Saturday’s Insights: Half-Sister to Belmont Winner Sir Winston Debuts

1st-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2f, 12:50p.m.
Tracy Farmer’s homebred TAP THIS WAY (Tapit) kicks off for Mark Casse, who also trained this filly’s illustrious brother, Sir Winston (Awesome Again), winner of the 2019 GI Belmont Stakes for Farmer. While dam La Gran Bailadora (Afleet Alex) never managed a win on the turf, she did register her biggest won on the synthetic in the GIII Kentucky Cup Distaff. Chiefwood Stables also unveils Not This Time, an Ontario-bred daughter of Cool Shadows (Munnings). Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, the dark bay filly will be ridden by Joe Bravo. TJCIS PPs

 

4th-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 2:30p.m.
Gary and Mary West’s ROCK MUSIC (Into Mischief) makes his belated debut for trainer Brad Cox after a steady string of works at the New Orleans oval. Out of Clever Babe (Distorted Humor), the homebred 4-year-old is a half-brother to GI La Brea Stakes winner Book Review (Giant’s Causeway). The colt will be accompanied by Flavien Prat. Also making his career bow, Tagermeen Racing’s Mouqeer (Connect) receives the services of Luis Saez. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the colt was a $300,000 OBS April purchase last year. TJCIS PPs

 

5th-TP, $100K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 2:43p.m.
Among races highlighting Turfway’s stacked Jeff Ruby Steaks undercard, the fifth race of the afternoon features Resolute Racing’s Volendam (Vekoma). Out of Love Those Legs (Parading), the chestnut was secured for $600,000 at the Keeneland September sale, making him the highest-priced yearling colt by the Spendthrift Farm sire in 2024. Trained by Mike Maker, the Kentucky bred will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. TJCIS PPs

 

7th-GP, $125K, $125K Opt. Cl. 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 3:52p.m.
Making his long await return, Gosger (Nyquist) shows his snout for the first time since finishing sixth in the GII Clark at Churchill Downs last November. A second-out winner at this venue in February of his sophomore year, the grey adding a victory in the GIII Lexington Stakes at Keeneland before just getting beaten by Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Preakness. Second again to that rival in the GI Haskell Invitational at Monmouth, the Brendan Walsh trainee was sixth in the GI Pennsylvania Derby before finishing third behind Hit Show in GIII Fayette Stakes in October. Dylan Davis accompanies the 4-year-old to the post for the first time. TJCIS PPs

 

13th-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 7:18p.m.
Not That Simple (Not This Time) gets a start for Cherie DeVaux, a 21% winner with her first time starters. A homebred for Mt Brilliant Farm, the filly is out of Simply Confection (Candy Ride {Arg}), already responsible for her full-sibling, GII Fountain of Youth Stakes winner and GI Florida Derby third Simplification. DeVaux also saddles fellow firster Determined Dancer (Twirling Candy), who realized $410,000 at Keeneland September in 2024. Recently announcing his decision to step away from his training duties, Tom Amoss unveils Federal Force (Constitution), a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for Greenwell Thoroughbreds. TJCIS PPs