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TDN Snippets: Weeks of Apr. 4 – Apr. 10

Karma, football, a wild longshot in the Santa Anita Oaks, and one of the industry's oldest farms striving to break new ground in new areas. Let's also not forget the big Twin Spired shadow looming over us. Here's how the controlled chaos went down this week.

Defying the odds…again
Taiba will be up against all sorts of historical norms by forging ahead to the Kentucky Derby off just two lifetime starts. Since 1937 (the advent of detailed start statistics), only four horses have ever even attempted the Derby in career start number three: China Visit (sixth in 2000), Disposal (18th in 1992), Senecas Coin (DNF in 1949) and Perfect Bahram (ninth in 1946).

It's a dry heat…
Arizona will get a chance to bring that lovely weather with them to the Kentucky Oaks after Desert Dawn's shocking upset of the GII Santa Anita Oaks. Her AZ-based owners Hollis and Elena Crim (racing under the farm name of H & E Ranch) kept the faith in their homebred through a three deep string of off-the-board finishes against graded company in California, and were rewarded with a gutsy breakthrough win. A lifetime of dreams are now poised for a run on the first Friday in May.

Pioneerof the Nile's enduring legacy…
The passing of any horse is difficult, doubly so when they're poised for a future like what WinStar experienced with Pioneerof the Nile even if he hadn't sired a Triple Crown winner. As his final crops start racing, the loss becomes more noticeable. Which makes the arch of the universe all the more curious when one considers that his GIII Beaumont S. winning daughter Matareya was born two days before her sire died in 2019: the filly hitting the ground March 16, and Pioneerof the Nile passing away March 18. And so, the world turns and the karmic arc bends more in his favor every day.

Football and the ponies…how very Kentucky
War of Will's syndicate announced a N.I.L. (Name, Image and Likeness) deal with the University of Kentucky's starting quarterback Will Levis. Both Wills love a good race, so the opportunity poses an interesting approach to marketing the sport to a younger, more diverse audience and the stallion to the hardcore UK fans in the breeder ranks. Claiborne Farm is the first such operation to partner with a Division I athlete, and it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out for horse and man.

Through Prevalence, Enrichment is prevalent…
It's a remarkable feat for a broodmare to get two winners on the same card. In Enrichment's case, they came during the incredibly competitive opening weekend at Keeneland. Emirates Road, the youngest of racing age, charged home in the second race on Saturday to win in his second lifetime start. Three races later, Prevalence outran fellow 'Rising Star' Nashville and eight others to capture his first graded stakes, the GIII Commonwealth, for their shared connections of Godolphin and trainer Brendan Walsh. With a blue hen, a two-time leading Ecuadorian sire, and a variable assortment of graded stakes winners beneath her in the pedigree, Enrichment is set to reap ever more bountiful rewards.

The post TDN Snippets: Weeks of Apr. 4 – Apr. 10 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Pioneerof the Nile’s Matareya Cruises in Beaumont

Godolphin's Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile), bet hard throughout, ran to the money in Sunday's GIII Beaumont S. at Keeneland, picking up her first stakes win with a daylight romp against six overmatched rivals.

Debuting with a smooth 4 1/2-length wire-to-wire score while geared down late Aug. 20 at Ellis, the homebred disappointed a bit when flattening out to fifth in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. on this strip Oct. 8. Finishing second as the favorite in the Fern Creek S. Nov. 27 at Churchill, the bay was a distant runner-up to sensation Secret Oath (Arrogate) in an Oaklawn allowance on New Year's Eve before putting forth a career-best 91 Beyer when rolling home by 5 1/4 lengths over allowance company Feb. 26 at Fair Grounds.

Hammered down to a smidge above even-money returning to graded stakes waters here, Matareya broke sweetly from her outside draw under Flavien Prat and led in the opening strides before deferring to rail-drawn Lady Scarlet (Union Rags) leaving the chute and heading onto the backstretch. Settling off that rival through a reasonable :22.87 quarter, the chalk began to put more pressure on the pacesetter midway around the turn and neared the stretch menacingly as Prat looked behind him for late runners. Taking control shortly after straightening for home, Matareya drew off powerfully in the final furlong, cruising past the wire 8 1/2 lengths to the good of Radio Days (Gun Runner).

“She broke really well and rated nice,” said Prat. “I was on cruise control all the way around. [Trainer] Brad [Cox] told me this morning that he really liked her, and he was right.”

Asked the key to Matareya's blossoming as a 3-year-old, Cox said, “I'd have to say the cutback [in distance of her races]. We were hoping she'd go long. She trained like she would. Flavien made the comment that he didn't see why she wouldn't. But she's kind of shown us she enjoys the cutback, so we'll probably stick to one turn for now.”

“It's huge for the pedigree,” Cox added of the win. “And huge for the broodmare band at Godolphin, which is one of the best in the world. It was a big win, so we'll let the dust settle and see how she comes out of it, but [the GII Eight Belles S. and GI Test S.] are obviously races we'll look forward to and try to work back from, and–who knows?–maybe try to get her to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here at Keeneland this fall.”

Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, Matareya becomes the 43rd stakes winner and 20th graded stakes winner for star sire Pioneerof the Nile, who died at age 13 in 2019. From the final crop of that stallion, she is the second foal to race out of Godolphin's Grade III winner Innovative Idea, a half-sister to GSW Lucullan (Hard Spun) out of MGSW/GISP Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold), herself a half-sister to GISW and sire Sky Mesa (Pulpit) out of MGSW Caress (Storm Cat). Innovative Idea is responsible for a juvenile Uncle Mo filly and foaled a colt by the same sire last season before returning to the Ashford superstar once more.

Sunday, Keeneland
BEAUMONT S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT-GIII, $400,000, Keeneland, 4-10, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:27.55, ft.
1–MATAREYA, 118, f, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
                1st Dam: Innovative Idea (GSW, $229,343), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Golden Velvet, by Seeking the Gold
                3rd Dam: Caress, by Storm Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $241,800. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, $374,267. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Radio Days, 118, f, 3, Gun Runner–Remembered, by Sky Mesa. ($750,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Joseph Allen LLC; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $78,000.
3–Reagan's Decision, 118, f, 3, Unified–Twisted Decision, by Old Fashioned. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV). O-Lael Stables; B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) & Parker Place Breeding (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $39,000.
Margins: 8HF, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 3.40, 16.00.
Also Ran: Lady Scarlet, Majestic d'Oro, Gina Romantica, Chi Town Lady.
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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Nostalgic Upsets Venti Valentine Gazelle

Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) added to a banner day for Godolphin with an upset score over even-money favorite and Busher Invitational S. romper Venti Valentine (Firing Line) in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Saturday. Godolphin and Nostalgic's trainer Bill Mott also teamed up to win the GI Carter H. one race earlier with Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed's operation won Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. with homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro).

Venti Valentine broke alertly and went straight to the front with fellow NY-bred, 9-5 second-choice and 'TDN Rising Star' Classy Edition (Classic Empire) just off her heels in second and 4-1 shot Nostalgic on that one's inside hip. Keeping the leader close as the half-mile went in :49.26, Nostalgic was joined by several rivals on her outside, but determinedly maintained her position behind the chalk. Venti Valentine turned for home strongly and steadily pulled away from all, but Nostalgic, who kept after her on the fence. Nostalgic wore down the hometown heroine late, extending clear to a 1 1/4-length success. Ruthless S. heroine Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) filled the show spot.

Earning 100 points for the victory, Nostalgic moves into sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks standing with a total of 101 with Venti Valentine just behind her with 94 points.

“You can see where she was in her first couple of races, so far back,” Mott said. “She put him in the race today. Last time, we planned on putting her up in the race a little bit, which we did again today. We wanted to see her engaged early a little more and she did it. She held her position and came through on the rail. I didn't tell him where to be other than we didn't want to be 15 lengths back.”

On a potential start in the Kentucky Oaks, Mott said, “[Godolphin bloodstock director] Michael [Banahan] and I were talking about that. We said that we have to consider it.”

“I love this filly. She reminds me a lot of [Mott-trained MGISW] Elate (Medaglia d'Oro),” winning rider Jose Ortiz said. “I was very happy to ride her today. She ran amazing last time. She woke up which was the most important thing. As a 2-year-old, she won first time out, but she was very green. She's big and she's supposed to keep going longer and longer. I am very excited about her.”

Jorge Abreu said Venti Valentine is still under consideration for the Oaks after her gallant second.

“We'll see how she comes out of it and we'll consider it,” said Abreu. “She ran her race and I think like Manny [Franco] said, he didn't think that horse [Nostalgic] was going to come back at the eighth pole and by the time he looked, the horse was already there. But I think he gave her a great ride. She's used to having a target and today she was by herself on the lead. It was a whole different scenario because there was no speed in the race. If she tracks somebody, that puts her on the bit.”

Rallying from well back to graduate by 7 3/4 lengths in her two-turn unveiling at Belmont Oct. 22, Nostalgic made up ground late to be fourth behind Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. romper Nest (Curlin) and Venti Valentine in the track-and-trip GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 4. Kicking off 2022 on grass in the Feb. 5 GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream, she proved turf was not for her, finishing a non-factor ninth. Returned to the main track in Hallandale, the bay dominated by 6 3/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer Mar. 3.

Pedigree Notes:

Nostalgic is the 88th graded winner and 164th black-type scorer for Medaglia d'Oro and second on the day following commonly owner Commonwealth winner Prevalence. She is also the 26th graded winner and 58th black-type achiever out of a daughter of Tapit. His sire Pulpit was the broodmare sire of GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo).

