Forums

It wasn't as flashy as her prior victories, but Taken by the Wind (Rock Your World) would not be denied late as she gamely held off a late challenge to win the Silverbulletday Stakes and claim 20 points toward the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Unbeaten in two prior jumps, where the closest the runner-up managed was at least three lengths back, she entered this contest with the GIII Pocahontas Stakes hardware already on her mantel back home. She claimed that race at Churchill Downs by 5 1/4 lengths Sept. 13 in what ended up being her final race of the year. A 4-1 chance here on her seasonal bow, Taken by the Wind immediately stepped out to control the pace, and did so as easily as she pleased–posting an opening quarter in :25.69 and a half in :50.24 with little pressure from her competition. After rolling through six panels in 1:14.49 and still comfortably in command, she tried to give them the slip turning for home, but Luv Your Neighbor (Constitution) was not prepared to let Taken by the Wind have it easy. The longtime leader had to fight every step of the way, but managed to hold off that rival by a diminishing margin on the line. Atropa (Into Mischief) closed up the rail to claim third. The final time was 1:43.58. Sales history: $70,000 Ylg '24 FTKJUL; $20,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT. O-Magdalena Racing, Bradshaw, Terry, Leveston, Graham and Raasi Stable; B-Courtney L. Meagher (FL); T-Ken McPeek.   The post Rock Your World’s Taken by the Wind Game as They Come to Win Silverbulletday, Claims Oaks Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two Maryland-breds, Takethemoneyhoney and Quint's Brew, starred during a multi-stakes card at Laurel Park Jan. 17.View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Struck By Her in Arcadia.  Mehmas Filly Finds Her Way Struck By Her delivered in her American debut and third overall start for trainer Philip D'Amato on January 11 (video). Owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Ross Helman, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, the filly is by Mehmas. Bred by Ringfort Stud, the daughter of Struck By The Moon (Fastnet Rock) sold for €10,000 out of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale to John O'Neill from the consignment of Ringfort Stud. She raced in Ireland for John Martin O'Neill and trainer Andrew Slattery, who also rode her in two Irish starts. The third winner for her dam, Struck By Her has a juvenile half-sister by Cotai Glory and a yearling filly by Persian Force. This family features G1 Irish Oaks second L'Ancresse (Darshaan), Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone (Dalakhani), and G1 Prix Saint-Alary victress Cerulean Sky (Darshaan). Tally-Ho's Mehmas has sired 24 winners from 38 runners in the U.S. (63%). Seven of those winners are stakes winners there led by Grade I winners Going Global, Chez Pierre and Magnum Force. Mehmas stands for €70,000 this year. Repeat Winner DJ Stable's Phoenix Of Wit returned a winner of a Tampa Bay contest on January 10 (video). Trained by Joseph Orseno, the four-year-old filly won her maiden at Gulfstream Park in August. Yours Sincerely (Cable Bay), third in the GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar in November, won at Santa Anita for Phil D'Amato on January 11 (video). Raced by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Madaket Stables, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McClanahan, and Michael Nentwig, the three-year-old filly first won at Del Mar in August. The post Making Waves: Struck By Her Stuns At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Journalism, last year's Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, is back home at the Santa Anita Park training base of trainer Michael McCarthy after receiving a winter break at Bridlewood Farm near Ocala, Fla. He jogged Jan. 17. View the full article

The New York Racing Association has canceled the remainder of the nine-race card Jan. 17 at Aqueduct Racetrack following race 4 due to inclement weather in the New York City area affecting track conditions.View the full article

Journalism (Curlin), last year's GI Preakness S., GI Santa Anita Derby and GI NYRA Bets Haskell S. winner, is back home at Santa Anita after receiving a winter break at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida. He jogged on the main track for the first time Saturday morning. “It seemed like the ship went fine–he's full of himself,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Happy he's back.” McCarthy added, “He'll start galloping here in a few days get back in his routine.” Under consideration as a major goal for Journalism the first half of the season is the GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga, which is usually run in June. “We'll see how it goes here over the next couple of months. But yeah, that's certainly something to think about,” McCarthy said. Journalism was voted a finalist as North America's outstanding 3-year-old-male of 