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 Bobby Flay homebred Contemporary Art (Dubawi {Ire}) in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance.
Making her first start for Christophe Clement, the 4-year-old came from out of the clouds to win going away in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on Sunday (video). Previously a Belmont maiden special weight winner second out last June, the daughter of GIII Autumn Miss S. heroine Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was fourth in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. in August, her final start for Chad Brown.
Contemporary Art is the first foal and one of two winners from two to race for her dam, besides the Quality Road 3-year-old colt Sbagliato. Cover Song's juvenile is a full-sister to that horse, and she foaled an Into Mischief colt on Feb. 8. According to Flay in the TDN's Mating Plans series, Cover Song is set for a return to that Spendthrift stallion.
Spendthrift Farm bought Cover Song for $450,000 out of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Taylor Made Sales Agency. She made eight starts in their orange-and-purple checked silks, culminating in a nose victory in the Autumn Miss. Snapped up by the late James Delahooke for Flay to the tune of $1.6 million out of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2016, the bay would make two more starts before being offered by ELiTE carrying Contemporary Art at the same sale in 2018, where she was a 3.9 million buyback by the chef. The 10-year-old is a half-sister to a pair of triple Group 1 winners by War Front in sire U S Navy Flag and the filly Roly Poly. The winner's second dam is 2011 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also triumphed in an additional three top-level races.
Dubawi has already been mentioned in this column a month ago, and as it stands, his winners to runners in American stands at 35 of 70 (50%). His 18 American stakes winners (27.5%), 13 at the graded level, have won 28 stakes between them, 22 of them above listed class. Of his American graded winners, dual Grade I scorer In Italian (GB) also sports a broodmare sire by Danehill in Redoute's Choice (Aus).
Cat's Got The Cream
As mentioned in Monday's Seven Days column by Emma Berry, Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), bearing the colours of AMO Racing USA, won the five-furlong Texas Glitter S. at Gulfstream Park on Saturday (video), to become the organisation's first American stakes winner.
Overbury Stud's Ardad has given every indication he's a sire going places, and with Crispy Cat's victory, the 9-year-old now has three stakes winners to his credit. Responsible for multiple Group 1 and now-Darley sire Perfect Power (Ire), as well as G3 Sirenia S. heroine Eve Lodge (GB), Ardad has been represented by just two runners Stateside.
Honourable Mention
Wico (Ire) (No Nay Never), the little brother of G1 St. James's Palace S. third Consort (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), graduated going a mile on the all-weather at Turfway Park last week. The $440,000 Keeneland September yearling secured the victory for Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable and trainer Wesley Ward. It was the Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock-bred's first start over a synthetic surface. His juvenile full-sister, Maghra (Ire), brought $150,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling from X-Men Racing, while there is also a yearling full-brother.
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