Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) backed up an Aug. 8 debut triumph with a command performance upped to one mile at Chantilly.
1st-Chantilly, €34,000, Cond, 9-17, 2yo, 8fT, 1:43.37, sf. RACLETTE (GB) (f, 2, Frankel {GB}–Emollient {MGISW-US, $1,350,400}, by Empire Maker), who earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a taking display in a winner-producing debutantes' test over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville last month, was swiftly into stride and settled third behind a steady tempo through halfway. Making smooth headway in the straight, the even-money chalk cruised to the front with 300 metres remaining and powered clear in impressive style to easily outpoint Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) (Shalaa {Ire}) by a geared-down four lengths. “She's a very nice filly and we used this race as a test,” explained Andre Fabre. “She won very well and, all being well, will now go for the [Oct. 3 G1] Prix Marcel Boussac [at ParisLongchamp].” Raclette is the fourth of five foals and one of three scorers produced by four-time Grade I heroine Emollient (Empire Maker), herself a half-sister to GI Belmont S. and GI Florida Derby placegetter Hofburg (Tapit) and GII Hall of Fame S. third Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile). The April-foaled homebred bay, whose dam was bred to Into Mischief this year, is full to a yearling colt and a half to G2 Balanchine S. and G3 Naas Juvenile Fillies Sprint placegetter Peace Charter (GB) (War Front). Raclette's dual stakes-winning third dam Glia (A.P. Indy) is a daughter of MG1SW matriarch Coup de Genie (Mr. Prospector). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €30,500. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre.
The Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) has released a video honoring its 2020 Texas Champion racehorses as well as its human award winners. Under normal circumstances, an in-person awards ceremony would be held, but the continuing COVID-19 pandemic forced officials to cancel those plans.
“While we are disappointed in not having an awards ceremony this year, we are proud of the accomplishments of Texas-breds and Texas horsemen last year, and we are pleased to honor them with this video,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “Congratulations go out to all the award winners.”
In addition to the equine honorees, businessman and philanthropist Jim 'Mattress Mack' McIngvale and Joe Straus, Jr., the co-founder of Retama Park in San Antonio, were presented with the T.I. 'Pops' Harkins Award for lifetime achievement.
The Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA member of the year was awarded to Bill Tracy, currently the farm manager at Eureka Thoroughbred Farm in Fredericksburg, TX, and to publicist Martha Claussen.
Hisaaki Saito's hitherto unbeaten 2-year-old colt Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) continued on a roll and took his tally to a perfect three from three with a hard-fought victory in Friday's G3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly. The April-foaled dark bay went postward as the crowd's 8-5 choice returning off wins in competitive heats at Deauville last month and was under a firm hold behind the leaders in fourth through the early fractions of this six-furlong dash. Powering forward to join German raider Best Flying (Fr) (Pedro the Great) soon after passing the two pole, he came under stern urging thereafter and was driven out inside the final furlong to bravely withstand that persistent rival's threat by a short neck for a career high. The pair finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of the remainder, headed by G3 Prix Six Perfections fourth Lovamour (Fr) (Goken {Fr}).
“That was a good performance and he kept his unbeaten record intact,” said winning trainer Fabrice Chappet. “He won over six-and-a-half [furlongs] last time, but I felt it was not yet the time to stretch him out. I thought this six [furlongs] would suit him anyway. He's entered in the [Oct. 3 G1] Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over seven [furlongs] on Arc day, but he will also be entered in the [six-furlong G2] Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte. At this stage, the latter seems the more logical step.”
Topgear is the latest of three foals and third scorer out of a winning half-sister to GII Strub S.-winning sire Guilt Trip (Pulpit) and the dam of the stakes-placed Roberta Mia (Tur) (Goken {Fr}). His Listed Hopeful S.-winning third dam Rose Indien (Fr) (Crystal Glitters) produced the stakes-winning sire Salty Sea (Siberian Express) and the stakes-placed duo War Tempo (Quiet American) and Darkwood (Fit To Fight). She is also the second dam of G2 Superlative S. victor Silver Grecian (GB) (Haafhd {GB}). Rose Indien is a half-sister to G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris-winning sire Majorien (GB) (Machiavellian) and MGSW G2 Prix de Malleret victrix America (Ire) (Arazi), herself the dam of G1 Melbourne Cup-winning sire Americain (Dynaformer).
Friday, Chantilly, France PRIX ECLIPSE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 9-17, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.92, sf.
