Author: News

Saudi Crown Ran ‘Two Serious Numbers’ In Preparation For Pennsylvania Derby

Brad Cox watched Saudi Crown finish second by the slimmest of margins in the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes July 1 at Belmont Park – he still cringes at bit thinking about the replay – and started thinking about September in Philadelphia.

“I love how he's doing,” Cox said Thursday morning from Kentucky, two days before Saudi Crown runs in the Grade 1, $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing just outside Philly. “We've been pointing for this ever since he ran second at Belmont.”

The 7-2 second choice on the morning line set by Parx Director of Racing and Racing Secretary David Osojnak, Saudi Crown looks to improve off his second in the Dwyer and second in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy last time out at Saratoga Race Course. Cox considered another path to get to the nine-furlong Pennsylvania Derby, one direct through Parx, but took a different route.

“We didn't know how we were going to get there,” Cox said. “We thought we were going to take the Smarty Jones path, then back to the Pennsylvania Derby, but the way the Jim Dandy came up, we thought we'd take a run there and he ran well. Ran a winning race. Then came out of it in good order.”

Saudi Crown made all the pace in the Dwyer and Jim Dandy before losing both by a nose. The most recent came after a rough stretch run in the Jim Dandy, where Saudi Crown wasn't affected, as Forte got up in the final jump on a sloppy track.

Cox didn't seriously consider running Saudi Crown, a $240,000 purchase at last year's OBS April sale for FMQ Stables, back in four weeks in Saratoga's Travers. He preferred the eight-week gap between the Jim Dandy and Pennsylvania Derby.

“I'm hopeful he'll move forward now with some time between races,” Cox said. “Running back in four weeks would have been asking a lot of him. He ran huge (in the Jim Dandy), a great race.”

Saudi Crown earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in his last two starts – a 106 in the Dwyer and 105 in the Jim Dandy. The son of Always Dreaming holds that edge over his 10 rivals in the Pennsylvania Derby, with only 10-1 longshot Gilmore earning a triple-digit figure when he recorded a 104 when third in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont.

“Those are two serious numbers, and all of his numbers have been serious,” Cox said. “He's a good horse. A very good horse.”

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Making Waves: A Masterful 56 For Dubawi

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Master Of The Seas in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile at Woodbine on Saturday.

 

Dubawi Gelding Masters Woodbine Mile Foes

The Classic-placed Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won his first race at the Grade I level for breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Saturday (video).

Already a five-time group winner who was second in the 2021 edition of the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the 5-year-old was last seen taking the G2 Summer Mile S. at Ascot. One of four stakes winners for his listed-winning and G1 French 1000 Guineas second dam, Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), Master Of The Seas is a half-brother to the dam of top-level winners Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The 56th Grade/Group 1 winner worldwide for his Darley sire, Master Of The Seas is one of 37 winners from 76 runners (48%) in the U.S. Dubawi has accumulated 20 stakes winners (26%) in North America, including 10 Grade I winners.

 

 

Jockey Club Oaks Goes To Teofilo Filly

Godolphin homebred Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) secured her first victory at the graded level with a win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. for trainer Charlie Appleby on Saturday (video).

Already a listed winner and second in the G2 Prix Alex Head during her 2023 European campaign, the chestnut is the second foal and first winner for the winning Dubawi (Ire) mare Voice Of Truth (Ire), herself a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner and Classic-placed sire Rio De La Plata (Rahy). Eternal Hope is a half-sister to Blue Point (Ire) juvenile filly Word's Out (Ire), a yearling full-sister who is lot 168 as part of the Baroda Stud draft at the Goffs Orby Sale, and an Australia (GB) half-brother born this year. Voice Of Truth was picked up for €35,000 out of the Godolphin consignment by Gary Mullins carrying her Teofilo yearling at Goffs November in 2021.

Darley's Teofilo is responsible for 17 winners from 27 runners (63%) in North America. His four stakes winners (15%) are anchored by GI Saratoga Derby victor Nations Pride, and Eternal Hope is his third graded winner in that locale.

 

 

Sea Venture A Success

Lael Stables' Ready To Venture (GB) (Kingman {GB}) claimed a career high in the GIII Seaway S. at Woodbine on Sunday (video). Trained by Mike Stidham, the 5-year-old was making her first start in graded company.

