Wandering Eyes

Undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) uncorked the type of “Wow!” performance in the GIII Robert Lewis S. on Saturday that rightfully should be the big story out of a weekend that featured four prep stakes for the GI Kentucky Derby. This 3-for-3 son of 2016 Derby winner Nyquist from trainer Bob Baffert's barn has now won at six, seven and eight furlongs by a combined 26 3/4 lengths while earning upward-trending Beyer Speed Figures of 96 and 97 (at age two), plus a sizzling 105 for his sophomore debut. In addition to those impressive metrics, this Baoma Corporation (Susan and Charles Chu) colorbearer has displayed an on-track flair and a powerful fluidity that not only passes the eye test, but dwarfs the visual aesthetics of any efforts we've seen from his next-closest competitors on the Triple Crown trail. All this, by the way, from a colt who won't reach his actual third birthdate until four days after this year's Derby. Nysos's 7 1/2-length blowout in the Lewis overwhelmingly whets the appetite for what he'll be capable of delivering in subsequent starts. But like it or not, it's impossible to look too far into the future without coupling this colt's potential for brilliance with last week's news that no top sophomores out of Baffert's stable were transferred to other conditioners in time to meet a Jan. 29 deadline imposed by Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI). Such a move would have allowed those horses to earn Derby qualifying points and compete in the 150th edition of the race. After Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for the medication betamethasone following the 2021 Derby, CDI banned Baffert from its tracks. The corporate suspension was separate from Medina Spirit's Derby disqualification and a fine and suspension imposed upon Baffert by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. CDI's exclusion initially was supposed to last only for two years. But on July 3, 2023, the corporation announced it would be extending the ban through at least 2024, citing “continued concerns regarding the threat to the safety and integrity of racing [Baffert] poses to CDI-owned racetracks” by allegedly “continu[ing] to peddle a false narrative concerning the failed drug test of Medina Spirit.” The timing of that announcement was curious, and for the most part unexpected. Reading between the lines, it almost seemed like CDI executives suddenly realized that Baffert's return would coincide with the big 150th anniversary celebration the corporation is planning for the 2024 Derby, and that they didn't want his presence to overshadow the festivities. The press release announcing Baffert's extended ban was rolled out in the middle of last summer's long Independence Day weekend. Holiday weekends are an extremely slow time of the news cycle that news-issuing entities have long tried to leverage as opportunities to “bury” announcements they think might generate adverse headlines. The racing world took notice though, and the news of Baffert's dis-invitation to Derby 150 simmered through last summer and deep into the Breeders' Cup season. On Jan. 22, 2024, the script was flipped when Baffert made his own announcement via social media: The Hall-of-Fame trainer said he had instructed his attorneys to dismiss any remaining legal actions related to the 2021 Derby disqualification appeal, adding that he has “decided that it is best to positively focus on the present and future that our great sport offers.” As TDN colleague Bill Finley wrote at the time, “It was not clear why [Medina Spirit's owner, Amr] Zedan and Baffert apparently changed their minds and decided to drop their case. It is possible that their dropping the case was a peace offering in what has been an ugly battle between Churchill Downs and Zedan and Baffert that at times took on a personal tone.” CDI stood firm, countering with an immediate rebuttal that stated Baffert's dismissal of his appeal “does not change the current suspension or deadline to transfer horses for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby.” One week later, as the Jan. 29 owners deadline to transfer horses to another trainer came and went without a single reported defection among Baffert's top clients, the narrative shifted substantially. Now CDI's anti-Baffert strategy could backfire. The corporation is facing the prospect of Baffert appearing to have offered an olive branch, his owners lining up behind him in solidarity and his top 3-year-old rocketing to the top of the totem pole among Derby contenders. The very story line that CDI wanted to avoid for Derby 150 will now likely become the focal point of pre-Triple Crown coverage. For the next three months, you can expect an ever-intensifying stream of stories about the prospect of another “Dysfunctional Derby” in which a corporate edict might keep the best colt(s) from competing in America's most important horse race. In the last five editions of the Derby, we've seen one DQ of a winner for an in-race foul, another for a post-race drug violation, and one Derby moved from May to September because of the pandemic. At this rate, we'll soon run out of asterisks to affix to the history of our nation's most iconic race. Despite not budging from Baffert, some of his clients are still holding out hope for a change in CDI's policy. Zedan, who owns 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), another top sophomore, is one of them. “Would we love to run in the Derby? Absolutely, yes,” Zedan told DRF.com's David Grening last week. “Would we love to run, especially this being the 150th Derby? Absolutely, yes. Are we hoping to run in the Derby? Absolutely, yes. Do we think we will be there? It's in God's hands.” Barring the unlikely prospect of CDI reversing its stated course, the courts–again–are another option. Even though Baffert in '22 and '23 failed to persuade judges to grant him injunctions that would have allowed him to compete in the Derby, and even though he has dropped his current legal appeal, that doesn't preclude any of his clients from going to court on their own to try and overturn CDI's ban on behalf of their horses. Remember, it only takes one judge to say yes to an injunction request, and the closer any potential plaintiff waits until the May 4 Derby itself, the more of a wild card that scenario becomes from “time is of the essence” type of pressure. Our nation's courts typically