Wandering Eyes

After announcing its presence with authority as a first-time seller on day one of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, the fledgling Case Clay Thoroughbred Management signed for Friday's top two lots–a pair of last-out maiden winners for $350,000 apiece–at Keeneland's single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale Friday. The co-topping Double Dream (Curlin), a winning 3-year-old half-sister to MGISW Verrazano (More Than Ready), GSW El Padrino (Pulpit), et al, will be heading to Australia for a client of Arrowfield Stud's, Clay said. Consigned by ELiTE, the Peter Brant homebred earned her diploma with a narrow, come-from-behind maiden win for trainer Chad Brown at third asking on dirt at Parx last out Oct. 3. Purchased by Case Clay/Jon Freyer, agent, Hip 4226 hails from the family of champion Queena and Grade I winners Chic Shirine, Serra Lake, Olympiad, Preservationist, Somali Lemonade and Harmonize. “Double Dream is gonna go down to Australia, ultimately to be bred,” Clay said by phone nearing the conclusion of trade. “She's really well bred by Curlin out of a Giant's Causeway mare. Just an outstanding female family and she's really pretty as well. Looking forward to seeing her babies in Australia.” Regarding if a potential mate has been decided for Double Dream, Clay said, “Not yet. She would suit a lot of them down there. Maybe she'll race a little bit down there, but ultimately, she will be for breeding purposes.” The 2-year-old colt Edgartown (Quality Road), a last-out maiden winner for West Bloodstock and trainer Joe Sharp at third asking over the Churchill Downs lawn Nov. 4, brought the same leading figure from Clay on behalf of Wathnan Racing. Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock LLC and W. S. Farish, Edgartown is from the female family of the brilliant Hall of Famer Serena's Song. Consigned by Highgate Sales, Agent I, as Hip 4230, he is the first foal out of the Fed Biz mare Love Child. Case Clay | Keeneland “He's gonna race here in the U.S.,” Clay said. “Liked him for his form, really. Recent winner at Churchill Downs in his third start. Before that, he was second by a neck to a next-out Churchill Downs maiden special weight winner. In his debut, he was second to next-out GII Bourbon S. winner Can Group (Good Samaritan), who finished fourth, beaten two lengths for the win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Haven't picked out a trainer yet for him.” Regarding the final price paid for the duo, Clay added, “Very happy to get them, but we were at the end on both of them.” Case Clay Thoroughbred Management sold Puca (Big Brown), dam of this year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), for $2.9 million at Keeneland November in a private, post-RNA transaction to John Stewart. Clay's operation also consigned $1.65-million seller Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) at the previously concluded nine-day auction. “Very grateful to my clients,” Clay said. “Feel lucky to have participated in the sale and selling those two mares and also buying these two and another mare ($160,000 Avow for Tordrillo Ventures) earlier in the sale.” Last year, Keeneland created the stand-alone auction for horses of racing age, who formerly were included in the November Breeding Stock Sale. The 2022 sale was topped by the then unraced 2-year-old colt Extortion (Into Mischief), who brought $1 million from Mick Wallace, agent, on behalf of Gandharvi Racing, to dissolve a partnership. Friday, 155 horses sold through the ring for $7,864,000, for an average of $50,735 and a median of $30,000. The gross declined 28.47% from $10,994,500 paid for 160 horses, while the average was 26.17% lower than $68,716 last year and the median was 16.67% below $36,000. With sales of $2,635,000 for 38 horses sold through the ring, ELiTE was the auction's leading consignor. “Overall, it was a healthy day of trade,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “A diverse group of buyers from around the world representing breeders, bloodstock agents, racing interests and trainers participated. The clearance rate was right at 84% and trade was consistent throughout the day. Fillies and colts with good pedigrees and race records sold extremely well.” He continued, “This is a sale that allows buyers to come in and do their homework. They can see these horses, vet them and put them through the scrutiny they need in this more stringent environment. That creates a very healthy transparency that is critical at this point. Overall, we are very satisfied.” Tony Lacy | Keeneland What They're Saying… “When you bring a horse to this sale, you can take X-rays, scope them and (veterinarians) and buyers can lay their hands on them. You get top dollar because there is confidence buying them