Wandering Eyes

Six 2-year-olds have been supplemented to the catalogue for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Apr. 3, the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) announced Wednesday. Catalogued as hips 125-130, the juveniles are by Aurelius Maximus, Bradester, Competitive Edge, Complexity, Frosted, and Vekoma. A paper supplemental catalogue will be available Mar. 31, while the interactive catalogue at TTAsales.com has already been updated, as has the Equineline iPad app. The sale begins at 10 a.m. CT in the Lone Star Park Sales Pavilion with the breeze show set for Apr. 1. The post Juveniles Supplemented to TTA 2YO Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race 2 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK PREMIER 1400m RISING TIDE (M Cameron) – Trainer Mr. C Ormsby advised Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of RISING TIDE, however, in his opinion the gelding may have been unsuited to the Slow 7 track conditions. C Ormsby further advised it is his intention to carry on with RISING TIDE’S current preparations. The post Wellington Racing Club @ Trentham, Saturday, 16 March 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 1 ENTAIN – NZB INSURANCE PEARL SERIES RACE MAIDEN 1600m ZOOM (J Fawcett) – Trainer Mr. J Blackadder advised Stewards, that upon return to the stable, ZOOM was examined by the stables veterinarian and underwent blood test which revealed a high white blood cell count, with further blood tests being taken on Wednesday 20 March which confirmed ZOOM’S white blood cell count to be back to normal. J Blackadder further advised it is now his intention to continue on with the mare’s current preparation. Race 2 TEAM ASHBURTON THANK YOU MAIDEN 1200m INSPIRATION (J Doyle) – Co-trainer Mr. M Pitman reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the gelding, and it is their intention to carry on with INSPIRATION’S current preparation, where they may nominate the gelding for the Ashburton RC meeting on Thursday 4 April. FIRST LIEUTENANT (J Fawcett) – Trainer Mr. J Blackadder advised Stewards, that upon return to the stable, the gelding was examined by the stables veterinarian and underwent blood test which revealed a high white blood cell count, with further blood tests being taken on Wednesday 20 March which confirmed FIRST LIEUTENANT’S white blood cell count to be back to normal. J Blackadder further advised it is now his intention to carry on with the gelding’s current preparation. The post Ashburton Racing Club at Ashburton Raceway, Thursday, 14 March 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

2nd-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 1:40 p.m. ET. Last August at Saratoga, JUSTICE JULIA (Medaglia d'Oro) debuted a well-beaten fifth to fellow Stonestreet homebred Emery (More Than Ready) and eventual GIII Florida Oaks heroine Waskesiu (American Pharoah). On the work tab since late January at trainer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base, the 3-year-old is out of broodmare of the year Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), who also produced champion 3-year-old Malathaat (Curlin) and her full-sister GSW Julia Shining. Also entered, but making her first start for trainer Riley Mott, is Ms Lady de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega), who was a 240,000gns purchase by Linda Juckette at the 2021 Tattersalls October Sale. TJCIS PPS #1a Emery breaks her maiden on debut in R2 at Saratoga for trainer @bradcoxracing with @Tyler_Gaff aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ULy5TuHSXI — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 30, 2023 The post Thursday Insight: Well-Bred Justice Julia Makes 3-Year-Old Debut At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics have live Guineas contenders of both sexes in 2024 as the Karl Burke-trained Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Dorraar {Ire}, by Shamardal) produced a sensational display to obtain TDN Rising Star status at Southwell on Wednesday evening. Off the mark in style by nine lengths this track and seven-furlong trip on debut in December, the 1-4 favourite tanked his way to the front under Danny Tudhope from the outset. Chased entering the straight by his only serious rival, last year's G3 Acomb S. fifth Cogitate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the 155,000gns Tatts December Foal purchase simply extended away to score by five lengths, registering a penultimate split of 10.98 and a final three-furlong sectional of 34.12 in the process. Burke, who is preparing the owner's G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for the May 5 G1 1000 Guineas, is planning on sending Night Raider for the previous day's Newmarket Classic. “He's a horse of huge potential, we know that and he's not fully wound up by any stretch of the imagination,” he said of the half-brother to Farhh's G3 Palace House S.-winning first-season sire Far Above (Ire). “His weight was identical to first time out and all of ours improve for their first time. Nadir, who leads him up, said he has taken more of a blow tonight than he did the first time. He was a second-and-a-half faster this time and I don't know if that is down to ability or the track riding faster. The Guineas isn't the be all and end all for him and he's a horse with a big future.” “He may have been on grass at the beginning of his two-year-old career, but he certainly wouldn't have been on grass in the last 10 months or so. The idea was to go to the Guineas with a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting–I don't want to go a mile or go for the Craven itself and if we went for the seven-furlong race at Newbury [the Greenham], that only gives us two weeks before the Guineas–or there is a seven-furlong conditions race for horses that haven't run more than twice. I have to speak to connections, but if we do go anywhere, I would be pointing that way.” “Danny [Tudhope] just said there he could do with another run. He's still green in front and was lugging away up the straight. Another run is probably the right way to go. Laurens was pretty good in her first two runs, but he's a lovely horse with a great temperament and there's a lot of scope there, so we've just got to look after him, do the right thing by him and hopefully he reaches his full potential.” Night Raider, who is the sixth TDN Rising Star for Dark Angel, with his best so far being the G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Dr Zempf (GB), is out of a granddaughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. scorer and G1 Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks and GI Flower Bowl Invitational-placed Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}). That links him to the group 1-winning