Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | Horse Racing Free Tips

Saturday Insights: 3yo Justify Colt Debuts At Pimlico

3rd-PIM, $52K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:37 p.m.
As Pimlico's meet tunes up before Preakness week, $450,000 KEESEP purchase REBELLIOUS STAGE (Justify) heads to post four in this maiden attempt. Trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by Sheldon Russell, the chestnut colt's second dam Mon Belle (Maria's Mon) is a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Monarchos and she produced GSP Supreme (Empire Maker), who is the dam of GI Met Mile champ Silver State (Hard Spun). TJCIS PPS

4th-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 2:13 p.m.
As the Triple Crown Trail heads east, Churchill Downs continues with its racing and a competitive field assembles on the turf for this maiden. Vanished (Speightstown) will break from gate 10 for Todd Pletcher with Luis Saez aboard, and this 3-year-old $300,000 KEESEP buy is out of Elusive Pearl (Medaglia d'Oro) who won a pair of stakes routing on the grass. To her outside, is a 3-year-old daughter of Maclean's Music named Evie's Encore. Trained by Tom Amoss and ridden by Edgar Morales, the $250,000 KEESEP grad's second dam is GI Ashland S. heroine Sis City (Slew City). One other worth a mention is Em Kat (Tapit), a 3-year-old filly who is out of MGSW Great Hot (Brz). TJCIS PPS

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Making Waves: No Concrete Fears For Smart Filly

In this new semi-weekly series, the TDN takes a look at the notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column, Feb. 11-17, is highlighted by the victory of Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) in the Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 11.

No Concrete Fears For Smart Filly

The best performance of the week was Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Manhattan Jungle adding to her resume in the Sweet Life S. going down the hill at Santa Anita. A three-quarter length winner for trainer Michael McCarthy, the 3-year-old filly was second in the Blue Norther S. on New Year's Eve.

One of seven black-type winners for her Rathasker-based sire, Manhattan Jungle is the best of a trio of winners from just five runners in America. Her sire's best progeny is undoubtedly G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Winter Power (Ire), and he stands for €6,500 this year.

Bred by Patrick Headon of Wraymount Stud and a €20,000 Goffs Sportman's Sale yearling buy by Lemos De Souza and his partner, trainer Amy Murphy, the filly made her first two starts winning ones in France for Murphy, De Souza and co-owners Daniel Macauliffe and Anoj Don in April. Stepped up to listed company, the result was the same in Vichy's Prix des Reves d'Or, but the silks were different, as by this point Aron Wellman's Eclipse had snapped up Manhattan Jungle and left her in Murphy's care.

Although she found the waters too deep in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S., Manhattan Jungle was only a length back in second to the future G1 Prix Morny third and G1 Middle Park S. second The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–a full-brother to crack sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–in the G3 Prix de Cabourg on Aug. 2. Fourth in the Morny, and back in the placings after setting the pace to be third in the G3 Prix Eclipse on Sept. 17, the Murphy trainee was unplaced in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland after a busy season in November and transferred to McCarthy.

Her dam, the Acclamation (GB) mare Skylight (Ire), won once in six starts, taking out the one-mile Selling S. over the Lingfield all-weather for trainer Mick Channon. The third foal and winner for her dam, Manhattan Jungle has a Sioux Nation 2-year-old half-sister, as well as a yearling half-brother by Shaman (Ire). The Sioux Nation filly, also consigned by Wraymount, made €90,000 on the bid of Emma Chilcot & Get in the Game at the Goffs Sportman's Sale last September.

An honourable mention, is the late Galileo (Ire)'s 3-year-old daughter Juniper's Moon, who graduated by three-parts of a length going 1 1/16 miles on grass in her third try at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday (video). The Coolmore great's 359 stakes winners (241 group/graded), feature 26 in Canada and North America, with 15 at the Grade I tier. Juniper's Moon is one of 61 North American winners from 171 runners.

Bred by Carolyn and Fletcher Gray and foaled in Kentucky, the chestnut was part of the Blandford Stud consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and brought $725,000 from J.R. International Holdings. Second when unveiled over the Aqueduct turf in November for Team Spoor and Anthony Dutrow, she was sixth at that track stepping up to 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Nov. 25.

Related to the late GII Jim Dandy S. hero-turned sire Laoban (Uncle Mo), she is out of GI Cotillion S., GI Delaware H., and GI Spinster S. heroine I'm A Chatterbox (Munnings), who was also placed five times at the graded level and was third in the GI Kentucky Oaks of 2015. I'm A Chatterbox was covered by Into Mischief last spring.

Kingman's Florida Double

Florida was the place to be on Thursday, as Juddmonte stallion Kingman (GB) sired a brace of new maiden winners.

William K. Werner's 3-year-old filly Grace Darling (Ire) struck by two lengths in the day's fifth race going 7 1/2 furlongs at the Hallandale Beach oval (video) under Tyler Gaffalione, who would also be aboard Kingman's other winner on the day, Turf King. The GII Edgewood S. at Churchill in May is next for Kingman's 22nd American winner according to current trainer Brian Lynch.