listen long and hard when properly licensed individuals allege that private entities are unfairly keeping them from plying their chosen professions, so it's not out of the question that some aggrieved owner of a Baffert-trained Derby prospect might try that avenue. Even more fascinating is what to expect in terms of race targeting from Baffert's stable. Will he point his top sophomores to the final late March/early April round of coast-to-coast Grade I preps and then have an arsenal of top-notch stock ready for the GI Preakness S. after being forced to sit out the Derby with all of them? The Preakness has been the weak link in the Triple Crown over the past few seasons, and would certainly benefit from the infusion of horsepower. But this scenario, too, could produce unwanted downstream effects. The Preakness already has trouble luring any other Derby entrants besides the winner. How many also-rans from the Derby are going to be keen on heading to Baltimore knowing a handful of fresh Baffert trainees have been specifically pointing for the middle jewel of the series? The post The Week In Review: Nysos Rockets To Derby Relevance, Unaware His Trainer Is Dis-Invited From The Big Bash appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, which gives breeders one last chance to buys mares at auction before the breeding season opens later this month, begins its two-day run at Newtown Paddocks Monday morning with the first of 300 catalogued hips scheduled to head into the sales ring at 10 a.m. A further 235 head have been catalogued for Tuesday's second session, which is largely dominated by supplemented offerings from the dispersal of the late Robert Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables. The auction added some late fire power to its catalogue Sunday when Zetta Z (Bernardini) (hip 536) was supplemented to the catalogue a day after her sophomore son Nysos (Nyquist) dominated the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita. The 14-year-old broodmare, who is in foal to Cyberknife, will be offered through the Grovendale Sales consignment. “Nysos has been brilliant in each of his starts,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “His numbers lead all 3-year-old colts and his potential is unlimited. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer his dam, who is in foal to the exciting first-year stallion Cyberknife.” The winter mixed sale brings a close to a season of breeding stock auctions which featured plenty of money for top offerings and a mixed reception for horses under that level. Consignors expect those same trends to continue this week in Lexington. “I think it will be the same as all of them,” said Vinery Sales' Derek MacKenzie. “The top will be strong, the bottom probably not so much and the middle, probably a little polarized back and forth. The catalogue is smaller than it has been and with this big group of Lothenbach horses getting added, thinking positively, I think it will be a good sale.” Vinery and Taylor Made Sales Agency will each be consigning horses as part of the dispersal, which will bring increased interest to the winter catalogue. “It's been a few years now and not quite this quality, but when we had the Rockin' Z dispersal a few years ago at this sale, I remember, it really drew a lot of people in,” MacKenzie said. “And this one should bring even more.” Taylor Made's Marshall Taylor agreed the buying bench at Fasig-Tipton might be deeper this year due to the dispersal. “Anytime there is a dispersal, the first thing that people think of is 'no reserve' and opportunity is the first word that comes to your mind as a buyer, especially when you look at the type of roster that Mr. Lothenbach and his team accumulated and what they've got on the roster. That drives people to the sale. So I think you're going to see a lot more people at the sale than traditionally come to the February sale because of the dispersal.” Its placement directly ahead of the opening of the breeding season gives the Winter sale a pivotal spot on the calendar. “If you look at the February sale from the past, it's always a really solid, good sale,” Taylor said. “I think every year, you see these young fillies selling well, young fillies with page or a little bit of race record. They tend to really sell well because I think everyone is looking for a nice young mare to breed.” MacKenzie said, “I think it is good timing. A lot of these mares that are empty are maidens that can go straight to the breeding shed almost. So, they don't have carrying costs. The timing is probably perfect.” During last year's Winter Mixed sale, 402 horses sold for $14,105,200 for an average of $35,088 and a median of $15,000. The broodmare prospect Lemieux (Nyquist) topped the auction when selling for $400,000 to Nice Guys Stables. Bred to Not This Time just after the auction, she produced her first foal, a colt, Jan. 26. The post With Breeding Season Right Ahead, Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale Opens Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), a disappointing third in his 3-year-old debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S., exited the race in good order, reports owner Mike Repole. “He's perfectly fine,” Repole said in a text message. Fierceness, the 2023 2-Year-Old male Eclipse champion, was coming off an overpowering win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and most believed he would pick up right where he left off in the Holy Bull, where he was the 1-5 favorite. Instead, he finished third, beaten 3 1/2 lengths. When asked why he thought Fierceness came up short, Repole pointed to his trip. “It was nothing more than the obvious,” Repole wrote. “Hit on both sides coming out of the gate. Wide. Bumped again at the top of the stretch. Flattened out. Last time he ran bad [when seventh in the Champagne], his next race was pretty good.” When asked if the GI Florida Derby was still the next target for Fierceness, Repole replied: “Can't say for sure. Plenty of options on the table.” The race was won by 9-1 shot Hades (Awesome Slew). A Florida-bred, he is undefeated in three starts and won the Holy Bull by two lengths under Paco Lopez. “He came out of the race great,” said trainer Joe Orseno. “No decision on our next race but I am leaning towards the Florida Derby.” The post Fierceness Comes Out Of Holy Bull In Good Order appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

