Wandering Eyes

A Kentucky Court of Appeals judge on Wednesday denied a motion by Amr Zedan's incorporated racing stable that would have conferred “emergency” status on his legal quest to get 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) into the GI Kentucky Derby despite a ban by Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) against the colt's trainer, Bob Baffert. Technically, the Apr. 24 order by Judge Jeff Taylor didn't decide Zedan's appeal of a lower court's denial of a temporary injunction in full. But from a practical standpoint, it appears that time has all but run out on that appeal being decided before Saturday's entry time for the Derby. After deciding that that case does not meet legal standards for “emergency” adjudication, Taylor wrote that the case will now be assigned to a three-judge panel “in accordance with this Court's customary procedures.” As of 1 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, no hearing date had been posted on the court's electronic docket. The “case status” section stated that the appeal is “ready to be assigned to motion panel.” In his 12-page order, Taylor wrote of three key issues that factored into his decision not to give emergency relief: 1) That Baffert himself was not a party to the lawsuit and/or its appeal; 2) That a federal court had already established a precedent in 2023 by denying a Baffert-initiated request to end the CDI ban, and 3) That Zedan Racing Stables had plenty of time-some 10 months before the 2024 Derby-to decide if it wanted to switch trainers to make horses Derby-eligible. “Any action taken by this Court to allow Zedan to participate in the Derby with Baffert as his trainer would eviscerate CDI's suspension of Baffert, without Baffert ever appearing before this Court,” Taylor wrote. “On its face, that would be totally unfair and unjust for CDI and the other owners who have complied with CDI rules for entry of horses into the Kentucky Derby. “As it stands, Muth is ineligible for nomination to the 150th Kentucky Derby because his trainer, Baffert, is presently suspended by CDI. Since Baffert is not before this Court to contest his suspension and is otherwise an indispensable party to this action, we decline to grant it the requested extraordinary emergency relief,” Taylor wrote. “To do otherwise would also affect Baffert' s rights, which are not 'separable from those of parties before the court.' The instant case may also be perceived as a collateral attack on the disciplinary action taken by CDI against Baffert, which has been litigated extensively in the courts,” Taylor wrote. “[A] federal court in Kentucky upheld the validity of Baffert's suspension by CDI in a final judgment entered in May of 2023. That judgment was not appealed. Accordingly, 'a federal court judgment is entitled to full faith and credit in the state courts,'” Taylor wrote. Taylor wrote that, “despite the effort at artful pleading by Zedan, the denial of Muth as a Kentucky Derby participant by CDI is inextricably intertwined with CDI's banning of the horse's trainer, Baffert, at its racing facilities. And to grant Zedan the relief requested would clearly undermine or evade the adjudication by the federal court in favor of CDI by a non-party to that action.” CDI had barred Baffert from its properties shortly after the 2021 Derby, which the now-disqualified, Zedan-owned, Baffert-trained Medina Spirit won while testing positive for betamethasone. Baffert's ban was initially just supposed to last for two Derbies. But in July 2023 CDI extended the penalty through 2024. Taylor addressed Zedan's claim that his stable relied upon a 2021 public statement by CDI that Baffert's suspension would be for two years only when Zedan subsequently spent approximately $14-million on seven auction purchases, allegedly thinking that Baffert would be allowed to train them in the 2024 Derby. Taylor wrote that “Zedan was aware of the dilemma it faced with having Baffert as the trainer of its horses on July 3, 2023. Zedan's failure to take any legal action to address the issue until April of 2024 certainly mitigates against any irreparable injury alleged to have been suffered by Zedan. Any harm incurred by Zedan would have been self-inflicted by its own conduct.” Zedan could opt to push the appeals process further by asking for a last-gasp appeal in the Kentucky State Supreme Court, but that option seems highly unlikely with the Apr. 27 entry time for the Derby looming within 48 hours. A public relations firm that has been acting as a spokesperson for Zedan Racing Stable's legal efforts issued a press release on Thursday that stated, “We are disappointed with the single judge decision of the Court of Appeals, and saddened that our horse Muth, one of the fastest three-year-olds in the country, will be denied the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he earned to contend in the 150th Run for the Roses and, potentially, the Triple Crown. “Filing this lawsuit was the last thing we wanted to do. That is why [Zedan] reached out to the Churchill Downs CEO this past December and January to attempt to resolve this issue amicably. Zedan Racing Stables was compelled by its substantive business interests to take legal action to secure Muth's rightful opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby. “We hope that Churchill Downs will follow up on [the lower court's] request that both sides work out an ongoing agreement in order for Bob Baffert to once again bring horses to Churchill Downs' tracks,” the stable's statement concluded. Tonya Abeln, CDI's vice president of communications, emailed the following statement in response to a TDN query for comment on the judge's order: “CDI is pleased with the Kentucky Court of Appeals' Order issued [Wednesday]. We remain focused on the horses and connections who qualified to compete in this year's Kentucky Derby, and we look forward to welcoming another champion into the history books as we celebrate the milestone 150th running of this extraordinary tradition.” Zedan himself also commented via his PR firm: “I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex Rankin, the Chairman of Churchill Downs, and I congratulated him on the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby and wish him and racing fans around the world a competitive, captivating, and safe race. I look forward to bringing Muth to the [GI] Preakness [S.].” The post Ky Appeals Court Denies Zedan ‘Emergency’ Relief for Muth’s Derby Eligibility appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and 12 other Yeguada