One day after turning a marquee turf double in the Arlington Million (G1) and Beverly D. (G1), trainer Chad Brown unveiled an exciting two-year-old filly on the Saratoga dirt. Klaravich Stables’ Feedback romped by eight lengths in Sunday’s 6TH race at the Spa, already sparking discussion about her serious stakes potential.
The daughter of Violence ranked as the 5-2 second choice, with 9-5 favoritism going to stakes veteran Lady Apple. Although still a maiden, Lady Apple had finished a neck second in the Astoria S. and fifth in the Schuylerville (G3). A drop into maiden special weight company figured to help, but Lady Apple was only fifth again.
Instead, it was the fresh face of Feedback who stepped up in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., she forced She’s Got It All through an opening quarter in :22.05, then took over. Feedback sped the half-mile in :45.71, opened up at will through six furlongs in 1:09.74, and gave track announcer Larry Collmus plenty of time to hail her as a possibly special filly.
Feedback’s final time of 1:16.33 was about a tick faster than the featured Saratoga Special (G2), held two races later on the card, despite having no competition to push her down the stretch. In contrast, Saratoga Special winner Call Paul had a tussle with Tight Ten, who compelled him to pull out extra to finish in 1:16.55.
Keep an eye out for 2YO filly, Feedback who just had an impressive debut at #Saratoga in the 6th with @iradortiz for Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/2lNVBom2om
— NYRA (@TheNYRA) August 12, 2018
Brown was not surprised by Feedback’s performance, citing “high expectations” going in to her debut.
“The horse trained really well, and we were just real excited to get her started,” the trainer commented, adding his gratitude to the NYRA crew for furnishing a fast track after Saturday’s rain.
“She ran to her works. Irad had come out in the mornings, put a lot of time in. He worked her twice, and he really liked her, so we gave the mount to him, and it all came together.”
Feedback is out of Grade 3-placed Honest Answer, making her a half-sister to Grade 2-placed Law Abidin Citizen, Grade 3-placed Sweet Swingin, and Honest Gold, the dam of multiple Florida-bred stakes scorer R Kinsley Doll.
Honest Answer is herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 heroine I Ain’t Bluffing, who produced 2010 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Acting Happy. This is also the immediate family of multiple Grade 1 victor and $2 million-earner Borrego.
Feedback sports an intriguing pedigree pattern. Sire Violence’s dam is bred on the cross of Mr. Prospector over Storm Cat. Feedback’s broodmare sire, Tale of the Cat, is bred on the reverse cross of Storm Cat over Mr. Prospector.
Bred by Wolverton Mountain Farm and Cameron Wheeler in Kentucky, Feedback was purchased for $85,000 as a Keeneland November weanling by de Meric Stables, agent. Nick de Meric and his team raised her from that point forward and gave the dark bay filly her early lessons, so she is the latest success story for their Ocala, Florida, academy.
Asked if the September 1 Spinaway (G1) might be next, Brown described the timetable as “a little tight.” Feedback is likelier to try Grade 1 company in another “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the one over a mile at Belmont Park on October 7.
“Looks like more of a Frizette (G1) horse to me,” her trainer said.
— Additional reporting by Teresa Genaro
