Speightster remains unblemished, Texas Red second in Dwyer

Speightster drew off impressively and Bill Mott, who also trains recent Easy Goer winner Japan, has a pair of up-and-coming sophomores at his disposal (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) WinStar Farm LLC’s homebred Speightster (Speightstown) continued to win with ease in Saturday’s $500,000 Dwyer S. (G3) at Belmont Park, improving his record to three for three with a convincing 2 1/2-length decision in his stakes debut. The Bill Mott-trained colt broke sharply with jockey Jose Lezcano and after closely tracking the pace in second through fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 1/5, the chestnut surged to the lead leaving the far turn. He faced a brief threat from the rallying Texas Red (Afleet Alex) in midstretch before reasserting control in the latter stages to win going away under the wire. The late bloomer rolled to a seven-length victory when making his debut at Keeneland April 17 in an about seven-furlong maiden special weight and was exiting a facile 3 1/2-length tally over entry-level allowance foes going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park on June 5. He stretched out to a mile with authority in the Dwyer, stopping the teletimer in 1:35, and Speightster paid $6.50 to win as the 2-1 second choice among seven three-year-olds.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Texas Red, unraced since a neck second in
the February 1 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita, turned in a commendable
performance returning from a 153-day layoff, finishing 2 1/2 lengths clear of
third-placer Tommy Macho (Macho Uno), and is eligible to improve next time after
proving no match for Speightster.

Smart Transition (Smart Strike) rallied late for fourth and was followed by
Blofeld (Quality Road), pacesetter Hollywood Angel (Circular Quay) and
Bridget’s Big Luvy (Tiz Wonderful).

Bred in Kentucky, Speightster is out of the unraced and well-bred Dance
Swiftly (Danzig), a full sister to U.S. champion and Canadian Horse of the Year
Dance Smartly, an earner of more than $3.2 million and a noted producer.
Speightster is a half-brother to the stakes-winning filly and Grade 2 runner-up
West Coast Swing (Gone West).

Dance Swiftly is out of Canadian champion Classy ‘N Smart (Smarten), who
along with Dance Smartly is responsible for Grade 1 winner and top sire Smart
Strike; Grade 1 victor Full of Wonder; and Grade 2 hero Strike Smartly. All
three are by Mr. Prospector.

Dance Smartly is the dam of Canadian champion Dancethruthedawn (Mr.
Prospector), Grade 2 scorer Dance with Ravens (A.P. Indy) and Queen’s Plate
winner Scatter the Gold (Mr. Prospector). This is also the immediate female
family of Grade 1 winner Moreno (Ghostzapper), an earner of more than $2.9
million who captured the Charles Town Classic (G2) and finished second in the
Santa Anita H. (G1) earlier this season.

With Saturday’s $275,000 payday, Speightster has now earned $363,800.

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