The talented daughter of Hall of Famer Beholder (Henny Hughes) has posted a pair of two-furlong breezes for trainer Richard Mandella over Santa Anita's all-weather surface this month, most recently stopping the timer in :23.80 (1/1) Apr. 10.

How are the initial reports so far?

“Really good,” Spendthrift Farm's General Manager Ned Toffey replied. “You know Richard. We certainly weren't gonna put any pressure and Richard is a guy who's gonna give them all the time they need. She's gotten a chance to heal up. She just needed time. There was a fracture of the splint bone on the hind leg. It wasn't anything too dramatic, but just needed plenty of time. She got that and hopefully is ready to move forward now.”

He continued, “He's breezed her twice now and has been very happy with what he's seen so far. He simply said that, 'she's eager to do more,' which I think is a great sign. Obviously, it will be a bit before she's ready to run, but we know she's in good hands. It's enough to be excited about her 3-year-old year.”

Tamara overcame a stumble at the start from her rail draw to launch her career in style with a 'Rising Star' performance at Del Mar Aug. 19. She ran to the billing as the 6-5 favorite with a 6 3/4-length tour de force over 11 rivals in the GI FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante S. Sept. 9, good for a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. She set the pace and tired to finish a disappointing seventh, beaten 8 1/4 lengths, behind champion Just F Y I (Justify) while making her two-turn debut in the Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Nov. 3.

“We're still at a point where we're gonna just continue to let her dictate to us,” Toffey said. “She's certainly a filly who's shown enough that she can be anything. Obviously, we'd love to see her land in the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year, she's the kind of filly that could put you there. Richard will listen to her and let her tell us when she's ready to roll. Hopefully, she stays sound and we can have the kind of year that you would hope that a filly like that can give you.”

Tamara is the fourth foal from the aforementioned four-time champion and three-time Breeders' Cup winner Beholder. Beholder's colt by Curlin, now two, brought a sale-topping $4 million from Zedan Racing at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale last summer. Beholder has also produced 2023 GIII Senorita S. heroine Teena Ella (War Front). She had a filly by Jackie's Warrior Feb. 13, and, according to Toffey, is currently in foal to Gun Runner for the 2025 season.

She's here, and she's perfect Beholder foaled a gorgeous Jackie's Warrior filly in the early morning hours on February 13th, which also happens to be her sire's birthday. pic.twitter.com/fKF3FhLHxV

— Spendthrift Farm (@spendthriftfarm) February 14, 2024

The post Tamara Back on Worktab, ‘Eager to do More’ for Mandella appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Back on California soil Sunday, it was back to business as jockey Edwin Maldonado, reunited with this runner after Frankie Dettori was aboard in Florida, did all he could to restrain Ruby Nell on the front end, keeping her under a tight hold even as she opened up a sizeable gap on the run into the first turn. Left alone on the lead through fractions of :25.55 and :46.88, the favorite gradually let a trio of pursuers eat into the gap with a quarter left to run but had more than enough in the tank to keep Mouffy (Uncle Mo) at bay and pick up her second graded-stakes win.

“I just let her do her thing,” Maldonado said. “She wants it her way and even if you fight her, she's going to do it her way, so I just let her do her thing.”

“I never had a doubt that Ruby would win, but the training schedule on all these horses the last couple weeks has been difficult,” added Mandella. “Keeping their minds right is pretty tough. I'm very proud that she handled it as well as she did.”

Pedigree Note:

Owner Spendthrift Farm went to $1,200,000 to secure Ruby Nell as a 2-year-old after she brought just $85,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2021. One of 10 stakes winners for Bolt d'Oro, a Spendthrift stallion, Ruby Nell is out of the winning Not For Love mare Rich Love who herself last saw the auction ring late last year when she brought $500,000 from Fast Fillies at FTKNOV. A producer of fives winners from as many to race, Rich Love is a half to MSW/GSP Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones) and SW/GSP Peach of a Gal (Curlin). After producing back to back foals by Good Magic, Rich Love went to Curlin for 2024.

RUBY NELL ($3.60) DOES IT AGAIN!!

