TDN Rising Stars

A signature TDN product, TDN Rising Stars allow readers to identify a race winner in the first few starts of his or her career who will, in our estimation, go on to be a Graded Stakes winner. Designated as Rising Stars by the worldwide TDN staff after a careful and comprehensive review of many factors--including the quality of the field, margin and time of victory, pedigree, sales price and more--Rising Stars are tabbed as such in a maiden, allowance or Listed Stakes race. Mouse over the name of the horse for race details, or mouse over the 1st Dam for available information on her. Click the Writeup link to view the entire TDN Rising Star story.

Featured Rising Star

July 13, 2019 - Monmouth Park, Race 6, Msw, USD $45,000, 5F

Meru, C, 2, 2017 by Sky Mesa

1st Dam: Lady Lavery, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Painted Lady, by Broad Brush
3rd Dam: Nastique, by Naskra

Owner: Colts Neck Stables LLC
Breeder: Godolphin LLC (KY)
Trainer: Jorge Duarte, Jr

Meru

Meru | Equi-photo

Meru
With a decidedly unassuming worktab at nearby Colts Neck Stables showing, newcomer Meru (Sky Mesa) didn’t take a ton of money to be off at 9-2 in his Monmouth unveiling Saturday, but the youngster put on a very impressive afternoon display to garner the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction. Not off particularly sharply, the bay tugged his way up to chase Embolden (The Factor) through a :22.42 opening quarter. Poking his head in front at the top of the lane, he leveled off powerfully from there and widened his edge to 6 1/2 lengths on the frontrunner, stopping the clock in a sharp :57.32. A $75,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling, Meru blossomed into a $300,000 OBS April grad after breezing a co-quickest :9 4/5 during the sale’s second under-tack session. His dam, a half to two-time Grade II winner Skylighter (Sky Mesa)–responsible herself for GSP juvenile Sky Painter (Street Cry {Ire})–produced a Hard Spun filly last term and a colt by Frosted earlier this season. Meru’s third dam is MGISW Nastique (Naskra).