Managing partner Jack Knowlton and his fellow Sackatoga Stable owners stepped out of a yellow school bus at Churchill Downs to gain an upset victory with New York-bred gelding Funny Cide in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. In another unexpected twist, Knowlton and Sackatoga have returned to the national spotlight with another stellar New York-bred.
Finnick The Fierce Withdrawn From Kentucky Derby, To Undergo Independent Evaluation
Finnick the Fierce, the one-eyed fan favorite in tomorrow's Kentucky Derby, has been withdrawn from the race out of an abundance of caution. Owner Dr. Arnaldo Monge, who is a field care veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, said the gelding was on the radar for veterinary officials because of an unusual movement, which Monge attributes to the absence of the horse's right eye.
“Because he's blind on the right eye, he carries himself a little funny,” Monge told reporters Friday morning. “And we always knew that. But ever since he arrived, the vets have been keeping an eye on the horse and I'm telling Rey [Hernandez, trainer and co-owner], 'Well, they're concerned about this' and there might be a legitimate reason but a regular vet doesn't seem to think so. So we're always trying to do the best for the horse so we made the decision (to scratch) because we don't want to go tomorrow and we're all excited and then he gets scratched at the post.
“So we always said this is a horse for the long term. It was an honor to be selected (for the Derby) but at the end of the day the most important thing is the horse.”
Monge indicated that Finnick the Fierce would likely go to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for a complete, independent work-up to ensure there are no underlying issues. He also said Hernandez had planned to give the horse a rest after the Derby anyway, and depending upon the results of the exam at Rood and Riddle, he may get a vacation and return for either the Grade 1 Preakness or the Breeders' Cup.
“I didn't notice anything but it was always the right front,” Monge said. “That's the same side as his [missing] eye and it's always been that way. Rey rides the horse and said, 'This horse is fine' and that he didn't feel anything. I don't know. I know horse racing is under scrutiny all the time so I understand not trying to risk that publicity.”
With the withdrawal of Finnick the Fierce Friday and King Guillermo Thursday, the starting gate crew will leave gates 1, 2, 19 and 20 empty for tomorrow's start.
Thanks to the National Turfwriters and Broadcasters Association (NTWAB), which has assembled a group of pool reporters providing independent reporting to members unable to be on the Churchill Downs grounds this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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Lope de Vega’s La Barrosa a New Rising Star
Ascot’s seven-furlong Me2 Club EBF Future Stayers’ Maiden S. on Friday looked one for future Classic prospects on paper and it was the 2-1 favourite La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who came out on top to earn TDN Rising Star status. Having cost 750,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, Godolphin’s son of the multiple group-placed Bikini Babe (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) carried a sense of expectation despite the presence of Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), the half-brother to Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Settled in mid-pack early by James Doyle as the pace proved only tepid, the bay was launched between rivals passing the two-furlong pole and was soon in front with first run on Juddmonte’s keenly-anticipated fellow newcomer. Surging to the line with that rival in tow, he had 1 1/4 lengths to spare there as they pulled 2 3/4 lengths clear of the strongly-supported King Power-Roger Varian runner Greatgadian (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}) in third.
Doyle was impressed. “I had sat on him at home and he had worked nicely and pleased us, so we expected him to run well and his price reflected that,” he said. “He didn’t jump that quick and so I immediately found cover, which was the key to him as he was a bit bull-headed with me going down. Cover helped him relax and once I got a bit of a gap he quickened up really well. He can only keep stepping forward, as he can be a little bit wooden–he’s that way at home and can take me on nice so it was nice that he learned how to do it the right way round. When the gap came, he was in front a furlong and a half out which is a long way on a newcomer at Ascot. The second horse looked quite nice in the paddock and he’s shown a good turn of foot and won well. I’m sure a mile will not be a problem, as the dam operated in group races over a mile and a quarter and he’s got a good stride. He’s a big robust type and I’m sure we could see him a couple of times before the season is out. There might be options for him in France, where he could learn a bit more but Charlie will work it out, he does a great job of that.”
The aforementioned Bikini Babe was campaigned by Mark Johnston from seven to 12 1/2 furlongs, with her finest efforts being second placings in the 9 1/2-furlong Listed UAE Oaks on Tapeta and behind Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) in the 10-furlong G3 Prix de Psyche. Also runner-up in the G3 C.L. Weld Park S. and third in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial, she is a daughter of Zeiting (Ire) (Zieten) who was successful in stakes races in France and the States. Bikini Babe is one of six black-type performers she produced, with the trio of Combat Zone (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Royal Empire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) winning at group level.
Another of Zeiting’s daughters, the G3 Prix Miesque third Zut Alors (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), went on to throw four black-type runners of her own headed by the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and GIII Honey Fox S. winner Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and the smart listed-placed and Wokingham H.-winning sprinter Baccarat (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}) who raced for this stable. Zeiting is a half to the speedy and precocious G3 Prix du Bois scorer Dolled Up (Ire) (Whipper) and to Madany (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who has made her name as the dam of the G2 Hungerford S. winner and G1 2000 Guineas S. runner-up Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and last week’s impressive Newmarket winner Mujbar (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). The dam’s yearling is a filly by Tamayuz (GB) named Once (Ire).
