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Mares on Monday: Fully Subscribed Continues Tempted's Legacy in the Mother Goose

11/10/2025

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Following a first-out maiden win at the fall Belmont at the Big A meeting last year, Fully Subscribed got hurt and had to miss the next 10 months. After a couple of placings in allowance races in September, it would seem the rust is off. A narrow favorite off her most recent performances, she won her stakes debut in fine style, winning the Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G2) over Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) runner-up Drexel Hill by 4½ lengths. Her victory made her the sixth graded winner for second-crop sire Tiz the Law, who got his fifth such an hour earlier when Tiz Dashing won the Hill Prince Stakes (USA-G3) on the same card.

Fully Subscribed is a seventh-generation descendant of Tempted, the American champion handicap female of 1959. A tough mare who ran for four seasons, Tempted was good enough to win the Alabama Stakes and Maskette Handicap as a 3-year-old but peaked the following year, when she won the Ladies Handicap in new American record time of 2:09 flat for 10.5 furlongs and also won the Beldame Handicap, New Castle Stakes, and Diana Handicap. She added second editions of both the Diana and the Maskette to her tally as a 5-year-old and retired having won 18 of 45 starts.

A mare of relatively modest antecedents, Tempted was a moderate success as a dam of winners and a greater success as a dam of broodmares. The best of her three winners was multiple stakes winner Lead Me On (by Native Dancer), dam of 1976 Comely Stakes (USA-G3) winner Tell Me All (by Cyane). Tempted also produced unraced Bee for Me (by Cyane), dam of 1985 Premio Umbria (ITY-G2) winner Nacacyte (by Star de Naskra) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Channel Three (by Tri Jet). In addition, the champion became the dam of unraced Near Me Now (by Nearctic), dam of 1979 Tropical Park Derby (USA-G3) winner Bishop’s Choice (by King’s Bishop) and second dam of 1992 Prix du Jockey Club Lancia (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Polytain (by Bikala).

Turn to Me, Tempted’s 1965 daughter by Cyane, failed to win in nine tries but produced 1987 Countess Fager Handicap (USA-G3) winner Adorable Micol (by Riverman) and stakes winners Brokerette (by King’s Bishop; dam of multiple stakes winner Hushi, by Riverman) and Columbia Gold (by Key to the Mint). Adorable Micol, in turn, is the dam of 1999 New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap (USA-G3) winner Adcat (by Storm Cat) and Grade 1-placed restricted stakes winner Adorydar (by Alydar).

Unfortunately, Adorydar died without issue, but her Grade 2-placed half sister Adoryphar (by Lyphard) was able to keep the family going, producing listed stakes winner Ruthian (by Rahy) and stakes producers Adorable and Smart (by Gulch) and Adorable Heidi (by Gimmeawink). Ruthian, in turn, produced 2007 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1) winner Rutherienne (by Pulpit), 2012 Lady Violet Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ruthenia (by Pulpit), and listed stakes winner Ruthville (by Afleet Alex). Ruthenia is the dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Pubilus Syrus and stakes winner Our Bay B Ruth (both by Candy Ride), and Rutherienne is the second dam of Fully Subscribed through her winning Candy Ride daughter, Sweetbaby. Since producing Fully Subscribed, Sweetbaby has become the dam of an unnamed 2023 filly by Union Rags, a yearling filly by Highly Motivated, and a weanling full brother to Fully Subscribed. She most recently visited Maxfield.

Tempted did not have the fortune of founding one of the great matriarchies of the turf, but her family has a better record than most, and Fully Subscribed has now proven a worthy representative. One can hope that with her physical problems now behind her, she can continue improving as a 4-year-old and continue the legacy of a fine mare perhaps little remembered now but deserving an honored place in memory.
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Mares on Monday: Shisospicy Sizzles for Cool Mood's Family in Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

11/3/2025

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The 2025 Breeders’ Cup showcased both top racehorses and top female families, with representatives of the families of Best in Show, South Ocean, Dinner Partner, Nuit de Folies, and Native Street scoring big. Another top family with a Breeders’ Cup-winning scion is that of 1969 Canadian Oaks winner Cool Mood, whose sixth-generation descendant Shisospicy blitzed open company in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1). The first 3-year-old filly to win the race, Shisospicy nailed down her first Grade 1 win with an impressive front-running performance and ran her lifetime record to six wins and two placings from nine starts. The daughter of 2019 American champion male sprinter Mitole also put herself in the driver’s seat for an Eclipse Award in the female sprinter division ahead of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1) winner Splendora, who has two 2025 stakes wins to Shisospicy’s four (three of them graded) and does not have the cachet of a major win over males. The other likely contenders in the division, Grade 1 winners Kopion and Hope Road, both hurt their chances by losing at the Breeders’ Cup.

Cool Mood made a previous appearance in the “Mares on Monday” column on September 23, 2024, when she was profiled in connection with multiple graded stakes winner My Mane Squeeze. A fifth-generation descendant of Cool Mood through her daughter Moody Maiden (by Apalachee), My Mane Squeeze is still in training and has added a win in the Johnstone Stakes for New York-breds and four graded stakes placings to her resume since being profiled.

