Wandering Eyes

Dave The King will look for his crowning glory when he goes for back-to-back wins in the Group One HKJC Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville on Sunday. The Mike and Mathew De Kock-trained star is unbeaten in two starts this campaign, latterly winning the Group One Gold Challenge (1,600m) at Greyville in June. The four-year-old was a comfortable winner of this race 12 months ago, cruising clear on his way to becoming South African Horse of the Year. The father and son combination have their runner...View the full article

By Michael Guerin Andrew Stuart and Robbie Close were the kings of the giant killers at Addington on Friday. The trainer and driver combined to win two races at a best fixed odds double price of 275-1 as Moonlite Blood and Here Comes Marty downed their more favoured rivals to give Stuart a hard to come by Friday night double. It was the theme of the night as smaller stables won most of the races, the exception being Team Telfer who trained a double to move to 101 wins for the season. But around them it was Margo Nyhan, Bruce Negus, Jonny Cox, Kevin Fairburn, Ross Houghton and Kyle Cameron training the winners, with Cameron’s super impressive What The Dragon the only favourite to win for the entire Winter Rewards racenight. It was Stuart who took the honours though as Moonlite Blood paced a 1:56.6 mile rate to remain unbeaten this campaign beating a Dalgety and a Telfer horse. “He is a really nice horse and hasn’t finished yet,” says Stuart, who usually only has 20 or less horses in work. “Everybody knows it was a special win for us here last time but winning on a Friday night is a decent field is a level higher again. “He has a great group of owners, including blokes like Wheels (legendary galloping trainer John Wheeler) and Carey Hobbs (former chief executive Taranaki Racing) and they are having a whale of a time. “One guy has been in horses his whole adult life and said that was the biggest buzz he had ever had.” Stuart’s second winner Here Comes Marty snuck through the passing lane to win in a blanket finish and earned himself a short spell. “Even though he won he is better than that and I think he should have won easier so he can have a break.” Stuart and Close weren’t the only double winners to taunt punters as Sheree Tomlinson got her drives on Mouton Cadet ($14) and Got You Covered ($7) spot on to score a back to back driving double. Got You Covered used early manners and late toughness to wear down hot favourite Slots in the main handicap pace, his first win since joining Kevin Fairbairn three starts ago. Almighty won his Winter Rewards Trot for Cox and owner/breeder Jenny Butt while Kotare Rimu continued a great start to the juvenile season for Houghton with Bronson Munro doing the driving. But the win that will stick in the mind the longest and probably be repeated the most was that of What The Dragon, who trailed and sprinted like a trotter who is going to be a force in summer and not just getting winter rewards for trainer Kyle Cameron. View the full article

By Michael Guerin One race drive and one phone call was all it took for Move It Lou to find a new home with Tony Herlihy. But the champion horseman was placing the credit for the juvenile’s win at Alexandra Park on Friday with former trainers Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson. Herlihy drove Move It Lou in his first start four weeks ago and liked what he felt as the son of Sweet Lou finished second. He asked Hollis and Robertson, who also owned the gelding, whether he was for sale and is always the case with them the answer was “yes.” Herlihy’s first call was to Canadian owner Mike Tanev, who was quick to add another horse to his Down Under team and judging by how he won on Friday night it was money well spent. “Logan and Shane come up with a good juvenile or two every season, they have a great record finding young horses,” says Herlihy. “They owned the horse so they got good money and Mike gets a really nice horse.” Herlihy has known Tanev for years and previously sold him other horses but is training this one himself with an eye on an early tilt at a Sires’ Stakes heat. “That is the aim, the heat up here on September 5,” says Herlhy, with that Alexandra Park meeting to host juvenile Sires’ Stakes heat for the girls. Move It Lou started a big 30 minutes for Herlihy as he trained Regal Girl to win the $34,000 TAB Racing Club Metro Trot in the very next race. The beautifully-bred mare went past $100,000 in career earnings as she sprinted clear of Crackerjack and Bravehearthighlander. She is owned by Herlihy’s wife Suzanne along with their close friends and neighbours John and Trish Green, the Green’s son James and Trish’s sister Colleen Smith. “She has always been a nice mare but just took some time to strengthen up,” explains Herlihy. “She can now handle 2700m as we saw tonight and she is doing a really good job.” The night’s other Metro Final, of the pacers, went to a late-surging Leo Lincoln after a lovely Peter Ferguson up the passing to beat a very brave You Little Beauty. The winner broke 2:40 for the mobile 2200m, a big effort on a cold winter night, and is part owned by co-trainer Ray Green. Also impressive was Matty A in the main trot who overcame a 45m handicap to trot 3:28.6, a mid-race move from driver Andre Poutama the winning of the race. The big son of Dream Vacation looks stronger this prep for trainer Sheryl Wigg and with the open class ranks lacking great depth he wouldn’t look out of place in some of the bigger races. View the full article

Hardy three-year-old Stylish Secret will ensure trainer Mick Nolan can savour his 70th birthday celebrations after a strong win in the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield. The diminutive son of Sweet Orange has taken his connections on an enjoyable ride with his three victories to date, with Saturday’s triumph the gelding’s first since landing the Derby Trial last spring. Ridden by Craig Williams, Stylish Secret came from just beyond the speed to run down Verona Rupes. From 15 starts, Stylish Secret has won on three occasions and is twice placed, advancing his career earnings to A$260,725. A skilled horseman with years of experience as Mick Price’s right-hand man, Nolan relaunched his training career and secured stables at Mornington a couple of years ago. “My first runners I had at Moone Valley, Flemington and Sandown all won, and I have been cranky that I have had to wait four starts for a win at Caulfield, but I have got the whole four now,” Nolan joked. “It’s unbelievable. We have a great bunch of owners. it’s what racing is all about, a cheap horse, look at these people you couldn’t get them any happier could you. “I was nervous because I thought it was going to be the end (of preparation run), but he is such a tough little horse, he’s only 420kg and 15 hands, and he just cops the work, he is an amazing horse.” Nolan praised the ride by Craig Williams and said he was looking forward to celebrating tomorrow by ‘Drinking about 10 stubbies too many’. “All the owners are going to be there and you only get to 70 once in your life, so it will be good fun,” he said. Stylish Secret was purchased in New Zealand by part-owner Helen Thomas off Gavelhouse.com for just $2,300 as a weanling. A highly-acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and author, Thomas was on the hunt for a staying type and sought the advice of long-time friend, the late Deane Lester, one of Australia’s most respected form students. “Deane (Lester) did suggest that I have a look on Gavelhouse because it is a really great website to find horses, particularly broodmares and young horses,” Thomas said. “I jumped on and lot number one was this happy, little horse – he looked like a bit of a ragamuffin as a weanling. “He was by Sweet Orange out of a Savabeel mare called Scarlett Secret and bred and raised at Windsor Park Stud. “Daqiansweet Junior by Sweet Orange was doing really well at the time, and I thought, here’s a horse that is certainly bred to be a middle-distance horse, if not a fully-fledged stayer and wouldn’t it be good to grow him up and have a bit of a fun with him. “A month or two after I bought him, his half-brother won a trial and was sold to Australia and that’s Unseen Ruler (winner of six races).” View the full article

