Wandering Eyes

Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo) gets another crack at Roadcone (NZ) (Almanzor) this Saturday and Michael Kent Jnr is adamant the setting for the rematch is advantageous for his charge. The pair will clash in the $130,000 Henry Byron Moore BM84 Handicap at Flemington. The 1600-metre event will be run three weeks after their stoush over 1500m on the Caulfield Heath track, which Roadcone won narrowly after pinching a break turning for home, and Kent is confident Knobelas can gain revenge. “She’s obviously very progressive; six starts for three wins and three seconds and one more stride and she gobbles up Roadcone last time,” Kent, who trains Knobelas in partnership with Mick Price, said. “Naturally we’re looking forward to the big spacious track of Flemington versus Caulfield Heath, which probably undid her a bit last time. “She looks to be a really nice horse for the future and third-up on Saturday, we should be close to our peak fitness.” Knobelas’ Caulfield Heath effort followed a dominant first-up win over 1400m in benchmark 70 grade at Pakenham, which was her first start since finishing second in the Silver Bowl Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 5. The daughter of Belardo, who will be ridden by Beau Mertens, meets Roadcone 1.5kg better for the last-start defeat and will start from barrier two with Roadcone to spring from gate nine. Also engaged are in-form duo Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) and Hiyaam Proud (Pride of Dubai), along with Knobelas’ former stablemate Angland (NZ) (Ace High). Kent is excited about seeing the four-year-old back out to 1600m and would like to think this preparation is a stepping stone to bigger things. “She’s a no-frills horse and gives you no feel at home – I’ve often said it, she’s probably one of the worst trackworkers at home – but you don’t judge how she’s going off a trackwork form,” Kent said. “I don’t think she’s ever won a trial, but she just goes to raceday and when you ask her to quicken, she just goes, vroom, and just launches. “She’s very progressive. We’ve got to be optimistic that we can get some Black Type with her at some point, because she does have such a good record and has got a lot of traits that make a Black Type mare. “She’s got tactical speed, she travels well, relaxes, and then she’s got a big turn of foot at the end.” View the full article

With the release this week of nominations for the Gr.1 Trackside NZ Derby, the focus intensifies for stamina signs amongst the three-year-old crop ahead of the March 7 Ellerslie classic. Amongst the 90-odd entries for the Derby are the first three placegetters in the first black-type age-group race beyond 1600m, last week’s Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Oark), Origin Of Love (Snitzel) and Born To Be Royal (King’s Legacy). All three fillies are also entered for the Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ Oaks (2400m), which for the first time this year will be run at Ellerslie in a month earlier time slot, two weeks before the Derby. Male three-year-olds get their first chance this weekend to be tested at black-type level beyond 1600m in Sunday’s Listed Trackside Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie, with all but one of the 13-strong field – the sole filly, Oaks-nominated Acer (NZ) (Savabeel) – also nominated for the Derby. That includes Day One (Wootton Bassett), a gelding by Wootton Bassett and one of 13 Derby nominations for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. In his second raceday start, Day One was impressive when clearing maiden grade over 1600m at Ellerslie a month ago and he’s expected to be even more effective over Sunday’s longer race, which is dedicated to Te Akau’s 2017 NZ Derby winner Gingernuts. “He’s bred to get the distance and we’re certainly looking forward to seeing him step up in trip, but it’s probably a stronger field than we’ve seen in past runnings and he’s one of a number of strong prospects,” Bergerson said. “He’s a really nice progressive young horse, a big raw type who’s going the right way, so with a view to his chances of making it to the Derby, we’re keen to see how he performs on Sunday.” Day One, an Elsdon Park homebred under the JML Bloodstock banner, is out of Eleonora (NZ), a grand-daughter of Hall of Fame stayer Ethereal (NZ) and herself a middle-distance Group 3 winner on both sides of the Tasman as a three-year-old. The Walker/Bergerson contingent for Ellerslie numbers