A tough, sound mare who made 41 starts, Cool Mood was even more productive as a broodmare as a racehorse and was especially noteworthy as a dam of broodmares. Two of her five stakes-producing daughters, Shy Spirit (by Personality) and Passing Mood (by Buckpasser) earned Canadian Broodmare of the Year honors after producing Canadian Triple Crown winners Izvestia (by Icecapade) and With Approval (by Caro), respectively, and the two accounted for six other stakes winners between them including 1997 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Touch Gold (Deputy Minister x Passing Mood).

Shisospicy descends from another of Cool Mood’s black-type producers, Princess Laika. A daughter of French champion juvenile and excellent sire Blushing Groom, Princess Laika was unable to win in 13 starts and produced only one stakes winner, Cool Gold Mood (by Premier Ministre)—not exactly an inspiring overall record. Her profile looked much better after her 1993 Gone West daughter, Lady Laika, got into production. After producing two stakes-placed runners, Lady Laika dropped Healthy Addiction (by Boston Harbor) as her fourth foal. Healthy Addiction won the 2006 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) and three Grade 2 stakes before heading to the paddocks, where she produced 2015 Vanity Stakes (USA-G1) winner My Sweet Addiction (by Tiznow). Through another daughter, Ashlee’s Lady (by Gilded Time), Lady Laika is also the second dam of 2012 Davona Dale Stakes (USA-G2) winner Yara (by Put It Back) and the third dam of 2021 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jalen Journey (by With Distinction).

Princess Laika had two other daughters who were multiple stakes producers and produced a Grade 3 winner each. The better of the two was Gold Liaka (by Yukon, a Northern Dancer half brother to the great sire Mr. Prospector), who produced multiple Grade 3 winner Maren’s Meadow (by Meadowlake) and listed stakes winners Golden Path (by Slew o’ Gold; dam of 2008 Premio Jose Rodriguez Razzeto, PER-G3, winner Mukhtar, by Grindstone) and Chamul (by Mutakddim). Maren’s Meadow, in turn, produced Maren’s Melody (by Unbridled’s Song), whose winning Into Mischief daughter Mischief Galore produced Shisospicy as her second foal. Mischief Galore has since produced the unraced 2023 colt Yasup and a 2024 filly, both by Yaupon. She was covered for 2026 by Jackie’s Warrior.

Shisospicy is cataloged as Hip 147 for tonight’s Fasig-Tipton “Night of the Stars” sale as a racing or broodmare prospect, and her dam, Mischief Galore, is also in the sale as Hip 160. Both, of course, have just gotten a huge boost to their potential price tags. Interestingly, My Mane Squeeze is also up for sale as Hip 122, selling as a racing or broodmare prospect. With a bit of luck and the right mates, any of these mares could go on keeping the heat turned up for Cool Mood’s family.

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Mares on Monday: If You Love Claiborne Bloodlines, Admit It

10/27/2025

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​Keeneland’s Bank of America Valley View Stakes (USA-G2) on October 24 brought together a full field of 3-year-old fillies seeking a graded win at a mile on turf, none with particularly dominating recent form. Under the circumstances, it appeared to be a wide-open race, and it was Claiborne Farm homebred Admit who ended up getting the job done. Previously grade 3-placed on turf, Admit laid off the early pace and responded well when tipped to the outside for a clear run in the stretch, finishing 1½ lengths clear of Classic Q. It was Admit’s first graded win, and the filly improved her record to 4-1-3 from 11 starts.

A daughter of Claiborne’s good stallion Blame (the 2010 American champion older male), Admit represents one of the farm’s treasured families, that of Monarchy. A full sister to the great Round Table (whose six championship titles over four seasons of racing include American Horse of the Year honors in 1958), Monarchy illustrated the differences that can exist between full siblings as she was a precocious juvenile who failed to improve on her early successes. Her one big score was in the 1959 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes, and she was also third in the Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland. That record was good enough to get her a rating of 112 pounds on the 1959 Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles, 5 pounds below champion filly My Dear Girl. Monarchy won three of her seven starts at 3 but earned no more black type before retiring to the paddocks.

Although her failure to emulate her brother’s form at 3 and beyond was undoubtedly a disappointment, a stakes-winning full sister to a Horse of the Year, by a fine stallion (Princequillo) who was already starting to make his mark as a broodmare sire and out of an excellent producer (Knight’s Daughter) who had shown brilliant speed during her own racing days, was still a more than welcome addition to the Claiborne broodmare band. Five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, who had gotten excellent results when put to Princequillo mares, was already dead by the time Monarchy began her breeding career, but Nasrullah’s best son, eventual eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler had taken his place as king of the Claiborne stallion barn. Thus, it was only natural that Monarchy would become a member of his book; in fact, she visited Bold Ruler eight straight times, producing six named foals in 1962-1969.

