Wandering Eyes

Horses obviously derive no comfort from the legacy they might leave. A stallion's reproductive ardor is presumably driven sooner by the means than the ends! In our own case, on the other hand, foreknowledge of mortality allows us to think about legacy. Racehorse trainers, for instance, can impart horsemanship to the next generation; or disclose, in horses, a genetic prowess that may have remained undisturbed in less skilled hands. Everyone intimate with her quirks is unanimous that Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) could easily have slipped through the cracks in a less artistic program than that operated by John Shirreffs. Ironically, she has turned out to be one of those females perhaps too virile to prove any kind of broodmare. But while her trainer's gentle and generous disposition proved equal even to the circus that developed around her, his wider accomplishments remained grossly overshadowed. Certainly he produced elite performers at a ratio unequivocally superior to others who have preceded him to the Hall of Fame. I remember writing many years ago that his absence diminished only the institution, not the man; and that those already inducted would consider their distinction incomplete until shared by Shirreffs. Doubtless his neglect will now be redressed, albeit-how suddenly-too late. Shirreffs himself, of course, would prize 15 minutes communing with a horse far above any bauble devised to gratify human vanity. Yes, we can honor his legacy; best of all, by emulating his benign and patient engagement with horses. In the meantime, however, we can bleakly share their point of view; can find it hard to think past the here-and-now, when it will never again be sweetened by his inquiring mind, and a voice that transparently conveyed his beautiful nature. I hope you will indulge my starting with this apparent digression. But there are lessons pertinent to the world of breeding: not least, a reminder to appreciate what we have, while we have it. So take a bow, Tapit! At 25, the venerable gray's books are being managed with scrupulous care and his diminished output has seen the three-time champion slide anonymously down the sires' table. But while competition among his male heirs grows ever stronger, his living legacy is expanding giddily through his daughters, hitherto responsible for 144 stakes winners headed by Cody's Wish (Curlin). Tapit-P360-Profile.jpg" alt="" width="346" height="432" /> Last Saturday, Tapit was damsire of three big winners at the Fair Grounds: Paladin (Gun Runner) in the GII Risen Star Stakes; Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) in the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes; and Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GIII Mineshaft Stakes. A flying start, then, to his defense of a broodmare sire championship-largely contested by pensioned or deceased sires-in which he has finished first, second and first in the last three years. With more and more daughters cycling through to a second career, they will be consolidating his breed-shaping status for a while yet. The fact that two of their winners on Saturday were respectively by Gun Runner and his sire Candy Ride (Arg) will not discourage those who like to reduce matings to mere nicking formulae. After all, Gun Runner has previously given Tapit mares the likes of Society, Red Route One, Disarm and Wicked Halo. But the fact is that both stallions represent the same miraculous program, which was hardly going to resist the experiment of supporting the younger of the pair with daughters of the other. To the rest of us, blundering in their wake, the cross would seem to be producing good horses no more or less than one would expect when one top-class stallion is mated with the daughters of another. We noted last week that Gun Runner has himself opened his account as a broodmare sire with none other than GIII Southwest Stakes winner Silent Tactic, who is of course by a son of Tapit in Tacitus. But just as that horse has much else going on besides, so even a stallion like Gun Runner-whose sophomores on the Classic trail also include Further Ado and Brant, plus fillies Life of Joy, Meaning and Search Party-will gratefully accept the genetic contribution of his steeply upgrading mares. Paladin himself traces to the matriarch Golden Trail (Hasty Road) via her daughter Java Moon (inevitably by Graustark, sire of 11 of Golden Trail's last 12 foals). But we explored his background after the GII Remsen Stakes, so now we'll take a look at the rest of Tapit's weekend. Dancer Not Just Pretty but Bellissima Only Street Cry (Ire) in 2024 stood between Tapit and three consecutive broodmare sire championships, having of course already shown himself a potent sire of female runners including not just Zenyatta but also Winx (Aus). Among his sons, however, Street Sense has had to do almost all the heavy lifting. Now represented by four heirs of his own at stud in Kentucky (including three in the same barn), Street Sense is in turn emerging as a top broodmare sire, with Mindframe (Constitution), Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) and Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) among those delivered by his daughters. The latter set up her GI Kentucky Oaks success last year-when one of her biggest rivals in the crop, La Cara, was not only by Street Sense but shared her third dam with none other than Paladin-in the same Fair Grounds race that was won last weekend by another Godolphin homebred in Bella Ballerina. And so, too, did Bella Ballerina's half-sister Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) two years previously. Pretty Mischievous was the result of the first mating arranged by Godolphin for Pretty City Dancer (Tapit), the GI Spinaway Stakes after her $3.5 million at Fasig-Tipton in November 2018. With her fourth starter now having started the way she has, that is looking like big money well spent–something of a recurring theme on the Classic trail this year–with Paladin a $1.9 million yearling and Plutarch out of a $6 million mare. But the sale of Pretty City Dancer had itself vindicated another very significant investment, John Oxley having bought her as a yearling for $825,000. That reflected her status as half-sister to GI Gazelle Stakes winner Lear's Princess (Lear Fan), though their unraced dam Pretty City (Carson City) already had that to her credit when Gainesway alertly managed to pick her up for $160,000 as a 13-year-old at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale. Pretty City, moreover, was half-sister to turf millionaire My Big Boy (Our Hero), winner of the GI Bernard Baruch Handicap. Their dam by Riverman was a cheap Ogden Phipps cull (two nondescript starts) after five unbroken generations in that program, tracing to none other than Businesslike (Blue Larkspur), the daughter of La Troienne (Fr) who additionally gave it Busanda (War Admiral)- dam of the great Buckpasser. In her anniversary year, La Troienne (Fr) appears to be making it compulsory to feature a fresh blossom on her family tree every week. Best Supporting Actress The other graded stakes winner out of a Tapit mare last Saturday has a pretty familiar pedigree, by this stage, Hit Show having come to general notice in Dubai last spring. Nonetheless his page had been freshened up only a couple of days previously, when Prom Queen (Quality Road) broke her maiden with sufficient dash to be named a 'TDN Rising Star' at Gulfstream. Prom Queen is out of Miss Bling Bling (Tapit), full sister to Hit Show's dam Actress. The latter, who won a couple of graded stakes including the GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (when breaking her maiden), was the first foal out of Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew), the Canadian champion and millionaire recruited privately by Gary and Mary West on her retirement. Miss Bling Bling, that mare's fourth foal, was beaten half a length on her solitary start. It seems safe to assume that Hit Show must have been a pleasing foal, as his dam's sister was promptly sent to Candy Ride (Arg) for her next cover. That produced Money Game, winner of both his starts at Oaklawn last year and now back on the worktab at Payson Park. By the way, you have to love the way Accelerize (Omaha Beach)-who pushed Hit Show so hard-is rewarding such a bold mating by Spendthrift: both his sire's dam and his damsire Take Charge Indy are out of Take Charge Lady (Dehere). Mind you, Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), the big turf winner in Riyadh, sees Accelerize and raises him: his sire's dam Helsinki (GB) and damsire Street Cry (Ire) are full siblings! Actually I am myself guilty of having introduced a mare to the Bluegrass bred on exactly the same lines. She may yet prove that you can have too much of a good thing, but at least we now have a “champion” for the theory. Even in a world darkened by the abrupt loss of one of its finest horsemen, and truest gentlemen, we can live in hope. The post Breeding Digest: Venerable Grays and Living Legacies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Connor King, who was twice crowned champion apprentice jockey on the Flat in Ireland, will bid to become the youngest ever trainer to win the Grand National when sending Oscars Brother to Aintree later this spring. The 27-year-old handler – who only has two horses at his County Tipperary stable – has admitted he is “trying not to think too much” about the prospect of Oscars Brother being a serious Grand National contender. The handicapper has given Oscars Brother a 155 rating – a weight of 10st 13lb – after three wins on the bounce in Ireland this season at Galway, Punchestown and Navan. The most recent two victories were in Grade 2 races and the last was in the famous silks of JP McManus, who bought him in December after spotting his huge potential. After discovering his Randox Grand National weight, King said, “Well, the handicapper's put him up a few pounds! We've just been seeing how he is after the last day, but he's in good form. He