Wandering Eyes

Another year of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding excellence was celebrated on Saturday night at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro, with powerhouse breeders Waikato Stud claiming top honours. Hosted by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the awards recognised the elite performances of 24 individual Group One winners plus outstanding achievements in a host of categories. Sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising was named the Seton Otway Horse of the Year, with breeders Fraser and Erin Auret of Grandmoral Lodge collecting a swathe of awards care of the son of Shamexpress, who went undefeated in eight starts this term including four Group One victories. But it was the Chittick family’s Waikato Stud named Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year for a remarkable 11th time, after another season of outstanding results. Waikato Stud’s breeding influence was headlined by Atishu, winner of the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), and the dazzling juvenile La Dorada, who swept the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and the Karaka 2YO Million (1200m). Savaglee added further top-flight success, claiming the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in addition to three Group Two victories, while also boasting Group One placings on both sides of the Tasman. In total, Waikato Stud bred 135 individual winners for the season, including eight stakes winners — five at Group level — and another 12 stakes-placed horses, a testament to their remarkable depth and consistent excellence. “This award means a massive amount to us,” Mark Chittick said. “The integrity this award has internationally we are very proud of and every one of them —and the first one was when we were at Thornton Park in Palmerston North — and this one means just as much as that first one. “We are a wholly and solely a breeding operation. You take those three Group One winners that we are very proud of, accepting their recognition tonight, they are all families that we have been breeding out of for generations and they are all by stallions we have selected, purchased and made work and we haven’t done that by ourselves. George, Pippa and Mark Chittick with the Breeder of the Year trophy Photo: Christine Cornege “We are very appreciative of the support we get throughout New Zealand.” Chittick said much of the success of the family-operated stud was the passion of the hard-working team behind it. “On the farm there are now three generations of Chitticks involved, but I accept this award on behalf of Waikato Stud because we have got a unbelievable group of people who are just absolutely passionate about horses and Waikato Stud and about the success of the place,” he said. “We get through the lows and enjoy the highs but we just could not do it without them.” Among the finalists for the supreme award were Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Nearco Stud and Pencarrow Stud. “If I can just congratulate the other finalists because it was a pretty auspicious line-up tonight and New Zealand should be incredibly proud of all of its breeding success,” Chittick said. “I’d like to acknowledge everybody in the room tonight trying to breed a good horse and the people that have got up here. “It’s been our life. That’s the only thing I have done. We kicked off at the Trentham Sales mucking out boxes with Sam Williams, the Chitty family, Dean Hawthorne, the Schicks and many more. “This is an incredible industry given the backbone of people that are passionate about horses and love the game. It’s a great group of people.” While Waikato Stud is poised for a new era care of the deeds of the farm’s gun young stallion Super Seth, his remarkable barn-mate Savabeel claimed his 10th Grosvenor (Leading sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand) and Dewar Awards (Leading sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand & Australia), cementing his legacy as one of the truly great stallions in New Zealand’s history. “Obviously we all keep trying to find the next one, but he is a stallion of a lifetime,” Chittick said. “He is rising 24 years old now and has been at the farm 20 years. We had a bit of a mishap last year which was none of his wrong-doing but certainly once we got back on track he actually ended up with a really good season. “He is fit and healthy, he looks fantastic and is still bouncing around the place so we just carry on as it is.” Award winners Dewar (Australasian earnings): Savabeel Grosvenor (New Zealand earnings): Savabeel Centaine (Worldwide earnings): Per Incanto Breeder of the Year sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds Ltd: Waikato Stud Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year sponsored by Arion Pedigrees: Missy Moo (Ka Ying Rising, owned by Fraser Auret) Small Breeder of the Year sponsored by Luigi Muollo: Grandmoral Lodge Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever of the Year sponsored by LOVERACING.NZ: Jack Stewart – White Robe Lodge Personality of the Year sponsored by Entain AU & NZ: Steve Davis Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year: Ka Ying Rising View the full article

Group One winning trainer Fraser Auret collected trophies of a different variety on Saturday night as he took centre stage at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge. Auret’s first foray into thoroughbred breeding struck paydirt when he sent five-win mare Missy Moo to Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress. The resulting foal, whom Auret sold after a dominant jump-out victory as a juvenile is now known as Ka Ying Rising, the world’s best sprinter. Ka Ying Rising was named Seton Otway Horse of the Year at Saturday’s awards after a season in which he went undefeated that included four Group One victories. Auret bred the sprinting star under his Grandmoral Lodge banner and, along with wife Erin and son Milton, made regular forays to the stage as he secured four awards, which also included the Small Breeder of the Year sponsored by Luigi Muollo and the Arion Pedigrees Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year Award went the way of Ka Ying Rising’s dam Missy Moo. Ka Ying Rising as a foal at Windsor Park Stud with his dam Missy Moo Photo: supplied Despite his parents Nigel and Adaire running well-regarded breeding operation Letham Stud, home to successful stallion Unusual Suspect, Auret himself was a breeding novice. “We are very fortunate to do a bit of work for Windsor Park Stud and I was having a cup of tea with Rodney Schick and he said to me that trainers should be the best breeders out there because you know what horses have that real talent that maybe didn’t leave their mark on the racetrack for various reasons,” Auret said. “It all stemmed from there. I trained Missy Moo, who unfortunately had some real arthritic problems with her back leg right from a young horse. She won five races but she was a very talented horse.” The Marton horseman said Ka Ying Rising showed natural ability from the outset prior to his purchase by bloodstock agent Mike Morais before he ventured to the Hayes family’s Lindsay Park prior to export to Hong Kong. “He certainly showed good ability but in fairness we had only galloped him three or four times when he was sold,” Auret said. Ka Ying Rising was Missy Moo’s first foal with her second foal, a colt by Turn Me Loose, also sold to Hong Kong and named Ka Ying Glory, where he has placed for David Hayes as a three-year-old. “When she was carrying her second foal the arthritis really got the better of her,” Auret said. “We did get a second foal but we had to do the right thing and humanely euthanise the mare. “Because Ka Ying Rising had shown so much we searched for a sibling to Missy Moo, but would you believe the dam of Missy Moo had eight colts in a row and then Missy Moo had two colts, so unfortunately there are just no fillies or mares in the family.” Auret is enjoying every minute of the Ka Ying Rising ride and said there is quite a ritual in the Auret household every time the star sprinter races. “We have three young children and we all have a pair of Ka Ying Rising socks. They are all on and we are glued to the TV,” he said. With 24 individual winners of 37 Group One races acknowledged at Saturday’s awards the global success of horses with the NZ suffix was not lost on Auret. “Every time an Aussie radio station rings me, I do remind them that New Zealand is doing a pretty good job of their job really, breeding sprinters and that is quite evident when you see horses like Ka Ying Rising, Jimmysstar, Gringotts, War Machine and Here To Shock acknowledged tonight. “It’s been a great evening and terrific to enjoy it with family.” View the full article

