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 Idea Generation in the Flower Bowl Stakes, as Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown earned meet titles at Saratoga on Labor Day.
Dubawi Longshot Pillar To Post In The Flower Bowl
Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown enjoyed a Saratoga double on Aug. 31, and Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought up the second half of that milestone when taking the GII Flower Bowl Stakes in front-running fashion (video).
Bred by Epona Bloodstock at Croom House Stud, the daughter of Knocknagree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) caught the eye of Mike Ryan on behalf of Klaravich Stables to the tune of 340,000gns during the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Her dam's most recent produce are colts by Too Darn Hot (GB) and New Bay (GB) born in 2023 and 2024, respectively, both sons of Dubawi. Second dam Tyrany (GB) (Machiavellia) foaled a trio of stakes winners, including sires Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who won the G1 Phoenix Stakes, and Wilshire Boulevard (Ire).
Darley's Dubawi holds an enviable record in the U.S., with 44 winners from 86 runners (51%). Approaching a quarter-century of stakes winners with 23, he has now sired 18 graded winners with Idea Generation's success.
Idea Generation (IRE) wins The Flower Bowl and is IN the @makersmark #BreedersCup Filly & Mare Turf! #BC24 pic.twitter.com/9ZhedDEvIr
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) August 31, 2024
Lope De Vega Colt Strikes Early At Saratoga
Klaravich Stables' Early Adopter (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) closed to take a Saratoga affair for trainer Chad Brown on Aug. 31 (video).
Bred by Luca and Sara Cumani's Fittocks Stud in partnership with Arrow Farm & Stud, the chestnut was a 170,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling when picked up by Mike Ryan for Seth Klarman's operation. The winner is out of G2 Park Hill Stakes heroine and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes runner-up Silk Sari (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). He is a half-brother to the dam of G1 Kennedy Oaks heroine Zardozi (Aus) (Kingman {GB}). This is the extended family of another Klaravich/Brown runner, three-time Grade I winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega now has 44 winners from 79 runners (71%) in the U.S. His 10 stakes winners are anchored by Grade I winners Program Trading, Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Carl Spackler (Ire) and Aunt Pearl (Ire).
Two turns on debut is no easy task, but #8 Early Adopter passed the test in R2 at Saratoga at 4/1! 💪
Chad Brown trains this 2YO colt and @jockeyfranco was in the saddle. pic.twitter.com/CsvOXhx8Fv
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 31, 2024
Nashville Derby Glory For Bellum Justum
Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) delivered in the $2,337,160 GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs for Andrew Balding (video). He is raced by King Power Racing, whose The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) ran second in the 2023 GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the 375,000gns Book 1 yearling selection by SackvilleDonald at Tattersalls won the Listed Blue Riband Trial prior to running seventh in the G1 Derby this year. He was then third in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes and second in the G3 Gordon Stakes prior to his American heroics. The second foal out of the winning Natural Beauty (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Bellum Justum is followed by a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire). He is kin to multiple group winner Laaheb (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third Fox Tal (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
The Aga Khan Studs' Sea The Stars (Ire) has 67% winners Stateside, with 21 winners from 43 runners. A quintet of horses have struck at graded level among his 11 stakes winners in that locale, with Grade II winners Ottoman Fleet (GB) and Legend Of Time (GB) the best of the bunch.
Bellum Justum lands the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs for @FrankieDettori and @AndrewBalding2! pic.twitter.com/lqUMNlqYS9
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 31, 2024
Dubawi Filly Finds The Spa To Her Liking
Stephanie Seymour Brant's Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won at second asking at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown (video). The White Birch Farm-bred is out of multiple graded winner Significant Form (Creative Cause).
