Nashville Retires to WinStar

CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's track record-setting Nashville (Speightstown–Veronique, by Mizzen Mast) has been retired from racing and will stand alongside his sire at WinStar, the farm announced Thursday.

Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' off his impressive 11 1/2 length debut romp at Saratoga in September of 2020, the $460,000 KEESEP buy followed suit with a dominant Keeneland allowance win a month later, good for a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Nashville may not have won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, but he was the fastest sprint winner on the card. After sizzling through fractions of :21.54 for the opening quarter and :43.87 for the half-mile, Nashville sailed home the easiest of winners. Geared down in the late stages, he crossed the wire 3 1/2 lengths ahead of his nearest pursuer in the new track-record time of 1:07.89, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. Nashville's final clocking proved nearly a second faster than subsequent Eclipse Champion Sprinter Whitmore's time (1:08.61) in winning the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint later that same day.

This season, Nashville continued his winning ways with a 4/34-length, wire-to-wire victory at Fair Grounds in March, covering six furlongs in 1:08.61, the fastest sprint race of the entire Fair Grounds meet and the fastest time at that distance in more than two years.

“Nashville is the fastest horse we have ever had at WinStar,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar. “He is a freak of nature. Three times he went :43 and change; he led through the first quarter in every start and led after a half in all but one start. The brilliance he showed will give him a big chance at stud. Speightstown is always a plus, already having six sons to sire Grade I winners.”

By champion sprinter Speightstown, Nashville is out Veronique, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Almond Roca (Speightstown) and graded stakes-placed Calistoga (Speightstown), who was purchased by James Delahooke for $800,000 in foal to Collected at Keeneland November in 2020 just days after Nashville's powerhouse performance in the Perryville. He hails from the direct female family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, GI Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago, and graded stakes winner and Grade I-placed Stanwyck. Nashville was bred in Kentucky by Breffini Farm and purchased from the Lane's End consignment.

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Country Grammer, Life Is Good to WinStar for R&R

Following their performances in the GI Dubai World Cup, beaten favorite Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and race winner Country Grammer (Tonalist) are on their way to WinStar Farm for a freshening before they return to serious training. WinStar President and CEO Elliott Walden estimated that their stay at the farm will last from 30 to 45 days.

WinStar is the co-owner of both horses.

Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), who finished ninth in the GI Dubai Turf, is also being sent to WinStar.

The heavy favorite in the wagering, Life Is Good, who is also owned by the China Horse Club, suffered just the second defeat in his career. He led for most of the way but weakened in the final sixteenth of a mile, which suggests that the mile-and-a-quarter distance was not to his liking. He finished fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

“I thought he ran well,” Walden said. “We were obviously disappointed that he didn't win, but it's not like he laid down and threw in the towel. He ran hard. I think the track was not quite to his liking. They ran a mile-and-a-quarter in 2:04.97. In the Shaheen sprint they went in 1:11 and change. Those horses should have gone in 1:09. The mile-and-a-quarter on this type of track was a big factor.”

Before the Dubai World Cup, the GI Metropolitan S. had been mentioned as a possible starting spot for Life Is Good, but Walden said it was too early to make any plans so far as his future racing schedule.

Closing relentlessly in the final furlong, Country Grammer, also owned by Zedan Racing, drew clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow). He is trained by Bob Baffert, the former trainer of Life Is Good.

“Country Grammer ran super,” Walden said. “We felt like that if Life is Good stubbed his toe he could be a horse that could win and that's what happened.”

Walden said that no races had been picked out as of yet for Country Grammer but listed the GI Pacific Classic as a possibility.

As for Hot Rod Charlie, trainer Doug O'Neill said some time off at a farm is also a possibility for the four-year-old.

“He came back in good shape and I can tell you that we have no idea where we are going with him,” O'Neill said. “He'll come back to my barn and then we will go over him and talk with the owners. He may get a couple weeks at a local farm to graze and get some sun on his back. He's earned it. I was elated with how well he ran. We were so optimistic going into the gate and then mid-race it looked like it wasn't going to be his day. Then turning for him, he came running down the inside and I got to the point where I thought he might win. It was a whirlwind of emotions.”

 

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Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: China Horse Club

With the 2022 breeding season underway, we continue to feature a series of breeders' mating plans. Today we talk to China Horse Club's U.S. Representative Fabricio Buffolo.

CARA MARIE (m, 10, Unbridled's Song — Miss Kilroy, by A. P. Indy) to be bred to Uncle Mo

This mare is a beautiful individual from a European female family that was developed by the late Stonerside operation. They raced her second dam Miss Caerleona (FR) (Caerleon).

This year she goes back to Uncle Mo, which will be the same cross that produced her second foal GIIISW and GISP Girl Daddy. She also has a top-class yearling filly by Uncle Mo, so it's a cross that has been working.

COZZE UP LADY (m, 13, Cozzene — The White Lady, by Johannesburg) to be bred to Charlatan

This is a very nice, straightforward mare. We couldn't have been happier with such a nice comeback to the races this month for her second foal Kimari (Munnings) after selling for $2.7 million last November. Fingers crossed she defends her title in the GI Madison S. at Keeneland this spring.

