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Monday’s Insights: Saratoga, Del Mar Meets End with a Bang

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3rd-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 12:33 p.m.
Bill Mott saddles Godolphin’s debuting SERENE (Tapit), an $800,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase last year. The chestnut filly is a daughter of multiple Grade I-placed Fascinating (Smart Strike). Out of graded stakes winner Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), Fascinating is a half-sister to Grade I winner Bodemeister (Empire Maker). Also debuting is Peter Brant’s Editor at Large (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The Chad Brown trainee was a 260,000gns purchase at last year’s Tattersalls October sale. Todd Pletcher sends out firster Ready Seeker (More Than Ready). The Charles Fipke homebred is out of Title Seeker (Monarchos) and is a half to graded winner Seeking the Title (Seeking the Gold), dam of Grade I winner Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), and a full to multiple graded placed Title Ready. TJCIS PPs

7th-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:37 p.m.
Allen Stable’s NO ORDINARY TIME (Not This Time), a $600,000 KEESEP yearling, debuts for trainer Shug McGaughey. Out of Crosswinds (Storm Cat), the bay filly is a half-sister to Grade I winner Weep No More (Mineshaft) and graded winner Current (Curlin). Godolphin homebred Lovestruck (Tapit) is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner and late leading sire Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), as well as to graded winner Antipathy (A.P. Indy). She makes her first trip to the post for for trainer Bill Mott. TJCIS PPs

9th-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:39 p.m.
Jimmy Jerkens sends out firster GREATHEART (Empire Maker), a $400,000 KEESEP yearling, for Shortleaf Stable. He is a half-brother to graded placed Whiskey Echo (Tiznow). Courtlandt Farms’ Ten for Ten (Frosted), a $410,000 KEESEP yearling, makes his first start for trainer Shug McGaughey. He is out of Summer Vacation (Eskendereya), a half-sister to Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway), Destin (Giant’s Causeway), and to recent GI Personal Ensign S. winner Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway). TJCIS PPs

3rd-Del Mar, $55k, 2yo, 1mT, 5:00 p.m.
SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stable’s TARANTINO (Pioneerof theNile), a $610,000 KEESEP yearling, debuts for trainer Bob Baffert. The bay colt is out of Without Delay (Seeking the Gold) and is a half-brother to graded-placed Before You Know It (Hard Spun) and Instant Reflex (Quality Road). C R K Stable’s Union Soldier (Union Rags) makes his first trip to the post for trainer John Shirreffs. The bay colt, a $650,000 KEESEP purchase, is out of graded winner Sky Girl (Sky Mesa). TJCIS PPs

8th-Del Mar, $57k, Alw/Opt Clm, 3/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 7:30 p.m.
Baoma Corp’s HAPPIER (Street Sense) looks to follow up on her ‘TDN Rising Star’ debut. The Bob Baffert trainee, an $800,000 KEESEP yearling in 2018, went wire-to-wire to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs at Del Mar July 31. TJCIS PPs

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Kingman’s Persian King Dominates the Moulin

In the absence of Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) and the retired Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Sunday’s G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp boasted almost everything else that still held some claim to elevated status in the mile category and it was TDN Rising Star Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) who emerged supreme. Long deemed more than capable of a performance such as this, Godolphin SNC and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s imposing specimen just needed things to fall right and with conditions in his favour and an ideal target horse in Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) it was all set up ideally here. Sunk in the heavy ground when fourth behind Palace Pier in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 16, the 18-5 second favourite who is unbeaten at this track tanked along with relish in the hands of Pierre-Charles Boudot in a close second with the rest detached throughout the early stages. Left in front two out, the 4-year-old was in total control from there with the winning margin eventually narrowed to 1 3/4 lengths by the sole closer Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), as Circus Maximus faded to be six lengths behind in third. “Persian King’s victory was expected, to be fair. I don’t want to play the genius, but I was very confident because I could train him properly for the first time,” Andre Fabre said. “The surfaces were better than in August and it was less warm, so I could train him harder.”

Sporting these same Ballymore silks as a juvenile, Persian King registered a brace of conditions wins at Chantilly by a cumulative margin of 11 lengths before denying Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by a neck, with Circus Maximus three lengths away, in a strong renewal of the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket. Bought into by Godolphin, he reappeared to take the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau on fast ground in race-record time last April before securing the expected Classic victory in contrasting testing conditions in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains also over this track and trip the following month. Denied the Poulains-G1 Prix du Jockey Club double by Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Chantilly last June, the bay sustained an injury there which kept him off the track until racing’s resumption in 2020. Turned over by the subsequent Listed Gala S.-winning stablemate Magny Cours (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Listed Prix de Montretout over a mile back at Chantilly June 10, he built on that comeback effort to beat Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) and Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud June 28.

