Ireland
'Not a bad substitute!': McMonagle wins Irish Oaks on Wells Watson's Johanna Walsh
By Tom Frary
Few stables could deal with losing Thundering On (Frankel) from the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks picture on the morning of the race, but Joseph O'Brien brushed off that disappointment, saddled Johanna Walsh (Sea The Stars) and enjoyed a clear-cut win regardless.
Proving more than an able deputy for the Oaks heroine when registering a four-length success in the Curragh Classic, Wells Watson's Ribblesdale runner-up who was purchased for €460,000 (AU$754,000) at Goffs Orby Book 1 by Andrew Cary was adding more stardust to her trainer's already stellar campaign.
Dylan Browne McMonagle | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“It was unreal,” Dylan Browne McMonagle said after steering the easy winner only a matter of hours from learning that the yard's Oaks-winning daughter of Frankel was off her feed and out of the contest as Saturday dawned. “She was very straightforward from the get-go and relaxed good. She's a filly with a lot of gears and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.”
“She (Johanna Walsh) was cherry-ripe for the day and wasn't a bad substitute (for Thundering On)!” - Dylan Browne McMonagle
“She was cherry-ripe for the day and wasn't a bad substitute! I thought she was a little bit better than she showed at Ascot and it was push-button stuff today,” he added of the 7-2 second favourite.
“She is improving with each run and handles this fast ground well–she is a filly with a lot of class. We had three good fillies in it and with Thundering On being a little bit special it is hard to know what she would have done, but it's all worked out in my favour today.”
Enjoying the perfect tow into the race from four of the Ballydoyle quintet, Johanna Walsh who was having only the fifth run of her career was able to take total control two out and surge to an emphatic success.
Following her home were the supplemented trio of Inis Mor (Galiway), Sparan Nua (Dawn Approach) and Rebel Moon (Lope De Vega), all of whom closed from rear after the winner had flown with 3/4 of a length separating the Menuisier and Bolger fillies and Johanna Walsh's stablemate half a length further away. Earth Shot (Time Test), the 9-4 favourite following the withdrawal of Thundering On, was the race's disappointment in a well-beaten sixth.
Joseph O'Brien has the pick of the middle-distance 3-year-old fillies and said, “It was a huge performance–from the three to the two, she really came alive and is a hugely exciting filly for the future. We thought we had a messy enough trip at Ascot and Dylan said she was waiting all way up the straight there, but it was messy for Earth Shot too so it was hard to quantify. On that, we thought she was a real live contender and I'm delighted for Wells Watson and Andrew Cary.
“From the three to the two, she (Johanna Walsh) really came alive and is a hugely exciting filly for the future.” - Joseph O'Brien
“She has a big pedigree and it's a pleasure to get the opportunity to train her. Sadly, neither are here today.”
What would have transpired had Thundering On line up here remains an unknown, but this was an imperious display from the winner and it is difficult to envisage the Epsom heroine being able to handle her. The time of 2:28.49s was the fastest in the race since Shawanda (Sinndar) set the record in 2005 and the fourth-fastest in its history.
“I thought Dylan gave her a fantastic ride because he controlled the whole race,” the trainer added. “It's really special to win a Classic here in Ireland and great for the team to have two impressive Oaks winners. This is what we are in the game for and this is why we do what we do. She's had a busy first part of the season, so we'll probably give her a little freshen up now and focus on an autumn campaign.
“It's disappointing that Thundering On couldn't be here, but she will be back for the autumn too.”
Joseph O'Brien | Image courtesy of Goffs
Pedigree notes: Johanna Walsh, who becomes the third Irish Oaks winner for her sire following the exploits of Sea Of Class in 2018 and Star Catcher a year later, is out of the Mezeray and Skymarc Farm-bred maiden Miss Aiglonne (Dawn Approach).
Her dam Aiglonne (Silver Hawk), who was successful at Group 3 level in France before finishing third in the Orchid Handicap in the States, was responsible for Sea The Stars's Prix d'Ispahan-winning sire Mekhtaal, the dual Graded-stakes scorer and stakes producer Aigue Marine (Galileo), the Group 1-placed Normandy Bridge (Le Havre) and Prix Hocquart winner Democrate (Dalakhani).
