Shug Watch: Greatest Honour Returns To Worktab; Half Brother To Code Of Honor Graduates In Style

Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour returned to the worktab at Payson Park in Indiantown, FL Saturday morning in preparation for a scheduled start in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill n' Dale Farm at Xalapa March 27 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, the 3-year-old son of Tapit was timed in 50.20 seconds, the third fastest of 21 workouts recorded at the four-furlong distance, while breezing for the first time since capturing the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

“He worked nice – his typical work,” McGaughey said. “I think he bounced out of the Fountain of Youth good.”

Greatest Honour is 3-for-3 during Gulfstream's Championship Meet, closing from well off the pace to break his maiden Dec. 26, capture the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G2) and win the Fountain of Youth, all at 1 1/16 miles.

McGaughey is hoping that Greatest Honour will follow the example of Orb, whom the Hall of Fame trainer saddled for victories in the 2017 Fountain of Youth, the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby.

Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream, McGaughey saddled William S Farish's Bears Watching for an impressive 7 ¾ -length victory in Race 7, a seven-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds. The son of Karakontie, who finished a close third over a sloppy track in his six-furlong career debut Feb. 8 at Gulfstream, is a half-brother to Code of Honor, the $2.7 million earner who captured the 2019 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream before going on to capture the Travers (G1) at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park.

Bears Watching graduates from the maiden ranks at Gulfstream Park

Bears Watching, the 3-5 favorite in a field of 11, was well placed along the rail before making a four-wide sweep to the lead leaving the turn into the homestretch and drawing away under Jose Ortiz. The homebred colt ran seven furlongs in 1:22.95.

“He's my kind of horse, looks-wise and stuff,” McGaughey said. “All is good with him.”

Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger sent out his first starter since October 2019 for the well-stocked maiden race. Jim Tafel LLC's Sensible Jim finished sixth after acting fractious in the gate and getting away a step slowly.

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Sole Volante Back On Turf In Saturday’s Tropical Park Derby

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's Sole Volante will regroup from the rigors of a Triple Crown campaign with a return to turf in Saturday's $75,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park.

The Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, will be accompanied on Saturday's 11-race program by the $75,000 Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 H. Allen Jerkens, a two-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

Patrick Biancone-trained Sole Volante will return from an 11-week freshening since finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and an 11th-place finish following a troubled start in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Turf will hardly be foreign territory for the 3-year-old gelded son of Karakontie, who launched his career with back-to-back victories over the Gulfstream Park turf course last year.

“Even at the Kentucky Derby we were debating [about running Sole Volante on turf] because they have that race [Grade 2 American Turf} the same day. We were contemplating it,” said Andie Biancone, assistant trainer to her father, Patrick. “We know he's a turf horse. It's just because he has such a big heart that he takes to the dirt. We're really happy to get him back on turf.”

Sole Volante debuted with a three-length romp in his debut at Gulfstream Park West before coming right back to register a two-length score at Gulfstream in the Pulpit Stakes, in which King Guillermo finished third. Having shown himself to be extremely gifted and bred to run long, Sole Volante was given a chance to show what he could do on dirt with an eye toward the Triple Crown.

“When they're that good that time of year, you have to try them on the dirt,” said Andie Biancone, who was given Sole Volante by her father on her 22nd birthday. “He did really well because he has so much heart, but turf is really his preferred surface.”

Following a solid third in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream, Sole Volante stamped himself as a Triple Crown candidate with a 2 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. He earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field with a second-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), won by King Guillermo. Unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby was postponed from the first Saturday in May to Sept. 5 and the Preakness (G1) was postponed from the second Saturday in May to Oct. 3, making the Belmont Stakes the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown. Sole Volante prepped for the Belmont with a triumph in a June 20 stakes-quality allowance at Gulfstream, defeating Jesus' Team, who would go on to finish second in the Preakness, and Florida Derby runner-up Shivaree.

Although he wasn't at his best in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby, he provided Andie Biancone memories that will last a lifetime. Unable to travel due to an illness, Patrick Biancone entrusted his daughter to oversee Sole Volante's training at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.

“It was really cool that my dad put that trust in me,” she said. “It was really cool. I still haven't processed it.”

Sole Volante breezed six furlongs on turf in 1:11.40 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach Count, Sunday for his return to turf.

“I think he's training better than ever,” Andie Biancone said.

Luca Panici has the return mount aboard Sole Volante.

Calumet Farm's Dack Janiel's will also make the switch from dirt to turf Saturday to run in the Tropical Park Derby.

“It's not so much as trying the turf as it is taking advantage of the last race for just 3-year-olds,” trainer Jack Sisterson said.

