Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Zaajel’s talent belies Beyer
ZAAJEL
Dec. 20, 7th race Gulfstream, MdSpWt40k
Beyer: 75
7f 1:23.81, 1st by 7 3/4 lengths b. f. 3, Street Sense – Asiya, by Daaher
Noteworthy siblings: Ajaaweed (Curlin) – multiple graded stakes-placed
Auctions: None
Owner: Shadwell Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Shadwell Farm
Not a huge number, but a wide margin of victory and I might’ve liked the performance better than the figure. Not the typical Pletcher/Gulfstream maiden blowout winner. She was off midpack and well behind the leaders in the first half-furlong before moving steadily forward through traffic to reach contention at the half-mile pole. Easily wore down the leader and never came close to getting a stretch challenge while under minimal urging from jockey Luis Saez. This filly’s older brother by one year, Ajaaweed, got a sniff on the Triple Crown trail in 2020 but didn’t go far. Her legs are very, very long and she appears to have quite a bit of development upcoming this winter and spring. Seems a serious route prospect for the coming weeks.
RICOCHET
Dec. 19, 3rd race Tampa Bay, MdSpWt22k
Beyer: 78
1M 40yds 1:40.77, 1st by 8 1/4 lengths b. r. 3 (as of 2021), Tapiture – Beluquiva, by Bluegrass Cat Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: None
Owner: Whiskey Hollow Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Kelsey Danner
Breeder: Whiskey Hollow Thoroughbreds
Don’t want to get carried away since this was a sixhorse maiden race with a $22,000 purse, but this colt has come along nicely since moving from sprints to routes and ran very well here. Pretty mover traveled sweetly from the start to take up a pressing position and totally dominated, winning in a jog with a solid gallop-out nonetheless. Modest performances in his two sprint races but just missed first route and took a solid step forward in victory. Has some way to go on figures to be competitive in real 3-year-old stakes races but merits attention this winter.
LITTLE HUNTRESS
Dec. 27, 3rd race Laurel Park, MdSpWt42k
Beyer: 76
7f 1:23.94, 1st by 14 lengths gr. f. 3 (as of 2021), Frosted – Judy Legend, by Medaglia d’Or
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2019 – $100,000
Owner: Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Robert LaPenta
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Breeder: Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stable Second-time starter was 1-5 here in part because of suspect competition, in part because she’d run well enough first out, and in part because of her trainer’s remarkable strike rate through the fall and winter. And she actually made the miniscule price look like fair value. Broke on top and never, ever was asked for an ounce of real run, the rider sitting stock still as she widened to an insurmountable advantage as far out as the three-sixteenths pole. Slightly awkward final lead change, probably only a quibble, and otherwise moved nicely. Here are her dam sires starting with the most recent: Medaglia d’Oro, Quiet American, Nureyev. That’s very strong, and she really should have little trouble stretching to two turns, which surely will come soon, all being well.
MASTERING
Dec. 27, 2nd race Santa Anita, MdSpWt61k
Beyer: 91
1M 1:37.61, 1st by 2 3/4 lengths b. c. 4 (as of 2021), Street Sense – Shimmer, by Pulpit
Noteworthy siblings: Sister Moon (Dixie Union) – Grade 2-placed, 92 top Beyer
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton October yearling 2018 – $500,000
Owner: Watson, Pegram, and Weitman
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Breeder: Forging Oaks Farm
Made two starts early in his 3-year-old season, then needed many months, coming back for start No. 4 in this maiden mile. He’s a big boy with a powerhouse stride, not surprising considering he is well on the way to maturity at this stage of his life and was a half-million yearling way back when. Didn’t do much in his sprint debut and appears to need a route of ground to show his best, which Baffert gave him fresh off the bench. Wasn’t even the favorite here, that role belonging to Exaulted, who took a run at him past the quarter pole after Mastering had pressed the pacesetter and taken command. Exaulted didn’t make much of a dent (until after the finish – he galloped out in front) and Mastering won comfortably, despite perhaps tiring the final half-furlong, the evidence for that being a drift to the right just before the wire and his modest gallop-out. His age and delayed progress limits the ceiling, but he ought to have more to give this winter.
PHAROAH’S HEART
Jan. 3, 2nd race Santa Anita; Moc$35k
Beyer: 90
6f 1:09.70, 1st by 2 1/4 lengths gr. f. 4, American Pharoah – Pulsating, by Pulpit
Noteworthy siblings: None
Auctions: Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed 2017 – $250,000; Keeneland September yearling 2018 – $130,000
Owner: Solana Beach Sales
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Breeder: CESA Farm
Checkered auction history as he sold for far more as a weanling than a yearling, then was entered and withdrawn from a pair of 2-year-old sales. Posted first published work in January 2020, but didn’t debut until a year after that, starting off in a maiden race restricted to horses that sold for $150,000 or less and to horses with at least five losses. Good speed and a quick time, but given the restrictions on the maiden race, the short field, and the delayed debut, we’ll hold fire on declaring this quick filly something greater than allowance class.