Wandering Eyes

By Adam Hamilton STACEY White just wants one more slice of good luck. White and husband, David, were all smiles after young trotting star Bet N Win made a clean sweep of the Inter Dominion heats, albeit in slightly different style last night. While the five-year-old led throughout on opening night, driver Bob Butt led again, but opted to take a sit on the talented but headstrong London To A Brick when challenged in the early stages. Bet N Win picked up well late in a sizzling last half to win by 3.5m with London To A Brick second and the flying Gus in third spot. Bet N Win ran his own last half in 56sec flat and a closing quarter in 27.9sec. “I just hope we haven’t used up all our luck with these good draws in the heats,” Stacey White said. “We need one more good one tomorrow (Sunday) at the final draw. “Tonight was perfect. Another softish sort of run to top him right off for the final.” Amazingly, the other Kiwi trotting hopeful Oscar Bonavena snuck into the final despite galloping in both heats. A new initiative of bonus points for sectional times, gained Oscar Bonavena three extra points and just scraped into the 12-horse field next Saturday. Last night was another horror show. Driver Adam Sanderson tried to nurse him out from barrier one, but galloped soon after and lost all chance. Vitally, recovered and weaved through traffic to run sixth. Talented Victorian Parisian Artise was taken to the lead by new mum, Tayla French, and gave nothing else a chance in a slick 1min57.6sec mile rate for the long 2680m trip. Final favourite Arcee Phoenix lost no admirers with a fighting second after making a midrace move to sit parked. TROTTING FINAL FIELD: Bet N Win, Gus, Parisian Artiste, Arcee Phoenix, Not As Promised, Golden Sunset, Harry Stamper, Constantinople, Oscar Bonavena, Love Gun, Zealous Spur, London To A Brick, Sir Fahrenheit (emergency). X X X LEAP To Fame looks as close as possible to unbeatable in next week’s $1 million Inter Dominion Pacing Final. The long-awaited fourth clash between him and defending Inter Dominion champ Don Hugo proved a one-act affair after an incident-packed second round heat clash last night. While most expected Don Hugo to lead, he was forced to sit parked and Leap To Fame ended-up stalking him in the one-one trail. The race changed dramatically when Kiwi raider Pinseeker got fired-up on Don Hugo’s back and driver Jonny Cox opted to cut him loose and take the lead in the middle stages. “He just took, started kicking the wheels and was uncontrollable. He’s done it before, but not that bad,” Cox said. Pinseeker stopped sharply and was retired from the race. He didn’t qualify for the final. Leap To Fame made his move at the 500m, charged around to take the lead and coasted to a 10.1m win in a sizzling 1min53.7sec mile rate for the 2680m, just 0.9sec outside his own track record. The shock was Don Hugo, who did endure a torrid run, tiring so badly to finish back in eighth spot. It’s almost impossible to see how he could turn the tables in the final, especially given the stretch to 3157m. It was an all Queensland night in the pacing heats with local trainer Shannon Price winning the other two. In last night’s first heat, talented local Sure Thing Captain made it a clean sweep in the heats with another easy all-the-way win. The five-year-old led throughout on night one and repeated the dose for driver Adam Sanderson from gate four last night. “He’s always had the ability and it’s great to see him putting it all together at a time like this,” Price said. “We drew well and didn’t have to race Leap To Fame or Don Hugo in the heats, so we’ve had our share of luck but made the most of it. “The 3157m is going to be a new test again next week because this was as far as he’s raced tonight (2680m) and even this was his first try over this longer trip.” Old marvel Max Delight qualified for his third Grand Final with a fighting second after sitting outside Sure Thing Captain last night. David Aiken’s nine-year-old ran fourth to Boncel Benjamin way back in 2021 then third to Don Hugo at Menangle last year. “Just he did on night one, he was struggling a bit when they really flew around the last bend, but dug in and hit the line really well. I love him,” driver Will Rixon said. Price then won the second heat in all-the-way fashion with Speak The Truth, who won a heat of the 2023 Brisbane and made the final. “That’s great. It’s so good to get them both through, now we need some more luck with the draws for the final,” she said. PACING FINAL FIELD: Leap To Fame, Sure Thing Captain, Captains Knock, Don Hugo, Petes Said So, Rakero Rebel, Max Delight, Catch A Wave, Tims A Trooper, Cya Art, Speak The Truth, Aroda, Nyack (emergency). View the full article

In a thrilling stretch duel, Excellent Truth edged She Feels Pretty to earn her first grade 1 victory July 12 and give trainer Chad Brown his 10th triumph in the $485,000 Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Trainer Miguel Clement experienced a rewarding victory when Far Bridge rolled by three lengths July 12 over El Rezeen in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

The GI Dunkin' Diana Stakes continues, as it has for nine of the last ten years, to run through the Chad Brown barn as Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) just edged out favorite She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) in a stretch duel to take the opening Grade I of the Saratoga summer meet. While eyes and wagering dollars were on Cherie DeVaux's She Feels Pretty, Brown wielded a strong hand in stablemates Excellent Truth and Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), the one-two finishers in the GI Just A Game Stakes over this course June 6. Heavy rain Saturday morning dampened the course down to yielding and expected pacesetter Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaara {GB}) scratched for Saffie Joseph, Jr. leaving a five-horse field otherwise intact. Excellent Truth, notably second to her stablemate in the aforementioned Just A Game and also to Choisya (GB) (Night of Thunder {GB}) in the