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Nine in Line for Competitive Wood

Realistic cases can be made for six or seven of the nine 3-year-old males signed on for Saturday's GII Wood Memorial S. as the New York staple GI Kentucky Derby prep returns with a competitive renewal after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

Given the narrowest of nods on the morning line is Klaravich Stables' Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro). Unable to factor in his first two outings, one sprinting on dirt and one routing on yielding turf, the $240,000 Keeneland September buy sprung to life when returned to dirt over Saturday's nine-furlong trip with a clear graduation here Dec. 13. He followed that up with a strong rally to win the local GIII Withers S. Feb. 6.

The waters get significantly deeper in here though, and one need look no further than the presence of Godolphin's undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) to confirm that. Rocketing away to a devastating 8 1/2-length victory on debut going seven panels Jan. 23 at Gulfstream, the Brendan Walsh trainee stretched out a furlong in an allowance/optional claimer there Mar. 11 and wasn't quite as impressive while still winning by three lengths as a 1-10 favorite.

The first two finishers from the GIII Gotham S. here Mar. 6 return and figure as major players. Dismissed at over 46-1 that day, Chiefswood Stable's homebred Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile) dug in resolutely through the stretch to just nose out Klaravich Stables' Crowded Trade (More Than Ready). The latter was making just his second career start after graduating on debut when hammered down to even-money over a local six furlongs Jan. 28.

The blue-collar returnee Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong) demands attention as well. Bought for just $5,000 as an OBS April juvenile, the gelding debuted a winner against $40,000 maiden claimers at Delaware and has gotten better in every start since, running third in the New York-bred Bertram F. Bongard S. and winning the Empire-bred Sleepy Hollow S. 22 days later before gutting out a score in the track-and-trip GII Remsen S. Dec. 5. Unseen since then, he shows a sharp worktab for trainer Danny Velazquez at his Parx base, including a five-furlong bullet in :59 3/5 (1/16) Mar. 20.

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Brown Looking for Same ‘Results’ in Gazelle

Klaravich Stables' lightly-raced Search Results (Flatter) will try to make it two stakes wins in three career starts and punch her ticket to the GI Kentucky Oaks for trainer Chad Brown in the GIII Gazelle S. Saturday at Aqueduct.

Unveiled Jan. 3 going six furlongs at Gulfstream, the $310,000 Keeneland September buy ran away to a four-length victory. Stepped up and stretched out to a mile in the local Busher Invitational S. Mar. 6, the dark bay responded with a hard-fought half-length victory over the more seasoned Miss Brazil (Palace Malice), earning a field-best 84 Beyer. The race was further validated when distant fifth-place finisher Make Mischief (Into Mischief) came back to annex a Big A allowance Sunday. Though she draws widest in the eight-horse field, Search Results figures to be able to work out a trip with little speed signed on to her inside.

The morning-line second choice also comes from the Brown barn in The Grass Is Blue (Broken Vow). A nonthreatening third behind her stablemate in the Busher, she previously captured the track-and-trip Busanda S. and was a fast-closing third in the Anne Arundel S. at Laurel. Mia Martina (Not This Time) has an upset chance in her dirt debut. Bought into by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners after a 21-1 debut upset on the Gulfstream West lawn, the bay scored a good-looking allowance success first out for Graham Motion Jan. 10 at Gulfstream and closed from way back to be fourth in the GIII Florida Oaks last out Mar. 6 at Tampa.

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TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 1

The picture for the GI Kentucky Oaks might look a lot different late Saturday afternoon than it does at the present. There are four races on tap-the GIII Gazelle S., the GI Ashland S., the GIII Fantasy and the GII Santa Anita Oak–that will feature more than a dozen serious candidates for the last Friday in April. Five horses among our top 10 are slated to go.

Meanwhile, last weekend's action featured a win in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks for Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) and a strong showing for runner-up Millefeuille (Curlin), who rebounded off a poor effort the in the GII Davona Dale S. At Turfway, the loaded Brad Cox barn had Adventuring (Pioneerof the Nile) primed for a winning effort in the Bourbonette Oaks.

1) TRAVEL COLUMN (Frosted–Swingit, by Victory Gallop)
'TDN Rising Star' O-OXO Equine. B-Mr. & Mrs. Bayne Welker, Jr. & Denali Stud (KY). T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $850,000 ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 5-3-1-1, $517,184.
Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 20
Accomplishments Include: 1st GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28, 2nd GII Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton, FG, Feb. 13, 3rd GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE, Oct. 2
Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, Apr. 30
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 132

The likely favorite for the Oaks, Travel Column is as solid as they come. Since winning the GII Golden Rod S. last fall at Churchill, she hasn't missed a beat and defeated rival Clairiere in another head-to-head match up in GII Fair Grounds Oaks. The Oaks will be her toughest test to date and she may have to improve a bit to win it. Ran a 90 Beyer in the Fair Grounds race, which may not be good enough to win the Oaks. She will attempt to become the fifth horse since 2008 to parlay a win in the Fair Grounds Oaks into a victory in the Kentucky Oaks. Cox and jockey Florent Geroux have teamed up to win two of the last three runnings of the Kentucky Oaks.

2) CLAIRIERE (Curlin–Cavorting, by Bernardini)
O/B-Stonestreet Stables (KY). T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-2-0, $350,492.
Last Start: 2nd GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 20
Accomplishments Include: 1st GII Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton, FG, Feb. 13, 2nd GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28
Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, Apr. 30
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 94

If Clairiere has a flaw it is that she may be dependent on a fast early pace. Fifth early, she was a bit closer when finishing second behind Travel Column in the Fair Grounds Oaks, but still had left herself with too much to do. Perhaps, the extra sixteenth of the mile in the Oaks will be to her liking. Trainer Steve Asmussen will be looking for his third win in the Oaks and his first since Untapable (Tapit) in 2014. Should have a hungry rider. Through March 29, Joe Talamo was just 8 for 112 on the year (7.14%). With Travel Column having won two of her three meetings with Clairiere, she will likely need to run an improved race to win.

3) WILL'S SECRET (Will Take Charge–Girls Secret, by Giant's Causeway)
O/B-Willis Horton Racing (KY). T-Dallas Stewart. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-2, $343,300.
Last Start: 1st GIII Honeybee S., OP, Mar. 6
Accomplishments Include: 1st Martha Washington S., OP, Jan. 30
Next Start: Possible for GIII Fantasy S., OP, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 60

The story here is the jockey. Jon Court, 60, has been riding for 41 years and broke in in 1980 at Centennial Park in Colorado, which hasn't run a race since 1983. Court picked up the mount for a maiden race back in October and has been there ever since. Got a very favorable trip in the GIII Honeybee S., where she got the lead after posting soft fractions. Rather than stay at Oaklawn for the Fantasy, trainer Dallas Stewart has entered his filly in the Ashland, which is looking like a very tough spot. Stewart won the Oaks in 2006 with Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid). She is the first foal out of Girls Secret (Giant's Causeway), a winner of just one of six career starts.

4) MALATHAAT (Curlin–Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy)
O-Shadwell Stable. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $1,050,000 ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-0, $172,150.
Last Start: 1st GII Demoiselle S., AQU, Dec. 5
Accomplishments Include: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st Tempted S., AQU, Nov. 6
Next Start: GI Central Bank Ashland S., KEE, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 10

At long last, we will get to see Malathaat perform as a 3-year-old. She hasn't run since winning the GII Demoiselle S. on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct. Was supposed to start her 3-year-old campaign in the Davona Dale S., but came down with a minor problem, which caused trainer Todd Pletcher to go back to the drawing board. Is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Ashland. Can a horse win a race as tough as the Oaks off of just one prep?

