Positive Press Looks Constant for Covfefe

[Wandering Eyes]

With all respect for the neutrality of the Turf–where we gratefully transcend even the divisions of these times, to find dreams in common–registering an Into Mischief filly out of a mare named Antics as Covfefe was an inspiration that made many people, far beyond her owners LNJ Foxwoods, hope that she might carry it well.

In the event, Covfefe is carrying it so fast that we may conceivably look back at the end of the year and recognize her smouldering exhibition at Pimlico, on the eve of the GI Preakness S., as a signpost out of the maze into which the males had a couple of weeks previously led the present crop of sophomores. Ultimately, in fact, she may yet usurp a stake in Country House (Lookin At Lucky), beneficiary of that historic break in the GI Kentucky Derby, as the definitive symbol of an extraordinary month for the Roth family.

Covfefe’s pursuers in the GIII Miss Preakness S. could not have faltered more brokenly had her passage reduced the track to glowing coals. The way she separated herself in the stretch, by 8 1/2 lengths, had the brutalizing quality you sooner associate with the relentlessly devouring capacities of a two-turn monster. Where a sprinter typically uses the switchblade, to prevail at close quarters, she seemed to wield a scimitar above her shoulders. Coasting as she was, it would have been remarkable just to get in the vicinity of a 29-year-old track record. To tear it down from 1:09 to 1:07.7 was plain freakish. A 3-year-old filly hasn’t got the number guys so excited since Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro).

It wasn’t numbers that got Jaime Roth excited by Rachel, of course. Ten years on, the woman first drawn to the sport by the filly who beat the boys in Baltimore saw Old Hilltop lit up not only by Covfefe but also, on the same card, by the stakes success of a filly with a truly clever name in Dogtag (by War Front out of Diamond Necklace, and named for the military I.D. chain).

The Foxwoods stable Roth set up with her parents, Larry and Nanci, was named New Owner of the Year only in 2016. Yes, they have invested in their new adventure with uncommon commitment. No less out of the ordinary, however, has been the counsel they have received over the past six years from Jason Litt and Alex Solis II.

On teaming up with Foxwoods, Litt and Solis suggested mixing things up to create a natural sequence in the stable’s development. Yes, the Roths should make a priority of well-bred fillies, eligible for the paddocks in time. But they could pick off targets in different markets, guerrilla style, rather than commit immovably heavy artillery all on a single front. So they were buying foundation mares one day, young racing prospects the next. The day after that, moreover, they might be back at market to cash one in, as oil for the gearshift.

To illustrate how smartly they have played it, consider this. One of the routes laid open to Covfefe, after her $250,000 Keeneland September acquisition, was a pinhook sale the following spring. In fact, she was catalogued as Hip 72 at Fasig-Tipton’s Gulfstream Sale, only to be scratched as they sold, in partnership, a colt by the same sire instead. Hip 77 was presented by Eddie Woods, topped the sale at $1.2 million, and is familiar to us now as Instagrand. Good work all round and, if Instagrand proved the readier of the two for the leap from maiden to graded stakes last year, their respective graph-lines for now appear to have crossed back over.

In seeking out seedcorn, moreover, Solis and Litt put in intergalactic air miles. Dogtag was bred from an Unbridled’s Song half-sister to Shamardal found for Aus$540,000 at Inglis Easter in 2013. Another regally bred mare is Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon), a half-sister to Goldikova (Anabaa) herself, carrying a future group-winning filly when acquired for €520,000 at Arqana the previous December. Gold Round’s daughter by Kitten’s Joy, Golden Box, contributed to the Roths’ incredible May when breaking her maiden at Maisons-Laffitte last week, having shaped nicely on debut when third to future Classic winner Castle Lady (Shamardal) over a bare mile. (She has been supplemented to the G1 Kerrygold Irish Oaks.)

Covfefe herself, incidentally, is abundantly qualified for the Foxwoods breeding program, with none other than Courtly Dee as fourth dam. That matriarch had 10 stakes-producing daughters, notably the mother of Green Desert, founder of a potent European branch of the Danzig dynasty. Courtly Dee’s most accomplished runner was champion juvenile filly Althea (Alydar), whose four daughters all became stakes winners. Two went on to become Grade I producers; Aurora (Danzig) did so twice over, in fact, through that significant animal Arch plus Spinster S. winner Acoma (Empire Maker). Aurora’s unraced daughter by Unbridled is Antics, already responsible for a Grade II winner in Japan (by Into Mischief’s sire Harlan’s Holiday), and now dam of Covfefe.

Having earned his stripes with lesser mares, Into Mischief is now showing what he can do with families like this one, which bears the illustrious Groves-Alexander imprint. Covfefe was the Spendthrift phenomenon’s 50th stakes winner and, while he did add another Classic podium through Owendale the next day, she is clearly going to amplify his reputation as a source of speed.

After a month like this, Covfefe’s owners seem to be rising as fast as did her sire. They won’t always have the same tailwind, as they are perfectly aware, but when you buy a stake in a maiden winner and he goes on to land the Derby, and in such circumstances, then you know you’re rolling sixes. But then they would never have got aboard Country House but for the fact that Guinness McFadden and the late Jerry Shields knew and trusted their advisors.

So if their luck is in right now, it’s luck that has been earned. We can already rely on them to name Covfefe’s foals with due mischief. Achomlishments and Hamberders are apparently already reserved. With all due neutrality, I just hope they don’t miss out on “Stable Genius.” Every barn, after all, could do with one of those.

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