Wandering Eyes

The Horse Racing Women's Summit will host a panel discussion at Keeneland Apr. 18. The day will kick off with a welcome address from Gabby Gaudet, a reporter/analyst for FanDuel TV and Keeneland, who will also moderate the keynote conversation hosted by Shannon Arvin, the President and CEO of Keeneland, alongside Julie Cauthen, a bloodstock agent and member of the Keeneland Inspection Team. “Keeneland is honored to host the Horse Racing Women's Summit, which promises to be a great day of discussion, reflection, valuable connections and fun. We look forward to celebrating the indispensable role women play in shaping our sport,” said Christa Marrillia, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Keeneland. The morning's panel discussions include speakers: Allaire Ryan, Director of Sales at Lane's End Farm; Caroline Wilson, member of the SF Bloodstock team; Jill Gordon, owner of Highgate Sales; Dr. Kathleen Paasch, a veterinarian at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital; Kitty Day, owner of Warrendale Sales; Cherie DeVaux, a Kentucky-based trainer; and Meg Levy, owner of Bluewater Sales. “How great is it that we get the opportunity to network and listen to all of the amazing women that comprise our industry?” said Gaudet. “I'm looking forward to discussing some key issues and also listening to how these women leaders were challenged and supported on their paths to their respective roles.” Limited tickets to the event are available. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. The post Horse Racing Women’s Summit to Host Event at Keeneland Apr. 18 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Minnesota Racing Commission voted April 1 to approve historical horse racing at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, a move commissioners hope can help reinvigorate the horse racing industry in the state.View the full article

The second Irish Equine Veterinary Association (IEVA) CPD event, “Stud Medicines–Back to Basics”, was attended by just under 70 people in Osborne Hall at the Irish National Stud (INS) on Tuesday, Apr. 2. The first of three sessions covered the many aspects of foaling, as well as getting mares in foal. Andrea Ryan of Kilcash Equine Clinic headed the second session, which focused on making a veterinary practice thrive from a business perspective. The third and final session, titled, “Equine Veterinary Practice-a Global CV” highlighted a wide range of opportunities for qualified vets both at home and abroad. For more information on the lecture, please visit the IEVA website. The post IEVA’s “Stud Medicines” Lecture A Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Another lawsuit reportedly was filed against Churchill Downs over its ban of trainer Bob Baffert, but Baffert is not the plaintiff.View the full article

Brad Cox will be hard to beat at Keeneland April 7 in the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) as he sends out a dynamic pair of fillies in the about seven-furlong sprint, drawing both the rail with Denim and Pearls and the outside gate with Youalmosthadme.View the full article

Monmouth Park has named Matt Dinerman the new track announcer for the 2024 racing season, which gets underway May 11.View the full article

It's come down to the last few preps. An outstanding field will meet Friday at Keeneland in the GI Ashland S. Four horses on our Top 10 list will take part in that race. At Aqueduct, they'll be vying for a spot in the field for the GI Kentucky Oaks in the GIII Gazelle S. At Santa Anita, fillies will contest the GII Santa Anita Oaks, but the horse expected to be he heavy favorite, Kinza (Carpe Diem), is trained by Bob Baffert and is therefore ineligible to run in the Oaks. By Saturday evening, we should know who will be running in the Oaks and who the favorites will be. Here's a look at the latest installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top Ten: 1) TARIFA (f, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star', MGSW, 5-4-0-0, $518,925. Last start: WON Mar. 23 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 150. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 4. If the Oaks were run today, Tarifa would be the favorite. She emerged this year for trainer Brad Cox and has won three straight races, including the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, Presented by Fasig-Tipton and the GII Rachel Alexandra S., Presented by Fasig-Tipton. She is good, seems to be getting better and no one is better with 3-year-old fillies than her trainer, Brad Cox. The only way she won't be the favorite is if stablemate Impel (Quality Road) puts on a show in the Ashland on Friday at Keeneland. Tarifa's top Beyer, the 95 that she earned in the Fair Grounds Oaks is the best this year among all 3-year-old fillies. 2) IMPEL (f, Quality Road–Your Love, by Flatter) O/B-Juddmonte (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star' 2-2-0-0, $115,200. Last Start: WON Oaklawn AOC, Mar. 3. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5. If Tarifa loses in the Oaks, it may only be because stablemate Impel is faster. She looked nothing less than sensational when winning a Mar. 3 allowance at Oaklawn by 8 1/2 lengths. She got a 91 Beyer that day. A Juddmonte homebred, she faces the acid test in the Ashland, which will be her stakes debut. She's the 2-1 morning-line favorite. But with just two starts under her belt, does she have enough seasoning? Is she ready to be tested by some of the best in the division? Those questions should be answered Friday and a win by Impel may make her the horse to beat on the first Friday in May. 3) THORPEDO ANNA (f, Fast Anna–Sataves, by Uncle Mo) O-Brookdale Racing, Inc., Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek); B-Judy Hicks (Ky); T-Kenneth McPeek. Sales history: $40,000 yrl '22 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-1-0, $584,363. Last Start: WON GII Fantasy S., Mar. 30. Kentucky Oaks Points: 105. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3. This 'TDN Rising Star' cracks the list for the first time this year and lands on the No. 3 spot after her impressive win in the GII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn. A bargain buy at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale for $40,000, her breakthrough race was a Nov. 10 allowance at Churchill which she won by nine lengths, earning an 87 Beyer. She faltered a bit in her next start when finishing second in the GII Golden Rod S. as the odds-on favorite. But she roared back with the authoritative win in the Fantasy in what was her first start this year. Trainer Kenny McPeek has had a lot of success with yearling purchases in the neighborhood of $40,000. It looks like he has done it again. 4) 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: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5. The champ is back. After being scratched from the GII Davona Dale S. because of a fever, she has been re-routed to the Ashland. With her coming off a five-month layoff and with the Oaks being the main goal, how ready will trainer Bill Mott have her? But the main question that remains is this: is she fast enough? Despite a 3-for-3 record last year, an Eclipse Award and a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, her Beyer numbers suggest she's not quite as good as she looks on paper. She needs to step up her game, but there's no reason she can't do just that. 5) JODY'S PRIDE (f, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) O-Parkland Tbreds & Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (Ky); T-J Abreu. Lifetime Record: MSW & GISP, 4-3-1-0, $590,250. Last start: WON Mar. 2 Busher S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 65. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5. She's a little like Just F Y I. She doesn't run particularly fast, but she just keeps on winning. After finishing second and losing by just a neck to Just F Y I in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she returned with an easy win over outclassed rivals in the Busher Invitational S. at Aqueduct. Her connections were going to keep her in New York for the Gazelle, but changed their minds and have wound up instead in the Ashland. To show how tough the Ashland is, she is 8-1 on the morning line. She would have been an odds-on favorite in the Gazelle, so it's a bit puzzling that the connections wound up going to Keeneland instead of staying in New York. 6) POWER SQUEEZE (f, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Jorge Delgado. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-4-1-0, $337,450. Last start: WON GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, Mar. 2. Kentucky Oaks Points: 120. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3. She came into the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks riding a three-race winning streak, which included a pair of stakes races. But she was totally overlooked Saturday at Gulfstream, going off at 11-1. She beat the 1-2 favorite and much hyped Ways and Means (Practical Joke), winning by a neck. She was ridden in the Gulfstream Park Oaks by Daniel Centeno. It will be interesting to see if the journeyman keeps the mount. After sprinting earlier in her career, she is 3-for-3 around two turns. Don't go to sleep on this one. 7) 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, April 6. May be the only California-based filly to make it to the Kentucky Oaks. She goes Saturday in the GII Santa Anita Oaks and will once again face her nemesis, Kinza. If the race runs to form, Kinza will win and Kopion will be second. That would give Kopion enough points to make it into the field for the Oaks, where she could be in the neighborhood of 15-1. Then again, if Kinza is as good as some people think, doesn't Kopion deserve a lot of credit for finishing second behind her? 8) WAYS AND MEANS (f, Practical Joke–Strong Incentive, Warrior's Reward) O/B-Klaravich Stables (Ky); T-Chad Brown. Lifetime Record: GISP, 'TDN Rising Star,' 3-1-2-0, $165,750. Last start: 2nd Mar. 30 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3. She romped in her maiden debut at Saratoga and then finished second in the GI Spinaway S., despite the fact she took a chip off her right ankle and was lame afterward. That meant a long trip to the sidelines before she launched her comeback in the Gulfstream Park Oaks where she did everything right but win. She was steadied going into the first turn, raced wide throughout and then made what appeared to be a winning move in the stretch. She just ran out of gas in the final sixteenth, which is perfectly understandable. Trainer Chad Brown is eyeing the Oaks, but says he's worried his filly won't have enough points to make it into the field of 14. 9) OUR PRETTY WOMAN (f, Medaglia d'Oro–Dazzletown, by Speightstown) O-Courtlandt Farms; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC and Godolphin; T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $900,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-1-0, $150,200. Last start: 2nd Mar. 23 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 3. A $900,000 yearling buy, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro gave divisional leader Tarifa all she could handle in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She battled every step of the way before finishing second by three-quarters of a length. It was only her third start and first in a stakes, so she has plenty of room for improvement. She's quick from the gate and may be the one setting the pace in the Oaks. If she gets a good trip, there's no reason why she can't win. 10) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) 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', GSP, 3-2-0-1, $89,950. Last start: 3rd Mar. 2 GII Davona Dale S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5. A $1.15-million purchase at Keeneland September by Into Mischief, she is 2-for-3 lifetime. This Todd Pletcher trainee has the potential to be a very good horse. She just needs to prove it in stakes company. At odds of 3-10, she was third in the Davona Dale in her stakes debut and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths. It wasn't a terrible effort, but she was somewhat of a disappointment. She must run well in the Ashland and pick up some points in order to earn a spot in the Oaks field. The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zedan Racing Stables' Muth will target the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18 at Pimlico Race Course following his victory in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 30 at Oaklawn Park, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said April 2.View the full article

Another lawsuit reportedly was filed against Churchill Downs over its ban of trainer Bob Baffert, but Baffert is not the plaintiff.View the full article

Godolphin's homebred champion Pretty Mischievous is heading back to her favorite stomping grounds to kick off her 2024 campaign in the $1 million La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

Brad Cox will be hard to beat at Keeneland April 7 in the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) as he sends out a dynamic pair of fillies in the about seven-furlong sprint, drawing both the rail with Denim and Pearls and the outside gate with Youalmosthadme.View the full article

Monmouth Park has named Matt Dinerman the new track announcer for the 2024 racing season, which gets underway on Saturday, May 11. The 2024 Monmouth racing season runs through Sept. 15, after which Dinerman will take the mic at the Meadowlands for the all-turf, 10-day season in East Rutherford. “I'm delighted to be joining the team at Monmouth,” said Dinerman, a 31-year-old native of California. “It's an honor to be selected as their next voice. Monmouth is a beautiful racetrack with a large, enthusiastic fan base that supports great racing. I'm really looking forward to meeting and being a part of the community.” Dinerman, currently the voice of Oaklawn Park, began his announcing career at the age of 22 at Emerald Downs. Before moving to Oaklawn late last year, he was the track announcer and handicapper at Golden Gate Fields for six years. “Matt is a great addition for Monmouth Park,” said General Manager Bill Anderson. “His accurate, spot-on calls, coupled with his enthusiasm are a great fit here in Oceanport. I'm certain he'll add to the long list of great voices that have called Monmouth Park their home.” Matt follows Chris Griffin, Jason Beem, Frank Mirahmadi, Travis Stone and Larry Collmus, all who have been the full-time announcers at Monmouth Park for the past 30 years. The post Dinerman Named Track Announcer at Monmouth Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Is there anything like a pedigree update to get a consignor's blood pumping in the build-up to a big sale? A little winner here, a black-type update there, it can't hurt when it comes to advertising your wares. Well, if it's happening pedigrees that buyers want, it won't take long to scope out lot 53 in the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. A brother to leading 2,000 Guineas contender Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the colt will be offered under the hammer by the father-and-son team of Mick and Stephen Byrne of Knockgraffon Stables on behalf of Linden Bloodstock. Pedigree updates like this don't come around very often. Already a half-brother to first-season sire Far Above (Ire), the strapping Dark Angel colt was led out of the ring unsold at 125,000gns at the Book 1 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, leaving his breeders Brendan and David Geraghty scratching their heads. What has happened in the intervening period, with Night Raider bursting onto the scene with two effortless successes at Southwell, which has put the horse firmly in the 2,000 Guineas picture, would suggest the Geraghty brothers were right to command top dollar for their colt. Knockgraffon Stables has been consigning horses at the breeze-up sales for 35 years. Few people have been doing it longer. However, in all that time, never have the Byrne family had a horse like this through their hands. The excitement is palpable. “It looks as though the decision not to sell as a yearling could be vindicated. He's a gorgeous big horse and is without doubt the most high-profile horse that I have ever consigned,” Stephen, 34, said. “I had never met Brendan or David before but, shortly after the yearling sales, I got a phone call from them asking if I'd be interested in breezing this horse for them. They told me a bit about him, that he was a Dark Angel half-brother to Far Above, and I jumped at the opportunity to have that type of calibre of horse in the yard.” It takes something special to catch the eye in the dark December months but that's exactly what Night Raider did in winning on debut at Southwell by nine lengths. Bought for 155,000gns by Joe Foley on behalf of Clipper Logistics at Tattersalls in 2021 as a foal, Night Raider confirmed the promise of that scintillating debut when dishing out a comprehensive beating to previous winners back at Southwell last month, and is now as short as just 10-1 for Classic glory at Newmarket. So what did the consignor make of it all? Byrne said, “I got very excited, didn't I? I've only been doing this full-time since last year. Obviously Mick has been doing this a long time. He's been breezing horses for as long as I can remember and, actually, the first horse I ever cantered was a breeze-up horse. I think I was 10 years of age at the time. The game has become a lot more professional since Dad started and the quality has risen. A lot of very good horses are coming from the breeze-up sales. “Night Raider looks as though he could be very smart and fingers crossed he can keep on progressing. I'd say this horse is very nice, too. He's not your typical breeze-up horse-he's quite big-but he does everything very well and he looks like he could make up into a very smart racehorse in time.” Brendan Geraghty, who, along with his brother David, bought Night Raider's dam Dorraar (Ire) (Shamardal) outside the ring at Goffs after she failed to sell at €14,000 in 2017, shared how the plan to breeze the full-brother was first hatched. He said, “We brought him to the foal sales and we brought him home. Then we brought him to the yearling sales and brought him home as well. To be honest, it was probably the pure stubborn Mayo man coming out in me both times! But, to be honest, I was shocked he didn't sell as a yearling. We'd loads of vets and I was sure he'd be popular. “In fairness to Jack Cantillon, he has put me down a few good roads in recent times so, when I asked him where I should send the horse, I didn't hesitate when he recommended Stephen. We think he is a special horse, really and truly. Even from day one, Stephen has been saying, 'Brendan, I love this lad.' It's exciting and hopefully he can show people what he can do in the breeze. It has been a joy working with Stephen and Mick and long may it last.” The Mayo native, who has spent time in Australia and has only a small number of mares at his base close by to Knockgraffon in Tipperary, revealed how it hasn't all been plain sailing with his pride and joy Dorraar. A winner herself and from the family of Benbatl (GB), the 13-year-old overcame a serious injury after she was sourced by Linden Bloodstock. She is now happily reported to be back in foal to Dark Angel, who, naturally, Geraghty says he is a massive fan of. Geraghty said, “My brother David goes through the sales and it works well. Once I saw Dorraar at the sales, I fell in love with her and had to buy her. It has worked out great. When we bought her, she was in foal to Toronado (Ire), but, as it turned out, she got injured at home and only for the lads at Fethard Equine Hospital and her big heart, she wouldn't have pulled through. After she lost the Toronado filly, we gave her a couple of seasons off, so she is a relatively fresh mare despite her age of 13. “There aren't many mares like her around. Far Above put her name in lights and now Night Raider looks like he could be very good. I love Dark Angel. His record speaks for itself and he gets results day in, day out. Night Raider is only going one way.” And so, too, is Knockgraffon Stables. Along with popular work rider and long-time friend Shane 'Rancher' Ryan, who Byrne says he would be lost without, the work gets done. Brothers Michael and David, who like Stephen, enjoyed some success in the saddle, lend a helping hand as does Mick, 67. “I am only back working here this past year,” Stephen explains. “I gave it about five or six years as an amateur. I rode a bust of winners but decided it wasn't for me. I just stopped enjoying it. You have to be riding good horses to enjoy it and I wasn't riding good horses.” That's not to say that a certain Mr S R Byrne came and went without anybody noticing he had ever been in the weighroom to start with. Through Jim Will Fix It (Ire) (Lord Of Appeal {GB}), trained by Seamus Roche, Byrne enjoyed his biggest day in the sun when out-battling big-name amateurs Robbie McNamara and Nina Carberry to win the Grade 2 Future Champions Bumper at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival in 2010. Byrne piloted that horse to three more victories under rules but it wasn't enough of a lure. A stint with leading breeze-up consignor Con Marnane was the next port of call followed by seven years working for Joseph O'Brien. Not a bad grounding for the National Hunt jockey who has turned his attention to blooding top-class runners on the Flat. Byrne said, “I really enjoyed my time with Joseph. He's a very easy man to work for and you learned plenty from him as well. The biggest thing I learned from Joseph is patience. Patience and keeping calm, that is key. If things weren't going right or horses weren't doing what you wanted them to be doing, Joseph would always keep a steady head and never panic.” He added, “Not only that but, there were so many nice horses coming through Joseph's, it trained your eye as to what a nice horse looks like. Joseph buys really strong, solid horses. I'd like to think I learned plenty from him about what an athlete looks like. I try to buy a nice horse by a solid stallion. We can't afford to buy the horses by the top stallions but you can buy some very nice horses by solid sires. That's what we try to do. A lot of the good racehorses that I have sold are not by the big sires, but they reached good ratings on the track.” Beautiful Aisling (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) is a good example. Bought by Knockgraffon Stables and Donovan Bloodstock for £22,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, she rocked into £120,000 when bought by Anthony Stroud at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in 2022. After winning twice and reaching a rating of 90 for Simon and Ed Crisford, Beautiful Aisling went on to fetch 240,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale later that year. Such a result proves that not only can Byrne turn a profit in the ring, but he also produces solid racehorses who can fulfil their potential and stand the test of time on the track. Romina Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), a listed winner in Germany who has subsequently been snapped up by Joseph O'Brien, fellow listed winner Tardis (GB) (Time Test {GB}) and Sailthisshipalone (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) are other notable graduates. It is clear to see that the Byrne family has a proven track record in producing quality runners but you won't see them hogging the limelight when they do. Instead, they prefer to get on with business in the background. Stephen said, “I'll tell you a good story about Dad. When I was working in Edward O'Grady's, Paddy Mangan won the conditional riders' championship and brought the trophy into work. I was looking at all the names on the trophy and, next thing 'Michael Byrne' pops up. I was like, 'Dad was champion conditional?' I rang him up and I asked him and he goes, 'oh, I was, yea', as if it wasn't a big thing. But it is a big thing.” The pressure may be rising ahead of what could potentially be a breakout sale for Byrne, but the burgeoning operator is approaching Tattersalls in a similarly understated manner. He concluded, “I was doing a few breeze-up horses whilst working with Joseph. We'd a couple of horses that sold well so it looked as though we could do the job to a good standard. I said I'd take the leap and give it a go full-time and, touch wood, things have gone really well. Hopefully we can keep on building and keep attracting a nicer horse. We think we have nice horses this year so fingers crossed it goes well.” The post Night Raider’s Craven-Bound