Colebrook Ready to See American Blaze's Next Act

There was plenty for trainer Ben Colebrook to like about American Blaze 's dazzling 17-length win in his career debut July 30 at Ellis Park, but there was also one question left unanswered by the performance.

Just how good is the Kentucky-bred son of American Freedom  ?

Colebrook hopes to have a better idea following American Blaze's race in the 88th edition of the Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds at Monmouth Park Aug. 27. The Sapling, which carries a $200,000 purse, is a two-turn mile on the main track.

"You never expect them to win by 17 lengths," said Colebrook. "I thought he could win the race. It was a restricted maiden race for horses that had sold at auction for less than $45,000.



"He obviously passed that test but the water will get a little deeper in the Sapling. But he is coming into the race in good order and I expect him to put in a good effort."

American Blaze, owned by Terry Hamilton and Murray House, came into Colebrook's care shortly after selling for $27,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training five months ago.

"The first time I worked him he worked really well at Keeneland," said Colebrook. "Every time after that when he worked he worked well."

Working well is one thing. Making a breathtaking move like American Blaze did into the turn in his first start is quite another. The footnotes in the race chart noted the colt "swept past them with a quick blitz."

"Around the turn he was going so easily that (jockey) Colby Hernandez let him out a little more and he quickly put the race away," said Colebrook. "It was just a matter of how much he would win by after that. It was a very impressive move on the turn because he was wider than the other horses. But remember he was running in a restricted-type race so it was almost like beating state-breds."

That doesn't mean Colebrook is diminishing the performance. He just wants to see more, especially since a potential target for the colt is the 1 1/16-mile Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 8.

"Obviously, if he runs well in this race that would set him up for the Keeneland race," said Colebrook. "He would have to win this race to think about that. So we'll have to wait and see."



Hernandez will come in for the ride, with American Blaze due to ship in from Kentucky the morning of Aug. 26.

"I don't see two turns as a problem," said Colebrook. "It's not like he was at 5 1/2 furlongs and you are stretching him out to a mile."  

American Blaze comes into the race with 5-1 odds, which are the fourth-best among the field. The Todd Pletcher-trained Lost Ark , the son of Violence   and Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy, who broke his maiden in July, is at 2-1. Another Pletcher trainee, Major Dude , who is coming off a sixth-place showing in the Sanford Stakes (G3) enters at 4-1 and is the only entrant with more than one race to their credit. He is followed by V Mart  (9-2); Bourbon Spirit  and Saloon  (6-1); Freedom Road  (8-1); and Minister for Magic  (15-1).

Entries: Sapling S.

Monmouth Park, Saturday, August 27, 2022, Race 9

• STK
• 1m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 2 yo
• 4:11 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bourbon Spirit (KY)	Jairo Rendon	117	Brad H. Cox	6/1
2	2Lost Ark (KY)	Javier Castellano	117	Todd A. Pletcher	2/1
3	3Minister for Magic (FL)	Angel Suarez	117	Jane Cibelli	15/1
4	4Freedom Road (KY)	Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr.	117	Gregory D. Sacco	8/1
5	5V Mart (KY)	Samy Camacho	117	Juan Carlos Avila	9/2
6	6American Blaze (KY)	Colby J. Hernandez	117	Ben Colebrook	5/1
7	7Major Dude (KY)	Paco Lopez	117	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
8	8Saloon (KY)	Charlie Marquez	117	Cathal A. Lynch	6/1