Enigmatic galloper Diamond Jak exacted the perfect revenge when he came with a perfectly timed run to take out Saturday’s feature flat race at Te Rapa, the Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2100m) after being narrowly denied success in the 2024 version of the event. The Mark Brosnan-trained rising seven-year-old had beaten narrowly by Saturday’s race rival Hula Beat in a stirring finish in 2024 and brought good form to the 2025 edition although this was tempered by his knack of missing the jump in his races and setting himself an impossible task on most occasions. Rider Samatha Collett was wide awake to those habits as she got him away on terms on Saturday and had him travelling sweetly towards the rear but well within striking distance. Collett set him alight approaching the home turn and he loomed into contention outside topweight Drop Of Something (60kgs) with 300m to run. That pair set down to fight out a driving finish which saw Diamond Jak thrust his head in front to defeat Drop Of Something at the winning post, with Quick Fire and Arjay’s Flight close-up behind the first two. Brosnan cut a contented figure when questioned after the race. I’m very happy as he should have won the race last year, so I’m very grateful to get it today,” Brosnan said. “He is a big horse but not the biggest frame as he doesn’t eat much. “It was also a very good ride by Sam.” Collett had noted before the race her biggest goal was to get the horse away from the starting gates with the rest of the field and was relieved she had done that. “He has definitely hopped (out) a bit better, but in saying that I was still a long way back,” she said. “Plan B was to let him get through his gears and at the half mile he was tracking up nicely on a speed that had been quite genuine. “He was still making hard work of it on the corner and I had covered more ground than Christopher Columbus, so I was pleased he was so fit. “Mark has done a great job with him and he was unlucky not to win last year. He was the fittest and best horse here today.” The six-year-old son of Jakkalberry has now won five of his 31 starts and over $194,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Race favourite Force Of Nature made it five wins from five starts at Te Rapa when he strolled home in the Woods Contracting 1300 (1300m) on Saturday. Bred and raced by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, the son of Savabeel has continued to improve since breaking his maiden status back in October last year and is unbeaten in three starts after resuming from a summer spell with a win in rating 75 company in April followed by his inaugural open handicap success in early May. Trainer Andrew Forsman gave his emerging star another short break and he returned to action with a vengeance, defeating Marlborough Bay and Dusty Road with ease. Senior rider Michael McNab had his mount perfectly situated in midfield before angling him to the outer in the home straight. Force Of Nature bounded clear at the 200m with McNab easing him to the line nearly two lengths clear of Marlborough Bay, Dusty Road and Martell who all chased gamely but to no avail. Rider was delighted to see Force Of Nature continue on his winning way and has high hopes that success can be maintained. “That was a very good run in a nice field,” Rider said. “I know Andrew thinks a lot of him and we all hope he can continue his development to get him up to black type level. “Andrew has always said he has heaps of ability but it has taken some time for him to mature and he has more growing up to do. “They have taken him along quietly and he is displaying the benefit of that. Personally, I think he could get up to a mile and that will open up some exciting stakes opportunities for him.” Force of Nature is out of the O’Reilly mare Elusive Nature (NZ) and is the younger brother of Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy winner (1200m) Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel)who also ran 4th in the 2023 Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) behind Levante (NZ) (Proisir). He has now won five of his nine starts and just under $124,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

A nasty fall that extinguished the chances of four of the nine runners in the Property Brokers Taumarunui 3YO (1400) at Te Rapa overshadowed a fine victory by talented filly Ortega. The race changed in dramatic fashion when Illuminated Miss clipped the heels of race favourite Ribkraka as that runner crossed to the lead at the 1000m mark. The subsequent chain effect saw Gina Rosa, Gracetheace and I Park all hit the deck leaving the rest of the field to continue on. The Stephen Marsh-prepared Ortega kept in touch with Ribkraka and became his only danger as she challenged him on the outer in the home straight for apprentice Jack Taplin and got in a decisive stride right on the line to head him for the victory. “She was very good and very tough today,” Marsh said. “She was a while in between runs last time and got taken on at Rotorua which caused her downfall. We wanted to back her up and she showed the benefit of that decision today. “Young Jack Taplin couldn’t believe how she stayed on her feet as he said she had to hurdle one of the fallen runners. “It was very nice to get the win but you never want to see a fall like that as that is not what racing is all about and I just hope everyone involved is okay. Marsh will now take time to reassess his next moves with Ortega but believes she is in the right form to carry on over the next few months. “She probably doesn’t really like that deep ground now and enjoyed the Te Rapa surface which is never like a bog winter track,” he said. “With her going so well now and being rock hard fit I can see her picking up some good money over the next few months as she gets footing to suit.” Raced by Marsh, Dylan Johnson and American-based stable client Dennis Foster, Ortega is a daughter of Reliable Man and out of the stakes placed Rip Van Winkle mare Rayas. She has now won three of her 12 starts while she also finished third in the 2024 Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The four jockeys in the fall, Hayley Hassman, Rihaan Goyaram, Ashlee Strawbridge and Ace Lawson-Carroll, were transferred to Waikato Hospital by ambulance immediately after the race with a variety of injuries, although all were said to be conscious and speaking to Ambulance personnel. The four horses also escaped serious injury although all had scrapes, bumps and scratches for their efforts. A post-race inquiry saw Ribkraka disqualified from his second placing for causing serious interference while the meeting was set back one race to allow for the four riders to depart the track. View the full article

Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The Lisa Latta-trained daughter of Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain had scored handsomely in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at the venue last month with Bruno Queiroz in the saddle and the visiting Brazilian jockey made it three victories from three rides on the filly with another well-judged effort on Saturday. Queiroz had the filly settled nicely in midfield against the running rail early on before improving to sit just behind the pacemaker Spandeedo approaching the home turn. There was plenty of jostling between Spandeedo and several runners on his outer at that point, however Queiroz kept his mount hard against the fence to avoid any interference as Platinum Diamond cornered brilliantly and shot clear. Despite being hotly challenged in the closing stages by Luminance and Latta’s second runner Brutiful Lass, Platinum Diamond was too tough as she held a margin of just on a length ahead of her rivals at the winning post. “I was a little bit worried when there was a kerfuffle turning in but I think hard against the rail is as good as getting out wide,” Latta said. “Bruno got her in a good part of the track and that helped. She has a summer type coat already but she keeps herself well and she is very exciting. “I don’t think she is just a wet tracker so we’re going to give her two or three weeks as a freshener and she is going to the paddock at a good time.” Queiroz was impressed with how his mount had performed. “She is a very very good horse and such a lovely type,” he said. “I was very confident as she travelled well and in the last 600m she came through on the inside and was very happy to be there.” Lisa Latta Racing Stables paid $90,000 to buy Platinum Diamond from breeders Beaufort Downs during the Book 2 Sale at Karaka in 2024. The filly has now had four starts for three wins and $112,975 in stakes. View the full article

