With a ton of steam behind impressive debut winner Just a Touch (Justify) heading into Saturday's GIII Gotham S., the second-place finisher's come-from-behind effort over a sloppy, sealed track that day at Fair Grounds may look even better after this weekend.

Off at debut odds of 10-1 for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Gun Party (c, 3, Curlin–Carina Mia, by Malibu Moon) trailed the field of eight beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the early stages of the six-furlong affair Jan. 27.

Guided to the inside to race in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.25, the Three Chimneys Farm and Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer began to wind up with a rail run as Just a Touch gained command approaching the quarter pole.

Gun Party gamely split horses and moved into second as Just a Touch pulled well clear in the stretch. Gun Party finished with interest while posing no threat to the winner to cross the line a geared-down second, beaten 4 1/4 lengths. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to the third-place finisher.

Gun Party earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. The Brad Cox-trained Just a Touch received an 89 rating.

“That looks like a really legit horse,” Three Chimneys Vice Chairman Doug Cauthen said of Just a Touch, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Gotham.

“We were very pleased and satisfied with (Gun Party's) effort because we knew that was a tough spot. Steve (Asmussen) had mentioned that he missed some time with him–he had gotten sick–and at this point, you're hoping that you can kick along and get into the big races. But at the end of the day, Steve's just letting the horse lead him. We think a lot of him. It's a great pedigree, a great cross and there's a lot of hope. But time will tell.”

Carina Mia | Coady

Produced by 2016 GI Acorn S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Carina Mia (Malibu Moon), Gun Party brought $1.7 million from these connections as a yearling on day one of the 2022 Keeneland September sale to dissolve a partnership.

Gun Party, the third most expensive of 60 yearlings to switch hands by the mighty Curlin in 2022, was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc.

Third carrying the Three Chimneys silks in her career finale in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Carina Mia brought $2.6 million from Japan's Shadai Farm at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Gun Party is bred on the same Curlin x Malibu Moon cross as champion Stellar Wind. He is also bred similarly to fellow Curlin-sired champions Malathaat and Nest as well as Curlin-sired GISWs Clairiere, Global Campaign, Idol and Paris Lights.

“There were a bunch of partnership mares with Hill 'n' Dale, and when that group (of yearlings) went to the sale, he was a key one that was targeted,” Cauthen said. “Ron (Winchell) liked him as well so he came into the partnership. Hopefully, that team will have some more luck.”

That team of Winchell Thoroughbreds, Three Chimneys Farm and Asmussen, of course, also campaigned 2017 Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). The leading young sire currently commands a $250,000 stud fee at Goncalo Borges Torrealba's operation.

“Goncalo is very partner-friendly and usually asks the partners to name horses,” Cauthen said. “Ron's team came up with Gun Party. Think he's hoping for another strike of lightning.”

Gun Party has breezed three times since his unveiling, most recently working five furlongs in 1:01 (4/22) at Fair Grounds Feb. 25.

“I think Steve's trying to decide which direction to go,” Cauthen said. “More than likely he's gonna run in the next couple of weeks, but we're letting him decide.”

The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by recently crowned Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).

#4 Just a Touch wins easy in R2 at Fair Grounds under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/tIRkpfOfEs

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 27, 2024

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Cornishman (c, 3, Curlin–Penwith, by Bernardini) came flashing home to finish a bang-up second sprinting on debut on the GIII Lecomte undercard at Fair Grounds Jan. 20.

Off as the 3-1 second choice with his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Exploration (Curlin) receiving the bulk of the action at 3-2, the Godolphin homebred was bumped from both sides after exiting from post nine and trailed the field of 11 through an opening quarter in :22.40.

Cornishman caught the eye as he began to wind up from far back with a four-wide sweep beneath Florent Geroux on the far turn and was tipped out to the seven path as they straightened. He continued to motor powerfully down the center in the stretch and was clocked in a field-best final furlong of :11.97 to cross the line a length behind the Dallas Stewart-trained newcomer Bee Dancer (Bee Jersey). The aforementioned Exploration, a $900,000 Keeneland September graduate, just got tagged on the line by his stablemate for runner-up honors.

