Juddmonte homebred Taraz (f, 2, Into Mischief–Silk Route, by Empire Maker), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' with a jaw-dropping performance on debut at Churchill Downs Nov. 14, stayed perfect with another impressive performance in Saturday's $75,000 Letellier Memorial S. at Fair Grounds.
Favored at 2-5, the massive bay was hustled to the front from her inside draw over the sloppy going. Ursula (Tapit), herself an impressive local maiden winner at second asking Nov. 30, made a bid on the far turn, but Taraz was just getting warmed up. Taraz straightened for home in complete command and was never asked down the lane en route to a double-digit victory.
Ursula stayed on for second; Sweet Kisses (Carpe Diem) was third.
Taraz's second dam is European stakes winner and Group 1-placed Jibe. Her two-time winning dam Silk Route produced a full-brother to the winner last year and a Flintshire (GB) filly this term. She was bred back to that fellow Juddmonte colorbearer, who stands at Hill 'n' Dale. This is also the family of European champions Commander in Chief (GB) and Warning (GB); and Group 1 winner Full Mast (Mizzen Mast).
LETELLIER MEMORIAL S., $75,000, Fair Grounds, 12-21, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.83, sy.
1–TARAZ, 116, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Silk Route, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Jibe, by Danzig
3rd Dam: Slightly Dangerous, by Roberto
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Juddmonte
Farms, Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $48,000.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $102,412.
2–Ursula, 116, f, 2, Tapit–Debonnaire (GB), by Anabaa.
($575,000 RNA Ylg '18 FTKOCT). O-Mt. Brilliant Stable LLC &
Orrin Ingram; B-Mt. Brilliant Broodmares II, LLC (KY); T-Michael
Stidham. $15,000.
3–Sweet Kisses, 117, f, 2, Carpe Diem–True Kiss, by Is It True.
($170,000 RNA Ylg '18 FTKJUL; $290,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT).
O-Johns Martin, Bill J. Rucker, Robert G. Hahn, Jesse J.
Englehart & Josh Allen; B-Charles Muth & Patrick Murphy (KY);
T-Jeremiah C. Englehart. $7,500.
Margins: 11 1/4, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 2.80, 4.20.
Also Ran: Gee She Sparkles, Street Flyer. Scratched: Halama.
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