Just A Touch Back With A Vengeance At the Fair Grounds

Thoroughbred Daily News

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/just-a-touch-back-with-a-vengeance-at-the-fair-grounds/

JUST A TOUCH (c, 4, Justify–Touching Beauty, by Tapit) was training 'exceptionally well' ahead of a pending return to action, Qatar Racing U.S. advisor Fergus Galvin told TDN Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack on Feb. 21, and those words proved more than prescient, as the 4-year-old colt galloped his rivals into the ground, suggesting the sky is the limit in the handicap division for 2025. Ridden forward from gate three, the bay colt had secured the front by the time the field reached the first turn and raced under an easy hold through fractions of :24.39 for the first quarter mile and 48.31 to the half-mile. Continuing to lob his rivals along entering the final four furlongs, Just a Touch was nursed along on the turn, was firmly in command passing the quarter pole and kicked smartly clear while scarcely asked for an effort and despite being eased down in the final 50 yards. Impressive in breaking his maiden sprinting in the local slop just over 13 months ago, Just a Touch was runner-up in the GIII Gotham Stakes ahead of his runner-up effort to eventual champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. As skinny as 11-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby, he was last to cross the wire and was just touched off in the Iowa Derby when last seen July 6. Don Alberto Corporation acquired 2010 GIII Comely Stakes heroine Touching Beauty for $800,000 in foal to Speightstown atthe 2014 Keeneland November Sale and Just a Touch is one of five winners from seven to race from the mare. Touching Beauty is also the dam of the 3-year-old colt Adventurist (Curlin)–a $500,000 KEESEP yearling who is unplaced in two starts–a yearling colt by Mandaloun and is due to deliver a full-sibling to Just a Touch this season.