Wandering Eyes

The Tab recently opened some long term markets around feature races in November so here’s an early look forward with harness analyst Greg O’Connor. The three-year-old season has a predictable feel to it with last season’s 2yo’s of their respective season’s dominating the early bird markets. Marketplace is basically $1.40 in every major race he is likely to line up including the2nd running of the Velocity and of course the jewel in the 3yo year, the Garrards NZ Pacing Derby. His nearest rival and most likely to bridge the gap in the second half of the season, Got the Chocolates is on the second line of betting and is the last horse to beat the star 3yo ahead of Rubira who is the only other horse to have beaten him this year and is currently campaigning in Queensland. The big mover since moving south has been Bar Louie ($12) who is yet to get to the above trio’s level but looks capable having won all three runs in his current campaign. Similarly in the 3yo trotting ranks the brilliant Meant To Be dominates both of the above races, the Derby and The Accent in his age group. The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained son of Father Patrick is unbeaten in three runs as a 3yo with the emerging Rogue Hero ($4.00) and Tarragindi ($5.00) on the next line of betting. The former a son of Marcoola has been super impressive winning half of his six starts for trainers Ken Ford and Amanda Tomlinson, including his last two whilst the latter looks an immense talent for master trainer Phil Williamson. He was 2nd to Rogue Hero first up before beating the older horses by seven lengths at his only other run. The Christian Cullen is in its second year after Rakero Rocket provided an upset in December. The market reflects the emerging talent amongst the 4yo’s although the top three spots are headed up by stars of the back end of last season’s three-year-old year. Chase A Dream ($3) and We Walk By Faith ($3) and Better Knuckle Up ($7) all won features in October and November last year with the latter stealing the show in the Inaugural running of the Hill, Lee and Scott Velocity. Since then they have all had mixed campaigns giving plenty of hope to the emerging crop. Sideshow Bruce ($7) has been super since joining the Bob Butt team with Harrison John ($8), Duchess Megxit ($10) and Vessem ($10) all have the credentials to play a part on the big night which this year is a week after IRT NZ Cup Week. View the full article

When the field for the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) was drawn July 15, it conjured thoughts of the Preakness Stakes (G1), which isn't a bad thing at all.View the full article

Foxton trainer Suzy Gordon has enjoyed a good run of success in the tried horse market and has welcomed another well-performed newcomer to her stable. Gordon’s latest acquisition is Turn The Ace, a multiple winner from Andrew Forsman’s stable who recently changed hands on the Gavelhouse platform for $9,750 to dissolve the syndicate that raced the son of Turn Me Loose. “The best part is that he’s all ready to go and will have a quiet trial at Foxton next week over 800m,” Gordon said. “We’re obviously learning about him, he’s been very good and is probably not the soundest horse, so we’ll be careful with him.” A half-brother to the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) winner Here To Shock, Turn The Ace has nine victories to his credit including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m) as a juvenile. “He’s certainly worth a try and I’ve had some nice Gavelhouse horses,” Gordon said. Among them is Ka Ying Lucky who will attempt to seal a spot in next month’s $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m) at Riccarton when he steps out on the synthetic track at Awapuni on Thursday. Gordon’s hand has been forced to run the son of Zoustar in the Tomo’s Aluminium Services Handicap (1000m) in a bid to guarantee a berth in the southern final. “I would rather have gone straight to Riccarton, but I’m a bit worried he might not make the field,” she said. Ka Ying Lucky was a $10,500 purchase and that quickly proved to be a smart piece of business. “I bought him and in his first start for me he won a $35,000 race and has since won another two and probably should have won the other day, he was pretty unlucky,” Gordon said. “He was a hard horse to follow, but in his last few starts he seems to have gained a lot of confidence.” Meanwhile, Ka Ying Lucky’s stablemate Doubtful Sound, a $4,700 Gavelhouse buy, is on target for the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni on August 3. The son of Not A Single Doubt has won two of his last three starts on the all-weather track and was a last-start third on the Riccarton synthetic surface. Yet another online purchase, this one for $7,250, is the Proisir mare Prioress who will bid to cap off a consistent run of form in the Sandfords Rural Carriers Handicap (1200m) at Hawera on Saturday. She has a pair of runner-up finishes at Wanganui and Otaki and a fourth at Trentham from her last three appearances. Prioress was also nominated for the Listed Sinclair Electrical @ Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m), but Gordon opted for the softer option. “It would be nice to have a go at black type with her, maybe further down the line,” she said. View the full article

