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Goodnight Olive likely to target repeat G1 Ballerina conquest

by NYRA Press Office

• Goodnight Olive likely to target repeat G1 Ballerina conquest
• Donegal Forever earns 89 BSF in impressive debut
• McGaughey sends out slew of turf workers Sunday; Perform works sharp half-mile Saturday
• Dual Group 3-winner Silver Knott remains on target for G1 Belmont Derby Invitational
• G1 winner Rhea Moon works on turf for Cox

First Row Partners and Team Hanley’s reigning Champion Female Sprint Goodnight Olive garnered a 97 Beyer Speed Figure while earning her fourth overall graded stakes triumph in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Bed o’ Roses at Belmont Park.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown indicated Sunday that Goodnight Olive will likely target the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park.

Goodnight Olive’s Championship-earning season saw her capture last year’s Ballerina en route to a 2 1/2-length win over fellow Eclipse Award-winner Echo Zulu in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland. In Saturday’s seven-furlong engagement, she made amends following a troubled third in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff on May 6 at Churchill Downs, which halted a seven-race win streak.

Under a well-executed ride by Irad Ortiz, Jr., who piloted five winners on Saturday’s program, Goodnight Olive took to the rear of the compact five-horse field down the backstretch. She made a four-wide move at the quarter pole and collared multiple graded-stakes winners Wicked Halo and Caramel Swirl in the final furlong to win by a neck.

Brown credited jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. for executing a well-judged ride.

“He rode a great race and really made all the right calls throughout the race to keep himself out of trouble. The mare really came through and made a couple different moves in the race. I couldn’t be prouder of the horse and Irad both,” Brown said.

Following the Bed o’ Roses, Brown toyed with the idea of stretching her out to two turns, but said Sunday morning that he will likely keep the 5-year-old dark bay mare doing what she does best.

“The more I thought about it, I’ll just keep her sprinting and probably freshen her up for the Ballerina,” Brown said. “It’s the wrong time to do it [try two turns].”

Goodnight Olive is by 2004 Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Ghostzapper, who Brown worked with when assisting the late Hall of Fame horseman Bobby Frankel.

“They are very similar horses,” said Brown, when asked if there were any similarities between Goodnight Olive and her talented sire. “They look the same, they’ve had the same physical issues in the same areas. She’s got the heart, the will to win and the brilliance of him.

“I’ve trained three really, really top Ghostzapper fillies: her, and [Grade 1 winners] Guarana and Paulassilverlining,” Brown added. “All three are outstanding horses. This one is the closest to her dad with all of her attributes.”

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Goodnight Olive is out of the dual graded stakes winning Smart Strike mare Salty Strike and is a direct descendant of influential matriarch Almahmoud. She was bought for $170,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Brown also secured triumphs earlier on Saturday’s card when sending out Peter Brant’s 3-year-old debut maiden winner Mischievous Angel in the opener going six furlongs on the Widener turf course against older company. In the race prior to the Bed o’ Roses, he saddled Jeff Drown and Don Rachel’s Exact Estimate to a triumph against winners going one mile over the same course. Both horses are by perennial leading North American sire Into Mischief.

Exact Estimate, a 4-year-old bay colt, made his first two starts on dirt before winning his turf debut in March at Gulfstream Park. He followed with a neck defeat to Saturday’s Grade 3 Monmouth winner Catnip in a Keeneland allowance before earning a career-best 89 Beyer in his recent winning effort. A $375,000 purchase, Exact Estimate is out of the graded stakes placed Dixie Union mare Magic Union and is a half-brother to graded stakes winning dirt marathoner Tizamagician.

Mischevious Angel is out of the Scat Daddy mare Sabrina’s Angel who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning New York-bred Audible. He was bought for $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

“Exact Estimate wasn’t panning out on the dirt, so I put him on the grass and breezed him one day and he did brilliant,” Brown said. “Mischievous Angel’s dirt works were solid enough, but he always had the action and the build of a turf horse as he turned three and I could see this more. He’s out of a Scat Daddy mare which you get a lot of turf horses with. He has that really athletic type that I thought would really appreciate running at the top of the ground.”

Klaravich Stables’ Consumer Spending captured the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth Park on Saturday. The gray or roan More Than Ready 4-year-old filly made her second start off a layoff, entering from a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Beaugay to stable mate Marketsegmentation, who won the Grade 1 New York in gate-to-wire fashion next out.

Consumer Spending, who won last year’s Grade 2 Wonder Again at Belmont, could return to the Jersey Shore oval for the nine-furlong Grade 3 Matchmaker on July 22.

“The logical spot would be the Matchmaker, so I would put that at the top of the list,” Brown said.

Consumer Spending is the second progeny out of the Scat Daddy mare Siempre Mia, whose dam Shaconage was a dual graded stakes-winning turf distaffer. Consumer Spending was bought for $200,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale.

