Wandering Eyes

Mathew Gillies brought up a memorable milestone at Te Aroha on Sunday when recording his 100th win in the saddle in New Zealand. The 39-year-old went into the meeting with several promising rides, but it was upon the Dean Wiles-trained Justice that he brought up his riding century in the Dean Wiles Racing Maiden Steeplechase (3600m). Gillies had schooled the Belardo six-year-old and took plenty of confidence from his debut steeplechase in July. “I went and schooled him during the week and he jumped really well,” Gillies said. “On his previous run, in his first steeplechase at Te Aroha with Kylan Wiles on him, he went really well for his first time and I thought there would be some improvement off that, and that’s exactly what happened, he went really well.” Gillies was rapt to bring up his 100th winner, but said he wasn’t aware he had reached the milestone until he was told after the race. “I didn’t think about it yesterday until someone told me,” he said. “It wasn’t really on the top of my mind, but it was good to get it.” Among Gillies’ 100 wins, there are a few horses that stand out. “Southern Countess was a nice horse,” he said. “She won and was second in the Northern and she won three Pakuranga Hurdles. “Ima Heroine won a Northern Steeple and Pakuranga Hunt Cup. “Tallyho Twinkletoe was a good horse for me and we won a National. “I won five races on Gagarin and he won a Wellington Steeplechase, a Northern Hurdle, a Hawke’s Bay Hurdle and a Manawatu Steeplechase, he was a nice horse to me. “And Finito, one of my father’s horses, was a good horse that got my name out there.” Raceday riding is a part-time pursuit for Gillies, who was back at his regular jobs the next day, riding work for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike before heading to Auckland Airport to work for equine airfreight services company Airport Livestock Services Limited. “We help get the stalls ready for IRT and NZB,” Gillies said. “We are loading and unloading horses, getting the stalls ready, driving on the airside of the airport and taking the stalls down and back. “It is something that I have been doing for the last three years and now I do it a couple of times a week. “I ride work for Tony Pike as well. I was able to ride seven horses this morning, come up here and we have got a load going out to Sydney at 6pm tonight.” With 100 New Zealand riding wins to his credit, Gillies is now eyeing that number in a jumps racing capacity. “I would rather get 100 jumping wins and I am at about 85 at the moment,” he said. “If everything is going right, and barring falls or injuries, hopefully jumps racing keeps going and I can get to that 100 wins. It is in the distance at the moment.” While the jumping season is nearing a close, Gillies is hoping he can inch closer to that goal in the next few weeks. “Justice is going into a 0-1 win steeplechase at Te Aroha. He seems like he will be a good chance in that,” Gillies said. “If the ground dries up a bit, I think Taika will be a good ride in the Northern Hurdles.” View the full article

The Waikato horseman was close friends with The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams, who said he will be a big loss to the industry. “It is a terrific loss,” Williams said. “He had been ill for some time unfortunately with a very acute form of Parkinson’s. His last year has been very tough on the family. “He was a champion bloke and a champion trainer. We travelled the world together and had a lot of fun together.” Priscott has a lifelong involvement in racing and was introduced to the sport through his father, Bruce. Priscott got a taste of topflight success at an early age when strapping his father’s smart stayer Il Tempo. “His father, Bruce, was a butcher and trainer,” Williams said. “They had that great horse Il Tempo before I knew Robert. He won two Wellington Cups and it should have been two Auckland Cups. “Robert was his strapper when he went to Australia. He was a red-hot favourite for the Melbourne Cup and they think he did a suspensory before he raced over there. He went over in a boat in those days.” Priscott followed in his father’s footsteps and became a trainer, and he tasted plenty of early success. “When I went to Waikato Stud, I got to really know him a lot through Graeme Sanders because my father had horses with Graeme Sanders,” Williams said. “Robert never had more than 30 horses, but he had some good ones, and Red Tempo was one of his early good horses.” Red Tempo was victorious in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas (1600m) and Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand before continuing his career in Australia where he won the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m). “He won so many Group races for us with a small team,” Williams said. “We had so many good horses together in the Terry Jarvis (former The Oaks Stud owner) days. “He bought Buzz Lightyear and I had just started at The Oaks with Terry Jarvis. Buzz Lightyear won at Te Rapa in his first start. I talked Terry into buying him off Robert, who was always a seller. “He (Priscott) had another good two-year-old he had bought that year called Quorum. “The two of them went down for the Magic Millions (Listed, 1200m) at Trentham. We had this secret track gallop at Te Rapa on the Tuesday morning and Buzz Lightyear would have beaten Quorum by about eight lengths. “We went to Trentham feeling very good about life and Chris Munce rode Quorum and got up and won, and Buzz Lightyear didn’t travel well, had a bad night, and ran a very plain race. “Robert got Quorum sold after that. Terry Jarvis, who was my boss at the time, raced Buzz Lightyear and he was the best horse by a mile. He went on and won the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), Levin Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) and went to Australia and ran second or third behind Pins in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). He was a great horse. “There are a lot of great moments, it is the end of an era.” Williams said Priscott was a down-to-earth family man, and his loss will be felt by many in the industry. “He was very proud of Matt and Mel (children),” Williams said. “Melanie worked for me here at The Oaks for three or four years and then she went off to the world of insurance. We followed Matt’s rugby career and they saw our kids grow up too. We were family friends.” “He was the old style of trainer and was outstanding at what he did. “In some many ways he was underrated, but he was understated too, and that is the way he liked it.” View the full article

After racing behind a slow pace, The Padre unleashed a brisk turn of foot for his first graded stakes win and second consecutive stakes victory at the current Del Mar meeting.View the full article

Although different running styles carried them to victory in million-dollar stakes at Kentucky Downs Aug. 31, Johnny's Red Storm and Meringue both impressed with their triumphs and gave their connections excitement for the future.View the full article