Moving back beyond a mile for only the second time in the nine-furlong G1 Prix d’Ispahan at Chantilly July 19, he made light work of dispatching of the veteran Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic) there but was out of the first two for the first time in his career in the Marois on Deauville’s sapping ground. Coming forward from that slog rather than it setting him back, Persian King was able to sit on the tail of the aggressively-ridden Circus Maximus with ease as the remaining quartet found themselves adrift. Siskin (First Defence) had become worked up in the stalls as he did in the G1 Middle Park S. last term and was awkwardly away, while Persian King’s year-younger stablemate Victor Ludorum (Ire) (Shamardal) again blew the start as he had in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Pinatubo and last year’s runner-up Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) made up the four that were separated from the front duo, but none of their jockeys could be accused of giving them too much to do as there were no visual signs that they were under restraint.

Last year’s hero Circus Maximus was probably striding on a touch too energetically for the first half of the contest, but with no other pace available in the line-up Ryan Moore had understandably opted to grasp the nettle. Unfortunately for that triple group 1 winner, he was being utilised as a lead horse by Boudot whose every body signal throughout suggested the race was wrapped up even before they turned for home with that comfortable gap still intact to the chasing pack. Letting Persian King rip as soon as he felt the Ballydoyle challenger under stress, the considerable talent Boudot had judged the race to perfection as he so often does and as eyecatching and reaffirming as Pinatubo’s customary determined charge was, it was never going to be enough.

Andre Fabre is looking at stepping the winner back up in trip and, surprisingly, was not ruling out a tilt at the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe back here in four weeks’ time. “You can blame the ground for his below-par performance in the Jacques le Marois and the best horse on the day won today,” he said. “He’s entered in [G1] Champion S. and the Arc and all is possible. We have different options and I think he can step back up in distance, so we will see closer to the time which way we go. I don’t know if a mile and a half would be better, as there is obviously a question mark over the distance.”

Charlie Appleby said of the runner-up, “Pinatubo has run another solid race and seen the mile out. We will see how he comes out of the race and discuss it with connections, but I think the plan will be to come back to Longchamp for the [G1] Prix de la Foret and then hopefully on to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.” The Niarchos Family’s Alan Cooper said of Circus Maximus, “We have no complaints, he’s run a very good race and we’ll take him back home and see what Aidan wants to do with him. I suppose there are only two options now, the [G1] Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or the Breeders’ Cup Mile.” Siskin’s jockey Colin Keane commented, He ran well and to the pound of his Sussex form if you compare with Circus Maximus. It wasn’t an ideal race, as I was left in no mans’ land in front of the main pack.”

Persian King is the second foal out of Pretty Please (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), a half to the G1 Prix Ganay hero Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who was also second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Their dam Plante Rare (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) is a half to three pattern-race winners headed by the four-times group 2 scorer Policy Maker (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) who was also twice runner-up in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The third dam Palmeraie (Lear Fan) is kin to the GII Long Island H. heroine Peinture Bleue (Alydar), who in turn is the dam of the 1997 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Prix du Jockey Club hero and leading sire Peintre Celebre (Nureyev).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €270,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-6, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.73, g/s.
1–PERSIAN KING (IRE), 129, c, 4, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Pretty Please (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Plante Rare (Ire), by Giant’s Causeway
3rd Dam: Palmeraie, by Lear Fan
O-Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd & Godolphin; B-Dayton Investments (Breeding) Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €85,710. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 12-8-3-0, €1,137,740. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pinatubo (Ire), 125, c, 3, Shamardal–Lava Flow (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €61,722.
3–Circus Maximus (Ire), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Duntle (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €30,861.
Margins: 1 3/4, 6, 1. Odds: 3.60, 1.40, 5.20.
Also Ran: Siskin, Victor Ludorum (GB), Romanised (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Mystic Guide Strong In The Stretch To Win Jim Dandy Stakes

Appearing to be home free at the top of the stretch, jockey Luis Saez looked over his right shoulder aboard Jesus' Team to check for any potential spoilers. What he saw was a dirt-covered Mystic Guide mounting a charge that would eventually lead him to the winner's circle in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga.

The 3-year-old Ghostzapper colt broke from the outside post, and settled near the back of the six-horse field, two paths off the rail. Longshots First Line and Celtic Striker led the group into the first turn, followed closely in third by Pegasus Stakes runner-up Jesus' Team, and the lead duo separated from the rest as they straightened out to the backstretch in an opening quarter of :23.37 seconds.

First Line led the way across the back straightaway, with Celtic Striker on his outside hip, while Mystic Guide waited patiently in the back of the field. The half-mile went by in :47.61 seconds, and Jesus' Team spent the next quarter-mile lodging a three-wide move to the front.

Jesus' Team was firmly in command at the top of the stretch, but Ortiz had brought Mystic Guide up through the middle of the field in the meantime, and appeared on the outside of the new leader as the eighth-pole drew near. After some right-handed urging by Ortiz, Mystic Guide drew up beside Jesus' Team, who fought on for a few strides before conceding the lead.

