DrugSalvastore
06-19-2005, 04:21 AM
I thought about posting about What A Song yesterday, he's a 2-year-old son of freshman stallion Songandaprayer who brought $1.9 million at sale. He'd been working up a storm out West for trainer Bob Baffert---and a horse owner/radio tout from out that way told me he was a very talented individual a few weeks ago. He debuted today in the 2nd race at Hollywood Park and won handily by about 4 lengths--he paid $2.60 to win--as I figured he might. The fact that he went to post at 1-to-5 odds, in his debut, against a solid looking field of maidens, suggests to me that the buzz about him was awful strong.
He ran over two full seconds faster than older claiming fillies did, at the same distance, a half an hour earlier. For those who aren't students of speed figures, two seconds at 5.5 furlongs equals 31 Beyer Speed Figure points. So, this horse almost certainly ran a Beyer figure in the 90's. The highest Beyer figure posted by a 2-year-old so far this year, came on June 5th when 2nd time starter Bashert ran 5.5 furlongs in 1:03.49 at Hollywood Park, earning him a 98 Beyer. It's worth noting that What A Song's raw final time was 1/3rd (0.33 seconds) slower than Bashert. I'd look for What A Song's Beyer to come back in the mid-to-low 90's.
There isn't much in the pedigree to like this horse's chances of becoming a contender for the '06 Classic races--but his precocious and speed oriented pedigree will help make him a legit threat in a quest for a 2yo division title this year. You have to dig deep (REALLY DEEP!) into his female family to find a real positive influance of stamina and class. What A Song's 5th dam, the unraced Feather Time, is a half sister to 1953 Blue Grass Stakes winner and 1954 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Correspondent. At best case scenerio, it looks like Baffert might have another type like Flame Thrower or Officer on his hands with this one--but there's no doubt that talent is there. So this guy rates as the first 2yo hype horse of his crop.
He ran over two full seconds faster than older claiming fillies did, at the same distance, a half an hour earlier. For those who aren't students of speed figures, two seconds at 5.5 furlongs equals 31 Beyer Speed Figure points. So, this horse almost certainly ran a Beyer figure in the 90's. The highest Beyer figure posted by a 2-year-old so far this year, came on June 5th when 2nd time starter Bashert ran 5.5 furlongs in 1:03.49 at Hollywood Park, earning him a 98 Beyer. It's worth noting that What A Song's raw final time was 1/3rd (0.33 seconds) slower than Bashert. I'd look for What A Song's Beyer to come back in the mid-to-low 90's.
There isn't much in the pedigree to like this horse's chances of becoming a contender for the '06 Classic races--but his precocious and speed oriented pedigree will help make him a legit threat in a quest for a 2yo division title this year. You have to dig deep (REALLY DEEP!) into his female family to find a real positive influance of stamina and class. What A Song's 5th dam, the unraced Feather Time, is a half sister to 1953 Blue Grass Stakes winner and 1954 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Correspondent. At best case scenerio, it looks like Baffert might have another type like Flame Thrower or Officer on his hands with this one--but there's no doubt that talent is there. So this guy rates as the first 2yo hype horse of his crop.