Japan
Contrail bows out on top
Japanese superstar Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has rounded off his racing career in perfect fashion with an authoritative win in the G1 Japan Cup.
It was the seventh Group 1 victory for the 4-year-old, who won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020 before being outpointed by Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in last year's Japan Cup.
Beaten by Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last month, Contrail, who will stand at Shadai Stallion Station in 2022, had no such issues with the opposition this time around as Yuichi Fukunaga brought him with a perfectly timed finish to sweep over the top of his rivals.
On the line, the 4-year-old, who is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, had a clear 2l margin over Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), with Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) another 1.5l away in third.
The race had been set-up at a typically strong pace with Aristotles (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) leading for much of the early stages before jockey Ryuji Wada took off very deep on the track on Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) at the halfway mark and then powered out to a 6l lead over the rest of the field turning for home.
He was soon under pressure and Authority chimed in, looking the winner briefly before Contrail got into stride and finished far two powerfully to record his eighth win at his 11th and final start.
He becomes the third of Deep Impact's (Jpn) progeny to win the Japan Cup, joining Shonan Pandora (Jpn), who won in 2015, and Gentildonna (Jpn), who won it back-to-back in 2012 and 2013. The legendary late sire won the race himself in 2006.
Canada
Fairytale ending for favourite Pink Lloyd
Announced earlier this week to be retiring after his run in Saturday’s G2 Kennedy Road S., Pink Lloyd (Can) (Old Forester {USA}) ended his career on a high note with a 0.5l victory.
The 9-year-old gelding waited until the end of the race to make his fans’ wishes come true but with 65 metres left had the lead to beat Richiesinthehouse (USA) (Sidney’s Candy {USA}) to the line with Clayton (Can) (Bodemeister {USA}) a head back in third. Pink Lloyd ended his career with 29 victories in 38 starts, including 26 stakes victories.
“You know, he’s a legend. He proved today he was a legend,” said trainer Robert Tiller. “I didn’t think he’d win today. We’re blessed to win this race and it’s a tremendous way to go out. You know, he’s been Woodbine’s horse, he’s been Canada’s horse, and the next time some horse wins 26 stakes in 29 races at Woodbine, let me know about it.”
A seven-time Canadian champion and likely to take championship honours again this year, Pink Lloyd is out of the stakes-placed Gladiator Queen (Can) (Great Gladiator {USA}) and from the family of fellow Canadian Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet (Can) (Red Bullet {USA}). The gelding leads his sire Old Forester’s runners as the stallion’s only Graded stakes winner and one of 22 stakes winners for the stallion overall.
United States
Beyond Brilliant seventh Group 1 winner for Twirling Candy
In what has been Twirling Candy’s (USA) best ever season at stud, Beyond Brilliant (USA) became his third Grade 1 winner of the year and seventh overall with a breakout performance in the G1 Hollywood Derby. The race saw the colt secure his first stakes victory by 0.25l in only his second stakes attempt.
Taking command quickly in the 1800-metre turf race, he put the rest of the field to sleep as he set easy fractions and quietly started pulling away. Santin (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) closed strongly in the end but wasn’t good enough, losing by 1l with Cathkin Peak (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) in third.
Joining G1 Preakness S. winner Rombauer (USA) as Grade 1 winners from his sire’s 2018 crop, he is the 33rd stakes winner overall by his sire. Beyond Brilliant is out of a half-sister to multiple Graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Summer Applause (USA) (Harlan’s Holiday {USA}) and bred on the same Twirling Candy x Unbridled’s Song (USA) granddaughter cross as Grade 2 winner Danzing Candy (USA) and two other stakes winners with Twirling Candy’s Grade 1 winner and studmate Gift Box (USA) out of an Unbridled’s Song daughter.
Smile Happy stays undefeated in Kentucky Jockey Club S.
Worries over Runhappy’s (USA) ability to sire juvenile winners had already been crushed this season, but Smile Happy (USA) put a bow on the exclamation Saturday with an easy 3.25l victory in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club S. to earn 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
A 5.5l winner on debut in late October, the colt backed that up on Saturday with his victory over Classic Causeway (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) to become his sire’s fourth 2021 juvenile stakes winner and the stallion’s second Graded stakes winner overall.
