This One's a "Sleeper" Who Could Make a Big Splash

One Last Night '21  

Dark Bay Filly  (Wootton Bassett x One Last Night - Elusive Quality) - Currently at Kenny McPeek's training facility in Ocala - Kentucky/Florida -Foaled Feb. 17, 2021

MOST ANTICIPATED TO BECOME A EURO BRED SENSATION

One Last Night '21 is a stunning and beautifully bred Euro filly who was handpicked by trainer Kenny McPeek, who also discovered Curlin among other greats. Many in the US may not be familiar with her sire, but Wootton Bassett is making waves as a sire in Europe, and her dam is a daughter of Elusive Quality who is a Euro stakes winner and full sister to a stakes winner. 

In addition, her 2nd dam is by Kentucky Derby winner and sensational sire Sunday Silence and she won the UAE Oaks and has produced stakes winners and producers of stakes winners. She has a multi-continental pedigree of super producers.  

Interesting note: Her nickname is "Meg the Colt" because her handlers related that she acts like a colt rather than a filly. She's been described as being "very quick on her feet." Kenny McPeek, who found this gem at the Arqana sale in France, will train her and believes she will run on any surface. (Don't be surprised if you find her on the trail to the Kentucky Oaks in 2024.) 

Our Take

We believe this filly might be something special. Though she's a bit smaller than the other five at this point, she's beautifully balanced and moves like a panther. She was well-behaved under saddle, in the walking ring, and in her stall, though we understand she can be quite a handful. We don't normally have a lot of interest in Euro breds, but after our brief success with Disdainful before his unfortunate illness, we were keen to get involved with another prospect that might have the same potential. 

This girl caught the eye of Kenny McPeek, who has a track record of picking out superior horses in Curlin and Take Charge Lady, to mention just two. Wootton Bassett was a French Champion and is quite a hot sire in Europe, and her American dam by Elusive Quality has faired extremely well in the Euro races, plus being a full sister to Devotee, a stakes winner in the United Arab Emerites and in the USA. Also, the fact that this girl has Sunday Silence close up is a big bonus for us, and she does look quite a bit like the former Derby winner and sensational sire. Genetically, she's got the goods. Not we wait to see if she has the mental and physical fortitude to run with the best. 

One Last Night 21 in walking ring

One Last Night 21

One Last Night 21

One Last Night 21

One Last Night 21

One Last Night 21 in stall at OBS

One Last Night 21 in stall at OBS

One Last Night 21 in stall at OBS

David meets One Last Night 21 at OBS 2YO Showcase

One Last Night 21 in stall

One Last Night 21 in stall
(Photo by Cheryl Denton)

The great Sunday Silence
Sire of One Last Night's 2nd dam

Nyquist Daughter Simply Enchanting

Simply Enchanting (formerly Enchante '21) 

Chestnut Filly (Nyquist x Enchante - Bluegrass Cat) - Going to Phil D'Amato - So Cal) - Foaled Feb 22, 2021 (She shares a birthday with Laurie!)

KENTUCKY PRINCESS AWARD

Simply Enchanting [Enchante '21] -- who just got her permanent name the Monday following our big weekend in Ocala -- is the Kentucky bred daughter of Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Juvenile winner and Champion 2YO Colt, Nyquist, who earned well over $5 million on the track and has already sired some notable stakes winners, including Gretzky the Great, Vequist, Turnerloose, and Slow Down Andy. 

In addition, her dam, Enchante, sired by Bluegrass Cat, produced a multiple graded stakes winner by Nyquist's sire, Uncle Mo, so she's a 3/4 sister to ENVOUTANTE and there's a good indication the cross is productive. 

Enchante '21 was the highest selling yearling daughter of Nyquist in 2022 and has the outstanding pedigree to become a notable Kentucky-bred filly, she's scopey without being too big, and has the look of a two-turn horse. She may, however, get a later start like her 3/4 sister did and arrive on the scene in her 3YO year. 

Our Take 

Simply Enchanting may be a bit overshadowed by some of her other trainees, but she has the pedigree, the physical presence and yet another excellent trainer that could add up to a great career. Our perception of her is that she's a very sweet, honest and straightforward filly. She may get started later rather than sooner, but should have plenty of time to develop for the big races in her 3YO year. Simply Enchanting may be the biggest surprise of them all. 

