Winner number eight for Midshipman

About 24 hours after Midshipman's Naval Command got her sire off the mark as his first Stakes winner, Batten Down Belle became winner number eight the freshman sire with an impressive debut at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania on September 7.

Although her morning works didn't suggest such a showing, the juvenile filly was obviously ready to run. Settled into third along the backstretch, Batten Down Belle made steady progress upon urging from jockey Erick Rodriguez and she was in the lead as the field turned for home. Down the stretch, she pulled away from the field for a very good, wide-margin win.

Bred by Darley and Thomas Hayden in Kentucky, Batten Down Belle is out of the Listed winner Bavarian Belle, by More Than Ready.

In addition to Naval Command and Batten Down Belle, Midshipman is the sire of six other winners. Other daughter Purple Heaven, unfortunately disqualified in her second career start, placed second in her third trip to the post in the Bircatcher Stakes on September 6.  Midshipman remains the fastest-ever winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was voted the Eclipse Award as the nation's top two-year-old colt in 2008.