Curlin

With principal Sheikh Hamdan having passed away just 10 days earlier, unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) provided the Shadwell team with a major pick-me-up as she ran down Pass the Champagne (Flatter) in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. Saturday under red-hot Joel Rosario. "I can't put it into words," said an emotional Rick Nichols--Vice President and General Manager of Shadwell--after the race. "I am sure [Sheikh Hamdan] is up there with a big smile on his face looking down on us. We really needed this." Already with 10...

Trainer Todd Pletcher indicated Overtook (Curlin) will make his next start in the May 8 GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont Park. Since finishing second behind Risk Taking in the GIII Withers S. Feb. 6 at Aqueduct, the son of Grade I winner Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) has registered two easy half-mile works at Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base, including the latest a a four-furlong move in :50.75 Mar. 6. The Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith runner is expected to return...

Breeders on both sides of the Atlantic have become so childishly dogmatic about sealing off their respective bloodlines--as dirt or turf, and "never the twain shall meet"--that even a GI Kentucky Derby might not suffice to open some eyes. It is almost as though they have forgotten the mutual transformations achieved by the likes of Nasrullah and Northern Dancer. To those who remain a little more open-minded, however, Known Agenda (Curlin) has already rebuked some lazy assumptions with his breakout score in the GI Florida Derby last Saturday. Plenty thought...

Niall Brennan is riding high heading into this week's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale as this year, a pair of his program's graduates have developed into two of the hottest colts in training early on in the season. Just last weekend, Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) was much the best in the G1 Dubai World Cup and trainer Mike Stidham said after the race that the 4-year-old colt is just going to get better. Meanwhile, another Godolphin homebred in Eclipse Champion Essential Quality (Tapit) looks to maintain his undefeated career...

St Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin) appears to have exited his victory in Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby in good order. "Excellent. He came back in great shape, good energy. I'm very happy with him," trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. "He'll stay here for a little while. We'll just kind of monitor the weather everywhere and play it by ear whether he has one work at Churchill [Downs] or two works [before the GI Kentucky Derby." Third in December's GII Remsen S., the son of GISW Byrama (GB) (Byron...

St Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin) upped trainer Todd Pletcher's record of GI Curlin Florida Derby wins to six while taking the race sponsored by his leading sire in impressive fashion Saturday. "It has so many great meanings, but for me what is so special about this is to win it for St Elias with a horse that they bred," Pletcher said. "I know how much that means to them, that makes it a little more extra special for us." The 5-1 shot saved all the ground early in...

   Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), 2019's champion older mare and a five-time GISW with earnings of nearly $7.5 million, has been pronounced in foal to Hill 'n' Dale stalwart, two-time Horse of the Year and fellow Steve Asmussen trainee Curlin. "Midnight Bisou was a mare with extraordinary ability. One can only imagine the possibilities from the mating of two such Greats of the breed," said John G. Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale. Midnight Bisou sold for $5 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale to Chuck Allen, who was...

The fireworks at the annual Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton November sales are always a highlight of the year as seven-figure bids abound on some of racing's top broodmares and broodmare prospects. But after the dust settles, it can be years before words get out on the breeding careers of the sales' top offerings. We catch up with the connections of a few of these most recent million-dollar broodmares and learn of their mating plans for 2021 in our 'Million-Dollar Matings' series. [tdn_vimeo_embed title="Blue Prize at Taylor Made" admp4="https://player.vimeo.com/external/515489558.sd.mp4?s=c7e72749717e8d52cab5b5ce2ae192d51a7af636&profile_id=165" videomp4= "https://player.vimeo.com/external/522978900.sd.mp4?s=86df5ecc14e6d906dbebdf808f5c0ef9029e5cc0&profile_id=165" thumbnail=...

Calvin Nguyen's Idol (Curlin) seemed to relish the 10 furlongs of Saturday's GI Santa Anita H. as he turned the tables on Express Train (Union Rags) to post a mild 5-1 upset. Even-money invader Maxfield (Street Sense) could only manage third with no obvious excuse. Last seen finishing third as the favorite behind Express Train when trapped behind a slow pace in the Jan. 30 GII San Pasqual S., the bay was kept off the inside and unhurried as he sat second last. Last year's GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay...

The fireworks at the annual Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton November sales are always a highlight of the year as seven-figure bids abound on some of racing's top broodmares and broodmare prospects. But after the dust settles, it can be years before words get out on the breeding careers of the sales' top offerings. We catch up with the connections of a few of these most recent million-dollar broodmares and learn of their mating plans for 2021 in our ongoing 'Million-Dollar Matings' series.     CONSTELLATION (Bellamy Road-For Royalty, by Not For...

St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda (Curlin) may have earned his way into the GI Curlin Florida Derby field Friday after romping to a 11-length victory in the Gulfstream Park's fourth race, a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds. "We'll talk about it with Mr. and Mrs. Viola and their team," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "We'll talk about it, but I think he ran well enough today that it's definitely in play." Known Agenda, who was sent to post as the 1-2 favorite in a field of six, rated off...

The fireworks at the annual Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton November sales are always a highlight of the year as seven-figure bids abound on some of racing's top broodmares and broodmare prospects. But after the dust settles, it can be years before words get out on the breeding careers of the sales' top offerings. We caught up with the connections of a few of these most recent million-dollar broodmares and learned of their mating plans for 2021 in the first edition of our 'Million-Dollar Matings' series.   LADY AURELIA (Scat Daddy-D'Wildcat Speed,...