Goldencents

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Erin Fisher of Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds. "We have been working on upgrading our bloodstock over the last several years with a focus on good-running mares that might not have a Kentucky commercial pedigree up front, but still have the ability to create excellent racehorses and future stallion prospects. If you look at the current stallions in Kentucky, you will see that around half are out of mares with non -commercial Kentucky sires. My personal...

One of four Kentucky Derby preps run Saturday, the $800,000 GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park was the richest. It also promised to be the most wide-open betting contest and it didn't disappoint as a mud-splattered 11-1 MYSTIK DAN (c, 3, Goldencents--Ma'am, by Colonel John) pulled the upset for trainer Kenny McPeek. Last fall's Ed Brown S. winner Just Steel (Justify) got up for second while GIII Street Sense S. winner Liberal Arts (Arrogate) secured third. The Southwest offers points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale for the Road to the Kentucky...

Somehow this is a real sweet spot in the market. For a stallion farm, the $10,000 cover is a particular pitch: you're a cent away from offering a horse at four figures, but you feel that dropping him into a low-rent neighborhood might be beneath his dignity. You're offering a very accessible fee, but you're not going to let him look cheap. That makes this a surprisingly congested zone, ample for separate assessment. And since clinging to a five-figure fee somewhat represents a show of faith, some of these sires...

4th-Churchill Downs, $121,125, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.27, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. MYSTIK DAN (c, 2, Goldencents--Ma'am, by Colonel John) broke quickly in his debut Oct. 22 at Keeneland, but lost the lead down the lane to finish second. Tabbed as the 4-5 choice here, the bay colt tracked the pacesetter from second up the backstretch. Making his move to the outside around the far turn, the Ken McPeek trainee built up a head of steam and really poured it on to win by 7 3/4 lengths over Eusebius...

The only two-time winner of the Dirt Mile to date, Goldencents had gameness written all over him. The Equibase chart for his second Breeders' Cup win summed up much of his career: "gunned hard," "met the oncoming challenge," and "dug in tenaciously." "Goldencents was a special horse for us because he is the first horse that really began to put Into Mischief on the map," said Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift Farm. "He and [MGSW & MGISP] Vyjack came out of Into Mischief's first crop. Obviously he went on...

2nd-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $34,000, Msw, 5-15, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.90, ft, 2 lengths. LAUGH NOW (c, 2, Vino Rosso--Little Pao, by Tiznow) had the last laugh here, and broke his maiden as well as tallied the first victory as a sire for Vino Rosso (by Curlin). The stallion also had  the third place finisher Zaino in the Royal Palm Juvenile S., a qualifier for Royal Ascot. Eighth last out at Keeneland Apr. 27 after breaking inward and tiring on that unveiling, conditioner John Ennis armed his colt with a pair of...

A total of 121 horses, including seven horses in the latest round of supplements, have been cataloged to Keeneland's April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. "We've been able to recruit some recent winners to the April Sale, and several horses have won during the Keeneland Spring Meet," Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. "There's a lot of quality through the catalog, so it's a very dynamic sale that has evolved nicely over the last couple of years." The latest group of seven supplements to the April Sale...

Veteran trainer Howard Zucker, a well-respected Southern California horseman, passed away Thursday at USC Keck Hospital in Los Angeles at age 74. Based in New York prior to coming to Southern California in 1980, Zucker trained for a brief time for NBA Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Born May 20, 1948, Zucker saddled his last winner July 24, as his 3-year-old filly Gracelund Gray (Goldencents) won at Del Mar. Affable and a dedicated Yankees fan, Zucker was also a staunch advocate for the horse, evidenced by his multiple leadership roles with...

4th-Keeneland, $97,670, Msw, 10-21, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:19.10, ft, 1/2 length. LUGAN KNIGHT (c, 2, Goldencents--Sly Roxy, by Speightstown) was outfinished by the impressive Protege (Good Magic) on Churchill debut Sept. 21 and was off at 97 cents on the dollar to go one better Friday afternoon. Away a touch slowly from the inside gate, the homebred tucked in just behind the leading trio in fourth down the backstretch and traveled on the bridle on the turn. The favorite was ridden for luck into the stretch and was stymied with...

Into Mischief once again leads Spendthrift Farm's roster for 2023 with his stud fee remaining at $250,000 S&N, the operation announced Thursday. Spendthrift has added four new stallions including MGISWs Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and Cyberknife (Gun Runner), who are both pointing for the Breeders' Cup. The other new additions are GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and GSW Greatest Honour (Tapit), who are both available for inspection at the farm. Champion Jackie's Warrior, the likely favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, will command a fee of...

For the second year in a row, Going To Vegas (Goldencents) led past every pole and proved an easy winner of the GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita, punching her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in Lexington four weeks down the road. Kentucky raider Family Way (Uncle Mo), narrowly second in the wagering ahead of Going To Vegas, ran on late to complete the exacta, while longshot Bellamore (Empire Maker) spiced up the exotics in third. Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}), the 3-2 chalk, could...

MGSW & GISP Mr. Money (Goldencents--Plenty O'Toole, by Tiznow) will relocate from Florida to Louisiana's Clear Creek Stud. Spendthrift Farm also is a partner in Mr. Money with owner Chester Thomas. "I just really like the way the Louisiana program is heading," said Thomas. "I think Mr. Money has everything it takes to be a successful sire, and I believe having him at a top farm in a growing regional market gives him the best chance to show what he can do. Most of my horses race in New Orleans...