Wandering Eyes

After his win in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), Nearly replaced Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Ted Noffey in the No. 1 spot on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old Poll.View the full article

Turfway Park will shift its Feb. 4-5 live racing cards to afternoon programs with a 1 p.m. ET first post in response to forecasted single-digit wind chills expected during the evening hours.View the full article

Were you part of the INS Class of 1976 or 2001? In June, the Irish National Stud is hosting a get-together for all individuals who embarked on the Thoroughbred Breeding Management course in either of those years. If interested in attending the reunion, all relevant parties should get in touch at achannon@irishnationalstud.ie or +353 45 521251. The post Calling All INS Class Members from 1976 and 2001 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming will move its Wednesday and Thursday live racing cards to afternoon programs with a 1 p.m. ET first post in response to forecasted single-digit wind chills expected during the evening hours, the track said in a press release on Tuesday. Officials will continue to monitor the latest forecasts, with Friday and Saturday's cards currently scheduled for their regular 5:55 p.m. first post. Wednesday will mark the first day of live racing at Turfway Park since a winter storm and freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of six consecutive cards. The track maintenance crew was able to clear the racing surface Sunday, allowing training to resume Monday morning. The post Turfway Moves Midweek Cards Up For Afternoon Start To Avoid Evening Cold appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5. SISTER TROIENNE, GP, 1/31-11th, 1 1 16 miles (turf) (Video) Beyer Speed Figure-84 (f, 3, by Munnings-Dyna Passer, by Lemon Drop Kid) O/B-Woodslane Racing (Ky). T-Brian Lynch. J-Mario Gutierrez. Horses aren't machines, but don't tell Sister Troienne. The Sweetest Chant was her fifth straight victory, each looking exactly like the one before. She's the first foal to race from Dyna Passer, a decent sort and third in the Jockey Club Oaks. More significantly, Dyna Passer is a half-sister to multiple graded winners Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper)–a $1.3-million earner–and Sadler's Joy (by Kitten's Joy)–a $2.6-million earner–the whole gang tracing back to Rene Wolcott and her unraced Woodslane foundation mare Dynaire (Dynaformer). 4. CANDY QUEST, TAM, 1/31-9th, 1 1-16 miles (turf) (Video) Beyer Speed Figure-85 (2nd) (f, 4, by Connect-Candy Crush, by Candy Ride {Arg}) O-Glassman Racing. B-G. Watts Humphrey Jr. T-Mark Casse. J-Sonny Leon. Solidly beaten by Aussie Girl (Ire) (see below) in the GIII Endeavour Stakes at Tampa, she had already proven her higher level stakes mettle with a triumph at Woodbine and another second at Kentucky Downs. Karl and Cathi Glassman, owners of now-retired GI Whitney winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit), bought Candy Quest as a yearling for $225,000 from Watts Humphrey at Keeneland September and turned her over to Casse, who knows the family: he trained her half-brother Frosted Over (Frosted) to two graded stakes wins at Woodbine in 2021-22. Aussie Girl | SV Photography 3. AUSSIE GIRL (IRE), TAM, 1/31-9th, 1 1-16 miles (turf) (Video) Beyer Speed Figure- 89 (m, 6, by Starspangledbanner {Aus})-Ravissante {Ire}), by Galileo {Ire}) O-Woodford Thoroughbreds. B-Airlie Stud (Ire). T-Will Walden. J-Ben Curtis. From a quick glance of PPs, her form going into the Endeavour looked a complete jumble. But excluding the Suwanee River Stakes (she was wiped out on the first turn and pulled up), her three most recent Beyers on turf were a steady 90-89-88. That put her at the head of the class, exactly where she wound up by a 2 1/2-length margin. Woodford Thoroughbreds brought herover from Ireland probably for racing promise more thanpedigree page, although her third dam is Gorgeous (Slew o'Gold)–who the seasoned will recall as a top filly 35 years ago when she frequently butted heads with Bayakoa (Arg) (Consultant's Bid). 2. SNOWYTE, GP, 2/1-4th, 1 1-16 miles (Video) Beyer Speed Figure-93 (f, 4, by Good Magic-Snow Fall, by War Front) O/B-Don Alberto (Ky). T-Danny Gargan. J-Irad Ortiz Jr. Gargan thought highly enough of Snowyte to run her in the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies as a maiden, and as a 4-year-old she may finally be reaching her potential. On one hand, she caught a couple of breaks in this race: in a five horse field, odds-on favorite Clairita (Gun Runner) started last after a stumble and third choice Heavenly Sunset (Constitution) shed her rider leaving the gate. On the other hand, Snowyte did have to briefly eyeball the loose horse before continuing to a wire-to-wire 11 1/4-length victory that could be even stronger than her strong Beyer suggests. 