Another year of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding excellence was celebrated on Saturday night at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro, with powerhouse breeders Waikato Stud claiming top honours. Hosted by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the awards recognised the elite performances of 24 individual Group One winners plus outstanding achievements in a host of categories. Sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising was named the Seton Otway Horse of the Year, with breeders Fraser and Erin Auret of Grandmoral Lodge collecting a swathe of awards care of the son of Shamexpress, who went undefeated in eight starts this term including four Group One victories. But it was the Chittick family’s Waikato Stud named Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year for a remarkable 11th time, after another season of outstanding results. Waikato Stud’s breeding influence was headlined by Atishu, winner of the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), and the dazzling juvenile La Dorada, who swept the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and the Karaka 2YO Million (1200m). Savaglee added further top-flight success, claiming the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in addition to three Group Two victories, while also boasting Group One placings on both sides of the Tasman. In total, Waikato Stud bred 135 individual winners for the season, including eight stakes winners — five at Group level — and another 12 stakes-placed horses, a testament to their remarkable depth and consistent excellence. “This award means a massive amount to us,” Mark Chittick said. “The integrity this award has internationally we are very proud of and every one of them —and the first one was when we were at Thornton Park in Palmerston North — and this one means just as much as that first one. “We are a wholly and solely a breeding operation. You take those three Group One winners that we are very proud of, accepting their recognition tonight, they are all families that we have been breeding out of for generations and they are all by stallions we have selected, purchased and made work and we haven’t done that by ourselves. George, Pippa and Mark Chittick with the Breeder of the Year trophy Photo: Christine Cornege “We are very appreciative of the support we get throughout New Zealand.” Chittick said much of the success of the family-operated stud was the passion of the hard-working team behind it. “On the farm there are now three generations of Chitticks involved, but I accept this award on behalf of Waikato Stud because we have got a unbelievable group of people who are just absolutely passionate about horses and Waikato Stud and about the success of the place,” he said. “We get through the lows and enjoy the highs but we just could not do it without them.” Among the finalists for the supreme award were Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Nearco Stud and Pencarrow Stud. “If I can just congratulate the other finalists because it was a pretty auspicious line-up tonight and New Zealand should be incredibly proud of all of its breeding success,” Chittick said. “I’d like to acknowledge everybody in the room tonight trying to breed a good horse and the people that have got up here. “It’s been our life. That’s the only thing I have done. We kicked off at the Trentham Sales mucking out boxes with Sam Williams, the Chitty family, Dean Hawthorne, the Schicks and many more. “This is an incredible industry given the backbone of people that are passionate about horses and love the game. It’s a great group of people.” While Waikato Stud is poised for a new era care of the deeds of the farm’s gun young stallion Super Seth, his remarkable barn-mate Savabeel claimed his 10th Grosvenor (Leading sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand) and Dewar Awards (Leading sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand & Australia), cementing his legacy as one of the truly great stallions in New Zealand’s history. “Obviously we all keep trying to find the next one, but he is a stallion of a lifetime,” Chittick said. “He is rising 24 years old now and has been at the farm 20 years. We had a bit of a mishap last year which was none of his wrong-doing but certainly once we got back on track he actually ended up with a really good season. “He is fit and healthy, he looks fantastic and is still bouncing around the place so we just carry on as it is.” Award winners Dewar (Australasian earnings): Savabeel Grosvenor (New Zealand earnings): Savabeel Centaine (Worldwide earnings): Per Incanto Breeder of the Year sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds Ltd: Waikato Stud Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year sponsored by Arion Pedigrees: Missy Moo (Ka Ying Rising, owned by Fraser Auret) Small Breeder of the Year sponsored by Luigi Muollo: Grandmoral Lodge Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever of the Year sponsored by LOVERACING.NZ: Jack Stewart – White Robe Lodge Personality of the Year sponsored by Entain AU & NZ: Steve Davis Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year: Ka Ying Rising View the full article

