Father Ted

Topping this week's list: a homebred maiden who splashed to the fastest Beyer Speed Figure of the three-day Evangeline Downs week. 5. WHITE SMOKE RISING, BAQ, 5/7-5th, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 83 (c, 3, by Volatile--Little Cyclone, by City Zip) O-Albert Fried, Jr. B-Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Charlton Baker. J-John Velazquez. He was probably unlucky to lose to 2-5 favorite Crossingthechannel in his first lifetime start back in early January, and that colt looks to have stakes-level talent. This time, White Smoke Rising looped rivals to pair...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Father Ted (Practical Joke) split a pair of highly regarded Bob Baffert-trained runners to finish a strong second in his 2-year-old unveiling on Santa Anita's opening day program Dec. 26. A bit chilly on the board at 8-1 for trainer Mark Glatt, Father Ted broke like a shot, but was quickly outfooted to race in fifth as three of them lined up--led narrowly by a three-deep San...

2nd-Santa Anita, $61,000, Msw, 12-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.97, ft, 1/2 length. MADAKET ROAD (c, 2, Quality Road--Frolic's Dream {GSW, $294,094}, by Smoke Glacken) was runner-up while making his debut in the seven-furlong GIII Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 17. The 4-5 favorite raced just off the heels of a three-way battle for the early lead as the quarter went up in :21.99. Stablemate San Saba (Justify) assumed control around the far turn as Madaket Road fell further off the pace through a half in :44.50. San Saba was...

2nd-SA, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 2:30 p.m. ET SAN SABA (Justify) topped last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale on a bid of $725,000 and has drawn the outside in this field of seven. John Velazquez has the call aboard the May 8 foal, whose dam Arienza (Giant's Causeway) finished second in the 2011 GII Fantasy Stakes. The latter is a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year and treble champion older female Azeri (Jade Hunter), the dam of the talented MGSW/GISP Wine Princess (Ghostzapper) and granddam of GSW Smokin'...