Waterville Lake Stable set for first Breeders’ Cup with Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Derrynane
Pletcher-trained Breeders’ Cup contenders on the work tab
Bella Sofia works six furlongs for Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Mott’s Breeders’ Cup contenders on the work tab at Saratoga
ELMONT, N.Y. – New York-based owners Waterville Lake Stable will enjoy the Breeders’ Cup spotlight for the first time when they send out their Empire State-homebred Derrynane in the Grade 2, $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 5 at Del Mar.
Waterville Lake Stable is owned by Richard Leahy in partnership with John W. Meriwether and Tim Tully, all of which are stakeholders in Waterville Golf Links in County Kerry, Ireland, where their name derives. Many horses that race under the Waterville Lake Stable banner are a nod to the ownership group’s familiarity with Ireland. Derrynane is named after Derrynane Beach, located on the Ring of Kerry.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Derrynane, a bay daughter of Quality Road, was a winner at first asking with a two-length victory going 5 ½ furlongs in a state-bred maiden special weight on July 22 over good Mellon turf at Saratoga. Following a distant fifth in the open Bolton Landing one month later over a yielding turf at the Spa, Derrynane was an ultra-impressive winner of the five-furlong Woodbine Cares on September 19, which prompted her connections to consider the Breeders’ Cup.
“We were very pleased with her run first out,” Leahy said. “When she ran her second race in the Bolton Landing, it was over a bog, and we knew that she was far better than that. Given the timing and the weather, we went to Woodbine, and she won quite easily.”
Derrynane is the first progeny out of the graded-stakes placed Hard Spun mare Portmagee, who captured the License Fee in 2017 following a third in that year’s Grade 3 Intercontinental, both at Belmont. Portmagee, named after a village near Waterville Golf Links, is currently in foal to More Than Ready.
“From early on, she was extremely good looking and did everything right,” Leahy said of Derrynane. “She seemed very well balanced and well put together. The mother was extremely attractive and well balanced, also. She had a good personality and demeanor. The mother was a sprinter, but we never thought there was any reason she couldn’t go further.”
The relationship between Leahy and Clement extends over two decades, linking up via former NYRA chairman Peter Karches, who owned horses with Clement at the time. In addition to Waterville Lake Stable, Leahy also owns horses with Clement under his Oak Bluff Stable moniker of which he is the standalone owner.
Leahy and Clement have enjoyed success with Waterville Lake Stable-owned graded stakes winners Mariensky, Strike It Rich and Derrianne as well as New York-bred stakes winners Miss Valentine, Sea Foam and Celtic Sky.
As Oak Bluff Stable, Leahy and Clement have campaigned the graded-stakes placed Therapist, a multiple stakes winner against New York-breds and open company.
“With Christophe the horse always comes first, we like that,” Leahy said.
Leahy speaks high volumes of the New York-bred program.
“I think the New York bred program is a sensational one,” Leahy said. “It’s lucrative and in my mind, you’re only a van ride away from the best stallions in Kentucky. There’s no reason if you have a good mare that you can’t produce a competitive horse in New York. It’s not easy to win these races. They’re competitive races as well. Over the years I’ve been doing this, the New York-bred horses have gotten more and more competitive.”
Leahy said he is looking forward to the possibility of going to the Breeders’ Cup with Derrynane. While it would be a first Breeder’s Cup endeavor for Leahy, it would be a second for Waterville Lake partner John Meriwether, who owned Buckhar – the 13th-place finisher of the 1993 Mile.
“We’re very excited about her future,” Leahy said. “It’s really special. Hopefully, she has a long career ahead of her. I was talking to Christophe’s son Miguel the other morning and he was very excited about her breeze last week.”
Pletcher-trained Breeders’ Cup contenders on the work tab
Following Sea under Joel Rosario won the Vosburg at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, 2021, with an Equibase Speed Figure of 117. (NYRA/Coglianese)
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher oversaw multiple Breeders’ Cup aspirants breezing over the Belmont training track Friday morning.
“When you’re preparing for the Breeders Cup, they’re all important, but these were big breezes this morning,” Pletcher said. “We’ll come back next weekend and do a little bit less with them.”
Spendthrift Farm’s Following Sea, a winner of the Grade 2 Vosburgh on October 9 last out, went to the track at 6:30 a.m. and worked a half-mile in 49.73 over the fast track.