1. SYNTHETIC, FG, 1/31-6th, 6 furlongs (Video) Beyer Speed Figure-98 (f, 4, by Midshipman-Always Here Too, by Include) O-Keith Plaisance. B-Clear Creek Stud and Theodore Brandon (La). T-Joseph Felks. J-Emanuel Nieves. Louisiana-breds have been on a roll lately. The 7-year-old Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) has won 19 of 26 races and is getting better with age. Free Like a Girl (El Deal) recently met a tragic fate after retiring this year with a Bayou-bred record $2.56 million in earnings. Ova Charged (Star Guitar) ran a 113 Beyer two years ago and won 15 of 18 before also meeting an unfortunate demise. There have been others, too, and unbeaten Synthetic has now tossed her hat into that ring. Facing open company for the first time, she powered to a 9 1/2-length win in 1:08.65 to win for the fourth time in as many starts. The post Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jay Rooney STORM RIDER - R8 (2) In top form and can strike again from another perfect draw at the Vallley Owen Goulding CORLEONE - R9 (5) Had a nightmare trip when going for the hat-trick latest and can make amends Trackwork Spy CORLEONE - R9 (5) Went well on his Class Three debut last time out and can go one better here Phillip Woo FATAL BLOW - R2 (1) Has barrier three after draws of 11, 9, 10, 10, and 10 this term and can score Shannon (Vincent Wong) STORM RIDER - R8 (2) Scored well...View the full article

In this BH monthly interview, Karen M. Johnson profiles young racing personalities. View the full article

Hugh Bowman partners up with a pair of DBS x Manulife Million Challenge hopefuls at Happy Valley on Wednesday night and could be set for a big evening himself with a plethora of chances. The Million Challenge, which began on September 10, has been open to horses at Class Three level and above, with the winner taking home HK$1 million in prize money. The winner of each eligible race receives 15 points, while second nets six, third gets four and fourth secures three. That means the current leader...View the full article

Multiple Group One winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) will have a light autumn in preparation for a spring campaign aimed at The Everest. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper will kick off in Melbourne with the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield before venturing north where he will contest the Gr.1 T J Smith (1200m) and the Gr.1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m), both at Randwick, in April. After that it will be off to the paddock to prepare for the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in October, a race he finished third in behind Ka Ying Rising last year. Maher took advantage of taking Jimmysstar to Caulfield on Tuesday morning in preparation for the William Reid, which will this year be run at Caulfield on March 21. Jimmysstar has an excellent Caulfield record, winning the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up last autumn while at his most recent racetrack appearance he took out the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) in November. “He spelled well and I’ve just been ticking him over,” Maher said. “He hasn’t done a lot, but I thought we could bring him away to a nice surface today and warm the cockles up a little bit. “He seems great. His condition is really good, his action, I’m happy with it. “I don’t want to give him too taxing an autumn with a view to having him pretty right for a shot at The Everest again.” Maher concedes Jimmysstar is more effective at 1400m than over the shorter sprint trips, but has a devastating turn of foot, especially fresh. After finishing third in The Everest, Jimmysstar went on to win the Russell Balding (1300m) at Randwick before making his way to Melbourne to take out the C F Orr. “He got better as he went along and as the distances slowly increased, winning the Russell Balding and then down here,” Maher said. “The 1400 metres is probably his pet distance, and we keep him fresher for the ones shorter. “He likes coming here to Caulfield, he’s got a good record here, and the William Reid, being run here, the conditions suit him and the track suits him. “So far, so good.” View the full article

A Tuesday morning trip across to Te Rapa has Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman in a positive frame of mind with his quartet of feature race candidates at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing headquarters on Saturday. Heading the contingent is Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel), who had raceday rider Craig Grylls in the saddle for a solo hitout on the Te Rapa course proper as she prepared for her Group One debut in the $700,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). “The track was lovely after a bit of rain overnight and it was good to get across there for a nice hitout ahead of the weekend,” Forsman said. “Hinekaha worked over 1400m and picked up the tempo from the 800. She got home in around 36.5, which was great work, she did it very well. “Craig was very happy with her too, so she looks all set for Saturday.” The Savabeel mare completed a hat-trick when winning