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Godolphin Wields Rising Star Duo in Saturday’s Derby Preps

Godolphin has been riding a high since annexing last weekend's GI Dubai World Cup with homebred Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and the operation looks to assert its dominance in the sophomore division Saturday with a pair of TDN Rising Stars, defending juvenile champion Essential Quality (Tapit), slated to run in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and Aqueduct's GII Wood Memorial contender Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro).

Essential Quality earned his Rising Star status courtesy of a four-length victory sprinting six panels at Churchill Downs last September before handling his step up to graded company with aplomb, taking the 8 1/2-furlong GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in October and tied up a championship with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Nov. 6.

“I think one of his better races might have been his maiden race,” said Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell. “We needed a race just to get him started. [In his debut], he showed athleticism and speed going short and won by daylight. He then jumped right into the deep end and won the Futurity and Breeders' Cup. Not many can do that and that's really what sets him apart. He's quite versatile and athletic and with a very good mind. When you put all those things together, it can occasionally get you these kinds of results.”

Drawing post 4, the Feb. 27 GIII Southwest S. winner will be partnered by Luis Saez, aboard for his last three starts in addition to last weekend's World Cup winner Mystic Guide. Bell indicated that trainer Brad Cox outlined a 3-year-old pre-Derby campaign soon after the Breeders' Cup, and the Derby pre-amble would consist of only a pair of preps, including the Blue Grass, which was targeted largely because of its timing and the colt's obvious affinity for Keeneland.

Standing in stark contrast to Essential Quality, who has already cemented his spot in the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby, stablemate Prevalence will have to earn his stripes in top company to earn a ticket to Louisville. Earning Rising Star billing following a flashy 8 1/2-length win going seven panels at Gulfstream Jan. 23, the homebred followed-up with another victory while adding a furlong against optional claiming company at the Hallandale oval Mar. 11.

“A lot of time you get that 'wow' first performance and they go back over for the second race and it's not always the same result,” said Bell. “They are a little more tuned in to what it's all about. In fairness, it was his lifetime second start. That was one of the blessings we had coming back in an allowance race. He had good experiences in both races and he learned something in both races. That's what gives us a little more confidence about stepping into graded stakes and stepping up in distance. Both his races were learning experiences and progressive steps that served us well.”

Since his latest win, the Brendan Walsh trainee returned to work a bullet four furlongs, the fastest of 30 moves at the distance, at Palm Meadows Mar. 28.

“He came out of his last work with a bullet. He went in :47.60 and galloped out as easy as you can–it said it all right there,” explained Bell. “From Brendan's perspective, he's an easy horse to read, you know where he's at and what he's feeling. The timing of the Wood Memorial was good timing for him to make that next progressive step.”

Asked whether it might be too tall of an order for such an inexperienced horse, Bell added, “The hope is for the horse to tell us what we are going to do next and we felt this is the opportunity to do that. He's going to need to be able to travel and he's going to be facing stiffer competition. Certainly, he's been brilliant at the short distance races, but what does he look like going a mile and an eighth? When the race is over, he will have answered all of those questions which will point us in one direction or another. And that's really what we want to do. We want to let him show us what he is or isn't capable of at this stage. It's a progression.”

And what would it mean for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the entire Godolphin team to finally get the chance to hoist the blanket of roses on Derby day?

“It's hard to imagine because it's such an illusive place to get to,” said Bell. “It is one of the most prestigious races, or the most prestigious race, in the world in many people's minds. And it is what everyone who has a talented 3-year-old colt at this time of the year points toward. [Sheikh Mohammed] is so philosophical about these types of races and opportunities that, in time, patience will prevail and if it's meant to be, it will happen. The great news is that there has never been an ounce of pressure. It is just that everyone would like to see it happen. From His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, he is above all an astute horseman and understands probably better than we do. He is just excited to have opportunities and even more excited that a couple of these are hombreds as well. He makes it very easy because he is very understanding and has a great outlook on things.”

