Tigrado streaked to an impressive win in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Thursday, becoming the first winner for WinStar Farm’s track record-setting Nashville.
Trained by Michel Douaihy and owned by his Mana Racing, Tigrado tracked the early leaders from third down the backstretch. He ranged up alongside the pacesetter on the far turn, took over in mid-stretch, and bounded clear late to score as much the best in 1:00.55.
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and a graduate of last year’s Keeneland September Sale, Tigrado is produced from the winning Tiznow mare Dancensing, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Good Samaritan and graded stakes winner Brave Nation.
Nashville, a brilliantly fast son of Speightstown, set a new track record of 1:07.89 in winning the Perryville S. at Keeneland over six furlongs on Breeders’ Cup Day in 2020. The final time was nearly a second faster than subsequent Eclipse Champion Sprinter Whitmore’s time of 1:08.61 in winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) that same day.
Undefeated in the first three starts of his career for owners CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, Nashville broke his maiden in his debut and was named a TDN Rising Star for a facile 11 ½-length score at Saratoga. He followed that performance by recording the fastest six-furlong time of the 2020 Keeneland Fall meeting with an eye-catching 9 ¾-length allowance win in 1:09.10. His world-class speed was also on display in winning a six-furlong Fair Grounds allowance in 1:08.61, the fastest sprint time of the 2021-22 Winter Meet.
Out of the Mizzen Mast mare Veronique and hailing from the direct female family of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo and Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Tiago, Nashville was a $460,000 acquisition at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale.
First 2-year-olds by Nashville have sold for up to $550,000, $525,000, $335,000, etc. He was represented by 16 first-crop yearlings last year that sold for $100,000 or more, including up to $425,000. For more information on Nashville, who bred 494 mares in his first three books and stands for $12,500 S&N, contact Liam O’Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Ben Hanley at (859) 873-1717, or visit www.winstarfarm.com.
