Wandering Eyes

Ruakaka stayer Bosch (NZ) (Pentire) added a fifth win to his imposing course record with a tough front-running performance in Saturday’s Northbeam Strong Stuff (2100m). The Pentire gelding has now recorded five wins from a 30-start career, with all of those five successes coming from 15 appearances on his home track. Saturday’s win took his career earnings past $174,000. Bosch was sent out as a $3.60 favourite on Saturday, having run a gallant last-start second in the $60,000 ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup Stayers’ Final over the same course and distance on June 28. The six-year-old was ridden by Vinnie Colgan and ended up as the leader almost by default, with none of his eight rivals showing any interest in going forward. Colgan was able to give his mount a breather with some easy sectionals down the back straight. Awhina’s (NZ) (Derryn) jockey Jasmine Fawcett decided to throw down the gauntlet coming down the side of the track, spearing forward out wide and clearly taking the lead before the home turn. But Bosch rose to the challenge and found plenty more as he entered the straight. He soon shook free of Awhina and pulled away. Fly My Wey (NZ) (Sweynesse) came through in the favourite’s slipstream and produced a strong late finish to eat into the margin, but Bosch held him out by a long neck. The third-placed I’m Lulu (NZ) ( Belardo) crossed the line another two and a half lengths behind the first two, with Awhina a length and a quarter away in fourth. “That was very satisfying,” said local trainer Michelle Bradley, who also won the Northland Business Systems (1200m) with Iridescent earlier in the afternoon. “He had a very, very soft lead. I was a little bit worried that something would come up, and then I saw Awhina come up and I thought, ‘Oh, Vinnie, keep going.’ “But it was a great win and it’s great to see him back in the winners’ circle. Vinnie’s a top jockey with so much experience. It’s a pleasure to have him on and get the result today. I’m extremely pleased.” Success away from home is the only thing missing from Bosch’s CV, and Bradley is keen to change that later in this preparation. “I’ll have a meeting with the owners either next week or the week after and we’ll have a chat about where we go next,” she said. “We’ve got Ellerslie coming back up in the spring. He’s had two runs at Ellerslie this prep and was carrying big weights. I’d have no hesitation in taking him back there. I do still think he’s going to be competitive there at a nice weight. “We’ll just weigh up our options. To win a Cup with him would be amazing. It’s just about getting him there mentally and getting there the right way.” View the full article

Apprentice Gareth Lahoud made good use of his 4kg claim as he guided Reptak (NZ) (Shocking) to an all-the-way victory in the Northpine Making It Tanalised (1200m) rating 75 contest at Ruakaka on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared five-year-old had kicked off his latest campaign with a win at Ellerslie over 1200m back in April and in two subsequent runs had not been disgraced despite not featuring in the placings. Drawn ideally in barrier two Reptak made a swift beginning with Lahoud not afraid to keep his race rivals at bay in the early stages as he claimed pacemaking duties on the son of Shocking and set up a solid speed in front. Turning for home it was evident Reptak was travelling sweetly as he put a two length break on the chasing pack and despite race favourite Judicial (Written Tycoon) mounting a strong finish from midfield, Reptak had plenty in hand as he went to the line nearly two lengths to the good of the favourite with local runner Dancing Dream (NZ) (Contributer) sticking on well for third. O’Sullivan was taking in all the action from his Matamata home and liked what he saw from both the horse and rider. “It was a good positive ride by Gareth as we told him to go forward and lead and make the best use of his claim which worked out nicely,” O’Sullivan said. “We like to give the apprentices their chance on our horses in the winter as we are firm believers in their claim giving a horse a big advantage over the higher-weighted runners. “This fellow (Repak) has always shown plenty on the training track at home but hasn’t always put that out on raceday. “He is learning all the time and has matured well which is starting to show in his performances. “I have no doubt he can get through to open class and with his liking for some cut in the tracks he will be well suited over the next few months.” Bred by the late Colin Devine and raced by his wife Jill, Reptak is out of the Carnegie mare Marley Magic (NZ) and comes from an extended family that includes three-time Australian Group One winner Desirable (NZ). The victory added to a stellar season for the O’Sullivan and Scott partnership, who sit third on the National Trainers’ premiership ladder with 82 wins and more than $4.395million in prizemoney earned. View the full article

Talented two-year-old Yokozuna (Fierce Impact) turned Saturday’s Promote Waipu 2YO (1200m) into a winning Ruakaka homecoming for former local trainer Donna Logan. Logan was based at the Northland track from 1985 until 2018, when she relocated to Singapore. She returned to New Zealand following last year’s closure of racing in Singapore and now bases herself at Byerley Park in South Auckland, but still jumps at every opportunity to return to her old stomping ground on the shores of Bream Bay. “It’s so good to be back up here at Ruakaka, and a win like that makes it even better,” Logan said after Saturday’s win, which was her 103rd career success at Ruakaka. “That was a really nice win by Yokozuna today, I think he’s got the makings of a good horse.” Saturday’s $35,000 race marked the first raceday appearance for Yokozuna, who had finished second in a trial over 1100m at Ellerslie on June 9. He was ridden by Vinnie Colgan and jumped only fairly from gate two, but quickly recovered and took up a handy position in fourth by the end of the back straight. Many of his rivals showed signs of greenness, most notably the front-running Rotten Tommy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who ran off at the home turn. But Yokozuna balanced up at the top of the home straight and lengthened stride stylishly. He bounded to the front at the 200m mark and strode clear to win by a length and a half from the strong-finishing favourite Moretothinkabout. Yokozuna’s performance made a favourable impression on Colgan. “He’s a lovely-looking horse,” he said. “Everything went his way and he gave me a very good feel in the straight. “He didn’t get away that cleanly, but he got into gear well after two or three strides and felt very nice from there. He’s still a bit raw and green, but he’s a nice horse who should develop into a good three-year-old.” Logan suggested that Yokozuna could be in line for a return to Ruakaka in the coming weeks. The August 2 meeting features an 1100m three-year-old race worth $35,000, while the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) will be run for a $100,000 stake two weeks later. “The phone’s ringing already with people interested in buying him, which isn’t surprising after a performance like that,” Logan said. “We’ll wait and see what we do with him from here, but he’s shown that he likes the track here, so we might be bringing him back to Ruakaka.” Yokozuna is by Fierce Impact out of the winning Flying Spur mare Misstiflying. Offered by Hallmark Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, he was bought by Logan Racing for $40,000. Yokozuna races in the colours of part-owners Social Racing, whose manager Brent Cooper has a long-running association with Logan. “Donna and I go back 30 years,” Cooper said. “She’s a special person and has been a great friend. It’s so good to get back involved with her stable again now that she’s back in New Zealand, and I’m super excited that we’ve got a talented horse like this. This horse has obviously come on in leaps and bounds from his trial.” The Logan connections continued in the second and third races on Saturday’s card. Logan’s daughter Samantha trained the Mountfield Quarry (1600m) winner Ascension, while former staff member Michelle Bradley won the Northland Business Systems (1200m) with Iridescent. View the full article