The results were not impressive given the quality of the parents. Bold Ruler was not the soundest of horses in spite of having been nursed through a 33-race career, and Monarchy tended to pass on the offset knees and upright pasterns that she had inherited from Knight’s Daughter. Only four of Monarchy’s foals by Bold Ruler made it to the races, and one of those did not win. The only one to capture a stakes event was Title, who won the Silver Anniversary Stakes and later produced the minor stakes winner Caption (by Riva Ridge).

The Bold Ruler/Monarchy cross also produced the useful sires Envoy and Blade, so it was not without some merit. Nevertheless, the second half of Monarchy’s broodmare career was spent visiting other Claiborne stallions, and the six live foals she produced in 1970-1979 included her best runner, 1976 Lexington Handicap (USA-G2) winner Fabled Monarch (by Le Fabuleux), and her best producing daughter, the Nijinsky II mare State.

State was not a particularly successful race mare, winning just three of her 34 starts, but she was sounder and more durable than her dam. Like many of Nijinsky II’s progeny, she also showed her best form on turf. She produced five stakes winners, four of which were graded winners.

Narrate, a 1980 daughter of 1975 American champion juvenile male Honest Pleasure, was the first of those graded winners, taking down the 1983 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3). Although she produced only one stakes winner, she was much the most important of State’s foals in the long term. That one stakes winner was 1991 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Preach (by Mr. Prospector), whose son by A.P. Indy, Pulpit, became both a multiple Grade 2 winner and a good stallion for Claiborne. Pulpit, in turn, sired three-time American champion sire Tapit, currently the primary conduit for the male line of A.P. ‘s sire Seattle Slew, winner of the American Triple Crown in 1977 and the primary link back to Bold Ruler in tail-male. Preach’s winning full sister Yarn proved an even better broodmare, producing 2000 English and Irish champion juvenile male Minardi (by Boundary), 1997 King’s Bishop Stakes (USA-G2) winner and successful sire Tale of the Cat (by Storm Cat), and stakes winner Spunoutacontrol (by Wild Again); she is also the second dam of 2001 American and European champion 2-year-old male Johannesburg (by the Storm Cat horse Hennessy), who stands at the head of a branch of the Storm Cat male line currently anchored by six-time American champion sire Into Mischief.

Admit was produced as the sixth foal from Preach’s last daughter, the winner Profess (by War Front), so it is a safe conclusion to say that she will be as welcome as the flowers in May when it comes to a decision about whether to retain her for the Claiborne broodmare band. In the meantime, her development as a racehorse should be worth watching, assuming she is permitted to continue her racing career next year, for the progeny of Blame typically improve with increasing maturity. She is a living embodiment of the bloodlines and breeding philosophy that have made Claiborne a legend in American Thoroughbred breeding, and it is a pleasure to see a century’s worth of careful stewardship continuing to be rewarded.
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Mares on Monday: Long Shot Kappa Kappa Proves a Good Bet in Raven Run

10/20/2025

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​Kappa Kappa may have been the second-longest shot on the board in the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (USA-G2) on Saturday at Keeneland, but she ran like a solid favorite. Never far away from the lead, she proved game and determined down the stretch in spite of brief difficulty in switching leads and gained the decision from Vodka with a Twist in the final strides. Ragtime, who was favored after coming in off a nice win in the Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing (USA-G3), encountered some early crowding but closed well to be third.

The Raven Run was the third win from four starts for the improving Kappa Kappa, who came in off an easy allowance win in Pennsylvania-bred company at Parx Racing and was making her first start away from Parx. She became the 15th stakes winner and fifth graded stakes winner of 2025 for Omaha Beach, who leads the American third-crop sire list and is 11th on the American general sire list. The son of War Front stood the 2025 Northern Hemisphere season at Spendthrift for US$35,000 but, not surprisingly, is getting a bump to US$75,000 for 2026.

On the distaff side of her pedigree, Kappa Kappa traces back to Itsabet, a foundation mare for Harry Z. Isaacs’ Brookfield Farm, via that matriarch’s most important daughter, Iaround (by Round Table). This branch of the family includes Juddmonte Farm’s great broodmare Hasili and is responsible for five champions: 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Sookera, 2001 American champion turf female Banks Hill, 2005 American champion turf male Leroidesanimaux, 2005 American champion turf female Intercontinental, and 2009 Canadian Horse of the Year Champs Elysees. All of these horses trace back to Iaround through her daughter Irule (by Young Emperor).

Kappa Kappa’s branch of the family has not been quite so distinguished but has also done very well. Her fifth dam is Irule’s half sister I’m a Pleasure (by two-time American champion sire What a Pleasure), who produced 1984 Jerome Handicap (USA-G1) winner Is Your Pleasure (by Accipiter) and listed stakes-placed I’m Tickled Pink (by Sportin’ Life), dam of Brazilian listed stakes winner Mamangaba (by Dubai Dust). I’m a Pleasure is also the dam of I’ll Get There (by multiple Grade 1 winner Copelan), dam of 2000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1) winner I Believe in You (by Pleasant Tap) and restricted stakes winner Ready Cash (by Key to the Mint).

