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Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray elected to take a detour to Pukekohe on Sunday with their Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) bound filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), and it looks to have paid off. The Oaks Stud-bred and raced filly also accepted for the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) a day prior, but following a week of wet weather coupled with the long journey south to Trentham, the Cambridge trainers elected for a target closer to home. “It was hard with the weather and the rain coming in,” Murray said. “It is a big call to make to head seven-hours down the road compared to an hour-and-a-bit up here, so I think we made the right call.” The Pukekohe hit-out also gave Tajana another look around a right-handed track, which she will be faced with in the Oaks, with its shift north to Ellerslie next month. Pitted against just three other runners in the MyRacehorse 1600 on Sunday, it proved to be a tactically run affair, with jockey George Rooke initially dropping back to settle off the pace at the tail of the field with Tajana. The daughter of Darci Brahma then progressed into the one-one position before Rooke presented her three-wide at the turn. Tajana quickly bounded to the lead with 300m to go, but began to switch off in the concluding stages, with Lunaman closing late to get within a neck of the victor. “She does that, she gets to the front a bit too soon and she switches off,” Murray said. “I am very happy going forward anyway. “We are glad that we came here today to give her a bit of a soft kill, which wasn’t that soft in the end, I had to wipe my brow when I saw that one (Lunaman) coming after us.” It was Tajana’s first run since her unplaced performance in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Murray believes she will take plenty of benefit from the run as she steps up in distance to the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa on February 7, before her main assignment of the Oaks a fortnight later. “We will go forward to the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic now, as long as she pulls up okay, and we will go from there to the Oaks,” Murray said. “We think the more distance she gets the better she is going to get. We are quietly confident heading up to 2000m-plus.” Rooke was pleased with the win but admitted she hit the lead too early. “She hit the front way too soon and she started pulling up on me in the last 50m, but she is very good,” he said. “She has come back, she is not blowing, she looks fantastic, she is a lot bigger in front, and going further won’t be a problem.” Tajana has now won four and placed in three of her nine starts to date, including victories in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m), and placings in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) and Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), and she has earned more than $260,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

This time last year Stratford trainer Gavin Sharrock experienced the hype of Karaka Millions week with his then two-year-old Daylight Robbery, and 12 months on he is hoping two of his stablemates can successfully launch their bids towards the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March. Homebred gelding Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will be first-up in the Race Images 1340 at Wanganui on Monday, where Sharrock expects him to be competitive following his runner-up trial over 1200m at Foxton earlier this week. “He is very well in himself,” Sharrock said. “I was really rapt with his trial at Foxton and I think he will go pretty close to winning tomorrow.” Stakes-placed at two, the son of Darci Brahma was fifth in both the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) last spring, and Sharrock is looking forward to stepping him up over ground following Monday’s run. “He is tracking towards the Derby,” he said. “I will give him a mile somewhere and then we will go to the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) on the 21st of February.” Sharrock also has Derby aspirations with stablemate Brave Rebel (NZ) (Tivaci), who is set to line-up at New Plymouth this coming Saturday. The Tivaci gelding won his maiden over a mile at New Plymouth last month before finishing runner-up behind Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) hopeful The Precursor over the same track and distance just after Christmas. “Brave Rebel is heading that way (NZ Derby) as well,” Sharrock said. “He will race in a (rating) 65 2000m at New Plymouth next Saturday and we will see how he goes then. He was a pretty good second to The Precursor and I see he is heading towards the Auckland Cup.” Sharrock will also head to Wanganui with three other runners on Monday, with Erbys Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Porotene Tiger (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Flagship (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) all set to contest the Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning Maiden 3YO (1340m), however, the latter may be saved for another day after drawing the outside gate. “I have got three three-year-olds in there, I don’t know whether Flagship will start yet, he has drawn 17 out of 17, which makes it pretty hard, but the other two definitely will start,” Sharrock said. “Erbys Darci has been galloping well and he has come through his last start well, so hopefully he can put his foot in the till somewhere. “In his first-up run Porotene Tiger missed the jump by quite a bit and it put him right out of it, but he has progressed well since, so we will see how he goes tomorrow.” Meanwhile, Sharrock said Daylight Robbery (NZ) (Super Seth) has recently returned to work after undergoing surgery last year. “He cracked a cannon bone and he has had it screwed and has had three months convalescence,” Sharrock said. “He has just come back into the stable last week, so he won’t be around until the spring.” A $10,500 purchase out of Waikato Stud’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale draft on Gavelhouse.com, Daylight Robbery went on to win one and finish runner-up in two of his first three starts, which earned him a place in last year’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), giving Sharrock a memorable week in Auckland. “It was fantastic with the live draw and the build-up to it was a great hype,” he said. Daylight Robbery would finish seventh in the race and went on to post three consecutive fourth placings in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m), Wanganui Guineas and Hawke’s Bay Guineas before injury cut short his season. View the full article

