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Cody’s Wish, Proxy, Join Darley 2024 Stallion Roster Headed by Nyquist

With a fee of $85,000, Nyquist (Uncle Mo) will lead the way among a total of 13 stallions who will stand at Darley's Jonabell Farm in 2024, including two new additions in GI winners Cody's Wish (Curlin) and Proxy (Tapit), according to Darley America.

Cody's Wish, out of GI winner Dance Card (by Tapit), is expected to make his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile after winning the race in 2022. A winner of 10 of 15 career starts, Cody's Wish has never finished out of the first three during his career. He heads into the Breeders' Cup boasting additional GI victories in the Met Mile, the Churchill Downs S., and the Forego S. He matched his career-high Beyer of 112 in this year's Met Mile, the same figure he achieved in last year's Forego, which is the co-top Beyer in 2023, along with Echo Zulu (Gun Runner). In addition, his 112 Beyer last year was bettered only by Flightline and future Darley stud mate Speaker's Corner.

Proxy is expected to make his next appearance on Breeders' Cup Saturday in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. By Tapit, he has won or placed in a total of 10 graded stakes, including a victory in the GI Clark S. and was within a nose and a neck of two additional Grade I wins in the Santa Anita H. and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is out of multiple GI winner Panty Raid (Include), making him the only son of Tapit out of a multiple Grade I-winning mare. The dam has also produced Grade II winner Micheline, a daughter of Bernardini.

Fees for Cody's Wish and Proxy will be announced following the Breeders' Cup.

Said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox, “It's been another fantastic year for our racing program, highlighted by the likes of Grade I winners Cody's Wish and Proxy. Being able to retire six homebred stallions to our ranks over the past three years speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication of our team from top to bottom.”

The champion first-crop sire of 2020, Nyquist, who stood for $55,000 in 2023, has had a strong 2023 as the sire of GI Alabama S. winner Randomized, GI Awesome Again S. winner Slow Down Andy, GII Amsterdam S. winner New York Thunder–where he ran a 110 Beyer–and the Royal Ascot-winning two-year-old Crimson Advocate. Randomized and Xigera both head next to the Breeders' Cup Distaff, while Crimson Advocate is expected in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire})'s stud fee will be $75,000 for 2024, down from $100,000 in 2023. The stallion is North America's leading active sire of worldwide stakes winners with 176. His son Golden Sixty (Aus) is currently the highest-earning horse in training with a bankroll of nearly $19 million. He was the sire of a $1.1 million yearling at Keeneland September, bringing his career total to 55 million-dollar sales horses.

Multiple Eclipse champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and dual Grade I winner Maxfield (Street Sense) will stand at fees of $65,000 and $35,000, respectively, next year. Their first foals will sell at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton next month.

Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire})'s fee will be at $60,000, Hard Spun (Danzig)'s at $35,000, while second year stallions Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) will stand for $17,500 and $12,500, respectively.

DARLEY AMERICA FEES — 2024

Cody's Wish (Curlin)–TBD

Proxy (Tapit)–TBD

Nyquist (Uncle Mo)–$85,000

Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire})–$75,000

Essential Quality (Tapit)–$65,000

Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire})–$60,000

Maxfield (Street Sense)–$35,000

Hard Spun (Danzig)–$35,000

Speaker's Corner (Street Sense)–$17,500

Midshipman (Unbridled's Song)–$15,000

Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)–$12,500

Frosted (Tapit)–$10,000

Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro)–$5,000

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Background Check: Beholder Mile

In this continuing series from last year, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Santa Anita's GI Beholder Mile S., the first Grade I event of the year in the distaff division.

Formerly the Vanity, formerly run at Hollywood Park, and formerly run at distances up to 1 1/4 miles, the Beholder Mile has had one constant: class. Some of the most decorated racemares of our sport have won it since it was inaugurated in 1940, including Hall of Famers Busher, Bewitch, Silver Spoon, Gamely, Azeri, Zenyatta, and, of course, Beholder, the multiple champion who won the 2016 edition and for whom the race is now named.

Following are some of the most important Beholder Mile winners by what impact they've had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Byrama (GB) (2009, Byron {GB}–Aymara {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}), bred by Ermyn Lodge Stud Limited: Five years after winning the last Vanity run at Hollywood Park, this mare produced Known Agenda (Curlin), winner of the 2021 GI Florida Derby. The popular young stallion is currently standing his second season at Spendthrift Farm, where he was among the top 30 stallions in the nation by number of mares bred last year.