Peter Brant's White Birch Farm acquired the grey's dam for $575,000 out of the OBS Spring 2-Year-Old Sale, and she would go on to score in the GIII Miss Grillo Stakes, GII Ballston Spa Stakes, GIII Noble Damsel Stakes, and GIII Intercontinental Stakes, throughout her career. Opulent Restraint is kin to a yearling full-sister and a weanling half-sister by Kingman (GB). Her dam was covered by Justify later this spring. Significant Form is a half-sister to graded winner Hay Dakota (Haynesfield), while under the third dam is GII Nassau County Breeders' Cup Stakes heroine Hello Liberty (Forest Camp), second in the GI Acorn Stakes, Grade III winner Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) and GI Blue Grass Stakes hero and young sire Zandon (Upstart).
As mentioned above, Dubawi's progeny thrive in the U.S. Of his 10 Grade I winners there, Master Of The Seas (Ire), Modern Games (Ire), Yibir (GB), Rebel's Romance (Ire), Wuheida (GB), and Space Blues (Fr) have all captured at least one Breeders' Cup race.
Jockey @iradortiz sweeps the first two races at Saratoga! 💪
#9 Opulent Restraint graduates today in R2 at on the card for trainer Chad Brown. 🍀 pic.twitter.com/ba0g6c08tt
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 1, 2024
Child Of The Moon Thrives In Allowance
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Louis Lazzinnaro's Child Of The Moon (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) prevailed in Saratoga Springs on Labor Day (video). Yet another Chad Brown trainee, the 4-year-old filly was bred by Patrick Chedeville.
Sold for €110,000 by Haras du Petit Tellier to Hubert Guy at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, the daughter of G3 Prix Fille de l'Air heroine Ma Preference (Fr) (American Post {GB}) is a half-sister to stakes winner and GI Flower Bowl Stakes-placed Onthemoonagain (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Racing in the colours of Ecurie Jean-Louis Tepper, she made five starts in France for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, winning her fifth start there by seven lengths. Resless Kara (Fr) (Akarad {Fr}), who shares the same third dam as Child Of The Moon, won the G1 Prix de Diane in 1988.
All five of The Grey Gatsby's runners in the U.S. are winners. His pair of stakes winners include the GIII The Very One Stakes heroine Mylady (Ger) and Atomic Blonde (Ger). The last-named has placed three times at the graded level.
Chad Brown is unstoppable today! 🌟 CHILD OF THE MOON delivers his fifth win of the day in the 11th race with Flavien Prat in the saddle. pic.twitter.com/T0dVV43Nee
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) September 2, 2024
Belardo Runner Remains Perfect
Hronis Racing's Raw Ability (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) showed just that when landing a Del Mar contest on Sept. 2 (video). Her record is now a flawless two-for-two after taking a Gowran Park affair earlier this summer for owner Kate McNamara and trainer Eric McNamara.
Now trained by John Sadler, the Gary Aspell-bred filly was a €1,000 Goffs August yearling RNA before selling for £140,000 to Shawn Dugan during the Goffs London Sale. Her dam, the winning mare Que Sera Sera (GB) (Dansili {GB}), has fillies by Buratino (Ire) and Raven's Pass born in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Sire Zambezi Sun (GB), also by Dansili, won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, while European champion sprinter Continent (GB) (Lake Coniston {Ire}) is also a far-flung member of this clan.
Bearstone Stud resident Belardo has now sired seven winners from eight runners in America (87.5%). His best there are Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (see below) and multiple graded winner Bellabel (Ire).
Repeat Winners:
Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) made it three consecutive GII Del Mar Handicaps with a victory on Aug. 31 for Phil D'Amato (video). The 6-year-old gelding is raced by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify.
Muhaarar (GB)'s Motorious (GB) claimed the GIII Green Flash Handicap for Anthony Fanticola and trainer Phil D'Amato on the final day of August (video). He won the GIII San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita previously in the spring of 2023.
Maman Joon (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), already a winner at the Oceanport oval this year, scored by 1 3/4 lengths in the Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park on the last day of August (video). She races for Amo Racing USA and trainer Chad Brown.
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