'TDN Rising Star' Caddo River (Hard Spun), currently sitting at number two on the TDN Top Kentucky Derby contenders sponsored by Fasig-Tipton, went an easy half-mile in :50.60 at Oaklawn Park Friday morning as he prepares for his next start in the $1-million GII Rebel S. in Hot Springs Mar. 13. It was the Shortleaf Stable homebred's first serious piece of work since a 10 1/4-length thrashing of his rivals in the Smarty Jones S. Jan. 22.
Breezing prior to the first renovation break beneath exercise rider Gustavo Abrego, Caddo River was clocked in fractions of :12.80, :26 flat and :38 flat before galloping out five-eighths of a mile in 1:03 flat.
The stable of Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox will be represented in the track's second leg of the 3-year-old series, the Feb. 15 GIII Southwest S., by champion juvenile male and fellow 'Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit). The GI Arkansas Derby caps the local route to the Kentucky Derby Apr. 10.
7th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:10 p.m. Todd Pletcher sends out a pair of flashy firsters in what looks like a particularly salty maiden event. Dupuis (Distorted Humor) will carry the same Robert and Lawana Low silks as his stablemate Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), winner of last month's GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. A $165,000 FTKOCT yearling, Dupuis topped the OBS July 2-year-old sale at $700,000 off of a :10 flat work. The Apr. 30 foal hails from the family of Florida speedsters Bahamian Squall and Apriority. The meet's leading trainer will also be represented by $400,000 KEESEEP yearling Democracy (Quality Road). He is a half to SW and MGSP turf sprinter Into Mystic (Into Mischief) out of a half to GSWs Savorthetime, Rogue Romance and Island Bound.
Collaborate (Into Mischief), trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. for a formidable partnership in Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing, is out of MGSW dirt router Quiet Temper (Quiet American) from a productive Phipps family. The $600,000 FTSAUG yearling's local series of works included a head-turning 1:00.07 bullet breeze from the gate Dec. 27 (XBTV video).
William Farish homebred Bears Watching (Karakontie {Jpn}) is half to none other than his connections'Â MGISW and $2.7-million earner Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}). Campeador (Jack Milton) is half to last year's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational romper Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man), while $125,000 FTKNOV weanling Black Belt (Not This Time) is out of fleet-footed GSW Pica Slew (Pico Central {Brz}). Mo More (Uncle Mo), a $390,000 September acquisition, is out of a half to GSW and MGISP Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky).
Debut runners-up Jeebar (Frosted) and Buck Moon (Malibu Moon) boast an experience edge. TJCIS PPs      Â
10th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 4:44 p.m.
Todd Pletcher has two more sophomore colts set to try this one-turn mile. Siena Farm homebred Tallis (Uncle Mo) is the first foal out of her connections' MGSW front-running turfer Isabella Sings (Eskendereya). He'll be joined by $160,000 KEESEP buy Promise Keeper (Constitution), who was fourth in a sprint here Jan. 9. Promise Keeper's year-older half-brother War Stopper (Declaration of War) has won his last two locally for Pletcher in allowance company and could be poised for a return soon to stakes.
Chad Brown has a strong pair of his own. Higher Quality (Tiznow) was a $600,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase by Juddmonte. His stakes-placed dam is half to none other than champion 3-year-old and dual Classic winner Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet). Shadwell homebred Mutasallem (Union Rags) is out of a half to 1999 G1 Dubai World Cup winner Almutawakel (GB) (Machiavellian). He outworked recent Tampa runner-up St .Joe Louis (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by open lengths from the gate at Payson Park Jan. 11 (XBTV Video). TJCIS PPs      Â
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Tokyo Racecourses:
Saturday, February 6, 2021 6th-TOK, Â¥11,400,000 ($108k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800mT JOYOUS CHANT (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Sweet Chant, by Distorted Humor) cost $140K as a weanling at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale, and the fact he was purchased by the Godolphin braintrust is no surprise, as the March foal is out of a half-sister to Campanologist (Kingmambo), winner of five Group 1 races for Sheikh Mohammed's operation in Germany and Italy and winner of group races in England and on World Cup night in Dubai. The colt's third dam was Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song (Halo), the full-sister to Saint Ballado, and dam of such luminaries as Singspiel (Ire) and Rahy (Blushing Groom {Fr}). B-Teneri Farm, Bernardo A Calderon, Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey (KY)
Sunday, February 7, 2020 2nd-TOK, Â¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 3yo, 2100m NIGHT FROLIC (c, 3, Into Mischief–Frolic's Revenge, by Vindication) stretches out significantly in trip off a distant sixth on his 1600-meter debut to the very promising Annunciation (Union Rags) last Oct. 31. His five-time stakes-winning dam has already been responsible for SW American Frolic (Blame) and SP Mc Awesome (Super Saver) and is herself a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Super Frolic (Pine Bluff). Night Frolic, a $300K Keeneland September yearling, has the services of leading rider Christophe Lemaire. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY)
4th-CKO, Â¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m LADY MERCY (f, 3, American Pharoah–Two Oceans, by Cape Town) has improved with a stretch-out to two turns, finishing third in his first route attempt at Kyoto Oct. 17 before defeating fellow US-bred Voix d'Ange (Curlin) in a course-and-distance test Dec. 19 (see below, SC 11). A maternal granddaughter of MSW & GSP Ocean Cat (Storm Cat), Lady Mercy hails from the extended female family of Japanese Horses of the Year Narita Brian (Jpn) (Brian's Time) and Biwa Hayahide (Jpn) (Sharrood). B-Toshihiro Matsumoto (KY)
4th-TOK, Â¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m SATONO MUSTANG (c, 3, Mineshaft–Mare and Cher, by Old Fashioned) found only Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby points-getter Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) too strong on his 1300-meter bow at this track Nov. 7 before posting a convincing maiden success over the same distance when last seen Nov. 21 (see below, SC 8). A half-brother to Cruise and Danze (Danza), the $25K KEESEP yearling turned $150K OBS March breezer is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Fight On (Into Mischief) and his third dam includes Sheave (Mineshaft), the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). B-Haymarket Farm LLC (KY)
9th-TOK, Â¥19,110,000 ($181k), Allowance, 3yo, 2400mT AIR SAGE (c, 3, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) could scarcely have been more impressive on debut, finding his best stride in the final furlong en route to a comfortable success over 2000 grassy meters at Chukyo Jan. 5 (video, SC 10). A half-brother to Japanese GSW Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) and to Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), victorious at Chukyo last weekend, Air Sage counts the aforementioned Glorious Song's full-sister Angelic Song as his third dam. This is also the female family of last year's GI Kentucky Derby third Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway). B-Winchester Farm LLC (KY)
