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A minor setback delayed Glittering Legend launching his Hong Kong career but David Eustace hopes the British import can lay down a Classic Series marker at Sha Tin on Sunday. Hong Kong owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui transferred Glittering Legend to Eustace with the coming four-year-old series in mind after his four wins from seven starts for British handler James Fanshawe. The son of Too Darn Hot notched all victories at a mile, striking on turf at Goodwood and Doncaster as a two-year-old before...View the full article

You are probably right. Kumara and Reefton the oncourse was about 50/50 terminal:digital. Ellersle was about 25/75

Holiday meetings have lots of holiday makers who may not have, TAB accounts, and obviously with a good crowd on course turnovers are good , not rocket science.....like most things be nice to get all these figures broken down, I'm sure Omakau on Jan 2 would be interesting.

What do you mean , turnover is turnover in total figures in my understanding?

Yes probably right @mikeynz. More important for the benefit of the club itself too than the wider industry since they get the majority of the wagering profit from that.

Ted Noffey, the 2025 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner who is expected to be honored next week as the Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old male of 2025, is back on the work tab for the first time as a 3-year-old.View the full article

Prairie Meadows 2026 live racing season will begin May 2 , the date of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, and will conclude Sept. 26. View the full article

Wonder why they'd run it out of its class?

MGISW, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' and Eclipse Award-finalist Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) had his first work on the year when he breezed three furlongs in :37.01 Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs. “It went super,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “Everything went great. He did it well in hand with good enthusiasm. It seems like he's maintained his fitness level fairly well, so we're very pleased. He's put on some weight and filled out, but he was a pretty mature 2-year-old, physically. He was a good-sized colt to begin with, so we're pleased with the way he's developed physically. It was nice to see him back working. He's always been a good work horse. He's fun to watch.” The GII Fountain of Youth Stakes will be run Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park. Another one of Pletcher's top 3-year-old, Nearly (Not This Time) was also on the work tab. He breezed a half-mile in :50.02. “We were kind of perplexed by his debut. He had trained very well prior to that. He's seemed a little green, but he's made good progress in his next two starts,” Pletcher said of Nearly. “He's been very impressive. He worked great this morning, so we're very happy with him.” The post Ted Noffey Returns To The Work Tab, Eyes Fountain Of Youth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ted Noffey, the 2025 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner who is expected to be honored next week as the Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old male of 2025, is back on the work tab for the first time as a 3-year-old.View the full article

A field of 11, led by Gun Runner S. winner Chip Honcho (Connect), will line up in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, good for 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Gun Runner was Chip Honcho's first try around two turns and third career start for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. The Leland Ackerley Racing colorbearer is drawn widest of all in post 11. The re-opposing Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon), favored at 4-1 on the Lecomte morning-line, set the pace and tired late to finish third that day. Trainer Brad Cox will saddle a trio, including Calumet Farm homebred Thunder Buck (Gun Runner), a popular maiden winner at second asking over track and trip Dec. 20. “Based off pedigree and what he's shown us so far, the further the better for him,” Cox said. “I thought he had a good gallop out in his first run as well there (finishing fourth) at Keeneland (Oct. 16). The further they go, the better he's gonna get.” The rail-drawn Quality Mischief (Into Mischief), fourth at 25-1 in the Gun Runner; and White Tiger (Constitution), a maiden winner at second asking at Churchill Downs last time Oct. 26; round out the Cox trio. Golden Tempo (Curlin) heads right into the deep end for trainer Cherie DeVaux following a visually impressive last-to-first debut victory going six furlongs at Fair Grounds Dec. 20, good for 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors. The stacked 13-race Lecomte program also features the GIII Louisiana S., topped by 8-5 morning-line favorite Just a Touch (Justify); and the Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday S. for 3-year-old fillies. The post Gun Runner Winner Chip Honcho Headlines Wide-Open Lecomte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

needing a good sale... Lot 459 Proisir x Gracehill filly “I can't not mention the half-sister to Crocetti. I’m lucky enough to be vending her on behalf of Daniel Nakhle. It's a family that Daniel has developed very well through the likes of Irish Colleen, Crosshaven, Killarney, and Crocetti, who has won a Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) and 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). She's a November foal, but you wouldn't think it. I think the guys from the New Zealand Bloodstock team are quite surprised with where she's got to now. She's a lovely filly going forward into the sale, and got that real residual value.”

thanks.. I see that in ODT "Waldron is also looking forward to stablemate Mawkeb making her New Zealand debut in race 5 over 1200m." sigh, no, starting in R3 instead...

