Wandering Eyes

Post Time went out in style Dec. 20, running down archrival Barbadian Runner in the Laurel Park stretch to win the $99,000 Robert T. Manfuso Stakes, the final start of his distinguished career.View the full article

Age is nothing but a number, and in the case of Wolfie's Dynaghost, the 7-year-old son of Ghostzapper is getting better with age, winning the Fort Lauderdale Stakes in record time. View the full article

Quisisana's swan song could still be ahead of her after her commendable third in last weekend's Hong Kong Cup (G1). View the full article

Chip Honcho outruns favored Liberty National and fatigued leader Crown the Buckeye in the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner Stakes Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds Race Course.View the full article

The California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) has named the 22 individual recipients of this year's Howard “Howie” Zucker Grant Program, named in honor of their late president Howard Zucker, the group announced Saturday. This month, CARMA has awarded $515,000 to 22 different aftercare charity partners across the country, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring every California-raced Thoroughbred has a safe, dignified transition to their next chapter. The recipients are: After the Homestretch Arizona, CANTER California, Canter Haven Farm, Center for Racehorse Retraining, Champions Retreat, Desert Oasis Rescue, Down The Stretch Ranch, Eclipse TB Aftercare, Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Inc. (GEVA Inc.), Harmony and Hope Horse Haven, Inc., Healing Arenas, Inc., Hope For Horses, Inc., Horse Power Sanctuaries Inc. dba Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Old Friends, Inc., Racehorse Remember Me Foundation (DBA Remember Me Rescue), Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center, Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation, Square Peg Foundation, United Pegasus Foundation, Whispering Meadows Ranch Equine Rescue, Win Place Home, Inc., Zen Heart Horsemanship Inc. and Let's Ride Therapeutic Equestrian Program. CARMA has also debuted a new CARMA Aftercare Partner Badge, a new mark of distinction awarded annually to their approved aftercare charities. This badge signals to owners, adopters, donors, and the broader racing community that the organization has met CARMA's rigorous standards for care, transparency, and operational excellence. Partners may display the badge on their websites, social channels, and printed materials for the year it is awarded, helping the public easily identify trusted programs committed to the highest level of aftercare. “We're seeing a real shift among new owners,” said CARMA President Billy Koch. “Responsible aftercare is now one of the first things they ask about, and that simply wasn't the case in years past. It's a clear sign that our advocacy is making an impact and that responsible aftercare is becoming part of the conversation from day one.” To learn more about any of the honored organizations, visit the CARMA Aftercare Charity Directory. The post CARMA Names 22 Recipients For Howard Zucker Grant Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sent off as the 39-10 third choice in a field of six for Saturday's Gun Runner Stakes at the Fair Grounds, Leland Ackerley Racing LLC's Chip Honcho (Connect) prompted the early pace and kept plugging away down the long stretch to be up on the wire and earn 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The $210,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling–with blinkers added off a Churchill one-mile maiden win Nov. 20–broke to his right, causing a bit of a chain reaction, but he showed speed enough to track the early tempo to the outside of the talented Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon) through strong fractions of :23.62 and :46.66. Right at the pacesetter's flank into and around the turn through three-quarters in a testing 1:10.98, Chip Honcho still had a few lengths to find as Crown the Buckeye plugged on gamely and the front-runner finally ran out of steam late, allowing Chip Honcho to race over the top of him in the final three or four strides. Favored 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Liberty National (Maxfield) made late progress at the rail to just get up for second ahead of Crown the Buckeye. Quality Mischief (Into Mischief) was in the photo and beaten about a length for all of it in fourth. “I had him in good position to the outside after I got him to settle,” said winning rider Paco Lopez. “He really started setting down a nice run at the quarter pole, and I thought we could go get the leader. My horse gave everything he had.” Chip Honcho was runner-up on Keeneland debut behing 'Rising Star' Dr. Kapur (McKinzie) but got the job done last time in the Louisville mud. The 18th stakes winner for his Lane's End-based stallion, whose son Rattle N Roll was victorious in the Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn earlier Saturday, Chip Honcho is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to fellow SW Whiskey And Rye (Maclean's Music). Miss My Rose did not produce foals in either of the last two seasons and most recently visited Muth. GUN RUNNER S., $100,000, Fair Grounds, 12-20, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.76, ft. 1–CHIP HONCHO, 122, c, 2, by Connect 1st Dam: Miss My Rose (SW), by Magician (Ire) 2nd Dam: Ava G, by Afternoon Deelites 3rd Dam: Affirmed Miss, by Affirmed 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($210,000 Ylg '24 FTKJUL). O-Leland Ackerley Racing LLC; B-Venneri Racing Inc & Tony Fanticola (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen; J-Paco Lopez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $150,475. 