Sunday’s Racing Insights: Flashy Fillies Seek Diplomas at Oaklawn

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

6th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:51 p.m. ET
The first of two strong-looking groups of sophomore fillies line up here in Hot Springs. Brad Cox-trained second timer Firewolves (Practical Joke) gets the tepid morning-line nod coming off a runner-up outing over track and trip Dec. 3 that earned her a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. The $140,000 Keeneland September yearling is half to MGSP Tap for Luck (Tapit) and to the dam of GSW/GISP Jeltrin (Tapizar).

Peace Peddler (Gun Runner) set a solid pace in her unveiling Dec. 18 before finishing third behind a pair of pricey foes. A $200,000 KEESEP pick-up, she is out of Canadian champion older mare and MGSW Embur's Song (Unbrided's Song) from the family of Classic winner Exaggerator (Curlin).

Xtreme Gem (Tapit), a daughter of GISW juvenile Gomo (Uncle Mo), also makes her second start. The $475,000 FTFMAR RNA and $625,000 Fasig Midlantic seller (:10 1/5) was fourth after taking some money in an off-the-turfer at Keeneland in October (re-opposing Madelyn's Magic {Hard Spun} was second that day). She now gets the addition of Lasix and blinkers for the Mac Robertson barn.

Among the noteworthy newcomers signed on is Courtlandt Farm's $500,0000 FTKSEL purchase Campaigning (Nyquist). The Steve Asmussen pupil is half to GSP Aurelia Garland (Constitution) out of a daughter of 2002 GII Alcibiades S. winner Westerly Breeze (Gone West).

Alex Venneri homebred Decade of Dreams (American Pharoah) is half to versatile GISW and young sire Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile). Muse (Into Mischief) is out of a half-sister to last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Max Player (Honor Code). TJCIS PPs

9th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 5:13 p.m. ET
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's $475,000 KEESEP acquisition Hot and Sultry (Speightster) leads the split division of the aforementioned sixth race. The Steve Asmussen representative finished up well to be a strong second in the mud here Dec. 18. A half to SW and GSP turfer Tracksmith (Street Sense), her third dam is brilliantly fast GISW and champion Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat). Chesterette (Practical Joke), who cost $300,000 at OBS April off a :9 4/5 bullet, was fourth in that same race. The $165,000 KEESEP yearling's dam Jenny's So Great (Greatness) was a graded winner on the turf.

Charles Matses homebred Beguine (Gun Runner) was third first out against three-and-ups Jan. 7. Out of a stakes-winning juvenile, she's half to GSW/MGISP Favorable Outcome (Flatter), last year's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mouheeb (Flatter) and SW/MGSP Bellamentary (Bellamy Road).

Comedy Act (Practical Joke) was fourth behind the subsequent Gowell S. runner-up after setting solid splits at Churchill Nov. 28. She was a $77,000 September RNA and $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile (:10 1/5). Little Mombo (Into Mischief) was also fourth on debut after showing early zip–this one locally Dec. 3. Rigney Racing's $500,000 KEESEP buy is out of a stakes-placed turf router from the family of GSWs Nany's Sweep, Economic Model and Well Monied.

Bicameral (Constitution), bought for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase, cuts back after finishing far back on the stretch out Dec. 17. She was previously third in the GI Del Mar Debutante.

Joe Sharp-trained $200,000 FTKOCT buy Heartyconstitution (Constitution) is half to GSW sprinter Chateau (Flat Out). China Horse Club homebred Scripps (Curlin), bought back for $75,000 at September, is out of two-time Grade II winner Spelling Again (Curlin). TJCIS PPs

8th-SA, $69K, Alw/OC ($50K), 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 7:13 p.m. ET
Pegram, Watson and Weitman's late on the scene $385,000 Keeneland September purchase Distractedprincess (Distorted Humor) looks to go two-for-two here for Bob Baffert. The daughter of Brazilian Horse of the Year Celtic Princess (Brz) (Public Purse) crushed three foes by 13 lengths here going seven furlongs Dec. 31. She's just 1-5 on the morning line while spotting her competition significant experience. TJCIS PPs

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‘Quality’ First Book of Mares

'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit–Delightful Quality, by  Elusive Quality), a leading Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old colt, heads to the breeding shed with an impressive line-up of mares for his first season at stud at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.

The 2020 champion 2-year-old colt and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner continued to add to his loaded resume at three, capturing the GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. He concluded his career with a third-place finish against his elders in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Godolphin homebred stands his first season at stud for $75,000.

“We are delighted with Essential Quality's first book,” said Darren Fox, Sales Manager, Darley Stallions. “He has amassed a very strong group of mares as you might expect from the highest-priced freshman of his year. This positions him extremely well for his second career and we hope he is equally adept as he was at his first career.”

