Sunday’s Racing Insights: Juvenile Colts Out in Full Force

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3rd-CD, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 1:43 p.m. ET

A Winchell Thoroughbreds/Steve Asmussen coupled entry receive a tepid 3-1 morning line nod in this salty looking special weight. Totalizer (Candy Ride {Arg}) is out of GSP Taxable (Tapit) from the family of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Summerly (Summer Squall). Chileno (Gun Runner), co-owned with co-breeder Three Chimneys, was a $375,000 Keeneland September yearling. His MG1SW dam Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy) was Chile's champion 3-year-old filly of 2016. Wapi's now 3-year-old Curlin colt, who remains unraced, was the $1.5-million co-topper at FTSAUG '19. This same team campaigned Horse of the Year and promising freshman sire Gun Runner.

Dale Romans also has two runners. Officer Nick (Frosted), a $225,000 KEESEP yearling, is out of a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song), who in turn produced brilliant champion Unique Bella (Tapit). Romans's other representative Southern Sense (Street Sense) cost $65,000 at the same auction, and is out of a half-sister to Mutakddim from a super deep female family.

Almuahed (Candy Ride {Arg}) was a $110,000 KEESEP RNA turned $180,000 OBS April grad off a :21 3/5 breeze. His second dam is GISW Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), making his dam a half to highest-level winners Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway) and Vexatious (Giant's Causeway) as well as GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby hero Destin (Giant's Causeway).

Condemn (Medaglia d'Oro) is from a typically deep family developed by his owner/breeders Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm. The colt's second dam is MGSW/MGISP Cheery (Distorted Humor), the dam of two-turn MGISW Elate (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPs

 

3rd-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, 6fT, post time: 2:02 p.m. ET

Trainer Graham Motion has a pair of newcomers for this juvenile turf dash. Powerful Force, by fast-starting freshman Practical Joke, was a $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream grad after a :10 1/5 breeze. His second dam was a stakes-winning juvenile who in turn produced GSW/GISP 2-year-old Concave (Colonel John) and SW/GSP Peisinoe (Yes It's True). Evan Harlan (Temple City) is out of a half-sister to MGISW turfer and fellow Motion trainee Miss Temple City (Temple City), as well as GSW Pricedtoperfection (Temple City). TJCIS PPs

 

6th-MTH, $47.5K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 2:32 p.m. ET

Robert and Lawana Low's Uninvited Guest (Distorted Humor) was a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling out of SW and GSP Interrupted (Broken Vow), who is a half to 2019 GI TVG Pacific Classic S. hero Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW sire Alternation (Distorted Humor). Summer Wind Equine paid $575,000 for Interrupted at the 2018 Keeneland November sale while she was carrying Uninvited Guest. Down Cold (Mastery) is half to speedy GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Secret Circle (Eddington). He was a $35,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $125,000 OBS April juvenile following a steady :10 2/5 breeze with a solid gallop out. Fight Your Corner (Frosted) went for $15,000 last September and $55,000 this March (:10 1/5). His dam is a half to graded winners Salute the Sarge (Forest Wildcat) and Chelokee (Cherokee Run). TJCIS PPs

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Rock Your World Reloads for Belmont

ELMONT, NY — After a forgettable run on the first Saturday in May, the previously unbeaten Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) will get his shot at redemption in the 153rd renewal of the GI Belmont S.

Off as the 9-2 second-choice in the GI Kentucky Derby following a jaw-dropping, front-running tally in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at third asking, the dark bay's race was over well before his well-documented trouble at the start that day, per co-owner Kosta Hronis.

“I think he showed a lot of immaturity,” Hronis said. “The walkover, I'm not sure how kind he was about that and all those people on the racetrack with him. I don't think he was happy then and he wasn't happy in the paddock getting his saddle on, either. He just wasn't a happy camper. It's not his fault. He had three races. It proves that old adage about needing to run as a 2-year-old to win the Derby. I can see why they say that now. His immaturity definitely came to the surface in those couple of hours before the race.”

Off a step slowly from post 15 in the Derby, jockey Joel Rosario briefly lost his right iron aboard the Hronis Racing and Michael Talla colorbearer after getting bounced around between rivals at the start. From there, it didn't get all that much better. In the end, Rock Your World reported home a disappointing 17th, beaten 24 1/2 lengths.

“He didn't break out of the gate,” Hronis said. “And they blamed the horses for bumping us, but you know what? I blame us. The horse didn't break. I knew when he got that third bump on the first turn he was done at that point. Those things happen, it's horse racing.”

Hronis Inc., a family-run business based in California's San Joaquin Valley, has been raising table grapes since 1945. Launched in 2010 by brothers Kosta and Pete, Hronis Racing quickly reached the top of the sport with 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion older male Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) and was also recognized as outstanding owner at that year's Eclipse Awards.

Other GISWs campaigned by Hronis Racing include: Stellar Wind (Curlin), Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), Hard Aces (Hard Spun), Lady of Shamrock (Scat Daddy), Gift Box (Twirling Candy), et al. Having a first runner on the Triple Crown trail, however, has been a different ball game for the operation currently boasting approximately 60 head in training.

“We've won a Breeders' Cup Classic, and, to me, that's the pinnacle of horse racing,” Hronis said. “But to be in the Kentucky Derby, that's really an honor. We really feel privileged to be a part of these special days. If anything, it's made me thirsty to try to get back. I don't think I had that before. But now that we've been there and experienced it, I'm ready for another Derby. I just haven't had Triple Crown fever up until now.”

Like his owner, the Belmont's potential controlling speed, ahem, is coming into the Big Apple hot. Produced by a MSW & MGISP daughter of 2003 Belmont hero Empire Maker, Rock Your World fired a five-furlong bullet in :58 2/5 (1/34) at John Sadler's Santa Anita base May 28.