It came down to the Aug. 31 closing day program of the Royal Palm Meet, but Saffie Joseph Jr. edged Jose D'Angelo with a three-win day to earn leading trainer honors for the 13th consecutive race meeting at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Fairmount Park Casino & Racing is celebrating its 100th anniversary with three days of events from Thursday, Sept. 18-Saturday, Sept. 20. The schedule includes giveaways, family-friendly entertainment, and the St. Louis Derby.View the full article

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The Padre, who closed into a tepid pace to win the La Jolla Handicap last time out, repeated the dose Sunday, powering to the lead late to make it two in a row over the Del Mar lawn in the GII Del Mar Derby. The 3-5 favorite was well held while positioned off the pedestrian pace set by Freedom's Not Free. He rolled up three wide at the top of the lane and surged past the pacesetter to win with authority. “He was up against it last time with no pace and it kind of looked like a more murky scenario this time,” winning trainer Phil D'Amato said of the slow pace the favorite has closed into in both of his recent victories. “I just think it shows what a tremendous turn of foot this horse has. To overcome fractions that slow two times in a row and outkick them like he does, that's a real racehorse.” The Padre began his career in his native Ireland, where he won his 1 1/4-mile debut over the all-weather at Dundalk in January for trainer/breeder John Halley. Transferred to D'Amato's Southern California barn, he opened his stateside campaign with a late-closing runner-up effort in a one-mile optional claimer at Santa Anita June 13 and got on top late to take the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla Handicap last time out Aug. 3. “I think the year-end goal for him would be something like the GI Hollywood Derby,” D'Amato said of next targets for the winner. “We will just work around that. If we can make him a Grade I winner–he's still in tact–and develop him for next year.” Pedigree Notes: The Padre became the third graded winner for his sire Ghaiyyath, who has also been represented by a pair of French group winning fillies in My Highness (Ire), who won last weekend's G2 Prix du Calvados, and Mandanaba (Fr). The Godolphin stallion won the 2020 G1 Juddmonte International, G1 Coral-Eclipse, and G1 Coronation Cup, as well as the 2019 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Shalanaya, who won the 2009 G1 Prix de l'Opera in The Aga Khan's colors, was purchased by Halley for €55,000 at the 2019 Arqana December sale. The mare produced a full-brother to the winner last year. Sunday, Del Mar CAESARS SPORTSBOOK DEL MAR DERBY-GII, $300,000, Del Mar, 8-31, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:49.23, fm. 1–THE PADRE (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Ghaiyyath (Ire) 1st Dam: Shalanaya (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, GISP-Can, $637,986), by Lomitas (GB) 2nd Dam: Shalamantika (Ire), by Nashwan 3rd Dam: Sharamana (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (60,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Naify, Marsha; B-J Halley (IRE); T-P D'Amato; J-U Rispoli. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $259,585. *1/2 to Shalamba (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), GSP-Ity, MSP-Fr, $103,110. Werk Nick Rating Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Freedom's Not Free, 122, c, 3, Omaha Beach– Wonderfuladventure, by Tiz Wonderful. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '24 EASMAY). O-Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing, LLC, Valinor Racing Stable, LLC, Corbett, Tom, Kwan, Andy and Wagner, Jay Lester; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $60,000. 3–Game Warrior, 122, c, 3, Game Winner–Le Mi Geaux, by First Samurai. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($52,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Jethorse LLC; B-George W. Ruggiero (KY); T-Peter Miller. $36,000. Margins: 1, NK, 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 2.20, 10.20. Also Ran: Geometry, Mythical Reel (Ire). Scratched: Iron Man Cal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. THE PADRE (Ire) ($3.40) hits the gas under @umbyrispoli for a birthday win in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby (G2). @PhilDamato11 trains for owners @lrfracing, @StablesSterling and @Marsha_Naify. pic.twitter.com/f2TAtbukeH — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 1, 2025 The post The Padre Runs Down Freedom’s Not Free to Win Del Mar Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-Del Mar, $82,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, 6f, 1:08.83, ft, 3/4 length. KRISTOFFERSON (c, 2, Nyquist–Impasse, by Quality Road), installed the even-money choice for this debut, came out gunning and assumed a narrow advantage as Falcon Jet (Justify) and Mr A P (American Pharoah) pressed the issue to his outside. Three wide turning for home, Mr A P began his retreat, however, Mr A P wouldn't relent and inched in front for a brief moment. Undeterred, the Bob Baffert trained-colt dug in to overtake his game foe and was 3/4 of a length on top at the wire. It was a long way back to Falcon Jet in third. A $1,150,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, Kristofferson is out of Impasse, a daughter of MSW and GSP Tempus Fugit (Alphabet Soup) who is a half-sister to Grade II winner Majestic River (A.P. Indy). The 12-year-old mare, purchased by Candy Meadows for $385,000 while in foal to Into Mischief at Keeneland November in 2019, was bred back to Nyquist this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $48,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. The post Nyquist’s Pricey Kristofferson Graduates at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

