Mating Plans: Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Erin Fisher of Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds.

“All my horses are crossed with stallions that I feel will throw appealing and sound horses that can provide second and third careers off the track and provide longevity to the breed,” said Fisher. “I look for soundness and attitude with the idea that my foals can have long futures in any discipline after racing.”

APPEALING WAY (m, 8, Tizway–Turkappeal, by Turkoman), to be bred to Complexity

This mare is a half-sister to [GSW] Pink Champagne (Awesome Again) and has a lovely physical. While small in stature, she crosses extremely well with Complexity and should produce a really nice foal.

CHARLIE'S CANDY (m, 6, Twirling Candy–Sister Charlie, by Indian Charlie), to be bred to Tonalist

With a recent black-type winner out of her sister, this mare is big in size and complements Tonalist quite nicely. She should produce a nice, big foal.

FAIRY KERI (m, 3, Fed Biz–Keri's Snowman, by Frosty the Snowman), to be bred to Leofric

She has a phenomenal pedigree with lots of black-type. I chose Leofric for her as he isn't overpowering in size but was a force on the track. His foals look good and have a decent chance to be productive runners.

LAST GREAT (m, 6, Albert the Great–Crouching Thunder, by Thunder Gulch), to be bred to Modernist

Her track record wasn't great but she has the pedigree of a nice regional mare. She is tall in size with excellent balance. Her size makes her a good cross for Modernist who, in my opinion, was bred to be a sire.

LINE OF VISION (m, 7, Court Vision–Gold Lined, by Numerous), to be bred to Audible

She was a multiple stakes winner and a hard-knocking mare. She is short and compact. I chose Audible for her as the line crosses well with Into Mischief. Also because he is tall but not overpowering and has good balance to him. Hopefully this cross will produce a foal that is tall and compact, capable of decent distance.

MONEY INTHE STARRS (m, 6, Abraaj–Our Monstarr, by Demons Begone), to be bred to Knicks Go

This mare is a regional champion in her home state. Sleek and built like a classic racehorse, I chose Knicks Go for this mare. Hoping to throw the heart of both horses and resilience that Knicks Go showed on the track.

LADYSGOTGAME (m, 11, Street Sense–Lady Gamer, by Game Plan), to be bred to Basin

He was a good racehorse and I'm hoping with her legs and stature, she will throw some bone and leg into her foal.

BAREFOOT NATIVE (m, 6, Graydar–Elke, by Dixie Union), to be bred to Spun to Run

It's an excellent cross and her size should put some leg and length to this horse.

NON NEGOTIABLE (m, 9, Distorted Humor–Kiss Mine, by Mineshaft), to be bred to Rock Your World

This Candy Ride (Arg) and Distorted Humor cross is excellent. While the mare herself isn't big, the hope is that they produce a nice foal with good leg and shoulder.

RICH IMAGE (m, 5, Imagining–Richetta, by Polish Numbers), to be bred to Independence Hall

He was an excellent racehorse. Tall with classic build and structure. This mare is good size while slightly compact. I'm hoping to get a foal of similar stature to the stallion.

SAFFRON GIRL (m, 5, Tapizar–Mattie Camp, by Forest Camp), to be bred to McKinzie

This stallion speaks for himself, but this mare is all class. She is tall with excellent motion in her movements. A bit long so am hoping for better balance in the cross.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

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Derby Trail Heats Up in South Florida

Led by last term's hard-fought GII Remsen S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), a deep field of nine will line up for Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Donegal Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher, Mo Donegal outslugged Zandon (Upstart) by a nose after a roughly run stretch drive while making his stakes debut in that aforementioned 1 1/8-mile affair at Aqueduct last time Dec. 4.

“We decided that the Holy Bull was the right starting point,” Pletcher said. “It gives us plenty of options. If he were to run well, we still have the [GII Fasig-Tipton] Fountain of Youth [Mar. 5] to come back in if we wanted to or we could train up to the [GI Curlin] Florida Derby [Apr. 2] like we did with Audible. We kind of felt like it put us in a position to have the most options.”

Pletcher added of the 5-2 morning-line favorite, “I'm really pleased with his training since he came here after the Remsen. We targeted this right away and, knock on wood, thankfully everything has gone according to schedule. He has not missed a beat since he's been here.”

Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) outran his 21-1 odds to complete the trifecta in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar most recently Nov. 5. He previously defeated subsequent GIII Lecomte S. upsetter Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) by three lengths in his Keeneland maiden breaker at this same 1 1/16 miles distance Oct. 9.

Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) returns to dirt after rallying from far back to cross the line a troubled second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Last term's GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. and Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S. winner graduated by 14 1/4 lengths in his most recent attempt on dirt in an Ellis Park off-the -turfer last July.

“I thought it was somewhat of an unlucky trip, but he still ran well,” trainer Ken McPeek said of Tiz the Bomb's Breeders' Cup effort. “It was a respectable run. He ran a good race; he split horses and came flying late. The other horse got a little bit of a jump on him.”

The Florida-bred Simplification (Not This Time) could have things his own way on the front end in his two-turn debut here after wiring the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 1.

The Holy Bull offers 10-4-2-1 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby.

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‘Rising Star’ Happy Medium to Make Stakes Debut in Rescheduled Toboggan

Streaking 'TDN Rising Star' Happy Medium (Runhappy) will make his stakes debut against four rivals in Saturday's GIII Toboggan S. at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old Jay Em Ess Stable colorbearer has won three straight in impressive fashion, including an optional claimer by seven lengths with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure at the Big A last time Dec. 18.

The seven-furlong Toboggan was pushed back a week after last Saturday's snow storm.

“He's a very nice horse and we just have taken the logical steps to go along with him. We've gone from his maiden, a-other-than and two-other-than,” trainer Michelle Nevin said. “This step is the next logical one, so we're excited to see him run.”

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Ce Ce Kicks Off Six-Year-Old Campaign in Santa Monica

Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), last seen upsetting the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, returns to launch her 6-year-old campaign in Saturday's GII Santa Monica S. at Santa Anita.

The 2020 GI Apple Blossom H. and GI Beholder Mile S. heroine focused on races going around one turn during her 2021 campaign. In addition to her victory at the Championships, her season also included strong wins in the GII Princess Rooney Invitational at Gulfstream July 3 and GIII Chillingworth S. at Santa Anita Oct. 3. She finished third, three lengths behind champion Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga Aug. 28.

The Bo Hirsch homebred, the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the Santa Monica, is an Eclipse finalist for champion female sprinter.

“Well, at my stage in life I want more fun than money, and as long as she wants to run, and as long as we know she wants to run, we're going to run for a while,” Hirsch said following the Breeders' Cup.

The field of five also includes: last out GI La Brea S. winner Kalypso (Brody's Cause); and this race's 2021 winner Merneith (American Pharoah), who returned from the shelf to finish second in the Kalookan Queen S. here Jan. 2.

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