GI Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, stretched out to Saturday's 1 1/8-mile distance with aplomb in the silks of Resolute Racing. Expertly guided in the hands of Flavien Prat, aboard for both of her starts since coming stateside for John Stewart, the 5-year-old broke inside of her stablemate and hustled up to form a three-wide charge for the lead outside of rail-drawn She Feels Pretty and Choisya who outsprinted them both. The favorite took back, opting to sit third as Choisya led along the hedge with Excellent Truth never far behind as the field cornered for the first time. In a single file line up the backstretch, the Jenny Wiley winner continued to lead through the opening half in :48.52 with little pressure from either two of her main rivals who were yet to move behind her. It was Excellent Truth who jumped first, drawing alongside midway around the far turn while She Feels Pretty was winding up three wide and the three of them came off the corner together. As the longshot pacesetter faded along the hedge, Excellent Truth was led to contend with the four-time Grade I winner to her inside and the pair threw down the length of the stretch with the Chad Brown runner just edging past the favorite in the final strides to win in a driving finish. It was the 10th overall Diana win for Brown while Flavien Prat picked up his third straight having claimed the last two aboard Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio). “It means a lot,” Brown said of his landmark win. “A lot of different horses have done it. Many of the same team members, though. I know I mention his name a lot–[Bobby] Frankel–but I think about him on days like this. This was a race that I can't believe he only won twice, he always pointed to it. It was right in his wheelhouse with a female turf horse–he taught me so much. A big part of it is him, his legacy lives on, because it is his system we are using.” Of Excellent Truth's win, he said: “That reminded me a little bit of the 3-year-old race [2024 GII Lake Placid] when Grayosh, in another race versus She Feels Pretty, came back again on her. I'm really happy for this horse. She had her day today. She has had two tough trips. I think you could argue with a cleaner trip, she could be 3-for-3 in the country. She has always trained like a top horse all winter. I want to thank John Stewart [owner, Resolute Racing] and his team. He could've picked anyone to train her, I was so happy when she showed up in our barn at Payson this winter. She has never had a bad day. She deserved the win today.” “We felt in her last couple of races, she was probably a little further back [than optimal],” Brown continued. “As Flavien [Prat] and I got to know her, she didn't have that electric turn of foot that maybe we thought was under the hood when we really turned her loose in a race. She took a few strides to get going, a little bit more of a strong, steady run she has. So, he had been commenting to me, particularly after the last race, 'you know Chad, I probably should've been a little closer today, and I would've avoided that wide trip on the final turn. I'm going to try to get closer.' Then with the scratch of the six [No. 6, Be Your Best], it became, 'I may even be on the lead now. I don't want to be far away at all.' Luis Saez [ aboard No. 2, Choisya] wanted to be on the lead, which I understand, so we got a good trip. Down the lane, there was no excuse for either horse, we ran right down the stretch together and she showed a lot of heart.” Winning owner John Stewart said of the result, “It's awesome. We won the New York last year with Didia [with trainer Ignacio Correas, IV] and now we have this one here with Chad–and Chad is Saratoga racing. Excellent Truth had a couple of shots and got second in both of them. We knew she was this quality of horse. I think it's a testament to NYRA with the weather challenges and everything that came up to have the race run today and the competition we had in the race. It wasn't a big field, but it was really deep. This is what I got into racing for–to make sure we're competing at the highest level with the best horses, and I think we all saw that today. Any one of those horses could have won that race and it was just phenomenal to get the win. Chad and Flavien [are] a dangerous combination and I'm really happy to have them train and ride for us.” Pedigree Note: Stewart's Resolute Racing paid €1,600,000 for Excellent Truth in France at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale at the end of 2024 after the mare had run second in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in July of last year. She is the second top-level winner for Tally Ho Stud's Cotai Glory joining G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner The Platinum Queen (Ire). First dam Moment of Truth (Ire), unplaced in her own racing career and a half to French G1 Criterium International winner Zafiso (Ire) (Efisio {GB}), has four winners from five to race including Italian GSP Memo de L'Alguer (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). Moment of Truth is also a half to the dam of GSW/MG1SP Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}). Excellent Truth's 2-year-old half-brother Armstrong (Ire) (Starman {GB}), her youngest reported sibling, hit the board in his first start just last week. EXCELLENT TRUTH runs on Dunkin'! She wins the Grade 1 Dunkin' Diana with Flavien Prat aboard, giving Chad Brown his 10th win in this race! pic.twitter.com/Wtkgv5IdEQ — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 12, 2025 Saturday, Saratoga DUNKIN' DIANA S.-GI, $485,000, Saratoga, 7-12, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.37, gd. 1–EXCELLENT TRUTH (IRE), 120, m, 5, by Cotai Glory (GB) 1st Dam: Moment of Truth (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Goldthroat (Ire), by Zafonic 3rd Dam: Winger (GB), by In the Wings (GB) 1ST GRADE I WIN. (€52,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR; €1,600,000 4yo '24 ARQDEC). O-Resolute Racing; B-Sandra Russell (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $275,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP-Fr, 14-5-5-1, $677,898. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2--She Feels Pretty, 124, f, 4, by Karakontie (Jpn) 1st Dam: Summer Sweet, by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Summer Solstice (Ire), by Caerleon 3rd Dam: Summer Sonnet (GB), by Baillamont ($240,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Lael Stables; B-Payson Stud Inc (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $100,000. 3–Dynamic Pricing (Ire), 124, f, 4, by Night of Thunder (Ire) 1st Dam: Shemda (Ire), by Dutch Art (GB) 2nd Dam: Shamooda (Ire), by Azamour (Ire) 3rd Dam: Shemaka (Ire), by Nishapour (Fr) (170,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000. Margins: HD, 4HF, NO. Odds: 3.00, 0.70, 3.80. Also Ran: Choisya (GB), Lady Claypoole (Ire). Scratched: Be Your Best (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Excellent Truth Refuses to Yield, Denies She Feels Pretty in Diana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Airdrie Stud's Beau Liam (by Liam's Map) got his second black-type winner in his first crop of 2-year-olds–and second in a week–Saturday when Border Czar sailed under the wire in the My Dear Stakes at Woodbine. Beau Liam's juvenile filly Lanaluah had captured the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity July 5. Sent as a 6-1 choice on the all-weather surface, Border Czar broke smartly and settled between horses in the second flight but well behind the :22.17 pace. With rider Rafael Hernandez sitting quietly confident until the turn, the bay tipped out and motored down the stretch a few paths out to win with authority, drifting in but powering by the leaders to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Early trailer Abdul (Tapit) closed late for runner-up honors. “She's pretty sharp little filly,” said winner trainer and owner Barbara Minshall. “I mean, she loves to train. She was a little sharp going to post and everything. I noticed that. But she's all business. And you ask her to do something, she's all business. And [Rafael Hernandez] has worked her a couple times, he's got to know her even better, and he knew she'd come running.” Border Czar's only previous start resulted in a neck win going five furlongs over Woodbine's surface June 7. Legion Bloodstock signed the ticket at $25,000 for her at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Her unplaced dam foaled a Greatest Honour filly Feb. 20 and was bred back to Charge It. #4 BORDER CZAR ($15.40) picked up her first stakes win in the $125,000 My Dear Stakes at @WoodbineTB. The juvenile Beau Liam filly is 2-for-2 for trainer/owner Barbara J. Minshall. Rafael Hernandez was in the irons. pic.twitter.com/CXBv1hHwDz — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 12, 2025 MY DEAR S., C$128,250, Woodbine, 7-12, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (AWT), 1:05.77, ft. 1–BORDER CZAR, 122, f, 2, by Beau Liam 1st Dam: Adalee, by Street Boss 2nd Dam: Lady Fiona, by Henrythenavigator 3rd Dam: Placid Lake, by Greenwood Lake ($25,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/T-Barbara J. Minshall; B-Southern Comfort Farm LLC (KY); J-Rafael Manuel Hernandez. C$75,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $87,333. 2–Abdul, 118, f, 2, Tapit–Miss Jessica J, by Empire Maker. ($350,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Al Shira'aa Racing Limited & Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. C$25,000. 3–Pageant Queen, 122, f, 2, Point of Entry–Queen Ofthe Dawn, by Sun King. (C$35,000 Ylg '24 CANSEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Windways Farm and Upland Flats Racing; B-Anthony B. Russo & Leslie L. Russo (ON); T-James Bentley Begg. C$15,000. Margins: 2 3/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 6.70, 3.40, 9.25. Also Ran: Pina Colada, Sapphire Beach (Ire), Thank You Amy, Armored Guard, Souper Sporty, Souper Diva. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Beau Liam’s Border Czar Takes Control in My Dear Girl Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS–Just before 8 Saturday morning, Sovereignty (Into Mischief) beat the weather. But just barely. The GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes champ got his work in before the heaviest of yet another strong Saratoga thunderstorm pelted Saratoga Race Course. With rain beginning to fall, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was able to get Sovereignty out on the Oklahoma Training Track for a five-furlong work. Ridden by his assistant Neil Poznansky and working in company with stablemate Jefferson Street (Street Sense), Sovereignty covered the distance in 1:02.18 (5/12). The leader in the 3-year-old division, Sovereignty is being pointed to the $500,000 GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 26. “I think we are in good shape,” Mott said outside his barn on the Oklahoma. “I am glad we got the horse breezed today. It worked out well enough; it looked like he went good. He moved well, the time was good, the rider was happy.” The road outside of Mott's barn was flooded by 8:45 a.m. after a 45-minute rain pounded the area. It looked like a mini lake. “We didn't expect this, can you believe it?” Mott said. “We got out in time, fortunately, because it looks like we've got some more rain coming (Sunday). I don't know. This track (Oklahoma) might not have a chance to dry out.” Work of the Day from #Saratoga—Jefferson Street (Outside) and Sovereignty worked 5 Furlongs in 1:02.00 on July 12th, 2025, for trainer Bill Mott. pic.twitter.com/VN8gcfxELC — 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) July 12, 2025 This was Sovereignty's third work since winning the Belmont Stakes, which was run at Saratoga, on June 7. He has won three of four starts this year. Besides the Derby and Belmont, he also won the GII Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. In his other start this year, he was second in the GI Florida Derby. Sovereignty beat the favored Journalism (Curlin) in the Derby and Belmont. He won't see him in the Jim Dandy as it appears that Journalism will run in the $1 million GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth next weekend. The area around Mott's office was cleared on Saturday morning following a Thursday night storm that uprooted a huge maple leaf tree. There was no damage done to the office and the tree has been hauled away. When the tree departed, it took with it an enormous amount of shade with it. Mott found that out Friday afternoon when he came back to the office in the afternoon. “The sun was beating down and it got hot (in the office),” Mott said. “I'm going to have to get a shade for my window.” La Cara Up Next To Make Her Case For Casse The race for best 3-year-old filly in the land will heat up next week when the $500,000 GI Coaching Club American Oaks is run at Saratoga Race Course. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse is hopeful that one of his distaff runners can strengthen her case in the 1 1/8-mile race. That is Tracy Farmer's La Cara (Street Sense), who already owns a pair of Grade I wins in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and the Acorn at Saratoga on June 6. La Cara | Sarah Andrew The leader of the division is the Brad Cox-trained Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), who won her first three starts this year–including the GI Kentucky Oaks–before finishing fifth in the Acorn. Good Cheer is not targeting the CCA Oaks, although could be seen in the $600,000 GI Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 16. Immersive (Nyquist), last year's Juvenile Filly champion, also trained by Cox, could also be in the starting gate in the CCA Oaks. “Right now, we are ahead (of Good Cheer) in Grade I's,” Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “She won a stake in New Orleans (GII Fair Grounds Oaks) and I don't know if that ranks as high as the Ashland. It's pretty close. Obviously, the (Kentucky) Oaks carries a big punch. I would say when Saratoga ends, there will be a clear-cut leader. I just hope it's us.” La Cara had her final work for the CCA Oaks on Friday, going four furlongs on the main track in :49 (28/92). “She went perfect,” Casse said. “We were going for an easy work.” Casse also has another solid contender in the division in Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), owned by D J Stables LLC. She won her first five starts of the year and has positioned herself as the top 3-year-old grass filly in the land. She ran valiantly in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational at Saratoga on July 5 but lost by a nose to another Cox filly, Fionn (Twirling Candy). In her prior start, Nitrogen showed her affinity for the dirt when she won the GIII Wonder Again, by 17 lengths, which was originally scheduled for the grass. Granted she only beat two others, but she showed enough to give Casse the confidence to say her next start will be in the Alabama. “I am proud of our team,” he said. “We have two fillies that are two of the best 3-year-old fillies in North America. This is going to be an interesting meet.” Prat Had To Make A Tough Decision No one can be in two places at once. As much as jockey Flavien Prat would like to, he can't be at Saratoga Race Course on July 26 and also at Santa Anita Race Track on the same day. So, he had to pick. And he'll head to California. Nysos and Flavien Prat | Benoit Prat will ride the well regarded Nysos (Bernardini) in the GII, $300,000 San Diego Stakes at Del Mar; his other option was to be on Baeza (McKinzie) in the GII, $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. “It's never an easy decision,” Prat said outside the jockey's room at Saratoga. Prat rode Nysos, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, in the GII Churchill Downs in May and finished third in a three-horse photo finish. The winner of the race was Mindframe (Constitution), who is considered the leader of the older horse division. It was Nysos' first start since February of 2024. He won his first three starts by a combined 26 3/4 lengths and Prat was aboard for two of them, the GIII Robert B. Lewis and the GIII Bob Hope Stakes. Nysos was then sidelined by injury before re-emerging. After the Churchill Downs, he won the GIII Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita under jockey Juan Hernandez on May 31 (Prat was riding in Kentucky that day). “I am kind of committed to Nysos,” Prat said. “I always felt like he could be anything.” When Baeza runs in the Jim Dandy for trainer John Shirreffs, he will be ridden by Hector Barrios, who rode him in three of his first four starts, including a second-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby. The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: Sovereignty Gets Work In Before Another Storm Slams Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Stubing may have a way to go to pay back the patience trainer Trent Yesberg has shown in him but the Canterbury trainer thinks he is on the right track. The 34-year-old horseman take just two members of his 15-strong harness racing team to Addington on Sunday and thinks both can win. But in the case of Stubing even a third career victory will leave him a bit behind on the bills after a frustrating start to his career. “When he first started racing we really liked him and thought he was at least a five or six-win horse,” explains Yesberg. “But he ended up needing a wind operation and the first one didn’t go so well so he needed a second one. “The whole thing came as a surprise to us because he wasn’t making a noise in work or when he was racing and we had to do an endoscope while he was working to get to the bottom of it all. “Harvey Kaplan actually owned him originally and we could have baled on him but I believed in the horse so we have stuck with him so it was very satisfying to get that win last week.” Stubing may have made the most of a perfect Samantha Ottley drive last Sunday but he still did it like a horse who isn’t finished yet and while today’s field is slightly stronger he should get a good run through from two on the second line and be hard to beat. He may not