All of the major runners in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby preps have come out of their respective races well according to releases by Aqueduct, Oaklawn and Gulfstream Park. GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) still had his connections flying high the morning after his upset win over 'TDN Rising Star' and Eclipse champion Fierceness (City of Light). “He galloped out really strong [yesterday],” trainer Joe Orseno told Gulfstream Park media Sunday morning. “I don't think we got to the bottom of him yet. We're real happy with him, especially the way he looked this morning.” As for future starts, Orseno added, “There's no question it will be the Fountain of Youth or the Florida Derby. I think it will be only one, but I don't know which one it will be yet. He's lightly raced. He's only run 5 1/2 [furlongs] and 7, and [Saturday] two turns. I think that being said, we have the opportunity to have a fresh horse on the first Saturday in May.” Trainer Todd Pletcher also reported that Repole Stable runner Fierceness came out of the race 'in good order'. In New York, the Pennsylvania-bred Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion), winner of the GIII Withers S., also responded well following his efforts Saturday. “He came out of it very well, and I'm very happy with him,” said trainer Butch Reid, Jr. “He was very sharp and bouncing around the barn last night. He'll get a few days of rest on the farm, which will be nice.” Reid Jr. indicated that, while future plans regarding a next start are still up for discussion, connections are considering the GII Wood Memorial S. April 6. At Oaklawn Park, the GIII Southwest S. winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) is, per trainer Kenny McPeek, already being pointed at the GI Arkansas Derby after previously finishing fifth in the Smarty Jones S. Jan 1. “We had a good feeling before the race,” said owner/breeder Lance Gasaway. “He wasn't ready for the long race, the Smarty Jones. He needed the race, so we felt pretty confident coming into the race. He [McPeek] can do it.” Southwest runner up Just Steel (Justify) will make his next start in the GII Rebel S. Feb. 24 according to his trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “He's still carrying a little weight,” Lukas said. “He's a big, powerful horse and I think with racing, he'll drop some of that weight and he'll be a little bit better at finishing. I look forward to the next one [Rebel]. That one should be starting to get us where we want to be. I think he needs racing.” Trainer Robert Medina noted that Saturday's third-place finisher Liberal Arts (Arrogate) will join Mystik Dan in bypassing the Rebel and likely going straight to the Arkansas Derby. The post Saturday’s Derby Prep Runners Look Ahead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For nearly 20 years, trainer Neil Pessin didn't have to worry about filling up his barn. His principal owner, Bob Lothenbach, kept sending horses his way. That included a Grade I winner in Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) and several useful allowance horses. Pessin was training a 22-horse stable and 19 of them were owned by Lothenbach. “Bob was an excellent owner,” Pessin said. “He knew our field of expertise was training horses and his was the paper business. Anytime I asked for anything that involved the welfare of the horse he was on board for it.” Everything changed in November when Lothenbach died suddenly at the age of 64. With the Lothenbach horses headed to a dispersal sale, Pessin was down to three horses and faced with the task of having to rebuild his stable, practically from scratch. The only thing he knew for certain was that panicking was not the answer. “I'm not nervous about my future,” Pessin said. “You can't worry about stuff you can't control. You just do what you can and hope for the best. I've learned that worrying doesn't do a whole lot except give me ulcers. Just take it in stride and see what happens. More people are worried about this than I am. We'll just see what happens. If an opportunity arises we'll take it. If it doesn't we'll see what the future holds. I'm not sure at the moment. Hopefully, we can survive. If not, we'll do something else.” It doesn't look like Pessin will have to “do something else.” Out of the dispersal sale, which was done digitally by Fasig-Tipton, Pessin signed for five horses. They ranged in price from the $340,000 paid for Grade III stakes winner Happy American (Runhappy) to the $18,000 paid for maiden Hogslayers R I P (Union Rags). The horses will be owned by a five-member syndicate that Pessin put together in order to buy some horses out of the dispersal sale. “Buying Happy American was pretty self explanatory,” he said. “There's a race coming up here at the Fair Grounds, the Mineshaft Stakes. The purse is $250,000 and the winner gets $150,000. He'll be one of the favorites. The $150,000 the winner will get would pay for almost half of him. He's worth it. He can compete in all the stakes around here. He can't beat the top horses, but if you spot him around he can be a very useful horse all year long.” He also retained the gelding Kiss The Moon (Malibu Moon), who was bought by Anthony Spinazzola, who decided to keep the horse with Pessin. That has left Pessin with nine horses. The Lothenbach 2-year-olds will sell as part of Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale on Feb. 5 and 6. “It's possible that I might buy some of the 2-year-olds,” he said. “If anyone is interested I'll go take a look at them. I bought 14 of them myself at the yearling sales. But if I don't have the money behind me to do it then I'm not going to be able to buy anything.” He's had some feelers from owners interested in giving him horses and hopes some new horses will come his way from owners looking to compete at the Keeneland spring meet. But he's not going to go begging. “I've never asked anybody for any horses and I'm not going to start now,” Pessin said. “Right now we have these five horses that we bought and three others in barn. I'll just have to go forward and see what happens. One way or another I'll be fine. You can't worry about what you can't change.” The post After Lothenbach Dispersal, Pessin Looks To Regroup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cute Curls (Tapiture), a filly trained by Danny Gargan, was euthanized Saturday after displaying acute neurological symptoms. Cornell University has since returned a positive test result for EHV in Barn 15 at Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association announced Sunday. Barn 15 is now under a 21-day quarantine but no other horses have thus far presented symptoms. NYRA's veterinary department, headed by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, will oversee quarantine procedures and the 24 horses stables in Barn 15 will continue to be monitored. The post Test Confirms Positive EHV Case At Belmont; Barn Quarantine Extended To 21 Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Driver Penalties L Chin | Waikato Bay of Plenty 29 January; careless driving; suspended 30 January – 9 February inclusive. N Balle | Waikato Bay of Plenty 29 January; breach of push out rule; fined $200. M White | Hawera 2 February; careless driving; fined $300. M Smolenski | Methven 28 January (heard NZ Metropolitan 2 February); use of whip; suspended 3-11 February inclusive. L McCormick | NZ Metropolitan 2 February; careless driving; suspended 17-22 February inclusive. L Hibell | Hawera 2 February (heard Hawera 4 February); use of whip; fined $300. R Fensom | Hawera 4 February; careless driving; suspended 5-15 February inclusive. B Mangos | Hawera 4 February; use of whip; suspended 10-15 February inclusive. D Grundmann | Hawera 4 February; careless driving; fined $300. M Love | Waikouaiti 4 February; careless driving; suspended 5 February – 17 March inclusive. A Edge | Waikouaiti 4 February; use of whip; fined $250. Trainer Penalty K Kelly | Waikouaiti 4 February; failed to advise horse showing signs of being in season; fined $200. Horse Penalties IDEAL ARTS | Waikato Bay of Plenty 29 January; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. MEDINA MAGIC | Waikato Bay of Plenty 29 January; lame; veterinary clearance required. HENRY WINKLER | NZ Metropolitan 2 February; soft palate displacement; veterinary clearance required. CYREN SHARD | NZ Metropolitan 2 February; broke in running; must complete trial. MOMENTS LIKE THIS | NZ Metropolitan 2 February; lame; veterinary clearance required. IMPERIAL COMMAND | Waikouaiti 4 February; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. MOA MOJITO | Waikouaiti 4 February; broke in running; must complete trial. THE BETTOR MAJOR | Waikouaiti 4 February; broke in running; must complete trial. CODY BANNER | Waikouaiti 4 February; broke in running; must complete trial. Protest COURTNEY MAY | Waikouaiti 4 February; excessive galloping in home straight; disqualified from 4th. The post 29 January – 4 February 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Dog Penalties OPAWA VANESSA | Christchurch 29 January; marred; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. OPAWA KEITH | Christchurch 29 January; failed to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. KNOW AUTHORITY | Christchurch 29 January; failed to pursue the lure; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. OPAWA TURN | Christchurch 29 January; marred; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. PRINCELY CROWN | Christchurch 2 February; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. The post 29 January – 4 February 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

