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‘She’s Gotten Better And Better’: Civil Union Preps For Filly & Mare Turf

Allen Stable's homebred Civil Union worked a half-mile in 51 seconds flat in company with older allowance horse Sentry on the inner turf Sunday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for Saturday's Grade 1, $2-million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

“The company carried her along,” said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “She worked good. She's gotten better and better and stronger and stronger.”

The 5-year-old War Front mare extended her streak to four wins with a head score last out in the Grade 1, $250,000 Flower Bowl Invitational. The turf specialist arrived at the 10-furlong Widener turf test on a winning run-of-form that launched in a June 21 allowance tilt at Belmont and continued through scores in the 12-furlong River Memories on July 12 at Belmont and the 11-furlong Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga.

Racing from sixth position early under Joel Rosario in the Flower Bowl, Civil Union advanced gamely to notch a narrow head score over Filly and Mare Turf-rivals My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay.

McGaughey said Civil Union, who ran second in a turf allowance in October 2018, in her lone Keeneland start, has the ability to be tactical if needed.

“In the Flower Bowl she was back a little further than usual,” said McGaughey. “If she gets a decent post and breaks good and depending what some of the others do, I know Joel will have her where he wants her to be. She's pretty versatile. She can settle in behind or if she needs to be up close she can be up close.”

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Full-Sister to Gleneagles on Show at The Curragh

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday’s Observations features a full-sister to Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) et al.

12.30 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 7fT
Coolmore’s hitherto unraced JOAN OF ARC (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of two nominees set to carry the Derrick Smith colours for Aidan O’Brien and faces 16 rivals in this unveiling. The homebred bay is a daughter of G2 Cherry Hinton S. victress You’resothrilling (Storm Cat) and thus a full-sister to six stakes performers headed by MG1SW sire Gleneagles (Ire) and MG1SW G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Happily (Ire).
1.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT
John Oxx continues his farewell tour and sends forth Godolphin’s 200,000gns Tattersalls December foal purchase SAFECRACKER (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who is a half-brother to G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling). Opposition features a trio from Ballydoyle, including Derrick Smith’s The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a son of MGSW G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S. placegetter Flashy Wings (GB) (Zafonic).

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McGaughey Pointing Code Of Honor To Clark At Churchill Downs

W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a last-out second to Complexity in the Grade 2 Kelso, breezed a bullet half mile solo in 47.66 Sunday on a fast main track at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said the Noble Mission chestnut will target the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark, a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs -– although the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack remains under consideration.

“Code of Honor worked really good. I think the track pulled him along a bit but he's been doing good,” said McGaughey. “We'll see how he comes along in the next few weeks and then decide if we run here or go to the Clark, but I think the two turns and a mile and an eighth probably suits him better than the mile.”

A winner of last year's Grade 1 Runhappy Travers and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Code of Honor is out of the graded stakes winning Dixie Union mare Reunited.

McGaughey is likely to target the Grade 1 Cigar Mile with Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's Performer. The 4-year-old Speightstown chestnut earned a 98 Beyer last out when capturing an optional-claiming mile on Oct. 17 at Belmont off an 11-month layoff.

“Performer is doing good. If the track is OK tomorrow he'll work here,” said McGaughey.

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Spun to Run to Gainesway

Spun to Run (Hard Spun–Yawkey Way, by Grand Slam), winner of last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, will enter stud at Gainesway next season, the farm announced Sunday. The 4-year-old was also third in last year’s GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. and he captured the GIII Smarty Jones S. He ended his career with a runner-up effort behind champion 3-year-old Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the GI Cigar Mile H. On the board in 10 of 12 starts, Spun to Run won five times and earned $1,160,520.

“Great milers make great stallions,” said Gainesway’s Director of Stallion Sales and Recruitment Sean Tugel. “His speed figures at a mile were fantastic. To be able to run a 0 five times on the Thorographs as a 3-year-old takes a special talent. The Breeders’ Cup is the biggest stage and Spun to Run ran a very talented group of colts off their feet.”

Gainesway CEO Antony Beck added, “He possesses brilliant speed and he excelled as a miler. The Danzig sireline has provided top stallions worldwide and I am excited for Spun to Run’s future at Gainesway.”

Spun to Run will stand for $12,500 LFSN.

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