She lead wire-to-wire in the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2) at @santaanitapark. The daughter of Bolt d'Oro was trained by Richard Mandella with @MaldonadoJockey in the irons! Congrats to owners – @spendthriftfarm! pic.twitter.com/A2vK68enzj

— TVG (@TVG) March 4, 2024

Sunday, Santa Anita Park
BUENA VISTA S.-GII, $202,000, Santa Anita, 3-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.01, gd.
1–RUBY NELL, 122, f, 4, by Bolt d'Oro
   1st Dam: Rich Love, by Not For Love
   2nd Dam: Richetta, by Polish Numbers
   3rd Dam: Riscay, by Rahy
($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $85,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $1,200,000 2yo '22 FTFMAR). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Solana Beach Sales (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Edwin A. Maldonado. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-2, $491,520. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mouffy, 120, m, 5, Uncle Mo–Truly Together, by Smart Strike. O-Augustin Stables; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. $40,000.
3–Nadette (Fr), 120, m, 5, Outstrip (GB)–Ciboulette (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). (€50,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY; €17,000 2yo '21 ARQSRM; $340,000 RNA 4yo '23 KEENOV). O-Team Valor International, LLC; B-Herve Dardenne (FR); T-Neil D. Drysdale. $24,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 1. Odds: 0.80, 5.80, 25.50.
Also Ran: Be Your Best (Ire), Bellabel (Ire), Closing Remarks, Lucky Girl (Ire), Justique, Lakota Spirit. Scratched: Kissed by Fire, Thirty Carats.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Ruby Nell Sparkles in Frontrunning Buena Vista Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Here's a look at the third installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10:

1) TARIFA (f, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-0, $278,925. Last start: WON Feb. 17 GII Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 23 or GI Ashland S., Kee, Apr. 5

We didn't even have this filly on prior Top 10 lists, but she did enough in her win in the Rachel Alexandra to move all the way up to the top spot. Making her first start in a stakes and going up against some tough, more experienced horses, this was no easy spot for the daughter of Bernardini as she was facing, among others, GII Golden Rod S. winner Intricate (Gun Runner). But she made it look easy, drawing off to win by 2 3/4 lengths under Flavien Prat, picking up a Beyer figure of 90, the same number given to GII Risen Star S. winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). As usual, trainer Brad Cox is loaded with talent in the 3-year-old filly division and will be searching for his third win in the race since 2018. With the sire's death in 2021, Tarifa is a member of Bernardini's penultimate crop to hit the track.

2) JUST F Y I (f, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-George Krikorian (Ky); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,317,750. Last start: WON Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

Just F Y I | Benoit Photography

Hard to knock the champ down a spot in this poll when she hasn't done anything wrong. But it's becoming apparent with each prep that she's going to have to step up her game when it comes to how fast she is. While a horse like Tarifa picked up a 90 Beyer in her last start, Just FYI has never run faster than a 79. That's not to say she can't do it. Horses can improve dramatically from two to three and in Bill Mott she is being trained by one of the very best in the business. She's had five workouts so far this winter at Payson Park, the latest being a five-furlong breeze on Feb. 17 in 1:03.60, so look for Mott to tighten the screws in the coming weeks.

3) JODY'S PRIDE (f, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) O-Parkland Thoroughbreds & Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (Ky); T-Jorge R Abreu. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 3-2-1-0, $480,250. Last start: 2nd Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

The runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Jody's Pride is also being pointed for the GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream, which will mark her 3-year-old debut. The Davona Dale looks like it's going to come up very strong. The knock on Jody's Pride is the same as it is on Just F Y I. She's not particularly fast and the 79 she got in the Juvenile Fillies is her all-time best number. If this doesn't work out she can always try the turf as she is by American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). In the Juvenile Fillies, she was ridden by Flavien Prat, who also has the mount on Tarifa.

4) KOPION (f, Omaha Beach—Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) O-Spendthrift Farm; B-Tall Oaks Farm (Ky); T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $270,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $116,600. Last start: 2nd Feb. 10 GIII Las Virgenes S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 6

Kopion | Benoit

Kopion is not the best 3-year-old filly based in Southern California. Kinza (Carpe Diem) is, and she beat her handily in the GIII Las Virgenes S. on Feb. 10. But Kinza is trained by Bob Baffert, which means she is effectively banned from running in the Oaks. Kopion might be second on the Southern California depth chart, but she's a good filly in her own right. In just three lifetime starts, she's won a Grade III and placed in another. Is trained by Richard Mandella, who likes to take his time with his horses, so it may be that we haven't seen her best yet. Still another filly ridden by Flavien Prat, who is the regular rider of three of the top four horses in this poll.

5) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,950. Last start: WON Jan. 11 AOC at Gulfstream Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

Has an interesting pedigree. Is by Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) out of an unraced Galileo (Ire) mare and she wasn't cheap. Owner Mandy Pope paid $1,150,000 for her at Keeneland September. She's only raced twice, has yet to run in a stakes race and has never gone beyond seven furlongs, so she has some catching up to do. In her last race, she won a Gulfstream allowance by a length and had to fight off a challenge from Gun Song (Gun Runner). That filly came back and won her next start by 5 3/4 lengths. Leslie's Rose will have to do more to solidify her status as a top Kentucky Oaks threat, but it's clear that she has a world of potential.

6) POWER SQUEEZE (f, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks Farm (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-3-1-0, $188,650. Last start: WON Feb. 10 Suncoast S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Mar. 30.

Trained by up-and-coming trainer Jorge Delgado, she's been carefully managed so far this year. After she broke her maiden at Delaware Park in October, she came back to win two non-graded races this year, the Cash Run S. and the Suncoast S. Will have a much stiffer test in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, but very well could be up to the task. Life Talk was supposed to dominate in the Suncoast, but threw in a clunker, so there's no telling how good the competition behind Power Squeeze was. Was ridden by Daniel Centeno in the Suncoast. Will be interesting to see if Delgado goes for a more high profile jockey for the next start.

7) WEST OMAHA (f, West Coast–Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-2-0, $203,000. Last start: WON Jan. 20 Sillverbulletday S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

She was last seen winning the Jan. 20 Silverbulletday S. at the Fair Grounds and is now slated to run in Saturday's GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn Park. The Silverbulletday was a fairly soft spot so she may need to improve to win the Honeybee. Is a Brad Cox trainee and a homebred from the Gary and Mary West operation. The Wests have yet to win a Kentucky Oaks. She was entered in the Rachel Alexandra and was one of three trained by Cox entered. But he scratched West Omaha and put her on a van to Oaklawn, no doubt trying to find a way to keep some of his horses apart.

8) INTRICATE (f, Gun Runner–Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scot Estes & Cambron Equine, LLC; B-LBD Stable, LLC (Ky); T-Brendan Walsh. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $362,180. Last start: 2nd GII Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 35. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 23

Didn't run a bad race at all when second in the Rachel Alexandra when beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Tarifa. But she was the 17-10 favorite, so the race should go down as a mild disappointment. Has drawn comparisons to last year's Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) because both are trained by Brendan Walsh. Pretty Mischievous also had one off day on her way to Oaks glory, finishing second in the Fair Grounds Oaks. No reason why Intricate can't rebound.

9) BAND OF GOLD (f, Preservationist–Play for Gold by Cairo Prince) O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales history: $70,000 wnlg '21 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $206,000. Last start: WON Feb. 3 Martha Washington S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

Band of Gold | Coady

The Honeybee will be a big test for this Kenny McPeek trainee. She's coming off a 2 3/4-length win in the Martha Washington, but some may want to downgrade the effort since she was 24-1 that day and she was not good in her previous start, the Untapable S. Was it a fluke? With her having gone from a 63 Beyer to a 86 in the Martha Washington, may also be a bounce candidate.

10) RECHARGE (f, Gun Runner–Remit, by Tapit) O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-3-0-0, $189,498. Last start: WON Feb. 18 Sunland Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Fantasy S., OP, Mar. 30.

It looks Steve Asmussen has his horse for the Oaks. Recharge is undefeated in three starts and was last seen winning the Sunland Park Oaks. Prior to that, she broke her maiden at Remington and then won an allowance at Sam Houston, so, apparently, was not part of Asmussen's first string. There are definitely questions regarding who she has beaten, but there's also plenty of time for Asmussen to improve her and have her ready for tougher spots.

The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Per Santa Anita Stable Superintendent Jeff Metz, Richard Mandella will send Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and potentially Planetario (Brz) (Il Doge {Brz}) for starts on the Saudi Cup undercard.

After spending nearly 12 hours in the holding barn at Santa Anita, the Saudi-bound contingent will leave for Los Angeles International Airport at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. They will go first to Miami via Mersant International where they will be joined by a group of Eastern-based horses for the 13-hour trip to Riyadh.