The Illinois Derby will be held April 21 at its former 1 1/8-mile distance and have a purse of $200,000. It also returns to the same spot on the racing calendar from before its hiatus, four weeks before the Preakness Stakes (G1).View the full article

Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) was crunched into $1.30 (3-10) favourtism for Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, sat a perfect trip beneath Hugh Bowman and raced away late to take the first leg of the 4-year-old series in convincing fashion Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin. Alertly away from barrier six and carrying the number one saddlecloth signifying the highest-rated runner in the event, the John Size trainee allowed Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) and Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation) do the heavy lifting and settled in the ideal spot while a fraction keen through the early exchanges. Poised to strike nearing the entrance to the straight, Helios Express eased out into the three path to deliver his challenge, gathered up Helene Feeling–who had taken over from Chancheng Glory just outside the 200 metres–and kicked home a comfortable winner. Star Mac (Aus) (Heroic Valour {Aus}), rated some 38 points inferior to the winner on 64, ran home gamely for third ahead of a troubled Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). “It was a slow-run race and he was able to adapt to a very slow tempo, which is a good thing in a racehorse,” said Size. “He was able to overcome that and still win the race. Of this generation of horses, he seems to be the quality horse amongst the ones he's competing against, and it was a very convincing win.” Size confirmed that Helios Express would move on to the second leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres Mar. 3 and believes his charge will handle the step up in trip without issue. “There's always some concern because the circumstances of the races can change dramatically from one race to the next,” said Size. “The good horses overcome a different style of running and they win. He has to do that–he has that in front of him.” For his part, Bowman–who now begins a five-meeting suspension–considers Helios Express an unfinished product. “The critical side of me says I would have liked for him to settle a bit better in the run, but it was a very sedate tempo which encouraged him to travel the way he did–but that's the sign of an exceptional horse–and when I gave him room and asked him for an effort, that's exactly what we all saw. I'm excited to be riding such a magnificent individual,” Bowman said. The master trainer, John Size, a dominant force in the Hong Kong Classic Mile! Sun Jewellery (2016) Nothingilikemore (2018) Excellent Proposal (2021) Helios Express (2024)#4YOSeries | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/NxbLbxquYv — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 4, 2024 Pedigree Notes: Helios Express was providing his sire with yet another big result in Hong Kong a week after Victor the Winner (Aus) caused an upset in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup. One of 18 winners in the jurisdiction for the stallion, Helios Express–who was victorious in a single Australian appearance for trainer Jamie Edwards at Benalla in Victoria while racing as Tex Mex (Aus)–is a third to succeed at stakes level (Senor Toba {Aus}). Helios Express is the fourth black-type winner produced by a daughter of Hinchinbrook (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Paris Texas passed away in September 2021 according to the Australian Stud Book, but has left behind Helios Express's unraced 3-year-old full-sister Isolation Ridge (Aus), who is in training with Lindsey Smith at Linton in Victoria. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-4, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:34.44, gd. 1–HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Toronado (Ire) 1st Dam: Paris Texas (Aus), by Hinchinbrook (Aus) 2nd Dam: Hialeah Star (Aus), by Luskin Star (Aus) 3rd Dam: Hialeah Gold (Aus), by Sovereign Red (NZ) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Andy Yung Ming Tai; B-C Wells (WA); T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-1, HK$16,001,660. *Formerly Tex Mex (Aus). 2–Helene Feeling (Ire), 126, g, 4, Sioux Nation–Cynthia Calhoun (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€15,500 Wlg '20 GOFDEC; 40,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Helene Syndicate; B-A Sherwood & P Connell; T-Danny Shum; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,730,000. 3–Star Mac (Aus), 126, g, 4, Heroic Valour (Aus)–Marma Got Style (Aus), by Wicked Style. (A$15,000 Ylg '21 MMMAR). O-Adrian Hassan; B-D Reynolds (Qld); T-David Hayes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$1,495,000. Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 3-10, 73-10, 45-1. Also Ran: Speed Dragon (NZ), Beauty Crescent (Ire), Chancheng Glory, Fallon (Ire), Howdeepisyourlove (Aus), Moments In Time (Chi). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. The post Helios Express Makes Light Work Of Hong Kong Classic Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Helios Express dominated the Hong Kong Classic Mile Feb. 4 at Sha Tin Racecourse, winning the first leg of the Hong Kong Derby series for 4-year-olds easily over eight rivals.View the full article

