Mo Town

Having dealt with the rookies separately, we now start our quest for value among those stallions already at stud. We'll be going through the pyramid by price band, and today kick off at the level most accessible to breeders on a budget. But do not be deceived that we must be scraping the barrel here. If anything, candidly, there are more horses standing at four figures that one could trust--above all, for a breed-to-race program--than among far more expensive newcomers featured in the first instalment. Whether one could also recommend...

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. started his night off strong, taking the first of two graded stakes at Charles Town Friday night as Mystic Lake (Mo Town) swept to the front in impressive fashion to win the GII Charles Town Oaks. The Florida-bred daughter of Mo Town wasn't bet like a winner, going off right on her 6-1 morning line, but entered on a strong run having won three of six starts this year in an "every other race" pattern. She earned her debut graded stakes win two back taking the...

Cut the Dust (Not This Time) ran a hole in the wind on this unveiling and cruised home to the easiest of victories, earning a 'TDN Rising Star' nod in the process. Breaking well with the field and out to take command quickly, the chestnut was still in hand as he distanced himself from his rivals passing the three furlong pole after :22.48 and :45.29 splits. He had built up a six length lead turning for home and from there on, the question was how much he'd like to win...

With the better-known 'Mystik' still in the barn, Mystic Lake (Mo Town) went to the front end and never looked back, rolling home a 4 1/2-length winner over favored Youalmosthadme (Oxbow) in Friday's Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico. A second-out winner at Woodbine last fall, she was runner-up in that venue's Glorious Song S. on the synthetic in October before weakening late to be third in the GIII Mazarine S. in November. Kicking off 2024 with a win in Tampa's seven-panel Gasparilla S. on the dirt Jan. 13, the Florida-bred...

'TDN Rising Star' Doncho did not mind a wet surface as he took home his first black-type in the Gold Fever S. during the Belmont at the Big A meet on Sunday afternoon. The dark bay was sent on his way as the 2-1 choice and vied for the early lead with longshot Buccherino up the backstretch. Putting away his rival around the far turn, the chalk sizzled entering the lane, kicked for the wire past the eighth pole and got there to collect his prize. Doncho achieved his 'Rising...

West Memorial became the first winner for freshman sire Caracaro (by Uncle Mo) with an upset win over the boys in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs on Thursday. The John Hancock trainee was a close second on debut at Keeneland Apr. 7. Overlooked at 17-1 here, the bay watched as the Wesley Ward-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Shoot It True (Munnings), a runaway Keeneland debut winner Apr. 5, and Resolute Racing acquisition Mensa (Complexity), a $740,000 purchase earlier this week via the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale platform, battled for command...

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Doncho (g, 3, Mo Town--Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes), an eye-catching winner in a pair of attempts going six furlongs at Fair Grounds this winter, is aiming to make his next start in the $400,000 Lafayette S. at Keeneland Apr. 5. "We've got the Lafayette circled as his next spot opening day at Keeneland," trainer Michelle Lovell said. "We'll see if he'll stretch out to seven furlongs. I think that he will." Gelded as a juvenile last September, Doncho lit up the tote board with a...

JAL Racing's Doncho (g, 3, Mo Town--Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes) backed up his big figure debut win with another eye-catching performance for trainer Michelle Lovell, this time for 'TDN Rising Star' honors in an optional claimer in the Big Easy on the Mardi Gras Tuesday program. The even-money favorite forced the issue from an outside second, poked his head in front approaching the quarter pole and blasted off for home to win by an impressive 4 1/2 lengths while stopping the clock for six furlongs in a very sharp...

Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), currently North America's leading second-crop sire in stakes horses, will stand for a fee of $200,000, live foal, at Ashford Stud in Kentucky in 2024, Coolmore America announced on Tuesday. The 9-year-old's fee represents a jump of $100,000 from the figure of $100,000 that he stood for in 2023. Justify's 2024 fee is the fourth-highest of the stallions announced so far for 2024, placing him behind perennial leading sires Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) and Curlin (Smart Strike), and third-crop standout Gun Runner (Candy Ride...

The model of consistency in her young career, Key of Life (Mo Town) turned in another gutsy performance Sunday with a coast-to-coast win in the GII Beaumont S., the final race in the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Never off the board in her seven prior starts, including a three-race win streak last Fall at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland, the $350,000 OBS April grad entered off a 3 1/4-length score in Oaklawn's Purple Martin S. where she posted a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure. Bet like a sure...

In the first graded win for young sire Mo Town (by Uncle Mo), Mo Stash (Mo Town--Making Mark Money, by Smart Strike) hung tough on the lead to win the GIII Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. on opening day of the always-anticipated spring meet at Keeneland. Nagirroc (Lea), who finished one spot in front of the Transylvania winner in their only previous meeting, the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf over this course, was second with Webslinger (Constitution)--11th in the Juvenile Turf--third. The complexion of the race changed when Chad Brown scratched...

When Golden Pal retired to Coolmore America for the 2023 season, he became the second son of Uncle Mo to join his sire at the farm, alongside Mo Town. A 15-year-old stalwart of the Coolmore stallion roster, Uncle Mo is currently enjoying a bit of a hot streak with his group of 2023 three-year-olds. Arabian Knight is the #1 ranked horse on the TDN's Derby Top Contenders off one start-the first race on the Breeders' Cup Saturday card--indicating just how impressive that race was. The $2.3-million sales topper at OBS...