Wandering Eyes

On February 9, TDN published my Letter to the Editor criticizing The Jockey Club for its January 27 rebuttal of Mike Repole's sustained effort to hold the organization accountable for the most pressing issues facing Thoroughbred racing, breeding and aftercare. That statement alone was enough to make my blood curdle. The Jockey Club labeled Repole's concerns “unfair,” referred to itself as a body of “volunteers,” and again refused to accept responsibility for its own failures. Then came the February 13 “Industry Impact Report,” and what had curdled began to boil. Much of what the Stewards of The Jockey Club likely view as substantive is, upon inspection, a farce, detailing spending but offering little in the way of results or, contrary to its title–impact. It falls well short of what experienced stakeholders expect and fails to withstand even modest scrutiny. Worse still, the report exposes a fatal contradiction by acknowledging on the record that The Jockey Club's mission extends far beyond merely serving as a registry, a defense it has long used as a convenient shield. “The Jockey Club remains steadfast in its mission to improve Thoroughbred breeding and racing,” said President and COO James L. Gagliano. “Each year we continue to expand on that mission by assisting Thoroughbreds throughout their lives and marketing and growing the sport and its fan base.” There it is. The mission expands annually. Any argument that The Jockey Club is merely a registry, and that the issues it has been challenged on fall outside its scope, is nullified by its own leadership. This is precisely why the original use of the words “unfair” and “volunteers” was so offensive. Rather than embracing the responsibility that comes with being the most qualified organization to serve as a de facto governing body, The Jockey Club once again passed the buck. Just weeks later, its president contradicts that stance. As owners and breeders, required to register our horses with the Jockey Club in order to race and breed, it is our duty to hold the organization to its own words. For the Club's members and Stewards, that responsibility is even greater. If the January 27 rebuttal was a swing and a miss, the Industry Impact Report was a complete whiff. Let's just look at these supposed acts of transparency through the lens of dedication to Thoroughbred aftercare. Some uncomfortable truths emerged, all drawn from The Jockey Club's own reporting. First, The Jockey Club spends more on executive compensation than it directs to Thoroughbred aftercare. Using the Club's own figures, executive compensation in 2024 was roughly 60 percent higher than the amount directed to aftercare in 2025. Second, in 2025 it spent almost 30 percent more on America's Best Racing content creation and media than it contributes to aftercare. Third, the touted increase in aftercare funding for 2026 is, arguably, substantially subsidized by higher registration fees paid by owners and breeders, which they never announced publicly until pressed by the media to explain it. This is confounding. Even if these funds are used entirely for aftercare, the Jockey Club does a deplorable job selling it. And if they can't even market their own efforts believably amongst stakeholders, how can they be entrusted to market our sport? The here-to-fore “silent majority” should be outraged, and more should speak out. Accountability and meaningful reform are no longer optional. While The Jockey Club attempts to characterize its impact as improvement, every major metric in this industry is shrinking. A quiet “trust us” or “we got this” is not only insufficient, it's not even believable. To compound matters, while Repole has been criticized for keeping much of his playbook private, the one developed plan he did present to The Jockey Club included comprehensive findings on aftercare with a sustainable, industry wide funding structure. It was ignored. If the Jockey Club isn't open to critical fixes to aftercare – a topic which should be universally supported – it's impossible to expect them to lead on other substantive areas of our business. I was angry after the January 27 rebuttal, yet I deliberately tried to keep the focus on Repole's message rather than the messenger. Personalities are irrelevant. Principles are not. Before reform can begin, stakeholders must acknowledge that this industry is drowning. Despite ample resources, The Jockey Club is not offering a lifeline, it is standing by as the water rises. I did not believe it could get worse after January 27. The February 13 Industry Impact Report proved otherwise. How long do we need to read their past performances before we start believing them? The Jockey Club has had decades to right the ship and has given us no reason to believe it can or will. Once stakeholders in the industry recognize and accept this reality, then and only then can collaboration begin. Only then can the playbook open and the game be turned in our favor, for the good of the entire industry, not for a tone deaf few who still believe this is their club rather than one that belongs to everyone with a stake in this sport. Aron Wellman is the President & Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, LLC The post Letter to the Editor: Strike 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Sheppard CBE, former chief executive of both the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and the European Breeders' Fund (EBF), died on Friday evening at his home in Suffolk. He was 84. His tenure at the TBA ran from 1973 to 1989 and during that time Sheppard was instrumental in setting up the EBF along with the late Peter Willett and Bob McCreery. He remained at the helm of the EBF, which is still going strong more than 40 years later, until his retirement at the end of 2012. By that time the scheme, which is funded by stallion owners, had distributed more than €100 million in prize-money. That figure has now climbed to more than €140 million. A keen supporter of jump racing and point-to-pointing in particular, Sheppard's background was in the National Hunt sphere. His father Gay was clerk of the course at Newton Abbot, Exeter and Taunton. He and his wife Jane have both been avid supporters of the Thurlow Hunt, which meets just outside Newmarket. Despite having been diagnosed with cancer two and a half years ago, Sheppard was still a regular attendee of those meets until recently. Kerry Murphy, his successor as chief executive of the EBF since 2013, said, “Sam was instrumental in setting up the EBF back in 1983 whilst also heading up the TBA. It is testament to his hard work and determination that the EBF still thrives today and we are proud to pay tribute to his life and contribution to the racing industry which he was so passionate about.” Having also served as secretary of the International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation, Sheppard was made a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list of 2014 for services to horse breeding and the rural economy. It was a fitting honour to bestow upon someone who had devoted the majority of his working life to an industry that he adored and which was fortunate to have him in a role which often required his skilful blend of knowledge, tact and charm. Philip Freedman chaired the British EBF during Sheppard's time with the organisation and he too paid tribute to his drive in setting up the EBF. He said, “For a large part of its life Sam was the EBF. It's hard to imagine that it would have happened or flourished without him. He