To strengthen industry support and impact, Breeders' Cup Limited will donate all royalties from merchandise purchases to Breeders' Cup Charities as well as host an Annual Day of Giving July 23. The official outreach program of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Breeders' Cup Charities will lend support to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America in 2025. These charities highlight five key pillars for the organization: Thoroughbred aftercare, jockey health and wellness, backstretch and industry workers, equine research, and other impactful community initiatives. “This enhancement is just the beginning of a renewed commitment to generate meaningful, sustainable funding for critical causes within our industry,” said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Through Breeders' Cup Charities and with the support of our partners, fans, and community, we can create positive, lasting change that benefits our sport for generations to come.” Donors can visit Breederscup.com/charities to make contributions on the July 23 Annual Day of Giving, scheduled for exactly 100 days before the Breeders' Cup. Ken Freirich, a co-owner of GISW Sandman (Tapit), will kick off the day by matching up to $100,000 for donations raised. “I am excited to continue the partnership with Breeders Cup and thrilled that they are expanding their philanthropic commitment to a diverse array of deserving organizations through Breeders' Cup Charities,” said Freirich. “It is critical that we recognize and support the real 'rock stars' of the industry: the grooms, hot walkers, jockeys, trainers, and everyone who takes care of these amazing equine athletes both during and after their racing careers, as well as the research organizations that help the industry continue to improve and evolve. I hope that my match donation will ignite a philanthropic spark across the world to support these wonderfully important charities.” The post Breeders’ Cup Expands Charities Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Porter on PedigreesView the full article

John and Thady Gosden have been fined £3,000 after two of their horses tested positive for the banned substance ketamine last summer.View the full article

BloodHorse's assistant news editor Sean Collins joins co-owner and trainer Jorge Abreu for Scottish Lassie's July 15 training session ahead of her start in the July 19 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

TDN Social Media Manager Sara Gordon appears on this week's Next-Gen Thoroughbred podcast, available now on Spotify by clicking here, or on Apple podcasts by clicking here. Next-Gen Thoroughbred is hosted by Tanner Reisman and Timothy Schmidt, and looks to promote young leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and allow them to share their stories of how they got involved in the business in order to inspire the next generation of Thoroughbred workers. On the episode, called Capturing the Soul of the Sport, Gordon talks about how she got involved with racing, how she made it her profession, and her switch from her home state of Maryland to living in Lexington working for the TDN. Gordon covers important topics like transparency, content selection, and talks about her process of curating content daily across the TDN's multiple platforms. The post TDN Social Media Manager Sara Gordon on Next-Gen Thoroughbred Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

America's Best Racing takes a look at the field of six that seeks to move forward in the 3-year-old filly division. View the full article

Trainer Phil Serpe is contesting constitutionality of HISA in federal district court.View the full article

This week's racing on radio, TV, and streaming schedule compiled by America's Best Racing.View the full article

5). CURTAIN CALL, SAR, 7/12, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 82 (c, 2, by Tiz the Law–Deep Trouble, by Into Mischief). O-West Point Thoroughbreds. B-Nancy Stone (Fla). T-Mark Casse. J-Jose Ortiz. Tim Wilkin related in TDN how Casse sent West Point's Terry Finley a simple text message to sum up his opinion about Curtain Call. Actually, it was a photo–of a Porsche. And Curtain Call lived up to the private hype in Saturday's Saratoga opener, blowing away even-money Tagermeen to the tune of 8 1/2 lengths. Curtain Call can be forgiven for his well-beaten debut second last month at Churchill Downs: he was up against future Sanford Stakes winner Obliteration. 4). STURDY, SAR, 7/13, 1 1/8 miles (3rd) (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 82 (g, 4, by Mitole–Holidays Saratoga, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Repole Stable and R.A. Hill Stable. B-ERJ Racing (Ky). T-George Weaver. J-Manny Franco. Here's a son of sprint champion Mitole who clearly prefers to run at least nine furlongs. He makes the list this week by virtue of his third at that distance Sunday at Saratoga, crossing the wire 5 1/4 lengths back after rallying from last in the five-horse field. He's now an eight-race maiden, but against fast competition that has included Locked, Domestic Product and Strategic Focus. 3). RUNAWAY AGAIN, WO, 7/13, 1 1/16 miles (VIDEO) R2 Beyer Speed Figure- 83 (g, 3, by Hard Spun–Golden Venus, by Storm Cat) O-Stronach Stable. B-Adena Springs (Ont-C). Trainer-Sid Attard. Jockey-Ryan Munger. A blast from the past: owned and bred by 92-year-old Frank Stronach, as a product of his Ontario Adena Springs operation. Attard chose two turns for Runaway Again's debut for good reason—the gelding quickly dropped to last and trailed by seven lengths before his second-turn rally saw him strike the front at the quarter pole. His five siblings to race were all cheap claimers, but go back another generation and his unraced dam is a half-sister to Stronach stars Awesome Again and Macho Uno. 2). CHILLAX, SAR, 7/13, 1 1/8 miles (2nd) (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 87 (c, 3, by Bernardini–Keepshercool by Smart Strike) O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Junior Alvarado. The talent is there, but for a third straight race Chillax cruised to the pacesetter in upper stretch as if victory was inevitable, only to be rebuffed…or to hang, in which case Mott will likely come up with a solution. Godolphin paid $110,000 for his dam, who is out of Santa Anita Oaks/Las Virgenes/Oak Leaf winner (and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up) Composure. 