Tag: McKulick

Brown Eyes Breeders’ Cup For Waya Winner McKulick

Upset last time out by one of the three rivals she raced Saturday, McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) bounced back and turned the tables on Parnac (Zarak {Fr}) to give trainer Chad Brown his fifth straight win in the GIII Waya S.

The beaten favorite at odds-on in Saratoga's GII Flower Bowl S. Sept. 2 as Parnac went gate-to-wire, McKulick looked to gain an edge on that rival with the addition of a speedy uncoupled stablemate breaking from the inside gate in Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Running over a bogged-down Aqueduct turf course listed as yielding with rain still falling in the area, the field of four set on their way with the two expected pace horses handling the early running with Idea Generation happy to lead the way ahead of Parnac. McKulick stayed in third and that running order remained largely unchanged as the quartet came by the wire with one lap remaining. Idea Generation continued to go on with it, opening up a clear advantage into the clubhouse turn and up the backstretch run before McKulick, who seemed to be getting over the turf better than her rival Parnac, began to move. The Klaravich stablemates were first and second passing the quarter pole and for several moments it looked as though Idea Generation might spring the upset as McKulick struggled to get by on the outside. But with a sixteenth left to run, class ultimately prevailed with the daughter of Frankel putting a bit of separation into the field to win going away as the 1-2 chalk.

“She [McKulick] did great,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “She was very unlucky in the Flower Bowl, she was clearly the best in that race. She got race ridden a little bit there by the horse that finished last in the race [No. 3, Parnac]. I wanted to make sure we had a pace horse in there to keep it an honest race, but could also do some good in the race. Everything was accomplished today.”

Regarding a potential next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 4, Brown added: “I think going a mile and a quarter back to two turns would be good for her, if there's pace like there should be going back to two turns. This filly has proven she can run on firm or bottomless ground like today. She's a very versatile horse and we're lucky to have her in the barn.”

Pedigree Note:

A daughter of European sensation Frankel, McKulick continues to carry the banner in North America for the Banstead Manor legend. Sourced out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for Klaravich Stables, she is the fourth winner from as many to race out of a group-placed dam who is also responsible for GSW/G1SP Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) and GSW Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Astrelle herself is a half to GSW Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and MSW/MGSP Basileus (Ire) (Dream Ahead). She has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Calyx (GB) and a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire).

Saturday, Belmont at the Big A
WAYA S.-GIII, $186,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT, 2:20.10, yl.
1–MCKULICK (GB), 126, f, 4, 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)
(180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$110,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 13-5-5-2, $1,615,720. *1/2
to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ger; 1/2 to Just
Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Ire,
GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $247,982. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Idea Generation (Ire), 118, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Knocknagree
(Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. (340,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $40,000.
3–Sister Otoole, 124, m, 6, Amira's Prince (Ire)–O' Toole, by
Distorted Humor. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Helen
Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon (FL); T-H. Graham Motion.
$24,000.
Margins: 2, 2 1/4, 8 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 10.50, 8.30.
Also Ran: Parnac (Fr). Scratched: Movie Moxy, Peak Popularity, Personal Best, Romagna Mia (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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McKulick Denies War Like Goddess In Glens Falls

The thoughtfully named McKulick (GB) (f, 4, Frankel {GB}–Astrelle {Ire}, by Makfi {GB}), who has always been special to the Chad Brown team, added another feather to her cap with a late-flying victory in Thursday's GII Glens Falls S. at Saratoga, denying defending two-time Glens Falls victress–as well as MGISW and 1-2 favorite–War Like Goddess (English Channel) an historic three-peat in the process.

When the gates flew in the Glens Falls, 45-1 Elegant Taste (Oxbow) emerged from the early fray with the lead. McKulick raced midpack in a good spot as most eyes focused on War Like Goddess in third as she visibly fought Joel Rosario, tossing her head repeatedly. After a first quarter in :24.84, War Like Goddess continued to appear agitated as Rosario restrained her. Tucked in on the rail behind the favorite, McKulick looked a far different matter as she appeared relaxed and comfortable. Things continued much the same through the half in :50.01 and six panels in 1:15.29 until the field bunched up considerably at the 1:39.53 mile marker. Last-out June 17 GIII Eatontown S. runner-up Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}) dismissed pacesetter Elegant Taste on the turn and took command as War Like Goddess loomed menacingly to her outside. With a sixteenth to go, War Like Goddess collared Vergara but it was McKulick who tipped out, swapped leads repeatedly, and bore down to find the wire first. She won by a neck as War Like Goddess held for second and April's GIII Orchid S. winner Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) closed to steal third. Final time for the 12 furlongs on the inner turf was 2:27.05.

“Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] rode a masterful race,” said winning trainer Brown. “Early on when War Like Goddess had position ahead of us and was a little rank and such, he carefully stayed behind her. When she came off the rail down the backside before the final turn, Irad cleverly got off the rail as well and followed her and stayed away from the horse [Elegant Taste] that was stopping on the rail. All those moves, particularly that one down the backside really made the difference today.”

