Tag: Curlin

Expensive and Well-Bred Sophomores Debut in NOLA

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
BELGRADE MAKES FIRST START FOR NEW CONNECTIONS
1st-TAM, $35K, Opt. Clm. ($75K), 3yo, 7f, 12:13 p.m.
Carl and Yurie Pascarella went to $700,000 for KEEJAN sale topper BELGRADE (Hard Spun) with GI Kentucky Derby dreams and he makes his first start for his new owners and new trainer Graham Motion here. A $45,000 FTKSEL purchase by Randy Bradshaw, the chestnut romped by six lengths in his career bow at Fair Grounds Dec. 18 for trainer Brendan Walsh. His dam is a half to GSW & MGISP Medal Count (Dynaformer) and GSW Garden District (Dixie Union). TJCIS PPs

PRICEY FILLIES DEBUT IN NOLA
2nd-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:30 p.m.
Steve Asmussen unveils a $1.2-million (KEESEP) half-sister to his Grade I winner Yaupon (Uncle Mo) in Mike Rutherford's ROYAL FLOWER (American Pharoah). Out of GISP Modification (Vindication), the chestnut's talented half-brother Yaupon captured the GI Forego S. after a savaging by Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior) and took the GII Amsterdam S. He has been retired to the Spendthrift stallion barn. Royal Flower is also a half to MGSP Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last). Larry Best's OXO Equine acquired the well-related Indigo Miss (Into Mischief) for $525,000 at KEESEP and she also makes her career bow here. Best purchased her blue hen dam Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) for $1.9 million in foal to Into Mischief two months later at Keeneland November. A half-sister to GSW Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro), Indian Miss is also the dam of champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) and Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow). TJCIS PPs

ASMUSSEN UNVEILS STONESTREET BLUE-BLOOD
4th-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 2:29 p.m.
Stonestreet Stables homebred MARSALIS (Curlin) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Steve Asmussen. Out of Grade I winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), the chestnut is a full-brother to MSW & GSP young stallion Union Jackson and a half to MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). His second dam is GSW & GISP Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}), who produced MGISW Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and GSW Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile). Todd Pletcher unveils an intriguing firster in Momentous (Speightstown). His second dam is SW Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy), who is a half to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), the dam of Horse of the Year and top freshman sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). TJCIS PPs

The post Expensive and Well-Bred Sophomores Debut in NOLA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

APBs: McGaughey Troops Gearing Up in South Florida

A pair of highly regarded sophomores of 2021 are on the comeback trail for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

Courtlandt Farm's homebred Greatest Honour (Tapit–Tiffany's Honour, by  Street Cry {Ire}) was a serious early contender for the GI Kentucky Derby following flashy wins in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. last winter. After finishing a flat third as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27, however, McGaughey decided to hit the reset button on the bay.

“I wasn't really pleased with the way he was going after the Florida Derby,” McGaughey said. “So, we gave him some time. Then we gave him a little bit more time. He's been back training now. He was training at Courtlandt Farm then he came to Payson Park and we stepped it up a little bit when he got there. So, this is where we are.

McGaughey added, “He was always a tall horse and probably didn't carry as much weight as a 3-year-old that I'd like for him to. I think that's all come together now. I like everything he's been doing.”

Greatest Honour, produced by an unplaced daughter of bluehen mare Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister) and hailing from the same female family as Classic winners Rags to Riches and Jazil, has posted three workouts since late January at Payson Park, most recently completing a four-furlong breeze in :50.40 (21/24) Feb. 14.

“So far, he's doing really well,” McGaughey said. “He's been breezing weekly at Payson Park and hopefully he's probably a month or so away. I haven't gotten any timetable [for specific races] for him. I'm just sort of waiting to let him to tell me. But, so far, so good.”

