Here we catch up with Christie DeBernardis, CHC's Regional Manager of the Americas.

Alberobello (m, 9, Bernardini–Carson Jen, by Carson City), booked to Uncle Mo

Alberobello hails from an exceptional family that is constantly improving. Additionally, Bernardini is becoming one of the best broodmare sires we've seen in a while. Alberobello produced an Uncle Mo colt for us in 2023 and we were so pleased with him, that we decided to breed her back to that Coolmore super sire after she produces her Justify foal this spring.

Always A Joker (f, 4, Into Mischief–Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor), booked to Justify

We purchased this full-sister to MGISW and successful sire Practical Joke at Keeneland November and look forward to her future. She is as beautifully made as she is bred. We thought Justify was a good physical and pedigree match for her first mating, plus he and her sire Into Mischief are two of the hottest stallions on the market right now.

Cozze Up Lady (m, 15, Cozzene–The White Lady, by Johannesburg), booked to Constitution

A Grade III winner during her racetrack career, Cozze Up Lady brought that same class and talent to the breeding shed, producing GISW Kimari (Munnings). Her 2021 colt by Constitution, now named Tucson, brought seven figures as a yearling and is currently training towards his debut for WinStar/Siena Farm with Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. We decided to send her back to that leading stallion for 2024.

Embellish the Lace (m, 12, Super Saver–Expanse, by Distant View), booked to Life Is Good

Grade I winner Embellish the Lace has already produced a pair of million-dollar yearlings. One of those seven-figure sellers was a daughter of the great Into Mischief, now two-time winner Pumpkin Scone. We retained that filly's full-sister Into Amore and she is training very well as she prepares for her career bow with Pletcher. Given her success with Into Mischief, we decided to send Embellish the Lace to one of his fastest sons, Life Is Good.

End Times (m, 9, War Front–Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker), booked to Americanrevolution

CHC homebred End Times is the second foal out of Grade I winner and producer Last Full Measure. We sold a lovely Audible filly out of her for $255,000 at this year's KEESEP sale and she has a very nice Improbable yearling filly and newborn colt from the first crop of Nashville. She is one of three mares we are sending to our new stallion, GISW Americanrevolution, as we make our first foray into the New York breeding program.

Last Full Measure (m, 16, Empire Maker–Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent), booked to Into Mischief

GISW and producer Last Full Measure's offspring have proved quite popular at auction, including her 2022 Constitution filly, who summoned $800,000 at KEESEP last year. The topper at that auction was a $3-million Into Mischief colt out of an Empire Maker mare and that cross is also responsible for MGISW Mandaloun and Grade II winner Laurel River. We hope to add to the success of that cross as Last Full Measure visits Into Mischief this year.

Summer Solo (m, 14, Arch–Summer Solstice {Ire}, by Caerleon), booked to Not This Time

We purchased this GISP mare in 2022 and her first foal for us is a knockout. She is now the dam of two black-type horses thanks to the recent exploits of her daughter Solo Album (Curlin). Arch is phenomenal broodmare sire and Summer Solo has proven to be a versatile broodmare. We are sending her to Not This Time, who has already produced a SW and GSP horse out of an Arch mare in Howling Time.

Yellow Agate (m, 10, Gemologist–Lemon Sorbet, by Lemon Drop Kid), booked to Quality Road

Yellow Agate was CHC's first Grade I winner in America and continues to reward us as a broodmare. She has three winners from three foals of racing age, including GSW and $650,000 KEESEP buy Agate Road (Quality Road). His two older siblings, Gasoline (Curlin) and Plentitude (Quality Road), combined to win five races in 2023 and appear poised to add more black type to this family. Her 2022 filly by Quality Road summoned $650,000 at Saratoga last summer. Given all of her success with Quality Road, it seemed like a no-brainer to send Yellow Agate back to the Lane's End kingpin this year.

Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.

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The China Horse Club's Christie DeBernardis, Matt Houldsworth and Michael Smith clued us in on which sires they have chosen for some of their top American and European mares.

ALBEROBELLO (m, 8, Bernardini—Carson Jen, by Carson City), booked to Justify

Alberobello hails from a very deep family that is constantly improving. Her full-sister's daughter Key to My Heart (Ire) produced a $1.3-million filly at KEESEP just a few months ago. Additionally, Bernardini mares are red hot right not. She is expecting just her second foal for us this year (by Uncle Mo) and we will send her back to Justify. We are obviously big fans and supporters of Justify. That faith has been rewarded with his first crop of runners this year and they should only get better with age. This family has already produced a stakes winner by Justify in Justa Warrior.

