When Gainesway debuted Karakontie in 2017, standing for $15,000, it was a fascinating and bold move. Bred in Japan, the young stud had an impeccable race record of Grade/Group 1 wins in France and North America, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile-G1, and earnings of just under two million dollars.
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Honey Bunny and Monomoy Girl – Tapizar’s Girls
Rejoice, “Pulp Fiction” fans! Honey Bunny won the Winning Colors S.-G3 at Churchill Downs on May 25! The five-year-old mare by Tapizar, claimed in 2018 for $16,000, has now won her last five races in a row, and her first graded stakes, making her Tapizar’s fourth graded stakes winner.
Stud Notes: Gio Ponti Climbs The Ranks
After looking at a list of leading fifth crop sires, the first three were a roundup of the usual suspects: Uncle Mo in the lead, of course, who stands at Ashford for $125,000; Twirling Candy in second, who stands at Lane’s End for $25,000; Trappe Shot third, standing at Claiborne for $7500. But I’d wager you’d never guess what stallion is firmly in fourth place: Gio Ponti, the only stallion standing at Castleton Lyons Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for only $5000.
Early Nomination for Broodmare of the Year
Though the pedigree of Country House has already been discussed in depth here, it’s worth noting that Country House’s half-sister (closer to three-quarters, actually), Mitchell Road, won the Gallorette S.-G3 on Preakness Day at Pimlico, putting their deceased dam, Quake Lake, by War Chant, on the radar in the space of two weeks’ time.
Into Mischief Thrives On Black Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico
In 2009, a client requested I get his mare a season to a first-year stallion, Into Mischief, who was standing for $7500. I did so, and his mare got in foal, but I thought he was crazy. Who the heck was Into Mischief? Was the Harlan’s Holiday line going to produce a rightful heir? I didn’t think so. I was wrong, in a big way.
Pedigree Review: Country House
When a 65-1 shot wins the Kentucky Derby, it’s both history and news. But the way Country House won the Kentucky Derby transcended both of those with the disqualification of Maximum Security and what seems sure to be a court battle over that DQ. Maximum Security was clearly the best horse in the race, but Country House, the overlooked Mott trainee with star Tacitus the near-favorite, ran a hell of a race himself.
Remembering Bayern & Shared Belief. Maximum Security’s Derby DQ Highlights Need For Rules Reform & A Double Standard.
In the 2014 Breeders Cup Classic, Bob Baffert’s colt Bayern took a left turn out of the gate directly into the lane of the favorite, Shared Belief. It was a clear and obvious foul. Shared Belief and Mike Smith were lucky not to go down. Despite being nearly wiped out at the start, Shared Belief finished fourth beaten 4 lengths.
The Wesley Ward Show Continues At Keeneland!
Like one of those Broadway shows that runs forever, “The Phantom of the Opera” or “Cats,” the Wesley Ward show keeps on truckin’ at Keeneland’s Spring Meet. Though he is currently second to Chad Brown in terms of winners, he’s hitting the board at an amazing 56%, and seems unable to miss with his two-year-old firsters.
Omaha Beach, and a Tale of Three Broodmare Sires
Omaha Beach’s stretch duel with Improbable made the Arkansas Derby-G1 an exciting race. The War Front colt demonstrated grit and tenacity by holding off one of Bob Baffert’s leading Kentucky Derby-headed contenders, and rocketed Omaha Beach to second place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, behind only Tacitus.
Carpe Diem’s First Starter Wins at Keeneland
Winstar freshman stallion Carpe Diem’s first starter delivered a wire-to-wire win by over four lengths in a maiden special weight at Keeneland on April 17. Named Nayibeth, and trained by precocity-specialist Wesley Ward, she is a half-sister to Soldat, a multiple graded stakes winner who stands at Calumet Farm.