Wandering Eyes

Jockey Junior Alvarado was still "on cloud nine" while returning to action Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park, where he rode for the first time since capturing the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 24 aboard Senor Buscador.View the full article

2022 Everest champion, Giga Kick (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Giga Kick, the prized runner from Clayton Douglas’s stable, has returned to its Mornington base, but the trainer is taking a patient approach to his return to the track, despite being back in training for almost a month. The son of Scissor Kick last competed in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last September, finishing third to Imperatriz before sustaining a hip injury that sidelined him for both the spring carnival last year and this autumn. “It was a very unique injury, but I’m glad we found it,” Douglas shared. “Hopefully he’s fine under full stress, but we won’t know until we try him. He’s been back at my place for nearly a month now. “He’s been on the treadmill and the water walker, just doing a bit of conditioning work. “We’ve missed the boat with the TJ Smith and all the autumn stuff, and whether we go to Brisbane, I don’t feel we will. “He’ll have a few trials and we’ll get him to a certain stage and the spring will be our focus, but how I get there, I haven’t worked out what he does. “I’m not going to worry about the last 12 months, I’ll just look forward with him. “At the moment he’s ticking all the boxes, so hopefully he keeps going that way.” Horse racing news View the full article

Horse Racing on Thursday, February 29 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meetings at Kembla Grange & Pakenham. Thursday Horse Racing Tips – February 29, 2024 Kembla Grange Racing Tips Pakenham Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For February 29, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $38.52 odds return: Thursday, February 29, 2024 Kembla Grange – Race 2 #2 Private Legacy Kembla Grange – Race 3 #7 Bonita Queen Pakenham – Race 1 #1 Modown Pakenham – Race 8 #2 North Channel | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on February 29, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Horse racing tips View the full article

Rose Quartz ridden by Michael Dee wins the Neds How Now Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on November 18, 2023 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Trainer Grahame Begg, based in Cranbourne, sadly announced the passing of his Group-winning sprinter, Rose Quartz, due to a bout of colic. The six-year-old mare, sired by Written Tycoon, claimed victory in five races, notably securing the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) and accumulating $619,090 in prize money over 20 starts. “She got colic and we had to do surgery, but she didn’t make it,” Begg revealed to Racing.com. “It’s just one of those things out of the blue … they did surgery and she survived the first 24 hours.” “I dare say she would’ve ended up in one of the (broodmare) sales later in the year and would have been a valuable mare.” Horse racing news View the full article

Having claimed the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate on Queman, Harry Coffey will look to add the Newmarket Handicap to his record on Benedetta. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) In the aftermath of securing his second Group 1 victory astride Queman in the recent Oakleigh Plate (1100m), jockey Harry Coffey has now been enlisted to ride Benedetta in the upcoming Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) scheduled for March 9. Trainer Jason Warren, based in Mornington, has affirmed Coffey as the replacement for the regular rider, Daniel Stackhouse. Stackhouse will be serving a suspension, necessitating a change for Benedetta’s second-up autumn appearance. Benedetta’s most recent outing saw her claim a fourth-place finish behind Queman in the Oakleigh Plate. Horse racing betting sites have Benedetta marked as a +1400 chance for the Newmarket Handicap. Horse racing news View the full article

Top-tier bookmakers have rolled out an enticing lineup of racing specials slated for Thursday, February 29. Standouts on the list include a slew of lucrative bonus-back incentives, elevating the thrill of the trackside action. Dive into these offers from top horse racing betting sites to maximise your wagering prospects. The top Australian racing promotions for February 29, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Pakenham All Races – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has conducted a thorough evaluation of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers, unveiling exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored specifically for Thursday, February 29, 2024. These horse racing promotions stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, if one bookmaker is not currently offering a promotion, you can be confident that another is capitalising on promotional offers. Your go-to destination for the most rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses each day is HorseBetting.com.au. Take advantage of bookie bonuses and the best horse racing odds available for every race to increase the value of your betting endeavours. It’s important to note that these thoroughbred racing promotion offers are exclusively crafted for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, simply log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to optimise their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

What Verry Elleegant Stakes Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, March 2, 2024 Prizemoney $1,000,000 Distance 1600m Status Group 1 Conditions Weight for age 2023 winner Anamoe (1) | T: James Cummings | J: James McDonald (59kg) Visit Dabble A quality field of 10 weight-for-age gallopers are set to fight it out in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, with seven of them coming through the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. Fangirl is the one to beat, but is there some value to be found elsewhere? 2024 VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES ODDS After a sensational win in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, online bookmakers wasted no time installing the Chris Waller-trained Fangirl as a -166.67 favourite for the Verry Elleegant Stakes. She is the only galloper with any early money, with all other contenders drifting in the market. It leaves Just Fine on the second line of betting at +650 as he returns after conquering The Metropolitan (2400m). Think It Over (+750) is the only other galloper in single figures, while the likes of Buckaroo (+900) and Lindermann (+1200) are the leading contenders at double-figure odds. 2024 VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES SPEED MAP The speed map for this one should be relatively straightforward. Just Fine only knows one way, and barrier two should allow Regan Bayliss to take his time crossing to the rail. Lindermann (5) looks the most likely to sit on his outside. Think It Over should get into the box-seat position from stall three, with Buckaroo likely to utilise gate one to hold a position just in behind the speed. Fangirl has no choice but to drag back from gate 10, which shouldn’t be any issues for the five-year-old based on her first-up romp, while Cascadian (9) and Atishu (7) will be ready towards the rear of the field. Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes. VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES 2024 PREVIEW & FORM There’s no doubt Fangirl is very hard to beat, hence the short quote, but you simply can’t be with her at this price. Punters should instead take a chance splitting the stake with two other contenders. Fangirl is arguably one of the best two horses in the country right now, so while she must go on top on Saturday, she can go around without our money on. Just Fine has been strong first-up in the past, and although he has more achievable targets over further later in the campaign, he warrants a throw at the stumps in the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes. He won on debut for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn over 1600m at this track and trip on September 2 and carried that form right through the preparation, culminating in Group 1 glory in The Metropolitan (2400m). He maps to get a relatively uncontested lead on Saturday, and if his rivals allow him to steal some cheap sectionals, Just Fine could add another Group 1 to the resume. Buckaroo was no match for Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes, but he has the best chance from that form-line to turn the tables. He got too far back first-up and never looked likely to figure; however, the son of Fastnet Rock closed off beautifully, and he now gets the opportunity to sit much closer throughout the journey. He should relish the immediate step up in trip to the 1600m, and with a bit more luck, the double-figure odds about Buckaroo may seem overs at some stage. Cascadian had a glorified barrier trial in the Apollo Stakes and will be much better this weekend. Tom Marquand takes the reins as he makes his way back to Australia, and despite gate nine being tricky to overcome, Cascadian is worth a shout for each-way players. VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES 2024 SELECTIONS & BEST BETS Selections: 9 FANGIRL 5 JUST FINE 4 BUCKAROO 2 CASCADIAN $100 betting strategy $50 win #5 Just Fine @ $7.50 with Unibet $50 win #4 Buckaroo @ $10 with Neds Horse racing tips View the full article

With rain in the Arcadia forecast for Friday night through Saturday, track officials at Santa Anita could move Saturday's card, according to The Daily Racing Form. Saturday's slate includes the GI Santa Anita H. and three other graded races, which could shift to Sunday. That day's card would then move to Monday. An announcement is expected Thursday morning. The post Rain Might Force Santa Anita To Move Big Cap Card To Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The case of Jeffrey Englehart, who bought a horse at an OBS 2-Year-Old sale in June who had given Clenbuterol sometime before being purchased by Englehart, has renewed questions about the role of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and whether or not it would be in the sport's best interest for it to expand its jurisdiction to cover sales as well as racing. Currently, HISA has no authority over a horse until it has its first recorded public workout, which is when it becomes a “covered” horse. HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus doesn't see that changing any time soon. “There is a little bit of a misunderstanding about what HISA's authority is in this regard,” she said. “We can only do what the statute allows us to do and right now the statute specifically provides that a horse becomes a covered horse upon its first workout. We would have to ask for a legislative change if we wanted to change the scope of that jurisdiction, which would be a heavy lift and not something we'd probably go to Congress and try to do right now.” Lazarus stresses that the sales companies should use every resource available to them to make sure that sellers are not using drugs that might enhance the value of a horse being sold. Lazarus said she has had discussions with the heads of the sport's three largest sales companies–Keeneland, OBS and Fasig-Tipton–and asked that they work together to come up with unified rules that mirror those already in place by HISA for covered horses. “HISA did convene a meeting with all the sales companies in October,” she said. “We all got together in a room and discussed the fact that it made sense to get on the same page. We would hope that there would be was a logical protective flow from weanling to retirement that makes sense. It doesn't have to be the same program for every stage of a horse's life, but it needs to be sensible and consistent and all fit together. There was wide agreement with all the sales companies that this was an important initiative and they said they would work towards it. They've been working really hard on coming up with an aligned agreement.” Lazarus said that if there is still a reason to suspect that some horses are slipping through the cracks at the sales, HISA might take another look at getting legislation that would allow it to categorize a horse as covered at some time prior to its first official workout. “I trust that the sales companies are going to be able to do this on their own and that we won't need to take a stricter view,” she said. “If for some reason that doesn't happen, we would definitely, over time, look at that and consider our options. Once a horse comes into the HISA program and is our responsibility we do everything we possibly can to protect it. But not having a window into what has happened with the horse before they become a covered horse can be challenging. That's why we are working towards this aligned system where everything is really clear and the sales companies are all doing the same thing. If that is a fit with HISA's program, that would be really beneficial for the industry. “The way to move the sport forward is to have more consistent and stricter regulations throughout a horse's life. Based on my experience since HISA's inception, that is most effectively done when the stakeholders come to the table and are willing participants. You come up with a much stronger program when you have everyone buy in. I am working every day to earn the trust of horsemen and earn the trust of the racetracks. If I could get sales companies on board and make changes that make a lot of sense, that would mean we would have a much better chance of being successful right out of the gate. I really believe that's where we need to end up. But I also believe that given where we are and given the commitments I have received from the sales companies, we'll be able to do that without having to legislate or change HISA's jurisdiction.” Englehart was notified that a horse under his care had been found to have Clenbuterol in its system when it was tested by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) after it broke down in a workout at Finger Lakes in November. The positive was the result of a hair test and the infraction was made public on the HIWU website. Englehart faced a suspension of up to two years. Englehart insisted he never gave the horse the drug and that it had to be given to the horse before he bought it at Ocala. The original HIWU test was a standard hair test. Tests known as segmented hair test can pinpoint when a drug was given to a horse and Englehart pushed for the horse to undergo that type of test. HIWU had the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California, Davis perform the segmented test and it revealed that the Clenbuterol was in fact administered before Englehart became the trainer. All charges against Englehart were then dropped. Lazarus admitted that the Englehart matter could have been handled better. “There was an initial matter that we had to flag because something was found in the horse,” she said. “But we should not be holding the trainer responsible if that substance went into the horse before he or she was responsible for it. One thing we are going to change, we are not going to make a positive test from hair public until a B sample comes back. “The only way we failed Mr. Englehart in this case was the public announcement of his violation. He didn't have any suspension and there were no repercussions from a sanctions standpoint. There was nothing in place until the system concluded, but the public did know about it. It would be different if Clenbuterol were found in the blood or urine. We know how long Clenbuterol can stay in blood and urine. So if there is a Clenbuterol finding in blood or urine there would be no ambiguity unless the trainer got the horse the day before or within a week. With hair testing we can find things going back six months and even a year sometimes.” “What I really hope is that this situation shows the public and the racing industry that HISA is always going to do what's right. We are going to follow the science and we are going to follow the facts. We are giving Mr. Englehart the money back that he spent for the B sample. He is going to be made entirely whole. As I said, the one thing I would do differently is not to have made this public from the outset. This is the first case we've had of this nature and I've always said there will be things that we learn along the way that we didn't foresee and that we have to adjust.” The post HISA Not Positioned to Police Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After spending close to a decade as the top assistant for decorated trainer Mike Maker, Nolan Ramsey is striking out on his own. A 27-year-old native of Lexington, Ramsey is the grandson of prominent owner Ken Ramsey.View the full article