Dack Janiel's is coming off a third-place finish behind a victorious Jesus' Team in the Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Dec. 5. In his prior start, the son of Tonalist showed the way to mid-stretch before finishing third in the Thoroughbred AfterCare Alliance (G2) on the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup program at Keeneland.

Dack Janiel's has run twice on turf, finishing third at Fair Grounds in January before graduating in an off-the-turf maiden special weight race in his next start. The homebred colt didn't run on turf again until June, when he showed the way before weakening to third late at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux has the call.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is scheduled to saddle a pair of Tropical Park Derby starters, Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam, who was beaten by less than a length while finishing fourth in the Aug. 15 Saratoga Derby Invitational; and Waterford Stable LLC's Summer to Remember, who is twice stakes-placed over Gulfstream's turf course. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on Colonel Liam, while Luis Saez has been named to ride Summer to Remember.

Trainer Michael Maker is scheduled to send out four starters in the Tropical Park Derby, which drew 10 entries Sunday. Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stable LLC's Fancy Liquor has the highest profile of the Maker quartet, having captured the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. In his most recent start, the son of Lookin At Lucky finished second in the Bryan Station on the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland. Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Don Juan Kitten and Gelfenstein Farm and Andy Blanco's Angelus Warrior, Maker-trained stablemates of Fancy Liquor, finished eighth and 10th, respectively, in the Bryan Station. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Me and Mr. C., who finished fourth in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct last time out, rounds out the Maker contingent.

Tyler Gaffalione has the mount aboard Fancy Liquor; Edgard Zayas has the call on Don Juan Kitten; Miguel Vasquez will ride Angelus Warrior; Joe Bravo has the mount aboard Me and Mr. C.

Anderson Stables LLC's By Your Side, a graded-stakes winner at Saratoga on dirt in 2019, and Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC's Fighting Seabee, who captured the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga in 2019; round out the field.

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Princess Grace Proves Best In Off-The-Turf Mrs. Revere At Churchill Downs

Princess Grace put away pacesetter Positive Danger around the far turn and opened a clear lead in the stretch to comfortably win Saturday's 30th running of the $200,000 Mrs. Revere (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Pass the Plate closed to within 2 3/4 lengths of the winner to be second.

Owned and bred by Susan and John Moore, Princess Grace ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.00 to collect her first stakes win. Florent Geroux rode the winner for trainer Mike Stidham.

A traditional turf fixture, this year's Mrs. Revere was transferred to the main track because Churchill Downs' turf course has not satisfactorily responded to this fall's climate. Churchill Downs officials said no turf races would be run through Nov. 22.

Because of the surface switch, the Grade 2 event was automatically downgraded to a Grade 3 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Princess Grace, who finished a half-length back of Stunning Sky in last month's $150,000 Valley View (G3) on turf at Keeneland, banked the $122,760 first prize and rewarded her backers with $2 mutuels of $7, $3.40 and $3 as the 5-2 second betting choice in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.

Positive Danger carved out early fractions of :24.54 and :49.68 with Princess Grace in close pursuit. Midway around the far turn, Princess Grace took command and clocked six furlongs in 1:13.84. She opened up a three-length lead in the stretch and was able to easily turn back a late rally from Pass the Plate.

“The pace unfolded exactly how I thought that the horse to my inside (Positive Danger) would go to the lead and we could sit just to her outside,” said Geroux, who also rode Lovely Bernadette to win the 2017 Mrs. Revere. “She broke very alertly and was tracking nicely throughout the race. She's a nice filly and with winning on the dirt it gives the connections more options in the future but I would guess goes back to turf.”

Runner-up Pass the Plate, under Joe Talamo, paid $5 and $3.20. How Ironic, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $3.80 to show.

Stunning Sky, the 3-2 favorite, was fourth and was followed by Witez and Positive Danger. Hendy Woods was the lone late scratch.

The winner's share of the purse pushed Princess Grace's earnings to $205,260 from a record of 3-1-0 in four starts.

Princess Grace is a dark brown or bay daughter of Karakontie (Jpn) out of the Silent Name (Jpn) mare Masquerade who was bred in Kentucky.

“You're always concerned about a horse that didn't race on dirt yet,” Stidham said. “She had pretty consistent works over the Tapeta surface at Fair Hill. We didn't necessarily have a great line how she would take to the dirt but her early works were on the dirt. We thought she handled it very well then so we were cautiously optimistic. We knew that her dam Masquerade was game on both dirt and turf so we felt good trying it. Down the backside you saw Florent was in a great spot just off the leader. When he let out a notch she just opened up impressively.”

The Mrs. Revere is named in honor of Mrs. Revere, an accomplished Churchill Downs fan favorite in the mid-1980s. Mrs. Revere won 12 races in 28 starts, finished second seven times and earned $429,545 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Her six wins in a dozen starts at Churchill Downs included stakes triumphs in the Regret, Dogwood and Edgewood in 1984 and the Kentucky Cardinal in 1985. She was owned by Drs. David Richardson and Hiram Polk, who have provided the winner's trophy for the Mrs. Revere in each year of its existence.

