmati was gaining and finished another half-length back in fourth. Six ran.  The winning time was 1:42.66.

Bob Baffert: “The horse that won, he’s a really good horse. We just gave him the race. When you’re going long for the first time, I think (Martin Garcia) just rode him with too much confidence and had him back there. He rode him like it was a synthetic race. But the winner’s a good horse, so we just have to improve off that, and he’ll get something out of that race.

“He took a lot of dirt. I learned a lot from this horse today. I see some things that I’m going to make some adjustments on. That’s what these preps are for – he’s already in (Breeders' Cup), but we’ve got to make adjustments.”

Oct. 2 NOTE: "Drill will be all right. We just found out a lot of things about him yesterday. Sometimes you learn more from defeat than you do in victory. You’re trying to figure out their style. At least he got to handle some dirt in his face and stuff. He’ll move way up off that,” trainer Baffert said.

DULLAHAN (KY)
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Donegal Racing
Breeder: Phil Needham, Judy Needham & Bena Halecky
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Even the Score (Unbridled's Song, Ashtabula)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Mining My Own (Smart Strike (CAN), Aspenelle (CAN))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 8-8-10-0-0 (26) 4.20
Foal Date: Feb. 8, 2009

$250,000 Keeneland September 2010.

A half-brother to Mine That Bird

In his race before the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, Dullahan was third in the Grade III With Anticipation on the turf at Saratoga. He had hit the board in two of three maiden special weights on dirt before that.

Oct. 8, Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, Keeneland, 1 1/16 Mile. Dullahan, a four-race maiden, won the race.

At 17-1 odds off a 15-1 morning line, Dullahan came from ninth after a half-mile--and fourth with a furlong to go--to run down the win. Majestic City, who stalked the pace before taking the lead inhe far turn, hung on for second. Optimizer closed from twelfth of the 13 runners to take third. Take Charge Indy was fourth after running evenly in or close to that positon throughout the race.

Musical Flair led the field of 13 through early fractions in :22.67 and :46.15 with Majestic City in closest pursuit and Dullahan in mid-pack. Majestic City took command leaving the backstretch and opened a daylight lead entering the stretch. Kent Desormeaux had moved Dullahan into fourth place with a three-wide move and clear sailing at the leader that he passed in the final 50 yards.

Dullahan was timed in 1:43.12 for the 1 1/16 mile. The time was identical to that of Stephanie's Kitten, winner of the Grade I Alcibiades the day before.

Dale Romans, winning trainer of Dullahan: On whether Dullahan would race in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: “We’re going to have to talk about it. It’s a little different; this is a little short and on the (Polytrack) and whether we’re going to go to dirt. But there’s a good shot of it.

“This is a special horse, and we’ve known it all along. We felt like he was a grade I-caliber racehorse. He showed it today. When you can overcome adversity and win a grade I, you’re a really good horse.

“I thought he’d be laying a little closer to the pace. He closed more ground than I expected. We’ve really had high hopes for this horse. He’s trained like a top horse all along. His brother won the Derby. He’s a serious racehorse.

“I think (he was unlucky before). He’s a graded stakes-placed horse coming into the race. I think with a little luck he would have broken his maiden. We knew he was up for a big race; he might as well do it in a grade I.”

Kent Desormeaux, winning rider: “The race went exactly opposite of what we had planned. I almost fell around the first turn. He had to get his legs back underneath him and he did do that quickly, but I had to make a five-eighths of a mile run down to the wire. He accomplished it – super horse.

“The horse inside came out, and I caught his hock actually. That’s how close I was to him. Got clear of that and put him to work, and he got the job done.”

Jerry Crawford, managing partner of winning owner Donegal Racing: “Buy horses at Keeneland, give them to those two guys (Romans and Desormeaux) and the rest is history.”

Oct. 29 NOTE: Owner Crawford of Donegal Racing told DRF.com after a morning workout that Dullahan will go in the Juvenile.

On Oct. 22, Dullahan breezed five in 1:03.60 (34/51) at CD.
On Oct. 29, Dullahan breezed five in 1:00.80 (6/49) at CD.

