Tag: Curlin

‘Sky’s the Limit’ – Clairiere’s Full-Brother Judge Miller Nominated to a Pair of Graded Stakes

Trainer Mark Glatt is weighing his options for the promising Judge Miller (Curlin).

The lightly raced 4-year-old, a jaw-dropping winner while making his route debut in an optional claimer at Santa Anita Feb. 24, has been nominated to Oaklawn's $600,000 GIII Essex H. and the $500,000 GII New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds. Both races will be contested at 1 1/8 miles and are slated for Saturday, Mar. 23.

“He's nominated to a couple of stakes coming up, but I don't know what we're doing with him yet for certain,” Glatt said.

“We're on the fence as to whether we take the next little step before we jump into the bigger stuff or whether or not it's time to go ahead and step into bigger and better things.”

Glatt added, “He's doing terrific.”

Judge Miller, a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Muir Hut Stables and a full-brother to MGISW Clairiere, has been perfect in a pair of attempts since kicking off his career belatedly with a second-place finish as the 3-2 favorite going six furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 19.

The blaze-faced chestnut ran hard every step of the way and graduated in game fashion at second asking going seven furlongs at Santa Anita Dec. 26. He equaled the year's top Beyer Speed Figure of 105 (Nysos, National Treasure, Saudi Crown, Senor Buscador and Skelly) while putting on a show winning by 11 lengths going a two-turn mile in Arcadia last time.

The Stonestreet-bred Judge Miller, a son of leading sire Curlin produced by three-time Grade I winner Cavorting (Bernardini), returned to the worktab with a four-furlong move in :50.40 (88/102) Mar. 10.

“I think the sky's the limit,” Glatt said. “He would've gotten started earlier than he did had it not been for a foot abscess that took quite some time to get right last summer. He probably would've debuted in the summer at Del Mar versus the fall. For his age and everything, he's a little bit behind the eight ball from a seasoning standpoint, but he's a very talented horse that's gonna run as far as they ever want to go.”

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Mar. 9 Insights: Big Ticket Purchases Unveiled in California

6th-OP, $115k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, 4:18p.m. ET
Half-sister to last year's GIII Withers S. winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), FLASHY DANCER (Curlin) will be unveiled here for Gary and Mary West. Out of two-time Graded winner Actress (Tapit), who has also produced the winning Hot Rumor (Medaglia d'Oro), the second dam is Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeark (Milwaukee Brew). Riding a healthy work tab and picking up the services of Manny Franco, the morning line has Flashy Dancer tabbed at 8-5 odds. TJCIS PPs

4th-SA, $65k, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 5:03p.m. ET
In a well-met maiden field, PONY EXPRESS (Gun Runner) will be one of several high-priced auction horses to open his career here. Racing for Talla Racing LLC, Three Chimneys Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds, the chestnut was acquired for $500,000 at KEESEP and is a half-brother to MSP Collaborate (Into Mischief), who had been sent to contest the 2021 GI Florida Derby after breaking his maiden by over 12 lengths. In addition to being a half-brother to two other multiple winners, Pony Express hails from the extended female family of champion Heavenly Prize. John Sadler sends this one to post.

To that one's outside, Santarena (Omaha Beach) will jump for Muir Hut Stables, LLC, Saints or Sinners and Dan J. Agnew from the barn of Mark Glatt. A $425,000 in-training purchase at EASMAY, the colt's second dam tallies daughter Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon), whose claim to fame is as the dam of GSW & MGISP Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow); GISW Girvin (Tale of Ekati); GSW Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John); and GSW Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby). Santarena himself is a half-brother to SW & GSP Dubini (Gio Ponti), SW What A Catch (Justin Phillip), and SP Cancel This (Malibu Moon). This is the extended family of GISW Silver Max (Badge of Silver) and GSW & MGISP Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby).

Farthest of them all will be Winterfell (Arrogate), a $400,000 KEESEP purchase trained by Bob Baffert for the ownership group of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, and Tom J. Ryan. The colt is a half-brother to two other winners and hails from the family of G1 Epsom Oaks victress Casual Look. TJCIS PPs

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‘Unfinished Business’ — Champion Nest Back in Training for 5-Year-Old Campaign

After an abbreviated three-race campaign in 2023, Nest (Curlin) has returned to training for her 5-year-old season.

Mike Repole bought out his partners in the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022–Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House–for a co-topping $6 million at last fall's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“When we put her in the sale, I really went there with a game plan of she might retire as a broodmare,” Repole said.

“The Japanese were bidding on her and I've seen so many of these horses go to Japan, and, honestly, I didn't want her to go. If it was Mandy Pope, Coolmore or Spendthrift bidding on her, I would've probably let her go. So, I now owned her 100 percent without partners and I thought, 'You know what? Let's race her.'”

Repole continued, “We gave her time and she's training now at Stonestreet in Ocala. She should be back to Todd (Pletcher) by May 1. I'm excited to watch her run at Saratoga and into the year.”

Nest's sensational sophomore campaign was led by a trio of wins at the top level–the GI Central Bank Ashland S., GI Coaching Club American Oaks and GI Alabama S.–and also runner-up finishes in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Belmont S., respectively.

Nest brought a co-topping $6 million at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale | Fasig-Tipton

Fourth as the favorite in that term's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland, Nest kicked off her 4-year-old stand a bit later than anticipated due to a fever, but she showed no signs of rust with a stylish 2 1/4-length victory over MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) in the GII Shuvee S. at Saratoga July 23. She didn't look anything like herself in her next two attempts, however, beaten both times as the favorite behind future champion Idiomatic (Curlin), finishing a punchless third in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 25 and a well-beaten fourth by 11 1/4 lengths in the GI Spinster S. at Keeneland last out Oct. 8.