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Daughter Of Frankel A New Rising Star At Saint-Cloud

There were several unraced fillies in the line-up for Thursday's 10-furlong Prix Monade at Saint-Cloud with immense residual value and abundant racing promise, but at the end there was only one that mattered as Yeguada Centurion's Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) put them to the sword with an audacious front-running display of power. Showing impressive instant pace to arrive at the head of affairs soon after breaking from the widest stall, the April-foaled daughter of the high-class L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) was then able to switch off and cruise in an untroubled lead for Aurelien Lemaitre. While her rivals waited and stacked up behind, the 9-1 shot effectively killed the contest in early straight as she kicked approaching the final two furlongs. Having built a sizeable advantage by the time she reached the furlong pole, the bay allowed her rider a lingering look around and she was being eased from there with no conceivable threat. At the line, she had registered a resounding nine-length success from the Nicolas Clement-trained Play All Day (Kitten's Joy), who in turn had 3/4 of a length to spare over George Strawbridge's Vouchsafe (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The latter is a half-sister to the multiple group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and was one of the clutch of bluebloods cut adrift by the dynamic winner. Also in the backwash was the fourth-placed Urbania (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), the Wertheimers' daughter of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), and Godolphin's eighth-placed Hidden Thought (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of the high-class Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in what has to be the most intriguing European maiden so far in 2021.

Sibila Spain marks the first serious prospect and is the first winner in 2021 for the burgeoning Christopher Head stable and, as her name suggests, is owned by Spanish interests. Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals is a relatively new but significant presence on the bloodstock stage, with this €240,000 purchase at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale coming just weeks prior to his spending spree at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Sibila Spain was bought two days after La Venus Espagnola (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) sported the Yeguada Centurion silks in public for the first time at the Normandy track's racing festival.

“This horse was initially trained in Madrid and then sent to the training centre of Alban Chevalier du Fau in West France in November,” Head explained. “She came to me Feb. 2 and doesn't have too much work behind her, so she's certainly not 100% yet and has a lot to learn, so I will try to improve her with every run. It wasn't the plan to go to the front, but after she broke so well Aurelien said she was very comfortable with her ears pricked so it was best to go on. She proved clearly the best in the race and although I have an idea where she will run next, I will talk her to owner first.”

L'Ancresse raced in the Michael Tabor colours with distinction for Ballydoyle and was second in the 2003 G1 Irish Oaks before finishing in the same position in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Only a neck behind Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), with the likes of Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert), Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Riskaverse (Dynaformer) in arrears in one of the strongest editions of that prize to be run, she was becoming the latest to fly the flag for Roger Baines' Somerset-based Britton House Stud. Her dam Solo de Lune (Ire) (Law Society) was an outstanding font of top-class runners, being responsible for the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Cerulean Sky (Ire) also by Darshaan and Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who took the G1 Irish Oaks having been second in the Epsom Classic.

Moonstone produced five black-type winners headed by the G3 Chester Vase scorer US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was runner-up in the G1 Epsom Derby, and Frankel's G3 Golden Fleece S. scorer Nelson (Ire). Cerulean Sky was responsible for the G2 Doncaster Cup winner and G1 St Leger third Honolulu (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and is the second dam of the trio of group winners Royal Bench (Ire) (Whipper), Memphis Tennessee (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) and Mayhem (Ire) (Whipper). Another of Solo de Lune's eight black-type performers Bywayofthestars (GB) (Danehill) was the dam of Orchestra (Ire), another Galileo who like US Army Ranger captured the Chester Vase and made the frame in the Irish Derby.

L'Ancresse took time to emerge as a smart producer in her own right, but her first foal Minkova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) did throw the G3 Henry II S. and G3 Ormonde S. winner Magic Circle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}). Her 2009 progeny was Chamonix (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who took the Listed Oyster S. and Listed Listowel S., but it was only in 2015 when she first visited Frankel that the magic began to occur. Master of Reality (Ire) was a slow-burner and ultimately a dour stayer, but a high-class one who captured the G3 Vintage Crop S. and was third in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and a head second before being demoted to fourth in the 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup, GSW-Ire, G1SP-Eng, SP-Fr, $485,468. A year later, the useful listed-placed Eminent Authority (Ire) was another son of the Juddmonte giant to boost his dam's profile while her 2017 filly Frankenstella (Ire) showed promise last term as a staying handicapper who could make her presence felt in black-type company. Sibila Spain is her last known foal, but her ability to inject pace into a middle-distance trip at the first time of asking is both surprising and highly encouraging given that the family stay much further and tend to need time. With that in mind, she could be some closing act.

