Wandering Eyes

Ducasse guided by Blake Shinn claimed the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick. Photo: RacingNSW Blake Shinn is one of the most in-form jockeys in Australia right now, and he has given the Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse (+500) a ride from the top drawer when claiming victory in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick. After jumping from barrier one, Shinn allowed the son of Trapeze Artist to find his feet and hold the box seat position behind The Years (+3000) and Hi Dandy (+5000) who ran the race along at a solid tempo. As the leaders began to struggle, Shinn pushed the winner between them and took over with 300m to go, while Mchale (+1500) railed up the inside and joined him for a few strides. Sustaining his run from the top of the straight, it was Ducasse who held all his rivals at bay as the likes of Tanhauser (+1200) and Kintyre (+600) finished off strong down the middle but couldn’t pick up the winner, who was too strong at the end of 1600m. 2024 Carbine Club Stakes Replay – Ducasse Michael Freedman was very pleased with the win of Ducasse, and he spoke post-race. “I think of all my runners today, he was the one I was least worried about the surface, he’s got form on soft ground and Blake gave him the absolute perfect ride,” Freedman said. “Big thrill. It’s always good to get a winner on a big day like today. “He hasn’t had a lot of luck with barriers over the last 12 months either. “He’s always been a horse that we’ve had plenty of time for, hence he’s been running in those good quality three-year-old races. “I thought his last two runs in the Randwick Guineas and the Rosehill Guineas were both good, solid efforts, but probably coming back to the mile with that 2000-metre run under his belt on a rain-affected track under his belt, it panned out well. “Thanks to Tommy Berry too, he galloped him for me on Tuesday and we took the blinkers off on his recommendation, so I probably owe him one there.” Blake Shinn picked up his first win on the opening day of The Championships. “He’s an interesting horse, he’s a bit of thinker,” Shinn said of the winner. “Michael said Tommy Berry galloped him Tuesday morning and elected to pull the blinkers off him and, who knows, that could have been the winning move. “He’s a colt, he was back significantly in grade today, that was a big key to getting him over the line, but still, he had to apply himself and that’s what he did.” Horse racing news View the full article

Circle Of Fire arrived in time to claim the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality. Photo: RacingNSW Ciaron Maher and Dylan Gibbons have combined with Circle Of Fire (+250) to take out the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick, as the European import broke through for his first win on Australian soil and looks to be on track for the Group 1 Sydney Cup. The son of Almanzor was well backed before the race and the four-year-old entire saluted in the final strides for his followers, as he nabbed Hopeful (+750) in the last 50m. Considering that Double Cherry (+1100) led the field and ran the race at a sedate tempo, the run of the winner must be upgraded as he settled mid-field and was working four-wide around the home turn. However, as soon as it looked as though Jason Collett has stolen the race on Hopeful, Gibbons got stuck into the winner and he let down with an explosive turn of foot down the middle of the track to wear down the leader late. Double Cherry boxed on in the final 200m to hold onto third place, just ahead of So Dazzling (+1600) who ran home well into fourth, but all honours went to the winner, who could back up next Saturday in the Sydney Cup over 3200m. 2024 Chairman’s Quality Replay – Circle Of Fire Ciaron Maher spoke about the win of Circle Of Fire and Dylan Gibbons’ ride post-race. “Dylan’s got a pretty good handle on him now,” Maher said of Gibbons. “Just what we do next start – hopefully all going well he’ll pull up well and we’re going to a Sydney Cup – but whether you do just roll forward a little bit and let him just use his action a little bit. “I was always confident because he pulled a little bit last start and was able to finish, but it was a little bit nervous. “Tim Porter and Mick Johnston, I think the colours are a combination of both of them, so they are huge supporters and there’s a lot of others in there. “He’s had a brilliant prep, he’s improved every run, and he’s a well-credentialled stayer anyway, so hopefully he can sneak in on the minimum.” Dylan Gibbons was very complimentary of the winner in his post-race interview. “He’s just a monster of an animal, he gives you the best feel in the world and the problem is, in these staying races they want to go 12.5, 13 (second furlongs) and he just wants to go 11.5, 12s,” Gibbons said. “So, you just get into a bit of a battle with him, but I was trying to hang onto him for as long as I could and from the half-mile I just had to work with him with that light weight and he was very tough late.” Circle Of Fire is now a +500 chance in the Sydney Cup futures markets with online bookmakers. Horse racing news View the full article

