The Sky Is Falling First Black-Type Winner for Cupid

David Raim's The Sky Is Falling delivered freshman stallion Cupid his first black-type winner when she rallied from mid-pack for a 1 1/2-length score in the $67,500 West Virginia Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders' Classic Stakes Oct. 9 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The 2-year-old filly trained by Jeff Runco defeated nine rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong race. She was ridden to victory by Arnaldo Bocachica in a final time of 1:22.22 on the fast track. Bocachica won eight stakes on the evening program, Runco seven, and Raim five. Bred in West Virginia by Catherine Jennings and Scott Mallory, The Sky Is Falling is out of the stakes-placed Half Ours mare Miss Henny Penny and is a half sister to Door Buster, a 3-year-old Speightster filly who has won two black-type stakes this year. The Sky Is Falling was offered as a short yearling at the 2020 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale as part of Mallory's consignment. She sold for $40,000 to Pat Macieriello, with Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock as agent. With two wins in three starts, The Sky Is Falling has earned $53,767. Cupid, an 8-year-old son of Tapit, raced for the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith. He won four graded stakes, topped by the 2017 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1), and earned over $1.7 million. Standing at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., Cupid was advertised at a $5,000 fee in 2021.