Wandering Eyes

Trainer Gavin Sharrock rocked punters once again with another promising young horse from his Stratford -based operation when Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) overcame a slow start to bury his race rivals late in the piece as he took out the Ladies Man 2YO (1200m) on a testing Heavy 10 surface at Trentham. The son of Darci Brahma had been fancied on debut when finishing fifth at Waverley last month behind Saturday’s race favourite Belzoni (NZ) (Belardo). That experience did him the world of good although those who supported him at $12 on the Fixed Odds market would have been holding their breath as he was slow to move for rider Jim Chung and trailed the field in a slowly run race until the 600m. Chung then sent the gelding around runners to issue a challenge approaching the home bend, where he still had several lengths to make up on Belzoni, his stablemate Under Orders (NZ) (War Decree) and well fancied debutant Transcend (So You Think). Just as Transcend look to have mastered the other two, Country Salon dug deep and with a couple of huge bounds levelled up and took over to win by a long neck at the line. Sharrock, who had also taken out another juvenile contest with Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando) at Hawera on Tuesday, was delighted with the effort. “I love working with the two-year-olds and this was one was unlucky at Waverley as he got knocked over and still ran fifth,” Sharrock said . “The instructions were to teach him as he over-raced in front last time and he will learn something today. “His mother won a race on a Heavy 10 so he might be another one we target for the Castletown Stakes (Listed, 1200m on 20 June). Chung was also impressed by the effort. “He sat back in the gates and missed the jump, but that may have been a good thing as he got to come around them and get out into the middle of the track,” he said.” “He hit the line well as it took him a while to wind up but he did it nicely in the end. Bred and raced by Sharrock, Country Salon is out of the Ferlax mare Uniquebotique (NZ) who is a daughter of Gr.3 Gasmate Stakes (1600m) winner Sokool (NZ) (Bin Ajwaad) and has dual Australian Group One winner Prince Salieri (Salieri) in his extended dam line. View the full article

By Michael Guerin If Alexandra Park races true to recent form for tonight’s $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes there may be less winning chances in the Group 1 than it appears as first glance. Because while the race is the strongest of the three-year-old pacing fillies season so far the girls covering the least ground should hold a huge advantage. Tonight’s meeting is take 2 after last night’s attempt was postponed after just one race because of bad weather. In the past few weeks in northern harness racing the most obvious trend has been the biggest race winners almost always coming from on the marker pegs. It was the case in all five Groups 1 here two weeks ago and two of the three held at Alexandra Park last week. It was also the case when Arcee Phoenix won the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge last month with the most jarring exception to the marker pegs domination being Leap To Fame in the $1m Race by betcha, but he is an exception to a lot of rules. The reasons for the popular pegs are well known: the times being recorded these days are so fast horses coming wide often face having to break national records just to keep up. That trend looks set to continue in tonight’s 2200m mobile Sires’ Stakes and if it does it give an enormous advantage to Beside Me (R8, No.3) and most likely General Jen (No.2). Beside Me looks the likely leader and driver Carter Dalgety says if he gets there he won’t be handing the lead away. “She got a little too excited for her own good in the Oaks last start but that was 2700m whereas being 2200m this week I can let her roll more,” says Dalgety. Beside Me was beaten in that Oaks by Arafura, who is in tonight’s race but faces a second line draw so it could be her stablemate General Jen who emerges as the main danger to the favourite. General Jen was allowed to miss the earlier northern three-year-old features by co-trainer Hayden Cullen and she looks a fresh and happy horse when she bolted away with her Alexandra Park debut against older pacers last Friday. If she can use her gate speed to cross to the markers and trail Beside Me she could try the same sit-and-snipe tactics Arafura did two weeks ago. “I have no doubts Arafura is the best of our fillies but she may not be the best chance this week,” says Cullen. “I can see General Jen getting the better run, hopefully on the back of Beside Me, and she really impressed me how she won up here last Friday. “Arafura is tougher but if she has to race in the running line it becomes a lot harder for her.” One horse who could be on the markers but not the best version of them is Southland filly Captains Mistress. She looks the real deal but faces being three or even four deep on the markers and if so could need an intense war up front to open gaps for her to chase down tired legs later. Her trainer-driver Nathan Williamson also brings his one-start, one-win juvenile trotter Duchess Maria (R4, No.2) north for the $50,000 IRT Young Gun Final in which she will have to handle the right-handed track to down Redpark Warrior. Tonight’s other major trot the $120,000 IRT Trotters Championship should probably see Meant To Be continued on his winning march but the reduction in distance from 2700m last start to 2200m mobile tonight gives him less time to overcome his unruly start point. To see tonight’s fields click here View the full article

Jockey Junior Alvarado has been fined $62,000 and suspended two Kentucky racing days after using the whip two more times than is permitted when winning the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Sovereignty, according to a Kentucky stewards' ruling Friday. Under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) rules, jockeys can use the crop no more than six times during a race. The typical penalty for going one to three strikes over the limit is 10% of the jockey's earnings or a $250 fine, whichever is bigger. Alvarado's share of the Derby purse was $310,000. It typically comes with a one-day suspension. This, however, was Alvarado's second whip violation within 180 days, according to the stewards' ruling. According to HISA Rule 2283 (c)(1), a second violation within that 180-day period results in a doubling of the fine and a doubling of the suspension period. Alvarado's two-day suspension will run May 29 and 30. According to the BloodHorse, the ruling is under appeal, which will likely be heard by a three-person HISA Internal Adjudication Panel. The post Alvarado Fined $62,500 And Suspended Two Days For Crop Violation During Winning Derby Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In a ruling issued May 9, jockey Junior Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended two racing days for violating established riding crop rules in piloting Sovereignty to victory in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. View the full article

