Stonestreet Stables | Horse Racing Free Tips

Son of Hot Dixie Chick Earns Rising Stardom

Well-related Stonestreet Stables product Marsalis (Curlin–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) stepped forward off a stellar debut outing to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction Saturday at Fair Grounds. Beaten a head and 5 1/4 lengths clear of third in a salty GII Risen Star S. day heat won by Todd Pletcher-trained invader Momentous (Speightstown) Feb. 19, the Steve Asmussen pupil was off at 3-5 and soon showed why.

Off at 3-10 while breaking from the fence, the $340,000 Keeneland September RNA broke well but had to work a bit early to eventually make the front narrowly. He doled out an opening quarter of :21.76, and was challenged through a :44.80 half by longshot Lagoon (Runhappy) as that one launched a sweeping move. Marsalis re-broke at the head of the lane, put his stubborn foe away by midstretch, and was wrapped up late to don cap and gown by 2 1/2 lengths. Vinco (Quality Road), last year's $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic topper, bounced back from a non-show last out to complete the exacta. Lagoon checked in fourth.

Marsalis is the sixth foal out of his connections' speedy 'Rising Star' Hot Dixie Chick, winner of the 2009 GI Spinaway S. and already the dam of Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), MGSW, $1,038,500; and 'Rising Star' Union Jackson (Curlin), MSW & GSP, $273,874. The former took the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. Jan. 30 and was most recently a close second in the GII Azeri S. two weeks ago; while the latter, who stands at Sequel Stallions in New York, was represented by his first black-type winner earlier this month. Hot Dixie Chick is also a half to 2017 GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and Grade II winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile). She produced a Constitution colt last term before being bred back to both Tapit and Quality Road.

A 'Rising Star' himself, Curlin has now sired 20 horses to earn that moniker. For more on Marsalis as part of Steve Sherack's Second Chances series, click here.

7th-Fair Grounds, $65,000, Msw, 3-26, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.40, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
MARSALIS, c, 3, Curlin
1st Dam: Hot Dixie Chick (GISW, $343,252), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Above Perfection, by In Excess (Ire)
3rd Dam: Something Perfect, by Somethingfabulous
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $50,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. *$340,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP.

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Second Chances: Well-Bred Marsalis One to Watch for Stonestreet & Asmussen

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

In a race that didn't deserve a loser, Stonestreet homebred Marsalis (c, 3, Curlin–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) came up a head short on debut after running hard the entire way on the GII Risen Star S. undercard Feb. 19 (video).

The well-bred chestnut's worktab was highlighted by a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :59 4/5 (1/47) at Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's Fair Grounds base Jan. 30 and he was off as the 7-5 favorite.

Drawn wide in post nine with Joel Rosario in the irons, Marsalis flashed smart early speed and was immediately hounded to his outside by fellow firster Momentous (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :22.29. Head and head with that Todd Pletcher-trained rival as they approached the quarter pole, Marsalis continued to fight on gamely from the inside with neither giving an inch down the stretch and crossed the wire a painful second in an absolute thriller. It was 5 1/4 lengths back to Major Contender (Distorted Humor) in third.

The final time for six furlongs was 1:09.58. Marsalis earned a solid 75 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“Two really good horses–he ran super,” Stonestreet's bloodstock advisor John Moynihan said.

“He showed a lot of promise last year as a 2-year-old, but he bucked his shins, so we decided not to press on and try to run him at two. Ever since Steve's had him, he's really liked him. But he's one of those horses that from the time we've had him at the farm, he always trained super. [Stonestreet trainer] Ian [Brennan] really really liked him. He went on to Steve and he expected him to really run well.”

Marsalis's pedigree is Stonestreet and Asmussen top and bottom. Hailing by the duo's two-time Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin, Marsalis is out of 2009 GI Spinaway S. heroine Hot Dixie Chick, a $435,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Old purchase by Barbara Banke's Grace Stables.

The half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) has also produced young Sequel stallion Union Jackson (Curlin), MSW & GSP; and MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). The latter lines up in Saturday's GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn.

Hot Dixie Chick had a colt by Constitution in 2021 and was bred back to Quality Road.

“Hot Dixie Chick was a great 2-year-old–she was a really good filly,” Moynihan said. “We bought her out of a 2-year-old sale. It was actually the first horse that Barbara bought on her own while Mr. Jackson was still alive. Hot Dixie Chick has really come on–she had Pauline's Pearl, who ran in the Kentucky Oaks last year. Her first foal Union Jackson was quite talented as well.”

