Thoroughbred Daily News – October 3, 2025
It was a two-horse race almost right from the gate, but Intricate Spirit (Complexity) overtook the longtime leader late to stamp a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup in the GIII Futurity Stakes at the Belmont Big A meet.
The Miguel Clement-trainee was unveiled Aug. 1 upstate at Saratoga with a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard‘-worthy performance ahead of a next out winner at Kentucky Downs. He too took a swing at the boutique meet Aug. 28 and finished second by three-quarters of a length to Street Beast (Street Sense), who turned around Sept. 7 to romp in the venue’s Listed Juvenile Mile by seven lengths. The eventual runner-up in the race, Longshoreman (Twirling Candy), was also sighted at Kentucky Downs when running off the board in the Listed Juvenile Sprint Aug. 31.
While the top two were both quick into stride right from the bell, the 5-2 shot was taken back just off the pace along the rail, and Longshoreman was allowed to sail through an opening quarter in :21.31 and four furlongs in :43.91. That duo quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the field as they swung through the far bend and were on even terms at the head of the lane.
Laying it down in the final furlong, Intricate Spirit finally got the best of the pacesetter and slowly got away from the cavalry charge working its way up to Longshoreman to win by a clear margin. Attfield (Vekoma) got the best of that scramble for the minors to claim third.
The final time in 1:07.98.
“The instructions were to break well and go forward and he [Joel Rosario] decided to call an audible and he was probably right,” said Clement after the race. “They were going very fast early on–43 and change, which you don’t see that often on this turf course.”
“We were very disappointed he got beat at Kentucky Downs–especially an allowance–but in hindsight I suppose his form was flattered. He was a ‘TDN Rising Star’ on debut. I think five [furlongs] or six is more his game than 6 1/2 [furlongs] at Kentucky Downs, so I was expecting a better effort today.”
When asked about cutting back to five furlongs for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Clement showed no apprehension with the thought. “I don’t think that will be an issue with the amount of speed he showed today and also on debut. He has a tremendous amount of speed, so just let him roll. He’s versatile and Joel will be able to do whatever he wants with him.”
Manny Franco, aboard the ultra-game Longshoreman, had nothing but praise for his charge’s effort, saying, “He ran well. I got the horse to beat [Intricate Spirit] outside me, and he was chasing me, so I thought my horse was really brave. Got to give credit to the winner, too. I’m happy with the way [Longshoreman] ran.”
Pedigree Note:
The victor is the third to the races for Dottie’s Spirit, a daughter of Curlin who has already produced two stakes horses from that trio. Her first to the track was Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince), a stakes winner and twice graded placed, while the second was Intricate Spirit’s winning elder full-sister Layered. Since then, their dam–herself a half-sister to MSW & GSP Lecturing Lynn (Pulpit)–has produced a yearling colt by Girvin and came up barren from a 2025 return to that sire. She went to Upstart for 2026. This is the female family of Japanese stakes winner and multiple group-placed Grass World.
Friday, Belmont Big A
FUTURITY S.-GIII, $175,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-3, 2yo, 6fT, 1:07.98, fm.
1–INTRICATE SPIRIT, 120, c, 2, by Complexity
1st Dam: Dottie’s Spirit, by Curlin
2nd Dam: Brush of Fortune, by Broad Brush
3rd Dam: A Chance of Storm, by Storm Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard‘. ($185,000 Ylg ’24 KEESEP). O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables LLC, Kenneth and Gail P. Beitz; B-Ben Henley, Rebekah Henley & Jim Gray (KY); T-Miguel Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $96,250. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $201,250. *1/2 to Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince), SW & MGSP, $249,342. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Longshoreman, 120, c, 2, Twirling Candy–Lady Pauline, by Munnings. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($260,000 Ylg ’24 KEESEP). O-For the People Racing Stable LLC, John R. Haagsma and James Cestaro; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $35,000.
3–Attfield, 120, c, 2, Vekoma–Graceful Witch, by Street Boss. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Wlg ’23 KEENOV; $220,000 Ylg ’24 KEESEP). O-Rainbow’s End Racing Stable LLC and West Paces Racing LLC; B-Jose Martin Ramirez (KY); T-Thomas Morley. $21,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.91, 3.82, 5.17.
Also Ran: Expressway, Belgian, Channel the Music. Scratched: No Pressure (Ire), Outfielder.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