Brother Set To Put Knockgraffon Stables In Lights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Owner Amr Zedan filed suit Wednesday in Louisville seeking a temporary injunction that would allow his horses and all others trained by Bob Baffert to run in the GI Kentucky Derby and all other Derby-week races. Baffert is not a party to the lawsuit. Zedan owns the GI Arkansas Derby winner Muth (Good Magic), who would be among the Derby favorites if allowed to race. After Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for betamethasone in the 2021 Derby Baffert was banned by the track for two years. Late last year they extended the ban through all of 2024. In past years, Baffert has sent his horses to other trainers, which allowed them to run at Churchill. This year, in a show of solidarity from his owners, including Zedan, Baffert has not lost a single horse to another trainer. Baffert and Zedan have fought the suspensions through many layers of the court system and they have yet to win a round. Their cases have revolved around the betamethasone positive and have argued that because it was found in an ointment and not in an injection no penalty was warranted. According to the Times report, Zedan is trying a new tactic. He is contending that he bought horses at sales in 2022 based on the fact they could run in the 2024 Derby and he had no reason to believe at the time that the Baffert ban would be extended. Zedan spent about $10.7 million to purchase six horses including Muth and the highly-regarded Maymun (Frosted) with the primary goal of winning the 2024 Derby. Zedan's attorney will argue that the extension of the ban is not grounded in any contractual or common laws, that it defied the authority of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and threatens the value of this year's Kentucky Derby. Zedan lawyer John Quinn casts Churchilll Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen as the person most responsible for keeping Baffert out of the Derby. The suit accused Carstanjen of ” pursuing a crazed vendetta at the expense of letting fair, healthy competition run its course.” It continues: “among the losers are CDI itself and its own shareholders, who should be welcoming, not banning, the best and fastest horses that have qualified for this year's race.” In a statement, Zedan echoed his lawyer's comments. “I am a longtime admirer of the Kentucky Derby and specifically headquartered my stable…in Kentucky because it is world renowned for horse breeding,” Zedan said in the statement. “Bringing this lawsuit is the last thing I ever wanted or expected. But given Bill Carstanjen's vindictive personal vendetta against our stable's trainer Bob Baffert–who happens to be one of the most legendary trainers in the history of our sport–the horse racing industry I revere is being compromised.” “While I am not a plaintiff in the lawsuit recently brought by Zedan Racing Stables against Churchill Downs, I would like nothing more than for the horses I train to have an opportunity to run at Churchill Downs,” Baffert told The Times in a text. It may be a long shot, but Zedan is clearly trying to open up a legal avenue that will allow his horses to race in the Derby. With the Derby just 42 days away, the Zedan team is playing it close when it comes to being granted a temporary injunction. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Monday morning with Judge Bryant Wilcox. The post Report: Zedan Sues Churchill in Attempt to Force Track to Accept Baffert Entries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wins to Joyful Champion and Forever Folks see the veteran handler enjoy his biggest haul in over 12 monthsView the full article

Zedan Racing Stables' Muth (Good Magic) will target the GI Preakness May 18 at Pimlico following his victory in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn last weekend, according to Bob Baffert Tuesday afternoon. “My plan's always been, if he ran well [in the Arkansas Derby], we're just pointing him for the Preakness,” Baffert said. “So, that's what the plans are.” Baffert confirmed that the chestnut was in good shape physically upon returning to his Southern California base Sunday night. Although the Arkansas Derby was a Kentucky Derby qualifying race, Muth was ineligible to collect any of the 200 points slotted to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) toward starting eligibility because of Baffert's suspension from Churchill Downs. The suspension stems from Medina Spirit, Baffert's 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, being disqualified for a medication violation. “It was good for him,” Baffert said of the Jan. 6 GII San Vicente S. winner. “First time shipping was important. He ran well. Everything went smoothly for him. He looked great in the stretch. Distance is not going to be a problem for him, so that was very encouraging. A mile and an eighth, I've always felt, really starts to separate them. It was a very tough, competitive race.” A finalist for an Eclipse Award as the county's champion 2-year-old male, the winner of last season's 8 1/2-furlong G1 American Pharoah S. Oct. 7 rounded out 2023 with a runner-up finish behind Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. Muth was initially slated to run in the GII Rebel Stakes Feb. 24, but Baffert scrapped the trip because he wasn't satisfied with the colt's Feb. 18 workout at Santa Anita. “[Muth] wasn't ready for it,” Baffert said, referring to the Rebel. “He was ready for the Arkansas Derby.” Baffert has won the Preakness a record eight times, including last year with National Treasure (Quality Road). The post Muth to Target Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It very quickly became clear that the stallions launched in 2019 included an above-average proportion equipped to last the course. And the start being made by their second crop of sophomores has only reiterated that impression. Thanks to the contentious prohibition of his ban by a gaming corporation, GI Arkansas Derby winner Muth is ineligible to give Good Magic a second GI Kentucky Derby from two attempts. (Though the Hill 'n' Dale sire might yet manage that with the same mare who gave him the first one, with Mage's brother Dornoch heading to the GI Blue Grass S. this weekend.) The stunning return to form of Fierceness in Saturday's other big rehearsal meanwhile renewed that colt's priceless service to City of Light. Over the water, a Classic coronation is widely anticipated for the Justify colt who achieved equivalent superiority over his crop in Europe last year, City Of Troy. Oscar Performance, for his part, was so unabashed by last week's celebration of his work that his three runners last Saturday comprised two new stakes winners plus the neck runner-up in a graded stakes. Army Mule and Girvin have maintained terrific ratios from limited opportunity; the latter's neighbor Collected is quietly moving up the rail; and of course it was Bolt d'Oro who headed the whole class, as freshmen, in 2022. Some of these impressive young sires will have to ride out a familiar bump in the road, their books having dwindled as commercial breeders showed their habitual nervousness about reputations actually being tested on the racetrack. The traffic of several duly rallied last year: Girvin, for instance, from 86 to 181; Oscar Performance from 63 to 160; Army Mule from 115 to 199; Good Magic from 126 to 179; Justify from 156 to 222. But that extra quantity, often matched by extra quality, obviously won't tell on the racetrack for a couple of years yet. Expectations about City of Light had been so high (his fee, most unusually, was hiked from $40,000 to $60,000 after a stellar debut at the yearling sales) that he actually lost support last year, down to 85 from 132, but his quiet start was then redressed by the emergence from his second crop of Fierceness. Remember that City of Light was himself a fairly late developer, not really breaking out until the GI Malibu S. at the end of his sophomore campaign, and none of his stock has yet reached the maturity that disclosed the peak of his prowess. Nonetheless he has been prudently returned to $35,000 for the current season, an acknowledgement that he still only has one other winner at graded stakes level (Mimi Kakushi, UAE