Group One winning gelding War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) will be seen in an early feature sprint when he lines up in the Gr.2 Australia Stakes (1200m) this Friday night. Usually run at Moonee Valley, this year’s edition will be run under lights at Southside Pakenham with the Moonee Valley track under reconstruction. War Machine announced himself as one of the top sprinters in the country winning the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in the Winter, resuming with an equally impressive victory in the Gr.2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) with 60kg in the Spring. The brilliance of those wins saw War Machine gain a slot in The Everest, for which he was sent out third favourite to Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), finishing down the track there, and in the Russel Balding Stakes on a heavy track before a spell. Lindsay Park have fitted War Machine with two jump outs, winning his latest heat at Werribee under a hold and giving Ben, Will & Jd Hayes confidence he’d taken no ill effects from his trip to Sydney in the Spring. “He’s very good, and he’s on track to run in the Australia Stakes on January 23rd,” JD Hayes said. “The Sydney trips didn’t quite go to plan. The thing we’re holding onto is how brilliant he was first time down the straight, off that Queensland freshen as well. “We’re really happy with the order he’s presenting and trialling up in, and I thought at Werribee on Friday he showed us ready to run a really good race first up.” An official rating of 114 has made War Machine trickier to place now, but Hayes said options are open, whether they be at weight-for-age or not. “We’ll sort of see how he goes in the Australia Stakes and then we’re largely going to target him towards that traditional path through the autumn,” Hayes said. “Just with his rating, he’s got to stick to those weight-for-age classics, and we do think he’s probably going to be better suited getting slightly out in trip. Hayes said the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February could fit the bill, but the stable would also assess War Machine’s potential weight in a Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) given his explosive win down the Flemington straight in the Gilgai Stakes. “It (the Newmarket) is certainly something that we will consider,” Hayes said. “I don’t know what weight he’d get but he has got a good track record down the straight. “So it’s definitely something worth considering, but we’ll see how he goes on Friday and pick the races accordingly for him.” View the full article

Join a full team this week on Weigh In. Guy Heveldt, Aidan Rodley and Emily Murphy break down the action from stakes racing at Trentham. They also rewind back to last Sunday at Ellerslie where some key contenders went around ahead of Saturday’s Karaka Millions race night. Weigh In, January 18 View the full article

Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is no stranger to success in the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand, the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and he is hoping to replicate the winning feeling next weekend as he prepares to line-up a pair of quality fillies in the Ellerslie dash for cash. Birchley produced Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym) to win the 2010 edition of the event and followed that up again in 2015 with Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing) after first finishing second with Sarge In Charge (NZ) (Golan) in 2009. His 2026 contenders are El Roca filly Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca), a $75,000 purchase from the Westbury Stud Book 2 draft at Karaka last year along with Vanbrugh filly Vanzadee (NZ) (Vanbrugh), who he secured for $26,000 from the HGT Bloodstock Ltd draft in the same sale session. Both fillies won their last starts to secure their passage to Ellerslie, with Birchley finding it hard to split them on their latest work, which included a 1200m jumpout at the Sunshine Coast a week ago. “I don’t make a point of targeting this race for horses I buy from the Karaka Yearling Sale, preferring to train them the same and hope they put their hands up to take the opportunity and both of these fillies have done just that,” Birchley said. “With what they have shown me I am delighted I can bring them both to New Zealand and I think they will be pretty competitive. “We’ve ticked them along at home over Christmas with time on the water walker and the like and then gave them a hit out at the Sunshine Coast recently. “They went over 1200m and blew the cobwebs out which is exactly what I wanted. They were both pretty keen and kept up a good gallop so I’m delighted with them. “Funnily enough if you look at their pedigree on paper neither filly stands out as a sprinting type with Dream Roca out of a Redwood mare which suggests she will enjoy getting out past 1200m and Vanzadee is a Vanbrugh filly who should also be looking for more ground. “As it turns out they both have very good early speed, which is crucial for a two-year-old, and can maintain a strong gallop which will suit this race which tends to be won by horses that are strong in the closing stages.” Adding to Birchley’s confidence in his pair are the results from the beaten brigade they mastered during their race wins. “Vanzadee was fourth first-up but had a few issues with her tongue during the race so we put the tongue tie on and that worked the oracle in her next run,” he said. “She actually beat Double Cool that day and that filly stormed home for fourth in the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast yesterday which is an excellent form reference. “Dream Roca also beat some handy types at Eagle Farm including Rarotonga who had won the race Vanzadee finished fourth in, so the form definitely stacks up.” Birchley will arrive in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon (18th January), as will his two runners, and has a busy week and a half ahead of him. “I get in on Sunday afternoon and the horses won’t be far behind,” he said. “I have them set to go to Ellerslie on Tuesday for the open trackwork session so they can get a good look around and then it will be fingers crossed for the barrier draw on Wednesday morning. “I’m hoping they can draw inside as the first 400m of the race can be pretty hectic and you can get on the back foot from a wide draw pretty quickly. “After that you just want some luck in running and hope they are up to the task.” While Birchley will be focussed on his two runners he also has a major role in looking after a massive group of owners that are making the trip from Australia for the race as well as spending time at Karaka for the 100th edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale series that kicks off on Sunday 25 January. “I love this week as it is such a good experience for everyone who comes to Karaka as New Zealand Bloodstock do a fabulous job,” he said. “It lets me show clients what goes on behind the scenes in obtaining a horse and I know so many of the people who have come across with me in the past have had a great time and keep coming back. “There are 40-something owners in Vanzadee, including my sister Colleen, and most of them are coming, while you will probably recognise several names involved with Dream Roca including Mark Baker from Hallmark Stud and Cameron George who used to be the Chief Executive at Ellerslie. “Cameron has quite a few friends and family in the horse so that is another big group who will be on-course and if we manage to get a win, the place will be rocking for sure.” View the full article

