First-out winner Velvet Beretta became the first winner for Spendthrift Farm's grade 1 winner and freshman sire Cyberknife after rolling to an easy victory July 9 at Ellis Park for Mana Racing.
Velvet Beretta likely provided a quick return for her owners. She was a buyback on a final bid of $37,000 for consignor 30-30 Ranch at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The $100,000 maiden special weight at Ellis paid $59,884 to the winner of the 5 1/2-furlong test.
The chestnut filly is trained by Michel Douaihy and was ridden by Francisco Arrieta. She won by 3 lengths in a final time 1:05.34, and paid $33.68 to win.
Stoneriggs Farm bred Velvet Beretta out of the Distorted Humor daughter Make Me Laugh, who is a half sister to stakes-placed winner Hayworth. Make Me Laugh's dam is graded-placed winner Glamorista, who is a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Critical Eye. The immediate family also produced 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner More Than Looks .
Cyberknife is a 7-year-old son of leading sire Gun Runner . He was a winner at 2 and a multiple grade 1 winner at 3, having captured the 2022 Arkansas Derby (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1). He also was runner-up in the Travers Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and ran third in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Cyberknife retired with a 5-4-1 record from 13 starts and earned $2,137,520.
Cyberknife stands at Spendthrift for $15,000.