here. Hats off to Keeneland for having these sales.” —Jacob West of Highgate Sales, who raced and sold co-topper Edgartown in the name of West Bloodstock. “I really like grass fillies, and we like to breed grass horses. I think she's a really nice mare. She's very physically fit, she's a nice one. I looked back at her races to see what she did. I liked that she started young and right away, and she's still going, which is pretty good. (For) as long as she's been running, (her record is) pretty solid.” —Dixiana owner William J. Shively on MSW & GSP Train to Artemus (Tapizar), who brought $250,000. Dixiana was the sale's leading buyer, spending $415,000 for two horses. “He's been on our radar for quite a while. We've been looking for sons of Curlin. He's obviously starting off as a fantastic sire of sires. I think he's just super impressive. To have a graded stakes-winning son of Curlin is just a tremendous asset. The colt was absolutely beautiful; he could not have been better looking. I don't think I've bought a horse as good-looking as that. We're just delighted to have him.” —agent Chad Schumer on Grade III winner King Fury, who is heading off to stud in Saudi Arabia. The post Recent Maiden Winners Share Spotlight at Keeneland’s Horses of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 3:15p.m. ET Jumping from the middle of the field and carrying an expensive $650,000 KEESEP tag in addition to Irad Ortiz Jr. is CHP Racing's SPENDALOT (More Than Ready). The full-sister to MGSW & GISP Consumer Spending comes into this race with a consistent work tab for conditioner Chad Brown. Beneath her second dam Shaconage (El Prado {Ire}) is the dam of several Chilean Group and stakes runners including GSW & G1SP Jacare (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) as well as GSP La Jardinera (Chi) (Verrazano). To her far outside is the pair of homebreds Scandalous (Mastery) and Spinning Class (Twirling Candy). The former is a Pletcher trainee who will carry the colors of co-breeder and co-owners Bass Stables. Cheyenne Stables bought into the filly out of a half-sister to MSW Pickapocket (Mecke); GSW & GISP Wild At Heart (Indian Charlie) and that one's full-sister GSP Visavis. Spinning Class hails from the venerable Janney operation, owned by Stuart S. Janney III, and is the first to the races for GSW My Impression (Sky Mesa), herself a half-sister to the dam of GSW Scarlett Sky (Sky Mesa). This is the female line of Claiborne stalwart First Samurai. TJCIS PPs 7th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:01p.m. ET Making her career-first start for owner Godolphin is HOPE MISSION (Medaglia d'Oro), the flagbearer to the races for GSW & GISP Arabian Hope (Distorted Humor), who is herself a half-sister to $3.65m FTFMAR grad MGSW Cezanne (Curlin) and MSP Counterforce (Smart Strike). This is the female family of GISW Streaming (Smart Strike); champion 3-year-old filly MGISW Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy); MGSW & GISP Tyson (Tapit); and MGISW Arcangelo (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs The post Nov. 18 Insights: Well-bred Fillies Take the Stage in Kentucky, New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has withdrawn his appeal of a three-day suspension for “for failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch and causing interference” aboard 11-10 favorite Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), who successfully defended her title by winning the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. There was no stewards' inquiry posted after Goodnight Olive's win. The Equibase chart noted that Goodnight Olive “drifted in, taking the path of Society [Gun Runner] near the three-sixteenths pole” before she “quickly opened clear and held safely.” Ortiz, who is North America's winningest jockey in both victories and purse earnings for 2023, will now serve his days Nov. 24-26 according to a California Horse Racing Board ruling issued on Friday. The post Ortiz, Jr. Drops Appeal of Suspension For Winning Breeders’ Cup Ride On Goodnight Olive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing on Saturday, November 18 will feature 14 meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Caulfield, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Morphettville, Ascot & Darwin. Saturday Racing Tips – November 18, 2023 Caulfield Racing Tips Newcastle Racing Tips Sunshine Coast Racing Tips Morphettville Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Darwin Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For November 18, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $135.04 odds return: Saturday, November 18, 2023 Caulfield Race 1 – #1 Dunkel Newcastle Race 9 – #11 Tavi Time Sunshine Coast Race 4 – #4 Helluva Barty Morphettville Race 1 – #3 En Francais Ascot Race 2 – #2 Special Sort | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on November 18, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

