Second Chances | Horse Racing Free Tips

Second Chances: Godolphin Homebred Spelterini One to Watch at the Spa

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

It's admittedly very early days, but one of the more promising 2-year-olds to debut thus far at the prestigious Saratoga meeting didn't even get her picture taken.

Godolphin homebred Spelterini (f, 2, Bernardini–Keepshercool, by Smart Strike) came flying home to finish an eye-catching second on the Spa's opening day program July 14.

Last of six after a slow start from her inside draw, the 13-1 shot was ridden along by Junior Alvarado to keep pace while saving ground up one spot in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.54.

Appearing to have her work cut out for her in that same position approaching the quarter pole, she was tipped out widest of all in the five or six path as they straightened for home and came rocketing down the center to finish within a half-length of the front-running, second-time starter Half a Chance (Flatter). It was another length back to heavily favored Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter and $475,000 FTFMAR graduate Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) in third.

Spelterini, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, earned a very respectable 78 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort in the 5 1/2-furlong affair.

“We were very pleased with how she ran, especially with the winner having had a start already,” Godolphin Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said.

“She didn't break all that well, but got a good educational run out of the race and ran strong through the wire. Couple of jumps after the wire and she was out in front. We liked her. She'd been training well. We were hoping for a good run. You just never know with those 2-year-olds, especially at Saratoga. We look forward to getting her back into a maiden later on in the meet and hopefully we can take another step forward.”

Out of the unplaced Smart Strike mare Keepshercool, the cleverly named bay carries the namesake of Maria Spelterini, the Italian tightrope walker who famously crossed Niagara Falls as part of a celebration of the U.S. Centennial in 1876.

The 7-year-old Keepshercool, a well-beaten sixth in the Belmont slop in her lone trip to the post, is a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Penwith (Bernardini); MGISP Centring (A.P. Indy); GISP Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy); and Collective (Bernardini), the dam of MGSW Shared Sense (Street Sense).

Spelterini's second dam Composure (Touch Gold), a two-time Grade I winner and runner-up in the 2002 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, brought $3.6 million from Sheikh Mohammed's operation at the 2003 KEENOV sale.

“[Keepshercool] ended up hurting herself when she was in training and had to have a fracture repair of the pastern,” Banahan said.

“We liked her as a young horse as a yearling and we were hoping that she would do well. That never really worked out, but we do like the pedigree. We've had a nice bit of luck in there. It's a family that we've done well with.”

This term's GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Westchester S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), streaking Cinema S. winner War At Sea (War Front) and next out 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) 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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Second Chances: More Ammo for Leading Young Sire Gun Runner

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

Disarm (c, 2, Gun Runner–Easy Tap, by Tapit) turned it on nicely in the stretch to report home an encouraging third on debut at Churchill Downs June 19.

The chestnut's worktab, dating back to late March, was led by a four-furlong bullet in :46 4/5 (1/28) at Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's Louisville base June 6.

Outfooted early and under a ride in eighth through an opening quarter in :22.82, the 5-2 second-choice began to gain some momentum approaching quarter pole and was guided out five wide at the top of the stretch.

Receiving a steady dose of left-handers from Tyler Gaffalione down the lane, Disarm began to roll down the center despite attempting to get in. Nearly running on heels late, he was wrapped up approaching the shadow of the wire to finish two lengths adrift favored firster and $325,000 OBS April graduate Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) in the 5 1/2-furlong affair.

Disarm, a homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“Going into the race, it was kinda like one of those, 'We like him at 5 1/2 [furlongs], but we'd love him at a mile' kind of things,” said David Fiske, longtime advisor to the Winchell family.

“He didn't get the typical 'Laredo leap' leaving the gate. The way Steve [Asmussen]'s father schools those 2-year-olds down there, they tend to break pretty alertly and he was a little flat-footed that day. He was still running at the end and that probably wasn't his optimum distance.”

The Gun Runner over Tapit cross–two of the best to ever carry the maroon-and-white Winchell silks–is already responsible for last term's GII Adirondack S. heroine Wicked Halo, promising unbeaten Monomoy Girl S. winner Society and Texas Turf Mile S. winner Red Run.

Last year's record-setting freshman sire Gun Runner is represented by five top-level winners, including champion Echo Zulu and GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting.

Disarm's dam Easy Tap–a $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling purchase–won one of five starts for the Winchells and Asmussen. The 12-year-old has produced Tap Daddy (Scat Daddy), a winner of Pimlico's James W. Murphy S. and runner-up in the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. for these same connections. He was also a champion stayer in Venezuela after being sold privately. Easy Tap is also responsible for the multiple stakes-placed Total Tap (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a Gun Runner colt of this year.

As for Disarm, Fiske concluded, “He's a great-looking horse. Steve [Asmussen] was taking him out during Derby week and showing him off to press guys. He thought this was the best-looking horse he had in the barn, so he paraded him around. He likes him quite a bit. I think he's got plenty of talent.”