The final time for the six-furlong affair was 1:10.92. Cornishman earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He's a horse that we've liked all along,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said. “Just little juvenile stuff last year and we had to give him some time off. Once Brad (Cox) got him back in there, he was going well for him and he really liked him. We were very much looking forward to his debut and thought that he was a horse that showed plenty of potential in the morning.”

He continued, “He breaks good out of the gate, but that day, Florent (Geroux) said that he couldn't get him settled well enough. He was the last one in the gate, and when they pulled the latches, he wasn't ready for it. Taking all that into consideration–breaking last, having to go wide, etc.–we were extremely happy with the way he ran and how well he finished up with the trip that he had. And that was a race to get him started going three quarters. That's nothing of what he wants to do.”

Cornishman returned to the worktab with a four-furlong move in :49 (23/74) in New Orleans Feb. 2. He could see additional distance in his next start later this month, per Banahan.

“We're very excited about him going forward,” Banahan said. “Hopefully, we get to run maybe in mid-February–maybe Risen Star weekend if they have a one mile and a sixteenth or something (similar) down there. Very much looking forward to stretching him out and seeing what he could do. Very hopeful that he could be a horse that we can be talking about through the season.”

Hailing from a very active and deep female family, Cornishman is out of GSW & MGISP Penwith, a daughter of MGISW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Composure (Touch Gold). The latter brought $3.6 million from Sheikh Mohammed's operation at the 2003 Keeneland November sale.

Penwith | Kenny Martin

Penwith is a full-sister to the unraced dam of last Friday's GIII Bayakoa S. winner Comparative (Street Sense) and MGSW Shared Sense (Street Sense); a half-sister to MGISP Centring (A.P. Indy), the dam of last term's GI Frizette S. runner-up Central Avenue (Street Sense); and a half-sister to GISP Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy).

The Curlin x Bernardini cross has produced standouts such as MGISW Clairiere, GISW Paris Lights, MGSW Cezanne and GSW & MGISP Point of Honor. Cornishman is also bred similarly to Curlin-sired champions Stellar Wind, Malathaat and Nest.

Godolphin, of course, also bred and raced Curlin's recently crowned Horse of the Year Cody's Wish, who is set to begin his first season at stud for a fee of $75,000 at Jonabell Farm.

“He has the pedigree that if he goes on and progresses like we think he will, he'll have a shot at hopefully some nice races down the road,” Banahan said. “But let's get him there first. He has to break his maiden first.”

#6 Bee Dancer graduates first time out in R8 at Fair Grounds under @b_hernandezjr for trainer @dallasstewart3!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/9lj1Cg7GW2

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 20, 2024

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Tipsy Tammy (f, 3, Arrogate–Peggy May, by Lemon Drop Kid) ran a winning race on debut. She just didn't win.

Those were the words of trainer Phil Bauer, who saddled the highly regarded $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase to a strong second-place finish behind 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road) on debut at Fair Grounds Jan. 1.

Sporting a pair of bullet breezes on her worktab, the Rigney Racing colorbearer wasn't much of a secret and was off as the 4-5 favorite in the six-furlong affair.

Tipsy Tammy jumped well from post three and battled for command from an outside second with Impel in hot pursuit in third through an opening quarter in a sharp :21.89. Tipsy Tammy poked her head in front as Impel began to wind up with a flashy sweep on the far turn.

Tipsy Tammy fought on gamely along the rail as they straightened for home, but couldn't match strides with the Brad Cox-trained Juddmonte homebred down the lane. Impel crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths to the good and it was another 10 3/4 lengths back to the distant third-place finisher.

Tipsy Tammy earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“Really thought she ran really well,” Bauer said. “Progression and maturity, she should move forward, hopefully.”

He continued, “It was as advertised. Obviously, when you spend that kind of money, you hope they turn out to be something special. She indicated that to us in the mornings and everybody was on to her as well. I think that was the reason for the short price.

