Tag: Bright Future

Bright Future Follows In Dad’s Hoofprints In Jockey Club Gold Cup

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's lightly raced Bright Future (Curlin), a well-backed 7-2 in Saturday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. at Saratoga, dug down deep beneath the ageless Javier Castellano to hold off Proxy (Tapit) by a nose and punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

“It was a good spot to try a Grade I and he delivered a big performance,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “In order to go to the next one, he's going to need to make another move forward. It appears to be pretty wide open, the older horse division. I guess we will learn a little more in California tomorrow or Monday. We'll see.”

Showing good speed from his wide draw, the $350,000 KEESEP yearling chased pacesetting Warrior Johny (Cairo Prince) through a half-mile in :48.86. Clocking the front-runner's every move into the final half-mile, Bright Future was felt for and came with a two-wide run around the turn and was on even terms at the quarter pole.

Set down in upper stretch, Bright Future went by Warrior Johny with relative ease and got the bob in over the aforementioned last-out GIII Monmouth Cup S. winner. The latter raced just behind the pace, found daylight about four off the inside at the three-sixteenths and attacked the line willingly, but was on the losing end of the photo.

Bright Future, a sharp debut winner going a mile at Gulfstream last March, was third in his only subsequent start at three. He won two of four previous tries this term, including a last out optional claiming victory at the Spa with a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure July 21. He was eased in his lone prior attempt versus stakes company in the 12-furlong GII Brooklyn S. June 10.

“He's a horse that we've always thought a lot of,” Pletcher said. “I've got to give the Violas and the Repoles a lot of credit because we've had to kind of tap on the brakes a few times along the way and they gave him time to develop. We probably got a little ambitious when we tried the Brooklyn, maybe didn't have quite the foundation to be ready to go a mile and a half at that stage. We regrouped with the allowance race here and I thought it was a powerful performance, so from that time on we've been pointing for this and the horse has trained exceptionally well. Coming into it, we were optimistic he was ready to make a move forward.”

Winning co-owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola also teamed up to campaign Curlin's Vino Rosso, who concluded his career with an emphatic win in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic after getting controversially disqualified from a win in this same race at Belmont Park in 2019.

“I had a horse by Curlin named Vino Rosso that couldn't put it together at three, but now [Bright Future] has put it together at four,” Repole said. “I named the horse Bright Future for a reason. I knew he was going to be a later 3-year-old, 4-year-old horse and so far his name is fitting right now.”

After celebrating his first GI Kentucky Derby win aboard Mage (Good Magic) earlier this spring, the momentum has continued into the summer for Castellano. He is also the regular rider of GI Belmont S. winner and GI Travers S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate).

“Thank God,” Castellano said. “I've been blessed, very lucky and very fortunate to ride the best horses, especially with Todd Pletcher, one of the best trainers in the country. He gave me the opportunity to ride this horse and that's the key. Keep positive and working hard, and see everything come around.”

Pedigree Notes:

Bright Future becomes the 22nd winner at the highest level for leading sire Curlin. He is the first Jockey Club Gold Cup winner for Curlin, a back-to-back winner of this race in 2007-08. Bellamy Road is also the broodmare sire of fellow Grade I winners Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Cave Rock (Arrogate).

Bright Future's dam SW & GSP Sophia's Song is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Booth (Mitole), a $225,000 OBS March purchase by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Jackpot Farm; a Tiz the Law colt of 2022; and a Maxfield colt of this year. She was bred back to Jackie's Warrior.

Saturday, Saratoga Race Course
JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP S.-GI, $1,000,000, Saratoga, 9-2, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:03.00, ft.
1–BRIGHT FUTURE, 126, c, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Sophia's Song (SW & GSP, $155,892),
                                by Bellamy Road
                2nd Dam: Dreamscape, by Mt. Livermore
                3rd Dam: Big Dreams, by Great Above
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; Javier Castellano. $550,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-2, $716,940. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue style pedigree.
2–Proxy, 126, h, 5, Tapit–Panty Raid, by Include. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham. $200,000.
3–Tyson, 126, c, 4, Tapit–Honouring, by Smart Strike. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O/B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc & Stretch Run Ventures, LLC (KY); T-Josie Carroll. $120,000.
Margins: NO, 2 1/4, NO. Odds: 3.75, 4.10, 5.50.
Also Ran: Clapton, Duke of Love, Rattle N Roll, Warrior Johny, Unbridled Bomber.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV .

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Insight Outcomes: Clairiere Looks Poised for a Big 2022

Only two races were profiled this week and they featured opposite ends of the spectrum: a returning Grade I winner and a colt just kicking off his career. One is slated to face a champion next while the other will meet winners for the first time. However, they have a common thread as both are by Hill 'n' Dale's leading sire Curlin.

Wednesday's Insights: GISW Clairiere Returns at Fair Grounds

7th-Fair Grounds, $56,000, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-16, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.21, ft, 6 1/2 lengths.

