Even at this end of the market, the perennial dilemma remains that value means different things to different people. A breeder operating at this level tends to appreciate every cent of a commercial return, however marginal. If your belt is already at the last notch, then the understandable inclination is to leave any selfless consideration of the breed's wider interests to those who can better afford it. Nonetheless I would persist in the view that anyone who believes in a mare can do her no better service than try to put a winner on the page.

Many stallions in this bracket are barely clinging to a place in the Bluegrass, even though in many cases they have had little or no opportunity to show what their mature stock can do on the racetrack. We know that the commercial compulsion towards new sires is double-edged, in that they are abandoned just as promptly as they were embraced only a year previously. And once a sire is reckless enough actually to start testing his genetic prowess by fielding runners, the game really is up for most.

Even the few that make a good start on the track tend to find their books and sales yield both on the slide. As a result, the types that are entitled to need a little more time tend to find themselves almost wholly abandoned. If you're keeping the faith with your stallion, all you can do is stand him at this kind of fairly token fee pending the testimonials of the winner's circle. The trouble is that even an excellent ratio of track success, when your volume is so low, will be submerged by “yet another stakes winner” advertised for rivals who may have 500 more foals on the ground across their first three crops.

The trick, among the younger sires, is to distinguish between those lurking at this level only pending a breakout, and those who are merely clinging to hang on. Because we must never forget that Into Mischief himself once spent a couple of years languishing at $7,500.

An alternative source of value at this level is a handful of stalwarts who have quietly carved out a respectable niche of service for breeders of modest means and realistic ambitions; plus a few younger ones who appear on course for that kind of yeoman viability.

Take TAPITURE, for instance. He was launched with plenty of volume: in fact, in his intake only American Pharoah has more named foals. Granted that the quality clearly couldn't match the quantity, at this level, his ratios will probably never be very startling. But he has shown himself able to get plenty of black-type action with an adequate mare and, while Repo Rocks this year became only his second domestic graded stakes winner, his 111 Beyer in blitzing the GIII Toboggan S. and a runner-up finish in the GI Carter together complement the Classic-placed Jesus' Team as evidence that someday Tapiture is going to land an elite score at just $7,500.

At the same fee, his farm has not managed to muster anything like the same demand for COUNTRY HOUSE, who had to make do with just 119 mares across his first three books and endured corresponding inattention for his first yearlings. But he did sell one for $250,000, and I hope he can similarly defy the odds once he gets a foothold on the track over the next couple of years. His inherent merit was lost in all the blather about the horse he supplanted in the Derby, but his performance there was absolutely consistent with the progress he'd been making and it was terribly unfortunate that he never had the chance to corroborate his breakout–especially after the gamble of trying again the following year left him even more of a forgotten horse. It's ridiculous that so many of those that finished behind him at Churchill were launched with huge books at much higher fees. Country House's sire was always scandalously underrated, but he's inbred to the Sam-Son matriarch No Class (Nodouble) and could certainly breed a horse capable of attending to his unfinished business with the Derby.

Country House | Matt Goins

Darby Dan is definitely worth a visit for those working to this kind of budget, then, as a look at our podium will confirm, and the same is true of Airdrie. True, a couple of that farm's most attractive options demand a little nerve, in that they must negotiate the tricky chicane between small books and the maturity of their first stock, but both are now a bet to virtually nothing at $5,000.

Nobody could have expected PRESERVATIONIST to set the world on fire overnight, having won his Grade I at six, but he's had 13 juvenile winners already from 41 starters-a ratio that matches or beats many peers working from monster books. Unsurprisingly, in the world we live in, his second crop were quiet at the sales but earlier transactions of $280,000, $260,000 and $250,000 show the kind of stamp of horse he can produce. And there are few stallions in any bracket with a better shape to their pedigree, with King Ranch queens Courtly Dee and Too Chic standing opposite each other. I'd be amazed if Preservationist doesn't make a broodmare sire.

DIVISIDERO was never going to cause a stampede, either, having been so recklessly “uncommercial” as to advertise his constitution on the racetrack until the age of seven. He duly had a small debut crop, prompting little interest at the yearling sales, but from this tiny foothold he has mustered a very talented horse in Vote No, whose three starts to date comprise maiden/stakes/length defeat in a Grade II. He had a good winner at Gulfstream just last week, too, leaving him top of the freshmen table by earnings per starter. In the meantime, the eight yearlings sold from his second crop, again very small, included a colt and filly that each made six figures at the September Sale.

So Divisidero is hinting, to those who pay heed, that he could yet claim a role in filling the void left by the loss of his sire Kitten's Joy. Remember that his two GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classics, 13 triple-digit Beyers and length defeat in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile have a genetic bedrock in none other than Cosmah as fifth dam.

The crass neglect of turf sires also requires us to draw attention to DEMARCHELIER (GB) at $7,500. His unfortunate derailment, after an immaculate start to his career, required Bluegrass breeders to show uncharacteristic breadth of perspective by grasping their good fortune in having access not only to a son of the European great Dubawi (Ire) but also to an outstanding Classic family. Demarchelier's first crop will not come fully into their own until stretching out at three, but a perfectly respectable start by his American juveniles is not even half the story, with a youngster Group-placed in France from a handful of starters over there.

His veteran neighbor at Claiborne, FIRST SAMURAI, is a seriously productive horse to be standing at the same fee. He's actually inside the top 20 active stallions on lifetime earnings, and it's very scrupulous of the farm to advertise only six millionaires when he also has one who came up cents short at $999,000! That's not enough for the typical breeder, apparently, as he's only getting small books nowadays. But if you want to put a winner under your mare, here's a Hopeful/Champagne winner by Giant's Causeway for a fraction of the price required to reach many horses of less accomplishment who have yet to sire the winner of a maiden claimer.

TOM'S D'ETAT won't have a runner himself until next year yet has somehow just suffered a third consecutive fee cut, from an opening $17,500 to $7,500. That reflects the modest commercial traction of his first yearlings, but on the racetrack he achieved a high level with maturity-nine consecutive triple-digit Beyers-and he's by a sire of sires out of Giant's Causeway mare whose own mother was a sister to Candy Ride (Arg). Tom's D'Etat has every right to sire runners at a fee that minimises those risks equally attached to more expensive but similarly unproven horses.

That said, there's no denying the superior impression made by the first yearlings presented by CARACARO. They were processed at an average of $41,745 from a base of just $6,500, thanks partly to a filly who brought $175,000. In exemplary hands at Crestwood, Caracaro also kept some good company in a light track career and has a physique reminiscent of his expensive sire.

