Wandering Eyes

Adding the hardware from the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park to the trophy case would be a dream realized for any horseman, but it would be a most prized possession for a Jersey guy.View the full article

Eleven months after her retirement from racing, Mel's Baby Sister made a return to Saratoga to collect her Down Broadway Award as New York's Retired Racehorse of the Year as decided by the voting public via an online poll. The prize is named in honor of the first horse to retire though the Take The Lead program back in 2013. Mel's Baby Sister race in the colors of August Dawn Farm and was trained by Melanie Giddings to a lone career victory before ultimately retiring after two unplaced efforts during the Saratoga Summer meet. Giddings joined the new owners, the Richardson Family from New Jersey, in the winner's enclosure. “She was such a spunky personality to train on the track, but she was a total sweetheart in the barn,” Giddings said. “I mean, everybody really, really loved to be around her. It's so good to see how happy she is.” “She is just a kind soul,” Kendra Richardson said about the 4-year-old grey filly. “She is going to be part of the Retired Racehorse Project. It's so important to raise awareness that these horses have so much potential beyond the racetrack.” The post Mel’s Baby Sister Crowned Retired Racehorse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Not only has he been successful in the short time he has been involved in racing, former MLB All-Star Jayson Werth has obviously fallen in love with the racing game. His infectious enthusiasm was on display all of last year as he was among a group of owners who campaigned GI Belmont S. and GI Haskell S. winner Dornoch (Good Magic). He was back in the spotlight this year with Flying Mohawk (Karakontie ({Jpn}), who finished second in the Jeff Ruby Stakes S. and made it into the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 18th. It's no wonder that Werth declared on national television that horse racing is the “most underrated sport out there.” It was a great year for Werth's Two Eight Racing LLC, but this year he has decided to try something different. Werth has put together a syndicate he calls Icon Racing Affirmed Group. He's hoping to win races, but he also wants to be a pied piper, spreading the word about the sport and bringing new owners into the game. “This sport is incredible,” he said. “I wanted to stay competitive and stay in the sport and be able to run at the highest level, but I mean, it's not an easy game to do it by yourself. Honestly, it's fun to do it with your friends and family and I just don't think that people really have any clue how great this sport is. And from an owner's perspective, I think that is the lens that is the best to look through for the sport. You can come to the track, you can bet on these horses, you can be a fan, but it's not the same experience as owning. You own a horse, you follow it, it becomes a part of your family…almost like the relationship you've had with a family pet. So to bring in new people and show them the sport, that was kind of the idea.” Werth didn't have to wait long to get his first winner with his new venture. Sacred Goddess (Kantharos) was the first Icon horse to make it the races and the New York-bred filly broke her maiden at first asking on Thursday at Saratoga. She was a $200,000 purchase at Ocala April and is also owned by Team Penney Racing and Dorsman Racing. The trainer is Jeremiah Englehart. Werth and Englehart celebrate after Sacred Goddess broke her maiden at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew “I've said this a couple of times now, there's nothing like winning, but there's nothing like winning in Saratoga,” Werth said. “This is a special place for me anyways, just with the whole Belmont thing with Dornoch. My second day ever of horse racing was spent in this place. I came up here for the Travers, four, five years ago now. I was like, 'Wow, this place is cool.' I had no idea. I'm so green and new to the sport that I had no idea this place was even here, let alone how cool it is. So to win our first race on our first time out is incredibly special. It's a testament to just the job that our team has done.” The Icon Affirmed Group has nine 2-year-olds in training and there are 27 partners in the syndicate, many of them, Werth said, are among his family and friends. “It is kind of a family affair and it's a huge responsibility for us as managers of this fund to create an experience and make memories that last forever,” Werth said. The next horse from the Icon stable to race might be Hero Declared (Maclean's Music). He is trained by Whit Beckman, who has told the Icon team he thinks that the colt is a runner. He cost $575,000 at OBS March. So far, Icon doesn't charge any management fees, but Werth said that is likely to change in the future. Sacred Goddess | Sarah Andrew Werth and his team, which includes partner Ken Kuykendall, are already working on putting together a new set of horses that will debut next year at two. This one will be called Icon Racing Big Brown Group. The stable has already acquired one horse, a filly by Jackie's Warrior from the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Werth isn't doing this just for kicks. He wants the Big Brown Group to be bigger and better than the Affirmed Group. He envisions Icon growing and acquiring the capital to spend big dollars at the sales. He wants to be in the same stratosphere as West Point Thoroughbreds, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Starlight Racing and the other top partnerships in the sport. “We'll see where we can take this,” he said. “Sky's the limit, right? I mean, we did as good as we could this year and the response has been unbelievable from the partners. Everybody's super excited. We've gotten a ton of interest.” He's ready for more. “I don't think anything's defined yet on a grand scale. But one thing's for sure, we love what we're doing,” Werth said. “We're having a lot of fun doing it now for the second year with Big Brown. And we're doing it for free. Ken and I and our partners are putting a lot of time into it for no fees, which is obviously a lot different than most partnerships. I don't know if we would do it for no fees again next year because it is a lot of work and we're coming out of pocket for a lot of stuff, which is fine. We're building a brand and building an experience. I understand why the other partnerships and syndicates do charge fees and that whole thing because it is a commitment. It's a lot of work. It's a way of life. Some of the guys that I've talked to, that's their job. That's what they do for a living. It's a labor of love for us, but I think probably next year we might have to start charging some fees just to cover some of the expenses and costs that come along with operating a stable like this.” Enter the sport and get a Belmont and Haskell winner right from the start? It's not supposed to be this easy, and Werth knows that. But he's found a sport he cannot get enough of and he sees building the Icon brand as the next logical step. “We've got people that do know the sport and have been in horse racing that want be a part of our team because we look like the guys that are having the most fun around here,” he said. The post Jayson Werth Leads Off with a Home Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CJ Stables' well-fancied ROCK IT ROB (c, 2, Maxfield–Miss Vigilance, by War Pass) got the better of an early pace duel with favored Cerro Rico (Yaupon), put that one away in upper stretch and kicked on nicely to become the fourth individual winner for his first-crop sire (by Street Sense) Friday afternoon at Saratoga. Bet into 19-10 from a 4-1 morning line, the $95,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred yearling acquisition was hustled away from gate four by Jose Ortiz and flashed slightly more pace through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.15 as they put a space on the rest of their rivals. Asserting his superiority in upper stretch, the March foal pinched a winning break into the final eighth of a mile and reported home about three lengths to the good of longshot Sunday Boy (Central Banker). Sales history: $95,000 Ylg '24 FTNAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-CJ Stables; B-Joe Fafone (NY); T-Steve Asmussen. #4 ROCK IT ROB ($5.80) and @jose93_ortiz put away foes and the 2yo son of Maxfield (@DarleyAmerica) wins on debut in Race 6 at Saratoga. Congratulations to the Steve Asmussen barn and owner CJ Stables. Bet Saratoga with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/l4do4Vzd7A pic.twitter.com/0sNpiS3Uht — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 18, 2025 The post Maxfield Colt Rock It Rob Wins Battle and War On Saratoga Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Walmac Farm's freshman sire Core Beliefs was represented by his first winner when the 2-year-old filly Nour scored on debut in a $25,000 maiden claiming race July 18 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is teaming up with Dean Dorton, a Top 100 CPA and advisory firm, to host a deep dive webinar on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its tax implications affecting Thoroughbred racing.View the full article

When Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred Burnham Square enters the starting gate for the Haskell Stakes (G1) July 19, it will mark the first time they have had a runner in Monmouth Park's showcase race since 2017.View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will collaborate with Dean Dorton, a Top 100 CPA and advisory firm, to host a deep dive on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its tax implications affecting Thoroughbred racing, the group announced Friday afternoon. Set to take place Thursday, July 24 at 1:00 p.m., the webinar will feature insight from Jen Shah and Joe Daugherty, Lexington-based certified public accountants with Dean Dorton, and the firm's equine tax leaders. The CPAs will provide specifics of the new laws and answer questions regarding topics like depreciation benefits, business tax improvements, loss limitation, and other changes. “The NTRA is pleased to collaborate once again with the team at Dean Dorton,” said Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the NTRA. “Jen Shah and Joe Daugherty's equine tax expertise is among the best in the country, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has many new tax provisions that they can help everyone better understand. Dean Dorton's team is among the best at communicating insights and benefits available to the equine community. This webinar is an invaluable resource.” To register, please go here. The post NTRA Partners with Dean Dorton to Hose Webinar on Tax Implications from O.B.B.B Act appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €290,000, 3yo, f, 12fT Field: Bay Colony (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Subsonic (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Wemighttakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}). TDN Verdict: Few will bet against Minnie Hauk completing the Oaks double in this impoverished field which doesn't deserve its Classic status. Only the well-beaten Oaks fourth Wemightakedlongway and a relative miracle stands in the way of Ballydoyle's Epsom heroine and it will be one of the biggest upsets of recent times if she can't get the job done. This race says more about the state of modern European racing than it does about the protagonists, three of which come from the long odds-on favourite's own yard and have been found wanting of late. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 14:35, GAIN RAILWAY STAKES-G2, €72,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Learntodiscover (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Power Blue (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never). TDN Verdict: This is slightly more of a poser than the farcical feature, despite having just four runners led by Ballydoyle's Queen Mary winner True Love. More macho than most colts, she looks to dominate the Marble Hill runner-up and Coventry fifth Power Blue and last month's course-and-distance maiden one-two Learntodiscover and Puerto Rico, with the latter representing Rosegreen's boys' brigade. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:05, BARBERSTOWN CASTLE SAPPHIRE STAKES-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 5fT Field: Erosandpsyche (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), The Highway Rat (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Powerful Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Grande Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus]), Songhai (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}). TDN Verdict: At last, a Group race not in name only. Mgheera won the Temple in the manner of an improved mare and has unfinished business, having been forced out of the King's Stand with a spread plate. She is taken on again by compatriot Rumstar, who was below-par when sixth at Haydock in between taking the Palace House and Sandown Sprint but the three-year-olds could hold the key. Arizona Blaze gave his all in customary style when second in the Commonwealth Cup and will be a tough nut to crack, while the Midsummer Sprint winner Powerful Nation promises to make his mark in this category. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Curragh, post time: 16:15, MICHAEL JOHN KENNEDY CURRAGH CUP-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 14f 16yT Field: Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Leinster (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), London City (Justify), Queenstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Uxmal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Comic Book (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Drawn To Dream (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Shackleton (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: A welcome drop in class for Al Riffa, despite this race mysteriously holding the same status as the Hardwicke in which he was a gallant second last month. While the trip is an unknown, the quality gap isn't with Ballydoyle's perpetually-disappointing Shackleton the most likely danger if he can pull his finger out with weight-for-age to help. It is interesting that the Niarchos Family have held on to a six-year-old gelding, but then Uxmal is a Royal Ascot winner whose form figures read well on the face of it. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Newbury, post time: 14:57, THE HALLGARTEN AND NOVUM WINES HACKWOOD STAKES-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, 6fT Field: Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Ferrous (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Jarraaf (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), King Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Russet Gold (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}). TDN Verdict: Time for the real Kind Of Blue to stand up, please. Unrecognisable this term, the sprinter seemingly destined to reach even greater heights at four is threatening to head into the abyss and unfortunately this is a category that takes no prisoners. Last year's winner Elite Status is another going the wrong way and this really could be a straightforward task for the King's Stand regular Regional, who is too hardened to give any quarter. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 17:00, GOFFS PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €119,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: Moojeed (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Tadej (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Super Soldier (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Imperial Me Cen (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Green Sense (Ire) (Starman {GB}). TDN Verdict: France has won just one of the last 11 renewals and is represented by Moojeed and Imperial Me Cen, who finished first and third when meeting over this course and distance in last month's G3 Prix du Bois. Tadej was just over five lengths ahead of Super Soldier when both ran unplaced in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes and should hold the edge once more. Green Sense is the only filly on show and comes back off an unplaced effort in the G3 Albany Stakes at the Royal meet. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, ROMANISED MINSTREL STAKES-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 7fT Field: Big Gossey (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Room Service (Ire) (Kodi Bear {GB}), Queen Of Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), East Hampton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Take out his Queen Anne no-show and Diego Velazquez remains an exciting older miler with the memory of his Meld and Solonaway wins still relatively fresh. Sharpened up over seven here, he encounters the smart filly Vespertilio who may have enjoyed a much-needed confidence boost when taking the six-furlong Listed Dash Stakes here last month. Last year's Jersey third Chicago Critic popped up again last time when taking Leopardstown's Listed Amethyst Stakes and is one of the other contenders. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Curragh, post time: 14:30, AL SHIRA'AA RACING MEADOW COURT STAKES-G3, €42,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT Field: Higher Leaves (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Azada (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Beechwood (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Indigo Five (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Naomi Lapaglia (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), Soft Winds (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Tasmania (Ger) (Australia {GB}), Uluru (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Having pulled off the notable feat of landing the 2023 Goffs Million on her racecourse debut, One Look owes connections nothing especially after winning the G3 Park Express Stakes and giving Porta Fortuna something to think about in the Ridgewood Pearl. Higher Leaves is another ready-baked Group 3 winner, having relished the Toulouse mud to take apart the Prix Fille de l'Air in November and she probably needs all of the forecast rain and a bit more. [Tom Frary]. Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 15:50, DARLEY PRIX CHLOE-G3, €73,200, 3yo, f, 9fT Field: Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Rosa Salvaje (Ire) (Maximum Security), Paix Des Dames (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), Whataboutism (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Relaxx (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Serving With Style (GB) (Mohaather {GB}). TDN Verdict: Last term's G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Cathedral has finished fourth in both starts this year and holds solid claims coming back off a career best in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes. Relaxx rates as an obvious danger and returns off a clear-cut success and black-type breakthrough here in last month's Listed Prix de Bagatelle. Serving With Style has failed to fire in two outings since running second in last term's G2 Rockfel Stakes while Rosa Salvaje and Paix Des Dames need to step up on previous black-type efforts. The unexposed Whataboutism is an interesting contender and will bid to provide Andre Fabre with a record sixth renewal. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 17:35, PRIX MESSIDOR-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, 8fT Field: Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Ice Max (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Vertbois (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Caramelito (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Siam Paragon (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}), Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}). TDN Verdict: April's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau victor Ridari ran with credit when unplaced in both G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club and has an opportunity to regain the winning thread here. He holds fellow sophomore Dos Mukasan on Poulains form. Alcantor, Marhaba Ya Sanafi and Siam Paragon are consistent performers at this level and lead the home defence. The former, along with G2 Prix du Muguet runner-up Vertbois, represents the Andre Fabre stable seeking a record-extending 14th edition. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany, post time: 14:05, GROSSER PREIS DER BBF GRUPPE – FURSTENBERG-RENNEN-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 12fT Field: Ami De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Padre Palou (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}), Weltbeste (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Diamond Crown (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), Sweet Summer (Ger) (Waldgeist {GB}), Zauberkonig (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Zauberkonig is the lone sophomore in the field and seeks compensation coming back off a hampered 10th in this month's G1 Deutsches Derby. Padre Palou holds Alpenjager on a line through Flatten The Curve while Weltbeste finished in front of Diamond Crown and Sweet Summer when runner-up in last month's Listed Hamburger Stuten Cup. Ami De Vega brings Scandinavian form to the table and is undefeated in two black-type starts this year. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Irish Oaks Is Minnie Hauk’s To Lose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's card at Monmouth Park features a 14-race card which is highlighted by six stakes–five of them graded–including the Oceanport oval's sophomore showpiece, the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes. This year's renewal of the race has drawn this season's GI Preakness winner Journalism (Curlin), who is campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Stable. A mighty good horse before he ever embarked on the Triple Crown, the $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase won four of five starts heading to the Run for the Roses, including the GI Santa Anita Derby. Second to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in both the Derby and most recently in the GI Belmont, the bay had anything but an easy time of it in the Preakness. Shoved pretty hard while looking for position in the late stages of Pimlico's Classic, Journalism's heart of a lion refused to give up, and he got up to peg GIII Lexington winner Gosger (Nyquist) in the final strides. Explaining the what the connections were looking for in order to feel confident enough to allow Journalism to return east, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partner's Aron Wellman explained, “We looked at his appetite and how he was handling the feed tub, his energy around the barn and at the track. And of course, when we started to put him back into a breeze pattern, how he responded to his rider and then when we put him in company last weekend.” Since the Belmont, Journalism has recorded three published works, including his most recent a bullet six-furlong move in 1:12 (1/7) at Santa Anita July 12. “In these last three weeks he's really thrived and excelled,” confirmed Wellman. “He told us that he's ready to get back on a plane and got across the country to run in the Haskell.” Gosger schools in the paddock at Monmouth | Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO While the former will likely take much of the money on race day, the latter looms a worthy rival shortening up a tad and if he can take another step forward. “We knew we weren't going to make the [Kentucky] Derby trail, so we pointed him to the Preakness and it nearly worked out,” said Gosger's trainer Brendan Walsh earlier this week. “I still don't think we've got anywhere near the bottom of the horse.” Whenever one thinks of the Haskell, it's hard not to think of trainer Bob Baffert, who has already won nine renewals of the race and looks for his 10th victory Saturday with 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time). “I have been looking for my 10th Haskell for a few years now,” quipped Baffert when asked about his record number of scores in the race. “He broke his maiden and we ran him right back and then brought him back two weeks later in the Preakness. He had a little rough start, didn't get away well and found himself behind horses, he'd never been in that situation. Then he had that little scrap there turning for home, but he still ran on. I think if he didn't get in that scrap, he could have been third or closer, but he came out of it well. He's a big strong horse and he's starting to grow into his frame. He's moving forward.” Drawn in post 8, Baffert explains that the start is important for the big, developing colt. “You want him to break well and get into a nice rhythm, that's the key,” he said. “He'll be forwardly placed somewhere.” The only other Grade I winner in the eight-horse Haskell field is Burnham Square (Liam's Map), last seen finishing a close-up second behind East Avenue in the GIII Matt Winn at Churchill Downs June 8. Victorious in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull and fourth in the GII Fountain of Youth, the Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred nosed out favored East Avenue in the GI Blue Grass Stakes before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby. According to trainer Ian Wilkes, the gelding is expected to arrive at Monmouth Friday morning. Drawing what has proven to be the golden rail in the Haskell, BBN Racing's Bracket Buster (Vekoma) enters the fray off an emphatic seven-length score in a sloppy edition of the Pegasus Stakes on the Jersey Shore June 14. Trained by Vicky Oliver, the colt will be accompanied by Hall of Fame trainer John Velazquez. On Saturday undercard, Monmouth also features the GII United Nations, headed by Get Smokin (Get Stormy) who will attempt to repeat in the 11-furlong turf test. Now 8-years old, he is co-owned by Ironhorse Stable, Blackridge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings, and Saratoga Seven Racing Partners. A winner of two of five starts in 2024, including Woodbine's 12-furlong GIII Valedictory Stakes in December, the chestnut was third in his only 2025 start to date in the 1 1/16-mile GII Eclipse Stakes over Woodbine's main track May 31. The gelding is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who won the 2016 United Nations with eventual Breeders' Cup Mile winner and Turf Male champion World Approval. “Mark has done a fantastic job, an unbelievable job, really an amazing job with him. We really let the horse tell us what he wants to do,” said Harlan Malter of Ironhorse Racing Stable Stables. “He had two tough races last year where we got some conditions we didn't like and the setup we didn't like. He threw in two 'under' performances so you say to yourself 'it's his 7-year-old year,' and then you ask, 'is he telling you something?' Dorth Vader lords over the Ogden Phipps | Sarah Andrew “But Mark said the horse is doing fantastic and he wants to run. So, we listened and ran him in the Valedictory. It was full-on, windswept giant snowflake snow blizzard and he went a mile-and-a-half on the lead in that race and was as happy as he could be. He finished up the year full of run.” “We've given him his time and Mark has done a great job bringing him around. He's 8, but he doesn't want to do anything but run.” Rounding out Monmouth graded roster is the GIII Matchmaker Stakes, GIII Monmouth Cup and the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes, headed by GI Alabama winner Power Squeeze (Union Rags) and last out Ogden Phipps scorer Dorth Vader. Spa Saturday Features CCA Oaks Immersive works at the Spa | Sarah Andrew A trio of graded tests for fillies head Saturday's card at Saratoga, including the nine-furlong GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Leading the charge is last year's juvenile champion filly Immersive (Nyquist), undefeated in four starts in 2024, including the GI Spinaway, GI Alcibiades