WinStar Farm's Heartland, a 'TDN Rising Star' son of Justify out of the Cat Thief mare Sambuca Classica and a half-brother to Classic Empire, sired his first reported foal on Friday, Jan. 16, when a colt out of I Love Nola (Champali) was born at Katierich Farm in Midway, Ky, the farm announced Friday. The colt, whose dam is a half-sister to stakes-placed Love Boot (Storm Boot), the dam of stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Made to Love Her (Steve Wonderboy), and hails from the family of multiple stakes winner True Love's Secret Desert Secret {Ire}), was bred by Rattner Bloodstock LLC. “Nice foal, strong, healthy 136-pound colt,” shared George Barnes of Katierich Farm. “If the rest of our foals look like this, we'll be in good shape.” Martha Rattner added, “He is a leggy colt with good bone and a great hip. He looks very much like Scat Daddy (sire of Justify) and we are thrilled with him. He is sentimental to us because we were the owners of Train Robbery (Cat Thief's dam) in her later years. Our farm is named after her and we are dedicated to taking her pedigree forward. We are thankful for the opportunity WinStar provided us for breeding I Love Nola to Heartland. We are also thankful for Katierich Farm and their excellent care with our broodmares. We have another mare in foal to Heartland that is due in April.” Owned by CHC Inc., Siena Farm, and WinStar Farm, and trained by Bob Baffert, Heartland was a $575,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate. He flashed his brilliance with a head-turning career debut at Del Mar at two to become a 'Rising Star', winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight and overcoming trouble at the start to win going away impressively by two lengths from Slider who captured the Speakeasy Stakes and placed in the GIII San Vicente Stakes in subsequent starts. Heartland's final clocking of 1:03.20 was the fastest time of any juvenile at the distance at Del Mar or Saratoga in 2023 and earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Heartland bred 123 mares in his initial book and will stand the 2026 breeding season at WinStar Farm for $10,000 S&N. The post First Foal A Colt For WinStar Farm’s Heartland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ted Noffey, the 2025 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner who is expected to be honored next week as the Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old of 2025, is back on the worktab for the first time as a 3-year-old.View the full article

I think you actually find those good on course turnovers at many of the small holiday venues is pushed by tote betting by the non regular race goers, they don't care about fixed odds, probably don't care about horse racing that much either but just enjoying the summer outings that become traditional for many.

