By Heather Anderson
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 victory of Activist Investing in a Saratoga race last weekend.
Kingman Colt Doubles Up In New York
The Klaravich Stables/Chad Brown axis combined with Saratoga winner Activist Investing (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Sunday (video). Already a winner during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet third out last October, the son of Astronomy's Choice (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was bred by Robin Geffen.
Joining the Klaravich fold for 220,000gns out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, the February foal is the second foal and winner for the stakes-placed granddaughter of Platonic (GB) (Zafonic). Since foaling the winner, the relative of the high class Prudenzia (Ire), Magic Wand (Ire), Chicquita (Ire) et al., has delivered a trio of foals by Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB)–the juvenile filly Wolf Alice (GB), and colts in each of the past two years.
One of 30 winners from 55 to race in the U.S. (55%) for Juddmonte's Kingman, Activist Investing's brethren have chalked up 20 stakes wins in that jurisdiction by eight individual stakes winners (18%).
#1a Activist Investing wins his first race back off a layoff in R5 at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown with @iradortiz in the irons! 🍀
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ckoqYashNE
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 13, 2023
A Soft Touch At Del Mar
Qatar Racing's Gentle (GB) (No Nay Never), making her U.S. debut, graduated in her third start for trainer George Papaprodromou at Del Mar this past weekend (video).
Bred by Ammerland Verwaltung GmbH & Co., she is a one of two winners for her dam, the G3 Prix de Psyche third Light The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Sold for €200,000 out of the Arqana August Yearling Sale to her owner, Gentle's first two starts were fourth-place efforts over the British all-weather circuit last December and this May. She is a half-sister to 2-year-old filly Light The Moon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a yearling filly by Waldgeist (GB), and a weanling filly by Zarak (Fr). Her second dam is the group winner Lady Vettori (GB) (Vettori {Ire}), best known as the dam of G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner-turned star sire Lope De Vega (Ire) (Shamardal).
Coolmore's No Nay Never has sired 38 winners from 74 runners Stateside (51%). A total of nine of those (12%) are stakes winners, with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) the best of the bunch to date.
Honourable Mentions
Tracy Farmer's Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) earned a new career best with a 3 1/2-length victory in Saturday's GI Beverly D. S. at Colonial Downs (video). The Mark Casse trainee is the first top-level winner for her sire.
Great to see former @NBradleyRacing and @RichardFahey charge Fev Rover land her first Grade 1 at @ColonialDowns last night 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7d4bgH9XL4
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 13, 2023
Another horse already featured in Making Waves is Juddmonte homebred Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}). One race after Fev Rover starred at Colonial, it was time for the 7-year-old to earn his first Grade I rosette in the Arlington Million for trainer Brad Cox (video).
The 7-year-old #3 Set Piece powers down the stretch to take the G1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs with his regular pilot @flothejock aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing and owner @JuddmonteFarms! 🏆
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ZAcn41kMvh
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 12, 2023
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