and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. In her sole start this season, the Godolphin homebred was a neck back in second to Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) in Churchill's Monomoy Stakes June 14. “She's doing very well,” said trainer Brad Cox, who won this race with Monomoy Girl [2018] and Wet Paint [2023]. “She needed her last run in the Monomoy Girl. She ran a great race and galloped out well. I feel like she's every bit as good this year as she was last year. I really think she'll move forward off that run.” Godolphin has won this event with Jilbab [2002], Music Note [2008], It's Tricky [2011], Questing [2012] and Wet Paint [2023]. Mark Casse also comes into this well armed, courtesy of this season's GI Acorn and GI Ashland scorer La Cara (Street Sense). The Tracy Farmer-owned filly finished ninth in a soggy renewal of the GI Kentucky Oaks. La Cara drills at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew “She likes her job and she loves to train,” said trainer Mark Casse. “She didn't like the slop at Churchill Downs [in the Kentucky Oaks], but before her last race [in the Acorn], Dylan [Davis] said to me, 'this is a different type of slop.' She handled it great.” Immersive, who will be ridden by Manny Franco, is listed as the 8-5 morning line favorite, while La Cara was installed the early 2-1 second choice. Also featured on Saratoga's Saturday card is the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt and the GIII Caress Stakes. In other stakes action this weekend, Del Mar hosts the GII San Clemente Stakes Saturday, while Saratoga presents the six-furlong GII Honorable Miss Stakes Sunday. Also Sunday, Woodbine has a pair of graded tests scheduled, the GII bet365 Connaught Cup and the GII Canadian Stakes. The post Sophomore Class Converges on Monmouth for Talent-Stacked Haskell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Minnie Hauk appears to face a straightforward task against six inferior rivals as she bids to follow up last month's Epsom Oaks (G1) success in the July 19 Irish Oaks (G1) at the Curragh. View the full article

Walmac Farm's freshman sire Core Beliefs was represented by his first winner when the 2-year-old filly Nour scored on debut in maiden $25,000 claiming race July 18 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, (S), Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($45,000), 7-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.12, fm, 3 lengths. SHOOT IT TRUE (f, 3, Munnings–To the Moon Alice, by Malibu Moon) became a 'TDN Rising Star' when she debuted at Keeneland on the main track for Wesley Ward last April. Fourth against the boys at Churchill in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes last May, she took some time off before returning in New York to win the state-bred Notebook Stakes in her final start as a juvenile. Off again for several months, Ward brought his 'Rising Star' back to Keeneland for her 3-year-old unveiling in April where she ran a disappointing sixth after fading from the lead going 6 1/2 furlongs. On the cutback Friday and making her turf debut off a near-bullet drill on the grass training track July 4, Shoot It True showed a new dimension in rating back under a confident Frankie Dettori who got his filly to settle mid pack into the far turn. Once in open air for the stretch, Dettori gave a look each direction and Shoot It True showed off an impressive turn of foot to come away with a geared-down three-length win. To the Moon Alice saw her New York-bred son of Street Sense bring $120,000 at SARAUG last year and she reported a colt by Gunite this season. Sales History: $340,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-3-0-0, $152,511. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Ice Wine Stable and Smart Choice Stable; B-Old Tavern Farm LLC (NY); T-Wesley A. Ward. Shoot It True powers away to win R2 at Saratoga under @frankiedettori for trainer Wesley Ward! pic.twitter.com/BINZJ3z9qH — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 18, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Shoot It True Just As Devastating On Turf At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After Book'em Danno won the True North Stakes (G3), Mark Rubenstein and his partners in Atlantic Six Racing have brought the 4-year-old back to Saratoga for the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2). The field also includes grade 1 winners Nakatomi and Mullikin.View the full article

Bruton Street-US's Proven Innocent will look to double up on top-level stakes victories for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher in the July 23 A.P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-G1), a 2 3/8-mile steeplechase handicap at Saratoga Race Course.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 an offspring of Gossamer Wings. 1.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT ACTION (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the third foal out of the G2 Queen Mary runner-up Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), whose second is the current Derby and Irish Derby hero Lambourn by Galileo's Australia. Wayne Lordan is on board the newcomer, with Ryan Moore on the stable's other Frankel colt, New Zealand, perhaps remembering how lethargic Action's half-sibling was in 2024. This son of the Albany winner and dual Group 1-placed Different League (Dabirsim) was one of the yard's selected for the ever-important course-and-distance Barronstown Stud Maiden, which as you would expect has already been boosted. 4.10 Newbury, Novice, £40,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT GOLD PENNY (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) is the 11th foal out of Godolphin's illustrious broodmare Gonbarda (Lando), with the dual Group 1 winner responsible for Pivotal's heavyweight Farhh and fellow top-level performer Racing History. With John and Thady Gosden, the homebred is the sole newcomer meeting four previous winners and the triple-placed stablemate Glistening (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Juddmonte's daughter of the G2 Sapphire Stakes winner Soffia (Kyllachy). The post Lambourn’s Frankel Half-Brother Action Springs To It At The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Irish Oaks Weekend kicks off at the Curragh on Saturday where Epsom heroine Minnie Hauk appears to have been handed a straightforward task in the feature contest at 3.40pm. There is an interesting undercard at Irish racing's HQ and here are five things to look out for. Cult Hero Heads The Weights In The Scurry Big Gossey (Gutaifan) has developed something of a cult following in recent times, which was evidenced by the reception he received when out-battling Camille Pisaaro to land a 10th career success in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh earlier this year. A diminutive grey, he gives credence to the saying, 'it's not about the size of the dog in the fight, but what's important is the size of the fight in the dog.' Big Gossey is one of Irish racing's over-achievers and his heart-on-the-sleeve approach to his races is what endears him to the public. Any rain would aid his chances of landing the €100,000 Scurry Handicap off top weight for trainer Charles O'Brien and jockey Robert Whearty. If he manages to be successful, there will be unrivalled scenes in the Curragh parade ring. Dylan Browne McMonagle To Stake Claim For Jockeys' Title? The appointment of Colin Keane as Juddmonte's number one rider has naturally caused something of a shake-up in the Irish weighroom with the reigning champion being required across the water in Britain and in some cases France more regularly than before. Keane is still the bookies' favourite at 5-4 to retain his title and Billy Lee, who trails the six-time champion by nine winners, was dealt a hammer blow to his bid for a breakthrough championship when breaking his collarbone in a spill at Limerick last Saturday. Chris Hayes has since closed the gap and sits second on 42 winners, which is eight behind Keane, but it is Dylan Browne-McMonagle who could be overlooked in what is developing into a four-horse race for the jockeys' championship in Ireland. Not only does Browne McMonagle have the firepower of Joseph O'Brien's stable behind him but, crucially, he has become an important cog in Aidan O'Brien's wheel in recent times, often riding third or fourth strings in big races. One could envisage a scenario developing whereby if Browne McMonagle was in contention for a championship, such support from Ballydoyle could be heightened towards the end of the season. He could be a formidable challenger were that to happen. As it stands, the Donegal native trails Keane by 10 winners and has a number of interesting rides on Oaks Weekend. Odds of 5-2 about him clinching what could develop into a fascinating jockeys' championship does not look a bad bet at all. O'Brien To Dominate The Feature Races The Group 2 Railways Stakes has only managed to attract four runners, which is most disappointing and fits in with the theme of the weekend given Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (Frankel) does not appear to have been faced with any meaningful opposition in the Irish equivalent. True Love (No Nay Never) can be expected to play her part in what is likely to be another big weekend for Ballydoyle by beating the colts in the Railway Stakes. She looked smart when breaking her maiden