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Nostalgic Upsets Venti Valentine Gazelle

Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) added to a banner day for Godolphin with an upset score over even-money favorite and Busher Invitational S. romper Venti Valentine (Firing Line) in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Saturday. Godolphin and Nostalgic's trainer Bill Mott also teamed up to win the GI Carter H. one race earlier with Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed's operation won Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. with homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro).

Venti Valentine broke alertly and went straight to the front with fellow NY-bred, 9-5 second-choice and 'TDN Rising Star' Classy Edition (Classic Empire) just off her heels in second and 4-1 shot Nostalgic on that one's inside hip. Keeping the leader close as the half-mile went in :49.26, Nostalgic was joined by several rivals on her outside, but determinedly maintained her position behind the chalk. Venti Valentine turned for home strongly and steadily pulled away from all, but Nostalgic, who kept after her on the fence. Nostalgic wore down the hometown heroine late, extending clear to a 1 1/4-length success. Ruthless S. heroine Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) filled the show spot.

Earning 100 points for the victory, Nostalgic moves into sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks standing with a total of 101 with Venti Valentine just behind her with 94 points.

“You can see where she was in her first couple of races, so far back,” Mott said. “She put him in the race today. Last time, we planned on putting her up in the race a little bit, which we did again today. We wanted to see her engaged early a little more and she did it. She held her position and came through on the rail. I didn't tell him where to be other than we didn't want to be 15 lengths back.”

On a potential start in the Kentucky Oaks, Mott said, “[Godolphin bloodstock director] Michael [Banahan] and I were talking about that. We said that we have to consider it.”

“I love this filly. She reminds me a lot of [Mott-trained MGISW] Elate (Medaglia d'Oro),” winning rider Jose Ortiz said. “I was very happy to ride her today. She ran amazing last time. She woke up which was the most important thing. As a 2-year-old, she won first time out, but she was very green. She's big and she's supposed to keep going longer and longer. I am very excited about her.”

Jorge Abreu said Venti Valentine is still under consideration for the Oaks after her gallant second.

“We'll see how she comes out of it and we'll consider it,” said Abreu. “She ran her race and I think like Manny [Franco] said, he didn't think that horse [Nostalgic] was going to come back at the eighth pole and by the time he looked, the horse was already there. But I think he gave her a great ride. She's used to having a target and today she was by herself on the lead. It was a whole different scenario because there was no speed in the race. If she tracks somebody, that puts her on the bit.”

Rallying from well back to graduate by 7 3/4 lengths in her two-turn unveiling at Belmont Oct. 22, Nostalgic made up ground late to be fourth behind Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. romper Nest (Curlin) and Venti Valentine in the track-and-trip GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 4. Kicking off 2022 on grass in the Feb. 5 GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream, she proved turf was not for her, finishing a non-factor ninth. Returned to the main track in Hallandale, the bay dominated by 6 3/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer Mar. 3.

Pedigree Notes:

Nostalgic is the 88th graded winner and 164th black-type scorer for Medaglia d'Oro and second on the day following commonly owner Commonwealth winner Prevalence. She is also the 26th graded winner and 58th black-type achiever out of a daughter of Tapit. His sire Pulpit was the broodmare sire of GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo).

Mott trained Nostalgic's first three dams, tracing back to GSW & GISP Minister's Melody (Deputy Minister), who was a $400,000 KEESEP purchase for Stonerside Stable and the dam of GI Wood Memorial winner Bob and John (Seeking the Gold). Mott saddled her stakes-winning second dam Connie Belle (Storm Cat) and her SP dam Been Here Before. That 10-year-old mare's 2020 foal died and her 2021 foal was born dead. Been Here Before is expecting a foal by Violence.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:50.41, ft.
1–NOSTALGIC, 118, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
                1st Dam: Been Here Before (SP), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Connie Belle, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Minister's Melody, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $235,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Venti Valentine, 120, f, 3, Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $50,000.
3–Shotgun Hottie, 118, f, 3, Gun Runner–Re Entry, by Malibu Moon. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Aldabbagh, Omar and Ganje, Jeff; B-Vincent Colbert (KY); T-William E. Morey. $30,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, HF. Odds: 4.30, 1.10, 21.00.
Also Ran: Classy Edition, Divine Huntress, Morning Matcha, Caragate. Scratched: Greatitude.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Taiba Tops Former Baffert Trainee Exacta in Santa Anita Derby

Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby was billed mainly as a match-up of back-to-back Grade II winner Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and 15-length GIII Robert B. Lewis S. romper and 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), but the former dropped out of it in the lane after setting the pace, and $1.7-million FTFMAR buy Taiba (Gun Runner) ran by fellow Tim Yakteen trainee Messier to post the 4-1 upset and stamp his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby.

