Wandering Eyes

Wathnan Racing's Hit Show—prepping for the March 28 Dubai World Cup (G1), a $12 million race he won in 2025—wins the $242,500 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. emerged with a third straight victory in the $150,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) as Miller Racing's Claret Beret posted a dominant victory in the 1 1/16-mile main track event Feb. 14 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' BELLA BALLERINA (f, 3, Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) outlasted a gusty Luv Your Neighbor (Constitution) to stay perfect in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds. The half-sister to another 'Rising Star' and 2023's GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), Bella Ballerina had things largely her own way on the front end as the 4-5 favorite, breaking cleanly and leading ahead of Luv Your Neighbor up the backstretch through fractions of :23.40 and :46.98. As the rest of the field began to fade from view, the top two fillies hit the quarter pole together for a stretch-length showdown. Luv Your Neighbor, second in her last three starts, looked poised to finally become the bride as she got the better of the favorite into the final sixteenth. But gutsy as ever while pinned along the rail, Bella Ballerina refused to yield and fought back in the last strides to get up in time under Tyler Gaffalione. The Rachel Alexandra was the first 50-point race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Bella Ballerina is also one of 11 fillies nominated to the Triple Crown series. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O/B-Godolphin; T-Brendan Walsh. She's a tough one! 'TDN Rising Star' BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense) extends her perfect record to 3-for-3 as she battles to victory in the GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes at @fairgroundsnola. The @brenpwalsh trainee earns 50 #KyOaks points. pic.twitter.com/IjoHde2lBr — TDN (@theTDN) February 14, 2026 The post Bella Ballerina Outlasts Luv Your Neighbor In Rachel Alexandra appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) sat a little closer to the front than usual and just got up to nail the wandering pacesetter 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Accelerize (Omaha Beach) by a head in Saturday's GIII Mineshaft S. at Fair Grounds. Time to Win (Not This Time) was third. The even-money favorite tracked in a three-wide third through an opening quarter in :23.53. Back a spot into fourth through a half mile :47.04, Hit Show was asked to quicken three furlongs from home. He ranged up three deep at the top of the stretch and came rolling down the lane. Accelerize veered out beneath John Velazquez in deep stretch, but Hit Show just kept on coming to punch his ticket back to Dubai. Hit Show stopped the timer for 1 1/16 miles in a sharp 1:42.49, just off the track record of 1:42.01, set by Olympiad in the 2022 edition of the Mineshaft. “He's a fighter,” jockey Florent Geroux said. “When he's in a fight, he'll give it his all the entire way. He's always been regarded as a nice horse. He was on the Kentucky Derby trail as a 3-year-old. That development has helped him continue to step his game up from his 2-year-old season to now.” “We knew coming into this race Accelerize was the horse to beat,” said Ricky Giannini, assistant trainer to Brad Cox. “He beat a nice one of ours, Just a Touch, in his last start. It was a dog fight the entire way. Hopefully, we can get lucky to get another Dubai World Cup win. We've had him since he was a 2-year-old when he was with Gary and Mary West. Now with Wathnan Racing, we really appreciate them keeping him in our care.” Hit Show made five subsequent starts after his upset in the desert, including wins in the West Virginia Governor's S. at Mountaineer and GIII Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland. He concluded his 2025 campaign with a runner-up finish in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 28. Pedigree Notes: Hit Show is one of 59 graded/group winners worldwide for Candy Ride (Arg). Broodmare sire Tapit is responsible for 68 graded/group winners worldwide. Gary and Mary West homebred Actress, a daughter of Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Milwaukee Appeal, was a two-time graded winner. She was bred to Candy Ride for the 2026 season. MINESHAFT S. PRESENTED BY HAGYARD-GIII, $242,500, Fair Grounds, 2-14, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:42.49, ft. 1–HIT SHOW, 122, h, 6, by Candy Ride (Arg) 1st Dam: Actress (MGSW, $545,150), by Tapit 2nd Dam: Milwaukee Appeal, by Milwaukee Brew 3rd Dam: Appealing Forum, by Open Forum O-Wathnan Racing; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $150,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-UAE, 24-12-2-1, $9,052,183. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Accelerize, 124, c, 4, Omaha Beach–Motion Emotion, by Take Charge Indy. ($400,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Repole Stable; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $50,000. 3–Time to Win, 118, r, 4, Not This Time–Nagambie, by Flatter. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($650,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Lawrence, William H., Big Easy Racing LLC, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Goodrich, Ali and Parkinson, Mark; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $25,000. Margins: HD, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 1.10, 2.10, 3.70. Also Ran: Duke of Duval, Stowaway, Moonlight. Scratched: Cadet Corps. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. HIT SHOW ($4.20) kept coming on the outside to get past Accelerize late to win the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at @Fairgroundsnola. The son of Candy Ride (@LanesEndFarms) is now 12 for 24 lifetime and now has over $9M in career earnings. @flothejock was up for @Bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/e4d2yi5M2O — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 14, 2026 The post Hit Show Gets Up in Mineshaft appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Still undefeated in two starts, FRENCH FICTION (f, 3, City of Light–Private Ensign, by A.P. Indy) showed her six-length maiden score was no fluke as she wired the field in Saturday's Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Racing in the midst of a downpour on a sloppy track, jockey Cristian Torres kept his filly's face clean, letting her sit up front all the way even after she was initially outrun at the break. Only longshot Evolution (Brethren) kept pace with her early into the far turn but was ultimately no match as French Friction hit the stretch alone and easily kicked clear of the mud-covered closers for another open-lengths victory. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-DJ Stable; B-Siena Farms LLC; T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $250,000 ylg' 24 KEESEP. The post City Of Light’s French Friction Stays Perfect In Dixie Belle Romp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Shop Time becomes the first winner for his sire Shoplifted in taking the non-black-type Jim's Orbit Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park Feb. 14 in his fourth career start.View the full article

