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Tenacious Tezzaray Takes Jimmy Durante

Tezzaray (GB) turned an eventful trip into a nose win in Del Mar's GIII Jimmy Durante S., staying undefeated in two U.S. starts since moving stateside this fall. Promptly bumped leaving the gate, the tidy chestnut was undeterred, angling over to the rail to sit midpack. Comfortable stalking in fourth through early fractions of :23.41 and :48.52, she was third going into the turn before suddenly checking off the heels of Awake At Midnyte. Tezzaray took back, angled out and around that rival, then split horses and commenced a tenacious drive to the wire, wearing down Awake At Midnyte to win the bob by a scant nose.

“I had a good trip,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., who also won the Jimmy Durante last year on Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}). “I was in a little tight at the three-eighths pole, but that wasn't anything big. She's a very European filly; she likes to run covered up. When it came time to run–boom–she went.”

Trainer Peter Miller, who was taking his first Jimmy Durante, said, “I had confidence in her. She's one of those fillies that are very classy and does everything right. I thought we won, then I thought we didn't, but luckily we got the head bob.”

Tezzaray (GB) debuted with a pair of thirds in maiden races in her native England for Karl Burke in August before shipping stateside to Miller's barn. Her inaugural race on U.S. soil was the Thursday before Breeders' Cup over this course and distance, where she was bumped at the start but settled kindly before angling out and mowing down the competition from midpack.

Pedigree Notes:

The 20th black-type winner for Bated Breath (GB), who stands at Banstead Manor Stud in England, Tezzaray also marks her sire's 14th graded winner. She is the third of his offspring to shine over Del Mar's course as his Viadera (GB) won the 2020 GI Matriarch S. and Jasikan (Ire) was a 2019 SW & GSP over the La Jolla lawn.

Tezzaray is the first black-type winner for her dam, Amber Queen (Ire), whose most recent foal is a yearling filly by Hot Streak (Ire) that sold at the 2020 Tattersalls December sale to G. & E. Arrowsmith for 2,000gns. Amber Queen is a half to G1SW Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World). Her sire, English champion Cadeaux Genereux (GB), has 69 stakes winners out of his daughters with Tezzaray's win.

Saturday, Del Mar
JIMMY DURANTE S.-GIII, $103,000, Del Mar, 11-27, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:37.56, fm.
1–TEZZARAY (GB), 120, f, 2, by Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Amber Queen (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
2nd Dam: Our Queen of Kings (GB), by Arazi
3rd Dam: Lady Blackfoot (Ire), by Prince Tenderfoot
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (17,000gns
Wlg '19 TATFOA; £22,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Slam Dunk
Racing & Roger H. Newman; B-Lady Richard Wellesley (GB);
T-Peter Miller; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $60,000. Lifetime Record:
4-2-0-2, $104,997. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Awake At Midnyte, 120, f, 2, Nyquist–Midnight Union, by
Union Rags. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($85,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT;
$320,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Forty
Oaks (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $20,000.
3–Toeris, 120, f, 2, Tourist–Sutil (Brz), by Redattore (Brz).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Team Valor
International & Gary Barber (KY); T-Dan Blacker. $12,000.
Margins: NO, HF, HD. Odds: 3.10, 7.80, 45.70.
Also Ran: Helens Well (Ire), Liam's Dove, Travel Smart, Virulente (Fr), Miss Bellatrix, Half Past Twelve, Sparkle Blue, Reem Zabeel (Ire).
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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‘Meaux’ Brilliance at Del Mar

Twenty-four hours after producing Say the Word (More Than Ready) from last to scoop the GII Hollywood Turf Cup, jockey Kent Desormeaux rode a perfect race from the front to upset Saturday's GI Hollywood Derby with the appropriately named Beyond Brilliant (Twirling Candy) for Lee Searing's C R K Stable and trainer John Shirreffs. Midwest shipper Santin (Distorted Humor) was given a peach of a ride from the 14 hole by Umberto Rispoli and was getting to the winner late, while Cathkin Peak (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) checked in third.

Desormeaux has found a purple patch of form over the last week or so at the seaside oval, winning with eight of his mounts since Nov. 20, a streak that also included the $100,000 Cary Grant S. aboard longshot Principe Carlo (Coil) Nov. 21 and Friday's Turf Cup. A three-time Kentucky Derby winner, the Hall of Famer was winning his first Hollywood Derby Saturday.