Having earned 'Rising Star' status himself and a gaudy 103 Beyer Speed Figure when airing by 7 1/2 lengths sprinting here Mar. 5 while a member of the Bob Baffert barn, Taiba was one of three Santa Anita Derby runners transferred to Yakteen from the suspended Baffert. The winner carries the same silks as ill-fated Medina Spirit (Protonico), whose betamethasone positive in last year's GI Kentucky Derby sparked Hall of Famer Baffert's recent troubles. Zedan and Baffert are also part of the connections responsible for last month's G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist).

Forbidden Kingdom–perhaps a slightly surprising favorite at even-money over 13-10 Messier–bobbled a tiny bit from the gate but took early command as expected. Taiba was away second fastest, but Messier moved up inside of him into the first bend before Forbidden Kingdom floated them both slightly wide. Mike Smith on Taiba elected to drop in and save some ground down the backside, as Forbidden Kingdom doled out splits of :22.75 and :46.70 with Messier only applying token pressure. Messier turned up the heat after six panels in 1:10.97, and Taiba drafted just in behind them while clearly full of run. Forbidden Kingdom was out of gas at the quarter pole and offered little resistance to Messier. Messier looked briefly like he might shut the door on Taiba as that one bobbled while switching leads, but Taiba soon leveled off, displaying the impressive stride he had just over a year ago at Gulfstream to cruise past Messier under a hands-and-heels ride. Messier was 2 1/4 lengths back, but another 10 clear of Happy Jack (Oxbow), who narrowly spoiled an all-Yakteen trifecta over Armagnac (Quality Road).

“When one comes along like that, he showed he was really good,” said Smith, who has now won four of the last five Santa Anita Derbies and five overall. “He didn't really get away very well. In the first turn, I didn't want to get in the way. I wasn't in any hurry. I felt the others would do the dirty work for me and it set up just fine. He showed just how special he is. He belongs with anyone. He just recovers really well. I'm not getting any younger. As I get older, I have felt that something special is going to happen. This just may lead to that. The sky's the limit.”

Yakteen was visibly nervous before the race, and had sent out heavy favorite Adare Manor (Uncle Mo)–also a Baffert transfer–to be narrowly upset at short odds in the GII Santa Anita Oaks earlier on the card.

“You could have poured me out of a shot glass earlier, but these two horses represented me unbelievably in this race and I'm just absolutely thrilled, floored with the effort that Taiba put forth,” he said. “That was a sensational race, he's just a super horse.”

Taiba picked up 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the win, while Messier–previously ineligible for points during his earlier exploits for Baffert–earned 40 points.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY-GI, $750,500, Santa Anita, 4-9, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.67, ft.
1–TAIBA, 124, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Needmore Flattery (MSW, $732,103), by
Flatter
2nd Dam: Kiosk, by Left Banker
3rd Dam: Phone Switch, by Phone Trick
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN RISING STAR'. ($140,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $1,700,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Bruce C Ryan (KY); T-Tim Yakteen; J-Mike E. Smith. $450,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $490,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Messier, 124, c, 3, Empire Maker–Checkered Past, by Smart Strike. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN RISING STAR'. ($470,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm LLC; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Tim Yakteen. $150,000.
3–Happy Jack, 124, c, 3, Oxbow–Tapitstry, by Tapit. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($0 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV). O/B-Calumet Farm; T-Doug F. O'Neill. $90,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 10, NK. Odds: 4.30, 1.30, 26.80.
Also Ran: Armagnac, Win the Day, Forbidden Kingdom.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Taiba was the second topper at the Fasig Gulfstream sale off a powerful :10 1/5 move, and he cost exactly double that of Gun Runner's next-priciest 2-year-old, fellow future Baffert pupil Flying Drummer. Gun Runner, whose first crop of yearlings cost up to $775,000 and averaged the most among freshmen at $246,413, more than lived up to the auction hype when his runners started to hit the track. He was represented by two Grade I winners last year–including champion 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu–plus two other graded winners while breaking the record for progeny earnings by a freshman.

The Three Chimneys resident has been on a tear in the last round of Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks preps–Echo Zulu resurfaced to annex the GII Fair Grounds Oaks on seasonal debut Mar. 26; then Cyberknife took the GI Arkansas Derby last Saturday on the same day Beguine was second in the GIII Fantasy S. and Running Legacy was third in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. GIII Wither S. winner was beaten a neck Saturday at Aqueduct in the GII Wood Memorial S., two races before Shotgun Hottie was third in the GIII Gazelle S.

Overall, the 2017 Horse of the Year has sired four highest-level winners, seven graded winners and 11 stakes winners.

Flatter, meanwhile, is the broodmare sire of four U.S. graded winners–including last year's GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Juju's Map (Liam's Map)–and another MG1SW in South America.

