Champ and BC Winner Meet Again at Churchill

Champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint upsetter Aloha West (Hard Spun) face off once again Saturday in the GI Churchill Downs S. Winner of the GII Pat Day Mile on this card last year, Jackie's Warrior came up a neck short in Belmont's GI Woody Stephens S. in June and romped in Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S. next out Aug. 1. Defeating MGISW Life is Good (Into Mischief) by a neck after a gritty duel in the Spa's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. 27 days later, the bay demolished his competition in the GII Gallant Bob S. at Parx Sept. 25. Favored in the BC Sprint, Jackie's Warrior did the heavy lifting early, but came up empty in the stretch, fading to sixth. He had done enough to earn the Eclipse Award as top male sprinter and kicked off this term with a front-running score in a sloppy renewal of Oaklawn's GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 16. Jackie's Warrior's Amsterdam win was also in the slop and he may face a similar conditions Saturday given the current weather predictions.

Aloha West captured a pair of optional claimers at Saratoga last summer and rallied to be a neck second in Keeneland's GII Phoenix S. Oct. 8. Dispatched at 11-1 in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, the dark bay closed strongly to spring the upset by a nose at Del Mar Nov. 6.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) enters this of a good-looking score in a sloppy renewal of Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. Apr. 9. Fifth afer a bad start and wide trip in his seasonal bow at Gulfstream Feb. 5, he romped in a one-mile event there exactly one month later.

Also worth a look here are GI Carter H. second- and third-place finishers Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) and Mind Control (Stay Thirsty). 'TDN Rising Star' Reinvestment Risk was second to Jackie's Warrior in both the GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S., while Mind Control is a two-time Grade I winner.

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Prevalence Captures the Commonwealth

'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence made the grade Saturday with a good-looking score in the Commonwealth at Keeneland. Away well from post 10, the bettors' second choice raced in a joint second as favored fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Nashville zipped through an opening quarter in :22.12. The bay turned up the heat on the chalk a bit through a :44.61 half-mile and they turned for home on even terms. Nashville threw in the towel at the top of the stretch, fading fast to the back of the field, but Prevalence had a head full of steam, rolling clear to score. Long Range Toddy completed the exacta with O Besos in third.

“I wasn't sure we'd get that close to [Nashville],” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “[The plan was] let [Prevalence] work his way into the race. They were going quick, but he looked comfortable the whole time. Tyler [Gaffalione] said he was just cruising along for him.”

“He's just a very smart horse,” Gaffalione said. “He does everything so easily. The first thing Brendan said was, 'Man, they went quick, but it looked like he was doing it well within himself,' and he really was.He has a high cruising speed, and he's a very intelligent horse. I had plenty left.”

Opening his account with a pair of flashy wins at Gulfstream last winter, Prevalence was off the board when stepped up in class for both the GII Wood Memorial S. and GII Pat Day Mile, after which he was shelved for the season. Returning Feb. 5 in a Gulfstream optional claimer, he finished fifth after a bad start and rebounded with a decisive score next out at that oval Mar. 5.

Pedigree Notes:
Prevalence is the 87th graded winner and the 163rd black-type scorer for Darley's Medaglia d'Oro. He is also the 17th graded victor and 28th black-type achiever out of a daughter of Ghostzapper. The Godolphin homebred is a half-sibling to Group 3 winner Estihdaaf and stakes winner Libreta (Girolamo). His 3-year-old half-brother Emirates Road (Quality Road) rallied to victory for Walsh and Godolphin in a seven-panel maiden special weight at Keeneland earlier on Saturday's card (video). Their dam Enrichment is a daughter of blue hen and Grade II winner Sahara Gold, making her a full-sister to MGISW Better Lucky and SW Final Frontier and a half to GSW Sahara Heat (A.P. Indy). Sahara Gold is a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint victress Desert Stormer (Storm Cat). Enrichment's recent produce includes a juvenile colt by Frosted and a yearling colt by Uncle Mo. She was bred back to Medaglia d'Oro.