5th-Saint-Cloud, €27,000, Debutantes, 3-25, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:15.20, hy.
SIBILA SPAIN (IRE), f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: L'Ancresse (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 9 1/2-10 1/2f, SW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $398,490), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society
3rd Dam: Truly Special (Ire), by Caerleon
(€240,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O-Yeguada Centurion SL; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Christopher Head. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Joseph Derby Dreamin’

A Triple Crown winner in his native Barbados, Saffie Joseph Jr. took his first shot at America's Classics in 2020 with GISP Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), who failed to hit the board in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. last fall before heading to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Fast forward to 2021, Joseph returns to the Triple Crown trail with another exciting prospect in Three Chimneys Farm and eFive Racing's Collaborate (Into Mischief), who is slated to contest Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The colt debuted with a fifth as the favorite going six panels in the Gulfstream slop Feb. 6 before rebounding to a TDN Rising Star garnering performance when winning by an eye-catching 12 1/2-length margin stretching to a mile at the Hallandale oval Feb. 27.

“Every time we worked him before he ran, he impressed really me,” he said. “He did everything so effortlessly and nothing seemed to phase him. So, when he got beat first time out it was a big disappointment because he had touted himself so much leading up to that. I just didn't think he'd get beat. But that day, he got valuable experience. It was a relief second time out because we always knew he had that kind of talent.”

Joseph's first Grade I victory was recorded by Math Wizard (Algorithms), a one-time $25,000 claimer who went on to annex the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby. And it was the development of lesser pedigreed horses into top-rung winners that earned Joseph Jr. the street-cred needed to usher in flashier stock. Case in point, purchased for the healthy sum of $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale, Collaborate represents the highest priced sales purchase for the young trainer.

“He's definitely the most talented horse I've ever had,” affirmed Joseph Jr. “He has a lot of ability. We're a little behind schedule, so we're asking him to do things that might be a tall task. But he seems like he as the ability to overcome it. Getting beat the first time, in hind sight, was a blessing because he got a lot of education from that. He got more tired first time out than in his second start. We just hope we can build on that and show up again and run a similar race [in the Florida derby]. If he does, we think we have a horse that is very capable.”

Regarding tactics for the nine-furlong contest, he added, “He's very versatile. I think that's one of his advantages. He has that high-cruising speed and he stays pretty strong late. I think he will be on or near the lead, where he is comfortable. Ideally, he will be in a forward position and can run his race.”

Tyler Gaffalione reunites with the colt Saturday.

Joseph will also be represented by additional Triple Crown hopefuls–Moonlite Strike (Liam's Map) and Awesome Gerry (Liam's Map)–at Turfway Park Saturday in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, which offers 100 Derby points to the winner. The former won second out going seven-eighths at GP West before adding another tally while adding a furlong in a Dec. 10 optional claimer. Fourth in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Jan. 22, he was an improved third last time in the Mar. 6 GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

“In the Tampa Derby, he kind of jumped up and ran above his odds and actually surprised us,” admitted Joseph Jr. “He was third and picked up 10 points and he had one more from his previous race at Oaklawn. [Sonata Stables] wants to give him a chance to continue on and see if he can pick up some more points.”

John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Timot Pinch's Awesome Gerry won two of four starts in Southern Florida at two in addition to finishing runner up in the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta last November. Third in Gulfstream's Mucho Macho Man S. in January, the grey finished seventh and sixth, respectively, in the Jan. 30 GIII Holy Bull S. and most recently in the Tampa Bay Derby.

“We feel like if Moonlite Strike finishes one-two-three he can earn a spot and it would be nice for the owner to have a Derby runner,” he said. “We thought the Jeff Ruby was the best opportunity to pick up some points. He has a turf pedigree, so we figured he might light the Tapeta and that might help move him up a little bit. And we hope the Tapeta could also help Awesome Gerry move up, too.”

While having already earned Derby points when winning the Jan. 30 GIII Swale S., Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock is unlikely to pursue a berth the First Saturday in May. He most recently finished runner up behind Florida Derby early favorite Greatest Honour (Tapit) in the Feb. 27 GII Fasig-Tipton GII Fountain of Youth S.

