Wandering Eyes

So Naive strides clear at Pukekohe Park on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Byerley Park trainers Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley produced their promising contingent of juveniles to an impressive quinella at Pukekohe on Saturday. In a compact field of six, the Wallace/Cooksley stable presented half of the two-year-old field and managed to fill the first two placings with So Naïve and Toruk Makto respectively. A son of U S Navy Flag, So Naïve jumped from the inside draw and was hustled to hold the pacemaking position under apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll, while stablemate Toruk Makto began alongside race-favourite Take The Crown, who briefly bucked and became detached from the remainder of the field early. The long-striding So Naïve travelled boldly in front throughout and despite racing greenly in the home straight, the colt showed a strong turn-of-foot to score by a length-and-a-quarter from a fast-closing Toruk Makto and Joe Doyle. “He was a wee bit slower out than I thought he would be, but we got there easy enough and got some nice sectionals out in front,” Lawson-Carroll said. “He was very strong, very forward and will be a nice horse to watch in the future.” So Naïve was a $37,500 purchase for Wallace Thoroughbreds out of Kilgravin Lodge’s Book 2 draft at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, while Eminent colt Toruk Makto was secured for $28,000 out of Brighthill Farm. More racing news View the full article

Seasons Wit wins at Happy Valley. Seasons Wit went a long way to confirming some of his early promise as he romped to a fourth straight win at Happy Valley. Expertly handled by superstar jockey Zac Purton, who collected a four-timer at the fixture, Seasons Wit (119lb) – trained by Jamie Richards – extended smartly for a three length first-up success in 56.91s over Reward Smile (115lb) and Carroll Street (113lb). “He’s done a really good job. He was a three-year-old last season and after a few runs he started to get the hang of it. Jamie was mindful to have him a little bit more ready for the start of this season because he took a couple of runs last season. “He’s matured nicely. Once he got the start right he found himself in the right spot and with no weight on his back he was able to do his job,” Purton said. By Capitalist, Seasons Wit racked up a hat-trick of wins across his final three outings last season over the course and distance in Class 3. He earned HK$3.09 million this afternoon for connections, which includes a HK$1.5 million ‘PP Bonus’. “We’d targeted the race for a little while. Obviously there aren’t too many races for his rating at Happy Valley over 1000 metres. He’s had a good preparation and he looks like he’s improved over the summer,” Richards said. After setting the early tempo, both Kurpany (130lb) and Nervous Witness (126lb) failed to make impacts, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. “He’s (Seasons Wit) going to run out of races at Happy Valley that are suitable because of his rating. He’s a 1000 metre horse around here and he probably has to stretch to 1200 metres at Sha Tin. “There is a suitable race for him here at the end of November, so we might look at that,” Richards said. Snapping a rare cold spell that saw Purton go winless across three race meetings in Hong Kong, the Australian’s four victories see him join jockey Hugh Bowman at the top of the championship table with 20 wins apiece. Purton’s third triumph came for trainer David Hayes aboard make-all winner Tomodachi Kokoroe. “He wasn’t the quickest out of the gates. It took him a little bit to get into his rhythm and stride. Once he was able to do that he travelled really, really nicely. “I let him come out off the bend to keep him balanced but he didn’t change his leg, which had me worried because it felt like he was going up and down in the one spot and getting a bit tired but he obviously kept the gallop up,” Purton said. The six-time champion jockey commenced his four-timer aboard Turin Mascot for trainer Pierre Ng. Purton and trainer Douglas Whyte successfully combined with Durham Star – an arrogant winner. “Today he had all of the favours, there was a really good, solid tempo and they never stop-started. He hugged the rail and that looks like the place to be today and he managed to get to the outside of horses. I think the win was a little bit flattering with the run that he did have but he deserved that and so did the owners,” Whyte said. Jockey Andrea Atzeni collected his seventh win from the last five race meetings with a double for trainer Ricky Yiu, who won the last three races at the city circuit. The Italian scored aboard Precise Express, who gained a start due to Vincy’s withdrawal. Atzeni made it a race-to-race double with a rail-hugging ride aboard Golden Artie in the Class 3 Zhaoqing Handicap (1200m). “I knew it was going to open up on my inside and he’s a gutsy horse. Great to get a double, I’m suspended on Wednesday (November 1) and it’s good to get a double for Rick Yiu – he’s been supporting me since I got here, so it’s great,” Atzeni said. Jockey Lyle Hewitson closed out Yiu’s trio aboard Splendid Living. “He’s super honest. On paper you can tell he likes to lead but the grey (Brilliant Way) has a lot of speed, I had to let him cross me because he was always going to eventually and hope that he kept up a genuine tempo,” Hewitson said. Jockey Brenton Avdulla grabbed a third win from the last three race meetings as Mr Valiant landed the Class 4 Foshan Handicap (1000m) by a neck for trainer David Hall. “He did a good job. He had nice form and he’s well down in rating from where he has been but he gave me plenty of confidence going to the gates and everything worked out really well,” Avdulla said. Nordic Combined claimed the Class 5 Chaozhou Handicap (1200m) for jockey Alexis Badel and trainer Chris So. So made it a double two races later as Hang’s Choice rounded the field to win under jockey Karis Teetan. Trainer Francis Lui indicated that Golden Sixty will go into the HK$32 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) first-up, seeming to abandon consideration for a tilt in the HK$5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m). “He needs a few barrier trials. He’ll trial on Tuesday (31 October),” Lui said. More racing news View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, October 30 will feature three meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Newcastle. Monday Racing Tips – October 30, 2023 Newcastle Racing Tips Monday’s Best Racing Bets Of The Day – October 30, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $32.05 odds return: Monday, October 30, 2023 Newcastle Race 1 – #3 Taunting Benalla Race 6 – #9 Wings Of Song Wellington Race 7 – #5 Wilbury | 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 October 30, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