Bred at trainer Dermot Weld's Springbank Way Stud, she made her first two starts at Naas in Weld's silks. Sixth versus males in her six-furlong July debut, the daughter of former Weld trainee and G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial heroine Stormfly (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) improved to third going that same trip there behind Dower House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and subsequent listed heroine Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who has Guineas aspirations for Charles Fipke. From the family of dual hemisphere Group 1 winner and sire Ivanhowe (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB), Grace Darling was acquired privately by her current connections, and is followed by the juvenile colt Wasp (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}).

Grace Darling | Ryan Thompson

In the day's finale, Ridgemont Stud-bred Turf King (Ire), out of another Acclamation (GB) mare in Sweet Acclaim (Ire), closed to take a one-mile all-weather feature by a neck for the Chad Brown barn at first asking (video). Offered by David Cox's Baroda Stud at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale in 2021, the colt was picked up for €100,000 by Niall Brennan, who sent him through the 2022 OBS March Sale. After breezing a furlong in :10.1, he made $180,000 on the bid of Wise Racing, and now carries their colours.

Placed third in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. in England, Sweet Acclaim also placed at the graded level Stateside, in the GIII Appalachian S., GIII Violet S., and the GIII Old Forester Mint Julep H., but did manage a stakes victory over the Ellis Park turf. From the extended family of three-time GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), she was picked up for $600,000 out of the 2016 Keeneland November Sale by Craig Roscoe. Turf King is her third foal, third to race and third winner. She has a juvenile filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) yet to come, and a yearling filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire).

The March-foaled Turf King gives Kingman a total of 23 winners from 45 runners Stateside (51%). Sprinkled liberally among them are seven stakes scorers (15% stakes winners to runners), led by three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB), who was also trained by Brown. Residing at Banstead Manor Stud in England, the 12-year-old has 54 worldwide black-type winners and stands for £125,000 this season.

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3-Year-Olds Nest and Epicenter Voted Eclipse Best

A pair of battle-tested performers in their 3-year-old categories, Nest and Epicenter showed grit and determination versus some stiff competition along the Derby and Oaks Trails.

NEST
When all the votes were tallied, the title for the 2022 champion 3-year-old filly division went for the second consecutive year to another uber-talented daughter of Curlin out of an A.P. Indy mare. Also trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Nest follows in the footsteps of 2021 3-year-old filly champion Malathaat, who employed a similar route to Eclipse success, including wins in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. and GI Alabama S.

Finishing in the top three in seven of eight starts in 2022, Nest kicked off the season with a rousing score in Tampa's Suncoast S. in February before making it look just as easy when stepping up to take Keeneland's Ashland. Favored over the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Secret Oath (Arrogate) in the GI Kentucky Oaks, Nest crossed the wire second to that rival in the run for the lilies and returned to occupy the same spot while facing colts in the GI Belmont S. in June. Facing her Oaks nemesis in the CCA Oaks at the Spa last summer, Nest powered home a 12 1/4-length winner and bested that rival again next time out in the Alabama. Back in the winner's circle following a 9 3/4-length tour-de-force victory in the GII Beldame S. during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet in October, she tired late to finish fourth behind her stablemate, this year's champion older mare Malathaat, in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 5.

By two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, Nest is out of stakes-winning Marion Ravenwood, already responsible for GI Santa Anita H. victor Idol (Curlin), in addition to stakes winner Lost Ark (Violence). Her second dam is GSW and GISP Andujar (Quiet American), hailing from the family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet (Quiet American).

Early Impressions…
“Nest, who was foaled in the evening on Apr. 8 with a normal delivery, arrived without complication and was fortunate enough to have a very caring mother. She was medium sized, but always perfectly balanced, dead correct and her athleticism was strong while remaining feminine. To assume we knew she was going to be a star would be a vast overstatement, but we always loved her.

“During her early yearling days, she was always smart and never nervous. She was a leader in the pack and never got pushed around. When we sold her at Keeneland, frankly speaking, we were very disappointed with her sale price. We sold two other fillies that brought more than double her price and we couldn't understand why. We thought maybe it was because she wasn't a towering monster of a filly, but that is what we loved about her. While we were a bit disappointed at the sale, we were thrilled she was going to Todd Pletcher.

“Nest has flattered our family and everyone associated with Ashview Farm. We are grateful to all her connections and most especially to Nest because it's been a privilege to be associated with her.”
–Ashview Farm's Gray Lyster

-Christina Bossinakis

EPICENTER
Epicenter earned his Eclipse statue the hard way, dancing every dance from the start of the year straight through to a gut-wrenching conclusion at the Breeders' Cup. The Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer announced himself as a Kentucky Derby contender with a romping victory in the Gun Runner S. as he approached his third birthday in late 2021 and headed to Louisville off victories in the GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby.

Sent off the 4-1 favorite on the First Saturday in May, Epicenter took the lead with authority at the quarter-pole, only to be run down, improbably, by 80-1 longshot Rich Strike (Keen Ice).

Favored again at Pimlico two weeks later, Epicenter was jostled in traffic and well back early before making a gallant run up the rail to miss catching Early Voting (Gun Runner) while finishing second in the GI Preakness S.