2–Liberty National, 122, c, 2, Maxfield–Virtuoso, by Awesome Again. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($525,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Brookdale Racing Inc & Fern Circle Stables; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek. $20,000. 3–Crown the Buckeye, 122, c, 2, Yaupon–Feisty Tomboy, by Unbridled's Song. ($225,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Paradise Farms Corp, David Staudacher & Hooties Racing LLC; B-Pick View LLC, Paul W Schaffer & William D Pickerrell (OH); T-Michael J Maker. $11,000. Margins: 3/4, HD, NK. Odds: 3.90, 1.30, 2.00. Also Ran: Quality Mischief, Very Connected, Mister Punch. Scratched: Arabia Wild, Mesquite. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. CHIP HONCHO ($9.80) kept digging down the lane in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at @fairgroundsnola. The son of Connect (@LanesEndFarms) earns 10 Points on the @spendthriftfarm Road to the @KentuckyDerby for trainer Steve Asmussen. @Pacolopez1018 was on board. pic.twitter.com/bgrPaWiYho — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 21, 2025 The post Connect’s Chip Honcho Guts It Out in Gun Runner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Not to be outdone by 6-year-old Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) in the GIII Harlan's Holiday one race prior, classy Woodslane Farm homebred Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) went not one but two better, winning the GIII Ft. Lauderdale Stakes as a 7-year-old in record time. The Brian Lynch trainee, making his 32nd start Saturday, took over a year off following a run at Turfway Park in the GIII Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes in March of 2024. Remarkably, the gelded son of the great Ghostzapper returned as a 7-year-old in June of this year, winning a stakes race at Laurel Park late in the month. A second going 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga has been his only blemish in the three starts since as then-trainer Jonathan Thomas wrapped things up at Colonial Downs Sept. 13 before Lynch took over for his win in the GIII River City Stakes under the Twin Spires Nov. 8. Those last two wins, both coming in gate-to-wire fashion, set Wolfie's Dynaghost up Saturday in this prep race for the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational held next month at Gulfstream Park. Drawn along the fence in the two slot, the speedy 4-5 favorite has no issue out-sprinting this field to the early advantage with Quatrocento (War Front) keeping pace initially on the run into the clubhouse turn. It was a short distance back to Cugino (Twirling Candy) who enjoyed a perfect trip in third just off the heels of Wolfie's Dynaghost who sped out on a loose rein under Irad Ortiz Jr. Still unpressured through a half mile in :45.84, the favorite looked every bit the winner as the field fanned out behind him to challenge with a quarter left to run. Ortiz, motionless for much of the running thus far, shook his reins a bit into the final furlong and Wolfie's Dynaghost hit another gear, bursting away even as Cugino came off of cover to make a run at him. But the pacesetter was not for catching, staying safely ahead the length of the stretch to win in a dazzling final time of 1:43.42, a new record time for nine furlongs on the turf in North America. Cugino ran second at odds of 7-2 and 8-1 shot Beach Gold (Omaha Beach) beat in the rest of the field to finish third. “Irad told me, 'You did all the hard work and I was just the driver,'” Lynch said. “It's lovely to see an old horse like that just come into himself and get better and better with racing.” Ortiz added, “He broke on his own. I didn't do too much. He has speed so Brian told me, 'Try to make the lead if you can. He broke sharp. I let him find his rhythm. He came back to me. He relaxed so well. After that I just let him do his thing and relax until it was time to roll. He was very professional. When we made the second turn he was traveling the same way as he was on the backstretch. Turning for home, I asked him and he exploded.” Wolfie's Dynaghost looks primed for a run at the Pegasus Turf with Lynch saying, “No doubt. This race was a great steppingstone for it and to run the way he ran today, I think he deserves it. He's got an aura of confidence about him right now. When you see a horse run the first quarter in 22 and change and have his ears pricked like a deer in the meadow going down the backside, you know they're pretty comfortable and you know they're feeling good. I thought it was a very good field of horses and I thought to go as hard as he did early and to finish up as strong as he did, there's