Hollywood Story (2001, Wild Rush–Wife for Life, by Dynaformer), bred by Vinery: The best of her four stakes performers to date is 2020 GI Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code). The flashy young Lane's End stallion will have his first yearlings at the sales this year; he was among the top 10 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearlings himself when he sold in 2018.

Gorgeous (1986, Slew o' Gold–Kamar, by Key to the Mint), bred by Hermitage Farm, Inc., A. G. Clay, and R. N. Clay: Bred to the finest stallions of her time, Gorgeous “only” produced one stakes winner from her 11 foals, the French listed SW & MGSP Stunning (Nureyev). However, genetic gold has since been bubbling to the surface through her descendants, which include English champion and G1SW Music Show (Ire) (Noverre); Venezuelan champion La Alpujarra (Ven) (Pioneerof the Nile); four-time GISW Turbulent Descent (Congrats); GISW Swift Temper (Giant's Causeway); GSW & MGISP All Included (Include); and several other black-type winners.

Bayakoa (Arg) (1984, Consultant's Bid–Arlucea {Arg}, by Good Manners), bred by Haras Principal: From just four foals and only two daughters to make it to the breeding shed, Bayakoa is the granddam of GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned (E Dubai), MGISW Affluent (Affirmed), and GSW Walkabout (Stroll), as well as the ancestor of seven more stakes performers, including 2022 GIII Regret S. winner Walkathon (Twirling Candy) and last month's GIII Palos Verdes S. runner-up Radical Right (First Samurai).

Track Robbery (1976, No Robbery–Left At Home, by Run For Nurse), bred by Edgar Kitchen: Her MGSW & MGISP Train Robbery (Alydar) produced GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Cat Thief (Storm Cat) while another Alydar daughter produced GISW Pohave (Holy Bull) and is the granddam of GSW and $2.2-million Summer Wind broodmare purchase Tapicat (Tapit). Cat Thief is turning into a first-rate broodmare sire with runners out of his daughters including champion 2-year-old colt and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), as well as Chilean champion and U.S. GISW Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky).

It's in the Air (1976, Mr. Prospector–A Wind Is Rising, by Francis S.), bred by Happy Valley Farm: Best remembered as the first champion sired by Mr. Prospector and her sale for $4.6 million to Darley at Keeneland November in the 80s, she produced four stakes performers but it's her descendants a generation or more removed that have proved more valuable. Those tracing to her include 2021 G1 Dubai World Cup winner and new 2023 Darley stallion Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and his five-time GISW dam Music Note (A.P. Indy); U.S. GISW and English/French/Australian G1SW State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); English G1SW and U.S. MGISW Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian); French G1SW and U.S. GISW Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}); and Australian G1SWs Glencadam Gold (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) and Alverta (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}).

Tallahto (1970, Nantallah–Legato, by Dark Star), bred by Howard B. Keck: She produced two GISWs in son Prince True (Majestic Light) and daughter Hidden Light (Majestic Light) and her descendants include group winners in Japan, Australia, and South Africa, but her best thus far is undoubtedly grandson and GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}). He has sired GI/G1 winners in both the U.S. and Australia.

Countess Fleet (1951, Count Fleet–Honor Bound, by Bull Dog {Fr}), bred by Robert Lehman: Although she's got a number of stakes performers on multiple continents tracing to her, it'll likely be champion and Breeders' Cup winner Storm Song (Summer Squall) that is her legacy. One of Storm Song's daughters produced four black-type winners, including multiple European champion and MG1SW Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Two Lea (1946, Bull Lea–Two Bob, by The Porter), bred by Calumet Farm: The best of her three black-type winning sons on the racetrack was champion and dual Classic winner Tim Tam (Tom Fool), but her best in the breeding shed was seven-time stakes winner On-and-On (Nasrullah {GB}). As a sire, On-and-On's sons included 1968 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Forward Pass, while he is also the broodmare sire of breed-shaping stallion Alydar (Raise a Native).

Be Faithful (1942, Bimelech–Bloodroot, by Blue Larkspur), bred by Idle Hour Stock Farm Co: The number of high-class stakes winners tracing to this mare is significant with the very finest going through her Kentucky Oaks- and Beldame-winning daughter Lalun (Djeddah {Fr}). The impact of Lalun's champion son Never Bend (Nasrullah {GB}) and Travers-winning son Bold Reason (Hail to Reason) as sires is staggering. The former sired Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Mill Reef, as well as Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee, who is considered one of the greatest broodmares of the last century and still churns out top-class winners tracing directly to her with great regularity. Not to be outdone, Bold Reason came up with an extraordinary daughter of his own in Fairy Bridge, dam of MG1SW Sadler's Wells (Northern Dancer), whose mark on the breed as a sire is unparalleled.

