Making Waves: Grade A Ballet At Saratoga

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 Bolshoi Ballet in a the Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga Race Course.

 

A Song And A Dance At Saratoga

Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) delivered his second Grade I in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga on Saturday (video). Successful in the GI Belmont Derby two years previously, the 5-year-old entire won for Aidan O'Brien.

Bred by Lynch-Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, the son of Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa) is a full-brother to G2 Sandown Classic and G3 Irish St. Leger Trial hero Southern France (Ire), who was also third in the G1 Irish St Leger.

The great Galileo was the stallion linchpin for many years at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and Bolshoi Ballet is one of 99 Grade/Group 1 winners for the deceased son of Sadler's Wells. In the U.S., 64 of his 175 runners (36%) have won, with 27 of them (15%) winning stakes. An outstanding 15 scored at the highest level (8.6%), including three-time top-level winner Cape Blanco (Ire).

 

Honourable Mention

Grade II winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) continued to pad his resume with a 3 1/2-length score in the GIII Saranac S. at Saratoga for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trainer Chad Brown on Friday (video). The son of graded stakes winner Zindaya first featured in Making Waves in February.

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Making Waves: A Wolf Party At Saratoga

   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 victories of a quartet by Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega (Ire).

 

Lope De Vega Filly Best At Saratoga

Making her debut, Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) eked out a win at Saratoga for Cheyenne Stable, LLC and Christophe Clement (video).

Bred by the Fleche D'Or Partnership, the bay was a 350,000gns yearling at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The second winner for her dam Cercle D'Or (Ire) who also won at two, the filly has a yearling half-sister by Frankel (GB). Dual-purpose sire Golden Horn (GB), who won the G1 Derby and the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and two other top-level races, is a half-brother to Cercle D'Or.

Lope De Vega's progeny have a strong success rate in America, with 37 of his 68 runners (54%) becoming winners. His seven stakes winners (10%) now include six at the graded level, with Program Trading (GB) joining Newspaperofrecord (Ire) and Aunt Pearl (Ire) as a Grade I winner this past weekend and Carl Spackler earning his graded stripes on Friday.

 

 

Queen For A Day

German group winner Kalifornia Queen (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) won for the first time in over two years with a tally at Saratoga on Friday (video). Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, LLC, First Row Partners, and Michael Caruso, the 6-year-old has collected a litany of stakes-placings on both sides of the Atlantic, with a third in the 2021 GI E. P. Taylor S. among them.

Bred by Stall Torjager, the chestnut was purchased for €70,000 out of the BBAG October Mixed Sale in 2018. Sent into training with Henk Grewe, she made seven starts in Germany and France for her breeders, with her best effort a victory in the 2020 G2 Diana-Trial. Put through Arqana's sales ring the same day as her European finale, the filly realized €260,000 at the 2020 'The Arc' Sale. Out of G3 German St. Leger heroine Kaldera (Ger) (Sinndar {Ire}), who was third in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis at four, Kalifornia Queen is the last known foal out of her dam.

 

 

Honourable Mentions

Now a Grade I winner with his strike in Saturday's Saratoga Derby Invitational S., Program Trading (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the third progeny of his sire to feature in Making Waves this week. Already highlighted in a May column, the 19th Grade/Group 1 winner for his sire is a son of Dreamlike (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and secured the victory for Klaravich Stables, Inc. and trainer Chad Brown.

 

Friday afternoon marked the win of 'TDN Rising Star' and fellow Lope De Vega-sired colt Carl Spackler (Ire) in Saratoga's rescheduled GII Hall of Fame S. (video). The e Five Racing Thoroughbreds-owned Brown trainee was already featured in February, and is his sire's 116th stakes winner and 65th group/graded winner worldwide.

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Saratoga’s Hall Of Fame S. Rescheduled Friday

After a deluge of rainfall this past week in the Saratoga Springs area, last Friday's $500,000 GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. for 3-year-old colts at a mile over the grass was postponed seven days, as an interesting mix of American and European invaders reconvene on the Inner Turf.

With conditions which could be soft to yielding, trainer Chad Brown saddles three entries with GISP Appraise (Ire) Kodiac {GB}), Mischievous Angel (Into Mischief) and Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), while also present is the winner of GIII Manila S. July 7 in Elmont, More Than Looks (More Than Ready) from the stable of Cherie DeVaux, who was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite and cross-entered in the GII Secretariat S. at Colonial Downs on Saturday.

General Jim (Into Mischief) gets back to the turf, something he hasn't tried since he was a juvenile. The Shug McGaughey trainee won the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on the Derby undercard and then was a well-beaten sixth to Arabian Lion (Justify) in the GI Woody Stephens on Belmont S. Day.

As for the European contingent, who customarily relish a saturated course, Ocean Vision (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) ships over. The bay colt competed in Ireland, France and Qatar and is trained by Godolphin Flying Start program grad Tim Donworth and was last seen running fifth June 11 in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac at ParisLongchamp. He will be joined by Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby, who will look to harness some of that late speed that he flashed the last time he was in North America when he won the GI Summer S. at Woodbine over Appraise as a juvenile.

 

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An Invitation To Keeneland Opening Day

Everyone's invited, as 2023 Opening Day at Keeneland has arrived. Certainly, there are swollen pools for wagering, the canorous voice of track announcer Kurt Becker, the fine warp and weft of Sunday's best worn mid-week and enough to feast on, even if you don't have the foggiest what's in burgoo.