Popular Foxton trainer Gail Temperton will take a two pronged attack to the races at Woodville on Sunday with promising hurdler Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking) set to contest one of the feature races on the card, the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3000m). The six-year-old son of Shocking is in the early stages of his life as a jumper having won four races on the flat plus another over hurdles. A gritty effort for fifth in the Waikato Hurdles (3200m) a month ago has Temperton cautiously optimistic about his chances against a stellar line-up on Sunday. “He stuck on very well at Te Rapa after having a bit of a life at the very first fence that day so I’m hoping it is a sign he will eventually measure up in this type of field,” Temperton said. “I’m never nervous about him getting over a fence as he has that ability to do it his way and make it to the other side. We have trained him that way from day one which is a little different to most but it is very effective for him. “He won’t mind a testing track as he has been in work a long time with only a four week break in late January so fitness won’t be an issue even though he hasn’t run since Te Rapa last month. “Emily Farr is going to ride him which is just great as we have had a very long association over the years and she tells me she has a picture of when she rode Just Ishi for me back in 2017 on a wall at her home in Wales. “She is a tough little critter and so is the horse so they are a match made in heaven.” Temperton admits that six-start maiden Name The Game is a different kettle of fish to Never Look Back despite his granddam being Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) winner Coogee Walk. The full brother of handy galloper Nom Du Beel will tackle the Cody Singer Memorial (4000m) maiden steeplechase with Temperton hoping an impressive effort at the Cambridge jumping trials last Monday will stand him in good stead. “Name The Game isn’t much of a flat galloper but from what he has shown us in his only hurdle run and his schooling lately he could make a nice chaser for us,” she said. “He is brilliantly bred being out of a Zabeel mare who is a daughter of Coogee Walk but unfortunately he hasn’t really inherited that flat ability. “Stephen Nickalls took him to the jumping trials at Cambridge earlier this week where Hamish McNeil rode him and he said he jumped superbly. “That is similar feedback to what I’ve had from other riders so I’m hoping he can bring that to raceday. “I’m thrilled to have Ellie Callwood on him as she is a super rider and a lovely girl who has been on him at several jumps days and knows him well now. “I’m hoping he puts his best foot forward and if he does he would be a top three prospect.” It isn’t all good news for the Temperton team however as promising galloper Procul Boy, who has won three of his four starts, badly injured a foot when having a week away from the stable recently and faces a period of rest and recuperation before getting back to the track. Temperton had entertained thoughts of taking the son of Proisir to Riccarton for racing during the Grand National Carnival in early August but will now have to revisit any future plans for him. View the full article

By Michael Guerin John Dunn thinks his team have the ideal horse for a new series of mares races set for the second half of the season in Canterbury. Dunn suggests there will be a series of six mares races, usually run at two week intervals, in the region starting late August. “We have been told there will be six races, three of them worth $60,000 and going through until mid November,” says Dunn. “I think it is a great idea because it is important to give these good mares races they can target and keep them in the country.” It also helps that Diamond Racing, officially made up of Dunn’s dad Robert and John’s wife Jenna training, have the perfect mare for the new races in Always B You. She beat some tough, older rivals at Addington on Friday night as the improvement curve continued. “She just keeps getting better and better,” says Dunn. “So this series will be perfect for her and great for heaps of other mares around here. “And after that she can head back to Auckland for a race like the Queen Of Hearts to give her her Group 1 shot as she races well right-handed.” Dunn says the stable is on the improve after a slow start to the season but he says their defence of their training premiership title is already over as they have 44 wins for the season while Team Telfer went to 90 with a double on Friday night. That puts them 16 clear of Michael House and they are $1.02 to win the title. While one mare in Always B You was the star at Addington at a rain-soaked Alexandra Park it was another mare in Mantra Blue who took horse of the night honours. She sat parked to win the main pace in the hands of Monika Ranger, pacing her last 800m in 54.9 seconds and showing she is right back to her best. Other highlights of the Alexandra Park card were a training quinella for Roydon Downey with Sans Au Revoir and Saninarmbro while Craftsman suggested he is a two-year-old with a future when he won on debut after covering plenty of ground over the last 400m. Later in the night Seaclusion continued her great form for Graeme Rogerson and James Stormont when she overcame starting from the outside of the front line to win the Woodlands Stud Silk Road Final for her high-profile ownership group. It was her seventh career win and shows what a great weapon being able to run on the pace is, especially at Alexnadra Park. Matty A won the main trot for trainer Sheryl Wigg, recording his first win for the season. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising’s outstanding performance during the 2024/25 racing season saw the record-breaking speedster earn the Horse of the Year title at a special presentation held at the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong tonight (Friday, 11 July). In addition, he was also named Champion Sprinter and Champion Four-Year-Old at the ceremony. Owned by Ka Ying Syndicate and trained by David Hayes, last season’s Champion Griffin improved sharply in his sophomore season, scoring one of his biggest wins of the season in the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), and completing a record-equalling season with a commanding victory in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in April to secure this season’s Champion Sprinter mantle. His triumph in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize not only left him unbeaten with eight wins from eight starts during the season, but also took his unbeaten streak to 12 consecutive races. The four-year-old Shamexpress gelding completed a clean sweep of the Hong Kong Speed Series and collected a HK$5 million bonus, emulating the feats of Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 and 2004/05) and Lucky Sweynesse (2022/23). Ka Ying Rising broke Sacred Kingdom’s Sha Tin 1200m record with a gallop of 1m 07.43s in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), lowering a mark which had stood since 2007. He broke his own record just two months later in a time of 1m 07.2s in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m). He is currently the world’s highest-rated sprinter, with the international rating of 126, sitting joint fourth alongside Romantic Warrior in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings at 126 behind joint top-rated horses Field Of Gold, Forever Young and Ombudsman (127). He was also named the Champion Four-Year-Old based on his brilliant performance throughout the season. Voyage Bubble is named Champion Miler and Champion Stayer. The Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble also enjoyed a stellar season, especially when he rewrote Hong Kong racing history with an impressive victory in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in May to become only the second horse in Hong Kong racing history after River Verdon in 1993/94 to complete the Triple Crown by winning the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in the same season, snaring a HK$10 million bonus. Voyage Bubble has dominated this season’s mile and stayer divisions, winning this term’s HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and consecutive HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and, with these outstanding performances, the six-year-old Deep Field gelding was crowned Champion Miler as well. His LONGINES Hong Kong Mile win was further boosted by seven runners, including himself, from that race who subsequently achieved Group one successes. He also scored in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and in total won five races, including four Group 1s, from seven starts this term. Based on his outstanding achievements, he was named Champion Miler and Champion Stayer for the 2024/25 racing season. Romantic Warrior is crowned Champion Middle-Distance Horse. Romantic Warrior secured a fourth straight title as Champion Middle-Distance Horse, following his outstanding wins in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) and G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m). The Danny Shum-trained globetrotter also finished gallant second in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) and G1 Dubai Turf (1800m), taking his career earnings to a world record-extending HK$214.7 million. The seven-year-old Acclamation gelding clocked a sensational record-breaking time of 1m 45.10s to beat a group of global top middle-distance runners with more than four lengths to spare in the G1 Jebel Hatta and became the first Hong Kong-trained horse to achieve Group 1 successes in four different racing jurisdictions, namely Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Dubai. My Wish is this season’s Most Improved Horse. The Mark Newnham-trained My Wish is this season’s Most Improved Horse. After starting the campaign rated 54, the Flying Artie gelding soared 51 points to 105 after achieving four wins, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth from nine starts in his second season, including his career-best performance when winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) in January. My Wish ran well in the other two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, finished second in both the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). Zac Purton takes top honours for an eighth time. Zac Purton is now an eight-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey. The