Group One winning trainer Fraser Auret collected trophies of a different variety on Saturday night as he took centre stage at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge. Auret’s first foray into thoroughbred breeding struck paydirt when he sent five-win mare Missy Moo to Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress. The resulting foal, whom Auret sold after a dominant jump-out victory as a juvenile is now known as Ka Ying Rising, the world’s best sprinter. Ka Ying Rising was named Seton Otway Horse of the Year at Saturday’s awards after a season in which he went undefeated that included four Group One victories. Auret bred the sprinting star under his Grandmoral Lodge banner and, along with wife Erin and son Milton, made regular forays to the stage as he secured four awards, which also included the Small Breeder of the Year sponsored by Luigi Muollo and the Arion Pedigrees Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year Award went the way of Ka Ying Rising’s dam Missy Moo. Ka Ying Rising as a foal at Windsor Park Stud with his dam Missy Moo Photo: supplied Despite his parents Nigel and Adaire running well-regarded breeding operation Letham Stud, home to successful stallion Unusual Suspect, Auret himself was a breeding novice. “We are very fortunate to do a bit of work for Windsor Park Stud and I was having a cup of tea with Rodney Schick and he said to me that trainers should be the best breeders out there because you know what horses have that real talent that maybe didn’t leave their mark on the racetrack for various reasons,” Auret said. “It all stemmed from there. I trained Missy Moo, who unfortunately had some real arthritic problems with her back leg right from a young horse. She won five races but she was a very talented horse.” The Marton horseman said Ka Ying Rising showed natural ability from the outset prior to his purchase by bloodstock agent Mike Morais before he ventured to the Hayes family’s Lindsay Park prior to export to Hong Kong. “He certainly showed good ability but in fairness we had only galloped him three or four times when he was sold,” Auret said. Ka Ying Rising was Missy Moo’s first foal with her second foal, a colt by Turn Me Loose, also sold to Hong Kong and named Ka Ying Glory, where he has placed for David Hayes as a three-year-old. “When she was carrying her second foal the arthritis really got the better of her,” Auret said. “We did get a second foal but we had to do the right thing and humanely euthanise the mare. “Because Ka Ying Rising had shown so much we searched for a sibling to Missy Moo, but would you believe the dam of Missy Moo had eight colts in a row and then Missy Moo had two colts, so unfortunately there are just no fillies or mares in the family.” Auret is enjoying every minute of the Ka Ying Rising ride and said there is quite a ritual in the Auret household every time the star sprinter races. “We have three young children and we all have a pair of Ka Ying Rising socks. They are all on and we are glued to the TV,” he said. With 24 individual winners of 37 Group One races acknowledged at Saturday’s awards the global success of horses with the NZ suffix was not lost on Auret. “Every time an Aussie radio station rings me, I do remind them that New Zealand is doing a pretty good job of their job really, breeding sprinters and that is quite evident when you see horses like Ka Ying Rising, Jimmysstar, Gringotts, War Machine and Here To Shock acknowledged tonight. “It’s been a great evening and terrific to enjoy it with family.” View the full article

Another year of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding excellence was celebrated on Saturday night at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at Karapiro, with powerhouse breeders Waikato Stud claiming top honours. Hosted by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the awards recognised the elite performances of 24 individual Group One winners plus outstanding achievements in a host of categories. Sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising was named the Seton Otway Horse of the Year, with breeders Fraser and Erin Auret of Grandmoral Lodge collecting a swathe of awards care of the son of Shamexpress, who went undefeated in eight starts this term including four Group One victories. But it was the Chittick family’s Waikato Stud named Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan New Zealand Breeder of the Year for a remarkable 11th time, after another season of outstanding results. Waikato Stud’s breeding influence was headlined by Atishu, winner of the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), and the dazzling juvenile La Dorada, who swept the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and the Karaka 2YO Million (1200m). Savaglee added further top-flight success, claiming the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in addition to three Group Two victories, while also boasting Group One placings on both sides of the Tasman. In total, Waikato Stud bred 135 individual winners for the season, including eight stakes winners — five at Group level — and another 12 stakes-placed horses, a testament to their remarkable depth and consistent excellence. “This award means a massive amount to us,” Mark Chittick said. “The integrity this award has internationally we are very proud of and every one of them —and the first one was when we were at Thornton Park in Palmerston North — and this one means just as much as that first one. “We are a wholly and solely a breeding operation. You take those three Group One winners that we are very proud of, accepting their recognition tonight, they are all families that we have been breeding out of for generations and they are all by stallions we have selected, purchased and made work and we haven’t done that by ourselves. George, Pippa and Mark Chittick with the Breeder of the Year trophy Photo: Christine Cornege “We are very appreciative of the support we get throughout New Zealand.” Chittick said much of the success of the family-operated stud was the passion of the hard-working team behind it. “On the farm there are now three generations of Chitticks involved, but I accept this award on behalf of Waikato Stud because we have got a unbelievable group of people who are just absolutely passionate about horses and Waikato Stud and about the success of the place,” he said. “We get through the lows and enjoy the highs but we just could not do it without them.” Among the finalists for the supreme award were Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Nearco Stud and Pencarrow Stud. “If I can just congratulate the other finalists because it was a pretty auspicious line-up tonight and New Zealand should be incredibly proud of all of its breeding success,” Chittick said. “I’d like to acknowledge everybody in the room tonight trying to breed a good horse and the people that have got up here. “It’s been our life. That’s the only thing I have done. We kicked off at the Trentham Sales mucking out boxes with Sam Williams, the Chitty family, Dean Hawthorne, the Schicks and many more. “This is an incredible industry given the backbone of people that are passionate about horses and love the game. It’s a great group of people.” While Waikato Stud is poised for a new era care of the deeds of the farm’s gun young stallion Super Seth, his remarkable barn-mate Savabeel claimed his 10th Grosvenor (Leading sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand) and Dewar Awards (Leading sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand & Australia), cementing his legacy as one of the truly great stallions in New Zealand’s history. “Obviously we all keep trying to find the next one, but he is a stallion of a lifetime,” Chittick said. “He is rising 24 years old now and has been at the farm 20 years. We had a bit of a mishap last year which was none of his wrong-doing but certainly once we got back on track he actually ended up with a really good season. “He is fit and healthy, he looks fantastic and is still bouncing around the place so we just carry on as it is.” Award winners Dewar (Australasian earnings): Savabeel Grosvenor (New Zealand earnings): Savabeel Centaine (Worldwide earnings): Per Incanto Breeder of the Year sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds Ltd: Waikato Stud Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year sponsored by Arion Pedigrees: Missy Moo (Ka Ying Rising, owned by Fraser Auret) Small Breeder of the Year sponsored by Luigi Muollo: Grandmoral Lodge Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever of the Year sponsored by LOVERACING.NZ: Jack Stewart – White Robe Lodge Personality of the Year sponsored by Entain AU & NZ: Steve Davis Property Brokers Seton Otway Horse of the Year: Ka Ying Rising View the full article