just four, beginning with Super Seth filly Zaharias (NZ) (Super Seth) in the juvenile race, resuming from a let-up after finishing second in two late spring starts at Riccarton and Trentham. “We don’t know how well that form from her first two starts stacks up,” Bergerson said, “but we’re very happy with her, she’s well drilled and has a handy draw.” Blueblood colt King’s English (Snitzel) takes on city class for the first time after clearing maiden grade with a smart performance at Te Aroha in late November. By Snitzel out of the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000 winner English, King’s English has plenty to live up to, and Bergerson believes his weekend assignment will provide further evidence of his potential. “This looks a sharp enough field too, but he’s a decent sort of colt, he’s drawn to get the right trip, and what he does will give us a line on whether he can go to a race like the Almanzor Trophy back at Ellerslie later in the month.” Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) completes the stable contingent in Sunday’s Rating 75 1400m, in which she will carry topweight of 59 kilograms as the only stakes winner in the field. “She had no luck in her first-up run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day after drawing one and getting shuffled back near enough to last,” Bergerson said. “As it was she did well to finish late into fourth, so up to 1400m as well as the improvement she would have taken out of that race, we’re looking for a better result.” With first choice rider Opie Bosson under suspension until Monday, Day One will be ridden by Rory Hutchings, Zaharias by Joe Doyle and King’s English and Dream Of The Moon by Craig Grylls. View the full article

For the third consecutive year, Bruno Schickedanz topped North American owners by victories with his stable accumulating 151 wins from 1,138 starts in 2025. Godolphin reigned supreme, topping the owner charts by earnings for the fifth year.View the full article

5. LONESOME ROAD, LRL, 12/26-7th, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 93 (g, 3, by Maclean's Music-Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) O-Estate of R Larry Johnson. B-R Larry Johnson (Va). T-Michael Trombetta. J-Mychel Sanchez. The now-4-year-old gelding took a massive leap forward when Trombetta shifted him from grass to dirt, scoring by a widening 8 ½ lengths as the latest success from the breeding program of late Maryland-based owner/breeder Larry Johnson. Lonesome Road traces back four generations to Johnson's foundation mare Ran's Chick through her daughter Special Kell–the same family tree progression that has also produced graded stakes stars Mindframe and Future Is Now. 4. SALVATION, AQU, 12/4-2nd, 1 mile (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (2nd) (g, 3, by Palace Malice-Lovely Rate, by Exchange Rate) O-Robert Bruno. B-Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Linda Rice. J-Jose Lezcano. Based on numbers, he can rightfully be called a $45,000 bargain from the Fasig-Tipton October Taylor Made consignment even though he remains a maiden after eight starts (which have included five runnerup finishes). This was his seventh race and his second straight 94 Beyer, coming on the heels of his 2nd in November behind Life and Times. However, after this effort he ran back Dec. 28 at Aqueduct and finished a disappointing 4th with an 80 Beyer. 3. IRON HONOR, AQU, 12/13-3rd, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 95 (c, 2, by Nyquist-Orencia, by Blame) O-St. Elias Stable, William Lawrence and Cathi Glassman. B-Mike and Pat Freeny (Va). T-Chad Brown. J-Manny Franco. Despite his lofty debut Beyer, when a Brown first-timer is 5/1 fourth choice in a seven-horse field in December at Aqueduct, it's a safe bet the barn didn't consider him at the head of the class. Iron Honor had a string of mostly mediocre breezes, but there was nothing mediocre about the way he ran down talented Crossingthechannel, a next-out winner in New York (and another bred by Larry Johnson). He was a $230,000 Taylor Made Keeneland January graduate, who went on to sell for $475,000 in September. 2. D'CODE, OP, 12/14-4th, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 99 (c, 2, by Speightstown-Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy) D'code | Coady Media O/B-Tom R. Durant (Ky). T-Ray Ashford Jr. J-Cristian Torres. Longtime owner Tom Durant is a self-made billionaire who was once (and maybe still is) America's No. 1 Chevrolet dealer. The Texan has had numerous stakes winners over the years, including millionaire Silver Dust, Wooden Phone and Awesome Humor, and bred $1.6 million earner Tejano Twist. But Durant has never had a youngster earn a debut 99 Beyer, a performance that has put 8 ½-length winner D'Code on the map for the Jan. 31 Southwest Stakes (Gr III). 