Into Mischief once again leads Spendthrift Farm's roster for 2023 with his stud fee remaining at $250,000 S&N, the operation announced Thursday.
Spendthrift has added four new stallions including MGISWs Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and Cyberknife (Gun Runner), who are both pointing for the Breeders' Cup. The other new additions are GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and GSW Greatest Honour (Tapit), who are both available for inspection at the farm.
Champion Jackie's Warrior, the likely favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, will command a fee of $50,000 S&N. GI Arkansas Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. winner Cyberknife's fee will be determined after he runs in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Mo Donegal, who retired shortly after his Classic victory, will stand for $20,000 S&N. While regally bred Greatest Honour will be at an introductory fee of $7,500 S&N.
“We are extremely excited about the new stallions we are bringing in for 2023. They represent exactly what we hope to do each year, in terms of offering quality and value at all levels of the market,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Jackie's Warrior is a brilliantly fast champion and one of the most decorated racehorses to come around in recent years. Mo Donegal is a graded winner at two and classic winner at three. Cyberknife won two of the most high-profile Grade Is for 3-year-olds, and Greatest Honour has a rare combination of talent, looks and pedigree that you don't find often at his level of the market. From $50,000 on down to $7,500, all four of these horses were precocious, displayed immense talent, are tremendous physicals, and possess the sire power breeders are looking for.”
Into Mischief's GI Kentucky Derby-winning son and Horse of the Year Authentic will stand for $60,000 S&N for his third season, down $10,000 from last year. Meanwhile Bolt d'Oro will see his fee increase on the back of a strong freshman season, going from $20,000 to $35,000 S&N.
Omaha Beach and Yaupon will remain at $30,000 S&N. Omaha Beach's yearlings have proven quite popular, making him the leader in his class at the recent yearling auctions. Yaupon is standing his second season this year.
Spendthrift's stallions under $20,000 are led by champion Vino Rosso at $15,000 S&N, down from $20,000 last year. MGISW Vekoma and champion Mitole will also stand for $15,000 S&N. Mitole's fee is unchanged from last year and Vekoma is down slightly from $17,500. Goldencents, Known Agenda, Rock Your World and Jimmy Creed will all stand for $10,000 S&N.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) was in fine shape Sunday morning, a day after his emphatic victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga.
“He's doing beautifully. He's very proud of himself,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “The race went beautifully and it was everything we hoped for. We're very proud of his win and excited about who he is.”
The Travers was the first Grade I win for Epicenter, who was runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S.
“We wanted it for him and for his fans,” said Asmussen. “We got so many congratulations and the respect for him–you enjoy that so much. To win the Travers here at Saratoga with the fans that are here is an extremely proud thing for us.”
Of Epicenter's possible route to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Asmussen said, “We'll discuss it. It all depends on how he's training. We're very confident to train him up to the Classic with how well he ran sharp in the Jim Dandy when fresh.”
Asmussen's Saturday at Saratoga also included runner-up finishes in the GI Forego S. with Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. with Gunite (Gun Runner).
“He came out of the race in excellent shape. Never defeated, just second-place,” Asmussen said, with a laugh, of Jackie's Warrior's first loss at Saratoga. “He is an unbelievable horse to be around. You have no control over how the other guy runs and Cody's Wish ran a phenomenal race.”
Jackie's Warrior is still on target for the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland before retiring to stud at Spendthrift Farm.
As for Gunite, also owned by the Winchells, Asmussen said, “We're so proud of him,” said Asmussen. “He's such a tough horse. I don't know what's next, we still have to decide. All of our conversations last night were about Epicenter.”
Stonestreet Stables Clairiere (Curlin) exited her disappointing last-place effort in Saturday's GI Personal Ensign S. with a cut tongue, according to Asmussen.
“Clairiere had a significant cut on her tongue that we're going to doctor,” Asmussen said. “We'll get that healed up and resume training. I don't imagine [the cut] helped.”
Previously unbeaten at Saratoga and for the season, champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) became the latest victim of the “Graveyard of Champions” Saturday when run down late by the ever-improving Cody's Wish (Curlin).