mother and son Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk), Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the latter also registering a wide-margin debut success before being thrown straight into the deep end. Also in the pedigree is the aforementioned talented sprinter Far Above, whose career was cut short by injury, and the precocious and tough Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) who captured the G2 Railway S. and G3 Pavilion S. and was also placed in the G1 Phoenix S. and GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Dorraar's 2-year-old full-brother to the winner is catalogued in next month's Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up. 1st-Southwell, £11,400, Novice, 3-20, 3yo/up, 7f 14y (AWT), 1:26.77, st. NIGHT RAIDER (IRE), c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire) 1st Dam: Dorraar (Ire), by Shamardal 2nd Dam: Dorrati, by Dubai Millennium (GB) 3rd Dam: Bahr (GB), by Generous (Ire) Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $12,306. O-Clipper; B-Linden Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Karl Burke. *155,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE. **1/2 to Far Above (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), GSW-Eng, SW-Fr. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Seriously impressive Unbeaten QIPCO 2000 Guineas entry Night Raider romps clear on second start to win in emphatic fashion at @Southwell_Races Looks like the @karl_burke team have another good one! pic.twitter.com/ZPiK7jRJrO — Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) March 20, 2024 The post Dark Angel’s Night Raider Another TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The four first-year stallions at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida–Verifying, Doppelganger, Simplification, and Chess Chief–as well as Bodexpress, who is new to Florida after standing three years in California, all have had multiple mares confirmed in foal to kick off their stud careers. “Since the breeding shed opened this season, we have had a very active stallion barn,” said Christine Jones, the farm's director of stallion services. “We have recently received confirmation that all five of our exciting new stallions have mares in foal, so we are off to a great start.” The new stallions at Pleasant Acres were featured in a TDN video earlier this week. The post First Mares in Foal for New Stallions at Pleasant Acres appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

America's Best Racing's Mike Curry handicaps the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).View the full article

The bonus for registered California-breds or California-sired horses winning maiden special weight races in restricted and open company will be reduced from $17,500 to $15,000 beginning with the start of the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Pukekohe based trainer Andre Poutama is hopeful that with a bit of luck, his team of four runners can make their presence felt at Cambridge Raceway tonight. “We haven’t had any luck with the draws but I think three of the four are capable of a good race” says Poutama. Potter starts in the Race 3, the Watchu Security Mobile Pace for Junior Drivers, with Nathan Delaney driving. Potter has won twice since coming north to the Poutama stable, including a win at the same track two starts back. The gelding placed fourth in his most recent start at Alexandra Park on March 8 after leading before being run down in the final stages, finishing 1.3 lengths from the winner Skipper. “I thought he was capable of winning last start but wasn’t given the ideal run,” says Poutama, “he’s capable of a good race tonight but with the draw of six we will be looking to go back early and drive him for luck,” says Poutama. In Race 4, the Betavet Herbazole Pace over 2200m, Poutama trains and drives Vinnie Turbo. The four-year-old gelding finished seventh at Alexandra Park on March 8 when having his first start in 12 months. “He trialled up well but was disappointing when he started at Auckland,” says Poutama, “he hasn’t had the best experiences racing at Auckland in the past, so we’ll see how he goes tonight and potentially take him to Manawatu next week.” “Both Vinnie Turbo and Hail Lucius have drawn eight so I’ll be going back and driving for luck with both of them.” Hail Lucius is the pick of Poutama’s runners tonight and starts in Race six, the NZB Airfreight Mobile Pace. The Sportswriter gelding’s most recent races have seen him get back in the field from wide starting draws before running home well. “The field is a bit of a drop back compared with a few of his other recent races and he actually races better left handed,” says Poutama. Poutama is also engaged to drive Ultimate Moment – R5, Leo Lincoln – R7, and first starter Lincoln La Moose – R8. “If Ultimate Moment’s manners hold up he could go ok,” says Poutama “and while Leo Lincoln was disappointing at Auckland last start, the race here will suit him better and he’s capable of picking up a win soon.” Racing at Cambridge gets underway at 5:29pm this evening. View the full article

He's best known as a former NFL quarterback who nearly beat Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVIII. But Jake Delhomme, who starred for the Carolina Panthers, is also a passionate horse owner who, along with his father Jerry and his brother Jeff, operates Set-Hut Stable LLC. The Delhomme clan focuses on Louisiana-breds and this year they have come up with one of the best ever. Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) is 11-for-14 lifetime and will run this weekend at Fair Grounds, either against open company in Saturday's $500,000 GII New Orleans Classic or against state-breds the next day in the Star Guitar S. To talk about Touchuponastar, his love affair with racing and even a bit about his NFL career, Delhomme joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. The Delhommes bought Touchuponastar for $15,000 at the Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling sale, which has turned out to be quite the bargain as the horse has earned $708,100. Jake Delhomme Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo. “He's been a dream come true, to be quite honest,” Delhomme said. “I was lucky enough to purchase him at the Texas yearling sale. He was one that I followed, along with the breeders, Coteau Grove Farms. They have done a marvelous job of bringing along some fine animals. Andrew Cary is their bloodstock advisor, and I've been involved with Andrew since 2007. The first time I went to Keeneland and bought my first mare there, off of Hill 'n' Dale Farms, he was the director of sales then. We developed a friendship over the years. We'll go to Coteau Grove and see the horses. There was something