What Grafton Races Where Clarence River Jockey Club – Powell St, Grafton NSW 2460 When Tuesday, October 31, 2023 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble NSW country racing heads to Grafton Racecourse on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-race program set for decision. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit, and with only scattered showers scheduled for October 31, the current Soft 5 track rating should hold up. The first race is set to get underway at 1:15pm AEDT. Best Bet: Written Fame Written Fame returned as a sensational winner at Murwillumbah on October 10, scoring by an impressive three lengths on the wire. It was only a small field of seven, but the arrogance with which he put his rivals to the sword really caught the eye. This BM58 over 1175m looks to be well within his grasp, and despite having his work cut out from barrier 15, we’ll leave it to Ashley Morgan to weave a passage in the last. Best Bet Race 8 – #16 Written Fame (15) 3yo Gelding | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Ashley Morgan (56kg) +150 with BoomBet Next Best: Prophets De’vine Prophets De’vine is unfortunate to only have one win on the resume, going down by a combined 0.16 of a length in her last two starts. The Annabel Neasham-trained mare should get a lovely run in transit from barrier one this time, and with the 2200m coming at an ideal time in the preparation, she will be doing her best work late. Next Best Race 1 – #5 Prophets De’vine (1) 4yo Mare | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Ashley Morgan (56.5kg) +190 with Bet365 Best Value: Pretty Little Liar Pretty Little Liar is third-up in her debut campaign and is showing great improvement every time she steps out. She held ground gamely when trying to lead all the way at Beaudesert on October 2, just peaking on the run after going at a strong clip throughout the 1400m contest. There is a query as to whether she will see out the 1700m here, but the each-way price with online bookmakers is too good to pass up. Best Value Race 2 – #8 Pretty Little Liar (9) 3yo Filly | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Ashley Morgan (55kg) +800 with Betfair Tuesday quaddie tip for Grafton races Grafton quadrella selections Tuesday, October 31, 2023 7-11-12-14 1-2-5-6 1-2-4-5-6 16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip View the full article

What Newcastle Races Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Monday, October 30, 2023 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble The new week of NSW racing kicks off at Newcastle Racecourse on Monday afternoon, as they get set to host a competitive eight-race program. The $40,000 Cessnock Cup is the headline act, and we should be racing on a much firmer surface than what the current Soft 7 rating may suggest. The forecast is promising, and with sunny skies hitting the circuit across the weekend, we’ll be hopeful of a possible Good 4 track with the rail out +3m the entire. The first race is set to get underway at 1:10pm AEDT. Cessnock Cup Top Tip: Roller Coaster Roller Coaster has had a lengthy campaign for the Paul Shailer barn but we’re hopeful the five-year-old gelding can produce one more peak performance this time in. The son of Ocean Park was luckless in his latest effort in metropolitan company, going to the line under a hold at Randwick (Kensington) on October 18. He’s super fit for this event, and with Aaron Bullock back in the saddle, we’re happy to side with Roller Coaster in the 2023 Cessnock Cup. Cessnock Cup Race 6 – #1 Roller Coaster (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Paul Shailer | J: Aaron Bullock (61kg) +270 with Betfair Best Bet at Newcastle: Deceive Deceive returned an impressive winner to crack his maiden status at Hawkesbury on October 19, and we’re confident the four-year-old can go on with the job. The John Thompson-trained mare powered over the top to score over 1000m, and despite racing greenly with 100m to run, the daughter of Deep Field put them away with relative ease. This is a much deeper Class 1 Handicap; however, with Deceive aided by a soft draw (3), back-to-back wins are well within reach. Best Bet Race 2 – #3 Deceive (3) 4yo Mare | T: John Thompson | J: Keagan Latham (59kg) +800 with Dabble Next Best at Newcastle: Ramius Ramius will return from a 141-day spell on Monday afternoon, with the three-year-old undergoing a gelding operation during his time away from racing. If he’s barrier trials since are anything to go by, it’s seemingly done wonders for the son of Russian Revolution. He charged home in his latest jump-out at Hawkesbury on October 16, going through the wire under a hold for Brock Ryan. Ramius will benefit from having race-day experience compared to a couple key rivals, and should hold him in good stead here. Next Best Race 5 – #8 Ramius (3) 3yo Gelding | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Brock Ryan (56.5kg) +380 with Neds Monday quaddie tips for Newcastle races Newcastle quadrella selections Monday, October 30, 2023 4-8 1-2-6-7 1-2-3 3-4-10 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

The last-start winner and an unbeaten import are the South African trainer’s highlights on Wednesday night’s Happy Valley cardView the full article

So you want to get involved in the Melbourne Cup but you don’t know anything about it. I’m not sure how that’s possible if you live in Australia, but sure, let’s go with it. View the full article

Promising mare Reputation is making quite the impression on trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard. The daughter of Iffraaj recorded her second win from four starts when taking out the Eagle Technology 1600 at Pukekohe last Saturday and her conditioners believe there are more to come from the four-year-old, who was ridden by visiting Australian hoop Celine Gaudray. “She’s a pretty good jockey Celine Gaudray, does a fair bit of riding for Mike (Moroney) in Melbourne, and when she came over to ride Luberon in the Soliloquy we thought it was a good opportunity to make use of her,” Gerard said. It was a month between runs for Reputation and Gerard said she is looking at backing her up at Trentham this weekend before sending her for a spell. “Each time, I’ve always spaced her races because she doesn’t carry a lot of extra (condition), but since that last run at Hastings she’s actually put on weight and got better,” Gerard said. “We’ll take it race-by-race, but we’ve got to give her an ease up at some stage. We haven’t put a lot of pressure on her, so we’ll let her tell us. “We’ll have a look through and see what else there is while she’s well and racing accordingly. She’ll let us know if she’s had enough for this prep, I think. “We might find something suitable down at Trentham, then maybe go home to Christopher’s farm from there for a couple of weeks. We’ll just wait and see.” View the full article

The Oaks Stud has a great association with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Cambridge farm are hoping to extend their legacy in the Riccarton Classic next month with Burn To Shine. “We have Catalyst (2019) and Darci Brahma (2005) who we were involved with and also with Buzz Lightyear (1999) when Terry Jarvis owned this place in the early years,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams said. “It is a good race for us and we hope that continues.” Burn To Shine will head into the race in winning form, having taken out the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton last Saturday. “It wasn’t a surprise to us and hopefully he is approaching his peak, which will hopefully be in two weeks’ time,” Williams said. “It’s lovely to have the confidence heading into it (Guineas) thinking we are a chance. I am sure the Annie Sarten form is stronger, so we have still got to improve again to beat that horse (Crocetti), but we are in the mix.” Burn To Shine is now the winner of three of his six starts, placing in his three other outings, including the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m), Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). There has been plenty of interest in the gelding, which owner Dick Karreman has resisted, with the hope of gaining Group One glory and further strengthening the family’s pedigree. “They (bloodstock agents) have been after him since he was a two-year-old, but we said all along that we are heading towards the Guineas,” Williams said. “We own Smoulder (dam) and we would love to win another Guineas, it has been a good race to us over the years, and it is worth a lot more money this year. “Smoulder is a mare we bred and raced. She was out of Flying Firebird, who we bought off the racetrack. She was a Group Two winner and placed in the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m). “We had a good filly out of her called Embers that was a Group-class horse in the making but got injured. We are breeding from her as well, so we have got a few members of the family. “The mare is back in-foal to So You Think and we have got a Hello Youmzain colt going to the sales out of her. She is looking like a very good producer.” View the full article

