‘Party On!’: Constitution Colt Turns In ‘Rising Star’-Worthy Performance at Churchill

Pin Oak Stud LLC's Parchment Party (Constitution), who overcame a bit of traffic and a tight spot inside at a crucial stage when belying debut odds of 16-1 over this track and distance Sept. 15, doubled up with an equally eye-catching performance in a Thursday allowance at Churchill Downs, becoming a new 'TDN Rising Star' in the process. He is the eighth 'Rising Star' for his WinStar-based stallion.

Drawn widest in a field of 10 and only lightly regarded in the wagering at just north of 11-2, the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling allowed the inside traffic to clear and was guided down towards the inside by James Graham and trailed into the backstretch. Going sweetly with the better part of a dozen lengths to find passing the half-mile marker, Parchment Party caught the eye with an inside rally around the second turn and was produced three wide into the stretch. Behind a wall of horses at the three-sixteenths, the June foal descended on the leading group five off the fence inside the final furlong and did his best work through the wire to take it by a widening 1 1/2 lengths while not appearing completely focused at the finish of what has the feel of a key race.

First World War (War Front), trying the dirt for the first time and exiting a close fourth as the favorite in the grassy GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland last month, pulled fiercely beneath Tyler Gaffalione for the opening half-mile, settled better thereafter and stayed on for second ahead of longshot Lagynos (Kantharos) in third. Catching Freedom (Constitution), the even-money chalk off a visually impressive debut going this track's one-turn mile Oct. 1, was badly blocked for a run with time ticking away and finished a luckless fourth.

Parchment Party, bred on the same cross that produced GI Belmont S. hero and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law and Grade III winner and 'TDN Rising Star' We the People, is half-brother to Muqtaser (Distorted Humor), MGSP, $303,605; and Darley Japan stallion American Patriot (War Front), GISW, $487,272, and is out of Life Well Lived–a full-sister to MGI/G1SW Well Armed–who was purchased by Bobby Flay in foal to American Pharoah for $1.25 million at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Life Well Lived is also kin to GSW Witty (Distorted Humor), the dam of GSW Bombard (War Front) and MGSP Amuse (Medaglia d'Oro); and to Well Lived (Tiznow), whose recently retired daughter Played Hard (Into Mischief) won this year's GI La Troienne S. This is also the family of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S (Kris S.).

Life Well Lived, who was RNAd for $775,000 when offered in foal to Curlin at KEENOV in 2019, has a yearling full brother to Parchment Party and was purchased by Machmer Hall for $360,000 at Keeneland November Thursday carrying a full-sibling to Parchment Party.

8th-Churchill Downs, $128,215, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-9, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.34, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
PARCHMENT PARTY, c, 2, by Constitution
1st Dam: Life Well Lived, by Tiznow
2nd Dam: Well Dressed, by Notebook
3rd Dam: Trithenia, by Gold Meredian
Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $141,960. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-William I Mott.

 

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Geaux Rocket Ride Succumbs to Injuries

GI Haskell S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}–Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo), who was pulled up with an open condylar fracture earlier this week in routine morning work at Santa Anita, has been euthanized, his connections announced Wednesday afternoon. He had undergone successful surgery Sunday evening, but did not recover as well as hoped, owner Pin Oak Stud had originally said in a Monday update.

Pin Oak gave a final update on X, formerly known as Twitter, late Wednesday, saying, “Our hearts are broken but Geaux Rocket Ride is at peace. We will miss you forever, Rocket.”

Pin Oak's official statement said: “It is with very heavy hearts that we report that, at the recommendation of the medical team, Geaux Rocket Ride has finally reached peace. His mind and his spirit never quit, but his body never recovered from surgery. He had a very rare response post-op and he wasn't able to stand up again. He fought hard and our team of vets tried everything they could.

“We are grateful for Dr. Bramlage, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Slovis, Dr. Klohnen and all of the other doctors and medical staff who helped Rocket. We are appreciative of all of the support that we've received from everyone. We made sure he knew how loved he was. Geaux Rocket Ride was the first member of our Pin Oak family and he will never be forgotten. We will miss you forever, Rocket.”

Bred by OXO Equine LLC in Kentucky, Geaux Rocket Ride was a $350,000 purchase on behalf of the Pin Oak team at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale in 2021. Sent to Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, he burst onto the scene this January with a 5 3/4-length maiden special weight win at Santa Anita. After winning the Affirmed S. in June, he shipped across the country to Monmouth Park and won the TVG.com Haskell S. He also placed in both the GI Fanduel Racing Pacific Classic and the GII San Felipe S. His final record was 5-3-2-0 with earnings of $980,200.

The Breeders' Cup also released a statement late Wednesday, saying: “The immense effort that went into Geaux Rocket Ride's medical care following Saturday's injury is a testament to his team's deep commitment to his wellbeing. Our thoughts are with Pin Oak Stud LLC, Richard Mandella, and everyone affected by his loss.”

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Pin Oak Offers Guarded Update on Geaux Rocket Ride’s Condition

Pin Oak Stud has tweeted an update on the condition of its Grade I winner Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), who suffered an open condylar fracture with intersesmoidian ligament damage during a work at Santa Anita Saturday. He underwent surgery Sunday evening.

