Scolding may be better than figure

SCOLDING

May 2, 2nd race, Oaklawn, MdSpWt60k

Beyer: 80

6f, dirt fast, 1:10.02, 1st by 6 lengths ch. f. 3, Carpe Diem – Rebuke, by Carson City

Noteworthy siblings: None

Auctions: Keeneland Sept. yearling 2018 – $75,000, OBS April 2yo 2019 – $475,000

Owner: Phoenix Thoroughbreds III

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Breeder: AR Enterprises

Flashier visually than her Beyer, which barely made the 80 cutoff for this list (another Asmussen-trained Carpe Diem, Earner, just missed with a 78 at OP). Kept up easily with quick pace set by filly to her inside, put her away without being asked at the quarter pole and race was over in upper stretch. Long-legged and has a low, relatively efficient action in front, but also doesn’t stride out all that far. Not much black type in several generations down female side.

SUPERFECTO

May 2, 3rd race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt38k

Beyer: 82

1 1/16M, dirt fast, 1:43.39, 1st by 4 1/2 lengths b.c.3, Constitution – American Angel, by Ghostzapper Noteworthy siblings: Spokane Eagle (Speightstown) – 10-time winner $250K earnings

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018

– OUT

Owner: Irving Cowan

Trainer: Ralph Nicks

Breeder: Irving Cowan

Caveats apply – front-running winner at Gulfstream – but a nice second start for colt who’d split a seven-furlong GP maiden race in his March 30 debut. Veteran owner-breeder Cowan had some really nice horses and this colt descends directly from a couple of them, Love That Jazz (Superfecto’s third dam) and her daughter, Society Selection. Was ridden aggressively for speed breaking from inside draw and while he made the lead, that tactic fired him up, and he pulled hard, getting his head up a couple times, around the clubhouse turn and early on the backstretch before settling down. Went a third quarter-mile in a lively 23.81 and came home in a decent 24.68, easily holding off his nearest rival and galloping out well in front. Well above par for a spring 3-year-old maiden route winner.

TALAKO

May 6, 8th race, Tampa Bay, MdSpWt20k

Beyer: 83

1M, turf firm, 1:36.69, 1st by 3 lengths b.c.3, Karakontie – Sobinka, by Sadler’s Wells Noteworthy siblings: Valiancy (Tale of the Cat) – multiple stakes-placed

Auctions: Keeneland Sept. 2018 – RNA’d $37,000 Owner: John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Trainer: Jorge Abreu

Breeder: John Gunther

Sometimes not being able to sell a horse turns out to be a good thing. Not only did he RNA for a low sum as a yearling, he was 22-1 debuting at TAM. Was actually tapped for speed breaking from post 1 but had none. After that, colt by a very capable young sire did nearly everything right. He ran into contention under his own courage on the backstretch, attacked the leaders three or four wide at the quarter pole, briefly turned his head toward the empty stands at the furlong grounds but quickly corrected and powered to the wire under just one crack of the jock’s crop. Strong gallop-out. He’s a medium-built colt with a likable way of traveling. Interesting horse.

HUNT THE FRONT

May 2, 6th race, Oaklawn, MdSpWt60k

Beyer: 82

1 1/8M, dirt fast, 1:49.97, 1st by 1 length b.c.3, Revolutionary – Best of Times, by Mineshaft Noteworthy siblings: Promise of Spring (Drosselmeyer) – graded stakes-placed, $250K earnings Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018

– $80,000

Owner: Dream Walkin Farm

Trainer: Nick Zito

Breeder: Bottom Line Stables, Rowland Hancock, Dick Walker

Got it done sixth time out following three straight second-place finishes. Has run at least decently all along and had caught three wet tracks he might not have loved. Got a very favorable setup racing near the rear as the leaders went an intemperate tempo, and was full of run as far out as the five-furlong pole. Solid, not spectacular.