Tag: Del Mar Oaks

Perfect Storm as Anisette Much the Best in Del Mar Oaks

With the threat of Hurricane Hilary looming over Southern California and Del Mar, Anisette (GB) (f, 3, Awtaad {Ire}–Tutti Frutti {GB}, by Teofilo {Ire}) took the seaside oval by storm, blowing the doors off the GI Del Mar Oaks Saturday. She remained perfect in three U.S. starts since transferring to Leonard Powell's barn from the UK earlier this year. The final time for Anisett's nine furlongs on the lawn was 1:48.15 as 'TDN Rising Star' and East Coast shipper Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), as well as former Irish runner Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) chased her home.

“Her turn of foot made the difference at the top of the lane,” said Powell, who also won the Oaks in 2018 with Fatale Bere (Fr) (Pedro the Great). “I didn't think we'd be so far back, especially with a half mile in :47, but she was good enough to overcome that and close the ground. [Jockey Umberto Rispoli] kept his cool; we got a dream run on the rail and he had the horse to do it. She's the goods.”

The 3-year-old fillies broke in an even line for the turf contest and it was former $1.2-million Fasig-Tipton juvenile Ruby Nell (Bolt d'Oro) who led by as many as four lengths while setting fractions of :23.84 and :47.21. Meanwhile, Anisette trailed through the first six panels while as many as a dozen lengths in arrears. If Rispoli was concerned, he didn't show it. The dark bay had also lingered closer to the back than the front early when the pair scored the in GII San Clemente S. over this course at a mile July 22.

On the turn for home, Anisette and Rispoli began weaving through horses, finally driving through a dream seam on the rail and bursting clear with a dazzling turn of foot as the rider peeked over his shoulder and stood up for a fist-pumping celebration at the wire. It was Anisette's fourth consecutive win following the San Clemente and an introductory U.S. allowance May 29 at Santa Anita. She was coming off a late-December win as a 2-year-old at Wolverhampton in Great Britain for her former conditioner, Kevin Philippart de Foy, after which Eclipse Thoroughbred's Aron Wellman bought her privately and imported her to the U.S. Anisette was originally consigned by Wiltshire's Manor Farm to the 2021 Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, where she hammered for 26,000gns to Avenue Bloodstock.

“I knew I was on the best filly and that helped me ride her the way I did,” said Rispoli. “I thought about going outside and I knew the pace wasn't in my favor. But then things opened a bit inside and I went. They tell me I ride like [new Hall of Famer] Fernando Toro did. I know what that means. It's a great honor.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

Derrinstown Stud's Awtaad (Ire) has not had huge books by modern standards at his County Kildare home, but he's certainly done well with his three crops aged three and up with two Grade I/Group 1 winners to date in addition to a French highweight. He attained the Group 1 level himself in the 2016 Irish Two Thousand Guineas. Anmaat (Ire) won the May 29 G1 Prix d'Ispahan for the son of Cape Cross (Ire) and now Anisette adds a Grade I victory stateside less than three months later with the Del Mar Oaks. Overall, Awtaad has 10 black-type winners, five of which are group or graded.

The Galileo (Ire) son Teofilo (Ire) is the damsire of both Anisette and Al Qareem (Ire), Awtaad's French GSW who was highweighed for 2022. The statistical sample may be small, but it still makes 40% of Awtaad's group/graded winners out of mares by Teofilo, who has 33 stakes winners out of his daughters.

In addition to Anisette, Tutti Frutti (GB), a half to Great Britain's 2014 G1 Markel Insurance Nassau S. winner Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), has produced an unraced 2-year-old colt named Eton Mes (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and a yearling filly by Make Believe (GB). Eton Mes was an RNA at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. Tutti Frutti herself was a 52,000gns purchase by Hugo Merry Bloodstock at the 2016 December Mare Sale.

Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR OAKS-GI, $302,500, Del Mar, 8-19, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.15, fm.
1–ANISETTE (GB), 122, f, 3, by Awtaad (Ire)
                1st Dam: Tutti Frutti (GB), by Teofilo (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Soft Centre (GB), by Zafonic
                3rd Dam: Foodbroker Fancy (Ire), by Halling
1ST GRADE I WIN. (26,000gns Ylg '21 TATSOM). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners; B-Morera Partnership (GB); T-Leonard
Powell; J-Umberto Rispoli. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0,
$346,871. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Be Your Best (Ire), 122, f, 3, by Muhaarar (GB)
                1st Dam: Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Flagbird, by Nureyev
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Michael J. Ryan; B-St. Croix Bloodstock
(IRE); T-Horacio De Paz. $60,000.
3–Impact Warrior (Ire), 122, f, 3, by Saxon Warrior (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Lina de Vega (Ire) (GSP-Ire),
                                by Lope de Vega (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Caerlina (Ire), by Caerleon
                3rd Dam: Dinalina (Fr), by Top Ville (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. (€55,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Martin Schwartz;
B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $36,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 0.80, 7.50, 8.50.
Also Ran: Ruby Nell, Infinite Diamond, Window Shopping, And Tell Me Nolies, Absolutely Zero, Big Pond, Paris Secret (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Background Check: Del Mar Oaks