and Peter Willett were the people who got it off the ground and I know Sam had to be pretty determined to get through some of the opposition to it in the early days. “I think the role required a great deal of diplomacy – to get everyone involved in the first place and then throughout its life to ensure that it was seen as being a genuinely pan-European body. There were times when some of the other countries felt that he was too partisan in terms of supporting the BEBF, but that's not a fair criticism. He genuinely put the interests of the European Breeders' Fund ahead of any of its constituent members, which is what he quite rightly had to do.” Louise Kemble, who worked with Sheppard during her time as chief executive of the TBA, added, “Sam was always so helpful and had such knowledge of the industry, and of the people side. In his involvement in the setting up of the EBF and its link up with the Breeders' Cup he was probably ahead of his time with that line of thinking. He was a pioneer in projects that still stand the test of time today.” Speaking on behalf of the Irish EBF, chairman Joe Foley said, “Sam was a stalwart of the European Breeders' Fund. He deserves a lot of credit for guiding the fund though its initiation stages and was responsible for it becoming the powerful funding mechanism that it is now throughout Europe. “For a start he had to persuade stallion owners to contribute voluntarily to a fund to assist prize-money in their nations, and then he had to bring all those countries together under a pan-European banner and get them all to sign up to the memorandum of association for the fund. That was far reaching and far thinking 40 years ago, and the help that the EBF has given to the jurisdictions ever since is a testament to the people who set up the EBF, and obviously to its CEO who ran it for many years, Sam Sheppard.” In an interview with Owner Breeder magazine to mark his retirement in 2012, Sheppard was asked what it was that had made racing so attractive to him. He replied, “The thoroughbred horse, which is absolutely top of the pops as far as I am concerned. Very close to that are the people I have met and worked with over many years who devote so much of their time to the thoroughbred. “If you're a stockbroker you can go to work, beat the hell out of the market, go home and forget all about it. The people in racing are remarkable; they eat, drink and sleep the thoroughbred, particularly the breeders. All so enthusiastic; they keep the whole sport going and I admire them enormously.” So many people in the bloodstock industry who were fortunate enough to have known Sam Sheppard would say the same about him. He is survived by Jane and their sons Ed and Ben, to whom we extend our sincere condolences. The post EBF Founder Sam Sheppard Dies at 84 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This column is not really supposed to start until the Flat turf season gets underway but we saw the sunshine in Newmarket on Monday morning for pretty much the first time this year so we're jumping the gun a little. After all, there was plenty of top-class Flat action on offer over the weekend in the Middle East and beyond, and following some frenetic race reporting on the spot in Riyadh, here are a few thoughts and breeding angles with the benefit of some time for reflection. Deep influence With Auguste Rodin to come, and Study Of Man and Saxon Warrior already up and running in Europe, it will be interesting to see if one of these sons of Deep Impact will have a lasting influence in this part of the world. (Martinborough, though being marketed more for the National Hunt sector, is also worth having a look at if you're passing Capital Stud in Ireland.) Certainly, Deep Impact's influence was very much felt in some smart races on Saturday and we'll start first with Deep Monster as he has the closest link, being an eight-year-old son of the late stallion. The father-son connection doesn't end there as Deep Monster is trained by Yasutoshi Ikee, the son of Deep Impact's trainer Yasuo Ikee. Deep Monster took the notable scalps of Group 1 winners Goliath (Adlerflug) and Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) when rattling home to win the G2 HH The Amir Trophy in Doha, having also won last year's G2 Kyoto Daishoten. He's out of the dual Grade III-winning Bellamy Road mare Sisterly Love. The headline result of the weekend was of course Forever Young's second victory in the G1 Saudi Cup and his third in Riyadh having also won the G3 Saudi Derby in 2024. His owner Susumu Fujita flew in to Saudi Arabia for a few hours and even hinted at the post-race press conference that he may yet have a third stab at the Saudi Cup next year when this valuable stallion prospect will be six. Forever Young is by Real Steel, who, like his most celebrated son, was trained by Yoshito Yahagi and bred by Northern Farm. In fact, Saturday was a good day for stallion sons of Deep Impact, with Real Steel and Study Of Man both being represented by Group winners on the Saudi Cup card, while closer to home, Kizuna was responsible for Classic prospect Dream Core, who won the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup in Tokyo. Interestingly, all three of these Deep Impact stallions are out of mares by Storm Cat. Real Steel, a full-brother to Yahagi's 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Hong Kong Vase winner Loves Only You, is a son of Loves Only Me, who is out of Miesque's daughter Monevassia, a full-sister to Kingmambo. This makes him very closely related to Study Of Man, who has Miesque one generation closer in his pedigree, his dam being Kingmambo and Monevassia's half-sister Second Happiness. The Study Of Man five-year-old Sons And Lovers won Saturday's G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap for Joseph O'Brien and may be seen next in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup having shown that he stays well. Sons And Lovers was bred by Kirsten Rausing, who was understandably eager to stand the beautifully bred Study Of Man when he was retired by his breeders, the Niarchos family. Rausing rarely races colts but she retained Almeric, a Listed winner last year for the same sire who will be an interesting four-year-old to follow this season. What undoubtedly makes these results extra satisfying for the Lanwades owner, apart from advertising her stallion, is that Sons And Lovers and Almeric represent her two long-established families, with the former having Sushila (Petingo) as his fifth dam, while Alruccaba (Crystal Palace) is the fourth dam of Almeric. Kizuna has been the reigning champion sire in Japan for the last two years. His dam Catequil was bred by Windfields Farm and raced for Sheikh Mohammed without covering herself in glory but she has excelled at stud, producing two Japanese Classic winners in Kizuna and Phalaenopsis as well as Sunday Break, who was third in the GI Belmont Stakes. The latter was a useful stallion in France with his offspring including the G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Never On Sunday. Kizuna, who was also champion first-season sire, looks to have another Classic prospect to represent him this season in Dream Core. Already the winner of three of her four races for owner-breeder Katsumi Yoshida and trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara, she boasts a typically strong pedigree. Her dam is the Harbinger mare Normcore, who won the G1 Victoria Mile in Japan before her successful swansong in the G1 Hong Kong Cup. Normcore's dam Chronologist