Patrice Cottier trainee Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}–Crown Of Flowers {GB}, by Garswood {GB}) had collected prizemoney for the Gousserie Racing and Jean-Etienne Dubois partnership in all three prior black-type outings and held firm against a strong British raiding party to double her freshman sire's pattern-race tally in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly.
The 28-5 chance, who had hit the board in the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix Six Perfections earlier in the campaign, was well away to stalk the leading duo in a handy third from flagfall. Inching into second at halfway, she was shaken up passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once gaining an edge with 150 metres remaining to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from G3 Prix Eclipse victrix Dawn Charger (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). Seven Questions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was up with the pace throughout and kept on well to finish 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
“Classic Flower had not been blessed with luck in her last couple of races [over seven furlongs] and six is probably her optimum trip,” said Pauline Chebhoub. “She was freshened up, the break did her a lot of good and she looked outstanding in the preliminaries today. Travelling handy is probably better for her and she deserved to win at this level. She will come back next year with Classic ambition.”
Pedigree Notes
Classic Flower is the first of two reported foals out of a half-sister to MGSP Listed Pipalong S. and Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' S. victrix Bahia Breeze (GB) (Mister Baileys {GB}), herself the dam of G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Beshaayir (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Brioniya (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut's dam is also kin to the dam of the dual stakes-placed Rock On Baileys (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) while Brioniya threw Listed Grand Prix de Marseille third Bakhchisaray (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). Half-sister to a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB), she is from the family of Preakness-winning US champion Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}), MGISW sire Bates Motel (Sir Ivor) and GI San Antonio H. hero Hatim (Exclusive Native).
Smart performance! Classic Flower continues the good form of Patrice Cottier with victory in the Group 2 Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/u7sfdgLO06
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.
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.
Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3)
2.200 m -350.000 USD – for 3yo mares
Aqueduct
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.
.@ChristinaFDTV called it as #1 READY TO VENTURE ($16.30) gets it done in the $150,000 Seaway Stakes (G3) at @WoodbineTB. Mare is a homebred for Lael Stables. Rafael Hernandez had the call.
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.
Ever So Sweet
(Calyx – Shine , by Exceed And Excel )
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.
#11 SALT SPRAY (IRE) ($5.88) kicks away down the stretch to graduate nicely in the 3rd at @ChurchillDowns.
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 Zona Verde in a maiden race as the Del Mar meet wound to a close.
Seeing Green At The Seaside
The Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables and Michael Nentwig's Zona Verde (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) graduated at Del Mar in her U.S. debut on Friday (video).
Bred by Knockainey Stud, the 30,000gns Tattersalls October Book 3 buy-back raced in their purple-and-gold-checked silks for her first four starts, which were good for a pair of placings. Transferred from the yard of Ken Condon to Phil D'Amato, the second foal out of the winning Dark Angel (Ire) mare Namibie (GB) is a half-sister to a pair of colts–a yearling by Earthlight (Ire) and a weanling by Waldgeist (GB). Her second dam is the G3 Prix du Calvados heroine Mambia (GB) (Aldebaran).
One of 13 winners for her Coolmore Stud-based freshman sire, the filly is his second winner in America from three runners (66%). His first, Angiolleta (Ire), is also out of a Dark Angel mare and took third in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S.
Bregman Family Racing, LLC & WWBD LLC's No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) won for the third time in four starts with a victory in the Exacta Systems Rosie's S. (video). First featured in this column in May, this colt has won a trio of American stakes, with his only blip a ninth in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot.
NO NAY METS (IRE) ($2.60) is geared down across the wire after putting the field away in the $125,000 Rosie's Stakes at @ColonialDowns. Owned by Bregman Family Racing LLC and WWBD LLC (@ABREG_1), trained by George Weaver, and ridden by @jockeypacolopez. Congrats to all! pic.twitter.com/iJzjugFVqH
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 Elusive Princess, who won the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. on Friday.
Princess Reigns In Saratoga Oaks
LNJ Foxwoods, Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and NK Racing's Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) made her Stateside debut a winning one at Saratoga for trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois on Friday (video).
Bred by her trainer, she won three of her first four French starts for Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and was runner-up in the G3 Prix Cleopatre. LNJ Foxwoods and Dubois signed on as owners prior to the daughter of Elusive Action (Fr) (Elusive City) running a close second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary in May. Elusive Princess was making her first start since an unplaced run in the G1 Prix de Diane. A full-sister to a yearling filly, Elusive Princess is kin to the Group 3-winning sire Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), who was placed thrice at the highest level.
Elusive Princess is the first runner in the U.S. for her dual Japanese Group 3-winning sire, who stands at Haras de la Baie in France.
Klaravich Stables' Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) won the Listed De La Rose S. at Saratoga for Chad Brown on Wednesday. (video). The quadruple graded winner has been placed in both the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. and the GI Diana S.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the first foal out of her dam was a 200,000gns buy at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Sealife (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})'s latest foals are a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and a weanling full-sister to the winner. G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is under the third dam.
