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All ‘Glory’ in the Matriarch

Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), purchased by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm for $925,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale, went wire-to-wire to earn her first Grade I victory and give trainer Chad Brown and jockey Jose Ortiz their second graded winner on the closing-day card at Del Mar in the GI Matriarch S. Sunday. Sent off the 8-5 second choice, the 5-year-old chestnut mare rushed up from her outside post to grab the lead into the first turn. She was unchallenged and running freely through fractions of :24.06 and :48.50, skipped further clear on the far turn and was unchallenged to the wire.

“I thought I'd have the lead and thought I was the only real speed in the race,” Ortiz, who also rode the Brown-trained Verbal (Flintshire {GB}) to victory in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. Sunday, said. “The horse inside [Princess Grace] has speed, but when she used it last time, she didn't finish. So I thought I'd be out front and it worked out just that way. We got away with some easy fractions and then she had lots for the finish.”

The victory was Brown's fourth in the eight runnings of the Matriarch conducted at Del Mar.

“Just go to the lead. That's what my boss told the jockey,” said Brown's assistant Jose Hernandez. “That was the plan. She's a really nice filly and she did it all. They all [Chad Brown's seven horses to race at Del Mar over the holiday weekend] go back to Kentucky on Tuesday and then to Florida.”

The consistent Regal Glory, who has been first or second in all but three of her 16 lifetime starts, won the GIII Lake George S. and GII Lake Placid S. over the Saratoga lawn in 2019 and added a graded victory in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. last September.

Purchased by Brant from the dispersal of the late Paul Pompa, Jr. at Keeneland in January, Regal Glory won the Apr. 11 Plenty o' Grace S. in her first start for her new owner. A troubled fourth in the June 5 GI Just a Game S., she returned to the winner's circle in the Aug. 8 De La Rose S. at Saratoga and she was coming off a runner-up effort behind stablemate Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the Oct. 9 GI First Lady S. at Keeneland.

Pedigree Notes:

Multiple graded stakes winner Mary's Follies is also the dam of graded stakes winner Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway) and Japanese Group 1 winner Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) The mare produced a colt by Connect in 2020 and, after aborting in 2021, was bred back to American Pharoah. She sold to BBA Ireland for $500,000 at Keeneland January this year. Her Connect yearling, purchased by Larry Best's OXO Equine for $185,000 in January, RNA'd for $425,000 at this year's Keeneland September sale.

Regal Glory is the fourth Grade I winner for GI Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, who has also been represented by G1 Australian Derby winner Angel of Truth (Aus), GI Jaipur S. winner Oleksandra (Aus) and last year's GI American Oaks winner Duopoly.

Sunday, Del Mar
MATRIARCH S.-GI, $400,500, Del Mar, 11-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.33, fm.
1–REGAL GLORY, 123, m, 5, by Animal Kingdom
1st Dam: Mary's Follies (MGSW, $338,889),
by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Catch the Queen, by Miswaki
3rd Dam: Wave to the Queen, by Wavering Monarch
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($925,000 5yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Peter M.
Brant; B-Paul P Pompa (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Jose L. Ortiz.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 16-9-4-0, $1,244,884. *1/2 to
Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway), MGSW, $535,682; and
Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), G1SW-Jpn, $1,928,283.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A++.
2–Zofelle (Ire), 123, m, 5, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Height of Elegance (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Brigid, by Irish River (Fr)
3rd Dam: Luv Luvin', by Raise a Native
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (27,000gns 3yo '19 TATJUL). O-Heider
Family Stables LLC; B-Fullbury & Minch Bloodstock (IRE);
T-Brendan P. Walsh. $80,000.
3–Princess Grace, 123, f, 4, by Karakontie (Jpn)
1st Dam: Masquerade (MSP, $233,873), by Silent Name (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Present Colors, by Prized
3rd Dam: Blue and Green, by Miswaki
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-John Moore & Susan Moore (KY);
T-Michael Stidham. $48,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1, NO. Odds: 1.60, 7.40, 1.50.
Also Ran: Viadera (GB), Fast Jet Court (Brz), Bodhicitta (GB).
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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God of Love First Graded Winner for Cupid

God of Love closed stoutly to give freshman sire Cupid (Tapit) his first graded victory in the GIII Grey S. at Woodbine Sunday. The chestnut colt broke from the outside and was caught five wide into the first turn while racing towards the back of the field. He had one horse beaten down the backstretch behind an opening quarter in :24.42 and a half in :49.58, but he began inching closer approaching the far turn. Caught wide once again turning for home, God of Love stormed into contention at the top of the lane and strode effortlessly to the lead in the final strides for an authoritative victory.

God of Love broke his maiden in the Cup and Saucer S. over the Woodbine lawn Oct. 10, but was mired in traffic before closing to finish fifth as the favorite over the Tapeta in the Coronation Futurity last time out Oct. 30.

Pedigree Notes:

No Wonder, also the dam of 2018 Clarendon S. winner Muskoka Wonder (Into Mischief), has a weanling filly by Where's the Ring and was bred back to Ami's Holiday. The mare is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Weemissfrankie (Sunriver) and to graded placed Stop Smiling (It's No Joke).

The late breeder William Graham purchased No Wonder, in foal to Into Mischief, for $53,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton February sale. In foal to Good Samaritan, No Wonder sold for $25,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

Winner of the 2017 GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Cupid is also the sire of two-time stakes winner The Sky Is Falling and graded placed Desert Dawn.

