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Classic Empire’s Morello Remains Unbeaten in Gotham

The unbeaten Morello (Classic Empire) pressed and pounced his way to a dazzling 4 1/2-length victory in Saturday's one-turn mile GIII Gotham S. at the Big A.

Drawn wide in post nine, the even-money favorite Morello, a last out five-length winner of the local Jimmy Winkfield S. Feb. 6, was bumped hard at the start. Seemingly undeterred, he raced under a nice hold while a stalking second behind fellow two-for-two Dean's List (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :23.47. He cruised up alongside the pacesetter approaching the quarter pole and set sail for the wire from there to win going away over that rival while earning 50 qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby. California invader Rockefeller (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of this track's GIII Nashua S. Nov. 7 and a runner-up in the GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita Jan. 1, was last of 10 after hitting the gate and stumbling at the start.

Morello was previously a sharp debut winner over this course Nov. 27.

“He got banged around coming out of there and [Rockefeller] came over on top of him, but he just overcomes it like always,” said Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “He just gets out and runs easy. He hasn't been hit by the stick yet.”

On being able to stretch out to two turns, Sheets added, “I don't see why not. He definitely acts like it.”

Winning co-owner Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds added, “Galloping past the wire, the way he did it, we're starting to think about the first Saturday in May at this point. I'll let Toby and Steve make that decision but this group–you saw us celebrating–we're thinking about that.”

He continued, “We're dreaming now. This is a game changer, today. We'll book some hotels and cancel them if we have to. We think we might have a Derby horse here.”

Pedigree Notes:

Morello, the third-highest Classic Empire 2-year-old sold at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale when he brought $250,000 after working a furlong in :10 1/5, is out of a mare who once RNA'd for $1,500. Stop the Wedding eventually sold in 2020 at Keeneland January for $11,000 to Robert Tillyer–co-breeder of Morello–while in foal to Cairo Prince. Her offspring at the sales have been all over the place, with some RNA'ing for the low four figures, and another bringing $525,000 as a juvenile. Morello is her lone stakes winner to date. She's got two fillies in the pipeline–a 2-year-old by Cairo Prince and a yearling by Paynter–and was bred back to Classic Empire for 2022. Stop the Wedding is a half-sister to the dam of MGISP Social Inclusion, who is by Pioneerof the Nile, Classic Empire's sire.

Coolmore America stallion and sophomore sire Classic Empire gets his first graded winner with Morello's Gotham and he almost made it a double, with his Classy Edition finishing second in the GII Davona Dale S. earlier Saturday. Overall, the former champion 2-year-old has three black-type winners and another five stakes performers. Interestingly, both Morello and Classy Edition are out of A.P. Indy-line mares, with Morello's damsire Congrats the broodmare sire of an additional 15 stakes winners, including 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil).

GOTHAM S.-GIII, $300,000, Aqueduct, 3-5, 3yo, 1m, 1:39.28, ft.
1–MORELLO, 120, c, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Stop the Wedding, by Congrats
2nd Dam: Wedding Jitters, by Runaway Groom
3rd Dam: Classy Tricks, by Hold Your Tricks
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($140,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $250,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). O-Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Taylor, Craig and Diamond T Racing; B-Robert B. Tillyer & Dr. Chet Blackey (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Jose Lezcano. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $264,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dean's List, 118, c, 3, Speightstown–Mildly Offensive, by Sharp Humor. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($220,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $60,000.
3–Golden Code, 118, c, 3, Honor Code–Jb's Golden Regret, by Banker's Gold. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($95,000 Wlg '19 FTKNOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Barry R. Ostrager (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1, HD. Odds: 1.00, 5.50, 27.50.
Also Ran: Life Is Great, Glider, Runninsonofagun, Fromanothamutha, Noneedtoworry, Bold Journey, Rockefeller.
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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Firing Line Filly First in Busher

BUSHER INVITATIONAL S., $242,500, Aqueduct, 3-5, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:39.65, ft.
1–VENTI VALENTINE, 118, f, 3, by Firing Line
                1st Dam: Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Gayla, by Lord Gaylord
                3rd Dam: La Chela (Arg), by Utopico (Arg)
O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable & Parkland Thoroughbreds;
B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge
Abreu; J-Manuel Franco. $137,500. Lifetime Record:

4-3-1-0, $366,250. *1/2 to Espresso Shot (Mission Impazible),
MSW, $516,625.
2–Shotgun Hottie, 120, f, 3, Gun Runner–Re Entry, by Malibu
Moon. ($45,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Omar Aldabbagh & Jeff
Ganje; B-Vincent Colbert (KY); T-William E. Morey. $50,000.
3–Magic Circle, 120, f, 3, Kantharos–Magic Humor, by Distorted
Humor. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $110,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-J.W. Singer LLC; B-Manitou Farm, LLC (KY); T-Rudy R.
Rodriguez. $30,000.
Margins: 7, 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 5.30, 22.90, 4.80.
Also Ran: Radio Days, Sterling Silver. Scratched: Morning Matcha.

Venti Valentine stormed to an authoritative victory in the Busher S. at Aqueduct Saturday. The chestnut filly, sent off at 5-1, tracked the pace early, but was shuffled back in traffic down the backstretch. She ranged up three wide into the final bend and collared pacesetting Magic Circle in upper stretch before storming clear.
“I knew the pace wasn't going to be that fast,” said winning rider Manny Franco. “So I wanted to come out running. I saw Dylan [Davis aboard Radio Days] went with Kendrick [Carmouche aboard Magic Circle] and I was able to go around them, and after that I was comfortable where I was. I was in the middle in the stretch, so I was worried about somebody coming from the outside, but I didn't see anyone. She's a nice filly. She's improving every time she runs.”

