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Eight Juveniles Fire Bullets at OBS Wednesday

Five juveniles shared the fastest furlong time of :9 4/5 Wednesday during the fourth session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale breeze show and three others worked a quarter in a bullet :20 3/5.

The quartet of :9 4/5 workers were an Uncle Mo filly from Clary Bloodstock (Hip 537) (video); a Goldencents colt consigned by Eddie Woods (Hip 546) (video); a filly by Street Sense from the Lucan Bloodstock shedrow (Hip 611) (video); a Macho Uno colt consigned by Grassroots Training and Sales (Hip 674) (video); and a Mo Town Filly from Top Line Sales (Hip 687) (video). This is the first crop for Mo Town, who was represented by his first winner Wednesday at Keeneland.

The bullet breeze was an emotional one for Clary Bloodstock principal Jaylyn Clary. The young horsewoman is the daughter of trainer Mike Neathlerin, who passed away in September due to COVID-19. Clary grew up working side-by-side with her father at the track and their training center in Texas. He helped her get her new business off the ground three years ago. Additionally, she trains 15 active racehorses, some for outside owners and some that failed to sell at the juvenile sales.

“My dad already had everything started with our training center in Texas,” Clary said. “About three years ago, we developed Clary Bloodstock and he helped me with that. This will be out first year selling without him. It was bittersweet to work a :9 4/5 without him.”

She continued, “My dad started out training, so if we can't sell them, we train them. The end goal is to always sell, but it doesn't always happen that way. That's how my dad got Kip Deville (a MSW for Neatherlin turned MGISW after a private sale to Rick Dutrow), but then we had [MGSW] Airoforce [an OBSAPR pinhook].”

Clary purchased Hip 537 along with her husband, father and their longtime owner and partner Brad Walker for $80,000 at Keeneland September. Bred by WinStar Farm, the bay is out of MGSW & GISP House Rules (Distorted Humor). Her year-older half-sister Customer Driven (Quality Road) broke her maiden in February.

“We knew she had a really nice pedigree,” Clary said. “We decided if she went for a decent price we would try to get her. She was a really well-balanced filly and she had a presence about her. You could tell she was a very business-oriented filly and that has come through quite a bit. She is all business on the track.”

As for the bullet work, Clary said, “We always knew she was pretty special. She has shown she was fast. She has never backed down from work and always wants to go train. She watches herself and nothing gets her too worked up. She walked up there and showed herself like I knew she would. She laid it out on the track for us.”

Clary added, “She has a good scope, good vet, good breeze and good pedigree. It is all we could ask for.”

Clary's consignment consists of four horses total, including a Dialed In colt, who was he final purchase by her father before his death (Hip 871).

“It is bittersweet, but he would want me to sell the Dialed In,” Clary said. “That's what he would want at the end of the day, so hopefully she works fast and makes some money.”

The trio of :20 3/5 breezers was comprised of a Mizzen Mast filly from Wavertress Stables (Hip 543) (video); a Lord Nelson colt consigned by Jesse Hoppel's Coastal Equine (Hip 548) (video); and a Distorted Humor colt from the Pick View shedrow (Hip 671) (video).

Hip 548 is from the second crop of the late MGISW Lord Nelson. Hoppel acquired the dark bay for $80,000 at the Keeneland September sale. The Arkansas-bred is a half to MSP Macho Miah (Macho Uno).

“He looked like a good individual [at Keeneland] and something that would grow up into the type of horse we want to sell as a 2-year-old,” Hoppel said. “He is one of the better individuals we were bringing out here. I knew he was going to be one of my stars for April back in January. It was becoming pretty apparent that he was going to be a nice horse.”

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Thursday Racing Insights: Mopotism Full-Brother Debuts at Keeneland

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

5th-KEE, $100K, MSW, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 3:08 p.m.