1.TIME TO WIN, AQU, 12/4-2nd, 1 mile (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 103 (r, 3, by Not This Time-Nagamble, by Flatter) O-Spendthrift Farm, William Lawrence, Big Easy Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson. B-Fred Hertrich III. T-Chad Brown. J-Flavien Prat. Time to Win becomes our first three-timer in Five Fastest Maidens. He made the list for his debut runnerup finish Sept. 1 at Saratoga with an 87 Beyer, regressed slightly in his next 2nd-place finish at BAQ, then bounced back with a 94 Beyer in November finishing 3rd behind Life and Times and Salvation (see above). In his fourth start, the half-brother to Grade I winner Juju's Map put it all together, storming off by 5 ½ lengths to soar into triple-digit Beyerland and please his many owners. He was a $650,000 Taylor Made September grad, by their stallion Not This Time. The post The Five Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Dec. 1 – Jan. 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first two reported foals for Gainesway Farm's MGSW Charge It (by Tapit) were born Jan. 5, with one arriving at the Brogden family's Machmer Hall in Paris, Kentucky, and the other being delivered at Darby Dan Farm outside of Lexington, Kentucky, the stallion outfit said via a Tuesday release. Machmer Hall oversaw the arrival of a bay colt, the first foal out of SP Six Sense (Violence). A half-sister to SW Xanthique (Into Mischief), out of the GSP mare Qualia (Saarland), Six Sense was a $105,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland November sale with a Charge It colt in utero. “The colt is healthy and doing great,” said Machmer Hall's Carrie Brogden. “He is the first of three Charge It babies expected here at Machmer Hall this year. When I first laid eyes on this beautiful stallion, I knew we had to have a share in him. We are delighted to support him with multiple mares in 2025, 2026, and beyond.” At Darby Dan Farm, the Ghostzapper mare Overt had a filly for breeder Healthy Wood Co. Ltd. This is the third foal out of Overt, a daughter of GSW Antipathy (A.P. Indy) and from the immediate family of Grade I winners, Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) and Likeable Style (Nijinsky II). A son of cornerstone Gainesway sire Tapit, Charge It was a Mandy Pope Whisper Hill Farm homebred under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher. The gray's 3-year-old campaign was highlighted by an eye-popping 23-length victory in the GIII Dwyer Stakes, where he earned a career-best 111 Beyer figure. At four, Charge It had another dominant victory with a 4 3/4 length win in the GII Suburban Stakes. In the race, his 106 Beyer tied for the highest figure at the classic distance in 2023. Charge It hails from one of the modern stud book's most prominent families. He is bred on the same cross as Horse of the Year, Flightline being out of the Indian Charlie mare, I'll Take Charge, herself a $2.2-million yearling. His second dam is the MGISW & Broodmare of the Year, Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is the dam of champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), plus GISWs Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). She is also the granddam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and GISW Omaha Beach (War Front). In his debut season at stud, Charge It covered 235 mares–fifth most of any North American stallion. In 2026, the Gainesway sire will stand for an advertised fee of $12,500. The post Gainesway’s Charge It Welcomes First Foals At Machmer Hall, Darby Dan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An open house starting at 1 p.m. CT will be held at the LACER stallion complex on Friday, Jan. 9 at Aztec Equine in Sunset, Louisiana, and feature a talk by Lane's End Farm's Bernie Sams, according to a release from the Louisiana breeder on Tuesday. Stallions who will be shown include Carpe Diem (by Giant's Causeway), Unified (by Candy Ride (Arg) and Bobby's Wicked One (by Speightstown). Light refreshments and stallion season drawings will be held. The address is: 545 Muscadine Road, Sunset, LA 70584. Inquires can be directed to David Tillson at (337) 315-2439. The post Sams To Speak At LACER Stallion Show In Louisiana Jan. 9 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Ottinho, a half brother to 2017 Horse of the Year and leading sire Gun Runner, scored in a maiden special weight Dec. 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The son of Quality Road prevailed by a head over stablemate Hadrian's Wall.View the full article