During Keeneland September last year, bloodstock agent Steve Young signed the ticket to the tune of $150,000 on a dark bay colt bred by Gainesway (hip 1408) for his client Harrell Ventures. Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Sunrise (Karakontie {Jpn}–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat) made his second start a winning one after a gritty battle over the turf in the ninth race at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon. When reached by phone, Young said that in the days leading up to the sale that the colt was high on his client's list, especially since Gainesway's Karakontie has turned into such a dependable value sire. “He [Sunrise] was not a hard horse to find,” said Young. “We honestly were prepared to pay more and thought that because of his pedigree that he was going to bring more. Gainesway always brings quality horses to the sales and we knew what we were getting.” Sunrise is a full-brother to 2022 New York-bred Horse of the Year Spendarella, who took down for Gainesway and trainer Graham Motion the GI Del Mar Oaks, won the GII Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland and was also the runner-up in the GI Just a Game Stakes at Belmont. Spanish Loveaffair is Sunrise's other full-sibling who is a multiple-stakes winner. The debuting Sunrise counts GI American Oaks heroine Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule) as a half-sister, which only adds to potential when it comes to running on grass. Sunrise's connections in the winner's circle | Sarah Andrew “Being out of Spanish Bunny, a full to Spendarella and Spanish Loveaffair, half to Spanish Queen, we saw him walk and knew that this was a proper horse,” said Young. “I think Karakontie has a tremendous pedigree on the female side and he's proven to be a quality stallion.” With that strong turf bloodline of his, Sunrise earned the lead at the top of the lane in today's Spa maiden special weight, went head-to-head with first-time starter Glavine (Not This Time) and bested him on the square. “Sending him to Todd [Pletcher] was the right move and when he drew in, we were excited to see that he was running today,” he said. “Ricardo [Santana] gave him a million-dollar ride. We can't wait for what he has up next.” 9th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.24, fm, head. SUNRISE (c, 2, Karakontie {Jpn}–Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat) took on two turns for his unveiling over the Spa turf course Aug. 2 and weathered brushing the gate to finish well in fourth place. Drawing in off the also-eligible list here, the 3-1 second choice had no issues moving from the outside at the break to take up a position behind the speed heading into the first turn. The juvenile kept close tabs on the pacesetter up the backstretch, but around the far turn it was time to wind up for a charge. Fellow firster Glavine (Not This Time) went with the new leader and the pair engaged in a thrilling battle down the lane. In the shadow of the wire Sunrise gained the upper hand to break his maiden. Favorite Tacticality was fifth. The winner is a full-brother to Spendarella, GISW-USA, G1SP-Eng, $795,459 and Spanish Loveaffair, MSW & MGSP, $284,090, plus a half to Spanish Queen (Tribal Rule), GISW, $423,600. Gainesway bought Spanish Bunny for $130,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. Her more recent produce includes current 3-year-old gelding in-training Silly Rabbit (Uncle Mo) and a yearling filly by Justify. She visited Karakontie once again for 2026. Sales History: $150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $61,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Harrell Ventures LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. @campbellparlay Sunrise breaks his maiden at second asking in R9 at Saratoga! Todd Pletcher trains and @RSantana_jr was up. pic.twitter.com/pyCKUyQaCf — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 31, 2025 The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland, Sunrise! Well-Bred Son Of Karakontie Up And At ‘Em On Spa Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tony Pike’s powers of persuasion have come up short against the money on offer in Hong Kong. The Cambridge trainer was keen to hold on to impressive debut winner Quantum Legend through his three-year-old campaign but has been unable to convince Hong Kong owner Kenneth Lau to leave him in New Zealand. “Unfortunately, it looks like he is going to take him up there. The PP bonuses (for previously raced horses) are so attractive for the owners if they win in Class 3,” Pike said. “We made a good case and the owner thought about it long and hard but, no, he’s heading up there. “It’s a real shame and if he was a colt, it may have been a different story, but with the amount of prizemoney up there it’s pretty hard to try and convince him otherwise, so we’ll move on.” Quantum Legend was offered by Kilgravin Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where the son of Castelvecchio was knocked down to Waikato Bloodstock, on behalf of Lau, for $400,000. From the family of multiple Group One winner and champion sire Redoute’s Choice, he had impressed at the trials before winning as a short-priced favourite at Te Rapa last month. That performance earned him a $10 equal second favourite quote for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Pike is now hoping a stablemate can press his southern claims on Saturday. The highly regarded Snitzel colt Storm Front is currently a $31 chance and will open his campaign in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie. “He trialled really well at Te Awamutu, he’s one of a number of nice three-year-olds who will probably run in the next couple of weeks and then we’ll know where they’re heading,” Pike said. Storm Front was a smart debut winner before he suffered cardiac arrhythmia when unplaced in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) and was spelled. Meanwhile, multiple stakes winner Val Di Zoldo will bypass the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). “She will go to the open mile at Te Rapa, I just didn’t want to run her first-up on a good surface over 1400m against weight-for-age horses, they’ll be too sharp for her,” Pike said. “She’ll run on September 14 and then go to the mile (Gr.1 Howden Insurance) and the 2040m race (Gr.1 Livamol Classic). “The Livamol is probably her best chance, but if they happened to get a Soft 8 or 9 for the second day at Te Rapa, where she has always run well, then it would be suitable for her as well.” View the full article

Meringue (Frosted) proved her talents could be applied to the turf and dirt as she successfully picked up her first stakes win in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes. The grey debuted June 19 at Churchill Downs, where she closed from eighth in that five-panel baby dash to win at first-asking on the grass by a neck. From there, her connections moved her to the main track for a tilt at the GIII Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga, and she ran headlong into Florida-bred titan Mythical (St Patrick's Day), who dominated by 3 1/4 lengths. Training well since that race, and with the field's best Beyer figure of 78, the betting public sent her away here with 5-1 odds to return to the winner's enclosure. In her customary spot near the rear of the field, the daughter of Frosted was in no hurry behind an opening quarter in :22.10 and a half in :44.80 from five off the fence. Asked for more by Luan Machado as they closed ranks for the homeward drive, she had to swing seven wide to do it, but Meringue relentlessly shortened the gap on 75-1 longshot Red Beretta (Catalina Cruiser) and To a Flame (Justify), and overhauled that entire flight in the shadow of the wire to win by a head. The former was second by a nose while the Justify filly was third by a head in a blanket result. Meringue is the first to the races for her dam Catbrier, whose half-sisters include SP Angel Kiss (Frosted) and Ms