Sales history: $130,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. O-Danny A. Eplin; B-John C. Oxley; T-O. J. Jauregui.

#2 DREAMFYRE ($9.20) wins the (GIII) Sorrento Stakes, presented by @KeenelandSales.
She was confidently ridden to victory by @HIBerrios for trainer @ojjauregui. Congratulations to owner @DanEplin! pic.twitter.com/FgEUuX5wGe

— TVG (@TVG) August 12, 2023

Saturday, Del Mar
SORRENTO S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES-GIII, $201,000, Del Mar, 8-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.52, ft.
1–DREAMFYRE, 120, f, 2, by Flameaway
           1st Dam: Appreciating (GSP, $105,093), by Sky Mesa
           2nd Dam: Hello Barbara Sue, by Dehere
           3rd Dam: Barbara Sue, by Big Spruce
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Danny A. Eplin; B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-O. J. Jauregui; J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $165,000. *1/2 to Nasreddine (Nyquist), GISP. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Benedetta, 118, f, 2, City of Light–Tessie Flip, by Grand Slam. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($290,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $750,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Kaleem Shah, Inc.; B-Springhouse Farm & Dromoland Farm (KY); T-Simon Callaghan. $40,000.
3–Dua, 120, f, 2, Arrogate–Attempt to Name, by Consolidator. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($400,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Wynnstay INC, Donna Moore & Jim Richardson (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: 3HF, 7 1/4, HF. Odds: 3.60, 1.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Motet, Ur in Trouble, Vinos Angel, Kythira. Scratched: Feisty Mitole.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Brown, who saddled the winners of all four graded races on the 2019 Arlington Million card, won his first Million in 2013 with Real Solution (Kitten's Joy). Four years later he was victorious with Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid) and followed up that win in 2018-19 with Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway).

In Saturday's GI Beverly D. S.–a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In event–Brown will saddle Peter Brant and Michael Tabor's Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), who opened the year with a win in the GIII Beaugay S. and was most recently fourth in the July 16 GI Diana S. at Saratoga. The 2-1 morning-line favorite, Rougir could become Brown's record-extending seventh winner in the race.

Brown's first win in the Beverly D. came in 2011 with Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). From 2015-19 he won the race with Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}), Sea Calisi (Fr) (Triclaria {Ger}), Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) and back-to-back runnings with Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}).

New York-based jockey Manny Franco has the call on both Brown runners Saturday at Churchill.

“Manny has really come a long way with his skill,” Brown said of the 27-year-old rider Wednesday. “He really pays attention a lot, is always trying to get better at his profession and I see him at the best he's ever been right now. He has a really good agent with Jon Panagot, who's really great to work with, and he fits a lot of our horses well. He's willing to ride any level of horse. I find him equally effective on turf or dirt and he normally puts my horses in good positions.”

'Rising Stars' Do Battle in Special

The graded stakes action at Saratoga Saturday is headlined by the GI Fourstardave S.–another Win and You're In event–where the 6-year-old mare Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), 6-5 on the morning line, will take on four male rivals.

Earlier on the card, a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' will do battle in the GII Saratoga Special. Gulfport (Uncle Mo), who proved his seven-length debut victory was no fluke with a resounding 12 1/4-length score in the July 4 Bashford Manor S., is 4-5 on the morning line.

The precocious colt is co-owned by Jackpot Farm's Terry Green, Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt and Whispering Oaks Farm and he will be making his first start since Coolmore joined the ownership group Saturday.

“That was one of the more exciting things when they made that phone call to us,” Green said of the new partners. “We feel like they're one of the best at what they do. We were excited to be part of their organization.”

Green, a veteran of the casino industry, named Gulfport after his hometown in southern Mississsippi.

“That's where I grew up and that's where my main business is,” said Green, who owns Island View Casino in Gulfport with Rick Carter. “That's the tough thing about these names. I've been kind of saving that name. Sometimes it can be tough to pull the trigger on it because you want that name to go somewhere and be in the record books. I'm very pleased with him so far.”