I’m a Pleasure’s first foal was In Jubilation, whose sire Isgala (by 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally) was one of Isaacs’ homebred stallions and proved a useful stallion from limited opportunities. Defying the conventional wisdom that decrees that a mare will normally produce her best runner from her first five foals, In Jubilation waited until her seventh foal to come up with Little Baby Bear (by Broad Brush), a multiple Group 1 winner in Brazil. She then added two more stakes winners in 1997 Indiana Derby (USA-L) winner Dubai Dust (by Broad Brush) and 1999 Flamingo Stakes (USA-G3) winner First American (by Quiet American; a sire of some importance in Brazil) and finished her production record with Mulata Assanhada (by Royal Academy), dam of multiple Brazilian listed stakes winner Amado Mio.

I’m in Celebration (by Copelan), In Jubilation’s fourth foal, won three of her four starts and was second in the other but did not stay healthy long enough to try her mettle in stakes company. She produced the Grade 3-placed listed stakes winners Nice to Know (by Known Fact) and Cheers and Tears (by Bold Ruckus) as well as Sommerfest (by El Prado), dam of 2006 Turfway Breeders’ Cup Stakes (USA-G3) winner Beautiful Bets (by Alphabet Soup); Birthday Wire (by Birdonthewire), dam of listed stakes winner Wiredfortwotwenty (by Greatness); and Charming Amanda (by Charismatic), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winners Charming Tam (by Tamhid) and Copa de Oro (by Nite Light).

Accomplished, I’m in Celebration’s daughter by 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Awesome Again, failed to win from three tries but produced 2019 Kelso Handicap (USA-G2) winner Pat on the Back (by Congrats) and New York restricted stakes winner Sarah Accomplished (by Performing Magic). To date, the only one of Accomplished’s daughters to produce a stakes winner is the winner Pharoah’s Princess (by multiple Grade 1 winner Pioneerof the Nile), who produced Kappa Kappa as her fourth foal and had no further produce until this spring, when she dropped a filly by Tiz the Law.

Given the timing and the necessity of a cross-country trip, it seems unlikely that Kappa Kappa’s connections will wheel her back in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1) at Del Mar, but it can be hoped that the 2026 edition will be on her radar. If she remains in training and continues showing the gameness and speed she displayed in the Raven Run, it’s a good bet that there will be some future stakes races with her name on the trophy.




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Mares on Monday: Setup for a Clash of Unbeatens in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

10/6/2025

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After an exciting weekend of racing, two undefeated juvenile fillies appear to be on a collision course for the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1), carded for October 31, 2025, at Del Mar. One, Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Iron Orchard, ran down Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) third Rileytole in the last stride to claim a “Win and You’re In” ticket to California. The other, Spinaway winner Tommy Jo, kept her undefeated record intact via the stewards’ box after being fouled by first-place finisher Percy’s Bar in the final furlong of the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G1) at Keeneland, also a “Win and You’re In” race.

Both fillies boast blue-blooded pedigrees to back up their racing resumes. A daughter of six-time American champion sire Into Mischief, Tommy Jo is the second foal and first winner from listed stakes winner Mother Mother, who placed three times at the Grade 1 level. A half sister to 2014 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) runner-up Commanding Curve (by Master Command), Mother Mother is by multiple Grade 1 winner and 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, a son of 2003 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Empire Maker who gained fame as the sire of 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Mother Mother’s dam is the winner Mother, whose sire Lion Hearted is a Grade 2-placed son of Storm Cat and Easy Goer’s full sister Cadillacing (winner of the 1988 Ballerina Stakes, USA-G1). Mother was produced from Proper Lassie, a half sister by the good Northern Dancer horse Topsider to stakes winner Proper Ridge (by Cox’s Ridge), and Proper Lassie, in turn, is out of the listed stakes winner Proper Miss (by 1965 American champion 3-year-old male Tom Rolfe), a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Proper Reality (by In Reality) and listed stakes winners Proper Native (by Our Native) and Proper Reflection (by Relaunch). The female line traces back to the important 20th-century broodmare Alablue.

Iron Orchard is from the same sire line as Tommy Jo as she is the first Grade 1 winner sired by 2020 American Horse of the Year Authentic (by Into Mischief). She is the third named foal and second winner from stakes-placed Onebrethatatime, whose sire Brethren (by Distorted Humor) won the 2011 Sam F. Davis Stakes (USA-G3) and has had some success as a regional sire in Florida. A half sister to 2011 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) winner Wonderlandbynight (by Sky Mesa), Onebrethatatime is also a half sister to Gilded Miracle (by Gilded Time), dam of 2023 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Exaulted (by Twirling Candy) and second dam of 2023 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (USA-G2) winner Accomplished Girl (by Street Boss).

Onebrethatatime and her siblings are out of the winning Gulch mare Onemiracleatatime, a half sister to listed stakes winner Timeless Love (by Gilded Time). The next dam in the tail-female line, Katie Love (by 1986 American champion turf male Manila) is out of the Francis S. mare Gonfalon, also the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Ogygian (by Damascus) and second dam of 1996 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honour and Glory (by Relaunch).