Bernadette (Bernardini)–dam of SP Beantown Baby (Artie Schiller). The second dam MGSP Kiawah Cat (Lemon Drop Kid) is a half-sister to G1 Dubai World Cup-placed Cat O'Mountain (Street Cry {Ire}) and multiple Group 1-placed Michita (Dynaformer). Catbrier has a yearling colt to her credit named Oscar (Oscar Performance) and a 2025 filly by Volatile. She went to Tiz the Law for 2026. This is the immediate female family of Singaporean Horse of the Year and five-time champion War Affair (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The fillies battle down the stretch in the $1M Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies with #6 MERINGUE ($13.20) prevailing for trainer @BrissetRodolphe and owner Elements Racing (@llc_racing). @luanmachado85 was aboard the daughter of @DarleyAmerica's Frosted. @KYDownsRacing pic.twitter.com/DiDwmB8cQZ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 31, 2025 KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE FILLIES S., $996,000, Kentucky Downs, 8-31, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:34.61, fm. 1–MERINGUE, 118, f, 2, by Frosted 1st Dam: Catbrier, by Street Sense 2nd Dam: Kiawah Cat, by Lemon Drop Kid 3rd Dam: Thunder Kitten, by Storm Cat 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Elements Racing LLC; B-Mesingw Farm LLC (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset; J-Luan Machado. $586,750. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-1-0, $691,050. 2–Red Beretta, 118, f, 2, Catalina Cruiser–Dontgetinmyway, by Machiavellian. ($9,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mana Racing; B-Shane Doyle & Penny McCarthy (KY); T-Michel Douaihy. $192,500. 3–To a Flame, 120, f, 2, Justify–Moth (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). ($375,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Bregman Family Racing LLC; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-George R. Arnold II. $96,250. Margins: HD, NO, HD. Odds: 5.60, 75.07, 8.31. Also Ran: Rose Room, Soloist, Oscar's Encore, Loveliest, I've Got the Honey, Back Ring Buzz, Chambourcin. The post Frosted’s Meringue Best of the Cavalry in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

10th-Gulfstream, $42,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, f, 1m 70y (AWT) (off turf), 1:43.63, ft, 1/2 length. DANDONA (f, 2, Tiz the Law–Tulsa Queen {SW & GSP-Can, SW-USA, $211,381}, by Cactus Ridge) was a pricey in-training purchase this past spring and she started her career on the tapeta after this maiden was rained off the turf course. Given 2-5 favoritism on the back of two bullets from her last three works, the filly was content to watch the race unfold from the back of the pack as pacesetters rolled through :23.59 and a half in :47.06. Moving into contention on the bend and vying for control in upper stretch, Dandona had challengers on all sides as she led them home in the final sixteenth, but she held on by a half-length over That Police (Tiz the Law). The victress is the second winner from as many offspring on the ground for Tulsa Queen, herself a frequent face on the Canadian stakes circuit in her racing years. The mare produced a yearling filly by Cyberknife but missed for her 2025 covering to Bolt d'Oro. Dandona sold for a tag befitting royalty, $1.05-million, after she blitzed through a furlong in :9.4 at OBS April this year. Sales history: $70,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $1,050,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Tagermeen Racing; B-Spotted Pony Stables LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. The post Tiz the Law’s Dandona Game In Two-Turn Unveiling at Gulfstream Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saffie Joseph, Jr. edged Jose D'Angelo to earn leading trainer honors for the 13th consecutive race meeting at Gulfstream Park. The 38-year-old native of Barbados entered Sunday's closing day of the Royal Palm Meet with a one-win lead, 55-54, and clinched the title with 4-5 favorite Drama in the third race, following a victory with Genuine Gomo in the opener. Dandona, a $1.05-million OBS April purchase, gave Joseph his third winner on the day with a victory in the 10th race. Joseph finished with 58 winners and more than $1.9 million in purse earnings during the five-month Royal Palm Meet, which began Apr. 3. Joseph's string of Gulfstream training titles began in 2021 with the Royal Palm Meet, which he has now won five straight years, and also includes four consecutive titles at Gulfstream's Championship Meet. Jockey Edgard Zayas was the Royal Palm Meet's leading rider with 93 wins and nearly $3.1 million in purse earnings and Ken Ramsey finished as leading owner with 13 wins. Gulfstream's 36-day Sunshine Meet opens with a nine-race program Friday. Post time is 12:50 p.m. The post Joseph Earns 13th Straight Gulfstream Training Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In a day good for the runners who made the pace, Johnny's Red Storm (Twirling Candy) made every pole a winning one and took home the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint Stakes Sunday afternoon. The George Weaver charge came into this race off a sterling debut Aug. 3 at Saratoga, where he similarly took a field of auction-price restricted maidens gate-to-wire by four lengths. Training well in New York since then and shipped down for the race, the betting public liked him to the tune of 8-5 odds, and he was the favorite when the gates opened. Out to the front just as he had in his unveiling, the son of Twirling Candy rolled along through an opening sectional of :21.94 and a half in :44.73 with some moderate pressure coming from an outside challenger. Roused to put that one away by Frankie Dettori, who was enjoying quite an afternoon with three wins on the card at that point, Johnny's Red Storm responded well and kicked home to win by two lengths. 'TDN Rising Star' Obliteration (Violence) tried valiantly to cut into the margin, but had to settle for a clear-cut second. Stablemate Azizam (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) flew late to take third. It was Dettori's fourth time in the winner's enclosure while Weaver claimed two of the trifecta spots via the winner and third-place finisher. Johnny's Red Storm is the second successful offspring for Estoril behind winning eldest half-sister Momma Kim (Noble Mission {GB}). The last registered foal for the dam is a now yearling filly by Known Agenda after the mare did not produce a foal from her trip to Good Magic for 2025. Estoril, a half-sister to GSW Tide of the Sea (English Channel), does not have a 2026 breeding on record. This is the female line of MGISW Tates Creek (Rahy) and is the immediate family of MGSW Fulsome (Into Mischief) as well as European champion 2-year-old filly Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. JOHNNY'S RED STORM ($5.48) led all the way in the $1M Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint. The fourth winner on today's @KYDownsRacing card for jockey @FrankieDettori. George Weaver trains this 2YO colt by @LanesEndFarms' Twirling Candy. pic.twitter.com/5gSYDZsXhU — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 31, 2025 KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE SPRINT S., $946,000, Kentucky Downs, 8-31, 2yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:14.83, fm. 1–JOHNNY'S RED STORM, 120, c, 2, by Twirling Candy 1st Dam: Estoril, by Into Mischief 2nd Dam: Routine, by Empire Maker 3rd Dam: Tates Creek, by Rahy ($60,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-John J. Cronin, Jr., and RAP Racing; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-George Weaver; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $586,750. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $630,750. 2–Obliteration, 120, c, 2, Violence–I'mclassyandsassy, by Master Command. ($200,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Leland Ackerley Racing, LLC; B-Ocala Stud (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $192,500. 3–Azizam (GB), 120, c, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Mimram (GB), by Kheleyf. (€46,000 Wlg '23 GOFNOF; £46,000 Ylg '24 GOFFUK; 115,000gns RNA 2yo '25 TATBRE). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables LLC, Harrell Ventures LLC, Steve Adkisson, Brody Racing LLC, Pura Vida Investments LLC, Campeche Stables and Andrew Atkinson; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-George Weaver. $46,250. Margins: 2, 1 3/4, 2. Odds: 1.74, 2.82, 5.63. Also Ran: Twilight Delight, Longshoreman, Win N Juice, Trendsetter, Lawyer Mason, Zeus's Echo, Telecaster. The post Twirling Candy’s Johnny’s Red Storm Takes Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint Gate to Wire 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. – Early Sunday afternoon, Mike Repole wasn't sure if he had slept or not Saturday night. “I might have taken a nap from 2 (a.m.) to 4,” Repole said in the Saratoga box seat area. “I am running high on adrenaline right now.” Sixteen hours earlier, Repole, with 40 friends and family–including Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher–gathered at his Saratoga house and watched Fierceness (City of Light) overcome a world of trouble and still draw off to a 3 1/4-length win over GI Preakness Stakes winner and GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes runner-up Journalism (Curlin) in the $1-million GI Pacific Classic. “Mike was pretty excited,” Pletcher said at his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track Sunday morning. “I got out of there at 11 (p.m.). If you had told me 9:15 (Pacific Classic) post, we were going to win and I would get out at 11, sign me up.” A couple hours after Repole was rehashing Fierceness' win, things got sour as he watched his other top older horse–Mindframe (Constitution)–lose rider Irad Ortiz Jr. just after the start of the $1-million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. That was the end of his race. Before the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Repole was approached by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott–who conditions Derby, Belmont and GI Travers Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief)–and accepted his congratulations for Fierceness. Ditto from trainer Chad Brown, who has GI Whitney Stakes champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who was second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Fierceness shipped to California from Pletcher's Saratoga base last Wednesday. Pletcher said Sunday morning that Fierceness would fly back to Saratoga this Wednesday and, most likely stay here to train up to the $7-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2. “We stayed here last year, and the weather cooperated, and we were able to get our final breezes in and then ship to California,” Pletcher said. “That is probably what I would like to do, but we have to keep some flexibility based on what the weather does.” In the Pacific Classic, the Repole crew gasped at the start of the Pacific Classic when Fierceness, starting from the rail in the 1 1/4-mile race veered sharpy inward towards the rail, nearly losing his rider John Velazquez. Almost speechless. Fierceness had a historic and epic performance winning the G1 Pacific Classic @DelMarRacing Watching this race as a fan in Saratoga with family and friends is why I fell in love with this game and why I still love this game!!!!! This is why I decided to… pic.twitter.com/3OCPCq7Vqg — Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) August 31, 2025 Velazquez showed why he is a Hall of Fame rider as he was able to get Fierceness back on track, but then found himself behind a wall of horses. “I wasn't nervous until 10 seconds into the race,” Repole said. “Then I went from nervous to panic. I was like, 'oh my God, is he going to get hurt?' Then it was 'oh my God, the race is over!' Then it was 'oh my God, I shipped him to California. What a waste!' What an incredible job by Johnny. Nine out of 10 jockeys go down.” Fierceness, who was accompanied to California by Pletcher's assistant Sophie Green, has now won two of four starts this year and has seven wins in 13 career starts. “People have said that if things don't go his way, he doesn't run well,” Pletcher said. “Things didn't go his way yesterday–part of it was his fault for the mistake at the start. After that, he was bottled up behind horses and had to wait, split horses down the backside and overcome some adversity. Maybe this will quiet some of the skeptics.” Repole wasn't going to be around too much longer on Sunday. He said he was flying to Europe Sunday night for a “half business, half wedding” trip. His last impressions of being in Saratoga were half good, half not so good. Watching the Pacific Classic on television with friends and family was a highlight, watching Mindframe in the Jockey Club Gold Cup was not. Baffert Hopeful That Buetane Comes Through Closing Day When 2-year-old colt Buetane (Tiz the Law) broke his maiden at Del Mar on Aug. 3, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was in Saratoga. When Buetane runs in Monday's $300,000 GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, Baffert will be at Del Mar. “The first time he ran, I was landing in Saratoga for the [Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale],” Baffert said by phone from his base in California. One of these days, he just might get to see one of his prized 2-year-olds run in person. Buetane | Benoit Buetane is in Saratoga because Baffert, as usual, has a plethora of promising youngsters. Buetane is owned by Zedan Racing Stables Inc. and Amr Zedan paid $1,150,000 for him at the 2025 Ocala Breeders Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training sale. Zedan also owns the promising Brant, a $3-million purchase at the same sale. He broke his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths in July. Buetane romped to a 3 1/2-length score on Aug. 