Simply Enchanting on the OBS training track
(Photo by Jennifer Reed)

Simply Enchanting near walking ring
(Photo by Kathy Craycraft)

Simply Enchanting in walking ring

Simply Enchanting in walking ring

Simply Enchanting in walking ring

Simply Enchanting posing for photo
(Photo by Jennifer Reed)

David with Simply Enchanting in her stall

Laurie with Simply Enchanting in her stall at OBS

Newly named Simply Enchanting just
got her special t-shirt design

Magical Ways - Work Out and Entry

Magical Way Workout Report 

Magical Ways had his final breeze on Friday morning , February 24th, over the Belmont Park training track. Our 4-year-old colt covered four furlongs in 48.96 while in company with stablemate Nova Rags, a multiple stakes winning/stakes placed son of Union Rags. 

Magical Ways bounced out of the work in good order.

Magical Ways Entry

Magical Ways was entered this morning in a seven furlong maiden special weight on Friday, Mar. 3rd at Aqueduct.

Happy Birthday, Sarrocchi '21!

All Thoroughbreds officially turn one year older on January 1st, but today we honor the actual foaling anniversary of our gorgeous son of Justify out of Sarrocchi, a daughter of the breed-shaping Galileo.

Happy Birthday, Sarrocchi '21

Photo credit to Cheryl Denton

Sarrocchi '21 and Secret Crush Work

A screen capture from a recent speed work by Sarrocchi 21 (by Justify - currently in process of naming) and Secret Crush (by Candy Ride). 

These two have been buds since they were foals when they grew up at the same farm, and they are often turned out together in the same paddock. They'll be separated soon though, when Sarrocchi 21 heads to the West Coast and Secret Crush goes to the East Coast. 

I wonder if they'll ever meet again in a race? That would be amazing!

Remembering Disdainful(IRE)

As we may have mentioned, our whirlwind trip to Ocala, Florida to see our six 2YOs was motivated by the fact we lost Disdainful without ever having the chance to meet him in person. It was truly heartbreaking, and we didn't want to miss another opportunity. Having six of our seven 2YOs all in one place at one time is something we'll never have the chance to take advantage of again, so in spite of a few misgivings, off we went to Ocala last weekend.

Seeing our young prospects got me thinking about Disdainful again, and how he might even have been on the Derby trail about now. That made me go track down the footage of him running in Keeneland a week before the Breeders Cup -- his only start on US soil. This race defined his talent and ability, and though he came in 2nd, it was after a troubled start, a tough trip and at the close, he fought hard for even stride of that placing, losing to a very nice Into Mischief son named General Jim. He defeated some very talented horses that day. 

Disdainful's next start was to have been a Grade 3 stakes race at Del Mar, where he was flown soon after his appearance at Keeneland. But it was not meant to be. He cast in his stall just days before the race, and we lost him to Peritonitis a few weeks later. :'(

We're posting this coverage here so we have it captured as part of his record on this site, because we know we'll want to view it again as long as it's available to watch. 

Here's the race -- The Elm Tree Allowance for 2YOs. This was live coverage of the entire day of racing, but it's set to begin during the paddock time before his race. If you want to skip that and advance to his race, you can do that by hovering your cursor over the footage, then moving the bar the appears at the bottom of the video (move it just a small amount because this is a lengthy video of the entire day of racing). If you want to back it up a bit to see an appearance by the Headless Horseman (being this was almost Halloween) just before his race coverage, you should be able to do that, too.  

Disdainful was the #3 horse in this race, ridden by John Velazquez. 

Disdainful, you were a true talent, and we are so saddened that you never had a chance to show the world how great you were. Rest in Peace. 

Another "Buzz" Horse - Colt Version

Secret Crush  

Dark Bay Colt w 3 socks (Candy Ride x Elarose - Storm Cat (x Take Charge Lady) - Going to trainer Todd Pletcher - NY/Florida  Foaled April 18, 2021 

MOST ANTICIPATED DEBUT

Secret Crush. Hands down. This flashy son of outstanding sire Candy Ride (sire of Gun Runner) is beautifully balanced and has a very sharp mind. (We'd hoped to snag a Gun Runner offspring for our partnership stable, so this guy was the next best thing!) His sire has produced some outstanding runners and sires, including Twirling Candy, and now Gun Runner is also off to an amazing start at stud after his stellar career.

Add to that Secret Crush's absolute powerhouse female family and you've got a pedigree for success. His dam is the daughter of breed-shaping sire Storm Cat and Take Charge Lady, an outstanding stakes winning mare who has also produced Take Charge Indy and Will Take Charge -- making them half-siblings to his dam. His immediate family also includes Breeders Cup winner Take Charge Brandi, and Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach and As Time Goes By.

He's off to a great start at Wavertree, training well, and already beginning his speed works. The icing on the cake? He's going to top trainer Todd Pletcher.

