On February 18, 2023, Pretty Mischievous won her first graded stakes in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (USA-G2) at the Fair Grounds for Godolphin. Eleven weeks later, she stood in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle following the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), taking a huge step toward en eventual Eclipse Award as American champion 3-year-old filly.
Fast-forward a year to February 17, 2024, and Godolphin was again in the Fair Grounds winner’s circle following the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, but with a different filly. This time, it was Tarifa who turned in a professional performance over a drenched track to score by 2¾ lengths in what has been one of the best indicator races for the Kentucky Oaks over the last decade; five of the last ten Rachel Alexandra winners have gone on to claim the lilies.
Godolphin’s path to its most recent Oaks candidate began in November 2001, when they went to US$950,000 to secure a weanling full sister to Tiznow from the Keeneland November mixed sale. The 2000 American Horse of the Year, Tiznow had just won his unprecedented second victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), and the filly was also a full sister to Grade 2 winner and 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Budroyale. A third full sibling, Tizbud, was an unraced 2-year-old at that time but would go on to become a Grade 2-placed stakes winner in a career compromised by injury.
Named Tizdubai, Tiznow’s little sister showed great promise in her first two starts, winning the 2003 Sorrento Stakes (USA-G2) by four lengths, but then suffered a hock injury. She raced twice more as a 3-year-old in England, finishing unplaced each time, and retired to the broodmare ranks.
A daughter of the Grade 1-placed Relaunch stallion Cee’s Tizzy from the Seattle Song mare Cee’s Song, Tizdubai is a full sister to Tizso, who produced 2012 Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Paynter to a cover by Awesome Again, and to Tizamazing, who produced 2013 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oxbow and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Awesome Patriot to covers by Awesome Again. Thus, it was only natural that the same cross should be tried with Tizdubai, and she was booked to Awesome Again in 2016.
The resulting filly, Kite Beach, never made it to the track and was initially bred in 2020. Her first mate was Bernardini, and not simply as a matter of convenience; when bred to Tizdubai, he had sired the mare’s best racer, 2016 Bahrainian champion 3-year-old male Madinat Jumeirah. Tarifa is the result of Kite Beach’s tryst with Bernardini, and a repeat mating in 2021 is responsible for the unraced 2-year-old Josie’s Girl. Kite Beach’s most recent foal is a 2023 colt by Knicks Go.
Tarifa’s task on Saturday was probably made easier by the scratch of Silverbulletday Stakes winner West Omaha, but she left the other filly with some Oaks buzz, Untapable Stakes winner Alpine Princess, back up the track in fourth. Her task now is to progress off her victory and prove that it wasn’t simply a wet-track fluke. If she can do that, she stands a good chance of following a well-trodden path to the Kentucky Oaks winner’s circle.
Fast-forward a year to February 17, 2024, and Godolphin was again in the Fair Grounds winner’s circle following the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, but with a different filly. This time, it was Tarifa who turned in a professional performance over a drenched track to score by 2¾ lengths in what has been one of the best indicator races for the Kentucky Oaks over the last decade; five of the last ten Rachel Alexandra winners have gone on to claim the lilies.
Godolphin’s path to its most recent Oaks candidate began in November 2001, when they went to US$950,000 to secure a weanling full sister to Tiznow from the Keeneland November mixed sale. The 2000 American Horse of the Year, Tiznow had just won his unprecedented second victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), and the filly was also a full sister to Grade 2 winner and 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Budroyale. A third full sibling, Tizbud, was an unraced 2-year-old at that time but would go on to become a Grade 2-placed stakes winner in a career compromised by injury.
Named Tizdubai, Tiznow’s little sister showed great promise in her first two starts, winning the 2003 Sorrento Stakes (USA-G2) by four lengths, but then suffered a hock injury. She raced twice more as a 3-year-old in England, finishing unplaced each time, and retired to the broodmare ranks.
A daughter of the Grade 1-placed Relaunch stallion Cee’s Tizzy from the Seattle Song mare Cee’s Song, Tizdubai is a full sister to Tizso, who produced 2012 Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Paynter to a cover by Awesome Again, and to Tizamazing, who produced 2013 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oxbow and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Awesome Patriot to covers by Awesome Again. Thus, it was only natural that the same cross should be tried with Tizdubai, and she was booked to Awesome Again in 2016.
The resulting filly, Kite Beach, never made it to the track and was initially bred in 2020. Her first mate was Bernardini, and not simply as a matter of convenience; when bred to Tizdubai, he had sired the mare’s best racer, 2016 Bahrainian champion 3-year-old male Madinat Jumeirah. Tarifa is the result of Kite Beach’s tryst with Bernardini, and a repeat mating in 2021 is responsible for the unraced 2-year-old Josie’s Girl. Kite Beach’s most recent foal is a 2023 colt by Knicks Go.
Tarifa’s task on Saturday was probably made easier by the scratch of Silverbulletday Stakes winner West Omaha, but she left the other filly with some Oaks buzz, Untapable Stakes winner Alpine Princess, back up the track in fourth. Her task now is to progress off her victory and prove that it wasn’t simply a wet-track fluke. If she can do that, she stands a good chance of following a well-trodden path to the Kentucky Oaks winner’s circle.
RSS Feed