Stakes targets are looming for well-related filly Quello Dolce (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) after she posted her second successive win in the Aztech Engineering LTD Sprint (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday, but she will have to wait until ANZAC Day to get her chance at black-type. Bred by Westbury Stud General Manager and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chairman Russell Warwick and his wife Lesley, Quello Dolce is by U S Navy Flag and out of Group One winner Il Quello Veloce, and she is raced by the couple in partnership with a large group of friends. Entrusted to the care of Matamata trainer Cody Cole, Quello Dolce was unplaced in her first two starts last spring but following a freshen-up she broke through for her maiden victory at Tauherenikau earlier this month. While not initially intending on returning south so soon, Cole felt Saturday’s race looked like an ideal contest in stepping up to rating 65 grade, and that proved to be the case, with Quello Dolce overcoming her outside barrier in the 11-horse field to lead throughout and score by 2-1/4 lengths. It continued jockey Samantha Collett’s early domination of the Trentham meeting, having won the two previous races on the card, including aboard the Cole-trained Oneira (NZ) (Contributer) in the race prior. Collett was impressed with Quello Dolce’s performance, particularly her acceleration, which she believes will hold her in good stead as she eyes loftier targets. “She has taken a really good step up from that first-up win at Tauherenikau,” Collett said. “I think the key to her is that little bit of give in the track. “She is just the most genuine, little filly you will ever find and she has got so much gate speed. Cody has placed her well and with the natural gate speed that she has got I was able to overcome that wide draw pretty comfortably and she put in a really nice kick. She is putting it together now. “You can’t teach horses to have that willing attitude, and she has got it in spades.” Cole has had a high opinion of Quello Dolce for some time and he is rapt she is starting to put it together on raceday. “We have always liked her,” he said. “She didn’t pull up that well from her race at Tauranga second-up, so we gave her a bit of time and in fairness to Russell Warwick and everyone involved, they let us take our time to get her right. “It was a pretty soft maiden at Tauherenikau, and a long trip, but she is just a neat, little filly and coped the trip well. “She had a good bit of determination to fight them off there and she did it quite easily. “It was never the plan to come here, but I had a look at the noms and it looked a bit soft.” Cole is now eyeing black-type with his filly and he has highlighted the Gr.3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on April 25 as a key target. “She is only a three-year-old and is out of a good mare, so we have got to look at some black-type going forward,” he said. “Working our way back from something like the Cambridge Breeders’ would be the logical step. There is not a lot else. Next weekend comes up too soon for her at Ellerslie, so we will just let her tell us where she wants to go.” View the full article

It does look pretty desolate?

this photo was taken at 2.30pm.. it had built from very low numbers on course for the 1st.. a food truck and a coffee one! both having left by the time this photo was taken! not the best of weather, but most seemed to be enjoying themselves

Two days after first being quietly unveiled at Santa Anita, the Racing on Demand slot machine-style parimutuel games—with distinct similarities to Historic Horse Racing—were removed from the track by Department of Justice law enforcement officers Saturday afternoon. In videos shared with the TDN, law enforcement officers are seen wheeling the machines out the back of the Santa Anita grandstand on gurneys. There have been 26 machines in total operating in the grandstand pavilion since Thursday. They offered $1 bets and required gamblers to select the first three finishers of three random six-horse previously-run races. The ultimate purpose of the machines was to provide a much-needed additional source of income for Santa Anita's purses, which have struggled to compete with other states where purse accounts are juiced by supplemental revenue sources like HHR machines. This story will be updated. The post Law Enforcement Officers Remove Santa Anita’s Racing on Demand Slot-Machines appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If you happened to follow any advt/links to GT for one of their meetings, like we did for Waikouaiti meeting, looking for things like entrance costs and any booze rules etc, then you just got sent to the noms page at loveracing!!! No joy via Gallop Souths or the Clubs facebook pages, sigh.. par for the course... rave over! ps. got on course and no entrance charge, previously being $10 and $5 a book, book free as well! with thanks!

Start the Ride wore down Sammy Davis in the stretch to capture the $175,500 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Trainer Cherie DeVaux's two lightly raced 3-year-old colts, Golden Tempo and Mesquite, finish 1-2 in the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

How come the payouts at Marlborough have been super fast with payouts for all bets noticeably faster than most other tracks which can take 10mins or more? Big kudos to Marlborough for making this happen and to all other tracks l challenge you to get your payouts confirmed as fast as Marlborough because as of now you are running a distant second.

The connections of Accelerize signed him up for a lot of firsts Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds Race Course and the lightly raced son of Omaha Beach proved up to task, posting a neck victory in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Stakes (G3) for older horses.View the full article

And yet there seems to be no worries about losing Boys Get Paid, pretty much guaranteed oncourse turnover. Those numbers and dollars spent would take some replacing. The type of clientele the Grand Tour attracts is a whole different ball game. Clubs in different areas have different attitudes towards the same assignment.

Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable's Accelerize (c, 4, Omaha Beach–Motion Emotion, by Take Charge Indy) tackled a seasoned field in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile GIII Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds in just his fourth career start and prevailed in a hard-fought stretch battle. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was making his stakes debut. Just a Touch (Justify), the 3-5 favorite after returning from six months on the sidelines and multiple Grade I placings, hopped awkwardly out of the Louisiana gate. Meanwhile, Accelerize had left the stalls sharply and went straight to the lead as MGP Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), making his first start since an off-the-board finish in the GI Pacific Classic, kept him company, the two vying for command. With Tarantino breathing down his neck, Accelerize kept his cool on the rail through :23.93 and :47.14 fractions as Just a Touch rallied to join the first flight while four wide. Accelerize shook off Tarantino on the far turn, only to be headed and passed by Just a Touch. The game Accelerize, who had swapped to his wrong lead in the stretch, clawed back to the front, sticking his neck in front in the shadow of the wire. Hard-knocking veteran Cadet Corps (Will Take Charge) closed to be another neck back in third. “On paper it looked like there was a lot of speed, but my horse came from a shorter distance and showed some speed as well,” jockey Flavian Prat, who was winning his third race on the card, told FanDuel TV. “He showed he has some fight in him and [the future] is pretty bright for him.” Winner on debut last March at Tampa Bay Downs while under the tutelage of Anthony Sciametta, Jr. to get the 'Rising Star' nod, Accelerize went to the bench, only to emerge in November in Todd Pletcher's barn. He needed a start to shake off the rust–he was third as the favorite in an optional allowance at Gulfstream Nov. 16–then came roaring back in a first-level allowance Dec. 14 at a mile at Gulfstream, winning by two lengths with a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Accelerize was bred by Spendthrift, who sold the colt as a yearling at Keeneland's September sale for $400,000 to Repole Stable, then stayed in for a piece. Pedigree Notes: The 2025 leading third-crop sire, Spendthrift Farm's Omaha Beach adds his 27th black-type winner and ninth graded winner with Accelerize's Louisiana win. The colt is inbred 3×3 to Take Charge Lady as the blue hen is both the granddam of Omaha Beach and the dam of Take Charge Indy, Accelerize's broodmare sire. The latter, who stands at WinStar, has seven stakes winners out of his daughters. Motion Emotion, winner of the 2019 Zia Park Oaks and thrice graded placed, including in the 2020 GII Fleur de Lis Stakes behind Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), was an $800,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale by Spendthrift. Accelerize was her first foal, with an unnamed 2023 filly by Yaupon, a 2024 colt by Cyberknife, and a yearling filly by Into Mischief following. Spendthrift sold the Cyberknife now-2-year-old at last year's Keeneland September sale for $225,000 to Repole Stable. Bred back to Nyquist for this term, Motion Emotion is from the same extended family as Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), a Breeders' Cup winner who produced another Breeders' Cup winner in Sharing (Speightstown). It was a battle down the stretch! #4 ACCELERIZE ($19.00) did not let Just a Touch by in the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at @fairgroundsnola. The 4-year-old son of Omaha Beach (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by Flavian Pratt and trained by Todd Pletcher. @spendthriftfarm owns. pic.twitter.com/0qoBn3Y2FY — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 17, 2026 Saturday, Fair Grounds LOUISIANA S. PRESENTED BY HAGYARD-GIII, $173,250, Fair Grounds, 1-17, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.43, ft. 1–ACCELERIZE, 118, c, 4, by Omaha Beach 1st Dam: Motion Emotion (SW & MGSP, $542,716), by Take Charge Indy 2nd Dam: Golden Motion, by Smart Strike 3rd Dam: Golden Tiy, by Dixieland Band 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($400,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Repole Stable; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Flavien Prat. $105,000. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $154,480. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Just a Touch, 118, h, 5, Justify–Touching Beauty, by Tapit. ($170,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Qatar Racing LLC and Marc Detampel; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $35,000. 