the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes over the same 2000m as Saturday’s weight-for-age feature at Te Rapa in December. In her only start since she closed late for a short-neck second to Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on the Karaka Millions card and will be more suited to the additional distance on Saturday. While having some reservations at the step up to Group One weight-for-age company, Forsman counters that by the physical improvement Hinekaha has made in her four-year-old season, combined with what is shaping as less challenging opposition than originally anticipated. “She’s a completely different proposition to this time last year, she’s so much bigger and stronger. There’s still a little way to go, but the way this track plays for her it really suits, and with the field not quite as strong as it looked originally, we’ve decided to run. “Put it this way, I think she’s going well enough to do it.” Forsman is also looking forward to testing some of the rising talent in his team, two of them against age-group opposition in the Gr.2 David &Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2100m), Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) and the other in the special conditions Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh), the winner of her last two starts, is entered for both three-year-old features, Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished fifth in the Listed Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), is in the Ellis Classic, while Rambling On (NZ) (Almanzor), a winner at Te Rapa in December, prepared for the Karapiro Classic with a recent trial win at Pukekohe. “They’re all in good shape and worked well this morning,” Forsman said. “I’ve yet to make up my mind with Single Red as to which race she runs in, but it might get down to whether they ballot her in one of them. “Chilling Out is also a filly I really like but she’s a bit like Hinekaha a year ago, so we’ll take her one race at a time. “Rambling On is a four-year-old that I’ve been able to bring along quietly but he’s come to hand well lately and the ($350,000) stake on Saturday is definitely worth a crack at.” View the full article

Last week's news that juvenile champ and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) was off the GI Kentucky Derby trail because of bone bruising resulted in a No. 1 vacancy. I went right down to deadline trying to figure out which of the top three listed below should be the new kingpin. I felt I could have made a cogent case for any of them being No. 1. However, I also feel that from No. 4 on down right now it's a kaleidoscopic free-for-all to round out the Top 12. The Derby prep races yet to come will far outweigh the value of those we've already seen. There are points-awarding stakes this Friday (Aqueduct, Oaklawn) and Saturday (Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita) featuring six of the contenders ranked below. 1) DESERT GATE (c, Omaha Beach–Theogony, by Curlin). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman; B-Twin Oaks Bloodstock (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $125,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-2-0, $246,000. Last start: 2nd Oct. 4 GI American Pharoah Stakes. Among the races that never came to pass last year that I would have liked to bet on was the matchup of Desert Gate and Ted Noffey in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The undefeated Ted Noffey still would have been favored over fellow 'Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner), just like he ended up being in that Oct. 31 stakes. But Desert Gate would have made for an intriguing third choice considering his final prep, the GI American Pharoah Stakes, was a lot better than the runner-up finish appeared on paper. That showdown never happened, because this son of Omaha Beach missed the Breeders' Cup with a hock infection. Ted Noffey won the Juvenile and subsequent Eclipse Award honors. Now that champ is sidelined and Desert Gate, last month's No 2-ranked contender, has been elevated to the top spot, edging out two other closely matched contenders. Desert Gate will be in action Saturday, having drawn the rail for the one-mile GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. This colt (125,000 KEENOV; $100,000 KEESEP; $260,000 OBSMAR) broke his maiden at first asking June 13 sprinting five furlongs under strong handling (86 Beyer). Trainer Bob Baffert entered him next in the Aug. 9 GIII Best Pal Stakes over six furlongs, and pace-pressing Desert Gate delivered an 8 3/4-length blowout (79 Beyer). In the Sept. 7 GI Del Mar Futurity, Desert Gate was second, a length behind his $3-million stablemate Brant, executing several in-race moves to get better positioning, then kicking clear to finish 3 1/4 lengths ahead of the rest of the pack (88 Beyer). In the Oct. 4 American Pharoah, Desert Gate led as the 9-10 favorite and took pressure from the second fave. He put away that rival when headed, then repulsed a new stretch bid from a different foe. He got nailed at the wire by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), losing by only three-quarters of a length (86 Beyer). He fought off multiple challengers and came up just short of victory. Desert Gate has been let go at juicy odds of 59-1, 68-1 and 58-1 in the first three pools of the 2026 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). 2) PALADIN (c, Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit). O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $184,250. Last start: WON Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes. Paladin, at 2-for-2, is the only Top 12 contender to have won at nine furlongs. He'll go that distance again as the likely favorite in the Feb. 14 GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. This $1.9 million FTSAUG son of Gun Runner took down Aqueduct's GII Remsen Stakes by two lengths (85 Beyer) Dec. 6. Paladin has recovered from getting roughed up a bit in that win (hind-leg cut, lost right front shoe). Trainer Chad Brown has been breezing him at Payson Park in Florida, where Paladin has recorded five half-mile works since Dec. 28. Brown doesn't ship many horses to New Orleans. Over the past five years, the majority of them (10/16) have been turf starters. On the main track there during that time frame, Brown has saddled four colts in the Fair Grounds series of 3-year-old Derby preps. Sierra Leone (2024 Risen Star) was the only winner. Brown's three other sophomore starters on the Fair Grounds dirt since 2021 have been third (Zandon in the 2022 Risen Star and Tuscan Gold in the 2024 GII Louisiana Derby) and sixth (Septarian in the 2025 Risen Star). Favored at 1.13-1 first time out, Paladin broke his maiden via disqualification in an Aqueduct one-turn mile Oct. 17 (87 Beyer), finishing just a head behind the horse who fouled him, the No. 9-ranked Renegade (Into Mischief). Again well-backed at 1.88-1 odds in the Remsen, Paladin broke running from post two and settled in third along the inside behind dueling longshots. He worked his way closer starting at the half-mile marker, required some far-turn urging from Flavien Prat, but responded well and swept out to the five path for the drive. Paladin finished focused, this time opening up from Renegade. 3) NEARLY (c, Not This Time–Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft). O-Centennial Farms; B-Wind Hill Farm (FL); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-0, $249,900. Last start: WON Jan. 31 GIII Holy Bull Stakes. If we were ranking Derby prospects exclusively among those who have made a start at age three, Nearly (Not This Time) would be the division's clear leader. In this past Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes, this $350,0000 KEESEP colt from Todd Pletcher's stable forced an overheated pace and drilled the favorite into defeat. Nearly had plenty left to swat back an off-the-turn closer before opening up to win by 5 3/4 lengths over a short-stretch configuration. Nearly has now won three straight at Gulfstream by a combined 20 lengths. He clearly relishes the surface there, and it plays well to his speed-centric style. Nearly's winning Beyer figure of 98 for the 1 1/16-miles Holy Bull and the 97 he earned winning a Jan. 2 seven-furlong allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream both rate as the top two Beyers for any 3-year-old so far in 2026. Visually, Nearly looked good under pressure. He went blitzingly fast yet finished with aplomb. But the pace profile of the 1:44.52 Holy Bull was so exaggeratedly fast early/slow late (quarter-mile splits of :22.82, :23.14, :24.36 and :27.10, final sixteenth in :7.10) that it's hard to get a handle on how well Nearly might fare at longer distances against better competition. It's also reasonable to wonder just how much of a home-court advantage he gains from Gulfstream. His only previous race on a different surface was a last-place run in his Aqueduct debut that left his connections baffled. The Mar. 28 GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream is next. Nearly | Lauren King 4) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief–Sippican Harbor, by Orb). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $165,459. Last start: WON Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes. Commandment, who dominated the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream by 6 3/4 lengths with a 91 Beyer Jan. 3, will target the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes there Feb. 28 for his two-turn debut. This son of Into Mischief ($485,000 RNA FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA FTSAUG; $500,000 KEESEP) has been slightly slow from the gate in his first three races, but not alarmingly so at this point in his development. Commandment makes up the difference by settling into a comfortable rhythm, even when covered up in traffic, and has shown he can split horses without hesitation when asked to. Prior to winning the Mucho Macho Man under confident handling, Commandment rallied from 11th to get fourth going six furlongs in his 