Two touch 90 on figure scale

WELL CONNECTED

May 23, 6th race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt40k

Beyer: 90

6 1/2f , dirt fast, 1:16.07, 1st by 5 lengths ch. c. 3, Distorted Humor–Bev’s Summer Song, by Birdstone

Noteworthy siblings: None

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018

– $80,000

Owner: Michael Dubb and David Simon

Trainer: Mike Maker

Breeder: Dr. Aaron Sones

Second career start, first as a 3-year-old, for colt previously trained by Jason Servis. Got a perfect pressing trip here because he broke alertly and had good positional speed, albeit behind a modest pace. Hard ridden from five-sixteenths to eighth poles to put away pace rival, who was the odds-on favorite, and he looked awkward for much of the stretch run when failing to change leads. He finally did swap to his proper lead at the sixteenth pole and, after having lugged in a bit, straightened out and, the rider finally easing off the pressure, finished very nicely with a strong gallop-out. On pedigree, distance should be his friend. Not a lot of high quality in the immediate family but his female line, going back further, is quite strong.

PER CAPITA

May 24, 7th race, Churchill, MdSpWt81k Beyer: 93 1M, dirt fast, 1:35.34, 1st by 1/2 length b. c. 4, Tapit–Successful Outlook, by Orientate

Noteworthy siblings: Iron Fist (G3 winner, $1.1M career earnings), Anchor Down (G2 winner), Sweet Lulu (G1 winner)

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2017 – withdrawn

Owner: Peter Brant and Gainesway Stable

Trainer: Chad Brown

Breeder: Gainesway Farm Had been disqualified from a last-start maiden win at Gulfstream and bumped his Beyer Speed Figure by 16 points here. Four wide no cover down backstretch of this one-turn mile, three wide with no cover first part of turn, then two wide as he pushed past a couple horses to challenge the leader, Established. Traveled strongly from the start and jumped into contention when given his head past the half-mile pole. Established fought him tooth and nail through the stretch, a 3-year-old getting seven getting seven pounds from this 4-year-old, and the top two drew 7 1/2 lengths clear of the third horse, galloping out even farther in front. His age, coupled with stop-and-start career so far, puts a cap on his upside, and while this was good, he’ll need further development to be a graded-stakes horse.

HARD LIGHTING

May 24, 1st race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt40k

Beyer: 80

1M, dirt sloppy, 1:37.14, 1st by neck b. c. 3, Hard Spun–The Magic Stone, by Malibu Moon

Notable siblings: None

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2017 – $55,000; OBS Spring 2yo 2019 – withdrawn

Owner: Partner Stables

Trainer: Alexis Delgado

Breeder: Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding

Got into this five-horse, off-turf affair as a main track-only entrant and scored a third-start win in part because the rider was able to steer inside and cut the corner as he and Hard Lighting closed in on a pair of tiring leaders. The runner-up, who was getting to the winner in the late stages, was forced to rally wide, though to Hard Lighting’s credit, he quickly opened daylight again on the gallop-out. Pretty high knee action; maybe turf in his future?

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY Per Capita, who got a 93 Beyer in his one-mile maiden win on May 24 at Churchill Downs, is a nicely bred Tapit colt.