also produced Chrono Genesis (Bago), who won the Arima Kinen among her four Grade 1 victories in Japan. The Mighty Quinault We must also toast the twelfth win for Quinault, the one-time bad boy whose tearaway tendencies have been beautifully channelled by trainer Stuart Williams to make this six-year-old son of Oasis Dream into a consistent and classy sprinter. His latest victory came in the Dukhan Sprint Cup, a local Group 3 in Doha worth a not insignificant £168,888 to the winner. Bred by Gestut Fahrhof, Quinault was originally sold to Johnny Collins at the BBAG September Yearling Sale for €58,000. He was later picked up by owner Tom Morley for 25,000gns as a two-year-old at the Horses-in-Training Sale, having earlier that year cost 310,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up Sale. He now looks well bought indeed by Morley, with earnings north of £660,000, plus the G3 Criterion Stakes and three Listed victories to his credit. Wathnan Racing's Make Me King (Dark Angel) landed the Listed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup on Saturday, adding to a good day for the older geldings as he too is six and was winning for the seventh time. It was a pattern repeated in Saudi, where Shamardal eight-year-old Royal Champion took the G1 Howden Neom Turf Cup, and was backed up by the five-year-old winners Forever Young, Imagination, Reef Runner and Sons And Lovers (though Forever Young and Imagination are both entires). If the expansion of the racing programme across the Middle East means that we see more horses remaining in training to target these races then this can only be a positive factor for racing. Admittedly there are concerns over losing too many decent horses from these shores to overseas owners with deep pockets, but there are plenty of examples of horses remaining in training in Europe and travelling abroad to plunder some of the valuable prizes on offer. One only needs to see the improvement in Royal Champion in the last year for Karl Burke to agree that he has been a horse well worth persisting with as he now reaches the peak of his powers at eight. A multiple winner at multiple prices Michael Scofield (Tiz The Law), winner of the Listed Tuwaiq Cup on the Saudi Cup undercard, also won the unofficial award for having the most exotic sales history of any of the wekeend's runners. Twice offered as a yearling in America, in July then October, he was unsold initially at $170,000 then bought by Tom Whitehead at Fasig-Tipton for $60,000. Whitehead breezed him at Arqana in Deauville through his Powerstown Stud and he was again unsold at $90,000 before being offered at the Tattersalls Online Sale of January 2025 in which he was bought for 3,400gns by Niall Scully. Five months later, having won twice for Michael O'Callaghan in March, he fetched £350,000 at the Goffs London Sale, bought by Michael Donohoe to head to Saudi, where he now races for King Abdullah Bin Abdullaziz and his sons. Saturday marked his third victory in the kingdom for trainer Saad Aljenade, those wins including the King Naif Bin Abdulaziz Cup, a local Group 2. It was a good couple of days in Saudi for Donohoe of BBA Ireland as he had also bought for the same connections the Juddmonte-bred Gran Descans (Frankel), who won Friday's $500,000 Saudi International Handicap. Iffraaj still in the mix at 25 It is somehow easy to overlook Iffraaj but we shouldn't. After all, he gave the breeding world Wootton Bassett, and for that alone his name will linger on, but he does also have another 12 Group 1 winners to his name across both hemispheres. These include Ribchester, whose son Facteur Cheval posted another game effort when chasing home Royal Champion in the Neom Turf Cup to give trainer Jerome Reynier his second runner-up of the day in Saudi after Lazzat in the 1351 Turf Sprint. Better still was to see Iffraaj represented by a new group performer in the G3 Saudi Derby winner Al Haram. The colt was bred by Seamus Phelan, who sold him for £150,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale to owner Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, for whom he is now unbeaten in four starts. As a local winner, the Abdullah Alsidrani-trained Al Haram was given an electric reception when returning to the winner's enclosure, and the colt looks likely to head next to the UAE Derby in an attempt to earn more points towards the Kentucky Derby. Now 25, Iffraaj is about to embark on his twelfth covering season at Dalham Hall Stud, having stood for eight years prior to that in Ireland at Kildangan Stud. Wouldn't it be something for him to be represented by an Irish-bred, British-sold, Saudi Arabian-owned and -trained runner at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May? The post Seven Days: Do Not Adjust Your Sets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Treo Eile has announced a new partnership with Horse Sport Ireland for the upcoming breeding season, launching a pilot initiative designed to safeguard Thoroughbred mares by creating further opportunities beyond their racing and breeding careers. The Treo Eile Thoroughbred Broodmare Scheme is designed to provide an additional pathway for registered Thoroughbred broodmares, supporting their transition into sport horse breeding. Dr Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development at Horse Sport Ireland, said, “We are delighted to support Treo Eile's pilot scheme, which aims to encourage the use of quality Thoroughbred mares in sport horse breeding. “Thoroughbred mares have long been vital contributors to Ireland's foundation bloodlines within the Irish Sport Horse and Traditional Irish Horse populations. They have also played a key role in Ireland's success in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses rankings and at the highest levels of international sport under FEI.” More information about the Treo Eile Thoroughbred Broodmare Scheme is available here. The post Treo Eile and Horse Sport Ireland Join Forces for New Pilot Scheme appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is embarking on a pre-market consultation (PMC), aimed at engaging international developers, investors and operators, in order to explore the next phase in the evolution of the Leopardstown Campus. This PMC follows a series of stakeholder briefings held in January, bringing together representatives from across the racing industry, local community, business and public sectors to share information, gather insight and begin an open dialogue on the future evolution of the Leopardstown Campus. According to HRI, the engagement phase of the Leopardstown Campus Masterplan revealed a “growing appetite from the market for a high-quality arena and a hotel at Leopardstown”. Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, added, “This pre-market consultation marks a significant step in realising the full potential of the Leopardstown Campus. We are engaging openly with leading international developers, investors and operators to understand how best to bring forward a transformative project in one of Dublin's most strategically located and high-profile destinations. “With its scale, connectivity, established international reputation and year-round event demand, Leopardstown presents a compelling opportunity for partners seeking to deliver a landmark arena and/or hospitality development within the heart of Dublin. Our objective at this stage is to listen, to test the depth of market interest and to ensure that any future procurement process is informed, ambitious and commercially robust.” Owned and operated by HRI, Leopardstown Racecourse hosts approximately 23 fixtures annually, including the Christmas Festival, Dublin Racing Festival and Irish Champions Festival. The racecourse is located 6 miles from Dublin city centre and benefits from strong transport connectivity, including LUAS access and proximity to the M50, as well as sitting adjacent to the Sandyford Business District. The Sandyford Business District is home to major multinational employers including Microsoft, Bank of America, ICON, Mastercard and Vodafone. Further details on the Leopardstown Campus Masterplan are available here. The post HRI Moves to Next Phase of Leopardstown Campus Masterplan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who went down in a spill in Sunday's ninth race at Gulfstream Park, has reported on X that he was not seriously injured. After being attended to on the course, Gutierrez was transported to the hospital with complaints of a sore hip. “Counting my blessings today,” Gutierrez wrote. “Yesterday was rough, but I walked away with no broken bones–just some bruises and a lot of soreness. I can't thank the Gulfstream Park medical staff enough for their professional and kind help. Thank you for everything you do!” Tyler Gaffalione also went down in the spill, but returned to the jockey's room without apparent need for medical attention. Gutierrez has ridden 18 winners at the meet from 105 starters. The post Gutierrez Survives Gulfstream Spill With No Broken Bones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Though Hawthorne maintenance crews took the first step Monday toward converting the racing surface so that it is suitable for Thoroughbred racing, Illinois horsemen remain skeptical that racing will proceed when the Thoroughbred meet is scheduled to open Mar. 29. Hawthorne officials had testified at a meeting of the Illinois Racing Board that work would begin Monday to change over the racetrack from a Standardbred surface to one that is conducive to Thoroughbred racing. But Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA) Executive Director Dave McCaffrey noted that the only work that was done Monday was to remove the pylons that are used for harness racing and to replace them with an inner rail. “They didn't actually start turning the track over,” McCaffrey said. “In typical Hawthorne fashion, they started working on the rail. That part of the transition doesn't require them to rent any equipment. They do that in-house. They did do it. But whether they'll actually rent the equipment to blade the track and change it from harness to Thoroughbred remains to be seen.” Still skeptical about Hawthorne's future, the ITHA sent an email to its members Monday morning with the headline: “Past Time for Tim Carey to Address ITHA Members About Hawthorne's Financial Condition and Plans; Commit to Racing at Hawthorne at Your Own Risk.” “Right now, we are telling people to come to Hawthorne at their own risk,” McCaffrey said. “That is the gist of the email. It was a pretty strongly worded email, telling our membership how we interpreted today's events so far. The summary of it is, despite the fact they are out there working on the track, we are dubious that the meet is going to start on time.” The ITHA wants to hear from Hawthorne President and General Manager Tim Carey, who did not show up at a recent meeting of the Illinois Racing Board to discuss the Hawthorne situation. During the harness meet, the IRB suspended Hawthorne's license to operate due to “financial integrity issues.” Several checks to harness horsemen reportedly bounced. That has left the Thoroughbred meet in limbo. Hawthorne has struggled financially due to its inability to open a casino, even though casino gaming was approved at the track in 2019. In the email, the ITHA expressed its frustrations with Carey and how he has shared little, if anything, that would shed light on the current situation. “It's way past time for Tim Carey to directly address ITHA members about Hawthorne's financial condition and plans,” the email read. “The ITHA requests that he schedule a time to speak with our membership as soon as possible. Trackman Greg Cardenas and his crew have started conversion of the main track back to our training and racing surface for the upcoming 2026 meet. This process usually takes a week, depending on weather. Warmer than normal temperatures are expected, which will help that process. But Hawthorne has yet to provide the ITHA with any assurance that it has the financial means to begin the meet on Sunday, Mar. 29, as scheduled, and sustain the meet through its scheduled completion on Sunday, Nov. 1. The email continued: “ITHA leaders want to be clear to our members: If you intend to stable and race at Hawthorne for the 2026 meet, once the track is ready for training, come at your own risk and with the knowledge that Hawthorne may be unable to start the meet and sustain it through its entirety. We await communication from Hawthorne that it will be able to prove it can conduct a 2026 meet and meet its financial obligations. Until we have that information in our possession, we will continue to advise our members to proceed with caution.” “They still claim that they are talking to people [who may partner on casino project],” McCaffrey said. “Another takeaway from our email is that we want Tim Carey to address us. He was a no-show at the racing board meeting, despite the fact he was a named witness on the agenda. Since then, he's been completely silent over the last two weeks. We get tidbits here and there from [Assistant General Manager] John Walsh and [Director of Racing] Jim Miller, but they don't seem to know much. Everything is very much murky. Everything is in a fog at the moment. That's extremely frustrating.” When asked to assess the chances of Hawthorne opening Mar. 29, McCaffrey labeled it a “50-50” proposition. The post Hawthorne Takes First Steps to Convert Racing Surface, But Horsemen Want Guarantees Meet Will Begin on Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Danox Co. Ltd's Danon Bourbon (Maxfield), a $450,000 Keeneland September yearling, began to chip away at that outlay when powering home to graduate by 10 lengths at first asking over a muddy main track at this venue last Oct. 26 and was a warm item to pick up where he left off making his 3-year-old debut in a first-level allowance over 1900 meters at Kyoto Racecourse on Feb. 15. Favored at 9-10 despite the absence and drawn one from the outside in a field of nine, the dark bay was asked for just a bit of gate speed to take up a forward position and settled well enough from a three-wide third down the back. Poised three deep on the turn, Danon Bourbon responded when set down passing the quarter pole and, despite failing to switch his leads until very late, put five lengths on third choice Allen Star (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), himself an eight-length winner in his career bow just eight days prior. Blue Heaven Farm acquired Wild Ridge for $220,000 in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at the 2016 Keeneland November sale and her four other winners includes Clubhouse (Speightstown), SP, $223,473. A daughter of MGSW & GISP Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat), Wild Ridge is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard and dual graded winner Cazadero (Street Sense); Dubyuhnell (Good Magic), winner of the 2022 GII Remsen Stakes; SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon); and GSP Almost Famous (Unbridled's Song). Danon Bourbon has a 2-year-old half-brother by Nyquist, a yearling half-sister by Mage and Wild Ridge is due to Timberlake for 2026. Danon Bourbon holds an entry for the 1900-meter G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Mar. 28, but would also be a candidate for the 1800-meter Fukuryu Stakes (allowance), the final and clinching race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby the same afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse. 4th-Kyoto, ¥15,620,000 ($101,858), Allowance, 3yo, 1900m, 2:00.9, ft. DANON BOURBON (c, 3, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit) Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $102,746. VIDEO (SC 8) O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe. 2026.02.15 京都4R ダノンバーボン&西村淳也騎手 1番人気で5馬身付けての大差勝ち 2勝目おめでとうございます꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡Maxfield%E7%94%A3%E9%A7%92?