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Wandering Eyes

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  1. Perfumist and Regan Bayliss combine in the Melbourne Storm Mile at Randwick on Saturday. PIcture: Bradley Photos. New Zealand-bred mare Perfumist bounced back to her brilliant best with a dominant front-running performance in the A$160,000 Melbourne Storm Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. The daughter of El Roca burst onto the scene as a three-year-old last season with wins in five of her first nine starts, including four in a row in December and January. Those performances earned her a ticket across the Tasman for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March, where she ran a close and creditable fifth. Perfumist was below that level in the early stages of her four-year-old season, finishing sixth over 1200m at Rosehill on August 16 and 11th over the same course and distance on August 30, but then she ran a more promising fourth over 1600m at Randwick on September 20. On Saturday the Bjorn Baker-trained mare showed the Randwick crowd what she is capable of. Drawn handily in three among a competitive 18-horse field, Perfumist broke brilliantly from the starting gates and quickly took up the lead for jockey Regan Bayliss. Bayliss began to up the ante coming down the side of the track and Perfumist pulled ahead by two and three lengths coming up to the home turn. Perfumist kicked hard at the 300m mark and powered clear, putting four lengths between herself and her nearest challenger. The favourite Idle Flyer ($2.70 with Neds betting) was able to eat into that advantage late in the piece, closing to within a length and a half with another five lengths back to third, but there would be no catching Perfumist. She set a new race record with her time of 1:33.01 for 1600m. Perfumist was the second elect at $6 with Australian online betting sites. “She pulled out the ‘dictate and dominate’ playbook and bounced back to her best,” Baker said. “Congratulations to a great group of owners. We might look to the Angst Stakes (Group 3, 1600m) from here.” The Angst Stakes will be run on October 18 over the same course and distance as Perfumist’s win on Saturday. Perfumist was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and is by Westbury stallion El Roca. She is the first foal to race out of the unraced Swiss Ace mare Tapputi, whose full-brother Cut Me Loose won two races and placed in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Perfumist’s name stems from her dam, with Tapputi, a female perfumer, the first chemist in history. Perfumist breezed up in 10.7 seconds at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale and was purchased for $190,000 by the combination of Bjorn Baker Racing, bloodstock agents Phill Cataldo and Jim Clarke, along with OTI Racing. From a 15-race career, Perfumist has now recorded six wins and three seconds. She has earned A$542,508 in stakes. View the full article
  2. Though owner Al Gold was not at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 4 to watch his 2-year-old Napoleon Solo win the Champagne Stakes (G1), he still got a taste of the bubbly.View the full article
  3. Rhetorical, a 4-year-old New York-bred gelding by Not This Time, posted a 9-1 upset of an international field in the $1.25 million Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), giving trainer Will Walden his first grade 1 win Oct. 4 at Keeneland.View the full article
  4. Colebrook Farms' Simply in Front prevailed in a thrilling blanket finish to capture her first grade 1 victory in the $776,750 First Lady Stakes (G1T) Oct. 4 at Keeneland. Jockey Ben Curtis lands his first grade 1 score.View the full article
  5. Jeff Mullins-trained Intrepido, owned by San Diegans Ruben Islas, and Michele Arthur, earns a berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar with his American Pharoah Stakes (G1) victory Oct. 4 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article
  6. Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency will consign a lifetime breeding right to leading sire Nyquist at the second edition of the Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held in the Del Mar Paddock on Wednesday, Oct. 29, two days before the Breeders' Cup World Championships, officials at the Lexington auction house announced Saturday. The lifetime breeding right entitles the purchaser to breed one mare per season to Nyquist, who stands at Darley in Lexington, for the duration of the stallion's stud career. “The Championship Sale was designed to showcase offerings that are truly one of a kind,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “To feature a breeding right to Nyquist underscores the sale's position as a stage for rare collectors' items. For buyers, this is an extraordinary opportunity to secure access to one of the best stallions in the sport.” Nyquist, a champion at two and winner of the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby, is the sire of 33 stakes winners, including North American champions Immersive and Vequist and Canadian champion Gretzky the Great. This year, he is represented by Grade I winners Cavalieri, Velocity and Argos along with such