The latest in Racing Post's Flying Start Files from those undertaking the prestigious course.View the full article

Dubai's "Super Saturday" program has been diluted by a new schedule that sprinkles key races more widely through the season, leaving the March 2 card more about some individual stars than the races themselves.View the full article

Finger Lakes racing secretary Jerry Richards has added three more claiming series to the 2024 meet that kicks off April 29, pending New York State Gaming Commission approval.View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Carlos Mancilla has been suspended for 15 days for a post-race Gabapentin positive from Sept. 10, and fined $1,000. Gabapentin, a Class B controlled medication, is an anti-seizure medicine for humans that is also used to treat complications from shingles. According to the final ruling by an internal adjudication panel, Mancilla said that the positive probably came about because of the horse, Cara in the City, ingesting straw contaminated with Gabapentin through urine. “Mr. Mancilla however did not provide any concrete evidence to support this assertion,” the final ruling states. The internal adjudication panel issued Mancilla the maximum possible sanction for a first Class B controlled medication violation under HISA. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Resolution Date: 02/23/2024 Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer Penalty: No penalty. Equine Anti-Doping charge withdrawn. Explainer: For the presence of Clenbuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Fast Heart. This was a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. More on the story here. Resolution Date: 02/22/2024 Licensee: Reynaldo Yanez, trainer Penalty: No penalty. Equine Controlled Medication charge withdrawn. Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, That Magic Moment. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Date: 02/22/2024 Licensee: Carlos Mancilla, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 23, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Explainer: For the presence of Gabapentin—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Cara in the City, who finished second at Pimlico on 9/10/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Pending ADMC Violations Date: 02/06/2024 Licensee: Lacy Pierce, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Out-of-competition medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Mamba Forever on 2/6/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 02/03/2024 Licensee: Howard Love, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Out-of-competition medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Slender Slipper on 2/3/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 12/30/2023 Licensee: Bruce Levine, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Fortune's Nephew, who finished third at Aqueduct on 12/30/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 12/15/2023 Licensee: Brittany Russell, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Battling Time, who won at Laurel Park on 12/15/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 01/03/2024 Licensee: Jorge Diaz, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Xylazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Celtic Treasure, who did not finish a race at Parx Racing on 1/3/24 (according to Equibase, Celtic Treasure was “injured in the early stages, pulled up and vanned off”). This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 11/13/2023 Licensee: Juan Guerrero, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Crypt, who won at Parx Racing on 11/13/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 01/26/2024 Licensee: Frank Santillana, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Mi Gusto Es, who finished tenth at Tampa Bay on 1/26/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 12/09/2023 Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Out-of-competition medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Storm the Empire on 12/9/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 01/19/2024 Licensee: Flint Stites, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the potential breach of Rule 4221—Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)—on Rock Anna Roll, who finished fifth at Penn National on 1/19/2024. This is also a possible violation of Rule 3313—Use of a Controlled Method During the Race Period. Date: 01/02/2024 Licensee: Carla Morgan, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Out-of-competition medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Xylazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from River City Rocker on 1/2/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 01/28/2024 Licensee: Michael Simone, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Another Duke, who won at Tampa Bay on 1/28/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Santa Anita Drayden Van Dyke – violation date Feb 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 9 strikes Kazushi Kimura – violation date Feb 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes OTHER KEY RULINGS The TDN also publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. California Track: Santa Anita Date: 02/25/2024 Licensee: Rolando Quinonez, trainer Penalty: $1,000 fine Violation: Non-compliance with pre-workout veterinarian examinations Explainer: Trainer Rolando Quinonez is fined $1,000.00 for violations of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1878 (Workouts – No 72-hour pre-workout Veterinarian examinations [Non-compliance for 28 out of 238 workouts]) between January 1, 2022, through August 20, 2023. New York Track: Aqueduct Date: 02/20/2024 Licensee: Nancy Vutz, racing official Penalty: $1,500 Violation: Lasix administration error Explainer: Racing Official Dr. Nancy Vutz is hereby fined the sum of $1,500 for failing to conduct business in a proper manner necessitating a scratch in Race #3 at Aqueduct Racetrack on February 19, 2024. The post Weekly Stewards And Commissions Rulings, Feb. 20-26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Haras de Beaumont's European champion three-year-old and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) has had his first three mares scanned in foal. These include the 2023 G3 Prix Imprudence winner Showay (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and the Listed winner and Group-placed Mixed Intention (Ire) (Elusive City), who has already produced the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club third Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) “Ace Impact is proving very popular with French and international breeders, and we are very grateful for the support. His first book is very exciting,” said Haras de Beaumont