Frankel’s Delius Attains TDN Rising Star Status In Paris

Seven newcomers went to post for ParisLongchamp's opening contest of Sunday afternoon, the 10 1/2-furlong Prix Juigne for unraced 3-year-old colts and geldings, and it was Coolmore and Westerberg's Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Whatami {GB}, by Daylami {Ire}), who returned with a 'TDN Rising Star' after outpointing his rivals in the style of an above-average individual.

Patiently ridden off the tempo in sixth for the most part, the 8-5 favourite eased forward off the home turn and lengthened clear in taking fashion once quickening to the fore at the furlong pole to easily account for Godolphin's Kind Of Kiss (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths.

“Delius is a nice horse, who will develop into a good middle-distance prospect,” commented trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “The more we advance through the season, the better he will be. He quickened really nicely and won well, so that is most encouraging.”

Delius is the ninth of 11 foals and fifth scorer produced by a full-sister to Listed Chesham S. victrix Whazzat (GB) (Daylami {Ire}), herself the dam of G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up and dual Group-winning sire James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Descendants of his second dam Wosaita (GB) (Generous {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane-winning matriarch Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), also include multiple Grade I-winning US champion and GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Uni (GB) (More Than Ready). The February-foaled bay is a full-brother to multiple Group-placed Listed Wolferton S. winner Juan Elcano (GB) and a half to G3 Hoppings S. victrix Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). He is also kin to a 2-year-old filly by Sea The Moon (Ger) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB).

1st-ParisLongchamp, €27,000, Mdn, 4-7, unraced 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT, 2:25.34, vhy.
DELIUS (GB), c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Whatami (GB), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Wosaita (GB), by Generous (Ire)
3rd Dam: Eljazzi (Ire), by Artaius
Sales history: 675,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. *Full to Juan Elcano (GB), SW & MGSP-Eng, $175,305; and 1/2 to Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), GSW-Eng. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Mr & Mrs David Brown (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro.

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Sierra Leone Stamps His Authority On The Blue Grass

He wasn't the most cooperative at the stalls and he left himself plenty to do over a Keeneland main track that was playing kind to speed over the course of the afternoon, but 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (c, 3, Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon) saved his best for last and cemented his status as one of the top couple of contenders for the GI Kentucky Derby with a fast-finishing victory in the 100th running of the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Saturday afternoon.

The victory, on the back of an equally decisive score in the GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds Feb. 17, sets up a titanic clash of 'TDN Rising Stars' in the $5-million GI Kentucky Derby in a month's time with Eclipse champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light), a far handier sort possessed of a high cruising speed that can be difficult to reel in.

Sierra Leone was to be the last to load in gate 10, but he proved a bit difficult to handle, delaying the start of the Blue Grass by about three minutes. A bit easy in the market, having touched 6-5 before leaving the gates at odds just north of 8-5, the $2.3-million topper from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale was perhaps a half-step slow to begin, but slid down to race one off the inside and last but one into the first turn as stablemate Top Conor (Twirling Candy)–himself a $1-million OBS March breezer–cut out sharp fractions of :23.15 and :46.48 while tracked intently by recent GIII Gotham S. runner-up Just a Touch (Justify). Unhurried and patiently handled at the tail by Tyler Gaffalione, Sierra Leone raced well out into the track while taking plenty of dirt down the backstretch and still had a double-digit gap to bridge as the Blue Grass field entered the final half-mile.

Wisely angled back down towards the inside for a two-path run around the far turn, Sierra Leone began pick off rivals and was steered outside of Be You (Curlin) and about five deep into the lane. Just a Touch hit the front in upper stretch as inexperience caught up with Top Conor, but the lead was short-lived, as Sierra Leone gathered him up with relative ease while lugging in a bit entering the final sixteenth of a mile and strode clear. Epic Ride (Blame), a latest runner-up in the John Battaglia S. Mar. 2 and trying the dirt for the first time in his five-race career, was a very good third, while Dornoch (Good Magic) failed to capitalize on a box-seat trip and was an even fourth, 6 1/2 lengths behind Sierra Leone, who he had famously beaten a nose in last year's GII Remsen S.

