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Godolphin Quartet Arrives For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Four Godolphin runners trained by Charlie Appleby – Rebel's Romance, Desert Peace, Summer Romance and Althiqa – arrived at Belmont Park at 11 a.m. Sunday to prepare for starts during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that runs from Thursday, June 3, through Saturday, June 5, headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.

The geldings Rebel's Romance and Desert Peace started their journey from Dubai to Belgium, while the fillies Summer Romance and Althiqa, shipped from the U.K. to join the duo before their flight to New York. All four horses will remain in quarantine until Tuesday morning.

“They all shipped well and are very relaxed,” said traveling assistant Sophie Chretien, who will oversee training and saddling duties for the talented quartet. “We're here early so we'll have more time to get settled in and get used to Belmont.”

The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.

Group 2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance is set to compete in the Belmont Stakes on June 5. The sophomore son of Dubawi, an Irish homebred out of the Street Cry mare Minidress, has won 4-of-5 starts.

Following a fourth in the Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February, Rebel's Romance made the grade last out with a 5 1/2-length score in the 1 3/16-mile Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27 at Meydan.

“It was a very good race and it showed he has matured a lot,” said Chretien of the UAE Derby effort. “He went to Saudi before the run at Meydan and it took him a while to mature, but he has matured a lot and he won the Derby with class. We just have to keep his mind relaxed because to do well in these big races you need a horse as cool as possible in his head.”

Chretien said the sizable gelding should appreciate the stretch out in distance.

“I think he's built that way and more distance will suit him,” said Chretien. “He's a big boy.”

Desert Peace, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, was a $1.3 million purchase at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by Doug and Felicia Branham, the colt's stakes-winning dam Stoweshoe is a full-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire mare Taris.

Desert Peace was a nose winner last out traveling one-mile on May 11 over the Meydan main track.

While no specific target is confirmed yet for Desert Peace, the Grade 2, $300,000 True North, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up on June 4 is a possibility.

“We'll see how he trains, but he could aim for the True North. Time will tell,” said Chretien.

Summer Romance and Althiqa, who finished first and third last out in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine on February 18 at Meydan respectively, are targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares.

“The two fillies are physically very similar. They both won in Dubai and will run in the same race here in New York,” said Chretien.

Summer Romance, a 4-year-old daughter of Kingman out of the Statue of Liberty mare Serena's Storm, is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning millionaire Rizeena.

Bred in Ireland by Roundhill Stud, Summer Romance captured the 1 1/16-mile Group 3 Princess Elizabeth in July at Epsom. Last out, in her second start of the season, Summer Romance won the Balanchine by 2 ¼-lengths at Meydan.

Althiqa, a British homebred by Dark Angel and out of the Shamardal mare Mistrusting, won the Prix Amandine in July at Deauville in France ahead of a trio of group placings to close out her sophomore season. The grey filly launched her 4-year-old campaign in style with a score in the Group 2 Cape Verdi at Meydan ahead of her third in the Balanchine.

Appleby previously indicated a good result in the Just a Game could see Summer Romance try her luck in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana, a nine-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares on July 17 at Saratoga.

“Summer Romance is one who can handle a little more distance going forward,” said Chretien.

For more information, visit www.BelmontStakes.com.

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Derby Day 147 Is Here!

LOUISVILLE, KY – Beautiful spring weather, enthusiastic racing fans dressed to impress and the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

This, of course, wasn't the case last year, far from it, as the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down and forced both the GI Kentucky Oaks and Derby to be held spectator-free over Labor Day weekend.

Masks, temperature checks and social distancing are more of the norm these days as limited crowds of between 40,000-50,000 (40-50% reserved seating, 60% premium dining areas and 25-30% infield) have been welcomed back beneath the Twin Spires.

Last year's Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will look to become the first native of Louisville to saddle a Derby winner.

He has unbeaten 2-year-old champion and 2-1 morning-line favorite Essential Quality (Tapit) as well as Mandaloun (Into Mischief). The latter, despite a no-show in his final prep in the GII Louisiana Derby, has become a bit of a talking horse on the Churchill backstretch leading up to the main event.

Redemption for jockey Luis Saez? Disqualified from first for causing interference aboard Maximum Security in 2019, Saez has the call aboard Essential Quality.

