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Expensive Twirling Candy Filly Kicks Off at Kokura

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses:

Saturday, August 19, 2023
3rd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
EMBLEM BOMB (c, 2, St Patrick's Day–Jelly Cable, by Sky Mesa) is out of a stakes-placed daughter of black-type winner Linda Coqueta (Rubiano), the dam of three-time SP Alfarabi (Yes It's True) and GSP Capo (Capote). This Mar. 18 foal failed to find a new home when bidding stalled at $15,000 at last year's OBS October Sale, but he became the second-priciest 2-year-old from the first crop of this full-brother to American Pharoah when hammering to Hideyuki Mori for $155,000 at this year's OBS March Sale (21 sold/25 ring) after working in :10 flat. B-Brent & Crystal Fernung (FL)

6th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m
JASPER ROBUSTO (c, 2, Khozan–Prize Informant, by Marciano) was purchased by Blaz Perez Stable for $27,000 at OBSOCT last fall, but blossomed over the next several months and was sold to Mori on behalf of the 'Jasper' owner Kazuo Kato for $265,000 at OBSMAR, the best of 25 juveniles (33 ring) by the sire during this season's breeze-ups (:9 4/5). The bay is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to Wise Answer (Wised Up), who nearly swept the Florida Stallion S. series in 2007, capped by a 10-length romp in the In Reality S. at Calder. Rivermont Farm bough Prize Informant for $9,500 in foal to Valiant Minister at the 2019 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. B-Rivermont Farm (FL)

Sunday, August 20, 2023
5th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
PIKARI (f, 2, Twirling Candy–Laudation, by Congrats) is the second foal to the races for her dam, a stakes winner at two for Jerry Durant and Steve Asmussen and later acquired by Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm for $150,000 with this foal in utero at Keeneland November in 2020. Produced by a half-sister to this year's G3 UAE Oaks heroine Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and MSW Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro), this March foal fetched $265,000 from Ciaran Dunne's Red Wings Enterprises at last year's Keeneland September Sale and lit up the tote at OBSMAR to the tune of $900,000 after working a furlong in :9 4/5. B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY)

5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
KINGS CROWN (JPN) (c, 2, Yoshida {Jpn}–Tulips Galore, by Giant's Causeway) is the first Japanese starter for his WinStar-based stallion and was acquired in utero for $45,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. The unplaced dam is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Gambling Girl (Dialed In), runner-up in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks, third in the GI CCA Oaks and entered for Saturday's GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. The colt's third dam Eventail (Lear Fan), a half-sister to Take Charge Lady (Dehere), is responsible for Heart's Cry's dual Japanese listed winner Strong Souther (Jpn) as well as GSW Straight Story (Giant's Causeway). B-Yuki Dendo

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No Nay Mets Headlines Skidmore

Coming in off a gate-to-wire victory in the Tyro S. on July 30, No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) looks to extend his record to three-for-four in Friday's Skidmore S. at Saratoga. Trainer George Weaver was so impressed with his juvenile pupil's recent performance at Monmouth Park that he decided to send the two-time stakes winner to another start less than three weeks after seeing the winner's circle.

“It's hard early on with these 2-year-old races to know exactly what you're running against, but when you win by five lengths, that's a pretty big margin sprinting on the grass,” Weaver said of the Tyro win. “He just sprinted away from those guys in the stretch. He's always had a bunch of quality.”

A Coolmore-bred colt out the Group 3 winner Etoile (War Front)–whose family includes GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) under the second dam–No Nay Mets was originally slated as a pinhook prospect for Houston Astros All-Star Alex Bregman when he was purchased for €180,000 at the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Although the juvenile posted a :20 4/5 breeze at the OBS Spring Sale, bidding stalled at $335,000.

Retained by his original buyer, No Nay Mets was sent to Weaver, who was tasked with preparing him for the Royal Palm Juvenile S. just a few weeks after the sale.

“He went straight from the sale to me and he's been straightforward and a very smart colt from day one,” said Weaver. “We never really had to rush him with his gate work. We shipped him to Gulfstream to work out of the gate. We shipped him to run at Gulfstream. We shipped him to England. Nothing fazed him.”

No Nay Mets was a frontrunning 3 1/2-length winner at Gulfstream, where he earned an automatic berth to compete at Royal Ascot, but the colt did not fare as well as his stablemate Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) at the prestigious meet. After failing to get the same speedy start he had shown on debut, he settled for ninth in the G2 Norfolk S.

“He didn't get away and wasn't able to cut the pace that day,” said his conditioner. “I think his speed is his asset. He came back at Monmouth and we used his speed and it just worked out a lot better.”

Owners Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Carbrera are hoping that their star can come back with a similar performance at Saratoga, but a rainy forecast Friday morning could put a damper on their plans.

“I would prefer not to run him under unfavorable circumstances,” admitted Weaver. “He's been so good to us and he just won. We're coming back on a short rest, but I'll just have to talk with Alex and we'll do what we think is best.”

For now, morning-line favorite No Nay Mets is slated to race from the seven position in a 10-horse Skidmore. The field also includes Mike Maker's Ship Cadet (Midshipman), who was second to No Nay Mets in the Tyro. Stonestreet Stables' Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was impressive in his debut at Keeneland this spring, but he finished a disappointing 11^th in the G2 Coventry S. at Ascot. The MyRacehorse colorbearer Seize the Grey (Arrogate) will make his turf debut coming off a maiden win in the slop for D. Wayne Lukas on July 29 at Saratoga.

