August 6, 2022 - Ellis Park, Race 3, Msw, USD $60,000, 6F
1st Dam: Out Post
2st Dam: Secret Wildcat
2st Dam: Garden Secrets
Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables, LLC
Breeder: Colts Neck Stables, LLC (KY)
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Jace's Road (c, 2, Quality Road-Out Post, by Silver Deputy), a $510,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, put on a show at Ellis Park Saturday afternoon en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors.
The bay worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 (2/90) at Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base July 29 and was hammered down to 7-5 favoritism while drawn on the outside in post nine against this deep-looking bunch.
He chased on the outside in third though an opening quarter in :22.47, loomed boldly under confident handling while three-wide on the turn for home and took off impressively down the stretch while under wraps to win going away by 6 1/4 lengths. Second-time starter Retained (Bayern) was second.
This is the 13th 'Rising Star' for Quality Road.
The multiple stakes-placed Out Post, from the same female family as champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) and GISW Forest Secrets (Forest Wildcat), brought $250,000 from breeder Richard Santulli as a KEESEP yearling. After producing a filly by Curlin this year, the winner's dam was bred back to Quality Road.
Jace's Road is bred on a similar cross (Quality Road x Deputy Minister) as champion Abel Tasman and GISW Spring Quality.
Winning co-owner West Point Thoroughbreds was also represented by promising debut winner and $500,000 FTSAUG graduate Battle of Normandy (City of Light) in the opener on Saratoga's Whitney card.
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