By the way, before we proceed to our Value Podium, don't forget that we surveyed the new sires separately in the first part of this series. That was on the premise that they seldom offer sufficient value, strictly on their merits, to have any chance of a podium against the proven horses in the higher brackets. But that wouldn't apply to a couple we highlighted at this level: the teak-tough and classy SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT is almost insulted by a fee of just $3,500, while LOGGINS actually mounted the top step of the newcomers' podium at $7,500.

Copper Bullet | Matt Goins

VALUE PODIUM

Bronze: COPPER BULLET

More Than Ready ex Allegory (Unbridled's Song)

Darby Dan $7,500

Bronze for Copper? Why not, when this horse has been the medium of a pioneering experiment: not only complimentary covers for mares that satisfied certain selection criteria, but a $5,000 award to their owners once certified in foal!

Nor have their dividends stopped there. The first intimation that the novel strategy was paying off came at the 2-year-old sales, when 11 members of Copper Bullet's debut crop-comprising 34 named foals-achieved the fourth-highest median ($65,000) among new sires, headlined by colts selling at Ocala for $275,000 and $260,000. He then did something even more unusual by actually advancing the yield realised by his second crop of yearlings. At a time when even those of his peers who had made a flying start with their first runners were suffering from the usual slide-so fatuously do purchasers follow the herd-the handful representing his second crop at the sales achieved a median ($55,000) surpassed, among Kentucky sires, only by Omaha Beach.

After another restricted book this spring, Copper Bullet will surely be generating demand after producing Copper Tax to win five off the reel, including two stakes (one by nearly seven lengths), before flattening out from a messy trip in the GII Remsen S. Overall Copper Bullet has had half a dozen winners from 19 starters, including another placed in stakes company.

It all stands to reason, for a four-length winner of the GII Saratoga Special who flashed residual talent at both three and four despite only fitful visits to the track. With a classy French family behind him, his innovative showcasing may turn out to give us plenty more to think about.

Silver: GREATEST HONOUR

Tapit ex Tiffany's Honour (Street Cry {Ire})

Spendthrift $7,500

This farm's system has adapted very well to the upgrading of its roster over recent years but here we have a horse combining a hint of elite caliber at the kind of basement fee that first made the model work. Having duly welcomed 178 mares into his debut book, he's surely going to produce a headliner or two to maintain momentum through the crossroads ahead. As ever, with high volume, you'd want to be taking one of his nicer specimens to market. But plenty of commercial breeders will be happy to accept those terms for such a lenient fee.

On the racetrack Greatest Honour ultimately proved an anti-climax but only after showing ample to suggest that he had inherited a functioning line to one of the great modern families. And at least his fading has brought affordable access to those aristocratic genes, with second and fourth dams both Broodmares of the Year, divided by a GI Kentucky Oaks winner.

Greatest Honour took four starts to break his maiden, but that was fair enough when he was sharing an education with Olympiad, Speaker's Corner and Known Agenda, and he duly beat a subsequent Grade II winner when doing so. Improvement was barely required, then, in making a dazzling emergence on the Derby trail in the GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fountain of Youth S. He was so strong at the wire in these races that it was a jolt when he could not follow through in the GI Florida Derby, but he disappeared for a year and never really retrieved the thread.

As we've indicated, this horse straddles the divide in that busy Spendthrift covering shed. He's standing at the kind of commercial fee that brings corresponding numbers behind him. But he definitely had a ton of class, far more than his final profile suggests, and recycles genes that could produce any kind. Few stallions at this level will appeal to the breeder who wouldn't mind keeping a filly, but that's a measure of the way Greatest Honour has all bases covered.

Gold: HIGHLY MOTIVATED

Into Mischief ex Strong Incentive (Warrior's Reward)

Airdrie $7,500

I'm going to put it on the line here and declare that this is the value play, hands down, among all the aspiring young sires in Kentucky.

Highly Motivated resides at a farm that strives to price stallions fairly without making breeders pay another way by flooding the catalogues. The 141 mares he covered last year represents a maximum subscription, by its restrained standards, and reflects what a talented runner he was. We'll return to that, but the big news is what has happened to his page since.

If pressed, I suspect that Airdrie might have conceded that the only reason he launched at a fee this low was that it wasn't totally clear that his young dam, albeit a black-type winner in a light career, had much genetic back-up to complement the brilliance we know to expect from Into Mischief. But now look!

Since he went to stud, the two named foals she had delivered since Highly Motivated-only her third and fourth overall-have both emerged as elite performers. The 3-year-old by Flintshire (GB), Surge Capacity, has emerged from nowhere to be beaten by a single rival in five starts, winning a maiden, two grade IIIs and now the GI Matriarch S. And the 2-year-old filly by Practical Joke produced the debut of the Saratoga meet, geared down by 12¾ lengths for a 90 Beyer, before enduring a horror trip and still failing by only half a length to run down Brightwork (Outwork) in the GI Spinaway S.

Combine those new talents with Highly Motivated himself, and you're looking at a mare entering blue hen territory at the age of 11. Throw in the expensive genes of his sire, and it's hard to resist reminding ourselves that Into Mischief himself once stood at exactly this fee.

A quick refresher: Highly Motivated beat no less a horse than Known Agenda (Curlin) in his maiden before breaking the Keeneland track record in his stakes debut, clocking the second highest juvenile Beyer of his crop. After a messy stakes debut, he probably did himself a disservice in pushing champion Essential Quality so hard in the GII Blue Grass S., just run out of it by a neck, as he left connections no choice but to stretch his speed on the first Saturday in May. His Derby turned into one of those that require an 11-month lay-off, yet he regrouped to claim another track record-one previously held for 37 years by a Horse of the Year-in the GIII Monmouth Cup.

Look, this is a horse with something for everyone. He's a commercial no-brainer, yet benefits from the relative market protection of a commendably restrained farm. And he has just enjoyed a freakish genetic upgrade that creates just as much interest for breeders playing a longer game, as well. Much as had always been true of our silver medallist, Highly Motivated now offers cut-price access to elite blood for anyone who would be happy to retain a filly. Among the four-figure options, no other stallion has this kind of five-star appeal.

Highly Motivated | Sarah Andrew

Value Sires under $10,000: the Breeders Speak

We asked breeders to weigh in on who their top picks were.

George Adams of Housatonic Bloodstock serves as the Director of Stallions and Breeding for Wasabi Ventures.

GOLD: Tapiture (Tapit-Free Spin, by Olympio), Darby Dan Farm, $7,500.