The win was a triumph for Louisiana-breds as owners Valene Farms, rider Brian Hernandez Jr., and Smoken Wicked all hail from the Pelican State.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In the first race of her career Friday, Time to Dream (Not This Time) showed that she could very well have been given a fitting name. After overcoming trouble under jockey Jose Ortiz, the Repole Stable bay stormed from off the pace in the stretch to win the seventh race, a $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds by 2 1/4 lengths over pacesetter Maiora (Speightstown). Time to Dream completed the one mile on the inner turf course in 1:36.58 and paid $9.90 to win. Pan Pan (Audible) was another half-length back in third. Bred in Kentucky by Maggie Gleseke, the daughter of the Street Sense mare Wild Silk drew the attention of owner Mike Repole and his staff at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Nearly a year later, she debuted in style. “Obviously, a beautiful yearling,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “Mike reached out and gave $750,000 so she is one that we had high hopes for coming in. She's a very professional filly and trained really well leading into this. We were optimistic, but it's great to see her perform to where we thought she might be capable of.” Time to Dream is a half-sister to Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance), a three-time graded stakes winner on dirt. Yet, Time to Dream started her career on turf. “When we were first up here in the spring, the Oklahoma track was pretty deep and demanding, and it seemed like we were having some horses that were struggling with it a little bit,” Pletcher said. “She was not one of them, but we did work her one time on the turf. Not This Time is such a versatile stallion. It seems like he really gets runners that do just about anything. We thought she really breezed well on the turf and felt like she didn't want to rush in a maiden dirt race. We were just kind of waiting for this.” The half-mile turf work in :50.85 took place on the June 27 and put her on course for a race on the grass. Pletcher smiled at the obvious next question. “Today, she's a turf horse,” he said, “but we wouldn't rule out at some point trying the dirt.” Pletcher said Time to Dream might be a candidate for the 1 1/16th miles P.G. Johnson Stakes on turf on Aug. 27. Time to Dream was Pletcher's third winner of the meet in the top-level 2-year-old maiden special weight races. He is 3-2-1 from 11 starts. Making her second career start, Maiora quickly took command of the race under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario and led the field of eight through comfortable opening split times of :24.25 and :48.96. At the top of the stretch she extended her advantage to three lengths after covering six furlongs in 1:13.11 and looked like she would secure the victory for owners Susie and Ed Orr. Time to Dream was sitting in a stalking position going up the backstretch, but found trouble near the three-eighths pole and Ortiz had to check off the heels of Pan Pan. Moments later, he had to carefully avoid the heels of Repole stablemate Flighttown (Practical Joke) on the turn. “She broke great and put me into a good spot,” Ortiz said. “At the second turn, I kind of hit a little bit of traffic. She backed up a little, and then she re-broke again. It was very impressive. It was nice.” Pletcher's two horses were close to each other when Ortiz had to check. “She was making some good progress and then it looked like she kind of had to, not slam on the brakes, but at least kind of put it on hold for a few strides a couple of times,” Pletcher said. “But it's impressive to see her regroup and then deliver another big run. Ortiz took Time to Dream wide coming off the turn and she accelerated quickly to put herself into contention. She caught Maiora near the sixteenth pole and sped away. The post New ‘Rising Star’ Time To Dream To Stick To Turf For Now For Pletcher And Repole appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some 24 hours after he was in a frightening spill at Colonial Downs and had to be airlifted to the hospital, jockey Tyler Conner made noticeable progress Friday and was able to take a few steps in the critical care unit at Virginia Commonwealth Hospital in Richmond. “The doctors are all very optimistic that he will make a full recovery,” said his father, John Conner. “They said it could take a month, it could take a year. We'll know a lot more in a few days.” Conner sustained a C1 fracture and broken nose following a spill in the seventh race July 24 at Colonial Downs. The remainder of the card was canceled after the incident. Conner was aboard Stanza (Great Notion), who clipped heels and unseated the 31-year-old jockey. He remained conscious following the spill. “It's 24 hours later and he walked around the critical care unit today,” Conner said. “And he did like three squats. The left arm is still a struggle for him. He can use it. But he looks like he was in a train wreck. They took X-rays today and there was nothing new. He was walking and I was crying this morning.” Conner said that his son refused to take the powerful drug oxycontin that was offered to him and instead relied on Tylenol to deal with the pain. “They say it will get better with time,” Conner said. “He refuses the serious painkillers. He wouldn't take the oxycontin they offered him last night before he went to sleep. He's just taking Tylenol. They also have him on Gabapentin, which is supposed to be good for the inflammationC1 fracture. He said when he initially got in the ambulance he couldn't move anything. Twenty-four hours later he can move his limbs and is doing well.” When asked if his son felt lucky to be alive, Conner said: “I guess it is a matter of inches. It could have gone one way or the other, so, yes, he is lucky to be alive. He doesn't go cheap when it comes to the helmets and the vests. The helmet did its job.” While Conner expects that his son will return to riding, he said nothing is certain. “Whether he rides again, I don't know,” he said. “We'll see where that goes. I think he'll be ok. My belief is he will ride again because I know he won't want to go out that way. And he's only 31. We'll just see how the progression goes. It's day-to-day, but it looks very good at this point for him. He understands it is part of the business. He's been racing motorcycles for 10 years, so he knows you can always leave in an ambulance.” The post Jockey Tyler Conner on the Mend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – So far, trainer Joe Sharp has done little wrong at the Thoroughbred meet at Saratoga. If you've been following along, you know he has won six races with his first 15 starters. You might not know that he is also doing ok across the street at the harness track. Sharp has been moonlighting as a harness owner at night–along with former jockey Taylor Rice, the wife of jockey Jose Ortiz. They own a pair of pacers named Virgin Honor and Legal Bettor and they will both race Saturday night. They got involved in the sulky business a year ago. Legal Bettor will run in the second race and Virgin Honor will contest the fourth. Both will be driven by veteran Wally Hennessey, who just won his 12,000th career race earlier this week. He drove Virgin Honor to victory last Saturday night. “It really is a lot of fun,” Sharp said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “This is sheer entertainment, and