Wandering Eyes

Dr. Bryan Boone passed away Wednesday after an 8 1/2-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 63. During an accomplished career, he practiced at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Equine Medicine and Surgery, where he specialized in reproductive equine medicine. “Dr. Boone had a wonderful career at Hagyard and had to retire early due to a neurological disorder,” said Hagyard Medical Director Luke Fallon in an email to the TDN. “His family has a great story as he was an original descendant of Daniel Boone and multi-generational horse people. He worked for Stone Farm and several other great farms in the area. His family has chosen the E T Hagyard 1876 Legacy Scholarships as his charity.” Said Arthur Hancock III, the owner of Stone Farm: “He cared so much for our farm and for us personally. You don't find that with a lot of people. You just don't find too many people who cared as much as he did. He was a wonderful person as well as a wonderful veterinarian. He helped us out at Stone Farm through Hagyard for a number of years. He was always honest and hard-working. He was just a really tip-top person and very loyal. Bryan was a special guy and everybody liked him.” Boone was born in 1963 in Lexington and attended Henry Clay High School, where he was an accomplished wrestler. He went on to wrestle at the University of Kentucky until the program was ended there. He transferred to Oklahoma State, where he continued his wrestling career. While at Oklahoma State, he spent time at the Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert Venue with the future musical superstar Garth Brooks. He also worked as a bouncer and played pickup basketball with future NFL great Barry Sanders. He met his future wife Connie while at OSU and the couple raised three children, Cameron, Caroline, and Charlie. Throughout his career, Boone was known for his willingness to mentor young veterinarians. “Dr. Boone was my first and most important mentor,” said Dr. Ernie Martinez. “I started riding with him in the summer of 2000. I spent two months as his assistant, riding in the truck with him daily. We went on farm calls together. I didn't have a place to stay and he was so gracious that he and his wife let me stay at his house. We worked all day, seven days a week most weeks for two or three months at the end of the breeding season. I was just an undergrad student at the time and hadn't been to vet school yet. I really got to know him and his family. He was just a really good doctor, a really good family man and had a really good work ethic. He was probably the most influential person in my young veterinary career. Ultimately, he was the one at the clinic who called me and said, 'Hey, Dr. Martinez, we have a job for you. You better pass your national boards so you can get up here and get to work.' You can't say enough good things about Bryan.” Visitation will be Monday, Jan. 5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a Funeral Service will be Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington. Interment will be at the Lexington Cemetery. The post Highly Respected Veterinarian Bryan Boone Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2026 season got off to a surprising start Jan. 1 as Haute Diva pulled a 14-1 upset in the first American stakes race of the year: the $150,000 Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Fair Grounds will host its inaugural Jockeys Dinner and Awards Jan. 7, highlighted by a public meet-and-greet with members of the Fair Grounds jockey colony. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund.View the full article

Fair Grounds Race Course will host its inaugural Jockeys Dinner and Awards, highlighted by a public meet-and-greet with members of the Fair Grounds jockey colony, Jan. 7. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The Jockeys Dinner and Awards will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. CT in the fourth-floor clubhouse, followed by a meet-and-greet from 7 to 8 p.m. The meet-and-greet is open to the public and offers fans the chance to interact with the jockeys. The evening will feature the presentation of the newly established Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. Created to honor exceptional leadership within the Fair Grounds jockey colony, the award recognizes a jockey who demonstrates dedication to leadership, sportsmanship and mentorship. During the dinner, Fair Grounds will recognize several on-track achievements, including last year's leading rider, midpoint meet statistics, and apprentice riders. Tickets for the meet-and-greet are $10 and admit two adults. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster or on-site the day of the event. The post Fair Grounds to Host Jockeys Dinner and Awards to Benefit PDJF appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lea Farms' Thunder Chuck (Good Magic) will make his first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs when he goes postward in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Trainer Jorge Delgado said he is hoping the race is a first step towards a possible trip on the Triple Crown trail for the chestnut gelding. “We're trying to see how far we can get with him. Hopefully, this will be a step to the graded stakes on the route to the Derby,” Delgado said. “The horse has been good in his training. We're expecting a good performance from him.” A maiden winner going five furlongs at Monmouth Park in June, Thunder Chuck was fourth in the Aug. 2 GII Saratoga Special and was second in the Nov. 22 Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream last time out. “He definitely left a good impression last time when he broke