Newgrange To Pass Dubai World Cup

Newgrange (Violence), a head-scratching sixth behind Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 3, will bypass the Mar. 30 G1 Dubai World Cup, trainer Phil D'Amato said via text message Wednesday.

The decision was finalized after the 5-year-old worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 (13/27) Wednesday morning at Santa Anita.

“Newgrange is not going to Dubai,” D'Amato texted. “We will regroup and race him stateside down the road.”

Winner of the GIII Sham S. and GIII Southwest S. for the SF Racing/Starlight/Madaket et. al. partnership while under the care of Bob Baffert in 2022, the dark bay was purchased by  Kim Lloyd's Sweetwater Trading for $250,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Horse of Racing Age Sale on behalf of David A. Bernsen, Rockingham Ranch and Little Red Feather Racing.

Winner of the 2023 GII San Pasqual S., Newgrange was subsequently seventh in the Big 'Cap, but had returned to his best form following a seven-month absence this winter, with an easy score in the GII San Antonio S. and a successful defense of his title in the San Pasqual. Connections had also been considering an appearance in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. the same afternoon, but with an eye on the World Cup and in an effort to minimize travel, elected not to make the trans-continental trip.

Four American-based horses remain in the prospective field of 12, including Newgate, G1 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), Pegasus World Cup third Crupi (Curlin) and GII Lukas Classic hero Clapton (Brethen).

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Common Defense Delivers ‘Unbelievable’ First for Norevale

Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}), the first foal born at Sarah and Leo Dooley's Norevale Farm, provided the couple with an emotional trip to the winner's circle when he broke free of the pack late and powered home a maiden winner at Oaklawn Park last Saturday.

“We have a four-month old daughter and I woke her up from her nap with all of the screaming,” admitted Sarah Dooley. “We were so excited. He was the first foal born on the farm, we bred him, it was our first year foaling, we broke him, and we still own a good piece of him. He was in our silks on a Saturday at Oaklawn and he went off as the favorite. It was all surreal. And then he wins. It was unbelievable.”

The Dooleys began leasing the 110-acre farm on Hume Bedford Pike near Paris on Sept. 1 of 2020. Five months later, they partnered with Sarah's father, Tony Holmes, and brother Michael to purchase the mare Allusion (Street Cry {Ire}), carrying the Karakontie colt, for $25,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January sale.

Out of Alchemist (A.P. Indy), the now 13-year-old mare is a full-sister to multiple Grade I placed And Why Not, who produced multiple graded winner Fearless (Ghostzapper) and multiple graded placed Just Whistle (Pioneerof the Nile). Allusion is also a half-sister to graded winner Far From Over (Blame).

Common Defense's third dam is Grade I winner Aldiza (Storm Cat).

“It's a very good family,” Leo Dooley said of the mare's appeal in 2021. “There is a lot of page. I guess we kind of hoped that somewhere along the line, she would throw a good runner and hopefully this is him.”

Common Defense didn't attract a lot of interest when offered at the 2021 Keeneland November sale and was led out unsold at $9,000.

“He had some X-ray issues that pinhookers and the bigger buyers probably wouldn't have been very appreciative of,” Leo Dooley said of the buy-back. “But it was never, ever going to hurt him as a racehorse.”

Despite their faith in the youngster, the couple admitted they weren't terribly keen on keeping him to race.

“I can honestly say I didn't want to go the racing route,” Leo Dooley said. “We were dragged along, but we are pretty happy about it now.”

Sarah Dooley added, “We have to give all the credit to my dad for that. That was all dad. He wanted to race him. And here we are. We are happy he dragged us along for that ride now.”

Common Defense showed promise in his first racetrack appearance, finishing second in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Oaklawn Dec. 17. That effort earned the colt an additional partner when David Bernsen joined the ownership line.

“[Trainer] Kenny [McPeek] put him in touch with us,” Sarah Dooley said of Bernsen. “He thought we would all be a good fit. And so far, so good.”

Sent off the 8-5 favorite making his second start Saturday, Common Defense bobbled at the break, was jostled into the first turn and mired in traffic on the far turn, but once clear in the stretch produced a powerful late kick to draw away to a 3 1/2-length victory (video).

“We were hopeful,” Leo Dooley said of expectations heading into the colt's second start. “We were definitely hopeful because he ran such a good race first time out. We were really hoping he would improve off of that and he did.”

As for where Common Defense might start next, Leo Dooley said, “It's up to Kenny to decide. We trust whatever Kenny wants to do. We are along for the ride.”

Allusion is still a part of the Norevale broodmare band. The mare's Not This Time colt RNA'd for $260,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale two months ago. The Dooleys have high expectations for the colt, who they plan to offer at the Keeneland September sale later this year.

“We are really excited about him,” Leo Dooley said of the short yearling. “He is one of the standouts on the farm.”

Sarah Dooley added, “When we send foals to a foal sale, we are always happy to protect them if we like them enough. We primarily sell yearlings, but if we like the foal, if he's a really good individual, we will go to a foal sale and we are always happy to protect them and bring them home if we need to.”

