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What’s In a Name? Sir Alfred James

6th-Churchill Downs, $101,097, Alw, 9-5, (NW1X), 3yo/up, 7f, 1:21.41, ft. SIR ALFRED JAMES (g, 4, Munnings–Super Phoebe, by Malabar Gold)
The Ashford stallion Munnings (by Speightstown out of La Comete) and his winning son SIR ALFRED JAMES (out of Super Phoebe) represent a welcome return to the old tradition of giving painters’ names to racehorses. Both father and son are obviously named after Suffolk-born Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959), great classic painter of horses and World War I battle scenes. No one was fonder of this practice than the illustrious Federico Tesio, who borrowed painters’ names for many of his champions, like unbeaten legend Ribot (buried at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington), El Greco, Apelle, Botticelli, Toulouse Lautrec, and so on. The jury is still out on America’s foundation sire Nearco (another of Tesio’s jewels): some say he may have been a ceramist. In any case, horses have always fascinated painters from all ages in history. Smartly named Sir Alfred James would have made his namesake proud, with his tenacious come-from-behind run on Saturday at Churchill Downs in a quality six-furlong allowance race.

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Pony Club’s Shelley Mann Named New Executive Director of Secretariat Center

Shelley Mann, the former director of marketing and communications for the United States Pony Clubs, Inc., has been named the new executive director of Central Kentucky’s Secretariat Center. Founded in 2004 on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Secretariat Center provides a highly visible location for off-track Thoroughbreds to be retrained and adopted.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Secretariat Center team,” said Mann. “The care and placement of retired racehorses and providing these equine athletes a second career is something I am deeply passionate about.”

Added Secretariat Center president Dr. Holly Schmitt: “[Mann] has dedicated much of her professional career to understanding equine health and to supporting community programs. Her experience and skills will be crucial to promoting this organization as the gold standard in Thoroughbred retraining.”

Mann will begin her new position Sept. 14.

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Jackie’s Warrior Meets ‘Rising Star’ Pair in Hopeful

With the obvious caveat that anything can happen with 2-year-olds this early in their development–look no further than Sittin On Go (Brody’s Cause)’s 24-1 upset in Saturday GII Iroquois S.–Monday’s GI Runhappy Hopeful S. looks solidly like a three-horse affair, as arguably the three most impressive dirt juveniles of the meet will clash in the seven-furlong test.

Made the fractional favorite on the morning line at 7-5, J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music) looks formidable in his attempt for back-to-back Spa graded stakes scores. A first-out winner going five panels over next-out ‘TDN Rising Star’ Therideofalifetime Candy Ride (Arg) June 19 at Churchill, he went to the lead and fought off all comers to triumph by three lengths in a high-quality renewal of the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7. Drawn outside of what little speed there is, the $95,000 Keeneland September grad figures to work out a dream trip as he stretches out an additional furlong.

Klaravich Stables’ Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) is a tick behind at 8-5 and may well go off favored at final odds. Unveiled going a local three-quarters in a loaded looking field of firsters Aug. 1, the $280,000 OBS March buy made short work of his rivals, rocketing away to a 7 3/4-length romp and ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors. Clicking off his final quarter in :23.81 while geared down late, Reinvestment Risk was flattered when third finisher Olympiad (Speightstown) returned to a sharp maiden victory Saturday at the Spa.

Rounding out the big three is another ‘Rising Star’ in Shadwell Stable’s Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief). Backed down to 85 cents on the dollar debuting at 5 1/2 furlongs here Aug. 8, the $425,000 Keeneland November weanling buy pressed the pace widest out and drew clear in the stretch to a 4 1/2-length success.

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Monday’s Insights: Saratoga, Del Mar Meets End with a Bang

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

3rd-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 12:33 p.m.
Bill Mott saddles Godolphin’s debuting SERENE (Tapit), an $800,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase last year. The chestnut filly is a daughter of multiple Grade I-placed Fascinating (Smart Strike). Out of graded stakes winner Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), Fascinating is a half-sister to Grade I winner Bodemeister (Empire Maker). Also debuting is Peter Brant’s Editor at Large (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The Chad Brown trainee was a 260,000gns purchase at last year’s Tattersalls October sale. Todd Pletcher sends out firster Ready Seeker (More Than Ready). The Charles Fipke homebred is out of Title Seeker (Monarchos) and is a half to graded winner Seeking the Title (Seeking the Gold), dam of Grade I winner Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), and a full to multiple graded placed Title Ready. TJCIS PPs

7th-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:37 p.m.
Allen Stable’s NO ORDINARY TIME (Not This Time), a $600,000 KEESEP yearling, debuts for trainer Shug McGaughey. Out of Crosswinds (Storm Cat), the bay filly is a half-sister to Grade I winner Weep No More (Mineshaft) and graded winner Current (Curlin). Godolphin homebred Lovestruck (Tapit) is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner and late leading sire Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), as well as to graded winner Antipathy (A.P. Indy). She makes her first trip to the post for for trainer Bill Mott. TJCIS PPs

9th-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:39 p.m.
Jimmy Jerkens sends out firster GREATHEART (Empire Maker), a $400,000 KEESEP yearling, for Shortleaf Stable. He is a half-brother to graded placed Whiskey Echo (Tiznow). Courtlandt Farms’ Ten for Ten (Frosted), a $410,000 KEESEP yearling, makes his first start for trainer Shug McGaughey. He is out of Summer Vacation (Eskendereya), a half-sister to Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway), Destin (Giant’s Causeway), and to recent GI Personal Ensign S. winner Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway). TJCIS PPs

3rd-Del Mar, $55k, 2yo, 1mT, 5:00 p.m.
SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stable’s TARANTINO (Pioneerof theNile), a $610,000 KEESEP yearling, debuts for trainer Bob Baffert. The bay colt is out of Without Delay (Seeking the Gold) and is a half-brother to graded-placed Before You Know It (Hard Spun) and Instant Reflex (Quality Road). C R K Stable’s Union Soldier (Union Rags) makes his first trip to the post for trainer John Shirreffs. The bay colt, a $650,000 KEESEP purchase, is out of graded winner Sky Girl (Sky Mesa). TJCIS PPs

8th-Del Mar, $57k, Alw/Opt Clm, 3/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 7:30 p.m.
Baoma Corp’s HAPPIER (Street Sense) looks to follow up on her ‘TDN Rising Star’ debut. The Bob Baffert trainee, an $800,000 KEESEP yearling in 2018, went wire-to-wire to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs at Del Mar July 31. TJCIS PPs

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