Yooou Den (Kiss the Kid) produced Roadster's first foal, a filly, Jan. 8. Dominique Damico bred the filly, whose dam was a 12-time winner and an earner of $185,340.

Colonel Liam, a two-time winner of the GI Pegasus Turf Invitational S., was represented by his first foal when a filly out of the winning Jess's Dream mare More Glory was born Jan. 12. The filly was bred by Peter Mirabelli.

Roadster, winner of the 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby and second in that year's GI Malibu S., bred 153 mares in his first season at stud in 2023. He stands for $7,500 S&N.

In addition to his 2021 and 2022 wins in the Pegasus Turf, Colonel Liam also won the 2021 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic. He bred 138 mares in his first season at stud in 2023 and he stands for $6,500 S&N.

The post Roadster, Colonel Liam Sire First Foals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Alotofappeal, a stakes-producing daughter of Trippi owned by Ocala Stud, has scanned in foal to 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster.

Oakleaf Farm's Florida-bred Sainted Dancer, a seven-time winner by Saint Anddan, is confirmed in foal to Colonel Liam, a three-time Grade I winner and back-to-back winner of the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S.

JD Farms' Bold Rate, a Florida-bred daughter of Exchange Rate, has scanned in foal to Gretzky the Great. Gretzky the Great won the 2020 GI Summer S. and was named Canada's champion 2-year-old that year.

The post Ocala Stud’s First-Year Stallions Have Mares Confirmed in Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

David O'Farrell is outspoken in his belief that their Grade I-winning trio of new stallions makes for a special group. Two-time GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) recently joined the roster alongside newcomers Roadster (Quality Road), another eye-catching dappled gray who did his best work on dirt, as well as  Gretzky the Great, a precocious son of leading fourth-crop sire Nyquist.

“I think these are three of the most exciting stallion prospects that we've stood for a really long time,” O'Farrell stated. “I think there is a really nice variety to offer Florida breeders with sire power, good race records and very good physicals. They all have the qualities to be leading sires and I think it's a great opportunity for everybody here in Florida.”

Roadster, a 'TDN Rising Star' as a debuting juvenile and the winner of the 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby, makes for an interesting stallion prospect in part because of the powerhouse group of supporters already backing the new sire. His breeder Stone Farm and campaigner Speedway Stable will both be supporting the son of Quality Road, as will Rustlewood Farm and Airdrie Stud.

Ocala Stud and Airdrie already have a promising track record with partnering on stallions. Last year's fast-starting freshman sire Girvin launched his career at Ocala Stud and relocated to Airdrie this year with five stakes winners already to his credit.

Roadster bests juvenile champion Game Winner in the 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby | Benoit

“We had been competing with Airdrie for years on the same stallion prospects and we kind of have the same mentality when it comes to picking stallions,” O'Farrell explained. “So rather than competing with one another, we've started to partner up on certain stallions. We had Girvin, and now we have Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) and we're adding Roadster. We both support the horses with nice mares and it's been a great partnership. We couldn't be more excited to partner with this group with Roadster and get him off to a really good start.”

During his career, Roadster came just short of reaching one million in earnings, defeating juvenile champion Game Winner in the Santa Anita Derby and coming home with additional Grade I placings in the Del Mar Futurity at two and the Malibu S. behind Omaha Beach at three.

“To have a top-level son of Roadster is really exciting,” said O'Farrell. “He has a lot of pedigree, was a tremendous racehorse and has a very good physical. He's a typical Quality Road–kind of long and lean, but with a lot of quality. He's very athletic and well-balanced.”

Roadster is out of stakes winner Ghost Dancing (Silver Ghost), who is also the dam of GI Manhattan S. victor Ascend (Candy Ride {Arg}).

O'Farrell said that Roadster, who launches his career at $7,500, has been received enthusiastically by Florida breeders and will be booked full in just a few weeks.

Colonel Liam's retirement was announced just three weeks ago, but the millionaire has brought a steady stream of interested breeders since his arrival.

“The Colonel Liam deal came together really quickly for us right at the start of the breeding season,” O'Farrell explained. “It's giving us a boost coming into the season. A lot of breeders in Florida book their mares a little later, but we've had a lot of traffic and a lot of good feedback. People are really excited about him standing here in Florida.”

Colonel Liam did his best work in the Sunshine State, winning his first start on the Gulfstream dirt before switching to the turf and taking the Tropical Park Derby and back-to-back editions of the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. His resume also includes victories in the 2021 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. and the GII Muniz Memorial Classic S.