By Mike Love Canterbury junior driver Riley Harrison is for a busy day at Motukarara. She has nine drives on the 12-race programme starting just after noon, many look to be excellent each-way value. Harrison, who works for Woodend Beach trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn, starts her day off in those colours with Amici ($6.50FF) in Race 1, (12:05pm) the NZ Bloodstock Airfreight Mobile Pace over 2000m. Drawn a little awkwardly, Harrison suggests though the mare is racing well, some luck will be required from their second line draw. “Hopefully we don’t get too far back on the markers and she should be a good chance. She’s been racing a lot better lately,” said Harrison. Rondo Trouble ($11.00FF) for trainer Michael Heenan is Harrison’s next assignment in Race 2, (12:30pm) the Peter Smith Memorial Trot over 2170m. Rondo Trouble is a 21-start maiden yet is a runner you need to cover in first four and trifecta combinations. “He has good manners, but things will need to go his way.” Harrison gave a decent push for her next steer, Unico Tessa ($6.50FF) for trainer Henderson Hunter in Race 3, (12:58pm) The Famous Grouse Mobile Pace over 2000m. The 19-start maiden has placed seven times and at her most recent placing Harrison drove and was given confidence that today will bring another strong performance. “She’s been racing really well without any luck. If we can get some luck, she’s a really good winning chance.” Lavros Segil ($12.00FF) for trainer Peter Shennan produced a stout second at her recent start, giving Harrison confidence the now 11-year-old mare could likely produce a similar effort in Race 5, (2:07pm) the Temps Bar/Mark Templeton Memorial Trot over 2170m. “Hopefully she’ll be running on at the finish again like her last start. She’s drawn to get one run at them.” In Race 6, (2:44pm) The Pint & Pony Racing & Sports Bar Mobile Pace over 2000m, Harrison drives Normie Stead ($3.50FF), who is now trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn. Harrison suggests they will learn a lot more about the two-race-winning six-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight today. “First start, no trials for us but his works been good at home. He’s got a nice draw and we are hoping for a good run, but we will learn a bit from him from the race.” In the race of the day, Race 7 (3:14pm) the Revell Douglas Memorial Series Junior Drivers (Mobile Pace) over 2000m, Harrison links up with the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained Bruntwood Brigade ($6.50FF), who is shooting for a hat-trick of wins. “I’ll look to drive him positively from the gate. He goes best when he’s leading.” In Race 8, (3:39pm) the Moore Walker Davey Searells Accountants Trot over 2170m, Jasprit Trouble ($8.50FF) for trainer Michael Heenan has been racing in terrific form, despite a blimp last time out at Methven, a run which Harrison says we can put a line through. “He’s a good sit-sprint horse. So we will be looking to drive him like that and he should be hard to beat.” Six-year-old mare Judine ($11.00FF) lines up in the mares’ race, Race 9 (4:09pm) the Check Out Lot 285 “Image” Mobile Pace over 2000m for trainers Robert & Jenna Dunn. “She’s very off and on, so it’s up to her and how she feels on the day.” Rounding out Harrison’s busy day is Country Gold ($19.00FF) for trainer Henderson Hunter in Race 10 (4:47pm) The Golden Mile Pace over 2170m. “He was really good last start and got held up on the last bend. Hopefully, we get another good run but with some luck this time.” View the full article

California shipper Imagination wins the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia, and Florida's Reef Runner takes the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T) there. View the full article