Oaklawn Park, who welcomed a total attendance of 104,250, highlighted by average Saturday crowds of more than 13,000, featured 132 races, including 15 stakes races over 13 race days, with an average field size of 9.78 horses per race during it's new Holiday Meet, the Hot Springs track said in a Tuesday press release. “The Holiday Meet delivered exactly what we strive for at Oaklawn–great racing, strong fan engagement, and meaningful momentum,” said Louis A. Cella, President of Oaklawn. “The competitiveness of our fields and the enthusiasm from both on-track and off-track players reinforce Oaklawn's position as a premier winter racing destination.” Total wagering and purses paid reached $10,052,000, averaging $773,230 per day. The on-track handle was up 17 percent while the total handle for the thirteen-day meet totaled $93,484,232, representing a nearly 27 percent increase year-over-year, despite being conducted over one fewer race day. By comparison, the handle from Dec. 6, 2024, through Jan. 5, 2025, totaled $73,765,539 across 14 days, underscoring the continued growth in wagering engagement from both on-track fans and horseplayers nationwide. Competition remained deep with 52 jockeys participating in at least one race and 30 earning a victory. One hundred forty-nine trainers started a horse during the meet, with 64 trainers represented in the winner's circle. Ownership participation was equally robust, as 661 owners started a horse, and 117 earned at least one victory. A total of 1,066 horses made at least one start during the meet, with 223 horses going out twice. One hundred thirty horses found the winner's circle, including three that recorded multiple victories. Oaklawn returns to action with the Classic Race Meet beginning Friday, Jan. 30. The post Turnstiles And Betting Slips: Oaklawn Concludes A Record Holiday Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

You probably won't find the name Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) on anyone's 2025 Eclipse Award ballot. Fanfare just doesn't come easily for a Louisiana-bred who has spent most of his career competing against fellow state breds. But the 7-year-old gelding is unquestionably one of the fastest horses in the sport. Is he fast enough to win the Jan. 24 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park? It appears he may just be given that chance. When the names of horses invited to the $3 million race were released, Touchuponastar was included on the list. According to the horse's owner, the former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme, who starred with the Carolina Panthers, it was Gulfstream Vice President of Racing Operations Mike Lakow who reached out to the connections and told them the track would be thrilled to have Touchuponastar compete in one of Gulfstream's signature races. “Mike Lakow reached out to us, probably over two months ago,” Delhomme said. “He said that he wanted to throw out the idea of our running there.” Touchuponastar is trained by Delhomme's brother, Jeff. The team has yet to decide whether or not it will point for the Pegasus, but Jake Delhomme said the race is definitely under consideration. “There's a chance that we will run,” Delhomme said. “We told [Lakow] we would consider it. There's no definitive answer yet. We'll see.” Some skeptics might conclude that Touchuponastar would be outclassed in the Pegasus. But adherents of the Beyer speed figures are likely to look at it differently. Touchuponastar has run Beyer figures of 101, 108 and 104 in his last three starts. His best figure of the year came when he turned in a 109 after winning the GII New Orleans Classic. Only six horses posted faster numbers in 2025. By way of comparison, White Abarrio (Race Day), the winner of the 2025 Pegasus, who will likely be among the favorites in this year's race, has run numbers of 97, 103 and 97 in his last three starts. One of the other big names being pointed for the race, Tappan Street, (Into Mischief), recorded a 90 Beyer in a Dec. 19 allowance that served as a prep for the Pegasus. Disco Time | Joe Labozzetta “I think he would