Sent off at 77 cents on the dollar while making his 6-year-old debut on a rare sunny afternoon in Central Kentucky, Master Of The Seas gained a foothold at the fence and raced in the slipstream of pacesetting 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready), though perhaps a fraction keen beneath William Buick through an opening quarter in :24.38 on ground officially listed as yielding, but riding significantly slower than that.

More or less into the box seat inside of 'Rising Star' and 2022 Maker's Mark winner Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) passing the half-mile in :49.20, Master Of The Seas traveled strongly on the turn, looking all over a winner assuming he was able to find running room when push came to shove. They lined up six across the course at the three-sixteenths, but Master Of The Seas went for a run underneath the weakening pacesetter in upper stretch and kicked on nicely to win off as much the best. Naval Power was a touch slow to begin, but split horses four off the inside with a bit better than a furlong to travel and came home well for second. Integration (Quality Road) came wide for the drive, but could not match strides with the Godolphin duo and settled for a never-nearer third.

Master Of The Seas joins the likes of Kip Deville and Wise Dan (2x) to have won the Maker's Mark subsequent to their Breeders' Cup Mile successes. Miesque's Approval won the 2006 Maker's Mark before upsetting that year's Mile at Churchill Downs. It was a first win in the race for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.

“When he's done as much winning as he has over here (in North America) on quick ground, you're always slightly dubious when the ground is as testing as it is out there today, but he does have past form on slower surfaces,” said winning trainer Charlie Appleby. “What I liked about it is that they (stablemates Master of The Seas and runner-up Naval Power [GB]) got into a nice rhythm around there. Naval Power unfortunately was a bit slow from the gate. (Jockey) William (Buick) got in a lovely (position) for (Master of The Seas). Once they came off the turn, all William needed was that gap to be able to give him the signal to pick up.”

Nearly three years ago to the day, Master Of The Seas was winning the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket before going down to a nose defeat at the hooves of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 English 2000 Guineas a few weeks later at British racing headquarters. Winner of the G3 Earl of Sefton S. in a single 4-year-old start, the bay was unseen again until taking out the G2 Zabeel Mile in Dubai in early 2023, but he was never a factor in the G1 Dubai Turf two months later.

The easy winner of the G2 Summer Mile over the straight course at Ascot last July, Master Of The Seas easily accounted for Shirl's Speight in Toronto in September, was outfinished by champion Up to the Mark (Not This Time) in the GI Keeneland Turf Mile over course and distance Oct. 7 and managed to conquer gate 13 of 13 in the Breeders' Cup Mile, pegging back the commonly owned Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) on the wire.

Appleby said that both Master Of The Seas and Naval Power would remain in the U.S., with the former likely for the GI Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4. Both horses will summer in Saratoga, the trainer said.

Pedigree Notes:

Master of the Seas, one of 57 Group 1/Grade I winners for his legendary sire, is one of 10 winners from 12 to the races from his dam, a listed winner and runner-up in the 2002 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France and later twice placed in this country at the graded level while under the care of Eoin Harty.

Firth of Lorne's G3 UAE Oaks-winning daughter Falls of Lora is  not only the dam of Godolphin's four-time Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), but also of Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2019 GI Summer S. at Woodbine, and Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a three- time listed winner in Bahrain this season. Another daughter of Firth of Lorne, Bint Almatar (Kingmambo), produced G1 Metropolitan S. hero Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Firth of Lorne's final foal is the 4-year-old filly Sithchean (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), victorious in her lone trip to the races over the Chelmsford all-weather in March 2023.

Friday, Keeneland
MAKER'S MARK MILE S.-GI, $517,775, Keeneland, 4-12, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:37.10, yl.
1–MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE), 123, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Firth of Lorne (Ire) (SW & G1SP-Fr, MGSP-USA, $163,189), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Kerrera (Ire), by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Rimosa's Pet (GB), by Petingo (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby; J-William Buick.
$306,125. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur & Eng at
7-9.5f, 17-9-3-2, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, GSW & G1SP-UAE,
GISW-Can, $2,520,582. *1/2 to Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), SW &
G1SP-Eng, $217,472; Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}),
GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417; and Etive (Elusive Quality),
SW-Ger, MSP-Fr, $126,693. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com
catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Naval Power (GB), 123, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Emirates Rewards
(GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin
(GB); T-Charles Appleby. $98,750.
3–Integration, 123, c, 4, Quality Road–Harmonize, by Scat
Daddy. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($700,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG).
O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC;
B-Larkin Armstrong (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $59,250.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.77, 5.80, 3.74.
Also Ran: Shirl's Speight, Emmanuel, Kubrick (Ire). Scratched: Du Jour, Equitize (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