One test of a visit to a racing yard is whether you come away wishing you owned a horse to send there. David Menuisier's set-up is one such place. If you like patient trainers with strong opinions who pride themselves on being self-made while displaying a virtuoso's touch, Dancing Brave's old home near Pulborough in West Sussex could be for you. Menuisier, a Frenchman in love with British racing – despite the inferior prize-money – is L'Etranger of the training ranks. One translation of that label is somebody who isn't part of a community or organisation. Menuisier, who started in 2014 with one raceable horse, largely avoids bloodstock agents and isn't impressed by privilege. It hasn't stopped him becoming an assured and intuitive trainer of Group-race winners. In the Arcadia of Guy Harwood's old domain – Coombelands, with its radiant South Downs views – Menuisier watches his best hope for 2024, the three-year-old colt Sunway (Fr), trot through cold winter air before laying out, back in his office, his training manifesto, which is a mix of traditionalist and radical. The story blends tough beginnings and a strong vein of pride in being an underdog. “I'm not fashionable – and you have to realise I'll never be,” he says. “It's fine. It will always be harder for me than those young trainers in Newmarket, because I don't belong to those circles. I'm happy with it. Very little in racing works with merit. Probably 20% of it.” If this sounds like disillusionment, Menuisier delivers it wryly, and enjoys his work too much to be bitter. And this Flat season brims with promise. His best horses so far have been the dual Group 1-winning filly Wonderful Tonight (Fr), Thundering Blue and Danceteria (Fr). Last year he bucked his own trend of being a cautious starter by winning the Lincoln Handicap with Migration (Ire) – and finished the campaign with a flourish. There were two-year-old stakes wins in France for Tamfana (Ger), War Chimes (Fr) and Sunway (the Group 1 Criterium International), and a Group 3 win for Caius Chorister (GB) – all in the space of five days. No wonder he feels vindicated in working with the natural development cycle of horses, rather than against it, as some trainers do in search of faster gratification. “It's always been my line of thinking. I wanted to be in a niche where nobody else was – but it's also what I love,” he tells TDN. “I'm different to some others. I don't criticise others. But I would find it a little bit boring to be someone who only trains sprinters or only trains sharp two-year-olds. It's not really my cup of tea. “Some of my best clients chuck it in my face every now and then that I can't train two-year-olds. What they mean by two-year-olds is sharp ones, in the first few months of the year. I would always prefer the ones who come through in October and make three-year-olds and four-year-olds. “If you want a really good three-year-old they have to be good as a two-year-old as well because the talent gets them through that. Like Sunway. You can't say Sunway is a real two-year-old but he's always found life easy. You'd like to believe or hope his best seasons are ahead of him rather than last year. He's bred to be more of a three-year-old slash four-year-old. If you want a top three-year-old, obviously they'll be top two-year-olds as well – but I don't mind one that takes more time, and gets better at four or five.” All the people I have here are people who have decided to be with me. I have never picked up the phone to get anybody in here. Even at a trot, Sunway floats up Menuisier's gallops with noticeable fluency in his action. And though Menuisier is a true adopted Sussex man, he's also prodigal. Many of his biggest wins were landed in France and Sunway's targets are the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club, ideally on good or slightly softer ground. You can't help wondering though why he trains in England rather than France, where prize-money is higher and political paralysis in racing less evident. He says: “It makes me unique. When I came back from America to work for John Dunlop I think I just fell in love with the area, fell in love with English racing. “I've been lucky enough to compete in nine different countries and I've not seen a better jurisdiction than this one. The prize-money could be better, this or that could be better, recruitment… You could make the same comment for any jurisdiction. Owners want to be in England. The next big owner is more likely to start in England than America or Australia, or France or Germany. It's the right place to be. “We are blessed with a good programme on the whole. The handicap system allows you a chance to go up step by step. “In terms of the management of British racing I think there are too many entities. It's better when people sit down and discuss things than pull the sheet to their side. I don't think there's enough unity in British racing. Who is in charge of what and what do they do? I have no idea. That makes British racing have too many middlemen, and each middleman is going to take his little chunk of money. People are putting a veto here and a veto there, and everything is at a standstill the whole time. “I feel that some of the entities in racing are more than happy to carry on the way it is because they make enough money. Not everybody sees the situation as desperate. We do, but it's only one branch of British racing.” In his debut year, England might have felt very much like the wrong place to be. Menuisier and his partner Kim Johnstone took the plunge in 2014 with four horses (three borrowed) and a £60,000 fighting fund. “If I had to do it again, I don't think I would. Or, if I had to do it now, starting in 2024, I'm not sure I would,” Menuisier says. “In those days we were 10 years younger but things were a little easier than they are now. Even though it was a difficult start we never thought we could fail. It was a weird impression because we had absolutely nothing and nobody on our side. But despite all, it never felt like a risky thing to do. These days things are a lot more expensive. It would be extremely difficult now to start the way we did. We were meant to be wiped out in the first few months.” Instead a horse bred by his parents in France – Slunovrat (Fr) – scored a breakthrough win at Newcastle and enticed Clive Washbourn to become the yard's first major owner. “Not many trainers would start with one runnable horse, a middle-distance horse, an unbroken horse. This very first winner showed the trademark of the yard,” Menuisier says. “I knew Clive from John Dunlop's. He said, 'all my horses are allocated but if you prove you can train a winner I'll back you.' I won my first race on 25 August 2014. The very next day he said – 'I said I'll back you and I will.' “All the people I have here are people who have decided to be with me. I have never picked up the phone to get anybody in here. All the owners I have have come here because they've seen our results and decided to be here. That's another thing I'm really proud of. “Most of my owners are self-made people. They are not people who've inherited. So they know what it takes and we can speak on the same level. Clive is a mate now. We've become friends. There's nothing to hide from him. He's always been here for me and I've always been here for him. I don't need to change my tone when we speak. It's the same with Guy Pariente [Sunway's