A homebred for Roy and Gretchen Jackson who raced GI Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (Dynaformer) and bred George Washington (Ire) (Danehill), the two-time U.S. stakes winner is the first foal out of the G3 Pinnacle S. third Wonderstruck (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). A half-sister to the aforementioned Classic winner George Washington and to three-time Group 1 winner Grandera (Ire) (Grand Lodge), her latest is a weanling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Juddmonte's Kingman is responsible for 30 winners from 55 runners in the U.S. (54.5%). Eight of that cohort (14.5%) are stakes winners, with three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) his best.

 

 

Sweet Like Sugar

Gregory Hoffman, R.T Racing Stable and Clay Scherer's Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) followed up a runner-up performance at Saratoga into a Belmont at the Big A victory on Saturday (video).

The Brad Cox trainee was bred by G. H. S. Bloodstock and J. C. Bloodstock, and brought €150,000 from Scherer as a Goffs Orby yearling in 2022. Ever So Sweet is one of three foals for her dam, the Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Shine (GB), who is a full-sister to the listed winner and black-type producer Shamandar (Fr) and a half-sister to the listed winner and G3 Prix la Rochette second Hung Parliament (Fr) (Numerous). Third dam Blushing Heiress (Blushing John) won both the GII Wilshire H. and GIII Palomar H.

The progeny of Coolmore stallion Calyx are thriving as autumn arrives, and all three of his U.S. runners have now won, including the stakes-placed Angiolleta (Ire). Internationally, the G2 Coventry S. hero has 14 winners anchored by G2 Duchess of Cambridge heroine Persian Dreamer.

 

 

Too Darn Hot Filly Shines At The Meadowlands

It's Hot In Here (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who runs in the silks of Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, LLC, Michael Kisber and William Rucker, won at Monmouth Park at the Meadowlands late last week for trainer Chad Brown (video). She is the first runner and winner in North America for her Darley sire.

Part of the Ballylinch Stud breeding programme, she was making her second start after running third to future GI Natalma S. fourth Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at Saratoga in August. The €110,000 Arqana August yearling selection of Mandore International Agency, the bay is the sixth foal and fifth winner produced by Listed Flaming Page S. second and GIII My Charmer H. third Janicellaine (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}). The dam has a yearling filly by Lope De Vega (Ire), who is consigned as lot 428 by Ballylinch to the Goffs Orby Sale next week and a weanling filly by Make Believe (GB). Janicellaine is also a half-sister to the star-crossed GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) among others.

Worldwide, Too Darn Hot has sired 15 winners. G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G3 Sweet Solera S. victress Fallen Angel (GB), G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) and Carolina Reaper (GB), who claimed the G3 Zukunfts Rennen, are his trio of stakes winners so far.

 

 

Kodiac Filly Game Beneath The Twin Spires

Stonestreet Stables' Salt Spray (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) made her second start a winning one at Churchill Downs for trainer Wesley Ward on Thursday (video).

Bred by Denis Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock, Ltd., the 285,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling, who was picked up by Ben McElroy for Barbara Banke's operation, is out of Taste The Salt (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who is a half-sister to G2 Norfolk S. winner Baitha Alga (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}). Taste The Salt has the juvenile filly Lady Of War (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire) who will be offered by Croom House Stud as lot 132 at the Goffs Orby Sale later this month, and a full-sister to the winner born this year, yet to come.

Tally-Ho's Kodiac has sired 38 winners from 76 (50%) to race in the U.S. Seven (9%) of them have won stakes, led by GII City of Hope Mile S. hero True Valour (Ire), and Grade III winners Campanelle (Ire), Island Of Love (Ire), and Spirit Of Xian (Ire). Dual Group 1 winner Campanelle, too, raced in the marigold-with-a-burgundy-vee Stonestreet silks.

 

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Friday’s Racing Insights: Juvenile Colts Take To The Churchill Stage

5th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:45 p.m.
Currently in fifth place on TDN's first-crop sire tally behind fellow Spendthrift Farm leader Maximus Mischief, Vino Rosso will look to add to his haul when MASMAK hits the track for the first time Friday afternoon.

Originally purchased for $70,000 by Tom McCrocklin at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the chestnut colt went to FMQ Stables at the OBS Spring Sale earlier this year for $475,000. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Masmak's dam GSP Nite in Rome is also responsible for SW Stan the Man (Broken Vow) and GII John A. Nerud S. hero Three Technique (Mr Speaker).

