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For the third consecutive year, Bruno Schickedanz topped North American owners by victories with his stable accumulating 151 wins from 1,138 starts in 2025. Godolphin reigned supreme, topping the owner charts by earnings for the fifth year.View the full article

5. LONESOME ROAD, LRL, 12/26-7th, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 93 (g, 3, by Maclean's Music-Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) O-Estate of R Larry Johnson. B-R Larry Johnson (Va). T-Michael Trombetta. J-Mychel Sanchez. The now-4-year-old gelding took a massive leap forward when Trombetta shifted him from grass to dirt, scoring by a widening 8 ½ lengths as the latest success from the breeding program of late Maryland-based owner/breeder Larry Johnson. Lonesome Road traces back four generations to Johnson's foundation mare Ran's Chick through her daughter Special Kell–the same family tree progression that has also produced graded stakes stars Mindframe and Future Is Now.   4. SALVATION, AQU, 12/4-2nd, 1 mile (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (2nd) (g, 3, by Palace Malice-Lovely Rate, by Exchange Rate) O-Robert Bruno. B-Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Linda Rice. J-Jose Lezcano. Based on numbers, he can rightfully be called a $45,000 bargain from the Fasig-Tipton October Taylor Made consignment even though he remains a maiden after eight starts (which have included five runnerup finishes). This was his seventh race and his second straight 94 Beyer, coming on the heels of his 2nd in November behind Life and Times. However, after this effort he ran back Dec. 28 at Aqueduct and finished a disappointing 4th with an 80 Beyer.   3. IRON HONOR, AQU, 12/13-3rd, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 95 (c, 2, by Nyquist-Orencia, by Blame) O-St. Elias Stable, William Lawrence and Cathi Glassman. B-Mike and Pat Freeny (Va). T-Chad Brown. J-Manny Franco. Despite his lofty debut Beyer, when a Brown first-timer is 5/1 fourth choice in a seven-horse field in December at Aqueduct, it's a safe bet the barn didn't consider him at the head of the class. Iron Honor had a string of mostly mediocre breezes, but there was nothing mediocre about the way he ran down talented Crossingthechannel, a next-out winner in New York (and another bred by Larry Johnson). He was a $230,000 Taylor Made Keeneland January graduate, who went on to sell for $475,000 in September.   2. D'CODE, OP, 12/14-4th, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 99 (c, 2, by Speightstown-Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy) D'code | Coady Media O/B-Tom R. Durant (Ky). T-Ray Ashford Jr. J-Cristian Torres. Longtime owner Tom Durant is a self-made billionaire who was once (and maybe still is) America's No. 1 Chevrolet dealer. The Texan has had numerous stakes winners over the years, including millionaire Silver Dust, Wooden Phone and Awesome Humor, and bred $1.6 million earner Tejano Twist.  But Durant has never had a youngster earn a debut 99 Beyer, a performance that has put 8 ½-length winner D'Code on the map for the Jan. 31 Southwest Stakes (Gr III).     1.TIME TO WIN, AQU, 12/4-2nd, 1 mile (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 103 (r, 3, by Not This Time-Nagamble, by Flatter) O-Spendthrift Farm, William Lawrence, Big Easy Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson. B-Fred Hertrich III. T-Chad Brown. J-Flavien Prat. Time to Win becomes our first three-timer in Five Fastest Maidens. He made the list for his debut runnerup finish Sept. 1 at Saratoga with an 87 Beyer, regressed slightly in his next 2nd-place finish at BAQ, then bounced back with a 94 Beyer in November finishing 3rd behind Life and Times and Salvation (see above). In his fourth start, the half-brother to Grade I winner Juju's Map put it all together, storming off by 5 ½ lengths to soar into triple-digit Beyerland and please his many owners. He was a $650,000 Taylor Made September grad, by their stallion Not This Time.     The post The Five Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Dec. 1 – Jan. 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first two reported foals for Gainesway Farm's MGSW Charge It (by Tapit) were born Jan. 5, with one arriving at the Brogden family's Machmer Hall in Paris, Kentucky, and the other being delivered at Darby Dan Farm outside of Lexington, Kentucky, the stallion outfit said via a Tuesday release. Machmer Hall oversaw the arrival of a bay colt, the first foal out of SP Six Sense (Violence). A half-sister to SW Xanthique (Into Mischief), out of the GSP mare Qualia (Saarland), Six Sense was a $105,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland November sale with a Charge It colt in utero. “The colt is healthy and doing great,” said Machmer Hall's Carrie Brogden. “He is the first of three Charge It babies expected here at Machmer Hall this year. When I first laid eyes on this beautiful stallion, I knew we had to have a share in him. We are delighted to support him with multiple mares