1). CLASSICIST, SAR, 7/13, 1 1/8 miles (1st) (VIDEO) R1 Beyer Speed Figure- 90 (c, 3, by Curlin–Playtime, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-St. Elias Stables (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. He's the colt who rebuffed Chillax after setting the fractions– and he was running for the first time in 9 1/2 months, having trained steadily in the Pletcher program since mid-April. Vinny Viola bought dam Playtime from the late Dinny Phipps about a decade ago, and she couldn't run much, but she has already produced a graded winner in Jouster. And there's this: Playtime's dam is Phipps champion Storm Flag Flying, which means, of course, the third and fourth dams on the pedigree page are My Flag and Personal Ensign. The post The Five Fastest Maidens for the Week, Presented by Taylor Made, of July 6 -13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GSW/MGISP Mopotism (Uncle Mo), the dam of GI Preakness Stakes winner and this weekend's GI Haskell Stakes favorite Journalism, has died from complications of colic, Don Alberto Corp confirmed Tuesday. Social media posts, which credit an Instagram message, read: “Mopotism, mother of Journalism, has died due to complications from colic at Don Alberto USA. She leaves two unraced products, a yearling filly daughter of Into Mischief and a 2-month old filly by Flightline.” Don Alberto mourned the loss of their mare with the following message: “We are heartbroken to report the loss of our mare Mopotism, due to complications related to colic. She was a gift to all those that got to know her beautiful eye, strong mind, and gentle way. We are grateful to everyone that has taken care of her over the years and poured so much love into her each day. We are humbled to watch the brilliance of her son, Journalism, and to know that her legacy will continue through him and her other foals. On to greener pastures, Mopo. You will be dearly missed.” The post Mopotism, Dam Of Journalism, Dies From Colic Complications appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sandra Russell, breeder of Grade I winner Excellent Truth, opens up about the emotion surrounding that top-notch triumph Much of the attention surrounding Excellent Truth's breakthrough success at the highest level at Saratoga last weekend revolved around the game's larger than life owner John Stewart. And rightly so given it was the man behind Resolute Racing who forked out €1.6 million for the daughter of Cotai Glory at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale last December. But a little over 3,000 miles away from Saratoga, the magnitude of what Excellent Truth had just achieved in out-battling race favourite She Feels Pretty to record that memorable Dunkin' Diana Stakes victory, was being felt in Bansha, County Tipperary, by the mare's breeder Sandra Russell. “For someone like me to dine at the top table is out of this world because there are not many seats at that table,” Russell surmised of her greatest achievement in bloodstock. “I watched the race from behind the cushion! I lived in America for a number of years so I got lots of texts and calls from people straight after the race. There was plenty of chatting and celebrating late into the night and it was just absolutely fabulous. She is the best horse I have bred.” She added, “I bred Ventura Diamond, who won a listed race for Richard Fahey, and Cowardofthecounty as well. Ventura Diamond was the first black-type horse I bred but, definitely, Excellent Truth is the best.” Russell is the definition of a small breeder. She keeps seven or eight mares of her own but it's the boarding arm of her business that puts bread on the table. Excellent Truth's dam Moment Of Truth, who was sourced for just €14,000 at Goffs in 2016, has in Russell's own words allowed her to dine at the top table. And what an experience this has been. “The big thing that attracted me to Moment Of Truth was the fact she was by Teofilo,” Russell explained. “She is a big, scopey mare, which tends to be the type of mare I am drawn to. The dam of Ventura Diamond, Shehila (Zamindar), was the very same. I can remember when I got her home I actually got a fright. I am not a tall person but I thought I must have been on stilts at the sales.” She added, “But Moment Of Truth had a very kind eye and temperament is a huge thing for me. She had a very good back page as well. Okay, the mare hadn't done it but, if she had, we wouldn't have been able to afford her. I am not sure if Tony O'Callaghan remembers or not but he was bidding on the mare at one point. When I went out to him afterwards, he said to me, 'sure you might consider sending the mare to Mehmas'. He was just starting off at the time so we sent her to Mehmas and the resulting progeny [Memo De L'Alguer] was sold to Italy where she got black-type. The same connections bought the Gutaifan the following year and then along came the Cotai Glory filly, which ended up being Excellent Truth.” Many people would be quick to seek praise for what has turned out to be a clever mating but Russell is not one to go down that road. Instead, she puts producing a breakthrough Grade I winner down to nothing more than pure chance. Sandra Ruseell: with Ventura Diamond at Tattersalls Recalling the mating, she says with refreshing honesty, “There was no planning in using Cotai Glory. I can't take any great credit for that aspect of it. Maybe it was as simple as a quick call to Roger O'Callaghan to find out what stallion was free at the time and Cotai Glory being the one who