Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Potential Superstar Debuts

New government restrictions caused Woodbine to end its meet – and then inclement weather shut down the second half of the Sunday card. Still, plenty of action at Aqueduct and Churchill Downs kept us busy, and over at Del Mar, a potential superstar’s debut scorched the main track to announce his arrival as a future Kentucky Derby (G1) Trail contender. See who made our latest Three Stars of the Week:

1. Finite

After missing most of the summer to recover from a grueling winter/spring campaign, Finite proved by winning Saturday’s Chilukki Stakes (G3) that she’s back on top of her game. Though the Chilukki has a one-turn mile configuration, her connections have said that they will try to stretch her out in a bigger stakes race for her next start, likely either at Fair Grounds or Oaklawn.

2. North Dakota

A perfectly-timed ride from Jose Lezcano put North Dakota into the Red Smith Stakes (G3) winner’s circle on Saturday at Aqueduct. The Shug McGaughey trainee is a younger half-brother of War Front, the top North American turf sire, so his success on turf was far from a surprise. McGaughey has slowly and carefully brought this horse along, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he appears at Gulfstream Park in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) next time out.

3. Life Is Good

It takes an amazing performance to make this list for winning a non-stakes race, so imagine how impressive Life Is Good looked to appear here after his maiden-breaking debut. The well-bred Bob Baffert trainee was the 1/9 favorite up until post time, and the race was over in the blink of an eye – once the gates sprung open, all Mike Smith had to do was sit still and wait until he crossed the wire. Here’s a shocking statement: Baffert has a super-impressive son of Into Mischief! He’ll likely make his next start in Santa Anita Park’s Sham Stakes (G3) at the start of 2021.