The juvenile scene heated up again over the weekend, especially at Hollywood Park with a graded stakes and three maiden breakers who earned Top 25 Beyer figures for the year. Looking forward, two storied meets for 2-year-olds begin on opposite ends of the country this week at Del Mar and Saratoga, with the former hosting a Grade 2 contest Sunday.
Graded Stakes Review
Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3)
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: David Flores
Wrap-up articles: Bloodhorse / DRF /
Hollywood Park’s stakes offering for juveniles on closing day proved to be eventful both before and during the race. High weighted and heavily backed Majestic City slipped and fell on his side in the paddock. He later showed stubborn reluctance to enter the gate, but once the doors flung open seemed to finally be in his element.
Stalking the second favorite Night Tide (NP) he appeared unwilling to pass that rival even into the stretch. With urging from Flores he changed gears to blow past the pacesetter and eventual 2nd place finisher Brigand.
Trainer Peter Miller indicated Majestic City would move to the Del Mar circuit where he will possibly point to the Best Pal (G2) Aug 7 and definitely Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept 5.
I wouldn’t give up on the Baffert trained 2nd and 3rd place finishers just yet. The fractions set by Night Tide were too quick and he should improve with a little more distance. Brigand seemed to make a nice finishing move and could catch up to his high price tag.
To read more about winner Majestic City’s breeding and maiden win check out the entry from May 24th here
Notable Performances:
Creative Cause
Trainer: Mike Harrington
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Creative Cause not only dispatched a good-looking group of maidens last Saturday, he also did it in less than a tick off the track record to earn a blistering 98 Beyer figure. Under Rafael Bejarano, Creative Cause took the shortest route of the 5 furlongs on the rail. He did need a little reminder the race was not over into the stretch, but pulled away willingly just before hitting the wire.
A son of Giant’s Causeway out of the G1 winning mare Dream of Summer, stretching out should not be an issue seeing as both sides show signs of stamina. He was an original $135,000 purchase before failing to get pinhooked earlier this year. His Keeneland sales page can be found here
Jake Mo
Articles: Des Moines Register / DRF
Facing the season’s second highest Beyer speed earner Canigotoo (NP), Jake Mo was able to lead a surprisingly quality field all the way around the 5 ½ half furlong contest. He was tapped with the whip several times in the stretch and ended up nearly 3 lengths ahead of second place finisher Let’s Get Crackin.
Brian Zipse over at Horseracing Nation had a hunch Jake Mo was the real deal and he was right. What’s even more intriguing is his stretch out potential considering he is the son of Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. While his dam preferred sprint distances and he is a half-brother to a graded stakes placed turf sprint runner, his damsire With Approval showed versatility with game finishes in the Tampa Bay Derby, Breeders Cup Turf, and Arlington Million. For Jake Mo’s catalog sheet click here
Twelve Hundred
Trainer: James DiVito
Jockey: Francisco Giles
Twelve Hundred was an authoritative winner of an Arlington Park maiden special contest last Thursday. Never challenged at any point, he glided to a 5 ¾ length win.
A mere $1,000 purchase, Twelve Hundred’s breeding suggests he shouldn’t have been that big of a bargain. His sire Cape Town stamped himself a serious Kentucky Derby contender in 1998 by winning the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes. He’s out of a winning mare whose sire Devil’s Bag won the Champagne Stakes and Laurel Futurity.
2YO Non-Graded Stakes Results:
7/16/11 Praire Gold Juvenile S.- PRM- Jake Mo- see above
7/16/11 CTBA Futurity (S)- ARP- Tulsa Te- chart
7/17/11 Capitol City Futurity- LNN- BG Country Girl (f) chart
Works:
7/11/11 Sum of the Parts: CD- 4F- 50:60- B- 30/40
7/11/11 Majestic City: HOL- 6f- 1.13:00- H- 2/9
7/12/11 Power World: CD- 4F- 50:60- B- 8/11
7/14/11 Boltzapper: CRC- 4F- 50:20- B- 9/16
7/15/11 Worthington: LS- 4F- 51:80- B- 11/16
7/15/11 Stark Ravin Mad: AP- 4F- 47:80- B- 3/38
7/16/11 Tarpy's Goal BEL 5F- 1.00:94- B- 2/14
7/16/11 Hello Prince CRC- 4F- 49:00- B- 4/94
7/16/11 Jack's in the Deck LRL- 5F- 1.01:40- H- 3/9
7/16/11 Team Six FH- 4F- 49:00- B- 6/21
7/17/11 Scorpion Warrior HOL- 6F- 1.14:40 H- 17/22
7/18/11 Overdriven: SAR- 5F- 59:32- H- 2/7
7/19/11 Sum of the Parts CD- 5F- 1.01:60- B- 3/15
7/19/11 Power World SAR- 5F- 1.01:67- B- 11/16
Other News:
Top 2YO Speed Figures*:
Top winning 2yo BRIS figs last week: Twelve Hundred - 108; Creative Cause - 107; Majestic City - 97; Fort Loudon - 95; Finale – 92
Winning 2yo Beyers last week: Twelve Hundred - 92; Creative Cause - 98; Majestic City - 89; Fort Loudon - 78; Finale - 79.
