By Dick Jerardi
It is a fact that having a fast 2-year-old in the barn makes waking up before dawn easier. It’s all about that next race and the promise of the future. Three Parx trainers know when that next race for their 2-year-olds is coming. And that race will tell them something about the future for 2026 and beyond.
Trainer Butch Reid unveiled first timer Parker Boone on Nov. 4 at Parx, and the colt won off by 12 1/4 lengths, looking like he was worth far more than the $100,000 purchase price this spring at Timonium.
“We knew he was a talented horse, and he lived up to those expectations and even more,” Reid said. “He did everything well coming up to the race…He acted like a horse that had already run 10 times.”
Kate DeMasi certainly has had some very good horses in a career that is approaching 1,900 wins. But there could not have been too many debut winners more impressive than River Escape on Nov. 5 at Parx. The filly was slammed from inside at the break, was farther behind than DeMasi had envisioned, and then proceeded to demolish the field with a powerful, sustained move to win by 6 1/2 lengths.
“I thought she would run really well,” DeMasi said. “I was a little nervous when I saw her in the paddock. She was keyed up.”
Then, the stall doors opened, and River Escape was far back. But not for long. The filly started passing horses like they were standing still. It was a move that you rarely see from 2-year-old firsters.
Tyler Servis knew Honor Roll was fast before her debut. She got caught in a bit of a speed duel that day, but, in her second start on Oct. 15 at Parx, she went gate to wire and won by a comfortable 2 3/4 lengths.
“She’s not a real big, robust filly, but she’s quick,” Servis said. “Probably a little question with distance limitation.”
Parker Boone goes next in the 7-furlong $500,000 Great White Way at Aqueduct, part of the New York Stallion Series. A New York bred, Parker Boone is by New York-based stallion Solomini, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.
“This was a Chuck Zacney buy,” Reid said. “I was fortunate enough he decided to send him to me…He’s got some good opportunities coming up in New York.”
And if the next race works out, Parker Boone could very well be in open stakes in 2026.
“Absolutely,” Reid said. “The numbers came back on his debut really well and the way he did it and the way he trains in the morning, we’re going to stretch him out gradually…I don’t see any limits to this horse right now.”
DeMasi plans to start Pennsylvania bred River Escape in the 6-furlong $100,000 Shamrock Rose at Parx on Nov. 26.
“It’s a little quick back, but I’ll probably take a shot,” she said. “I think it would be silly not to, as long as she’s healthy.’’
The filly is by two-time divisional champion and Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality (10 starts, 8 wins, 2 thirds, and nearly $5 million in earnings). She cost $120,000 at an Ocala (Fla.) sale in June.
Servis is hopeful to get Honor Roll (a daughter of nearly $3 million earner Code of Honor) into a first-level allowance next week at Parx. She was purchased for $50,000 at OBS April. And she has the one essential ingredient for the modern racehorse – early speed.
“It makes your job so much easier,” Servis said. “You get out of traffic, and you make the other horses get in a little bit of a chase mode to try to beat you, and that tires them out as well.”
So Parker Boone, River Escape, and Honor Roll – three horse names to remember and follow.