even be Yesberg’s best chance of the pair he takes racing today as while he was disappointed in Beautiful Crazy (R2, No 6) last Sunday he thinks he knows what went wrong. “She led last week and kinda waited for them,” he explains. “Her best run was probably four starts ago when saved up for one run so I think that is how we will drive her this week and I think we will see the best of her.” Yesberg is sitting on 83 career harness wins striking at around 10 per cent winners to starters and also has five or six gallopers in work. “So we have around 20 horses between the two codes and it actually got as high as 28 a few months ago but we have made a decision not to muck around with horses who aren’t going pay their way. “Maybe if we have one owned by a syndicate and they are happy to keep racing it for the fun we would do it but ideally you want horses who are paying their way. “It is a hard decision to make for a young trainer because we want to keep growing the stable and obviously it isn’t easy for a first generation trainer to get started and maintain good numbers. “But we are having winners in both codes and I am keen to keep trying new things and learning.” View the full article

Wesley Ward knew his filly Pulstar (Kantharos) was fast but did she have the stamina to win Saturday's sixth at Saratoga, a maiden race that came off the turf and was run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt? The answer is yes, but just barely. Like so many Ward-trained 2-year-olds, Pulstar shot out of the gate and grabbed a two-length lead down the backstretch. In mid-stretch she was still two in front, but the Mark Casse-trained Delightful Darling (Flameaway)was bearing down on her. The pair were basically on even terms at the wire, but the bob of the head went Pulstar's way. “I'm glad this race wasn't run at 5 1/2 furlongs plus a jump. If so, I'm not sure she would have won,” Ward said. Ward, who excels with sprinters on both surfaces, had no problem with the race coming off the grass. “I was happy that it came off the turf,” he said. “I was worried that it was going to dry out and be just like a regular track. She's got some distance issues. She's a real small filly and that is the reason I tried her on the grass the first time. Sometimes, horses like her will go a little bit longer on the grass.” Ward believes she improved from her first race, a second-place finish in a Churchill maiden. “She got a lot out of that last race where she was beaten a head,” he said. “It moved her forward fitness-wise and experience-wise” he said. “All those factors came together today.” Pulsar is owned by and was bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Lael Stable. The plan going forward, Ward said, was to try to find turf races at five furlongs. “I told Chief Stipe Cauthen, who is the stable manager for the Jacksons, that I think she's really better at 5 than 5 1/2 on the grass. We'll get a work or two into her on grass and hopefully we can find some spots on the turf for her.” Joel Rosario rode the winner, who paid $6.40. The running time was 1:05.26. 6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-12, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.26, my, nose. PULSTAR (f, 2, Kantharos–Bellerue, by Quality Road), beaten just a head on debut June 6 at Churchill, came back for a front-running thriller at the Spa Saturday. The off-the-board favorite in that same Churchill debut, Spa Prospector (Authentic), also returned Saturday at Saratoga just four races earlier on the same card to win convincingly. In keeping with the classic Wesley Ward trainee style despite breaking outwards, Pulstar was quick out of the gate Saturday and shot straight to the front. Favored at 2-1, the chestnut put distance on the field early as she motored through a :22.54 first quarter. The Lael Stables homebred held her advantage through the turn even as her rivals started closing in. After registering a half in :46.12, Pulstar ran a bit erratically and greenly down the lane as Delightful Darling (Flameaway), who was second throughout, dove to the rail in a measured attack. The two finished in tandem, with the photo finish camera giving the nose nod to Pulstar. Bellerue, the winner's dam, has a yearling filly by Practical Joke and a May 7-foaled colt by Nyquist. Bellerue is out of MGSW Belle Cherie (Belong to Me) from the same family as MGISW and 2007 $4-million Fasig-Tipton buy Octave (Unbridled's Song). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $79,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Lael Stables; B-M. Roy Jackson (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. @JillWilliamsTDN Pulstar graduates at second asking in R6 at Saratoga under @jrosariojockey for trainer Wesley Ward! pic.twitter.com/vT115tcOpY — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 12, 2025 The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented By Keeneland, Kantharos Filly Just Holds On To Win Off-The-Turf Maiden At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Named for his dam's late veterinarian, Dr. Agne prevailed on debut in an off-the-turf event.View the full article

The favorite from start to finish, MGISW Far Bridge (English Channel) was never in doubt as he sailed home to win the GII Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga. With the race scratched down to just four, the 1-2 favorite was perfectly content to let Tuscon (Constitution) set the early fractions as he tracked from second. That one tried to open up a good margin, but the pace eventually got to him as Far Bridge took control on the final bend and rolled into the lane on an easy lead. El Rezeen (English Channel) managed to cut into the margin, but there was too much class and open lengths in front of him to overcome. Harrow (Lea) claimed third as Tuscon faded to last. Far Bridge was last seen running third in a blanket finish of the GI Manhattan Stakes over this course June 8 in his first start for Miguel Clement. O-LSU Stables; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Miguel Clement. Another graded stakes win for FAR