2023 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Woodford Thoroughbreds

With the breeding season underway, the TDN staff is continuing the '2023 Mating Plans' series, presented by Spendthrift Farm, to find out what stallions breeders have chosen for their mares this year, and why. Here Woodford Thoroughbreds shares their plans for the breeding season.

As a commercial breeding farm, Woodford Thoroughbreds operates with two principals in mind when choosing our matings. 1) We are producing racehorses. In 2023, Woodford is the breeder of Mimi Kakushi (City of Light), a Group 3 winner on the Oaks trail; Rocket Can (Into Mischief), the winner of the GIII Holy Bull S. who was recently second in the GII Fountain of Youth S. on the Derby trail; SW Drew's Gold (Violence) and 'TDN Rising Star' Sunday Shoes (Pioneerof The Nile). 2) We are bringing a horse to the market that the buyer's bench is excited to purchase based on pedigree and conformation.

With these goals in mind, here are a few of the matings we have picked out for 2023.

HOT CASH (m, 8, Ghostzapper – Collect the Cash, by Dynaformer) and MESSAGE (m, 7, Warrior's Reward – Song'n Dance, by Carson City) to be bred to Flightline.

When you are playing at the upper level, you have to breed to a horse like Flightline although it goes against two of our basic rules. First, he's very expensive at $200,000 which means the fall could be steep if the resulting foal doesn't hit the commercial mark. Second, we are breeding two young mares to him when we would rather breed to a more established horse.

However, we think Grade III-placed Hot Cash will benefit from Flightline's leg and scope. The mare has also already proven her first two efforts, a Curlin filly and Quality Road filly, to be standouts.

Woodford only purchased Message at Keeneland this past November. She was wicked quick on the racetrack, but she's also a scopey mare with a lot of length, leg, power and class to her. We think she'll fit the stallion nicely in a like-to-like way. Her first foal by Charlatan was born in January and he's an exceptional package already.

LASKARINA (m, 9, Distorted Humor – General Jeanne, by Honour and Glory) to be bred to Tapit.

This is really a no-brainer breeding. Besides being by a top broodmare sire, she's a half-sister to the prolific producer Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), the dam of three sons of Tapit–multiple Grade II winner Mohaymen, Grade III winner Kingly and Grade III winner Enforceable. Laskarina's best-looking individual so far is a Tapit filly that Woodford sold at Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga in 2022. We don't mind going back to the well.

MACHA (m, 13, Majestic Warrior – Giant Leap, by Giant's Causeway) to be bred to Good Magic.

This mare who finished third in the GII Honeymoon H. as a 3-year-old has produced a stakes winner. We also hear some great things about her 3-year-old Dime (Curlin), but that filly has yet to make a start. We're still hopeful!

Her 2-year-old was purchased from the 2022 Keeneland September Sale by Amy Moore, who is the breeder of champion 2-year-old colt and leading Kentucky Derby favorite Forte (Violence). We know the filly now named Wayward (Into Mischief) will get a great start with Amy.

We have been terribly impressed by Good Magic's start to stud and think he's great value. He has better numbers than some other higher-priced horses that started his same year at stud.

PROJECT WHISKEY (m, 6, Tapizar – Over the Moon, by Malibu Moon) to be bred to Uncle Mo.

You can't look at this mare without the thought “pretty” crossing your mind. She's a beautiful mare that won the GIII Delaware Oaks as a 3-year-old and the Parx Juvenile Fillies S. as a 2-year-old. We love that she had speed and class early on.

Uncle Mo is a horse that consistently gets a top racehorse prospect and we think he is ready for another upswing in the market. At $150,000 he's expensive, but he gets you that Saturday afternoon horse and that's what we're looking for. The cross of Uncle Mo with the A.P. Indy line is a strong one.

MAEVE THE BRAVE (IRE) (m, 4, Invincible Spirit {Ire} – Liscune {Ire}, by King's Best) to be bred to Oscar Performance.

You may be wondering how we acquired this particular broodmare. In 2019, Woodford purchased five weanlings at Tattersalls. We re-sold three, retained one who is a stakes winner still running in the U.K. and brought this filly to the U.S. She was bought for nearly $600,000 U.S. dollars, being a full-sister to three black-type horses including Music Box (IRE), whose race earnings total $1.19 million.

Oscar Performance was the clear choice when looking at the stallions standing in Kentucky who are unequivocally grass horses.

LUCY N ETHEL (m, 10, During – Kid Silver, by Silver Ghost) to be bred to Life Is Good.

“Lucy” has one of the strongest race records in our broodmare band having won the GII Prioress S. at Saratoga and the GIII Old Hat S. at Gulfstream Park. She bankrolled nearly $400,000 on the track and she is an athletic and supremely balanced mare.

Lucy gave us a beautiful foal right off the bat, a Quality Road filly that brought $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Lucy is currently pregnant to Into Mischief. Breeding to his son Life Is Good will be the same cross.

