More Than Ready’s Rushing Fall breaks record in Jenny Wiley
A Grade 1 winner in each of her four years of racing, Rushing Fall (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) doubled up on G1 Jenny Wiley S. wins and broke the track record in the process in the 1700 metre turf race at Keeneland.
The winner of five of her six starts on the Keeneland turf, Rushing Fall closely tracked the leading Jolie Olympica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer {USA}) with Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Dansili {GB}) just behind her. Rushing Fall made her move with 400 metres left to go and drew even with the leader just after that before taking over the race.
Jolie Olympica had nothing left to respond with as Rushing Fall started pulling away to win by 0.75l. Juliet Foxtrot gave the second-place runner a scare late when coming up to finish a close third with a dead heat behind them for fourth.
Giving trainer Chad Brown a double on the day, Rushing Fall is now a five-time Grade 1 winner with all but her 2017 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf win coming at Keeneland.
“It’s a dream come true,” said owner Bob Edwards of her winning Grade 1s four years in a row. “Everyone wishes for a horse like this. I hope I get another one in my racing career like her. This is just phenomenal. We’re all sitting around watching it at the house … I’m still shaking. The adrenaline spike is still there even when you’re watching from your couch. And not a terrible day for Chad (Brown)!”
By Vinery’s legendary More Than Ready (USA), Rushing Fall is a half-sister to Listed winning Milam (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) and Listed-placed Autumn Song (USA) (Colonel John {USA}).
The mare hails from the family of Grade 1-winning Albert The Great (USA) (Go For Gin {USA}) and the family of last week’s G3 Cornhusker H. winner Night Ops (USA) (Warrior’s Reward {USA})
Oxted provides apprentice Fallon with first Group winner
Showing he takes after his father, jockey Cieren Fallon secured his first Group winner while still an apprentice on Saturday with Oxted’s (GB) (Mayson {GB}) win in the G1 Darley July Cup.
The Roger Teal-trained gelding thrived over the 1200 metres at Newmarket, breaking strongly and racing prominently among the front runners as Lord Of The Lodge (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) set the pace alongside Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}).
As they hit the half-way point, Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and Oxted joined the charge with Golden Horde hanging tough beside the new challengers. Racing down the rail in the final 400 metres, Oxted proved to be the best of the duellers as he stuck his head in front then started to pull away in the closing stages.
With a jubilant Fallon aboard, the gelding crossed the line 1.25l in front of Sceptical (GB) (Exceed And Excel), who got his neck in front of Golden Horde at just the right time.
“I’m speechless, I can’t believe it,” Fallon told Thoroughbred Daily News. “I was just a passenger on a very good horse today. Mr Teal and the team back home have done an incredible job. There was a lot of pressure going into a Group 1 like this.
"I spoke to my dad beforehand and my jockey coach Michael Tebbutt and went into the office to see my boss Mr Haggas too. I’m very lucky to have the support around me that I have to keep me progressing. Dad said to keep it simple, jump out, stay in a straight line, don’t take him back, don’t push and keep him travelling. Hold him together to the dip then let him go and see what’s underneath you. That’s what I did today.”
Oxted was winning his third straight start after winning a 22 horse handicap at Doncaster last September to end his season and the G3 Abernant S. first out this year. The winner of four of his nine starts, Teal says Oxted may run in the G1 Sprint up at Haydock or the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest depending on how he comes out of Saturday’s race.
The first foal for four-time winner Charlotte Rosina (GB) (Choisir), he is the first stakes winner in three generations with his fourth dam producing Group 2 winner Captain Horatius (Ire) (Taufan {USA})
Speech ends bridesmaid streak in Ashland
A bridesmaid in her past four starts, Speech (USA) (Mr. Speaker {USA}) ended the drought in spectacular fashion with a win in the G1 Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland.
Racing in second behind Venetian Harbor (USA) (Munnings {USA}) throughout the 1700 metre race, Speech put on the pressure as they raced into the far turn. Joel Rosario looked perfectly in control around the turn on the leader as Javier Castellano got to work on Speech to challenge the heavy favourite.
Venetian Harbor finally yielded in the first 300 metres and Speech rolled right on by to win by 3l and earn 100 points on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard while breaking the track record.
Venetian Harbor was an easy second with Envoutante (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) 3.25l behind her in third.
“We had our minds set on running in the Beaumont S. for the last five weeks or so and the last minute, we kind of called an audible and sometimes these things work out,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “To come back today and think we would set a track record in a race we weren’t especially pointing to says something about Speech. She trained well, she shows up every time. I call her the ultimate overachiever.”
The first graded stakes winner for her second-crop sire, Speech was a US$190,000 (AU$263,381) 2-year-old purchase for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at the 2018 OBS Ocala Select 2-Year-Old Sale.
The first stakes winner and fourth stakes horse under her first two dams, she comes from the extended family of Grade 1 winner Papal Power (USA) (Miswaki {USA}) .