FORT LOUDON (FL)
Trainer: Stanley Gold
Owner: Jacks or Better Farm, Inc.
Breeder: Jacks or Better Farm, Inc.
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Awesome Of Course (Awesome Again (CAN), Mais Oui)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Lottsa Talc (Talc, Antilassa)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-1-6-0-0 (10) 2.33
Foal Date: Feb. 1, 2009

Fort Loudon took the Dr. Fager Division of the Florida Stallion Series on Aug. 6.

Aug. 27, Affirmed Division of the Florida Stalllion Series, Calder, Seven Furlongs. Fort Loudon came one step closer to a sweep of the Florida Stallion Stakes by winning this race.

Ridden by Luis Jurado, Fort Loudon defeated stable mate Argentine Tango by two lengths. It was another length back to Mel Beach in third place.  Fort Loudon completed the distance in 1:26.75 after being sent off at 2-1 odds. It was a highly contested race, and Fort Loudon showed fortitude in the win.

Jacks or Better Farm, owned by Fred Brei, and trainer Stanley Gold completed sweeps of the FSS in 2009 with Jackson Bend and in 2010 with Awesome Feather in the filly division.

The third and final race in the series is the $300,000-estimated In Reality Division on Oct.15 at Calder. Stanley Gold: “You can pretty much be sure you’ll see Fort Loudon in the In Reality."

Luis Jurado: “He ran the same race as last time, except he sat just a little closer to the pace because he was sharper today.  That is a good thing, though, since we wanted to be a little more forwardly placed."

Oct. 15, Florida Stallion In Reality Stakes, Calder, 1 1/16 Mile. Fort Loudon overcame a race-long duel with Sarava's Dancer to prevail and sweep the Florida Stallion series.

Both colts broke alertly, and the pair led the rest of the field by multiple lengths down the backstretch as Fort Loudon conceded the lead to Sarava's Dancer while sitting just to his outside. Those two went through very slow splits of :25.02, :50.01 and 1:16.18.

Leaving the turn, it looked as if both the leaders might succumb to the oncoming field, but Fort Loudon kept on going. Ultimately, Sarava's Dancer succumbed in deep stretch, and 50-1 shot Twin got up for second.

Fort Loudon was timed in 1:48.29 for the 1 1/16 mile, about four-fifths of a second slower than his juvenile filly counterpart won the My Dear Girl Stakes immediately prior to the In Reality.

Stanley Gold: “I guess this is the icing on the cake. I thought he could do it. I need to ask Luis what he thought. It looked like he hesitated while he was alongside the other horse in the upper stretch before he went on and drew off. I feel so fortunate to have had these nice horses the last few years.”

Fred Brei, owner-breeder: “We’ll see how they come back, but if (Awesome Belle and Fort Loudon) come back okay, we’ll probably go (to Breeders' Cup), and Redbud Road has shown she can really scoot. They have that new sprint race for 2-year-olds, so she could possibly go, too.”

Luis Jurado: “When you have the best horse in the race, you can do anything you want to.  I knew Cornelio Velasquez with Sarava’s Dancer would try to steal the race up front, and I couldn’t let them do that, so I kept my horse just a little off of him and saved some for the stretch. This horse is the real deal.”

On Oct. 26, Fort Loudon breezed five in 1:02.60 (1/2) at CRC.

HANSEN (KY)
Trainer: Mike Maker
Owner: Kendall E Hansen
Breeder: Dr. Kendall Hansen
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Tapit (Pulpit, Tap Your Heels)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Stormy Sunday (Sir Cat, Thinkin'straight)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-5-5-0-0 (16) 5.40
Foal Date: April 23, 2009

Hansen broke his maiden at first asking Sept. 9, leading gate to wire to win a maiden special sprint at Turfway by 12 1/4 lengths.

Sept. 24, Bluegrass Cat Kentucky Cup Juvenile, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 Mile. At 1-2 odds, Hansen delivered the goods for a trainer who had a very good day. Hansen broke from the outside and blew away his seven rivals with every step thereafter, cruising effortlessly home to win by 13 1/4 lengths. He was only mildly urged in mid-stretch. The race was the third of five wins on the card for trainer Maker.

