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Mares on Monday: Elysian Field Begins Quest for Immortality

7/24/2023

Late-developing Elysian Field had only a maiden victory to her credit when trainer Mark Casse sent her to the post for the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser on July 23, but that maiden victory had been on Woodbine’s synthetic surface, as was her second-place run in the 7-furlong Fury Stakes on June 10. With experience over the course, all the big filly needed was a bit more maturity and distance, and she got both of those in the Oaks. She still looked a trifle green and mentally immature in the stretch but powered home by 2¼ lengths over Wickenheiser to become a Canadian Classic winner.

Sired by 2007 King’s Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hard Spun, who has been Danzig’s most consistent sire son in North America, Elysian Field is the third foal of the winning Smart Strike mare Elysian, a mare purchased by breeder David Anderson’s Anderson Farms for US$100,000 from the 2018 Keeneland January mixed sale. Sold on for US$35,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale, Elysian has since produced a 2022 Collected filly and a 2023 filly by Union Rags. She has one other winner to her credit, the 2019 Honor Code gelding Hidden Honor.

A half sister to multiple stakes-placed Forward Thinker (by Indian Charlie), Elysian is out of 2007 Glorious Song Stakes (CAN-L) winner Initiation, one of four stakes winners produced from the Mt. Livermore mare Proposal. The best of the others was Inspired (by Unbridled’s Song), a six-time stakes winner over sprint distances, and the prowess of Initiation and her siblings over shorter trips may have been one reason for the selection of Smart Strike as her mate for the breeding that produced Elysian, seeking to bring a bit more staying power to the mix. A similar approach has likewise had happy results with 2023 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner National Treasure (by Quality Road), whose dam Treasure is a Medaglia d’Oro half sister to Initiation.

Proposal, who was second in the listed Dearly Precious stakes as a juvenile, is a full sister to multiple sprint Grade 3 winner Multiple Choice. She is a half sister to Lady Godiva (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2018 Clark Handicap (USA-G1) winner Leofric (by Candy Ride), and to Lemon Lady (by Lemon Drop Kid), dam of 2020 Belgian champion miler Barbados Bob (by Speightstown) and listed juvenile stakes winner Lemon Juice (by Johannesburg).

Produced from Lady of Choice (a Storm Bird half sister to 1998 Ashland Stakes, USA-G1, winner Well Chosen and Grade 3 winner In Contention), Proposal belongs to a female family that, further back, is responsible for 1946 American Triple Crown winner Assault and the immortal Man o’ War. This branch of Bruce Lowe family 4-c has never been prolific in its production of stakes horses, but it has produced some outstanding individuals from time to time.

Elysian Field has yet to prove herself one of those individuals, but preliminary indications are that she may attempt to take another step up in four weeks by tackling males in Canada’s premier Classic, the King’s Plate (which will be having its first renewal since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III). No one now living knows better how to develop a top Canadian runner than Casse, whose previous two Plate winners were the fillies Lexie Lou (2014) and Wonder Gadot (2018). Both ended their three year-old seasons as Canada’s Horse of the Year, and if Elysian Field can duplicate their triumphs in the Plate, she may be well on her way to collecting similar honors at year’s end.

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Mares on Monday: Madonna Benois May Be Ready for the Big Time in Argentina

7/17/2023

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Argentina’s Hipódromo de La Plata is one of the nation’s three major racetracks, but for most of the year, its racing is a little below the standard found at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo and Hipódromo de San Isidro. None of the recognized Argentine Classics for 3-year-olds are contested there, nor are any of the Group 1 events for juveniles. Nonetheless, La Plata does have its share of local stars, and sometimes one emerges that appears to have the potential to take on the big stables and the top names at Palermo and San Isidro. Such may be the case with Caballeria Tres Jotas’s Madonna Benois. After running second to multiple Group stakes winner Celestial Filly (a Group 1 winner in her next outing) in her stakes debut in La Plata’s 1200-meter Premio Derli A. Gomez (ARG-G3) on March 28, the filly swept through La Plata’s three remaining Group stakes for juvenile fillies, taking the 1300-meter Premio Fortunato Damiani on April 23, the 1400-meter Premio Andres S. Torres (ARG-G3) on May 16, and the 1500-meter Premio Raul Aristegui (ARG-G2) on June 13.

