Tag: Todd Pletcher

Con Lima Suffers Fatal Stall Injury

Con Lima (Commissioner), the multiple-graded stakes winning mare last seen winning the GIII Saratoga Oaks last August, suffered an injury in her stall at WinStar Farm in Lexington, Kentucky Wednesday night and was euthanized, according to a Tweet from her owners, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Eclipse's Aron Wellman said that the 4-year-old filly was at WinStar preparing for a return to racing and to her trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We're devastated to report Con Lima suffered a catastrophic injury in her stall last night and had to be euthanized,” the Tweet read. “Con Lima epitomized all that was good about thoroughbred racehorses and our heart goes out to her, our partners, her breeders and all who cared for this grand gal.”

Wellman called her “one of a kind.”

In an impressive run in 2021, Con Lima reeled off wins in the Honey Ryder S., Ginger Brew S., GIII Herecomesthebride S., GIII Wonder Again S., and the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S., her last start. All of her black-type wins were on the turf. She was second in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational.

Con Lima was a $15,000 Keeneland November weanling who failed to meet her reserve at the 2019 September sale and again at 2020 OBS March.

But she showed she was special right from the start, winning by over five lengths in her second start on the dirt at Gulfstream at two. Switched to the turf after her fourth start, she went on to make eight starts on the grass, winning six of them, five of them in black-type events.

“She really captured people's hearts because of where she came from and what she was able to accomplish,” said Wellman. “I'm not sure we've seen many who were able to produce a campaign like she did from age 2 to 3. She was a real throwback, an iron filly who did it at the highest level in the real world.”

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Abaan Looks to Stand Out

Abaan (Will Take Charge) looks to build upon his recent success with a bid in the GII Mac Diarmida S. over 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding, trained by Todd Pletcher, was last seen a clear winner over fellow Mac Diarmida entry Temple (Temple City) in the GIII W. L. McKnight S. Jan. 29. He also previously won the H. Allen Jerkens S. over this course in December.

Temple, breaking from post eight under Jose Ortiz, could be right there with a good trip, as the 6-year-old gelding has an ultra-consistent record, including a third last October in the 1 1/8-mile GIII Knickerbocker S. at Belmont Park. He was claimed by these connections for $80,000 in his next start, finishing second in a Nov. 19 Aqueduct optional claimer, and was third in another Big A optional claimer Dec. 5.

Though the elder statesman of the field at seven, Fantasioso (Arg) (Strategic Prince {GB}) has the class to keep up with his younger challengers. With jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard, Fantasioso posted a dead-heat victory in the GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S. over 1 1/2 miles at Sam Houston Jan. 30.

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Saturday Insights: Well-Bred Siblings to Graded Winners Debut

2nd-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 12:40p.m. ET
This contest kicks off the first of two maiden special weights on the Hallendale card with smartly regarded firsters. Breaking from the far outside, Blini (Tapit) has graded stakes winning shadows to outrun: full-siblings Iron Fist, MGSW, $1,104,199; Anchor Down, GISP & MGSW, $734,254; and half-sister Sweet Lulu (Mr. Greeley), GISW, $693,600. Her dam Successful Outlook (Orientate) is a third generation graded stakes runner and producer. To her inside, there is a Calumet owned and bred half-sister to SW, $865,921, Pingxiang (Speightstown) named Peligroso (Honor Code) going for conditioner Jack Sisterson. The Albaugh Family Stables send out $500,000 KEESEP purchase Tiffany's Mo (Uncle Mo), a half to GSP Threes Over Deuces (Flat Out). Todd Pletcher conditions Falconet (Uncle Mo), the first foal for GISW Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) and the formidable partnership of Klaravich Stables and Chad Brow will unveil $280,000 KEESEP acquisition Signal from Noise (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs

 

