The first mare bred to Grade 1 winner BRIGHT FUTURE has checked in-foal, Claiborne Farm announced March 3.
The mare, My Way (Unbridled’s Song – Mine Only), is the dam of nine winners from ten to race. She is half-sister to Grade 2 winner Academy Award, Grade 3 winner and stakes-producer Good Mood, and Grade 3 winner Statuette, dam of Tomahawk, a Champion 2yo Colt in Ireland. The family also includes Grade 1 winners Dream Tree, Golden Ticket, Well Chosen, Telling, Leofric, Champion 3yo Filly in Canada Elysian Field, and Eclipse Champion National Treasure.
BRIGHT FUTURE (Curlin – Sophia’s Song), winner of the stallion-making Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) won five of 11 career starts and earned $947,940 for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables and Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
A dominant 4 ¾ length winner on debut going 1 mile at Gulfstream Park, BRIGHT FUTURE proceeded to win three races during his subsequent 4-year-old campaign, highlighted by the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga, for which he earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.
BRIGHT FUTURE came back in 2024 to win the historic Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park, a race previously won by influential stallions Smart Strike and Distorted Humor, overcoming early traffic trouble with a powerful stretch rally on the rail to win by 1 ¾ lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, BRIGHT FUTURE is out of the stakes-winning Bellamy Road mare Sophia’s Song, making him a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Musical Mischief (2020 f. by Into Mischief), as well as TDN Rising Star Booth (2021 c. by Mitole), who ran a 96 Beyer in his 2-year-old debut at Keeneland and most recently a 105 Beyer in the Commodore Overnight Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 24. Bright Future’s extended family includes two-time champion sprinter Housebuster, Grade 1 Hopeful S. winner Nutella Fella, and Grade 2 winner Quero Quero.
BRIGHT FUTURE stands for $12,500 at Claiborne Farm.