Essential Quality's first book of approximately 160 mares includes standouts such as:

  • American Story (Ghostzapper), GSP; half-sister to MGISW Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}) and G1SW Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown); $2.2 million FTKNOV purchase in 2017; dam of MGISW American Gal (Concord Point) and SW & GSP Americanize (Concord Point).
  • Artemis Agrotera (Roman Ruler), MGISW; dam of SW and $2-million OBS March topper Chestertown (Tapit).
  • Baffled (Distorted Humor), GSP; half-sister to GISW Emcee (Unbridled's Song); $1.8 million FTKNOV purchase in 2019; dam of MGISW Constitution (Tapit), GSW Jacaranda (Congrats) and GSW Boynton (More Than Ready).
  • Bashful Bertie (Quiet American), full-sister to MGSW & GISP Allamerican Bertie and half-sister to MGSW & GISP Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot); dam of MGISW Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid).
  • Believe You Can (Proud Citizen), winner of the 2012 GI Kentucky Oaks; dam of SW & GSP Believe In Royalty (Tapit).
  • Candy Fortune (Candy Ride {Arg}), dam of GISW Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) and GSW Majestic Dunhill (Majesticperfection).
  • Centre Court (Smart Strike), GISW; half-sister to GSW Ravel (Fusaichi Pegasus); dam of GSW Navratilova (Medaglia d'Oro).
  • Comedy (Theatrical {Ire}), $1.5 million KEENOV purchase in 2015; dam of GISW Taris (Flatter), SW & MGSP Theatre Star (War Front); and SW Stoweshoe (Flatter).
  • Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), GISW; $1.95 million KEENOV purchase in 2020.
  • Crosswinds (Storm Cat), half-sister to GSW & MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast); dam of GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft) and GSW Current (Curlin).
  • It Tiz (Tiznow), MSW; dam of GISW It Tiz Well (Arch).
  • Lady Shipman (Midshipman), GSW & GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up; dam of GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner and GII Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo).
  • No Questions Asked (Awesome Again), $300,000 KEENOV purchase in 2021; full-sister to GISW Paynter and half-sister to GSW Tiz West (Gone West).
  • Panty Raid (Include), MGISW; $2.5 million FTKNOV purchase in 2008; full-sister to GSW & GISP St. John's River; dam of GSW & GISP Micheline (Bernardini) and MGSP Proxy (Tapit).
  • Red Lark (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}), GISW; half-sister to GSP All Set To Go (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}).
  • Romantic Vision (Lemon Drop Kid), GISW; half-sister to SP Hard Attack (Hard Spun).
  • Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), MGISW; $1 million Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old purchase in 2007; half-sister to G1SW Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) and GSP American Story (Ghostzapper); dam of GSW & GISP Lake Avenue (Tapit) and GISP Marking (Bernardini).
  • Wedding Toast (Street Sense), MGISW; dam of SW Ya Hayati (Dubawi {Ire}).

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Halladay Retired to Harris Farms

Halladay (War Front–Hightap, by Tapit), winner of the 2020 GI Fourstardave H., has been retired from racing and will stand the 2022 breeding season at Harris Farms in California as the property of a syndicate led by Adrian Gonzalez of Checkmate Thoroughbreds. He will stand for an introductory fee of $7,500, live foal stand and nurse guarantee, with shares available.

Racing for Harrell Ventures and trainer Todd Pletcher, Halladay also won the 2019 Tropical Park Derby and 2020 Sunshine Forever S. On the board in 12 of 17 starts, the 6-year-old won six times and earned $565,245.

“Halladay was a very talented colt,” Pletcher said. “He was precocious with elite cruising speed. He never had a bad day on the track and was a pleasure to train. He has the best qualities of his sire and broodmare sire and makes for an extremely exciting stallion prospect.”

Gonzalez said, “Halladay is a Grade I winner by War Front out of a graded stakes-winning Tapit mare. War Front is North America's leading sire by percentage of stakes winners and Grade I winners to foals. Tapit has led the general sire list three times and has been a top five sire for nine of the last 10

seasons. He is a gorgeous, well-balanced horse standing 16.1 hands. It is a rare opportunity to launch a stallion with this genetic makeup that is a Grade I winner in California, and we are thrilled to present him.”

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Gem Heist Relocates to Rancho San Miguel

Third-crop sire Gem Heist (Street Cry {Ire}–Careless Jewel, by Tapit) has been relocated to stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California for the 2022 breeding season. His fee is $2,500, live foal guarantee.

The 10-year-old stallion previously stood at a private farm in Bakersfield, California as the property of the late horseman Bob Grayson, Sr. Grayson purchased Gem Heist for $100,000 from Eddie Woods' consignment at the 2014 Barretts March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Gem Heist experienced a career-ending injury while preparing for his debut, and was subsequently retired to stand stud. To date, he is credited with 29 reported foals, including eight juveniles and three yearlings of 2022. From his five lifetime starters, three are winners, led by multiple winner Saturday Heist.

“We are pleased to welcome a stallion with such top-class bloodlines to Rancho San Miguel,” said farm owner / manager Tom Clark. “Gem Heist has exhibited true potential with his early starters, and he is improving his mares. We look forward to helping him reach the next level in his stallion career.”

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