Gretzky the Great takes the 2020 GI Summer S. | Michael Burns

“I think that he's probably the best racehorse that we've stood at stud as far as accomplishments in a really long time,” O'Farrell said. “He's a three-time grade I winner on the turf, but he has a dirt pedigree. He's by champion dirt miler Liam's Map and is out of a Bernardini mare, so it gives you confidence that he could throw top-level runners on any surface. Even though he didn't run at two, he did have speed. He worked :20 4/5 at the OBS April Sale, so we have confidence that he could sire 2-year-olds and a lot of quality dirt runners.”

A $1.2 million juvenile for Robert and Lawana Low, Colonel Liam's second dam Wonder Again (Silver Hawk) was also a millionaire and multiple Grade I winner.

O'Farrell reported that the Lows are busy buying mares to support their new stallion, who will launch his stud career at a fee of $6,500.

The third member of Ocala Stud's new roster, Gretzky the Great, is another Grade I-winning turfer with a dirt pedigree. The 5-year-old is the first son of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and leading fourth-crop sire Nyquist to go to stud. He is out of the stakes-placed Bernardini mare Pearl Turn.

Campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, Gretzky the Great won the Soaring Free S. and GI Summer S. at two, earning the Sovereign Award for champion 2-year-old male in 2020. He went on to further stakes success in the Greenwood S. at three.

“He was a precocious, very classy individual,” O'Farrell said. “He has a dirt pedigree, which leads us to believe that he could be a very good sire of runners on either surfaces. He's a really good-looking horse and is by a sire line that I believe in. I think he's a really neat prospect for Florida breeders.”

The post Ocala Stud Offers Intriguing New Trio to Florida Breeders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“I think his [last] race was very good,” said trainer Paulo Lobo. “He lost to a very top horse [Modern Games]. Javier Castellano was riding him for the first time. He rode a very good race, and since then we've pointed for the Pegasus Turf and we've never missed a day and never had a bad day. Everything that we planned is happening, no problems.”

Hall of Famer Castellano will be back aboard Ivar from Post 10.

Also among the dozen contenders are 4-1 second choice MGSW City Man (Mucho Macho Man) and GISW Decorated Invader (Declaration of War), both trained by Christophe Clement, who respectively ran 1-2 in Gulfstream's GII Fort Lauderdale S. Dec. 31.

Third choice at 6-1 is Charles Fipke's homebred GISW Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), who will face males for the first time. The 5-year-old owns seven wins from 13 career starts, six of them in graded-stakes including Woodbine's GI Natalma S. Third last time out in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she retains the services of Luis Saez from post six.

Rounding out the field are MGSP Atone (Into Mischief), MGSW Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), MGSW Who's the Star (Tonalist), GSW One More Bid (California Chrome), MGSP Good Governance (Kingman {GB}), and another pair of stablemates, Graham Motion-trained GISW Speaking Scout (Mr. Speaker) and MGSP Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat), making his first start in North America.

On the also-eligible list, in order of preference, are GSW King Cause (Creative Cause) and Dark Shift (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of the Royal Hunt Cup last summer at Royal Ascot.

The post Brazilian-Bred Ivar Named Morning-Line Favorite For Pegasus Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“Colonel Liam took our whole family on quite a ride over a four-year period,” said owner Robert Low. “Ocala Stud has a proven track record of developing young stallions into some of the most formidable stallions in the business and we are excited to be sending Colonel Liam to them. We love the family aspect of Ocala Stud. Their integrity and horsemanship set them apart.”

Colonel Liam was a $1.2 million OBS April sale purchase by West on behalf of Robert and Lowana Low. He won his first start racing on the dirt, but trainer Todd Pletcher quickly switched him to the turf where he excelled. Colonel Liam ended his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the victorious in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream. He then rattled off three consecutive graded stakes wins, including the $1,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Turf, the GII Muniz Memorial, and the GI Turf Classic at Churchill.

He returned in 2022 to successfully defend his Pegasus World Cup Turf title.

“Colonel Liam is the total package,” said Low. “He has the pedigree, the race record and the looks to appeal to everyone. He is incredibly good looking and very talented. He is a top-tier horse and we cannot wait to offer him to breeders. Colonel Liam is like part of our family. We look forward to supporting him in the breeding shed and in the sales ring.”

Colonel Liam's second dam is the millionaire and multiple Grade I winner and stakes producer Wonder Again (Silver Hawk.)

Colonel Liam retires with $1,812,565 in earnings and seven wins from 12 lifetime starts.

The post Colonel Liam out of Pegasus Turf, Retires to Ocala Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“He seems like he's in good shape, so we're still planning on the Pegasus Turf assuming that he trains accordingly,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Pletcher also said the Pegasus World Cup is under consideration for Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile).

