Claiborne

By Andrea Branchini Meritaten, f, 3, War Front--Queen Nefertiti (Ire) (GSP), by   Galileo (Ire). Sam Houston Race, 1-29, 1m (off turf), 1:41.38.   B-Claiborne Farm (KY). A winner of a maiden in Texas has a curious name. MERITATEN is a daughter of QUEEN NEFERTITI, in very ancient history--and also in the Jockey Club Register three millennia later. The original Nefertiti (1370-1330 BC) was an Egyptian queen and the Great Royal Wife of Akhenaten, the Pharaoh who started a religious revolution by worshipping one god only, the sun (named Aten). Meritaten was...

With Claiborne's announcement that War Front would remain at $250,000 in 2019, the 16-year-old sire becomes the top-priced U.S.-based stallion, along with Medaglia d'Oro. Tapit will stand for $225,000, Gainesway Farm announced Wednesday. The leading sire by percentage of lifetime graded stakes winners, War Front has sired 29 black-type horses in 2018, and four Grade or Group 1 stakes winners, including U S Navy Flag, Fog of War, and Lancaster Bomber. War Front's yearlings have brought prices up to $2.4 million. The stud fee for Claiborne's Blame--sire of two GI...