Boyd Romps 'In Hand and In Command' in Del Mar Debut

This column highlights the performances of 2-year-old maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. Del Mar Two races following Maiden Watch grad Brant's gate-to-wire victory in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (G1), trainer Bob Baffert unveiled his promising stablemate, Boyd, to capture the final 2-year-old maiden special weight of the Del Mar meet. Boyd became the second Maiden Watch winner of the summer for Zedan Racing Stables (the owners of Brant) and the third for Baffert. After selling at this year's Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, the son of Violence was named for the auction company's fearless longtime leader, Boyd Browning Jr. The equine Boyd left a memorable impression on bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, who signed the ticket on the colt late in the one-day sale. With the undertack show cancelled due to inclement weather and poor track conditions, Boyd had only galloped in front of onlookers at the Timonium oval. The colt's strapping good looks and strong female family were enough to merit a $1.05 million price, the second-highest of the sale. Boyd mimicked the debut performance of his grade 1-winning barnmate in his unveiling, rocketing to the lead and romping home unchallenged on the front end as Del Mar track announcer Larry Collmus put it: "Boyd wins in hand, in command." The chestnut sailed under the wire 5 3/4 lengths the best under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who made the trip out west to ride Sunday's closing day card. Boyd stopped the timer in 1:02.79 for 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast main track, earning a 95 Equibase Speed Figure. A half brother to the stakes-placed Wicked Strong filly Microcap, Boyd's dam A Taste of Red (Street Boss), is a daughter of the multiple-stakes producing mare Rare Opportunity. The Danzig Connection mare, a direct descendant of the top race mare Sabin, has beget graded stakes winners Tower of Texas and Street Sounds in addition to Canadian filly classic victress Silver Highlight.