No stopping MASTER OF THE SEAS as he surges to victory in the @MakersMark Mile (G1)! pic.twitter.com/qDyjEMaMH2

— Keene

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“He is a worthy favorite,” said Appleby. “He broke his maiden on soft ground, and he's won a Group 2 on soft.”

Apply also brings Godolphin's Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), winner of six of seven lifetime, including his last two going a furlong further at Meydan. There were 13 months and a castration between those two wins, but his G2 Singspiel S. victory Feb. 23 earned him a ticket to the U.S. for a barn that has excelled in graded events in America.

“He has won on soft ground, and this will give him a chance to gain experience over here,” said Appleby.

The 2022 Maker's Mark Mile victor, Charles Fipke's 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), has not found the winner's circle since that signature win. He's faced Master of the Seas in two of his last three, getting closest with a runner-up finish in the Woodbine Mile. He clearly has an affinity for Keeneland, with a second in the 2022 edition of the Breeders' Cup Mile to another Appleby trainee in Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Hard to believe, but [Shirl's Speight] has been running in all of the big ones with a couple of seconds,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “He's been doing well since his last race, which was the [Jan. 27 GI] Pegasus [World Cup Turf Invitational].”

The Maker's Mark field is rounded out by uber-impressive two-back GII Hill Prince S. winner Integration (Quality Road); 'TDN Rising Star' and Mar. 2 GIII Canadian Turf S. winner Emmanuel (More Than Ready); and a Chad Brown-trained pair of recent Tampa allowance winners in Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Equitize (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Du Jour (Temple City), winner of the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. Mar. 3, reportedly didn't make the trip from Santa Anita and will be scratched.

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Four years after the Coolmore contingent's Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf a mighty shake when second to upset-minded Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), the globetrotting Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was given an A-plus steer from Ryan Moore, showed plenty of heart and guts when in very tight approaching the entrance to the final furlong and stayed on courageously to become the first female winner of the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf.

The final time of 1:44.45 for the nine furlongs on firm turf broke the previous record of English Channel back in 2007.

Made the 12-5 second favorite behind the previously undefeated Integration (Quality Road), Warm Heart secured a forward position, with Integration a few lengths in her wake, as Main Event (Bernardini) and Catnip (Kitten's Joy) came across from their double-digit draws to fight out an opening quarter in :23.47. Jerry the Nipper (Liam's Map) went up to spilt that pair, and when he did, Moore made a critical decision to hustle his filly along for a stride or two, enabling her to secure a ground-saving rail position just behind the pacesetters.

Remaining glued to the fence through the middle furlongs and with no real changes to the plot, Warm Heart began to zero in on the dueling front-runners rounding the turn, and Moore opted to ride her for luck nearing the stretch, attempting to work the same sort of magic as he did aboard Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Main Event was holding firm as they hit the stretch, but Javier Castellano had left a sliver of daylight for Warm Heart at the inside if she was good enough to capitalize. She sliced through there gamely to lead a furlong out and held safe to the wire as 'TDN Rising Star' I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing)–who didn't enjoy the clearest of stretch runs–came running late. Frankie Dettori also put an outstanding ride on the outposted Catnip, riding him for speed before sitting a wide trip and staying on for third.

Integration, perfect in three tries prior to this, raced ahead of midfield and enjoyed a decent inside trip for the opening seven furlongs. But whereas Moore was able to get through, the runs never came for Integration, as he was stymied behind Jerry the Nipper and inside of Catnip when push came to shove and he flashed home full of run for fifth once clear.

“She's always traveling very comfortably,” said Moore. “I didn't want to be there too early, and I didn't want to be tipping out into the straight, and I thought I'd rather just wait. She's a great filly. She's had an incredible year. She hasn't had a bad race.