Australian rider enjoyed another remarkable season of dominance, including reaching 1,800 career wins in Hong Kong and breaking Douglas Whyte’s all-time record for Hong Kong win. He also reached 700 and 1,000 career wins on Happy Valley races and Sha Tin turf events respectively in the term. This season’s Most Popular Jockey and Most Popular Horse will be announced at the conclusion of Sunday’s (13 July) 87th and final Sha Tin meeting this season. The presentation ceremony for the 2024/25 Hong Kong Champion Trainer will also be held this Sunday following the races should any trainer gain an unassailable lead ahead of Wednesday night’s (16 July) 88th and final fixture of the racing season, while this season’s Champion Griffin and Tony Cruz Award will be announced at the conclusion of Wednesday’s (16 July) 88th and final fixture this season at Happy Valley. The Champion Awards Judging Panel announced the winners for the 2024/25 season during this evening’s presentation ceremony as follows:- Award Winner Owner Trainer Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising Ka Ying Syndicate David Hayes Champion Jockey Zac Purton Champion Four-Year-Old Ka Ying Rising Ka Ying Syndicate David Hayes Champion Sprinter Ka Ying Rising Ka Ying Syndicate David Hayes Champion Miler Voyage Bubble Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate Ricky Yiu Champion Middle-Distance Horse Romantic Warrior Peter Lau Pak Fai Danny Shum Champion Stayer Voyage Bubble Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate Ricky Yiu Most Improved Horse My Wish Ada Che Xiao Hong, Suki Tang Xianfang & Ruby Hui Like Sea Mark Newnham View the full article

New Years Eve (Night Conqueror), believed to be the second-oldest American Thoroughbred on record, has passed away in Pennsylvania. He was 39 and reported to be the oldest living Thoroughbred at the time of his death. We shared his story in March, shortly after his official birthday. Called 'Axl' by those closest to him, the beloved dark bay was foaled the same year as Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. History's oldest-known American Thoroughbred, a gelding named Dead Solid Perfect, died in 2022 at 39 years and 188 days. New Years Eve was 39 years and 57 days when he passed. Julie Izzo, who owned Axl for more than 32 years, said the record was not important to her. She shared a statement with TDN, which appears in its entirety: “On May 13, 2025, the uncommonly long life of New Years Eve, more commonly referred to as Axl, came to a peaceful end. He had started to lose strength in his hind end and getting up was becoming increasingly difficult. True to his breed, he still tried with everything he had to keep going. But it wasn't fair to keep asking. One day, he paused in an effort to rise and looked me in the eye with an expression I'd never seen on his face before. He simply had nothing left to give. I had always promised him that I would not compromise his comfort for more time. And although he was ready, I was not. But I never would be. “I will forever be grateful for our many years together. There will always be a piece of me missing. He wasn't an extraordinary racehorse. But he was extraordinary to me. “I want to thank everyone who had a part in his journey. There were many farriers and vets along the way, but Dr. Melinda Freckleton and Dr. Kate Baldwin were instrumental in giving my boy so many good years. And a special thank you to Barbara Livingston, Sarah Andrew, Bill Finley, and Jill Williams for immortalizing him in print and photos. Axl brought so many amazing people into my life. Thank you to everyone who took an interest in his life and story.” The post Oldest Thoroughbred in America Dies at 39 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A New York-based track veterinarian has been suspended for two years after an internal adjudication panel for HISA determined he had failed to submit veterinary treatment records for thousands of sessions in 2023 and 2024.View the full article

Rallying behind a blistering pace, Italian Soiree surprised at 14-1 in the July 11 Coronation Cup Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

A member of the Internal Adjudication Panel (IAP) for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) on July 10 imposed a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine on a veterinarian who has practiced on the New York circuit for more than three decades for “failing to submit over three thousand veterinary treatment records to HISA within 24 hours after examination or treatment of Covered Horses during the period from Jan. 1, 2023, through Mar. 7, 2024.” The veterinarian, Michael J. Galvin, could have faced penalties that included a lifetime ban. Galvin's attorney, Kim Bonstrom, told TDN late Friday afternoon the decision will be appealed. The decision was signed by Barbara Borden, a member of the IAP. Borden is separately employed as the chief state steward in Kentucky. “My first take on this is that there was not one citation to law in this 12-page opinion,” Bonstrom said. “We raised legal issues, constitutional issues. And the hearing officer essentially took the position that HISA rules trump the Constitution, trump the case law. I don't necessarily fault the hearing officer. I found her delightful. But she wasn't a lawyer.” By registering with HISA as a veterinarian, Galvin assumed responsibility to comply with all HISA rules, including Rule 2251(b), which requires the reporting of all veterinary treatments to the HISA portal within 24 hours of the treatment. The decision stated that the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) began looking into Galvin's recordkeeping after a HIWU investigator “obtained, copied, and returned to Dr. Galvin” his daily treatment notebook “during a search of Dr. Galvin's vehicle at Belmont Park on Sept. 2, 2023.” According to Borden's decision, “The notebook contained trainer names, horse names and notes that appeared to relate to veterinary treatments. [The agent] also described a 'Work Done' record provided to HISA by Dr. Galvin on Nov. 13, 2023, which contained the names of trainers and horses listed by date. However, the 'Work Done' record did not record the specific treatments provided by Dr. Galvin to each horse.” The decision stated that in February and March 2024, “HIWU issued a 'Demand for Business Records' to trainers and owners whose horses had been treated by Dr. Galvin. The demand required the production of, among other items, records of veterinary services provided by Dr. Galvin, and trainer administration records required to be kept for Covered Horses that had Galvin.” The decision stated that a HIWU agent “then compared these records and documents to the treatment records that had been entered by Dr. Galvin into the HISA portal [and that] analysis revealed that many treatments had not been reported to the HISA portal.” The agent “also testified that her analysis revealed that Dr. Galvin had not entered treatment records for several horses that had either suffered injuries during their race, or that died or were euthanized after they raced,” Borden wrote. On Aug. 23, 2024, HISA issued a violation notice to Galvin, alleging that he failed to enter required veterinary treatment records into the HISA portal. Borden's decision stated that as Galvin's Mar. 10, 2025, hearing before the IAP neared, “counsel for Dr. Galvin objected to the notices, scheduling, and deadlines concerning the hearing of this matter.” According to Borden's decision, Galvin had been advised by a member of his legal team not to appear at the hearing. Then, “Counsel for Dr. Galvin then proposed that the hearing be continued to a later date to allow his client to be physically present with him while testifying, citing principles of due process.” Borden wrote in her decision that she denied that request “because counsel for Dr. Galvin had had ample time prior to the hearing to arrange for his client to be present with him.” Galvin then filed a Motion to dismiss the IAP proceeding on Mar. 7, 2025. But that motion, too, was denied and the hearing proceeded three days later without the veterinarian testifying. According to the decision, Galvin's legal team argued that HISA's notice of violation failed to state a cognizable offense; that HISA violated his due process rights by an impermissible pre-accusation delay; that the proceeding should be dismissed on the grounds of selective and/or vindictive prosecution, and that “HISA'S refusal to produce relevant (and exculpatory) evidence violated Dr. Galvin's Fifth Amendment due process rights.” Borden did not agree. In meting out Galvin's penalty, Borden underscored that some of the horses whose procedures had not been logged “appeared to have received treatments, including intra-articular injections, several days prior to competing in races.” Borden explained further: “In some instances, had the intra-articular injections been reported, the horses would not have been permitted to work or race in what should have been a mandatory stand-down period. Because the treatments were not reported to the HISA portal, a number of these horses did in fact work and race during what should have been a mandatory stand-down period. “Enforcement counsel also presented evidence that several horses that raced during what should have been a mandatory stand-down period were either injured and did not