John Bell’s run of success with the family of star mare Fleur de Lune continued at Te Aroha on Sunday, with close relation Zenith delivering on debut. A son of Time Test, Zenith was the second foal out of Reine de Lune, a daughter of the Group One-winning Stravinsky mare. Reine de Lune was herself unraced, but her younger brother Twain is right in the conversation for the upcoming spring features, having won six of his nine starts. Similarly to Twain, Zenith has been carefully handled by Bell, starting his career as a late three-year-old with a tidy trial at Waipa before taking on the Great New Zealand Carnival 19-21 September 1150. Zenith started the second-elect behind Renaissa and the pair were first out of the barriers, with the former showing enough early speed to cross and eventually take up the pacemaking role. He was challenged near the home turn by Apollo Warrior, but after showing a decent kick at the top of the straight, Zenith was clear and cruised down to the line, albeit showing his inexperience when shying at the winning post. Renaissa closed gamely down the outside to fill second position, with Crackbones also doing his best work late in a promising debut effort. Bell has given Zenith the time he needed to mature before stepping out on raceday and was pleased to see his patience pay off. “He’s a quality horse, he’s taken a bit of time to mature but he’s got a lovely pedigree and a wonderful stride,” Bell said. “I expected him to be just outside the leader with Craig allowing him to do what he needed to do, but he took him to the front and away he went. He was still a bit green and shied at the winning post, so he’s still got a lot of improvement to come.” While he handled the heavy surface on Sunday, Bell expects Zenith to appreciate better ground when that is on offer. “I’ve had this horse since he was a baby, we’ve just taken our time with him,” he said. “We knew he could gallop, but we waited until he was ready to take the pressure that we went to the trials. “He had no pressure whatsoever at Waipa and went nicely, so based on that, and what he’s shown us on the training track, we hoped to see him go well at Te Aroha. “We’ll have a look for another race, he was down on the inside where no one had been in the jumps races, so he handled it. But, he’s such a beautiful moving horse, he’ll go better on a better surface I would imagine.” Bell was in the winner’s circle earlier in the week on the Cambridge Synthetic, with promising galloper Spanish Lad taking a comprehensive victory in the Rating 77 event over 1550m. “He’s another beautiful animal, he’ll be nominated tomorrow (Tuesday) for the $100,000 race on the synthetic, and Craig Grylls has accepted that ride,” Bell said. “We’ll concentrate on that with him. “All of these horses are owned by Elizabeth Martin and Peter Barton, they’ve got lovely pedigrees and are related in one way or another.” A son of Shocking, Spanish Lad is out of a Group One-performing mare in Celebrity Miss. Twain’s progression towards the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) on August 23 continued at Te Rapa on Saturday, stepping out in an exhibition gallop under Vinnie Colgan. To the delight of Bell, Colgan had plenty of praise for the rising five-year-old. “He breezed up after race two with Vinnie Colgan on, and Vinnie said that he hasn’t ridden a horse that has given him that feel in quite a long time,” Bell said. “He was pretty excited. “He followed about 100m behind another horse which helped, and he just sat on him, he went magic. “He’ll race in a fortnight over 1200m, then a fortnight after that, he’ll go to the Foxbridge. We’ve got our early nominations in for a few races, and when the nominations and weights come out, we’ll decide whether to go there.” View the full article

Formidable Man has never lost at Del Mar, site of this year's Breeders' Cup, and he added the Eddie Read Stakes in the second weekend of the track's summer meeting.View the full article

Heavily favored Formidable Man found clear sailing along the rail in the lane and bound to the lead before drawing clear to a one-length victory in the GII Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar Sunday night. The 4-year-old is now five-for-five at the seaside oval which will host Breeders' Cup championship weekend in November. Sent off at 4-5, Formidable Man sat just off pacesetting Cabo Spirit in third while saving ground behind fractions of :24.97 and :49.00. He bided his time with nowhere to run on the far turn, but had a seam to run through along the rail when Cabo Spirit drifted out slightly at the top of the lane. The favorite seized the opportunity, powering to the lead and striding home an authoritative winner. “Yes, there was an anxious moment or two,” admitted winning trainer Michael McCarthy. “I was hoping the leader was going to come off the fence a little bit. Umberto [Rispoli] was able to sneak up inside there and once he was able to find his stride he leveled off nicely.” “He loves Del Mar,” McCarthy continued, while adding races like the Aug. 30 GII Del Mar Mile would be considered for the two-time Grade I winner. “We will play it by ear.” A debut winner at Del Mar in September of 2023, Formidable Man returned to the track to win the Oceanside Stakes last July before concluding the season with a win in the Nov. 30 GI Hollywood Derby. He faded to last after setting the pace in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream in January before returning to the West Coast to capture the Mar. 1 GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. The bay was closing late when fourth in the May 26 GI Shoemaker Mile Stakes last time out. “He has made a huge improvement from [being a] two to [now] a 4-year-old,” Rispoli said. “He has become a really solid soldier. He's a two-time Grade I winner. He loves this place. It's just enjoyable to ride a horse like him.” Pedigree Notes: Formidable Man joins Fierceness as top-level winners for City of Light, who has been represented by six graded winners to date. Graded stakes winner Fanticola has a 2-year-old filly by Knicks Go, a yearling filly by Jack Christopher and a weanling filly by Star Guitar. She was bred back to City of Light this year. The mare was purchased by Clear Creek Stud for $60,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. #4 FORMIDABLE MAN ($3.60) adds a fourth graded win to his resume with a victory in the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes (G2) at @DelMarRacing! The four-year-old City of Light (@LanesEndFarms) colt was piloted by @umbyrispoli for trainer @mwmracing. pic.twitter.com/KDmVCqZTXK — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 28, 2025 Sunday, Del Mar EDDIE READ S.-GII, $250,500, Del Mar, 7-27, 3yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.55, fm. 1–FORMIDABLE MAN, 125, c, 4, by City of Light 1st Dam: Fanticola (GSW & GISP, $561,986), by Silent Name (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Catalina Cat, by Tabasco Cat 3rd Dam: Irish Dear, by Irish River (Fr) ($375,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-William K Warren, Jr. & Suzanne Warren; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC (KY); T-Michael McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $150,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 14-7-2-0, $985,425. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Cabo Spirit, 121, g, 6, Pioneerof the Nile–Fancy Day (Ire), by Shamardal. ($145,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $575,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Kretz Racing LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-George Papaprodromou. $50,000. 3–Stay Hot, 121, r, 4, Summer Front–Etsu, by Smart Strike. ($130,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Burns Racing LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Estate of Brereton C. Jones and Hudock, William Dan; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $30,000. Margins: 1, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 0.80, 6.00, 1.90. Also Ran: Balnikhov (Ire), Dicey Mo Chara (GB), Balladeer. Scratched: Atitlan, Gold Phoenix (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post City of Light’s Formidable Man Makes it 5-for-5 at Del Mar with Eddie Read Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Mike Love Major Doosie provided milestone wins for both driver Kimberley Butt and co-trainer Brent White by winning the Betavet Buildagut Mobile Trot (1980m) at Addington yesterday. Butt brought up her 200th driving win when the three-year-old Majestic Son gelding trotted to his third victory from 12 starts. It was also White’s 300th training success. “It’s very cool, I’m pretty stoked to get the 300 for Whitey as well. It’s pretty special.” said driver Kimberly Butt. Major Doosie was crossed early from the dispatch before Butt elected to go out and around to arrest the lead at the mile mark. At the 1100m Butt then handed the lead to Millie Let Loose to gain some cover before peeling at the top of the straight to go on by and win by half a length, holding out a late challenge from runner-up Denver. “He just got a bit lost in front. It was good when John (Morrison) came around,” says Butt, “he’s a pretty nice horse. He’s been a favourite of mine too for a while.” Butt, who also works for Ashburton trainers Brent and Tim White, drove her first winner, Saveapatrol, for trainer Mark Jones at Forbury Park in 2013. She has also trained 14 winners. “We will just keep ticking away and see what happens. I’ve always loved the driving and while I’m young enough I’ll keep having a crack at that, then I’ll definitely head down the training side at some point.” White’s 300th training success is made up of 211 solo, with 89 having come in partnership with son Tim. White’s first winner was in 1992 with Turbo Prince, while in recent years has had Group 1 success with American Me in the Invercargill Cup, and other major races with One Apollo and Shard’s Matrix. View the full article

