Likeable

A last out runaway stakes winner will meet a pair of promising maiden winners in Saturday's GIII Claiborne Farm Swale S. going seven furlongs at Gulfstream. Save a forgettable trip to the post losing his rider at the start in the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta last November, Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) has done no wrong in three other attempts, headed by a runaway, front-running tally in Gulfstream's six-furlong Limehouse S. Jan. 2. "The Swale is a good opportunity to stretch him out an eighth of a mile more....

Next-race plans are starting to solidify for some of the contenders among the Top 12, including a possible No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup at Oaklawn in February. Farther down the list, Nos. 5 and 9 will clash this Saturday in the GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds. 1) ESSENTIAL QUALITY (c, Tapit--Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,335,144. Last Start: 1st GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, KEE, Nov. 6 Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, 'TDN Rising Star' Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline...

6th-Belmont, $61,110, Msw, 9-19, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.56, ft. LIKEABLE (c, 2, Frosted--Dashing Debby {SW}, by Medaglia d'Oro) endured a fairly eventful trip in his rained-off Saratoga debut Aug. 22, racing wide on the turn and striking final-furlong interference before just missing by a head. Stretching out to a mile and remaining on the dirt for this second try, the $350,000 yearling was the 23-10 second choice to odds-on Engrave (Flatter) and jumped well to head them off out of the chute. Always going better than the chalk, Likeable began to...