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    • While the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack feature American-trained runners or owned interests, other races on the Saudi Cup undercard also include notable U.S. representatives. View the full article
    • Bob Baffert's horses have found heartbreak in the final 100 meters of the Saudi Cup (G1) and will have to overcome that late-race challenge again Feb. 14 against a rival who has mastered that task.View the full article
    • Colonial Downs has revealed a new brand, logo, and digital presence ahead of the track's first Virginia Derby spring meet, which will be held Mar. 12-14. The Virginia Derby will be contested Mar. 14 and will offer Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the first time. “With a record number of race days, growing crowds and purses, a Kentucky Derby qualifier race, and some of the most passionate fans around, Virginia is stepping into the sport's global spotlight,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs. “This exciting new identity for Colonial Downs honors Virginia's rich history of Thoroughbred racing, while inviting new fans and longtime enthusiasts to come experience the thrill of live racing at Virginia's premier Thoroughbred racetrack. It's a new look for a new era, and we invite you to be a part of it.” Colonial Downs' new logo features a striding Thoroughbred whose shape mirrors that of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The five strands of the horse's mane represent five regions of the state: Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley. The track's new signature colors also carry significance. Colonial Downs Copper represents the sport's enduring connections to the earth and the dirt of the racing surface, while Regal Navy represents the noble history of horse racing and the steady strength of both horse and jockey. Colonial Downs has also unveiled an updated website, featuring race schedules, promotions, and track information, as well as updated Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts. The post Colonial Downs Announces Brand Reboot Ahead of Spring Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, turned the sod on the new Tipperary all-weather track on Thursday, marking the beginning of the redevelopment project which is scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2027. Minister Heydon was joined by Nicky Hartery, chairman of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI); Maurice Moloney, Tipperary Racecourse committee chairman; Andrew Hogan, Tipperary Racecourse manager; Sinead Carr, CEO of Tipperary County Council; and Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, along with local representatives, community leaders, the Tipperary Racecourse committee and project partners for the sod turning ceremony. Work will now commence on the new all-weather track, with a view to staging a full winter race programme in 2027/28. The main contract has been awarded to Atlantic Golf Construction (AGC Ventures Limited), based in Ballybunion, County Kerry. Martin Collins Enterprises Ltd will develop the polytrack racing surface, while the floodlights at the venue will be provided by McSherry Electrical Limited, based in Mallow, County Cork. Minister Heydon said, “I am delighted to be here in Tipperary today to turn the sod on the new all-weather track project. It's an ambitious, exciting project and I wish Andrew Hogan, Maurice Moloney and the team in Horse Racing Ireland all the best. “The project is a major stimulus, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the horse racing and breeding industry that already generates €329 million in expenditure and approximately 3,000 jobs in Tipperary alone – contributing to the national figure of €2.46 billion and over 30,000 jobs, and will be hugely beneficial for the continued development of this world-class industry.” Hogan added, “Today is a hugely exciting day for Tipperary Racecourse and the broader county. The new all-weather track is a crucial piece of infrastructure for the racing and breeding industry in Munster and beyond, and we are thrilled to see the redevelopment work get underway. “On behalf of the entire Tipperary Racecourse team, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported this project and helped to get us to this point today. We look forward to hosting stakeholder engagement events over the summer, as the project develops and we have more updates to share.” Tipperary will become the second all-weather track in Ireland, along with Dundalk, which is located roughly 270 kilometres further north. “Today marks an important moment not only for Tipperary Racecourse but for our vibrant racing and breeding industry,” said Hartery. “The new all-weather track reflects Horse Racing Ireland's strategic goal to create opportunities at all levels, and the project will bring huge positives for the industry, creating significant economic and social benefits for Tipperary and the broader region. It will provide a major boost to racing throughout the south of the country, offering accessible racing and training facilities all year round. “I would like to thank the Minister and his Department colleagues, Tipperary County Council and all stakeholders for their ongoing support.” The post Minister Martin Heydon Turns Sod on Tipperary All-Weather Track appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • It's been three weeks since our last GI Kentucky Oaks Top 10, and a lot has happened. But no one stepped up with the type of explosive performance that would have shaken up the standings. We've dropped four horses from our original poll. Mythical (St. Patrick's Day) just wasn't good enough in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes. Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) has been injured and has been taken off the Oaks trail. Percy's Bar (Upstart) hasn't had a workout since Jan. 6, which doesn't bode well for her making the Oaks. Hit Parade (Street Sense) was a disappointing fifth in the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn. Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes at the Fair Grounds should provide a bit more clarity to the picture. So, here goes, your latest Top 10: 1) ZANY (American Pharoah–Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) O-Repole Stable; B-D.J. Stable (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 yrl '24 FTSAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $221,500. Last Start: Won Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30. She didn't exactly burn up the racetrack in her 3-year-old debut, last Saturday's Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but I can't see dropping a horse from the No. 1 spot off of a win. Though she won by 2 3/4 lengths, her running time for the mile and 40 yards was 1:40.56. In the very next race, run at the same distance, the maiden Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) crossed the wire in 1:39.11 for trainer Chad Brown. That left Zany with an 81 Beyer figure, eight points slower than she ran in her impressive victory in the GII Demoiselle Stakes. She also ducked in sharply in the stretch. So why is she still No. 1? Because no one did enough to knock her off the top spot and I have all the confidence in the world in Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Likely, this was a starting place for Zany, and we will see a better filly when she returns in the Apr. 3 GI Ashland at Keeneland. 2) MEANING (Gun Runner–Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) O-Bridlewood Farm & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Stonehaven Steadings (Ky); T-Michael McCarthy. Sales history: $440,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $187,000. Last Start: Won Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 26. Unranked in the first edition of the Oaks Top 10, she roared into the No. 2 spot with a win in the Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita, where she beat two pretty tough customers in Explora (Blame) and Super Corredora (Gun Runner). It was her first start since she was a non-threatening fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. “She's a stronger filly, more mature,” winning trainer Michael McCarthy told reporters after the race. The knock on Meaning is that she got a perfect trip. She sat third behind Explora and Super Corredora, who battled it out in testing fractions of :22.57 and :45.98. When those two started to tire, the race fell into Meaning's lap. McCarthy has said that the Apr. 4 GII Santa Anita Oaks will be next for his filly. Meaning | Benoit 3) TAKEN BY THE WIND (Rock Your World–Up for Grabs, by First Samurai) O-Magdalena Racing, Terry Bradshaw, Graham Leveston, Raasi Stable; B-Courtney L. Meagher (Fl); T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $70,000 yrl '24 FTKJUL; $20,000 yrl '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $270,710. Last Start: Won Jan. 17 Silverbulletday Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30. Taken by the Wind has not raced since the first poll came out, but moves up because, well, someone had to, with so many disappointing performances from some of the more highly regarded horses. After his filly won the Silverbulletday Stakes, trainer Kenny McPeek expressed how high he is on her, and that means something from a trainer who has had so much success with star fillies. She only won the Silverbulletday by a neck, but there's no knocking her record–she's 3 for 3. McPeek reports that Taken by the Wind will have her next start in the Mar. 1 GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn. 4) LIFE OF JOY (Gun Runner–Jordayn's Leo, by Malibu Moon) O-Will Stroud, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm & For the People Racing Stable LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (Ky); T-Brad H Cox. Sales history: $375,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-0, $180,260. Last Start: Second in Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 22. You know that Brad Cox is going to have a say when it comes to the road to the Kentucky Oaks. He always does. And Life of Joy might be his best hope. Her race in the Suncoast, where she was second behind Zany, is better than it looks on paper. She broke a step slow, which cost her position. Sensing that there was a slow pace (:24.89, :49.55), Flavien Prat rushed her up into contention midway down the backstretch in what may have been a premature move. Still, she held her own against Zany. Other than a fourth-place finish in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, she's never been worse than second and seems to be peaking at the right time. 5) EXPLORA (Blame–Collections Choice, by Bernardini) O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Mesingw Farm (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $22,000 yrl '24 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '25 FTMMAY. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 5-3-2-0, $628,000. Last Start: Second Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 45. The Bob Baffert-trained filly made her 3-year-old debut in the Las Virgenes and probably didn't deliver the type of performance her Hall of Fame trainer was expecting. She's shown the ability to rate in the past, which she did in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she was fourth early before closing for second. But in the Las Virgenes, she got caught up in a speed duel with rival Super Corredora and didn't have enough left in the tank to hold off Meaning, who wasn't necessarily flying at the end. They went the final quarter in :27 4/5 seconds. The positive is that she held in there a lot better than Super Corredora, who finished last. She far from embarrassed herself and could easily rebound next out with a better trip. 6) DAZZLING DAME (Girvin–Awesome Dama, by Corinthian) O-Respect the Valleys LLC; B-Maria M Haire (Md); T-Brittany T Russell. Sales History: $50,000 RNA wnlg '23 KEENOV: $65,000 yrl '24 OBSWIN; $45,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-4-0-0, $240,525. Last Start: Won Jan. 3 Busanda Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 22. Might be overrating a filly whose claim to fame is that she won the Busanda Stakes on Jan. 3 at Aqueduct, but that was a powerful performance. She won by 11 1/2 lengths and earned a 91 Beyer. That's the best Beyer number turned in by any 3-year-old filly so far this year. Trainer Brittany Russell reports that Dazzling Dame may go next in the Mar. 14 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. If so, she may need to find a tougher spot to prove that her filly belongs among the best of her division. It's worth noting that she might have missed a work since she has not had a published workout since Jan. 23. 7) BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brendan P Walsh. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $301,525. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Last Start: Won Nov. 29 GII Golden Rod Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. The Godolphin-homebred will make her 3-year-old debut in Saturday's Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds, where she'll likely be favored over seven others. She was last seen winning the Golden Rod on Nov. 29 at Churchill. She took a 3 1/2-length lead into the stretch of that race and held on to win by a half-length while earning an 80 Beyer. Her rivals in the Rachel Alexandra will include Just Singing (Justify), who finished a fast-closing third behind her in the Golden Rod. There's very little speed in this race and Bella Ballerina will either set the pace or stay close to what is sure to be a slow pace. Either way, she should get a good trip. This will be an important test for her. 8) SUPER CORREDORA (Gun Runner–Super Simple, by Super Saver) O-Spartan Equine Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert Gardiner & Michael Olszewki; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-John Sadler. Sales History: $400,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, GISW, 5-2-1-0, $1,099,600. Last Start: Fourth Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 34. It was not a good 3-year-old debut for last year's juvenile filly champion. Yes, she got caught up in a speed duel in the Las Virgenes, but she should have had more fight than she did. She finished last in the four-horse field, 6 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Meaning. It was nothing like her winning performance in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she hung on gamely after setting fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 3/5. “We will stay the course and go to the next one [Mar. 1 GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes],” said Terry Finley, whose West Point Thoroughbreds is a co-owner of the filly. “This was a tough race. The hope is our filly needed the race. She'll have to improve to stay in the top echelon.” On Time Girl | Coglianese 9) ON TIME GIRL (Not This Time–Girl Daddy, by Uncle Mo) O/B-Albaugh Farmily Stables, LLC (Ky); T-Brad H Cox. Sales history: $375,000 RNA yrl '24 KEESEP. 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard.' Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $405,735. Last Start: Won Jan. 31 GIII Forward Gal Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Another Brad Cox filly, she jumped into the picture with a convincing win in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes at seven furlongs. She's now four for five during her career. The problem is that she's never gone beyond seven furlongs. She is by Not This Time, which suggests she should be able to handle a distance, but until she proves it, the jury is out. Cox is looking at the Feb. 28 GII Davona Dale at Gulfstream, a one-mile race. But it, too, will be run around one turn, meaning it may not answer all the questions. 10) POWERED BY FAMILY (Quality Road–Icon Project, by Empire Maker) O/B-St Elias Stables & West Point Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Cherie DeVaux. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $38,400. Last Start: Won MSW at Fair Grounds Jan. 10. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. While this might be an outside-the-box pick, the Quality Road filly has a lot of upside. She looked terrific breaking her maiden at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 10. She broke terribly and spotted the field several lengths, but made up a ton of ground and drew away to a four-length win while earning an 84 Beyer. The problem is she also broke poorly in her career debut and could do no better than fourth. She steps way up in class for the Rachel Alexandra and can contend. It all depends on the break. She'll have no chance against this caliber if she again breaks poorly. The post The Kentucky Oaks TDN Top 10 For Feb. 12: Zany Stays on Top appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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