BLACK CHERRY (f, 3, Liam's Map–Summer Raven {GSW, $168,910}, by Summer Squall) entered this contest with a bullet work to her name in preparation for her debut, and the betting public liked her to the tune of 7-2 odds as the race came off the turf in favor of the tapeta. Breaking on top to show the way through an opening quarter in :21.77, she was still at the head of affairs as the field swung off the bend for the homeward run. Bracing as challenges arrived on both sides, Black Cherry gamely held on late to win by a neck over a fast-closing Pearl of Pearl (Vino Rosso). Black Cherry is a half-sister to multiple graded winner Lewis Bay (Bernardini), MGSW & MGISP, $1,166,560; Misconnect (Unbridled's Song), GSW, $327,100; and Winslow Homer (Unbridled's Song), GSW, $273,365. Her half-sister Elusive Raven (Elusive Quality) is the dam of GSW Lost Raven (Uncle Mo) and another half-sister went on to be the granddam of SW Our Lady (Bolt d'Oro). A third sibling claims MSP Mojave Desert (Munnings). Black Cherry is Summer Raven's last registered offspring. This is the immediate female family of MGISW Wild Rush (Wild Again). 5th-Gulfstream, $68,000, Msw, 1-16, 3yo, f, 5f (AWT) (off turf), :57.09, ft, neck. BLACK CHERRY (f, 3, Liam's Map–Summer Raven {GSW, $168,910}, by Summer Squall) Sales history: $200,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. *1/2 to Winslow Homer (Unbridled's Song), GSW, $273,365; 1/2 to Misconnect (Unbridled's Song), GSW, $327,100; 1/2 to Lewis Bay (Bernardini), MGSW & MGISP, $1,166,560. #1 BLACK CHERRY ($9.80) refused to be beaten, breaking her maiden in R5 at @GulfstreamPark. @JuniorandKellyA was aboard the three-year-old filly by @LanesEndFarms' Liam's Map for trainer Bill Mott. pic.twitter.com/15nkiEg9U5 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 16, 2026 The post Liam’s Map’s Black Cherry Wins the Photo at Gulfstream to Graduate First Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, January 17, 2026 6th-KYO, ¥15,200,000 ($96k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m BOOM BAP BEAT (c, 3, Into Mischief–Point of Honor, by Curlin), a $1.25-million Keeneland September acquisition for owner Susumu Fujita, has acquitted himself well in his two previous appearances over this course and distance, finishing third Oct. 10 before showing the necessary improvement to graduate by 3 1/2 lengths when last seen Nov. 15. The bay is the first produce from his dam, winner of the GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes before placing in the GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama Stakes at three. Point of Honor held top-class form at four, with a quartet of Grade I placings and her now 2-year-old full-brother to this colt made $1.5 million at KEESEP last year. O-Susumu Fujita; B-Alpha Delta Stables LLC (KY); T-Mitsu Nakauchida 10th-KYO, Kobai S.-Listed, ¥40,290,000 ($255k), 3yo, f, 1400mT PRINCESS MOKO (f, 3, Charlatan–Tiger Ride, by Candy Ride {Arg}) opened her account at first asking with a three-length success on the dirt at Kyoto in November and made a favorable impression when switched to the turf for the first time, going down by a neck in a 1400-meter allowance at Chukyo Dec. 13. A $170,000 KEESEP yearling turned $300,000 OBS April breezer, the Feb. 21 foal is out of a mare that won a rained-off renewal of Keeneland's GIII Valley View Stakes and was later second to Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) in the GI Beldame Stakes. Yutaka Take has the riding assignment. O-Mishima B.; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara The post Pricey Into Mischief Colt Makes Sophomore Bow at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The nearly four-year rebuild of the new Belmont Park is scheduled to hit a significant milestone by the end of February, when training on the innermost Tapeta track is set to open. Glen Kozak, the New York Racing Association (NYRA)'s senior vice president of operations and capital projects, delivered that news nugget Friday as part of a broader overview of the track's $455-million reimagining during a meeting of the New York State Franchise Oversight Board (FOB). Before delving into details, Kozak underscored an overall message of “on schedule [and] on budget.” The projected timeline still calls for Belmont to open in September 2026 after the Saratoga Race Course meet ends. After this year's spring/early summer season at Aqueduct Racetrack, racing will cease there, leaving Belmont and Saratoga as the only two tracks on the NYRA circuit as of this coming autumn. David O'Rourke, NYRA's chief executive officer and president, explained during the Jan.16 meeting that, “When Belmont opens in the fall, the first two floors will be open. The grounds will be open. There will be a 'preview