82-Beyer Keeneland debut Oct. 4. Stretched to seven furlongs at Churchill, this Brad Cox trainee won going away by 5 1/2 lengths. Six horses have since run back out of Commandment's Nov. 1 maiden victory, but none managed better than fourth in their next starts. However, Commandment's Oct. 4 race has yielded some key performers: Runner-up Rockies Balboa (Girvin) lost his next start but then won back-to-back races at Gulfstream by a combined 10 3/4 lengths. Third-place finisher Gallivant (Into Mischief) won Keeneland's Bowman Mill Stakes by six lengths Oct. 25 while still a maiden. Sixth-place finisher Mesquite (Union Rags) broke his maiden at 4-5 odds at Churchill, then was second, beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Jan. 17 GIII Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. 5) BUETANE (c, Tiz the Law–Taboo, by Forestry). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $1,150,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $148,000. Last start: 2nd Jan. 10 GII San Vicente Stakes. Buetane was second best as the 1-2 beaten favorite in the Jan. 10 GI San Vicente Stakes. But considering he hadn't raced since finishing second behind Ted Noffey in the Sept. 1 GI Hopeful Stakes-and considering he was not hammered on for run by Juan Hernandez in the late stages of the San Vicente when it was evident he wouldn't catch the leader-that two-length defeat sprinting seven furlongs shouldn't be held against him. We'll get a better read on Buetane ($150,000 FTSAUG; $1.15 million OBSAPR) in Friday's 1 1/16-miles GIII Southwest Stakes, his two-turn debut. Trainer Bob Baffert had cross-entered this son of Tiz the Law in both the Southwest and last Saturday's Holy Bull Stakes, but scratched out of the Gulfstream race. Leaving the gate in the San Vicente, Buetane broke in and bumped the eventual winner, So Happy (Runhappy). He was last in the field of five down the backstretch and got second run at the lead in deep stretch after So Happy collared a tiring pacemaker at the eighth pole. Buetane finished up ridden out but by no means fully extended in an effort that upped his last-race Beyer by 10 points to 92. Joel Rosario, who is based at Oaklawn, gets the call in a jockey change. He's ridden only sparingly for Baffert over the past four years, with just 10 mounts since the start of 2022. But the most recent one was a winner, with Baffert and Rosario teaming for victory with Goal Oriented in the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on opening day of the 2025-26 meet. 6) LITMUS TEST (c, Nyquist–Study Hard, by Malibu Moon). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $875,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-0-1, $350,188. Last start: WON Dec. 13 GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Litmus Test, an $875,000 FTSAUG colt by 2016 Derby winner Nyquist, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Friday's Southwest Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile prep got rescheduled from this past Saturday, when winter weather wiped out a weekend's worth of racing at Oaklawn. With five lifetime races at age two, including three at two turns and two in Grade I stakes, this Bob Baffert trainee has a broader foundational base than many of his Top 12 counterparts. Litmus Test has enough speed to be a pace-pressing threat, but being right up on the lead isn't a requirement for this colt to fire his best shot. Although he was third, then fourth, behind the now-sidelined Ted Noffey in both the GI Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Litmus Test really wasn't in the same league as that eventual divisional champion back in October. But his 1 1/4-length clawback score over five rivals in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 13 did put Litmus Test the same Beyer ballpark (96) as the division's fastest horses so far in 2025-26. Litmus Test | Benoit photo 7) SCHOOLYARDSUPERMAN (c, Practical Joke–Tizlegal by Tiznow). O-Hit The Bid Racing Stable and CMNWLTH; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC; T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $295,000 RNA 2yo OBSMAR. Lifetime record: 3-1-1-0, $63,750. Last start WON Dec. 6 AQU Maiden Special Weight This big, strapping gray from Chad Brown's stable will attempt to win Friday's nine-furlong Withers Stakes at Aqueduct coming off an 86-Beyer, 5 3/4-length wiring of a one-turn-mile maiden special weight field there Dec. 6. Brown has won the Withers twice, with Risk Taking in 2021 and Early Voting in 2022. Both of those colts then had two-month layoffs until the GII Wood Memorial Stakes and then started in the GI Preakness Stakes. Risk Taking (who is still in training as an allowance-level steeplechaser) was seventh in the Wood and eighth in the Preakness. Early Voting ran second in the Wood and won the Preakness. This son of Practical Joke (150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $295,000 RNA OBSMAR) clipped heels and fell in his favored Sept. 13 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs, then returned Oct. 26 to finish a pressing second at the same distance as the 4-5 favorite. The stretch to a mile benefitted Schoolyardsuperman, who was allowed to drift up to 3.61-1 odds for career start number three. He handled pace pressure down on the inside and drew off under strong urging. 