Making Waves: Pura Vida On The Double

   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 victories of Buffoon and Kick A Rhyme for trainer Mike Maker and Pura Vida Investments during the past week.

Lope De Vega Colt Strikes At Keeneland

Buffoon (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put it all together at second asking at Keeneland for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker on Saturday (video).

Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd., the €175,000 Arqana August yearling selection of Deuce Greathouse is out of After Dawn (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself a half-sister to sires and Group 1 winners Ectot (GB) and Most Improved (Ire). He is followed by a yearling filly by Sottsass (Fr) who brought €130,000 at the Arqana October yearling Sale from Oceanic Bloodstock. Under the stakes-winning Danehill third dam Mahalia (Ire) is GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) among others.

Ballylinch's Lope De Vega has one of the best records of any European sire with his progeny in North America, and Buffoon is his 40th winner from 74 runners there (54%). Besides a pair of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroines in Newspaperofrecord (Ire) and Aunt Pearl (Ire), the stallion has five additional stakes winners in America.

#15 Buffoon draws in off the AE list and breaks his maiden at second asking in R2 at Keeneland for trainer Mike Maker with @jrosariojockey in the saddle! 🎓

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/kkoIn86GRX

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 28, 2023

Night Of Thunder Filly Stars Beneath Twin Spires

Kick A Rhyme (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was the second winner in less than a week for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker when taking a Churchill Downs maiden on Nov. 1 (video). The filly was making her third start.

Bred by Irish National Stud Mare Syndicate II, the dark bay was picked up by BBA Ireland for €150,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling on the bid of Deuce Greathouse and Pura Vida. Out of the listed-placed Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the filly is a half-sister to multiple group winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and is her dam's final foal.

The seventh winner from 13 runners (54%) for her Darley sire, Kick A Rhyme has a quartet of paternal half-siblings that have found black-type in the U.S. Night Of Thunder's best get there are Grade III winners Sopran Basilea (Ire) and Pocket Square (GB).

#8 Kick a Rhyme breaks his maiden in R6 at Churchill Downs under @tyler_gaff for trainer Mike Maker! 🍀

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/oRzp7qtCV9

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2023

Markaz Filly Wins In Arcadia

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Yerwanthere (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) rallied to win at Santa Anita for trainer Patrick Gallagher on Saturday (video).

Part of the Kilnamoragh Stud breeding programme, the 4-year-old filly won her first start in Ireland for owner/breeder Jim Browne and trainer Pat Foley. Eclipse purchased the filly after that start and moved her to Joseph O'Brien, and she took a Dundalk handicap in December of 2022. Sent to America after three more appearances, she debuted with a fourth at Del Mar in August prior to her win last weekend. A half-sister to the winning Listed Brigids Pastures S. third Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Yerwanthere is also a half-sister to the unraced juvenile filly Over The Blues (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) and a yearling colt by Profitable (Ire). Second dam Slow Jazz (Chief's Crown) won two stakes, and she is also a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Blue Duster (Danzig).

Yerwanthere is one of two winners from three runners (66%) in the U.S. for Dark Angel's Markaz. On an international level, all three of his stakes winners have won at Group 3 level in Ireland (2) and France (1).

Repeat Winners

Klaravich Stables' Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) improved his record to two wins from three starts with a victory in New York on Saturday (video). The Chad Brown trainee was previously featured in Making Waves in June.