2-year-old pedigrees: Taraz looks like something special
Five well-bred fillies made significant steps toward bigger and better this past weekend. Taraz is one to take note of on the 2020 Kentucky Oaks trail, and Michael Stidham’s royally bred fillies keep winning at Tampa Bay Downs. Let’s examine the bloodlines of these names to know.
(Into Mischief - Silk Route, by Empire Maker)
Taraz followed up her 7 1/2-length maiden score at Churchill Downs with an even more impressive 11 1/4-length victory in the Letellier Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Florent Geroux was just along for the ride as Taraz took early command and widened her lead with each step. The Brad Cox trainee got six furlongs in 1:10.83 over a sloppy track, begging the question: Could Taraz be our next super filly?
Pedigree: Taraz has a miler/middle-distance pedigree, and turf could be an option later in her career. She has similar breeding to Amongst, who finished second in the Sugar Bowl later in the same card. Both are Juddmonte Farms homebreds by Into Mischief out of daughters of Empire Maker and in Cox's care.
Into Mischief is the leading sire by winners and by earnings. He’s the sire of this year’s Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Sprint heroine Covfefe and Springboard Mile winner Shoplifted, as well as Oklahoma Derby winner Owendale.
Taraz is the first stakes earner in her immediate family. Three of her dam’s half-sisters have produced blacktype earners, two of them overseas. Taraz’s second dam, Jibe, is Group 1-placed, and the bulk of the class is found in Taraz’s third generation. It includes English Champion Miler and sire Warning, Epsom Derby and Irish Derby hero Commander In Chief, and French Group 1 winning sprinter Full Mast.
(Tapiture - Wild Debutante, by Forest Wildcat)
Beautiful Trauma kicked off Fair Grounds' Saturday card with a devastating 16-length victory in an allowance optional claiming event. Tom Amoss’ charge wired the field, getting a mile and 70 yards in 1:44.02 over a sloppy track.
Pedigree: Beautiful Trauma has a miler’s pedigree. Tapiture is the No. 5-ranked first-crop sire, and his son Axiomo finished third in the Sugar Bowl. Tapiture won two stakes at 1 1/8 miles, so his offspring should handle middle distances.
There are no blacktype earners in Beautiful Trauma’s immediate family. Her dam is a full sister to stakes-winning sprinter Wildcat Brief, who earned $340,570 in 27 starts. The third generation of Beautiful Trauma’s female family is comprised of French and Italian listed winners.
MICHELINE
(Bernardini - Panty Raid, by Include)
Last Friday at Tampa Bay Downs, Micheline rallied from fifth place to capture an allowance optional claiming event by a length. The Michael Stidham trainee traveled a mile over the lawn in 1:38.12. Micheline won the one-mile Sorority Stakes over the Monmouth turf in her second start.
Pedigree: Micheline is bred to handle middle distances and may go farther with maturity. The Godolphin homebred is the fourth foal to race and first blacktype earner in her immediate family. Her dam, Panty Raid, was capable over all surfaces. She captured the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on dirt, the Spinster (G1) over Polytrack and the American Oaks Invitational (G1) on the lawn. In all, Panty Raid racked up $1,052,380 in 10 starts. Panty Raid is a full sister to Delaware Oaks heroine St. John's River, who also placed in the Kentucky Oaks. A half-brother is a stakes winner in France.
O SERAPHINA
(Congrats - Deherewego, by Dehere)
O Seraphina graduated in her third start on Sunday at Fair Grounds. Gabriel Saez sent the chestnut filly to the front, and they were never threatened, coasting under the wire by four lengths. The Joe Sharp trainee traveled a mile and 70 yards in 1:44.94 over a good, sealed track.
Pedigree: O Seraphina has a miler/middle distance pedigree, as Congrats’ offspring handle sprints to middle distances. He’s known as a “filly sire” given daughters are more accomplished than his sons. In North America, 22 of his 28 graded/listed winners are fillies. Grade 1-winning sprinters Turbulent Descent, Haveyougoneaway, Emma’s Encore and Wickedly Perfect are his most accomplished daughters.
O Seraphina’s dam, Deherewego, is a half-sister to El Camino Real Derby winner Uncle Denny, and his full sister Gift of Gab bore the gallant sprinting veteran Limousine Liberal. The third generation of the distaff line is comprised of hardy listed/restricted sprinter/milers. Dehere is the damsire of 95 graded/listed winners, including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero City of Light, 2013's Champion Three-Year-Old Male Will Take Charge and 2007 Champion Sprinter Midnight Lute.
(Midshipman - Last Standing, by Hard Spun)
Queen of Shades threw shade at her opponents on Sunday in an allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz Jr. cleared the field and was never seriously challenged, winning the five-furlong turf race by 2 3/4 lengths. The Jason Servis trainee flashed under the wire in a strong :56.87. Previously, Queen of Shades was second in the Anne Arundel County Stakes over the Laurel Park turf.
Pedigree: Queen of Shades has a miler pedigree. Midshipman is noted for getting precocious sprinter/milers, such as multiple winner Lady Shipman, who placed in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Queen of Shades is the first foal out of a half-sister to multiple graded winning miler Grace Hall, who earned $1,546,360 in 16 starts while competing against the likes of Royal Delta, My Miss Aurelia and Believe You Can. Queen of Shades’ second dam, Seasons Greetings, is a French listed winner.
Hard Spun is a young damsire, represented by 15 graded/listed winners, led by 2017 Champion Two-Year-Old Male Good Magic. His daughters’ babies are capable at all distances but are strongest up to 1 1/8 miles.