from the number one post position and was stuck on the rail for most of the race, and he managed to finish second to a very good horse,” Delgado said. “With more experience, we're hoping he'll run well with a good trip.” Delgado is confident that the one-turn mile will be within Thunder Chuck's scope in the Mucho Macho Man, for which he will break from the far-outside number nine post position under David Egan. “He has shown in his breezes that he won't have a problem going the distance. His post position is beautiful, thankfully. We have our jockey on the horse and the horse is feeling good,” Delgado said. “I think we'll bring something to the table Saturday.” Also looking to earn a spot on the Triple Crown trail in the Mucho Macho Man Saturday is Baron Thoroughbreds' homebred Tripp's Promise (Promises Fulfilled). “He's a good athlete and a smart horse,” trainer Dale Romans said. “We'll see how high up the ladder he can climb.” A debut winner going 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill in September, the bay colt was second and third in a pair of one mile and 40 yard allowance contests in Louisville in October and November, respectively. “The last two races were good. He settled in and came running,” Romans said. “To me, this race sets up well. It looks like there's a lot of speed, if it materializes.” Romans also trained Tripp's Promise's sire, who was a front-running winner of the 2018 Fountain of Youth and went on to become a multiple Grade I-winning sprinter. “His father was lightning fast and he comes from off the pace,” Romans said. “But he shows what a solid sire his father has been for the little numbers he's had. He's been a really good sire, but there aren't a lot of similarities between the two.” Jose D'Angelo will saddle P and G Stable's Cabourg (Munnings) in the Mucho Macho Man. A first-out winner at Churchill in September, the chestnut colt missed by just a neck when second over the same track and distance he will face Saturday. “He always showed talent. That's why I brought him to Kentucky first time out and he won the race,” D'Angelo said. “His last race, he broke too sharp from the gate and he just wanted to go, go, go and never relaxed. In his last workout, I put horses in front of him to get him to relax, like he did the first time out.” Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the Mucho Macho Man following a 5 1/4-length maiden win at Churchill Downs Nov. 1 for trainer Brad Cox. The Mucho Macho Man is the first local step towards the GI Curlin Florida Derby to be contested at Gulfstream Mar. 28. It will be followed by the 1 1/16-mile GIII Holy Bull Stakes Jan. 31 and the 1 1/8-mile GII Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 28. The post Thunder Chuck Stretches Out for Mucho Macho Man appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Craig Ferguson hopes playing chess rather than checkers with Wag Star will pay winning dividends in today’s Group 3 Central Otago Cup. Ferguson heads to Omakau knowing he has a horse to match it with any of his rivals in the 2000m feature. So the trainer-driver has been doing everything he can to encourage his stable star to show it to the big crowd that will be watching at Central Otago’s biggest annual race meeting. “He can be a moody horse and when he is on the job he can keep rolling at high speed and be very hard to get past.” “Other times he can be a bit casual about everything and he doesn’t give you the same feeling.” “We have been working on a few things lately to keep him happy and bring the best out in him.” “We had a few troubles with his feet but we seem to be on top of them now.” “We’ve changed his feed around and changed his work around and he seems to be in a good place at the moment.” “He is the sort of horse where it can depend what sort of mood he is in on the day but everything is looking pretty positive going into Omakau.” Wag Star brings the best possible form reference into the Central Otago Cup with his third behind Republican Party in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup. The six-year-old sat parked early before slotting into the one-one and going a nice race. “I was quite happy with his run it was his first run with the galloping hood on and he travelled well,” Ferguson said. “If he could go as well from the good draw (3) he has on Friday he would have to be a pretty good chance.” Ferguson starts a strong team at the Omakau meeting including Turn N Burn who ran second on her debut on Invercargill Cup Day. While that looks strong form Ferguson wasn’t thrilled with the filly that he races himself. “On the sectionals she ran she was a little bit average.” “The occasion of her first start may have got to her a little bit because it wasn’t up to her trials.” “She has improved with the run and her work has been quite sharp so hopefully she will be harder to beat this time.” Babe On The Beach has been the big improver in the Ferguson camp this summer and she heads to Omakau in strong form. “I reckon she has improved about three seconds this year.” “She’s doing a bit of work and showing plenty of fight – she’s stepped up.” “This week it will be a bit hard from the draw (12) but hopefully she can get a bit of luck and go another nice race.” Ferguson also has Beluga and Franco Seb going head to head at Omakau. “Beluga has been consistent lately and his work has stepped up a bit.” “He’s got the draw and gate speed but he has made a mistake early so we will have to play it by ear.” “Franco Seb has been an improver his last run was handy enough.” “He probably just needs a bit of luck from his draw (12).” Ferguson drives most of his team with Mark Hurrell to partner Franco Seb and Riley Harrison to drive Babe On The