Gifted Te Akau jumper The Mighty Spar added to his unblemished jumping record at Casterton when taking out the Moredun Hill Steeplechase (3800m) at the course on Sunday. On a three-race winning streak, The Mighty Spar had earned his lofty 75kg impost in the open contest, but had the services of top hoop Steven Pateman, who allowed the gelding to settle into a comfortable rhythm in midfield. He continued to make up ground with his effective jumping style and joined Fabalot in the lead a long way out, outmuscling the second-elect before the final fence and skipping away to win by 3 – ½ lengths. Mark Walker, who trains The Mighty Spar out of his base at Cranbourne, continues to be impressed by his affinity with the live fences. “It was another terrific win, gee, he loves the Casterton course,” Walker said. “It was great to see him win, even with 75 kilos, he was still able to quicken away when he needed to and Steve Pateman is developing a great affinity with him. “You could see the respect he had for him when they pulled up over the line, how he gave him a big hug and a pat. “He’s getting up in the weights now, so we’ll just see how he comes through the race before we make a decision whether he backs up in the Grand National Hurdle and Grand National Steeplechase. “He’s certainly having a fantastic season.” The Grand National Hurdle (4200m) will be run in seven days’ time (August 3) at Sandown, with the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) a fortnight later at Ballarat. The Te Akau barn is already targeting the feature contests with Leaderboard, who finished third and second respectively in last year’s editions. View the full article

A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour. Homebred filly Platinum Diamond won last month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki and returned there on Saturday to add the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) to her record. The Lisa Latta-trained daughter of first season champion sire in waiting Hello Youmzain has won three on the bounce following a debut fourth and will now enjoy a break before targeting the new season’s age group features. Beaufort Downs is owned and operated by Annabel and Olly Tuthill with Platinum Diamond a $90,000 purchase from their Book 2 draft by Latta at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. She is out of the Thorn Park mare Spritz who is a granddaughter of the former top-class mare Seamist, winner of 15 races including the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and a multiple elite level placegetter. “We bought Spritz privately off the track through Mike Rennie a while ago, mainly because she’s from my family’s family,” Annabel Tuthill said. “My grandmother and grandfather raced Seamist, so we’ve always kept an eye out for that family.” Spritz’s first foal by Zacinto wasn’t a sales or racing prospect due to her lack of size and the second was sold at Karaka for $160,000. As Healthy Healthy, the son of Per Incanto has subsequently won five races from the Hong Kong stable of Pierre Ng. “Sadly, Spritz died a few weeks ago after she had an aneurism in the paddock,” Tuthill said. “That was a real shame as she was carrying a War Decree foal, these things happens and that’s the highs and lows of breeding. “We have got a really nice Too Darn Hot colt who will be going to the sales in due course, we’re lucky to have him.” Platinum Diamond has rounded off another good season for Beaufort Downs, who also bred and sold Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) winner Betty Spaghetti. “From our small numbers, we’ve had a couple of stakes winners and some stakes placegetters,” Tuthill said. In the latter division is Lillian, a daughter of War Decree and the Mossman mare I’ve Got Rhythm who has won from a handful of starts and finished third in the Listed Belmont Oaks (2019m). The three-year-old also turned in a gallant run for trainer Michael Grantham on Saturday when fourth against the older horses in the Listed Belmont Classic (2200m). Another emerging Beaufort graduate is Ace High’s son Croupier, who has won two of his five starts for Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell. “We didn’t breed him, that year we were a bit short of colts, so we bought him as a weanling and sold him through our draft,” Tuthill said. Bought out of Curraghmore’s draft for $15,000, Croupier was subsequently knocked down as a yearling at Karaka for $160,000 to Campbell and high-profile owner Tommy Heptinstall. View the full article

La Mehana may be considered a grizzled veteran at age 6, but her 8 3/4-length domination of the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 27 indicated she may just be reaching her best.View the full article

The last time Fierceness and Sierra Leone raced against each other it was for all the marbles. View the full article

Boom Boom Bell, a 2-year-old filly, became the first winner for the late grade 1-winning Combatant when she won the first race at Hawthorne Race Course July 27. View the full article