5th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 2:46p.m. ET OLYMPIC DAME (Medaglia d'Oro) will break from the rail here wearing the colors of Qatar Racing for trainer Brendan Walsh. A $385,000 FTSAUG purchase in 2023, the price looked like a steal three months later when her half-brother Honor Marie (Honor Code) brought home the trophy for the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in late November, and kept himself in the headlines from there, running through the 2024 Kentucky Derby trail by route of Louisiana and eventually finishing eighth in the big dance. He went on the shelf after trailing along in eighth in the GI Travers Stakes but has since redeemed himself. He was last seen winning the Listed Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes beneath these same Twin Spires as his sister will begin her career. The pair also claims GSP Abarta (Into Mischief) as a half-sibling. Their dam, Dame Marie (Smart Strike), is a half-sister to G1 Betfair St. Leger hero Rule of Law (Kingmambo). This is the extended family of G1 Prix de Paris victor Feed the Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who joined the stallion ranks in France this year after multiple placings at the elite level last season. TJCIS PPs 6th-SA, $60k, Msw, 3-5yo, 6 1/2f, 6:38p.m. ET It's the battle of the high six-figure auction horses in this maiden special weight, and Florida-bred Southern Gentleman (Mitole) takes first prize in that department at a princely $725,000 when he changed hands at OBSMAR last year to Speedway Stables. In the barn of Bob Baffert, this son of Mitole is a half-brother to GSW Midnight Stroll (Not This Time) and SP Atthecrossroads (Practical Joke). Their dam Midnight Magic (Midnight Lute) is a half-sister to GSW Coalport (Kitten's Joy) and that one's dull-brother, French Listed winner Jolly Good Kitten. This is the immediate family of GI Santa Maria Handicap victress Favorite Funtime (Seeking the Gold). Two spots to his inside is Cheever (Into Mischief) for owners Muir Hut Stables and trainer Mark Glatt. The Stonestreet-bred was a $700,000 acquisition from the same OBSMAR auction, and hails from an accomplished female family as the son of GSW Electric Forest (Curlin), herself a daughter of MGSW & MGISP Forest Music (Unbridled's Song). The dam's half-siblings include GSW Kentuckian (Tiznow) as well as GSW Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo). Breaking farthest out in the field is Legal Heir (Nyquist), a $550,000 OBSAPR purchase and now racing for the partnership of MKW Racing and Spendthrift Farm. In the barn of Richard Mandella, the Maryland-bred is a half-brother to SW & GSP Monday Morning QB (Imagining). Their dam How My Heart Works (Not For Love) is a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), who would achieve fame by way of her son, MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner). This is the female line of SW Well Dressed (Notebook), who is best known for her world-beating son, multiple Group 1 winner Well Armed (Tiznow). That gelding needs little to no introduction to most racing fans. Well Dressed's line branches out in many directions via her daughters and has produced many graded and group winners at every level. TJCIS PPs The post May 10 Insights: Half to Honor Marie Debuts at Churchill, California Hosts Big Ticket Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Rodriguez will miss the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) because of a foot issue, but his connections have another colt in mind for the second leg of the Triple Crown, undefeated Goal Oriented.View the full article

Kathy Walsh, who started training as an interloper among the nation's almost hermetically-sealed male ranks and who pursued her career with a rare combination of grit, guts, gumption and generosity, passed quietly in her sleep at the age of 85. A consummate horsewoman, Walsh brooked no fools and minced no words, yet garnered the kind of deeply held reverence and affection typically extended to those of royal lineage. There's a reason she was nicknamed The Queen. “She probably hired and fired me more times than she changed her underwear, I used to tell her,” said jockey Mike Smith. “She could be tough on you–but once you were part of the family, buddy, you were part of the family, man.” Walsh was born into racing. Her father James trained. She cultivated great taste in mentors. Walsh spent the formative years of her equine education mining nuggets of wisdom from the likes Allen Jerkens, Charlie Whittingham and Buster Millerick, who she viewed as her “adoptive grandfather.” Walsh started training in the early 1970s, taking over her father's stable upon his death. She soon hung out her shingle as a trainer to note, winning multiple titles at Longacres in Washington State and Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. “We go way back, me and Kathy, back to the old Canterbury Downs days,” said Smith. “She's a great horsewoman. She had a strong stable back then. She was someone you wanted to ride for all the time.” Once becoming a permanent fixture of the California circuit, so the overall quality of her stock improved in leaps. She won 15 graded stakes during a career comprising 1231 individual wins. This includes the 2001 GI Santa Monica Handicap with Nany's Sweep. Walsh's moon shot came in 2007, and the arrival in her barn of Cal-bred Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule), who took that year's GI Del Mar Futurity. The following spring, Georgie Boy claimed wins in the GII San Vicente Stakes and San Felipe Stakes, on the way to what was expected to be a bold tilt at the Kentucky Derby. He missed the race, however, with pulled muscles in his back, but he returned to action