Horse of the Week: Crown Queen

Posted on by DerbyMateo

As a sister to Royal Delta, a multiple champion and Breeders’ Cup winner, Crown Queen was always worth a lot of money. Now that she’s won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, her $1.6 million weanling price tag looks like a downright bargain.

Crown Queen’s owner, Benjamin Leon, went on a torrid shopping spree at the 2011 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale. He fought off all challengers to secure Royal Delta for $8.5 million just three days after she captured her first Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Mr. Leon also shelled out $3 million for Grade 1 winner Quiet Dance and another $2.6 million for her weanling filly by Medaglia d’Oro. So $1.6 million for Crown Queen wasn’t so bad, especially considering her dam, Delta Princess, also sold for $2.6 million to Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm.

Crown Queen is a daughter of Smart Strike, one of America’s very best stallions. In fact, she is the 15th Grade 1 winner sired by the son of the great Mr. Prospector (Curlin, English Channel, Lookin at Lucky and My Miss Aurelia are among the others).

While Royal Delta took more after her sire, Empire Maker, and was excepional on dirt, Crown Queen takes more after her dam and has made all of her starts on grass. Delta Princess earned over $380,000 on that surface and her resume shows a trio of graded victories on turf. Bill Mott trained Delta Princess in her racing days as well as her dam, Lyphard’s Delta.

To their credit Mott and Mr. Leon didn’t lose patience with Crown Queen after a pair of third place finishes against Maiden Special company last year in New York. She was put away to let develop physically and mentally and didn’t return to the races until mid-June at Belmont Park. She coasted home in a Maiden Special that day and collected two more victories in as many starts en route to winning the QE II.

“She’s answered absolutely every question we’ve asked,” Mr. Leon said after the QE II. “So now I think it’s just a matter of sitting back and enjoying her… I’m looking forward to her 4-year-old year. That should be an exceptional year, I’d think.”

We couldn’t agree more.

-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse(s) of the Week: Treve & Wise Dan

Posted on by DerbyMateo

Racing fans were treated to some thrilling stretch runs on both sides of the Atlantic last weekend. The performances of Treve taking her second straight Arc and Wise Dan winning…again…were most remarkable. So let’s honor both greats in this week’s Horse of the Week post.

Both champions have overcome physical ailments to climb back to the pinnacle of the racing world in North America and Europe. Treve, the victim of hoof and back issues, had been absent from the winner’s circle until Saturday at Longchamp. Wise Dan landed on the operating table after a serious bout of colic over the summer.

The Blood-Horse lead their coverage of Treve’s Arc triumph with this sentence: ‘Treve left both detractors and admirers in awe’. Those words equally apply to Wise Dan’s performance in the Shadwell Turf Mile, the first seven figure race ever run at Keeneland. While he had previously returned a winner in Saratoga’s Bernard Baruch Handicap his razor-thin victory that day left many wondering if he was still the same animal. Some doubts began to manifest even before his surgery when he downed Seek Again by just a head (after a brutal trip) in the Turf Classic on Derby Day.

Treve goes out a winner. Her owner, Sheikh Joaan confirmed via Twitter on October 7 that his great mare was done racing and would visit the court of leading European stallion Dubawi next year. Wise Dan, however, is on to the Breeders’ Cup. But which race? Wise Dan’s connections have flirted with the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the past before collecting a pair of Breeders’ Cup Mile trophies. After the Shadwell Turf Mile trainer Charlie LoPresti was interviewed by Mike Battaglia and said ‘you don’t know how many more Breeders’ Cups he has left’, indicating that a run on dirt in the Classic is being more seriously considered this time around.

Imagine a Breeders’ Cup Classic with the unbeaten Shared Belief, dual Classic winner California Chrome, Belmont/Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Tonalist, the speedy Bayern AND Wise Dan? It’s easy if you try. Let’s hope LoPresti and owner Morton Fink are dreaming along with us.

So we say ‘merci, au revoir’ to Treve and ‘thanks for another thrill, see you in Cali’ to Wise Dan, two all-time champions riding off to different sunsets.

