Naval Crown Asserts His Class in Al Fahidi Fort

by Alan Carasso

Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided his all-conquering sire his third winner in the last four runnings of the G2 Al Fahidi Fort S. and 143rd worldwide scorer at graded/group stakes level with a deceptively easy success in the seven-furlong test Friday at Meydan.

Away alertly from a low barrier, the athletic bay found himself forwardly placed and was locked away at the fence as the veteran Ajwad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) was ridden for speed from gate 13 and came across the field to lead at a good gallop. Quietly ridden on the bend by William Buick while holding his position, Naval Crown was waited with in upper stretch, muscled his way into the clear with about two furlongs to race, hit the front going well at the 200-metre peg and remained comfortably in front as Story of Light (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) chased him home in vain. Shadwell's Zainhom (Street Cry {Ire}) rallied from near the tail of the field to grab third.

Multiple Group 3-placed in France at two, Naval Crown was a creditable third in a single try on the dirt in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas last February before bouncing back to take the Listed Meydan Classic going a mile over the local turf three weeks hence. Beaten less than three lengths into fourth by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) as a 50-1 chance in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May, Naval Crown backed up to this trip to be runner-up in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 19 and was last seen struggling home eighth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville July 11.

In a post-race interview, winning trainer Charlie Appleby said he'd be inclined to pass the upcoming stc1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia next month, a race won last year by Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and instead take in the 1400-metre $300,000 Ras Al Khor conditions race on Super Saturday Mar. 5 as a steppingstone to his 4-year-old season in Europe.

Pedigree Notes:

Naval Crown is the first foal from his dam, winner of the Listed Prix Amandine for Andre Fabre at Maisons-Laffitte in 2016 before visiting Dubawi for her first cover the following spring. Come Alive is one of five winners from eight to the races for her dam Portrayal, a listed winner and Group 3-placed in England and twice place at group level in France, including a third to the once-beaten, dual Classic winner Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) in the G2 Prix Robert Papin in 2004. Come Alive is represented by a 2-year-old Lope de Vega (Ire) filly and a yearling filly by Shamardal.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
AL FAHIDI FORT PRESENTED BY MINA BY AZIZI-G2, $180,000, Meydan, 1-21, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.02, gd.
1–NAVAL CROWN (GB), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Come Alive (GB) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Portrayal, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: True Glory (Ire), by In the Wings (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. $108,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, MGSP-Fr, 12-3-2-5, $287,402. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Story of Light (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Beautiful Ending (GB), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O-Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Ahmad bin Harmash. $36,000.
3–Zainhom, 126, g, 8, Street Cry (Ire)–Kaseema, by Storm Cat. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $18,000.
Margins: 1, SHD, NK.
Also Ran: Storm Damage (GB), Manjeer (Ire), Spirit of Light (Ire), Sanary (GB), Could Be King (GB), Land of Legends (Ire), Alkaamel (GB), Ajwad (GB), Garrulous (SAf), Ventura Rebel (GB), La Barrosa (Ire). Click for the Emirates Racing chart and the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

WATCH: Naval Crown proves too classy in Al Fahidi Fort

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Early Triple Crown Nominations Due Jan. 29

Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to become eligible to compete in the 2022 Triple Crown series are due Saturday, Jan. 29 with a $600 payment.

Payment for early Triple Crown nominations must be made at the time of entry on www.TheTripleCrown.com. Information regarding phone or mail-in entries can also be found on the website.

The 2022 Triple Crown opens Saturday, May 7 with the 148th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) at 1 ¼ miles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The 147th running of the $1.5 million Preakness (G1), its 1 3/16-mile second jewel, is set for Saturday, May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. The 154th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1), the series' 1 ½-mile final leg, is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Last year's Triple Crown nominations attracted 326 early nominees plus nine late nominations.

Horses not nominated during the early phase can be made eligible between Jan. 30-March 28 with a $6,000 payment. Any horse not nominated during either the early or late nomination phases have a final opportunity to become eligible for the races through payment of a supplemental nomination fee due at the time of entry for each Triple Crown race: Kentucky Derby ($200,000), Preakness ($150,000) and Belmont ($50,000).

Representatives of the Triple Crown host tracks include:

· Churchill Downs: Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary Ben Huffman at (502) 638-3820 or Ben.Huffman@KyDerby.com. … Assistant Racing Secretary and Stakes Coordinator Dan Bork at (502) 638-3806 or Dan.Bork@KyDerby.com. … Racing Operations Manager Kelly Danner at (502) 638-3825 or Kelly.Danner@KyDerby.com.

· Pimlico: Racing Secretary Jillian Sofarelli at (800) 638-1859 or Jtullock@marylandracing.com.