8) LIBERTY NATIONAL (c, Maxfield–Virtuoso, by Awesome Again). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Brookdale Racing, Inc. & Fern Circle Stables; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales history: $525,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $90,675. Last start: 2nd Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes. At first glance, Liberty National's 80-Beyer, runner-up try as the beaten 13-10 favorite in the Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes doesn't resonate as a productive effort. This closer from Kenny McPeek's barn was afforded a fairly quick early tempo, yet the field chased home a caving pacemaker in a tepid fourth quarter of :26.30 and a dawdling last sixteenth in :7.48, with that latter fraction representing the slowest final half-furlong of any points-awarding 1 1/16-miles Derby prep in at least the past 3 1/2 seasons. But look beyond the abbreviated chart comment of “rallied inside, short,” and you'll see that this $525,000 KEESEP colt got sideswiped leaving the gate by the eventual winner, then gained good ground up the fence and ended up galloping out several lengths in front of the field after the wire. Considering that McPeek has described Liberty National as a large-framed colt with an “aircraft carrier body type,” plus a pedigree that suggests longer distances could be more to his liking, his under-the-lights experience when facing winners for the first time might not be as poor a stepping stone as it seems on paper. Liberty National is entered in Friday's rescheduled Southwest Stakes with a 10-1 morning line and a gate seven draw in a field of 14. 9) RENEGADE (c, Into Mischief–Spice Is Nice, by Curlin). O-Robert Low, Lawana L. Low, and Repole Stable; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $975,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-0-2-1, $79,000. Last start: 2nd Dec. 6 GII Remsen Stakes. Although still a maiden, this $975,000 KEESEP colt has kept good company in New York. Renegade was third behind a 17 3/4-length winner at Saratoga in his Aug. 16 debut. He finished a head better than No. 2-ranked Paladin, but was disqualified for stretch interference, in a one-turn-mile maiden special weight win Oct. 16. He then was second, beaten two lengths by Paladin in the Dec. 6 Remsen Stakes. This son of Into Mischief from Todd Pletcher's stable is expected to be entered Wednesday for this coming Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes going 1 1/16 miles. Pletcher told DRF.com last week that a possible path to Louisville for Renegade might include the GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 28 if he runs well at Tampa. 10) IRON HONOR (c, Nyquist–Orenica, by Blame). O-St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence and Cathi Glassman; B-Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny; T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $230,000 Ylg '24 KEEJAN; $475,000 Ylg KEESEP. Lifetime Record 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Last start: WON Dec. 13 Aqueduct Maiden Special Weight. Iron Honor, a May 1 foal by Nyquist, has been breezing at Payson Park since a 95-Beyer debut win at Aqueduct Dec. 13. The second- and third-place finishers out of that six-furlong sprint both came back to win their next starts. In that win, Iron Honor ($230,000 KEEJAN; $475,000 KEESEP) tracked, engaged the favorite, then edged away to a 1 1/2-length score. Brown said in January that, “He's a horse that mentally needed time to come around, but now I'm seeing the best of him.” 11) GOLDEN TEMPO (Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O/B-Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $183,000. Last start: WON Jan. 17 GIII Lecomte Stakes. Golden Tempo, a Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables homebred son of Curlin out of a Bernardini mare, won the Lecomte Stakes in last-to-first fashion, letting loose with a three-furlong run while weaving through the pack prior to diving down to the inner rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length (81 Beyer). Trainer Cherie DeVaux ended up running one-two in the Lecomte, as stablemate Mesquite (Union Rags) came flying six wide to complete an exacta of the race's two favorites. DeVaux said the plan will be to keep Golden Tempo and Mesquite separated on the Derby trail from here on out. “I don't feel either one of them is even close to their top yet,” DeVaux told TDN the day after the Lecomte. “We have time. Going into a race like the Derby, you want them peaking at that time. Also, in these races, you always want to win, but if they run a big number then they are probably going to regress the next time they run. Showing improvement each time and getting there and winning is the best-case