Tag: Malathaat

Julia ‘Shines’ in Demoiselle

Just like her full-sister, champion Malathaat (Curlin), Julia Shining (Curlin) not only won her debut at Keeneland Oct. 16, but did so in 'TDN Rising Star'-fashion. And she followed in her GI Breeders' Cup Distaff-winning sister's hoofprints once again Saturday, capturing the GII Demoiselle S. in the slop at Aqueduct.

Favored just like her sister, albeit at 1-2 instead of 2-5, Julia Shining was even farther back than Malathaat was in her Demoiselle, racing in second last as 37-1 shot Tribal Queen (Bolt d'Oro) clocked opening splits of :24.61 and :49.35. Pushed along by Luis Saez every step of the way while racing off the trail, the Stonestreet homebred still had plenty left to do as three quarters went in 1:14.31. Swung out six wide turning for home, the bay dug deep beneath a vigorous hand ride from Saez, sweeping past Affirmative Lady (Arrogate) and stablemate Gambling Girl (Dialed In) in the final strides to win by a neck. With the win, she earned 10 points towards a start in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

“Clearly she has tons of natural talent and is still putting it all together,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “We knew from her debut that she didn't like the kickback, and you add the sloppy track into that today, so that was our biggest concern was trying to get her into the clear. Unfortunately, the only way to get her into the clear was to go pretty wide, but she's got so much natural stamina that we felt the mile and an eighth was really going to play to her strengths. The only concern I had was she has never run on an off track. The mile and an eighth [was not a concern]. That's what she really is looking for.”

The Hall of Famer continued, “She was clearly not handling things [down the backstretch] and Luis [Saez] was trying to encourage her to improve position and finally did it around the quarter pole. Once she found a rhythm down the lane, she started to close and Luis said she kind of got her head in front and then wanted to wait a little bit.”

Pletcher said Julia Shining would go to Florida, while third-place Gambling Girl would remain in New York this winter.

“The trip was good. She's still learning,” Saez said. “The track was pretty sloppy.”

Asked when the winner found her rhythm, Saez said, “At the top of the stretch, just the top of the stretch. The whole way she was not interested. She doesn't like [the kickback]. I feel like the track was a no, but when everybody started running at the top of the stretch, she just got by and stayed.”

Pedigree Notes:

Julia Shining's ultra-talented sister Malathaat opened her account with five straight wins for Pletcher. She won the Tempted S. in between her debut and the Demoiselle and captured the GI Central Bank Ashland S. en route to a GI Kentucky Oaks win. Malathaat also captured the GI Alabama S. last term and finished third in the Distaff, clinching the Eclipse award for top 3-year-old filly. She will likely take home another championship title this year after three Grade I wins, topped by a gutsy Distaff score last month, after which she was retired to Shadwell's broodmare band.

While Malathaat was sold to Sheikh Hamdan's operation for $1.05 million at KEESEP, Julia Shining was retained by Barbara Banke, just like all of her dam Dreaming of Julia's other foals. The daughter of A.P. Indy had one foal in between the two Curlin fillies, an unnamed 3-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro. The 12-year-old mare had a Medaglia d'Oro filly in 2021 and another Curlin filly Apr. 4 of this year. She was bred back to Into Mischief.

Also a Stonestreet homebred trained by Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, regular pilot of Malathaat, Dreaming of Julia captured the GI Frizette S. and GII Gulfstream Oaks. She is a daughter of dual Grade I winner Dream Rush (Wild Rush), who is also the dam of MGSW Dream Pauline (Tapit) and SW Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro).

Julia Shining is the 50th graded winner and 92nd black-type scorer for the mighty Curlin. She is also the 120th graded victor and 254th black-type winner out of a daughter of the late, great A.P. Indy. In addition to Malathaat and Julia Shining, the Curlin/A.P. Indy cross is also responsible for MGISWs Stellar Wind, Clairiere and Nest; and Grade I scorers Global Campaign, Idol and Paris Lights.

Saturday, Aqueduct
DEMOISELLE S.-GII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 12-3, 2yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:53.05, sy.
1–JULIA SHINING, 118, f, 2, by Curlin
       1st Dam: Dreaming of Julia (GISW, $874,500), by A.P. Indy
       2nd Dam: Dream Rush, by Wild Rush
       3rd Dam: Turbo Dream, by Unbridled
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising
   Star' O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred
Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. $137,500.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $194,075. *Full to Malathaat, Ch.
3yo Filly, MGISW, $3,790,825. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Affirmative Lady, 118, f, 2, Arrogate–Stiffed, by Stephen Got
Even. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($210,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP; $400,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-AMO Racing
USA; B-Alastar Thoroughbred Co, LLC (KY); T-H. Graham
Motion. $50,000.
3–Gambling Girl, 118, f, 2, Dialed In–Tulipmania, by Empire
Maker. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '21 SARAUG).
O-Repole Stable; B-Gallagher's Stud (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
$30,000.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 0.55, 7.10, 9.40.
Also Ran: Royal Spa, La Vita Sofia, Foggy Night, Tribal Queen.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Cigar Mile Program Headlines Saturday Stakes Action

Enjoy your day at the Big A.