Like all other Argentine juveniles, Madonna Benois turned 3 on July 1, and she has gone straight on into her 3-year-old campaign. She hasn’t missed a beat. On July 11, Madonna Benois ran her streak of Group races to four, easily dominating her peers in La Plata’s 1600-meter Premio Miguel Luis Morales (ARG-G2), and seems to be taking on the look of a filly who might be developing into a Classic contender.

Sired by 2011 Gran Premio Santiago Luro (ARG-G1) winner Angiolo (whose sire Grand Reward is a Grade 2-winning son of Storm Cat and 1995 American champion 3-year-old filly Serena’s Song), Madonna Benois belongs to a branch of Bruce Lowe family 1-o that came to Argentina via Tryffan. An English-bred daughter of one of England’s greatest sprinters, Abernant, Tryffan showed none of her sire’s ability and was exported to Argentina as a 4-year-old in 1970 becoming a member of the broodmare band at Haras San Francisco de Pilar. She produced eight foals in her adopted country, among them Argentine listed stakes winner Acrilic (by Angriff). She also produced Great Try (by French Group 3 winner General, best known in the United States as the sire of Argentine champion, American Grade 1 winner, and successful American sire Lord At War), dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Great War (by Bold Second) and, through Great War, second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Great Bordeaux (By Bordeaux Bob).

Tryffan’s 1976 foal, So Tempting (by multiple Argentine Group winner So Bold, a paternal grandson of Bold Ruler) was no race mare and produced no stakes winners, but her 1980 daughter by General, Souris Grise, hinted at real ability, winning all three of her starts. The star among Souris Grise’s 10 named foals was Irina (by the successful Caro stallion Ringaro), who popped up to win the 1991 Carrera de las Estrellas de Potrancas (ARG-G1; the Argentine equivalent of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, USA-G1) for Caballeriza Tres Jotas. Irina, in turn, produced multiple juvenile Group 1 winner Sebastiano and multiple juvenile Group winner Irenarca, both by 10-time Argentine champion sire Southern Halo, and, through her Southern Halo daughter Wait, is the second dam of Angiolo and of multiple Argentine listed stakes winner Breda (by 2000 Cigar Mile Handicap, USA-G1, winner El Corredor).

Irina’s elder half sister Souriante (by the winning Lyphard horse Lyphmas) was not as talented but still had enough quality to win four Argentine listed stakes races and run second in the 1989 Premio Venezuela (ARG-G2), all in the silks of Tres Jotas. That was good enough to put her in the broodmare band of Haras La Quebrada, for which she produced 1998 Gran Premio Hipodromo de La Plata (ARG-G2) winner Soyer (by 1989 Futurity Stakes, USA-G1), winner Senor Pete). She also produced Soutine (by Luhuk), dam of 2016 Premio Chile (ARG-G3) winner Salonika (by Roman Ruler), and the winner Souri Halo (by 2003 Gran Premio Suipacha, ARG-G1, winner Sebi Halo, by Southern Halo), dam of 2009 Premio Circulo de Proprietários de Caballerizas Sangre (ARG-G3) winner Sonrisar (by Salt Lake; dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Sonrisada, by El Corredor).

Sonrisar’s half sister Sommite (by the stakes-placed Mr. Prospector horse Dance Brightly, whose dam Dance Smartly was the 1991 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year) never raced but continued Haras La Quebrada’s development of this family through her daughter Marlotte (by El Corredor). Unraced, Marlotte took her bloodlines to Haras El Paraiso, for which she produced Madonna Benois as her third foal after producing 2021 Premio Raul Aristegui winner Mery Laurent (also by Angiolo) as her second. Both of these fillies are inbred 4x5 to Souris Grise, the direct ancestress of both sire and dam; they are also inbred 3x4 to Southern Halo.