Espionage was a class above in the Kindergarten Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW After two days of uncertainty around the track at Randwick, there was nothing to worried about if you backed Espionage (+130) in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) to kick off the opening day of The Championships, as the colt delivered the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable another two-year-old winner. With the meeting kicking off on a Heavy 9, there were plenty of queries about the wet track form of each of the six runners, as none of them had run on a Heavy track prior to Saturday, but the race favourite revelled in the conditions on his way to a big win. The son of Zoustar came into the race as the clear class horse in the field after missing out on a run in the Golden Slipper as an emergency, and he proved it with a strong finish to come from just behind the leader and kick clear from Roselyn’s Star (+280) in the final 200m. Although, the runner-up was well supported before the jump and looked to be cruising at the top of the home straight, the John O’Shea-trained runner couldn’t go with the favourite late and finished three lengths away in second. 2024 Kindergarten Stakes Replay – Espionage Adrian Bott was on course to speak about the win of Espionage post-race. “Things happen for a reason, so he’s been able to bounce back and show his class today,” Bott said. “That’s an important win for him, obviously being a colt with the stud value there, he’s continued to show that class that he’s got. “I think we’ll probably look to put him away now for the spring and focus on a couple of those sharp three-year-old races for him. “He put the writing on the wall there back at Randwick at his very first career start in the Breeders Plate and I think from there we always held him in very high regard. “We set him on the Slipper path from that point, but we’ve changed at the last minute. “Things have worked out for the right reason. “You probably needed a fit horse on this testing track, and he’s been exactly that and had the right lead-up for it.” Tommy Berry was very happy with the win and he also had some comments on the condition of the track. “I think I’d heard more about him than felt early days, but I took him on that in the Slipper,” Berry said of the winner. “We were obviously disappointed not to get a run, but (they) gave him a nice trial in between. “Gai and Adrian, they know what they’re doing with their horses; a 1200-metre trial back to 1100 and on a track like this it definitely proved to be the winning move today. “He still got quite lost that last bit, so he still had plenty more in the locker. “Michael Wood and his whole team here at the ATC have done an amazing job. “I thought they were talking a little bit of you-know-what at about 7 o’clock this morning when I was at Rosehill and it was still pouring down with rain but they’ve done amazing job. “It walked like an 8 but rode like a 9 so I think it’s in between an 8 and 9 but it’s a beautiful day so there’s a chance of an up-grade later on.