later that year before claiming the GII San Carlos Stakes, his final race. As a two-year-old still learning his craft, Georgie Boy was headstrong, a real bruiser. “But we knew he could run,” said Smith, who rode the horse to second in the GII Best Pal Stakes, a prep for his next race, the Del Mar Futurity. “He was so aggressive with the blinkers on when we finished second. And she was pretty aggravated because we'd gone pretty quick. And I said 'Kathy, he doesn't need these blinkers anymore. I know he did when he was young, bless him, but he needs to relax. Take them off,” Smith recalled. “Well, she took the blinkers off but she took me off with them!” said Smith. “Of course, the horse relaxed beautifully in the Futurity and won it. “I ran into her the next day and I said, 'Well, first of all congratulations. But if I knew I was attached to those damned blinkers, I would never have told you to take them off!' That's just the game, isn't it,” said Smith. “And you know, we were having dinner together two nights after that.” Walsh was a pioneer among female trainers–a distinction she would begrudgingly acknowledge but more readily downplay. “So many other people are deserving to be here, men and women,” Walsh told the LA Times in 1988, before her trainee, Hanuman Highway, took a shot at the Kentucky Derby. He finished seventh. “But really, this horse doesn't know me as a woman or a man. He just knows me as an individual. I don't mean this as a put-down on women, but I think the respect I might get has more to do with getting a horse to the Derby than what sex I am.” Former trainer Mike Puhich, now trainer and director of horse operations at the Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond, Washington, knew Walsh since he was knee-high to a pastern. She was Puhich's godmother. “My dad's the one who gave her the nickname The Queen,” said Puhich, of his father, Nick. “She was a great horseperson and a great person. It's hard to think she's gone.” Marietta Gelalich was a long-time owner with Walsh, and one of her closest friends. “Not only was she good with the horses and honest with me about when they should run and shouldn't run, but when my husband ['Tiny'] died–and she loved my husband–she stayed with me 24-7 to help me get back on my feet. She was a true, true friend,” said Gelalich. “I miss her and I love her and she was a true friend and a good trainer. And she did not like a lot of women, you know. You had to cuddle up to her to make her like you. She'd been a woman in a man's world for so long,” said Gelalich. “They broke the mold–thank god–when they made The Queen. She was made of cast iron,” said XBTV and TDN Writers Room presenter Zoe Cadman, who became close friends with Walsh after working for her as a freelance exercise rider. “She loved her horses, cussed like a sailor and tolerated people. She tried for years to get me to work for her full-time but would never acquiesce to giving me a day off. She said I could sleep when I was dead. I declined! Sleep tight, Queen.” Said Smith, “She led a wonderful life. She wouldn't have traded her life for anybody. I can guarantee you that.” The post The Queen Of Racing Kathy Walsh Passes At 85 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons's Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief–Areyoucominghere, by Bernardini), third to 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Forte (Violence) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby and GII Fountain of Youth Stakes in 2022, will enter stud at Haras Don Florentino in Argentina for the 2025 breeding season, Turf Diario reported on Friday. Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Cyclone Mischief cost $450,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale and won two of his first four starts for trainer Dale Romans, including a 5 3/4-length allowance success that saw him jump as the 6-5 favorite in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes. A troubled seventh on that occasion, he bounced back in the final two Gulfstream legs on the Derby trail before finishing down the field in the Run for the Roses. He added allowance victories at Ellis Park last August and back in Hallandale Beach on Jan. 26 and amassed a record of 4-1-4 from 18 starts for earnings of $405,528. Bred on the exact same cross as last weekend's GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty, Cyclone Mischief is out of a half-sister to Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), a 3-year-old of note in 2016 when taking out the GIII Southwest Stakes ahead of a runner-up effort in the GI Arkansas Derby. The Grade III-winning and G1/GISP third dam Party Cited (Alleged) produced seven winners, including GIII West Virginia Derby scorer Ready Set (Touch Gold) and dual Grade I winner Composure (Touch Gold), the dam of GSW & GISP Penwith (Bernardini). A Munnings half-sister to Cyclone Mischief was purchased by Frank Fletcher Racing for $225,000 at Keeneland September last fall. The post Cyclone Mischief To Stand In Argentina appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An 81-year-old Penn National-based veterinarian charged in February by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with allegedly intentional, conspirational and repeated violations of intra-articular injection rules designed to safeguard the health of horses has consented to an “agreed order” of a lifetime ban of practicing medicine on Thoroughbreds covered by HISA. Allen Post Bonnell, a veterinarian who has been practicing for 45 years, signed the consent order May 7, according to documentation provided by HISA. Beyond his work as a veterinarian, Bonnell is barred from “participating in any activity” at a racetrack or training facility. According to the consent order, Bonnell agreed to a stipulation that his acceptance of the lifetime ban resolves only the HISA charges against him, and that the penalty is separate from charges, “if any,” that might be issued by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). An investigation initially led by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission last year had revealed that Bonnell allegedly conspired with 13 implicated trainers from May 2023 through November 2024 to administer intra-articular injections to the joints of Thoroughbreds within the prohibited stand-down periods, in direct violation of HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) and Racetrack