just no doubt he's in very good form right now.” Pedigree Note: Though unraced herself, Dynaire has made the most of her broodmare career. Woodslane Farm purchased her for $360,000 as a yearling from Keeneland September in 2009 and, with seven winners from 11 to race, this Dynaformer mare has produced the likes to GI Sword Dancer Stakes winner and sire Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy) whose $2.6m in earnings manage to eclipse that of even Wolfie's Dynaghost. Those half-brothers share plenty of other nice siblings as well including SP Lunaire (Malibu Moon) and SP Dyna Passer (Lemon Drop Kid) who herself has produced the stakes-winning 2-year-old of this year Sister Troienne (Munnings). Further back in the pedigree is MGISW Sabin (Lyphard). Canadian legend Ghostzapper certainly needs introduction, having sired the likes of Shaman Ghost, Moira and two-time Eclipse winner Goodnight Olive. Dynaire foaled a filly by the red-hot sire Not This Time in 2024 who is her last reported foal. Wolfie's Dynaghost digs in to win the Fort Lauderdale G3 for trainer @BLynchRacing. A Hat Trick today for jockey @iradortiz! #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/1kbILjzoLW — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) December 20, 2025 Saturday, Gulfstream Park FT. LAUDERDALE S.-GIII, $200,000, Gulfstream, 12-20, 3yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:43.42 (NCR), fm. 1–WOLFIE'S DYNAGHOST, 126, g, 7, by Ghostzapper 1st Dam: Dynaire, by Dynaformer 2nd Dam: Binya (Ger), by Royal Solo (Ire) 3rd Dam: Beaconaire, by Vaguely Noble O/B-Woodslane Farm (KY); T-Brian A Lynch; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $120,280. Lifetime Record: 32-14-3-5, $1,350,627. *1/2 to Dyna Passer (Lemon Drop Kid), SP, $232,330; Lunaire (Malibu Moon), SP, $249,950; and Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy), GISW, $2,679,910. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Cugino, 126, c, 4, Twirling Candy–Adorable Miss, by Kitten's Joy. ($225,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-West Point Thoroughbreds & Jimmy Kahig LLC; B-Gage Hill Stables LLC & W S Farish (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III. $38,800. 3–Beach Gold, 123, c, 4, Omaha Beach–Orrery, by Smart Strike. ($235,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). O/B-JSM Equine LLC (KY); T-Patrick L Biancone. $19,400. Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.90, 3.50, 8.00. Also Ran: Divin Propos (Fr), Chasing the Crown, Quatrocento, Steal Sunshine, Siege of Boston. Scratched: Major Dude, Naptown. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Wolfie’s Dynaghost Sets New Nine-Furlong Turf Record In Ft. Lauderdale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With 10 points on the 'Road to the Kentucky Oaks' up for grabs, Hit Parade (Street Sense–Wedding Band, by Candy Ride {Arg}) won a thriller in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The homebred, who was last seen winning a starter at Churchill Downs on Halloween, served as the 2-1 choice here. The filly chased the pace through the far turn, but started to make a run at the pacesetter down the lane. Hooking up with Luv Your Neighbor (Constitution) inside the final furlong, the pair battled all the way to the wire. It was the chalk who won in the end with a timely bob of the head. The clocked stopped at 1:42.97. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1. O/B-Gary and Mary West Stables (KY); T-Brad Cox. Stalk. Strike. WIN! unleashes a winning move turning for home with jockey @Luissaezpty1 in the saddle to earn 10 #KyOaks points @fairgorundsnola for trainer @bradcoxracing.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/kfgh30yJSi — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) December 20, 2025 The post Street Sense’s Hit Parade Wins Thriller In Untapable Stakes At Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Skippylongstocking was tenacious in winning the Dec. 20 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, outgaming Poster by a head. View the full article

White Smoke (f, 2, Essential Quality–Mira Alta, by Curlin), whose barn already celebrated when first-time starter Golden Tempo (Curlin) was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', after winning the third race on the card in New Orleans, was backed by the betting public as the 8-5 choice for her unveiling here. The filly was left at the gate by the field, which put her at a distinct disadvantage up the backstretch. Seemingly out of it around the far turn, the 2-year-old was able to get back into the race by chewing up ground and at the quarter pole she positioned herself to make a run down the center of the course. The gray took aim at new leader Gerber Daisy (Twirling Candy), collared her target by the sixteenth marker and completed the remarkable trip with a length victory. Hailing from an extended female family which includes champion 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind (Curlin), the winner is a half-sister to War Stopper (Declaration of War), GSP, $242,806, Wicked Awesome (Awesome Again), SW & GSP, $294,460 and Promise Keeper (Constitution), GSW, $457,610. A half-sister to GISW Great Hunter (Aptitude), plus the dam of MGSW Owendale (Into Mischief) and GSW Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief), unraced Mira Alta is also responsible for a yearling colt by Flightline who was sent to Japan this year, and a weanling filly by that same sire. She was bred to Nyquist for next season. White Smoke is the 19th winner for her freshman sire (by Tapit). 