Client Success: Gormley Filly Prevails Comfortably In Aqueduct Maiden

Bistrita (f, 3, Gormley – Light The Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway)

Bistrita (f, 3, Gormley – Light The Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway) – On her debut at Aqueduct on December 9th, she ran an even second over a sloppy, sealed surface to finish second. Bistrita lived up to the promise she showed in her previous race, returning to the same six furlong distance on a fast track. Jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. rushed the Gormley filly out of the gate. She led the way down the inside of the backstretch and through the turn, settling just off the inside as they entered the stretch. Bistrita moved away from the field under a drive before gearing down for the last sixteenth. As the 2.70-1 post time race favorite, she comfortably won by six lengths at the finish.

Sales history: $90,000 Weanling ’19 FTNMIX

Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $32,250. O- Highlander Training Center; B-Saratoga Glen Farm, LLC (NY); T-Jeremiah Englehart.

The Gormley filly is represented by a yearling half-brother by Leofric. Her dam is expecting a foal by the same stallion this year.

Clark Shepherd (Shepherd Equine Advisers), bloodstock agent for Larry Hirsch (Highlander Training Center), purchased Bistrita at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale from the consignment of Vinery Sales.

OPTIMAL Mating Analysis

Horses bred on OPTIMAL Matings have proven to possess more potential to become superior racehorses. In fact, most will break their maiden in the first two starts. Combined with a good physical, good vetting and a price that falls within a budget, OPTIMAL Matings help to focus on buying or breeding better racehorses.

4 Sire Families (3L,8C,11,9) & 4 Racing Families (3L,2S,1S,1,J)

Good Combination of Female Families

Good Outcross Percentage

Good Linebreeding Balance

Good Grandsire / Granddam Linebreeding Percentages

Good Gender Linebreeding Balance

Key Linebreedings

5,6×5 Secretariat – through daughters Weekend Surprise and Terlingua
6×4 Nijinsky II – gender-balanced through son Green Dancer and daughter Arabic
4×3 Storm Cat – through sons Bernstein and Giant’s Causeway
6,5×5 Northern Dancer – Through sons Storm Bird and Nijinsky II

Similar Breedings

Exact Positions of Secretariat Linebreeding
- 8 Grade 1 Stakes Winners
- 4 Grade 2 Stakes Winners
- 13 Grade 3 Stakes Winners
- 30 Listed Stakes Winners
Exact Positions of Northern Dancer Linebreeding
- Listed Stakes Winner
  - Carbon Stryker (Crossbow o/o Silver Train mare)
Exact Position of Malibu Moon over Giant’s Causeway
- Listed Stakes Winner
  - Trixie Racer (Orb o/o Giant’s Causeway mare)
Exact Position of Malibu Moon over Storm Cat
- Grade 3 Stakes Winner
  - Dzik (Portal Del Alto o/o Easing Along mare)
- Listed Stakes Winner
  - Trixie Racer (Orb o/o Giant’s Causeway mare)
Exact Position of A.P. Indy over Giant’s Causeway
- Grade 3 Stakes Winners
  - Cassatt (Tapit o/o Giant’s Causeway winner)
  - The Tabulator (Dialed In o/o Giant’s Causeway mare)
- Listed Stakes Winners
  - Trixie Racer (Orb o/o Giant’s Causeway mare)
  - Courvoisier (Tapit o/o Giant’s Causeway winner)
  - Two Thirty Five (Stay Thirsty 0/0 Giant’s Causeway mare)
  - Mancation (Going Wild o/o Giant’s Causeway mare)
Exact Position of A.P. Indy over Storm Cat
- - 8 Grade 1 Stakes Winners
  - 4 Grade 2 Stakes Winners
  - 13 Grade 3 Stakes Winners
  - 30 Listed Stakes Winners
Exact Position of A.P. Indy over Mt. Livermore
- Grade 1 Stakes Winner
  - Sippican Harbor (Orb o/o Deputy Minister mare)
- Listed Stakes Winner
  - Iron Stone (Mr. Speaker o/o Unbridled’s Song mare)

Whether you are new to the game, experiencing more losses than wins or just looking for a new approach, I am confident that I can help you breed or buy a better racehorse. To find out more about OPTIMAL Matings and how they can help your program, please subscribe to my Blog/News page HERE to receive future information on complimentary mating recommendations, sales short lists, stakes winner pedigree analysis, news on personal client success and any other random thoughts or ideas that I may have. Also, receive a complimentary copy of my report “Blind Luck or Designed Luck? – How A Kentucky Derby Winner Was Bred” sent directly to your inbox.

For inquiries or more information about Shepherd Equine Advisers, please contact Clark Shepherd at 859-321-6618, or by email at clark@bloodstock-agent-ky.com.

I would love to hear any comments or questions that you may have. Please submit them below. Maybe we can address them in a future post!