Sunday Insights: Daisy Devine Filly Debuts For Flaxman, Motion

1st-SAR, $136k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:10 p.m. ET
The Niarchos Family's Flaxman Holdings went to $1.3 million for GI Jenny Wiley S. heroine Daisy Devine (Kafwain) at the 2013 Keeneland November Sale, and her daughter CARINA NEBULA (Into Mischief) gets her first taste of the races Sunday. The versatile dam, who also won the 2011 GII Fair Grounds Oaks, is a 100% producer from five to the races, and Carina Nebula makes the trip up from Fair Hill, where she most recently breezed five furlongs over the all-weather track in 1:01 (1/7) July 28. Sands of War (War Front) cost $550,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and is the latest to the races out of Egyptian Storm (Pioneerof the Nile), a $750,000 Fasig-Tipton November acquisition whose dam Stage Magic (Ghostzapper) produced Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify (Scat Daddy). Speaking of the Coolmore stalwart–recently crowned champion first-season sire in Australia–he is represented here by Bruce Lunsford's Kingdom Come, a homebred half-sister to dual Grade I winner Art Collector (Bernardini) and GSP Classic Legacy (Into Mischief). TJCIS PPs

2nd-SAR, $136k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:44 p.m.
BENTO (Tapit) was hammered down to D J Stable for $600,000 at last fall's Fasig-Tipton October Sale, the second-dearest price of that four-day auction. The April-foaled gray is out of dual graded winner Carolyn's Cat (Forestry), the dam of Bento's GIII Bayakoa S.-winning full-sister and 'TDN Rising Star' Mufajaah. The MGSP third dam Cassowary (Cormorant) produced 1994 GII Pennsylvania Derby winner Meadow Flight (Meadowlake). Ways and Means (Practical Joke) is by a sire who was campaigned by Klaravich and William H. Lawrence to win the 2017 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. here and is a full-brother to Highly Motivated, who just missed on debut here three summers ago and earned graded-stakes glory in last year's GIII Monmouth Cup. He is perhaps best remembered for his tooth-and-nails battle with champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the 2021 GII Toyota Blue Grass S. The March foal is also a half-sister to Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}), winner of last month's GIII Lake George S. Shore War (Omaha Beach), $350,000 OBSAPR breezer, is out of a half-sister to SW Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy), the dam of champion and recent GII Shuvee S. winner Nest (Curlin) and GISW Idol (Curlin). TJCIS PPs

4th-GP, $55k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2f, 2:16 p.m. ET
LAILA BELLA GIRL (Girvin) fetched $100,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July Sale, but blossomed in the months leading up to this spring's OBS March Sale and was knocked down to Champion Equine for $500,000 after working a furlong in :10 flat over the synthetic surface. That price was the most expensive of 23 (30 ring) of her sire's second-crop runners to sell this season. Airdrie-bred top and bottom, the Feb. 8 foal is out of a mare by former Airdrie inmate Mark Valeski who is a half-sister to MSW & GSP Fuerteventura (Summer Front), SW Midnight Soiree (Include) and SW Ciguaraya (Latent Heat). TJCIS PPs

6th-SAR, $136k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:00 p.m.
Godolphin sends out its homebred HOLIDAY ROAD (Into Mischief), whose dam Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}) took out the GI Go for Wand H. in these environs in 2009 and has since gone on to produce the Bill Mott-trained 2019 GII Demoiselle S. victress Lake Avenue (Tapit) and GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Marking (Bernardini). Helcia (Bernardini) was hammered down for a healthy $230,000 at KEESEP last fall, but improved into a $600,000 OBS March juvenile after breezing an eighth of a mile in a slick :10 (see Summer Breezes). Honors for the best-named horse of the day go to Before You Go Go (Mitole), a $67,000 KEENOV weanling turned $310,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer (see Summer Breezes). Her dam Wake Me Up (Act of War) is a half-sister to champion Hansen (Tapit). TJCIS PPs

1st-DMR, $82k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, 5:00 p.m. ET
ELLIE MOORE (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was bet down to 5-1 for her five-furlong debut in heavy Curragh turf Apr. 16 and got home well to share second spot while finishing a neck behind Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), subsequent winner of the G3 EBF Fillies' Sprint at Naas in May and the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot June 23. By a stallion whose progeny have succeeded all over the world, the bay is out of a half-sister to Same World (GB) (ex Tucuman {GB}) (Hawk Wing), a stakes winner in France and Hong Kong and runner-up in the 2012 Hong Kong Derby; and English Group 3 winner San Sicharia (Ire) (Daggers Drawn). TJCIS PPs

The post Sunday Insights: Daisy Devine Filly Debuts For Flaxman, Motion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sophomore Turfers Take Centerstage at Belmont Saturday

A pair of Grade I events for 3-year-olds on grass will co-anchor a loaded 12-race program at Belmont Park Saturday.

