Christian Black knew the Justify colt consigned as Hip 78 to The Saratoga Sale was a once in a lifetime horse.
The breeder who operates as Blackwood Stables saw his inklings recognized Aug. 8 at Fasig-Tipton’s selected yearlings sale …
Summertime Magic, making her stakes debut, ruled the roost in the Ruling Angel, fronting a Mark Casse triactor in Saturday’s $100,000 feature at Woodbine.
After an impressive career bow by Summertime Magic on April 17 at the Toronto o…
Closing with a flourish from the back of the pack, Peter Brant’s Bleecker Street kept her undefeated record intact May 6 to win a thriller in the $250,000 Modesty Stakes Presented by TwinSpires (G3T) over 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Down…
There was no dust to shake off Channel Maker ‘s heels in the $310,538 Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) April 23 at Keeneland.
Making his season debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the 8-year-old English Channel gelding blitzed a stakes-reco…
Peter Brant’s Bleecker Street (Quality Road) continued her rapid ascent through the turf distaff division with a thoroughly dominating performance in the GII Hillsborough S. at Tampa, easily accounting for her commonly owned stablemate Rocky Sky (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) to remain unblemished from five starts.
While ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) held the early call as the Hillsborough field galloped past the stands for the first time, it was Gladys (Medaglia d’Oro), the own-sister to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who took up the running into the clubhouse turn, as Rocky Sky fell into the box seat. The weak-in-the-market Bleecker Street–who eased from 9-5 out to 12-5 at the off–was comfortable in seventh. Switched off beautifully through the middle stages beneath Hector Diaz, Jr. Bleecker Street raced in hand on the second turn and was angled out sharply at the quarter pole. Briefly following the move of Rocky Sky in upper stretch, Bleecker Street was switched off heels and into the clear and was off and gone despite racing on her incorrect lead through the final eighth of a mile. Rocky Sky was clearly second ahead of Gladys, who picked up some valuable graded black-type in third.
Given a comparatively soft introduction to the races last year, Bleecker Street won starts at Monmouth and the Meadowlands before resuming with a fast-finishing half-length allowance tally at this venue Jan. 8. An overlaid 7-1 when testing stakes waters for the first time in the GIII Endeavour S. Feb. 5, the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad was the recipient of a similarly patient ride from Diaz, Jr. and whooshed home with what has become a devastating finish to best Lady Speighspeare by a firm 1 1/2 lengths.
Pedigree Notes:
One of 57 stakes winners and 31 graded winners for Lane’s End’s Quality Road, Bleecker Street is bred on the cross over Danzig-line mares responsible for Illuminant, winner on the grass of the GI Gamely S. Bleecker Street is the first foal for her stakes-placed dam, who was purchased by Branch Equine for $75,000 in foal to Honor Code at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. The filly’s dual stakes-placed second dam is a half-sister to Nan (High Yield), dam of GIII Selene S. winner Power Gal (Jpn) (Empire Maker). Lemon Liqueur, who was RNAd for $19,000 when offered not in foal at KEENOV in 2018, is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Always Dreaming, a yearling filly by Flatter and is due to the in-demand Not This Time this season.
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
HILLSBOROUGH S.-GII, $200,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 3-12, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.21, gd.
1–BLEECKER STREET, 118, f, 4, by Quality Road 1st Dam: Lemon Liqueur (SP), by Exchange Rate
2nd Dam: Limoncella, by Lemon Drop Kid
3rd Dam: Trip Around Heaven, by Halo
($400,000 Ylg ’19 FTSAUG). O-Peter M Brant; B-Branch Equine
LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Hector Rafael Diaz Jr. $120,000.
Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $285,900. Werk Nick Rating: C.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rocky Sky (Ire), 118, f, 4, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)–Road Tosky
(Ire), by Elusive City. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Peter M
Brant; B-Eadling Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Chad C Brown. $40,000.
3–Gladys, 118, f, 4, Medaglia d’Oro–Lotta Kim, by Roar.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Dede
McGehee; B-Heaven Trees Farm (KY); T-Kelsey Danner.
$20,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.40, 4.70, 11.50.
