ATLAS MAJOR (c, 2, Yaupon–Lighter Knot, by Mastery) was made the 8-5 second choice behind even-money favorite Money Man Mike (Bolt d'Oro) for this unveiling, and the betting choices wasted no time stepping out to the front after the break.Pushed along first by Tiz General (Rock Your World) and then Money Man Mike when that runner began fading, Atlas Major opened a clear advantage arriving at the head of affairs. Kicking away from his pursuers, the son of Yaupon came home smartly to win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:03.30. Money Man Mike was second by a long margin ahead of Tiz General in a stretched out field.The victor is the first to the races for Lighter Knot, and is a $75,000 KEESEP yearling pinhook turned $150,000 OBS March 2-year-old for Arno Grether. Atlas Major's yearling half-sister by Two Phil's was sold as a weanling in last year's KEENOV sale for $20,000 to Wave Bloodstock. The dam's 2026 Domestic Product foal was stillborn.Lighter Knot is a half to GISP Awake at Midnyte (Nyquist), who sold to Japan's Lake Villa Farm for $825,000 at the 2023 FTKNOV auction after missing her reserve at the same sale the year prior.4th-Colonial Downs, $71,850, Msw, 7-19, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.30, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.ATLAS MAJOR (c, 2, Yaupon–Lighter Knot, by Mastery) Sales history: $75,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '26 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Barker, Edwin; B-Forty Oaks (KY); T-Arnaud Delacour.Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. pulls away from the MSW competition under jockey @JOCKEYSMARIN to win on debut for trainer Arnaud Delacour and @westpointtbred on Military Appreciation Day.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MLCqQdyUI7— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 19, 2026The post Yaupon’s Atlas Major Shows the Way on Colonial Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.