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Alice Springs Races Where Pioneer Park Racecourse – Stuart Highway, Connellan NT 0870 When Sunday, April 7, 2024 First Race 12:10pm ACST Visit Dabble Day 5 draws the curtain on the Alice Springs Turf Club’s Cup Carnival and a total of 76 horses had accepted for the nine races. $355,000 in stakes is up for grabs with the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) headlining the program. Fine weather is on the agenda with sunny conditions and a top temperature of 27C the forecast for Sunday. The rail will be in the true position and Pioneer Park will once again be a good dirt surface. ALICE SPRINGS CUP TIP: Hettinger After four wins and two seconds from eight NT starts last year, Hettinger was always returning in 2024. The five-year-old gelding, victorious in his one and only Alice Springs start last June, headed to the Top End and excelled prior and during the Darwin Cup Carnival before winning the Katherine Cup (1700m) by 7.5 lengths. Since returning to Alice, the son of I Am Invincible has won the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) on March 17 (54kg) and the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) on March 30 (59kg). Hettinger is the one to beat in the Alice Springs Cup. Alice Springs Cup Race 9 – #7 Hettinger (2) 5yo Gelding | T: Neil Dyer | J: Aaron Sweeney (54kg) Bet with Dabble BEST BET: Duty Duty is an emergency for the Alice Springs Cup, but is unlikely to get a start. Alternatively, Duty should line up in the consolation race for those who missed a Cup start. The son of Fastnet Rock debuted in the Red Centre in January over the short course before stringing back to back wins over 1600m on February 17 (0-64) and March 2 (BM54). He was from disgraced when fourth in an Open 1900m handicap on March 27 before coming fifth over 1600m (0-64) on March 30. Duty was successful over 1800m at Hawkesbury in the past and was placed third over 1900m at Canterbury. Best Bet Race 8 – #5 Duty (6) 7yo Gelding | T: Ray Viney | J: Jessie Philpot (55.5kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST: Beyond Ready Beyond Ready has impressed since arriving in the Red Centre. He returns after a last start second in the NT Guineas (1600m) on March 27 after finishing strongly to finish half a length adrift of runaway leader Better Not Fuss. The gelding had five starts for Cranbourne trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock for a win in 1200m Wodonga maiden and a third over 1200m (BM58) on the synthetic at Pakenham. In his first two Pioneer Park starts against his own age group, Beyond Ready won over 1200m on February 24 and was third over 1400m on March 9. Next Best Race 3 – #1 Beyond Ready (1) 3yo Gelding | T: Kevin Lamprecht | J: Andrew Mallyon (59kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE: Princess Pancakes Princess Pancakes backs up after two seconds over 1600m (0-64) when 3.3 lengths adrift of Quizzle on March 9 and 5.5 lengths behind a dominant Canny Impact on March 30. The five-year-old mare’s form can fluctuate and in 21 Victorian starts for Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin she managed two wins, four seconds and two thirds. Her form in Alice Springs and Darwin has been up and down too. In seven other NT starts she was second (1300m) on January 13 and third (1600m) on February 3 in the Top End at Class 2 level. Best Value Race 5 – #6 Princess Pancakes (4) 5yo Mare | T: Kerry Petrick | J: Paul Denton (55kg) Bet with Picklebet Sunday Alice Springs quaddie tips – 7/4/2024 Alice Springs quadrella selections Sunday, April 7, 2024 1-2-3-5 1-2-3-4 1-2-5-7 3-5-6-7-12 Horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer Bob Baffert opted for Imagination and Wynstock for the Santa Anita Derby, leaving other nominees Wine Me Up and Maymun for another day.View the full article