Chad Brown has been in good form as he prepares the very live GII Blue Grass S. runner-up Highly Motivated (Into Mischief), beaten just a neck by Essential Quality. Looking for his first win in the Derby, Brown asked to sit next to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at the Kentucky Derby Trainers' Dinner for some advice.

“I've been working him over there all night and I finally cracked him,” Brown said at the event. “He leaned over to me and said, 'If you want to win the Derby, you're best chance is, you got to sneak into Churchill Friday night and put grass seed all over the main track.' He actually didn't say that, but it's something he would say!”

Baffert, currently tied with Ben Jones for the most Kentucky Derby victories with six, will be represented by the overachieving GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby runner-up Medina Spirit (Protonico). The GIII Robert B. Lewis S. winner, just a $1,000 OBSWIN yearling, brought a mere $35,000 as an OBSOPN juvenile.

The unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), meanwhile, figures to go off as the race's second choice. He will look to emulate unbeaten Derby winners Big Brown and Barbaro, who also kicked off their careers on grass.

Two-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle four–GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Known Agenda (Curlin); GII Wood Memorial S. one-two Bourbonic (Bernardini) and Dynamic One (Union Rags); and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks second Sainthood (Mshawish). There's been plenty of talk about Known Agenda drawing the rail, but we'll see how much of factor it is with the new 20-horse starting gate, which debuted in 2020.

Who's made the best physical appearance during training hours? Mandaloun, as previously noted, the stunning gray Soup and Sandwich (Into Mischief) and Rock Your World are certainly right at the top of the list.

As far as getting over the surface, Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), Known Agenda and Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) were all traveling very nicely during their morning preparations.

In case you missed it, the aforementioned GII Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie has been sporting a special blanket honoring the late Jake Panus, who passed away at 16 last August when he was a passenger in a car involved in a DUI accident. The blanket features a University of South Carolina logo to help spread awareness for The Jake Panus Walk-on Football Endowed Scholarship. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made here: https://donate.sc.edu/JakePanusScholarship.

The supporting cast on the Kentucky Derby undercard includes: the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, GI Churchill Downs S., GI Derby City Distaff S. and three other graded races.

Saturday's Kentucky Derby coverage begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The action shifts to NBC Sports at 2:30 p.m. ET for a live five-hour telecast. Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. ET.

Happy Derby!

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Maxfield Returns to Winning Ways in Alysheba

Maxfield bounced back from his first-ever defeat to kick off Derby weekend's graded stakes action as a heavy favorite in Friday's GII Alysheba S. A head-turning winner of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity as a juvenile, the Godolphin homebred was forced to miss the Breeders' Cup, but resurfaced a winner in the track-and-trip GIII Matt Winn S. last May and looked perfectly poised to take advantage of the pushed-back Triple Crown schedule last term. He was soon diagnosed with a condylar fracture, however, and eventually resurfaced to take the Dec. 19 Tenacious S. and Feb. 13 GIII Mineshaft S. at Fair Grounds, leading many to believe he was the best older horse in the country. Favored at 11-10 when attempting to get 10 panels in the Mar. 6 GI Santa Anita H., the Godolphin homebred could only manage third, beaten two lengths, behind a pair of locally based runners.

Away without incident from the outside six post, Maxfield settled in midpack out in the clear under stout restraint behind splits of :23.91 and :47.48. He ranged up ominously entering the home bend, poked a head in front near the quarter pole and edged away from resilient pacesetter Visitant before widening the gap late.

“I was very confident all the way around,” said winning pilot Jose Ortiz, who hadn't been on Maxfield since the Matt Winn. We were right where I wanted to be. When it came time to go, he was there for me. He's one of the nice ones.”

Trainer Brendan Walsh added, “I just told Jose to get him in a nice rhythm, he likes to roll along and get into that cruising speed. He's an adaptable horse, so he's easy to ride under whatever the circumstances. Physically he's a stronger horse, as time's gone on, he's gradually filled out and he's up to his full maturity, which is exciting. He loves this track, and he hasn't done anything wrong. But actually he hasn't done anything wrong at any track where he's run. He's just a very good horse.”

