Wandering Eyes

Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner Plutarch is off the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail, per Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Churchill Downs publicity announced Feb. 25. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Macca Lodge could get rewarded for their great support of southern harness racing at Winton on Thursday. The Northern Southland stud and stables will start four horses at Central Southland Raceway three days before they again sponsor the Group 3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup. Co-proprietor Brent McIntyre is rapt with the depth of the Northern Southland Cup field and just about as pleased with his four-strong Winton squad. McIntyre and his stable head Carl Hanna will combine with maiden trotter Raffie Jay in Thursday’s opener. The three-year-old was excellent on her debut, running on into third at Cromwell last week. “She is pretty foolproof – though I probably shouldn’t say that, I will put the mockers on her.” “But so far she’s shown great manners, which is half the battle with a young trotter.” “We are still educating her, she still has a bit to learn but you have got to line up and get a bit of experience.” “She’s well and working good, fingers crossed she can go another good race.” Macca Lodge has a two-pronged attack on Thursday’s second event with Putere Boy and Ramblin Rover. Putere Boy has a tough task ahead from the unruly over a mile. But the pacer has shown ability and has won in better fields than he faces at Winton. “He is getting close to form, we have had a few issues with him but hopefully we have put all of them behind us now.” “He has been really good in the last two runs and he is fitter for them.” “He will probably need a bit of luck from the unruly but he should go a good race.” Ramblin Rover has been a consistent performer for the McIntyre barn and he’s expected to produce an honest effort. “He has got to have the right run, but he is consistent.” “He is not one you can do work with and you can’t take off too soon with him.” “But he has been going nice races and from the draw (4) hopefully he can go another one.” The Macca Lodge team also lines up Wallflower in Thursday’s Southern Belle Speed Series heat. The mare brings handy overall form, but has to deal with barrier 7 in the mile sprint. “She has got the ability to get a bit of money.” “It is a handy field so she will probably have to take the shortcuts and get a bit of luck.” Wallflower has accepted to back up at Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup Day on Sunday. View the full article

Following in the steps of Notable Speech (Dubawi) and Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath), Godolphin's Hidden Force (Frankel) lived up to expectations in providing Charlie Appleby with a third straight “European Road To The Kentucky Derby” Conditions Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday. Languid out of the stalls, the chestnut who had won on debut over here in December was allowed to saunter behind his three rivals throughout the early stages before being cajoled upsides soon into the straight. In front a furlong from home, the 1-4 favourite dismissed Venetian Prince (St Mark's Basilica) to score comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths. “That was a competitive race with horses with proven form from last year and this and so I'm delighted,” William Buick said. “He couldn't do any more and this mile is more to his liking than the seven last time. He's in good company winning this race and he is going to keep improving. I really like what he did there and he's got plenty of pace, so for the moment I'd be content to stay at a mile and when he's on turf then assess his trip.” 2026 – HIDDEN FORCE 2025 – Opera Ballo 2024 – Notable Speech The @godolphin colt adds his name to an illustrious list of recent winners of the @kemptonparkrace contest for Charlie Appleby and @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/omIT388g9D — Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 25, 2026 The post Hidden Force Extends Appleby Record In Key Kempton Pointer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Constitution Hill will not run in next month's Champion Hurdle after Nicky Henderson ruled his stable star out of a jumps return, with his future now lying solely on the flat.View the full article

