National Defense | Horse Racing Free Tips

Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), a strong second debuting on the Keeneland main track last month, got to her likely preferred surface of turf Sunday at Belmont and rocketed clear in the lane for 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

Bought for £75,000 by Ben McElroy at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale last October, Twilight Gleaming became the first starter for her freshman sire when backed down to 3-5 Apr. 8 at Keeneland, and ran a game second despite being pinched at the start and going wide on the turn. Recording a pair of sharp half-mile works in Lexington since, the bay was punched down to 65 cents on the dollar here and broke alertly from the rail. Taking charge early while trying to get out just a bit heading into the turn, the bay led narrowly while well in hand through a :22.26 quarter. Shaking clear into the lane on her own power, the favorite burst away impressively once given her cue by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and cruised in under a hold for the final sixteenth, hitting the wire 7 1/2 lengths to the good. Poppy Flower (Lea) completed the exacta.

Twilight Gleaming is the second winner for National Defense, an Irish National Stud resident who was a French highweight colt and Group 1 victor as a 2-year-old in 2016. He picked up his first winner Saturday in Italy. Dam Thames Pageant is an unraced full-sister to Group 1-placed Mainstream (GB) out of MSW/MGSP Golden Stream and third dam Phantom Gold was a three-time Group winner in England. Thames Pageant produced a colt by Sioux Nation last term.

4th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-9, 2yo, f, 5fT, :56.49, fm, 7 1/2 lengths.
TWILIGHT GLEAMING (IRE) f, 2, by National Defense {GB}
1st Dam: Thames Pageant {GB}, by Dansili {GB})
2nd Dam: Golden Stream (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Phantom Gold (GB), by Machiavellian
Sales History: £75,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $56,740. Click for the Equibase.com chart, VIDEO, sponsored by TVG or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward.

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2nd-Siracusa, €11,000, Mdn, 2yo, f, 1200mT.
FILLY OF MALTA (IRE) (National Defense {GB}-Amusing Plan, by Pleasantly Perfect) was driven take up the lead upon breaking, which she held only briefly as Amoazzurra (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) charged up on her outside to take over, causing Filly Of Malta to become unsettled and race with her head held high. Filly Of Malta soon dropped back to a joint fourth on the fence and was a length and a half off the lead rounding the turn. Switching out to the two path coming off the bend, Filly Of Malta employed a powerful kick to grab the lead and sprint 2 1/2 lengths clear for a decisive score, becoming the first winner for her Irish National Stud-based freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Filly Of Malta is out of a winning daughter of Contrive (Storm Cat), meaning she is from the immediate family of last year's American champion 2-year-old and recent GI Kentucky Derby favourite Essential Quality (Tapit) as well as last year's Japanese champion 3-year-old and Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Both of those are descendants of Contrive's daughter Folklore (Tiznow), who in her day was America's champion 2-year-old filly and the winner of two Grade Is. Amusing Plan has herself left behind Tiz Plan (Tiznow), a stakes winner in Korea, and the American listed-placed Street Moxie (Street Sense). She has a yearling full-brother to Filly Of Malta. Sales history: £2,500 yrl '20 TATSEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Chart and video.
O-SC Cuschieri SRL. B-Oghill House Stud Ltd & J. Burke (IRE). T-Cannella Antonino.

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