JEFF SIEGEL’S EAST COAST BLACK BOOK
(For the week of May 4-8)
CURALINA (May 6th, 6th race, CD) – Was a terrific 3-year-old filly last year but has the makings of an even better 4-year-old based on her 2016 debut in the La Troienne S.-G1 during Derby week. The winner of the Acorn S.-G1 and C.C.A Oaks-G1 had trained forwardly for her first outing since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff-G1 but even trainer Todd Pletcher had to be a bit surprised with her performance. The daughter of Curlin stalked the pace in hand, easily disposed of Angela Renee approaching the top of the lane and then drew clear in powerful fashion to record a 7 ½ length margin of victory over Engaginglee, with odds-on favorite Sheer Drama third. Her Beyer number of 100 was a career top and sets in motion a campaign that could easily result in a year-end championship.
SEA CALISI-FR (May 7th, 11th race, Bel) – Was a G2 stakes winner in France as a 3-year old and was also multiple G1-placed, so when she showed up in the entries for the Sheepshead Bay S.-G2 in her U.S. debut you had the feeling the locals were in trouble. The daughter of Youmzain trailed the field in hand to the quarter pole, responded wide when called upon entering the lane and quickly disposed of her rivals with an impressive turn of foot before being taken in hand and geared down in the final stages, winning by a deceptive 2 ½ lengths. Handles firm or soft, will run all day, but should be able to shorten up from 12 furlongs to a middle distance if trainer Chad Brown so decides. Lightly-raced (just eight starts) with her whole career a head of her. Impressive.
TALE OF TWO (May 5th, 1st race, Bel) – Debuting son of Tale of the Cat was faced with what looked like an impossible task heading for home – he was sixth, 10 lengths off the pace in a five furlong maiden special weight sprint for juveniles over a muddy track – but suddenly took hold outside and finished like a freight train to win going away while mostly on his own courage in the final sixteenth of the mile. The margin of victory was three lengths and if this race had been more than just an abbreviated sprint he might have won by a pole. The $110,000 yearling from the Mark Casse barn has future star written all over him. Can’t wait to see what he can do when given more distance to work with.
THIRSTFORLIFE (May 5th, 10th race, CD) – Was thought so highly of by his connections that he made his debut in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes during Derby week and the confidence was justified, even though he could only manage to finish behind recent Keeneland maiden winner Silvertoni. From the first crop of Stay Thirsty, the Mark Casse-trained colt walked out of the gate and lost his best chance but soon found his best stride midway on the turn, continued to rally wide into the lane and made steady headway to the wire to be beaten just over two lengths while desperately needing more ground to work with. Certainly bred to run on and could be the goods down the road. Obviously eligible to a maiden race but we wouldn’t be surprised if this promising colt remains in stakes competition for the foreseeable future.
WHITE GOLD (May 6th, 3rd race, GP) – Debuting daughter of Exchange Rate broke like a rocket ship and this five furlong maiden special weight juvenile filly sprint was over. She quickly made the pace in hand, opened up six lengths into the lane and coasted to the wire to win by almost 11 in fast time (51.62 seconds) for the four and one-half furlong dash. Excellent mover with a nice, easy stride and should handle extra distance (and tougher company) without any issues. Certainly headed straight to stakes competition for trainer Dane Kobiskie.
