Spinaway Victress Shows Bright Future at Fasig-Tipton November

Fasig-Tipton announced that Grade I winner Brightwork will be offered as Hip 199 at the upcoming “Night of the Stars” Sale, marking the end of a remarkable racing career for the daughter of Outwork.

The 4-year-old filly, who provided trainer John Ortiz with his first Grade I victory, will be consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.

Ortiz had high expectations for Brightwork before she arrived at his barn. His father, Carlos Ortiz, who broke the filly in Ocala, had praised her exceptional mental attributes.

“She walked in like she owned the place,” Ortiz recalled. “You’d confuse her for a colt early on. She was really stout, had good muscle tone and was very well balanced.”

Brightwork’s talent became evident in her April debut at Keeneland, where despite getting pinched on the rail, she dominated the four-and-a-half-furlong contest by three lengths over Stonestreet’s Barbtourage and future G2 Queen Mary Stakes winner Crimson Advocate.

“That day we knew that she was special,” said Ortiz.

The filly proceeded to reel off three consecutive stakes wins during her juvenile campaign, culminating in Ortiz’s first Grade I victory in the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga.

“For a horse to break their maiden as early as April at the Keeneland meet and then put in six high-quality races speaks volumes to her ability and how rare she is,” Ortiz explained. “You don’t see that often.”

Brightwork was selected by bloodstock agent Jared Hughes at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and became one of the first major success stories for the partnership between Ortiz and Bill and Tammy Simon’s WSS Racing.

Ortiz, who began his training career in 2016 with claimers at Oaklawn Park for the Simons, gradually expanded into purchasing young stock. Their first breakout horse was Barber Road, who placed in three graded stakes on the Kentucky Derby trail and finished sixth in the 2022 Run for the Roses.

After her winning debut and victory in the Debutante Stakes, Brightwork dominated Saratoga with a five-length win in the GIII Adirondack Stakes before defeating future Grade I winner Ways and Means in the Spinaway.

“I felt like I was holding my breath the whole race,” Ortiz said of the Spinaway. “When I saw her come down the stretch, put her fight on with Ways and Means and then once she took control of the race, it was just a sigh of relief.”

Brightwork returned to win the GIII Prioress Stakes at Saratoga in her 3-year-old debut. She made four more starts over the next year, including a third-place effort in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes.

Beyond her racing accomplishments, Brightwork became the heart of Ortiz’s barn. During busy Saratoga mornings, she could often be seen with her head poking out of her stall, a flower tucked into her forelock and admirers gathered around.

“She’s a sweetheart slash diva,” Ortiz explained. “She knows that Mr. Simon is the carrot man and Miss Tammy is the peppermint lady. She’s kind in the stall. She likes to nuzzle up to you. But she’s all business on the track.”

John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale said the Grade I winner has all the qualities of a collector’s item for a broodmare band.

“Brightwork was really the talking filly of Saratoga her 2-year-old year,” he said. “She has the complete package. She was very fast and she’s a beautiful physical—well balanced and well muscled.”

Brightwork’s dam Clarendon Fancy has produced two other stakes horses and is a full-sister to Catch the Moon, the dam of four graded stakes winners including promising young sire Girvin.

“You’re talking about quality runners throughout the pedigree,” said Fasig-Tipton’s Boyd Browning. “We’ve seen how good a start Girvin is off to. His first crop of Kentucky-breds will be 2-year-olds next year and he’s already the sire of two Grade I winners.”

Ortiz believes Brightwork’s mental attributes will serve her well in her broodmare career.

“For as beautiful as she is physically, I think with her mental beauty you’re going to be looking at a very successful broodmare,” he predicted. “She’s going to produce a lot of early horses.”

As Brightwork prepares to enter the sales ring, Ortiz offered one piece of advice for her future owner: “She does love attention and you’re going to have to invest in a lot of carrots. So be prepared for that.”