Bless the Broken Straight and Strong in Fair Grounds Seasonal Bow

[Wandering Eyes]

BLESS THE BROKEN (f, 4, Laoban–The Nightingale, by Tapit) missed the board once last year in a campaign that included a gutsy third-place finished in th GI Kentucky Oaks, and finishing fourth in the GI Acorn Stakes June 6 at Saratoga in what turned out to be the last race of her season. Sold for $950,000 to Qatar Racing and Mountmellick Farm during the Fasig-Tipton November sale last year, she was moved from the barn of Will Walden to Brad Cox, and made her return to the races here with first-time Lasix.

Carrying 2-1 second favoritism to her name when the gates opened, she was content to watch Amalfi Drive (Medaglia d'Oro) set the pace from her outside, but had locked horns with that rival coming through the final bend. Bless the Broken was able to take command entering the lane, but still had 4-5 favorite Being Myself (Curlin) rolling behind her as they entered the final sixteenth. Clear by two lengths at that point, she held them to that margin down to the wire to claim her seasonal bow in a solid 1:43.10.

The victress is the most accomplished runner for her dam by far, and the second from as many to the races to get her picture taken. She has an unraced 3-year-old half-brother named Bourbon Dream (Quality Road) as well as a 2025 half-brother by Jackie's Warrior. Their dam, The Nightingale, is due to Curlin for 2026 and is herself a half-sister to a GI Kentucky Oaks winner in Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior). That sibling was purchased by Japanese connections and exported to her adoptive country where she has since produced a stakes-placed runners, namely Danon Luster (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Glenoaks (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).

6th-Fair Grounds, $56,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000), 1-9, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.10, ft, 2 lengths.
BLESS THE BROKEN (f, 4, Laoban–The Nightingale, by Tapit)
Sales history: $950,000 3yo '25 FTKNOV. Lifetime Record: 10-3-2-2, $484,435. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Qatar Racing and Mountmellick Farm; B-Cypress Creek Equine, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

 

BLESS THE BROKEN had early speed and comes back with a bang in R6 at @fairgroundsnola! @flothejock was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing.

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/fgAgjv2GwM

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 9, 2026

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