5) SIMPLY RAVISHING (Laoban–Four Wishes, by More Than Ready)
O-Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing & Nehoc Stables.
B-Meg Levy (NY). T-Ken McPeek. Sales History: $50,000 ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-0-0, $414,200.
Last Start: 4th GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28
Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE,
Oct. 2, 1st P.G. Johnson S., SAR, Sept. 3
Next Start: GI Central Bank Ashland S., KEE, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 13

Like Malathaat, she will be making her first start of 2021 in the Ashland, where she is the second choice in the line at 5-2. The New York-bred filly was brought around slowly by trainer Kenny McPeek, but has showed her sharpness in the mornings. She breezed a half-mile at Gulfstream in 46.53 on March 6. Had an up-and-down year in 2020, peaking with an easy win in the GI Alcibiades S. only to return with fourth-place finishes in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Golden Rod. In the GII Golden Rod, she was sent off at 7-10 and was beaten four lengths.

6) BEAUTIFUL GIFT (Medaglia d'Oro–Sea Gift, by A.P. Indy)
O/B-Baoma Corporation (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-1, $99,600.
Last Start: 1st GIII Santa Ysabel S., SA, Mar. 7
Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50

Trainer Bob Baffert doesn't have nearly the ammunition for the Oaks that he has for the GI Kentucky Derby, but you can never count him out in a major race. She broke her maiden in October and then wasn't seen again until she won the GIII Santa Ysabel S. at Santa Anita on March 7. She goes next in the Santa Anita Oaks, where she will have had the benefit of a race. Baffert also has Kalypso (Brody's Cause) knocking on the door for the Oaks, but she may be better suited to shorter distances.

7) SEARCH RESULTS (Flatter–Co Cola, by Candy Ride {Arg})
O-Klaravich Stables Inc. B-Machmer Hall (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $310,000 ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $161,500.
Last Start: 1st Busher Invitational S., AQU, Mar. 6
Next Start: GIII Gazelle S., AQU, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50

Trainer Chad Brown has been very patient with this daughter of Flatter. She didn't make her first start until January and after winning a maiden race she sat out nearly two months before resurfacing in the March 6 Busher Invitational. A win there put her on the map so far as possible Kentucky Oaks starters go. Has never run beyond a mile or around two turns, but her pedigree suggests that won't be a problem. Brown also has The Grass Is Blue (Broken Vow), but her stock fell when was third in the Busher.

8) CRAZY BEAUTIFUL (Liam's Map–Indian Burn, by Indian Charlie)
O-Phoenix Thoroughbred III. B-Carolyn R. Vogel (KY). T-Ken McPeek. Sales History: $250,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-3-3-0, $388,365.
Last Start: 1st GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Mar. 27
Accomplishments Include: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st Ellis Debutante S., ELP, Aug. 9, 2nd GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE, Oct. 2, 2nd GII Davona Dale S., GP, Feb. 27, 2nd GIII Pocahontas S., CD, Sept. 3
Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, Apr. 30
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 128

The group of Florida-based 3-year-old fillies wasn't particularly strong this year, so handicappers will have to evaluate what Crazy Beautiful was up against in her win in the Gulfastream Park Oaks. A $250,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale, she was a distant second in the GII Davona Dale and no doubt improved in what was her second start of the year. Plus, she did it impressively, closing from last after chasing slow early fractions. Kenny McPeek also won the 2020 Gulfstream Park Oaks with Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who finished second in the Kentucky Oaks.

9) WHOLEBODEMEISTER (Bodemeister–Wholelottashakin, by Scat Daddy)
O/B-Sabana Farm (KY). T-Juan Avila. Lifetime Record: GSW,
7-3-0-1, $175,922.
Last Start: 1st GII Davona Dale S., GP, Feb. 27
Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, Apr. 30
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 52

Looks better after Crazy Beautiful came back to win the Gulfstream Park Oaks as she drilled that rival in the Davona Dale. But is still a tough read. She dominated in the Davone Dale, winning by 6 1/2 lengths at odds of 52-1. Before that, showed few signs that she might turn into a star. If the filly that won the Davona Dale shows up she is very much in the mix. But it's hard to have much faith in a horse who could be a one-race wonder.

