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 the Classic-placed Lindy at Kentucky Downs, formerly the “Dueling Grounds”, in Southern Kentucky.
Le Havre Filly Wins in Kentucky
The French Classic-placed Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) won a Kentucky Downs affair for Everest Racing and trainer Brendan Walsh on Thursday (video).
Part of the Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl breeding programme, Lindy was knocked down to Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International for €90,000 as a 2021 Arqana August yearling. A winner of her first three starts including a listed race at Toulouse for trainer Christophe Ferland and an ownership group of Ecurie Waldeck, Didier Provost, Ecurie Elag, Et Al, the filly was second in the G3 Prix de la Grotte behind Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), and would be runner-up again to that rival in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for Everest Racing, Ecurie Waldeck, Meridian International, Ecurie Elag, Ecurie Nininoe, Provost and Frank Dhooghe. Unplaced in the G1 Prix de Diane, she was making her first Stateside start this week.
The third foal, winner and black-type horse out of her multiple stakes-placed dam Llanita (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), Lindy is a half-sister to listed winner Nirliit (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the multiple stakes-placed Almeida Girl (GB) (Temple City). Her dam has a juvenile colt named Shawnee (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Zelzal (Fr).
Sumbe's late Le Havre has 50% winners to runners (10/20) in the U.S. His best is GI Keeneland Turf Mile S. hero Suedois (Fr), while Rymska (Fr) and Orglandes (Fr) have also won at the graded level.
#2 Lindy wins her U.S. debut in R3 at Kentucky Downs under @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @brenpwalsh!
#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/P6caZTviVQ
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 7, 2023
An Oaks For Saxon Warrior Filly
Ken McPeek trainee Freydis The Red (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) found the unique undulations of Kentucky Downs to her liking when winning the Listed Dueling Grounds Oaks for Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm (video).
Bred by Eric Puerari, Ocean Bloodstock, Ecurie du Parc Monceau et. al., the chestnut was plucked by McPeek out of the Arqana August Yearling for €125,000 in 2021. The daughter of the winning Songerie (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) had previously been placed in the GIII Pucker Up S. at Ellis Park last month. A half-sister to the stakes-placed Sojourn (Ger) (Iffraaj {GB}), the 3-year-old's juvenile half-sister Sogniamo (Fr) (Calyx {GB}) has been placed. Numerous Group 1 winners trace to the stakes-placed second dam Suivez (Fr) (Fioravanti), among them American champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), Japanese champions Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), and Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}).
Freydis The Red is the second stakes winner for Saxon Warrior in the U.S. after GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road (Ire). Three of his four starters (75%) are winners in America, while worldwide he has seven stakes winners. His Zulu Warrior (Fr) took the Listed Prix Turenne on Friday.
#11 FREYDIS THE RED (FR) charges home to win the $1 million Dueling Grounds Oaks at @KYDownsRacing!
The 3yo by @coolmorestud's Saxon Warrior (Jpn) was ridden by @b_hernandezjr for @KennyMcPeek and owners Walking L Thoroughbreds & @Three_Chimneys. pic.twitter.com/cWUkLBqnJZ
— TVG (@TVG) September 3, 2023
Siyouni Gelding Takes Rich Kentucky Downs Event
Representing Qatar Racing and Marc Detampel, Beuys (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) won for the first time on American soil at Kentucky Downs for trainer Brendan Walsh on Thursday evening (video).
Bred by Ecurie David Salabi, the gelding was a €220,000 Arqana October yearling in 2019 when picked up by Oceanic Bloodstock. He won his first two starts for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, and was subsequently transferred to the Chad Brown barn in the U.S. two starts later. Sold following a pair of tries at Gulfstream Park in Florida earlier this year, he brought $82,000 at the Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale on the bid of agent Fergus Galvin.
Out of the winning Kendor (Fr) mare Plain Vanilla (Fr), Beuys is a half-brother to the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air second Vespera (Ire) (Teofilo {Ir}), and is from the family of G2 Prix de Sandringham heroine Volta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), herself placed in both the G1 Prix Rothschild and the G1 Prix de Diane.
Standing under The Aga Khan Studs' banner at Haras de Bonneval, Siyouni has 15 winners from 37 runners (40%) in the U.S. to his credit. Four of them has struck at stakes level (10.1%), including Grade III winners Sacred Life (Fr), La Signare (Fr), and Love And Thunder (Ire).
BEUYS – ridden by @Tyler_Gaff and trained by @brenpwalsh – wins in first-time blinkers @KYDownsRacing@mdetampel | @Fergalvinpic.twitter.com/akJ7c7TxAl
— Qatar Racing (@Qatar_Racing) September 8, 2023
Del Mar Route The Trick For Zoustar Filly
Lunar Impact (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) won at fourth asking stepping up to a mile for trainer Dan Blacker and D K Racing, Qatar Racing, Radley Equine, Rick Gold and Dave Odmark on the Del Mar grass on Saturday (video).
The P. E. Barrett-bred chestnut was a 100,000gns graduate out of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when picked up by David Redvers and Boomer Bloodstock's Craig Rounsefell in 2021. She is the third winner for her dam, whose best result was a third at listed level in Germany. Button Moon (Ire) (Compton Place {GB}) has the juvenile filly Wedyan (GB) (Advertise {GB}), a yearling filly by Mohaather (GB), and a full-brother to Lunar Impact to come. This is the family of multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
From just six U.S. runners, reverse shuttle stallion Zoustar is responsible for three winners (50%) to date, with his first Northern Hemisphere-bred crop just 3-year-olds. Worldwide, the Widden Stud (SH)/Tweenhills Stud (NH) resident has 39 stakes winners, with his Northern Hemisphere best the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB).
Winner LUNAR IMPACT (Zoustar) breaks her maiden for @dan_blacker with a powerful finish at @DelMarRacing. The 3YO filly was a @Tattersalls1766 yearling purchase with @dredvers for her successful owners! pic.twitter.com/2qpq4l8tgX
— Boomer Bloodstock (@CraigRounsefell) September 2, 2023
Honourable Mentions
GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. victor Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) secured his third graded stakes of the year, with a 1 1/4-length win in the GII Del Mar H. Presented by The Japan Racing Association for trainer Phil D'Amato (video).
Another D'Amato trainee was also already featured in a March column of Makings Waves, Anthony Fanticola's Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). He earned his second graded stakes victory in Del Mar's GIII Green Flash H. last week (video). Thanks to the solid racecourse results for his progeny, his sire has earned a place at Haras du Petit Tellier for the coming year under a new partnership.
West Point Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stable's Parnac (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) claimed a career high in the GII Flower Bowl S. at Saratoga for Christophe Clement near the end of the meet (video). Her sire just sired his first Group 1 winner in Germany on Sunday.
Flower Bowl Stakes (G2)
2.200 m – 500.000 USD – for 4yo and upward mares
SaratogaParnac (FR)
(4M Zarak – Passing Burg , by Sagebur
J : @DavisJockey
T : Christophe Clement
O : West Point Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stable
B : Jean-Pierre Dubois pic.twitter.com/0H1qGBzcJE— (@WorldRacing1) September 2, 2023
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