Safety Programs. According to the PSHRC investigative report that was later handed over to HISA, “Dr. Bonnell informed investigators that trainers will request his services for intra-articular injections because they know he will not report them as required, allowing them to run their horses during the time they should have been placed on the veterinarians list… “Dr. Bonnell went on to [tell investigators] that he feels what he is doing is harmless and it just helps the horse with pain and inflammation. He said the reason he does not report it is that the injections he gives are worthless if it's done too far out because it eventually wears off. If he reports it and the horse is put on the veterinarians list for 14 days, it could be an additional 14 days to a month, even two months, before it runs in a race,” the PSHRC report stated. In a November article published by the Paulick Report in the wake of Bonnell's summary suspension by the PSHRC, the veterinarian told Ray Paulick that he believes the “HISA rules are a nightmare” because they “don't make any sense.” HISA disagreed, stating in a press release in February that of the more than 100 unique horses alleged to have breezed or raced in violation of HISA's intra-articular stand-down times, 30% never raced again, “strongly suggesting these injections were used to mask pain.” Approximately 10% were observed to be lame post-race by a regulatory veterinarian. Three horses were euthanized as a direct result of injuries sustained in those races, HISA stated. Under HISA's rules, horses treated with intra-articular injections are not permitted to race within 14 days or perform a workout within seven days of the treatment. The post Penn Vet Agrees To Lifetime Ban To Resolve HISA Allegations Of 18-Month Joint Injection Conspiracy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek. 2.35 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT Besides Ballydoyle buzz horse Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aidan O'Brien will also saddle GSTAAD (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December purchase who is a half-brother to the G1 Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes hero Vandeek in their Naas debuts. The post Ballydoyle Duo Debut At Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Behrens and MyRacehorse, owners of last year's GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate), will be celebrated at Thursday's Alibi Breakfast with the role of Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 150. Previous Honorary Postmasters have included Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Nick Zito, and Bob Baffert; Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado; and Horse of the Year recipients Cigar and Knicks Go. Behrens is the Founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, the platform that brought fractional racehorse ownership to the masses. Under his leadership, MyRacehorse has opened the gates of the sport to over 100,000 fans worldwide. “It is an incredible honor to be named Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 150,” said Behrens. “This race means the world to us. Winning it last year with over 2,000 MyRacehorse owners behind the horse was one of the most powerful moments in our journey. To be back here a year later in this role is truly special.” The post Preakness Names Michael Behrens, MyRaceHorse Honorary Postmaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The federal lawsuit in Michigan involving TwinSpires and a state law requiring advance-deposit wagering (ADW) platforms to partner with a brick-and-mortar racetrack before accepting simulcast wagers took a twist Friday when a judge granted in part and denied in part a motion by state defendants to dismiss the claim initiated back in January by Churchill Downs Technology Initiatives Company. “TwinSpires brings this claim under the implied cause of action to enjoin state actors from violating federal law,” United States District Court Judge Hala Jarbou of the Western District of Michigan wrote in a May 9 opinion. “It has alleged facts sufficient to state a claim under preemption, but not for a claim under the dormant Commerce Clause. While the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) will be dismissed as a defendant, the Executive Director of the MGCB and the Attorney General remain as defendants in this lawsuit.” That means the underlying case (minus the dormant commerce clause allegations) will proceed against those two individuals while a preliminary injunction issued two months ago in favor of TwinSpires remains in effect. Back on Feb. 19, the judge had ruled that the MGCB was unconstitutionally violating the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA) by requiring that ADW to partner with a brick-and-mortar state racetrack before accepting simulcast wagers from Michigan residents. Via that earlier injunction, which survived an Apr. 18 motion to dismiss by the Michigan defendants, the judge had ordered the MGCB not to enforce the contested Michigan Horse Racing Law (MHRL) licensing requirement about partnering with an in-state racetrack or to issue any sanctions against TwinSpires, a Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) subsidiary, for accepting bets from Michigan residents on out-of-state simulcast races. An entirely separate lawsuit brought against TwinSpires by Henry Williams, the executive director of the MGCB, was remanded from the federal court system to a state court in March. Both lawsuits stem from the fact that at the start of 2025, Michigan's law requiring ADWs to partner with a racetrack in the state couldn't be fulfilled by any ADW operator because there hasn't been any Thoroughbred racing in Michigan since 2018, and Standardbred races last ran in February 2024. TwinSpires (and other ADWs) previously partnered with the now-demolished and to-be-developed Northville Downs, whose license-holders as of Jan. 1 were planning to-but had not yet received at that time-approval for the required 30 days of Standardbred racing at a different location so that all parties could be eligible for ADW and simulcasting in 2025. On Dec. 23, 2024, the MGCB notified all licensed ADWs to cease offering wagering for Michigan residents effective Jan. 1, 2025. The shutdown was to be temporary until the harness track's licensing issue got resolved. While ADW operators Xpressbet, NYRA Bets, and TVG Network voluntarily complied with the order, TwinSpires did not. After a week of continuing to take bets against the order, the MGCB suspended the TwinSpires license Jan. 7. On Jan. 31, Northville Downs received its licensing, allowing third-party facilitators to accept wagers in accordance with the MHRL license requirement. However, the MGCB continued to maintain its suspension against TwinSpires. The post Gaming Board–But Not State Officials–Dismissed As Defendant In TwinSpires Vs. Michigan Suit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