Mott trained Nostalgic's first three dams, tracing back to GSW & GISP Minister's Melody (Deputy Minister), who was a $400,000 KEESEP purchase for Stonerside Stable and the dam of GI Wood Memorial winner Bob and John (Seeking the Gold). Mott saddled her stakes-winning second dam Connie Belle (Storm Cat) and her SP dam Been Here Before. That 10-year-old mare's 2020 foal died and her 2021 foal was born dead. Been Here Before is expecting a foal by Violence.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:50.41, ft.
1–NOSTALGIC, 118, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
                1st Dam: Been Here Before (SP), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Connie Belle, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Minister's Melody, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $235,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Venti Valentine, 120, f, 3, Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $50,000.
3–Shotgun Hottie, 118, f, 3, Gun Runner–Re Entry, by Malibu Moon. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Aldabbagh, Omar and Ganje, Jeff; B-Vincent Colbert (KY); T-William E. Morey. $30,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, HF. Odds: 4.30, 1.10, 21.00.
Also Ran: Classy Edition, Divine Huntress, Morning Matcha, Caragate. Scratched: Greatitude.
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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Speaker’s Corner Dominates Carter

Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) took his 2022 record to a perfect three-for-three with a sensational victory in the GI Carter H. on a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct.

Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism, the Godolphin homebred was quickest away from the outside stall, but was quickly joined on the front end by a trio of rivals to his inside. Speaker's Corner spurted away to gain a clear lead after the first quarter went up in :23.17 with Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) tracking from second to his inside.

That foe backed up a bit as Speaker's Corner registered a :46.11 half-mile and Green Light Go (Hard Spun) ranged up to present a new challenge on the outside. That threat was quite brief however as Speaker's Corner shrugged off his competitors with ease at the top of the stretch, cruising home with ease under a hand ride from Junior Alvarado to win for fun. It was 4 1/2 lengths back to Reinvestment Risk in second and GISW Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) was third.

“We thought he was talented as a 2-year-old,” said winning trainer Bill Mott. “He had some little issues that we had to give him time for and then we had to give him more time than what we wanted to, but right now it looks like it's turned out well. That was a prime target [winning a Grade I]. That was the goal.”

On targeting the GI Met Mile June 11, “We've got to put that on the list of things. That would be a prime target. We've squeezed him pretty good the way it is. We've come back five weeks, four weeks, so he's had his races fairly close together already.”

“He is a horse who we have always been very high on,” Alvarado said “We figured out what he wants to do. He's a very good miler. Today, we had a great trip, and he was there the whole way around. He was very much the best horse. He took the lead around the half-mile pole and after that, he was just doing his thing. He ran them off their feet early. He was travelling comfortably and was faster than the other horses. He gave me the same kick at seven-eighths as a mile. He's on his 'A' game right now. He'll be a tough horse this year.”

Breaking his maiden at second asking in October of 2020, Speaker's Corner was not seen again until August of 2021 when he romped in a Saratoga allowance. Off the board next out when extended to nine panels for the GI Pennsylvania Derby, he rebounded with a 6 3/4-length optional claimer victory going a sixteenth shorter at Belmont in October, good for a 109 Beyer Speed Figure. Setting the pace in Aqueduct's Discover S. Nov. 27, the homebred set the early pace, but was run down late, finishing second. Speaker's Corner kicked off this term with a front-running score in Gulfstream's one-mile GIII Fred Hooper S. Jan. 29 and led every step of the way for a decisive victory in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile last out Mar. 5.

Pedigree Notes:

Speaker's Corner has Godolphin pedigree top and bottom being by their stallion Street Sense and out of a daughter of their late Bernardini. He makes 12 Grade I winners for Street Sense and is also one of 37 graded winners and 85 black-type scorers for the Darley sire. Speaker's Corner is the 14th Grade I winner for Bernardini as a broodmare sire and one of 36 graded victors and 65 black-type achievers out of his daughters. The Street Sense/Bernardini cross has been successful for Godolphin in the past as it is the same breeding as their MGISW and new sire Maxfield.

Godolphin purchased the winner's second dam, MGISW Round Pond (Awesome Again), for $5.75 million at the 2007 FTKNOV sale. Speaker's Corner is the first foal out of her unraced daughter Tyburn Brook, who has since produced the 3-year-old colt Town Branch (Street Sense), a juvenile colt by Maclean's Music and a yearling colt by Nyquist. She was not bred back for 2022 after having that May 9 foal. Round Pond is also the dam of G1SW Long River (A.P. Indy) and GSP Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire}).

Saturday, Aqueduct
CARTER H.-GI, $300,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.34, ft.
1–SPEAKER'S CORNER, 124, c, 4, by Street Sense
                1st Dam: Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Round Pond, by Awesome Again
                3rd Dam: Gift of Dance, by Trempolino
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin, LLC; T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $165,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 9-6-1-1, $572,130. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Reinvestment Risk, 117, c, 4, Upstart–Ridingwiththedevil, by Candy Ride (Arg). 'TDN RISING STAR'. ($140,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL; $280,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
3–Mind Control, 123, h, 6, Stay Thirsty–Feel That Fire, by Lightnin N Thunder. O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) and Madaket Stables, LLC; B-Red Oak Stable (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 2HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.75, 6.80, 4.30.
Also Ran: Green Light Go, Drafted, Bank On Shea, First Captain. Scratched: War Tocsin.
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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