Tapiture would be my best value pick at under $10,000 in Kentucky. For me, value at this price point is about a horse's ability to get runners rather than explicitly commercial considerations, and Tapiture has a high percentage of runners to foals, and an excellent winners/runners ratio. He also has a strong 4.7% stakes winners/foals aged 3 and up. His 11.3% stakes horses/foals is solid as well.  Plus he can get you a two-year-old, which we all like to have. He has 25 juvenile winners already in 2023, with a pair of black-type winners and five more that are stakes-placed. To me, that makes him very good value and an excellent choice with which to start off a young mare–especially since his physical makes him easy to breed to.

SILVER: Demarchelier (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})-Loveisallyouneed (Ire), by Sadler's Wells), Claiborne Farm, $7,500.

Demarchelier is a really interesting horse at this level. With the start that he's off to with his first crop this year, he has a big chance to make it as one of the next good turf stallions here, I think. His CI shows that he didn't get the best book of mares for these first foals, which isn't unexpected for a two-turn turf horse by Dubawi in Kentucky. But despite his own later-maturing tendencies and that lack of support, he's got double-digit winners to his credit already with far fewer foals than some of the top freshmen. His winners have come in good maiden special weight races, and he has a Group horse in France and a good stakes colt in New York.  He's also had some dirt winners, which doesn't hurt his chances. He's a horse that I could see standing for more down the road (and he got a bump for '24), and I think that makes him good value this year.

BRONZE: Instagrand (Into Mischief-Assets of War, by Lawyer Ron), Taylor Made Stallions, $7,500.

Typically I have a hard time calling an unproven stallion a good “value” just because I think that it has to be a function of their ability to get runners. But in the case of Instagrand, who will have his first two-year-olds next year, I think he's got so many things going for him that he counts as value this coming spring. He was the first seven-figure sales son of Into Mischief, and he was so precocious–which you can easily see why by looking at him–I have a hard time believing that he's not going to be giving Authentic a run for his money at the top of the freshman sire list next year. At 190 mares bred in that first year, he'll have plenty of ammunition, and we all know the quality of some of the mares that Larry Best sent to him, which will set him apart from some of the others at this prince point. His first crop have sold well, and the ones that I have seen have looked quick and early. So when they come out firing early next year and put Instagrand right at the top of the freshman sire list, I think that'll make his '24 fee look like pretty good value.

Andrew Cary, Cary Bloodstock

Gold: Loggins (Ghostzapper-Beyond Blame, by Blame), Hill 'n' Dale Farms, $7,500.

Excellent physical, high-level talent, and the pedigree to succeed. He was a pricey Saratoga yearling and ran to his looks. Beaten a nose by champion Forte in a Grade I and looks like a slam dunk under $10k as a first year sire with big upside. Hill 'n' Dale has an excellent reputation developing stallions with his profile such as Army Mule and Maclean's Music.

Silver: Instagrand

Into Mischief has already sired the likes of Practical Joke, Maximus Mischief, and Goldencents and his reputation as a sire of sires will only grow in the future. Instagrand was a precocious and brilliant 2-year-old and he should have lots of early runners next summer with his first crop. His first crop of yearlings averaged over $44k this year.

Bronze: Beau Liam (Liam's Map-Belle of Perintown, by Denere), Airdrie Stud, $6,000.

He had elite talent and his first few races were jaw-dropping. Another beautiful physical, he has all the ingredients to succeed and has been well supported for an under $10k sire. His first foals look the part and were well-received at the November sales.

The post Value Sires For 2024–Part II: Stallions Under $10,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ways and Means (Practical Joke) romped in her debut Sunday at Saratoga, running away to a 12 3/4-length win in the day's second race, a $136,5000 maiden special weight race run for fillies at six furlongs. Her game effort earned her 'TDN Rising Star' credentials.

“She blew us away,” winning owner Seth Klarman said.

With the bettors making the juvenile filly the 7-10 favorite, the word was out, but few could have expected just how dominant she would be. Patiently ridden by Flavien Prat, she was fifth down the backstretch before launching her run midway on the turn. She had secured the lead by the top of the stretch and from there widened her advantage without being urged by her jockey.

“We were hoping she would get a little bit of experience,” Klarman said. “He waited patiently and couldn't hold her anymore. She came five wide and cruised to the lead.”

Klarman is known for building his massive stable at the sales, both in the U.S. and in Europe. But Ways and Means is a homebred. In a partnership with William H. Lawrence, he owned sire Practical Joke (Into Mischief), who is celebrating his third 'TDN Rising Star'. The same partnership owned the dam, Strong Incentive (Warrior's Reward), who was bred to Good Magic for next year.

Klarman also campaigned Ways and Means's half-brother Highly Motivated (Into Mischief), GSW and GISP, $667,375 and he owns the winner's half-sister as well, Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}), who won the GIII Lake George S. run at this meet on July 21.

“It really is an amazing feeling.” Klarman said when asked about winning with an impressive homebred. “We've had a few good ones that we've bred but she looks very special. Practical Joke is coming into his own and is proving to a lot of people how talented he is as a sire. He has had good horses on the dirt and sometimes on the turf. So we're very fortunate with him. We're in a great position.”

Klarman acknowledged that the GI Spinaway S. on Sept. 3 looks like the next step for his homebred to make her second start.

“Obviously the Spinaway is very tempting and I don't know where else she would go, but that's Chad Brown's call to make,” he said.

2nd-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-6, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.51, ft, 12 3/4 lengths.
WAYS AND MEANS, f, 2, Practical Joke
                1st Dam: Strong Incentive {SW, $123,568} by Warrior's Reward)
                2nd Dam: G G's Dolly by Comic Strip
                3rd Dam: Parfait by King Mambo
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Klaravich Stables (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

#5 Ways and Means dominates in R2 at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown with Flavien Prat!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/oUqOWUeN7F

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 6, 2023

The post Klaravich Homebred Ways And Means Cast As ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Away sharply, Surge Capacity was prominent early before Joel Rosario eased her back a bit to sit a joint third on the rail through the :24.97 first quarter and :49.84 half set by Secret Money (Good Samaritan) with Princess Bettina (Will Take Charge) hounding the leader from second. Restrained behind the frontrunners, Surge Capacity was ready to pounce when a hole opened up into the lane. The dark bay had the measure of Secret Money, poking her head in front a furlong from home, and still had enough to hold off her surging stablemate. Brown's Revalita (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}) and Liguria (War Front) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

“She's been straightforward,” said Brown of the winner. “She took a while to get to the races, but she's two-for-two to start her career in only her second start winning a graded stakes against some nice fillies. She's a pretty talented horse, I'd say.”

The turf was marked as yielding Friday with the Lake George remaining the day's only race kept on the grass.