BRIDGE! He dominates the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes under @JRosarioJockey for trainer @clementstable. pic.twitter.com/Y80WEh68D7 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) July 12, 2025 The post Far Bridge Much the Best in Saratoga’s Bowling Green appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spa Prospector (Authentic) didn't fare well in her first career starts. She was seventh, beaten nine lengths in a race at Churchill. Saturday's second race at Saratoga didn't figure to be any easier as it was filled with a collection of well-bred first-time-starters from some of the game's top stables. But trainer Tom Amoss went into the race with a lot of confidence in his filly. He was proven right and she skipped over the Saratoga slop to win the six-furlong race by 3 1/2 lengths under Jose Ortiz. “Why did she run so much better? It's simple. it was all about her having experience,” Amoss said. “I really liked her the first time she ran at Churchill but she was just was very, very green and all over the racetrack. She wanted to get away from the other horses so she started lugging out a little bit. She made things hard on her rider, Brian Hernandez Jr. “That's the great thing about having a race under your belt as opposed to debuting,” he said. “You can see all the mistakes in their first start and work on them, and we worked on those mistakes and she really ran well today.” Spa Prospector, a $450,000 Keeneland September purchase, showed no speed in her debut, but she rocketed out of the gate Saturday and could not be caught. “Having the one-hole today, she broke clean, so I just let her go to the lead,” said Jose Ortiz, who swept the early double. The only horse who came close to Spa Prospector was Jetty's Home (Enticed), who moved into second on the turn. Sent off at 20-1, Jetty's Home was the other horse in race who had started before. The final time on the sloppy surface was 1:10.94 and the winner paid $13.40. Ginger Ale (Into Mischief), a half-sister to Grade I winner Search Results (Flatter), was bet down to 6-5, but didn't show much before checking in fourth. It was a good start to the day to anyone playing the “experience” angle. Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) won the first race in what was her second lifetime start. Spa Prospector breaks her maiden in R2 at The Spa to give @jose93_ortiz the early double! @tomamossracing trains the 2YO filly. pic.twitter.com/Vg6giSXYKx — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 12, 2025 The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented By Keeneland, Experience Matters as Amoss Filly Wires Field in Saratoga Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm first-crop stallion By My Standards was represented by his first winner when the 2-year-old filly Sugaree won a $50,000 maiden optional claiming race July 12 at Colonial Downs.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Sometimes, you just know. When Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse breezed 2-year-old Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) at his training center in Ocala, Fla., he shipped owner Terry Finley a simple, yet powerful text message. It was a photo of a Porsche. Fast car. Translation, in case you needed it: Curtain Call, Casse believed, was going to be a swift one. His confidence was rewarded in Saturday's first race at Saratoga when Curtain Call dominated a six-furlong $100,000 maiden special weight and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. Curtain Call, ridden by Jose Ortiz, romped to an 8 1/2-length win, giving Casse his first baby victory of the season. Last season, he enjoyed much success in maiden special weight events with purses of $100,000 with no restrictions, winning five times. A couple of those winners you'll recognize. Sandman (Tapit), who went on to win this year's GI Arkansas Derby and finish seventh in the GI Kentucky Derby and third in the GI Preakness was one of them. So was La Cara (Street Sense), who was victorious in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes and GI DK Acorn this year. Curtain Call won after finishing second in his first start, a 5 1/2 maiden special weight at Churchill Downs June 2. He was a distant second, 7 1/2 lengths behind 'TDN Rising Star' Obliteration (Violence), who went on to win the GIII Sanford Stakes at Saratoga July 5. “Definitely,” Casse said when asked if that first start helped Curtain Call, “I have said a million times that I like getting races into them. I think they learn a lot. I learned a lot today.” Terry Finley & Mark Casse after Curtain Call wins | Sarah Andrew Finley, the founder, president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, bought Curtain Call from SGV Thoroughbreds at this year's OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds in training for $325,000. “Steve Venosa [of SGV] is a very good friend of mine and he and I have done business for almost 30 years,” Finley said. “He told me [Curtain Call] was very nice and he thought he had some upside. When you get that kind of input from someone you trust, it's a good thing.” Finley said Curtain Call is one of three Tiz the Law babies his group has purchased. “And we paid good money for every one of them,” he said. “Quite frankly, I was not convinced about him until the 2-year-old sales. This year, they really showed themselves very well and we'll keep buying them.” Curtain Call went off as the 2-1 second choice behind even-money favorite Tagermeen (Into Mischief), who was debuting for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. He went for $1.4 million in the April OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training. After stumbling at the start, Curtain Call recovered, and Ortiz kept him just off the pace until taking over in upper stretch and proving much the best. Tagermeen chased him home and finished second for Ricardo Santana Jr. They were 1 3/4 lengths in front of pacesetter Throckmorton (Caracaro), who settled for third in the five-horse field. Throckmorton is trained by Jose D'Angelo