McKulick's biggest lifetime score came last summer in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S., while her last win was in the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. last September at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet prior to an October runner-up finish in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland. Put away for just over six months, the bay reappeared with an off-the board finish in the May 5 GIII Modesty S. at Churchill and a third in the GI New York S. June 9 at Belmont.

Brown said McKulick would likely head next to the GII Flower Bowl S. on Sept. 2 at the Spa at a furlong shorter. That race offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

 

Pedigree Notes:

McKulick is one of 116 black-type winners in just eight crops of racing age for sire sensation Frankel (GB), who also has 80 graded/group winners. The majority of Frankel's top horses campaign in Europe, although five of the stakes winners by the Banstead Manor Stud stallion have reached the graded level in the U.S. McKulick ranks at the top of that list as his sole American Grade I winner to date, although the son of Galileo (Ire) also has a Canadian Grade I winner in Wild Beauty (GB).

While McKulick is Frankel's only black-type winner out of a daughter of Makfi (GB), who has 15 stakes winners as a broodmare sire and was sold to Japan prior to the 2017 breeding season, Makfi's sire, Dubawi (Ire), has proven to be quite a prolific cross with Frankel. The pair are responsible for eight of Frankel's black-type winners, including champions Adayar (Ire) and Homeless Songs (Ire), as well as this summer's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) and two other graded/group winners.

McKulick's dam has also produced GSW-Eng & GSW-Ire Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), as well as GSW-Ger Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}). She has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Calyx (GB) and a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire).

Thursday, Saratoga Race Course
GLENS FALLS S.-GII, $250,000, Saratoga, 8-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/2mT, 2:27.05, fm.
1–MCKULICK (GB), 120, f, 4, 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)
(180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-4-4-2, $1,405,720. *1/2 to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ger; 1/2 to Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), GSW-Ire, GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $209,461. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–War Like Goddess, 122, m, 6, English Channel–Misty North, by North Light (Ire). ($1,200 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $1,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP; $30,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-George Krikorian; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-William I. Mott. $50,000.
3–Amazing Grace (Ger), 122, m, 5, Protectionist (Ger)–Amabelle (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€850,000 4yo '22 ARQDEC). O-Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd.; B-Chr. Berglar (GER); T-Christophe Clement. $30,000.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 0.50, 7.90.
Also Ran: Sopran Basilea (Ire), Vergara, Virginia Joy (Ger), Elegant Taste.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Brown Wins Eighth Straight Year-End Title at NYRA, Davis His First

With 159 winners from 587 starters (27.09%), trainer Chad Brown secured an eighth consecutive year-ending training title at the tracks of the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Over the course of 196 racing days, Brown's runners finished in the top three 59.28% of the time. It was the Mechanicville native's best season on the NYRA circuit, surpassing the 154 he recorded in 2018. He completed the year with total New York purse earnings of just over $17.9 million.

“It means a lot and I'm so proud of my team,” said Brown. “They've worked hard from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. They're an outstanding group of men and women who have various skillsets they bring to our team. We have a lot of loyal clients and partners, and of course, the horses. So many different horses in so many categories really came through for us, so we feel very fortunate to work with these horses.”

Among Brown's 27 graded victories in New York in 2022 were nine at the Grade I level, topped by the successes of 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings) in the GI Woody Stephens S. on the Belmont S. undercard in June and the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. in August at Saratoga.

“We had a very diverse group of horses and my team showed that they are able to execute equally as good with turf or dirt horses,” said Brown. “We won with dirt sprinters, route grass horses, male and female. They showed versatility and there's not too many teams that can continue to [perform at this level] with any kind of horse.”

Todd Pletcher and Linda Rice were second and third with 110 and 73 winners, respectively.

Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables won its fourth straight year-end NYRA title, with a record of 228-57-47-29 for earnings of $6,148,551. Horses to carry the red-and-white silks included GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Early Voting (Gun Runner), who won the GIII Withers S. en route to future success in the GI Preakness S.

Jockey Dylan Davis registered his first NYRA riding title, partnering with the winners of 186 races. The 28-year-old earned his first meet title at the 2021-2022 Aqueduct winter meet.

“It feels great,” said Davis. “I'm grateful and honored and couldn't have done it without the horses, the trainers, the owners, my agent Mike [Migliore]. We've been working hard and sticking it out on the NYRA circuit. Everything is coming together and we're just going to push on and try for a better year next year.”

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Into Mischief’s Gina Romantica Scores ‘Special’ Victory in QEII

Trainer Chad Brown and owner Peter Brant were represented by the 1-2 finishers in last week's GI First Lady S. at Keeneland, and were right back at it again in Lexington Saturday as Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) scored a breakthrough win in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. Presented by Dixiana. The $1,025,000 KEESEP yearling was the only runner in the race carrying Brant's silks, but Brown completed the exacta himself with Klaravich Stables, Inc.'s odds-on GISW McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}). It was a record fifth win for Brown in the race named for the U.K.'s recently departed monarch. California invader Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) completed the trifecta.

