Goodwood S. (gr. I)
(gr. I , 9f ,)
GITANO HERNANDO (GB)
(CH h,
121
lb) $165,000
Hernando (FR) —Gino's Spirits (GB) , by
Perugino
B—Newsells Park Stud Limited,
GB.;
O—Team Valor International and Barber, Gary;
T—Marco Botti
Colonel John
(B h,
124
lb) $70,000
Tiznow —Sweet Damsel , by
Turkoman
B—WinStar Farm, LLC,
KY.;
O—WinStar Farm LLC;
T—Eoin G. Harty
Richard's Kid
(DK B/ h,
124
lb) $42,000
Lemon Drop Kid —Tough Broad , by
Broad Brush
B—Fitzhugh, LLC,
MD.;
O—Arnold Zetcher LLC;
T—Bob Baffert
Margins: neck, ¾, ¾. Others: Parading 124($21,000) , Chocolate Candy 121($7,000) , Mine That Bird 121 , Monzante 124 , Informed 124 , Tres Borrachos 124 , Tiago 124 . Winning Jockey, Kieren Fallon.
Gitano Hernando represented his native England well in his first start on North American soil by scoring a neck upset victory in the Oct. 10 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
Especially impressive was the fact the 3-year-old son of Hernando bested a field that included five grade I stakes winners, the most notable being this yearÕs Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) victor Mine That Bird, who finished a distant sixth.
With his triumph in the 11Ú8-mile Goodwood, Gitano Hernando earned an automatic berth in the BreedersÕ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita in November.
Ridden by Kieren Fallon, Gitano Hernando covered the distance in 1:48.39. The winner arrived from Europe with a two-for-two record on synthetic surfaces. His best black-type effort prior to the Goodwood was a second in the May 8 Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes (Eng-III).
Bred by Newsells Park Stud, Gitano Hernando was purchased in a private sale for $53,964 at the 2007 Deauville August yearling sale from Quesnay, agent. He was raced in his first three starts by Mrs. R.J. Jacobs and was then acquired by Team Valor, a Versailles, Ky.-based syndicate group under the leadership of Barry Irwin. Gitano Hernando is now raced by Team Valor International in partnership with Gary Barber.
Team Valor and Barber also teamed with Heiligbrodt Racing Stable to campaign Hull, winner of the April 25 Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Gitano Hernando was bred from the grade III-winning Perugino mare GinoÕs Spirits, who was bought for $550,000 by Newsells Park Stud at the 2001 Keeneland November mixed sale from Eaton Sales, agent.
Newsells, located near Barkway, Royston, Hertfordshire, England, has bred other group winners Maroussies Wings and Best Name.
GinoÕs SpiritsÕ dam, Rising Spirits (by Cure the Blues), is a daughter of group I winner Mrs. McArdy (by Tribal Chief) and is a half-sister to dual Irish champion Citidancer (by Lomond), plus Admire McArdy, who is the dam of three-time Japanese champion Admire Cozzene (by Cozzene).
GinoÕs SpiritsÕ last reported foal is a yearling colt by Dubai Destination.
Hernando is the sire of 49 stakes winners, including other 2009 group I victor Casual Conquest. Hernando stood the 2009 season for £12,000 (about $20,000) at Lanwades Stud near Newmarket, England.ÑE.M.