be very competitive with those horses,” Delhomme said. “I follow this sport religiously. It's not something I just do on the side. I feel very confident in saying that I stay abreast of what's going on. Tappan Street is an unbelievably talented horse and I loved what he did last year. Disco Time (Not This Time) is training lights out for Brad [Cox]. You have Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), White Abarrio… there are so many good horses pointing for this race. It's an honor to have been invited.” Should he go in the Pegasus, it will not be the first time that the Delhommes have gone outside their comfort zone, which has been races for Louisiana-breds. Eighteen of his 26 starts have come against horses also born in the Bayou State, and his record in those races is 16-for-18. But he proved his bona fides in last year's New Orleans Classic, defeating, among others, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Delhomme said that race is also a possible target for this year. “I'll be very honest and won't give you any fluff,” Delhomme said. “Our horse can compete at many levels and he's doing extremely well and is very, very sound. That was proven last year against Sierra Leone and Hall of Fame when he ran against those two. To run in the Pegasus would be something very different for us. I played football for 15 years and I learned then that you have to take things one week at a time. We'll keep this under consideration.” The post Can The Louisiana-Bred Sensation Touchuponastar Topple The Big Boys In The Pegasus? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Mike Love Ashburton trainer Wendy Stevenson takes three good each-way chances to Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru for their summer twilight meeting this afternoon. In Race 1, the Brosnan Transport Passing Lane Mobile Pace over 2050 metres Gotta Lather Up ($10.00FF) will be looking for a more economical run after having a couple of torrid trips since breaking maiden status at Oamaru three starts ago. “We were pleased with him at Motukarara after drawing 16. Even though he only ran seventh he just couldn’t get in, and he’s still pretty green,” said Stevenson. Today’s field of just seven runners should help Gotta Lather Up regain a bit of confidence. “The small field will be nice for him. He’s a bit of a goof and has some maturing to do. He’s got a lot of speed and he’s a nice horse with plenty of ability.” The Lather Up four-year-old has won once from five starts. Race 4, the South Canterbury Hydraulics Ltd Mobile Pace over 2050 metres will see Hughes To Me ($7.50FF) give Stevenson her second chance of the day. The 24-start maiden has been racing in great form this campaign – placing in three of his four outings. “I was hoping for a better draw,” said Stevenson. Hughes To Me has drawn the outside of the front line which will be a tough ask, but is racing in terrific form. “He’s better suited to the stand, but he will pick one up – he’s really come solid this time in.” The last of Stevenson’s chances comes when Not Over ($6.00FF) lines up in Race 5, the Think Water Timaru Handicap Pace over 2600 metres. The 10-year-old Changeover gelding will be having his 110th start today but Stevenson suggests Not Over is none the wiser. “He thinks he’s a young lad. He’s a super horse. The stand suits him. He runs well on the track. He could be a sneaky one.” Stevenson suggested that Not Over may be her best chance on the day, but Gotta Lather Up is the one to follow. “Not Over would probably be my best chance of the day, but Gotta Lather Up has the most ability going forward.” Robbie Close will take the drive on all three runners in what is a busy day for the Canterbury reinsman with seven drives in total – the most favoured being Hugo ($3.70FF) in Race 3, the Southwest Refrigeration Mobile Pace over 2050 metres for trainer John McDermott. View the full article

Eleven of the most memorable events from Thoroughbred racing in North America last year have been nominated for the 2025 FanDuel Racing NTRA Moment of the Year, a distinction determined by fan voting and recognized at the annual Eclipse Awards.View the full article

