By Randy Moss
5 – TEAM PLAYER, DMR, 11/30-2nd, 5 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-83
(g, 3, by Majestic Harbor-Team Decision, by Huddle Up)
O-Susan and William Boyd, Kelly and Edwin Gredvig, and Michelle Hanson. B-Harris Farms and Double D Farms (Cal). T-Ryan Hanson. J-Kazushi Kimura.
His six siblings to race–all California-breds like him–made a combined 41 starts and none reached the performance level of an 80 Beyer Speed Figure, which Team Player exceeded quite nicely in his second lifetime outing.
4 – VITAL MIND, CD, 11/28-12th, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-83
(c, 3, by Into Mischief-She's a Julie, by Elusive Quality)
O-CHC and WinStar Farm. B-Spendthrift Farm (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. J-Jose Ortiz.
One of Asmussen's all-time favorite horses, She's a Julie was named for his now-recovered wife as she was battling throat cancer–and aside from those obvious emotions, it didn't hurt that the namesake won two Grade Is, $1.6 million, and was sold to Spendthrift for $3 million after her career. So who better than Asmussen to train She's a Julie's first foal? This was the second start for the $600k yearling buy, who was second at Oaklawn on debut.
3 – GLOBAL AVIATOR, GP, 11/29-3rd, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 84
(c, 3, by Global Campaign-Frisco Girl, by Quality Road)
O-Special Aviators. B-Robert M. Evans (Ky). T-Rohan Crichton. J-Joe Bravo.
Two storylines here: first, Global Aviator makes this list despite hesitating at the break to drop 8 lengths last and winning anyway after a 4- to 5-wide move around the turn. And secondly, he was a $12k yearling out of an ex-claimer dam whose first foal sold for $8k, which at this point matters solely as an example of the vagaries of the sport.
2 – AEOLIAN, CD, 11/27-8th, 1 mile (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 84
(f, 3, by Tapit-Danzatrice, by Dunkirk)
O-Gainesway Stable. B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Ky). T-Chad Brown. J-Jose Ortiz.
Aeolian didn't get far in her 2-year-old training and was sidelined again this spring in Florida but now has progressed steadily in three starts this summer and fall. She's a full-sister to Grade I winner and stallion Tapit Trice, purchased for $1.3 million as a yearling by Mandy Pope, who went back in for $1.1 million a year later for another filly full-sibling. Gainesway's Antony Beck kept this one.
1 – CANNONEER, CD, 11/29-12th, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 89
(c, 2, by Into Mischief-Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon)
O-St. Elias Stables and Stonestreet Stable. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz Jr.
Visually and by numbers, the most impressive winner of Saturday's Stars of Tomorrow card at Churchill. Not only did the $1.75 million yearling win by 7 ¼ lengths in fast time, he kept his composure despite a loose horse getting in his way down the backstretch. Into Mischief gives his pedigree an upgrade on paper over half-siblings Midnight Bourbon ($3.6 million-earning son of Tiznow), Girvin (Haskell winner of $1.6 million, son of Tale of Ekati) and graded winners Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John) and Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby).
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