Gerrards Cross made it back to back victories in the Colleen Stakes Sunday at Monmouth Park. The filly was victorious at first asking going five furlongs against state-bred maiden company over the main track at Gulfstream Park. While being the beneficiary of slow beginnings from other rivals here, the 14-1 shot found herself on the lead once again, leading the field through opening splits of :21.29 and :44.71. At the top of the stretch, Gerrards Cross continued to find more on the front end, keeping her rivals at bay and going on to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Sonny Leon, winning jockey aboard Gerrards Cross: “I saw the replay when she won in Florida, and she made the lead easily from the gate, so I knew I would at least have good position early. She's like a bullet and outsprinted everyone for the lead and kept going.” “She's got a great mind and that helps a lot but you always worry about a surface change.” said Kathleen O'Connell. “She has been such a good filly mentally it lessened the concern. She's just natural with her speed.” Gerrards Cross is a half-sister to MSP Dream Concert. Stakes winning dam Spanish Concert descends from GSW Si Si Sezyou (Sezyou), who produced GSP & SW Scooter Girl (Impeachment). Spanish Concert has produced juvenile filly Roccarosso Rocket (Khozan) and a colt by Connect foaled this past season. COLLEEN S., $112,000, Monmouth, 7-27, 2yo, f, 5fT, :57.50, fm. 1–GERRARDS CROSS, 118, f, 2, by Midshipman 1st Dam: Spanish Concert (SW, $232,365), by Concerto 2nd Dam: Spanish Slew, by Seattle Sleet 3rd Dam: Si Si Sezyou, by Sezyou 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-James Michael Chicklo (FL); T-Kathleen O'Connell; J-Sonny Leon. $60,000. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $85,800. *1/2 to Dream Concert (Jess's Dream), MSP, $238,370. 2--Slick Merlin, 118, f, 2, Sea Wizard–Crafty Coed, by Crafty Friend. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Prancing Horse Farm, LLC; B-Pegasus Stud Farm (NJ); T-Chuck Spina. $28,000. 3--Nacho Problem, 118, f, 2, Waiting–Nacho Mama, by Brethren. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Arindel (NY); T-Amelia J. Green. $10,000. Margins: 2HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 13.90, 12.70, 8.50. Also Ran: Spinelli, Golden Beach, Pulstar, Fire On the Wire, Spectacular Grey. Scratched: Clowning Around, Santina, Thank You Amy. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. GERRARDS CROSS ($29.80) took it to the field early and never looked back in the $100,000 Colleen Stakes at @MonmouthPark. Kathleen O'Connell trains the two-year-old Midshipman (@DarleyAmerica) filly. @SONNYLEON1 was up! Bet the next: https://t.co/ZggI6P3B7w pic.twitter.com/uEa5wCRt6x — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 27, 2025 The post Midshipman’s Gerrards Cross Claims First Black Type in Monmouth’s Colleen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

La Mehana may be considered an old veteran at age 6, but her 8 3/4-length domination of the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 27 indicated she may just be reaching her best.View the full article