Hansen set the pace in :23.83, :46.91 and 1:11.48. The mile went in 1:38.68, and he finished in 1:45.83.  Fine was second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Downtown Driggs in third. Fourth and following were Space Traveler, Pryce’s Posse, Hollywood Script, My Newfound Saint, and Future.  

Michael Maker: It’s nice when you get a young horse and he delivers. I’m very excited. We were thinking Breeders’ Cup before they ran this race today. I ran him here instead of at Keeneland because I worried that if we didn’t get in at Keeneland, we might be in a little trouble. I’m not going to run him back at Keeneland now. I think this race today will get us in to the Breeders’ Cup. We’ll
point to the dirt, not the turf.

Victor Lebron: He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden. The way he ran last time, he took to the front and relaxed. He actually ran off, I couldn’t pull him up until the 5/8th pole. That told me he could go long, all day if you let him. Hopefully he’s my Derby horse. They came up to me a little early, I got him to relax, and he cleared off again. He’s a push button horse. I could put him
anywhere if I wanted to."

Sept. 26 NOTE: "In his stall he’s like a puppy dog. After his first race he wasn’t even breathing. I think he has some gears he hasn’t shown yet,” owner Hansen told Bloodhorse.com.

OPTIMIZER (KY)
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Owner: Bluegrass Hall, LLC
Breeder: Bluegrass Hall, LLC
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): English Channel (Smart Strike (CAN), Belva)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Indy Pick (A.P. Indy, Fantastic Find)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-9-17-0-0 (36) 3.24
Foal Date: March 8, 2009

Optimizer has three starts with a win, a place and a show. The show was in his most recent race, the Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. He has won a maiden race on turf at Saratoga and was second in the Grade II With Anticipation Stakes on turf at Saratoga. All three of these races were 1 1/16 mile.

Oct. 13 NOTE: He's said to be pointed to the Juvenile or Juvenile Turf.

Oct. 25 NOTE: Plan is for him to be in the Juvenile.

On Oct. 24, Optimizer breezed five in 1:01.00 (11/60) at CD.
 

PROSPECTIVE (KY)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: John C. Oxley
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy, Macoumba)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Spirited Away (Awesome Again (CAN), Cape North)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 8-5-11-0-0 (24) 3.36
Foal Date: Feb. 22, 2009

$250,000 Fasig-Tipton August 2010

He ran on turf first time out and finished second after a four-wide rally. Prospective broke his maiden second time out with a pressing trip going seven furlongs on Woodbine's main track on Aug. 27. Patrick Husbands rode him each time.

Oct. 9, Grade III Grey Stakes, Woodbine, 1 1/16 Mile. Prospective won the race after running prominently throughout. He was a close fourth or fifth, then third heading out of the first turn and third or fourth down the backstretch. He took the lead just past the furlong marker. Prospecitve finished two lengths ahead of his nearest competition, Lockout. After trailing most of the field of eight most of the way, Bluedacious finished very willingly to get up for third, just behind Lockout and just ahead of race-time favorite Excaper.

The colt earned $120,000 by winning the $200,000 Grey on the main track, timed in 1:44 2/5. At 8-1, Prospective paid $18.50 to win.

Trainer Casse trained all three of the top finishers.

Oct. 25 NOTE: Looks like he'll go in the Juvenile.

SPEIGHTSCITY (KY)
Trainer: Gary Contessa
Owner: McConnell Racing Stable, Team Stallion Racing Corp.
Breeder: WinStar Farm LLC, Polo Green Stable, Piacentino Farms, LP & Shannon Potter
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Speightstown (Gone West, Silken Cat)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): My American Girl (Quiet American, My Girl Jeannie)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-5-9-1-0 (20) 2.64
Foal Date: April 22, 2009

Speightscity debuted on turf at on Aug. 11 at Saratoga. Going 1 1/16 mile, he ran in third position and finished fourth, beaten 8 3/4 lengths by Splendiferous.

On Sept. 2 he came back and broke his maiden on dirt at Saratoga. The 1 1/8 mile was timed in 1:53.08, and Speightscity won by an amazing 11 1/2 lengths.

$65,000 Keeneland September 2010.
$49,000 RNA Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training 2011.