3–Cadet Corps, 118, g, 7, Will Take Charge–Boxford Belle, by Afleet Alex. O-Kenwood Racing LLC and Kelly J. Breen; B-Charles Matses (KY); T-Kelly J. Breen. $17,500. Margins: NK, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 8.50, 0.90, 36.20. Also Ran: Willy D's, Sir Greylind, Moonlight, Henro, Tarantino. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Omaha Beach ‘Rising Star’ Accelerize Wins Louisiana Stakes Over Just a Touch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Golden Tempo (c, 3, Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini), tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' in a last-to-first debut victory sprinting at Fair Grounds Dec. 20, ran by them all once again to stay perfect with a 3/4-length victory in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, good for 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Mesquite (Union Rags) rounded out the Cherie DeVaux-trained exacta. Longshot Carson Street (Street Sense), forwardly placed throughout, held on for third. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.98. The 5-2 favorite raced toward the rear through fractions of :23.72 and :47.11. He began to make his way through traffic beneath Jose Ortiz on the far turn and shot through an inviting opening along the inside in the stretch to get the money. Pedigree Notes: Golden Tempo becomes the 67th graded/118th stakes winner for leading sire Curlin. The winner's dam was raced by the Phippses to a victory in the GIII Top Flight Handicap and was third to Cavorting (Bernardini) in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes in 2016. Placed three times at the graded level at five in 2017, Carrumba concluded her career with a mark of 4-6-3 from 15 starts. Golden Tempo's third dam was Dancinginmydreams, a full-sister to champion Heavenly Prize and Oh What A Windfall, and runner-up in the GI Matron Stakes in 2000. Her four winners from seven to race included GI Manhattan Handicap hero Dancing Forever (Rahy). The cross of Curlin over the late Bernardini is also responsible for Grade I winners Clairiere and Paris Lights. Carrumba is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist and a yearling filly by Liam's Map. She was barren to Good Magic for 2026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. GOLDEN TEMPO ($7.40) flew from behind the pack to blitz by in deep stretch for 20 @KentuckyDerby points in the $250,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at @FairGroundsNOLA. @reredevaux trains the 3YO Curlin colt. @jose93_ortiz was up for owner/breeder Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables. pic.twitter.com/aJyF0tAg95 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 18, 2026 Saturday, Fair Grounds LECOMTE S.-GIII, $250,000, Fair Grounds, 1-17, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.98, ft. 1–GOLDEN TEMPO, 122, c, 3, by Curlin 1st Dam: Carrumba (GSW & GISP, $621,500), by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Castanet, by El Prado (Ire) 3rd Dam: Dancinginmydreams, by Seeking the Gold 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $183,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Mesquite, 122, c, 3, Union Rags–Taurasi, by Mineshaft. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-LBD Stable, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $50,000. 3–Carson Street, 122, c, 3, Street Sense–Miz Kella, by Harlan's Holiday. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($125,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Ike and Dawn Thrash; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $25,000. Margins: 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 2.70, 4.20, 15.10. Also Ran: Chip Honcho, Quality Mischief, Exosome, Stop the Car, Crown the Buckeye, White Tiger, Thunder Buck. Scratched: Ocelli. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post ‘Rising Star’ Golden Tempo Tops Cherie DeVaux Exacta in Lecomte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The California girl came east and started her 2026 season with a strong effort as Medoro (Honor Code) ran down her rivals late to win the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Twice placed at the Grade I-level as a 3-year-old two seasons back, she spent her entire '25 campaign at Del Mar. The daughter of Honor Code started that year with a win in the Osunitas Stakes in mid-July, and it proved to be her only time in the winner's enclosure in four tries. That being said, she still produced good efforts to get up for a piece of the trifecta in the GII John C. Mabee and GIII Goldikova Stakes before taking another swing at elite company last out Nov. 30 in the GI Matriarch