independence hall | Horse Racing Free Tips

Mating Plans: Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Farm

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Farm

INTO MYSTIC (m, 6, Into Mischief–Loveofalifetime, by Medaglia d'Oro), to be bred to Constitution

She's a multiple stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed maiden mare with earnings of $448,623, and will be bred to Constitution.

Constitution, purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale by Twin Creeks Racing and WinStar Farm, is loaded in the pipeline with a tremendous support from shareholders and elite breeders. He's poised to take the reins from his legendary sire Tapit.

MAY NIGHT (m, 19, Gulch–Riverjinsky, by Riverman), to be bred to Catholic Boy

May Night won the P. G. Johnson S. at Saratoga, and is a multiple stakes-producing mare including millionaire Red Rifle (Giant's Causeway) and Notte d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro).

Raced in partnership with Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, Catholic Boy showed true brilliance on both turf and dirt surfaces. Catholic Boy is also by More Than Ready, one of the most respected sires in racing. We are looking forward to his first-crop yearlings in 2022.

WHISPER NUMBER (m, 14, First Samurai–Santerra, by Tejabo), to be bred to Constitution

She's a multiple graded-stakes producer and the dam of Ms Locust Point ($675,975, Dialed In) and Warrant ($649,700, Constitution). She's due to foal to Constitution, and will be bred back to him this year.

SHARP INSTINCT (m, 15, Awesome Again–Forty Paulina {Arg}, by Roar), to be bred to Independence Hall

Sharp Instinct is the dam of graded stakes winner Send It In ($501,914, Big Brown). She's due to foal to Twin Creeks-bred Tiz the Law, and will be going to WinStar's new recruit Independence Hall.

Independence Hall raced in partnership with Twin Creeks Racing, Bob Verratti and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, then was later joined by WinStar farm. The son of Constitution is a stunning physical that breeders are falling in love with. His athleticism should match up well with many different sire lines.

We are looking forward to [her] Tiz the Law foal as well. Tiz the Law was brilliant his entire racing career. Tiz the Law is known for his exceptional class, ability and he's by the exciting stallion Constitution.

BAFFLING (m, 7, Graydar–Baffled, by Distorted Humor), to be bred to Gun Runner

She's a Twin Creeks Farm homebred half-sister to Constitution, Jacaranda (Congrats), and Boynton (More Than Ready). By Graydar, who was campaigned by Twin Creeks Racing, she's due to foal to Not This Time.

PURE SILVER (m, 7, Mission Impazible–Jehan, by Forest Wildcat), to be bred to Constitution

Pure Silver is a Twin Creeks Farm homebred, by Twin Creeks Racing's Mission Impazible. She's a multiple stakes winner, including the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga, and is due to foal to Constitution.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

The post Mating Plans: Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Mating Plans: Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Erin Fisher of Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds.

“All my horses are crossed with stallions that I feel will throw appealing and sound horses that can provide second and third careers off the track and provide longevity to the breed,” said Fisher. “I look for soundness and attitude with the idea that my foals can have long futures in any discipline after racing.”

APPEALING WAY (m, 8, Tizway–Turkappeal, by Turkoman), to be bred to Complexity

This mare is a half-sister to [GSW] Pink Champagne (Awesome Again) and has a lovely physical. While small in stature, she crosses extremely well with Complexity and should produce a really nice foal.

CHARLIE'S CANDY (m, 6, Twirling Candy–Sister Charlie, by Indian Charlie), to be bred to Tonalist

With a recent black-type winner out of her sister, this mare is big in size and complements Tonalist quite nicely. She should produce a nice, big foal.

FAIRY KERI (m, 3, Fed Biz–Keri's Snowman, by Frosty the Snowman), to be bred to Leofric

She has a phenomenal pedigree with lots of black-type. I chose Leofric for her as he isn't overpowering in size but was a force on the track. His foals look good and have a decent chance to be productive runners.

LAST GREAT (m, 6, Albert the Great–Crouching Thunder, by Thunder Gulch), to be bred to Modernist

Her track record wasn't great but she has the pedigree of a nice regional mare. She is tall in size with excellent balance. Her size makes her a good cross for Modernist who, in my opinion, was bred to be a sire.