“The leader, he was always leaning out, and he was weakening and I knew I had plenty of horse, so no problem. I was happy to wait.”

A maiden winner over a mile and two furlongs in the soft at Leopardstown last May, Warm Heart took the 12-furlong G2 Ribblesdale S. at the Royal Meeting and belied odds of 9-1 to defeat older females in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks Aug. 24. A neck winner despite a stumble at the start of the G1 Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp Sept. 10, she was set for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the quick ground at Santa Anita as opposed to the oft-easy conditions for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The plan nearly came together perfectly, as Warm Heart snuck through inside and looked home in the 10-furlong event Nov. 4, only to be stung on the wire by the fast-finishing Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who would go on to be crowned at the Eclipse Awards. Sent over to Hong Kong for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, she made the lead a long way from home and was there for the taking late, finishing third to Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}).

“She's an incredible filly,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “Ryan said it just didn't work for her the last race, but she's tactical, she's tough and she quickens. She doesn't do an awful lot when she gets there, but that's the way she's always been. She's very classy and very hardy, loves the fast ground, fast track.”

Much to the Ballydoyle maestro's chagrin, Warm Heart heads up to Kentucky to begin her second career.

“She's incredible. We'd love to have her and to be racing her, but the lads business is breeding these horses and she's an absolutely incredible broodmare to be going to Justify, who looks probably the most incredible stallion that ever was based on what he's done so far. It's so exciting, really,” O'Brien said.

Pedigree Notes:

A three-time Group 1 winner in Australia over sprint trips, Sea Siren was sent to the Northern Hemisphere in late spring 2013, finishing eighth in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. before taking the Listed Belgrave S. to conclude her racing career.

A half-sister to Australian Group 3 winner Oratorio (Aus)–not to be confused with the eponymous Irish-bred–and New Zealand Group 2 winner Lady Dehere (NZ), Sea Siren is also responsible for Warm Heart's 3-year-old brother Bremen (Ire), a maiden winner at second asking for Donnacha O'Brien at Killarney last July. Sea Siren was bred to Camelot (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time and was returned to Australia, where she foaled a colt by the sire of G1 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) in August 2022. Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock went to A$275,000 for that produce at the recently concluded Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. After producing a colt by Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) last August, Sea Siren was covered by Justify at Coolmore Australia in September.

As stated above, Warm Heart has a date with Justify this year, and with good reason. The cross over Galileo has resulted in three winners at the graded level, including champion and G1 Dewhurst S. winner City of Troy, GII Jessamine S. victress Buchu and Group 3 winner Red Riding Hood (Ire). G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer is out of a mare by Galileo's sire Sadler's Wells, while Group 2 winner Statuette has a second dam by Sadler's Wells.

Jockey Ryan Moore makes a perfect ride aboard #9 WARM HEART (IRE) in her final start and victory in the GI @PegasusWorldCup Turf Invitational. Congratulations to the @Ballydoyle team and @coolmorestud. pic.twitter.com/IKgy6aCTEI

— TVG (@TVG) January 27, 2024

Saturday, Gulfstream
1/ST BET PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $952,300, Gulfstream, 1-27, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:44.45, fm.
1–WARM HEART (IRE), 118, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Sea Siren (Aus) (Hwt. Older Mare-Ire-at 5-7 f.,
                                MG1SW-Aus, SW & MGSP-Ire, $1,743,772),
                                by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
                2nd Dam: Express A Smile (Aus), by Success Express
                3rd Dam: Hold That Smile (Aus), by Haulpak (Aus)
O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael
Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L.
Moore. $531,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr,
G1SP-HK, 11-6-2-1, $2,194,994. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–I'm Very Busy, 123, c, 4, Cloud Computing–Two Kisses, by
Kissin Kris. 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg
'21 EASOCT; $135,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Team Hanley,
Richard Schermerhorn and Paul Braverman; B-Glenn E. Brok
LLC & Mark Toothaker (PA); T-Chad C. Brown. $177,000.
3–Catnip, 123, g, 5, Kitten's Joy–Masquerade, by Silent Name
(Jpn). O/B-John & Susan Moore (KY); T-Michael Stidham.
$88,500.
Margins: HF, NK, 1. Odds: 2.40, 14.50, 46.50.
Also Ran: Atone, Integration, Webslinger, Kingmax (Ire), Shirl's Speight, Jerry the Nipper, Adhamo (Ire), Main Event, Master Piece (Chi). Scratched: Anglophile, Grand Sonata.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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The roll call of Donn H. winners through 2016 at Gulfstream Park reflects a roster of unique equine and human personalities, which is peppered with some magnificent performances that shouldn't be forgotten.

Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza won his first of three victories in 1969 aboard Funny Fellow and took home his last Donn with Foolish Pleasure in 1976.

One of the greats, Forego, captured the 1974 race. There was Deputy Minister in 1983. The legendary Cigar grabbed back-to-back races starting in 1995 for a trainer with the last name of Mott, who is still collecting accolades and giving sound speeches without notes.

And who could forget the haul by Todd Pletcher with his first Donn win in 2003 which was authored by Harlan's Holiday.

Speaking of sires, futures breeding shed stars like Medaglia d'Oro, Quality Road and Constitution, all got their picture taken after winning the Donn.

As we know, the race was renamed and its history placed on a dusty shelf. Instead of drawing from the near and visceral past, it was time to extract strength from a famous mythological winged horse slaying a dragon. Second in size stateside to only the Statue of Liberty, the completed 2014 edifice ominously guards the entrance of Gulfstream, presides over the Donn's demise and welcomes those attending Pegasus World Cup Day.

On Saturday, another edition arrives as the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. anchors a card which sports six other graded events. Looking to join the likes of Arrogate (who won the first Pegasus), Gun Runner and Life Is Good, are a dozen suitors and an also-eligible.

National Treasure schooling | Lauren King

Out of these, National Treasure (Quality Road) is the clear class leader. The Bob Baffert trainee won last year's GI Preakness S. and ended his 3-year-old campaign as the runner-up in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to newly-minted Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin).

One of National Treasure's primary rivals, who is drawn right next to him, is Godolphin homebred GSW First Mission (Street Sense). Trained by Brad Cox, the dark bay missed last year's Triple Crown, but he has the potential to be a major player within the 2024 Classic division.

“It couldn't have gone better so far,” said Cox assistant Trace Messina. “He shipped in here early Tuesday morning and had a good gallop over the track Wednesday and another good gallop Thursday.”

First Mission was second in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs last November. Both the winner of that race, Trademark (Upstart), and the third-place finisher, Il Miracolo (Gun Runner), also received a Pegasus invite.

Il Miracolo's trainer Antonio Sano said, “The horse has been doing very well after the [last] race. Right now, the horse is very excited and in good condition. He worked two times with [jockey Javier] Castellano and I hope to run well. I think there are four horses that show speed in the race. I hope we can find room behind the speed for the horse to close.”

As for the rest of the field, it includes Mineshaft's own GISW Hoist the Gold and MGSW Senor Buscador (who ran first and second in the GI Cigar Mile), plus the Iavarone's MGSW O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and that 7-year-old's Saffie Joseph stablemate MGSW Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator).

The Undercard Takes to the Turf

The rest of the Gulfstream slate has an intriguing lineup. In the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S., trainer Aidan O'Brien sends GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) back to America. Since missing by a neck to newly-crowned champion female turf horse Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the filly was third in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in mid-December.

Warm Heart workout | Ryan Thompson

Last year's winner, Atone (Into Mischief) returns, along with the undefeated MGSW Integration (Quality Road), who picks up rider Tyler Gaffallione for Kendrick Carmouche.

West Point Thoroughbreds executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said about Integration's development, “He's as exciting a horse as we've had. He's just a super exciting horse. It took him a while to really get rolling and find his stride. If you look back, he had a lot of works and a lot of base. Shug [McGaughey] was always, 'I like this horse.' He's rewarded all the confidence Shug had in him. To win the race at Colonial [Downs] first time out and to come back a little less than four weeks later and win the Virginia Derby the way he did, it was spectacular. I was lucky enough to be at Aqueduct for the Hill Prince S. and it was one of those races that was never in doubt. It was really an amazing performance.”