other top performers as Nysos, Tenma, Randomized, Crimson Advocate and Gosger. Nyquist is the sire of such Breeders' Cup hopefuls as Johannes (FanDuel Mile), Cavalieri (Distaff), Nysos (Dirt Mile) and Argos (Juvenile Turf). At the recent Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Nyquist was represented by 37 yearlings who sold for a combined $14,645,000. The post Lifetime Breeding Right To Nyquist To Be Offered at Keeneland Championship Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  7. Wesley Ward debuted another fast juvenile at Keeneland Saturday as HEARTILY (c, 2, Complexity–We Love Lucy, by Majesticperfection) romped on debut to become a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' on the main track for Lael Stables. Alert and on the pace from the inside, the 4-5 favorite had no trouble stringing this group of maidens out into the far turn, easily brushed off a quarter-pole challenge from Telecaster (Kantharos) and romped home alone to give jockey John Velazquez his fifth win on the card in the nightcap. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Lael Stables; B-Jack Miller; T-Wesley Ward. Sales History: $160,000 ylg '24 KEEJAN, $250,000 RNA ylg '24 KEESEP, $375,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Johnny 'V'! 5⃣@ljlmvel completes a five-timer at @keenleandracing as Heartily runs out a ready winner on debut! pic.twitter.com/XKCN1vxfzl — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 4, 2025 The post Complexity’s Heartily Puts In A ‘Rising Star’ Romp At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  8. Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable's RHETORICAL (g, 4, Not This Time–Street Humor, by Distorted Humor) provided his all-conquering sire with his second winner of Keeneland's GI Coolmore Turf Mile in the space of three years, striking from close range to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Del Mar for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile exactly four weeks down the road. Only once-beaten in five career starts and exiting a popular victory in the state-bred restricted West Point Stakes at Saratoga, the $320,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale grad was dsipatched at odds of 19-2 and bounced nicely from gate nine and when GIII Mint Millions winner Epic Ride (Blame) went up to sit off the cracking early pace set by Quatrocento (War Front) and the stretching-out Howard Wolowitz (Munnings), Irad Ortiz, Jr. was able to slide Rhetorical down onto the fence to save ground while those ahead of him did the heavy lifting. Enjoying the run of the race for the remainder of the contest, Rhetorical traveled one out and one back with cover on the back of the distance-challenged Howard Wolowitz and was steered three wide and into the clear to lay down his challenge in upper stretch. Rhetorical quickly went to a weakening Quatrocento inside the final furlong and proved an ultimately comfortable winner, as Program Trading (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Brillian Berti (Noble Mission {GB}) made belated inroads. Rhetorical is the second open Grade I winner on the afternoon bred in New York, joining Frizette Stakes heroine Iron Goddess. Sales history: $320,000 Ylg '22 FTNAUG. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1. O-Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stables & Wachtel Stables; B-Mallory & Karen Mort (NY); T-Will Walden #4 SIMPLY IN FRONT ($28.24) gets up to win the $800,000 First Lady Stakes (G1) at @Keeneland. This is the first Grade 1 win for the four-year-old Summer Front filly. @kenneallyracing trains, @_benacurtis up. pic.twitter.com/dYiChKbKz7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 The post No ‘Rhetorical’ Questions: Another Not This Time Winner of the Coolmore Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  9. A trip to Keeneland in 1983 was impactful to a young Robert Medina, and now the track has given him what will likely be his first Breeders' Cup starter as Praying beat her elders in the $398,750 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) Oct. 4.View the full article
  10. The considerable talent Ted Noffey displayed at Saratoga Race Course this summer arrived Oct. 4 at Keeneland.View the full article
  11. Khaadem rallied from last of eight to win the Oct. 4 Woodford Stakes (G2T) at Keenland and earn a shot at the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).View the full article
