Wandering Eyes

Marked by a soft month of wagering in June, wagering on Thoroughbred racing in the United States continued to slide through the second quarter of 2025, dipping 2.38% to $3,281,212,052. Betting totaled $956,784,146 in June, a reduction of 7.18%.View the full article

With the temptation of securing another grade 1 win in the Belmont Derby (G1T) July 4, trainer Chad Brown opted instead to race Zulu Kingdom in the Manila Stakes (G3T) on the same card, believing the bay could be his barn's next star turf miler. View the full article

Amerman Racing's Test Score stalked the pace from third and rallied strongest in the lane to win the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 4 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Phileas Fogg (g, 5, Astern {Aus}–Merino, by More Than Ready), runner-up in the GIII Pimlico Special S., was sent to the front from his rail draw, enjoyed a clear lead throughout and just held off Antiquarian (Preservationist) to pull off a 6-1 upset in Saturday's GII Suburban S. at Saratoga. Favored 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) was third. The final time for 1 1/4 miles was 2:02.97. Phileas Fogg becomes the first graded stakes winner for trainer Gustavo Rodriguez. Sales history: $55,000 HRA '23 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 18-9-4-0. O-Jupiter Stable LLC; B-Godolphin; T-Gustavo Rodriguez. Gustavo Rodriguez earns his first graded stakes win as PHILEAS FOGG goes gate-to-wire in the Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon with @KendrickCarmou1 aboard! pic.twitter.com/5VFtRvqRZy — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025 The post Phileas Fogg Wires Suburban, Holds Off Antiquarian appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS–When Neal Poznansky, sitting on the back of GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes champion Sovereignty (Into Mischief), saw jockey Junior Alvarado early Friday morning, he wore a wide smile. “How'd I do?” Poznansky said. Alvarado grinned back. No answer necessary. Sovereignty did what Poznansky, Alvarado and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott wanted to see as he had his second work since winning the Belmont last month. Working in company with 4-year-old stablemate Jefferson Street (Street Sense), Sovereignty and Poznansky, Mott's assistant, covered four furlongs in :48.99 (3/24) on the Oklahoma Training Track. Alvarado, the regular rider of Sovereignty, watched the work from the rail on the Oklahoma. “He looked awesome,” Alvarado said. “He did it very impressive and very easy.” Alvarado said the only time he got on Sovereignty in the morning was when the colt was a 2-year-old and before he started his racing career. Sovereignty inside of Jefferson Street during a recent workout | Sarah Andrew “I probably could have put my 6-year-old kid on him,” Alvarado said about those early days. Last week, Sovereignty worked a half mile in a pokey :51.27 seconds by himself. Things got a little more serious this week as Sovereignty has been given the $500,000 GII Jim Dandy Stakes as his next target. “It depends on what the trainer feels,” Mott said when asked why Sovereignty had a workmate on Friday. “I felt like he should go in company today. He was on the bridle. I thought the work went well. This is what we planned and that is how it worked out.” Sovereignty, bred & owned by Godolphin, has won three of four starts this year. His only loss came when he was second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. His other win was the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth in Hallandale. Alvarado said it was after the Florida Derby that Mott really began to train Sovereignty and that got him to the next level. “The goal was always the Kentucky Derby,” Alvarado said. “He is just very easy in the races. Even if he is not 100 percent ready, when you want to ask him, he'll be there for you. Like in the Belmont, he put himself right up close to the pace and it's not like I asked him to do that. He was just faster that day and put himself right up there. I wasn't going to take that away from him.” The Jim Dandy, and then the $1.25 million GI DK Travers Stakes are the summer goals for Sovereignty. “I really think the best is yet to come from him,” Alvarado said. “When he turns four, that's when I think we'll see the best of him.” Mo Plex Taking A Strange Path To Next Start Had things not taken an abrupt turn for Mo Plex (Complexity), perhaps his work on Friday would not have been part of the New York-bred's preparations for either the $1 million GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park July 19 or the Jim Dandy. But that is exactly where the colt, trained by Jeremiah Englehart is at. Here's why: Last month, Englehart was planning to run Mo Plex in the Mike Lee Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga. That didn't happen because a case of strangles put Englehart's barn under quarantine and forced him to scratch from the race. Mo Plex with Irad Ortiz up | Sarah Andrew Plan B then became the GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown June 21. He won that and, suddenly, bigger doors opened. Englehart will have to decide where he is going to go; had he participated in the Mike Lee and done well, Mo Plex may have stayed with New York-breds. “We would probably be talking about the Albany [Aug. 21],” Englehart said outside his barn at the Annex across from the Oklahoma Training Track. “Sometimes, things work out for certain reasons. With him, (strangles) was a blessing in disguise.” Running in the 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby allowed Englehart to get Mo Plex around two turns for the first time. He is owned by R & H Stable, which is made up of Rick Higgins of Saratoga Springs and Howard Reed of nearby Albany. “I had to talk them into the Ohio Derby,” Englehart said. “It really all worked out.” As a 2-year-old, Mo Plex won the GII Sanford Stakes at Saratoga in open company and was third in the GI Champagne Stakes. In the start before the Ohio Derby, he won the listed Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct in open company. He has five wins in eight career starts and has bankrolled $745,000. Mo Plex won the Ohio Derby by two lengths. Friday, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Mo Plex worked four furlongs on the main track in :47.55 (3/80). Englehart has time to figure out where he wants to go next with Mo Plex. “I believe he fits,” Englehart said of the 3-year-old division while acknowledging the superiority of Sovereignty and Journalism (Curlin). “After those two, everyone else is in the same waters. This will be a chance to show if he belongs or not. I just know him. He shows up for every race. I am pretty confident he won't make a fool of himself.” 