British racing's largest marketing campaign yet will launch May 20 under the title "The Going Is Good," with Simon Michaelides of Great British Racing declaring he was "incredibly confident" about what it can do for the sport. View the full article

Godolphin's Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer returned to training May 6 at Churchill Downs, and trainer Brad Cox said the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes (G1) weekend at Saratoga Race Course could be her next target.View the full article

A panel of veterinarians serving in equine medical leadership roles discussed Kentucky's equine safety protocols and advances in technology during a May 9 panel of the ARCI Annual Conference at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced the inaugural board of directors for The Maryland Jockey Club, a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico, and a new training facility.View the full article

A big step for Maryland racing was made May 9, when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved a plan that called for the demolition and restoration of Pimlico Race Course, in addition to the acquisition of Shamrock Farm as a satellite training center. View the full article

A full field of 18 3-year-old milers line up for the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo on Sunday. Ante-post favouritism has been granted to G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes hero and Junko Kondo runner Admire Zoom. The son of four-time Group 1-winning miler Maurice warmed up for this with a stalking neck second in the G2 New Zealand Trophy at Nakayama in April behind Katsumi Yoshida's Immigrant Song (Makfi) and 1 1/4 lengths in front of the Saturnalia filly Caught Alliciant in third. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “He wasn't fully wound up for his last race, but he ran well enough. It was good that he handled the long trip to the track and the overnight stay, so those things were a real plus. In the meantime, things have been as expected with him.” Owned by Teruya Yoshida, Caught Alliciant is one of six fillies in the race. If successful on Sunday, she would become the first filly to win since Aerolithe (Kurofune) in 2017. Jockey Akiro Sugawara will have his hands full, as he leaves from the widest stall in 18 aboard the ante-post fifth choice. Trainer Daishi Ito said, “She started well last time [in the New Zealand Trophy] and got into a good rhythm in the race. She's not the type where her condition changes so much, but the warmer weather is definitely better for her.” Another filly to watch is Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) fourth Ma Puce (Mind Your Biscuits). The Yuji Yoshimoto runner was second in the G2 Daily Hai Queen Cup to subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Embroidery (Admire Mars) back in February. Hironobu Tanabe is booked to ride and the duo leaves from stall 12. The one-two finishers out of April's G3 Churchill Downs Cup, a prep for the NHK Mile Cup, have been entered in Yoshinori Itsukage's Lance Of Chaos (Silver State) and TO Racing's Arte Veloce (Maurice) who leave from stalls five and 15, respectively. Also coming off a win is Hirotsugu Inokuma's Yankee Barows, who won the G3 Falcon Stakes over Kazumi Yoshida colourbearer Mondo Dell'Amore (World Ace {Jpn}) in March. The son of Epiphaneia is drawn in stall four under Mirai Iwata. Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said of Yankee Barows, “He had a break at the farm after his last race, with this next one being his target. In recent work, the ground was bad, but he managed to run well throughout that piece of training. There's no big change with him, and I think he showed some of his potential last time in the Falcon Stakes.” The post More To ‘Admire’ In NHK Mile Cup? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When lawmakers passed the New York State budget Thursday, the package included a gift for horseplayers. Starting Sept. 1, New York will join Kentucky and Washington as the only racing states to break payoffs to the penny. However, the bill allows for nickel breakage on on-track wagers, provided all breakage proceeds are dedicated to aftercare funding. It was not immediately clear which tracks would adopt the penny breakage and which would chose the nickel-breakage package. Both NYRA and Gov. Kathy Hochul were supportive of the move to penny breakage. “The adoption of penny breakage in New York State is a win for horseplayers made possible by Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, who prioritized racing in a variety of important ways in this year's budget. NYRA looks forward to implementing this commonsense breakage reform later this year,” said NRA Vice President, Communications Pat McKenna. The movement to get tracks to revert to a penny breakage system was headed by at Pat Cummings, who, at the time, was with the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation. Kentucky was the first state to adopt the system. Cummings is now with the National Thoroughbred Alliance, a group founded by owner Mike Repole. “This is super exciting,” Cummings said. “I give full credit to (NYRA CEO and President) David O'Rourke and his team for coming back around to it when they had the ability to do so. It takes times and every state is different and different political elements are involved. It is not easy. Dave never let it drop and he was on-board from the beginning of the movement, all the way back to 2018 when the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation first went to work on this. David and his team knew when the time was right to be able to get this going again.” Cummings estimated that the switch to penny breakage will result in an extra $10 million going into the pockets of horseplayers each year. NYRA out-handles Kentucky, where penny breakage has, according to Cummings, meant an extra $7 million a year paid to the bettors. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) paid, across the board $17.96, $7.50 and $5.58 in the GI Kentucky Derby. Without penny breakage, he would have paid $17.80, $7.40 and $5.40. “We think that this will mean $10 million more in the pockets of the players and then the effect that has on churn we think can be significant,” Cummings said. The post Penny Breakage Coming To New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion Westerner has died at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland, Coolmore announced on Friday. The bay was just a few days shy of his 26th birthday. “Westerner was always a pleasure to deal with and was an old favourite of the breeders too,” said Castlehyde's Cathal Murphy. “He got you a lovely sort of horse with a good attitude that jumped well. He has been a wonderful servant for us over the years producing so many top-class horses and will be greatly missed by all the team here in Castlehyde.” Bred by the Wildenstein family's Dayton Investments in the UK, the son of Danehill was out of the Troy mare Walensee. Successful in the 2003 G1 Prix Royal-Oaks and G1 Prix du Cadran, as well as the 2004 editions of those races, the Ellie Lellouche trainee also won the 2005 G1 Gold Cup at York. His record upon his 2007 retirement to Coolmore's National Hunt arm was 28-11-9-2, and $1,885,154 in earnings. At stud, he left numerous NH top-liners, including Cole Harden, Western Warhorse and Ferny Hollow, all Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham. The post Star NH Stallion And Champion Stayer Westerner Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A competitive group of 3-year-olds have signed on for Saturday's GIII Peter Pan Stakes, headlining a quartet of graded stakes at the Big A Saturday. Attempting to rebound off a last-out fourth as the favorite in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes in April, St Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) will try to revert to the form that saw him win a pair of tests at the New York oval. Sixth going six panels at Churchill in his career debut for Norm Casse last October, the bay galloped home a 9 1/4-length winner for Rick Dutrow, Jr. in a sloppy seven-furlong test at the Big A Dec. 28. Stretching to nine furlongs for the Feb. 1 Withers Stakes, Captain Cook again won as the favorite. “We thought that he ran as good as he could,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He had everything go his way in the race and it seemed to me that he just kind of got outrun, and that is OK. He has bounced back in his training and he is doing good. We are very happy with him.” Dutrow, Jr. also sends out Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Scott Rice and breeder Judy Hicks's McAfee (Cloud Computing), who finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Captain Cook in fifth in the Wood Memorial. The son of Sataves (Uncle Mo), who is a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, also finished fifth in the one-turn mile GIII Gotham Stakes in March. Facing the sole black-type winner in the field, Chad Brown offers up two, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Hill Road (Quality Road) in addition to last-out debut winner Lordship (Gun Runner). The former, campaigned by Amo Racing USA, won his debut for trainer Adrian Murray at Leopardstown last August before failing to hit the board in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September. Let go at 61-1 for his U.S. bow on Breeders' Cup Day, the colt belied his odds to finish 4 3/4-lengths behind winner and ultimate juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) in the 1 1/16-mile test. Turned over to Brown, the colt kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a third in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8. On tracked to start in the Wood, the colt was scratched due to a fever. “He's doing great,” confirmed Brown. “He's fully recovered from the temperature and looks good. I'm pleased with him.” “It's a really strong crop so, if he's able to get to the Belmont [Stakes June 7], it will be a real challenging race, but we'll take it one race at a time.” Also, lining up for Brown, Earle Mack's homebred Lordship, who came from off the pace to annex a 1 mile 40 yard-test at Tampa Mar. 22. Dylan Davis gets the call here. “It looks like he's going to want more distance, and I thought this was a good spot to stretch him out. It's a big step for an inexperienced horse, but I do like the distance for him” Brown said. “We've taken our time with him and he's starting to come around now.” Trainer Todd Pletcher is also represented by a pair of colts here–Vassimo (Nyquist), officially credited with one win from two starts in Florida who has finished off the board in a pair of graded starts since in addition to Uncaged (Curlin), a first-out winner at Saratoga last summer who most recently won in his second start of the season when going a mile in the mud at the Big A last month. The former, owned by Team Penney Racing, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., while the latter, campaigned by WinStar Farm and Mike Repole, will have Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Stacked Stakes Lineup on Saturday Card Aqueduct's Saturday card also features a pair of Grade II events–the Ruffian and Man O' War Stakes. Last season's GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes scorer Gun Song (Gun Runner) attempts to mark her first return to the winner's circle since a victory in Parx's Cathryn Sophia Stakes in August. Only a neck behind subsequent champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Cotillion Stakes, she found herself a head behind 'Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini) in the GII Mother Goose over this track in October. Favored in her latest start, she was a well-beaten third going a mile in a Gulfstream optional claimer Mar. 13. Also in the lineup, dual graded stakes winner My Mane Squeeze (Audible) makes her first start back since finishing third in Keeneland's GI Madison Stakes in addition to last-out winner of the nine-furlong Top Flight Invitational, Headline Numbers (Gun Runner). The former is trained by Mike Maker and the latter is conditioned by Chad Brown. Multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) looks to bag his fifth career graded win in 1 3/8-mile Man O' War. Trained by Christophe