party' for lack of a better term.” But the entire venue won't be completely accessible to the public until about half a year later. “We'll be working our way into full utilization of the building for the [GII] Wood [Memorial Stakes in April 2027],” O'Rourke said. NYRA and its contractors have been laying down Belmont's four redesigned racing surfaces from the inside out. Once completed, in that concentric order, will be a one-mile Tapeta track, two grass courses at nine and 10 furlongs, and the iconic 1 1/2-miles main dirt track. “The synthetic is complete, in place,” Kozak said. “Horse tunnel is complete with the synthetic on it.” Kozak said the Tapeta track is pretty much ready to handle horses right now, but the wrapping-up of infield construction and massive piles of earth dominating the view are what's keeping training from being greenlighted. “The infield video board is now in place. But leading up to that was the concrete, the structural steel, the crane that was directly adjacent to the inside rail of the synthetic track,” Kozak said. “We still have 30,000 yards of material for the base of the track. We've got probably close to 30,000 to 35,000 yards of topsoil for the infield that needs to get spread, so that's what we're currently working on,” Kozak said. “We're able to start spreading topsoil out in the infield right now. Once the piles are down in the infield, we'll be able to see across the track, and that was the biggest concern. Because we could train-we're able to put horses on the [synthetic] track for galloping and jogging right now. But in order to have the outriders and the exercise riders [see clearly] if they need help, visually there's impairment across the track,” Kozak said. “The clay base for the main track is in the infield. It's screened, it's ready to go. Now we're waiting for the weather this spring to be able to install that, have the temperatures to be able to get that thing down and rolled and [give it] the compaction that's required. That'll take place sometime in March, early April,” Kozak said. NYRA recently gave some 40-plus horsemen a tour of the infield and the under-construction tracks with the aim of getting their input as to how the earliest stages of training might roll out. “We had that communication with the trainers, and their feedback has been, 'Let's get this right and make sure all parties have the proper [safety] coverage and we have everything in place,'” Kozak said. “It gives us the opportunity to continue to push some of the construction components that we have to work around, some of the start times, with training taking place from 5:30 a.m. to whatever time we designate,” Kozak said. “We will continue to work with the horsemen as far as the video board installation, and we're currently working six to seven days a week as far as what we're responsible for for moving that material around, so it's coming together very, very quickly,” Kozak said. “The synthetic harrow yard building is complete. The outrider stands are complete. And the end of February we're expecting all the light poles in for it, so there will be training lighting on the synthetic as well,” Kozak said. “And then the main track, the sub-base is down, meaning the stone dust is set to grade. Inside rail, outside rail are all complete. We're currently in the process now of just putting up marker poles on the inside,” Kozak said. NYRA's target date for the opening of main-track training is late April, Kozak said. “Just to get the horsemen who are coming back from Florida the ability to get on the main track,” Kozak said. “And then we'll coordinate with the construction team whether it is modified training hours or what we need in place,” Kozak added. As for the two grass courses, “[the inner] course was down since July, the [outer] course was down in October,” Kozak said. “Full irrigation is installed. All the rails are installed. We currently have three-quarters of both turf courses blanketed and covered, similar to what we do at Aqueduct.” Moving on to general construction of the grandstand, clubhouse and backyard saddling area, Kozak gave the following update to the FOB, which is the governor-appointed committee that represents the interests of New York State in the real estate at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga. “Steel superstructure and canopy is complete. The concrete superstructure is also complete. Paddock site work is roughly 40% done. Saddling stalls, with the steel work for that, is about 75% complete. Waterproofing on the main roof has started. That will take place for probably another two months, aiming to be watertight by mid- to early-April is what we're projecting. Purchase of all the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler [systems are] either