11/26/16 - Six Seattle Slew Progeny Win at Breeders' Cup

Six of the big winners at Santa Anita Park during the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4 and 5 descend from the 10th and only undefeated Triple Crown winner. The Slew Crew congratulates the winners and all their connections.

Five-year-old TOURIST (Tiznow) captured the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) by a half-length on Nov. 5, outrunning 13 other top turf stars in a fantastic performance. Racing in midpack early while saving ground, he inched clear deep in the stretch and held off the late closers for the biggest win of his career. He stopped the clock in 1:31 3/5 for a mile over the firm turf, missing the track record by two-hundredths of a second but setting a new Breeders' Cup mark.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Tourist boasts Seattle Slew on both the top and bottom of his pedigree. In addition to his Horse of the Year sire (Tiznow), who is a great-grandson of Seattle Slew, Tourist traces to Seattle Slew through his female family. His fourth dam is Seattle Slew's daughter Group 3-placed Mysteries, who produced Japanese champion Hishi Akebono (Woodman), multiple Group 1 winner Agnes World (Danzig) and stakes winner My Sea Castles (Polish Navy), the third dam of Tourist.

Tourist raced for the partnership of WinStar Farm, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, was trained by Bill Mott and was ridden to victory by Joel Rosario. He was retired to stud at WinStar Farm on Nov. 17.

Earlier on card, CHAMPAGNE ROOM (Broken Vow) kicked off the second day of championship racing with a three-quarter-length victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Facing off against 11 other two-year-old lasses, the bay filly stalked the pacesetter before taking over at the top of the lane and holding firm to the wire. Champagne Room completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 over the fast main track.

Kentucky-bred Champagne Room's second dam is Belle Erzulie (Pulpit), making the winner a great-great-granddaughter of Seattle Slew. She was bred by Respite Farm; races for Ciaglia, Exline-Border, Gulliver Racing, R. Christensen, D. Legan and S. Alesia; is trained by Peter Eurton and was ridden to victory by Mario Gutierrez.

Also on Saturday, FINEST CITY (City Zip) sped to a three-quarter-length win in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) over a dozen other fast ladies. The chestnut filly raced three-wide on the pace for most of the event, took the lead before leaving the final turn and held off last year's winner for the rich win. She dashed seven furlongs in 1:22 1/5 over the fast strip. Pennsylvania-bred Finest City was produced from Be Envied (Lemon Drop Kid), making the four-year-old filly a great-great-granddaughter of Seattle Slew. She is owned by Seltzer Thoroughbreds, was bred by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing, is trained by Ian Kruljac and was ridden to victory by Mike Smith.

On Friday, Nov. 4, a trio of Seattle Slew relatives captured three Breeders' Cup events in a row. First up was OSCAR PERFORMANCE (Kitten's Joy) in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The bay ridgling forced the pace early, took command near the stretch and raced clear for a 1 1/4-length victory, completing one mile in 1:33 1/5 over the firm Santa Anita turf course.

The Kentucky-bred two-year-old descends from Seattle Slew through his third dam, Magical Holiday (Slew o' Gold). He races for his breeder, Mrs. Jerry Amerman, in the name of Amerman Racing, is trained by Brian Lynch and was piloted to victory by Jose Ortiz.

In the next event, TAMARKUZ (Speightstown) stunned a number of top milers to take the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) by 3 1/2 lengths. A chestnut six-year-old, Tamarkuz ran near the back for the opening furlongs, began to make his move approaching the far turn and took command with a sixteenth-mile to go. Full of run, no one was going to catch the well-traveled Group 2 winner.

Foaled in Kentucky, Tamarkuz was produced from Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid) and has raced in England, Dubai and the United States. Following his victory in the Dirt Mile, he was retired. He raced in the colors of Shadwell Stable where he will stand at stud, was bred by John Gunther, was trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and was ridden to victory by Mike Smith.

Rounding out the three Friday winners was two-year-old NEW MONEY HONEY (Medaglia d'Oro) in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). A full field of 14 lasses went to the gate, and the bay filly came home a half-length in front, running one mile over the firm lawn in 1:34. Next across the line was Coasted (Tizway).

Kentucky-bred New Money Honey's second name is Weekend in Indy (A.P. Indy), who is the dam of Grade 1 winner Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor). The winner races for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, was bred by WinStar Farm, is trained by Chad Brown and was guided to victory by jockey Javier Castellano.


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