Making Waves: Kingman Filly Parlays Tampa Score To Sales Ring Stardom

[Wandering Eyes]

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kingman's Ocean Mermaid at Tampa Bay Downs.

Tampa Win Boosts Ocean Mermaid's Sale Charm

Stonestreet Stables' Ocean Mermaid (GB) (Kingman {GB}) ran second in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes on debut in May of 2023 to subsequent G2 Queen Mary Stakes heroine Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), and graduated in her fifth lifetime start at Tampa Bay Downs for Josie Carroll this past week (video). Her success last Friday prompted RWB to shell out $210,000 during Tuesday night's Fasig-Tipton Digital February Sale to acquire the well-bred bay from the Taylor Made Sales Agency draft as lot 10.

Bred by Peter Winkworth, the daughter of Sparkling Surf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was acquired by Ben McElroy on behalf of Stonestreet for 210,000gns during Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The winner is a half-sister to the 3-year-old winner Glittering Surf (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), and colts by Palace Pier (GB) and Baaeed (GB) born in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Her granddam is the G3 Pinnacle Stakes heroine Shimmering Surf (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), responsible for G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Kitesurf (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G2 Dante Stakes third Surfman (GB) to the cover of Kingman.

Juddmonte's Kingman has been well-represented in the U.S., with 45 winners from 78 runners (58%). Eight of his progeny have won stakes in that locale, six of them at graded level anchored by Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB).

 

#8 OCEAN MERMAID ($14.20) used a nice stalking trip under @Pablojockey88 to get the lead and hold on late to win the finale at Tampa Bay Downs. The daughter of Kingman is trained by Josie Carroll. pic.twitter.com/D8zJk9tL1Q

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 21, 2025

Angel Game In Florida

Wathnan Racing's Serene Seraph (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) closed to take her American debut at Gulfstream Park earlier this month (video). Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old was bred by Stowell Hill Partners, and cost 80,000gns when she caught the eyes of Peter and Ross Doyle during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Well-tried in seven UK starts, first for Barnane Stud and Partners for trainer Richard Hannon, and later for Wathnan Racing, the bay won twice there. Serene Seraph is a half-sister to the unraced colt Blarney (GB) (Belardo {Ire}), a 2-year-old filly by Palace Pier (GB), and a yearling colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn). The daughter of French listed winner Pacific Angel (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) is from the same family as the decorated trio of group winners Policy Maker (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Pushkin (Ire) (Caerleon) and Place Rouge (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), with the first two also Group 1-placed. Group 1 winners and sires Planteur (Ire) and Persian King (Ire) are also under the third dam.

Darley's Blue Point's eldest foals are 4-year-olds of 2025. He has five winners from 12 (42%) runners in the U.S., with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and new Tally-Ho sire Big Evs (Ire) and GIII Goldikova Stakes heroine Raqiya (Ire) his best in North America. The bay stands for €100,000 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland this year.

 

Serene Seraph (IRE), with @JuniorandKellyA, reaches the wire first in the second race. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/yqLMuZSASP

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) February 22, 2025

California Jungle

Jungle Peace (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) broke her maiden at Santa Anita for CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff earlier this month (video).

The Phil D'Amato trainee, bred by M Brigid B, Ltd., was a €14,000 yearling pickup by Toberona Bloodstock from Rathasker Stud. Put back through the ring at Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in April of 2024, she did not meet her reserve and was a £5,000 buy-back. Unplaced when making her bow at Navan last September, Jungle Peace improved to third on the Dundalk all-weather a month later in her final start for owner/trainer Paul Nolan. A daughter of the War Command mare Peace Treaty (Ire), Jungle Peace is her first winner from two to race. Herself a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of G3 Gimcrack Stakes hero Siren Assault (Aus) (Rich Enuff {Aus}), Peace Treaty has a 2-year-old colt and yearling filly by Coulsty (Ire) still to come.

Rathasker Stud's Bungle Inthejungle has sired four winners from eight runners (50%) in the U.S.. His Manhattan Jungle (Ire) won the Listed Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita in the winter of 2023. He stands for €7,500 this year.

 

Repeat Winner

Sorrento Sky (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) returns to the Making Waves column after winning a five-furlong Santa Anita affair on Feb. 16 (video). The 4-year-old filly races for an ownership group of the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Mclean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig. Phil D'Amato trains the four-time winner and 2024 Stormy Liberal Stakes runner-up.

The post Making Waves: Kingman Filly Parlays Tampa Score To Sales Ring Stardom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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