CARIBBEAN BABE (m, 8, Arch—Kalahari Cat, by Cape Town), booked to Life Is Good

Caribbean Babe is a half-sister to MGSW and young WinStar stallion Independence Hall, as well as two other stakes winners. Her first foal Bold Discovery (Bolt d'Oro) is doing quite well in Europe, following his debut win with a Group 3 placing. She is a young mare, with a good family and by an excellent broodmare sire, so we felt she deserved a spot in the first book of our MGISW Life Is Good.

COZZE UP LADY (m, 14, Cozzene—The White Lady, by Johannesburg), booked to Munnings

This mating was a bit of a no-brainer. A Grade III winner in her own right, Cozze Up Lady's best foal thus far is Grade I-winning millionaire Kimari (Munnings). She returns to that star sprinter's sire this year in hopes of re-creating that magic.

EMBELLISH THE LACE (m, 11, Super Saver—Expanse, by Distant View), booked to Constitution

Embellish the Lace was a Grade I winner at Saratoga and has proven equally talented as a broodmare. She's produced two seven-figure yearlings so far, and another that summoned $700,000. One of those million-dollar babies was Tap the Faith (Tapit), a three-time winner, so we hope that cross will prove successful yet again through Tapit's best son at stud, Constitution.

LAST FULL MEASURE (m, 15, Empire Maker—Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent), booked to Constitution

Last Full Measure was a Grade I winner in her own right and produced another Grade I winner for us in Valiance (Tapit). She's responsible for a series of six-figure sellers and had her best auction result in 2022 when her Constitution colt brought $1.8 million at KEESEP. On the back of that success, she will be bred back to Constitution.

SAMBUCA CLASSICA (m, 19, Cat Thief—In Her Glory, by Miswaki), booked to Life Is Good

Sambuca Classica is a bit of blue hen, producing four black-type runners, topped by champion Classic Empire. Her 2020 Justify colt, now named Golden Mic, brought $625,000 from Hideyuki Mori at KEESEP and her 2021 colt by that Triple Crown winner summoned $575,000 from WinStar and Siena Farm. Being a proven producer, we felt she was a good match for Life Is Good.

BEATRIX POTTER (m, 18, Cadeaux Genereux {GB}—Great Joy {Ire}, by Grand Lodge), booked to New Bay (GB)
Already a Group 1 producer of Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Beatrix Potter visits emerging young stallion New Bay. She's reaching her twilight years and the great hope would be to get a filly. Last season's yearling by Medaglia D'Oro made 600,000gns from Ben McElroy at Tattersalls Book 1.

FALLING PETALS (m, 11, Raven's Pass—Infinite Spirit, by Maria's Mon), booked to New Bay
Falling Petals, the producer of dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (New Bay), who realised 3,600,000gns at last year's Tattersalls December Mare sale, goes back to New Bay. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Last season's yearling, a New Bay colt, fetched €450,000 at Goffs Orby from Amanda Skiffington and goes into training with Saffron Beach's trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam. She also has a weanling full sister, who will likely be retained to race.

LADY LIGHT (GB) (m, 6, Showcasing {GB}—Bird Key {GB}, by Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), booked to Siyouni (Fr)
Lady Light is young stakes-placed mare, a full sister to Shadwell stallion Tasleet and from the immediate family of superstar sprinter Battaash. Her first foal, a filly by Dark Angel, is an excellent first foal. Siyouni is commercially consistent at the top level, both in the sales ring and on the track, and provides a fantastic proven option for a young mare getting going.

TSCHIERSCHEN (Ire) (m, 9, Acclamation {GB}—Roo {GB}, by Rudimentary), booked to State Of Rest (Ire)
Tschierschen is a stakes producing Acclamation mare and dam of Royal Ascot winner Petrotto. She is from the immediate family of Group 1 performers Mohaather, Prize Exhibit and Accidental Agent. A proven mare for the four-time Group 1-winning freshman sire State Of Rest (The Iron Horse).

COASTANA (m, 6, Kitten's Joy—Reachfortheheavens, by Pulpit), booked to New Bay
Coastana was picked up for $290,000 at the recent Keeneland November Sale with the plan of going to Europe to be bred. The stakes-placed mare adds some new blood to the European band and highlights our continued interest in developing families globally. A lovely individual that we thought would really suit New Bay.

MELODIC CHARM (IRE) (m, 6, Exceed and Excel {Aus}–Folk Melody {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}), booked to Siyouni
Melodic Charm is a young Exceed and Excel mare recently acquired from Tattersalls. She received a significant pedigree update shortly after her purchase when her half-brother Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup. She is due to Dark Angel and, therefore, the resulting progeny will be a three-parts brother or sister to Romantic Warrior.

