Wandering Eyes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale kicked off its two-day run with an abbreviated session featuring competitive bidding from start to finish Sunday evening in the Humphry S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga. “It was a strong start to the 2024 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was very consistent trade from start to finish. I think the thing that was probably most encouraging tonight was the buy-back rate. This sale has traditionally had a little bit of a higher buy-back rate because the breeders have so many opportunities themselves to race these horses. So oftentimes, it is maybe more important for them to have a horse racing in New York than it is to get them sold and move to another state. It was very encouraging to see a very manageable RNA rate tonight.” From a catalogue of 100 yearlings, 87 went through the ring Sunday for a gross of $6,860,000. The session average was $103,939 and the median was $89,000. With 21 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 24.1%. During last year's opening session, 53 horses sold for $5,999,000 for an average of $113,189 and a median of $100,000. The buy-back rate was 34.6%. “We don't make any bold predictions or comparisons with just one night,” Browning said. “We have 200 more to go [Monday]–we are a third of the way through the sale. There was very, very good trade tonight and we are looking forward to tomorrow.” Eddie Rosen and Jacob West | Fasig-Tipton Early in the session, Jacob West and Eddie Rosen, acting on behalf of Mike Repole, paid $300,000 for a colt by Constitution from the Elite consignment. That session-topping price was matched late in the day when trainer Christophe Clement purchased a son of Vekoma from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. A total of 29 horses brought $100,000 or more during the session–the same number as last year's opening session. “We didn't have any “breakouts” tonight, but a bunch of horses sold for over $100,000,” Browning said. “We are pleased with the start and look forward to continue the positive momentum tomorrow.” The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale continues with a final session Monday with bidding beginning at noon. Constitution Colt Takes the Early Lead A colt by Constitution (hip 315) helped get the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale off to a strong start when selling to Mike Repole for $300,000 early in Sunday's session. Consigned by Elite, the yearling was bred by Ten Strike Racing. He is out of See the Forest (Forestry) and is a half to stakes winners Whittington Park (Midnight Lute), Critical Value (Bodemeister) and Looms Boldly (Goldencents). Hip 315 | Fasig-Tipton “Mike has been a great supporter of the [New York-bred program],” said Repole's advisor Eddie Rosen while seated alongside bloodstock agent Jacob West. “We breed here, we've stood stallions here. We are also hoping in this case that he is a horse who will compete in open competition. Being by Constitution makes you hope that he will be more than a New York-bred.” Ten Strike Racing's founding partner Marshall Gramm claimed See the Forest for $12,500 in 2010. Looms Boldly won the John Morrissey Handicap in the Ten Strike colors just three days ago. Of the process that led the team to bid on the yearling Sunday evening, West said, “When it all gets whittled down and whittled down, he was one that was near the top [of our list].” West came back 40-some hips later to acquire a colt from the first crop of Galilean (Uncle Mo) (hip 350) for $220,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment. The yearling is out of Three AM Tour (Ire) (Strategic Prince) and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Set (Oscar Performance). Clement Strikes Late for Vekoma Colt Trainer Christophe Clement got into the action late in Sunday's first session of the New York-bred Yearling sale, going to $300,000 to acquire a colt by fast-starting freshman sire Vekoma (hip 386) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The chestnut is out of the unraced Alana's Allure (Shackleford) and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Allure of Money (Central Banker). The mare's 2-year-old Leon Blue (Mo Town) was a late-closing second in his debut at Saratoga July 24. Hip 386 | Fasig-Tipton “He looked fast,” Clement said when asked about the yearling's appeal. “It was probably too much money, but we are keeping the dream alive. I liked him very much. He looked very athletic. My son Miguel told me about him. At the moment, I bought him on spec, so I need to find some owners to help me and support me and we will go from there. He is a lovely horse.” In addition to his 13 winners, Vekoma's first crop of 2-year-olds includes stakes winner Louisiana Jess and stakes-placed Bella Sorella and Fortuna Mia. “I train one Vekoma who I like,” Clement said. “But this is a very live family. One horse just won very well from the same family. And unfortunately that's the way it is. You always have to overpay for