Wandering Eyes

Coming off a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Litmus Test defeated stablemates Blacksmith and Provenance in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) for a Bob Baffert-trained trifecta.View the full article

Haras Rio Iguassu's 5-year-old Obataye surged past five rivals in the final furlong to capture the 1 1/2-mile Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1) Dec. 13 at Hipodromo de San Isidro, earning a spot in the 2026 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).View the full article

Even with the favorite winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity as 3-5 choice Litmus Test (c, 2, Nyquist–Study Hard, by Malibu Moon) led home a Bob Baffert one-two-three, the race wasn't without drama as Ackowledgemeplz (Bucchero) lugged out badly early, hurting the chances of both American King (American Phaorah) and Captivator (Charlatan) as he pushed those two extremely wide. There's a good chance Baffert–who has absolutely dominated this race with 14 previous victories–would have won anyway, but it made his path a little easier as his trainee Provenance (Into Mischief) showed the way through :23.26 and :46.67 fractions. Litmus Test, who had been stalking, wore down his stablemate and held off a closing Blacksmith (Liam's Map) by a length. The triumvirate was a good six lengths or more clear of the fourth-place finisher. With the Los Alamitos victory, Litmus Test earned 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He broke his maiden on debut at Del Mar in August, added a third behind champion-elect Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Futurity, and was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind that same rival. Sales History: $875,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Machmer Hall; T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan Hernandez. LITMUS TEST ($3.20) passed today in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at @losalracing. The Nyquist (@DarleyAmerica) colt is trained by @BobBaffert. @JJHernandezS19 was up! He gains 10 points in this @spendthriftfarm Road to the @KentuckyDerby. pic.twitter.com/gmPuJmpygT — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 14, 2025 The post Nyquist’s Litmus Test Leads Home Baffert Trifecta in Los Al Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Bob Hess Jr.-trained Roll On Big Joe caps a cross-country season with a Ring The Bell Stakes win Dec. 13 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

Kevin Doyle's Layabout took the lead late and held off a rally by Tiz Dashing to win the $125,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park Dec. 13.View the full article

Perhaps the two best horses ever trained in Hong Kong will headline what promises to be an action-packed Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The highest-earning racehorse of all time with north of HK$217 million to his name, Romantic Warrior will attempt to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m). Victory in the first seven-runner Cup since 2007 would make Romantic Warrior the only four-time HKIR winner and the market suggests only...View the full article

Originally scheduled to begin Dec. 21, racing on Sundays at Tampa Bay Downs will not begin until Jan. 4, with the two missed days to be made up on Thursdays in February.View the full article

Touchuponastar has now gone one better in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes than his sire, Star Guitar, winning the $150,000 state-bred race for a fourth year in a row, surpassing Star Guitar's three-peat.View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Thankfulness at Tampa. Mehmas Filly Lands Running In Tampa St. Elias Stable and WinStar Farm's Thankfulness (Mehmas) won at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 6 (video). Bred by Brief Moment Partnership, the firster is trained by Miguel Clement. Consigned by WH Bloodstock to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, she sold to WinStar Farm for 380,000gns.The first foal out of Brief Moment (Galileo), Thankfulness is followed by a yearling full-brother. Her second dam is group scorer Hazariya (Xaar), the dam of four stakes winners, among them dual Derby hero Harzand (Sea The Stars). Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas is responsible for 23 winners from 36 runners (64%) in North America. His seven stakes winners there (19%) are anchored by Grade I scorers Going Global, Chez Pierre and Magnum Force. The post Making Waves: Thankful Is The Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Mike Love Woodend Beach trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn will be looking to cap off their successful weekend at today’s Rangiora Summer Cup meeting. The barn tasted success across the country on Friday night, including Ya Rite Darl, who won the Group One TAB Queen Of Diamonds at Alexandra Park, while One Over Da Line won at Addington. The Dunn team will line up five runners at today’s meeting, including three runners in the $25,000 New World (Rangiora) Summer Cup over 2600m. Race favourite It’s Tough ($2.10FF) will be hard to stop and looks set to continue his extremely successful campaign, having won six of nine races since resuming in early spring. The four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding ran third in last week’s Geraldine Cup behind The Lazarus Effect and race rival Tanzania. Co-trainer Robert Dunn is confident of another forward showing. “He’s come through that really well. He’s had a great campaign. He’s managing the standing starts pretty well and the grass. He should take some beating,” said Dunn. John Dunn will take the drive. “We are pretty happy with the way he’s been racing.” The Dunns also line up two other chances in the event: Bryce’s Meddle ($10.00FF) for Riley Harrison, who won this race last year, and Double Time ($21.00FF) for Robbie Close. “Bryce’s Meddle has been running good races. His last three or four have been spot on, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run well again.” He will start off the frontline, while Double Time starts from a ten metre handicap along with It’s Tough. “He’s not been getting a lot of luck. He ran fourth in a very strong field at Addington recently. He’s a good beginner from the stand, which will help him.” Other chances in the event include Tanzania ($9.50FF) for trainer Laurence Hanrahan, who ran second to Bryce’s Meddle last year. He will be driven by Gerard O’Reilly, and is the current second favourite. Landing a nice draw to utilise its good standing start manners to secure a potent spot, Tanzania should be a solid place chance. The Kevin Fairbairn runner Commander Joe ($15.00FF) is also racing in fine form and will be driven by Olivia Thornley. The Summer Cup is carded as race ten and is scheduled to fly at 5:05pm. The Dunns’ chances for the day do not end there, with two runners earlier in the programme. Rock Lobster ($6.50FF) in race five, the Peter Smith Memorial Trot over 2600m, will need to bring his A-game to feature and will be driven by John Dunn. “Good run last week. He made a big sweeping run, just peaking that last little bit. He’s getting more settled in his races and definitely has the ability to win another race or two.” In race eight, Tyron’s Strapping Lad ($3.90FF) lines up in the Jack Behrns Memorial Trot over 2600m for driver John Dunn and will be looking to continue his winning form from Geraldine last week. “The key to him is keeping him relaxed. He’s not got the greatest action now—a beautiful stride on him—and has real speed. If he can relax, he’ll definitely be right there.” Always A Menace ($2.70FF) has been domiciled with the Dunns and looks a great chance in race six, the Country Feasts Mobile Pace over 1950m. He put together a string of placings and looks set to put his hoof in the till again. John Dunn will drive. “He never goes a bad race. It looked like he was going to win at Geraldine. His form has been great; he has to be a good chance.” The Dunns also line up Judine ($21.00FF) with Riley Harrison in the sulky in race nine, the Barnsey’s All Trades Mobile Pace over 1950m. Race one gets underway at 12:05pm. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Race conditions aren’t perfect, but Kirk Larsen is hoping to make an impact with his team at Winton on Sunday. With four runners, the trainer-driver has most of his racing team starting at Central Southland Raceway. Xerion will be out to continue his strong form when stepping out in the meeting’s feature trot. The five-year-old rematches with Bring On The Muscle and Jimmy Carter, who beat him home in their recent match-up at Ascot Park. Though Larsen has the advantage of getting a head start over the favourites, he is wary of their lesser handicaps. “We got a 30m handicap on them last time, but this week they are only giving us 20m.” “The conditions of the race are in their favour, but in saying that I am happy with my horse.” “He has worked well this week and he has been going good races.” “He doesn’t trot as well around Invercargill, so being at Winton should suit him a bit better, too.” Larsen starts Havtimeformiki in Sunday’s two-year-old event. The pacer only missed narrowly in his last start at Winton before going on to run fifth in his next outing at Ascot Park. Havtimeformiki will take on the winners of both of his last two starts in Simply Amazing and Side Hustle. “He ended up over-racing when he sat parked at Invercargill, but I was happy enough with his run.” “He is a nice horse, he is a bit of a bigger bugger and still has some strengthening up to do.” “But he has definitely got ability, he has got a bit of bottom to him.” “Drawing 5 might not be the best for him, as the horses that have beaten him are both on the second row and it could work out better for them.” Larsen will give Fiery Adi her first start in Sunday’s maiden trot. The three-year-old brings solid trial form to her debut. “Her manners at the start aren’t quite 100%, she doesn’t like it when she has to stand too long.” “Once she is trotting she is pretty good, so the start will be the biggest thing for her.” Larsen also has Ward Lamon returning in Sunday’s fast-class pace. The pacer is expected to need his Winton run, which will be his first since August. View the full article

Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony reached 300 career wins at Oaklawn Park when favored Brunia (Tekton) broke her maiden in the 10th and final race on Friday's 2025-2026 opening day card, a press release from the track said on Saturday. Brunia, an Arkansas homebred for Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, is trained by Lindsay Schultz. Anthony, 86, reached 299 career Oaklawn victories last March when 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Quietside (Malibu Moon) captured the GII Fantasy Stakes. The Fantasy was also Anthony's record 40th career Oaklawn stakes victory. The late John Franks, a four-time Eclipse Award winner as North America's outstanding owner, had 39 career Oaklawn stakes victories, the last coming in 2000. Anthony's first Oaklawn victory was Feb. 16, 1972 and he became the winningest owner in the track's history (270 victories) Feb. 26, 2022. Inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, Anthony amassed 172 Oaklawn victories racing as Loblolly Stable (dissolved in the mid-1990s). Brunia was Anthony's 128th Oaklawn winner as Shortleaf. The post John Ed Anthony Nets His 300th Oaklawn Victory On Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After missing out on his few opportunities to run the dirt marathon distances in 2025, Next is back in training with Chief Stipe Cowans at Turfway Park as they assess a potential final season in 2026.View the full article

Unraced since the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), trainer Chief Stipe Cowans provides an update on star marathoner Next as he gears up at Turfway Park for a potential final season in 2026.View the full article

Jackson Hole (c, 2, Nyquist), a $385,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $1.3 million Keeneland September yearling, kicked off his career with a debut victory for Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Drawn widest of all in post seven, the 4-5 favorite was fourth through an opening quarter in :23.06. He was ridden into third heading into the far turn, revved up three deep in the stretch and took care of business from there to graduate by a length over Ramajay (Knicks Go). Jackson Hole was produced by the winning Broman homebred Spa Treatment, a daughter of SW & GISP Silver Knockers (Silver Deputy). The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for GISWs Gretzky the Great, Immersive and Nysos. Spa Treatment is also responsible for a yearling filly by Girvin ($425,000 KEESEP purchase by Belladonna Racing/Determined Stables) and a Nyquist filly of this year. She was bred back to Good Magic. 4th-Gulfstream, $40,300, Msw, 12-13, 2yo, 7f, 1:25.10, ft, 1 length. JACKSON HOLE (c, 2, Nyquist–Spa Treatment, by Bernardini) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. & First Go Racing, LLC; B-Springhouse Farm & Hunter Valley Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. On debut #7 JACKSON HOLE ($3.60) looked good while still being green winning race 4 at @GulfstreamPark. The 2yo son of Nyquist (@DarleyAmerica) was ridden by @ljlmvel and is trained by Todd Pletcher. pic.twitter.com/tBZAM68NK4 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 13, 2025 The post Action Jackson: $1.3m Keeneland September Yearling Jackson Hole a Debut Winner at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article