about this horse I always liked and I watched him grow up. He looks very much like his sire, Star Guitar, who was a great regional racehorse here in Louisiana. So this was one that I had my eye on. I try to buy a couple of yearlings every year, try to breed a couple. We're a fairly small stable, eight to 10 horses. So we went to the Texas sale and I bid just one time. I was watching the action and I was prepared to go a lot higher. It was just one of those good deals and we were lucky enough to get him.” While his brother Jeff is listed as the trainer, Jake is very hands-on and works right alongside his brother and father. “I do pretty much anything and everything,” Delhomme said. “I'd like to think we're a selfless stable, to be quite honest. Set-Hut is the owner and Dad and Jeff both train. But I'll be honest, it's all of us. We're there every day. It's a family affair. Had I not played sports, I have a pretty good inclination that I would have gone into racing right away.” Like many retired athletes that have gone into racing after their careers are over, Delhomme said that the sport fills a need in his life and keeps his competitive juices flowing. “Racing helps fill that competitive void,” Delhomme said. “I mean I retired when I was, what, 37 or 38 years old? But I retired from football, not from real life. At that age, you're just kind of getting started, so to speak. Racing has given me that avenue. I've never looked for anything else to do once I finished playing. You need something to do because you're used to just this lifestyle of work, work, work, work. I think anyone can attest that being in the horse racing business is just that, work, work, work. It's all the time.” In our breeding spotlight section we took a look at the Coolmore stallion Jack Christopher and the WinStar stallion Global Campaign. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, Coolmore, 1/ST Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman discussed the news that Nysos (Nyquist) has been sidelined and will probably miss all of the Triple Crown races and the latest developments in Maryland, where 1/ST Racing is donating Pimlico to the state. And they previewed the big weekend cards coming up at Fair Grounds and at Turfway Park, where 3-year-olds will vie for Derby points in the GII Louisiana Derby and the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. To watch the podcast, click here. To listen to an audio of the podcast, click here. The post Jake Delhomme Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Santa Anita Park stewards March 17 fined owner/trainer Steve Knapp $1,000 and suspended him for 15 days from April 1-15 for violating California's training soundness rules after one of his unraced horses, Truest of True, had a fatal injury Jan. 18.View the full article

Spring is in the air at last and with it came the first of several Jean-Claude Rouget Classic hopefuls at Toulouse on Wednesday evening. Step forward the unbeaten Alain Jathiere homebred Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Vadyska {Ire}, by So You Think {NZ}), whose Prix Torrestrella tour de force created an exciting opening verse to the Pau-based maestro's 2024 address. “It's going to be a long season”, he quipped in his post-race analysis on the Equidia channel, but if this impressive new TDN Rising Star is anything to go by it will be another highly profitable one. Puchkine, whose juvenile campaign consisted of successful forays to La Teste, this track and Pau, was re-entering the scene in a five-runner affair over a mile and was keen anchored last of the quintet by Jean-Bernard Eyquem early. Quickening out wide to take control 300 metres from the line, the 2-5 favourite who holds entries in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club drew away in impressive fashion to extend his tally by 3 1/2 lengths from Denisjonh (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}). Rouget was on hand to witness the display and told Equidia, “He was fresh, but also a little bit tense, so this is encouraging. It wouldn't have been a big deal if he had been beaten today, because he was making his comeback. It's going to be a long season. The goal is to run the Poule d'Essai and before that, he will run the [Apr. 21 Listed] Prix Aymeri de Mauléon, as we can't let him go two months without racing. He has a lot of speed and I don't think he'll stay 2100 metres.” Puchkine, who becomes the fifth TDN Rising Star for Starspangledbanner alongside the G1 Cheveley Park S. runner-up Flotus (Ire), is out of an unraced half-sister to the Listed Diana-Trial winner Romina Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). She is a daughter of Rockatella (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was a listed winner placed three times in pattern races including the G3 Prix de Lieurey. Descended from Meon Valley's great Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}), whose latest flagbearer was last year's G3 Hoppings S. winner and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), she is also responsible for the listed-placed filly Slevka (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}). Her 2-year-old colt by Fas (Ire) is named Zvokokiev (Fr). 4th-Toulouse, €30,000, Cond, 3-20, 3yo, 8fT, 1:37.60, sf. PUCHKINE (FR), c, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Vadyska (Ire), by So You Think (NZ) 2nd Dam: Rockatella (Ire), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) 3rd Dam: Patrimony (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, €53,500. O/B-Alain Jathiere (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Et de 4 pour Puchkine ! Le pensionnaire de Jean-Claude Rouget s'adjuge le Prix Torrestrella (Classe 1) à Toulouse et reste invaincu en compétition : 4 courses – 4 victoires. Poulain à suivre, engagé dans la Poule d'Essai des Poulains et le Prix du Jockey Club. pic.twitter.com/yT5FoVLWrj — Equidia (@equidia) March 20, 2024 The post Starspangledbanner’s Puchkine A New TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ahead of a March 21 racing dates showdown, 1/ST Racing executive Craig Fravel penned a letter to the CHRB saying the track operator would conduct "an analysis of alternative uses" for Santa Anita Park if racing is authorized at Pleasanton this fall.View the full article

Full of Run Racing II and Madaket Stables' Alpine Princess ships into Turfway Park with the hopes of solidifying herself as a legit contender for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the March 23 $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks.View the full article

