Two starts was all it took for Modern Games to become the new darling of North American turf racing. The Godolphin homebred, who became the first horse in history to capture both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) left the Del Mar debacle far behind when he was crowned 2022 champion turf male of the year Jan. 26.
"He's beginning to get some fanfare around the world, but it's great to see him get the recognition today that he didn't get 12 months ago from no fault of his own," trainer Charlie Appleby told BloodHorse after the colt’s thrilling victory in the Nov. 5 Mile.
In the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, Modern Games was the subject of a controversial steward’s call when he was ruled as scratched after trotting out the front gate prior to the race when his stablemate Albahr flipped over in the stall next to him. Minutes later however, officials declared Modern Games would compete but run for purse money only. Modern Games then proceeded to score in the Juvenile Turf amongst a frustrated betting public.
Turning the page into his 2022 season, the son of Dubawi competed predominantly in Europe, acing his first test of the year in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) before putting on admirable showings against the fiercest competitors from across the pond. He was a game second to 2022 Cartier Horse of the Year Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes (G1) and checked in third to multiple group 1 winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) runner-up Vadeni in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1).
Shipped to Woodbine for his second foray overseas, Modern Games put on a scintillating performance when taking the Woodbine Mile (G1T) by 5 1/4 lengths over notable miler Ivar. Swinging six wide for home under regular rider William Buick, Modern Games displayed a devastating turn of foot down the Woodbine straight, racing to a final mile of 1:32.77, only a tick off the track record.
After suffering a heart-wrenching defeat to 33-1 shot Bayside Boy in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Ascot in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup, Modern Games returned to the United States a stronger and more confident animal than he was the year before and defeated no less than 10 individual grade/group 1 winners on Championship Saturday. Forced to rally eight-wide into the lane, the wide trip mattered little to the chestnut comet, who cemented his second Breeders’ Cup title and gave the Godolphin team one of their remarkable four Breeders’ Cup victories from the weekend.
Although he ran just twice in the U.S., the Irish-bred left a memorable impression in both of his starts. He completed his 3-year-old season sporting a 3-2-1 record from seven trips to the post and a bankroll of $2,581,368.
Modern Games, produced out of the New Approach mare Modern Ideals, is a half sister to the promising 3-year-old filly Mawj (Exceed and Excel), winner of the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G2) last summer at Newmarket.
Turf Specialist Regal Glory Pulled Off Best Year in '22
Regal Glory collected three grade 1 victories and $1,374,250 during a stellar year for owner Peter Brant, improving with age and adding the title of champion turf female to her resume.
The now-7-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom kicked 2022 off in immaculate style, capturing the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G3T) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths. Three months later, she dominated the Keeneland turf in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T), finishing a length ahead of a competitive field. Next the Chad Brown trainee swept the June 11 Just a Game Stakes (G1T) by 3 1/2 lengths, beating out Wakanaka and stablemate In Italian at Belmont Park.
Next out in August at Saratoga Race Course, Regal Glory ran into some traffic trouble and finished a formidable second in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) in open company. Fellow Brant-owned Brown trainee In Italian gave her a run for the money in the Oct. 8 First Lady Stakes (G1T), beating Regal Glory by one length at Keeneland.
A return to open company and an 14-horse field proved unfavorable during the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), where Regal Glory floated out and never had the opportunity to contest the frontrunners. She finished tenth to the Charlie Appleby-trained European invader Modern Games, her only off-the-board finish in 2022.
Regular rider Jose Oritz was aboard for all her starts except her season finale on the West Coast, where she returned to winning ways Dec. 4 at Del Mar, winning the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) by an impressive 5 1/4 lengths with Flavien Prat in the irons. Like a fine wine, this mare is blossoming with age.
For her career, Regal Glory has earnings of $2,619,134 in 23 starts from ages 2 through 6, with a 13-6-0 record. Bred by the late Paul Pompa in Kentucky, she is out of grade 2-winning More Than Ready mare Mary's Follies, producer of grade 3 winner Night Prowler, by Giant's Causeway, and grade 1 winner Cafe Pharoah, by American Pharoah . Pompa campaigned his homebred through 2020 with Brown, who continued to condition the mare after she changed hands to Brant for $925,000 during the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.
