Based on pedigree, performance, potential, and high-percentage connections, One Man Team is a deserving 2-1 favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Heft Stakes for 2-year-olds racing seven furlongs at Laurel Park.
A $285,000 yearling by Nyquist, One Man Team is out of a half-sister to Triple Crown winner Justify and ran to his heavy debut backing when wiring seven others by six lengths in a Laurel maiden special weight racing six furlongs on Halloween.
Conditioned by Brittany Russell, who is closing in on her second consecutive yearly training title in Maryland, One Man Team has breezed four times leading up to the Heft.
In the winner’s circle last Saturday following Sea Dancer’s upset win in the Carousel, Russell indicated that One Man Team was ready for his first start against stakes competition.
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Sacred Thunder is the lone three-time winner in the field.
A Maryland-bred colt by Holy Boss, Sacred Thunder captured the open James F. Lewis III at Laurel on Nov. 9, then placed fourth in the restricted Maryland Juvenile four weeks later after breaking from the rail post and attempting to rally into slow fractions.
“He got down there on the inside and ran a good race,” trainer Gary Capuano said. “I think if the post position would have been better, he would have had a better shot. He tried. He didn’t get beat far for second.”
Never off the board from four starts for trainer Cal Lynch, Saxton has yet to take a backward step on the Beyer Speed Figure scale. The Virginia-bred son of Mosler gets a rubber match with Sacred Thunder in the Heft after he was beaten by that one in the Lewis before placing ahead of the Capuano colt in the Maryland Juvenile.
Barbadian Runner, third in the Maryland Juvenile, adds blinkers for trainer Henry Walters after seeming uncomfortable between horses on the backstretch before drifting inward during the upper stretch.
One Man Team isn’t the only well-bred colt in the race. Yara’s Quest, a $300,000 yearling purchase by Liam’s Map, is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winner Moon Swag. Their dam, Yara, notched the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream.
Yara’s Quest was a game pace-pressing winner of his debut at Laurel on Nov. 16.
“He showed that he wants to be a racehorse,” said trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. “He showed run and didn’t disappoint us.”
Duarte breezed Yara’s Quest five furlongs at Belmont on Dec. 14 and six furlongs at Colts Neck Stables six days later.
“This time of the year, with the tracks freezing and the temperatures dropping, if you miss a day or two, we’re trying to get enough miles in here as we can,” Duarte added. “He’s taking it well.”
Shootersgottashoot, stakes-placed at Monmouth, and Charles Town debut winner Blanches Mule complete the field.
Fire Pit, Baby Dukes, and Crab Daddy were cross-entered in Monday’s $75,000 Future Stars at Parx and are expected to run there, per their connections.
Gin Talking
Caprice looms as a short-priced favorite in the co-featured $100,000 Gin Talking Stakes for juvenile fillies at seven furlongs.
Unbeaten from five previous sprints – her only loss came going two turns in Delaware’s White Clay Creek – Caprice enters sharp for Lynch following Laurel victories in the Smart Halo on Nov. 9 and the restricted Maryland Juvenile Filly on Dec. 7.
She has won from on the lead and near the back of the pack, but projects to be close to the pace under Jaime Rodriguez.
Not Too Late, cross-entered in Parx’s $75,000 Future Stars Fillies on Monday, will run here, according to trainer Uriah St. Lewis. A rallying fourth in the Smart Halo, Not Too Late is expected to be ridden more aggressively in the Gin Talking.
“She has enough speed to leave and get herself a nice position,” St. Lewis says. “I think I could be the only speed in that race. We’ll break and slow it down as much as she can.”
My Charm, second in the off-turf Selima two starts back, rebounded with a rallying victory going a one-turn mile for Russell on Oct. 31.
Atlantis Queen and A Shawtown Girl also entered.
Per trainer Edward Coletti Jr., Beyond Belief will opt for the Future Stars Fillies.
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