Thirstforlife one to watch following impressive Churchill maiden win

Jun 04, 2016 by James Scully/Brisnet.com

Thirstforlife rallied to the lead leaving the far turn and drew off stylishly in a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs June 4, scoring by a widening 6 ½-length margin. The 2-year-old stamped himself as an extremely promising prospect for trainer Mark Casse and Robby Albarado was up on the chestnut colt, who completed 5-furlongs in :57.59.

Owned by Gary Barber and St Elias Stable, Thirsforlife is the first U.S. winner, and second overall by freshman sire Stay Thirsty, a multiple Grade 1 victor and runner-up in the Belmont Stakes. His first winning offspring came in England.

Thirstforlife hails from the Grade 2-winning dam Promenade Girl, a daughter of Carson City. Promenade Girl is also the dam of multiple Grade 1 vixen Cavorting, who is by Bernardini, the sire of Stay Thirsty.

A $240,000 weanling purchase at the 2014 Keeneland November sale, the Kentucky-bred Thirsforlife was making his second start. In his career debut, the May 5 Kentucky Juvenile, Thirstforlife missed the start after being bet down to 5-2, spotting rivals 10 lengths in the early stages before closing well for third.

Dispatched as the 1-9 favorite versus five rivals in his second outing, Thirstforlife has the pedigree to handle route distances and the exciting colt will be one to follow going forward.