Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted 3 hours ago Journalists Posted 3 hours ago John Ortiz had high hopes for Brightwork long before she set foot in his barn. His father, Carlos Ortiz, had broken the daughter of Outwork in Ocala and told him the filly was a standout mentally, taking everything that was asked of her and doing it effortlessly. But what surprised Ortiz, when Brightwork stepped off the van at Keeneland, was how striking the filly was physically as well. “She walked in like she owned the place,” Ortiz recalled. “You'd confuse her for a colt early on. She was really stout, had good muscle tone and was very well balanced. She always had a nice body on her.” Brightwork continued to excel as a standout pupil in her training at Keeneland, prompting Ortiz to send her to an April debut. Despite getting a bit pinched on the rail, the 2-year-old dominated the four and a half-furlong contest with a three-length win over Stonestreet's Barbtourage (Into Mischief) and future G2 Queen Mary S. winner Crimson Advocate (Nyquist). “That day we knew that she was special,” said Ortiz. What followed was a juvenile campaign beyond anything he could have imagined. Brightwork reeled off three consecutive stakes wins, culminating in Ortiz's first Grade I score in the Spinaway Stakes. “For a horse to break their maiden as early as April at the Keeneland meet and then put in six high-quality races speaks volumes to her ability and how rare she is,” he explained. “You don't see that often. It was a journey and she's a tough cookie for it. We understand how special she really is.” Picked out by bloodstock agent Jared Hughes at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Brightwork was one of the first shining success stories for the partnership of Ortiz and Bill and Tammy Simon's WSS Racing. Ortiz, who took his trainer's license out in 2016, started out training claimers at Oaklawn Park for the Simons, but after continued success in that arena, they began purchasing young stock to take their stable to the next level. Their first breakout horse was Barber Road (Race Day), who placed in three graded stakes on the Kentucky Derby trail and ran sixth on the first Saturday in May in 2022. Brightwork came into the barn the following year. After her winning debut and another score in the Debutante Stakes, Brightwork took Saratoga by storm as she reeled off a five-length win in the GIII Adirondack Stakes and then bested future Grade I winner Ways and Means (Practical Joke) in the Spinaway. Brightwork bests Ways and Means in the GI Spinaway Stakes | Sarah Andrew For Ortiz, winning his first Grade I in Saratoga surrounded by his family and friends marked a day he will never forget. “I felt like I was holding my breath the whole race,” he recalled. “When I saw her come down the stretch, put her fight on with Ways and Means and then once she took control of the race, it was just a sigh of relief. Once she crossed that finish line, we looked around and everybody had teary eyes. Our emotions were on our sleeves that day, but it was a great day to celebrate. This filly has brought a lot of joy into this barn, but also within my family and our connections with Bill Simon and Miss Tammy.” Brightwork returned a winner at Saratoga in her 3-year-old debut, claiming last year's GIII Prioress Stakes. She made four more starts over the next year, including a third-place effort in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. Over the past few years, Brightwork has become more than just a talented racehorse to Ortiz and his team. She's been the heart of the barn. During busy mornings in Saratoga, she was often seen with her head poking out of her stall, a flower tucked into her forelock and a few admirers gathered around her. “She's a sweetheart slash diva,” Ortiz explained. “She knows that Mr. Simon is the carrot man and Miss Tammy is the peppermint lady. She's kind in the stall. She likes to nuzzle up to you. But she's all business on the track.” The next chapter of Brightwork's story will begin when she goes through the ring at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton 'Night of the Stars' Sale. Selling as Hip 199, the 4-year-old will be consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. John Sikura said the Grade I winner has all the makings of a collector's item in someone's broodmare band. “Brightwork was really the talking filly of Saratoga her 2-year-old year,” he said. “She has the complete package. She was very fast and she's a beautiful physical–well balanced and well muscled. Pretty leg, good bone and just a standout physical specimen. The ultimate goal is to sell a horse out of a Grade I winner that looks the part. If she has offspring that look like her, she'll certainly be a smashing commercial success. Really if you look at any points of merit, be it physicality, performance or pedigree, she has it all.” Brightwork's dam Clarendon Fancy (Malibu Moon) has produced two other stakes horses and is a full-sister to Catch the Moon, the dam of four graded stakes winners including the promising young sire Girvin. Brightwork poses with Bill and Tammy Simon and John and Daniel Ortiz | Sarah Andrew “You're talking about quality runners throughout the pedigree,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning. “We've seen how good a start Girvin is off to. His first crop of Kentucky-breds will be 2-year-olds next year and he's already the sire of two Grade I winners. The whole pedigree is filled with durable, consistent, top-class runners and it's a great opportunity for someone to acquire a filly of this type. The most dangerous qualities that everyone wants in terms of a broodmare is speed and precocity and she clearly possesses those at a very high level.” Ortiz said the quality he believes will make Brightwork excel in her next career is the same one he'd heard about long before she ever arrived in his barn. “For as beautiful as she is physically, I think with her mental beauty you're going to be looking at a very successful broodmare,” he predicted. “She's going to produce a lot of early horses.” As Ortiz parts with Brightwork, he can't help but feel proud of all they've accomplished together and excited for the bright future that awaits his star trainee. “Seeing her walk away from my barn to start a new career, it means a lot,” he said. “For whoever buys her, just know that she does love attention and you're going to have to invest in a lot of carrots. So be prepared for that.” The post Bright Future for Spinaway Victress at Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article Quote
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