On paper, Tommy Jo looks to be the faster of these two fillies based both on speed figures and on a line through Rileytole, but anything can happen on Breeders’ Cup day and often does. The West Coast contingent also cannot be taken lightly after Explora’s monster race in the Oak Leaf Stakes Presented by Oak Leaf Racing Association (USA-G2), and it must be remembered that Bottle of Rouge beat her for the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) at Del Mar, where she is now 2-for-2 (see “Mares on Monday: Bottle of Rouge Is the Toast of the Del Mar Debutante,” September 8, 2025). As daughters of Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) winners Blame and Vino Rosso, respectively, they should have no trouble with the 8.5-furlong distance and may well improve next year to boot. In any event, the Juvenile Fillies should be one of the more interesting races on the Breeders’ Cup card and will probably crown this year’s junior princess of the sport in the United States, regardless of which filly wins.


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Mares on Monday: A Saga Continues in Argentina

9/29/2025

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​Although the racing at Argentina’s La Plata racetrack is generally considered slightly softer than that at Palermo or San Isidro, La Plata does host some major events during the year, among them the Gran Premio Selección de Potrancas. If not quite on the same level as Palermo’s Gran Premio Selecction (Argentine Oaks, ARG-G1), La Plata’s top event for 3-year-old fillies is still an important prize and has been won by some first-rate fillies, among them Argentine champions Una Arrabalera and Kalath Wells. This year’s edition went to Calida Sonrisa, who took revenge for her lone defeat in La Plata’s Polla de Potrancas (ARG-G2) by leaving that race’s winner, Elenika, back in seventh place.

Calida Sonrisa is a daughter of Cosmic Trigger, a talented but unsound son of 2007 Railway Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Lizard Island and a male-line descendant of the great international sire Danehill. Undefeated in his only two starts and a half brother to Argentine champion and leading American sire Candy Ride, Cosmic Trigger was given a chance at stud at his birthplace, Haras Abolengo. He is currently fourth on Argentina’s general sire list after finishing third last year and fifth in 2023, and Calida Sonrisa is his 13th Group 1 winner.

On the dam’s side, Calida Sonrisa descends from the important broodmare Sea Saga, who already holds a treasured place in Argentine pedigrees as the maternal granddam of 11-time Argentine champion sire Southern Halo. The winner of the 1971 Ladies Handicap (which became a Grade 1 race when the North American graded race system was instituted in 1973), Sea Saga had a fair measure of the talent of her brilliant sire, the great Sea-Bird.

Sea Saga produced only four foals, but two were stakes winners. One, 1977 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Northern Sea (by Northern Dancer), became the dam of the aforementioned Southern Halo to a cover by Halo and also produced Excellent Lady (by Smarten), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner General Challenge (by General Meeting) and 2000 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Notable Career (by Avenue of Flags), and Northern Pageant (by Spectacular Bid), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Snow Dance (by Forestry). The other, Key to the Saga (by Key to the Mint), won the 1978 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) and became the second dam of 1983 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sir Beaufort and 2012 Premio Cyllene (ARG-G2) winner The New Yorker.

Dancer’s Saga, a full sister to Northern Sea, won only once from 13 tries but made up for her failings on the track in the paddocks. She produced stakes winners Exclusive Story (by Exclusive Native), Colonial Saga (by Pleasant Colony), and Pleasant Tango (by Pleasant Colony) and is also the dam of Epic Villa (by Pancho Villa), dam in turn of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Knock (by Luhuk).

Given the previous successes experienced in Argentina by this family, it is not really surprising that Key Cure (by Cure the Blues), a granddaughter of Dancer’s Saga through her Key to the Mint daughter Dancer’s Key, should also have made her way to the paddocks of Argentina. She produced 10 Argentine-bred foals, headed by multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Blues for Sale (by Not for Sale) and listed stakes winner Cure for Sale (by Not for Sale). If the name of Blues for Sale sounds familiar, it should; she is the dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Blue Prize (by Pure Prize), whose victories include the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1), and of Blue Stripe (by Equal Stripes), another multiple Grade/Group 1 winner who fell only a nose short of duplicating her sister’s triumph in the 2022 Distaff. Blues for Sale is also the dam of 2025 Premio Coronel Miguel F, Martinez (ARG-G3) winner Blue Caviar (by Equal Stripes).

Calida Sonrisa is out of Key Cure’s last foal, Chica Canalla (by Not for Sale), who won two of her 13 starts, both over 1400 meters at San Isidro. Also the dam of the winner Flor de Atamisque (by Cosmic Trigger), the mare has since produced the unraced Mootasadir filly Pelusa Cosmica, a foal of 2023, and a yearling son of Equal Stripes who has been named Triste Adios. She was barren to Cosmic Trigger for 2025.

