This column highlights the performances of young women who have started no more than five times and have sold for more than $500,000 in public auction, have a sibling who is a level/group winner, or have children Dam is the level/group winner. BloodHorse’s research shows that maiden winners in particular who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded bet winners.
Keeneland
When the mighty Juddmonte Ranch introduces a hybrid, especially one with a sibling who is a millionaire tacitus , people tend to pay attention. Juddmonte, founded by the late Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah, has long been known for its outstanding breeding program on both sides of the Atlantic. Among their domestic hybrid stars, they can count Flintshire Sightseek and Empire Maker, in addition to 2014 champion, old mare Close Hatches, dam brilliant April 15 Keeneland first-time winner Scylla .
WATCH: Bill Mott Discusses Keeneland Debut Victress Scylla
Like her mother did, Scylla broke her daughter when a 3-year-old sprinted around a turn. The faucet filey turned pro on April 15 in the first $100,000 special weight class against 11 other competitors, achieving a glittering 105 Base Speed Number in the process.
Hall of Fame coach Bill Mott, very familiar to the family as the air conditioner of both Tacitus and Close Hatches, was at Keeneland for the little girl’s much-anticipated premiere.
“It was very good. She was pressed midway at the end of the field and he (jockey Javier Castellano) had to let her slide out of there but she recovered well and she went around the field and she did. do it without (requiring much),” said Mott. “He rode her with his hands (to the finish line). I don’t think he ever whipped her other than maybe patting her shoulder.”
After a late break, Castellano and Scylla slowly entered the fray from eighth place in the first quarter. Looming around the turn home, the filthy target the leader, the popular Zeitlos from Steve Asmussen’s warehouse, and rose to the top in the last 16.
Scylla stopped the clock in a final time of 1:10.32 for six stretches on the fast main track.
Both Tacitus and Close Hatches excel at longer distances, with Close Hatches scoring every win of her four tier 1 wins in at least 1 1/16 mile rides and Tacitus racing to win. Biggest win of his career taking the 2020 Suburban Handicap (G2) by more than 1 1/4 mile. The elegant gray or fleece tacitus, which came to prominence in the months leading up to the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) after winning the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2), was loved by the racing public. after his brave display in the Triple Crown series, where he placed third in Run for the Roses and second in Belmont Stakes (G1).
If Scylla’s pedigree is any indication of her aptitude for two-turn distances, her maiden race certainly proves it, as she has traveled extensively in most of the journey is six miles long.
Mott said: “She looks like going seven eighths to a mile isn’t a problem but we expect two turns in her future.
“Tacitus is a very good horse. He has made over 3 million dollars for us, he has run in all the major races and has always competed very well and her mother is a champion. With Tacitus as a sibling and her mother Close Hatches, there’s a lot of pedigree there.”
| Watch BloodHorse Maiden | |||||||
| Typical 3-year-old girl week 10-16/4 | |||||||
| Day | Monitor | Species | Horse | King | dam | begin | note |
| 13/4 | AQU | 6 | trade | gunman | caress | 4 | Dam is a G1SW |
| 15/4 | gg | 9 | Paddy’s Amulet | Cloud computing | Waiting for a weekend island | first | Half brother to G3SW Island Commish |
| 15/4 | KEE | 6 | Scylla | faucet | Close the hatch | first | Dam is a G1SW; Full to G2SW Tacitus |