Beach. Pinseeker looking to slingshot them late in Central Otago Cup By Michael Guerin Jonny Cox is hoping his rivals go crazy in today’s $40,000 Ranfurly Transport Central Otago Cup. Because the Canterbury trainer-driver believes that could set the race up for his speedster Pinseeker in the signature race at Omakau’s popular annual meeting. Pinseeker is one of the best pacers in the 2000m mobile but had an interesting 2025, starting with a placing in this race last year, a Group 3 win in March, competing at the Inter Dominions and then choking down to finish last in the New Zealand Cup. One thing which isn’t in doubt is his speed and once he learns to control that he will sit comfortably in any elite class field in this country. That being the case he can win today but his fortunes may be dictated by what those drawn inside him do as he starts from the outside of the front line. “The draw obviously isn’t ideal but it could work out okay,” says Cox. “There is a lot of speed drawn inside him so we can’t go forward at the start so we will have to try and sneak into the running line somewhere. “Then his chances might depend on what the others do. “If they all get stuck into each other the we might get the chance to slingshot them late. “What we don’t want is a horse like Wag Star or Franco Sinatra to get an easy lead and enjoy an easy time in front.” Cox says he has had to put the dreadful New Zealand Cup experience behind Pinseeker and is looking forward. “I spoke to Mark Purdon after the race as I was following him and he said he could hear our horse’s breathing wasn’t right between the 1400m and the 1000m mark and then I felt him just stop. “So we are sure he choked down.” Pinseeker spent two weeks at the beach in the care of fellow trainer Bob Butt soon after and pleased Cox by bouncing back with a third in the Green Mile at Methven. “He has had his joints treated since then and has been working really well so he gets his chance here but so much will depend on how the race will be run. “Not only do you have those speedsters drawn inside us but a good horse in Alta Meteor drawing one on the second line by himself so he should be able to get away from the markers and into a nice spot pretty quickly.” Wag Star opened the $2.90 Cup favourite and was quickly backed in but while he has the best draw of the favourites it has been a long time since he won a race, albeit he has produced some smart performances in top class fields. While the Pacing Cup has a number of tempo-related scenarios the $40,000 Trotting Cup looks perfect for I Dream Of Jeannie (R11, No.5), who is in career-best form and finds herself in a field with plenty who are struggling to find their best at the moment. Earlier in the meeting Cox brings his talented trotter Prestigious (R8, No.9) to the lower grade trot and runs into a daunting rival in He Aint Fakin. The latter, a converted pacer, has won twice in three starts as a trotter and will be extremely hard to beat if his manners hold up in his first standing start. “He will take some beating but we really like our trotter long term,” says Cox. “Our boy is still a work in progress the win two starts ago showed he has a good motor so he could be in for a good year.” Racing journalist Jonny Turner’s Five To Follow at Omakau. Turn N Burn – Race 3 This filly looks to hold a key tactical advantage over her key rivals. Every year it is vital that horses race close to the pace at Omakau as getting too far back can be disastrous. Draws are an essential part of the equation, with barrier 2 looking a perfect spot for Turn N Burn. While her key rival Cinderella Franco has also drawn well in barrier 3, Turn N Burn holds a clear advantage. If Turn N Burn can hold the lead it could prove too much of a task for Cinderella Franco to come from behind her or outside her to beat her. Sonofamistery – Race 4 He’s simply better than his rivals and it is going to take a big slice of bad luck for him to get beaten. Sonofamistery’s luck is surely due to turn after he had to be pulled up at his last start at Ascot Park due to a gear malfunction. The three-year-old was impressive in his prior outing at Addington, running to an easy win. At $1.14 he’s no win betting proposition but Sonofamistery’s race is part of the early quaddie, and there are Trifectas and First4s to consider. He Aint Fakin – Race 8 This pacer turned trotter will traverse Australasia to have his first standing start at Omakau. While the newcomer to the trotting gait brings all the right form, he hasn’t seen the standing start tapes once in his 51 starts. It is certainly something for punters to ponder and it would be bold to think he is going to ping away quickly and settle right up on the pace. But there is one man that tips the scales of probability into the positive – the old master Phil Williamson. Knowing Phil, he’s put the time into teaching He Aint Fakin the standing start ropes and will have him prepped to make a safe getaway if circumstances allow. While some of his rivals are handy types, the eight-year-old should take plenty of holding out if he trots safely. One Over Da Line – Race 10 There aren’t the same concerns over One Over Da Line’s standing start prowess, though there are some similarities between him and He Aint Fakin. Both trotters are out to secure penalty-free wins for their junior drivers. One clear advantage One Over Da Line has is that his driver Riley Harrison knows him well. The trotter brings strong form in stronger company than he meets at Omakau and looks one of the stronger winning threats on the card Palladium – Race 12 He’s another whose winning price isn’t inspiring but that’s beyond punters’ control. Palladium was excellent in his last-start second at Ascot Park among a quality field of two-year-olds. He hadn’t been sighted at the races since early October and that run is sure to have tightened him up for his Omakau mission. In that October win, Palladium handled older horses in style suggesting that stepping out of age-group company and back in amongst hardy types won’t be a problem. After being a touch unlucky in his last-start second, chances are he will be in front and out of trouble this time. View the full article