Also connected to Silver Hawk's Prix de Diane and Prix Saint-Alary heroine Germance, in turn the dam of last year's Prix de Diane and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Gezora (Alamanzor), and to the past international heavyweights White Muzzle and Almutawakel, Miss Aiglonne's 2-year-old is a full brother to the winner. Sold for 65,000gns (AU$131,500) to Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock at Tattersalls October Book 2, he is named Seagoing and is already gelded. Her fifth progeny by Sea The Stars is a colt produced this year.
United States
American Pharoah's Kathynmarissa leads Brown sweep n Dunkin' Diana
By Alan Carasso
Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah) came with an irresistible run in the final furlong to peg back stablemate Segesta (Ghostzapper) in Saturday's G1 Dunkin' Diana Stakes at a soggy Saratoga, giving trainer Chad Brown a record-extending 11th victory in the nine-furlong contest - his ninth in the last 10 runnings and his fifth in succession.
For good measure, Portfolio Duration (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who defeated Kathynmarissa into third when wiring the G1 New York Stakes here on June 5, rounded out the trifecta.
“To have a one, two, three in this race, a race we have a lot of success in, in my area, I give a lot of credit to my team,” said Brown. “Four fillies in this race, three of them ran really well and it takes a lot of different tasks daily, executed perfectly to bring the horses into the Diana every year this way–and they do it.”
“It takes a lot of different tasks daily, executed perfectly to bring the horses into the Diana every year this way–and they (my team) do it.” - Chad Brown
Juddmonte homebred dual Grade 1 winner Segesta had the most early speed for Dylan Davis and made the running in advance of Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), as Kathynmarissa, the 9-4 post-time favourite, settled near the tail of the field and outside of the fourth Brown distaffer, Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}).
Segesta enjoyed a very soft time of things from the front over a turf course rendered yielding by earlier rains and she got the opening half in 50.42s and three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.75s. Still going powerfully turning for home, Segesta had a kick and looked for a stride or two to have stolen it, but Kathynmarissa followed the move of Portfolio Duration into the stretch, was pulled off that one's heels and stormed down the centre of the course to take it by a measured half-length.
“When we hit the first turn, I noticed the pace backed up a lot,” Kathynmarissa's jockey Jose Ortiz explained. “Five G (Vekoma) wasn't (near the pace), so I knew it was going to be a problem, but I was already committed to my position behind Manny (Franco, aboard Portfolio Duration).
“Segesta got very good fractions early on and she was able to run on for second, but Kathynmarissa was very good today.” - Jose Ortiz
“So, I stuck with it and just hoped for the best. She gave me a great turn of foot. Segesta got very good fractions early on and she was able to run on for second, but Kathynmarissa was very good today.”
Jose Ortiz aboard Kathynmarissa | Image courtesy of NYRA
Pedigree notes: Kathynmarissa is the 10th worldwide Grade 1/Group 1 winner for American Pharoah and is the second out of a daughter of the Dynaformer stallion Milt's Overture. The other is Kathynmarissa's G1 Las Oaks-winning half-sister La Poetisa, who is by American Pharoah's paternal grandsire Empire Maker. The latter is the dam of Lorenzzo (Chi) (Mendelssohn), a three-time Group 2 winner for Haras Don Alberto.
Kathynmarissa's dam La Dalila (Chi) (Milt's Overture) is also responsible for a juvenile colt from the first crop of Mandaloun and a full brother to Kathynmarissa foaled Feb. 5.
Oh baby! Vino Rosso's Baby Vino upsets the Haskell
By Christina Bossinakis
Less than a week ago, jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. wasn't even slated to ride in the US$1 million (AU$1.43 million) G1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trainer Lindsay Schultz had never won, or even run, in a Grade I race. And relative newcomers to the game Cosmo Stables' Marcus and his father James 'Smoky' Osborn and Delta Squad Racing's Josh Isner had never banked a big one either.