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Donegal Forever earns 89 BSF in impressive debut

Donegal Racing owner and founder Jerry Crawford had to wait longer than he had hoped to see promising sophomore Donegal Forever display his capabilities, but the sophomore son of Pioneerof the Nile made it well worth the wait with an impressive debut score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight Saturday at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Donegal Forever stumbled at the start causing jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to lose his left iron, but quickly found his stride when making a wide move in upper stretch en route to an easy 4 1/4-length victory. The victory earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He had some adversity to overcome from the time we started with him,” Crawford said. “It seemed like it was one thing after another with him, but finally he got it together and we got him up to Saratoga to train and everything was good from there. This was the horse we thought was going to be our Kentucky Derby horse and he didn’t get his first start until today. So, now we just have to see if we can put him in a position to run and win some big races.”

Crawford is hopeful that Donegal Forever can give the Donegal Racing syndicate partners a couple of “Spa days” over the summer.

“Assuming he comes out of this race sound, maybe the first part of Saratoga and depending on how that goes, maybe there will be time for two races at Saratoga,” Crawford said.

Crawford expressed confidence in Donegal Forever’s potential two-turn capabilities.

“He absolutely is [a potential router] and you saw it today,” said Crawford. “He waited, waited, waited and once Irad said, ‘Go,’ he went. There were some good horses in the race, this was a strong maiden race.”

Donegal Forever is out of the graded stakes-placed Flatter mare Flatter Up, whose dam Tenacious Tina is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire turf miler Midnight Storm. He was bought for $170,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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McGaughey sends out slew of turf workers Sunday; Perform works sharp half-mile Saturday

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey sent out a bevy of grass specialists for workouts over the Belmont Park inner turf Sunday, including graded stakes-winner Personal Best and multiple graded stakes-placed Limited Liability.

“They all looked good,” said McGaughey. “We had a good morning.”

Joseph Allen’s Kentucky homebred Personal Best posted the bullet for a half-mile, covering the distance in 47.74 seconds. The gray filly was last seen finishing a distant third to multiple graded stakes-winner War Like Goddess in the 1 1/2-mile Grade 3 Bewitch on April 28 at Keeneland. There, she bobbled at the start under regular pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. and rushed up to lead the field of five through the first mile before fading and settling for third 12 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

McGaughey said a quick turnaround from a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream Park 27 days earlier may have contributed to her loss.

“She raced back a little bit quick and she was laying up close,” said McGaughey. “I probably shouldn’t have run her in there, but I did. So, we sent her down to Fair Hill to freshen her up after that. I think she’s come back and has trained as well or as better as I’ve ever seen her. I’m pleased with her.

“I thought she worked awful well this morning,” McGaughey added. “Her last two works have been terrific.”

McGaughey noted the 1 1/2-mile Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls on August 3 at Saratoga Race Course “could be a possibility” for Personal Best, who scored her first graded triumph earlier this year in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream.

Stuart Janney’s Kentucky homebred Limited Liability covered a half-mile in 50.05 seconds in his third work since finishing a game second in the Grade 3 Louisville on May 20 at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy rallied from 6 1/2 lengths off the pace under James Graham to land place honors by a neck over English Conqueror while finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Foreign Relations.

McGaughey said he is considering the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green on July 30 at Saratoga for Limited Liability’s next outing.

“He came back good and had a good work this morning by himself, not asking him to do anything,” said McGaughey. “I thought it was a very good work. We’ve just got to figure out what to do with him. If I ran him up there at Saratoga, it would be in the Bowling Green.”

McGaughey added that Allen and CHC Inc.’s Talk of the Nation, a last-out second in the Jersey Derby on June 3 at Monmouth Park, worked a half-mile in 49.22 and will target the Grade 3, $250,000 Manila on July 7 at Belmont, while West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing’s graded stakes-placed Battle of Normandy, who went a half-mile in 51.63, is possible for the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 8.

Woodford Racing, Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone and Edward Hudson, Jr.’s stakes-winner Perform put in a sharp half-mile effort yesterday over Big Sandy in his third work back since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 20. The son of Good Magic posted the bullet for 39 works when stopping the clock in 46.93.

McGaughey said he was pleased with the effort from Perform and could point the bay colt to the $135,000 Curlin, a nine-furlong test for non-winners of a graded stake at one-mile or over in 2023, on July 21 at Saratoga.

“He worked very good and I think the track was quick and tight,” McGaughey said. “I think we’ll maybe run him in the Curlin, but I’m not sure.”

Perform entered the Preakness from a determined win in the nine-furlong Federico Tesio on April 15 at Laurel Park. He drew post 6-of-7 in the Preakness with Feargal Lynch in the irons and raced near the back of the pack throughout, but failed to fire down the lane and finished 16 1/2 lengths behind the top duo of National Treasure and second-place Blazing Sevens.

“He ran a subpar race and there wasn’t any pace in it,” said McGaughey. “I had a thought that maybe the [deep] track didn’t really suit him and a little bit of that was confirmed yesterday with the way he worked over a tight track. He’s doing fine.”

Out of the Tale of Ekati mare Jane Says, Perform was a $230,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His third dam is Leslie’s Lady, the Reine de Course mare who produced America’s leading sire Into Mischief, Hall of Fame mare Beholder, and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-winner and top second-crop sire Mendelssohn.

