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Exaulted Stays Perfect On Turf, Secures BC Mile Berth in Shoemaker Mile

Sent off the 3-1 second favorite to maintain a perfect record in four starts since switching to the grass just after the turn of the calendar, C R K Stable's Exaulted (Twirling Candy) was forwardly placed behind a pair of longshot leaders, got first crack at them into the stretch and kicked home smartly to win the GI Shoemaker Mile Monday at Santa Anita and with it, a fees-paid berth into the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile over the course and distance in November.

Away smoothly for Juan Hernandez, the $77,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling was taken hold of and sat third as Lamplighter Jack (Fed Biz) came across from his high draw to set the pace while prompted by fellow outside Flavius (War Front). Clocking that pair on the backstretch run, Exaulted was waited with into the final half-mile and was nudged along three wide around the far turn while zeroing in on the leaders. Lamplighter Jack called it a day, leaving Flavius along up front for a stride or two entering the stretch, but Exaulted rolled up to lead approaching the eighth pole and came home gamely to score nicely. Irideo (Arg) (Easing Along) weaved his way through traffic to be second at 41-1, while favored Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) was short of racing room when the real running was about to begin and did well to be third.

“This horse has been improving every race,” said meet-leading rider Hernandez. “He is always in a good position. He broke really sharp today and I took him back. At the three eighths, I asked him to pick it up and it was time to go. I passed a horse to get the lead and he didn't let other horses pass him.”

Having run big numbers in his first three starts, Exaulted broke his maiden in optional claiming company in February 2021, but that proved his lone victory from 11 tries on the dirt to go with third placings in the GII San Carlos S. and GII Triple Bend S. The bay switched to the grass this past January, winning allowance tests at a mile Jan. 2 and Feb. 5 before accounting for Irideo in the GIII American S. Apr. 2.

Pedigree Notes:

Exaulted is an eighth Grade I winner for Lane's End's Twirling Candy and is one of five winners out of a half-sister to GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie S. victress Wonderlandbynight (Sky Mesa). The latter's half-sister Ada Clare (Forest Wildcat) is the dam of five winners–four of which are by Twirling Candy–including the stakes-placed Big Boy Candy. Gilded Time, who was represented by GII Triple Bend S. winner Spirit of Makena (Ghostzapper) May 27, is now the broodmare sire of nine worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winners. Gilded Miracle passed away in 2019 at the age of 15.

Monday, Santa Anita
SHOEMAKER MILE S.-GI, $503,000, Santa Anita, 5-29, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.08, fm.
1–EXAULTED, 122, h, 6, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Gilded Miracle, by Gilded Time
2nd Dam: Onemiracleatatime, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Katie Love, by Manila
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($77,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '18
FTSAUG). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Jack Swain (KY); T-Peter
Eurton; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $300,000. Lifetime Record:
15-5-3-4, $603,660. Werk Nick Rating: F.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Irideo (Arg), 122, g, 7, Easing Along–Infiltrada (Arg), by
Footstepsinthesand (GB). O/B-Pozo de Luna (Arg); T-Marcelo
Polanco. $100,000.
3–Hong Kong Harry (Ire), 124, g, 6, Es Que Love (Ire)–Vital Body
(Fr), by Gold Away (Ire). (£185,000 RNA 4yo '21 GOFFLN;
85,000gns 4yo '21 TATAHI). O-Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa
and Tony Valazza; B-Amarath Business Management (Ire);
T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
Margins: HF, 1, 1. Odds: 3.10, 41.70, 1.60.
Also Ran: Il Bellator, Cabo Spirit, Du Jour, Gold Phoenix (Ire), Balnikhov (Ire), Salesman (Ire), Flavius, Lamplighter Jack.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Go Nuts! Macadamia Causes Minor Upset in Gamely

A champion and dual Group 1 winner in her native Brazil pre-import, R Unicorn Stable's Macadamia (Brz) (Hat Trick {Jpn}) consolidated some very solid recent American form to post a first elite-level victory in this country in Monday's GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita.