A trio of graded turf races help to round out the Pegasus Day card. First among them is the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which moved up a spot to become a Grade II race. Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the market leader at 5-2 here, made her U.S. debut a winning one by 10 lengths for trainer Cherie DeVaux in the GIII Cardinal S. at Churchill Downs last November. Chief among her rivals will be veteran 6-year-olds like GISW Queen Goddess (Empire Maker), MGSW/MGISP Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}) and MGSW/GISP Didia (Arg) (Orpen).

As an ode to the Donn's origins, also on the docket are a pair of grass distance tests at 12 furlongs–the GIII La Prevoyante S. and the GIII W.L. McKnight S.

Graded dirt races do make an appearance with the GII Inside Information S. for older females at seven furlongs, which is led by local favorite GSW/GISP Maryquitecontrary (First Dude). Also, older males traveling a mile in the GIII Fred Hopper S. will look to challenge morning-line favorite Hejazi (Bernardini), who was the runner-up in the GI Malibu S.

Heading West

Finally, the graded train also makes Saturday stops at Sam Houston Race Park and Santa Anita Park. H-Town hosts the GIII Ladies Houston Classic S. and the GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup, while the 'Great Race Place' has its own nine-furlong test on the dirt in the GII San Pasqual S.

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The $700,000 FTSAUG yearling graduate earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure while defeating GI Saratoga Derby Invitational winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the Colonial Downs centerpiece.

“I thought he ran really good [last time],” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “I didn't know what to expect. It's not my style to run a maiden winner back in a stake, but it looked like the time to take a chance and it worked out.”

The Hill Prince field of nine also includes a trio from the Chad Brown barn. Equitize (GB) (Kingman {GB}) returns from the bench following a debut win on the Tampa grass back in March; the streaking Faraday (Ghostzapper), who enters off a narrow Kentucky Downs allowance score Sept. 10; and last year's GII Pilgrim S. runner-up 'TDN Rising Star' I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing), who ended a five-race losing streak with an allowance win at the Big A Oct. 4.

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes the GIII Chilukki S. at Churchill Downs and the GII Kennedy Road S. at Woodbine.

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“I think it was just timing,” he reflects. “She was in one of the later books and in foal to Badge of Silver, on a late cover, which wasn't too popular. Mayan Maiden (Lyphard) [her dam] had produced the dam of [turf millionaire] Al Khali (Medaglia d'Oro), but neither she nor had any of her offspring had black type. In fact Emory had sold Mayan Maiden as an older mare to Bobby Flay, carrying Mesa Fresca. And now here was her daughter, and I liked her, thought she looked like some of Emory's mares that I knew from Chic Shirine: that's really what attracted me, just having seen that family do so well for so many years.”

Chic Shirine, of course, was the daughter of Mr Prospector who established the premier branch of the dynasty centered on her dam Too Chic (Blushing Groom {Fr}). Three of Chic Shirine's daughters produced Grade I winners and a fourth has lately emerged as granddam of two more in Olympiad and Preservationist. Those young stallions are now seeking to establish a communal legacy for King Ranch, but for Armstrong the connection always felt highly personal. In his youth, he learned to recite King Ranch pedigrees long preceding his own lifetime–above all, those tracing to Monade (Fr), the imported 1962 Epsom Oaks winner and fifth dam of Mesa Fresca.

“I've been passionate about the horse business ever since I was a child, and have been coming to the sales for 30 years now,” he says. “My father's 'all in' on polo; he's head of the United States Polo Association, but he's interested in Thoroughbreds too and obviously my extended family has long been involved in the business–they raced Assault–and more recently through Emory and [her sister] Helen.

Larkin Armstrong | Keeneland

“So when I took an interest as well, I was able to learn all about it with them. It was more of an obsession than an interest, really: already at age 11 I was deep into catalogues, pedigrees, the Stallion Register. I grew up in Texas, but always came up and stayed with Helen for the sales, and got to look at horses with Emory as well. She bought Too Chic from the King Ranch consignment in the early '80s, and she became her foundation mare.”

Having secured Swain cut-price access to this genetic goldmine, Armstrong compounded the favor by urging the young Scat Daddy as her next cover.