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“She's out of training,” Mandella said. “It was a small crack in the splint bone, but it needed time to heal up. She'll start training again in about a week, but that won't give us enough time to make the Oaks. She'll be ready when she's ready.”

Mandella, however, has developed a worthy replacement in Kopion (Omaha Beach), who was an impressive winner of the GIII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 7. Mandella said the Feb. 4 GIII Las Virgenes S. will be her next target.

The post Tamara Won’t Make Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Kopion broke smoothly from the Santa Ynez rail, but there was trouble just to her inside as 5-2 second-choice Tambo (Enticed) stutter stepped and stumbled. She was quickly left several lengths back as Kopion continued unbothered and under a hold while in front with authority. As the chestnut cruised through a :23.70 first quarter with her ears flicking back and forth, Tambo went outside horses and caught up with the short field.

Both Kopion and rider Flavien Prat had enough of the stalking Don't Bring Crazy (Maximus Mischief) by the :46.55 half as Prat imperceptibly gave the filly his blessing to let it out the smallest of notches. She quickly opened up and the race was over before the stretch as Kopion put 5 3/4 lengths on the field while Prat sat almost motionless and never asked her. It was clearly a special performance. Don't Bring Crazy held second over Tambo, who got up for third.

“Her trip was good,” said Prat. “She was a bit sharper today but she jumped well out of there and she looked around a bit when she was on the lead. Besides that she did everything perfect. It's always special when I ride for [Richard] Mandella.”

Kopion debuted Nov. 26 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar with a sharp win and an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. Prat was aboard that day as well. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and Prat also teamed up to win this race last year with Ice Dancing (Frosted); Prat was making it three in a row and four of the last six in the Santa Ynez with additional wins in 2022 with Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) and in 2019 with Bellafina (Quality Road). Just a week prior to Kopion's Santa Ynez, Mandella and Prat had joined forces to close out 2023 with Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah)'s win in the GII Joe Hernandez S. Forbidden Kingdom is co-owned by Spendthrift; Kopion is owned outright by the farm as a $270,000 Keeneland September buy.

“It looked like when she went out to the track she settled down, she warmed up nice, and went to the gate nice,” said Mandella about Kopion's first graded win. “She left there running and she kind of gave us that feeling when we were in the paddock. She showed her class.

“The only time she didn't work good was with Tamara; I can't explain it but she just didn't want any part of it.”

It was just a few months ago that Tamara (Bolt d'Oro)–a 'TDN Rising Star' and winner of the GI Del Mar Debutante S.–was the undisputed star of the crop for both Spendthrift and the Mandella barn. The daughter of the Spendthrift/Mandella multiple champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) has been sidelined since coming out of the Breeders' Cup with a fractured splint bone in her left hind leg.

#1 KOPION ($2.40) impressively wins the G3 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita under Flavien Prat for trainer Richard Mandella. Congratulations to @SpendthriftFarm on Kentucky Oaks points for this daughter of Omaha Beach. pic.twitter.com/dKKH1JrOJH

— TVG (@TVG) January 7, 2024

Pedigree Notes:

Much has been made of the perceived underperformance of the 2023 freshman sires in the graded department, but Omaha Beach finished top of the class for the year by both graded performers with four and black-type horses with 11 before coming out firing with his first graded winner in the first week of 2024. The MGISW son of War Front–like Kopion, also trained by Mandella–has 25 winners in his first crop and three black-type winners. In addition to Kopion's graded victory, his GSP-Ire daughter Launch finished second Sunday in Gulfstream's Glitter Woman S.

Kopian is out of a daughter of 1999 champion older horse Victory Gallop, reportedly still standing in Turkey at the age of 29 this year. Victory Gallop has 37 stakes winners as a broodmare sire.

From the prolific 'Ami' family, Kopion is a half to 2016 Canadian champion Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) and to GSW & GISP Ami's Flatter (Flatter). Others in the immediate family include dual 2017 Canadian champion Ami's Mesa (Sky Mesa). Kopion's dam has a 2-year-old colt named Authentic Gallop (Authentic), a yearling filly by Essential Quality, and was bred to Uncle Mo for this term. The juvenile was a $300,000 Keeneland September buy by Greg Tramontin.

Galloping Ami was honored with Canada's Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare for 2016; her full-sister, Victorious Ami, was given the same award for 2017.