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Second Chances: ‘An Added Sweetness’ for Juddmonte Campaigning Arrogate Homebred Artorius

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

After blitzing home to finish a strong second on debut at Keeneland, Juddmonte homebred Artorius (c, 3, Arrogate–Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper) could make his next start during the upcoming GI Belmont S. Racing Festival.

“That was maybe a bit short for him and there's a race on June 10th going a one-turn mile at Belmont,” Juddmonte USA General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said. “Everything is going well with the colt. We'll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully he continues to progress. He's a good-looking horse.”

Off as the 3-1 second choice in his unveiling for Chad Brown going six furlongs in Lexington Apr. 16 (video), Artorius was away in good order from stall three and was immediately under a ride in eighth through an opening quarter in a sharp :22.13.

Still with plenty to do rounding the far turn, the dark bay was taken widest of all as they straightened, and despite switching to his left lead approaching the final sixteenth, came flying home on the outside in :12.07 to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind 'TDN Rising Star' Under Oath (Speightstown). Artorius earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He just had a few issues early on as a 2-year-old, so we brought him home and let him grow up a bit,” O'Rourke said. “We brought him back and he's been a different horse altogether. Chad kept saying that he had turned the corner and that he really liked him going into his debut. He obviously came across a good horse [Under Oath] who had first run on him. But, oh God, we loved the way he came home–the final eighth, especially.”

Juddmonte purchased Artorius's dam Paulassilverlining privately from breeder Vince Scuderi ahead of her 5-year-old season with the gone-to-soon Arrogate in mind as a future mate. She recorded two wins at the highest level that term–the GI Madison S. and GI Humana Distaff S.–while carrying Juddmonte's green-and-pink silks.

Paulassilverlining, a half-sister to two-time GI Carter H. winner Dads Caps (Discreet Cat), is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Parameter (Into Mischief) and a Tapit filly of this year. Parameter recently joined Brown's Saratoga string, according to O'Rourke.

The brilliant GI Breeders' Cup Classic and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Arrogate, the richest North American racehorse in history, was humanely euthanized at Juddmonte after suffering from an undetermined illness in June 2020. He is currently represented by 27 winners, headed by GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath.

“There will certainly be an added sweetness–we'd love to have a good Arrogate,” O'Rourke concluded. “And most especially, also get a good start to Paulassilverlining's broodmare career as well. He definitely has talent, it's just a matter of how much.”

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 ultra-impressive GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Westchester S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) and GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause) 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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Second Chances: Well-Bred Marsalis One to Watch for Stonestreet & Asmussen

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

In a race that didn't deserve a loser, Stonestreet homebred Marsalis (c, 3, Curlin–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) came up a head short on debut after running hard the entire way on the GII Risen Star S. undercard Feb. 19 (video).

The well-bred chestnut's worktab was highlighted by a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :59 4/5 (1/47) at Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's Fair Grounds base Jan. 30 and he was off as the 7-5 favorite.

Drawn wide in post nine with Joel Rosario in the irons, Marsalis flashed smart early speed and was immediately hounded to his outside by fellow firster Momentous (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :22.29. Head and head with that Todd Pletcher-trained rival as they approached the quarter pole, Marsalis continued to fight on gamely from the inside with neither giving an inch down the stretch and crossed the wire a painful second in an absolute thriller. It was 5 1/4 lengths back to Major Contender (Distorted Humor) in third.

The final time for six furlongs was 1:09.58. Marsalis earned a solid 75 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“Two really good horses–he ran super,” Stonestreet's bloodstock advisor John Moynihan said.

“He showed a lot of promise last year as a 2-year-old, but he bucked his shins, so we decided not to press on and try to run him at two. Ever since Steve's had him, he's really liked him. But he's one of those horses that from the time we've had him at the farm, he always trained super. [Stonestreet trainer] Ian [Brennan] really really liked him. He went on to Steve and he expected him to really run well.”

Marsalis's pedigree is Stonestreet and Asmussen top and bottom. Hailing by the duo's two-time Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin, Marsalis is out of 2009 GI Spinaway S. heroine Hot Dixie Chick, a $435,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Old purchase by Barbara Banke's Grace Stables.

The half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) has also produced young Sequel stallion Union Jackson (Curlin), MSW & GSP; and MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). The latter lines up in Saturday's GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn.

Hot Dixie Chick had a colt by Constitution in 2021 and was bred back to Quality Road.

“Hot Dixie Chick was a great 2-year-old–she was a really good filly,” Moynihan said. “We bought her out of a 2-year-old sale. It was actually the first horse that Barbara bought on her own while Mr. Jackson was still alive. Hot Dixie Chick has really come on–she had Pauline's Pearl, who ran in the Kentucky Oaks last year. Her first foal Union Jackson was quite talented as well.”

Marsalis has since returned to the worktab with a pair of four-furlong breezes for Asmussen in NOLA, including a :50 flat (19/27) move Mar. 7. Anything penciled in for his next start yet?

“We'll let Steve dictate that, but I'm sure it will be another maiden race,” Moynihan concluded.

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: 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), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), last weekend's GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Las Virgenes S. heroine Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and GI Frizette S. third-place finisher A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

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