“He didn't break the sharpest, but it actually gave me time to get over and save some ground into the first turn,” said Gaffalione. “He took the dirt just fine. Down the backside he got into a great rhythm. From the five-eighths pole on, he was moving like a winner. I was able to save some ground into the second turn, pop him out, and he just has so much talent.”

Added trainer Chad Brown, winning a third Blue Grass: “We're just trying to maintain pretty much the way he's been his whole life, a special horse. I don't know if they ever fully figure it out, but he's only had a handful of starts. But there's such good chemistry with Tyler and Sierra Leone his last two starts. You can see he wants to lean in a little bit, but it's never too bad. He's still polishing off his experience and his skills, and I just think a mile-and-a-quarter won't be a problem going forward. We're looking forward to it.”

Trainer Danny Gargan is far from willing to give up on Dornoch, the full-brother to last year's Derby winner Mage.

“He went really well. He got in there behind,” the trainer said. “It's his first time really getting a lot of dirt like that, he resented it a little bit early, [jockey] Luis [Saez] said. He said he kind of ran away from the horses. Next time, we'll break him out of [the starting gate on the lead] and keep his face clean, and he'll run better next time.

Accorded 'Rising Star' status after overcoming an eventful journey to graduate over Aqueduct's one-turn mile at first asking on Breeders' Cup Saturday, Nov. 4, Sierra Leone looked all but home after a heroic rally in the Remsen, only to have Dornoch come back on him at the post. Opting for the long Fair Grounds stretch for his sophomore debut in the Risen Star, he was as many as 10 off the inside in upper stretch and powered home to best Track Phantom (Quality Road) and next-out GII Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) by a half-length with blinkers on for the first time.

Pedigree Notes:

Sierra Leone is the eighth elite-level winner for his leading fourth-crop sire and is the only winner from his dam, who carried the silks of breeder Debby Oxley to victory in this track's GI Darley Alcibiades S. in 2017.

Heavenly Love is a daughter of Darling My Darling, a $300,000 Keeneland September purchase by John Oxley in 1998 who won the Doubledogdare S. and Raven Run S. in Lexington while also placing in the GI Frizette S. and GI Matron S. Darling My Darling is also the dam of 2016 GII Santa Ynez S. winner Forever Darling (Congrats), whose son Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) is the top 3-year-old dirt horse in Japan and followed up on a narrow victory in the G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 24 with success in the Mar. 30 G2 UAE Derby for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, stamping his own ticket to Louisville. Sierra Leone's Grade I-winning third dam also produced Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence).

Heavenly Love foaled a colt by Nyquist in 2022 and produced a full-sister to Sierra Leone Feb. 11.

Saturday, Keeneland
TOYOTA BLUE GRASS S.-GI, $995,782, Keeneland, 4-6, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.08, ft.
1–SIERRA LEONE, 123, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Heavenly Love (GISW, $346,200), by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith; B-Debby M. Oxley (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $581,250. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $918,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Just a Touch, 123, c, 3, Justify–Touching Beauty, by Tapit. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($170,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Qatar Racing, LLC, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $187,500.
3–Epic Ride, 123, c, 3, Blame–Pick a Time, by Gio Ponti. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Welch Racing LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-John Ennis. $93,750.
Margins: 1HF, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.66, 3.31, 51.37.
Also Ran: Dornoch, Mugatu, Top Conor, Seize the Grey, Be You, Lat Long, Good Money. Scratched: Encino.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Camelot’s Los Angeles Prevails In Thrilling Criterium de Saint-Cloud

Aidan O'Brien had experienced a famine of sorts since annexing 2010's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud with Recital (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}), but he was back in the familiar surroundings of Saint-Cloud's winner's circle after Ballydoyle second string Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}–Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) prevailed in a blanket finish to Sunday's latest renewal of the 10-furlong feature.

