Wandering Eyes

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

When I read the announcement from Churchill Downs that the post time for the Kentucky Oaks was being moved to allow the race to be televised in “prime time,” my first thought was not of the importance of another race being run in “prime time” but of the disruption this would cause the local restaurant community. As a lover of the Thoroughbred industry, I applaud the track for the way it has grown interest, not just in the Oaks, but the Wednesday and Thursday cards that precede it. But, as a restaurant owner, I feel the pain and understand the feelings being expressed by those who own and operate Louisville-area establishments. Kentucky Oaks night is, by far, the biggest evening for restaurants in Louisville. Always has been. Churchill's announcement says the Oaks will be presented by NBC at 8 p.m. (what is unclear is if that is the post time or the start of the television broadcast). It is being moved to the last race on the card. This year, the Oaks, won by Good Cheer, was race 11 of a 13-race card. The Oaks went off at 6:04 p.m.; the last race was run at 7:21 p.m. The next day, the Kentucky Derby was run at 7:05 p.m. (race 12 of 14 races). Already, the owners of two upscale Louisville restaurants, Jack Fry's and Jeff Ruby's, have posted lengthy messages on Facebook about the change. They are certainly representative of the feelings being felt by the entire hospitality industry in Louisville. Jack Fry's said it immediately began receiving calls from individuals delaying or skipping reservations. As it pointed out, Churchill now includes food and drink for many ticket holders on Oaks and Derby days, meaning local restaurants already receive less revenue on those days than in years past. Now, with a post time that late, far fewer people will eat at area restaurants Oaks night. “The rescheduling of Oaks Day has had immediate consequences for Louisville's entire hospitality ecosystem,” Jeff Ruby's wrote. “Coming off years of pandemic stress, inflation, economic headwinds, and civil unrest, local restaurants remain fragile.” Jack Fry's said it felt marginalized; Jeff Ruby's said it felt the decision was made in isolation. Both expressed an interest in forming a group that could meet with Churchill officials to discuss ways to promote the track's signature racing events while preserving the enormous impact on the city's restaurants. Churchill has taken the Oaks and Derby to new heights…and its hospitality for guests to a new stratosphere. But with that late of a post time for the Oaks, many patrons will now eat at the track and not go out to local restaurants. As we know, in all sports, networks dictate everything. But, let's hope representatives of Churchill Downs and the Louisville hospitality community can sit down and discuss how to continue working together for the good of all. Dan Liebman, who spent 25 years in the world of equine journalism–at The Racing Form, Racing Times, and The Blood-Horse–is the owner of Staxx BBQ in Frankfort, Ky. The post Letter to the Editor: Oaks Post Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Even though Nysos (Nyquist) was 1-10 on the board, Saturday's GII San Diego Handicap was a race he didn't have to win. He sprinted in his last two starts and had never been the distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth. He also has a couple of large gaps in his form, suggesting that trainer Bob Baffert was having a hard time keeping him together. None of that mattered in the San Diego. Flavin Prat, who flew in from Saratoga for the ride, rode a patient race and saved ground into the second turn. Briefly, it looked like Nysos was going to stay boxed in, but Prat found a lane and Nysos shot through it on his way to a 2 3/4-length score over stablemate Mirahmadi (Into Mischief). “He was ready,” Baffert said. “[Flavien] Prat just sat patiently behind there and he had enough horse to cut the corner. Once he got that little seam, I knew it was over. I'm glad to win the San Diego. I haven't had the best of luck in this race. I've had some great horses get beat here. But a lot of pressure. I felt what Bill Mott was feeling today [in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga]. It's just a relief that this horse won and hopefully the Pacific Classic is next for him.” The Aug. 30 GI Pacific Classic will present another challenge as Nysos will have to stretch out to a mile-and-a-quarter, the distance of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. But, among the older horses, there's no one in California that can beat him, and his biggest challenge could come from the 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin), if he goes in the Pacific Classic. But while Nysos is certainly the real deal, he could be 5-1 or so in what may turn out to be one of the best Breeders' Cup Classics ever. If the race were run tomorrow, Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who won Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga would likely be the favorite. His rival Journalism would be a major contender as well. As for the contenders in the older division, you have Mindframe (Constitution), Fierceness (City of Light), White Abarrio (Race Day) and last year's Classic winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). That's murderers' row stuff. Why The Rich Get Richer Bob Baffert might have set some sort of record with the horse he sent out for Saturday's card at Del Mar. He ran five horses and they cost a combined $9,225,000. Hejazi (Bernardini) topped the list at $3,550,000. He ran second in the GI Bing Crosby S. Then there was the 'international good thing' and 'TDN Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner), the $3-million record buy at OBS March. He was an impressive winner of what looked like a loaded 2-year-old maiden race. Brant | Benoit People are prone to complain about Baffert and how he dominates racing, especially on the West Coast. But you can't blame him, or blame the owners who spend so much money on the horses they give him. The owners want the trainer who gives them the best shot of winning the GI Kentucky Derby and that is, without question, Baffert. The only way to slow Baffert down is for someone else in California to step up and prove they, too, can win Triple Crown races. Michael McCarthy, who won the GI Preakness Stakes this year with Journalism, may be just that person. He'll never have the ammunition that Baffert has, but this year he has at least proven that Baffert is not unbeatable. Sovereignty and the Triple Crown Though it's obviously just speculation, it seems like there's a very good chance that Sovereignty would have won the Triple Crown had he started in the Preakness. The Preakness was won by Journalism and Sovereignty proved in the Derby and GI Belmont S. that he is the better horse. So racing may have missed out on something special this year, a Triple Crown winner. But don't blame trainer Bill Mott and the Godolphin team. This is the risk you take when you try to shoehorn the three races into a five-week period. Had the Preakness instead been run on Saturday, June 7, you probably would have gotten him to go in the middle leg of the Triple Crown. Don't be surprised if three of the next four or so Derby winners do not run in the Preaknewss. That shouldn't be the case. There's no reason why a healthy horse can't run back in two weeks, but as long as the modern trainers believe horses need at least four or five weeks off in between races, they're going to continue to skip the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, leaving the Preakness as an even weaker link than it is now. It's time for the obstinance to end. The Triple Crown needs to be fixed. Sovereignty | Sarah Andrew Santana Quietly Having Great Meet At Saratoga this year, it's been impossible to overshadow the Ortiz Brothers. Irad Ortiz, Jr., going into Sunday's card, leads the standings with 26 wins, while brother Jose has 20. There's only one other jockey in double figures and it's not Flavien Prat. Ricardo Santana Jr. is next with 10 and has a positive ROI. Usually, Santana's Saratoga winners come courtesy of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. But Asmussen has given him just two mounts at the meet, one of which one. Arrieta Gets Days According to a story first reported in the Blood-Horse, jockey Francisco Arrieta has been suspended 15 days by the Colonial Downs stewards. Arrieta rode the horse that shut off jockey Tyler Conner, triggering a spill that caused Conner to sustain a broken nose and a fractured C1 vertebra. The suspension will be served Aug 2-16. In the ruling, the stewards described Arrieta's actions as “extremely careless.” Good for the stewards for doing something and not giving Arrieta a free pass, but 15 days doesn't sound like enough, especially when you call his riding extremely careless. There are too many riders out there who don't make safety a priority and there needs to be more of a deterrent so that they will become safer riders. This guy should have gotten 60 days. The post The Week in Review: Nysos Passes a Huge Test on His Way to What Could be a Stacked Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I-winning New York-bred Diversify (Bellamy Road) has relocated to Old Friends at Cabin Creek after initially retiring to Old Friends' Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky following his retirement from racing in 2019. “We are thrilled to welcome Diversify back home to New York,” said JoAnn Pepper, manager of Old Friends at Cabin Creek. “We are looking forward to him settling in and greeting visitors.” Trained by the late Rick Violette, Jr. and owned by Lauren and Ralph Evans, Diversify won the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2018 GI Whitney Stakes and GII Suburban Stakes. On the board in 12 of 16 starts, the gelding won 10 times and earned $1,989,425. Fans are welcome to visit Diversify Tuesday to officially welcome him to the herd. Tours of Old Friends at Cabin Creek are also offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Aug. 30. No reservations are required. For more information, visit www.oldfriendsatcabincreek.com. The post Diversify to Old Friends at Cabin Creek appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran horseman Al Pike, who had been battling cancer, passed away Saturday at the age of 70, according to a release from the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Pike, along with his wife of nearly 45 years, Salley, and their son, Colt, operated Pike Racing. Pike is also survived by daughter Chelsey Pike Hooton. Pike got his start in the horse industry in the 1970s as a Quarter Horse trainer in Texas before he and his wife transitioned to Thoroughbreds, eventually focusing on pinhooking. Pike Racing sold the $1.1-million sale-topper at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, a son of Uncle Mo that Pike had purchased privately after he had RNA'd for $185,000 at the previous year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The consignment also sold a daughter of Uncle Mo for $1 million at the 2016 Midlantic May sale. The Pike Racing consignment set a record for a TTA sale when selling the $300,000 sale-topper at the 2023 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Pike Racing had three juvenile sale graduates make it to the Kentucky Derby, including millionaires Vyjack and Vicar's in Trouble. Pike announced in April he was retiring from his position as director of sales and 2-year-old trainer at the Texas-based Highlander Training Center. “Al Pike was synonymous with Texas sales,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director for TTA Sales. “Everyone knew and respected Al, and together with Salley and Colt they were a vital part of the sale scene here. We are going to miss Al dearly and plan to honor his memory at our next auction.” The post Al Pike Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saeed bin Suroor and Oisin Murphy teamed up to snag 2018's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen with Godolphin's Benbatl (Dubawi) and repeated the dose in this year's renewal of the Munich feature when G3 Hampton Court Stakes runner-up Tornado Alert (Too Darn Hot) made a belated breakthrough in stakes company. “We were uncertain about the [soft] ground, but he loved it and it's fantastic to win a Group 1 on this fellow,” commented Oisin Murphy. “He ran very well in the [G1] Derby, he was second at Royal Ascot and today he was brilliant.” The 51-10 chance raced second through the early stages, but was shuffled back one spot along the backstraight. Coming under pressure to regain second soon after turning for home, he seized control passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out thereafter to comfortably hold Wathan Racing's first German Group 1 contestant Map Of Stars (Sea The Stars) by 2 1/2 lengths. Stall Lucky Owner's G1 Deutsches Derby third Lazio (Make Believe) fared best of the remainder and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third. The newest Group 1 winner for @godolphin! TORNADO ALERT and @oismurphy win the G1 Grosser Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich. #WorldPool | @wettstar_de pic.twitter.com/7wLYuMLq1U — World Pool (@WorldPool) July 27, 2025 Sunday, Munich, Germany GROSSER DALLMAYR-PREIS – BAYERISCHES ZUCHTRENNEN-G1, €155,000, Munich, 7-27, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:11.52, sf. 1–TORNADO ALERT (IRE), 123, c, 3, by Too Darn Hot (GB) 1st Dam: Bint Almatar, by Kingmambo 2nd Dam: Firth Of Lorne (Ire), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Kerrera (Ire), by Diesis (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 6-2-1-1, €203,677. *1/2 to Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), G1SW-Aus, $730,369. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Map Of Stars (GB), 132, c, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Bateel (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Al Asayl France; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €30,000. 3–Lazio (GB), 123, c, 3, Make Believe (GB)–La Caldera (GB), by Hernando (Fr). (€30,000 Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Stall Lucky Owner; B-Roland Lerner; T-Waldemar Hickst. €15,000. Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 5.10, 0.90, 24.50. Also Ran: Grand Stars (Ire), Persica (Ire), Dare To Dream (Fr), Quest The Moon (Ger), Calif (Ger), Atoso (Ger), Petit Marin (Ger). Scratched: Egina (Ger). The post Godolphin’s Tornado Alert Blows Hot in Munich Feature appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There aren't many American trainers who win a two-year-old grass maiden at Churchill Downs and immediately think that the obvious next stop is the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville at the end of August. But Wesley Ward isn't like most American trainers. For one thing, he's tried it four times. Won three. Finished second the other time. He'll take his fifth tilt at the Morny on August 24 when he sends Outfielder (Speightstown) over to Deauville for just his second lifetime start. Ward is known for thinking outside the box. “It's just a race that we know we can be competitive in if we have that type of horse,” said Ward. The trainer is best known for his success at Royal Ascot, but his record in the Morny is starting to rival his triumphs in England. The race is named after the Duc de Morny, the founder of Deauville Racecourse who died in 1864, and is one of the oldest races in France, having its first running in the year after his death, in 1865. Ward first gave it a crack in 2013, winning with No Nay Never. He tried again in 2014, and finished second with Hootenanny, his one defeat. He came back two years later with Lady Aurelia, and won again. Four years after that, he was back with another winner, Campanelle. “We started going to Royal Ascot, and when we were successful there, we sort of looked at where we would go next on the grass, and there was nothing really in America until the fall of the year,” said Ward of his initial discovery of the race. “I like to have good spacing between the races, two months from race to race, and it gave us time to come back, get ready for the next, get over that Royal Ascot race, and then target (the Morny).” Ward thought a lot of Outfielder-named after one of his owners, the former baseball outfielder Jayson Werth-from the get-go. He was an $850,000 Saratoga yearling, and, said Ward, was one of two horses at that sale he just had to have. The other, Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) cost $950,000 and is currently working toward an impending debut at Saratoga. “Both of them are very high quality two-year-olds, but Outfielder can run on either surface,” said Ward. “He's just a big, beautiful colt. He looks like he's going to want to go a little further with his size, albeit by being by Speightstown, who was a sprinter, but as a sire, he's thrown everything. This is a colt that I think will go on to do certainly a mile or further.” Outfielder won his May 23 debut at Churchill Downs by 8 ¼ lengths as the 3-10 favorite and was named a TDN Rising Star for the performance. His next start was supposed to be at Ascot, but, said Ward, “unfortunately, in his workout here on the grass at Keeneland, subsequent to his race, he came up with a minor shin, so we just backed off. It was it was a bit of a letdown for my partners and myself, but we put the horse first. And now we've got plenty of time getting them ready for the Morny, and I think big, high-cruising type stride that Outfielder has is a perfect fit for it.” Ward is also a part-owner of Outfielder. “He's got a wonderful ownership group. Jayson Werth, his World Series-winning outfielder, and Kia Joorabchian (of Amo Racing) who has come into the game and has spent a lot of money to have horses like this.” For Ward, that Churchill race was both a relief and a validation. “Everything that I really thought that this colt was, that I had seen in the morning and what I had seen when I bought him, he really came through with. It was like a revelation. So we were really excited for him. He's a really easy-going colt to be around, kind of cocky if you're around him. Like he knows he'd be a young high school or college athlete that's heading to the pros.” At Keeneland, Outfielder continues to work steadily toward the Morny. “I've got a very light rider, Julio Garcia, who has been with me for nearly 20 years,” said Ward. “He probably won close to 200 races for me as a jockey, and he's a phenomenal rider with a great opinion. And so he'll be taking him into the race. This month we'll do a lot of easy half-mile breezes just to keep him sound. And then as we get closer to the race, we'll start kind of setting him down a little bit and probably get maybe a five-eighths work or two into him as we head into August. We'll be setting him down with some pretty high-quality colts to where we tighten the screws down a bit and he comes right into the race sound and fit. This is something that I've done in the past with the horses that I brought over there.” As with No Nay Never, a Group 1 Morny win would mean a lot on his resume, Ward said. “As I said, he's equally as talented on both surfaces. So if he could win a Group 1 race, that will certainly stamp him as a possible sire. I told the owners we'll sit down and have a discussion as to which Breeders' Cup race we'll go to if we if we get that far. “You're always planning and hoping things come to fruition, but you know in horse racing things can change in a minute, but right now everything's really, really good and we've got big dreams for him.” The post Ward Looks for Prix Morny Number Four With Outfielder appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article