Freshman sires Noonmark and Sky Conqueror were each represented by their
first winners on Saturday. Noonmark, a Grade 3-winning sprinter by Unbridled’s
Song, got off the mark at Suffolk, while Canadian champion Sky Conqueror had his
first starter romp fittingly at Woodbine.
Noonmark’s two-year-old colt, Noon Shadow, justified 7-5 favoritism in
Suffolk’s
1ST
race. Fifth in his debut at Saratoga on August 22, the New York-bred gelding
vied for the early lead before pulling clear and prevailing by a length. With
trainer/jockey Jacqueline Falk aboard, Noon Shadow completed the five-furlong
maiden special weight in 1:01 on the fast track.
Bred by Sequel Stallions New York, the home of his sire, and Thomas Dushas,
Noon Shadow RNA’d for $1,700 at the Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall Yearlings Sale at
Timonium, Maryland. The son of the Polish Numbers mare Overdue Number races for
Christopher Trakas and Arlene M. Falk.
Noonmark, a $1.15 million RNA as a Keeneland April two-year-old, earned his
signature win in the 2008 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream. He also placed
in six stakes, including the Swale, Woody Stephens and Churchill Downs, and
retired with a record of 19-4-5-3, $354,090.
Noonmark was produced by the unraced Storm Cat mare In the Storm, who is
herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Formal Gold. This
is the further family of multiple Grade 2 star and successful young sire Even
the Score, himself by Unbridled’s Song.
The 10-year-old stallion stands for $5,000, stands and nurses, at Sequel
Stallions near Hudson, New York.
Sky Conqueror, Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s champion turf male of 2006,
was a William Sorokolit homebred trained by Darwin Banach. His first starter and
winner, Regal Conqueror, represents the same owner/trainer team, keeping the
celebration very much in the family.
Dispatched as the 7-2 third choice in Woodbine’s
3RD
race, the Ontario-bred chestnut sprinted to the early lead for Eurico Rosa da
Silva. Regal Conqueror felt pressure through fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 3/5 on
the Polytrack, but the debutante was unfazed. She drew right away to a 7
1/2-length triumph in a final time of 1:10 1/5 for six furlongs.
Regal Conqueror is a half-sister to multiple Canadian stakes-placed Classic
Bryce. Their dam, the Regal Classic mare Classic Stamp, was a two-time winner of
he Canadian Handicap.
Sky Conqueror, a son of Sky Classic, captured the Northern Dancer Turf and
King Edward Stakes during his championship campaign. At five in 2007, he added
the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic to his resume and successfully defended his
title in the Northern Dancer Turf. He placed in five other stakes, chief among
them the 2006 Canadian International.
An earner of $1,720,699 from his 20-7-2-4 line, Sky Conqueror is out of the
winning Heavenly Ballerina, a Conquistador Cielo half-sister to stakes victress
Ballerina Queen.
The 11-year-old Sky Conqueror stands at Hunterview Farm near Orangeville,
Ontario, for C$5,000, live foal.
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