Turf Puts Focus on Best of Both Worlds

Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence?

That’s certainly a plausible inference, looking at the latest Grade I event staged on American turf. Of the seven fillies and mares contesting the Just A Game S. at Belmont on Saturday, four were bred in Europe; and three of those also started their track careers there. Moreover the solitary American winner at Royal Ascot was actually bred and raised in Ireland, and exported only last fall from Tattersalls.

It stands to reason, of course, if European blood tends to appear more effective on “the weeds”. Turf, or a synthetic variant, is the theater of operation for just about every Thoroughbred over there. Little wonder if raiders from their elite have such a good record on grass at the Breeders’ Cup, taking on horses drawn from what is generally perceived to be a lesser caste of the indigenous population.

Sure enough, I see horses running every week in Europe that would elevate their earnings and breeding profile in North America. Nonetheless I feel that the success of European imports–whether purchased in training like Uni (GB) (More Than Ready); or acquired in their youth like Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire})–needs to be placed in due perspective. Because there’s no doubt in my mind that European breeders are suffering by their wilful neglect of American bloodlines.

Yes, all credit to those American scouts who found these Just A Game protagonists. And hats off to Wesley Ward, his patrons at Stonestreet Stables and agent Ben McElroy, who found G2 Queen Mary S. winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the consignment of breeder Tally-Ho Stud at the October Sale for 190,000gns.

But their expertise should not diminish those other performances that actually gave American blood a “sneaky-good” week at Ascot–even though the weather, conspiring with the melancholy ambience of the pandemic, had produced conditions inimical to horses purportedly adapted to fast going.

Remember that a culpable insularity in the European market over recent years duly resulted in a very sparse representation, through the week, of American bloodlines. In most races, especially over routes of ground, there was none whatsoever. Yet such few bullets as were fired repeatedly circled the bull’s-eye.

At Group 1 level, Kimari (Munnings) was an excellent second in the Commonwealth Cup; likewise another sophomore filly, Sharing (Speightstown), in the Coronation S. Two sons of Uncle Mo lined up for the G2 Norfolk S.: one, Golden Pal, travelled best but was just worried out of it, by a neck, in the dead ground; the other missed the break but finished well for fourth. A similar credit goes to Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) in the G3 Jersey S., having made a scything move from last to first before just being clawed back in the cloying final strides.

Though running in the silks of partner Peter Brant, who bought him with M.V. Magnier as a yearling, Monarch of Egypt modelled the latest solution to what is an increasing challenge to his trainer’s patrons at Coolmore. For his dam, the Classic-placed Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), typifies the saturation of the farm’s broodmare band by its epoch-making champion sire. As a fresh outcross option, there has been an extra premium on American Pharoah’s strong start in grass racing.

Hitherto Coolmore’s investment in War Front has been as effective as anything–perhaps bar their own, lamented Scat Daddy–and the latest reward is Chesham S. winner Battleground. He’s the first foal out of one of Galileo’s very best daughters, Found (Ire). (Britannia H. third Cherokee Trail, incidentally, represents the same formula, being by War Front out of a smart Galileo {Ire} mare.)

I’d say that’s a pretty creditable effort, in the circumstances. In fact, for so small a group to figure so prominently on soft turf should encourage people to reconsider their assumptions about the eligibility of American bloodlines for different environments.

All pedigrees tend to be read too prescriptively. It always makes me smile when trainers, asked how a horse might handle a novel surface, reply that “the sire acted on it so we should be okay”. Yes, a stallion may sometimes replicate mechanics that are effective in certain conditions (which is presumably why we do get some legible statistical trends). But quite apart from the dam’s equal contribution to build and movement, you would think that staring intently at the same horse striding out every morning might be a better place to start.

Anyway the fact is that many perceived aptitudes, in terms of racing surface, are self-fulfilling. Don’t worry, I’m not going to reiterate for the umpteenth time how many “dirt” bloodlines only need opportunity to transfer their dynamism to turf, and vice versa. But carrying speed is said to be a dirt hallmark. And I don’t know a horseman anywhere who wouldn’t like a fast horse who can keep going fast. (That’s the whole point of Epsom, after all: next Saturday you’ll need a horse round there that has all bases covered.)

