Speightstown

This week's TDN Snippets have a little international flavor, while also appreciating one of America's best, and most versatile, stallions. Can lightning strike twice? LNJ's Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast)'s Group 1 exploits in Australia have been well documented, and she's set to be offered through the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May. The same connections have sent Ivy League (Medaglia d'Oro), formerly with Richard Mandella, to the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace stable trying to repeat the magic formula. All Purpose. All Places. All Power... It's not just a marketing slogan, as...

Less than 24 hours after 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight became the newest top-level scorer for WinStar Farm's outstanding Speightstown in Friday's Maker's Mark Mile, the nursery's homebred son Under Oath followed suit with an eye-catching Keeneland maiden victory to become the 22nd 'Rising Star' for the son of Gone West, still going strong at age 24. Third to big-figure graduate Unikee (Unified) in a sloppy six-furlong maiden at Gulfstream Mar. 12 and with no fewer than three next-out winners in his wake, Under Oath jumped as the 6-5 chalk,...

Dispatched at 9-1 despite entering on a two-race win streak, 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) sling-shotted his way to his first top-level score in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mile S. Friday afternoon. Away in good order, the Fipke homebred bided his time in second last, running off the fence, as GI Shoemaker Mile winner and last out GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) dictated terms, putting up early splits of :24.95 and :49.63. Inching up a bit on the backstretch run, Shirl's Speight still had plenty...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-KEE, $80K, MSW, 2yo, 4 1/2f, 1:00 p.m. The opening day of the 2022 Keeneland Spring Meet features the first 2-year-old races of the year and the first opportunity for freshman sires to get their second careers off to a winning start. Success as a new stallion is of no concern for Uncle Mo, the sire of first-time starter DOMINICANA. A daughter of the SP Speightstown mare Chattertown, Dominicana is a full-sister to GSW and late sire Laoban. Purchased for $300,000 from the 2021 Keeneland...

Olympiad added to his 2022 hot streak with his third straight win Saturday in the GII New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds. The heavy favorite stalked from second as Promise Keeper put up early splits of :23.69 and :47.25. Seizing command in early stretch, Olympiad rolled clear in the lane for a facile score over Proxy. Promise Keeper held third. Olympiad's final time of 1:47.74 just missed the track record for nine furlongs of 1:47.64. Olympiad won a Keeneland allowance in October, for which he earned a 98 Beyer Speed...

RRR racing's Switzerland (Speightstown) showed that age is merely a number with an emphatic victory in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Saturday. Jockey Tadhg O'Shea wisely stationed the 8-year-old just behind a sharp pace, carved out by the American duo of Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) and Wondrwherecraigis (Munnings) who were shadowed by Al Tariq (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Turning for home, Drain the Clock shook clear from the others as Switzerland began to pick up the tempo confidently while in the five path. Sat down for the...

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods' Olympiad (Speightstown) announced himself as a player in the handicap division with a fast-finishing score in the GIII Mineshaft S. last out at Fair Grounds, and will look for an encore as the favorite in Saturday's GII New Orleans Classic S. on the GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby undercard. Graduating at second asking in September of 2020 at Saratoga while besting future stakes winners Caddo River (Hard Spun) and Greatest Honour (Tapit), the $700,000 Keeneland September buy was laid up for 364 days and...

Grade I winner Lexitonian (Speightstown--Riviera Romper, by Tapit), new to the Lane's End roster for 2022, has his first mare confirmed in foal, the farm reported Monday. The first mare scanned in foal to the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. hero is Grade I winner Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song), owned by Calumet Farm. She hails from the immediate family of black-type performers Galileo's Song, Great Barrier Reef, Queen Daenerys and more. An earner of over $700,000 in his racing career, Lexitonian stands for $10,000.

Inventive, a multiple graded stakes-producing mare, has been pronounced in foal to Charlatan. By Dixie Union, Inventive is the dam of GI Del Mar Futurity winner Klimt. "It's only fitting that Charlatan's first in foal mare is the dam of a Grade I winner. The mare has a wonderful pedigree, hailing from the family of GI Test S. winner Fara's Team, the dam of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Concern. She is representative of the quality book Charlatan has attracted," said John G. Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa....

Bill Mott's patient handling paid off with the well-regarded Olympiad, who earned his graded stakes badge in the Mineshaft Saturday. Stalking Silver Prospector from second through early splits of :24.18 and :48.11, the even-money favorite turned up the heat on the backstretch run and jumped clear in the lane to win with ease. Silver Prospector held second and Miles D completed the trifecta. Graduating at Saratoga in September of 2020, Olympiad checked in second behind GI Runhappy Malibu S. runner-up Baby Yoda (Prospective) in a Saratoga allowance exactly 364 days...

4th-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 2-19, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.58, ft, head. MOMENTOUS (c, 3, Speightstown--Glory and Power, by Medaglia d'Oro) amassed a solid worktab at this conditioner's South Florida base at Palm Beach Downs and was sent off at just shy of 5-1, the third pick behind fellow firster and 7-5 pick Marsalis (Curlin x Hot Dixie Chick). Momentous was first to break the line from gate 10, but the favorite--a homebred half-brother to recent GIII Houston Ladies' Classic heroine Pauline's Pearl (Tapit)--was driven through by Joel Rosario to take up...

Crestwood Farm's freshman stallion Yorkton (Speightstown) was represented by his first foal in Indiana Feb. 3. A strapping colt out of Bayerly Seen (Bayern) was born at Arrowhead Thoroughbred Center in Fairland. Bayerly Seen is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby contender and GIII Lecomte S. winner Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute). "This colt is very correct, and has been the best foal to be the first one born on our farm," says farm co-owner Brandi Steele. "Momma is a wonderful maiden and handles his feisty attitude very well."