Tag: Keeneland

Committee Of One Noses Out Amidst Waves For Indian Summer Win

Still a maiden off a pair of seconds in turf sprints at both Ellis and Kentucky Downs, Committee of One jumped up into stakes company and rewarded his backers at 7-1 with the narrowest of wins in the Indian Summer S. Racing in the back half of the field after a bumpy beginning, the Steve Asmussen trainee stayed wide and in the clear up the backstretch run in pursuit of Riparound (Uncle Mo) through a :21.40 opening quarter. As the group fanned across the track passing the quarter pole, Committee of One produced a strong outside bid, hooked up late with Amidst Waves and dueled that rival to the line in a head-bobbing result that had to be decided by the judges.

“I had a very nice trip,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “I knew there was a lot of speed in the race. I was very confident with him and comfortable where he was traveling. As soon as we passed the three-eighths (pole), I asked him to pick it up, and he picked it up beautiful. Down the lane he just kept coming, and he got the job done.”

The fifth stakes winner for Mendelssohn, Committee of One is out of a half-sister to MGSP Saint Vigeur (Smart Strike) and GSP Victory Way (City of Light). This is also the family of champion 2-year-old filly Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) and MGISW Life Is Sweet (Storm Cat). The winner has a yearling Mastery half-sister and a weanling half-sister by American Pharoah. Sweetest Sound visited Girvin for 2024. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

INDIAN SUMMER S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT, $243,907, Keeneland, 10-8, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.40, fm.
1–COMMITTEE OF ONE, 118, c, 2, by Mendelssohn
                1st Dam: Sweetest Sound, by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Sweet Way, by Giant's Causeway
                3rd Dam: Sweet Life, by Kris S.
($80,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-J. Kirk and
Judy Robison; B-Gatewood Bell, Ken Donworth & Ike Van
Meter (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Cristian A. Torres.
$145,313. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $190,713.
2–Amidst Waves, 117, f, 2, Midshipman–Troublesome, by Into
Mischief. ($100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-R. A. Hill Stable,
BlackRidge Stables LLC, Swinbank Stables, Big Tufff Stables and
Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC &
Ballyfair Bloodstock (KY); T-George Weaver. $46,875.
3–Shards, 118, c, 2, Bucchero–Cynthia's Fury, by Utopia (Jpn).
($175,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-NBS Stable,
Crown's Way Racing LLC and Kevin Marko; B-Craig L Wheeler
(FL); T-Kelsey Danner. $18,750.
Margins: NO, NK, 4. Odds: 7.67, 1.92, 6.76.
Also Ran: Cowes, Fairhopecurly, Bledsoe, Sponge Bath, Riparound, Pinotslilgirl, Candymaker.

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Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Heralds Close To Blockbuster Graded Weekend

With a nod to Chicago motorsport legend Jan Gabriel's famous call of Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!, the blockbuster weekend of horse racing isn't in the books just yet with 11 graded stakes scheduled. Out of those, three guarantee a starting spot in next month's 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships –'Win and You're In'.

In Toronto, Woodbine Racetrack cards the GI E.P. Taylor S. A renewal of the celebrated 1 1/4 grass event, this year's edition includes Godolphin homebred and Dubai multiple group stakes winner With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The 4-year-old filly ran second in the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland back in the spring before finishing out of the money the next month at Newmarket in the G2 Dahlia S.

Receiving Lasix for the first time, the Charlie Appleby trainee will tangle with Canadian Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper), who won for the first time in over a year in the GII Canadian S. Sept. 9.

“She's doing well,” said Moira's trainer, Kevin Attard. “She's coming off a big win, obviously, and she's had some good works since then.”

With The Moonlight's stablemate, GISW Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), also returns to contest the GI Canadian International S. at Woodbine after winning a Group 1 in Germany over the summer. With Lasix too, the 4-year-old colt is up against GISW Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) from Chad Brown's shedrow, who sends out Juddmonte homebred GSW Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for the Sunday finale in the GII Nearctic S.

Nations Pride | Sarah Andrew

Elsewhere, the tip-top Sunday racing continues at both the Belmont at the Big A meet and at Keeneland.

