Keeneland Features Ashland Showdown As Spring Meet Opens Friday

Kentucky Senator Henry Clay might be considered one of the premier American politicians pre-Lincoln, but what is not up for debate was his fervent commitment to breeding equine athletes and attending the races.

You cannot actually visit his home–Ashland–because the structure that stands on the Clay Estate just south of downtown Lexington is not original to “The Great Compromiser” and his time. However, interpretations of Clay-related objects enliven the tour.

Ashland in name was imported as a stakes race when Keeneland opened in 1936. Some familiar female runners who graced the winner's circle at the old Keene Farm include Myrtlewood, Bewitch and Doubledogdare, and more recent fillies like Inside Information, Take Charge Lady and a personal favorite of mine, Bushfire.

As Keeneland kicks off racing on Friday, the GI Central Bank Ashland S. boasts a showdown with 3-year-old fillies looking to deposit 100 points into their Kentucky Oaks account.

For starters, the top three finishers from the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies are present, including winner Just F Y I (Justify). The champion 2-year-old filly almost made the races this spring to kick start her 2024, but trainer Bill Mott was forced to wait until Keeneland.

Also Ashland bound is Jody's Pride (American Pharoah), who was second to Just F Y I at Santa Anita, and last month won the Busher S. at Aqueduct. She will be joined by the third-place finisher from the Juvenile Fillies, Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}), who also has not made a start this year for trainer Todd Pletcher. The filly returns to the site of her win in the GI Alcibiades S. last fall.

Impel | Coady Photography

In an effort to put her own stamp on an Oaks run, 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road) will look to keep her record unblemished. Under Brad Cox's tutelage, the Juddmonte homebred  broke her maiden at Fair Grounds Jan. 1 and then posted an 8 1/2-length score and a 91-Beyer against optional claimers at Oaklawn Mar. 3.

Finally, Candied's stablemate Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) justifiably earned her 'TDN Rising Star' when she broke her maiden by 9 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct last fall before returning to finish third in the GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park Mar. 2. Halina's Forte (Mitole) will seek to raise her game for Rigney Racing, as she attempts to capitalize on her first black-type win in the Ruthless S. at the 'Big A' Feb. 17.

Keeneland's Friday slate includes the GIII Transylvania S., which draws 12, plus a pair of also-eligibles. The field for the 3-year-old turf route includes Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the first of several overseas arrivals in Kentucky for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby.

With a packed stakes schedule, plus everything from the baby races to lower daily double takeout, these are just some of the storylines on tap at Keeneland. As for past April meet leaders, Jockey Tyler Gaffalione recorded 21 victories to secure his second consecutive spring meet riding title in 2023, while last year conditioner Wesley Ward earned his sixth consecutive training honor and ninth total.

The post Keeneland Features Ashland Showdown As Spring Meet Opens Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Appleby Strikes Again in Jumeirah Classic with Legend Of Time

Charlie Appleby, runaway leading trainer this season at Meydan by both earnings ($8,915,500) and percentage of wins (40%) amongst those conditioners with more than a handful of runners at the meet, got his third winner on the Super Saturday card with LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}-Kissable {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the Listed Jumeirah Classic sponsored by Arabian Adventures. His earlier wins on the evening came with Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai City of Gold and with Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) in the Listed Jumeirah Guineas. All three of the winners are Godolphin homebreds.

Perfect in his three starts at Meydan, Legend Of Time emerged from the early scrum in an eager third and had to be hard held by jockey William Buick. Quickly settling into a comfortable spot against the rail with cover just behind the leading duo of Athan (Arg) (Orpen) and Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Buick bided his time with a clearly loaded mount until the straight loomed. With little visible effort, Legend Of Time tipped out and around Athan as Musical Act floated wide. Legend Of Time already found the front before Buick encouraged him with hands and heels and was a facile winner despite Musical Act finding more and briefly looking for a battle until Legend Of Time kicked clear by 4 3/4 lengths. Like the winner, Musical Act is a Godolphin homebred trained by Appleby. Athan held for third as none of the others factored at the finish. The final time for the 1800 metres was 1:49.83.

Legend Of Time has been steadily building his CV, having won his debut at Haydock last fall. Off the board when trying the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket three weeks later, he was put away before reemerging in Dubai to win conditions events Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, going 1400 meters and 1600 meters, respectively.

“He's won the series now and probably 1800 metres is more to his liking,” said Buick. “He's an exciting horse for the rest of the season. The American Turf Derby series over there might suit him.”

Appleby's exacta in the Jumeirah Classic mirrored his success in the race in 2023, when he sent Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to fill out the trifecta. He only had the two entrants this year.

Legend Of Time is the 117th black-type winner worldwide for Gilltown Stud's all-conquering Sea The Stars (Ire). With the Jumeirah Classic winner, the remarkable sire of 70 group winners now has two stakes winners out of daughters of Danehill Dancer and an additional two out of daughters of that one's sire, Danehill. The late Danehill Dancer has 168 stakes winners as a broodmare sire.

Kissable (Ire), dam of Legend Of Time and herself a listed American stakes winner who also placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., is the dam of G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and additional American stakes winner and Grade I stakes-placed Amandine (GB) (Shamardal). Her 2022 Pinatubo (Ire) colt died as a yearling and she produced a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly last year. Her granddam, high class English runner Eva Luna (Alleged), produced multiple Group 1 winner Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells), global multiple group winner and multiple top-level placer Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), and the unraced Soviet Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), dam of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe/G1 Espom Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best). Click for the ERA chart and video.

JUMEIRAH CLASSIC SPONSORED BY ARABIAN ADVENTURES-Listed, AED800,000, Meydan, 3-2, 3yo, 9fT, 1:49.83, gd.
1–LEGEND OF TIME (GB), 121, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
                1st Dam: Kissable (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Kitty O'Shea (GB), by Sadler's Wells
                3rd Dam: Eva Luna, by Alleged
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin (GB); B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. AED480,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, AED795,989.
2–Musical Act (Ire), 121, g, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Poetic Charm (GB), by Dubawi (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. AED160,000.
3–Athan (Arg), 131, c, 3, Orpen–Athania (Arg), by Pure Prize(GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Gulf Racing Club LLC; B-Carampangue (ARG); T-Fawzi Nass. AED80,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2 1/4, 1.
Also Ran: Quartier (Uru), Whathappensinvegas (Ire), Tohoku, Acclaim To Royalty (Ire). Scratched: Drink Dry (Ire).

The post Appleby Strikes Again in Jumeirah Classic with Legend Of Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights