Warrior’s Reward Off to Fast Start

Freshman sire and GI Carter H. winner Warrior’s Reward (Medaglia d’Oro–For All You Do, by Seeking the Gold) is off to a quick start at stud, with his first three starters–all fillies–coming home decisive winners on debut in maiden special weights across the country May 30. An imposing physical specimen, Spendthrift resident Warrior’s Reward posted his marquee victory in the GI Carter H. in 2010, and his early runners are showing plenty of early zip. 
    “The thing that drew us to him is the horse is a very, very large horse–17 hands–but he’s athletic,” said Ken Wilkins of Spendthrift Farm. “The foals have been big, athletic, correct, lots of bone and look like they can run a little bit. This horse is very similar to a horse like Midnight Lute (Real Quiet), there is speed there and there is athleticism. We are delighted that we are off to a nice start, but we really expect this horse to blossom and do well later in the fall and in the next year.” 
    Liatris, (video) out of the A.P. Indy mare Miss Brickyard, started the ball rolling with a 3 3/4-length victory over the boys going five panels at Pimlico as the 5-2 second favorite for owners Charles L Hall and Jann P Anderson. The latter also trains the Kentucky-bred. 
    Roughly an hour later, Warrior’s Reward collected his second win in as many starters and his first 
“TDN Rising Star” for the owner/trainer team of John Oxley and Mark Casse with heavy favorite Unbridled Reward (video) out of Unbridled Appeal, by Unbridled. The $330,000 OBSMAR purchase–after breezing an eighth of a mile in:10 1/5 at OBS March–annihilated her foes with a 7 3/4-length drubbing at Churchill Downs. Originally bought back for $27,000 as a Keeneland November yearling, Eisaman Equine snapped her up for $95,000 at Keeneland September almost a year later. 
    Dr. Barry Eisaman of Eisaman Equine commented, “What stands out the most to me was her particularly attractive body. She just looked like an early precocious competitor. The female family is an old Florida family and the second dam is by Valid Appeal. I believe as an individual she looks very much Valid Appeal-like.” 
    Unbridled Reward’s early success at the races was not unexpected for Eisaman. “I knew ours was very precocious, added Eisaman. “We had another Warrior’s Reward in this crop that I liked very much that we sold here in April. I think, you know, with these first three coming out running like this, it will bring a lot of attention to Warrior’s Reward and I think it’s justified.” 
    The icing on the cake was 5-1 chance Strawberry Baby (video) (Warrior’s Reward–Kendall Hill, by Theatrical {Ire})’s 2 3/4-length win for Brad and Judy Miller and trainer J. R. Caldwell Friday evening at Lone Star Park over a main-track five panels.