An exciting eight-race card brings in the New Year at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 2, when group 1 winners Audience and Dark Saffron are among those who will be in action.View the full article

On the surface, hiring people who have battled substance abuse issues, some of whom have criminal records, might not seem like a good idea. But Elliott Walden, the president and CEO of racing operations for WinStar Farm, felt otherwise. His family had dealt with these issues for years. His son, Will, now a successful trainer who is sober, had dealt with addiction for years before turning his life around thanks to the Stable Recovery program, which was co-founded by Taylor Made's Frank Taylor and Christian Countzler. Stable Recovery helps addicts overcome their substance abuse issues and then helps find them jobs in the horse racing industry. The success of the program has been nothing short of remarkable. “I had seen things firsthand how well this worked through my son, Will, and his working through addiction and into sobriety and seeing his friendship with Christian Countzler, who started Stable Recovery with Frank Taylor,” Walden said. “He was very close to them. We knew they were going about it the right way. If Christian said these guys were solid, that's all I needed to hear.” So Walden got involved. WinStar is now one of a group of about 20 farms and racetracks that have signed on with Stable Recovery as Strategic Partners. What that means is that they are willing to hire, train and look after graduates of the program. Walden said WinStar currently employs eight individuals who have graduated from the program. “There are probably about 20 of what we call Strategic Partners,” Taylor said. “To be a Strategic Partner, all you need to do is to hire people that graduate from Stable Recovery and support them and pay them well. It's been miraculous. When we started Stable Recovery, the first two years, Taylor Made hired everybody and that's because we were that short of help. After that, we were fully staffed or overstaffed. Out of the blue people started calling me and said, 'Can I get some help?' We started sending people to different farms to work. That's when we coined the name Strategic Partners. That list has really grown and the quality of people and farms that we work with is just unbelievable. They are benefitting from our people and our people are benefitting a lot from them.” Walden admits that when he first approached WinStar owners Kenny and Lisa Troutt about hiring recovering addicts, it took some convincing for them to agree to do so. “We have had a great experience,” Walden said. “We started a little bit over a year and a half ago. I wouldn't call it a leap of faith, but it took some encouragement on my part with the Troutts to have them gain a comfort level when it came to employing these guys. Some of them have records. Many of them have checkered pasts. I am grateful to them for their Christian beliefs and their willingness to take a chance on these men.” Not only do the graduates work at WinStar, they live in a house on the farm. It is Ann Hayes who oversees the Stable Recovery program for the WinStar employees. “We dedicated a house that they live in and they support each other,” Walden said. “Ann Hayes has helped us look after the Stable Recovery guys and give them support. She's the one that just saw the good in each one of them and the men they were becoming. It's been really exciting to see their growth and development.” Walden says that he has had one person who didn't make it once hired by WinStar, but said that was an unusual situation. “Sometimes things happen, but it happens very rarely,” he said. “The great thing about it is that most of these guys have stayed sober from the time they have been there. We might have lost one that didn't work out. But those are great statistics when it comes to people in recovery.” Most have been exemplary. “That's part of the beauty of this program,” Walden said. “They are still accountable to Stable Recovery, even though they are working at WinStar and are living at WinStar. They still go over there for meetings once a week. They have touch points with other guys in the program. They are helping the younger guys in the program continue to develop. It's truly what recovery is all about. It's not about yourself; it's about helping the next man.” Several of the Stable Recovery grads work directly with the horses at WinStar. Walden said that it's no coincidence that the men have thrived once connected with the horses. “There is a connection point where the horses love these guys right from the start,” he said. “Quite honestly, they probably haven't felt that in a long time. They've burned a lot of bridges, not only with their families, but in the workplace as well. The horses come in and they are able to love them exactly where they are and they love the horse back. It's a beautiful thing to see. Recovery, if done well, it's done through a spiritual lens. The connection they develop with the horses brings about something outside of themselves and can help them in that spiritual plane. They are caring for something besides themselves. It's not about themselves. It's helping others and it's about helping a