May 10 Insights: Half to Honor Marie Debuts at Churchill, California Hosts Big Ticket Maidens

[Wandering Eyes]

5th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 2:46p.m. ET
OLYMPIC DAME (Medaglia d'Oro) will break from the rail here wearing the colors of Qatar Racing for trainer Brendan Walsh. A $385,000 FTSAUG purchase in 2023, the price looked like a steal three months later when her half-brother Honor Marie (Honor Code) brought home the trophy for the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in late November, and kept himself in the headlines from there, running through the 2024 Kentucky Derby trail by route of Louisiana and eventually finishing eighth in the big dance. He went on the shelf after trailing along in eighth in the GI Travers Stakes but has since redeemed himself. He was last seen winning the Listed Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes beneath these same Twin Spires as his sister will begin her career. The pair also claims GSP Abarta (Into Mischief) as a half-sibling. Their dam, Dame Marie (Smart Strike), is a half-sister to G1 Betfair St. Leger hero Rule of Law (Kingmambo). This is the extended family of G1 Prix de Paris victor Feed the Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who joined the stallion ranks in France this year after multiple placings at the elite level last season. TJCIS PPs

6th-SA, $60k, Msw, 3-5yo, 6 1/2f, 6:38p.m. ET
It's the battle of the high six-figure auction horses in this maiden special weight, and Florida-bred Southern Gentleman (Mitole) takes first prize in that department at a princely $725,000 when he changed hands at OBSMAR last year to Speedway Stables. In the barn of Bob Baffert, this son of Mitole is a half-brother to GSW Midnight Stroll (Not This Time) and SP Atthecrossroads (Practical Joke). Their dam Midnight Magic (Midnight Lute) is a half-sister to GSW Coalport (Kitten's Joy) and that one's dull-brother, French Listed winner Jolly Good Kitten. This is the immediate family of GI Santa Maria Handicap victress Favorite Funtime (Seeking the Gold).

Two spots to his inside is Cheever (Into Mischief) for owners Muir Hut Stables and trainer Mark Glatt. The Stonestreet-bred was a $700,000 acquisition from the same OBSMAR auction, and hails from an accomplished female family as the son of GSW Electric Forest (Curlin), herself a daughter of MGSW & MGISP Forest Music (Unbridled's Song). The dam's half-siblings include GSW Kentuckian (Tiznow) as well as GSW Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo).

Breaking farthest out in the field is Legal Heir (Nyquist), a $550,000 OBSAPR purchase and now racing for the partnership of MKW Racing and Spendthrift Farm. In the barn of Richard Mandella, the Maryland-bred is a half-brother to SW & GSP Monday Morning QB (Imagining). Their dam How My Heart Works (Not For Love) is a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), who would achieve fame by way of her son, MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner). This is the female line of SW Well Dressed (Notebook), who is best known for her world-beating son, multiple Group 1 winner Well Armed (Tiznow). That gelding needs little to no introduction to most racing fans. Well Dressed's line branches out in many directions via her daughters and has produced many graded and group winners at every level.  TJCIS PPs

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