Taiba's dam Needmore Flattery racked up more than $730,000 having never earned better than a 75 Beyer Speed Figure competing mostly in Ohio-bred company. Her first foal is a still-unraced 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo, and she sold to Leopoldo Fernández Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $195,000 at KEENOV '19 before being exported to France and foaling a filly by Uncle Mo.

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Zandon Further Flatters Remsen Form in Blue Grass

hiSure, horses like Go For Gin and Thunder Gulch parlayed victories in the GII Remsen S. at two into GI Kentucky Derby glory in 1994 and 1995, respectively, but there are few races over the last 30 years that have taken more of a beating than that late-season Aqueduct feature as a pointer to success in Louisville.

Perhaps that theory is due for a rethink. In the space of about 30 minutes Saturday afternoon, 2021 Remsen winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) clawed his way past Early Voting (Gun Runner) to take the GII Wood Memorial and, at an unseasonably cold Keeneland, the latter's stablemate Zandon (Upstart), the unlucky loser of the Remsen, followed suit with an eye-catching tally in the Toyota Blue Grass S., its Grade I status and $1-million purse restored for 2022.

Sent off the 21-10 second choice behind 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy), Zandon was a bit sluggish out of gate four and raced with just three behind banking into the clubhouse turn, as 'Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready) galloped them along through moderate early fractions of :24.04 and :48.39, with longshot Golden Glider (Ghostzapper) his shadow and Smile Happy three deep. Ridden exceptionally quietly by Flavien Prat through the middle furlongs, Zandon was clearly last, but unhurried and traveling comfortably into the second bend. Still at the tail with as little as three furlongs to race, the $170,000 Keeneland September graduate was set alight by the in-form Flavien Prat–who had earlier won the GI Madison S. aboard Just One Time (Not This Time)–five-sixteenths of a mile from the wire. Committed to an inside run into the stretch, having carefully weaved his way through traffic, Zandon was shifted out and around Smile Happy at the furlong grounds and finished full of run for the victory. Emmanuel rounded out the triple.

“He broke just OK,” Prat admitted. “Then I got myself covered up so I was there with nothing I could do about it. The pace was a bit slow, so I was wandering down the backside. But I was traveling super–it was just a matter of finding a gap and getting a clean run down the lane.”

Winning owner Jeff Drown was duly thrilled with the outcome.

“I'm working on [catching my breath], working on it,” he said. “What a great race. What a fantastic performance. Chad did a fantastic job. Flavien rode him perfect. It just felt good.”

While Mo Donegal was the most experienced of Saturday's three Triple Crown prep winners with a whopping four previous starts and Taiba was the least tried with just the maiden win to his credit, Zandon was making his fourth career appearance in the Blue Grass. A maiden winner over six furlongs of the Belmont main track Oct. 9, the dark bay was on the stretch-out for the Remsen and got into a bumping match with Mo Donegal late, only to drop a heartbreaking nose decision. Legged up over the winter at Payson Park, he made his sophomore debut in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 19 and missed the break there as well, but ran on nicely to finish third, beaten just over three lengths, to subsequent GII Louisiana Derby hero and top Derby hopeful Epicenter (Gun Runner) and Smile Happy.

Pedigree Notes:

Zandon is the first Grade I winner, seventh black-type winner and third graded winner for New York-bred Upstart, who is also set to be represented in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks by the undefeated Kathleen O. The stallion's 4-year-old 'TDN Rising Star' son Reinvestment Risk was also a good second in Saturday's GI Carter H. back in New York.

Zandon is Airdrie-bred through and through, being out of a mare by the farm's Creative Cause whose half-sister and 'TDN Rising Star' Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) was ultra-impressive in winning at the graded level for the first time in Saturday's GIII Providencia S. at Santa Anita. This is also the extended female family of the Brereton Jones-bred GSW/GISP Hello Liberty (Forest Camp); Pious Ashley (Include); MGSW Significant Form (Creative Cause); and GSW Hay Dakota (Haynesfield). All four sires stand or stood at Airdrie.

Memories Prevail is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Sol Principe Gris (Summer Front), a yearling filly by American Freedom and was covered by Cairo Prince in 2021.

Saturday, Keeneland
TOYOTA BLUE GRASS S.-GI, $1,000,000, Keeneland, 4-9, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.35, gd.
1–ZANDON, 123, c, 3, by Upstart
                1st Dam: Memories Prevail, by Creative Cause
                2nd Dam: Incarnate Memories, by Indian Charlie
                3rd Dam: Witness Post, by Gone West
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown; B-Brereton C
Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $573,500. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-1-1, $713,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Smile Happy, 123, c, 3, Runhappy–Pleasant Smile, by
Pleasant Tap. 'TDN Rising Star' 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
   ($175,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $185,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Lucky
Seven Stable (Mackin); B-Moreau Bloodstock Int'l Inc & White
Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek. $185,000.
3--Emmanuel, 123, c, 3, More Than Ready–Hard Cloth, by Hard
Spun. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1
   BLACK TYPE. ($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'
O-WinStar Farm LLC & Siena Farm LLC; B-Helen K Groves
Revocable Trust (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $92,500.
Margins: 2HF, 3 3/4, HF. Odds: 2.10, 1.90, 5.50.
Also Ran: Golden Glider, Trademark, Rattle N Roll, Ethereal Road, Commandperformance, Blackadder, Volcanic, Fenwick. Scratched: Grantham. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Speaker’s Corner Dominates Carter

Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) took his 2022 record to a perfect three-for-three with a sensational victory in the GI Carter H. on a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct.

Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism, the Godolphin homebred was quickest away from the outside stall, but was quickly joined on the front end by a trio of rivals to his inside. Speaker's Corner spurted away to gain a clear lead after the first quarter went up in :23.17 with Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) tracking from second to his inside.

That foe backed up a bit as Speaker's Corner registered a :46.11 half-mile and Green Light Go (Hard Spun) ranged up to present a new challenge on the outside. That threat was quite brief however as Speaker's Corner shrugged off his competitors with ease at the top of the stretch, cruising home with ease under a hand ride from Junior Alvarado to win for fun. It was 4 1/2 lengths back to Reinvestment Risk in second and GISW Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) was third.

“We thought he was talented as a 2-year-old,” said winning trainer Bill Mott. “He had some little issues that we had to give him time for and then we had to give him more time than what we wanted to, but right now it looks like it's turned out well. That was a prime target [winning a Grade I]. That was the goal.”

On targeting the GI Met Mile June 11, “We've got to put that on the list of things. That would be a prime target. We've squeezed him pretty good the way it is. We've come back five weeks, four weeks, so he's had his races fairly close together already.”

“He is a horse who we have always been very high on,” Alvarado said “We figured out what he wants to do. He's a very good miler. Today, we had a great trip, and he was there the whole way around. He was very much the best horse. He took the lead around the half-mile pole and after that, he was just doing his thing. He ran them off their feet early. He was travelling comfortably and was faster than the other horses. He gave me the same kick at seven-eighths as a mile. He's on his 'A' game right now. He'll be a tough horse this year.”

Breaking his maiden at second asking in October of 2020, Speaker's Corner was not seen again until August of 2021 when he romped in a Saratoga allowance. Off the board next out when extended to nine panels for the GI Pennsylvania Derby, he rebounded with a 6 3/4-length optional claimer victory going a sixteenth shorter at Belmont in October, good for a 109 Beyer Speed Figure. Setting the pace in Aqueduct's Discover S. Nov. 27, the homebred set the early pace, but was run down late, finishing second. Speaker's Corner kicked off this term with a front-running score in Gulfstream's one-mile GIII Fred Hooper S. Jan. 29 and led every step of the way for a decisive victory in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile last out Mar. 5.

Pedigree Notes:

Speaker's Corner has Godolphin pedigree top and bottom being by their stallion Street Sense and out of a daughter of their late Bernardini. He makes 12 Grade I winners for Street Sense and is also one of 37 graded winners and 85 black-type scorers for the Darley sire. Speaker's Corner is the 14th Grade I winner for Bernardini as a broodmare sire and one of 36 graded victors and 65 black-type achievers out of his daughters. The Street Sense/Bernardini cross has been successful for Godolphin in the past as it is the same breeding as their MGISW and new sire Maxfield.

Godolphin purchased the winner's second dam, MGISW Round Pond (Awesome Again), for $5.75 million at the 2007 FTKNOV sale. Speaker's Corner is the first foal out of her unraced daughter Tyburn Brook, who has since produced the 3-year-old colt Town Branch (Street Sense), a juvenile colt by Maclean's Music and a yearling colt by Nyquist. She was not bred back for 2022 after having that May 9 foal. Round Pond is also the dam of G1SW Long River (A.P. Indy) and GSP Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire}).

Saturday, Aqueduct
CARTER H.-GI, $300,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.34, ft.
1–SPEAKER'S CORNER, 124, c, 4, by Street Sense
                1st Dam: Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Round Pond, by Awesome Again
                3rd Dam: Gift of Dance, by Trempolino
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin, LLC; T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $165,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 9-6-1-1, $572,130. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Reinvestment Risk, 117, c, 4, Upstart–Ridingwiththedevil, by Candy Ride (Arg). 'TDN RISING STAR'. ($140,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL; $280,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
3–Mind Control, 123, h, 6, Stay Thirsty–Feel That Fire, by Lightnin N Thunder. O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) and Madaket Stables, LLC; B-Red Oak Stable (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 2HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.75, 6.80, 4.30.
Also Ran: Green Light Go, Drafted, Bank On Shea, First Captain. Scratched: War Tocsin.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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