CHC

As we approach the opening of the 2026 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Here we catch up with Christie DeBernardis, CHC's Regional Manager of the Americas. CHC, which first made its presence felt in 2013 and was co-owner of Triple Crown winner Justify, has bred Grade I winners Kimari (Munnings), Valiance (Tapit), and Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming). Cara Marie (14, Unbridled's Song--Miss Kilroy, by A.P. Indy), booked to Patch...

He won at first-asking, but proved that the increase in real estate was no problem for him, and Jackson Hole (Nyquist) strolled home on seasonal bow at Fair Grounds to become the latest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' for his sire. A length winner against maidens Dec 13 at Gulfstream Park, the son of GI Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist was strongly supported at the windows to the tune of 4-5 favoritism here, and never gave them a scare. Loping along from the rail, he set a controlled pace in...

TAPPAN STREET, last seen on the track winning the GI Curlin Florida Derby in March, missed quite an eventful summer. Take for instance the horse he defeated that day in Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who never lost again this season and looks to be a strong candidate for Horse of the Year. Had a condylar fracture in his right front leg not knocked him off the Road to the Kentucky Derby, perhaps Tappan Street would have had more to say in the big 3-year-old races this season. As it stands, the...

2nd-Belmont The Big A, $80,000, (S), Msw, 10-24, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.77, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. PANTHERIAN (c, 2, Vekoma--Big Thrill, by Big Drama) and Wamo (Yaupon) went at each other for most of this New York-bred maiden, and the Stewards ultimately had to step in to reverse the running order. After a shoe repair in the paddock, Wamo brushed with the off side stall at the jump but recovered well enough to place himself right in the middle of a duel for the lead. Pantherian traveled from four off...

8th-Churchill Downs, $123,202, Alw, 6-13, (NW1X), 3yo/up, 1 1/2m (off turf), 2:31.72, sy, 14 1/2 lengths. EMERGENCE (c, 3, Uncle Mo--Belle Watling, by Pulpit) closed from well back in his Feb. 1 debut to graduate at first asking over Gulfstream's synthetic track by 3 1/4 lengths. Moved over to the grass two back Mar. 1 at that venue for the Listed Colonel Liam Stakes at a mile, he failed to produce that same kick and finished a flat eighth behind winner Mi Bago (Vekoma), who would just miss hitting the...

1st-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-8, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.51, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. INVICTUS (c, 3, Into Mischief--Serengeti Empress {MGISW, $2,175,653}, by Alternation) had not been seen since finishing a well-beaten seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga maiden race won in 'TDN Rising Star' style by Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) last July. The 8-5 second choice was hustled out to the early lead, but allowed favored Camp Hale (Mo Town) to take control and then settled in third as longshot Ship Ship Hooray (Midshipman) shot up the rail to lead as the quarter...

3rd-KEE, $120k, OC125k/NW1, 3yo, 6f, 2:04 p.m. ET. Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister's Tip Top Thomas (Volatile), who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Saratoga last August, returns to the races for the first time since finishing second behind Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Champagne Stakes last October. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the $160,000 FTKOCT yearling is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar) and to multiple graded placed Dua (Arrogate). CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Gunmetal (Gun Runner), who scratched out...

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is in the process of making plans for a trio of stable stars which includes the Florida-based River Thames (Maclean's Music), Gate to Wire (Munnings) and Locked (Gun Runner). WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s undefeated 3-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames bounced out of his Feb. 1 optional claiming allowance victory in good order and will have plenty of options moving forward said Pletcher. The New York-bred bay romped by 6 1/2 lengths as the favorite going one mile in 1:36.34 on...

5th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-1, 3yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:42.82, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. EMERGENCE (c, 3, Uncle Mo--Belle Watling, by Pulpit), let go at 7-1, was shuffled back in traffic into the first turn and settled near the back of the pack down the backstretch. The dark bay colt began inching closer nearing the far turn, rolled up three wide into the stretch and bound to the lead before drawing clear to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths. Daham (American Pharoah) was second. Emergence, a $475,000 KEESEP yearling, is a half-brother...

5th-FG, $58K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:15 p.m. ET. Whisper Hill homebred STRAIGHT FORWARD (American Pharoah) makes her first start for Mandy Pope and trainer Steve Asmussen. The filly's dam, Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was acquired by the farm at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale for a cool $3.9 million. Herself out of English Group 1 winner Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), Aloof is a half-sister to the dam of full-siblings MG1SW Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1SW Clemmie. Set for her unveiling is another homebred, Good Going (Mendelssohn),...

3rd-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:18p.m. ET Fashionably late to the party, but making it to the races for the partnership of WinStar Farm, Siena Farm, and Rockridge Racing, TUCSON (Constitution) seeks to validate their patience against a field of experienced maidens over the main track. Hammered down for $1.3-million at KEESEP in 2022 but later having to be resold by Keeneland the following spring, the chestnut has been working steadily for Todd Pletcher out at Palm Beach Downs. A half-brother to Grade I-winning and Royal Ascot Group 1-placed...

9th-TAM, $53K, Msw, f, 3yo/up, 7f, 4:30p.m. China Horse Club sends out the late-starting INTO AMORE (Into Mischief), a homebred daughter of GI Alabama winner Embellish the Lace (Super Saver). Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 3-year-old filly has been posting steady works at the Hall of Famer's Palm Beach Downs base in South Florida. The half-sister to GI Travers winner Afleet Express (Afleet Alex), herself a $2.4 million Fasig-Tipton November purchase in 2016, is responsible for a pair of $1.25 million Keeneland September yearlings--Tap the Faith (Tapit) in 2020 and...