-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: Beholder

Posted on by DerbyMateo

There were a number of standout performances last weekend all over the good ole U. S. of A. But we felt it most appropriate to highlight the magnificent Beholder, who we’ll see just one more time before she heads off to her second career as a broodmare.

That final start will come in the Breeders’ Cup, an event Beholder is well-acquainted with. She earned her very first stakes victory in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and then held that top form throughout her sophomore season. As a three-year-old in 2013 the Richard Mandella-trained lass rolled through the Las Virgenes S. (G1) and the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) en route to a tough-luck loss in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She was a close second that day to Princess of Sylmar but took her revenge on that one later in the year. Beholder was smooth as silk as she cruised to a 4 1/4-length win over multiple Grade 1 winner Close Hatches in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with multiple champion Royal Delta and Princess of Sylmar farther back. Her victory was a historic one as she became the first filly to win both the Juvenile Fillies and the Distaff.

Beholder is taking the similar path back to this year’s Breeders’ Cup, having prepped with a repeat win in Saturday’s Zenyatta Stakes (G1) (formerly the Lady’s Secret Stakes). She’ll likely face a streaking Close Hatches again in her bid to etch her name deeper into the Breeders’ Cup history books. Close Hatches, of course, defeated a troubled Beholder in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day. Beholder ‘grabbed a quarter’ during the race and wasn’t 100% and we’ll find out in four weeks time if Beholder can avenge that defeat just as she avenged Princess of Sylmar last year.

Only Royal Delta and Bayakoa have won back-to-back editions of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Should Beholder join that club she’ll find herself not only in the winner’s circle but squarely in the Hall of Fame as well (if she hasn’t earned her way in already). Win, lose or dead heat, Beholder goes through the ring at the November 3 Fasig-Tipton November Breeding Stock sale. She’ll certainly set off some fireworks there, just as she has in her three years on the racetrack.

-originally published at http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: Untapable

Posted on by DerbyMateo

Just a few years ago the Cotillion Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby were just two of several fall options for the three-year-old set. But Pennsylvania casino revenue has transformed the stakes schedule at Parx Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park) and on the east coast in general. Now these races are attracting the cream of the crop of the sophmore filly and colt divisions annually. The Cotillion, in particular, has graduated to Grade 1 status and was won by yet another Kentucky Oaks winner this year in Untapable.

A daughter of the red-hot sire Tapit, Untapable has been the consensus leader of the three-year-old fillies ever since her dominating performance in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G3) in late February. She had been compared to that race’s namesake after ulta-easy scores in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Mother Goose Stakes (G1). However, unlike Rachel, she couldn’t beat the boys when sent to Monmouth Park for the Haskell Invitational (G1) in July.

The streaking multiple Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria was originally entered in the Cotillion but was re-routed to Saturday’s Beldame Stakes (G1) by trainer Todd Pletcher after the retirement of Princess of Sylmar. Some suggested Stopchargingmaria could overtake Untapable for year-end honors with a Cotillion victory but that seems unlikely now. Untapable may not have been brilliant last Saturday at Parx but she was professional in defeating fellow Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason and the up-and-coming Jojo Warrior.

Untapable joins Ashado and Plum Pretty as Oaks/Cotillion winners in the past 10 years. The Cotillion has also been won by champions Havre de Grace and My Miss Aurelia in that time span as well as likely 2014 champion Close Hatches, last year’s winner. No wonder the race chased NYRA’s Gazelle Stakes from the September schedule. That former Grade 1 fixture for three-year-old fillies was moved to Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 and has served as a Aqueduct’s Kentucky Oaks prep for the past two seasons.

Untapable is scheduled to face her elders, including Close Hatches and Beholder, in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). A win there would sew up championship honors and maybe, just maybe, put Untapable back in the conversation as one the all-time greats.

-originally published on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: Vicar’s in Trouble

Posted on by DerbyMateo

In the late 1980’s the Super Derby featured some of the decade’s best runners. Hall of Famer and champion Alysheba won the then Grade 1-fixture in 1987. Seeking the Gold won the next year followed by another Hall of Fame champion Sunday Silence. This year’s winner, Vicar’s in Trouble, will probably never be mentioned with those greats but he has developed into a very useful runner whose best days may still lie ahead.