The 1-9 favorite hustled up to dictate terms and was pressed by longshot Pipeline (Speightstown) through a :22.75 opening quarter and :45.10 half-mile while 8-1 shot Cody's Wish raced in a joint last. Jackie's Warrior turned for home in front with a stubborn Pipeline breathing down his neck and Cody's Wish winding up out in the center of the track. Jackie's Warrior shook loose as three quarters went up in 1:08.76 and appeared home free. However, Cody's Wish was just hitting his best stride and swept by the favorite just a few steps from the wire to spring the upset by 1 1/4 lengths. Pipeline held on for third.
“I really thought the style of this race would suit this horse. I was glad to see somebody going with [Jackie's Warrior], for sure,” said winning trainer Bill Mott, who also trained fourth-place finisher Baby Yoda (Prospective). “I didn't think it was going to be either of mine. I thought both of ours were going to settle back. I didn't know whether we were going to be laying second, third or fourth, and actually Cody's Wish was back a little further. I thought he'd be a little closer to the pace early, but as it turned out it was good that somebody entertained Jackie's Warrior a little bit. When he cut the corner at the three-eighths pole, I saw him moving. I know when he starts moving, he keeps moving.”
“When we turned for home and I saw Jackie's Warrior didn't take off, at that point we're taking a good shot at it, and right by the eighth pole I had a good feeling at that point,” said winning rider Junior Alvarado. “I still never underestimated Jackie's Warrior, but by the eighth-pole I definitely was all out and I knew it was going to happen today.”
Graduating at fourth asking at Churchill in October, Cody's Wish followed suit with a pair of allowance wins beneath the Twin Spires in November. Missing by a neck in Tampa's GIII Challenger S. Mar. 12, the homebred romped in Belmont's GIII Westchester S. in the slop May 7, running a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. He entered this off a win in Churchill's Hanshin S. July 4.
Pedigree Notes:
Cody's Wish is the 19th Grade I winner for his legendary sire Curlin. Sheikh Mohammed's operation purchased the winner's Grade I-winning dam Dance Card for $750,000 as a 2-year-old at the FTKFEB sale. All three of her foals to race are black-type runners with the other two being MGSP Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). Her recent produce includes a yearling colt by Into Mischief and a 2022 filly by Street Sense. The 13-year-old mare was bred back to Gun Runner.
Saturday, Saratoga FOREGO S.-GI, $589,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:20.95, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 120, c, 4, by Curlin 1st Dam: Dance Card (GISW, $502,200), by Tapit 2nd Dam: Tempting Note, by Editor's Note 3rd Dam: Tempt, by Devil's Bag 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $320,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-3, $812,130. *1/2 to Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSP, $676,544. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Jackie's Warrior, 124, c, 4, Maclean's Music–Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred. ($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $112,000.
3–Pipeline, 118, c, 4, Speightstown–Vivo Per Lei, by Empire Maker. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services; B-Eurowest Bloodstock Services LTD. (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, 6. Odds: 8.00, 0.15, 15.50.
Also Ran: Baby Yoda, Drafted, Three Two Zone, Kneedeepinsnow. 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.
The GI Runhappy Travers S. is one of the summer's most highly anticipated events and for the past several years it has been the centerpiece of a Super Saturday card at Saratoga that serves as a Breeders' Cup preview. The Travers is one of five star-studded Grade Is on the 14-race card, which also includes the GII Ballston Spa S. for turf fillies.
Intriguing storylines abound in this year's eight-horse renewal of the summer centerpiece for sophomore colts, which is topped by GII Jim Dandy S. winner Epicenter (Not This Time). The GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. runner-up looks to provide Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen with his first Travers and add another bullet point to his hot young sire's resume.
“I love the race that he ran over this racetrack. I like him at a mile and a quarter,” Asmussen said. “Nothing but respect for some extremely good 3-year-olds, but I think we have the right one.”
Chad Brown's best previous Travers finish was third with Miles D (Curlin) in last year's renewal. He saddles three this year in Preakness winner Early Voting (Gun Runner); GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner and Jim Dandy runner-up Zandon (Upstart); and impressive Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate).
“The only reason I'm in this profession is from coming to Saratoga with my family as a kid,” Brown said. “It doesn't get any bigger than that, to win the jewel of their meet and the history surrounding the race. Coming to the Travers with my parents when I was knee-high is the only reason I'm here in the first place.”