by Mike Kane & Patrycja Szpyra SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Through 14 days of Saratoga's season, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's 2-year-olds are getting the job done. Pletcher picked up his fifth victory in the top-level $100,000 maiden special weight races Sunday when Tapit's Legacy (Tapit) cruised to a five-length victory in the third race under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Pletcher has a 5-2-2 record from 15 starters in the open $100,000 races, a win percentage of 33 with a 60 percent finish in the top three. Last season, Pletcher won four of that type of race. “We've been happy with the way they've come out,” Pletcher said. “Sometimes you don't know until you start running against everyone else's 2-year-olds. You can train yours and they'll be looking good against the ones you're training them with, come over here and do well or they come over here and get their heads handed to them. Then you get a reality check. But, so far, they've been running well.” The race was scheduled for one mile on the inner turf course, but was moved to seven furlongs on the sloppy, sealed main track after heavy rain fell overnight and into the morning. Six of the 10 horses entered for the turf scratched and Tapit's Legacy drew in as the lone main-track-only entry. Tapit's Legacy, co-owned by Spendthrift Farm and Epic Horses, reached the wire in 1:23.87 and paid $3.30 as the 3-5 favorite. Three of Pletcher's 2-year-old winners came in the last three days of this second full week of racing. Time to Dream (Not This Time) started the victory parade Friday, Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) broke his maiden Saturday and Tapit's Legacy completed the weekend tri. Pletcher won with Malus (Into Mischief) on July 13 and Emphasis (Yaupon) on July 19. Todd Pletcher (first left) in the winner's circle with his latest juvenile maiden winner | Sarah Andrew Corser Thoroughbreds bred the big colt out Peace Corps (Violence). He did not meet his reserve price as a yearling, but sold for $550,000 to Spendthrift and Epic at the OBS March 2-year-old sale. “He breezed well there,” Pletcher said. “He's a big, good-looking son of Tapit, a pretty straightforward, attractive purchase.” Starting from the outside in the field of five, Tapit's Legacy sat a length behind pacesetter Chalky White (Practical Joke), who covered the first quarter mile in :23.42 and the half-mile in :46.73. Velazquez asked Tapit's Legacy for more in the turn and he responded but Velazquez said the colt didn't seem that interested in moving past Chalky White at the quarter pole. With some more urging, Tapit's Legacy had the lead just past the eighth pole and easily extended his advantage. Tapit's Legacy has been working at Saratoga since May. On June 27 he turned in a bullet work, fastest of 80, with a half-mile in :49.00 from the gate over the Oklahoma training track. “We've liked him all along. He's trained very forwardly,” Pletcher said. “We had him in earlier (in the summer) and he got a little temperature on us. We got backed up a little bit, and was just trying to find an opportunity to get him started. Fortunate here and got him in main track only. It looked like there was rain in the forecast, so it worked out well for him.” Tapit's Legacy graduates in R3 at Saratoga under @ljlmvel for trainer Todd Pletcher! pic.twitter.com/3iYOMEoLUd — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 27, 2025 3rd-Saratoga, $97,000, Msw, 7-27, 2yo, 7f (off turf), 1:23.87, sy, 5 lengths. TAPIT'S LEGACY (c, 2, Tapit–Peace Corps, by Violence) was the only main track only entry in this maiden washed off the turf, and was made a 3-5 favorite for this mile trek. Breaking well to track Chalky White (Practical Joke) as that one splashed through :23.42, :46.73, and six panels in 1:10.99, he was asked for his best at the five-sixteenths and spun off the turn the looming danger to that longtime leader. Taking command passing the eighth pole, Tapit's Legacy drew off from Chalky White to win by five lengths. The victor is the most recent to the races for Peace Corps, but her first to get his picture taken. He has a yearling half-brother by Curlin and a 2025 half-sister by Into Mischief. Sales history: $45,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Epic Horses LLC; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland: Pletcher’s Kiddie Corps Snags Another Maiden Special Spa Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain, post time: 15:05, AL SHAQAB GOODWOOD CUP STAKES-G1, £500,000, 3yo/up, 16f 0y Field: Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), French Master (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), Scandinavia (Justify). TDN Verdict: Last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger runner-up Illinois was put forward as a last-minute substitute for Kyprios in last month's G1 Gold Cup and, with extra preparation time for this marathon, is taken to gain a belated first win at the highest level. Ryan Moore is on board once more and he is accompanied by stablemate Scandinavia, who delivered a stunning wide-margin victory in Newmarket's G3 Bahrain Trophy earlier this month. Wathnan Racing's French Master steps up from handicap company for this black-type debut and is joined by Sweet William and Military Academy in the three-pronged bid to provide the Gosden stable with a sixth renewal. [Sean Cronin]. Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain, post time: 13:55, CORAL VINTAGE STAKES-G2, £175,000, 2yo, 7f 0y Field: Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}), Andab (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Dorset (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Gharma Sutra (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Goodwood Galaxy (GB) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Humidity (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Laureate Crown (Ire) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Morris Dancer (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Vincenzo Peruggia (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Zavateri dented some lofty reputations when annexing Newmarket's G2 July Stakes earlier this month and offers value in this open renewal. He is reopposed by July runner-up Do Or Do Not, who is the only maiden in the field. Aidan O'Brien sends forth TDN Rising Star Dorset, who comes back off a breakthrough success at the Curragh last month and seeks a fourth victory for the Ballydoyle maestro. Wathnan Racing's hitherto undefeated Humidity rates an obvious danger having broken his stakes duck in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham Stakes when last seen, while Al Shaqab Racing's Andab, representing the Joseph O'Brien stable, returns off a third in the G3 Marble Hill Stakes and a fourth in the G2 Coventry Stakes. [Sean Cronin]. Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain, post time: 14:30, HKJC WORLD POOL LENNOX STAKES-G2, £180,000, 3yo/up, 7f 0y Field: Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never), Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Quinault (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Witness Stand (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), Intrusively (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Noble Champion (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Kinross bids for an unprecedented third victory in a renewal that is as competitive as ever. The 2021 and 2023 winner encounters familiar foe Ten Bob Tony, who lowered his colours in Haydock's G3 John Of Gaunt Stakes on seasonal debut at the end of May. Last term's winner Audience has failed to fire in four outings since and returns off a ninth in the John Of Gaunt. William Haggas trainee Lake Forest has failed to hit the board in three starts since annexing Australia's Golden Eagle last November and needs to find more to feature. Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Jonquil was denied Classic glory when collared by Henri Matisse in the dying embers of May's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and is better than his unplaced effort in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, while Noble Champion, a shock winner of Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey Stakes, is not without a chance. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Group 1 Breakthrough Awaits Illinois in Goodwood Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the latest addition to the saga of Saratoga racing in the rain, La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) was not to be beaten in the GII Glens Falls Stakes on the only race left on the lawn. Finally able to break a four-race winless streak last out June 27 at the Belmont Big A meet, the Miguel Clement runner was given 5-2 odds here to pick up her second victory of the year. Content to claim the ground-saving position on the fence for most of the race, she was poised to pounce coming off the final bend when the field began to arrange itself for rallies. Taken off the inside path to the outside of pacesetter Long Ago (GB) (Roaring Lion), she pounced on that longtime leader at the head of affairs and sailed home a much the best winner. Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr) came on to grab second and Long Ago held on for third. Sales history: €55,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP; €400,000 HRA '23 ARQDEC. O-LSU Stables; B-SA Haras du Mezeray (Fr); T-Miguel Clement. It was a one-horse race in the G2 Glen Falls! La Mahena wins easy for trainer @clementstable with Flavien Prat aboard! pic.twitter.com/IMjTT0FIxN — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 27, 2025 The post Le Mehana Strolls Home Much the Best in Glens Falls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As much as the fields for the both the Travers Stakes (G1) and the Pacific Classic (G1) came into a sharper focus July 26, the connections of Journalism say it will be "a few more weeks" before plans for the 3-year-old are finalized.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was a low-key celebration for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott Saturday night after Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continued his stampede through the 3-year-old male division. “Put a couple hamburgers on the grill,” Mott said, sitting at his desk in his office at the Oklahoma Training Track on a soggy Sunday morning at Saratoga. “Good hamburgers, by the way. They were from Fresh Market. That was it. Then early to bed.” When Mott got his barn Sunday morning, he looked down his shedrow and saw the best 3-year-old in the country in Sovereignty, who won his third straight race the day before. His one-length win over Baeza (McKinzie) reinforced what everyone seems to know. Right now, Sovereignty, owned by Godolphin LLC, has no equal in the division. With the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes already on his 2025 resume, the next target will be the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23. Sovereignty, the 1-2 favorite, and jockey Junior Alvarado conquered the Jim Dandy by holding off Baeza, a horse that finished third to him in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The Derby and Belmont were both run at 1 1/4 miles; the Jim Dandy was contested at 1 1/8 miles. Sovereignty had only tried that distance once before, finishing second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream on Mar. 29. That is his only loss this season in five starts. “I looked at that, but, no, that wasn't really my biggest concern,” Mott said about the distance. “Now, you're going to ask what was your biggest concern. I don't know if I am going to reveal that. I was not panicking over the 1 1/8 [miles].” The journey will continue to the Travers. The endgame goal for the season is the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Mott has not yet thought about whether there will be another race on the schedule between the Travers and the Classic. “I would not think there would be,” Mott said. “If we make the Travers and the plan then is the Breeders' Cup, I would not think there would be another race, at least not in my mind.” McCarthy Will Wait Before Deciding What's Next for Journalism Trainer Michael McCarthy was an interested spectator of Saratoga races over the weekend. He watched as Sovereignty (Into Mischief) won the GII Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday. The day before, he tuned in to see Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) win the Curlin Stakes. “From what I saw of the two 3-year-old races at Saratoga and the Haskell the week before, it's the strongest 3-year-old crop I have seen in recent memory,” McCarthy said by phone from his California base at Del Mar Sunday. “I was very impressed [with Sovereignty].” McCarthy trains Journalism (Curlin), the GI Haskell Stakes winner, who won the GI Preakness Stakes and was second as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes. Sovereignty beat him in those two starts. The question begging for an answer is whether there will be a rematch in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes. “You mean between Sovereignty and Baeza?” McCarthy said, tongue firmly in cheek. Baeza (McKinzie) finished second in the Jim Dandy; he was also third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. McCarthy said he will keep all options open for Journalism, who has won four of six starts this season, three of them Grade I events. He could ship Journalism back to the East Coast for the third time this season for a date in the Travers or he could stay home and try older horses for the first time in the $1-million GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30. “Anytime you put a horse on a plane, you are always worried it might take something out of them,” McCarthy said. If he stays home, he would likely face the imposing Nysos (Nyquist), who won the GII San Diego Handicap by 2 3/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert Saturday. “Everything is up in the air,” McCarthy said. “Honestly, I am just going to watch my horse, see where we are at and go from there. It's a long year and we've got a long second half of the year. We want to be at our best for the Breeders' Cup Classic no matter what way we go.” McCarthy said that Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, has returned to the track and will have his first work since the Haskell next week or the week after. Baeza Might Return for Travers, Sandman Will Not Baeza (McKinzie), the runner-up in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes, might come back to take on Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes. Sandman (Tapit), who finished last in the field of five, will not. John Shirreffs, Baeza's trainer, flew back to California Saturday night and the colt was scheduled to follow early this week. Before he left, he said he would not be able to make the decision to return on his own. “I have to talk to [owners] Robert Clay [Grandview Equine] and Lee Searing [C R K Stable LLC],” Shirreffs said. Sovereignty leads home Baeza in Jim Dandy | Sarah Andrew Baeza finished third behind Sovereignty in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes and got closer in the Jim Dandy, losing by a length. In the days leading up to the race, Shirreffs thought he would get a better effort from Baeza than he got in the Belmont, when he was defeated by 6 1/2 lengths. And he got it. “One hundred percent better than the Belmont,” Shirreffs said. “I thought we had him for a second, but Sovereignty had a little more at the end.” If Baeza were to return, Shirreffs said the 1 1/4 miles would benefit him. It would also not bother Sovereignty, who won the Derby and Belmont at those distances. “I think [Baeza] can do the 1 1/4 miles easily,” Shirreffs said. “We got within a length of [Sovereignty] and I can see my horse improving more and running better than he did [in the Jim Dandy]. I am not losing confidence at all.” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said that the popular gray Sandman won't go in the Midsummer Derby. His next start could be in the $1-million GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 20 or he could run on the grass at Saratoga. “I have to talk to everyone, but I would say it's one of those two,” Casse said Sunday morning. Sandman, owned by D J Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, finished nearly 11 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Jim Dandy. Sandman was wearing blinkers in the Jim Dandy for the first time. Casse said they did not have any effect. “Bill's horse and John's horse are a cut above the rest,” Casse said. “Our horse needs some pace to run at and there was not a whole lot of pace. We were closer than normal, but I'm not going to use it as an excuse. Yesterday was not his day.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Sovereignty’s Star Continues to Shine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Soldier N Diplomat didn’t deliver a debut quite as impressive as his sire, but St. Elias’ Vinnie Viola nonetheless has high hopes for the 2-year-old, who won by a neck at Saratoga Race Course July 26. He will likely head next to graded stakes.View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott reported all was well with Sovereignty following his July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) victory. Mark Casse could consider running Sandman on grass in his next start after finishing last of five Saturday.View the full article

