TDN RISING STARS

November 9, 2023 - Churchill Downs, Race 8, AOC, USD $127,000, 1 1/16M, NW1X

Parchment Party, C, 2, 2021 by Constitution

1st Dam: Life Well Lived, by Tiznow
2nd Dam: Well Dressed, by Notebook
3rd Dam: Trithenia, by Gold Meridian

Owner: Pin Oak Stud LLC
Breeder: B Flay Thoroughbreds (KY)
Trainer: William I Mott

Pin Oak Stud LLC's Parchment Party (Constitution), who overcame a bit of traffic and a tight spot inside at a crucial stage when belying debut odds of 16-1 over this track and distance Sept. 15, doubled up with an equally eye-catching performance in a Thursday allowance at Churchill Downs, becoming a new 'TDN Rising Star' in the process. He is the eighth 'Rising Star' for his WinStar-based stallion.

Drawn widest in a field of 10 and only lightly regarded in the wagering at just north of 11-2, the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling allowed the inside traffic to clear and was guided down towards the inside by James Graham and trailed into the backstretch. Going sweetly with the better part of a dozen lengths to find passing the half-mile marker, Parchment Party caught the eye with an inside rally around the second turn and was produced three wide into the stretch. Behind a wall of horses at the three-sixteenths, the June foal descended on the leading group five off the fence inside the final furlong and did his best work through the wire to take it by a widening 1 1/2 lengths while not appearing completely focused at the finish of what has the feel of a key race.

First World War (War Front), trying the dirt for the first time and exiting a close fourth as the favorite in the grassy GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland last month, pulled fiercely beneath Tyler Gaffalione for the opening half-mile, settled better thereafter and stayed on for second ahead of longshot Lagynos (Kantharos) in third. Catching Freedom (Constitution), the even-money chalk off a visually impressive debut going this track's one-turn mile Oct. 1, was badly blocked for a run with time ticking away and finished a luckless fourth.

Parchment Party, bred on the same cross that produced GI Belmont S. hero and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law and Grade III winner and 'TDN Rising Star' We the People, is half-brother to Muqtaser (Distorted Humor), MGSP, $303,605; and Darley Japan stallion American Patriot (War Front), GISW, $487,272, and is out of Life Well Lived–a full-sister to MGI/G1SW Well Armed–who was purchased by Bobby Flay in foal to American Pharoah for $1.25 million at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Life Well Lived is also kin to GSW Witty (Distorted Humor), the dam of GSW Bombard (War Front) and MGSP Amuse (Medaglia d'Oro); and to Well Lived (Tiznow), whose recently retired daughter Played Hard (Into Mischief) won this year's GI La Troienne S. This is also the family of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S (Kris S.).

Life Well Lived, who was RNAd for $775,000 when offered in foal to Curlin at KEENOV in 2019, has a yearling full brother to Parchment Party and was purchased by Machmer Hall for $360,000 at Keeneland November Thursday carrying a full-sibling to Parchment Party.