Trainer Chad Brown brings NABOKOV (Uncle Mo) to Keeneland on Thursday for his career debut. The chestnut son of Peppy Rafaela (Bernardini) is a full-brother to GSW & MGSP Mopotism who earned over $876k in her career. Purchased for $775,000 by Peter Brant from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Nabokov has been working consistently in preparation for his debut including four-furlongs in :49 2/5 Mar. 26 (12/63) and a more recent four-furlongs on the track at Keeneland in :48 3/5 Apr. 8 (21/85). He gets Lasix for his first start and picks up jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Also making his belated career debut is East to the Dawn (Empire Maker) for trainer Shug McGaughey. The four-year-old gelding, bought for $450,000 from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of a stakes-placed mare who has produced three other winners on debut including GSW Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow). He also receives Lasix for his first-time and jockey Declan Cannon rides. TJCIS PPs

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The TDN Kentucky Oaks Rankings for Apr. 14

With the GI Ashland S., the GII Santa Anita Oaks and the GIII Gazelle S. topping last week's action, all the preps have been run and the field for the GI Kentucky Oaks is all but set. Who will be the favorite? Who is the filly to beat? In a year where the division is overrun with quality, those aren't easy questions to answer. It should be a heck of a race.

1) SECRET OATH (Arrogate–Absinthe Minded, by Quiet American) O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-4-0-2, $590,167. Last Start: 3rd GI Arkansas Derby. Kentucky Oaks Points: 60. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 6.

The big news in the Secret Oath camp is that the connections have decided to replace jockey Luis Contreras with Luis Saez. Trainer Wayne Lukas had told the TDN that Contreras would keep the mount for the Oaks, so, apparently, someone had a change of mind. The move is hardly a surprise. Contreras, a regular at Woodbine, is a capable rider but he's not in the class of Saez, who is a rare talent. The guess is that Secret Oath will be the favorite. She's coming off a very good effort against males in the GI Arkansas Derby and, because of Lukas, the 86-year-old icon trying to win another Kentucky Oaks, she will dominate the storylines coming into the race. Her sire Arrogate passed away at age seven in 2020. Win or lose in the Oaks, she figures to go down as the best horse produced by her ill-fated sire.

2) KATHLEEN O. (Upstart–Quaver, by Blame) O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. & Bridlewood Farm (KY); T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $8,000 wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-4-0-0, $379,730. Last Start: 1st GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 150. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

Maybe she will be the favorite. Considering what she has accomplished, that wouldn't be a surprise. She's four-for-four in her career and gives every indication that she has yet to reach her peak. She represents a perfect example of why trainer Shug McGaughey is in the Hall of Fame. He's a master when it comes to developing horses and getting them to peak on the big day. Starting with her debut, a maiden win at Aqueduct Nov. 12, she has gotten better with every start. This year, she has reeled off three straight wins at Gulfstream, a surface that doesn't fit her come-from-behind style. It's been 29 years since McGaughey last won the Oaks, which he pulled off in 1993 with Dispute. It is his only win in the race.

3) NEST (Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-4-0-1, $623,050. Last Start: 1st GI Central Bank Ashland S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 120. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

Todd Pletcher won the 2021 Kentucky Oaks with a daughter of Curlin, Malathaat. He will try to do so again with another daughter of Curlin in Nest. Nest could possibly be better than Eclipse Award winner Malathaat. That's how impressive she was when winning the Ashland. After winning the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs in her 3-year-old debut, she faced much stiffer competition in the Ashland, but made it look easy. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., she drew off in the stretch to win by 8 1/4 lengths. “She looked like a star yesterday,” Pletcher said the morning after the Ashland. “You never expect to win by 8 1/4 lengths, but we felt good about the way she was coming into the race.” Mike Repole is one of her owners. He has spent millions at the sales trying to find superstar colts, but doesn't normally go after many fillies. This one was bought at Keeneland September for $350,000, which looks like a bargain. In most any other year, she'd be the solid favorite in the Oaks. This year, she could be third or fourth choice.

4) ECHO ZULU (Gun Runner–Letgomyecho, by Menifee) 'TDN Rising Star' O-L and N Racing LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/ Ramsby (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, MGISW, 5-5-0-0, $1,720,000. Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. KY Oaks Points: 130. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

Could Gun Runner, who got off to a sizzling start as a sire, win both the Oaks and the GI Kentucky Derby? With Echo Zulu and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner), it's entirely possible. She's undefeated and the reigning 2-year-old filly champion, so maybe she deserves to be ranked higher than fourth. But this corner was not enamored with her 3-year-old debut, a nose victory in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks in which she earned the slowest Beyer in her career. She's going to have to run better to win the Kentucky Oaks. Then again, maybe the cagey Steve Asmussen didn't have her at 100%, knowing that the Kentucky Oaks was the real goal? It's a tough call.

