Horse Racing Forum - USA Thoroughbred Races

I'm starting this thread with Storm Boy (Justify), who just demolished a G2 field...at Randwick. Yes, he's technically a 2yo, but he's a Southern Hemisphere 2yo. So...not a baby, but a maturing later season juvenile.
The handsome bay has a wicked kick in the stretch, and the commentators described him as the clear favorite for "The Slipper." Think that's the Golden Slipper?
He is owned by Coolmore, no surprise. And it appears Justify's visits to Oz are bearing fleet-footed fruit.

Storm Boy is the best 2 year old in Australia. If not the world, his third stakes win while easy as can be in 4 starts. He's going to be freakishly scary talented if he keeps getting better with each start, which he has demonstrated. Coolmore bought into him for 50 million Last month.

Justify wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:19 am Storm Boy is the best 2 year old in Australia. If not the world, his third stakes win while easy as can be in 4 starts. He's going to be freakishly scary talented if he keeps getting better with each start, which he has demonstrated. Coolmore bought into him for 50 million Last month.

So expect him in the shed end of year

Justify, do you know Storm Boy's breeding on his dam side? TIA.

Danniwolfe wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 2:03 am

Justify wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:19 am Storm Boy is the best 2 year old in Australia. If not the world, his third stakes win while easy as can be in 4 starts. He's going to be freakishly scary talented if he keeps getting better with each start, which he has demonstrated. Coolmore bought into him for 50 million Last month.

So expect him in the shed end of year

No. His purchase price included significant kickers if he wins certain races at 3. Unless the racing owners decide they don't want to go for those, I would expect to see him at 3.

BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 2:21 am Justify, do you know Storm Boy's breeding on his dam side? TIA.

Here is his sales page from when he went through 2023 Magic Millions. His 2nd dam is 2xNZ HOTY/7xG1 winner Seachange.

https://catalogue.magicmillions.com.au/lot/23GPR/226

Thanks. I'm not surprised to see a strong sprinting influence on his dam side. Storm Boy seems like a compact powerhouse, and not as much a tall, rangy stayer type. He sure has acceleration in the stretch.

It is incredible how insane Justify has been as a sire on both dirt and turf all over the world, really.

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/espiona ... d-20240318

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... en-slipper

The Golden Slipper is on Saturday in Australia. Storm Boy drew post two, Ryan Moore is flying in for the ride. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott who co-trainer together have 7 of the 16 runners in the race + the also eligible.

No – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1 – STORM BOY – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Ryan Moore – 2 – 56.5kg

2 – FULLY LIT – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Sam Clipperton – 1 – 56.5kg

3 – SHANGRI LA EXPRESS – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Regan Bayliss – 3 – 56.5kg

4 – RUE DE ROYALE – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Chad Schofield – 14 – 56.5kg

5 – TRAFFIC WARDEN – James Cummings – Craig Williams – 6 – 56.5kg

6 – STRAIGHT CHARGE – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Tim Clark – 9 – 56.5kg

7 – SWITZERLAND – Chris Waller – James McDonald – 7 – 56.5kg

8 – BODYGUARD – Peter & Paul Snowden – Mark Zahra – 10 – 56.5kg

9 – DUBLIN DOWN – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Hugh Bowman – 13 – 56.5kg

10 – COLEMAN – Matt Laurie – Kerrin McEvoy – 4 – 56.5kg

11 – HOLMES A COURT – Peter & Paul Snowden – Tom Marquand – 8 – 56.5kg

12 – PROST – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Adam Hyeronimus – 11 – 56.5kg

13 – HAYASUGI – Clinton McDonald – Jamie Kah – 16 – 54.5kg

14 – LADY OF CAMELOT – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Blake Shinn – 5 – 54.5kg

15 – MANAAL – Michael Freedman – Jason Collett – 17 – 54.5kg

16 – ENEEZA – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – Damian Lane – 15 – 54.5kg

17(AE) – ESPIONAGE – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Tommy Berry – 12 – 56.5kg

first (USA) 2yo race of the year has been drawn.

I know 2yo racing gets underway certainly by the end of April every year, but isn't April 5th awfully early?

I see that Wesley Ward has 2 in here, and one's a filly. He's been kind of quiet the last year or two. Wonder if he's gotten re-stocked to make a return.

Is that at Keeneland?

BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:59 pm Is that at Keeneland?

Yes. It's the 2nd race at Keeneland on opening day Friday.

brunanas wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:28 pm first (USA) 2yo race of the year has been drawn.

I see a new Coronado's Quest grandson to add to my VS!

Missbeholder wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:54 pm I know 2yo racing gets underway certainly by the end of April every year, but isn't April 5th awfully early?

The first 2yo race in Ireland was on 18 March. The horse who finished third in that race, Monotone, has already run again (and won) on 30 March. They’ve already run 2yo races in England, too.

Missbeholder wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:54 pm I know 2yo racing gets underway certainly by the end of April every year, but isn't April 5th awfully early?

I see that Wesley Ward has 2 in here, and one's a filly. He's been kind of quiet the last year or two. Wonder if he's gotten re-stocked to make a return.

Nah. If anything its later. I swear Sunland or somewhere used to have 2yo races toward the end of March.

Flanders wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:33 pm

Missbeholder wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:54 pm I know 2yo racing gets underway certainly by the end of April every year, but isn't April 5th awfully early?

I see that Wesley Ward has 2 in here, and one's a filly. He's been kind of quiet the last year or two. Wonder if he's gotten re-stocked to make a return.

Nah. If anything its later. I swear Sunland or somewhere used to have 2yo races toward the end of March.

Well, I guess my memory fails me again! Back in "the day", I remember 2yo racing around the 2nd or 3rd week of April in SoCal. I just don't remember it starting this early. My Bad!

Missbeholder wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 6:23 pm

Flanders wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:33 pm

Missbeholder wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:54 pm I know 2yo racing gets underway certainly by the end of April every year, but isn't April 5th awfully early?

I see that Wesley Ward has 2 in here, and one's a filly. He's been kind of quiet the last year or two. Wonder if he's gotten re-stocked to make a return.

Nah. If anything its later. I swear Sunland or somewhere used to have 2yo races toward the end of March.

Well, I guess my memory fails me again! Back in "the day", I remember 2yo racing around the 2nd or 3rd week of April in SoCal. I just don't remember it starting this early. My Bad!

It doesn't mean that, maybe you just didn't realize that they started earlier elsewhere. Maybe that is when California starts their 2yo races, it is this year. Santa Anita's first one is April 28th. Since I've been following horse racing there has always been a 2yo stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. I found the chart on Equibase for the earliest they have, 1991. A little bit more and I found this: https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartE ... y=USA&rn=3 Delta Downs had a 2yo race on February 10th, 1991.

Flanders wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 7:40 pm

Missbeholder wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 6:23 pm

Flanders wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:33 pm

Nah. If anything its later. I swear Sunland or somewhere used to have 2yo races toward the end of March.

Well, I guess my memory fails me again! Back in "the day", I remember 2yo racing around the 2nd or 3rd week of April in SoCal. I just don't remember it starting this early. My Bad!

It doesn't mean that, maybe you just didn't realize that they started earlier elsewhere. Maybe that is when California starts their 2yo races, it is this year. Santa Anita's first one is April 28th. Since I've been following horse racing there has always been a 2yo stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. I found the chart on Equibase for the earliest they have, 1991. A little bit more and I found this: https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartE ... y=USA&rn=3 Delta Downs had a 2yo race on February 10th, 1991.

Thanks Flanders for helping me not feel so dumb! 🫣