LINE OF VISION (m, 7, Court Vision–Gold Lined, by Numerous), to be bred to Audible

She was a multiple stakes winner and a hard-knocking mare. She is short and compact. I chose Audible for her as the line crosses well with Into Mischief. Also because he is tall but not overpowering and has good balance to him. Hopefully this cross will produce a foal that is tall and compact, capable of decent distance.

MONEY INTHE STARRS (m, 6, Abraaj–Our Monstarr, by Demons Begone), to be bred to Knicks Go

This mare is a regional champion in her home state. Sleek and built like a classic racehorse, I chose Knicks Go for this mare. Hoping to throw the heart of both horses and resilience that Knicks Go showed on the track.

LADYSGOTGAME (m, 11, Street Sense–Lady Gamer, by Game Plan), to be bred to Basin

He was a good racehorse and I'm hoping with her legs and stature, she will throw some bone and leg into her foal.

BAREFOOT NATIVE (m, 6, Graydar–Elke, by Dixie Union), to be bred to Spun to Run

It's an excellent cross and her size should put some leg and length to this horse.

NON NEGOTIABLE (m, 9, Distorted Humor–Kiss Mine, by Mineshaft), to be bred to Rock Your World

This Candy Ride (Arg) and Distorted Humor cross is excellent. While the mare herself isn't big, the hope is that they produce a nice foal with good leg and shoulder.

RICH IMAGE (m, 5, Imagining–Richetta, by Polish Numbers), to be bred to Independence Hall

He was an excellent racehorse. Tall with classic build and structure. This mare is good size while slightly compact. I'm hoping to get a foal of similar stature to the stallion.

SAFFRON GIRL (m, 5, Tapizar–Mattie Camp, by Forest Camp), to be bred to McKinzie

This stallion speaks for himself, but this mare is all class. She is tall with excellent motion in her movements. A bit long so am hoping for better balance in the cross.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

The post Mating Plans: Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Independence Hall: A Son of Constitution at WinStar

As Tapit's list of Grade I winners quickly approaches 30 constituents, his sons are now proving their worth in the stud barn. Constitution leads the charge of Tapit sons at stud with an $85,000 fee. The WinStar sire concluded 2021 with a fifth worldwide Group 1/Grade I winner in Cigar Mile H. victor Americanrevolution and his 20th black-type winner in GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile S. winner Law Professor.

While WinStar Farm hopes that Constitution, whose first crop was foaled in 2017, could one day become a foundation sire at WinStar, this year they checked off the next goal for their promising stallion by adding one of his sons to their stallion roster.

Independence Hall, a graded stakes-winning member of Constitution's first crop along with MGISW Tiz the Law, will stand alongside his sire this year for a fee of $10,000.

“We're super excited to have Independence Hall came home to WinStar and begin his stud career,” said WinStar's director of bloodstock Liam O'Rourke. “We've had a great history at WinStar over the past 21 years and Constitution really represents the next generation of what WinStar is going to be. He's had such an electric start and with what he has coming down the pipeline, we're very excited and very bullish on his future. [Reaching] the next step of having one of his sons retire to WinStar is very rewarding.”

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Independence Hall was an easy debut winner for Robert and Kathleen Verratti and trainer Mike Trombetta. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stables joined in the ownership before his next start, a stunning 12 1/4-length score in the 2019 GIII Nashua S. in record time.

“He came on our radar very early,” O'Rourke said. “After his first start, when he came back in the Nashua to run a 101 Beyer speed figure–the fastest 2-year-old performance of the year–we started to realize that he was going to be a very special horse.”

The dark bay colt remained undefeated in his sophomore debut in the Jerome S. and was then runner-up in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. After an unplaced finish in his next start, he was given time off and returned to the starting gate at the end of his 3-year-old season under the care of trainer Michael McCarthy.

At four, Independence Hall was competitive against top company with WinStar joining his partnership at the beginning of the season. He ran third to future GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., placed second to the same rival later in the GIII Lukas Classic S. and then earned a final career victory in his next start in the GII Hagyard Fayette S.

“He held form with [Knicks Go] through most of the year and the season was culminated by what was I think one of the talking performances of the Keeneland meet when he came out and won the Fayette S.,” O'Rourke recalled. “He beat some outstanding horses in that race and really showed what a brilliant horse he was.”

Independence Hall retired with earnings of almost $900,000, running in the money in six graded starts with three stakes wins to his credit.

