Sanford Field Deep in Precocious Speed
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Wit wins his debut at Belmont Park
The field of 12 in the July 17 $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds exudes precociousness, with 10 debut winners entered in the six-furlong test at Saratoga Race Course.
Three of the debut winners dusted their competition by four or more lengths, including 8-5 morning-line favorite Wit , who won by six lengths June 5 at Belmont Park; 7-2 second choice Candy Landing , who won June 11 by 4 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs; and, 10-1 Maryland Brando , who won by a dizzying 11 1/2 lengths June 2 at Delaware Park.
Wit is a son of freshman sire Practical Joke , who won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Champagne Stakes (G1) at 2. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, who has won the Sanford six times, most recently in 2018 with Sombeyay . Owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Gainesway Stable, Wit was acquired for $575,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by West Bloodstock out of the consignment of Rosilyn Polan's Sunday Morning Farm, which also bred the colt.
"He's trained very professionally since day one," said Pletcher. "We've always had hopes he would develop into a stakes-level colt."
Wit, who earned a 91 Equibase Speed Figure in his debut, will break from post 1 with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons.
Pletcher and Repole Stable teamed up to win the Sanford in 2011 with Overdriven , a son of Tale of the Cat who also won his debut at Belmont before stepping up to graded stakes.
Candy Landing breaks his maiden at Churchill Downs
Mueller Thoroughbred Stable's Candy Landing is a homebred son of Twirling Candy who stopped the stopped the clock in 1:03.61 over the fast main track in his debut and garnered an 85 ESF.
"I thought he was a nice horse, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the way he ran and the way he won," said trainer Brendan Walsh. "He was very professional. It seemed like he got it all together on the day that mattered.
"He ran well but I think there's plenty of improvement in the horse," Walsh added. "He's got up here to Saratoga and settled in well, so we're hopeful of a good run on Saturday."
Jockey James Graham retains the mount from post 2
Freshman sires are well represented in the Sanford. Beside Ashford Stud's Practical Joke, the others are Ashford's champion Classic Empire , Spendthrift Farm's Gormley , and Shadwell Farm's Mohaymen .
Headline Report breaks his maiden at Keeneland
Classic Empire is the sire of Greg Tramontin's debut winner Ottoman Empire , who won by a length June 20 at Churchill Downs. The colt is trained by Tom Amoss and will break from post 7 with Jose Ortiz aboard. Classic Empire was named Eclipse champion 2-year-old male in 2016 after winning the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). The son of Pioneerof the Nile went on at 3 to win the Arkansas Derby (G1), finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), and be runner-up in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
Gormley is the sire of Headline Report , who won his debut by 2 1/4 lengths at Keeneland April 23 for trainer Wesley Ward. The ridgling raced by Breeze Easy was a highly regarded sale 2-year-old, who consignor Eddie Woods sold for $550,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales' March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Headline Report's second dam is multiple grade 1 winner Critical Eye. Gormley, a son of Malibu Moon, won the FrontRunner Stakes (G1) at 2 and went on to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 3. Headline Report will be ridden in the Sanford by John Velazquez, who rode him at Keeneland.
Mohaymen is the sire of Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas' Catch the Smoke , who won his debut June 20 going 4 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park by half a length. The colt is out of the winning Successful Appeal mare Ad Litem, who is a half sister to grade 2 winner Fantastic Style. Catch the Smoke is trained by Wayne Potts and will be ridden by Dylan Davis. Mohaymen, by Tapit , was undefeated at 2, when he won the Nashua Stakes (G2) and Remsen Stakes (G2). At 3, he won the Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2).
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 17, 2021, Race 9Entries: Sanford S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Wit (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Todd A. Pletcher
8/5
2
2Candy Landing (KY)
James Graham
120
Brendan P. Walsh
7/2
3
3Catch the Smoke (KY)
Dylan Davis
120
Wayne Potts
50/1
4
4Trust Our Journey (FL)
Eric Cancel
120
Carlos A. David
15/1
5
5Dance Code (PA)
Jose Lezcano
120
Juan C. Vazquez
12/1
6
6Maryland Brando (MD)
Carol Cedeno
120
Gary C. Contessa
10/1
7
7Ottoman Empire (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Thomas M. Amoss
10/1
8
8Due Vini (FL)
Luis Saez
120
Kelly J. Breen
20/1
9
9Headline Report (KY)
John R. Velazquez
120
Wesley A. Ward
5/1
10
10Kavod (KY)
Manuel Franco
120
James K. Chapman
20/1
11
11Seize the Night (KY)
Jon Kenton Court
120
Dallas Stewart
20/1
12
12Lucago (KY)
Junior Alvarado
120
Antonio Sano
50/1