None of the seven entrants in the nine-furlong test seemed especially keen to lead, but eventually, Flavien Prat allowed School Dance (Animal Kingdom) through to take up the running in advance of Bellamore (Empire Maker), as odds-on Queens Goddess (Empire Maker) took back off that pair with a circuit remaining. Brazilian native Tiago Pereira, whose biggest career victory came in the 2010 G1 Dubai World Cup aboard Brazilian-bred Gloria de Campeao, had Macadmia settled at the back of the field, but not too far away, as the pace was moderate at best. Luis Saez asked Queens Goddess to apply some pressure to the outside of the leaders and hit the front going well with 2 1/2 furlongs to race, but Macadamia was traveling equally strongly in her wake a few lengths in arrears. The chalk went for home in upper stretch, but Macadamia always seemed to have the move covered and surged past late en route to a cozy success. The in-form Quatroelle (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) outfinished Queens Goddess for second.

“She is a nice filly,” said winning trainer Phil d'Amato. “I have to give Tiago a lot of credit for just getting on her every week, just breezing her and developing her. She was a quirky kind of backwards filly when we got her.

“She just needed to acclimate to North America. She's taken he time and now she is a Grade I winner. [Tiago] has a great attitude in the morning and I think it translates to the horses.”

Macadamia posted a pair of close third-place efforts from four starts on this circuit in the second half of 2022 and kicked off the new year with a 1 1/2-length allowance tally over Monday's course and distance Feb. 3. A troubled second to Quatroelle in the one-mile GII Buena Vista S. Mar. 4, the bay–still a late-season 4-year-old on Southern Hemisphere time–turned the tables with a one-length victory in the GIII Wilshire S. going eight panels Apr. 30.

Pedigree Notes:

Macadamia is one of 14 worldwide Group 1/Grade I winners for Hat Trick, who passed away in Brazil in August 2020. In the United States, the Sunday Silence stallion has been responsible for 17 stakes winners and nine at the graded level, including the additional Grade I winners King David and Win Win Win.

Macadamia is one of three winners from four to race out of her dam, a stakes-placed daughter of Fares Farm's 1991 GIII Selima S. heroine Ken de Saron, who also produced Brazilian Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt Sal Grosso (Brz) (Our Emblem) and the three-time French group-placed Jipapibaquigrafo (Irish River {Fr}).

Monday, Santa Anita
GAMELY S.-GI, $401,000, Santa Anita, 5-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.01, fm.
1–MACADAMIA (BRZ), 122, m, 5, by Hat Trick (Jpn)
1st Dam: Une Autre Etoile (Brz) (SP-Brz), by Northern Afleet
2nd Dam: Ken de Saron, by Kenmare (Fr)
3rd Dam: Lyre de Saron (Fr), by Luthier (Fr)
O-R Unicorn Stable; B-Haras Springfield (BRZ); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Tiago Josue Pereira. $240,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly & MG1SW-Brz, 13-5-3-2, $444,413. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Quattroelle (Ire), 124, m, 5, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Heavenly River (Fr), by Stormy River (Fr)
2nd Dam: Aaliyah (Ger), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Arpista (Ger), by Chief Singer (Ire)
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€10,000 RNA Ylg '19 TIRSEP). O-Red Baron's Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal LLC; B-Rossenarra Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Jeff Mullins. $80,000.
3–Queen Goddess, 122, m, 5, 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
($285,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG; $1,525,000 4yo '22 FTKNOV). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber; B-Tolo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $48,000.
Margins: 1, NO, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.20, 7.10, 0.80.
Also Ran: Viareggio (Ire), Bellamore, Closing Remarks, School Dance.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Echo Zulu Much The Best In Winning Colors

No stranger to layoffs, champion 2-year-old filly and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) made her first start of 2023 a winning one with a runaway score in Churchill's GIII Winning Colors S. On the sidelines since a game second to 2022 champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, she returned to the races in this six-furlong sprint–the shortest distance she's ever raced–without missing a beat, looking every bit the 3-10 favorite.

