On the Radar...

--Steve Sherack

TDN’s Steve Sherack reveals a trio of recent also-rans that should be on your radar.

Finale, from the first crop of 2007 GI Florida Derby hero Scat Daddy, stamped himself as one to keep a close eye on following an encouraging debut third at Belmont Park May 5 (TDN Video).

Trailing the field of six by 12 lengths at the first call after hitting the gate at the start and completely blowing the break, the juvenile came alive on the turn for home gamely splitting horses to race in fourth. Still with plenty left to do at the top of the lane, he was guided to the outside by Cornelio Velasquez, and finished with good energy to place third, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths behind first-out winner Francesco Rules (Roman Ruler). The final time for the five-furlong event over a drying out muddy track was :58 2/5.

Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Finale was the highest-priced weanling colt by Scat Daddy to go through the ring in 2009 when selling for $175,000 at the Keeneland November sale. The half-brother to GIII West Virginia Derby hero Bright One (Dance Brightly) is trained by Todd Pletcher.

The future also looks bright for Glen Hill Farm’s Marketing Mix (Medaglia d’Oro), most recently a strong second behind the talented Roxy Gap (Indian Charlie) in Woodbine’s Fury S. for Ontario-breds Apr. 30 (TDN Video). The sophomore filly found her best stride too late in the seven-furlong affair after trailing the compact field of four through easy fractions, and reported home 3/4 of a length behind the victress, who enjoyed first run.


Roxy Gap holds off Marketing Mix in the Fury S. at Woodbine
WEG/Michael Burns photography

Marketing Mix, a $150,000 KEESEP yearling graduate, galloped out after the wire like a horse dying to go two turns, and based on her pedigree out of a Kris S. mare, turf should be right up her alley as well. (Note: Marketing Mix's second dam Nimble Mind {Lyphard} was multiple graded stakes placed on the infield).

Marketing Mix previously annexed a Keeneland maiden special weight in impressive fashion over the Polytrack, flying late from 11th to get up by a head Apr. 10 (TDN Video); she was sixth in her unveiling over the Gulfstream dirt Mar. 13.

The dark bay has returned to training at Tom Proctor’s Churchill base following her big effort in Canada, covering four furlongs over the spinach in :52 May 12.

Parting Words (Artie Schiller), an eye-catching last-to-first allowance winner over the Gulfstream lawn in February, should move forward nicely off a respectable third-place finish in the GIII Appalachian S. at Keeneland Apr. 21 (TDN Video).

The dark bay filly, owned by Lael Stables and trained by Barclay Tagg, was a handful for Julien Leparoux throughout while racing toward the back along the inside, fighting the rider for most of the way before riding the rail in the stretch to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind the brilliant Winter Memories (El Prado {Ire}). Parting Words has shown in her two career victories that she prefers being on the outside, and still ran pretty well against a very deep group in the Appalachian despite her reluctance to settle early.

With three workouts at Belmont Park since, it won’t be long before seeing Parting Words back in the entries.