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Consignor Herbener Jr. Passes Away Suddenly

Well-respected consignor Jim Herbener, Jr. died Sunday morning of an apparent heart attack. Herbener, who was in the midst of selling horses at the Keeneland September sale, died at his home in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was 69.

His death was confirmed by his long-time friend, John Williams.

Herbener was the consignor of seven yearlings in the sale, including an Arrogate filly who sold Sunday for $80,000. Williams said that he and Herbener's daughter Heather, will team up to sell the remainder of the Herbener horses left in the sale.

“He was my best friend,” his daughter said. “I traveled to every sale with him since I was a child. We were always together. This is such a shock.”

Among the horses Herbener sold in recent years is Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), who crossed the wire first in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. before being disqualified for interfering with another horse. Herbener sold the now 3-year-old star at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed sale.

Williams said he talked briefly with Herbener on Saturday at Keeneland and that his friend was in good spirits and seemed to be in good health. The two discussed having a drink together after the sale concluded.

“For 42 years we had a great friendship,” Williams said. “It was one of the great friendships of my life. He was the consummate horseman and an incredible human being. He was quiet. If the spotlight came his way, he would deflect it. He kept his nose down and kept doing what he did, like very few could do. I know that from personal experience over all these years. He was one of my dear, dear friends.”

Herbener was born in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and was born into a family of equestrians and began riding horses early on in his childhood. According to Williams, Herbener trained briefly and also had a stint as a steeplechase rider before settling in in Kentucky and setting up shop as a consignor.

“This was a marvelous man,” Williams said. “We had such a close bond and the common link was the horse. He and his wife Cathy enriched my life. They were incredible horse people from the old school.”

Along with his daughter Heather, survivors include wife Catherine, son-in-law Dr. Patrick Ford and grandchildren Reagan, Patrick, Vivian and Tucker.

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Godolphin Express Continues in Natalma

Godolphin's Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) became the first North American top-level winner for her superstar Banstead Manor-based stallion, overcoming an eventful start before storming home through the final furlong to prove much-the-best in the GI Natalma S. Sunday at Woodbine. With the victory, Wild Beauty earns herself a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar Nov. 5.

After sharing favoritism with Saratoga raider and chief market Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for the bulk of the wagering, Wild Beauty tightened into 7-5 favoritism, but looked to have it all to do early on, as she first hit the left side of the gate, then was pinballed around between Royal Engagement (Palace Malice) to her inside and Baksheesh (Summer Front) to her outside, relegating her to a clear last. Asked to improve her position by Frankie Dettori after the opening quarter mile, Wild Beauty found a midfield position passing the four-furlong pole and was put to a drive five-sixteenths of a mile from home. Swung out five or six wide into the long Woodbine straight, she gobbled up the ground to lead approaching the furlong marker and kicked home to score impressively. Pizza Bianca, the 3-1 second pick, sat a midfield trip and was stymied for a run with a furlong and a half to travel, then ran on gamely once clear to be second. Eminent Victor (Mr. Z) rallied from second-last into the lane and closed well for third in her first start for Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Louis Lazzinaro and trainer Chad Brown.

Wild Beauty followed the same path to Woodbine as did 2018 Natalma winner La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Whereas La Pelosa finished third in the Listed Star S. at Goodwood, Wild Beauty went one better in that July 22 test, chasing home hot favorite Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who subsequently cruised at long odds-on in Doncaster's G2 May Hill S. Sept. 9. Wild Beauty and La Pelosa both finished runner-up in the G3 Sweet Solera S. contested over a straight seven furlongs at Newmarket before making the trans-Atlantic journey.

Pedigree Notes:

Wild Beauty is the 19th worldwide Group 1/Grade I winner for Frankel, who has sired top-level winners now in eight countries (England, Japan, Australia, France, Ireland, UAE and Germany). She is the 25th G1/GISW out of a daughter of Cheveley Park's legendary Pivotal (GB), four of which are by Frankel (Cracksman {GB}, Hungry Heart {Aus}, Veracious {GB}).

A half-sister to 2019 G3 UAE Oaks third Swift Rose (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Wild Beauty is a maternal great-granddaughter of multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Cherokee rose, whose six winners from 10 to race include not only GSW and G1SP Bowman (Irish River {Fr}), but also the dam of Godolphin's outstanding MG1SW highweighted stayer Mastery (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) and G1SW Kirklees (Ire) (Jade Robbery). Tulips is the dam of a full-sister to Wild Beauty foaled Feb. 28 of this year.

