On January 8, Under the Stars took what would ordinarily be a first step toward a starting berth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) with a gritty win over Awake At Midnyte in the Santa Ynez Stakes (USA-G2), a points race toward the Run for the Lilies. While the distance is only seven furlongs, the daughter of Pioneerof the Nile showed enough stamina to stay atop or very close to the pace all the way and still have enough left in the tank to gut it out against a determined rival, and she stopped the clock in a smart 1:22.51, earning a 98 BRIS speed figure. The fly in the ointment is that Under the Stars is a member of Bob Baffert's barn and as such is ineligible to earn points toward the Oaks due to Baffert's ongoing suspension at Churchill Downs.
Be that as it may, Coolmore associates Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith are not likely grieving overmuch. If Under the Stars never did anything else, she would enter the Coolmore broodmare band with a Grade 2 win to go with a most attractive pedigree. A half sister to the brilliant Grade 1 winner Bodemeister (by Pioneerof the Nile's sire Empire Maker), she traces her female line back to Bitty Girl, a champion on the race course and an influential broodmare.
Habitat, the sire of Bitty Girl, was known for transmitting first-rate speed and precocity and was an excellent broodmare sire as well. Bitty Girl was a true daughter of her father, for she was the English champion 2-year-old filly of 1973. Second in the 5-furlong Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) at 3, she was also a good broodmare, producing 1983 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G2) winner Beaudelaire (by Nijinsky II), Irish stakes winner Memento (by Roberto), and Size Six (by Caerleon), the dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Lady Six (by Sunny's Halo) and the second dam of Brazilian Group 1 winner Hot Six.
From a long-range perspective, the most important of Bitty Girl's foals was Beaudelaire's full sister Nijit, whose three stakes placings included a third in the1980 Cotillion Stakes (USA-G2). Nijit went on to produce listed stakes winner Spanish Parade (by Roberto) and stakes winner Save the Doe (by Spend a Buck) as well as Willa Dear (by Red Ransom), dam of 2008 Comely Stakes (USA-G2) winner Sherine (by Precise End).
Spanish Parade, the best of Nijit's foals on the track, also proved to be the crucial one in continuing the lineage through two daughters by A.P. Indy. One, Post Parade, won only one of 10 starts but is the dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Keiai Elegant (by King Kamehameha), listed stakes winners Keiai Rajin (by Came Home) and Fierce Wind (by Dixie Union), and stakes winner Rebel Yeller (by Dixie Union). The other is multiple Grade 3 winner Parade Queen, who has three stakes horses to her credit as well as Kydd Gloves (by Dubai Millennium), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner She's a Julie (by Elusive Quality). Parade Queen's stakes runners are Obay (by Kingmambo), a champion in Saudi Arabia while racing as "Batraan"; King Gulch (by Gulch), a juvenile stakes winner at Remington Park; and 2006 Sorrento Stakes (USA-G3) winner Untouched Talent, dam of Bodemeister and Under the Stars. Following Under the Stars, Parade Queen produced colts by Justify in 2020 and 2021 before being bred to Uncle Mo for 2022.
Bitty Girl's family has generally been more notable for speed than great stamina and has been quick to revert to its precocious, speedy type when bred to speedier sires even after repeated crosses to more stamina-oriented horses. Thus, with Storm Cat as broodmare sire, there may be some question as to just how much distance Under the Stars really wants. The similarly bred Bodemeister could carry speed over 9 to 10 furlongs, however, and in any event, there are plenty of good races these days at shorter trips. So, even if Under the Stars never gets a chance to try for the lilies, she should have other opportunities to continue adding credit to a family with more than a bit of talent.
Be that as it may, Coolmore associates Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith are not likely grieving overmuch. If Under the Stars never did anything else, she would enter the Coolmore broodmare band with a Grade 2 win to go with a most attractive pedigree. A half sister to the brilliant Grade 1 winner Bodemeister (by Pioneerof the Nile's sire Empire Maker), she traces her female line back to Bitty Girl, a champion on the race course and an influential broodmare.
Habitat, the sire of Bitty Girl, was known for transmitting first-rate speed and precocity and was an excellent broodmare sire as well. Bitty Girl was a true daughter of her father, for she was the English champion 2-year-old filly of 1973. Second in the 5-furlong Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) at 3, she was also a good broodmare, producing 1983 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G2) winner Beaudelaire (by Nijinsky II), Irish stakes winner Memento (by Roberto), and Size Six (by Caerleon), the dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Lady Six (by Sunny's Halo) and the second dam of Brazilian Group 1 winner Hot Six.
From a long-range perspective, the most important of Bitty Girl's foals was Beaudelaire's full sister Nijit, whose three stakes placings included a third in the1980 Cotillion Stakes (USA-G2). Nijit went on to produce listed stakes winner Spanish Parade (by Roberto) and stakes winner Save the Doe (by Spend a Buck) as well as Willa Dear (by Red Ransom), dam of 2008 Comely Stakes (USA-G2) winner Sherine (by Precise End).
Spanish Parade, the best of Nijit's foals on the track, also proved to be the crucial one in continuing the lineage through two daughters by A.P. Indy. One, Post Parade, won only one of 10 starts but is the dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Keiai Elegant (by King Kamehameha), listed stakes winners Keiai Rajin (by Came Home) and Fierce Wind (by Dixie Union), and stakes winner Rebel Yeller (by Dixie Union). The other is multiple Grade 3 winner Parade Queen, who has three stakes horses to her credit as well as Kydd Gloves (by Dubai Millennium), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner She's a Julie (by Elusive Quality). Parade Queen's stakes runners are Obay (by Kingmambo), a champion in Saudi Arabia while racing as "Batraan"; King Gulch (by Gulch), a juvenile stakes winner at Remington Park; and 2006 Sorrento Stakes (USA-G3) winner Untouched Talent, dam of Bodemeister and Under the Stars. Following Under the Stars, Parade Queen produced colts by Justify in 2020 and 2021 before being bred to Uncle Mo for 2022.
Bitty Girl's family has generally been more notable for speed than great stamina and has been quick to revert to its precocious, speedy type when bred to speedier sires even after repeated crosses to more stamina-oriented horses. Thus, with Storm Cat as broodmare sire, there may be some question as to just how much distance Under the Stars really wants. The similarly bred Bodemeister could carry speed over 9 to 10 furlongs, however, and in any event, there are plenty of good races these days at shorter trips. So, even if Under the Stars never gets a chance to try for the lilies, she should have other opportunities to continue adding credit to a family with more than a bit of talent.
RSS Feed