Cannoneer

Cannoneer (Into Mischief) was third in his unveiling at Churchill Downs last June. The colt took a six-month break then returned to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', when he won by 7 1/4 lengths in Louisville Nov. 29. In his lone start this year, the bay finished a well-beaten fourth in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes. The Triple Crown nominee at 60 cents on the dollar here fired out of the blocks to lead up the backstretch. Though tracked by Lincoln's Law (Liam's Map) around the far...

As we crest the three-month mark to the GI Kentucky Derby, the breakthrough performance by Nearly (Not This Time) in the Jan. 31 GIII Holy Bull Stakes raises several questions related to timing, taking into account both macro and micro perspectives. The first relates to the timing of Nearly's 5 3/4-length score over five rivals barely 48 hours after the news that juvenile champ and TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) had been diagnosed with bone bruising and was declared off the Kentucky Derby trail. Both...

Nearly (Not This Time), an impressive winner of two straight by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, will make his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park. The Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure defeating three rivals in an optional claimer going seven furlongs at Gulfstream most recently Jan. 2. Produced by a winning Mineshaft mare, Nearly worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.59 (1/25) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 24. He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull,...

5 - TEAM PLAYER, DMR, 11/30-2nd, 5 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-83 (g, 3, by Majestic Harbor-Team Decision, by Huddle Up) O-Susan and William Boyd, Kelly and Edwin Gredvig, and Michelle Hanson. B-Harris Farms and Double D Farms (Cal). T-Ryan Hanson. J-Kazushi Kimura. His six siblings to race--all California-breds like him--made a combined 41 starts and none reached the performance level of an 80 Beyer Speed Figure, which Team Player exceeded quite nicely in his second lifetime outing.   4 - VITAL MIND, CD, 11/28-12th, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO)...

It was another banner weekend for trainer Brad Cox. His trainee, Further Ado (Gun Runner), passed a big test when winning the GII Kentucky Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. On the same card, he unveiled an impressive maiden winner in Cannoneer (Into Mischief), who romped by 7 1/4 lengths. Cox, who joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland, will try to keep his streak going Saturday at Aqueduct, where he will send out Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), who is 8-for-12 lifetime, in the GII Cigar Mile Handicap....

Trainer Brad Cox joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss stable stars like GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Further Ado, 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Cannoneer, GII Clark Stakes runner-up Hit Show and others.

Cannoneer (c, 2, Into Mischief--Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon) became the 58th 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' for his all-conquering sire with a tour-de-force victory at second asking for trainer Brad Cox in the nightcap of the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs. Off as the 8-5 favorite, the $1.75-million Keeneland September graduate was sent to the front from his outside draw, but had to deal with the riderless Circle Me (Kantharos), who lost jockey Samuel Camacho, Jr. at the start. Completely undeterred beneath Irad Ortiz,...

4th-Churchill Downs, $117,750, Msw, 6-1, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.32, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. COMPORT (c, 2, Collected--Bartlett Narrows, by Flatter) debuted as a 6-1 shot here, and got the jump on heavy favorite Cannoneer (Into Mischief). The chalk suddenly accelerated to seize the lead before the end of the backstretch, but Comport was not going to intimated. The pair battled into the lane, but the 2-year-old got the better of his rival and surged ahead to graduate by 2 1/4 lengths. 'Insight' runners like Password (Uncle Mo) came from the...

4th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 2:13p.m. ET Leaving the four hole on this unveiling as the most expensive auction buy in the race, CANNONEER (Into Mischief) will be carrying the colors of the partnership of St Elias and Stonestreet Stables. A $1.75-million purchase last year at KEESEP, the son of top sire Into Mischief claims a fleet of accomplished half-siblings, most notable being the late GSW & MGISP Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) and sire GISW Girvin (Tale of Ekati). Also in dam Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon)'s family portrait is...