horse, and that gives them a responsibility. I think it is part of the secret sauce.” The Strategic Partners program now includes some of the biggest names in the industry, giants like Coolmore, Denali, Godolphin, Juddmonte and Keeneland. Spy Coast Farm has started a program that specializes in taking in female graduates of the Stable Recovery Taylor said his experiences with Keeneland have been typical of the type of cooperation he has gotten from within the industry. “The Keeneland team has been fantastic,” he said. “We've got guys working out there and thriving. I see that continuing to grow and they have been a great partner. Some of the guys work at sales time with the horses, but their main jobs have been doing maintenance. Keeneland has been a big supporter and they believe in what we are doing, they built a house out there for some of our guys to live in. We have something like eight people living on the Keeneland property that are Stable Recovery graduates. They were willing to give them a chance.” Taylor added that the Strategic Partners program has done more than just help recovering addicts. It has helped to fill what has become a huge need for an industry that has struggled to maintain a suitable workforce. “You're helping in two ways,” he said. “You're not only saving a life and the extended families of these men and women who have battled addiction. You're also helping to create a workforce. How many people in this country are addicted? This is a way to just start helping and to be part of the solution instead of the problem.” With the Strategic Partner initiative having taken off, Taylor is justifiably proud of the program, what he and Countzler have helped accomplish and the progress the graduates have made. “It doesn't work perfectly every time, but, overall we are having great success,” he said. “I get more out of this than anybody. It's so much fun to see these guys change their lives and enjoy success.” The post Stable Recovery Graduates Are Thriving at WinStar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Billy Loughnane has broken a 21st-century record in Britain by riding 222 winners in a calendar year, surpassing Kieren Fallon's mark set in 2003.View the full article

Bill Farish recalls how he first met with the Ace Stud team at the 2024 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. More Than Looks, a son of international supersire More Than Ready, had just won the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and was poised to begin his stud career at Lane's End Farm. “They were interested in standing him in Australia, where More Than Ready had done so much good work at stud, so it was a natural fit,” explained Farish. After his debut season at Lane's End in 2025, More Than Looks shuttled to the Southern Hemisphere to join the Yulong roster in Mangalore, Victoria. Farish said he was a shining success there, breeding close to 100 mares. That initial venture established the foundation for a growing partnership between Lane's End and Ace Stud. While Yulong is based primarily in Australia, the entity known as Ace Stud has recently expanded its international reach by purchasing a stud farm in Newmarket, England and increasing its investment in the American market. In 2026, Ace Stud will stand its first two stallions in Kentucky. Multiple Grade I winners Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), who both raced in Yulong's colors, are set to begin their stud careers at Lane's End. The two new stallions dominated headlines during the fall breeding stock sales as Ace Stud made major plays under the banners of the Raging Torrent Syndicate and Carl Spackler Syndicate. Raging Torrent Syndicate was the leading buyer at the Keeneland November Sale, securing five mares for a combined $5.225 million, and buying Broodmare of the Year Puca (Big Brown) for $5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. While not all of those purchases will necessarily be going to the two new stallions in their debut season, Farish said that Ace Stud will be sending a strong contingent of mares to anchor the first books of both Raging Torrent and Carl Spackler. “It was pretty exciting to see the mares Ace Stud purchased,” Farish said. “It gives breeders confidence that these stallions are going to be getting tremendous support from the owners. They're excited about both horses and they're going to be supporting them with very good mares.” Carl Spackler and Raging Torrent will stand for $15,000 in their debut seasons. “Both horses represent great value and we think they really fit a good niche for breeders,” noted Farish. “They'll be very popular commercially and we're supporting both of them with a lot of our mares as well.” RAGING TORRENT (Maximus Mischief — Violent Wave, by Violence) Raging Torrent stands at Lane's End Farm" width="1155" height="825" /> Raging Torrent at Lane's End | Linzay Marks Farish said that Raging Torrent boasts commercial appeal as a winner of the GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap and the GI Malibu Stakes. For Lane's End, bringing in another Malibu winner felt like a natural continuation of their program's history. The race has served as a springboard for their current sires Flightline, City of Light, The Factor and Twirling Candy. “Raging Torrent is a very fast horse, a great-looking horse with a lot of substance to him, and an exciting sire prospect being out of the Into Mischief sire line,” said Farish. “The Malibu and the Metropolitan are two major stallion-making Grade I races and he took those both very impressively.” Trained by Chief Stipe O'Neill, Raging Torrent was a winner on debut as a juvenile claiming a five-furlong contest in July at Del Mar by over