By Alan Carasso
Pounded into 1-5 favoritism off a big-figure runner-up debut effort behind the very impressive Far Bridge (English Channel) in an 8 1/2-furlong maiden over this course Jan. 21, eFive Racing Thoroughbreds' Carl Spackler (Ire) (c, 3, Lope de Vega {Ire}–Zindaya, by More Than Ready) 'teed it up 'exiting the far turn and won Saturday's Gulfstream finale by a margin as great as the distance from Hallandale Beach to the fictitious Bushwood Country Club to become a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star'.
Alertly into stride from gate eight, the blaze-faced chestnut secured a good spot from fourth, one off the fence and in touch with a decent pace ahead of him. Given his cue fully three furlongs from home, Carl Spackler inhaled the front-runners while under a Jose Ortiz hold nearing the entrance to the stretch and accelerated away smartly to score in an effort that will most certainly grade out well above 'par.'
By the sire of the Brown-trained 'Rising Star' and subsequent dual Grade I winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Carl Spackler was offered across the 'pond' by Ballylinch Stud during Book 1 of the 2021 Tattersalls October Sale, but was originally led out unsold when the hammer dropped at 350,000gns. The colt's dam originally raced in the colors of Regis Racing before being purchased by Mike Ryan on behalf of eFive for $550,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. She made a half-dozen starts in those silks, winning the 2016 Intercontinental S. for the second year running and adding the GII Goldikova S. late that season.
Zindaya, a half-sister to Grade I winner and India-based stallion Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley), has been well-received overseas. Her Frankel (GB) colt of 2019, Tribal Wisdom (Ire), fetched 280,000gns from Godolphin at TATOCT in 2020, while that one's now 2-year-old full-sister was purchased by the Boys in Blue for 450,000gns at last year's October Sale. She is also the dam of a yearling full-sister to Carl Spackler.
12th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-25, 3yo, 1mT, 1:34.13, fm, 8 3/4 lengths.
CARL SPACKLER (IRE), c, 3, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Zindaya (GSW, $567,240), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Aristocratic Lady, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: American Dynasty, by Quiet American
Sales history: 350,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $56,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (IRE); T-Chad C Brown.
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