Although Madonna Benois appears to be progressing very nicely indeed, her pedigree strongly suggests that the 1600 meters of the Premio Miguel Luis Morales will be about as far as she cares to go. Tryffan’s family has had a strong bent toward speed and precocity throughout its history in Argentina, and Southern Halo made the bulk of his reputation as a sire of sprinter-milers; further, Angiolo scored his signature win over 1200 meters and never won beyond that distance. Thus, while La Plata’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies, the Gran Premio Seleccion de Potrancas (ARG-G1), might seem a logical next step up the class ladder when it runs in 2½ months, its 2000-meter distance may well be beyond Madonna Benois’s tether. The other likely alternative is that the filly may finally leave the friendly confines of La Plata for Palermo, where the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (Argentine One Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1) will be contested over the same 1600-meter distance as the Miguel Luis Morales in early September. A win there would not be easy, but it would confirm the filly’s place among Argentina’s elite runners and add another accomplishment to the history of a classy, speedy family.

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Mares on Monday: Idiomatic Proves Best in Show in Delaware Handicap

7/10/2023

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On July 8, Curlin’s 4-year-old daughter Idiomatic lived up to her billing as the 2-5 favorite as she pulled out the biggest win of her career in the Delaware Handicap (USA-G2). Benefiting from a patient ride from Florent Geroux after she stumbled at the start, the Brad Cox trainee worked her way forward along the backstretch before engaging front-running second choice Classy Edition on the far turn. From there it was a battle to the finish, with Idiomatic outgaming her determined opponent to claim the victory by a head. The win was the fourth-generation Juddmonte homebred’s sixth from nine starts and raised her lifetime bankroll to $774,490.

Idiomatic traces her female descent to one of the most important matriarchs of the 20th century, 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Best in Show, through that matron’s 1977 Sir Ivor daughter, Monroe. A full sister to 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski, Monroe was a nice race mare in her own right, winning the 1980 Ballyogan Stakes (IRE-G3) and running second in the 1979 Gallaghouse Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1).

One of the persisting characteristics of Best in Show’s line has been the prolific production of many of its members—an important consideration with any broodmare, as a mare that conceives readily, gives birth easily, and rears her foals well without overtaxing herself gives herself more opportunities to come up with something good than a mare with fewer representatives. Monroe combined quantity with quality: of her 18 named foals, 17 started, 14 won, and four were stakes winners; three more of her winners were stakes-placed. Her best was her final stakes winner, 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar (by Zafonic), but she already had a commendable record prior to his birth, having produced French Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis), as well as Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon), Group 2-placed Esquire (by High Line), and Group 3-placed Didicoy (by Danzig). The last-named mare was a good producer in her own right, producing 1995 Dahlia Handicap (USA-G2) winner Didina (by Nashwan) and listed stakes winners Espionage (by Zafonic) and Star Cluster (by Observatory), and Monroe’s produce prior to Xaar also included stakes producers Danthonia, Victoriana, and Stardom.

Silver Star, a 1996 full sister to Xaar, was Monroe’s last black-type runner, running third in the listed Prix Coronation in France as a 3-year-old. She produced 10 winners from 15 named foals, but only one was a stakes winner, 2018 Buckhounds Stakes (ENG-L) winner Barsanti (by Champs Elysees). More importantly, she has two stakes-producing daughters. The younger, Bird Flown (by Oasis Dream), is the dam of 2019 Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1) and 2020 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Siskin (by First Defence). The elder is Rising Tornado (by Storm Cat), whose first foal was 2014 American champion older female Close Hatches (by First Defence), dam in turn of multiple Grade 2 winner Tacitus (by Tapit). Rising Tornado is also the dam of Close Hatches’ full sister Lockdown. A Grade 1-placed stakes winner, Lockdown produced Idiomatic as her first foal.