First, Aqueduct hosts a trio of Grade III events. The Futurity S., which is an opportunity for 2-year-olds to earn a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, is a chance for second out maiden breaker Apollo Ten (Violence) to strut his grass ability. The Christophe Clement trainee will have to grapple from the outside gate with SW Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who tries turf for the first time. Sticking with the lawn, the Noble Damsel S. features veteran MGSW Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}), while the Matron S. could be the stakes coming out party for Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}).

The action at Keeneland isn't quite on the level of Saturday's, but the Association cards a pair of 'Win and You're In' contests. The GI Spinster S. is always a highlight in October, as older females look to gain entry into the GI Breeders' Cup Longines Distaff. A slugfest is in the offing, as champion 3-year-old Nest (Curlin) looks to avenge her loss in the GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 25 at Saratoga when Idiomatic (Curlin) took home the prize from the first jump. The daughters of multiple leading sire Curlin are in for an epic battle.

“We know she likes this track,” said Nest's Hall of Fame trainer, Todd Pletcher. “We feel good about her that we got two races in her.”

Moving to the Haggin Course where the GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. will fill a position in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, we find a well-matched field of 2-year-olds. Noted (Cairo Prince) recorded his first stakes victory in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Aug. 26 for Repole Stable and should be the favorite come post time. However, don't miss First World War (War Front) who debuted a winner coming from just off the pace at Kentucky Downs last month for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Finally, swinging out to Santa Anita Park, the GIII Zuma Beach S. includes four 2-year-old colts who will be making their first start, while their filly counterpart, the GIII Surfer Girl S. beckons a pair of undefeated runners making their third start in SW Flattery (Flatter) and GSW Dreamfyre (Flameaway).

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Mitole’s Booth Breaks Like A Shot, Blitzes To ‘Rising Star’ Honors

by Patrycja Szpyra and J.N. Campbell

Sporting the familiar Heiligbrodt colors of his sire, Booth (c, 2, Mitole–Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road) showed talent ran in spades in his family on this Super Saturday unveiling, taking the Keeneland night cap at odds of 5-1 by blitzing out of the gate and never giving the rest of the field a chance en route to securing 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

The colt, owned in partnership by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm, set all the fractions of :22.45, a half in :45.08 and :57.05 coming into the stretch before sailing home much the best by 5 1/4 lengths over favorite Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) to stop the clock in 1:10.23. The final time was 0.21 faster than what GSW Yuugiri (Shackleford) posted when winning the GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. earlier on the card.

The winner is a half-brother to GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Bright Future (Curlin), who was purchased in 2020 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable for $350,000. Sophia's Song is also responsible for a yearling colt by Tiz the Law, foaled a colt by Maxfield May 4 and was bred to Jackie's Warrior for 2024. The dam herself hails from a busy family with MSW Tax Refund (Artax) and GSP Unbridled Beauty (Unbridled's Song) also claiming black-type in their careers on the track. The latter would later go on to produce GSP Meal Penalty (Tale of the Cat), a Peruvian leading sire in his second career, and GSP Danny Boy (Harlan's Holiday). Through a daughter of Unbridled Beauty, Booth is also related to GI Hopeful S. shocker Nutella Fella (Runhappy), and another daughter of that mare counts MSP-Fr Demain (More Than Ready) to her tally.

Sophia's Song's winning half-sister Denali Dreamscape (Corinthian) has produced SW New Boss (Street Boss) as well as GSP Daydreaming Boy (Goldencents) while sibling Casey's Dreamin' (Unbridled's Song) can claim GIII Ontario Derby hero Ironestone (Mr Speaker) to her credit. This is the extended female family of two-time champion sprinter Housebuster; MGSW Elysea's World (Ire); and GSW & MGISP Quero Quero.

The Heiligbrodts purchased outright another juvenile son of Mitole at this year's OBS March Sale in Global Icon for $260,000. Bred by Jeff Ganje, the colt has yet to enter training. As for Booth, he is his first-crop sire's (by Eskendereya) 15th winner and second runner to gain the 'Rising Star' stamp of approval.