War Decree ensured Inglewood Stud received plenty of bang for their buck as backers at Riccarton of one of the key lead-ups to the Classics on the track next month. The War Front stallion is resident at Gus and Bianca Wigley’s farm, sponsors of Saturday’s Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1400m), and made his presence felt with a trio of winners on the undercard. “It was a really good day and the stallion had been threatening to do something like that for a while, so to put it all together on his day was great,” Gus Wigley sad. Stephen Marsh’s Burn To Shine won the event named in War Decree’s honour from Trobriand and Lantern Way with the visiting North Islanders to renew their rivalry in the upcoming Gr.1 Al Bast Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on November 11. The former now shares the third line of betting with Lantern Way at $8.50 with Trobriand the second fancy at $6.50 behind $1.75 pre-post favourite Crocetti, an unbeaten son of late Inglewood stallion Zacinto. War Decree was firstly represented on Saturday by the lightly raced Terri Rae-trained filly Sugar, who claimed the opening maiden event over 1400m. Spartan later claimed his second success from five appearances for local conditioners Russell McKay and Ashley Harrington and the Inglewood graduate Turf War landed the closing event for the third win of his 11-start career for trainer Samantha Wynne. “We have had a lot of positive feedback and War Decree will be serving between 60 and 70 mares, we’ve got 10 going to him and the rest are clients,” Wigley said. “There is a good degree of optimism here in the South Island, which is nice, with a boost in prizemoney and certainly more people willing to breed this year. “There had been a drop off in the last 10 years in mares down here, but there are lots of new faces and new people breeding and good old clients so it’s really positive.” Sugar is part-owned by War Decree fans Andrew Stuart and Riversley Park’s Sam Beatson and will head toward the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “She won really well and Andrew walked a mare into the stallion this (Monday) morning,” Wigley said. “He has partnered up with Sam Beatson, they’re good mates, and breeding six mares to the stallion this year so it’s great to have their support. “They are also in the ownership of Luvnwar, so they will have two War Decree fillies in the Guineas.” Also trained by Rae, Luvnwar has won one of her three starts and was a last-start third in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m). War Decree’s oldest crop are now four-year-olds with his leading performer to date the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) winner Val Di Zoldo. “The disappointing thing about War Decree is that he leaves such a good type and we wanted to put them in front of the Australian buyers, but his first crop that went to Karaka was in the COVID year and none of them were there,” Wigley said. “We just didn’t get many over to Aussie from that first crop, which was disappointing, but they are making their way over there now and in Hong Kong which is really nice for the horse. “Zacinto did a great job for us and War Decree has taken over the mantle. He’s exceptionally fertile and he’s got the most amazing libido. “He’s the most amazing stallion to have around and hopefully he’ll have a good Cup week down here in front of his home crowd.” War Decree is a son of War Front and won three times during a light career for Irish maestro Aidan O’Brien, racing exclusively in Group company following his debut win. He was successful in the Gr.2 Goodwood Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old and the following season added the Gr.3 Diamond Stakes (2000m) to his record. View the full article

A barnstorming finish carried progressive galloper Matscot to his biggest career victory when he took out the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The six-year-old son of Haradasun has a real penchant for performing on his home track with Saturday’s victory being his fourth at the venue and the most important for trainer Sharon Robertson, who co-bred him and also shares in his ownership. Rider Courtney Barnes gave her charge the perfect trip in transit as he lobbed along towards the rear of proceedings before beginning to get serious rounding the home bend. Initially blocked for a run behind a wall of horses, Barnes eased Matscot across heels to make his final bid at the 200m and he unleashed a powerful sprint to race past eventual runner-up Charms Star to win by more than a length at the line. Barnes was impressed by the effort which had been helped by an improvement in his barrier manners. “He was very good and felt very powerful at the finish,” Barnes said. “He has always had plenty of ability, but he could be slow away which affected where you could ride him. “He got away nicely this time and although he hit a flat spot approaching the turn, I could feel him building underneath me which gave me plenty of confidence. “When I asked him, he let down nicely and I think it was a very smart win.” Mascot holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) on November 15, where Barnes thought he would be a strong contender with a light weight, especially with plenty of pace on in the race. The highs and lows of racing were clearly evident for Barnes on the day as her mount in the last race on the card, Waihora Mist, knuckled over at the start and dislodged her. “She just came out a little awkwardly and dropped me when she knuckled over,” she said. “I’ve got a few bruises but nothing serious so I’m good to go again.” TAB Bookmakers currently have Matscot rated as a $21 chance in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile where It’s Business Time, who made it five wins in succession earlier in the day, is the $2.40 favourite. View the full article

