Wandering Eyes

Gabaldon returned to the United States June 21 following his length defeat when second in the June 19 Windsor Castle Stakes during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in Great Britain.View the full article

The day started off normally enough. Retired jockey Casey Chavez, a resident of Ruidoso, New Mexico who brought his tack and his life to the area five years ago, made the commute into work Tuesday morning as usual. Having ridden the last mount of his three-decade long career at nearby Ruidoso Downs nearly a year ago to the date (June 23, 2023), Chavez now works with a local physical therapy office. “I went there like you do any other day and a little before lunch time, we heard about something happening, like whispers of a big fire,” Chavez said. The area is no stranger to wildfires. Ruidoso was the home of the 2022 McBride Fire which left two people dead as it burned 6,159 acres between April 12 and May 7. “This one was different. You could tell in the sky; you could see the smoke clouds.” Chavez and his coworkers took immediate action, wrapping up work early for the day to be safe. “One of the other physical therapists and I watched it from the office together and the smoke clouds just kept getting bigger and bigger. I thought, 'these are dangerous looking, they're not a quick in and out type of fire.' So I decided to go home and start figuring out what was going on.” A little more than five miles from Chavez's office, not far from the house he shared with his girlfriend and their 11-year-old son, the South Fork Fire was already raging. “It only took a couple of hours for it to reach the area where I live and I had no idea it was that close. It snuck up on us. I've never seen something move that fast in my life. It was larger than anything I could imagine.” The area of Ruidoso had been dry in recent weeks and under an elevated fire risk from the Storm Prediction Center. A portion of the Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook released for June 18 read: “Areas of dry southwesterly flow will linger across portions of central/eastern New Mexico, with afternoon relative humidity reductions to 10-15 percent overlapping winds around 15 mph for a period of Elevated fire weather this afternoon. Localized breezes and Elevated fire weather concerns may extend further southwest into western New Mexico and southern Arizona.” “It'd been pretty warm and dry. Days would go by and we'd think 'we need some rain'. We've had maybe a day or two of [rain] but not much and it all dried up so fast.” As the smoke clouds continued to grow, Chavez made the short drive to his home where he met his girlfriend's son. “I had no idea where it was going or which direction. I told him we need to get our things together. I wasn't sure what was going on but I knew we needed to be prepared for this fire to go in any direction.” An incredible view of the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso earlier this week courtesy of Casey Chavez pic.twitter.com/zXXs94FRVe — Stefanie Grimm (@SGrimmTDN) June 21, 2024 Chavez's girlfriend, a local postal worker, arrived shortly after and the three worked quickly to pack. “You can't pack everything. You can't even think about trying to pack everything. You only have so much time. By the time my girlfriend got home, we had maybe an hour. I still didn't know where [the fire] was but I could sense something was coming.” With duffel bags of personal belongings on his shoulders, Chavez made his way back outside to begin loading the car. “I put my bags in the backseat, turned around, and thank God I had my phone on my because as I looked up, ashes were falling from the sky. It was so dark. Behind the house, there was a 150-200 ft wall of flames. That's when I thought, God, it's really over. I knew pretty much right then, when I saw that fire and with the wind blowing, that the house was going to be gone.” Thankfully, Chavez and his family were able to evacuate safely. Their house was a total loss, one of 500 homes and 1,400 structures burned according to a speech given Wednesday night by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Sadly, the South Fork Fire is also responsible for one death as it continues to rage at zero percent containment along with the neighboring Salt Fire, also responsible for a death. Adding insult to injury, a large thunderstorm complex developed over the area Wednesday and triggered flash floods along the burn scars. Ruidoso Downs, where Chavez spent many of his last years riding, also evacuated to safety with horses moving to other tracks in New Mexico and Arizona. Racing at Ruidoso Downs was canceled through Sunday. Chavez is just thankful that he and his family were able to escape in time. We're assessing it day by day. I'm feeling completely overwhelmed. We're all on edge. Nothing is the same. We've had such a drastic change in our daily routine. We're OK physically but mentally, you have to take stock. It's going to be hard. I'm trying not to think of it too much and just take it a few days at a time. Now, there's nowhere to call home.” President Biden issued a disaster declaration for New Mexico Thursday and FEMA has already stepped in to begin recovery efforts even as the fires continue to rage and Lincoln County remains under a state of emergency. The cause of both the South Fork and the Salt Fire is still under investigation. As weather patterns may bring better fire-fighting conditions in the coming days, a GoFundMe has been set up for Chavez and his family as they, and the village of Ruidoso, begin to recover. The post ‘God, It’s Really Gone’: Chavez Regroups Following Ruidoso Fire Devastation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GIII Gotham Stakes winner 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) will try his fortune on the grass when he makes his turf debut in the GIII Manila Stakes June 29 at Belmont at the Big A. The Christophe Clement trainee briefly found himself on the Kentucky Derby trail after taking the aforementioned early prep by two lengths. He finished off-the-board in the GII Wood Memorial Apr. 6, running eighth as the favorite, and May 11 in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes, running fifth, in his two most recent trips to post. Clocked in 1:01.22 in a five-eighths work June 14, that effort had been over Saratoga's Oklahoma training turf, he put in a move Friday morning with another five-eights in 1:03 flat on the dirt training track. “He worked well. I'm happy with him,” said Clement. “He won the Gotham on a wet track and he was disappointing in the Wood. I've wanted to try him on the turf ever since and now we've had the chance to train there. He moves like a dream on the grass. He's a good horse and I have not given up on him.” The post Deterministic To Try the Lawn In Manila appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A veteran of two-thirds of this year's Triple Crown series, Albaugh Family Stables' Catching Freedom (Constitution) gets a fair bit of class relief while facing nine others in Saturday's $500,000 GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown outside of Cleveland. Winner of the GII Louisiana Derby to earn his spot in the field for the GI Kentucky Derby, the $575,000 Keeneland September acquisition gave an excellent account of himself on the first Saturday in May, delivering a rails rally in the stretch to round out the superfecta, a length and three-quarters behind the victorious Mystik Dan (Goldencents). One of three to press on to the GI Preakness Stakes after their efforts beneath the Twin Spires, Catching Freedom sat an inside trip at Old Hilltop and was produced three wide into the lane with every chance, but could not run down front-running Seize the Grey (Arrogate) and just failed to reel in Mystik Dan for second. Luis Saez has the call Saturday afternoon. The regally bred Batten Down (Tapit)–a full-brother to MGSW & MGISP Tacitus–hit the board in two-turn maidens at Gulfstream and Keeneland before breaking through by an authoritative 8 3/4 lengths in a rare 10-furlong test at Churchill Apr. 30. The Juddmonte homebred was being trained with a possible appearance in the GI Belmont Stakes in mind, but trainer Bill Mott elected to give his charge a couple more weeks instead. He is an 8-1 chance on the morning line, but should jump at a fraction of that. A stakes winner at six furlongs and a mile at two, Copper Tax (Copper Bullet) added the Mar. 23 Private Terms Stakes by a neck over 8 1/2 furlongs before adding a 3/4-length success in the Federico Tesio Stakes going a mile and an eighth at Pimlico Apr. 20. He was briefly considered for a start in the Preakness, but trainer Gary Capuano opts for this softer landing instead. Grade I Winners Clash In Chicago Stakes Saturday's GIII Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs has attracted just five female sprinters, but of those, three have succeeded at the highest level, including two at the specialist distance of seven furlongs. Vahva (Gun Runner) won the GIII Charles Town Oaks and GII Lexus Raven Run S.