Bloodlines Presented By Caracaro: Cowan Carries The Torch For Successful Overbrook Farm Family

Unbeaten in his three starts, all at two, Kantharos was never a racer who lacked for speed, and it came as no surprise to the O'Farrell family in Florida when the chestnut son of Grade 1 winner Lion Heart became a leading freshman sire. Sent to stud at Vinery in Florida for his first two seasons at stud, Kantharos was transferred to the O'Farrells' historic Ocala Stud in late 2012.

Mike O'Farrell noted at the time that, “Kantharos has his first crop of weanlings this year, and what sold me on the idea of standing the horse was how he's passing on his own very good looks to his offspring. We have a couple of his first weanlings here on the farm, and they're outstanding individuals. We didn't just get lucky; we're hearing great things around town about the horse's babies. It's always a good sign to see a stallion stamping them like he is.”

Indeed.

From his first racers, Kantharos was the leading freshman sire in Florida in 2014, then the leading second-crop sire in the Sunshine State in 2015. By the end of that year, Kantharos had 10 percent stakes winners from his first crop of 51 foals, including graded winners X Y Jet and Mr. Jordan.

By the end of 2016, Stonestreet had reached an agreement with Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Kentucky to send their new stallion sensation to the Bluegrass, and the powerful chestnut has continued to climb the ladder of sire success.

Just last weekend, the stallion added a pair of new stakes winners when Magic Circle won the Busanda at Aqueduct and Cowan took home the gold and glory in the Duncan F. Kenner at the Fair Grounds.

The 4-year-old Cowan got the Kenner on the disqualification of Just Might (Justin Phillip), who has won and kept six of his last eight races. A striking chestnut, Cowan was bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and sold to Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt for $185,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Sent back to auction the following year, Cowan was bought back for $385,000 at the OBS March auction of juveniles in training. The powerhouse chestnut had turned in a strong work of :10 flat for a furlong, showing a stride length of nearly 25 feet and earning a BreezeFig of 74 (excellent) for the effort.

When he made a winning debut, going four and a half furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 22, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm already were on the ownership line with the Heiligbrodts, and that ownership has campaigned the racer through 13 starts, including a half-dozen stakes placings, before his victory in the Kenner. The colt's current earnings stand at $826,602.

Out of the stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Tempers Flair, Cowan has a pedigree distinguished by quality and exceptional speed.

The colt's second dam is the stakes-winning Cloudburst (Storm Cat), winner in two of her four starts, including the Mardi Gras Stakes, going 5 1/2 furlongs at the Fair Grounds. Strikingly similar to her famous sire in color and looks, Cloudburst is a half-sister to champion juvenile colt Boston Harbor (Capote).

Both of these classy performers were bred and raced by W.T. Young's Overbrook Farm. Boston Harbor won six of his seven starts at two, including the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and G2 Breeders' Futurity, when he was named champion of his division in 1996. Boston Harbor was fourth in the Santa Catalina, his only start at three, then was retired after a work injury and sent to stud at Overbrook in 1998. In 2001, the JBBA purchased Boston Harbor and exported him to stand in Japan on the island of Hokkaido.

Boston Harbor and his younger half-sister were the two stakes winners out of Harbor Springs, a stakes winner by Vice Regent that trainer Wayne Lukas bought for Overbrook out of the 1990 Keeneland July sale for $500,000. A winner of seven races from 11 starts, including the Wishing Well Stakes at Turfway, Harbor Springs became a distinguished producer for the farm.

The mare was also one of the last sold off in the Overbrook dispersal, bringing only $23,000 (covered by Street Boss), at the 2010 Keeneland January sale. Cloudburst had sold earlier, and in foal to leading sire Tiznow, she had brought $900,000 at the 2009 Keeneland November sale.

Harbor Springs was one of two stakes winners out of the Restless Wind mare Tinnitus, and the other one was champion sprinter Groovy, winner of the G1 Vosburgh, as well as a winner of the Forego and the Tom Fool twice each. A winner of more than $1.3 million, Groovy cut a dashing figure trying to sprint to victory in the 1986 Kentucky Derby. That didn't work out, but the charismatic colt showed exceptional talent in sprinting to victory in the Tom Fool at Belmont, then the Forego at Saratoga.

Acclaimed the fastest colt of his generation, Groovy was ironically outpaced in both the 1986 and 1987 Breeders' Cup Sprints by the fillies Very Subtle and Pine Tree Lane.

