PEDIGREE HANDICAPPING
AUGUST 29, 2009
The Legends
by Tim Holland
The biggest new spender in the 2008 yearling market was the somewhat unique
“Legends Racing” venture headed by Olin Gentry. A total of 39 yearlings were
purchased for $15,425,000 and then divided among the three legendary trainers D.
Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert and Nick Zito, who have trained nine Kentucky Derby
(G1) winners between them.
The three trainers, who were all involved in the initial selection of the
yearlings, were involved in a draft process near the end of the Keeneland
September Sale to decide who would train which horses. Bob Baffert’s 13 choices
represented the highest aggregate cost at $6,005,000, including colts by El Prado (Ire) and Mr. Greeley that had each been knocked down for $1 million.
Lukas’ 13, which cost a total of $5,940,000, include a colt by Storm Cat who had
cost the venture $1.2 million and a $1.15 million purchase by Unbridled’s Song.
The most expensive of Zito’s selected yearlings, which had sold for a total of
$3,480,000, is a Tiznow colt who had realized $700,000.
The Legends juveniles trained by Lukas have been the most active so far, with
five of the 13 in his care having started. These five have made 10 starts
between them with one winner, WILDCAT NATION (Yes It’s True) who, after finishing
eighth in his late July debut at the Spa, in typical Lukas fashion, showed much
improvement in his second start to win by a fairly easy 3 1/4
lengths to break his maiden at Saratoga on August 26. A $400,000 purchase, Wildcat Nation is a half-brother to last year’s King’s Bishop S.
(G1) winner Visionaire (Grand Slam). INDIAN COUNCIL (Indian Charlie), who cost the venture
$150,000, made a very promising debut when third after making a strong run at
Churchill Downs, and much was expected of him in his second start at Saratoga on
August 17. However, this race was lost when he stumbled badly at the start and
the colt, who is out of Bewitch S. (G3) second-place
finisher Noble Cause (Diesis [GB]), should be given another chance.
Lukas will saddle the sixth of his team in the 8TH race at Saratoga on
Saturday. MOONLARK (Gone West), who will break from post 8 under Jamie Theriot, was
purchased for $625,000. He is out of a half-sister to four stakes
winners including Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Value Plus (Unbridled’s Song), and
he has a sharp
recent work listed over the Saratoga training track.
Perhaps the most eagerly awaited of Lukas’ 13 is LAMBEAU LEGEND, the Storm
Cat colt that cost the venture $1.2 million as their highest overall purchase.
The chestnut is a half-brother to the 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given
(Thunder Gulch) and
looks close to racing, having posted several recent workouts at the Spa.
Baffert trained the first winner for the Legends Racing Stable when TINY
WOODS took his Del Mar maiden field wire-to-wire in late July. A son of Roman
Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), who Baffert trained to win the 2005 Haskell
Invitational H. (G1), Tiny Woods is out of a half-sister to Champagne S. (G1)
and Hollywood Futurity (G1) winner, Toccet (Awesome Again). Tiny Woods made his
second start as the favorite in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) but, after setting
furious fractions, he stopped badly with a minor breathing problem subsequently
offered as a likely explanation.
The day after Tiny Woods made his first start, Baffert debuted SERIOUSLY
(Gulch), who
at $170,000 was the least expensive purchase of his 13. Out of a stakes-winning mare that has also produced the
Grade 2-placed Quasicobra (Wild Rush), Seriously ran a promising race to be fifth and built on
that when finishing well to be second, beaten three-quarters of a length in her
next start, also at Del Mar.
Two others that could be racing soon for Baffert are BROKEN TANGO (Broken
Vow) and GLAMORISTA (Unbridled’s Song), who have been working well at Santa Anita. The former, who cost
$625,000, is out of a half-sister to this year’s leading
turf runner, Gio Ponti (Tale Of The Cat), while Glamorista is a half-sister to dual
Grade 1 winner Critical Eye (Dynaformer) and was
secured for $325,000.
None of Zito’s juveniles owned by Legends Racing have started, but a few
look like they are nearly ready. These include HOT PURSUIT, who is by Successful
Appeal and was purchased for $240,000. A half-brother to Jupiter Pluvius
(Johannesburg), who was third in last year’s Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1),
Hot Pursuit has been working recently at Belmont. Meanwhile, ACCESSORIZE (Fusaichi
Pegasus), a $300,000 yearling, is a half-sister to Summer S.
(Can-G3) winner Prussian (Danzig), and has been training regularly at Churchill Downs along
with LATIGO SHORE, a $335,000 purchase by Malibu Moon.
Bob Baffert
Tiny Woods, c. Roman Ruler–Brooklynsangel, $180,000.
Conveyance, c. Indian Charlie–Emptythetill, $240,000
Seriously, f. Gulch–Mutton Maniac, $170,000.
Capital Account, c. Closing Argument–Accountess, $330,000
Premier Cru, c. Afleet Alex–Restored Hope, $225,000
The Program, c. Harlan’s Holiday–Shadow On the Moon, $310,000
c. Storm Cat–Spain, $500,000
Flagship, c. El Prado (Ire)–Swift and Classy, $1,000,000
Glamorista, f. Unbridled’s Song–Critical Crew, $325,000
Relent, f. Tiznow–Katz Me If You Can, $400,000
Broken Tango, c. Broken Vow–Tango Passion, $625,000
Grove Park, c. Rock Hard Ten–Tapstress, $700,000
c. Mr. Greeley–Tempest Dancer, $1,000,000
D. Wayne Lukas
Saratoga Fling, f. Pulpit–Cherish Destiny, $210,000
Game Break, c. El Corredor–Destination Mir, $350,000
Rapport, f. Songandaprayer–Irene’s Talkin, $475,000
Moonlark, c. Gone West–Laptop, $625,000
Indian Council, c. Indian Charlie–Noble Cause, $150,000
Wildcat Nation, c. Yes It’s True–Scarlet Tango, $400,000
Beautiful Pegasus, c. Fusaichi Pegasus–Big and Beautiful, $410,000
f. Unbridled’s Song–Celtic Melody, $325,000
Southern Gentleman, c. Malibu Moon–Goes Around, $325,000
Charter Flight, c. Maria’s Mon–Prop, $200,000
Benzinger, c. Malibu Moon–Stephie Brown Eyes, $120,000
Lambeau Legend, c. Storm Cat–Turko’s Turn, $1,200,000
Alcindor, c. Unbridled’s Song–Zing, $1,150,000
Nick Zito
Accessorize, f. Fusiachi Pegasus–Crystal Downs, $300,000
Morning Line, c. Tiznow–Indian Snow, $700,000
African Gold, c. Maria’s Mon–Pember, $190,000
Liquidity Event, c. Eddington–Appealing Jewel, $325,000
Latigo Shore, c. Malibu Moon–Carson’s Vanity, $335,000
c. Elusive Quality–Costume Party, $140,000
Impractical, f. Giant’s Causeway–Girl Warrior, $230,000
Pure Grace, f. Vindication–Kiss a Miss, $240,000
f. Silver Deputy–Literary Light, $200,000
Shirley She Can, f. Rock Hard Ten–Party Chatter, $160,000
King’s Pardon, c. Mr. Greeley–Potential Pleasure, $280,000
Hot Pursuit, c. Successful Appeal–Saratoga Honey, $240,000
Misty Run, f. Vindication–Unique Creek, $140,000