finish their races or were claimed and the claim subsequently voided by the regulatory veterinarians in the test barn,” Borden wrote. “In other instances, the treated horses finished their races but never raced again,” Borden wrote. “In addition, Enforcement counsel presented evidence that several of the listed horses that raced during what should have been a mandatory stand-down period died or were euthanized shortly after competing,” Borden wrote. “In at least two instances, horses appeared to have had an intra-articular injection on the morning of their race,” Borden wrote. According to a summary of Galvin's past legal issues that the Paulick Report published on Aug. 27, 2024, “Galvin's history in New York includes issues dating back to 1998, when the New York Racing Association (NYRA) banned him for eight months after allegedly treating a filly with a nasogastric tube on race day. The New York Post reports that Galvin actually served a suspension of four months, and later sued NYRA for $30 million. The parties later settled for $500,000.” The Paulick Report story from last summer also stated that, “The New York State Gaming Commission later attempted to suspend Galvin for 45 days over the same issue, but on appeal it was settled for a $250 fine.” A Daily Racing Form story by Matt Hegarty from 2021 stated that Galvin “was temporarily barred” by NYRA from practicing at Belmont, but that the issue was resolved and Galvin was allowed back on the grounds in a matter of days. At the time of that story four years ago, Hegarty quoted a press release from NYRA that stated, “Galvin's NYRA credential was temporarily revoked this week due to a number of concerning operational and administrative issues related to his practice at Belmont Park [but that] his NYRA credential was subsequently reinstated after he took action to address these issues.” The post New York Vet Who Failed to Submit 3,000+ Treatment Records Gets 2-Year HISA Suspension, $25,000 Fine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The world's highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) scooped a trio of titles including Horse of the Year at the Hong Kong Champion Awards at the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong on Friday night. The 4-year-old gelding also earned the title of Hong Kong Champion Sprinter and Hong Kong Champion 4-Year-Old at the ceremony. Running in the colours of the Ka Ying Syndicate, Ka Ying Rising was undefeated during his 2024/2025 season with eight wins in eight trips to the post for David Hayes. His final seven starts of the campaign occurred exclusively in group company. After posting wins in G2 Premier Bowl and G2 Jockey Club Sprint in October and November, the 2023/2024 Hong Kong Champion Griffin won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint a month later. He kicked off 2025 right were he left off, with victories in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January and the 1400-metre G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup in February, his only start not at his pet 1200-metre distance. After a win in the G2 Sprint Cup at the end of March, his season finale was a score in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in April. In the last-named race, he increased his winning streak to 12 races, and also swept the Hong Kong Speed Series, good for an HK$5-million bonus. Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) is the 2024/2025 Hong Kong Champion Miler and Champion Stayer and is only the second horse to sweep the Hong Kong Triple Crown. Trained by Ricky Yiu for the Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate, the bay finished first or second in all seven starts this season with five wins, four at the highest level. A winner second up in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, he struck in the G1 Hong Kong Mile, the G1 Stewards' Cup, and the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup in succession before missing by just a short head in the G1 Champions Mile. He ended his season with a 3 1/2-length win in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in May. Horse of the Year in 2023/2024, Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) spent most of his season traveling, but still managed to take his two local starts, good for his fourth straight Hong Kong Champion Middle-Distance Horse title. Successful in the G2 Jockey Club Cup, the Danny Shum charge struck in the G1 Hong Kong Cup in December before a trio of overseas runs. In Dubai, the G1 Jebel Hatta went the way of the Peter Lau Pak Fai colourbearer over the winter, and he ran a pair of close seconds thereafter–in the G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh, and in the G1 Dubai Turf back at Meydan. The Mark Newnham-trained My Wish (Flying Artie) was named the Most Improved Horse. He started his campaign rated 54 and, after four wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts, rose to a mark of 105. He landed the Hong Kong Classic Mile in January, and was second in both the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby. As expected, Zac Purton was crowned Hong Kong Champion Jockey for the eighth time. Over the racing season, he reached 1,800 wins Hong Kong, breaking Douglas Whyte's mark. In addition, he scored his 700th and 1,000th wins at Happy Valley and Sha Tin, respectively. The remaining seasonal award–Most Popular Jockey, Most Popular Horse, Hong Kong Champion Trainer, Champion Griffin and Tony Cruz Award–will be announced in the coming days. The post Ka Ying Rising Named 2024/2025 Hong Kong Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nothing like claiming your second lifetime win in a graded stakes at Saratoga, especially so when your last time on the board was a year ago at the venue. A pricey $600,000 OBS March juvenile purchase in 2024, Italian Soiree (Uncle Mo) came with big expectations and her connections refused to throw in the towel despite their filly not hitting the board in the last five starts at the black-type level. Her 2025 attempts included a Feb. 8 seasonal bow in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs where she ran fourth as MGISW La Cara (Street Sense) ran off the screen. Gone until Apr. 27, she returned to the turf in New York when contesting the Memories of Silver Stakes and ran fifth as undefeated MSW Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) continued her streak. She was well beaten last out June 8 during the Belmont Stakes Festival when trying her luck in the six-panel Jersey Girl Stakes against another salty field of stakes fillies. While her team believed in her, the betting public opted to look elsewhere here, and Italian Soiree went off carrying chilly 14-1 odds as the second longest shot on the board. Coaxed out but content to track from third, she was patiently handled through the bend by Luis Saez and when he asked the question, rally she did. Taking command a sixteenth out after being forced to wait on traffic in front of her, she inched away from the longest shot on the board, SP Laurice (Bolt d'Oro), to win by a length. GSW Abientot (Not This Time) came from last to claim third after hitting the near-side stall at the break. “We had worked her on the turf, and she went to Canada and ran really well and even at Keeneland against some of the top turf fillies in the country, but the distance was always the question with her,” said Tonja Terranova, assistant to trainer John Terranova. “The owners had [Kentucky] Oaks vibes, as everyone does, and we tried to stretch her at Tampa [in the Suncoast] and had a little bit of a tough trip. But this is obviously what she wants to do.” Terranova added that the Memories of Silver performance had a noteworthy excuse, saying, “She had trouble. She almost fell. She was hit severely and Johnny [Velazquez] just wrapped up on her, so that was the reason that it didn't look that impressive on the grass that day.” When asked about a next target, Terranova said, “Let's just see how she is. She's a lighter filly so we let her tell us when she keeps her weight and when she's going to run.” ITALIAN SOIREE ($31.20) gets her first stakes win in the Grade 3 Coronation Cup Stakes at 14-1 under Luis Saez for trainer John Terranova. pic.twitter.com/uPU56rP3ZQ — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 11, 2025 Pedigree Note: Italian Soiree is the second in her family to claim black-type behind full-brother Be Better. From their dam's last five offspring, four are full-siblings and all of them are winners. The lone half-brother Forced Errors (City of Light) was placed as a 3-year-old. Social Call, a half-sister to GSW Old Time Hockey (Smarty Jones) from the female family that produced MGISW Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) and his full-sister GSW & GISP Antipathy, has not had any foals since Italian Soiree. Her 2025 Forte foal was stillborn. Friday, Saratoga CORONATION CUP S.-GIII, $175,000, Saratoga, 7-11, 3yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.21, gd. 1–ITALIAN SOIREE, 120, f, 3, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Social Call, by Smart Strike 2nd Dam: Grat, by A.P. Indy 3rd Dam: Likeable Style, by Nijinsky II 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($290,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $600,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Hit The Bid Racing Stable, Morplay Racing LLC and Randall Hartley; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-John P. Terranova II; J-Luis Saez. $96,250. Lifetime Record: 8-2-1-0, $227,048. *Full to Be Better, SW, $346,180. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Laurice, 120, f, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Major Z, by Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $80,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $460,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Bregman Family Racing LLC; B-Vehbi Hakan Keles (KY); T-George Weaver. $35,000. 3–Abientot, 124, f, 3, Not This Time–Ready Ready Ready, by More Than Ready. ($210,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Tracy Farmer; B-Killora Stud, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $21,000. Margins: 1, NK, 3/4. Odds: 14.60, 14.80, 3.10. Also Ran: Cloe, Gata Brazil, Make Haste (GB). Scratched: Flat Out Time, Spirited Boss, Twirling Beauty, You'll Be Back. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Pop the Corks: Italian Soiree Pulls the Shocker in Coronation Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Before the young horse with the easy-going disposition even stepped on the track at Saratoga Race Course Friday afternoon, just about everyone knew the story behind Dr, Agne (Into Mischief), who is out of Lady Eli (Divine Park). When the 2-year-old colt powered to the finish line and won the seven-furlong, $100,000 maiden special weight, the story came full circle. Dr. Agne, trained by Cherie DeVaux, is named for Dr. Robert Agne, who died at the age of 54 on Labor Day of 2015 after being hit by a car while cycling in Vermont. Dr. Agne was instrumental in the recovery of Lady Eli, who recovered from laminitis in 2015 and later became an Eclipse Award winner. Dr. Agne worked on Lady Eli along with Dr. Bryan Fraley of Fraley Equine Podiatry in Kentucky. DeVaux, then an assistant for trainer Chad Brown who conditioned Lady Eli, was with the filly every step on her long journey back. When Dr. Robert Agne died, DeVaux said she wanted to one day name a horse for him. And here we are. The horse came to her barn in April after he was scratched out of an auction. He was then bought privately by a group that included some of Lady Eli's owners. One is Sol Kumin, whose Sheep Pond Partners owned Lady Eli. The widow of Dr. Robert Agne, Carrie, made the trip to Saratoga from Asheville, North Carolina, to see this special horse debut It was emotional. There were hugs between Carrie and DeVaux in the box seats when jockey Jose Ortiz got Dr. Agne home. There were tears from Carrie in the winner's circle. There may also have been some from DeVaux, but they would be hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. “Oh, my God,” Carrie Agne said, when asked what was going through her mind when Dr. Agne struck the front inside the eighth pole, “he might pull this off!” Carrie Agne, widow of Dr. Robert Agne, embraces trainer Cherie DeVaux after Dr. Agne's emotional debut win at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Then, after a pause and a tear: “Bob had such heart. He loved racing, everything about horses. He gave his all.” Owned by Kumin's Madaket Stables LLC, Twin Brook Stables and Belladonna Racing LLC, Dr. Agne was foaled in Kentucky. He is the first foal from Lady Eli to run in the United States. The race was originally scheduled to be run on the inner turf at a mile but heavy rain on Thursday night forced it to be moved to the main at seven furlongs. “I knew he would be fine,” DeVaux said. “I felt like he would be ok, just getting a race under his belt. I was not surprised that he could win. Against dirt horses, it might be a lot different.” Sent off as the 7-2 third choice, Dr. Agne held off a late charge from 2-1 favorite Epic Desire (Uncle Mo) and Irad Ortiz Jr. and got to the wire first. Dr. Agne ran the seven furlongs in 1:25.97 and paid $9.70, $3.80 and $2.90. When the colt is next seen, DeVaux said it will be on the grass. Lady Eli, after getting back to the races, was the 2017 Eclipse Award winner for champion Turf Female. While allowing this victory to settle in, DeVaux said she was more nervous for Carrie Agne, who was making her first visit to Saratoga since 2015. “For me, we do this, we have a lot of 2-year-olds,” DeVaux said. “I try to manage my expectations with each of them accordingly. I wanted everything to go well for Carrie. This is like her first soiree, and I wanted to make her proud.” The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland: Dr. Agne with an Emotional First Victory at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In discussing the evolution of his StrideSAFE wearable sensor, Dave Lambert turns to a tufty-haired German philosopher called Arthur Schopenhauer, who described new truths as a play in three parts. “First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident.” Lambert has had the rejection and a little bit of ridicule, he said. “Some people have thrown rocks at me,” he added, one recent afternoon via Zoom in a brightly lit corner of his Kentucky home, a small bronze horse as his virtual companion. “But it's getting around to universal acceptance now.” If the bronze had been of the flesh-and-bone kind and trained in Kentucky these past couple of years, chances are it would have worn Lambert's StrideSAFE wearable sensor, used on every horse in every race in the state since May of 2023. Thanks in huge part to this blanket program in Kentucky, StrideSAFE has now been used on over 55,000 individual starts, providing a rich trove of data to understand just how best to use this system to identify the Holy Grail of racing welfare–those horses that exhibit no visible lameness but harbor a brewing problem that could turn catastrophic without intervention. The equation is simple: “screen, scan, save.” Use a wearable sensor like StrideSAFE to screen for early potential injuries. Scan the horse for problems. Then if something shows up, give the horse the necessary time off. It has reached the point where StrideSAFE is now able to identify in which leg the brewing problem is located, and even the type of pathology, the sesamoids versus the condyles (the end of the cannon bone making up part of the fetlock), said Lambert. Brewing injuries in the fetlock are notoriously hard to diagnose. David Lambert with trainer Dale Romans | StrideSAFE In a recent TDN letter to the editor, trainer Dale Romans shared his story of a stakes-level trainee that StrideSAFE had flagged for being at increased risk of injury in its right-front sesamoid in its last race, as well as a flag in the start prior. The horse was visibly sound, but given the StrideSAFE readings, Romans sent it for a precautionary PET scan, which indeed detected worrying bone remodeling in the right-front sesamoid bone. “This horse is now resting for 90 days and is expected to make a full return to training pending a clean recheck. Without StrideSAFE, we wouldn't have caught it,” Romans wrote. Nevertheless, the racing community at large is still proving reluctant to more broadly adopt these wearable technologies, said Churchill Downs' equine medical director, Dr. Will Farmer. “We've come a long way. We've learned a lot. I know StrideSAFE has learned a lot,” said Farmer. “My biggest push with this is that I really would like our horsemen to engage with it.” What would help, said Lambert, would be to start viewing the sensor as a veterinary tool rather than simply a training aid. As Lambert describes it, “this is about developing a new level of finesse in veterinary medicine.” The Evolution of StrideSAFE StrideSAFE is a wireless iPhone shaped bio-metric sensor that fits into the saddle cloth. It captures a variety of measurements while a horse is breezing or racing, like its acceleration and deceleration, its up and down concussive movement, and its medial-lateral motion (movement side to side). David Lambert | StrideSAFE As Lambert and his team's understanding of what StrideSAFE can do has evolved, so has the way they relay its information. In earlier iterations, it worked on a traffic light system, with a green for all-clear, a yellow for caution, and a red for possible danger. Since then, Lambert and his team have refined the system to use a risk factor calculation from one to five, with five the category in which a horse is most at risk of a fatal or career ending injury–nearly 300 times more likely than horses that fall within risk category one. StrideSAFE has now been used on some 55,000 individual starts at 13 racetracks around the country. Of the 55,000 individual starts–many of them in Kentucky–about 65% of the horses have been given a rating of one, about 25% were classified two, and the remaining 10% fell in the three, four and five range. Furthermore, during that time, 152 horses suffered catastrophic injuries. “We have [StrideSAFE data for] nearly 400 career races from those 152 horses,” said Lambert. “So, we have longitudinal records on those horses, which is a massive data set.” Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to run the profiles of the horses in this database, Lambert and his team have been able to more thoroughly and quickly refine their machine to better understand which horses are at heightened risk of injury and why. The most telling rendering of StrideSAFE's efficacy perhaps best lies in individual cases. Lambert is preparing about eight or nine of them for a paper in a peer-reviewed journal. Lambert tells the story of a one-time Derby prospect, who even as early as May of his two-year-old year was flagged by StrideSAFE during his breezes. The horse then won two of his races in the fall of that year, but in doing so, StrideSAFE showed that something again was amiss, despite being visibly sound. Equine athlete with StrideSAFE | StrideSAFE By the time January rolled around, the connections decided to scan the horse, the findings of which indicated he would need 60 days off. But before returning to work, subsequent PET scans and X-rays showed a major problem in the left-front condyle, along with bone remodeling in the other three fetlocks for which time-off was also recommended. “He was sound to the eye throughout all of that,” said Lambert. “But they operated on it and screwed it [the left front]. He's come back to the races and run three times, had a green flag each of the three times since.” With all this data under his belt, Lambert has a growing belief that potential problems can be picked up as far back as a year prior to any serious injury occurring. As Lambert tells it, something occurs that causes the horse serious enough initial pain to show up on StrideSAFE, but which is still not visible to the human eye. “The horse learns to live with it. The problem will heal a little bit. That's when some bone remodeling goes on. It'll get more stable, doesn't hurt so much. It doesn't show you a strong red anymore. It shows a category two or three instead of a category four or five,” said Lambert, stressing how this isn't a set in stone timeline of pathology. “But as you get closer and closer to the fatal race, the pain can actually be diminishing because the condition is healing to some extent and stabilizing. But it's still there,” said Lambert. “That's a new way of thinking about these things.” Kentucky Program Such chronology in the pathology of an injury wouldn't surprise Farmer, he said. “Looking at the necropsy program, we know that these are repetitive use injuries. These aren't singular events. And that fits that idea. It's logical,” he said. “They're either going to adapt to the issue, or they're going to adjust their strides and we can pick that up with the sensor, but we may not be able to pick it up at the jog,” said Farmer. This tallies with one of Farmer's main takeaways from the two years that StrideSAFE has been deployed in Kentucky–a program paid for by the tracks. According to Farmer, Churchill Downs has invested nearly $1 million in piloting the technology at its Kentucky tracks. StrideSAFE's findings, Farmer said, support the overwhelming wealth of evidence that catastrophic injuries aren't caused by a bad step but rather are the accumulative wear and tear over repetitive races and workouts. “There are horses that we see, they start off as 'ones,' then they go 'twos,' then 'threes,' then 'fours.' And then they ultimately have some diagnostics done, or they end up with a fracture,” said Farmer. StrideSAFE device | StrideSAFE As such, StrideSAFE offers “a very unique opportunity” to find the “needle in the haystack,” said Farmer, giving trainers “insight into what's coming down the pipeline before the horse fractures,” or worse, suffers a catastrophic injury. “Rather than it being a fracture, they can get ahead of it, change training patterns for a period of time,” said Farmer. “The goal is to keep horses safer, healthier and in the racing population longer.” Despite the promise, acceptance among the racing community is still limited. “The truth is that unfortunately, we don't have many trainers engaging with it,” said Farmer. “For this to really take that next step, we need that trainer engagement.” Part of the problem is that the information collected by StrideSAFE isn't currently processed and sent back to the trainers in an easily accessible form, said Farmer. “They need to make it as easy to have access to, whether that's a push–like a text push–with a report, or a reminder. That's something StrideSAFE needs to work out, how the information is relayed,” said Farmer. For StrideSAFE's part, they're working on a new password protected interactive website for trainers to access, with data on the welfare of the horse, as well as its performance. “In particular, the way in which they fatigue in a race,” Lambert said. But Lambert is beginning to see the communication issue from a slightly different angle–that the diagnostic component to the utility and effectiveness of StrideSAFE makes it a veterinary tool primarily. “We're getting very sophisticated information about musculoskeletal health, and it's the vets that need to be the ones that manage that and learn about it,” said Lambert. AAEP Study StrideSAFE is one of six wearable sensors currently being used in an ongoing study out of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). The others are Alogo, Arioneo, Equibase/Stable Analytics, Equimetrics and Garmin. The goal, said Langsam, is to see which of these technologies can most accurately detect the sort of hard-to-detect emerging injury that requires intervention, said Dr. Sara Langsam, AAEP racing committee chair. Beyond the sesamoids and condyles, think buck-shins and small chips in the joint. “At the end of the study, we would pass forward this information to HISA [the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act Authority], and they would potentially roll out some sort of integration into the entire industry,” said Langsam. Dr. Sara Langsam | AAEP WEB Each of the sensors are being used on at least 100 two-year-olds throughout this year during high-speed workouts. Over 700 individual horses are enrolled. Each horse that breezes is issued a green, yellow or red rating, with a 48-hour window for the study participants to receive the results. As on ongoing study, there are no concrete findings right now, said Langsam. The study focused on two-year-olds for several reasons. One was to minimize the variables in the study by using a cohort of horses that haven't already accumulated a lot of pre-existing wear and tear. Another is that two-year-olds offer the best opportunity to intervene as injury progresses. “We know that about 40 percent of the two-year-olds are going to get an issue. They like to get mild injuries that may take them out of training, but [which are] less catastrophic in general,” said Langsam. They're hoping to have some kind of conclusion ready for a public airing by the first or second quarter of 2026, said Langsam. “A lot of low hanging fruit has already been conquered. Technology is going to be the next step to help us get even lower [fatalities]. And while zero is ever achievable or not, that is always the goal,” Langsam said. “And this is just one part of the technological sphere that's going to help us move forward. It's exciting.” The post StrideSAFE Update: A New Level of Veterinary “Finesse” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-Monmouth, $51,275, Msw, 7-11, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:38.40, ft, 1 length. NEW MAGIC (c, 3, Curlin–Magic Dance {SW & GSP, $191,083}, by More Than Ready), sluggish from the gate as the 5-2 second choice, quickly found himself far out of it into the first turn as the far more experienced race favorite Bridoza (Khozan) dueled on the front with Atrocious (Ghostzapper) through the quarter in :23.63. Making an early move to catch up with the field through a slowed-down half, the Three Chimneys homebred then had to shift out wide to keep coming and was up into contention by the time the leaders swung for home. In a four-wide calvary charge to the line, New Magic finished up best to deny Bridoza by a length. Magic Dance, herself a half to MGISW and $4.4m FTKNOV broodmare buy Guarana (Ghostzapper), has since produced back to back fillies by Gun Runner in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. The post Three Chimneys Homebred New Magic Last To First In Monmouth Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:35 p.m. ET. With the third highest return at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale, TAGERMEEN (Into Mischief) was taken home for $1.4-million by Mahmud Mouni after the colt fired a :9 4/5 during the under-tack show. Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, the debuting bay is out of Silk Route (Empire Maker), who Mouni acquired for a mere $10,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November Sale. Tagermeen's extended female family includes GIII Lecomte Stakes hero Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) and French Group 1 winner Full Mast (Mizzen Mast). Another OBS grad who exits the gate for the first time is Tapit's Legacy (Tapit). Spendthrift and Epic Racing went to $550,000 to get the colt who went :10 flat during the March breeze. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Tapit was produced by Peace Corps (Violence)–a $500,000 2020 Keeneland November purchase for Corser Thoroughbreds. This dam is a half-sister to GI Prioress Stakes heroine Her Smile (Include), who herself is responsible for MGSW Pink Sands (Tapit). Drawn to the outside for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is $725,000 Keeneland September graduate Time to Strike (Not This Time). Owned by Gold Standard, the April colt's dam is a half-sister to GSW Devil by Design (Medaglia d'Oro), who is responsible for GI American Oaks victress Competitionofideas (Speightstown)–a $1.3-million buy for Shadai at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. TJCIS PPS 2nd-CNL, $70K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 12:58 p.m. ET. Musical (Candy Ride {Arg}), under the care of trainer Brittany Russell, will be unveiled for the group known as the 'Avengers.' A $700,000 2023 Keeneland September purchase, the chestnut's extended female family includes a number of stakes winners, including Inspired (Unbridled's Song), plus current sire Leofric (Candy Ride {Arg}). TJCIS PPS 2nd-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:07 p.m. ET. Back upstate, Peter Blum homebred Ginger Ale (Into Mischief) goes out for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The filly is out of GSP Co Cola (Candy Ride {Arg})–who Blum purchased for $600,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January Sale. The debuting bay claims famed older half-sister Search Results (Flatter), the winner of the GI Acorn Stakes who amassed nearly $2 million during her racing career and went for $3.6-million to Katsumi Yoshida during the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. Others of note here include Atropa (Into Mischief), whose extended female family includes current sires Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}) and Jack Christopher (Munnings). Also Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider homebred Asking (Lookin At Lucky) goes out for Bill Mott. The filly's dam is a half-sister to pensioned sire Congrats (A.P. Indy). TJCIS PPS 6th-ELP, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 3:12 p.m. ET. Brian Lynch trainee Love a Little Mo (Uncle Mo) carries the Flying Dutchmen colors. The first-timer was bought for $675,000 during Keeneland September last year. The filly's stakes-winning dam Inject (Frosted) is herself out of GI Spinaway Stakes heroine Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal), and she counts as half-sisters the sire Tapwrit (Tapit) and MGSW Ride a Comet (Candy Ride {Arg}). Last but not least, Spin a Tune (Hard Spun) is related to Better Lucky (Ghostzapper), while Last Curtain Call (Oscar Performance) is connected to Zipessa (City Zip), who both won the GI First Lady Stakes at Keeneland. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Racing Insights: Pricey Son Of Into Mischief Makes The Races At The Spa On Busy Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's not often in the case of a horse's breeding that six-time leading general sire Into Mischief would the less-successful parent. But such is the case for Dr. Agne who not only claims Spendthrift's elite stallion on the top side but also is the third foal and second winner out of Eclipse-winning Turf Champion Lady Eli who banked nearly $3,000,000 in her career before selling to John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale for $4.2m at KEENOV in 2018. Dr. Agne himself went through the ring at Keeneland as a yearling last September, bringing just $185,000 for Quarter Pole Enterprises and now races for the partnership of Madaket Stables LLC, Twin Brook Stables and Belladonna Racing LLC. Given to trainer Cherie DeVaux, the 7-2 shot was well-thought of Friday in what was meant for a seven-furlong turf debut. The weather had other ideas, raining off all but the GIII Coronation Cup Stakes onto the main track. But with the field still largely in tact despite the surface switch, Dr. Agne, with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, broke sharply with the frontrunners but quickly took back off the speed and was passed on all sides while falling back to sixth along the rail. 14-1 longshot Jet Off (Twirling Candy) set a pressured tempo through a :22.90 opening quarter before getting some separation with Dr. Agne several lengths out of it and splitting the gap between the leading five runners and the two trailers. Hugging the rail around the far turn and quickly picking up momentum, Lady Eli's son began a tremendous rally, coming past the quarter pole in third with Jet Off still to catch. Further out, 2-1 race favorite Epic Desire (Uncle Mo) was also moving but Dr. Agne had first jump, tipping outside of the leading pair and surging past them both to gain the lead at the sixteenth pole. Epic Desire was still coming but was clearly second best as Dr. Agne stole away to the win. The most successful starter for Lady Eli and the 52nd 'TDN Rising Star' for Into Mischief, Dr. Agne has a yearling half-brother by Justify and a foal half-sister by Uncle Mo. The mare herself is a half to MGSW Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex) who produced another 'Rising Star' in GI Preakness Stakes fourth Goal Oriented (Not This Time). Yet another of Lady Eli's half-sisters is responsible for English MGSW Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). What a debut for DR. AGNE ($9.70)!!! The two-year-old by @spendthriftfarm's Into Mischief out of @BreedersCup champion Lady Eli won the 6th at Saratoga under @jose93_ortiz. @reredevaux trains flashy colt for @MadaketStables, @BelladonnaRaci1 & Twin Brook Stables. pic.twitter.com/jVsgZVb2C7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 11, 2025 6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-11, 2yo, 7f (off turf), 1:25.97, ft, 1 length. AGNE, c, 2, Into Mischief 1st Dam: Lady Eli (Ch. Turf Female, MGISW, $2,959,800), by Divine Park 2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado 3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer Sales History: $185,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O-Madaket Stables LLC, Twin Brook Stables and Belladonna Racing LLC; B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. The post Lady Eli’s Son Dr. Agne A Stellar ‘Rising Star’ At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Anyone who went by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's barn on the Oklahoma Training Track Friday morning did a double take. A jumbo-sized maple tree, which has stood tall for years outside Mott's office, was no more. Thanks to a violent display of weather Thursday night after Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course, the tree was uprooted and came crashing down. Part of the tree came to rest on the roof of Mott's office. Miraculously, there was no damage done to the office, which was unoccupied when the storm hit shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday night. “It was coming down and I was trying to hold it up, and I couldn't hold it up,” Mott said Friday morning, showing some levity over the situation. Mott was eating dinner with his wife Tina at Pennell's Restaurant, not far from the track when the storm hit. “We were sitting on the patio, and we were just finishing and the winds started blowing and just about everyone moved inside,” Mott said. “I drove over to the harness track to see (if horses) were ok and it was. There was some water, and I thought, 'if they are ok over there, they are probably ok over here.'” Paul Caiano, the chief meteorologist at WNYT-13, the NBC affiliate in Albany, said just under an inch of rain fell in Saratoga in the 45-minute storm. He also said that radar indicated wind gust of over 50 miles an hour was recorded during the storm. “That's what knocked that tree over,” Caiano said. The horses at Mott's barn–including GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief)–did not seem bothered at all. The tree that fell came very close to hitting a two-horse open air stall next to the office. It did not and the horses there were not in any distress. About the only damage that could be seen at the barn was a couple of Adirondack chairs that were outside the barn got hit. Interestingly enough, a hanging flowerpot outside the office, which looked to be in harm's way of the tree, was intact Friday. Mott said the tree will be taken care of in the next day or so via chainsaws. When it is chopped up, it will make for a lot more sun outside of Mott's office. Mo Plex Likely to Stay Put for Jim Dandy Trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Friday that it looks more likely that his 3-year-old Mo Plex (Complexity) will stay home and run in the GII, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 26. Englehart said that after watching his New York-bred go four furlongs alone in :49.25 (46/92) on the main track with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard for the second straight work. Mo Plex | Sarah Andrew “We are leaning towards the Jim Dandy,” Englehart said. Last week, Englehart said he might prefer to run Mo Plex, who won the GIII Ohio Derby in his last start, in the GI, $1-million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park next Saturday. Mo Plex is owned by Rick Higgins of Saratoga and Howard Reed of Albany (R & H Stable). Englehart said he originally tried talking his owners out of the Jim Dandy, but, after doing some thinking, decided that being at home was more of an advantage than heading out of town. “If you go to the Haskell, you could have Journalism (Curlin); if we run here, you have Sovereignty and a couple other real nice horses,” Englehart said. “Any time you run in any of these races, you are going to have tough horses to run against.” Englehart is hopeful that Ortiz will ride Mo Plex in the Jim Dandy. “I am hoping,” Ortiz said after the work. “There has been no decision made yet.” Ortiz rode Hill Road (Quality