We're excited to be breeding to Life Is Good. His speed was his weapon and he was much the best when winning the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as a 3-year-old. He continued his winning ways with three Grade I races at four.

VIVA VEGAS (m, 9, The Factor – Viva Vega, by Cobra King) to be bred to Munnings.

The Factor is one of those conundrums where he has the ability to get a quality racehorse, but his commercial appeal is underrated. Viva Vegas is a big, scopey mare and you can imagine how lovely she is knowing she brought $190,000 at OBS as a short yearling. On the racetrack she won a stakes race and is multiple graded stakes placed.

Munnings will make a nice physical compliment, giving her a little substance and some additional speed. He also has a liking for the turf which will benefit this mare's sire line.

Cedar Hall will visit Woodford-bred Independence Hall in 2023 | photo courtesy Woodford Thoroughbreds

DON'T LEAVE ME (m, 11, Lemon Drop Kid – See How She Runs, by Maria's Mon) to be bred to Not This Time.

Don't Leave Me is a multiple Grade III winner and is out of a Grade I-winning dam. Woodford is proud to have purchased this mare out of the Pin Oak Dispersal in 2021 carrying an Authentic colt and she's currently pregnant to Into Mischief. We were very impressed with the year Not This Time had in 2022 and when looking for proven stallions, he has become a standout. We think he'll be a nice physical match for the mare.

CEDAR HALL (m, 6,  Bayern – Dahteste, by Majestic Warrior) to be bred to Independence Hall.

In hindsight, Cedar Hall might have been a value play, being stakes placed, when we purchased her pregnant to Volatile for $95,000 in 2021. She probably would have brought twice that this past November! This is a really pretty mare and we actually purchased her with the purpose of breeding her to Independence Hall.

Woodford bred Independence Hall, sold him as a yearling, bought back into him during his race career and now owns a considerable number of shares in the horse, which means we will support him. His first crop of foals are hitting the ground now and from photos we have seen, they look to be very racey individuals.

RITE MOMENT (m, 19, Vicar – Moments of Joy, by Lost Code) to be bred to City of Light.

Rite Moment is one of the oldest and most proven mares in the band. She herself was a multiple Grade II winner and has produced two previous black-type horses, but her standout produce is current graded stakes winner Mimi Kakushi (City of Light). Mimi Kakushi won a stakes race and then followed that up with a win in the G3 U.A.E. Oaks. She is potentially being pointed to the GI Kentucky Oaks. It only makes sense to go back to the well and should the mare have a filly, we'll likely retain her as a broodmare prospect.

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Champion Wonder Wheel Tops Kentucky Oaks Nominations

D J Stable's Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) is the marquee name among 103 sophomore fillies that were nominated at the first entry stage for the $1.25-million GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, to be run beneath the Twin Spires Friday, May 5, 2023.

The first stage of nominations closed Feb. 18, with a $200 payment. Any 3-year-old filly not among the original entries can become eligible with a fee of $1,500 due no later than Saturday, Apr. 15.

Wonder Wheel was four-for-five during her championship season in 2022, scoring in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. before prevailing by three lengths on Breeders' Cup Friday. The strapping dark bay made her seasonal debut in the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa, where she missed by a neck to longshot and fellow Oaks aspirant Dreaming of Snow (Jess's Dream).

Others that figure prominently among the entries include 'TDN Rising Star' Julia Shining (Curlin), the full-sister to champion Malathaat who won last year's GII Demoiselle S. and was third in the Suncoast; Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), winner of Churchill's GII Golden Rod S. last November; 'Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), upset winner of last weekend's GII Rachel Alexandra S.; recent G3 UAE Oaks victress Mimi Kakushi (City of Light); and the progressive GIII Forward Gal S. winner Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance).

A complete list of the Oaks nominees will be available here in due course.

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City Of Light’s ‘Mimi’ Crowned Queen In The UAE Oaks

  A winner of the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas when last seen, MIMI KAKUSHI (City Of Light-Rite Moment, by Vicar) turned in a game effort to wear down California shipper Ami Please (Goldencents) and win the G3 UAE Oaks by 1 1/4 lengths at Meydan on Friday. She is the eighth filly to complete the Guineas/Oaks double, and first since subsequent American graded winner Shahama (Munnings) in 2022, who was also trained by Salem bin Ghadayer.

Racing for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the bay stalked from second as Ami Please crossed over to lead heading into the clubhouse turn. Rival Asawer (Nyquist), fourth in the UAE 1000 Guineas, exchanged some bumps with Mimi Kakushi on the backstretch as they chased the pacesetter. By the far turn, it was a line of three with Mimi Kakushi sandwiched between foes, but pilot Mickael Barzalona did not panic in the tight quarters, which began to ease as Asawer faded leaving the bend.

Mimi Kakushi locked horns with Ami Please at the quarter-pole, and the pair battled hammer and tongs until midstretch. At the 150-metre mark, Mimi Kakushi inched ahead of Ami Please, and eventually crossed the wire about a length to the good of that filly. Asawer hung on for third, a distant four lengths back.

