Two more juvenile races, two more promising winners. Saturday's card may have been highlighted by the impressive graded stakes victories scored by Alpha and Winter Memories, but there were a couple of promising juveniles on the undercard that gave the impression of being fine runners themselves.
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
1 1/16th miles (turf) for 2yos
The favorite was the highly-regarded Todd Pletcher-trainee Charming Kitten, a son of Kitten's Joy that was making his first start. He certainly lived up to expectations, as he tracked a slow pace of :24.87 and :51 flat before bursting clear in the homestretch to win the race by a decisive 1 3/4 lengths. His final sixteenth of a mile in :5.94 was especially impressive. Fire Guard, a first-time starter from the barn of Bill Mott, rallied strongly from ninth to give the impression of being a colt to watch in the future. Newfound Zapper also turned in a good rally from off the pace.
Race 3: Maiden Special Weight
6 furlongs for 2yos
One victory for the day wasn't enough for Pletcher. Roughly half an hour after Charming Kitten found his way to the winner's circle in race two, Pletcher sent out Lawn Man and Tizracer in the third race of the card. As it turned out, he almost went 1-2, as Lawn Man and Tizracer led the way through fractions of :22.66 and :46.26. Turning for home, Lawn Man put away his stablemate and drew off strongly throughout the homestretch, hitting the wire in front by 4 1/2 lengths while stopping the clock in 1:11.25. Pass the Pico and Honorable Dillon both put in decent runs from off the pace to secure second- and third-place, respectively, in a three-way photo over Tizracer.
-Keelerman
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