While Saturday ushers in the new turf season in Britain, there are almost as many European horses nominated to run at Rosehill in Sydney that same day. In the G1 Ranvet S., six of the seven runners were bred in either Britain, Ireland or France, and they include two seven-figure purchases made by Yulong Investments last December. Group 1-winning mares Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was bought for 2.7 million gns at Tattersalls, and Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €4.025 million Arqana purchase, are now trained respectively by Chris Waller and Anthony and Sam Freedman. They are set to go head to head in the 2,000-metre contest which also features Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a former dual Listed winner in Ireland, French Listed winner Bois d'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), and Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Nine of the last 12 runnings of the race have been won by a horse bred in Europe. Waller, who saddles both Via Sistina and Buckaroo for the A$1 million race, told Australia's Sky Racing World that he has been following the example set by his British counterpart William Haggas, who has twice won the Ranvet, with Addeybb (Ire) and Dubai Honour (Ire). He said of Via Sistina, the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly S. and runner-up to King Of Steel in the G1 Champion S. for George Boughey last year, “We prepared her in Newmarket, I kept a close eye on what Mr Haggas has done with a few of his horses which have beaten Verry Elleegant a number of times. He just gets it right every year. Firstly he brings the right horse. Secondly he prepares them well and thirdly they cope with the trip. So she looks like she's that type of horse.” Waller added, “She's thrived the last two weeks. She's just going on the right path forward and I've been impressed with her.” Some familiar names also make the cut for Saturday's 19-strong G1 George Ryder S. The 2022 Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), whose move from Sheila Lavery to Ciaron Maher last year was not without controversy, makes his second start for Maher after finishing second in the G3 Liverpool City Cup at Randwick on his Australian debut. He is set to face the former John and Thady Gosden trainee Mighty Ulysses (GB), the winner of last season's G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury who is now trained by Annabel Neasham. The Irish Listed winner Cosmic Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who changed hands for 100,000gns at Tattersalls last October, is also in the line-up along with Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}). The G3 N E Manion Cup, run over 2,400 metres, is another race in which the European imports have dominated over the last decade. Haggas won the race with Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in 2020 and this year fields Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is now owned by Lloyd Williams. He is up against last year's Listed Feilden S. winner Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who is another to have joined the Waller stable. Another expensive Yulong acquisition to now be under the care of Sydney's champion trainer is Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who is an interesting entrant for the G3 Epona S. Bought from Boherguy Stud for 1 million gns in 2022 after finishing runner-up to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, she subsequently finished third in the G3 Lexus Archer S. at Flemington last November. The post Yulong’s Via Sistina and Place Du Carrousel to Clash in G1 Ranvet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unbeaten Juddmonte homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road), favored at 7-1 in last weekend's lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool, is being aimed to make her stakes debut in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. on opening day at Keeneland Apr. 5. “Brad is saying that he wants to go to the Ashland with her next, which she would have to do and perform well there to get to the Oaks,” Juddmonte USA General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said. Brad, of course, is two-time GI Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox (Monomoy Girl 2018 & Shedaresthedevil 2020). “If things don't go right, there's no pressure to keep moving forward,” O'Rourke continued. “If they do go right, well, it sets her up, you know? We'll see what happens.” Betting on the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager totaled $69,717 ($48,334 in the win pool and $21,384 in exactas). Last year's champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I (Justify), unraced since capping her perfect season with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, closed as the second choice at 8-1. Just F Y I was scratched due to a fever just hours before what was to be her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut for Bill Mott in the GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Mar. 2. “Obviously, look, I was a little surprised that's the way people bet it,” O'Rourke said. “It puts the pressure on when I saw that she was favored.” O'Rourke added with a big laugh, “Also, remember, it wasn't a huge pool, so it only would've taken one or two of Brad's exercise boys to just put a few bets on her and ruin the price for the rest of us.” Impel earned her 'Rising Star' badge with a visually impressive debut victory at a generous 7-2 sprinting at Fair Grounds Jan. 1. She aced her two-turn test with an explosive stalk-and-pounce 8 1/2-length victory in a deep optional claimer going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park Mar. 3. She earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in the latter. Impel returned to the worktab with a four-furlong breeze in :49.80 (52/74) at Fair Grounds Mar. 15. Impel's leading sire Quality Road is responsible for 15 Grade I winners worldwide, including 2017 Kentucky Oaks heroine Abel Tasman. Juddmonte acquired Impel's Claiborne Farm-bred and stakes-winning dam/GII Gallant Bloom H. runner-up Your Love (Flatter) for $480,000 out of the ELiTE consignment on behalf of the late Paul P. Pompa, Jr. and WinStar Farm at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. Your Love, a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Well Monied (Maria's Mon); GSW & GISP Happy American (Runhappy); MSW & GSP Jimmy Simms (Lost Soldier); and a full-sister to GSW & GISP Economic Model, is also responsible for a yearling filly by Curlin. After losing her pregnancy to Not This Time this year, Your Love recently checked back in foal to the promising young Taylor Made stallion, per O'Rourke. Impel is her first foal. “She's come along beautifully,” O'Rourke said of Impel. “She's a lovely, big scopey filly. The well-bred ones that look good are the ones that are supposed to be good. It's nice when they are. I guess there was always a doubt in the back of mind about her staying. Her mother was a sprinter and the Quality Roads can go both ways. She was so impressive when she broke her maiden and also when she went the two turns so readily.” O'Rourke concluded, “But from here on in, she's gonna have to step it up to be confident that she's an Oaks winner.” The @juddmontefarms homebred #5 Impel stretches out and romps to stay perfect in R4 at Oaklawn Park for trainer @bradcoxracing with @christiantorr64 aboard! A bright future ahead for this 3YO filly! You can add her to your TwinSpires #StableAlerts! