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Classic Empire Filly Makes the Grade in Royal Delta

Saturday's GIII Royal Delta S. looked like a rematch of last March's local GII Davona Dale S., with New York-bred Classy Edition turning the tables on favored foe Kathleen O. after enjoying a decided tactical advantage early.

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' off her dominant Saratoga debut at two, Classy Edition dominated in a pair of restricted stakes downstate that fall before suffering her first defeat at the hooves of Kathleen O. She was subsequently fourth in the GIII Gazelle S. at the Big A in April, but resurfaced to drub first-level open optional claiming foes going a mile here Jan. 11, good for a 96 Beyer Speed Figure top.

Late-running Kathleen O. fell out of the gate, but Classy Edition broke cleanly and was wrapped up by Irad Ortiz, Jr. as they cruised through opening splits of :25.28 and :50.15. Ortiz gave his mount her cue to pick it up rounding the bend, and she took a narrow advantage heading for home as longshot Tap Dance Fever (Tapiture) tried to stay with her and the chalk revved up out wide. Classy Edition swatted away Tap Dance Fever at the quarter pole, and Kathleen O. narrowed the gap in the lane, but Class Edition's edge proved insurmountable.

“She was going good on the backside. We were going slow but she was close to the lead,” Ortiz said. “I let her do her thing and she did the rest.”

Winning conditioner Todd Pletcher said, “I was pretty pleased. We got to a good spot and it looked like Irad had a lot of horse, just waiting to pull the trigger… We really thought highly of her. She showed quality. She ran a good second in the race here and then needed some time off. She came back really well. I thought her comeback race was excellent. We kind of had a little tactical edge today and she was able to get it done.”

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
ROYAL DELTA S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 2-18, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/16m, 1:45.15, ft.
1–CLASSY EDITION, 120, f, 4, by Classic Empire
   1st Dam: Newbie, by Bernardini
   2nd Dam: Changeisgonnacome, by Cherokee Run
   3rd Dam: Top Tip, by Lost Code
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'
($550,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). O-Lawana L. & Robert E. Low;
B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $91,140. Lifetime Record: 7-5-1-0, $372,790.
*1/2 to Newly Minted (Central Banker), MSW, $516,738;
1/2 to New Girl in Town (Boys At Tosconova), MSP, $172,505.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross
pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kathleen O., 120, f, 4, Upstart–Quaver, by Blame.
($8,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000
2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway
Thoroughbreds LTD & Bridlewood Farm, LLC (KY); T-Claude R.
McGaughey III. $29,400.
3–Don't Get Khozy, 120, m, 6, Khozan–Get Noticed, by Graeme
Hall. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($10,000 Ylg '18 OBSOCT).
O-Imaginary Stables; B-Special Effort Farm, Laura Colon &
Michael Colon (FL); T-Elizabeth L. Dobles. $14,700.
Margins: 1 3/4, 4, HF. Odds: 1.10, 0.90, 76.30.
Also Ran: Tap Dance Fever, Soul of an Angel, Midnight Stroll,
Jungle Juice (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Classy Edition was her sire's priciest first-crop juvenile at $550,000 after a good-looking :10 1/5 breeze at Timonium, and became his third graded stakes winner–the previous two also sold as 2-year-olds that term (Morello, $250K at the same sale; and Interstatedaydream, $175K at OBSAPR), and Angel of Empire made it four in Saturday evening's GII Risen Star S. She is one of 39 worldwide graded winners out of mares by top broodmare sire Bernardini and is bred Pioneerof the Nile over Bernardini like GISW Matareya and from the same Unbridled line as highest-level winners out of Bernardini mares Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map). Angel of Empire is out of a mare by Bernardini's son To Honor and Serve.

The winner's dam Newbie was a first-level allowance winner in the Empire state, and also produced $500,000-plus MSW Newly Minted (Central Banker). The daughter of SW/GSP Changeisgonnacome was a $320,000 in utero purchase by Chester and Mary Broman at the 2008 Keeneland November sale. Newbie has an unraced 3-year-old colt named Pharoah Lake (American Pharoah) and a yearling colt by Vekoma. She was barren to Curlin for 2023.