“I liked it,” Pletcher said of the breeze. “It seemed like he bounced out of the Vosburgh very well. It was a very easy breeze for him this morning. We weren’t looking to do a whole lot with him this morning. I was very happy.”
Although Following Sea earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in capturing the Vosburgh, a “Win And You’re In” event, Pletcher said plans for the son of Runhappy remain in flux.
“We wanted to see today’s work and then we’ll talk to the Spendthrift guys about it,” Pletcher said. “We’re under no pressure to make a decision right away. We’ll give him the rest of the week and continue to monitor how he’s doing.”
Graded stakes winners Life Is Good and Mind Control logged solo works at roughly 7:45 a.m. over the training track. An in-hand winner of the Grade 2 Kelso on September 25, CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s Life Is Good went a sharp half-mile in 47.83 seconds – the second fastest of 41 recorded works at the distance.
Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables’ Mind Control, winner of the Parx Dirt Mile last out on September 25, went five furlongs in 1:01.27. Both horses are on target for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“Typical works for them,” Pletcher said. “Life Is Good is a very impressive horse to watch breeze. It looks like he’s doing everything very effortlessly and then you look down at the clock and go, ‘Wow’. He was rolling right along. He did it in hand throughout.”
The Parx Dirt Mile was the first two-turn start for Mind Control, a 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty, since finishing off the board in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He captured the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 4 at Belmont Park in his first start for Pletcher two starts earlier.
“He’s coming off a good win,” Pletcher said. “He’s trained with good energy like he always does. He had an impressive breeze today and I like where he’s at.”
Shadwell Stable’s three-time Grade 1-winner Malathaat, a blue-blooded sophomore daughter of Curlin, worked at 9:30 a.m. following the renovation break covering five furlongs in 1:01.63 in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“I thought she worked great today. She’s just very impressive,” Pletcher said. “She keeps going and going and gallops out super. I think the time in between races has done her well. She’s put on some weight, and she seems very fit and happy.”
Malathaat has captured a trio of Grade 1 events this year, including the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and Alabama at Saratoga.
On Thursday morning, Pletcher worked his 2-year-old Breeders’ Cup hopefuls, which include Annapolis [Juvenile Turf], Commandperformance [Juvenile], and Double Thunder [Juvenile].
Bass Stables homebred Annapolis, winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim, and Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Grade 1 Champagne runner-up Commandperformance each went five furlongs in 1:02.02 and 1:01.02, respectively.
Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ Double Thunder, runner up in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, went a half-mile with blinkers on in 49.98 seconds.
“Everyone looked great this morning and came out of their works in good shape,” Pletcher said.
In non-Breeders’ Cup related news from the Pletcher barn, the veteran conditioner said Donegal Racing’s Mo Donegal, who broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on Thursday at Belmont, will likely target the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen on December 4 at Aqueduct.
Bella Sofia works six furlongs for Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Bella Sofia won the Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park on Sept. 26, 2021, under Luis Saez with an Equibase Speed Figure of 115. (Joe Labozzetta)
Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent Scuderi, and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Bella Sofia, with trainer Rudy Rodriguez up, breezed six furlongs in 1:14.23 in company with Empire Distaff-bound filly Trinni Luck over Big Sandy Friday morning.
“She breezed good,” Rodriguez said. “We went head and head and then I let her finish up a little bit. It was just what I was looking for – nice and comfortable. So far, so good.”
The sophomore daughter of Awesome Patriot will ship to California Saturday to continue preparations for her start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar.
Rodriguez will be sending out his fourth Breeders’ Cup starter following Belle Gallantey who finished ninth in the 2014 Distaff; and Jamyson ‘n Ginger [5th] and Colorful Charades [12th] in the 2016 Juvenile Fillies.
The veteran conditioner, who has won 11 individual meet titles on the NYRA circuit, said a good performance at Del Mar would be very meaningful.
“We’re going to the Breeders’ Cup and that’s the World Series for us. Hopefully, she keeps getting better. Right now, the sky is the limit,” Rodriguez said.
Unraced as a 2-year-old, Bella Sofia, who has won 4-of-5 starts, made headlines with a powerful 4 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Longines Test in August at Saratoga and followed last out with a dominant score in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap on September 26 at Belmont, besting elders for the third time in her career.