Impendabelle reigned supreme in a dramatic running of the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Classy filly Impendabelle is now a Group Two winner at the ages of both two and three, surviving a protest to take out a chaotic running of the Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. The $175,000 fillies’ feature brought together the majority of the leading contenders for next month’s Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton and was expected to clear up the classic picture. Instead, the race created more questions than it answered. The first 1000m of the race were relatively uneventful, with the favourite Luberon shooting forward from a wide gate to lead the way until around the 300m mark. The challengers were by that stage beginning to build momentum in behind her, and the stage was set for an exciting battle to the finish. But Luberon suddenly threw it all away, veering sharply to the left and crashing into the outside running rail. Fortunately, she and her jockey Celine Gaudray escaped injury. In the meantime, Impendabelle surged through to take the lead in the centre of the track with 200m remaining. She was joined by Tulsi on her outside, while Mary Shan and Molly Bloom came at her with big strides closer to the rail. Impendabelle’s margin steadily dwindled as the four fillies set down to fight out a desperate finish. The leader dug deep to cling on to her small advantage, but she raced very greenly in the final few strides, drifting towards the fence and impeding both Mary Shan and Molly Bloom. The connections of Molly Bloom lodged a protest against the winner, but the placings stood, with Impendabelle beating Mary Shan, Tulsi and Molly Bloom. It was the third win of a seven-start career for Impendabelle, who kicked off her career with back-to-back victories as a spring two-year-old last season including the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. The daughter of Impending later finished third at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, then fifth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in her final start of the season. Impendabelle was a luckless seventh when she resumed in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September, clipping a heel and almost falling before recovering to get within three lengths of the winner Quintessa. In her only other start, she overcame a wide run for a solid second behind the undefeated Crocetti at Te Rapa. “She’s really had no luck at all this spring, and it looked like she might not get any today either,” Pike said. “I thought she’d have a nice run following Luberon, but she ended up being left alone in front and started to race a bit greenly. But she fought it out well and it was good to see her get the win. She deserved that.” Impendabelle will now push on towards the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 18, for which horse racing betting sites now rate her an +700 chance. “She’s a really relaxed filly, so I don’t expect the step up to 1600m to trouble her,” Pike said. “She ran the race out strongly today in a performance that looked a bit better to me than the margin might suggest.” The minor placegetters lost little in defeat on Saturday, with Mary Shan coming into a +600 quote for the 1000 Guineas while Molly Bloom now holds outright favouritism at +350. Tulsi is rated a +1100 chance. “It was a huge run – she should have won the race,” Mary Shan’s jockey Craig Grylls said. “She got shuffled back and flew home.” Joe Doyle, the rider of Molly Bloom, was similarly impressed with his mount. “She did well in a very messy race,” he said. “I’m confident that she’ll get the mile, so it’s onwards and upwards for her.” Luberon remains a +600 chance for the 1000 Guineas despite Saturday’s incident. It made for an up-and-down day for visiting Australian rider Celine Gaudray, who also recorded wins aboard Roc Dancer and Reputation. “She’s got a mind of her own, that horse,” Gaudray said about Luberon. “She was giving me such a nice feel until that stage. She still really has no idea what she’s doing, but there’s so much untapped ability there.” More racing news View the full article

Burn To Shine prevails in the feature Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Cambridge visitor Burn To Shine threw his name into the mix of serious contenders for the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) next month with a determined effort to take out the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton. The Stephen Marsh-trained three-year-old had finished third behind Saturday’s race-rival Lantern Way in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at his last start and turned the tables after enjoying a perfect run in transit for rider Johnathan Parkes. Parkes sat Burn To Shine one-out behind a muddling speed set up by Funfetti before joining issue shortly after turning for home. In contrast Lantern Way (+180) was forced to travel three-wide throughout before commencing his run at the 600m with the race favourite Trobriand (+170) tracking him all the way. Burn To Shine took control at the 300m and fought doggedly when tackled by the favoured pair, holding off the charge of Trobriand by half a length with a further length back to Lantern Way. Marsh was on track at Pukekohe for the day but admitted he had watched the race on television with some excitement. “It was a very good win and one he deserved as he has been going cracking races,” Marsh said. “Parkesy said there was no speed on and he probably got to the front a little soon, but he was very resolute and ran the mile out very strongly. “We train this one for The Oaks Stud, who are very big supporters of the stable, so it is great to get a win like that for them and repay the faith they have in us.” Marsh will now take Burn To Shine straight to the 2000 Guineas and is upbeat about his prospects. “We know now he gets a good mile and has experience on the track which will stand him in good stead for what comes next,” he said. “We also know the Guineas favourite (Crocetti) is a very fine horse but we are here with no travel ahead of us and we can just do our own thing and have him cherry ripe on the day.” Raced by The Oaks Sud principal Dick Karreman, who bred the horse, Burn To Shine is out of talented race mare Smoulder who numbered the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) amongst her four career victories. Horse racing bookmakers quickly slashed Burn To Shine’s odds for the 2000 Guineas from +2000 to +750 behind red hot favourite Crocetti (-133.33). More racing news View the full article

The 2023 Melbourne Cup is almost upon us, with the final field to be revealed this Saturday afternoon (November 4). View the full article

Trainer Michael Dini decided the best move for the gray or roan Arrogate gelding was to get him back on the track, even in the muddy conditions brought on by the day's rain.View the full article

Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) tuned up for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with a four-furlong drill in :48.20 (22/69) Sunday at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old comes into the Distaff with a string of four straight stakes victories, including a 5 1/4-length score in the Oct. 1 GII Zenyatta S., but will have to step up her game to win Saturday, according to trainer Bob Baffert. “She'll be running against a different type of filly on Saturday,” Baffert said. “She's a big, fast filly and she has a great mind. But this will be a class test. Her last race was great, but this is a step up. To win this race, you need to have a really good horse and have real good luck. Winning these races is not easy.” Also working for Baffert Sunday, GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) went four furlongs in :47.40 (11/69) in preparation for the GI Dirt Mile. “He looked good out there,” Baffert said. “I had him galloping out five furlongs in :59 and change. That last race seemed to wake him back up.” National Treasure is coming off a fourth-place effort in the Sept. 30 GI Awesome Again S. Baffert's GI F/M Sprint contender Eda (Munnings) went four furlongs from the gate in :47.40 (11/69) Sunday morning, while GI Juvenile contender Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) went five furlongs in 1:00.20 (5/61). Also working for the F/M Sprint, trainer Steve Asmussen sent Society (Gun Runner) out to drill three furlongs in :37.40 (11/15) Sunday. Godolphin's Mile contender Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) went out for a routine canter Sunday, but ended up working four furlongs in an unofficially timed :49 2/5. “Unfortunately that wasn't the plan,” said trainer Charlie Appleby's assistant Chris Connett. “All we wanted to do with him was go out for a steady canter, but he didn't have his hood on and unfortunately he took off with his rider. It was not quite what we hoped for or what was planned. We will now have to adjust his schedule accordingly with a quiet day tomorrow and he will definitely have the hood on him next time he's out on Tuesday morning.” GI Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Dr. Schivel (Violence), coming off a win in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 (19/61) Sunday for trainer Mark Glatt. Mott Runners Tune Up Trainer Bill Mott sent out four Breeders' Cup hopefuls to work at Santa Anita Sunday. George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel), prepping for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, worked four furlongs in :49.80 (57/69). “It was beautiful,” Mott said of the work. “Poetry in motion. She works on the dirt and she works in :49 or :50; that's all we want. You could see the rider was just letting her do it. She gets a lot out of working on the dirt, conditioning wise. She is fit enough.” Also Sunday, Mott sent Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Elite Power (Curlin) out to work four furlongs in company. Casa Creed, headed for the GI Mile, went in :46.40 (3/69), while Elite Power was credited with bullet :46.20 (1/69). Of Casa Creed, Mott said, “We think he is a pretty good horse. In these turf races, it's all about the trip and the pace and position. You have to have the golden trip and you've got to get lucky. Everyone in there is a nice horse; probably half the horses in it could win it.” Of Elite Power's attempt to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint next Saturday, Mott said, “I don't have any lack of confidence in him. Look, it's a horse race and he has to go over there and do it and have a good trip. I have no reason to believe he is not as good as he was last year.” Elite Power had an eight-race win streak snapped when second behind Gunite (Gun Runner) in the Aug. 26 GI Forego S. last time out. The Mott-trained Cody's Wish (Curlin), aiming for the GI Dirt Mile, went four furlongs in :47.20 (10/69) with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky in the saddle. “He looked smooth as glass,” Mott said. “I was happy that he didn't go faster. Neil had him just right. Cody's Wish did it on the bridle. Passing the eighth pole, [Poznansky] released his hold and took his hand off the bridle a little bit and he finished up good and galloped out good.” The post Breeders’ Cup Sunday Bulletin: Baffert, Mott Runners On Track appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The added distance was key for Liberal Arts in the Oct. 29 Street Sense Stakes (G3) as the son of Arrogate needed the full 1 1/16 miles to find his best stride. View the full article