Clement, the 5-year-old was last seen posting a neck score in the 1 1/2-mile GIII Pan American on Mar. 29 at Gulfstream in his seasonal bow. A winner of the 2023 GI Belmont Derby, the bay also added wins in the GI Sword Dancer and GI Turf Classic last season. “He had three weeks off after the Pan American with no breezes because it was such a strong effort off the layoff,” said assistant trainer Miguel Clement. “He's coming into this race quite well.” In the six-furlong GIII John A. Nerud, Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) cuts back from the seven-furlong GII Carter Stakes after tiring to seventh. Prior to that effort, the 5-year-old won the GIII Tom Fool Stakes Mar. 1. In addition to the racing action in New York, Churchill Downs hosts its sole graded test of the afternoon, the GIII Mamzelle Stakes. Recent Limestone Stakes winner 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) tries to add her third victory of the season, while second and third-place finishers out of that race–Dreamaway (Flameaway) and Abientot (Not This Time)–look to add to black-type wins last season. The post Peter Pan Contender Captain Cook Looks for Redemption on Saturday’s Stacked Card in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deauville, FRANCE-Talk about timing. The Arqana Breeze-Up Sale will get underway a week to the day after star graduate Ruling Court did his thing in the 2,000 Guineas. Take that result and couple it with the fact the sales results at the breeze-up sales in America and Europe have been off the charts this year, there is rightly optimism in the Deauville air. Three horses made more than a million-including Ruling Court who sold to Godolphin at €2.3 million-at the breeze-up sales last year. That figure has already been equalled between the Craven and the Doncaster breeze-up sales and it's anyone's guess as to what numbers will fly through the air when the sale gets underway here in Deauville at 11am on Saturday. Arqana boss Freddy Powell said, “All of the signals are showing that things could be good. We have been around the barns and vendors are happy. The breeze went very well and, while it is never good to throw flowers to yourself, everyone has been very complimentary. Plenty of people are coming to this sale and obviously the results at the breeze-up sales in America and in Europe have been good so let's hope that things can continue in the right way.” He added, “It was a great satisfaction seeing Ruling Court win the 2,000 Guineas and we were delighted for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. They do a lot of work at the sales and when they get a big result like this it is great for everyone. Obviously, Norman Williamson, who travels all over the world and has brought us some very nice horses year after year, is an excellent consignor and it was brilliant for him as well.” No surprise then that there were a number of familiar faces busy inspecting on the ground at Arqana this week. From Charlie Appleby to MV Magnier and Kia Joorabchian, everyone who should be here is here. And there is also talk of a number of leading buyers from Australia flying in before the sale kicks off. Another familiar face bidding the get in on the action is legendary jockey turned burgeoning bloodstock agent Olivier Peslier. The 52-year-old called time on his glittering career last year and, since hanging up his saddle, has channeled his energy into bloodstock and has been busy inspecting stock at Arqana this week. Peslier said, “I have become an owner since I retired. I have one horse with clients of mine and he is in training with Antoine de Watrigant. Indian Streak is his name and he has been second and third in his two starts for us and the plan is to run him next in June where hopefully he can win. We bought him for €34,000 at the October Yearling Sale here in 2023 and I was like 'why not?' I am really enjoying being an owner and I actually ride that horse once a week so it is nice to be able to help prepare. “I have a client that told me to come here and watch the breeze and to try to find him a horse. I arrived on Wednesday and saw every horse breeze and looked at the ones we liked with the vet. Now we wait for tomorrow. But it is very interesting. The breeze was excellent because you got to see the gallop, the stride and there were a lot of nice horses. I am very interested in bloodstock and finding new ways of finding a good horse. All my life, I could tell a horse was good by riding as a jockey, but now I have to find new ways of finding the good horses. Of course, sometimes when people are thinking about buying a horse, they will ask me to ride that horse to see what I think.” He added, “I find bloodstock agency work very interesting and I would like to step it up. It was not an easy decision to stop riding but I knew for a while that I needed to stop. So it wasn't such a sudden decision. It wasn't as if I woke up one day and said, 'okay, I need to stop'. I had thought about it for a while. But I am very happy with my life right now. I still ride out to keep myself fit and healthy and I enjoy it. Let's see how tomorrow goes.” There are also new faces in attendance. Noel Fehily and David Crosse, who are the driving forces behind the Noel Fehily Racing Club, one of the most successful National Hunt syndicates in the business, are starting to branch out into the Flat. Fehily explained, “It's our first time coming to the breeze-ups. We bought three Flat yearlings last year and now we are branching out into the breeze-ups. We are looking for something that would run before the back end of the season and that can make up into a three-year-old. There are a lot of good horses here and trade will be pretty strong but we'll give it a go.” Crosse added, “We had owners approach us about getting more involved on the Flat and our first yearlings are progressing nicely. We'll probably have our first runners within the next six weeks and it will be interesting to see how it goes. If they can go well, you'll probably see us a lot more at these breeze-up and Flat yearling sales in the future.” It must be noted that for all that last year's sale was electric at the top, there were holes in the middle tiers. Powell revealed that Arqana have put in extensive work all year to convince buyers that this is a sale worth shopping at for every level and pointed to French 1,000 Guineas hope She's Perfect as being a prime example as what can be