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maxfield産駒#池添学厩舎 pic.twitter.com/DmU5cxjZzP — しほ (@um_pt_sh) February 15, 2026 The post Maxfield Colt Danon Bourbon Dominates Kyoto Allowance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, Greg Tramontin of Greenwell Thoroughbreds purchased what was formerly known as Siena Farm outside of Paris, Kentucky and the breeder/stable owner has also continued to add to his broodmare band. At the recent Keeneland January Sale, Tramontin went to $2-million to acquire GISW Simply in Front (Summer Front) who will visit Into Mischief, and he also purchased for $550,000 Closing Statement (Blame) who is entered in Not This Time's book for this spring. Tramontin sat down with TDN to offer highlights from his 2026 matings plan. QUICKICK, 2022, McKinzie–Graeme Six, by Graeme Hall. Will be bred to Not This Time. Quickick was a filly who showed us early that she belonged at the top level, and she went on to prove that by running third the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and second in the GI Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland and won the Iowa Oaks, as well. She has class, professionalism and is gorgeous. Tom Amoss trained her and her talented mother, too. Her mother made a great broodmare herself and there are a lot of producing females up-close in the pedigree, so this family should continue to develop. She represents the type of mare we want for Greenwell Thoroughbreds–an athletic, attractive filly who earned her place in the broodmare band through performance. We're breeding Quickick to Not This Time this year for her first foal because he has firmly established himself as one of the elite sires in the country. His ability to produce brilliant, durable, competitive racehorses on any surface makes him a natural fit. Our goal for the farm is to produce top quality sales horses and racehorses and Not This Time does both exceptionally well. To get these younger fillies off to a strong start we are willing to invest in getting them to the best stallions out there. Runners are what improve the value of the mares, so while I'm excited to be a commercial breeder and seller. The real upside comes when they hit the racetrack as successful runners for their purchasers. That is my goal. ALYS BEACH, 2021, Omaha Beach–Pray For Leslie, by Bernardini. In foal to Cody's Wish. Will be bred to Not This Time. Alys Beach is from the first crop of Omaha Beach and was a filly who showed her ability early. She broke her maiden at Saratoga in her first start at 2, then followed that with a fourth-place finish in the GI Spinaway and a third in the GI Alcibiades. Greenwell silks at the Spa | Sarah Andrew After we purchased Alys, we liked the family enough to go back and buy her half-sister–the graded stakes-placed Spa Prospector (Authentic). The page has continued to improve since then, with their half-sister developing into the MGSW Praying (Vekoma), which has reinforced our confidence in the strength of the family. I sent Alys Beach to Flightline for her first foal and we're fortunate to get a filly we're very excited about–she's an excellent first foal and all class. Alys Beach is currently in foal to Cody's Wish, and this year we'll send her to Not This Time. I generally prefer to send younger mares to proven sires, but I'm comfortable taking the occasional shot with truly exceptional racehorses like Flightline and Cody's Wish. At this point, it makes sense to back those matings up with a stallion like Not This Time. Taylor Made, where he stands, have been great to work with too. IFURHAPPYNUKNOWIT, 2016, Bernardini–Mushka, by Empire Maker. In foal to Elite Power. Will be bred to Into Mischief. Ifurhappynuknowit is one of the mares I'm most excited about in the band. She's a beautiful Bernardini mare and a full-sister to Crowned, the dam of Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief). Both mares are out of Mushka, a Grade I winner herself and a member of the extended Lakeway (Seattle Slew) family, so this is a deep, high-quality pedigree that continues to prove itself at the very highest level. I bought this mare in foal to Elite Power, who I think is an exciting young sire son of Curlin with a chance to make it. For her next mating this year, I decided to really go for it and send her to Into Mischief in an effort to replicate the success that Sovereignty has enjoyed. Into Mischief is as good as it gets and there is clearly a strong affinity for him within this family. NIGHT ON THE TOWN, 2017, Street Sense–Fully Living, by Unbridled's Song. In foal to Life Is Good. Will be bred to Constitution. Night on the Town is a Street Sense mare from the extended family of champion 2-year-old filly & MGISW Halfbridled (Unbridled), and she's one I'm very high on. She's a big, beautiful mare with real presence, and that's carried through to her produce. Her 2024 foal, a filly by Good Magic, is a standout individual. She's currently in foal to Life Is Good, and this year we'll send her to Constitution. That's a cross that has already proven itself with a horse like Mindframe, and it's one that makes a great deal of sense to me on multiple levels. We talk a lot about crosses and patterns, and those matter, but physical compatibility is just as important in my mind. Night on the Town is a typical big, imposing Street Sense, and Constitution is a very good balance for her. Like Good Magic, he's a bit tidier, with excellent balance, strength and stretch to his body, while offering some refinement and elegance. For me, that combination gives this mare a chance to produce something special. The post 2026 Mating Plans: Greg Tramontin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty appeared on the worktab Feb. 15 for the first time since scratching from the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.View the full article

