Klaravich Stable | Horse Racing Free Tips

McKulick ‘Frankel’-y Impressive In Belmont Oaks

Sent off the 27-5 fourth choice and only the second best-fancied of the three fillies in the race for trainer Chad Brown, Klaravich Stables' McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) hit top gear with a furlong to race and ran out a facile winner of Saturday's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. to become the first American top-level winner for her all-conquering Banstead Manor-based stallion. With The Moonlight (Ire) completed a Frankel exacta, while the winner's commonly owned stablemate Consumer Spending (More Than Ready) finished with interest for third. It was a fourth Belmont Oaks for trainer Chad Brown since the event was lengthened to 10 furlongs in 2014 and his seventh dating back to the Garden City days.

McKulick is named in honor of Brown's first-ever employee, bookkeeper Mary McKulick. McKulick passed away in October 2020 at the age of 67 after losing a battle with cancer. Saturday was also meaningful for Brown for other reasons.

“It's an extra special win with it being [mentor] Bobby Frankel's birthday today. This horse is the first offspring of Frankel that I actually bought. Seth Klarman was nice enough to let me name this filly after my very first employee after I left Frankel, that's why I chose this horse being by Frankel. And wouldn't you know on his birthday she wins a Grade I. The irony and the importance of it today, on his birthday means everything to me personally.”

Drawn pole position on the stretchout to the mile and two furlongs, McKulick was away smoothly and secured a cozy midfield and ground-saving berth as 'TDN Rising Star' Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) made the running in advance of Godolphin's Listed Pretty Polly S. heroine With The Moonlight. With all riders more or less content with their positions through the middle stages, McKulick was ridden quietly by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and was slipped a bit of rein at the three-furlong pole, shifting out three deep around last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) and stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Haughty (Empire Maker) as they approached the entrance to the stretch. With The Moonlight wrested command from Cairo Memories at the quarter pole, but McKulick had dead aim on Frankie Dettori's mount, overtook that one a sixteenth from home and pulled clear.

Brown said, “She was really born to run a mile and a quarter. We were patiently waiting for a long time to get her to this distance, and my whole team did a super job with this horse in all divisions this filly has been in throughout this year.”

Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), favored on the strength of a fourth in this year's G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom, raced in close attendance to the eventual winner down the backstretch, but lacked the needed stretch kick and could finish only fourth.

“It might have been quick enough [ground] for her, she was just lugging in down the straight,” said her rider Ryan Moore. “They went hard and we had a nice run following the winner–just didn't keep up with them, but she ran respectably.”

McKulick and Consumer Spending were a coupled entry favored at 95 cents on the dollar on Saratoga debut Aug. 8, with McKulick getting home 1 1/2 lengths best before checking in a troubled third in the GII Miss Grillo S. Oct. 2. The 180,000gns Tattersalls October purchase resumed with a sound runner-up effort behind 'TDN Rising Star' New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy) in the GII Edgewood S. at Churchill May 6 and was last seen running on to be second in the June 4 GIII Regret S. in Louisville.

“In both races, it didn't work out for her,” said Brown. “She needed more ground and she was out of position a bit. But she ran well. We had this as a major target of the whole summer and stayed focused on this race and it paid off.”

Pedigree Notes:

With her victory, McKulick becomes a 24th Group 1/Grade I winner for Frankel, who has now sired top-level winners in nine different jurisdictions (U.S., Canada, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Germany, UAE and Australia). She is his 98th SW and 66th GSW. McKulick is the first G1/GISW out of a mare by the excellent Makfi (GB). The cross of Frankel over mares by Makfi's sire Dubawi (Ire) has resulted in the likes of Group 1 winners Adayar (Ire) (Derby/King George), Dream Castle (GB) (Jebel Hatta) and Homeless Songs (Ire) (Irish 1000 Guineas), among other group-level scorers. With The Moonlight is also out of a Dubawi mare.

McKulick is the third full stakes winner from three to race for her Group 3-placed dam, a half-sister to Italian Group 2 winner Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), Italian MSW/MGSP Basileus (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and Candidate (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Group 3-placed in Australia.

Astrelle is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Lieber Power (GB), by Frankel's successful first-season stallion son Cracksman (GB), and a yearling filly by Calyx (GB).