and was ridden by Luis Saez. For West Point, it kept a Saratoga streak going. Finley said his group has now won a race at Saratoga 22 straight years. Curtain Call looks to have a future, something Casse predicted from the start. His next target could be the GI Hopeful at the end of the meet. “He is going to get better and better with more ground,” Casse said. “I'll keep my fingers crossed because I think he is a Breeders' Cup horse. We just have to figure a way to get there.” Curtain Call ran the six furlongs in 1:10.31 and returned $6.10, $2.70 and $2.10 on a track labeled as “sloppy.” “We were hoping it was drying out,” Finley said. “You can make excuses all day long, but they all have to run over the same thing. I don't want to get a trainer ticked off at me, but that is a trainer excuse, not an owner excuse.” Take a bow, CURTAIN CALL, for breaking your maiden at #Saratoga. The runner-up to graded stakes winner Obliteration in debut tracks the pace and pulls away in the stretch for @markecasse and @jose93_ortiz. pic.twitter.com/smyCbbFc5t — Matthew DeSantis (@failedtomenace) July 12, 2025 The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented By Keeneland, Curtain Call Gets Just That After Breaking Maiden By 8 1/2 Lengths appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

An eye-catching debut is often a signal of big things to come. Spectacular Grey (Not This Time) gave her connections a lot to dream about at Monmouth Park Saturday when she earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors via a sensational unveiling. Coming into the race for trainer Alexis Delgado, who only had one other starter recorded for 2025 and no winners, the grey's July 4 four-panel move from the gate in :47.60 (2/24) showed the betting public enough to award her 5-1 odds against a salty field. Off a bit slow but initially content to track from midpack behind an opening quarter in :22.25, Spectacular Grey changed her mind passing the quarter pole and made a rush to the front that even caught the announcer's attention. Suddenly in control by four lengths as they turned into the stretch, she boldly proclaimed the race as hers by extending her advantage to 7 3/4 lengths on the wire. Revolving d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) had no response for that winner and had to settle for a clear second best. The victress is the first winner to the races for her dam Rose Grey, who has since produced a yearling filly by Charlatan and a 2025 colt by Life Is Good. Said dam is herself a daughter of SP Smitten (Tapit), making her a half-sister to GISP Commandperformance (Union Rags). This is the female line of GSW Snit (Fit to Fight), whose daughters GSW Blind Date (Not For Love) and MSW Sales Tax (High Yield) also going on to produced black-type runners. 4th-Monmouth, $53,375, Msw, 7-12, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.33, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. SPECTACULAR GREY, f, 2, by Not This Time 1st Dam: Rose Grey, by The Factor 2nd Dam: Smitten, by Tapit 3rd Dam: Hi Lili, by Silver Deputy Sales history: $127,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $120,000 RNA 2yo '25 OBSAPR; $150,000 RNA 2yo '25 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,500. O-III Beauty's Thoroughbred LLC; B-Baron Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Alexis Delgado. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Spectacular is the Word: Not This Time’s Spectacular Grey Sails Home to ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Monmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott discusses Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty after his five-furlong workout July 12 in 1:02.18.View the full article

No Half Measures caused a huge 66-1 shock July 12 to provide Richard Hughes with his biggest victory as a trainer in the July Cup Stakes (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse.View the full article

Trinity College, fourth in the French Derby (G1), and New Ground, fourth in the Epsom Derby (G1), meet July 13 in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) at Longchamp.View the full article

6th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 4:02 p.m. ET. SCHWARZENEGGER (Not This Time) is unveiled for the ownership group of David Fennelly, Brook Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Resolution Road. Initially a $410,000 purchase during Keeneland November in 2023, the colt went for $950,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale the following year and was sent to trainer Wesley Ward. The first-time starter is out Soothsaying (Lemon Drop Kid), who was a Gainesway buy for $350,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November Sale while a filly by Nyquist was in-utero. Set for a start is another Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad in Final Score (Not This Time). Repole Stable successfully bid $600,000 to acquire this colt trained by Todd Pletcher. Dam Precious Dixie (Bernardini) is a full-sister to SW Lady Kate and they are out of GSW Princess Haya (Street Cry {Ire}). Finally, Freestate (Caravaggio) is a half-brother to SW Freedom Trail (Collected). The colt's dam Freedom (War Front) is a full-sister to SW Leader of Men, and a half to a pair of multiple Grade I stakes winners in Executiveprivilege (First Samurai) and Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday). TJCIS PPS 5th-ELP, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 2:44 p.m. ET. Godolphin homebred Equator (Uncle Mo) goes out for trainer Eoin Harty. The bay's stakes winning dam Moiety (Bernardini) produced GII MiddleGround Capital Beaumont Stakes heroine Verity (Nyquist), and the first-time starter's grand dam is Brazilian dual champion Be Happy (Brz) (Ghadeer {Fr}). TJCIS PPS 4th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, f&m, 1mT, 2:52 p.m. ET. Coastal Cabin (City of Light) is a Bill Farish homebred trained by Cherie DeVaux. The 3-year-old filly's unraced dam is a half-sister to a pair of sires in Eagle (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), plus