It was Justamatteroftime until Taste of Paradise’s first
winner
Grade 1 winner TASTE OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo) had his first winner as
a sire on Wednesday when Justamatteroftime recorded a gate-to-wire score in the
2ND race at Presque Isle Downs. With Scott Spieth aboard, the June Riley
co-owned and trained juvenile took the lead out of the gate and never looked
back, eventually drawing clear to a 7 1/4-length victory. The chestnut gelding,
who was making his sixth career start, finished up one mile on the Tapeta in
1:40 1/5.
Taste of Paradise ran well during his four- and five-year-old seasons,
racking up wins in the San Diego H. (G2), Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) and Ack
Ack H. as well as placing in the Berkeley H. (G3). However, he really came to
hand as a six-year-old, posting nice fourths in the Palos Verdes H. (G2) and
General George H. (G2) to open 2005. The dark bay would go on to place third in
the Bing Crosby H. (G1) and Pat O’Brien H. (G2) for trainer Gary Mandella,
but his most notable win came just two races before he retired when he captured
the Vosburgh S. (G1) by two lengths. He ended his racing career with a near miss
head second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), heading to the breeding shed with
a 28-6-3-4 line having accumulated $1,019,455 in lifetime earnings.
A son of the winning Tastetheteardrops (What Luck), Taste of Paradise is a
half-brother to stakes winner Crafty Tears (Crafty Friend). Tastetheteardrops is
herself a half-sibling to Grade 3 winners Scottish Monk (Duns Scotus) and Wire
Me Collect (Clever Trick) as well as stakes
hero and Grade 1-placed Clever Electrician (Clever Trick). This is also the family of
Grade 1 victors Bob Black Jack (Stormy Jack) and Joey Franco (Avenue of Flags),
and Canadian champion Square Angel (Quadrangle).
The 10-year-old Taste of Paradise stands at Crestwood Farm near Lexington,
Kentucky, for a live foal fee of $6,000.