what you like.” Good Luck Farm purchased the yearling for $100,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale. The post Pair of $300k Colts Pace Solid Opener to Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel. Since being transferred to the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald barn in the winter, former Western Australia Group 1 winning mare Amelia’s Jewel has stepped out for the first time at Warwick Farm on Monday morning. She was sent around in heat four on the course proper, with Tommy Berry doing the steering over the 900m journey. The daughter of Siyouni was pushed forward early to sit outside the leader before cruising through the wire under her own steam to finish in second place, while the Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse sat three wide to score by a head under Zac Lloyd. The five-year-old looks on song for a return, with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 31 earmarked as her return date in preparation for a lengthy spring campaign. Amelia’s Jewel currently sits on the fourth line of betting as a $15.00 chance with online bookmakers for Victoria’s first Group 1 of the season. Meanwhile, the Ciaron Maher-trained Semana caught the eye in the opening trial of the morning, scoring an impressive four-length victory over 1000m with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle. The Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) runner-up was far too strong with residual fitness from her trip to Queensland, making every post a winner to stamp herself as a genuine contender for the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 24. Semana shares the third line of betting at $8.00 alongside Celestial Legend for the Winx Stakes, while Fangirl is still a firm favourite at $2.70 for the first Group 1 of the 2024/25 season. Horse racing news View the full article

Muramasa ridden by Daniel Moor winning the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Muramasa remains on track for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), despite some lacklustre performances in the autumn, according to co-trainer Trent Busuttin. The five-year-old gelding, a dual Group 3 winner last spring, struggled with an eighth-place finish in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and a fourth-place finish in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) during his brief autumn campaign. “The big dream is the Melbourne Cup, but he needs to get back to his spring form,” Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young, told Racing.com. “Over autumn, he didn’t run well in his two races, and he didn’t trial well either, so we pulled the pin. “He was due to kick off in the Heatherlie at Caulfield over 1700 metres (on August 29), but he got a temperature spike, and it knocked him around a little. “But he’s ready to go, and he’ll run at Flemington over the same distance on September 14.” Horse racing news View the full article

Arkansaw Kid. (Photo: George Sal/Racing Photos) Co-trainer Ben Hayes is optimistic that a gelding operation will help Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) placegetter Arkansaw Kid reach his full potential at the top level. The four-year-old gelding impressed on Friday morning with a win in an 800-metre jump-out at Flemington. His rider, Mark Zahra, who guided him to a second-place finish in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) last season, reported positive changes in the horse. “Mark Zahra said he’s a different horse as a gelding and we’re very happy with him,” said Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers JD and Will. “I think he’s got the ability to be able to do it (at Group 1 level), and I really feel as a gelding there’ll be a big change in him.” Arkansaw Kid is expected to kick off his campaign in this Saturday’s Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. “We’ve always really liked him. He’s just a good-looking horse, he’s got a good physique on him, and he’s got the ability,” Hayes added. “He’s shown ability at home, and he’s converted it to the racetrack as well. “He’s now a gelding, he’s got a lot of racing left in him, and they can improve (once gelded).” Horse racing news View the full article

Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the 2-year-old didn't breeze at the 2024 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, nonetheless impressing buyers and bringing the third-highest price at the sale.View the full article

Nations Pride, under a confident ride by William Buick, surged to victory in the stretch run of the Arlington Million (G1T) Aug. 11 at Colonial Downs.View the full article

The Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) was jockey Dylan Davis' first United States grade 1 win. Davis grew up in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.View the full article

Racing fans at Colonial Downs Aug. 11 were treated to a duel of Canadian horses of the year as the sixth meeting between 2022 winner Moira and 2023 winner Fev Rover came down to the final jumps of the $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G2T).View the full article