Only Todd Pletcher could lose the prohibitive early favorite for the GI Kentucky Derby and the 2-year-old champion in Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) and still be stocked with talented horses that are on the road to the first leg of the Triple Crown. Pletcher has GIII Holy Bull Stakes winner Nearly, Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Renegade (Into Mischief) and recent allowance winner Jackson Hole (Nyquist), who will be among the favorites for Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. To discuss his plethora of talented colts, their plans going forward, and other top horses in his stable, Pletcher joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. “We did think a lot of all of those colts,” Pletcher said. “Anytime you lose the two-year-old champ, it's a big blow to the stable and disappointing, but we did have high hopes for several of these colts. In particular, Nearly looked like he was coming up to the Holy Bull in good shape and we're very high on the way Jackson Hole had been training. It gave us optimism. Renegade was coming off a good second in the Remsen and training very well. So, we had high hopes for all of them and now we just have to hope we can continue on and keep them healthy and keep developing.” Jackson Hole may need to prove more, but it looks like he has a world of potential. After breaking his maiden at Gulfstream, he was sent to the Fair Grounds for an allowance race, which he won by 5 1/2 lengths. The Fountain of Youth will mark his stakes debut. “I didn't think his debut was as impressive as he had trained in the mornings,” Pletcher said of Jackson Hole. “We were expecting a good effort from him. We think he overcame some immaturity and some greenness. From where I was standing in the grandstand, when he came by me and he had just made the lead, it was as if he didn't know what to do once he made the lead. I thought the race at the Fair Grounds was much more professional. He made the lead and he stayed pretty focused. I still thought that coming down the lane, he kind of saw some footprints and balked just a little bit. But I thought it was a much better effort and a step in the right direction.” Nearly, who overcame a very fast early pace, was particularly impressive in the Holy Bull. He will go next in the GI Florida Derby, and may be Pletcher's best prospect. “We loved the way the horse trained before his debut and we were completely dumbfounded that he did not run well first time out,” Pletcher said. “We kind of regrouped and took advantage of the fact that he's Florida-bred and ran in a Florida-bred maiden, which he won very impressively. We came back in the allowance race and, again, he was super impressive. Although the field scratched down to four, we thought, 'Wow, that was impressive.' The time was very good and it was what we expected. We needed to step up, to stretch out. We kind of had three races fairly close together and I was a little concerned about doing too much, but he just kept coming back at us and showing good energy.” Pletcher also has Class President (Uncle Mo) running in Sunday's GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. In his last start, he ran second in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes. Whether or not he can stretch out to a mile-and-a-sixteenth will be a question he'll have to answer this weekend. “We feel really good about stretching him out,” Pletcher said. “We were a little frustrated that we didn't get to stretch him out in his second start. In his second start, we intended to go in a one-mile race and when that didn't fill, we had to look for something else. We chose the Swale because it was our best option at the time. He drew the rail in there, which is always a disadvantage, particularly with the way the track was playing. The winner got loose through pretty comfortable fractions and I thought he ran pretty well considering everything kind of seemed stacked against him. He's definitely a horse that we feel like wants more distance and two turns.” The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was Shining Star (Chi) (Sarah Spirit), who earned a 103 Beyer figure when winning the Feb. 17 Mardi Gras Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the sire Life is Good Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTOB and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman discussed the ongoing dispute between HISA and Churchill Downs and HISA's claims that Churchill owes it more than $2.4 million in unpaid fees. The panel agreed that there are a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to the dispute. The team also handicapped the major races that will be run this weekend, focusing on the three Derby preps, the Fountain of Youth, the Rebel and GIII Gotham Stakes. Click here to listen to the podcast or click here to watch. The post Todd Pletcher Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented by Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The air may be full of Cheltenham Festival chatter but, in Rathasker Stud at least, there is only one race on everyone's lips these days: the Derby. It's not hard to understand why. Pierre Bonnard, the ante-post favourite for the Epsom Classic at odds of 6-1, was bred by Maurice Burns, who jokes that he would love to “level the score” with his brother Seamus, breeder of 2008 Derby hero New Approach. Rathasker Stud is home to the speed influence stallion Bungle Inthejungle along with Coulsty and more recently Aclaim, himself a Classic-producer courtesy of Cachet, the 1,000 Guineas winner