I have learned a lot. That's why I like it so much because I can learn a lot about a different industry. That is what makes it so intriguing for me and Taylor and Jose.” Sharp laughed when asked if he was a tough owner. “Last year I might have been a little bit tough, but I have a lot of faith in my trainer (Jaymes McAssey) and I am very good at letting him do his thing. But we are in the mindset that we want to win. We run them wherever they can win.” Sharp, 40, is all in on the harness thing. Every morning, after training his own string at Saratoga, he heads over to the harness track and jogs a few horses. “They usually hold one or two for me to jog,” he said. “It's a lot of fun.” As far as changing careers, that isn't happening. His wife, former jockey Rosie Napravnik, just rolls her eyes when that subject came up. Sharp is having plenty of fun so far at Saratoga as his horses have been showing up for him. He is just two wins away from career win No. 1,000. “Only because you guys remind me of it all the time,” Sharp said with a smile when asked if he thinks about the milestone. “Honestly, I don't think about it much. I'm very proud of our team and getting to that point does not weigh on me at all.” As far as the sizzling start goes, he'll take it. Last year's Saratoga meet saw him win five times in 49 starts. “The right races went for us early in the meet,” he said. “We are grateful how everything has been clicking and we have a lot of horses yet to run. Some of the horses that have already won might start, some might not. It's important for me up here. The track is great, the atmosphere is great, and the weather is fantastic.” And if Sharp wasn't busy enough, he still finds time to run between eight and 10 miles four or five times a week. “I went 11 the other day,” he said, “that's because I got lost!” La Cara, Nitrogen Work Towards Alabama Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said he has never had two quality 3-year-old fillies like these. He is counting down the days when he will run La Cara (Street Sense) and Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI, $600,000 Alabama Stakes on Aug 16. La Cara working Friday | Sarah Andrew Both fillies worked on the main track at Saratoga Friday morning. La Cara, who missed last weekend's GI Coaching Club American Oaks because the barn she was in was under quarantine, went five furlongs in :59.76 (1/16) with regular exercise rider Mary Rose Hitt. Casse said that while under quarantine, La Cara missed three days of training. “I don't think I have worked her five-eighths in a long time,” Casse said outside his barn on the main track. “I am trying to put some air into her since we didn't get to run.” The last time La Cara worked five furlongs was Mar. 21 at Palm Meadows in Florida. Since then, she has had six, four-furlong works before Friday. La Cara, owned by Tracy Farmer, has three wins in five starts this year, including a pair of Grade I races. In her latest, she won the GI Acorn at Saratoga on June 6. D J Stable LLC's Nitrogen has started six times this year, five of them on grass. In her lone try on dirt, Nitrogen won the off-the-turf GIII Wonder Again by 17 lengths over two grass horses. Friday, she worked four furlongs in company and was timed in :48.02 (8/60). “She worked phenomenal,” Casse said. While Casse is excited about his two fillies heading to the Alabama, he is also facing the fact that he will not be attending the King's Plate at Woodbine. That is Canada's oldest Thoroughbred horse race and the oldest continuously run race in North America. Casse plans on having a horse, maybe two, in the King's Plate, a race he has won three times. “I can't ever remember missing one,” Casse said, “but the Alabama is the same day, and I have never had two fillies in the Alabama.” Bauer's Barn Has Taken Some Hits Last summer, trainer Phil Bauer had some high hopes for a pair of young horses. Jonathan's Way (Vekoma), a 2-year-old colt, and Two Sharp (Twirling Candy), a 2-year-old filly, had shown plenty of promise. Fast forward a year and Bauer doesn't have either of them in his barn. He just hopes they can return next season. Phil Bauer | Sarah Andrew “We have been annihilated with depression,” Bauer said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. Here' why. Start with Jonathan's Way, owned by Richard Rigney's Rigney Racing LLC. After breaking his maiden at Saratoga by 4 1/4 lengths last summer, he took a hike up in class and won the GIII Iroquois Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. After a lackluster seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1, he rebounded with a second in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Then, nothing. “He had an infection and then he had colitis,” Bauer said. “He looked like an emaciated horse. It was awful. He is doing ok now.” Bauer said Jonathan's Way is back home on the farm. He'll get the rest of the year off. Two Sharp, also owned by Rigney, won three of four starts last year, including the GIII Chilukki Stakes at Churchill. In her one race this year, Two Sharp won the GIII Winning Colors by 3 1/2 lengths. She hasn't been seen since. Bauer said Two Sharp has had a soft tissue issue and is also at the farm. “She is crazy good, that filly,” Bauer said. “Probably the best horse I ever had. She is just naturally fast and doesn't stop; she is one that does not get tired.” All Bauer can do now is wait and see if both horses can get back to the races as 4-year-olds. “That is the plan,” he said. “It's not like they are retired. They are turned out and we'll reevaluate them and try again. You are always hopeful, but you can't get too high on them, because they will just break your heart.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Sharp Spa Start For Always On the Go Trainer Sharp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Louisiana-bred SMOKEN WICKED (c, 3, Bobby's Wicked One–Street Smoke, by Street Boss) turned the tables on Macho Music (Maclean's Music) Friday to win the GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga going away. Second last out in the Maxfield Stakes at Churchill, the Dallas Stewart runner ran sixth in the GII Pat Day Mile behind Macho Music two back on the Derby undercard. Pressing that rival on the front from the first jump, it was Smoken Wicked at odds of 5-2 who had the most to say late as the 8-5 favorite began to fade along the rail into the stretch. Ridden out by Brian Hernandez, Jr., he led in Gunmetal (Gun Runner) while geared down late in a final time of 1:15.64. O-Valene Farms LLC; B-Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson; T-Dallas Stewart. Sales History: $38,000 ylg '23 BSLY&M. Smoken Wicked (5-2) ships in from Ky for @DallasStewart3 and wins G2 Amsterdam by 5 3/4 lengths. @b_hernandezjr on board. 3-6-5-1 pic.twitter.com/wSg5gUgYx7 — Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) July 25, 2025 The post Smoken Wicked Impressive In Amsterdam Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Five of the eight starters have competed in previous runnings of the Eddie Read, including 2023 winner Gold Phoenix.View the full article