A breeding right in sire-on-the-rise Havana Grey (GB) (lot 152) is one of the highlights of the catalogue of next week's Tattersalls Online November Sale, which was released this week. Featuring a record 154 entries of both Flat and National Hunt horses, the catalogue is comprised of 86 horses in- and out-of-training, 27 yearlings, 23 broodmares, eight foals, three point-to-pointers and seven breeding rights. Based at Whitsbury Manor Stud, the grey was named the leading European First-Season Sire of 2022, and his offspring continue to go from strength to strength. He celebrated his first winner at the top table with the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. dynamo Vandeek (GB) this year. He will stand for an increased fee of £55,000 in 2024. Other breeding rights on offer include Cracksman (GB) (lot 151), who sired the undefeated Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire); while Aclaim (Ire) (lot 149), Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (lot 150), Land Force (Ire) (lot 153), Le Brivido (Fr) (lot 154) and Territories (Ire) (lot 148) all feature. Among the broodmares is the graded producer Washington Blue (GB) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) (lot 136) who is carrying to Group 1 sire Starspangledbanner (Aus). There are also mares in foal to Bungle Inthejungle (GB), Harry Angel (Ire), Sergei Prokofiev and Ulysses (Ire) among others. The 94-rated Dire La Verite (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}) (lot 43) will go through the ring, as will the stayer Ravenscraig Castle (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (lot 7) on the Flat. Cracksman is represented in the yearling portion of the sale, as is Nathaniel, New Bay (GB), Oasis Dream (GB), Saxon Warrior (Jpn), and the aforementioned Starspangledbanner. Young sire Lucky Vega (Ire) will have his first foals. Bidding will commence at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and end beginning at noon on Thursday, Nov. 23. For the full catalogue, please visit the Tattersalls Online website. The post Record Number Of Entries Catalogued For The Tattersalls Online November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horses and Hope, founded in 2008 to increase breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral among Kentucky's horse industry workers and other special populations, will celebrate 15 years of existence with a special day of racing at Churchill Downs Sunday, Nov. 19. The festivities will include remarks from former Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear, the founder of the organization and current Governor Andy Beshear. The program has hosted screenings and events honoring cancer survivors across the state in collaboration with the Horses and Hope/UofL Health Brown Cancer Center Screening Van and the Horses and Hope Pink Ford Mustang. Operated by the UofL Health–Brown Cancer Center, the Horses and Hope van launched in 2016 has screened more than 17,000 women for breast cancer. Through breast cancer race days at Kentucky racetracks, Horses and Hope has reached more than one million racing fans. Horses and Hope has been expanded to offer cancer prevention and early detection programs along with screening and treatment referrals for many different cancers through the mobile van. Special events are held throughout the state to honor breast cancer survivors and to raise funds for Horses and Hope, including events at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Ellis Park, the North American Championship Rodeo and others. The post Horses and Hope To Celebrate 15 Years of Cancer Education Sunday at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Tom Lacey paid £205,000 for Piper Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) (lot 39) to top the first edition of the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale since it was rebranded under the Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales banner on Friday. Consigned by Harley Dunne Racing, the 4-year-old filly was one of nine horses to make £100,000 or more. An October maiden winner at Umma House, she is out of a full-sister to Grade 3 hurdle winner Blacklough (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}). She was a €58,000 purchase by Dunne and Rob James out of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last term. “I was hopeful she'd make that as she's a beautiful filly,” said Dunne. “She was well entitled to make that, but you just don't know when you come here. I'm absolutely over the moon for everyone involved in her and all the lads in the yard. She was going down well so I was hopeful she'd get