  12. Making his first start in North America, SILAWI (IRE) (g, 5, Dubawi {Ire}–Silasol {Ire}, by Monsun {Ger}) got brave on the front end at odds of 10-1 to upset even-money favorite Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the GI Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Saturday. The Irish-bred picked up his third win this year having entered here off a victory in the G3 Weatherbys Global Stallions App Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor Aug. 23. Showing natural early speed from an outside draw, Silawi slipped away early as Nations Pride and My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) took up the chase with a lap to run. But even as the field was well into the backstretch the second time around, it was clear Nations Pride wasn't cutting into the gap under jockey Billy Loughnane who picked up the mount from the injured William Buick. Off the turn completely alone, it was up to American Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) to run him down from along the fence but he came up just short as Silawi had just enough to hold off the run for the win. Lifetime Record: 26-4-4-4. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Wertheimer et Frere; T-H.A. Al Jehani. Sales History: €380,000 3yo '23 ARARC. #7 SILAWI ($22.90) holds on to win the $750,000 The Canadian International (G1) at @Woodbinetb. Faleh Nasser Bughenaim was aboard the Dubawi gelding for trainer H.A. Al Jehani.. pic.twitter.com/zxKHDSWtBs — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 The post Silawi Steals The Canadian International On The Front End appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  13. Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), a runaway winner of the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. and a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' solidified his status as the horse to beat in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with an impressive performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland. Off as the 4-5 favorite while drawn widest of all in this two-turn debut, the Spendthrift Farm colorbearer found a perfect spot in second beneath the hot-handed John Velazquez through an opening quarter in :23.96 and half mile in :48.23. The handsome gray hit the front on the far turn, kicked for home in control and kept on powering down the stretch to defeat 3-2 second-choice and fellow 'Rising Star' Blackout Time (Not This Time) by three lengths. Pacesetter Litmus Test (Nyquist) was third. Winning connections Spendthrift Farm and Todd Pletcher also won Friday's female equivalent GI Darley Alcibiades S. with 'Rising Star' Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) via disqualification. One of 27 top-level winners for Spendthrift Farm's six-time reigning champion general sire Into Mischief, Ted Noffey brought $650,000 from Spendthrift Farm as a Keeneland September yearling. Ted Noffey's dam SW & MGSP Streak of Luck brought $620,000 from Aaron and Marie Jones at the 2021 KEENOV sale. She is also responsible for a yearling filly Munnings ($425,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Repole Stable) and an Into Mischief colt of this year. She was bred back to Not This Time. TED NOFFEY is the real deal now 3 for 3! He took control coming to the stretch under @ljlmvel pulling away to win the $650,000 @ClaiborneFarm Breeders' Futurity (G1) at @keenelandracing. The son of Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) is in the @FanDuel @BreedersCup Juvenile (G1). pic.twitter.com/g3SakINpkg — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 Saturday, Keeneland CLAIBORNE BREEDERS' FUTURITY-GI, $642,594, Keeneland, 10-4, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.98, ft. 1–TED NOFFEY, 122, c, 2, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Streak of Luck (SW & MGSP, $352,109), by Old Fashioned 2nd Dam: Valeria, by Elusive Quality 3rd Dam: Lindsay Jean, by Saint Ballado ($650,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Aaron & Marie Jones LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $397,963. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $617,963. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Blackout Time, 122, c, 2, Not This Time–Beauty Parlor, by Elusive Quality. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. ($230,000 Ylg '24 KEEJAN; $235,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP; $210,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). O-Brookdale Racing, Inc., Lance Gasaway and Magdalena Racing; B-Newstead Corp (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $128,375. 3–Litmus Test, 122, c, 2, Nyquist–Study Hard, by Malibu Moon. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($875,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $64,188. Margins: 2 3/4, 2 1/4, 6 3/4. Odds: 0.92, 1.58, 9.59. Also Ran: Diciassette, Spice Runner, Big Dom. Scratched: Ewing. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post ‘Rising Star’ Ted Noffey Stays Perfect in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  14. Four of the six runners had graded stakes experience, but it was the one of the two maiden winners making a stakes debut who came home with the victory in the GI American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita and secured a 'Win and You're In' spot to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar in four weeks time. Intrepido (c, 2, Maximus Mischief–Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect), named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' in his Aug. 23 Del Mar win, rated and showed fight in between horses before finishing strong to capture his first graded win and punch his ticket to championship day. When the gates flew, $1.15-million buy Kristofferson (Nyquist) and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) went to the front with Interpido between the two. As the dust settled, the two favorites–Desert Gate at 4-5 and Kristofferson