in 2025, 2026, and beyond.” At Darby Dan Farm, the Ghostzapper mare Overt had a filly for breeder Healthy Wood Co. Ltd. This is the third foal out of Overt, a daughter of GSW Antipathy (A.P. Indy) and from the immediate family of Grade I winners, Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) and Likeable Style (Nijinsky II). A son of cornerstone Gainesway sire Tapit, Charge It was a Mandy Pope Whisper Hill Farm homebred under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher. The gray's 3-year-old campaign was highlighted by an eye-popping 23-length victory in the GIII Dwyer Stakes, where he earned a career-best 111 Beyer figure. At four, Charge It had another dominant victory with a 4 3/4 length win in the GII Suburban Stakes. In the race, his 106 Beyer tied for the highest figure at the classic distance in 2023. Charge It hails from one of the modern stud book's most prominent families. He is bred on the same cross as Horse of the Year, Flightline being out of the Indian Charlie mare, I'll Take Charge, herself a $2.2-million yearling. His second dam is the MGISW & Broodmare of the Year, Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is the dam of champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), plus GISWs Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). She is also the granddam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and GISW Omaha Beach (War Front). In his debut season at stud, Charge It covered 235 mares–fifth most of any North American stallion. In 2026, the Gainesway sire will stand for an advertised fee of $12,500. The post Gainesway’s Charge It Welcomes First Foals At Machmer Hall, Darby Dan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An open house starting at 1 p.m. CT will be held at the LACER stallion complex on Friday, Jan. 9 at Aztec Equine in Sunset, Louisiana, and feature a talk by Lane's End Farm's Bernie Sams, according to a release from the Louisiana breeder on Tuesday. Stallions who will be shown include Carpe Diem (by Giant's Causeway), Unified (by Candy Ride (Arg) and Bobby's Wicked One (by Speightstown). Light refreshments and stallion season drawings will be held. The address is: 545 Muscadine Road, Sunset, LA 70584. Inquires can be directed to David Tillson at (337) 315-2439. The post Sams To Speak At LACER Stallion Show In Louisiana Jan. 9 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Ottinho, a half brother to 2017 Horse of the Year and leading sire Gun Runner, scored in a maiden special weight Dec. 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The son of Quality Road prevailed by a head over stablemate Hadrian's Wall.View the full article

Oaklawn Park, who welcomed a total attendance of 104,250, highlighted by average Saturday crowds of more than 13,000, featured 132 races, including 15 stakes races over 13 race days, with an average field size of 9.78 horses per race during it's new Holiday Meet, the Hot Springs track said in a Tuesday press release. “The Holiday Meet delivered exactly what we strive for at Oaklawn–great racing, strong fan engagement, and meaningful momentum,” said Louis A. Cella, President of Oaklawn. “The competitiveness of our fields and the enthusiasm from both on-track and off-track players reinforce Oaklawn's position as a premier winter racing destination.” Total wagering and purses paid reached $10,052,000, averaging $773,230 per day. The on-track handle was up 17 percent while the total handle for the thirteen-day meet totaled $93,484,232, representing a nearly 27 percent increase year-over-year, despite being conducted over one fewer race day. By comparison, the handle from Dec. 6, 2024, through Jan. 5, 2025, totaled $73,765,539 across 14 days, underscoring the continued growth in wagering engagement from both on-track fans and horseplayers nationwide. Competition remained deep with 52 jockeys participating in at least one race and 30 earning a victory. One hundred forty-nine trainers started a horse during the meet, with 64 trainers represented in the winner's circle. Ownership participation was equally robust, as 661 owners started a horse, and 117 earned at least one victory. A total of 1,066 horses made at least one start during the meet, with 223 horses going out twice. One hundred thirty horses found the winner's circle, including three that recorded multiple victories. Oaklawn returns to action with the Classic Race Meet beginning Friday, Jan. 30. The post Turnstiles And Betting Slips: Oaklawn Concludes A Record Holiday Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