7th-Del Mar, $77,000, Msw, 8-11, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.42, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. GAMING (c, 2, Game Winner–So Stylish {SP-Ire}, by Johannesburg) came out running as the 2-1 favorite but took pressure to the outside into the far turn. As Arrakis (Bernardini) dropped out of it, Gaming kicked for home and outran the field, going gate to wire to win by 5 1/2 lengths over Rank (Honor A.P.). The second winner for his freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg}), Gaming was a $250,000 OBS March buy for the Three Amigos. Second dam Tacha, a $2.2m broodmare at KEEJAN in 2000, produced European champion 2-year-old One Cool Cat (Storm Cat). The winner has a yearling full-brother cataloged for KEESEP and a weanling half-brother by Union Rags. So Stylish is due back to Game Winner for 2025. Sales History: $40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000.Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul; B-Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. GAMING ($6.60) doesn't play in the 7th at @DelMarRacing. The 2-year-old by Game Winner (@LanesEndFarms) was trained by @BobBaffert and ridden by @JJHernandezS19. Wager on the last Pick 3: https://t.co/CDoj9VG9iY pic.twitter.com/GWjg26ClUP — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 12, 2024 The post Gaming A Debut Winner For Game Winner At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nations Pride stopped the clock in 2:01.96 under jockey William Buick. Integration finished second and Ancient Rome third.View the full article

The New York Racing Association was crafty in pushing back the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) by a day due to the prospect of a soggy turf course on Aug. 10. But you can't fool Mother Nature.View the full article

Two New Zealand sourced horses fought out a exciting finish in the $300,000 Raffles Cup at Kranji on Sunday with Lim’s Saltoro (NZ) (Shamexpress) doing what few people thought possible by holding off Lim’s Kosciuszko in a epic contest. It was a remarkable feat given the last-start Singapore Derby (1800m) winner was at his first attempt in the weight-for-age race. Furthermore, his stablemate and 2023 two-time Raffles Cup winner Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec), who was bred by Trelawney Stud, was undefeated in four starts this year and was justifiably sent out as the raging favourite. But Lim’s Saltoro had also built a formidable winning reputation of his own as his only defeat in 10 starts before Sunday was a narrow second to Lim’s Kosciuszko in the EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on 21 April, hence the five-year-old son of Shamexpress was sent out as the second favourite in the elite 10-horse field. On settling, Lim’s Saltoro rolled forward from gate six to pressure the leader. Lim’s Kosciuszko slotted in easily from his good barrier four to sit on his stablemate’s back in third while Cavalry settled fourth on his inside. Things got interesting upon turning for home after jockey CC Wong pushed the button on Lim’s Saltoro and took the lead at the 350m, but there was still ample time for Marc Lerner to show why Lim’s Kosciusko is the reigning Horse of the Year in Singapore. With 100m to go, there was still a gap of one length between the duo and under hard riding by Wong, Lim’s Saltoro proved tough to pass. But champions do not give up easily. Lim’s Kosciuszko made stacks of ground and an epic finish loomed with both horses locked together and the winning post nearing. To the naked eye, it looked like a dead-heat on the line with Lim’s Kosciusko lunging late and Lim’s Saltoro refusing to lie down. However, the photo finish showed the younger Lim’s Saltoro got up by a nose in the last edition of the Raffles Cup. The winning time was 1 min 34.03secs for the 1600m on the Short Course. Lim’s Saltoro’s 10th win, and his second at elite level, took his prizemoney to just under S$750,000 for the Lim’s Stable. It was also Wong’s third Raffles Cup win in a row. The Malaysian jockey ironically won on Lim’s Kosciuszko in the two previous running of the race. “I’m very happy that I can take this race (Raffles Cup) three times in a row,” said the Kedah-born hoop, who was at his first meeting back in Singapore after a five-month stint in South Korea. “And it’s the last time! Today, everything just worked out well. The horse proved himself at weight-for-age scale. “With 58kgs against (Lim’s) Kosciuszko, the best horse, it’s not easy. Today, he proved it again and just gave me everything at the race. “That was my first sit on him. Marc rides him every day. He (Lim’s Saltoro) has a big character and is difficult to ride in the morning, so Daniel decided to let Marc continue riding him (in trackwork). “I have to thank Marc. He shared a lot about the horse’s character and everything else he knew. As a team, I have to thank him (Marc) very much. “Thanks very much to