needs one more run to qualify. He's in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival so we'll have to see – there's a month nearly between the two. He came out of Navan extremely well.” King added, “I've been training since April 2024 so it's coming up to two years. I'm trying not to think too much about Aintree! I know how good the horse is and it's brilliant to potentially be going up there with a horse for the Grand National and being involved in it. “I think my first memory of the Grand National would be Hedgehunter falling at the last in 2004, the year before he won it. Mr Hemmings owned him and there was kind of a connection with where I'm from at home with Eugene O'Sullivan, so I kind of remember feeling like it was closer to home than others.” King was speaking at the official Grand National weights launch on Tuesday where last year's winner, Nick Rockett, was handed a rating of 167. Nick Rockett was partnered by Patrick Mullins, champion amateur jockey and assistant to his father Willie, to Grand National glory last year. Speaking about the prospects of repeating the trick, the jockey said, “We have no complaints with his weight. We haven't had a clear run with him and he had an over-reach before the John Durkan. He then had a setback just before Christmas, so we're behind where we want to be. He's back riding and we're hoping to get a run into him before Aintree, so we're hoping to find a race for him somewhere. We've no plan for him yet but we should get him there all being well.” Mullins added, “It's not an ideal preparation having one run but unfortunately those are the cards that we've been dealt with him this year. Maybe going there fresh will help him but it's not ideal, I don't think.” The post King Aiming To Be Youngest Grand National-Winning Trainer In History appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I just received the news of the passing of Bill Recio. Bill and I were close friends from the early 1970's. He was a true horseman who understood his horses and what they needed and no one was going to move him off of what was best for each horse. He treated every horse that way and got to know them personally. He paid attention to every detail and was demanding that his people do whatever was necessary to make that horse the best that he could be. But beyond that, he was a truly good person who had a very strict code in the way he lived his life. RIP my friend. We lost one of the finest persons that I have met during my 56 years in this industry. The post Letter to the Editor: The Passing of Bill Recio appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dollars & Sense with Frank Angst looks at Forever Young's remarkable career as an example of an international approach that could keep racing's top stars in training. Read more:View the full article

Zarak, who has quickly established himself as one of the leading Flat stallions in France, has been temporarily sidelined from covering duties due to injury, with the Aga Khan Studs reporting that the son of Dubawi “will require several weeks to recuperate”. “Leading sire Zarak will unfortunately miss the start of the 2026 covering season following an accident in his stable,” read a statement issued by the Aga Khan Studs. “He will require several weeks to recuperate, and his condition will be reassessed in two months' time.” Based at Haras de Bonneval, Zarak is due to stand for the unchanged fee of €80,000 this season, having enjoyed notable success with his first five crops. He is the sire of 34 individual black-type winners, including the Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan, one of three individual Group 1 winners for the stallion alongside Haya Zark (Prix Ganay) and Zagrey (Grosser Preis von Baden). Metropolitan embarks on his second season at Haras d'Etreham in 2026, while Zagrey is at the same stage of his career at Haras de Grandcamp and Zarakem – runner-up in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes – is new to Haras de la Tuilerie for this season. The post Zarak Sidelined from Covering Duties, Condition to be Reassessed in Two Months’ Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The European Pattern Committee (EPC) has approved the upgrade of two Group 3 races to Group 2 status for 2026, including the Prix Paul de Moussac at ParisLongchamp (1400m, 3yo, early-June). Won last year by the subsequent Group 1 winner Maranoa Charlie, the race is intended to act as the main stepping stone to the G1 Prix Jean Prat over the same distance approximately one month later. Germany successfully applied to upgrade the Bavarian Classic at Munich (2000m, 3yo, early-May) to Group 2 status. The Bavarian Classic has a strong record of producing Deutsches Derby contenders in recent years, with Isfahan the last horse to complete the double in 2016. The EPC has also sanctioned five new Listed races across Europe. France will create a new Listed race at ParisLongchamp restricted to fillies and mares titled the Prix Esotérique (1600m, 4yo+, mid-May). In Germany, a Listed trial for the Deutsches Derby will be introduced at Dortmund, run two weeks prior to the Derby over the distance of 2050m. Elsewhere, Ireland have created a new Listed contest for juvenile fillies at Cork titled the Firville Stakes (1400m, 2yo, mid-August), while both Italy and Sweden have had conditions races reinstated back into the black-type programme – the Premio Emanuele Filiberto (2000m, 3yo, early-May) and the Jägersro Sprint (1200m, 3yo+, mid-May), respectively. It is also worth noting that, in 2025, the EPC approved the upgrade of Leopardstown's Golden Fleece Stakes to Group 1 status. Held at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend in mid-September, the two-year-old contest will also be run over the increased distance of 1800m (from 1600m) when this change takes effect in 2026. As well as the black-type changes announced above, the EPC has removed the threat of sanctions from Italian racing in recognition of the significant progress made by the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF) in Italy, in terms of the regularisation of their prize-money payments and improvements to their administrative procedures in line with the standards expected. The EPC ratified a total of 811 black-type races, down from 814 in 2025, comprising 409 Group races (411 in 2024) and 402 Listed races (403). The races which have been downgraded for 2026 are as follows: Italy G2 Premio Dormello (Milan) downgraded to Group 3 G2 Premio Lydia Tesio (Rome) downgraded to Group 3 G2 Premio Roma (Milan) downgraded to Group 3 Listed Botticelli (Rome) loses Listed status Listed Repubbliche Marinare (Rome) loses Listed status Listed Vittorio Riva (Milan) loses Listed status Scandinavia G3 Scandinavian Open Championship (Copenhagen) downgraded to Listed In addition to these downgrades, the G3 Prix Pénélope at Saint-Cloud (France), Listed Prix Scaramouche at Saint-Cloud (France), Listed Spring Mile at Jägersro (Sweden) and Listed Swedish Open Mile at Bro Park (Sweden) were all voluntarily deleted from the black-type programme. Additional Changes Other key changes to note include the decision of France Galop to move prominent Pattern races from a Sunday fixture at ParisLongchamp to a Thursday night, with the aim of showcasing quality racing to a younger audience. The G1 Prix d'Ispahan (1850m, 4yo+), G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3100m, 4yo+) and G3 Prix du Palais-Royal (1400m, 3yo+) will all move to that ParisLongchamp midweek slot in 2026 (May 21). The G3 Prix Hocquart (2200m, 3yo) and Listed Prix de Montretout (1600m, 4yo+) will move in the opposite direction to bolster the vacant Sunday fixture at ParisLongchamp on May 24, alongside the G2 Prix Corrida (2100m, 4yo+ fillies and mares) which was previously run midweek at Saint-Cloud. In addition, the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m, 4yo+) will take place a week later from this year (July 5) in order to push the race a further week on from Royal Ascot, and a similar rationale applies to the week later date for the G1 Prix Jean Prat (1400m, 3yo) at Deauville (July 12). France Galop also successfully applied to run the G2 Prix Alec Head (formerly the Prix de Pomone, 2500m, 3yo+ fillies and mares) a week earlier (August 15) to create better spacing with the G1 Prix Vermeille – which was shifted forward by one week last year as part of the movement of Arc Trials Day. Due to Capannelle Racecourse not being operational until September, MASAF have successfully applied to move the black-type races due to be run in Rome during the first half of the year to San Siro Racecourse in Milan, aside from one Listed contest (Premio Natale di Roma) which moves to Florence. This will mean that the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas), G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) and G2 Derby Italiano will all be run at a different venue this year. Horse Racing Ireland also confirmed temporary host venues for Tipperary's five black-type races whilst that venue is closed for the development of an all-weather surface. In Britain, a further point of interest was the name change for the Group 2 race at York formerly known as the 1895 Duke Of York Stakes (6f, 3yo+, mid-May), which will now be named the Minster Stakes. 