Celebrating 40 Years of the Breeders' Cup John Henry famously didn't make it to the Breeders' Cup. Da Hoss famously did, after a two-year layoff with a mere allowance prep. In this industry, where geldings at the elite levels are the exception and not the norm, those geldings tend to become beloved fan favorites. Perhaps it's because they often have longer race careers than their compatriots whose breeding careers must be considered. Right up there in the lexicon of the special 31 geldings to have won a Breeders' Cup are two industry favorites living their best lives as retirees with the people who knew them best: Wise Dan and Main Sequence. These two glorious geldings may now be retired from the racetrack, but they both still live with their trainers, Charlie LoPresti and Graham Motion, respectively. “He lives with us and that should show how special he is,” said Motion of Main Sequence. Neither had a future in the stud barn, neither was transformed into a show horse, neither became a track pony, neither is even a riding horse. Instead, both Wise Dan and Main Sequence are beloved pasture pets, each turned out with a buddy, each living the life of Riley, each with the assurance of LoPresti and Motion meeting their every need. Wise Dan | Sarah Andrew Both champions–one as a homebred always destined to race as such and one as a homebred originally intended for the sales–these two horses gave so many thrills to their connections. No wonder their trainers couldn't imagine them living anywhere else and plan to cater to each one's every need for life. The two chestnuts took very different routes to each trainer's barn. Wise Dan has spent nearly every moment of his life, since he was a short yearling, in LoPresti's care. Motion doesn't remember laying eyes on Main Sequence until he was a 5-year-old who had already won a Group race in England and finished second in the G1 Investec Epsom Derby for trainer David Lanigan. “Wise Dan was foaled at Patchen Wilkes Farm in Lexington and Mr. [Morton] Fink always sent those babies to us when they were short yearlings,” remembered LoPresti. “I don't remember the exact month, but we pretty much raised him from a short yearling. We broke him, we trained him, we did everything with him. Wise Dan | Sarah Andrew “He was a big, strong horse,” continued LoPresti. “I wouldn't say he was difficult, but the only thing that stood out in my mind early was how different he was than other horses. Once I figured out that his stride was so much longer than most horses, he was easy to get along with. At first, we were always trying to bottle him up or slow him down, but once we figured out his natural rhythm was :13 or :14 [for an eighth], he was just a natural athlete. He is just an incredible horse, so smart. Just different than most horses.” Everyone remembers Wise Dan as a two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner, but what might not be remembered as well is he started his career on the dirt. He was a graded winner on the main track at three and even ran in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, finishing sixth. It was midway through his 4-year-old year that Wise Dan tried turf for the first time, winning the GII Firecracker H. at Churchill, but he didn't stay on the surface, adding the GI Clark H. and GII Fayette S. on dirt before the year was over. More graded success on the main track at five followed. It wasn't until August at Saratoga at age five in the GII Fourstardave H. that Wise Dan moved permanently to the grass and started one of the most remarkable streaks in recent memory. He would win his next nine in a row, including his first Breeders' Cup, and 14 of his final 15 races. Successful Dan and Wise Dan | Sarah Andrew “I could tell you so many things about him,” said LoPresti, “but nothing really phased him. He almost knew when he was going to run. He'd lay down or rest his head on the stall webbing. I would worry about post position, track condition, everything, but [rider] Johnny Velazquez would say, 'Don't' worry about it. He knows how to win, he knows how to get himself out of trouble.' And he did! He did it every time he won and pulled it off. Nineteen graded stakes he won. “Part of the thing with him was how he took everything in stride,” continued LoPresti. “When he got to Santa Anita for his Breeders' Cup wins, the first thing he did was just stare at the San Gabriel Mountains like he knew what he was there for. He'd get in the stall–remember he'd never been there before–make two or three turns around and settle down to eat. Most horses take a little while to settle in. He wouldn't. He never got upset about anything. If there was a loose horse, he would just watch like he was saying, 'What's wrong with you?' “That's the thing about him: he took everything in stride and he always knew how to win.” He certainly did. During his five-year racing career, Wise Dan won 23 of his 31 starts. No fewer than 11 of his 19 graded wins were in Grade I races. He set track or course records at Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Woodbine. But not everything was smooth sailing. He came back from small injuries. And the sport held its collective breath when Wise Dan colicked and underwent surgery. “When they turned him over on the table and opened him up,” remembered LoPresti, “the surgeon turned around and gave me a thumbs up. He'd untwisted when they turned him over, so they didn't have to mess with anything and they just sewed him back up. The only thing we were dealing with then was the healing of the incision. Yes, that's a lot, but he was just so tough. That son of a gun came back from the clinic bouncing off the van! All we had to do was heal his incision.” Wise Dan | Sarah Andrew LoPresti said he got some flack for bringing Wise Dan back after the surgery and expecting him to perform at the same level. What some people forget is that no one knew him better than LoPresti and no one had his best interests more in mind. “I knew a lot of people thought I was crazy to bring him back. His first couple of works were not brilliant and I can remember reading stuff after those works–he's not the same horse, you know, all the naysayers–but all I was trying to do was keep him from being stressed and bring him along slow. Then we started to build. That's where I wanted him. We didn't pressure him; we wanted to go along easy and make sure he wasn't going to colic again. Then he came back and he won. And he won again. I always worried. When people start talking, you start to second guess yourself, but I started to see the light come back on and I knew he was back.” Back indeed. Wise Dan would close out his career as a two-time Horse of the Year and a legend. “I just want everybody to realize what kind of horse he really was, everything he came through, everything he did. He won $7.5 million and 19 graded stakes and he didn't run for mega-purses. He earned it. If you look at all his races, a lot of them were small stakes. He didn't go to Dubai; there was no Pegasus Cup. I was very fortunate that I had a farm and owners who trusted what I did. I always gave my horses the winter off, never took them to Florida or Louisiana. That was to my demise as a trainer for business, but the old racing families, the old, true sportsmen, got it. I was just fortunate that I had owners that let me do that. Nowadays, if you don't travel and dance every dance, you're going to lose horses. I have really fond memories looking back.” LoPresti, who