2025. The post Winter Break Over for Journalism, Back in Training at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He won at first-asking, but proved that the increase in real estate was no problem for him, and Jackson Hole (Nyquist) strolled home on seasonal bow at Fair Grounds to become the latest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' for his sire. A length winner against maidens Dec 13 at Gulfstream Park, the son of GI Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist was strongly supported at the windows to the tune of 4-5 favoritism here, and never gave them a scare. Loping along from the rail, he set a controlled pace in :23.66 and a half in :47.50 with little push back despite the half-length margin to his early pursuers. Extending his advantage after six panels in 1:12.15, Jackson Hole had the measure of the field entering the lane, and strolled home much the best to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Colt Forty Seven (Bolt d'Oro) ran on well for second after trailing in the opening stages. Jackson Hole was a $1.3-million purchase at Keeneland September in 2024 after previously selling for $385,000 as a weanling in the venue's 2023 November sale. The victor is the most recent successful offspring to the races from three of racing age for Spa Treatment. Since this 'Rising Star', the mare has also produced a juvenile filly by Girvin, a 2025 full-sister to Jackson Hole, and is due to Good Magic for 2026. The dam is herself a half-sister to SW Manipulated (Malibu Moon) and the pair hail from the female line of GI Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes victress Joe's Tammie (Zoning).       3rd-Fair Grounds, $60,000, Alw (NW2L)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 1-17, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.71, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. JACKSON HOLE, c, 3, by Nyquist                 1st Dam: Spa Treatment, by Bernardini                 2nd Dam: Silver Knockers, by Silver Deputy                 3rd Dam: Knock Twice, by Two Punch Sales history: $385,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $1,300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $60,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and First Go Racing, LLC; B-Springhouse Farm & Hunter Valley Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Nyquist’s Jackson Hole Aces Step Up in Class, Named Newest Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Based on your reply to my question, does bets placed on apps on course count as on course betting, then the 100k on Ellerslie continues to emphasize that for the size of Auckland no one goes racing or gives a shit about it.

Whether you're a racing fan enjoying another glimpse of champions of yesteryear, or a breeder assessing the new intake to the sire ranks, the ITM Irish Stallion Trail is unmissable. From toddlers up, the throng of visitors to the 37 studs who opened their doors across the country on Friday and Saturday stand as testament to the draw of the annual showcase. Many readers of this publication will be in the fortunate position of being able to visit stallion studs at their leisure and to be welcomed with open arms. Granting access to those who are not active breeders but who could recite race-by-race form of some of their old favourites from the track is every bit as important, if not from a commercial viewpoint then certainly from that of good PR for the sport. “I've come just to see him,” said a delighted lady as she waited, camera phone in hand, for Yeats to appear at Castlehyde Stud on Saturday. Once a brilliant stayer beloved by fans throughout a lengthy racing career, Yeats has longevity as his watchword. Now 25, he still knows how to please those who come to worship him as he poses for photos alongside Matthew Jones, who gives the visitors what they want by taking Yeats on one last turn before he returns to his box in the corner of the yard.  Of course the draw for many to this corner of Fermoy is to see the recent retirees to stud, Classic winners Henri Matisse and Los Angeles. But those spring chickens vie for attention with some of the elder statesmen of the line-up, with Holy Roman Emperor and Footstepsinthesand still taking their turn in the spotlight at the age of 22 and 24 respectively.  The relatively fleeting nature of most top horses' careers means that on retirement from racing they retreat from public life, their names continuing to echo in sales houses and in breeders' discussions but unseen by those who once roared them home on the track. This annual event brings the curtain up once more, if only for two days, and if you can brave the January weather, then a free weekend out paying homage to some of these great names is just the ticket. This year in Ireland there is no shortage of new stallions to inspect: 11 to be precise, with five of those being sons of the recently departed Wootton Bassett. Breeders' Cup hero Unquestionable has joined a youthful line-up at Rathbarry Stud alongside the brilliant globetrotter State Of Rest, whose first runners are eagerly awaited this term.    