· Belmont Park: Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes at (718) 659-4217 or abyrnes@nyrainc.com.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By DRFBets: Road To Kentucky Heads To The Big Easy

This weekend's horse racing action is highlighted by the six stakes races on Saturday's card at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., with a pair of prep races for the first Friday and Saturday in May drawing significant attention.

Perhaps the best race on the afternoon, however, is the match-up between Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon in the G3 Louisiana Stakes. It will be the sixth time these millionaire rivals face one another, and good performances could propel them to the $20 million Saudi Cup next month.

Meanwhile, Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Pappacap will be challenged by Epicenter in the Lecomte. The latter has won his last two starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, including a listed stakes race over the local surface. Pappacap brings experience to the table for trainer Mark Casse, with two wins and two seconds from five starts thus far.

Also on Saturday are listed stakes at Oaklawn, Aqueduct, Gulfstream, and Santa Anita, while Sunday's feature is the Oaks points-offering Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct.

Saturday

5:52 PM – $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds

Off an easy win in her career debut at Churchill Downs on Nov. 20, Stonestreet Stables' La Crete has been installed as the 2-1 morning line against five rivals for Saturday's $150,000 Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies to be run over 1 mile 70 yards at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. By Medaglia d'Oro, La Crete is a half-sister to millionaire Clairiere.

Off a maiden win and a fourth in the Tempted Stakes at Belmont, Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Sweet as Pie invades from her home base at Palm Beach Downs in Florida to contest the Silverbulletday for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Columbine Stables' Fannie and Freddie swings back off a recent second behind the undefeated North County in the Untapable Stakes for trainer Al Stall, Jr. The daughter of Malibu Moon won her two-turn debut in the start prior, and she looked home free in the stretch of her stakes debut, only to be run down late.

The top four finishers will earn Kentucky Oaks qualifying points (10-4-2-1).

6:49 PM – G3 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds

Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Kentucky Derby, Haskell: this Saturday's 76th running of the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds will be the sixth time both Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon enter the starting gate as rivals. Mandaloun has bragging rights, winning or finishing in front of Midnight Bourbon in three out of five match-ups thus far.

Mandaloun's last start was July 17 in the Haskell (G1) when he dueled through the final furlong finishing a nose short of Hot Rod Charlie, but an impending DQ awarded the Brad Cox-trained Mandaloun his fifth career win out of eight starts.

Last seen setting the pace in November's Clark (G1) with jockey Joel Rosario on board, Midnight Bourbon ran well, only to be overtaken in the stretch by the classy Maxfield and Happy Saver. He gets a slight cut-back in distance to 1 1/16 miles for the Louisiana. As in the Clark, Rosario gets the call.

7:20 PM – G3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds

Rustlewood Farm's Pappacap, the current points leader on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 12, headlines a field of nine 3-year-olds for the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3). A sprint winner on debut on May 14 at Gulfstream, the Florida-bred Pappacap has raced in four graded stakes in California since, winning the Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar and most recently finishing as the runner-up behind Corniche in both the American Pharoah (G2) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

The close second choice at 9-5, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter eyes his third consecutive win for trainer Steve Asmussen. After breaking his maiden on the lead, the son of Not This Time dominated the Gun Runner last time out, sitting just off the pace before taking over off the turn and drawing away by 6 ½ lengths.

Columbine Stable's Trafalgar enters the Lecomte off a narrow Fair Grounds allowance victory in his two-turn debut on Dec. 2. After building a comfortable margin in the deep stretch, the son of Lord Nelson had to dig deep to score his second consecutive win for trainer Al Stall, Jr.

Run over 1 1/16 miles, the Lecomte offers ten Kentucky Derby points to the winner, with the rest of the top four earning 4-2-1.

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CBA Announces 2022 Board

The Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA) has installed its Board of Directors for 2022. The Board consists of 15 members–eight from the top 20 consignors and seven from other consignors and commercial breeders. Each year, a portion of the Board rotates off and new, eligible CBA members replace them.

The current Board members from the Top 20 consignors are: Conrad Bandoroff, Denali Stud; Carrie Brogden, Machmer Hall Sales; Pat Costello, Paramount Sales; Liz Crow, ELiTE Sales;

Walker Hancock, Claiborne Farm; Adrian Regan, Hunter Valley Farm; Allaire Ryan, Lane's End Farm; and Mark Taylor, Taylor Made Farm.

The remaining seven at-large board members include: Neal Clarke, Atlas Farm/Bedouin Bloodstock; Tommy Eastham, LegaConsicy Bloodstock; Lynn Hancock, Stone Farm; Gray Lyster, Ashview Farm; Zach Madden, Buckland Sales; Rob Tribbett, breeder; and Sean Tugel, breeder.

Officers completing their second year of a two-year appointment are: Allaire Ryan, President; Walker Hancock, Vice President; Mark Taylor, Treasurer; and Gray Lyster, Past President.

For more on the CBA, visit www.consignorsandbreeders.com.

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