Wow ... so Munnings improved on his 37 last time out - and surged forward to like a 49?

I know this is a double digit improvment ... but I actually don't think he improved at all.

In fact, if you took a healthy solid open 5K claimer from anywhere, and placed him with rail position while up on a 25 and 50 pace - they will absolutely run a lot better than that.

This is starting to look like another Big Truck waiting to happen.



Big Truck was euthanized on the track, while training, not long after his last race and that splendid 30 Beyer ... he never did complete a single offical workout after that race.

His connections explaining that they weren't going to race him anymore, but were going to use him as stiff competition for Musket Man and Schoolyard Dreams in morning workouts. I suppose they had no maiden claiming fillies.

MTH-United Nations S (G1): Chinchon 105 C. Laffon-Parias/G. Gomez)
MTH-Salvator Mile S (G3): Gone Astray 89 (C. McGaughey III/C. Velasquez)
MTH-Jersey Shore S (G3): Discreetly Mine 99 (T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez)
MTH Miss Liberty S: Maram 95 (C. Brown/J. Lezcano)

BEL-Suburban H (G2): Haynesfield 105 (S. Asmussen/R. Dominguez)
BEL-Prioress S (G1): Franny Freud 93 (J. Terranova II/G. Gomez)

HOL-American Oaks S (G1): Harmonious 90 (J. Shirreffs/M. Garcia)
HOL-Royal Heroine Mile S (G2): Gotta Have Her 92 (J. Sahadi/T. Baze)
HOL-American H (G2): Global Hunter (ARG) 99 (A. Avila/B. Blanc)
HOL-Culver City S: Dotsy Jean 95 (M. Jones/J. Rosario)
HOL-Le Cle S: It Tiz 87 (M. Glatt/D. Flores)

WO-Queen's Plate S: Big Red Mike 91 (N. Gonzalez/E. Da Silva)
WO-Highlander S (G2): Signature Red 99 (S. Attard/C. Sutherland)
WO-Singspiel S (G3): Spice Route (GB) 96 (R. Attfield/M. Smith)
WO-Dominion Day H (G3): Hold Me Back 97 (W. Mott/T. Pizarro)
WO-Sweet Briar Too S: Indian Apple Is 85 (R. Tiller/C. Sutherland)
WO-Clarendon S: Sensational Slam 72 (T. Pletcher/P. Husbands)
WO-Achievement S: Essence Hit Man 89 (A. Cappuccitti/C. Sutherland)
WO-Charlie Barley S: So Elite 88 (M. Casse/J. Jones)

CD-Locust Grove H (G3): Danzon 89 (J. Baker/A. Solis)
CD-Bashford Manor S (G3): Kantharos 89 (S. Asmussen/R. Albarado)
CD-Roxelana S: Kiddari 89 (W. Mott/S. Bridgmohan)
CD-Firecracker H (G2): Tizdejavu 100 (G. Fox/J. Castanon)

AP-Arlington Oaks (G3): Upperline 89 (M. Stidham/E. Baird)
AP-Chicago H (G3): Informed Decision 94 (J. Sheppard/J. Leparoux)

SRP-San Juan County Commissioners H: Tizsosexy 89 (G. Richards/E. Garcia)

PHA-Dr. Penny Memorial H: Cherokee Queen 98 (M. Wolfson/J. Leparoux)

BEL-Bed o' Roses H (G3): Rightly So 96 (A. Dutrow/C. Velasquez)

HOL-Juvenile Championship S (G3): J P's Gusto 75 (D. Hofmans/J. Talamo)

MTH-Mr. Prospector S: Roaring Lion 102 (B. Levine/E. Castro)
MTH-Choice S: Fantastico Roberto (IRE) 94 (T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez)

I'm surprised there isn't a bigger discussion going on about this colt on here. I thought that was a hell of performance by a 2yo this time of year.

It was really good, but Im pretty sure there was not much behind him and the beyer coming back an 89 does not blow me away.

For a colt in July of his 2yo season, I think an 89 is pretty decent. I also give him credit for not being bothered by his stumble out of the gate. As for what was behind him, I think it is always tough to tell in these early 2yo races, but Lou Brissie doesn't appear to be terrible and Kantharos pounded him by 10.
The fact that his pedigree indicates he might be even better when the races stretch out to 7f+ later in the year interests me as well.
Not my favorite connections in the world, but I think he could have an exciting 2yo campaign.

Kantharos is obviously one of the best two-year-olds we've seen so far this year, but there's no way he's effective down the road past 7F.

I am excited to see Bail Out the Cat run back... He beyered 92 in his debut, it was a 92 for at least 2 weeks, now its been moved down to an 85. I still think there is some talent there, maybe as good as Kantharos right now.

Won by 10 running in 109 4/5 = those behind him suck.

What makes you say that?

Horses with his style and his extreme precociousness and his sprinter's pedigree never do anything down the line at longer distances.

A 2yo at the Pleasanton Fair meet had an 82 last weekend. Just an 82 was enough to put him on the leaderboard.

http://www.drf.com/drfLeaderBoard.do?category=beyer


Good looking son of Afleet Alex out of a Seattle Slew mare.

Sway Away

I would hardly call that a "sprinter's pedigree."

i wouldn't either.

I would be more concerned, regarding Kantharos, with Asmussen's (in)ability to keep precocious 2YOs "good" through their 3YO seasons. Pyro looked to be fooling us two years ago but he was exposed. Horses like Lunarpal, Jardin, Ocean Colors, Hot Dixie Chick, Enumerate, Louisvilleluminary, and definitely more. To some extent the jury's still out on whether he can get Rachel Alexandra to ever return to the level she was when she entered his barn.

NT

Fair points, but when a 2yo does something I find fairly exciting in early July, I almost always look at what his or her 2yo campaign will look like, not his/her 3yo campaign. No matter who the trainer is, projecting 2yo performances in early July forward to their following season is always close to impossible.
I just think it looks like this colt has all the makings of potentially a very good 2yo (which I realize isn't the boldest statement in the world coming off two large margins of victory).

I certainly agree. Of course, many people actually try to tab 2YOs that could progress into good 3YOs and this is simply not the time of year to do that (and you didn't).

The only 2YOs in recent years I really liked as 3YOs going forward were Any Given Saturday and Drosselmeyer. Unfortunately, the latter had proven himself as worthless IMO before his shocking (to me) Belmont victory.

NT

Did AGS win early? I dont really remember, what did he do as a 2yr old?

Fair enough. . . I'm pretty good at reading that sort of thing. Lion Heart can go either way - he gets milers too - but Kantharos' best sib was a pure sprinter and everything else about him points to sprinting.

His best brother was by a sire who has not sired much, especially beyond 7f. I think I Lion Heart should be able to stretch to a mile or 8.5f with Southern Halo on the bottom.

Kantheros has looked better than any of the previously mentioned Asmussen 2yo's thus far.