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Sunday’s Insights: Well-Bred Daughter Of Tapit And Unrivaled Belle Makes The Races

2nd-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 12:38 p.m. ET.
Whisper Hill homebred TAP MY BELLE (Tapit) makes her first start for trainer Ralph Nicks.

The gray is out GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song), who was bred and raced by Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso. Initially, she was purchased by Brushwood Stable for $2.8 million as the fourth highest price at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale.

Five years later at the same auction, Whisper Hill made the mare the sales topper when Mandy Pope took her home for $3.8 million, while Tap My Belle's older full-sister, Unrivaled Princess, was in-utero.

Of course, Unrivaled Belle's most famous produce to date is also another full-sister to this Gulfstream first-time starter–two-time Eclipse Award recipient Unique Bella. Winner of the GI Beholder Mile and GI La Brea S., the champion was purchased for $400,000 by Don Alberto at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale.

Unrivaled Belle claims a 2-year-old colt and a yearling one of the same sex, while Unique Bella–herself a dam–also has a 2-year-old colt and she foaled a filly last year. All four offspring are by multiple leading sire Into Mischief.

Tap My Belle's second dam, MGSW Queenie Belle (Bertrando), is also responsible for the dam of GIII Gotham S. victor Raise Cain (Violence). TJCIS PPS

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Sunday’s Racing Insights: Well-Related Daughter Of Arrogate Makes The Races At Aqueduct

1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 12:20 p.m. ET.
Charles Matses homebred GATE SONG (Arrogate) makes her first start for trainer Ned Allard. Out of SW Shannanies Song, she counts as half-siblings GII Summertime Oaks runner-up Bellamentary (Bellamy Road), GII Swale S. hero Favorable Outcome (Flatter), Dubai Group 3 stakes winner Mouheeb (Flatter) and GIII Fantasy S. runner-up Beguine (Gun Runner).

Also making her first start is Robert Evans homebred Reconcile (War Front) for trainer Linda Rice. The gray filly's dam is a half-sister to GIII Comely S. heroine Raging Sea (Curlin), while third dam GSW Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold) is a half-sister to Horse of the Year A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew). TJCIS PPS

8th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:33 p.m. ET.
Down in Hallandale, Whisper Hill Farm homebred Tapit's Starlet (Tapit) will make her debut. The Ralph Nicks trainee is a half-sister to GIII Lexington S. runner-up Unbridled Honor (Honor Code). A $1 million purchase by Whisper Hill at the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, dam Silvery Starlet is a half-sibling to GI Cigar Mile champ El Corredor (Mr. Greeley) and GI Haskell Invitational H. victor Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus).

Kuldeep Singh Rajput's Gandharvi Racing has Urgence (Into Mischief) set for her inaugural run. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the $575,000 Keeneland September buy is out of SP Divine Elegance (Uncle Mo), who went for $750,000 to Breeze Easy at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale while in foal to Tapit. Urgence's extended female family includes MGISP Standard Deviation (Curlin) and GI Kentucky Oaks victress Believe You Can (Proud Citizen). TJCIS PPS

6th-OP, $115K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 3:50 p.m. ET.
Another homebred debuting is Ken McPeek trainee Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}), whose female family includes MGSW Fearless (Ghostzapper). Under third dam MGISW Aldiza (Storm Cat) we find the dams of MGISP Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) and GIII Peter Pan S. champ Timeline (Hard Spun). TJCIS PPS

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Wednesday’s Racing Insights: $1.1 Million Filly Debuts for Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm

By Stefanie Grimm
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

5th-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo, F, 1m, 3:09 p.m.

Making her first career start Wednesday for owner Whisper Hill Farm is I'M BAFFLED (Medaglia d'Oro), a 3-year-old purchased by Mandy Pope for $1.1 million from Denali Stud at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The striking bay filly is out of the GSP Distorted Humor mare Baffled, making her a half-sister to GIW and current Winstar stallion Constitution (Tapit) along with respective graded-stakes winners Jacaranda (Congrats) and Boynton (More Than Ready). Baffled herself, a half-sister to MGIW Emcee (Unbridled's Song), brought $3.5 million on a final bid from Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Corp. at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale in foal to Tapit and off the success of Constitution's racing career. Three-years later, Don Alberto Corp. would purchase her outright in foal to Medaglia d'Oro for $1.8 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. Trainer Ralph Nicks has had I'm Baffled working consistently at Gulfstream Park in preparation for her debut, including her most recent prep where she went four-furlongs in :47 4/5 Mar. 13 to be eighth-fastest of 65 at the distance. Leading sire Medaglia d'Oro is getting around 11% winners from first-time starters and has thrown such successful fillies as champion Songbird and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. I'm Baffled gets Lasix here and picks up Tyler Gaffalione for her career debut going a mile on the dirt. TJCIS PPs

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Groupie Doll’s Tapit Daughter Doll Baby Impressive In Debut

Doll Baby, a 3-year-old daughter of two-time champion Groupie Doll, debuted with an impressive front-running victory Sunday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Trained by Ralph Nicks for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm LLC, Doll Baby broke alertly from the gate to assume the early lead in Race 4, a seven-furlong maiden special weight race for sophomore fillies and continued on to prevail by a length under Jose Ortiz.

“It was just awesome and it was at a distance mama liked,” Pope said of her homebred filly by Tapit. “Hopefully, she's Groupie Doll incarnated. It's only one race but a good start.”

Mandy Pope

Groupie Doll won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) back-to-back in 2012-'13 at seven furlongs to be honored with the Eclipse Award as outstanding female sprinter both years. Bred by trainer Buff Bradley and his late father, Fred, Groupie Doll was purchased at the Keeneland November sale for $3.1 million by Pope. After finishing fourth against colts in the Cigar Mile, Groupie Doll closed out her career with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the 2014 Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Doll Baby is Groupie Doll's third winner from her first five foals.

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