on-site or installed [and] the first-floor interiors are 40% complete,” Kozak said. “There's roughly 250 trades personnel on site roughly six days a week. There's been a couple of cases where it's been seven days a week, anywhere from an eight- to a 10-hour day. All the procurement and contracts are now fully executed. The last was the landscape that was just done a couple weeks ago,” Kozak said. The post Belmont Park Update: Tapeta Training Could Start Late Feb., Main Track Aim Is End Of April appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week in the TDN, we have been running the five fastest maidens as judged by the Beyer Speed Figure time. An astute reader suggested that since all breeders like fast fillies, we should have a look and see who the five fastest fillies of the week are each week. Here you go. 5. GRATEFULLY, SA, 1/8-5th, Alw, 6 furlongs (turf) Beyer Speed Figure-91 (f, 4, by Laoban–Selflessly, by More Than Ready) O- Adelphi Racing Club and Shelly & Russell Hume. B-WinStar Farm (Ky). T-Robert Falcone. J-Umberto Rispoli. In her '26 debut, Gratefully's 3 3/4-length turf score ran her record to 4-for-4: two on grass, two on dirt (off-the-turf), all in sprints. She's the first foal from Selflessly (More Than Ready-Uniformly Yours), a GSW at 2 and 3 for Klaravich Stable/Chad Brown in 2019's GII Miss Grillo and 2020's GIII Lake George. The “acquisition chain”: WinStar acquired Selflessly, bred her in 2021 to now-deceased Laoban to get Gratefully, sold the mare in November 2022 for $875,000 to Ireland's Barronstown Stud, then sold yearling Gratefully in 2023 for $155,000 to Adelphi. 4. SHINING STAR (Chi), FG, 1/9-7th, Alw, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) Beyer Speed Figure-93 (m, 5, by Saraha Spirit–Green Power (Chi), by Dublin (Ire)) O-Sumaya U.S. Stable. B-Haras Sumaya (Chi). T-Brad Cox. J-Jose Ortiz. The two-time minor SW in Chile is a potential stakes star here after consecutive turf sprint Beyers of 92-93. Chilean owner/breeder Oussama Aboughazale sent her to the U.S. in early '25 on dirt form, but after flopping on dirt at Santa Anita she was transferred to Cox and now has won two straight on grass by a combined 11 1/2 lengths. Aboughazale stands unraced Tapit stallion Saraha Spirit in Chile: he's out of Wild Spirit, who Aboughazale also imported in 2003 to become his only Gr I winner in this country. Saraha Spirit is a half-brother to stallion Protonico (Giant's Causeway). 3. PRINCESA MOCHE (Per), SA, 1/11-8th, GIII Las Cienegas S., about 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (2nd) (m, 6, by Muwaary (GB)–Queen Jezebel, by Motivator (GB)) O-Rancho San Roberto. B-Haras Los Azahares. T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. J-Marco Demuro. After two allowance wins, Princesa Moche took a big step forward Beyer-wise in a frontrunning half-length Las Cienegas (Gr III) loss to Queen Maxima (see below) at 16/1 odds. California jeweler and Peru native Roberto Spasiano acquired her last summer in Peru and after two $1500 handicap wins sent her to O'Neill. She initially looked overmatched in this country, but not any more. 1 (tie). QUEEN MAXIMA, SA, 1/11-8th, GIII Las Cienegas S., about 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) Beyer Speed Figure-96 (m, 5, by Bucchero–Corfu Lady, by Corfu) O-Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. B-Saul Rosas (Fla). T-Jeff Mullins. J-Juan Hernandez. With her game Las Cienegas victory, Queen Maxima now has won seven of her last nine, all in turf sprints and three against graded company – and her name belongs high on the list of the country's best female turf sprinters, arguably just below Shisopicy. Co-owner Michele Arthur (the Dutch girl) bought her for only $40,000 as an Ocala June 2-year-old and races her in partnership with Ruben Isla. Arthur and Isla also own Gr I-winning 3-year-old Intrepido. 1 (tie). LOTSANDLOTSOFCANDY, FG, 1/10, Nelson J. Menard Memorial S., 5 1/2 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure-96 (m, 5, by Twirling Candy–Lotsandlotsofhope, by Tiznow) O-Jay Em Ess Stable. B-Samantha Siegel. T-Paul McGee. J-Brian Hernandez Jr. She has lately been drifting to the middle of the track through the stretch, but with her lotsandlotsoftalent, so far that hasn't mattered. Her family talent can be expressed in Beyers: in 2000, Samantha Siegel and late parents Jan/Mace bought 2nd dam Hope Rises, a SW who ran five Beyers between 91-93; she produced Lotsandlotsofhope, whose only start in 2012 was a nose loss with a solid 85 Beyer; and Lotsandlotsofhope has produced not only this mare (90, 94 and 96 Beyers) but also GSW Extra Hope, who three times ran Beyers between 90-95. The post Five Fleet Fillies: January 5-11, 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