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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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Florida Sire Stakes Moved As FL-Bred 2YO Incentives Announced

In an effort to further enhance the 2-year-old program in the state of Florida, 1/ST RACING, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (FTHA) have announced that $1.75 million in Florida-bred racing incentives will be offered at Gulfstream Park in 2023. The renewed Florida-Bred Incentive Fund (FBIF) will pay out a total of $450,000 in bonus money to 2-year-old maiden winners.

The FBIF program offers Florida-bred two-year-old open maiden winners a minimum bonus of $2,500 for maiden-claiming races and up to $10,000 for a Florida-bred two-year-old winning an open maiden special weight race at Gulfstream.

The FTBOA will offer an additional $100,000 in win bonuses for eligible Florida-sired winners of open maiden special weights, paying $5,000 for up to 10 races for males and females.

“It's imperative that we all work together to promote and build a robust breeding and racing industry in the state of Florida,” Billy Badgett, 1/ST RACING's Executive Director of Florida Racing Operations, said. “To that end, it's important to attract new owners to our sport throughout Florida and the industry. These incentives, and the change in dates of the popular Florida Sire Stakes program, gives us a great opportunity to fulfill these goals.”

Additionally, the Florida Sire Stakes series, to be run at Gulfstream for the 10th straight season, offers $1.2 million in purses and have been pushed back on the annual racing calendar to give owners and trainers more time to prepare their Florida-bred juveniles for the lucrative series. The dates for the 2023 FSS are as follows:

Sept. 9–$100,000 FSS Desert Vixen S. and $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager S. at six furlongs;
Oct. 21–$200,000 FSS Susan's Girl S. and $200,000 FSS Affirmed S. at seven furlongs;
Dec. 2–$300,000 FSS My Dear Girl S. and $300,000 In Reality S. at 1 1/6 miles

“Florida's stakeholders are aligned with one focus–what can we do to help our breeding and racing industries?” said FTHA President Joe Orseno. “We need to find ways to make it worthwhile for breeders and owners to invest in our state. We believe that the new Bonus Program will encourage greater interest in buying and breeding Florida-breds. By moving the dates of the FSS races, late-developing 2-year-olds will have a better chance of participating. We are excited about the future of the Florida Thoroughbred industry.”

“FTBOA is pleased to work with Gulfstream and FTHA on a program for 2023 featuring our priority Florida Sire Stakes program while enhancing our Florida Breeders Incentive Fund for the benefit of our highly regarded Florida-bred 2-year-olds at Gulfstream on a summer through winter basis,” commented FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell.

FTBOA President George Isaacs added, “We are pleased with the continued FSS races as our industry centerpiece promoting Florida stallions and farms. I also consider it a plus anytime we can offer purse incentives for our bread and butter two-year-olds competing at all levels at Gulfstream. We anticipate this will be one of many cooperative efforts improving the industry economics and stability.”

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Speightstown Filly Prevails in Battle of Firsters at Gulfstream

1st-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-16, 3yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:30.12, fm, neck.
LOVE APPEALS (f, 3, Speightstown–Gioia Stella, by Medaglia d'Oro) just got the better of a final-furlong struggle with fellow first-starter and fellow 7-2 chance Delahaye (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Thursday opener from Gulfstream Park. The late money came for the well-tried Penumbras Maker (Empire Maker), who jumped as the 9-5 chalk, and showed the most early interest, while Love Appeals relaxed kindly enough for Joel Rosario on the back of the front-runner. Full of run, but lacking room as the field neared the stretch, Love Appeals looked like she was going to split rivals to deliver her challenge. Instead, Rosario rolled the dice and dove back down to the fence, and Love Appeals–momentarily in tight to the inside of Penumbras Maker–fought on bravely to the wire to win the photo from Delahaye, who rallied hard in the three path and proved an unlucky loser. Moyglare Stud acquired Gioia Stella, a half-sister to GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) and SW & GISP Sea Queen (Lemon Drop Kid), for $1.5 million at the 2014 Keeneland September sale and Love Appeals is her second produce. The mare is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Gioioso (Curlin), a yearling Speightstown filly and is due to Quality Road for her 2023 foal. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (KY); T-Christophe Clement.

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