Calida Sonrisa was making only her third lifetime start in the Selección de Potrancas, so it appears that she has a bright future ahead of her if she proves sounder than her sire. If she does, she may add another worthy chapter to the illustrious saga of her female family.
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Mares on Monday: Clicquot Bubbles Up in Cotillion Stakes

9/22/2025

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​In Saturday’s Cotillion Stakes (USA-G1) at Parx Racing, three Grade 1 winners—Good Cheer, La Cara, and Scottish Lassie—furnished most of the pre-race chat. Post-race was a different story, as all three of the big names failed to hit the board. Instead, a new shooter’s connections got to pop some champagne as last-out Indiana Oaks (USA-G3) winner Clicquot, making her Grade 1 debut, gamely withstood a stiff drive through the stretch to beat Dry Powder home by a neck. Ourdaydreaminggirl, the longest shot on the board at 47-1, made a strong closing run to finish another head back in third.

Bred by Don Alberto Corporation, Clicquot is the 15th Grade/Group 1 winner sired by Lane’s End veteran sire Quality Road, who has been represented by 19 stakes winners so far in 2025. Also the sire of recent Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hope Road, Quality Road has sired 639 winners (59.2 percent) and 93 stakes winners (8.6 percent) from 1,080 named foals aged 3 and up, giving him a remarkably consistent record for a modern-day stallion. Clicquot is the stallion’s fourth Grade 1 winner from an A.P. Indy-line mare, following Bellafina, Dunbar Road, and Emblem Road but is the first stakes winner of any sort sired by Quality Road from a Tapit mare.

Clicquot was produced from Tapit’s daughter Royal Obsession, who was the runner-up in the 2016 Gazelle Stakes (USA-G2) during her own racing days. A US$1.8 million purchase for Don Alberto Corp. from the 2017 Keeneland November mixed sale, Royal Obsession is also the dam of stakes-placed Silver Ticket (by Curlin) and the winning Distorted Humor filly Rue de Bac. She did not produce a live foal in 2023 or 2024 but gave birth to an Elite Power filly this spring before visiting Good Magic.

Tapit, of course, needs no introduction; a three-time American sire champion, he is currently leading the American broodmare sire list after finishing fifth in 2022, second in 2023, and third in 2024. Royal Obsession’s dam Rote is another matter, with her only other black-type runner being Jumby Bay, who placed in a couple of small stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs. Rote, though, is a winning Tiznow half sister to 2006 Garden City Breeders’ Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Magnificent Song (by Unbridled’s Song). She is also a half sister to three graded/Group stakes-placed runners, and having Storm Cat and Round Table as the sires of the next two dams along the female line certainly did not hurt Royal Obsession’s appeal.

Rote and her siblings were produced from Song to Remember (by Storm Cat), a winning half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Lech (by Danzig), 1989 Miss Grillo Stakes (USA-G3) winner Savina (by Nijinsky II), and listed stakes winner Crimson Guard by Danzig). Produced from stakes-placed Wedding Reception (by Round Table), Song to Remember is also a half sister to Erandel (by Danzig), dam of 2003 Oceanport Handicap (USA-G3) winner Runspastum (by Woodman) and second dam of 2013 Gardenia Stakes (USA-G3) winner Devious Intent (by Dixie Union). Wedding Reception, in turn, is out of 1964 Diana Handicap winner Prodana Neviesta (by Reneged), making her a full sister to 1974 Lawrence Realization (USA-G2) winner Prod and a half sister to 1975 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G3) winner Nijana (by Nijinsky II). Another half sister to Wedding Reception, Dowry (by Damascus), is the dam of 1986 San Simeon Stakes (USA-G3) winner Estate (by Singh).

Now riding a four-race win streak after breaking her maiden at second asking, Clicquot has jumbled the standings in the American 3-year-old filly division into a tangle unlikely to be resolved before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1). Barring something very unusual happening, such as a leading filly successfully tackling colts or older males in a late-season graded race (a la Surfside in the 2000 Clark Handicap, USA-G2), the Eclipse statuette will probably go to whichever of the top 3-year-old fillies turns in the best performance in the Distaff. Which one will it be? At this point, your guess is as good as mine, and quite possibly better.
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Mares on Monday: New Moon Rising in the Polla de Potrancas

9/15/2025

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​While the trainers of top North American 3-year-olds are for the most part making a decision as to whether to train up to the Breeders’ Cup or get a prep race in against their elders, the Argentine Classic season kicked off on September 6 at Palermo with the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1) and Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (Argentine One Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1), both over 1600 meters. The latter race was the first test of her 3-year-old season for multiple Group 1 winner and likely Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Charm (see “Mares on Monday: A Charming Contender for a Pellegrini Award,” June 1, 2025), who came into the Polla de Potrancas off a June 28 win in the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile Fillies (ARG-G1). She ran well but ended up in second behind undefeated Moon Frank, who won her second straight Group stakes race at 3 after taking the Premio General Luis Maria Campos (ARG-G2) over the same track and distance on August 2.