Allusion is currently in foal to Epicenter.

The Norevale broodmare band currently numbers some 20 head and the operation has expanded beyond its original base.

“We still have that main farm and we lease another place across the street as well,” Sarah Dooley said. “And now we also lease my parents old farm right around the corner on Russell Cave.”

Asked if their success Saturday at Oaklawn makes them want to get more involved in the racing side of the business, Leo Dooley said with a laugh, “Yes. It makes getting up in this cold weather and going to the farm a lot easier. But we are probably never going to get this lucky again for a while.”

For her part, Sarah Dooley said, “There are so many things that were special about it. He was the first foal born on our farm, we are owners/breeders, we are in partnership with my family, he was in our silks. People always say it's the dream. It's why we started this farm, to breed winners, breed good horses, and you read about people saying it and you hear people saying it and it's nice to finally say that ourselves.

“Hopefully he can go on and be a nice horse, but even just the win, in our colors, it's a step in the right direction for sure and we are just going to keep trying to build on that. I don't know if we are going to be in the racehorse game now, but we are happy to take it when it comes.”

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Making Waves: Good Things Come In Threes

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Behind Enemy Lines (GB) (Sioux Nation) in the Cutler Bay S. at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Sioux Nation Colt Makes The Cut At Gulfstream

Rockingham Ranch, Talla Racing, LLC and David Bernsen's Behind Enemy Lines (GB) (Sioux Nation) ran like a 1-9 favourite should to give his Coolmore sire his fifth stakes winner and first Stateside in the Cutler Bay S. at Gulfstream on Saturday (video).

Trained by Jack Sisterson, the son of the once-raced Autumn Snow (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was bred by The Brigadier Partnership. An 88,000gns weanling when picked up by Alex Elliott from Barton Stud at the Tattersalls November Foal Sale, the bay made 90,000gns from J B Bloodstock when re-offered by The Castlebridge Consignment as a Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling. Sent through the ring yet again, this time he did not meet his reserve as a €173,228 Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale buyback (breeze video). As noted by colleague Alan Carasso, Behind Enemy Lines is the second stakes winner to emerge from the inaugural Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale.

Unplaced for Justin Casse and Joseph O'Brien at the Curragh in August, he put it all together over the Dundalk synthetic to win by 4 3/4 lengths in January. Purchased privately by these connections, the Cutler Bay was his American bow.

The second foal, first runner and first winner out of his dam, Behind Enemy Lines is followed by the colt Looking Bere (Fr) (Le Brivido {Fr}), who is catalogued as lot 247 in the upcoming Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale by Dolmen Bloodstock, and a yearling half-brother by Whitecliffsofdover. Second dam Epic Similie (GB) (Lomitas {GB}) was placed in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while her Manduro (Ger) half-brother Ultra (Ire) won that race in 2015 before standing under the Darley banner in France. Eclipse champion Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also under the third dam.

Although his eldest foals are just 3-year-olds, Sioux Nation has sired 58 winners from 106 runners worldwide (55%). Stateside, he has three runners and Behind Enemy Lines is his first winner (33%) among that trio.

How Sweet The Sound

Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) is no stranger to black-type victories, and, bearing the Moyglare Stud silks, secured a half-length victory in the GIII Orchid S. in Florida on Saturday (video) for trainer Christophe Clement.

Profiled in Emma Berry's Seven Days column earlier this week, the German-bred is starting to pay back her €850,000 Arqana December purchase price. Bred by Dr. Christoph Berglar, she won the G2 Diana Trial in 2021 and the G2 T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis last term. Also Group 1-placed in the G1 Preis von Europa, Amazing Grace is the second foal out of German stakes winner Amabelle (Ger) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Her dam foaled her winning full-sister, Ad Astra (Ger), the year after producing the Orchid winner, while her 3-year-old full-brother, Astaire (Ire), has yet to race. Amabelle's juvenile has already been named Alvorada (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and she has a yearling filly by the 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup hero.

From limited crops, Protectionist has sired 33 winners from 64 runners worldwide (51%). His other stakes winner besides Amazing Grace is G3 Bavarian Classic hero Lambo (Ger). In America, he's been represented by two runners total, and Saturday's winner is his only scorer.

An Island Of Breathing Space

The third and final stakes-winning European to prevail at Gulfstream on Saturday was Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco, and Tango Uniform Racing's Breath Away (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who scooped the Sanibel Island S. by 2 1/2 lengths (video).

Part of the Highgate Stud breeding programme, she caught the eye of Canirola Bloodstock as a 92,000gns foal at Tattersalls November, and blossomed into a 230,000gns yearling at that venue's October Yearling Sale Book 1 when offered by Taroka Stud. Stephen Hillen was the buyer that day. A winner of her Gulfstream debut back in January, she missed by only a nose in an allowance optional claimer a month later for trainer Christophe Clement.

A full-sister to GIII Wilshire S. heroine Simply Breathless (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Breath Away is a daughter of Darling Grace (GB) (Nayef), who scored her lone victory as a 3-year-old. Her latest foals are fillies by Advertise (GB) and Bated Breath, foaled in 2021 and 2022, respectively. G1 Falmouth S. heroine Giofra (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is under the third dam.