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Del Mar's GI Del Mar Oaks, inaugurated in 1957 on the dirt but a permanent fixture on the grass since the 1965 edition.

As always, when there's racemares of this caliber, many will go on to become excellent producers. A few especially leap off the page for their accomplishments after racing. Following are highlights of some of the most important Del Mar Oaks winners by what impact they've had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

No Matter What (1997, Nureyev–Words of War, by Lord At War {Arg}), bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Stonerside, Ltd.: Not too many mares produce five graded/group winners, but this one did. Her best was English/Irish highweight and MG1SW Rainbow View (Dynaformer).

Hollywood Wildcat (1990, Kris S.–Miss Wildcatter, by Mr. Prospector), bred by Irving and Marjorie Cowan: One of the few mares to both win a Breeders' Cup and produce a Breeders' Cup winner, she is the dam of GI Mile winner War Chant (Danzig). She would go on to produce three other stakes winners, including GSW Ivan Denisovich (Ire) (Danehill), who also placed in Grade I/Group 1 races in three countries. Japanese G1SW Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Canadian Classic winner Danish Dynaformer (Dynaformer) are among the stakes performers produced by her daughters.

Hidden Light (1983, Majestic Light–Tallahto, by Nantallah), bred by Howard B. Keck: Her pièce de résistance was her 11th foal, the tough Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}), who has doubled up on siring Grade I/Group 1 winners in both the U.S. and Australia. His best to date is Australian champion Flying Artie (Aus), in turn the sire of Australian MGISW and English invader Artorius (Aus).

French Charmer (1978, Le Fabuleux {Fr}–Bold Example, by Bold Lad), bred by A. D. D. Rogers: England's 1989 Horse of the Year and nice sire Zilzal (Nureyev) was her top son, while other descendants include Canadian champion and U.S. GISW Negligee (Northern Afleet).

Country Queen (1975, Explodent–Carrie's Rough, by Rough'n Tumble), bred by Ocala Stud, Inc.: This Florida-bred mare produced one minor stakes winner, but a daughter of hers went to France and made a massive splash. Among the latter's sons were MG1SW and sire Slickly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and among her daughters were the dams of European champion Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and G1SW Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). Currently one of the world's leading sires and based in France, Siyouni is responsible for the likes of Sottsass (Fr), St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Laurens (Fr), and Paddington (GB).

Sandy Blue (1970, Windy Sands–Blue Nola, by Limelight {GB}), bred by Mr. & Mrs. Dan Gershon: A long list of stakes winners traces to this California-bred chestnut, most notably the wonderful champion grass mare and six-time GISW Possibly Perfect (Northern Baby). Other GISWs include Eddington (Unbridled), Coil (Point Given), Chiropractor (Kitten's Joy), and Miserden (Private Account), the latter in France.

Desert Trial (1963, Moslem Chief–Scotch Verdict, by Alsab), bred by Joseph M. O'Farrell: Among this mare's four stakes winners were dual champion and six-time GISW Desert Vixen (In Reality), as well as a full-brother to that champion in GSW & GISP Valid Appeal. The latter was an excellent Florida-based sire, known for throwing early runners with an abundance of speed. Desert Vixen, in turn, produced French GSW & MG1SP Real Shadai (Roberto), who would become a leading sire in Japan.

Fun House (1958, The Doge–Recess, by Count Fleet), bred by C. V. Whitney: Before there was a Winchell Broodmare of the Year with the same name, this dark bay produced six black-type winners, including GISW Court Ruling (Traffic Judge) and eventual leading Argentinean sire Good Manners (Nashua). Her descendants include dual Canadian champion and U.S. MGISW Windsharp (Lear Fan), dam of Breeders' Cup winner Johar (Gone West) and 2003 Del Mar Oaks winner Dessert (Storm Cat).

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APB: Spendarella Targeting Keeneland’s Jenny Wiley

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack tracks down top horses on the sidelines.

Gainesway homebred Spendarella (f, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat)–sidelined since posting a dominating 4 1/2-length victory for trainer Graham Motion in the GI Del Mar Oaks in August–will return for a 4-year-old campaign with an early-season target of the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland.

