Ill-Fated Brilliant Speed Gets First Winner

Grade I winner and deceased freshman sire Brilliant Speed, who was killed by a lightning strike in his paddock at Three Chimneys Farm last month, was represented by his first winner Aug. 5, when daughter Fly won the second race at Laurel Park in her debut. 

Brilliant Speed was an 8-year-old son Dynaformer out of the Gone West mare Speed Succeeds. He stood at Three Chimneys near Midway Ky. for a 2016 fee of $5,000. His dam, unraced Speed Succeeds, is a half sister to Canadian champion Serenading who also produced stakes winner Souper Speedy, by Indian Charlie. He was from the family of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner and sire Touch Gold and Canadian Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner With Approval. There are 27 2-year-olds in Brilliant Speed's first crop.

MITCHELL: Lightning Strike Kills Brilliant Speed

Brilliant Speed won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and Saranac Stakes (gr. IIIT), and posted a record of 3-3-7 from 21 starts that also included grade I placings in the Belmont Stakes, Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf, Jamaica Handicap, Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes, and the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes. His career closed with more than $1.2 million in earnings.

Fly, trained by Phil Schoenthal for a partnership that includes Dark Hollow Farm, won the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race by a half-length in 1:02.87 at odds of 11-1. She was bred in Kentucky by Avalon Farms, Scott Swaim, and Desmond Ryan from 1995 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) victress Desert Stormer, a daughter of Storm Cat and half sister to graded winner and grade I producer Sahara Gold (Seeking the Gold). Schoenthal signed the $80,000 sales receipts for Fly at the Keeneland September yearling sale, where she was offered by St George Sales' agency.