Wandering Eyes

The Spring picture will take greater shape on Tuesday, when entries for the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) close, but Chris Waller has reiterated a warning to punters around the favourite for one of those majors. The Hall of Fame horseman said the 2400-metre Caulfield Cup was an ‘unlikely’ destination for glamour four-year-old Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio). The Star Thoroughbreds mare shot towards the head of Caulfield Cup betting after a 5-1/4-length romp in the Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) in April, but Waller remains unconvinced that this is the year to test the daughter of Castelvecchio in that event. “I don’t normally push our four-year-old fillies, as I call them, to a Caulfield Cup,” Waller said. “She will be nominated but it would be unlikely.” Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto), who finished last in 2021, is the most recent of only four four-year-old mares Waller has started in the Caulfield Cup. The others are Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock) (14th in 2020), Youngstar (High Chaparral) (7th in 2018) and Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice) (5th in 2013). Waller’s first Caulfield Cup success came in 2020 with five-year-old mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed), while he was also successful three years ago with imported gelding Durston (Sea The Moon). Despite Waller’s warning, Aeliana is $8 favourite for the $5 million Caulfield Cup, which will be run on October 18, and is an $11 chance in the following week’s $6 million Cox Plate. The latter market is headed by Aeliana’s stablemate Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock), who will be among a big throng of Waller gallopers among Tuesday’s nominations. Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), Fangirl (Sebring) and Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock) are other big names likely to feature in Cox Plate entries, with the latter also to feature in the Caulfield Cup, in which he finished second last year. Several of Waller’s stars are down to trial this week, but the Randwick trials scheduled for Tuesday have been transferred to Thursday owing to 154mm of rain in the past five days. Via Sistina and Fangirl remain in the first trial, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah in Trial 2, while Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) and Wodeton (Wooten Bassett) also feature in the entries. Ciaron Maher will also produce big names with Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto), Another Wil (Street Boss), Light Infantry Man (Fast Company), Zardozi (Kingman) and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) to trial, while Vauban (Galiway), Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) and Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) among other high-profile gallopers listed to step out. View the full article

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday. The first to step out on the soft surface was Grail Seeker, a multiple Group One winner of the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Telegraph (1200m) last term. The mare was making her first appearance since finishing near the tail of the field in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in April, but looked right back in the groove in her Open 900m heat. “We’re really happy with her,” O’Sullivan said. “She wasn’t asked to do much, but her action was good, she’s pulled up sound and well, so we’re very pleased.” Grail Seeker is on track towards defending her Tarzino (now Proisir Plate) crown, where she may be partnered by Bruno Queiroz, who has made an impact on the riding ranks since arriving in New Zealand in the autumn. “We had Bruno Queiroz on her today, who we’re hoping will ride her in the Group One,” Scott said. “He got familiar with her and she settled nicely for him, she was only out there for a canter so we were pleased with how willing she was.” The daughter of Iffraaj accumulated more than $500,000 in earnings in just four starts last term, but Scott indicated she is likely to have a busier schedule in her five-year-old season. “All roads lead to the first one at this stage, we’ll look to trial her again on the 17th or the 26th (of August), depending on the weather,” he said. “From there, we’ll get through the Proisir Plate on the 6th (of September), and we are looking to get a little more racing into her this season than she did last year. “In saying that, she’s going to show us the way.” Another lightly-raced mare in Tomodachi is heading for her elite-level debut in the Proisir Plate, having won three of her four starts including the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) last term as a four-year-old. The exciting Tarzino mare was full of running in her 900m trial, which O’Sullivan expects she will take good improvement from. “She’ll take good benefit from today’s outing, she was pretty keen through the run, but she was similar to that last campaign,” he said. “She’s coming along well, so she’ll have another quiet trial and all going well, she’ll go into the Proisir Plate as well.” The Matamata trainers hope to have a trio of contenders in the Ellerslie feature with Checkmate also in consideration, but are willing to take a more conservative approach with the gelding. A stakes winner and placegetter in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), Checkmate pleased O’Sullivan and Scott with a strong resuming effort over 900m on Monday, but they are hoping to see further improvement condition-wise before heading to a big assignment such as the Proisir Plate. “He’s coming up steadily, he was one of the horses looking further away in the coat today,” Scott said. “His trial was very encouraging, Warren (Kennedy) rode him and he knows him well, and he thinks he’s got a little bit stronger. We’re ever hopeful, we’re just hoping he can improve a little more in coat and condition over the next three or four weeks before kicking him off. “His next trial is going to tell us if he will be there in that first Group One of the season, that’s where we’ll look to kick him off as he has performed well around Ellerslie before. “We’re really mindful of looking after him through the first half of the season, as we think he’ll certainly be stronger in the back half.” Wexford was also represented later on by promising three-year-old Varjak, who defeated subsequent stakes winner Towering Vision in his sole juvenile outing in mid-April. In the colours of JML Bloodstock, Varjak had a quiet outing in a competitive age-group trial, working well to the line under Masa Hashizume. “We always planned to do so (have the one juvenile start), with the idea of hopefully coming up well enough to compete in those better three-year-old races,” O’Sullivan said. “He was asked for nothing today, he went back to the tail of the field and remained there, but he was under a good hold and did a nice working gallop the whole way. “He’s coming up well.” An eye-catching performance came from one of their untapped members in Smart Love, who has had just three career starts for a win and two placings. The daughter of Savabeel stepped out against the likes of La Crique and Cannon Hill in her 900m heat and closed off strongly to come within 1-1/4 lengths of the former. “She was only out there for a wee breeze around, but she was really kind on the rein and settled into her work well,” Scott said. “She came up underneath Masa (Hashizume) really well and she enjoyed the better ground. “It was lovely to see all the horses out there on beautiful, yielding ground and they’ll all pull up well from it. “She looks to be coming up well and will have another trial before we look to kick her off. She’s a bigger, stronger version this time around, she looks great.” View the full article

Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday. The seven-year-old daughter of Vadamos comfortably took out her 900m heat by 1-1/4 lengths, giving her connections plenty of confidence heading into the spring. “I was really happy with her trial today, it was more of a day out for her,” Katrina Alexander said. “She got to the lead fairly soon out of the gates and had gone along at a nice clip and won very comfortably, still on the bridle. “She has shown a lot of freshness on her side and put in a very nice trial. I really couldn’t be any happier with her.” The Alexanders have had their patience tested with their star mare, with feet issues curtailing a number of her preparations, and they reared their head again in autumn when prematurely ending her Australian campaign. “That’s (feet issues) what put her out at the end of the season after we went to Sydney,” Alexander said. “But what happened in Australia was literally just a stone bruise. “She went to the paddock in very good order, without being able to race over there. “She has had a very good spell, we haven’t rushed her back in, and it has meant that she has been back in work a fraction earlier than we might have normally had her ready. “She was showing all the signs at home that she wanted to have a day out, so we let that happen today and she seems to have enjoyed herself and let off a little bit of steam.” Alexander said La Crique’s feet are in top order heading into the spring, and the mild winter has been favourable for their mare’s early preparation. “Her feet are really good,” she said. “The (winter) season has probably been a little kinder on her. We have had wet periods, but I have been able to do alternative work with her and she is trucking along very nicely. “Our problem has always been trying to prepare her through a wet end of winter and early spring.” Australia has always been the main aim for La Crique this spring, however, her trainers haven’t ruled out remaining in New Zealand to tackle the spring carnival triple crown, which is set to take place at Ellerslie and Te Rapa this year. “That (Australia) was our original thought,” Alexander said. “We have obviously opted to come here (Taupo trials) and will most likely stay here (New Zealand) for at least the first race of that series (Gr.1 Proisir Plate, 1400m), and we are just going to play it by ear. “Physically she looks great, but I am mindful that she is a seven-year-old mare. We have been to Australia and struck a problem before, and we don’t want a repeat of that costly exercise. “We want to go with a good, competitive article. That first race (Proisir Plate) is going to be at Ellerslie, which gives us a little more confidence to hang around.” La Crique has just had two starts in Australia, running fourth in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington three years ago, and winning the A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm last year. While plagued by feet issues throughout her career, La Crique has been able to amass an enviable record of nine wins and 13 places from 26 starts, and has earned nearly $2 million in prizemoney. Her highlights have included victories in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), while she has placed on eight occasions at at elite-level, including four consecutive runner-up results last summer. View the full article

Alexis Badel rode a brilliant treble at Chukyo racecourse on Sunday to continue his great start to his summer stint in Japan. The French rider was granted a short-term licence by the JRA and has wasted little time in making his mark, riding a trio of winners on his first race weekend. Winning on outsider Saccarello on his first ride last Saturday, Badel then struck on Mediterranean for Northern Farm – who are sponsoring his licence – and Peaceful Night the next day. (L) Listed 1800m Meitetsu...View the full article

The colt put it all together Aug. 3 to win the $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) in impressive gate-to-wire fashion.View the full article

Steve Landers Racing's Destino d'Oro sat a perfect trip and drew off with authority to win the $399,400 Pucker Up Stakes (G3T) Aug. 3 at Ellis Park, earning a fees-paid berth to the Dueling Grounds Oaks (G2T) Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs.View the full article

Now proven as one of the current top 2-year-olds with his Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) win Aug. 2, Ewing puts a spotlight on small breeder John Gardiner and Hidden Brook Farm, who foaled, raised, trained, and sold the colt.View the full article

After respectable showings in the Louisiana, Kentucky, and Ohio Derbys, Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) finally has one to his tally with a sterling effort in the GIII West Virginia Derby. The grey has been eyeballing some of the best of his generation in his last four starts. He shipped to Louisiana in mid-February to contest their Triple Crown preps, and ran second in both the GII Risen Star Stakes and the GII Louisiana Derby, Feb. 15 and Mar. 22, respectively. Having garnered enough points for the big dance, he went to post on the first Saturday in May and ran ninth in what was trainer Ethan West's first ever starter in the GI Kentucky Derby. Chunk of Gold returned June 21 in the GIII Ohio Derby last out and picked off rivals in the lane to get up for second behind MGSW & GISP Mo Plex (Complexity). Sporting blinkers for the first time in this start, and sent off carrying 2-1 odds, the new equipment appears to have worked as intended as the second choice rocketed out of the gate to establish control up front. Rolling through :24.17, :48.23, and 1:11.97 splits on a largely uncontested lead, he gave them the slip entering the lane and put 4 1/4 lengths on McAfee (Cloud Computing) as that one gamely chased him to the wire. Brotha Keny (Mo Town) was late on the scene to claim third. The 4-5 favorite 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) was a flat fifth. #4 CHUNK OF GOLD ($6.80) goes wire-to-wire in the $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at @mtrgaming. The three-year-old colt honors his late sire Preservationist and picks up his first graded win for trainer @EWest592 with @jareth16 in the irons. pic.twitter.com/JTYeRVegVo — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 4, 2025 Pedigree Notes: Chunk of Gold is a full-brother to another black-type earner in Band of Gold, the winner of the Listed Martha Washington Stakes. Play for Gold has a perfect strike rate with her three offspring to make the races. She has a yearling colt by Upstart to her credit as well as a 2025 filly by Mage. She went to Into Mischief for 2026. Play for Gold is a half-sister to MGSW My Boy Jack (Creative Cause), and they hail from the female line of GSW & GISP Gold N Delicious (Gold Alert). It was a bittersweet result for the farm behind the late sire Preservationist, who was reported to have died in July from complications with colic while in Korea. Sunday, Mountaineer WEST VIRGINIA DERBY-GIII, $400,000, Mountaineer Casino & Resort, 8-3, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.97, ft. 1–CHUNK OF GOLD, 118, c, 3, by Preservationist 1st Dam: Play for Gold, by Cairo Prince 2nd Dam: Gold N Shaft, by Mineshaft 3rd Dam: Gold n Delicious, by Gold Alert 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($2,500 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). O-Terry L. Stephens; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Ethan W. West; J-Jareth Loveberry. $246,400. Lifetime Record: 7-2-4-0, $695,218. *Full to Band of Gold, SW, $260,910. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–McAfee, 118, c, 3, Cloud Computing–Sataves, by Uncle Mo. ($40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables LLC, Judy B. Hicks and Scott C. Rice; B-Judy Hicks (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.. $80,000. 3–Brotha Keny, 118, g, 3, Mo Town–Raramuri Princess, by Northern Afleet. ($25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Lance and Steve Kinross; B-Terrazas Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-William E. Morey. $40,000. Margins: 4 1/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 2.40, 3.10, 11.80. Also Ran: Just a Fair Shake, East Avenue, Extradition, Gone Boy, Brereton's Baytown. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. The post In Fourth ‘Derby Try, Chunk of Gold Brings One Home in West Virginia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's not often the winner of a global $12-million Group 1 event just four months ago gets his next victory in a listed black-type race in West Virginia, but that's exactly what happened with Hit Show (h, 5, Candy Ride {Arg}–Actress, by Tapit), who parlayed victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup in April into a repeat win in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes at Mountaineer Sunday evening. It may not have been the most conventional move, but it was a hard-fought return to the winner's circle for the gray, who was last seen finishing fifth to 'TDN Rising Stars' and MGISWs Mindframe (Constitution) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes June 28. The second choice Sunday at 7-5, Hit Show broke smartly and found himself caught four wide on the first turn before settling into a solo spot midpack behind :23.96 and :47.97 early fractions as 3-5 choice Not This Boy (Not This Time) showed the way. Hit Show rallied three wide on the final bend to draw alongside Not This Boy and looked for a brief instant to go by, but Not This Boy was game as they come, fighting back on the inside. The two joined in battle down the lane, drawing well clear of the rest, with the Dubai World Cup winner getting his head down on the line. It was 7 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Jokestar (Practical Joke). In addition to the Dubai World Cup, Hit Show won the Governor's Stakes last year when it was a Grade III event. He also captured the GIII Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds earlier this year, and previously won the GII Hagyard Fayette Stakes, the GII Lukas Classic Stakes, and the GIII Withers Stakes, while also placing in both the GI Santa Anita Handicap and the GII Wood Memorial Stakes. His first dozen career starts were in Gary and Mary West's silks, with Wathnan Racing purchasing him privately after last year's Governor's Stakes. Hit Show's dam, winner of the 2017 GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and GIII Comely Stakes and a daughter of 2009 Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew), has not produced a foal since 2022. She was bred to Candy Ride for next term. What a stretch battle! The Dubai World Cup winner #8 HIT SHOW ($4.80) narrowly defeated Not This Boy to defend his title in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Stakes at @mtrgaming. @Flothejock was aboard the 5YO son of @LanesEndFarms' Candy Ride for trainer @BradCoxRacing. pic.twitter.com/xJreEm4tZR — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 3, 2025 WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S S., $200,000, Mountaineer Casino & Resort, 8-3, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.63, ft. 1–HIT SHOW, 124, h, 5, Candy Ride (Arg)–Actress (MGSW, $545,150), by Tapit. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $123,200. Lifetime Record: 20-10-1-1, $8,559,858. 2–Not This Boy, 120, g, 4, Not This Time–Jeana Baby, by Super Saver. O/B-Zimmer Ridge Ranch (KY); T-William D. Cowans. $40,000. 3–Jokestar, 118, g, 4, Practical Joke–Starmaline, by Star Guitar. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Al Ulwelling & Bill Ulwelling (ON); T-William E. Morey. $20,000. Margins: HD, 7HF, HF. Odds: 1.40, 0.70, 28.00. Also Ran: Heroic Move, Cornishman, Ode to Balius, Tatanka. Scratched: Full Spectrum, The Wine Steward. Click for the Equibase.com chart. The post Dubai World Cup Winner Hit Show Repeats at Mountaineer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bring Theband Home (Into Mischief) is a Saratoga boy through and through, giving the field the slip and strolling home to claim the GII Troy Stakes while also keeping his perfect record at the Spa intact. With the exception of his shortened sophomore season in 2023, the Mark Casse runner had made a return to Saratoga every year since his juvenile season, and every year returned to his homebase in Florida with a win to his credit. The most recent appearance was July 4 when he took the Harvey Pack Stakes gate-to-wire–much like he did here–over a salty field of seasoned veterans and rocketed home in a blistering :59.90 for 5 1/2 furlongs. Bumped at the start by Twenty Six Black (War Dancer), Bring Theband Home had to coaxed along to show the way, but recovered well to lead through an opening quarter in :21.38 and had covered four furlongs on the turn in :43.39. Riding the fence as they swung for home, he had built up a clear advantage on the rest of his competition and while Twenty Six Black was valiantly trying to close the gap, the smallest he could get it to was 1 1/2 lengths. Determined Kingdom (Animal Kingdom) was another length behind that one in third. “I think he's [getting] better,” said Casse. “I think also the cooler weather–he thrives up here. He looks magnificent. I don't think he's ever looked better. I was a little worried about regression and we probably got a little today, but it was still good enough.” “He's fast and he's a big horse–he's 17-hands tall.” When asked about any potential plans to point toward the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Casse said, “Another one or two races probably and we'll try to get there. He's got enough [earnings] now to get in. I think he likes it [the turf] the harder the better. He went one-tenth off the world record [last out] so you know it was pretty hard. I think this turf still has a little give in it right now, just a little.” “It means the world to me, especially with Javier [Castellano aboard],” said Charlotte Weber of Live Oak Plantation. “He's my neighbor up here in Saratoga and a friend. This makes history for both of us, together.” “Mark [Casse] is a terrific trainer. I haven't been disappointed. I have had a good meet so far, so I'm not complaining. I want to keep rolling through the year. This horse is getting better as he's getting older. He's getting smarter.” Pedigree Notes: Bring Theband Home is the first to the races for Tizatude, a half-sister to the late GISW Paynter (Awesome Again). That pair are themselves out of a full-sister to Hall of Famer Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy), named Tizso. The victor is the only one to the races for their dam thus far as Tiz Tiz Tiz (Curlin) went unraced and the next of age is the juvenile Souper Power Tapit (Tapit). There is also a yearling filly in the wings named Souper Taylor (Constitution). This female family is a busy one as names on the honor roll include the likes of MGSW Tarifa (Bernardini); MGSW Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile); GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca); and GISW Oxbow (Awesome Again) as well as his full-brother GSP Awesome Patriot. Sunday, Saratoga TROY S.