scenario.” Golden Tempo winning the Lecomte | Hodges Photography 12) MY WORLD (Essential Quality–Quebec, by Into Mischief). O-Robert V. LaPenta & Madaket Stables LLC; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW, 4-3-0-0, $217,750. Last start: WON Jan. 3 Jerome Stakes. My World (Essential Quality), a hard-trying gray who has won two straight one-turn-mile listed stakes at Aqueduct, is being sent overseas in search of yet another one-turn-mile engagement. This one's far more ambitious than either the five-horse Nashua Stakes or the four-horse Jerome Stakes: The G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 14 carries a $1.5-million purse and 30 Kentucky Derby qualifying points (15-9-6-3). This $350,000 KEESEP colt has punched above his weight, so to speak, like when bullishly bouncing a rival off the inside rail to make a winning move in the Nashua, or when becoming emboldened after brushing with the heavily favored runner-up in deep stretch of his Jerome score. But My World also has caused some of his own in-race adversity by lugging in and not being fully focused. His connections have stated that although the colt has grown up a bit, there is still room for improvement. So after having recently shipped from New York to Florida, My World will now have to fly to Riyadh and then back, presumably in time for another points-earning prep if he is to stay on the Derby trail. That's a big ask for a lighter-framed horse who needs to be a bit more mentally dialed in. But My World's tenacity has been appealing enough to keep him on the Derby radar for now. The post TDN Derby Top 12: February Kicks Off With Four Stakes, Six Ranked Contenders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dame Cat Williams’ story is utterly inspiring. A world-class equestrian rider, her world was tipped upside down when she had an accident and become a tetraplegic in 2002. The founder of the Catwalk Trust shares her journey, lessons, and love of racing in a truly special episode. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 22 – Dame Catriona Williams View the full article

Six-win mare Gemma Flitz (NZ) (Telperion) will resume at Riccarton on Wednesday where she will be seeking to take out the C S Stevens Memorial Banks Peninsula Cup (1100m) for local trainer Ross Beckett. She was a model of consistency last year, winning three and placing in three of her six starts, highlighted by her victory in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) on the Riccarton Synthetic in August. Beckett is looking forward to kicking off her preparation this week, but is wary of the wet weather forecast ahead of the midweek meeting. “She has done a great job, she is very honest,” Beckett said. “She has come back from a spell and hopefully we don’t get too much rain, she needs a firm track.” While hopeful of a bold showing first-up, Beckett is hoping she has bigger fish to fry, with the Yaldhurst horseman eyeing black-type with the seven-year-old mare. “We will just get through this race and then try to find a nice race for her,” he said. “Getting black-type is something I would love to do with her, it would help her out as a broodmare.” Beckett is also upbeat about the prospects of stablemate Pogacar (NZ) (Eminent) if he can bring his manners ahead of the TAB Southern Alps Golden Ticket Race (1400m). The four-year-old son of Eminent has shown a fair amount of ability, winning two and runner-up in two of his six starts to date, but Beckett said he lets himself down with his manners behind the starting gate. “He has been scratched two or three times (because he’s refused to load), so we have got a fair bit of headgear on him, which is just to give him a bit of confidence going into those gates,” Beckett said. “He will be a better horse without the headgear but we need to get him going into those gates and doing things properly. “The boys around at the start are getting to know him now and what we have to do to get him in, so we will take another step I hope.” Meanwhile, stablemates Wanderin Spelle (NZ) (Wyndspelle) and Grouse (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will be first-up in the GM Accounting and Consulting (1200m) and Stuart Racing Maiden (1200m) respectively, while Pearl Opulence (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) will make her stable debut in the Tim Dyer – Bayleys Real Estate (2000m). “Wanderin Spelle’s wide draw (14) won’t help,” Beckett said. “I wanted to give him a run, he will be better over 1400m or a mile. I don’t mind the horse. “Grouse wouldn’t be out of it, she won a trial the other day. Her work is on the improve every week and she will still be better with the run under her belt. “It will be the first start I have given her (Pearl Opulence), she has come from Lance (Robinson). She has done a lot of work so we will sit back and see how she goes.” Beckett’s team will be rounded out by Canterbury Flight (NZ) (Verdi), who will be seeking to improve on her last-start runner-up result, but will have to overcome her wide draw in the Join Canterbury Westland Owners Association Now Maiden (1600m). “She went really well last start,” Beckett said. “She has drawn 15, so we will most likely get back again and will just have to ride her for a bit of luck.” View the full article