The 67-10 chance found the necessary gears late on to register an ultimately impressive debut success tackling nine furlongs at Tipperary at the beginning of last month and was well away to track the leaders in fourth through halfway here. Sent wide to the stands' side rail off the home turn, he was bustled along to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and stayed on strongly under continued urging to deny Joseph O'Brien trainee and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. second Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by a neck. The podium was an O'Brien family affair with the winner's stablemate Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) keeping on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third.

“He's a very big horse, I imagine he will be even better next year and we're very happy,” the winning trainer commented after collecting a fifth edition. “He won very well, going left-handed, at Tipperary and Seamus [Heffernan] loved him when he rode him [there]. Christophe [Soumillon] was a bit worried because he wasn't changing his legs throughout the race, but he said he picked up very nicely. He'd only had the one run and this was great experience for him. He's obviously still a bit babyish, but I'm delighted that he won. He could get a mile-and-a-half next year and he's something to look forward to.”

Los Angeles will seek to break an alarming trend set by recent winners. The gold medal has become something of a millstone since Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) prevailed in 2016, with 2020 victor Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) the only one of five to have added to his tally, in that quintet's 41 aggregate starts, after claiming a career high in the contest.

Reflecting on the effort of runner-up Islandsinthestream, Joseph O'Brien said, “It was a very good run and I'm proud of the horse's performance. It was a very good ride from Maxime [Guyon], but it's always frustrating when you get beaten in a Group 1. He'll have a holiday now and we'll look forward to some of those 3-year-old Group 1 races next summer. He's a horse we'll probably campaign internationally as well as at home.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Los Angeles, half-brother to a yearling colt by No Nay Never, is one of three winners from as many runners produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Prix Messidor victor Impulsif (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The February-foaled dark bay is a full-brother to G3 Ballyroan S. third Hector De Maris (Ire) and this year's G3 Prix Penelope third Be Happy (Ire). His third dam, G3 Prix de Flore victrix Allez Les Trois (Riverman), produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa) and is a half-sister to storied blue hen Urban Sea (Miswaki).

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 2yo, c/f, 10fT, 2:15.25, vsf.
1–LOS ANGELES (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Frequential (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Violante, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Allez Les Trois, by Riverman
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €151,850. *Full to Be Happy (Ire), GSP-Fr & SP-Ire; and Hector De Maris (Ire), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Islandsinthestream (Ire), 128, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–A Mist Opportunity (Aus), by Foxwedge (Aus). (€135,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Islandsinthestream Partnership; B-Haras d'Etreham & Katelanis Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €57,150.
3–Illinois (Ire), 128, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,575.
Margins: NK, 3/4, NK. Odds: 6.70, 1.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Ramadan (Fr), Bracken's Laugh (Ire), Shiffrin (Ire), Casapueblo (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Auguste Rodin Likely Breeders’ Cup-Bound

The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November is likely on the agenda for Classic winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Sunday. The Coolmore and Westerberg colorbearer earned a trip to California with his triumph in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying event for the 1 1/2-mile GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.

“The lads love the Breeders' Cup and he's a lovely horse for it,” O'Brien said. “They will decide, but he'd love that ground. He's a beautiful mover. He won in Doncaster [the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. as a juvenile] on heavy and we couldn't believe that he did it, but it was probably just sheer ability.

“We'll take our time and see how he is, but I'd imagine it will be something like [the Breeders' Cup].”

O'Brien also indicated Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), runner-up to his stablemate in the Irish Champion S., could head to France in an attempt to improve off of his seventh-place finish in last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“He could go to the Arc,” O'Brien said. “He wouldn't mind as long as the ground is not heavy, and over a mile and a half we know to ride him like a horse that just gets a mile and a half.

“He doesn't want to go any further, but we are learning about him all the time. It was a massive run yesterday.”

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