3. Both were tabbed 'TDN Rising Stars.' Baffert wants to keep the two Zedan runners separated for now, so Buetane came east. Buetane is the nickname of two-time World Series champion pitcher Walker Buehler, a friend of Baffert. Baffert said that Buetane, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, has always showed promise. “They tip us off in the mornings and then they have to run in the afternoons,” Baffert said. “I think he has trained well. It looks like it is going to be a tough Hopeful. It's a good spot for him Ned Toffey Has High Hopes for Ted Noffey More than a few heads turned when a 2-year-old colt named Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) made his debut at Saratoga on Aug. 2. Part of the reason was because the colt, owned by Spendthrift Farm, was an impressive 1 1/2-length winner in his $100,000 maiden special weight, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The other was the name. If it sounds a lot like Ned Toffey, the general manager at Spendthrift, you're right. It does. The name came about after an inadvertent typo on a social media post. Eric Gustavson, co-owner of Spendthrift, got wind of the mistake and thought it would be a cool name for a horse. And here he is. Ted Noffey. He will take his next step on Monday when he runs in the $300,000 GI Hopeful Stakes, one of two horses Spendthrift has in the race. They also co-own Emphasis (Yaupon) along with Repole Stable. Ted Noffey | Sarah Andrew Into Mischief and Yaupon stand at Spendthrift. “When you break your maiden at Saratoga and do it in the solid fashion that he did it, it's easy to get optimistic,” Ned Toffey said. “But, at the same time, we are going in the Hopeful, and I guess I should say the Spendthrift Hopeful because we are sponsoring it for the first time!” Ted Noffey (9-2 on the morning line) and Emphasis (12-1) are both trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. Ricardo Santana Jr. is named to ride Emphasis and Hall of Famer John Velazquez is on Ted Noffey. Emphasis broke his maiden by a length, going nearly gate-to-wire at Saratoga on July 19. “Both of them did what we asked them to do and this is kind of what you do now,” Pletcher said. “Go to a stakes. Hopefully, they can run well and keep moving forward and improve as they go along. That is what you need all of them to do.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Fierceness Allowed Repole to Have Quite the Party After Pacific Classic Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After a fruitless last three appearances against elite company, juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) returned to his winning ways after major class relief in the Shared Belief Stakes. Off the board in the GI Woody Stephens, GI Kentucky Derby, and GI Santa Anita Derby in his last three starts, it had been a tough spring for the Bob Baffert trainee after a sensational juvenile season which saw him win two Grade I races, including the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and take home top prize as the best 2-year-old colt of 2024. Gone since the Woody Stephens June 7, the 'TDN Rising Star' returned here in a scratched down field of three and was made the definitive 2-5 favorite by the betting public. Taking command right from the jump, Citizen Bull put up :22.39 and a half in :45.88 with no pressure from Smooth Cruisein (Girvin) or Gaming (Game Winner). Well in command coming off the far turn, he needed little encouragement to pull away from his rivals and ultimately won by 5 1/2 lengths. “He's a good horse,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “He broke well out of the gate. He gave me speed at the three-quarter pole and that was it. When he recovers well from this race, I think he can go anywhere.” “He was back to a distance he really loves,” said Baffert from the winner's enclosure. “The Breeders' Cup Mile is probably where we will be pointing. We were trying to get him back to form after what he went through. I told Juan [Hernandez] 'Come back with bugs on your teeth.' It was good to see him put on a show today. You saw the champion Citizen Bull today.” The victor is his dam's first winning offspring from three to the races. No Joke, herself a half-sister to MGISW Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon) and SW & GSP Indian Evening (Indian Charlie), has a yearling colt by Mandaloun and a 2025 colt by Life Is Good to her credit. Another of the dam's half-sisters is the mother of MGSW Souper Hoity Toity (Uncle Mo). This is the extended female family of MGISW Tiz the Law (Constitution) and the immediate one of Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. He's GONE. Citizen Bull & @JJHernandezS19 with an easy victory in the Shared Belief Stakes. pic.twitter.com/oGzadThz2V — Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) August 31, 2025 SHARED BELIEF S., $115,000, Del Mar, 8-31, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.12, ft. 1–CITIZEN BULL, 124, c, 3, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: No Joke, by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Unenchantedevening, by Unbridled's Song 3rd Dam: Evil Elaine, by Medieval Man ($675,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Robert & Lawana Low (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $75,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2-year-old colt, MGISW, 9-5-0-1, $1,556,000. 2–Smooth Cruisein, 120, c, 3, Girvin–Smooth Cookie, by In Summation. ($41,000 Ylg '23 OBSOCT; $45,000 RNA 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Matson Racing, Brown, Sandra L., Naify, Elise and Naify, Marsha; B-J D Farms (FL); T-Karen Headley. $25,000. 3–Gaming, 124, c, 3, Game Winner–So Stylish, by Johannesburg. ($40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul; B-Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $15,000. Margins: 5HF, 9, NO. Odds: 0.40, 9.50, 1.40. Scratched: Brother Brother, Privman. The post Juvenile Champion Citizen Bull Back to Winning Ways in Shared Belief appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Centennial Farms' Antiquarian withstood the late run of Sierra Leone to win the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course; a race that saw Irad Ortiz Jr. knocked off of prominent contender Mindframe in the early going.View the full article

Trainer Ian Wilkes said Burnham Square will get the rest of the year off and point to a 2026 turf campaign.View the full article

