Happy New Year to all who keep up to date with the goings-on with the Stidham stable. And boy, the barn has seen the New Year in with the very best of fashions!
As 2023 drew to a close, the Susan Moulton-owned Tufani made sure it closed with a bang when taking the $100,000 Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Given a superb ride by Ben Curtis, Tufani was settled well back to begin with before being delivered down the stretch, coming clear of the field by two lengths.
Still relatively lightly raced, Tufani, a now 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor, is clearly still on the improve. But with this bold black type next to her name, she's a tremendously valuable proposition for the breeding shed already.
It'll be exciting to see what she does next year!
On New Years Day at Fair Grounds, the Godolphin homebred Heckled broke her maiden in a stunning manner, passing the post under Ben Curtis (again) by 4 and 1/4 lengths.
Out of the stakes-wining dam, Speckled, Heckled has done her broodmare prospects no harm whatsoever with this lovely victory.
And here's to the weekend entries:
Saturday
Fair Grounds
Parisian Spirit - Race 5, Maiden Claiming $30,000
Matching Energy - Race 7, Maiden Special Weight
Sunday
Fair Grounds
Maycocks Bay - Race 5, Allowance Optional Claiming $100,000
Uphold the Law - Race 6, Claiming $30,000