Saturday, Belmont
BELMONT OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $700,000, Belmont, 7-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 1:59.62, fm.
1–MCKULICK (GB), 121, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
               1st Dam: Astrelle (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Makfi (GB)
               2nd Dam: Miss Mariduff, by Hussonet
               3rd Dam: Sopran Mariduff (GB), by Persian Bold (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST
GRADE I WIN. (180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich
Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $375,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1,
$583,650. *1/2 to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}),
GSW-Ger; and Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}),
GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $127,209. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–With The Moonlight (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
               1st Dam: Sand Vixen (GB) (GSW-Eng, $119,931), by Dubawi (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Fur Will Fly (GB), by Petong (GB)
               3rd Dam: Bumpkin (GB), by Free State (Ire)
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (IRE); T-Charles Appleby. $130,000.
3–Consumer Spending, 121, f, 3, by More Than Ready
               1st Dam: Siempre Mia, by Scat Daddy
               2nd Dam: Shaconage, by El Prado (Ire)
               3rd Dam: Carita Tostada (Chi), by Gallantsky
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Klaravich
Stables, Inc.; B-Forging Oaks Farm LLC (KY); T-Chad C.
Brown. $70,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HD, 1. Odds: 5.40, 7.40, 7.40.
Also Ran: Concert Hall (Ire), Cairo Memories, Hot Queen (Fr), Know Thyself (Ire), New Year's Eve, Haughty, Agartha (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Early Voting Targets Preakness

Klaravich Stables' Early Voting (Gun Runner) is possible to make his next start in the May 21 GI Preakness S. at Pimlico, although trainer Chad Brown may opt to enter the GIII Withers S. winner Monday in the GI Kentucky Derby if there is a strategic defection. The four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer will be represented by Keeneland's GI Blue Grass S. winner Zandon (Upstart) at Churchill Downs for the Derby.

“Right now the horse is still in New York preparing for the Preakness,” Brown said of Early Voting. “If the complexion of the Derby field changes a certain way before the race, it's not out of the question that I go ahead and ship him over to Churchill and enter him in the Derby. But right now we're planning on running in the Preakness.”

He continued, “We have the points [to get in the Derby]. The horse is doing well. We have the flexibility to keep it as an option. No one is forcing us to make a decision earlier than we want. I don't want to make a 'final' decision and then change your mind. That's worse than delaying. Things happen. Horses drop out, the pace scenario could change, things like that. Seth [Klarman] and I want to handle it intelligently. We want the flexibility. But if everything stays the way it is right now with the field, I plan on running the horse in the Preakness.”

Early Voting has raced only three times: winning a one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct Dec. 18, followed by a 4 1/2-length victory over Un Ojo (Laoban) in the Withers Feb. 5 before finishing second to Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GII Wood Memorial Apr.9. Un Ojo subsequently won the GII Rebel S. at odds of 75-1 at Oaklawn Feb. 26.

“With only three starts under his belt, putting him in a 20-horse field not even knowing what post you're going to draw and bringing him all the way over here [to Churchill], I didn't feel was a good gamble for the future of the horse. Seth feels the same way. However, if the field changes in such a way where it looks like he's moving up to be one of the main contenders and maybe one of the only pace horses in the race, then I would change my mind.”

Early Voting's path to the Preakness is similar to that of former Brown charge, Cloud Computing, who captured the Classic in 2017. Also owned by Klaravich, Cloud Computing also ran three times, winning his debut at Aqueduct in February, finishing second in the GIII Gotham S. before coming home third in the Wood. He also skipped the Derby before winning the Preakness.

“We've won the Preakness before, obviously,” Brown said. “With Seth being a Baltimore native, it's a very important race to him and he'd be honored to win it a second time, he tells me. So it's not a disappointing goal to shoot for. We hold the race in high regard, and we want to do the right thing for the horse for the future, too, beyond the Derby and the Preakness.”

He added, “This horse has a big career ahead of him. Right now he's a beautiful, sound, improving horse. We want to continue to develop him.”

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Early Voting Works for Wood Memorial

Klaravich Stables' Early Voting (Gun Runner) worked in company Friday in preparation for the GII Wood Memorial Apr. 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The unbeaten GIII Withers S. winner went a half-mile in :48.47 (26/134) over the Belmont Park training track with stablemate and last year's Withers winner Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro).

“The horse is coming along really well,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He's been doing well since the Withers and he's been doing everything the right way. He's still on track for the Wood.”

Early Voting captured his debut going a one-turn mile Dec. 18 at Aqueduct before annexing the Withers in front-running by 4 1/2 lengths over Un Ojo (Laoban), the next-out winner of the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park. Grantham (Declaration of War), the fourth-place finisher in the Withers, came back to run second in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 12.