Fourth in her first two local tries in November and December, the Woodford Thoroughbreds-bred graduated by two lengths over Asawer in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial on Dec. 23. She increased her winning margin to 4 1/2 lengths in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas on Jan. 20.

Pedigree Notes

The first graded/group winner for her Breeders' Cup-winning sire who stands at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, Mimi Kakushi is one of four stakes winners overall. City Of Light's eldest foals just turned three. Wild Again stallion Vicar, a winner of the GI Fountain Of Youth S. and GI Florida Derby in 1999, has sired 15 stakes winners as a broodmare sire, with Mimi Kakushi joining Vicar's In Trouble (Into Mischief) and Sandbar (War Pass) as graded/group winners.

A $180,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select yearling turned $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile (breeze video), Mimi Kakushi is a half-sister to three-time stakes winner Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro), and the stakes-winning Laudation (Congrats). Her dam, who won both the Bed o' Roses H. and Distaff H. at Aqueduct at Grade II level, has a yearling filly by Cajun Breeze. Her 2023 offspring, by Khozan, was born dead. Sales history: $180,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $250,000 2yo '22 FTIMAY. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0.

O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). T-Salem bin Ghadayer.

 

 

 

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Nations Pride Friday’s DWCC Headliner

The Dubai World Cup Carnival adds its own footnote to the study of flags, known as vexillology for the more serious, since its intent is to draw horses from all over the world. As the meet continues to march towards its big night in late March, another Friday of racing arrives with a trio of Group 3 events.

Waving Godolphin Blue

The G3 Dubai Millennium S. sports this week's headliner, as Grade I winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) returns for a new campaign after what could be considered a successful 2022. The Godolphin homebred won last year at Meydan in the Jumeirah Derby, before competing at Newmarket, Epsom, in the 'Turf Triple' at each of the NYRA courses Stateside and finally in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, where he was fifth behind stablemate Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing the blue brought him an Eclipse Award nomination in the Male Turf Division off of his victories in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. in August and the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. in September, as well as his runner-up effort in the first leg of the Turf Triple, the GI Belmont Derby Invtiational S. in July. The 4-year-old colt should enjoy a return to 10 furlongs here as the deserving favorite in European markets.

“There will be some improvement to come for whatever he [Nations Pride] does on his seasonal return, as we hope that he has another international campaign ahead of him this year, said trainer Charlie Appleby. “Depending on how he goes here, we will consider potentially looking at the [G1] Jebel Hatta [on Super Saturday] or the [G1] Dubai Turf [on Dubai World Cup night].”

Appleby also runs multiple stakes winner and multiple group-placed Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), third in the G2 Singspiel S. last time out. “Returning to this distance looks as though it might benefit Ottoman Fleet based on his two runs so far this year,” he continued. “He goes into the race a fit horse with solid form around him, so he should be a major player.”

Dual French listed winner Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) is aiming to improve after a fourth in the G3 Al Rashidiya on Jan. 13.

Longshot in the Nad Al Sheba

As for the other group races on Friday, a true distance test and  prep race for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup will be proctored at 14 panels on the grass in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy S. Godolphin, winners on nine occasions, has the advantage with four runners in Global Heat (Ire) Toronado (Ire), Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea The Stars), Siskany (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire} and Kemari (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Siskany looks great and will be a player if he brings his best form to the table,” said Charlie Appleby. “He has won over the course and trip, so he looks the one they have to beat.

“Kemari will also be competitive if he can rekindle some of his old form. He ran some solid races last year but can be a little inconsistent these days.”

Added fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, “Global Heat won over this trip in the Al Khail Trophy and came out of his recent handicap run in good order. He stays well and I'm hoping for another good effort. Brilliant Light worked well last week and has some good form over this distance. He is ready to go again and will appreciate the step up in trip.”

Not to be overlooked is the Amy Murphy trainee Magical Morning (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who is a quality longshot and could play the role of spoiler, if the gelding can handle the stretch out in distance.

American Jaunt Continues in UAE Oaks

Rounding out Friday's Group 3 events is a Classic on the dirt oval that brings together seven fillies. Of these, Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light) looks best, not because her barn won this race last year, but because the bay filly clearly likes the Meydan surface–including a pair of wins in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over 1400 metres on Dec. 23 and in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas upped to a mile on Jan. 20. Seven fillies have completed the UAE Guineas/Oaks double, with Shahama (Munnings), subsequently second in the GII Mother Goose S. and a winner of the GIII Monmouth Oaks in America, the latest in 2022.

Standing in her way will be the American-based Ami Please (Goldencents) for trainer Doug O'Neill. Running solely on turf since her California debut at Del Mar on Aug. 1, she was third last time out in the Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita, finishing just behind next out winner, Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Her barn collected a savory win last Friday with Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky) in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas.

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