“Jack makes all the final decisions,” Armstrong stresses. “But yes, Scat Daddy was the one I liked. He was just getting going, he'd had some of his Chilean success at that point, but was still only $17,500. So Mesa Fresca had a filly by him, and we always loved her. Jack's plan was to sell her, so when she came through the September Sale, I said that I'd bid on her. I was thinking how Emory keeps as many fillies as she can from that family. Yes, it was a couple generations back to Chic Shirine, but this filly looked a really nice physical athlete. I got her for $80,000, so Jack 'got out' on the mare, but I got a good price, too!”

Swain's real dividend was still to come. Armstrong named the Scat Daddy filly Harmonize, and watched in astonishment as she made her grandam the fifth daughter of Chic Shirine with a Grade I winner underneath.

“I did really, really like her as a foal, but then it just became an amazing ride,” he reflects. “I sent her to Bill Harrigan who used to work for King Ranch back in the day, and I've known forever. He was breaking her at Payson Park, and loved her. And then Bill Mott calls me out of the blue and says, 'I saw your filly go by on the track: would you let me train her?' My parents had horses with him, my uncle as well, and he'd been one of the first trainers I ever met as a child. And now this filly's such a beautiful mover that he wanted to recruit her. Of course I said yes. So she went into his program and next thing you know, she's running at Saratoga.”

Having been beaten a nose when green on debut, she broke her maiden by daylight in a stakes. That set her up for the GIII Jessamine, where she booked herself a spot at the Breeders' Cup. Though disappointing on rain-softened turf there, she matured to win the GI Del Mar Oaks as a sophomore and then missed the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup only in a photo. She also won a Saratoga graded stakes at four, but came up with some bone bruising and had to be retired.

By that stage, her dam was in foal to War Front and Swain was able to sell her to Cheveley Park Stud at Fasig-Tipton that November for $2 million–a spectacular yield on the $15,000 he had paid for her just six years previously. Moreover Swain has two of her daughters (one retained, the other bought back when she came up for auction) in his own program.

Harmonize | Sarah Andrew

Today Harmonize remains the one and only broodmare in Armstrong's ownership. (“I had a lot of offers along the way,” he acknowledges. “But there was always too much emotional attachment with the family to sell.”) As a graded stakes winner three years running, she clearly channels soundness as well as class from her aristocratic genes. Showing the length of perspective one would expect of his clan, Armstrong astutely started her with proven stallions. Her first foal, by the set-your-watch More Than Ready, admittedly produced only a claiming gelding. But then Armstrong sent her to Quality Road, and was rewarded with a colt that made $700,000 from West Point & Woodford Racing as a Saratoga Select yearling in 2021.

This colt required his purchasers to show a bit of patience, but he was in the right barn for that with Shug McGaughey. In August, he romped on debut in a Colonial Downs maiden. Fast-tracked to the GIII Virginia Derby, he overcame his rawness to cut down a strong field with a flamboyant turn of foot, claiming both the unbeaten streak of GI Saratoga Derby winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a new course record. For this, of course, is Integration–whose credentials, as potentially one of the premier talents of his crop, will be tested Saturday in the GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct.

“Harmonize's first foal hadn't really been a sales prospect so I raced him, just to start her off,” Armstrong recalls. “He has some ability, and tries hard, but it was Integration that always really looked the part: super athletic, super balanced, perfectly correct, medium-sized, great temperament. The mare is not exactly high-strung, but a little more energetic. He's always been just very calm and kind. Brookdale always loved him and so he ended up going to the Saratoga sale, where he was really able to shine. He has an incredible walk, which is I think what really sold him. And now fortunately that's translated to his racing.

“The Virginia Derby seemed like a bold move, but I thought, 'Well, they must really like him!' I thought he caught up with them easily enough, but then there was just a touch of greenness before he really kicked into gear. So I hope he can still improve.”

The one thing Armstrong knows for sure is that Integration had the perfect springboard in being raised and prepped by the Seitz family at Brookdale.

“It's where Jack Swain boards his horses, so Mesa Fresca went there,” he explains. “They did such a great job for him and, as they'd raised Harmonize too, it made perfect sense for her to go back to them when it was time to breed her. It's just been a really positive experience with them, all round. It's great land, and they're great people.”

Given the way Integration has worked out, Armstrong is glad that he has doubled down on the mare. Her next foal, a Curlin colt, brought $400,000 at Keeneland last year; Armstrong has retained her Nyquist yearling filly to race; and she has a weanling colt by Gun Runner.