'Skippy' Just Keeps On Trucking For Joseph In his 32-race career, 6-year-old horse Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) has won 11 times and competed at 15 different racetracks. He's here, at Saratoga, waiting on the $1 million GI Whitney Stakes Aug. 1. Owned by Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking was entered to run in last weekend's GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. skipped it, opting to wait for the Whitney. Skippylongstocking takes the Hollywood Gold Cup | Benoit In his last start, Skippylongstocking won the GII Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes at Santa Anita May 26. “[Stephen Foster] was back quick after the Hollywood,” Joseph said Friday morning outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “We wanted to go to the Stephen Foster, but the more we thought about it, it was a tough race. We would have had to ship again; it was hot weather, and he doesn't do good in the hot. It made more sense to stay here.” Skippylongstocking has two wins and two thirds in four starts this year. He was third in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park and GIII Oaklawn Handicap and also won the GIII Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay. Joseph says the plan is for Skippylongstocking to return for a 7-year-old campaign next year, but he hopes for big things the rest of this year. After the Whitney, where he is likely to see horses such as 'TDN Rising Stars' Fierceness (City of Light) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), plus stablemate White Abarrio (Race Day), Joseph wants to see Skippylongstocking go for his third straight victory in the $1 million GII Charles Town Classic Aug. 22. Joseph knows that the older horse division is loaded this year, but that won't scare him and Skippy off. “On his best day, he is capable of knocking them off,” Joseph said. “Overall, he is a notch below the best. That is why we pick our spots. We know when to try and when to back off.” The post Saratoga Notebook: Sovereignty Takes Next Step Toward Summer Goals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Test Score (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy), second to Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in the GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 3, got his own day in the sun Friday, winning Saratoga's $750,000 GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes in convincing style. For his part, Zulu Kingdom won the GIII Manilla Stakes at the Spa one race prior to Test Score's Belmont Derby win. In the Belmont Derby, it was Tank (Adios Charlie), as expected, who set the pace, leading the field through :23.66 and :47.79 fractions. Favored New Century (GB) (Kameko) tracked in second with Test Score just behind. Positions remained unchanged until the tempo quickened on the turn. As New Century tried to tackle Tank, it was Test Score who came through to their outside, setting sail for home with authority. World Beater (Oscar Performance) got up for second, with Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a close third while Tank held for fourth. Test Score got the 1 1/8 miles on the grass in 1:45.56. In addition to his American Turf runner-up finish, Test Score won the GIII Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in April. Friday, Saratoga BELMONT DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 7-4, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:45.56, fm. 1–TEST SCORE, 122, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky 1st Dam: Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy 2nd Dam: Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy 3rd Dam: Society Dream (Fr), by Akarad (Fr) 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Manuel Franco. $412,500. Lifetime Record: 8-3-3-1, $1,074,025. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–World Beater, 122, c, 3, Oscar Performance–Dabinett, by Blame. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($105,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-John A. Chandler (KY); T-Riley Mott. $150,000. 3–Luther (GB), 122, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Give And Take (GB), by Cityscape (GB). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Paul Hickman and Nicholas Jones; B-Coln Valley Stud (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. $90,000. Margins: 1 1/4, NO, HD. Odds: 3.30, 11.30, 6.00. Also Ran: Tank, Final Gambit-(DH), New Century (GB)-(DH), Early Adopter (GB). Scratched: Flying Mohawk. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. TEST SCORE aces the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational, giving @jockeyfranco the win for trainer @GrahamMotion who won this race last year! pic.twitter.com/iTplHMJxxs — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025 The post Lookin At Lucky’s Test Score Aces Belmont Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On the heels of his GI American Turf Stakes win at Churchill Downs in May, Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (r, 3, Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Zindziswa, by Smart Strike) did it again, capturing Saratoga's $200,000 GIII Manilla Stakes Friday. The cut back in distance was no problem for the Chad Brown trainee, who is now five for six since making his American debut last August at the Spa. At 2-5 in the Manilla, Zulu Kingdom broke sharply and stuck his nose in front for several strides before Maui Strong (Kitten's Joy) cut the corner to his inside to take control of the pace. The winner tracked him in second through fractions of :23.19 and :46.85, breathing down his neck all the while. Floated a little wide on the final turn, Zulu Kingdom was slow to change leads, but quickly asserted himself, powering clear to run the mile in 1:33.11. Capitol Hill (Into Mischief) closed late from far back to nab second, while Tiz Dashing (Tiz the Law) was third. Zulu Kingdom won the GII Pilgrim and GIII With Anticipation at two, then took the one-mile Columbia Stakes at Tampa in March before his win in the American Turf. O-Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael J. Caruso; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (Ire); T-Chad Brown; J-Flavien Prat. ZULU KINGDOM gets his fifth stakes win in his last six starts as he wins the Grade 3 Manila Stakes under Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/Wp47d3Bhrv — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025 The post GISW Zulu Kingdom Does It Again in Manilla at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Familiar Thoroughbreds from the 3-year-old stakes scene will line up to contest the July 5 Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Besides Coal Battle and Publisher, the race includes dual stakes winner Instant Replay.View the full article