-GII, $300,000, Saratoga, 8-3, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:00.38, fm. 1–BRING THEBAND HOME, 124, g, 5, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Tizatude, by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Tizso, by Cee's Tizzy 3rd Dam: Cee's Song, by Seattle Song 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Javier Castellano. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 13-6-3-1, $506,764. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Twenty Six Black, 122, g, 5, War Dancer–Brazo de Oro, by First Dude. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Roger Cimbora, Jr.; B-Roger Cimbora (NY); T-Horacio De Paz. $60,000. 3–Determined Kingdom, 122, g, 6, Animal Kingdom–Filia, by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($47,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT; $190,000 5yo '24 KEENOV). O-The Estate of R. Larry Johnson; B-Audley Farm Equine, LLC (VA); T-Michael J. Trombetta. $36,000. Margins: 1HF, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.65, 10.80, 14.00. Also Ran: Alogon, Senbei, Let My People Go, Our Shot. Scratched: Full Moon Madness. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Bring Theband Home Turns Troy into One Man Parade appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Speedy Bring Theband Home improved his Saratoga Race Course record to 3-for-3 with a win in the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G2T).View the full article

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool yielded multiple $2,314.46 payoffs Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The popular multi-race wager had gone unsolved for eight racing days, producing a jackpot carryover of $110,739.View the full article

Jockey Angel Cordero won 7,057 races during his Hall of Fame career. He is the undisputed “King of Saratoga” after winning the riding title at the Spa 14 times. Kentucky Derby? Preakness? Belmont? Been there, done that. He has rubbed elbows with a president, clowned around with Muhammad Ali and hung out with Bob Marley. An interesting life, for sure, Angel Cordero Jr. has lived. He shared some of it with the TDN. Here is the Saratoga Q&A. TDN: Do you miss riding? Angel Cordero Jr: I used to miss it a lot. A long time ago. Now, I'm 82. I don't miss it. I used to get on horses (in the mornings) for Todd (Hall of Fame trainer Pletcher) and he kept asking, 'are you going to ride a horse?' TDN: It's out of your system now? AC: Yes. The last horse I got on was Uncle Mo (in 2011). We went to Kentucky with him, and he scratched the morning of the Derby. TDN: I remember covering you when you rode. You were always known as a fierce competitor. Do you agree with that? AC: I guess. To be a good athlete, you have to be fearless. In any sport. If you don't have that on your inside, you won't be on the top. To be on the top, you have to have no fear of getting hurt or getting fired. TDN: You had plenty of injuries over your career. How many bones did you break? AC: I broke my ankle, both of my knees, my back … my hands are the worst. I broke my collarbone. Believe it or not, I just had a shoulder operation for my rotator cuff. The doctor told me it would take six months. I told him I didn't even do six months when I got hurt on a horse (smiles). The longest I was ever out was four months. TDN: Every time you got hurt you could not wait to get back riding. (In 1978, he fractured his vertebra at Hollywood Park; in 1986 he lacerated his liver and fractured an arm in a spill at Aqueduct). AC: Twice, I almost died. I was once in a coma for a week. I woke up and the doctor was next to me, and he asked how I was feeling. I said, 'I feel ok. When can I ride again?' (smiles) He said I don't even know if I am going to make it through life and I am asking that! It's like any other athlete. You don't think about the danger. I was never afraid to die. I was afraid to get paralyzed. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I am a big believer in God. Whatever He has for us, that's it. TDN: If you saw a hole, it didn't matter how small it was, you were going for it. AC: If I thought I could make it, yes. I never tried for a hole if I didn't think I was going to make it. Whenever I went for it, I knew I was going to make it. It's like driving a car. You know you are going to clear the car behind you in time. Riding a horse is the same. TDN: You have to be brave to do it. AC: You have to be brave to ride horses. All the jockeys have it. You have to have good judgement in where you are running into and who you are running into. TDN: With all the horses you rode, is there one that sticks out? AC: The best horse I ever rode was Seattle Slew. By far. The best filly I ever rode was Waya. She beat all the colts. I don't ever remember getting beat with her. She was the smartest horse I ever rode, and she taught me a lot. I learned how to ride European horse through her. TDN: Is there a rider out there now that reminds you of you? AC: Irad (Ortiz Jr.) a little bit. Johnny (Velazquez) a little bit. Johnny is like a son. I taught him since he was a bug boy. I am proud of him that he is still so good. Usually, in our game, the longer you ride, when you get older, your body doesn't hold. To me, Irad and Johnny and Jose (Ortiz) are outstanding. That doesn't mean the other ones aren't no good. To me, those three. Jose is more conservative. Irad is more aggressive. Johnny is very conservative, a very clean rider. I was a rough rider; I wasn't going to drop anybody, but I took my chances. TDN: You would do anything to win. AC: Yeah. When I got on a horse, in my mind, it was to get there first. No matter what. I remember when I was living with (soon to be wife, the late jockey Marjorie Clayton Cordero) and we were riding together, and I said I am going to give you piece of advice: don't ever run on my inside. She always would leave that little hole; we would call it the soccer hole. Someone goes down in there and when the time comes, you block it. The first time she ran in there, when I saw the shadow of the horse, I started going in and she said, 'Angel it's me.' I let her have it first right away. She was crying. And I said, 'listen, jockeys and cowboys don't cry.' I said I told you not to run on my inside. She said she was already there. I said you weren't there; you were trying to get there. Then you announced yourself. Don't announce yourself. If you are going to go for the hole, go. Don't go, 'hey, I'm here.' You don't do that. TDN: You cut the hole off. AC: Oh, yeah. Two