Rockefeller Rockets To Graded Stakes Victory In Nashua

In his third career start, Rockefeller improved on his last-out fourth-place finish behind Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche in the American Pharoah Stakes and won the G3 Nashua Stakes on the closing day card at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The son of Medaglia d'Oro withstood early pressure from Speaking and pulled away in the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Breaking from post one, Rockefeller and Luis Saez went straight to the lead, with Speaking pressing to his outside, a half-length off the lead. Around the far turn, Rockefeller extended his lead to a length, as Speaking began to tire and the field attempted to catch up with the leader.

In the stretch, Cooke Creek and Judge Davis put in their closing bids, but the Baffert-trained Rockefeller easily pulled away from the field, stretching his lead out in the race's final furlong. The final time for the one-mile G3 Nashua Stakes was 1:36.66. Cooke Creek and Judge Davis were second and third. Midnight Worker, Cairama, and Speaking rounded out the field.

Find this race's chart here.

Rockefeller paid $3.60, $3.30, and $2.40. Cooke Creek paid $5.50 and $3.60. Judge Davis paid $2.70.

Bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, Rockefeller is out of the Speightstown mare Dance to Bristol, a multiple graded stakes winner. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and Robert E. Masterson. The 2-year-old colt was consigned by Mill Ridge Sales and sold to SF/Starlight/Madaket for $750,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With his win in the Nashua, Rockefeller has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $142,500.

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Tapit Colt Headlines Opening Session Of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Sale

Strong trade marked the opening session of the 2021 Kentucky October Yearlings sale Monday at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky.

A colt by three-time leading sire Tapit topped the session when sold for $700,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables (video).

Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, consigned the colt as Hip 22. The bay colt is the first foal out of the stakes winning Shanghai Bobby mare March X Press, a half-sister to stakes winner and stakes producer Harlan's Honor. Bred in Kentucky, Hip 22's price tag matched the second-highest paid for a colt in the history of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale.

“I'm very pleased with the opening session of the October sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “(There was) spirited bidding at all levels, lots of competition, and a very diverse crowd that was here to buy horses… It's very encouraging.”

Rounding out the sessions top five prices were:

  • Hip 21, a Justify colt out of multiple stakes winner Maple Forest (Forestry), purchased for $350,000 by John P. Fort from the consignment of Blue Heaven Farm (video). The chestnut colt is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes-placed multiple stakes winner Heartwood. Hip 21 was bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm.
  • Hip 266, a Union Rags colt out of graded stakes winner Purely Hot (Pure Prize), purchased for $235,000 by Redwings from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The bay colt is a half-brother to two winners, including 2019 Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes winner Eight Rings (Empire Maker). Hip 266 was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Cheslton, & Wynatt.
  • Hip 273, a colt by the late Malibu Moon out the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Queenie's Song, purchased for $200,000 by Cypress Creek LLC from the consignment of Timber Town, agent. The dark bay or brown colt is a half-brother to two winners, including multiple stakes winner Oliviaofthedesert (Bernardini). Hip 273 was bred in Kentucky by Timber Town Stable LLC and Jane Winegardner.
  • Hip 302, a filly by successful young sire Liam's Map out of the winning Indian Charlie mare Recoupe, purchased for $190,000 by West Bloodstock from the consignment of St George Sales, agent. The gray or roan filly stakes-placed winner Compensate. Hip 302 was bred in Kentucky by Westpoint Stables.

“I don't think it was any surprise that there was a lot of demand,” added Browning. “We've seen strength in the yearling sales (this year)… We've got a lot of real quality horses still to sell in the next three days, and we're looking forward (to it).”

Overall, 341 yearlings sold for $11,016,900 with 32 yearlings sold for $100,000 or more. Compared to last year's opening session, the gross rose 31.3 percent from $8,393,800. The average rose 18.8 percent to $40,208 from $33,846, while the median increased 13.3% to $17,000 from $15,000. The session RNA rate was 19.6 percent.

The Kentucky October Yearlings sale resumes Tuesday at 10 AM. Results are available online.

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Moira Wins Princess Elizabeth Stakes In First Start At Woodbine

In her first start, Moira got her first win, breaking her maiden in the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The daughter of Ghostzapper impressed with her 4 1/2-length victory on debut for trainer Kevin Attard.

In a field of ten, Moira and jockey Justin Stein settled in the back of the pack early, running next-to-last around the first turn and into the backstretch as Mo Touring led the field through fractions of :24.55 for the first quarter and :49.07 for the first half-mile. As the field approached the far turn, Stein moved his filly between horses to find running room entering the stretch.

Still in traffic, Stein took Moira between horses again entering the Woodbine straight, running on the outside of Mo Touring and Souper Flashy and accelerating into the lead. At the wire, the first-time starter had stretched her advantage out to nearly 4 1/2 lengths, winning the Princess Elizabeth Stakes in 1:44.63. Souper Flashy was second and Intro was third.

Find this race's chart here.

Moira paid $10.60, $6.70, and $5.00. Souper Flashy paid $7.90 and $5.80. Intro paid $11.90.

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Moira is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Devine Aida. She is owned by X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing LLC. Consigned by Hidden Brook, the 2-year-old filly was sold to X-Men Racing for $150,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her win in the Princess Elizabeth, Moira has career earnings of $121,292.

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Baffert-Trained Rockefeller Headlines Friday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ American Pharoah Stakes

Bob Baffert's talented first-out winner Rockefeller heads a promising group of seven two-year-olds going a mile and one sixteenth in Friday's Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita. Renamed in 2018 for Baffert's 2015 Triple Crown winner, the American Pharoah is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier to the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

A $750,000 Keeneland September yearling, Rockefeller was a most impressive first-out winner going six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 28, winning by 2 ¼ lengths under Abel Cedillo, who rides him back on Friday. A bay colt by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Speightstown mare Dance to Bristol, Rockefeller is owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, et al. A winner of a record five previous runnings, Baffert would appear to be well positioned to notch his sixth American Pharoah win.

Another talented first-out winner, Forbidden Kingdom, rates a big shot in the American Pharoah as well. Trained by Richard Mandella, this chestnut colt by American Pharoah out of the Five Star Day mare Just Louise, broke sharply and took control early on his way to a half length score going 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 21 at Del Mar. Purchased for $300,000 out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, Forbidden Kingdom is owned by Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse and will be ridden back by Juan Hernandez.

Pappacap, a winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes in his second start and Finneus, who finished fourth and second respectively in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs Sept. 6, both merit strong consideration. California-bred Joker Boy, the likely speed in the race, comes off a smashing 3 ½ length score in the statebred I'm Smokin Stakes at six furlongs and will have theft on his mind with Edwin Maldonado up.

THE GRADE 1 AMERICAN PHAROAH WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

  1. Corniche—Mike Smith—122
  2. Flying Drummer—John Velazquez–122
  3. Finneus—Tiago Pereira—122
  4. Oviatt Class—Kent Desormeaux—122
  5. Joker Boy—Edwin Maldonado—122
  6. Rockefeller—Flavien Prat—122
  7. Pappacap—Joe Bravo–122

First post time for a nine-race program on Friday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit Santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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