At the end of the day Nov. 30, Segesta—a half-sister to Salamis, winner of the Nov. 29 Hollywood Derby (G1T)—captured the Matriarch Stakes (G1T). The four-year-old filly stamped herself as one to watch in the turf mare division next year for owner and breeder Juddmonte. However, Juddmonte also had a bright star in the two-year-old division explode onto the scene this week. Two-year-old filly Consequent, another homebred for Juddmonte, remained undefeated in two starts by winning the Dec. 6 Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos. By Into Mischief—who looks likely to tally his seventh overall title as 2025 leading sire by progeny earnings—she is out of Cognitive, who is out of a half-sister to grade 1 Dream Rush. This is a female family full of talented fillies; Dream Rush produced grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia, herself dam of two-time Eclipse champion Malathaat.
Zany and Paladin Dominate Aqueduct: Future Stars Shine in Demoiselle & Remsen
On a frigid Saturday at Aqueduct, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher notched his tenth victory in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) Dec. 6. In the winner’s circle was Zany, a two-year-old daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and grade 3 winner Mo’ Green. Racing for Repole Stable (who also campaigned her broodmare sire, Uncle Mo), Zany obliterated the field, coasting home first by 8 ½ lengths.
The colts’ counterpart to the Demoiselle, the Remsen Stakes (G2), went to Paladin. This son of Gun Runner (also the sire of a promising Tropical Racing acquisition this fall!) is a promising two-year-old who sold for $1.9 million at auction last year. Paladin’s fifth dam is Golden Trail, third dam of excellent stallion Dynaformer (sire of Kentucky Derby, G1, winner Barbaro) and champion Ryafan, among others.
Veteran Stars Rise: Just Beat the Odds and Bishops Bay Score Big at Aqueduct
Not to be forgotten, three-year-olds and older had their say Dec. 6 at Aqueduct, too. Five-year-old Just Beat the Odds turned multiple allowance wins into graded stakes glory for the first time by bringing home the win in the Elite Power Stakes (G3). Another five-year-old succeeding is Bishops Bay. Recently selling for $1.3 million at the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age sale, he rewarded buyer KAS Stables with his second consecutive graded stakes triumph, this one in the Cigar Mile Stakes (G2). Next up for him? The $20 million Saudi Cup (G1)! It’s worth noting that many top horses in racing share high-class bloodlines; for example, Bishops Bay is a son of the aforementioned Uncle Mo out of a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile (sire of American Pharoah).
Fully Subscribed Extends Winning Streak with Comely Stakes (G3) Victory
On Dec. 7, Fully Subscribed captured her second consecutive graded stakes at Aqueduct: the Comely Stakes (G3). The three-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law—the New York-bred who won the 2020 Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1)—won the Nov. 8 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) last time out.