Daniel who always gives me good rides and believes in me.” Meagher, on the other hand, had mixed emotions after the race. “He’s a wonderful horse, isn’t he?” said Meagher, who was at his fourth Raffles Cup win after Lim’s Lightning also won it in 2021. “It’s very emotional because we haven’t got many (races) left and it’s (Singapore racing) been a big part of our life. “Little Kosi’ got beat and he doesn’t deserve it. He ran great. Marc rode him fantastically and I felt for Marc a little because he’s done the work on both these horses. But who do you pick? “They’re both great horses and (Lim’s) Saltoro is a wonderful horse. CC (Wong) was lucky to get on him after Marc has done so much work on him.” When asked about the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 7 September being Lim’s Saltoro’s next assignment, Meagher concurred but also had one eye on the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October. “That’s the plan but the Gold Cup will be the main race for him,” he said. “He’s (Lim’s Saltoro) a superstar and he kept rising to the task. “’Kosi’ getting beaten by a nose hurt a little because he’s such a wonderful horse. We are just lucky to have both of them. “I’m very proud of the boys who have done all the work. It’s a wonderful day.” Bred by Onyx Thoroughbreds, Lim’s Saltoro won two barrier trials while trained in New Zealand by Glenn Old. View the full article

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA — After sending out the beaten favorites in both the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga, the operation's NATIONS PRIDE (IRE) (h, 5, Teofilo {Ire}–Important Time {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) struck for chalk players hundreds of miles to the south as he quickened up beautifully in the stretch to take out Sunday's GI Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs. With the lights taking full effect as dusk set in over New Kent County, Nations Pride was ridden towards the back of the pack as longshot Sugoi (Karakontie {Jpn}) went off on a wing and a prayer, opening a long lead despite an opening half-mile that was timed in :50.03. Still the better part of 10 lengths clear at the midpoint of the second turn, Sugoi began to toss out some distress signals, and he proved a sitting duck for a class animal like Nations Pride, who shot right past the spent front-runner, then easily held a mild late bid from 2023 GIII Virginia Derby winner and 6-5 second choice Integration (Quality Road). Ancient Rome (War Front) loomed a threat inside the final furlong, as he dove down inside with a menacing bid, but he ultimately was forced to settle for third. Lifetime Record: 18-10-3-2. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby. Grade 1 glory for the boys in blue! @godolphin It's job done for @WilliamBuickX and Charlie Appleby at @ColonialDowns as Nations Pride justifies favouritism in the Arlington Million… pic.twitter.com/tYifADJhWf — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 12, 2024 The post Nations Pride Gives Godolphin A Measure of Redemption In Arlington Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Living up to his name, the 2-year-old son of Curlin bolted out of the starting gate and made easy work of the other three runners lined up with him, winning by 5 1/2 lengths. View the full article

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA — For the second consecutive year, the trophy for the GII Beverly D. Stakes will go back to Canada after the country's reigning Horse of the Year MOIRA (m, 5, Ghostzapper–Devine Aida, by Unbridled's Song) got just the better of a final-furlong battle with defending champion Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}). The Tracy Farmer runner left there running and although she had a bit of pesky early pressure from Libban (Laoban), Fev Rover was a clear leader turning up the backside as Moira set up camp three deep in the breeze. Allowed to slow the tempo through the middle furlongs, Fev Rover was still going very well approaching the stretch, holding a clear tactical advantage over Moira, who was consigned to a ground-sacrificing move around the bend. Moira rolled up to Fev Rover and looked as if she was going to speed right on by, but Fev Rover dug in doggedly, only to go down by a short head at the wire. Moira earns a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, a race in which she was a brave third in 2023. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $3,000,000 HRA '23 FTKNOV. Lifetime Record: 15-6-5-2. O-Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables & SF Racing; B-Adena Springs (ON); T-Kevin Attard. An epic finish in the $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G2) as #6 MOIRA outduels Fev Rover for the win. @jose93_ortiz up for @kevin_attard on the popular Ontario-bred. pic.twitter.com/bKsOxuExug — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 11, 2024 The post Moira Outlasts Pacesetting Fev Rover In Beverly D. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–The baby train continues to chug along for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse at Saratoga Race Course this summer. The latest stop came Sunday and 2-year-old filly La Cara (Street Sense) hopped on board as she pulverized the field in the eighth race maiden special weight. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., La Cara went to the lead at the start of the seven-furlong race and stayed there. She won by eight lengths, and it could have been more as Santana Jr. brought her home with a hand ride. “That was impressive,” Casse said by phone. Casse watched this race from home with his wife, Tina. Nothing against the Spa, but he had horses running all over the country–including the big card at Colonial Downs–and decided it would be easier to keep track of them from the comfort of his couch. “I have my TV going, my laptop and my iPad … we are going all over the place,” Casse said. I am in air traffic control.” Casse was going to be back at the track to saddle Strong Quality (Quality Road) in the GI Fourstardave Handicap (he finished fourth). Before that, though he was more than happy to talk about his most recent Saratoga success with the juveniles. La Cara became the sixth horse to win a baby race for Casse, who has 10 winners overall, at this meet. For the year, Casse has started 123 2-year-olds and has 25 wins, 13 seconds and 20 thirds. “We came up with this plan, and we had a lot of people who believed in us,” Casse said. “We went out and got the best bunch of yearlings we have ever got. I said we were going to be ready like never before … when a plan comes together, it's nice.” Mark Casse | Sarah Andrew La Cara is owned and bred by long-time Casse client Tracy Farmer. Casse also trained the dam, Casa Caterina and said this is her first foal. Casa Caterina is a full sister to To Honor and Serve, a multiple graded stakes winner. However, Casse said, Casa Caterina could not run at all. “I could outrun her,” he said. Fortunately, for Casse, La Cara did not inherit the slow genes of her mother. “She is a beautiful homebred,” Casse said. “As impressive as she was running, she is just as impressive to look at.” La Cara was making her fourth career start Sunday. The experience, Casse said, worked to her advantage. The only other filly to run before this race was 18-1 Going Steady (Constitution) and she finished second for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. But she was no match for La Cara. La Cara, the 9-2 third choice, carved out fractions of 22.45, 45.44 and 1:10.43 before coming home in 1:23.58. She paid $11.20. Casse said he expected good things from La Cara when he had her on his farm in Ocala, Fla. over the winter. After two starts at Churchill Downs (a sixth on a sloppy track and a second on a fast one) he sent La Cara to Saratoga. However, he did not bring her up early, like he did with many of his young horses. Because the Belmont Stakes Festival was held at Saratoga, Casse left a string of horses here after that four-day meet ended in early June. La Cara showed up in time to run on the third day of the meet and she bombed as the even-money favorite, beaten six lengths while finishing fourth. “I was pretty mad at myself for running her because this is a good filly,” Casse said. “Sometimes, when you have too much confidence, you run a horse and that is what happens.” In hindsight, he would have gotten her better acclimated to Saratoga. After that race, she had two good works and Casse expected her to run better. She sure did. 6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-11, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.58, ft, 8 lengths. LA CARA (f, 2, Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) may have been inconvenienced by a wet track when sixth on Churchill debut May 17, but was forgiven for the effort and was a much-improved second over fast dirt June 21. A disappointing fourth on her first local run July 14, the homebred was sent off at 23-5 to make amends and soon led from her low draw beneath Jose Ortiz. By the half-mile on her lonesome in :45.44, she continued to build a big lead approaching the eighth pole and had eight lengths on Going Steady (Constitution), the only other member of the eight-strong field with previous racetrack experience. The winner's dam is a daughter of Pilfer (Deputy Minister), making her a full-sister to MGISW To Honor and Serve and GISW Angela Renee and a half to SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). Pilfer is in turn a half-sister to GSW India (Hennessy), the dam of Japanese dual Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and the stakes-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro). La Cara hails from the same family as a Gun Runner colt out of Secret Sigh (Tapit) that sold to Coolmore and Peter Brant for $1.9 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale earlier this week. Bred on the same cross that resulted in GISWs Maxfield and Speaker's Corner and other graded winners like Shared Sense, La Cara has a yearling full-brother. Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-0, $86,575. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Mark E Casse. LA CARA, daughter of @DarleyAmerica stallion Street Sense, breaks her maiden impressively in the sixth race with @RSantana_Jr up for trainer @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/uZah5GY8Lj — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2024 The post Casse Continues To Have Success With His 2-Year-Olds As La Cara Gets To Winner’s Circle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's Carson's Run (c, 3, Cupid–Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes), a winner June 23 of the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park, doubled up on his juvenile form, adding the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Sunday to his GI Summer Stakes victory last year at Woodbine. The chestnut trailed early as Izzy d'Oro (Get Stormy), fourth behind Carson's Run in the Tale of the Cat, set a :23.83 and :48.30 pace while opening up on the field. As they bunched up on the final turn, Carson's Run tipped outside, circled the field, and got up just in time over GII Pennine Ridge Stakes winner and GI Belmont Derby third Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who outfinished GSW Deterministic (Liam's Map), making his second start on the turf after a runner-up finish last out in the GIII Manila Stakes, to the wire. Final time for the 1 3/16 miles was 1:55.81. The Saratoga Derby marked the first Grade I at Saratoga for jockey Dylan Davis, who also won the Mahoney Stakes earlier on Sunday's card with Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). The race also earned Carson's Run an invitation to Australia's G1 Cox Plate. O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey; B-Frankfort Park Farm (Ky.); T-Christophe Clement; J-Dylan Davis. CARSON'S RUN wins the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby under @DavisJockey for trainer @clementstable and an automatic invitation to the prestigious Group 1, AUD$5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate at @TheValley in Australia! pic.twitter.com/KZBzPlzH4l — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2024 Sunday, Saratoga SARATOGA DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-11, 3yo, 1 3/16mT, 1:55.81, gd. 1–CARSON'S RUN, 122, c, 3, by Cupid 1st Dam: Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes 2nd Dam: Wicked Wish, by Gold Case 3rd Dam: Holy Wish, by Lord At War (Arg) ($35,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $67,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL; $170,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey; B-Frankfort Park Farm (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Dylan Davis. $330,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $719,529. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Legend of Time (GB), 122, c, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Kissable (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-Charles Appleby. $120,000. 3–Deterministic, 122, c, 3, Liam's Map–Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Christophe Clement. $72,000. Margins: 3/4, 3/4, NO. Odds: 5.20, 1.10, 2.70. Also Ran: Royal Majesty (GB), Izzy d'Oro, Fulmineo. Scratched: First World War, Trikari. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Carson’s Run Gets Up in Saratoga Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown returned from his spring trip to the Middle East with a frontrunning victory in the R. A. "Cowboy" Jones Stakes at Ellis Park, one of six stakes at the Henderson, Ky. track Aug. 11.View the full article

Coming from off the pace Sunday, GI Belmont Derby Invitational winner TRIKARI (c, 3, Oscar Performance–Dynamic Holiday, by Harlan's Holiday) exploded at the top of the Colonial Downs stretch and blew past the early pacesetters to take the GII Secretariat Stakes. The favorites ran one-two as Brilliant Bertie (Noble Mission {GB}) chased Trikari home but had to settle for being second best and was never any real danger to the winner. Lifetime Record: GISW, 8-5-1-1. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Michael A Slezak & Amy Boll; T-H. Graham Motion. Sales History: $9,000 ylg '22 KEEJAN, $27,500 ylg '22 OBSOCT. Great ride from @ljlmvel! Trikari shows first and has too much for Brilliant Berti in the G2 Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs… pic.twitter.com/v30Sku15ml — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 11, 2024 The post Trikari Brilliant In Secretariat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was worth the wait. After being rescheduled and run eight days late due to the weather, the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga featured a breakout performance by 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (c, 4, Lope de Vega {Ire})–Zindaya, by More Than Ready), who was taking the first Grade I event of his career after winning three other graded races, all at Saratoga. As a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, the Fourstardave