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yes they are 2 beauties alright. Quinellaed the Addington 3 yearold Slot in November 7 lengths clear of the field. Come to think of it Captain's Mistress was in that Velocity Slot race as well,  and finished 12 lengths behind them so she might not be the next Big thing after all. lol.  A big ask for Marketplace and the 'Choc's' to run against this field in their first go in Open Class Ranks. They used to run the NZ Messenger as the Feature 4 year-old race , but changed it to Open Class in recent years , so they don't get that one to fight over either.  What about Rebublican Party? NZ 's best horse and taking on Leap To Fame tonight at Kilmore too for bragging rights. He hasn't made a slot in your field yet ? (ran 6th in it last year behind Leap To Fame at Cambridge)  arch rival Stonewall's  should put him in their Slot ? hahaha🤣

Neither the Suncoast Stakes nor the Sam F. Davis Stakes, both run at Tampa Bay Downs, are graded stakes races, but that doesn't seem to bother trainer Todd Pletcher. He has made it no secret that he loves to put some of his best 3-year-old candidates on the Tampa route to Churchill Downs, and he will be doing so again on Saturday. Zany (American Pharoah), currently ranked No. 1 in the TDN's Top 10 poll for the GI Kentucky Oaks, will make her 3-year-old debut in the Suncoast, where she will be heavily favored. In 2022, Pletcher launched the 3-year-old campaign of Nest (Curlin) in the Suncoast, and she went on to win an Eclipse Award that year as the sport's champion 3-year-old filly. Six races later on the Tampa card, Pletcher will send out one of his top 3-year-old colts in Renegade (Into Mischief). Although technically a maiden, he was second behind the well-regarded Paladin (Gun Runner) in the GII Remsen Stakes and crossed the wire ahead of that same rival in an Aqueduct maiden, only to be disqualified for interference. Pletcher will be seeking his eighth win in the Sam F. Davis. He said he likes the timing of the Suncoast and the fact that it is run around two turns. The first two 3-year-old filly preps at Gulfstream for the Kentucky Oaks are around one turn. “It's really about the timing and the two-turn aspect of these races,” Pletcher said. “With Zany, she's already won going a mile and an eighth in the Demoiselle. I just didn't feel like it made sense to back her up at Gulfstream, either into the Forward Gal or the Davona Dale, since they are both one-turn races. I like that there was good spacing from the Demoiselle to this, and it gives us ample time to get ready for the [Apr. 3] Ashland at Keeneland.” Todd Pletcher | Sarah Andrew Pletcher did not have Zany ready for the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but had her extra sharp by the time of the GII Demoiselle at Aqueduct Dec. 6. She won by 8 1/2 lengths and earned a Beyer figure of 89. “It was the way that she did it, the way she showed a high cruising speed and showed that she'll handle the distance very well,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “She's a filly that's always trained exceptionally well.” The offspring of American Pharoah typically prefer the turf, but owner Mike Repole was willing to spend $350,000 on Zany at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and, according the Pletcher, the plan all along was to turn her into a dirt horse. “She never gave us any reason to think about anything besides dirt,” Pletcher said. “She's out of an Uncle Mo mare [Mo' Green], who's turning out to be a tremendous broodmare. I think she's getting a lot of influence from the Uncle Mo side. She's just always done everything very professionally.” Zany was one of 11 fillies nominated to the Triple Crown. Pletcher said he's not interested in running her in the Derby, but wanted to keep his options open. “She's a filly that we think will handle plenty of distance,” the trainer said. “Of course , the Belmont this year will be at a mile and a quarter again. We did run Nest a few years ago in the Belmont and she finished second. We just like to leave our options open. We're not necessarily pointing for the Belmont, but you never know.” Pletcher will also start Kadabra (Good Magic) in the Suncoast. She's a filly that has only broken her maiden and has never gone beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, but Pletcher believes this may be a good spot for her to earn some black type. “I think she's better than she ran last time,” Pletcher said. “She was stuck on the inside and under pressure the whole way from the one pole. I think, being a daughter of Good Magic, she might be better stretching out. But I realize she would have to jump way up and move way forward to be in Zany's category. Some black type could be important for her.” Renegade inside of Paladin before he was disqualified and placed second in a MSW during the Belmont at the Big A meet Oct. 17 | Coglianese Pletcher said that he likes the Sam F. Davis for many of the same reasons he likes the Suncoast. “It's much the same scenario as the Suncoast,” he said. “Good timing, a mile and a sixteenth, two turns. The race puts you in a position to come back in four weeks in the Tampa Derby or some other spots, or you could take a little more time and point for another race. We're kind of thinking Sam Davis, Arkansas Derby. This race puts you in a good position with a lot of options. I also feel like it's a good safe surface, and we've had pretty good luck prepping there at Tampa over the years.” Though Renegade wasn't able to win the Remsen, Pletcher liked what he saw that day. “I thought he handled the mile and an eighth really well,” the trainer said. “If you watched that race, it seemed like the horses that were in post five and inside got pretty good trips, and the horses who broke from the six post out had it pretty rough. Going into the first turn, they got stuck pretty wide. I thought he ran very well. I think he showed that he's going to handle the trip and, for only his third start, I thought it was an excellent performance. And I love the way he's been training coming into this.” Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on both Zany and Renegade. Renegade will be attempting to become Pletcher's second winner in a GI Kentucky Derby prep race within a week. The other winner, of course, is Nearly (Not This Time), the impressive winner of the GIII Holy Bull Stakes. Nearly's win came just days after it was announced that Pletcher's top 3-year-old, Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), had been taken off the Kentucky Derby trail due to bone bruising. “That's the world we live in,” Pletcher said. “Every day is a roller coaster. You come in every day hoping they're healthy and ready to move forward, but you know that they're living, breathing creatures that sometimes have issues. And so in Ted Noffey's case, we felt like it was a tough call the day before. The day before we did some tests, he galloped a mile and a half, and we were in full training. But he was just giving us some signs that he wasn't as good as he was last fall. And we just felt like we had to make a decision sooner than later. “If you wait another 30 days, another 45 days, you put yourself in a position,” he said. “If the horse needs 90 days off, you could almost blow the whole year. So we had to make a tough decision early in the year to hopefully make sure that we have a horse in really good condition for the summer and fall.” The post Pletcher’s Route To The Derby And Oaks Will Make A Stop At Tampa On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), an upset winner of the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita last fall, kicks off his sophomore campaign in Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' won the American Pharoah by three-quarters of a length over the re-opposing Desert Gate (Omaha Beach). It was another nose back to Plutarch (Into Mischief) in third that day. Intrepido, a $30,000 KEESEP yearling turned $385,000 OBSAPR breezer, followed with a disappointing fifth at 5-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. He is owned in partnership by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures and is trained by Jeff Mullins. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has won the Lewis 13 times and has won the last seven renewals. He trains the aforementioned rail-drawn 6-5 morning-line favorite Desert Gate, Plutarch and the maiden of four career starts Cherokee Nation (Not This Time). Last year's runaway GIII Best Pal S. winner Desert Gate hasn't raced since the American Pharoah, his first attempt around two turns. Plutarch made two subsequent starts on grass, including a last- out maiden win at Del Mar Nov. 30. Cherokee Nation, a $1.15-million Keeneland September yearling, was second behind Robusta (Accelerate) in a maiden special weight over track and trip Jan. 9. The Robert B. Lewis offers 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Santa Anita's nine-race program also features the return of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Splendora (Audible) in the GII D. Wayne Lukas S. and the GIII Thunder Road S., headed by Gas Me Up (Hard Spun). The post Led by Intrepido, American Pharoah Top Three Meet Again in Robert B. Lewis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Employing a paint-scraping ride in the lane, Two Bits (American Pharoah) muscled her way to the lead and fought off her challenger to win the Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct. Breaking her maiden two back Nov. 29 at this venue, the Amelia Green-trainee was last seen running a well-beaten second Jan. 3 in the Busanda Stakes behind MSW Dazzling Dame (Girvin). Watching the race unfold from a ground saving trip, jockey Jaime Rodriguez opted to take the inland path as a wall of runners lined up to his outside with Interstatelovesong (Bolt d'Oro) to catch. Closing up the rail and able to push into a narrow advantage, the fillies battled down to the wire with Two Bits winning the photo. Our Golden Gator (Golden Lad) claimed third. Sales history: $75,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. O-EGL-One Racing; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Amelia Green.     