Led by the GI Cigar Mile H. and three other graded events, Aqueduct's loaded 10-race card will be in the spotlight in South Ozone Park Saturday.

Zandon (Upstart), winner of the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and third-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby this spring, cuts back to a one-turn mile for Chad Brown in the feature. The dark bay, favored at even-money on the Cigar Mile's morning-line, also finished third in the GI Runhappy Travers S. and second in the GI Pennsylvania Derby last time Sept. 24.

Fellow Grade I-winning sophomore White Abarrio (Race Day) will also shorten up here. He tired to fifth after setting the pace in the Pennsylvania Derby last time. The handsome gray has been firing bullets at Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s Gulfstream Park base for this.

Two-time Grade I winner Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), drawn widest of all in post seven (he'll move in one slot with the scratch of O Besos), will look to close out his career on top. The 2018 GI Hopeful S. winner and 2019 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. winner was moved up to first via disqualification after falling a neck short in a roughly run renewal of the Parx Dirt Mile S. last out Sept. 24. The 6-year-old boasts a record of 7-4-2-1 at Aqueduct, including a trio of graded wins. A stud deal for Mind Control will likely be finalized in the days following the Cigar Mile, according to Rick Sacco, racing manager for co-owner Red Oak Stable.

“He's been a great horse for us and accomplished a lot before he even came to us, but he's been a real neat horse to be around,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who seeks a record-extending sixth Cigar Mile victory. “He enjoys his job and has always liked Aqueduct.”

Juveniles, meanwhile, will take centerstage in the GII Remsen S. and GII Demoiselle S., both at the demanding distance of 1 1/8 miles.

Stonestreet homebred Julia Shining (Curlin), a full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Malathaat, will head straight into the deep end versus six rivals in the Demoiselle. The bay kicked off her career with an eye-catching come-from-behind victory for Pletcher going seven furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 16. She is the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the Demoiselle. Malathaat, also trained by Pletcher, won this same race in 2020.

“Physically, they're a little bit different, but they're both very impressive fillies to watch train and she's shown talent from the beginning,” Pletcher said. “I always felt like the further she gets the opportunity to go, the better she'll get. That's why we have been pointing for the Demoiselle.”

A field of seven will also line up for the Remsen, led by unbeaten Rocky Run S. winner Tuskegee Airmen (Street Sense) and New York-bred Arctic Arrogance (Frosted), a last out winner of the Sleepy Hollow S.

Aqueduct's Saturday program also includes the GIII Go For Wand S. for older fillies and mares.

Welcome to Hollywood

A very deep field of 11 have been entered for the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. New York shippers 'Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke) and Celestial City (Uncle Mo) are the top two on the morning-line. Slightly favored Wit just missed by a neck for Pletcher in Keeneland's GIII Bryan Station S. Oct. 29. Celestial City posted a come-from-behind win for Shug McGaughey in Aqueduct's GII Hill Prince S. Oct. 22.

The Hollywood Derby field also includes: GIII La Jolla S. winner and GII Twilight Derby winner Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile); Cinema S. winner War At Sea (War Front); and Let It Ride S. winner Handy Dandy (Fury Kapcori).

Del Mar's Saturday card also includes a wide-open renewal of the grassy GIII Jimmy Durante S. for 2-year-old fillies.

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Penny Breakage Increased Profits for Breeders’ Cup Players

Courtesy Thoroughbred Idea Foundation

Horseplayers at the 2022 Breeders' Cup enjoyed more than $545,000 in additional winnings from just the win, place and show pools thanks to the revised Kentucky law that pays pari-mutuel winnings down the penny.

“The two days of racing at Keeneland were sensational, but it was made that extra bit better thanks to penny breakage increasing payouts to players,” said Patrick Cummings, Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF).

In no race was the impact greater than the Breeders' Cup Classic won by Flightline.

Under the previous provision, and across nearly every American jurisdiction now other than Kentucky, Flightline would have paid $2.80, $2.80 and $2.20 for each $2 stake in the win, place and show pools, respectively. Instead, winning bettors received $2.88, $2.92 and $2.30 from those pools.

“The penny breakage law meant that a $2 bet across the board on Flightline returned a profit 16% larger than it would have under dime breakage,” Cummings said.

Altogether, the win, place and show pools from the Classic returned $240,000 more than with traditional rounding to the dime.

“The wins from Modern Games ($4.76) and Malathaat ($7.76) carried an extra boost too, accounting for an additional $131,000 from the win breakage alone going back to horseplayers.

“Hopefully winning players churned some of that into Rebel's Romance and Flightline.”

Overall, through just 64 days of Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky since the revised law went into effect, total breakage returned to horseplayers from the win, place and show pools is now more than $2.13 million.

Factoring in exotic pools as well as Standardbred racing in Kentucky, the total returned is higher.