5) NOSTALGIC (Medaglia d'Oro–Been Here Before, by Tapit) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-0, $235,400. Last Start: 1st GIII Gazelle S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 101. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

She's was on the list, off the list and now makes it into the Top 5 with her win Saturday at Aqueduct in the Gazelle. She's had an up-and-down career so far. After finishing fourth in last year's GII Demoiselle S., one of the biggest key races of 2021, she went to the grass, where she was ninth and last in the GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream. Trainer Bill Mott sent her back to dirt and she bounced right back with a 6 3/4-length win in a Gulfstream allowance race. She earned her ticket to the Oaks with a 1 1/4-length win in the Gazelle over 11-10 favorite Venti Valentine (Firing Line). Owned by Godolphin, by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Been Here Before, she's certainly got the pedigree to be a star. Mott has never won the Kentucky Oaks.

6) ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant's Causeway) O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. Sales History: $180,000 ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-0, $256,600. Last Start: 2nd GII Santa Anita Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

Among the top names headed for the Oaks, Adare Manor became the first to stub her toe when she finished second as the 7-10 favorite in the Santa Anita Oaks for new trainer Tim Yakteen. It was her first race since winning the GIII Las Virgenes S. and perhaps Yakteen, who took over for Bob Baffert, was trying to save something for Kentucky. Nonetheless, this was a race she was not supposed to lose, even if the margin of victory was just a neck. She was dominant when winning the Las Virgenes by 13 lengths, earning a 94 Beyer figure. If she can run back to that race she'd have a chance in the Oaks. But will she? Maybe she peaked too early.

7) HIDDEN CONNECTION (Connect–C J's Gal, by Awesome Again) O-Hidden Brook Farm & Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-St. Simon Place (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. Sales History: $49,000 RNA wlg '19 KEENOV; $40,000 ylg '20 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSAPR; $85,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $399,525. Last Start: 2nd GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 57. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

She's had one start at Churchill Downs and the result was a 9 1/4-length win in the GIII Pocahontas S. It was the best race of her life. So you know that she will handle the track. And she's going to have to run back to that race to have any chance. She's gone 0-for-3 since and is 0-2 on the year. However, she made a forward move last out when battling Echo Zulu in the Fair Grounds Oaks to lose by just a nose. Her jockey, Reylu Gutierrez, looks like a rising star after winning 51 races at the Fair Grounds meet.

8) VENTI VALENTINE (Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro) O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable & Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge Abreu. Lifetime Record: MSW & MGSP, 5-3-2-0, $416,250. Last Start: 2nd GIII Gazelle S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 94. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

At odds of 11-10, she was the beaten favorite in the Gazelle. It was far from a bad race. She was second, losing by just 1 1/4 lengths, and got beat by a potential star in Nostalgic. But, at the same time, she had no excuse and the race showed that she belongs in the second tier when it comes to Kentucky Oaks runners. A good horse, but she'll be 40-1 or thereabouts at Churchill. Could clean up against New York-breds, but she deserves a shot in the Kentucky Oaks.

9) YUUGIRI (Shackleford–Yuzuru, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Sekie Yoshihara & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $543,610. Last Start: 1st GIII Fantasy S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 114. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

Yuugiri is owned and was bred by Sekie Yoshihara and Tsunebumi Yoshihara, who live in Japan. She is trained by Rodolphe Brisset. She punched her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks with a win in the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn, but that race, once Secret Oath opted for the Arkansas Derby, did not come up particularly strong. A better test may have been the GIII Honeybee S., where Secret Oaks trounced her by 9 1/4 lengths. The Oaks will be her fourth start at Churchill Downs. She broke her maiden there in September and then ran second in the Rags to Riches S. and second in the GII Golden Rod S. Another good horse who will be a big long shot in what is a loaded race.

10) Desert Dawn (Cupid–Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory) O/B-H and E Ranch, Inc. (AZ); T-Philip D'Amato. Sales history: $32,000 RNA yrl '20 OBSOCT. Lifetime Record: 7-2-0-2, $378,400. Last Start: 1st GII Santa Anita Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 108. Next Start: Kentucky Oaks.