Despite the early success and the new high-powered partner, Green, who owns a 200-acre farm for cutting horses in Weatherford, Texas, is trying to keep his expectations for Gulfport grounded.

“Time always tells on these things, so you just try to keep both feet on the ground, but he's shown that he's a good, strong colt,” Green said. “He's been very healthy in both races with no problems. Steve [Asmussen] and all of us just love the way he travels and the way he covers the ground. We've never had anything like him before, so it's extremely exciting.”

Cliff and Michele Love's Damon's Mound (Girvin) turned heads with his dramatic 12 1/2-length debut victory at Churchill Downs July 2. The colt could give fast-starting freshman sire Girvin, who already has Astoria S. winner Devious Dame to his credit, his first graded winner. While fellow freshman Bolt d'Oro could have his first stakes winner with Bashford Manor runner-up Owen's Leap.

Two-year-old fillies will be in the spotlight at Del Mar Saturday and another freshman sire, Good Magic, could make the grade when Vegas Magic, already a stakes winner at Pleasanton, faces five foes in the GII Sorrento S. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Procrastination (Not This Time), a front-running eight-length winner of her July 4 debut at Los Alamitos, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the six-furlong race.

Earlier on the Del Mar card, seven fillies and mares, led by 6-5 morning-line favorite Going Global (Mehmas {Ire}), face off in the GII Yellow Ribbon H.

Going Global, coming off a third-place finish in the May 30 GI Gamely S., has a record of two wins and a second in three starts at Del Mar. She won last year's GI Del Mar Oaks and GII Goldikova S. at the oceanside oval.

“She likes Del Mar,” trainer Phil D'Amato said. “She's been training very well here on the turf course and I'm excited to run her.”

Woodbine hosts a pair of graded races Saturday, the GIII Bold Venture S. and GIII Trillium S.

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As brilliant as she was on unveiling June 26 at Los Alamitos, where she dominated a five furlong field of maidens by eight easy lengths, and then a head victorious in Del Mar's GII Sorrento S. Aug. 6 over eventual GISW Eda (Munnings), she was as uncharacteristically dull in her prior two starts. Eased to a distant seventh in the GI Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5 and last Oct. 10 in the 1 1/16m GII Chandelier S. at the Great Race Place, Elm Drive wasn't seen again until this return to one turn contests.

With the scratch of old foe Eda, overcoming a bumper car start to speed to the lead was a breeze; the 2-1 co-second choice had everything her own way as she cruised through a :23.59 opening quarter and a :46.66 half. The big white blaze emerged first into the lane, three on top and going well, and Elm Drive comfortably held off a late rally by Kirstenbosch (Midnight Lute).

“She broke sharp and just showed she was in command every step of the way and a had a little extra to kick away in the stretch,” said trainer Philip D'Amato, the current leader in trainer standings with 38 wins and one more than Bob Baffert for the lead in stakes victories, with 12. “I'm very happy with her comeback. Seven eighths is a tricky distance to win at off the bench and I'm glad we did it. I think she'll get a lot out of this race.”

Elm Drive is her dam's second black-type runner and fifth winner from five older offspring to survive. The mare has a yearling colt by Accelerate and a 2022 colt by Volatile. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

ANGELS FLIGHT S., $79,400, Santa Anita, 5-8, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.97, ft.
1–ELM DRIVE, 124, f, 3, by Mohaymen
                1st Dam: Lets Dance Charlie, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Dance Darling, by Devil's Bag
                3rd Dam: Danzig Darling, by Danzig
($40,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $165,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Little Red Feather Racing; B-Kenneth D'Oyen (KY); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Ricardo Gonzalez. $47,640. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-0, $195,640. *1/2 to Mother of Dragons (First Dude), MSW, $153,995.
2–Kirstenbosch, 120, f, 3, Midnight Lute–Llandudno, by Belong to Me. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Keith Abrahams (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $15,880.
3–Empire Gal, 120, f, 3, Empire Maker–Double Tapped, by Tapit. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $9,528.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 2.00, 2.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Unsolved Mystery, Classical Romance. Scratched: Eda.

