by Mike Kane & Patrycja Szpyra SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Through 14 days of Saratoga's season, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's 2-year-olds are getting the job done. Pletcher picked up his fifth victory in the top-level $100,000 maiden special weight races Sunday when Tapit's Legacy (Tapit) cruised to a five-length victory in the third race under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Pletcher has a 5-2-2 record from 15 starters in the open $100,000 races, a win percentage of 33 with a 60 percent finish in the top three. Last season, Pletcher won four of that type of race. “We've been happy with the way they've come out,” Pletcher said. “Sometimes you don't know until you start running against everyone else's 2-year-olds. You can train yours and they'll be looking good against the ones you're training them with, come over here and do well or they come over here and get their heads handed to them. Then you get a reality check. But, so far, they've been running well.” The race was scheduled for one mile on the inner turf course, but was moved to seven furlongs on the sloppy, sealed main track after heavy rain fell overnight and into the morning. Six of the 10 horses entered for the turf scratched and Tapit's Legacy drew in as the lone main-track-only entry. Tapit's Legacy, co-owned by Spendthrift Farm and Epic Horses, reached the wire in 1:23.87 and paid $3.30 as the 3-5 favorite. Three of Pletcher's 2-year-old winners came in the last three days of this second full week of racing. Time to Dream (Not This Time) started the victory parade Friday, Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) broke his maiden Saturday and Tapit's Legacy completed the weekend tri. Pletcher won with Malus (Into Mischief) on July 13 and Emphasis (Yaupon) on July 19. Todd Pletcher (first left) in the winner's circle with his latest juvenile maiden winner | Sarah Andrew Corser Thoroughbreds bred the big colt out Peace Corps (Violence). He did not meet his reserve price as a yearling, but sold for $550,000 to Spendthrift and Epic at the OBS March 2-year-old sale. “He breezed well there,” Pletcher said. “He's a big, good-looking son of Tapit, a pretty straightforward, attractive purchase.” Starting from the outside in the field of five, Tapit's Legacy sat a length behind pacesetter Chalky White (Practical Joke), who covered the first quarter mile in :23.42 and the half-mile in :46.73. Velazquez asked Tapit's Legacy for more in the turn and he responded but Velazquez said the colt didn't seem that interested in moving past Chalky White at the quarter pole. With some more urging, Tapit's Legacy had the lead just past the eighth pole and easily extended his advantage. Tapit's Legacy has been working at Saratoga since May. On June 27 he turned in a bullet work, fastest of 80, with a half-mile in :49.00 from the gate over the Oklahoma training track. “We've liked him all along. He's trained very forwardly,” Pletcher said. “We had him in earlier (in the summer) and he got a little temperature on us. We got backed up a little bit, and was just trying to find an opportunity to get him started. Fortunate here and got him in main track only. It looked like there was rain in the forecast, so it worked out well for him.”       3rd-Saratoga, $97,000, Msw, 7-27, 2yo, 7f (off turf), 1:23.87, sy, 5 lengths. TAPIT'S LEGACY (c, 2, Tapit–Peace Corps, by Violence) was the only main track only entry in this maiden washed off the turf, and was made a 3-5 favorite for this mile trek. Breaking well to track Chalky White (Practical Joke) as that one splashed through :23.42, :46.73, and six panels in 1:10.99, he was asked for his best at the five-sixteenths and spun off the turn the looming danger to that longtime leader. Taking command passing the eighth pole, Tapit's Legacy drew off from Chalky White to win by five lengths. The victor is the most recent to the races for Peace Corps, but her first to get his picture taken. He has a yearling half-brother by Curlin and a 2025 half-sister by Into Mischief. Sales history: $45,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Epic Horses LLC; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland: Pletcher’s Kiddie Corps Snags Another Maiden Special Spa Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain, post time: 15:05, AL SHAQAB GOODWOOD CUP STAKES-G1, £500,000, 3yo/up, 16f 0y Field: Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), French Master (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), Scandinavia (Justify). TDN Verdict: Last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger runner-up Illinois was put forward as a last-minute substitute for Kyprios in last month's G1 Gold Cup and, with extra preparation time for this marathon, is taken to gain a belated first win at the highest level. Ryan Moore is on board once more and he is accompanied by stablemate Scandinavia, who delivered a stunning wide-margin victory in Newmarket's G3 Bahrain Trophy earlier this month. Wathnan Racing's French Master steps up from handicap company for this black-type debut and is joined by Sweet William and Military Academy in the three-pronged bid to provide the Gosden stable with a sixth renewal. [Sean Cronin]. Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain, post time: 13:55, CORAL VINTAGE STAKES-G2, £175,000, 2yo, 7f 0y Field: Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}), Andab (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Dorset (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Gharma Sutra (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Goodwood Galaxy (GB) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Humidity (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Laureate Crown (Ire) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Morris Dancer (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Vincenzo Peruggia (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Zavateri dented some lofty reputations when annexing Newmarket's G2 July Stakes earlier this month and offers value in this open renewal. He is reopposed by July runner-up Do Or Do Not, who is the only maiden in the field. Aidan O'Brien sends forth TDN Rising Star Dorset, who comes back off a breakthrough success at the Curragh last month and seeks a fourth victory for the Ballydoyle maestro. Wathnan Racing's hitherto undefeated Humidity rates an obvious danger having broken his stakes duck in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham Stakes when last seen, while Al Shaqab Racing's Andab, representing the Joseph O'Brien stable, returns off a third in the G3 Marble Hill Stakes and a fourth in the G2 Coventry Stakes. [Sean Cronin]. Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain, post time: 14:30, HKJC WORLD POOL LENNOX STAKES-G2, £180,000, 3yo/up, 7f 0y Field: Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never), Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Quinault (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Witness Stand (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), Intrusively (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Noble Champion (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Kinross bids for an unprecedented third victory in a renewal that is as competitive as ever. The 2021 and 2023 winner encounters familiar foe Ten Bob Tony, who lowered his colours in Haydock's G3 John Of Gaunt Stakes on seasonal debut at the end of May. Last term's winner Audience has failed to fire in four outings since and returns off a ninth in the John Of Gaunt. William Haggas trainee Lake Forest has failed to hit the board in three starts since annexing Australia's Golden Eagle last November and needs to find more to feature. Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Jonquil was denied Classic glory when collared by Henri Matisse in the dying embers of May's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and is better than his unplaced effort in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, while Noble Champion, a shock winner of Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey Stakes, is not without a chance. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Group 1 Breakthrough Awaits Illinois in Goodwood Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the latest addition to the saga of Saratoga racing in the rain, La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) was not to be beaten in the GII Glens Falls Stakes on the only race left on the lawn. Finally able to break a four-race winless streak last out June 27 at the Belmont Big A meet, the Miguel Clement runner was given 5-2 odds here to pick up her second victory of the year. Content to claim the ground-saving position on the fence for most of the race, she was poised to pounce coming off the final bend when the field began to arrange itself for rallies. Taken off the inside path to the outside of pacesetter Long Ago (GB) (Roaring Lion), she pounced on that longtime leader at the head of affairs and sailed home a much the best winner. Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr) came on to grab second and Long Ago held on for third. Sales history: €55,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP; €400,000 HRA '23 ARQDEC. O-LSU Stables; B-SA Haras du Mezeray (Fr); T-Miguel Clement.   The post Le Mehana Strolls Home Much the Best in Glens Falls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As much as the fields for the both the Travers Stakes (G1) and the Pacific Classic (G1) came into a sharper focus July 26, the connections of Journalism say it will be "a few more weeks" before plans for the 3-year-old are finalized.View the full article

It's early days and the only available data I know of is the HRNZ betting data. I note this is limited and does not account for seasonal variation. However, From the seasonal data through 27/06,  GBR=35,796,319 Starters=24,139 GBR/starter=$1483 Since the legislation came into effect from 29/6-20/7 GBR=1,653,903 Starters=1140 GBR/starter=$1451 So, early indication is no increase, in fact a slight decline. Hopefully, TABNZ will have a more glowing report at the end of the month based on the overall racing and sports betting data.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was a low-key celebration for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott Saturday night after Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continued his stampede through the 3-year-old male division. “Put a couple hamburgers on the grill,” Mott said, sitting at his desk in his office at the Oklahoma Training Track on a soggy Sunday morning at Saratoga. “Good hamburgers, by the way. They were from Fresh Market. That was it. Then early to bed.” When Mott got his barn Sunday morning, he looked down his shedrow and saw the best 3-year-old in the country in Sovereignty, who won his third straight race the day before. His one-length win over Baeza (McKinzie) reinforced what everyone seems to know. Right now, Sovereignty, owned by Godolphin LLC, has no equal in the division. With the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes already on his 2025 resume, the next target will be the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23. Sovereignty, the 1-2 favorite, and jockey Junior Alvarado conquered the Jim Dandy by holding off Baeza, a horse that finished third to him in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The Derby and Belmont were both run at 1 1/4 miles; the Jim Dandy was contested at 1 1/8 miles. Sovereignty had only tried that distance once before, finishing second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream on Mar. 29. That is his only loss this season in five starts. “I looked at that, but, no, that wasn't really my biggest concern,” Mott said about the distance. “Now, you're going to ask what was your biggest concern. I don't know if I am going to reveal that. I was not panicking over the 1 1/8 [miles].” The journey will