TDN RISING STARS

August 30, 2012 - Saratoga, Race 3, Msw, USD $80,000, 6f

Archwarrior, c, 2, 2010 by Arch

1st Dam: Winner's Edge (GSP, $145,450), by Seeking the Gold
2nd Dam: Lucky Us, by Nijinsky II
3rd Dam: La Sevillana, by

Owner: Alto Racing LLC
Breeder: Highfield Farm (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Entering this unveiling with the type of buzz that preceded such runners as Empire Maker and Unbridled's Song onto the track, Archwarrior remained at 1-9 for most of the betting before drifting up to 1-4. Hard-ridden to stalk from third behind an opening quarter in :22.33, the dark bay confronted pacesetter Transparent (Bernardini) on the turn. He put away that rival in midstretch, and leveled off nicely to hand late-running Malachite (Notional) a 3 1/4-length defeat, seeming to confirm the general consensus that routing will be more to his liking. Transparent settled for fourth. "Everything went as smoothly as we hoped it would," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who said he'd wait and see before picking out a return spot for the promising colt. "I thought he ran very well, very professional. He finished up well and galloped out strongly." Rider John Velazquez was asked to compare Archwarrior to champion juvenile Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), a 14 1/2-length debut winner here in 2010. "He's not as fast as Uncle Mo," Velazquez said. "He is much bigger and heavier than Uncle Mo. Uncle Mo was smaller and faster. Archwarrior is more the type of horse who will really get good when the distances get longer. He's not going to win by 10 or 12 lengths, he's not going to open up on the field. He's just kind of steady. He should run all day long. Archwarrior, a $75,000 KEENOV weanling and $140,000 KEESEP yearling RNA, brought $375,000 at OBS March after breezing a furlong in :10 2/5. He's a half to Capac (Deputy Minister), SP, $192,256; Coya (Deputy Minister), SW; and Return To Paradise (El Prado {Ire}), SW, $109,120. Winner's Edge foaled Kitten's Joy colts in 2011 and 2012. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $48,000.