Saturday, Keeneland
QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP S. PRESENTED BY DIXIANA-GI, $569,125, Keeneland, 10-15, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.20, fm.
1–GINA ROMANTICA, 121, f, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Special Me, by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie
                3rd Dam: Domasco Danielle, by Same Direction
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($1,025,000 Ylg
'20 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig
Brogden (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $367,350.
Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $553,540. *1/2 to Special Forces
(Candy Ride {Arg}), MGSW-Can, SP-USA, $452,001; Gift Box
(Twirling Candy), GISW, $1,127,060; Stonetastic
(Mizzen Mast), MGSW & GISP, $856,062. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–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)
(180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown. $98,750.
3–Bellabel (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Belardo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Fashion Line (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Shadow Roll (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Warning Shadows (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
(€33,000 Ylg '20 TATFB). O-Agave Racing Stable, Benowitz
Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano; B-Fergus
Cousins (Ire); T-Philip D'Amato. $49,375.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, HD. Odds: 4.53, 0.80, 3.33.
Also Ran: California Angel, She's Gone, Paris Peacock (Ire). Scratched: New Year's Eve.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Fastest from the blocks, Gina Romantica was taken back a bit by Flavien Prat to sit fourth in the field of six as last-out Irish Group 3 winner Paris Peacock (Ire) (Muharaar {GB}) had designs on making the lead. She snuck inside of McKulick and into the pocket down the backside, and remained in that spot through a half in :48.22 and six furlongs in 1:12.83. It briefly looked like Gina Romantica could run into traffic trouble as her stablemate took the overland route, but a seam opened behind the fading Paris Peacock and Bellabel in midstretch and Gina Romantica charged through it before pulling away decisively.

“She broke really well,” said Prat. “I actually was okay to make the lead, but the pace was fast so I got myself tucked in. She relaxed well and really kicked on well when it was time to make a move. [I knew it was time to make a move] once I got the gap [at the top of the stretch]. Turning for home I got a good gap and squeezed on in and she responded really well.”

A fast-finishing debut winner sprinting on the Tampa main track in March, Gina Romantica was a well-beaten sixth when wading into much tougher waters for this venue's GIII Beaumont S. a month later. She took a rained-off and sloppy first-level allowance in her first route try at Belmont in May, and remained on the dirt to be fourth in Saratoga's restricted Wilton S. July 14. The bay was a rare $30 turf winner for Brown when she upended the Riskaverse S. (also restricted) back at the Spa Aug. 25, and was most recently second at much shorter odds in BAQ's GIII Pebbles S. Sept. 18. The Brown barn sent out the top three that day–the winner was another Klaravich colorbearer, while the third finisher carried Brant greens.

“Getting her out there in distance a little more, and she has more experience on the turf,” said Brown when asked for the reasons behind Gina Romantica's incremental improvement. “She caught a clean break and I thought Flavien rode a terrific race. She proved she can get the extra distance and step up with top-class fillies.”

He added, “I want to thank Liz Crow and her team for picking the horse out. She was born and raised locally, right here in Lexington at Machmer Hall, and she's a Keeneland [sales] graduate. We've had so many great horses that we bought here. [Of our] five Queen Elizabeth [wins], this is probably the most memorable, obviously, with the recent passing of The Queen. What an honor even to participate in the race, but to have such success in it–we're just really lucky to work with these horses.”

Pedigree Notes:

Special Me (Unbridled's Song), who now has four graded winners to her tally, including Gina Romantica and additional GISW and Lane's End's first-crop weanling sire Gift Box (Twirling Candy), has been a truly special mare for Carrie and Craig Brogden's Machmer Hall (see The Bargain of a Lifetime and a related video, by Christie DeBernardis). Special Me slipped what would have been a 2020 foal by Quality Road and her 2021 foal by Curlin died, but she has a Feb. 26 weanling colt by Into Mischief–a full-brother to Gina Romantica–and was bred back to Twirling Candy for a full-sibling to Gift Box. Almost unbelievably, Machmer Hall picked up Special Me for $6,000 at the 2009 Keeneland January sale. The price of her offspring has steadily increased with her success, with Gina Romantica being the most recent to sell, bringing $1.025 million as a Keeneland September yearling from BSW/Crow.

Over the years, the Brogdens have publically expressed their long affinity for Unbridled's Song mares and it's hard to argue with a record of 214 black-type winners out of his daughters. Gina Romantica is one of four stakes winners out of an Unbridled's Song mare by Into Mischief, while another three (including champion Covfefe) are by his sire. Into Mischief, who is on track for his fourth general championship in North America, has 115 Northern Hemisphere-foaled black-type winners, including 23 thus far in 2022. Among his 55 graded winners are additional 2022 GISWs Life Is Good and Wonder Wheel, both pointing to the Breeders' Cup.

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