or three times. TDN: I know you love boxing. Ever meet Ali? AC: Yes. I met him like four times. He was very kindhearted. If he liked you, he spent time talking to you. He talked to everybody but if he liked you, he would spend a little more time with you. TDN: Did he like you? AC: Yes. He kept asking me, 'did you ever win the Derby?' The first time I met him I said I had won it once. The second time, I had won it twice. He said, 'did you ever win the Derby?' I said, 'yeah, I already told you.' And he said, 'do I have a problem with you?' (raises fists, mimicking Ali). I said, 'no, I thought you remembered (laughs).' I really admired him. He was my idol. TDN: You met Howard Cosell too, right? AC: Cosell was nice to me, I don't know why, but he was. He always came to my defense. He came to my house twice. He said he never went to anyone's house for an interview, but he came to my house. Twice. He came to my defense with Codex (Cordero won the 1980 Preakness with him over the filly/Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk. Cordero was accused of intentionally pushing Codex wide and impeding the filly, perhaps even striking her with his whip. Claims of foul were disallowed). TDN: You were probably getting a lot of hate mail after that one. AC: A lot of it. They were going to kill me. They were going to blow up my house, my car. It was a very unfair situation. Every time they showed the film from the outside and the angles were different. I told the press you have to watch the real race on film. The film that counted was the one that was on the outside. We went to court twice. They made it like I was hitting in the race like twice. Every time I would tell my lawyer, don't let them show you the film that someone else took. Tell them you want to see the film that the stewards made the decision from. That film was clear. There was always daylight between me (and Genuine Risk). The reason they didn't take me down was because when I passed two horses, I stayed where I was. That was my choice. And he (jockey Jacinto Vasquez on Genuine Risk) came around me and when we both made the turn outside, but I never touched him. (Vasquez) said I hit the filly with the whip, and I bumped her. It was a long inquiry. They could not see what he said. I caught a lot of heat. I caught a lot of heat everywhere. TDN: Was it because you were Angel Cordero Jr.? AC: Probably. When someone does it now, it's race riding. TDN: If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? AC: Muhammad Ali has to be one of them. I never met him, but I am a big fan of Michael Jordan. He is a special guy. The other one? How about Jennifer Lopez? (laughs). TDN: If there is a movie made about your life and you can pick the actor to play you, who are you going with? AC: Years ago, I used to like Denzel Washington. I like Robert DeNiro. I liked Jack Nicholson. But those two can't play me because they are big and they're white! To have a story about me riding, they would have to use old races. There might be someone that is my size. They have a lot of talented young guys who are small. TDN: During your heyday, when you were on top, you must have met a lot of famous people. AC: I did TDN: Who were some of them, besides Ali? AC: I went to the White House and met Ronald Reagan. I was surprised. I used to kid around all the time saying I wanted to go to the White House. People would say, 'oh yeah, sure, you are going to go to the White House!' I finally got invited. The first time I got invited, the morning of the event, the plane got cancelled. I missed going and I was so upset. Two weeks later, they were honoring somebody who was president of a country who was named Cordero (Leon Febres Cordero of Ecuador). They were having a dinner for him and I got invited. That time, I went the night before. I got to meet a President. TDN: How did that go? AC: It was like nine of us. They said we were going to go in alphabetical order and you go shake the President's hand and walk out. I brought some flowers – three dozen roses for his wife (Nancy). When I was in the line, she came and thanked me for the beautiful flowers. I was shocked! When I got to him, I said, 'nice to meet you Mr. President' and I walked away. But he held my hand, and he said, 'let me ask you something.' He said he had taken lessons for two years to ride a horse to make movies. And he asked me if horses had tonsils! There were 100,000 thousand questions that he could have asked me, and he asked me a question that I had no answer. He talked to me for quite a while. TDN: (Trainer) Dale Romans said you met Bob Marley. What was he like? AC: He was nice. TDN: Did he sing? AC: No, no no. I was riding in Hialeah and I had this friend who was a friend of his and he worked for Bob Marley. After the races, I used to take a taxi to the airport and catch a 5:30 (p.m.) flight. He was waiting for me outside and asked where I was going, and I said I was going home. I told him I was going to take a taxi but he said said, 'no, I will take you.” He had a white Rolls Royce and he let me drive it. I was so scared. My plane was delayed and he said he would take me for something to eat. Well, I wasn't hungry because I just finished riding. I said, 'I know you don't smoke, but do you think you could get me a joint?' If I could smoke a little, maybe I would get hungry, you know? TDN: I think I know where this is going. AC: He said he would take me somewhere and we drove for 15 minutes, and he came to a house. Guy came out with flip flops and dreadlocks and t-shirts. I didn't know him We went into the house, and he made one for me and one for him. He said, 'how was your day?' I said 'my day was good, how was yours?' He said he was just chilling. He asked where I lived, and I said Long Island. He said he had a house in California, Jamaica and Florida. He asked me how my business was going, and I said, 'good.' He said his business was good, too. My friend started laughing and I asked him why. He said because he doesn't know who you are and you don't know who he is. He said, 'this is Angel Cordero, the jockey and this is Bob Marley. He said, 'man, I follow your horses, I bet on you all the time!' And, he said, 'let's do another one (joint)! We talked for about 15 minutes. It was cool. I never thought I was being taken to Bob Marley's house! TDN: You've had a wonderful life. AC: I can't complain. I've got hurt a lot, but I've had a beautiful life. TDN: Do you like being a jockey agent (he represents Jose Gomez)? AC: No. It's one thing that I never thought I would be. I have groomed, I have cleaned stalls, pony horses, gallop horses, ride horses, train horse, own horses, breed horses. Never, never, never did I think I would be an agent. You go begging for people to ride you. You can have a good rider, but if he doesn't have a name and you don't have a stable to back you up, it's hard. TDN: In football, they say Tom Brady is the GOAT. In basketball, it's Michael Jordan. Is Angel Cordero the GOAT of jockeys? AC: I don't know. You always think you are the best at what you do. If I ask you who is the best in your profession, who are you going to say? TDN: I am going to say me! AC: Of course you are. You are going to laugh at this. Last year, I was talking to (trainer), Tom Morley and he said, 'the GOAT!” And I thought he was making fun of me. I said, 'come on Tom, I like you, why are you being like that to me?' He said he wasn't being mean; said I was the GOAT of the sport. I thought he was calling me a goat, like the animal. I didn't know what it meant in sports. TDN: Now you do. So, are you? Are you the GOAT of horse racing? AC: I don't know. Could be. But I'm not the only one. There are a lot of GOATS. The post Saratoga Q & A: Angel Cordero Jr. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Del Mar, $82,200, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($40,000), 8-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.14, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. FORMULA ROSSA (f, 3, Vekoma–Fay Na Na, by Majestic Warrior), named a 'TDN Rising Star' in a four-length debut Feb. 21 going six furlongs at Santa Anita–which netted a 91 Beyer Speed Figure–hadn't been seen since, even skipping the worktab entirely in April and May. Resuming timed works in June, she reappeared here as the 1-5 choice. Ears pinned after bumped from both sides out of the gate, she emerged from the fray in front, set :22.04 and :45.16 fractions, and suddenly widened on the turn all on her own. With Antonio Fresu sitting quietly and taking a peek under his right arm in the stretch, Formula Rossa kicked well clear and crossed the wire 6 1/2 lengths the best while geared down as the easiest of winners. Veteran Wishtheyallcouldbe (Grazen) closed from last to garner runner-up honors. Fay Na Na, Formula Rossa's unraced dam, has a 2-year-old Yaupon filly, who RNA'd for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale, and a yearling Cyberknife filly. She was bred to Good Magic for 2026. Sales History: $130,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $270,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $84,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. FORMULA ROSSA ($2.40) destroys the field in the 2nd at @DelMarRacing. @Antonio1Fresu coasted home aboard the three-year-old Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) filly for trainer Mark Glatt. Where will we see this undefeated filly next? pic.twitter.com/fiSuU0RBxv — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 3, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Formula Rossa Returns a Winner, Stays Unbeaten appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — There have been some days for trainer Chad Brown. Some real big days. Remember Arlington Million day in 2019? He won all four graded stakes races, including all three GI races. He has won a bushel full of Breeders' Cup races in his career; more than once he has had multiple winners. Brown has a pair of GI Preakness Stakes on his resume. What happened Saturday might just trump them all. At his hometown track, Brown blitzed his competition, winning four races, capped off by the biggest of them all, the $1-million GI Whitney Stakes. Sunday morning, a relaxed Brown reflected on the monster afternoon of the day before. The star of the show, Whitney winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) was chilling in his stall, basking in the glow of his one-length win in Saratoga's premier race for older horses. “This is way up there,” Brown said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track Sunday morning. “Definitely one of the most memorable days I have had in racing. My family–my mom, my dad, my kids, my brother, my nephew–were all there. To win the race I had not won yet with the greatest horse I have ever trained…all those factors made it one of the most memorable days in my career for sure.” The wonderful Whitney came on the heels of a frustrating, disappointing Friday when Brown's Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) won the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes and then was put down to fourth after a controversial disqualification. Although clearly not happy with the decision, Brown kept quiet. “The day before was very challenging with the DQ,” he said. “I didn't agree with it, but that's horse racing and that is professional sports. It comes with the territory. Certain things are out of your control, but I think our team handled it the right way, very professionally and with class.” Instead of squawking and making a scene, Brown took the high road, accepted the steward's decision and moved on. “We were due for a good day [Saturday],” he said. “You just have to keep moving forward and focus on the next day. I thought we had some good karma coming by not getting bogged down by [the disqualification] or trying to blame people. With the good group of horses we had running Saturday, I did not want to get distracted. I have to train horses, but I also have to be a leader. I can't allow everyone to lose focus and to dwell on getting into some debate as to what happened.” Nobody was talking about the disqualification Sunday morning. It was all about Sierra Leone, last year's champion 3-year-old and GI Breeders' Cup Classic champ. What looms next for Sierra Leone–owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith–could be a rematch with Mindframe (Constitution), who is at the top of the older division with three straight wins. Mindframe beat Sierra Leone by a length in the GI Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs at the end of June. That could come in the $1-million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31. “Mindframe is a really top horse and trained by a really top trainer (Todd Pletcher),” Brown said. “I'm looking forward to potentially the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the GI Breeders Cup (Classic). When you are racing at the top in any division, you've got to beat them all.” Riley Mott Gets His Flowers After Winning First Graded Stake World Beater eyes his flowers | Sarah Andrew A blanket of flowers was draped over the rail at the shedrow at Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's barn Sunday morning, but they weren't for him. They belonged to his 33-year-old son, Riley, who notched his first graded stakes training win when World Beater (Oscar Performance) upset the GI $750,000 Saratoga Derby on Saturday. “I could not have written it up any better,” Riley Mott said outside his dad's barn Sunday after World Beater won by a half-length at odds of 11-1. “Ever since I was this tall (holds right hand a few feet off the ground), I've thought about this. You hope you do it, but you are not sure it will ever happen. This is like my Super Bowl.” World Beater, owned by Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud LLC, beat eight others in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby on the grass. Included in that group was Capitol Hill (Into Mischief), trained by his dad. As the race was unfolding, it was clear who Tina Mott, Bill's wife and Riley's mom, was rooting for. “Are you kidding me? She was jumping all over me,” Bill Mott said about his wife's reaction in the clubhouse box. “I had to hold her down and say, 'Whoa!' She always tells me I should scratch my horse (when running against Riley).” “She is on both teams,” Riley Mott said with a smile. “Ever since I started (training in 2022 after serving as an assistant to his father), I think she leans in my direction.” Riley Mott said he had a brief conversation with his dad right after the race and the family all met up later for pizza. Bill Mott, ever the competitor, did not want anyone's sympathy. “I was doing everything I could to beat his ass, but he won the race and I'm happy for him,” Bill Mott