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who was thrown from Mindframe (Constitution) shortly after the start of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sunday at Saratoga, was sent to Albany Medical for evaluation. Release of the results of those tests were still pending Sunday evening. “Mindframe seems to be okay,” owner Mike Repole said in a video posted to X after the race. “My biggest concern is Irad. I went out there to check on him. He's an incredible kid. He's in a lot of pain. Right forearm, maybe thumb. And his rib. A lot of pain on the left side on his rib.” Ortiz was dislodged from his mount after Phileas Fogg (Astern {Aus}) veered inward at the start of the race, causing a chain reaction with the horses to his inside. After being knocked off Mindframe, Ortiz briefly ended up on the back of White Abarrio (Race Day) just to his outside before falling to the track. Flavien Prat, aboard trailing favorite Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) swerved in an attempt to avoid the fallen rider. “I hope Irad is okay,” Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone, said. “That's my main concern. Our horse is the one that went over the top of him and my concern is for him.” The post Ortiz Injured in Gold Cup Incident appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bi-coastal, 1 1/4-mile Grade I stakes over the weekend at Del Mar and Saratoga featured a number of contenders projected to target the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The obvious winner was continent-crossing jockey John Velazquez, who parlayed a win in Saturday's GI Pacific Classic into a score 16 hours later in Sunday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Here's a look how the horses who were in action emerged from those efforts and where they stand heading into the championship race. Fierceness: For a colt who has a reputation for sometimes not sealing the deal and for not being overly fond of racing while pinned down inside, this 'TDN Rising Star' by City of Light orchestrated a Houdini-like extrication from dicey circumstances in Saturday's Pacific Classic when he attempted to duck into the temporary rail leaving the 10-furlong start chute and then overreacted by pulling in the opposite direction. Velazquez said post-win (107 Beyer Speed Figure) that he “wanted to stay off” Fierceness's mouth and that the 4-year-old was “keen to go on” with an early move into the far turn. But once clear of rivals Velazquez “wanted to get him off the bridle a little and let him finish,” and that's exactly what Fierceness did, opening up by 3 1/4 lengths at 8-5 odds over the 2-5 favorite, Journalism (Curlin). You could raise the argument that Fierceness encountered little difficulty once he put away the 96-1 and 72-1 longshots who were capitulating on the far turn, meaning that the Pacific Classic wasn't a stern late-race test of his ability to handle multiple waves of challengers. That's a valid point, because in many other Grade I races (like when fifth-place Fierceness had everything his own way, pace-wise, but could not sustain his mid-race bid in the Aug. 2 GI Whitney Stakes) that sort of move might only resonate as “premature.” It didn't on Saturday though, and now this two-time winner at 1 1/4 miles is on his way back to New York to train up to the Breeders' Cup after notching a win over the Del Mar surface before needing to ship back there again for the Nov. 1 Classic. Fierceness was second in last year's Classic, also at Del Mar, as the 2-1 beaten fave behind 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Antiquarian: The “other” Todd Pletcher-trained entrant upset the Jockey Club Gold Cup at 13-1 odds after stablemate and second betting choice Mindframe (Constitution) lost his jockey in a gate incident that changed the entire complexion of the race and also resulted in a disqualification of the third-place finisher. Following the spill that occurred to his inside, this 4-year-old son of Preservationist was midpack behind a breakaway 70-1 pacemaker before getting second run on that speedster and steadily closing the gap with his big, white blaze cocked out toward the grandstand. Antiquarian came over the top a sixteenth out, a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths clear of the late-striding 1.15-1 favorite Sierra Leone. Antiquarian, who had not previously been considered an A-list aspirant for the Classic, earned an automatic, fees-paid berth into that race. His only previous stakes victory was last year's GIII Peter Pan Stakes, although he did win a seven-furlong allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream in April off a 10-month layoff before finishing second in both the GIII Blame Stakes and the GII Suburban Stakes. Sierra Leone: Even though the defending Classic champ was likely going to do his running from well off the tailgate anyway in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, it didn't help his rhythm when he was forced to alter course around the fallen jockey in the first sixteenth of the race, and then Flavien Prat had to take him back and build a bid with a loose horse in front of him. Sierra Leone launched into his reliable late-stage run three furlongs out and came wide and driving like he usually does. He did display a little of the deep-stretch lugging-in (inconsequential, in this case) that has been a hard-to-shake habit since the early part of his career. But this 4-year-old's best races continue to be those in which he gets a significant speed set-up on the front end, like in the Whitney Stakes, when no fewer than five other horses had led at some point before he torqued past in a “last man standing” effort. It's too early to tell whether Sierra Leone will have his type of tempo unfold before him in the Classic at Del Mar, but he did win last year's edition off similar 2 1/2-month spacing after being a beaten fave in a Saratoga stakes (the GI Travers). Journalism: This three-time Grade I winner didn't show next-level advancement when second in the Pacific Classic and facing older horses for the first time. Journalism's 102-Beyer effort wasn't a marked regression, but this 3-year-old son of Curlin will now have to prep for the Breeders' Cup off a plateau that lacks positive momentum. The beaten fave in the GI Kentucky Derby had shipped East for four straight races and was deserving of a start on his home circuit. His drop-back-to-last style on Saturday was appropriate for the pace and it kept Journalism out of the traffic he often encounters. But nothing about his one-paced move from the three-eighths pole home capitalized on Fierceness's self-inflicted trip trouble, and Journalism's deep-stretch chase mode was without the impressive, final-sixteenth winning turns of foot he uncorked when seemingly beaten in the GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes. Journalism will now get a nine-week break leading up to the Breeders' Cup, the longest time off he's had since the gap between his juvenile and sophomore seasons. He'll enter the Classic with three attempts at 10 furlongs this campaign, but he's been second each time, and projects to face the horses–Fierceness and Sovereignty (Into Mischief)–that have already bested him at that distance. Mindframe: After dislodging jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. shortly after the break in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Mindframe toured the track riderless before getting collared by an outrider. He was walked