'At Risk' Races for 2027 A total of 22 Pattern and Listed races will be at risk of potential downgrade in 2027, depending on their performance in 2026. They once again include the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, run over six furlongs for juveniles in late-September. The Mill Reef's Group 2 status was maintained by the EPC for 2026 following a unanimous vote, but the race will be downgraded automatically in 2027 if it fails to achieve its annual parameter this year. By nation, the spread of 'at risk' races is as follows: Britain – 3 France – 4 Germany – 5 Ireland – 3 Italy – 5 Sweden – 2 Statement from the Chair Jason Morris, chair of the EPC, said, “The EPC has reduced the number of scheduled black-type races for a fifth year in a row, with the total falling from 853 races in 2021 to 811 races in 2026. This reflects the collective responsibility that the EPC member countries share towards enforcing quality control. “The EPC also recognises the challenges being faced with falling foal populations and a diminishing supply of high-quality horses throughout Europe, and it will continue to work collaboratively to keep this critical issue under review. “In this regard, the EPC has warmly welcomed MASAF's commitment to revitalise and relaunch the Italian racing and breeding industry, which includes ambitions for securing an upgrade of an existing race to Group 1 status in the future. The prize-money of the G2 Premio del Jockey Club at Milan in October has been doubled to €500,000 for 2026 as a race that Italy is targeting for potential promotion.” The post Prix Paul de Moussac Among Two New Group 2 Races Approved by the EPC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Declan Bates joined Pride Of Jenni in a gallop at Caulfield as the pair shed the kilograms in preparation for teaming in the All-Star Mile. Ciaron Maher took a small but select group of horses to gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, including Pride Of Jenni who is preparing for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 7. Bates, who has not ridden since December 6 after being injured in a barrier incident at the Ballarat jump-outs shortly after, partnered the mare in the work-out as he builds fitness towards a racetrack return, possibly at Terang on Friday. The Irish jockey suffered a fractured pelvis and sacrum in the barrier incident, describing it as ‘a nasty one’. “It’s a frustrating injury because you can’t give it any relief,” Bates said. “Sitting down you’re putting pressure on it and even lying in bed you’re putting pressure on it. “That’s why in the first month you don’t feel like you’re healing at all, so I was a little bit worried with the injury at first, but once it started coming good, in the last month especially, there has been rapid improvement and luckily, I’ll be back ahead of schedule.” Bates has been back riding trackwork just over a week and put ‘eight or nine’ horses through their paces at the Cranbourne jump-outs on Monday. He said he was looking forward to race riding again and in getting his fitness back up before partnering Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile. “My fitness needs to tighten up a bit, but that’s going to come as I go along,” Bates said. “I was keen to get back racing two weeks before the All-Star Mile and that way it gives me a good two weeks of race riding before then. “Like me, she’s got a bit of fitness to come on, but she feels her usual self, enthusiastic in her work, and that’s what I wanted to see. “It’s good to have a nice horse to look forward to. You always want to get back as quick as possible and when you have a nice horse it really helps the motivation to get back as strong and healthy as possible.” Bates has ridden Pride Of Jenni in 19 of her 43 starts, winning four times at Group 1 level, including the mare’s memorable victory in the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. View the full article

Major targets for two and dress rehearsals for others add up to an intriguing day’s racing for a talent-packed Wexford Stables contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday. Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s team is headed by Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), one the hot favourite for her elite racing debut in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the other looking for more feature success in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Ōtaki-Māori Weight-for-Age Classic (1600m). Ohope Wins is one of three fillies entered for the New Zealand Oaks along with stablemates Acer and Clara Bow, while Yamato Satona and Genki make a double hand for the Gr.2 Eagle Technology (2100m), and likewise L’Aigle Noir and Panther in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Dominant performances by Ohope Wins in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Classic (2100m) at her last two starts have resulted in her being installed the favourite for both Saturday’s New Zealand Oaks and the Gr. 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), scheduled for Ellerslie on March 7. That form has also meant a change in ownership for the Ocean Park filly, who now sports the increasingly ubiquitous Yulong Investments colours, which will also be carried in Saturday’s classic by second favourite and fellow Ocean Park filly Autumn Glory. While Ohope Wins is also highly rated for the New Zealand Derby, co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan is adamant that the current focus is this weekend’s assignment. “As always we’re treating it as one race at a time,” he said on Tuesday. “Any consideration for a Derby start will only come after we’ve discussed that with her connections and not until after Saturday. “We’re very happy with how she came through that last run at Te Rapa and everything has gone to plan since. “Joe Doyle came across to ride her in her main gallop this morning and she worked very well on the course proper. Clara Bow will be ridden by Warren Kennedy and she also worked well, as did Acer. All three fillies are very well. “Erin Leighton, who rode Acer well when she won the fillies’ race at New Plymouth and had a close association with the stable when she was in Matamata, will ride her again.” The stable’s star weight-for-age performer Waitak has not raced since his unplaced run in the Gr. 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and has been freshened for the drop back in distance on the weekend. “We made the decision to back off and freshen him up, after all he had already had a big year with more to come,” O’Sullivan said. “That way he would get the opportunity to perform up to his best in the last two. “We’re very happy with him heading into the mile race, and that will work well for the step up to 2000 in the Bonecrusher Stakes.” Yamona Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) will be out to enhance his New Zealand Derby prospects when he lines up in the Avondale Guineas off the back of late-finishing thirds in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m). “Those were both very good runs and he’ll continue along that traditional Derby path on Saturday,” O’Sullivan said. “There’s still plenty of improvement in him and by the time he gets to his main target he won’t lack anything in fitness. “Genki is still a maiden but we do like him as a stayer, but first he has to get a start on Saturday and try and qualify, otherwise he’ll go to Pukekohe next week for a last chance to make the field with a maiden win.” L’Aigle Noire and Panther will both have blinkers added when they line up in Saturday’s Gr. 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), which for virtually all runners will be a final dress rehearsal for the NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions Day. A win by either could well secure Wexford’s slot for the rich three-year-old race, however O’Sullivan is not getting ahead of himself. “That was some run by Panther when he ran second at Ellerslie with nothing going his way and he’s coming to form at the right time,” he said. “L’Aigle Noir had nothing go his way in his last run either, but his form before that was very good. “They worked well together this morning and will go into Saturday sound and happy. We figure the addition of blinkers will sharpen them, so along with the rest of the team, it will be interesting to see how they go.” View the full article

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In a well-watched race for the presence of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ewing (Knicks Go), it was Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) on his return to sprints who stepped forward to take home the Ozark Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Tom Amoss-trainee entered this contest off an unsuccessful attempt at two-turns Jan. 3 in the local Smarty Jones Stakes, finishing eighth and off the board for the first time in his six-race career. The runner-up there was Silent Tactic (Tacitus), who returned Feb. 6 at this venue to claim the GIII Southwest Stakes in dominant style. Before that, the son of Twirling Candy had been first or second in every start as a juvenile, winning the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs two back Nov. 26 in his stakes debut. Cutting back from the 1 1/16-miles to six furlongs here, and leaving the blocks carrying 5-2 odds to Ewing's 3-5 favoritism, Oscar's Hope stalked Tiz Mary's Comet (Good Samaritan) and Swung (Instagrand) from third as that pair kept each other company on the front end. After the former posted an opening quarter in :22.01 and four panels in :45.37, and with Ewing not firing from fifth, Oscar's Hope rolled into contention passing the quarter marker and was the looming danger as they neared the final furlong. Overhauling his challengers from the overland route, he kept on well to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Tiz Mary's Comet held on for second by a length with Swung in third. “He's just a horse that always tries,” said Luis Saez. “He's got a big heart. The key to him today was we got a good post and was right there in the perfect spot. We tracked the speed. We were right behind it and when we came to the top of the stretch, he gave me a big turn of foot.” Of Ewing's sixth-place finish, jockey Cristian Torres said, “He was flat. He broke a step slow, but he never got into the bit, never engaged in the race. I started working on him early, going into the turn, but never responded.” The victor is the first to the races for GIII Schuylerville Stakes-placed Hopeful Princess (Not This Time), a full-sister to SP Johanny. That pair's third sibling, three-time winning mare Everything Magic (Street Sense), is herself the mother of MSP Heldish (Great Notion). Hopeful Princess has one other of racing age after Oscar's Hope, a juvenile colt named Major Ray (Nyquist). Her youngest is a yearling filly by Curlin, and she is due back to Twirling Candy for 2026. This is the immediate female family of GSW Street Magician (Street Cry {Ire}) as well as the dam of MGSW Future Is Now (Great Notion) and MSW & GSP Call Another Play (Audible). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #9 OSCAR'S HOPE ($7.20) took the lead in the stretch and would pull away to win the $150,000 Ozark Stakes at @OaklawnRacing. The son of Twirling Candy (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by Luis Saez and is trained by @TomAmossRacing. Michael McLoughlin owns. pic.twitter.com/W2TEzjrvcQ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 16, 2026 OZARK S., $150,000, Oaklawn, 2-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.34, ft. 1–OSCAR'S HOPE, 124, c, 3, by Twirling Candy 1st Dam: Hopeful Princess (GSP), by Not This Time 2nd Dam: More Than Magic, by More Than Ready 3rd Dam: Magical Meadow, by Meadowlake ($150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Michael McLoughlin; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss; J-Luis Saez. $85,500. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0, $323,434. 2–Tiz Mary's Comet, 119, g, 3, Good Samaritan–Suzie's Dream, by Tiz the One. ($50,000 2yo '25 OBSOPN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Rotstein, Michael H. and Olof, LLC; B-Norman Stables, LLC (LA); T-Rylee Magnon. $28,500. 3–Swung, 119, c, 3, Instagrand–Queen's Gate, by Divine Park. ($17,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). O-Chad M. Call; B-Duncan Lloyd (KY); T-Matt Williams. $14,250. Margins: 1HF, 1, HF. Odds: 2.60, 7.80, 9.30. Also Ran: Chad Allan, Gnome, Ewing, My Dream Zapper. Scratched: Dirty Rich, Extract's Arrow. The post Oscar’s Hope Strides Home in Ozark, Ewing Off the Board in Seasonal Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Baeza will head East to join the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The move comes just days after the passing of his former trainer, John Shirreffs, who died Feb. 12 at 80. The Daily Racing Form first reported the news. View the full article

Argentine champion and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize–Blues for Sale {Arg}), by Not For Sale {Arg}) died at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on Monday after complications from foaling, according to Frank Taylor, the Vice President of Boarding Operations at Taylor Made Farms, where the 13-year-old mare has been boarded for her entire breeding career. “She had complications from a hemorrhage,” Taylor said. “She had a foal [by Life Is Good] about a week ago.” According to Taylor, her latest filly is doing well. “She had been at the farm since the foaling,” Taylor said. “We try to keep them quiet when they hemorrhage. We didn't want to ship her to the clinic if we didn't have to, since moving them adds stress, and increases the chances of losing them. But she started to colic [Sunday], and we had to go to the clinic. She died on the operating table.” Winner of a trio of Grade Is in North America–the Spinster in (2018-19) and the 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff over champion Midnight Bisou–she also won at the highest level in Argentina, taking the G1 Premio Seleccion in 2016, the same season that she was named Argentine Champion 3-year-old Female. Bred by Haras La Manija, the chestnut was acquired by Merriebelle Stable and was sent to Ignacio Correas for her U.S. campaign. In North America, she won eight races in the U.S., including the GII Fleur de Lis, GII Falls City and GIII Locust Grove. Retiring with over $2.6 million in the coffers following her Breeders' Cup victory, the mare was purchased by OXO Equine's Larry Best for $5 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Her initial foal, Playback (Into Mischief), won once from seven career starts for trainer Paulo Lobo. Subsequent foals have yet to start–a 4-year-old colt by Instagrand named Flock Hill in addition to a 3-year-old colt by Practical Joke named Boylston. In 2024, she produced a Life is Good colt and her last reported foal was a filly by the WinStar stallion sired earlier this year. The post Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winner Blue Prize Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Miss Twinkle shined when winning her maiden at Riccarton last month and trainer Andrew Carston is hoping for a repeat performance when he returns to his local track on Wednesday with his filly. The daughter of Zoustar showed a lot of early promise when finishing runner-up to subsequent Group Three performer Out Of The Blue on debut at Riccarton in October, and disappointed in her subsequent two starts before winning fresh-up over 800m last month. Carston was pleased with that performance and believes she has progressed well heading into Wednesday’s Riccarton Park Tanks Gold Members Two-Year-Old (1000m). “It was really good to get her maiden win, she has always shown plenty,” Carston said. “She hasn’t helped herself, she has taken a little while to work it out, but she was impressive last start and has trained on well. “She has drawn well (3) in a pretty similar field (to last start). There are a couple that went well last time as well, but we are pretty happy, she has come on.” Carston has a two-pronged attack in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (2000m) courtesy of Taimate Staar and Baggio, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of the former. “Taimate Staar was really good in rating 60 grade last week. She drops back into a maiden so she should be very competitive,” Carston said. “Baggio is a long-time maiden but he has been going well and his last three starts have been good. He is Mega Maiden Series eligible, so that is the reason he runs. He has drawn a bad gate (12) and will need a bit of luck.” Carston will line-up a quartet of other runners at the meeting, and he believes last-start runner-up Call To Arms is a good chance of going one better in the Ford Contracting Maiden (1400m). “Call To Arms is a nice horse and is still a little bit wayward but is learning all the time,” he said. “I think he will go close, he should run really well.” Meanwhile, Carston has been pleased with the way Say Satono has come through her placing in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) earlier this month and is contemplating lining her up at Ashburton on Friday. “Say Satono has come through it really well,” he said. “It was a great result for everyone to get some black-type. “There are a couple of options coming up at Riccarton in the next two or three months for her. I have nominated her for Ashburton on Friday, but I’ll just keep an eye on the weather.” Carston has recently welcomed back promising juvenile I Am Belle and Group Three-performed three-year-old Miss Ziggy into his Riccarton barn following their northern campaigns. I Am Belle was impressive when winning on debut at Riccarton last November before beating just one runner home in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham a month later. “I Am Belle is back in Christchurch and is ticking along nicely,” Carston said. “At this stage we will aim her for the two Listed races at Riccarton in April (Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes,1000m) and May (Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes, 1200m).” Miss Ziggy also had a freshen-up following her unplaced run in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and may head to the rescheduled Listed Gore Guineas (1200m) at Riverton in April. “She arrived home last week and she is ticking along nicely,” Cartson said. “She had three weeks off in the paddock and has just started work again. I am unsure where I go, but possibly the rescheduled Gore Guineas could be an option.” View the full article

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Online Breeding Stock Sale is due to take place again on Gavelhouse Plus this July with dates now confirmed for the stand-alone breeding sale. Breeders will have the opportunity to offer broodmares as well as stallion shares and nominations at a key time ahead of the breeding season. Over the past three years the sale toppers have included Yearn, Asama Blue, Chanel’s Choice and Dee and Geewho fetched $195,000, $126,000 $115,000 and $105,000 respectively. The Sale has been a great source of investment potential, with future progeny going on to sell well at Karaka. Paris, who was offered at the 2024 edition of the Breeding Stock Sale in foal to Sword of State, failed to meet her $7,000 reserve, yet the resultant foal went on to sell at Karaka recently for $90,000. High Tranquilitywas a $30,500 purchase at the 2021 edition of the Breeding Stock Sale, while her Vadamos colt born in 2022 went on to sell for $220,000 at Karaka 2024. “This sale is the perfect opportunity for breeders to assess their portfolio and use a proven platform to buy and sell quality mares,” NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones said. “Further to that, stallion shares and nominations will be on offer, at an ideal time ahead of the breeding season. “We’ve also seen some great investment outcomes with the resulting foals, with many of their offspring going on to achieve great returns at Karaka.” Vendors can upload their entries directly to Gavelhouse Plus from 19 May to 16 June, while the catalogue will go live on Friday 26 June and bidding closes from 6pm (NZT) on Wednesday 8 July. The Sale’s entry fee will remain at $400 + GST and commission will be 5 percent with no pass in fees. For more information about the Sale, contact Patrick Cunningham (+64 21 181 5898 or patrick.cunningham@nzb.co.nz) or Gavelhouse.com Manager Haylie Martin (+64 9 296 4436 or haylie@gavelhouse.com). Key dates: Entries Open: 19 May Entries Close: 16 June Catalogue online on Gavelhouse Plus: 26 June Bidding Opens: 5 July Bidding Closes: From 6pm (NZT) Wednesday 8 July View the full article