There’s no doubt that the overwhelming hegemony of Galileo and his sons (plus Urban Sea’s other great son Sea The Stars {Ire}) in elite European racing beyond a mile has obtained a somewhat self-sustaining quality, with commercial breeders washing their hands of stamina influences and instead seeking sanctuary in sharp and early sprint sires. These stallions do not have the slightest pretension to getting you a Classic winner.

Typically, the precious few who do try to stem the Ballydoyle tide in Classics are owner-breeders. And they have actually been well rewarded for doing so. For one thing, even if they stick to what they know, they can still get to Enable (GB)’s sire Nathaniel (Ire), himself a son of Galileo, for no more than £25,000. But who can say what their pathetic lack of enterprise is costing the premier European stables, farther afield? As it is, David Redvers has been able to buy champion Roaring Lion and now 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko–both, of course, sons of Kitten’s Joy–for an aggregate of just $250,000.

I am absolutely certain that their sire is just one example of the neglected Classic potential available to European operations on the American marketplace. And that’s because, in polar contrast to the gross caricature that somehow retains currency among European horsemen who should know better, American commercial breeders are still dedicated to the Classic grail. Yes, they want speed; but they want speed that will last two turns on the first Saturday in May.

One of the most prominent (and therefore, presumably, one of the most affluent) agents in Europe once told me that he never goes to Keeneland because American breeders are only interested in speed. I merely smirked to myself. I should have laughed in his face. Because really it’s disgusting that someone in his position doesn’t understand how many Kentucky stallions could give his clients’ mares a chance to break the Ballydoyle and/or Urban Sea monopolies at Epsom.

In recent times, it has instead been American professionals who have shown a wholesome spirit of adventure, whether at Royal Ascot or Tattersalls. Yet they, in turn, should think carefully about the kind of variegation they want to import from the European gene pool.

Bravo to those who have taken the logical next step, after seeing the success of horses bought off the track in Europe, by trying to recruit them less expensively at source. But if unearthing a Royal Ascot juvenile is a challenging commission, then let’s not forget that it’s pretty much the same one that has caused this worrying imbalance in European commercial breeding.

The rags-to-riches story of Campanelle’s sire is a phenomenal one; and he has been supervised by a family of horsemen touched by genius. But for every Kodiac (GB) or Dark Angel (Ire), commercial farms have flooded the market with a score of cheap imitations. And even the biggest fan of Kodiac–and there are now more than ever, after his staggering new exploit in hoarding three Group sprints on the final day of Ascot–will struggle to acclaim him as any kind of Classic influence.

European breeders trade gratefully on the heritage of Royal Ascot, and are duly profiting from transatlantic competition for yearlings that might have the zip to run there the following June. But American breeders should recognize that the authentic family silver of the European gene pool, which could certainly serve their broodmare bands, is housed in a different cabinet.

Certainly it would be unfortunate if Europe’s commercial toxins were now to contaminate the enduring strengths of the American Thoroughbred as well.

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Saturday’s Belmont Headliner is Brown’s ‘Game’ to Lose

Chad Brown saddles a trio so strong in Belmont’s GI Just a Game S. Saturday that it would be quite surprising if he does not take home his fourth straight renewal of the event. Leading the Brown contingent is Uni (GB) (More Than Ready), who makes her first start of 2020 after a championship 2019 season. Winner of the 2018 GI Matriarch S., the chestnut kicked off last term with a win in the Perfect Sting S. over course and distance June 29 and was third to the re-opposing Got Stormy (Get Stormy) when facing males in Saratoga’s GI Fourstardave H. in August. Returning to winning ways in Keeneland’s GI First Lady S. Oct. 5, Uni got the better of Got Stormy last tie with a 1 1/2-length score when facing the boys again in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 2. Got Stormy won last year’s Matriarch, but is winless in three starts this season, most recently finishing fourth in Belmont’s GIII Beaugay S. June 3.

“She’s doing well,” Brown told the NYRA notes team in reference to Uni. “There’s a little uncertainty with the layoff, but she seems to be training well. She has a great turn of foot and we’ll just see how it plays out.”