From just 29 runners in the U.S., Juddmonte's Bated Breath has 17 checks in the winners' column (58%). He's firing in stakes winners at a rate of 38% (11 from 29 runners), with his leading light the 2016 filly Viadera (GB), heroine of the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar. She is supported by GII Edgewood S. heroine Gift List (GB), the aforementioned Grade III winner Simply Breathless, and Tezzaray (GB), successful in the GIII Jimmy Durante S. and fourth in the GI Del Mar Oaks.

Emperor Of The Mill

Team Valor International's Tuddenham Mill (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) eked out a head victory in a maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday. Third in a pair of starts for Hankers and Maccas and trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy, Tuddenham Mill switched to the ownership of Team Valor for start three and was eventually transferred Stateside. The 3-year-old was bred by the Imperial Crown Syndicate.

A £29,000 Tattersalls Ireland September yearling, Tuddenham Mill was picked up by Troy Steve Bloodstock from The Castlebridge Consignment. His dam, who won as a juvenile and is a full-sister to GI Suburban H. hero and sire Frost Giant (Giant's Causeway), has a 2-year-old filly by Magna Grecia (Ire) still to come.

Coolmore Stud stallion Holy Roman Emperor sports 25 winners from 49 runners in America (51%). Besides his 11 stakes horses in that jurisdiction, six of his progeny have won stakes (12%), led by top-drawer winners Glorious Empire (Ire), Rockemperor (Ire), and Rich Tapestry (Ire).

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Stylish Win for Kalypso in La Brea

David A Bernsen, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Rockingham Ranch and Chad Littlefield's Kalypso (Brody's Cause) became her sire's first Grade I winner with a stylish victory in the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Sunday. The 8-1 shot, making her first start since April, stalked the pace of Livingmybestlife (The Big Beast) through fractions of :22.11 and :44.92. Longshot Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) collared the pacesetter as they approached the stretch, but her advantage was short-lived as Kalypso ranged up three wide at the top of the lane and strode confidently to the lead before powering clear to win by 4 3/4 lengths. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:24.78.

The La Brea was the fourth win on the holiday card for jockey John Velazquez, who is wintering in California for the first time this year.

“Bob [Baffert] and I talked about it. We thought there was a lot of speed in the race and we knew she had speed, but I didn't want to be in a duel and not have anything to finish with,” Velazquez said. “I told Bob that if she has more speed, then I'm just going to let her go, let her be in the lead. I wanted to give her a chance the first part of the race and everything was really easy until I got to the three-eighths pole. I kind of got on her a little bit and she bit into the bridle, so I said, 'Alright, we're going good.' At the quarter pole, I pulled her to the clear and from then on, it was pretty easy.”

Kalypso won the GII Santa Ynez S. over the same track and distance of the La Brea in January. She was second in the GIII Las Virgenes S. and third in the GIII Santa Ysabel before going to the sidelines after bleeding and being eased in the Apr. 30 GII Eight Belles S.

“We turned her out after that Churchill Downs race,” Baffert said. “We brought her back and she was fresh. Johnny V. got her  to relax. She has a tendency to go too fast. She was really relaxed today and she was one happy filly. Grade I's are hard to come by.”

The Baffert-trained Private Mission (Into Mischief) never seemed to get untracked while finishing sixth as the 3-5 favorite.

“[Private Mission] didn't run good,” Baffert said. “She was not running at all. That's not her.”

Pedigree Notes:

Kalypso is one of two graded winners to date for Brody's Cause. The Spendthrift stallion has also been represented by last year's GIII Iroquois S. winner Sittin on Go, as well as graded placed Smiley Sobotka and Girther.

Malibu Cove, a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Prospective, has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Hit It a Bomb. She produced a colt by Mor Spirit in 2020 (who sold for $200,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton July sale) and a colt by Jimmy Creed in 2021. She was bred back to Authentic this year.

Sunday, Santa Anita
LA BREA S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.78, ft.
1–KALYPSO, 122, f, 3, by Brody's Cause
1st Dam: Malibu Cove, by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Spirited Away, by Awesome Again
3rd Dam: Cape North, by Capote
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($240,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL). O-David A Bernsen, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Rockingham Ranch & Chad Littlefield; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-3-2, $480,600. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Brilliant Cut, 120, f, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Polish a Diamond, by The Factor
2nd Dam: Tap Your Feet, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Exotic Moves, by Miswaki
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $160,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Boom Racing, ERJ Racing, LLC, Dave Kenney & William J Strauss; B-McCauley Farm & Speightstown Syndicate (KY); T-Doug F O'Neill. $60,000.
3–Livingmybestlife, 120, f, 3, by The Big Beast
1st Dam: Wall Street Lady, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Epistle, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Chosen Lady, by Secretariat
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Alex & JoAnn Lieblong (FL); T-John W Sadler. $36,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 8.80, 20.80, 5.30.
Also Ran: Eddie's New Dream, Canoodling, Private Mission, Missy P. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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