TDN RISING STARS

June 23, 2018 - Monmouth Park, Race 3, Msw, USD $36,200, 5F, .0000

Nonna Madeline, F, 2, 2016 by Candy Ride (Arg)

1st Dam: Cool Storm, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: She's a Winner, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Get Lucky, by Mr. Prospector

Owner: St. Elias Stable & MeB Stables LLC
Breeder: WinStar Farm (KY)
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Nonna Madeline (f, 2, Candy Ride {Arg}-Cool Storm, by Storm Cat), heavily favored at 1-2 in her Monmouth Park unveiling Saturday, stamped herself as one to watch for the mighty Todd Pletcher barn with a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy performance.

The bay, purchased by St Elias Stable and MeB Stables for $130,000 as a KEESEP yearling, was away from the stalls a tick slow from her rail draw and was shuffled back to sixth in the early going. Racing under a snug hold in traffic through an opening quarter in :23.46, jockey Joe Bravo guided Nonna Madeline to the four path entering the far turn and she rocketed past her rivals with a flashy move to gain command. She was confidently handled from there and was geared down late to win by a much-the-best 3 1/4 lengths. Fellow firster Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) was second.

Nonna Madeline, produced by the unraced Storm Cat mare Cool Storm, is a half-sister to 2016 GII Adirondack S. heroine Nonna Mela (Arch), GSW, $286,670. Cool Storm, a $1-million KEESEP graduate and full-brother to GI Haskell Invitational winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), brought $800,000 from R.J. Bennett while in foal to Daredevil at the 2016 FTKNOV Sale. Cool Storm is also represented by a Daredevil colt of 2017 and a Super Saver colt of 2018. This is also the extended female family of GISWs Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), Girolamo (A.P. Indy), Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) and Got Lucky (A.P. Indy).