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 Camila T in a maiden race at Monmouth Park.
Monmouth Suits Filly To A T
First-time starter Camila T (No Nay Never) won on debut at Monmouth Park for R.T Racing Stable and Victoria's Ranch, LLC and trainer Juan Avila (video).
Bred by Barronstown Stud, the January foal was a €120,000 Goffs Orby yearling on the bid of Stripes Stables. The first winner for her dam, Just Imagining (War Front), the filly has a yearling half-brother by Wootton Bassett (GB) and a weanling full-sister. Her second dam Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself responsible for five stakes winners led by Group 1-winning juveniles Van Gogh (American Pharoah) and Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), is a daughter of blue hen matriarch Doff The Derby (Master Derby), the dam of standout runner Generous (Ire) (Caerleon).
A total of 39 of Coolmore's No Nay Never's 76 U.S. runners have now won (51%) with the victory of Camila T. Of these, nine, or 12%, have earned at least one black-type score, including GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Meditate (Ire), dual graded winner Nay Lady Nay (Ire), and GIII Palm Beach S. victor Vitalogy (GB).
#6 CAMILA T (IRE) ($4.20) runs 'em off their feet for a flashy career debut sprinting over the turf in the 3rd race at @MonmouthPark.
The 2yo daughter of @coolmorestud's No Nay Never is trained by Juan Carlos Avila and owned by R.T. Racing Stable & Victoria's Ranch. pic.twitter.com/wKkoxgHhNM
— TVG (@TVG) August 19, 2023
The Forest Through The Trees
Robert S. Evans's Poet's Woods (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put it all together in her fifth start, winning at Monmouth Park for trainer Kent Sweezey this past weekend (video).
Bred by SF Bloodstock, the 3-year-old filly was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling buy by P. Lawley-Wakelin and she is a half-sister to a trio of Kitten's Joy stakes winners led by GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero turned Lanwades Stud sire Bobby's Kitten. Yet to race for Celestial Woods (Forestry) is a juvenile filly by Kitten's Joy named Gerwig and a yearling filly by Twirling Candy. The mare was bred back to the last-named sire this spring. This is the extended family of at least four Group/Grade 1 winners and sires anchored by Wild Event (Wild Again).
Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega is going from strength to strength, and he has sired 38 winners from 70 runners (54%) in America. His seven stakes winners from that batch (10%) are anchored by Grade I winners Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Aunt Pearl (Ire), and Program Trading (GB), with the latter striking in the Saratoga Derby earlier this summer.
After a disqualification in @MonmouthPark Race 5, the win goes to #1 POET'S WOODS ($4.60). @jockeypacolopez was in the saddle for the @SweezeyK barn and owner Robert Evans.
Official order of finish is 1-3-7-5-4. Find all results and prices at https://t.co/nBYFHiOTnJ. pic.twitter.com/11VSyjQN34
— TVG (@TVG) August 18, 2023
Honourable Mention
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) is on something of a roll, taking her fourth start in a row in Del Mar's GI Del Mar Oaks on Saturday (video). Trained by Leonard Powell, she first appeared in Making Waves just under two months ago and won the GII San Clemente S. at the seaside track in July.
What a ride by @umbyrispoli!
ANISETTE (GB) weaved through rivals and crushed the field in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1) at @DelMarRacing! Trained by @Leopowellracing for owners @EclipseTBP! Congrats to the connections!!🏆 pic.twitter.com/kYyyPUj875
— TVG (@TVG) August 20, 2023
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