Centurion horses have transferred to the stable of Maurizio Guarnieri as of Thursday evening, Jour de Galop reported. The baker's dozen were formerly listed in training with Christopher Head. Speaking to the French publication, Head said, “I was notified Thursday morning of the departure of the horses for Maurizio Guarnieri's stable, with transport planned for the evening. I savored every minute spent with the Yeguada Centurion horses. I [will] only have good memories of this valuable experience for the rest of my training career.” Big Rock, a homebred for Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals's operation, skipped home a winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day in October. He holds an entry in the May 18 G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury. This move follows the removal of high-class filly and multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and several other Yeguada Centurion horses to group-class trainer Guarnieri in January. The post Big Rock Among Thirteen More Yeguada Centurion Horses To Move From Head To Guarnieri appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has affirmed an earlier Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) arbitration panel ruling against trainer Jonathan Wong, suspending him for two years and fining him $25,000 for a 2023 post-race metformin positive. Metformin is a type 2 diabetes drug that HISA has classified as a banned substance. Wong will now take the case to federal court, according to the trainer's long-time owner, Brent Malmstrom. This would make it the first HISA-related medication violation case to work its way up to the federal court level. “If anyone thinks I have enjoyed spending over $510,000 litigating this, they would be mistaken, but to think we will stop now is misguided. I look forward to our ability to force discovery, take depositions, force accountability, and allow this case to be properly adjudicated,” wrote Malmstrom. In his written ruling dated April 22, FTC chief administrative law judge D. Michael Chappell agreed with the plaintiffs that HISA had departed from the anti-doping medication control (ADMC) program's standards or protocol in key instances. Nevertheless, Chappell determined that “there is no basis presented by Appellant to support a conclusion that the resulting sanctions were 'arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” HISA and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) had no comment on the FTC decision. Though banned from operating in jurisdictions that fall under HISA's authority, Wong operates a stable out of Evangeline Downs, in Louisiana, a state that currently falls outside of HISA legal purview. The ruling marks the latest twist in a case involving a drug that appears to be playing an out-sized role in the organization's anti-doping crusade. Metformin ranks as the nation's third-most-prescribed human medicine, according to the consumer healthcare website Healthgrades, with more 20 million patients taking it. As a banned substance under HISA, a metformin positive comes with a possible maximum two-year suspension and $25,000 fine. The Wong-trainee Heaven and Earth (Gormley) broke her maiden at Indiana Grand on June 1 but subsequently tested positive for metformin. As a matter of protocol at that time, HIWU initially provisionally suspended Wong at the beginning of June when the A sample returned a positive finding for Metformin. The HISA Authority subsequently announced that it had modified the rules surrounding provisional suspensions. Under the revised provisions, responsible parties who request B Sample confirmation following a positive test for a banned substance would no longer face a provisional suspension until the B sample findings are returned. In Wong's case, he was notified on Aug. 9 that the B Sample confirmed the Metformin positive. Though Wong was technically permitted to return to training for a brief period while the B sample was being processed, he explained at the time that his owners did not wish to transfer the horses back with the B Sample results expected imminently, and effectively has not trained since July 2. Earlier this year, a HISA arbitration panel imposed on Wong the maximum possible sentence for such a violation. The two-year period of ineligibility retroactively started July 1, 2023, when Wong's initial provisional suspension was first imposed. The panel's ruling also set the case up for review anew before the FTC. In his appeal, Wong made several claims that the way the blood and urine samples in the case had been processed were a departure from the “rules and standards” of HISA's drug testing program, and that these departures rendered the test results “inadmissible.” Judge Chappell agreed that some of these “departures” from the ADMC program's rules and regulations indeed occurred, including how HISA failed to “document the chain of custody” of the samples between the time of collection and shipment to Industrial Laboratories for testing. Chappell also agreed that Brendan Heffron, lab director at the University of Illinois Chicago Illinois (UIC) where the B samples were sent for confirmation testing, failed to “decant” the urine sample according to the ADMC rules. Chappell disagreed with the assertion that the findings did not undergo “independent review” by two certifying scientists. Even though one of the certifying scientists conducted his review well after UIC reported its test result to HIWU in contrary to ADMC rules, “there is no evidence to support a conclusion – implied by Appellant – that UIC altered the laboratory package after Benoit's review and prior to certifying the result,” Chappell wrote. In an unusual turn of events in the case, the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, conducted “Further Analysis” on the A blood sample sent to Industrial Laboratories, and on what remained of the B urine sample processed by the Chicago lab. Wong argued that ADMC rules required such further analysis to have been conducted by UIC—the laboratory that conducted B sample analysis—rather than by the UC Davis Lab. Chappell rejected this argument by stating that Wong had failed to make this assertion in arbitration, and that “Appellant has failed to rebut the presumption that the analyses of the A and B samples conducted by Industrial and UIC were valid in detecting the presence of a banned substance. In this context, whether the further analysis conducted by UC Davis failed to comply with applicable testing rules is immaterial.” In his ruling, Chappell concluded