back to the barn area, and several hours after the incident, trainer Pletcher said on Sunday that initial inspections of the colt checked out “fine.” Should he go on to target the Breeders' Cup, Mindframe would be one of the more intriguing Classic contenders based on his versatile running style and previous 3-for-3 record in stakes this year, in which this 4-year-old has already beaten the likes of Sierra Leone, Nysos (Nyquist) and the crack sprinter Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in races between seven and nine furlongs. Nysos: This 'TDN Rising Star' by Nyquist gets an “incomplete” grade because he scratched out of the Pacific Classic on race day with a hind hoof bruise that trainer Bob Baffert described as “sensitive.” By Sunday morning, Baffert told Daily Racing Form that Nysos “looked better” and that the colt will now aim for the nine-furlong GI Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita Sept. 27. Nysos has only raced six times in a career that spans 21 months and includes a 15-month layoff between his 3- and 4-year-old seasons, but he was riding a two-race win streak into the Pacific Classic. He had splintered the field in the four-horse GIII Triple Bend Stakes over seven furlongs (108 Beyer) on May 31 at Santa Anita, then overcame being hemmed at the fence on the far turn of the July 26 GII San Diego Handicap before slicing up the rail and galloping home in hand by 2 3/4 lengths. That victory gave him a win over the Del Mar surface in preparation for the Breeders' Cup, but Nysos still hasn't raced beyond 1 1/16 miles. The post The Week in Review: Six Takes on Two Weekend Stakes for Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders 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 is no time for real celebration and there certainly isn't time to feel sorry for oneself. In horse racing, the game just keeps going on. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had first-hand experience of that Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. Just before 2 p.m., he was elated and crushed in the same race, the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Just over an hour later, he had to push those emotions to the side and saddle a 2-year-old in a $100,000 maiden special weight. It was the seventh race, a six-furlong event for fillies and Pletcher had the horse to beat in the even-money favorite, Lovely Christina (Vekoma). And she ran like it. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Lovely Christina won the pace duel with All About You (Maclean's Music), the 8-1 third choice, and then drew off to win by an easy 1 ¾ lengths. Second went to Paige Turner (Army Mule), who was 6-1. Lovely Christina covered the distance in 1:11.42 and paid $4.00, $3.00 and $2.30. Of course, Pletcher was delighted with how Lovely Christina ran for owner Leland Ackerley Racing, but it was only human nature that his mind would wander back to the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He had two horses in that race. The one most expected would run the best–Mindframe (Constitution)–lost jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and didn't finish the race. The other, 13-1 Antiquarian (Preservationist), was the winner. An hour later, the emotions were still raw. Both good and bad. “That was a tough one,” Pletcher said. “Part of you is so excited for Antiquarian and (owner) Centennial (Farms) because they deserve to have a horse win a race like that. On the other hand, you feel horrible for Mindframe and Irad and (owners) St. Elias and (Mike) Repole.” Pletcher said he had just gotten off the phone with Ortiz, who was in an ambulance and on his way to Albany Medical Center with what appeared to be a wrist injury. Mindframe, he was happy to say, was ok. “My biggest concern,' Pletcher said, “was over at the quarter pole gap. A lot of times when a horse gets loose, they look to where they go on and off the track and goes on at that gap. I was really worried he might go that way and something really bad could happen. Thankfully, he was able to maintain his composure once he loped past that and the outriders came and got him.” Pletcher could only imagine what might have been with Mindframe, but he still got the big prize with Antiquarian. And then he had to switch focus quickly and get ready to saddle Lovely Christina. Bred by Spendthrift Farm, she had finished a distant second in her 6 1/2-furlong debut on Aug. 10. That race was won by Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach). “She ran into a buzzsaw the last time and ran very well,” said Pletcher, who notched his 13th maiden special weight victory of the meet. Her performance was good, but Pletcher had to decide if he was going to run her back on three weeks rest. “A little concerned about that,” he said. “But she had done well since the race and the next opportunity was not going to be until around Sept. 25 at Aqueduct. I don't think she needed to wait that long.” 7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.42, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. LOVELY CHRISTINA (f, 2, Vekoma–Daring Kathy {GSW-USA, GSP-Can, $494,956}, by Wildcat Heir) found Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach) too tough in her career debut when seen finishing 5 1/2 lengths back in second at the Spa Aug. 10. Backed down to even-money favoritism in her first start back, the bay broke sharply and prompted a :22.83 opening quarter set by All About You (Maclean's Music). Edging ahead of that rival at the quarter pole, Lovely Christina drew off to score by 1 3/4 lengths over the closing firster Paige Turner (Army Mule). The winner is a half to How's Ur Attitude (Street Sense), SP, $191,549. The winner's graded stakes winning dam Daring Kathy produced a filly by Mo Donegal and a filly by Vekoma over the past two seasons. Sales history: $170,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $425,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $75,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Leland Ackerley Racing; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Saratoga Maidens: Emotional Day for Pletcher, But He Gets Another Juvenile Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star mare Treasurethe Moment showed she could provide champion Yulong teammate Via Sistina some stiff opposition if they clash in the spring by producing a breathtaking victory in a classic edition of the Memsie Stakes (G1) Aug. 31.View the full article

Centennial Farm's Antiquarian withstood the late run of Sierra Leone to win the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course; a race that saw Irad Ortiz Jr. knocked off of prominent contender Mindframe in the early going.View the full article

Star mare Treasurethe Moment showed she could provide champion Yulong teammate Via Sistina some stiff opposition if they clash in the spring by producing a breathtaking victory in a classic edition of the Memsie Stakes (G1) Aug. 31.View the full article