“I just haven't wanted to shortchange her in any way, and have tried to breed her to really good stallions,” Armstrong says. “She's such an excellent physical, very correct, a beautiful mover, tons of quality. When I do a mating, I really like to have an idea of what I'm trying to produce with it. Obviously it's always a guess. But what are you trying to improve in the mare? What does she have that's going to complement the stallion? So mostly you start with the physical. And then look at pedigree after that. Those unproven sires, you just don't know yet what they're going to throw: both whether they'll be a good stallion overall, but also what traits. They do tend to sell, of course, so sometimes you have to do it–and I did breed her to Flightline this time. But I was just in such awe of him as a racehorse that I jumped at the chance.”

Of course, even if you do everything right, it confounds all the odds to be so lucky with your one and only mare. But his education in the game, and then his own professional experience, together mean that nobody knows that better than Armstrong himself.

“It's been kind of weird,” he admits. “I mean, working with clients, I know how hard it all is. I love the breeding side, love consulting with clients on their whole operation, especially matings, and seeing and evaluating the offspring. I saw Helen develop the Courtly Dee family, and all those horses; and Emory developing hers; and Jack Swain has bred some really good horses too. He bred Exaulted (Twirling Candy) [who won the GI Shoemaker Mile in May], he bred Marley's Freedom (Blame) and Noble Bird (Birdstone), who were also Grade I winners. So I've gotten to see those horses, as well. And it just teaches you that it's a very difficult business.

“Clients have different goals. Sometimes they're wanting to do something shorter-term. But mostly I try to focus on finding quality, and value; and matings to bring out the quality, hopefully to produce a beautiful athlete that can sell well and run. It doesn't have to be either/or. I don't think there's as huge of a disconnect as some people say, between a sales horse and a racehorse. Integration was bred to be a racehorse. He's not huge, not a super-muscular, bulky horse. He's just an athlete with a great mind, a great walk, and really well put together. But people appreciated that, and he sold very well. Chic Shirine has been incredible, of course, has shown how blood can continue on. But it's obviously a super difficult game and, no matter what, you need a whole lot of luck. It's an amazing game and an amazing challenge.”

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Well-backed at 67-10 despite his overall lack of seasoning, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase took up a position in the latter third of the field behind a decent early pace and was quietly ridden through the middle stages of the nine-furlong affair by Kendrick Carmouche. Asked to improve leaving the three-eighths pole, he snuck his way into contention, following the move of the last-out GI Saratoga Derby hero into the stretch. Pulled to the outside off the home corner, Integration managed to find extra entering the final furlong, drew alongside the chalk with about 100 yards to race and edged clear.

The word was out on Integration for his debut, which came two years and two days after West Point and Woodford Racing teamed to purchase the colt at Saratoga. Sent off at even money on Arlington Million day Aug. 12, the March foal raced reasonably handy to the pace, and when Tyler Gaffalione asked him to win his race, he did so with gusto, marching through the final furlong to graduate by 6 1/2 lengths. As patient a trainer as there is, Shug McGaughey was comfortable enough to give Integration a big-money shot Saturday and the colt proved more than equal to the task.

INTEGRATION ($15.40) burst free of the pack with ease to win the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) at @ColonialDowns. This 3yo Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) colt Trained by Shug Mcgaughey with @KendrickCarmou1 in the irons. Congrats to owners @westpointtbred and @woodfordracing! pic.twitter.com/XLsn1DNrFR

— TVG (@TVG) September 9, 2023

“Shug felt his debut here would be the best spot for his first race,” said Dawn Lenert, the Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Partner Relations for West Point Thoroughbreds. “Although it was unconventional, Shug felt a graded stake would be the right spot for his second race, and when a Hall of Fame trainer tells you you're going to come back in a graded stake, you do it. After the race Kendrick (jockey Carmouche) said to me Integration's potential is limitless.”

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Integration becomes the 75th worldwide stakes winner and 36th worldwide graded/group winner for his successful Lane's End-based sire.

