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Queen Goddess Gate To Wire In American Oaks

Queen Goddess was trying dirt for the first time, but looked right at home with an easy wire-to-wire victory in the GII American Oaks–which was automatically downgraded after it came off the turf Sunday at Santa Anita. Kicked straight into the lead by Juan Hernandez, Queen Goddess assumed command after the opening furlong and cut out the running while racing a bit off the inside turning down the backstretch. Moving comfortably through a half in :47.62, the dark bay filly lobbed them along comfortably as she began to work clear into the final three-eighths of a mile. Stablemate Nicest tried to make a race of it in upper stretch, but Queen Goddess just kept on finding to lead home a one-two finish for trainer Michael McCarthy.

“She showed me a lot today,” Hernandez said. “She broke really sharp. She came to run today because out of the gate, I felt that she was trying to run to get the lead and she got comfortable there and [the other horses] let me go. She held on to the lead pretty good. Around the quarter pole when she felt the other filly–I actually felt her too, and in listening to the crowd, I could tell the other filly was coming–so we started working really hard and she just kept going, she never stopped. She's a really nice filly.”

Of his one-two finish, McCarthy said, “I was extremely disappointed when I heard the race was coming off the turf. All four owners decided to give it a shot on the dirt and I can't thank them enough. We'll see what's next for both these horses.”

Queen Goddess graduated over the Del Mar lawn in August and added an optional claimer at the seaside oval Sept. 4. She was well beaten while trying graded company for the first time when fifth over a yielding Keeneland course in the Oct. 16 GI Queen Elizabeth II Cup. She was most recently third in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Del Mar Nov. 25.

Pedigree Notes:

Yeguada Centurion purchased Royal Story, in foal to Mendelssohn, for $125,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. Her Mendelssohn filly sold for €235,000 at this year's Arqana August sale. The winner's third dam, Just Reward (Deputy Minister), a daughter of Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold), produced Grade I winner Persistently (Smoke Glacken), as well as the dam of graded winner Stays in Vegas (City Zip).

Queen Goddess is the 38th graded winner for her late sire, Empire Maker, whose 2021 graded winners include GIII Bob Hope S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Messier, GIII Los Alamitos Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Classier and G3 UAE Oaks winner Mnasek.

Sunday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN OAKS-GII*, $302,500, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4m (off turf), 2:04.72, ft.
1–QUEEN GODDESS, 124, f, 3, by Empire Maker
1st Dam: Royal Story (SP), by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Bauble, by Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Just Reward, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($285,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Tolo Thoroughbreds Inc; B-Tolo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Michael W McCarthy; J-Juan J Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $303,080. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nicest (Ire), 124, f, 3, American Pharoah–Chicquita (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Michael W McCarthy. $60,000.
3–Fluffy Socks, 124, f, 3, Slumber (GB)–Breakfast Time, by Kitten's Joy. O/B-Head of Plains Partners LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown. $36,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3 1/4, 3. Odds: 14.60, 7.10, 6.60.
Also Ran: Ivy League, Single Soul (GB), Going Global (Ire), Closing Remarks, Charges Dropped, Burgoo Alley (Ire), Core Values. Scratched: Eddie's New Dream. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
*Automatically downgraded when race moved from the turf.

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Flightline Imperious In Runhappy Malibu Romp

Flightline (Tapit), who had given hints of greatness while opening his career with two supremely easy victories, officially arrived with an eye-popping victory in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita Sunday.

For Bill Farish of co-owner Woodford Racing, the Malibu result confirmed the faith his team has had in the colt all along.

“We hoped to win this, but to do this against this kind of field, this was the real class test for him and I think he answered it the way we thought he would,” Farish said.

Off a touch slowly, the bay recovered and clicked off an opening quarter in :22.01 and a half in :44.48 while under an easy hold. Asked to lengthen once heads were turned for home, Flightline continued to widen on the front end without being asked a single question by Flavien Prat and coasted under the line 11 1/2 lengths clear of Baby Yoda (Prospective). The final time, over what was a dull strip during Sunday's program, was a spectacular 1:21.37, better than three seconds faster than the time recorded by Kalypso (Brody's Cause) in the GI La Brea S. a couple of races prior.