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/xyjJS3FYeq — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) March 3, 2024 The post Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Favorite Impel Pointing for Ashland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the Wanamaker's March Sale catalogue can now be viewed on the company's website, wanamakers.com. The online auction includes offerings of yearlings, horses of racing age, open broodmares and stallion seasons. Highlights of the catalogue include: the 5-year-old Break Things (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the Maryland-bred 3-year-old filly Big Wanda (Mendelssohn); and a Louisiana-bred yearling colt from the second crop of Aurelias Maximus. Bidding will open at 8 a.m. ET Mar. 28, with the first listing set to close at 5 p.m. Subsequent listings will close in three-minute increments. Detailed information on the buying process can be found at wanamakers.com/buy. The post Wanamaker’s March Catalogue Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on-site at Turfway Park for the Jeff Ruby Steaks card Saturday. The Kentucky track will honor the TAA with a named race, race six, which has a post time of 3:13 p.m. Following the conclusion of the race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections, which will include a TAA blanket and gift bag with branded merchandise. “Turfway Park is excited to welcome back Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for our Jeff Ruby Steaks Day,” said Turfway director of racing and racing secretary Tyler Picklesimer. “Raising awareness for accredited aftercare is crucial for the longevity and safety of horse racing.” The post TAA On Site at Turfway for Jeff Ruby Steaks Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The catalogue for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is now available online at the company's website, obssales.com. A total of 1,207 juveniles have been catalogued for the four-day sale, which will be held Apr. 16-19. Bidding begins at 10:30 a.m. for each session. The auction's under-tack show will be held Apr. 7-13, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Recent graduates of the Spring sale include Grade I winners Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), Arabian Lion (Justify), Du Jour (Temple City); Practical Move (Practical Joke); Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming); and Carson's Run (Cupid). OBS will again offer online bidding during the Spring sale. Buyers will be register for online bidding on the OBS website. For complete information on registration and online bidding, click here. The post OBS Spring Sale Catalogue Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ryan Moore would have faced a straightforward decision to ride Opera Singer (Justify) in the 1,000 Guineas had Ballydoyle arrived at Newmarket with a full strength squad, according to Aidan O'Brien, who hopes Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can prove an able deputy to the runaway Prix Marcel Boussac winner on May 5 . O'Brien revealed on Monday that Opera Singer was unlikely to make the 1,000 Guineas after suffering a minor setback which resulted in Ylang Ylang's odds tumbling from 8-1 into as short as 7-2 in places. Speaking at a Ballydoyle media morning on Wednesday, he all but ruled the filly out of Newmarket. While O'Brien described himself as a big fan of the G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Ylang Ylang, he remains in little doubt over the pecking order in the three-year-old fillies' brigade. Asked if Moore would have faced a difficult decision if Opera Singer and Ylang Ylang were to line out against each other at Newmarket, O'Brien said, “I don't think so. If Opera Singer was going to make the Guineas, I don't think it would have been a difficult choice for Ryan. She [Opera Singer] is very good. What she did in the Boussac…she's another Justify, set her off in front and follow her if you want. “The other filly [Ylang Ylang] is very good but you have to take your time with her. That's what makes the Justifys so good, they are so uncomplicated. He added on Ylang Ylang, “I like her a lot. She did very well to do what she did because everything went wrong with her the third day–she was too keen. She had to come back to Newmarket and relax but then to go back and do what she did in the Fillies' Mile, you'd have to like her a lot. “She could get a mile and a half as she's out of a Shamardal mare, so there's every chance she could, and the way she likes to be ridden will help her. “Opera Singer is cantering but missed a few weeks, so I imagine the Irish 1,000 Guineas would be the earliest we'll see her. We'd just have to rush her too much otherwise. The year is long.” Group 3 winner Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is another filly that O'Brien holds in high regard with a view towards some of the fillies' Classics. He said, “Content was impressive last year, she had a lovely run first time but then went to Ascot and lost her way, we had to slow her down and get her to relax. “She won at the Curragh and came home very well [in fourth] in the Breeders' Cup. She could be a very nice filly, you just have to take your time with her, as she has plenty of speed.” The post ‘I Like Her A Lot’ – O’Brien Says Ylang Ylang An Able 1,000 Guineas Deputy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Brad Cox said March 19 that Timberlake will return to Oaklawn Park for the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1), with stablemate West Omaha headed to the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2).View the full article