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Tapit, Newcomer McKinzie Lead Gainesway’s 2021 Stallion Roster

Gainesway announced stud fees Oct. 21 for its 2021 stallion roster.

“It has always been Gainesway's goal to provide breeders with quality and value,” said Gainesway CEO Antony Beck. “The current economic climate that breeders are facing makes this more important than ever. Our stallion roster offers a diverse group of established stallions and exciting young studs who look to establish a new era at Gainesway.”

Tapit, a three-time champion sire, has solidified his status as one of the most influential and breed-shaping stallions of the last half century. North America's leading stallion by lifetime graded stakes winners (84), Grade 1 winners (27), and progeny earnings ($159,714,395) will stand for $185,000 in 2021. He is the only stallion to appear in the top five general sires list nine of the past 10 years.

In 2020, Tapit is represented by recent Grade 1 winners and Breeders' Cup hopefuls Valiance and Essential Quality. In the sales ring, yearlings by Tapit topped both opening sessions of Keeneland's September Sale, including the $2-million sale topper.

Among the nation's leading broodmare sires, Tapit is also cementing his legacy as a sire of sires. His top sons at stud include Constitution and Tapizar, plus promising young sires Frosted, Tonalist, Tapiture, and Tapwrit.

McKinzie, a brilliantly fast four-time Grade 1 winner, will enter stud in 2021. The son of Street Sense will stand for $30,000. A Grade 1 winner at ages two, three, and four, McKinzie posted 11 triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures during his career, as well as an impressive 1/4 Ragozin in winning the G1 Whitney Stakes. His seven graded stakes wins include four Grade 1 victories for career earnings of nearly $3.5-million.

Beck added, “I am excited about beginning this new chapter in the Gainesway stallions with McKinzie.  His accolades on the racetrack speak for themselves with his brilliance and race record, I couldn't think of a better prospect to bring to Gainesway to compliment our champion sire Tapit.”

Click here to view McKinzie's digital flipbook.

Karakontie, who has gotten off to a fast start at stud, will stand for $10,000. A three-time Grade 1 winner, including the 2,000 Guineas and Breeders' Cup Mile, Karakontie hails from the family of Kingmambo. A testament to his versatility and international appeal, Karakontie is represented by stakes horses in three different countries, including graded stakes victories on both dirt and turf.

His 2-year-old daughter, Spanish Loveaffair, is a Breeders' Cup hopeful following a win in this year's Sharp Susan Stakes and a runner-up finish in the G2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland in her last out. His 3-year-old daughter, Princess Grace, has won two of three starts and finished runner-up in the G3 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 16. Karakontie also had a session-topping yearling sell for $500,000 at the Keeneland September Sale.

Tapwrit, a $1.2-million yearling purchase turned classic winner and stakes record setter, will stand for $10,000. Out of juvenile Grade 1 winner Appealing Zophie, Tapwrit is among the best bred sons of Tapit to ever enter stud. His much-anticipated first weanlings will be offered at the upcoming November Breeding Stock sales.

Tapizar, a Breeders' Cup-winning miler by Tapit from the family of champion filly Untapable, will stand for $10,000. Tapizar's graded stakes winners include the sensational racemare, Monomoy Girl, an Eclipse champion and six-time Grade 1 winner. His 2-year-olds sold up to $500,000 at this year's OBS March sale.

“We have a stallion for every breeder,” said Sean Tugel, Gainesway's director of stallion sales and recruitment. “Tapit has solidified himself as a generational stallion who is going to leave a lasting legacy with his sons and daughters. Tapwrit, was a sales topper in Saratoga and his foals share those same great qualities. Karakontie is an emerging sire of class and a great source of Storm Cat. McKinzie is the best prospect to retire this season with a portfolio that stands out amongst his peers.”

2021 Roster and Stud Fees:

Afleet Alex
Northern Alfeet – Maggy Hawk, by Hawkster
Fee: $6,500

Anchor Down
Tapit – Successful Outlook, by Orientate
Fee: $5,000

Karakontie
Bernstein – Sun Is Up, by Sunday Silence
Fee: $10,000

McKinzie
Street Sense – Runway Model, by Petionville
Fee: $30,000

Tapit
Pulpit – Tap Your Heels, by Unbridled
Fee: $185,000

Tapizar
Tapit – Winning Call, by Deputy Minister
Fee: $10,000

Tapwrit
Tapit – Appealing Zophie, by Successful Appeal
Fee: $10,000

All stud fees are payable LFSN (live foal stands and nurses).

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