The colt in one of the leading runners by the Harlan’s Holiday stallion Into Mischief and he did make a little history in his Super Derby victory last Saturday. He’s the first Louisiana Derby winner to come back to bayou country and take the state’s most important fall race. And he’s won both races by a combined 10 1/2 lengths after his 7 1/2-length Super Derby runaway. Vicar’s in Trouble has now won or finished third in eight of his nine starts. The Mike Maker-trained colt’s only off-the-board finish came on the first Saturday in May with a last-place run in the Kentucky Derby.

While he didn’t fulfill owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s long-held dream of Kentucky Derby glory, he has earned $1,110,000 for the stable this year. Th Ramseys once again lead all North American owners with nearly $6.5 million in earnings and Vicar’s in Trouble has accounted for about 17% of that total.

The bulk of the Ramsey’s success on the track over the years has come with homebreds by their top stallion Kitten’s Joy and by runners plucked from the claiming ranks. Vicar’s in Trouble, on the other hand, was purchased out of the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Maryland Two-Year-Old in Training sale. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Ramsey’s become even more active at the sales in the future as a way to diversify their bloodstock holdings and to clear the way for more outside breeders to send mares to Kitten’s Joy.

Vicar’s in Trouble may very well end up at Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky standing alongside Kitten’s Joy. But for now the Ramsey’s are no doubt focused on having a much fun as possible with the colt. And no owner has more fun in the winner’s circle than Ken Ramsey.

-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: Itsmyluckyday

Posted on by DerbyMateo

Not all Grade 1 horses actually win a Grade 1 race. Horses like Broken Vow and Tale of the Cat come immediately to mind as runners who ran huge races at the Grade 2 and 3 levels but fell a little short of their best when on the Grade 1 stage. Itmyluckyday was in danger of falling into that category until his gutsy win in the August 30 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Itsmyluckyday was first on our radar 18 months ago after he upset the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on the 2013 Triple Crown trail and he’s been a remarkably consistent runner since. The Eddie Pleasa trainee has been first or second in seven of his subsequent 10 starts, including completing the exacta in a trio of Grade 1 events prior to the Woodward. He was actually sent off as the public choice in last year’s Florida Derby (G1), only to succumb to the late rush of eventual Derby champ Orb. He bested that rival in the Preakness Stakes (G1) but still had to settle for second behind Gary Stevens and Oxbow. He made his Saratoga debut in the Whitney Handicap (G1) earlier in August and was second again, this time to Moreno, who he defeated after a bumpy stretch duel in the Woodward. Itsmluckyday has now won nine of his 19 lifetime starts, earned over $1.6 million and has at least two stakes victories in each of his three seasons on the track.

Spendthrift Farm also saw the Grade 1 quality in Itsmyluckyday before his breakthrough win. In the days leading up to the Woodward the farm that stands Malibu Moon, Tiz Wonderful and Into Mischief among others announced the horse to their 2015 roster. Itsmyluckyday is a son of the late Lawyer Ron, a grandson of the great Danzig, whose sireline has been resurgent in North America the past five years with stallions like War Front and Hard Spun. Itsmyluckyday will get every chance to be the next good one from this line, especially now that breeders see that G1 next to his name.

-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: Shared Belief

Posted on by DerbyMateo

It’s no secret to followers of this blog that I’m a huge fan of Shared Belief. He was first named Horse of the Week back in mid-December of last year after his big win in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. The gelding actually landed in this space a few weeks prior to that as one of ‘Three to Watch’ for the 2014 Classics.

For me it all goes back to his second career victory in the November 10, 2013 Hollywood Prevue (G3) on which I commented:

“(Shared Belief) showed an especially explosive turn of foot when let loose just after turning for home in the Prevue”.

Despite his obvious talent there have been questions all along the way for Shared Belief. His first three victories were all on synthetic surfaces and he had to continue his physical development as racing history is littered with top juveniles who did nothing at three and beyond. Having answered the ‘dirt question’ with a typically brilliant performance in the Los Alamitos Derby (G2) over the solid colt Candy Boy, there were still lingering questions about his ability to negotiate a classic distance (even with his own connections).