Group 2 winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the Duke of Cambridge S. and second in the G1 Matron S. last term for Tom Clover, is an “exciting prospect” for 2024, according to new trainer Joseph O'Brien. Formerly owned by the Rogues Gallery, who picked her up for 35,000gns at the Tattersalls Mare December Sale as an unraced 2-year-old in 2021, the now-5-year-old mare was fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO Champions Day last out in October. She was knocked down for 1.65 million gns at that same sale in December, with Lanigan/Durcan agent on the ticket on behalf of Heider Family Stables. “She gives the impression that she'll always appreciate better ground and she shows plenty of pace,” said O'Brien. “We won't be shy about travelling her and have a long list of potential options for her in America where we think the style of racing will suit her. She's a very exciting prospect to have in the yard.” O'Brien also had updates on several other stable stars, among them G2 Blandford S. winner Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). A good third to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera last October, she was not disgraced in the colours of Michael O'Flynn when sixth to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf a month later in California. The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in May is first on her assignment sheet this term. “She had a busy campaign last season, but never let us down and kept improving,” said O'Brien. “We all got a real thrill from her win in the Blandford S., and it was great that her owner Michael O'Flynn was there on the day to enjoy it with us. “We are looking at the Tattersalls Gold Cup as an early-season target and will drive on from there.” Group 1-winning juvenile Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a winner of the 2022 G1 National S., enjoyed a brief campaign at three in 2023. Second in the G3 International S. at the beginning of July, he filled that spot again in the wake of undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano in August. The 4-year-old entire is also pleasing O'Brien, and has been handed French targets, including the G1 Prix Ganay in April. O'Brien said, “We are delighted with him. He was always a tall, rangy horse and has filled out into a magnificent athlete now. “We were very sweet on him for the Irish Champion S., but a little issue the day before meant we couldn't run. Everything has gone very smoothly with him this preparation and we are steadily stepping up his work. “We are working him towards the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp in late April. Longer term, I could see him stepping up to a mile and a half. “He won a Group 1 over seven furlongs as a 2-year-old and has never looked short of pace, but he has the most lovely, relaxed way of going and it will give him a great chance to carry his pace over further if we ask him to. I'd be very hopeful he can win another Group 1.” The post Rogue Millennium “Exciting Prospect” For Joseph O’Brien appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2022 Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Gold Trip's racing career is in jeopardy after he suffered a tendon injury ruling him out of action until at least June.View the full article

After selling for 2.7 million guineas at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale, group 1 winner Via Sistina prepares for a start in the March 23 Ranvet Stakes (G1) at Rosehill.View the full article

A deal that Del Mar has made with a titan of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) provides a rare glimpse into the tremendous sway that individual players can wield over track and racing officials, the potentially lopsided economic ramifications of such deals, and the tremendous pressures that California executives are under with competing jurisdictions that enjoy purse subsidies not available in the Golden State. It also turns a spotlight onto a world largely hidden from the public eye-one that industry leaders are generally loathe to discuss publicly, and in which just a few anonymous gamblers can have an outsized impact on the financial fitness or ill-health of the sport. Last year, Del Mar continued a deal with a player identified as Elite 17 that saw them enjoy a noticeably more favorable rate of play than other high-volume players that wager through the CAW platform, Elite Turf Club, according to detailed wagering reports obtained by the TDN, background conversations with racing officials and figures within the CAW world, along with publicly available data. At the enormous volumes CAW at which gamblers play, such deals can give individual players a significant financial edge. The result was that this one player constituted nearly 47% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar last year, according to the reports. Two years prior, Elite 17's play had constituted just over 36% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar, according to publicly available California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) data. At the same time, the amount of money another Elite Turf Club player (Elite 2) wagered on the track dropped off by over $32 million between 2021 and 2023, the reports show-from around $45 million in 2021 to around $13 million last year. In 2021, Elite 2's play came to just over 27% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar. Last year, that number had dropped to around 12%. According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, Elite 2 received a deal similar to Elite 17 in prior years at Del Mar, but not last year. An individual familiar with the situation-who spoke as a “California racing source” on condition of anonymity-said that, prior to the track's 2023 summer meet, Elite 2 declined such a deal, which would have necessitated paying a “substantial seven-figure up-front payment.” Del Mar Thoroughbred Club | Horsephotos When asked if Elite 2 had changed their mind about the deal after the summer meet was underway, the source declined to answer, citing concerns about proprietary business information. “But you can't make an up-front payment after the meet has started,” the source added. Such arrangements have served as a pre-payment on host fees to be split between the track and the purse account, sources say. The deals that Del Mar has struck with Elite Turf Club players over the years, while hardly an anomaly among tracks nationally, nonetheless raises questions about the best approach to managing CAW play in a state where purse revenues are generated solely through betting. If purses fuel the sport, getting this equation right is an imperative. Are deals between tracks and individual CAW players, therefore, a sustainable approach for growing the sport in California? Is CAW play now so vital to the economics of horse racing that every step must be taken to maximize their business? Or should California's tracks be much more focused on incentivizing play from the average punters who generally contribute the biggest slice to purses, rather than pandering to the whales of the betting seas? While it's difficult to know exactly how such deals might have impacted Del Mar's purse account revenues, the bare numbers illustrate a track facing tough economic headwinds, with