Galloping Chat

One thing is certain: there's never been a May like it. Godolphin threw down the graded gauntlet in May with such an unprecedented and historic achievement surely no one dreamed it could be possible. A Classic double in America for the operation turned into a Classic quadruple on both sides of the pond, all in the same weekend. While that feat stands tall among the month's graded races, the rest of May did its part to deliver additional drama, special moments, and superb racing. We take a look at trends and notable items from the continent's graded races for the past month. North America hosted 52 graded stakes in the month of May. Among the 10 Grade I races were two Classics for colts, plus the Kentucky Oaks for fillies. Another 14 races were held with a Grade II designation and 28 as Grade III. Just half of the 52 graded races were run on dirt, with another 22 on turf and four on Woodbine's all-weather surface. Unsurprisingly, with the focus firmly on the GI Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs held more graded races in May than anyone else with a count of 23. The Belmont at Aqueduct meet was next (9), followed by Pimlico (7) and Santa Anita (7), Woodbine (5), and Lone Star (1). Twenty-two graded stakes were held around North America on Derby weekend. Three graded races in May were run at 1 1/4 miles, including the Derby, while two were at 11 furlongs and one at 12 furlongs. All except for the Derby and the GII Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes were contested on turf. Middle distances remain the most frequently run distances for graded events on the continent. Sprints were carded more often than routes, with 16 graded races contested at seven furlongs or less. Thirteen of May's graded races were won by 3-year-olds, with another 24 won by 4-year-olds. The remaining 15 winners were ages five to eight. Nine were won by geldings. A total of 37 individual trainers won May's 52 graded races. Multiple graded-winning trainers for the month included Chad Brown (5), Brad Cox (4), Bob Baffert (2), Martin Drexler (2), Michael McCarthy (2), and Todd Pletcher (2). Saffie Joseph, Jr. won three, including the May 26 GI Gamely Stakes with Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) for his first win at Santa Anita, then turned right around and also captured the Hollywood Gold Cup with Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) in the very next race. Poignantly, the late Christophe Clement also won three, including the GII Man o' War Stakes May 10 with Far Bridge (English Channel), who would mark his final graded winner–the 239th of his too-brief career–before his passing near the end of the month. Trainer Rohan Crichton got his first graded win with Macho Music (Maclean's Music) in the May 3 GII Pat Day Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs, while trainer Kevin Rice got first graded win with Ms. Tart (Maximus Mischief), a $35,000 claim at Gulfstream in January, in the May 31 GIII Royal North Stakes at Woodbine. Seventeen of the 52 graded winners in May were homebreds, many with partners added in for the ownership. It's hard to imagine a sweeter homebred double than Godolphin's feat of winning both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, the first time homebreds won both in the same year for an operation since Calumet did it in 1952. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) will both return to action this weekend in the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Godolphin was one of two breeders with multiple graded winners in May. The operation closed out the month with three, while Woods Edge Farm, LLC bred two (one in partnership). The 52 graded races for the month were won by the progeny of 41 individual stallions. Medaglia d'Oro had three, two of which were Grade I winners, and Curlin also had two Grade I winners. Twirling Candy had three graded winners, while English Channel, Liam's Map, Mitole, Omaha Beach, Siyouni (Fr), and Uncle Mo each had two. Six-time leading sire Into Mischief sired his record-tying third Derby winner in just six years. In addition, his son Goldencents sired last year's Derby winner, making Into Mischief responsible for four of the last six Derby winners. Medaglia d'Oro sired three graded winners on Derby weekend, including his record-tying third Kentucky Oaks winner. Three different sons of War Front sired graded winners May 3. Lane's End's Honor A. P. was one of three stallions to tally a first graded winner during Preakness weekend | Sarah Andrew Twenty-six of the 41 May sires are active in Kentucky, while another four closed out their careers in Kentucky, but are deceased or pensioned. Two currently stand in Louisiana, with one each in Indiana and New York, as well as in Australia, France, Ireland, Japan, and Turkey. Active stallions who sired graded winners in May and also had multiple sire sons to sire graded winners during the month included Into Mischief with sire sons Goldencents, Maximus Mischief, and Practical Joke; War Front with Summer Front, Omaha Beach, and The Factor; and