“I think it's on the radar,” he said. “We'll see how he trains. I've got to talk to the owner, and we'll come up with a plan. He's not a horse that really shows that much speed but he got a good start and put himself in a good spot, and he was traveling well. I thought it was a good effort from him. It looked like he fought on hard to the wire and was able to get [up] for second.”

The post Pletcher Confirms Colonel Liam For ’23 Pegasus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“Ideally, we wanted a little bit more time between races back to the Pegasus, but it is what it is,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He runs well off the layoff so, hopefully, he runs well there and moves forward for the big one.”

Colonel Liam is drawn widest of all in post 12 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

The post Pegasus Prep for Colonel Liam in Fort Lauderdale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

These days, the Diana is restricted to fillies and mares ages four and up. That wasn't always the case, as a number of 3-year-old fillies have won in the past. That's not the only thing that's changed: the Diana is such a fixture on the grass that it may come as a surprise to learn it was originally run on the dirt, not moving to the turf until 1974. The 84th edition will be run Saturday, but with two divisions run a few times and several mares who won the race twice–including most recently Sistercharlie (Ire) (2018-19)–there have been 78 individual winners of the Diana.

Following are the most compelling Diana winners in reverse chronological order. They haven't been reviewed by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.

Wonder Again (1999, Silver Hawk–Ameriflora, by Danzig): This mare produced more foals that didn't race than ones that did, but her two winners include Japanese MSW & MGSP Red Raven. An unraced daughter produced 2021-22 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. winner Colonel Liam, who also captured the 2021 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S.

Starine (Fr) (1997, Mendocino–Grisonnante {Fr}, by Kaldoun {Fr}): She only had two foals: a gelded son and an unraced daughter. However, that daughter is making the most of her opportunities: she produced Irish champion Order of Australia (Ire), winner of the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Mile; Iridessa (Ire), multiple Group I winner in Ireland and England and winner of 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and Santa Barbara (Ire), winner of the 2021 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and GI Beverly D. S.

Memories of Silver (1993, Silver Hawk–All My Memories, by Little Current): A Phillips family mare, like Wonder Again above, she produced four stakes winners (two graded), including Winter Memories, also a winner of the Diana and a stakes producer. Five of her six daughters have thus far produced black-type winners.

MGISW Elate has deep family ties to the Diana | Coady

Wild Applause (1981, Northern Dancer–Glowing Tribute, by Graustark): She is the dam of GISW Eastern Echo, MGSWs Roar and Yell, and additional GSW Blare of Trumpets. Her descendants include MGISW Elate, MGSW & MGISP Ironicus, MGSW On Leave and Tax, two full-brothers better known as top sires in GSW & MGISP Congrats and GSP Flatter, and several other GSWs.

Hush Dear (1978, Silent Screen–You All, by Nashua): C.V. Whitney sold this mare and his widow, Marylou, bought her daughter Dear Birdie while trying to revitalize his breeding program. The latter became a foundation mare for Marylou Whitney and was named Broodmare of the Year in 2004. Her descendants include champion and Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, Belmont/Travers/Champagne winner Birdstone, and MGSW Bird Song.

Javamine (1973, Nijinsky II–Dusky Evening, by Tim Tam): This mare deserves a mention even though she won't live on in pedigrees. She lived only long enough to produce four foals, only two of which lived past age three. However, those two foals were MGISW Java Gold and English GSW Spicy Story. Both were sires, with the best of their combined progeny being the wonderful Eclipse champion Kona Gold, who was a gelding.

Glowing Tribute (1973, Graustark–Admiring, by Hail to Reason): In addition to producing two daughters who also won the Diana–the phenomenal Wild Applause detailed above and two-time Diana winner Glowing Honor–she also produced MGISW Hero's Honor, Kentucky Derby/Travers/Champange winner Sea Hero, GSW & GISP Mackie, and GSW Coronation Cup (who almost made it a third daughter to win the Diana). In addition to Wild Applause's wildly accomplished offspring, descendants of Glowing Tribute also include European champion Mozart (Ire) and Chilean champion Il Campione (Chi). She was named Broodmare of the Year in 1993.

MGISW Colonel Liam is out of an unraced daughter of Wonder Again | Horsephotos

Tempted (1955, Half Crown–Enchanted Eve, by Lovely Night): This two-time winner of the Diana, for whom Aqueduct's Tempted S. is named, produced only one stakes winner. However, when taking into account her daughters and granddaughters, more than 50 black-type winners trace to her. And the line is continuing; for example, she is the fifth dam of GISW Rutherienne, who won or placed in 17 graded stakes.