Ridden positively from gate two, Beyond Brilliant had some token early pressure from Team Merchants (Nyquist), but was clearly in front with a circuit to travel and went through the opening couple of furlongs in :23.96. Desormeaux got Beyond Brilliant to switch off beautifully in the middle furlongs–the half was up in :49.23 and three-quarters in 1:13.62–and began to feel for his mount in earnest with 2 1/2 furlongs to travel. Asked to kick off the home corner, Beyond Brilliant pinched a bit of a break under energetic handling and covered his final eighth of a mile in :11.88 to score narrowly. Santin was able to sit a three-wide trip with cover for the opening seven furlongs, followed the move of the well-bet Subconscious (Tapit) while going better than that one into the lane and got to within a neck of the winner on the line. Cathkin Park parlayed an inside trip into a board placing.

A seven-length maiden winner going a mile on dirt at Santa Anita June 13, Beyond Brilliant was well-beaten in two subsequent tries on the main track, but–with Desormeaux in the irons for the first time–went gate to wire over this turf course Sept. 6. He was unable to make the lead from the 10 hole in the GII Twilight Derby in Arcadia Oct. 31, but fought on gamely to round out the triple beneath Subconscious and Cathkin Peak.

“All credit for this win goes to the barn,” Desormeaux said. “They've done wonders with this horse over the past month. When I rode him last time, he was a handful to control. Today he was easy. He was dry as a bone in the paddock and he was happy out on the racetrack. His mind was right. And he showed he can sprint that last part.”

Pedigree Notes:

Beyond Brilliant is the 33rd stakes winner, 13th graded winner and seventh Grade I winner, two of which have accomplished that feat on the grass.

The winner, whose half-brother Ainoa (Blame) was scheduled to compete in an allowance race on dirt at Hanshin Sunday afternoon (Japan time), is out of a winning half-sister to MGSW & GISP Summer Applause (Harlan's Holiday) and MSP Big Easy (Gulch). His third dam was responsible for the outstanding Chicago-based handicap horse of the late 1990s Recoup the Cash (Copelan). Barren to City of Light for 2020, Summer On the Lawn produced a Mitole filly this past February and was most recently covered by More Than Ready.

Saturday, Del Mar
HOLLYWOOD DERBY-GI, $404,500, Del Mar, 11-27, 3yo,
1 1/8mT, 1:48.84, fm.
1–BEYOND BRILLIANT, 122, c, 3, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Summer On the Lawn, by First Defence
2nd Dam: Summer Exhibition, by Royal Academy
3rd Dam: Dewan's Flag, by Dewan
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN,
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($50,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo
'20 EASMAY). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III, John
Fielding & Robert L. Tribbett (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs;
J-Kent J. Desormeaux. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-2,
$381,280. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. **Triple Plus**
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Santin, 122, c, 3, Distorted Humor–Sentiero Italia, by
Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE,
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (KY);
T-Brendan P. Walsh. $80,000.
3–Cathkin Peak (Ire), 122, g, 3, Alhebayeb (Ire)–Drumcliffe
Dancer (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
(€0 RNA Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €17,000 Ylg '19 GOFSPT). O-CYBT,
Sterling Stables, LLC & Michael Nentwig; B-G. Kinch (IRE);
T-Philip D'Amato. $48,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 10.90, 17.70, 7.10.
Also Ran: Public Sector (GB), Subconscious, Zoffarelli (Ire), Flashiest, Sifting Sands (GB), Hudson Ridge, Camp Hope, It Can Be Done, Dicey Mo Chara (GB), Team Merchants, In Effect. Scratched: Airman.
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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Violence Filly Takes Fern Creek

Marissa's Lady took her record to two-for-two with her first black-type score at Churchill Saturday night. Rallying to a narrow score in her career bow over this strip Oct. 31, she was given a 3-1 chance in this event. Stalking from a second through a snappy first quarter in :22.18, the gray charged up to take control turning for home. Matareya confronted her on the fence, but Marissa's Lady found more late, rolling clear to score.