Guarana comes back to win Madison
Making her sixth career start, Guarana (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) added a third Grade 1 victory to her resume with a gutsy finish in the G1 Madison S. to provide trainer Chad Brown with his 100th Grade 1 victory.
Going straight to the front in the 1400 metre affair, Guarana went straight to the lead with Mia Mischief (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) racing at her hip. As they swung into the stretch, it looked as though Mia Mischief would be the winner as she took a handy lead but Guarana wasn’t willing to give up that easily.
The 4-year-old came back at Mia Mischief and again stuck her head in front, slightly pulling away in the last 50 metres to win by 0.5l with third-placed Bell’s the One (USA) (Majesticperfection {USA}) 3.25l behind Mia Mischief.
The fifth win in six starts for Guarana, her only blip came in her 3-year-old finale when she was second in the G1 Cotillion S. last September.
“She showed her heart,” said Brown. “She showed that she’s a very special horse, which we’ve known for a long time. I’m just so happy for the ownership group, especially Mr Torrealba the original sole owner of the horse and the breeder. I’ve been associated with him and his family and horses for 17 years now going back to Bobby Frankel … it’s been that long that I’ve been associated with him and his family and horses. To [get the 100th Grade 1 win] with one of his horses is really special. He’s a real fine man. Very loyal. He was the first one to call me and congratulate me.”
A homebred for Three Chimneys, who owns her in partnership with Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, the filly is a granddaughter of G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) and is one of two stakes winners for that mare’s winning daughter Magical World (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}). This is also the family of Grade 1 winners Point Of Entry (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) and Pine Island (USA) (Arch {USA}).
The Ghostzapper x Distorted Humor cross Guarana is bred on has produced two Grade 1 winners and five stakes winners from 16 runners with 10 winners overall.
Art Collector secures Derby spot in Blue Grass
Undefeated this year when racing in two Allowance events during the Churchill meet, Art Collector (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) showed that he’s ready to run at stakes level under the twin spires with a Kentucky Derby prep win in the G2 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland on Saturday.
Run at 1800 metres on the dirt, the rescheduled Blue Grass attracted a field of 13 with Art Collector among a front running trio that included the filly Swiss Skydiver (USA) (Daredevil {USA}).
Looking to make history, Swiss Skydiver took control of the race as Art Collector raced just behind her for most of the trip. As they raced in the last 400 metres, Art Collector put in a serious bid for the lead but the filly wasn’t willing to give in and gamely battled back to keep the lead.
It took until the final 100 metres for Art Collector to wear her down but once he took control, the race was over as he romped to a 3.5l victory with Swiss Skydiver having 4.75l on third-placed Rushie (USA) (Liam’s Map {USA}).
Giving trainer Tom Drury Jr. his first graded stakes victory and a likely first Kentucky Derby starter after earning 100 points, Drury was nearly speechless after his victory.
“It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster ride,” the trainer said. “Everybody was fighting the same thing with COVID-19 and the uncertainty. I’m at a loss for words. It takes a village to get these things; there’s a lot of people who have done their part. I’m just honoured to be able to share this with my staff and everyone that worked to get him here. It took me my whole life just to get to this one win. I’m going to enjoy this one and we’ll worry about [the Kentucky Derby] tomorrow.”
Art Collector topped off a big day for his sire Bernardini, who only an hour before had seen granddaughter Dunbar Road (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) win the G2 Delaware H. The filly provided Bernardini (USA) a unique trifecta with the second and third-place finishers in that race also by the stallion.
Also the second stakes winner of the day out of a Distorted Humor (USA) mare, Art Collector is out of Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Distorted Legacy (USA), one of four stakes horses for G1 Ashland S. runner-up Bunting (USA) (Private Account {USA}).
Hailing from a strong family, Art Collector’s third dam is also the third dam of three-time Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), Venezuelan Horse of the Year Ninfa Del Cielo (Ven) and Canadian Champion Ginger Brew (Can) (Milwaukee Brew {USA}).
Master Of The Seas provides Appleby with third superlative
The only 2-year-old representing Godolphin in the G2 Superlative S. on Saturday, Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) rocketed home to provide trainer Charlie Appleby with his third winner in the race.
Upset in the stalls, Master Of The Seas bounced off two rivals out of the gate in the 1400 metre race before racing keenly in midpack along the outside of the field as Bright Devil (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) set the pace on the far rail.
With 500 metres to run, Bright Devil lost his lead to Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) but that colt didn’t lead long as Master Of The Seas started his challenge.
Master Of The Seas was quickly away with the lead, pulling away to win by 3l over Devious Company with Seventh Kingdom (GB) (Frankel {GB}) 1l further back in third.
