Wedding Toast Strikes Again in the Beldame

‘TDN Rising Star’ Wedding Toast was backed like she was ready to roll off the bench here, and the Sheikh Mohammed homebred did just that with another dominating performance. The dark bay capped a four-race win streak in Aqueduct’s GIII Comely S. in November of 2013, but made just one start at four when second to MGISW Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior) in the Cat Cay S. in Ozone Park. She resurfaced this January to take Gulfstream’s seven-panel Miami shores H. Jan. 7, but settled for third at odds-on behind House Rules (Distorted Humor) in that venue’s GIII Rampart S. some six weeks later. Fourth in Keeneland’s GI Madison S. Apr. 4, she found her best form again when annexing the local GII Ruffian S. by four lengths May 9, and followed up with a commanding five-length defeat of champion Untapable (Tapit) in the lucrative GI Ogden Phipps S. here June 6.

Able to get the lead without trying particularly hard for it, the chalk doled out splits of :24.11, a quicker 47.57, and 1:11.28. Curalina and Catch My Drift made runs at the leader turning for home, but she quickly shut the door on those advances to score in hand.

“[The layoff was] not much of a concern if you saw her worktab,” said conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. “Last week, she worked three quarters in [1:12 3/5 at Greentree Sept. 11], so she’s been fit. She just had a little foot issue and we had to skip the [GI] Personal Ensign [at Saratoga Aug. 29] and then, thinking about it, we thought this was a better spot anyway because she loves the one turn. As good form as she’s in, she’ll be able to handle two turns [in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff]. She’s won at two turns. But this race was here and it’s a Grade I, so it worked out well. I don’t say it very often, but I asked [Jose Lezcano] not to give her a hard race if he didn’t have to because she looked that good on paper. We have a big race in five weeks. Couldn’t have asked for better, it really went perfect.”

Wedding Toast is out of an unraced half sister to MGISW Congaree (Arazi) and GISP Sangaree (Awesome Again). Godolphin had previously won this race three times–in 2002, 2008 and 2009–with Saeed bin Suroor trainees Imperial Gesture, Cocoa Beach and Music Note.

Saturday, Belmont
BELDAME S.-GI, $400,000, BEL, 9-26, 3yo/up, f/m,
1 1/8m, 1:47.67, ft.
1–WEDDING TOAST, 123, m, 5, by Street Sense
1st Dam: Golden Sheba, by Coronado’s Quest
2nd Dam: Mari’s Sheba, by Mari’s Book
3rd Dam: Sheba Little (GB), by Known Fact
“TDN Rising Star” O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Darley
(KY); T-Kiaran P. McLaughlin; J-Jose Lezcano.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 12-8-2-1, $1,419,956.
Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”kbif-g1″] 2–Curalina, 120, f, 3, Curlin–Whatdreamsrmadeof, by
Graeme Hall. ($125,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners; B-CASA Farms I LLC (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $80,000.[bullet ad=”denali-stud-sold-by”] 3–Catch My Drift, 123, f, 4, Pioneerof the Nile–Drift to
the Lead, by Yonaguska. ($95,000 Ylg ’12 KEESEP).
O-Hidden Brook Farm; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John
D. Fielding (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $40,000.[bullet ad=”hidden-brook-racing-partnership”][bullet ad=”bradshaw-randy-shell”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”] Margins: 2 3/4, 5, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.65, 2.70, 7.20.
Also Ran: Call Pat, House Rules, Hot Stones. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.