Saturday, Keeneland
COMMONWEALTH S.-GIII, $300,000, Keeneland, 4-9, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.47, sy.
1–PREVALENCE, 118, c, 4, by Medaglia d'Oro
                1st Dam: Enrichment, by Ghostzapper
                2nd Dam: Sahara Gold, by Seeking the Gold
                3rd Dam: Desert Stormer, by Storm Cat
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
O/B-Godolphin, LLC; T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione.
$174,375. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-0, $288,225. *1/2 to Libreta
(Girolamo), SW, $128,660; and Estihdaaf (Arch), GSW-UAE,
$183,491. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 'TDN Rising Star'
2–Long Range Toddy, 118, h, 6, Take Charge Indy–Pleasant
Song, by Unbridled's Song. O-Zenith Racing; B-Willis Horton
Racing LLC (KY); T-Dallas Stewart. $56,250.
3–O Besos, 118, c, 4, Orb–Snuggs and Kisses, by Soto.
O-Bernard Racing LLC, Tagg Team Racing, West Point
Thoroughbreds and Stephens, Terry L.; B-L. Barrett Bernard
(KY); T-Gregory D. Foley. $28,125.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1. Odds: 2.50, 45.20, 4.30.
Also Ran: Surveillance, South Bend, Three Technique, Manny Wah, Endorsed, Atoka, Nashville. Scratched: Sir Alfred James. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Insight Outcomes: Kimari and Prevalence Win, Taiba Is a ‘Rising Star’

Welcome to Insight Outcomes, where we take a look at how the previous week's “Insighted” horses fared. Insights generally focus on well-bred and/or well-sold horses early in their careers, but occasionally we also have a returning older horse that's made a splash. That was the case this week.

Thursday's Insights: GISW Kimari Looms Large in Gulfstream Allowance

3rd-Gulfstream, $55,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 3-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:16.10, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.

If her 5 1/4-length tour de force in this Gulfstream allowance is any indication, 'TDN Rising Star' and GISW KIMARI (m, 5, Munnings–Cozze Up Lady {GSW, $407,169}, by Cozzene) has the potential for a big year ahead. Making her first start since for her new connections since being purchased for $2.7 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale, Kimari was hard held early, merely got the whip waved at her in what was the most serene of hand rides, and pricked her ears as she crossed the wire. The bay won last April's GI Madison S. on the dirt at Keeneland, but has also been runner-up twice at Royal Ascot on the lawn (the 2020 G1 Commonwealth Cup and the 2019 G2 Queen Mary S.).

“She's been doing great,” trainer Wesley Ward said immediately after the race. “She's an immensely talented horse that's been plagued by physical injuries throughout her career and always overcame them. [Lately] she's been very, very sound.”

Ward has been Kimari's trainer from the outset, first for Ten Broeck Farm and now for the partnership of Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Westerberg Limited, and Jonathan Poulin. He indicated the team was leaning toward a defense of her Madison title for Kimari's next start. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

Saturday's Insights: Well-Bred Siblings to Graded Winners Debut

2nd-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-5, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.38, ft, head.

There can be only one winner and it was the George Arnold trainee VETERANS HIGHWAY (f, 3, Quality Road–New Wave {SP, $122,423}, by Tale of the Cat), featured back in a January Insights on debut, who broke her maiden by a head with Todd Pletcher's $250,000 Keeneland September buy Falconet (Uncle Mo), the first foal for 2015 GI La Brea S. winner Birdatthewire (Summer Bird), filling out the exacta. Veterans Highway's dam is a half to dual surface GISW General Quarters (Sky Mesa) and a full-sister to Japanese MGSW A Shin Top (Tale of the Cat). The homebred winner hails from the always-prominent team of G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. and W. S. Farish. Other highlighted firsters in the race got some education, including Tiffany's Mo (Uncle Mo), Blini (Tapit), and Peligroso (Honor Code), while Signal from Noise (Arrogate) scratched. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-5, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.63, ft, neck.

It was Oak Ridge Farm's homebred FELIX (c, 3, Cupid–City by the Bay {MSW, $172,240}, by City Zip) who put his December second-place finish behind Saturday's GIII Gotham S. runner-up Dean's List (Speightstown) to good use as he bested a field of well-regarded debuters, including Town Branch (Street Sense), whose older full-brother Speaker's Corner would win the GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S. impressively later on the card with a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. For the record, like Town Branch, MGSW Speaker's Corner didn't win his unveiling either. Hidden Plan (Street Sense), Mendenhall (Pioneerof the Nile), and Super Quality (Competitive Edge) each got some experience in their first outing. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

8th-Gulfstream, $55,700, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 3-5, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:34.94, ft, 4 3/4 lengths.