Can an Arizona-bred win the Kentucky Oaks? She'll give it a shot. Was bred by and is owned by Elena and Hollis Crim of H & E Ranch, a 400-acre spread in Globe, Arizona. Normally, the winner of the Santa Anita Oaks would be among the top choices in the Kentucky Oaks, but that won't be the case with this one. She was the longest shot in the field of five at 14-1 and had been off the board in her three prior starts. That includes a sixth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she was beaten by 18 3/4 lengths. Ran a career best race at Santa Anita, but that probably won't be enough.

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“No Grudges”: Zedan Returns to Ky Derby

Less than a year after an apparent win in the GI Kentucky Derby turned into a nightmare for Amr Zedan, the owner is set to return to Churchill Downs with a chance to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. A win by GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner) would be a redemptive one after his Medina Spirit (Protonico) was disqualified from the win in the 2021 Derby after testing positive for the substance betamethasone, which kicked off what has been a bitter fight waged by Zedan and trainer Bob Baffert on one side and Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on the other.

But Zedan doesn't see it that way.

“I go into the Kentucky Derby with absolutely no ill feelings toward anyone,” Zedan said. “I carry no grudges. I just keep walking, keep going. The due process is in process and I firmly believe that when it comes to our case we will have a satisfactory ending to to the saga. Absolutely, there will be no sense of redemption or wanting to get even with anybody.”

Imagine, though, a scenario where Zedan accepts a trophy from his adversaries, like Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen. Zedan says that won't be a problem.

“I haven't sued Churchill Downs,” he said. “I have absolutely no ill feelings toward anybody. The racing commission made their decision, which I have the right to disagree with and, according to the law, I have the right to appeal. Right now we are in the appeals process. The most civilized thing to do when it comes to the dispute is to appeal to the right jurisdictions and that's what we are doing.”

As recently as the beginning of March it didn't appear that Zedan had a horse for this year's Derby. Taiba sold for $1.7 million as a 2-year-old at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream same, but had a few minor issues that prevented him from racing as a 2-year-old. Taiba didn't make his debut until March 5 when he ran away from his competitors to win a six-furlong Santa Anita maiden by 7 ½ lengths, earning a 103 Beyer figure.

After Taiba's debut, Baffert was forced to accept a 90-day suspension handed down by the Kentucky Racing Commission for the betamethasone positive and the colt was turned over to trainer Tim Yakteen

His debut was a promising performance, but conventional wisdom suggested that it was a matter of too little, too late when it came to the Derby. At least that's what Yakteen and Zedan's bloodstock advisor Gary Young told the owner. They were against running in the Santa Anita Derby.

“They wanted to wait things out and then target the Lexington,” Zedan said. “I had to overrule everybody. I told them that our entire program was built around trying to win the Kentucky Derby. I didn't want to go to bed at night knowing that we didn't give it our best chance. I thought we had to give him a shot. Sometimes talent compensates for experience and he showed that.”

It was a huge test, and one he passed with surprising ease.

Facing off against GII San Felipe S. winner Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and stablemate and GIII Robert B. Lewis S. winner Messier, Taiba appeared to have his hands full and was sent off at 4-1. With Mike Smith replacing John Velazquez, who stuck with Messier, Taiba got past Messier inside the final furlong and drew clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

“Considering everything, it was a real relief that we pulled this off,” Zedan said. “Everyone on the team was ecstatic.”

The Santa Anita Derby was far from an easy spot, but Zedan knows that the Kentucky Derby will be much tougher.

“There are so many more moving targets now,” he said. “You have the post position draw to worry about, the kickback, the traveling, a 20-horse field and not a five or six-horse field. I am managing expectations. We're up against tremendous competition. It is a good crop. There are three or four horses that come to mind that are very good horses, very fast horses and horses that stay. It is anyone's race.”

The Medina Spirit saga turned tragic in December when the horse died of an apparent heart attack after a workout at Santa Anita. For Zedan, the experience has been more bitter than sweet. But he came to understand that his best option was to simply move on.

“It's been a roller coaster ride over the last year,” he said. “In one year, I've seen all the ups and downs of the sport. It sounds cliche, but what doesn't break you makes you stronger.”

Of course, having a horse like Taiba makes the process easier. He will be attempting to become the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby in his third start since Leonatus did it way back in 1883. It won't be easy, but he has given Zedan what once seemed highly unlikely–a second chance.

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