State Of Rest at Rathbarry Stud | Emma Berry   They also have a Wootton Bassett son at Capital Stud in the form of four-time Group winner Topgear, who has a splendid demeanour for one so unused to relentless posing and promenading. But you mustn't even think about asking to see him without first admiring Authorized, who, at 22, and having stood at five different studs in four different countries, has lost none of that Montjeu swagger. And talking of swagger, if you've never seen Lope De Vega in the flesh then make a note to do so during next year's trail. One of the most revered stallions in the world, he heads a classy roster at Ballylinch Stud where one of his sons, Look De Vega, joined the team last year. If you planned your route well you could have seen nine Derby winners over the last two days, with Workforce, Camelot, Australia, Harzand, Wings Of Eagles, Masar, Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy also on show. Four of those are all under one roof at Coolmore, where around 1,500 visitors were registered across the two days. “It's a really good idea and it's a very positive thing,” said Coolmore's director of sales David O'Loughlin. “From Camelot to City of Troy to Australia, to the first-season stallions, the people are very excited to see them. And it's good for the local area as well. There's people staying in local hotels and they've flown over to see the stallions and they're going on tour.   Ballylinch Stud's Make Believe in the spotlight | Emma Berry   “And even for the team here helping out, be it the stallions or the sales team, it's a bit of fun on the day as well. You're always kept on your toes because there's always somebody in that probably knows more about the horses than you do. There's some real racing fanatics in most groups.” He added, “In fairness to the government, they're very good to our industry to give us a substantial grant every year. It's great that people can come in and see where that money is going. It's going back into the industry, it's creating jobs, rural employment, and it's great to see that in rural areas the horse business is very strong. It justifies all the government support.”   Authorized, age 22, at Capital Stud | Emma Berry   At next weekend's ITBA Awards, Ireland's minister for agriculture Martin Heydon is expected to attend once more, and several politicians joined the stallion trail, with TDs Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and Natasha Newsome Drennan both spotted at studs along the way and in conversation with Joe Foley while he showed off his laidback new recruit Magnum Force. Such close links to government remain of vital importance to the Irish breeding industry. But the weekend is at heart about the fun and social aspect: a chance for breeders to bump into each other and compare notes over coffee or lunch while enjoying the generous hospitality laid on by stud owners. It is also a gentle form of education for those who love racing and want to know what comes next for the Thoroughbreds deemed exceptional enough to be retired to stud.  Some extra tuition may well be needed for all teams who finished a distance behind the winning quartet of Eoin Fives, Declan Foy, Charles Weld and Mark Boylan at the Mark O'Hanlon Memorial Quiz held at the Lord Bagenal in Leighlinbridge on Friday. Team captain Fives was on the mic for two days of stallion shows at Ballylinch and, we're not saying he takes quizzing seriously, but sources tell us that he and his team-mates have a WhatsApp group dedicated to testing each other on racing and breeding trivia throughout the year. Such devotion to the cause has been deservedly rewarded.   Quiz wizzes: Eoin Fives, Mark Boylan, Declan Foy and Charles Weld with Avril O'Hanlon | Emma Berry   It is almost 11 years since the passing of Mark O'Hanlon, the popular former member of the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing team. Since his death, his ITM colleagues have continued to organise and publicise the stallion trail as one of the key events of the year in the Irish bloodstock industry, while the quiz, organised by fiendish question master Joe Foley, has also continued as an annual gathering. In a way both events are very much in the spirit of what made Mark so beloved by his colleagues, welcoming as they do new people to our industry while looking after and promoting those who are already key in keeping the bloodstock world turning.  The flight home beckons, but as ever it has been a few days filled with learning from some of the best in a country which has for so long been a world leader in the pursuit of Thoroughbred breeding. A heartfelt thank you to those who threw open their doors and took the time to show all of us visitors some truly exceptional horses. As ever, it was very much appreciated.    The post New Faces, Old Heroes: Something For Everyone on the Irish Stallion Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article