Morning-line favorites Bellezza and La Mehana, plus longshot Sacaya, give trainer Miguel Clement three opportunities to win the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) July 27 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Thistledown Racino's firing this week of track superintendent Sean Wright followed reports of alleged safety issues with the track's one-mile dirt surface that led to lost days of training and racing. There have also been multiple racing and training equine fatalities since the meet began Apr. 21. The ongoing autopsy on these events has raised compliance question marks (both at Thistledown and nationally) over a key component of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's (HISA) racetrack safety program. Under this program, tracks are required when operating a meet to submit a set of measurements daily made at all quarter-mile markers at distances of five feet and 15 feet from the inside rail. This includes moisture content and, for dirt and synthetic tracks specifically, cushion depth. Officials say these timely measurements are necessary to help identify on a day-to-day basis any potential equine safety concerns with the track surface. “If we see any problems at a track—catastrophic injuries, problems with soreness on the horses—we should be able to provide to the regulatory vets and HISA real-time data either to identify problems with the tracks or rule out any issues with the tracks,” said Mick Peterson, director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) in Kentucky, to which these measurements are to be submitted. According to HISA, there have been windows since Apr. 21 when Thistledown failed to file these daily reports. While this track surface data was being collected, it was “not consistently manually uploaded to the system,” wrote HISA's senior communications manager Mackenzie Kirker-Head, in an email answer to a series of questions. She declined, however, to provide specific dates as to when the measurements weren't submitted daily. “Thistledown did go back and upload the collected track surface data to the system after we reached out to them concerning the matter,” Kirker-Head added. “To the extent that you want information on specific days missed, once the data is rectified, we no longer track information on which days were missed,” wrote Kirker-Head. When asked Friday about this recording lapse, Wright—who had been in the track superintendent's position for about four months before his firing—said that for the first few weeks of the meet, he was unable to submit these records as he was without a computer, though he was recording the measurements in a notebook. When Wright got a computer, he then uploaded the measurements as required, he said. “I even had to go back and catch a lot of things up because it took a while from the time I got here working on the track to the time I actually got a computer. There was a gap in time there, and I had to go back and catch it up,” said Wright, adding that he wouldn't submit track moisture data on days of heavy rainfall, as it wasn't necessary. Earlier in the week, Wright told TDN that a period of heavy rainfall in the spring—during which time the surface appeared safer, he said—was followed by much drier conditions this summer. This is when Wright's maintenance crew repeatedly failed to follow his orders on adding enough additional water to the track, he said. “I don't mean to throw my guys under the bus, but a spade's a spade here,” Wright said, who told the TDN he has text messages which proves the alleged insubordination. Reached Friday, Wright reiterated that he believes he did everything he could to safely maintain the track's surface conditions, and that he had consistently submitted to HISA a separate set of track maintenance data. “I'm not going to defend myself any more because I did my job and I did my job well,” he said. “Because of this, I won't have a job like this any more—there's no way I'm going to be a track superintendent again. There's no way they're going to touch me with a 10-foot pole. “Find somebody who cares for a racetrack more than I do,” Wright added. “I've spent 45 years in this business. My family's been in this business 100 years. I've spent blood, sweat and tears on these racehorses, and you've all done a hatchet job on me.” National Reporting Standards Racetracks are required to submit these daily surface condition measurements (during a race-meet) as part of HISA's accreditation program. “Reporting compliance is one of many factors that are considered when evaluating racetrack accreditation, and we take compliance with those reporting requirements very seriously,” wrote Kirker-Head. It appears, however, that Thistledown hasn't been the only track failing to submit these daily reports since HISA went into effect. Kaleb Dempsey, RSTL laboratory manager, told TDN last November that these requirements were not being uniformly met across all U.S. racetracks. “We have a high number of tracks that are finally starting to provide their daily measurements thorough the maintenance quality system. That's a good thing—it's how we really pull this data together,” said Dempsey last November, about the connection between surface conditions and equine injury. “But the hardest step is to actually get people to take the daily measurements so we can have those links.” When asked if all tracks currently operating a meet are now in compliance with the daily surface report mandate, Kirker-Head wrote that they're in “substantial compliance” with this requirement. “If a track misses a day or two, we address it with them. HISA keeps the details of those reports between us and the track,” Kirker-Head wrote. According to Peterson, while some tracks—particularly the larger facilities—are in strict compliance with this requirement, others (especially the smaller, more cash-strapped tracks) are still found wanting. “What I would like to see is us having this information so we can avert problems, and that really takes having this data put in every day,” said Peterson. “We're not there yet, and I would like to get there.” When asked if some tracks miss than a day or two's worth of data, Peterson said that “some of them are perfect. I can't emphasize that enough.” However, “some of the smaller tracks just struggle to keep up,” he added, declining to give specific timeframes. The question, therefore, is this: how best to bring all facilities up to speed? In light of recent events, Thistledown has reportedly ordered a device called an Integrated Racetrack Surface Tester, to help streamline the data recording requirements. “This machine will be able to take the required track surface data measurements, which are uploaded via GPS directly to the Maintenance Quality System, streamlining and automating the collection of track surface measurements for track superintendents,” wrote Kirker-Head. Peterson also raised another endemic issue plaguing the sport—of the loss of institutional knowledge as an ageing workforce exits the sport, leaving behind a vacuum of experience and expertise. “What I would really like to see is the industry continue to support those tracks, and part of this gets back to the struggle with these workforce issues,” he said. “This is as true of some of the vet issues as it is the track issues.” The post Thistledown Furor Raises Compliance Questions with Key HISA Track Safety Requirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The aptly-named TIME TO DREAM (f, 2, Not This Time–Wild Silk, by Street Sense) impressed in her debut start on the grass at Saratoga, becoming a new 'TDN Rising Star' for all-star connections Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable. The pricey daughter of Not This Time, half of a coupled entry, found herself mid pack in this one-mile spot racing a path off the fence into the backstretch. Caught back around the far turn as her stablemate Flighttown (Practical Joke) got the first move on pacesetter Maiora (Speightstown), the 7-2 shot swung out six wide at the quarter pole and quickly put this field behind her in an eye-catching final quarter. The final time for the mile was 1:36.56. O-Repole Stable; B-Maggie Gieseke; T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $750,000 ylg '24 FTSAUG. #2B TIME TO DREAM ($9.90) broke her maiden in impressive fashion in the 7th race at Saratoga. The juvenile filly by @TMStallions' Not This Time was piloted by @jose93_ortiz for trainer @PletcherRacing and owner @RepoleStable. She is a half-sister to MGSW Red Carpet Ready! pic.twitter.com/GtUg03X60D — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 25, 2025 The post Aptly-Named Time to Dream A New ‘Rising Star’ For Todd Pletcher And Mike Repole At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Monmouth Park has canceled the July 25 scheduled eight-race card due to excessive heat, track officials announced.View the full article

