COLUMN 47 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 840 Thursday 4th April 2024 adiyat racing plus.com adiyat racing plus.com the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic. Laurel River continues that evolution after his front-running score in Dubai at 2000m for Juddmonte Farms, which has directed many of its blue-blooded Kentucky mares to Into Mischief in recent years, notably daughters of its late homebred Empire Maker, winner of the 2003 Belmont Stakes. MANDALOUN IS ANOTHER Among those resulting from this cross has been current Juddmonte Kentucky stallion Mandaloun, who was produced by Empire Maker’s Irish group stakes-winning daughter Brooch. Mandaloun famously benefited from the disqualification of Zedan Racing Stable’s Medina Spirit to become the official winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Laurel River was foaled in 2018 by Empire Maker’s daughter Calm Water, a full sister to Juddmonte’s four-time Grade 1 winner Emollient. The bay’s pedigree gleams with the expert weaving of speed and precocity with distance specialists such as Empire Maker and Touch Gold, sire of Laurel River’s second dam, Soothing Touch. A little further back, legendary quality shines on the female side through Laurel River’s fifth dam Coup de Folie and her daughter, French champion Coup de Genie, both bred by the Niarchos family. Coup de Folie, by Halo, claimed Natalma, dam of Northern Dancer, as her own second dam. Coup de Genie, by Mr. Prospector, became a foundation for dirt performance when she produced Laurel River’s third dam Glia to the cover of A.P. Indy. Although Laurel River showed great talent when trained by Bob Baffert, the now six-year-old struggled with physical issues. After he won the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes over seven furlongs in August 2022 over a top Del Mar field including Senor Buscador, Defunded and Speaker’s Corner, he was poised for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. However, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians scratched him before that race. Juddmonte decided to send Laurel River to Bhupat Seemar - who had worked for Baffert for five years in the early 2000s - in Dubai to aim for the Middle East’s big prizes and the plan unfolded brilliantly at Meydan. Even though many might have been surprised, insiders were not. Juddmonte’s American manager Garrett O’Rourke suggested in early March that Laurel River was the type who could likely extend his speed over more ground as he grew stronger with age, particularly on a speed-favoring track like Meydan. Baffert also dropped hints that he respected Laurel River as “a top-calibre horse”. Laurel River is the 20th Grade 1 winner for Into Mischief, whose progeny have earned over $178 million. Into Mischief has 146 black type winners, or 8% of his foals of racing age, even including his unraced juvenile crop numbering 163. In Laurel River, Into Mischief has given the world a beautifully bred horse with fierce speed when he is sound and the heart to carry that speed. Although Juddmonte has not revealed plans for Laurel River other than a tilt at the 2025 Saudi Cup, here’s hoping he will one day have a chance to share his attributes with a new generation. Laurel River JUDDMONTE DECIDED TO SEND LAUREL RIVER TO BHUPAT SEEMAR - WHO HAD WORKED FOR BAFFERT FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE EARLY 2000S - IN DUBAI TO AIM FOR THE MIDDLE EAST’S BIG PRIZES AND THE PLAN UNFOLDED BRILLIANTLY AT MEYDAN.
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