Quality Road

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a son of Group 1 winner Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €17,000, 2yo, 8fT HIPPODROME (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of three Ballydoyle newcomers in this maiden won by TDN Rising Stars High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope...

3rd-Ellis, $59,065, Msw, 8-14, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:38.62, fm, 1 1/2 lengths. CHOP CHOP (f, 2, City of Light--Grand Sofia, by Giant's Causeway), a $230,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase and the 2-1 favorite in this spot, was never far out of it early, stalking in third close to the pace of Guns n' Lilies (Gun Runner) through mild fractions. Moved off the rail for her stretch run, she came with a three-wide bid down the lane, out-kicking Bel Rosso (Free Drop Billy) and Don't Go Changing (Candy Ride {Arg}) and drawing...

7th-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-13, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.77, ft, 8 lengths. BOURBON BASH (c, 2, City of Light--Buy Sell Hold {SW & GSP, $125,520}, by Violence) made it a hat trick for jockey Flavien Prat, breaking from the inside gate and wasting no time in flashing his early speed to quickly open up a length on the field in the first furlong. Under a stoic ride a path off the rail, Bourbon Bash put six lengths on a quartet of chasers passing the quarter pole and never gave them a chance...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:39 p.m. A homebred for Alpha Delta Stables LLC, CONSEILLANTE (Quality Road) debuts Sunday out of the Chad Brown barn. Out of the unraced Forest Wildcat mare Wild Forest, Conseillante is a half-sister to MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags), SW Forest Chatter (Dixie Chatter), and to the dam of MGSP Lady Aces (Constitution). Forest Wildcat herself is a half-sister to GSW Tajaaweed (Dynaformer). This is also the extended family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Mr. Greeley (Gone...

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and agent Donato Lanni, acting on behalf of an undisclosed client, added a big-ticket item to his future roster when stretching to $1.8 million to land a Quality Road half-sister to GI Spinaway S. heroine Sweet Loretta (Tapit) late in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga session Tuesday. The May 4 foal was consigned by Lane's End as hip 213 and bred by Mt Brilliant Farm & Ranch and W. S. Farish. Her dam was a $2.2-million KEENOV '16 purchase (in foal to Constitution) by Greg Goodman's...

Jace's Road (c, 2, Quality Road--Out Post, by Silver Deputy), a $510,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, put on a show at Ellis Park Saturday afternoon en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The bay worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 (2/90) at Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base July 29 and was hammered down to 7-5 favoritism while drawn on the outside in post nine against this deep-looking bunch. He chased on the outside in third though an opening quarter in :22.47, loomed boldly under confident handling while three-wide on the...

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...

Three Diamonds Farm and Joseph Besecker's Roja Ligera (City of Light) stepped forward at second asking to take an off-the-turf Ellis Park dash Sunday and become the first winner for her freshman sire (by Quality Road). She had trailed all but one rival home following a poor break in a five-furlong event at Churchill Downs July 1, but the $75,000 OBSMAR purchase (:9 4/5) got away much sharper this time out, moving between horses to contend for the lead before giving way to Catcha Later Mo (Mo Town). Roja Ligera...

Capture the Flag (Quality Road--War Flag, by War Front) entering with some positive workout notes and backed at 5-2 for the notoriously patient Shug McGaughey barn, turned in an auspicious debut in Saratoga's Saturday opener that seemed like just the tip of the iceberg. Last away in the field of five, the hulking bay quickly narrowed the gap and mounted a three-deep move into the turn. Going much easier than the two foes to his inside approaching the stretch, he was confidently ridden out by Luis Saez, bounding home by...

Emblem Road (Quality Road), who won the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in February, will return to the racecourse in the 2000-metre G3 Grand Prix de Vichy on July 20. Representing Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz, the 4-year-old entire was 50-1 when he ran out a half-length winner of the Saudi Cup for trainer Mitab Almulawah. Transferred to Alessandro Botti, who is based in Chantilly, Emblem Road will summer in France, before going on to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in November. He took a spin over the Chantilly turf course...

For a brief few moments in the stretch it looked like Chad Brown, represented by odds-on Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}); six-for-six second choice Bleecker Street; and 9-2 third choice Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB})--not to mention pacesetter Flighty Lady (Ire)--might not actually get his record-tying fourth New York S. trophy. But depth like that, and all for Peter Brant, is nearly impossible to beat, and Bleecker Street, perhaps the most unsung unbeaten horse in the country, flew home in last-to-first fashion to reach a new high. Stretching out to...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a daughter of Classic winner Marvellous (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).   8.20 Fairyhouse, Mdn, €12,500, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT NEVERLAND (Quality Road) is the fourth foal out of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Marvellous (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), which links her to the likes of Gleneagles (Ire), Happily...