manager Mathieu Alex. Ace Impact's stud-mate Sealiway (Fr) has his first foals arriving this year having covered 165 mares last season. Alex added, “The first foals by Sealiway are now on the ground and we couldn't be more pleased with them.” Ace Impact's fellow first-season sire Bouttemont (Ire) has also made a fast start to his new stallion career at Rathbarry Stud. The first three mares covered by the son of Acclamation (GB) have been confirmed as pregnant in recent days and 20 other mares are holding service to him. Rathbarry's Niamh Woods commented, “We are delighted with the start that Bouttemont has made to his stallion career. Every mare covered by him that has been scanned so far has turned up pregnant, so we couldn't ask for any more. He is proving to be very popular and we are particularly excited by the volume of stakes performing and stakes producing mares he is attracting. Our clients are finding him an easy stallion to like, as there is a big sense of déjà vu with him being a son of Acclamation that looks so similar to his sire and has his same easy temperament. He's going to get a great chance to succeed as a stallion.” The post Ace Impact has Trio of Mares in Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Brendan Jacobson of Wimberley Bloodstock. HOLIDAY SOIREE (15, Harlan's Holiday–Try to Remember, by Include) to be bred to Gun Runner. Holiday Soiree was a talented racehorse who won the Shine Again S. at Saratoga and placed in the GI Humana Distaff at Churchill. She is the dam of Vahva (Gun Runner), who won the GII Raven Run S. and GIII Charles Town Oaks last year. She is a gorgeous filly with lots of tenacity and determination. Cherie DeVaux trains her, and her connections are excited about what 2024 will bring. I like the linebreeding to Storm Cat on this mating; it is the same cross as Echo Zulu, Gunite, and Pappacap. You also have female family linebreeding back to foundation mare, Alanesian. I am a big fan of linebreeding to superior females. Based on the above, I decided to send her to Gun Runner for 2024. Holiday Soiree descends from a powerful female family cultivated by Ned Evans, and she might become a foundation mare for us. It will be tempting to keep the fillies out of her to race and add back to the broodmare band. We are commercial breeders, so it will be a tough decision on what to do if a filly is born. Currently, Holiday Soiree is pregnant to City of Light, who has a lovely physical, and his offspring are having great success on the track and sales ring. Her newly turned 2-year-old filly is by City of Light and was a $400,000 purchase for Belladonna Racing. The filly's connections report she is doing very well and at the top of the list each week. Holiday Soiree is also the dam of Signal From Noise (Arrogate), who ran second in the Lady's Secret S. I purchased this mare in November at Keeneland and am very excited to have her in the broodmare band. GETTING LUCKY (6, Pioneerof the Nile–Lucky Number, by Smart Strike) to be bred to War of Will. I purchased Getting Lucky in 2022 at Keeneland in foal to Bolt d'Oro. We now have a lovely Bolt d'Oro colt and will sell him at an upcoming auction as a yearling. I am excited to see how he does in the auction ring. Getting Lucky got a break from being a mother this year; however, we look forward to breeding her to War of Will in 2024. I am a big fan of what this sire did on the track, winning a Grade I on turf and dirt. He won the Preakness at 3 and at 4 he won the GI Maker's Mark Mile. War of Will is an absolute bargain at his current $25,000 stud fee. His yearlings averaged over $100,000 in 2023, over a 4X multiple of his stud fee. Not only was he an excellent racehorse, but he is doing a great job as a stallion. He is very fertile, with an 80% live foal rate in his first year and an 82% live foal rate in his second year. War of Will looks like a promising heir to carry on War Front's legacy. We think this sire is the perfect match for Getting Lucky, who descends from a deep Phipps female family, with mares like Get Lucky, Dance Number, Numbered Account, and Intriguing in the pedigree. The female family continues the excellent branch of the great foundation mare La Troienne. Flightline | Sara Gordon TOBAGO (8, Pioneerof the Nile–Caroni, by Rubiano) to be bred to Flightline. Tobago is one of my favorite mares; she is a good mother from an excellent family. She is out of Caroni and is a half to GSW Mo Tom (Uncle Mo), MGISP Beautician (Dehere), Don'tforgetaboutme (Malibu Moon), and MGSW Red Ruby (Tiznow). All of whom had successful racing careers. Caroni's offspring have gone on to earn $2,348,994 in career earnings. Tobago's nephew, Crupi (Curlin), just placed in the Pegasus World Cup. I purchased Tobago in the fall of 2020 at Keeneland and am excited to get into this family. Last year, we sold her yearling colt by Tapit privately to Winchell Thoroughbreds. He was a lovely specimen and precisely what you would expect a Tapit colt to look like. As mentioned above, I am a big fan of linebreeding back to superior females. In this case, we are linebreeding back to Ruby Slippers. She has a really nice Essential Quality yearling colt on the ground, which will go to auction this year. I liked what I saw with the Tapit and Essential Quality, so I thought we would continue down the same path. She will be going to Flightline this year. With these matings, you get the linebreeding back to Ruby Slippers, but you also get the magic Tapit-Empire Maker cross, which produced 31% stakes winners. We don't have a lot of data yet on Pioneer of the Nile as a broodmare sire, but if he is anything like his dad, Empire Maker, then we will be in good shape. KIRTAN (6, Cairo Prince–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike) to be bred to Nyquist. Kirtan is a half-sister to GISW/MGSW Faiza and is carrying a foal by Girvin, so she has a 3/4 to Faiza in her belly. Faiza sold for $4 million at Fasig-Tipton November Sale last year and is a beautiful individual. Kirtan and Faiza are attractive females, and I would expect their foals to be beautiful, too. I am a big fan of Girvin and will be breeding more mares to him. It will be interesting to see what his offspring can accomplish with his move to Airdrie. I would say his mare quality has improved, and there is a big chance you will see more graded stakes winners coming in the future. This will be the first foal for Kirtan, and I wanted to return to a proven stallion and give her every chance to succeed as a broodmare. Kirtan will be going to Nyquist in 2024, and I think the two will complement each other very well. The cross has produced horses like Outwork and A Mo Reay. SHESA MYSTERY (Verrazano–Mystery Itself, by Pulpit) to be bred to Not This Time. We purchased GSP Shesa Mystery at the Keeneland November Sale and we were delighted she was in foal to Life is Good. He was a sound and brilliant racehorse, and we believe his offspring will be highly sought after in the sales ring. Shesa Mystery comes from a strong female family; every dam going back to 1919 has produced stakes winners or stakes placed racehorses. She just had her first foal, and we are encouraged that this foal gives us a shot at continuing the trend. She is a beautiful mare and I hope her offspring take after her in the looks department. Since she was bred to an unproven stallion for her first foal, I wanted to get her to a proven stallion for the second. Not This Time really improves his mares and what he has accomplished at stud made him a top match. Not This Time's dam, Miss Macy Sue, was linebred back to foundation mare Aspidistra through Ta Wee. That seemed to work well because we now have two outstanding sires in Liam's Map and Not This Time. I thought adding some more Aspidistra to the pedigree would make some sense. Shesa Mystery goes back to Aspidistra through the legendary Dr. Fager. Physically, they make a top pair and will complement each other very