“Pricing matters and racing wagering's overall takeout rates, already too high, are inflated by rounding down to the dime. Kentucky took a bold first step and other states and horsemen's groups should follow their lead and support such initiatives.

“Clinging to this antiquated practice is bad business and keeps racing wagering less competitive. We hope racing adopts sustainable practices to build its customer base and 'grow the pie' for all stakeholders.”

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The Major European Talking Points From The Breeders’ Cup

American Boy Modern Games To Stand Stateside?

Wouldn't it be cool if Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) stood at Darley's Jonabell Farm in America when his racing days come to an end?

Now a dual Breeders' Cup winner and a Classic hero, he has emerged as one of the leading stallion prospects this season but, given Dalham Hall Stud is already jam-packed with sons of Dubawi, standing him in Newmarket could be akin to bringing an apple to an orchard.

It's not like there are an abundance of turf stallions in America, either. Perhaps there wouldn't be a demand but, being a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and now a GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner, he has the right credentials to be a Stateside success.

It shouldn't go unnoticed the excellent job that Charlie Appleby and his team have done in campaigning the colt. Guineas scorer Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Irish Guineas winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) were above Modern Games in the pecking order heading into the season, but the colt has amassed a whopping £2,461,265 in career earnings and boasts a G1 French 2000 Guineas victory among his seven career wins.

He's a cracking stallion prospect and chances are that he will stand at Dalham Hall but, if Darley were ever to stand a top turf performer in America, he could be the one.

 

Star Fillies Stay In Training

National Hunt enthusiasts will point to the fact that horses like Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are few and far between on the level and it is much easier to create an affinity with a horse who races for a prolonged period, as they do over jumps.

Therefore, John Quinn deserves plenty of credit for declaring Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will continue racing into her 6-year-old campaign after she ran a cracking race to finish fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

As a triple Group 1 winner, who is arguably unfortunate not to be finishing the season as the highest-rated sprinter in Europe, Highfield Princess staying in training will add to what is shaping up to be an intriguing sprinting division next year.

GI Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf winner Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could also stay in training next year while the fourth home in that race, Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), will race on at four.

 

Not The Punters Pal

The GI Breeders' Cup Sprint was over before it began for the supporters of heavy favourite Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) who, not for the first time, lost his race at the start.

Without taking anything away from the shock 43-1 all-the-way winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast), Golden Pal was given no chance when Irad Ortiz tried to make up for the ground lost at the start by burning petrol to bustle him into a prominent position inside the first furlong.

Those early exertions told late on as he weakened out of contention, similarly to when the colt trailed home in last position in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot when sent off a 15-8 favourite.

 

June Birthday No Barrier For Tuesday

Breeders with late foals can point to Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) being the latest star performer to overcome what most would view as a negative.

Being a May foal didn't pose any trouble to Northern Dancer (Nearctic). Former Ballydoyle-trained inmates Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) were also born in May as was Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Now Tuesday, who famously turned three the day she won the Oaks, proved that even June foals can compete and win at the highest level.

O'Brien revealed that a decision on whether to send Tuesday to Ashford Stud and retire her or tackle the G1 Hong Kong Cup and race on at four would be made in the coming days.

He said, “The plan might be to go to Ashford Stud and retire her, but there's a good chance of her staying in training next year, in which case I would consider the Hong Kong Cup, but it all rests on her not going to Ashford.”

 

Doyle Deserving Of His Moment In The Spotlight

Take a bow James Doyle. Few would begrudge him his big moment in the spotlight aboard Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

Fellow Godolphin-runner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was the chosen one of William Buick, and while he was a shade unlucky not to finish closer after getting boxed in at a crucial time, Rebel's Romance ran out a deserving winner on the day.

Buick has been making headlines all season but Doyle proved once again that he is a fantastic deputy in securing his first Breeders' Cup success.

It's not the first time that Doyle usurped a better-fancied Godolphin runner, either, as he landed a minor surprise in overhauling Native Trail when winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket aboard the late Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Saturday's success sugar-coated a marvellous season for a man riding at an impressive 20% strike-rate.

The win also drew Appleby level with O'Brien on three winners apiece at this year's Breeders' Cup with the two trainers supplying the entirety of Europe's winners at the meeting.

The friendly rivalry between Appleby and O'Brien provided a fascinating subplot to this year's contest.

 

Important Winner For Shadwell

Malathaat (Curlin) may not be trained in Europe but the impact of her tenacious GI Breeders' Cup Distaff success could be felt in Britain and Ireland for the coming years.

In Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Malathaat, the Shadwell team have been blessed with one of the best colts and fillies of the modern era.

Sheikha Hissa has enjoyed a memorable year with Baaeed and Malathaat capped it all off on Saturday.

Indeed, it was at Keeneland where Shadwell bought a trio of blue-blooded fillies from Book 1 of Keeneland's September yearling sale and followed that up with a productive haul at Book 1 and Book 2 at Tattersalls last month.

Horses like Baaeed and Malathaat don't come along every year but their performances on the track this season will have done no harm to the hopes that Sheikha Hissa's commitments to the industry on both sides of the Atlantic will be felt for some time.

 

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