TDN RISING STARS

May 25, 2024 - Churchill Downs, Race 6, Msw, USD $120,000, 7F

Prides Crossing, F, 3, 2021 by Quality Road

1st Dam: Key To My Heart (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: A Z Warrior, by Bernardini
3rd Dam: Carson Jen, by Carson City

Owner: OXO Equine LLC
Breeder: Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)
Trainer: Paulo H. Lobo

A seven-digit yearling turned new 'TDN Rising Star', Prides Crossing (Quality Road) left her rivals in her wake en route to a stylish unveiling at Churchill Downs Saturday.

The newest 'Rising Star' came into this contest riding a three-strong string of bullet five-furlong works at The Thoroughbred Center with her last four of five being the fastest on the morning. The most recent was a May 17 move clocked in 1:01.00.

Stalking the pace from third as She's It (Omaha Beach) put up :22.63 and :46.30 early splits, the 3-1 second choice took the three path through the turn as that frontrunner gradually started to fade. Finding her best strides rolling into the lane, Prides Crossing kicked away from Genetics (Tapit) under a strong hand ride and was 4 3/4 lengths best on the wire. The victress is Quality Road's 19th 'TDN Rising Star'.

The third to the races for her dam, Prides Crossing is the second winner and has a fleet of siblings waiting in the wings–a 2-year-old half-sister by American Pharoah, a yearling colt by Uncle Mo, and a 2024 filly by Flightline.

Bred by Summer Wind Equine, Prides Crossing brought a pretty $1.3-million at the 2022 Keeneland September sale from OXO Equine in order to acquire a branch of the Carson Jen female line. This family includes the 'Warrior' siblings: GSW & GISP E Z Warrior (Exploit); MSW J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday); MGSW & GISP Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile); and the second dam, GISW A Z Warrior (Bernardini), who went on to produce Key To My Heart (Ire). All four earned the 'Rising Star' stamp of approval from TDN. This is also the family of MSW & GISP Sayaad (Street Sense).