Searching (1952, War Admiral–Big Hurry, by Black Toney): A granddaughter of the immortal La Troienne, Searching won the Diana twice and produced multiple champion Affectionately, MSW Priceless Gem, and SW Admiring. She is granddam of the abovementioned Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute, as well as Horse of the Year Personality, French Horse of the Year Allez France, and the prolific top-level producer Lady Winborne. Additional Grade I winners who trace to her include the popular Lite Light and La Gueriere.

Misty Morn (1952, Princequillo–Grey Flight, by Mahmoud): Named Broodmare of the Year in 1963, her five stakes-winning foals included champion and Met Mile winner Bold Lad, champion Successor, and Test winner Bold Consort. Among her top descendants were MGISWs Dispute and Adjudicating.

Vulcania (1948, Some Chance–Vagrancy, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): She produced two minor black-type winners, but her daughters and granddaughters included a Broodmare of the Year and produced the likes of Horse of the Year Ferdinand and MGISW Tallahto. The latter produced two MGISW and is the granddam of Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller.

Busanda (1947, War Admiral–Businesslike, by Blue Larkspur): Another granddaughter of La Troienne, this mare produced Horse of the Year and four-time leading broodmare sire Buckpasser, as well as two other stakes winners. Her female-line descendants include champion Outstandingly, MGISW Polish Navy, and the wonderful La Affirmed line, responsible for (among others) recent MGISW star Maxfield.

Ouija (1947, Heliopolis–Psychist, by Psychic Bid): Epsom Derby winner Henbit and MGISW Queens Court Queen both trace to this mare.

Miss Grillo (Arg) (1942, Rolando {Arg}–Cedulilla {Arg}, by Picacero {Arg}): At first glance, this Argentinean import didn't produce much of note, but her daughters more than took up the slack. Among her descendants are European champion Meadow Court and MGISW Marquetry.

The post Background Check: Diana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.”

The post Country Grammer, Life Is Good to WinStar for R&R appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Asked about the plan for Life Is Good going into the Pegasus relative to how the race played out, Pletcher said, “When you're coming up with a strategy for a race, you know what you want to do, but you don't always know what your opponent wants to do. I thought when Knicks Go drew the rail, their hands were cuffed and they were going to have to come out running. And we wanted to come out running and play to our horse's strength, which is his speed. It surprised me a little bit that he cleared off as easily as he did. But if you look back to the Allen Jerkens at Saratoga, he's super fast. He was a couple of lengths in front of Jackie's Warrior down the backside. He didn't break great [in the Pegasus], but his second, third and fourth steps were really good, and he got [to the lead] the right way. I was pretty confident turning up the backside, but he still had some running to do. And we were just delighted with his performance. It was everything we hoped for.”

Pletcher added that Life Is Good's first post-Pegasus breeze would likely come this Friday, with his next start expected to come in the Mar. 26 G1 Dubai World Cup, and GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. would likely be on that plane with him.

“If everything stays on course [with Life Is Good] and we go to Dubai, we're going to take him as well for the [G1] Dubai Turf,” he said. “It's the same timing as with Life Is Good, so we feel the timing's good. I feel like he came out of the Pegasus Turf even better than he went into it, so taking a shot at a race like that is worthwhile.”

The conversation turned to a potential third, synthetic surface potentially being installed at Belmont Park as has been done at Gulfstream and whether or not that would help keep some turf horses in New York who would normally ship south during the winter months.

“To be honest with you, I I don't know what the synthetic would do there, and one of the things that we're sort of learning during this [Gulfstream] meet is which horses handle the Tapeta and which ones don't,” Pletcher said. “And I haven't been able to do it without actually running them on it. We've had several horses that have won Tapeta races that were off the turf who were coming off turf wins and they handled it fine. We had a couple other ones that were coming off good turf races that we ran on the Tapeta, and you can tell in the first 100 yards that they hated it. So that was one of the things that was difficult for us before [with synthetic tracks]. I can think of an example at Keeneland. Years ago, we had a filly named Wait A While who was a top class turf mare. She worked at Keeneland on the synthetic, going a ridiculous :46 flat [half-mile], with her neck bowed, in hand the whole way. We were running in the [GI] First Lady. It rained, it came off the turf and I was like, off that breeze, I have no reservation running her at all. But that afternoon, she never tightened the bridle. She hated it. So it's a little bit tricky to get a line on [the track] without running on it. So could it keep some turf horses in New York? Possibly, yeah I think it could, and then it would just be a matter of seeing if they actually took to it.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, West Point Thoroughbreds, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, XBTV and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers discussed the ongoing silence over hearings to adjudicate to the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby, Jonathon Kinchen's suspension from the NHC Tour and Thursday night's Eclipse Awards. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The post Pletcher Talks Life Is Good, Colonel Liam, Top 3YOs On Writers’ Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post