Despite the fact that Journalism (Curlin) became the first of his generation to earn as many as three elite-level victories with his thrilling success in the GI NYRABets Haskell Stakes last weekend, Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) remains at the head of this year's sophomore class by virtue of convincing head-to-head tallies in the GI Kentucky Derby on May 3 and when last seen in the GI Belmont Stakes right here at Saratoga on June 7. But the argument can be made that Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes at the Spa may not be a straight-forward task for the homebred son of Crowned (Bernardini), as four well-credentialed rivals will line up against him for a race in which they perhaps have more to play for than the deserving favorite. Sovereignty has been made the 2-5 choice on David Aragona's morning line, a far cry from the ludicrous almost $18 mutuel he returned at Churchill and the $7 he paid when–somehow–not favored in the Belmont. But those two efforts, as much as they stand out on paper, do not necessarily mean that Saturday's contest is a fait accompli. Having come from a near-impossible position to take the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on his sophomore debut Mar. 1, locking up his spot in the field for the Derby for all intents and purposes, he was logically set for the GI Curlin Florida Derby four weeks later. Drawn widest and with Manny Franco subbing for an injured Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty made steady progress and was second home, extracting just what he needed from the race as it related to the Derby. With the GI DraftKings Travers and its $1.25-million purse four weeks down the road, could the Jim Dandy be another means to an end for Sovereignty? “Absolutely, that has been the goal,” Mott, a four-time winner of the Jim Dandy, said of the Travers. “It is just a matter of how you get there. “We hope he has a good race and has a little luck. Anything can happen. They've got to go around there, and it's not over until those blinking lights say 'official.' They've got to hang those numbers up and say official.” Baeza (McKinzie) makes his second trans-continental trip in seven weeks for trainer John Shirreffs, having trained brilliantly back home since finishing some 6 1/2 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Belmont. The $1.2-million Keeneland September yearling, who was a late addition to the Derby and just failed to catch Journalism for second, has registered no fewer than five breezes and looks to be holding his form. Shirreffs is of the belief that there is even better to come from the half-brother to the Classic-winning Good Magic full-brothers Mage and Dornoch. “I didn't think he ran his best race in the Belmont,” said Shirreffs. “Talking to [jockey Flavien] Prat after the race, he said it took him a long time to engage down the backside. You can see that he had to ride pretty hard from maybe the half-mile pole all the way to the wire. I think he can run better than that.” With Prat in California to ride 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in Saturday's GII San Diego Handicap, the underrated Hector Berrios will be in the saddle in the Jim Dandy. Sandman (Tapit) cemented his spot in the Derby field with a going-away victory in the GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 29 and passed a handful of rivals in the lane to be seventh beneath the Twin Spires. A clear third to Journalism in the GI Preakness Stakes, the $1.2-million OBS March breezer gets the blinkers on for the first time on Saturday. “I'm hoping the blinkers don't take some of his punch away, but you never know until you try,” Casse said. “We are looking for a good effort in the Jim Dandy, something to propel us to the Travers.” Mo Plex (Complexity) could have taken a path of lesser resistance in a race like the Albany Stakes, but connections chart a more ambitious course with the last-out winner of the GIII Ohio Derby. 'TDN Rising Star' Hill Road (Quality Road) earned himself a crack at the Belmont with a 3/4-length score in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes and will need to make up 9 1/2 lengths on Sovereignty if he is to be in the Dandy discussion. Trainer John Shirreffs with Baeza Friday morning on the Saratoga backstretch. Baeza is the 3-1 ML second choice in Saturday's Jim Dandy. Was third behind Sovereignty (2-5 ML Jim Dandy favorite) in ⁦@KentuckyDerby⁩ and ⁦@BelmontStakes⁩. pic.twitter.com/TIzyMLvN2G — Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) July 25, 2025 Brown Barn Double-Fisted In Lake George Chad Brown has saddled the winner of the GII Lake George Stakes an additional six times since Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro) gave him his first in 2015 and the barn is represented by a pair of live chances Friday afternoon. Play With Fire (Oscar Performance) came from last in a field of eight to defeat Pretty Lavish (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Princess Attitude (Frankel {GB}) in Pimlico's Hilltop Stakes May 16 for Brendan Walsh and owner Fergus Galvin and was acquired thereafter by Randy Sarf's LSU Stables. In her first run for the new ownership, the bay was gaining late, but was forced to settle for second to the re-opposing all-the-way winner Classic Q (Classic Empire) in the one-mile July 3 Wild Applause Stakes over this course. The latter is trained by Mark Casse, who sent out Pounce (Lookin At Lucky) to snap a five-race winning streak last year for Brown, who will also send out Lavender Disaster (Into Mischief). Play With Fire schooling in the Saratoga paddock | Sarah Andrew World Record Ships In For WAYI Bing Crosby With an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint over the Del Mar six furlongs in the offing, 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner) has made the trek west for a deep renewal of the GI Bing Crosby Stakes over the same course and trip. The runaway winner of last-year's age-restricted GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga, the $410,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase led home a 'Rising Star' 1-2in Churchill allowance company May 1, defeating Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) by a solid 2 1/2 lengths. The 8-5 second choice for the GIII Aristides Stakes May 31, the bay carried the lead into the final furlong, but was run down late and settled for second. He has shown the ability to take a sit off the pace, and that could come in handy in a heat that looks fast on paper. Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) won the GII San Diego Handicap on this program 12 months ago, but sticks to the shorter trip this time around. Most likely in need of the run when a distant second to Nysos in the GIII Triple Bend Stakes May 31, the bay was sent to Churchill for the June 28 GIII Kelly's Landing Stakes, but couldn't quite reel in Roll On Big Joe (Prospective). Crazy Mason (Coal Front) makes the cross-country journey for trainer Greg Sacco in career-best form. An Aqueduct allowance winner in January and February, the gra colt came from a mile back to win the GII Carter Stakes on Apr. 5 and was a late-on-the-scene third to Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GIII True North Stakes June 7. The aforementioned Nysos carries top weight of 124 pounds in the San Diego, a lead-up to the GI Pacific Classic, and the 'TDN Rising Star' makes just his second trip around two turns, having crushed his fellow 3-year-olds by 7 1/2 lengths in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes last February. A too-good-to-lose second to fellow 'Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes first off the 15-month hiatus May 3, the $550,000 OBS April grad never took a deep breath in the Triple Bend, scoring by 5 1/2 lengths. Among the competition is Grade I winner Express Train (Union Rags), winner of this event in 2021 and third last year; Grade III scorer Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute); and GSW 'TDN Rising Star' Hall of Fame (Gun Runner), who races in the Claiborne Farm colors for Michael McCarthy for the first time. Fondly Shoots For Third Oaks at Monmouth Already victorious in the Virginia Oaks in March and in the GIII Delaware Oaks last month, Fondly (Upstart) will have her fair share of backers from the outside draw in a field of seven for Saturday's GIII Monmouth Oaks. It will likely be pedal to the metal for the $50,000 Fasig-Tipton October purchase, who has trained well over the last six weeks at trainer Graham Motion's Fair Hill base. Pink Ruby (Connect) had the consistent Rosieontheriver (Kantharos) back in third in a May 18 allowance at this venue, having finished fourth in the June 22 Wilton Stakes at Aqueduct. Rosieontheriver has put together a record of 2-0-2 from four starts going two turns on the main track. Running Away (Gun Runner) does her best work on the engine and was the wire-to-wire winner of the Jan. 18 Busanda Stakes before faltering in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in April. She was last seen 'running away' from her rivals in the Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap May 14. The post Sovereignty A Beatable Favorite In the Jim Dandy? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By the time you're reading this article, the New York Racing Association (NYRA)'s years-long rebuild of Belmont Park that is on target to be finished by September 2026 will have reached or be very close to achieving a significant milestone. “The inner turf course will be complete by possibly [Friday] if not Monday with all the sod,” Glen Kozak, NYRA's senior vice president of operations and capital projects, said July 25. “This was a big, big step for us, and now we're rolling right into the Widener turf course.” Kozak's update on Belmont's four redesigned racing surfaces (from outside in: 1 1/2-miles main dirt track, grass courses at 10 and nine furlongs, one-mile Tapeta track) came during a Friday meeting of the New York State Franchise Oversight Board (FOB). The FOB is the governor-appointed committee that represents the interests of New York State in the real estate at Belmont, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course. While construction concurrently occurs on the rebuilt grandstand and clubhouse, the big summer project in the infield has been laying down the turf course sod, which is grown offsite and trucked to Belmont every morning that the crews are working. It then gets placed atop 12 inches of growing medium that has been installed over drainage stone. “That's been growing for now-and the sod company wants to kill us-for about 16 months,” Kozak said, underscoring that NYRA didn't want to cut corners, time-wise, to make sure the finished product is mature and robust. “We're using a variety that is drought-tolerant, wear-tolerant, that was specific for what we're looking for,” Kozak said. “It is Kentucky bluegrass,” Kozak said. “But what we were also looking at is the profile that we engineered for it [that is] specifically grown for us in a region [that will match Belmont Park]. It comes from Long Island. This sod is harvested anywhere from 2:30 to 4:00 in the morning, and the trucks [arrive] and are starting to install at 7:00. “We use DeLea Sod Farms,” Kozak continued. “They do Yankee Stadium.” “And the other thing that they're doing is they're cutting [the sod strips] very thin. So the root zone [has a] direct mesh. Watering is very, very critical. Obviously, we're putting sod down when it's ninety-something degrees. It's not optimal, so we're trying to get the water going to this as well.” The watering, for the time being, has to be done manually because electrical power is not yet connected to the infield. Irrigation will eventually be achieved by a high-tech sprinkler system. “It's gotten so technical with some of the new [sprinkler] heads that there's basically an [internet protocol] address for every head,” Kozak said. That will allow NYRA to monitor exactly how much water flow goes out on each head. “Right now it's currently municipal water, but we did apply for a well permit through the city, so we're currently in the step for that,” Kozak said. “It's the second-largest aquifer on Long Island. So we're told volume-wise it's not a problem.” Some of that water will be held in an infield retention pond, Kozak said. “The capacity of the pond is for a two-week period to be able to water not only the two [turf] racing surfaces, but also the infield. [Also] with this design there's irrigation set up for the synthetic track as well,” Kozak said. Kozak said a key component of the design is uniformity across all four surfaces. “The old Belmont racing surfaces were built in a different era,” Kozak said. “So you had different types of product, different types of natural sand or clay or areas, pockets, throughout. [Now] everything is consistent from the bottom up, so there's no area that will drain differently because of either a hedge or heavier soil that might be in place in a certain area.” Drainage, as well as sightlines from the stands, are both expected to be improved because the four courses will be “stacked” atop one another. Kozak said making those vertical changes for the four courses included “hundreds of thousands of yards of material that we moved on-site just to be able to establish not only the new height elevations of the racing surfaces for drainage and for the engineering required, but also for visibility.” The widths and circumferences of the two turf tracks, plus the spacing between the courses, will also be different. The inner course circumference went from 1 3/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles and the outer (Widener) course went from 1 5/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles, Kozak said. “So basically we've got now a 102-foot wide turf course and a 118-foot wide turf course, [and] the difference with these racing surfaces is they're consistent width all the way around,” Kozak said. “The old surfaces were similar to Saratoga. Much tighter on the turns, and unfortunately, that's where most of your wear happens, on the turns,” Kozak said. Kozak explained that “the widths in between the tracks have all been contemplated so that way we maximize our distances for all of the racing surfaces. Meaning the five or six different running lanes that we have on the turf, we will be able to accommodate those and maximize those.” Banking will be 2% on the straightaways and 4% on the turns “and everything is consistent across the surfaces,” Kozak said. Grading during course construction “is all done by GPS,” Kozak said. “We have a survey company come in behind our work with the equipment to go through to check the grades.” For all four courses, the finish line has been moved about 126 feet east (toward the first turn), Kozak said. Although there aren't many 10-furlong dirt races at Belmont, the track will be running a big one in 2027 when it hosts the Breeders' Cup championships. This movement of the finish line helps with placement of the mid-first-turn starting point for that distance, which under the previous configuration appeared shoehorned into the turn and never seemed to meet the main track smoothly. “The mile and a quarter [start] that will be used for the [GI] Breeders' Cup Classic, instead of that being an afterthought into the rail, it [will now be] in an engineered area that is set up where it breaks more to the center of the turn,” Kozak said. As for the grandstand and clubhouse work, Kozak offered the following timeline: “Generic numbers right now, the concrete will be done for the third deck by the end of August. Steel will be wrapping up the end of September for the framework. Roofing and everything won't specifically be dried in by the end of [the fourth quarter this year], but it's going to be darn close.” The post Grass Greener at New Belmont Park with Inner Turf Course on Cusp of Completion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-DMR, 100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 6:33 p.m. Amr Zedan went to an eye-watering OBS record $3,000,000 to acquire BRANT (Gun Runner) from consigner Eddie Woods back in March and the colt makes his debut at Del Mar for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Working in an impressive time of :9 3/5, he was a huge pinhook for St. Clair Stables who picked him up for just $200,000 as a yearling at Keeneland last September. Brant is out of a winning Liam's Map half-sister to GSW/GISP and young stallion Pappacap (Gun Runner) and GSW Boppy O (Bolt d'Oro). Baffert-trained