2nd-Belmont, $62,000, (S), Msw, 10-26, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.51, gd.
HOMELAND (c, 2, American Pharoah–Khancord Kid {GSW, $167,343}, by Lemon Drop Kid) was sent off the 12-5 chalk to give trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado a sweep of the early Daily Double ($20.20) and turned in a professional debut effort, driving past his chief market rival Hellbender (Daredevil) for a promising success. Away well enough from the two hole, the $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase settled midfield through the opening couple of furlongs while holding a spot three back on the fence behind a moderate tempo. Allowed to creep into contention while niggled along a bit on the turn, Homeland was briefly in a pocket in upper stretch, but found daylight three off the inside and moved down Hellbender in the waning strides while switching his leads back and forth late. The 19th first-crop winner for his sire (by Pioneerof the Nile), Homeland is out of a Grade III-winning turf distaffer whose daughter Bar of Gold (Medaglia d'Oro, GISW, $1,551,000) caused a 66-1 upset in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. Homeland is also a half-brother to Land Mine (Mineshaft), SP, $158,342. The winner's second dam Confidently (Storm Cat) is a full-sister to Yankee Gentleman, who is also the sire of American Pharoah's dam Littleprincessemma. Khancord Kid is responsible for a yearling full-sister to Bar of Gold and a weanling full-brother to that one. She most recently paid a visit to fellow Triple Crown winner Justify. Sales history: $500,000 Ylg'18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $34,100. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables LLC & LNJ Foxwoods; B-Chester & Mary R Broman (NY); T-William I Mott.
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