By Andrea Branchini
Maybe opera is not as popular in the nomenclature of horses as classic ballet or theater, but Ohio multiple winner Alfio (Mucho Macho Man) carries a very solid and thoughtful operatic connection with his parents in his name. In the celebrated one-act opera “Cavalleria Rusticana” (1890), Alfio is the jealous husband who kills romantic rival “compare Turiddu” in a duel to the death. A possible translation of “Cavalleria Rusticana” could be “Rustic Gallantry.” Some say that the opera is the solitary masterpiece of one-hit-wonder Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945). Still, some of the music of “Cavalleria Rusticana” is so uniquely enthralling and beautiful that its ouverture and intermezzo have been played over and over well beyond the confines of opera theatres, including documentaries and movies–notoriously in the opening credits of “Raging Bull” (with De Niro as Jake La Motta shadow boxing in the ring). Unforgettable quality, worthy of a nine-length win.
4th-Thistledown, $29,700, Alw, 5-16, (NW3L), 3yo/up, 1m 70y, 1:43.80, ft, 9 lengths.
ALFIO (g, 4, Mucho Macho Man–Rusticana {SP, $236,640}, by Pioneering) Lifetime Record: 14-3-1-1, $61,146. O-Jorge Calixtro-Villanueva; B-Sunnyside Stock Farm, LLC. (KY); T-Caryn Vecchio.
Stars, instead, are quite popular among horses' names. In any case, Presque Isle Downs winner Antares (American Pharoah) has quite a luminous standard to live up to. Not only Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius (according to Wikipedia), but is regarded as the largest star in the known universe, in terms of volume–larger than the Sun (says Google). The dam of our brilliant horse is Alpha Centauri (by Dynaformer, not to be confused with the Niarchos family's namesake and European super-champion by Mastercraftsman). The heavenly Alpha Centauri is a triple star system, noted for her brightness, in the southern constellation of Centaurus. And, listen, there is more, at least for all those who ever happened to get excited in watching the chariots' race in the movie “Ben Hur”: the four splendid white horses that John-Gosden-lookalike (and soundalike) Charlton Heston was driving in his quadriga were named Aldebaran, Altair, Rigel (pity, bye-bye assonance…), and, yes, Antares. All stars in the sky, and all stars in the Circus: bad boy Messala could not keep them from winning, not even by famously whipping competitor Ben Hur instead of his own horses. Ben Hur took the whip away from him, a maneuver not unknown to one or two jockeys of the modern era.
4th-Presque Isle Downs, $30,100, Msw, 6-6, 3yo/up, 6f (AWT), 1:09.61, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
ANTARES (g, 3, American Pharoah–Alpha Centauri, by Dynaformer) O-Mathiesen Racing, LLC, Williams Family Trust, Polger, Lorne and Hall, Barry; B-Overbrook Farm (KY); T-William E. Morey.
Ellis Park and Belmont winner The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) could be the first from a potentially rich vein of names from GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso. The double victor's name is the result of a clever wordplay between sire and dam Call to Service, whose first son seems to promise so much. In vino veritas.
BASHFORD MANOR S., $208,000, Ellis, 7-2, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.06, ft.
1–THE WINE STEWARD, 120, c, 2, by Vino Rosso–Call to Service, by To Honor and Serve. O-Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher; B-Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC, Lakland Farm & Mark Toothaker (NY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Luis Saez.
Diamonds are a female's best friend, always: Indianapolis winner Vow (Union Rags) is out of Diamond Ring, while Charles Town victor Polish the Diamond (Fiber Sonde) is out of Stonecutter by, yes, Gemologist. And, just like winning fillies, diamonds are forever.
Vow, f, 4, Union Rags–Diamond Ring, by Malibu Moon. Horseshoe Indianapolis, 5-29, 6f, 1:11.00. Lifetime Record: 6-1-2-1, $64,800. B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY).
Polish the Diamond, f, 3, Fiber Sonde–Stonecutter, by Gemologist. Charles Town, 7-1, (S), 4 1/2f, :53.00. Lifetime Record: 8-1-1-0, $27,293. B-Cynthia OBannon McKee (WV).
Novelist giant Charles Dickens died on June 9, 1870. Funnily enough, there were two winners carrying his very name on June 10, 2023–one in South Africa, and one at Gulfstream. Not an earth-shaking coincidence, but close.
Greyville, South Africa
HOLLYWOODBETS GOLD CHALLENGE-G1, R1,750,000, Greyville, 6-10, 2yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.94, g/s.
1–CHARLES DICKENS (SAF), 129, c, 3, by Trippi–Demanding Lady (SAf) (GSW-SAf), by Dynasty (SAf). O/B-Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) (SAF); T-Candice Bass-Robinson; J-Aldo Domeyer.
Gulfstream, $55,000, (S), Msw, 6-10, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :51.64, ft, 2 lengths.
DICKENS (c, 2, Adios Charlie–Malibu Melody, by Malibu Moon). O-BC Racing LLC; B-John B. Penn (FL); T-Juan Alvarado
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