“We’ll probably take it easy with him in December and January and start deciding his future in February.” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “At this stage, we have a lot of options on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. It’s a good problem to have.”
The colt is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed Wilko Rum (USA) (Wilko {USA}) and out of a half-sister to stakes winner Miracle Mets (USA) (Metfield {USA}). The extended family includes champion and dual classic winner Funny Cide (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) and Grade 2 winner Rule (USA) (Roman Ruler {USA}) among others.
Medaglia D’Oro daughter on Oaks trail
Dream Lith (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) put herself squarely on the G1 Kentucky Oaks trail Saturday with a driving victory in the G2 Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs for 10 Road to the Kentucky Oaks points.
Winning by 1l over Yuugiri (USA) (Shackleford {USA}) with Sandstone (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) 3.25l back in third, the victress was putting two fifth-place finishes at the Grade 1 level behind her.
“I got her into a comfortable rhythm early in the race and just let her do her thing,” jockey Ramon Vasquez said. “I knew I had a lot of horse and I was confident she’d be able to fight with (Yuugiri) in the stretch. She’s a very nice filly and has a good future in front of her.”
With her win, Dream Lith becomes the 85th Graded/Group winner for former shuttle stallion Medaglia D’Oro (USA) and is one of 158th stakes winners for him overall. The filly is a granddaughter of Grade 1 winner Mi Sueno (USA) (Pulpit {USA}) out of her Street Cry (Ire) daughter Elle Sueno (USA), who has produced three winners from three to race. The filly is the third stakes winner in four generations for her family with third dam Madcap Escapade (USA) (Hennessy {USA}) also a Grade 1 winner and fourth dam Sassy Pants (USA) (Saratoga Six {USA}) a multiple stakes winner.
Street Boss filly wins Safely Kept
Street Boss’s (USA) banner 2021 got even better on Saturday when his regally bred daughter Belle Of The North (USA) became his 100th stakes performer with a 0.5l win in the Listed Safely Kept S.
The 3-year-old filly was looking for her first black-type success in the Laurel Park race two starts after breaking her maiden by 5.5l in September. The filly wasn’t as dominant in her stakes debut but made a last-to-first rush to beat Fraudulent Charge (USA) (Will Take Charge {USA}) with Street Lute (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}) 2.5l back in third.
The 57th stakes performer for her sire, Belle Of The North is out of a US$1.5 million (AU$2.1 million) half-sister to Horse of the Year Zenyatta (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Grade 1 winner Balance (USA) (Thunder Gulch {USA}). Those under Belle Of The North’s second dam also include multiple Graded stakes winner She’s Not Here (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) and the Group 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Long Island Sound (USA) (War Front {USA}).
Send For Me gives Into Mischief newest Rising Star
Record-breaking North American stallion Into Mischief (USA) recorded his 28th Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star Saturday when US$500,000 (AU$702,000) 2-year-old Send For Me (USA) romped at Aqueduct by 7l.
Making her debut, the filly went straight to the lead and raced like a professional when dealing with pressure early before easily pulling away for her first victory.
The juvenile is a granddaughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty (USA) (Danzig {USA}), who also produced G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner George Vancouver (USA) (Henrythenavigator {USA}). The family also includes G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Perast (Snitzel) among others.
Late run earns Cocktail Moments Rising Star status
Cocktail Moments (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) had connections heading to the bar to drown away their sorrows halfway through her unveiling but by the time she crossed the line as a Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star by 9.25l, celebrations were in order.
Racing under the spires at Churchill Downs, the juvenile was nearly last over 8l off the leader for much of the race but showed her talent in the stretch when she raced wide around the turn to take over and pull away. Everyone worse than second was over 11l adrift at the line.
The filly is out of Canadian Champion River Maid (Can) (Where’s The Ring {USA}), who is one of six stakes performers for her unraced dam alongside full sibling Race For Gold (Can).