“She started late last year,” Repole said. “She ran a great first race and it was probably a little bit too much, too soon. We'll try to get her there a little bit earlier this year–maybe get a race into her in either June or July. We'll get her a nice spot and go from there. We're excited about bringing her back.”

Were any issues discovered with the bay following her head-scratching effort in Lexington last fall?

“Yeah, she was fourth,” Repole replied with a laugh. “And Nest doesn't usually run fourth. She had three races in like an eight-nine week period and it was just too much. She's had a really good rest and I think we have some unfinished business.”

One of 21 Grade I winners for the mighty Curlin, Nest was bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables. She brought $350,000 from Repole Stable and company as a yearling out of the Ashview Farm consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September sale.

Her stakes-winning A.P. Indy dam Marion Ravenwood–also responsible for 2021 GI Santa Anita H. winner Idol (Curlin); MSW & GSP Lost Ark (Violence); and MSP Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile)–brought $2.6 million from Coolmore's M. V. Magnier in foal to Curlin at the 2022 Keeneland November sale.

Repole is also vested in Nest's aforementioned big brother Idol, who began his career at stud as a Repole Stable/Taylor Made Stallions Venture in 2023 after carrying the colors of Calvin Nguyen during his racing career.

As for Nest, Repole concluded, “She's healthy, happy and sound. And ready to race one more year and maybe make a run for champion older filly.”

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Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Watercress Farm

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Rob Tribbett, General Manager of Fred Hertrich's Watercress Farm.

Comic City (8, City Zip–Comic Marvel, by Distorted Humor) will be bred to Olympiad.

Comic City is a City Zip mare from a top Juddmonte family. Olympiad is the total package. He is a beautiful horse by a top sire, he was a Saratoga 2-year-old old winner himself over some fantastic horses, then showed the ability to consistently dominant at the top levels at four.

Dance Awhile  (6, Curlin–Dance Quietly, by A.P. Indy) will be bred to Not this Time.

This is a young Curlin mare from a terrific family. Not This Time is off to an amazing start at stud, the team at Taylor Made has done a great job getting him mares, and his performance is incredible. He is an ideal sire for a young mare that we have high hopes for.

Delightof the Nile (5, Pioneerof the Nile–Delightfully, by Indian Charlie) will be bred to Liam's Map.

This is a filly we bred and recently bought back. She is a beautiful filly out of a favorite mare of ours. Sometimes matings don't have to be too hard. She is a half-sister to the very talented Dr Ardito that we bred, a New York stakes winner and graded-placed son of Liam's Map. We have had great success with Liam's Map, breeding Grade I winner Juju's Map, and we love him to get a mare started.

Desert Tempest (4, American Pharoah–Stormy B, by Cherokee Run) will be bred to Twirling Candy.

Another new mare to the fold, this is a young American Pharoah who displayed some ability on the track. We have been very fortunate with Twirling Candy, breeding a pair of Grade I winners by him. She is from a family that has shown the ability to consistently get stakes horses, and Twirling Candy is the best sire in Kentucky to get your mare going.

Giant Win (13, Giant's Causeway–Win's Fair Lady, by Dehere) will be bred to Good Magic.

Giant Win is the dam of Grade I winner Pinehurst, by one of our favorite broodmare sires, Giant's Causeway. Good Magic is a sire we have been a supporter of since the beginning. We love the speed and determination that his foals exhibit. They always show up and love their job. This is a great type-to-type mating that hopefully produces another Grade I-winning 2-year-old.

Laughing Matters (9, Medaglia d'Oro–Hearty Laugh, by Distorted Humor) will be bred to Mage.

Another homebred mare, she is the dam of the super impressive Saratoga MSW winner last year Sugar Hi, and then sold a More Than Ready colt for $310,000 last September. Mage's performance in the spring of his 3-year-old year was super impressive, he was willing to fight every fight and not back down. When I went to see him, I was blown away. We really love his sire and Mage is a great version of his father.

More Respect (14, More Than Ready–Search and Seizure, by War Chant) will be bred to Constitution.

She is the dam of multiple graded-placed High Opinion from one of our favorite families. We have been involved with Constitution since he went to stud and have so much respect for what he has accomplished. He has demonstrated what great stallions do–improve their mares and sire winners at various distances and surfaces.

Nagambie (11, Flatter–Charming N Lovable, by Horse Chestnut {SAf}) will be bred to Uncle Mo.

The dam of Juju's Map visits Uncle Mo this year. He keeps producing at the top level and we are excited for a colt or filly from her by Uncle Mo. She sold a really impressive Not This Time last year and has a Gun Runner we are really excited about for 2024.

Tulira's Star (12, Congrats–Tulira, by General Assembly) will be bred to Forte.

Tulira's Star is a graded-stakes placed filly in Saratoga, and has already produced the good Mullikin, a son of Violence. We are excited about breeding to Forte, his 2- and 3-year-old form was very impressive and he is a great individual.

Zero to Sixty (7, American Pharoah–Cat Moves, by Tale of the Cat) will be bred to McKinzie.

Zero to Sixty is a young mare for us, she was a super impressive Saratoga first-time out winner herself, going short on the turf, and she is out of the sprint Grade I-winning Cat Moves.  We are breeding her to McKinzie, who is a sire we were in love with from the beginning. Similar to the mare, he is out of a top-class speed mare himself, as his dam won the Alicibiades. Everything we are hearing from Ocala gives us a lot of confidence in the horse.

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