TDN RISING STARS

June 25, 2011 - Woodbine, Race 7, Stk, CAD $151,770, 5F

Tu Endie Wei, f, 2, 2009 by Johar

1st Dam: Ms. Cornstalk, by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Upper Dancer, by Upper Nile
3rd Dam: Shell Dancer, by Court Recess

Owner: Brereton Jones
Breeder: Brereton Jones (KY)
Trainer: Reade Baker

She was making her career debut in stakes company, but that proved no obstacle to Brereton Jones's homebred Tu Endie Wei. Rated off the pace as Hope for a Win (Old Forester) jetted out to a daylight lead through a sizzling opening quarter in :20 3/5, the bay angled outside for the stretch drive, swept past the leg-weary leader and pulled away to win handily. Jockey Jim McAleney, who tapped the filly once and then took her in hand in the final yards, said, "I didn't want to rush her--I wanted her to have a nice introduction to racing. I let her do her thing, and it was talent that got her home." The final time for the five furlongs on the Poly was :56.93, two ticks off the track record. Tu Endie Wie is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel (Stormin Fever), who was a champion at two and three. Trainer Reade Baker, who also handled Biofuel, said that the younger sister had "come to hand" quicker than her Sovereign Award-winning sibling. And while she proved plenty quick enough to handle five furlongs, he has hopes that two turns will be within her scope. "Let's pray that, on Breeders' Cup day, [a route of ground] isn't a problem," Baker said. Jones bred the second dam, unraced Upper Dancer, with Warner L. Jones Jr. The sole breeder of dam Ms. Cornstalk, he sent her through the ring as a short yearling at KEEJAN 2005, but bought her back for $35,000. Ms. Cornstalk never made it to the races, but the decision to keep her has borne fruit in the breeding shed. She has a yearling filly by Flashy Bull and a colt of 2011 by Pulpit. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $91,062.