Sunday, Santa Anita
SANTA YNEZ S.-GIII, $98,000, Santa Anita, 1-7, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.89, ft.
1–KOPION, 120, f, 3, by Omaha Beach
1st Dam: Galloping Ami (Outstanding Broodmare-Can), by Victory Gallop
               2nd Dam: Secret Ami, by Secret Claim
               3rd Dam: Sybelle Ami, by Alwasmi
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($270,000
Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Tall Oaks Farm
(KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Flavien Prat. $60,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $96,600. *1/2 to Aragorn Ami (Aragorn
{Ire}), SW, $112,535; 1/2 to Ami's Flatter (Flatter), GSW &
GISP, $536,931; 1/2 to Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo), Ch.
3-year-old Colt-Can, GSW, $800,022. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*1st graded winner for first-crop sire (by War Front).
2–Don't Bring Crazy, 120, f, 3, Maximus Mischief–Lily Maria,
by Paynter. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($60,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $140,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP).
O-Mark Davis; B-Mullikin Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Doug F.
O'Neill. $20,000.
3–Tambo, 120, f, 3, Enticed–Flatter Me First, by Flatter. 1ST
GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($29,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $25,000 Ylg
'22 KEESEP; $70,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-SAF Racing,
Neil A. Haymes, James E. McCadden, and William Strauss;
B-Thoroughbred by Design LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton.
$12,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, 4 3/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.20, 16.00, 2.90.
Also Ran: Bossy Bruin Gal. Scratched: Petit Filet.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Effortless Victory for Omaha Beach Filly in Santa Ynez appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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It's been a slow 2023 for the Richard Mandella trainee with only a pair of starts to his name and none since a weakening fourth in the GII Triple Bend S. May 27. In fact, the chestnut hasn't graced the winner's circle after a race since his victory on the Triple Crown trail in 2022's rendition of the GII San Felipe S.

The wagering public seemed to have their doubts as well, sending Forbidden Kingdom off at 4-1 facing a full field of 12 though notably only one runner who had contested this race in 2022. Started from the chute in a race that was meant to come down the hill, Forbidden Kingdom showed that early turn of foot from the middle of the gate and set right out to control the tempo with pressure to his outside by longshot Dancing Buck (War Dancer). The chestnut was under a tight hold through moderate fractions of :23.99 and :48.19 and, as the top pair swung off the turn together, it appeared for a moment as though Dancing Buck would outsprint his rival home. But Forbidden Kingdom turned back that challenge with a game run along the fence and refused to be headed again, opening up a minor advantage on the line.

“I always thought that he would like the grass but when I ran him as a two year old on it, he didn't do that good,” admitted Mandella. “He didn't know what he was doing back then. We've also been on kind of a losing streak with him a while, so my confidence level was not great. He's always trained like a really good horse and he is a really good horse. He fought an intestinal problem a year ago and it took I'm a while to get over it. I think now we are back in the game.”

#4 FORBIDDEN KINGDOM ($10.60) is victorious in his return, taking the $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) for trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Flavien Prat. The 4YO son of American Pharoah (@coolmoreamerica) picks up his third graded victory. pic.twitter.com/l20mXdA0LQ

— TVG (@TVG) December 30, 2023

Pedigree Note:

A $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling, Forbidden Kingdom is one of four winners for his graded-stakes winning dam and one of 41 stakes winners for Triple Crown hero American Pharoah. Just Louise, who last passed through the auction ring in 2013's FTKNOV sale in foal to Malibu Moon for just $150,000, is a half to MGSW and $550,000 2-year-old purchase Sara Louise (Malibu Moon), herself the dam of GSW Sara Street (Street Sense) and recent 'TDN Rising Star' Nash (Medaglia d'Oro). Juse Louise has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Not This Time and reported a full-sister to Forbidden Kingdom before returning to Not This Time for 2024.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
JOE HERNANDEZ S.-GII, $203,500, Santa Anita, 12-30, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:14.92, gd.
1–FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, 121, c, 4, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Just Louise (GSW), by Five Star Day
2nd Dam: Kings Lynn, by Mt. Livermore
3rd Dam: Til Forbid, by Temperence Hill
($300,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift
Farm LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella;
J-Flavien Prat. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 12-4-3-2,
$679,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style
pedigree.
2–Dancing Buck, 121, g, 5, War Dancer–Frivolous Buck, by
Catienus. O-J and N Stables and Diamond M Stable; B-J & N
Stables LLC (NY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.. $40,000.
3–Turn On The Jets (Ire), 121, g, 4, Mehmas (Ire)–Chiclet (Ire),
by Dandy Man (Ire). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Benowitz
Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano; B-Mr. D.
Byrne (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $24,000.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, NK. Odds: 4.30, 13.50, 6.60.
Also Ran: Daniel's Magic, I'm A Gambler (Ire), Balnikhov (Ire), Lucky Score, Tahoe Sunrise, Johnny Podres, Front Run the Fed, Olympic Runner, Peaceful Waters. Scratched: Lovesick Blues.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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This Tuesday, an 11-race card kicks off at 2 p.m. ET under the picturesque San Gabriel mountains in Arcadia, California–six of which are graded stakes.