in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and can become the first filly to win this race since Jim Bolger's Eva Luna back in 1994. Slattery Bidding To Maintain Power-Packed Run Of Form We may be only halfway through the season but Andy Slattery is bearing down on his best ever tally of winners and Powerful Nation (Sioux Nation), a horse the trainer described as one of the best he has ever had through his hands, has an opportunity to shine in the Group 2 Sapphire Stud Stakes. Slattery has recorded 20 winners this season – which is just 10 less than the career-high 30 wins that was achieved last year – and is holding his own in ninth spot in the domestic trainers' standings. Powerful Nation has contributed to what is becoming a memorable year for the stable when he landed the Listed Midsummer Sprint at Cork and the style in which that success was achieved would suggest the three-year-old can make the jump into Group company. The Sapphire Stakes is an up-to-scratch renewal, with British raiders Rumstar and Mgheera of particular interest, but Powerful Nation is a colt on the up and can harden his reputation as a sprinter going places for an in-form outfit. O'Sullivan Supplies Much-Needed Colour In The Curragh Cup Given Aidan O'Brien has won the Group 2 Curragh Cup with classy stayers like Flag Of Honour, Septimus, Ernest Hemmingway and more, all eyes will presumably be on Ryan Moore's mount Shackleton (Camelot), However, the Ross O'Sullivan-trained Drawn To Dream provides some much-needed intrigue to the weekend in that 1m6f contest. For starters, the daughter of German sire Iquitos was sourced by Ringfort Stud boss Derek Veitch for just 60,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year. She has already gone some way in repaying that investment when gaining valuable black-type when chasing home Goodie Two Shoes at odds of 50-1 in a Group 3 at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Punters won't expect such fanciful odds about the grey on Saturday and she provides some colour to a race that also features dual Group 1 winner Al Riffa. The post Five Things To Look Out For At The Curragh On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Saturday at Saratoga, Ellis Park and Del Mar. Saturday, July 19, 2025 Saratoga 1, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2f, 12:35 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Atenea (Beau Liam), OBSAPR, 50,000, :10 1/5 C-Little Farm Equine, agent; B-Pro Racing Stable LLC Ellis 3, $100k, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:48 p.m. Land of the Free (Girvin), OBSAPR, 250,000, :10 C-Wavertree Stables Inc (C Dunne), agt; B-Sport of Kings Wicked Gun (Gun Runner), OBSAPR, 550,000, :10 1/5 C-Paul Sharp, agent; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Saratoga 7, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 3:54 p.m. S S Quality (Essential Quality), OBSAPR, 150,000, :10 C-Mayberry Farm, agent; B-Diriyah Bloodstock Stradale (Yaupon), OBSAPR, 1,300,000, :9 4/5 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-K S I Del Mar 1, $100k, 2yo, f, (S), 5f, 5:00 p.m Violets Song (Violence), OBSAPR, 75,000, :21 1/5 C-Pick View LLC, agent; B-Jet Horse LLC, Peter Miller, agent Del Mar 6, $100k, 2yo, f, 5f, 7:30 p.m. Dats Ms. Blame (Blame), FTMMAY, 145,000, G C-Niall Brennan Stables, agent; B-Dat Racing Stable Thank You India (Practical Joke), OBSAPR, 140,000, :10 C-Niall Brennan Stalbes, agent; B-California Here We Come The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: Saturday, July 19, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-SAR, 100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:54 p.m. The most expensive member of Yaupon's heralded first crop, STRADALE was a $1,300,000 OBS April grad for Kaleem Shah's KSI after matching the sale's fastest furlong breeze time of :9.4 from the consignment of de Meric Sales, who purchased him initially as a yearling for $285,000 at FTKJUL. He is the first foal out of Twitterpated, a mare who is a full-sister to GI Matriarch Stakes winner Stormy Lucy. Steve Asmussen trains this firster who comes in on a steady diet of strong works. Just to the outside, another pricey member of this Spendthrift stallion's first crop debuts in Emphasis (Yaupon) for Todd Pletcher. A $625,000 Keeneland September grad for Repole Stable, the colt is out of GI Mother Goose Stakes runner up Connie and Michael who has already produced GSW Curly Jack (Good Magic) and MSP Fannie and Freddie (Malibu Moon). Drawn widest of the field, Our Magical Moon (Good Magic) is a Live Oak Plantation runner for Mark Casse who sold for $500,000 at FTSAUG last year. He's a half-brother to GSW Dixie Serenade (Uptowncharlybrown) who has already produced a stakes winner in Dixieland Belle (More Than Ready). TJCIS PPS 3rd-ELP, 100K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:48 p.m. Opening day at Ellis Park features Roguishness (Into Mischief), a $560,000 KEESEP grad for Cherie DeVaux. First dam Daisy, who won the GIII Tempted Stakes, has also produced MSW Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro). He draws inside of Wicked Gun (Gun Runner) who brought $550,000 at OBS April for Winchell Thoroughbreds. He's out of a stakes-winning full-sister to GSW/GISP Money'soncharlotte (Mizzen Mast). TJCIS PPS 2nd-MTH, 52.5K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6f, 12:27 p.m. Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher will ship Noticeable (Curlin) down from Saratoga to Monmouth. This $650,000 KEESEP grad is a daughter of MGSW Tiger Moth. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Plenty Of Yaupon Power On Display At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William Buick will have fewer easier rides than he enjoyed on Godolphin's Wise Approach (Mehmas) as the TDN Rising Star dispatched his rivals in Friday's Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury. Off the mark in April's Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes before disappointing at York and rebounding to be second in the Norfolk last month, the half-brother to Perfect Power cruised from behind to seize control a furlong out and inflict a four-length beating on Rock On Thunder (Night Of Thunder). “He ran a good race at Ascot, when he was on a different side of the track to the winner, but was more comfortable back at six,” Buick said of the 1m gns purchase, whose odds of 11-10 looked big after this command performance. “I like what he did there, it was a nice smooth performance and he looked a good deal better than the opposition there. I think he will develop–he's a scopey horse and he was very natural from early on, but I do think he'll keep getting better.” Far too good! Wise Approach blows his rivals away with a facile success in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at @NewburyRacing!@godolphin | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/Nn93p9MHzn — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 18, 2025 Wise Approach is the fourth foal out of Sagely (Frozen Power), whose first was the aforementioned Perfect Power who captured the Middle Park, Prix Morny and Royal Ascot's Commonwealth Cup and Norfolk. Also responsible for the Chesham third Golden Mind (Galileo Gold), she is kin to the Listed-placed Sagaciously whose son Epic Poet (Lope De Vega) was a Listed scorer who placed four times at Group level including when runner-up in the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap. Sagely is also a granddaughter of Saga D'Ouilly (Linamix), the full-sister to the Arc hero Sagamix and half to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Highest Honor) and to the formidable broodmare Shastye (Danehill). Under the latter are the high-class Galileo trio of Japan, Mogul and Secret Gesture. Sagely's yearling is a full-sister to the winner. IRE-INCENTIVE – IT PAYS TO BUY IRISH ROSE BOWL STAKES-Listed, £45,000, Newbury, 7-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.93, g/f. 1–WISE APPROACH (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire) 1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire) 2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre 3rd Dam: Saga D'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr) TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (1,000,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Tally Ho Stud; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £25,520. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 4-2-1-0, $94,410. *1/2 to Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, $928,832. 2–Rock On Thunder (Ire), 128, c, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Boston Rocker (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (380,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & Skymarc Farm; T-Kevin Ryan. £9,675. 