A Tale of Two Fillies I recently posted a client success story regarding a Distorted Humor filly that broke her maiden in her first start, “Client Success: Homebred Distorted Humor Filly Wins First Out At Laurel” (See pic above). I had the honor of designing the OPTIMAL Mating that produced her for her owner and […]
Client Success: Halama Wires, Draws Away at Churchill
HALAMA (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Milania, by Bernardini) Halama (f, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Milania, by Bernardini) set the pace early, was off the rail into the lane then drew away under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. She was geared down to the wire in winning by three lengths. Halama was acquired in utero for $310,000 at Keeneland […]
OPTIMAL Maidens: Nyquist Firster Keeps to Task, Pays $10.00 to Win
MINUTE WALTZ (f, 2, Nyquist–Is It Safe, by Yes It’s True) Minute Waltz (Nyquist), with a sharp debut score on Saturday, began to repay her $425,000 price tag at Keeneland September. Racing midpack six wide off a blazing first quarter in :21.34, the 4-1 shot rallied in the four to five path to take on the […]
OPTIMAL Maidens: Summer Front Firster Gets Geared-Down Win
CAMP HOPE (c, 2, Summer Front–Praising, by Pulpit) Camp Hope (Summer Front), overlooked at 10-1 for his debut, raced forwardly placed four-wide into the first turn as a pair of longshots slugged it out through moderate opening splits. Eagerly closing on the leaders on the far turn, the dark bay forged an advantage turning for home […]
OPTIMAL Mating Analysis: Candy Ride Colt May Be Aptly Named
Therideofalifetime (c, 2, Candy Ride (ARG) – Cosmic Evolution, by Proud Citizen) THERIDEOFALIFETIME (c, 2, Candy Ride (Arg) – Cosmic Evolution (SW & GSP, $164,810), by Proud Citizen) looks aptly named if he again runs anywhere close to his sharp wire-to-wire maiden victory Saturday at Keeneland. Rallying to be runner-up when unveiled June 19 at […]
Client Success: Hard Spun Filly Slaloms Her Way Home For CD Win
SUMMER IN SARATOGA SUMMER IN SARATOGA (f, 4, Hard Spun–Love Theway Youare {GISW, $372,990}, by Arch) split a field of 13 in the Dec. 28 Pago Hop S. at the Fair Grounds and most recently reported home first in a Feb. 13 allowance in the Big Easy. Drawn widest in this field of 10, the […]
Client Success: $16K Purchase Kicks Clear of Blue Bloods in Salty CD Allowance
SPANISH KINGDOM SPANISH KINGDOM (g, 3, Animal Kingdom–Ms. Vizcaya, by Successful Appeal) stalked the pace three wide throughout most of the race. He inched forward around the far turn to make a three wide bid for the lead turning for home. The Animal Kingdom gelding kicked clear in upper stretch and held sway through the […]
OPTIMAL Mating Analysis: Smooth Like Strait wins War Chant Stakes
Smooth Like Strait Smooth Like Strait returned to his winning ways while racing for the first time outside of Southern California. As the skies were opening up on Saturday at Churchill Downs, he comfortably won the inaugural $100,000 War Chant Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths. The Cannon Thoroughbreds LLC’s homebred is trained by Michael McCarthy […]
Maclean’s Music Gelding Gets Two Wins In A Row
Bloodstock agent Clark Shepherd reports that BAOZUN (g, 2, Maclean’s Music–Ron’s Lady, by Elhayq (IRE)) attended the pace along the inside and angled out leaving the turn. He wore down the leaders and edged clear late to win by one length on the sloppy Churchill Downs strip. The gelding now has two wins from only […]