Friday, Churchill Downs
ALYSHEBA S. PRESENTED BY SENTIENT JET-GII, $400,000, Churchill Downs, 4-30, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.39, ft.
1–MAXFIELD, 120, c, 4, by Street Sense
1st Dam: Velvety, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Caress, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: La Affirmed, by Affirmed
O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh; J-Jose L Ortiz. $245,520. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-6-0-1, $908,782. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Visitant, 118, h, 5, Ghostzapper–Peppermint Lounge, by Distorted Humor. O/B-Williamson Racing LLC (KY); T-William E Morey. $79,200.
3–Chess Chief, 123, h, 5, Into Mischief–Un Blessed, by Mineshaft. ($145,000 RNA Ylg '17 FTSAUG). O-Estate of James J Coleman Jr; B-Morgan's Ford Farm (VA); T-Dallas Stewart. $39,600.
Margins: 3 1/4, 4 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.50, 11.70, 7.90.
Also Ran: Roadster, Sonneman, Attachment Rate.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Maxfield's pedigree has Godolphin all over it from top to bottom, sired by Street Sense–a son of the operation's Street Cry (Ire)–and out of fellow Sheikh Mohammed homebred Velvety, a daughter of Street Sense's barnmate Bernardini. He is one of 11 Grade I winners, 35 graded winners and 78 black-type winners by Street Sense. Maxfield is also one of 11 Grade I victors, 28 graded scorers and 49 black-type winners out of a daughter of Bernardini, whose status as a top broodmare sire seems to increase each week.

Godolphin went to $3.1 million at the 2000 KEENOV sale to acquire Maxfield's second dam, MGSW Caress (Storm Cat), in foal to Coronado's Quest. Caress is responsible for Grade I-winning sire Sky Mesa (Pulpit) and MGSW Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold), who is the dam of graded winners Lucullan (Hard Spun) and Innovative Idea (Bernardini). Maxfield was only Velvety's second foal and she has since produced the 3-year-old colt Dubai Vision (Medaglia d'Oro) and a juvenile filly by Medaglia d'Oro. Her 2020 colt by Street Sense died and she was bred back to Uncle Mo for 2021. This is also the family of graded winners Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), Brave Nation (Pioneerof the Nile), Country Cat (Storm Cat), Della Francesca (Danzig) and Bernstein (Storm Cat).

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Mutasaabeq Facing Guineas Destiny

Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hosts the customary heavyweights of the previous year's scene, with the likes of Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Van Gogh (American Pharoah), One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) all bringing Group 1 form to the table, but in the year that racing lost Sheikh Hamdan could there be a sense of destiny in the inclusion of the unproven 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})? As far as visual impressions go, there is hardly any other in this line-up that can match his emphatic six-length success in a conditions race over seven furlongs on similarly fast ground at the Craven meeting here on Apr. 13. Only Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby know the merit of the dismissal of their colts Noble Dynasty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Duke of Mantua (Ire) (No Nay Never) in that select contest, but the latter came into it with solid form and was readily put in his place. Like his father Barry, Charlie Hills is not a trainer for tilting at windmills and it is significant that he, Jim Crowley and the team at Shadwell are in unison in wanting to test the son of the 2009 G1 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) here.

It is clear from Charlie's comments that the homebred has forced their hand. “We were trying to nurse him through his career, but his ability has got him where he is now,” he revealed. “Winning by six lengths is nice to see, but did it surprise me? Possibly not. He was working with the very nice horses at home and worked well with them. He's only had two runs, but they've both been at Newmarket so he's got more experience than most on a course like that. Jim came and sat on him on Wednesday and said he felt very relaxed and in good shape. It goes without saying he becomes a very valuable proposition should he win a Guineas, being out of a Guineas winner.”

Another who left a lasting imprint with a dynamic display is Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon and his moment of “wow” came at the highest level. Impressive on his winning debut over seven furlongs at The Curragh in August, the descendant of Moyglare's esteemed matriarch Trusted Partner (Affirmed) really took the eye when dashing by Wembley, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Lucky Vega in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. over that same course and distance in September. That is arguably the strongest piece of juvenile form on this type of surface from 2020 and there is every chance that connections' assertion that soft ground was his undoing when subsequently third in the G1 Dewhurst S. here the following month was correct.