found. He concluded, “It is very difficult to control the middle market because it really depends on the circumstances at that moment, the economy and a lot of other things. When you have a big sale with horses making a lot of money at the top, it can frighten some clients that would have been coming to work at the middle market. But this is something we have been working all year long on. We have been trying to show people that there is something for everyone here and there really is. Take for example She's Perfect, who runs in the French 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. She was bought for €50,000 outside the ring last year and is a good example of what you can get when you come and work the sale hard.” The post Familiar Faces On The Hunt For The Next Ruling Court At Arqana Breeze-Up Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GII Wood Memorial Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) will miss the upcoming GI Preakness Stakes as he continues to heal from a foot issue, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form Friday morning. Scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, the colt will now aim for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in June. “He'll be perfect for the Belmont,” Baffert told the DRF. “I couldn't prep him like I wanted to [for the Preakness]. Once he had the foot issue, you got to let those things simmer down. I didn't have enough time.” Baffert will still be represented in the Preakness starting gate by fellow 'Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The post Wood Memorial Winner Rodriguez, Scratched From Derby, Will Also Miss Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc., a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live Thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and a new, state-of-the-art training facility built in Carroll County Maryland, has named its inaugural Board of Directors, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced Friday. The MTROA, established to secure the long-term stability and modernization of Thoroughbred racing in the state, played a central role in establishing The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc. as a nonprofit operator that prioritizes the interests of horsemen, fans, and the broader Maryland community. The list of board members includes James Dresher, Jr., Tim Keefe, Chuck Tildon, Lisa Golden Hofstetter, Michael Hopkins, TK Kuegler, Jeff Cherry, Dr. Kathleen Anderson and Michael Hankin. “I could not be more thrilled that this all-star group has agreed to volunteer their deep experience and time to take the baton from MTROA and build off of the new foundation that is in place for Maryland racing as we look to the future,” said MTROA chair Greg Cross. “The Maryland Horse Breeders Association looks forward to working with the State and the new Maryland Jockey Club Board as we work to revitalize Maryland's horse industry,” added executive director Cricket Goodall. “With a new Pimlico and energized Preakness coming soon, the future looks bright.” David Richardson, Executive Director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, concurred. “The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association congratulates the newly appointed Board of Directors of The Maryland Jockey Club. This group brings together a diverse and experienced cross-section of leadership that understands the historic significance and future potential of Maryland racing.” The post Maryland Jockey Club Names Inaugural Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With new plans unveiled for a redesigned Pimlico Race Course by the Maryland Stadium Authority, Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved a demolition package for the track after next week's GI Preakness Stakes and also the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County as the state's new training center hub, according a Wednesday press release from the governor's office. “Today we take another step toward a new, reimagined Pimlico,” said Gov. Moore. “I thank my colleagues on the Board of Public Works, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, and our local community partners for securing the future of Preakness in Maryland. Together, we will continue to drive economic growth in Park Heights, throughout Baltimore, and across the entire state.” During the meeting, representatives from the Maryland Stadium Authority revealed the design concept for Pimlico. “We are excited to deliver a new, modern Pimlico for racing fans and the Park Heights community,” said Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Craig Thompson. “But this work is bigger than a racetrack, as historic and important as it is. This is about bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in state investment to Park Heights and working in partnership with MEDCO and the local community to realize a shared vision for the future.” The new Pimlico grandstand | Maryland Stadium Authority The Maryland Stadium Authority–in partnership with The Maryland Jockey Club and the Park Heights community–will oversee the construction of Pimlico. The new facility will support approximately 500 jobs and will be a year-round hub of economic activity in Park Heights. Pimlico, which currently hosts about 15 racing days per year, will become the permanent home of Maryland Thoroughbred racing with well over 100 racing days annually. The site design centers around a new clubhouse inspired by Baltimore landmarks such as the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park and the original grandstand. The new Pimlico stretch | Maryland Stadium Authority The approved acquisition of Shamrock Farm sets in motion one of the largest state investments in Carroll County in recent history, following a two-year investigation of more than eight sites across six Maryland counties. The State of Maryland will direct at least $110 million to the new training center, which will offer 328 acres to create a training facility with more than 800 boarded horses, housing for backstretch workers and a training track with dimensions identical to those at Pimlico. The Shamrock Farm acquisition is supported by the Carroll County government, which has agreed to commit $1.5 million to offset infrastructure costs. The post Gov. Moore And Co. Talk Pimlico Demo, Training Facility And Concept Art appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article