National Defense

National Defense (GB), who sired a first-crop Breeders' Cup winner when Twilight Gleaming (Ire) won the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 5, will miss the 2022 Northern Hemisphere breeding season after suffering an injury while on covering duty at Widden Stud's Victorian satellite in Australia. The 2016 G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere winner will remain at Widden rather than traveling back to the Irish National Stud, where he was due to stand for €8,000. "Unfortunately National Defense sustained an injury while on covering duties in Australia,"...

Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who stands his first Northern Hemisphere season next year at the Irish National Stud, will debut at €15,000. Raced by Yulong Investments, Lucky Vega won the G1 Phoenix S. at two and placed in this year's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. before retiring to stand at Yulong's Australian headquarters. Also new at the Irish National Stud for 2022 is last year's G2 Coventry S. winner and G1 Prix Morny and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac...

Stonestreet Stables LLC's 'TDN Rising Star' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), less fancied than her unbeaten stablemate Averly Jane (Midshipman), out-footed them all early and held the cavalry charge off late to provide both trainer Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz, Jr. with their third-straight renewal of the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in its four-year history. European colt Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was a half-length back in second, with another Ward-trained filly Kaufymaker (Jimmy Creed) spicing up the trifecta. Derrynane (Quality Road) came from far...

Stonestreet Stables LLC's 2-year-old filly Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) gained recompense for a defeat in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. with a first black-type success in Saturday's Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge at Deauville, becoming the first black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Saturday, Deauville, France PRIX DE LA VALLEE D'AUGE-Listed, €60,000, Deauville, 8-7, 2yo, 5fT, :58.86, vsf. 1--TWILIGHT GLEAMING (IRE), 123, f, 2, by National Defense (GB) 1st Dam: Thames Pageant (GB), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Golden Stream (Ire), by...

Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), a strong second debuting on the Keeneland main track last month, got to her likely preferred surface of turf Sunday at Belmont and rocketed clear in the lane for 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Bought for £75,000 by Ben McElroy at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale last October, Twilight Gleaming became the first starter for her freshman sire when backed down to 3-5 Apr. 8 at Keeneland, and ran a game second despite being pinched at the start and going wide on the turn. Recording...

2nd-Siracusa, €11,000, Mdn, 2yo, f, 1200mT. FILLY OF MALTA (IRE) (National Defense {GB}-Amusing Plan, by Pleasantly Perfect) was driven take up the lead upon breaking, which she held only briefly as Amoazzurra (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) charged up on her outside to take over, causing Filly Of Malta to become unsettled and race with her head held high. Filly Of Malta soon dropped back to a joint fourth on the fence and was a length and a half off the lead rounding the turn. Switching out to the two path...