The Japanese classics season kicks off April 7 at Hanshin Racecourse with that country's 2-year-old filly champion of 2023, Ascoli Piceno, defending her perfect record in a full field in the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1).View the full article

Longtime Midwest owner-trainer Chief Stipe Anderson bought a residence in Lexington two weeks ago for his eventual retirement. He says his star sprinter, Glengarry, who he co-owns with Aaron Kennedy and Toby Joseph, is helping pay for the place.View the full article

Whisper Hill Farm's Leslie's Rose, a daughter of Into Mischief, captures the $600,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at 9-1 and earns 100 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Mandy Pope bought the filly for $1.15M as a yearling.View the full article

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On Saturday, April 6, horse racing enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling day with 11 meetings set to unfold across various locations in Australia. Our team of committed racing analysts at horsebetting.com.au has meticulously selected the top bets and crafted quaddie numbers tailored for the upcoming events at Randwick, Caulfield, Eagle Farm, Ascot and Alice Springs. Saturday Racing Tips – March 30, 2024 Randwick Racing Tips Caulfield Racing Tips Eagle Farm Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Alice Springs Racing Tips For avid Australian racing fans, numerous promotions await your exploration. Be sure to peruse the offerings from top online bookmakers, as daily promotions can enhance your horse racing experience. If you’re in search of a new bookmaker to elevate your horse racing ventures on April 6, 2024, consult our comprehensive guide to the finest online racing betting sites. We’re committed to keeping you informed and enhancing your horse racing betting journey. More horse racing tips View the full article