Also Ran: Lady Speightspeare, Lovely Lucky, Runaway Rumour, Jezebel’s Kitten, Take Charge Ro, Nantucket Red.
Here we are, then, in what Oliver Hardy could only call “another nice mess.” But let’s disentangle this flourishing sapling Messier (Empire Maker) from the tentacles that may restrain him from a timely bloom on the first Saturday in Ma…
The simmering rivalry between Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon looks ready to heat up again in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 26 and, according to their respective trainers, could boil over four weeks later in Dubai.
Among those standing in the way of American dominance in Saudi Arabia is Mishriff, the 2021 Saudi Cup winner who would leapfrog Winx, Arrogate, and several others to become history’s highest-earning horse with a repeat win at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.
Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen, who train Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon, respectively, both oozed optimism as they addressed media Feb. 8 through a virtual feed. Both expect improvement from their colts’ first start as 4-year-olds in the Jan. 22 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. In that race, Mandaloun chased down Midnight Bourbon to win by three-quarters of a length in a virtual match race.
As 3-year-olds their records were inextricably intertwined, first at Fair Grounds where Midnight Bourbon, a Tiznow colt, won the Lecomte Stakes (G3) with Mandaloun third; then in the Risen Star Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2), where Mandaloun won with Midnight Bourbon third. Mandaloun didn’t fire in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), finishing sixth, with Midnight Bourbon second to Hot Rod Charlie.
Mandaloun, by Into Mischief , turned things around in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), finishing second to Medina Spirit with Midnight Bourbon sixth after a terrible start. (Mandaloun could eventually be elevated to the win spot as Kentucky stewards are expected this month to consider Medina Spirit’s failed post-race drug test).
Things came to a head July 17 in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park as Hot Rod Charlie dropped in front of Midnight Bourbon just as he was making his move. Midnight Bourbon clipped heels and stumbled, dropping jockey Paco Lopez. Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified to last and none other than Mandaloun inherited the win.
By year’s end, Midnight Bourbon had finished second or third in six graded stakes and left Asmussen shaking his head.
“It’s all there. It really is,” the trainer said. “He has an elite level of talent without finishing it off. It leaves a lot for us moving forward. As accomplished as he is, or as lacking as his résumé is with the wins, he is still in a physical and mental development that I think allows for him to possibly end up being the best horse in training in the world this year.
“I am hoping beyond hope, and expect, that he’s waiting for the Saudi Cup stage to put it all together perfectly,” Asmussen added.
Cox was asked the same question: Should Mandaloun improve off his 2022 debut?
“Absolutely. Absolutely. That’s trainer talk, right?” Cox replied. “If he moves forward again, I think he’s going to be very tough in the Saudi Cup.”
The Saudi challenge will be far more formidable than anything the two have faced in New Orleans, with a full field of well-qualified international runners expected, none more accomplished than Mishriff.
Thady Gosden, who trains Mishriff in partnership with his father, John, believes their 5-year-old son of Make Believe has an advantage over the Americans in the one-turn mile-and-an-eighth configuration at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.
“The one turn makes a big difference,” Gosden said. “The longer straight is especially an advantage to the European horses. The American horses are used to using a lot of speed to get forward and then having a short straight to get home in.
“The surface is also a bit kinder. The kickback is not as bad. It rides a bit softer, a bit fluffier. It’s a brilliant track.”
Asmussen said the layout isn’t that unfamiliar to U.S. trainers.
“I think that it’s the most comparable to Belmont Park, from my limited experience over it. Very minimal kickback for a dirt surface,” he said.
Cox agreed with that assessment.
“It’s a little something we don’t get much here in America. It’s a one-turn mile and an eighth,” Cox said. “We’ll get it at Belmont. I’m confident he’ll be able to handle it.”
The Saudi track has drawn rave reviews from American trainers and plays quite differently from the dirt surface at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Both Asmussen and Cox said they’re warily eyeing the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) if their horses exit the Saudi race well.
Asmussen said Midnight Bourbon is “definitely focused on the Saudi Cup, and (we) do feel he would be a very good candidate for the Dubai World Cup.”
Regarding the World Cup, Cox remarked: “Chances are that decision won’t be made until a few days after the (Saudi) race. But the guys going with the horse have been told, ‘Pack enough clothes because your journey may last seven or eight weeks.'”