to that kind of money, but you never know until you get into the ring.” Another filly, the former €55,000 store horse and now-maiden winner Honky Tonk Highway (Ire) (Milan {GB}) (lot 8), was knocked down for £165,000 to Ryan Mahon/Dan Skelton Racing earlier in the day from the consignment of leading vendor Colin Bowe Racing's Milestone Stables. Lot 23, the gelding Saint Kristobal (Fr) (Jeu St Eloi {Fr}), was picked up for £155,000 by Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls. Part of Warren Ewing's Bernice Stables, the 4-year-old was a winner at Tattersalls in October and is out of the listed-placed mare Belle Josee (Fr) (Merlin Mago {GB}). Held at Cheltenham Racecourse, the sale featured point-to-pointers and horses-in-training, with 31 horses sold of 41 offered (76%) for a gross of £2.3 million. The average and median both declined to £74,194 (-13%) and £58,000 (-9%), respectively. The post Lacey Strikes For Piper Park At Cheltenham appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cartoonist Remi Bellocq, who pens the popular weekly Friday cartoon in the TDN, has launched a new website, www.remidraws.com. The site, designed by Alissa Miller and Alex Bellocq, showcases all of Bellocq's artwork, allowing fans to simply browse through his vast library of work, or to buy prints or original artwork. The site also features information about the artist, the son of world-renowned cartoonist Pierre “Peb” Bellocq, along with articles and videos showing Bellocq creating his cartoons. “It has been my experience that horse people–at every level–have a wonderful capacity for humor,” said Bellocq. “My hope with Remidraws.com is for visitors to, first and foremost, have a good laugh!” Bellocq said that future plans for the site also include a cartoon caption contest and interactive video cartooning classes for kids. The post Bellocq Launches New Site, Remidraws.com appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Mike Love Russley trainer Steve Dolan couldn’t be happier with his filly Our Shangri Lana after taking out the Group one Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes 2YO Fillies Final at Addington on Friday. “It’s so exciting, and I’m so stoked! It was easier feeding the horses tonight in the rain than it usually would be.” Our Shangri Lana led from barrier one for visiting Australian driver Cameron Hart, where they remained for the remainder of the race, holding off all challenges to win by a neck from runner up Madrid for Mark and Nathan Purdon. Favourite Coastal Babe got the trail behind Our Shangri Lana but couldn’t make much headway, finishing fourth. “We put the blinds on her today to sharpen her up if she ended up leading. And the beauty with her is that if she was crossed, she’d still relax in the blinds anyway,” Dolan said of his charge. “Cameron (Hart) drove Amore Vita twice for two wins, so he has kept that strike rate 100% with me.” It was his second Group 1 for the week, following Swayzee’s New Zealand Cup triumph three days earlier. Our Shangri Lana is raced by John and Marsha MacKenzie, who also bred her. “She was supposed to be sold, but it didn’t quite get across the line. So we were left with her. I told the owners not to panic, and here we are.” “I told them if you give me some time with this horse we will win a Group 1! It came a little bit sooner than we expected, but it’s a great start.” “She’s got such a great gait, good attitude and ticks all the right boxes.” The MacKenzies breed and sell most of their stock, including recent star Rock N Roll Doo who has currently won over $500,000 in stakes in Australia. Dolan celebrated the win on course with Devon van Til, Laura McKay who is Dolan’s “right hand man” at the stables, along with his daughter Taylah. “Having them all there with me made it extra special.” Our Shangri Lana will likely head towards the Ace Of Diamonds on Grand Prix day at Addington on December 10th. “She’s still 5 or 6 months away yet. She’s still growing and will only get stronger.” View the full article

By Michael Guerin On face value Addington’s iconic Show Day meeting yesterday looked like any other major race meeting. It was anything but. Peruse the results and you would see superstar trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon trained the winners of both the $300,000 Dominion with Oscar Bonavena and the $200,000 New Zealand Pacing Free-For-All with Self Assured. Nothing unusual in that, after all they trained two Group 1 winners on Tuesday too and usually pick up a couple at our major meetings. That fact Oscar Bonavena finally won one of our great trots won’t surprise anybody as he has been a rare talent his whole career, often betrayed by his own physical frailties which have seemed under control this campaign. But even his trainers thought he would struggle