Pioneerof the Nile

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 2:14 p.m. Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey unveils a pair of well-bred newcomers in this salty-looking test. Courtlandt Farm paid $1,025,000 for Adam's Angel (Into Mischief) as a Keeneland September yearling. Out of stakes-placed Mary Rita (Distorted Humor) and bred on the same cross as Practical Joke and Life Is Good, the bay's third dam is the McGaughey-trained Hall of Famer and blue hen Personal Ensign (Private Account). Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, meanwhile, will be represented by...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency RACHEL'S VALENTINA FILLY DEBUTS IN NY 4th-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:11 p.m. Todd Pletcher unveils the latest foal out of Grade I winner Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini) named AMBASSADOR KELLY (Pioneerof the Nile). The second and final foal out of Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, whose accomplishments speak for themselves, Rachel's Valentina followed up a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut with a win in Saratoga's GI Spinaway S. She finished second in both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the GI Central Bank Ashland...

6th-Ellis, $51,000, Msw, 8-20, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:15.87, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. MATAREYA (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile--Innovative Idea {GSW, $229,343}, by Bernardini), whose dam's signature win came in the 2016 GIII Groupie Doll S. here, was coupled in the wagering at 9-5 with Brendan Walsh-trained fellow Godolphin homebred  Dreamalot (Ghostzapper). Straight to the front, the bay doled out splits of :22.09 and :45.07 and turned for home in command. Dreamalot came with a fence run and briefly looked like she'd give Matareya a challenge, but the front-runner shut...

3rd-Ellis, $51,000, Msw, 8-8, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.87, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. BALADI (c, 2, Pioneerof the Nile--Dancing House {GSW & GISP, $450,825}, by Tapit), sent off at 11-1, was among a pack of horses chasing the early pacesetter down the backstretch before rushing up to take the lead after a quarter in :23.55. He began inching away without being asked after a half in :46.75 and skipped clear down the lane before finishing geared down and 5 1/2 lengths in front. Let My People Go (Pioneerof the Nile) was second....

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Niigata Racecourse: 3rd-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m MOZU LOTUS LAND (c, 3, Tapit--Sacred Feather, by Carson City), a $425K Keeneland September acquisition by the owner of MG1SW and now Japanese sire Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), was a debut sixth...

Parfait became the first winner for her freshman sire Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) with a debut score at Belterra Saturday. Tracking from second through a :23.23 first quarter, the homebred rallied late, punching through between foes for a 3/4-length score. Quality Bet (Klimt) was the runner-up. Midnight Storm is a Grade I winner on turf and MGSW on dirt. He stands at Taylor Made for $7,500. Parfait is the first foal out of Miss Emma Maria, who has since produced a colt and filly by National Flag.   2nd-Belterra,...

Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), a half-brother to undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy), took one more try than his brother did, but followed in that Horse of the Year's hoofprints with a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy graduation at Keeneland Saturday. Runner-up to another impressive 'TDN Rising Star' in Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) in his seven-panel debut at Gulfstream Jan. 23, the bay was hammered down to 9-5 favoritism to get the money this time. Breaking on top, the Gunther homebred was overtaken by a pair of foes just before the...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 11th-KEE, $79K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 6:38 p.m. ET A pair of Pioneerof the Nile brothers to high-profile champions look to go one better off of runner-up debuts to close out the Keeneland card Saturday. John Gunther homebred Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) is half to none other than Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) as well as the ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense). A $950,000 Keeneland September RNA, the Chad Brown trainee was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by super impressive 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-KEE, $79K, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 2:12 p.m. ET OXO Equine LLC's Primary Endpoint (Pioneerof the Nile) makes his debut in a salty-looking Keeneland maiden special weight Saturday. The $600,000 Fasig-Tipton November '18 weanling is a half to none other than two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit). Brad Cox has been preparing the bay at Fair Grounds for this. Curlin Lane (Curlin) was a $500,000 KEESEP yearling buy by Albaugh Family Stables. The Dale Romans pupil is out of a SW/GSP mare...

Chiefswood Stables homebred Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile), last seen breaking his maiden going seven panels in the local slop Dec. 5, slipped past the bettors and into the winner's circle to post a 46-1 upset in Aqueduct's GIII Gotham S. He fended off Chad Brown trainee Crowded Trade (More Than Ready) to take the head bob, with that one's stablemate Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) a non-threatening third as the 4-5 chalk. Away well from his outside draw, Weyburn locked on to California invader Freedom Fighter (Violence) through splits of :24.29...

It took just two words for Mark Toothaker to explain why he believes Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) will excel in the Spendthrift stud barn: looks and pedigree. Those same characteristics are what kept the Albaugh-Spendthrift partnership bidding at the Keeneland September Sale until they brought the colt home for $1 million. It didn't take long to find an appropriate name for the youngster. [tdn_vimeo_embed title="Thousand Words at Spendthrift" admp4="https://player.vimeo.com/external/500151634.sd.mp4?s=844a5d02b62a033a1e8411b7c050bcf410e91b6a&profile_id=165" videomp4= "https://player.vimeo.com/external/507225698.sd.mp4?s=6e8e6dc8679363f6033354a84ffb91e685b177c8&profile_id=165" thumbnail= ""] "Eric Gustavon, our president, named him," Toothaker recalled. "He's such a beautiful horse that the name...

GSP Aurelius Maximus (Pioneerof the Nile--La Reina, by A.P. Indy) has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2021 at Jay Adcock's Red River Farm in Coushatta, Louisiana. The deal was brokered by Andrew Cary of Cary Bloodstock. The 5-year-old, who will stand in a partnership between Nathan Granger and Stonestreet Stables/George Bolton/Peter Leidel, will stand for $2,000 live foal, with consideration to approved mares. "Aurelius Maximus is the most exciting horse to retire to Louisiana for many years," said Cary. "His combination of impeccable pedigree, gorgeous conformation...