Also making the gate is Frank Fletcher homebred Top Gun Rocket (Into Mischief). The bay colt, trained by Riley Mott and piloted by Junior Alvarado, is the full-brother to GII Prioress S. heroine Frank's Rockette. TJCIS PPS

7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:50 p.m.
Speaking of Brad Cox and homebreds, Juddmonte has a gray colt named Dragoon Guard (Arrogate) who will be making his debut in the other seven-furlong race carded for juvenile colts at Churchill Downs. The homebred is out of GII Goldikova S. winner Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), who hails from an extended female family which includes half-sibs Weep No More (Mineshaft), winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. and GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. champ Current (Curlin).

Sweet as Sin (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes his first trip to the races for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut colt, who was purchased at this year's OBS March Sale for $410,000 by L and N Racing and MyRacehorse, and includes Edge Racing as part of its ownership, counts MGSW Family Tree (Smart Strike) as a half-sister and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Liora as a full. Sweet as Sin's dam, SW Giant Mover (Giant's Causeway), is out of two-time GII Princess Rooney H. scorer Gold Mover (Gold Fever).

Continuing the homebred theme, Gary and Mary West send Title Contender (Tapit) to the post. Trained by Cox, the gray colt's dam–out of GII Cotillion H. winner India (Hennessy)–is a half-sister to G1 Yasuda Kinen S. and G1 February S. hero Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}). TJCIS PPS

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Grade I Winner Dancing Rags Represented By First Japanese Starter

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 Saturday running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. Sunday's horses of note will appear in Saturday's TDN:

Saturday, September 23, 2023
3rd-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
ACE AND KING (JPN) (c, 2, Yoshida {Jpn}–Curlins B F F, by Curlin) was acquired in utero by Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International for $25,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale and is out of a daughter of the three-times graded stakes-placed Najecam (Trempolino), the dam of 2003 Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day (Kris S.); and of Eltimaas (Ghostzapper), whose champion son Drefong (Gio Ponti) has made a strong impression with his first few crops to race in Japan. B-Kinya Murakami

4th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
ROUGE CHOUETTE (JPN) (f, 2, Curlin–Dancing Rags, by Union Rags) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for her dam, upset winner of the 2016 GI Darley Alcibiades S. and later sold to Nobutaka Tada for $1.1 million carrying this filly at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Dancing Rags is a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Coup de Grace (Tapit) and to Kara's Match Point (Curlin), the dam of three winners from four to race since her export to Japan in 2016. Rouge Chouette's third dam is champion and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Jewel Princess (Key to the Mint). B-Mint Co.

5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
AMERICAN CHIEF (c, 2, Into Mischief–Good Vibes, by Unbridled's Song) cost owner Katsumi Yoshizawa–who raced 2019 Triple Crown participant Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) and countless other 'American' horses–$475,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The bay is the final foal out from his dam, who was also responsible for Sweet Orange (ex Warning Flag) (War Front), a stakes winner and Group 3-placed in Ireland before continuing his career in Hong Kong, where he won the 2012 Hong Kong Classic Mile and was third in that year's Hong Kong Derby before finishing third in the G1 QE II Cup. The mare also produced Irish Group 3 winner Intelligence Cross (War Front). B-Orpendale/Wynatt/Chelston (KY)

11th-HSN, ¥35,040,000 ($238k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1400m
GREAT SAND SEA (c, 3, Into Mischief–Game for More, by More Than Ready) is perfect in two starts outside of stakes competition and at 1400 meters, including an impressive victory at Chukyo back in March (video, SC 8). His two losses to date have come at the hooves of the classy Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), who defeated him 4 1/2 lengths into fifth when last seen in the G3 Unicorn S. going a mile at Tokyo June 18. A half-brother to GSW/GISP Giant Game (Giant's Causeway), MGSW/GISP Isotherm (More Than Ready) and GISP Gio Game (Gio Ponti), Great Sand Sea was a $385,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $825,000 OBS March breezer. Leading rider Yuga Kawada takes the call. B-H Allen Poindexter (KY)

 

 

12th-HSN, ¥21,740,000 ($147k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
AWESOME RESULT (f, 3, Justify–Blossomed, by Deputy Mininster) graduated in a single appearance at two over this track and trip last November and remained unbeaten with a three-length allowance success back here June 10 (video, SC 10). Awesome Result, the mount of Yutaka Take, is a half-sister to GI Spinaway S. upsetter Sippican Harbor (Orb) and to Grade III-placed Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft), herself the dam of three-time Japanese winner Ju Taro (Arrogate). The yearling full-sister to Awesome Result was RNAd on a bid of $520,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last month after selling for $350,000 at Keeneland November last fall. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)

 

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