–both over seven-eighths of a mile–last season and has clearly trained on this term. A running-on second to Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) in Keeneland's GI Madison S. Apr. 6, she reversed form in no uncertain terms with the Louisiana-bred when clearing off to win the GI Derby City Distaff over the course and distance May 4. “Vahva is a fairly easy horse to train, you just have to pay close attention to how she's doing in the mornings because she'll tell you if she's ready to run or not,” trainer Cherie DeVaux told the Churchill media office. “She's been training better than ever at Keeneland. There's been some spacing between her races because she shows signs in the mornings that she's not quite ready to return to action. She hasn't shown any of those signs ahead of the race on Saturday.” Society (Gun Runner) took this race by 10 3/4 lengths last June when it was contested at Ellis Park and the 2022 GI Cotillion S. winner added a front-running score in the Pink Ribbon S. at Charles Town last August. Peter Blum's homebred makes her first trip to the races since a slightly troubled fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 4. Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) caused a 17-1 upset in the 2022 seven-furlong GI Test Stakes at Saratoga and annexed this year's Minaret Stakes at Tampa before rallying to be fourth to Vahva in the Derby City Distaff last time. The post Catching Freedom Looking To Regroup In Ohio Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The managing partner of Arnmore Thoroughbreds, co-owner of 'TDN Rising Star' Complexion (Complexity) with Carl and Yurie Pascarella, Megan Jones signed for a now juvenile class of three, and all have hit the board at first-asking, including the one who ultimately landed on the TDN's radar. “This year we have three fillies that we purchased as yearlings. The first, [New York-bred] Phoebeinwonderland, beat the boys first out. Second was Complexion. Third was Magical Bette who ended up in a boys' race because [her other option] overfilled, and I was really proud of her,” said Jones. “That was my yearling class. They've been such good girls.” Jones included that Danny Gargan, the trainer of their 'Rising Star', was a major source of encouragement in the early stages of running her ownership and breeding operation. Complexion was picked up for $400,000 at Keeneland September after not reaching her reserve as a weanling a year prior at the Keeneland November sale when bidding stalled at $335,000. Sent to the shedrow of GI Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Danny Gargan, the flashy chestnut overcame a bobble break at the start of that June 14 unveiling, turned away challenges through the bend, and never looked back from the front end, sailing in to win by 6 1/2 lengths to earn the TDN stamp of approval. In addition to that 'Rising Star', herself a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Jack Christopher (Munnings), Jones and the Pascarellas are also partners on Magical Bette (Good Magic), a filly they debuted against the boys June 15 after buying her for $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August Yearling sale. The winner in that contest, Mentee (City of Light), full-brother to champion Fierceness, set a new track record in his nose victory at first asking. Their filly, trained by Bill Mott, would claim third at 14-1 odds. “Bill just wanted to get a run into her and I was proud she ran third in that really fast race. She was up there early and never gave up. She was [5 3/4] lengths clear of the rest,” Jones said. “You can expect to see her back early in the meet at Saratoga, [and] she should be very live.” Both fillies earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for their efforts. Gargan praises Jones's keen eye at the sales, an atmosphere which can be intimidating even for seasoned horsepeople, and says there is likely more success to come. Phoebeinwonderland after her winning debut | Coglianese “Megan Jones bought Complexion, and she is on some run with her two-year-olds. She had a winner with Wesley [Ward], and then my filly is a TDN Rising Star,” he said. “Her Good Magic filly was third [Magic Bette], so there is a lot of good in the pipeline of that outfit. All fillies, which is pretty neat.” Gargan also included that Complexion will target the Listed Schuylerville Stakes on opening day of Saratoga July 11 and that the long-term goal for his filly is the GI Spinaway Stakes Aug. 31. In a separate venture, Jones co-owns the above mentioned Phoebeinwonderland (More Than Ready) with Even Keel Thoroughbreds, who hails from that same Saratoga August sale as Magical Bette, but for a humbler price of $100,000. Trained by Wesley Ward, and also against males but in a state-bred restricted maiden May 10, she overcame a round of bumper cars after the jump in her debut to stalk from second. Chasing the pacesetter and coming three wide heading for home, she gamely gut out the victory by three-quarters of a length in the shadow of the wire. Jones's exciting run continues this weekend with a stakes entry in the form of another Even Keel Thoroughbreds co-owned runner, namely GIII With Anticipation winner Gala Brand (Violence), who is entered Saturday in the Listed Wild Applause for Bill Mott. Her most recent newcomer from the sales Gellhorn (Volatile), a $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-old purchase–also a chestnut, has joined the Gargan barn. “I look at their eye, more than their color. It is a funny coincidence,” Jones said, with a laugh, when asked about her growing chestnut herd. “When they run for you, they run for you. I won't complain about that.” The post Megan Jones’s Arnmore Thoroughbreds Records Noteworthy Bows for Juvenile Filly Class appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Porta Fortuna simply loves Ascot—and that's undoubtedly also true for her American ownership, who enjoyed success at the Royal meeting with the filly for the second straight year.View the full article

Jockey William Buick teams up with an old friend in a bid to land one of the few top races that still eludes him.View the full article

While the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority digs deeper into equine drug test findings of metformin, positives for the diabetes medication show no signs of slowing.View the full article

With Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) sadly no longer with us and Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) retired, Europe's sprint category is in something of a lull at present. Elite-level performers are thin on the ground for Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the best of them being Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who will be racing on ground that is quicker than ideal. When it comes to the baker's dozen tackling Marc Chan's standard-setter, it will probably be a case of who peaks on the day and who gets the throw of the dice in this high-speed game of jeopardy. At present, Peter Harris's Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) shades favouritism probably due to his G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes success being so fresh, but short-term memory is never a good thing when it comes to the hardy perennials that make up this division. Just 12 months ago, Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) came back into bloom at odds of 80-1 that would have seemed ludicrous 11 months earlier as he conquered Goodwood's G2 King George Stakes. Only in October, King Power's beloved veteran Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) put it all together in the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes, having often failed at the top level before, offering those with enough guile the bargain SP of 40-1. Mill Stream's rider William Buick is aware that he is on one of the more promising types with his future ahead of him. “He did well to win at York–it was a messy race and he should have won by further,” he said. “Ascot's going to suit him and I think the sprint division is open at the moment. If you can mark up his Duke of York performance he's in with a shout, definitely.” Ralph Beckett has Kinross in a different place than 12 months ago and said, “He ran a bit fresh and saw a bit too much daylight when he was seventh a year ago, so we'll be holding on to him longer and riding him to finish. Hopefully he'll be competitive, but it's a difficult one as it's really all about the second half of the year.” Charlie Hills, who has Khaadem and also the G2 Greenlands Stakes winner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) for Fitri Hay, warned that the 2023 winner is no spent force despite some indifferent form in the interim. “Khaadem hasn't really had his conditions since last year,” he said. “He loves fast ground, every time we've run him since it's been soft and he loves it rattling. He's won some very good races during his career, including a Stewards' Cup and a King George at Goodwood and a Palace House at Newmarket, so he's certainly got it in his locker when he gets his ground.” “Mitbaahy seems to be improving at the moment, I was delighted with his last win and he's been as good as gold really since then,” he added. “He beat a couple of Group 1 horses in Ireland and I think Ascot should suit him well, as he obviously got the stiff six well at the Curragh.” Keep Believing If the ground stays as it is, the winner is going to have to run close to 72 seconds for the six furlongs and that proved beyond Kinross in last year's edition and it may be that a run in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III Stakes will act as the sharpener that last year's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup third Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) needs. George Boughey talked about his intention to back up Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's improving 4-year-old at this meeting following her authoritative win in the June 8 Listed Achilles Stakes over five furlongs at Haydock, so toughness is obviously in rich supply and such a constitution will carry her a long way. Is the Real Shartash Back? Wathnan Racing has definitely been favoured by the Royal Ascot gods so far and the operation have a fascinating contender for this in the formerly high-class Aga Khan cast-off Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). In the wilderness at three, the horse that beat Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the 2022 G2 Railway S. has been sweetened up by Archie Watson and handed his confidence back with a brace of wins over seven furlongs including in Haydock's Listed Spring Trophy, there Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said, “He's ended up with Archie Watson, who has gelded him and I think that has been the making of him. He has won twice this year at seven, but I think he will be at his best at the six-and-a-half point, so I think the stiff six at Ascot will be perfect for him. It's obviously a big step up in class and we will find out if he is up to this level.” A Continuous Success Story Ballydoyle have conquered the Royal meeting again this week and their representative in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), is arguably one of the best of the team. Coming through in the St Leger in September, he ended up being fifth in the Arc shortly after and it will be fascinating to see how he fares this term given that connections believed that he would progress with age and experience. Ryan Moore expects him to come forward for this return effort and said, “He is a very brave horse with the best form, but he will improve for the race.” Aidan O'Brien added, “We're very happy with him and he's had two days away. We maybe didn't have the clearest run with him in the winter and the spring and he'll improve from the run, but he is ready to win and he's a lovely, straightforward, honest horse. We think this is a lovely race to start him back in, but we do think he will really come forward from the run.” If Continuous is not yet firing on all cylinders, there is room for others to take advantage with one of the more obvious ones being Qatar Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher's Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion). Seventh behind the Ballydoyle colt in the Leger, he has race-fitness to aid his cause having won the G3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury last month where the Doncaster Classic third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was a disappointing fifth. He Can Make the Cut This race also sees John Sadler come to Ascot for the first time with the 2022 Golden Gates Stakes winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road), who has strong claims as a triple Grade III winner at Santa Anita. He has the sunshine to help and he is right in the mix on all known form. “This will be a first for me and I've won internationally before, I've won in Dubai and won Breeders' Cups and my last trip here was to pick up the Longines award with Flightline,” his trainer said. “We had such a good trip to London last time, I said it would be fun to run a horse at Royal Ascot and we have the right horse with the right ownership group. A lot of things fell in line that meant it looked like a fun thing to do.” “We tried to make Missed The Cut a little bit of a dirt horse last year, but he wasn't at his best so now we have put him back on turf and has run four really nice races this year. You can see on his form he has no problem with American distances and has run over a mile and a half over there many times. We know he can run this trip and another thing that is lovely this week is the weather is gorgeous.” A fascinating G3 Jersey Stakes is staged on Saturday, with Aidan O'Brien looking for more Royal Ascot glory with last year's G2 Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Third in a hot-looking G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal bow last month, the TDN Rising Star has ground to make up on the runner-up Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) but is expected to have moved forward considerably for that reintroduction. He also looks to emanate one of the stable's past stars Mozart (Ire), who came from a placing in the Curragh Classic to win this before going to on to land the big sprints. “He would not have been out of place in the St James's Palace Stakes after a very encouraging third in the Irish Guineas on his return, but we thought this was a very good spot for him,” Ryan Moore said. “As we saw last season, he doesn't lack pace and last year's Coventry winner looks the clear form pick in this along with Haatem. Haatem finished over a length in front of us in Ireland, but he carries a penalty here.” The Frankel Factor Haatem's three-pound penalty means that he comes here on the back foot, but the drop back to seven might play to his strengths while Juddmonte have their G1 Middle Park Stakes runner-up Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who didn't stay the mile of the 2,000 Guineas. Also in the famed silks is Frankel's half-brother Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}), so this is a key race for the operation. “We just felt he was maybe a little bit weak at that stage and with him being a May foal, he had only just turned three when he ran in the Guineas and he was probably just going through a bit of a growth spurt and looked a little on the weak side in the parade