Amplify Horse Racing is accepting applications until Tuesday, Jan. 27 for the Spring 2026 session of its mentorship program, an educational initiative connecting youth and young adults with experienced professionals across the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry, the organization said via a press release on Tuesday. Designed as a three-month hybrid experience for ages 15 to 25, the Amplify Mentorship Program provides structured career exploration, individualized guidance, and direct exposure to the Thoroughbred industry. No prior horse experience or specific academic criteria are required. Applicants must reside in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada. Click here for more information. The post Amplify’s Youth Mentorship Program Now Accepting Applications For Spring appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, New York will hold its inaugural stallion show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10. Arzak (Not This Time–Delightlful Melody, Tapit), the farm's multiple Grade II winner and track record setter, will be available for inspection in Amsterdam Two's new stallion barn in advance of his first season at stud in 2026. A $575,000 OBS Spring 2-year-old who went gate-to-wire second time out as a juvenile going six furlongs over Woodbine's all-weather surface, Arzak also won stakes races at 3, 4, 5 and 6–recording 90-plus Beyer speed figures on 17 occasions. “We're thrilled to be standing New York's only son of Not This Time, arguably the hottest stallion on the planet right now,” said Amsterdam Two manager Ken Williams. “Arzak has the pedigree and race record to be an elite stallion, and as breeders will see at our open house, an incredible physical to back it up, as well.” Arzak's career highlights included wins in the GII Woodford Stakes, earning a 101 Beyer figure, and GII Shakertown Stakes–both times going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Keeneland. He also scored victories in the GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes and Thorncliffe Stakes at Woodbine–setting a new track record of 1:02.62 in the latter. He also won the Tom Ridge Stakes going 6 furlongs at Presque Isle Downs. Arzak, who is out of the Tapit mare Delightful Melody, also ran second in the GI Jaipur Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga, just behind Cogburn (Not This Time). He retired with a record of eight wins from 36 starts and earnings of $1,081,294. “This horse was so sound and so willing–never had a moment's problem with him, and I say that with 100% sincerity,” said Michael Trombetta, who trained the horse throughout his career for owner Sonata Stables. “Arzak was as clean-legged on retirement as the day he came to the barn. And I think based on his sire's accomplishments and Arzak's own win going a mile at Tampa Bay in his third career start, his offspring will be well-suited to most distances and all three surfaces offered at the new Belmont Park.” For more information on Arzak or the farm, call Amsterdam Two at (570) 604-3657. The post Amsterdam Two Stallion Show Slated for Jan. 10 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2026 Mark O'Hanlon Memorial Racing and Breeding Quiz is set to take place on Friday, January 16 and is returning to its regular haunt of the Lord Bagenal Hotel in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. It coincides with the ITM Irish Stalion Trail, which is running on the Friday and Saturday with more than 30 farms across Ireland opening their doors to visitors. Always fiercely, if not fairly, contested, the quiz was won last year by the team of Bobby and Mouse O'Ryan, Ryan McElligott and Gerald Connolly, who regularly feature in or near the top spot. Organiser Joe Foley said, “Their team won again by one point, with loads of cheating, and beating the previous year's winning team. There is bound to be a big turn out again this year. I've already told Willie Mullins he has to enter a team.” The quiz is run annually in memory of the much-missed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing executive Mark O'Hanlon, who died in 2015. It gets underway at 8pm and is free to enter. Teams must consist of no more than four people. The post The Mark O’Hanlon Memorial Quiz Returns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first sophomore skirmishes of the 2026 Classic crop vividly attested to the twin poles that support this business. One is that access to the most expensive blood must work out sufficiently to keep the elite programs in the game. But the other is that a good horse can come from anywhere, which gives us all some kind of chance. The impressive success of Commandment in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes reiterated how the annual quest for the GI Kentucky Derby winner currently starts with the rags-to-riches