serious implications for the horsemen and women in the state. Purses last fall at Del Mar were reduced by over 10% due to a purse account overpayment reportedly to the tune of $2.1 million. All-source handle at the track's flagship summer meet declined nearly 11% from 2022 to 2023, according to the DRF. Wagering through Elite Turf Club on the track's product has declined from around $167 million in 2021 to around $113 million last year, according to the CHRB. “As a track with no subsidies from alternative forms of gaming that depends exclusively on handle for purse generation, promoting handle from all segments of the betting market is very important to us. On an annual basis we sit down with the [Thoroughbred Owners of California] TOC to both establish purse levels and to discuss how we best promote wagering on our simulcast signal,” wrote Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president, Josh Rubinstein, in response to a series of questions. Before the start of each meet in California, the tracks present the TOC with a list of individual host fees charged to each location that receives its simulcast signal. For that track's meet to proceed, the TOC must first sign this document. “We are proud of our racing product, which has been well-received for the last several years, and confident that our host fees are fair and competitive with other major race tracks. We will continue to work with our partners to balance pricing considerations with the overall demands of the wagering markets,” Rubinstein added. How takeout is divided from CAW play BACKGROUND ON RATES AND REBATES The debate around CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers thanks to their use of sophisticated wagering technologies and the attractive rates and rebates offered to them-inducements not available to the average punter. When “rates” are mentioned, what is meant are “host fees.” This is a charge wagering outlets pay to track operators for the contractual right to import a simulcast signal. A wagering outlet could be another racetrack, an ADW platform (like FanDuel), or a CAW platform (like Elite Turf Club). Experts say that CAW host fees for the premium tracks typically vary between 6% and 8%. After breeders' premiums and other minor deductions have been removed, host fees are roughly split 50/50 between the track and the purse account in California. The entities that pay the lowest host fee, therefore-like CAW players-contribute the lowest per-dollar amount to purses. At the same time, proponents of CAW argue how these inducements are warranted due to the vast amounts these players inject into the betting pools. The amount CAW players are “rebated” can be broadly calculated with this simple equation: Rebate = Takeout minus host fee (plus any other associated minor fees). The smaller the host fee and the larger the takeout, then the bigger the rebate. Let's use the 20% blended takeout rate among the pools. And let's say the host fee (plus other associated fees) that the CAW player pays comes to 7%. The rebated discount for the CAW players, therefore, could be a maximum 13% on every dollar wagered. Experts recently told the TDN that the most successful CAW players can consistently win at an average rate of around 92%. At that win rate, a 13% rebate (for example) would see the player enjoy a 5% profit margin. According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, that win rate is an undercount. These reports show how Elite Turf Club players can win at an average rate in excess of 105%, even before their rebate from Elite is factored in. At this rate, the profit margin would be much better than many investment accounts. It's also important to note how the numerical monikers given to Elite Turf Club players-a company majority owned by The Stronach Group (TSG)-don't relate to just one person. These players employ a team of potentially dozens of people, including mathematical wizards who create sophisticated computer algorithms capable of analyzing the betting markets for exploitable weaknesses, as well as individuals who place the bets for them. Insiders consulted for this story describe how these teams of experts can, over time, deduce through the betting markets and through other data sources if rival CAW players receive more favorable rates. Given the money at stake, the competition can be cutthroat. ELITE 17'S DEAL As CAW play has grown exponentially in recent years, track operators have cut deals like that between Del Mar and Elite 17 to attract their business. And the amount these gamblers wager is often so huge, just one player can make up a significant portion of a track's overall handle. In 2019, when the renowned gambler “Dr. Nick” stopped wagering on Australian racing reportedly due to increased taxes on bookmakers, his exit was projected to trigger a 6% drop in turnover on racing across the board. Multiple sources for this story said that Elite 17 and Elite 2 were both well-known Australian gamblers. Scott Daruty | Horsephotos Scott Daruty, president of both TSG's Monarch Content Management and of the Elite Turf Club, declined to confirm or deny their identities, citing confidentiality agreements. According to detailed reports obtained by the TDN, Elite 17 wagered more than $650 million on U.S. racing through Elite Turf Club alone last year. In 2021, Elite 17 wagered roughly $60 million on Del Mar's product, according to the CHRB. Last year, Elite 17 wagered some $53 million. Last summer at Del Mar, the amount Elite 17 wagered was roughly 10% of the total handle at Del Mar, using the DRF's all-source handle figures as a baseline. These numbers don't account for Elite 17's potential play on horse racing through other methods such as fixed-odds providers and exchange options like Betfair in other countries, or on other sports. Some CAW players also have accounts with different CAW platforms like Velocity, owned by Churchill Downs, which enables wagering on tracks whose simulcast signals are managed by Churchill. At the same time, multiple sources say individual deals are still fairly prevalent among smaller tracks struggling financially, but that they're now unusual among the nation's top-tier tracks. According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) offered the same host fee to Elite Turf Club players at Saratoga last year, irrespective of the betting pool. This included Elite 17. The host fee NYRA charged was slightly lower than Del Mar charged the same CAW players (outside of Elite 17), these reports show. “NYRA cannot responsibly comment or opine on information never provided to our organization,” wrote NYRA spokesperson, Pat McKenna, in response to questions about the wagering reports. The TDN provided to NYRA an overview of the figures in the reports but not the raw data. NYRA's