The bay colt is the second produce for his dam, an $80,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Larkin Armstrong who campaigned her to five victories, including the 2016 GI Del Mar Oaks. The Seitz family's Brookdale Sales agency consigned Integration to the Saratoga sale on behalf of their long-time client Armstrong. Harmonize's first foal, the 4-year-old gelding Vocalize (More Than Ready), was beaten a head into second in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance over the Colonial turf course Aug. 19 and Harmonize is also the dam of a 2-year-old Curlin colt who fetched $400,000 from Meridian International at KEESEP last year. The 10-year-old Harmonize is represented by a yearling Nyquist filly named Castanet, a colt by Gun Runner foaled Mar. 23 and was among the first book of mares covered by Horse of the Year Flightline.

Saturday, Colonial Downs
NEW KENT COUNTY VIRGINIA DERBY-GIII, $500,000, Colonial Downs, 9-9, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.41, fm.
1–INTEGRATION, 119, c, 3, by Quality Road
         1st Dam: Harmonize (GISW, $827,860), by Scat Daddy
         2nd Dam: Mesa Fresca, by Sky Mesa
         3rd Dam: Mayan Maiden, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($700,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC; B-Larkin Armstrong (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Kendrick Carmouche. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $336,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Program Trading (GB), 123, r, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Dreamlike (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Fittocks Stud & Arrow Farm Stud (GB); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Runaway Storm, 118, g, 3, Midnight Storm–Runaway Betty, by Run Away and Hide. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Robert Joseph Hunt (KY); T-Ethan W. West. $55,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 6.70, 0.70, 34.30.
Also Ran: Mondego (GB), Dataman, Gigante, Activist Investing (GB), Salute the Stars, Ari Gold. Scratched: Freedom Trail, Laurel Valley.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D  &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The post Quality Road’s Integration Bests The Field At Colonial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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5th-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:20 p.m.
Heading to Upstate New York, a trio of 2-year-old colts who will be kicking off their juvenile careers. From the inside, Eliminate (Curlin) is a $525,000 Ylg KEESEP chestnut owned by Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable out of GSW I'm A Looker (Henny Hughes) whose second dam's half-sister produced MGISW Dortmund (Big Brown). Deeper still on the female side, the Todd Pletcher trainee's fourth dam, champion 2-year-old filly Lakeville Miss (Rainy Lake) is responsible for GISW and GSW Mogambo (Mr. Prospector). The yearling Quality Road sold out of I'm a Looker topped the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale on Amo Racing's bid of $1.1 million.

Just to his outside is another son of Curlin–Chaperone–who fetched $950,000 at last year's Saratoga sale. Owned by Gus King and trained by Ron Moquett, the chestnut is out of GI Cotillion S. heroine and GI Alabama S. runner-up It Tiz Well (Arch), whose own dam is a half-sister to Canadian champion grass mare Solid Appeal (Successful Appeal).

“He reminded me of all the good things about the Curlins that you would like to see,” said trainer Ron Moquett. “He's a good-sized horse and had a certain sense of class about him. We thought there was a possibility that he would get well over a million and it worked out in our favor. You'd always rather have a horse with expectations and, as a trainer, it's your job to manage the expectations until you get him where he needs to be.”

Breaking from gate five, Deterministic (Liam's Map) is a $625,0000 Ylg KEESEP buy for trainer Christophe Clement. The dark bay's second dam is a half-sister to a pair of successful group winners in Japan, namely Asakusa Genki (Stormy Atlantic) and Rabbit Run (Tapit), and also to MGSW Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow). This colt's well-regarded family under the fourth dam Aquilegia (Alydar) also includes her full-sister and champion 2-year-old filly Althea and her unraced daughter's offspring, GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Bayern (Offlee Wild). TJCIS PPs

8th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 8:45 p.m.
Pointing to Southern California, a pair of Bob Baffert trainees by Into Mischief will debut for his barn. Point Dume is a $450,000 KEESEP grad, whose second dam GISW and GISP Island Sand (Tabasco Cat) produced the dam of GI Belmont S. victor Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and counts Queen's Plate S. winner Niigon (Unbridled) as her dam's half-sister. The other half of this uncoupled entry is WinStar Farm homebred Pastor T. The bay's multiple stakes-winning dam Top Quality (Quality Road) is a full-sister to SW Boston Post Road and her extended female family includes MGSW Concerto (Chief's Crown) and her half-sister GSW Ilusioned (Woodman). TJCIS PPS

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