emperor of American stallions. Last year Sovereignty put Into Mischief level with four others, none more recent than Bull Lea, as sire of three Kentucky Derby winners. And already the seven-time champion stallion's 2023 crop has produced a series of candidates to secure him a fourth, headed by juvenile champion elect Ted Noffey but also featuring Japan's leading dirt prospect Satono Voyage (Jpn) plus a whole bunch of exciting novices, of which we might offer 'TDN Rising Star' Cannoneer as just one example. But then you also had the colt who, unlike Commandment, actually banked Derby gate points with a decisive success of his own in the Smarty Jones Stakes. Strategic Risk is by Noble Bird, a $3,000 cover dropped from the Ocala Stud roster at the end of 2023, when exported to Saudi Arabia through a Fasig-Tipton digital sale for just $34,000. You may remember the son of Birdstone narrowly securing his Grade I day in the sun in the Stephen Foster Handicap in 2015, or indeed setting a track record (still standing, at 1:47.75) in the GII Fayette Stakes at Keeneland, but essentially he was a hardy, second-tier handicap performer who has proved thoroughly anonymous as a stallion. Yet who can state definitively that such a horse cannot sire a Derby winner? If you scroll back through his resumé, after all, you will be reminded that he was beaten a head for a Grade II race at Churchill, on the eve of the 2015 Derby, by Protonico-who would himself proceed to sire the first past the post in the 2021 Derby at a fee of $6,500. Obviously that race created issues, but the point stands. A good horse can come from anywhere. In fairness, the other side of the same coin is that Thoroughbreds are no less predictable when it comes to disappointing us. One might almost say that a bad horse can come from anywhere! On paper, for instance, his success in the 2013 Derby appeared to confirm Orb as a paragon of what we strive to produce as breeders: he represented a regal family, and had made a seamless ascent through the ranks before storming through at Churchill on the first Saturday in May. Hardly the first horse to lose his way from that kind of pinnacle, he had demonstrably converted his elite genes into corresponding prowess and duly looked a highly eligible prospect at $25,000. Yet even the seasoned hands of Claiborne Stud could not eke anything out of Orb, whose fee and books dwindled until departing for Uruguay in 2021. There was just one, fleeting moment when Orb deceived us that he might fulfil his blatant promise. That was when Sippican Harbor, a $260,000 Saratoga yearling from his second crop, returned to the Spa the following summer to win a maiden by 17 lengths and then follow up in the GI Spinaway Stakes. Unfortunately she had to be retired after a midfield finish at the Breeders' Cup, and was retained by Lee Pokoik at $1.45 million when offered at Fasig-Tipton a year later with a maiden cover by Medaglia d'Oro. Though the resulting colt ended up making two starts in his breeder's silks in maiden claimers, Sippican Harbor's second foal-a daughter of Curlin-had meanwhile been sold to Robert and Lawana Low for $750,000 as a weanling. She never made the racetrack, however; and nor has the mare's next foal, an Into Mischief filly named Waterway, who consecutively went through Fasig-Tipton digital sales in October 2024 and last January. On both occasions she was listed as sold to Melinda Smith, at $18,000 and $15,000 respectively. Well, the owners of those two fillies will now be taking a very keen interest in what happens from here with Commandment. For he is the fourth foal out of Sippican Harbor and due reward for Pokoik in consistently ensuring that she be given every chance in her covers. For it is not as though Commandment, sold as a yearling for $500,000, is simply a case of Into Mischief rescuing a mare by a contrastingly disappointing sire. Apart from anything else, Orb is perfectly entitled to filter something worthwhile as a broodmare sire: he's by a noted one himself (Sierra Leone the latest star out of a Malibu Moon mare) and his family traces to the matriarch Shenanigans (Native Dancer). But Sippican Harbor herself extends another noble line: her unraced dam, who introduces the priceless distaff influence Deputy Minister, is out of a Mt. Livermore half-sister to British Group 1 winner Peter Davies (Bering {GB}). And their third dam was Leallah, a sensational juvenile in 1956, who was by Nasrullah out of the great Lea Lark-herself, of course, a