Taking the vast majority of the pari-mutuel activity, D J Stable, West Point Thorougbreds and Kenneth Frierich’s Ewing made light work of his rivals, streaking through the final furlong under mild urging to score by a dozen lengths en route to ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors in the Saturday opener from Saratoga.
Favored at 35-100 and carrying the D J colors for the debut, the $585,000 OBS April graduate from the Hidden Brook Farm consignment broke in midpack, then rushed up to lead while being hounded along by the once-raced Wesley Ward-trained filly She’s On a Roll, who did her level best to stick with the heavy favorite through an opening quarter in :22.42. The two put the better part of eight lengths on the others approaching the entrance to the stretch, and when She’s On a Roll drifted out, Ewing quickly opened up, ‘traveling’ every bit like a winner and was more or less eased through the final 50 yards.
Prior to selling with Hidden Brook at OBS April three months before his debut, Ewing was foaled and raised at Hidden Brook Kentucky for breeder John Gardiner. He was also prepared for his OBS date at Hidden Brook Florida.
Herself a $60,000 OBS April grad, Ewing’s dam Sassy Ali Joy did not make the races but was responsible for the stakes-placed Tuscan Queen and was sold for $60,000 in foal to Collected at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale.