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Letter To The Editor: From Starvation To The RPP Makeover

On an impossibly sunny day in October 2022, I found myself at L&D Stables in Nicholasville, Kentucky, looking at a very handsome chestnut gelding for my first OTTB restart project.

Despite his flashy presence, my eye kept drifting to a small herd of mares in a nearby paddock. I made my way to the fence line and was met immediately by a pair of kind eyes and an inquisitive pink nose, searching for my face and neck. Sixty seconds later that nose was gently resting on my shoulder. I was won over. Three days later, Hoosier Artist came home as 'Frida'.

This chance meeting was not the beginning of Frida's story of course. Not even close! By the time we were serendipitously united, this little five-year-old mare had already endured and overcome so much.

Hoosier Artist was rescued from an extreme neglect situation in April 2021 by Lonnie and Diana Winkelspecht, the owners of L&D Stables. Literal skin-and-bones and struggling to stand, she was fighting for her life. After weeks and weeks without food, water and care, other horses on the same property had already perished and for some the only option was euthanasia. The scene was a nightmare. Despite her condition and against the recommendations of veterinarians, Lonnie and Diana knew they had to give this little filly a chance. They began nursing her back to health, sparing no resources. She was small, weak and unable to eat anything, but water-soaked hay and she was scared of everyone. Over the next few months they not only nourished and strengthened her body, but earned her trust.

Frida with Taylor | Taylor Tricarico

Hoosier Artist exceeded everyone's expectations and by mid-summer she was thriving! She began race training in earnest and showed grit and grace. Her first race left everyone who knew her in awe, and in some cases tears of joy. How was this the same horse that had to be supported to stand? How was this the same filly that had a body score of one, not six month earlier? And now she was doing what she was bred to do.

Despite a promising first time out, her racing career was short-lived, lasting only a half dozen times. Following a mismatch of training styles, the difficult decision was made not to push her, but to bring her back to L&D. This is where she stayed as the farm favorite, for several months before our accidental meeting.

I had no specific plans for Frida when she stepped off the trailer at my little farm in Versailles, Kentucky. All I knew is that this was a special soul and I was lucky to now call her mine. During our first off-track ride she couldn't turn right to save her life, as her gates were erratic and she held her head so high I wondered how she could see where she was going. But she was reasonable, responsive and had the best stop I'd ever sat. Two weeks later, we were riding bareback in a halter. Two months after that, she'd mastered all the groundwork I could throw at her. Before I knew it, my seven-year-old son was piloting her. This was a good horse. But what to do with her?

I'd missed the application window for the 2023 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover (RRPTM), when a ISO Facebook post caught my eye. A young trainer was looking to buy an RRPTM horse that matched Frida's description exactly: kind, quiet, slow, small. I messaged her asking, “I know this is a long shot, but would you be willing to partner and take my mare to the RRPTM? She's not for sale, but she is just what you are looking for.” The next day Blakely Releford was in my round pen working with Frida, swooning over her quick brain and sweet demeanor. I could tell immediately that this was a perfect match. A partnership was born and Hoosier Artist, the little-mare-that-could, was RRP bound!

–Taylor Tricarico, Versailles, KY

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Cody’s Wish Among Godolphin Team Plans Outlined

Godolphin's Cody's Wish (Curlin), third in the nine-furlong GI Whitney Aug. 5 at Saratoga, is expected to return to one-turn racing this fall at the Belmont at the Big A meet, according to Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock for Godolphin.

A potential landing spot for the 5-year-old could be the seven-furlong GII Vosburgh S. for 3-year-olds Sept. 30, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita.

Banahan indicated that the Vosburgh could also be used as a steppingstone to the GI Dirt Mile, which he won last year by a head over Cyberknife.

“We were hoping he would run better in the Whitney and it was a great opportunity to figure it out,” said Banahan. “So, we took our chance and obviously it didn't work out as well as we'd hoped for. But, he's come out of the race well and we'll regroup and try and to make him a repeat winner in the Dirt Mile. I think we'll keep him in New York and potentially run him in the Vosburgh.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the homebred raced beyond one mile for the first time since July 2021 in the Whitney and attempted his usual closing kick under regular pilot Junior Alvarado, but finished 10 lengths back of the victorious White Abarrio. That ended a six-race win streak that included the Dirt Mile, GI Churchill Downs S., GI Metropolitan H. and last year's GI Forego S.

A winner for Godolphin on the Whitney Day undercard in a tragedy-marred renewal of the GI Test S., Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) may mark her return in Parx Racing's GI Cotillion S. Sept. 23.

“She came out of the race very well and we found out in the race that the seven-furlong pace was a little too fast for her,” said Banahan. “She stayed on well in the race and came out of it well. Nothing is set in stone yet and we're guided by the filly, but we'll have a look at the Cotillion. It's a significant race and it's the last race at a distance for the 3-year-old fillies.”

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous cut back from a win in the one-turn 1 1/16-mile GI Acorn S. in June at Belmont and rallied strongly from four lengths off the pace in the Test to put her head down over Clearly Unhinged.

Banahan added that Godolphin plans to send out both Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) and Caramel Swirl (Union Rags) in the GI Ballerina H. Aug. 26, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Matareya, a dual Grade I-winner trained by Brad Cox, was last seen finishing third in the GIII Chicago S. at Ellis Park, while Caramel Swirl, trained by Mott, has not been seen since finishing third in the GII Bed o' Roses S. June 17 at Belmont.

“Matareya is in good shape and Brad is very happy with where she is at the moment,” said Banahan. “Caramel Swirl will probably run in there as well, so we'll see if one of them can win it.”

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