was available. We cover a lot of mares here given we look after a lot of UK-based clients so there are lorries going in every direction in the height of the breeding season. To be fair to Roger, Tony and Henry, they would never steer you wrong. They have been very, very loyal to this mare down through the years and she has been good to all of us.” The latest progeny from Moment Of Truth, a Starman colt by the name of Armstrong, who made a promising debut for Al Shaqab and Amo Racing for trainer George Boughey when third at Lingfield, is a good example of how things have worked out well for both Russell and the O'Callaghans. Tally-Ho signed for Armstrong at the Goffs November Foal Sale for €115,000 before reoffering him at what turned out to be a memorable Book 1 session of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls, where he sold to his current connections for 260,000gns. He remains a colt of some promise and Russell revealed that she has repaid the favour to the Westmeath men in recent years. As the saying goes, if it's not broken, don't fix it. Russell said, “She has a lovely Good Guess filly foal on the ground and is back in foal to Big Evs. I felt I had to be loyal to the O'Callaghan family as they have pretty much made the mare. I felt I couldn't shop elsewhere. Other people may have felt that they could go to more proven stallions but I think you have to be honest in this game, too. On a separate point, Cotai Glory is a flaking horse and this is a reminder of what he can do as well.” She added, “I remember speaking with Gavin O'Connor, who works for John Stewart at Resolute Racing, after they bought Excellent Truth at Arqana. I nearly fell off the edge of my chair when that happened. But I thought it was interesting that Gavin said that this mare matched up very well on whatever scoring system they use. They really liked the cross, which is why they were so keen on her. Look, they've been proved right with their Group I win and isn't it great to see? John Stewart has put a lot of money into the game and I'm thrilled to see them having some success. Those guys that put in the big money, they need the results. It's unfamiliar territory for me but I'm enjoying it also.” And with this newfound success there inevitably comes some big questions. Excellent Truth's dam has now become quite a sought after broodmare. Updates like this don't come around very often and, when they do, it's hard not to cash in. Bills need to be paid and books need to be balanced. So will her breeder sell? Russell explained, “That question has been asked and, to be honest, it will probably work out that I won't be able to afford to keep her. I suppose, with having a filly on the ground out of her, it would open the door to selling the mare. In a dream world, I would race the Good Guess filly but I am only a small player and there are plenty of bills that need to be paid so we'll see. They are nice thoughts to have anyway.” In many ways, Russell's story speaks to everything that is great about this game and can provide inspiration for people in similar positions. After spending a little shy of a decade honing her craft with some of the sharpest minds in bloodstock over in America, Russell returned home to Ireland with not much by way of a plan but a strong desire to make a go of it by herself. By surrounding herself with good people and even better horses, she has scaled heights that were at one point unimaginable and admits to being unable to wipe the smile from her face since Excellent Truth crossed the winning line in front on Saturday. She said, “I'm in my early 50s – I won't say how early or late! I spent eight-and-a-half years working for Robbie Lyons in America. Robbie, Gerry Dilger and Mike Ryan were some of the first guys who started pinhooking foals to yearlings and they had a big syndicate going. That was an incredible experience and I learned so much from those guys. The contacts and friends for life that I made in America were amazing but I came back to Ireland in the early 2000s not really with any great plan. I realised pretty quickly that pinhooking was not going to be an option because the market was quite saturated. I was in my early 30s at the time and went and worked in Mount Coote Stud with Luke and Alan Lillingston for a year. I suppose I had a desire to go out and do things on my own and this farm in Bansha became available in 2004. I knew the owners, Jim and Kate Nicholson, who were good friends of the family. So I decided to give it a go and we've been here ever since. “Jim and Kate are good friends with Kirsten Rausing and she was one of the first people who sent me mares for boarding. She has become a good friend of mine and is a wonderful sounding board to have. We also board mares and foal mares for Stringston Farm, Ed Player, Tom Blain as well as Clive and Tina Cox. I have surrounded myself with good people and have just been so lucky with the support. Looking back on it now, it was probably pure madness to set up on my own in my early 30s. If a bank manager were to have asked me back then what my 10-year plan was, I don't think I'd have been able to provide them with a 10-month plan. But thankfully it has all worked out.” Russell concluded, “People have been so kind. From the top down, the amount of people who have congratulated me has been amazing. They all know how hard it is to produce a horse like Excellent Truth and the amount of messages and calls we have received has been crazy. The phone has been going non-stop ever since the race. We're just thrilled. I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face since Saturday. It's just fantastic.” The post ‘I Watched Excellent Truth From Behind A Cushion – It Was Crazy’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After becoming his first graded stakes and grade 1 winner last fall, Scottish Lassie will aim to give trainer and co-owner Jorge Abreu another milestone of his first graded winner at Saratoga July 19 in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).View the full article