in 2022. By and large, the farm produces tough and hardy racehorses who have flown the flag on the international stage. But an Epsom Derby winner? This would represent something different for Rathasker and Burns admits to be feeling the excitement. “My brother Seamus has bragging rights over me because he bred New Approach so it would be great to level the score,” Burns jokes about the prospects of becoming a Derby-winning breeder this year, before adding, “but there is an awful lot of water to run under the bridge before then.” So, how has Burns found himself in this position in the first place? It all started when, along with his wife Madeline, the stallion master rocked over to the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls in search of some new blood. Normandie Stud's Group 1 Nassau Stakes heroine Sultanina (New Approach), who was 12 years of age at the time and described by Burns to be “at a bit of a crossroads” given she had only produced one winner at that point, was high on the list. She was sold in foal to Camelot and little did we know then what we know now. Burns recalled, “When you go to the sales to buy mares, foals or yearlings, sometimes it will go right and sometimes it will go wrong but Sultanina went right. She was a mare at a crossroads when we bought her. She had only one winner but she did have a couple of horses to run for her. The people [Normandie Stud] who bred her and owned her were reducing their numbers and that's how we came to buy her. They kept a couple of daughters in the hope that something would happen but put Sultanina in the sale. Madeline and I looked at a bunch of mares and followed Sultanina into the ring. It all just fell into place.” He added, “She was in foal to Camelot. We bred a couple of horses by Camelot and got well paid for them so we like his stock. She is also a Nassau Stakes winner and is a New Approach mare as well. But, above all else, it all came down to price and she came in at 78,000gns, which we felt was a fair price.” Pierre Bonnard is said to have been everything you'd want in a foal by Burns, who opted to offer the future Group 1 winner and leading Derby contender at the Goffs November Foal Sale. It was Timmy Hyde of Camas Park Stud who struck the winning bid of €80,000, meaning Burns had effectively recouped his investment in the mare. But better still was to come. Camas Park Stud turned that initial outlay into €280,000 at the following year's Goffs Orby Sale to Coolmore. Meanwhile, Burns netted himself a cool €200,000 to Amo Racing for a Coulsty filly out of the mare at Goffs last year as well. He said, “Camas Park Stud bought him off us as a foal and I can remember going down to look at the horse as a yearling and, the fella who was on the shank told me, 'this horse will be going to Ballydoyle'. That was before he even went into the ring. They all loved him and they were right. They paid €280,000 and they buy a lot of horses for much more than that who don't turn out half as good. The Coolmore team were right on the button with Pierre Bonnard to be fair to them. But he was always a very nice horse. As a foal, he had a very good frame and very good action. He's just a very nice horse. We debated about selling him as a foal or a yearling but we brought him to the foal sales and said that if he wasn't making enough money we'd bring him back as a yearling. He sold for €80,000 so we recouped our investment on the mare. We are a commercial operation.” He added, “We were very happy when Pierre Bonnard won at Dundalk because it came just before the catalogue was printed for the Goffs November Foal Sale. That was a very nice update for the filly but then a couple of days later the sister, Crepe Suzette (Saxon Warrior), was placed in a Listed race. So at this point we are extremely happy. By the time we got to Goffs, Crepe Suzette had placed in a Group 2 race and Pierre Bonnard was entered in a couple of Group 1s. A lot of people were not aware of the update but we had to tell them. Word got around that she was a nice filly and obviously there was the added attraction with the updates. She attracted what I call the elite buyers coming around to look at her and that was it. In this game, you are always very hopeful that this or that will happen but it rarely comes off. For it to come off is fantastic.” Sultanina is due any day now to Bungle Inthejungle. After that, the world is her oyster. Yet, Burns could not be drawn on firming up plans as to what stallion his star mare would visit this year. He said, “We probably cover 75 per cent of our mares at Rathasker by our own stallions so she is in foal to Bungle Inthejungle and is due to foal in the next week or 10 days. After that, we haven't decided who she will visit but a few studs have been onto us. Camelot will have to come under consideration but I am not going to jump the gun. She's the sort of mare where nobody is going to refuse her.” The post How Pierre Bonnard’s Breeder Maurice Burns Could “Level The Score” With