Malibu Moon

Just two days after her superstar sire died at the age of 24, Three Chimneys Farm's Always Carina (Malibu Moon) followed up a highly-graded debut victory with a facile allowance/optional claiming romp at Belmont despite a troubled start, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Unveiled at a nickel below even-money over a muddy, sealed track Apr. 11 at Aqueduct, the homebred shook off some intense early pace pressure and splashed clear in the lane to a four-length success, earning a 94 Beyer. Returning with a quartet of local interim breezes, capped...

On the face of it, just another graded stakes where you could round up the usual suspects. Bob Baffert as winning trainer and Bernardini as the successful damsire. And the success of Du Jour, in the GII American Turf S. on the Derby undercard was a welcome reminder of the value offered by his sire Temple City. But what really draws attention to this emerging talent is an extraordinary female lurking in his background. No, we don't mean either of the owners, for all that both may qualify for the...

Spendthrift Farm's foundation stallion Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy--Macoumba, by Mr. Prospector) passed away Tuesday in his paddock at the Lexington farm he has called home for the past 13 years. The 24-year-old, who was still in active stud duty, died of an apparent heart attack. "It's a sad day for us. This is our first loss of this kind. It's tough," said Spendthrift owner & president, Eric Gustavson. "You really develop a love for these beautiful, majestic animals. Even with Into Mischief taking over the mantle as 'top stallion' at...

So here we are at last, rounding the home turn. This series has unfolded in familiar fashion, with an initial stampede of unproven young stallions progressively thinned out by the impatience of a commercial sector operating in ever decreasing cycles. Today we finish with a selection from those admirable stallions who have survived the ruthless attrition, and created a viable niche at various levels of the market. The odds they have overcome, to get here, are such that the long-term health of the breed is clearly being treated as something...

Gary and Mary West homebred Slumber Party (Malibu Moon) showed off a high cruising speed Sunday to easily best a well-bred group of fillies at Gulfstream and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. With an upbeat worktab at Palm Meadows on display, the 5-1 shot broke on top and quickly opened up on her competition down the backside. She posted splits of :22.50 and :45.33, and rounded the bend five or six lengths clear. Showing no signs of stopping from there, the chestnut cantered home a geared-down 7 1/2-length winner,...

2nd-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 12-4, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.45, gd,1 length. MISS DRACARYS (f, 2, Malibu Moon--Ask Me When, by Speightstown), the second-priciest offspring by her sire of 47 yearlings sold in 2019 when bringing $525,000 at Keeneland September, lit up the tote board at 23-1 in this debut run. She raced under a snug hold in seventh on the inside and was traveling nicely as the field hit the quarter pole. Kept along the fence by Kendrick Carmouche as they turned for home, the bay threaded the needle in deep...

5th-Aqueduct, $70,000, (S), Msw, 11-22, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:40.42, ft, 5 1/4 lengths. BRATTLE HOUSE (f, 2, Malibu Moon--Savvy Sassy, by Street Sense), who set a Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale record when she brought $775,0000 from Larry Best last August, began repaying that investment Sunday with a facile debut win against an overmatched group of New York-bred fillies. Looking to follow in the hoofsteps of stablemate Harper's in Charge (Malibu Moon), who dusted an open group of maidens here a week earlier to be named a 'TDN Rising Star',...

Cheyenne Stables LLC's Harper's in Charge (Malibu Moon) ran to advanced billing to post an extremely easy debut victory worthy of the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. Pounded all the way down to 7-5 off an 8-1 morning line, the $220,000 KEESEP yearling zipped out of the gate and was immediately a length in front. She cruised along through splits of 22.83 and :46.84, and continued into the lane in complete command as Manny Franco peeked back for competition. Nobody could run with the leader, and she hit another gear for...

Spendthrift Farm announced Tuesday the reduction of stud fees for most of its current roster of stallions set to stand at the Lexington-based farm in 2021. Leading sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) heads the roster at a previously announced fee of $225,000 S&N. Booked full, he represents the only stallion with an increased fee in 2021. Top sire Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy) and second-season sire Omaha Beach will both stand for $35,000 S&N. Malibu Moon stood for $60,000, while Omaha Beach stood for $45,000 in 2020. Fellow second-season sire Vino...

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis With attendance at the sales grounds down dramatically, but internet bidding brisk, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's July 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale opened with a workmanlike session Tuesday in Central Florida. "It was a solid start," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "Obviously we had some nice horses go through the ring and sell well. It was a little slow early on in the day, but I thought it leveled out. We are dealing with strange times, that's for sure,...

Multiple Grade I-winning sprinter Ransom the Moon (Malibu Moon) was represented by his first foal Monday evening. Out of Terri's Pass by War Pass, the filly was foaled at Shannondoe Farm in Ontario. Ransom the Moon rallied to win the GI Bing Crosby S. in 2017 and 2018. "This is a good filly. Very impressive with deep shoulder and big hip. Plenty of bone and leg under her. I'd say she looks like daddy. We are very pleased," said Arika Everatt-Meeuse of Shannondoe Farm. Ransom the Moon stands for $7,500...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The two-day Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale couldn't match up to its record-setting 2018 renewal, but when the dust settled Monday evening at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion, the auction had seen its fourth straight record-priced yearling. The record bid came from Larry Best, who said he had only seen the filly two hours before he spent $775,000 to acquire the daughter of Malibu Moon from the Winter Quarter Farm consignment. In all, 186 yearlings sold during the 2019 New York sale for a total of...