“This was the [filly] I was going to run if it came off [the grass]. I know, Flintshire on the dirt, but she has never trained bad on the dirt. I'm not saying I'll put her there off this, but I'm going to see how she trains over it. She might be a pretty versatile horse. The female family is all dirt, so it wouldn't surprise me.”

Pedigree Notes:

You'll be forgiven a case of deju vu if a graded-winning Klaravich homebred trained by Brown out of Strong Incentive (Warrior's Reward) sounds familiar. Last year's GIII Monmouth Cup S. winner and GII Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) is a half-brother to Surge Capacity. Klaravich Stable bought Strong Incentive as a 2-year-old for $200,000 at the OBS Spring sale and she was a minor listed winner at Woodbine for Brown in 2015 before turning into a two-time graded producer. Her most recent produce is an unraced juvenile filly named Ways and Means (Practical Joke), who posted a five-furlong work at Saratoga July 15 in 1:01 (6/31).

Surge Capacity is by Juddmonte's 2016 U.S. grass champion Flintshire (GB)–also a Group 1 winner in France and Hong Kong–who began his stallion career at Hill 'n' Dale in Kentucky before moving to Haras de Montaigu in France prior to the 2022 season. She marks the third graded/group winner and fourth overall black-type winner for the stallion who won three graded races at Saratoga himself, including the GI Sword Dancer S. twice. Surge Capacity also denotes the 10th black-type winner out of a daughter of the Medaglia d'Oro son Warrior's Reward, whose others include the aforementioned Highly Motivated and 'TDN Rising Star', GI Champagne S. winner, and Friday's Curlin S. third-place finisher Blazing Sevens (Good Magic).

SURGE CAPACITY and @JRosarioJockey get Chad Brown his 7th career victory in the Grade 3 Lake George! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/VTIEIitf4R

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 21, 2023

Friday, Saratoga
LAKE GEORGE S.-GIII, $175,000, Saratoga, 7-21, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:38, yl.
1–SURGE CAPACITY, 118, f, 3, by Flintshire (GB)
1st Dam: Strong Incentive (SW, $123,568), by Warrior's Reward
2nd Dam: G G's Dolly, by Comic Strip
3rd Dam: Parfait, by Kingmambo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Klaravich Stables Inc (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Joel Rosario. $96,250. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $129,250. *1/2 to Highly Motivated (Into Mischief), GSW, $667,375.  Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tax Implications (GB), 118, f, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–Country Madam (Ire), by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. (75,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables Inc; B-Aoife Kent (GB); T-Chad C Brown. $35,000.
3–Secret Money, 120, f, 3, Good Samaritan–Awesome Humor, by Distorted Humor. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. ($35,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $40,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Fortune Farm LLC (Richard Nicolai), Robert G Hahn, Emcee Stable LLC & It's All About The Girls Stable LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. $21,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 2HF. Odds: 5.50, 3.75, 9.20.
Also Ran: Revalita (Fr), Liguria, Tryinmyheartout, Princess Bettina, Lil Miss Moonlight. Scratched: Queen Picasso (GB), Utilization Rate (Fr). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Believe me, it wasn't always easy to find something adequately civil to say about every last one! But the fact is that this is only ever one person's opinion and, as such, a hopelessly subjective exercise. By restricting ourselves to three medalists, after a few general remarks and an honorable mention for a near-miss or two, we know that those overlooked–necessarily a large majority–are bound to include many sires who ultimately get their headlines where it really counts. (So we hope that nobody perceives any kind of slight that would not only be unintended but basically invisible!)

Every mating is different, after all. Your mare may be the wrong size or shape for the stallions we like; and, besides, we all know that a choice of mate must, for many people, be more about anticipating the market than anticipating genetic efficacy. The latter, sadly, tends to be rather a luxury when you require a stallion, first and foremost, to put bread on your table.

That's especially true, of course, regarding the group we start with today. The asphyxiating commercial window of opportunity for sires is unfair on everybody: on the stallions themselves, on the farms that stand them, and on the commercial breeders who feel they have no choice but to jump onto the next round of the freshman carousel. As we're always saying, the fault does not rest with the supply but with the demand.

Those directing investment at ringside claim that their only chance of landing on a top-class cover is to be ahead of the curve, before fees catapult beyond affordability. But we know that simply isn't true. For one thing, they hardly ever follow young stallions through as their fees and averages come down, pending a meaningful examination of their stock on the racetrack. And how many agents and managers, moreover, have sufficient courage of their convictions to buy their clients the stock of an apparently unfashionable stallion like Lookin At Lucky, for instance? Yet his record of achievement, punching miles above his fee, will remain far beyond the vast majority of those rookies annually launched with huge books at what will usually turn out to be a career-high fee.

We'll see whether a place can still be found for him at the other end of the spectrum, once we come to proven sires. But it's a sad state of affairs when hardly anyone today accepts the logic that there should be nothing more commercial than putting a winner under your mare.

Flightline | Sara Gordon

Regardless, today we start with a uniformly clean slate. To reiterate: we're not looking for the new stallion “most likely.” Of course, we send our compliments to anyone who can afford $200,000 to tap into the most blatant racetrack talent seen in a while. True, value is relative. Flightline (Tapit) himself, after all, was a seven-figure yearling who turned out to be cheap. Nothing automatically disqualifies the highest fee of the intake from being its best value. Perhaps Flightline will do a Frankel (GB), and become every bit as important an influence as his track career encourages you to hope–albeit to do that, obviously, his stock will have to move on from a template of six starts across three years in training.

Each to their own. Acknowledging that objectivity must be limited to the spirit of inquiry, and that subjectivity must kick in with the first breath of an answer, let's begin our quest for the most horse for your buck. And if we do happen to turn up another Not This Time to top the podium, we accept that it will again be more by luck than judgement!

Bubbling Under

The overall quality of the intake feels strong, perhaps the strongest in a few years. If one generational talent bestrides the cohort, there are several following him into a second career absolutely entitled to close the current gap in their stature.

I also feel that a number of farms have risen to the challenge laid down in recent years by the Spendthrift team, who have expertly converted the momentum of their pioneering incentive schemes to upgrade their recruitment. There must have been times when the opposition felt as though they were being left irretrievably behind. But while Spendthrift welcomes another four newcomers for 2023, the fresh blood at several farms will reassure breeders that the Bluegrass retains a healthy depth of competition.

Ashford, most conspicuously, has assembled as many as five new sires all of sufficient standard to be starting out between $25,000 and $45,000. Our pick of those will duly be found on the podium, but we must also acknowledge the sheer solidity offered by Epicenter (Not This Time). His brilliance is underpinned by some extremely sturdy European influences, such that he really offers something really quite different, and precious, to the American gene pool.

