Constitution 2-year-old Scores on Debut at Gulfstream

Leading second-crop sire Constitution  has commanded attention this year with the results of his 3-year-old progeny, a group led by Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner Tiz the Law. 

Now one of his 2-year-olds is on the scene—Hyperfocus—a first-out winner May 9 of a $44,000 maiden event going 4 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. The youngster rallied from fourth to win going away over second-time starter Peppi.

The victory was trainer Todd Pletcher's first with a juvenile in 2020. His 2-year-olds usually get started in the spring before becoming more active during the summer months, often at Saratoga Race Course.

Although speed horses customarily excel in 4 1/2-furlong races, Hyperfocus proved an exception. Three lengths off the pace in midpack as Breakthrough and Peppi battled through an opening quarter in :22.07, Hyperfocus pulled to within two lengths of the lead with a three-wide rally. After Peppi took the lead in the stretch with four furlongs in :46.03, Hyperfocus ($7.20) wore him down over the closing sixteenth to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

His time of :52.63 on a fast track was the fourth-fastest of five maiden special weight races for juveniles at the distance this year at Gulfstream.

Peppi maintained a steady pace to be second, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of favored Breakthrough, the first starter for stallion Nyquist .

Though Hyperfocus was best Saturday, he was not perfect. He never switched leads down the stretch under Irad Ortiz Jr.

A $100,000 purchase last year at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by owner Repole Stable from the South Point Sales Agency consignment, Hyperfocus is the first foal out of the unraced Hat Trick mare Discreet Meating. He was bred in Kentucky by Jill and Mike Heitzmann and WinStar Farm, where Constitution stands for a stud fee of $40,000.

The 2-year-old trained at Palm Beach Downs this spring, recording seven published drills there since March 20, including a bullet half-mile breeze in :48.44 April 17.