Margaux Farm closed out the 2021 season with a phenomenal year of performances from our graduates in all divisions. Please enjoy some highlights below.
WAR LIKE GODDESS CONTINUES REIGN IN G1 FLOWER BOWL
Margaux Training Grad WAR LIKE GODDESS continues to dominate the female turf division, capturing the G1 Flower Bowl Invitational going 1 1/8 miles on Saratoga’s inner turf course on September 4.
The 4 YO daughter of ENGLISH CHANNEL has had a stellar 2021, stringing together victories in the G3 Orchid S., G3 Bewitch S. and G2 Glens Falls S. as she headed into her first G1 contest. Off as the 2-5 favorite, she tracked frontrunner LA SIGNARE (FR) through early fractions of :24.71 and :48.83. Still three lengths off the leader at the 3/4 mark, WAR LIKE GODDESS flashed her incredible turn off foot under Julien Leparoux, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and pulling away to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:13.07. She earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance and secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Purchased by agent Donato Lanni for $30,000 at OBS June in 2019, she is campaigned by HOF trainer Bill Mott for George Krikorian. This victory brings her to six wins from nine career starts and a bankroll of $713,684.
CLASSIC CAUSEWAY TURNS HEADS IN MSW DEBUT AT THE SPA
Margaux Starting & Training Grad CLASSIC CAUSEWAY made light work of his MSW debut at the historic Saratoga Racetrack, leading gate to wire to capture the 7-furlong event for juveniles on September 4.
Breaking to the front of the pack, CLASSIC CAUSEWAY led the field by 1 1/2 lengths through early splits of :22.59 and :45.48. Jockey Jose Ortiz nudged him forward as they rounded the far turn and the colt responded eagerly to pull away by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:22.67. He earned a 90 Beyer for his efforts.
Trained by Brian Lynch for owner/breeder Patrick O’Keefe (Kentucky West Racing) and Clarke Cooper, this was the first start for the 2 YO son of Giant’s Causeway — one of just three colts from his final crop. He is out of THUNDER GULCH mare PRIVATE WORLD, a multiple stakes winner of $166,058 who was also bred by O’Keefe. Started and trained at Margaux Farm, CLASSIC CAUSEWAY always exuded something special.
He is an early favorite for the 2022 Kentucky Derby!
MARGAUX STARTING & TRAINING EXACTA IN GODEN STATE JUVENILE FILLIES
Fellow Margaux Starting & Training Grads BIG SWITCH and BIG NOVEL completed the exacta in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies S. at Del Mar November 5, with BIG SWITCH flying home to victory.
Both fillies are homebreds for George Krikorian and trained by John Sadler, competing in the 7F dirt contest on the Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday undercard. Breaking mid-pack on the inside rail, BIG SWITCH chased a quick early pace of :22.46 and :45.39, with BIG NOVEL forwardly placed just a 1/2-length off the leader. BIG SWITCH swung wide and caught her stablemate at the top of the stretch, powering by to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:22.39.
FLIGHTLINE FLIES TO VICTORY IN G1 MALIBU
Margaux Freshening Grad FLIGHTLINE closed his 3 YO campaign with a dazzling performance in the G1 Malibu S., going 7F on the dirt at Santa Anita December 26.
The $1,000,000 son of TAPIT made his first career start in April, demolishing a MSW field by 13 1/4 lengths. He followed that up with a 12 3/4-length Allowance score in September as he headed into his first Graded Stakes contest. In the same front-running fashion as his previous races, FLIGHTLINE broke sharply and freakishly pulled away in the stretch to an 11 1/2-length victory in 1:21.37. He earned a 118 Beyer Speed Figure for this performance, the highest of any horse in 2021.
Owned by the partnership of Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing LLC and trained by John Sadler, the colt is now 3-for-3 with earnings of $259,800.
OLEKSANDRA (AUS) GAME ON IN G3 POKER
Margaux Freshening & Training Grad OLEKSANDRA (AUS) flew home, defeating the boys to win the G3 Poker S., going 1 mile on the Belmont turf course June 20.
The 7 YO G1W mare broke last after brushing the hindquarters of fellow G1W RAGING BULL, and settled at the back of the pack as GET SMOKIN led the field through early fractions of :22.52 and :44.60. Under a perfectly timed ride from Joel Rosario, OLEKSANDRA (AUS) angled wide into the upper stretch and made a tremendous run home, outlasting RAGING BULL by a head to win in 1:32.11.
Owned by Team Valor International and trained by Neil Drysdale, this is the 3rd graded stakes and eighth overall victory for the 7 YO daughter of ANIMAL KINGDOM, bringing her bankroll to $705,748. She is presumed in foal to international leading sire INTO MISCHIEF and will begin her next chapter as a broodmare after an incredible racing career.
LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE MAKES LIGHT WORK OF G2 BESSARABIAN S.
Margaux Freshening & Training Grad LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE maintained her undefeated record in the G2 Bessarabian S., going 7F on Woodbine’s All Weather Track November 13.
Trained by Roger Attfield, LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE broke perfectly, stalking front-runner OUR SECRET AGENT by just 1 1/2 lengths as they went through early fractions of :23.47 and :45.65. As they turned for home, jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson urged the filly forward, easily taking the lead and pulling away to win by 4 lengths in 1:21.03.
The 3 YO SPEIGHTSTOWN filly is a homebred for Charles Fipke, out of his G2-winning homebred LADY SHAKESPEARE. Following her win in the G1 Natalma S. at Woodbine last year, the filly was freshened and legged back up at Margaux before returning to Attfield in the spring. 351 days following her G1 victory, she kicked off her 3 YO campaign with an allowance score at Woodbine in September as a prep for the G3 Bessarabian S. She is now 4-for-4, with a bankroll of $264,779.
TEMPLE CITY TERROR OUTRUNS ODDS FOR FIRST STAKES VICTORY
Margaux Starting & Training Grad TEMPLE CITY TERROR displayed a thrilling late closing effort to capture the Keertana Overnight S., going 1 1/2 miles on the Churchill Downs turf course May 22.
The seasoned 5 YO daughter of TEMPLE CITY broke comfortably off the pace and chased mid-pack through a mile in 1:38.52. Riding alongside the inside rail as they entered the final turn, she angled into the three-path and kicked into gear at the top of the lane, defeating frontrunner DALIKA (GER) by a 3/4-length in 2:29.57. She received a 91 Beyer for the effort.
Owned by Pocket Aces Racing and trained by Brendan Walsh, this mare is peaking in her 5 YO year, closing out with back-to-back thirds in the G3 Robert Dick Memorial S. and G2 Glen Falls S., racking up a $334,901 bankroll.
DADDY IS A LEGEND RETIRED TO MARGAUX FARM
Following an illustrious career comprised of 21 starts, 15 Graded Stakes performances, on the board 13 times, 2 Graded Stakes Victories, 4 Grade 1 Placings and $666,353 in earnings, Jim & Sue Hill’s DADDY IS A LEGEND has retired to Margaux Farm where she will start her next chapter as a momma. Welcome home, Daddy!
