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 Slick and Eternal Reign at Santa Anita.
Slick As Can Be
Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify's Slick (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) claimed a Santa Anita maiden victory on Dec. 26 (video). Trained by Phil D'Amato, the 2-year-old filly was bred by Newtown Anner Stud in Ireland.
Out of the Dubawi (Ire) mare Shurooq (GB), Slick was sold for €48,000 out of the Goffs Orby Part II Sale as a yearling and ran second on debut at Tipperary for trainer Andy Slattery and Mrs. Rachael Halley. Purchased privately in the interim, the filly was making her fourth lifetime start. She is followed by a yearling half-sister by Teofilo (Ire). Her granddam is the highly regarded Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}), who won the G1 1000 Guineas, as well as the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Juddmonte's Oasis Dream has sired 36 winners from 65 runners (55%) in America. His 10 stakes winners (15%) there are led by Grade I winners Tuscan Evening (Ire) and Midday (GB).
SLICK ($5.20) zipped right by from the pocket to take the 3rd at @santaanitapark. @umbyrispoli rode the daughter of Oasis Dream (GB) (@JuddmonteFarms) for trainer @PhilDamato11.
Get in on the action in the next: https://t.co/eKyaYKoOj1 pic.twitter.com/yYkMXvNowP
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 26, 2024
In The Holiday Spirit
The D'Amato barn was in the headlines again with Michael Enright homebred Eternal Reign (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) just one day later. The daughter of Alwaysandforever (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) broke her maiden at Santa Anita on Dec. 27 (video).
Winless in four Irish starts for Enright and trainers Mick Halford and Tracey Collins, the dark bay was making her first start in the U.S. One of four foals for listed-placed Alwaysandforever (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the April-foaled filly was a 180,000gns buy out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Her juvenile half-brother Aroof (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) has placed, and her dam has a weanling half-brother by Blue Point (Ire). Third dam Russian Snows (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)'s biggest claim to fame was her victory in the G2 Prix de Royallieu, and she was also second in the G1 Irish Oaks.
The Irish National Stud's recently pensioned Invincible Spirit is responsible for 29 winners from 66 runners (44%) in the U.S. His seven stakes winners there (10%) are led by Grade I scorers Digital Age (Ire) and Vale Of York (Ire).
Flavien Prat gets ETERNAL REIGN (IRE) ($3.80) home in front on her 5th lifetime attempt but first try in the US in @SantaAnitaPark race 5. @PhilDamato11 trains the 3-year-old by Invincible Spirit (IRE).
The Late Pick 4 begins now: https://t.co/aoOoNtXPRc pic.twitter.com/C13sgKPq8t
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 27, 2024
Repeat Winners
Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) scampered home a winner in the GII Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita for Phil D'Amato and owner Anthony Fanticola on Saturday (video). The likeable gelding first featured in the GIII San Simeon Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita last March.
King Of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who races for the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff, earned the first graded victory of his career in the GII Mathis Mile Stakes at Santa Anita on Boxing Day (video). The Phil D'Amato trainee has now won five times in America.
Mike Ryan's Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) added another graded victory to her ledger with a score in the GIII Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream on Dec. 21 (video). The Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained filly won the GIII Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct in November.
Another repeat winner for Making Waves is LSU Stables' La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}). The Via Borghese Stakes went her way at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 26 (video). The Christophe Clement trainee first appeared in this column after winning the GIII Waya Stakes in October.
A Fair Grounds contest went to Making Waves alumni Serving Time (GB) (Without Parole {GB}) on Dec. 22 (chart). She had earned her maiden victory for John Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock, Borders Racing Stable and trainer Cherie DeVaux last month.
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