Oaks). It says much about the way these Thoroughbreds like to tease us that the owner of Fierceness, such a committed spender at the yearling sales, should have come up with consecutive champion juveniles that were respectively a $110,000 Book 4 yearling (co-owned with St. Elias Stables) and a homebred. As has been well chronicled, Fierceness is out of a daughter of Nonna Mia (Empire Maker), named for Mike Repole's grandmother (“nonna”) and one of the foundations of his program when acquired as a $200,000 Saratoga yearling in 2008. Herself precocious and Grade I-placed, Nonna Mia gave Repole a homebred scorer at that level in Outwork (by the horse that really put him on the map, Uncle Mo), while her own pedigree had meanwhile been gilded by the emergence of three-parts brother Cairo Prince (Pioneerof The Nile). In a light career, Nonna Mia's daughter by Stay Thirsty, Nonna Bella, won her first two starts and only missed black type by a neck. Nonna Bella's first two named foals, both by Uncle Mo, did not make the track, but the explosive debut of Fierceness at Saratoga last summer certainly proved well timed for the family: a couple of weeks later Nonna Bella's half-brother by Into Mischief topped the September Sale at $3 million, Repole himself retaining a stake alongside West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Thoroughbreds and Chuck Sonson. All in all, then, this has become a pretty illustrious family and Fierceness, when he goes to stud, can duly be promoted as born for the job-especially if his own sire, having capitalized on its precocity and class, can now keep consolidating. Background Genes Needed Against Throwback Horse Muth's performance the same afternoon itself underlined the freakish talent of Fierceness, as he had been the least embarrassed of his panting pursuers at the Breeders' Cup last fall. Muth | Coady In contrast with all the action under Nonna Mia, Muth has a compressed page: he's the first foal of a mare who was herself one of just two named foals out of her own mother. Obviously shoppers at OBS last March had all the evidence of functionality they could require, however, and Muth duly turned himself into a spectacular pinhook: sold to Bishop Bloodstock for $190,000 at Keeneland the previous September, he left Top Line Sales for $2 million. The gentleman who signed the docket is a genius at any level of the market, and Muth has already paid off three-quarters of that investment with a stud career now secure. Muth was bred by Don Alberto Corporation out of Hoppa (Uncle Mo), who had shown bright ability in a curtailed career, romping in a Churchill sprint maiden on her second start but derailing next time. Hoppa had herself been acquired in utero when Don Alberto gave $170,000 for her dam Handoverthecat (Tale Of The Cat), winner of two of five starts, at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. Unfortunately they appear to have lost her after delivering only one more foal, a son of Tiznow, though at least he covered her purchase cost-to the cent-when sold as a yearling. And Hoppa has meanwhile become so valuable that an attempt to cash her out at Fasig-Tipton last November, carrying a sibling to Muth, stalled at $1.9 million. Though his foreshortened page obviously doesn't increase their actual influence, Muth must advertise such interesting genes as he can and those are all clustered around his fourth dam, Beautiful Bedouin (His Majesty). She was an unraced half-sister to Silver Hawk, third in the Derby at Epsom and one of the most inspired stallion discoveries of the late Brereton C. Jones. One of her daughters similarly had a transatlantic impact: Wandering Star (Red Ransom) was a stakes winner in Europe before being acquired by Joseph Allen and winning the GII E.P. Taylor S., while two of her sons became juvenile Group winners in Allen's silks: War Command (War Front) won two of Britain's signature juvenile prizes for Ballydoyle (G1 Dewhurst/G2 Coventry); and Naval Officer (Tale Of The Cat), the G3 Prix de Conde. Beautiful Bedouin had two other foals by Red Ransom: one produced a Classic winner in New Zealand, Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}); the other is the third dam of Muth. She, too, was unraced, meaning that the first four dams of Muth have a grand total of eight starts between them. That history of fragility finds a striking contrast in the colt whose pursuit of Muth on Saturday carried him so far clear of the third. The way Just Steel (Justify) is thriving on his 11 starts is not only a trademark of his venerable trainer but also offers his young sire scope for a historic double, hours after City Of Troy is scheduled to line up for the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. A $500,000 vote of faith in D. Wayne Lukas by BC Stables in Book I of the 2022 September Sale, Just Steel's teak constitution completes one of the most wholesome and cosmopolitan packages on the Triple Crown trail. He's out of an Australian Classic winner by the top-class distaff influence Fastnet Rock (Aus), and has siblings that have cut the mustard at Group level in both hemispheres; while his third dam was an Affirmed half-sister to matriarch Fall Aspen (Pretense). That puts Just Steel on the fringe of one of the modern breed's great dynasties and, with a throwback tenacity apt to his name, he will have more relish than many for the demands of the Derby. Darling's Double Derby Impact It feels like only a matter of time before the Japanese give American breeders the ultimate wake-up call in the GI Kentucky Derby itself. Whether or not Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) proves to be the horse to deliver that shock to the system, his rehearsal in the G2 UAE Derby for now actually locates the race's genetic center of gravity in familiar territory. For, quite remarkably, we now find that two of its strongest candidates share the same granddam. Forever Young's mother Forever Darling (Congrats) is a half-sister to GI Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), whose son Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) is favorite for the GI Blue Grass S. Forever Young | Dubai Racing Club Their dam is Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister), purchased as a yearling at Keeneland in 1998 by John C. Oxley for $300,000. Her dam, GI Ballerina H. winner Roamin Rachel (Mining), was sold in the same ring that November to Nubuo Tsunoda for $750,000, a price vindicated the following summer when Darling My Darling (her second foal) won on debut at Saratoga and then finished second in consecutive Grade Is. Roamin Rachel was sold carrying a Storm Cat filly, who produced three Group winners in Japan, while her next cover by Sunday Silence produced Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn). This appeared to do curiously little for Darling My Darling's daughter by Congrats, who was pinhooked at $8,000 to become a $65,000 R.N.A. at OBS the following April. Surfacing in the silks of a partnership including trainer Richard Baltas, Forever Darling won a Santa Anita maiden on her second start and then the GII Santa Ynez S. on her sophomore bow. With her family thriving in Japan, Katsumi Yoshida moved to secure her in a private deal and, while she did not really continue her progress, she has since handsomely vindicated him in her second career. Forever Darling was certainly given purposeful covers, starting with Frankel and Deep Impact (Jpn), and her son from the second crop of Real Steel made a sum equivalent to $700,000 as a yearling. (Yes, second crop! Forever Young is yet another Derby candidate sired by a stallion from the 2019 intake.) This son of Deep Impact is a more resonant proposition overseas than some Japanese stallions, both as a winner of the G1 Dubai Turf in 2016 and as brother to ground-breaking Breeders' Cup winner Loves Only You. His third dam, moreover, is none other than the great Miesque (Nureyev)-one of the jewels of the program that also, as we'll see in a moment, played a key role in the headline act at Meydan. Deep Impact | Junji Fukuda A River Swollen by Niarchos Tributary What Laurel River did in the desert on Saturday is hard to comprehend, but if any Thoroughbred is capable of doing that, it might be one bred like him. If anything, he has