that Wong “has failed to meet his burden of establishing that the demonstrated departures from applicable testing standards or protocols could reasonably have caused the AAF. Therefore, pursuant to ADMC Rule 3122(c)-(d), the test results are presumed valid and the departures are not a defense to the possession violation.” In his written statement, Malmstrom pointed to the parts of the judge's ruling identifying where sample processing procedures had deviated from the stipulated rules. “Better stated, HIWU can issue a fine/suspension but not follow the stated rules, leading you to that conclusion,” Malmstrom wrote. Because of the possible severity of metformin-related sanctions and its ubiquity in the environment, the drug has been at the heart of several controversial cases that have led some to question whether HIWU is deploying too strict an enforcement approach to the drug. In justification of its stance, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus told the TDN earlier this year that “we do have intelligence that metformin is being used intentionally” as a performance enhancer. According to Malmstrom, the challenge “we and every other trainer face” is the difficulty in proving the root source of adverse analytical findings, especially in ship-in scenarios. “We have all read about the disproportionate number of tests returning from situations where the trainer shipped their horses to various locations,” Malmstrom wrote, pointing to his “letter to the editor” from last July. “Due process isn't a scenario where some rules can be followed while others can be ignored. Under the current regulations, you can have your entire economic livelihood taken from you through no fault of your own,” Malmstrom wrote. “Trainers are not omnipresent and can't always control everything,” he added. “Why are trainers the only ones subject to transparency? Given that environmental contaminations continue to be significant events, a better solution that shares responsibility is needed.” The post FTC Affirms Wong Suspension and Fine, Case Heads to Federal Court appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star router Next and the speedy No Nay Mets are among the top contenders in two of Churchill Downs' featured stakes races May 1 leading up to Kentucky Derby (G1) weekend.View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1) favorites Fierceness and Sierra Leone will open as the second and third choices behind Muth in the Preakness Future Wager when the final pool opens April 26.View the full article

Jevian Toledo, four-time leading rider at Laurel Park, had minor surgery to repair a dislocated collarbone suffered during a spill April 21.View the full article

Originally slated to contest the G2 Dante S. next month, Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will instead head straight to the G1 Derby on June 1, trainer Andrew Balding confirmed on Thursday. A winner of a Newmarket maiden at fourth asking in September, the King Power Racing-owned colt ran out a three-quarter length winner of the Epsom pointer on Apr. 23. “We were delighted with his win in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and the plan now is to go straight for the Derby,” the trainer said in a stable tour on attheraces.com. “We know he handles the track, I'm pretty sure he will stay, and he is certainly in the mix for the places. “He has ticked a lot of boxes, so we don't see the point in running him again before the Derby.” Balding also had an update on Opulence Thoroughbreds and Teme Valley's listed winner Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}), who is targeting either the G3 Pavilion S. next week or the G2 Duke of York S. in the middle of May. The brown colt was second in the G3 Molecomb S. last August. “He was a very smart sprinter last year and his form is rock solid,” the trainer said. “His work has been good this year and it looks like he has trained on grand. “He will either go to Ascot next Wednesday or to the Duke Of York, and we very much hope he is going to develop into a Commonwealth Cup horse.” The post Straight To The Derby For Blue Riband Trial Hero Bellum Justum appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Jevian Toledo is expected to be out of action until late June after having minor surgery to repair his collarbone, while rider J.G. Torrealba will return to action Friday, five days after they were involved in a spill at Laurel Park. Toledo was injured during Sunday's fourth race after being unseated when his mount, Jackie A, tripped over Torrealba and Bourbon and Ice, who had stumbled when in tight quarters at the top of the stretch and fell. Both horses walked off the track. One shy of 1,600 career wins and a four-time annual leading rider in Maryland, the 29-year-old Toledo and five-pound apprentice Torrealba, 22, were both taken to University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. Toledo was subsequently sent to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. “It was a dislocated collarbone [from] the breastplate. They had to go in, make a little incision and do a tiny surgery on him. He spent two nights at Shock Trauma, but he's home now,” Toledo's agent, Marty Leonard, said. “He's going to be out probably two months. He's disappointed, but he's OK. It could have been much worse.” The post Jockey Jevian Toledo Sidelined with Collarbone Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Likely GI Kentucky Derby favorites and 'TDN Rising Stars' Fierceness (City of Light) (9-2) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) (6-1) will open as the second and third choices in the Preakness Future Wager when the final pool opens Friday, Apr. 26. The Preakness Future Wager favorite is GI Arkansas Derby winner and 'Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), listed at 3-1 after opening at 19-1 in the first Preakness Future Wager, while Bob Baffert-trained stablemate and GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Imagination (Into Mischief) is 12-1. Muth and Imagination will not run in the Kentucky Derby. There are 31 individual entries and a pari-mutuel field of “all other 3-year-olds.” The field is 20-1. The Preakness Future Wager has a $2 minimum and 18 percent takeout. The second and final Preakness pool runs until Saturday, May 4 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.preakness.com/futurewager. The post Muth Favored Over Fierceness and Sierra Leone in Preakness Future Wager appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver and Kenneth and Dave Fishbein's Honor Marie (Honor Code) worked five furlongs in company with his stakes-placed stablemate Agoo (Munnings) in a bullet :59.20 (1/11) over a fast track on a chilly Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. With jockey Ben Curtis aboard for trainer Whit Beckman, the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. winner and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up clicked off fractions of :12, :23.80, :35.60, :47.40 and :59.20. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60 and seven-eighths in 1:27.60. “We can take one breath now that the work is over,” Beckman said about an hour after the 7:30 a.m. breeze. “He came back to the barn and everything was great. The work was great. It reminded me a lot of his work leading up to the Kentucky Jockey Club, except that work was over at (Churchill Downs') Trackside.” “Everybody was smiling when I got back to the barn, and a lot of times that doesn't happen,” Curtis added. Also working Thursday morning were three candidates for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks: Willis Horton Racing's Tapit Jenallie (Tapit) (four furlongs, :49.40), Whisper Hill Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) (four furlongs, :49.40) and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) (four furlongs :47.60 in company). Watch #KyDerby contender Honor Marie work 5 furlongs in :59.20 for trainer Whit Beckman. pic.twitter.com/GcPJdclmEQ — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 25, 2024 The post Honor Marie Fires Five-Furlong Bullet for Kentucky Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a pricy auction purchase. 16.00 Cork, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 12f 25yT Aidan O'Brien trainee HIGHBURY (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Friendly Face (Ire) out of G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. third High Celebrity (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Opposition to the €650,000 Arqana August graduate include Marguerite Joyce's Royal Entry (Ire) (Fracas {Ire}), who is a homebred full-sister to G3 Round Tower S. victor Smash Williams (Ire), from the Jim Bolger stable. 14.33 Doncaster, Nov, £10,800, 3yo, 7f 6yT Juddmonte's hitherto unraced STANAGE (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a John and Thady Gosden trainee, is a full-brother to G2 Coventry S.-winning sire Calyx (GB) and Listed Rosemary S. victrix Coppice (GB). His 10 rivals include Andrew Balding-trained Juddmonte debutante Upscale (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is a homebred daughter of G3 Fred Darling S. winner Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}). 16.10 Sandown, Nov, £20,000, 3yo, 9f 209yT Juddmonte debutante SIYOLA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}), another John and Thady Gosden representative, is a homebred daughter of G1 Falmouth S. heroine Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar). She encounters seven rivals in this distaffers' heat. The post 650k Arqana August Graduate Set For Cork Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Europe swings back into pattern-race action Friday, with Sandown playing host to the G2 bet365 Mile, G3 Gordon Richards S. and G3 bet365 Classic Trial on a seven-race card. Godolphin's emphatic G3 Zetland S. winner Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) lays his G1 Derby credentials on the line and will be confronted by eight in the Classic Trial. The €600,000 Arqana August graduate, who also snagged last term's Listed Stonehenge S., shed maiden status at the Esher venue in July. “Arabian Crown has track experience at Sandown, which is always handy, and we were pleased with his recent racecourse gallop at Newmarket,” said Charlie Appleby. “It's the same situation with a lot of early 3-year-olds as we are trying to find out where the rest of the season lies. We will hopefully be a lot wiser afterwards as to whether he's a Derby horse or not.” Arabian Crown's rivals include G1 Criterium International third Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire), G2 Royal Lodge S. fourth Macduff (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and stakes-placed 'TDN Rising Star' War Rooms (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Three-time G1 Dubai Turf hero Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) failed in his bid for a fourth straight renewal of that nine-furlong Meydan contest last month and is one of the main contenders for the Mile. Nominees also include 2022's G1 Dewhurst S. third Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who ran sixth in August's G3 Strensall S. at York when last seen, and Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who has a fitness edge returning off a win in last month's Listed Doncaster Mile. Group 2 winners Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) also feature in the seven-strong line-up. This year's edition of the Gordon Richards is an open renewal and includes another Godolphin winner of the Stonehenge and Zetland. Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has not been on the track since finishing last of 11 in May's G2 Dante and has been gelded in the interim. Trainer Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the homebred's comeback and said, “Flying Honours hasn't run since last May, so there will be some improvement to come from whatever he does here. A mile-and-a-quarter is a good starting point, although we will be looking at stepping him up in trip afterwards. We are hoping for a nice comeback run that we can build on.” The 4-year-old's rivals include G1 St Leger third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), another to have been gelded since his last run, G2 Princess of Wales's S. victor Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and this month's Listed Magnolia S. runner-up Okeechobee (GB) (Time Test {GB}). The post Arabian Crown Set For Classic Trial Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 5-year-old gelding Disguisedlimit (Ire) (Mahler {GB}) (lot 25) took pride of place when selling for £150,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale on Thursday. Consigned by Monbeg Stables, he caught the eye of agent Tom Malone with Philip Hobbs and Johnson White after winning a Curraghmore point-to-point on Apr. 24. His dam is a half-sister to Bobs Worth (Ire) (Bog Back), a multiple Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham. He was purchased by Monbeg Stables for €70,000 out of the 2022 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. Monbeg