Derby Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, registered outrider Sydney Fried has been suspended for 90 days and fined $2,500 for failing to give investigators access to her personal bag during a routine barn search for fear, she argued, about the ramifications from marijuana possession. According to an internal adjudication panel final ruling, three HIWU investigators visited Ohio's Belterra Park on August 8, during which they searched trainer Osvaldo Ocasio's barn. “Covered Person Sydney Fried was in the kitchen area of the barn when the investigators entered that area. The investigators asked Ms Fried for her license and then asked to search her handbag/carry all. Ms. Fried allowed them to search two pockets of the bag but refused to allow the investigators access to a third pocket of the bag,” the final ruling states. “Covered Person offered as her defense the fact that the third pocket of her bag contained marijuana and, even though she was legally permitted to possess marijuana, she was afraid that the investigators would 'hassle' her about having it on the racetrack,” the ruling adds. Trainer Ocasio has never been sanctioned for an offense under HISA, nor has any cases pending. While the final ruling doesn't explain what position at the track Fried maintains, HIWU spokesperson Alexa Ravit wrote that as per HISA, Fried is registered as an outrider. “For additional background regarding registration status, an individual may still be subject to HISA regulations even if they are not registered if they are engaged in the care, treatment, training, and/or racing of Covered Horses,” Ravit added. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 02/23/2026 Licensee: Benjamin Feliciano Jr., trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 24, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Plenty on Tap, who finished second at Laurel Park on 1/10/26. Dates: 02/23/2026 Licensee: Alexis Leon, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Happy Does, who finished fifth at Turf Paradise on 12/27/25. Dates: 02/19/2026 Licensee: Linda Rice, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methylprednisolone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sweet Rhythm, who is reported by Equibase to have been euthanized after sustaining a severe injury to her left front leg mid-race in the fifth at Aqueduct on 11/8/25. Dates: 02/19/2026 Licensee: Hernan H. Parra, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 20, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. The following cases are treated as one violation. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Nadir Han, who finished eighth at Gulfstream Park on 12/13/25; and in a sample taken from Justy Han, who finished seventh at Gulfstream Park on 1/3/26. Dates: 02/19/2026 Licensee: Sydney Fried Penalty: 90-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 18, 2025; a fine of $2,500. Final decision of internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Violation for Rule 3510(b), which concerns the “Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules.” Dates: 02/18/2026 Licensee: Dallas E. Stewart, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 19, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Tramadol–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Have Faith on 11/20/25. Dates: 02/18/2026 Licensee: Edwin Martinez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Tsunami Gold, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/4/26. Dates: 02/18/2026 Licensee: William Cowans, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sticky Note, who finished third at Turfway Park on 12/6/25. Dates: 02/18/2026 Licensee: Carlos R. Figueroa Jr., trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 19, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Foxy Cara, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 11/19/25. Pending ADMC Violations 02/24/2026, Nestor Cascallares, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Kiss Me For Luck, who finished second at Tampa Bay on 1/25/26. 02/20/2026, Caryn Vecchio, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Poppy's Pride, who won at Mahoning Valley on 1/22/26. 02/20/2026, Collin Maragh, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Oasis Prince on 1/19/26. 02/20/2026, Daniel Hernandez, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in samples taken from Holy Bullet, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/18/26; and from Lovesunfair, who finished sixth at Sunland Park on 1/19/26. 02/19/2026, Michelle R. Winters, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Diosa Catrina, who finished sixth at Mahoning Valley on 1/22/26. Crop Violations Laurel Park Jean Briceno–violation date February 19; $500 fine, two-day suspension Mahoning Valley David J. Haldar–violation date February 19; $500 fine, two-day suspension Oaklawn Park Francisco J. Arrieta–violation date February 23; $250 fine, two-day suspension Abel Cedillo–violation date February 19; $250 fine, one-day suspension on appeal Rafael J. Bejarano–violation date February 19; one-day suspension on appeal Santa Anita Kyle Frey–violation date February 19; $500 fine, one-day suspension Tampa Bay Marvin R. Fernandez–violation date February 23; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly Rulings: Feb. 19-25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Constitution Hill will not run in next month's Champion Hurdle after Nicky Henderson ruled his stable star out of a jumps return, with his future now lying solely on the Flat.View the full article