quietly retired from training at the end of 2020, said it wasn't just his family and the public who loved Wise Dan. The horse also gave his owner-breeder a reason to live. “Mr. Fink went to dialysis two or three days a week. That horse kept him alive. The idea of having to go watch him run and watch his next race. That was why we didn't go overseas or to Dubai or anything. Mr. Fink wanted to watch him in person and he really couldn't travel that far. We weren't there for the money. Mr. Fink enjoyed the horse and being able to go see him. I totally understood. I believe he could have gone over to Dubai and won, but that's not what Mr. Fink wanted to do. I was fine with that.” Wise Dan's last race–and win–was in 2014 in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. No one knew at the time it would be his last race, but some small, niggling injuries kept him from returning. When he was officially retired 11 months later just before an attempt at a third GI Woodbine Mile, it was decided 'Dan' would live out his days at LoPresti's farm. LoPresti indicated the Kentucky Horse Park and Old Friends were both interested in having him, “But this is what we all decided. We know him. He was raised here. Why send him somewhere he doesn't know and take him away from his brother?” Successful Dan and Wise Dan | Sarah Andrew That half-brother is the one-year older MGW & MGISP Successful Dan, also a Fink homebred campaigned by LoPresti. Successful Dan and Wise Dan are thick as thieves. They're turned out together, they play hard, and they keep themselves extremely fit, said LoPresti. They're also very attached to each other. “Not too long ago, Successful Dan got a little hurt and needed some stitches. He needed to stay in the barn for a week. Wise Dan never went more than 30 yards away. He kept checking on him,” said LoPresti. “Wise Dan is just different from other horses. He's so smart. All the great ones are just different. That's what makes them what they are. Of course, they have to have the athletic ability, too, and he did with that natural rhythm, that natural stride. “He's very kind, but also very strong. When he decides he wants to go out to the paddock or when he went to gallop at the track, he's going to take you where he wants to go. It's impossible to slow him down.” Wise Dan's Breeders' Cup wins were in 2012 and 2013; he was undefeated in four starts in 2014, but didn't make the Breeders' Cup that year. Main Sequence, another turfer, did. The two never faced each other on the track, as Wise Dan specialized at a mile and Main Sequence wanted longer. The latter won the 12-furlong Breeders' Cup Turf in 2014. He took a far different road getting there than Wise Dan did. “Honestly, he wasn't the most straightforward horse to train,” said Motion of Main Sequence. “He could be a little bit tricky. He certainly has a lot of personality.” Lanigan, a former UK-based trainer who is now with Four Star Sales in Kentucky, laid it out plainly. “He was a pain in the ass!” said Lanigan, who first trained Main Sequence in England, with a laugh. Lanigan and Motion both trained for the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings. Main Sequence | Sarah Andrew “He was a difficult horse, a little bit quirky,” continued Lanigan. “He didn't like to lead the string, didn't show much on the gallops. But he was a big, mature, good-looking horse who coped with everything very good. We were surprised when he won his maiden first time at two. None of mine usually won first time out. They improved more from first to second run. There was a good horse of Godolphin's in there that cost a lot of money and he beat him quite well. Then we sent him to a novice at Newmarket. It was more of a fact-finding mission to see if he was as nice as we thought he was. There were useful sorts in there and he won that very well. “Then I managed to convince [owner] Maria [Niarchos-Gouaze of Flaxman Holdings] and [Flaxman's racing manager] Alan [Cooper] to supplement him for the Derby… The boldness in me! I couldn't leave a Derby horse on the table. I had to spend the next six months trying to convince Alan to run him.” Main Sequence ended up going to the Derby undefeated in four starts, including in the G3 Betfred Derby Trial. He suffered his first career defeat in the Derby to Aidan O'Brien's Camelot (GB) with Queen Elizabeth II in attendance. The performance may have been assurance that Main Sequence was as good of a horse as Lanigan thought, but that loss was also tough to swallow. “It broke my heart,” said Lanigan. “Nobody ever remembers second. He was beaten by a very good horse and ran his race, but I was gutted for myself because I knew we had a very nice horse. And I was very disappointed for Maria. She was one of the first people to send me a horse when I started training. She was always a very good supporter and friend, so it wasn't just my own selfishness. I was very disappointed for her.” Main Sequence | Sarah Andrew Main Sequence and Lanigan were together for approximately another year and a half after the Derby, long before the Breeders' Cup was on the table. Lanigan had actually picked the chestnut out of the Keeneland September sale as a yearling. The horse had been entered, but Lanigan said Niarchos-Gouaze had asked him if there were any of hers in the crop he liked. When Lanigan picked Main Sequence, he never went through the ring and was shipped to the UK instead. Lanigan and the horse were together for nearly three years total and came to an understanding. “Like a lot of good horses, you could set your watch by him. He went out first lot every day, would have his breakfast, then go to sleep. He'd be comatose from 9-12, head under the shavings. I took him out for a pick of grass every day myself. He was a bit of a handful. Out of nowhere, he'd stand straight up on his hind legs. “He overcame a lot. He had a tiny bit of a kissing spine after he won his novice as a 2-year-old, but after that never missed another day. We gelded him at the end of his 3-year-old year because he didn't really have a stallion's pedigree. He was a little bit of a bridesmaid at four. He'd get himself very warm in paddocks that year, which he never did before, so it was sort of a frustrating year. “I told Maria, 'There's a better chance for him over in America. You could win a Breeders' Cup with him in America, but we're going to struggle with him in Europe.'” Prophetic words, it turns out. Lanigan said shipping him back and forth was considered, but it was ultimately decided it would be better for the horse to be based in the same area he'd run, rather than to ship. Lanigan was fully on board. Bye Bye Melvin with Main Sequence and Benjamin Button (the mini) | Sarah Andrew “I told Maria it was going to be a wasted opportunity for the horse and for her if she didn't do it. It all worked out very well. Maria and the horse were the most important two in the whole thing. She's an owner who deserves the very best. It was a pleasure to have had him and I feel very lucky to have had him.” Motion was the lucky recipient in America. Although Motion had been to Lanigan's yard in Lambourn when he stabled his GI Kentucky Derby and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom there prior to a run at Royal Ascot, he didn't have any particular memories of Main Sequence in the flesh before he came to America. “Obviously he'd been in some nice races already, so you knew he was a good horse,” said Motion. “I was aware of him because we all trained for Flaxman and he'd certainly done well in some nice races–had that second in the Derby–but I didn't really know him before. I think the whole team felt that American racing might suit him. We kind of all made all those decisions together, with David Lanigan and Alan Cooper. “Main Sequence actually got quite sick when he first came to me. Shipping over the winter is tough, having to travel and quarantine on both sides. It took him a while to get over it. We gave him a lot of time.” Main Sequence and Bye Bye Melvin | Sarah Andrew The repatriated Main Sequence would not make his American debut under Motion's care until July of 2014. He would win that day–the GI United Nations S.