Stakes. Pulled and checked early in that running, she managed to get up for sixth against a salty field with experience at the highest levels domestically and abroad. Hammered at the windows for this '26 season start, Medoro went off at even-money while racing on Lasix for the first time in her career. She was content to watch the race unfold from fifth early when they posted an opening fraction of :23.23, but the pace gradually cooled from there with a half going up in :48.85. After six furlongs in 1:13.17, she had her work cut out for her as Cupids Crush (Cupid) was still well in command at the head of affairs and not looking to come back. Closing the distance relentlessly into the final furlong, she found just enough to overhaul that rival late by three-quarters of a length. The 72-1 wild longshot Lucky Speech (Audible) ambled in to claim third. “It was a horse race in the end,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “Cupids Crush kept digging in, but I think I had a very good trip. She was going very nice into the first turn. I was able to drop her into the rail, save a lot of ground, and when I asked her to go, she was there for me.” “This is a nice filly,” said Peter Eurton. “She's got all those graded stakes placings on her resume, she got the job done here. She gives you everything she's got. She's never missed a check except for her last race, so you gotta love her.” “This is our first year at Fair Grounds, and I think it's really working out well. I mean, where else would you rather be than New Orleans? We have never traveled with Medoro, so we thought we'd test drive something new. We shipped for $100,000. It just seemed like a lot of fun. It was definitely worth it.” Medoro is the first to the races for Achira, herself twice placed in the Osunitas Stakes that her daughter would later win. Since this victress, the mare has produced a pair of unraced horses of racing age–the most recent named Provider (Honor A.P.)–and has a 2025 colt by Not This Time in the wings. Achira, herself out of a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Giacomo, is due to American Pharoah in 2026. One of the dam's half-sisters is Veronique (Mizzen Mast), whose claim to fame is through her son, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' SW Nashville (SPeightstown) and his half-brother SP Strategic Reserve (Munnings). In addition to the aforementioned Derby winner, this is also the immediate female family of MGISW Tiago and MGSW & MGISP Stanwyck. MEDORO with a hard charge in the stretch to win the Marie G. Krantz Memorial at @fairgroundsnola! @jose93_ortiz was up for trainer Peter Eurton. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MfJc9Qa8wV — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 17, 2026 MARIE G. KRANTZ MEMORIAL S., $100,000, Fair Grounds, 1-17, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.17, fm. 1–MEDORO, 124, m, 5, Honor Code–Achira (MSP, $151,852), by English Channel. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 13-6-3-3, $563,100. 2–Cupids Crush, 124, m, 6, Cupid–Dazzlingsweetheart, by Dazzling Falls. ($40,000 Ylg '21 MNSAUG). O-Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC; B-Mary Von Seggern, Eric Von Seggern, Barry Butzow & Joni Butzow (MN); T-Hugh H. Robertson. $20,000. 3–Lucky Speech, 118, m, 5, Audible–Luckyallmylife, by Lookin At Lucky. ($105,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Millennium Stables, LLC; B-Delia Nash & Jun Park (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $10,000. Margins: 3/4, 4 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 27.10, 72.60. Also Ran: Nanda Dea (Arg), Strikingly Spun, Sweet Treasure, Stylish Sue, Triumphant Spirit, Epic Style, Lakota Spirit. Scratched: Wild Bout Hilary. The post Grade I-Placed Medoro Makes Seasonal Bow in Marie G. Krantz Memorial a Winning One appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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. #4 TAKEN BY THE WIND ($10.80) stays unbeaten & adds 20 Kentucky Oaks points to her tally with a determined victory in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at @fairgroundsnola. @b_hernandezjr piloted the Rock Your World (@SpendthriftFarm) filly for @KennyMcPeek. pic.twitter.com/YCgpAAJm0Q — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 17, 2026 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). A 3YO on the rise! JACKSON HOLE is a gate-to-wire winner in R4 at @fairgroundsnola as the 4/5 betting favorite! Todd Pletcher trains and Flavien Prat had the mount. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/zymkGMPhhB — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 17, 2026 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