Blue Diamond Stud encompasses approximately 40 mares split between our divisions in Newmarket and Stonereath Farm in Kentucky. In an exciting development, we are also breaking new ground this year by sending Grade I winner Abscond to Japan to visit Kitasan Black. The global operation is overseen by our CEO Ted Voute, with Andrew Rawlin at the helm of our mare division of Blue Diamond Stud and Cian Gahan the stud manager of Stonereath Farm. ABSCOND 9 m Blame – Solitary Life (Grand Slam) Visits KITASAN BLACK Winner of the GI Natalma Stakes as a two-year-old, Abscond represents our first foray into Japan. We were keen to take advantage of what the Japanese market has to offer, especially given its reputation for producing such tough and sound horses, and thereby use the country's leading stallion Kitasan Black with one of our best mares. Abscond was one of our early acquisitions in a concerted move to collect mares from the Roberto line, in particular daughters of Blame. Another of our stakes-winning Blame mares, Dancing Kiki, goes to Oscar Performance. Abscond's first foal is a Not This Time colt who has been retained and goes to Chad Brown. ATAKAMA 6 m Le Havre – Best Intent (King's Best) In foal to Not This Time. Visits FRANKEL A multiple stakes-placed mare from the Coup De Folie family, Atakama has returned from Kentucky to Newmarket in foal to Not This Time and heads to Frankel as we try to give her the best opportunity. The cross also produces inbreeding to Allegretta. BEAUTE CACHEE 7 m Literato – Sign And Seal (Hurricane Run) Visits NOT THIS TIME Winner of the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes, Beaute Cachee was bought in November 2024 having appealed as a top-performing member of the Kendor/Grey Sovereign line, something which is becoming increasingly harder to find despite having been so successful. We have used Not This Time on multiple occasions over the past four seasons and are delighted to be doing so again with this Grade I winner. CHILI FLAG 7 m Cityscape – Flag Day (Pivotal) In foal to Not This Time. Visits FRANKEL A granddaughter of brilliant two-year-old Blue Duster, Chili Flag won the GI Just A Game Stakes and is physically quite typical of the Sharpen Up/Selkirk line. Like Grey Sovereign, that is becoming increasingly harder to find despite its success. Cityscape's early daughters at stud include Give And Take, to whom Frankel produced last year's Group 2 winner Luther, while Frankel has also had success with Selkirk mares through the likes of Inspiral and Darkaniya. Blue Duster's descendants also include high-class Galileo grandsons such as Highland Chief and Euphoric, all of which makes Chili Flag a potentially good fit for Frankel. COUNTESSA 8 m Camelot – Elitiste (Danehill Dancer) Foaled bay filly by Kingman. Visits DELACROIX A young winning mare from the Miesque family who was bought in Australia. She has a very good first foal by Siyouni, now a yearling. The immediate family has worked well with Dubawi and we were keen to try the line with her; Delacroix as a top-class horse and one of the most exciting stallions to stud this season fitted the bill. FLORET 10 m Galileo – Ventura (Spectrum) In foal to Not This Time. Visits INTO MISCHIEF A half-sister to Moonlight Cloud from the Doff The Derby family. Floret has a two-year-old filly by Blame going to Francis Graffard and a good yearling filly by Justify. Into Mischief is such a versatile stallion, capable of throwing good turf horses in addition to obviously being a brilliant influence on dirt. He's proven effective with Galileo mares in the past, a case in point being the GI Ashland Stakes winner Leslie's Rose. We're also using Into Mischief on Taiga. By Bernardini, the damsire of Sovereignty, she is a close relation to Arabian Knight. FREE LOOK 6 m Tapit – Wild Mint (Medaglia d'Oro) Foaled chestnut filly by Curlin. Visits GUN RUNNER It's no secret how effective Gun Runner is with Tapit mares – the source of 10 stakes winners so far – and we'll be supporting him again with the Grade II-placed two-year-old Free Look. She is a relation to Violence and her first foal is a yearling colt by Gun Runner. HAUTE COUTURE 5 m Kingman – Pearling (Storm Cat) Foaled by bay colt by Havana Grey. Visits TOO DARN HOT Haute Couture belongs to one of the cornerstone Blue Diamond families as a half-sister to our multiple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight and a daughter of Pearling, a full-sister to Giant's Causeway. We bred one of Too Darn Hot's best horses, Group 1 winner Hotazhell, and were keen to support him again. He's obviously done particularly well with Danzig-line mares, and that includes Fallen Angel out of an Invincible Spirit-line mare. I'M WONDERFUL 10 m Giant's Causeway – Rebridled Dreams (Unbridled's Song) In foal to Gun Runner. Visits BLAME Stakes producer I'm Wonderful, a full-sister to Carpe Diem, is one of four mares we are sending to Blame this season alongside Arwa (Holy Roman Emperor), a half-sister to Order Of St George, Chantry View Road (Quality Road), a member of the Best In Show family, and Honey Ryder Stakes winner Ocean Safari (Temple City), who has just foaled a lovely filly by Tapit. Blame represents affordable yet proven access into the Roberto sire-line and if you get a filly, then even better given his record as a brilliant young broodmare sire. I'm Wonderful already has a nice two-year-old colt by Blame set to go to Brad Cox and a yearling colt by Tapit. NASHWA 7 m Frankel – Princess Loulou (Pivotal) Foaled bay colt by Dubawi. Returns to DUBAWI Our champion, multiple Group 1-winning mare Nashwa foaled a very smart foal by Dubawi on January 27, a good-sized, strong, attractive colt, and it made sense to send her back to him, especially given his record with Galileo-line mares. Her Dubawi half-brother, Nebras, won the Listed Quebec Stakes for us at the end of last year and hopefully will continue to progress further this season. PENLIGHT 10 m Shamardal – Porto Roca (Barathea) Visits KINGMAN We have two mares going to Kingman; Penlight and Rose Of Miracles. Penlight is a strong mare by Shamardal – the damsire of Field Of Gold – who is a half-sister to G1 Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso. She has already produced a fast horse in Milford, a stakes-placed two-year-old, and Kingman should complement her on paper and physically. Rose Of Miracles, a Dalakhani relation to Goldikova, has produced several highly-rated horses for us including Royal Ascot winner Amtiyaz. She appears most effective when sent to stallions with pace so Kingman should suit, especially as Dalakhani can be found in the background of his Group winners such as Zardozi and Cormorant. PRINCESS LOULOU 16 m Pivotal – Aiming (Highest Honor) In foal to Dubawi. Visits SEA THE STARS Produced our multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa and Listed scorer Nebras, who stays in training for us as a four-year-old this season. She has a Frankel full-brother to Nashwa named Nasheed, is back in foal to Nebras's sire Dubawi and she'll now visit Sea The Stars. He's obviously a sire of the highest order who had a brilliant year in 2025 and going to him taps into another strain of Urban Sea. ROMINA POWER 6 m Le Havre – Rockatella (Rock Of Gibraltar) In foal to Night Of Thunder. Visits TOO DARN HOT Winner of the Listed Diana-Trial, Romina Power belongs to the Reprocolor family via the branch responsible for G1 winner Puchkine. She's in foal to the champion sire Night Of Thunder and now goes to another son of Dubawi in Too Darn Hot. We also have Princess Nadia, a homebred winning daughter of our G3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner Princess Noor, in foal to Too Darn Hot. The daughter of Sea The Stars now goes to Night Of Thunder; it's notable how effective Night Of Thunder can be with mares that provide him with more Urban Sea and/or Allegretta, and Sea The Stars has contributed to that as the damsire of his stakes winners Thunder Sea, Night Tornado and Tuscan Hills. SOUND THE TRUMPETS 13 m Bernardini – My Flag (Easy Goer) In foal to Cody's Wish. Visits GUN RUNNER A daughter of champion My Flag and granddaughter of champion Personal Ensign. It's a phenomenal Phipps family and we were delighted to buy into it in November, particularly through a mare like Sound The Trumpets whose first foal Miles D was a stakes winner and placed in the GI Travers Stakes. Gun Runner's affinity for mares carrying A.P. Indy is well known, including through Bernardini, and the mating also produces inbreeding to Quiet American, also found in five of Gun Runner's stakes winners including Grade I scorer Gun Pilot. TISA RIVER 12 m Equiano – Senta's Dream (Danehill) Visits CAMELOT A half-sister to Grade I winners Iridessa, Order Of Australia and Santa Barbara who has already added her value to our broodmare band by producing the stakes two-year-old Bolt Action and four-time winner Enchanting (Blue Point), a very fast filly for us who goes to Havana Grey. Tisa River has a very good-looking two-year-old colt by Camelot named National Anthem heading to John and Thady Gosden. Camelot has worked well with the family before through Santa Barbara and so it was a cross we were keen to repeat. Our Listed winner Dawn Of Hope (Mastercraftsman), the dam of four winners who is in foal to Blame, has returned to Europe from Stonereath and is also going to him. We have retained Dawn Of Hope's daughter Gaugamela (Sea The Stars) and she is one of three mares that we have going to Sands Of Mali alongside Juri (Invincible Spirit) and Najeeba (Dansili) ZOTILLA 15 m Zamindar – Louvain (Sinndar) Visits DARK ANGEL The dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Mangoustine and it made sense to go back to her sire Dark Angel. A half-sister to champion Flotilla from the successful Flanders family, Zotilla also has a yearling colt by Dubawi. Her daughter Sandirella (Too Darn Hot), who was placed on her only start, has also joined the band and goes to Baaeed. The post Blue Diamond Stud Branching Out With Kitasan Black In Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An eight-time stakes winner, primarily against California-bred competition, Grand Slam Smile enters off back-to-back stakes wins for trainer Sean McCarthy.View the full article

With the encouragement of Sergio de Sousa from Hidden Brook Farm and Carrie Brogden from Machmer Hall, a group of 17 Thoroughbred industry stakeholders have pledged to donate a total of $35,000 in prize money for a series of TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Classics at the Kentucky Horse Shows and Split Rock Jumping Tour in 2026. The 20 TAKE2 Classics, offering $1,750 in prize money each, will be held at 10 horse shows at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, between May and September. The TAKE2 Classics sponsors are: Adrienne Camire, Byron Nimrocks, Cary Bloodstock, De Sousa Stables, Eaton Sales, Elite Sales, First Finds Farm, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hidden Brook Farm, Julie Davies LLC, Notch Hill Farm, Okalee Farm, Peppermint Stables, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Valerie Mastromonaco and Woods Edge Farm. De Sousa, in addition to serving as managing partner at Hidden Brook, has competed in the TAKE2 Jumpers since 2022. “The TAKE2 League is the perfect next step for adoption and retraining programs for Thoroughbreds around the country,” he said. “It allows horses and riders to compete at high-level venues, giving continuation to their development. Hopefully, some will move up from TAKE2; if not, it is a great level of competition for amateur riders like me.” Brogden added, “I aspire to see demand for Thoroughbreds return to the robust levels experienced during the breed's peak in the 1970s and 1980s and with this kind of leadership and support, I truly believe it is possible. These sponsored classes are a huge step in the right direction!” The TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program offers prize money and year-end awards for League members competing in Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions at more than 500 horse shows across the country, including the $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter & Jumper Finals which have been held in Lexington each year since 2019. This season it will be held Sept. 20 at Split Rock Kentucky National, where the final have taken place since 2023. “It's heartening to see the commitment to the horses by the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry,” TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore said. “Aftercare and the smooth transition to second careers are causes we can all unite behind, and the Classic sponsors are staunch supporters.” The post Stakeholders Donate $35,000 in Prize Money for 2026 TAKE2 Thoroughbred Classics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Editor's note: Currently, Lasix is banned in two-year-old racing and in stakes races 48 hours before a race. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is approaching a critical vote regarding the use of race-day Lasix in the rest of racing. Per the original Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020, the drug is effectively banned under that same 48-hour rule, though most states currently operate under a three-year exemption put in place to allow time for studies to be conducted. That exemption is now coming to an end on May 22. A final decision on whether to extend that exemption, or to ban the medication entirely, will be subject to a vote of the nine-member HISA Board of Directors. In order to extend the exemption, the vote must be unanimous; otherwise, Lasix will be banned. The following letter to the HISA board was signed by trainers W.I. Mott, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, Jena Antonucci, and Ron Moquett; and Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, and provided to the TDN. The HISA Board faces a consequential choice: pursue reform grounded in science–or pursue symbolism that may ultimately harm the very horses they seek to protect. If a human Olympic runner bled into his lungs every time he sprinted, no one would call treatment “cheating.” They would call it medicine. Yet calls to eliminate furosemide, commonly known as Lasix, from horse racing are often framed as a necessary stand against “doping.” It is a powerful word. It signals integrity. It reassures the