Karak Adds Her Name to Breeze Easy Royal Ascot Contingent

[Wandering Eyes]

A year ago, Sam Ross and Mike Hall watched Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) carry the colors of their Breeze Easy to victory in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot. The two men were so impressed by the experience, they decided to try for a return trip to the prestigious race meet. In pursuit of that goal, they purchased a pair of fillies at the OBS March Sale. Both juveniles won impressively first time out for trainer Wesley Ward, both were tabbed ‘TDN Rising Stars’ and both are on track for Royal Ascot. They will be joined by Breeze Easy’s Imprimis (Broken Vow), who is trained by Joe Orseno.

“That is kind of what drove the whole deal and why we bought the couple of fillies,” Hall said. “We decided we wanted to go back and that was our goal–to get back again. And it looks like that’s where we are headed.”

Of the meeting’s appeal, Hall said, “I don’t know how to explain it. The people were super nice and everything was precise and perfectly done. We just had a great experience there really.”

Breeze Easy purchased Anna’s Fast (Fast Anna) for $470,000 at the OBS March sale following her :9 4/5 work. She was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a 5 1/2-length debut win at Keeneland Apr. 24.

Also at the March sale, the operation purchased a daughter of Karakontie (Jpn) for $365,000 following her :9 4/5 work. Now named Karak, the filly punched her ticket to Royal Ascot with a three-length debut win at Belmont Saturday.

“We weren’t 100% sure, because we hadn’t done that much with her up to this point,” Hall said of Karak’s first racetrack appearance. “But we were hoping she would perform like that.”

Breeze Easy purchased Shang Shang Shang for $200,000 at the 2018 OBS March sale, so it was an easy decision to return to the auction this year, according to Hall.

“We were lucky and we bought Shang Shang Shang at that same sale a year ago and it worked out well for us,” Hall said. “So we picked these two fillies. They both checked the boxes for everything we were looking for. They had good breezes, good genetics and good heart scans and great conformation. So we were happy to get them.”

Both fillies became the first winners for their first-crop sires, but Hall said, “It’s just a coincidence. They just both had really great works and we just fell in love with both of their conformation. There was no science to it other than that. I think it’s great that they are both first-crop sires and hopefully they will help promote those horses.”

With Karak’s victory Saturday, all is set for Breeze Easy’s return assault on Royal Ascot. Imprimis, coming off a win in the Apr. 6 GII Shakertown S., worked five furlongs in :59.31 over the turf at Gulfstream Sunday. Anna’s Fast also worked Sunday, going four furlongs in :49.00 over the turf at Keeneland.

“Imprimis had a nice work and Anna’s Fast had a nice work this morning, too,” Hall said. “So we’re all set.”

While Hall said his requisite top hat is packed for the trip, he admitted the fashion accessory wasn’t his favorite part of the Royal Ascot fanfare.

“I’m not going to lie, they are not real comfortable,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s part of it, I guess. I’d rather wear a cowboy hat than a top hat, but I’ll do what I have to do. Wesley knows the ropes there and we are proud to be a part of his team. We also have Joe Orseno going with Imprimis and he is looking forward to the trip.”

Hall concluded, “We enjoy racing and we love Ascot.”

Meanwhile, Shang Shang Shang, scratched the morning of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint when the turf came up soft last November, has been absent since winning the Norfolk. The 3-year-old filly has been working regularly in Kentucky, most recently going five furlongs in 1:00.80 over the Churchill turf May 21. She is expected to return to the races in the June 15 Honey Bee S. at Monmouth Park.

1st-Belmont, $96,500, Msw, 5-25, 2yo, 5fT, :57.38, fm.
KARAK, f, 2, by Karakontie (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Down The Well (Ire), by Mujadil
                2nd Dam: Batchelor’s Button, by Kenmare (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Boutonniere, by Sir Gaylord
$22,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $30,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $365,000 2yo ’19 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $50,000.
O-Breeze Easy, LLC; B-Parrish Hill Farm, Amanda Roach Cole & Karakontie Syndicate (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. *1/2 to Aqua Frio (Uncle Mo), SW, $191,007. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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