TWO YEAR OLD RACES ARE IN FULL SWING!
On Friday (6/21/2024) at Churchill Downs a 2yo filly named Eclatant caught my eyes when she debuted in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race and won very impressively.
After rating in fourth place behind an opening quarter-mile in 22.21 seconds, she advanced into the hot pace of a 44.84 half-mile and took over in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:03.42, earning a respectable 82 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.
To put that into perspective a 2yo fully brother to Fierceness ran in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on Saturday June 15, 2024, at Belmont at the Big A and in the process breaking a 61-year track record held by an older horse and while doing so earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.
That 2YO full brother to FIERCENESS is named Mentee and he is expected to put on a show for us on July 13, 2024, at Saratoga Race Course.
So an 82 Beyer Speed Figure for a 2yo filly this time of the year is excellent and by the look of it she'll improve on that as she is more and more mature.
Eclatant, a 2-year-old daughter of five-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, looks like a stakes horse in the making for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox.
Certainly her pedigree is elite; Eclatant's dam is the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, who previously foaled Bourbon (G2) winner and Hopeful (G1) third-place finisher Mutasaabeq.
Another impressive 2-year-old winner at Churchill Downs last week (Thursday 6/20/2024) was Owen Almighty, a son of champion sprinter Speightstown conditioned by Brian Lynch.
The bay colt debuted in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight Thursday (6/20/2024) and left no doubt about his superiority, sticking close to splits of 22.22 and 45.46 seconds before taking over in the homestretch to score by 3 1/2 lengths.
The fifth furlong elapsed in a strong 11.49 seconds and the final sixteenth in a snappy 6.05 seconds, allowing Owen Almighty to reach the finish line in 1:03.00 and earn an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.
Again, an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for a 2yo colt this time of the year is excellent and by the look of it he'll improve on that as he is more and more mature.
His fast finish bodes well for stepping up in class and distance, so the future looks bright for Owen Almighty.
Furthermore, this weekend (Saturday 29 and Sunday June 30) there are quite a few 2yo races, but the two races of interest are the Churchill Downs Debutante Stakes (Sunday June 30 at Churchill Downs, race 4) for fillies and the Bashford Manor Stakes (Sunday June 30 at Churchill Downs, race 9) for colts.
The Bashford Manor Stakes looks to be a wide open race but the Debutante Stakes there is a standout in Adeera and she is the most likely winner of the race.
So all eyes will be on Adeera, at least for my eyes, and I'm looking forward to betting on her.
Stay tuned!