Kingsolver broke her maiden and added a black-type score to her resume in the same afternoon in the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes July 4 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Jay Goodwin, the former stallion sales director at Walmac Farm, will be the new account manager for Vinery Sales and Silver Springs Training, according to a press release from the sales company on Friday. Goodwin moved to Lexington in 2005 and gained sales experience through working with several top consignment agencies. He continues to own and operate his own Good Win Farm in Paris, Kentucky where he manages several client's mares and foals in addition to his own broodmare band. “Jay is a high integrity, high energy guy, with decades of sales experience in all markets. He's going to be a tremendous asset to both teams,” said Vinery's co-owner Matt Bowling. “Vinery has a strong sales reputation, and I'm delighted to join the team,” said Goodwin. “Matt, Derek, and Erin have been great to work with in other ventures and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to work together. Silver Springs also has a fantastic reputation and I'm looking forward to helping my clients make use of these top-class facilities right here in Lexington.” The post Goodwin Joins Vinery Sales And Silver Springs Training appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

On June 5, trainer Michelle Elliott will saddle her first starter in the Indiana Oaks (G3) when she runs the 3-year-old filly Top.View the full article

Kingsolver (f, 2, Omaha Beach–Famous Writer, by Speightstown), a debut fifth at Churchill Downs June 11, earned her diploma in style at second asking in Saratoga's $150,000 Schuylerville S. Off as the second choice at odds of 3-1, she battled between horses as four of them lined up early. Heavily favored My Sweetheart (Flameaway) made the first move and drew clear from her five rivals on the far turn and looked well on her way. But Kingsolver had other ideas. My Sweetheart enjoyed a two-length advantage an eighth of a mile from home, but Kingsolver kept on coming down the stretch to reel in that rival late to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths. The final time for six furlongs was 1:13.17. Sales history: $20,000 yrl '24 KEESEP; $95,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0. O-Storyteller Racing, Schroeck, Michael, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Cahoe, Brian, Catlett, Scott, Russel, Dave, Ransdell, Matthew, Motley, Michael and Braun, Joel; B-George Krikorian (KY); T- Rodolphe Brisset. KINGSOLVER breaks her maiden in the Schuylerville Stakes with Flavien Prat aboard for trainer @BrissetRodolphe. pic.twitter.com/b8wjKpU869 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025 The post Omaha Beach’s Kingsolver Graduates in Schuylerville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wagering dipped compared to a year ago in June, but so did the number of race days according to information released by Equibase on Friday. Total wagering of $956,784,146 on races during the month represented a 7.18% decrease over the same period from 2024, while available purses of over $114 million were lower by 5.87%. The figure of over $110 million for paid purses in June was also down by 5.95%. As for the total number of race days, they also decreased from 408 to 380 (-6.86%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 3,207 in June 2024 to last month's tally of 2,964 (-7.58%). Average field size in June was down a tick from over a year ago when it was 7.18, and checked in at an average of 7.06 runners, a decrease of 1.67%. Average daily wagering decreased slightly by 0.34% to $2,517,853, but the average available purse number per race day was up 1.07% to $301,518 from the figure of $298,340 in 2024. When it comes to the year-to-date figures, through June of 2024 wagering on U.S. races came in at $5.951 billion, while this year the amount is $5.786 billion (-2.77%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post June Economic Indicators: Wagering Dips Over Less Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) allocation to the new disease surveillance, veterinary science and education programme starting in 2025 is rising to £2.76m [from £2.32m]. The Racing Foundation and the British European Breeders' Fund (BEBF) are supporting specific projects with an additional £220,000, bringing the total funds available to £2.98m. The news comes following continued support from the Racing Foundation, the TBA, the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust and the BEBF. That support is said to underline the importance that the industry places on advancing the health and welfare of the Thoroughbred. Racehorse owners and the TBA also contribute towards the provision of equine infectious disease surveillance. Alan Delmonte, Chief Executive of the Levy Board, said, “Promoting and supporting veterinary science and education is one of the statutory objectives of the HBLB. The Board's Veterinary Advisory Committee takes a careful and thorough approach in assessing which applications should be recommended for funding. This year saw a particularly high number of veterinary research applications, and the Board is pleased to have increased funding for 2025 to £2.76 million. The Board also extends its thanks to the industry partner funders, whose involvement contributes to world-class research being conducted in Britain.” Simon Sweeting, Chairman, British EBF, “To date, the British EBF has directly funded over £1.3million of equine veterinary research projects, in addition to our £42million prize money allocations and we are pleased to be building on that support by fully funding two projects in 2025. The Trustees selected a study covering Inbreeding depression in Thoroughbreds and methods for non-invasive diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. Both subject areas are of importance to the long-term health of the Thoroughbred, and we are delighted to be supporting the aims of the HBLB in this important work.” The post New Industry Funding for Equine Disease Surveillance and Veterinary Science appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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 half-brother to a recent Group 1-placed filly. 3.32 Deauville, Debutantes, €45,700, 2yo, c/g, 6fT RAYIF (IRE) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) is an intriguing newcomer for The Aga Khan Studs and Francis-Henri Graffard stable, being a half-brother to the recent G1 Commonwealth Cup third Rayevka. Stouter-bred on the sire's side than that daughter of Blue Point, he has obviously been showing enough at home to warrant an introduction over this trip. The post Rayevka’s Half-Brother Rayif Debuts at Deauville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Marked by a soft month of wagering in June, wagering on Thoroughbred racing in the United States continued to slide through the second quarter of 2025, dipping 2.38% to $3,281,212,052. Betting totaled $956,784,146 in June, a reduction of 7.18%.View the full article

