Todd Pletcher | Horse Racing Free Tips

First Mission Completes Pegasus Preparations in Big Easy

'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 (2/52) Saturday morning at the Fair Grounds in preparation for next Saturday's $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old colt, who was put through his paces by exercise rider Kevin Perez, was clocked in 1:13.60 for six furlongs, according to trainer Brad Cox.

“He's been doing very well week after week,” Cox said of the Godolphin homebred, a latest second to the re-opposing Trademark (Upstart) in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 24. “We're excited about giving him a shot at a Grade I. We weren't looking for anything really different than he'd done the last few weeks. We were just giving him an opportunity to go out there and stretch his legs, see how he's doing. And he's telling us he's doing as well as he ever has.”

First Mission is due to arrive at Gulfstream Monday afternoon. Luis Saez retains the mount.

The Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained duo of GIII Harlan's Holiday S. hero O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) got their final tune-ups during half-mile breezes up at Palm Meadows Saturday morning. Working on his own, O'Connor was timed in :48.55, while GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Skippylongstocking went in the company of the stakes-winning Swirvin (Girvin) and was clocked in :47.55.

Dynamic One (Union Rags), Crupi (Curlin) and Harlan's Holiday runner-up Grand Aspen (Dialed In) each turned in drills at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher Saturday morning. Dynamic One and Crupi went in company, with Crupi going in :48.29 and Dynamic One :48.39. Dynamic One, who was equipped with blinkers for the first time, started two lengths ahead of Crupi, who finished the breeze 1 1/2 lengths behind his stablemate, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Grand Aspen went the same distance in :49.13.

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Classic Winner Mo Donegal Celebrates A Colt As His First Foal

Spendthrift Farm's Mo Donegal, the classic-winning son of Uncle Mo, sired his first reported foal this week when a colt was born at WinStar Farm in Versailles, the stallion's farm said in a release Friday afternoon.

Bred by Alfredo Gastaneta, the bay colt is out of the Declaration of War mare Andavete, a half-sister to 2020 GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) and hailing from the immediate family of champion sire Saint Ballado.

“This is a good size colt with good bone and leg underneath him,” said Fernando Macchiavello, agent for Alfredo Gastaneta. “He looks like an Uncle Mo, with that hip and balance and long legs. He has that look to him.”

Mo Donegal joined Nyquist as classic-winning sons of leading sire Uncle Mo when he captured his biggest win in the 2022 GI Belmont S. Campaigned by trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable and Donegal Racing, Mo Donegal also won the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct, defeating Grade I winner Zandon (Upstart), and the GII Wood Memorial S. over classic winner Early Voting (Gun Runner).

Mo Donegal retired to Spendthrift with earnings of $1,511,800. He bred 186 mares in his first book in 2023 and is set to stand his second season for a fee of $15,000 S&N.

For more information about Mo Donegal, please contact Des, Mark, Brian or Daniel at 859-294-0030, or click here.

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Saturday Insights: Baffert Stablemates Star At Santa Anita

1st-SA, $65K, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 3:30 p.m.

A pair of pricey Bob Baffert stablemates make their anticipated debuts Saturday to open the card at Santa Anita. NORMANDY LANDING (Gun Runner), out of a daughter of MGISW and Kentucky Oaks heroine Flute (Seattle Slew), brought $1,050,000 from the 'Avengers' as a yearling at Keeneland. Dam Perfect Flute, who has already produced this runner's winning full-sibling, is herself a half to GSW/MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast) and to the dams of GSW Current (Curlin) and GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft).

He'll break outside of stablemate Maymun (Frosted), a successful pinhook who brought a top-five price of $900,000 from Zedan Racing Stables at last year's OBS April sale after selling for just $50,000 as a yearling at Keeneland the year prior. The son of Frosted seems to have plenty of speed, tuning up for this debut with a best-of-65 drill Jan. 13 (four furlongs in :47).

Attempting to split the pair is second-time starter Mc Vay (Constitution), a $1.25m FTSAUG yearling himself who ran greenly in his Del Mar debut behind Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) Sept. 2. He removes the blinkers in this spot for trainer John Shirreffs. TJCIS PPS

11th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 5:05 p.m.

On the East Coast, Coinvest (City of Light) brings yet another million-dollar price tag on the day for Todd Pletcher and the partnership of Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds. The $1.1m KEESEP grad will seek to emulate the success of his half-siblings including MGSW/MGISP Wit (Practical Joke) and GSW Barkley (Munnings).

Opposing him is $600,000 KEESEP yearling and stablemate Linesman (Uncle Mo) along with Peter Brant's European invader Zapata (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for trainer Chad Brown. TJCIS PPS

5th-FG, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 3:00 p.m.

Kicking off Lecomte day at the Fair Grounds, Kentucky West Racing homebred Saint Damasus (Justify) debuts for trainer Kenneth McPeek. The colt is a half to GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational winner Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway).

He'll face second-time starter Hall of Fame (Gun Runner), a $1.4m FTSAUG yearling who ran second as the beaten favorite in his Churchill debut Nov. 26 for Steve Asmussen. TJCIS PPS

6th-FG, $60K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:30 p.m.

Yes Indeed (Bolt d'Oro) debuts for Cherie DeVaux and Laul Stables after bringing $850,000 at OBS April last Spring. Her dam's first foal, she was a $350,000 yearling who impressed after breezing in :10. TJCIS PPS

8th-FG, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:30 p.m.

In the final maiden special weight of the day at Fair Grounds, Exploration (Curlin) starts for a lengthy partnership led by Spendthrift Farm. The $900,000 KEESEP yearling is out of a half to GISW Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song), who went on to produce GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby winner Capensis (Tapit). This is also the family of GI NetJets King's Bishop S. winner Visionaire (Grand Slam), GSW Scarlet Fusion (Curlin) and GSW/MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike).

He'll face Godolphin homebred Cornishman (Curlin), a son of GSW/MGISP Penwith (Bernardini). Second dam Composure (Touch Gold), purchased by Godolphin for $3.6m out of KEENOV in 2003, is also responsible for MGISP Centring (A.P. Indy) and GISP Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy) along with the dam of MGSW Shared Sense (Street Sense). TJCIS PPS

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Well-Bred Curlin Filly Debuts for Pletcher at Big A

1st-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, post time: 12:50 p.m. ET

WEATHER DELAY (Curlin), the first foal out of MGISW American Gal (Concord Point), kicks off her career for Repole Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. The 3-year-old was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. Carrying the colors of Kaleem Shah, American Gal captured the 2017 GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga and the following term's GI Humana Distaff S. at Churchill Downs. She was also third as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. American Gal brought $3 million from Weather Delay's breeder Whisper Hill Farm at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Her 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief brought $1.1 million from Grandview Equine at last year's Keeneland September sale. TJCIS PPs

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