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And if the Kentucky-bred daughter of Mohaymen, a $165,000 purchase at the Ocala sale in March who carries the colors of Little Red Feather Racing stays that way, she'll next be seen in the $300,000 Grade 1 TVG Del Mar Debutante on September 5.

“Yup, absolutely,” was D'Amato's response when the Debutante was mentioned in the winner's circle after she prevailed by a head over Baoma Corp's Eda in a stretch-long duel while covering six furlongs in 1:10.64.

“She broke on top then Juan (Hernandez) got her to rate, make a move and fight off a rival to her outside the length of the stretch. I just thought that's the epitome of class. Very professional, and I think she's the type of filly that the longer (the races) the better.”

Having chalked up one stakes victory for the weekend, D'Amato will send out Raymundos Secret (6-1) and Charmaine's Mia (4-1) in Saturday's $200,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon and narrowly favored (2-1) Cathkin Peak in Sunday's $150,000 Grade 3 La Jolla Stakes as a possible closer to three consecutive big days.

Irish-bred Cathkin Peak made his U.S. debut at Del Mar in late November a winning one and followed that with a December victory in the $80,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Kicking off his 3-year-old campaign this year, Cathkin Peak was second to soon-to-be Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World in the $100,000 Pasadena Stakes in February and has gone unraced since.

“He had a couple of little things we needed to deal with, but he never left the barn and he has come back to train really well,” D'Amato said. Cathkin Peak will go 1 1/16 miles, the longest assignment of his career, in the La Jolla – second leg in the grass stakes series for 3-year-olds during the Del Mar summer. His previous starts were all at a mile.

“He's really tactical,” D'Amato said. “If there's not a lot of pace, he can be up close; if there is, he can sit back and make a late move. Juan can play the break and try to have him in the right spot.”

The field for the La Jolla from the rail with jockeys and morning line odds in parenthesis: Stilleto Boy (Kent Desormeaux, 6-1); Wyfire (Kyle Frey, 12-1); Hudson Ridge (Abel Cedillo, 5-2); Cathkin Peak (Juan Hernandez, 2-1); Zoffarelli (Drayden Van Dyke, 3-1),  and Sword Zorro (Umberto Rispoli, 4-1).

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The Grade 2 headliner at the seaside oval north of San Diego, Calif., went with a purse of $201,500 and Elm Drive came away with the winner's share of $120,000. She was ridden by Juan Hernandez and was saddled by Phil D'Amato.

Finishing third was King, Kirby or Kirby's Smash Ticket, the unlucky race favorite at 13-10 who broke badly, then ran into traffic trouble on the backside.

Elm Drive, a bay daughter of Mohaymen, is now two-for-two in her brief career after having easily captured her initial start in a straight maiden race at Los Alamitos on June 28. Her earnings rose to $147,000.

The winning time was 1:10.64 for the six furlongs.

Elm Drive paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.20 across the board. Eda returned $3.20 and $2.20, while Smash Tickets paid $2.10.

The Sorrento is considered the key prep for the track's biggest race for juvenile fillies, the Grade 1, $300,000 TVG Del Mar Debutante, which will be contested at seven furlongs on Sunday, Sept. 5. Trainer D'Amato indicated that that race is the next target for Elm Drive.

The track's ever-growing Pick 6 Jackpot wager once more expanded when for the 10th straight day as no player was able to take down the entire pool as the single winner. The carryover into Saturday's program grew to $831,517.  First post on Saturday's 11-race card will be at 2 p.m.