at 9-5–vied for supremacy through :22.83 and :46.76 fractions while Intrepido was in tight between horses and behind them. On the turn, Plutarch (Into Mischief) cut the corner to challenge Desert Gate and looked to have it won in the last strides, but Intrepido found another gear in the final sixteenth and flew by late on the outside. He got the 1 1/16 miles of the American Pharoah in 1:43.67 as Plutarch finished just in front of Desert Gate. Intrepido was a $385,000 purchase at the OBS April sale by Michael Pender for Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. He was the only member of the field to have won at a mile. O-Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures; B-Sierra Fria Farm LLC (Ky.); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Hector Berrios. #2 INTREPIDO ($19.60) had a strong kick late to get up and win the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. The son of Maximus Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) earned a spot in the @FanDuel @BreedersCup Juvenile (G1). @HIBerrios was up for @Jmullinsracing. pic.twitter.com/Hi6ZaX19ou — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Intrepido, by Maximus Mischief, Wins ‘WAYI’ American Pharoah appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  15. After Saturday's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein hero Ridari (Churchill) (lot 56) was among those who failed to find a buyer, it was another key runner from that card, Rabbit's Foot (lot 51), who took top billing at the Arqana Arc Sale, just a few short hours after the daughter of Golden Horde had finished third in the G1 Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. Offered by trainer Francois Rohaut, Rabbit's Foot was already a Listed winner at Toulouse and had finished third in both the G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix Lady O'Reilly, before adding that all-important Group 1 black type to her record in the Prix de Royallieu. That was enough to capture the imagination of Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock, who stretched to €625,000 to secure the filly when she went under the hammer at Saint-Cloud Racecourse. Rabbit's Foot is one of four winners from as many runners out of the unraced Harem Mistress (Mastercraftsman), with the others including last year's G2 Prix d'Harcourt hero and G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes second Zarakem (Zarak), another previous graduate of the Arc Sale when fetching €500,000 in 2023. Of the 39 lots offered at this year's Arc Sale, 23 sold (59%) for a total of €6,240,000. The average was €271,304 and the median was €255,000. Unlike last year when Ramadan (Le Havre) topped the sale at €1.5 million and was one of four horses to change hands for a seven-figure sum, the six most expensive horses to go through the ring on Saturday were all led out unsold. They included the aforementioned Ridari at €950,000, who had emulated Ramadan by winning the Prix Daniel Wildenstein earlier in the afternoon, plus Andre Fabre's two-year-old Seneque (Zarak) (lot 45), who was bought back at €1.2 million. Haras d'Etreham stallion City Light was responsible for a pair of €500,000 lots, namely the G3 Prix de Guiche second Al Aali (lot 22) and Listed winner Relaxx (lot 40). Lucie Pontoir's Al Aali, who was beaten just a short head last time in the Listed La Coupe de Marseille, was picked up by Billy Jackson-Stops on behalf of George Scott's Eve Lodge Stables, while Relaxx, a daughter of the G3 Prix Saint-Roman scorer Texaline (Kaldoun), went the way of Mandore International and Miguel Clement. She finished placed at Group 3 level for the fourth time in her career when third in last month's Prix Bertrand de Tarragon. “I've bought him for Fawzi Nass, who really liked his profile,” Scott said of Al Aali, with the trainer still on a high after saddling Caballo De Mar to win the G1 Prix du Cadran. “Winning my first Group 1 and having the opportunity to buy such a horse has made this a very special day.” Elsewhere, Quinteplus (Telecaster) (lot 31) could have the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as a long-range target, after being bought by Willie Mullins, Harold Kirk and Pierre Boulard for €470,000. Consigned by trainer Henri-Francois Devin, he produced his best effort to date when finishing third in July's Listed Prix Frederic de Lagrange at Vichy. “He has an excellent profile for jumping,” said Boulard. “He's a horse that has stamina and is by a stallion that seems to produce nice horses. We're very happy.” Wertheimer et Frere, on the eve of Aventure (Sea The Stars) and Sosie (Sea The Stars) bidding to win the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, emerged as the leading vendor with four horses selling for a total of €980,000. They were headed by the Listed winner and G3 Prix des Chenes third Cacofonix (Lope De Vega) (lot 17), a BBA Ireland purchase at €460,000. In addition to Ridari, the Aga Khan Studs draft featured the dual Group 3 winner Zabiari (lot 43), who finished fifth when also contesting ParisLongchamp's Prix Daniel Wildenstein for his owner-breeder. The four-year-old son of Wootton Bassett was purchased by Louis Le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock for €460,000, while the Aga Khan Studs also sold the Listed scorer Surabad (Bated Breath) (lot 36), one of three purchases made by Blandford Bloodstock at €200,000. “He's a lovely horse who is well-bred and has been trained to perfection,” Le Metayer said of Zabiari. “I think he has everything to become a Group winner in Australia and that's what we hope. We're very happy.” The post Prix De Royallieu Third Rabbit’s Foot Tops the Arqana Arc Sale at €625,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  16. Turf distaffers trained by Chad Brown had taken the seven most recent renewals of the GI First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, and the New York native looked to have a fair chance to extend that streak in the Bluegrass on Saturday afternoon. But at the end of the eight furlongs on firm turf, Colebrook Farm's SIMPLY IN FRONT (f, 4, Summer Front–Complicated, by Blame) split rivals inside the final eighth of a mile and found the line first to cause a 13-1 upset in a bunched finish. The mount of Ben Curtis, the $115,000 Keeneland September graduate drifted back through the field and secured a foothold at the fence worse than centerfield as longshot Raqiya (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) led through an opening half in :47.07. Racing with just one rival behind entering the final three-eighths of a mile, Simply In Front–a very good second to Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy) in the GII Kentucky Downs Ladies' Turf Sprint over 6 1/2 panels–slipstreamed the lesser-preferred of the Brown entry Segesta (Ghostzapper) into the lane, dove down to the inside of that one in upper stretch, hit the front late and held off a resurgent Segesta for the victory. Choisya (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) sat a trip similar to the one that resulted in a mild upset in this track's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes in April and led late before settling for third. Sales history: $115,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 16-6-4-0. O-Colebrook Farms; B-William Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. #4 SIMPLY IN FRONT ($28.24) gets up to win the $800,000 First Lady Stakes (G1) at @Keeneland. This is the first Grade 1 win for the four-year-old Summer Front filly. @kenneallyracing trains, @_benacurtis up. pic.twitter.com/dYiChKbKz7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 The post Summer Front’s Simply In Front Derails Brown Train in First Lady appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  17. The Wesley Ward-trained No Nay Hudson travels north to Woodbine to win the $183,520 Nearctic Stakes (G2T).View the full article
  18. As a 9-year-old, Khaadem has won his share of some top flight races in England for Mrs. Fitriani Hay over the course of his illustrious career, which has netted the gelding nearly $2.5-million in earnings. On Saturday in the Woodford Stakes, the venerable Thoroughbred once again got his picture taken with a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Keeneland. Trained by Charlie Hills, Khaadem highlights include during his 6-year-old season scores in the G3 Betfair Palace House Stakes at Newmarket that April and in the G2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood in late July. The pièce de résistance for the turf sprint specialist came when he won consecutive editions of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes during the Royal Meeting at Ascot in 2023 and 2024. More recently, the dark bay came back to the U.S. at the end of August for the second year in a row to contest the GII Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint at a Kentucky Downs–the result was a third-place finish. Tabbed as a 3-1 shot here, Khaadem did not do himself any favors at the break when he blew the start, which put him last up the backstretch. As 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard, Doncho (Mo Town) continued to make the pace through the far turn, Frankie Dettori's mount began to tip to the outside for a run down the center of the course. Firing on all cylinders and looking every bit a pro who has fought many a sprint battle on the grass heading for home, Khaadem's late move won the day and earned him a trip to the new stakes winner's circle at Keeneland. Arthur Hancock III's homebred Script was the runner-up. “He's [Khaadem] been training here since [finishing third in the Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint-G2 at] Kentucky Downs a month ago, so he is into a nice routine,” said trainer Charlie Hills. “I was a little bit worried about how quiet he was, to be honest with you. He's 9-years-old, he's won some fantastic races in his career and I just think he likes being out here. “He's just gotten used to the different way of training,” he said. “I think it's just sparked him up. Ed Vaughan–we go back a long way–he and I looked after him the last few weeks and he did a fantastic job. He's got his old spark back, so hopefully we might look at the Breeders' Cup in a few weeks' time.” Pedigree Notes: Dark Angel (Ire) (by Acclamation {GB}) needs no introduction internationally as an acclaimed sire. Of course, the stateside graded