Last year's GIII Dwyer S. 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin–America, by A.P. Indy), meanwhile, has begun gearing up at McGaughey's Gulfstream base. A disappointing well-beaten third while suffering his first career defeat making his two-turn debut in Saratoga's 1 1/8-mile Curlin S. July 30, he was subsequently freshened after bypassing a potential start in the GI Pennsylvania Derby in September. He's breezed six times so far this year, including a five-furlong move in 1:01.46 (6/14) in Hallandale Feb. 14.

“There really wasn't anything the matter with him, I just wasn't all together pleased of where I stood with him, so I thought, 'Well, let's just give him some time,'” McGaughey said. “Time helped him a lot. He was at Barry Eisaman's and he did a great job with him. He got out here and had a really good bottom in him and he's been breezing ever since. Hopefully, we can find a spot for him down the road somewhere along the lines.”

The $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling is campaigned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, breeder Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing. First Captain, the first foal out of Flay's GSW & MGISP America, is bred on the same Curlin over A.P. Indy cross responsible for recently crowned champion Malathaat as well as GISWs Global Campaign and Idol.

“I just want them to have a good summer campaign, so I'm not in any hurry,” McGaughey concluded of the duo.

 

The post APBs: McGaughey Troops Gearing Up in South Florida appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Curlin Colt for Midnight Bisou

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) gave birth to her first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Curlin, Hill 'n' Dale Farms and owners Allen Racing and Andrew Yaffe announced Monday evening.

“This colt was born to be a champion,” said Jeff Bloom, founder of Bloom Racing, who purchased Midnight Bisou for $80,000 at the 2017 OBS April sale. “He is the personification of the age-old adage 'breed the best to the best and hope for the best.' This exciting colt ushers in the next chapter in our amazing champion's story.”

Never out of the money in any of her 22 career starts for co-owners Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC., the well-traveled mare raced at 10 tracks and was awarded an Eclipse Award in 2019 as champion older dirt female. Her Grade I victories came in the Santa Anita Oaks, Cotillion S., Apple Blossom H., Ogden Phipps S., and the Personal Ensign S.

Chuck Allen bought out the partners on the mare when acquiring her for $5 million at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

The post Curlin Colt for Midnight Bisou appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Full to Air Force Blue Breaks Maiden and Track Record

4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 2-13, 3yo, f, 1m 70y (AWT) (off turf), 1:45.10, ft, head.

AMERICAN HEROINE (f, 3, War Front–Chatham {MSP, $156,431}, by Maria's Mon) debuted on the turf at this venue Jan. 2 without Lasix, producing a closing kick which carried her five wide into the lane but also to third place within a length of winning. With this race coming off the turf, she broke well and secured a forward position as the 8-5 chalk. The $1.05 million KEESEP score glued herself to the early lead from second on the outside until the far turn, where she tugged her way to the front. Leading a cavalry charge home, Tyler Gaffalione kept his filly's mind on running and despite a huge closing move from Mitigation (Into Mischief), American Heroine had just enough left to hold on by a head in a photo finish. The final time of 1:45.10 is a new track record on the all-weather.

One of six full-siblings, including Air Force Blue, Hwt. Colt-Ire, Hwt. Colt-Eur, MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-Eng, $844,919, the victress is her dam's sixth overall winner from nine to start. Chatham's offspring have always brought interest at Keeneland September: Schon Meer (Arch) bringing $475,000 in 2011; Bugle (War Front) for $400,000; Air Force Blue hammering for $490,000 to M V Magnier; Soleil de Paris (Lemon Drop Kid) for $535,000; and the 2-year-old Sir Blue Eyes (War Front) going for a cool $1 million last year to Lynnhaven Racing. The dam was a shrewd $190,000 purchase by Arthur Hancock for Stone Farm in 2009 at Keeneland November and is expecting a foal this year by a perennial top-sire in Curlin. Sales history: $1,050,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $37,100. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O-Stone Farm and Augustin Stable; B-Stone Farm (KY); T-Christophe Clement.

The post Full to Air Force Blue Breaks Maiden and Track Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights