Sports

Before grade 1-winning millionaires Zulu Alpha and Arklow compete in the $175,000 TVG Elkorn Stakes July 12 at Keeneland, another such type, Whitmore, heads an overflow field in the eighth race, an $80,000 allowance optional claimer. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star‘ Guarana (Ghostzapper), already a two-time Grade I winner from only five career starts, will look to remain undefeated around one turn in Saturday’s GI Madison S. at Keeneland. Accorded ‘Rising Star’ status after romping by better than 14 lengths through the local slop last April, the bay defeated GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) by a half-dozen lengths in the GI Acorn S. last June and successfully stretched to two turns in the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga the following month. She suffered her first loss when runner-up to Street Band (Istan) in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx in September and was never out of second gear in landing a June 4 Churchill allowance by 5 1/4 lengths. Guarana would become her sire’s third Madison winner in the last seven runnings (Judy the Beauty, 2014; Paula’ssilverlining, 2017). Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), decisive winner of last year’s GI Humana Distaff S. going this distance, has retained top form since being purchased by Stonestreet for $2.4 million at Fasig-Tipton November last fall. The 5-year-old is two-for-three this season, having defeated the fleet-footed Amy’s Challenge (Artie Schiller) by 4 1/2 lengths in the Apr. 25 Carousel S. at Oaklawn, but she was a well-beaten third behind Bell’s the One (Majesticperfection) in the May 30 GIII Winning Colors S. at Churchill. Bell’s the One, who is forced to give weight all around under the conditions of the race, got a tremendous set-up in the six-furlong Winning Colors that flattered her off-the-pace running style, as she rolled home to best Break Even (Country Day) by three sound lengths. The waters are considerably deeper here, but she returns to the same track and trip over which she annexed last October’s age-restricted GIII Lexus Raven Run S. and the race shape could be in her favor this time as well. The post Guarana Tough To Go Past in Madison appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Already a four-time stakes winner at Keeneland, eFive Racing Thoroughbreds’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) looks to add to that total in defense of her title in Saturday’s GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. Winner of the GIII Jessamine S. at two and the GIII Applachian S. and GI QE II Challenge Cup at three, Rushing Fall controlled the pace in last year’s Jenny Wiley, her one-length victory belying the ease with which it was accomplished. The $320,000 FTSAUG acquisition repeated the dose in the GI Just A Game S. last June, but found stablemates Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) too tough when second and fourth, respectively, in the GI Diana S. at Saratoga and GI First Lady S. at this track. She was uncustomarily off the speed in those two losses, but atoned in no uncertain terms with a pillar-to-post tally for a second consecutive Just A Game June 3. A Rushing Fall win would take her past Take Charge Lady into second place among Keeneland’s all-time stakes winners. Dual Horse of the Year Wise Dan won a remarkable seven black-type races in Lexington. The very talented Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) adds a layer of intrigue to the race. Perfect in three Brazilian starts, including a Group 1 mile over ‘heavy’ turf, the chestnut was sensational in winning the GIII Las Cienegas S. on her U.S. debut in January and again when besting next-out GI Jaipur S. victress Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom) in the GII Monrovia S. at Santa Anita. In her lone try around two turns, she carried the lead into the final furlong of the GII Buena Vista S., but had no response when confronted late by Keeper Ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute). She has another 110 yards to negotiate here, but her Hall of Fame connections undoubtedly inspire confidence that she is equal to the task at hand. Fellow California raider Toinette (Scat Daddy) ventures to the Bluegrass for the second time in her career, having handed Rushing Fall her first career defeat in the 2018 GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill. A winner of eight of her 12 career appearances, the two-time Keeneland sales graduate was easily best as the long odds-on favorite in the GII Goldikova S. on Breeders’ Cup weekend last November and closed the season with a fourth to Got Stormy (Get Stormy) in the GI Matriarch S. Dec. 1. The dark bay prepped for this with a dominating victory in the GIII Wilshire S. at Santa Anita June 20 and should be in a position to capitalize if either or both of the two chalks fail to deliver their best.Rushi The post Rushing Fall Back to Favorite Track for Jenny Wiley Defense appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Due to heavy rain and high winds that hit the Jersey Shore all day Friday, Monmouth Park canceled its six-race program slated to commence at 5p.m. Live racing resumes at Monmouth Park July 11 with a first post of 12:50 p.m. for the 12-race card. The post Monmouth Cancels Friday Card Due to Storm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) will face four overmatched rivals in her return to graded competition in Saturday’s GII Ruffian S. at Belmont Park. After missing her entire 4-year-old season due to several different setbacks, the Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables colorbearer made her first start since capturing the 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff a winning one, annexing an optional claimer in impressive fashion in the Churchill Downs slop May 16. Monomoy Girl, winner of the 2018 GI Kentucky Oaks, is a perfect three-for-three at the one-mile distance of the Ruffian. She is the 2-5 morning-line favorite. “I talked to [trainer] Brad [Cox] today and he’s expecting her to run well, she’s training as well as she has ever trained,” co-owner Sol Kumin said of the five-time Grade I winner. “She obviously ran that first race, but you still have your fingers crossed until Saturday. She’s giving all the right signs, and at this point, she has to stay sound and do it. Saturday will be the next step. She went to allowance company, now she’s in a Grade II and we’ll progress from there.” Hall of Famer Bob Baffert will be represented by the MGISP Mother Mother (Pioneerof the Nile), heroine of this term’s Kalookan Queen S. at Santa Anita. She was fourth in the Harmony Lodge S. in the Belmont mud June 5. The post Monomoy Girl Heavily Favored in Graded Stakes Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article