Hawker | Horse Racing Free Tips

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6th-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:51 p.m. EDT
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's $725,000 KEESEP acquisition MINDTAP (Tapit) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Todd Pletcher. Hailing from the same breeding program that produced unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit), the gray is a half to MGISW Curalina (Curlin), who summoned $3 million from Shadai Farm at the 2016 FTKNOV Sale. Summer Wind Farm's Jane Lyon purchased their Grade II-winning dam Whatdreamsrmadeof for $1.65 million at that same auction carrying a full-sibling to Curalina. The resulting colt, now named Curlingo, brought $900,000 at the 2018 KEESEP sale. Whatdreamsrmadeof is also a half to GSW Dream Spinner (Hard Spun). Rosedown Racing Stables Champions Dream (Justify) also debuts in this spot. A $25,000 KEESEP yearling buy, the son of GSW Dancinginherdreams (Tapit) developed into a $425,000 OBSMAR juvenile after breezing in :20 4/5. TJCIS PPs

8th-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:58 p.m. EDT
Shug McGaughey unveils an expensive and well bred son of Medaglia d'Oro in JUAN VALDEZ. Picked up by Hoby & Layna Kight for $225,000 at KEESEP, the dark bay brought $900,000 from a partnership led by West Point and Woodford Racing at the FTFMAR sale after breezing in :10 flat. He is a half-brother to MGISW sire Constitution (Tapit), GSW Jacaranda (Congrats) and GSW Boynton (More Than Ready). His GSP dam Baffled (Distorted Humor) brought $3.5 million from Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto at the 2016 FTKNOV sale carrying a full-sibling to Constitution. Don Alberto bought out that partnership for $1.8 million with Juan Valdez in utero at the 2019 renewal of that auction. Baffled is a half to GISW Emcee (Unbridled's Song) and a full to GSW & G1SP Surfer. Todd Pletcher unveils another expensive juvenile buy in Robert and Lawana Low's $550,000 EASMAY acquisition Fantasist, who is the most expensive offspring thus far for his freshman sire Always Dreaming. The $40,000 KEESEP buy breezed in :21 2/5 in Timonium and enters off a bullet work for Todd Pletcher in 1:00 flat (1/25) at this oval Aug. 28. He is out of SW Saritta (Indygo Shiner). West PacesRacing bought first timer Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) for $400,000 at KEESEP and breeder Stonestreet Stables stayed in as a partner. Barbara Banke's operation went to $1 million to acquire his MGSW & GISP dam Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat) at the 2008 KEENOV sale. She is responsible for GSW Cazadero (Street Sense) and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs

6th-DMR, $80K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2fT, 6:30 p.m. EDT
DON CORLEONE (More Than Ready) topped the OBS March Sale when summoning $1.2 million from Kaleem Shah earlier this year and he debuts in this spot for Simon Callaghan. Picked up by Ciaran Dunne on behalf of his Lehigh Bloodstock pinhooking group for $120,000 at KEESEP, the dark bay topped the year's first juvenile sale after breezing in a sharp :9 4/5. He is a half-brother to MSP Broad Approval (Carpe Diem). His second dam, SW & GISP Featherbed (Smart Strike), produced graded winners Dynamic Impact (Tiznow) and Mo Strike (Uncle Mo). The powerhouse ownership group dubbed “The Avengers” are represented here by first timer National Treasure (Quality Road). The $500,000 FTSAUG acquisition is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Silver City (Unbridled's Song) and Elope (Gone West). The bay enters off a best-of-97 five furlongs in :59 flat at Del Mar Aug. 28 and gains the services of John Velazquez, who is in town to ride this colt's stablemate Country Grammer (Tonalist) in the GI TVG Pacific Classic. Hawker (Justify), who was recently featured in Steve Sherack's Second Chances column, makes his second start here after missing by a neck in his career bow going five panels at this oval Aug. 6. The $675,000 KEESEP buy is a half to MGSW & GISP Commissioner (A.P. Indy), GSW & GISP Laugh Track (Distorted Humor) and the dam of champion Vino Rosso (Curlin). TJCIS PPs

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In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Before the brilliant Flightline (Tapit) puts his unbeaten record on the line in Saturday's GI TVG Pacific Classic, Hronis Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing and trainer John Sadler will also send out the well-bred Hawker (c, 2, Justify–Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold) for his second career start on the undercard.

Given a 6-1 chance going five furlongs on debut at Del Mar Aug. 6, the chestnut jumped well from his outside draw, but was quickly outfooted and began to climb as six of them threw down for early control. Under a busy ride in seventh through an opening quarter in :22.16, Hawker started to figure it out entering the far turn and launched an eye-catching four/five-wide move around the bend.

Looking like a winner as they straightened despite his early struggles and wide journey, he had his sights set on the drifting Mister Iceman (Girvin) in the stretch and just fell a neck short of the game pacesetter while coming home in a field-best :12.01. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to runaway next-out maiden winner Carmel Road (Quality Road), who was forced to check late while a troubled third.

Hawker, given a respectable 76 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, has posted three workouts since, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00.40 (20/97) at Del Mar Aug. 28. He drew widest of all in post 10 in an absolutely loaded contest going 6 1/2 furlongs this weekend. Flavien Prat has the mount.

“You're up against it with a horse like this going five-eighths, there's no doubt,” West Point's Terry Finley said of Hawker's debut run. “I thought he was gonna pull up after a quarter of a mile, he was climbing that badly. But then you could see him level out as they went into the far turn. Really neat horse. I know Sadler is very excited to see him come back and make his second start.”

Finley continued, “This will put him in a spot where we'll be able to take another step forward. He's been really good coming out of his first race. He's definitely a horse that we're thinking of–he's gonna make a name for himself.”

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Hawker brought $675,000 as a yearling out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Triple Crown winner Justify, currently sitting atop the freshman sire standings, is already represented by 11 winners, led by three graded winners. Hawker's dam Flaming Heart, a graded stakes-placed, two-time stakes winner, brought $1.5 million from WinStar Farm in foal to Street Cry (Ire) at the 2007 Keeneland November Sale.

Her winning first foal Mythical Bride (Street Cry) went on to produce GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion older male Vino Rosso (Curlin). Flaming Heart is also responsible for three-time graded winner and narrow GI Belmont S. runner-up Commissioner (A.P. Indy), graded winner and narrow GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Laugh Track (Distorted Humor) and graded placed Intrepid Heart (Tapit).

“It's a solid pedigree,” Finley said. “Touch Gold as a broodmare sire has been a little bit underrated and Hawker's first dam has a lot of quality to her in her progeny. The Justifys are running to the hype overall. I've been very impressed with them–we have four of them. I think he's as good as any from the younger stallions in their first and second-crop year.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

This term's GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GI Forego S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) and streaking Cinema S. winner War At Sea (War Front) have also been featured in the series.

Other standouts include: GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

The post Second Chances: ‘Team Flightline’ Well-Represented on Pacific Classic Undercard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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