ring,” racing manager Barry Mahon explained. “Ralph [Beckett] has been happy with him since and the drop back to seven furlongs I don't think will be an inconvenience. He was a staying on second in the Middle Park over six, so I think seven will be a nice trip for him and we're looking forward to seeing him back in action.” Of Kikkuli, who was runner-up in the Listed Heron S., he added, “He was still learning his trade at Sandown and the ground had probably just got a little soft. We had no great worries about ease in the ground to be honest, but I just felt that day it blunted his speed a little bit. The winner got away from him and Ryan didn't give him a hard time. I think he will have learned plenty from that and he will come on again.” A Familiar Story? In the Listed Chesham Stakes, Ballydoyle have their Leopardstown maiden-winning TDN Rising Star Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to go to war with. Ryan Moore is happy she can make her mark in a race the stable has won six times, including with the filly September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who used the same maiden as a springboard in 2017. “You couldn't have asked for more from her than a smooth win on her debut at Leopardstown and the fourth has come out and won well since,” he said. “I rode in the race and I thought it went like a decent contest and she did it very well. You'd expect her to improve on that run and she clearly has a good chance.” Charlie Appleby has not enjoyed a fruitful week, but he brought Pinatubo (Ire) here in 2019 and there was a lot to like visually about the Yarmouth debut of the stable's Age Of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) last month. Another of interest is Teme Valley and Ciaron Maher's Leicester maiden winner Pentle Bay (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in a race that can be hit-and-miss coming so soon for the juveniles who are less precocious than those bred for sprint trips. The post Opportunity Knocks In Open Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Selections for Wyndham today Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Jonny Turner Racing Journalist Race 1 12.00pm 3 Hammer Down 5 Hogie 4 Glenkenick 7 Top Pocket Chance Race 2 12.25pm 10 Rakarompa 13 Atalanta 1 Meandmyshadow 4 Ledger’s Maid Race 3 12.50pm 5 Livy Desma 2 Lorton Vale 11 Robyns Hustler 6 Hit The Lights Race 4 1.20pm 5 Brookies Player 6 Step It Up A Notch 2 Bobbies Rock 1 Jenny Gump Race 5 1.47pm 6 Mad Jack 5 Moment Of What 7 Simone Lindenny 4 KD Royalty Race 6 2.15pm 15 Zeke 9 Black Pat 7 Galleons Grandson 5 Stella Bay Race 7 2.50pm 1 Franco Messi 3 Pounamu 9 Haley Robyn 10 Trail Boss Race 8 3.18pm 6 Rollon Summer 8 Ultimate Cullect 2 Sally’s Pearl 1 Havarti Arden Race 9 3.53pm 1 Stillyourshot 9 Ward Lamon 2 Herb 5 Mr President View the full article

Speaking during an informational session during a June 20 CHRB meeting, two horse racing executives gave commissioners an overview of computer-assisted wagering and what they believe is an equitable balance for CAW alongside the retail market.View the full article

2nd-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 6-21, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:09.78, fm, 2 1/4 lengths. WARMING (f, 2, Global Campaign–Haute Style, by Unusual Heat) became the second winner for her freshman sire (by Curlin) with a smart debut score sprinting over the Big A lawn Friday. Drawn widest of all in post nine, the 5-1 chance was outsprinted in sixth early. She began to advance on the far turn and kicked home nicely to score by 2 1/4 lengths over favored Good Long Cry (Long On Value). Haute Style had a filly by Modernist in 2023. Sales history: $35,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $22,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-M. Auerbach, LLC (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. #9 Warming is a debut winner for trainer @grahammotion! The 2YO filly by Global Campaign takes R2 at Aqueduct at 5/1 under Manny Franco. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/XGQHlqDmC4 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 21, 2024 The post Warming Becomes Second Winner for Freshman Sire Global Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

You can keep your fashionistas, foodies, royal processions and Group 1 races. Give me the scenes that followed the success of Crystal Black (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes any day of the week instead. Win, lose or draw, the Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate who own Crystal Black came to Ascot for a party. Boy did their rapidly progressive gelding provide them with something to celebrate and the scenes that followed his success for the father and son team of Gerry and Colin Keane will go down as many people's highlight from the week. Gerry is the definition of a small trainer. Described as a “salt of the earth fella” by one of the syndicate members shortly after the race, the County Meath-based handler operates with a select number of horses. For him to hit the back of the net with a Dermot Weld castoff is the stuff of dreams. For his son Colin to partner the winner added ten-fold to the experience. “He's just an unbelievable horse,” Gerry said afterwards, before joking, “and the gossen wasn't too bad either! “I can't believe it. I never thought I'd be at Royal Ascot. The nearest I thought I'd get to it would be watching it on telly. It's great.” The gossen, of course, rarely gets it wrong. He's the perennial champion jockey in Ireland and has ridden his share of big-race winners-including Classics and Group 1s-but Keane described Friday's success for his father as being up there with his best moments in the game. “That's as good a kick as I've ever gotten out of riding a winner-especially for the old man. I can't put it into words and I'm sure he won't be able to, either, but it's a very special day.” Guineas Winners Looking Vulnerable After Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bombed out in the St James's Palace, Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) confirmed the suspicion that the Guineas form is open to interpretation when finishing outside of the frame in the Coronation Stakes. It's hard to see Notable Speech finishing ahead of the St James's Palace winner Rosallion, who finished second to him in the 2,000 Guineas, again this season. Similar applies to Elmalka, who probably benefited from a pace collapse in the fillies' Classic. She ran with credit in the Coronation but was never a threat to Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio). There's no doubt that the Guineas form is holding up but it appears as though the beaten horses from Newmarket have improved past the respective winners. Big Bets Landed On The O'Brien-Trained Runners If you're fond of betting content, Simon Nott is worth a follow on X. His blogs are engaging and provide an insight as to what goes on in the betting jungle at all of the big meetings. Nott shared four six-figure bets from the Star Sports pitch this week. The first was £100,000 on Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at 13-8. Bingo. The second was another £100,000 at 2-1 Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Nice. The third? You guessed it. Another £100,000 on an Aidan O'Brien-trained runner, this time Opera Singer (Justify). No dice. The same punter [presumably] went in again on Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and, while he was beaten, is showing profit £162,500 for the week which is, eh, better than most [and me!]