My point was about Reefton. Turnover per race was 311k Ellerslie (stakes 460k) 280k Kumara (stakes 240k)

I'm not sure what your point is. You aren't exactly comparing apples with apples. For a start: Kumara had 9 races. Ellerslie had 8 races.

Laurel Park will run two $100,000 stakes Jan. 17 for runners bred Maryland or Virginia or by sires in these states: the Jennings Stakes and Geisha Stakes. The card also includes two $100,000 open handicaps.View the full article

It has been a wild ride for Jes Sikura, son of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa owner and president John Sikura, since the 24-year-old graduated from the University of Kentucky in December. Just a few days after receiving his diploma, he and his father were on a plane to California. What began as a trip to celebrate opening weekend at Santa Anita proved serendipitous when the Sikuras secured multiple graded stakes winner Barnes (Into Mischief) for their stallion roster following his scratch from the GI Malibu Stakes. Since stepping into his new role as Hill 'n' Dale's Director of Bloodstock at the start of this year, the younger Sikura has taken on the assignment of putting together Barnes's first book. Sikura describes it as “an easy first job.” “I don't have to beg anybody to come to us,” he explained. “People are calling us because they're excited about him. People are excited to bring their mares to him.” Sikura recalled attending the 2023 Fasig-Tipon Saratoga Sale when Barnes first made headlines, selling to Zedan Racing for $3.2 million. Bred by Jeff Drown and Rachel Don, the son of Into Mischief hails from the family of Grade I winners Majestic Warrior, Dream Supreme and Spinning Round, but Sikura said it was the bay's imposing physical that made him one of the talking horses of the auction. “A huge endorsement is if Bob Baffert and Donato Lanni are going to pay $3.2 million for a yearling,” he said. “The fact that they did means that as a yearling, he possessed what looked to be an athletic physical.” Sikura noted that the same physical presence that made Barnes a standout in the sales ring now serves as a major draw for breeders visiting the new Hill 'n' Dale sire. “He has great size, great bone and a great shoulder,” he explained. “He walks well and has a beautiful face. I would describe him as an impeccable physical. I think anybody who is looking for a nice foal would be pleased to see Barnes and hope he's going to produce something that looks like himself.” A winner on debut at Churchill Downs in November of his juvenile season, Barnes returned to California to claim the GII San Vicente Stakes by over five lengths. He followed that performance with a second-place finish to MGISW Journalism (Curlin) in the GII San Felipe Stakes and was fifth in the GI Santa Anita Derby. After a mid-summer layoff, Barnes made three more starts including a third-place finish behind Patch Adams (Into Mischief) and Captain Cook (Practical Joke) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes and an 8 1/4-length victory in his final career start in the GIII Perryville Stakes, besting rival Captain Cook and GSW Owen Almighty (Speightstown). “He had a lot of talent, a lot of speed and a lot of ability and courage,” Sikura said of the colt, who was retired due to a tendon injury after hitting the board in five of his seven starts. Sikura noted that at a $15,000 price point, the response has been immediate. He reported that the stallion syndicate filled within an hour of the announcement of his retirement. Sara Gordon photo “Being a first-year stallion at $15,000 who has the endorsement of being a $3.2 million yearling bought by Bob Baffert, Donato Lanni and Amr Zedan, he's got a lot of potential,” Sikura said. “He's going to breed a lot of good mares and have every opportunity. He's standing at a range where breeders are going to have a chance to get to him and we hope that he replicates his success and more through his progeny on the track.” While Sikura is just getting started in his first full-time chapter at Hill 'n' Dale, he grew up in the business learning from his father and other mentors. He worked in the farm's bloodstock division while in college and also found time between classes to spend mornings walking hots for Todd Pletcher and evenings working as a server at Carlo Vaccarezza's Frank & Dino's Restaurant. “It gave me the opportunity to meet people in Lexington and in the horse business while going to school,” explained Sikura. Sikura is looking forward to channeling that same work ethic into his new position. “My new role