SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Phil Bauer always knew his 3-year-old filly Two Sharp had a world of talent. It just took him a little longer than he’d have hoped for the rest of the racing world to find out.
After finishing a distant second following a slow start when bet to 3-5 for her career debut on June 29 at Churchill Downs, Two Sharp put it all together here in Friday’s first race, drawing off to a dominant, 11 1/4-length victory over the well-meant first-time starter Lady Pink. The margin arguably could have been significantly longer had rider Junior Alvarado not taken his foot off the gas pedal and began gearing her down a sixteenth of a mile from the wire.
Two Sharp covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.81
A daughter of Twirling Candy, Two Sharp brought $925,000 as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September sale. She is owned by Rigney Racing LLC.
“Her gate drill at Churchill was so good we kind of threw her in that race at the end of the meet thinking she might be good enough to win on talent alone,” said Bauer. “She just wasn’t seasoned enough, but she got a lot of seasoning from it. She broke tardy, so we made sure she wasn’t going to do it again. We gave her a gate drill and all signs pointed to go.
“We’re thrilled she’s put it together and to run like that, in a time like that, hopefully she’s got a bright future ahead. We always felt based on our other stars in the stable, she was equal if not better than them talent-wise.”
Bauer also said he will not have any issue stretching Two Sharp out as the season progresses.
“I don’t think there are any limitations distance-wise,” said Bauer. “She’s a bull of a filly, very heavy-bodied, but you see how she moves. She just does it so easily.”
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