Messier Seeks Redemption in Bob Lewis

'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker) looks to make amends after finishing second as the heavy favorite last out in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity S. as the people's choice once again in Sunday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. A dominant second-out graduate at this oval in October, the bay captured the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 14 and was run down late and forced to settle for second last out at Los Al Dec. 11.

His Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert also saddles Wharton (Candy Ride {Arg}) for the same connections. The $475,000 KEESEP buy powered home to a 5 1/4-length graduation at Santa Anita Dec. 31, earning the 'TDN Rising Star' tag.

Simon Callaghan sends out a flashy maiden winner in Sir London (Malibu Moon). Runner-up in his first two attempts sprinting in the fall, the $700,000 EASMAY acquisition demolished the field by 10 lengths next out going a mile at Los Alamitos Dec. 4.

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Candy Ride Colt Graduates a ‘Rising Star’ at Santa Anita

Though he was a bit chilly on the board for a Bob Baffert-trained, John Velazquez-ridden, $475,000 KEESEP buy by the powerful ownership conglomerate nicknamed The Avengers, Wharton (Candy Ride {Arg}–Her Smile, by Include) earned 'TDN Rising Star'-dom all the same Friday as he left a highly regarded second timer in his wake at Santa Anita. Stablemate McLaren Vale (Gun Runner) had taken the first of split sprint divisions two races earlier by a length in 1:17.81, but this looked like the stronger group on paper, in large part due to the presence of odds-on Got Thunder (Arrogate), the $750,000 OBSAPR grad who was second on debut at Del Mar to another Avengers representative and GIII Sham S. entrant Newgrange (Violence).    Off as the 4-1 second choice with teammate Armagnac (Quality Road) given a 5-1 chance, Wharton broke cleanly enough from the rail and stalked from the pocket with Got Thunder to his outside. Armagnac soon joined the chasing fray farther out, and Wharton poked a head in front in the vicinity of the 3/8 pole. Got Thunder tried to move to even terms with Wharton as they neared the straight, but Wharton lengthened his stride, found another gear and glided home a 5 1/4-length victor, stopping the clock in 1:17.52. Got Thunder held off Armagnac for second.

The winner is out of 2011 GI Prioress S. winner Her Smile (Include), who sold to KatieRich Farms for $1.5 million at the 2015 Keeneland November sale while carrying  Pink Sands (Tapit), MGSW, $490,800. Her Smile's recent produce includes an Arrogate colt of 2020 and a More Than Ready filly of 2021. She was most recently bred to Justify.

6th-Santa Anita, $67,500, Msw, 12-31, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.52, gd, 5 1/4 lengths.
WHARTON, c, 2, Candy Ride (Arg)
                1st Dam: Her Smile (GISW, $462,314), by Include
                2nd Dam: Hepburn, by Capote
                3rd Dam: Favored Lady, by Fappiano
Sales history: $475,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Robert E. Masterson & Jay A. Schoenfarber; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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