said. “When I get beat, I don't even want to talk about it; it's over.” Riley Mott, who has 60 horses in training, said he was going to ship World Beater back to his base at Keeneland on Sunday and wait before deciding on his next start. Rick Pitino | Sarah Andrew Pitino Visits Spa's Winner's Circle It wasn't exactly Madison Square Garden and the Big East Championship game, but there was still a lot of hooting and hollering going on in the Saratoga winner's circle after Sunday's second race. A 2-year-old colt named Johnny's Red Storm (Twirling Candy) had just broken his maiden in his first try for jockey Kendrick Carmouche and trainer George Weaver. The ownership group, led by John J. Cronin Jr. and RAP Racing was leading the cheers. RAP is Richard Andrew Pitino, also known as the head basketball coach at St. John's University. He wore a wide smile and accepted congratulations from the large group in the winner's circle. He and Cronin have been friends for years. “Obviously, basketball is life and death with me,” Pitino, a Hall of Fame coach and the first to lead three different schools (Providence, Kentucky and Louisville) to the Final Four. “When we lose, I am up all night figuring out why we lost and what we could have done different. In horse racing, if you lose, you smile and move onto the next race.” Pitino, a longtime horse owner, could not remember the last time he won a race at Saratoga. He comes to the Spa often and ranks Saratoga No. 1 on his list of favorite tracks with Keeneland and Del Mar completing his trifecta. Pitino had another horse–Aggelos the Great (City of Light)–that he owns by himself on the card. He rallied late and finished second in the seventh race. After that, he was heading back to Queens for his real job. “We have (summer) practice at 8 a.m.,” he said. Last year, St. John's finished 31-5 in Pitino's second season and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Arkansas. “I am thrilled for a young coach starting out like me,” the 72-year-old Pitino, who has been coaching since 1974. He said he plans to be back in Saratoga for the Travers and also for the 70th birthday of close friend Roddy Valente, a prominent horse owner. The post Saratoga Notebook, presented by NYRA Bets: Whitney Day Ranks Right Up There as One of Brown’s All-Time Best appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fallen Angel joined a select band of fillies to win group 1s at 2, 3, and 4 in thrilling fashion, pulling the Prix Rothschild out of the fire under a determined Danny Tudhope.View the full article

While Ted Noffey might be the most conspicuous of the summer meet so far, the other Spendthrift 2-year-olds have also impressed.View the full article

For Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, basketball has "life or death" meaning. Horse racing is more of a fun, relaxing pastime for him. View the full article

Reflective on his first Whitney Stakes (G1) victory the night before, trainer Chad Brown gave high praise to Sierra Leone Aug. 3, calling him "the best horse I've ever trained."View the full article

There was a brief window of time about 15 months ago when 'TDN Rising Stars' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and Fierceness (City of Light) were well established sophomores on the Triple Crown trail, and they were joined by an intriguing new shooter, Deterministic (Liam's Map), who suddenly had “wiseguy” appeal for the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby based on just two well-spaced lifetime starts. Deterministic, too, had been named a 'Rising Star' as a juvenile off an Aug. 12, 2023, debut dirt sprint victory at Saratoga for trainer Christophe Clement. But he then missed seven months of racing because of an ankle chip after that first start before asserting himself as a Derby contender with a deft, stalk-and-split win over a sloppy and sealed track in the Mar. 2, 2024, GIII Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. At the time, part of the allure of Deterministic as a lightly raced Derby threat was Clement himself, because the well-respected veteran conditioner who specialized in turf horses rarely ventured onto the Derby prep path unless he believed he had a colt that truly belonged. In fact, Clement had never saddled a horse in the Kentucky Derby, although he did win the GI Belmont Stakes with Tonalist in 2014. “To [just] run [in the Derby], no,” Clement said of Deterministic in the spring of '24, underscoring that he wouldn't be interested in entering based on qualifying points alone. “To win, yes,” he added with a laugh. Deterministic ended up running eighth as the beaten odds-on favorite in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes, and that poor showing meant no trip to Louisville. In fact, Deterministic raced just once more on dirt at age 3 (fifth in last year's GII Peter Pan Stakes) before Clement switched him to grass, a surface over which Deterministic finished in the money for five straight stakes to close out his sophomore season, winning the GIII Virginia Derby and GIII Hill Prince Stakes along the way. Deterministic's 4-year-old debut this spring was a second-place try in an off-the-turf Keeneland allowance. He followed that sloppy-track tightener with a course-record wiring of the GII Fort Marcy Stakes over nine furlongs at Aqueduct on May 3, 2025. Three weeks later, Clement died at age 59 from a metastatic form of eye cancer. His son, Miguel Clement, who had previously served as his father's top assistant, took over the racing stable, and Deterministic's wiring of the nine-furlong GI Manhattan Stakes at the Spa June 8 was the younger Clement's first top-level stakes victory. Deterministic benefitted from a rescheduling quirk when heavy rains forced the Manhattan to be switched from the Saturday to the Sunday of Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga. The race was initially slated to be run at 1 3/16 miles on the outer turf, but it got shortened to 1 1/8 miles on the inner course. Deterministic had not previously won in two starts beyond nine furlongs, and this twist of fate played to his strength-he's now 4-for-4 in nine-furlong turf stakes. Coming off that 100 Beyer Speed Figure win, the big question this past Saturday was whether Deterministic could thrive cutting back to a flat mile in the GI Fourstardave Stakes. Deterministic winning the Gotham in his previous life as a dirt horse | Sarah Andrew The answer was a resounding yes. Deterministic broke alertly, but instead of seizing the lead like in his first three starts at age 4, he conceded the front to a 19-1 pacemaker. The tempo was legit (quarter-mile splits of :23.28, :23.73 and :23.21 for the first six furlongs) before Deterministic pounced with a three-wide bid in upper stretch. He slammed the door by uncorking an even faster fourth-quarter split of :23.10 (two final eighths timed in :11.40 and 11:70). The Beyer for the 1 1/4-length score in 1:33.87 came back as a career-best 101. On Sunday, Miguel Clement reported that Deterministic came out of his race well, and that the GI Woodbine Mile on Sept. 13 and/or Keeneland's G1 Coolmore Turf Mile on Oct. 4 are next-race possibilities. About 80 minutes after Deterministic stamped himself as a grass mile kingpin in the Fourstardave, his one-time companions on the Derby trail, Sierra Leone and Fierceness, renewed their rivalry in the GI Whitney Stakes over nine furlongs on dirt. The two