Mr Brightside might be missing from the autumn weight‑for‑age spotlight, but Lindsay Park could still have a serious player emerging, with trainer Ben Hayes confident Evaporate is ready to step up as soon as Saturday. “I haven’t spoken about him much, but he’s trailled up excellent and will be hopefully announcing himself this autumn,” Hayes said confidently. “What has let him down is his racing manners. He’s always been a headstrong horse and doing things wrong but still ran well. “When Jamie (Melham) rode him in his last jumpout (win at Werribee on February 6) he actually relaxed and he finished off and we have been really working on it in his trackwork. “Jamie was really happy with him, and I think she’s keen to ride him (in the Futurity).” Now an autumn four-year-old, Evaporate has long served his apprenticeship as an elite galloper. After finishing third in the 2024 Caulfield Guineas, he was thrown into the deep end in the Cox Plate two weeks later but he failed to adapt and did not beat a runner home. He reappeared last autumn for a handful of runs – including a second placing in The Kiwi in New Zealand – before returning last spring for a number of impressive efforts when second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, third in the Golden Eagle and then third in the G1 Orr Stakes. Evaporate may wind up as the main danger to the early favourite Treasurethe Moment in Saturday’s Futurity Stakes as the current second favourite Tom Kitten is not likely to run. The Lindsay Park stable also have claims of taking Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) with Oak Hill. “He’s going really well,” Hayes said. “Again, he’s a horse that was doing a lot wrong. He was an aggressive horse, and we saw last start he relaxed and he ran well so if he does that in an Oakleigh Plate, he’ll run very well.” View the full article

Opawa Jack (NZ) (War Decree) prevailed in a battle of attrition in Sunday’s K9 Petfoods Ltd Wairoa Cup (2100m), carrying his 60kg impost to victory on rain-affected footing in the Waipukurau feature. The Chrissy Bambry-trained gelding jumped away well and settled outside pacemaker Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed) for jockey Kate Hercock before getting some brief cover when Vickezzmargaux (NZ) (Eminent) came around to challenge for the lead. The John Bary-trained mare eventually wrestled it off Just Charlie at the 600m mark and Opawa Jack ranged up alongside the Hastings mare, with the pair working their way towards the better part of the track when turning into the home straight. Just Charlie and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hopeful Tulsa King (NZ) (Staphanos) took the shorter way home, but the outside pair rallied again late, with Opawa Jack just getting the better of Vickezzmargaux to win by a head. Dropping back from stakes company in his last four outings, Bambry was confident of a bold showing from Opawa Jack, however, she did share concerns about his topweight on the rain-affected surface. “It was a great win, he is a pretty good horse,” she said. “I didn’t think he would probably handle the wet track but it was a summer heavy and Kate got out to the better part of the track, so he was able to cop it. “He deserved to have 60 kilos, it was just when the wet track came I was a bit worried that he had that much weight.” Bambry had initially planned to trek north from her Foxton base to contest the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata a day prior, but the wet weather forecast forced her to change tack, and while she was met with similar weather, her decision to target the Hawke’s Bay meeting was vindicated. “I had thought about going to the Kaimai Stakes with him but saw it was going to be wet up there, so I swapped to the Wairoa Cup, which ended up being the right move,” she said. A return to stakes company is now on the cards for the son of War Decree, with Bambry eyeing next month’s Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham as his next major assignment. “That will be his main target and he might run in a couple of weeks to keep him up to the mark,” Bambry said. Bambry is also upbeat about the prospects of stablemate Southern Chilli (Al Maher), who pleased with her second-up runner-up performance in the Equestrian Athletes Handicap (1200m) at Waipukurau. It was just her second start for the stable, and first in 18 months after previously racing in Australia where she won four races for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. “I think she will be an exciting mare going forward,” Bambry said. “She was given time off with a few little niggles and she got a bit of an extended break. Good friends of ours bred her and they decided to bring her back and we have put a little syndicate into her. “I think she is going to be a pretty exciting mare when she gets that race fitness under her belt. It is a long time to have off so she just has to get that race fitness back into her.” Southern Chilli came through the race well, giving Bambry the confidence to back her up at Otaki on Saturday. “She licked her bowl clean and has bounced through the run,” Bambry said. “She will probably head to Otaki on Saturday. There is an Open 1200m for her with the rain still about. “I don’t think she is a real Heavy tracker, so it was probably getting a bit too wet for her yesterday, but a bit of this wind might dry it up and Otaki might not be as bad.” View the full article

Waipukurau trainer Simon Wilson enjoyed the rare luxury of racing on his home track on Sunday, and while the weather didn’t play its part, his racing team did, recording a winning double at the meeting. With remedial work taking place at both Hastings and Awapuni, Waipukurau has enjoyed a return to the racing calendar recently, with their November meeting well patronised by locals, with many returning to brave the wet weather in support of Sunday’s eight-race card. “The weather didn’t play its part yesterday, but it was well supported,” Wilson said. “There were a lot of people who came down from Wairoa, as it was a Wairoa meeting, and the locals were out in force to support it too.” Wilson is rapt to be back racing at his home track, which he said is great for the local community. “It’s fantastic,” he said. “It is great for the racing club and community to be back racing there. We have had amazing support from far and wide, and the trainers are supporting us, which is great, bringing horses to jump-outs and supporting the racedays. Long me it last. “We are positive that things are going in the right direction. We have got a great committee that are passionate about racing and the community, which is what it is all about.” Wilson lined up his entire race team of two on Sunday and was pleased to get a 100 percent strike-rate, with debutant Concorde (NZ) (Contributer) taking out the ICIB Brokerweb Three-Year-Old Maiden (1200m), while Plain Sailing (NZ) (Ocean Park) broke through for his maiden win in the Davmet Maiden (1400m), both in the hands of local hoop Kate Hercock. “Concorde has got a lot of speed and I was happy that she relaxed and finished off the race nicely, aided by a good ride from Kate Hercock,” Wilson said. “She was working well and being her local track, she does all of her work there, so it was an obvious choice to go there rather than travel somewhere else first-up. “Plain Sailing is a four-year-old now and is a weaker type who has taken a little bit of time to strengthen up. We added the blinkers yesterday, which was an assist.” Wilson said both horses have come through their runs well and he is now looking for their next assignments, with their return to race at Waipukurau’s next meeting on April 26 high on the agenda. View the full article

With the Kentucky Derby (G1) 11 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of "All Other 3-Year-olds" closed as the 9-2 favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.View the full article

In a thrilling stretch run, Reddam Racing homebred Pavlovian nailed Express Kid on the wire for a nose victory in the $500,000 Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park Feb. 15.View the full article

Bottle of Rouge solidified her status among the top 3-year-old fillies with a tenacious victory in the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks Feb. 15. View the full article