. McCartan Brothers Having A Beano Don't say you weren't told. Just as Jim McCartan told us that Thursday's Norfolk winner Shareholder (Not This Time) was above average before selling the colt at Arqana, his brother Paul said similar in these pages about the Albany winner Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). On a serious note, Jim and Paul have knocked it out of the park this week. Hats off, gentleman. Inisherin An Important Stallion Prospect Fair play to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who revealed that Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Rosallion would be staying in training next year. But when Inisherin does go to stud, there is no doubt that he will make an important stallion. The influence of Shamardal has been seen all week through the exploits of Blue Point (Ire) and more. Being from the last crop of the late stallion, Inisherin will undoubtedly be popular. Hopefully there is a lot more to come on the track before that day arrives. Old Dog For The Hard Road Youth has been to the fore this week at Ascot with Donnacha O'Brien, George Boughey and Billy Loughnane bagging winners but wasn't it cool to see Joe Fanning getting in on the action when partnering Pilgrim (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) to victory in the Palace Of Holyrood House? Fanning is not someone you would associate with banging in sprint winners but, in doing so, the 53-year-old showed he can still mix it with the younger guns. He's a great advertisement for longevity. The post Talking Points: Moment Of Week As Keane Family Light Up Ascot With Black appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ASCOT, UK — Back she came. A star on the rise this day last year and now one fully ascended to the highest grade possible. Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) has truly been a lucky charm for her syndicate of American owners, who bought her after she had made just once successful start in the colours of her co-breeder, Annemarie O'Brien. Two starts later she won the G3 Albany Stakes, and now she is a winner at Royal Ascot once more in the G1 Coronation Stakes. For Philip Shelton, who manages Medallion Racing, one of the four different ownership entities in the Donnacha O'Brien-trained filly, this was a culmination of what he set out to do in encouraging partners to hop on board to race the best horses in the best company. “My heart rate is still about 180,” he said. “It is impossible to describe the feeling. I am so happy because we have partners who have never been here. We had a group here last year and some different guys here this year, and they get to see what it's all about.” Shelton was advised in his initial investment in Porta Fortuna by Mark McStay, and his group co-owns her with Dean Reeves, Steve Weston and Barry Fowler. The latter was the only one of the quartet not to have travelled to Ascot, but a group of 16 owners had made the pilgrimage and were royally rewarded, not least in meeting the King, who presented the Coronation Stakes trophies. He continued, “Our goal is to bring people to the highest level and there is no higher level than this. It's just a testament to Donnacha and his team, and Tom [Marquand] gave her a great ride. And this filly: she breaks, she travels, she quickens, she tries. Everything you want in a racehorse, she does it.” Highly tried last year, Porta Fortuna didn't miss a beat, with two Group 1 placings before notching one of her own in the Cheveley Park Stakes and then running a close second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Returning in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, she was only a neck behind the winner Elmalka (GB) at the line, and she reversed that form emphatically back at Ascot. Shelton said, “She had a hardy two-year-old campaign and I wasn't sure she was going to train on. I got to see her in March and physically she looked a different horse, and I thought if you just go by how she looks physically, she is going to be better again this year. And again, testament to Donnacha, because that's come true.” Beaming away in the winner's enclosure along with the happy owners were Annemarie and Ana O'Brien, no doubt proud in equal measures of Donnacha's achievement and that of the filly they bred under their Whisperview banner. And Porta Fortuna is not the only graduate of their farm to have struck in group company at Royal Ascot this week, as the O'Briens also bred Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The winning trainer's sister, Ana O'Brien, who manages the family stud, said, “To even have a runner here is unbelievable, so to have two winners as a breeder is something you don't expect.” Porta Fortuna's dam Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was bought by Ana for €11,500 at the Goffs November Sale and has subsequently been sold, but she added, “We have some of the family still. Porta Fortuna has been so consistent her whole career, she really is a great filly. “It's brilliant for her owners, and for them to leave her with Donnacha has been great for him. He has done an amazing job with her.” And despite the wider O'Brien family's regular success at the highest level, does it taste even sweeter when that victory comes with a homebred? “A hundred per cent – definitely,” said Ana. “It means such a lot. There's a lot of work goes into it behind the scenes before they even go into training. It's really exciting and I am lucky that they trust me to take charge of a lot of it. We're doing our best.” The post ‘There is no Higher Level’: American Team Celebrates Ascot Repeat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Apprentice Amy Jo Hayes leads the Barney Curley apprentice series, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Friday. Hayes has won the first two races–at Roscommon last month and at Gowran Park on June 3. There are four more races in the series restricted to apprentices who have ridden less than 20 winners. The remaining races are scheduled for Bellewstown on July 4, Naas on July 24, Down Royal on Sept. 6 and Bellewstown on Oct. 2. Points are awarded for each race first through 10th (25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 3, 2, 1). For the winning apprentice, they receive a €2,000 voucher, an additional 10 equuip-funded hours with a jockey coach, a one-on-one tuition at RACE for one day, high performance analysis with jockey strength and conditioning coach Wayne Middleton and physiotherapist Gavin Egan, the RACE mobile unit visits the apprentice's yard to provide onsite training for all staff, a session with Dr Ciara Losty, sports psychologist, and a one-to-one financial literacy session from Gateway consultants. For the second- and third-place finishers, they receive a €250 voucher each. Alan Delany, vice-chair of Bellewstown Racecourse, said, “We believe this apprentice race series is a fitting legacy to the memory of Barney Curley who was globally renowned and respected for his nurturing, mentoring and coaching of young apprentice jockeys over many decades.” The post Amy Jo Hayes Leads Barney Curley Apprentice Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following his emphatic success in Friday's G2 King Edward VII Stakes, The Aga Khan's Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Calayana {Fr}, by Sinndar {Ire}) can arguably lay claim to being France's leading middle-distance performer. While the G1 Prix du Jockey Club passed him by due to his gelding operation and the Arc is not for him for the same reason, the future looks bright for the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained homebred after his six-length success in this mile-and-a-half “Ascot Derby”. Rewarding a numerically-strong French Royal Ascot challenge this year by becoming the first from the country to win here since 2019, the 11-2 shot who had won the G3 Prix Noailles and G3 Prix Hocquart was in his element off the strong Ballydoyle-forged pace. Arriving at the front with menace under Stephane Pasquier passing two out, he surged away to win by daylight and record a time over a second faster than the older horses in the card's Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. Continuing a banner year for the breeding operation, he was followed home by Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who in turn had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over the third Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). One for France! Calandagan runs away with the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/WkjFvOGJEZ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 The post Gleneagles’s Calandagan Far Too Good In The King Edward VII appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Signaling the beginning of the 2024 Thoroughbred season, Colonial Downs' barn area will open on June 24 welcoming returning conditioners as well as newcomers who are sure to impact the standings.View the full article

