Super Steed (Super Saver) became the second 'TDN Rising Star' of the day with an ultra-impressive victory at second asking in a Churchill allowance Saturday. He defeated fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Boldor (Munnings), who bested him by a head on debut at Keeneland Oct. 25. Entering off a five-panel bullet in 1:00 2/5 over this strip Nov. 19 (1/12), the bay was bumped at the start and trailed the field through the early stages. Progressing up the center of the track to move into mid-pack through a half in :45.61, Super Steed came charging up four wide in the lane, blowing past the leaders and cruising clear to win by six lengths over his old foe Boldor.
“We have been high on this horse for a while,” said trainer Larry Jones. “In his first race, he made such a huge middle move, it should have taken him plum out of the race and when he hung on that well, needless to say, he impressed me a lot.”
Of Saturday's effort, Jones said, “He got squeezed back pretty badly leaving the gate. So, while we weren't expecting him to be on the engine down the backstretch, we weren't expecting him to be dead last either. I had told Gabriel [Saez], 'Just don't be making another big middle move. If you're back farther than you want to be, just ride smart. And he did. He just parked him right there. We lost ground on the turn, we were the widest horse going, but he did keep him clear so he could keep running and the horse is just that good. I didn't think going against these caliber horses he would be able to dominate them the way he did. We were expecting a good run, but he really impressed me.”
As for what is next for the talented colt, Jones said, “He'll be on his way to Oaklawn Park, but there is a possibility he will run at the Fair Grounds in the [Dec. 22] Sugar Bowl S. We are looking at that because they have such a long stretch there at Fair Grounds. It's a six-furlong race and we think he'll be better stretching out, but with their long stretch, he could probably still do that. The main thing is, I just want to keep him racing about once a month. He got started a little late, so I don't want to give him time off now that we've got him going. I want to try to keep him racing about once a month like I did with Hard Spun. [2007 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up] Hard Spun was the same way; he started in October and we got three races out of him as a 2-year-old and we were able to keep him going with one race a month all the way through his 3-year-old year. That is kind of the plan I would like to have with this horse. So the Sugar Bowl is a very logical spot for us and then we'll have him at Oaklawn going through the preps there.”
Super Steed's dam Totally Tucker (Elusive Quality) is a half-sister to Grade I winners Danza (Street Boss) and Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor). The winner is her second foal and she has since produced a yearling colt by Empire maker and a weanling filly by Street Sense. Totally Tucker was bred to Hard Spun earlier this term.
8th-Churchill Downs, $76,325, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 11-24, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.34, sy.
SUPER STEED, c, 2, Super Saver
1st Dam: Totally Tucker, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Champagne Royale, by French Deputy
3rd Dam: All Tanked Up, by Tank's Prospect
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $60,500. O-Michael Pressley & Steed Jackson; B-Mike Pressley (KY); T-J. Larry Jones. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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