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Regally-Bred, Grade I-Caliber Homebreds Join Darley Roster

Speaker's Corner (Street Sense – Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini) and Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper – Music Note, by A.P. Indy), both Grade I-winning homebreds for Godolphin, have joined the Darley America stallion roster for 2023.

The newcomers hail from impressive Godolphin families. Speaker's Corner, who will command an initial stud fee of $20,000, is out of a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff victress Round Pond (Awesome Again), while Mystic Guide, a 'TDN Rising Star' who will stand for $15,000, is a son of five-time Grade I winner Music Note.

“We couldn't be more excited to have Mystic Guide and Speaker's Corner join our stallion ranks,” said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox. “Speaker's Corner is a horse that has been held in the highest esteem right from the get-go. In the mold of a lot of the Street Senses and Street Sense himself, he has a great mind. He wanted to train and was very straightforward. Mystic Guide was another one that showed a lot of talent from the start. [Trainer] Mike Stidham was high on this horse from the early days of his 2-year-old season, so it was very satisfying to see him live up to the potential and the esteem in which he was held from the early stages of his career.”

Trained by Bill Mott, Speaker's Corner broke his maiden as a juvenile at Belmont against a field of five additional future stakes winners. He made two trips to the winner's circle as a lightly-raced 3-year-old, but then blossomed at four when he cut back to a mile. The bay dominated in this year's GIII Fred W. Hopper S. and GII Gulfstream Park Mile S. before getting his signature victory in the GI Carter H., where he earned a 114 Beyer Speed Figure. Also in 2022, Speaker's Corner ran third behind Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI Metropolitan H. and second to Life Is Good in the GII John A. Nerud S. In 13 career starts, he collected seven triple-digit Beyers.

Out of the unraced Bernardini mare Tyburn Brook, Speaker's Corner is bred on the same cross as fellow Darley sire and Grade I winner Maxfield. The Street Sense-Bernadini mating also produced Godolphin's MGSW Shared Sense.

Fox said that the Speaker's Corner reflects the best of both sides of his pedigree.

“He has a good shoulder and good depth like we've come to know and expect from the Street Sense and Street Cry (Ire) sire line. He's a correct horse with plenty of quality to him and he has been extremely popular with breeders these past couple of months.”

Street Sense has been one of Darley America's top stallions in recent years, but from his early crops, his first five Grade I winners were all fillies. Now, the Jonabell Farm resident has the opportunity to make his mark as a sire of sires. In the past three consecutive years, he has had a new Grade I-winning son take up stud duty. Street Sense's leading earner McKinzie stands at Gainesway Farm and will be represented by his first yearlings in 2023, while Maxfield will see his first foals next year as his studmate Speaker's Corner begins his own stallion career.

Jonabell Farm's other new resident Mystic Guide has been a popular addition to Darley's roster. Fox said that much of the G1 Dubai World Cup winner's appeal is in his elite racing pedigree.

Mystic Guide's dam Music Note raced to Grade I victories in the Mother Goose S., Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle S. as a 3-year-old and then added the GI Ballerina S. and GI Beldame S. at four. The daughter of A.P. Indy is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}). Their second dam It's In The Air (Mr. Prospector) was a champion 2-year-old filly and a five-time Grade I winner.

“It is rare to have a stallion that is a direct son of an elite race mare like that,” Fox explained. “A lot of times a stallion may profile as being out of a winning or an unraced daughter of such a mare, but it is not often that you get an elite-performing stallion who is a direct son of an elite mare. This female family is so deep and there really is nothing but blacktype all the way down his pedigree page.”

On the racetrack, Mystic Guide followed in the footsteps of the many talented performers on his pedigree page. He earned 'TDN Rising Star' status in his second start as a 3-year old and later that year, scored his first stakes victory in the GII Jim Dandy. Also at three, he finished less than a length behind Happy Saver (Super Saver) in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. and placed in the GIII Peter Pan S. At four, he earned a 108 Beyer in the GIII Razorback H. before going on to win the G1 Dubai World Cup.

That win marked the ninth Dubai World Cup score for Godolphin, but the first one earned from their U.S.-based racing stable. It was also the first winner outside of the U.S. for trainer Michael Stidham.