The top 10 of the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll remains virtually unchanged. But the big mover is Far Bridge, who shot into the No. 10 spot after not getting votes a week ago.View the full article

The TDN's Christina Bossinakis, senior editor for the Thoroughbred Daily News and a prominent TV racing personality, has been named the winner of the 2025 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of last year's NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park announced Tuesday. First presented in 2012, the Handleman Award honors distinguished media coverage of the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park's showcase race. It is presented annually prior to the Haskell. The award honors the late Bill Handleman, one of New Jersey's top sportswriters for nearly three decades for the Asbury Park Press. Handleman, a fixture at Monmouth Park and a passionate chronicler of the sport, died in June of 2010 at the age of 62. Bossinakis, who hails from Montreal, Canada, has worked as an on-air racing analyst, as a TV handicapper and paddock reporter and as a racing TV show host in addition to her role at Thoroughbred Daily News. She co-authored the book “Sermon on the Mount” with the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “This means a lot. I've always had a soft spot for Monmouth Park from working there with TVG,” Bossinakis said. “I have spent a lot of time with the people at Monmouth Park, so it makes it a special honor for me. It's nice to feel rewarded when you put your heart and soul into something you love, so I am very appreciative.” Monmouth Park general manager John Heims called Bossinakis “the consummate professional.” “Her knowledge of Thoroughbred racing, both historical and current, never fails to impress,” said Heims. “In addition to her excellent coverage of last year's Haskell on the Thoroughbred Daily News site, she has excelled in a variety of roles in the racing industry.” Bossinakis joins a list of recipients that include Tom Luicci of The Star-Ledger, followed by Steve Edelson of The Asbury Park Press in 2013, Dave Johnson of Sirius XM in 2014, Ed McNamara of Newsday in 2015, Bob Ehalt of ESPN.com and Bloodhorse in 2016, Tom Cassidy of TVG.com in 2017, Jim Dunleavy of Daily Racing Form in 2018, Mike Farrell of The Associated Press in 2019, Steve Byk of At the Races With Steve Byk in 2020, Matt Shifman of Horse Racing Nation in 2021, John Brennan of usbets.com in 2022, announcer/TV racing analyst Larry Collmus in 2023 and videographer Carlos Morales of Agentes 305 last year. The post TDN’s Christina Bossinakis Named 2025 Bill Handleman Award Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A rematch between Minnie Hauk (Frankel) and Whirl (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh is unlikely, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was responsible for six of the nine fillies left in the Classic on Tuesday. Just a neck separated the two stablemates when they met in the Oaks at Epsom, with Minnie Hauk edging ahead in the final strides to get the better of the gutsy Whirl, who has since gained a first Group 1 success of her own when seeing off her elders to win the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Following that form boost, Minnie Hauk is the odds-on favourite with bookmakers to emulate Lambourn by completing a Classic double for her connections, who also have Bedtime Story (Frankel), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Island Hopping (Wootton Bassett) and Merrily (No Nay Never) still in contention for the Irish Oaks. “They probably won't both run, I'd imagine,” O'Brien said of Minnie Hauk and Whirl. “We were thinking that Whirl and Bedtime Story might go for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood over 10 furlongs. Whirl came back to a mile and a quarter last time in the Pretty Polly and she was happy over that distance.” He added, “Minnie Hauk has been fine since Epsom. She had a little break and everything has been good since.” Fozzy Stack's Bay Colony (New Bay), Johnny Murtagh's Subsonic (Lope De Vega) and Joseph O'Brien's Wemightakedlongway (Australia) are the other confirmations. The post Ballydoyle Dominate Irish Oaks Confirmations, But Epsom Rematch Unlikely appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ellis Park and the Kentucky HBPA will present College Day on Sunday, July 27 with 27 lucky full-time students winning a prize. In partnership with Ellis Park, the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association will conduct three separate drawings before each of nine races to give out a $1,000 scholarship, an iPad Mini with AirPods package and a $150 Amazon gift card. First post is 11:50 a.m. CST and full-time students can register throughout the afternoon to be eligible for any remaining drawings. Representatives from the University of Kentucky's Ag Equine programs, the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program and the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) will be on hand to provide information to current and future undergraduate and graduate students interested in a potential career in the horse industry or who want to learn more about the commonwealth's signature tourism leader and agribusiness. “The fastest route to making a new horse-racing fan is first getting them to the track,” said Alex Foley, the Kentucky HBPA's Executive Director. “This is a great collaboration with Ellis Park to invest in our