GRANDE (c, 4, Curlin–Journey Home {GSW, $225,997}, by War Front), unraced since a runner-up finish in last year's GII Wood Memorial in April and since the subject of a controversial day-before scratch in the GI Kentucky Derby, returned to the races Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole. Tabbed the 7-5 favorite racing with the addition of blinkers, Grande would have to deal with fellow comebacker Praetor (Into Mischief), himself unraced since a third in April's GIII Lexington Stakes for Chad Brown. Both drawn outside, the favorite opted to hit the front and was allowed to lead through easy fractions of :24.14 and :47.05. The real running began into the far turn as Praetor swung first, making an outside move to get on even terms with the leader, leaving the rest of the field in their wake and only X Y Prime (Vekoma) in the same zip code. Grande hit back at the quarter pole but Praetor was driving past him into the final furlong and the favorite looked beaten coming into the final sixteenth. But in a gutsy final effort, Grande surged back along the inside, finishing with a flourish to deny Praetor by three-quarters of a length in a thrilling conclusion. It was another 14 1/2 lengths back to X Y Prime. KatieRich Farms purchased Journey Home, with Grande in utero, for $650,000 at Keeneland November in 2021. The mare, herself a daughter of MGISP Soul Search (A.P. Indy), had already produced Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW, $361,803. While she has failed to produce a live foal since Grande in 2022, JourneyHome is due this season to Oscar Performance. Grande and @RajivMaragh battle back to deliver in race 7 for @PletcherRacing and @RepoleStable. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/1b61kKOh9Z — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) February 14, 2026 7th-Gulfstream, $71,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 2-14, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:36.13, ft, 3/4 length. GRANDE (c, 4, Curlin–Journey Home {GSW, $225,997}, by War Front) Sales History: $300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $270,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Repole Stable; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Grande Back To Winning Ways In Thrilling Gulfstream Duel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-TAM, $55k, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 2:49 p.m. ET HUMILITY (Justify) fetched $400,000 as a short yearling at the 2024 Keeneland January Sale and returned for that auction house's September Sale to bring $1 million from the partnership of CHC, Maverick Racing and Siena Racing. A half-brother to a pair of black-type runners, the May 20 foal is out of a half-sister to Negligee (Northern Afleet), champion of her generation in Canada in 2009 and winner of that year's GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes. Peter Brant's Arizona Territory (Tapit) is a homebred son of Cafe Americano (Medaglia d'Oro), a $625,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase whose victory in the 2019 GIII Pucker Up Stakes completed a Chad Brown sweep of the four graded events on Arlington Million Day (Sistercharlie {Ire}, Beverly D. S.; Valid Point, Secretariat S.; Bricks and Mortar, Arlington Million). Already the dam of the stakes-placed Lavender Disaster (Into Mischief), Cafe Americano is a daughter of two-time Sovereign Award and three-time graded winner Roxy Gap (Indian Charlie), whose four additional winners includes MGSP Angelou (Curlin) Glen Hill Farm's Third Coast (Uncle Mo) is the fifth starter for the outfit's talented Marketing Mix (Medaglia d'Oro), a two-time Grade I winner in California and runner-up in the 2009 GI Breeders” Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. The bay gelding is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Global Brand (War Front). TJCIS PPs The post Sunday Insights: Million-Dollar Justify Colt Debuts On the Grass at Tampa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