Shortly after 6 pm on Saturday afternoon, Baby Vino (Vino Rosso) in one fell swoop realised all of his connections' dreams when earning a narrow victory over GI Preakness Stakes hero Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) in a nail-biting renewal of Monmouth's marquee race for sophomores. The Haskell is a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31.
Overlooked at 28-1 despite having won his last two races, including a runaway victory in Monmouth's NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes, Baby Vino, named by Marcus Osborn's wife Chrystal, broke smoothly from post three and was eased off the pace as Napoleon Solo, exiting the six hole at 7-2 odds, was sent to the front by Paco Lopez. Meanwhile, 11-10 favourite Further Ado (Gun Runner) and the rail-running longshot Star Sweeper (Rock Your World) took up chase right behind the leader.
Throwing down a 24.15s quarter mile, Napoleon Solo continued to show the way as Baby Vino lingered in an unhurried fifth, about five lengths behind the leader. Asked for more by Vargas while skimming the paint, Baby Vino found daylight inside as both Star Sweeper and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Further Ado appeared to struggle to keep up while Napoleon Solo remained in front a couple of paths off the rail.
Reaching even terms with the Classic winner at the quarter pole, Baby Vino took a slight lead and while Napoleon Solo fought back bravely to his outside, Baby Vino had the most left in the tank and he proved a half-length best at the wire. Napoleon Solo was three and a quarter lengths clear of Iron Honor (Nyquist) with The Puma (Essential Quality), making his first start since the March 28 G1 Curlin Florida Derby, was fourth. Further Ado, Parx invader Star Sweeper and the maiden Ocelli (Connect) followed them home.
An inquiry to review the stretch run was launched by the Monmouth stewards, however, there was insufficient evidence for a disqualification.
“This horse can make a run from anywhere,” said Schultz. “We thought the way it set up there would be a lot of speed and he'd sit behind it. But there wasn't as much speed as we thought and Jorge made that call early in the race.”
“This horse (Baby Vino) can make a run from anywhere.” - Lindsay Schultz
Garnering her first Haskell victory in her first try, Schultz also became the first female trainer in history to win the New Jersey fixture. The victory also represented Schultz's first win at the Grade 1 level.
“Hopefully, there will be more to come,” she said. “It's huge for our stable. It's a really big deal. It's so great for this horse. From the moment he started working, we just loved this horse, and to really show what he has is what we do it for.”
Vargas earned the mount this past Monday after Tyler Gaffalione took off to ride Kentucky Derby third Ocelli instead. The direct beneficiary of the ill-advised decision proved to be 31-year-old Vargas, who was also winning his first Grade 1 race.
The hard-working Vargas who rode in Monmouth's last two races on the card, later offered a breakdown of his Haskell win.
“I didn't like where I was behind Star Sweeper,” he admitted. “I didn't think he had too much of a shot and I was worried about when he was going to stop. Flavien Prat (aboard Iron Honor) was keeping me in and I'm thinking 'he's riding me.' He opened up the rail a little bit and I just let my horse ride through it. He got to the lead and when he got to the lead, I was feeling good because he was fighting.”
“He got to the lead and when he got to the lead, I was feeling good because he was fighting.” - Jorge Vargas Jnr
While Schultz did not confirm what was next for the colt, she did say that everything remained in play.
“Both (the Travers Stakes at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Classic) are far away but we're thrilled for the opportunity,” she said. “He's a nice horse, but this was his biggest effort today. It's a really big deal to do it in the mud, a surface he's never been on. We're over the moon.”
Pedigree notes: Spendthrift Farm's Vino Rosso secured his second top-level winner with Baby Vino's Haskell victory, joining his daughter Bottle of Rouge and her GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes win last summer. The son of Curlin, named 2019 Eclipse Champion Older Male the same year he captured the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, sports three Graded winners and 12 black-type winners as he sends his fourth crop to race this season.
Baby Vino is also one of three stakes winners as a broodmare sire for GI King's Bishop Stakes winner Discreetly Mine, a Mineshaft stallion who originally stood at Lane's End before moving to Uruguay in 2016. In addition to producing Baby Vino, his daughter Discreetly Grand–who was second in the 2015 Louisiana Legends Soiree Stakes–has an unraced Classic Empire colt named Maximum Velocity.