On Sept. 22, Speightscity breezed seven in 1:30.00 (1/1) at BEL.
On Sept. 28, Speightscity breezed five in 1:01.00 (1/12) at BEL.
On Oct. 4, Speightscity breezed four in :48.60 (11/70) at BEL.
On Oct. 21, Speightscity breezed six in 1:13.20 (1/2) at BEL.
On Oct. 29, Speightscity breezed six in 1:14.00(2/5) at BEL.
On Nov. 2, Speightscity breezed four in :48.40 (1/15) at CD.

TAKE CHARGE INDY (KY)
Trainer: Patrick Byrne
Owner: Chuck and Maribeth Sandford LLC & Secure Investments
Breeder: Eaton Sales
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew, Weekend Surprise)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Take Charge Lady (Dehere, Felicita)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-13-19-0-0 (38) 3.00
Foal Date: March 27, 2009

$80,000 RNA Keeneland September 2010.

July 30, Maiden Special Weight, Arlington Park, Six Furlongs. Take Charge Indy showed a lot of talent in his debut, winning by 6 1/2 lengths after pressing the pace, then lugging in during his stretch run. He was timed in 1:12.52.

Sept. 10, Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity, Arlington Park, One Mile. Shared Property made a late rally in the center of the track to catch Take Charge Indy and win by a length, covering the distance in 1:37.93.

There was a fast pace up front with 45-1 outsider Ville and 99-1 shot Fairy Cat vying though a :22.88 opening quarter, :46.36 alf and three-quarter split of 1:11.50 before they both faded turning for home. Take Charge Indy, the 2-1 favorite, assumed the lead in the stretch but was unable to hold off the 3-1 winner. Motor City closed from far back to get up for third. Thirteen ran.

James Graham: "He's still kind of green. Coming down the stretch, he was looking at the outside fence. But he's growing into himself."

Oct. 8, Grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity, Keeneland, 1 1/16 Mile. Take Charge Indy was fourth after running evenly in or close to that positon throughout the race. Dullahan, a four-race maiden, won the race.

At 17-1 odds off a 15-1 morning line, Dullahan came from ninth after a half-mile--and fourth with a furlong to go--to run down the win. Majestic City, who stalked the pace before taking the lead inhe far turn, hung on for second. Optimizer closed from twelfth of the 13 runners to take third.

Musical Flair led the field of 13 through early fractions in :22.67 and :46.15 with Majestic City in closest pursuit and Dullahan in mid-pack. Majestic City took command leaving the backstretch and opened a daylight lead entering the stretch. Kent Desormeaux had moved Dullahan into fourth place with a three-wide move and clear sailing at the leader that he passed in the final 50 yards.

Dullahan was timed in 1:43.12 for the 1 1/16 mile. The time was identical to that of Stephanie's Kitten, winner of the Grade I Alcibiades the day before.

UNION RAGS (KY)
Trainer: Michael Matz
Owner: Chadds Ford Stable
Breeder: Phyllis M. Wyeth
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Dixie Union (Dixieland Band, She's Tops)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Tempo (Gone West, Terpsichorist)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-1-10-2-0 (22) 2.14
Foal Date: May 3, 2009

Owner Wyeth sold Union Rags at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton August sale for $145,000, but decided she'd made a mistake and bought him back at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old sale for $390,000.

Union Rags made his debut at Delaware Park on July 12, rallying from seventh to post a 1 3/4-length victory, going five furlongs in :58.25.

Aug. 15, Grade II Saratoga Special, Saratoga, 6 1/2 Furlongs. Union Rags put away favored Stat at the top of the stretch and splashed his way to a 7 1/4-length victory, his second in as many starts.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Union Rags hugged the rail while vying with Stat, Indian Evening and Trinniberg through an opening quarter-mile in :21.78 and a half in :45.55 over the sloppy track. Shaking free of all but Stat on the far turn, the Dixie Union colt outfooted the favorite once straightened for home, drawing off despite veering out into the middle of the track.

His winning time was 1:18.33. He was the 3-1 third choice in the field of six.

Stat, the 8-5 favorite, finished three lengths in front of Indian Evening, who in turn was followed by Banner Bill, Trinniberg, and Italo.