1–TOPGEAR (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB) 1st Dam: Miss Lech, by Giant's Causeway 2nd Dam: Mysterieuse Etoile, by Quiet American 3rd Dam: Rose Indien (Fr), by Crystal Glitters 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€200,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Hisaaki Saito; B-SNIG Elevage (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Stephane Pasquier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €70,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Best Flying (Fr), 122, f, 2, Pedro the Great–Best Dreaming (Ger), by Big Shuffle. (€22,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGO). O-Stall Ad Episas; B-Hermann Pfister (FR); T-Andreas Suborics. €16,000.
3–Lovamour (Fr), 122, f, 2, Goken (Fr)–Ice Love (Fr), by Three Valleys. (€105,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Alain Jathiere & Guy Pariente; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €12,000.
Margins: SNK, 4HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 2.60, 7.10.
Also Ran: Montussan (Fr), Fai Fai (GB), Last Crusader (Ire), Dynamic Force (Ire), Ma Noire (Fr). Scratched: Dishina (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.Video, sponsored by TVG.
The Texas Thoroughbred Association has released an online video honoring the 2020 Texas Champions and human award winners. Traditionally the TTA would have an in-person awards ceremony, but one will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While we are disappointed in not having an awards ceremony this year, we are proud of the accomplishments of Texas-breds and Texas horsemen last year, and we are pleased to honor them with this video,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “Congratulations go out to all the award winners.”
The 2020 Texas Champion horses were previously announced, and those horses are highlighted in the video along with four human award winners that were not previously announced.
The video can be viewed here:
The T.I. “Pops” Harkins Award for lifetime achievement was awarded to Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Joe Straus Jr.
McIngvale has found great success in both the business world and on the racetrack. His Houston-based Gallery Furniture has sponsored numerous stakes races over the years and frequently features racing-related promotions, including one involving the 2021 Kentucky Derby that helped raise the profile of the sport to non-racing fans. He won the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Runhappy and now stands the stallion and often sponsors racing events to promote him. He is also a noted philanthropist and has supported numerous charitable efforts within and beyond the world of racing.
Straus is one of the founding fathers of modern Texas horse racing. He was instrumental in the passage of pari-mutuel wagering laws in the state and is a co-founder of Retama Park near San Antonio. Straus also serves as chairman of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, of which he is also an inductee. Also a successful breeder and owner, Straus has worked hard to ensure a level playing field for horsemen and served on the Texas A&M Target 2000 committee and spearheaded efforts for the Texas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to serve as the lead agency to test competition racehorses.
The Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA member of the year was awarded to Bill Tracy and Martha Claussen.
Tracy is a longtime TTA member and Texas horseman who worked at JEH Stallion Station in New Mexico and Oak Tree Ranch in Bandera, Texas, and presently is farm manager at Mike Grossman's Eureka Thoroughbred Farm in Fredericksburg, Texas. He has served on the TTA board for a combined total of nearly 20 years, and he has also served on the board of the TTA's Paddock Foundation and as president of the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund. In his work to support TTA and Texas racing, he has testified before the Texas Racing Commission and spent numerous hours working with legislators to highlight the importance of horse racing to our state.
Claussen has worked to promote Texas horse racing for nearly 25 years after being hired as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park in 1997. Since then, she has distributed countless news releases and photos to better inform the media and general public about the special people and horses in our sport. While many news releases just list out basic information, Claussen always goes the extra mile to include quotes from the winning connections and other details to recognize the effort it takes to win a stakes race. She is among the most active and recognized voices on social media when it comes to Texas horse racing, and she is a familiar face nationwide from her frequent winner's circle interviews.
Following is the complete list of the previously announced 2020 champion horses:
2-Year-Old Filly: Con Lima (by Commissioner) • Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Graffeo, Joseph F., Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus and Johnson, Troy • Breeder: Lisa Kuhlmann
2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Hulen (by Tapiture) • Owner: L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC • Breeder: Keith Asmussen
3-Year-Old Filly: Boerne (by Fed Biz) • Owner: De Luca and Sons Stable • Breeder: Randi and Eric Moreau-Sipiere
3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Gold Pilot (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch • Breeder: Ronald and Margaret Ellerbee
Older Filly/Mare: Ima Discreet Lady (by Discreet Cat) • Owner: Duane Coker and Raymond Todd White • Breeder: Larry S. Huntsinger
Co-Champion Older Horse: Sunlit Song (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding • Breeder: Carolyn Barnett
Texas Champion Claimer: Meme Jo (by Too Much Bling) • Owner: John L. Pierce II • Breeder: Jeanne Bruce
Champion Broodmare: My Silver Song (by My Golden Song)
Horse of the Year and Co-Champion Older Horse: Redatory (by Oratory) • Owner/Breeder: James Wessel
