by Steve Davidowitz | On Sunday afternoon at Stonestreet Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, a baby racehorse was born with a star on his forehead; a star which foreshadows the expectations he will be measured against, given his illustrious parents. The bay weanling colt weighed in at 125 pounds and resembles his mother ― 2009 Horse of the Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA. And if that is not enough royal blue blood for you, this baby boy also carries the high class genes of his father ― CURLIN, 2007 Horse of the Year and 2008 Horse of the Year.

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More than that, this rare offspring of two horses who were acclaimed the best of three consecutive seasons, actually represents the legacy of the late Jesse Jackson, who raced both horses and designed this first mating for the champion filly before he died in April 2011.

The yet-to-be-named bay colt took his first tentative steps less than two hours after he was born and is said to resemble the physical appearance of his illustrious mother. “I’m thrilled with the good news of Rachel’s safe delivery and health of the handsome colt that resembles her,” said Jess Jackson’s daughter Barbara Banke. Ms. Banke owns the colt in partnership with Hal McCormick (half owner of Rachel Alexandra). “For me and my children,” she continued, “this colt represents Jesse’s dream to raise and race the best.”

While there are no guarantees that this or any other weanling actually will make it to the races if and when he does as a 2-year-old in 2013,  or even as a late developing three year old in 2014, the unnamed weanling will be put into a spotlight brighter and more intense than almost any horse in racing history.

One advantage he may have is that as a very early foal of 2012, he willbring to the races several months of maturation over the vast majority of North American thoroughbreds who will be born into this world this year.

In other horse racing news and happenings. . .

Larry Jones (who trained 2011 Horse of the Year HAVRE DE GRACE and HARD SPUN and who was second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby), is back on the Triple Crown chase. On Saturday, his improving MR. BOWLING scored a head victory over Z DAGER in the $175,000 Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The performances by both horses set them up for a rematch in the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes next month and possibly the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March, 31. . . As the race was run, Mr. Bowling was perfectly positioned by jockey Robbie Albarado behind a realistic pace (23.21 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 47.22 for the half and six furlongs in 1:12.88), while Z Dager was up close most of the way and yet made a spirited late rally after Mr. Bowling took a short lead in the upper stretch.  “Robby said every time a horse came to him down the lane he kept giving more,” Jones said.

At Santa Anita on Saturday, Eclipse Award winning sprinter AMAZOMBIE was scratched from the $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes due to the wet track conditions. In his absence, the former claiming horse FRUMIOUS scored a convincing wire to wire triumph, clocked in a rapid 1:07.28 for the 6 furlongs.  Amazombie now will be recycled to make his seasonal debut in the 7 furlong San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 25.

On Sunday at “the great race place” MIDNIGHT THUNDER won the 6-1/2 furlong, $75, 000 San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-olds with a last to first rally, but the significance of the race was more who actually remained in last: that was DRILL. The once powerful looking colt in Bob Baffert’s barn now has turned in five straight deteriorating performances since he won the Grade-1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7. Look… I am no trainer and Baffert is a Hall of Famer… but this horse has acted as if he has needed significant time off since  failing to run a step in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs last November.

At Gulfstream Park on Sunday, the promising 3-year-old filly DAYATTHESPA rallied wide and overpowered  her field in the $100,000 Sweetest Chant on the turf course at Gulfstream Park.
This was Dayatthespa’s first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and as noted in her workout reports on my website, she trained strongly for this contest and delivered the goods with speed to spare.

Winter Racing with Bovada.