public. But when rhetoric outpaces veterinary reality, well-intentioned policy can produce unintended consequences. That disconnect is at the heart of the debate over furosemide and whether it should be eliminated from the sport entirely. Critics frame its use as a symbol of racing's excesses. Supporters see something far less sensational: a regulated veterinary tool used to manage Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), a condition that affects all equines and a significant percentage of racehorses during intense exertion. EIPH has been studied extensively, including by researchers affiliated with the American Association of Equine Practitioners. During high-speed racing, extreme cardiovascular pressures can cause delicate pulmonary capillaries to rupture. In mild cases, bleeding may be microscopic. In more serious cases, repeated episodes can lead to scarring, chronic inflammation, diminished lung function and, in rare instances, catastrophic outcomes. Horses are obligate nasal breathers. Unlike human athletes, they cannot open their mouths to increase airflow when exertion peaks. The physiological stress generated inside their chest at racing speed is extraordinary. This vulnerability is rooted in anatomy–not in training methods or competitive ambition. Furosemide's primary pharmacologic action is diuresis, reducing vascular pressure and mitigating the severity of pulmonary bleeding. It does not create speed. It does not manufacture stamina. It does not alter a horse's innate ability. It addresses a medical risk associated with extreme exertion preventing pulmonary bleeding that contributes to career longevity. The term “performance-enhancing drug” carries powerful emotional weight. But preventing internal lung bleeding is not the same as artificially enhancing speed. The science on subtle secondary performance effects remains debated. What is not debated is that furosemide reduces the severity of EIPH. Eliminating the medication will not eliminate the condition. It will remove a regulated therapeutic tool currently administered under veterinary oversight and strict protocols. Those of us who work in barns before sunrise understand that stewardship is not a slogan. It is daily accountability for the health and comfort of an animal that cannot advocate for itself. Preventative medicine is a cornerstone of humane care in every other athletic discipline–human or animal. As such, evidence-based policy is imperative, not symbolic prohibition for welfare of the horse. We recognize that public trust in racing is fragile. Integrity and transparency are essential. That is why we support uniform rules, clear reporting, rigorous veterinary supervision and continued scientific research. If future evidence yields safer or more effective alternatives, horsemen will adapt–as this industry has repeatedly done in pursuit of safety and reform. Policymaking decisions driven primarily by optics and not science risk undermining equine welfare in the name of appearances. The question before the Authority Board is not whether the sport must evolve–it must, it is and will continue to. The question is whether eliminating a treatment that reduces lung bleeding serves the horse or simply satisfies a narrative. Treating pulmonary hemorrhage under veterinary supervision is not doping. It is responsible care. And in any reform effort, the horse–not the headline–must come first. —W.I. Mott, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, Jena Antonucci, Ron Moquett, and Eric Hamelback The post Letter to the Editor: Horse Must Come First With Any Reform Efforts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) has announced the return of its Ask The Expert Series for 2026. This year's programme, which is set to take place during March and April, features a number of online seminars designed to provide attendees with insight and guidance on a range of areas including HR, health and safety, farm grants, latest updates on West Nile Virus, and pedigree management. The seminars listed below are free to attend but registration will be required. Wednesday, March 18, 3pm: HR & Health and Safety: Cost saving through compliance Wednesday, March 25, 7pm: Grants 101: What payments are available to you? Wednesday, April 1, 7pm: Not just the physical: Understanding pedigrees Wednesday April 15, 7pm: Emerging Viral Diseases To register, please email Hannah Marks on hmarks@itba.ie. The post ITBA Launches Online Ask The Expert Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Vazquez won his 500th race at Oaklawn Park Feb. 20, becoming just the 11th rider to reach that number of local wins. His total of 13 wins for the week vaulted him to the top of the Oaklawn jockey standings.View the full article

With the usual approach of welcoming a massive crowd for the Preakness Stakes (G1) not an option for this year as the event moves to Laurel Park, 1/ST Racing will market this year's race as an exclusive event when seats go on sale Feb. 25.View the full article