Venti Valentine opened her career with a narrow victory over state-bred foes at Belmont last September and added a victory in the Oct. 30 Maid of the Mist S. before suffering the first loss of her career when a neck short of Nest (Curlin) when second in the Dec. 4 GII Demoiselle S.

“I was a little concerned about her because we missed two breezes with her,” admitted winning trainer Jorge Abreu. “She got sick on me after we breezed her the first time. She spiked a temperate of 102 and I didn't breeze her. She really came into the race with four breezes.

Abreu continued, “I knew this filly was going to run a good race. I'm not going to lie, I didn't know she was going to win that easy. She ran a really good race. She's been a classy horse since Day One. She's been showing that she has a lot of determination and a lot of talent. She showed it today.”

Venti Valentine is one of two stakes winners for Firing Line, who has also been represented by Bowman's Mill S. winner and GII Saratoga Special third-place finisher Nakatomi.

Glory Gold, who was purchased by Final Furlong Racing for $13,000 while carrying the winner at the 2018 Keeneland Noveber sale, produced a filly by Omaha Beach last year. The filly sold for $220,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. The mare was bred back to Authentic. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Dubawi’s In Italian Wins Honey Fox

Favored In Italian went wire-to-wire to give owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown their second graded victory of the afternoon in the GIII Honey Fox S. at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The chestnut filly rushed up to take the lead into the first turn. Allowed to set pedestrian splits, the favorite shrugged off a pair of challengers in upper stretch and skipped clear to the wire.

“It went perfect,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. “We didn't want to go head to head, but my filly outbroke all of them so I said, 'I'm gonna go.' From there, she just took me all the way. I didn't expect to be on the lead. It looked like there were a couple of horses coming out of sprint races, but when the gates opened, everything changed. She was on top, so I just said, 'Go ahead.'”

In Italian was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her front-running 3 1/2-length maiden score at Belmont last May before being sidelined by illness. She returned with a 4 1/4-length tally in a Jan. 12 allowance at Tampa Bay Downs last time out.

“We really liked this horse last year,” Brown said. “She was very impressive at Belmont and then she got a bad case of pneumonia. She had to be stopped on and rehabbed. I want to give Bruce Jackson credit down at Fair Hill. He rehabbed her and sent her back in good shape late in the year at Payson Park. She's back and picking up where she left off and should have a really good career.”

Pedigree Notes:

Florentina, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Gathering (Aus) (Tale of the Cat), has a 2-year-old filly by Kingman (GB). Her 3-year-old colt by that same sire, the unraced Spanish Empire (GB), sold to Tom Magnier for $1.8 million at the 2021 Magic Millions January sale. The mare was bred to Yes Yes Yes (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}) last year.

In Italian became the 146 worldwide graded winner for her sire, Dubawi.

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
HONEY FOX S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 3-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.16, fm.
1–IN ITALIAN (GB), 118, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Florentina (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $250,958), by    Redoute's Choice (Aus)
                2nd Dam: Celebria (Aus), by Peintre Celebre
                3rd Dam: Twyla (Aus), by Danehill
   'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
   WIN. (475,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Peter M. Brant;
B-Fairway Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz,
Jr. $87,420. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $157,220. Werk Nick
   Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wakanaka (Ire), 120, f, 4, Power (GB)–Storyline (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). (£3,500 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Team Valor
International and Barber, Gary; B-Mrs Jean Brennan (IRE);
T-William I. Mott. $28,200.
3–Navratilova, 123, f, 4, Medaglia d'Oro–Centre Court, by
Smart Strike. O/B-G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.; T-George R. Arnold. $14,100.

Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 2.70, 7.10, 26.40.
Also Ran: Sugar Fix, Jouster, Alms, Bipartisanship (GB), Gift List (GB), Lovely Luvy, Katama Moonlight, Quinoa Tifah.
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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Seven-Figure Gun Runner Colt an Obvious ‘Rising Star’

Taiba (Gun Runner–Needmore Flatter, by Flatter) emerged as the latest standout for trainer Bob Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables as he ran to a hefty price tag as well as plenty of wagering dollars to be named a 'TDN Rising Star'. A $140,000 FTKOCT yearling turned last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream second topper at $1.7 million thanks to a powerful :10 1/5 work, the overwhelming 1-2 favorite broke well, but had to settle for a pressing spot in between rivals early. Jockey John Velazquez tapped on the gas entering the bend and Taiba took a narrow lead at that point with stablemate Mauritius (Twirling Candy) also up joining the fray three deep. The Baffert runners looked to have the race all to themselves after a :45.69 half, but it quickly became a one-horse affair as Taiba leveled off and exploded with efficient strides to run up the score to 7 1/2 lengths. He stopped the clock in 1:09.97. Mauritius held second.

Owner Amr Zedan's relatively young racing operation has already campaigned the likes of fellow seven-figure juvenile buy turned 'Rising Star' and GISW Princess Noor (Not This Time), as well as ill-fated and DQ'd GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico).

Taiba becomes the fourth 'TDN Rising Star' for last year's standout freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg})–Gun Runner's two other 'Rising Stars' who are not last year's champion juvenile filly Echo Zulu are also out of mares by A.P. Indy-line stallions.

MSW dam Needmore Flattery (Flatter) 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.

2nd-Santa Anita, $68,000, Msw, 3-5, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.97, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.
TAIBA, c, 3, Gun Runner
               1st Dam: Needmore Flattery (MSW, $732,103), by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Kiosk, by Left Banker
                3rd Dam: Phone Switch, by Phone Trick
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Bruce C Ryan (KY); T-Bob Baffert. *$140,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $1,700,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR.

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