By Ben Massam
Members of the TDN staff reveal what TDN Rising Star they're most excited to see race in 2019.
Hawkish (Artie Schiller) showed a brilliant turn of foot to win his debut at Gulfstream shortly after the turn of the new year in January–a performance that stamped him as a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' and a force to be reckoned with in the 3-year-old turf division. After being forced to move wide and flattening out to finish fourth in the GIII Palm Beach S., he reeled off two thoroughly impressive performances when cut back to a mile–including the GIII Penn Mile S. in June. Hawkish was last seen finishing seventh in the 10-furlong GI Belmont Derby July 7, but that performance can be forgiven, as he was wide the whole way and asked to navigate the longest trip of his career.
Hawkish clearly has had a few bumps in the road early in his career, but he appears to be an immensely talented miler, crafted in the mold of his GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning sire. Trainer Jimmy Toner provided a positive update on the gelding's return to his barn in late November, and nobody should be surprised if he proves himself at the highest level with the benefit of more consistent training and maturity.
–Ben Massam, News & Features Editor
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