In this continuing series, TDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack taps into the connections of promising young women to keep your spot.
Before the brilliant flight (Tapit) puts his unbeaten record seventh at GI TVG Pacific Classic, Hronis Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing and coach John Sadler will also send out the well-bred team Hawker (c, 2, Evenly–Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold) for his second career launch on the bottom cover.
Have a 6-1 chance to ride five Debut at Del Mar on August 6, the chestnut jumped very well from his outside pull, but was quickly bounced off and started climbing as six of them threw down for early control. Under a busy ride from Saturday to the opening quarter on:22.16, Hawker began to figure out how to enter the far turn and unleashed an eye-catching 4/5 wide move around the bend.
Looking like a winner as they headed straight despite the initial difficulties and the wide journey, he set his sights on Mister Iceman (Girvin) drifting on the ramp and only lost his breath during the game. when coming home in top condition: 12.01. It’s 1 1/4 of the way back to run away from the next first winner Carmel Road (Quality Sugar), who were forced to check in late while a third had a hard time.
Hawker, given a venerable 76 Beyer speed figure for the effort, has posted three workouts since, most recently including five stretches at 1:00.40 (20/97) at Del. March 28th. He drew the widest of all 10 in a fully loaded contest that will take place 6 1/2 later this week. Flavien Prat has a mount.
“You’re up against it with a horse like this that goes to five eighths, no doubt,” West Point’s Terry Finley said of Hawker’s first run. “I think he will climb after a quarter of a mile, he climbs very badly. But then you can see him falter as they come into the corner. Horses are really neat. I know Sadler as very nice to see him back and starting a second time.”
Finley continued, “This will put him in a position where we can take it one step further. He was really good coming out of his first race. He’s definitely a horse we’re thinking of – he’s going to make a name for himself. “
Raised in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Hawker brought in $675,000 from a Taylor Made Sales Agent shipment at last September’s sale in Keeneland.
Winner of the Three Crowns Evenlycurrently sitting on top freshman sire rankings, was represented by 11 winners, led by three classified winners. Hawker’s dam Flaming Heart, a two-time bet winner by classification, brought in $1.5 million from WinStar Farm in foal for Street Cry (Ire) at the November 2007 Sale in Keeneland.
The mythical bride the first pony to win (Street Cry) went on to produce GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and older male champion Vino Rosso (Curlin). Flaming Heart is also responsible for narrowly ranked and ranked three-time winner GI Commissioner Belmont S. (AP Indy), graded winner and runner-up GI Breeders ‘Narrow Sprint Cup (GI Breeders’ Cup) Sprint) and the Intrepid Heart rating (Tapit).
“It’s a solid pedigree,” Finley said. “Touch Gold as a brood has been a bit underrated and Hawker’s first dam has a lot of quality to her in her progeny. The Evenlys are running to the general hype. I was impressed with them – we had four of them. I think he was as good as any stallion in their first and second years.”
‘Second Chance’ title topped by two-time Breeders Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), HOLD Runhappy Derby winner Santa Anita and steed of Lane’s End Honor AP (Honor code) and MGISW and ‘TDN’s Rising Star’ Paradise Woods (Union Rags).
This semester’s GI Carter H. Winner Speaker corner (Street Sense), GI Forego winner S. Cody’s Wish (Curlin), GI Preakness S. finished in third place Creative Minister (Creative cause), Curlin S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Artorius (Arrogate) and winner Cinema S. War at sea (War front) was also introduced in the series.
Other highlights include: GSW Moonlight d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Heaven’s Backyard (Tizway), MSW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).