well. HONORIFIQUE (Honor Code–Double, by Exchange Rate) to be bred to Elite Power. We purchased Honorifique at the Keeneland November Sale while she was in foal to Quality Road. This will be her first. Honorifique is out of Doubled, who won the Sorority S. and placed in three other black-type races. Doubled is out of Mayan Milagra, who produced Tapit full-siblings GSW Dancinginherdreams and Good Pick Nick. The former won the GII Pocahontas S. and placed in two others at that level. Good Pick Nick placed in the GIII Pegasus S. Honorifique | Coady Photography Mayan Mialgra is out of Dhaka, bred by Allen Paulson, and she was a fast racehorse. Dhaka won or placed in five black-type races. Not only could she run, but she also produced a graded stakes placed gelding and two black-type winners. I really like Honorifique's female family and think she has a real chance to continue the tradition of producing stakes winners. Like her mother, SP Honorifique showed talent on the racetrack. She is an attractive filly with lots of potential as a broodmare. Since her first foal will be by Quality Road, obviously a superstar stallion, I thought it would be worth a gamble to go to an unproven stallion for her second. I wanted to breed a mare to Elite Power this year; she was the perfect match. He has an outstanding physical and showed so much brilliance on the track. He has all the qualities to become a top sire, and his offspring will be highly regarded in the sales ring. FROSTED OATS (Frosted–More Oats Please, by Smart Strike) to be bred to Practical Joke. Frosted Oats is a beautiful mare who showed talent on the track, earning over $140,000 and winning multiple races. She was a $250,000 yearling campaigned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm. Her half-sister is Peace and War (War Front), who won the GI Darley Alcibiades S. and placed in the GIII Delaware Oaks and the GI Cotillion S. Peace and War sold for $1.45 million at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. Since this is her first foal, we wanted to get her started on a solid footing and thought Practical Joke would be a terrific fit. He is a very attractive stallion, and his offspring excel on the track. Practical Joke has started 2024 off strong, already siring four black-type winners–tied for second place with Quality Road. We think these two will make a top pair and produce a foal who will do well in the sales ring and on the track. MY FIRST PEARL (6, First Samurai–Pearly Blue, by Empire Maker) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro. SP My First Pearl was a talented a racehorse. She is a half-sister to the 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner, Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}). I really think this family is on the upswing, and I am delighted to have her in the broodmare band. This filly needed to go to a stallion that matched her physically, and we thought Bolt d'Oro would be a top match. Bolt's offspring are winning on turf and dirt, and I think he is a stallion to keep your eye on. This will be her first foal, and we are hopeful this mating will get her off to a good start as a broodmare. FASHION WEEK (10, Speightstown-Theyskens' Theory, by Bernardini) to be bred to Liam's Map. I purchased Fashion Week in 2019, pregnant to Into Mischief, now named New York Strong. He was a $250,000 purchase by Peter Brant. She has also produced a $90,000 Catholic Boy and a $170,000 Uncle Mo. She has a Nyquist yearling on the ground who will go to auction this year, and she is in foal to Golden Pal. Everything she produces is attractive, so we are encouraged to see one of her offspring go on to do big things. Fashion Week has a lot of linebreeding in her pedigree, so I thought an outcross would do her well. She is currently in foal to Golden Pal, who is an outcross with her, and we are going to breed her to Liam's Map, who is as well. Liam's Map is a very handsome individual whose offspring are doing well on the track and the sales ring. He is also a good value at a $40,000 stud fee. His 2023 yearling average was over $120,000, over a 3x multiple of his stud fee. Fashion Week needs to be mated with a stallion with some speed. Liam's Map and Golden Pal both ran 126 e-figure races, and I am hopeful their genetics will add some speed to her offspring. HARVEST (6, Street Sense–Cleaning, by Hard Spun) to be bred to Mitole. I purchased Harvest in 2022, pregnant to Knicks Go, and he has turned out to be a handsome individual. He looks like what a racehorse should look like. I am impressed with what I have seen so far. He will be going to auction this year, and seeing him go through the ring will be a thrill. Harvest is currently in foal to Upstart, which I am a big fan of and I think is great value. Airdrie has something special with Girvin and Upstart; they both improve their mares and produce winners. They are both great value at $30,000. For 2024, we will be breeding Harvest to Mitole. Mitole already has SW Ice Cold out of a Street Sense Mare, and they make a top match physically. He is also a great value at $15,000, and we know he can produce runners. I look forward to seeing Harvest continue being a good mother and Mitole excel at stud. The post Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift: Wimberley Bloodstock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalog for the 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, set for Wednesday, Apr. 3 beginning at 10 a.m. ET in the Lone Star Park Sales Pavilion, is out, the Texas Thoroughbred Association said in a release Wednesday. The breeze show is scheduled for Monday, Apr. 1 on Lone Star's main track, starting at 8 a.m. ET. “This is a solid, quality group of two-year-olds coming to our sale,” Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “We have an array of national and regional stallions represented in the book and stakes-quality pedigrees to match.” Juveniles by Bolt d'Oro, Frosted, Game Winner, Global Campaign, Instagrand, Jimmy Creed, Medaglia d'Oro, Mitole, More Than Ready, Twirling Candy, Vino Rosso, and Violence are catalogued this year, as well as regional stallions like Aurelius Maximus, Cinco Charlie, Competitive Edge, My Golden Song, Star Guitar and Too Much Bling. “We have two-year-olds by well-known stallions, out of stakes winners, and half siblings to stakes runners currently on tracks around the area and nation,” Bridewell said. “We're thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase these horses in April at Lone Star Park and we're grateful to our breeders, owners, and consignors for trusting in us to put on a quality sale.” Paper catalogues will be mailed soon and supplements are expected. Click here for access. The post Catalogue Released For The 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Respected point-to-point handler and ex-jumps jockey Charlie Poste says that he is “absolutely loving” his first endeavours into the breeze-up business and looks forward to consigning his first draft at the upcoming Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up and Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-Up sales. Poste trained over 100 winners between the flags in Britain, including talented chaser Third Time Lucki, but explained how the broad international market for breeze-up horses compared to the parochial feel to the point-to-point game made it a no-brainer to try his hand at the former. The early indications are that Station Yard, the banner in which Poste consigns under and where he is based near Stratford-upon-Avon, is here to stay in the breeze-up game such is the level of enjoyment he has got out of the Flat additions to the stable. He explained, “I'm very excited about the whole thing. We have two in the Craven, two in Donny and then another couple for the Guineas Sale. There is a saying in life that a change is as good as a rest and that is certainly true in this case. The horses have been very well