–and wouldn't lose that year, adding the Sword Dancer, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and Breeders' Cup Turf, all Grade Is. The campaign culminated in a championship. “We did things with him that I hadn't really done with a horse,” said Motion, “in all the extra schooling. He required a lot of time in working with those things. He was always a little slow to come away from the gates, so we worked on that quite a lot. The first time he ran for us, in the UN, he walked out of the gate. He gave us fits with that. “His first three races were by a neck, a head, and a neck. It was a testament to Rajiv [Maragh], who rode him so well.” Maragh was not able to be aboard for the Breeders' Cup. Velazquez, who had piloted Wise Dan to his first Breeders' Cup win, but had gotten injured earlier on the card of Wise Dan's second Breeders' Cup victory and was hospitalized as the race ran, had to substitute for Maragh in this Breeders' Cup. “It was tough,” said Motion, “because Rajiv had won on him in the Turf Classic and while we were up in the reception room after the race [just over 30 minutes later], Rajiv had his terrible accident and broke his arm. We were good friends with him and Angie, his wife, so there were a lot of emotions when he got hurt. I get emotional now just thinking about it. So Johnny rode him in the Breeders' Cup. That was the year he was coming off that bad accident of the year before in the Breeders' Cup.” Maragh needed two plates and 13 screws to repair his arm and would win on Main Sequence again in 2015. Velazquez had emergency surgery after a spill in the Juvenile Fillies in 2014 that resulted in pancreas repair and spleen removal. Motion is close friends with both riders. “On Breeders' Cup Day was the only time Main Sequence ever broke properly. He won handily,” said Motion. After winning the GII Mac Diarmida S. the next year, Main Sequence tried Dubai and for a repeat in the United Nations, but didn't perform as hoped in the latter and it was discovered he had suffered a tendon tear. He was retired. “Alan and Maria were nice enough to let him stay here after his career,” said Motion. “These horses were so influential in my career.” Graham Motion with Better Talk Now in 2008 | Sarah Andrew Motion mentioned Better Talk Now, his very first Breeders' Cup winner. Better Talk Now, who also won the Turf a decade before Main Sequence, also retired to Motion's Fair Hills home base. He passed away in 2017 following complications from colic surgery. “Main Sequence is a bit like Better Talk Now,” said Motion. “Neither one of them were particularly nice horses to ride. They both had the same kind of personality: pretty cantankerous, pretty tough, which is probably an indicator of how good they were.” Main Sequence now lives in a paddock with Bye Bye Melvin, another former Motion runner who ran in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf. “I have to be very careful who we put out in the paddock with him, because he's pretty tough on other horses, but he and Bye Bye Melvin get along great.” Main Sequence served as an ambassador at the Maryland 5* event earlier this month. “That was quite a shock to him to come out of his field for the first time in years,” said Motion with a laugh. “He was a little wound up, but it was very cool. A lot of people came by to see him. I heard he only bit one person, but we made it through. It was just a mile up the road, so we decided to do it.” Like LoPresti with Wise Dan, Motion has incredibly fond memories of his Breeders' Cup win with Main Sequence. “It was very rewarding,” said Motion. “It was really a team effort to win a Breeders' Cup race for the Niarchos family. I grew up watching them, so it was like a dream to win for them. It was sort of coming full circle. We love the Breeders' Cup.” The post Wise Dan and Main Sequence, Two Glorious Geldings and the Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is set for its three-day run Tuesday-Thursday and features 40 betting interests, including recent Grade I winners Locked (Gun Runner) and Timberlake (Into Mischief). Wagering will begin Tuesday at noon and close Thursday at 6 p.m. ET in advance of the Breeders' Cup World Championships' Future Starts Friday. The 15-1 individual favorite is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's GI Breeders' Futurity winner Locked. Trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Todd Pletcher, Locked is among the top interests in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. Here is the complete field with morning line odds: #1 Agate Road (Quality Road) (99-1); #2 Agoo (Munnings) (99-1); #3 Air of Defiance (Quality Road) (60-1); #4 Balta (Munnings) (99-1); #5 Be You (Curlin) (99-1); #6 Bentornato (Valiant Minister) (99-1); #7 Bergen (Liam's Map) (99-1); #8 Billal (Street Sense) (99-1); #9 Booth (Mitole) (60-1); #10 Catching Freedom (Constitution) (99-1); #11 Dancing Groom (Vino Rosso) (99-1); #12 Domestic Product (Practical Joke) (99-1); #13 Dornoch (Good Magic) (60-1); #14 Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) (99-1); #15 Fierceness (City of Light) ( (99-1); #16 General Partner (Speightstown) (80-1); #17 Generous Tipper (Street Sense) (80-1); #18 Glengarry (Maximus Mischief) (99-1); #19 Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) (99-1); #20 Liberal Arts (Arrogate) (60-1); #21 Lightline (City of Light) (99-1); #22 Locked (15-1); #23 Moonlight (Audible) (80-1); #24 Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) (99-1); #25 Normandy Hero (Omaha Beach) (99-1); #26 Otto The Conqueror (Street Sense) (99-1); #27 Noted (Cairo Prince) (99-1); #28 Nutella Fella (Runhappy) (80-1); #29 Private Desire (Constitution) (50-1); #30 Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) (99-1); #31 Risk It (Gun Runner) (99-1); #32 Rocketeer (Curlin) (99-1); #33 Seize the Grey (Arrogate) (99-1); #34 Stretch Ride (Street Sense) (50-1); #35 Stronghold (Ghostzapper) (99-1); #36 The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) (30-1); #37 Timberlake (20-1); #38 West Saratoga (Exaggerator) (80-1); #39 “All Fillies from the 2021 Foal Crop” (80-1); “All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2021 Foal Crop” (3-5). There are six Future Wager pools scheduled in advance of the 2024 Kentucky Derby: Oct. 31-Nov. 2 (Pool 1); Nov. 23-26 (Pool 2); Jan. 19-21 (Pool 3); Feb. 16-18 (Pool 4); March 15-17 (Pool 5); April 4-6 (Pool 6). The post Locked Individual Favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Franco earned the victory with a stalk-and-pounce trip aboard the 4-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, tracking one length behind pacesetter Ruse before taking charge at the top of the lane and fending off a late bid from City Man. View the full article