Epicenter returned for the second half the season with a win in the GII Jim Dandy S. in July before a decisive 5 1/4-length victory in the Aug. 27 GI Runhappy Travers S., a triumph which would ultimately clinch his championship title.

The year ended on a somber note when Epicenter suffered a career-ending injury during the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. He has already taken up residence at Ashford Stud, where he will begin his stud career in the coming weeks.

Early Impressions…
“Epicenter was a medium-sized foal that was really smart. He grew into an extremely well-balanced yearling with a great walk, very cat like. Very proud of Epicenter and thankful for the hands he got in. Winchell and Asmussen, can't do any better.”
–Mike Harris, whose family's Westwind Farms bred Epicenter

–Jessica Martini

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Gone West Legacy Renewed at Mill Ridge with New Addition

After a short hiatus from the stallion business, Mill Ridge welcomed GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Oscar Performance to their farm in 2019. Four years later, they now add a second stallion to their roster in Aloha West (Hard Spun – Island Bound, by Speightstown), who claimed the 2021 GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Wayne Catalano.

With breeding shed doors opening soon, what has this newcomer's initial reception been like with breeders?

“A lot more positive than the Oscar Performance reception was,” said Price Bell with a laugh.

These days, Mill Ridge Farm's general manager is happy to joke about the challenge of launching an American turf horse's stud career if it means talking about Oscar Performance, who just received a fee bump from $12,500 to $20,000 after he wrapped up 2022 as the leading sire of all 2-year-olds on the turf by progeny earnings with his first crop.

As for Aloha West, the champion has drawn a steady stream of visitors at Mill Ridge after he retired to stud following this year's Breeders' Cup.

A son of Hard Spun, Aloha West is out of the Speightstown mare Island Bound, who won the 2012 GIII Winning Colors S. Bell said the new stallion has a physical that reflects both sides of his pedigree and will fit a variety of mares.

“Physically, he's a beautiful horse. Hard Spun is a son of Danzig, who is as influential of a sire line as there exists. Aloha West it from the family of Fappiano and then within that, you've got Speightstown, who is a son of Gone West out of a Storm Cat mare. I think the Speightstown side has really balanced him and polished him up. ”

Aloha West fulfills an important roll at Mill Ridge in carrying out the legacy of breed shaper Gone West, who joined Mill Ridge's first stallion Diesis at the farm in 1988 and went on to produce 98 stakes winners.

After the remarkable success of Gone West, whose sons and grandsons are influential on a global scale today, the farm added several more stallions that failed to follow in their predecessors' achievements.

“We were more active in the stallion business through the 1990s and the 2000s,” Bell explained. “We took on a strategy–and not a unique one–that we needed to retire a stallion every year. We stood Bien Bien, Valiant Nature, Binalong, and really a series of stallions that didn't work. I think at times we might have gotten over our skis in feeling like we had to stand a stallion and we got away from believing in a stallion. As the dust settled, our strategy changed because we couldn't afford to make mistakes. So we never felt like we were out of the stallion business, but rather that we were waiting for the right opportunity.”

That first opportunity came with Oscar Performance, who is the product of a Nicoma Bloodstock mating suggestion and was foaled and raised at Mill Ridge. Next came Gone West's descendant Aloha West.

“Our belief in him was the fundamental driver,” Bell said. “I think if we were to have learned anything after Gone West with the other stallions that we tried, it is that we have to get back to believing in the horse, his ability, his ability to become a stallion and the team around that horse.”

One chapter of Aloha West's story that Bell said they aim to impress upon breeders is that while the Maryland-bred did not race until he was four due to an injury that required surgery, he did have all the potential to be a top-class juvenile.

“Although he didn't race at two, you can look back at his works and see that he was putting in bullets at San Luis Rey and Santa Anita. So it would be easy to bypass that, but when you understand that he was a very good 2-year-old, and then he breaks his maiden at Oaklawn Park by making this big move passing horses around the turn, you think, 'Wow, that's a serious racehorse.'”

Purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners shortly after that debut win, Aloha West won five of his nine starts in 2021. He was the runner-up in the GII Phoenix S. at Keeneland and then got his signature win in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he defeated the likes of champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and MGISW Dr. Schivel (Violence). He furthered his success at five with a win in the Kelly's Landing S.

“He had a tremendous desire to win,” Bell said. “He was tough and fast and wanted to get to the finish line first. He ran speed figures comparable to Munnings and other great stallions, so that gives us the belief that he can pass that on to his offspring.”

Aloha West will stand for a fee of $10,000 in 2023. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has stayed in on the stallion and recently signed tickets on several mares at the Keeneland January Sale.

“Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners are our friends and clients that we hold in the highest regard,” Bell said. “Their motto is to believe big and he certainly achieved the highest results for their partners. For me, he is as exciting a sire at this price point that has come out in the last few years and we've had a positive reception not only from previous clients, but also from new clients. We feel so blessed because this is a game of hopes and dreams and we want to share it with as many people as possible. We're all in this together and we hope that we can launch a successful stallion career.”

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