data was independently verified for the TDN. NYRA is a minority owner in Elite Turf Club. McKenna did, however, stress the steps the organization has taken to manage CAW play, including barring CAW play in the Pick 6, Late Pick 5, and Cross Country Pick 5 pools, and requiring CAW players to place win bets on its races no later than two minutes to post. California has also taken similar steps to moderate CAW play. Since Santa Anita's 2022 fall meet, the win pool has been closed to CAW players one-minute to post, or else they must also pay a surcharge of around 3.5% on top of their normal rate if they want to bet to the close of the win-pool. Last year, Del Mar followed suit. Both tracks have also reverted to the traditional Pick 6. When it comes to Del Mar's deal with Elite 17, the agreement was incumbent upon the player making a substantial payment at the start of the meet, according to multiple sources. Once that up-front payment was made, Elite 17 paid a host fee almost half of that for other Elite Turf Club players, wagering reports show. But multiple sources familiar with the situation explained how factoring in the up-front payment, Elite 17 paid a host fee on Del Mar's product last year around a percentage point or so lower than the other CAW players. At the volume CAW gamblers play, just one percentage point difference in host fee can mean a significant edge for one CAW player over all others, along with possible residual effects on all other participants in the betting pools in terms of late odds movement. Bill Nader | Horsephotos TOC president and CEO Bill Nader explained that deals involving up-front payments incentivize the player to maximize the amount they wager on the track's product. “For example, if the player bets over a certain threshold, the player benefits from a high-volume discount. If the player does not reach that wagering threshold, the effective rate would be higher than other CAW players,” wrote Nader. But could the deal that Del Mar struck with Elite 17 have prompted other CAW players-and Elite 2 in particular-to have curbed their play at the track last year? The California racing source said that other CAW players were offered similar terms to Elite 17 last year. However, it should be noted that the other CAW players that wager through Elite Turf Club on Del Mar didn't bet to nearly the same volume as Elite 17 last year, and that Elite 2 was the only Elite Turf Club player to wager in the region of Elite 17's handle in 2021. The California racing source also noted how CAW play is closely aligned with overall handle on a track's product, and that declines in total handle would invariably lead to decreases in CAW play. “It's hard for us to say with any certainty why player A or B may have reduced his or her volume of play,” the source said. “The best source for that is the player themself.” The TDN reached out to a representative of the player believed to be Elite 2, who declined to discuss the situation. Here, it should be noted that at least one Elite Turf Club player increased their play between 2021 and 2023. This was Elite 10, who wagered $4.9 million in 2021 and $6.7 million in 2023 on Del Mar's product. The TDN does not have access to data showing individual CAW handle on Del Mar's product in 2022. That was the year the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) stopped making such data publicly available. Even so, California remains more transparent than other jurisdictions about what CAW data it makes publicly available. Another wrinkle in this story is how Del Mar boasts an attractive wagering product with good field sizes and an impressive safety record. With that in mind, was the deal the right one to strike? “With the benefit of hindsight, it has been the wrong deal for over 10 years and this is why we need a market correction,” wrote Nader, in response to a series of questions. “We represent the owners and purses are paid to owners, trainers, and jockeys, and there is room for improvement. This is what the TOC hired me to do.” When asked why the TOC approved the deal last year, Nader wrote how 2023 “was my first full year with the TOC and we needed time to work with our Board members and others, notably the tracks, to voice our reservations and allow for a period of adjustment. This entire exercise has been a work in progress.” WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW? The issue of shrinking purse revenues amid declining economic benchmarks couldn't be a more pressing issue in California right now, where the industry attempts to piece together a revised racing framework in the wake of Golden Gate's impending closure in June. At the end of the day, therefore, those arguably most impacted by decisions around managing CAW play are the industry stakeholders attempting to eke out a living from the sport. When asked for comment on the story, the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) wrote in a prepared statement how, “based on Del Mar's representations and the TOC's confirmation of how the purse account there has been managed, we can only say we're disturbed and confused. In January of 2021, at a CTT Board meeting, we attempted to question TOC leadership at the time about how purse levels were being funded, and were angrily rebuked by those in charge.” At that point in time, Greg Avioli was TOC president. “Since purses are the lifeblood of our sport, and are fueled by the public's interest and its confidence in the integrity of pari-mutuel betting, the apparent lack of transparency we're hearing about now has to be remedied immediately,” the CTT added. Scott Chaney | courtesy of the CHRB According to CHRB executive director, Scott Chaney, the agency is “keenly aware of the questions, importance and interest surrounding CAWs and plans to place the topic on our meeting agenda in the next month or so.” Chaney added how “the concepts of purse accounts and structure are also vitally important to racing in California, therefore in order promote understanding and transparency, we are in the process of amending our race meet license application to include additional questions in this area.” All of which leads to this question: Will Elite 17 be offered the same deal this year? “No. Negotiations are ongoing across the entire customer sector,” wrote Nader. “High-volume players will agree that two key deliverables to make their business models more attractive are access and liquidity to commingled pools,” added Nader. “Our racetrack partners should also understand the collective upside and if everyone can take a step back and look at this thing holistically, we can work it out.” The post Computer Assisted Wagering: Anatomy Of A Deal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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