continue to the Travers. The endgame goal for the season is the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Mott has not yet thought about whether there will be another race on the schedule between the Travers and the Classic. “I would not think there would be,” Mott said. “If we make the Travers and the plan then is the Breeders' Cup, I would not think there would be another race, at least not in my mind.” McCarthy Will Wait Before Deciding What's Next for Journalism Trainer Michael McCarthy was an interested spectator of Saratoga races over the weekend. He watched as Sovereignty (Into Mischief) won the GII Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday. The day before, he tuned in to see Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) win the Curlin Stakes. “From what I saw of the two 3-year-old races at Saratoga and the Haskell the week before, it's the strongest 3-year-old crop I have seen in recent memory,” McCarthy said by phone from his California base at Del Mar Sunday. “I was very impressed [with Sovereignty].” McCarthy trains Journalism (Curlin), the GI Haskell Stakes winner, who won the GI Preakness Stakes and was second as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes. Sovereignty beat him in those two starts. The question begging for an answer is whether there will be a rematch in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes. “You mean between Sovereignty and Baeza?” McCarthy said, tongue firmly in cheek. Baeza (McKinzie) finished second in the Jim Dandy; he was also third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. McCarthy said he will keep all options open for Journalism, who has won four of six starts this season, three of them Grade I events. He could ship Journalism back to the East Coast for the third time this season for a date in the Travers or he could stay home and try older horses for the first time in the $1-million GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30. “Anytime you put a horse on a plane, you are always worried it might take something out of them,” McCarthy said. If he stays home, he would likely face the imposing Nysos (Nyquist), who won the GII San Diego Handicap by 2 3/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert Saturday. “Everything is up in the air,” McCarthy said. “Honestly, I am just going to watch my horse, see where we are at and go from there. It's a long year and we've got a long second half of the year. We want to be at our best for the Breeders' Cup Classic no matter what way we go.” McCarthy said that Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, has returned to the track and will have his first work since the Haskell next week or the week after. Baeza Might Return for Travers, Sandman Will Not Baeza (McKinzie), the runner-up in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes, might come back to take on Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes. Sandman (Tapit), who finished last in the field of five, will not. John Shirreffs, Baeza's trainer, flew back to California Saturday night and the colt was scheduled to follow early this week. Before he left, he said he would not be able to make the decision to return on his own. “I have to talk to [owners] Robert Clay [Grandview Equine] and Lee Searing [C R K Stable LLC],” Shirreffs said. Sovereignty leads home Baeza in Jim Dandy | Sarah Andrew Baeza finished third behind Sovereignty in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes and got closer in the Jim Dandy, losing by a length. In the days leading up to the race, Shirreffs thought he would get a better effort from Baeza than he got in the Belmont, when he was defeated by 6 1/2 lengths. And he got it. “One hundred percent better than the Belmont,” Shirreffs said. “I thought we had him for a second, but Sovereignty had a little more at the end.” If Baeza were to return, Shirreffs said the 1 1/4 miles would benefit him. It would also not bother Sovereignty, who won the Derby and Belmont at those distances. “I think [Baeza] can do the 1 1/4 miles easily,” Shirreffs said. “We got within a length of [Sovereignty] and I can see my horse improving more and running better than he did [in the Jim Dandy]. I am not losing confidence at all.” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said that the popular gray Sandman won't go in the Midsummer Derby. His next start could be in the $1-million GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 20 or he could run on the grass at Saratoga. “I have to talk to everyone, but I would say it's one of those two,” Casse said Sunday morning. Sandman, owned by D J Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, finished nearly 11 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Jim Dandy. Sandman was wearing blinkers in the Jim Dandy for the first time. Casse said they did not have any effect. “Bill's horse and John's horse are a cut above the rest,” Casse said. “Our horse needs some pace to run at and there was not a whole lot of pace. We were closer than normal, but I'm not going to use it as an excuse. Yesterday was not his day.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Sovereignty’s Star Continues to Shine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Soldier N Diplomat didn’t deliver a debut quite as impressive as his sire, but St. Elias’ Vinnie Viola nonetheless has high hopes for the 2-year-old, who won by a neck at Saratoga Race Course July 26. He will likely head next to graded stakes.View the full article

I thought your argument was spurious as Newmarket pointed out. It's apples and oranges when humans play contact sports of their own volition. Calling them risky is one thing but hardly cruel. Horses on the other hand have little choice but to participate in jumping races and that's for human entertainment.

I see @Freda @curious @PeterLambFan you support @Newmarket comments about Te Aroha. What was actually wrong with the Jumps? @curious is it like the whips yet another racing thing you have a gripe with?