4th-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 12-20, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.04, ft, 1 length. WHITE SMOKE, f, 2, Essential Quality–Mira Alta, by Curlin Sales History: $500,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Belladonna Racing LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing LLC and B.C.W.T. Ltd.; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. WHITE SMOKE ($5.20) blows past the field to win on debut at @fairgroundsnola. Back-to-back victories for @jose93_ortiz & @reredevaux. The 2YO Essential Quality (@DarleyAmerica) filly is owned by @BelladonnaRaci1, Twin Brook Stables, @woodfordracing & B.C.W.T. Ltd. pic.twitter.com/ld9w7Mykg0 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Essential Quality’s White Smoke Comes From The Clouds In New Orleans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It came down to the top two betting choices as 6-year-old SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (Exaggerator) and 3-year-old Poster (Munnings) threw down through the final furlong but, in the end, Skippy got the better of his younger, favored rival to capture the GIII Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The traditional prep for next month's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the Harlan's Holiday was Skippylongstocking's first race back since a case of the thumps saw him fade to eighth on a hot night in West Virginia in the Charles Town Classic in August. Breaking from the inside as one of two Saffie Joseph Jr. runners, Skippy came away in good order just outside of Hold My Bourbon (Anchor Down) was who intent to lead on the fence. As that rival rocketed out to a clear lead through fractions of :22.87 and :45.95, Skippy sat third in close company with Chilean invader Con Compania (Chi) (Awesome Patriot). Having to navigate traffic on the run into the far turn, Tyler Gaffalione was patient and guided the 2-1 second choice out and around the fading pacesetter to set up a duel with Poster who circled up on the far outside with a big move from last. That pair linked up at the quarter pole and bobbed heads to the first finish line with Skippylongstocking just getting a narrow advantage in the final strides to win. 26-1 longshot Catalytic (Catalina Cruiser) filled out the trifecta. Lifetime Record: 35-12-3-7. O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC; T-Saffie Joseph Jr. Sales History: $15,000 ylg '20 KEESEP, $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Saturday, Gulfstream Park HARLAN'S HOLIDAY S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 12-20, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.05, ft. 1–SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING, 126, h, 6, by Exaggerator 1st Dam: Twinkling, by War Chant 2nd Dam: Unhurried, by Out of Place 3rd Dam: Laughing Erin, by Irish Castle ($15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $91,140. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 35-12-3-7, $3,775,250. *1/2 to Olivia Twist (Mshawish), SW & GSP, $321,579; Moonlite Strike (Liam's Map), SW & GSP, $175,205. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Poster, 118, c, 3, Munnings–Pin Up, by Tapit. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. $29,400. 3–Catalytic, 121, c, 4, Catalina Cruiser–One Show Only, by Distorted Humor. ($70,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Tami Bobo; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-Antonio Sano. $14,700. Margins: HD, 5HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.40, 1.50, 26.40. Also Ran: Classic of Course, Hold My Bourbon, Con Compania (Chi), Racing Driver. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Skippy IS Skippy today! SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING ($6.80) overcomes traffic to win the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) at @GulfstreamPark under @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @SaffieJosephJr and owner Daniel Alonso. The Ft Lauderdale Stakes (G3) is next. Bet with @FanDuel Racing. pic.twitter.com/6OusI1D3BQ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Skippylongstocking Proves Age Is Just A Number In Game Harlan’s Holiday Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

D'code, who rocketed to a front-running 8 1/4-length debut victory in a swiftly run maiden race Dec. 14 at Oaklawn Park, is pointed toward the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 31 at the Arkansas track. View the full article

