Wednesday's Insights: $1.1-Million Filly Debuts for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm

5th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-23, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.63, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.

It was MISSY GREER (f, 3, Nyquist–Four Sugars, by Lookin At Lucky), a half-sister to Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus})–runner-up in both the 2018 GI Belmont S. and the 2019 G1 Dubai World Cup–who got off the duck in this Gulfstream maiden by a daylight margin. Seven of the eight fillies in the field had at least one start under their belt, with the lone exception being debuter I'm Baffled (Medaglia d'Oro), a $1.1-million yearling purchase for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill at the 2020 Keeneland September sale. I'm Baffled stumbled out of the gate and rider Tyler Gaffalione had already made the decision to save her for another day before the final turn. Her half-brother, young sire sensation Constitution (Tapit), won both the GI Florida Derby and the GI Donn H. over this track, so don't count her out in her next start. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Saturday's Insights: Curlin Well Represented by Pricey Debuters

1st-Fair Grounds, $65,000, Msw, 3-26, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.14, ft, 1 length.

Favored firster BELLE REBELLE (f, 3, Upstart–Iboughtheranyway, by Dixie Union) got the win over $600,000 OBS graduate Catch Magic (Curlin), Juddmonte homebred Patna (Into Mischief), and Claiborne homebred Misread (Blame), all fellow debuters. She had worked a bullet four furlongs in :47 1/5 (1/110) Mar. 19 in preparation for the win for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who teamed up with Joel Rosario Saturday at Fair Grounds for five wins together including Epicenter (Not This Time)'s GII Louisiana Derby and Echo Zulu (Gun Runner)'s GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Belle Rebelle led pillar to post, while Misread and Patna both closed to fill out the trifecta. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

4th-Fair Grounds, $65,000, Msw, 3-26, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:38.70, fm, 1/2 length.

Whether it was third time the charm, the stretch out to a mile from 5 1/2-furlong sprints, or blinkers off for FANCY MARTINI (f, 3, Klimt–Miss Canada, by Distorted Humor), she was the dueling half-length winner at 16-1. The 'Insighted' Forgotten Realm (Curlin) broke widest of all and dawdled at the back of the field, but made up ground late while about eight paths wide. The $625,000 Keeneland September buy's dam is a full-sister to the dam of MGISW Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), a Brad Cox stablemate and a $5-million purchase at Fasig-Tipton November for Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing, and Whisper Hill Farm. Shedaresthedevil partner Qatar Racing also owns Forgotten Realm. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Sunday's Insights: Sale-Topping Nyquist Colt Makes Second Start at Santa Anita

6th-Santa Anita, $67,500, Msw, 3-27, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:37.99, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.

This is the sort of maiden special weight that holds a similar type of appeal as a Saturday afternoon black-type event. LNJ Foxwoods homebred SET SAIL (c, 3, Malibu Moon–Fleet of Gold {SP, $109,892}, by Medaglia d'Oro) likely needed the race when he debuted with a third Feb. 26 at a sixteenth shorter and an 81 Beyer for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, who isn't known for cranking up his first-time starters. The bay went straight to the front in company Sunday, was tested first by Bletchley Park (Nyquist) and then another rival, but put all comers away to draw off by 7 1/2 lengths in a minimalistic ride by Juan Hernandez. Set Sail shares a champion granddam–Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie)–with champion and young sire Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Mandella's other race entrant, Q B One (Uncle Mo), improved to third from his Dec. 26 unveiling. Q B One, the first foal out of multiple champion Beholder (Henny Hughes), had been gelded in the interim. The race favorite, the aforementioned Bletchley Park, was the $2.6-million topper at last year's Fasig-Tipton's Gulfstream sale after working :9 4/5. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Insight Outcomes: Half to Gronkowski and More ‘Set Sail’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

With a race under his belt, BLETCHLEY PARK (Nyquist) looks to move forward in his second career start Sunday for trainer Bob Baffert. The bay colt, purchased for a sale-topping $2.6 million from the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Sale (:9 4/5), was a close second behind Happy Jack (Oxbow), who has since gone on to place third in the GII San Felipe S. Bletchley Park is the first foal to race from the Smart Strike mare Spinning Wheel who, while not a particularly successful runner herself, is a half-sister to GISP Ride On Curlin (Curlin). His most recent work was a sharp five furlongs in :59 2/5, beating all but one out of 36 recorded works at the distance. He'll stretch out to the mile distance after his debut at six furlongs. Jockey John Velazquez retains the ride.

