Like a fine wine, six-year-old Taghleeb continues to get better with age. Starting off the new year in style, Taghleeb came with a determined rally to take the G3 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
Settled toward the rear of the field through the early stages of the twelve-furlong contest, the chestnut son of Hard Spun began his rally on the final turn, closing on the frontrunners while sweeping four-wide. Taghleeb continued his as he came flying through the stretch to get up to win by a head.
Taghleeb was bred in Kentucky by Shadwell Farm LLC and is out of Judhoor, winner of the Listed Ripon Silver Bowl Fillies’ Stakes. Taghleeb hails from the immediate family of Al Bahathri, winner of the G1 Goffs Irish One Thousand Guineas.
Hard Spun is the sire of nine G1 winners including Eclipse Champion Questing, Arlington Million winner Hardest Core, and multiple G1 winner Hard Not To Like. His 11 Graded Stakes horses in 2016 included Graded winners Hard Aces, Big John B, Khusoosy and Reload.
Hard Spun will stand the 2017 season at Jonabell Farm for $45,000, stands and nurses.
