Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
French Reef shows sprint side
FRENCH REEF
July 23, 8th race, Saratoga, MdSpWt72k
Beyer: 91
5 1/2f, turf 1:01.73, 1st by 4 3/4 lengths b. g. 4, New Approach-Tessa Reef, by Mark of Esteem
Noteworthy siblings: Permian (Teofilo) – group stakes winner, $533K earnings
Auctions: Arqana August yearling 2017 - $494,000 Owner: Louis Lazzinnaro and Albert Frassetto
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Camas Park Stud
We don’t do a lot of 4-year-olds in this space, but there are exceptions. This super-sharp turf sprint win was a long time coming – to say the least. The Florida-based horsemen James Crupi went to the Arqana yearling sale for the first time in 2017 and one of the horses he brought back was this guy, whose brother Permian tragically broke down in
2017 Secretariat Stakes. French Reef posted his first official works at Crupi’s farm as an early 2-year-old in 2018. He stopped working, still unraced, in August 2018, posted a few drills at Crupi’s farm during spring 2019, stopped again, and finally, after plenty more work, made the races last fall in New York, only to race too eagerly and fade in a one-mile grass maiden. Another long break, and now Chad Brown cut him back to a sprint to good effect. Not just a lot of speed from French Reef, but he leveled off nicely after switching leads, displaying real talent. Will be interesting to see if connections try to stretch him out again.
IRISH FRONT
July 23, 5th race, Saratoga, MdSpWt72k
Beyer: 87
6f, 1:09.71, 1st by 4 1/4 lengths b. c. 3, Summer Front-Eri Rose, by Purge Noteworthy siblings: McErin (Trappe Shot) $130K earnings
Auctions: None
Owner: Waterford Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Waterford Stable
Debuted as a 2-year-old last summer at Saratoga, got in a speed duel and held decently for fourth, but wasn’t seen racing again until this start. Sat second in the clear behind a leader who opened up down the backstretch and around the turn but had nothing to offer when Irish Front, the jockey gently flagging with a still-cocked whip, engaged him past the quarter pole. Won easily, with minor encouragement, and the soft gallop-out likely attributable in part to the fact he didn’t require full exertion the final half-furlong. That said, this is a powerful, blocky, sprinty-looking colt whose dam was a pure dirt sprinter topping out at a 92 Beyer.
FRIAR’S ROAD
July 26, 9th race, Del Mar, MdSpWt52k
Beyer: 80
1m, 1:39.83, 1st by 1 1/2 lengths b. c. 3, Quality Road—My Sugar Bear, by Giant’s Causeway
Noteworthy siblings: Vevina (More Than Ready) - $130K earnings
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2018 $500,000
Owner: Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Breeder: Robert and Lawana Low
On the one hand, he needed five tries to win a maiden race, but on the other, connections ran him in the Santa Anita Derby in his fourth start. On the one hand, his 80 Beyer barely qualified for this space, but on the other, he’ll rate higher on speed figures that account for ground loss since he was three wide the first turn and four wide the second turn. On the one hand, while racing so wide on the second turn, he moved sharply, or so it looked, from the back of the field all the way up to second. But on the other hand, the third quarter mile of the race, where Friar’s Road made his move, went in a pokey 26.25 seconds. He was “blinkers off” here after two races in blinkers, and he was ridden along with six furlongs still to run in this race. He has a nice long stride and some talent but gives the impression of having some difficulty in expressing his innate ability.
TATWEEJ
July 25, 2nd race, Gulfstream, MdSpWt40k
Beyer: 85
1M, 1:36.60, 1st by 3 3/4 lengths b. c. 4, Tapit – Tiz Miz Sue, by Tiznow
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2017 $2,500,000
Owner: Shadwell Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Cres Ran
Four-year-old with two lifetime starts who remained in Florida when the main Pletcher brigade obviously is in New York – these are circumstances that one would think limits the upside. Do note the purchase price -–$2.5 million – and the young dam was a Grade 1 winner. He only faced five foes but will say that he had to fend off early and middle pressure and a big move at the end of the turn from a horse who drew even with him. He not only beat back the challenge but galloped out like a horse who wants more ground.
GIROLAMO’S ATTACK
July 25, 7th race, Gulfstream, MCL$31k
Beyer: 89
6f, 1:09.83, 1st by 10 1/2 lengths b. g. 3, Girolamo – Street Attack, by Street Cry Noteworthy siblings: Ranger in Paradise (US Ranger) – $169K earnings; Killin Them Softly (Wildcat Heir) – $224K earnings
Auctions: None found
Owner: JN Racing Stables
Trainer: Larry Pilotti
Breeder: Patrick Everard and Elizabeth Everard Okay, so he dropped down to a $32,000 maidenclaimer in his third start, got the lead, and increased his advantage, blew out seven rivals. Most horses with this profile don’t become more than merely useful, but he did nearly hit 90 on the Beyer scale and bears watching.