By Randy Moss
A pair of 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard', are part of this week's fastest maidens hit parade.
5) LA RASCASSE, KEE, 4/11-8th, 7f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure- 84
(f, 3, by Authentic-Hallawallah, by Candy Ride (Arg))
O-Resolute Racing. B-Bill Klisit (Ky). T-Will Walden. J-Axel Concepcion.
Champion Maryfield (Elusive Quality), who won the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, was disappointing as a producer, but her top earner Hallawallah (Candy Ride {Arg}) has a chance to burnish the family resume. Hallawallah earned $188,789 with no black type and Beyer s of 86 and 84. But her first foal La Rascasse, a $750,000 Keeneland September yearling, graduated with an 84 figure and a 'Rising Star' distinction at first asking by outgaming another promising first-timer in Belle (Uncle Mo).
4) PRINT, AQU, 4/12-1st, 1m VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure- 85
(c, 3, by Munnings-Promotional, by Artie Schiller)
O/B-Marc Keller (Ky). T-Robert Ribaudo. J-Ricardo Santana Jr.
In his fifth start, Print faced a weak five horse field at Aqueduct, but handled them the right way from the rail when he scored by in five lengths. The colt started his career with two races on grass and that remains an option going forward. His dam Promotional (Artie Schiller) is a half-sister to dual Grade I turf winner and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Marketing Mix (Medaglia d'Oro). We know that Munnings's progeny have had success on dirt and turf.
3) BRIGHTLINE BULLET, AQU, 4/9-1st, 6 1/2f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure- 86
(g, 4, by Liam's Map-Sense of War, by Street Sense)
O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Donarra Thoroughbreds and New Phoenix Stable. B-Veloce (Ky). T-Miguel Clement. J-Jaime Rodriguez.
Brightline Bullet was always talented, first for the late Christophe Clement as an early 3-year-old and later for son Miguel. But he suffered a setback in late February 2025 that delayed his debut until August and then was sidelined again until an Aqueduct sprint last week. Gelding him and some patience along the way paid off in the form of a 5 3/4-length victory when he posted a Beyer figure that hints at more to come if he can stay healthy.
Magical Factor | Coady Media
2) MAGICAL FACTOR, KEE, 4/11-5th, 1 1/16m (turf) VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure- 89
(g, 3, by The Factor-Think Magic, by Malibu Moon)
O/B-Chiefswood Stables Limited (Ont-C). T-Rachel Halden. J-Kazushi Kimura.
With young and lightly raced horses, improvement can occur suddenly and sometimes unexpectedly. Such was the case with Chiefswood homebred Magical Factor, who seemed to display a preference for grass in his second start. He then jumped 23 Beyer points forward in his third race to win going away at Keeneland with Woodbine on the horizon.
1) MUNNINGS CHALLENGE, OP, 4/11-9th, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure- 94
(c, 3, by Munnings-Amy's Challenge, by Artie Schiller)
O/B-Novogratz Racing Stables (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Jose Ortiz.
Munnings Challenge rolled to a five-length big Beyer score and a 'Rising Star' at Oaklawn in his second start to give Joe Novogratz's star mare Amy's Challenge her first winner. Minnesota owner/breeder Novogratz–a member of Canterbury Park's Hall of Fame–spent only $20,000 at Fasig-Tipton October to buy Amy's Challenge as a yearling in 2016. She won five stakes and was graded placed on four occasions–including a neck defeat in 2019 GI Madison Stakes at Keeneland. Her first foal by Tapit died as a weanling, but Amy's Challenge has a 2-year-old colt named Tapit's Challenge (Tapit) and a yearling colt by Uncle Mo.
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