“Now that he's been through that once–he got to come back home and take a breath–he's worked really well,” Hronis said. “Let's just hope that he breaks out of the gate and gives himself a chance. The 1 1/2 miles [of the Belmont] seems to be right up his alley. We're going in very optimistic that he's going to run good race.”

A stud deal to stand Rock Your World at Spendthrift Farm at the conclusion of his racing career was previously inked prior to the Kentucky Derby.

“They're born to be racehorses and we'd like that to continue as long as they want do that,” Hronis said. “Horses do let you know. I love Rock Your World, and as long as he's happy and competing well, we've all agreed that's what we want to do. And Spendthrift, I thank them. They reached out and took a chance on him and I'm hoping it pays big dividends for them.”

Bred in Kentucky by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Deborah, Rock Your World brought $650,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Partnering up to go after some flashier offerings was a new approach employed by the Hronis family in 2019.

“This was an expensive horse,” Hronis said. “We had our eye on a few expensive horses, so instead of just tackling it by ourselves and picking one, we did three partnerships with some yearlings that were a little bit pricey. It lessens the risk. It's kind of like the stock market. You don't want all your stock in one thing. It's the first time that we've done that and I'm not sure if we'll do anything like that in the future again. It was a good idea to minimize our exposure on these really fancy horses. It's becoming a popular thing now, you see it more and more.”

In addition to Rock Your World, another one of those “fancy horses” posted one of the more impressive debut victories in recent memory at Santa Anita in late April. Flightline (Tapit) earned a gaudy 105 Beyer Speed Figure–the second highest on the year among sophomores–in a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' performance, romping by 13 1/4 lengths. The $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buy is campaigned in partnership along with Siena Farm LLC, breeder Summer Wind Equine and West Point Thoroughbreds.

“We're just trying to be really cautious with him because that may be the most talented horse that we've ever had in our barn,” Hronis said. “He is a special special horse.”

Flightline has yet to return the worktab, but remains in light training with Sadler at Santa Anita.

“I would've loved for him to come with Rock and run in the [GI] Woody Stephens [S. on the Belmont undercard],” Hronis said. “After his maiden win, that's what we were talking about. Then he told us, 'No.' We just have to keep everything spaced out for him. I'm sure when he's ready, we'll find a nice race for him. I'm honored to be partnered with that group.”

Rock Your World still didn't make the cross country trip from California alone. Hronis and Sadler will also be represented during this week's Belmont S. festival with GI Churchill Downs S. winner Flagstaff (Speightstown) in Friday's GII True North S. The duo also teamed up to capture the 2019 renewal with Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags).

“My daughter worked for NBC in New York for about four years, so we did experience the city a few times,” Hronis concluded. “It's a beautiful city. Being a California boy that lives out in the country, the big city is really not something we're used to. We live out on a ranch. I don't have a neighbor for two miles and that neighbor is my brother! I've never been there before on Belmont day. You see that lineup of races and they're all so historic. We're really looking forward to it.”

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Rock Your World Breezes for Belmont

Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), 17th after getting roughed up at the start in the GI Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 (15/28) at Santa Anita Friday in his penultimate major drill for the GI Belmont S.

“He went in a minute and change, out [three-quarters] in [one] 13 and we're very happy,” trainer John Sadler said.

The GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner was ridden by exercise rider Geovanni Grant and went in company with MGSW Campaign (Curlin), who was clocked in 1:01.40 covering the same distance.

“His schedule calls for him to work one more time a week from today and ship to New York on Memorial Day weekend,” Sadler said of Rock Your World. “The Kentucky Derby was over at the start for him. “Hopefully, we have a good chance to right the ship.”

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Saturday’s Insights: $1.5M Curlin Colt Debuts at Belmont

1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:00p.m.
Trainer Shug McGaughey unveils West Point, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing's FIRST CAPTAIN (Curlin), a $1.5 million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select sale last summer. The colt is the first foal out of GSW & GISP America (A.P. Indy), a homebred for the Iron Chef. The 3-year-old sports a bullet four-furlong work in :48 1/5 at Payson Apr. 10, and most recently, registered a :48 4/5 (28/63) for the same distance at Belmont Apr. 17. Also suiting up for the first time is Shadwell's MAHAAMEL (Into Mischief). A $700,000 KEESEP buy, the Todd Pletcher trainee is out of Grade III winner Hot Stones (Bustin Stones), a half to Hot Mist (Tonalist), who won on debut last season. TJCIS PPs

7th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 7:12p.m.
Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine and West Point's FLIGHTLINE (Tapit) takes off for John Sadler Saturday. Bred by Summer Wind, the colt realized a $1-million final bid at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Out of Grade III winner Feathered (Indian Charlie), who also hit the board in the GI Frizette S., GI Starlet S. and GI American Oaks, the bay posted a sharp five-furlong work Apr. 18, stopping the watch in 1:00 2/5. Feathered, a $300,000 OBSMAR buy, was purchased by Summer Wind–in foal to War Front–for $2.35 million at KEENOV in 2016. MONEY MIKE (Into Mischief), a KEESEP graduate, makes his first start for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Racing and Stonestreet Stables. The $600,000 yearling purchase is the first foal out of MGSW Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride {Arg}) and comes into this off several speedy works, including the latest a five-furlong move in 1:00 1/5 at Santa Anita Apr. 17. Simon Callaghan sends out SECRET WEAPON (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $650,000 KEESEP purchase. Campaigned by Qatar Racing and his breeder Peter Blum, the chestnut gets the services of Umberto Rispoli for this unveiling. TJCIS PPs

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