Gainesway, meanwhile, has looked to the future, with the great Tapit in the evening his career, offering a couple of contrasting but attractive new packages in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Drain The Clock (Maclean's Music). Really, there are quite a few farms that can take their new guys to market with deserved confidence. Strictly in terms of value, however, I feel that none has stepped up to the plate better than Airdrie.

With the emerging star Girvin arriving from Florida, the Airdrie team have added further momentum by pricing both their rookies to give their clients every chance.

The one who narrowly misses the podium is Highly Motivated, a can't-miss $7,500 son of Into Mischief with two track records to his name. A horse with this kind of profile, at this kind of price, would at some farms assuredly be loaded with over 200 mares. But that's not the Airdrie way–and those who can get to him are unlikely, therefore, to find themselves inundated by alternative stock once they get into a catalogue.

Highly Motivated was classy enough to run Essential Quality (Tapit) to a neck when stretching out for the GII Blue Grass S., but his unmistakable forte was Into Mischief speed, showcased by a 96 Beyer eclipsed only by Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) among the juveniles of 2020. That secured Highly Motivated a Keeneland track record, while the one he added as a 4-year-old at Monmouth was wrested, after 37 years, from a Horse of the Year. His name was Spend A Buck, and that sounds like a pretty good plan with Highly Motivated.

BRONZE:

GREATEST HONOUR (Tapit-Tiffany's Honour by Street Cry {Ire})

$7,500 Spendthrift

Greatest Honour wins the Fountain of Youth | Horsephotos

No denying that this guy's derailment from the 2021 Derby trail was made to seem a long time ago when he resurfaced to rather tame effect this spring. But his fee makes ample allowance for that, and if you just rewind to the unmistakable brilliance of his original emergence, then you can only be excited to have cut-price access to such a regal bloodline.

Second and fourth dams are both Broodmares of the Year, divided by a GI Kentucky Oaks winner, with the family seeded by distaff influences of corresponding stature: Street Cry (Ire), Deputy Minister and Blushing Groom (Fr). Greatest Honour's dam was admittedly one of the least distinguished runners in this family, but she's a half-sister to Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy), Jazil (Seeking The Gold) and Casino Drive (Mineshaft) (a successful freshman sire in Japan, by the way) out of the broodmare icon Better Than Honour.

And there was no doubting that this blood had told when Greatest Honour was a flourishing sophomore in Florida. Even his juvenile grounding had been of exceptional substance: he took four starts to break his maiden, but was learning his trade by consecutive bouts with Olympiad (Speightstown), Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and Known Agenda (Curlin)! Sure enough, when he did win a maiden, it was by beating subsequent Grade II winner Dynamic One (Union Rags).

So he was scarcely raised in grade when romping in the GIII Holy Bull S.; and he then overwhelmed Drain The Clock (Maclean's Music) in the GII Fountain of Youth S. And while the speed figures measured up, the way he appeared to be hitting his stride only deep in the stretch made him look like a horse just getting started. I was stunned that he did not follow through in the GI Florida Derby, but he disappeared for a year and then never really retrieved the thread.

But I am definitely keeping the faith, at this price. After all, the template isn't dissimilar from his sire, who started out at a lower fee than anticipated after fulfilment of his potential had likewise been thwarted by physical issues.

Above all, Greatest Honour passes the ultimate test of pedigree depth. His fourth generation is saturated with genetic potentates (Weekend Surprise, Narrate, Moon Glitter, Coup De Folie, Best In Show) corroborated far more widely than simply by those sons or daughters that happen to put them on this particular page.

This aristocratic blood, harnessed to Spendthrift's dynamic commercial program, will presumably benefit from plenty of opportunity. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that were to result in one or two candidates to redress his own misfortune on the road to the Derby–and you can't say that of too many stallions at this kind of fee.

SILVER:

EARLY VOTING (Gun Runner-Amour d'Ete by Tiznow)

$25,000 Ashford

Early Voting (right) wins the G1 Preakness S. | Mathea Kelley

Hats off to the Klaravich program, which missed the podium by a cigarette paper with Highly Motivated while also reaching its second step with this fellow, in our view the outstanding value among Ashford's exciting new quintet.

The three Ps–physique, pedigree, performance–are all lavishly present and correct.

This is a knockout specimen and, while Gun Runner will become still more extraordinary if also proving an instant hit as sire of sires, the family tree brings its own guarantees in that regard. For Early Voting's dam is, of course, a sibling to one such in Speightstown (as well as to the very talented but ill-starred Irap).

Performance, admittedly, was vexingly confined to just half a dozen starts. But Early Voting followed up his debut success with a daylight score in the GIII Withers S. before being collared by a neck, in a duel of future Classic winners with Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), in the GII Wood Memorial. He confirmed his place among the elite of his generation when holding off Epicenter (Not This Time) in the GI Preakness, only for his career to derail in Saratoga.

Sure, he was a fresher horse at Pimlico than his new studmate; and he also got first run. But Early Voting was arguably only in a position to do that by superior early speed and, regardless of which side of the quibbling fence you fall, they were plainly in the same vicinity in terms of talent. And the relative durability of Epicenter is amply measured by the difference in their fees.

In this slightly more accessible tier, you seldom find such quality through so many dimensions: looks, natural ability (won a Classic, remember, off three starts) and genes. What worked for Speightstown (first three dams by Storm Cat, Chieftain and Buckpasser) has obviously worked for his sister, too. She is of course by a deeper staying influence (Tiznow, as against Gone West) but Gun Runner has done his stuff to produce a very alert runner. Gun Runner himself, remember, is out of a Giant's Causeway mare, which not only doubles up Storm Cat but entwines his influence with that of his nemesis Tiznow.

These are all very wholesome brands, and just look at the four mares in Early Voting's third generation. Without exception, they've shown that there is more than one string to their genetic bow. From the top: Candy Girl (Arg) (Candy Stripes) is here as dam of Candy Ride (Arg), but is also third dam of Tom's D'Etat; Quiet Dance (Quiet American) is here as granddam of Gun Runner, but is also dam of Saint Liam; Tiznow's dam Cee's Song (Seattle Song) famously produced not just classy performers like Budroyale but also the dams of Paynter and Oxbow; and Silken Doll (Chieftain), as we've already seen, unites Speightstown and Irap as well Early Voting.

That's a pretty copper-bottomed array of repeatable genetic excellence and, combined with the physical and performance attributes he has placed in the foreground, makes me confident of this horse's eligibility to last the course.

