Mushka

Ifurhappynuknowit (Bernardini--Mushka, by Empire Maker), an unraced full-sister to Godolphin's late Crowned, dam of last week's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), topped the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale, which closed late Tuesday afternoon. Consigned by Knowles Farm as hip 30, Ifurhappynuknowit sold for $280,000 to Denali Stud, agent. She was sold with her Feb. 18-foaled colt by Vino Rosso at her side and is back in foal to two-time champion Elite Power. "It was very exciting to offer a horse like Ifurhappynuknowit fresh off a huge update," said Fasig-Tipton...

We all found ourselves in the court of one ruler last weekend, but it would be wrong to treat the kind of transatlantic sovereignty charted by four Classic winners inside 48 hours, either side of the water, as an automatic outcome of greater aggregate expenditure than any program in Turf history. Nobody knows that better than Sheikh Mohammed and his Godolphin team. He has been trying to dovetail his wealth and his passion, both obviously off the charts, for nearly half a century. (He had his first winner at Brighton,...

In the wake of this year's Kentucky Derby win by Sovereignty, I think it is important to recognize the quiet but profound legacy of one of racing's great horsewomen and enthusiasts--Betty Moran. Sadly, Mrs. Moran passed away in 2020, but I have to feel that this year's Kentucky Derby winner, whose mother she bred, is testament to years of her racing and breeding at the top end of the thoroughbred world. Mrs. Moran bred and/or raced many outstanding race horses including Belmont and Jockey Club winner Creme Fraiche, champions Unique...

3rd-FG, $40k, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 3:01 p.m. Tom Amoss unveils the latest racing age addition to the Bertie family with pricey BARONNE (Into Mischief) taking to the starting gate in a turf sprint. Out of Bashful Bertie (Quiet American), herself a half to MGSW Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot) and a full to graded-stakes winner/producer Allamerican Bertie, the colt brought $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale from agent AI Pike. A year later, as a 2-year-old going through the Fasig-Tipton Timonium sale (:10 1/5), he RNA'd for $420,000 from...

New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford will never forget the excitement she felt watching the 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic as 16-1 shot Mushka (Empire Maker) kept passing one horse afer another in the stretch to close for second. As a horse taking part in the first ever New Vocations Breeders' Cup Pledge program, Mushka's performance meant a $36,000 donation from owner Betty Moran. It was a lifeline for a growing charity dedicated to finding second homes for the sport's retirees. "I'll never forget how excited we were,"...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 2:34 p.m. ET The well-bred Follow the Flag (Tapit) makes her debut here for Skara Glen Stables and trainer Michael Matz. The $675,000 KEENOV weanling is out of Grade I winner Mushka (Empire), herself a $1.6-million FTSAUG yearling; $2.4-million KEENOV '08 seller; and $650,000 KEENOV '16 graduate while carrying Follow the Flag. Mushka is a granddaughter of MGISW Lakeway (Seattle Slew). Follow the Flag shows an ubeat series of drills, mostly of late over the Palm Meadows sod--click...