Conclude

Conclude, a Collected colt owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and breeder Brereton Jones, emerged as one of the top 3-year-old turf horses in Southern California during 2023. After finishing second in his debut in January, he graduated with a 4 ¼-length win in a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint at the same track in March. He disappointed in his stakes debut going 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course when fourth at 3-5 odds in the John Shear Stakes, but rebounded to post a nose victory over First Piece in the Desert Code stakes at the same distance and course.

The colt took two months off and returned to test two turns in the one-mile Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 21, and drew clear late for an impressive 1 ¼-length win. Trainer Phil D’Amato then elevated Conclude to graded stakes company and tried him at an even longer distance, 1 1/8 miles, in the Sept. 3, Grade 2 Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby. With Hector Berrios riding, he made a bold move to take the lead coming out of the first turn, set the pace through the backstretch and kept it through the far turn, and then rebuffed a challenge from Maltese Falcon in the final furlong to win by a head.

Conclude is out of the Proud Citizen mare Believe You Can, who won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in 2012 for Brereton Jones. Believe You Can has also produced stakes winner Believe in Royalty.