Let go at odds just north of 9-1 for the customarily patient Bill Mott barn, Godolphin's RAGTIME (f, 3, Union Rags–Burmilla, by Storm Cat) went to hot favorite Endorse (Curlin) with less than a furlong to race in Friday's second race maiden at Saratoga and kicked home nicely to score by four lengths en route to a 'TDN Rising Star'. Drawn the rail for the Sovereignty connections, the homebred was away without incident beneath Junior Alvarado and made ground inside to sit just ahead of midfield and behind the four-strong leading group into the turn. Under a tight hold rounding the bend, Ragtime followed the move of 4-5 Endorse into the stretch, came after that Repole runner at the furlong grounds and powered clear, covering the final eighth of a mile in a strong :12.34 seconds while clocking 1:23.24 for the seven-furlong distance. The cleverly named Filly Freedom (Constitution), a generous 27-1 for top connections, got home nicely for second, while Endorse was forced to settle for third. It was a gap of five lengths back to the Brown-conditioned debutante Lost Horizon (Into Mischief) in fourth. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Bill Mott.   The post Union Rags Filly Ragtime Races Away To Earn ‘Rising Star’ Honors on Saratoga Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine has cancelled its live card due to poor air quality, the racetrack said in a press release on Friday. Environment Canada's air quality index for Toronto is listed as 'High Risk' and is expected to remain at this level throughout Friday. Woodbine Entertainment's decision to cancel comes through consultation with the HBPA and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and is consistent with the AGCO's air quality guidelines. This cancellation was made in the best interests of the health and safety of the horses and racing participants. Woodbine will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as required. The next card of live racing is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET. The post Friday Live Racing Cancelled At Woodbine Due To Poor Air Quality appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna will miss a start at Royal Ascot later this month after picking up a “small injury”, according to trainer Donnacha O'Brien who announced the news on Instagram. Connections had been mulling a start in either the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes or the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot. A runner for Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing, Steve Weston and Reeves Thoroughbreds, the 4-year-old will be away from the races until later this year. “Unfortunately Porta Fortuna has picked up a small injury and will miss Ascot,” O'Brien posted on Friday. “We look forward to getting her back on track later this year.” The daughter of Caravaggio was a Group 1 winner at two and three, with the Cheveley Park Stakes, Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes going her way. Her latest trip to the post was a victory in the G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at The Curragh on May 25, her 4-year-old bow. The post Porta Fortuna To Miss Royal Ascot After Sustaining A “Small Injury” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ballydoyle's dominance was again on display in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks as Frankel's Minnie Hauk led home Wootton Bassett's Whirl for a stable one-two. Only getting started when winning the Listed Cheshire Oaks last month, the 9-2 second favourite sauntered around behind that companion before being committed by Ryan Moore heading to two out. Soon in command, the Derrick Smith colour-bearer was possibly idling as she let the Musidora winner Twirl back in close home and gave extra when joined near the line to prevail by a neck. There was a four-length gap back to the 11-10 favourite Desert Flower, with that daughter of Night Of Thunder never looking happy in her quest for the 1,000 Guineas-Oaks double. The post Oaks Number 11 For O’Brien As Frankel’s Minnie Hauk Leads Stable One Two appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making it ten Coronation Cups for Aidan O'Brien on Friday, Galileo's Jan Brueghel shed his playboy image to tough it out in an Epsom battle royal with Gleneagles's Calandagan. Raw and green despite winning a St Leger during his unbeaten 3-year-old campaign, the 10-3 second favourite followed the pace before being launched approaching two out by Ryan Moore. Tackled by that 8-13 favourite and headed inside the last furlong, the full-brother to the Irish Derby hero Sovereign pulled out extra to prevail by half a length, with a yawning seven lengths back to Mastercraftsman's Giavellotto in third. “The pace was honest and even and in that ground you were going to have to get the mile and a half very well and we knew that if we were going to expose His Highness's horse it was going to be over this trip,” the master of Ballydoyle said. “If he was going to challenge in slow motion, he was going to find it hard to get by him and that's exactly what happened–Jan Brueghel doesn't lie down. He is very straightforward and he's brave.” The post Ten Up For O’Brien As Galileo’s Jan Brueghel Wins Coronation Cup Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin's£720,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate Maximized (Mehmas) delivered a TDN Rising Star display in his debut over six furlongs at Haydock last month and, burdened with a five-pound penalty for that initial victory, doubled his tally with a dominant performance in Friday's former stakes-level Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes at Epsom. The Cheveley Park Stud-bred lined up as the 6-5 favourite and was swiftly into stride to track the leaders in a share of third through the early fractions. Rowed along to gain an edge passing the quarter-mile marker, he was not for catching thereafter and kept on strongly under continued urging in the closing stages to defeat Havana Hurricane (Havana Gold) by an ultimately comfortable 1 1/2 lengths. “He skipped along the surface when he won at Haydock first time, but it's good-to-soft here and the ground is quite testing out there today,” commented Charlie Appleby. “The [Royal] Ascot picture is building now and if we go there it'll probably be the [G2] Coventry. If we skip that, I think the [G2] July Stakes [at Newmarket] will be a nice race for him.” Maximized is the latest of five foals and one of two scorers produced by a daughter of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Hooray (Invincible Spirit), herself a out of Listed Star Stakes winner Hypnotize (Machiavellian). Hypnotize, who is a half-sister to Group 2-winning G1 1000 Guineas third Dazzle (Gone West), also threw Listed Criterium de l'Ouest victor Hypnotic (Lomitas) and Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy third Mazyoun (Mayson). The April-foaled bay is a half to Listed Cathedral Stakes victrix and G3 Ballyogan Stakes runner-up Benefit (Acclamation).   The post Mehmas’s TDN Rising Star Maximized Goes Two-For-Two at Epsom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reality is that the Rolleston training team is a helluva lot more capable than the North Island stable. Amanda and Tim have many very capable horse people alongside them, and when Steve sends horses down from the North, Tim and Amanda clearly improve them heaps! Yes there are wins out of the North Island stable, but they are racing horses of less ability generally!  

I bet the Telfer's wish they could clone Tim Williams and have him drive for the North Island too. How do you solve a problem like Josh Dickie?

Wonder if Forbury thought $12k on a Josh Dickie drive at $2.20 was good punting? I am actually surprised with many of these so called big bet win bets! With respect There are some very poor punters out there, that really should be putting their money on something other than punting. I can see why they are able to get more on than others