GOLD:

HAPPY SAVER (Super Saver-Happy Week by Distorted Humor)

$12,500, Airdrie

If you don't give this horse a shot, at this kind of money, then I guess you don't really buy into the only principles that ever make sense of this chaotic industry of ours.

Okay, so he was not quite a champion. But only an elite talent, and a very natural one, could win the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup as an unbeaten 3-year-old making just his fourth start; and only a matching resilience could maintain him in maturity as benchmark, in three consecutive races earlier this year, for Olympiad (Speightstown), Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief).

That trio, needless to say, are all starting out at much bigger fees. Maxfield (Street Sense), similarly, stands at $40,000 after being pushed all the way by Happy Saver in the GI Clark S. last year. But now they all resume with a clean slate and, in terms of his eligibility to prove a conduit of genetic quality, none is in a stronger position than Happy Saver. His third dam is Weekend Surprise herself; and standing directly opposite her, as damsire of Super Saver, is her son A.P. Indy.

Super Saver will concern some people, despite Runhappy and Letruska, but the key here is that he has produced a very good racehorse by combining one spectacular maternal line with another. His own extends through generations of Ogden Phipps bluebloods; and obviously Happy Saver's dam, herself a stakes sprinter, belongs to a family that has famously produced several other stallions besides A.P. Indy.

Sure enough, the pedigree overall is heavily seeded with the right brands. For instance, Super Saver's grandsire Wavering Monarch was out of a Buckpasser mare; Super Saver's celebrated fourth dam, Numbered Account, was by Buckpasser; and so, too, was Weekend Surprise's mother Lassie Dear. That's typical of what happens when families extend their quality back to the days of much smaller books. Access to a top-class stallion was a privilege, earned by blood or performance or both. The mares behind Happy Saver, as celebrities in their own right, have corresponding consorts: after his mother by Distorted Humor, the next four dams are by all-time distaff legends in Deputy Minister, Secretariat, Buckpasser and Sir Gaylord.

The quest for value in stallions is about seeking the potential to punch above their presumed weight. If stallions couldn't sometimes produce foals better than themselves, the breed would stagnate at best and mostly decline. And a stallion's ability to elevate his potency, relative to his track career, must lurk in his blood. Yes, you want to see evidence on the track of a functional vitality in his genetic make-up. Happy Saver gave us that in spades. But he has every right to surpass even that exalted standard in his next career.

Like many horses going to stud, for one or two reasons we didn't see his very best as he closed out. But he had previously been a set-your-clock campaigner at the highest level, moreover one blessed with real flair. If you rewind to the very beginning, for instance, he won a sprint on by 5 1/2 lengths on debut in essentially the same time as the GI Woody Stephens S. winner on the same card.

This, in other words, is a horse whose stock can someday make us grateful that “Happy” days are here again.

The Value Podium: New Sires

Gold: HAPPY SAVER Airdrie $12,500

An elite competitor with aristocratic pedigree at an accessible fee

Silver: EARLY VOTING Ashford $25,000

A pacey Classic winner out of Speightstown's half-sister

Bronze: GREATEST HONOUR Spendthrift $7,500

Another of royal blood and made a lasting impression early

The post Value Sires For 2023 – Part I: New Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief, Highly Motivated was purchased by Mike Ryan as a weanling on behalf of his owner for $240,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. Entrusted to trainer Chad Brown, Highly Motivated broke his maiden as the 3-5 favorite in September of his 2-year-old year at 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont over future Grade I winner Known Agenda (Curlin). He followed that up with a win in the Nyquist S. on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland, winning easily by 4 1/4 lengths. His time of 1:14 4 for the 6 1/2 furlongs set the Keeneland track record, and his 96 Beyer Speed Figure represented the highest number of any 2-year-old that competed on the Breeders' Cup Championship weekend–a lineup that included multiple Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and the multiple Breeders' Cup champion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). By year's end, only Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) could boast of a higher juvenile figure.

Returning to Keeneland in the spring of his 3-year-old year, Highly Motivated was second to Essential Quality in a memorable edition of the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., where the latter prevailed by a short neck after a long stretch duel. It was a further 5 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Rombauer (Twirling Candy), who would return to take the GI Preakness S. Sent off as the 10-1 fifth choice in the GI Kentucky Derby in his next start, Highly Motivated's disappointing 10th-place finish would prove to be the final start of his sophomore season.

Following a nearly year-long layoff, Highly Motivated was brought back to win a mile feature at Belmont Park before making his next start in the GIII Monmouth Cup S, where he posted an easy victory, breaking the nine-furlong track record in 1:46.53 set 37 years prior by Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Spend a Buck. Subsequently injured while training toward the GI Cigar Mile, Highly Motivated retires with a record of 10-4-3-1 and earnings of more than $667,000.

“Highly Motivated was the best colt in our barn at two and three and ran Grade I-winning numbers at both ages,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He's a two-time track-record setter by one of the best stallions in the world. In my opinion, there's not a ceiling on his potential at stud.”

“He's an undeniable talent by a brilliant sire,” added Airdrie's Bret Jones. “He's an absolutely gorgeous Mike Ryan purchase that we believe will be on anyone's short list of the best-looking horses retired this year. Highly Motivated fits the description of so many important sires: a horse with Grade I speed that goes to stud without the benefit of a Grade I on his resume. He deserves the opportunity and we will see that he gets it. Having given us the chance two years ago to stand Complexity, we are again grateful to Seth Klarman for entrusting our Airdrie team with the future of his talented horse.”

The post Multiple Track-Record Setter Highly Motivated to Airdrie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The post Highly Motivated Narrowly Best in Battle of the Browns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“That's the plan,” trainer Michael McCarthy told the Pimlico notes team Monday.

The homebred automatically qualified for a starting berth in the 146th Preakness with his victory in the El Camino Real Derby Feb. 13 at Golden Gate Fields. He was third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths in the Blue Grass behind champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and Highly Motivated (Nyquist), who finished fourth and 10th, respectively, in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby. Rombauer ran second by three-quarters of a length in the GI American Pharoah Sept. 26 at Santa Anita and completed his 2-year-old season with a fifth in the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

“He's done everything and made a nice little progression from 2 to 3,” McCarthy said. “He's put on a little weight. He's a horse that takes pretty good care of himself, so he's been pretty easy that way.”

McCarthy said that Rombauer will have his final work at Santa Anita and will ship to Pimlico early next week.

Get Her Number (Dialed In), who defeated Rombauer in the American Pharoah, will not run in the Preakness, trainer Peter Miller said Monday.