now surpassed even two Kentucky Derby winners as the ultimate proof of how a steep upgrading of Into Mischief's mares has enabled him to stretch his trademark speed to Classic distances. Having been around as long as he has, Laurel River was admittedly conceived at no more than $75,000, but his dam certainly offered the Spendthrift phenomenon plenty of complementary stamina. In fact, Laurel River's first three dams are GI Belmont S. winners to a man: Empire Maker, Touch Gold and A.P. Indy. True, his mother couldn't break her maiden in eight starts; nor could her own dam in six. But it was the latter whose recruitment by Juddmonte (for $550,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September Sale) gave one of the world's great breeding programs an invigorating injection of the best genes cultivated by another. Soothing Touch (Touch Gold)-who has additionally given Juddmonte multiple Grade I winner Emollient (by Empire Make, so a sister to Laurel River's dam) and GI Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg (Tapit)-was a granddaughter of Coup De Genie (Mr Prospector), one of several foals to qualify her dam, Coup De Folie (Halo), as a cornerstone of the modern breed. Having just noted that Forever Young's sire traces to Miesque, we really must salute again the Niarchos family's priceless legacy. Coup De Folie was inbred 3 x 3 to Almahmoud, through her celebrated daughters Natalma and Cosmah. That's a blend for which I will always forage, even with its inevitable attenuation by the generations. In fact, that's one of the reasons I deplore the way breeders nowadays hop from one unproven new stallion to the next, with books as many as seven times greater than was standard in the old days. It means that too many modern pedigrees squash down the generations: how many foals born this spring, for instance, will be by very young sires out of mares by stallions that never achieved lasting viability? Into Mischief's own pedigree shows what you risk that way. His granddam was sired by Stop The Music when 19 years old. I'm not sure how many commercial breeders today would still send a mare to a stallion with his kind of profile, at that kind of age. And that just makes it harder and harder for modern pedigrees to retain a meaningful trace of precious brands like Stop The Music's sire Hail To Reason (who of course also gave Halo to Cosmah). Regardless, Into Mischief is surely on his way to beating his own earnings record as well as a sixth consecutive general sires' championship. He has never needed one of these modern megaprizes to dominate his rivals, but Laurel River has got him up to $12.6 million by the start of April, now just a few cents behind Senor Buscador's veteran sire Mineshaft. With his unrelenting quantity matched by the ongoing elevation of his mares, Into Mischief appears a lock to exceed his 2022 haul of $28.56 million. The post Breeding Digest: Chinks of Light Against Fierce Competition appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What Cranbourne Races Where Cranbourne Turf Club – 50 Grant St, Cranbourne VIC 3977 When Friday, April 5, 2024 First Race 5:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble As the night racing draws closer to an end in Victoria, racing heads to Cranbourne Turf Club this Friday evening where a competitive eight-race meeting is set down for decision. Despite a deluge of rain at the start of the week, clear skies are forecast in the lead in to the meeting, so the Soft 7 track rating could shape towards a Soft 5 come Friday night. The rail comes out 6m the entire circuit, with action commencing at 5:15pm AEDT. Best Bet at Cranbourne: Clavadatsch Clavadatsch has always been blessed with plenty of ability, but this looks to be her level. The three-year-old filly looks to be a genuine sprinter, so the final 50m of the 1300m trip might be a touch nervy for her supporters, however she is quite a speedy type and could just run her rivals ragged. Ethan Brown will have her leading within the first 100m of the race, from there, it is hard to see Clavadatsh being run down in the penultimate race of the night. Best Bet Race 7 – #4 Clavadatsch (10) 3yo Filly | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Ethan Brown (60.5kg) $5.00 with Neds Next Best at Cranbourne: Spellmaster The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Spellmaster was far from disgraced first-up at Pakenham when race fitness failed him when fresh from a 29-week spell. The three-year-old gelding led the field up, only to be overrun inside the final 50m to finish third, beaten less than a length. He comes up against a field that is no harder than what he faced, and with the run under his belt, dropping back to the 1300m from the 1400m looks ideal. John Allen will look to dictate terms throughout, and if the Savabeel progeny can kick clear on the turn, he should prove too hard to gun down. Next Best Race 1 – #6 Spellmaster (9) 3yo Gelding | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: John Allen (59kg) $3.60 with Picklebet Best Value at Cranbourne: Telescope Amy & Ash Yargi’s Telescope has finished second at both of her starts this time in, but on Friday night she can go one better over 1200m. The three-year-old filly was nosed out by Scorsese at Colac on March 3 before being run down inside the final 50m at Bairnsdale. The Zoustar filly will likely sit behind the leaders, with two of the key market fancies, Drift Net and Favanna, expected to go at each other from the get go. Telescope will have the sit on some potentially vulnerable leaders, and if she can sprint sharply, the filly can salute at a nice price with leading horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #12 Telescope (11) 3yo Filly | T: Amy & Ash Yargi | J: Jake Noonan (57kg) $12 with Dabble Friday quaddie tips for Cranbourne races Cranbourne quadrella selections Friday, April 5, 2024 2-3-4-5 1-2-3-7 4 1-6-9-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

The Minnesota Racing Commission voted Monday to approve historical horse racing at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, according to the Star-Tribune. The commission was not expected to make a decision at Monday's meeting, however, after more than 3 1/2 hours of discussion it voted 5-1 to approve HHR, effective May 21. “We are at a critical crossroads,” Commissioner Raymond Dehn told the Star-Tribune. “There is a lot at stake.” The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), which operates Mystic Lake Casino, both spoke against the proposal and could pursue legal action to block HHR. One sports betting bill being discussed at the state legislature, the House version, also would prohibit HHR. The current sports betting bills would allow only the tribes to conduct sports wagering. Monday's vote would allow 500 HHR terminals at each track. A study commissioned by the tracks estimates that in its second year, HHR would generate $5.9 million for purses, plus money for the state breeders' fund, retired racehorse programs and regulatory costs. The post Historical Horse Racing Approved at Canterbury Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is one of the star names among 21 entries for the £400,000 G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury on Saturday, May 18. Trained by Christopher Head, Big Rock ended his three-year-old campaign with an emphatic six-length win in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot in October, finally making the breakthrough at the top level following a hat-trick of runner-up finishes. He could be joined at Newbury by Andre Fabre's Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who won the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc for the second year in succession at Saint-Cloud on Monday. Big Rock and Tribalist are the only French-trained entries in a race they haven't won since Keltos (Fr) struck for Carlos Laffon-Parias in 2002. The home team is headed by three multiple Group 1 winners trained by John and Thady Gosden, namely Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Lord North and Nashwa both reappeared on Dubai World Cup night when they finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the G1 Dubai Turf, while the five-year-old Inspiral has been off the track since gaining the