entails everything bloodstock-related at Hill 'n' Dale, whether that would be the sales, the breeding shed, keeping up with clients' yearlings and mares on the farm or anything organizational in the office,” he said. “It's anything I can do to be a helping hand.” “I love everything about what we do,” he continued. “I love getting to work for the family business. I love promoting the great job that we do. I love getting to reward clients who entrust us with big mares and big yearlings. I love everything I get to do that is Hill 'n' Dale associated–promoting the brand, rewarding clients and giving our stallions an opportunity.” The post Jes Sikura On The Job with New Hill ‘n’ Dale Sire Barnes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-FG, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:30 p.m. ET A pair of Keeneland September acquisitions by Belladonna Racing and C R K Stable, each sold for better than a half-million dollars, debut for the in-form Cherie DeVaux barn in what appears to be a hot maiden on the Lecomte Stakes undercard. MOJACAR (Essential Quality) looks to become the fifth winner from as many to the races for dam Spanish Star (Blame), who is responsible for 2025 GI Test Stakes victress Kilwin (Twirling Candy); the crack Grade II-winning turf sprinter One Timer (Trappe Shot); and Just Basking (Arrogate), the 2024 Iowa Oaks winner who was subsequently third in the GI Alabama Stakes. A $500,000 KEESEP grad, the Apr. 12 foal is a half to 2019 GI Belmont Stakes hero Sir Winston (Awesome Again). Double Entendre (Tapit) cost $625,000 in Lexington and is out of a half-sister to GI Delaware Handicap and GI Beldame Stakes winner Belle Gallantey (After Market). Whisper Hill Farm unveils Guns Allowed (Gun Runner), a homebred half-brother to GISW Volatile (Violence) and SW & GSP Buy Sell Hold (Violence), herself the dam of SW Bourbon Bash (City of Light) and GSW Showcase (Uncle Mo). The colt's second dam is 2003 GI Test heroine Lady Tak (Mutakddim). TJCIS PPs 5th-FG, $60k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:00 p.m. Whisper Hill is represented in this fillies' division by the beautifully bred TAP TO OPEN (Tapit). Mandy Pope acquired the May 27 foal's dam I'll Take Charge (Indian Charlie) for $2.2 million at the 2013 Keeneland September Sale and from her bred this filly's full-brother 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Charge It, twice a winner at the graded level and runner-up in the 2022 GI Florida Derby. I'll Take Charge is one of eight winners produced by treble Grade I victress Take Charge Lady (Dehere), dam of champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song); GISW sire Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy); and GISW As Time Goes By (American Pharoah); and the granddam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and dual Grade I-winning stallion Omaha Beach (War Front). Jay Em Ess homebred Thesewallshaveears (Gun Runner) is the first foal out of the operation's two-time graded winner Go Google Yourself (Into Mischief) and the dual GISW third dam I Ain't Bluffing (Pine Bluff) produced GSW & MGISP Acting Happy (Empire Maker). Goodall (Yaupon) needs a defection to draw in from the also-eligible list but could be heard from should that happen. Sold to Tom McCrocklin for just $67,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, the bay was knocked down to Spendthrift for $525,000 after breezing in a bullet :20 2/5 at last year's OBS April Sale. TJCIS PPs 5th-GP, $84k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 2:20 p.m. ET CONGRESSIONAL (Constitution) is a debuting son of 2017 Sunland Park Oaks winner Ghalia (Medaglia d'Oro), a $600,000 Keeneland November weanling whose two winners to date includes Ghalia Princess (American Pharoah), victorious in the 2024 Cicada Stakes. Grandview Equine went to $650,000 for this Feb. 7 foal at KEESEP in 2024 and his now juvenile half-brother Second Strike (Not This Time) was hammered down to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $700,000 at last year's September Sale. Gondorff (Charlatan) is bred for this surface, as he is a half-brother to Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), whose four successes at the graded level includes the GII Fort Lauderdale Stakes at this venue. The $500,000 Keeneland September yearling is out of a half-sister to Unbound (Distorted Humor), the stakes-placed dam of GISW Arabian Lion (Justify). TJCIS PPs The post Uncoupled DeVaux Entry Packs A Powerful Pedigree Punch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article