“It was great for him to finish ahead of those horses in only his second start. As a trainer, it gives you a lot of confidence coming out of a key race,” Brown said.

Jeff Drown's Zandon (Upstart) remains on target for the GI Blue Grass S. Apr. 9 at Keeneland. The unlucky GII Remsen S. runner-up made his 2022 debut in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds, where he missed the break but rallied from 10th to finish third.

“He missed the break, but I was happy to see him persevere. He got a lot out of the race fitness wise,” Brown said.

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Saturday Insights: Big Pedigrees Debut Coast to Coast

7th-SA, $67k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 6:39p.m. ET
C R K Stable, the owners of Talented Lady (Tapit), have high hopes for their flashy filly, an $850,000 KEESEP grad who is a daughter of GII Ballston Spa S. winner Strike Charmer (Smart Strike). The mare sold with this filly in utero for $700,000 in 2018 at Keeneland November to Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch. She will make her career bow here for John Shirreffs, who is no stranger as a conditioner of fillies with potential. This is also the family of champions Gold Beauty (Mr. Prospector), Dayjur (Danzig) and GII Twilight Derby winner, Subconscious (Tapit). TJCIS PPs

9th-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 4:05p.m. ET
Granlusso (Street Sense) is a son of Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags) is a half-brother to graded stakes winners turned producers Moulin De Mougin (Curlin) and Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper) as well as the graded stakes-winning Bronson (Medaglia d'Oro). The dam is a full-sister to course-record setting Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag. This is also the family of GI Preakness winner Rombauer (Twirling Candy). Chad Brown sends out the Ran Jan Racing homebred, who hails from the family of the late Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy), against a competitive field on paper. TJCIS PPs

12th-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 5:43p.m. ET
Todd Pletcher will send out a well-bred pair of Curlin colts in the form of Foxtrot Whiskey and Leopardi. The former is the first foal of MGSW Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro), who went the way of Steve Young, agent for Bass Stables, in 2018 for a cool $1.6 million at Keeneland January. Leopardi will go to post looking to outrun the shadow of his MGSW half-sister Lovely Bernadette (Wilburn). To the far outside will break Barrzley (Arrogate) for trainer Graham Motion, a half to Canada's champion 2-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor), now a graded-stakes producer in Japan. TJCIS PPs

11th-OP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 6:25p.m. ET
Winstar Farm, Siena Farm, and the Commonwealth Syndicate will debut We the People (Constitution) under Rodolphe Brisset's tutelage. A $230,000 FTFMAR purchase who breezed in :10 3/5 and went through the ring as part of the complete Paul Pompa dispersal, the colt's second dam is GI winner and graded stakes producer Harmony Lodge (Hennessy). This is the family of GII Arkansas Derby winner Graeme Hall (Dehere). TJCIS PPs

6th-FG, $46k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:35p.m. ET
Unveiled here as the only first-time starter in the field, Stonestreet Stables sends out homebred Lolloping (War Front) with 2021's champion trainer Brad Cox. The second foal of champion New Zealand sprinter Bounding (Aus) (Lohnro {Aus}), this filly is a half to $4.1 million KEESEP graduate Aussie Pride (Curlin), who finished second on his career debut Jan. 29 at Tampa Bay Downs. This is the family of the late MG1SW Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

1st-TAM, $34k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 12:11p.m. ET
A $400,000 KEESEP purchase by Klaravich Stables, Money Supply (Practical Joke) looks to become his dam's fourth winner from four foals to race, including GSP Sister Nation (Into Mischief). Chad Brown sends out the debuter for the six panel journey. This is the family of leading South African sire Trippi (End Sweep). TJCIS PPs

5th-TAM, $34k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 2:13p.m. ET
Hop Picker (Nyquist) is a daughter of Grade III winner Altesse (A.P. Indy) and is the dam of three winners from four to race, including GISP Alandra (Blame) and GSP First Growth (Candy Ride {Arg}). The filly's Grade I-winning granddam Aldiza (Storm Cat) is a daughter of champion Althea (Alydar)'s full-sister Aishah. This is also the family of SW/GSP Where's the Moon (Malibu Moon), GSW Far From Over (Blame), MGISP And Why Not (Street Cry {Ire}), her MGSW son Fearless (Ghostzapper) and SW & MGSP Just Whistle (Pioneerof the Nile). Shug McGaughey will condition the filly for owners Allen Stable Inc, who paid $350,000 for her at Keeneland September. TJCIS PPs

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