Taghleeb split horses at the top of the stretch and charged to a one-and-three-quarter length victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park December 31.
The race marked the second career Stakes win for the five-year-old horse by Hard Spun, who increased his career earnings to $333,009. Taghleeb set a new course record with the victory, covering the two miles in 3:22.20, which eclipsed the previous mark of 3:23.22.
Taghleeb became the second Stakes winner of the weekend for his sire. On Friday, the promising two-year-old colt Vending Machine captured the Eddie Logan Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita.
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 2016 Australian G1 winner Le Romain, as well as Graded winners Turnitaround, Fursa, Hard Aces, Promising Run, Big John B, Khusoosy and Reload.
Hard Spun will stand the 2017 season at Jonabell Farm for $45,000, stands and nurses.