I Wish I Win winning the TJ Smith Stakes on a Heavy 9 in 2023. Royal Randwick has been drenched with a remarkable 230mm of rainfall within the last 24 hours, yet despite the deluge, Day 1 of The Championships will proceed. Stewards confirmed early Saturday morning that the meeting would proceed, undeterred by the challenging weather conditions. At 7:45 am, stewards announced, “The meeting will proceed on a Heavy 10. The section near the 1000m is consistent with the rest of the track and is deemed suitable for racing.” Several notable scratchings have been recorded, notably in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), where Zougotcha, Golden Mile, Semana, and Southport Tycoon have withdrawn. Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot won’t be participating in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), while Zardozi won’t be contesting the Australian Derby (2400m). Moreover, Private Eye and Cylinder have been scratched from the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m). Despite the downpour, track manager Michael Wood reassured, stating that there’s no “squelching” on the track, hinting at a potential track upgrade as conditions may improve throughout the day. At 6:45am on Saturday, stewards reported that “an inspection of the track has found it suitable for racing, except for a section near the 1000m where water overflow from a catchment is present.” Stewards and officials are closely monitoring this section, with a decision expected within the next 30 minutes. Sydney experienced a torrent of rain on Saturday morning, with trainers Peter Moody and Michael Freedman sharing videos on social media to illustrate the intensity of the precipitation. By 6:15am on Saturday, a staggering 231mm of rain had inundated Randwick. However, the weather radar indicates that the worst of the rain has passed, with the storm system moving away from Sydney. Horse racing news View the full article

Almostgone Rocket (f, 3, Into Mischief–Bound, by Jump Start) made it look easy on her debut at Oaklawn Park to the tune of 'TDN Rising Star' honors for the effort. Breaking well and keen to press the issue early, she took over at the half after :22.25 and :46.45 splits, and had opened up a notable margin coming into the lane. With no one coming close, she strolled home the easiest of winners by 11 3/4 lengths. Early leader 24-1 longshot Delacina (Dominus) was clearly second best. Out of multiple stakes-winner Bound (Jump Start), the victress is Into Mischief's 43rd runner to get the nod from the TDN, and the second winner from as many to race for tht broodmare. Their dam has also produced a 2-year-old Big Air (Vekoma) as well as a yearling colt by Vino Rosso. She is carrying a ful-sibling to Almostgone Rocket for 2024. In addition to Bound exploits on the track, this is the family of her stakes-winning sisters Lune Rouge (Malibu Moon) and Road to Mandalay (Sea of Secrets), who herself produced SW La Concerto (Aptitude) and SP Game Token (Gold Token). Bound also claims GSP Justice for Auston (Lit de Justice) as a half-brother as well as the dam of GSW Battle Bling (Vancouver {Aus}). #7 ALMOSTGONE ROCKET ($2.60) runs off the screen on debut in race 8 at Oaklawn Park! The 3yo filly by @spendthriftfarm's Into Mischief out of the multiple stakes winner Bound, was ridden by Martin Chuan for @bradcoxracing and owners Frank Fletcher Racing & @Tenstrikeracing. pic.twitter.com/KGNCEE0e66 — TVG (@TVG) April 5, 2024 8th-Oaklawn, $115,000, Msw, 4-5, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.74, ft, 11 3/4 lengths. ALMOSTGONE ROCKET, f, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Bound {MSW, $419,174}, by Jump Start 2nd Dam: China Sky, by Skywalker 3rd Dam: Bolchina, by Bolger Sales history: $250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. O-Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. and Ten Strike Racing; B-Malibu Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Into Mischief’s Almostgone Rocket Shoots to ‘Rising Star’ status on debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Stewart has doubled down on his vow to buy the first foal of Australia's generational mare Winx, pledging to go as high as AU$9 million (US$5,923,000) to purchase the daughter of Pierro.View the full article