To entice the horseplayer, the Classic Meet sports a $1 Pick Six, a 14 percent takeout on both the .50 Early and Late Pick 5, and we will see the return of the $3 All-Turf Pick 3, which was announced during the recent Autumn Meet.

As for the graded lineup, of course the feature is once again the GI Malibu S. for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on dirt.

Trainer Bob Baffert has GSW Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), GSW Fort Bragg (Tapit) and GISP Hejazi (Bernardini) ready to go. The Hall of Famer, who won last year's edition with 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner), is seeking his sixth win in the Malibu. That would tie fellow Hall member Richard Mandella for most wins all-time in the race.

The 3-year-old fillies take the stage in the GI La Brea S. going seven furlongs. GISP Clearly Unhinged (Into Mischief) looks to be the leading contender. The Michael McCarthy-trainee was most recently sixth at 'The Great Race Place' in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 4.

Baffert, who has won the last two La Breas, and with a record of nine overall, enters GSP Fast and Shiny (Bernardini), while trainer Brad Cox ships in SW Howl (Practical Joke).

Anisette | Benoit

In the GI American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf, GISW Anisette (GB) Awtaad (Ire) is the standout. The Leonard Powell-trainee won the GI Del Mar Oaks and GII San Clemente S. at Del Mar earlier this year. Most recently, Anisette was the runner-up in both the GII Rodeo Drive S. Oct. 7 and GIII Autumn Miss S. Nov. 5, both at Santa Anita.

Alongside the three Grade Is are the same number of Grade IIs, which all carry a purse of $200,000. The GII San Gabriel S. for 3-year-olds and up at nine furlongs on turf includes Easter (Fr). The Phil D'Amato-trainee won his first start for his new barn in the GII Seabiscuit H. at Del Mar Nov. 25. The 5-year-old Australian-bred by Exosphere (Aus) was previously based in New York with trainer Graham Motion.

The GII San Antonio S. is for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Present are Stilleto Boy (Shackleford), winner of this year's GI Santa Anita H.; GSW Newgrange (Violence); MGSW Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride); and GSW Salesman (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Add in South American import Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), who is a Argentinian multiple Group 1 winner, and this makes for a pretty salty affair.

In what might be the most open battle on the whole card, the GII Mathis Mile S. over the grass for 3-year-olds includes GSP Almendares (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), SW Dandy Man Shines (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and GSP Panic Alarm (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}).

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Drawn on the rail in the field of six, the last-out Desi Arnaz S. winner was sent to the front by Juan Hernandez and was pressed through an opening quarter in :23.24. She gained some separation through a half mile in :47.40, let it out a notch on the far turn and ran up the score in the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths over Great Forty Eight (Constitution).

The latter was disqualified from second and placed fourth after shifting out and interfering with favored GII Chandelier S. winner Chatalas (Gun Runner) in the stretch. The maiden Flynn's Chance (Medaglia d'Oro), third across the line, was elevated to second.

Nothing Like You, a $67,000 KEENOV weanling, $20,000 KEESEP yearling and $190,000 OBSAPR juvenile, is campaigned in partnership by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz.

“(Nothing Like You) was pretty fresh today because I backed off on her a bit because I'd just run her at Del Mar,” Baffert said. “Juan (Hernandez) said she popped out of there and he said nobody wanted the lead so he just took it.”

“Once I saw her on the backside with that long stride you could tell she was in control of the race,” Baffert said. “It took Nothing Like You a while to come around. She wasn't real quick. We knew once we stretched her out that would be her game. The longer the better for her.”

