Family Tree scored her second straight victory since her return to the Wayne Catalano barn with a decisive score in the Indiana Oaks. Away well, the chalk pressed from a two-wide fourth as Sweet Legacy (Candy Ride {Arg}) loped along through opening splits of :24.37 and :49.88. Emmzy, who stalked from second early, took control as the pacesetter called it quits on the backstretch, but Family Tree was just hot on her tail and drew even with that rival as the turned for home. Seizing control as they hit the stretch, Family Tree instantly cruised clear of her former stablemate and hit the line a much-the-best winner.
“With the post we had, there was some speed in the race but we had a good post, so we sat right next to it,” winning rider Julien Leparoux remarked. “We didn't want to be too far from [the Bob] Baffert [trainee Emmzy]. We got a great trip, but with that post we were expecting it, and she won very easily today. All the way around I could do whatever I wanted.”
“She was screaming, 'Let's go again,'” Catalano said. “I would think they'd be looking for a Grade I somewhere. But we'll see. We'll talk to Bennie [Glass, the Wests' racing manager] and the Wests. So far they've been right. I stepped up to the plate and took a chance, everybody is like, 'sometimes you've got to do it.' To be honest with you, it was my idea–now that she won.”
Opening her account with a debut graduation on the turf at Kentucky Downs last September, Family Tree was off the board in the GIII Jessamine S. a month later and was subsequently switched to the main track, finishing third in both the Rags to Riches S. and Trapeze S. last winter. Transferred from Catalano to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at the end of her juvenile season, the $225,000 KEESEP buy was runner-up in Sunland's Plum Pretty S. Mar. 20 and captured a Churchill optional claimer next out May 6. A close second to Ready to Confess (More Than Ready) as the 3-5 chalk next out in Louisville May 28, she was transferred back to Catalano and turned the tables on Ready to Confess with a two-length score in the GIII Iowa Oaks June 30.
The winner is the first foal out of Giant Mover, who is a daughter of MGSW millionaire Gold Mover (Gold Fever). She is also the dam of the juvenile filly Clearly Claire (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a Candy Ride filly born Mar. 21 of this year.
Saturday, Indiana Grand
INDIANA OAKS-GII, $202,400, IND, 7-16, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.46, ft.
1–FAMILY TREE, 121, f, 3, by Smart Strike
1st Dam: Giant Mover (SW, $163,813), by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Gold Mover, by Gold Fever
3rd Dam: Intentional Move, by Tentam
($225,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Gary & Mary West; B-Dell Ridge
Farm, LLC & Sam-Son Farm (KY); T-Wayne M. Catalano;
J-Julien R. Leparoux. $117,796. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-2,
$426,922. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: A+.
[bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Emmzy, 121, f, 3, Eskendereya–Comfort Zone, by Rubiano.
($370,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Zayat Stables, LLC; B-Clarkland
Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $39,266.
[bullet ad=”clarkland-farm-emmzy-double”][bullet ad=”eqb-yearlingauctionpurchase”]3–Mines and Magic, 121, f, 3, Mineshaft–Magical Theater, by
Smart Strike. O-G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.; B-G. Watts Humphrey
Jr., Susie Keller, Vicki Oliver & G. Watts Humphrey III (KY);
T-Victoria H. Oliver. $21,596.
Margins: 3, 3 1/4, NO. Odds: 1.40, 2.90, 6.70.
Also Ran: Dothraki Queen, Walkabout, Dream Dance, Sweet Legacy, Missalaney. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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