gives Carl Spackler a fees-paid berth into racing's Championship Day in November. Fresh off a Jul. 13 GIII Kelso Stakes win, Carl Spackler tracked Strong Quality (Quality Road) from the start behind :24.76 and :49.24 fractions. He collared that one at the top of the stretch, opened up, and the race was over, as the e Five Racing Thoroughbreds runner kicked clear to win by about four lengths. More Than Looks (More Than Ready), making his first start since a sixth in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, closed from the penultimate spot to nab second over favored Ottoman Fleet (GB) (See The Stars {Ire}), who won a pair of graded events at Churchill in his last two. Carl Spackler's win marked the first victory in the Fourstardave for trainer Chad Brown. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (Ire); T-Chad Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. CARL SPACKLER is taking his superior intelligence and superior horsepower to the @BreedersCup after winning the Grade 1 @FanDuel Fourstardave with @Tyler_Gaff aboard for trainer Chad Brown and @e5Racing! pic.twitter.com/C6ofpM4AZF — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2024 The post Carl Spackler Wins Fourstardave, Gives Chad Brown First Win in the Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Pacific Classic (G1) is three weeks away and many of the horses gearing up for the big race showed up on the work tab this week, but the defending champion is a huge question mark.View the full article

The Virginia Derby (G3T), traditionally a turf race held at Colonial Downs in September, will be moved to dirt in 2025 and join the Road to the Kentucky Derby in March.View the full article

Facing just three rivals, 'TDN Rising Star' GETAWAY CAR (c, 2, Curlin–Surrender Now, by Morning Line) had things all his own way right from the break to take the GIII Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. On the lead straight away, the 1-5 favorite led gate to wire and cruised the length of the stretch under a motionless Juan Hernandez to come home the easiest of winners over Mischief River (Into Mischief). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O- SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Blue Heaven Farm & Curlin Syndicate; T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $300,000 wlg '22 KEENOV; $700,000 ylg '23 KEESEP. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Getaway Car An Easy Winner In Best Pal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — If it was up to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Seize the Grey (Arrogate) would be running in the $1.25-million, GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 24. On Sunday morning, all Lukas could do was shrug his shoulders when asked if the GI Preakness Stakes winner would be taking a place in the Travers starting gate. “I don't know,” he said at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “I am going to vote to run him in it.” Lukas, though, apparently doesn't have the only say. MyRacehorse, which owns the horse, lists 2,570 partners who got involved with a payment of $127 per share. Of course, 2,570 people don't get to give their opinion on where and when Seize the Grey runs. That would fall on Michael Behrens, the founder and CEO of MyRacehorse. He did not return a message left on his cellphone on Sunday. Last month, MyRacehorse sold the breeding rights to Gainesway Farm in Lexington. According to a release from MyRacehorse in July, the deal has a base value of $3.5 million with additional incentives. The final value of the breeding rights would balloon by $3 million if Seize the Grey wins the Travers and $4 million more if he were to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. If Seize the Grey wins a Grade I other than the Travers of Classic, it's a $2-million bonus. That would include the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 21. Lukas said he believes that Gainesway is involved with the decision on Seize the Grey's next start. Brian Graves, the general manager at Gainesway, said that is not the case. “The owners will decide where he runs next; it's their call not mine,” Graves said by phone Sunday. “I am not sure where they are running the horse next. The horse is limited to a certain amount of runs before the retirement.” How many races that is was not made clear. Seize the Grey has raced seven times this year and has three wins and a third. Since winning the Preakness, he was seventh in the GI Belmont Stakes on June 8 and fourth in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes on July 27. Both of those races were run at Saratoga. “There is some thought that maybe he doesn't care for this racetrack,” Lukas said. “I don't quite buy into that.” Lukas said there is talk that MyRacehorse would rather wait for the Pennsylvania Derby and give Seize the Grey more time between races. Lukas would like to run in both the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby. “I never trained afraid to run them when they are good,” Lukas said. “I