part-owner and breeder] from France. He's a very successful businessman but he's not part of the jet set. He's a grounded person. I think grounded people suit me.” Menuisier's high regard for Oisin Murphy is based only partly on Murphy telling him Sunway was the best two-year-old he sat on last year: a review that will have featured in Qatar racing's part-purchase of the full brother to Sealiway (Fr), a G1 Champion S. winner. Both were bred by Pariente, the owner of Haras de Colleville, and they are by his stallion Galiway (GB) from the Kendargent (Fr) mare Kensea (Fr). “Oisin Murphy was an integral part of the team.” Menuisier says. “Last year he came down on a regular basis. Oisin kept on saying – with the bunch of two-year-olds you have, you'll be fine. “He's a nice person. You can easily build a lovely work relationship with him. When he comes here he's part of the team. He doesn't think of himself as a superstar, he makes his own coffee, he gives a hand to the staff – even sweeping, or whatever. He's just the simplest person. I'm a simple guy as well. We just get on. His opinion is invaluable. I use Jamie Spencer as well for the same reason. He's a really good worker. He's interesting – and interested, in what we're doing. He's another jockey I have a lot of time for.” Murphy's enthusiasm for Sunway had to be taken on trust because Menuisier is not one to mistake a training ground for a racecourse: “We thought he was special but you can only compare him to the other horses. And in the morning we don't really test the V12. So it's hard to be confident you definitely have a world beater. When an outsider who's a superstar jockey comes down and tells you that, it does comfort you.” Menuisier may lean on jockeys for insights but bloodstock agents and fixers are consulted less frequently: “I have nothing in particular against any of them. I feel as a trainer I would rather go and buy the horses I want to train rather than use somebody to buy horses I may not like. “I'd rather do it myself because I'm going to live with them for two or three years. As I don't rub anyone's back, they don't have to rub mine. I've built this yard not relying on them. They were not here when I started in 2014, so I don't need them now.” He relies instead, at the sales, on his own eyes and instincts. Two years ago he spotted a filly who had won at Newbury but was now surplus to requirements at a big yard. He takes up the story: “I noticed she probably wasn't running over the right ground and probably needed a bit of time. “I rang Kim and said, 'If this filly makes 25 grand we might buy her as a project. She's well bred, she's a winner as a two-year-old, I'd like to bring her back later in the season and hopefully give her a bit of black type.' She was only rated 72. Sometimes you feel she's going to be lucky or…it's an intuition. I work a lot with intuition. “I bought the filly for 26 grand – I went above my budget – turned her out, identified a little infection in her throat – nothing too bad. She basically needed time. “Anyway I never saw the best of her in the morning, so we trained her to sit on the tail of somebody else and not move an eyelid. I didn't know whether she'd improved. I sold half to my loyal client Clive, a quarter to one of his mates, a Spanish guy. I ran her at Saint-Cloud in a Listed race, rated 72. Everything else was above 100, including Tribalist, who was third in the Guineas. She ran second in the race beaten a whisker. A stride after the line she would have beaten the winner. “We sold her in December for 385 grand. The guy that bought her decided he knew better and sent her to a good trainer.” But less than a year later the filly's owner asked Menuisier to take her on again. “I said, look, I've done it once, I'll have her back because I love her, and I know how she works, but I can't guarantee I can do it twice. She came back here. She was placed in a Group 3 at the end of the year, rated 102. “Something I learned at Criquette [Head's] is that some people over-train them. You have to be careful not to over-train. Always try to under-train rather than over-train. Because if you under-train you get fitter as you run, which is fine, but they keep their sanity in the meantime. This filly – you didn't need to do anything, She was more than happy to hack every morning. If you tried to go a stride quicker her head would be in the air.” This brings him on to the perils of trying to train too many horses. “If I were Number 1 at the BHA I would put a number on the size of the yard. Above 70 or 80, you should have a cap. Then you would see the best people. With 300, you can't go wrong, obviously. Whether you're good or not doesn't matter. The wastage is huge.” In his outlook Menuisier manages to blend passion and ambition with a bit of Zen. “My intention is not to be champion trainer. I'm happy with the life I have, getting good horses every year,” he explains. “My yard's a bit bigger this season. We've had the back-up of really nice people. “I'm old fashioned. Nowadays if I have to have 300 horses I have to admit that 50% of my staff would not be at the level I want, so I'm writing off half the staff already because those guys won't work to the level. If it's radical to say that, I'm sorry, but it's a fact. We have core staff. I only have 70 horses. If I have four times that number I will have at least 10 people who won't be able to get to our level. I don't want to be in that situation.” And to conclude he tries to articulate why he works in such a precarious, stressful, unstable and yet sometimes sublime profession (this particular morning at Coombelands it feels like a celestial calling). “My aim is not to become a millionaire. My aim is to carry on doing what I do, educate my daughter for her to have a good life, and be happy, and for people around me to be happy, and have enough good horses to run in lovely races. “We start the season with 72 horses. I have three older horses who are black type, we have five three-year-olds with black type. So that's eight already, out of 40, with 32 two-year-olds on top. Why should I envy anybody – including those big yards? I can't, because I'm living my best life. I know where I come from, I know how I started, I know I don't owe anything to anybody apart from the people who helped us – and that's that. “My aim is to be happy in life. That's all.” The post Menuisier: ‘I Wanted to be in a Niche Where Nobody Else Was’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zetta Z (Bernardini), dam of Saturday's dominating GIII Robert B. Lewis winner 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), has been added to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale to go through the ring Tuesday, Feb. 6, announced the auction house via press release Sunday. Catalogued as HIP 536 and offered by Grovendale Sales as agent, she is in-foal to multiple Grade I-winning Cyberknife. In addition to Nysos, Zetta Z is also the dam of SP Attabe (Distorted Humor) as well as a 2-year-old filly by Street Sense and a yearling colt by Yaupon. “Nysos has been brilliant in each of his starts. His numbers lead all three-year-old colts and his potential is unlimited,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer his dam, who is in foal to the exciting first year stallion Cyberknife.” The post Dam of Nysos Added to Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

