D J Stable and Robert Cotran's GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) worked a half-mile in an easy :50.21 over the Gulfstream Park main track Friday morning, his final serious gallop ahead of next Saturday's $1-million GI Curlin Florida Derby.
A perfect three-for-three in his career, Hades was scheduled to breeze Saturday, but forecast heavy rains led trainer Joe Orseno to call an audible and work the gelding 24 hours earlier.
“He has exceeded my expectations,” Orseno said, “even with today's last breeze going into the Florida Derby. He did everything perfect. He just handles himself very professional. He gets things easily where other horses struggle.”
Eclipse Award-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) will try to atone for his third-place effort in the Holy Bull when he lines up next weekend, and the Todd Pletcher trainee went four furlongs in :47.43 at Palm Beach Downs Friday morning. He galloped out an extra eighth of a mile in 1:00.63. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez was in the irons for the move.
“It went very well, he looked great,” Pletcher commented.
Trainer Gustavo Delgado took to X Friday afternoon to report that Victory Avenue (Arrogate), a big-figure runner-up on his lone racetrack appearance Jan. 27, would be passing the Florida Derby.
“For clarity, we have decided not to pursue a Florida Derby entry with Victory Avenue,” Delgado posted. “Being a very talented son of Arrogate, at this moment we feel that time and patience to let him grow up physically + mentally is the best plan. Plenty of goals for him to achieve down the line.”
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 Royalty Interest in Central Florida.
Le Havre Fave Gets The Job Done
Klaravich Stables' Royalty Interest (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) scored the second win of her career at Tampa Bay this past weekend (video).
Bred by China Horse Club International, the bay sold for €50,000 to Seth Klarman's operation during the 2021 Arqana October Yearling Sale. The fourth foal out of stakes winner Dusky Queen (Ire) (Shamardal), Royalty Interest is one of four winners from seven foals for her dam. She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed winning Nizaaka (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) and a full-sister to fellow stakes-placed winner Un Instant (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Dusky Queen, a half-sister to the multiple graded/group-placed Achnaha (Ire) (Haatef), has a 2-year-old gelding by Siyouni (Fr) and a yearling colt by New Bay (GB) still to race.
The late Le Havre has been represented by 21 runners in America. Eleven (52%) have won, with GI Turf Mile S. winner Suedois (Fr), multiple graded winner Rymska (Fr) and GIII Red Carpet H. heroine Orglandes (Fr) his three stakes winners (14%) in that jurisdiction. The latter pair were also trained by Brown.
No. 4 Royalty Interest, a French-bred 4-year-old filly, withstands a determined challenge from Damaso to win the fifth race. Antonio Gallardo rode the winner, who is owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/LSSdsUbbtA
— Tampa Bay Downs Official Account (@TampaBayDownsFL) March 16, 2024
Zoustar Colt Races To Santa Anita Win
King Of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) added an American win to his ledger at Santa Anita recently for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). The colt is owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff.
Bred by The Miss Sugars Partnership, King Of Gosford was a 32,000gns Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling, and made six starts for trainer Andy Oliver and owner N W T Dalzell. He won a Dundalk handicap in his first try over the all-weather in October, and ran third on his final Irish start there later that month before being acquired privately by these connections. His dam, Miss Sugars (GB) (Habour Watch {Ire}), won the Listed Blue Northern S. at Santa Anita. King Of Gosford, who is her second foal, is followed by a 2-year-old colt and a yearling filly, both by G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko. Third dam Hoh Dear (Ire) (Sri Pekan) won the GIII Natalma S., and two of her grandchildren won Grade I stakes in North America–Wigmore Hall (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}).
Five of Zoustar's 10 Northern American runners have won (50%), with the best of these being GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint third Starlust (GB).
Alimara Graduates At Tampa Bay Downs
First Row Partners' Alimara (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) closed to win over the Tampa Bay turf earlier this month for trainer Chad Brown (video).
Bred by Appapays Racing Club, the grey was unsold at €55,000 as an Arqana October yearling in 2022. She was second in both of her French starts last year at two–at Lyon Parilly on the grass in October, and later that month switched to the Chantilly all-weather in the colours of Sandro Gianella for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall. The half-sister to the German stakes heroine Amellata (Fr) (Pomellato {Ger}) has a juvenile full-sister named Arizza (Fr) to come. Her unraced dam Arctica (Ger) (Iffraaj {GB}) is a daughter of Artica (Ger) (Pentire {GB}), who won at listed level in her native land, and also threw a trio of black-type horses, the best of which was G3 Silberne Peitsche winner Artistica (Ger) (Areion {Ger}).
