Bio for Make Music for Me
Make Music for Me was winless in his first six starts, but that stretch included runner-up efforts in the Grade 2 Best Pal and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and a third in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity, with all three races won by eventual Preakness hero Lookin At Lucky. Making his 3-year-old debut on the turf in the Pasadena, Make Music for Me got up in the final sixteenth of a mile to break his maiden in style. After disappointing when sixth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass, Make Music for Me closed from last of 20 to nab fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. While that Silky Sullivan style might be a disadvantage in the Belmont, his victory in the Pasadena suggests he can be closer to the pace if needed.
Click here to view Past Performances
Prep Recap
| Date |
Trk |
Race |
Chart |
Distance |
Finish |
BSF |
Video |
| 12/19 |
HOL |
Cashcall Futurity GI |
Chart |
1 1/16miles |
3rd |
81 |
 |
| 3/06 |
SA |
The Pasadena |
Chart |
1 mile |
1st |
93 |
|
| 4/10 |
KEE |
Blue Grass Stakes |
Chart |
1 1/8 miles |
6th |
80 |
|
| 5/01 |
CD |
The Kentucky Derby |
Chart |
1 1/4 miles |
4th |
97 |
|
Profile by Mike Watchmaker
Strengths: Showed genuine ability finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby after a very wide move on the far turn, and the fact that he finished ahead of no fewer than 16 opponents is very much to his credit. He also showed talent last year, hitting the board three times in graded stakes behind Lookin At Lucky, the champion 2-year-old and Preakness winner, beaten an average of only one length in those meetings. Finally, he has yet to encounter a distance that has proven to be beyond his scope.
Weaknesses: His big effort in the Derby might have been aided by the sloppy track, since he has a wet-track pedigree. His good try in Louisville was certainly enhanced by the fast fractions that contributed significantly toward setting up his late run. That was just the kind of pace he is not likely to get this time in the Belmont. And for all of his close finishes behind Lookin At Lucky, and his fine try in the Derby, the fact remains that he has actually won only 1 of 9 starts, that being a listed stakes on the turf.
Strategy: He is a closer, so the faster the early pace, the better for him. But he did show in his lone win in his first start this year that he doesn't have to be that far out of it early to be effective. Given the projection of a moderate Belmont pace at best, look for him to try and gain a more forward early position.
Value: He was 30-1 in the Derby, but his good finish and the smaller Belmont field ensures he will be somewhere between 10-1 and 15-1 this time, which is still decent. Of course, he would be more playable with a stronger early pace scenario. But he still should be included underneath in exotic wagers.
Pedigree Analysis By Dan Illman
Sire: Bernstein, a son of Storm Cat from a classy female family, was a multiple Group 3 turf sprint winner in Ireland. He earned a 115 Racing Post rating when victorious in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes going seven furlongs over soft ground. A true sprinter, he was 0 for 4 in races contested at one mile or greater. At stud, Bernstein was expected to produce sprinters and milers. A successful stallion in Argentina (he has sired champion stayer Stormy Mayor, champion sprinter Storm Marcopolo, and champion miler Storm Military), his stoutest graded winner in the United States is Miss World, who won the Grade 1 Garden City going nine furlongs on soft turf last year.
Dam: Miss Cheers, a $28,000 yearling by speed influence Carson City (the broodmare sire of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro), won the Squan Song Stakes going seven furlongs at Laurel. She was 0 for 3 in route races. This is the female family of Breeders' Cup Mile winner Opening Verse, who also won graded races at nine furlongs on both turf and dirt. The fourth dam, Shy Dawn, won 19 of 95 starts for more than $515,000 in earnings during the 1970s.
Outlook: By a turf sprinter out of a dam that did her best running in short-distance races, Make Music for Me may not be best suited to 1 1/2 miles.