Post-race quotes:
JUAN GONZALEZ (Elm Drive, winner) – “Phil (trainer D'Amato) didn't give me any special instructions. He just said play the break and put her in a good spot. She broke well and I had her where I wanted her. When we turned for home and the other filly (Eda) came up outside us, my filly got real brave. She dug in. She's not afraid to fight. She's a good one.”

PHIL D'AMATO (Elm Drive, winner) – “She broke on top then Juan got her to rate, make a move and fight off a rival to her outside the length of the stretch. I just thought that's the epitome of class. Very professional, and I think she's the type of filly that the longer (the races) the better. (Debutante?) Yup, absolutely.”

FRACTIONS:  :22.00  :46.00  :57.95  1:10.64

The stakes win was the third of the meeting for rider Hernandez, but his first in the Sorrento. He now has 10 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer D'Amato, but his second in the Sorrento (Spectator, 2017). He now has 30 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owners are Little Red Feather Racing overseen by Billy Koch of Woodland Hills, CA.

The post ‘Epitome Of Class’: Elm Drive Holds Off Eda To Win Del Mar’s Sorrento Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Pedigree Notes:

Elm Drive is one of seven winners from the first-crop of MGSW Mohaymen and the only black-type winner thus far. Lets Dance Charlie is also the dam of a 2021 colt by Accelerate and was bred back to Volatile.

Friday, Del Mar
SORRENTO S.-GII, $201,500, Del Mar, 8-6, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.64, ft.
1–ELM DRIVE, 118, f, 2, by Mohaymen
                1st Dam: Lets Dance Charlie, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Dance Darling, by Devil's Bag
                3rd Dam: Danzig Darling, by Danzig
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($40,000 Ylg
'20 OBSOCT; $165,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Little Red Feather
Racing; B-Kenneth D'Oyen (KY); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Juan J.
Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $147,000.
*1/2 to Mother of Dragons (First Dude), MSW, $153,995. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Eda, 120, f, 2, Munnings–Show Me, by Lemon Drop Kid.
($240,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR).
O-Baoma Corporation; B-Nathan McCauley (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
$40,000.
3–Smash Ticket, 120, f, 2, Midnight Lute–Hennesey Smash, by
Roll Hennessy Roll. O-King, Brad, Kirby, Stan and Kirby,
Suzanne; B-Brad King (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher. $24,000.
Margins: HD, 13 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.30, 2.10, 1.30.
Also Ran: Sax, She's So Shiny, Roses for Suzzett, Loveherheart, First Promise. Scratched: At the Spa, It's Simple, Shesgotattitude. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Nine of the 11 2-year-olds have already won a race and one of them – King, Kirby or Kirby's Smash Ticket – did so in impressive fashion at Del Mar on July 17 in a straight maiden affair, drawing out to tally by five lengths in good time under Umberto Rispoli for New Mexico-based conditioner Todd Fincher. That dash, along with a second-place finish she turned in earlier in June at Lone Star Park in Texas, was enough for morning line maker Jon White to hang her the 9-5 favorite in the Sorrento.

Others in the field who have drawn White's eye are Little Red Feather Racing's Elm Drive, who trains out of the barn of Phil D'Amato and won her initial start at Los Alamitos on June 26 by eight lengths under Juan Hernandez. The rider returns Friday and they've drawn the role of second-favorite at 5-2. Listed at 4-1 is Baoma Corp's Eda, who missed by a whisker at Santa Anita on June 19, but was made the winner for a bumping incident with the filly Ko Olina. Bob Baffert trains Eda and once again will have Abel Cedillo in the boot.

Here's the full field for the Sorrento from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

Marc Ricker's She's So Shiny (Ricky Gonzalez, 8-1); Smash Ticket; Eda; Donworthy or Ennis' Shesgotattitude (Trevor McCarthy, 8-1); Alydom Racing, Barragan or Lerner's Loveherheart (Drayden Van Dyke, 15-1); Reddam Racing's It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez, 6-1); Agave Racing Stables or Schera's Sax (Joe Bravo, 10-1); Binder and Associates, Anderson, et al's First Promise (apprentice Jessica Pyfer, 20-1); Elm Drive; Tricar Stables' Roses for Suzzett (apprentice Emily Ellingwood, 20-1), and Lovingier, Beckerle or Carrillo's At the Spa (Tyler Baze, 5-1).

The Sorrento is the stepping stone for young fillies with an eye toward the track's premier race for juvenile misses – the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante, run at seven furlongs on Sunday, Sept. 5.

Trainer Baffert holds the record for most Sorrento winners with seven. He has also won nine Debutantes.

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At The Spa, a California-bred daughter of Outwork bred and owned by Terry Lovingier and trained by Jorge Periban, comes in off a victory in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante on June 20 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be tasked to go another eighth of a mile in the Sorrento while breaking from the outside post. The filly is also entered in Thursday's CTBA Stakes.

The field for the Sorrento from the rail with jockeys in parenthesis: She's So Shiny (Ricky Gonzalez); Smash Ticket (Umberto Rispoli); Eda (Abel Cedillo); Shesgotattitude (Trevor McCarthy); Loverheart (Drayden Van Dyke); It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez); Sax (Joe Bravo); First Promise (Jessica Pyfer); Elm Drive (Juan Hernandez); Roses For Suzzett (Emily Ellingwood) and At the Spa (Tyler Baze).

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The $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, at 5 ½ furlongs for California-bred 2-year-old fillies initiates things on Thursday. From a list of 12 nominations, a field of nine was entered Saturday with Jorge Periban-trained At the Spa significantly coming in off a victory in a $100,000 stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., in June.

The post position draw was to be held later in the day. The field in alphabetical order with jockeys in parenthesis: At the Spa (Tyler Baze); Carmen Miranda (Giovanni Franco); Drizella (Juan Hernandez); Gianna's Wild Cat (Jessica Pyfer); Irish Wahine (Abel Cedillo); It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez); Ko Olina (Edwin Maldonado); Lion's Lair (Tiago Pereira) and Madiha (Umberto Rispoli).

Friday's feature is the $200,000 Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, often a stepping stone to the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante near the end of the meeting. Bob Baffert, a seven-time Sorrento-winning trainer, has three of the 22 nominees.

Saturday card features the $200,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon and the $200,000 Best Pal. The Yellow Ribbon, at 1 1/16 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, drew a dozen nominees topped by Simon Callaghan-trained Maxim Rate, winner of the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita in May.

The Best Pal, often an identifier of potential for the $300,000 Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on closing day of the meeting, has 16 nominations, six of whom have been training outside California.

The week concludes Sunday with the $150,000 Grade 3 La Jolla, the second leg of the series for 3-year-olds, and the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds.

John Sadler-trained Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World is among 15 nominations for the La Jolla, a return to turf racing for the son of Candy Ride after unsuccessful Triple Crown trail runs in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Fourteen were nominated to the Graduation, among them Luis Mendez-trained Big City Lights, a winner of two starts by a combined 19 ¾ lengths.

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The Sorrento's public betting choice at 0.90-to-1 was My Girl Red (by Texas Red), and after leading all the way, the handsome bay filly duly delivered by 4 3/4 lengths from second-choice Get On the Bus (Uncle Mo), who had five lengths on Exchange Vows (Tapiture), the longest price on the odds board.

Bred in Kentucky and racing for breeder Erich Brehm, My Girl Red is out of the stakes-placed Morakami (Fusaichi Pegasus), and the Sorrento winner is one of four stakes horses out of that mare. Brehm, who was a co-owner of Texas Red, purchased Morakami in foal to Street Boss (Street Cry) for $21,000 at the 2017 Keeneland January sale.