2nd-ELP, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19 p.m. BELLS OF MARANELLO (Nyquist), a daughter of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can (Proud Citizen), was a $750,000 KEESEP grad back in 2023 for Cindy Heider. The mare, who RNA'd for $4.9m at FTKNOV in 2014 following her racing career, produced SW/GSP Believe In Royalty (Tapit) for her first foal and, more recently, MGSW Conclude (Collected). Steve Asmussen trains for Heider Family Stables with son Keith Asmussen aboard for the debut. Breaking mid-gate, Angelic Sense (Street Sense) is the full-sister to GI Starlet Stakes winner Street Fancy, both out of stakes-winning first dam Bold Angel who sold to Hunter Valley Farm for just $65,000 at KEENOV in 2012. This is the family of GI Kentucky Derby winner and sire Fusaichi Pegasus. Walking L Thoroughbreds picked up this Ken McPeek trainee for $325,000 at KEESEP. TJCIS PPS 1st-SAR, 100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 12:35 p.m. In New York, Ewing (Knicks Go) brought $585,000 at OBS April from D.J. Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10.1. First dam Sassy Ali Joy has four winners from five to race including stakes-placed Tuscan Queen (Street Boss). TJCIS PPS 7th-SAR, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6 1/2f, 3:54 p.m. Later in the card, Gin's Beach Road (Quality Road) is a China Horse Club-bred daughter of GISW Yellow Agate, making her a full-sister to GSW Agate Road and a half to GSP Gasoline (Curlin). Live Oak Plantation purchased her for $650,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in 2023. Second-time starter Trango Tower (Curlin) ran a well-beaten fifth in her Saratoga debut last summer behind the likes of MGISW La Cara (Street Sense) and MGISP Quickick (McKinzie). Away since last August, this Alpha Delta homebred daughter of MGSW/MGISP Lewis Bay gets Lasix for trainer Chad Brown. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Nyquist Daughter Of An Oaks Winner Unveiled At Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — Kemi Badenoch MP has spoken of the importance of British racing remaining an “international beacon” during a briefing with industry stakeholders at Tattersalls on Friday. The Leader of the Opposition, Badenoch, along with Shadow Ministers from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Stuart Andrew MP and Louie French MP, joined a Newmarket horseracing policy conference organised by the Jockey Club and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). “The most important thing is that horseracing stays here and continues to thrive here – that we are an international beacon,” Badenoch said after listening to John Gosden speak about the growth of the racing and breeding industry since the early 1980s following a fallow time in Newmarket. “The breeding industry is the whole bedrock of the racing industry, and what happened from 1980 onwards, there came massive investment here, particularly from the Middle East – from the United Arab Emirates and from Saudi Arabia – and they set up stud farms here. And when you had a good horse, a stallion prospect, they stayed here,” Gosden explained. “And when you do that, all the best broodmares then come to those stallions, and that has made the breeding industry here, in Britain and Ireland, the best in the world for turf racing. “Consequently, where we are standing has become a great clearing house. There are only two great clearing houses in the northern hemisphere, one in Keeneland, in America, and the other one is right here. So if you are here during the sales you will see people of every nationality – from Australasia, the Far East, Hong Kong, America, South America – they are all here trading.” The most imminent threat to British racing comes from a government proposal to harmonise betting duties so that tax on sports betting, including racing, would be raised to the same level of tax imposed on online casinos and slot machines – from 15 per cent to 21 per cent. On the Monday of Royal Ascot week the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Breeding delivered a report which will be submitted to government ahead of the end of the consultation period on July 21. Entitled Securing Racing's Future: The Threat to British Horseracing, the report highlights the potential damage to racing's financial structure from the harmonisation proposal as well as affordability checks on punters, which it claims has already led to a £1.6bn fall in betting turnover on racing. It also points to the need for Levy reform to include bets placed domestically on overseas racing, as is the norm in other major racing jurisdictions. The delegation of politicians agreed to meet members of the racing community to listen to the issues affecting the sport as part of the Conservative Party's policy renewal as it seeks to rebuild after losing last year's general election to Labour. Gosden was joined by fellow trainers Stuart Williams, Simon Crisford, James Fanshawe, Alice Haynes, James Ferguson, Roger Varian and William Haggas. Leaders of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Racehorse Owners Association, and National Association of Stable Staff were also present, along with Jim Mullen, the new CEO of the Jockey Club, and representatives from various major stud farms, racecourses and Weatherbys. Welcoming Badenoch and her colleagues, the Jockey Club's Senior Steward Dido Harding said, “Racing clearly matters here in Newmarket but it matters for the country as well. Firstly, we are a hugely popular sport – the second-most attended sport in the country with 4 million people a year going racing. “There is also huge economic impact – 85,000 people work in the racing industry across the country. The economists would call Newmarket an economic cluster. You have every element of the racing and breeding industry