Due to forecasted extreme heat, Prairie Meadows will move July 27's first post from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT and the July 28 race card to July 31 with post time to be determined.View the full article

Visit Horse Country organized field trips for 170 elementary school students from Woodford County's Summer School Program last Wednesday to tour historic Thoroughbred farms in the heart of the Bluegrass. From kindergarteners to fourth graders, each class enjoyed a specially curated morning designed to ignite their curiosity and introduce them to Kentucky's signature industry. Five prominent Horse Country member farms generously opened their gates: Godolphin at Gainsborough Farm hosted the kindergarten class; Airdrie Stud the first graders; Lane's End Farm the second graders; Pin Oak Stud the third graders; and Resolute Racing the fourth graders. “It's not every day in Horse Country that we get to work with local students, seeing the pure joy and excitement on the faces of these kids as they connected with the horse was an uplifting experience, it reminded me why I got into this business in the first place,” said Hallie Hardy, Executive Director of Horse Country. “These field trips were invaluable in showing students the breadth of what 'Horse Country' truly means–not just racing, but breeding, raising, caring for, and celebrating these incredible animals. We believe these moments will spark a lifelong appreciation for the horse and perhaps even inspire future horsemen and women.” Horse Country, Inc. is a not-for-profit membership organization that offers guests unique opportunities to experience the working horse farms and equine attractions of Kentucky. Through curated tours and events, Horse Country strives to share the beauty, tradition, and profound connection between humans and horses that define the Bluegrass region. The post Visit Horse Country Hosts Elementary School Students on Farm Tours appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article