Uni’s biggest competition will likely come from her own shedrow in Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). A perfect three-for-three during her 2019 juvenile seasonal capped by a win at the Breeders’ Cup, the bay was winless in 2019, starting with a pair of runner-up efforts in the GIII Edgewood S. and GIII Wonder Again S. Fading to ninth in the GI Belmont Oaks last July, she was subsequently shelved for the season and appeared back to her old self when next seen in the seven-panel GIII Intercontinental S. over a yielding course at Belmont June 6. Newspaperofrecord seemed to relish the cutback in trip last time–registering a 103 Beyer Speed Figure–after racing over distances from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles last season and a repeat of that performance would make her a strong contender here.

“She seems very settled in the mornings,” Brown said of Newspaperofrecord. “She went fast fractions last time, which wasn’t really what I wanted, but she doesn’t need to do that. She’s been pretty relaxed and settled.”

The third Brown runner Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) will likely be much higher odds than her two stablemates, but it would be no surprise to see her get a piece. The chestnut captured both the GIII Lake George S. and GII Lake Placid S. last summer, but could only manage sixth behind another stablemate Cambier Parc (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI QEII Cup Oct. 12. She finished second to Newspaperofrecord last out in the Intercontinental.

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Just A Game: One-Turn Mile The Right Trip For 12-1 Chance Zofelle

Trainer Brendan Walsh said a one-turn mile is the right fit for stakes-winner Zofelle, which is why he will send the 4-year-old Zoffany bay to Belmont Park for Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Just a Game over the Widener turf course.

Owned by Heider Family Stables, Zofelle was third, beaten a neck in the Grade 3 Mint Julep on May 30 at Churchill Downs, where she broke from the outside, tracked the pace in third and maintained her position down the stretch while in pursuit, but was unable to hold off the late charge of Secret Message and stablemate La Signare.

Zofelle joined Walsh's barn last fall after racing in Great Britain for Hugo Palmer and won her first three North American starts for the trainer, two of which were at a mile, including a stakes win in the Pago Hop on December 28 at Fair Grounds.

“I think that in an ideal world, a mile is her trip,” Walsh said. “We drew wide last time and [jockey] Corey [Lanerie] had to work to put her in the race. The draw and having to use her early on didn't help us. It was the best race she's run since we got her. The one-turn mile is right up her alley. I think that suits her better and that's why I wanted to run her up there.”

Notching a victory in Saturday's race will be no easy task, as she will have to face Breeders' Cup winners Newspaperofrecord and Uni. Zofelle is 12-1 on the Just A Game morning line.

“It's a tough race, but it will suit her well. She's training well and I think that she'll run well,” Walsh said.

Bred in Ireland by Fullbury and Minch Bloodstock, Zofelle is out of the Galileo broodmare Height of Elegance, who is a half-sister to Group 1-winner Sequoyah – the dam of Irish champion Henrythenavigator. She also comes from the same family as 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Magician.

Walsh said he plans on running La Signare, who won the 2018 Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont, in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland following a runner-up effort in the Mint Julep. The French-bred daughter of Siyouni beat Zofelle two starts back in the Sand Springs at Gulfstream Park.

“She's doing well, and we have the Jenny Wiley under consideration,” Walsh said. “We're lucky to have two very nice fillies. Hopefully, they can hold their own against Grade 1 company.”

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Brown Enters Three In Pursuit Of Fourth Straight Just A Game Victory

Trainer Chad Brown will bring a strong hand of cards to the table when he saddles turf champion Uni, Grade 1-winner Newspaperofrecord and two-time graded stakes winner Regal Glory in pursuit of a fourth consecutive win in the 27th running of Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Just a Game over the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.

The one-mile event for fillies and mares is one of four graded stakes events carded for Saturday afternoon's action packed program at beautiful Belmont Park, which also features the Grade 2, $250,000 New York at 1 ¼ miles on Belmont Park's inner turf; the Grade 2, $150,000 True North, for 4-year-olds and up going 6 ½ furlongs, and the Grade 3, $100,000 Vagrancy for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up contesting at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.

Brown has saddled Antonoe (2017), A Raving Beauty (2018) and Rushing Fall (2019) to victory in the past three editions of the Just a Game, which is named in honor of Peter Brant's six-time graded stakes winning filly who was named Champion Grass Mare in 1980.

Defending Champion Turf Mare Uni will make her 2020 debut in the Just a Game, having not raced since taking last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita, where she became the sixth female to score a win in the race.

