TDN RISING STARS

December 15, 2017 - Aqueduct, Race 3, Msw, USD $60,000, 1 1/8M, .0000

Marconi, c, 2, 2015 by Tapit

1st Dam: Ponche de Leona (SW, $260,870), by Ponche
2nd Dam: Perfect And Proud, by Nonparrell
3rd Dam: Proud Sal, by Proudest Roman

Owner: Bridlewood Farm, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael B. Tabor
Breeder: Brushwood Stables (KY)
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Marconi (Tapit), second behind stablemate Biblical (Tapit) over this track-and-trip Nov. 17, stepped up off that performance while adding blinkers for this “TDN Rising Star�-worthy graduation. Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism, the $2 million KEESEP buy missed the break, trailing the field through an opening half in :49.28. Progressing up the backstretch run to be fourth, the half-brother to GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) squeezed between horses then stalled a bit and appeared to be done. Switched out four wide on the far turn to launch another bid, the gray overtook the longshot leader in mid-stretch and extended clear to don cap and gown by 5 1/2 lengths over late-running Lonely Weekend (Tiznow).

In addition to Mucho Macho Man, MGISW, $5,625,410, Marconi is a full-brother to fellow “TDN Rising Star� Southern Girl, SW, $120,905, who sold to Marconi’s part-owner Bridlewood Farm for $820,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Their stakes-winning dam Ponche de Leona RNA’d for $1.4 million while carrying Southern Girl at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She was sent back through the ring at the 2014 Keeneland January sale with a Distorted Humor foal in utero and summoned $775,000 from Brushwood Stable. The resulting foal was a still unnamed colt, after which she produced Marconi and was bred back to Tapit. But failed to get in foal. The 18-year-old mare produced an American Pharoah colt this year and was bred back to Tapit.