Javier Castellano: “He’s an unbelievable horse. I got a phone call last week from my agent; he wanted me to work some horses on Tuesday. Jockeys usually take off on Tuesdays since we race six days a week, but I’m so glad he did that to me. When I showed up and worked the horse in the morning, it was unbelievable. I’ve never worked a horse like that, and I’ve been very fortunate to ride horses like Ghostzapper and Bernardini. I’ve been a very lucky, fortunate guy, but this horse is unbelievable and special.

“After working him in the morning, I was so confident today. I didn’t worry about the one hole at all, and for 6 1/2 furlongs, it’s a tough post. For a young horse, you don’t know how they’ll react and plus the rain and the sloppy track, but he did it so well. He broke sharp, he was right there, he followed the other horses. It was a tight trip, but it didn’t matter. He showed up today.

“(In the stretch), I wanted to stay off the rail a little bit and when I did that, I think he saw the screen board. Today it’s dark, rainy and the light is so bright. I think he saw the light from the board and kind of got scared a little bit and jumped. I corrected really quickly, and after that he continued to run. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he’s going to be a superhorse. I think he can run all day.”

Michael Matz: “He’s a very sensible colt. He worked here last week and worked like a real good horse. When he worked so well, we expected him to run well, and if he doesn’t you say what did I do wrong? He proved he is a good horse, and I’m really excited about him. Phyllis, the owner, is a great person. She has had a lot of horses for me, and she told me that one day she would get me a good one. Hopefully we have it.”

On his ducking out in the stretch: “We didn’t really know what he was doing. Javier said he was looking at the screen a little bit. I was real nervous (about the early fractions). He said he broke well and felt like he was traveling very easily. He is the one riding, not me.

"We’ll get him back at the barn and see what we look like, speak with the owners and see what we want to do. Obviously our main goal is for next year, but we’ll just have to see how he is and look for something in about a month or five weeks.”

Oct. 8, Grade I Champagne Stakes, Belmont Park, One Mile. Caught behind horses with less than 300 yards to go, 6-5 favorite Union Rags abruptly changed course in mid-stretch and went on to a 5 1/4-length victory.

With Javier Castellano aboard, Union Rags was bumped at the break and had to settle in fifth behind Right to Vote and Power World as they took the field of eight juveniles through an opening quarter-mile in :22.74 and a half in :45.84.

With nowhere to go as they headed for home, Castellano first tried to steer Union Rags between horses, but then angled sharply to the outside. Once clear, the big colt took off with a rousing late run that carried him under the wire in 1:35.55 for the mile.

Alpha, the 2-1 second choice, closed from last to gain second, a neck ahead of longshot Right to Vote.

Michael Matz, winning trainer: “He’s always acted like a nice horse from when we first got him. He’s trained well this period he’s been off. The timing is great now. The seven weeks didn’t hurt him between races. The (traffic) is going to happen with 2-year-olds, and they find a way out of it, don’t they? I think he’s a real good horse. Anytime you can win going five-eighths with me, you know they’re nice horses. I’ve had horses on and off for Mrs. (Phyllis) Wyeth, and she said to me, ‘I’m going to have a good one for you,’ and I think she does.”

Javier Castellano, winning jockey: “My plan ‘A’ was to be close to the pace. He’s a really nice horse, and you can put him wherever you want. Unfortunately, in the first jump (Right to Vote) squeezed me. He bumped really hard, and I lost the momentum right there. Now I had to change my plan to ‘B’ – come from behind horses. But he’s an amazing horse – nothing bothers him. He got dirt in the face, he was blocked all the way on the trip. I tried to wait for my best opportunity to make that move.

“He’s a big horse with a huge stride. He lost all the momentum, but I decided it was my best opportunity, and he did it. When he saw daylight, he took off. He’s a special horse.”

Phyllis Wyeth of Chadds Ford Stable, winning owner: “I can’t even talk. We didn’t know what kind of horse we really had. I think he’s good.  We always had hopes for him, but it’s really an honor, because my mother bred all the mares, and (he's) by my father’s stallion. It’s what they all lived to produce. It really is an honor.”

Oct. 9 NOTE: "He will train at Fair Hill and go down to Churchill in sufficient time for the race,” said trainer Matz.