2023 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: JCB Stables

As we approach the opening of the 2023 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with JCB Stables' Ezequiel Cesar Valle, who represents the aforementioned American branch of Haras Firmamento, one of the largest farms in Argentina.

MAID OF HONOR (6, Medaglia d´Oro–Lovely Regina, by Deputy Minister), to be bred to Street Sense
We bought five mares at the last Keeneland November Sale, and she was the most expensive at $260,000 carrying her first foal by Twirling Candy. She was originally a $400,000 yearling.

Maid of Honor is a half-sister to MGSW Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa) and her second dam, Cara Rafaela, literally fills the page. We are sending her to Street Sense because he is one of the best stallions in America; a top sire and sire of sires who will suite her physically, too.

BELLA AURELIA (6, Medaglia d´Oro–My Miss Aurelia, by Smart Strike) to be bred to Hard Spun
Another purchase from Keeneland November. You do not have to explain too much about her; she is the first registered foal out of champion 2-year-old filly My Miss Aurelia. She has a colt by Munnings and now is in foal to Maclean´s Music.

Hard Spun is the real deal. There are not too many proven stallions like him with 15 career Grade I-winners.

BY THE HOUR (5, Tapit–Miss Super Quick, by Rock Hard Ten) to be bred to Twirling Candy
Another Keeneland November purchase, this one carrying her first foal by American Pharoah. We love her pedigree, she is from the immediate family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, and many other Grade I stakes winners.

Twirling Candy, one of the best sons of Candy Ride (Arg) at stud, suites her perfectly. Candy Ride numbers with Tapit mares are incredible and he has already shown a remarkable affinity for the A.P. Indy branch

CLEOPATRA'S CHARM (6, Pioneerof The Nile–Careless Jewel, by Tapit), to be bred to Hard Spun
Our first purchase. We bought her at Keeneland November in 2021 in foal to Omaha Beach and we have a very nice and strong colt. Her first foal is a Bernardini filly that we acquired at the last Keeneland September sale for $155,000. She is currently in foal to Blame and I like Hard Spun for her this year because the Hard Spun/Empire Maker cross is proven (Silver State, for example).

Cleopatra's Charm's dam is a Grade I stakes winner and she is a 3/4-sister to Reframe, a very famous filly in Japan who won a Listed race.

BRASSY (6, Medaglia d´Oro-Cheeky Charm, by A.P. Indy), to be bred to Nyquist
Brassy has a lovely pedigree. Her dam is 3/4-sister to Sky Mesa and Velvety, the dam of Maxfield. Her third dam is the influential mare La Affirmed, ancestress of Bernstein, for example. She was our last purchase at Keeneland November, in foal to Hard Spun.

Brassy is booked to Nyquist, one of the best young sires in America and who also crosses well over mares from the Medaglia d´Oro and A.P. Indy lines.

STREET SLAYER (4, Street Sense–Ghostslayer, by Ghostzapper), to be bred to Twirling Candy
Street Slayer is a half-sister to GSW Biddy Duke (Bayern) and descends from the same family as Forte, Folklore, Contrail, and Essential Quality, among other Grade I-winners.

We bought her as a broodmare prospect at Keeneland November and she is now booked to Twirling Candy, too. Twirling Candy is out of a Mr. Prospector line mare and has found success with mares from that line. And as I mentioned before, there are not too many active, proven stallions in Kentucky as good as him for $60,000.

KNOCKOUT KISSES (4, Into MIschief–Transplendid by Elusive Quality), to be bred to Blame
We acquired Knockout Kisses as a broodmare prospect at the Fasig-Tipton July sale last year. She is a young half-sister to GSW Dennis' Moment (Tiznow). She has a lot of Into Mischief and we chose Blame because it's a great physical match as well. We really like Blame, he is a proven stallion and he offers good value even at the increased fee of $25,000.

Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: May 16, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Chukyo, Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses. The weekend's feature takes place at headquarters, where champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Tapitsfly) figures a firm favorite for the G1 Victoria Mile:

Sunday, May 16, 2021
5th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600mT
VANISHING POINT (f, 3, Tapit–Unrivaled Belle, by Unbridled's Song), the full-sister to two-time Eclipse Award and three-time Grade I winner Unique Bella, graduated by seven lengths at first asking over the metric mile and a quarter last August (see below, gate 7), but went off form thereafter and reboots here at the shortest trip of her career with Christophe Lemaire signed on. The $1.5-million Keeneland September grad is out of the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner–acquired by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $3.8 million in foal to Tapit at KEENOV in 2016–and second dam Queenie Belle (Bertrando) was a two-time winner at the graded level. B-Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY)

 

 

5th-CKO, ¥13,830,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
MOON BEAD (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–Evening Jewel, by Northern Afleet) debuted victoriously in a 1400-meter newcomers' event on the turf last October (see below, gate 18), but was unplaced in two subsequent tries and returns from a four-month break to try the dirt for the first time. The filly's dam, a Grade I winner on turf and synthetic, went within a pixel of upsetting the 2010 GI Kentucky Oaks and was sold for $950K in foal to Pioneerof the Nile at KEENOV in 2016. The dam of the SP Bernadiva (Bernardini), Evening Jewel is a half-sister to Japanese SW Deep Jewelry (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and to the dam of GISW Denman's Call (Northern Afleet) and GSP Torosay (Goldencents). B-Shadai Farm

 

 

7th-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($131k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1200m
DYLAN'S SONG (c, 4, Summer Front–Poetic Riches, by Songandaprayer) overcame a world of trouble to break his maiden at second asking right around this time last year and was unplaced in his lone appearance since, a six-furlong allowance at Nakayama Jan. 17. Produced by a half-sister to MGSP Hard Seven (Rock Hard Ten), Dylan's Song was a $47K short yearling at KEEJAN in 2018 and was bought back for $75K at KEESEP before realizing $130K at OBS March in 2019. B-Erin Knehr & Catalyst Bloodstock (KY)

10th-TOK, ¥34,200,000 ($312k), Open Class, 3yo, 1600m
SATONO MUSTANG (c, 3, Mineshaft–Mare and Cher, by Old Fashioned) won his maiden second time out at this track last November and tacked on a first-level allowance in February (see below, gate 6), but may have struggled with a rain-affected track when ninth at Chukyo Mar. 13. A $25K KEESEP yearling turned $150K OBSMAR breezer, the dark bay is out of a winning half-sister to SW & MGSP Fight On (Into Mischief) and GSP Two Weeks Off (Harlan's Holiday). B-Haymarket Farm LLC (KY)

 

 

REFRAME (f, 3, American Pharoah–Careless Jewel, by Tapit) became an instant Internet sensation with a dramatic first-out victory last July (see below, gate 15) and made it two straight with an allowance score in October. Unplaced, but not disgraced in three tries at group level, the $410K KEESEP purchase switches to the dirt for the first time and has the license to do so on pedigree, as her free-running dam was a three-time GSW on the surface, including the GI Alabama S. in 2009. B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)

 

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Feb. 13 & 14, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Toyko Racecourses. The latter plays host to Saturday's G3 Queen Cup, featuring the seasonal debut of the talented, but (very) quirky Reframe (American Pharoah):

Saturday, February 13, 2021
6th-HSN, ¥13,830,000 ($132k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m
OLYMPIC DAY (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Flagstaff {GB}, by Dansili {GB}), a respectable fifth in a sloppy Chukyo maiden Sept. 26, returned to graduate handily at Niigata Oct. 25 and makes his sophomore debut here. A $400K Keeneland September buyback and $420K OBS March breezer, the bay is out of a daughter of G1 Prix de la Foret heroine and US MGSW/GISP Etoile Montante (Miswaki), whose MGSW daughter Starformer (Dynaformer) produced SW & GSP Flavius (War Front). This is the same Juddmonte female family as Tates Creek (Rahy) and Sightseek (Distant View). B-Fred W Hertrich III (KY)

11th-TOK, Queen Cup-G3, ¥66.6m ($636k), 3yo, f, 1600mT
REFRAME (c, 3, American Pharoah–Careless Jewel, by Tapit) overcame single-minded ways to break her maiden at first asking in July (see below, gate 15) and was much better behaved taking out a 1400-meter allowance when saved for a late run at this venue in October (video, gate 6). Last seen finishing a close fifth in Group 2 company here Nov. 7, the daughter of the 2009 GI Alabama S. winner has undergone plenty of retraining for this return to the races. Reframe was a $410K purchase out of the 2019 KEESEP sale. B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)

 

 

Sunday, February 14, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
SLAP SHOT (JPN) (c, 3, Air Force Blue–Laxfield Road, by Quality Road) is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to 2018 GI Del Mar Futurity third Zatter (Midnight Lute) and was sold for $200K in utero at the 2018 KEEJAN sale. Subsequently moved on for ¥32.9 million ($305,354) at the Hokkaido Summer Select Yearling Sale, Slap Shot hails from the female family of GISWs Secret Hello and Monba. Air Force Blue's year-younger half-brother Soleil de Paris (Lemon Drop Kid) was a $535K KEESEP grad and won three of eight starts in Japan. B-Sakurai Bokujo

4th-HSN, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
ROSE EMPEROR (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Arch Support, by Arch) was bought back on a bid of $220K at KEESEP in 2019, then hammered for $350K at OBSMAR last winter after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. The April foal, whose Grade III-placed dam is a daughter of SW Two Ninety Jones (Sir Harry Lewis), is bred on the cross over Roberto-line mares responsible for this sire's GISW Marketing Mix and other graded winners Dark Cove and Golden Award, the last of which is also out of an Arch mare. B-Lee Pokoik (KY)

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Nov. 7, 2020

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday, with all the US-bred and -sired activity confined to Tokyo Racecourse:

Saturday, November 7, 2020
5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($129k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
SCATTER SEED (JPN) (f, 2, Uncle Mo–Scatladybdancing, by Scat Daddy) is out of a stakes-placed full-sister to SW Ultima D that was purchased for $390K with this foal in utero at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. The February foal’s third dam includes GSW Cat’s Career (Mr. Prospector) as well as Cat’s Eye Witness (Elusive Quality), the dam of Scat Daddy’s outstanding young sire son No Nay Never, who was second to the fast-finishing Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) in the 2014 GII Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. B-Oiwake Farm

6th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($129k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1300m
SATONO MUSTANG (c, 2, Mineshaft–Mare and Cher, by Old Fashioned), a $25K KEESEP acquisition, worked :10 flat from essentially a standing start and was hammered down for $150K at OBS March this past winter. A half-brother to SW Cruise and Danz (Street Boss), the dark bay is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Fight On (Into Mischief) and his third dam includes MGSW Royal Haven (Hail Emperor) and GSW & GISP Belterra (Unbridled). Sheave (Mineshaft), a daughter of the latter, was responsible for GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). B-Haymarket Farm LLC (KY)

11th-TOK, Keio Hai Nisai S.-G2, ¥72m ($696k), 2yo, 1400mT
REFRAME (f, 2, American Pharoah–Careless Jewel, by Tapit) carries a mark of two-for-two and returns on just 13 days’ rest for her stakes debut Saturday. The $410K KEESEP yearling remarkably won her first career start July 25 despite drifting all the way to the outside, was given intensive retraining in the meantime, and resumed with an eye-catching five-length allowance success over this course and distance Oct. 25 (see below, gate 6). The daughter of the pensioned GI Alabama S. winner Careless Jewel is one of five fillies in the field of 18. B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)

 

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