Artorius is the lightest-raced horse in the field, but his late sire had just two more starts under his belt, and none in stakes company, when he powered home to a record-setting 13 1/2-length victory in this event in 2016. The last Travers winner to sire a Travers winner was 2004 victor Birdstone, who is responsible for 2009 scorer Summer Bird.
“The horse brought himself here since we got him to his debut at Keeneland,” Brown said. “Moving forward, he's always worked right on schedule, and he's done everything that we've asked him to do. He's been stretching out nicely and his first two-turn race was impressive, his best race. I have a lot of optimism that horse will be able to carry another eighth of a mile.”
Brad Cox captured last year's Travers with champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and looks to take the elusive GI Haskell Inviational S./Travers double this year with Cyberknife (Gun Runner). His phenomenal young sire could only manage third behind Arrogate in the 2016 Travers, but proved 10 furlongs was well within his wheel house when taking the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
The feel-good story of the year could add another chapter Saturday as Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) looks to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the GI Belmont S. Saturday at the Spa.
Jackie and Jack Headline Grade I Sprints
The first Grade I of the day should set the mood quite nicely as champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) looks to take his Saratoga record to six-for-six in the GI Forego S. The fleet-footed bay is four-for-four this year, including a sizzling last-out score in this venue's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 30.
“He's immortal,” Asmussen said. “He's the only racehorse ever to win a Grade I three years in a row at Saratoga. The only horse, ever, at Saratoga.”
None of the other six competitors even come close to being able to run with the Eclipse winner on paper, but GIII Westchester S. romper Cody's Wish (Curlin) appears best of the rest.
Just 117 minutes later sophomore sprinters get their turn, but once again it looks like a one-horse affair with the presence of 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings). The speedy chestnut suffered his first loss when attempting two turns for the first time last out in the Haskell. Undefeated around one turn, including a 10-length demolition of the GI Woody Stephens S., the chestnut will be just about impossible to catch at his best.
“I thought the horse ran great in the Haskell. He ran a fast three-quarters in 1:09 and change and he fought on nicely,” Brown said. “He just didn't have quite enough late, but I thought it was a really good race. The horse has never disappointed me in a race. I'm happy to cut him back on a track that I know he likes. I hope he gets a good, clean break.”
He is joined by GII Amsterdam S. one-two Gunite (Gun Runner), winner of the GI Hopeful S. last term, and the chalk's stablemate Accretive (Practical Joke).
Short, But Sweet Personal Ensign
Clairiere | Sarah Andrew
Four of the five runners from Belmont's June 11 GI Ogden Phipps S., including regular rivals Malathaat (Curlin) and Clairiere (Curlin) face off yet again in a five-horse renewal of the GI Personal Ensign S.
Clairiere has come out on top in her last two meetings with champion and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat, edging her by a head in the Phipps and besting her in this venue's GII Shuvee S. July 24. Her dam Cavorting closed out her career with a decisive score in the 2016 Personal Ensign.
“She's racing royalty and she's in great form,” Asmussen said. “She's capable. It's within her and she continues to get better. I expect another huge race against great mares in the Personal Ensign. Letruska and Malathaat are as good as race mares can be.”
Champion Letruska (Super Saver) looks to defend her title in this event. While she was well beaten by her younger foes when folding her tent in the Shuvee, the bay did triumph over Clairiere earlier this season in the Apr. 23 GI Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn.
GIII Molly Pitcher S. winner and Phipps third Search Results (Flatter) and Shuvee third Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) round out the quintet.
BC Qualifiers Coast-to-Coast
Rounding out Saturday's Grade I action at Saratoga is the Sword Dancer S., a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf S. at Keeneland in November. When Aidan O'Brien ships one in, it's a horse worth paying attention to and he saddles Group 1 winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) here. Winning the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot June 18, he wheeled back just five days late to be fourth in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.
Gufo (Declaration of War) adds blinkers for this title defense and Chad Brown saddles three–Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire})–in search of his fourth win in this event.
The West Coast also plays host to a Breeders' Cup qualifier in the GII Pat O'Brien S., which grants the winner a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile starting gate. Bill Mott makes the journey to Del Mar with an imposing contender in GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), who hit the board behind the country's top two racehorses, Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief), in his last two outings.
His biggest competition here comes from GI Bing Crosby S. and GII Triple Bend S. winner American Theorem (American Pharoah).