daughter of Bull Lea. However tenuously, by this stage, it would be apt if Bull Lea could claim even a small role, should Commandment happen to become the horse to end his share in a Derby record. Mare of Noble Blood Gives Bird Wings Orb bowed out of the United States with a book of seven mares that ultimately delivered six live foals, which just happens to be exactly how Noble Bird signed off. Whatever their respective contribution to the pair of colts under discussion, the one who has redeemed Noble Bird from oblivion surely owes much to a family cultivated by the Phipps family-who also shared, through their kinship with the Janneys, in the noble line that produced Orb. Strategic Risk was homebred by John C. Oxley, who had also raced Noble Bird, from the unraced yearling purchase Strategize (Afleet Alex). Registered as bred by Charles Fipke, Strategize had actually been acquired in utero with her dam Strategy (A.P. Indy), a nine-furlong stakes winner on dirt, for $425,000 as a 9-year-old Phipps cull at the 2010 Keeneland November Sale. Fipke's regard for the best families is familiar, and highly productive, and here he had been drawn to one of the very best Phipps brands: Strategy was a daughter of none other than Educated Risk (Mr. Prospector), millionaire half-sister to champion Inside Information (Private Account). The latter herself became dam of another champion, Smuggler (Unbridled), and Educated Risk similarly emerged as an important producer: Strategy's half-sister by El Prado (Ire), the stakes-winning Consequence, is dam of the emerging blue hen Complicated (Blame), responsible for three graded stakes winners over the past 18 months: GI Natalma Stakes winner And One More Time (Omaha Beach); multiple graded stakes scorer Honor D Lady (Honor Code); and last year's GI First Lady Stakes winner Simply in Front (Summer Front). The latter goes under the hammer at the forthcoming Keeneland January Sale, and this update through a sire as insipid as Noble Bird can only serve to emphasize the continued prowess of the maternal family. After all, it was in Noble Bird's first date with Strategize that had given him a breakout black-type winner in Strategic Bird, a $2,000 yearling who won her maiden by 13 lengths before following up in the Sandpiper Stakes in 2021. Simply in Front also offers the precious oddity of El Prado (Ire) 3 x 3: as noted, the granddam is his daughter out of Educated Risk, while he also features as Summer Front's damsire. So here's a broodmare prospect that combines his old-school influence with one of the great Phipps families, and then adds all this recent activity in the foreground. That would make Simply in Front a valuable proposition had she never set foot on a racetrack. As it is, she will surely need checking out by all the major international programs. A World of Mischief We finish as we started: with Into Mischief. For his legacy will ultimately be expanded by his daughters, too. They have already started giving us horses like Shisospicy (Mitole) and White Abarrio (Race Day), and it is striking that the one whose second foal is Jerome Stakes winner My World (Essential Quality) was conceived when Into Mischief remained no higher than $20,000. On the face of it, the fact that Quebec was able to win a couple of stakes-despite a pretty thin page-was an early sign of her sire's ability to upgrade a pedigree. To be fair, her third dam was half-sister to a champion sprinter in Eillo (Mr. Prospector); and, more importantly, Quebec was ahead of the curve in terms of what has become one of the axiomatic short cuts of modern breeding: she's out of a Distorted Humor mare, a pathfinder for the cross we now associate with Practical Joke, Life Is Good and all the rest. Meanwhile this colt is promoting a stallion in the early stages of his own career. As we recently noted in our ongoing Value Sires series, Essential Quality has been depreciating a little too rapidly for a sire whose first crop has made a perfectly respectable start-albeit in the context of a historically underachieving freshman intake. His own juvenile championship was just a prelude, a Belmont winner by Tapit after all, and many of his mares will themselves doubtless have carried Classic blood. If he finds himself needing a little more from his stock, as they mature and tackle a second bend, but that is exactly what they promise to give him. The post Breeding Digest: Docking in the Right Harbor Can Redeem Failed Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article