Independence Hall's breakout performance in the GIII Nashua S. | Chelsea Durand

“I think he was a really great racehorse because of that high cruising speed,” O'Rourke explained. “We love that 2-year-old form, that brilliance, and when they can come back and be an elite older horse and knock heads with the best of the best in the country, that's something that we find really strong.”

O'Rourke said that the new stallion's physical helps explain the high cruising speed he was able to display on the track.

“Physically, he's a very impressive horse. He's a big, beautiful, smooth walker. He's balanced, but he's masculine. He has that size, scope and frame that I think Constitution has been able to produce and he put it all together in the way he could get over the ground.”

A son of the winning Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat, Independence Hall is a half-brother to Grade III winner Black Onyx (Rock Hard Ten) and two more graded stakes-placed siblings in SW Francois (Smarty Jones) and Quality Council (Elusive Quality). His family also includes Desert Stormer (Storm Cat), winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and the granddam of MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper).

O'Rourke explained that while Independence Hall has been popular with breeders since arriving at WinStar, he already has a solid support system built in with a large syndicate group that includes Woodford Thoroughbreds, Twin Creeks, Kathleen and Robert Verratti, Eclipse Thoroughbreds, China Horse Club and Machmer Hall.

“It's really a 'who's who' of syndicate members,” O'Rourke said. “Along with that, we offered Independence Hall in our Dream Big program, which virtually sold out overnight, so we have some really good folks supporting the horse and he will have some really nice mares in those first couple of years.”

WinStar's Dream Big program allows breeders the opportunity to acquire a lifetime breeding right to the stallion.

“Independence Hall proved that he was a special horse as a 2-year-old and he proved it again as an older horse,” O'Rourke said. “He has the pedigree and the looks and I think we priced him to where he's very attractive to breeders. We've had a huge response to him so far and it's so rewarding to have a son of one of our sires come home and join our stallion roster.”

The post Independence Hall: A Son of Constitution at WinStar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pletcher Duo Loom Large in Cigar Mile

Todd Pletcher has won the GI Cigar Mile four times with the most recent being the 2012 renewal won by Stay Thirsty (Bernardini). The Hall of Famer has a strong chance to take home his fifth Cigar Mile title Saturday when he saddles the two top choices Americanrevolution (Constitution) and Following Sea (Runhappy).

Americanrevolution was moved to Pletcher after his debut and won his first three starts for his new barn, including dominant score in the state-bred New York Derby July 19 at Finger Lakes and Albany S. Aug. 27 at Saratoga. Third when returned to open company and stepped up to the big leagues for the Sept. 25 GI Pennsylvania Derby, the flashy chestnut put on a show in a sloppy renewal of the Empire Classic H. At Belmont Oct. 30, splashing home an 11 3/4-length winner and earning a 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

“He's been very consistent, and he's accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” Pletcher said. “He's made a lot of progress. It's another class test and he's dropping back in distance which is always a challenge, but he deserves a chance.”

Following Sea earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod for his impressive second-out graduation at Oaklawn Apr. 10 while under the care of Bob Baffert. Part of a group of Spendthrift runners transferred to Pletcher after the GI Kentucky Derby, the bay romped in a Belmont allowance June 3 and completed the trifecta when stretched to two turns for the GI Haskell Invitational S. July 17. He was third again next out behind Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and his GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile-winning stablemate Life is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 28. Following Sea scored a good-looking victory in Belmont's GII Vosburgh S. Oct. 9 and was a respectable third in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint S. at Del Mar last out Nov. 6.

“He still has to prove himself going further,” Pletcher said. “He was impressive in the Vosburgh and his allowance race and in his maiden win sprinting. He's always given us the impression of a horse that will run further, and he's certainly built like one that would.”

Independence Hall (Constitution) looks to close his career in style with a long-awaited Grade I score. A black-type winner at two, three and now four, the dark bay was third in the GII Californian S. Apr. 17 and was subsequently shelved. Fifth in the GI Pacific Classic when he returned Aug. 21, Independence Hall was second to likely Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) in the Oct. 2 GIII Lukas Classic and powered home a 7 1/4-length winner of the GII Hagyard Fayette S. in the slop at Keeneland Oct. 30. MGISW and Fayette runner-up Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) also returns here.

Dirt Mile runner-up and GII Pat O'Brien S. winner Ginobili (Munnings) ships east along with Independence Hall for this prestigious event.

The post Pletcher Duo Loom Large in Cigar Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post