Courtlandt Farm

Track Phantom (Quality Road) continued his preparation for the GI Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong work in 1:00.80 (6/32) at Churchill Downs Sunday morning. With jockey Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, Track Phantom worked outside 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Pat Day Mile contender Carbone (Mitole) as the duo cruised an opening quarter-mile in a modest :26.20, but galloped out six furlongs in a solid 1:13.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Track Phantom's final three furlongs was a sharp :34.60. Track Phantom worked in blinkers Sunday and he...

The defection of big-figure maiden winner Speak Easy (Constitution) to Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. made the task at hand for 'TDN Rising Star' Conquest Warrior (c, 3, City of Light--Tea Time, by Pulpit) that much easier on paper, and the Courtlandt Farms colorbearer made light work of the six rivals that stuck around to likely punch his ticket to the GI Curlin Florida Derby in four weeks' time. Away only fairly, the 3-5 chalk was handy enough to the early pace of 5-2 second pick Merit (Mastery)--rerouted...

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's Speak Easy (Constitution), who had been cross-entered in an optional-claimer Friday, will take his place in the line-up for Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park. The sophomore debuted with an impressive victory going seven furlongs at the Hallandale oval Jan. 27. He drew the rail and will be facing eight other 3-year-olds in the 1 1/16-miles Fountain of Youth. "We like the post and the way he's been training," trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday. Irad Ortiz Jr., who was slated to...

4th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-24, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.08, ft, neck. CORPORATE POWER (c, 3, Curlin--Road to Victory {GSW-USA, SW-Can, $248,336}, by Quality Road), featured in Steve Sherack's 'Second Chances' series following a useful debut fourth-place finish behind the promising duo of Speak Easy (Constitution) and Victory Avenue (Arrogate) after getting bumped at the break going seven furlongs in a very live maiden special weight going seven furlongs on the Pegasus World Cup undercard Jan. 27, delivered as the 6-5 favorite in thrilling fashion here. Stretching out to 1 1/8 miles,...

The stable name traces to a ranch they once owned in the Oregon outback: "Bar C" was how they branded their cattle. But while Neal and Pam Christopherson are proud of their home state, and have achieved a great deal there, even they couldn't make horses pay in those gulch-carved scrublands, under those huge empty skies. "Telocaset, Union, Oregon," Neal says. "Snows an inch, drifts 10 feet. Cold country." But horses are tough, no? "Well, they are," replies Neal. "But we lost a heck of a nice Quarter Horse colt...

A $650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Edified (c, 2, Tapit--For Royalty, by Not For Love) became his superstar sire's 53rd 'TDN Rising Star' Saturday with a commanding performance to graduate at Ellis Park. Facing a salty field of mostly first-time starters, the dark bay was given only a 9-1 chance but more than outran his odds. Under the hands of jockey Joel Rosario, Edified broke alertly from an inside gate and raced in the top flight inside of race-time favorite Normandy Hero (Omaha Beach). Joined up front by Liberal Arts...

Don and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farm went to an even $1 million to acquire a son of young sire City of Light (Hip 73) Monday. Bred by Betz/B&K Canetti/J. Betz/CoCo Equine/D.J. Stables, the bay is out of MSW Tea Time (Pulpit). He was consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds.

A pair of highly regarded sophomores of 2021 are on the comeback trail for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. Courtlandt Farm's homebred Greatest Honour (Tapit--Tiffany's Honour, by  Street Cry {Ire}) was a serious early contender for the GI Kentucky Derby following flashy wins in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. last winter. After finishing a flat third as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27, however, McGaughey decided to hit the reset button on the bay. "I wasn't really pleased...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 2:14 p.m. Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey unveils a pair of well-bred newcomers in this salty-looking test. Courtlandt Farm paid $1,025,000 for Adam's Angel (Into Mischief) as a Keeneland September yearling. Out of stakes-placed Mary Rita (Distorted Humor) and bred on the same cross as Practical Joke and Life Is Good, the bay's third dam is the McGaughey-trained Hall of Famer and blue hen Personal Ensign (Private Account). Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, meanwhile, will be represented by...

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato & Christie DeBernardis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, led by a trio of million-dollar yearlings, opened with a day of steady trade in Lexington Monday. A total of 95 yearlings sold during the session for $38,172,000, at an average of $401,811 and a median of $325,000. "I think the trade was really strong," Keeneland's new vice president of sales Tony Lacy said at the close of business Monday. "The numbers may have stacked very comparably to last year, but I think there...

After paying $575,000 for a Speightstown colt (hip 17) earlier in the session, Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm waded into seven-figure territory as the opening session at Keeneland September neared its midpoint, going to $1.1 million for a filly by Uncle Mo. The dark bay is a daughter of Nikki's Choice (Forestry), a half-sister to GSP Moyo Honey (Mizzen Mast), whose own dam Charming Lauren (Meadowlake) was a full-sister to Grade I-winning juvenile Greenwood Lake. Easily the most popular of her dam's four foals to be offered at public auction, hip...

2nd-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6f, 3:38p.m. Shug McGaughey debuts 3-year-old BIG CITY MOMMA (Quality Road) for Courtlandt Farms. The $700,000 KEESEP graduate is out of stakes placed New York-bred Easy Living (Big Brown). The filly posted a pair of recent four-panel works at Belmont, including the most recent going :48 4/5 Apr. 24. Jose Ortiz gets the call. TJCIS PPs