Marissa's Lady is the 34th black-type winner for her sire Violence. Her dam produced a Nyquist filly named Miss Quest in 2020 and an Idiot Proof colt named Harold's Joy in 2021. She was bred back to Idiot Proof. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

FERN CREEK S., $193,500, Churchill Downs, 11-27, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.85, ft.
1–MARISSA'S LADY, 122, f, 2, by Violence
                1st Dam: Marissa's Joy, by Cee's Tizzy
                2nd Dam: Jenna's Joy, by Half Term
                3rd Dam: Theresa's Pleasure, by Greenwood Star (GB)
   1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Boone Family Trust and Tillema
Family Trust; B-Harold & Pamela Tillema & Ron Boone Family
Trust (KY); T-William E. Morey; J-Rafael Bejarano. $121,140.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $190,600. *1/2 to Richard's Boy
(Idiot Proof), MSW & GISP, $1,011,872.
2–Matareya, 122, f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Innovative Idea, by
Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H.
Cox. $39,400.
3–Sweet Dani Girl, 122, f, 2, Jess's Dream–My Sweet Dani Girl,
by Scat Daddy. O-J & J Stables, LLC and Vaccarezza, Nicholas;
B-J&J Stables, LLC & Carlo Vaccarezza (FL); T-Carlo Vaccarezza.
$14,700.
Margins: 1, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.00, 1.70, 2.10.
Also Ran: Bali Del Sol, Knowing Glance, Verylittlecents, Laura's Charm. Scratched: Golden Sights.

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Smiles, Everyone…Smiles

Smile Happy (Runhappy) built on a monster 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut victory on closing day at Keeneland Oct. 29 with an equally eye-catching score in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Saturday at Churchill Downs, establishing himself as one of the early favorites for the GI Kentucky Derby about six months down the road.

Welcome to Fantasy Island, Lucky Seven Stable.

A generous 24-5 third favorite despite the domination of that towering 5 1/2-length graduation, Smile Happy landed in about fifth spot, just ahead of centerfield, as Street Sense S. hero Howling Time (Not This Time) found his way to the front and galloped them along at a sensible pace. Guided out into the clear to punch the breeze four wide and covering favored Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) down the backstretch, Smile Happy traveled ominously well within the grasp of Corey Lanerie and was poised to pounce despite a wide passage around the second turn. Advancing on his own courage as the field neared the entrance to the stretch, Smile Happy circled up four deep, hit the front a furlong and a half from home under a left-handed stick and stayed on powerfully for the win. White Abbario (Race Day) was a game, but no-menace third.

“You'd think this horse ran 10 times already with how mature he acts,” Lanerie said. “He's very rateable and easy to ride. I felt very confident with him at the half-mile pole. I could tell I had a lot of horse beneath me. I got him into the right spot and he really kicked clear in the stretch. He's got a bright future.”

Smile Happy capped a four-timer on the afternoon for trainer Ken McPeek, who said that Smile Happy would follow the Florida route back to Churchill next spring.

“We'll probably take it easy with him in December and January and start deciding his future in February.” said McPeek, who also won the 2001 Kentucky Jockey Club with Repent (Louis Quatorze) and was forced to scratch morning-line favorite Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) Saturday morning. “At this stage we have a lot of options on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. It's a good problem to have.”

Pedigree Notes:

Smile Happy is the sixth black-type winner and second graded winner for the resurgent Runhappy, who also has GSW and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint third and fellow 'Rising Star' Following Sea flying the flag. The latter heads to next weekend's GI Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct.

One of 49 winners for his sire this year, Smile Happy is out of a half-sister to SW Miracle Mets (Metfield) and is his dam's most recent produce.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB S.-GII, $400,000, Churchill Downs, 11-27, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.94, ft.
1–SMILE HAPPY, 122, c, 2, by Runhappy
1st Dam: Pleasant Smile, by Pleasant Tap
2nd Dam: Relax and Smile, by Relaunch
3rd Dam: Bunch of Smiles, by Graustark
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED
STAKES WIN. ($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
McPeek; J-Corey J. Lanerie. $234,410. Lifetime Record:
2-2-0-0, $284,810. Werk Nick Rating: First SW on this cross.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Classic Causeway, 122, c, 2, Giant's Causeway–Private
World, by Thunder Gulch. O-Kentucky West Racing LLC &
Clarke M. Cooper; B-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M.
Cooper Family Living Trust (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $76,100.
3–White Abarrio, 122, c, 2, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by
Into Mischief. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-C2
Racing Stable LLC & La Milagrosa Stable, LLC; B-Spendthrift
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $38,050.
Margins: 3 1/4, 2 3/4, HF. Odds: 4.80, 1.40, 6.70.
Also Ran: Ben Diesel, Howling Time, Vivar, Call Me Midnight, Red Knobs, Guntown, Texas Red Hot, Ready Pursuit. Scratched: Mannix (Ire), Rich Strike, Tiz the Bomb.
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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