“Drain the Clock picked up 20 points in the Fountain of Youth S. and it was probably easy to pick up a few more points to get him to the Derby, but that ownership group they don't want to go to the Derby if they can't win it,” he confirmed.

Instead, the chestnut will be redirected to shorter distances, beginning with the Apr. 3 GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct. Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the mount.

Although Joseph had spent many of his early years as a trainer dreaming about having a horse good enough to make it into the starting gate on Derby day, his initial attempt during a COVID- plagued season proved anything but usual. So, heading toward this year's race, what was his chief takeaway after tackling the 2020 renewal?

“Last year was the first time, so you obviously learn something,” he said. “Even without a crowd, in the walk over our horse got a bit keyed up. If we get back there this year, we'd probably use earplugs on the horse. But as far as training, you just hope the horses stays healthy enough to get into the race.”

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Mandaloun Looks to Solidify Claim in Louisiana Derby

Juddmonte Farms' TDN Rising Star Mandaloun (Into Mischief) attempts to follow up on a professional last-out score in the GII Risen Star S. in Saturday's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Earning Rising Star status first time out going six panels at Keeneland last October, the bay followed up with another solid win while adding an additional furlong in a Churchill Downs optional claimer the following month. Heavily supported for his seasonal reappearance in the Jan. 16 GIII Lecomte S. in New Orleans, he had to settle for third, beaten two lengths, behind the re-opposing Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) and Proxy (Tapit), a length behind the winner. For his latest success in the nine-furlong Risen Star, the colt was fitted with blinkers for the first time, a move which likely helped move the colt forward, according to Brad Cox. As in the Lecomte, Proxy finished behind the winner.

“He got a lot out of the Lecomte and I think the blinkers propelled him forward as well in his second start [of the season],” explained Cox. “He got a lot out of his first two races, but the first time going two turns in the Lecomte, you can train as much as you want but there is nothing like the experience of going two turns. He also just got more experience. It was only the fourth start of his career. He is very accomplished horse with only four starts.”

Asked about the timeline in the run-up to the First Saturday in May, Cox said, “It was four weeks back to the Risen Star off the Lecomte. He is five weeks now to the Louisiana Derby, and if all goes well, we'll have six weeks to the [May 1] Kentucky Derby. He has continued to move forward in every start. I'm good with the six weeks in between [the Louisiana and Kentucky Derbies], because he's a good work horse because he gives you what you need in the morning. At the end of the day, I think he's cut out to be a mile-and-a-half horse with the Empire Maker on the bottom side. I am very confident we can show up and do what we need to do [in the Louisiana Derby]. Hopefully, we can move forward to the Kentucky Derby.”

Hoping to repeat his winning effort in the Lecomte, Midnight Bourbon, who drew one outside of Mandaloun in the seven-hole, will be reunited with Joe Talamo, aboard for the Winchell Thoroughbreds runner's two latest starts, including his Risen Star third.

“In the Lecomte we had a really good trip and got out to a pretty easy lead that day and were able to wire them,” recalled Talamo. “Last time, even when Mandaloun and Proxy went by, if you watch that race again, he was kind of coming on again in the gallop out. I think the added distance [of the Louisiana Derby] is only going to help him.”

Asked how he expects Saturday's race to unfold, Talamo said, “The race looks like it can almost be the exact same setup as the Risen Star. Rightandjust [Awesome Again] is a quick horse and I'm sure he's going to be in front, and unless something happens and nobody goes to the front, I'll go up and take it. If not, I'll be content to just track him.”

He continued, “I also really love his post because, if somebody goes out there, he is content to settle in second or third, too. Hopefully, we can just get a good trip. I think it'll be one of those races that, whoever gets the right trip, and from the quarter-pole home, we'll see who is the best. I really think the trip is going to suit Midnight Bourbon.”

A winner second time out going a mile at Ellis last August, the $525,000 KEESEP yearling purchase was runner-up in Churchill's GIII Iroquois S. before rounding out 2020 with a third in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 10.

“He's a big horse, but very athletic,” said Talamo. “Normally, a horse like that, it takes him a stride or two to get going. It's really amazing how good of a gate horse he is. He breaks very sharp for a horse that big. He's really smooth to ride. And he's one of those horses that you just try to be a good passenger and let him do the rest.”

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