represented in this town and that drives economic growth. It's in the order of £260 million that comes into this part of the east of England courtesy of the racing and breeding industry. That's a huge economic impact in a rural area and that is replicated across the country in other parts of the racing industry.” The BHA is urging all industry participants to get behind its 'Axe the Tax' campaign to persuade government to consider betting on horseracing independently amid fears that the sport could be hit by the loss of £66m in income. Speaking at Friday's conference, trainer Stuart Williams told Badenoch, “The British racing industry is a world leader in that we export horses all over the world. There are only two forms of funding – one is through the owners, and breeders are mostly owners as well, and the other one is through the punters. We are the only country in the world which runs a system where most of the profits go to the bookmakers and not back to the participants in racing.” He added, “The Levy deal is hugely important to us and we are in a stage now where the major betting operators are American-based casinos and they are not interested in British racing. They are using it as a gateway to get people in to bet on these addictive casinos. This upcoming tax will be the absolute death of all of this, the whole lot will crumble if we get lumped in with the casinos. “You can see the direction of travel and the agenda is that betting is the new smoking, and the government is going after it with a passion. And if we can't distinguish ourselves as a game of skill, against the addictive casino-based games of chance where the house always wins, we are in dire trouble. It's imminent and it needs to be addressed right now.” Closing the conference, Newmarket's MP Nick Timothy said after the leader of his party had departed, “It is really conspicuous that Kemi Badenoch chose to come here today. She hasn't done that with any other sport.” The post Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Hears Racing’s Fears of ‘Dire Trouble’ from Betting Tax Rises appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When it comes to Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse, there has been a shift of power to the Classic generation in recent times with seven of the last ten going their way. Saturday's renewal will either see a fifth consecutive success for the 3-year-olds or a break in the sequence and the onus is on Ombudsman to reestablish the reputation of the older horses. Godolphin's son of Night Of Thunder is the key protagonist on his emphatic Prince of Wales's Stakes success last month and to date has no blemish on his record. Carefully nurtured by John and Thady Gosden last term, the progressive colt dealt with Anmaat and co without mercy as he finally showed his hand at Royal Ascot but now needs to back up on quick ground in a different test. In a select renewal, the Wertheimers' Sosie (Sea The Stars) is the other 4-year-old and he bids to provide Andre Fabre with a first Eclipse and while his narrow defeat of Map Of Stars in the G1 Prix Ganay means he has something to find withe favourite, he did beat the speedier Sardinian Warrior in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan last time and it will be fascinating to see how his reinvention from mile-and-a-half supremo develops. Racing Manager Pierre-Yves Bureau is relishing the prospect. “We felt it was the time we travel with him, it's the first time and I hope everything will be okay,” he said. “When he won the Grand Prix de Paris last year it was on good ground and I don't think there will be a problem with this. His dam was a miler, so we tried and he performed nicely in the Ganay. We have been very lucky with all this family. They are good fighters and I'd say that's what we'll need tomorrow.” Turning to the 3-year-olds, there is no doubt that Aidan O'Brien will have a say in matters with Ryan Moore picking Delacroix (Dubawi) over Camille Pissaro (Wootton Bassett) in a surprise twist. Take out his Derby flop and the former, a son of Dubawi who beat Lambourn convincingly over this trip in Leopardstown's G3 Ballysax Stakes, remains one of the yard's kingpins and the fact that he is favoured over a Prix du Jockey Club winner speaks volumes. “The only horse who is yet to win at the top level is mine and we're hoping he can bounce back from the Derby, where everything went wrong for him,” Moore said. “I'd say the track probably didn't suit and the mile and a half was just too far. There's nothing between Camille Pissarro and Delacroix, just a pound on official ratings.” Surprisingly, the 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court (Justify) is considered an outsider here despite running like a 10-furlong performer in the St James's Palace. Maybe it is because William Buick is on Ombudsman, but it is not a choice he would have relished with the 10 pounds weight-for-age differential levelling things up. “The tempo of the St James's Palace Stakes was completely different to what Ruling Court encountered in the 2,000 Guineas. They went an end-to-end gallop and he never really looked comfortable throughout the race,” Charlie Appleby explained. “We have always wanted to step him up in trip and a mile and a quarter is probably the ideal distance to aim for as a first try over middle distances.” “Conditions at Sandown look there to suit. He has won around the course before and has a significant weight pull against the older horses, which can often come into play in an Eclipse. It's a small but very strong field and he's a Classic-winning colt who doesn't look out of place.” Lofty Ambitions On The Line For Estrange… Saturday's other high-profile action is at Haydock, where Cheveley Park's exciting filly Estrange (Night Of Thunder) is the heavy favourite for the G2 Lancashire Oaks. David O'Meara was talking about the Arc after her course-and-distance romp in the G3 Lester Piggott Stakes and she will need to deal with three rivals with a degree of ease to remain in that conversation. “The ease with which she won did take me a bit by surprise, but we did expect her to put up a good show,” her trainer said. “Amazing Maria was brilliant for us, then we also had G Force, while Mondialiste gave me great satisfaction when we took him to Canada and he won the Woodbine Mile. Far more of those good horses end up in other yards, so we are very aware that we are very fortunate to have Estrange in the yard and Cheveley Park Stud have always been very supportive to us.” Shadow Of Light | Emma Berry Shadow Of Light Bids For Redemption… Sunday's G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville affords Godolphin's G1 Middle Park Stakes and G1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) the opportunity to atone for his reversal in last month's G1 Commonwealth Cup. Probably in need of this seven-furlong trip now, he faces Bond Thoroughbred's recent acquisition Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) who is back over the same course and distance of his G3 Prix Djebel success. In a fascinating contest, Juddmonte's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year (Kingman), Ballydoyle's G3 Acomb Stakes winner The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) and Resolute Bloodstock's G3 Prix Texanita winner Woodshauna (Wooded) provide an exotic mix. Charlie Appleby is looking for Shadow Of Light to bounce back from his Royal Ascot disappointment. “The drop back in trip and quick ground caught out Shadow Of Light in the Commonwealth Cup, but he came out of the race in great nick,” he said. “Stepping back up to seven furlongs is a positive and hopefully the ground at Deauville will be a bit more forgiving. We will be on weather watch and a decision will be made on the day after we have had a look at the ground. I can't fault his preparation going into this and feel he is the horse to beat if he can run up to anywhere near the form of his Guineas third.” In Sunday's 156th G1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg, the 18 protagonists are headed by Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee's G2 Union-Rennen winner Zuckerhut (Almanzor), Gestut Park Wiedingen's G3 Bavarian Classic winner Path Of Soldier (Soldier Hollow) and Westminster Stud's G3 Diana-Trial scorer Lady Charlotte (Golden Horn). Also in the mix are Hajro Jusufovic's G3 Baden-Baden Derby-Trial winner Juwelier (Wootton Bassett) and Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Convergent (Fascinating Rock), not seen since finishing third behind Lambourn and Lazy Griff in the G3 Chester Vase. The post Will Ombudsman Rule in the Clash of the Generations? 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, 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 Saturday at Saratoga and Ellis Park. Saturday, July 5, 2025 Saratoga 1, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 12:35 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($) Empires King (Classic Empire), OBSAPR, 60,000 C-Global Thoroughbreds, agent; B-Martin Weis Ewing (Knicks Go), OBSAPR, 585,000 C-Hidden Brook, agent; B-D J Stable & West Point TBs Sar 3, Sanford S.-GIII, $175k, 2yo, 6f, 1:40 p.m. ET Imagine John (Maclean's Music), OBSMAR, 50,000 C-On Point Training & Sales; B-Pure Bred Funding & Jason Lorenz Obliteration (Violence), OBSMAR, 200,000 C-Ocala Stud; B-Leland Ackerley Saratoga 6, $100k, 2yo, f, 1mT, 3:20 p.m. ET Stylish Gem (Practical Joke), OBSAPR, 85,000 C-S G V Thoroughbreds (S Venosa), agt; B-Fergus Galvin, agent Ellis 7, $100k, 2yo, f, 1mT, 3:42 p.m. ET Diablo Shiraz (Daredevil), OBSAPR, 20,000 C-Wavertree Stables Inc (C Dunne), agt; B-John Ennis Hollybygolly (Yaupon), OBSMAR, 210,000 C-Kings Equine, agent; B-RB Bloodstock, agt. Storyteller Racing The post Summer Breezes: Saturday, July 5. 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dr Paolo Romanelli, the founder of Ital-Cal Horse Management, might live roughly 5,000 miles from Milan in Florida nowadays, but a small piece of his heart will always remain in the vicinity of the San Siro Racetrack which, on Saturday, will host races run in memory of Romanelli's grandfather and mother. Romanelli himself was a native of Pisa, before his move Stateside, but his mother, Maria Luisa Regoli, once lived across the street from the San Siro Racetrack in the surrounds of what was then a thriving training operation. The facility, described by Romanelli as a “masterpiece of Italian architecture”, was a passion project for powerful owner Giuseppe de Montel, who made his fortune first as a silk entrepreneur and then as a banker. At a time when the great Federico Tesio was an all-conquering force in Italian racing, de Montel soon brought in Romanelli's grandfather, Luigi Regoli, to oversee his burgeoning operation with terrific results. “De Montel was a visionary owner-breeder,” says Romanelli. “Because of his passion for horse racing, he asked Paolo Vietti-Violo, one of the most famous architects at the time, to build this beautiful stable. In 1937, he hired my grandfather as a private trainer and he had between 100-120 horses in the stable. Together they won some big races, including the Derby [Italiano] with Orsenigo and the Gran Premio di Milano with Macherio. A lot of people think that, if it wasn't for the war, Orsenigo could have won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. “Unfortunately, because of his Jewish origin, de Montel left Italy at the beginning of the war. He donated the stable to a charity managed by a congregation of nuns but, because of the maintenance expenses, the charity was unable to keep the stable. It was left unkept and run down. Every time I went to the races [at San Siro], I went to look at the place, because my mum grew up there when she was going to high school in Milan. I was very emotionally attached.” Thankfully, there has been a happy outcome for this site which holds such a special place in Romanelli's heart. Last April, it was inaugurated as a spa, De Montel Terme Milano, with many of the original features being kept intact. Fittingly, the spa will sponsor one of the feature races on Saturday's card, the Listed Premio Giuseppe de Montel, run over seven furlongs for two-year-olds. “The spa spent €52 million and completely revamped the stable,” says Romanelli, before explaining how two more of Saturday's contests–the Premio Luigi Regoli and Premio Maria Luisa Regoli–came to be named after his dear family members. “I have a brother in Italy who is a professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pisa. He is also the director of multiple thermal spas in Italy, so he was able to introduce me to the directors of the De Montel Terme Milano. And I grew up in Pisa with the now-director of the San Siro Racetrack, Lorenzo Stoppini, who is a very good friend. “I put together a commercial relationship between the track and the spa with already wonderful outcomes, with horse owners going to the spa with discounts and spa clients invited to the Turf Club at San Siro. “After this I called Lorenzo and I said, 'Lorenzo, I put together a nice agreement between the spa and the racetrack, could I have two races named after my grandfather and my mum, the same day of the [Premio Giuseppe] de Montel?'