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 Paris Secret (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the GIII Providencia S. at Santa Anita on Saturday.
City Of Lights In Southern California
Strand Beach, LLC's Paris Secret (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) won the Providencia S. for trainer Phil D'Amato in her second U.S. start after running fourth in the China Doll S. earlier in the year, also at Santa Anita (video).
The third foal and second winner for her dam Cite Veron (Fr) (Tomorrow's Cat), Paris Secret was bred by Al Mohamediya Breeding. She was sold for €8,500 as a Goffs Autumn yearling to trainer Andy Oliver, before capturing a Galway maiden race for Paul Hardy last March.
Coolmore's late Zoffany is the sire of five stakes winners in the U.S. from 53 starters (9%), with Paris Secret his fourth graded winner, joining GII Hollywood Turf Cup victor Oscar Dominguez (Ire), and Grade III winners Zofelle (Ire) and Zoffarelli (Ire). He boasts 26 winners (49%) in this locale.
Adaay To Remember In San Francisco
A winner of Keeneland's GIII Bryan Station S. last autumn, Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) captured the GIII San Francisco Mile S. at Golden Gate on Saturday evening (video). Trained by Phil D'Amato, the Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, and Old Bones Racing Stables runner was unplaced in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March.
Bred by Thierry de La Heronniere and Gestut Zur Kuste AG, he brought €27,000 as an Arqana September yearling from Oceanic Bloodstock. Of his eight starts in France at two, he won three for Alain Jathiere, Ecurie Pandora Racing et. al. and trainer Rod Collet, his previous connections.
Out of the winning Leeward (First Defence), the 4-year-old gelding is a half-brother to 2-year-old filly L'Ardechoise (Fr) (El Kabeir), and a yearling filly by Almanzor (Fr). His second dam is a half-sister to GI Charles Whittingham Memorial H. winner Midships (Mizzen Mast).
Represented by only three runners in the U.S., Adaay also has GII San Gabriel S. hero Dicey Mo Chara (GB) to his name, and his third American runner, Have A Good Day (Ire), won the G3 Prix de Cabourg.
Sloppy Surface The Trick For Helmet Filly
John O'Connor's Wildhawk (Helmet {Aus}) relished a sloppy surface at Aqueduct to graduate in her third start for Tom Albertrani on Saturday (video).
Out of Wadia (Ger) (Campanologist) who won once in Germany as a 3-year-old, Wildhawk is kin to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}), and GI Man o' War S. winner Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}). The April foal was bred in Kentucky by Anastasie Astrid Christiansen-Croy. Haras d'Ombreville picked up Wadia on behalf of Christiansen-Croy for €26,000 out of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage carrying the winner in 2019. Wildhawk is followed by three half-sisters– a juvenile named Westphalia (Arrogate), a yearling christened Whirlwind (Always Dreaming) and her dam foaled a Promises Fulfilled foal this spring.
Now based in Italy, Helmet has three winners from nine runners (33%) in America thanks to Wildhawk. Triple Grade I-placed Darley Japan sire Thunder Snow (Ire) is his top performer in the U.S.
#5 WILDHAWK ($7.70) goes wire to wire in the opener at Aqueduct. Kendrick Carmouche was in the irons for Thomas Albertrani.
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