Making up for lost 'time' after racing at the tail of the field for the opening half of a six-furlong Fair Grounds maiden Saturday afternoon, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Golden Tempo (c, 2, Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini) cornered wide into the long straight under a full head of steam and kept that powerful rally up all the way through the line to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard. Pinched back right out of the gates, the well-backed 14-5 chance was well behind early and Jose Ortiz was content to take his medicine, allowing Golden Tempo to find his footing at the tail of the field. Coronado (Nyquist), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling, was also off to a slow start as the 9-5 chalk, raced three deep and was first to make a move, coming with a three-wide bid to poke his head three furlongs from home. Not long after, the rail-drawn firster Fancy Fairlane (McKinzie, 7-1) popped off the rail and into the four path and he looked like he was going to run away from them, as he put the chalk to the sword in upper stretch. But, switched out widest of all, Golden Tempo kicked in strongly and bridged the better part of a five-length deficit in the final furlong to win by a widening margin while covering his final quarter-mile in a slick :23.57 according to DRF Formulator. The winner's dam was raced by the Phippses to a victory in the GIII Top Flight Handicap and was third to Cavorting (Bernardini) in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes in 2016. Placed three times at the graded level at five in 2017, Carrumba concluded her career with a mark of 4-6-3 from 15 starts. Golden Tempo's third dam was Dancinginmydreams, a full-sister to champion Heavenly Prize and Oh What A Windfall, and runner-up in the GI Matron Stakes in 2000. Her four winners from seven to race included GI Manhattan Handicap hero Dancing Forever (Rahy). The cross of Curlin over the late Bernardini is now responsible for 25 winners from 40 starters (62.5%), of those 10 stakes winners, including Grade I winners Clairiere and Paris Lights and other graded scorers Cezanne, Cornishman and fellow 'Rising Star' Spice Is Nice. Carrumba is also the dam of a yearling colt by Nyquist and a weanling filly by Liam's Map. She was barren to Good Magic for 2026. 3rd-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 12-20, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.66, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. GOLDEN TEMPO, c, 2, by Curlin 1st Dam: Carrumba (GSW & GISP, $621,500), by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Castanet, by El Prado (Ire) 3rd Dam: Dancinginmydreams, by Seeking the Gold Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O/B-Phipps Stable & St Elias Stables LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. GOLDEN TEMPO ($7.60) and @jose93_ortiz fire in the final sixteenth to win on debut at @fairgroundsnola. This 2YO son of Curlin is trained by @reredevaux and owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. Bet the Fair Grounds with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/Hyo6FY9uBw pic.twitter.com/NBZCkYYyKK — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025 The post Curlin’s Golden Tempo Charges Home To ‘TDN Rising Star’ Laurels appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' D'code (Speightstown) will look to stretch out to two turns as he targets the GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Jan. 31, his connections told track media Saturday. The 2-year-old dazzled in his six-furlong debut Dec. 13, putting up a final time of 1:09.57, the fastest time for the distance in Oaklawn history for a 2-year-old. The 99 Beyer Speed Figure was the second-highest of his generation this year behind only fellow 'Rising Star' Brant's (Gun Runner) 101 at Del Mar in July. “It was pretty awesome,” said trainer H. Ray Ashford Jr. “We liked the colt all along, but he ran better than we expected. I thought the horse would win, but I didn't think he'd win in that fashion.” D'code returned to the track Thursday morning for the first time since his win, with Ashford noting that colt was “a handful”. The Southwest is the second race in Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Derby prep races. The first, the Smarty Jones Stakes, comes up Jan. 3. “I think we're kind of leaning toward the Southwest right now,” Ashford said. “The Smarty Jones is just too quick back. He came back fine. I don't think he ran that hard, but being a 2-year-old I don't want to blow his mind. No need to push because he's a nice horse.” The post ‘Rising Star’ D’code To Target Southwest For Two-Turn Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by points with clarity to why we should have little faith in our 'institutions' as champions of change. Supporting California graded stakes through purse supplementation, freezing the downgrading of stakes while attempting to create stability, and restoring the prior status of fixture races like the Santa Anita Oaks and others with set criteria is actionable and necessary. The phrase 'too big to fail,' applied to the banking industry and automobile industry, certainly applies to California racing. I challenge these organizations to prioritize the crisis and formulate a plan of action. Waiving registration fees and 'Win and You're In' won't save racing, but the loss of California racing will be felt in the sales ring and breeding shed in seismic proportions. The post Letter To The Editor: John Sikura appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article