The post Rombauer Confirmed for Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Known Agenda
A nightmare post draw
Torpedoes a true win threat
Still play underneath

#2 – Like the King
His road to Churchill
Traversed over Tapeta
Hard to envision

#3 – Brooklyn Strong
A last-minute call
When does that idea work?
Won't be on tickets

#4 – Keepmeinmind
Soph slump in effect
Likes the track, but that feels like
A lifetime ago

#5 – Sainthood
Recovered nicely
After Turfway donnybrook
He'll pass a few late

#6 – O Besos
Won't be knocked around
He'll earn his graded stakes due
In the months to come

#7 – Mandaloun
Early momentum
Was doused by a Fair Grounds dud
Rebounds don't win here

#8 – Medina Spirit
Couldn't seal the deal
Once he got the starting gig
On Baffert's depth chart

#9 – Hot Rod Charlie
The parts appear there
Just not sure how much I trust
The Fair Grounds prep route

#10 – Midnight Bourbon
Last two running lines
Have the same end: Outfinished
Leave him on the shelf

#11 – Dynamic One
Rapid improvement
Might not take home the roses
But wait for the Spa

#12 – Helium
Has seen Thanksgiving
As much as he's seen a race
Since mid-October

#13 – Hidden Stash
A late-stage grinder
Can't hang with mid-tier hopefuls
Not a potent blend

#14 – Essential Quality
The unbeaten champ
Does little else but ace tests
Why would he stop now?

#15 – Rock Your World
Turf-to-dirt success
We'll know all we need to know
After the first turn

#17 – Highly Motivated
Nearly nipped the champ
A breakout win's imminent
Worth a small “win” share

#18 – Super Stock
Surprised at Oaklawn
Breaking his “check-getter” cred
Can't get too enthused

#19 – Soup and Sandwich
An uncommon sight
An Into Mischief that's gray
Might grab a mouthful

#20 – Bourbonic
Long-priced Wood winner
Needs the home stretch seas to part
Tough “win” strategy

Prediction
Champion retains
“Quality” resume grows
Then nine, seventeen

The post The Haiku Handicapper Presented By Form2Win: 2021 Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Heading the Brad Cox Derby team, last season's juvenile champ worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. With exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard, the likely Derby favorite worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 outside of fellow Godolphin-owned Spa City. The duo began their work at the half-mile pole through splits of :12.80, :24.80 and :48.20. The recent GII Toyota Blue Grass S. winner completed a six-furlong gallop out in 1:14.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“We keep radios on all of our riders, so that way, we can stay in contact throughout the work,” Cox said. “Galloping out around the turn, I got on the radio to Edvin and told him not to let him go too strongly. Spa City is a horse we used as a workmate for Essential Quality the last three or four works. He's a good matchup for him because he's a good work horse.”

Shortly after Essential Quality completed his work, Mandaloun, with Florent Geroux in the saddle, worked five furlongs in 1:00 outside of recent Keeneland allowance winner Joe Frazier. The GII Risen Star S. scorer started about six lengths behind his stablemate and completed swift opening fractions of :23.20, :35.60 and :47.60. Mandaloun galloped out strongly around the first turn through a six-furlong time of 1:12.60 and completed seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

“Going into the pole, Joe Frazier was a little bit strong and I didn't want to ask Mandaloun to catch up to him too much,” Geroux said. “I didn't want to get him in the bit too early, so we started six or seven lengths behind but going around the turn and he really picked up the pace. He has a big stride to him and was full of himself getting over this track.”

King Fury put in his final workout for the Kentucky Derby, with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard during the period reserved for training horses pointed to the Derby and Oaks. King Fury worked a solo five furlongs in 1:00.20. He reeled off splits of :12.80, :25.20, :36.80, and :48.40. Hernandez Jr. guided him out to 1:12.80 for six furlongs and 1:26.60 for seven furlongs.

“Everything was good,” Hernandez Jr. said. “He did it with his ears up and he seems like he's a happy horse. He's got a little confidence in himself coming out of the Lexington. He's coming into the Derby with some confidence.”

The GIII Lexington S. winner moved up to No. 20 on the points leaderboard following the defections of Hozier (Pioneerof the Nile) and Dream Shake (Twirling Candy).

“We weren't fretting about it too much,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “It was all up to a higher power, if we didn't get in, then [the plan] was to go on to the [May 15] GI Preakness S. [at Pimlico]. Those things are out of our control. What other people do with their horses, it's not something we spend a lot of energy on. We would have worked him the same today, if he was going to Baltimore or if he was staying here.”

Trained by Chad Brown, Highly Motivated went five furlongs in 1:00.40 under exercise rider Peter Roman immediately after the break. Runner up to Essential Quality in Keeneland's Apr. 3 GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and eagerly pulled away from stablemate Southern District, while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven furlongs in 1:28.40.

“I thought he breezed really well and it went exactly how I wanted,” Brown said. “I wasn't afraid to give him a good solid breeze and he did it and he did it well, with some in reserve too. He got over the track well, which I really wanted to see. He had been galloping well over it, but really, when you get to see a breeze, you can see more, obviously.”

Also among yesterday Churchill workers, Super Stock, who hit the track at 5:32 a.m., went five furlongs in 1:01.20. The Steve Asmussen trainee worked in company with 4-year-old stablemate Max Player, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.60, and seven furlongs in 1:28.

“He went perfect and he gave us exactly what we were looking for,” Asmussen said. “I think that the horse's confidence level is at an all-time high, he goes really well over this racetrack, and I couldn't feel any better about him going into the Derby.”

At Keeneland, Like the King worked five furlongs in 1:01. The move was the ninth fastest of 28 at the distance. Working in company with the 4-year-old Artie's Princess, the 2020 Sovereign Award winner as Canada's champion female sprinter, Like the King started two lengths in back and edged clear at the wire, galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.40 with Julio Garcia aboard.

“He was nice and smooth down the lane,” said Wesley Ward. “He had that filly measured, as he did last week. He looked a lot smoother this week than last week. Last week, he was kind of on the bridle. [Today] he was a lot more fluid.”

He added, “He's a very difficult horse to gallop. He had a really, really strong last part of his gallop [Friday] when a couple of workers came inside of him. So, I wasn't looking to go :59 or anything today.”

Ward indicated the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner will jog Sunday morning and gallop Monday and Tuesday before vanning to Churchill after training.

West Coast Workers

At Santa Anita, Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) worked five furlongs in :59.20. The unbeaten GI Santa Anita Derby winner went together with winner Best Chance and outfinished him by a couple of lengths, according to trainer, John Sadler

“He breezed very well,” said Sadler, who is seeking is first win in the Run for the Roses. “He looked good, nice and smooth. It was kind of a repeat of last week. We didn't want to do too much because he's right where he wants to be already. We're happy.”

