Shields-Bred Lookin At Lucky Colt Blows Break, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’

[Wandering Eyes]

Mrs J. V. Shields and E J M McFadden’s COUNTRY HOUSE (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Quake Lake, by War Chant) completely bombed the start when veering in sharply from gate one, but the chestnut was given a patient ride from the tail thereafter by Javier Castellano and saved his best for last en route to a three-length graduation and ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors. Making his sophomore debut and first appearance since a runner-up effort going a mile over a laboring Aqueduct main track Dec. 1, Country House spotted his rivals the better part of 10 lengths once straightened away and remained out of the frame down the backstretch as 15-1 Ownitifyouwantit (Midshipman) set a modest pace. Called upon while five or six deep on the turn, he continued to make eyecatching progress leaving the quarter pole and finished up full of run and straight and strong for the victory. He covered 40 feet more than the runner-up according to Trakus. Country House is cleverly bred, as second dam Shooting Party (Sky Classic)–raced by the late Shields to a runner-up effort in the 2001 GI Garden City Breeders’ Cup S.–was responsible for Lookin At Lucky’s overachieving son Breaking Lucky, a Grade III winner on synth and three times Grade I-placed on conventional dirt. Country House is the last produce for Quake Lake, who died in 2016. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0. O-Mrs J V Shields & E J M McFadden; B-J V Shields Jr (KY); T-Bill Mott.

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