two lengths. He also placed third in the GIII Best Pal Stakes. The bay collected four wins at three, including the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes and the Malibu. Racing under new owners Yuesheng Zhang and Craig Dado this year at four, he traveled to Dubai to win the G2 Godolphin Mile and made his final career start a winning one in the Metropolitan. “In that race he beat Fierceness (City of Light), who was one of the best horses of the generation, so that was really a signature achievement for him,” said Farish. “He beat Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the Malibu. All of his big wins were against quality fields and that's one of the things that was so important for him. He wasn't ducking anyone.” Farish said that breeders have responded to Raging Torrent's $15,000 price point. “He is a standout in that price range. It's hard to get a multiple Grade I-winning Into Mischief sireline horse at that price.” CARL SPACKLER (Ire) (Lope de Vega (Ire)–Zindaya, by More Than Ready) Carl Spackler wins the GI Fourstardave Handicap" width="1155" height="840" /> Carl Spackler wins the GI Fourstardave Handicap | Sarah Andrew Carl Spackler emerged as a stallion prospect for Lane's End last spring after securing a third Grade I win in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland. “We were kind of locked in negotiations with the ownership group and thought we had a good chance with him, but just couldn't come up with an acceptable deal,” Farish recalled. “Ace stepped in and bought him and basically we thought we'd lost him. He went off to England to race in 2025. They put him up against the best Group 1 horses in Europe and I think he held his own very well, but after those three races, they knew we were interested and thought the U.S. would be a great place to stand him since he'd done his best work here. We're very excited for him to come back to us a year later.” Bred by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, Carl Spackler was initially campaigned by e Five Racing and trained by Chad Brown before he went to race for Ace Stud last year. The flashy chestnut was named a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' when he broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park by 8 3/4 lengths in February of his 3-year-old season. Later that summer, he scored back-to-back wins in the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes and GIII Saranac Stakes. At four, Carl Spackler earned his first Grade I win in the Fourstardave Handicap and followed that with a win in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland. Farish said he believes Carl Spackler's best effort came last year in the Maker's Mark Mile, where he bested MGSWs Integration (Quality Road) and Trikari (Oscar Performance) by over four lengths. “He was dominant that day and really showed he had all the class in the field,” he recalled. “It was a phenomenal effort and one of his many hundred-plus Beyer Speed Figure races. One of Carl's best qualities was his consistency. He won six graded stakes, including three Grade Is, in really dominant fashion.” Over the last three years, Lane's End has steadily bolstered its turf roster, adding a Grade I winner annually with Up to the Mark, More Than Looks, and now Carl Spackler (IRE). Farish noted that Carl Spackler is a unique addition as the only son of Lope de Vega, Europe's leading sire of winners in 2025, currently standing in the United States. “We are not allergic to turf horses here at Lane's End,” he said. “It's a niche that is under-appreciated in the U.S. and is really growing in popularity. Carl Spackler is one of the better-looking sons of Lope de Vega that I've seen. He's still letting down, but is a really beautiful horse.” Carl Spackler is out of 2016 GII Goldikova Stakes victress Zindaya (More Than Ready), a half-sister to GI Jamaica H. winner Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley). His full-sister Sandtrap is a Group 3-placed winner in Europe. “Carl Spackler is out of a More Than Ready mare, which gives him huge international appeal as well as American appeal,” said Farish. “We're excited to see how he's received and so far it has been overwhelmingly positive.” The post Raging Torrent and Carl Spackler “Fit a Good Niche” at Lane’s End appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road to the Kentucky Derby will not officially begin in South Florida until the Jan. 31 Holy Bull Stakes (G3). However, the first weekend of the new year will offer an early glimpse of which youngsters might play a role in the series.View the full article

Gary and Mary West's homebred Rancho Santa Fe (Tapit), unbeaten in a pair of lifetime starts, is expected to make his stakes debut in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park Saturday. The 3-year-old colt debuted with a victory going one mile at Ellis Park Aug. 24 and added a 1 1/16-mile allowance win at Keeneland Oct. 11. He had four published works at Payson Park in December, most recently going five furlongs in 1:02.00 (2/11) Dec. 27. “He's doing great,” trainer Brad Cox said. “His last work at Payson was really good. I think he's physically developed a bit since his last run at Keeneland. It was kind of by design to space his races a little bit and to point him for the Smarty Jones for a while. Here we are.” Rancho Santa Fe is out of multiple graded stakes winner and Grade I-placed Family Tree (Smart Strike) and is a half-brother to graded winner Heroic Move (Quality Road). “Typical Tapit, the farther the better,” Cox said of the colt. “Good stride, good mover, pretty good mind. Excited about getting his year kicked off.” The 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones is Oaklawn's first of four GI Kentucky Derby qualifying races and will offer 21 total points (10-5-3-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Cox will saddle 2024 Smarty Jones winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) in a 1 1/16-mile allowance contest at Oaklawn Park Sunday. The newly turned 5-year-old is winless in seven starts since winning the 2024 GII Louisiana Derby, but finished fourth in that year's Kentucky Derby and third in the GI Preakness Stakes. He was most recently third in a Churchill Downs allowance Nov. 21 and worked four furlongs in :48.40 (4/16) at Fair Grounds Dec. 30. “Obviously, it's no secret he's been a little bit inconsistent in his career with some of his runs,” Cox said. “But he's doing well. He seems to always be doing well. It's just getting him back in the winner's circle. Hopefully, we've got the right spot for him. He seems to be training well. When he puts it all together, he's very good. It's just about getting everything to click for him on race day.” The post Rancho Santa Fe Set to Make Stakes Debut in Smarty Jones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Explora, runner-up as the favorite in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, kicks off her 3-year-old campaign Jan. 3 in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

By Jonny Turner Craig Ferguson hopes playing chess rather than checkers with Wag Star will pay winning dividends in today’s Group 3 Central Otago Cup. Ferguson heads to Omakau knowing he has a horse to match it with any of his rivals in the 2000m feature. So the trainer-driver has been doing everything he can to encourage his stable star to show it to the big crowd that will be watching at Central Otago’s biggest annual race meeting. “He can be a moody horse and when he is on the job he can keep rolling at high speed and be very hard to get past.” “Other times he can be a bit casual about everything and he doesn’t give you the same feeling.” “We have been working on a few things lately to keep him happy and bring the best out in him.” “We had a few troubles with his feet but we seem to be on top of them now.” “We’ve changed his feed around and changed his work around and he seems to be in a good place at the moment.” “He is the sort of horse where it can depend what sort of mood he is in on the day but everything is looking pretty positive going into Omakau.” Wag Star brings the best possible form reference into the Central Otago Cup with his third behind Republican Party in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup. The six-year-old sat parked early before slotting into the one-one and going a nice race. “I was quite happy with his run it was his first run with the galloping hood on and he travelled well,” Ferguson said. “If he could go as well from the good draw (3) he has on Friday he would have to be a pretty good chance.” Ferguson starts a strong team at the Omakau meeting including Turn N Burn who ran second on her debut on Invercargill Cup Day. While that looks strong form Ferguson wasn’t thrilled with the filly that he races himself. “On the sectionals she ran she was a little bit average.” “The occasion of her first start may have got to her a little bit because it wasn’t up to her trials.” “She has improved with the run and her work has been quite sharp so hopefully she will be harder to beat this time.” Babe On The Beach has been the big improver in the Ferguson camp this summer and she heads to Omakau in strong form. “I reckon she has improved about three seconds this year.” “She’s doing a bit of work and showing plenty of fight – she’s stepped up.” “This week it will be a bit hard from the draw (12) but hopefully she can get a bit of luck and go another nice race.” Ferguson also has Beluga and Franco Seb going head to head at Omakau. “Beluga has been consistent lately and his work has stepped up a bit.” “He’s got the draw and gate speed but he has made a mistake early so we will have to play it by ear.” “Franco Seb has been an improver his last run was handy enough.” “He probably just needs a bit of luck from his draw (12).” Ferguson drives most of his team with Mark Hurrell to partner Franco Seb and Riley Harrison to drive Babe On The Beach. Pinseeker looking to slingshot them late in Central Otago Cup By Michael Guerin Jonny Cox is hoping his rivals go crazy in today’s $40,000 Ranfurly Transport Central Otago Cup. Because the Canterbury trainer-driver believes that could set the race up for his speedster Pinseeker in the signature race at Omakau’s popular annual meeting. Pinseeker is one of the best pacers in the 2000m mobile but had an interesting 2025, starting with a placing in this race last year, a Group 3 win in March, competing at the Inter Dominions and then choking down to finish last in the New Zealand Cup. One thing which isn’t in doubt is his speed and once he learns to control that he will sit comfortably in any elite class field in this country. That being the case he can win today but his fortunes may be dictated by what those drawn inside him do as he starts from the outside of the front line. “The draw obviously isn’t ideal but it could work out okay,” says Cox. “There is a lot of speed drawn inside him so we can’t go forward at the start so we will have to try and sneak into the running line somewhere. “Then his chances might depend on what the others do. “If they all get stuck into each other the we might get the chance to slingshot them late. “What we don’t want is a horse like Wag Star or Franco Sinatra to get an easy lead and enjoy an easy time in front.” Cox says he has had to put the dreadful New Zealand Cup experience behind Pinseeker and is looking forward. “I spoke