'Rocks' is expected to ship to Kentucky Sunday and will jog Monday after arriving at Churchill Downs. He will gallop Tuesday and Wednesday, “but the schedule could be tinkered with slightly depending on the weather,” Sadler said.

Working before Santa Anita's first race Saturday, Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) went six furlongs 1:13.68 under Flavien Prat, who will accompany him next Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Accompanied by stablemate Chasing Fame, Hot Rod Charlie started one length behind his work partner at the five furlong pole, from where he tracked his company to the top of the lane,  assumed command and worked past the wire to the seven furlong pole through splits of 24.46, 48.94 and 1:00.90.

“I loved the way he went,” said Prat, who was also aboard for a six furlong work in 1:14.20 at Santa Anita Apr. 17. “He went really easy and he went a solid three quarters, with a good gallop out. I loved his energy and the way he went by his stablemate.”

Santa Anita Timer Dane Nelson had the GII Louisiana Derby winner galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27.43.

“I love the fresh track and not having to worry about traffic,” said trainer Doug O'Neill, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2012 with I'll Have Another and in 2016 with Nyquist. “I'm real happy with the way he breezed. We're all set, looking forward to getting him to Churchill and finding out what our post position will be on Tuesday.”

Hot Rod Charlie will be flown to Louisville early Sunday morning and will gallop and/or jog throughout the week over the Churchill Downs main track.

Also posting his final Derby tightener, Gary Barber's Get Her Number (Dialed In) worked five furlongs in 1:02 at San Luis Rey Training Center with Peter Miller on-hand for the work.

“He went out in 1:14 and it was a nice move,” Miller said via text from the facility, which is about 30 miles northeast of Del Mar racetrack.

Miller indicated a final decision would be made Saturday regarding the colt's participation in Saturday's Classic.

The post Essential Quality Tops Loaded Derby Worktab Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Highly Motivated arrived Monday morning from Keeneland where he had been training since the Blue Grass. Trainer Chad Brown plans to work Highly Motivated on Saturday, weather permitting. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday.

Trainer Brad Cox reported Tuesday morning that Shortleaf Stable's Arkansas Derby (GI) runner-up Caddo River would run in the Kentucky Derby. He's scheduled to work Saturday.

Unseasonably cool temperatures are expected to arrive in the Louisville area overnight Tuesday with snow showers early Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his quartet of Kentucky Derby hopefuls out in groups of two for 1 3/8-mile gallops Tuesday morning.

Going first during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks hopefuls were St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda with Hector Ramos aboard and Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One with Carlos Perez Quevedo aboard.

Coming out just before 8 o'clock were Calumet Farm's Bourbonic with Ramos aboard and WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood with Amelia Green aboard.

Pletcher has penciled in Saturday as the work day for his Derby runners but noted, “There could be some weather coming in and we will watch that and could move the works to Friday.”

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Trainer Brad Cox confirmed Tuesday morning that Shortleaf Stable's Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Caddo River would run in the Kentucky Derby.

“If all goes well after his work on Saturday, we'll run in the Derby,” Cox said. “He came out of the Arkansas Derby in great shape. He's a sound horse who is training well.”

All three of his Derby contenders galloped about 1 ½ miles Tuesday morning. Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality trained at 5:15 a.m. with Edvin Vargas in the saddle. About 45 minutes later, Caddo River trained with Gustavo Abrego in the saddle. At 7:30, during the exclusive training session for Derby and Oaks contenders, Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun trained with Fernando Espinoza in the boot.

All three horses are scheduled to work Saturday morning, according to Cox.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – Live Oak Plantation's Soup and Sandwich, along with D J Stable's Helium, galloped 1 ½ miles early Tuesday beneath the Twin Spires.

Trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll reported both horses would work this weekend. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides Soup and Sandwich in the Derby while Helium will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – With exercise rider Peter Roman aboard, Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated galloped during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

Highly Motivated arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday and following shortly thereafter was trainer Chad Brown.

“He got around there good this morning and I am pleased with the way he shipped in,” said Brown, who has started five horses in the Kentucky Derby with his best finish coming in 2018 when Good Magic was runner-up to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify.

Highly Motivated closed his 2020 campaign with a track record-setting performance in the Nyquist Stakes at Keeneland. A third-place finish in the Gotham (G3) opened 2021 followed by the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass that marked his first start around two turns.

“I thought the Blue Grass was a really good race and that was the first time he had been on the lead,” Brown said. “I am confident he can handle the two turns and I think he will move forward in this race.

“We shut him down on purpose (after the Nyquist) and worked backward from the Derby. He has hit all the marks getting here.”

KEEPMEINMIND – Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith's Keepmeinmind galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Enrique Benitez at 5:45.

Sitting at No. 22 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, the Robertino Diodoro trainee's next work date is to be determined.

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury galloped a mile and a half shortly after 5:30 with Danny Ramsey aboard for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Winner of the Lexington at Keeneland in his most recent start, King Fury sits at No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He is scheduled to work Saturday.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' multiple graded stakes-placed colt Midnight Bourbon had a scheduled walk day following his five-furlong move in :59.80 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's upset Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Super Stock galloped about 1 3/8 miles with Juan Vargas aboard. He's scheduled to work Saturday.

O BESOS – Barrett Bernard, Tagg Team Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds' O Besos will have his final work prior to the Kentucky Derby Wednesday or Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Jockey Marcelino Pedroza will be aboard for the work and also ride O Besos in the Kentucky Derby.

“He's maturing even more as every day goes by,” Pedroza said. “The first time I worked this horse I couldn't believe he won going six furlongs. He loved the extra distance in the Louisiana Derby.”

O Besos had a light gallop Tuesday morning with exercise rider Margarito Fierro.

Pedroza and Fierro share a common bond entering the Kentucky Derby as both riders are overcoming life changing events. Pedroza lost his mother last year at 44-years-old to brain cancer while Fierro was once told he'd never gallop again because of colon cancer. TwinSpires.com's Andrew Brown reported the remarkable story here: https://bit.ly/3dwZBlx.

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm's third-place Lexington Stakes (G3) finisher Starrininmydreams galloped about 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

Starrininmydreams sits No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1 in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O'Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Dream Shake (TBA, Peter Eurton).

Next up in order of preference: King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas Stewart).

The post Derby Notes: Highly Motivated Impresses First Day At Churchill, Caddo River Confirmed To Race appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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