Natalma

5th-Woodbine, $111K, Msw, 3yo/up, 7fT, post time: 6:52 p.m. ET    Ready Shakespeare (More Than Ready), a half-brother to three-time Canadian champion and GI Natalma S. heroine Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), gets his career started for trainer Roger Attfield. The Charles Fipke homebred, listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, was produced by two-time graded winner Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}). This is also the loaded female family of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), MGISW Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}), et al. TJCIS PPs

One way or another, plenty of people in our industry seem to think that it has reached a crossroads. But if a shutdown at the home of the Kentucky Derby makes us feel as though we can't get a break in the traffic, maybe we're just looking the wrong way. Because there's a chance that the real game-changing moment was happening 4,000 miles away, where the 244th running of the original Derby was last Saturday won by a horse excitingly equipped to open a new chapter in the story of...

It is simply wonderful that there is a Group 1 winning filly called Fonteyn. The name has such a life of its own that a quick look at pedigrees from the near and distant past shows at least 20 other horses so baptized, all over the world. Why is that? When the great Northern Dancer (1961, bay, by Nearctic out of Natalma) ruled the Thoroughbred world, the names of his sons arrived fast and furious with solid connections to the stars of ballet, especially the Russian ones--a very rich vein....

It was certainly a busy week of action on both sides of the Atlantic. Here's a sample of what went on, and what should be on your radar. Headline Maker... With Early Voting's Classic win at Pimlico Saturday, the colt became Gun Runner's fifth Grade I winner. It's a remarkable stat for any stallion, especially one so early in his stud career. It looks likely the Three Chimneys stallion will vie with the mighty Into Mischief for the honor of being America's most expensive sire over the next few years....

Robert "Gus" Koch, died Saturday, March 20, 2021, at his beloved Mt. Carmel Farm, after a 24-year battle with cancer. He was 74. The retired longtime manager of Claiborne Farm, Koch was a Marine and a Vietnam veteran. Koch was the subject of one of the TDN and Keeneland's Life's Work Oral History project, and Chris McGrath's story on him may be read here. Hired when Seth Hancock took the reins at the farm, Koch was at the helm at Claiborne for 31 years, running perhaps the best lineup of...

Wertheimer and Frere homebred Alda (Munnings) will attempt to keep her hot streak going and secure a post in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Sunday in Woodbine's GI Natalma S. A second-out graduate at Belmont July 9, the Graham Motion trainee captured the Catch a Glimpse S. going 6 1/2 panels on the local lawn Aug. 23. Finishing second that day was Dreaming of Drew (Speightster), who romped by six lengths in her main track graduation here July 18. Jimmy Toner ships one in who...