Brad (Cox)'s horse shipped in from Kentucky, so maybe a little bit of camouflage there. No shame in running second to something like that. Visually, I thought they both ran winning efforts. They just got the better of us.”

Tipsy Tammy will look to go one better in her second career start in a six-furlong, $57,000 maiden special weight at Fair Grounds next Thursday. With a five-furlong bullet in 1:00 4/5 (1/12) under her belt in the interim, the 8-5 morning-line favorite has drawn widest of all in post seven. Mitchell Murrill will be at the controls once again.

Phil Bauer & Richard Rigney | Keeneland

“Who knows? Sometimes it's beneficial to get two starts in the maiden ranks and try and get some more seasoning before you take on winners,” Bauer said.

“She's put together really well and a very efficient mover. Obviously, you always hope that they'll stretch out a little bit in distance, which I think she will based on her training. We thought coming back in a three-quarter event would be the right move to try and get the maiden broke, then probably point towards something at Keeneland.”

Bred in Kentucky by Sierra Farm, Tipsy Tammy hails from the third and final crop of the much-missed Arrogate, who is already responsible for five Grade I winners, led by the recently crowned champion 3-year-old Arcangelo. She was the highest-priced yearling filly by Arrogate to sell in 2022 and the third most expensive overall of 61 yearlings by the late Hall of Famer to change hands that year.

The half-sister to MSW Doc Boy (Into Mischief) was produced by Peggy May, an unraced daughter of champion grass mare Perfect Sting (Red Ransom). The Adena Springs-bred Peggy May brought $170,000 from breeder Sierra Farm while in foal to Awesome Again at the 2014 Keeneland November sale.

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After working in company with his elder graded stakes-placed stablemate Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) in an Aug. 19 move for trainer Brad Cox over the Oklahoma training track, there was plenty of chatter behind Air of Defiance (c, 2, Quality Road–Faypien, by Ghostzapper) heading into his Saratoga debut.

Despite proving no match for the jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) across Union Ave. six days later, Air of Defiance lost little in defeat while gaining some valuable racing experience in the process.

Drawn on the fence over a muddy and sealed track, the 5-1 second choice lunged at the start and rushed up beneath Ricardo Santana, Jr. to race in third in the early stages.

The Gold Square LLC colorbearer began to drop back sharply following an opening quarter in a swift :22.02 and was heading the wrong way while under a ride rounding the far turn in the six-furlong affair.

Left with a ton to do as they straightened for home, Air of Defiance began to figure it out in the stretch. He was guided off the fence down the lane, split rivals shortly thereafter and finished with interest to complete the exacta, albeit 11 1/4 lengths adrift the aforementioned Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter. Air of Defiance earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

The son of Quality Road brought $400,000 from Al Gold's advisor Joe Hardoon out of the Eaton Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Air of Defiance's dam Faypien, a graded winner around two turns and also the runner-up as the favorite in the 2017 GI Test S. at the Spa, realized $875,000 from breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings at the 2018 FTKNOV sale.

The Quality Road over Ghostzapper cross has also produced GSW Guest Suite. Air of Defiance is bred similarly to Quality Road's GISWs Abel Tasman, City of Light and Spring Quality.

“We are hoping to run Air of Defiance Oct. 1 at Churchill,” Gold said. “He lost to a monster of Pletcher's. I'm hopeful he breaks a little better next time and the experience of his first race will enable a better outcome. We remain very high on the horse.”

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Lamorna (f, 2, Munnings–Freudie Anne, by Freud) kicked off her career for Hall of Famer Bill Mott with a better-than-it-looked fourth-place finish sprinting over the Saratoga grass July 20.

Last of 10 after getting squeezed at the start, the 7-1 chance was immediately under a ride from jockey Luis Saez and caboosed the field through an opening quarter in a sharp :22.02. She began to catch the eye with a flashy, sweeping move on the far turn and was hung out seven wide as they straightened for home.