If they do make it to the Dubai starting gate, Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon again would face the colt who wove in and out of their 3-year-old battles—Hot Rod Charlie. The Doug O’Neill charge shipped to Dubai early and easily won his prep race at Meydan, serving notice for the World Cup.
Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST Bet (G1) winner Life Is Good also has Dubai penciled in on his dance card.
Peter Brant’s progressive Bleecker Street (Quality Road) saved her best for last, as she split rivals decisively and shot past odds-on ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) inside the final eighth of a mile to cause a 7-1 surprise in Saturday’s GIII Endeavour S. at Tampa, remaining perfect in four starts in the process.
Content to linger in the latter third of the field and riding the rail as the once-beaten Lady Speightspeare prompted longshot Katama Princess (Malibu Moon) through comfortable early fractions, the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga acquisition continued to scrape paint down the backstretch while always within striking distance if good enough. Full of run and traveling beautifully in the slipstream of Stunning Princess (Cairo Prince) as they hit the top of the lane, Bleecker Street went for a run between rivals entering the final furlong, inhaled the chalk with about 50 yards to race and kicked clear impressively, despite failing to change her leads in the final stages.
“She had a good post, the trip worked out real good and she showed a super turn of foot,” said trainer Chad Brown, who elected to scratch ‘TDN Rising Star’ and recent Tampa allowance winner In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) earlier in the day. “This filly took time to come around, and my whole staff has done an unbelievable job with her. And Mr. Brant…is so patient. We scratched In Italian because we thought bringing her back inside a month was a little soon, and it worked out so well.”
The gray opened her account in her belated career debut at the Jersey Shore last August, graduating by a half-length and made the most of a soft introduction to allowance company with a 1 1/2-length success at the Meadowlands Oct. 23. Favored at 17-10 for her seasonal debut over course and distance Jan. 8, she was short of room as the real running was about to start, but turned in a flying finish similar to Saturday’s to best Pythoness (Liam’s Map) by a half-length.
Pedigree Notes:
Ostensibly named for an east-west thoroughfare in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan, Bleecker Street is the 55th stakes winner and 30th at the graded level for Lane’s End’s Quality Road and is bred on the cross over Danzig-line mares responsible for Illuminant, winner on the grass of the GI Gamely S. Bleecker Street is the first foal for her stakes-placed dam, who was purchased by Branch Equine for $75,000 in foal to Honor Code at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. The filly’s dual stakes-placed second dam is a half-sister to Nan (High Yield), dam of GIII Selene S. winner Power Gal (Jpn) (Empire Maker). Lemon Liqueur, who was RNAd for $19,000 when offered not in foal at KEENOV in 2018, is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Always Dreaming, a yearling filly by Flatter and is due to Not This Time this season.
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
ENDEAVOUR S.-GIII, $150,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 2-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.91, fm.
1–BLEECKER STREET, 118, f, 4, by Quality Road 1st Dam: Lemon Liqueur (SP), by Exchange Rate
2nd Dam: Limoncella, by Lemon Drop Kid
3rd Dam: Trip Around Heaven, by Halo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($400,000 Ylg ’19 FTSAUG). O-Peter M Brant; B-Branch Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Hector Rafael Diaz Jr. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $165,900. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lady Speightspeare, 118, f, 4, Speightstown–Lady Shakespeare, by Theatrical (Ire). ‘TDN Rising Star‘ O/B-Charles E Fipke (KY); T-Roger L Attfield. $30,000.
3–Stunning Princess, 118, f, 4, Cairo Prince–Psychadelacized, by Distorted Humor. 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. ($95,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-R A Hill Stable & Brereton C Jones; B-Brereton C Jones (KY); T-Danny Gargan. $15,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 7.00, 0.90, 4.50.
Also Ran: Jezebel’s Kitten, Oyster Box, Nantucket Red, Katama Moonlight, Pythoness, Morning Molly. Scratched: In Italian (GB).
Millionaire multiple grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil , among three finalists for an Eclipse Award as the country’s champion older dirt female of 2021, returned to the work tab Jan. 30 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, covering t…
