Heavily favored in the Davona Dale Stakes (USA-G2) on March 2 at Gulfstream, Leslie’s Rose ran an uninspired third behind front-running winner Fiona’s Magic. Sent on to the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) on April 5 at Oaklawn Park, the daughter of Into Mischief was a 9.45-to-1 shot but ran as she was expected to as the odds-on favorite at Gulfstream, defeating 2023 champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I by three lengths. The victory was her third win from four starts and secured a Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) starting berth for Leslie’s Rose, who went some way toward justifying the US$1.15 million that Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm paid for her at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services, Leslie’s Rose represents a union of the best of American and European breeding. She is the second foal of Wildwood Rose, whose sire Galileo was the dominant European stallion of his time and continues to build on his record as a broodmare sire. The European champion 3-year-old male of 2001, he has been a consistent source of classic stamina, boding well for his granddaughter’s ability to stretch out another sixteenth of a mile as she will be required to do in the Oaks.
Wildwood Rose, who has since produced the unraced 2022 filly Divine Rose (by Good Magic) and a 2024 filly by Not This Time, is an unraced half sister to 2015 Besilu Florida Derby winner Materiality (by Afleet Alex) and to 2014 Gazelle Stakes (USA-G2) winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2022 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Annapolis (by War Front). The dam of Wildwood Rose and her siblings, Grade 2-placed stakes winner Wildwood Flower (by Langfuhr), is a half sister to 2004 Washington Park Handicap (USA-G2) winner Eye of the Tiger (by American Chance) and to Expanse (by Distant View), dam of 2010 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Afleet Express (by Afleet Alex), 2015 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Embellish the Lace (by Super Saver), and Grade 2-placed multiple listed stakes winner Reporting for Duty (by Deputy Commander).
The next dam in Leslie’s Rose’s tail-female line, Dial a Trick (by the top sprinter and useful speed sire Phone Trick), is an unraced half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Fighting Fantasy (by Fit to Fight) and to Group 3-placed Snow Forest, dam of 2002 San Carlos Handicap (USA-G1) winner Snow Ridge (by Tabasco Cat) and listed stakes winner Pavarotti (by A.P. Indy). Produced from the stakes-winning It’s Freezing mare Ice Fantasy (who traces her female line back to the now-rare American Family 5), Dial a Trick is also a half sister to the winning Waquoit mare Ice Beauty, dam of 2006 Illinois Derby (USA-G2) winner Sweetnorthernsaint (by Sweetsouthernsaint) and stakes winner Maria’s Image (by Master Bill).
The one concern with this lineage is not its quality but the number of top runners it has produced that managed only one big win in relatively brief careers. Aside from any pedigree concerns, it is also fair to point out that Just F Y I (who she will probably see again in the Oaks) got a less than ideal trip and probably needed the race. Nonetheless, Leslie’s Rose appears to have come out of the Ashland with all systems go and has earned the right to prove that, in the “Lilies for the Fillies,” she can make everything come up roses.
Bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services, Leslie’s Rose represents a union of the best of American and European breeding. She is the second foal of Wildwood Rose, whose sire Galileo was the dominant European stallion of his time and continues to build on his record as a broodmare sire. The European champion 3-year-old male of 2001, he has been a consistent source of classic stamina, boding well for his granddaughter’s ability to stretch out another sixteenth of a mile as she will be required to do in the Oaks.
Wildwood Rose, who has since produced the unraced 2022 filly Divine Rose (by Good Magic) and a 2024 filly by Not This Time, is an unraced half sister to 2015 Besilu Florida Derby winner Materiality (by Afleet Alex) and to 2014 Gazelle Stakes (USA-G2) winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2022 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Annapolis (by War Front). The dam of Wildwood Rose and her siblings, Grade 2-placed stakes winner Wildwood Flower (by Langfuhr), is a half sister to 2004 Washington Park Handicap (USA-G2) winner Eye of the Tiger (by American Chance) and to Expanse (by Distant View), dam of 2010 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Afleet Express (by Afleet Alex), 2015 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Embellish the Lace (by Super Saver), and Grade 2-placed multiple listed stakes winner Reporting for Duty (by Deputy Commander).
The next dam in Leslie’s Rose’s tail-female line, Dial a Trick (by the top sprinter and useful speed sire Phone Trick), is an unraced half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Fighting Fantasy (by Fit to Fight) and to Group 3-placed Snow Forest, dam of 2002 San Carlos Handicap (USA-G1) winner Snow Ridge (by Tabasco Cat) and listed stakes winner Pavarotti (by A.P. Indy). Produced from the stakes-winning It’s Freezing mare Ice Fantasy (who traces her female line back to the now-rare American Family 5), Dial a Trick is also a half sister to the winning Waquoit mare Ice Beauty, dam of 2006 Illinois Derby (USA-G2) winner Sweetnorthernsaint (by Sweetsouthernsaint) and stakes winner Maria’s Image (by Master Bill).
The one concern with this lineage is not its quality but the number of top runners it has produced that managed only one big win in relatively brief careers. Aside from any pedigree concerns, it is also fair to point out that Just F Y I (who she will probably see again in the Oaks) got a less than ideal trip and probably needed the race. Nonetheless, Leslie’s Rose appears to have come out of the Ashland with all systems go and has earned the right to prove that, in the “Lilies for the Fillies,” she can make everything come up roses.
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