Shared Belief emphatically countered those distance doubts in Sunday’s Pacific Classic (G1) where he overcame an awkward start and outside post while earning 115 Beyer Speed Figure, highest of any three-year-old in 2014. This horse does everything emphatically, doesn’t he?

“He just ran a terrific race,” said Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith after the race. “He’s a special horse. I heard someone say this might be the coming out of a superstar. I think now this horse deserves that accolade. I’ll tell you what: he’s as good a young horse as I’ve sat on in a while.”

Shared Belief’s brilliant 2013 late-season surge earned him an Eclipse Award as the best juvenile male in North America. Will it happen again in 2014? California Chrome certainly has the more extensive resume so far with runaway wins in the three important Grade 1’s – the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). Art Sherman has ‘Chrome’ pointed to the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby for his return from Triple Crown grind and now the connections of Shared Belief are considering that race as well. I, for one, have my fingers crossed we’ll see this happen. Both fingers crossed, actually.

-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: I Spent It

Posted on by DerbyMateo

Racing fans will likely recall Super Saver’s rail-skimming trip under Calvin Borel to capture the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1). With his first runners now emerging it appears they also like to ride the rail to victory. At least this can be said of I Spent It, courageous winner of Sunday’s Saratoga Special (G2).

Under a patient ride by Javier Castellano, I Spent It rated in hand behind a wicked early pace in the Special. Castellano decided to stay to the inside, a risky move behind tiring juveniles, but it paid off. I Spent It responded when asked and shot up the rail to score by nearly three lengths over the more seasoned colt Mr. Z.

I Spent It one of several promising runners so far by WinStar Farm’s Super Saver. In fact his first stakes winner emerged eight days earlier when Hashtag Bourbon captured the Mountaineer Juvenile on the August 2 West Virginia Derby card. Super Saver may also have the favorites for the upcoming two-year-old Grade 1’s at Saratoga, the Hopeful Stakes ($750,000 juvenile purchase Competitive Edge) and Spinaway Stakes ($675,0000 juvenile purchase High Dollar Woman).

Like Competitive Edge and High Dollar Woman, I Spent It comes with a high price tag. He was purchased earlier this year for $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February sale. He’s out of the mare Rateeba who is by Sky Mesa, winner of the 2002 Hopeful Stakes (G1). Interestingly, Rateeba was exported to the Philippines and bloodstock agents have no doubt been scrambling to bring her back home. She’s a sister to a pair of stakes runners and to the dam of the precocious Zavata, a multiple graded-winning/Grade 1-placed juvenile. A little further back in this pedigree we find the good juvenile (and multiple Grade 1-winning three-year-old) Dixie Union.

The courage and professionalism I Spent It showed in the Saratoga Special certainly bodes well for his future, at least for the rest of the MyFantasyStable.com Fall Champions Challenge season. We hope he sticks around until next year’s Spring Classics Challenge too.

-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com

Horse of the Week: Jojo Warrior

Posted on by DerbyMateo

There’s no doubt that Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Untapable is the clear leader of the 3YOF division in North America. However, after her next start against fillies in the upcoming Mother Goose Stakes (G1) she may well take on the boys in the Haskell Invitational (G1) and/or Travers Stakes (G1). This would leave the door open for some other sophomore lasses to take down the summer Grade 1’s at Saratoga and Summertime Oaks (G2) winner Jojo Warrior is one of several nice fillies who could benefit from and absent Untapable.

Formerly known as the Hollywood Oaks, the Summertime Oaks was contested at 8.5F over the Santa Anita main track for the first time on Saturday, June 21. It was also the first two-turn race for the well-traveled Jojo Warrior. The Zayat Stables colorbearer made her first four starts from distances ranging from 5.5F to 7F at Del Mar, Oaklawn Park, Churchill Downs and Pimlico. She scored in her debut at Del Mar last September and picked up a couple of blacktype checks in Oaklawn Park’s Instant Racing Stakes and the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Her only off-the-board finish was a fifth-place run in a deep edition of the Eight Belles Stakes (G3) on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Trainer Bob Baffert put blinkers back on Jojo Warrior for her two-turn debut which may have helped her focus and harness her natural speed. Under Martin Garcia, JoJo Warrior went right to the front after the break in the Summertime Oaks and there was no catching her from there. The final margin of victory was 5 1/4 lengths.