You probably won't find the name Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) on anyone's 2025 Eclipse Award ballot. Fanfare just doesn't come easily for a Louisiana-bred who has spent most of his career competing against fellow state breds. But the 7-year-old gelding is unquestionably one of the fastest horses in the sport. Is he fast enough to win the Jan. 24 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park? It appears he may just be given that chance. When the names of horses invited to the $3 million race were released, Touchuponastar was included on the list. According to the horse's owner, the former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme, who starred with the Carolina Panthers, it was Gulfstream Vice President of Racing Operations Mike Lakow who reached out to the connections and told them the track would be thrilled to have Touchuponastar compete in one of Gulfstream's signature races. “Mike Lakow reached out to us, probably over two months ago,” Delhomme said. “He said that he wanted to throw out the idea of our running there.” Touchuponastar is trained by Delhomme's brother, Jeff. The team has yet to decide whether or not it will point for the Pegasus, but Jake Delhomme said the race is definitely under consideration. “There's a chance that we will run,” Delhomme said. “We told [Lakow] we would consider it. There's no definitive answer yet. We'll see.” Some skeptics might conclude that Touchuponastar would be outclassed in the Pegasus. But adherents of the Beyer speed figures are likely to look at it differently. Touchuponastar has run Beyer figures of 101, 108 and 104 in his last three starts. His best figure of the year came when he turned in a 109 after winning the GII New Orleans Classic. Only six horses posted faster numbers in 2025. By way of comparison, White Abarrio (Race Day), the winner of the 2025 Pegasus, who will likely be among the favorites in this year's race, has run numbers of 97, 103 and 97 in his last three starts. One of the other big names being pointed for the race, Tappan Street, (Into Mischief), recorded a 90 Beyer in a Dec. 19 allowance that served as a prep for the Pegasus. Disco Time | Joe Labozzetta “I think he would be very competitive with those horses,” Delhomme said. “I follow this sport religiously. It's not something I just do on the side. I feel very confident in saying that I stay abreast of what's going on. Tappan Street is an unbelievably talented horse and I loved what he did last year. Disco Time (Not This Time) is training lights out for Brad [Cox]. You have Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), White Abarrio… there are so many good horses pointing for this race. It's an honor to have been invited.” Should he go in the Pegasus, it will not be the first time that the Delhommes have gone outside their comfort zone, which has been races for Louisiana-breds. Eighteen of his 26 starts have come against horses also born in the Bayou State, and his record in those races is 16-for-18. But he proved his bona fides in last year's New Orleans Classic, defeating, among others, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Delhomme said that race is also a possible target for this year. “I'll be very honest and won't give you any fluff,” Delhomme said. “Our horse can compete at many levels and he's doing extremely well and is very, very sound. That was proven last year against Sierra Leone and Hall of Fame when he ran against those two. To run in the Pegasus would be something very different for us. I played football for 15 years and I learned then that you have to take things one week at a time. We'll keep this under consideration.” The post Can The Louisiana-Bred Sensation Touchuponastar Topple The Big Boys In The Pegasus? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For those that don't like A.I. please look the other way!!! To the question "can you please summarize this case? is one party in a a stronger position than the other?"   ### **Summary of the Case** This is a judgment from the New Zealand High Court concerning an application to place two companies, **Karaka Estate Limited (KEL)** and **Byerley Park Limited (BPL)**, into liquidation. The key points are: 1.  **Parties and Dispute:** The plaintiff, **Henriette Nakhle** (the mother), and her son, **Daniel Nakhle**, are the sole directors and shareholders of the two companies, which act as trustees for family trusts. They are in a complete **deadlock** over the management of the companies and how to respond to existing High Court litigation (specifically, a claim for the recovery of millions of dollars in loans and distributions from a related family entity). 2.  **The Applications:**     *   Mrs. Nakhle applied to liquidate the companies on the grounds of **insolvency** and that it is **just and equitable** to do so.     *   Mr. Nakhle applied to **stay (pause)** the liquidation proceedings and prevent their public advertising. He argued that the trust deeds contained an **Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) clause** requiring the directors to mediate/arbitrate disputes before going to court. 3.  **Court's Decision:** Associate Judge Brittain **dismissed Mr. Nakhle's application** and allowed the liquidation proceedings to continue. The key findings were:     *   **Jurisdiction:** The ADR clause does **not** strip the Court of its statutory jurisdiction to order liquidation. While such clauses are a factor to consider, they do not prevent a party from seeking liquidation.     *   **No Stay Justified:** The Court declined to stay the proceedings to force mediation because:         *   The **deadlock was fundamental and irretrievable**, with a complete breakdown of trust.         *   The underlying dispute was already before the Court in other proceedings, and the parties' positions were "diametrically opposed."         *   There was **no reasonable prospect** that mediation or arbitration could resolve the core governance deadlock.         *   There was **expert evidence of insolvency**, and an insolvent trustee company should generally be liquidated.     *   **Next Steps:** The liquidation proceedings will proceed to a substantive hearing. Advertising of the proceedings was temporarily restrained to allow time for Mr. Nakhle to inform lenders. ### **Assessment of Relative Strength** Based on this interlocutory judgment, **Henriette Nakhle (the Plaintiff/Mother) is in a significantly stronger legal position than Daniel Nakhle (the Defendant Son).** **Reasons why Mrs. Nakhle's position is stronger:** 1.  **Won the Immediate Legal Battle:** The court **rejected all of Mr. Nakhle's key arguments** (the jurisdiction protest and the request for a stay). Her application to proceed with liquidation remains on track. 2.  **Court's Factual Findings Favoured Her:** The judge accepted her evidence on critical points:     *   The deadlock was **"fundamental and irretrievable."**     *   There had been an **"irretrievable breakdown of trust."**     *   The expert evidence of **insolvency** was persuasive, whereas Mr. Nakhle's solvency arguments depended on him winning other litigation and continuing to fund the companies unilaterally. 3.  **Public Policy Leans Her Way:** The judge affirmed the principle that **insolvent trustee companies should "almost invariably" be liquidated** to protect the trust. This strengthens her "just and equitable" argument. 4.  **Costs Award:** The judge indicated a preliminary view that **Mrs. Nakhle is entitled to costs** for successfully opposing Mr. Nakhle's applications, a typical indicator of the winning party. **Mr. Nakhle's Weaker Position:** *   His primary defensive strategy—relying on the ADR clause to derail the liquidation—**failed**. *   The court found his proposed solution (more mediation) was **futile** given the depth of the dispute and the existing litigation. *   His arguments on solvency were viewed as **contingent and speculative**, relying on his success in other cases. **Conclusion:** While the final decision on liquidation is still to be made, this judgment is a substantial setback for Daniel Nakhle. The court's reasoning strongly aligns with Henriette Nakhle's view of the dispute as an unmanageable deadlock requiring the statutory solution of liquidation. She holds the clear upper hand moving toward the substantive hearing.

By Mike Love  Ashburton trainer Wendy Stevenson takes three good each-way chances to Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru for their summer twilight meeting this afternoon. In Race 1, the Brosnan Transport Passing Lane Mobile Pace over 2050 metres Gotta Lather Up ($10.00FF) will be looking for a more economical run after having a couple of torrid trips since breaking maiden status at Oamaru three starts ago.  “We were pleased with him at Motukarara after drawing 16. Even though he only ran seventh he just couldn’t get in, and he’s still pretty green,” said Stevenson. Today’s field of just seven runners should help Gotta Lather Up regain a bit of confidence.  “The small field will be nice for him. He’s a bit of a goof and has some maturing to do. He’s got a lot of speed and he’s a nice horse with plenty of ability.” The Lather Up four-year-old has won once from five starts.  Race 4, the South Canterbury Hydraulics Ltd Mobile Pace over 2050 metres will see Hughes To Me ($7.50FF) give Stevenson her second chance of the day. The 24-start maiden has been racing in great form this campaign – placing in three of his four outings.  “I was hoping for a better draw,” said Stevenson. Hughes To Me has drawn the outside of the front line which will be a tough ask, but is racing in terrific form.  “He’s better suited to the stand, but he will pick one up – he’s really come solid this time in.” The last of Stevenson’s chances comes when Not Over ($6.00FF) lines up in Race 5, the Think Water Timaru Handicap Pace over 2600 metres. The 10-year-old Changeover gelding will be having his 110th start today but Stevenson suggests Not Over is none the wiser.  “He thinks he’s a young lad. He’s a super horse. The stand suits him. He runs well on the track. He could be a sneaky one.” Stevenson suggested that Not Over may be her best chance on the day, but Gotta Lather Up is the one to follow.  “Not Over would probably be my best chance of the day, but Gotta Lather Up has the most ability going forward.” Robbie Close will take the drive on all three runners in what is a busy day for the Canterbury reinsman with seven drives in total – the most favoured being Hugo ($3.70FF) in Race 3, the Southwest Refrigeration Mobile Pace over 2050 metres for trainer John McDermott.     View the full article