With the Kentucky Derby (G1) 11 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of "All Other 3-Year-olds" closed as the 9-2 favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.View the full article

With 11 weeks left to the GI Kentucky Derby, 'All Others' maintains a firm grip on favoritism in the future pool wagering as Paladin (Gun Runner) scooped up second-choice honors at 9-1 odds at the conclusion of Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). The Gun Runner colt rose to the top of the named heap after a game victory in last Saturday's GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. The odds shifted on several contenders and the betting public displayed interest in a number of rising sophomores, including GIII Holy Bull Stakes victor Nearly (Not This Time), third in the wagering at 10-1, and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Canaletto (Into Mischief), whose dazzling debut made him the 15-1 fourth choice in this round of wagers. From prior Derby preps, Sam F. Davis winner Renegade (Into Mischief) pulled 16-1 and Silent Tactic (Tacitus), winner of the GIII Southwest Stakes, enjoyed 19-1 odds. Total handle for the Feb. 13-15 KDFW pool–the fourth of six scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 2–was $420,519 ($330,926 in the Win pool and $89,593 in Exactas). It was a 1.9% increase from last year's $412,766 ($319,881 in the Win pool and $92,885 in Exactas). Through the first four pools, a total of $1,277,506 has been bet on Derby future wagers, a 1.9% jump from last year's $1,253,931. Other Future Wager dates are set for Mar. 13-15 (Pool 5) and Apr. 2-4 (Pool 6). Pool 5 also will include the Longines Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. Horses Listed in order of the public's betting choice (with trainer, sire, Pool 4 odds, and $2 Win Will Pays): All Other 3-Year-Olds (9-2, $11.30) Paladin (Chad Brown, Gun Runner, 9-1, $20.80) Nearly (Todd Pletcher, Not This Time, 10-1, $22.76) Canaletto (Chad Brown, Into Mischief, 15-1, $32.86) Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Into Mischief, 16-1, $35.08) Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Tacitus, 19-1, $40.02) Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, Constitution, 21-1, $45.98) Commandment (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, 23-1, $49.18) Further Ado (Brad Cox, Gun Runner, 24-1, $50.74) Brant (Bob Baffert, Gun Runner, 26-1, $55.72) Plutarch (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 27-1, $56.64) Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, Liam's Map, 30-1, $62.10) Blackout Time (Kenny McPeek, Not This Time, 32-1, $66.16) Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Curlin, 32-1, $67.20) Boyd (Bob Baffert, Violence, 34-1, $71.54) Englishman (Cherie DeVaux, Maxfield, 37-1, $77.14) Litmus Test (Bob Baffert, Nyquist, 38-1, $78.38) Talk to Me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez, Modernist, 42-1, $86.34) Emerging Market (Chad Brown, Candy Ride-ARG, 42-1, $87.78) Potente (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 44-1, $90.34) Jackson Hole (Todd Pletcher, Nyquist, 45-1, $93.68) So Happy (Mark Glatt, Runhappy, 53-1, $108.90) Courting (Todd Pletcher, Curlin, 54-1, $110.58) Bravaro (Saffie Joseph Jr., Upstart, 60-1, $123.42) Secured Freedom (Tim Yakteen, Practical Joke, 61-1, $124.36) Ewing (Mark Casse, Knicks Go, 62-1, $127.90) Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen, Connect, 65-1, $133.20) Powershift (Todd Pletcher, Constitution, 69-1, $141.66) Six Speed (Bhupat Seemar, Not This Time, 73-1, $148.80) Class President (Todd Pletcher, Uncle Mo, 75-1, $152.48) Pyromancer (Jpn) (Kenji Yoshimura, Pyro, 77-1, $157.70) Intrepido (Jeff Mullins, Maximus Mischief, 82-1, $167.76) Solitude Dude (Saffie Joseph Jr., Yaupon, 83-1, $168.66) Iron Honor (Chad Brown, Nyquist, 122-1, $247.62) The Puma (Gustavo Delgado, Essential Quality, 123-1, $248.12) Soldier N Diplomat (Steve Asmussen, Army Mule, 129-1, $260.84) My World (Brad Cox, Essential Quality, 207-1, $416.26) Carson Street (Brendan Walsh, Street Sense, 307-1, $616.26) Mesquite (Cherie DeVaux, Union Rags, Wagering Suspended) Thunderously (Bill Mott, Gun Runner, Wagering Suspended) The post ‘All Others’ Remains Favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Pool, Paladin 8-1 After Pool Four Conclusion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The lion's share of the wagering money fell squarely on Express Kid (Bodexpress), the last-out Springboard Mile winner at Remington and subsequent $800,000 Fasig-Tipton Digital January purchase. However, it was the Reddam Racing homebred Pavlovian (Pavel) who put his head down at precisely the right moment to give trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill his third victory in the 8 1/2-furlong Kentucky Derby points earning race. With the victory, the California-bred colt earned 20 points toward the first Saturday in May, while Express Kid garnered10 points for his second-place effort. Sent screaming to the front right by Justin Evans, even-money choice Express Kid set the tempo, leading 5-1 chance Pavlovian, who was getting blinkers on for the first time, and Bricklin (Nyquist) through opening fractions of :22.07 and :46.40. With the positions of the front-running trio remaining up to the home turn, the favorite continued to fight and inched clear momentarily, however, Pavlovian wasn't about to give up and fought back late, getting up just in time to get a nostril down on the wire. The top two finishers both have 20 points in the run-up to the Kentucky Derby. Pavlovian graduated at second asking in a 5-furlong state-bred test at Santa Anita last June before finishing runner-up behind Desert Gate in the GIII Best Pal Sakes at Del Mar. Off-the-board in the I'm Smokin Stakes against Cal-breds in September, the grey was an improved second when returning to optional claiming company at Santa Anita in October. After losing his rider in Del Mar's Gold State Juvenile on Halloween, the colt came home fourth while stretching to a mile for the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14. In his latest trip to post, the colt closed to be third in the 8 1/2-furlong Cal Cup Derby at Santa Anita on Jan. 17. Pavlovian is a son of Pavel, raced by Paul Reddam and also trained by O'Neill, out of Mandy's Grace, a daughter of MGSW Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat) who was also campaigned by the winning combo. The post Reddam Racing’s Pavlovian Gets the Nod in the Sunland Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After his mount fell at the eighth pole in the ninth race at Gulfstream Park Sunday, jockey Mario Gutierrez was taken to Aventura Hospital for further evaluation, the track announced via press release. Aboard Souper Dormy (Into Mischief) for the turf-mile claimer, Gutierrez was thrown from his mount when the gelding went wrong at the eighth pole after taking the lead. Unable to avoid the stricken horse, Lights of Broadway (City of Light) fell over him and threw Tyler Gaffalione to the course. According to the chart notes, the latter runner got to his feet and was walked off, but the former could not be saved, and was euthanized. After being attended to on the course, Gutierrez was transported to the hospital with complaints of a sore hip and Gaffalione returned to the jockey's room without apparent need for medical attention. The post Mario Gutierrez Taken to Hospital for Further Evaluation After Fall at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A long and successful Waikato breeding partnership was to the fore again at Matamata on Saturday where My Lips Are Sealed doubled her stakes tally. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained mare made all the running in the hands of Rory Hutchings for a comfortable resuming victory in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m). My Lips Are Sealed was bred by Rich Hill Stud, who stand her sire Ace High, and Scott Williams’ Bloodstock Resources, and was sold through the former’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale to Te Akau’s David Ellis for $160,000. “She was the highest priced yearling at Karaka from Ace High’s first crop,” Rich Hill’s John Thompson said. She has now won on five occasions, including last season’s Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) ahead of a third placing in the 2025 Lisa Chittick. Rich Hill and Williams joined forces in 1998 to purchase My Lips Are Sealed’s dam What Can I Say in a private deal. The daughter of Khozaam was secured after producing two foals in Australia, including four-time Group winner and multiple Group One placegetter Only Words. “We bought the mare a long time ago, Bob Vance trained her and she was a great wet tracker,” Thompson said. “She went to Sydney one year and won the Warwick Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) with Tie The Knot and Might And Power in the field.” What Can I Say was in foal to Rock Of Gibraltar at the time of her purchase and the resulting filly Gibraltar Campion was sold at Karaka for $500,000 and subsequently won two stakes races. “We also sold a Zabeel filly out of What Can I Say for $500,000 at Sydney Easter and then she had six colts in a row,” Thompson said. Her final foal by Tavistock was My Lips Are Sealed’s dam Tellmeaboutit, who was retained and wasn’t persevered with as a racing proposition after jarring up. Tellmeaboutit’s daughter of Satono Aladdin was passed in at Karaka last month and will be raced by Rich Hill and Williams. “She’s got another really nice Satono Aladdin filly at foot and is back in foal to Ace High,” Thompson said. Williams also bred from Tellmeaboutit’s half-sister You Can’t Say That, a daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus. She produced his outstanding Group-winning sprinter Babylon Berlin, who was sold at the end of her decorated racing career for A$850,000 at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale. “Sean Buckley (Ultra Thoroughbreds) bought her and she’s here on the farm and in foal to Satono Aladdin,” Thompson said. View the full article

Jill Baffert's Bottle of Rouge (f, 3, Vino Rosso–Blues Corner, by Bluegrass Cat), the 2-5 favorite, survived a steward's inquiry to secure 20 qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Oaks with her victory in the Sunland Park Oaks Sunday evening in New Mexico. Winner of last year's GI Del Mar Debutante, Bouttle of Rouge was making her first start since finishing sixth in the Oct. 31 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The gray filly stalked the pace three wide through fractions of :23.85 and :46.80 and moved up to take the lead into the stretch. She drifted out at the eighth pole and looked to brush with Pashmina (Constitution) before being straightened out by Juan Hernandez and pulling away to the wire. Touch of Magic (Into Mischief) was second and Pashmina third. The time for the mile was 1:35.82. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0. O-J Natalie Baffert. B-Kathie Maybee. T-Bob Baffert. The post Vino Rosso’s Bottle of Rouge Takes Down Sunland Park Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Baeza and San Pasqual Stakes (G2) winner Westwood each worked for trainer Peter Eurton Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park. Both owned by C R K Stable, the pair were transferred to Eurton following the Feb. 12 death of John Shirreffs.View the full article

Grade I winner Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) continued preparations for his next Kentucky Derby qualifier with a strong work at Palm Meadows last Friday, but the question remains as to which race the grey will be pointed for at the end of the month. Cruising through five panels in 1:01.45, marking it the fastest work of five at the distance, the colt worked in company with Saffie Joseph Jr. trained Ruleroftheuniverse (Sharp Azteca). The latter posted 1:02.15 for the trip. “I couldn't be happier with how he's coming along,” trainer Chad Summers said of owner Gold Square's GI Champagne hero. “When we decided not to go to the Breeders' Cup and put this plan together, you need everything to go perfect–so far, everything is on track. He's scheduled to run on February 28, and he'll make one more start after that.” The races in contention are both 50-point Derby preps–the GIII Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct or Gulfstream Park's GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. Napoleon Solo claims 10 points already with his victory in Saratoga last October. Summers says there's a lot to consider before they pull the trigger on a final target. “Both the Gotham and Fountain of Youth are on the radar. We'll keep an eye on the weather in New York. The Gotham makes sense as he's had success over the track, it's a one-turn mile and possibly easier competition off the freshening, but it's also a 26-hour van ride.” Summers continued, “He's flourishing at Palm Meadows. He loves his round pen before he trains, it takes a little bit of the steam out of him before he goes to the track because he's not an easy actor [out there].” “Do I take him out of his rhythm? I don't know. If you run in the Fountain of Youth, all the options remain on the table for the next race. If you run in the Gotham, you miss a few days shipping out there and those March 28 races [GI Arkansas Derby and GI Florida Derby] go away and you're looking at the April 4 races [GI Blue Grass and GII Wood Memorial]. It's something [owner] Al [Gold] and I go back and forth on about seven times a day. Hopefully, we'll make a decision here in the next few days.” The post Napoleon Solo Continues Preparations, Next Target Still a Question Mark appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

My Fortune (Appel Au Maitre) was crowned Denmark's Horse of the Year at Saturday's Hestesportens Galla in Aarhus as Stutteri Hjortebo dominated proceedings. The Jutland stud, which was named Breeder of the Year, bred all three of the gala's equine winners, namely Two-Year-Old of the Year Cosmopolitan (Make Believe), Three-Year-Old of the Year No Surrender (Giant Sandman) and the aforementioned My Fortune, who also took the title for Older Horse of the Year. Elsewhere, Bent Olsen, who trains No Surrender, was named Trainer of the Year, while Nicolaj Stott saw off Oliver Wilson to be crowned Jockey of the Year. The full list of winners is as follows: Horse of the Year: My Fortune (by Appel Au Maitre) Two-Year-Old of the Year: Cosmopolitan (Make Believe) Three-Year-Old of the Year: No Surrender (Giant Sandman) Older Horse of the Year: My Fortune (Appel Au Maitre) Breeder of the Year: Stutteri Hjortebo Trainer of the Year: Bent Olsen Amateur Trainer of the Year: Sarah Langholm Hornstrup Jockey of the Year: Nicolaj Stot Amateur and Apprentice Jockey of the Year: Evelina Rönnlund 'Comet' of the Year: Stine Schäfing Stable Staff Worker of the Year: Lise Vest The post My Fortune Crowned Denmark’s Horse of the Year at Hestesportens Galla appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article