received by Jerry McGrath, Matt Prior and Freddy Powell during inspections and Gordon 'Flash' Power, who is going to ride them at the breeze-ups, came over on Sunday to give them all a little bit of a twist. We had a little away day and 'Flash' was very happy. Being completely honest, this is a new project for Francesca [Poste's wife] and I. We are not going to pretend that we have all of the answers, but I have been very encouraged by having respected people coming in and being complimentary about how the horses are looking and with 'Flash' being very happy with how the away day went, so that gives us a lot of confidence.” Poste, who operates Station Yard alongside Francesca, will be represented by a filly and a colt by Blue Point (Ire) at the Craven Sale. The couple will also consign fillies by Calyx (GB) and Kodiac (GB) at Doncaster and expect to be represented in the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale as well. Speaking to TDN Europe at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale last year, Poste explained how he had gathered up a team of 10 investors to attack the yearling sales with the help of Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Biggs, and how he planned on putting his own stamp on how he produced the horses for the breeze-ups. Tom Biggs | Tattersalls He elaborated on Wednesday, “The similarities between the point-to-point and breeze-up projects is that you are working with young, inexperienced athletes who are expected to perform to a high level without the benefit of match practice. Where there are massive similarities between the two disciplines is that you need to do all that you can to get as much life experience into the point-to-pointers and the breezers so that, when they go to there without any prior experience, they are streetwise enough to show whatever ability they have in their race or their breeze, whether that be good, bad or indifferent. What you don't want is a good horse not being able to showcase its talents because they are too green to deal with the occasion. With that in mind, we have done a lot of cantering around the farm with the breezers and have brought them to a lot of different places.” He added, “We're fortunate enough that we rent a farm that offers us the ability to do a lot of different things and, beyond that, they've been in the lorry and have had away days. It's all about going to different places, introducing them to different scenarios and making sure that they can mentally adjust and cope with everything. That way, when they get to the breeze they can adapt and help 'Flash' do what he needs to do to make them go quickly.” The decision to branch out into the breeze-up market could prove to be a timely one. At the Cheltenham February Sale just gone, all of the key figures took a hit, and Poste says that the flimsiness of the middle tiers in the National Hunt game in Britain is what ultimately forced him to change course. He said, “We're definitely seeing a correction in the National Hunt market. Yes, there's no doubt that if you are in that top five per cent, you're still going to get well paid and people are falling over each other to buy those. But if you are in the middle market which, invariably, as the industry builds, the British point-to-point sector is in, it becomes tricky. It is definitely becoming tougher to know where you are at and to get those horses away for what, maybe three or four years ago, you'd be expecting them to make. In that respect, we are very happy to have a new potential revenue stream for the business with the breeze-up horses. The excitement, and maybe even the nerve-wracking part of it all, is the finality of the whole project. There is only one day, really, and you are preparing them for that day alone. There are no excuses.” He added, “But I'm absolutely loving it. The changes in these horses in just a week or 10 days is very different to dealing with a store horse. These Flat horses seem to transform within a blink of an eye, which is really exciting for all of us.” Poste was keen to heap praise on Biggs for helping source a rock-solid debut draft of breeze-up horses and says “he couldn't be more chuffed” by the quality of the horses he is working with. He said, “Tom is immensely professional and is well-respected, hence why we asked him to come on board and help buy these horses. We couldn't be more chuffed by what he selected and bought for us. Fingers crossed, given he works closely with the Blandford Bloodstock group, who are big buyers from the breeze-ups, he may even put some of these horses up at the other end of this scenario.” Poste added, “We've got fillies by Calyx and Kodiac for Doncaster. The Calyx looks very quick–everything has come very naturally to her. The Kodiac filly has a scopier action and has been shaping up very well at home. Neither of those have missed a beat. Both appear to be quick and should be ideally suited by the sale that they are in. “With Blue Point, the sire speaks for himself. It's very exciting to have a filly and a colt by him going to the Craven Sale in our first draft and hopefully that shows people that we are serious about this venture moving forward. The Blue Point colt seems to be a really quick, professional horse who has thrived with work while the filly exudes class. Again, it's probably credit to Tom with the horses he's bought but everything just seems to come very naturally to all of them.” The post “I’m Absolutely Loving It” – Poste Excited By Debut Breeze-Up Consignment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Todd Fincher, a standout on the New Mexico circuit, picked the perfect time and place to pick up his first Grade I win. His stable star Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), who was overdue to collect a big win, got the job done in the GI Saudi Cup. With a purse of $20 million, it is the richest Thoroughbred race in the world. Fincher joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland to discuss his popular horse, the reasons why he likes training in New Mexico, what are the prospects of a stallion career for Senor Buscador and more. Fincher was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. The margin was a nose. Did he know he had won and what made the difference this time? “Just a little less bad luck is all that we really needed for this to happen,” Fincher said. “Because every time he puts himself in a terrible position. The Japanese jockey (Yuga Kawada, the rider Ushba Tesoro) really did a good job. He had me in a bad position for a long time. We didn't have anywhere to go. He had us in a bad spot, and we had to wait down the stretch. When that horse finally cleared us that was when we could move out and make our run. Junior (Alvarado) timed that perfectly. That's why we were so emotional. Because we never thought he was going to win until the last second, and we still didn't know if we won because the finish was so close.” Senor Buscador will now head to Dubai for the GI Dubai World Cup. Run at a mile-and-a-quarter and around two turns, that race seems like a better fit for Senor Buscador than the one-turn, mile-and-an-eighth Saudi Cup. But Fincher said the real key to victory in Dubai will be whether or not the early pace is fast enough to set up his late run. “He needs some kind of setup,” Fincher said. “I don't know why he does it, but he takes himself back right out of the gate. If you watch the Pegasus, he out broke National Treasure and then, three jumps later, he's four lengths behind him. So, he does that to himself and he's not going to change that style. And we can't change it. So, you're still going to need a pace because he's not going to get up there mid-pack and hang around. So, he needs an honest pace.” Fincher has been training since the late nineties and has been the proverbial big fish in the small pond that is New Mexico racing. Does he ever see himself moving on to a tougher circuit? “You have to have the horses to make a move like that and I just don't have them,” he said. “I have a ton of New Mexico breds. We break usually 30 to 50 horses a year, and 95% of them are New Mexico breds. Last year, we broke two Kentucky breds and one Louisiana bred, and the rest were New Mexico breds. So, it's not like I normally have the right horses to do it. But this year, we actually broke 15 Kentucky breds and a couple of Louisiana breds. So, we might have an opportunity to take a stable somewhere. But you can't go somewhere with two or three horses and set up a stable and think people are going to bring you horses”. During the stallion spotlight segments of the podcast, the crew sang the praises of the WinStar stallion Improbable, who stands for $15,000, and the Coolmore stallion Tiz the Law, who stands for $20,000. His first crop are now 2-year-olds and will be hitting the track shortly. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by WinStar Farm, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ 1/ST Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, https://www.winstarfarm.com/and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman reviewed the Saudi Cup, the GII Rebel S. and the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn. They also looked ahead to this weekend's races, which will include major preps for the GI Kentucky Derby in the GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita and the GII Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. There was also a discussion of the Jeffrey Englehart story and whether or not HISA should expand its role so that it can oversee the sales. The post Todd Fincher Joins TDN Writer’s Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The digital world moves fast, and Pounce is an example of just how efficient the emerging online market can be. Pounce won Feb. 11. Nine days later she topped the Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale when she sold to Resolute Racing for $370,000. View the full article

Jockey Basil Frazier, Grade I-winning mare Flag de Lune (Flag Officer), and racing writer/broadcaster Jon White will be inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame this summer, Emerald Downs announced Wednesday. Washington's Horse of the Year in 1984, Flag de Lune was a multiple stakes winner on dirt, including the inaugural running of the Longacres Lassies S., and became a Grade I winner on turf when she won the the 1984 Ramona H. at Del Mar. A native of Spokane, Washington, Frazier rode in Canada and the United States, retiring in 1985 with 2,218 career victories. Frazier's crowning moment was a dramatic victory aboard Times Rush in the 1974 Longacres Mile. Another native of Spokane, White has been a local and national force in racing media for over five decades. Beginning with Daily Racing Form as chart-caller at age 19, White has been a publicist, television host, morning-line maker and steward, his byline appearing in The BloodHorse, Los Angeles Times, Thoroughbred Record, Canadian Horse, and The Washington Thoroughbred, among others. White currently writes a weekly column for Xpressbet.com, appears weekly on Steve Byk's national racing show, and produces morning lines for Santa Anita and Del Mar, including the morning lines for eight Breeders' Cups. “What a tremendous honor it is for this Washington-bred to go into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame,” White said. “I consider it to be the pinnacle of my career in racing. I just wish that my father [Quentin White] was still alive to see this. As a lifelong racing fan, he'd be over the moon.” The official induction ceremony will be held Aug. 10 at Emerald Downs. Also to be honored at the ceremony, longtime trainer and former NFL and University of Washington running back Junior Coffey will be presented with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement award. The post Frazier, White and Flag de Lune Join Washington Racing Hall of Fame appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Picture waking up to a world where our beloved industry doesn't exist. This thought isn't just a scare tactic; it's a serious wake-up call about what's at stake–our jobs, our skills and the legacy many families have built over generations. Our industry, known for its grit and passion, is facing serious threats, both from inside and out. And yet, we've been too comfortable, too stuck in our ways, too scared to change. We've heard the tough feedback, and it's not all unwarranted. Claims that we lack emotional maturity and are stuck in our ways beg us to take a hard look in the mirror. Is it that we can't handle the tough, honest conversations necessary for growth or have we just been taking the easy way out? Our future depends on us coming together, being open to change and facing the hard truths. Leadership needs to be about collaboration and empowering everyone. We can't let those who love to see us divided win. It's time to show the doubters what we're really made of, not with just words, but with action. We're at a crucial point. The choices we make now will shape the future of Thoroughbred racing. Let's make the smart choice and take bold steps forward. The clock is ticking, and we've got too much to lose. Holding on to the hope that being underestimated is our secret weapon–they won't know what hit them. Time to roll up our sleeves and show them they're wrong! Warm regards, Clark Shepherd The post Letter to the Editor: ‘Time to Roll Up Our Sleeves’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Things are starting to heat up. Saturday's Busher S. at Aqueduct and Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream both have the potential to shake things up. The Davona Dale will feature the return of 2-year-old champion filly Just FYI (Justify) and what looks to be an up-and-coming star in Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief). The Busher will feature Jody's Pride (American Pharoah), who was the runner-up behind Just FYI in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Here's a look at the fourth installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10. 1) TARIFA (f, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star', GSW, 4-3-0-0, $278,925. Last start: WON Feb. 17 GII Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, March 23 or GI Ashland S., Kee, April 5 The Louisiana route to the GI Kentucky Oaks has proven to be a productive series of prep races. Tarifa, coming off her win in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton, could be the next Fair Grounds-based horse to turn into a star. Three of the last six Rachel Alexandra winners have gone on to win the Oaks. And Clairiere (Curlin), the 2021 winner went on to become a four-time Grade I winner. That bodes well for Tarifa, who surged into the top spot in this poll off of a 2 3/4-length win over the highly regarded Intricate (Gun Runner).The Rachel Alexandra was just her fourth start and her first in stakes company, so there's probably plenty of room for improvement for the Godolphin homebred. 2) JUST F Y I (f, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-George Krikorian (Ky); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,317,750. Last start: WON Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2. The Davona Dale should answer a lot of questions surrounding last year's 2-year-old champ. Her record is perfect, she won the Juvenile Fillies, and she's in the hands of Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Despite all that, she's going to have to show that she has progressed and matured since her 2-year-old season and gotten faster. Her best Beyer figure was a 79, which she recorded in the Breeders' Cup. That doesn't even make her the fastest horse in Saturday's Davona Dale. Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) has run an 88 and an 87, numbers more indicative of a horse with the goods to win the Oaks. Mott will no doubt have her ready, but he's not exactly drilling her in the mornings. She worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 Feb. 24 and five furlongs in 1:03.60 Feb. 17. Both works were at Payson Park. 3) JODY'S PRIDE (f, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) O-Parkland Thoroughbreds & Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (Ky); T-Jorge R Abreu. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 3-2-1-0, $480,250. Last start: 2nd Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: Busher S., Aqu, Mar. 2. Trainer Jorge Abreu called an audible at the line of scrimmage and decided to run Jody's Pride in the Busher instead of the Davona Dale. The Busher is a much easier race than the Davona Dale and offers the same amount of Kentucky Oaks points, with 50 points going to the winner. “We feel we can get our points easier in New York than we can in the Davona Dale,” co-owner Steve Weston told the Daily Racing Form. Flavien Prat had been riding this filly but he has commitments on the Mar. 2 card at Santa Anita and will not be available. Jose Lezcano will take over. Jody's Pride's last start was a second-place finish in the Juvenile Fillies, which means, as is the case with Just F Y I, that she might not be fast enough to make it to the Kentucky Oaks winner's circle. 4) KOPION (f, Omaha Beach—Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) O-Spendthrift Farm; B-Tall Oaks Farm (Ky); T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $270,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $116,600. Last start: 2nd Feb. 10 GIII Las Virgenes S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 6 With Bob Baffert-trainees effectively banned from the Kentucky Oaks, Kopion could enter the Oaks as the top threat from California. While she may not be as good as the Baffert-trained Kinza (Carpe Diem), who beat her in the GIII Las Virgenes S., her credentials are pretty solid. She ran an 89 in the Las Virgenes, which puts her in the thick of things when it comes to the leaders of this division. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has never won a Derby or an Oaks. Maybe this will be the year that changes. 5) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star', 2-2-0-0, $89,950. Last start: WON Jan. 11 AOC at Gulfstream Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2. The Davona Dale comes down to a classic case of speed figures-versus-class. Leslie' Rose is considerably faster than Just F Y I, but she has won only a maiden and an allowance race. Just F Y I, of course, is a two-time Grade I winner and an Eclipse champion. It's just that on the figures, she's not that fast. A $1,150,000 purchase at Keeneland September by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farms, Leslie's Rose has the breeding, the speed and the right trainer in Todd Pletcher. A very nice prospect. 6) POWER SQUEEZE (f, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks Farm (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-3-1-0, $188,650. Last start: WON Feb. 10 Suncoast S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Mar. 30. Trainer Jorge Delgado has taken his time with this filly, a $90,000 purchase at OBS April. It took her three starts to break her maiden and then he ran her in two minor stakes, the Cash Run S. and the Suncoast S. Life Talk (Gun Runner) was the 2-5 favorite in the Suncoast and she didn't have it, running last. Outside of her there wasn't much in the way of competition for Power Squeeze, so this might have been the case of her beating up on a weak field. We'll learn a lot more about her when she tackles tougher in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. 7) INTRICATE (f, Gun Runner–Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scot Estes & Cambron Equine, LLC; B-LBD Stable, LLC (Ky); T-Brendan Walsh. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $362,180. Last start: 2nd GII Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 35. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 23 Her star dimmed a bit when she couldn't handle Tarifa in the Rachel Alexandra, but there's no reason why she can't improve off of that effort and be a major player. Looked very good winning last year's GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill, winning by 5 1/4 lengths. “She's a very easy filly to train and does it all by herself. She's just been starting to come around and really put things together today. We've always thought she's a true two-turn filly,” Walsh said after the Golden Rod. Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) finished third in the Golden Rod only to go on and win the Oaks. Both fillies are trained by Walsh. Don't count this filly out. 8) WEST OMAHA (f, West Coast–Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-2-0, $203,000. Last start: 3rd in Feb. 24 GIII Honeybee S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: TBD. After winning the Jan. 20 Silverbulletday S. presented by Fasig-Tipton at the Fair Grounds, West Omaha looked like she was among the top tier in the 3-year-old filly division. That may no longer be the case for the Brad Cox-trainee. Sent off as the 11-10 favorite in the GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn, she could do no better than third. She lost by four lengths. It was a definite regression from her earlier races and she will need to turn things around in her next start. 9) LEMON MUFFIN (f, Collected–Pelt, by Canadian Frontier) O-Aaron Sones; B-Mr & Mrs Theodore R Kuster & Collected Syndicate (KY); T-D Wayne Lukas. Sales history: $20,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-1-4-0, $305,250. Last start: WON GIII Honeybee S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GIII Fantasy Stakes, OP, Mar. 30. Only Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas would take a five-time loser in the maiden ranks who had never gone beyond six furlongs and run her in a two-turn graded stakes, and win. That's exactly what Lukas did and he was rewarded with a huge win with Lemon Muffin in the Honeybee at odds of 28-1. “I think I'm the oldest guy to ever win the Honeybee,” said the 88-year-old trainer. “I felt good about her. She was dying to go two turns and I knew it. I kind of handicapped her. I kept her short a couple of times. I've got to give credit to the owner [Aaron Sones]. Aaron Sones called me and said, 'Would you have the guts to put her in the Honeybee?' And, I said: 'Yes. I think that's where we ought to go.' So, he pushed me in that direction. I followed up on it and I loved it.” Jockey Keith Asmussen collected his first graded stakes win in the Honeybee aboard Lemon Muffin. 10) RECHARGE (f, Gun Runner–Remit, by Tapit) O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-3-0-0, $189,498. Last start: WON Feb. 18 Sunland Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Fantasy S., OP, Mar. 30. A winner of the Sunland Park Oaks might not normally be considered a top threat for the Kentucky Oaks, but things might be different with this one. A Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred by Gun Runner, she in good hands in the Steve Asmussen barn and seems to be improving with each race, starting with her maiden win Dec. 14 at Remington Park. It's hard to say if she's good enough, but the answer to that question will no doubt come in her next start when she should meet much tougher competition. The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for February 29 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The latest in Racing Post's Flying Start Files from those undertaking the prestigious course.View the full article

The digital world moves fast, and Pounce is an example of just how efficient the emerging online market can be. Pounce won Feb. 11. Nine days later she topped the Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale when she sold to Resolute Racing for $370,000. View the full article