Untamed Domain Looks to Rebound in Open Kent

[Wandering Eyes]

When the calendar turned to 2018, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom) looked for all the world to be a budding star in the sophomore turf division. Visually impressive in his ‘TDN Rising Star’-earning graduation last July at Saratoga, he captured the GII Summer S. two starts later and passed 11 horses with a wide run to be second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after that. Now coming into the fifth start of his 3-year-old campaign, however, the bay colt is a virtual afterthought amongst his peers. He’ll try to change that, and mount a second-half charge, as the likely favorite in Saturday’s GIII Kent S. at Delaware.

A heavily-favored third in the GIII Dania Beach S. Feb. 3 at Gulfstream, the $90,000 Keeneland September buy finished a well-beaten sixth when trying dirt in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 10. Rebounding with a dead-heat second next out in the GII American Turf S. May 5 at Churchill, he failed to make an impact when fourth in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. June 2 at Belmont. Given a 5-2 chance on the morning line, he shows a pair of easy drills in the interim at trainer Graham Motion’s Fair Hill base.

Second choice on the morning line is Reddam Racing’s Blame the Rider (Jimmy Creed). The steadily-progressing bay upset the Singletary S. at 15-1 May 5 at Santa Anita and was second in the Rainbow S. there June 16.

Donegal Racing’s undefeated Carrick (Giant’s Causeway) will look to go from claimer to graded stakes winner in just two starts. Debuting for a $40,000 tag May 12 at Belmont, the chestnut won off by 4 1/2 lengths at 15-1. Protected next out in a Big Sandy starter allowance June 21, Carrick scored a professional victory going this distance.

Susan and Jim Hill’s lightly-raced Way Early (Tizway) hopes to build on a career-high effort last out. Runner-up in a New York-bred allowance Apr. 22 at Aqueduct, the gelding was aggressively spotted in the GII Penn Mile S. June 2 at Penn National and responded with a good second at over 20-1 despite running greenly in the stretch. The George Weaver trainee adds blinkers for this engagement.

Woodford Racing’s Hot Springs (Uncle Mo) comes in off a pair of good-looking turf successes at Churchill. Earning his diploma by 4 1/4 lengths June 3, the $750,000 KEESEP pickup repeated in a first-level allowance under the Twin Spires June 29.

Jump Sucker Stable’s Duc de Calas (Fr) (Dunkerque {Fr}) makes his North American debut for trainer Christophe Clement. The gray should have a stamina edge, with all six of his career outings coming at about ten furlongs, and he registered back-to-back successes over synthetic tracks Feb. 5 and 24 in France.

View the full article