to beat red hot favourite Muscle Mountain, who tracked him into the race at the 1800m mark before dropping out and being pulled up to a walk. The culprit? That arch enemy of punters atrial fibrillation, a heart beat irrgularity, which Muscle Mountain has never suffered from before and many horses never suffer again. So the big horse will be all right but the little horse Oscar Bonavena made the most of the favourite’s issue to explode to a commanding victory four years after starting odds-on in the Dominion. Oscar was so good yesterday he might have won anyway but the best horse in the country having a misfiring ticker sure helps. “That is very satisfying, after all the issues he has had,” said Purdon. Those words could also sum up Self Assured’s defence of his NZ Free-For-All title if not for the shock around his defeat of stablemate Akuta. The Free-For-All weirdness started when Cup winner Swayzee was scratched on Thursday leaving Akuta the $1.20 favourite and that all looked to be going well until he rolled into a shock gallop when leading with a lap to go. Culprit No.2? Akuta was tripped up by his own hopple shortener string, which dangles below the sulky seat, as one of his hind legs hooked over it. This never happens, until it did. The incident could have been far worse as Akuta was lucky not to fall, which would have been a horror show, instead regathering himself but never really looking comfortable after. He had still shaken off the rest of his challengers at the top of the straight before Self Assured, who was racing so poorly three weeks ago he was pulled out of the Cup, blew straight past him from last to win. Self Assured has always been a wonderful pacer but his time has looked passed as he had struggled this spring, troubled by his allergies but also looking to have lost his sheer speed. He found it again at the top of the Addington straight and sailed past his stablemate in the hands of Tony Herlihy to leave punters reeling and the bookmaker having not just dodged a bullet but an artillery shell. “We thought he would go better today because he has been getting over his allergies but we didn’t think he could beat Akuta,” admits co-trainer Nathan Purdon. Akuta may have been tired after trying to hard to bridge the gap in Swayzee in the Cup on Tuesday and his mid-race tangle sure didn’t help. Or maybe some days belong to the punters and some belong to the bookies and that theme was consistent in the other Group 1 yesterday when huge market drifter Our Shangri Lana led throughout to give trainer Steve Dolan his first Group 1 training success. She was $4.50 to $11 in the markets but never looked like losing after leading for Cup-winning Aussie driver Cameron Hart while hot favourite Coastal Babe sat in the trail and couldn’t make up an inch of ground. That was an unforgettable Show Day 2023. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Nathan Purdon could only think of one person when Oscar Bonavena swept past his rivals to win the Group 1 Dominion at Addington on Show Day. The injury-plagued trotter was at his scintillating best when unleashing an incredible burst of speed to win the most sought-after prize in New Zealand trotting. Oscar Bonavena was raced by the patriarch of the Purdon harness racing dynasty, champion trainer the late Roy Purdon, until his death in February of last year. Nathan Purdon, who trains the speedster in partnership with his father Mark, said he couldn’t help but think of his grandfather as Oscar Bonavena powered to victory. “I thought of him as the horse ran past them in the straight – it really added to the emotion of the win,” Purdon said. “He always followed the horse and was interested in what he was doing and how he was going.” “Even though he couldn’t be here to see it, the win is still very special.” Oscar Bonavena was something of a forgotten horse leading into this year’s Dominion. Muscle Mountain was the headline act following a string of brilliant spring performances. Harness racing fans were left shocked when the favourite couldn’t stride out properly, being pulled out of the race with a lap to go with a suspected atrial fibrillation. Soon after, Mark Purdon was angling Oscar Bonavena into a perfect spot, allowing the trotter to be saved to deliver his lethal burst of speed. A Group 1 Dominion brings incredible satisfaction to any harness racing trainer, but the battle to get Oscar Bonavena to peak for the time-honoured event made it even more special for the Purdon barn. That’s significant considering the All Stars trainers have just completed yet another domination of New Zealand Cup Week. “He is incredibly fast; you would struggle to find a trotter like him, he just has blistering speed,” Purdon said. “But right throughout his career, he has had one niggling problem after another.” “It