Making Waves: Florida Graded Success For Galileo And Dubawi

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column reflects on success at Gulfstream Park for Warm Heart and Francesco Clemente.

 The highlight of recent weeks has been the Coolmore partners' Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won her third top-level race in a third different country when taking the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. in Florida in late January (video). Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore-bred set a new course record, and is now bound for a date with Justify.

The late Galileo has sired 65 winners from 177 runners (37%) in America. She is also his 28th stakes winner in the U.S. (16%). His final crop just turned two.

Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1)
1800m – 1 000 000 USD
Gulfstream Park

Warm Heart (IRE)
(Galileo- Sea Siren ,by Fastnet Rock)
J : Ryan Moore
T :A.P. O'Brien
O :Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor / Derrick Smith / Westerberg
B : @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/l6ynAd7bTt

— (@WorldRacing1) January 27, 2024

Dubawi Entire Lands McKnight

Peter Brant homebred Francesco Clemente (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) earned a career high in the GIII William L. McKnight S. on Pegasus World Cup day at Gulfstream Park for trainer Chad Brown (video).

Listed-placed at four at Goodwood last May for John and Thady Gosden, he then ran second in the GII Hollywood Turf Cup S. in November two starts later before his graded win. His dam, Justlookdontouch (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), also responsible for stakes winner and multiple group-placed Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Francesco Clemente is also from the former Ballymacoll Stud family of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and fellow Group 1 winners Greek Dance (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Mountain High (Ire) (Danehill).

Darley kingpin Dubawi now sports a record of 40 winners from 78 runners (51%) in the US. With Francesco Clemente's Grade III win, Dubawi's American stakes winners number 22 (28%) with 17 striking at the graded level.

William L. McKnight Stakes (G3)
2400m – 220 000 USD
Gulfstream Park

Francesco Clemente (IRE)
(5H Dubawi- Justlookdontouch , by Galileo)
J: I. Ortiz
T: Chad C. Brown
O :Peter M. Brant
B : White Birch Farm, SCpic.twitter.com/RptqkwGoDQ

— (@WorldRacing1) January 27, 2024

Bells Are Ringing At Santa Anita

Phil D'Amato trainee Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) showed no rust after a lengthy layoff and won the GIII Megahertz S. at Santa Anita earlier this month (video).

Bred by Fergus Cousins, the dark bay sold for €33,000 as a yearling to BBA Ireland and finished her Irish career with one win at handicap level in September of 2021 for Jessica Harrington and It's All About The Girls. A graded winner in America and placed in two Grade I events in 2022, she was reoffered at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale, but was a $425,000 buy-back. Racing for Agave Racing Stable, Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, the mare was making her first start in over 13 months. Out of the winning Fashion Line (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Bellabel's latest half-sibling is a two-year-old filly by Profitable (Ire) named Miss Birkin (Ire), and a yearling full-brother. This is the extended family of G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).

Belardo's best runners are based in America, among them is the Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (Ire). He has five winners from seven runners (71%) in the US.

Irish-bred Bellabel overcomes 15-Month layoff to take Grade III, $100,000 Megahertz Stakes pic.twitter.com/z88apbNnlB

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) February 4, 2024

Churchill Filly Off The Mark At Gulfstream

Poolside With Slim (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) proved that second time was the charm in a Gulfstream maiden for trainer George Arnold (video).

Bo Bramagen bought the Kilweelran-bred filly for €110,000 out of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale in 2022, and she races for Bromagen and Patrick Lewis. Her unraced dam Kissepal (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) now has two runners and two winners from two foals of racing age. Kissepal, a half-sister to multiple group winner and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Besharah (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), has a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire) still to come. GIII Affirmed H. hero Nonios (Pleasantly Perfect), placed in both the GI Haskell Invitational S. and GI Awesome Again S., is also in this family.

Coolmore's Churchill has seven winners from 12 runners (58%) in the US. His group winner The Foxes (Ire) was runner-up in the GI Belmont Derby in 2023.

Poolside With Slim (IRE) scores in the first leg of the Rainbow Pick6, second win today for @luissaezpty! #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/DAWoGREZZi

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) February 3, 2024

Repeat Winners

Kingman (GB)'s Equitize (GB) won for the second time in three starts when taking a Tampa Bay Downs allowance for trainer Chad Brown (video). A debut winner last March, the Klaravich Stables runner was unplaced in Aqueduct's GII Hill Prince S. in November.