European invader The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), a narrow winner of the G2 Dante S. May 18 and fifth-place finisher after stumbling at the start in the G1 English Derby June 3, will make the trip across the pond for trainer Andrew Balding for the GI Belmont Derby Invitational. The 7-2 morning-line favorite, drawn widest of all in post 11, will square off against 10 rivals, including GII Pennine Ridge S. one-two-three Kalik (Collected), 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) and narrow GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}); and GII American Turf S. winner Webslinger (Constitution).

“He's a high-class horse,” Balding said. “He won the (G2 Juddmonte) Royal Lodge last year and this year he won our main Derby trial at York. He ran a good race in the Derby, but we felt he didn't get the mile and a half. Obviously, the option to drop back to 10 furlongs was attractive. Hopefully, it's a good fit for him.”

A field of nine will line up in the female counterpart in the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational. Trainer Graham Motion will saddle 2-1 morning-line favorite and GIII Regret S. June 3 heroine Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) and Irish Group 3 winner Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who makes her U.S. debut following a fifth-place finish in the G3 Prix Penelope in France Apr. 1. Trainer Chad Brown will seek his seventh Belmont Oaks trophy via undefeated Hilltop S. May 19 winner Aspray (Quality Road) and GII Wonder Again S. June 11 heroine Prerequisite (Upstart).

'TDN Rising Star' and last year's runaway GIII Dwyer S. winner Charge It (Tapit), meanwhile, headlines a five-horse field in the GII Suburban S. Unbeaten sophomore fillies Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) and Dazzling Blue (Into Mischief) and GII Eight Belles S. winner Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance) will do battle in a fantastic renewal of the GIII Victory Ride S.

Derby Day at the Shoe…

Verifying (Justify), second in both the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 8 and GIII Matt Winn S. June 11, will be favored to break through at the graded level in the GIII Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He dueled through a wicked early pace and paid the price, fading to finish 16th in the GI Kentucky Derby.

“He's doing really well,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I love how he came out of the Matt Winn. It will be back in 27 days, but he's a horse we felt we needed to get a race under his belt. He's run really well, just was narrowly defeated in the Matt Winn and the Blue Grass. His Derby was a throw out with the pace, going too quick too early. But he's a nice horse, he's doing well physically, looks amazing.”

The nine-horse field for the Indiana Derby also includes GIII Gotham S. winner Raise Cain (Violence), grassy Hawthorne Derby winner Act a Fool (Oscar Performance) and the highly regarded Cagliostro (Upstart), a strong second behind the talented Scotland (Good Magic) in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs June 3.

Taxed (Collected), an 11-1 upset winner of the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico May 19, looks for her second straight win in the GIII Indiana Oaks. She'll face the Ken McPeek-trained GI Central Bank Ashland S. heroine Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic), purchased privately by Northern Farm since finishing seventh in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

Curlin Filly Headlines Delaware Handicap…

Juddmonte homebred Idiomatic (Curlin), a well-beaten second in the GII Ruffian S. at Belmont May 6 and wire-to-wire winner of the GIII Shawnee S. at Churchill June 3, is the clear cut one to beat in the GII Delaware H. The field of six also includes: Morning Matcha (Central Banker), second in last term's GI Cotillion S. and the local prep Obeah S. last time May 27; and GIII Royal Delta S. heroine Classy Edition (Classic Empire).

Graded Duo Beneath the Lights at Prairie Meadows…

Imonra (Violence) will make her stakes debut in the GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows Saturday evening. The card also includes the GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. for older horses and the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

The post Sophomore Turfers Take Centerstage at Belmont Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Making Waves: Classic-Placed Mare Makes Hay In Canada

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Fev Rover in the GII Nassau S. at Woodbine.

