Constitution

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday and Monday running at Chukyo Racecourse: Sunday, January 5, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥10,600,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m HUG (JPN) (c, 3, Justify--Fleet Bertie, by Afleet Alex) made a single visit to the races as a 2-year-old, finishing a good second over 1800 meters...

2nd-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/8m, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET CHOWSER (Constitution), a $200,000 purchase out of the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, carries the silks of Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables in this trip to the races. A late April foal, the chestnut is a full-brother to 2021 GIII Oklahoma Derby winner and GI Santa Anita Handicap runner-up Warrant and a half to GII Barbara Fritchie Stakes heroine Ms Locust Point (Dialed In), each of whom won their maiden at second asking over six furlongs. The colt's dam Whisper...

Even now, having broken his own record haul to secure a sixth consecutive general sires' championship, we cannot quite call him another Bold Ruler. But if Into Mischief can extend his reign through 2025, so matching the sequence achieved by the Claiborne legend between 1963 and 1969, he will give formal gilding to his status as the stallion who best defines our epoch. Bold Ruler actually added an eighth title in 1973, but that modern record--we must leave Lexington's 19th century career as a bewildering case apart--does not feel secure...

5th-GP, 65K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:19 p.m. The partnership of WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and Siena Farm went to $1,000,000 to purchase TAPPAN STREET (Into Mischief) out of the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Sale last year. The colt is out of GII Gazelle Stakes third Virginia Key, a a half-sister to GSW/MGISP Pyrenees (Into Mischief) and GISW Grace Adler (Curlin), who has already produced SP Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro). Notably not the most expensive yearling in his family (his year-younger Curlin half-brother brought $1.4m at KEESEP this year),...

Two years removed from the last time he won a stakes race, and at the same track no less, Rocket Can (Into Mischief) turned his fortunes around with a game victory in the GII Harlan's Holiday Stakes. The three-quarter-length victor of the GIII Holy Bull Stakes in 2023, his connections took a shot at the Derby trail and the race itself, but ultimately had to go on the sidelines after finishing ninth on the big day. Gone until March of this year, when he made a successful return to the...

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...

Mt. Brilliant Family Foundation has signed on for the third consecutive year as the presenting sponsor for the Thoroughbred Charities of America's (TCA) upcoming 35th Annual Stallion Season Auction to be held Wednesday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 12, the organization said via a Wednesday press release. The largest fundraiser for the TCA opens with an online auction beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Jan. 8 and continues through 4:00 p.m. ET. on Friday, Jan. 10. The online auction will offer over 200 seasons to stallions standing in 13 states and...

5th-Parx Racing, $50,400, Msw, 12-3, 2yo, 1m 70y, 1:47.82, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. NATIONAL LAW (c, 2, Constitution--Susie's Baby, by Giant's Causeway) provided some very anxious moments for his backers as the even-money favorite at third asking here. He stalked the early leaders from an outside third and took over midway on the far turn. He kicked for home as the one to catch, and, after opening a seven-length lead at the stretch call, things began to get quite interesting. National Law drifted out badly to the outer rail down...

Admiral Dennis (c, 2, Constitution--Gulf Coast, by Union Rags), a luckless third as the favorite sprinting on debut at Churchill Downs Sept. 19, ran to the money as the 3-5 choice with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for trainer Brad Cox in the Churchill Downs nightcap Thursday. Drawn widest of all in post nine, the $425,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate tracked the early leaders from an outside third through an opening quarter in :22.92 in the one-turn mile contest. Admiral Dennis revved up three deep with a flashy move to...

WinStar Farm will host open houses at the farm beginning Nov. 6 and running through Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the farm's complex on Paynes Mill Road in Versailles. No appointment is necessary to inspect the WinStar stallions for 2025, headed up by Constitution and Life Is Good, in addition to two of WinStar's newest stallions, Heartland (Justify) and Timberlake (Into Mischief). Heartland, a 'TDN Rising Star', is a son of Justify and a half-brother to Classic Empire. Heartland flashed his brilliance in a head-turning career...

Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Chasing Liberty (Constitution) was among the pre-entries to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but was three deep on the list of horses that were not selected by the Breeders' Cup seeding panel. The homebred was instead re-routed for Friday's Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, heretofore a race for dirt marathoners, but switched to something of a consolation event for the Juvenile Turf. Sent off at odds of 34-5 and trying two turns for the first time off a troubled fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Indian Summer...

7th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:55p.m. ET RESTLESS RENEGADE (Into Mischief), a homebred for Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables, debuts here for Kenny McPeek on a busy Sunday coast to coast for well-bred juveniles. Out of GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes victress and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up--among three placings at the highest level--Restless Rider (Distorted Humor), the colt has three works over the Churchill Downs track since moving there in early October from Saratoga. This is the immediate female family of MGSW Private Vow (Broken Vow). TJCIS...