3–Amorim (GB), 128, c, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Stellarta (GB), by Sakhee's Secret (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE; 500,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud; T-George Boughey. £4,842. Margins: 4, 2, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.10, 3.00, 4.00. Also Ran: Do Bronxs (Ire), Kolkata Knight (Ire). Scratched: First Legion (Ire), Nuevo Slovo (Ire). The post Smooth Rose Bowl Win For Godolphin’s Millionaire Wise Approach appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Excellent Truth in the Diana Stakes at the Spa. Excellent Truth Captures Diana Crown Resolute Racing's Excellent Truth joined the ranks of Making Waves with a head victory in the GI Diana Stakes at Saratoga for Chad Brown on July 12 (video). Bred by Sandra Russell, she was making her third US start, after seconds in the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland and the GI Just A Game Stakes in April and June, respectively. Originally a €52,000 Goffs Orby yearling when picked up by former owner Montgomery Motto, Excellent Truth won the G3 Prix Psyche at two and a listed stakes at Deauville at three for Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. She signed off her European career with a second in the G1 Prix Rothschild before making €1.6 million at last year's Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale on the bid of Stamford Bloodstock and Meridian Bloodstock on behalf of John Stewart's operaiton. The half-sister to G3 Premio Regina (Italian 1000 Guineas) third Memo De L'Alguer (Mehmas) is followed by a 3-year-old colt by Dandy Man, and the placed buzz horse Armstrong (Starman). Out of Moment Of Truth (Teofilo), herself a half-sister to the G1 Criterium International winner Zafisio (Efisio), the mare is a relation to the classy Group 1-winning duo of Cezanne (Ajdal) and Colorspin (High Top). Tally-Ho Stud's Cotai Glory, who stands for €15,000 this year, has sired nine winners from 16 runners (56%) in America. His trio of stakes winners there are anchored by the Diana Stakes luminary. What a race!! Excellent Truth (IRE) takes the G1 Diana Stakes at #Saratoga in a thrilling finish over heavily favored She Feels Pretty for trainer Chad Brown's 9th Diana win in the last 10 years!! Congratulations to all connections! pic.twitter.com/MqLW2Wm0QS — Equibase (@Equibase) July 12, 2025 No Nay Never Gelding Thriving At Saratoga Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable's Innate (No Nay Never) graduated at Saratoga on July 16 (video). Bred by Moni Market Breeder, the gelding was making his third lifetime start and second in New York. Now trained by Philip Antonacci, the bay was a €90,000 Goffs Orby yearling who caught the eye of MM Bloodstock. He debuted with a second in the colours of EuroLindy Syndicate for trainer Joseph O'Brien at Fairyhouse in July of 2023. Switched Stateside, he was fourth in the Listed Awad Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meet in October of that year and was missing until Wednesday's effort. His year-younger full-brother Amangani is a winner, while his winning dam, the Silver Frost mare La Naturel, foaled a colt by Awtaad this year. Under the second dam is G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes hero and sire Charm Spirit. Coolmore's No Nay Never has an 58% strike rate in the US, with 64 of his 110 runners finding the winner's circle. Priced at €125,000 this term, the 14-year-old's 10 stakes winners include GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Meditate, as well as multiple graded winner Nay Lady Nay, and GIII Palm Beach Stakes hero Vitalogy. Innate upsets at 20/1 in R2 at Saratoga under @RSantana_jr for trainer Philip Antonacci! pic.twitter.com/ATTdhC9KOa — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 16, 2025 The post Making Waves: The Truth Will Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At the close of the 2024/2025 Hong Kong season, total racing wagering turnover was HK$138.85 billion (approx. £13.2b), a rise of 3% on the previous season. Overall, there were 88 race meetings comprised of 847 races and 393 overseas simulcast races. Hong Kong races attracted record commingling turnover of HK$31.76 billion, a 10.1% increase on the 2023/24 season. In total, 71 overseas races that had been in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' (IFHA) Top 100 at least once during the previous three years were simulcast, up from 61 the previous season. Overall, turnover on simulcasting (including World Pool commingling) for the season was up by 2.3% to HK$13.11 billion. This season, the number of World Pool races increased from 258 to 296 including, for the first time, all 12 of the Club's Group 1 races as well as top races from New Zealand. Commingling turnover into the World Pool (excluding Club races) recorded an 8.4% increase over last season. From an attendance perspective, over 1.7 million people attended the races, including a record 195,786 Mainland tourists, plus international visitors. This was a significant 110% increase on the 93,000 Mainland tourists who visited last season. Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), the latest Horse of the Year, led a talented brigade of Hong Kong runners, with Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) also earning season-end titles. John Size earned a record 13th Hong Kong trainers' championship and Zac Purton took his eighth jockeys' title. Next season, there will be a Group 1 prize-money increase to a record HK$1.74 billion. The Club will offer record prize-money totalling HK$208 million in these races in the 2025/26 season. For FWD Champions Day, prize-money for the FWD QEII Cup will rise to HK$30 million, while the Chairman's Sprint Prize will increase to HK$24 million, taking the total prize-money for the three Group 1 races to a total of HK$78 million. For the international day in December, the increases apply to the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK$28m), and the Longines Hong Kong Vase (HK$26m), while the Longines Hong Kong Mile stays on HK$36 million and the Longines Hong Kong Cup will be run for prize-money of HK$40 million, taking the total Group 1 prize-money purse to HK$130 million. On average, 440 horses were trained at Conghua Racecourse (CRC) this season, with 219 horses from 19 stables notching 302 wins, an increase of 17.7% and 24.3% respectively on last season. The HKJC is also preparing for the start of regular meetings at the CRCC in October 2026, with the iconic grandstand nearing completion. HKJC's CEO, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said, “It's been an amazing season, with outstanding performances by top horses that have truly captured the imagination of fans not just in Hong Kong but around the world. Since the Policy Address of HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, we have been able to attract even more Mainland and overseas tourists, who have come to our racecourses in record numbers to experience our city's signature sport for themselves. These achievements strengthen the position of Hong Kong racing as a world-class sport and entertainment experience. They have also made an important contribution to Hong Kong tourism as well as underlining Hong Kong's vital role as a centre for East-West exchange.” The post Hong Kong Season-End Turnover Rises 3% To £13.2 Billion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

David Probert is the latest British-based rider to be granted a licence to ride in Hong Kong. The Welshman has been given a part-season jockey's licence which runs from from July 17 to February 17, 2026. The 37-year-old Probert, who has won 1,678 wins across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the UAE, will join Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley, who have committed to riding full-time in Hong Kong. It was also recently announced that Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote has been given a part-season licence for 2025/26. The new Hong Kong racing season begins at Sha Tin on September 7. The post Probert Granted Hong Kong Licence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The TDN always strives to remain scrupulously non-partisan and confines its occasional attention to the world of politics to such opportunities and concerns that directly affect the Thoroughbred industry. Recently, for instance, we spent time with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he stepped in to support the campaign against decoupling in that state. A few days ago, Chris McGrath was given the opportunity to sit down with the Governor of the Bluegrass State itself, Andy Beshear, a figure increasingly on the national radar as a potential White House contender in 2028. Here are their exchanges on Governor Beshear's love of the horse, the importance of our industry to his home state, his views of legislation that appears to contain both significant advantages and anxieties for investors in Thoroughbreds, and the lessons that a Democrat Governor of a traditionally red state might take forward on a wider stage. Chris McGrath: Horse country: for you, it's not just conceptual. I believe your own family and upbringing exposed you to horses. Gov. Beshear: All my first jobs were around horses. I mucked stalls before school and through the summers. I taught horseback riding lessons. I even ran a camp in my teens. My mom is an equestrian. My brother's a vet in Virginia. My daughter is an eventer. So half of our family spend every moment with horses and I guess the other half of us are governors. Chris McGrath: And do you feel that kind of exposure gave you a connection to rural America? Gov. Beshear: Absolutely. It's the hard work that occurs on a farm, but then there's also the love and the comfort of the animal itself. I'm comfortable around horses. I know what I'm doing around them, and I also appreciate them. You know, when you spend that much time taking care of these animals, you get to know them on a very different level, and there's something really special about horses and how they bond and