Clearsky Farms has progressed farther and faster than many other major breeding and racing entities. In less than a decade, the operation has bred and raised several Grade 1 winners, including the champion Arrogate, North America’s richest racehorse.
Clearsky, an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding breeder of 2016, is now expected to have two homebred fillies in next week’s Kentucky Oaks.
While Frankel has been universally acclaimed as the European Horse of the 21st Century, the identity of the 20th century holder of that title remains a subject for debate. Loyalists remain for the undefeated Italian heroes Ribot and Nearco, but most voters would probably opt for 1965 Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sea-Bird, Timeform’s highest-rated horse at 145 until surpassed by Frankel’s 147 in 2012.
Cape Cross, a Group 1 winner and prominent sire for Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum’s Godolphin operation, has been euthanized due to the infirmities of old age. He was 23.
The son of Green Desert was a Godolphin homebred from Sheikh Mohammed’s Irish base, out of the English and Irish champion Park Appeal. He was put into training with John Gosden, and broke his maiden as a juvenile in England in his second start.
Overanalyze, a Grade 1 winner, was represented by his first winner on the racetrack Thursday when Analyze the Odds drew clear to win a maiden special weight at Aqueduct by 4 1/2 lengths.
The colt stopped the clock in 52.53 seconds over 4 1/2 furlongs with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. He is owned by Repole Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, both of whom were tied to Overanalyze during his on-track career.
Leslie's Lady, dam of four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder, was named Thursday the 2016 Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders.
The 21-year-old Tricky Creek mare was honored with the award – presented since 1946 – as part of the Kentucky-bred champions program at an annual awards luncheon in Lexington, Ky. All eligible KTA/KTOB members vote upon the awards. Her daughter Beholder was also named Kentucky's outstanding older female of 2016 at Thursday’s luncheon.
Freshman sire Violence was represented by his first winner from his first starter on Thursday, as Buy Sell Hold was a 4 1/2-length winner of a Keeneland maiden.
The filly, who is out of the stakes-winning Unbridled's Song mare Melody Lady, covered the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.84 seconds. She was co-bred by Hill 'n' Dale, which stands Violence in Kentucky, and was consigned by that outfit's sales wing at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale. J. Kirk and Judy Robison purchased her for $67,000, and sent her to trainer Steve Asmussen.
Baby Zip, dam of Hall of Fame member Ghostzapper and Grade 1 winner City Zip, died from complications stemming from laminitis. She was 26.
The daughter of Relaunch resided at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs in Paris, Ky., after being purchased privately by the operation at the conclusion of her racing career.
Freshman sire Data Link recorded his first winner on Thursday when his daughter Di Maria was a three-length debut winner at Gulfstream Park.
Di Maria, who ran her 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.50 seconds, was bred in Kentucky by Elm Tree Farm, and is out of the Pulpit mare Thine. The filly, a $4,500 purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sale, races for Carlos Munoz.
Awesome Patriot, a Grade 3-placed stakes winner, was represented by his first winner at stud on Wednesday when Amberspatriot split horses and got up in time to win a maiden special weight on debut at Keeneland.