The filly is the fourth stakes winner from 94 first crop foals by Pioneerof the Nile, a multiple Grade 1 winner by Empire Maker, who too raced in the powder blue and yellow Zayat Stables silks. Jojo Warrior is also the fourth stakes winner out of the mare Carson Jen, who now has to be considered a major contender for Broodmare of the Year honors. She’s already the dam of Bernardini’s first North American Grade 1 winner, 2010 Frizette Stakes (G1) victress A Z Warrior. Also to her credit is the graded stakes-winning juvenile E Z Warrior (by Exploit) and the four-time listed winner J Z Warrior (Harlan’s Holiday).

Behind Jojo Warrior on Saturday were a couple of other well-bred fillies. Runner-up Live for Now is by Tiznow out of the mare Turko’s Turn, making her a half-sister to 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given. Third-place finisher Front Range is a daughter of three-time leading sire Giant’s Causeway out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Lakeway. Lakeway, in fact, took the 1994 edition of Hollywood/Summertime Oaks when it was still rated a Grade 1.

Surprisingly, the Summertime Oaks is the last main track Graded stakes in Southern California for sophomore fillies. With this being the case we’ll likely see Jojo Warrior hit the road once again to Saratoga where Baffert will have the option of keeping her at two turns in races like the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1) or target Grade 1 sprints like the Prioress Stakes and Test Stakes. Much will likely depend on where Untapable ends up and Baffert and the Zayats are no doubt hoping that filly tries her mettle against the boy

Originally published on http://www.MyFantasyStable.com

Horse of the Week: Moonshine Mullin

Posted on by DerbyMateo

While rumors swirl over exactly where the Breeders’ Cup will be held after 2014, we know for sure that this fall the big event will be held at Santa Anita. And we also know that Moonhine Mullin has already earned a berth in the Classic field after his gutsy win in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on Saturday night.

The modestly-bred Moonshine Mullin has run for $40,000 claiming tag year but was a runner with apparent promise earlier in his career. After breaking his maiden in his second start as a juvenile in November of 2010, he was runner-up in the Display Stakes in his next outing. During his sophomore campaign he was the winner of the Victoria Park Stakes by a nose over eventual Sovereign Award winner Alpha Bettor. His following start was a second place finish (at 37-1) to multiple Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga. For the next two-plus seasons, though, the bay horse could manage only a pair wins at the Allowance/Optional Claiming level.

Then the calendar turned to 2014 and Moonshine Mullin turned into a monster. 

On January 20 the Randy Morse-trainee placed third in an Optional Claimer at Oaklawn Park. He hasn’t lost since, winning an Optional Claimer next time (in which he was entered for a $40,000 tag), then a straight $80,000 claimer, then another Optional Claimer (no tag this time). Then came the stakes races. There were two Grade 1 winners and two more Classic-placed runners in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day but Moonshine Mullin beat them all. Those two Grade 1 winners, champion Will Take Charge and fellow Travers Stakes (G1) winner Golden Ticket, were back again for the Stephen Foster along with multiple Graded winners like Revolutionary and Departing. Moonshine Mullin again used his speed and grit under jockey Calvin Borel to repulse all challengers to get the money. His speed and courage are traits he likely inherited from his sire.

Moonshine Mullin is by Albert the Great, a son of 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin. A leading runner of his generation for the owner/trainer combination of Tracy Farmer and Nick Zito, Albert the Great won the 2000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and placed in six other Grade 1 events, including the Breeders Cup Classic (G1). After spending his early days at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky he now stands at Pin Oak Lane Farm in Pennsylvania. While he’s averages but a single stakes winner in each of his first nine crops, Moonshine Mullin is Albert the Great’s third career Grade 1 winner after Wood Memorial winner Nobiz Like Shobiz and Donn Handicap/Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Albertus Maximus. 

The Whitney Handicap (G1) is the next logical spot for any top handicap horse in the midwest and east coast. Moonshine Mullin has proven he belongs in a race like that and, more importantly, he’s proved he’s Breeders’ Cup-worthy.

(originally published on http://www.myfantasystable.com)