“I was in cruise control the whole race, galloping freely,” Prat said. “He was quite impressive. I wanted to get a good position and get myself into the race. My idea was to get out there running and see what happened. He has been brilliant so far. He really has been quite amazing.”

A $1-million graduate of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, Flightline earned no-doubt 'TDN Rising Star'-dom with a 13 1/4-length romp on his local debut Apr. 24. Gone for some 4 1/2 months thereafter, Flightline resumed with a 12 3/4-length success in a first-level Del Mar allowance Sept. 5, prompting questions on whether a Breeders' Cup appearance might be in the offing. After some deliberation, connections demurred, opting to train up to Sunday's race.

“I've been stressing the last 20, 30 or 40 days getting ready for today,” trainer John Sadler admitted. “There is a lot of pressure on you, but it is the pressure you want. It's like the high school coach for LeBron. You know you have something special and he is much the best. This horse is there. You just don't want to screw it up.”

As for where his budding superstar might appear next, Sadler said, “The next race is up to the horse. We have to be true to the horse. We will chart the course from there. This horse is so brilliant. This is not an ordinary horse, this is a very special horse. We want to do right by the horse and all other things will fall into place.”

Pedigree Notes:

Feathered, who was second in the 2015 GI American Oaks, has a yearling full-brother to Flightline who RNA'd for $390,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, and a weanling half-brother by Curlin. Her 2-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile was exported to Russia after selling for $100,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. Feathered, who was purchased by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm for $2.35 million at the 2016 Keeneland November sale, was bred to Into Mischief this year. Flightline is the 95 graded winner for Tapit and the first out of an Indian Charlie mare.

Sunday, Santa Anita Park
RUNHAPPY MALIBU S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.37, ft.
1–FLIGHTLINE, 120, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Feathered (GSW & MGISP, $577,474),
                                by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Receipt, by Dynaformer
                3rd Dam: Finder's Fee, by Storm Cat
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
   WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,000,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Hronis
Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West
Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing, LLC; B-Summer
Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-John W. Sadler; J-Flavien Prat.
$180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $259,800. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Baby Yoda, 120, g, 3, Prospective–More Than Speed, by
More Than Ready. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Pantofel Stable, LLC,
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber & Jerold L. Zaro; B-Kathleen
Amaya & Alexandro & Raffaele Centofanti (FL); T-William I.
Mott. $60,000.
3–Stilleto Boy, 120, g, 3, Shackleford–Rosie's Ransom, by
Marquetry. ($420,000 3yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Steve Moger;
B-John Kerber & Iveta Kerber (KY); T-Ed Moger, Jr. $36,000.
Margins: 11HF, 1, 6 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 16.10, 19.10.
Also Ran: Triple Tap, Timeless Bounty, Team Merchants, Dr. Schivel.
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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Not This Time Filly Remains Undefeated in Untapable S.

A four-length winner at Indiana Grand Sept. 27, North County added a Keeneland allowance in a sloppy off-turfer Oct. 30. Second choice Sunday afternoon at 7-2, the Shadow Pond Stable-bred rated in a three-deep third into the first turn in the wake of a dawdling pace. The tempo quickened as noses pointed toward home and North County was shaken up leaving the bend. It took most of the stretch, but she clawed past Fannie and Freddie in the final few jumps to remain undefeated and collect a first black-type rosette.
She has a weanling filly by Sharp Azteca, while her Listed Bowerie S.-winning dam went to Spun to Run for 2022. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

UNTAPABLE S., $97,000, Fair Grounds, 12-26, 2yo, f, 1m 70y, 1:43.17, ft.
1–NORTH COUNTY, 122, f, 2, by Not This Time
                1st Dam: Northern Netti (SW, $146,212), by City Zip
                2nd Dam: Run With Netti, by Star Gallant
                3rd Dam: Run With Style, by Run Dusty Run
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. ($45,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; €121,800 2yo
'21 ARQDEA). O-Rebecca Hillen, Stonecrest Farm & Bruno
De Julio; B-Shadow Pond Stable (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh;
J-Adam Beschizza. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0,
$132,000.
2–Fannie and Freddie, 122, f, 2, Malibu Moon–Connie and
Michael, by Roman Ruler. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($150,000 Ylg '20
KEESEP). O-Columbine Stable LLC.; B-Betz/J.Betz/Burns/
Camaquiki/C.Kidder/et al (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. $20,000.
3–Cocktail Moments, 122, f, 2, Uncle Mo–River Maid, by
Where's the Ring. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Wlg '19
KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $245,000 RNA 2yo '21
OBSMAR). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Mark Stansell (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $10,000.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 3.90, 8.00, 0.60.
Also Ran: Shotgun Hottie, Feeling Happy, California Angel. Scratched: Alittleloveandluck, Implosion.