‘Magnificent individual’ impresses veteran trainer John Size and jockey Hugh Bowman will scintillating displayView the full article

Provided ‘everything is OK’ after runs in the Gold Cup and QE II Cup, the reigning Cox Plate champion will set his sights on more overseas gloryView the full article

Italian jockey takes out the Centenary Vase with Nimble Nimbus and also gets the best out of Ka Ying Generation at Sha Tin on SundayView the full article

Stan Tsaikos, who rides in the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria these days, celebrates his third win at Darwin on Saturday after guiding the Ella Clarke-trained Pop Magic to victory in the $40,000 Wet Season Series Final (1200m). Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) He hadn’t ridden a winner in Darwin for two months, but the wily Stan Tsaikos bounced back with a winning treble on Saturday. Tsaikos, who continues to ride in the NT while also fulfilling commitments in Tasmania, saluted on Ella Clarke’s Pop Magic (+230), Chole Baxter’s Shecanmixit (+240 fav) and Chris Pollard’s No Rain No Flowers (+1300). Renowned for controlling the tempo of a race while in front before invariably stealing victory, Tsaikos employed such tactics with great effect. Tsaikos, who has won the Alice Springs premiership twice, shared the lead in the Wet Season Series Final (1200m) before Pop Magic won by 6.8 lengths. Shecanmixit, a five-year-old mare by Danerich, prevailed over 1200m (BM54) and No Rain No Flowers, a five-year-old mare by Shalaa, won a 1300m maiden. After breaking the 1000m track record (56.02) in a maiden on her NT debut on December 8, Shecanmixit finished ninth over 1000m (0-58) in late December before coming second over 1000m (BM54) three weeks ago. Hitting the ground from the outside gate (seven), Tsaikos had Shecanmixit on the fence and in front by the 1000m – but had Tom Logan’s Beatification (+250) parked on its girth at the 900m. Shecanmixit finally broke Beatification’s heart at the 100m to win by 1.2 lengths with Patrick Johnston’s Barty Aya (+280) third. No Rain No Flowers, who had gone close in six previous Darwin starts, finally delivered when Tsaikos found the lead passing the 1000m after drawing a wide gate in the 10-horse field. For the remaining 900m, No Rain No Flowers maintained a two-length advantage before downing Dick Leech’s Mutany (+140 fav) and Phil Cole’s Proklisi (+260) by 1.4 lengths. Apprentice Jade Hampson, winless at Fannie Bay in January, celebrated a double after partnering Leech’s Pride Of Limassol (+110 fav) over 1000m (0-58) and Tayarn Halter’s Fischer (+260) over 1600m (Class 2). Pride Of Limassol, a five-year-old gelding by Pride Of Dubai, had managed a win and two seconds from four Top End starts, but had to fight hard before shaking off Baxter’s Aplomado ($2.60). Aplomado, who held the fence, and Pride Of Limassol went stride for stride as from the 800m before the favourite forged ahead at the 200m to win by two lengths from Aplomado and Mark Nyhan’s Vascotto (+1800). Fischer, a five-year-old gelding by Zoustar, finally won over 1600m at the sixth attempt when he caught the leader with 100m to go to make it two wins from 19 Darwin starts. Cole’s Supremo (+550) hit the front at the 1200m and led by two lengths before Fischer and Kerry Petrick’s Princess Pancakes (+210 fav) bridged the gap with 300m to go. Fisher pounced at the 100m to post an emphatic win by 5.2 lengths, while Supremo held on for second from Princess Pancakes. Cole’s eight-year-old gelding Saccharo (-105.26 fav) posted his first win since returning from injury when he outclassed in-form stablemate Cielo D’Oro (+210) and Angela Forster’s Volatore (+380) in a five-horse field over 1300m (BM76). Sitting three deep, Saccharo (Emma Lines), the son of Magnus, was camped behind leading pair Cielo D’Oro and Gary Clarke’s Desert Deamer (+800) before winding up at the 400m. Saccharo (62kg) stormed home from the rear of the field on Australia Day to finish a narrow third behind Noir De Rue and Cielo D’Oro over 1300m (BM73), so to take charge on Saturday at the 100m carrying 60kg before winning by 1.8 lengths was no surprise. Cole’s apprentice Lines, who now has 17 wins for the season, also ended the day with three seconds and a third. More horse racing news View the full article

Pint-sized sprinter Flying Nemo (NZ) (Vespa) took out his first win on the turf after he dashed home strongly in the S$70,000 Class 3 race (1200m) in Singapore on Saturday. With four previous wins over sprint distances on the Polytrack, including his last-start win in the Class 4 race over 1100m in early January, the four-year-old son of Vespa was facing stiffer opposition in a field of 11 this time. After jumping swiftly from gate eight, the long shot was dropped towards the back of the field by first-time partner and jockey Bruno Queiroz, albeit five-wide without cover. At the 400m, Queiroz got busy on Flying Nemo before he gradually motored past the leader by the 150m. Pacific Master warmed up late and began letting down on his inside, but Flying Nemo showed a great turn of foot to hold a half-length win from Pacific Master. Queiroz, who now sits second on the current jockeys’ log on 10 wins, sounded confident of a smart win from the Desmond Koh-trained gelding before the race. “He flew home. I thought he can win in Class 3,” said the young Brazilian jockey. “(Last-start winning partner) Nunes and I talked. This horse is very well. I rode him in trackwork on Tuesday and he felt very good. “I think this trip is good for him. He can run well on both the Poly(track) and the turf.” Assistant-trainer Lee Soo Hin was slightly concerned with the pair punching the breeze not long after the start, but was glad the win would him in a good stead for better races in future. “His form was there, but he’s up in class today,” said Lee, who was deputising for Koh. “We asked him (Queiroz) to ride him in fourth or fifth, then take him out in the straight, but I was a bit worried as they had no cover too early and sat wide. “He’s (Flying Nemo) a small horse but he showed us today he’s a Class 3 horse and he can go further because he’s still young.” Flying Nemo was sold by Hedwood Thoroughbreds in the 2021 National Online Sale for $7000 to Warrior Stables. With five wins and four placings in 12 starts, Flying Nemo has now amassed over S$180,000 in prizemoney for the Nemo Stable. Prior to Flying Nemo’s win, Atlante Legend (NZ) (Atlante) scored a boilover win in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race (1200m) five races earlier, bringing up a double for Koh. Other New Zealand bred winners in Kranji on Saturday included Smoke And Mirrors (NZ) (Ocean Park), Lim’s Bestbreaker (NZ) (Battle Paint), Navy Seals (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), Per Incrown (NZ) (Per Incanto) & Star North (NZ) Savabeel). View the full article

