Pricey Constitution Colt Captures Gulfstream Debut

This column highlights the performances of 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.

Gulfstream Park

Todd Pletcher, the trainer of likely 2-year-old champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Fierceness  and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) victor Locked , added Born Noble  to his arsenal of top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects in the final day of 2023.

Born Noble won easily Dec. 31 in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, despite racing greenly down the lane. The colt left onlookers with the impression that with a little bit of improvement and experience, the future was bright for the striking bay son of Constitution  .

“He’s a bit green, but he’s a bit good!” – @AnnouncerPete
#8 BORN NOBLE is successful on debut, winning the opener at Gulfstream Park under @iradortiz for @PletcherRacing and owners St. Elias Stable and @westpointtbred.
Another winner by Constitution who stands at @WinStarFarm. pic.twitter.com/9b9Z4Di8kk

— TVG (@TVG) December 30, 2023

A $725,000 yearling purchase for St. Elias Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds, Born Noble was a late-blooming 2-year-old, recording his first workout for Pletcher Oct. 16 at Palm Beach Downs. He had breezed every week like clockwork since and stepped into the Gulfstream starting gate as the 6-5 favorite.

Stalking the pacesetter in second position under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Born Noble took command at the top of the lane but failed to switch to his right lead and veered sharply to the inside rail. Ortiz coaxed the big bay to his correct lead at the sixteenth pole and the colt cruised straight and true the rest of the way to the wire. He bested his company by 5 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:24.27 on a fast main track.

Bred by WinStar Farm, Born Noble is the first foal produced from the speedy Ghostzapper   mare Zapperkat. A flashy debut winner herself as a 2-year-old in 2016 for trainer Richard Baltas, Zapperkat collected a grade 1 placing when third in the Chandelier Stakes (G1). Brought back as a 3-year-old, she crossed the wire first in the 2017 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar but was disqualified to second. Zapperkat hails from the family of the Hall of Fame race mare Silverbulletday through her third dam, Rokeby Rose.