Girvin

At the conclusion of Thursday's 10th session, the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale became the highest-grossing auction in Keeneland's history with total sales weighing in at $399,940,000. The previous record of $399,791,800 was set during the 2006 September Sale. With two sessions remaining, a total of 2,488 yearlings (through the ring) have sold for $399,940,000, an increase of 14.63% over the same period last year when 2,428 horses sold grossed $348,885,500. Average price of $160,748 is up 11.87% from $143,693, while the median of $85,000 is 13.33% above $75,000 in...

Fast-starting freshman sire Girvin (Tale of Ekati--Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon) will relocate to Airdrie Stud for the 2023 breeding season. The 8-year-old stallion, who began his stud career at the O'Farrell family's Ocala Stud, is already the sire of 12 winners from 23 starters, including the GII Saratoga Special S. winner Damon's Mound and Astoria S. winner Devious Dame. Girvin, who raced in the silks of Brad Grady for trainer Joe Sharp, won the 2017 GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational, as well as that year's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby...

In 1993, Michelle Lovell rode five races at Saratoga. Then known as jockey Michelle Hanley, she came home with three second-place finishes, but never got that win at the Spa. Twenty-nine years later, she finally made it to the winner's circle. This time it was with the brilliant GII Saratoga Special S. winner Damon's Mound (Girvin), her first Saratoga starter as a trainer. How do the two experiences compare? "Riding here back in the day, I was just super in awe of the place," Lovell explained. "Obviously who wouldn't want...

7th-Saratoga, $83,000, Msw, 8-17, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.28, ft, 7 1/4 lengths. U GLOW GIRL (f, 2, Girvin--Mexican Miss {SW, $121,055}, by More Than Ready) was one of two in this auction price-restricted maiden with previous racetrack experience, having faded to be a distant third after setting the pace as the favorite in a similar spot July 20. Bet down to 1.15-1 favoritism to give her freshman sire (by Tale of Ekati) his eighth first-crop winner, U Glow Girl contested the early pace outside of Ruler of the Night (Midnight...

Damon's Mound (Girvin) has the feel of an inspiring story for our sport, as the David who landed his slingshot squarely on the forehead of Goliath in the keynote juvenile showdown of the summer. The family that bred his first five dams had turned down big money for their spectacular Churchill debut winner, and their fidelity to minor-league trainer Michelle Lovell (16 winners from 88 starters in 2022) paid off handsomely when Damon's Mound readily beat the vaunted Gulfport (Uncle Mo), who has already been reserved a slot in the...

'TDN Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin) backed up his jaw-dropping, double-digit debut victory at Churchill Downs with an impressive, 3 1/4-length decision over favored 'Rising Star' Gulfport (Uncle Mo) in Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S. Facing just three rivals here, the 9-5 second-choice trailed the closely bunched quartet in the garden spot as Gulfstream debut winner Super Chow (Lord Nelson) flew through an opening quarter in :21.94. Gulfport, a perfect two-for-two to begin his career, led by a 12 1/4-length win in the Bashford Manor S., was forced to check...

Damon's Mound (c, 2, Girvin--San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll), a jaw-dropping 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs July 2, is targeting the GII Saratoga Special S. at the Spa Aug. 13. "That's the goal, he's doing great," former jockey-turned-trainer Michelle Lovell said from her summer base at Colonial Downs. "We've got some weeks to go, so, hopefully all goes good. As long as he's doing great, he deserves the opportunity." Does he ever. Off as the well-backed, third choice at 4-1 in his unveiling, Damon's Mound was off to...

Fasig-Tipton has added seven supplemental entries to Monday's July Selected Horses of All Ages sale including a lifetime breeding right to young stallion Girvin (Tale of Ekati-Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon) as HIP 611. The freshman sire is off to a quick start at stud with his first crop of two-year-olds in 2022, siring five winners from eight runners to date. These include the undefeated Devious Dame, who captured the Astoria S. at Belmont on June 9 in a 5 1/4-length romp. Girvin sired two more maiden special weight...

Damon's Mound (Girvin) made his 4-1 odds look like quite a gift in this unveiling, rolling home to a daylight victory and 'TDN Rising Star' honors Saturday at Churchill Downs. Off to a slow start, the Florida-bred advanced to be a three-wide fifth, keeping tabs on the front runners through a :21.85 opening quarter. Drawing even approaching the turn, the bay took command as the half went in :45.49 and bounded clear with ease to graduate by 12 1/2 lengths. Easy Big Boy (Cloud Computing) was the best of the rest...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-CD, $120K, MSW, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 2:13 p.m.    Homebred filly JUST AN ANGEL (Justify), bred by Mulholland Springs LLC and racing for owners L and N Racing LLC and Mulholland Springs, is the last foal out of GISP Battlefield Angel (Proud Citizen), making her a half-sister to GISP Manny Wah (Will Take Charge). Battlefield Angel herself was a half-sister to MGISP and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky), also campaigned by L and N Racing, and MGSW Blended Citizen...

John Oxley's Devious Dame (Girvin) ooked to be making hard work of it while consigned to an imperfect trip in Thursday's $150,000 Astoria S. at Belmont Park, but the 2-5 favorite on the strength of a 5 1/2-length debut success on Churchill debut May 5 leveled off nicely when asked to claim pacesetting Alexis's Storm (Race Day) passing the eighth pole and glided clear to become the first black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Tale of Ekati). Away only fairly from the five hole, the $240,000 OBS March breezer...

The GII Wonder Again S., which grants a spot in the GI Belmont Oaks starting gate to the top three finishers, kicks off a race week loaded with stakes action Thursday in what NYRA refers to as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Chad Brown has saddled the winners of three of the eight renewals of this event and it is of no surprise that he sends out the race favorite again this year in Klaravich Stables' two-time stakes winner Consumer Spending (More Than Ready). She is a deserving favorite after...