11th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 10-7, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.23, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
BOOTH, c, 2, by Mitole
                1st Dam: Sophia's Song {SW & GSP, $155,892}, by Bellamy Road)
                2nd Dam: Dreamscape, by Mt. Livermore
                3rd Dam: Big Dreams, by Great Above
Sales History: $120,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,350. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Up to the Mark ‘Nose’ Way To the Wire in Coolmore Turf Mile

Defying a four-month absence as well as 6-5 favorite Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Up to the Mark (Not This Time) looked to have it all to do turning for home in Saturday's GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, but the $450,000 Keeneland September acquisition exploded inside the final sixteenth of a mile and dropped his nose on the wire just ahead of the Godolphin runner for a thrilling victory.

Defending champion 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) won the break and showed the way under the line for the first time, but the U.S.-debuting Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was intent on making the lead and did so entering the clubhouse turn. Up to the Mark, making his first start since winning the GI Manhattan S. over a mile and quarter in early June, was content to linger at the rear, racing just to the outside of Master of the Seas–last-out winner of the GI Woodbine Mile–as the field turned up the backstretch. Last but one into the far turn, Up to the Mark did not appear to be traveling that well and was urgently ridden by Jose Ortiz passing the three-eighths marker, giving his chief market rival a golden opportunity to get the jump on him. Master of the Seas did just that, setting sail for the wire, but Up to the Mark was up to the task, as he delivered a flying finish to take it by a long nose. The final time of 1:34.18 was some 0.48 slower than the GI First Lady S. two races earlier, albeit with slightly different dynamics. Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}), also cutting back to a mile off his victory in the 10-furlong GI Arlington Million Aug. 12, finished off strongly to just touch Annapolis out of third.

A maiden winner from five starts on the dirt to begin his career, Up to the Mark was no better than 12-1 when romping in his turf debut at Gulfstream Jan. 28. Following up with a second-level Hallandale allowance Mar. 4, the bay was ambitiously spotted in this track's GI Maker's Mark Mile during the spring meet and hardly disgraced himself in third, a neck behind champion Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The fast-finishing winner of the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic over nine panels on the Derby undercard at Churchill May 6, he proved far too strong in the Manhattan when last seen.

“We probably made a mistake that day,” Pletcher said of the Maker's Mark. “Modern Games was a huge favorite, and I think we got caught up tactically in what Modern Games was doing instead of just focusing on how Up to the Mark wanted to run.”

As for Saturday's race, Pletcher added, “He got a great trip today. [Jockey] Jose [Ortiz] made a very smart move in the middle of the turn when he decided to follow [Master of the Seas] and things split.”

Pletcher indicated that Up to the Mark's Breeders' Cup options remain open, with both the Mile and the Turf to be considered.

Pedigree Notes:

Up to the Mark was completing a graded double for Not This Time, adding to the success of Arzak in the GII Woodford S. earlier on the program.

One of five elite-level scorers for his white-hot stallion, Up to the Mark is out of an unraced daughter of the outstanding Capote Belle, who carried the Robert and Lawana Low colors to victory in three graded events, including the 1996 GI Test S. Belle's Finale is a full-sister to Zapper Belle, a stakes winner and third in the GIII Valley View S. on the grass, and a half to Gata Bella (Storm Cat), the dam of Catapult (Kitten's Joy), a two-time graded winner on the turf and placed twice in Grade I company, including a runner-up effort in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Mile.

Belle's Finale is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by West Coast, a yearling colt by McKinzie that was bought back for $170,000 at Keeneland September and a weanling colt by Maxfield. She most recently returned to Not This Time for her 2024 produce.

Saturday, Keeneland
COOLMORE TURF MILE S.-GI, $1,000,000, Keeneland, 10-7, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.18, fm.
1–UP TO THE MARK, 126, c, 4, by Not This Time
                1st Dam: Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper
                2nd Dam: Capote Belle, by Capote
                3rd Dam: Rythmical, by Fappiano
($450,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $589,000. Lifetime Record: 11-6-0-2, $1,831,050. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Master of The Seas (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Firth of Lorne (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby. $190,000.
3–Set Piece (GB), 126, g, 7, Dansili (GB)–Portodora, by Kingmambo. O/B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Brad H. Cox. $95,000.
Margins: NO, 3, HF. Odds: 2.29, 1.23, 8.68.
Also Ran: Annapolis, English Bee, Harlan Estate, Stitched, Atone, Indestructible (Ire).

Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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