Sept. 18 Insights: Million-Dollar Baby Debuts at Belmont; Rachel Alexandra Full-Sis Unveiled at Gulfstream

Wandering Eyes · September 17, 2020

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

1st-BEL, $63K, Msw, 6f, 2yo, f, 1:00 p.m. ET

Shadwell Stable’s ZAINALARAB (War Front) will get both her racing career and the Belmont fall meet underway Friday when facing five other juvenile fillies in this sprint. Bought for $1 million even at Keeneland September, the bay is the first foal out of GSW Delightful Joy (Tapit), a half-sister to GSW Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}) and 113 Beyer-earning SW Seymourdini (Bernardini). Trained by Chad Brown, she shows a steady worktab going back to mid-July at Saratoga, highlighted by a half-mile gate breeze in :47 1/5 (5/131) there Aug. 23. Her main rival appears to be fellow firster Exact (Competitive Edge). Hammering to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $82,000 at OBS Spring after breezing a furlong in :10 flat, the chestnut shows a sharp local worktab for Todd Pletcher, capped by a four-furlong bullet in :47 flat (1/76) from the gate Saturday. TJCIS PPs

6th-GP, $65K, Msw, 6f, 2yo, f, 2:50 p.m. ET

Dede McGehee’s GLADYS (Medaglia d’Oro), a full-sister to Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, opens her account here for trainer Kelsey Danner. Also a half to GSP Dolphus (Lookin At Lucky) and SP Wooderson (Awesome Again), the dark bay is the first product of dam Lotta Kim pairing with Medaglia d’Oro since 2011 filly Samantha Nicole. She displays a consistent Palm Meadows worktab going back to late June, most recently going a half-mile in :48 3/5 (6/30) there three days ago. TJCIS PPs

—@JBiancaTDN