sixth top-level success of her career in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November. Commenting on future plans for Nashwa, Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner-breeder Imad Alsagar, said, “It depends how she comes out of the race [in Dubai]. She recovered fine, but we'll see how she takes the trip home and then we'll make a plan. She's in the Middleton [at York on Thursday, May 16] and the Lockinge and I think those would be the most likely potential targets. “She's run a super race and everything pretty much went to plan,” Grimthorpe added of Nashwa's Dubai Turf effort. “She just had to use herself up a little too much, but she was beaten just over four lengths, so overall we were very encouraged really. We'd hope she'll improve, as she did last season.” The Gosden yard could also be represented in the Lockinge by G3 Criterion S. winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has been on the sidelines since finishing down the field in last year's renewal. Laurel is one of two possible runners in the famous Juddmonte silks which were last carried to victory in the Lockinge by the great Frankel in 2012. The other Juddmonte entry is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who hails from the most successful stable in the race's history with eight wins. Other entries of note include the placed horses from last year's G1 2000 Guineas, Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), plus Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who impressed when making a successful return to action in the Listed Doncaster Mile S. for Roger Varian. The first scratching stage is by noon on Tuesday, April 30, with final confirmation stage by noon on Monday, May 13. The post Four Individual Group 1 Winners Feature Among Lockinge Entries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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 most recent set of rulings, trainer Jorge Diaz has been suspended a total of 37 days and fined $3,500 for two separate violations. Diaz was suspended for 30 days after his trainee, Melina's Dream, tested positive for an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) after finishing seventh at Parx Racing on Jan. 3. High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading–or milkshaking–which can neutralize the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance. Diaz was also suspended an additional seven days due to another trainee, Celtic Treasure, testing positive for Xylazine–a Class B controlled medication used as a sedative or analgesic–after running at Parx Racing on the same day. More detailed explanations of the rulings are currently unavailable on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) website. The new rules on intra-articular injections are still catching a noticeable number of trainers off guard. Trainer Elliot Sullivan has been suspended for 30 days and fined $2,500 for giving an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a race. Two other trainers–Philip Serpe and Rohan Crichton–have each been fined $3,000 for joint injections within seven days of a timed workout. 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: 04/01/2024 Licensee: Bernell Rhone, trainer Penalty: 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 $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Fury Cap, who finished third at Tampa Bay on 2/24/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Resolution Date: 04/01/2024 Licensee: Jorge Diaz, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 2, 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. Admission. 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 was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Resolution Date: 04/01/2024 Licensee: Jorge Diaz, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on April 2, 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 $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the potential breach of Rule 4221–Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)–on Melina's Dream, who finished seventh at Parx Racing on 1/3/2024. This was also a possible violation of Rule 3313–Use of a Controlled Method During the Race Period. Resolution Date: 03/29/2024 Licensee: Philip Serpe, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Itsallcomingtogetha. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Resolution Date: 03/29/2024 Licensee: Elliott Sullivan, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility beginning on March 30, 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 $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, My d'Valentine. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injection Within Fourteen Days (14) Days Prior to Post-Time. Resolution Date: 03/27/2024 Licensee: Blaine Wright, trainer Penalty: 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 $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Betamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Wodeton, who won at Golden Gate on 1/19/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Resolution Date: 03/27/2024 Licensee: Randy Preston, trainer Penalty: 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 $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Sharp Life, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valley on 02/20/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Resolution Date: 03/27/2024 Licensee: Gary House, trainer Penalty: 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 $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Callas, who won at Tampa Bay on 2/11/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Resolution Date: 03/27/2024 Licensee: Rohan Crichton, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Fighter in the Win. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Pending ADMC Violations Date: 02/24/2024 Licensee: Sal Gonzalez, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mentirosa on 3/1/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 03/01/2024 Licensee: Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Glycopyrrolate–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Flint Ridge on 3/1/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 02/28/2024 Licensee: Mary Pattershall, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Shanghai Mike on 2/28/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 01/31/2024 Licensee: Arnaud Delacour, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Vets' list medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from J Rivers on 1/31/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 03/13/2024 Licensee: Robertino Diodoro, trainer Penalty: Provisional suspension Alleged violation: Possession of banned substance Explainer: For the possible possession of Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances. Read more on the story here. Date: 03/04/2024 Licensee: Miguel Hernandez, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Pre-workout joint injection violation Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Arizona Andrew. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Date: 02/14/2024 Licensee: Odin Londono Jr., trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged Violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Private Drive, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/14/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. Date: 02/13/2024 Licensee: Carlos Lopez, trainer Penalty: Provisionally suspended Alleged Violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Major Lopez, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/13/24, as well as from Emperor's Gold, who was second at Mahoning Valley on 2/13/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. VIOLATIONS OF CROP RULE One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. GOLDEN GATE FIELDS Francisco Alvarado–violation date March 30; $250 fine and one-day suspension SUNLAND PARK Felipe Sanchez Valdez–violation date March 28; $250 fine and one-day suspension The post Weekly Rulings: March 28-April 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish EBF Barrier Trials, which has been a source of Group 1, Classic and even Cheltenham Festival winners, will get underway at Naas on Monday, May 27. Dundalk Stadium will host the middle fixture on Monday, July 8, while Leopardstown will be the venue for the final date on Wednesday, August 28, again at six and seven furlongs. Charles O'Neill, CEO of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, commented, “We are looking forward to staging the Irish EBF Barrier Trials again this summer. We are delighted to have the backing of the Irish EBF again and we are also very grateful to the tracks that have agreed to host fixtures amid what is already a very busy calendar.” He added, “Thanks also to the owners, trainers and jockeys who have supported the Trials until now. We had horses from 35 different stables take part over two days last year. We also have to credit those behind the scenes including the IHRB, IRIS, stalls handlers and the medical and veterinary teams supporting.” As in previous years, the Irish EBF Barrier Trials will be restricted to unraced two-year-olds and three-year-olds and every runner must be named and returned in training with a stalls certificate. The updated terms and conditions will be advertised on the RAS webpage well in advance of each date. In recent years the Irish EBF Barrier Trials have resulted in sales of numerous horses to win in Britain, France, Hong Kong, the USA and Australia. The post Irish EBF Barrier Trials On The Up With Dates Released For 2024 Fixtures appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He’s slipped under punters’ guards at his past two starts but Stephen Marsh is expecting Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) to be one of the favourites when he tackles Saturday’s Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield. The improving three-year-old ran a blinder at $157 when second to Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in the NZ Derby (2400m) last month, before backing up that performance with a shock win at $51 in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley last start. His Kiwi trainer said Antrim Coast has trained on well and is thriving with his work in Melbourne. Instead of tackling the G1 ATC Derby (2400m) in Sydney, Marsh said connections are using Saturday’s race as a preparatory run for next month’s G1 SA Derby (2500m) in Adelaide. “He hasn’t missed a beat since the Alister Clark, he bounced out of it great and has trained on really well,” Marsh said. “His form looks pretty rock solid now. “He’s always been quite an unassuming horse, although he’s very strong and if you looked at him, you’d think he was a four-year-old gelding. “He’s probably one of those horses that never shows brilliance with trials or races over shorter distances – even in his trackwork he just does what he has to – but he just keeps coming back for more. “We always thought he’d be that Derby sort of horse because we knew he’d cop a solid preparation. “He’s just a bloody gem of a horse to train.” By Roc De Cambes, who stands for a modest $3000 at The Oaks Stud in New Zealand, Antrim Coast is out of the Sakhee’s Secret mare Coasting (NZ), who was a winner over 1000m. Coasting is a daughter G1 winner Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keepa), who is a half-sister to brilliant mare Seachange. It’s the same family as boom two-year-old colt Storm Boy (Justify), who tackles Saturday’s ATC Sires’ in Sydney, but Marsh said Antrim Coast also showed a penchant for long-distance racing. “He’s always looked like he’d want to get up over a bit further,” he said. “A lot of the Roc De Cambes generally love to get over a trip. “If you went back and looked at Roc De Cambes’ stats, I reckon he’s a pretty good stallion and he leaves some really nice horses.” View the full article

Guy Lowry has worked with enough good racehorses to know that very few of them are the perfect physical specimens. Not only does the Group One-winning Kiwi horseman have an eye for a quality thoroughbred, but he’s got a knack of seeing past would-be issues that often scare others away. In recent years, he’s made a fruitful habit out of taking a punt on young horses with minor ailments, including ATC Derby contender Immediacy (NZ) (Immediacy). Lowry paid a modest $15,000 for the son of Tarzino out of Book 2 at Karaka in 2022. A concerning endoscopy scared most buyers away, but Lowry loved his pedigree and type enough to think that if the youngster’s throat improved with time, as they often do, he would make a nice horse. Improve it did and fewer than 12 months later, Lowry sold the colt for $200,000 to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at the NZB Ready To Run Sale. “He was always going to be a project for the ready to run sale,” Lowry said. “He was a beautiful, big, raw-boned horse, but he was a three on the scope, so nobody wanted him. “That can obviously frighten a lot of people, but we saw an opportunity to take advantage of that and we took a chance on the horse. “That was probably why we got him so cheap, but when we started to do a bit of work with him, things obviously changed and he passed his scope with flying colours come the ready to run sale. “He had a good pedigree and I’d done a bit of research about some of the others out of the mare. “We had a half-sister ourselves at the time and she’d won a couple of races and we had a high opinion of her. “Chad (Ormsby) broke him in, we spelled him and then put him back in work and got him up to three-quarter pace, then he (Chad) did the work at the end and did a great job with him.” Immediacy won his first three starts for Busuttin and Young, including the G2 Autumn Classic (1800m) by three lengths, before his first defeat at the hands of Riff Rocket in the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at his previous start. As well as the progressive three-year-old, Lowry also sold exciting prospect Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) to Australian connections last year. The son of Per Incanto won two of his first three starts in New Zealand and his former trainer said he’s enjoyed watching him go through his grades for Ciaron Maher. “There have been a few horses racing well over there (Australia) that we’ve had a bit to do with,” he said. “We do a lot of trading and we enjoy it when they train on. “We sold Jimmysstar to Ozzie Kheir. “We get a big kick out of seeing horses like Immediacy and Jimmysstar kick on in Australia.” View the full article

Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) might be one of Ciaron Maher’s less-heralded contenders in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), but a few things look like going the consistent gelding’s way. Heavy rain might scare off many of his rivals, but Detonator Jack’s one win and one second placing from just two goes on a Heavy surface is positive reading for connections. “He’s in great order, it’s very exciting to get into the Doncaster,” owner Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock’s Darren Dance said. “We’ve always believed he goes as good on wet as he does on dry, when he won The Gong it was pretty wet and he seemed to get through it well. “It’s a hard race to win but for once we have a decent gate, he’s got a low weight (52.5kg) and it’s going to rain, so that’s three things in our favour. “If it’s really wet there’ll probably be a few come out, a few that don’t go in it, so there might only be six-to-eight horses that can win the race on the day and he’s probably one of them. “It’s not every day you get a $4 million race with a lot of things in your favour, so I don’t think there’ll be any excuses for him on the day.” The son of Jakkalberry resumed with a pleasing run in the Gr.2 Ajax over 1500m and has come on well for the run. To be ridden by Tim Clark, Detonator Jack will jump from barrier two and is a $15 hope with Sportsbet. “His run was good first-up, he maybe ended up on the wrong part of the track and gave out a little bit late, but it’s certainly primed him up for this,” Dance said. “I don’t know where he gets to from that gate, that’s my main concern, but I’d much rather draw two than 20, Tim Clark is a good engagement because he’s a positive rider, I expect him to be somewhere midfield and he’ll just angle out at the right time. “It’s a serious race but he deserves his chance and we are very excited to see what he can do.” View the full article