Rising Tornado is probably at or close to the end of her producing career, having slipped foal in three of the last four years (her youngest foal is a 2022 colt by Tapit), and Lockdown died after producing a 2022 filly by Into Mischief; her only other foal is the unraced 2020 Medaglia d’Oro filly Abditory. All five of Rising Tornado’s other daughters have produced at least one filly, however, a good omen for the continuation of the family, and Idiomatic has done more than enough to ensure herself a place in the Juddmonte broodmare band when the time comes for her to leave the track. Given the performance she put up on Saturday, racing fans can be forgiven for hoping that time is not too soon.

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Mares on Monday: Wandack Renews Roebling's Legacy in Chile

7/3/2023

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After two placings in Group 3 stakes races, Wandack broke through in the last Group 1 race of the South American racing season for 2-year-olds on June 30, gamely scoring a front-running victory in Chile’s Premio Arturo Lyon P. at Santiago. The daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Constitution became the 10th Grade/Group 1 winner for her sire and his fifth from a mare from the Storm Cat male line. She also became the first major winner for a branch of a notable family developed by Joseph M. Roebling, one that traces back to his foundation mare Sunfeathers through her great-granddaughter Change Water.

Sired by 1956 American Horse of the Year Swaps, Change Water showed little of her sire’s prodigious talent, winning only one of twelve starts. She produced one of the last good horses bred by Roebling before his death in 1980, a plain, long-bodied mare that, under the name of Fall Aspen, won the 1978 Matron Stakes (USA-G1). A great broodmare, Fall Aspen produced nine stakes winners, four of them successful at Grade/Group 1 level (including 1994 American champion 2-year-old male Timber Country, by Woodman), and earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors in 1994.

After Fall Aspen, virtually anything else would have been anticlimactic, but Change Water did produce two stakes-placed runners in Paintbrush (by Bold Hour) and McCracken (by Pretense) as well as Allen’s Prospect, a winning son of Mr. Prospector who became a good regional sire in the Mid-Atlantic. She also produced the winning Alleged mare Brackish, who produced three listed stakes winners as her first three foals: Valses Pour Moi (by Gate Dancer); Merzouk (by Theatrical), who was the runner-up in the 1992 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1); and Pacific West (by Gone West).

Goldvasser, Brackish’s 1993 filly by Seeking the Gold, won one of three starts and managed to produce only two winners of one race each from eight named foals, surely a disappointment considering her regal pedigree. One of those winners was Web of Intrigue, a 2002 daughter of Danzig who lasted only two starts and got her win by disqualification in a maiden race at Colonial Downs. After producing a gelding that failed to win in six starts in 2004 and slipping her foal in 2007 after selling for US$35,000 in foal to Monarchos at the 2006 Keeneland November mixed sale, she was exported to Argentina. There, she produced seven foals for Haras La Esperanza and then failed to produce a live foal for seven years before coming up with the 2022 Puerto Real filly Danzig Port, bred by Haras Los Durmientes.

Website (by Johannesburg), Web of Intrigue’s second Argentine-bred foal, was sent to Chile as a yearling and proved about as good a racer as her female family had produced in three generations, winning twice over 1000 meters and finishing second once from four starts before becoming part of the broodmare band at Haras Don Alberto. Wandack is her fifth foal and fourth winner, her previous produce including Group 3-placed Wilow (by Mastercraftsman).

Undoubtedly, Wandack owes much of her talent to her sire, who led the Chilean general sire list in 2021 after being runner-up in 2020 (he was sixth in 2022). Still, the line of female-to-female descent tracing from Brackish had something to contribute as well, not least the quality of the sires seen at each link. The result was that Website had a pedigree loaded with ancestors that had proven themselves excellent racehorses, quality sires and broodmares, or both, and thus was primed for a case of the family trumping the individual if she met the right stallion. Apparently, she did.

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Mares on Monday: Elysian Field Begins Quest for Immortality

Mares on Monday: Madonna Benois May Be Ready for the Big Time in Argentina

Mares on Monday: Idiomatic Proves Best in Show in Delaware Handicap

Mares on Monday: Wandack Renews Roebling's Legacy in Chile

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