On the Feb. 16 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith remembers late trainer John Shirreffs, Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins recap Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep action.View the full article

C R K Stable and Grandview Equine's Baeza (McKinzie), winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby and third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes last season, will be transferred to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, according to the DRF Monday. The colt was previously trained by John Shirreffs, who passed away last week. “The most important thing is the quality of Bill Mott, the kind of person that Robert Clay and myself relate to,” Lee Searing told DRF. “John Shirreffs would probably have liked that pick.” Baeza, who had been based a Santa Anita with trainer Peter Eurton following Shirreffs's death, worked a half-mile on Sunday. Under rider Amy Vasko, he negotiated a half-mile in :48.80. The half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont hero Dornoch is expected to arrive at Mott's Payson Park training base on Thursday. While Mott also trains Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt Sovereignty, Searing is confident the colts can remain apart, albeit for a while. “I think there are many races we can keep them separate,” he told DRF. “Everyone wants to get to the Breeders' Cup.” While Searing's horses will reportedly remain with Eurton, including GSW Westwood (Authentic), several of Shirreffs' other trainees have gone sent to other trainers including Bob Hess Jr. and Leonard Powell. The post Grade I Winner Baeza to Mott appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The constellation of stars in Johnny Burke's barn at Keeneland has shifted now that champions Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Immersive (Nyquist), as well as 2025 GI Kentucky Oaks victress Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), have shipped south to Payson Park, but the shedrow is just as busy as ever. For Burke, the departure of an elite trio simply makes room for the next wave of talent. Burke, who trained publicly out of The Thoroughbred Center for 15 years, has headed up Godolphin's pre-training and rehabilitation program at Keeneland since 2006. The first group that came through featured multiple Grade I winners Cocoa Beach (CHI) (Doneraile Court) and Music Note (A.P. Indy). The latter's legacy came full circle for Burke when he handled her son, 2021 G1 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). Fellow Darley roster-mates Highland Falls, Maxfield, Cody's Wish and Proxy are a few other notable pupils from recent years. The Godolphin horses that pass through Burke's barn arrive with a wide variety of credentials. Some are unraced prospects needing a few extra months before heading to their racing stable while others are getting back under tack after surgery or injury. Seasoned veterans like the trio of Grade I winners that just departed from Burke's care use the program to ease back into the rhythm of daily training after a layoff. “For most of the horses that come through here, it's just a matter of them needing more time,” explained Burke. “This helps them develop a bit and they're really never off the track unless they're in a paddock for a month. It all benefits the horse in the end.” Burke took the TDN down the shedrow of his Rice Road barn, offering an encyclopedic breakdown of every trainee in his care. He highlights some of the notable graded stakes winners who are set to return to the starting gate in 2026 and a few unraced 3-year-olds who Burke believes possess the raw talent for a bright future. FIRST RESORT (c, 4, Uncle Mo — Fair Maiden, by Street Boss). Winner of 2024 GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in his most recent start. This horse just came in off a layoff. He'd been out for some time, had a little bit of an issue, but he's back training. He had a very authoritative win in the Jockey Club, so we thought we were in a good spot, but that's racing. It'll give you a curveball every now and again when you don't expect it. He's a very straightforward horse. He'll train here until probably March or April and then go back to Eoin Harty. More than likely he'll stay at Turfway for the summer and then ship accordingly. He's doing well, a lot stronger physically, and he's happy to be back in training. THINK BIG (g, 5, Twirling Candy — Always Thinking, by Street Sense). Winner of the 2025 GII Shakertown Stakes, GII Turf Sprint Stakes and GIII Kelso Stakes. This guy will go back to Mike Stidham during the meet here. He had a little bit of a setback and got some time off, but he's on the right track now. He's probably going to work here by the end of the month. These turf sprinters don't need a thousand miles of training under them. They're just naturally quick. He'll probably be hard-pressed to make the spring meet here, but there will be something at Churchill for him and then there's Saratoga, where he ran last year. He's a lot of fun to have in the barn. These sprinters just get better with age. JEFFERSON STREET (g, 5, Street Sense — Apiary, by Bernardini). Runner-up in the 2024 GII Amsterdam Stakes. Last start October, 2024. He hasn't quite lived up to his form yet. He came back here and had a little setback. We've gelded him. We don't keep a lot of 5-year-olds in the program, but he will go back to Bill Mott probably after the meet. He's got conditions and if he can win a stake, great. NASH (g, 5, Medaglia d'Oro — Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon). Runner-up in the 2024 GIII Lecomtes Stakes and GII Pat Day Miles Stakes. Last start September, 2025. Nash will go back to Brad Cox soon. He's graded stakes placed and has won four times. I think there are still some good miles under this guy. INFINITE SKY (f, 3, Not This Time — Sky Painter, by Street Cry {Ire}). Runner-up in the 2025 GII Jessamine Stakes. Sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Half-sister to Grade I winner Wet Paint (Blame). We ended up taking a chip out of her knee and she got some time off. She's just come back under tack and she'll go to Brad Cox during the spring meet. ROSE ROOM (f, 3, Ghostzapper — Speckled, by Street Cry {Ire}). Broke maiden at Delaware Park on 8-7-25. Fourth in Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes in her most recent start. This is Mike Stidham's. She was fourth in a stake at Kentucky Downs and then got turned out. She just needed some time. She'll get better with age and will go back to Mike here in the spring. She's probably a stakes-caliber filly at somewhere like Colonial Downs. SPIN A TUNE (f, 3, Hard Spun — Desert Tune, by Street Cry {Ire}). Broke maiden at Ellis Park on 8-1-25. This is an interesting filly. She ran against the boys in her maiden at Ellis Park going five and a half on the grass. It turns out [future stakes winner] Street Beast (Street Sense) was second and the horse that won, Twilight Delight (Twirling Candy), ended up being stakes placed for Daniel Leitch, so that tells you what she ran into in that maiden race. She needed time off and will go back to Eoin Harty probably for the spring meet. This is a nice filly. The Hard Spun fillies are normally very tough and hardy. ZAMBONI (f, 3, Nyquist — Synchronize, by Tapit). Second on debut at Ellis Park on 8-22-25. This colt was second at Ellis Park in his first start for Brendan Walsh. He was getting ready to run here at Keeneland opening weekend and had a setback in a breeze. He had two screws put in and got three months off. He's back under tack now. Typical of a Nyquist, he's a nice, well-made colt. ACKLEY (c, 3, Street Boss — Arbol, by Elusive Quality). Third on debut at Fair Grounds on 11-27-25. This horse just came in from Mike Stidham. He placed down in Fair Grounds. We took a chip out of his ankle and he's been back on the track for about four weeks. He'll go back to Mike probably after the spring meet. Usually if a horse has run a couple times and breezed recently, with five or six weeks for a P1 chip they don't lose a lot of fitness. It won't take long for them to get caught up. EQUATOR (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Moiety, by Bernardini). Third on debut at Ellis Park on 7-13-25. Last start August, 2025. This horse had some joint surgery and he's been back in training for the last six weeks. I'm probably going to pick up the pace in the next week. I like this horse. His races on the charts look good and he looks to be a horse that will improve as he gets older. LADY BROMPTON (f, 3, Street Sense — Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini). Unraced. This is a half-sister to MGSW Knightsbridge (Nyquist) and a full-sister to Darley stallion Speaker's Corner. She was supposed to go to Florida to Bill Mott on the van that left in January, but she had a bit of a setback here and lost a month of training. It was probably a month that she benefitted from because she was immature, but she's a very nice filly and she's from a great family. CUTTING EDGE (f, 3, Curlin — Innovate Idea, by Bernardini). Unraced. This is the half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile). She breezed here this week [three furlongs in :38.40]. She's a nice filly. We gave her plenty of time because she's a typical Curlin where she needs a bit more time, but she's coming together really well. I expect her to go to Brad Cox during the meet here. I'll get her up to working a half mile before she leaves. That's about as far as I typically breeze them. RISING MOON (c, 3, Tapit — Shuruq, by Elusive Quality). Unraced. This colt was supposed to go to Bill Mott's earlier in the summer last year, but unfortunately he had a little setback with Niall Brennan down in Ocala. I've had him for a while but he's doing really well. He's probably three or four weeks away from picking up the pace and then he'll go back to Bill in the spring. I think we have a little bit of a future with this guy. He's got a lot of the old man in him. He's real professional once he gets on the track and he does