The blaze-faced chestnut continued to rally down the stretch, and, despite racing a bit greenly from there with multiple lead changes, finished only 1 1/4 lengths adrift of the very promising Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies S.-bound Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Campaigned in partnership by Arnmore Thoroughbreds and West Paces Racing, Lamorna earned a strong 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“I was so proud of her,” Arnmore Thoroughbreds's Megan Jones said. “She ran a 14 1/4 Ragozin, which is a huge 2-year-old filly number on the grass. I didn't think she had it easy, either. They came in on her at the start and the winner came out on her at the top of the lane.”

Jones, a former vice president of Team Valor International, continued, “As a baby, when they make that big move on the turn and catch up, you expect that they might flatten out and get tired, but she just kept dropping her head down and trying. I would look to see her back here at Saratoga. She came out of the race super, really good energy. And mentally, she figured out what it was all about.”

Bred in Kentucky by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, Jayne Johnson and Adrian Wallace, Lamorna went through the ring twice at Keeneland, bringing $155,000 from Stoneriggs Farm as a KEENOV weanling and $320,000 from Arnmore Thoroughbreds as a KEESEP yearling.

The versatile New York-bred Freudie Anne, a half-sister to MSW Frostie Anne (Frost Giant), won eight of her 25 career starts, including the New York Stallion Series S. over the Saratoga grass and East View S. on dirt at Aqueduct.

The Munnings over Freud cross is responsible for GSW & GISP Catalina Red. Lamorna is also bred similarly to MGSW and two-time GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Om (Munnings), who was produced by a Tabasco Cat mare. Leading young Ashford Stud stallion Munnings is the sire of 26 graded winners.

“I think she's gonna be a pretty versatile filly,” Jones said. “Her mother won short and long, turf and dirt. We were just getting her started there. She's just a real pleasure.”

Jones's fledgling partnership has approximately 10 horses in training, including the 4-year-old homebred filly Poppy Flower (Lea), winner of the GIII Intercontinental S. earlier this summer at Belmont Park.

“I buy fillies as yearlings to race and to add to the broodmare band,” Jones said. “It's hard to win first out, but at the end of the day, as long as you come out of that first race feeling like you have a good individual that we can keep with us for years to come, that's what's really important to us. I am really grateful to my partners because I loved her so much (at Keeneland September) last year.”

#3 Kodiac Wintergreen closes late and gets up in time to win R6 at Saratoga for Rusty Arnold with @jose93_ortiz in the saddle!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ROSzkHym8F

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 20, 2023

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A little racing experience may be, ahem, just what Ocasek (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Shananies Song, by Eltish) needed.

Carrying the name of Ric Ocasek, the late frontman for The Cars, the Spendthrift Farm colorbearer wasn't off to the sharpest of beginnings from his rail draw and was forced to steady in the early stages traveling 6 1/2 furlongs on debut for Chad Brown in the opener at the Big A last Sunday.

Pushed along by Dylan Davis while trailing the field of five through an opening quarter in :22.39, Ocasek hit the gas entering the far turn and was rolling while four wide approaching the quarter pole as well-meant firster Harrodsburg (Constitution) kicked for home in complete control.

Still racing on his left lead down the stretch, Ocasek finally switched over a furlong from home and finished up nicely in a field-best :31.82 to cut Harrodsburg's margin of victory to 2 1/4 lengths.

Ocasek, a $440,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, earned a rock solid 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“I think in the first start, mostly I just want to see them finishing strong,” Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey said.

“We never really thought he was gonna be a real early horse. It was very encouraging the way he ran on. Chad was very positive about what he saw and the numbers he ran.”

Toffey added, “With a little luck, he feels like he might be a nice second-half horse for us.”

Bred in Kentucky by Charles T. Matses, Ocasek's leading sire Candy Ride is responsible for 17 Grade I winners, including the brilliant Gun Runner.

