Naming a horse after a well-known or particular individual just isn’t a assure for achievement.
Typically it really works out fabulously and typically, properly, the horse fades into obscurity.
Historical past buffs could keep in mind Chris Evert, the 1974 champion 3-year-old filly named for the famed tennis star.
However do they keep in mind her stablemate, Bobby Murcer, named for the New York Yankees outfielder?
That is unlikely.
Which is why there have been so many smiles Aug.1 when a mare named after an individual who meant a lot to coach Chad Brown added one other laurel to a profession that has already honored her namesake in such heartwarming vogue.
Klaravich Stables’ McKulick , named for Brown’s late bookkeeper and good friend Mary McKulick, added to her feel-good story when she gained the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) for a second straight yr Thursday at Saratoga Race Course.
“That is only a nice story,” Brown mentioned in regards to the daughter of Frankel , a champion named for Brown’s late mentor Bobby Frankel. “(Mary McKulick’s) two brothers are right here at this time and it is nice that they have been right here to be part of such a special occasion for everybody.”
McKulick’s newest Glens Falls rating was her seventh win in 18 profession begins and lifted the grade 1 winner’s earnings to $1,887,290 with six graded stakes wins.
“She’s a beautiful filly who’s going to make a beautiful momma in some unspecified time in the future,” proprietor Seth Klarman mentioned.
Whereas 1 1/2-mile races are arduous to seek out, McKulick certainly excels in them as she owns an ideal 3-for-3 mark on the distance, a report normal by her two Glens Falls wins and a victory earlier this yr within the Orchid Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. In her different two 2024 begins, each at shorter distances, she was no higher than fourth.
“When she was youthful, we actually wished to stretch her out in distance,” Brown mentioned in regards to the 5-year-old who gained the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) as a 3-year-old. “As soon as we obtained her there, I believe chopping her again in between sure races grew to become extra of a problem than we anticipated. I attempted to tug her again and she or he wasn’t as efficient anymore as she was with the three-turn races. You simply need to run in these races now and she or he’ll actually now be operating longer distances.”
McKulick’s stablemate Royalty Curiosity set the tempo within the marathon check whereas pressed by Godolphin’s Everlasting Hope , the 9-5 favourite and grade 2 winner making her first begin since October.
The pair carved out a half-mile in :48.17 and a mile and 1 / 4 in 2:03.61 on the great turf however got here up brief within the stretch. As Royalty Curiosity pale to final within the discipline of seven fillies and mares, Everlasting Hope stayed in competition till the eighth pole when jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and McKulick used a six-wide transfer to seize the lead and draw clear to a 2 1/4-length victory in 2:27.89.
Bred by Essafinaat UK, the daughter of the Makfi mare Astrelle was the 2-1 second alternative and paid $6.60.
“She’s one of the best. She loves it right here and she or he is aware of discover the end line,” Klarman mentioned.
West Level Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Secure’s Parnac , winner of final yr’s Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) for coach Christophe Clement, was second. The daughter of Zarak was a head in entrance of Selective’s Chop Chop , a Metropolis of Gentle filly educated by Brad Cox.
McKulick was purchased for $245,370 from the Hazelwood Bloodstock consignment on the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. A half sister to group 2 winners Fearless King and Simply Stunning , McKulick is the third of six foals from Astrelle and her third graded/group stakes winner. She additionally has a 2-year-old filly by Pinatubo .