his job. RILEY COVE (c, 3, Into Mischief — Lake Avenue, by Tapit). Unraced. This colt is by Into Mischief and you can see the old man in him too. He's out of Lake Avenue, who was a pretty decent filly [Grade II winner]. He had some condylar bruising and got some time off. This one is Bill Mott's. He's been back under tack here for the last two weeks. He will train here until the spring and then he may go over to Churchill Downs for the summer. The post Down the Shedrow with Johnny Burke appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bill Recio, a respected and accomplished horseman, passed away on Feb. 10 following a brief illness. He was 78 years old. Born in Miami, Florida, Bill was introduced to thoroughbred racing at an early age by his uncle, an owner-trainer. From the moment he experienced the beauty of the horse and the electricity of the racetrack, he knew his life's path would be in the horse business. The quote, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man,” could not have been more true for Bill. Horses were not simply his livelihood – they were his calling. Bill began his career at the racetrack as a hot walker, learning the business from the ground up. Through hard work, determination, and a natural gift with horses, he earned his first major opportunity as an assistant to the late great Arnold Winick. Traveling across the country for prominent owners, Bill built a reputation for horsemanship rooted in patience, instinct, and integrity. After marrying the love of his life, Lynn, they decided that putting down roots would better suit their growing family. Bill accepted the position of farm manager and trainer at Marablue Farm. Though he would later return to training at the track, Bill and Lynn fell in love with Ocala and its ideal environment for developing young horses. They eventually made Ocala their permanent home and founded Lynwood Stable, where Bill dedicated himself to pre-training, rehabilitation, and guiding thoroughbreds both young and seasoned. Teaching young horses their early lessons was one of Bill's greatest joys. He treated every horse as an individual, believing that each one would tell you what it needed–if you were willing to listen. His quiet intuition and steady patience allowed countless horses to thrive under his care. Throughout his career, Bill had the honor of contributing to the development of exceptional racehorses, including Songbird, Omaha Beach, Honor Code, Unbridled Belle, Fleet Indian, Battle of Midway, Oleksandra, Funtastic, Gift Box, Leofric and Guarana. Yet to Bill, every horse was his student, and he valued them all equally. The people who worked alongside him were also his students. Though he could be tough, he invested deeply in mentoring young riders and horsemen, shaping not just better professionals but better people. Bill had a way of sharing his convictions and guiding others to see his perspective, often saying simply, “right or wrong,” as he encouraged them to understand, trust, and learn from his approach. Later in life, Bill and Lynn–his partner of 60 years–were able to travel the world together, visiting racetracks and stables across continents. He often said, “The bond between humans and horses is universal–the common denominator. No matter what language you speak or your socioeconomic status, the love of the horse, that is the bond.” It was a belief he lived every day. He is survived by his devoted wife, Lynn; his daughter, Katie Cauthen (Recio) and son-in-law, Chief Stipe Cauthen; his son Gene Recio. He was preceded in death by his son, Mike Recio. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Campbell (Chief Stipe and Katie) and Addison and Wesley (Mike). Bill Recio's legacy lives on in the countless horses he guided, the horsemen he mentored, and the family he cherished. His life was a testament to hard work, quiet wisdom, and an enduring love for the horse The post Bill Recio, Notable Horseman, Dies at 78 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RIVER WIND (f, 3, Lexitonian–Rachae Leigh, by Stormin Fever) entered this unveiling with a sharp worktab to her credit for trainer Norm Casse, and was supported by the betting public to the tune of 4-1 odds. Breaking well as Quick to Charm (Goldencents) was herded out, the daughter of Lexitonian stepped out to set the fractions and posted an opening quarter of :21.87 with a clear advantage on her rivals. Under a drive but well clear after a half-mile in :45.45, River Wind entered the lane three wide but still moving forwardly as the margin increased to 8 1/4 lengths on the wire. Quick to Charm closed from last to claim second. The victress is the most recent to the races for Rachae Leigh, who claims four successful offspring of competition age from five on the ground. The mare's youngest is a yearling colt by Rombauer, and she is due to Blazing Sevens in 2026. Rachae Leigh is a half-sister to MGSW Stryker PhD (Bertrando) and MSW Madame Pele (Salt Lake), herself mother of SP Ali Alley (Quality Road). This is the extended female family of GSW All Squared Away (Bellamy Road). 1st-Oaklawn, $110,000, Msw, 2-16, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.13, ft, 8 1/4 lengths. RIVER WIND (f, 3, Lexitonian–Rachae Leigh, by Stormin Fever) Sales history: $20,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $155,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $66,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Turman Racing Stable, LLC, Resilient Six Stables, LLC and TJR Thoroughbreds; B-Javie Woodstock, LLC & Javier Hernandez (KY); T-Norm W. Casse. On debut #1 RIVER WIND ($10.40) was impressive going gate-to-wire while running away from the field in the stretch to easily win the opener at @OaklawnRacing. The 2yo daughter of Lexitonian was ridden by @JockeyRamonVazq and is trained by @NormCasse. pic.twitter.com/qm90hRtcL4 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 16, 2026 The post Lexitonian’s River Wind Strides Home Well on Debut at Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On February 9, TDN published my Letter to the Editor criticizing The Jockey Club for its January 27 rebuttal of Mike Repole's sustained effort to hold the organization accountable for the most pressing issues facing Thoroughbred racing, breeding and aftercare. That statement alone was enough to make my blood curdle. The Jockey Club labeled Repole's concerns “unfair,” referred to itself as a body of “volunteers,” and again refused to accept responsibility for its own failures. Then came the February 13 “Industry Impact Report,” and what had curdled began to boil. Much of what the Stewards of The Jockey Club likely view as substantive is, upon inspection, a farce, detailing spending but offering little in the way of results or, contrary to its title–impact. It falls well short of what experienced stakeholders expect and fails to withstand even modest scrutiny. Worse still, the report exposes a fatal contradiction by acknowledging on the record that The Jockey Club's mission extends far beyond merely serving as a registry, a defense it has long used as a convenient shield. “The Jockey Club remains steadfast in its mission to improve Thoroughbred breeding and racing,” said President and COO James L. Gagliano. “Each year we continue to expand on that mission by assisting Thoroughbreds throughout their lives and marketing and growing the sport and its fan base.” There it is. The mission expands annually. Any argument that The Jockey Club is merely a registry, and that the issues it has been challenged on fall outside its scope, is nullified by its own leadership. This is precisely why the original use of the words “unfair” and “volunteers” was so offensive. Rather than embracing the responsibility that comes with being the most qualified organization to serve as a de facto governing body, The Jockey Club once again passed the buck. Just weeks later, its president contradicts that stance. As owners and breeders, required to register our horses with the Jockey Club in order to race and breed, it is our duty to hold the organization to its own words. For the Club's members and Stewards, that responsibility is even greater. If the January 27 rebuttal was a swing and a miss, the Industry Impact Report was a complete whiff. Let's just look at these supposed acts of transparency through the lens of dedication to Thoroughbred aftercare. Some uncomfortable truths emerged, all drawn from The Jockey Club's own reporting. First, The Jockey Club spends more on executive compensation than it directs to Thoroughbred aftercare. Using the Club's own figures, executive compensation in 2024 was roughly 60 percent higher than the amount directed to aftercare in 2025. Second, in 2025 it spent almost 30 percent more on America's Best Racing content creation and media than it contributes to aftercare. Third, the touted increase in aftercare funding for 2026 is, arguably, substantially subsidized by higher registration fees paid by owners and breeders, which they never announced publicly until pressed by the media to explain it. This is confounding. Even if these funds are used entirely for aftercare, the Jockey Club does a deplorable job selling it. And if they can't even market their own efforts believably amongst stakeholders, how can they be entrusted to market our sport? The here-to-fore “silent majority” should be outraged, and more should speak out. Accountability and meaningful reform are no longer optional. While The Jockey Club attempts to characterize its impact as improvement, every major metric in this industry is shrinking. A quiet “trust us” or “we got this” is not only insufficient, it's not even believable. To compound matters, while Repole has been criticized for keeping much of his playbook private, the one developed plan he did present to The Jockey Club included comprehensive findings on aftercare with a sustainable, industry wide funding structure. It was ignored. If the Jockey Club isn't open to critical fixes to aftercare – a topic which should be universally supported – it's impossible to