Out of the stakes-winning and very productive Eltish mare Shananies Song, a homebred for Matses, Ocasek is a half-brother to Favorable Outcome (Flatter), GSW & MGISP, $522,818; Mouheeb (Flatter), GSW-UAE, $192,966; Bellamentary (Bellamy Road), SW & MGSP, $216,200; and last year's GIII Fantasy S. runner-up Beguine (Gun Runner).

What's next for the Triple Crown-nominated Ocasek?

“That's really more up to Chad,” Toffey replied. “We certainly feel like this horse is gonna be best going farther. He came out of the race well. Certainly, the plan will be to stretch him out, whether that happens in his next start or after that. We'll see how things go with him, but we're very encouraged so far.”

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First Mission (c, 3, Street Sense–Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro) earned a gaudy 96 Beyer Speed Figure sprinting on debut on the GII Risen Star S. undercard at Fair Grounds Feb. 18. And he didn't even get his picture taken.

The Triple Crown-nominated Godolphin homebred fell three-quarters of a length short to his highly touted and Brad Cox-trained stablemate Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) in a very live-looking, six-furlong maiden special weight that day.

Given a 9-2 chance on debut as part of a commonly owned entry, the blinkered First Mission chased in fifth as the heavily favored Bishops Bay sat in the garden spot in second through an opening quarter in a sharp :22.14.

Up a couple of slots into third while racing in between rivals on the far turn, First Mission revved up three wide while ridden leaving the quarter pole and loomed boldly while hanging on his left lead as the very confidently handled Bishops Bay enjoyed first run and spun them in.

First Mission reached even terms and looked to have a big shot despite drifting some in the stretch, but Bishops Bay was going just a little bit better and responded nicely once finally sat down by Florent Geroux to earn his diploma at first asking in a race that didn't deserve a loser. It was a long way back to Bettera (Blame) in third.

“He was always a horse that we liked from when he was down in Florida last year being pre-trained,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said. “He had a few little juvenile issues and (Godolphin rehab trainer) Johnny Burke rehabbed him and got him going again. When he arrived in Brad's barn, he was pretty enthusiastic about him and always held him in high regard.”

First Mission's GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire Street Sense is responsible for 12 Grade I winners. First Mission was produced by the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Elude, a daughter of Argentinian champion 3-year-old filly and MG1SW Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar).

First Mission worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 (42/52) Mar. 11 and will stretch out to two turns for his second career start going 1 1/16 miles against 10 rivals in New Orleans on Saturday. The aforementioned Bishops Bay returns in an optional claimer going two turns at Fair Grounds Sunday.

“Running over three-quarters down at the Fair Grounds, we were very impressed with how he did that knowing that he wants to stretch out,” Banahan said.

“We're really looking forward to seeing him in his next start. If he can perform as well as we anticipate off his debut, we'll have a nice spring-summer with him.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner and Ashford Stud stallion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and GI Forego S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), GI Carter H. winner and Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

Other standouts appearing in the series include: last Saturday's GI Beholder Mile S. winner A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo); GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause); GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity and GII San Felipe S. third-place finisher Skinner (Curlin); GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags); GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro); GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway); MSW & 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); SW & GSP War At Sea (War Front); and SW & 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate).

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Subsequently flattered by Liguria (War Front)'s impressive performance in last weekend's GIII Jimmy Durante S. at Del Mar, Erna (f, 2, Curlin–Jumby Bay, by City Zip) will look to go one better at second asking in the nightcap at Gulfstream Park Sunday.

Off at 11-1 going 1 1/16 miles over the grass on debut at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting Oct. 22, Erna jumped well from post five and cleared the field of 10 heading into the clubhouse turn. Under a snug hold and in control through fractions of :23.33 and :48.01, the $600,000 OBS April breezer hit the quarter pole as the one to catch and led by a commanding 1 1/2 lengths in the stretch.

The aforementioned Liguria, making her second career start, however, was just getting going down the center. Erna dug down deep and braced for the challenge inside the final sixteenth, but, after swapping to her left lead close to home, just couldn't hold that one off and came up a neck short. Erna received a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

After failing to draw into a pair of spots during Keeneland's fall meeting, Erna made a last-minute trip from trainer Cherie DeVaux's Lexington base to the Big A for her debut.

