An eye-catching victory at the Pea Patch in Kentucky may have launched the career of Eagle. A second win at Keeneland marked him as one to watch moving forward.
Eagle opened his career coming off the pace, ridden very confidently from the start. Eagle broke in mid pack, chased the lone speed, took the lead entering the stretch and pulled away in hand under Brian Hernandez. Ellis Park has been the debut track for several promising Juveniles the past couple of years. Ride on Curlin and Medal Count both parlayed success on the national stage after maiden victories at Ellis.
Racing at Churchill Downs off a 2 month plus layoff, Eagle was shuffled back and made up ground down the stretch to finish 2nd in a solid field of Juveniles. Eagle raced wide that day and was given too much to do down the lane while Big Big Easy went on to the big win. Eagle was eased up late and finished strong through the wire with a solid gallop out. This was a solid effort – going up in class off a 2 1/2 month layoff. He was ridden patiently and responded to the stretch out.
Keeneland is where the son of Candy Ride out of the Mineshaft mare – Sea Gull is where Eagle, flashed a quick turn of foot, and long stride to pull away for the 1-length victory at five to one odds.
Eagle – Equibase
Neil Howard likes to take his time with horses and the fact this horse debuted in July of his 2-year-old season, means he must have been hinting some talent in the mornings. Slow deliberate 4 furlong works have been the routine since then.
Howard is very familiar with this family having trained the mare Sea Gull for Will Farish. Sea Gull finished with 2 wins in 15 starts. Both wins were 9 furlongs on the turf. Broodmare sire Mineshaft was a late developer and is very capable of getting a 9 furlong winner on the dirt.
The 2nd generation adds more class. Exclusive Bird won 8 of 20 starts and was a stakes winner. Exclusive Bird won the La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Up Next:
Eagle has been nominated for several juvenile stakes races. With the heavy Kentucky influence I would think we will see him next at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes later this month.
Traditionally in the winter Howard heads to Louisiana and would expect this son of Candy Ride to point for the rich races down in the Bayou. With Howard it’s the Journey and not always the destination.
Eagle has a solid foundation, middle distance pedigree and Candy Rides offer all kinds of middle distance potential. A strong female family and Kentucky ties, adds to the allure of Eagle. Traditional Kentucky bloodlines, an affinity for Churchill Downs in the pedigree and a January foal all are positives.
The pedigree is about as “classic” as you are going to get in the year 2014. Candy Ride, Mineshaft and A. P Indy are all distance influences. The mare won at 9 furlongs twice and the 2nd mare was sound as hickory winning 8 races in 20 starts.
Eagle – Pedigree Query