Elite-level racing in Japan for the first half of the season comes to a close this weekend with the running of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, being contested this year at Kyoto Racecourse due to ongoing renovations at its normal home at Hanshin. The 2200-metre contest will earn the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in early November. The Takarazuka Kinen is one of two fan-voted events on the JRA calendar annually, and its leading votegetter Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) will take a fair bit of beating. The mount of Yutaka Take, the 5-year-old–winner of the 2022 G1 Tokyo Yushun–was fourth to Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup before powering home in the G1 Arima Kinen the following month. Near-enough favoured in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 30, he sat an inside trip and was bottled up for a good portion of the run home, finally breaking free to close strongly for fifth. “He returned to Japan without any problems, and has had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “In training at the end of last month, his times were faster than I thought. More recently, he's been moving well in his work with other horses, despite the pace not being that quick.” DO DEUCE busting the clock on the chip circle at Ritto (….again) under Yutaka Take Takarazuka Kinen next ! #HeroIsComing pic.twitter.com/7vGlzb6LUt https://t.co/7vGlzb6LUt — Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) June 13, 2024 Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) also made the trip over to Dubai a few months ago, where he finished fourth in an oddly run G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. Third to Equinox in this event last season, he was second to the Horse of the Year in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over a 2000-metre trip shy of his best and fourth in the Arima Kinen. “He's having his usual training routine, now that he's recovered from the trip to Dubai,” said trainer Haruki Sugiyama. “He's more mature mentally now, and if he stays calm, we'll be able to increase his workload a bit more from now.” Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), second to Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February, sat handy to the pace in the G1 Osaka Hai and just prevailed in a three-way go. The two horses behind him had far inferior trips and are in the discussion this weekend. Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) made a sweeping move around horses down the back of the track and sat three deep into the lane while just failing to get home, while Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) was forced to pick her way through in the straight and may not have had the cleanest of passages. The X-factor in the Takarazuka Kinen is Struve (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), who capped a three-race winning streak with a last-gasp success in the G2 Meguro Kinen on the Japanese Derby undercard May 26. This is easily his stiffest test to date. The post Do Deuce Faces Tough Task In Takarazuka Kinen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-BAQ, $100k, Alw, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:04 p.m. ET UNMATCHED WISDOM (Cairo Prince) caught a muddy local strip and the outside post for his one-mile debut May 10, but turned in an eye-catching performance in scoring by better than six lengths while earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure that is 12 points higher than any number posted by any of his five rivals in this first-level allowance. From the deeper female family of Stormy Atlantic, Bandini and three-time G1 Dubai Turf winner Lord North (Ire), the sophomore colt cost just $25,000 as a Keeneland September yearling before blossoming into a $450,000 purchase by the Klaravich braintrust at last year's OBS March Sale. TJCIS PPs 2nd-GP, $65k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT), 1:24 p.m. ET IT'S WITCHCRAFT (Tapit) is the first produce for Lady's Island (Greatness), a two-time graded winner on the main track, who was purchased by Gainesway for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February Sale in 2021. Unsurprisingly covered by Tapit a short time after her acquisition, Lady's Island produced this filly in February 2022 and D J Stable signed the winning ticket on her at $1.1 million at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The mare is also represented by a yearling Tapit colt and foaled a colt by the standout stallion this season after she was bought back on a bid of $575,000 at Keeneland November last fall. TJCIS PPs More success for @Gainesway in the ring! Hip 589, a Tapit filly out of G3 winner Lady's Island, commands a final bid of $1.1 million from D.J. Stable. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/fChRFtS9wt — Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023 7th-LRC, $41k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 7:04 p.m. A $600,000 Keeneland September purchase, DOTHRAKI (Into Mischief) gets his career started for the SF/Starlight/Madaket et al partnership. The Mar. 30 foal looks to become a sixth winner for his dam Vanquished (Empire Maker), herself responsible for three-time graded winner Takeover Target (Harlan's Holiday) and the stakes-winning Ladies' Privilege (Harlan's Holiday), whose son More Than Looks (More Than Ready) won last year's GIII Manila S. Vanquished is a half-sister to two-time Grade I winner Critical Eye (Dynaformer). The cross of Into Mischief over Empire Maker has accounted for GI Kentucky Derby-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday Insights: Cairo Prince Colt Looks To Back Up Big Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Tax Implications in the Eatontown Stakes last weekend. Mehmas's Tax Implications Lands Eatontown The duo of Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables combined to send out Tax Implications (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) to win the GIII Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park last Saturday (video). Bred by Aoife Kent, the chestnut filly was originally a 75,000gns foal when put the Tattersalls December Foal Sale by Mickley Stud, with JC Bloodstock signing the ticket. The daughter of Country Madam (Ire) (Medaglia d'Oro) brought 250,000gns from Mike Ryan when re-offered by Mountain View Stud during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Tax Implications has earned an additional four stakes placings besides her Eatontown win, and Country Madam is a half-sister to a pair of stakes winners, with pride of place given to multiple group winner and young sire Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Mehmas's American record now stands at 14 winners from 23 runners (61%). The Tally-Ho Stud-based son of Acclamation (GB) also has five stakes winners there to his credit (22%), with Going Global (Ire) and Chez Pierre (Fr) both Grade 1 winners. Papilio Takes Churchill Affair GII Appalachian Stakes heroine Papilio (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) won at Churchill Downs on Thursday (video). Trained by Mark Casse, the 4-year-old is owned by D. J. Stable, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds. Bred by SCEA Marmion and Alain Jathiere, the bay was a €60,000 purchase out of the Arqana August Yearling Sale by Shawn Dugan from the draft of Haras de la Louviere. During her five-race Irish campaign for some of the Coolmore partners and trainer Fozzy Stack, she was second in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Tipperary in May of 2022. Out of the unraced Glafyra (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Papilio is a half-sister to a yearling colt by Twilight Son (GB). Her dam is a half-sister to group winners Balius (Ire) (Mujahid) and Delfos (Ire) (Green Tune), with the former second in the G1 Hong Kong Cup. Coolmore's reverse shuttle stallion Starspangledbanner (Aus) is credited with a baker's dozen of winners in America from 23 runners (56%). His strike rate of stakes winners to runners there stands at 30%. Of his seven black-type winners, both Rhea Moon (Ire) and State Of Rest (Ire) are Grade I winners. #7 Papilio returns to allowance company and takes R7 at Churchill Downs for trainer Mark Casse with @jose93_ortiz in the saddle! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/kI0eZZf2Rl — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 21, 2024 George Vancouver Gelding Wins American Debut Divin Propos (Fr) (George Vancouver) earned the third win of his career at Santa Anita recently for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). Raced by Madaket Stables, Panic Stable and William Strauss, the Listed La Coupe de Marseille third bore the silks of Jim Kelly earlier in his career through seven French starts, winning two of them for trainer Bruno de Montzey. Sold to his current owners–with Mandore International Agency acting on their behalf when a €150,000 Arqana Arc Sale graduate last September–Divin Propos was bred by Haras du Puy Bouillard. His dam visited the winner's circle eight times, and the bay is kin to the listed winner and group-placed Sysmo (Fr) (My Risk {Fr}). George Vancouver, who was last reported to be standing in France, has just two runners Stateside. Besides the winner, La Feve (Fr), third in the GIII Sweetest Chant Stakes, is his other representative. Without Parole's Full-Brother Graduates Beneath Twin Spires Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is raced by his breeder John Gunther with Eurowest Bloodstock Services, got off the mark making his first start beyond a mile at Churchill Downs on Sunday (video).The colt was a 360,000gns buy-back during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October sale in 2021, and made his first two starts in England for Ralph Beckett before being shipped to America. The son of Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid) is a half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (Speightstown), stakes winner and GIII Athenia Stakes third She's Got You (GB) (Kingman {GB}), and a full-brother to G1 St James's Palace Stakes winner and Newsells Park Stud sire Without Parole (GB). Without You Babe, in turn, is a half-sister to three stakes winners, with multiple Grade I winner and sire Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) the best of them. Juddmonte's Frankel needs no introduction, and Rebel Red was his 29th winner in the U.S. from 57 runners (51%). An even dozen of his progeny has won stakes (21%), with all three of his Grade I winners scoring in either the Breeders' Cup or ultra competitive New York circuit. #12 Rebel Red with a nice turn of foot to get the job done in R6 at Churchill Downs in his second start with the @reredevaux barn as well as the addition of blinkers. @jose93_ortiz was aboard the 4YO colt. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/kGiXZ7ASGt — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 16, 2024 Showcasing Gelding Scores In New York Another Klaravich Stables runner, Unit Economics (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), has been knocking on the door of a maiden win, and joined the ranks of winners with a one-length victory during the ongoing Belmont at the Big A meeting for trainer Chad Brown earlier this month (video). Bred by Mickley Stud and D Willis, the chestnut is out of the dual winner Cherubic (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and is her second foal and one of three winners. Consigned by Mickley Stud to the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, he brought 110,000gns from Peter and Ross Doyle, before being re-offered by Pier House Stud at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, and catching the eye of Mike Ryan for 200,000gns. This is the extended family of U.S. Champion Juvenile Filly Phone Chatter (Phone Trick). Whitsbury Manor Stud's Showcasing has an admirable record in America, having sired 14 winners from 26 runners for a strike rate of 54%. Among his runners there are six stakes winners, anchored by the Grade II-winning trio of Projected (GB), Prize Exhibit (GB) and Bodhicitta (GB). The latter pair have both placed at the highest level. #2 Unit Economics improves with blinkers added and takes R6 at Aqueduct for trainer Chad Brown with @iradortizaboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/D0FUPhxtpc — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 15, 2024 Wootton Bassett Filly Shines In Indiana Augustin Stables' Kahuraru (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) prevailed at first asking at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Monday for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The daughter of Perle Rare (Distorted Humor), picked up for $425,000 by Nicoma Bloodstock from Runnymede Farm, was bred by Haras d'Etreham, Yacatec SARL and Cofinvest. A half-sister to the Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon winner Perseverants (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), the winner is a granddaughter of Group 2 winner Peinture Rare (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself a half-sister to European champion and sire Peintre Celebre (Nureyev), who won the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and two other stakes winners. Coolmore's Wootton Bassett celebrated his 17th winner in America with Kahuraru's win (51%) from 33 runners. Breeders' Cup winners Audarya (Fr) and Unquestionable (Fr) are two of his seven stakes winners in that jurisdiction (21%). Empress Reigns At Monmouth Denford Stud homebred Eastern Empress (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) found the Monmouth Park turf to her liking with a three-length win on June 15 (video). Christophe Clement has been her trainer of record after five starts in Britain for John and Thady Gosden. The 12th offspring of the stakes-placed Darshaan (GB) mare Intrigued (GB), the 4-year-old filly is a half-sister to stakes winners Michelangelo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Private Secretary (GB) (Kingman {GB}), with the former third in the G1 St. Leger. Another sibling, the Dansili (GB) mare Curious Mind (GB), is the dam of St. Leger hero Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Darley's Dubawi is responsible for 42 winners from 82 runners (51%) in the U.S. His 22 North American stakes winners (27%) include 10 Grade I winners (12%). Among that elite bunch are Breeders' Cup winners In Italian (GB), Master Of The Seas (Ire), Modern Games (Ire), Yibir (GB), Rebel's Romance (Ire), Space Blues (Ire), and Wuheida (GB). Repeat Winners: It has been over a year since Belouni (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) featured in Making Waves when winning the Woodhaven Stakes, but the gelding was back in the winner's circle during the Belmont at the Big A meeting earlier this month for trainer Chad Brown (video). The Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Michael Kisber and William Rucker-owned runner was making his 12th lifetime start. Laurence Goichman's Alluring Angel (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) returns to this column for the first time since taking an Aqueduct allowance last November. Successful at the Belmont at the Big A meeting on Thursday (video), the dual stakes-placed daughter of All Of Me (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) is trained by Chad Brown. The post Making Waves: Mehmas Filly Shines In Oceanport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Public comment is now being accepted for two proposed industrial solar projects in Lexington-Fayette County, according to the Fayette Alliance. An information session is scheduled on July 8 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Macdeonia Christian Church at 4551 Winchester Road for people looking to better understand the two proposals. Eatern Kentucky Power Cooperative has submitted a proposal for a 400-acres industrial solar development on Winchester Road. That proposal is currently moving through the Kentucky Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in Kentucky, according to the Alliance. EKPC is a not-for-profit generation and transmission electric utility with headquarters