Known for her devastating late kick, the 6-year-old daughter of More Than Ready made up 11 lengths in the Breeders' Cup, where she broke sharply, was taken back in the early stages and put her sweeping turn of foot on display around the far turn with a five-wide move and stormed to victory by 1 ½ lengths. The impressive triumph registered a career-best 106 Beyer and was the fourth triple-digit speed figure recorded by the talented chestnut mare.

Uni, whose last eight starts took place at the Just a Game's distance, is a three-time Grade 1-winner with all three victories at such caliber taking place over different surfaces. Following a win in the Grade 1 Matriarch in December 2018 at Del Mar, where she made up 19 lengths, Uni secured a victory in the Grade 1 First Lady in October at Keeneland en route to her Breeders' Cup Mile triumph.

“She's doing well,” Brown said. “There's a little uncertainty with the layoff, but she seems to be training well. She has a great turn of foot and we'll just see how it plays out.”

Uni began her career in France for former conditioner Fabrice Chappet and has placed in 11 of her 12 starts in the United States for Brown.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Robert LaPenta, Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners and Michael Caruso's Bethlehem Stables, Uni has won at six different tracks in the United States and boasts the highest amount of lifetime earnings in the field with $2,347,880.

Uni is bred in Great Britain by Haras D'Etreham and is out of the Dansili broodmare Unaided.

Jockey Joel Rosario has been aboard for her last six outings and will pilot once more from post 6.

Owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, Newspaperofrecord arrives at the Just a Game off a wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 3 Intercontinental on June 6 over the Widener turf, where she recorded swift fractions but still had enough left in the tank to draw off to a four-length victory recording a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

The 4-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega made amends from a disappointing 3-year-old campaign where she went winless in three starts. Newspaperofrecord began her career with an unscathed 2-year-old campaign, which included victories in a Saratoga turf maiden event, the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs by a combined 20 lengths.

“She's doing fine,” Brown said. “She seems very settled in the mornings. She went fast fractions last time, which wasn't really what I wanted, but she doesn't need to do that. She's been pretty relaxed and settled.”

Favored in all seven of her career starts, Newspaperofrecord boasts a 7-4-2-0 record, with all four of her victories taking place over yielding turf courses.
Bred in Ireland by Times of Wigan, Newspaperofrecord is out of the Holy Roman Emperor broodmare Sunday Times.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has been aboard for all of her starts and will return to the irons from post 4.

Rounding out the Brown threesome is Paul Pompa, Jr.'s dual graded stakes-winner Regal Glory. The 4-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom was second to Newspaperofrecord in the Intercontinental last out in her first start of the year. Her summer at Saratoga last year was a prosperous one as she took the Grade 3 Lake George over stablemates Blowout and Dogtag and followed up with a win in the Grade 2 Lake Placid over good ground, where she dead-heated for victory alongside Varenka.

Regal Glory has never finished worse than second in eight of her nine career starts. Her lone off the board effort was when she stretched out to a mile and an eighth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland finishing sixth beaten four lengths to stable mate Cambier Parc.

“A mile is a good distance for her. It's a big step up for her, but hopefully can grab a piece of it,” Brown said.

A Kentucky homebred, Regal Glory is out of the dual turf graded stakes winning More Than Ready broodmare Mary's Follies who also produced multiple graded stakes-winner Night Prowler and unbeaten Japanese group stakes winner Café Pharoah.

Breaking from post 5, Regal Glory will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Looking to make amends after three losses in 2020 is Gary Barber's two-time Grade 1-winner Got Stormy who will attempt to put her best foot forward for trainer Mark Casse, who saddled 2015 Champion Turf Female Tepin to victory in the Just a Game five years ago.

The daughter of Get Stormy was a hard-fought second to Uni in the Breeders' Cup Mile and recorded six straight triple-digit speed figures last season, including a 109 from her victory in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga against males.

The chestnut mare arrives off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont Park, which came after finishing second beaten a neck in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.

Jockey Luis Saez will be aboard Got Stormy from post 2.

Trainer Brad Cox sends out last year's runner-up Beau Recall who will try to move forward off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 Mint Julep on May 30 at Churchill Downs.

The daughter of Sir Prancealot won the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs and the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar last season.
Jockey Jose Ortiz will be aboard from post 1.

Rounding out the field are Valedictorian [post 3, Jose Lezcano] and Zofelle [post 7, Javier Castellano].

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