have now met five times. In last year's Derby, Sierra Leone ran second, beaten just a nose by Mystik Dan (Goldencents), while Fierceness was 15th as the beaten favorite. Fierceness then bested Sierra Leone in both the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and the GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga, but Sierra Leone capped the '24 season with a 1 1/2-length score over Fierceness when they ran one-two in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. In Saturday's Whitney, Fierceness broke running but was backed off a rabbit-enhanced speed duel undertaken by the two longest shots on the board (one a stablemate of Sierra Leone's) who would end up finishing last and next to last. Fierceness thus enjoyed a no-excuse stalking trip leading the main body of the field in third for most of his trip. As the pace (splits of :23.82, :23.25, :24.52) came unraveled on the far turn, Fierceness allowed Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) to get first run on the wilting duo. Fierceness quickly accosted that rival and seemed poised to power past. But Skippylongstocking stuck just around long enough on the inside to make that task too tough, and when Fierceness simultaneously had to deal with an outside threat in the form of Highland Falls (Curlin), he capitulated in upper stretch long before Sierra Leone fully uncoiled with his wide-and-driving winning bid from last. Sierra Leone launched his late kick through a final quarter-mile split timed in :24.81, plus a last eighth of a mile through deep stretch in :12.52. Sierra Leone came over the top after no fewer than five other horses had led or shared the lead in the Whitney, and his 1:48.92 clocking for the one-length tally earned a 109 Beyer (on an afternoon when Saratoga ran no other dirt routes that might have lent context to figure-making). So did the Whitney provide answers to important divisional questions now that we're inside 90 days to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic? Not really. We've known for a while now that Sierra Leone can effectively roll late when presented with brisk paces, and that Fierceness sometimes has difficulty sealing the deal. If anything, the horse to watch out of the Whitney might be runner-up Highland Falls (107 Beyer). Parked in fourth for most of the race, the 13-1 shot was the only horse in the front half of the field in the early going to stick around and have a say at the finish, and he briefly led between the eighth and sixteenth poles before Sierra Leone out-torqued him in the final strides. The Whitney was only Highland Falls's second start since running ninth in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, and he's the defending winner of the 10-furlong GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, which comes up this year on Aug. 31. The post Week In Review: ‘Rising Stars’ From Last Season Now in Different Orbits at The Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Set for his unveiling after topping the OBS March Sale this year, Buetane (Tiz the Law–Taboo, by Forestry) burned brightest on debut at Del Mar on Sunday and earned himself a 'TDN Rising Star' for the effort. Slammed at the windows and made the heavy favorite here, the 2-year-old followed the lead of pacesetter Cactus Charlie (Independence Hall) and stablemate Falcon Jet (Justify) up the backstretch. Buetane moved up before the far turn to engage the frontrunner and around the far turn he asserted his authority. Entering the lane, the colt found another gear and sped off towards the wire, which resulted in a multiple-length score. The final running time was 1:10.17. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Sales History: FTSAUG '24 $150,000; OBSMAR '25 $1.15-million. O-Zedan Racing Stables; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. #2 BUETANE ($2.60), a $1.15 million @OBSSales purchase named for @buehlersdayoff, lived up to expectations in his debut! @JJHernandezS19 rode the juvenile Tiz The Law (@CoolmoreAmerica) colt to this easy victory for trainer @BobBaffert and owner @ZedanRacing. pic.twitter.com/IvjFEA6LGb — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 3, 2025 The post Tiz The Law’s Buetane Pours It On To Become ‘TDN Rising Star’ At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Once she got to the lead in the lane, they couldn't reel her back in, and Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) sailed home much the best in the GIII Pucker Up Stakes at Ellis Park. The Brad Cox runner started her career as a juvenile at Kentucky Downs in late August last season, and went back to front in a maiden special to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Deep in the field behind her were two next-out winners and GSW Will Then (War of Will). She tried a similar tactic Oct. 4 at Keeneland in the GII Jessamine Stakes, and was third in a blanket photo–the trifecta filled out by a difference of noses–with GSW & GISP May Day Ready (Tapit) and SW & MGSP Totally Justified (Justify). Gone since those efforts, she resurfaced June 19 at Churchill Downs for her 3-year-old bow and once again roared home in the lane from last to win by a length against older allowance company. Returning to graded company here, the public hammered Destino d'Oro at the windows until she left the gates as the even-money favorite. Content to track Drop the Hammer (Gun Runner) from second as that one posted fractions of :23.19, :47.65, and 1:10.97, the betting choice was the looming danger as they swung for home and the longtime leader threw in the towel at the top of the stretch. Inhaling that competition and leaving the cavalry to decide the minor placings, it was 3 3/4 lengths back to Hereforagoodtime (Justify) in second when the dust settled. Admit (Blame) was a neck back in third. Sales history: $20,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $185,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. O-Steve Landers Racing LLC; B-Hurstland Farm, Inc. & James H. Greene Jr.; T-Brad Cox. Destino D'Oro was a powerful winner in the G3 Pucker Up at @ellisparkracing! Back-to-back stakes wins for jockey @luanmachado85! @bradcoxracing trains. #TwinSpiresRepay pic.twitter.com/EoqqLH8qtw — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 3, 2025 The post Bolt d’Oro’s Destino d’Oro Powers Home in Pucker Up at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a high-class daughter of Starman. 4.46 Naas, Cond, €200,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT GREEN SENSE (IRE) (Starman {GB}) is in pole position for this valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, having captured the Prix Robert Papin in which Sunday's Cabourg winner Tadej was third. One of two in the race for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, alongside fellow Joseph O'Brien trainee Green Soul (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), she probably has most to fear from Valmont's July Stakes third Jel Pepper (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}) from the Paul and Oliver Cole stable. The post Green Sense Poised for Ballyhane Pot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mythical showed that she’s the real deal at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 3, winning the $175,000 Adirondack Stakes (G3) by 3 1/4 lengths for her third victory in as many starts, all by open lengths. View the full article