Breeders' Cup Juvenile

When The Great Maybe (Upstart) left the blocks at Saratoga and strolled in eight lengths ahead of a lively-met field of fillies, she carried not only the silks of Lael Stables--whose name invokes great nostalgia and respect in the halls of the Thoroughbred community--but also the dreams of a small breeding operation an hour north of Lexington, run by Monica Egger. Now, that farm in Piner, Kentucky, has a 'TDN Rising Star' to add to their list of accomplishments. "I have really enjoyed my short foray into Thoroughbreds and have...

Last year's champion 2-year-old colt, OBS April sale topper and 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road--Wasted Tears, by Najran) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for 2023. Bred by Bart Evans and Stonehaven Steadings out of six-time GSW and GISP Wasted Tears, Corniche was purchased for $1.5 million by agent Marette Farrell on behalf of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables LLC following a powerful :10 flat OBSAPR '21 breeze. He was then turned over to Hall of Famer...

He has yet to run this year, which has turned GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche (Quality Road) into the forgotten horse in the 3-year-old male division. That, however, may be about to change. Corniche has had two recent works at WinStar Farm and, according to Marette Farrell, an advisor to owners K.C. Weiner and Peter Fluor, the colt will return to the racetrack within a couple of weeks. "His last work at WinStar [four furlongs in :48.94 last Saturday], they said that it was an 'A' work," Farrell said....

Led by last term's hard-fought GII Remsen S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), a deep field of nine will line up for Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park. Owned by Donegal Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher, Mo Donegal outslugged Zandon (Upstart) by a nose after a roughly run stretch drive while making his stakes debut in that aforementioned 1 1/8-mile affair at Aqueduct last time Dec. 4. "We decided that the Holy Bull was the right starting point," Pletcher said. "It gives us plenty of options. If...

'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit--Delightful Quality, by  Elusive Quality), a leading Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old colt, heads to the breeding shed with an impressive line-up of mares for his first season at stud at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Kentucky. The 2020 champion 2-year-old colt and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner continued to add to his loaded resume at three, capturing the GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. He concluded his career with a third-place finish against his elders in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The...

Presumptive 2-year-old champion male and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Corniche (Quality Road) will be freshened briefly at WinStar Farm in Kentucky this winter before returning to Bob Baffert's barn, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. Marette Farrell, who purchased the $1.5-million colt for Speedway Stable, said Corniche was sent to Kentucky last Wednesday. "It's time to give him a little bit of a break," Farrell told DRF. "Speedway likes to use WinStar for lay-ups. He can be turned out, graduate to a paddock, and they have a...

Jack Christopher (Munnings), expected to go off the favorite in the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile but scratched by the track veterinarians the day prior to the race, has had a screw inserted in his left shin due to a stress fracture, according to his ownership group's racing manager, Bradley Weisbord. The news was first reported by the Blood-Horse. "Jack Christopher saw Dr. Larry Bramlage the Wednesday following the Breeders' Cup," said Weisbord. "He had a full examination, including a bone scan. A couple of areas lit up, mainly the...

It was a blustery autumn day last week when champion Essential Quality (Tapit - Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality) stepped out of his new stall in Darley's eminent stud barn to make his paces in front of onlooking breeders for his first stallion show, but the regally-bred grey didn't so much as bat an eye as the winds picked up and the surrounding crowd grew thicker. "I think what has been evident about Essential Quality from the get-go has been his class and his mind," said Darley's Sales Manager Darren...

DEL MAR, CA -- Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings), the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, was scratched on the advice of the veterinarians at the Breeders' Cup, according to Bradley Weisbord of BSW Bloodstock, who serves as Jim Bakke's racing manager. "(Trainer) Chad (Brown) called me at 6:00 last night to say he had gutting news. He said, `They're not going to let him run.' I just said, `What's wrong?' and he said, `they said he's got a left shin.' For...

DEL MAR, CA -- Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings), the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, was scratched on the advice of the veterinarians at the Breeders' Cup, according to Bradley Weisbord of BSW Bloodstock, who serves as Jim Bakke's racing manager. "(Trainer) Chad (Brown) called me at 6:00 last night to say he had gutting news. He said, `They're not going to let him run.' I just said, `What's wrong?' and he said, `they said he's got a left shin.' For...

Apparently, 'Jacks' are wild where it comes to the GI Champagne S., in the last couple years, at least. Twelve months after Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) put on a show in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Presented by TAA, 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings) turned in a dazzling performance of his own, racing away to a 2 3/4-length success to stamp himself as one of the favorites on Breeders' Cup Friday, Nov. 5. Accorded 'Captain Obvious' Rising Star status after covering...

'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (c, 2, Quality Road--Wasted Tears, by Najran), the $1.5-million OBS April topper earlier this spring and a jaw-dropping debut winner going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Sept. 4, led them every step of the way to run to the money as the 2-5 favorite in Friday's 'Win and You're In' GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita. Pappacap (Gun Runner), winner of the GII Best Pal S., was second; third out maiden winner Oviatt Class (Bernardini) was third. Corniche is the 10th winner of the...