Ortiz kept Mystic Guide to task through the final sixteenth, fending off a late charge from Liveyourbeastlife to win by a length. Jesus' Team carried on for third, while betting favorite Dr Post ran an even fourth.

Mystic Guide completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:49 flat over a fast main track for owner Godolphin and trainer Michael Stidham. He paid $6.60 to win as the field's second choice.

The Jim Dandy was Mystic Guide's second win in five career starts, and his first victory in stakes competition. Stidham added blinkers to the colt for the Jim Dandy after finishing third in his most recent start, and his stakes debut, a third in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes on July 16 at Saratoga.

A homebred for Godolphin, Mystic Guide is out of the five-time Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Music Note, who also ran under the Godolphin blue.

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Godolphin Triple Threat In Moulin

Three of Godolphin’s finest make up a stellar six-strong field for Sunday’s G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, with the main focus on the operation’s champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal). Back to a mile following his initial 3-year-old success in the seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on July 12, last year’s sensational G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. winner has yet to truly convince that he is as effective over this trip as he looked to be outstayed when third in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on June 6 and second to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot a fortnight later. Charlie Appleby said, “We were delighted to see Pinatubo get his head back in front in the Prix Jean Prat after gallant efforts in the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace S. We purposely gave him a break after that run with the view of going for this race. His preparation has gone well and we are looking forward to stepping him back up to a mile. It’s a very competitive race, but we are very confident that we have Pinatubo in great shape and he is going to run a big race. I think it will be tactical, but Pinatubo is blessed with the way he travels and his turn of foot. Hopefully, if we can get everything in the right order, he is going to be a big player.”

Also in the royal blue are the Andre Fabre-trained TDN Rising Stars Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Victor Ludorum (Ire) (Shamardal), who are the two most recent winners of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and who both placed in their respective renewals of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. While both have been tried over further, they have proven to be versatile with regards to trip and form a strong second line for the operation. Persian King was fourth when last year’s Moulin winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was third behind Palace Pier in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 16, with Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) back in fifth, but that was on deep ground which also played against Victor Ludorum as he was third in that track’s G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano tackling 10 furlongs on Aug. 15. “The Prix Jacques le Marois was a race run under very particular circumstances and Persian King’s performance reflected that,” Fabre commented. “The conditions are much more in his favour here. Victor Ludorum has come out of his last race in good form and we are looking forward to seeing him back over a mile.”

Robert Ng’s Romanised went down narrowly to Circus Maximus in a battle royal 12 months ago and there was controversy that the stewards let the result stand. Romanised is a true class act when the ground is riding good or quicker as it is likely to be on Sunday and his Jacques le Marois effort can be forgiven with the surface sapping his class. Trainer Ken Condon is enjoying his best season and said, “We’re very happy with the horse. He did his last piece of work on Tuesday morning and it went very smoothly. They tell me the ground will be good or even on the quick side, which will suit Romanised very well.”

Also from Ireland is Khalid Abdullah’s June 12 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Siskin (First Defence), who suffered a reversal for the first time when third behind Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Circus Maximus in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 29. “He was beaten by two better horses on the day at Goodwood, but it was a lovely run by the horse,” trainer Ger Lyons commented. “We were beaten by an exceptional miler in Mohaather and a rock-solid horse in Circus Maximus. I thought my horse ran a career-best and he was just found wanting against two stronger animals on the day. Physically he’s definitely improved through the summer. He’s not ground-dependent, but I know he likes faster ground–that’s what he’s most comfortable on.”

ParisLongchamp’s card also features the G3 Prix la Rochette for 2-year-olds over seven furlongs and Appleby is represented by Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the 4 1/2-length winner of York’s Aug. 21 Convivial maiden over this trip. “Naval Crown won a strong maiden in good fashion and came out of the race well,” Appleby said. “He has come on with each run and this looks a nice race for him to step up to pattern company.” He meets Haras de la Gousserie and Guy Pariente’s impressive Aug. 6 Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and a promising Jean-Claude Rouget project in Jean-Louis Bouchard’s June 30 Saint-Cloud winner Darkness (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).

There are two 10-furlong contests on the card, with the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte for older horses featuring The Aga Khan’s Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet fourth Dariyma (Fr) (City Zip) and the G3 Prix du Prince d’Orange for the Classic generation seeing Team Valor International, Andre Brakha and Anant Singh’s Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat) bid to confirm the form of Deauville’s Aug. 16 Listed Prix Nureyev with the runner-up Dawn Intello (Fr) (Intello {Ger}). Both took part in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on July 5, with Dawn Intello finishing fourth and Hurricane Dream ninth after contrasting trips throughout that 10 1/2-furlong Classic. Eighth was another Rouget runner in Ecurie Antonio Caro’s Fantastic Spirit (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and he has subsequently enjoyed a confidence-restoring handicap win on heavy ground at Deauville on Aug. 15.

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