Quality Road

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-GP, $84K, Msw, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:38 p.m. Though making a belated debut as a 4-year-old, LAKOTA TERRITORY (Quality Road), bred in a partnership by Whisper Hill Farm, Three Chimneys, and JSM Equine, gets his chance to add to his family's legacy Friday out of the Todd Pletcher barn. Out of the Malibu Moon mare Akron Moon, the bay is a full-brother to MGISW Bellafina who brought a final bid of $4,000,000 from Coolmore's M V Magnier in foal to Tiz the Law at last fall's...

Gunned to the front from a middle gate by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, First Defender (3, c, Quality Road--Love And Pride, by A.P. Indy) withstood pressure on all sides and a contested early pace at the Fair Grounds to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Off sharply, the colt found himself sandwiched between horses from the opening strides with Pinfire (Bolt d'Oro) to his inside and Golden Nugget (Mendelssohn) off his outer flank. The trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field as they sped through an opening quarter...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 9th-SA, $67K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2fT, 7:29 p.m. Debuting Sunday out of the Richard Mandella barn, Ruby Nell (Bolt d'Oro) put in a quick breeze at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale to be a $1.2 million pick up for Spendthrift Farm. A daughter of last year's leading first-crop sire, Ruby Nell is out of a half-sister to MSW & GSP Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones) who went on to produce SW & GSP Peach of a Gal (Curlin). Quick on the main track, she's posted a...

Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz's Emblem Road (Quality Road), who caused one of the biggest upsets of the 2022 racing season anywhere in the world when defeating an international field in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup, took a major step towards a defense of that title with a convincing four-length success in a $25,289 allowance going the one-turn 1600 meters at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh Friday. Drawn gate four and asked to carry 62kg (136 pounds), the mount of Alexis Moreno was clearly last into stride and was guided...

Light Quantum (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) remained perfect to graduate to the group ranks while taking on the boys for the first time with an impressive rallying victory in the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Chukyo on Sunday. The public's second choice at odds of 2-1 in this 1600-metre affair hopped a bit from the gate and was taken way back early, rating in front of just two rivals for more than 800 metres as Pace Setting (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) showed the way. As the early leader rounded...

As the field crossed the wire in Saturday's GII Los Alamitos Futurity, Sol Kumin experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat all at once. Kumin is the co-owner of second-place finisher Carmel Road (Quality Road) and third-place finisher Fort Bragg (Tapit). They ran well but couldn't outrun Practical Move (Practical Joke). Along with Chad Brown, Kumin bred, but does not own, the race winner. "It was cool because I always loved the winner's dam, Ack Naughty (Afleet Alex)," he said. "Would I have loved to see one...

Newmarket-based trainer George Boughey is mapping out a 2023 campaign for Royal Ascot winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road), which includes a potential trip to Dubai and possibly America. "There's a chance that he could go to America," Boughey said. "There's a race called the Santa Anita H. on Mar. 4, which is a Grade I on dirt. We'll see, but he's doing very well physically and I always said to [co-owner] Bill Farish and the guys at Lane's End that I didn't want to over-race him this year but...

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Maggi Moss with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and Second Stride with the Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award at the 33rd Annual Stallion Season Auction and 'Tis the Season Celebration presented by Mt. Brilliant on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Grand Reserve in Lexington, Kentucky. The Allaire du Pont Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA's mission. Past award winners include Jen Roytz, LNJ Foxwoods, and Dan Rosenberg, just to name...

When it comes to "sire-making races," the Gl Metropolitan H. is usually the first that's thrown into the conversation. Quality Road, the 2010 winner, is the most notable recent example, and before him it was Ghostzapper in 2005, but that's about it for the past 20 years despite the race's vaunted reputation. The Gl Florida Derby is a better recent gauge for making stallions: Nyquist (won in 2016), Constitution (2014), Dialed In (2011), Quality Road (2009), Scat Daddy (2007), Empire Maker (2003), and Harlan's Holiday (2002) are a stronger group...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 12th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, 7 1/2f, 6:24p.m. ET Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Woodford Racing LLC partner-up on this $500,000 KEESEP procurement in PATOU ROAD (Quality Road), who will be getting a late start to the races for his powerhouse connections. In the barn of Pletcher, who has had a notably great year with the ownership group, the colt is out of Patou (Ghostzapper), herself a half-sister to GSW Moulin de Mougin (Curlin)--the dam of GSP Spicer (Quality Road); GISP Vionnet (Street Sense)--dam of...

LEXINGTON, KY--The market remained competitive as Book 3 of the Keeneland November Sale closed its two-day run Friday with a frenzy of activity towards the end of the session. After a slow, but steady beginning to the day, Spritz (Awesome Again) (Hip 1747) commanded everyone's attention deep into the session, topping the day's action at $550,000 from Gary Holland's Kamden Racing. She is carrying her first foal by Quality Road. The day's co-second-highest priced offering came just six hips later when the Brogdens fended off all comers for a mare...

6th-Aqueduct, $73,950, Msw, 11-11, 2yo, 6f, 1:13.47, gd, 4 1/2 lengths. TALK OF THE NATION (c, 2, Quality Road--She's Not Here {MGSW, $450,453}, by Street Cry {Ire}) failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $470,000 after breezing in :10.1 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale earlier this spring. Given the 4-5 nod in this scratched-down field of just three, Talk of the Nation took his time getting into stride after bumping with Nieuwendyk (Nyquist) shortly after the break. Third of the trio, he kept outside in the clear...