10) ADVENTURING (Pioneerof the Nile–Questing {GB}, by Hard Spun)
O/B-Godolphin (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-1, $131,370.
Last Start: 1st Bourbonette Oaks, TP, Mar. 27
Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, Apr. 30
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50

Another tough read. She comes from the powerful Cox stable, has won two straight and looked good when winning the Bourbonette Oaks in her last start. But that win came over the Tapeta surfaced at Turfway and it's anyone's guess when it comes to whether or not she can beat top horses on dirt. Hails from the Godolphin stable, which has been on a tear all year. Definitely seems to be getting better with each start, but obviously hasn't faced the sort of top echelon fillies she will meet in the Oaks. With Geroux also riding Travel Column, she will need a new jockey at Churchill Downs.

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PHBA Focuses on SAFE Act, Aftercare

Edited press release

Continuing to demonstrate its commitment to the health and welfare of Thoroughbreds, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) announced its endorsement of the John Stringer Rainey Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act.

The SAFE Act, named for the late South Carolina philanthropist and former director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), is legislation that would permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption in the United States and abroad.

It also amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code by making it illegal to “possess, ship, transport, purchase, sell, deliver, or receive…any horse with the intent that it is to be slaughtered for human consumption,” with penalties that include fines and imprisonment.

Introduced in 2019 by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, the SAFE Act has also garnered the endorsement of several prominent animal welfare groups. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the United States Trotting Association (USTA), and the Maryland Horse Council (MHC) are among those supporting its passage.

“Our bipartisan legislation will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses while protecting families from toxic horse meat and safeguarding the reputation of the U.S. food industry worldwide,” said Sen. Menendez when the bill was introduced.

Aftercare is also a top priority of the PHBA, according to president Greg Newell.

“We are doing everything we can to help place horses who reach the end of their first or second career, whether they have finished racing or breeding,” said Newell. “Our Anti-Slaughter Committee, chaired by Kate Goldenberg, has done a wonderful job addressing what can be done to help our equine athletes.”

PHBA Board member Hank Nothhaft, also a member of the Anti-Slaughter Committee, said that endorsement of the SAFE Act was something the organization wanted to do to be a positive force toward improving the industry. The fact that many unwanted Thoroughbred broodmares are found in slaughter pens proved to be a call to action.

“There was unanimous support from the PHBA Board to mitigate the slaughter of broodmares,” said Nothhaft. “Older broodmares, especially, are not attractive candidates for equestrian activities, and thus they are not as easy to rehome as younger horses. This has really pushed us from sitting on the bench toward getting into the fray.”

“Our hope is to form a non-profit within our organization, to assist our breeders when the time comes,” said Jennifer Poorman of the PHBA. “We'll be looking to build a network of partner farms willing to assist with retirement from breeding, whether it's a second career or permanent retirement due to physical limitations.

“We're also creating a campaign to educate our breeders about responsible aftercare, along with providing a network of resources for our breeders to turn to at any point they find themselves in need of assistance,” she said.

Nothhaft said one reason why the SAFE Act hasn't gained traction toward passage since 2019 in Congress is because large agricultural interests fear that anti-slaughter legislation would bring undue attention to their industries, which involve large-scale slaughter of animals for food.

“The SAFE Act is one of three items we are working on,” said Brian Sanfratello, executive secretary of the PHBA. “The others are Pennsylvania-specific anti-slaughter legislation, similar to the SAFE Act, that would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who causes or transports a horse into the slaughter pipeline, as well as a PHBA code of ethics, with sanctions for anyone who is a member or registers horses with our organization and is found to be in violation of the Pennsylvania anti-slaughter measures.”

For additional information, contact Brian Sanfratello at 610-444-1050 or brians@pabred.com.

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