She had a lone start to her name when she came into this contest, but Galinda (Good Magic) proved defying gravity wasn't far from her capabilities as she floated home to win the East View Stakes. Entering into this black-type debut, the daughter of Good Magic was most recently seen breaking her maiden at first-asking Jan. 10 at this venue. In a duel nearly from the jump, she went wide for most of the trip and gamely held off a fresh challenger late to score by three-quarters of a length. That contest has since yielded a next-out winner. The 6-5 favorite against this short field, with Pinky Brier (McKinzie) going off the second choice at $1.29 odds to her $1.22, Galinda went right to head of affairs after the jump and posted a comfortable opening split of :23.64. Enjoying a ground saving trip into the bend after a half-mile in :47.38, her advantage over her rivals was growing as she spun into the lane. By the time they hit the final furlong, there was an insurmountable margin back to Rina's Revenge (Yaupon) in second, who had overtaken Victory Hall (Independence Hall) as that one battled to hold third. The final margin was 9 1/4 lengths as Galina coasted in with ears pricked. After the race, 'dazzling' was the word of the day as her connections could not sing her praises loud enough. Trainer Miguel Clement said they'd thought very highly of Galinda from the first day, saying, “She was incredibly impressive. She dazzled from day one and we were very high on the filly from the get-go. She continues to deliver, and we're very happy. She's for Waterville [Lake Stables, owner] who are big time breeders, so she'll be a fun addition for their broodmare band someday.” “The next race in New York [Maddie May, Mar. 7] is a bit quick back, but I do like the fact that it's one turn,” Clement said. “The next one in early April [GIII Gazelle, Apr. 4] is two turns, which I don't love. My other option is to bring her to Florida, but that's also two turns.” “I love the idea of stretching her further but still sticking with one turn. I think the one we consider strongly is the Virginia Oaks [1 1/16-miles, Mar. 14 at Colonial Downs]. It's one turn, but still stretching her. I don't know how distance-limited she is, to be frank, but we shall see. She's a good filly.” GALINDA ($4.44) floats across the track as she dominates in the $135,000 East View Stakes at Aqueduct with Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle for trainer @miguelmclement and owner Waterville Lake Stables. Bet Aqueduct https://t.co/0T8XCoKbNV pic.twitter.com/XRNrKvl2J4 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 14, 2026 When Waterville Lake Stables's Tim Tully was asked about the importance of the New York-bred program, the owner wasn't shy in his appraisal, saying, “For the partnership, it has been [very important] for the past 15 years…we think the New York breeding program is great and to come in to our second start and win a stakes race like this speaks to the program. A $135,000 purse is pretty strong.” Galinda is the second winner to the races for Super Humor behind winning eldest brother Lifting (Curlin), but the first to garner a stakes victory. The mare, herself a half-sister to a fleet of stakes horses on the New York circuit, has a yearling filly by Munnings to her credit and is due to Essential Quality for 2026. The aforementioned half-siblings include MSW & GSP Funny Guy (Big Brown) as well as SW & GSP Funny How (Overanalyze). One of the mare's winning half-sisters is Angel Food (Sidney's Candy), the mother of SP Marion Grace (Uptowncharlybrown). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. EAST VIEW S., $130,950, Aqueduct, 2-14, (S), 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.97, ft. 1–GALINDA, 119, f, 3, by Good Magic 1st Dam: Super Humor (SW, $169,288), by Super Saver 2nd Dam: Heavenly Humor, by Distorted Humor 3rd Dam: Call From Heaven, by Phone Trick ($120,000 Ylg '24 SARAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Waterville Lake Stables; B-Daniel J Burke & Kathleen Burke Schweizer (NY); T-Miguel Clement; J-Jaime Rodriguez. $74,250. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $115,500. 2–Rina's Revenge, 121, f, 3, Yaupon–Mine as Well, by Mineshaft. ($55,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '24 SARAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables; B-TLC Thoroughbreds LLC (NY); T-Kenneth McPeek. $27,000. 3–Victory Hall, 123, f, 3, Independence Hall–Into Victory, by Into Mischief. ($30,000 Wlg '23 FTNMIX; $30,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $45,000 RNA 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Twin Sports Racing, Cypresshead Racing, LLC and Let's Go Racing; B-Stonegate Stables LLC & Everything's Cricket Racing (NY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $16,200. Margins: 9 1/4, 2, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.22, 4.45, 9.37. Also Ran: Purple Divine, Pinky Brier. Scratched: Blue Note. The post ‘The Good’ Indeed: Galinda Dazzles in Aqueduct’s East View appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just when the Saudi Derby (G3) looked like a showdown between Japan and the United States, local boy Al Haram steals the show.View the full article

Japanese superstar Forever Young repeats in the world's richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), defeating American Nysos Feb. 14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.View the full article

The 2026 renewal of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup almost by definition lacked the tension and drama of the 2025 running, where FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) (h, 5, Real Steel {Jpn}–Forever Darling, by Congrats) and Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) threw down in a race for the ages. But at the end of the 1800-metres under the Saturday night lights at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Forever Young called upon the guts and determination which have defined his career and turned back a very game effort from 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) to become the first repeat winner of the event. The victory earns the entire the right to defend his championship in this year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic as a Breeders' Cup Challenge race, even as connections hinted that a more difficult journey from Japan to Central Kentucky might put pay to the idea. Off as the prohibitive 35-100 chalk making his first appearance since besting his relative Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the Classic at Del Mar Nov. 1, making history as the first Japanese winner of America's richest race, Forever Young made some more history in Riyadh. Off to a fair beginning from gate six, Forever Young was in and amongst rivals as late call-up Thundersquall (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made the running from Nysos, who tracked three off the inside for Flavien Prat. In a bit of a sticky situation when Banishing (Ghostzapper) tightened things up on him at the rail, Forever Young was always patiently handled by Ryusei Sakai and when Adel Alfouraidi left the fence open off the final corner, it was 'go' time. Sakai sent Forever Young through at the inside and he quickened up better than Nysos, putting about a length on him at the 200-metre peg. But when all was said as done, Forever Young never truly looked like losing as Nysos plugged away gamely to be a clear second. Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) was a distant third ahead of Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) in fourth. Sales history: $720,603 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL. Lifetime Record: 14-11-0-3, $29,358,590. O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Racing; T-Yoshito Yahagi The post Forever Young Outguns Nysos To Repeat In Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just when the Saudi Derby looked like a showdown between Japan and the United States, local boy Al Haram steals the show.View the full article