expect them to lead on other substantive areas of our business. I was angry after the January 27 rebuttal, yet I deliberately tried to keep the focus on Repole's message rather than the messenger. Personalities are irrelevant. Principles are not. Before reform can begin, stakeholders must acknowledge that this industry is drowning. Despite ample resources, The Jockey Club is not offering a lifeline, it is standing by as the water rises. I did not believe it could get worse after January 27. The February 13 Industry Impact Report proved otherwise. How long do we need to read their past performances before we start believing them? The Jockey Club has had decades to right the ship and has given us no reason to believe it can or will. Once stakeholders in the industry recognize and accept this reality, then and only then can collaboration begin. Only then can the playbook open and the game be turned in our favor, for the good of the entire industry, not for a tone deaf few who still believe this is their club rather than one that belongs to everyone with a stake in this sport. Aron Wellman is the President & Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, LLC The post Letter to the Editor: Strike 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Sheppard CBE, former chief executive of both the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and the European Breeders' Fund (EBF), died on Friday evening at his home in Suffolk. He was 84. His tenure at the TBA ran from 1973 to 1989 and during that time Sheppard was instrumental in setting up the EBF along with the late Peter Willett and Bob McCreery. He remained at the helm of the EBF, which is still going strong more than 40 years later, until his retirement at the end of 2012. By that time the scheme, which is funded by stallion owners, had distributed more than €100 million in prize-money. That figure has now climbed to more than €140 million. A keen supporter of jump racing and point-to-pointing in particular, Sheppard's background was in the National Hunt sphere. His father Gay was clerk of the course at Newton Abbot, Exeter and Taunton. He and his wife Jane have both been avid supporters of the Thurlow Hunt, which meets just outside Newmarket. Despite having been diagnosed with cancer two and a half years ago, Sheppard was still a regular attendee of those meets until recently. Kerry Murphy, his successor as chief executive of the EBF since 2013, said, “Sam was instrumental in setting up the EBF back in 1983 whilst also heading up the TBA. It is testament to his hard work and determination that the EBF still thrives today and we are proud to pay tribute to his life and contribution to the racing industry which he was so passionate about.” Having also served as secretary of the International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation, Sheppard was made a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list of 2014 for services to horse breeding and the rural economy. It was a fitting honour to bestow upon someone who had devoted the majority of his working life to an industry that he adored and which was fortunate to have him in a role which often required his skilful blend of knowledge, tact and charm. Philip Freedman chaired the British EBF during Sheppard's time with the organisation and he too paid tribute to his drive in setting up the EBF. He said, “For a large part of its life Sam was the EBF. It's hard to imagine that it would have happened or flourished without him. He and Peter Willett were the people who got it off the ground and I know Sam had to be pretty determined to get through some of the opposition to it in the early days. “I think the role required a great deal of diplomacy – to get everyone involved in the first place and then throughout its life to ensure that it was seen as being a genuinely pan-European body. There were times when some of the other countries felt that he was too partisan in terms of supporting the BEBF, but that's not a fair criticism. He genuinely put the interests of the European Breeders' Fund ahead of any of its constituent members, which is what he quite rightly had to do.” Louise Kemble, who worked with Sheppard during her time as chief executive of the TBA, added, “Sam was always so helpful and had such knowledge of the industry, and of the people side. In his involvement in the setting up of the EBF and its link up with the Breeders' Cup he was probably ahead of his time with that line of thinking. He was a pioneer in projects that still stand the test of time today.” Speaking on behalf of the Irish EBF, chairman Joe Foley said, “Sam was a stalwart of the European Breeders' Fund. He deserves a lot of credit for guiding the fund though its initiation stages and was responsible for it becoming the powerful funding mechanism that it is now throughout Europe. “For a start he had to persuade stallion owners to contribute voluntarily to a fund to assist prize-money in their nations, and then he had to bring all those countries together under a pan-European banner and get them all to sign up to the memorandum of association for the fund. That was far reaching and far thinking 40 years ago, and the help that the EBF has given to the jurisdictions ever since is a testament to the people who set up the EBF, and obviously to its CEO who ran it for many years, Sam Sheppard.” In an interview with Owner Breeder magazine to mark his retirement in 2012, Sheppard was asked what it was that had made racing so attractive to him. He replied, “The thoroughbred horse, which is absolutely top of the pops as far as I am concerned. Very close to that are the people I have met and worked with over many years who devote so much of their time to the thoroughbred. “If you're a stockbroker you can go to work, beat the hell out of the market, go home and forget all about it. The people in racing are remarkable; they eat, drink and sleep the thoroughbred, particularly the breeders. All so enthusiastic; they keep the whole sport going and I admire them enormously.” So many people in the bloodstock industry who were fortunate enough to have known Sam Sheppard would say the same about him. He is survived by Jane and their sons Ed and Ben, to whom we extend our sincere condolences. The post EBF Founder Sam Sheppard Dies at 84 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This column is not really supposed to start until the Flat turf season gets underway but we saw the sunshine in Newmarket on Monday morning for pretty much the first time this year so we're jumping the gun a little. After all, there was plenty of top-class Flat action on offer over the weekend in the Middle East and beyond, and following some frenetic race reporting on the spot in Riyadh, here are a few thoughts and breeding angles with the benefit of some time for reflection. Deep influence With Auguste Rodin to come, and Study Of Man and Saxon Warrior already up and running in Europe, it will be interesting to see if one of these sons of Deep Impact will have a lasting influence in this part of the world. (Martinborough, though being marketed more for the National Hunt sector, is also worth having a look at if you're passing Capital Stud in Ireland.) Certainly, Deep Impact's influence was very much felt in some smart races on Saturday and we'll start first with Deep Monster as he has the closest link, being an eight-year-old son of the late stallion. The father-son connection doesn't end there as Deep Monster is trained by Yasutoshi Ikee, the son of Deep Impact's trainer Yasuo Ikee. Deep Monster took the notable scalps of Group 1 winners Goliath (Adlerflug) and Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) when rattling home to win the G2 HH The Amir Trophy in Doha, having also won last year's G2 Kyoto Daishoten. He's out of the dual Grade III-winning Bellamy Road mare Sisterly Love. The headline result of the weekend was of course Forever Young's second victory in the G1 Saudi Cup and his third in Riyadh having also won the G3 Saudi Derby in 2024. His owner Susumu Fujita flew in to Saudi Arabia for a few hours and even hinted at the post-race press conference that he may yet have a third stab at the Saudi Cup next year when this valuable stallion prospect will be six. Forever Young is by Real Steel, who, like his most celebrated son, was trained by Yoshito Yahagi and bred by Northern Farm. In fact, Saturday was a good day for stallion sons of Deep Impact, with Real Steel and Study Of Man both being represented by Group winners on the Saudi Cup card, while closer to home, Kizuna was responsible for Classic prospect Dream Core, who won the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup in Tokyo. Interestingly, all three of these Deep Impact stallions are out of mares by Storm Cat. Real Steel, a full-brother to Yahagi's 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Hong Kong Vase winner Loves Only You, is a son of Loves Only Me, who is out of Miesque's daughter Monevassia, a full-sister to Kingmambo. This makes him very closely related to Study Of Man, who has Miesque one generation closer in his pedigree, his dam being Kingmambo and Monevassia's half-sister Second Happiness. The Study Of Man five-year-old Sons And Lovers won Saturday's G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap for Joseph O'Brien and may be seen next in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup having shown that he stays well. Sons And Lovers was bred by Kirsten Rausing, who was understandably eager to stand the beautifully bred Study Of Man when he was retired by his breeders, the Niarchos family. Rausing rarely races colts but she retained Almeric, a Listed winner last year for the same sire who will be an interesting four-year-old to follow this season. What undoubtedly makes these results extra satisfying for the Lanwades owner, apart from advertising her stallion, is that Sons And Lovers and Almeric represent her two long-established families, with the former having Sushila (Petingo) as his fifth dam, while Alruccaba (Crystal Palace) is the fourth dam of