Family Tree made four starts at two for this barn, winning her maiden over six furlongs at Kentucky Downs on debut, then adding third placings on the main track in Churchill's Rags to Riches S. in November and again in the Trapeze S. at Remington Park Dec. 13. Turned over to Bob Baffert for the first part of her 3-year-old campaign, the $225,000 Keeneland September purchase finished two lengths adrift of Thrilled (Uncle Mo) in Sunland's Plum Pretty S. Mar. 20 prior to a comfortable allowance victory back beneath the Twin Spires on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 6. The chestnut was 3-5 when squaring off last time with Ready to Confess in Lousville, but could not resist the latter's late surge and settled for second.
Drawn widest in a field reduced to 10 by the scratch of Thursday Santa Anita allowance winner Emmzy (Eskendereya), Family Tree, back with Catalano for this, raced widest into the clubhouse turn and secured a stalking spot from third as Marquee Miss (Cowboy Cal) set the pace just to the outside of 8-5 favorite Thrilled, a rare Prairie Meadows runner for the almighty Todd Pletcher barn. Given her cue three deep on the second bend by Florent Geroux, Family Tree edged up to take command just about the same time that Thrilled was calling it a day at the rail. Family Tree cornered for home narrowly in front and although Ready to Confess (More Than Ready)–who defeated Family Tree in a Churchill allowance May 28–took a run at her to the outside in the final furlong, Family Tree dug in and was edging away late.
Pedigree Notes:
The winner's stakes-winning dam, herself a daughter of six-time GSW and three-time GISP Gold Mover (Gold Fever), was purchased by Dell Ridge Farm for $350,000 carrying her first foal by Quality Road out of the Ned Evans dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November sale. Giant Mover is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Clearly Claire (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $220,000 KEESEP yearling, and foaled another filly by that Lane's End stallion Mar. 21. This is also the further female family of Grade I winner Dance Teacher (Smarten), GSW Fiesty Countess (Count the Time) and MGISP Casanova Move (Langfuhr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Thursday, Prairie Meadows
IOWA OAKS-GIII, $200,000, PRM, 6-30, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.25, gd.
1–#@FAMILY TREE, 118, 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-Florent Geroux. $118,800. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-2, $309,126. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”]2–Ready to Confess, 118, f, 3, More Than Ready–Confessional, by Holy Bull. O-Pin Oak Stable; B-Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY); T-Donnie K Von Hemel. $39,600.[bullet ad=”holly-hill-training-center-shell”]3–Put Da Blame On Me, 115, f, 3, Blame">Blame–Roman Chestnut, by Roman Ruler. ($55,000 RNA Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Michael J Bruder; B-Two Hearts Farm LLC (KY); T-Michael A. Tomlinson. $19,800.[bullet ad=”indiancreek-salesgrad”]Margins: 2, 3HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 7.30, 14.30.
Also Ran: For All the Grands, Marquee Miss, Just Wicked, Alotta Skirt, Bonita Cat, Thrilled, Kiss N Scat. Scratched: Emmzy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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