“She came out of that last race with a couple of little issues and we gave her some time,” said Alex Solis II, Gainesway's Director of Bloodstock and Racing.

“She actually just got back to Graham about two weeks ago at Fair Hill. He'll get her back going and the goal I'm sure is going to be to try to run her in that Grade I at Keeneland during the spring meet. It will be up to Graham if he wants to prep her or if she'll just go straight into that.”

After beginning her career with two wins over the Gulfstream lawn, including a front-running tally in the GIII Herecomesthebride S. Mar. 5, Spendarella made it a perfect three-for-three in Keeneland's GII Appalachian S. Apr. 9. She lost very little if anything while suffering the lone defeat of her brilliant career thus far, finishing a respectable second behind three-time Group 1 heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17. Spendarella returned two months later and posted a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure in her aforementioned win at Del Mar.

“From the beginning, we had high hopes,” Solis said. “She's such an important filly for [Gainesway CEO] Antony [Beck]–she's a homebred and she's by his sire. He's enjoyed it the whole way through.”

Already responsible for GI American Oaks heroine Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule), the winning California-bred mare Spanish Bunny brought $130,000 from Gainesway at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale.

Currently in foal and carrying a full-brother to Spendarella, Spanish Bunny has also produced the MSW & MGSP 4-year-old filly Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}), who brought $600,000 from Shadai Farm at last month's KEENOV sale. Spanish Bunny had a colt by Uncle Mo in 2022.

As for Spendarella, Solis concluded, “The Breeders' Cup is in California [at Santa Anita] next year and we know she'll handle firm ground. She proved it in the Del Mar Oaks that she really likes it. There's a lot of options out there on the table for next year and the whole team is really looking forward to it.”

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Karakontie’s Spendarella Wins For Fun in Del Mar Oaks

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), a huge second in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17, put on a show in Saturday evening's GI Del Mar Oaks.

Favored at 6-5 after suffering her first career defeat overseas, the New York-bred stalked the early leaders in third, hit the gas while three wide on the far turn, and kicked clear impressively in the stretch to win for fun by 4 1/2 lengths over Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}).

Spendarella began her career with three straight victories, including Gulfstream's GIII Herecomesthebride S. Mar. 5 and Keeneland's GII Appalachian S. Apr. 9.

Pedigree Notes:

Spendarella is the first Grade I winner for GI Breeders' Cup Mile victor Karakontie, who resides in her owner/breeder Gainesway's stallion barn. She is a half-sister to GI American Oaks winner Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule) and a full to MSW & MGSP Spanish Loveaffair. Gainesway acquired her dam Spanish Bunny for $130,000 at the 2015 KEENOV sale. Spanish Loveaffair was her second foal for Antony Beck's operation and she brought $775,000 at the 2021 KEENOV sale. Spendarella came next and was followed by the now 2-year-old filly Spanish Destiny (Destin). Spanish Bunny failed to get back in foal to Destin for 2021, but had an Uncle Mo colt Feb. 17 of this year. She was bred back to both Quality Road and Karakontie.

Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR OAKS-GI, $304,000, Del Mar, 8-20, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.09, fm.
1–SPENDARELLA, 122, f, 3, by Karakontie (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat
                2nd Dam: Spanish Beam, by El Gran Senor
                3rd Dam: Solar Beam, by Majestic Light
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($220,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gainesway
Stable (Antony Beck); B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (NY);
T-H. Graham Motion; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-4-1-0, $596,459. *Full to Spanish Loveaffair, MSW &
MGSP, $284,090; 1/2 to Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule), GISW,
$423,600. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Bellabel (Ire), 122, f, 3, by Belardo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Fashion Line (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Shadow Roll (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Warning Shadows (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€33,000 Ylg '20 TATFB). O-Agave Racing
Stable, Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig & Ray
Pagano; B-Fergus Cousins (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
3–Cairo Memories, 122, f, 3, by Cairo Prince
                1st Dam: Incarnate Memories, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Witness Post, by Gone West
                3rd Dam: Most Likely, by Fappiano
'TDN Rising Star'. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-David A.
Bernsen, LLC & Schroeder Farms LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY);
T-Robert B. Hess, Jr. $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.20, 3.70, 4.60.
Also Ran: Tezzaray (GB), Ballet Dancing, Lucky Girl (Ire), Lady Clementine (GB), Sixteen Arches (Ire), Island of Love (Ire), Txope (Fr), Gold Dragon Queen, Lady T, Gracelund Gray. Scratched: Rhea Moon (Ire).
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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