Sunday, Woodbine
NATALMA S.-GI, C$401,600, Woodbine, 9-19, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.08, gd.
1–WILD BEAUTY (GB), 121, f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
               1st Dam: Tulips (Ire) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $150,804), by Pivotal (GB)
               2nd Dam: Hint of Spring (GB), by Seeking the Gold
               3rd Dam: Cherokee Rose (Ire), by Dancing Brave
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST
GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin Racing, LLC (GB); T-Charles
Appleby; J-Lanfranco Dettori. C$240,000. Lifetime Record:
6-3-2-0, $230,477. *1/2 to Swift Rose (IRE) (Invincible Spirit
(IRE)), GSP-UAE, $135,326. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pizza Bianca, 121, f, 2, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
               1st Dam: White Hot (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
               3rd Dam: Victoress, by Conquistador Cielo
O/B-Bobby Flay (KY); T-Christophe Clement. C$80,000.
3–Eminent Victor, 121, f, 2, by Mr. Z
               1st Dam: Juliet Victor, by Unusual Heat
               2nd Dam: Practicaly Perfect, by Pleasantly Perfect
               3rd Dam: Kelli Lee, by Kris S.
O-Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group LLC (Stuart Grant),
Louis Lazzinnaro LLC & Michael Caruso; B-Calumet Farm
(KY); T-Chad C. Brown. C$40,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.45, 3.45, 5.45.
Also Ran: Mrs. Barbara, Diabolic (Ire), Guileful, Ready Lady, Baksheesh, Royal Engagement, Cardio Princess (Jpn).
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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Big Names To Train Up to Breeders’ Cup

A pair of Belmont-based Grade I winners turned in works over the last few days and will be trained up to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar Nov. 5 and 6, their trainers confirmed Sept. 19.

Shadwell Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) breezed an easy four furlongs over the Belmont training track Sept. 18 in :49.49, her first breeze since winning the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 19. She will not have another start prior to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 6.

“It was her first work back and she did it well,” Todd Pletcher said. “Her energy level is really good at the moment. We plan on training up to the Breeders' Cup.”

Winner of the GI Ashland S. on seasonal debut, the $1.05-million Keeneland September yearling outgamed Search Results (Flatter) in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks before suffering her lone defeat to date at the hooves of Maracuja (Honor Code) in the GI CCA Oaks July 24. She led home a 1-2 finish for her sire in the Alabama, besting Clairiere by a convincing 1 1/2 lengths.

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a two-time Grade I winner this season, worked five furlongs over the Belmont inner turf course in 1:00.80 Sunday morning in the company of stablemate and French Group 3 winner Flop Shot (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and will stretch out to 12 furlongs for the first time in his next start, the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 6.

“They went fine, it was a good work for both of them,” trainer Chad Brown told the NYRA press office.

Dead-heat winner of the GI Old Forester Turf Classic in May and the GI Resorts World Manhattan S. the following month, Domestic Spending came with a late run in a paceless renewal of the GI Arlington Million Aug. 14 and just missed.

Klaravich's Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) won the 2019 Million and successfully handled the stretch out to the mile and a half in the Turf to secure Horse of the Year honors.

Belmont Breezes…

'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), runner-up in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. in his return to the races Aug. 28, tuned up for Saturday's one-mile GII Kelso S. with a half-mile work over the Belmont training track Sept. 18. The bay colt, campaigned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, covered the distance in :48.46 (17/132).

“I thought he worked super,” Pletcher said. “I was really pleased with the way he went and it looked like he was moving along there really well.”

Pletcher gave no indication as to a potential Breeders' Cup destination for Life Is Good.

Also on the worktab for the Pletcher barn was 'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke), who went a half-mile in :49.93 (70/132) while prepping for the GI Champagne S. at Belmont Oct. 2. Winner of his first two trips to the post, including an eight-length romp in the GIII Sanford S. July 17, the $575,000 KEESEP yearling was off to a sluggish start in the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 6 and came home second to Gunite (Gun Runner).

“He worked well,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, we get a little cleaner break this time. It certainly hurt his chances, he fell on his head leaving there, but I thought he ran on courageously after that.”

Pletcher added that Annapolis (War Front), accorded 'Rising Star' status for a highly impressive debut over the Saratoga turf course Sept. 4, would make his next appearance in the GII Pilgrim S. at Belmont Oct. 3.

Gufo (Declaration of War), last-out winner of the GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga Aug. 28, will make his next start in the Oct. 9 GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. He breezed an easy half-mile in :52 over the Belmont inner turf course Sunday morning.

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Sconsin Eyes BC Trip Following Open Mind

Lloyd Madison Farms IV LLC's homebred filly Sconsin (Include) is on track for a second straight appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint following her tough, half-length defeat of Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) in Saturday's Open Mind S. on the Downs After Dark program at Churchill.

A pace-compromised fourth, just a half-length behind Bell's the One, in last year's Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland, Sconsin was winning for the second time in six starts this term, having taken the course-and-distance GIII Winning Colors S. by 3 1/4 lengths in May. Runner-up to Bell's the One as the favorite in the June 19 Roxelana S. beneath the Twin Spires, Sconsin was exiting a fourth to 'TDN Rising Star' and divisional leader Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga Aug. 28. Sconsin was second to Gamine in the GI Derby City Distaff on Kentucky Derby day May 1.

“She's just a classy filly,” trainer Greg Foley told the Churchill notes team. “[Trainer] Neil's mare is a really solid horse and they really battled last night. You get a little worried when the field is short about what the pace will be. They went quick last night and that helped us. In her two starts this year against Gamine they went almost two seconds slower for the opening quarter-mile.”

About 30 of Foley's friends and family were in the winner's circle Saturday night, but his son Travis was occupied with a bachelor party ahead of his Oct. 2 wedding.

“We would've loved to be there but we definitely had a good celebration after she won,” Travis Foley said.

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