Gutaifan Mare Takes Second Canadian Grade II

The G1 1000 Guineas-placed Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) added her third group/graded win to her resume with an open-length victory in the Nassau S. for Tracy Farmer and trainer Mark Casse (video).

Bred by Manister House Stud, the 5-year-old was a £20,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling turned 695,000gns Tattersalls December purchase in 2021. Her latest siblings are a juvenile filly christened Leveret (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}) and a yearling full-brother. Group 2 winner Nashmeel (Blushing Groom {Fr}) was placed in a trio of top-level races in the U.S. and France prior to foaling GI Yellow Ribbon S. heroine Light Jig (GB) (Danehill), herself the dam of Grade I winner and sire Seek Again (Speightstown).

Gutaifan, who currently stands in France at Haras des Faunes, has sired a trio of stakes winners worldwide, with Fev Rover his first group winner so far. She is his only starter in Canada.

 

 

Sopran Basilea Game At Delaware Park

Madaket Stables LLC & Bill Strauss's Sopran Basilea (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) won the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. at Delaware Park for trainer Graham Motion (video).

A product of Aidan Sexton's breeding programme, the 5-year-old mare sold for €11,000 at the 2018 Goffs November Foal Sale, and won three of Italian stakes races led by the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio for Leonardo Ciampli and trainer Grizzetti Galoppo during her career in Italy. Sent through the Deauville ring during the Arqana December Sale, she was snapped up by her current connections for €300,000 last year, and was runner-up in the GIII Gallorette S. at Pimilco in May. The fifth winner out of Kathy Best (Ire) (King's Best), Sopran Basilea has The Irish Rover (Ire) half-siblings born in 2021 (colt) and 2022 (filly). The extended family has thrived in Italy, which includes recent multiple group winner Plusquemavie (Ire) (Kheleyf).

The winner is Darley stallion Night Of Thunder's second graded scorer in the U.S. after GIII Athenia S. heroine Pocket Square (GB). Overall in that jurisdiction, he has six winners from nine runners (66%) and three stakes winners (33%).

 

 

Lope De Vega Filly Graduates At Belmont

Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables LLC's No Show Sammy Jo (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) won a Belmont maiden at second asking for Graham Motion (video).

Bred by Fittocks Stud and St Albans Bloodstock, the daughter of Shomaria (Fr) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was purchased for 150,000gns as a Tattersalls Book 1 yearling in 2021. Tracing to the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}), No Show Sammy Jo is the first foal out of her placed dam. Her Dark Angel (Ire) juvenile half-brother sold for 14,000gns to Meadowview Stables as a Book 2 yearling and she is also a half-sister to a weanling filly by Palace Pier (GB).

Lope De Vega has sired 36 winners from 67 runners (54%) in North America, with five of them scoring in stakes (7%) to date. Since the first of the year, the Ballylinch stallion is responsible for 11 stakes winners across seven countries led by G1 Tancred S. winner Arapaho (Fr).

Honourable Mentions:

Wise Racing LLC's Turf King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who was mentioned in our Feb. 18 column, became the 67th stakes winner and 40th graded/group winner worldwide for his Juddmonte sire in Woodbine's all-weather GIII Marine S. on July 1 for trainer Chad Brown (video).

Brown also trained Klaravich Stables' Program Trading (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to win a Belmont affair and improve his record to a perfect two-for-two near the end of June (video).

 

The post Making Waves: Classic-Placed Mare Makes Hay In Canada appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Uncle Mo Filly Dominates In Laurel Unveiling

3rd-Laurel, $52,520, Msw, 7-1, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.39, ft, 8 lengths.
TOUPIE (f, 2, Uncle Mo–Amertume {GSP}, by Tapit) was a deserving even-money favorite in this unveiling, jumping up to strike the front from the early jumps to set the pace just outside of Remember Me (Imagining). The pair stayed in close quarters through fractions of :22.93 and :45.79 before Toupie eagerly shook off her shadow past the quarter pole and spurted clear, opening up a dominant advantage that was eight lengths on the wire. Remember Me held on for second. From the extended female family of third dam Honest Lady, herself a half-sister to late sire Empire Maker, Toupie traces back to GI Forego H. winner First Defense (Unbridled's Song) and SW/GSP Honest Mischief (Into Mischief). She is her dam's last reported foal. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-H. Graham Motion.

The post Uncle Mo Filly Dominates In Laurel Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights