Naming a horse after a famous or special person is not a guarantee of success.
Sometimes things go great, but other times, the horse falls into oblivion.
History buffs may remember Chris Evert, the 1974 champion 3-year-old mare named after the famous tennis star.
But will they remember her stablemate, Bobby Murcer, named after the New York Yankees outfielder?
That can’t happen.
That’s why there were so many smiles on August 1 when a mare named after someone who meant so much to trainer Chad Brown added another laurel to a career that has already honored her namesake in such a heartwarming way.
Klaravich stables McKulick named after Brown’s late accountant and friend Mary McKulick, added to her joy when she won the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) for the second straight year on Thursday at Saratoga Race Track.
“It’s just a great story,” Brown said of his daughter. Frankel a champion named after Brown’s late mentor Bobby Frankel. “(Mary McKulick’s) two brothers are here today and it’s great to have them here to be a part of such a special day for everyone.”
McKulick’s latest performance at Glens Falls was her seventh win in 18 starts and brought her total Grade 1 winning earnings to $1,887,290 with six ranking tournament wins.
“She’s a lovely mare and will make a great mother at some point,” said owner Seth Klarman.
While 1 1/2-mile races are hard to find, McKulick certainly excels as she owns a perfect 3-3 record at this distance, a record that is backed up by two wins at Glens Falls and a win earlier this year in the Orchid Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream ParkIn her two other starts in 2024, both at shorter distances, she did not finish higher than fourth.
“When she was younger, we really wanted to extend her distance,” Brown said of the 5-year-old who won the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) as a 3-year-old. “When we got her there, I think cutting her back between certain races became a bigger challenge than we anticipated. I tried to pull her back and she wasn’t as efficient as she was in the three-furlong races. Now you just run in those races and she’s definitely going to run longer distances.”
McKulick’s stablemates Royalties sets pace in marathon test while being pushed by Godolphin Eternal hope The 9-5 favorite and 2nd-place winner, her first start since October.
The pair covered the half mile in :48.17 and the mile and a half in 2:03.61 on good turf but fell short in the final stretch. With Royalty Interest dropping to last among the seven mares and fillies, Eternal Hope held the advantage until eighth place when rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and McKulick used a six-wide move to take the lead and surged ahead to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:27.89.
Raised by Essafinaat UK, daughter of Mafia mare meteorite is the second choice 2-1 and pays $6.60.
“She’s the best. She loves this place and knows how to get there,” Klarman said.
West Point Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stable’s Parnac winner of last year’s Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) for trainer Christophe Clement, was second. The daughter of Zarak is a head before Selective Hurry up One City of light The mare is trained by Brad Cox.
McKulick was purchased for $245,370 from the Hazelwood Bloodstock consignment at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner The King is Fearless And Just beautiful McKulick is the third of Astrelle’s six foals and her third group/graded winner. She also has a 2-year-old mare by Pinatubo .
Videotapes: Southern Glens Falls (G2T)