Nothing Like You earned her diploma by 6 1/2 lengths over the aforementioned Great Forty Eight while making her two-turn debut at fourth asking at Santa Anita Oct. 14. She turned back to seven furlongs to narrowly annex the Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar last time Nov. 18.

“She's improving with every race and a distance is what she has always wanted,” Hernandez said. “She relaxed perfectly. I let her go at the head of the stretch and she took off.”

Pedigree Notes:

Nothing Like You, a $190,000 OBS April breezer (:10), becomes the 55th graded/group winner worldwide for the late leading sire Malibu Moon. She is the first graded winner and one of three stakes winners for her broodmare sire Brother Derek. A three-time stakes winner at Hastings, Nothing Like You's dam Miss Derek has also produced Tepin S. winner South of France (Quality Road). Nothing Like You is her most recent produce.

Saturday, Los Alamitos Thoroughbred
STARLET S.-GII, $200,500, Los Alamitos, 12-9, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.78, ft.
1–NOTHING LIKE YOU, 120, f, 2, by Malibu Moon
                1st Dam: Miss Derek (MSW-Can, SP-USA, $159,610), by Brother Derek
                2nd Dam: Quick Text, by Tiznow
                3rd Dam: Super Seniorita, by El Baba
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($67,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $190,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz; B-Notch Hill Farm, Wolverton Mountain Farm & Spendthrift Stallions, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $237,160. *1/2 to South of France (Quality Road), SW,
$156,005. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flynn's Chance, 120, f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Venetian Sonata, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($675,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $40,000.
3–Chatalas, 120, f, 2, Gun Runner–Indian Safari, by Indian Charlie. O-Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Dan Agnew and William Chatalas; B-Dan Agnew (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $24,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 2, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.10, 17.10, 1.80.
Also Ran: Great Forty Eight, Pacific Rose, Grazia.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

NOTHING LIKE YOU ($6.20) pulls away from trouble in the stretch and takes the GII Starlet at @LosAlRacing with @JJHernandezS19 in the saddle for @BobBaffert's seventh straight win in the stakes. Congratulations to owners Hunt, Giglio or Rogitz! pic.twitter.com/SpCPA3xX4D

— TVG (@TVG) December 10, 2023

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The Richard Mandella trainee at odds of 2-5 broke alertly and vied for the lead with two others up the backstretch. As the far turn arrived, Llorona clearly had more to give and at the quarter pole she began to increase her margin. With Flavien Prat serving as passenger at this point, his mount appeared to glide along as she coasted home by 5 3/4 lengths over Make It Snow (Empire Maker).

The winner's dam GISP Wasted Tears (Najran) was bred, owned and trained by Bart Evans. A juvenile maiden breaker herself at Retama Park in San Antonio, a year later in 2008 through 2010 she won 10 of 11 races as she advanced from allowance into graded stakes company–including wins in the GII Jenny Wiley S. and GII John C. Mabee S.

Evans partnered with Jeff and Chiquita Reddoch, the founders of Stonehaven Steadings, to breed Corniche, who went to Speedway Stables for $1.5 million at the '21 OBS April Sale. At Keeneland September that same year, Evans, along with his son Robert, bought out the Reddoch's share in Llorona for $750,000. Since then, Wasted Tears foaled a filly by Into Mischief Mar. 15 and she visited that multiple-leading sire again for next year.

Llorona is Mendelssohn's second 'Rising Star' after Pink Hue.

1st-Del Mar, $62,000, Msw, 12-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.80, ft, 5 3/4 lengths.
LLORONA, f, 3, Mendelssohn
                1st Dam: Wasted Tears {MGSW & GISP, $941,463},
                                by Najran
                2nd Dam: Wishes and Roses, by Greinton (GB)
                3rd Dam: Anniversary Wish, by Beau's Eagle
Sales History: $750,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Bart B. Evans and Robert M. Evans; B-Bart Evans & Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella.

She made it look so easy. #6 LLORONA ($2.80) wins the @DelMarRacing opener with Flavien Prat aboard for trainer Richard Mandella and owners Bart Evans and Robert Evans. Another winner by Mendelssohn who stands at @coolmoreamerica.

Bet the Del Mar Pick 4 next on @FanDuelTV pic.twitter.com/oxWPhqSwRH

— TVG (@TVG) December 1, 2023

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