“I was really impressed with how she ran given the circumstances,” DeVaux said.

“She did not get into either of the races that had overfilled at Keeneland and she had been training there the entire time since she came in after the sale. She had to ship after entries came out on Wednesday to Belmont Park. She arrived Thursday, trained at Belmont on Friday and had to ship over to Aqueduct [to run] on Saturday. So, it was less than ideal circumstances and she ran huge considering all that was thrown at her.”

Erna, the first foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Jumby Bay, brought $600,000 from owner James D. Spry after cruising through a :20 4/5 bullet in Ocala this spring. The daughter of two-time Horse of the Year and perennial leading sire Curlin was previously a $135,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Lehigh Bloodstock.

Jumby Bay, from the family of grassy GI Garden City Breeders' Cup S. heroine Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song), brought $510,000 from breeder Don Alberto carrying Erna at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

“At the sale, we were really impressed with her breeze and how she moved,” DeVaux said of Erna. “She looked like she was more turf inclined.”

Erna drew post nine going a two-turn mile for her second career try over the Gulfstream lawn Sunday. Luis Saez has the mount aboard the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

“I think if she either runs the race that she ran last time or improves, she's gonna be hard to beat,” DeVaux said. “She acts like she's a filly to be excited about.”

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

This year's GI Carter H. winner and new Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) and Cinema S. winner and GII Del Mar Derby third 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).

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Off as the 2-1 favorite on debut, it was an uphill battle from the start for Effortlesslyelgant (f, 2, Liam's Map–County Clare, by Uncle Mo) at Churchill Downs Nov. 23.

“It was kind of what I'd call a nightmare scenario, but that's horse racing,” owner Alex Lieblong said with a laugh.

Off a beat slowly from post three, the $475,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was on the move and traveling nicely to race in a close seventh as the field of 12 bunched up through an opening quarter in a swift :21.81 for their six-furlong journey.

Forced to steady sharply in traffic nearing the three-eighths pole, Effortlesslyelgant had her work cut out for her with only two rivals beaten as they approached the top of the stretch. Quietly making some progress down the lane, jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. tipped the gray out into the clear with a furlong remaining and she came blitzing home over the top in a field-best :12 to finish a promising fourth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths behind fellow firster Neutralize (Runhappy).

Trained by Norm Casse, Effortlesslyelgant received a 66 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“She was a tick slow coming out and then that one filly came over on her,” Lieblong said. “That started the rodeo and it just kept progressing. To be honest, I think at the end, Santana said, 'Well, I'm gonna let her relax and get her somewhat of a good feeling coming out of the race.' He never hit her with the stick–never touched her. It's a tough old game, but she looks like she has some talent.”

Effortlesslyelgant is the first runner that Lieblong has had with Casse. She will spend the winter at Oaklawn Park. The chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission also recently sent horses to Riley Mott for the first time. The son of Hall of Famer Bill Mott won the first race of his fledgling training career in November.

“It's time to get some of these younger guys a leg up,” Lieblong said. “Because the industry needs 'em.”

Bred in Kentucky by Offshoot Farm LLC, Effortlesslyelgant is the first foal out of the unraced 8-year-old Uncle Mo mare County Clare, a half-sister to the ill-fated MGSW Indyanne (Indian Charlie). Effortlesslyelgant is bred on the same cross as Crazy Beautiful, one of seven graded winners for young sire Liam's Map. Lieblong has enjoyed previous success with the Lane's End stallion via GISW Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map), who sold for $2.9 million to Whisper Hill Farm at last month's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“We were really tickled with the filly and her family,” Lieblong said of Effortlesslyelgant. “She looked a lot like Indyanne, who Bo Hunt had also purchased. I like Liam's Map–he can get you a good horse.”

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

This term's GI Carter H. winner and new Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) and Cinema S. winner and GII Del Mar Derby third 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).

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