By Alan Carasso
A partnership consisting of John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm, Glen Hill Farm and the Heider Family Stable have purchased “TDN Rising Star” Taris (Flatter–Comedy, by Theatrical {Ire}) from Coolmore, Glen Hill's Craig Bernick told the TDN Friday afternoon.
“We're very excited to have her, she traces back to a sire-making family and a family that is very live at the moment,” Bernick commented, adding that Taris will be bred to Curlin in her first year at stud.
Trainer Simon Callaghan, who conditioned the 5-year-old mare to a spectacular 5 3/4-length victory in this year's GI Humana Distaff S. on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs May 7, confirmed in a separate conversation that Coolmore had intended on racing Taris through this year's Breeders' Cup. But he added that some minor issues, including “some bone bruising,” would preclude a return trip to the GI Filly & Mare Sprint and that Taris had been retired.
A $90,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Taris was accorded Rising Star status off an 11 3/4-length debut score at Aqueduct for trainer Todd Beattie and Commonwealth New Era Racing. The runaway, nine-length winner of the 2014 GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland, the bay was knocked down for $2.35 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton November sale and set a wicked pace in the GI La Brea S. before settling for second in her first start for her new connections.
Taris returned from an injury-enforced absence less dependent on the lead, but no less effective, as she won the 2015 GIII Rancho Bernardo H., was a troubled third in the 2015 Filly & Mare Sprint and successfully stretched out to a mile to win the GIII Go For Wand H. at the tail end of the season. Kept at a route of ground for her first two starts of 2016, she was the powerful 5 1/2-length winner of the GII La Canada S. over 8 1/2 furlongs and was just caught in the waning strides of the GI Santa Margarita Invitational S. going a mile and an eighth for the first time. In what became the final racetrack appearance of her career, Taris stalked the pace in the Humana Distaff and sped away to score by daylight, clocking a smart 1:21.03 for the seven-furlong distance (video). She retires with a record of 13-8-2-2 and earnings of $1,086,260.
“She was an absolutely fantastic mare for us,” Callaghan told the TDN. “She was extremely fast and talented and a real pleasure to be around. It's nice that she's retiring healthy and I'm pleased that Hill 'n' Dale and their partners have been able to acquire her. She'll make an outstanding broodmare.”
Bernick said that Taris was a “perfect” mare for Curlin, pointing out that the cross of the two-time Horse of the Year over Taris's broodmare sire Theatrical is responsible for GI Belmont S. and GI Met Mile winner Palace Malice. When crossed with the Theatrical mare Belva, Curlin's sire Smart Strike sired champion English Channel. Additionally, given that her sire is a son of A.P. Indy, a mating of Taris to Curlin would yield progeny bred similar to 2016 GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator.
Glen Hill Farm campaigned Taris's half-sister Theatre Star (War Front) to a listed stakes victory and multiple Grade III placings. Now retired, Theatre Star was most recently bred to Medaglia d'Oro, Bernick reports. Comedy, a $1.5-million purchase by Stonestreet Stables at last year's Keeneland November sale, visited Curlin this year after producing a Tapit colt Feb. 29. Taris's West Virginia-bred 3-year-old stakes-winning full-sister Stoweshoe was also among the mares served by Curlin in 2016.
Bernick also confirmed that the same partnership has also recently added How (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to champion and five-time Group 1 winner Minding (Ire); GSW Most Beautiful (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}); and GSP Earring (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), a daughter of GISW Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to their portfolio. Each is in training with Tom Proctor at Fair Hill.
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