Bishops Bay Skips Over Heels and On To ‘Rising Star’-dom at the Fair Grounds

Bishops Bay (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, {SW & GISP, $280,540}, by Pioneerof the Nile) posted a noteworthy 97 Beyer Speed Figure on debut Feb. 18 at the Fair Grounds, defeating next-out 'Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) in the process and showed his own 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy determination Sunday at the venue in his first trip at two-turns.

Breaking in line with First Defender (Quality Road) and keen to go with that one, the Triple Crown-nominated bay was forced to take back when that early leader crossed over in front of him and wound up clipping heels going into the first turn. In an excellent display of athleticism to stay on his feet, he overcame the early trouble to recover and return to applying pressure from two wide in that leader. The colts locked horns around the far turn and Bishops Bay eventually got the best of that one inside the furlong grounds. Inching away from that challenge, he had to fend off a second from stablemate Demolition Duke (Good Magic) as that one loomed large in the late stages. Rising to meet yet another question, he gamely provided an answer and held off the charge by a neck on the line.

The year younger half-brother to 2021 $825,000 KEENOV procurement Strava (Into Mischief), MSP, $282,340 hails from the female family of GSP Mindy Sue (Pleasantly Perfect), who herself produced MSP Malibu Max (Malibu Moon). Bishops Bay commanded a handsome tag of $450,000 at KEESEP from the BSW/Crow Colts Group back in 2021. Dam Catch My Drift hit the board in the GI Beldame S., and as a broodmare has also produced a 2-year-old colt by Constitution as well as a yearling filly by Improbable. She's due to Not This Time for 2023.

6th-Fair Grounds, $51,000, Alw (NW2L)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-19, 3yo, 1m 70y, 1:43.77, ft, neck.
BISHOPS BAY, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
                1st Dam: Catch My Drift {SW & GISP, $280,540}, by Pioneerof the Nile)
                2nd Dam: Drift to the Lead, by Yonaguska
                3rd Dam: Drifa, by Tobasco Cat
Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $72,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, LLC, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Winners Win, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm, LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Second Chances: Street Sense 3yo Colt on a ‘Mission’

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

First Mission (c, 3, Street Sense–Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro) earned a gaudy 96 Beyer Speed Figure sprinting on debut on the GII Risen Star S. undercard at Fair Grounds Feb. 18. And he didn't even get his picture taken.

The Triple Crown-nominated Godolphin homebred fell three-quarters of a length short to his highly touted and Brad Cox-trained stablemate Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) in a very live-looking, six-furlong maiden special weight that day.

Given a 9-2 chance on debut as part of a commonly owned entry, the blinkered First Mission chased in fifth as the heavily favored Bishops Bay sat in the garden spot in second through an opening quarter in a sharp :22.14.

Up a couple of slots into third while racing in between rivals on the far turn, First Mission revved up three wide while ridden leaving the quarter pole and loomed boldly while hanging on his left lead as the very confidently handled Bishops Bay enjoyed first run and spun them in.

First Mission reached even terms and looked to have a big shot despite drifting some in the stretch, but Bishops Bay was going just a little bit better and responded nicely once finally sat down by Florent Geroux to earn his diploma at first asking in a race that didn't deserve a loser. It was a long way back to Bettera (Blame) in third.

“He was always a horse that we liked from when he was down in Florida last year being pre-trained,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said. “He had a few little juvenile issues and (Godolphin rehab trainer) Johnny Burke rehabbed him and got him going again. When he arrived in Brad's barn, he was pretty enthusiastic about him and always held him in high regard.”

First Mission's GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire Street Sense is responsible for 12 Grade I winners. First Mission was produced by the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Elude, a daughter of Argentinian champion 3-year-old filly and MG1SW Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar).

First Mission worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 (42/52) Mar. 11 and will stretch out to two turns for his second career start going 1 1/16 miles against 10 rivals in New Orleans on Saturday. The aforementioned Bishops Bay returns in an optional claimer going two turns at Fair Grounds Sunday.

“Running over three-quarters down at the Fair Grounds, we were very impressed with how he did that knowing that he wants to stretch out,” Banahan said.

