WinStar Farm and China Horse Club already have one of the more exciting 2-year-old winners in the country in the Bob Baffert-trained Life Is Good , who became the favorite in the first pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager among individual betting interests after a first-out victory Nov. 22 at Del Mar.
Now they have a juvenile garnering attention on the East Coast. Prime Factor, a Quality Road colt trained by Todd Pletcher, dazzled in his debut Dec. 12 at Gulfstream Park against straight maidens in race 2, drawing off for an 8 3/4-length victory over stablemate Bracken.
"He was worth waiting for. Always one of the best movers in the crop at @WinStarFarm training center," China Horse Club tweeted of Prime Factor after the race. "Prime Factor sizzles for TAP on debut. Another on the Derby Trail."
The bay colt raced six furlongs on a fast track under confident handling by Irad Ortiz Jr. in 1:10.38, taking command after pressing the early pace. He returned $6.20 for a $2 win wager.
“It was a very professional debut. He broke well and put himself in a good spot. It looked like he was taking Irad wherever he wanted him to go throughout the race,” Pletcher said. “He’s been training exceptionally well. We were looking forward to a good debut. Honestly, he exceeded expectations.”
WinStar Farm and China Horse Club were two of the ownership partners involved with 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify , another Baffert trainee. They also own Nashville , a 3-year-old who is unbeaten in three starts this year for trainer Steve Asmussen. Nashville set a track record of 1:07.89 in winning the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland last month.
Bred in Kentucky by Tony Braddock's Two Hearts Farm, Prime Factor is the third winner from six foals from the unplaced Bernardini mare Haylie Brae. The dam's produce includes a Liam's Map yearling colt named Sea Lane and a Distorted Humor weanling colt. Her other winning foals, Grandpa's Dream and Frost Dance, both by Shackleford, are earners of $162,317 and $39,247, respectively.
Haylie Brae is a half sister to grade 3 winner Speightster and two other stakes winners and is out of Dance Swiftly (by Danzig), a full sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Dance Smartly and a half sister to Smart Strike, twice a leading sire.
Pletcher trained Quality Road, a four-time grade 1 winner and a successful stallion. He will stand for $150,000 at Lane's End in Kentucky in 2021.
Pletcher said he would consult with WinStar Farm president and CEO Elliott Walden and China Horse Club and determine a game plan for future races for Prime Factor.
"The good thing about this time of year is there (are) pretty good options all around," he said. "We have high hopes for him.”
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