future, and we're delighted to have UK, U of L and KEMI on hand. What college student can't use $1,000, an iPad Mini and AirPods or Amazon gift card? It's free admission and parking every day at Ellis Park and Sunday's are Kentucky HBPA Dollar Days with $1 hot dogs. College Day is a fun, affordable way for college students to come out with friends or family. You don't have to know anything about horse racing to enjoy the excitement and beauty of the sport.” A valid college I.D. or letter of admission is required to register for the drawings, with incoming freshmen welcome. Those attending or enrolled for the fall term at a two- or four-year college, graduate school, professional school, vocational, technical, barber or another post-high school program that qualifies for federal aid are eligible. Students must register in person, be present to win and can only enter once. Said Steve Roof, General Manager, Owensboro Racing & Gaming/Ellis Park Racing & Gaming: “We're excited to continue our support of Kentucky HBPA College Day at Ellis Park. This event reflects our ongoing commitment to education and the future of our community.” The post Kentucky HBPA And Ellis Park To Host College Day July 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The newly-published catalogue for the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale features entries from many of Europe's leading sires, as well as first-season sensation Starman, who is responsible for 17 of the 409 “athletic, precocious Doncaster yearlings” set to go under the hammer on Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28. Last year Starman was responsible for two of the top five lots, including the subsequent G3 Fillies Sprint Stakes heroine Lady Iman, one of 16 individual winners for her leading first-season sire in 2025. The notable yearlings by Starman featuring in the 2025 catalogue include lot 118, a filly out of the G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Corazon from the Tally-Ho Stud draft. Sergei Prokofiev and Sioux Nation boast the strongest representation numerically with 21 and 18 yearlings, respectively, while leading two-year-old stallions Mehmas and Havana Grey also feature prominently, having joined Starman among the top three sires by aggregate at last year's sale. The 14 yearlings by Mehmas in the 2025 catalogue include lot 290, a colt out of a full-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic, while lot 108, a colt out of the G3 Premio Carlo e Francesco Aloisi winner Charline Royale, features among the 13 by Havana Grey. Elite sires such as Blue Point, Dark Angel, Kingman and No Nay Never are represented in smaller numbers, along with Wootton Bassett, whose sole offering is lot 384, a colt out of a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Broome, plus the Group 2 winners Point Lonsdale and Diego Velazquez. Caturra (14 yearlings), Persian Force (13) and Minzaal (11) lead the way among the stallions with their first yearlings on the market. Those by Persian Force include lot 146, Camas Park Stud's half-brother to the G3 Coral Charge Sprint winner and G1 Nunthorpe Stakes third Extortionist, while lot 41 is a Minzaal half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Aristia. Other potential highlights include lot 236, a Muhaarar half-brother to the Group 1-winning sprinter and sire Sands Of Mali; lot 332, a Too Darn Hot colt out of the Listed-placed mare Perfect Blessings, from the family of the Group 1 winner Polydream; and lot 383, an Oasis Dream colt out of a half-sister to the G1 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet. Barton Stud's Soldier's Call filly, who will be offered as lot 279, also promises to attract plenty of interest after she received a significant pedigree update last weekend. She is out of a half-sister to the dam of the G1 July Cup heroine No Half Measures, who was bought by trainer Richard Hughes for £34,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale back in 2022. In 2023, Arizona Blaze (£82,000) and Sayidah Dariyan (£35,000) were both five-figure purchases at this sale, before going on to finish second and fourth, respectively, in this year's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, while Listed National Stakes winner Anthelia joins Lady Iman among the best performers so far to have been sold at Doncaster last year. Anthelia is set to line up in Saturday's Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury, before a potential appearance in the Harry's Half Million By Goffs. All lots catalogued for the Premier Yearling Sale are eligible to run in that valuable contest at York's Ebor Festival. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Premier continues to deliver the results all around the world, and it seems fitting that it produced the winner of one of the season's most prestigious sprint races, the July Cup with No Half Measures, on the eve of the release of the 2025 catalogue. “The sale's two-year-old record speaks for itself – season after season this sale outperforms all others and we are seeing that again in 2025 with Premier having a comfortable lead over its competition in terms of two-year-old winners.” He added, “As in previous years, all yearlings offered will be eligible for entry into Premier's enduringly popular sales race which was renamed Harry's Half Million by Goffs last year. With an increased guaranteed prize fund of £500,000, the launch of the upgraded race was a big success last year, and the huge uptake from buyers saw its prize-money increase further to just shy of £620,000 in 2024, a great endorsement of the race which continues to be a major draw card for buyers. “We have been travelling around the world to promote this sale and we will continue to do so in the build-up to the event, and we look forward to hosting the 2025 Harry's Half Million by Goffs at the fabulous York Ebor Festival before the sale on 27 & 28 August.” The post Elite Sires and Emerging Forces Headline Premier Yearling Sale Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taking the waters proved a fairly literal recreation through opening week at the Spa. Despite short fields and soggy turf, however, there were one or two sunbeams for those who relish a pedigree. 