3rd-Ascot, £18,000, Mdn, 9-4, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.54, g/s.
LA BARROSA (IRE), c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Bikini Babe (Ire) (GSP-Eng, GSP-Fr, GSP-Ire, SP-UAE, $147,237), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Zeiting (Ire), by Zieten
3rd Dam: Belle de Cadix (Ire), by Law Society
Sales history: 750,000gns Ylg ’19 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $15,464. O-Godolphin; B-Knocktoran Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
The post Lope de Vega’s La Barrosa a New Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Adrian Wallace on First-Crop Yearling Sires Classic Empire and Cupid
Three of Ashford Stud’s Grade I-winning stallions will be in the limelight in the coming weeks as they are represented by their first crop of yearlings in the sales ring.
Three-time GIW Practical Joke (Into Mischief), the regally-bred Cupid (Tapit) and juvenile champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) all ranked amongst the top of their class with the sale of their weanlings, and now look to continue the streak with their yearlings.
We sat down with Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace and discussed two of the young sires.
Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile):
Classic Empire headlined Ashford’s trio of freshman sires in 2018 with a $35,000 stud fee. He covered a book of 185 mares in his first year and averaged $108,925 with his weanlings and short yearlings with 27 of 36 sold. Now in the coming weeks, 22 of his yearlings are cataloged at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase, and an additional 61 are slated for the Keeneland September Sale.
KR: What were some of the big moments in Classic Empire’s juvenile season that led to his Eclipse Award for Champion 2-year-old?
AW: While Practical Joke may have done his best racing in New York, it’s safe to say that Classic Empire did his best racing in Kentucky. He broke his maiden in May at Churchill Downs, followed by the GIII Bashford Manor S. and the GI Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. To win in front of the breeders at Keeneland is very important for any stallion prospect, but then to go on and win at Santa Anita in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile really cemented his future as a stallion.
Classic Empire colt out of Victory Party | Thorostride
KR: What qualities do you believe defined his racing career?
AW: His longevity and determination as a 2-year-old, and the fact that he then came back as a 3-year-old and won the GI Arkansas Derby and finished second in the GI Preakness S, really showed what a tough horse he was not only to stay on the track for so long, but to be as brilliant as he was in all of those races.
KR: What have you seen in Classic Empire’s first crop? Are there any yearlings you’re excited to watch sell?
AW: The thing that struck me most about the Classic Empires is that they sold very well as weanlings. As a group, they were a very nice bunch. I think breeders were happy with what they saw.
The highest-priced Classic Empire colt to go through the sale at Keeneland was bought by Empire Bloodstock for $285,000 last November. He now sells at Keeneland as Hip 8. He’s out of Victory Party (Yankee Victor) and is from the same family as Into Mischief, Mendelssohn, and Beholder. He’s a wonderfully-moving horse with lots of quality and a great walk to him. He’s a horse that looks the complete package.
Hip 667 at Keeneland, a colt out of GSW Le Mi Geaux (First Samurai), is another one that I think is going to be very popular. He brought $250,000 as a weanling. He oozes quality and is very athletic.
Cupid (Tapit):
With a $12,500 initial stud fee, Cupid covered 223 mares in his first book before averaging $44,987 with 39 of 45 weanlings and short yearlings sold. This year, he will be represented by 13 yearlings cataloged at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase and 50 more at the Keeneland September Sale.
KR: Could you tell us about Cupid’s racing career that was campaigned by Coolmore?
AW: He’s from a family that we’ve had a long association with and Cupid was the one that really stood out for us. We paid $900,000 for him at the Keeneland September Sale.
Early on, he showed us that he was a horse that was going to win a lot of races. He famously won the GII Rebel S. early on in his career. Unfortunately, he didn’t make the Kentucky Derby, but he did come back later in the year to win the GII Indiana Derby and the GII West Virginia Derby, and then he got his Grade I in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. as a 4-year-old.
KR: What have been Cupid’s biggest selling points as a sire?
I think everyone wants a Tapit. We see it happening now with Constitution. Tapit is well on his way to becoming a sires of sires, and Cupid is our Tapit. He was a tough horse. I think what we remember most about his racing style was his ability to get into a rhythm quickly and maintain that high cruising speed.
He covered a lot of mares in his first book and he was very popular with the breeders. His stock ooze quality. They sold very well, with top prices last year including two selling for $130,000 and a third for $127,000.
KR: How have the yearlings reflected their sire? Are there any that come to mind as strong representations of Cupid himself?
AW: The thing about the Cupids is that they all have a lot of quality. You look at him- he’s a very attractive horse and stands over a lot of ground. With his progeny, I think they’re horses that are going to get better as they go farther. They’re very good looking, very correct and good movers.
One I really like is a colt out of Lisdoonvarna (Bodemeister), selling as Hip 209 at the Fasig-Tipton sale. He’s very well conformed, very strong and has lovely quality to him. He’s got a lovely head. He was one of the highest-priced Cupids that sold last year when selling for $127,000, and I think he will be very popular in the sales ring.
Another one I’m really looking forward to seeing is Hip 296 at Fasig-Tipton, a colt out of the mare Perdy (Tale of the Cat). I think the mating looks really good on paper. He is a lovely horse, picked up by Renne Dailey for $95,000 in January. I think he’ll do very well also.
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