runners he claims includes the likes of Raging Bull (Fr), Althiqa, Hunt and Heredia. The dam of 11 foals, six to race and four winners, White Daffodil is responsible for Khadeem's older full-brother Long Out Island (Ire), who placed in three English group races during his career. The winner's dam is also produced a current yearling filly by Supremacy (Ire) and a filly by Chaldean (GB) who is now a weanling. She was not reported as bred for next spring. Watch the full replay as KHAADEM (IRE) surges from the back of the pack to win the Woodford (G2) presented by @FanDuelTV! pic.twitter.com/rNSfPg9vwP — Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 4, 2025 Saturday, Keeneland WOODFORD S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL-GII, $339,075, Keeneland, 10-4, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.18, fm. 1–KHAADEM (IRE), 121, g, 9, by Dark Angel (Ire) 1st Dam: White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB) 2nd Dam: Sparky's Song (GB), by Electric (GB) 3rd Dam: Daring Ditty (GB), by Daring March (GB) (750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Hills; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $179,025. Lifetime Record: 42-10-3-5, $2,615,444. *Full to Log Out Island (Ire), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, SP-Fr, $250,585. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Script, 121, g, 6, Algorithms–Dilly, by First Samurai. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Stone Farm (KY); T-George R. Arnold II. $77,000. 3–Joe Shiesty, 121, g, 4, Air Force Blue–Ready to Unleash, by More Than Ready. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($16,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN). O-Foster Family Racing, Reynolds, Lonnie, Mills, Vicki and Coomes, Donald; B-Rodney E. Orr (KY); T-Eric N. Foster. $38,500. Margins: NK, HD, NK. Odds: 3.27, 22.01, 5.91. Also Ran: Governor Sam, Arrest Me Red, Outlaw Kid, Doncho, Charcoal. Scratched: World Record. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Venerable 9-Year-Old Khaadem Sports Top Gear Late In Woodford At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  19. By Mike Love Franco Marek ($5.50FF) will be looking to make his case stronger for a spot in this year’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup by producing a stout effort in today’s Group 3 Alabar Methven Cup (4.36pm). Currently ranked 13th for the New Zealand Cup, Franco Marek, who will start from a 10 metre handicap, gets his chance to move in the right direction today in a race where conditions should suit the big gelding and Lincoln trainer Greg Manson believes the seven year old A Rocknroll Dance is up to the task. “He’s in great order, I don’t think he’s been in a better spot,” said Manson of Franco Marek’s condition. Franco Marek has had three runs back this campaign for three placings, and has won a quiet Methven workout since last racing on September 5 where he finished third to Alta Meteor in the New Brighton cup clocking his final 800m in 53 seconds. “He may get a good run without having to do a lot of work.” John Morrison will drive Franco Marek in what is now a nine horse field with Akuta ($1.50FF) the obvious horse to beat for co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon despite needing to overcome a 30m handicap. “The the main goal is to cement his spot in the cup. “There should be no excuses if he can’t go a good race,” said Manson. Franco Marek gained a lot of fans during cup week last year with big runs in both the New Zealand Cup and the Free For All on Show Day. Manson has reflected and taken a different approach leading into it this year. “I had him up pretty good and early this time around. I felt we may have been a bit underdone last year. So we have had three races already, now it’s all just about keeping him ready.” Other chances in the event outside of Franco Marek and Akuta include the Brent and Tim White trained American Me ($14.00FF) and Dalton Shard ($8.50FF) for Robert and Jenna Dunn. Race one gets underway at midday. View the full article
  20. She's back! The beautifully-bred 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' TAMARA (f, 4, Bolt d'Oro–Beholder, by Henny Hughes) returned to the races Saturday off nearly a year-long layoff and looked as if she'd never missed a step, romping home in the GIII Chillingworth at Santa Anita under Mike Smith. Sitting second throughout as Bob Baffert runner Silent Law (Tiz the Law) set out to lead, the 2-5 favorite had no problem reeling that leader back to her around the turn and going right on by as Smith sat motionless into the lane. Well clear into the final furlong, Tamara came home under wraps as much the best. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:15.21. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-1-0. O/B-Spendthrift Farm; T-Richard Mandella. TAMARA ($2.80) IS BACK!!@mikeesmith10 sat chilly aboard the daughter of MG1W Beholder in the $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. The 4YO filly by Bolt d'Oro is trained by Richard Mandella and owned & bred by @spendthriftfarm. pic.twitter.com/gFi2K7QcZE — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 The post Beholder’s Daughter Tamara Back In A Big Way, Romps In The Chillingworth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  21. Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Praying (f, 3, Vekoma–Pray for Leslie, by Bernardini), a 21-1 upset winner of the GIII Prioress S. at Saratoga Aug. 30, backed up that breakout performance with a victory over her elders in the 'Win and You're In' GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. at Keeneland. Favored Vahva (Gun Runner) was second. Zeitlos (Curlin) was third. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.49. Praying raced in an outside fifth beneath John Velazquez and made a three-wide bid on the far turn. The 9-1 chance kept on coming in the stretch and outboxed the classy GISW Vahva to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar. Praying, a $130,000 KEESEP yearling turned $410,000 OBSAPR breezer, is one of seven graded winners for second-crop sire Vekoma. Lifetime Record: 9-3-4-0. Sales history: $130,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $410,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm B-Jeff Kerber (KY) T-Robert Medina #6 PRAYING ($21.74) got the best of Vahva late to win the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at @keenelandracing. The daughter of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) earned a spot in the @BreedersCup F&M Sprint (G1). @ljlmvel was up for Robert Medina. pic.twitter.com/SjvOLa6S7r — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025 The post Vekoma’s Praying Answers the Call in the TCA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  22. The progressive Consent captured her first grade 1 victory in the Prix de Royallieu (G1) Oct. 4 at Longchamp. View the full article
  23. There are five group 1 races set to be contested on the Arc undercard Oct. 5 at Longchamp, with all of them offering automatic, fees-paid berths to corresponding Breeders' Cup races through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. View the full article
  24. NBS Stable's Ground Support (f, 2, Army Mule–Arch Support, by Arch), an $80,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old just a few months ago, secured her berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with a 'Win and You're In' victory in Saturday's GII Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. The Kelsey Danner trainee was coming off a 100-1 debut win at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30. A mere 12-1 compared to that initial start, Ground Support rushed up early and appeared rank under Adam Beschizza. As she settled, she set all the pace, ticking off fractions of :23.17 and :48.65. The field fanned out behind her and the dark bay never relented, taking them all the way in 1:43.22 for the 1 1/16 miles. Deep Learning (Cairo Prince), who had been tight on the inside early, finished about two lengths behind Ground Support in second, while Untapable Stakes winner Quiet Street (Street Boss) was third. O-NBS Stable; B-Champion Equine LLC (Fla.); T-Kelsey Danner; J-Adam Beschizza. GROUND SUPPORT upsets the G2 Miss Grillo at 12-1 under @ABeschizza for trainer @kelseyjdanner. Ticket punched to the @BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Turf! pic.twitter.com/oK58jkIyJv — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 4, 2025 The post Army Mule’s Ground Support All the Way in ‘WAYI’ Miss Grillo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
  25. Gold Square's Napoleon Solo (c, 2, Liam's Map–Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy), a very sharp debut winner of an auction-restricted maiden special weight at Saratoga Aug. 8, put on a dominating performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Champagne S. going a one-turn mile at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Sent to the front by Joel Rosario from his outside draw, the 6-1 chance led through fractions of :22.53 and :44.24 with imposing 2-5 favorite It's Our Time (Not This Time) in hot pursuit. Napoleon Solo began to give them the slip on the far turn and showed no mercy from there, continuing on with authority to score by six lengths. Talkin (Good Magic) was second; Universe (Global Campaign) was third. It's Our Time, a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' after airing by 17 3/4 lengths with a 94 Beyer Speed Figure on debut at the Spa Aug. 16, tired to finish a disappointing fourth. The final time was 1:34.57. Napoleon Solo becomes the seventh Grade I winner for Liam's Map. He is bred on the same Liam's Map x Scat Daddy cross as GI Blue Grass S. winner Burnham Square. Sales history: $40,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Owner: Gold Square LLC; Breeder: John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (KY); Trainer: Chad Summers. NAPOLEON SOLO dominates in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes under @JRosarioJockey for trainer @horsesummers, punching his ticket to the @BreedersCup Juvenile! pic.twitter.com/afe73Kw7Yn — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 4, 2025 The post ‘Napoleon’ Dynamite: Liam’s Map Colt Napoleon Solo Romps in Champagne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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