Bletchley Takes Debut at Belmont, Named Hot Prospect

BloodHorse Maiden Watch highlights the performances of 2- and 3-year-old maidens (the latter category only through June) with the potential for graded stakes success based on criteria such as a horse that has made no more than five starts and either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, has siblings that are graded/group winners, or has a dam that is a graded/group winner. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. Bletchley, a $1.55 million purchase at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale who had impressed in his workouts this year, delivered on lofty expectations romping by 7 3/4 lengths on debut in the opener Nov. 6 at Belmont Park. Facing five other 2-year-olds in a mile maiden race on a sealed, sloppy track, the Gun Runner colt was fifth of six early on the inside before being angled out on the turn to go after the leaders. He quickly advanced and, once cut loose in the stretch, drew off under Flavien Prat. He completed the distance in 1:35.12, topped by a sharp closing eighth of a mile in :12.91 under just one strike of Prat's riding crop. He paid $5.64 to win as the second favorite. D. C.'s Army finished second, ahead of show finisher Louisiana Baby, who had established the pace through fractions of :23.14, :45.72, and 1:09.92. Bletchley's performance in the $100,000 maiden race, combined with his sales price and pedigree, earned him status as a BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospect. Chad Brown trains the juvenile for owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, and Brook Smith—a partnership geared around purchasing well-bred colts, racing them and, if successful, sending them off to stud. The 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone, a champion that year, is among their equine success stories. Sierra Leone stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky. Magnier, Tabor, and Derrick Smith are affiliated with Coolmore. M. V. Magnier and Brant's White Birch Farm bought Bletchley, aThree Chimneys Farm-bred colt last year from the Four Star Sales consignment. Gun Runner, one of North America's top stallions, stands at Three Chimneys in Kentucky. Bletchley is the second foal out of Twenty Carat, a daughter of Into Mischief who won the about 7-furlong Beaumont Stakes (G3) in 2021 at Keeneland. Twenty Carat won twice in four starts and earned $118,850. Her first foal French Blue, also by Gun Runner, is 2-1-2 in seven starts with $161,757 in earnings. She showed in the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) in March at Santa Anita Park. The female family offers additional depth. Twenty Carat is out of Secret Jewel, a daughter of Bernardini and half sister to three graded stakes winners, including Shared Account, who captured the 2010 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).