Quality Road’s Roadster Back in a Big Way for Baffert

[Wandering Eyes]

ROADSTER (c, 3, Quality Road–Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost) was a somewhat surprising second choice at 4-5 behind the 3-5 odds of Nolo Contesto (Pioneerof the Nile), but the talented ‘TDN Rising Star’ asserted his superiority with a promising three-length tally. Hailed by Bob Baffert at one point before he had ever run as the potential heir apparent to Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy), the $525,000 KEESEP yearling lived up to 4-5 backing with a good-looking 4 1/4-length debut score at Del Mar in July. He ran into another Baffert-trained superstar in eventual champion and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) when third in the Sept. 3 GI Del Mar Futurity, and was ruled out of the Breeders’ Cup himself when requiring throat surgery after reportedly displacing in the Futurity. Away alertly off of a workab that included bullet six-furlong breeze Feb. 17 in a very swift 1:10.60, the grey took the first turn in about the three path and grabbed second from Nolo Contesto down the backside. His main rival seemed to need some encouragement through a :47.85 half, but Roadster was going strong as he took over between foes heading for home. He quickly stiff-armed a mild bid from longshot Manhattan Up (Street Boss) in upper stretch, and showed a nice burst of speed to quickly increase his margin of victory in the run to the wire. Nolo Contesto outfinished Manhattan Up for second before galloping out with very good energy and well past Roadster. Sales history: $525,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1.
O-Speedway Stable LLC. B-Stone Farm (Ky). T-Bob Baffert.

 

View the full article