also consigned the second highest lot of the day, lot 13, On The Bayou (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), who went to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £140,000. Related to Listed Prix de Cluny heroine Suprematie (Fr) (Gay Mecene), the 4-year-old gelding also sports a one-for-one record. He prevailed in a Castletown-Geoghegan point-to-point earlier this month. At the close of trade, 28 lots sold (76%) of 37 lots offered for an aggregate of £1,679,000. The average dropped slightly to £59,964 (-1%) and the median was £44,000 (-12%). Tattersalls associate director Mathew Prior said, “It has been a tricky spring and we, alongside our Irish and British point-to-point consignors, have been hostage to the vagaries of the wet weather, but as ever our vendors have produced fantastically talented horses who have been turned out to perfection.” The post Winner Disguisedlimit Tops Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Donnacha O'Brien has a lot to look forward to as he launches into his fifth year of training since retiring as a champion jockey in Ireland. The 25-year-old, who operates under the nom-de-course Bawnmore Racing, is off to a fast start already this spring as he had his first 2-year-old winner of the year at Dundalk on April 13 with Usdi Atohi (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and just this past weekend at the Curragh, his 4-year-old trainee Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) claimed the listed Lester Piggott Gladness S. But there is plenty more horsepower in the pipeline back at O'Brien's base in County Tipperary and of course the horse that everyone is asking about is still backstage preparing for her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut. Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}), a top juvenile in 2023 whose victories include the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S., will return to the spotlight for the G1 Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday, May 5. Like many horsemen who attempted to circumvent the temperamental weather over the winter, O'Brien has had to remain flexible while constructing an early campaign for his star filly. He initially considered sending her to the G3 Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown on April 7, but opted to skip the contest due to less-than-optimal conditions and point straight for Newmarket. “The weather has been a bit of a nightmare,” O'Brien admitted. “Just trying to get them on grass and make sure their works all go okay and trying to get them to come into their coats. But Porta Fortuna has strengthened up very well over the winter. She was always quite a long filly, not very tall, so we think she has grown a little bit. She has filled into her frame and strengthened up behind the saddle. I think she's more mature mentally as well, so we're very happy with her.” Porta Fortuna took O'Brien's team and her American owners on a thrilling journey last year. Bought by partners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Barry Fowler after her winning debut, the daughter of Caravaggio quickly reeled off victories in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. and G3 Albany S. for her new owners and then placed in a pair of Group 1 contests before claiming the Cheveley Park. One of four Group 1 winners O'Brien has already campaigned, 'Porta' has always been a yard favourite having been bred by Donnacha's parents Aidan and Annemarie O'Brien, but the ever-dependable filly also went on to become Donnacha's first Breeders' Cup performer as a trainer. She put in a game runner-up effort half a length behind Hard to Justify (Justify) in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park. “She's a very special filly in many ways,” O'Brien reflected. “It's a very hard thing for a filly to do, to have that many races and have that long of a year. Her best two performances were arguably her last two races. She's just a super tough, consistent filly and we're really lucky to have her in the yard. We think she's in a good place and we're excited for the year.” When Porta Fortuna's syndicate originally purchased the filly, their plan was to get to Ascot and then bring her to the U.S. But as she put in one breakout performance after another, there became fewer opportunities for her to race in America at the top level so they decided to keep her at her home base until the Breeders' Cup. The situation is similar this year, with only a handful of Grade I races available for 3-year-old turf fillies in the U.S. “Pretty much all of those races are at or over a mile and an eighth,” explained Medallion Racing's Phillip Shelton. “So I think a lot of it depends on how she handles the trip in the Guineas. A mile might be the absolute max she can handle, but there's plenty of pedigree that makes you think she could stretch.” Porta Fortuna's dam Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was a winner going over a mile and another daughter of Caravaggio, Whitebeam (GB), has thrived since shipping to the States and claimed last summer's GI Diana S. at a mile and an eighth. O'Brien also seems to believe that Porta Fortuna should handle added distance. “We'll see how the Guineas goes,” he noted. “We're still not 100% sure what her trip is going to be, but I think she's bred to stay a mile. We'll start her off in Newmarket and depending on how that goes, we're probably going to Ascot whether it be for the Coronation or possibly back to the Commonwealth if we feel that she hasn't really stayed in the Guineas.” Despite Porta Fortuna's upcoming start happening during one of the biggest weekends in American racing with the GI Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, several members of the filly's ownership group will be making the trip across the pond for the occasion. Shelton will be especially busy as he watches another Medallion-owned horse race during the Kentucky Oaks undercard Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs and then boards an overnight flight with the hopes of reaching Newmarket well before Porta Fortuna's performance on Sunday. Porta Fortuna at Santa Anita Park | Horsephotos Medallion Racing is the racing partnership branch of Taylor Made Farm and was created with the goal of taking its investors to the biggest days in racing. Over the past year, Medallion Racing and the other members of Porta Fortuna's syndicate have expanded their involvement both in O'Brien's yard and in European racing at large. This year Medallion Racing, which focuses