have made a living doing that. So many times, we overreact to the time off and whether he is ready and all of that. I have run a lot of horses in a lot of stakes–I mean a lot of stakes–and I run them back in short time.” Lukas said he will continue to train Seize the Grey as if he were going to run in the Travers. He plans on working him on Monday. “It's a no-win situation for me,” Lukas said. “If he runs well (in the Travers), I'm a hero. If he runs poor, it's like, 'I told you so; you should not have run him.' But I am bulletproof to that stuff. If he doesn't run (in the Travers), I'll just keep right on training him for the next one.” Gaffalione Has Been Riding As Good As Anyone Lately At Saratoga Over the past four days, no one has been hotter than jockey Tyler Gaffalione at Saratoga Race Course. He has won nine races over that period to give him 25 winners. Sixteen days of racing remain in the 40-day meet. Tyler Gaffalione after a win in the July 27 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap | Sarah Andrew Irad Ortiz, Jr. is the leader with 33 wins, and he is followed by Gaffalione and Flavien Prat, each with 25. “Everything has been going really well,” Gaffalione said on the Saratoga backstretch this weekend. “My agent (Saratoga Springs native Matt Muzikar) has been doing a great job getting us on live horses, and the horsemen have done a great job bringing them over ready to run.” The question is can Gaffalione–or anyone else–knock off Ortiz, Jr., who has won four of the last six titles, including the last two? Ortiz, Jr. will be sitting out three days next week as he serves a suspension Wednesday-Friday. “You always come into these meets with the confidence that you can win,” he said. “Everything has to go your way and you have to get a little bit of luck. Who knows?” Better Days Ahead For Romans And Keep It Easy Trainer Dale Romans was hoping for big things from Keep It Easy (Hard Spun) in Saturday's Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes at Saratoga. It didn't happen. Keep It Easy, the 5-2 second choice among the eight 2-year-olds, was never a factor. Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Keep It Easy stumbled badly coming out of the gate. For them, game over. “(Alvarado) said he was standing good, and the ground broke out from under him behind and he went to his knees,” Romans said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning. “He lost all chance and cut himself up a little bit.” Keep It Easy just before the Saratoga Special | Sarah Andrew After the stumble, Keep It Easy bumped with Good Directions (Liam's Map), further making this a horrible Saratoga Special for the Romans barn. “He fell into (Good Directions); that probably kept him up,” Romans said. “It kept him from going all the way down. Junior is lucky he stayed on. After that, he said he gave him a little chance down the backside, and he could tell he was rattled and then he just let him gallop around there.” Romans said Keep It Easy was in good shape Sunday morning after the ordeal. Keep It Easy broke his maiden in his second start, at Churchill Downs on June 27. Romans was encouraged with the effort even though the public dismissed him at odds of 23-1. The Saratoga Special became the goal and Romans expected something, well, special. So, for sure, on Sunday there was disappointment. “He was the focus of the meet, he was the big horse in the barn,” said the Kentucky-based Romans, who has 10 horses stabled at Saratoga. “I know he is a good horse. The good side of it is that he looks sound this morning, he is healthy and it looks like there is a lot of ground in front of us.” There is no specific race that Romans will target Keep It Easy to. He will likely resurface at Keeneland in the fall. “He'll live to fight another day,” Romans said. “This shows how tough it is to win a big race. Everything has to go right, and you can't stub your toe in a graded stakes race at Saratoga.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Lukas Wants To Run Seize the Grey in Travers, No Decision Has Been Made appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FANDOM (GB) (c, 3, Showcasing {GB}–Brogan {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) took the Mahony Stakes field gate to wire Sunday under Dylan Davis for trainer Brad Cox. This year's Palisades Stakes winner added blinkers, broke sharply from the rail and turned back all comers in a driving finish to just last over 36-1 shot Run Carson (Maclean's Music). An objection lodged by third-place finisher Apollo Ten (Violence) against the winner was disallowed. Lifetime Record: GSP, 5-2-0-1. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Chasemore Farm; T-Brad Cox. Sales History: 170,000gns ylg '22 TATOCT. #1 Fandom scores in the Mahony S. at Saratoga at 4/1 for trainer @bradcoxracing with @davisjockey on top! pic.twitter.com/RRBfE0bQA4 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024 The post Fandom Takes The Mahony At Saratoga For Brad Cox appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article