Our Take

This guy is just plain stunning and moves very well. He's flashy to boot, with his dark bay coat, three white socks and white star. His pedigree is something to get excited about and his training is going well. Like Lady Blitz, this guy has attitude. We can't wait to see what he'll do on the race track, though being a mid-April foal, he may not be as early to get there as a few of the others. 

Secret Crush on the Ocala OBS training track
(Photo by Debbie Humberd)

Secret Crush in the Ocala OBS walking ring

Secret Crush in the Ocala OBS walking ring

Secret Crush in the Ocala OBS walking ring

Secret Crush in walking ring
(Photo by Stephanie Andersen)

Secret Crush in the walking ring
(Photo by Debbie Humberd)

Secret Crush
(Photo by Debbie Humberd)

Secret Crush - Candy Ride x Elarose Halter Plate
(Photo by Kathy Craycraft)

Secret Crush in his stall at Ocala
(Photo by Kathy Craycraft)

Secret Crush in his stall at Ocala
(Photo by Kathy Craycraft)

Secret Crush with an unidentified partner at Ocala

Secret Crush with David at Ocala

Secret Crush with David (and an unidentified partner)

Secret Crush in his stall at Ocala
(Photo by Steve Crum)

Mo Temptation Cleared to go Back into Training!

Mo Temptation Update 

Mo Temptation had her follow up x-rays taken this morning at Kingfisher Farm. There was no bone activity noted and she has been cleared to return to the track. 

They are working on travel arrangements for next week after the rain passes. She is scheduled to return to Doug O’Neill’s string at San Luis Rey Downs where she was based previously.

Hurray, Mo T! 

Magical Ways Work Out 02-24-2023

Horse Workout Notification 

February 24, 2023 

Magical Ways (4-Year-Old Colt) 

Your comments for this horse were: Son of MacLean's Music 

Date: February 24, 2023 

Track: BELMONT PARK 

Distance: Four Furlongs 

Time: 48:96 Breezing 

Track Condition: Good 

Surface: Dirt training 

Rank: 28/66

The Undisputed "Buzz Horse" is a Filly

Lady Blitz (formerly Patsy's Kim)

Dark Bay Filly  (Audible x Lady Blitz - Dixie Union) - Going to Todd Pletcher -  NY/Kentucky - Foaled Mar 19, 2021

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED

Lady Blitz looks the part - she's stunning, she has all the physical attributes and she's training extremely well. She's been called the "Poster Child" of all the trainees, because of how well and how willingly she's performed every part of the training phase. She was the highest selling first crop daughter of Audible in the US in 2022 and Audible was an outstanding racehorse who is also the son of super sire Into Mischief. 

Lady Blitz's dam is an unraced daughter of Dixie Union who is sibling to stakes winners, and her second dam is a stakes winner by Slew Machine. In spite of being sired by an as-yet unproven sire and an unraced dam, she's still grabbed a lot of peoples' attention! 

Her trainer, Ciaran Dunne, has been very complimentary of her progress and recently said of her: "I imagine she'll be one with a big future." While at the event, we spoke to another partner whose family had been in the business since he was six and had been associated with one of the top farms. He asked which horse or horses we were partners on, and when we got to Lady Blitz he smiled and said, "That one is the real deal." 

Lady Blitz is going to top trainer Todd Pletcher and she has the look of a two-turn dirt filly, so we have high hopes that she realizes the expectations so many have placed on her at this early stage.

Our Take 

Lady Blitz is a standout, for sure. She and one of the colts seemed to be the two that generated the most excitement among the owners in this pretty stellar group of 2YOs. This tall, leggy dark bay filly is  certainly acting the part in her training, at least to date. In spite of her quiet appearance on the track and in the walking ring, she displayed quite a bit of attitude when we visited her in her stall later. David commented that he really loved her fire.

Lady Blitz on the Ocala OBS training track
(Photo by Cheryl Denton)

Lady Blitz in Ocala OBS walking ring

Lady Blitz in Ocala OBS walking ring

Lady Blitz in Ocala OBS walking ring

Lady Blitz in Ocala OBS walking ring

Lady Blitz in Ocala OBS walking ring
((Photo by Heather Jo)

Lady Blitz in Ocala OBS walking ring
(Photo by Heather Jo)

Lady Blitz in her stall at Ocala OBS 
(Photo by Heather Jo)

Lady Blitz in her stall at Ocala OBS
(Photo by Cheryl Denton)

Lady Blitz in her stall at Ocala OBS with one of her handlers
(Photo by Deb Motto)

Lady Blitz in her stall at Ocala OBS
(Photo by Cheryl Denton)