to Mark Purdon after the race as I was following him and he said he could hear our horse’s breathing wasn’t right between the 1400m and the 1000m mark and then I felt him just stop. “So we are sure he choked down.” Pinseeker spent two weeks at the beach in the care of fellow trainer Bob Butt soon after and pleased Cox by bouncing back with a third in the Green Mile at Methven. “He has had his joints treated since then and has been working really well so he gets his chance here but so much will depend on how the race will be run. “Not only do you have those speedsters drawn inside us but a good horse in Alta Meteor drawing one on the second line by himself so he should be able to get away from the markers and into a nice spot pretty quickly.” Wag Star opened the $2.90 Cup favourite and was quickly backed in but while he has the best draw of the favourites it has been a long time since he won a race, albeit he has produced some smart performances in top class fields. While the Pacing Cup has a number of tempo-related scenarios the $40,000 Trotting Cup looks perfect for I Dream Of Jeannie (R11, No.5), who is in career-best form and finds herself in a field with plenty who are struggling to find their best at the moment. Earlier in the meeting Cox brings his talented trotter Prestigious (R8, No.9) to the lower grade trot and runs into a daunting rival in He Aint Fakin. The latter, a converted pacer, has won twice in three starts as a trotter and will be extremely hard to beat if his manners hold up in his first standing start. “He will take some beating but we really like our trotter long term,” says Cox. “Our boy is still a work in progress the win two starts ago showed he has a good motor so he could be in for a good year.” Racing journalist Jonny Turner’s Five To Follow at Omakau. Turn N Burn – Race 3 This filly looks to hold a key tactical advantage over her key rivals. Every year it is vital that horses race close to the pace at Omakau as getting too far back can be disastrous. Draws are an essential part of the equation, with barrier 2 looking a perfect spot for Turn N Burn. While her key rival Cinderella Franco has also drawn well in barrier 3, Turn N Burn holds a clear advantage. If Turn N Burn can hold the lead it could prove too much of a task for Cinderella Franco to come from behind her or outside her to beat her. Sonofamistery – Race 4 He’s simply better than his rivals and it is going to take a big slice of bad luck for him to get beaten. Sonofamistery’s luck is surely due to turn after he had to be pulled up at his last start at Ascot Park due to a gear malfunction. The three-year-old was impressive in his prior outing at Addington, running to an easy win. At $1.14 he’s no win betting proposition but Sonofamistery’s race is part of the early quaddie, and there are Trifectas and First4s to consider. He Aint Fakin – Race 8 This pacer turned trotter will traverse Australasia to have his first standing start at Omakau. While the newcomer to the trotting gait brings all the right form, he hasn’t seen the standing start tapes once in his 51 starts. It is certainly something for punters to ponder and it would be bold to think he is going to ping away quickly and settle right up on the pace. But there is one man that tips the scales of probability into the positive – the old master Phil Williamson. Knowing Phil, he’s put the time into teaching He Aint Fakin the standing start ropes and will have him prepped to make a safe getaway if circumstances allow. While some of his rivals are handy types, the eight-year-old should take plenty of holding out if he trots safely. One Over Da Line – Race 10 There aren’t the same concerns over One Over Da Line’s standing start prowess, though there are some similarities between him and He Aint Fakin. Both trotters are out to secure penalty-free wins for their junior drivers. One clear advantage One Over Da Line has is that his driver Riley Harrison knows him well. The trotter brings strong form in stronger company than he meets at Omakau and looks one of the stronger winning threats on the card Palladium – Race 12 He’s another whose winning price isn’t inspiring but that’s beyond punters’ control. Palladium was excellent in his last-start second at Ascot Park among a quality field of two-year-olds. He hadn’t been sighted at the races since early October and that run is sure to have tightened him up for his Omakau mission. In that October win, Palladium handled older horses in style suggesting that stepping out of age-group company and back in amongst hardy types won’t be a problem. After being a touch unlucky in his last-start second, chances are he will be in front and out of trouble this time. View the full article

Selections for Omakau today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Omakau Jonny Turner Racing Journalist Race 1 12.28pm 6 Mr Cash Man 8 Destiny’s Dream 7 Bettor Way 3 Nyla Race 2 12.59pm 4 Kairo 8 Jaccka Jim 11 Fiery Adi 8 What’s The Whisper Race 3 1.32pm 2 Turn N Burn 3 Cinderella Franco 10 Captain Christina 12 Mighty Flying Miki Race 4 2.06pm 8 Sonofamistery 10 By Chance 6 Rise Up N Dance 9 Quinn Race 5 2.42pm 8 Princess Sadie 7 Dreams Pat 3 Vertigo 4 Randel Huston P Race 6 3.17pm 2 Beluga 5 Anita Mary 3 Rockoutray 11 Franco Seb Race 7 3.50pm 4 Party Up Denario 3 Bannockburn 12 Babe On The Beach 10 Burnham Girl Race 8 4.25pm 4 He Aint Fakin 9 Prestigious 8 Harriet’s Moment 7 Major Fear Race 9 5.02pm 3 Wag Star 8 Pinseeker 9 Alta Meteor 7 Ruby Roe Race 10 5.34pm 6 One Over Da Line 10 B D Hall 1 Kracka Looka 9 Royal Rock Race 11 6.08pm 5 I Dream Of Jeannie 6 Midnight Dash 3 Jimmy Carter 1 Maui Race 12 6.39pm 4 Palladium 2 Henry Winkler 6 Tua Lipa 8 Fitzthebill View the full article