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    • Tyler Gaffalione earned the title after he won the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) aboard Lion Lake, the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) aboard Grand Sonata and the Honey Fox Stakes (G3) aboard Lush Lips.View the full article
    • As expected, Gulfstream's loaded Fountain of Youth card provides fast fillies–but topping this week's list is a breakout performance at Turfway Park. 5. WITH THE ANGELS, AQU, 3/1, Correction Stakes, 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure- 93, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. (f, 4, by Omaha Beach–Sister Margaret, by Pulpit) O-Winning Move Stable, John Oxley, Sheila Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford Robbins. B-Joseph DeRico (NY). T-Linda Rice. J-Jose Lezcano. Rice says With the Angels “never makes a wrong move,” and after demoralizing her New York-bred competition last summer and fall, the $350k 2-year-old buy is now doing the same to the Big A's winter open company. In the Correction Stakes, she was confidently kept out in the clear by Lezcano before unleashing a final quarter in :24.05 to put 4 1/2 lengths on her rivals. Next on her agenda could be the Apr. 4 running of the $150,000 GIII Distaff Stakes.   4. JUST BASKING, GP, 2/28, GIII The Very One Stakes, 1 3/8 miles (T) Beyer Speed Figure- 93 (m, 5, by Arrogate–Spanish Star, by Blame) O-Andrew Schwarz and Wendy Gilder-Schwarz. B-Gilder-Schwarz Farms. T-Ian Wilkes. J-Javier Castellano. The promising Just Basking's development has been hindered by untimely interruptions, but fortunately nothing got in her way at Gulfstream on Saturday, as she rallied from last to first in GIII The Very One. She was good enough to finish a length- beaten third in the 2024 GI Alabama, only to be sent to the sidelines for seven months, followed by a disappointing comeback at Fair Grounds and another 10-month absence. But now she's back in a racing rhythm and has regained her form: her 1 3/8 time was only .05 slower than Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) and the males in the GII Mac Diarmida three races later. From the last crop of Arrogate out of productive mare Spanish Star (three GSWs from five foals to race), Just Basking also provided her late sire with his 16th graded winner out of 32 total stakes winners.   3. CLASSIC Q, GP, 2/28, GIII Honey Fox Stakes, 1 mile (T) Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (2nd) (f, 4, by Classic Empire–Lovely Em, by Scat Daddy) O-Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. B-Winning Bloodstock (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-John Velazquez. She has no doubt been frustrating at times for her connections. But when she's in top form and gets her trip, Classic Q has proven capable of a graded-stakes-level run, even though she has come tantalizingly close without winning one yet. It now seems settled that her best chance is to control a reasonable pace, which Velazquez accomplished in the GIII Honey Fox Stakes only to see her lose another close one to a better horse.   2. LUSH LIPS (GB), GP, 2/28, GIII Honey Fox Stakes, 1 mile (T) Beyer Speed Figure- 95 (f, 4, by Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Lamyaa {GB}, by Arcano {Ire}) O-Dixiana Farms. B-The Pocock Family (GB). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Tyler Gaffalione. Walsh was clicking his heels when Dixiana's Bill Shively opted to race GISW Lush Lips as a 4-year-old and keep her in her current stall after bidding $3.7 million to acquire her at Keeneland November. In nine starts since the previous owners brought her over from Ireland and transferred her from Donnacha O'Brien to Walsh, the turf star has six wins and three seconds–and two of the losses were to champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro).   Literate | Coady Media 1. LITERATE, TP, 2/28, Wintergreen Stakes, 1 mile (AW) Beyer Speed Figure- 95 (m, 6, by Oscar Performance–Infanta Branca, by Henrythenavigator) O-C2 Racing Stable and BAG Racing Stables. B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Luan Machado. She's bred for grass and has a solid race on dirt, but she has been most productive on the all-weather. Maybe that's a function of being stabled at Woodbine and Turfway at the right times in her form cycle, but this winter she was a decent third in the My Charmer Stakes, got up to win the Likely Exchange Stakes and last week turned in the race of her life: a 10 3/4-length demolition job in the Wintergreen Stakes. Climb into the Wayback Machine and you'll find that her dam is a half-sister to 1998 GII Fountain of Youth winner Lil's Lad (Pine Bluff) out of Loblolly Stable's GSW Totemic (Vanlandingham).   The post Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week: Feb. 23-Mar. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • The conversation around America's aftercare ecosystem has never been louder. Funding it and reforming it have been central to Mike Repole's efforts over the past three years. If our industry cannot align around something as fundamental and humane as aftercare, it raises serious questions about our ability to solve larger, more complex challenges. Events last week, including Anna Ford's TDN letter and the Eclipse Thoroughbreds town hall, have renewed interest in the findings Mike and I shared with The Jockey Club in December 2024 and prompted requests to make our findings public. It is time. In January 2024, Mike made clear the National Thoroughbred Alliance would begin its advocacy with aftercare. What started as a call with representatives of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance became a 10-month examination of the American aftercare ecosystem. After extensive outreach across the space, one theme was constant: deep disappointment that industry leadership was not addressing today's needs. We presented 20 concise findings, with a funding model projection, refined with respected aftercare leaders whose guidance was invaluable. These findings were meant to serve as a foundation for collaboration. They are not stand-alone solutions. We sent the findings and funding model to Jockey Club President Jim Gagliano and incoming Chairman Everett Dobson in December 2024 to begin engagement with the registry, whose role is critical to meaningful reform. After months of legal correspondence in 2025, a meeting between Repole and a majority of the Club's Stewards in August 2025 revealed the document had never been shared with them or discussed. The Stewards first saw it only when it was attached to a legal letter from Repole's attorney. The findings are shared below. U.S. Aftercare Ecosystem Findings Overview: While bright spots and successes undoubtedly exist, the greater U.S. aftercare ecosystem is significantly underfunded and underdeveloped, lacking the necessary programs, initiatives, relationships and the physical and technological infrastructure required today. Key findings are offered below. A coordinated, nationwide approach can build upon existing foundations, renovating these entities, building much-needed functionality, serving as a hugely positive marketing and engagement outlet for the Thoroughbred industry, while driving demand for retired racehorse purchases, growing value for existing stakeholders and ensuring racing continues for generations. Nearly every entity across the U.S. aftercare space is underfunded, some chronically so. This includes most adoption facilities, sanctuaries, equine-assisted therapy outlets, track-based programs, incentive programs and other charitable groups. The current TAA is far more limited than its reputation or brand awareness might imply. While highly successful in standard-setting and accreditation, the funds they raise are inadequate compared to the scope of need. With its strong brand, a significantly renovated TAA could be a legitimate center for the recommended actions derived from these findings. The U.S. racing/breeding sectors lack a central “customer service” function for anyone with an interest in retired racehorses. There is no central hub for help in a space that needs one. Incentive programs (RRP, TIP, TAKE2, etc.) seeking to drive demand for, and prove the usefulness of, retired racehorses have plateaued in the face of limited support from the racing and breeding sectors. They are ripe areas for growth, investment and strategic partnerships. Racetrack operators and/or horsemen's groups have been left to create their own programs–some very successful–to help transition some retired racehorses, but significant variance still exists in experiences, funding, accreditation, the likelihood of bad outcomes and more. Individual, for-profit resellers and agents, entirely outside the bounds of any organizational control–and not the non-profit sector–are likely responsible for the majority of recently-retired racehorse sales. This can compound problems faced years after initial retirement. Standardized, non-discipline-specific retraining practices do not exist in a formal capacity. Partnerships between industry and sport horse associations (U.S. Equestrian Federation) are underdeveloped. Traceability of retired racehorses is extremely limited, with only minor signs of improvement in the offing. Horse breeders, buyers and racing owners will always be targeted as a source for funding a portion of a horse's care once retired because formal tracking of such data is widespread, while post-racing traceability is practically non-existent. Retired racehorses can change hands frequently amongst post-racing owners, particularly within the first 24 months after leaving the track, further inhibiting traceability. The greater racing industry has done little to build residual value in horses (geldings) clearly not bound for a future career in breeding. Doing so drives more money back to racing owners. A safety net for vulnerable horses does not exist in the U.S. This would be intended for the neglected, ill-treated, or those whose owners encounter severe financial hardship. A viable, promotable emergency contact system for ex-racehorses does not exist in the U.S. The practice of slaughter has greatly diminished, but horses and the greater industry still experience bad outcomes. Individuals and organizations–including targeted past connections–routinely pay “bail” to operators of kill pens in the hopes of saving horses from bad outcomes, unfortunately perpetuating a vicious cycle. Senior broodmares are a highly at-risk segment for slaughter, representing a significant threat to the image of the industry; few policies exist to protect them from bad outcomes. Most major breeding farms do not dedicate space for retired racehorses or broodmares. Industry-led research and policy advocacy on aftercare and ex-racehorses does not exist. Those working across greater aftercare are tireless advocates for retired racehorse development and outstanding resources for information, but a portion suffer from compassion fatigue. Skepticism of much-needed improvements across the space is rampant after decades of ignorance or insufficient support from the very industry they try to help. This status quo leads to conflict, much of which bubbles under the surface, between key entities within aftercare. Many non-profit groups in aftercare are fearful of speaking openly or publicly about challenges they face, believing that doing so could risk a cut in funding or accreditation while limiting greater industry awareness of the realities facing the retired racehorse ecosystem. An Invitation To Collaborate That was it. Simple. The question is not whether these realities exist, because they do, but whether the leadership of this industry is willing to confront them honestly and act accordingly. We produced these findings to serve as a starting point for collaboration with the one entity uniquely positioned to help build structure, accountability, and traceability into the lifecycle of every Thoroughbred: The Jockey Club.The registry sits at the center of the breed. Aftercare is not a public relations initiative. It is a moral obligation and a structural necessity for the long-term viability of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in this country. The findings are not an attack. They are, and have always been, an invitation. The industry deserves to know whether that invitation will finally be accepted. Pat Cummings is Executive Director of the National Thoroughbred Alliance.   The post Letter to the Editor: America’s Aftercare Conversation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • The barrier draw is complete for the $4m NZB Kiwi taking place Saturday at Ellerslie.  Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) was offered by Haunui Farm in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought by Ballymore Stables/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman for $75,000. He has had nine starts for two wins, two placings and $485,575 in prize-money, headed by Group One glory in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November. He is eligible for the $1m Bonus Pool. To Bravery Born  (NZ) (Snitzel) was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $200,000 from Curraghmore’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2024. He has earned $169,575 to date from a 10-race career that has produced four wins and a placing, including a third in last season’s Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) and a fourth in the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). Well Written (Written Tycoon) is a graduate of Brighthill Farm’s NZB National Online Yearling Sale draft. She was bought by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for a sale-topping $80,000. The unbeaten filly has already earned more than 17 times that amount in her phenomenal five-race career, headed by runaway performances in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). She is eligible for the $1m Bonus Pool. Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), like Romanoff, was bought by Ballymore Stables/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman from Book 2 of Karaka 2024. He was a member of Wentwood Grange’s draft and was bought for $115,000. His six starts have produced two wins, three placings and $283,275 in stakes. He won the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) in the spring and finished second in a photo finish to the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). La Dorada  (NZ) (Super Seth) was bought by David Ellis – purchaser of last year’s inaugural NZB Kiwi winner Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) – for $190,000 from Waikato Stud’s Karaka 2024 Book 1 draft. She has won five times in a 10-race career and has banked $1.39m, including victories in the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Group Two Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Group Two Levin Classic (1400m). She also finished third in the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in January. She is eligible for the $1m Bonus Pool. Asakura (Churchill) is the only Australian-trained runner in this year’s race. He was bought by Mitch Freedman Racing for $140,000 from Hallmark Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2024. He has had four starts for two wins and two seconds, including a last-start second in the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, and has earned A$77,440 (NZ$88,686). He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) is the third David Ellis-purchased runner in this field, bought for $825,000 from Haunui Farm’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2024. He Who Dares has had eight starts for a win, four placings and $374,160 in stakes. He has been runner-up in the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m), the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) and the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m). Panther (NZ) (Ace High) was offered by Rich Hill Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where Wexford Stables bought him for $280,000. He has had four starts to date, recording a win and three seconds including a last-start second in the Group Three Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). He has earned $54,760 so far. War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) was purchased by Exempt Bloodstock and Peter Didham Racing for $77,500 from Haunui Farm’s draft in Book 2 of Karaka 2024. War Princess has had 10 starts for five wins, a placing and $202,860 in stakes. She won the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) in December and was a last-start fourth in the $1.5m Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) completes the quartet of NZB Kiwi runners sold by Haunui Farm at Karaka. She was bought from Book 2 by Richardson Racing Stables and Social Racing. She has turned that into $325,575 in prize-money, including a valuable victory in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and second placings in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Three Sunline Vase (1400m). The winner of the NZB Kiwi will earn $1.2m, with $600,000 for second and $450,000 for third – boosted by another $600,000 for first, $250,000 for second and $150,000 for third with the Bonus Pool. The fourth placegetter will receive $350,000, with $275,000 for fifth and $125,000 for every other runner in the field. The NZB Kiwi will be run as Race 9 on a star-studded Champions Day card at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 5.48pm. View the full article
    • i think how each  racing code have spent the entain money will decide whether its a dead cat bounce. as to the spreads the clubs put on back in the say. i remember my parents racing a horse or two back in the early 1970's. they would always get a couple of tickets each and then take a friend with them to a room where free afternoon tea was provided for owners.From memory they were allocated 2 or 3 cakes as well as a cup of tea. They still owned one that was in training or racing during the late 80's and 90's,i'm pretty sure the owners got no free afternoon tea by then,but i do recall my parents often commenting on how the local clubs would put on free drinks and food for friends of club members,who only went for the free food and booze and never showed any interest in anything racing. I remember one particular fella who was never a club member and had no interest at all in racing, but would always roll out drunk near the end of the local raceday. funny thing is,my wife and i  raced harness horses for many years and the the only club to ever provide an afternoon tea type thing was forbury. Never once did we get an invite from any club,apart from the forbury club for food..if we won our local club would always invite us in for a drink and addington and forbury as well,but no one else did and we have won a race or two  at most of the south island tracks.
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