Rodriguez said Bella Sofia has the ability to rate if needed which will benefit returning rider Luis Saez, who won his first Breeders’ Cup race last year with 2-year-old Champion Essential Quality.
“I think she can do whatever the jockey asks her to do. She can definitely sit but she has the speed to be clear. It’s a good problem to have,” Rodriguez said. “We’re lucky to have Luis back, he’s one of the top guys.”
The talented filly’s only loss came at second asking in the six-furlong Jersey Girl on June 6 at Belmont when she bobbled at the start and finished second to Australasia, who was in the midst of a six-race win streak.
Rodriguez said he is hopeful that Bella Sofia will be able to travel her talents to the West Coast.
“She’s very special and we’re just hoping she continues to get better. With everything she’s doing she seems to be improving and I’m hoping she’ll give us a good performance in California,” Rodriguez said. “I just try to stay out of her way and let her do her thing. She knows how to run, so I just have to keep her happy and comfortable.”
Mott’s Breeders’ Cup contenders on the work tab at Saratoga
Art Collector winning the Woodward Oct. 2, 2021, at Belmont under Luis Saez with a 120 Equibase Speed Figure. (Joe Labozzetta)
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is training a number of his contenders for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, slated for November 5-6 at Del Mar, over the Oklahoma dirt and turf training tracks at Saratoga Race Course.
Mott, a 10-time Breeders’ Cup winner, could look to add to his totals with Art Collector [Classic], War Like Goddess [Filly and Mare Turf] Horologist [Distaff], Channel Maker [Turf] and Casa Creed [Mile/Turf Sprint].
“We have a few [Breeders’ Cup horses] that will be one of the first four choices in their races and then a few who are on the outside looking in types of longshots, but all of them are doing well and that’s all you can ask for,” said Mott’s son and assistant trainer Riley Mott.
Bruce Lunsford’s Art Collector worked five furlongs in 1:01.85 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.
The 4-year-old Bernardini colt is in the midst of a three-race win streak, including scores in the Alydar on August 6 at the Spa, the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 27 and the Grade 1 Woodward on October 2 at Belmont.
“He looks good and he’s a willing horse,” Riley Mott said. “He came out of his last race extremely well; he’ll have to if he’s going to run against the big boys in the Classic.”
There’s a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s Horologist finished ninth in last year’s Distaff at Keeneland. She breezed a half-mile in 47.84 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.
Mott said the 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist’s runner-up effort last out in the Grade 2 Beldame could be a good omen as three of his father’s five Distaff winners completed the exacta in the prestigious race ahead of Breeders’ Cup glory, including Royal Delta [2011], Unrivalled Belle [2010] and Ajina [1997].
“She ran second last time and is in with an outside chance,” Mott said. “I was talking to my dad the other day and we have won three Distaffs after having finished second in the Beldame. So that’s a good omen.”
Mott also saddled Escena to victory in the 1998 Distaff off a sixth-place finish in the Personal Ensign, while Royal Delta’s 2012 Distaff score followed a win in that year’s Personal Ensign.
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Channel Maker finished third in last year’s Turf – his best effort in three appearances in the turf marathon after finishing off-the-board in 2018-19.
The reigning Champion Turf Male, a four-time Grade 1-winner, finished fourth last out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 at Belmont. He worked a half-mile in 48.75 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.
“He’s doing well. He’s one of the ones that will have to regain his form from last year to be competitive. [The Breeders’ Cup] is still the plan,” Mott said.
George Krikorian’s War Like Goddess, a 4-year-old daughter of English Channel, has flourished this year, winning 6-of-7 starts including her last four in graded company taking the Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland ahead of scores in the Grade 2 Glens Falls and Grade 1 Flower Bowl this summer at Saratoga.
She breezed five-eighths in 1:02.55 Friday over the Oklahoma training turf.
“She’s doing great and we are very excited about her,” Mott said. “She’ll be a top three horse in her race, and deservedly so. She’s had a great year.”
LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable’s Casa Creed earned a berth to the five-furlong Turf Sprint with a win in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur in June at Belmont, but is targeting a return engagement in the Mile – a race the 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay finished 12th in last year. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.55 Friday on the Oklahoma training turf.
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Belmont Park NotesTop Photo: Derrynane broke her maiden at Saratoga on July 22, 2021 under Joel Rosario. (Chelsea Durand)