Whisper Hill Farm's Leslie's Rose, a daughter of Into Mischief, captures the $600,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at 9-1 and earned 100 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Mandy Pope bought the filly for $1.15M as a yearling.View the full article

Royal Randwick has been hit with a staggering 230mm of rain in the past 24 hours, but Doncaster day has been given the all-clear to proceed. View the full article

In dominating fashion against a stacked field, 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose (Ire), by Galileo {Ire}) claimed 100 points to the GI Kentucky Oaks after her open length tour de force in the GI Ashland S. In no rush early, she was content to watch the race unfold as 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road) tracked the pacesetter. Nudged along from her rail position, Leslie's Rose burst through an opening coming for home, sailed by Impel and comfortably held champion juvenile filly Just F Y I (Justify) off. #3 LESLIE'S ROSE ($20.90) blossoms in @keenelandracing's $600,000 G1 Ashland Stakes! This is the first stakes victory for the @whisper_hill runner, who was ridden by @iradortiz for trainer @PletcherRacing. Congratulations to the connections! pic.twitter.com/EnxV2YAxn2 — TVG (@TVG) April 5, 2024 Sales history: $1,150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. O-Whisper Hill Farm LLC; T-Todd Pletcher; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (KY). The post Leslie’s Rose Blooms in Ashland, Claims Oaks Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland, featuring a highly anticipated rematch between Dornoch (Good Magic) and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), is one of three GI Kentucky Derby prep races on tap on a fantastic day of racing Saturday. Dornoch dug back gamely to defeat Sierra Leone in a heart-stopping renewal of the GII Remsen S. at a rain-soaked Aqueduct Dec. 2, then took care of business in a scratched-down GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Mar. 2. Sierra Leone, meanwhile, returned with an excellent come-from-behind victory over a sloppy surface at Fair Grounds in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 17. The Blue Grass field of 11 also includes the Brad Cox-trained duo of GIII Gotham S. Mar. 2 runner-up Just a Touch (Justify) and John Battaglia Memorial S. Mar. 2 winner Encino (Nyquist). “Just at Touch is a very talented horse,” Cox said. “He's shown talent from day one. He was a little late to get to the races, but it was by design. (Dornoch and Sierra Leone) got to the races a little bit earlier, so obviously they have more seasoning. I think this horse is one of our better 3-year-olds. I'm excited against running against these colts. It's a Grade I with very talented horses. It looks to be one of the better Derby preps to date.” A pair of unbeatens–'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) and Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso)–lead a field of 13 set for the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. Deterministic, an eye-catching debut winner going seven furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 12, showed no signs of rust resurfacing from the bench with an impressive victory in the slop over the aforementioned Just a Touch in the one-turn mile Gotham. Tuscan Sky makes his stakes debut after defeating the talented Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) in an optional claimer on the Risen Star program. Parx invader Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) returns to the Big Apple after upsetting the GIII Withers S. over track and trip Feb. 3. “The Gotham was a very good race and a good field over a wet track–he handled the whole thing well,” trainer Christophe Clement said of the Wood Memorial 7-5 morning-line favorite Deterministic. “It will be interesting to see him going two turns. We'll just go one step at a time. You never know until you try, but his style of racing and the way he trains makes you believe he should stay.” A pair of last out graded winners–Imagination (Into Mischief) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper)–share top billing in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Imagination posted a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer Bob Baffert while gamely annexing the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 3. Stronghold, second in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 19 and GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 16, broke through with a win in the GIII Sunland Park Derby Feb. 18. Both colts have finished no worse than second in five career starts. The Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial all offer qualifying points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10) toward the GI Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs has barred Baffert's trainees from participating in this year's Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks stemming in part from a well-documented medication positive found after Medina Spirit won the 2021 Derby. There are also a pair of Kentucky Oaks preps on tap at Aqueduct at Santa Anita Saturday. 'TDN Rising Star' Kinza (Carpe Diem), winner of the GIII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 10 and GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 9, will put her perfect record on the line for Baffert in the GII Santa Anita Oaks. The field of five also includes Kopion (Omaha Beach), who reported home second-best behind Kinza last time in the Las Virgenes. Life Talk (Gun Runner) will look to get back on track in the GIII Gazelle S. at the Big A. The GII Demoiselle S. heroine was a disappointing sixth as the heavy favorite in Tampa's Suncoast S. Feb. 10. Maiden of seven starts Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy) makes the trip from Southern California for the Gazelle following a longshot second in the Santa Ysabel. Saturday's graded stakes also include a fantastic renewal of the GI Resolute Racing Madison S. The field of eight is led by standouts Alva Starr (Lord Nelson), Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance) and Vahva (Gun Runner). Keeneland's stacked Blue Grass program also features the GII Appalachian S., GII Shakertown S. and GIII Commonwealth S., respectively. Saturday's graded action is rounded out by the GII Carter H. and GIII Distaff S. at Aqueduct and the GIII Monrovia S. at Santa Anita. The post Led by Loaded Blue Grass, Trio of Derby Preps Highlight Saturday’s Graded Stakes Lineup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the return of a multiple group-placed son of Justify. 15.30 Chelmsford, Cond, £100,000, 3yo, 8f (AWT) CAPULET (IRE) (Justify) is a big draw for Chelmsford in this Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes which acts as part of the “Road To The Kentucky Derby” series. Runner-up in Leopardstown's G2 Champions Juvenile S. and third in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket last term, Ballydoyle's relative of the Derby hero Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is among the stable's prime Derby candidates in 2024 and will be tested by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's recent Listed Burradon S. winner Cuban Tiger (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) over a trip probably shy of his optimum. The post Capulet Returns At Chelmsford appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Longtime Midwest owner-trainer Chief Stipe Anderson bought a residence in Lexington two weeks ago for his eventual retirement. He says his star sprinter, Glengarry, who he co-owns with Aaron Kennedy and Toby Joseph, is helping pay for the place.View the full article

