Making Waves: D'Amato Runners Come Good At Del Mar

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Halfway Line and City Exile, both trained by Phil D'Amato, at Del Mar.

Zoffany Gelding Strikes At Del Mar

James Downey's stakes-placed Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) took three tries, but came away with his first American win at Del Mar for trainer Phil D'Amato in late July (video).

Bred by Juddmonte Farms, the 4-year-old gelding won thrice and placed in the Listed Prix Matchem in France for Francis-Henri Graffard in the storied pink-and-green silks, and changed hands for 320,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale in 2023. A son of the G3 Prix Imprudence second Midweek (GB) (Motivator {GB}), Halfway Line is a half-brother to the winning 3-year-old filly Mercury Day (Ire) (Time Test {GB}), the juvenile filly Midweek Break (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and a yearling filly by Bated Breath (GB). His extended family features the Group 1 winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), GI Arlington Million hero Set Piece (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G1 Oaks heroine Reams Of Verse (Nureyev) among others.

The late Zoffany has been represented by 29 winners out of 59 runners (49%) in the U.S. His six stakes winners there include GII Hollywood Turf Cup hero Oscar Dominguez (Ire), and Grade III winners Zofelle (Ire), Paris Secret (Ire), and Zoffarelli (Ire).

City Exile Prevails At Del Mar

City Exile (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) won for owners CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff at Del Mar (video). Trained by Phil D'Amato, the gelding was bred by Carson Francis and partners.

A 28,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling, the bay was winless in seven starts in Ireland for MRC International and David Marnane. After he was purchased by these connections, he won a Santa Anita maiden in January. His dam, the seven-time winner Curious Fox (GB) (Bertolini), has a trio of fillies yet to race born in 2022, 2023, and 2024, by Time Test (GB), Ardad (Ire) and Dream Ahead, respectively. City Exile is kin to Group 1 winner Top Guest (Ire) (Be My Guest).

The strike rate for Cityscape's runners in North America stands at 75%, as he has three winners from four runners. The graded-winning pair of Chili Flag (Fr)–the GI Just a Game Stakes heroine–and Avenue De France (Fr) are his best representatives in that locale.

Bated Breath Filly On Top At Del Mar

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Hannah Buckle (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) closed to take a Del Mar contest for Leonard Powell in early August (video). Bred by Irish Emerald Stud, the chestnut was making her fourth start.

From two starts at Leopardstown, the filly was third for trainer Barry Fitzgerald and owner David Granville before joining her current connections. The eighth foal out of Listed Garnet Stakes second Thoughtless Moment (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), Hannah Buckle is her dam's seventh winner. Stakes winner Dancing Slippers (Nijinsky), the third dam of the winner, is also the ancestress of Zoftig (Cozzene) and her daughters Zo Impressive (Hard Spun) and Zaftig (Gone West), all three Grade I winners.

Juddmonte's Bated Breath boasts a strike rate of 69%, with 22 of his 32 North American runners finding the winner's circle. His 11 stakes winners include four at the graded level, among them GI Ballston Spa Stakes heroine Viadera (GB).

Repeat Winners

McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) won the GII Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga on Thursday evening (video). The Klaravich Stables' runner and Chad Brown trainee, a Grade I winner in 2022, is a regular on Making Waves.

The GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes went to Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) at Saratoga on Aug. 2 (video). The Godolphin homebred had captured the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes earlier this year for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) added his third Grade II in succession, when swooping in Saratoga's Bowling Green Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby (video). The Breeders' Cup runner-up won his first U.S. stakes in the GII Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April.

Denford Stud's Eastern Empress (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner at Monmouth in June, added another tally to her ledger, this time at Colonial Downs in Virginia (video).