By Heather Anderson
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Lady Claypoole in the Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita earlier in March.
Santa Ana Stakes For Lady Claypoole
Abbondanza Racing and Omar Aldabbagh's Lady Claypoole (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) earned her first stakes win in the GIII Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita on Mar. 15 (video). Trained by Richard Baltas, the 5-year-old mare was bred by Aston House Stud.
The eighth foal out of the group-placed Short Affair (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), Lady Claypoole was a 44,000gns Tattersalls December yearling when picked up by trainer James Ferguson. She raced for W K Wycoff and was winless in four UK starts and briefly bore the colours of Three Diamonds Racing when making her U.S. debut in August of 2023. Abbondanza Racing shelled out $100,000 at the Keeneland November sale 2023 for the then-3-year-old. She is a half-sister to Spanish champion Rodaballo (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who won a Group 2 in Germany, as well as the dam of G2 Dullingham Park Stakes heroine Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). This is the extended family of multiple group winner and G1 Irish St. Leger third Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian), a two-time Group 1 producer of Japanese sires Victoire Pisa (Jpn) and Asakusa Den'En (GB).
Coolmore's reverse shuttle stallion Starspangledbanner has sired 18 winners from 29 runners (62%) in the U.S. Lady Claypoole is his eighth stakes winner among that bunch (27%) and fifth graded winner. His best are Grade I winners Rhea Moon (Ire) and State Of Rest (Ire).
“She is on a roll!”
#1 LADY CLAYPOOLE ($25.40) won the $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes (G3) under @jockeytpereira for trainer Richard Baltas as an 11-1 outsider. The daughter of Starspangledbanner has won three in a row! pic.twitter.com/6K9fiEfzpF
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 15, 2025
Texas Glitter Goes To Incanto
Mehmas (Ire)'s Incanto (Ire), racing for Leon King Stable and David Bernsen, put it all together for trainer Jose D'Angelo in the Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday (video).
Bred by Novidale, Ltd. and Eoghan Grogan, the 3-year-old gelding cost 220,000gns out of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when acquired by Ben McElroy for Stonestreet Stables. The bay was making his 11th start. Out of Hateel (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Incanto is a half-brother to juvenile colt Green Universe (Ire) (Starman {GB}) and a yearling colt by Space Blues (Ire). His dam is a half-sister to the stakes-winning GI Rodeo Drive Stakes third Responsibleforlove (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who has produced a pair of stakes horses.
Mehmas, who stands at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland, is responsible for 17 winners from 31 runners Stateside. Incanto is his seventh stakes winner in that jurisdiction, which also includes a trio of Grade I scorers in Going Global (Ire), Chez Pierre (Fr), and Magnum Force (Ire).
Irish-bred #2 INCANTO ($21) with a huge rally to get up and win the $115,000 Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park. @JFDAngelo trains the son of Mehmas, @jorgeruizjockey in the irons. pic.twitter.com/7VK3KTtYo4
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 22, 2025
No Nay Never Filly Rolls In New Orleans
The Norm Casse-trained Never Really Know (Ire) (No Nay Never), making her fourth lifetime start, steamed to a 2 1/2-length victory at Fair Grounds on Mar. 22 (video). Owned by Justin Casse and Steven Connolly, she was bred by Lynch Bages, Ltd. and Lindy Farms.
The bay was a 92,000gns graduate of the Tattersalls October Sale Book 2, who caught the eye of JWS Racing from the Baroda Stud draft. The dam, the placed Deadly Reel (Ire) (Pour Moi {Ire}), has a juvenile full-brother to the winner as her latest offspring. Deadly Reel is a half-sister to No Nay Never's group/graded winners Nay Lady Nay (Ire) and Arizona (Ire), who also each placed at the highest level.
Coolmore's No Nay Never is credited with 59 winners from 102 runners in the U.S. (57%). A trio of his 10 stakes winners there have struck at graded level anchored by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire).
Never Really Know scores second off the bench at 4/1 in the opener at @fairgorundsnola under @luissaezpty for trainer @normcasse! 🍀
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Lpt9Azdb7Y
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 22, 2025
Repeat Winner
The undefeated Making Waves alum Raw Ability (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge on the back of her third win at Santa Anita for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler on Mar. 17 (video). The 4-year-old filly is out of the Dansili (GB) mare Que Sera Sera (GB) from the family of sire and G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Zambezi Sun (GB).
#5 RAW ABILITY (IRE)($6.60) is undefeated after her Race 7 victory at Santa Anita. Another win today for jockey @HIBerrios, trainer @johnwsadler and owner @Hronis_Racing. pic.twitter.com/U3SbclSp3D
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 17, 2025
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