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).
6th-Monmouth, $44,750, Msw, 7-13, 2yo, 5f, :57.32, ft.
MERU, c, 2, Sky Mesa&log=">Sky Mesa
1st Dam: Lady Lavery, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Painted Lady, by Broad Brush
3rd Dam: Nastique, by Naskra
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $27,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-styled pedigree.
O-Colts Neck Stables LLC; B-Godolphin LLC (KY); T-Jorge Duarte, Jr. *$75,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR
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