Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Track Phantom

Dec 26, 2023 John Mucciolo

L and N Racing, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy’s Track Phantom earned 10 points on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard following his 1 1/4-length triumph in the $98,000 Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds on December 23. The winner negotiated 1 1/16 miles on the fast main surface in 1:44.42 with Christian Torres in the silks for conditioner Steve Asmussen.

“It’s impressive that both of his two turn races have been victories, and it was a good field today,” Asmussen said. “I actually thought they went too fast in the middle, you know, 46 4/5 here in a two-turn race, you don’t see horses see it out very often. He’s obviously a very good horse who has some room to physically develop and we have him right where want to be at this stage of his career.”

Track Phantom was unveiled on October 1 in a maiden special weight tilt going one-mile at Churchill Downs and checked in third under the wire. The bay competed in a similar type of contest on October 29 and fell just a half-length short while second best. Prior to his Gun Runner score, the talented youngster was a decisive, 4 ¾-length graduate beneath the Twin Spires on November 25. His lifetime line reads 4-2-1-1, $165,000.

FULL RACE REPLAY 🎥

The 2023 Gun Runner Stakes @fairgroundsnola is won by #8 TRACK PHANTOM and jockey @cristiantorr64 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. #FG152

Track Phantom earns 10 @kentuckyderby points.

🎙️ @JohnGDooley
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/GbOYWw4Hl1

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 23, 2023

The son of Quality Road was bred in the Bluegrass State by Breeze Easy and attracted a final bid of $500,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was produced from the Into Mischief mare Miss Sunset, who bagged nine stakes wins in her lifetime led by a victory in the 2017 Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland. Miss Sunset is also responsible for a yearling colt by Curlin named Crystal Pearl, as well as an unnamed weanling colt by Quality Road.

Track Phantom has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in every lifetime run to date, with ascending numbers of 84-91-93-94 to this stage of his development. The $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds on January 20 is the next potential spot for the improving juvenile.