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Dual Group 3-winner Silver Knott remains on target for G1 Belmont Derby Invitational

Godolphin's Silver Knott, who finished third in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge here on June 3, breezed back three-eighths from the gate in 35.65 seconds Wednesday over Big Sandy in preparation for the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 8.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Lope de Vega sophomore was away last-of-7 under Richie Mullen in the nine-furlong Pennine Ridge which provided the top-three finishers an automatic invite to the Belmont Derby Invitational. The bay colt saved ground in fifth as Kalik led the field through splits of 24.69 seconds, 49.17 and 1:13.01 over the firm footing. Mullen asked Silver Knott at the five-sixteenths, angled four-wide at the head of the lane and traveled well to the wire, finishing one length back of the victorious Kalik [1:47.85] and a head in arrears of runner-up Far Bridge.

Appleby shipped a number of horses here over the past month, including Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup-winner Siskany; Warren Point and Grade 2 Fort Marcy-winner Ottoman Fleet, who ran seventh and third respectively in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan; and With The Moonlight, who was withdrawn from the Grade 1 New York won by Marketsegmentation on June 9, but his only charge remaining here at present is Silver Knott, who trained over the inner turf Sunday with Mullen aboard.

"It was a strong canter just to make him happy and let him stretch his legs. The grass was beautiful today with the rain we had," said Appleby's traveling assistant Sophie Chretien. "He had a good breeze out of the gate on Wednesday. He's happy and eating well. His friends have left, but he doesn't seem too worried about it."

The gate work is part of a plan to familiarize Silver Knott with the loading process in the United States. In NYRA's follow-up notes the morning after the Pennine Ridge, Appleby highlighted the importance of a smart exit from the stalls.

"He’s just got to learn to hit the gates better so he can put himself into a good position before he’s asked. Otherwise, when he’s too far back, he gets keen," Appleby said on June 4.

Silver Knott was also away slowly as the favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on November 4 at Keeneland Race Course, rallying to finish second, by a nose, to Victoria Road.

A dual Group 3 winner as a juvenile, he captured the seven-furlong Solario in August at Sandown Park and the one-mile Autumn in October at Newmarket. Bred in Great Britain by St Albans Bloodstock, Silver Knott is the first progeny out of the Group 1-winning Nathaniel mare God Given – a half-sister to four-time Group 1-winning multimillionaire Postponed.

While plans are not yet finalized, Appleby is expected to ship reinforcements for upcoming Belmont turf stakes with Grade 1-winner Mysterious Night [Grade 3, $250,000 Manila at one-mile for sophomores on July 7 at Belmont]; Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint champ Mischief Magic [Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs on July 16 at Saratoga]; and Eternal Hope [the 10-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks on July 8] among those previously mentioned by the conditioner as under consideration.

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G1 winner Rhea Moon works on turf for Cox

Rockingham Ranch and Talla Racing’s Grade 1-winner Rhea Moon logged a half-mile breeze in 48.43 seconds Sunday over Belmont Park’s inner turf for trainer Brad Cox.

Guided by exercise rider Joseph Santiago, Rhea Moon posted her third breeze since arriving in the Cox barn in late May. The effort was the third-fastest of 13 turf works at that distance on the Sunday tab.

“I loved the work,” said Cox’s Belmont-based assistant Dustin Dugas. “She’s a very nice and classy filly. She does everything you ask her to do. I breezed her once on the turf myself and loved it.”

The daughter of Starspangledbanner has not raced since notching her first Grade 1 triumph in December with a head score in the 10-furlong American Oaks at Santa Anita Park when in the care of previous conditioner Phil D’Amato. It was the second consecutive graded score for the Irish-bred filly, who also won Santa Anita’s Grade 3 Autumn Miss in October.

Dugas said Rhea Moon could be pointed to the one-mile $150,000 Perfect Sting on July 2 at Belmont.

“We like her a lot and hopefully we can get her transitioned to the New York scene,” said Dugas.

Dugas also provided an update on Gold Square’s graded stakes-placed Slip Mahoney, who was gelded shortly after finishing a last-out fourth in the Long Branch on May 13 at Monmouth Park. The son of Arrogate earned graded black type when second in the Grade 3 Gotham this winter at Aqueduct Racetrack, which was followed by a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino.

Slip Mahoney worked a half-mile in 48 flat on Saturday over the Belmont dirt training track, his second work since being gelded.

“He’s back in action since his castration and it’s all worked out in a good way,” said Dugas. “He used to work lackluster by himself and needed company to push him along and make him do it. He was out yesterday by himself and did everything willingly with his ears pricked. His temperament is much better and now when you ask him to pay attention to something, he does.”

Dugas added Ten Strike Racing’s New York-bred stakes-winner Looms Boldly, last seen finishing third in the state-bred Mike Lee on May 29 here, has been nominated to the $50,000 Ontario County on June 26 at Finger Lakes Racetrack and will likely make that race his next target. Should Looms Boldly start in the six-furlong sprint for state-bred sophomores, he would be Cox’s first starter at the Farmington, N.Y. oval.