specifically on fillies, has a pair of 2-year-olds with Paddy Twomey and four juveniles with O'Brien. The half-sister to Porta Fortuna stands out among O'Brien's quartet. Named Sorella Carina (Ire), the daughter of Ten Sovereigns was bought for 400,000gns in Book 1 of the 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Avenue Bloodstock, Medallion Racing and M.V. Magnier. She is slated to debut either this Saturday at Navan or on Monday at Naas. The group is rounded out by three more fillies recently named Sharpen (Ire) (Fastnet Rock (Aus}), Fitzroy Gardens (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Lush Lips (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who were bought for £200,000, £100,000 and £82,000 respectively. “We tried to buy a balance of horses that we felt like were going to be early, or at least early enough to have an Ascot dream with, and then a couple others that will be later maturing,” said Shelton. In the past, Medallion Racing has focused on purchasing horses that have already won with the goal of bringing them to the U.S., but it appears that Porta Fortuna may have set a new standard for the partnership. Shelton said that their groups' experience at Ascot last year combined with a trip to Ireland to visit O'Brien's yard the following week inspired several members of the syndicate to express an interest in going out and buying yearlings to race in Europe. “Ninety per cent of our horses are in America and all of our partners are in America, but we've had some success with Euro imports,” he explained. “We had 21 partners go over to Ireland and it was a very cool experience. Everyone got to tour Donnacha's yard and I think for a lot of people, they thought it was a way better environment for the horse than being at the track. Donnacha was very gracious with his time and came to dinner with us one night. He gave a lot of access to our partners.” Communication is key for a syndicate group based an ocean away from their horses and Shelton said that this is another factor that has increased their involvement in O'Brien's program. “Every time one of our fillies breezes, I get a video and a voice note,” said Shelton. “He is brutally honest. If the filly isn't doing good, you're going to hear about it. If one has an issue, you'll know. I can share the voice notes to all of my partners and it's not just me recapping a conversation. Our partners can be comfortable hearing the good and the bad.” Medallion Racing and the rest of Porta Fortuna's syndicate are not the only American groups who have found their way to O'Brien. D.J. Stable, Commonwealth Racing and Ocean Reef Racing are all part of a growing list of clientele. “We've been trying to get more owners in the yard and obviously fillies like Porta make it easier,” said O'Brien. “Through her and through different people we've been able to get some American clients which has been fantastic. We're lucky to have them and hoping to continue to expand over the next few years.” Bawnmore Racing, which is based just outside Cashel and is David Wachman's former yard, has its biggest crop of 2-year-olds yet this year and the ambitious O'Brien shows no signs of slowing down. “I think we have about 45 to 50 2-year-olds overall, so a nice mix of some earlier types and some later types,” he said. “Our goal is to continue to grow slowly. We want to make sure we have the right people and facilities to be able to deal with the number of horses. We want to grow in terms of quality as well, which is important. I don't see myself ever having 250 or 300 horses or those kinds of numbers, but we're hoping to gradually grow and we'll see where it takes us.” The post Guineas-Bound Porta Fortuna Spearheads Strong Team for Donnacha O’Brien appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding has opened on Fasig-Tipton Digital for the “Mensa Flash Sale,” a one-horse online auction of Mensa (Complexity), a debut-winning 2-year-old colt who was the first winner for his freshman sire. Bidding will close Monday, April 29, at 2 PM ET. Trained by Mark Casse for owner D.J. Stable LLC, Mensa won by three lengths going gate-to-wire in his debut at Gulfstream Park April 12. Mensa is scheduled to make his next start in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs May 2. “Mensa earned a 9 Thoromanager figure in his first-out win, a faster number than Casse-trained champions Classic Empire and Wonder Wheel received in their debut wins in the spring as two-year-olds,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “He is an exciting prospect that Mark Casse thinks has a very bright future. This is an opportunity for racing stables to buy a live two-year-old with unlimited potential.” Mensa is stabled at Churchill Downs and will train each day at 9:10 am in a special saddle cloth. Prospective buyers can follow him back to Barn 36 post-training to inspect him. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for D.J. Stables LLC Graduate, consigns Mensa. Successful horses sold by D.J. Stable on Fasig-Tipton Digital include Witwatersrand, who was recently named Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in Canada. Prospective buyers may view the entry and register to bid here. The post Bidding Open For Mensa Flash Sale Via Fasig-Tipton Digital appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lineup of a dozen women riders for the 2024 Markel Magnolia Cup was revealed by Goodwood Racecourse on Thursday. Set for the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Thursday, Aug. 1, the 13th edition of the race is over 5 1/2 furlongs up the Goodwood straight. Over £2.4 million has been raised for charitable causes by the initiative since it began. This year, the Markel Magnolia Cup will support My Sisters' House, a West Sussex women's centre. New in 2024, a place in the race will be offered each year to a student of the Riding A Dream Academy, with Aamilah Aswat representing the school this term. The 12-women line up is as follows: Aamilah Aswat -Riding a Dream Academy graduate Amy Moring – entrepreneur and founder of Food Brand, Hunter & Gather Rebecca Haryett – lead physiotherapist in the British Army Ellen Barber – international heptathlete Eleanor Franchitti – global head of business development at Caxton Associates and wife of former racing driver Dario Franchitti Harriet Hemmings -rRural chartered surveyor Joanna Jensen – entrepreneur and founder of Family skincare brand, Childs Farm Lady Katherine Lindsay – property and projects manager for David Ross and survivor of a congenital abnormality Lauren