Also making his second career start is the newly gelded Q B One (Uncle Mo) for trainer Richard Mandella and owner Spendthrift Farm. The first foal out of champion and MGISW Beholder (Henny Hughes) returns off a seventh-place effort going 6 1/2 furlongs Dec. 26 after a bothered start behind two who have since gone on to win. TJCIS PPs

The post Sunday’s Insights: Sale-Topping Nyquist Colt Makes Second Start at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

PRICEY COLTS DEBUT IN ARCADIA
4th-SA, $67K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 3:30 p.m.
Bob Baffert unveils a pair of expensive sophomore colts on an action-packed opening day Santa Anita's winter meet. Michael Lund went to $1.1 million at the 2020 EASMAY sale to acquire SHAAZ (Uncle Mo) after he breezed in :10 flat. The dark bay is a half to MGSW Azar (Scat Daddy) and hails from the family of MGSWs Coal Front (Stay Thirsty) and Woodlander (Forestry). Shaaz displays the speedy worktab typical of a Baffert pupil with three bullets in his last four breezes, most recently covering six panels in 1:12 4/5 Dec. 19 (1/14). Baffert also saddles one for the Avengers in $900,000 KEESEP acquisition Hopkins (Quality Road). Out of SP Hot Spell (Salt Lake), the bay is a half to SW Saratoga Heater (Temple City) and SP Malocchio (Orb). Also making his career bow here is Spendthrift homebred Q B One (Uncle Mo), the first foal out of four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes), a half- to GISW and stallion sensation Into Mischief and GISW young sire Mendelssohn. TJCIS PPs

DRURY UNVEILS HALF TO ART COLLECTOR
6th-FG, $45K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:31 p.m.
Tom Drury unveils a half to his former pupil and GI Woodward S. winner Art Collector (Bernardini) in LEGIONNAIRE (Into Mischief). They are out of SW & GISP Distorted Legacy (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs

The post Dec. 26 Insights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Like Beholder, he was bred by and is owned by Spendthrift Farm and is trained by Richard Mandella. Kyle Frey has been named to ride.

For now, Mandella's expectations for Q B One are rather modest.

“I wish we'd see a little more from him to get excited about,” he said. “But his works have been pretty good. I don't think we've seen anything great yet. It's time to throw him in the deep water and see what happens. He shows he might be good enough, but I'm not sure.”
Mandella is hopeful that Q B One will benefit from his debut and improve.

“I leave him a little room to improve because when it comes to his mind he's not yet 100% serious about the game yet,” he said. “I think a race will probably do him a lot of good. I think his mind is such that a race might make a man out of him, and then we can see the real deal. That's what I am hoping.”

Q B One had a five-furlong work in January and Mandella said at the time that he was just a few weeks way from making his first start.

“He had some bone bruising and needed a little time off, ” he explained. “So we had to start over.”
Mandella also trains Beholder's second foal, the 2-year-old filly Karin With an I (Curlin). She has yet to have a published workout.

“She's been fighting a virus,” he said. “She's just starting to breeze. She's a nice-looking filly. She's not too far along yet, but she does everything pretty nice.”

Beholder also has a yearling filly by War Front and a weanling filly by Bolt d'Oro. She was bred back to Curlin for 2022.
Q B One won't be the only one garnering attention in Sunday's race, as it includes a pair of pricey first-time starters from the Bob Baffert barn. Hopkins (Quality Road) was a $900,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September sale, while Shaaz (Uncle Mo) was a $1.1-million seller at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale. Yet the one they might all have to beat is the $5,000 Keeneland January purchase Soy Tapatio (Not This Time). Trained by Doug O'Neill, he was third in his most recent start.