The history of high speed in this family was doubtless one of the attractions for the buyers when the handsome chestnut Cowan went to the sales, and the interest in the family has not paled.

The Heiligbrodts purchased the now 2-year-old half-sister to Cowan at the 2020 Keeneland November sale for $250,000. The daughter of Candy Ride is still unnamed, and Tempers Flair has a yearling filly of 2021 by Constitution (Tapit).

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Back From Overseas, Cowan Headlines Saturday’s Opening Night William Walker At Churchill

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm's Cowan, runner-up in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 2), tops a field of ten 3-year-olds and two also-eligibles entered in Saturday's sixth running of the $125,000 William Walker (Listed).

The William Walker will highlight Saturday's Opening Night Presented by Budweiser 10-race program to kick off the 38-day Spring Meet that runs through June 26.

The William Walker, scheduled to be run over the Matt Winn Turf Course at 5 ½ furlongs for the first time, will go as the evening's ninth race with a 10:11 p.m. post time (all times Eastern). First post time is 6 o'clock. The temporary rail on the turf course will be in Lane 3, 22 feet from the inside hedge for racing Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The rail will be taken down for racing on Oaks and Derby Days.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Cowan returns to the races four weeks after finishing 10th against older horses beaten only 4 ¾ lengths in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai. Luis Saez, who was aboard in Dubai, has the call Saturday night and will exit post eight.

Wesley Ward, who sent out the most recent winner of the William Walker in 2019 with the filly Jo Jo Air, will be represented by two runners: Breeze Easy's Roderick and Silverton Hill's Next.

Roderick, who will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke and exit post one, returns to the grass for the first time since finishing fifth in the Indian Summer last fall at Keeneland.

Next, who will be ridden by John Velazquez from post two, won his only start on the grass with that coming at Kentucky Downs in a maiden race. Saturday will mark his first start since chasing champion Essential Quality in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in November.

The field for the William Walker, with riders from the inside, is: Roderick (Van Dyke), Next (Velazquez), Field Day (Tyler Gaffalione), Kasim (Gerardo Corrales), Unitedandresolute (Florent Geroux), Rockstar Ro (Corey Lanerie), Bodenheimer (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Cowan (Saez), Cees Get Degrees (Colby Hernandez) and Lookin for Loki (Mitchell Murrill). Also-eligibles: Into the Sunrise (Velazquez) and Charles Chrome (Julien Leparoux). All starters will carry 118 pounds.

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Pink Kamehameha Gives Japan Back-To-Back Wins In Saudi Derby

by Alan Carasso

Making his first afternoon appearance on the dirt at career start number seven, Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) provided his home country and trainer Hideyuki Mori with a second victory in as many runnings in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Saturday. Cowan (Kantharos) made up a stack of ground after blowing the break to just miss and won a photo for second from New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Full Flat (Speightstown) won for Japan last year.

When entries were taken Saturday, Umberto Rispoli was named aboard Cowan, but when the Italian was pulled from his flight to Riyadh via Qatar Thursday, Joel Rosario was released from his call aboard Pink Kamehameha in order to ride for Steve Asmussen. Top Japanese rider Keita Tosaki, who was booked to ride Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the Saudi Cup, picked up the ride and settled the colt about four off the inside as Godolphin's UAE 1000 Guineas heroine Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) set the pace from UAE 2000 Guineas runner-up Meshakel (Ire) (Shamardal). Always traveling well for Tosaki, Pink Kamehameha claimed Soft Whisper with about 400 metres to race, but soon had New Treasure and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to deal with. But he managed to find a bit extra in the waning stages and got home first, as Cowan, last but one into the straight, closed with a rush.

“It was my first ride on him today but he produced a fantastic run even on his first time race over the dirt surface,” said Tosaki, who suffered serious injury and was sidelined for six months following a spill at Urawa in November 2019. “As he has no issues with the starting gate, he jumped quickly from the gate today. He responded to me well and had a comfortable trip all the way.”

Pink Kamehameha is one of 22 winners for his sire, a son of the aforementioned King Kamehameha (by Kingmambo) and Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence), winner at home of the 2005 G1 Oka Sho and G1 Yushun Himba before winning the GI American Oaks at Hollywood Park. Cesario is also the dam of leading young Japanese sire Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S) and 2019 champion 3-year-old colt Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Pink Kamehameha is the last listed produce for his now 27-year-old dam.