Price – social media at ITV Racing & World Horse Racing Lizzie Jelfs – leading Australian racing presenter Matilda Butcher – performance marketing at Harrods Sophie Pumfrett – successful model Simon Wilson, president of Markel International, said, “Markel has enjoyed a successful partnership with Goodwood for over a decade, and in the past few years we've taken this a step further with our sponsorship of the Markel Magnolia Cup. This race represents far more than what happens on the day itself; it's about people coming together to champion and raise money for charitable causes that provide essential support to vulnerable people and communities around the world. I'm looking forward to learning more about the [riders] and about My Sisters' House and the impact this year's event will have on the valuable work they're doing.” To donate to the Markel Magnolia Cup via Just Giving, please click here. The post Riders Revealed For 2024 Markel Magnolia Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 69 horses have been catalogued for the upcoming BBAG Spring Sale on Friday, May 31, the sales company announced on Thursday. Past graduates of the sale include multiple Group 1 winner and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). Overall, 24 horses offered by BBAG across all of their sales won group races in 2023, while five of the last 10 winners of the G1 Deutsches Derby are BBAG sale alumni. Among the juvenile sires represented are Galiway (GB), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), Kendargent (Fr), Le Havre (Ire), Mehmas (Ire), New Bay (GB), Sea The Moon (Ger), Starspangledbanner (Aus), Territories (Ire), The Grey Gatsby (Ire), and Too Darn Hot (GB). Part of the Baden-Baden spring meeting from May 30-June 2, the sale consists of 39 2-year-olds, 28 3-year-olds and older horses and two in-foal mares. Many of the 2- and 3-year-olds qualify for the BBAG auction race programme, while several others also qualify for lucrative French bonuses. The 2-year-old breezes are set for Thursday, May 30 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Iffezheim racecourse, and the sale proper begins on Friday, May 30 at 11 a.m. The post BBAG Spring Sale Catalogue Features Almost 70 Lots appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations for the €1.2-million Arqana Series, now in its second year, are now open until June 1, the sales company announced on Thursday. Consisting of five races reserved for foals offered at the 2022 Arqana Vente d'Elevage and 2-year-olds sold at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale, the series features four races for 2-year-olds and one for 3-year-olds. A trio of juvenile races and the 3-year-old race will take place at Deauville on Aug. 15. The final 2024 Arqana Series race will be held at ParisLongchamp on Arc Weekend, Oct. 5. For more information and to nominate, please visit the Arqana website. The post Nominations Open For 2024 Arqana Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

War Like Goddess (English Channel) typically makes a single stop at Keeneland per year and she does so exclusively to win the GIII Bewitch S. Not only did the 7-year-old mare win last year's edition, she also won the same race in both 2022 and 2021. Making her first start of 2024 off a seventh to Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November, War Like Goddess began her 2023 campaign in exactly the same way, debuting to a win in Keeneland's closing-day feature to kick off a season that saw her defend her titles against the boys in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct. Trainer Bill Mott also used this race at a stepping-off point for her 2022 campaign. Opposing the favorite from the outside is Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}), a 5-year-old who will look to be the speed of the field also making her first start of the year since checking in third in November's GIII Long Island S. But while she's had plenty of experience going the 1 1/2 miles, including a start two races back over the local course, the Graham Motion trainee has yet to find the winner's circle over the distance. Potentially making things interesting along the rail will be GI Darley Alcibiades S. runner up Chop Chop (City of Light). Unraced on the turf since a narrow third in last year's Allen Black Cat Lacombe Memorial S. at Fair Grounds in March 2023, she does come in off a run of good form over the Tapeta at Turfway, winning two of her last four dating back to December. She also has youth on her side, being one of just two 4-year-olds in the field (the other being Cherie DeVaux's Tower Bridge [Street Sense]). The post Bewitch Continues To Run Through War Like Goddess appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-SA, $54K, Msw, 3-5yo, 5 1/2f, 6:30 p.m. ET. PARENTING (Justify) debuts for Ganhdarvi LLC., who purchased the colt at last year's OBS April Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale for $750,000. The Bob Baffert trainee's dam is a half-sister to Canadian champion turf male El Tormenta (Stormy Atlantic) and GSW Zero Tolerence (Mizzen Mast). The other half of the Baffert uncoupled entry is first time starter Middleburg (Tapit). A $485,000 buy for SF Bloodstock, Starlight and Madaket at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, the gray is out of MGSW Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful), who was herself purchased by Breeze Easy for $800,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. Finally, Fausto (Mastery) heads to the post for his unveiling under the care of John Shirreffs. The bay's unraced dam counts as half-brothers GI Kentucky Derby longshot champ Giacomo (Holy Bull) and GI Santa Anita Derby hero Tiago (Pleasant Tap). TJCIS PPS 1st-KEE, $84K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 12:30 p.m. ET. Wesley Ward homebred Saturday Flirt (Mendelssohn) hails from a strong female line. The filly's second dam, GSW Letgomyecho (Menifee), produced GIII Gotham S. victor J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GI H. Allen Jerkens S. winner Echo Town (Speightstown) and champion 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu (Gun Runner). TJCIS PPS The post Friday’s Racing Insights: Justify Colt Debuts For Gandharvi At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Highclere Castle Gin will sponsor the Listed Carnarvon S. at Newbury, on Saturday, May 18, the racecourse announced on Thursday. The six-furlong race will be worth £65,000 on Al Shaqab Lockinge with Ladies Day and is a prep race for