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Eskendereya first winner hits high note at Belmont
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| Eskendereya's racing career
was cut short following romping wins in the Fountain of Youth
and Wood Memorial
(EquiSport Photos) |
Grade 1 star Eskendereya recorded his first winner on Thursday when Isabella
Sings wired the
1ST race at Belmont Park. The Todd Pletcher-trained juvenile miss led the
way soon after the start under jockey Joel Rosario, setting splits of :21 3/5,
:44 1/5 and :56 1/5 as the 4-1 second choice behind near 6-5 favorite and fellow Eskendereya-sired
stablemate Eskenformoney.
The Siena Farms homebred dug in late to score a one-length victory in a final
time of 1:08 4/5 for six furlongs over the firm inner turf in her racing debut.
Eskenformoney finished fourth.
Isabella Sings is out of the Lomitas mare Isobel Baillie, making her a
half-sister to multiple stakes winner and Tuesday's Dr. James Penny Memorial
Handicap third-placer Alaura Michele. Her third dam produced multiple Group 1
hero Campanologist and her fourth dam is legendary Eclipse Award winner and
Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song.
Eskendereya, a son of internationally-renowned sire Giant's
Causeway, was runner-up in his premiere on the turf at Saratoga. Trainer Todd
Pletcher entered him back on turf for the 2009 Pilgrim, but when that stakes was
transferred to Belmont's main track, a revelation was in the offing. Eskendereya
galloped by 7 1/4 lengths and stated that his true home was on dirt.
Shipped west for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita,
the Zayat Stables runner met with trouble on the first turn and never recovered.
He ended up a non-threatening ninth on the old Pro-Ride, but would never taste
defeat again.
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Eskendereya returned to dirt that winter at Gulfstream Park
and ground out a workmanlike allowance score. Stepping up mightily next time in
the 2010 Fountain of Youth, the robust chestnut smashed the field by 8 1/2
lengths. He increased that margin to 9 3/4 lengths in the Wood Memorial at
Aqueduct, solidifying his status as the red-hot favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
Unfortunately, Eskendereya sustained a soft tissue injury
in his left foreleg that ruled him out of the Triple Crown and ended his
promising career. He earned $725,700 from his 6-4-1-0 line, reflecting an
unbeaten mark on dirt.
Eskendereya was bred by Sanford R. Robertson in Kentucky
and sold for $250,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out of the
Seattle Slew mare Aldebaran Light, making him a half-brother to 2003 Middle Park
hero Balmont.
Eskendereya's fourth dam is Queen Sucree, best known for
producing 1974 Kentucky Derby winner Cannonade. She is also the ancestress of
multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Stephan's Odyssey and Grade 1 queen Lotka.
This is the superb family of breed-shaping supersire
Northern Dancer and another globally significant patriarch in Halo.
The seven-year-old Eskendereya stands at Taylor Made
Stallions near Nicholasville, Kentucky, for $17,500, stands and nurses.
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