Joseph O'Brien said he is happy to see contrasting conditions on his return. “In the Dewhurst, we would have preferred better ground and a better draw. We thought better ground and a better draw would have helped us get closer and we're hoping that might happen at the weekend,” he said. “He travelled well and quickened up well, but just got run out of it. This race has been the plan, he's going in good shape, we're happy with the draw and we're looking forward to the race. He's always shown a lot of pace, he has a big turn of foot which he showed on the track last year and he's working satisfactorily at home. We're excited, we think he's the right type for the race–he's a mature, pacey type and we think a mile is a good trip for him.”

In the National, Master of the Seas was in front and looking in command a furlong from home before getting swamped by the O'Brien trio. He is favoured by William Buick over One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and will bid to complete the Apr. 15 G3 Craven S.-Guineas double from stall two. His previous form from the July meeting's G2 Superlative S. ties in closely with one of the Ballydoyle clan in Battleground (War Front) and he is race-hardened this spring having run in Dubai and won the all-important trial, the course-and-distance G3 Craven S. Apr. 15. While he has to improve on that to win this, it is significant that William Buick has cast his vote his way over the fellow Charlie Appleby-trained G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was a major mover in the ante-post market following his racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting.

Appleby gave some insight into the duo on Friday. “They're two different types of horses. Master of the Seas is a very honest traveller on the bridle, whereas One Ruler is a horse who warms into his race,” he explained. “I'm delighted with the way Master of the Seas has come out of the Craven. He's shown us his wellness during the week–William sat on him on Wednesday and was pleased with him. He ticks a lot of the boxes going into the weekend. We're taking on the same conditions as in the Craven in terms of it's going to be quick ground again. We know he handles that and handles the track and he saw the trip out well, so I always felt it was going to be hard for William to get off him. I'm excited to see One Ruler have his first start as a 3-year-old. The two horses have got different running styles, but in respect of the calibre of each horse, I think they're hard to split.”

One of the intriguing runners is Ballydoyle's true blueblood Van Gogh (American Pharoah), who bids to break new ground as the first son of the Triple Crown hero to win a British Classic. Like Mutasaabeq, he is a son of his stud's royalty with his dam Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) being the 2001 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine. That is almost back to where it all started for the current captain of Ballydoyle and has a sense of ancient history, but American Pharoah seems to have re-lit a flame judged by the prolific progress of Van Gogh last term. Second to One Ruler in the G3 Autumn S. over this track and trip before taking the G1 Criterium International in imperious fashion in the space of a fortnight in October, he received a recent boost when Policy of Truth (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was fourth at Saint-Cloud came back to win the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau.

Van Gogh has forced his way into this line-up, with Derby trials being talked of earlier in the year, and he is far from a third-string behind Wembley and Battleground according to Aidan O'Brien. “You can make very strong cases for them all–they all have their pluses and minuses,” he said. “I'd say it would be a very hard one to split. Van Gogh ran on fastish ground early on and finished at Saint-Cloud on very soft-to-heavy ground. I think it's just the way the season worked out and the way the ground was. He's a good-moving horse and we always thought he'd get further than a mile.”

Also on Saturday, Newmarket stage a wide-open renewal of the five-furlong G3 Betfair Palace House S. and the G2 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club S., with the latter seeing a fascinating clash between the established top-level performer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Shadwell's up-and-coming Al Zaraqaan (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) who looked ready for this step up in class when winning Kempton's Rosebery H. Mar. 27. The latter's trainer William Haggas also combines with the operation's Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed Betfair Newmarket S. over the same course and distance of his impressive handicap win at the Craven meeting on Apr. 14.

Saint-Cloud's public holiday meeting sees the 10 1/2-furlong G2 Prix Greffulhe and G3 Prix Cleopatre for G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix de Diane aspirants, with Gestut Schlenderhan's impressive Apr. 6 12-furlong maiden course winner Martial Eagle (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) a potential improver in the former contest and the Wertheimers' G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Tasmania (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) setting the standard in the latter. The card's feature is the G2 Prix du Muguet over a mile, where last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is met by Godolphin's returning G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal). The latter could be in for a big year if he can overcome a tendency to start slowly which almost certainly cost him in the Chantilly Classic. Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Victor Ludorum is in good form and this looks a nice starting point for the year. We are looking forward to seeing how he gets on and this will hopefully indicate where to go next with him.”

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