Haras du Petit Tellier's The Grey Gatsby sports a 75% strike rate in the U.S., with three of his four runners having saluted the judge. His Mylady (Ger) won the GIII The Very One S. at Gulfstream Park, and Atomic Blonde (Ger) was third in a brace of Grade IIIs.
Dilger Puts His Name In Lights
Mike Ryan's Dilger (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) won at Gulfstream Park for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr. in mid-March (video).
A product of the Demers Bloodstock breeding programme, the son of Post Perfection (Majesticperfection) is the second foal and first winner for his dam, while he also has a yearling half-sister by Essential Quality. His dam was covered by Nyquist last year. He is from the family of GII Nassau County Breeders' Cup S. winner and GI Acorn S. runner-up Hello Liberty (Forest Camp), as well as multiple graded winner Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince), herself placed twice at the highest level, as well as GI Blue Grass S. hero and young sire Zandon (Upstart).
Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega is the sire of 41 winners in the U.S. from 76 runners (54%). His three Grade I winners, Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Program Trading (GB), and Aunt Pearl (Ire), anchor his eight total stakes winners there (10.5%).
E Five Racing Thoroughbreds' I'maboutago (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) was back in the spotlight with a 3 1/4-length win at Fair Grounds (video). The Ennistown Stud-bred is now two-for-two after taking a Gulfstream maiden last December.
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be present at Gulfstream Park for Florida Derby Day on Saturday, Mar. 30. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has partnered with 1/ST RACING to have a variety of on-site activations during the day.
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be honored with a named race on the Florida Derby Day undercard. Following the running of the race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections, including a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance branded blanket and gift bag branded merchandise. 1/ST RACING will promote accredited aftercare throughout the day.
A representative from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on-site to host the winners of the “Off to the Races” VIP Experience online benefit auction. 1/ST RACING has donated the Florida Derby Day VIP Experience where the winners will enjoy premium dining, access to the paddock, and more.
Additionally, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is also the co-beneficiary for the Florida Derby Charity Golf Tournament alongside the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The charity golf tournament, hosted by 1/ST RACING, will be held on Monday, Mar. 25, at the Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club.
“1/ST RACING and Gulfstream Park are thrilled to have Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance return for Florida Derby Day,” said Steve Screnci, President of Racing and Business Development, 1/ST RACING. “We take great pride in supporting accredited aftercare and aim to further raise awareness and aid in the care of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.”
“Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is honored to count supporters like 1/ST RACING and Gulfstream among our allies in advancing our mission,” said Emily Dresen, Director of Funding & Events at Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “We eagerly anticipate a day filled with exciting races and the opportunity to enlighten racing fans about the importance of accredited aftercare.”
Beeline (Bee Jersey) thrashed a salty field of maidens by 3 3/4 lengths on course-and-distance debut Feb. 10 and had been flattered since, as three rivals won their next starts while improving their Beyers by 23, 11 and 34 points, respectively, the last of those on a drop into maiden claiming.
The odds-on favorite hit the ground running, but had pressure stacked up to his outside and looked to be in deep water as the slow-starting Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) threatened to make a race of it three deep at the top of the lane. Resurgent inside with Edgard Zayas laying his body down, Beeline was confronted by Improptude (Khozan) with time ticking away and was the recipient of a fortuitous bob.
A £600,000 buyback out of the 2014 Goffs London Sale, Secretariat Humor is out of a full-sister to this breeder's champion Perfect Soul (Ire), whose six winners from six to race also includes Grade III-placed Ready Soul (More Than Ready) and SP Miss Injustice (Court Vision). Secretariat Wonder has a 2-year-old full-sister to Beeline named Tremendous Bee, a yearling full-brother and was bred back to the former Fipke runner for her 2024 foal. Beeline is the sixth stakes winner for his sire. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
HUTCHESON S., $106,000, Gulfstream, 3-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.59, ft.
1–BEELINE, 118, c, 3, by Bee Jersey 1st Dam: Secretariat Humor, by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Secretariat's Soul (Ire), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Ball Chairman, by Secretariat 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($70,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Vintage Thoroughbreds LLC, Scott Estes & Brian Hanley; B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Riley Mott; J-Edgard J Zayas. $60,760. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $102,760. *Full to Topsy, SW & GSP, $227,363.
2–Improptude, 118, c, 3, Khozan–Tizlot, by Tiznow. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-Fly With Me & Tami Bobo; B-Tami Bobo (FL); T-Antonio Sano. $25,600.
3–Patriot Spirit, 120, c, 3, Constitution–Mistical Plan, by Game Plan. ($95,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $235,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Mellon Patch Inc; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Michael B Campbell. $9,800.
Margins: NO, 1HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 26.60, 6.00.
Also Ran: Valiant Force, Ship to Shore, Sir Flash, Starship Mocha.
