We have made a decision to follow as many offspring as possible of the following 1st-year stallions (in alphabetical order): Birdstone, Medaglia d’Oro, Pleasantly Perfect, Smarty Jones, and Speightstown. This does not mean that other first-year sires will be ignored, but for now they will not be monitored as closely. This could change if one jumps up and has a large number of winners (as with Posse last year). Also, if anyone has strong feelings about another 1st-year stallion, post the name and your reason (and yes, he is my favorite horse of all time is a legitimate reason) and we’ll consider adding him.
We have begun getting notices of 2-year olds working, so I thought I’d update you on their progress.
Medaglia d’Oro is clearly the winner in this area, as he has had 3 offspring work.
Gabby’s Golden Gal (Medaglia d’Oro – Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)), a bay filly, has worked 3 times, all at Hollywood, all at 2 furlongs. Each work has been a little faster. On 2/26/08 she covered the distance in :25.80, on 3/5/08 her time was :24.20, and on 3/11/08 it was :23.40. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one show up in one of the first baby races. Gabby’s Golden Gal’s dam was a stakes winner who earned $220,646. She began her career in Italy, but was imported to the U.S. where she won the Manhattan Beach and placed in the San Clemente (gr. II) and the Harold C. Ramser Sr. She did all her running on the turf. Gabriellina Giof has had one foal to race, a Hennessy filly born in 2005 named Gabby’s Hen. Gabby's Hen has earned $2,000 in 5 starts.
The bay filly Fiesta d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro – Ionian Bride by Icecapade) worked at Goldmark on 3/1/08 recording a time of :37.40 for 3 furlongs. Fiesta d’Oro’s dam won 5 races and earned $151,576. Ionian Bride has produced 6 winners including Phil the Grip who won $451,587 and won or placed in 12 stakes including the Kentucky Cup Classic Preview (gr. III) and the Turfway Park Fall Championship (gr. III).
Causin’ Havoc (Medaglia d’Oro – Degenerate Gal by Degenerate Jon), a bay colt, worked 3 furlongs at Keeneland on 3/12/08 recording a time of :37.00. Degenerate Gal was a grade III stakes winner who earned almost a million dollars ($936,393). She won or placed in 19 stakes. Degenerate Gal has produced 7 winners including stakes winners Blacktie Bird and Positive Gal who won the Gallant Bloom (gr. III).
Smarty Jones and Pleasantly Perfect each had one offspring record an official work.
Dr. Smarty Jack (Smarty Jones – Hoh Buzzard (IRE) by Alhaarth (IRE)), a chestnut colt, worked 4 furlongs in :54.00 at Sunland Park on 3/5/08. Grade II stakes winner Hoh Buzzard earned $319,839 and included the Mrs. Revere (gr. II) among her victories. Dr. Smarty Jack is her first foal.
Storm Leopard (Pleasantly Perfect – Thiscatsforcaryl by Storm Cat), a chestnut colt, worked 3 furlongs from the gate at Palm Meadows recording a time of :37.00. Thiscatsforcaryl failed to win at the track, but she has produced 6 winners including the stakes winner Be Like Mike (earnings $174,202) and Sacred Journey who finished 3rd in this year’s Southwest Stakes.
No workouts yet from Birdstone or Speightstown offspring. We are especially interested in seeing the Speightowns since they have been doing well at the 2-year old sales.
