Lull impresses in Belmont Park debut

Jul 17, 2016 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Perhaps the most exciting two-year-old filly to run last week is LULL, trained by Christophe Clement for owners/breeders Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. The bay lass by War Front romped in her debut at Belmont Park on Saturday, July 16, leading all the way home to be three lengths clear while never challenged.

The problem is that Lull’s debut came on the turf.

However, this report is looking at all two-year-old fillies with the thinking that surface is inconsequential right now. There have been many juveniles in the past who started out on one before switching to another.

That may not prove true in Lull’s case, but her immediate family boasts some very nice main track runners. The Kentucky-bred miss is out of the Tiznow mare Quiet Now, making her a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Irsaal.

Quiet Now is a daughter of Grade 2-placed stakes heroine Quiet Dance, meaning she is a half-sibling to a slew of nice runners, most notably 2005 Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victor Saint Liam.

Other offspring of Quiet Dance include Grade 2 queen Quiet Giant, who is herself the dam of this year’s Louisiana Derby (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) third-placer Gun Runner; the unraced Beatem Buster, who produced 2011 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) vixen Buster’s Ready; Miss Besilu, who finished third in the 2014 runnings of the Alabama Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Stakes (G1); and stakes scorer Dance Quietly.

So, as you can see, Lull’s immediate family is laden with stellar main-track stars. It would not be at all surprising for the bay filly, who earned an 86 BRIS Speed rating in her debut, to wind up on the dirt in the end.

Another who garnered a pretty high BRIS Speed number in her debut on Saturday, July 16, is MORGANITE.

The John Sadler-trained daughter of Gemologist broke in a bit before settling into a stalking spot between rivals down the Del Mar backstretch. She moved up to challenge the pacesetter rounding the turn and took over in the lane, pulling away with a smooth stride to score by 1 1/2 lengths, good enough for an 88 BRIS Speed figure.

Morganite is out of the Wild Rush mare Crazy Woman Creek, who is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed multiple stakes heroine Pink Poppy and Grade 1 runner-up Liquidity.

Emerald Downs is not the usual place to look for up-and-coming stars, but STORMIN’ PROMISE may help change that after pulling out a 7 1/4-length wire job on Saturday, July 16.

The bay filly was hustled to the lead out of the gate, opened up in the lane under right-handed encouragement and pulled clear to earn a 73 BRIS Speed rating.

Once again, Emerald Downs doesn’t usually serve as the place for classic runners to debut, but Stormin’ Promise ran too nice to be ignored. Trained by Jeffrey Metz, the Attila’s Storm filly is out of the stakes-placed Gen Stormin’norman mare Stormin Brigade. That mare is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Rebridled Dreams, who would go on in the breeding shed to foal multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Carpe Diem and Grade 1 hero J. B.’s Thunder.

Continuing the trend of excellent pedigrees, WATCH YOUR SIX took her maiden debut over Arlington Park’s Polytrack on Friday, July 15, by two lengths for trainer Michael Stidham. The Discreetly Mine filly earned a 77 BRIS Speed rating for her effort in the five-furlong contest where she was favored at 4-5.

Watch Your Six ran well, but her female family it the real reason she made this week’s two-year-old filly review. The bay miss is out of the unraced Giant’s Causeway mare Justenufftime, making her a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Cassatt.

Justenufftime is herself a daughter of Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Justenuffheart and counts as a half-sibling to champion Dreaming of Anna as well as multiple Grade 2 victors Lewis Michael and Justenuffhumor.

Watch Your Six’s third dam is Kitten’s First, who produced champion and leading sire Kitten’s Joy and multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Precious Kitten.

RYAN AND MADISON made her racing bow at Canterbury Park on Friday, July 15, and dominated her seven rivals by 9 1/2 lengths on the wire.

The Gary Scherer trainee took command under a tight hold and flew home in the stretch to garner an 81 BRIS Speed rating. Like Stormin’ Promise, the Sam Lord’s Castle filly made her debut at a track oft overlooked when it comes to up-and-coming stars but stamped herself as one to watch.

Ryan and Madison is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Reigning Cats and her female family includes Grade 2 winner La Reason and, most notably, multiple Grade 1-winning sire Lion Heart, who finished second in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

Two other fillies won on Friday, July 15, who are worth mentioning.

EVVAMENE took a five-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by four lengths for trainer Angel Rodriguez. The Kantharos chestnut quickly opened up on the field and was never catchable, leaving her rivals to flounder in her wake as she was geared down late.

Evvamene earned a nice 81 BRIS Speed rating for the win, and is out of the Peace Rules mare Pearl Esque. Her female family includes Grade 1 scorers My Trust Cat, Include Betty and Personal Hope.

CAROLINE TEST provided a nice 14-1 upset when easily holding the even-money favorite by 4 1/4 lengths in an off-the-turf Ellis Park maiden special weight going 5 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Ben Colebrook, the bay daughter of First Defense earned a 79 BRIS Speed figure after drawing off in the lane.

Caroline Test’s dam is the stakes-placed Black Minnaloushe mare Panther Strike, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 victor Sky Treasure and Grade 3 hero Surgical Strike, who ran a close fifth in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) on July 9. The juvenile filly’s third dam is dual Canadian champion Bold Ruritana, who counts as a half-sister fellow Canadian champion Stage Flite.