Harvard Has Them Seeing 'Red' In Maiden Romp

3rd-Indiana Grand, $31,000, Msw, 5-12, 3yo/up, 1m 70y, 1:43.45, ft, 4 1/2 lengths.
HARVARD (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief) finished second behind a good-looking debut from American Prince (Liam's Map) at Gulfstream Feb. 28 and was stretching out to two turns off a distant runner-up effort behind Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy)'s 'TDN Rising Star' half-brother Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) in a sloppy seven-furlong maiden at Keeneland Apr. 10. Stage Raider, incidentally, is the morning-line 2-5 favorite for a one-mile Belmont allowance Friday afternoon. Pounded into 1-2 favoritism with blinkers going on for the first time, Harvard was urged along early between rivals to lead heading into the first turn and was allowed to dictate a very easy pace while traveling comfortably. Asked for his best in upper stretch, the bay put the race to bed within a few strides, accounting for 23-10 second pick W W Crazy (Jess's Dream) by 4 1/2 very comfortable lengths. Harvard is a full-brother to Classic Empire, Ch. 2yo Colt, MGISW, $2,520,220; and a half-brother to Exclamation Point (Concord Point), SP, $290,540; Anytime Magic (Fusaichi Pegasus), MSW, $202,945; and Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), MSW, $170,714, and is a maternal grandson of SW & MGISP In Her Glory (Miswaki). Sambuca Classic aborted to the late Pioneerof the Nile in 2019, but foaled colts by Justify in each of the last two years. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $42,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-WinStar Farm LLC & CHC INC; B-China Horse Club International Limited (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset.