Tag: regal glory

Out In a Blaze of ‘Glory’ in Matriarch

Some outstanding turf distaffers have prevailed down the years in the GI Matriarch S., contested at Del Mar since the permanent closure of Hollywood Park in 2013. The late Bobby Frankel sent out the closely related Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert) and Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill) to win in 2003 and 2004, respectively–after the race was shortened to a mile–and the honor roll is graced by the likes of Juddmonte's Ventura (Chester House), the globetrotting Miss Temple City (Temple City) and champion Uni (GB). The latter gave Chad Brown, Frankel's star pupil, his second Matriarch in 2018 and Sunday afternoon, Peter Brant's 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) made it five out of the last six runnings with a smashing defense of her title. It marked the first time the Matriarch has seen a repeat winner since Flawlessly (Affirmed) won three straight from 1991 to 1993.

Prohibitively favored off a 10th-place effort behind Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland Nov. 4, the blaze-faced chestnut was a bit tardy from the stalls and landed in fourth position as Hamwood Flier (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was loose on the lead through a moderate opening couple of furlongs in :23.58, but she got aggressive beneath Mike Smith and covered an internal quarter-mile in a taxing :22.54.

Still as many as eight lengths clear as they raced around the turn, Regal Glory commenced her rally three wide with 2 1/2 furlongs to go, swallowed up the spent pacesetter with what has become her trademark turn of foot and sped clear. England's Rose (English Channel) took a three-way photo for second over course-and-distance GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Hamwood Flier rounded out the superfecta.

“I had great respect for Mike's [Smith] filly, but there was nothing I could do about it then,” said the in-form Flavien Prat. “My mare had to run her race. Once she got going, I knew we were going to be all right.”

Brant acquired Regal Glory, theretofore a dual graded winner, for a joint sales-topping $925,000 out of the Paul Pompa dispersal at the 2021 Keeneland January sale and the mare earned back about half that investment at the races last year, capped by her season-ending victory in this event. Kept in training for a 6-year-old season, Regal Glory landed her seasonal debut in the GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf in January, then outkicked favored stablemate Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Fr}) to score by a length in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S. in April.

“It was [Brant's] call to keep her in training this year,” Brown said after a record fifth Jenny Wiley that took him past Frankel and Bill Mott. “I probably would have bred her, and he said, 'No, she's in good form and I want to see her run another year. I have a feeling this is her year.'”

So much so that an Eclipse statuette just might be waiting for her in Florida come January.

To her Jenny Wiley, Regal Glory added the GI Just A Game S. and was second versus the males in the GI Fourstardave H. and again to the commonly owned, loose-on-the-lead stable companion 'Rising Star' In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI First Lady S. ahead of her Breeders' Cup try.

Assistant trainer Jose Hernandez confirmed Regal Glory had run her last race.

“We're going to miss her. We've had a lot of nice moments, a lot of nice races,” he said.

Pedigree Notes:

Regal Glory's dam Mary's Follies won the 2009 GIII Boiling Springs S. for the late John Forbes and was acquired privately by Pompa, for whom she posted her best victory in that year's GII Mrs. Revere S. while under the care of Rick Dutrow.

Her foal of 2012, Night Prowler carried the Pompa colors to a pair of scores at the graded level for Pompa and Brown, and Regal Glory's half-brother Cafe Pharoah did his part with a pair of Group 3 victories in Japan as a 3-year-old in 2020. Mary's Follies's current 2-year-old is the colt Ready To Connect (Connect), a maiden winner at Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, in his second career start this past July.

Mary's Follies was purchased by the BBA Ireland for $500,000 out of the aforementioned dispersal after aborting her Curlin foal and produced a full-brother to Cafe Pharoah this past February before visiting Into Mischief.

Sunday, Del Mar
MATRIARCH S.-GI, $401,500, Del Mar, 12-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:33.60, fm.
1–REGAL GLORY, 123, m, 6, by Animal Kingdom
1st Dam: Mary's Follies (MGSW, $338,889), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Catch the Queen, by Miswaki
3rd Dam: Wave to the Queen, by Wavering Monarch
'TDN Rising Star'. ($925,000 5yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Peter M.
Brant; B-Paul P Pompa (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 23-13-6-0, $2,619,134. *1/2 to
Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway), MGSW, $535,682;
Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), MG1SW-Jpn, $3,414,646.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–England's Rose, 123, m, 6, by English Channel
1st Dam: Gingham and Lace (SP), by Kris S.
2nd Dam: In the Till, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Silent Account, by Private Account
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($35,000 RNA Wlg '16 KEENOV; $140,000
Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Mercedes Stables LLC, West Point
Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy & David Ingordo &
Steve Mooney; B-St. George Farm LLC (KY); T-John A.
Shirreffs. $80,000.
3–Pizza Bianca, 120, f, 3, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: White Hot (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
 2nd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
 3rd Dam: Victoress, by Conquistador Cielo
($3,450,000 RNA 3yo '22 FTKNOV). O/B-B. Flay Thoroughbreds
(KY); T-Christophe Clement. $48,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, NO, HD. Odds: 0.60, 17.50, 13.00.
Also Ran: Hamwood Flier (Ire), Avenue de France (Fr), Dolce Zel (Fr), Bipartisanship (GB), Eddie's New Dream. Scratched: Gold for Kitten, Wakanaka (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Regal Glory Goes For Year-End Gold In Matriarch

In a tightly-contested race for the year-end female turf championship, Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) looks to land the year's final blow and defend her title in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar Sunday.

With both War Like Goddess (English Channel) and stablemate In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), her two main rivals for the Eclipse, done for the season, Regal Glory, winner of this race last term, enters off a 10th-place finish in the GI Fanduel Breeders' Cup Mile behind Europe's best males, including winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Despite being one of only two 6-year-olds in the field, Regal Glory has already a pair of Grade I wins this year and was a narrow second to Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga Aug. 13 in her first try against males.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will look to return to the form that saw her earn a trip to Royal Ascot earlier this summer. A stakes winner already this season in Pimlico's Hilltop S. May 20, Pizza Bianca suffered an abysmal trip in the G1 Coronation S. at Ascot and didn't return stateside until a last-out fourth in the

GII Sands Point S. at Belmont's Aqueduct meeting Oct. 15, where she matched her career high 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Who Looks Good: Trackside Impressions From the Breeders’ Cup

LEXINGTON, KY–Over the past few days that I've been in Lexington, I've been asked the same question quite a few times by friends and family who are not in attendance. “Who looks good?”

So, I decided I'd share my opinions on who has stood out this week with our TDN readers as well. Quick disclaimer: I have not seen every single Breeders' Cup horse, but I have seen many of them.

It is the World Championships, so, of course, every horse here looks fantastic. This list is just a few of the horses who have really caught my eye in the mornings based on physical condition, mental composure and/or movement over the racetrack. It is purely based on trackside impressions, not on past performances.

  • FLIGHTLINE (Tapit) – Classic

As expected, the unbeaten sensation Flightline looks as good as he runs. I had the privilege of watching the GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite grow up from the time he was a young foal until he sold at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale thanks to his wonderful breeder Jane Lyon. This was the first time I had seen him since and he certainly did not disappoint. Everything about the striking bay just screams athlete. He gobbles up ground in an effortless manner and the only indication of the amount of pure force and power being exerted is his rider Juan Leyva's tight hold and defensive stature in the saddle as he tries to rein in what trainer John Sadler referred to as a hurricane. Flightline is all business both on the track and when touring the barn or paddock. He has the cat-like walk all bloodstock agents and paddock analysts look for and never turned a hair despite the throng of media following his every move all week. In short, Flightline is exactly as advertised.

  • MALATHAAT (Curlin) – Distaff

To sum it up in one word, Malathaat is a queen. She oozes class in everything she does. Between her big white blaze, beautiful physical and eager gallop, the Shadwell colorbearer immediately grabs the attention of anyone in her presence. Trainer Todd Pletcher has been sending her out with the pony this week as rider Amelia Green said the filly knows the race is near and has been ready to roll in the mornings. The bay has been quite pleased with her sidekick and bounds off readily as soon as she is turned free from him. Her perfect record at Keeneland already indicates her love for this surface and she skipped over it with ease each morning.

I have had a hard time trying to decide whether I prefer the aforementioned champion Malathaat or her year-younger stablemate Nest, who has been nothing short of phenomenal this year. Unfortunately, seeing them both in the flesh did not help me choose as Nest is also quite eye-catching on the racetrack. If Malathaat is the queen, then Nest is certainly the princess. She bounces out alongside the pony and stands at attention as she waits to be let loose. Once given the signal, the bay leaps into action and coasts long on cruise control. Like her barnmate, Nest could not look any better in flesh, coat or movement.

  • CAVE ROCK (Arrogate) – Juvenile

Cave Rock is another whose physical certainly matches up with his strong performances. Despite his plain brown wrapper, the Bob Baffert runner immediately attracts the eye when he enters the track. He is very good-minded, especially for a 2-year-old who has never raced outside of California. He remained focused as he jogged backwards alongside assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes and kept that focus during his gallops and even during his paddock tour Wednesday. The paddock was full with media awaiting Flightline and Cave Rock strolled along beside his groom like a dog out for a walk, never turning a hair. His calm and cool attitude is reminiscent of his late, great sire. Back to his gallops, the dark bay is very light on his feet and travels over the Keeneland surface quite nicely.

  • CARAVEL (Mizzen Mast) – Turf Sprint

While she is a longshot on paper, Caravel could not look better in the mornings. The petite gray travels like a freight train, charging around the Keeneland oval like a mare on a mission with her neck bowed and back nice and round. When I saw her in the paddock later on, Caravel walked along with her head low and relaxed, quite the contrast from her on-track persona.

  • MODERN GAMES (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) – Mile

   Modern Games just looks like the happiest horse on the planet. He always has his ears pricked and a very pleasant expression on his face, no matter what he is doing. The chestnut, who seeks his second World Championships win, thunders over the track powerfully, ensuring he is not missed by any onlookers. The European invader's chestnut coat gleams like a new penny and he is fit as a fiddle.

  • REGAL GLORY (Animal Kingdom) – Mile

    Regal Glory is just an extremely cool horse in every sense of the word. The flashy chestnut has the presence to match her accomplishments when she enters the track. Training late when the track is quieter, Regal Glory jogs onto the track with enthusiasm every morning, head held high and ears at full attention as she takes in her adoring fans. She sails over the dirt with ease and will only look better on the turf course. The Peter Brant colorbearer is another who could not look better as far as coat and muscle condition.

If his morning appearance is any indication, Epicenter looks ready to rumble. The bay is a big ball of muscle with a gleaming coat to match. The sophomore has been under a snug hold by his rider and/or attached to a pony at his trainer's side each morning, which is an indication of his readiness. Epicenter travels over the track with big, powerful strides and is quite at home over the Lexington oval.

  • HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) (Sprint), Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) (Turf Sprint), Laurel River (Into Mischief) (Dirt Mile), Taiba (Gun Runner) (Classic), Atomically (Girvin) (Juvenile Fillies), Forte (Violence) (Juvenile), Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (Mile), Life Is Good (Into Mischief) (Classic), Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) (Classic), Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (Juvenile Turf Sprint), and Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance) (Juvenile Turf).

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Flightline Tops Saturday BC Workers

Unbeaten sensation and guaranteed GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flightline (Tapit) put in his final prep for the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday. The 'TDN Rising Star' covered five furlongs solo in 1:00.60 (4/62) shortly after 7:30 a.m. under assistant trainer Juan Leyva.

“I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out [seven-eighths] in 1:26, and that's what he did,” trainer John Sadler said. “Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today.”

Flightline arrived at Keeneland Sunday from his Santa Anita home base.

“He's had a good week and gotten settled in, and the track is a little similar to Del Mar,” Sadler said, noting that Flightline's schedule for next week will include returning to the track to jog Monday, gallop Tuesday through Friday and not go to the track the morning of the Classic.

Life Is Good Tops Pletcher Workers

Classic contender and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on his own at Keeneland Saturday with fractions of :12, :24.60, :49, 1:00.60 then out six furlongs in 1:13.20, seven-eighths in 1:25.80 and the mile in 1:39.80.

“He is a superior work horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Today was typical of what we have seen his whole career.”

Pletcher is confident his charge will get the 10-furlong distance this time after a failed effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup.

“He is hard to pull up at the end [of his workouts],” the conditioner said. “We are eager to run on a real track not like in Dubai, which was really deep that night. I think that played against him.”

Pletcher's other Classic pre-entrant Happy Saver (Super Saver) had what the trainer called a “spirited gallop” in lieu of a timed breeze.

“We let him two-minute clip the whole way around,” Pletcher said. “We are going to do similar to what we did before the [GI Met Mile]: just one breeze two weeks out. He tends to run better when he is fresh. He'll have a few more strong gallops. He won't breeze again.”

