Graydar’s first winner emerges at Presque Isle

Grade 1 hero Graydar was represented by his first winner as a freshman sire when Into the Gray fought back gamely in Thursday’s 2ND race at Presque Isle Downs.

Co-owned by Blazing Meadows Farms and breeder Twin Creeks Racing Stables (which also raced Graydar), Into the Gray was making his third career start off a pair of sprints. But the step up to two turns suited the 8-1 chance. The Timothy Hamm pupil used his inside post to grab the early lead through an opening quarter in :24.02 on the Tapeta. Although pressed, Into the Gray stayed in front through fractions of :48.71 and 1:14.40, and then received a fresh challenger in Mileva. The filly actually appeared to head him as they battled down the lane, but Into the Gray proved resilient and prevailed by a head. Under Luis Colon, the juvenile colt navigated the mile in 1:40.02.

The Kentucky-bred Into the Gray was produced by the stakes-winning Hennessy mare Cute Cognac. Now the dam of four winners, she is also responsible for Grade 3-placed Tesseron. With his third dam being Grade 3 vixen Adorable Micol, Into the Gray hails from the extended family of Grade 1-winning millionaire Rutherienne.

Graydar, by the influential Unbridled’s Song, compiled a five-for-six lifetime mark in the Twin Creeks colors. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he made a memorable Grade 1 debut with a front-running coup in the 2013 Donn H. (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Next he overcame a wide trip to stamp his class in the New Orleans H. (G2) at Fair Grounds, and returned from a six-month layoff to wire the Kelso H. (G2) at Belmont Park. A quarter-crack ruled him out of the Breeders’ Cup, and he retired with earnings of $841,560.

A $260,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida purchase in 2011, Graydar is a half-brother to Grade 2-placed Union Course and multiple Grade 3-placed Star of David. Their dam, the winning Dehere mare Sweetest Smile, descends from the same female line as English highweight juvenile colt Mujahid, millionaire Musket Man, and multiple Grade 1 star Ron the Greek.

As a high-class son of Unbridled’s Song, Graydar figured to be a popular stallion, and he indeed served 373 mares in his first three seasons. Holding court at his late sire’s establishment, Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Kentucky, the eight-year-old stands for $12,500, stands and nurses.