. He agreed and now we have a colts' race for my grandfather and a fillies' race for my mum.” He continues, “I am offering two trophies to the owners of the winners. One of them was made by my good friend Nina Kaiser, an equine artist who did the life-size statues of John Henry and Zenyatta for Santa Anita. And, together with some friends, I also own a stallion in France called Keiai Nautique. He is by Deep Impact and was a Group 1 winner in Japan. So, for the winner of the fillies' race [the Premio Maria Luisa Regoli], I'm going to offer a free nomination in 2026 to Keiai Nautique.” Romanelli himself will be represented in the Premio Luigi Regoli by Biscayne Blaze (Yoshida), who will sport the colours–red body with blue sleeves–which were once those of Regoli himself. Like the site of de Montel's former stables, the silks too have had a facelift, after Romanelli commissioned a special set by the famous fashion designer, Renato Balestra. Sadly, Romanelli is unable to make it to Milan on Saturday, but he'll be watching on fondly from afar as he does his own bit to uphold the legacy started by his great-grandfather, Luigi Regoli Sr. A former training partner of Tesio, Luigi Sr had two other sons, Federico and Antonio, both of whom were also hugely successful trainers. Previously, Federico won the Derby Italiano eight times in his spell as first jockey to the man he was named after, Tesio, before providing the Regoli dynasty with arguably its most significant victory when he trained the 1933 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, Crapom. The post Regoli Dynasty Remembered with Pair of Races at San Siro appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For decades now, Japanese buyers have frequented American bloodstock sales, eagerly snapping up racing and breeding stock of the highest quality to help grow the domestic Thoroughbred industry. By any metric, the undertaking has been a smashing success, given not only the performance of Japanese-based runners on foreign soil, particularly over the last six to eight years, but also the strength of the Japanese bloodstock markets. The Japanese Racing Horse Association (JRHA)'s annual Select Sale is a mostly insular affair, but American owner Mike Repole is always ready to think a bit outside the box, and with a bit of a 'what's good for the goose, is good for the gander' mindset, the successful businessman and owner/breeder shipped out a team to the island of Hokkaido to shop last year's sale. They did not leave there empty-handed, signing for five yearlings and a pair of foals, some with recognizable pedigrees and others less so. The most forward of their grab, Bento Express (Jpn)–a son of the expatriated Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Drefong–becomes the first to face the starter when he goes postward in the Saturday opener at Saratoga. Bento Express is set to become the sixth starter out of Tammy the Torpedo (More Than Ready), a dual Grade III winner on the turf for trainer Chad Brown, who was knocked down to Dr. Masatake Iida for $1.65 million in foal to War Front at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Repole dispatched Alex Solis II and Pat Cummings to Hokkaido last summer, and the experience left a real impression on Solis, who was making his first visit to the JRHA auction and embraced the challenge of finding Japanese-breds that might excel in this country. All totaled, Solis signed for five yearlings on the first day of the sale–a second colt by Drefong out of a half-sister to MG1SW Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (¥41m/$255k); a colt by Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) and half-brother to MGSW & G1SP Sound Chiara (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) (¥50m/$311k); a Kizuna (Jpn) filly out of champion Ginger Punch (¥68m/$423k); and a filly by leading freshman sire Nadal (¥78m/$485k) whose dam Lelievre (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is a half-sister to champion Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and is the pick of the lot, if you ask Solis. The majority of the yearlings arrived in the States early last September, just two months after the sale, flying to Chicago via Alaska and spending a little time in Kentucky before being sent on to be broken. The Ginger Punch filly was broken in Japan and arrived in mid-February. “When you start looking at the horses over there, you have some crossovers that look like American horses, dirt horses, turf horses, firm ground stuff,” he explained. “And then you also have the crossover of all the European mares that have very European attributes. So I just knew those probably wouldn't work in this country. “So I really had to be careful, thinking, 'Okay, does this look like a horse that would fit the U.S.?' And so yeah, I think we bought things that looked more American-like, so that definitely pulled us towards probably a Nadal, the Drefongs. Bento Express, purchased for ¥50 million ($310,962) from the draft of Dr. Iida's Chiyoda Farm Shizunai, has drawn the widest gate in a field of six for Saturday's debut, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. at the controls aboard the 5-2 second favorite. Solis and the Repole braintrust have been impressed with what they've seen thus far. “He's a very good-looking colt, he looks very quick,” said Solis. “I was just trying to buy a nice physical, and he kind of fit the bill. He's an Apr. 13th foal. I wondered how early he would be. The Japanese, they really don't focus on 2-year-old racing. So I guess that's probably where this is coming from, just that it's truly an American type, and I think that's why he's probably jumping on the bit so early.” Bento Express back at the barn | Sarah Andrew Bento Express's worktab is highlighted by a bullet half-mile from the gate in :47 flat (1/114) over the Belmont training track June 22 and went the same distance in :47 3/5 (3/144) on June 28, also from the machine. “He's trained well,” Solis said. “My question always has been is he a grass or a dirt horse? Just for the fact that Tammy the Torpedo and a lot of that family is grass. And Drefong still is Gio Ponti, he's out of a Trempolino mare at the bottom. Ghostzapper and then Trempolino. So I always wondered, Drefong's had a lot of grass in Japan, so I always wondered that. But he's trained well enough on the dirt that give it a shot. It's a positive sign.” For the record, among the five group and 11 black-type winners sired by Drefong is G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Geoglyph (Jpn)–also a close fourth in the 2023 G1 Saudi Cup–and this year's G2 UAE Derby victor and GI Kentucky Derby participant Admire Daytona (Jpn). Bento Express would not be the first high-profile graduate of the JRHA Select Sales to post a victory at Saratoga. Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) fetched just over $765,000 at the 2015 yearling sale and the 'TDN Rising Star' annexed the 2018 GI Woodward Stakes in his first try on the dirt, having won the GI Turf Classic some four months prior. Solis indicated that they have a return visit to Hokkaido penciled in somewhere down the road in the back of their minds once assessing the success of their first raid on the Select Sale. This year's renewal of the auction begins with the yearling section on Monday, July 14, followed by the foal section on Tuesday, July 15. That session will feature 25 foals from the first crop by two-time Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn). The post From Hokkaido To the Spa: Repole Set To Unveil Drefong Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Bloodstock South Africa KZN Yearling Sale broke all previous benchmarks for the auction including an aggregate that surged past the prior year's standard by over R5.6-million, the group announced Friday. A total of 195 yearlings changed hands from the 209 catalogued (seven lots did not sell in the ring or privately later). The aggregate was R44.725-million, over R5.6-million higher than the figure for 2024, while the average rose to a sale record of R229,359; the median improved to R180,000; and the top price came in at R1.3-million late in the day. The aforementioned sales topper was Lot 202–named V Squared, a Vercingetorix (SAf) filly out of Victoriana (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}). The dam is a half-sister to multiple Listed winners Hammie's Hooker (SAf) (Trippi) and Gem King (SAf) (Master Of My Fate {SAf}). V Squared is a full-sister to Quickstepgal (SAf), who is considered one of South Africa's leading 2-year-old performers. Lot 202 went the way of Jonathan Snaith, who was also the top buyer at the auction. Snaith was quoted as saying that the filly was a standout in pedigree and conformation. “One of our core objectives is to create auction platforms that reach the broadest possible base of buyers and to ensure that all vendors get their fair share of opportunities,” said Bloodstock SA CEO Michael Holmes. “We're pleased to have played our part in delivering that again this year, and we wish all our clients the best with their purchases.” The post 2025 Bloodstock South Africa KZN Yearling Sale Shatters Own Records appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars SZERYNG - R7 (2) Broke through in fine style last start and looks far from finished Jay Rooney MAGNIFIQUE - R9 (6) Trialled brilliantly ahead of his return and is drawn to get a dream run Trackwork Spy MAGNIFIQUE - R9 (6) Looks ready to make an impact on his return from a freshen up Phillip Woo SZERYNG - R7 (2) Eye-catching winner last start and can repeat from a good draw Shannon (Vincent Wong) TOURBILLON GOLFER - R7 (3) Ran well for second on debut and can win Racing Post...View the full article

Forced to miss the Triple Crown series after exiting his sensational GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S. victory with an ankle chip, Magnitude (Not This Time) makes his highly anticipated return in Saturday evening's $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite. The Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer was a 9 3/4-length, front-running winner of the Risen Star at odds of 43-1 Feb. 15, good for a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. His final time of 1:48.85 was the fastest Risen Star in seven runnings (including one year with split divisions) since it was elongated to nine furlongs in 2020. Future GI Preakness S. winner Journalism (Curlin) matched Magnitude's gaudy figure two weeks later in the GII DK Horse San Felipe S. at Santa Anita Mar. 1. The only sophomore to earn a higher rating this season has been GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who received a 109 Beyer Speed Figure in the Belmont. Magnitude has posted seven breezes for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs, including a five-furlong move in 1:00 (2/19) June 22, since having that aforementioned chip removed by Dr. Larry Bramlage four days after the Risen Star. “With a horse that has run as fast as him in the past, we're dreaming big,” Asmussen said. “His Risen Star was brilliant in time, as well as who he beat that day. Obviously, the ankle chip was not ideal, especially the timing of it. But the rehab at Becky Maker's went well. He's done exceptionally well since he came back into training and has put in some very good recent works. I feel that the Iowa Derby is the right spot to get him back started.” Magnitude got his picture taken twice last year and capped his five-race, 2-year-old campaign with a well-beaten second-place finish in the Gun Runner S. Dec. 21. He finished sixth-beaten 2 3/4 lengths-in the slop in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 18 before his breakout performance in the Risen Star. Magnitude will join Asmussen's string in Saratoga following his trip to Altoona this weekend. The stakes schedule at the Spa is topped by the GI DraftKings Travers S. Aug. 23. “The circumstances are what we're looking for as far as the way the racetrack is playing, the (1 1/16 miles) distance, and it being a little cooler in the evening,” Asmussen said of the Iowa Derby. “Hopefully, we can get back in the mix with horses that his numbers indicate he belongs with.” One of 24 graded winners for Taylor Made's leading young sire Not This Time, Magnitude was produced by the Bernardini mare Rockadelic, a daughter of MGISW and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Octave (Unbridled's Song). The $310,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $450,000 Keeneland September yearling was bred in Kentucky by Ron Stolich. Asmussen has trained two of Not This Time's top performers thus far–2022 Travers winner and champion 3-year-old colt Epicenter, and Cogburn, who set a North American record for 5 1/2 furlongs while capturing the grassy GI Jaipur S. in :59.80 at Saratoga last year. “Not This Time has been unbelievable to me,” Asmussen said. “Epicenter being champion 3-year-old, then Cogburn running 5 1/2 in under a minute last year, still one of the craziest races I've ever been a part of. We did acquire Magnitude because of his physical similarities to Epicenter and also being by Not This Time gave us a level of confidence. Magnitude has proven to be worthy.” The post Asmussen ‘Dreaming Big’ Ahead of Magnitude’s Return in Iowa Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article