A $225,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Morakami would have been counted a disappointing broodmare at the time of sale, as none of the mare's racers had earned black type at the time. Two of the mare's foals already in training subsequently became stakes-placed, and the foal she was carrying at the sale is now known as Gold Street, the winner of the 2019 Sugar Bowl Stakes at the Fair Grounds and the 2020 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park.

Now unbeaten in two starts, My Girl Red is the first graded winner for either of her parents. Morakami has a yearling filly by Texas Red and a weanling filly of 2020 by leading sire Kitten's Joy (El Prado). The mare was bred to Into Mischief for 2021.

Much like his precocious daughter, Texas Red (Afleet Alex) was a talented 2-year-old, winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile in the absence of champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and becoming one of the early favorites for the next season's classics. The tall bay was sidelined in February 2015 with a hoof abscess, came back to win the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, then was sidelined once again with bone bruising.

In 2017, Texas Red went to stud in Kentucky at Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm. Pope McLean Jr. said that former Crestwood associate “Phil Hager had a relationship with Brehm, and we partnered with him and his group. Erich leads that ownership group, and most of them stayed in on the horse” as a stallion prospect.

“Erich Brehm has put so much into the horse that this [victory at Del Mar] meant a lot to them,” said Marc McLean. “Morakami was a nice mare already, but Erich bought some other mares for the horse. That makes a difference in the opportunities that a young stallion has.”

With a first crop of “only” 49 foals, Texas Red had a very respectable number of foals for an earlier time, but in today's stallion environment with popular stallions having superbooks of 200 mares or more, the son of Afleet Alex is overachieving to have a graded stakes winner already.

In addition, another daughter of Texas Red, Somuchsugar, finished second in the restricted Miss Ohio Stakes on Aug. 8 to the Constitution filly Alexandria.

Like Texas Red, Hit It a Bomb (War Front) was a Breeders' Cup winner as an unbeaten juvenile, winning the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf by a neck from Airoforce (Colonel John). Laid off until August of his 3-year-old season, Hit It a Bomb returned with thirds in the G2 Solonaway Stakes and G3 Desmond Stakes and ended his career unplaced in the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile.

Sold to stand at Spendthrift Farm, Hit It a Bomb got a tepid reception from dirt-oriented breeders and has only 38 foals from his first crop. Some of them looked the part of quality racers at last year's sales of yearlings, as Makai brought $140,000 at the Keeneland September sale from Jordan Blair Racing, and Miss Costa Rica brought $95,000 at the same auction. Too many of the yearlings by Hit It a Bomb, however, did not receive the seal of approval from American trainers and pinhookers, with a sales median price of $12,000 from 23 sold.

One of those below the median price was Weston, who sold to Chris Drakos for $7,000 at the Keeneland September sale. Now the winner of the Best Pal Stakes, the bay has improved a lot, and he may not be the only one. Miss Costa Rica returned as a 2-year-old in training at the OBS March sale and sold for $200,000 in this year's strongly depressed market. She and a couple other well-regarded members of the first crop by Hit It a Bomb are reported to be training well and should make starts soon.

A winner on debut, Weston won the Best Pal after laying up with the pace the whole trip and was ahead by a neck at the wire, defeating Girther (Brody's Cause).

Weston is out of the stakes-placed Elke (Dixie Union), and the Hit It a Bomb gelding is the mare's first stakes winner. Elke has also produced the stakes-placed Miss Segovia (Paddy O'Prado) and two other winners of more than $100,000.

As the progeny of a high-class racer who showed his form on turf, gamblers will want to pay special attention to the stock by Hit It a Bomb when they get a chance to race on turf.

Both My Girl Red and Weston were the first winners by their sires, and now they have become the first stakes winners and graded stakes winners for those young stallions trying to secure a future in the breeding world of Kentucky. To secure a position in the stallion hierarchy for 2021, Hit It a Bomb and Texas Red needed to show success early, and they have done well to sire graded winners from relatively small crops very early in their first inning at stud.

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