HOURGLASS (IRE) (m, 8, Galileo {Ire}—Hellsinki {GB}, by Machiavellian), booked to Siyouni
Hourglass is a Galileo half-sister to Shamardal and is all class. Her first produce (Just an Hour {Justify}) was placed in his only start to date for Joseph O'Brien and looks to have a very bright future this coming season. Last season's yearling realised €300,000 and her weanling colt by Siyouni is outstanding. As such, going back to Siyouni was an easy call.

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“Valiance is a no-brainer,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning. “You've got three generations of Grade I winners in her pedigree. She's a beautiful mare and had a great deal of talent as a very successful racehorse. As an added bonus, she's a stakes winner on the turf as well.”

Valiance will sell as Hip 251 with the Bluewater Sales consignment on the 'Night of the Stars.'

“Anybody who has been in the business for any time at all dreams about a horse like this that comes from a filly family with so much opportunity for her family to fill in,” Bluewater's Meg Levy said. “That Grade I is just an absolute stamp. Everybody wants a Grade I winner. They want that collector's item for their portfolio. She has elegance, beauty, balance and bone. Plus, she's a good size. I'm a big believer in mares raising their foals to be winners and I think that will also come with her.”

Levy has been closely associated with the talented 5-year-old mare throughout her racing career. The homebred for China Horse Club went through Bluewater's yearling sales prep program.

“She did have a little bit of a tough personality,” Levy admitted of a young Valiance. “She took on everything she was supposed to do. Every time you asked her a new question she took a step forward, but she did ask you first if you were sure you meant it. I think that part of her personality served her well.”

Valiance flourished during her summer at Bluewater and captured buyers' attention at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.

“I can still remember her in Saratoga when she came out of the stall,” Browning recalled. “She was a beautiful yearling and one where you just kind of grinned when you saw her thinking, 'We're going to have some fun selling a filly like her.'”

“She was really meant to be the star of our show, being by Tapit and out of a Grade I winner,” Levy explained. “She was a gorgeous filly. She was very athletic with big bone and was almost masculine in the way she moved and how she dealt with things.”

Valiance sold for $650,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale | Thorostride

Lev recalled Brian Spearman, then a relatively new partner with Eclipse Thoroughbreds, approaching her at the sale and inquiring about the filly.

“I couldn't help but tell him, 'Brian, it's all right there on the page. She's out of a Grade I winner who is out of a Grade I winner. You really can't get any better than this. If this filly can run, the stars are aligned. She's a collector's item.”

Eclipse Thoroughbreds partnered with Martin Schwartz along with breeder China Horse Club to purchase the filly for $650,000.

“Sometimes you're a little bit nervous putting people together because you don't how it's going to work out,” Levy admitted. “But in her case, with bringing all these people together and putting her under the right management, she fulfilled her potential. The really special thing about Valiance is that not very often does the page and the expectations and the physical get together and really tell the story and fulfill the prophecy.”

Valiance was sent to Todd Pletcher and made her winning debut early in her 3-year-old season going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream.

“Valiance is a filly who showed a lot of talent from early on,” Pletcher said. “She showed quality from the day she walked into the barn. For her to win her debut first time out, going long on the turf, that's a difficult task.”

From there, Valiance remained undefeated in her next two starts, making her stakes debut in the Open Mind S. As a 4-year-old, she returned to the winner's circle in her first try on the main track in the off-the-turf Eatontown S. at Monmouth.

“As Valiance got older, she got stronger,” Pletcher said. “I think she was a filly that was capable of running on any surface but as she matured, she got better and better on dirt. That's what convinced us to try the race at Monmouth when it came off the turf. You have to watch that race to appreciate how easily she won that day. She was hardly ridden at all.”

Pletcher said as the filly's breezes became more impressive following her stakes win on dirt, she convinced her Hall of Fame trainer of her Grade I quality and Pletcher decided to run her in the GI Spinster S.

Stalking the favored Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) for much of the mile and an eighth contest, Valiance surged past the GI Kentucky Oaks winner in the stretch and fended off GISW Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) late to win by almost two lengths.

Levy remembers that weekend at Keeneland well. Two days before the Spinster, she celebrated as Simply Ravishing (Laoban), a 2-year-old filly she bred, raced to Grade I stardom in the Darley Alcibiades  S.

“When Valiance ran in the Spinster, it was a magical weekend for us,” she said. “I remember taking a video of her as we ran to winner's circle. There's nothing like it in racing-that moment, with the heart and the pedigree, when they lay it on the line and leave it on the track. That's all you're looking for.”

“The Spinster was a breakthrough performance for her,” Pletcher added. “It was a very satisfying win for the whole team to take a filly with her pedigree, quality and conformation and win a Grade I, especially at a prestigious track like Keeneland.”