PREVALENCE (c, 4, Medaglia d'Oro–Enrichment, by Ghostzapper), a Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' last year who dabbled in graded company early in his career, came back after a freshening, shook off the rust, and got a 99 Beyer Speed Figure in an uber-impressive 4 3/4-length score. His lovely family includes his great-granddam Desert Stormer (Storm Cat), who beat the boys in the 1995 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. His own dam is a half-sister to GSW Sahara Gold (Seeking the Gold), herself the dam of MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper). Also returning from the bench was another 'TDN Rising Star' in Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), a half to Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy). Stage Raider had the misfortune of stumbling at the start and has only lost two races, both to Prevalence. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

2nd-Santa Anita, $68,000, Msw, 3-5, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.97, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.

TAIBA (c, 3, Gun Runner–Needmore Flattery {MSW, $732,103}, by Flatter) had the sort of debut that keeps dreams alive and drives big auction prices. The colt was a $1.7-million Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-old (:10 1/5) for Zedan Racing Stables, worked smartly last spring and summer, then went to the sidelines for five months before making a start. He returned to the worktab in November, cranked up with a bullet 1:12 3/5 six-furlong move (1/12) Feb. 27 at Santa Anita, and registered a powerhouse 7 1/2-length win Saturday to be named Gun Runner's latest 'TDN Rising Star'. The romp was good for a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, co-highest for a 3-year-old to date in 2022. Debuting in the same race was Tenth Street Don (Practical Joke), who raced wide. He was also a 2-year-old purchase, going to Holly and David Wilson for $240,000 at OBS April after working a furlong in :10 1/5. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

2nd-Aqueduct, $77,600, Msw, 3-5, 3yo, 1m, 1:39.59, ft, 1/2 length.

Chad Brown stablemates bookended the field, with $300,000 Keeneland November weanling buy and last August's 'Insighted' ELECTABILITY (g, 3, Quality Road–Spindle, by Hard Spun) prevailing to win his second start while Don the Jeweler (Into Mischief) settled at the back of the pack and drifted out late. Electability is from the same family as MGISW Lion Heart (Tale of the Cat). Don the Jeweler was an $875,000 Keeneland September yearling whose dam is a half-sister to GISWs Include Me Out (Include) and Check the Label (Stormin Fever). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Jackie’s Warrior Faces ‘Rising Star’ Challenge in Pat Day Mile

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) returns to one turn for the first time since winning the GI Champagne S. last October as the likely favorite in Saturday's GII Pat Day Mile beneath the Twin Spires.

A $95,000 Keeneland September purchase, Jackie's Warrior is perfect in four starts up to a mile, having stamped himself as the leader of his generation with powerful front-running victories in the GII Saratoga Special S. and GI Hopeful S. ahead of a 5 1/2-length tally in the Champagne that made him the one to beat in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In close attendance to a very demanding pace on Breeders' Cup Friday, the scopey bay colt poked a head in front between calls in the final stages, but weakened last to finish fourth, beaten just over three lengths behind champion Essential Quality (Tapit), in an effort better than it looks on paper. Connections understandably gave him one more chance to board the Triple Crown train in the GIII Southwest S. over a sloppy Oaklawn strip Feb. 27, but he tired after getting things very much his own way up front and checked in a distant eighth.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) defeated next-out Keeneland maiden romper and Justify (Scat Daddy)'s 'Rising Star' half-brother Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) by 8 1/2 lengths to graduate first time out over seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23. The homebred validated 1-10 favoritism in a one-mile allowance in Hallandale Mar. 11, but he wasn't quite ready for prime time when sixth, beaten five lengths, behind the Todd Pletcher-trained, Derby-bound duo of Bourbonic (Bernardini) and Dynamic One (Union Rags) in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 3. Prevalence worked a bullet three furlongs in :35 2/5 (1/5) over the Churchill main track Apr. 24.

Dream Shake (Twirling Candy) caused a bit of a dust-up in his career debut, winning by 4 3/4 lengths at 20-1 and earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in a 'Rising Star'-worthy performance. Third to fellow 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. and to Derby second choice Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Santa Anita Derby, he, too, can benefit from this cutback in distance.

This race has been known to toss up the occasional long-priced winner and Sittin On Go (Brody's Cause) could be a live outsider. A debut graduate sprinting at Ellis Park last August, he defeated Derby entrants Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) and Super Stock (Dialed In) to upset the GIII Iroquois S. over course and distance on the Derby undercard last September. Beaten nearly 50 lengths combined in his last three tries around two turns, the chestnut will try to make a run from out of it in a race that appears to be loaded with speed.

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