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Kertez, McKulick Capture Graded Stakes on Turf

Kertez  made his stateside debut a winning one with a last-to-first performance in the March 30 $200,000 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.

“I’m just delighted,” said trainer Christophe Clement of Kertez. “It’s a new purchase for the stable. We got him at the sale in France and I always liked the horse. He’s a beautiful-looking horse, a very good-moving horse. He was trained by Mr. (Andre) Fabre in France. I’m just delighted it worked out.”

The British-bred Kertez, group 2-placed in France, was a $158,604 acquisition for partners Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Consigned by his breeder, Wertheimer et Frere, he exchanged hands at the Arqana’s The Arc Sale last fall as a racing prospect.

Second on the odds board behind stablemate Tawny Port , Kertez was quite the handful for jockey Joel Rosario during the early stages of the 1 1/2-mile Pan American, tugging keenly along the inside fence. The son of Intello  settled as the field raced past the stands for the first time, and was kept firmly under wraps at the back of the pack as Candidate  led the field through fractions of :23.74, :48.36, and 1:13.23. Winding his way through horses around the final turn, Kertez angled four wide down the lane and accelerated smartly to the finish.

Kertez ($6) edged Harry Hood  by a nose, with Tawny Port a neck back in third.

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Collecting his first graded score, 6-year-old Kertez was timed in 2:24.93 on the firm turf course.

“I thought Kertez was very game,” Clement said. “When (jockey) Joel (Rosario) took him out, he finished very well. Tawny Port was very unlucky. He was on the inside, a little bit tight, so he couldn’t quite go when he was supposed to go. He had to check a little bit but he finished very well and got up for third. Both of them will be trained with the Man o’ War as a goal.”

The Man o’ War Stakes (G2T) will be run May 11 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

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McKulick Prevails in Orchid

McKulick  kicked off her 2024 campaign on the right foot for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown, streaking to a game victory in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T).

McKulick wins the 2024 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King

McKulick wins the Orchid Stakes

A top-level performer at the age of 3, landing a win in the 2022 Belmont (G1T) and the Jockey Club (G3T) Oaks Invitational Stakes, McKulick added two graded wins to her tally last year as a 4-year-old but disappointed her connections with a last-place finish in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

The Frankel   mare didn’t fail to impress in her 5-year-old debut. Stalking a spirited pace in the 1 1/2-mile Orchid under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., McKulick seized command at the quarter pole and kicked on willingly to the wire, refuting late bids from Surprisingly  and French import La Mehana  for a half-length win.

McKulick ($4.60), the betting favorite, stopped the clock in 2:25.20 over the firm turf.

“The timing was good,” Brown said. “I like that Gulfstream has this race right here on this big Florida Derby weekend. It’s a good launching pad for some good races that I have ahead for her.”

A $245,369 Book 1 purchase at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, McKulick bumped her to bankroll to $1,707,790 with her fifth stakes score. McKulick was named for Brown’s former employee, Mary McKulick, who passed away in 2020 from cancer.

“Mary McKulick was my first employee and helped me build the company,” Brown said. “Mr. (Seth) Klarman was nice enough to name one of our good horses after her. She just keeps going on and developing in her career. She’s a real fine racehorse.”

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