By Jill Williams
The thoughtfully named McKulick (GB) (f, 4, Frankel {GB}–Astrelle {Ire}, by Makfi {GB}), who has always been special to the Chad Brown team, added another feather to her cap with a late-flying victory in Thursday's GII Glens Falls S. at Saratoga, denying defending two-time Glens Falls victress–as well as MGISW and 1-2 favorite–War Like Goddess (English Channel) an historic three-peat in the process.
When the gates flew in the Glens Falls, 45-1 Elegant Taste (Oxbow) emerged from the early fray with the lead. McKulick raced midpack in a good spot as most eyes focused on War Like Goddess in third as she visibly fought Joel Rosario, tossing her head repeatedly. After a first quarter in :24.84, War Like Goddess continued to appear agitated as Rosario restrained her. Tucked in on the rail behind the favorite, McKulick looked a far different matter as she appeared relaxed and comfortable. Things continued much the same through the half in :50.01 and six panels in 1:15.29 until the field bunched up considerably at the 1:39.53 mile marker. Last-out June 17 GIII Eatontown S. runner-up Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}) dismissed pacesetter Elegant Taste on the turn and took command as War Like Goddess loomed menacingly to her outside. With a sixteenth to go, War Like Goddess collared Vergara but it was McKulick who tipped out, swapped leads repeatedly, and bore down to find the wire first. She won by a neck as War Like Goddess held for second and April's GIII Orchid S. winner Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) closed to steal third. Final time for the 12 furlongs on the inner turf was 2:27.05.
“Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] rode a masterful race,” said winning trainer Brown. “Early on when War Like Goddess had position ahead of us and was a little rank and such, he carefully stayed behind her. When she came off the rail down the backside before the final turn, Irad cleverly got off the rail as well and followed her and stayed away from the horse [Elegant Taste] that was stopping on the rail. All those moves, particularly that one down the backside really made the difference today.”
McKulick's biggest lifetime score came last summer in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S., while her last win was in the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. last September at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet prior to an October runner-up finish in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland. Put away for just over six months, the bay reappeared with an off-the board finish in the May 5 GIII Modesty S. at Churchill and a third in the GI New York S. June 9 at Belmont.
Brown said McKulick would likely head next to the GII Flower Bowl S. on Sept. 2 at the Spa at a furlong shorter. That race offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Chad Brown gets his first victory in the Glens Falls (G2) with MCKULICK and @iradortiz! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/dvMgOrcQb9
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 3, 2023
Pedigree Notes:
McKulick is one of 116 black-type winners in just eight crops of racing age for sire sensation Frankel (GB), who also has 80 graded/group winners. The majority of Frankel's top horses campaign in Europe, although five of the stakes winners by the Banstead Manor Stud stallion have reached the graded level in the U.S. McKulick ranks at the top of that list as his sole American Grade I winner to date, although the son of Galileo (Ire) also has a Canadian Grade I winner in Wild Beauty (GB).
While McKulick is Frankel's only black-type winner out of a daughter of Makfi (GB), who has 15 stakes winners as a broodmare sire and was sold to Japan prior to the 2017 breeding season, Makfi's sire, Dubawi (Ire), has proven to be quite a prolific cross with Frankel. The pair are responsible for eight of Frankel's black-type winners, including champions Adayar (Ire) and Homeless Songs (Ire), as well as this summer's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) and two other graded/group winners.
McKulick's dam has also produced GSW-Eng & GSW-Ire Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), as well as GSW-Ger Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}). She has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Calyx (GB) and a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire).
Thursday, Saratoga Race Course
GLENS FALLS S.-GII, $250,000, Saratoga, 8-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/2mT, 2:27.05, fm.
1–MCKULICK (GB), 120, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Astrelle (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Miss Mariduff, by Hussonet
3rd Dam: Sopran Mariduff (GB), by Persian Bold (Ire)
(180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-4-4-2, $1,405,720. *1/2 to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ger; 1/2 to Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), GSW-Ire, GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $209,461. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–War Like Goddess, 122, m, 6, English Channel–Misty North, by North Light (Ire). ($1,200 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $1,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP; $30,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-George Krikorian; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-William I. Mott. $50,000.
3–Amazing Grace (Ger), 122, m, 5, Protectionist (Ger)–Amabelle (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€850,000 4yo '22 ARQDEC). O-Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd.; B-Chr. Berglar (GER); T-Christophe Clement. $30,000.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 0.50, 7.90.
Also Ran: Sopran Basilea (Ire), Vergara, Virginia Joy (Ger), Elegant Taste.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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