Champion Elite Power and multiple grade 1 winner Casa Creed clocked the bullet half-mile of the day Oct. 29 at Santa Anita Park in advance of their respective engagements in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).View the full article

Charlene's Dream became the first stakes winner for sire Qurbaan by taking the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes Oct. 28 at Golden Gate Fields and improving to 2-1-0 from three starts.View the full article

West Sunset (f, 2, West Coast–Vindicated Ghost, by Vindication) didn't let the Kentucky rain slow her down en route to a stylish coast-to-coast victory in a sloppy rendition of the Rags to Riches S. beneath the Twin Spires. Coming into the race with a neck victory over a fast main track at this venue Sept. 16 after being forced to close from the back of the field, she took a diametrically opposed trip here, immediately establishing a clear lead right from the jump. Well in hand on a loose lead through both turns, she readily responded in the lane to register a 6 3/4-length victory over Gin Gin (Hightail), who got the best of heavy 1-9 favorite 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole) for second. #4 WEST SUNSET ($17.12) went to the front shortly after the break and poured it on down the lane to win the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill in style! The 2yo filly by @LanesEndFarms's West Coast was ridden by Flavien Prat for @bradcoxracing and Gary & Mary West. pic.twitter.com/5eB2HqPjcx — TVG (@TVG) October 29, 2023 A half to Bourbon Resolution, West Sunset has a 2023 half-sister by Maximum Security in the wings and is only one of four foals to the races for the mare. Vindicated Ghost is herself a half-sister to an accomplished fleet of runners including GSW Chelokee (Cherokee Run); MGSW & MGISP Salute the Sarge (Forest Wildcat); SW & GSP Mymich (A. P. Indy). This is the extended family of 14-time winner GISW Dismasted. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. RAGS TO RICHES S., $200,000, Churchill Downs, 10-29, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:46.31, sy. 1–WEST SUNSET, 122, f, 2, by West Coast 1st Dam: Vindicated Ghost, by Vindication 2nd Dam: Dixie Ghost, by Silver Ghost 3rd Dam: Mississippi Dixie, by Dixieland Band 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $124,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $193,000. *1/2 to Bourbon Resolution (New Year's Day), GSW, $325,421. 2–Gin Gin, 122, f, 2, Hightail–Before You Know It, by Hard Spun. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Calumet Farm; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000. 3–V V's Dream, 122, f, 2, Mitole–Quay, by Tapit. ($130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-MJM Racing and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek); B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $20,000. Margins: 6 3/4, 2 3/4, 6. Odds: 7.86, 9.07, 0.19. Also Ran: Candy Landy, Floored. Scratched: Shimmering Allure, Twirling Good Time. The post West Coast’s West Sunset Skips Home in Rags to Riches appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Evan and Stephen Ferraro's homebred Liberal Arts (c, 2, Arrogate–Ismene, by Tribal Rule) charged to the lead inside the final furlong to win the GIII Street Sense S. by a widening three lengths at Churchill Sunday. The gray colt trailed the strung-out field as Gettysburg Address (Constitution) skipped along on the lead over the sloppy track, setting fractions of :23.73 and :47.93. The field began bunching up heading into the far turn, but Liberal Arts was still last at the top of the lane. Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) was first to overtake the pacesetter in upper stretch, but Liberal Arts was tipped out to the center of the track and powered to the lead with authority to win going away. Favored Moonlight (Audible) closed for second. Liberal Arts, who earned 10 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby, gave trainer Robert Medina his first graded victory. On the board while sprinting in his first two starts, Liberal Arts graduated going seven furlongs at Ellis Park Aug. 13. He was trying two turns for the first time Sunday off a third-place effort in the one-mile GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Sept. 16. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-2. O/B-Stephen and Evan Ferraro (Ky). T-Robert Medina. The post Arrogate’s Liberal Arts Splashes to Street Sense Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frankie Dettori has picked up a three-day ban for interference caused in the fifth race, a 2-year-old fillies' maiden, at Santa Anita Saturday. The jockey is suspended for Nov. 5, 10 and 11, though he is already banned from riding for the last two dates for overuse of the whip on British Champions Day at Ascot. At Santa Anita, Dettori's mount Circle Of Trust (Union Rags) finished first past the post for trainer Philip D'Amato but was later disqualified and placed last after the stewards looked into an incident on the far turn, in which the filly drifted in, causing interference to Blue Oasis (War Front) and Motet (Mo Town). Blue Oasis, who was a length and a quarter back in second, was awarded the race. An official ruling by the Board of Stewards at Santa Anita stated that Dettori's suspension for careless riding was incurred for “altering course without sufficient clearance into the far turn, causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from first to eighth.” Dettori, who bowed out from riding in the U.K. at Ascot on Oct. 21 with two wins, including his resounding success on intended Breeders' Cup runner King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Champion S., picked up a combined suspension of 16 days for overuse of the whip on two of his mounts that day. That ban runs from Nov. 7 to 24, which has ruled him out of riding in the Melbourne Cup for Willie Mullins on the first day of that suspension. The post Dettori Handed Three-Day Ban by Santa Anita Stewards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article