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) was scarcely a revelation in outclassing three rivals for the GII Bowling Green Stakes, his fifth graded success in his last seven starts. But his overall body of work and deeper family together demand the opportunity, someday, to extend his sire's legacy at stud. Admittedly Far Bridge's page features little else in his immediate vicinity, but his dam (by English Channel's great rival as a turf influence, Kitten's Joy) had tragically limited opportunity. And the maternal line had previously been sown by A.P. Indy, Storm Cat, Pleasant Colony, Northern Dancer and Bold Ruler. That's because it eventually traces to Lea Lark (Bull Lea), ancestress of over 50 elite winners. This branch of her dynasty, through a daughter by Bold Ruler, has produced two names especially resonant in Argentina: Southern Halo and Blue Prize (Pure Prize). And the genes certainly seemed to be functioning when Far Bridge's third dam, Pleasant Temper (Storm Cat), won two graded stakes on grass; and indeed when subsequently producing the dam of millionaire Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy). Pleasant Temper additionally produced a couple of stakes performers while her daughter by A.P. Indy, Teenage Temper, showed early talent in winning a Churchill maiden by daylight and following up in an allowance. But she regressed thereafter and, after a tepid start to her breeding career, was sold as a 12-year-old for $70,000 at the 2013 Keeneland January Sale, in foal to Kitten's Joy. The resulting filly, retained by the mare's purchasers at Calumet, showed modest ability on grass as Fitpitcher–gaining her solitary win in a Suffolk Downs maiden–but not enough to prevent her dam being culled as soon as 2017 for just $3,000. The Oklahoma buyers of Teenage Temper were given brief excitement when her Oxbow colt won a dirt sprint on debut at Oaklawn, but he disappeared after his next start to leave the page looking pretty stale. Fitpitcher appeared unlikely to stoke the embers when her first foal, an English Channel filly, was sold as a weanling for $1,000, duly finishing tailed off in two maiden claimers. Wherever she is now, however, she has meanwhile soared up in the world. Her dam's next foal is the third-highest domestic earner by Bal a Bali (Brz)–a limited distinction, true, but arguably all the more meritorious as a result. And then, having returned to English Channel, Fitpitcher produced a son who, as a sophomore early in 2023, won his first two starts at Gulfstream. A private purchase by LSU Stables proved ahead of the curve. For hindsight discloses that this horse–and we are, of course, talking about Far Bridge–beat none other than 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) on debut. Some maiden, that anticipates six Grade I prizes in one photo! Far Bridge won his first that summer, in the Belmont Derby, but has reached a still higher level with maturity–just as we know to expect from the Smart Strike line, as branded by English Channel alongside Curlin and Lookin At Lucky. The latter has now remained in Chile, where he's properly appreciated, but earlier this month offered a rebuke to the market that deplored his “uncommercial” stock when the exemplary Amerman program added homebred Test Score (another, incidentally, out of a mare by Kitten's Joy) to the Belmont Derby roll of honor. The Amermans have now won both runnings since Far Bridge, last year with a son of their own stallion, Oscar Performance, in Trikari. Test Score's nearest pursuer, incidentally, was also by Oscar Performance–whose accession as principal heir to Kitten's Joy has proved as seamless as it is unequivocal. Now we just need a horse to perform a similar service for English Channel, who never achieved even the commercial traction of Kitten's Joy but ended up insisting on an equal share of hegemony–such as it can be, nowadays–among Kentucky grass stallions. English Channel died eight months before Kitten's Joy, in 2021, and is now down to his final sophomores (from a crop of just 45 live foals). Many of his best sons have been geldings, while the couple at stud will do well to carve a lasting foothold from the little support they have received. Sadly Fitpitcher died the same year as English Channel, but two of her three foals figure among the highest achievers by their respective sires. That obviously counts for far more with one than the other, but suggests her to have been competently reviving a faded branch of a noble dynasty. Given that Far Bridge, as a runner, is displaying precisely those hallmarks that distinguished English Channel on the track, he's suggesting an auspicious capacity for replication top and bottom. It's a long way to dry land, for any turf stallion tried in Kentucky, but here's a bridge that may yet reach the far bank. Deep Satin | Sarah Andrew A Rose With Deep Roots An even glossier pedigree on the Saratoga grass last week was that of the meet's first black-type scorer. Unsurprisingly De La Rose Stakes winner Deep Satin (American Pharoah) was never offered at auction by John Gunther and his daughter Tanya, being out of one of their most cherished mares, Take the Ribbon. Herself a graded stakes winner on turf, Take the Ribbon's half-sister is Glinda the Good (Hard Spun), the dam of Good Magic. All of us should by now be making progress in imitating the way the Gunthers go about matings–or should at least be trying our best!