As we race towards the end of 2014 here in America, we are also looking towards the New Year through the bridles of some highly-promising Godolphin and Darley-sired two-year-olds. It won’t be long before we know what’s in store for these soon-to-be sophomores with the North American Classics just around the corner.
First up is a Godolphin-owned son of Medaglia d’Oro named Imperia (pictured). Out of the Godolphin-raced G1 winner Cocoa Beach, Imperia began his career over the turf at Saratoga racetrack with a closing second-place finish in his career debut in August. Thirty days later, he vaulted into Graded company in the G3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont, also on the turf, and closed very well from off the pace for the win. A troubled trip in the stretch in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf didn’t allow for his best run, but a switch of surfaces in his final race of the year, the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on November 29, gave a strong indication that Imperia is a talented colt. Racing on the dirt for the first time, he certainly ran to his pedigree as both father and mother won G1 events on the dirt, and although he just missed by a head in winning his second Graded race, his performance certainly bodes well for the future. He now heads to Florida for the winter.
Also at Churchill on November 29th, the Medaglia d’Oro filly Taylor S posted a 94 Beyer Speed Rating when winning in allowance company by six and one-quarter lengths. She was also named a TDN Rising Star for that impressive performance.
Another homebred colt racing in the blue silks of Godolphin is Frosted who is out a half-sister to currently Darley stallion Midshipman, Eclipse Champion two-year-old, and currently with 17 winners from his first crop of two-year-olds. Frosted has improved in each of his four career starts and broke his maiden impressively at Aqueduct by five and one-quarter lengths on October 30. In his fourth trip to the post – the G2 Remsen Stakes – Frosted stalked the leaders while running wide and just missed the win by one-half length. He also will make the trip to Florida.
It’s not just the colts that are doing well for Godolphin, exemplified by the promising filly Snowbell, who has really come into her own during the latter part of this year. Out of the Godolphin-raced G2 winner Burmilla, Snowbell didn’t enter the winner’s circle until her fifth start in August at Saratoga but she’s now won two of three since that victory, including the G3 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct on November 29th. All three of her career wins have come on the front end, and in the Comely, she seemed to relish the one and one-eighth mile distance. Another who heads to warmer weather to continue her training.
Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense also has a promising two-year-old with an eye on the 2015 Derby in Ocho Ocho Ocho, another who achieved TDN Rising Star status in early November. Street Sense was also an Eclipse Champion at two, having won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, so it’s not a big surprise that Ocho Ocho Ocho is an early developer. Now undefeated in three starts, the dark bay or brown colt won the Listed Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in early November and then shipped east to Louisiana to win the G3 $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot at Delta Downs on November 22th. Trainer Jim Cassidy has indicated that the G1 Santa Anita Derby in April is the next major goal for this talented colt.
Bernardini has a couple of nice two-year-old fillies in Cavorting and Angela Renee. These two ran first and second, respectively, in the G2 Adirondack and Angela Renee followed that up with a win in the G1 Chandelier at Santa Anita. Street Boss’s Long Hot Summer is two for two in her career having won a Stakes in August. And Discreet Cat has the nice colt, Private Prospect, now three for five with one second in the G3 Arlington-Washington Futurity.
Hope springs eternal this time of year but there is a lot to be excited about within the two-year-old “stable” of Godolphin-owned and Darley-sired juveniles. Only time will tell so stay tuned as we head into 2015!