Medaglia d'Oro with Bolt d'Oro and Violence. A number of other currently active sires whose sons sired graded winners in May includes Candy Ride (Arg), who had two sons sire graded winners: Gun Runner and Twirling Candy. Both Lane's End's Honor A. P. and Ashford's Echo Town got their first graded winners May 16 at Pimlico, with Margie's Intention in the GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Echo Sound in the GIII Miss Preakness Stakes, respectively. The following day, Indiana Stallion Station's Qurbaan notched his first graded winner with Charlene's Dream in the GII Gallorette Stakes, also at Pimlico. The least expensive U.S. buys to win graded races in May were the $15,000 for Skippylongstocking at the 2020 Keeneland September sale and the $18,000 for Classic Mo Town (Mo Town) at the 2021 OBS October yearling sale, while the most expensive were the $925,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale for Two Sharp (Twirling Candy) and the $825,000 for Journalism (Curlin) at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Forty individual broodmare sires were represented in May's graded contests. Giant's Causeway, Into Mischief, Lemon Drop Kid, and Street Sense were damsires of three each, while Bernardini, Medaglia d'Oro, Pioneerof the Nile, and Uncle Mo all doubled up. The late English Channel got the exacta in the aforementioned May 10 Man o' War, with the late Kitten's Joy also serving as the broodmare sire for both runners. Mystik Dan (Goldencents)'s win in the May 31 GIII Blame Stakes marked the first time since Silver Charm in the late 1990s a Kentucky Derby winner returned to win another graded race at Churchill Downs. Preakness winner Journalism holds three of the top eight Beyer Speed Figures for 3-year-olds in 2025. The top graded Beyer for May was the 109 set by Kopion (Omaha Beach) in the May 3 GI Derby City Distaff Stakes. Both the Derby winner and the Preakness winner received their early instruction at Bridlewood Farm in Florida. The post Numbers Game: Much to Unpack in 52 Graded Races in May appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Epsom Downs, post time: 15:30, THE BETFRED DERBY-G1, £1,604,000, 3yo, c/f, 12f 6yT Field: Al Wasl storm (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), Damysus (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Green Storm (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Midak (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), New Ground (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Nightwalker (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Pride Of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Rogue Impact (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Ruling Court (Justify), Sea Scout (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Stanhope Gardens (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Tornado Alert (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Tuscan Hills (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 16:00, THE BETFRED OAKS-G1, £573,150, 3yo, f, 12f 6yT Field: Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Elwateen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Go Go Boots (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Revoir (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Wemighttakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 14:40, THE BETFRED CORONATION CUP-G1, £450,000, 4yo/up, 12f 6yT Field: Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 17:25, KING GEORGE V CUP-Listed, €27,000, 3yo, 12fT Field: Acapulco Bay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Arouet (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Titanium Emperor (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {GB}), What's Your Game (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Zahrann (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Bay Colony (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Dawn Spirit (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Nuit (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Acapulco Bay disappointed for the first time in his life when last of five in the 10-furlong G3 Derby Trial here, but his previous form suggests he is worth another chance. Zahrann scored by seven lengths at Cork last month and is one of a few from the Johnny Murtagh stable who could make their presence felt in 2025. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Can Ruling Court Complete The Classic Double? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, trainer Efren Loza Jr. has been suspended an additional four years and fined a total of $38,000 (including arbitration costs) for a Clenbuterol positive stemming from last September, adding to an 18-month suspension he is already serving, again for a Clenbuterol positive. According to the arbitrator's final decision, an out-of-competition hair test taken from Lucago on Sept. 3 last year returned positive findings for the controversial bronchodilator Clenbuterol, which is banned under HISA except under certain circumstances. At the time that sample was pulled, Loza was not the covered person responsible for Lucago, and was already serving his 18-month suspension. Loza had officially transferred responsibility for Lucago to trainer Luis Ramirez on June 20 last year. But according to the arbitrator's ruling based on expert testimony, the Clenbuterol had been administered prior to the June 20 switch in responsibility. “Based on sound scientific reasoning-and common sense-Lucago's exposure to clenbuterol had to have occurred prior to June 3, 2024,” the ruling states. In Loza's post-hearing brief, he argued that the most plausible explanation for the positive was accidental contamination. Loza's current 18 month suspension ends Oct. 16 this year. This additional four-year suspension begins the same day. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 06/03/2025 Licensee: Samuel Valdivia, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Isoflupredone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Computing Champ, who finished second at Will Rogers on 4/29/25. Date: 06/03/2025 Licensee: Steve Williams, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Gospel Mark, who finished second at Will Rogers on 4/21/25. Date: 06/03/2025 Licensee: Glenn Wismer, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 4; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Ask Arthur, who finished fifth at Keeneland on 4/19/25. Date: 06/02/2025 Licensee: Efren Loza Jr., trainer Penalty: Four (4) year period of Ineligibility, beginning on October 16, 2025; $30,000 fine; payment of $8,000 toward the arbitration costs of the proceeding; and (14) month period of Ineligibility for the Covered Horse Lucago, beginning on April 3, 2024. Final decision by arbitral body. Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violation for the use or attempted use of Clenbuterol–a banned substance except in strict circumstances–on the horse, Lucago. Date: 05/30/2025 Licensee: Gregory Foley, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500 per violation, for a total of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points per violation, for a total of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone and Phenylbutazone–both controlled substances (Class C)–in a sample taken from Hard to Get on 4/15/25. Date: 05/30/2025 Licensee: Dr. Margaret Smyth, veterinarian Penalty: Three (3) month period of Ineligibility, beginning on May 30, with a credit of twenty-five (25) days for the Provisional Suspension served in 2023. Admission. Explainer: Possession of Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin), Levothyroxine and Hemo 15–all banned substances–for an event dated 10/4/23. Date: 05/30/2025 Licensee: Dr. Barbara Hippie, veterinarian Penalty: Three (3) month period of Ineligibility, beginning on May 30, with a credit of twenty-five (25) days for the Provisional Suspension served in 2023. Admission. Explainer: Possession of Clodronate (Bisphosphonate), Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin), Levothyroxine, Isoxsuprine and Hemo 15–all banned substances–for an event dated 9/28/23. Date: 05/29/2025 Licensee: Emmanuel Tzortzakis, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 30, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Whoosh on 3/18/25. Pending ADMC Violations 06/03/2025, Jorge Abreu, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Curlin's Angel on 5/2/25. 06/03/2025, Luis Fernando Gonzalez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone and Flunixin–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Swen on 5/2/25. 06/02/2025, Mike Miceli, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in samples taken from Montauk Mystique, who finished second at Aqueduct on 3/28/25, and from Mighty Atlas who won at Aqueduct on 3/21/25. 05/29/2025, Carmelo Ortiz-Ruiz, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Boxster on 4/6/25. Violations of Crop Rule Belterra Park Antioco Murgia–violation date May 29; $250 fine, one-day suspension Churchill Downs Abel Cedillo–violation date May 29; $1,500 fine, three-day suspension Gulfstream Park Miguel Angel Vasquez–violation date May 30; $250 fine, one-day suspension Hawthorne Alexis Centeno–violation date May 29; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, May 29-June 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Imagine the utter waste of money when so many got rolled out then binned? Good old Tim, bless his cottons, STILL lists the pen reading on his twitts feed while swearing like a trooper when he has to list Soft 5 NZTR thinks they can treat punters with total disregard  When pointed to the likes of Racing.Com, where I can click any horse's last 5 starts and the rail position, they scoff Hell, the ignorami at NZTR wont even provide punters with a last rail position for a current meeting  "look it up yourselves then eat some cake you lazy peasants"  

There's been a couple more than that.  Bellatrix Star has performed well over there at Group level - won the Champagne Stakes G3, Schillaci Stake G2 and an unlucky second to Switserland in the Coolmore G1.