Brereton C. Jones

Every year, like the fireflies, they emerge with the gathering heat of summer. Even as the more established sophomores hobble out of the Triple Crown series--many requiring rest or recuperation, some even menaced by retirement--a second wave reliably reinvigorates the crop. Sure enough, in recent days a couple of new names have volunteered themselves to test the resilience of those Classic protagonists who do persevere to Saratoga and beyond. But while both share a fresh, progressive profile, in other respects they could scarcely be more different. 'TDN Rising Star' First...

Majesticperfection (Harlan's Holiday--Act So Noble, by Wavering Monarch), a Grade I-winning sprinter and sire of 2015 GI Kentucky Oaks victress Lovely Maria, succumbed to laminitis recently at Haras Rapetti in Uruguay, Turf Diario reports. He was 15 years of age. A $25,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky buyback as a yearling, Majesticperfection was purchased by Satish Sanan's Padua Stables for $370,000 at OBS April in 2008 and was trained by Steve Asmussen to five victories from six starts, including a track record-setting performance in the 2010 Iowa Sprint H. (six furlongs in 1:07.24)...

Three-year-old filly Perfect Happiness (Majesticperfection--Divine Happiness, by Divine Park), a blowout allowance winner with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure at Ellis Aug. 2, brought $200,000 from Flurry Racing Stables as a racing or broodmare Prospect at Keeneland's October Digital Sale Thursday. The Brereton C. Jones homebred, a runaway maiden winner at Oaklawn in January, finished second for trainer Larry Jones in her two most recent trips to the post in optional claimers at Churchill Downs. She previously RNA'd for $22,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling. Consigned by Jones's Airdrie...

Mark Valeski (Proud Citizen--Pocho's Dream Girl, by Fortunate Prospect) will relocate from Central Kentucky's Airdrie Stud to Lake Hamilton Equine in Royal, Arkansas. The deal was brokered by trainer Cody Autrey's Autrey Bloodstock. Mark Valeski retired with earnings of more than $658,000 for trainer Larry Jones and owner/breeder Brereton C. Jones. His signature wins came in Belmont's GII Peter Pan S. and the GIII Mineshaft H. at Fair Grounds. Mark Valeski initially retired to Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick, Florida as a partnership between Woodford and Airdrie Stud. Both parties retain...