2nd-MEY, AED165,000, Maiden, 2yo, f, 1400m, 1:25.27, ft.
DOWN ON DA BAYOU (f, 2, Super Saver–Bayou Tortuga, by Empire Maker), a half-sister to former 'TDN Rising Star' and 2016 G3 UAE Oaks winner Polar River (Congrats, $771,139), opened her account at second asking in the night's first Thoroughbred race Thursday at Meydan. The bay debuted over this course and distance Nov. 7, but bombed the start, was trapped out and never reached contention, finishing a distant fourth of five to the impressive 'Rising Star' Rio Angie (Honor Code). Drawn gate one for this second go, Down On Da Bayou was sent through at the inside to take up the running in the first 200 metres, took some pressure to her outside from Feriyal (Successful Appeal), but put that one away turning for home and skipped clear to graduate by eight lengths. First-time starter Hamama (Shackleford) covered ground, but kept on well to be a promising second. A $150,000 Keeneland September purchase by Tally-Ho Stud, he was resold for €190,000 at this year's Arqana May Breeze-Up (under-tack video). Down On Da Bayou, whose dam RNAd for $675,000 at Keeneland November in 2017, has a yearling half-brother by Orb and a weanling half-sister from the first crop of Gun Runner. Bayou Tortuga was most recently bred to Blame. Incidentally, Polar River produced her first foal in 2019, a filly by Uncle Mo. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, AED108,900.
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum; B-McCann Bloodstock, Mark Kelder & Doug Richards (KY); T-Salem bin Ghadayer.
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