4th-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:40p.m. ET
OXO Equine's $675,000 KEESEP prize Mendenhall (Pioneerof the Nile) debuts under Bill Mott's tutelage. A half to stakes winners Balandeen (Bernardini) and Matwakel (California Chrome), this is the family of Canadian Champion 2-year-old filly Deputy Jane West (Silver Deputy). The royal blue silks of Godolphin are represented by their homebred Town Branch (Street Sense), a full sibling to GSW Speaker's Corner. A $300,000 OBSAPR (:20 3/5) buy, Super Quality (Competitive Edge), and $240,000 EASOCT graduate Hidden Plan (Street Sense), half to GSW Cordmaker (Curlin), round out the field. TJCIS PPs

 

8th-GP, $62k, Alw, 4yo/up, 1m, 3:40p.m. ET
Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), half-brother to Triple Crown Champion Justify (Scat Daddy) and ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense), makes his return to the races here against an experience field. Second on debut to Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro), who's also in the field, the colt's 10 3/4 length maiden breaking Apr. 10 score at Keeneland earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors. He punctuated that title with a three length win against allowance company May 14 at Belmont Park before being given a nine month freshening. He's been set at 7-2 morning line odds for his return. TJCIS PPs

 

2nd-SA, $67k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:28p.m. ET
The connections of Medina Spirit (Protonico) send out $1.7 million FTFMAR purchase (:10 1/5) Taiba (Gun Runner), the second most expensive to hail from the Gulfstream 2-year-old auction behind $2.6 million stablemate Bletchley Park (Nyquist). Taiba is MSW Needmore Flattery (Flatter)'s second foal to the races. The flashy Tenth Street Don (Practical Joke), $240,000 at OBSAPR (:10 1/5), goes to post for trainer Vladimir Cerin. TJCIS PPs

 

2nd-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 1:20p.m. ET
By far the most expensive horse in the race, $875,000 KEESEP procurement Don the Jeweler (Into Mischief) debuts in the colors of Peter Brant, and is conditioned by Chad Brown. He's out of a half-sister to MGISW Include Me Out (Include) and GISW & MGSW Check the Label (Stormin Fever), both of whom have produced winners. The female family claims at least 14 graded and stakes quality horses. TJCIS PPs

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Morello Seeks Graded Glory in Gotham

Morello (Classic Empire) looks to take his perfect record to three-for-three and take his first steps down the GI Kentucky Derby trail in Aqueduct's GIII Gotham S. Saturday. A dominant debut winner going six panels at this oval Nov. 27, the $250,000 EASMAY purchase ran to the money with a five-length score in the Big A's Jimmy Winkfield S. Feb. 6.

“Morello looks like he could potentially be something special,” Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds said. “I think it's just a perfect race set up for a horse like him, where you're going to take your time and see what he can do. Past the wire, it looks like he can get further out there. Seeing him calm in the winner's circle tells me he has more left in the tank.”

Todd Pletcher also saddles an unbeaten runner in this event in Dean's List (Speightstown). The chestnut drew off to a 5 1/2-length graduation despite some greeness in his Dec. 11 unveiling at Gulfstream and wired an optional claimer there last out Jan. 8. Both races were run over six furlongs. Pletcher also saddles Calumet Farm's Golden Code (Honor Code). Runner-up to Bold Journey (Hard Spun) in a state-bred event here Dec. 18, he crushed his fellow Empire-breds by 10 3/4 lengths next out in the mud at this oval Feb. 5.

“I like the way he's been training and he's put in some gallop outs that suggest he is going to be able to handle a stretch out in distance–that's what we're trying to find out here and I feel the one-turn mile is a good way to do it and gradually stretch him out a little bit,” Pletcher said of Dean's List.

Rockefeller (Medaglia d'Oro) returns to the Big Apple in search of another victory Saturday. Opening his account at Del Mar Aug. 28, the Bob Baffert pupil was fourth to champion stablemate Corniche (Quality Road) in the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita Oct. 1. Wiring the GIII Nashua S. at Belmont last time he visited New York Nov. 7, the $750,000 KEESEP buy checked in second to stablemate Newgrange (Violence) in the GIII Sham S. in Arcadia Jan. 1.

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