The post American Pharoah’s Two Bits Game as They Make’em to Win Ruthless appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Invincible Army will stand the 2026 season at March Hair Stud in England for £5,500, according to published reports. The son of Invincible Spirit spent his 2025 season at Haras des Etincelles after spending several seasons at Yeomanstown Stud in Ireland. A group sire of G2 Greenlands Stakes hero James's Delight, Invincible Army won the G2 Duke Of York Stakes among other group contests during his racing days. From 173 foals of racing age, he is the sire of 91 winners, five stakes winners and another three stakes horses. Stakes winner Kitty Rose was second in both the G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes and the G3 Priory Belle Stakes. The post Invincible Army To Stand At March Hare Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was a battle late in the Martha Washington Stakes, and Search Party (Gun Runner) came out on top to win the Oaklawn filly feature, taking home Kentucky Oaks points for her effort. In no hurry early as the loose leader posted fractions of :23.10 and a half in :47.83, it was left to Search Party to continue Mark Casse's big day when 3-5 favorite, and stablemate, Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) faded to the back of the pack as they came off the bend. Closing stoutly from the overland route with Newtown Pike (McKinzie) challenging her, she gamely kept that one at bay to win in a photo. Search Party was last seen breaking her maiden Dec. 27 at this venue by six lengths. O/B-Tracy Farmer; T-Mark Casse.   The post Gun Runner’s Search Party Wins the Late Battle, Takes Martha Washington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

She may've been left behind at the jump, but Always A Runner (Gun Runner) turned the tables in the lane as she effortlessly cruised home to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors at Tampa Bay Downs. Tabbed as a horse to watch in the 'Insights' segment for this unveiling, the Chad Brown-trainee entered this contest with a healthy worktab at Belmont and Payson Park, and commanded the betting dollars to the tune of 3-5 favoritism. Right from the jump, she made her backers sweat when Always A Runner hopped at the gate, leaving her well behind the rest as the field went on its way. Racing along from the rear, with only Goldy Gate (Charlatan) beaten after that one had an even worse beginning, the daughter of Gun Runner made an eye-catching move around the far turn and was plucking off her rivals with little asking from her rider via the overland route. In command and playing with her foes, she won geared down with ear pricked by 6 1/2 lengths over Evangalina (Practical Joke). Always A Runner, who was sold to Douglas Scharbauer for $1.05-million at the Keeneland September sale in 2024 before Three Chimneys stayed in for a piece, is the first foal to the races for fellow 'Rising Star' Always Carina, who was the bridesmaid in the GII Mother Goose Stakes during her racing career. Three Chimneys, who bought second dam Miss Always Ready (More Than Ready) for $400,000 at the 2014 Keeneland April 2-year-old sale, bred not only Always A Runner but also Always Carina. The dam has been to Gun Runner four times, producing this 'Rising Star', a juvenile full-sister, a yearling full-brother, and is due back to that stallion for 2026. The aforementioned Miss Always Ready is herself a full-sister to GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine More Than Real, who was exported to Australia after her racing career ended and became a multiple Group producing dam and granddam. Most notably hailing from her branch of the family is G1 Golden Slipper victress Lady of Camelot (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), who was also crowned Australia's champion juvenile filly. Miss Always Ready was no slouch herself as the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Structor (Palace Malice).     3rd-Tampa Bay Downs, $32,000, Msw, 2-6, 3yo, f, 1m 40y, 1:42.93, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. ALWAYS A RUNNER, f, 3, by Gun Runner           1st Dam: Always Carina {GSP, $218,800}, by Malibu Moon           2nd Dam: Miss Always Ready, by More Than Ready           3rd Dam: Miss Seffens, by Dehere Sales history: $1,050,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. The post Aptly Named Always A Runner Blows Rivals Away to Garner ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Tampa Bay Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Roll On Big Joe makes his 2026 debut in the Feb. 8 King Cotton Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs after completing a stellar 2025 campaign, capped by his win in the Dec. 13 Ring The Bell Stakes.View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a job fair on Thursday, Feb. 26, to recruit employees for the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, the track said via a press release Friday. The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival job fair will be held from 2-7 p.m. ET on the first floor of the 1863 Club. Applicants must be at least 15 years of age and have New York State Certified Working Papers. Prospective security guards, cashiers and betting clerks must be at least 18 years of age to apply; security guards must have a high school degree or GED. All job seekers must present a photo ID and Social Security card or I-9 alternative. Attendees should enter through the Wright Street entrance (Gate 8) with parking available in the 1863 Club lot. The post NYRA To Host Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Job Fair At The Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article