the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. In 2023, the Carnarvon was won by Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), who would go on to add the Commonwealth Cup and G1 July Cup. Highclere Castle is the home of The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, as well as the location for beloved television series “Downton Abbey”. The gin, featuring botanicals from the Highclere Castle gardens and oats from the Highclere Estate, was created in 2019. Lord Carnarvon said, “The Carnarvon family and Highclere Estate have a long association with Newbury Racecourse with my great grandfather the fifth earl being a founder shareholder in 1904. My father was a passionate owner/breeder and a great supporter of Newbury Racecourse being chairman from 1985 to 1998. Highclere Castle Gin is proud to sponsor the Carnarvon S. as we appreciate the link to the terroir of Highclere with our oats which have also powered so many of the winners of this race.” The post Highclere Castle Gin To Sponsor Carnarvon Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The biggest challenge is no one wants a 'fun horse' to win races anymore, they are just a liability, making vendors worry that official times will be harder to shift the bottom half of the sale. You can hit it out of the park on one but staying afloat is about how you shift the other 80% of your horses… As Brian Sheerin says, the times are available for anyone that wants them and I doubt there is a buyer on the sales ground that wouldn't have known how a horse clocked, but the worry is simply that next step may make it harder again. The skill is in interpreting, stride, time and other data buyers can generate from a breeze-up sale, but the top buying teams have 15-20 people working on collecting, analysing and reviewing the data to come up with a short list. Most end up on similar horses creating the polarised 'haves' and 'have nots' market and it comes down to who has the biggest wallet and willingness to spend. –Matt Eves, Star Bloodstock Let us know what you think. Email garyking@thetdn.com. The post Letter To The Editor: Publishing Times For European Breeze-Ups appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bookmaker William Hill has been named the official betting partner of the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket from May 3-5, the racecourse announced on Thursday. Already an official betting partner of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree earlier this month, the bookmaker will have its name attached to 15 races across the three-day stand. Among the sponsored races are the G2 Jockey Club S. on Friday, the G3 Palace House S. on Saturday and the G2 Dahlia S. on Sunday. Two £100,000 Heritage Handicaps on Saturday's card will also be sponsored by William Hill. William Hill's head of media, sponsorship and social, Daryl West, said, “For many racing fans, the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket is the meeting where the Flat turf season really hits its stride and we are therefore thrilled to be the official betting partner. “This year we have the added excitement of the reappearance of City Of Troy (Justify) in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, who is the most exciting horse to be seen in many a year and our current 4-6 market leader. We look forward to a wonderful three days.” The post William Hill Named Official Betting Partner Of QIPCO Guineas Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The group-placed Blanchland (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) (lot 198) and the 88-rated Cephalus (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) (lot 196) have been added to the Tattersalls Guineas Horses-in-Training Sale as wildcards, the sales company announced on Thursday. Consigned by Jane Chapple-Hyam, Blanchland was second in the G3 Zetland S. at Newmarket as a juvenile, and is a half-brother to the multiple group winner Atzeco (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). He is owned by Peter Harris. Part of The Castlebridge Consignment, Cephalus is trained by Gary Moore for Veljko Jovanovic and already sports four wins over a mile in 2024. He was recently fourth at Chelmsford. The Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up & Horses-in-Training Sale features 202 juveniles galloping over the Rowley Mile on Wednesday, May 1 beginning at 9 a.m. The horses-in-training portion of the sale begins with 197 lots later that day at 5 p.m. One day later, the racehorse portion of the sale concludes at 9:30 a.m., prior to the start of the breeze-up lots going through the ring. For the full catalogue, please visit the Tattersalls website. The post Wildcard Duo Join Tattersalls Guineas HIT Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Mike Moroney is ‘making good progress in hospital’, his stable has confirmed. Ballymore Stables released a statement on Thursday updating the industry on Moroney’s health after he was hospitalised with acute pneumonia and a collapsed lung. “Michael’s breathing is still assisted by a ventilator and he is undergoing physiotherapy and treatment for that,” the statement read. “He is communicating with the teams at Ballymore Stables’ Flemington and Matamata bases, discussing racing and training programs. “Michael and the team are most grateful for the numerous well wishes received from all corners of the globe over the past fortnight and also for the continuing support from clients, family and friends. The videos sent have been well received and have provided a great tonic.” The stable has continued to train winners despite Moroney being in hospital, with War Machine claiming the Bendigo Guineas. Sassy Merlot took out the Easter Stakes in New Zealand as well. “We would also like to thank the staff at Ballymore Stables, in particular Flemington Assistant Trainer Glen Thompson, Racing Manager Anthony Feroce and Training Partner Pam Gerard in New Zealand for keeping the stables running like clockwork and continuing the excellent season Ballymore is experiencing on both sides of the Tasman,” the statement read. “Both stables are currently lying in 10th place on their respective Melbourne metropolitan and New Zealand seasonal premierships and have produced six wins during Michael’s enforced absence. “Michael has been receiving regular video updates on the horses and is excited to be back at the track and races soon. In the meantime, he is doing a great job promoting racing, turning his medical team into racing fans by encouraging them to watch the Ballymore runners.” View the full article