–and the luminous feature of the one that produced Deep Satin is inbreeding to broodmare legend Toussaud (El Gran Senor). One of her sons, Chester House, sired Take the Ribbon; another, Empire Maker, is grandsire of American Pharoah. This page could yet develop significantly within the same barn through Deep Satin's half-brother Deep Manhattan (Justify), who beat Tom's Magic–another son of Justify, meanwhile winner of two stakes–by five lengths at the Fair Grounds last November. Patiently restored after a setback, he's back breezing and remains an exciting prospect. Beau Cuts An Early Dash For now we can only be talking about straws in the wind. But two stakes winners already make Beau Liam a match for all the other first-crop sires combined, only Yaupon and Leinster otherwise mustering one apiece. And that's absolutely consistent with his profile to this point, the son of Liam's Map having included home runs of $270,000, $220,000, $200,000 and $195,000 among a first crop of yearlings conceived at just $6,000. This was a meteor of a sprinter, brief but bright: his 'TDN Rising Star' debut at Churchill, in 1:08.62, remains the fastest 6f maiden at that storied track; on his next start at Saratoga, his 106 Beyer jostles only Jackie's Warrior (107) and Life Is Good (106) among 7f sophomores of that crop; and he then doubled down with a 107 when burning off his pursuers over 6.5f, again at Saratoga, in 1:15 flat. Beaten a length on his graded stakes debut, he was not seen again–but a flying start in his second career reminds us how his genes stack up, too. His dam Belle of Perintown (by the excellent distaff influence Dehere) won the GII Silverbulletday Stakes and has additionally produced graded stakes and stakes winners, plus a stakes-placed Grade I producer. And the granddam is an unraced daughter of Mr. Prospector and GI Fantasy Stakes winner/GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Jeanne Jones (Nijinsky), herself half-sister to Avenue of Flags (Seattle Slew). Beau Liam at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Pitched at such a fair price, Beau Liam can go to war with 81 named foals. Not quite a match for Yaupon, with a class-high 115, and that horse duly cuts out the early running with six winners from 14 starters including dual black-type scorer 'TDN Rising Star' Sassy C W. The other with an early stakes strike, Leinster in Florida, has three winners from six including Lennilu, who additionally placed at Royal Ascot. That suggests Leinster to be overcoming his own template, having needed 13 attempts before breaking his maiden at four but finishing with three graded stakes in his final four starts, in between beaten a length at the Breeders' Cup. He appears to be purveying significantly more precocity, along with his speed, at just $2,500. Mischief Into Uncharted Territory Just a footnote, here, but that doesn't diminish a historic moment. It's just that we have said it all before, and will be seeking new ways of saying it all again when he matches Bold Ruler this year with a seventh consecutive title. Moreover the transfer of the sceptre has been inevitable for a long time. The least we can do, however, is draw your attention to the fact that Into Mischief has just overtaken Tapit as the richest stallion in American history. Spendthrift's champion now stands on $218,217,957, having edged past his venerable rival on $217,828,604. As we've often noted, libido and fertility have given Into Mischief virtually identical volume to this point, despite Tapit having four more crops. And his upgrading mares are meanwhile closing the gap, in elite ratios: in fact he has now reached parity, in black-type scorers, at 10 percent of named foals. For now Tapit retains a marginal edge in graded stakes/Grade I action, but the trends here will presumably prove just as inexorable as the one that has brought Into Mischief to this fresh summit. The post Breeding Digest: A Bridge Across The Channel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Wednesday at Saratoga. Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Saratoga 5, $90k, 2yo, (S), 5 1/2fT, 3:33 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Funny Factor (The Factor), OBSMAR, 40,000, :10 3/5 C-Eddie Woods, agent; B-Anthony M Perri “] Illmatic (Honest Mischief), OBSAPR, 290,000, :10 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-J Migliore for S Rocco/Adelphi Three Thirteen (Unified), OBSMAR, 10,000, :10 2/5 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-MEG Racing LLC The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) was named the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes runner up drew post two in a field of eight. The full field, in post-position order, is listed below along with corresponding morning-line odds. Bracket Buster (Vekoma), 10-1 Journalism, 4-5 Wildncrazynight (Midnight Lute), 30-1 Burnham Square (Liam's Map), 5-1 National Law (Constitution), 20-1 Gosger (Nyquist), 9-2 Kentucky Outlaw (Outwork), 15-1 Goal Oriented (Not This Time), 4-1 The post Journalism Named 4-5 Haskell Morning-Line Favorite, Draws Post Two appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Six semifinalists for the 19th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award have been selected by a panel of judges, representing excellence in Thoroughbred sports literature published in 2024. View the full article

After a short pause in Thoroughbred racing in California after Los Alamitos Race Course concluded its summer afternoon meet July 6, racing returns to the Golden State July 18 when Del Mar opens for its 86th summer season.View the full article