“For Godolphin to win the Dubai World Cup with a homebred and with a horse shipping over from the United States was extra special,” Fox said. “It was Michael Stidham's first time with a horse for Godolphin shipping to Dubai, so that was extra special for him to come away with the big win on his first attempt. Mystic Guide has done us proud at every step of his career and the Dubai World Cup was certainly the pinnacle of that.”

Fox added that he believes that Mystic Guide has all the qualifications to reproduce his own success on the racetrack with his future progeny.

“It's fair to say that Mystic Guide was bred for the dirt, being by Ghostzapper out of an A.P. Indy mare, and it was certainly very pleasing to watch him on the track. He had a very efficient way of going, a real daisy cutter action. He's a big, flashy chestnut with a good length of body and a good hip to him. He certainly looks like he has all the attributes to be a top dirt sire.”

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Persevering She Can’t Sing Makes the Grade in Chilukki

Making the 33rd start of her career, her 19th in the last two years and ninth of her 5-year-old season, Lothenbach Stables' She Can't Sing (Bernardini) may just be better than ever and earned an extremely valuable first victory at the graded level in the GIII Chilukki S. as the sun began to set on Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon.

A highly impressive allowance victory beneath the Twin Spires last October catapulted the homebred filly into this race, but she beat just one home and hadn't tried the dirt since. A dual stakes winner on the grass at the Fair Grounds last winter, she added the June 22 Lady Canterbury S. in owner Bob Lothenbach's native Minnesota and most recently ran on nicely to finish third behind the classy Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the Ladies' Sprint at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10.

The 7-2 third choice despite a three-for-14 mark on the dirt, She Can't Sing hit the ground running and attended the early fractions of :22.82 and :45.50 while racing between rivals down the long backstretch run. Going noticeably better than her company as they hit the turn, She Can't Sing was allowed to stride into the lead by Brian Hernandez, Jr. fully three furlongs from home, and although the perfect-trip Ice Orchid (Super Saver) took a bit of a run at her in upper stretch, She Can't Sing had plenty more to give and ran out a convincing winner. Liberty M D (Constitution), with the early pace while racing widest of the trio, was a clear third, while favored Coach (Commissioner) never reached contention in fourth.

“This mare has been really consistent on both dirt and turf so I've been able to try a couple of different things with her,” said Chicago-based Chris Block, winning his first graded race at Churchill for the first time since Prado's Sweet Ride (Fort Prado) took the GII Falls City H. almost four years ago to the day. She loves this dirt track. Last year she won an allowance at seven-eighths but ended up having a really tough trip in the Chilukki. So, I decided to make it a goal to get her back for this race. I think we'll see her back next year. She'll head to Fair Grounds after this and get a little bit of a freshening before we start looking at a spring campaign.”

Pedigree Notes:

Already one of 85 stakes winners worldwide for the late Bernardini, She Can't Sing becomes his 52nd winner at the group/graded level and is bred on the exact same cross as future Claiborne stallion and GISW Art Collector and fellow Grade I winner Takaful. She is the 55th worldwide GSW produced by a daughter of the legendary Distorted Humor.

She Can't Sing is first live foal from her dam, purchased by Lothenbach and his team for $190,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale. Distorted Music is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' GSP Zinzay (Smart Strike), the dam of SW & GISP Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon). Things get busier still in the mare's third dam, who produced five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy), responsible for G1 Dubai World Cup-winning 'Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and GSW Gershwin (Distorted Humor); as well as 2003 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI John C. Mabee H. heroine Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}).

Distorted Music foaled a full-sister to She Can't Sing in 2021 and a colt by Tapit this past February before being bred back to Into Mischief.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHILUKKI S.-GIII, $298,500, Churchill Downs, 11-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.38, ft.
1–SHE CAN'T SING, 121, m, 5, by Bernardini
                1st Dam: Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
                2nd Dam: Music Room, by Unbridled's Song
                3rd Dam: Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler's Wells
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (Bob Lothenbach) (KY); T-Chris M Block; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. $183,450. Lifetime Record: 33-8-6-5, $816,588. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ice Orchid, 118, f, 3, Super Saver–Singlet, by Real Quiet. O/B-Shortleaf Stable Inc (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $59,500.
3–Liberty M D, 121, m, 5, Constitution–Dr. Zic, by Milwaukee Brew. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($6,500 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-CHP Racing; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Ian R Wilkes. $29,750.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2 1/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 3.52, 8.68, 5.92.
Also Ran: Coach, Empire House, Mariah's Princess. Scratched: Center Aisle.
lick for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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