We already know that the Spring meet at the old Keene Farm, hosted by the Association will card its share of tough, competitive fields. Before the 86th running of the $600,000 GI Central Bank Ashland S., spring has not officially 'sprung' until the 15-day season opens Friday, Apr. 7 with that feature. To say that this year's edition is stakes-laden would be a massive understatement, as it will present 19 black-type races, including five Grade I events, worth a season record $8.05 million.

“For Central Kentucky and fans of Thoroughbred racing around the world, April means Keeneland,” said the track's President and CEO, Shannon Arvin. “We are excited once again to offer world-class racing to horsemen, horsewomen, horseplayers and fans and to present a fantastic experience for our guests that is centered around outstanding hospitality and the best in Thoroughbred racing.”

Keeneland Spring meet | Keeneland

Keeneland is all about being 'world class' and there is a reason that the best come to participate. Trainers like Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown and Brad Cox will look to topple the hegemony of Wesley Ward, who has held the top spot these past few years. Speaking to TDN's Writers' Room this week, Cox said he held the meet in high regard and earning the top prize would be yet another feather in his cap.

“Yeah, there's no doubt. I mean, obviously I'm from Kentucky,” he said during the podcast. “It means a tremendous amount to me. We try to come out and with some of our better horses and we point for the meet. Listen, Turfway has really gotten good in the winter, but I mean, it's almost like it's the start of the spring, basically, for racing.”

Cox added, “Obviously you've got Chad [Brown] and Todd [Pletcher] who play huge roles in that meet [Keeneland]. They're two of the best there are and they bring their best for that meet. So, the spring and fall meet are extremely tough to win at and we definitely try to be competitive and one of the players there for sure.”

One of those players for Cox is Punch Bowl (Uncle Mo), who is entered in the Ashland against Mark Casse's Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and Pletcher's Julia Shining (Curlin). He also has undefeated Wonderful Justice (GB) (Justify) in the $600,000 GIII Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. going a mile and sixteenth on the Haggin Turf Course. The 3-year-old colt will face Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a 'TDN Rising Star' trained by Brown.

As for others with high hopes, you do not have to crane your neck through the double doors marked Jockey's Quarters just off the palatial paddock at Keeneland to know that there is much on the line when it comes to this title. It might be a short meet compared to others, but with Irad Ortiz Jr., the reigning Eclipse Award winner who just wrapped up another leading rider ribbon at Gulfstream Park in attendance for the duration, plus with last year's victor Tyler Gaffalione, we know it's going to be another rumble.

One of the many jockeys who is looking to put his own stamp on the meet is Reylu Gutierrez. The 27-year-old from New York had a banner year in 2022, which included time at Keeneland in both the fall and the spring. He recently won the riding title at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans over the winter, which was a milestone first. Coming back to Lexington with confidence packed neatly in his suitcase, he is looking to sharpen his skills and prove something.

Reylu Gutierrez | Nicole Thomas

“When you are at the top of the standings like I was at the Fair Grounds, it pushes you further to maintain that steadiness,” he said by phone. “That's when you have to be at your best and I'm very confident in my program.”

Gutierrez will face the likes of Ortiz and Gaffalione, but also Hall of Famers like John Velazquez, Javier Castellano and Frankie Dettori, plus a host of other seasoned pilots, including Luis Saez, Joel Rosario, Flavien Prat and Florent Geroux. The pressure is real.

“It's a fun pressure,” Gutierrez was quick to point out. “I've had the opportunity to ride for a number of different trainers at the Fair Grounds this past year, so that's given me a great base and coming to Keeneland, where you know everyone wants to win, is a blessing to have.”

While the trainer and jockey standings will be closely watched on Opening Day, something the multitude can trust is that Keeneland will continue its devotion to the health of the horse. When it comes to safety and security, Keeneland is one of the leaders.

Dr. Stuart Brown, Vice President of Equine Safety, is full of gusto on the subject and he backs it up with a positive message about the plan. “Foundationally for the horse, previous experience tells us that it is in their best interest to have lots of surveillance, and that's where our vet cameras that look at all angles become an important tool for us, but that's not all.” said Dr. Brown.

Keeneland assails the prosaic and builds its own culture from the bottom up, brick-by-brick. “Everyone that works here knows we prepare and prepare by training ourselves to watch for what might happen,” he said. “Whether you are the head of equine safety or a crossing guard, we are always looking in our rearview mirrors to be an advocate for the horse.”

Dr. Stuart Brown | Keeneland

While Keeneland is racing this month, the track will employ three full-time ambulances with state-of-the-art equipment, which can whisk Thoroughbreds to nearby equine hospitals that are only minutes away. That is how Epicenter, who was injured in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last November, received the effective treatment that he needed. “Our risk strategies help guide us, but we also stay nimble by being intentional with everything we do,” Dr. Brown said. “This isn't about striving to be the best, it's about driving to be the best, and the horses are worth it.”

Opening Day will offer a unique challenge to the trainers and the jockeys when the Spring meet gets underway Friday. However, Keeneland is also much more when it comes to honoring the sport of Thoroughbred racing. It's a place where the cutting edge is drawn comfortably alongside a timeless tradition. April means Keeneland, as Shannon Arvin put it so succinctly.

Your invitation is issued.

Keeneland's Spring meet races for 15 days from Apr. 7-28. No racing Mondays, Tuesdays and Easter Sunday, Apr. 9. Click here for more information.

 

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