Super Steed lived up to his name on Saturday at Churchill Downs as the 2-year-old Super Saver colt bound to a six-length victory to break his maiden against winners in his second lifetime start [WATCH RACE].
The victory earned the bay colt an 87 Beyer Speed Figure and the coveted TDN Rising Star tag. Super Steed is his sire’s seventh Rising Star, joining the likes of graded stakes winners Competitive Edge and Super Majesty.
Devoid of speed out of the gate, Super Steed was last in the field of 11 through the first furlong. Though he was well off the rail, he rallied past horses all the way around the turn and was four-wide going for the lead at the top of the stretch. Full of run in the lane, he quickly opened up and was the easiest of winners in 1:17.34 for the 6 1/2-furlongs over the sloppy going.
“We have been high on this horse for a while,” said trainer Larry Jones. “He got squeezed back pretty badly leaving the gate. We lost ground on the turn, we were the widest horse going, but he (jockey Gabriel Saez) did keep him clear so he could keep running and the horse is just that good.”
Jones was already making Triple Crown trail plans for his star colt.
“He’ll be on his way to Oaklawn Park, but there is a possibility he will run at the Fair Grounds in the [Dec. 22] Sugar Bowl S. I just want to keep him racing about once a month like I did with Hard Spun [Jones’ 2007 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up]. So the Sugar Bowl is a very logical spot for us and then we’ll have him at Oaklawn going through the preps there.”
Bred in Kentucky by Mike Pressley, who co-owns the colt with Steed Jackson, Super Steed’s dam Totally Tucker is a half-sister to Grade I winners Danza and Majestic Harbor.