Valiance bests Grade I winners Shedaresthedevil and Ollie's Candy in the GI Spinster S. | Coady

Valiance returned to Keeneland for her final career start in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, defeating all but champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in a star-studded field that included Grade I winners Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), Dunbar Road (Quality Road) and Ollie's Candy.

“She put in a tremendous effort in the Breeders' Cup,” Browning said. “She paired those two races back to back with really meaningful performances, demonstrating an enormous amount of talent and really showing everybody what an exceptional racehorse she was.”

Browning said he thinks of Valiance's successful career as an example of why buyers return to the yearling marketplace every year.

“Valiance helps everyone have confidence in the auction ring to bid on a yearling like her,” he explained. “As a buyer, you say that's the kind that I ought to be pursuing. Fillies like Valiance who go on and justify their sale price and validate their pedigree give us all hope at the yearling sales.”

“Any time you invest in a filly with this type of conformation and pedigree, you have high hopes, ” Pletcher said. “But then to have one fulfill those hopes and win a Grade I, that's something every owner dreams of. That's what everyone's trying to achieve in this business.”

“The great thing about Valiance is that she was ultra-consistent,” he continued, reflecting on his trainee who made it to the winner's circle in all but three of her career starts. “She had the right combination of speed and the ability to carry it over a route of ground. She was very competitive and she liked her job. Anytime you take a mare with her conformation, her pedigree and her racetrack ability on multiple surfaces, it gives you a horse that you think would be a slam dunk as a broodmare prospect.”

“You take pride when you sell quality horses at a yearling sale that go on to achieve success and then you take pride in having the opportunity to sell them at the conclusion of their career,” Browning said. “Her ownership group is all folks who we have a relationship with and think highly of, so it's an honor to have an opportunity to sell a filly of this quality.”

Take a look at our full 'Spotlight on the Night of the Stars' series here.

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Valiance captured last year's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland in just her second dirt start and followed up that victory with a game second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff to multiple champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), finishing ahead of another four Grade I winners.

The gray won her first three career starts on turf, including Monmouth's Open Mind S. as a 3-year-old. Trained throughout her career by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, she retires with a record of 9-6-0-1 and career earnings of $809,575.

“Valiance is a top-class race mare and a terrific individual,” commented Pletcher. “She's always been a true professional to train in the morning and was so versatile on the racetrack in the afternoon. She's a good one.”

A $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling, Valiance is out of a dam who scored in the GI the Madison S. and her second dam, Lazy Slusan (Slewvescent), is a multiple Grade I-winning distaffer and millionaire.

“Valiance was a stunning yearling with a royal pedigree and she followed through on the racetrack,” said Aron Wellman, President of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “She trained with brilliance, ran with brilliance on turf and dirt at the highest level and provided our partners with huge thrills. She's a rare filly who had impeccable breeding, gorgeous looks, immeasurable talent and that intangible killer instinct to win her races. She is an elite mare who offers the complete package and she is cut out to be an exceptional broodmare.”

Added Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, “Valiance is a rare commodity–she's a Grade I winner, her dam is a Grade I winner, and her granddam is a Grade I winner. In addition, she's by Tapit and a beautiful individual. Her potential as a broodmare is unlimited.”

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Bluewater Sales will consign the four-year-old old filly on behalf of owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz, and CHC Inc.

Valiance, trained by Todd Pletcher, has won six of her eight career starts to date and earned $469,575. She has won her last three starts since this summer, including the Eatontown Stakes on Aug. 29, followed by the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes on Oct. 4. In the Spinster, she defeated a top-class field that included Grade 1 winner Ollie's Candy, and recent Kentucky Oaks victress Shedaresthedevil.

Valiance's next anticipated start is the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 in Lexington.

“Eclipse has been fortunate to sell several seven-figure mares, including a $3 million sales-topper, at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars and it's only fitting for Valiance to be one of the next in line,” said Aron Wellman, President and Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “Our partnership, including Marty Schwartz and her breeder, China Horse Club, acquired Valiance at the Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale and she's been a joy to be associated with, taking us to the top of the mountain. Valiance is regally-bred, a gorgeous physical, and she's a top shelf performer on dirt and turf. We are hoping for another positive result in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and to then showcase her at the historic Newtown Paddocks.”

A daughter of leading sire Tapit, Valiance was purchased for $650,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale.  Her dam Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker, captured the Grade 1 Madison Stakes on her way to career earnings of $293,245. Valiance's second dam, Lazy Slusan, was a multiple Grade 1 winning distaffer and millionaire.

“It is always exciting to offer fillies in top current form,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “A daughter of Tapit with a fantastic pedigree will be highly desirable to the sport's leading buyers and owners.”

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