Curlin

10th-Gulfstream, $56,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.19, ft, head. FIRST CAPTAIN (c, 4, Curlin--America {GSW & MGISP, $580,532}, by A.P. Indy) faced a small but competitive field for his 4-year-old debut, including GSWs Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) and Dennis' Moment (Tiznow)--the latter also a 'TDN Rising Star'--as well as black-type winners Real Talk (Gemologist) and Hello Hot Rod (Mosler). A 'TDN Rising Star' himself, First Captain was slowest of all out of the stalls, yet kept in touch with the tightly packed field from the back. Nearly...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency BELGRADE MAKES FIRST START FOR NEW CONNECTIONS 1st-TAM, $35K, Opt. Clm. ($75K), 3yo, 7f, 12:13 p.m. Carl and Yurie Pascarella went to $700,000 for KEEJAN sale topper BELGRADE (Hard Spun) with GI Kentucky Derby dreams and he makes his first start for his new owners and new trainer Graham Motion here. A $45,000 FTKSEL purchase by Randy Bradshaw, the chestnut romped by six lengths in his career bow at Fair Grounds Dec. 18 for trainer Brendan Walsh. His dam is a half to GSW &...

A pair of highly regarded sophomores of 2021 are on the comeback trail for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. Courtlandt Farm's homebred Greatest Honour (Tapit--Tiffany's Honour, by  Street Cry {Ire}) was a serious early contender for the GI Kentucky Derby following flashy wins in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. last winter. After finishing a flat third as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27, however, McGaughey decided to hit the reset button on the bay. "I wasn't really pleased...

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) gave birth to her first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Curlin, Hill 'n' Dale Farms and owners Allen Racing and Andrew Yaffe announced Monday evening. "This colt was born to be a champion," said Jeff Bloom, founder of Bloom Racing, who purchased Midnight Bisou for $80,000 at the 2017 OBS April sale. "He is the personification of the age-old adage 'breed the best to the best and hope for the best.' This exciting colt ushers in the next chapter in our amazing...

4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 2-13, 3yo, f, 1m 70y (AWT) (off turf), 1:45.10, ft, head. AMERICAN HEROINE (f, 3, War Front--Chatham {MSP, $156,431}, by Maria's Mon) debuted on the turf at this venue Jan. 2 without Lasix, producing a closing kick which carried her five wide into the lane but also to third place within a length of winning. With this race coming off the turf, she broke well and secured a forward position as the 8-5 chalk. The $1.05 million KEESEP score glued herself to the early lead from second...

With a third place effort in the Tempted S. Nov. 5 at Belmont Park the only blemish to her otherwise perfect four race record, Nest used her neck victory Dec. 4 in the GII Demoiselle S. as a springboard into the winner's circle here. Carrying great expectations as the 1-5 overwhelming favorite, Nest briefly drifted out after the break, but went into the first turn comfortably stalking from third to the outside of the field. Glued to Alittleloveandluck (Arrogate) as the pair tracked a frontrunner through a moderate pace in...

The Stonestreet-bred, Shadwell-campaigned seven-figure Keeneland September yearling Malathaat (Curlin) was an unsurprising recipient of the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly Thursday evening. Her signature win came in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she also took the GI Central Bank Ashland and GI Alabama S. for trainer Todd Pletcher before a close third in a wild running of the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. 

6th-GP, $60K, Msw, 4yo/up, 7f, 3:05 p.m. Fresh off a big win in last weekend's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf, Robert and Lawana Lowe are represented here by PIGOTT (Curlin), who makes his belated debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. A $1.2 million KEESEP yearling purchase, the chestnut is a half-brother to GI Hollywood Derby winner Mo Town, who showed versatility winning the GII Remsen S. on the dirt. The trainer-jockey combo of Pletcher and Luis Saez have been deadly at the meet, connecting at...

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Robert Slack of Stoneriggs Farm near Paris, Kentucky. BAJAN GIRL (m, 5, Speightstown--Dazzling {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), to be bred to Curlin We purchased this mare out of a 2-year-old sale in Ocala, and raced her. She was multiple graded stakes placed before we retired her to Stoneriggs. She is by Speightstown, one of my very favorite sires, and out of Dazzling, who herself was...

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have owner/breeder, chef, and restaurateur Bobby Flay. SUPER ESPRESSO (m, 15, Medaglia d'Oro--Amizette, by Forty Niner), to be bred to Not This Time One of the hottest, proven sires of the new generation. Can infuse natural speed into this regally bred family of Courtly Dee. TIZAHIT (m, 15, Tiznow--Never a No Hitter, by Kris S.), to be bred to Curlin The mare has already produced a...

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Andrew Cary, bloodstock agent for Coteau Grove Farms. MISS HOT LEGS (m, 6, Verrazano--Expo Gold, by Johannesburg), to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro Miss Hot Legs is one of our top mares. She's a stakes-placed three-quarter sister to the superstar Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil). We purchased her for $500,000 as a broodmare prospect at Keeneland November 2020. Miss Hot Legs herself was a very fast and...

The daughter of a racing steward and a steeplechase trainer, Maryland native Helen Pitts was destined for a career on the racetrack. After working for several steeplechase trainers, she made the move to Kentucky to work for Kenny McPeek. When McPeek stepped away from training in 2005, Pitts took over and had her very first winner that same day. Over the years, she has reached the winner's circle with many unforgettable racehorses, including Hall of Fame champion Curlin and her all-time favorite trainee, MGISW Einstein (Brz). KP: How did you...