West Point and Partners Unveil Two Pricey Debut Winners

This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are grade/group winners, or have dams that are grade/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners in particular who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

Saratoga Race Course

Trainer Shug McGauhey unveiled Battle of Normandy  in a 1 1/16-mile turf test Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course and the 2-year-old colt did not disappoint.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing teamed up to buy Battle of Normandy for $500,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where the son of City of Light   was consigned by Lane's End.

Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, Battle of Normandy settled in fifth as a quarter-mile went in :25.11 and moved into fourth by the time a half-mile was run in :50.95. Making steady progress around the turn, Battle of Normandy moved up to second when the field reached the top of the stretch, and kicked clear to a 2 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:45.06 on a firm turf course.

Bred by Gage Hill Stables and W.S. Farish, Battle of Normandy is the second foal to race out of the stakes-winning mare Adorable Miss (by Kitten's Joy).

The following day, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Pink Hue  won her debut from trainer Chad Brown. The Mendelssohn   filly ran a similar race to Battle of Normandy over the same course and distance.

Under Flavien Prat, Pink Hue was fourth and then fifth as early fractions went in :23.65 and :48.17. She was second in upper stretch and drove past the leader to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:42.51.

Bred by Betz, Davidson, C. Kidder, and CoCo Equine, Pink Hue is out of the Speightstown   mare Involved, who also produced group 3 winner and group 1-placed Man of Promise  (Into Mischief  ). Pink Hue's fourth dam is multiple graded winner The Very One.

Ellis Park

West Point Thoroughbreds had another new winner in Jace's Road , a 2-year-old Quality Road   colt they partnered up with Albaugh Family Stables to buy for $510,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Jace's Road, trained by Brad Cox, won his debut Saturday at Ellis Park by 6 1/4 lengths.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, the colt broke near the front of the 11-horse field and raced in third as a quarter-mile went in :22.47. He moved into second as a half-mile went in :45.50, put a head in front of the leader near the top of the stretch, and pulled away to win the six-furlong test in 1:09.80 on a fast track.

Bred by Colts Neck Stables, Jace's Road is out of the Silver Deputy mare Out Post.

Two races later at Ellis, Cox and Talamo picked up another debut winner when Jet Setting  drew 2 3/4 lengths clear in the stretch of a one-mile maiden test for 2-year-old fillies.

The daughter of Union Rags  , a homebred for Gary and Mary West, raced in third as a quarter-mile went in :23.41, moved into second where she remained until edging clear in the stretch to score in a final time of 1:38.28 on the fast going.

Jet Setting is out of the grade 2 stakes-winning mare Worstcasescenario (Forbidden Apple).

Colonial Downs

Earlier in the week, Town and Country Racing's Knockyoursocksoff  scored a debut victory for trainer Chris Block at Colonial Downs. The Kitten's Joy colt came from midpack to win by 3 1/2 lengths under jockey Yan Aviles.

Bred by Zayat Stables, Knockyoursocksoff is out of the Eskendereya  mare Fateer, who is also the dam of last year's San Gabriel Stakes (G3) winner Bob and Jackie .

Del Mar

Charles Marquis' Bear Mountain  won in his second start for trainer Keith Desormeaux at odds of 44-1.

The Kitten's Joy colt had a poor showing in his June 10 debut at Santa Anita Park, finishing last of eight in a five-furlong turf test. This time, however, he stretched out to a mile and was given the services of Declan Cannon.

Bear Mountain raced in fourth early and then drew alongside the leader in the stretch and got up to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:36.93 on a firm course.

Bred by Healthy Wood, Bear Mountain is the first foal out of grade 2 winner Cheekaboo (Unusual Heat).