“He has done nothing wrong in two starts and is a lovely specimen by Dubawi,” Appleby told Thoroughbred Daily News. “We will get back and see how he pops out of this, but the likelihood is that we will hopefully go down the same route as Pinatubo and take a look at the G1 [Vincent O’Brien] National S. [at The Curragh] in September. It is unlikely that he will go to Goodwood and we will probably give him a bit of a break. He is a big horse and a bit more time won’t do him any harm. It is a bit early to be getting too excited where we might be next year, but he is definitely a horse that has got the right attitude and physique to see him go beyond a mile with a bit of luck.”
It was the second win for the colt in two starts with a run over this same course on June 18 yielding a 0.75l victory over next out winner William Bligh (GB) (Territories {Ire}).
The colt is one of four stakes winners out of Listed winner and classic-placed Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) with the mare producing five stakes horses overall from 10 runners. One of her stakes-winning daughters is the dam of this year’s G3 Doncaster Prelude winner Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who is in training with James Cummings.
Enola Gay breaks stakes record in Appalachian
Uncle Mo’s (USA) lightly raced Enola Gay (USA) showed a tremendous turn of foot on the Keeneland turf on Saturday to win the G2 Appalachian S. in stakes record time.
Making only her third career start and first since last November, Enola Gay raced just behind the leading Evil Lyn (USA) (Wicked Strong {USA}) for much of the 1600 metre race before slipping to near the back of the field as the 3-year-old fillies turned for home.
Enola Gay looked to be well beaten with only two horses beat in the stretch but clicked into another gear in the final 200 metres to close the margin for the lead. The filly moved just in time with her nose coming down in front at the wire over Walk In Marrakesh (Ire), who only had a head in front of third-placed Alms (USA) (City Zip {USA}).
The seventh graded stakes winner of the year for former Coolmore Australia sire Uncle Mo, it was only the third start for the Joseph Allen homebred.
“She had trained really well up (in New York),” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “We were taking a little shot. She hadn’t run for a while but she had trained so well. She had been finishing up in her races really good but it looked to me when they turned for home there she might be dead. Julien (Leparoux) got her to the outside and she kicked in. They ran fast. We’re very pleased, I’m very, very pleased.”
The filly is out of a full sister to Kooringal Stud’s Listed winning stallion The Brothers War (USA) and half-sister to Grade 3 winner Beauty Parlor with their dam Moon Queen (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) producing four stakes horses from eight runners.
Mohaather romps in G2 Summer Mile S. for Showcasing
Bouncing back from a seventh-place finish in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, Mohaather (GB) made easy work of the G2 Betfred Sumer Mile S. at Ascot on Saturday.
Racing over 1600 metres with Dane O’Neill aboard, the Showcasing (GB) 4-year-old raced in midfield as multiple horses fought out the lead out front. O’Neill swung his mount to the outside as they straightened out in the stretch and Mohaather flashed a big turn of foot to collar the leaders before taking the lead 200 metres out.
Only seeing the whip a few times as they closed in on the winning pole, Mohaather had no rivals to win by an easy 3.75l over San Donato (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who led home a second and third for his sire by a neck over Duke Of Hazzard (Fr).
A 110,000 gns purchase by Shadwell out of the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, he is one of two Group 2 winners for Showcasing out of Roodeye (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) alongside Prize Exhibit (GB). Another daughter of that mare also produced Group 1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), who finished two spots in front of Mohaather in that race this year.
Monomoy Girl returns a winner in first stakes since 2018
Romping in her first start in 18 months back in May at Churchill Downs, Monomoy Girl (USA) (Tapizar {USA}) took her show on the road Saturday in the G2 Ruffian S. for her first stakes attempt since a win in the 2018 G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff as a 3-year-old.
Shipping to Belmont Park for the 1600 metre race on the dirt, the 5-year-old mare broke from the outside post and raced widely just behind the leading Mother Mother (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) in the early stages. The mare galloped comfortably under regular jockey Florent Geroux and was more than happy to put in a bid for the lead around the turn.
The race was all but over at the top of the stretch with Geroux barely moving on his mount until the final 300 metres as Vexatious (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) ate into her lead.
It just took a shake of the reins for the 2018 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly to pull away again and win by 2l with third-placed Piedi Bianchi (USA) (Overanalyze {USA}) 8.75l behind the runner-up.
“She's a bit more relaxed now that she's older and a little bit more composed before the race, after the race and during the race,” said Geroux. “Now with this race under her belt, we can tackle some of the two-turn mile-and-an-eighth type of races with her. I think she's just as good. I'm hoping she's better. She's been training nicely in the morning and working extremely well. She's showing all of the signs that she is still the filly that she was in 2018."
Out of the winning Henny Hughes (USA) mare Drumette (USA), she is one of two graded stakes winners for that mare alongside this year’s G2 Risen Star S. winner and fellow Brad Cox trainee Mr. Monomoy (USA) (Palace Malice {USA}). That 3-year-old colt looked to be one of the favourites for the G1 Kentucky Derby during the spring before suffering an injury.
