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We have covered Belmont Stakes (gr. I) victor Drosselmeyer in detail in an earlier post, but there was plenty of other significant weekend action in the U.S.

The Belmont undercard provided several other good contests. Not surprisingly, European pedigrees played a major part in the destination of two of the turf events. Juddmonte, who had won the English Derby (gr. I) earlier in the day took the Just a Game Stakes (gr. I) with Proviso, a daughter of their exceptionally successful Danehill stallion Dansili. Rated B+ by TrueNicks, Proviso is out of a daughter of Woodman, and is one several good runners for the sire out of Mr. Prospector line mares. The granddam, Binary, is by Rainbow Quest (by Blushing Groom) out of a mare by Nijinsky II, and so bred on a reverse cross to Kahyasi, the broodmare sire of Dansili. The Manhattan Stakes (gr. I) fell to Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone’s Winchester, who upset last year’s Champion Turf Horse and Older Male, Gio Ponti. He is one of the last good Theatrical (also raced in the Firestone colors) offspring, and is out of a mare by Spectrum (by Rainbow Quest) and TrueNicks rated A.

Medaglia d'Oro (TrueNicks,SRO) added to his marvelous record with his daughters when Champagne d’Oro (TrueNicks A++) took a tough looking renewal of the Acorn Stakes (gr. I). She is the first stakes winner for her stakes-winning and grade I-placed dam Champagne Glow, who was 19-years-old when Champagne d’Oro arrived. Champagne Glow is a half sister to the ill-fated Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) and Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) winner Grand Canyon, and to Italian group I winner Jurado, and out of the graded-winning Champagne Ginny. The mating represents a cross that is two-for-two as Champagne d’Oro and graded winner Buffalo Man (by El Prado, the sire of Medaglia d’Oro) are the only starters for the sire line out of Saratoga Six mares.

On the same card, one of our favorites (and a Pedigree Consultants recommended mating), the seven-year-old Bribon, winner of last year’s Metropolitan Mile (gr. I) cut back to 6½ furlongs to win the True North Handicap (gr. III). By Mark of Esteem (by Darshaan) he has the three-parts-brother and sister Ajdal and Danseur Fabuleux 3 x 3. Over seven furlongs a small but select field was defeated by D’Funnybone, who picked up the pieces after a speed dual between Eightyfiveinafifty and Discreetly Mine (who showed surprising early pace for a son of Mineshaft (TrueNicks,SRO) out of a mare by Private Account). D’Funnybone is by D'wildcat (TrueNicks,SRO) , a grade I-winning sprinter by Forest Wildcat who started in Canada but is now in Florida, out of the Woodman mare Elbow, and has genetic relatives Bold Native and Mr. Prospector 4 x 3.

On the West Coast, Nureyev’s excellent regional son Unusual Heat (is he the best active son of his sire in the U.S.?), took the Charles Whittingham Memorial (gr. I) through his four-year-old son Acclamation. He is out of a mare by Silveyville (Prince Taj male line) and a complete outcross at five generations. Also in California, Moscow Ballet, who was broodmare sire of the Belmont winner Drosselmeyer, had another graded winner in that role Saturday when Cost of Freedom (TrueNicks A+) took the Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III). He is by Cee’s Tizzy, whose son Tizbud (brother to Tiznow (TrueNicks,SRO) ), was represented by the Sunland Park and Casino Handicap winner Tizsosexy. What’s interesting here is the Tizsosexy (TrueNicks A++) is out of a mare by Western Fame, a son of Gone West, and Tiznow has also worked well over Gone West.

Across the border in Canada, Maria’s Mon, who had Exhi defeat the locals last week in the Marine Stakes, was represented by Simply Splendid (TrueNicks A+), who took the Nassau Stakes (gr. II) with 2008 European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, and 2009 group one winner Rainbow View back in third. Simply Splendid is out of a mare by Hennessy and the third stakes winner for the sire out of mare by Storm Cat or one of his sons (the reverse cross works too). On the same card, four-year-old Southdale became another graded winner for Street Cry (IRE) (TrueNicks,SRO) by capturing the Eclipse Stakes (gr. III). TrueNicks A+ rated, he is out of the Saint Ballado mare Pinafore’s Pride, and inbred 4 x 3 to Halo.

Finally, Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and freshman sire Giacomo (TrueNicks,SRO) jumped to the head of the Freshman Sire table when his daughter Lady Giacamo (TrueNicks A++) won the TTA Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park (he also had the third here). The dam is by Galliapat, a Buckpasser son out of Gay Missile, which makes us think that A.P. Indy (TrueNicks,SRO) line mares might fit here (his granddam is a sister to Gallapiat).

Filed under: Recent Winners