Richard Pell's Celtic Moon, maiden special weight winner July 7 at Betfair Hollywood Park, represents the first winner for his sire, Denis of Cork. Celtic Moon broke his maiden in his second attempt, getting five furlongs on turf in :57.69 for trainer Peter Miller.
Celtic Moon is the second foal out of the unraced Three Wonders mare Beastlie Moon, who was bred in Florida by Suzanne Sharra-Maxwell and Dennis Kay.
Celtic Moon was a $4,500 short yearling at the 2012 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s January sale, then sold for $10,000 later that year at the OBS August yearling sale. In April of this year Celtic Moon sold to Pelican Racing for $100,000 at the OBS April 2-year-old sale.
Denis of Cork is an 8-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday, the leading sire of 2-year-olds in 2013, out of the Unbridled mare Unbridled Girl. Racing for William and Suzanne Warren and trainer David Carroll, Denis of Cork won the 2008 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park. He later ran third behind Big Brown and Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and second to Da'Tara in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). He put together a 3-1-1 slate from six starts and earned $613,252.
Denis of Cork, who has 14 registered 2-year-olds of 2013, stands at Taylor Mountain Farm in West Virginia for $2,500.
