New Faces Could Make 2016 a Special Year
Monday, February 15, 2016

    Analysts and columnists have decreed that 2015 was an exciting and exceptional year for racing. I have deduced that much of that euphoria was derived as a result of American Pharoah's Triple Crown heroics, and I think this year will prove to be twice as euphoric.

    There are currently a slew of colts and fillies who have shown so much promise that if they all can stay healthy, from somewhere up above Sinatra will have to add 2016 to his lyrics of  "A very good year."

    Already, filly champion Songbird has proven she's an awesome sort and colt champion Nyquist made it six in a row today by winning the Gr. II San Vicente in 1:20:71 for seven furlongs. Frosted has won across the sea, California Chrome is back for more, Hoppertunity made a successful return, Mohaymen was untouchable winning the Gr. II Holy Bull, and champion Tepin's debut under Julien Leparoux in the Gr. III Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Saturday was a thing of beauty.

    (In the winner's circle I told Julien that the next time Caton Bredar interviews him at Gulfstream he should tell her how to pronounce his name. Julien laughed, but he's too humble, I think, to correct the problem).

    Adding to the forecast for this season are a bunch of not-so-famous names who have proven in the last few weeks they might make things interesting for the front-runners. 

    Here are a few of them:

    Cathryn Sophia - This 3-year-old filly by Street Boss won twice last year by 12 3/4 lengths at Parx and 16 1/4 in the Gin Talking Stakes at Laurel, both in wire-to-wire efforts under R. J. Rosado. Trainer John Servis brought her to Gulfstream for the Gr. II Forward Gal and she took a different tack under similarly-named Joel Rosario. Joel didn't put her on the lead, and when he asked her to go, the filly took off like the proverbial scalded cat and cruised home by 5 1/2. Cathryn Sophia raced seven furlongs in 1:22:04 without raising a sweat and paid all of $2.20

    Awesome Banner - This 3-year-old colt by Awesome of Course comes from the overflow barn of Fred Brei, owner of Jacks or Better Farm. He's trained by Stanley Gold, who has put Brei in the winner's circle with alarming regularity over the last six or seven years, most notably in Florida Sire Stakes races. Awesome Banner went wire-to-wire in his Gulfstream debut last June, winning by 9 3/4, then sat out until Jan. 2 when he returned to capture the Gr. III Hutcheson Stakes by 4 3/4 in 1:09:57 for the six furlongs. The colt came back in the Jan. 30 Gr. II Swale and won by five at odds of 4/5, getting the seven furlongs in 1:21:81. 

    Remember, Brei's Awesome of Course is the sire of champion Awesome Feather and near millionaire Fort Loudon, among other stalwarts, so he's no slouch in the breeding shed.

    Smokey Image - On the other coast, this 3-year-old colt made his 2016 debut in the $250,000 California Cup Derby with Victor Espinoza aboard for the first time and went wire-to-wire by 8 1/2 lengths at odds of 2/5. As a 2-year-old, the son of Southern Image was 5-for-5 for trainer Carla Gaines, so he's now unbeaten in six. He won four minor stakes, too, so he's on a five-stakes winning spree and has earned $435,100.

    Sunday Rules - She's now five, but she's no less intriguing then the ones above. A daughter of Tribal Rule, she came into the new year with eight starts on her card (seven victories and a third) and earnings of $444,840. She made it 8-for-9, with three straight victories, by way of a wire-to-wire score against males in the $150,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint. Sunday Rules won by 2 1/4 in 1:08:42 for six furlongs.

    Last (and certainly least for the time being) - is Tiger Blood, a 3-year-old colt by Cowtown Cat who was bred by Brent and Crystal Fernung at their Journeyman Stud. They sold the colt for a meager $4,500 at the OBS August yearling sale in 2014, but got a measure of satisfaction when the colt broke his maiden in his career debut for owner Miguel Barraza, who already has himself a bargain. Tiger Blood earned $13,900 for his score and the Fernungs collected a $2,000 breeder's award. Tiger Blood, by the way, won by 9 1/4 lengths under pickup rider Pablo Morales, clocked in 1:09:90 for six furlongs. And he went off at 14-1.  

    Seems like a very good year lies ahead, indeed. 

 

    

    

    

 

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