The retirement of stable star Live Drama has left some large shoes to fill in Lance Robinson’s stable, though there could be a new mare on the rise in Adannaya. Adannaya (NZ) (Niagara) was Robinson’s sole representative at Wingatui on Saturday, and as the track worsened to a Soft7 pre-race, the mare looked an ominous chance in the Gallagher Open Insurance 1200m, starting the $6.00 fourth-fancy in an even market headed by the ever-consistent Emanon ($3.90). In the hands of Joe Doyle, the daughter of Niagara was slow away from barrier six alongside the favourite, though was allowed to relax at the tail while Emanon strode to the lead alongside Amberecho. Doyle began to urge the mare turning for home, and she responded with an impressive turn-of-foot to storm past Henry Hubber and Emanon to score by two lengths, a performance that panned out as hoped for the Northern hoop. “Lance told me not to rush her out of the gates, because she can get quite keen, so he said to sit back and round them up turning in, and she’s put them to bed. It was a credit to the horse, she picked up really well,” Doyle said. “These types of sprinters, if their on the right day, they can compete to a very high level. “Also, a big thank-you to Lance, he gives me a lot of support when I come down here so it’s nice to reward him with a winner.” The victory was the six-year-old’s sixth from 34 starts, with a second-place finish in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) two-starts back giving Robinson a vote of confidence for the Soft conditions on Saturday. “I was really thrilled with her run,” Robinson said. “The bit of rain they got overnight was a big help to her in just taking the speed out of the race.” “She was well ridden by Joe, he gave her a beautiful run as she’s better ridden a little bit cold and gave her a bit of space. She finished off how I thought she would, so it was a really pleasing result.” The mare is likely set to have a brief freshen-up over the coming weeks, before a potential further tilt at black-type in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on April 16. “At this stage, we may get her home and give her ten days in the paddock. We’ve got the Breeders’ Stakes over 1400m, so we may then possibly target that. She’ll let me know, but we’ll just see how she goes between then and that race.” Though delighted with Adannaya’s efforts, Robinson paid a special tribute to Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) after announcing her retirement to the South Island industry last week. A seven-year-old daughter of Ghibellines, Live Drama had been a picture of consistency throughout a highly-successful career in Robinson’s Riccarton stable, with nine victories and a further twelve minor placings from 35 race-day appearances. Among her credentials, the mare had recorded black-type wins in the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and back-to-back Great Easter Stakes (1400m) crowns at Listed level, alongside countless Top 3 finishes. Robinson had planned to retire Live Drama at the completion of the season, however she had become somewhat of an enigma at the barriers, and decided prior to last Saturday’s Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) to call time on her own terms. “She was a really good horse to the stable, she won her very first start as a two-year-old, and raced all the way through to a seven-year-old mare,” Robinson said. “She raced in the best of company down here, carried big weights, and was just a really classy mare in my opinion. “She had three attempts at the Stewards Stakes (Listed, 1200m) and she ran second two years in a row (then at Group Three level), and then came back after a year away to run fifth this year, carrying a huge weight of 59kgs and was buffeted the whole way. “We’re all extremely proud of her around our stable, and she’ll be very sadly missed, but it’s in her best interests. She’s telling us she’s had her time, so she’ll be sold as a broodmare.” View the full article

Local apprentice jockey Ciel Butler had an unforgettable day in the saddle at New Plymouth on Saturday, riding a winning double that included her first victory at black-type level. The 22-year-old opened her account for the day aboard Stratford sprinter Ifndoubtgetout (NZ) (Keano) in the $50,000 McCurdy Trucks Open (1400m). The Keano gelding was the subject of a remarkable betting plunge, opening at $16 and jumping as a $2.70 favourite. He led every step of the way and lived right up to expectations with a dominant 10-length romp. But there was even better still to come for Butler, who later rode Contribute (NZ) (Contributer) for her employer Robbie Patterson in the $120,000 Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m). Butler gave the six-year-old Contributer mare a comfortable midfield run before presenting her out wide at the home turn and finishing powerfully down the straight for a half-length local triumph. “It’s been a great day, and to win the Taranaki Cup for Rob was definitely an awesome feeling,” Butler said. “With Ifndoubtgetout, I think a lot of people sometimes forget that he was good enough to run third in the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) last year. He was drawn one today and went down to 51kg with the claim, and there wasn’t much chance of stopping him. He was trucking the whole way and really dominated the race. Tracey (Bliss, owner-trainer) does such a good job with that horse. “Contribute’s a special horse for me. I ride her all the time and have been riding her ever since I started working for Rob. Her work during this week was phenomenal, and she really kicked away well in the straight today. It was a very good win.” Notably, Saturday’s double included a milestone 40th career winner, which means Butler’s allowance will now drop from 3kg to 2kg. Butler rode 24 winners last season and is firmly on target to overhaul that tally in 2023-24, having already racked up 17 wins with almost six months remaining. “I’m pretty stoked about going down to a two-kilo claim after today,” Butler said. “That was something I wanted to achieve, and now I just hope I can keep this good run rolling.” View the full article

Making her first start for trainer Michael McCarthy and returning from a third in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), Three Witches scored by 2 1/2 lengths over Chismosa in the Feb. 3 Santa Monica Stakes (G2).View the full article

Using a front-end, ground-saving trip under jockey Paco Lopez, Hades put away a stretch challenge from favored Fierceness to win the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

For the first time in her five North American starts Bellabel seized the early lead Feb. 3 in the $101,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park and that running style proved to her liking under jockey Flavien Prat. View the full article

Trainer Butch Reid's latest excursion to the Empire State added another New York Racing Association graded stakes victory to his resume as Michael Milam's Uncle Heavy took the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

Trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. combine for stakes victories Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park with Mystik Dan and Band of Gold in the $800,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) and $250,000 Martha Washington Stakes, respectively.View the full article