TDN Rising Star
Coolmore has reached an agreement with the partnership that owns runaway Bashford Manor S. winner Gulfport (Uncle Mo--Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled's Song) to stand the undefeated 2-year-old colt at Ashford Stud upon his retirement. Gulfport is owned by L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC. Bred in Kentucky by Diamond Creek Farm, Gulfport fetched $275,000 from Pick View as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling. He debuted for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen June 10 at Churchill Downs with a scintillating seven-length score to earn...
e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Pink Hue (f, 2, Mendelssohn--Involved, by Speightstown) was a bit short of running room when push was about to come to shove in Sunday's sixth race going two turns over the Saratoga turf course, but once the daylight came, the $310,000 Keeneland September graduate went through her gears and ran up the score to defeat the well-meant Xigera (Nyquist) by 2 3/4 resounding lengths. Guided down onto the fence after brushing with a rival at the break, Pink Hue got a foothold at the fence from...
Disarm (c, 2, Gun Runner--Easy Tap, by Tapit), a visually impressive rallying third behind subsequent GIII Sanford S. winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) going 5 1/2 furlongs on debut at Churchill Downs June 19, took a big step forward to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors in his second trip to the post at Saratoga Saturday. Drawn on the fence in this seven-furlong affair, the Winchell homebred traveled nicely on the inside in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.77. The 9-5 second-choice was tipped out three deep leaving the quarter...
Jace's Road (c, 2, Quality Road--Out Post, by Silver Deputy), a $510,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, put on a show at Ellis Park Saturday afternoon en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The bay worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 (2/90) at Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base July 29 and was hammered down to 7-5 favoritism while drawn on the outside in post nine against this deep-looking bunch. He chased on the outside in third though an opening quarter in :22.47, loomed boldly under confident handling while three-wide on the...
Not even favourite for Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., it is no wild statement that TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) could be the best juvenile Aidan O'Brien has had though his hands after a display of power to scintillate the Curragh faithful. Always in his comfort zone on the front under Ryan Moore as chief rival Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) blew the start, the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. and July 16 G3 Anglesey S. winner was shaken up by Ryan Moore to put...
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Incahoots {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was let go at odds of 29-5 for Saturday's Prix des Marettes at Deauville and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' tag after posting a taking pillar-to-post performance in the 7 1/2-furlong debutantes' heat. The eventual winner was the sharpest of one dozen into stride and seized an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, she was shaken up when threatened passing the quarter-mile marker and ran on strongly once quickening clear approaching the...
Hall of Famer Todd A. Pletcher, currently sitting in second place in the Saratoga trainer standings, will be locked and loaded in a pair of Grade I events at the Spa Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney S. With the unbeaten sensation and 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) awaiting the GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 3, a pair of New York-based heavyweights in the handicap division will throw down in the 12-race card's feature. The uber-talented 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into...
Tanya Gunther was thrilled to watch the latest 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify) trounce the competition in her breathtaking debut, but the horsewoman admitted that a few thoughts of what could have been flashed through her head as she remembered the promising filly's early days spent at Glennwood Farm. "I didn't really want to sell her," Gunther said with an acquiescing smile. "Most of our yearlings do go to the sale, but I was a bit sad when we let her go." Bred by Tanya's father John Gunther in partnership...
In the same way which astronomical stars largely form in groups, so too did the 'TDN Rising Stars' this past Sunday. Not one, not two, but three leading ladies emerged from the nebulae of Del Mar and Saratoga, each with her own brand of brilliance. Chief among the splendor, and the last to show her shine, was Justique (Justify), whose brilliant turn of foot and effortless dismissal of rivals summoned forth comparisons to another glorious 'Rising Star' in her hayday--a John Shirreffs masterpiece, Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire})....
2.10 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 8fT FONISKA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was withdrawn from her intended debut at Leopardstown in June due to a respiratory infection, but is ready to go now for Flaxman Stables Ireland and Jessie Harrington. A daughter of the G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}), the May-foaled bay encounters Ballydoyle's Leopardstown third Dame Kiri (Justify), whose dam is a full-sister to Alice Springs (Ire). 2.40 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 8fT DENMARK (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is a notable newcomer from...
StarLadies Racing, LNJ Foxwoods and Gainesway Stable's Prank (Into Mischef--Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit), a $500,000 half-sister to stablemate and recent GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), GISW, $1,511,800, flashed serious speed and ability Sunday to justify 1-2 backing and be named an obvious 'TDN Rising Star'. Emerging from the pack to seize early command, the Todd Pletcher pupil doled out a swift opening split of :21.91 before leaving High Class (Into Mischief) in the dust through a :45.11 half. From there it was only a question of how far,...
Mike Ryan's Be Your Best (Ire) (Muharaar {GB}--Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro) came out swinging Sunday at Saratoga to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' moniker. Let go at 8-1 among a competitive-looking group of juvenile fillies, the Horacio De Paz trainee sat off the pace early and was hung a bit wide around the first bend. She traveled well down the backside, and caught the eye when making a three-wide move around the home bend into a six-furlong split of 1:14.29. Still going strongly out in the enter of the course...