TDN RISING STARS

December 6, 2013 - Laurel, Race 1, Msw, USD $40,000, 6f

Top Billing, c, 2, 2011 by Curlin

1st Dam: Parade Queen (MGSW, $419,357), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Spanish Parade, by Roberto
3rd Dam: Nijit, by Nijinsky II

Owner: William S Farish & E J Hudson Jr
Breeder: W S Farish & E J Hudson Jr Irrevocable Trust (KY)
Trainer: Claude R McGaughey III

Top Billing, favored at 9-5, lost touch with the field early, but put on a very impressive display to win for fun at first asking in the Laurel slop. Working bullets at Fair Hill, including a four-furlong move in :48 1/5 Nov. 29, the chestnut was quickly outsprinted after being checked early to race in seventh through fractions of :23.51 and :48.42. Launched out of a cannon on the far turn, Top Billing caught the eye with a sweeping move, and came charging between horses in the stretch to graduate by 5 1/4 jaw-dropping lengths. Top Billing is a half-brother to Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), GSW & GISP, $243,550--the dam of GI Arkansas Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Bodemeister (Empire Maker)--and King Gulch (Gulch), SW, $152,732. The 19-year-old Parade Queen also produced a Medaglia d'Oro colt in 2012 and a filly by English Channel earlier this year. Top Billing was racing without Lasix. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $22,800.