Sunday, Woodbine
GREY S.-GIII, C$174,800, Woodbine, 11-28, 2yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.20, ft.
1–GOD OF LOVE, 122, c, 2, by Cupid
1st Dam: No Wonder, by Three Wonders
2nd Dam: Starinthemeadow, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Lite a Star, by Our Michael
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($77,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $9,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber; B-William D. Graham
(ON); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Rafael Manuel Hernandez. C$108,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $208,993. *1/2 to Muskoka Wonder
(Into Mischief), SW, $111,436. **1st graded stakes winner for
freshman sire (by Tapit). Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ironstone, 121, c, 2, Mr Speaker–Casey's Dreamin', by
Unbridled's Song. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (C$7,000 Ylg '20
CANSEP). O-Tequesta Racing Inc. and Jupiter Leasing Co.;
B-Kingview Farms (ON); T-W. V. Armata. C$36,000.
3–On Thin Ice, 119, c, 2, More Than Ready–Frozen Treat, by
Dynaformer. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($140,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O/B-DJ Stable, LLC (KY);
T-Mark E. Casse. C$15,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, HD. Odds: 4.80, 5.05, 11.55.
Also Ran: Churchtown, Heat Merchant, Hicksy, Be Like Clint, International, Stowaway, Shamateur. Scratched: Speak Unity, The Minkster. 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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Gun Runner Breaks Freshman Progeny Earnings Mark

Three Chimneys' Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) set a new record for progeny earnings for a first-crop sire when his total moved past the $3.8-million mark Sunday. Coolmore's Uncle Mo held the previous record of $3,717,490, which he established in 2015. Prior to Uncle Mo, the first-crop progeny earnings record had been held by Gainesway's Tapit, who set the mark in 2008.

Gun Runner took over the record earnings figure when the Tom Amoss-trained Shotgun Hottie won a $92,000 maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Sunday, becoming the stallion's 22nd winner.

“Gun Runner's record start at stud is a crowning achievement for the farm and its philosophy,” said Three Chimneys' owner Goncalo Torrealba. “To surpass a record established by Uncle Mo, and Tapit previous to that, clearly compares Gun Runner favorably at this point in time with two of the most influential sires at stud today. He not only established a new progeny earnings record, but he is also the Leading Sire in America by percent Stakes Winner to runners among all sires, pretty astonishing. Three Chimneys' whole team is grateful to the breeders who continue to support him with great mares, and a special thanks to partner Ron Winchell. He has been fantastic. I am grateful for his continued commitment to breed his best mares and race their progeny. Trainer Steve Asmussen has created his legacy through Horse of the Year Gun Runner and his progeny. Thank you, Steve.”

From his first crop to race this year, Gun Runner has been represented by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and expected champion Echo Zulu, as well as GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite and graded winners Pappacap and Wicked Halo.

Echo Zulu, Gunite and Wicked Halo are all trained by Asmussen, who conditioned Gun Runner to a Horse of the Year title in 2017, and are owned or co-owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, which, along with Three Chimneys, campaigned the stallion to six Grade I victories.

Gun Runner will stand the 2022 breeding season at $125,000.

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Flintshire’s Verbal Makes Noise in DeMille

Verbal replicated his impressive debut victory when he came flying late to win the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar Sunday.

The bay colt was unhurried from his outside post and was well back as longshot pacesetters Groovy Huey (Dad Caps) and Get Back Goldie (Goldencents) ran away from the field through fractions of :22.04 and :46.10. Get Back Goldie took over entering the far turn, but the field was quickly closing in on the pacesetters. Verbal made rapid progress while four wide into the stretch and he closed relentlessly to get his nose on the line first.

“He won easy last time, but that was against maidens,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “He was running against winners today, much better horses. I knew there would be speed in the race so, even though I had the outside post, I was able to drop over and save some ground. He came running when it counted. The boss [trainer Chad Brown] knows how to spot a horse. He had it right today.”

Verbal came from well out of it to win his debut going one mile over the Belmont lawn and that victory gave connections the confidence to pre-enter the colt in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He failed to get into that race and was rerouted to the DeMille.

Pedigree Notes:

Verbal became the second group/graded winner for Flintshire (GB), who will stand the 2022 breeding season at Haras de Montaigu Farm in France after opening his stud career with five seasons at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky. The stallion, a Grade/Group 1 winner in the U.S., Hong Kong, and France for Juddmonte, has also sired French Group 3 winner Cheshire Academy (Fr) and stakes winner and multiple graded placed Runaway Rumour.

Endless Chat, whose first foal was 2020 GIII Holy Bull S. third-place finisher Toledo (Into Mischief), produced a colt by Arrogate in 2020 and a colt by Into Mischief in 2021. She was bred back to Kantharos. The mare is a half-sister to Group 1 placed Teletext (Empire Maker) and multiple graded placed Seismic Wave (Tapit). Toledo sold for $275,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale and was exported to Saudi Arabia.

Sunday, Del Mar
CECIL B. DEMILLE S.-GIII, $102,500, Del Mar, 11-28, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.16, fm.
1–VERBAL, 120, c, 2, by Flintshire (GB)
1st Dam: Endless Chat, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Conference Call (GB), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Phone West, by Gone West
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $109,500.
*1/2 to Toledo (Into Mischief), GSP, $109,563. Werk Nick
Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Barsabas, 120, g, 2, Tale of the Cat–Indy's Million, by
A.P. Indy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($22,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Christopher Drakos and Ryan
Hanson; B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Ryan Hanson. $20,000.
3–Cabo Spirit, 120, c, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Fancy Day (Ire), by
Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($145,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $575,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-Kretz Racing LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-George
Papaprodromou. $12,000.
Margins: HF, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 49.90, 8.80.
Also Ran: Lottery Pick, Optimising (Ire), Derecho Dandy, Khantaro d'Oro, Stotland, Get Back Goldie, Groovy Huey. Scratched: Il Capitano. 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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