The post Beholder’s First Foal, Q B One, to Debut Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Foaled in Kentucky on Jan. 30, 2018, the dark bay or brown colt drew post position four in a field of six going 6 ½ furlongs in Sunday's fourth race.

“I've had him for a bit and he's had some minor problems,” Mandella said, “so he was sent out and came back, but he's doing well now.

“He trains good and I think racing will make him better but I don't know that his mind is really on it yet. We'll get a race into him and I'd expect going short he'll probably settle back and finish well, getting him started for better things down the road.”

Beholder, it's worth noting, ran fourth in her debut race before becoming the first horse since 1976 to win a Grade I race at age two, three, four, and five, and being one of only two horses to ever win three Breeders' Cup races.

Asked if Q B One has shown any qualities that his brilliant mother displayed, without giving away any trade secrets, Mandella responded with a typical quip.

“He has a good appetite,” he said.

The post Ready For Kickoff: Beholder’s First Foal To Debut Sunday At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Now, the story of Q B One is about to heat up even further. After the 3-year-old colt worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 Jan. 8 at Santa Anita, trainer Richard Mandella said that Q B One was “a couple of weeks from starting.” He will start for her owner and breeder, Spendthrift Farm, who also campaigned Beholder.

Asked to gauge Q B One’s talent level, Mandella seemed uncertain.

“He’s a big gangly colt and doesn’t take life too seriously,” Mandella said. “He works better than average, but he hasn’t shown yet in his workouts that he is a star. But he is doing what we ask and a little more sometimes. It’s hard to say how good he is.”

Q B One arrived at Mandella’s Santa Anita barn last Mar. 20 to prepare for his racing career. He had his first recorded workout Mar. 30 and had several more breezes until Mandella decided to back off on him. Between July 27 and Dec. 5, he did not have a published work.

“I got him up to five-eighths and he kind of lost interest on me,” the trainer said. “So, I just gave him a little break and kind of backed up to zero and started over again. We’ve been happier with his works. We just have to hope it stays this time.”

Q B One worked three furlongs on Dec. 5, the first of a string of six breezes.

“We’re not trying to make him do much,” Mandella said. “Just like with any other horse, we’re just trying to get him ready to run. He’s training a little more forward than he did before.”

Does he see any similarities to Beholder, the winner of 16 stakes and a champion at two, three, five and six?

“It’s apples and oranges,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything to make me see her. But I’ve had a lot of others that didn’t show me that either. He does shows enough that it could happen.”

The trainer said Q B One will likely begin his career at six furlongs and “might need that first race to wake him up.”

Mandella did think enough of him to send a nomination fee to Oaklawn Park, which made Q B One eligible for the preps for the GI Kentucky Derby at that track. The first race in the series is the Feb. 15 GIII Southwest S.

“He’s obviously not going to be ready for the Southwest, but you never know what can happen.” he said. “So, we wanted to make him eligible for those races at Oaklawn.”

Nominations for the Derby preps at Santa Anita are not in yet.

After Q B One, there will be more to come. Beholder has a 2-year-old filly by Curlin named Karin With an I and a yearling filly named Teena Ella, who is by War Front. She is due to Bolt d’Oro this season.

The post Beholder’s First Foal, Q B One, Nears Debut at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trainer Richard Mandella told DRF's Brad Free that 3-year-old Uncle Mo colt was “three or four weeks away from a race.”

A homebred for Spendthrift Farm, which also campaigned Beholder, Q B One was set to debut last year as a 2-year-old, but Mandella stopped on the colt after a July workout at Del Mar. The colt remains based in Southern California, where he most recently breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Friday at Santa Anita.

Read more at Daily Racing Form.

The post Q B One, Beholder’s First Foal, Approaches Debut Start appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post