in Winchester, Ky. Silicon Ranch, a solar power company based in Nashville, has proposed a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to permit industrial-scale solar facilities in the agricultural zones of the county. That proposal is currently moving through the planning commission. Approval would allow industrial solar farms in any agricultural zone with a conditional use permit, to be evaluated by the Board of Adjustment under limited conditions, according to the Fayette Alliance. “We think industrial solar generation facilities are not appropriate in the Rural Service Area or any of our agricultural zones, as the primary intent of these zones is to support agricultural production,” the Alliance said in the email. “Large-scale power generation facilities are both industrial and commercial uses, and pose complex unintended consequences to our productive soils as well as set dangerous precedent for how we regulate uses in our agricultural zones moving forward.” The public may submit comments via this link on the Public Service Commission's website. The Fayette Alliance is a non-profit committed to achieving sustainable growth in the city of Lexington while advocating for the protection of farmland. The post Public Comment Sought on Two Large-Scale Solar Project Proposals in Lexington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Donnacha O'Brien trainee and G1 1000 Guineas second Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio–Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who won the G3 Albany Stakes on this day last year, doubled her elite-level tally when emerging best in a stellar renewal of Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Last term's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine raced in a handy third after an alert getaway and slipstreamed Opera Singer (Justify) from halfway as Juddmonte's Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) set the tone up front. Shaken up when angled to the outer for her bid approaching the final furlong, she engaged Opera Singer soon after and, inching ahead with 100 yards remaining, was driven out to deny that rival by a length. 1000 Guineas third and 15-8 favourite Ramatuelle (Justify) threatened inside the final quarter-mile and ran on to finish 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third, reversing form with Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was 1 1/4 lengths away in fourth. Porta Fortuna does it again at Royal @Ascot and lands the Coronation Stakes! pic.twitter.com/wcCnITvFMY — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 The post Donnacha O’Brien On The Board With Porta Fortuna in the Coronation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Signaling the beginning of the 2024 Thoroughbred season, Colonial Downs's barn area will open on Monday, June 24 with training scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 27, the track said in a press release on Friday. Multiple leading trainer Mike Stidham and Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse are among the trainers preparing to return to the Tidewater track. The latter put in a successful debut meet where he won 10 races, which included Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}). The Canadian Horse of the Year took home the GI Beverly D. Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' race. “It was our first meet and we loved it,” Casse said. “[Colonial Downs] has got one of the nicest turf courses in North America. When I came in for the Beverly D, I flew in with Tyler Gaffalione, Kendrick Carmouche, and Javier [Castellano], and they all commented that this is one of the nicest turf courses they have ridden.” A mainstay of the summer season, Karen Dennehy Godsey plans to return to Colonial Downs, coming off the most successful meet in terms of earnings of the trainer's 11-year career. “Colonial offers races that no other track has, especially given the Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified program,” Godsey said. “It's quality racing. The money is good, the racing is good, and the track is gorgeous. There is no other turf course like it. Most every horse in my barn is Virginia-bred or Virginia-certified, so those races they offer level the playing field.” Newcomers expected to stable at Colonial in 2024 include Christophe Clement, Cherie DeVaux, Jordan Blair and Keith Desormeaux. “After looking at the condition book, I saw they have a lot of 2-year-old races, they have a lot of 2-year-old route races, and they have plenty of turf racing,” Desormeaux said. “The surface is second to none–turf and dirt. The facility is very nice, the purses are substantial –there were many features that attracted me. Our goal does not change–we're developing horses to run at the highest level. It's going to be a great place to develop these young horses.” Exiting the most successful season in the history of the racetrack, in terms of record number of races, race days, visitors, horses in competition, live bets and off-track bets, Colonial Downs' 2024 stakes program consists of 27 races worth $5.7 million. The season will feature daily average purses of nearly $700,000. The 27-day meet runs from Thursday, July 11 through Saturday, September 7. The post Colonial Downs Barn Area Prepped For 2024 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Emerging from the 2,000 Guineas to take the crown as Sprint King, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal–Ajman Princess {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) put genuine star quality into the division when dominating Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Always travelling comfortably near the front under Tom Eaves, the Kevin Ryan-trained 9-4 favourite was allowed to coast to the lead two out and draw clear for a comfortable 2 1/4-length defeat of Lake Forest (No Nay Never), who denied Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) the silver medal by a head. There was another 1 1/2 lengths back to TDN Rising Star Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) in fourth on his black-type debut. “He's a machine,” Eaves said of the winner, one of the last of the Shamardals who had served notice of his prowess in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes following his sixth in the Guineas. “You saw how long it took to pull him up–he's a unit.” Ryan added, “It was a joy to watch and Tom said they couldn't take him far enough. He's very good and he has such a great temperament. Most of these good horses have an edge to them, but he never gives me a moment's worry. We'll go to the July Cup now and he's in the Maurice de Gheest and there's the Champions Sprint here as well later in the year.” Inisherin is the real deal and lands the Commonwealth Cup at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/K685XUvt4f — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 The post ‘He’s a machine’: Shamardal’s Inisherin Dominates the Commonwealth Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 National HBPA Conference set for July 23-26 at Iowa's Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel, the association said in a release early Friday morning. Lt. Gov. Gregg will make his remarks on Wednesday, July 24, the conference's first of three days of panel discussions and presentations. Coinciding with the conference will be a starter-allowance race carrying a $50,000 purse. The top three finishers receive automatic entry into the 1 1/16-mile Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse, part of the eight-race Claiming Crown series that will be held Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs. “This is terrific having a Claiming Crown prep race with a big purse on the evening our conference participants will be enjoying a day at the races at Prairie Meadows,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “We appreciate the enthusiasm the Iowa HBPA and Prairie Meadows have shown for hosting our conference and putting on a Claiming Crown prep. Click here for conference information. The post Iowa Lt. Gov. Gregg To Deliver Keynote At National HBPA Conference July 24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article