Almeric. Kizuna has been the reigning champion sire in Japan for the last two years. His dam Catequil was bred by Windfields Farm and raced for Sheikh Mohammed without covering herself in glory but she has excelled at stud, producing two Japanese Classic winners in Kizuna and Phalaenopsis as well as Sunday Break, who was third in the GI Belmont Stakes. The latter was a useful stallion in France with his offspring including the G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Never On Sunday. Kizuna, who was also champion first-season sire, looks to have another Classic prospect to represent him this season in Dream Core. Already the winner of three of her four races for owner-breeder Katsumi Yoshida and trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara, she boasts a typically strong pedigree. Her dam is the Harbinger mare Normcore, who won the G1 Victoria Mile in Japan before her successful swansong in the G1 Hong Kong Cup. Normcore's dam Chronologist also produced Chrono Genesis (Bago), who won the Arima Kinen among her four Grade 1 victories in Japan. The Mighty Quinault We must also toast the twelfth win for Quinault, the one-time bad boy whose tearaway tendencies have been beautifully channelled by trainer Stuart Williams to make this six-year-old son of Oasis Dream into a consistent and classy sprinter. His latest victory came in the Dukhan Sprint Cup, a local Group 3 in Doha worth a not insignificant £168,888 to the winner. Bred by Gestut Fahrhof, Quinault was originally sold to Johnny Collins at the BBAG September Yearling Sale for €58,000. He was later picked up by owner Tom Morley for 25,000gns as a two-year-old at the Horses-in-Training Sale, having earlier that year cost 310,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up Sale. He now looks well bought indeed by Morley, with earnings north of £660,000, plus the G3 Criterion Stakes and three Listed victories to his credit. Wathnan Racing's Make Me King (Dark Angel) landed the Listed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup on Saturday, adding to a good day for the older geldings as he too is six and was winning for the seventh time. It was a pattern repeated in Saudi, where Shamardal eight-year-old Royal Champion took the G1 Howden Neom Turf Cup, and was backed up by the five-year-old winners Forever Young, Imagination, Reef Runner and Sons And Lovers (though Forever Young and Imagination are both entires). If the expansion of the racing programme across the Middle East means that we see more horses remaining in training to target these races then this can only be a positive factor for racing. Admittedly there are concerns over losing too many decent horses from these shores to overseas owners with deep pockets, but there are plenty of examples of horses remaining in training in Europe and travelling abroad to plunder some of the valuable prizes on offer. One only needs to see the improvement in Royal Champion in the last year for Karl Burke to agree that he has been a horse well worth persisting with as he now reaches the peak of his powers at eight. A multiple winner at multiple prices Michael Scofield (Tiz The Law), winner of the Listed Tuwaiq Cup on the Saudi Cup undercard, also won the unofficial award for having the most exotic sales history of any of the wekeend's runners. Twice offered as a yearling in America, in July then October, he was unsold initially at $170,000 then bought by Tom Whitehead at Fasig-Tipton for $60,000. Whitehead breezed him at Arqana in Deauville through his Powerstown Stud and he was again unsold at $90,000 before being offered at the Tattersalls Online Sale of January 2025 in which he was bought for 3,400gns by Niall Scully. Five months later, having won twice for Michael O'Callaghan in March, he fetched £350,000 at the Goffs London Sale, bought by Michael Donohoe to head to Saudi, where he now races for King Abdullah Bin Abdullaziz and his sons. Saturday marked his third victory in the kingdom for trainer Saad Aljenade, those wins including the King Naif Bin Abdulaziz Cup, a local Group 2. It was a good couple of days in Saudi for Donohoe of BBA Ireland as he had also bought for the same connections the Juddmonte-bred Gran Descans (Frankel), who won Friday's $500,000 Saudi International Handicap. Iffraaj still in the mix at 25 It is somehow easy to overlook Iffraaj but we shouldn't. After all, he gave the breeding world Wootton Bassett, and for that alone his name will linger on, but he does also have another 12 Group 1 winners to his name across both hemispheres. These include Ribchester, whose son Facteur Cheval posted another game effort when chasing home Royal Champion in the Neom Turf Cup to give trainer Jerome Reynier his second runner-up of the day in Saudi after Lazzat in the 1351 Turf Sprint. Better still was to see Iffraaj represented by a new group performer in the G3 Saudi Derby winner Al Haram. The colt was bred by Seamus Phelan, who sold him for £150,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale to owner Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, for whom he is now unbeaten in four starts. As a local winner, the Abdullah Alsidrani-trained Al Haram was given an electric reception when returning to the winner's enclosure, and the colt looks likely to head next to the UAE Derby in an attempt to earn more points towards the Kentucky Derby. Now 25, Iffraaj is about to embark on his twelfth covering season at Dalham Hall Stud, having stood for eight years prior to that in Ireland at Kildangan Stud. Wouldn't it be something for him to be represented by an Irish-bred, British-sold, Saudi Arabian-owned and -trained runner at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May? The post Seven Days: Do Not Adjust Your Sets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Treo Eile has announced a new partnership with Horse Sport Ireland for the upcoming breeding season, launching a pilot initiative designed to safeguard Thoroughbred mares by creating further opportunities beyond their racing and breeding careers. The Treo Eile Thoroughbred Broodmare Scheme is designed to provide an additional pathway for registered Thoroughbred broodmares, supporting their transition into sport horse breeding. Dr Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development at Horse Sport Ireland, said, “We are delighted to support Treo Eile's pilot scheme, which aims to encourage the use of quality Thoroughbred mares in sport horse breeding. “Thoroughbred mares have long been vital contributors to Ireland's foundation bloodlines within the Irish Sport Horse and Traditional Irish Horse populations. They have also played a key role in Ireland's success in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses rankings and at the highest levels of international sport under FEI.” More information about the Treo Eile Thoroughbred Broodmare Scheme is available here. The post Treo Eile and Horse Sport Ireland Join Forces for New Pilot Scheme appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is embarking on a pre-market consultation (PMC), aimed at engaging international developers, investors and operators, in order to explore the next phase in the evolution of the Leopardstown Campus. This PMC follows a series of stakeholder briefings held in January, bringing together representatives from across the racing industry, local community, business and public sectors to share information, gather insight and begin an open dialogue on the future evolution of the Leopardstown Campus. According to HRI, the engagement phase of the Leopardstown Campus Masterplan revealed a “growing appetite from the market for a high-quality arena and a hotel at Leopardstown”. Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, added, “This pre-market consultation marks a significant step in realising the full potential of the Leopardstown Campus. We are engaging openly with leading international developers, investors and operators to understand how best to bring forward a transformative project in one of Dublin's most strategically located and high-profile destinations. “With its scale, connectivity, established international reputation and year-round event demand, Leopardstown presents a compelling opportunity for partners seeking to deliver a landmark arena and/or hospitality development within the heart of Dublin. Our objective at this stage is to listen, to test the depth of market interest and to ensure that any future procurement process is informed, ambitious and commercially robust.” Owned and operated by HRI, Leopardstown Racecourse hosts approximately 23 fixtures annually, including the Christmas Festival, Dublin Racing Festival and Irish Champions Festival. The racecourse is located 6 miles from Dublin city centre and benefits from strong transport connectivity, including LUAS access and proximity to the M50, as well as sitting adjacent to the Sandyford Business District. The Sandyford Business District is home to major multinational employers including Microsoft, Bank of America, ICON, Mastercard and Vodafone. Further details on the Leopardstown Campus Masterplan are available here. The post HRI Moves to Next Phase of Leopardstown Campus Masterplan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who went down in a spill in Sunday's ninth race at Gulfstream Park, has reported on X that he was not seriously injured. After being attended to on the course, Gutierrez was transported to the hospital with complaints of a sore hip. “Counting my blessings today,” Gutierrez wrote. “Yesterday was rough, but I walked away with no broken bones–just some bruises and a lot of soreness. I can't thank the Gulfstream Park medical staff enough for their professional and kind help. Thank you for everything you do!” Tyler Gaffalione also went down in the spill, but returned to the jockey's room without apparent need for medical attention. Gutierrez has ridden 18 winners at the meet from 105 starters. The post Gutierrez Survives Gulfstream Spill With No Broken Bones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article