Jan. 25 Insights

6th-FG, $38K, Msw, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 4:26 p.m. ET

Brad Grady is known for his success as a yearling to 2-year-old pinhooker, who typically races whatever stock fails to sell such as GI Haskell S. winner Girvin (Tale of Ekati). However, in this race, he is represented by a colt he purchased for $130,000 as a 2-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in VERHALEN (Bernardini). The bay, who RNA'd for $235,000 at Keeneland September, is a half-brother to Horse of the Year and champion older mare Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), who sold to Mandy Pope for a record $10 million at the conclusion of her racing career at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale. While that superstar mare made a name for herself on the main track, Verhalen also traces his lineage to MGISW turfer Riskaverse (Dynaformer), who is the dam of GSW & G1SP grass runner Say (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); GI Flower Bowl S. victress Christiecat (Majestic Light); and MGISW young sire Tonalist (Tapit). He faces another well-bred firster from the Mark Casse barn in First Spring (Spring at Last). The Live Oak homebred's SP dam is a daughter of MGISW Stop Traffic (Cure the Blues); and a full-sister to GISW sire Cross Traffic. TJCIS PPs.

7th-FG, $41K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:55 p.m. ET

Stonestreet Stables went to $470,000 to secure TELEKINESIS (Ghostzapper) as a weanling at the 2015 Keeneland November sale and he makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Mark Casse. The bay is out of an unraced daughter of MGSW millionaire Gold Mover (Gold Fever), the dam of SW Giant Mover (Giant's Causeway), who in turn produced MGSW and GISP Family Tree (Smart Strike). This is also the family of recently retired GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny (Quality Road). Dallas Stewart and Charles Fipke unveil a full-brother to their GI Clark H. upsetter and GI Pegasus World Cup contender Seeking the Soul in Perfect Seeker (Perfect Soul {Ire}). Their third dam is undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign, who produced MGISW millionaire My Flag, the dam of champion Storm Flag Flying; and Grade I winners Traditionally and Miner's Mark. Larry Jones is not only the trainer, but also the co-owner and co-breeder, along with his wife Cindy, on firster Just Old School (Old Fashioned), a half-brother to stakes-winning “TDN Rising Star” Jenda's Agenda (Proud Citizen); and a son of MGSW Just Jenda (Menifee). TJCIS PPs.

—@CDeBernardisTDN