stablemate Balboa (Not This Time), no slouch in the sales ring either as an $875,000 Keeneland grad, is the first runner to the races out of Tap of War (War Front), a full-sister to GI Fourstardave Handicap winner Halladay. TJCIS PPS 1st-DMR, 80K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, 5:00 p.m. Opening the Del Mar card is Just Resilience (Justify), a gelded son of $1.4m KEENOV grad Satin And Silk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Claiborne Farm. The dam, though unraced herself, is a half to GISW Materiality (Afleet Alex) and GSW/MGISP My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), herself the dam of GISW and Claiborne stallion Ananpolis (War Front). Other half-sisters have produced SW/GISP Grand Mo The First (Uncle Mo) and GISW Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief). This race is also the debut of Jibilian (Quality Road), a gelded son of Canadian champion turf female Theodora B. (Ghostzapper) for Augustin Stables. TJCIS PPS 2nd-SAR, 100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:07 p.m. In New York, Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) was another big OBS March purchase as St. Elias Stable spent $950,000 for the son of the stallion who raced in his own colors before retiring to Hill 'n' Dale. The colt breezed in :10 and is out of a daughter of MGSW/MGISP Miraculous Miss. Another OBS grad, Further Ado (Gun Runner) sold for $550,000 to Spendthrift Farm in April and is a half-brother to MGSW Kimbear (Twirling Candy). First dam Sky Dreamer, graded stakes-placed herself, is a half-sister to GISW Dream Dancing (Tapit). This is the family of champion older mare Beautiful Pleasure. TJCIS PPS 4th-SAR, 120K, O/C, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 2:13 p.m. Race 4 features the return of last year's GI Whitney Stakes winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit) in what will be his first start since coming up empty in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November. The now 5-year-old Glassman Racing-owned runner already has two wins at the Spa and has been training locally for Bill Mott. TJCIS PPS Who is ready to see ARTHUR'S RIDE back in action!! The striking Whitney (G1) winner is running Saturday for the first time since the @BreedersCup Classic. #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/EoRy3QKqyt — NYRA Bets (@NYRABets) July 24, 2025 7th-SAR, 100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:52 p.m. Three fillies line up on the outside led by Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), a daughter of MSW/MGISP Mother Mother who Spendthrift Farm purchased for $1.8m at FTKNOV in 2020. Mother Mother is a half to GI Kentucky Derby runner up Commanding Curve (Master Command). Immortalize (Gun Runner) is a Godolphin homebred out of GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes winner Dickinson who has already produced MSW Wadsworth (Quality Road). Chad Brown's Academia (Into Mischief) is out of Chilean Horse of the Year Wow Cat (Chi), who Peter Brant's White Birch Farm purchased for $1.7m at FTKNOV in 2019. TJCIS PPS 5th-ELP, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 2:44 p.m. In Kentucky, Contrary (Medaglia d'Oro) is another Godolphin homebred out of an unraced Tapit half-sister to MGISW and late sire Scat Daddy (Johannesburg). She's drawn inside of Love Supreme (Tapit), a Stonestreet homebred out of MGSW/GISP Terra Promessa. Stonestreet bought into the family another generation back, purchasing second dam Missile Bay (Yes It's True) for $700,000 at KEENOV in 2006. TJCIS PPS 6th-WO, 115K, Msw, 2yo, 6fT, 3:40 p.m. Going north of the border, Star Attraction (Quality Road) is a 2-year-old debuter out of Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee. This Blue Heaven Farm homebred is her champion dam's first foal and Kevin Attard, who oversaw training for Starship Jubilee, also trains her daughter. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: OBS Record-Setter Debuts For Baffert At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Striving for back-to-back graded stakes victories, Fondly is set to battle six other 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Monmouth Oaks Stakes (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race July 26 on dirt at Monmouth Park.View the full article

Monmouth Park has cancelled Friday's scheduled eight-race card due to excessive heat, track officials announced. All races cancelled Friday will be brought back as extras for Friday, Aug. 1, and the racing office will also look to use them over next weekend. Entries will be taken on Sunday, July 27, for next Friday's card. Racing resumes at Monmouth Park on Saturday with a first race post time of 12:50 p.m. ET. The post Monmouth Park Cancels Friday Card Due to Excessive Heat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalog for the 2025 Inglis Digital USA July Sale is now online, featuring a diverse selection of 49 entries, including a pair of unbeaten stakes-winning 2-year-olds. Bidding is now open for the online auction, and the first lot will close on Wednesday, July 30 at 2 p.m. ET, with subsequent listings hammering in three-minute increments. Highlights include: Good Civilian (Good Samaritan) won his debut on June 14 at Horseshoe Indianapolis by 11 1/2 lengths, then added the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes on July 5 at Prairie Meadows. Trainer Genaro Garcia consigns the Indiana-bred gelding. Border Czar (Beau Liam) won on debut at Woodbine in a last-to-first effort June 7, then took the Listed My Dear Stakes at the same track on July 12. Owner/trainer Barbara Minshall will consign the filly. Also included among the offerings is a group of fillies and mares deemed to be “IRT eligible,” meaning they have completed the tests and received the vaccines required to enter quarantine following the sale and travel with international shipping company IRT, making for a more seamless post-purchase process for buyers around the globe. Among the “IRT-eligible” horses in the catalog are: Asean (Ire): A 4-year-old broodmare prospect by Ten Sovereigns (Ire), who was a 2-year-old stakes winner at The Curragh in Ireland before competing in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park. Commonwealth consigns the filly. Beauty of the Sea: A 5-year-old Bucchero mare who won the Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park as a 3-year-old, then came back at four to win a pair of stakes races at Monmouth and Colonial Downs, followed by a third in the GIII Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine. Paramount Sales consigns the racing/broodmare prospect, as agent. Lily Poo: A 5-year-old broodmare who was a winner at two, then came back at three to win the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields and finish in the money in a pair of graded stakes races. She had her first foal in 2025, a Taiba colt, who is not included with the mare in the auction. Paramount Sales consigns the daughter of Tapiture, as agent. Dixieland Belle: A 3-year-old racing/broodmare prospect by More Than Ready who won her debut race as a juvenile against stakes competition, taking the Finest City Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. The Pennsylvania-bred is consigned by Paramount Sales, agent. “This sale marks a year since we started selling, and we're grateful to everyone who's supported us,” said Kyle Wilson, Senior Director of Sales and Recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. “We've got a great catalog to celebrate that anniversary, highlighted by a couple of undefeated juveniles and a group of broodmares and broodmare racing prospects ready to go anywhere in the world.” To view the catalog and register to bid, visit www.inglisdigitalusa.com. The post Stakes-Winning Juveniles Highlight Inglis Digital USA July Sale Catalog appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As recently as last year, Alexis Delgado was driving an Uber in Florida. On July 27, he sends out a recent $625,000 purchase when Spectacular Grey takes on 10 other 2-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.View the full article