Munnings

Into Mischief's Cyclone Mischief Scores Comfortably At Second Asking

6th-Keeneland, $99,588, Msw, 10-19, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:46.95, ft, 5 1/4 lengths. CYCLONE MISCHIEF (c, 2, Into Mischief--Areyoucominghere, by Bernardini) nearly wired the field at first asking, just getting nailed by a pair of closing ivals on the line to be third by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs Sept. 16. With an extra sixteenth to work with Wednesday, the $450,000 Keeneland September grad raced closest to pacesetter Permafrost (Frosted) into the first turn. Settled just a path off the rail for the backstretch run, Cyclone Mischief stuck a...

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Background Check: Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S., a race with a short history but a lengthy reach. Much has been written in the past few weeks about the christening of the "QEII" and its beginning to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Central Kentucky--and Keeneland--in 1984. As such, there have only been 38 runnings and a good third or so of the...

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Action Steady As Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale Concludes

TIMONIUM, MD - A steady edition of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale--which featured heavy rain from its weekend previews through both sessions--concluded Tuesday in Timonium with numbers down from last year's lively renewal of the auction. "The weather was pretty dismal, but it was a pretty active sale," said Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sales Director Paget Bennett. "The pavilion was very busy both days. We had a great crowd both days. Today, I saw people I didn't see yesterday. People kept coming and they came to buy horses." Through two sessions,...

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Kimari Runs Down Lady Rocket Late To Win Gallant Bloom

Kimari (Munnings) tuned up for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint with an effortless victory in the GII Gallant Bloom S. at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet Sunday. The 3-5 favorite sat just off pacesetting Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) through an opening quarter in :23.55. The pacesetter looked to skip away into the stretch after a half in :46.98, but Joel Rosario was still motionless aboard Kimari. Rosario flicked his wrists at the favorite and she duly inhaled Lady Rocket and strode clear to the wire while under...

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It's 'Jack' on the Cutback in Jerkens

While he lost nothing in defeat when trying two turns for the first time in the GI Haskell Invitational S. the Jack Christopher (Munnings) everyone is accustom to was back at Saratoga, charging home a decisive winner of the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Hammered down to 1-2 favoritism getting back around one turn, the flashy chestnut tracked Conagher (Jimmy Creed) from second through a :22.18 first quarter. Drawing alongside as the half went in :44.53, Jack Christopher skipped to the front when Jose Ortiz shook the reins at...

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Artorius Has Arrogate-Sized Shadow to Outrun in Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--During a pre-season interview in early July, trainer Chad Brown offered another colt--at that point, with a low profile--to a discussion of his deep bench of GI Travers prospects: Zandon (Upstart), Early Voting (Gun Runner) and Jack Christopher (Munnings). "I have a late -bloomer, a horse named Artorius (Arrogate), that I really like," Brown said.  "He's going to run in the Curlin Stakes. Much like the dad, he's late bloomer. I'm not saying he's a threat to win the Travers, but I'm going to tell you: he's lightly...

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August 6 Insights: Justify Half-Brother to Commissioner Debuts

5th-DMR, $80k, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 7:04p.m. ET Hronis Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing LLC have partnered up to unveil the latest blue-blooded colt by Justify, this one named HAWKER. Shelling out a cool $675,000 for him at KEESEP, his pedigree warrants the implied expectations: out of GSP Flaming Heart (Touch Gold), it makes Hawker a half to GISP & MGSW Commissioner (A.P. Indy), GISP & GSW Laugh Track (Distorted Humor), and to the dam of MGISW Vino Rosso (Curlin). All three of the colt's closest female line...

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Shahama Dominates Monmouth Oaks

Shahama stalked pacesetting favorite Juji's Map before exploding to the lead off the turn and sailing clear to her first U.S. victory in the GIII Monmouth Oaks Sunday on the Jersey Shore. Sent off at 8-5, the bay shadowed Juji's Map, the 4-5 favorite, through fractions of :24.67 and :48.71. Nudged at into the far turn, Shahama surged to the lead after three-quarters in 1:11.88 and bound away to an easy win. "We thought Brad Cox's horse [Juju's Map] would be on the lead and we would be sitting second...

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Kimari Returns to Winning Ways in Honorable Miss

'TDN Rising Star' Kimari (Munnings) earned her first graded win of the season Wednesday when rallying to victory in Saratoga's GII Honorable Miss H. The 3-1 third choice in a four-horse field, the bay broke a hair slow from the outside post, though not as slow as second choice Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief) in the one-hole. Kimari sat off the fence in third with Frank's Rockette off her inside flank as favored Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) and 8-1 outsider Amadevil (Dominus) knocked heads on the front end. Amadevil cruised clear...

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The Funny Farm Comes to Fasig-Tipton

With over three decades of experience in the horse world, breeder Meg Dumaine will record a first when she brings her own consignment to the Fasig-Tipton July Sale of Selected Yearlings. Dumaine will offer three homebred yearlings under her The Funny Farm banner during the one-day auction. "I have done all phases of this industry and I have run consignments for other people, but I've never sold my own horses," Dumaine said. "It's just sort of coming full circle, from planning the mating, being there for the breeding, foaling the...

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Munnys Gold Carries Big Dreams Into Saratoga

While her connections were hoping for a good showing on debut, no one really quite foresaw the performance 'Hagyard TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings) put on when she ran off the screen June 17 against Monmouth Park maidens, stopping the clock in a scorching :56.60 for five furlongs. Jacob West, advisor to the filly's owners, Robert and Lawana Low, was watching the race from his phone in the midst of a round of golf and admits he initially lost her in the shuffle after the break. By the time...

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Easy Munny: Munnings Filly a 'Rising Star' on the Jersey Shore

Munnys Gold (f, 2, Munnings--Haraawa, by Medaglia d'Oro) powered away from the gate and never gave her seven rivals a chance, running away to 'TDN Rising Star' status for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher on debut at Monmouth Park Friday. Sent off as the 8-5 second choice, the Lawana L. and Robert E. Low colorbearer shot out to the front and sped through an opening quarter in :22.41. The $300,000 FTKJUL purchase hugged the rail around the far turn and made sure it was a one-horse race from there, rolling...

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