Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Todd Pletcher were represented by Saturday’s romping GI Coaching Club American Oaks winner Nest (Curlin), and wasted little time unveiling their next generation of potential stakes runners as juvenile filly Kaling (Practical Joke) turned in a promising and professional debut worthy of a ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod.
Off at 3-1 with an upbeat tab on display, the $220,000 KEESEP yearling showed good cruising speed early to make the early lead down on the inside. Rarify (Justify), the $750,000 half-sister to champion sprinter Runhappy (Super Saver), split horses and tugged her way to the front, but Kaling and rider Flavien Prat were plenty content to let that one go and post a :22.08 opening quarter. Randomized (Nyquist), a $420,000 acquisition herself, moved up to do the dirty work into the turn as Kaling drafted in behind Rarify. Kaling tipped out after a :45.90 half to go and get the chalk, and she strode out well from there to kick away by 2 3/4 lengths while stopping the clock in 1:12.69–a time that compared favorably to colt Blazing Sevens (Good Magic)’s own ‘Rising Star’-earning performance in 1:13.34 to kick off the card. Randomized held for third.
The winner is out of a half-sister to the MGSP dam of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Summerly (Summer Squall). Her GSW third dam was second in the 1988 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kaling has a yearling half-brother by West Coast and a foal full-brother.
6th-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 7-24, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.69, ft, 2 3/4 lengths.
KALING, f, 2, Practical Joke
1st Dam: Proud Indian, by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Shufflin n Seattle, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Darby Shuffle, by Darby Creek Road
Sales history: $220,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-John R. & Frank Penn (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.