Bred and owned by Haras Gran Muñeca, Moon Frank is from the first crop of the farm’s home stallion, Gidu, an Irish-bred import who did his racing in the United States before being sent on to Argentina. Gidu had enough ability to win two restricted grass stakes races and to place twice at the Grade 3 level, but his primary attraction was his pedigree. He is sired by the great European champion Frankel, who has been following in the hoof prints of his sire Galileo and his grandsire Sadler’s Wells in continuing this branch of the Northern Dancer sire line, and is out of Manerbe, a winning daughter of Unbridled’s Song from a deep Claiborne Farm family, that of Courtesy. His results so far have been promising. Currently third on the Argentine first-crop sire list (his foals of 2023 will not actually begin racing until the spring of 2026), he has sired four Group winners from 22 starters.

Moon Frank is the fifth foal and fourth winner produced from 2015 Premio La Mission (ARG-G2) winner Moon Sale, a daughter of 2000 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Not for Sale. Sired by the stakes-winning Caro horse Parade Marshal out of 1994 Argentine Broodmare of the Year Love for Sale (by the good Swaps son Laramie Trail), Not for Sale is a full brother to 1994 Argentine Mare of the Year Stars and Stripes and a half brother to 1994 Argentine champion miler Off the Record (by Over the Ocean). He has lived up to his excellent pedigree by heading the Argentine general sire list in 2014 and is currently third on the Argentine broodmare sire list, the same position he occupied in 2024.

Moon Sale’s dam is the winner Lunación, whose sire Petit Poucet (by 1996 French champion sire Fairy King, a full brother to Sadler’s Wells) won the 1996 San Francisco Handicap (USA-G3) but was not particularly successful as a sire in Argentina. She is a half sister to multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Liz for Sale (by Not for Sale), who placed three times in Group 1 events, and is out of the winner Lu Toss, whose sire, the Grade 2-placed Buckpasser horse Egg Toss, earned two Pellegrini Awards as Argentina’s Stallion of the Year and was a notable broodmare sire.

A half sister to 2000 Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby, ARG-G1) winner Tapatio, who was Argentina’s Horse of the Year that season, Lu Toss is out of the Group 3-placed winner Tenacita (by Prince John’s Grade 3-winning son Lefty, a good sire and broodmare sire in Argentina). Also the dam of Tenace (by Acceptable), dam of 2014, Premio Vicente Dupuy (ARG-G3) winner Tenaz Igual (by Equal Stripes), Tenacita represents a female line that has been resident in Argentina since the 1925 mare Tasha (by Golden Myth) was imported from England.

Moon Frank’s pedigree is slanted toward miler speed, as is Charm’s, indicating that both fillies may be vulnerable as the distance stretches out in Argentina’s next filly Classic, the Gran Premio Selección (Argentine Oaks, ARG-G1), which will be contested over 2000 meters at Palermo. Then again, perhaps not. Class often tells quite as much as distance, and given the class Moon Frank and Charm have shown thus far, as well as close relations who were able to stretch out further, it is entirely possible that they may continue their domination of their division as well as continuing a budding rivalry.


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Mares on Monday: Bottle of Rouge Is the Toast of the Del Mar Debutante

9/8/2025

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​With the three top choices out of the seven fillies in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) field in his stable, the odds were pretty good that Bob Baffert would be the trainer of the winner. The surprise came in which one actually got the job done. Brilliant maiden winner Explora was made the odds-on favorite with Sorrento Stakes (USA-G3) winner Himika getting the nod as second choice, but it was Bottle of Rouge who defied her 9-1 odds and ran out the winner by a length after showing commendable determination in a duel with Explora; Himika settled for fourth after failing to peg back Explora with her own challenge.

Now the winner of two of her three starts, Bottle of Rouge padded her bankroll to a total of $240,000. She is the fifth stakes winner and first graded stakes winner for 2019 American champion older dirt male Vino Rosso, whose oldest runners are 4-year-olds. The son of Curlin and the Street Cry mare Mythical Bride stands at Spendthrift Farm, and the connection between his name (meaning “red wine” in Italian) and that of his daughter is obvious.

On the distaff side, Bottle of Rouge was bred by Kathie Maybee, who acquired the filly’s dam Blues Corner after the mare failed to change hands on a US$19,000 bid at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale. For Maybee, Blues Corner has produced Golden Line (by Cross Traffic), a winner in Saudi Arabia, and Visceral, a 4-year-old Violence colt who has been unplaced in two starts. She was barren in 2022 and since producing Bottle of Rouge has given birth to a yearling full sister to the Debutante winner and a 2025 filly by Yaupon,

As Visceral and Bottle of Rouge sold for US$150,000 between them as weanlings, Maybee has not done badly with Blues Corner, whose bargain price reflected both an indifferent race record (one third from five starts) and an unfashionable sire in Bluegrass Cat. Now the broodmare sire of 25 stakes winners, Bluegrass Cat was a much better racehorse than stallion, winning the 2006 Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) and running second in that year’s Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), and Travers Stakes (USA-G1). Although he was the leading New York-based sire of 2013, much more had been expected of him given his splendid pedigree; a son of Storm Cat, he belonged to an excellent branch of the La Troienne family tracing back through 1971 American champion 2-year-old filly Numbered Account.