connect with human beings. I still remember the last horse that I owned, and I would go off to college and I'd come back and it would actually follow me around in the field. Only one I've had that would do that though. Had one that if you didn't have food would try to kick you. Chris McGrath: Food always helps. I don't know if you're as comfortable with bourbon, but these are our signature industries, right? And I'm sure you would say that anyone who holds your office, any form of leadership in Kentucky, you need to be an advocate for horseracing. Governor Andy Beshear at Churchill Downs for the Derby | Getty Images Gov. Beshear: Absolutely. The horse industry is so critical. It's over 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kentucky, billions of dollars in our economy, and it draws people in. And when you think of the horse industry, I actually think it's the intersection between agriculture, and now gaming, which is so important in it, and tourism. And for us to maximize it, what at least I try to do from a leadership perspective in Kentucky is to make sure we're maximizing each piece. It's understanding that it's farmers who bale the hay that are also a part of this industry. Family farms are supported by it. On the gaming side, how it's important to make sure that if that's what's bringing people in, we have a way at that track or at that parlor to introduce them to the sport itself. And finally, that tourism piece. I think bourbon is a good example of how you can develop a year-round booming tourism industry around something that people are passionate about. The Bourbon Trail 20 years ago was hardly a thing, and today it is one of the biggest draws in the country. So when you look at what Kentucky Downs is doing with their hotel and the attractions that they're putting up, when you look at what the Derby Museum means for Churchill, it means that those are year-round draws that bring people into the Commonwealth. Chris McGrath: And when we speak of advocacy among political leadership, that extends across the divide. And a Republican congressman has worked very hard to get a great concession as part of this bill. And obviously, when everything is bundled together, it's going to contain good things and bad things. So I'm sure you welcome the depreciation scheme's extension, but there are other aspects of that bill that I know you find concerning. Gov. Beshear: Well, there are some parts of that bill that help certain industries in Kentucky, and so I'm glad that they're there, but this is the reason that you don't put everything into one big bill, because for every good thing for an industry in that bill, the trillion-dollar-plus cut to health care is going to lay off 20,000 Kentucky health care workers. It's going to boot 200,000 people off their health care coverage. It may close up to 35 rural hospitals which are the second-largest employers in their communities and what that means is you're going to have fewer people that have the dollars in their pockets to be able to go to the tracks, to be able to go to the races. So understanding the health of the economy is important for the horse racing industry. It's important for people to be doing well, and we don't want to sacrifice the number of fans, the number of people that could be out there, you know, in a giant bill because it has some things that are good. Gov. Andy Beshear meets storm victims in Pikeville, Kentucky last February | Getty Images Chris McGrath: And it also contains elements of concern with the gambling taxation. Gov. Beshear: It does, and then if you look at another side, the SNAP cuts are going to hurt some of the very farmers that bale the hay and support the industry. They're getting hit, especially family farmers, so badly over the last six months. You saw the tariffs, which hurt the exports of especially soybeans. You see the end of USAID, which was just a big client, a big export source for farmers, especially in Kentucky. you see the end of the farm-to-cafeteria program, and now you see this SNAP cuts will again be one less ultimate client for them. And so I think the horse industry is also served by having more family farms that aren't under the pressure to sell out to the bigger commercial farms that are less interested in supplying the horse industry. Chris McGrath: You know horses, you know horsemen: you know they can be hard-headed, if not cynical. In big picture terms, your anxiety is that with tax breaks for the wealthy and so on, the emphasis is all wrong. But they're going to say to you, 'Well, guess what? My clients are wealthy people. This is good for my business.' Gov. Beshear: Well, I think it's whether you put the industry first or other interests first. You look at how tariffs are hitting this industry. You look how they're going about immigration enforcement, which hurts this industry, you know, I believe that border security is national security. I believe we have to enforce the laws of the land, but how we enforce them shows our humanity. And so what I think the big influential players in this industry need to do is be vocal leaders on fixing our immigration problem. It's not, at the end, a political problem. It's a math problem. It's that we don't have enough visas or enough slots in our work programs to fill the jobs out there that Americans otherwise aren't going to fill. And what that does is create a demand for other labor. And we can ultimately fix this, get beyond the turmoil of the day, but we've got to sit down, be reasonable, and address the math. And I think horse farm owners could do a lot. I think that other industry players could do a lot, and they've typically been people that the very powerful people in Washington will listen to. But it'd be nice to not be having some of these issues every couple years or every eight years, but to actually get it right and to be driven by the math. Now what that does mean is all the industries out there that we see in hospitality and agriculture are going to have to be willing to pay the wages that come along with those programs. Chris McGrath: Now our community, like the whole state, embraces people of many different opinions. And we're not here to tell them who's right and who's wrong, or that there's too much yelling going on, but what we have in our community is something that draws us all together, our love of the horse. And that keeps people with radically different opinions, good friends. That's something that we don't see enough on a wider scale. And the big question for this country and for the world, it seems to me, is how can we all do a bit more of that? Gov. Andy Beshear at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, DC | Getty Images Gov. Beshear: I think what we have to do is put the goal first. We've got to care more about the horse industry than our political party. We've got to care more the country than our party. We've got to care about solving problems, who gets points for wins and losses, and it can't be a zero-sum game. A good thing that happens for the country can't just be viewed as a win for one party and a loss for another. And when we address the challenges in the horse industry, it can't just be one group that's gaining and another group that is losing. What we've ultimately got to do is lift the whole industry up and make sure that everyone does better. And I think when you approach problems that way, especially with a communal love for something like the horse, or I really wish we could get Congress to say we love the United States so much that we're going to do the hard things and we're going to compromise and we are going to find common ground. Because in the end it's not important that we move right or left. It's important that we move forward. And most times those forward steps aren't about politics at all. Now I believe that when most people wake up in the morning, they're not thinking about their party. They're thinking about their job, their next doctor's appointment, the roads and bridges they drive every day, the school they drop their kids off at, and whether they feel safe in their communities. And when you find those things, in the core parts of the equine industry you pull out, most of them don't just benefit one group or another group. If done correctly, they can benefit everybody. Chris McGrath: To coin a phrase, united we stand? Gov. Beshear: That's right, and even think about the Pledge of Allegiance. In the Pledge of Allegiance, we pledge to a flag and to a country, and then we pledge to keep our country indivisible. And so I think we violate that pledge when we try to divide people, when we try to create an us-versus-them. And what I've loved to see in the horse industry, especially recently, is embracing new audiences and new people. I think about Griffin Johnson and Sandman introducing horse racing to 10 million 20-somethings on TikTok. I think about the way that Coolmore works with us on economic development, introducing CEOs to Justify and American Pharaoh. I think how Barbara Banke, who supports people on both sides, really looks out for the industry, looks to use even her other ventures to lift up horse racing. Ron Winchell and all of his investments, but what he sends back to Kentucky. So I think that there's a lot of opportunity for our country. I think there's a lot opportunity for the racing industry, but I think we have to put the goal first, to step back and to say we've got to reevaluate who we support and how we