could be a hock of a stifle or a knee; he is constantly had problems.” “He isn’t the type of horse that is going to break down tomorrow, but he is one that we have to constantly manage.” “We have to space his races; we have to be able to get him right between his races and then go again.” “The most frustrating part is that when we get him right, he is very hard to keep right.” “So for him to be at his best for a big day like today is very satisfying.” Following the late Roy Purdon’s passing, Mark Purdon took over his share in Oscar Bonavena, who is also raced by leading North American trainer, ex-pat Kiwi, Chris Ryder. To make a big week even bigger for the Purdon barn, a matter of minutes later, Self Assured swept home from last to win the Group One New Zealand Free-For-All, downing the hot favourite, his stablemate Akuta. View the full article

America's Best Racing sizes up this year's Bob Hope Stakes (G3).View the full article

Hall of Famer Bobby Ussery, whose many accomplishments in the saddle included a victory aboard Proud Clarion in the 1967 Kentucky Derby, has passed away, it was reported Friday by the Gulfstream Park media team. He was 88. Gulfstream reported that Ussery, a native of Vian, Oklahoma, was in Florida at the time of his passing. His son, Robert Ussery Jr. told the Daily Racing Form that his father died earlier this week of congestive heart failure and was living in Hollywood, Florida, at the time. Sports Illustrated called Ussery's ride aboard Proud Clarion “one of the best in Derby history.” Ussery thought he might have a good weekend in Louisville. “I might have won it with Bally Ache in 1960, but we finished second,” he said. “Then I thought I'd win it this year with Reflected Glory. When that didn't work out, I still figured–just a hunch, I guess–that it was my year, no matter what horse I rode. I had a real hunch.” Ussery wasted little time proving he could win at the highest levels of the sport. In his very first official mount, he rode Reticule to victory in the 1951 Thanksgiving Day H. at the Fair Grounds. But, according to a 2020 feature on Ussery on the America's Best Racing website, Ussery had been riding for years, often for trainer Tommy Oliphant in Texas, at a time when official pari-mutuel races weren't being held in Texas and racing was conducted on an unofficial grassroots basis. Dave Kindred wrote in the April 19, 1974, edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal: “At age 5 [Ussery] was first lifted onto a horse … at age 10 he rode Quarter Horses for $5 a race. At 14, he was galloping horses at Texas and Nebraska racetracks.” Ussery spent much of the 1950's in Florida, where he was a top rider, before moving to the New York circuit. He had one of his best years in 1960 when he was the top North American rider in terms of stakes purses won. His mounts that year included 2-year-old male champion Hail To Reason and Bally Ache, who won the Preakness, Flamingo and Florida Derby. In 1968, he was aboard Dancer's Image, who crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby but was disqualified due to a medication violation for phenylbutazone. “Dancer's Image is a better horse,” Ussery said in the immediate aftermath of the 1968 Derby. “Proud Clarion just happened to have a day for himself. This is a real good one.” Other notable wins for the Oklahoma native came in the Whitney H., the Alabama S., the Travers, the Hopeful, the Mother Goose, the Coaching Club American Oaks, the Carter H, the Canadian International S. and the Queens Plate S. He was a two-time winner of the Brooklyn H. and the Wood Memorial. Ussery retired in 1974 with a record of 3,611 victories from 20,593 races. At the time he was one of only 10 jockeys to have ridden 3,000 or more winners. In 1980, the he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Ussery had a unique riding style in which he would often take horse toward the outside of the track, near the crown, on the turn and before diving toward the rail. The theory was that his mounts would pick up momentum as they were essentially racing down hill. The move was dubbed “Ussery's Alley.” After his retirement he worked as a bloodstock agent and as a jockey agent. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Ussery's memory to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at pdjf.org. The post Hall of Fame Jockey Bobby Ussery Passes at 88 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Group 3 winner Kenway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}–Kendam {Fr}, by Kendargent {Fr}) will stand for €3,000 at Coolagown Stud in partnership with his owners, the Chehboub family, next year, Jour de Galop reported. Bred by Guy Pariente Holding, he was a €56,000 Arqana August buy for the Cheboubs' Haras de la Gousserie, who campaigned him across five seasons and 38 starts. Successful in the G3 Prix la Rochette and a trio of listed races, the 6-year-old was also group-placed another four times and has earned $338,774. “We are delighted with this partnership with Coolagown Stud on Kenway, as well as having found him a place at stud in Ireland, where he will have an interesting number of mares available,” Pauline Chehboub told JDG. “He has the profile to be a very versatile sire and should attract broodmares on the Flat and over obstacles.” The best foal of his G3 Prix Eclipse-winning dam who also ran third in the G1 Prix de la Foret, Kenway is kin to G1 Galaxy winner Snowland (Aus) (Snippets {Aus}). Coolagown's roster is completed by Storm The Stars, who bred 86 mares in his first season, and is also at €3,000; Shantaram (GB) at €1,000; Way To Paris (GB) who attracted 126 partners and will be €3,500; and Zambezi Sun (GB) at €2,000. The post Group Winner Kenway To Stand At Coolagown Stud Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After further research into findings of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has withdrawn its cases against trainers Keri Brion and R. McLane Hendriks over recent findings of the banned substance.View the full article

Sir Alex Ferguson was feted as the special guest of the Bahrain International Trophy (G2) only to become the central figure of the big race himself as his homebred gelding Spirit Dancer upset a strong field in the US$1 million race.View the full article

Hall of Fame jockey Bobby Ussery, a Kentucky Derby winner who was ranked fifth in career earnings when he retired in 1974, has died in South Florida, according to a Nov. 17 Gulfstream Park release.View the full article

A rewarding claim who developed into a multiple stakes winner, Train to Artemus continued paying off Nov. 17, selling for $250,000 to Dixiana Farms during the November Horses of Racing Age Sale at Keeneland.View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration (Quality Road), a fast-closing upset winner of the GIII Virginia Derby at second asking Sept. 9, will put his perfect record on the line in Saturday's GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct. The $700,000 FTSAUG yearling graduate earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure while defeating GI Saratoga Derby Invitational winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the Colonial Downs centerpiece. “I thought he ran really good [last time],” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “I didn't know what to expect. It's not my style to run a maiden winner back in a stake, but it looked like the time to take a chance and it worked out.” The Hill Prince field of nine also includes a trio from the Chad Brown barn. Equitize (GB) (Kingman {GB}) returns from the bench following a debut win on the Tampa grass back in March; the streaking Faraday (Ghostzapper), who enters off a narrow Kentucky Downs allowance score Sept. 10; and last year's GII Pilgrim S. runner-up 'TDN Rising Star' I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing), who ended a five-race losing streak with an allowance win at the Big A Oct. 4. Saturday's graded stakes action also includes the GIII Chilukki S. at Churchill Downs and the GII Kennedy Road S. at Woodbine. The post Integration Looks to Stay Perfect in Hill Prince appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Baoma's Nysos, a 2-year-old on everyone's radar after his flashy 10 1/2-length debut romp, takes the jump into stakes company in the Nov. 19 $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.View the full article

After further research into findings of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine (BZE), the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has withdrawn its cases against trainers Keri Brion and R. McLane Hendriks over recent findings of the banned substance.View the full article

Sir Alex Ferguson was feted as the special guest of the Bahrain International Trophy only to become the central figure of the big race himself as his homebred gelding Spirit Dancer upset a strong field in the US$1 million race.View the full article