 

WATCH: Pink Kamehameha makes a successful dirt debut in the Saudi Derby

 

Saturday, King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia
AL RAJHI BANK SAUDI DERBY (Cond.), $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-20, 3yo, 1600m, 1:38.57, ft.
1–PINK KAMEHAMEHA (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Leontes (Jpn)
1st Dam: Tabatha Tosho (Jpn), by Dancing Brave
2nd Dam: Samantha Tosho (Jpn), by Tosho Boy (Jpn)
3rd Dam: Marble Tosho (Jpn), by Dandy Lute (Fr)
O-Hisako Kimura; B-Hatakeyama Stud Farm; T-Hideyuki Mori; J-Keita Tosaki; $900,000. Lifetime Record: 7-2-0-0, $1,104,876. *1/2 to Sweep Tosho (Jpn) (End Sweep), Ch. Older Mare & G1SW-Jpn, $6,631,021; and Tosho Freak (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), SW & MGSP-Jpn, $2,349,927.
2–Cowan, 126, c, 3, Kantharos–Tempers Flair, by Smart Strike ($185,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $385,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-William L & Corinne Heilgbrodt; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc (KY); T-Steve Asmusen; J-Joel Rosario; $300,000.
3–New Treasure (Ire), 126, g, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Maolneach, by Congaree. (90,000gns HRA '20 TATAUT). O-Prince Faisal Bin Khaled; B-J S Bolger; T-John Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori; $150,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 3 1/4.
Also Ran: Rebel's Romance (Ire), Soft Whisper (Ire), Shibl Lat'taam (KSA), Hatm (KSA), Magbootah (KSA), Albadri (Ire), Meshakel (Ire), Homeryan (Fr), Round Six (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart.

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Pink Kamehameha Gives Japanese Trainer Mori Second Straight Saudi Derby Triumph

Pink Kamehameha (JPN) ensured that both Japan and trainer Hideyuki Mori retained the US $1.5 million Saudi Derby sponsored by Al Rajhi Bank with a three-quarters of a length victory over Cowan (USA). The trainer had struck in last year's inaugural renewal with Full Flat.

Away alertly from post eight in the 12-horse line-up, the Japanese-bred son of Leontes, representing jockey Keita Tosaki and owner Hisako Kimura, stalked the pace set by Soft Whisper (IRE), who had the early advantage under Mike Smith. Tosaki never let the leader get too far in front and put that rival away turning into the straight.

The American invader Cowan rallied late between horses to finish second under Joel Rosario for trainer Steve Asmussen, a length clear of third-place finisher New Treasure (IRE) with Frankie Dettori aboard for British trainer John Gosden.

Quotes:

Keita Tosaki, jockey, Pink Kamehameha, 1st: “It was my first ride on him today but he produced a fantastic run even on his first time race over the dirt surface. As he has no issues with the starting gate, he jumped quickly from the gate today. He responded to me well and had a comfortable trip all the way.”

Hideyuki Mori, trainer, Pink Kamehameha: “Everything went perfect today. He showed a very good response to the jockey at the final turn, which was kind of surprising to me. He ran on dirt for the first time, but today's surface with a bit of rain affected track must suit him a lot.”

Joel Rosario, jockey, Cowan, 2nd: “He missed the break. Right when they opened the gate his head was turned, so he lost the break, but he came running. They went very fast up front and he almost got there. It was a good run from him.”

Frankie Dettori, jockey, New Treasure, 3rd: “He ran okay. He hit a flat spot on the turn but he stayed on well.”

Thady Gosden, assistant trainer, New Treasure: “He ran a huge race there. He got a little bit outpaced early on but he kept on well. The Japanese horse is clearly really good and got loose on the lead on the bit but (New Treasure) stayed on well. He has run really well and everyone is really proud of him.”

Ted Voute, racing manager to New Treasure's owner Prince Faisal bin Khaled: “He's been invited to the UAE Derby so we'll see what everyone thinks about that.”

Rest of jockey quotes

William Buick, Rebels Romance, 4th: “Really good run, he's stepped up on his last run in Meydan and considering it was only the fourth run of his life, you have to be pleased.”

Mike Smith, Soft Whisper, 5th: “I'm kind of lost for words, I thought she'd finish but it didn't happen.”

Mickael Barzalona on Meshakel, 10th: “I was never in the race. Normally, he takes me into the race, but today it wasn't happening.” 

Cristian Demuro, Homeryan, 11th: “I was going well, but these races are very different to the races we have in France. They went fast and he was a little outpaced when we came into the final bend.”

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