A half sister to 2012 Philip. H. Iselin Stakes (USA-G3) winner San Pablo (by Jump Start) and to Grade 2-placed Slider (by Prenup), Blues Corner is out of Hunt’s Corner, a winning daughter of Silver Ghost. Sired by Mr. Prospector from the high-class race mare Misty Gallore (by Halo), Silver Ghost had a temper rivaling Halo’s but had speed as well, setting a track record for 6.5 furlongs at Belmont in 1985. He parlayed that speed and his fine pedigree into a quite useful career at stud, becoming the sire of the Grade 1-winning fillies Dreams Gallore, Love Lock, and Lunar Spook and the broodmare sire of 2024 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Puca.

Hunt’s Corner is a half sister to stakes-placed Twist the Facts (by Known Fact), dam of listed stakes winner Spin Zone (by Wild Zone), and is out of Treacherous Twist, a winning daughter of the useful speed sire Torsion and a half sister to stakes winner Turning Pleasant (by Pleasant Colony). The next dam in Bottle of Rouge’s tail-female line, Treacherous Turn (by Turn-to), is out of Treachery, by the good Mahmoud son Promised Land and a half sister to 1960 American champion 2-year-old male and 1970 American champion sire Hail to Reason (by Turn-to).

Although Bottle of Rouge is arguably the best runner produced by her direct female line since Hail to Reason, she would have to go a long way to be his match. Still, with a Grade 1 win over the track in the leadup to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1), a championship may not be out of her reach—and an Eclipse Award would be a good reason for her connections to raise a toast to her. With a bottle of red, of course.


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Mares on Monday: Bombacha Veloz Stars for a Rising Family in Chile

9/1/2025

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​Bombacha Veloz is a filly on the rise in Chile. After a terrible race in her first attempt at Group 1 company in the Tanteo de Potrancas (CHI-G1) on June 28 at Hipódromo Chile, she regrouped to win her third Group 3 race, the Premio Carlos Allende Navarro y Roberto Allende Urrutia, on August 2. On Saturday, she put it all together as she tried Group 1 company again in the Premio Mil Guineas Maria Luisa Solari Falabella (CHI-G1), the second leg of Chile’s Filly Triple Crown. The bettors were apparently willing to forgive her earlier misstep, sending her off as the second choice in the field of 14, and she repaid their faith with a handy gate-to-wire score in the 1600-meter event. She also avenged her earlier defeat, with Tanteo de Potrancas winner Diosa del Rock checking in a well-beaten sixth.

Bred by Haras San Ignacio, Bombacha Veloz represents a family that has done quite well in South America in recent years. Sired by multiple Grade 2 winner Good Samaritan (by Harlan’s Holiday), she is a half sister to 2019 Chilean champion 3-year-old filly Bella Khaleesi (by the Grade 2-winning El Prado horse Grassy). The two fillies are among eight winners produced from Aún Así, whose sire Monthir (a Grade 2-placed son of Gulch) ranked five times among Chile’s top five general sires.

Aún Así was a winner over 1200 meters and 1600 meters at Santiago during her racing career and is a half sister to 2012 Gran Premio Suipacha (ARG-G1) winner Animas (by Easing Along), whose big win over 1000 meters ranked her among Argentina’s better sprinters that year. Their dam Anick won the 2004 Premio Geoffrey Bushell (ARG-G3) over 1600 meters at Santiago. She is a daughter of Hussonet, a son of Mr. Prospector and American champion 3-year-old filly Sacahuista who parlayed his excellent pedigree into seven consecutive sire championships in Chile along with five titles as champion broodmare sire and six as champion sire of juveniles.

Anick, in turn, is out of Navy Blue, a two-time winner over 1200 meters at Santiago. A daughter of multiple Group 3 winner Kazaroun (by Alleged), Navy Blue is a full sister to Chilean listed stakes winner Crazy Moon. She is also a half sister to Isola Tiberina (by Rich Man’s Gold), dam of 2010 Gran Handicap de Chile (CHI-G3) Mister President (by Cruise King) and Group 1-placed Chilean listed stakes winner India Coquetona (by Indy Dancer), and her dam Set Blue (by the Grade 3-placed Buckpasser horse Settlement Day, a successful sire in Chile) is a half sister to 1979 Premio Domingo 2 Herrera (CHI-G1) winner Transistora (by El Tirol).

Good Samaritan had the pedigree to suggest that he might go longer than the 9 furlongs of his biggest wins at 3 and 4, but his best Chilean runners appear to be milers. Combined with Bombacha Veloz’s speed-oriented female family, this suggests that she is not likely to stretch out much further than the 1600 meters she has already shown herself capable of handling. Still, a top miler is not a bad thing to be, and this will be a filly to keep an eye on as the 2025-26 Southern Hemisphere racing season progresses.
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    I'm Avalyn Hunter, an author, pedigree researcher and longtime racing fan with a particular interest in Thoroughbred mares and their contributions to the history of the breed.

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