After closing out her 2021 campaign with a close-up fourth and a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 6, CLAIRIERE (f, 4, Curlin–Cavorting {MGISW, $2,063,000}, by Bernardini) had no problem getting back on track in an optional allowance at Fair Grounds, only the second time in her 11-race career she hasn't competed in a Grade I or Grade II race. The Steve Asmussen trainee was last early, tipped wide into the lane, and won easily under a nearly motionless Joel Rosario ride despise switching to her wrong lead and lugging in. If the effort is indicative of her campaign to come, Clairiere will be a force to be reckoned with in 2022.

The Stonestreet homebred–already a winner of the GI Cotillion S. and GII Rachel Alexandra S., as well as on the board in five other graded events–got a 96 Beyer for the race, identical to the numbers for the 2022 debuts of other division leaders Letruska (Super Saver) and As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). Both Clairiere and Letruska, who was named Eclipse champion older female for 2021, are targeting the $1-million GI Apple Blossom S., slated for Apr. 23 at Oaklawn.

Clairiere is the first foal for Cavorting, a $360,000 purchase as a weanling for Stonestreet at the 2012 Keeneland November sale. She won the 2015 GI Test S., the 2016 GI Ogden Phipps S., and the 2016 GI Personal Ensign S., as well as three Grade II events. Cavorting's fifth dam was Goofed (Court Martial {GB}), who was best known as the dam of Lyphard (Northern Dancer). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Saturday's Insights: Pletcher Unveils Pair of Curlin Colts

9th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-19, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.48, ft, 4 3/4 lengths.

How often have we seen a Hall of Fame trainer send out a pair of contenders, only to have the longer price of the two come home the winner? Such was the case with Todd Pletcher's BRIGHT FUTURE (c, 3, Curlin–Sophia's Song {SW & GSP, $155,892}, by Bellamy Road) Saturday. Both Bright Future and Gasoline (Curlin) were making their career debuts, with Gasoline setting the pace until collared by his stablemate, who won in a visually impressive performance. Gasoline–the first foal out of 2016 GI Frizette S. winner Yellow Agate (Gemologist)–held for third.

Bright Future was one of 15 yearling colts purchased in partnership between Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable at the 2020 Keeneland September sale, not including a $1.2-million colt with additional partners. Four of those 15–or five of the 16 if including the $1.2-million colt, who is as yet unnamed–were by Curlin, with Bright Future the second from the bottom of their Curlin purchases in terms of price at $350,000.

The other debuter in the field was Bill Mott's Dual Threat (Into Mischief), a George Krikorian homebred who got bumped at the start. Mott isn't known to crank up his first-time starters, so it's safe to say he'll likely benefit from the experience. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Curlin Colt Kicks Home Impressively at Gulfstream

9th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-19, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.48, ft, 4 3/4 lengths.
BRIGHT FUTURE (c, 3, Curlin–Sophia's Song {SW & GSP, $155,892}, by Bellamy Road) was the less fancied of a pair of Todd Pletcher-trained Curlin newcomers at 4-1, and broke well before eventually backing off and allowing his stablemate Gasoline (Curlin) to establish the early lead. The blaze-faced chestnut bided his time in third off the inside behind soft splits, and ranged up to re-engage Gasoline approaching the straight. He put away that foe pretty easily in upper stretch, and finished with a flourish to run up the score to 4 3/4 lengths. Sixth-time starter Logico (Violence) tagged Gasoline for second. The winner's dam was also trained by Pletcher for a one-mile stakes victory at and Laurel and narrow third in the 2016 GIII Charles Town Oaks. Produced by a full-sister to champion Housebuster (Mt. Livermore), Sophia's Song has a 2-year-old Into Mischief filly who brought $300,000 at KEESEP and a yearling colt by Mitole. She was bred to Tiz the Law for 2022. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Saturday’s Racing Insights: Pletcher Unveils Pair of Curlin Colts

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

9th-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, post time: 4:38 p.m.
GASOLINE (Curlin) debuts Saturday for owners Harrell Ventures LLC and China Horse Club and trainer Todd Pletcher. The homebred son of leading sire Curlin, who gets 13% debut winners, is the first foal out of Yellow Agate (Gemologist), winner of the GI Frizette S. to cap an undefeated juvenile season. The China Horse Club purchased Yellow Agate as a yearling for $210,000 from the 2015 Keeneland September Sale and campaigned her throughout her racing career. She has since produced two fillies and one colt, all by Quality Road. Gasoline went through the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, but did not meet his reserve at $435,000. Harrell Ventures appears to have bought in after that.

Breaking just to Gasoline's outside is another Todd Pletcher firster by Curlin, the perhaps appropriately named Bright Future. Purchased for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale by Repole Stable and St Elias Stable, the chestnut colt is the second foal and first to race out of the SW and GSP Sophia's Song (Bellamy Road).

Also of note is the Bill Mott-trained newcomer Dual Threat (Into Mischief). His dam, a daughter of Thunder Gulch out the GSW Golden Gale (Summer Squall), was winless herself but has produced three winners from four to race including GSP Fleetwood (Munnings) and SW Cakewalk (Majesticperfection). Second dam Golden Gale (Summer Squall) took the 1996 GII Beaumont S. TJCIS PPs

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