Marsalis has since returned to the worktab with a pair of four-furlong breezes for Asmussen in NOLA, including a :50 flat (19/27) move Mar. 7. Anything penciled in for his next start yet?

“We'll let Steve dictate that, but I'm sure it will be another maiden race,” Moynihan concluded.

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), last weekend's GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Las Virgenes S. heroine Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and GI Frizette S. third-place finisher A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

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Bombdiggity Becomes 30th Rising Star for Into Mischief

Stonestreet Stables' Bombdiggity became the 30th 'TDN Rising Stars' for her super sire Into Mischief with an impressive score at Fair Grounds. Bumped at the start of her unveiling at Churchill Downs Nov. 6, the $600,000 KEESEP purchase faded to be sixth after setting the early pace. Receiving Lasix for the first time in this sophomore bow, Bombdiggity broke much better this time around, jumping up to take immediate control. Coasting through a :22.66 first quarter, the bay was well within herself as she turned for home in front after a half in :46.28. Opening up with ease in the lane, Bombdiggity sailed home to a dominant 6 3/4-length graduation. Ride the Plan (Candy Ride {Arg}) filled the place spot.

The winner is a half to 'TDN Rising Star' Carribean Caper (Speightstown), GSW, $345,595. Their stakes-placed dam Checkupfromzneckup summoned $825,000 from WinStar at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. She aborted her first foal, making Carribean Caper her first live produce, followed by Bombdiggity. Her 2020 filly, now named Dixie Tap (Tapit), brought $990,000 from West Point, Scarlet Oak Racing and NBS Stable at last term's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The 11-year-old mare had a Quality Road colt Apr. 27 of last year and is back in foal to that stallion

7th-Fair Grounds, $52,000, Msw, 2-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.02, ft, 6 3/4 lengths.
BOMBDIGGITY, f, 3, Into Mischief
1st Dam: Checkupfromzneckup (SP, $187,470), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Unbridled Lassie, by Unbridled
3rd Dam: Lassie Connection, by Seattle Slew
Sales history: $600,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $32,379. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree, or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Expensive and Well-Bred Sophomores Debut in NOLA

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
BELGRADE MAKES FIRST START FOR NEW CONNECTIONS
1st-TAM, $35K, Opt. Clm. ($75K), 3yo, 7f, 12:13 p.m.
Carl and Yurie Pascarella went to $700,000 for KEEJAN sale topper BELGRADE (Hard Spun) with GI Kentucky Derby dreams and he makes his first start for his new owners and new trainer Graham Motion here. A $45,000 FTKSEL purchase by Randy Bradshaw, the chestnut romped by six lengths in his career bow at Fair Grounds Dec. 18 for trainer Brendan Walsh. His dam is a half to GSW & MGISP Medal Count (Dynaformer) and GSW Garden District (Dixie Union). TJCIS PPs

PRICEY FILLIES DEBUT IN NOLA
2nd-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:30 p.m.
Steve Asmussen unveils a $1.2-million (KEESEP) half-sister to his Grade I winner Yaupon (Uncle Mo) in Mike Rutherford's ROYAL FLOWER (American Pharoah). Out of GISP Modification (Vindication), the chestnut's talented half-brother Yaupon captured the GI Forego S. after a savaging by Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior) and took the GII Amsterdam S. He has been retired to the Spendthrift stallion barn. Royal Flower is also a half to MGSP Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last). Larry Best's OXO Equine acquired the well-related Indigo Miss (Into Mischief) for $525,000 at KEESEP and she also makes her career bow here. Best purchased her blue hen dam Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) for $1.9 million in foal to Into Mischief two months later at Keeneland November. A half-sister to GSW Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro), Indian Miss is also the dam of champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) and Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow). TJCIS PPs

ASMUSSEN UNVEILS STONESTREET BLUE-BLOOD
4th-FG, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 2:29 p.m.
Stonestreet Stables homebred MARSALIS (Curlin) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Steve Asmussen. Out of Grade I winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), the chestnut is a full-brother to MSW & GSP young stallion Union Jackson and a half to MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). His second dam is GSW & GISP Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}), who produced MGISW Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and GSW Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile). Todd Pletcher unveils an intriguing firster in Momentous (Speightstown). His second dam is SW Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy), who is a half to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), the dam of Horse of the Year and top freshman sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). TJCIS PPs

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