support it because we can't be more worried about our friends saying whether we're a good Democrat or a good Republican as opposed to are we doing the best for Kentucky or are we doing the best for the horse industry. Chris McGrath: So one final question. I'm not going to ask you about 2028. Gov. Andy Beshear | Getty Images Gov. Beshear (laughing): Everybody else does. Chris McGrath: There aren't that many people talking common ground the way you do. So people are interested in you. People are viewing you like, you've won the Blue Grass Stakes, this guy should run in the Derby. So what I'd like to know is what you've learned from your experience, in your home state, that will animate you in whatever form of service you end up embracing? Gov. Beshear: What I've seen in Kentucky is the temperature turned down as opposed to the rest of the country, and people generally getting along, people being excited about us breaking every economic development record in the books, and a real recognition that these good steps we've taken are good for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. In Kentucky, I see a legislature that's dominated by one party and a governor that's of another party being able to get at least the most important things done. And then, just the ability to push beyond the rancor and to have pride in who we are. I mean, right now, I think the people of Kentucky are excited and encouraged, even in a country that maybe is more pessimistic. I mean we see the country finally looking up to us instead of looking down on us. And so I think that whoever our next leader is, is going to need to be somebody who can heal the country and can bring people back together. Again, who's not worried about the boxes people try to put you in–Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, Right or Left but it's more pragmatic; it says what's going to benefit everybody. And what I've seen–because I saw it between my last two elections–is if you work really hard to create a better life for everyone they come together, they're willing to cross party lines and you see less of this destructive partisanship. Chris McGrath: We'll raise a glass of bourbon to that. Governor, thank you for your time. The post Horses, The Tax Bill, And 2028: A Conversation With Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Think of the West Country and one tends to picture wintry days and the big jumping yards, but amid the rolling hills of Devon sits one of the smaller Flat operations which routinely finds at least one horse a year to ensure the stable punches well above its weight. Step forward, Rod Millman, frontman of a family-run business which includes his wife Louise and sons James – the former jockey who has been an excellent addition to the roster of Racing TV presenters – and amateur rider Patrick. This year, it has been the fast young filly Anthelia which has kept the Millman name in lights, and on Saturday she bids to give her trainer a third victory in the £250,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint. Millman first won the race back in 1997, in only its seventh year, with Lord Kintyre (Makbul), and Bettys Hope (Anjaal) struck for the stable again in 2019. They each ran in the family's silks, having been bought respectively for 9,200gns back in the days when the old Doncaster sales still operated in that currency, and £3,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot September Yearling Sale (which has now morphed into the Somerville Sale). Anthelia, too, fits that mould. The Yeomanstown Stud-bred filly from the first crop of Supremacy was bought by her trainer for £6,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale and she has paid him back in spades, winning her first two starts before landing the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. A step up to six furlongs followed for the Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket, in which she was beaten only two lengths when fifth. Millman believes that it was not the extra distance which scuppered her chances that time. He says, “She's very well and everything has gone right up to now. I think she stayed the trip okay last time over six but I think she just got a bit too far back and had too much ground to make up, and we were giving them three pounds as well, but she will be running over six later in the season, for sure.” Such is the clamour for smart two-year-old prospects that, unsurprisingly, as soon as Anthelia started winning, the phone started ringing. “I sold a half-share to Middleham Park Racing after she'd won for reasonable money,” says Millman. “But after we'd won the National Stakes we were offered silly money for her to go to Royal Ascot. If I'd been ten years younger I'd have probably taken it, but it was a family decision and we'd bought her to have fun with, so we kept her, and we'll keep her and run her next year as well. I expect we'll sell her at the end of her three-year-old season.” Millman, a dab hand at turning inexpensive and often unfashionably bred horses into useful campaigners, says of his buying strategy, “I don't try to buy cheap horses, I try to buy nice horses cheaply.” It's clearly something he does well, and despite his prowess with early two-year-olds, he is not in the camp which views them as dispensable commodities. He says, “I try to buy something that will be mature for their age, but nearly all the good ones that I've had that have come out early and done well have made very good older horses. Woolhampton was second in the Super Sprint and has won a lot of money and she's still running well as a five-year-old. Cop Hill Lad was also second in the race and we sold him for a lot of money to Hong Kong and he ran there a long time. And Lord Kintyre was still on the racetrack at eight years old. Although we get them out early, they are not abused, and they last for a long time.” Possibly the greatest advertisement of the trainer's skills in this regard is Whitbarrow (Royal Abjar), the winner of the Woodcote and the Molecomb Stakes in 2001 who ran until he was 11, winning 13 of his 109 starts. Anthelia and Lewis Edmunds win the National Stakes | Racingfotos Millman decided to avoid Royal Ascot with Anthelia, but he is not a fan of the changes that have been made to the Windsor Castle Stakes, which will be run over six furlongs next year and restricted to the offspring of stallions who won over at least seven furlongs at two or a mile at three and up. “The trouble is, the Windsor Castle was a race that people aimed at with that sort of horse and it gave people who were buying a stud fee for less than £5,000 a chance of having a good horse,” he says. “It's all very well saying that we want to put more stamina into the breed, but the market doesn't say that.” He adds of Anthelia skirting the royal meeting, “I just felt that she would have a hard race. On the form I think she would have been placed, because the horses we beat weren't beaten very far. But I thought we'd keep our powder dry and not risk getting jarred up. Royal Ascot is like going to the Cheltenham Festival and I didn't think she'd win the Queen Mary, so I thought we'd miss that and keep ourselves fresh for the rest of the season. If you look at the Cheveley Park, there were only seven runners in that last year, so you only have to ride for place money and you'd probably get third. “We had some of the big people try to buy her because they wanted to have a runner at Royal Ascot, but she'll always have a value as a black-type winner. So I just hope that we can roll the dice a bit longer. I'm 68 now and it's nice to have a good horse to go racing with. Middleham Park have been super – they trust you to manage and they let you manage.” Millman will also be represented at Newbury on Saturday by Adaay In Devon. Now four and the winner of seven races, she is also a dual Listed winner for her breeder, the Horniwinks Racing Syndicate, who managed to pick up her dam for £1,000 when a number of horses were auctioned at Exeter Market after Worsall Grange Stud went out of business. “They sold 35 or 40 horses in pig pens,” Millan recalls. “I didn't end up buying anything but a couple of farmers went down and thought they'd buy themselves a racehorse and they ended up buying Favourite Girl with a foal at foot. Then they put the mare to Adaay and that's how Adaay In Devon came to be.” The trainer says that he no longer buys yearlings on spec but values the support of some studs, notably Whitsbury Manor, while he is sometimes sent horses from Ireland by Tally-Ho and Yeomanstown Studs. “I buy one every year to have fun ourselves, and any others I buy to order,” he says. “I'm lucky I have my two sons involved because I'm getting a bit older now and they take the pressure off a bit.” Anthelia has certainly provided plenty of fun already this year, both for the Millman family and their partners in Middleham Park Racing, and her trainer has every right to hope for a third victory in the race in which he has enjoyed so many good runs in the past. “She's got a good chance,” he says of the second-favourite behind Eve Johnson Houghton's Windsor Castle Stakes winner. “And she's only a pound wrong in the handicap with Havana Hurricane. He's rated 100 and we are 94 but we're getting five pounds from him, so we are not a million miles away.” The post ‘I Don’t Try to Buy Cheap Horses, I Try to Buy Nice Horses Cheaply’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article