A Cotai Glory (GB) half-brother to G1 Matron S. winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) led the way at the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale when selling to John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud for 37,000gns. Consigned by Railstown Stud, the Cotai Glory foal is out of La Cuvee (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), who has produced five-time winner Daddies Girl (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) as well as the high-class Champers Elysees. Foley commented, “He is a fine foal, a half-brother to a Group 1 winner, and we will see what happens. I have had a few by the stallion, he is a good sire and has had a Group 1 winner and is very commercial.” While the average climbed 13% to €6,748, the going remained tough with a 42% clearance rate, down 22% on last year. The aggregate was also down 11% to €533,100 while the median stayed the same at €4,000. Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins acknowledged the “market correction” taking place in the middle to lower tiers after the sale. He said, “Our sincere appreciation goes to every vendor and purchaser for their trust and support of the Sapphire Sale. The notable contributions from purchasers, particularly those from Italy and the UK, played a strong part in today's sale. “The year's earlier two Tattersalls Ireland flat sales were headlined by this year's record-breaking and vibrant trade at the Breeze Up Sale, which produced an aggregate that topped €8,500,000 for the first time, and achieved best-ever figures for average and median of €43,033 and €30,000, both numbers hitting new spheres of accomplishment. “The September Yearling Sale has firmly secured its position as an established choice for yearling buyers. Turnover for this year's renewal reflected this demand stretching over €12 million for the third year in succession with a record median of €28,000, an average over €30,000 for the third year in a row, and with yearlings selling at an 85 per cent clearance rate.” Kerins added, “However, the trading environment is not straightforward and as the year has come to an end it is evident that there is a market correction in place – buyers are adjusting their spend in light of the current economic headwinds leading to some contraction and a difficult marketplace at the lower levels. “As the 2023 sales season comes to a close, I would like to acknowledge our vendors and purchasers who have supported Tattersalls Ireland throughout this past year, playing a crucial role in creating plenty of standout moments. Additionally, I would like to extend our appreciation to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their consistent support.” The post Brother To Group 1 Winner Champers Elysees Leads Way At Sapphire Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Edited Press Release Cases against trainers Keri Brion and R. Lane Hendriks for benzoylecgonine (BZE) positives in covered horses have been withdrawn, according to a release from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). The release from HIWU reads: “In accordance with the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's (HIWU) commitment to fairly and effectively implementing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, HIWU is in continuous communication with its contracted laboratories to promote harmonized and consistent testing. Historically, the presence of cocaine, a Banned Substance under the ADMC Program, has been regulated in blood and urine through its metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BZE). This is because cocaine quickly metabolizes in the body, making it difficult to detect through testing. The control of BZE in urine has been harmonized across testing laboratories for years. Recently, Covered Horses trained by Keri Brion and R. McLane Hendriks tested positive for BZE in blood. While controls in urine for BZE have long been established, no corresponding testing specifications existed for blood. These circumstances prompted HIWU to lift each trainer's Provisional Suspension and review scientific literature to determine appropriate testing specifications for blood such that it would correspond to existing controls in urine. The goal of this investigation was to ensure that cocaine is regulated consistently regardless of the testing matrix. Examination of the existing scientific literature failed to identify a testing specification for BZE in blood. However, in consultation with multiple scientific advisors, including laboratory directors, HIWU reviewed laboratory testing data in which BZE was detected in blood and urine samples collected in the same session and was able to determine a testing specification for blood based on this previously unavailable information. As a result of this investigation, HIWU concluded that the levels of BZE detected in the blood samples for Hendriks' and Brion's horses will not be pursued as Adverse Analytical Findings, for they did not exceed this new blood testing specification. In the interest of fairness to horsemen and program consistency, HIWU has elected to withdraw Brion's and Hendriks' cases.” The post HIWU Withdraws Cases Against Trainers Brion, Hendriks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three races at Sha Tin Racecourse Nov. 19 serve as final warmups for local horses for the season's biggest day, the Dec. 10 Hong Kong International Races.View the full article