“We're really looking forward to seeing him in his next start. If he can perform as well as we anticipate off his debut, we'll have a nice spring-summer with him.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner and Ashford Stud stallion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and GI Forego S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), GI Carter H. winner and Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

Other standouts appearing in the series include: last Saturday's GI Beholder Mile S. winner A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo); GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause); GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity and GII San Felipe S. third-place finisher Skinner (Curlin); GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags); GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro); GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway); MSW & 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); SW & GSP War At Sea (War Front); and SW & 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate).

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Uncle Mo’s Bishops Bay Gives Trainer Brad Cox Win #2,000

5th-Fair Grounds, $70,000, Msw, 2-18, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.07, ft, 3/4 length.
BISHOPS BAY (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift {SW & GISP, $280,540}, by Pioneerof the Nile) was a popular wagering choice for his career bow, breaking from the gates as the 1-2 chalk under jockey Florent Geroux. With good early speed from mid pack, the $450,000 Keeneland yearling moved between rivals to just sit just off the flank of pacesetter Ocean City (American Pharoah) through a quick opening quarter in :22.14. Applying consistent pressure to that early leader into the far turn, Bishops Bay took over under his own power as the top pair swung into the turn. A game First Mission (Street Sense) made a late run down the stretch but Bishops Bay had enough of a gap built up to hold off his stablemate by three-quarters of a length for a Brad Cox exacta. Ocean City came home fourth while Unload (Gun Runner) and St. John's (Hard Spun) were the last two home. Catch My Drift, herself an accomplished race mare, is also responsible for Strava (Into Mischief), MSP, $282,340. Her 2-year-old Constitution colt brought $575,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and she dropped a filly by Improbable last year before visiting Not This Time for the 2023 season. Sales History: $450,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, LLC, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Winners Win, Michael Caruso & WinStar Farm, LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Saturday Insights: Half To Jackie’s Warrior Leads Stacked Fair Grounds Field

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

5th-FG, $70K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:00 p.m.

Purchased by Coolmore's M V Magnier as a weanling for $600,000 just one hip after his dam herself brought $850,000 in foal to Into Mischief at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, OCEAN CITY (American Pharoah) is the fifth foal out of Unicorn Girl (A.P. Five Hundred), making him a half-brother to champion male sprinter and MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music). The colt drilled five furlongs from the gate in 1:00 4/5 (2/42) Jan. 27 and again in 1:00 3/5 (2/37) Feb. 3 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Veteran John Velazquez gets the call.

Just to his inside is stablemate Unload (Gun Runner), a Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred out of a full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly Untapable and a half-sister to GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}). This is also the family of GISP Red Route One (Gun Runner). He worked his own five furlongs Feb. 3  in 1:00 3/5 (2/37).

Brad Cox unveils $450,000 Keeneland September yearling Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) for a large ownership group including Spendthrift Farm. Out of SW & GISP Catch My Drift (Pioneerof the Nile), the colt is a half to MSP Strava (Into Mischief).

The first half of a coupled entry for Godolphin, First Mission (Street Sense)'s second dam is champion 3-year-filly in Argentina Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar). From a heavy South American family, he counts G1SW Chanta Joy (Arg) (Fortify) and GSWs South Marshy (Arg) (Southern Halo) and South March (Arg) (Southern Halo) as members of his extended family.

Godolphin's other entry, St. John's (Hard Spun) is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Bay of Plenty (Medaglia d'Oro) and GISP and leading Argentina sire Fortify (Distored Humor). This is the family of GISW Flagbird (Nureyev), GISW Little Belle (A.P. Indy) and GISP Lady Alexandra (More Than Ready). TJCIS PPS

 

8th-SA, $75K, Aoc, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 7:06 p.m.

Last seen beating only a trio of rivals home in the GI Cotillion S. in September, ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo) returns to the races and once again is under the tutelage of trainer Bob Baffert. A 13-length winner of the GIII Las Virgenes nearly a year ago, the bay fired a bullet two works back Feb. 3 (five furlongs in :59) and picks up Juan Hernandez for the first time. TJCIS PPS

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