Also working this morning on the main track for Pletcher were GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runners Nest (Curlin) and Malathaat (Curlin). In company with recent maiden winner Inventing (Union Rags), Nest worked a half-mile in :50.40. Malathaat worked a half-mile in :49.60 with the 3-year-old maiden Old Point (Curlin).

Working on the grass together were GI Shadwell Mile winner Annapolis GI (Mile) and GII Pilgrim S. victor Major Dude (GI Juvenile Turf), who were timed in :50.40 for a half-mile.

Charlie Puts in Final Classic Prep

Gutsy GII Lukas Classic winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) also had his final breeze ahead of the BC Classic Saturday in Lexington, going six panels in company in 1:12.80.

“He looked good and I got him in 1:12 4/5,” trainer Doug O'Neill said.

Other O'Neill BC workers included Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) (5f, 1:01.20, Distaff), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (5f, 1:00.40, GI Dirt Mile), Vegas Magic (Good Magic) (5f, 1:02.20, GI Juvenile Fillies) and Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) (5f, 1:01 on the training track, GI Juvenile Turf Sprint).

Brown Breezes BC Contingent

Jack Christopher | Coady

Trainer Chad Brown sent out a dozen of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants, with seven working on the dirt and five on the turf at Keeneland Saturday.

Working a half-mile on the dirt were MGISW Jack Christopher (Munnings) (:48.60, GI Sprint or Dirt Mile), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (:47.80, GI Filly and Mare Sprint), Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (:47.20, GI Juvenile) and working in company I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (:49.60 Juvenile Turf).

Working five furlongs on the dirt were Search Results (Flatter) (1:01.20, Distaff) and Pipeline (Speightstown) (1:01, Dirt Mile).

On the turf, which was rated as good, were Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (4f, :49.80, Mile) in company with Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (4f, :49.80, GI Filly and Mare Turf), In Italian (GB) (4f, :50.80, Filly and Mare Turf) and Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Filly and Mare Turf) in company with Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Mile).

“We did great,” a beaming Brown said following the works.

Other Keeneland BC Workers Saturday

On the main track were Kimari (Munnings) (5f, 1:01.40, Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint) and Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) (5f, 1:01.80, Filly and Mare Sprint) in company for Wesley Ward; Willy Boi (Uncaptured) (4f, :49.20, Sprint) for trainer Jorge Delgado and Simplification (Not This Time) (5f, 1:00.40, Dirt Mile) for Antonio Sano.

Working on the turf course were Reckoning Force (Air Force Blue) (4f, :50.40, Juvenile Turf) and Cazadero (Street Sense) (4f, :50.40, Turf Sprint) for Brendan Walsh; Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) (5f, 1:03.60, Turf Sprint) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (5f, 1:03.80, Turf Sprint) for Wesley Ward; Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) (3f, :39, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Steve Asmussen; Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) (3f, :38.20, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Tim Martin and Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (4f, :51, Turf Sprint) for Brad Cox.

BC Workers at Churchill Downs

MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner) put in his final work for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs Saturday, covering five furlongs in :59 flat. With regular rider Florent Geroux in the saddle, Cyberknife started his work about two lengths behind stablemate Forza Di Oro (Speightstown) and finished even at the completion of his work.

“With a week out from the Breeders' Cup it was the right move we wanted to see,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Both of these horses are really good work horses and I think matching up Cyberknife with him he'd get a lot out of his work. We ended up choosing to run in the Dirt Mile instead of the [GI Breeders' Cup] Classic because we thought it would be the most likely race he could win. The Classic came up a very deep field and even though Cyberknife is going to cut back in distance we feel he can handle the two-turn mile at Keeneland.”

Cox also worked GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint contender Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat). She went five furlongs in 1:00.60 outside 3-year-old filly Girl With a Dream (Practial Joke). Cyberknife and Lady Rocket, along with Cox juveniles Chop Chop (City of Light) and Verifying (Justify), are scheduled to ship to Keeneland Monday.

Also on the Churchill worktab Saturday was GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who went a half-mile in :47.80 outside of a stablemate.

Taiba Has Final Classic Work at Santa Anita

GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner) had his final major workout for the Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, going six furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:13 flat under Juan Ochoa in company with Messier (Empire Maker), who was also clocked in 1:13.

“He went well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He's not a great work horse, so he went with Messier. I was happy with it. He'll ship tonight for Kentucky].”

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