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Stylish Win for Kalypso in La Brea

David A Bernsen, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Rockingham Ranch and Chad Littlefield's Kalypso (Brody's Cause) became her sire's first Grade I winner with a stylish victory in the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Sunday. The 8-1 shot, making her first start since April, stalked the pace of Livingmybestlife (The Big Beast) through fractions of :22.11 and :44.92. Longshot Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) collared the pacesetter as they approached the stretch, but her advantage was short-lived as Kalypso ranged up three wide at the top of the lane and strode confidently to the lead before powering clear to win by 4 3/4 lengths. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:24.78.

The La Brea was the fourth win on the holiday card for jockey John Velazquez, who is wintering in California for the first time this year.

“Bob [Baffert] and I talked about it. We thought there was a lot of speed in the race and we knew she had speed, but I didn't want to be in a duel and not have anything to finish with,” Velazquez said. “I told Bob that if she has more speed, then I'm just going to let her go, let her be in the lead. I wanted to give her a chance the first part of the race and everything was really easy until I got to the three-eighths pole. I kind of got on her a little bit and she bit into the bridle, so I said, 'Alright, we're going good.' At the quarter pole, I pulled her to the clear and from then on, it was pretty easy.”

Kalypso won the GII Santa Ynez S. over the same track and distance of the La Brea in January. She was second in the GIII Las Virgenes S. and third in the GIII Santa Ysabel before going to the sidelines after bleeding and being eased in the Apr. 30 GII Eight Belles S.

“We turned her out after that Churchill Downs race,” Baffert said. “We brought her back and she was fresh. Johnny V. got her to relax. She has a tendency to go too fast. She was really relaxed today and she was one happy filly. Grade I's are hard to come by.”

The Baffert-trained Private Mission (Into Mischief) never seemed to get untracked while finishing sixth as the 3-5 favorite.

“[Private Mission] didn't run good,” Baffert said. “She was not running at all. That's not her.”

Pedigree Notes:

Kalypso is one of two graded winners to date for Brody's Cause. The Spendthrift stallion has also been represented by last year's GIII Iroquois S. winner Sittin on Go, as well as graded placed Smiley Sobotka and Girther.

Malibu Cove, a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Prospective, has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Hit It a Bomb. She produced a colt by Mor Spirit in 2020 (who sold for $200,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton July sale) and a colt by Jimmy Creed in 2021. She was bred back to Authentic this year.

Sunday, Santa Anita
LA BREA S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.78, ft.
1–KALYPSO, 122, f, 3, by Brody's Cause
1st Dam: Malibu Cove, by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Spirited Away, by Awesome Again
3rd Dam: Cape North, by Capote
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($240,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL). O-David A Bernsen, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Rockingham Ranch & Chad Littlefield; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-3-2, $480,600. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Brilliant Cut, 120, f, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Polish a Diamond, by The Factor
2nd Dam: Tap Your Feet, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Exotic Moves, by Miswaki
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $160,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Boom Racing, ERJ Racing, LLC, Dave Kenney & William J Strauss; B-McCauley Farm & Speightstown Syndicate (KY); T-Doug F O'Neill. $60,000.
3–Livingmybestlife, 120, f, 3, by The Big Beast
1st Dam: Wall Street Lady, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Epistle, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Chosen Lady, by Secretariat
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Alex & JoAnn Lieblong (FL); T-John W Sadler. $36,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 8.80, 20.80, 5.30.
Also Ran: Eddie's New Dream, Canoodling, Private Mission, Missy P. 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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