This mare has a very nice Constitution yearling colt. Cozze Up Lady has proven herself already and now we can try something new. She goes to Charlatan–a horse with plenty of speed that proved to be popular amongst breeders. This cross has a similar characteristic to the cross that produced Kimari, as both Munnings and Charlatan are sons of Speightstown.

EMBELLISH THE LACE (m, 10, Super Saver — Expanse, by Distant View) to be bred to Quality Road

Embellish the Lace is a good-looking mare. You look at her and it's one of those cases where it makes sense that she was a top racehorse, winning a Grade I with just a few starts. She has produced two seven-figure yearlings at the sales, one filly by Tapit called Tap the Faith that won first time out and was fifth in a Grade II as a 2-year-old last year and another filly by Into Mischief that is currently a 2-year-old.

She was already covered by Quality Road this year; it was tried last year but unfortunately, she didn't get pregnant.

MOONLIGHT SKY (m, 9, Sky Mesa — Vargas Girl, by Deputy Minister) to be bred to Curlin

This mare is a stakes-placed half-sister to the great Abel Tasman (Quality Road), who gave so much joy to China Horse Club. We are excited about her, as her first foal Urban (Quality Road) was second in a Grade III already in her 3-year-old campaign. She could be a special mare for sure as the family is live with many updates.

This year she is in foal to Tiz the Law and is going to Curlin. His record with some specific A. P. Indy-line mares is impressive. With A. P. Indy mares, he has had 20% stakes winners to runners, including three Grade I winners. Looking at Bernardini mares, he has had 21 runners and eight stakes winners including five at the graded level. It's worth trying with a Sky Mesa mare as long as both physicals fit together.

YELLOW AGATE (m, 8, Gemologist– Lemon Sorbet, by Lemon Drop Kid) to be bred to Constitution

This mare gave China Horse Club a fantastic thrill by winning the 2016 GI Frizette S. in the red and yellow colors.

She is in foal to Quality Road and will be visiting Constitution this year. Constitution is a sire that has been doing well and should reach new heights with his progeny, having bred fantastic books of mares lately. Tiznow, the sire of Gemologist, has had 11 runners when his daughters crossed with Constitution and the mating has produced GISW Tiz the Law as well as MSW and GISP Never Surprised.

LAST FULL MEASURE (m, 14, Empire Maker — Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent) to be bred to Quality Road

I think that Last Full Measure is what every breeder aspires to have. She is the daughter of a Grade I winner and she herself is a Grade I winner and producer as the dam of  Valiance (Tapit).

This year she is in foal to Constitution. A stoutly-made mare and quite strong overall, she could use some scope and Quality Road seem to be a good fit physically.

SAMBUCA CLASSICA (m, 18 Cat Thief– In Her Glory, by Miswaki) to be bred to Quality Road

This is the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile S. winner and sire Classic Empire. She has produced several other stakes horses in Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), Anytime Magic (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Exclamation Point (Concord Point). In partnership with WinStar, we have a full-brother to Classic Empire called Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) who could be another stakes horse on her resume.

She is currently in foal to Improbable and will be covered this year by Quality Road. Quality Road has had plenty of opportunities with Storm Cat-line broodmare sires and has produced 11 stakes winners. She is a neater type and should benefit from his scope.

IOTAPA (m, 12, Afleet Alex– Concinnous, by El Corredor) to be bred to Not This Time

This mare was quite versatile at the track having won Grade I races over the dirt and synthetic. On the breeding side, she has always produced good-sized foals like herself.

She went to Improbable last year and is close to foaling. This year she is visiting Not This Time, who has had six graded winners so far and five of those are out of Mr. Prospector-line mares.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

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Kimari Returns to Winning Ways at Gulfstream

3rd-Gulfstream, $55,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 3-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:16.10, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.

KIMARI (m, 5, Munnings–Cozze Up Lady {GSW, $407,169}, by Cozzene), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' off a dominant debut back in 2019, was a close second in that year's G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot and won two other stakes. Second in the G1 Commonwealth Cup when returning to the royal meeting in 2020, she captured a sloppy renewal of Oaklawn's Spring Fever S. in February of 2020. Following suit with a win in Keeneland's GI Madison S. in April, she was sent to the sidelines for seven months and made an ambitious return in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Nov. 6, but could only manage seventh for Ten Broeck Farm. Sent to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Kimari was purchased by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier for $2.7 million and returned to trainer Wesley Ward's care. Hammered down to 1-20 favoritism in this five-horse affair, the bay broke with the field, but settled back into fourth through the initial stages. Swung out three wide by Joel Rosario, Kimari hustled up the outside to take control after an opening quarter in :22.41. Confronted by Liberty M D (Constitution) as the half went in :45.66, the chalk shook free of that foe at the top of the lane and it was clear sailing from there. Kimari powered clear under a hand ride to win as she pleased by 5 1/4 lengths. Liberty M D held second. China Horse Club purchased GSW Cozze Up Lady for $300,000 at the 2014 FTKNOV sale and Kimari was her second foal. She had a Quality Road colt named Imola in 2019 and a Constitution colt in 2021. Cozze Up Lady is currentlyexpecting a foal by Tiz the Law. Sales history: $152,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL; $2,700,000 4yo '21 FTKNOV.  Lifetime Record: GISW, 12-7-2-1, $801,777. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O-Smith, Derrick, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Westerberg Limited and Poulin, Jonathan; B-China Horse Club International Limited (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward.

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