Road) in his last start, a fifth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He could be pointed to the Jim Dandy for trainer Chad Brown. “I would love to have Irad,” Englehart said. “But if we can't, there are a lot of good riders in that room.” Fierceness Works Towards His Date in Whitney When 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), works, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher expects good things. Pletcher wasn't disappointed Friday when he watched the 4-year-old work five furlongs in 1:01.60 (4/10) with exercise rider Danny Wright on board, as usual. He worked in company on the main track with stablemate Dreamlike (Gun Runner), a 5-year-old gelding. Fierceness (outside) & Dreamlike breezing Friday | Sarah Andrew “It was typical of what we always see from him,” Pletcher said outside his office on the Oklahoma Training Track. “I thought he was very impressive; he did it in hand throughout. We wanted a good, solid work without overdoing it and that is what he did.” This was his second work since finishing second in the GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on June 7. The Saratoga target for Fierceness is the GI, $1-million Whitney Stakes on Aug. 2. Pletcher is still mulling over whether Fierceness, owned by Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, will have company in the Whitney. He could also run 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), unbeaten in three starts this year, in the Whitney. Mindframe, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC, won the GI Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in his last start on June 28 and will return to the work tab next week, Pletcher said. “We will continue to monitor how both are doing and wait as long as we can to make a decision,” Pletcher said about running both in the Whitney. “If you run them both against each other, barring a miraculous dead heat, one of them is going to get beat.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Mott Dodged a Bullet When Strong Storm Hit Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Newmarket's July Festival winds up on Saturday, with the feature G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup the stage for the potential reinvention of Godolphin's Notable Speech (Dubawi). Luckily for him and unfortunately for the rest of us, he has no international heavyweights to deal with in a renewal that looks a bit light on its usual quality. With the main protagonists of the Commonwealth Cup, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and King's Stand all absent, this looks one of the most winnable editions for some time and it will be deflating if last year's 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero doesn't at least make it into the thick of the action. Lack of true depth in the sprinting ranks may account for the recent plunge on Ballydoyle's Whistlejacket (No Nay Never), who remains a smart colt having won the Prix Morny and the course-and-distance July Stakes last term. Nevertheless, he has contested four other top-flight contests in his career and been beaten in all, starting odds-on in two of them. Needless to say, he has yet to convince that he belongs in the top echelon the way that the stable's former July Cup winners Stravinsky, Mozart, Starspangledbanner, U S Navy Flag and Ten Sovereigns clearly did. Weak in the betting at present, Godolphin's Sandy Lane Stakes winner Symbol Of Honour (Havana Grey) could surprise a few in his solid, unflashy style while like all of the above Wathnan Racing's consistent Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes third Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) fits the age profile. Only one horse aged older than four has prevailed since 2009 and the way the Al Quoz Sprint-winning five-year-old Believing (Mehmas) flopped at Royal Ascot, she hardly inspires hope that she can turn around that trend. Charlie Appleby said of Symbol Of Honour, “When he gets on the racecourse he's just tough–he gets out on the pace and grinds it out.” Will We Be Reaching For Superlatives? As usual, the card's G2 Superlative Stakes has the potential to promote something exciting and in Wootton Bassett's Italy Ballydoyle have a colt who carries all the right vibes into the early Classic pointer. If you were going to draw up a fantasy list of Triple Crown hopes on breeding, connections and early ability, this relative of Serpentine et al would definitely be on it. Crazy, I know, but that is what this meeting is about really. Prospecting for Classic winners and that ultimate dream horse. Now that we know that the sire is capable of producing class acts over all distances, this relative of Serpentine with Epsom in his blood has Derby potential as well as Guineas. Okay, it is the longest of all longshots at this juncture, but he has the right blend of speed and stamina to at least start the conversation. Aidan O'Brien never gives much away prior to a race, but there was a sense of excitement in the way he said, “We're looking forward to him.” Firstly, Italy has to get past the Charlie Appleby duo and the trainer who excels in this race seems to favour the Sandown winner Saba Desert (Dubawi) over TDN Rising Star Wild Desert (Too Darn Hot) if jockey bookings are a guide. The latter is a grandson of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Gossamer, from that wonderful Gerald Leigh family and therefore is one with a future and not just about now. Six For Grand Prix De Paris Sunday's G1 Cygames Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp is staged a day before the Fete Nationale and the 12-furlong feature sees Aidan O'Brien looking to extend his five renewals with the G3 Hampton Court winner Trinity College (Dubawi). Supplemented for the race, fellow Prix du Jockey Club also-ran Leffard (Le Havre) and G3 Prix du Lys runner-up Surabad (Bated Breath) shore up the French defence along with the eye-catching Derby fourth New Ground (New Bay). The post July Cup Is Notable Speech’s To Lose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Explosive debut winner Ewing may point to a next start in the Aug. 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2), according to trainer Mark Casse. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising's outstanding performance during the 2024-25 racing season saw the record-breaking speedster earn the Hong Kong Horse of the Year title at a special presentation held in the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong July 11.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a daughter of Group 2 winner Indie Angel. 1.40 Newmarket, Mdn, £25,000, 2yo, f, 7fT DARKWING (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is one of the key players in this maiden won in recent times by Ballydoyle, Poetic Charm and Desert Flower, being the first foal out of Cheveley Park Stud's G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner Indie Angel (Dark Angel). John and Thady Gosden introduce the homebred in a fascinating affair which includes Sky Racing Club's fellow newcomer New Vega (GB) (New Bay {GB}), a Simon and Ed Crisford-trained €450,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up graduate from the family of the triple Group 1 winner Ervedya (Siyouni). The post Newmarket Debut For Frankel’s Darkwing, Daughter Of Indie Angel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 25% share in the undefeated stakes-winning colt Verifire will be on offer at a special Inglis Digital USA flash sale July 14-18.View the full article

Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream claimed her first domestic group 1 in the July 11 Falmouth Stakes (G1) to continue an excellent week at Newmarket's July festival for William Buick and Charlie Appleby.View the full article

Out since Mar. 26 when he broke his left ankle in an incident prior to a race at Gulfstream, Tyler Gaffalione will be back on July 16. Gaffalione was shaken up during the post parade of the claiming event for 3-year-old fillies when his mount, China Blue (Social Inclusion), acted up and pinned his leg against the rail. The surprise is not that he is coming back, but where he will be riding after resuming his career. His agent Matt Muzikar said that Gaffalione will ride the meet at Ellis Park and will try to ride some at Saratoga on Ellis dark days. “We're all set for Ellis and will be coming in and out of town at Saratoga,” Muzikar said. “With him coming back at this particular time, I think it is the best fit for him. I'm trying to keep him from getting too excited. He is chomping at the bit. There will be a lot of Kentucky outfits that send horses to Saratoga, so, hopefully, he'll pick up some of those mounts.” Gaffalione, with Dylan Davis, tied for third in last year's Spa standings with 36 winners. But the purses at Ellis Park have risen so much that Gaffalione may be better off financially riding there versus Saratoga. NYRA continues to lose jockeys to the Kentucky tracks. Luis Saez and Jose Ortiz, who were year-round staples at the NYRA tracks for years, will ride at Saratoga, but each has become a regular rider on the Kentucky and Fair Grounds circuits. Ellis Park announced recently that its maiden races would go for $100,000. Most Saratoga maidens also have purses of $100,000. The post Gaffalione Ready to Return, But at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article