Juddmonte's Kingman has 30 winners from 54 runners (56%) in the U.S. His eight American stakes winners (15%) are anchored by three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) with Technical Analysis a close second.
Filly Continues Klaravich and Brown's Spa Success
GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. heroine McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was the second Saratoga stakes winner in two days for Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown with a victory in the GII Glens Falls S. on Thursday (video).
A 180,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 yearling, the bay was bred by Essafinaat UK, Ltd. The third foal and group/graded winner for G3 Oh So Sharp S. second Astrelle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}), the 4-year-old is a half-sister to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}). A half-sister to G2 Premio Ribot victor Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), Astrelle has the winning 3-year-old colt Lieber Power (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), as well as fillies by Calyx (GB) and Pinatubo (Ire), born in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Frankel's 44 U.S. runners have 25 winners (56%) among them. McKulick is his first Grade I winner in that locale among his 10 American stakes winners (23%), although the Juddmonte stallion does have Canadian Grade I winner Wild Beauty (GB).
Bravo, Mon Amy!
Graded winner Amy C (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) collected her third career stakes victory in the Listed Daisycutter H. at Del Mar at the end of July (video). Representing Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, and Robert LaPenta, the 5-year-old mare took the GIII Las Cienegas S. in January for trainer Phil D'Amato and was placed in the GIII Intercontinental S. at Belmont in June.
A winner in two French starts for Franconson Partners, the D. Curran-bred was trained by Henry Spiller. The fourth foal and third winner for Alzahra (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Amy C has a 2-year-old half-brother named Rebel Empire (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) and a yearling half-sister by Wooded (Ire). Dual Guineas heroine Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is under the third dam.
Charming Thought's leading runner, Amy C is one of two winners from two to race in the U.S. The 11-year-old son of Oasis Dream (GB) stands at March Hare Stud for LM Stallions.
Great Friends Stable, LLC, James Cahill, Mark Davis and Ty Leatherman's Irish import Angiolleta (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) became the first U.S. winner for her Coolmore Stud-based sire with a win at Del Mar for trainer Doug O'Neill recently (video).
Bred by Wardley Bloodstock, the daughter of Angelic Guest (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) changed hands for 20,000gns as a Tattersalls December yearling in 2022. Runner-up in her second start in France for Mrs. R Hillen and trainer Christopher Head, the chestnut was purchased privately by her current connections shortly thereafter. A half-sister to a pair of fillies by New Bay (GB) and Ardad (Ire) born in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Angiolleta's extended family features multiple group winner Sovereign Debt (Ire), a full-brother to the winner's dam, as well as G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 scorer Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Freshman sire Calyx sports an 33% strike rate of 10 winners from 30 runners worldwide anchored by G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine Persian Dreamer. Angiolleta is one of two runners in the U.S.
Dark Angel Colt Is The Vintage Of Choice
Three Chimneys Farm and Stonestreet Stables, LLC's Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) graduated in his Del Mar bow for trainer Wesley Ward on Thursday (video). The KCS Bloodstock Ltd.-bred was third at first asking at Belmont in June.
Knocked down for €170,000 as a Goffs November foal, the grey was resold for 320,000gns as a Book 1 yearling at Tattersalls last October. The second foal and winner for The Mums (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is a half-sister to a pair of black-type horses, the colt has a yearling full-brother. G2 Temple S. winner Priceless (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is under the third dam.
Of Yeomanstown resident Dark Angel's 43 runners in the U.S., 25 (58%) have passed the post in front and six (14%) have landed at least one stakes victory. His trio of top-level winners are three-time Grade I winner-turned Gainesway sire Raging Bull (Fr), dual Grade I winner Althiqa (GB), and GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Hunt (Ire).
Turn On The Jets (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is now a three-time winner in the U.S. after scoring at Del Mar on Friday evening for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). The gelding is owned by the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano.
Bred by Mr. D. Byrne, the chestnut won once on the Dundalk all-weather for Martin and D Moylan and trainer Jack Davison before traveling Stateside. The 2022 Stormy Liberal S. winner is the first foal out of the winning Dandy Man (Ire) mare Chiclet (Ire), who foaled a full-sister to Turn On The Jets in 2022. G1 Coronation Cup winner Pether's Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is under the third dam.
Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas has sired 13 winners from 21 runners (62%) in the U.S. His other three stakes winners besides Turn On The Jets (19%) have all won at the graded level–Grade I winners Going Global (Ire) and Chez Pierre (Fr)–while Quattroelle (Ire) has been placed in the GI Gamely S. besides her graded scores.
Honourable Mentions:
Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC, and Marsha Naify, padded his graded resume with a win in the GII Eddie Read S. at Del Mar on Sunday for trainer Phil D'Amato (video).
Bredman Family Racing LLC and WEBD, LLC's No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) bounced back to take Monmouth Park's Tyro S. after a fruitless Royal Ascot that same day for trainer George Weaver (video). The colt was ninth in the G2 Norfolk S. after taking the Royal Palm Juvenile S. at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
Ever So Sweet 
– Shine 
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