“Rocket is having an unexpected response to the surgery and isn't recovering as we hoped,” the tweet stated. “He appears to be in no pain and is eating. Our boy is still fighting hard, so we will keep fighting for him. Under Dr. Carpenter's recommendation, he is moving to another facility better equipped to handle his post-op recovery.”

Trained by Richard Mandella, Geaux Rocket Ride won the GI Haskell S. at Monmouth Park in July and was most recently a narrowly beaten second in the Sept. 2 GI Pacific Classic.

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$925k Twirling Candy Colt Stands Out at Keeneland’s Book 4 Finale

A colt by Twirling Candy broke clear of the pack when selling for $925,000 to Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud during an otherwise steadily consistent conclusion to the Book 4 section of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Tuesday in Lexington.

Through both sessions of Book 4, Keeneland sold 606 yearlings for $46,078,000. The book average of $76,036 declined 5.0% from last year, while the median dipped 8.3% to $55,000.

During last year's Book 4 section, 609 yearlings sold for $48,726,500. The section's average was $80,011 and the median was $60,000. The book's top price was $600,000, one of seven to sell for $400,000 or over during the two sessions. Just two hit that mark this year.

With just 55 horses reported not sold Tuesday, the session buy-back rate was 15.45%.

Paramount Sales, which sold the session topper, was the session's leading consignor with 26 head sold for $2,529,000.

“We had a fantastic day,” said Paramount's Pat Costello. “I think we only had three or four RNA's, you can't beat that. It's a great sale, all in all, really. And it's still coming on. I didn't think it would be this strong, but it is.”

The Keeneland September sale continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Candy Grab for Pin Oak

A colt by Twirling Candy (hip 2555) was a clear standout Tuesday at Keeneland, attracting a host of admirers from around the grounds before selling for $925,000 to Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud. The operation has already enjoyed top-level success with a son of Twirling Candy's sire, Candy Ride (Arg).

“He's a big two-turn looking Twirling Candy with a standout physical,” the Bernhards' advisor Matt Weinmann said of th yearling's appeal. “We've had good luck with the Candy Ride line so far in Geaux Rocket Ride and we want to find 10 more just like him. This colt fits that bill and we're thrilled to have him.”

Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) was one of the Bernhards' first Thoroughbred purchases when they acquired the colt for $350,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Sale. He won this year's GI Haskell S. and was second in the GI Pacific Classic.

Bred by Alice Bramford and Highfield Investment Group, hip 2555 is out of Hiking (First Defence) and he was consigned by Paramount Sales.

“Our expectations were high for him,” said Paramount's Pat Costello. “He was a nice individual. He passed everybody and most of the grounds were on him. We were delighted for the breeders and delighted Pin Oak got him.”

Of the colt's final price tag, Costello said with a laugh, “That was on the upper side of our expectations, being honest.”

Also Tuesday, Pin Oak purchased a colt by Oscar Performance (hip 2481) for $105,000. Through eight sessions, the operation has acquired 19 yearlings for $8,835,000.

Belladonna Stays Busy at Keeneland

Trainer Cherie DeVaux continued to add yearlings to the Belladonna Racing partnership into Book 4 at Keeneland, purchasing the top-priced filly of Tuesday's session when going to $275,000 to acquire a daughter of Not This Time (hip 2631)  from the Paramount Sales consignment.

“David [Ingordo] goes out and scouts at the farms,” DeVaux said. “And he had seen this filly out prior to the sale last month and marked her down as a horse to keep an eye on. He waited for her today.”

Also Tuesday, the partnership purchased a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 2159) from Warrendale Sales for $240,000 and a son of Collected (hip 2593) for $80,000.

“You hope it gets more reasonable,” DeVaux said of the market as the Keeneland sale moved into its second week. “But these days, the way the sales have been throughout the last two years, it's been really strong throughout and you have to buy when there is a horse that you like that fits whatever your parameters are. If you try to wait to get more in the later books, it doesn't necessarily translate.”

Through eight sessions, Belladonna has now purchased 18 yearlings for $4,917,000. Leading the way was a Quality Road half-brother to GI Pacific Classic winner Arabian Lion (Uncle Mo) (hip 41) acquired for $500,000 during last Monday's opening session of the auction.

“We are just trying to get the best athlete with some pedigree for what we pay,” said DeVaux. “Some we knew we would have to stretch on, we know, but we were really just trying to stay where we evaluated them.”

Belladonna was represented last season by graded-stakes performers Coastana (Kitten's Joy), third in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. and the GII Flower Bowl S., and Bout Time (Not This Time), who won the Goldwood S.

“We started out with only getting fillies for the first four years just because that was less risk with having some residual value,” DeVaux said of the evolution of the partnership. “We introduced colts in the last couple of years buying predominately from the yearling sales instead of the 2-year-old sales. And it's gotten a lot bigger. The first group had six and it had four the third year, it continues to evolve in the numbers and the budget.”

The sixth edition of the partnership will continue its shopping next spring.

“We still have some [of the budget] left for the 2-year-old sales,” DeVaux said. “The budget really isn't that much different from last year, it's just our average per horse is less this year than it was last year.”

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