Racing has a legacy to rectify before it can look to the future. The “Racing in 2036” series struck me for its lack of perspective from the aftercare segment of the industry. Post-racetrack life for our equine athletes was mentioned a few times, but only in a cursory manner. And certainly without any accountability. Thoroughbred aftercare is chronically underfunded despite the creation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) in 2012. Aftercare organizations founded before the TAA was created have been underfunded for decades. Programs that predominantly follow the sanctuary model continue to care for horses born long before the industry attempted to establish a funding and accrediting body. These horses raced before the retrain/rehome model became widely available and, with fewer post-race options, they were often pushed too far and became unfit for other athletic careers. These horses are at a higher risk of landing in dangerous, often fatal situations. They are The Legacy Herd. Private sanctuary-model organizations cannot continue to carry the load of their care without broad support from the racing industry. There is often debate about who is responsible for these horses years after they ran their last race. For The Legacy Herd, the answer is all of us. Shaming and blaming are not long-term solutions. We were not aware enough, educated enough, responsible enough 25 years ago when we bred, sold and raced these horses. Now is the time to right that wrong. Establishing a sustainable source of adequate funding can be done. Currently, consignors to all sales at the three major auction houses are required to pay 1/20 of 1% of the final sale price, which is donated to the TAA. Buyers at those sales have the option to contribute the same. From self-reported statistics, these three auction houses handled over $1.4 BILLION dollars in sales in 2025. Assuming all buyers opted in to the contribution, only $1.4 million was donated to be shared among the 87 organizations accredited by the TAA. Imagine if we changed that to 1/2 of 1%–those 87 organizations would be splitting over $14 million dollars, a portion of which could be earmarked for The Legacy Herd. The vision of “Racing in 2036” that I share below is possible. But only if the major players in the industry commit to the thousands of horses who make up OUR Legacy Herd via a properly funded aftercare system that values all retired racehorses regardless of their ability to sustain another athletic career. Those of us in the trenches will never solve this alone. If you walk away from this letter with one impression, let it be this: the Thoroughbred industry is only as sustainable as its aftercare policies. Here's my vision for 2036: In 2036, waitlists at aftercare organizations have been eliminated. The majority of Thoroughbreds who don't retire to the breeding shed are responsibly retired to a retrain/rehome facility. These horses are sound enough to participate in a second or third athletic career because they were retired when it became apparent they didn't have a dignified future as a racehorse, not because they were injured. When these horses age out of athletic careers, they move on to sanctuary facilities, where they participate in Equine Assisted Services that utilize the unique qualities of the Thoroughbred to create pathways for healing and growth while living their lives in peace and safety. The minority of retiring Thoroughbreds who aren't used for breeding and aren't sound enough to continue in an athletic vein go directly to the sanctuary facilities and begin what may be the most important work of their lives as teachers and healers. All of this is automatically funded by The Racing Industry, so the burden doesn't fall too heavily on the shoulders of one sector and a sustainable source of support is guaranteed for these horses. Aftercare is no longer seen as charity, but as simply part of a racehorse's life cycle. This is the legacy to which we should aspire. Don't let this letter sit on the shelf alongside so many of its predecessors. If you are an innovative leader call me at (518) 226-0028 or email me at maggie@trfinc.org. We have work to do. Maggie Sweet is the Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the county's oldest and largest aftercare organization which provides lifetime care for retired racehorses at a network of farms in partnership with correctional facilities. The post Letter to the Editor: What Will Our Legacy Be appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the Feb. 2 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Centennial Farms' Donald Little Jr. discusses Nearly's win in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), Oaklawn Park track announcer Matt Dinerman previews the Southwest Stakes (G3) and talks racing in Hot Springs, Ark.View the full article