Last seen taking the field in the Texas Turf Mile S. gate-to-wire by over five lengths, Neat (c, 3, Constitution–Orabella, by More Than Ready) showed heart in this GIII Transylvania S., fighting back along the fence in deep stretch to nail Cugino (Twirling Candy) in the shadow of the wire despite traffic troubles. Lagynos (Kantharos) picked up the last trifecta spot in the scramble for the minors. That finish was pretty neat! #4 NEAT ($28.82) squeezed between rivals in the final furlong, getting up in the last stride to win @keenelandracing's $400,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3)! Reylu Gutierrez was aboard for trainer Rob Atras and Red White and Blue Racing. pic.twitter.com/uSwbO0h4gu — TVG (@TVG) April 5, 2024 Sales history: $200,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV, $200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. O-Red, White and Blue Racing LLC; T-Rob Atras; B-Hidden Brook Farm & Spruce Lane Farm (KY). The post Neat Surges Up the Rail to Take Keeneland’s Transylvania appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Stewart has doubled down on his vow to buy the first foal of Australia's generational mare Winx, pledging to go as high as AU$9 million (US$5,917,680) to purchase the daughter of Pierro.View the full article

2nd-KEE, $110K, OC/N1X, 3yo, 6f, 1:32 p.m. ET. PIRATE (Omaha Beach) begins his 3-year-old campaign after he broke his maiden at first asking and secured 'TDN Rising Star' honors last July at Saratoga. The dark bay then ran third to Nutella Fella (Runhappy) and fellow 'Rising Star' Timberlake in the GI Hopeful S. just before the meet upstate closed for the summer. A $350,000 purchase by Starlight Racing and Harrell Ventures at the Keeneland September Sale, the Todd Pletcher trainee is a half-brother to GI Preakness S. and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. hero National Treasure (Quality Road) and SW Ultimate (Speightstown). Pirate's dam is a half-sister to MSW Inspired (Unbridled's Song), who produced GSP Carmel Road (Quality Road). TJCIS PPS 3rd-KEE, $100K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 2:04 p.m. ET. TIMEOUT (Curlin) has posted some sharp recent works for trainer Bill Mott at Payson Park in preparation for this debut. The hombred for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, out of MGSW Lull (War Front), has an extended female family which includes Horse of the Year winners Saint Liam (Sant Ballado) and Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}. Under the colors of Charles Fipke, another homebred set for his first start is D'oro Unbridled (Medaglia d'Oro). The Ignacio Correas trainee's dam GISW Unbridled Forever (Unbridled's Song) counts as a full-sister Forever Unbridled. Both are out of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid). Finally, Counter Attack (Gun Runner) makes the races for an ownership group which includes his breeder Three Chimneys Farm. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the colt was an $825,000 Keeneland September buy for M.V. Magnier and Breeze Easy. Counter Attack's third dam is responsible for GISW Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: ‘Rising Star’ Pirate Returns After Break To Raid Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Although total wagering increased by 1% in March, the total wagering on U.S. races through the first three months of 2024 was down 4% at $$2,590,112,041 compared to the $2,699,177,001 amassed in the first quarter of 2023.View the full article

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's trio of GI Kentucky Derby prep races. GI Toyota Blue Grass S. – In a race billed as a showdown between the re-opposing GII Remsen S. one-two Dornoch (Good Magic) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), don't look past likely third choice Just a Touch (Justify). The highly regarded bay ran to the hype with a powerful debut score for trainer Brad Cox over the promising $1.7-million KEESEP graduate Gun Party (Curlin) (he returned with another very good second-place finish Mar. 16) on debut sprinting in the Fair Grounds slop Jan. 27. He was well-backed at the windows again for his second career start and lost little in defeat finishing second as the favorite over another saturated surface in a deep renewal of the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 2. Just a Touch will finally get a chance to showcase his ability on a fast surface and has every right to take another step forward stretching out to two turns for the first time as well. He should be able to sit a perfect trip just off Dornoch and have the jump on the stretch-running Sierra Leone, who is the horse to beat off his impressive come-from-behind win in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 17. Selection: #6 Just a Touch (7-2). GII Wood Memorial S. – No knocks on the 7-5 morning-line favorite and impressive Gotham winner Deterministic (Liam's Map), but I prefer the fellow unbeaten Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso) here. Like the aforementioned Just a Touch, Tuscan Sky has raced only on wet, sealed tracks in his first two starts. The gray finished up like a real good thing after a bit of an interesting journey (led early, dropped back to third on the far turn and leveled off beautifully in stretch to win going away) sprinting on debut at the Big A Jan. 13. He backed up that effort with another fantastic performance–albeit in a three-horse field–with a two-length decision over sharp next-out Hot Springs S. winner Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) (good for a 95 Beyer) while making his two-turn debut on the Risen Star undercard. Tuscan Sky tuned up for this with a four-furlong bullet in :48 3/5 (1/20) for seven-time Wood Memorial-winning trainer Todd Pletcher at Palm Beach Downs Mar. 30. Tuscan Sky's young sire Vino Rosso won this same race in 2018. Selection: #9 Tuscan Sky (4-1). GI Santa Anita Derby – It's difficult to make a case against Imagination (Into Mischief), who will be the much-deserved Santa Anita Derby favorite. The $1.05-million KEESEP yearling has run well in all five of his career starts and has taken a nice step forward in his last two. He gave highly regarded Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Maymun (Frosted) all he could handle while finishing second in an optional claimer Feb. 11, then dug in gamely to secure a career high in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 3. Should be well-spotted beneath Frankie Dettori either on or just off the lead. Selection: #4 Imagination (8-5). The post Handicapping the Kentucky Derby Preps: Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby & Wood Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Northern California Racing Affairs Advisory Committee that has existed informally since the announcement that Golden Gate Fields would close has been formally recognized by a vote of the California Authority of Racing Fairs board of directors.View the full article