Sharp from an outside gate, Echo Zulu went out in the search of the early lead but had to contend with an equally speedy Fire On Time (Not This Time) on her outer flank. The pair quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field while working through quick early fractions of :21.75 and :44.62. Neither mare giving an inch around the far turn, Echo Zulu found herself briefly on the back foot as Fire On Time stuck a head in front with a quarter-mile to run. But Echo Zulu responded in kind to a shake of the reins from Florent Geroux, drew alongside her rival, and went on right on past, contesting the final furlong alone and hitting the wire clear by daylight while geared down.

“I'm very grateful for the owners of this very talented filly [L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds] and [trainer] Steve Asmussen,” said the winning jockey. “She broke really well today and took herself right to the front. We had some pressure on her outside but she was traveling very comfortably the entire race.”

Pedigree Notes:

Part of the wildly successful first crop of Breeders' Cup champion and Horse of the Year Gun Runner, Echo Zulu is a daughter of GII Stonerside Forward Gal winner Letgomyecho, the dam of no fewer than eight other winners including GISW 'TDN Rising Star' and sire Echo Town (Speightstown), GSW J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), and GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song). Letgomyecho herself is a half-sister to the dams of GIII Ohio Derby victor Dean Martini (Cairo Prince), GSW Western Smoke (Smoke Glacken) and GISP One Lucky Dane (Lookin At Lucky). Echo Zulu's youngest sibling, the now 3-year-old Doing Justice (American Pharoah), brought a final bid of $1.4 million from Northshore Bloodstock at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale.

Monday, Churchill Downs
WINNING COLORS S.-GIII, $223,250, Churchill Downs, 5-29, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:08.99, ft.
1–ECHO ZULU, 118, f, 4, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Letgomyecho (GSW, $136,200), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo
3rd Dam: Kashie West, by Sir Ivor
($300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/ CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Florent Geroux. $139,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, MGISW, 9-7-1-0, $2,255,375. *1/2 to Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song), GSP, $253,478; J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSW, $377,543; and Echo Town (Speightstown), GISW, $410,020. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Fire On Time, 118, m, 5, Not This Time–Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again. ($95,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Jorge S. Wagner (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $45,000.
3–Last Leaf, 118, f, 4, Not This Time–My Miss Kallie, by Paddy O'Prado. ($7,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $10,000 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $23,500 Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O-Monarch Stables, Inc.; B-Khalid Mishref Alkahtani (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $22,500.
Margins: 5 3/4, 1, HD. Odds: 0.31, 7.62, 7.55.
Also Ran: Spirit Wind, Marissa's Lady. Scratched: Scarlet Stripe.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Sibelius To Make U.S. Return In Aristides

Jun Park and Delia Nash's Sibelius (Not This Time), last seen posting a thrilling victory in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse Mar. 25, will bypass the GII True North S. at Belmont Park June 10 in favor of next weekend's $225,000 Listed Aristides S. at Churchill Downs, trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer said Monday.

“He's stabled here at Keeneland and it's only up the road,” the conditioner told the NYRA press office. “We'll have a look at the race and see what post position we get and how the race is shaping up. If we like what we've got we'll run him there, but we'll still keep the True North in mind.”

Since defeating defending champion Switzerland (Speightstown) on Dubai World Cup night, Sibelius has breezed three times at Keeneland, including a leisurely half-mile in :50 flat with O'Dwyer in the saddle May 27.

“He's a fun horse to ride. I just wanted a smooth, relaxed breeze. If you put certain riders on him, he'll roll in :46 every time on the bridle if you let him,” O'Dwyer said. “I let him have a nice gallop out and get a bit of air in his lungs. We know he's a very fast horse, but we wanted to make sure that foundation is still underneath him.”

O'Dwyer said Sibelius, who gained something of a cult following during his time in the Emirates, has recovered nicely from the journey.

“He's done great. We gave him some time off and let him relax and put all his weight back on,” O'Dwyer said. “We jogged him at Keeneland for a week and he was jumping out of his skin, so he went back to galloping. He's had three breezes since and his fitness level is good and his energy level is good. He's bright, happy and content. That's all we want. Happy horses run for you and he seems pretty happy right now.”

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