MGSW Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}). TJCIS PPS The post Sunday’s Racing Insights: Not This Time’s Schwarzenegger Pumped For First Toga Party appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.94, sy, 3 1/2 lengths. SPA PROSPECTOR (f, 2, Authentic–Pray for Leslie, by Bernardini) weakened to seventh June 6 at Churchill Downs when unveiled in a baby dash against fellow firsters. Back here against a mixed field but with experience under her belt as many of her opponents did not, the 5-1 shot broke outwardly at the start and bumped Jetty's Home (Enticed) in the process. The pair recovered from their bumper car beginning with Spa Prospector stepping out to control the pace through an opening quarter in :22.33 and a half in :45.67 swinging through the turn. Coming into the lane with a clear advantage as the eventual runner-up tried to cut into the margin, the Tom Amoss-trainee had their number as she hit the wire 3 1/2 lengths to the good. Spa Prospector is a half-sister to Alys Beach (Omaha Beach), GISP, $143,500–who has a 2025 filly by Flightline at foot–and Praying (Vekoma), whose 2025 exploits include running second in Oaklawn Park's Southern Hospitality Overnight Stakes. That trio gives their dam a 100 per cent strike rate with her offspring. Pray for Leslie, a half-sister to SP C J's Awesome (Awesome Again), also has a 2025 filly by Nyquist to her credit. A full-sister to C J's Awesome is the dam of GSW Hidden Connection (Connect). This is the immediate female family of GISW Capo Bastone (Street Boss). Sales history: $100,000 RNA Wlg '23 KEENOV; $450,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $56,350. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Greenwell Thoroughbreds; B-Jeff Kerber (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss. Spa Prospector breaks her maiden in R2 at The Spa to give @jose93_ortiz the early double! @tomamossracing trains the 2YO filly. pic.twitter.com/Vg6giSXYKx — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 12, 2025 The post Authentic’s Spa Prospector Gets It Done at Second-Asking at The Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Mark Casse sent three undefeated juveniles into the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine, and Casson (Caravaggio) emerged as the last man standing of that group to keep his perfect record intact by a clear margin. A four-length winner on unveiling May 11 against local maidens, the grey was a 7-2 chance against his stablemates Jupiter (Upstart) and the flashy Rude Procedure (Authentic). The former went off as the 6-5 favorite and the latter was 2-1. In no rush initially, Casson assumed command entering the bend as Rude Procedure tried to match strides and was in full flight for the wire by the time they reached the top of the stretch. Sailing home by open lengths, the victor was much the best as Jupiter overtook Rude Procedure in the late yards to claim second, giving their trainer the trifecta in the race. Sales history: $200,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. O-Manfred and Penny Conrad; B-Ballycroy Training Centre & Villa Rosa Farms (ON); T-Mark Casse. The post Caravaggio’s Casson Leads Mark Casse Trio in Victoria appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sugaree earned a sweet victory for her freshman sire By My Standards (by Goldencents) as she came home a winner at second asking over the Colonial main track on Saturday. A runner-up facing auction-restricted maidens at Churchill Downs June 29, the filly was well-supported as the 70 cents on the dollar favorite here. The juvenile chased the pace from midpack up the backstretch and had some work to do around the far turn. As the leader began to tire down the lane, Sugaree came with a run to the outside and passed Barbados Bulldog (Barbados) in the final jumps to get her picture taken. By My Standards, the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby victor who is a member of Spendthrift's stallion roster, claims 64 foals of racing age. As for the winner's dam, she produced current 3-year-old gelding Ace On the Turn (Higher Power) and was entered in Drain the Clock's book for next term. 3rd-Colonial Downs, $57,050, Moc ($50,000), 7-12, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.39, ft, 3/4 length. SUGAREE, f, 2, By My Standards 1st Dam: Fly in for the Win, by Birdstone. 2nd Dam: Namaste's Wish, by Pulpit 3rd Dam: Copelan's Bid Gal, by Copelan Sales History: $9,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTKFEB; $30,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $46,800. O-David A. Bernsen LLC, Dean Demaree and Steve Crabtree; B-Mullikin Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Freshman Sire By My Standards Values First Winner At Colonial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Morning storms waited for Sovereignty to complete his five-furlong workout on the Oklahoma Training Track July 12, with the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner traveling in 1:02.18 ahead of the July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2).View the full article

Rain or shine, the show must go on, and Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) gave the people what they came to see at Saratoga, kicking home powerfully at second asking to claim 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Outkicked early over the slop as debuting Throckmorton (Caracaro) was determined to control the tempo, the field swung through bend behind a half in :45.15 and the running was on as they entered the homestretch. Inhaling his competition from between challengers attempting to mount responses, Curtain Call kicked home to score by a widening margin in a final time of 1:10.31. Favorited Tagermeen (Into Mischief) ran on to claim second. The son of Tiz the Law was unveiled June 12 at Churchill Downs to run a well-beaten second behind fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Obliteration (Violence). That runner returned to action July 5 at this venue to put on a Tour de Force in the GIII Sanford Stakes, winning by 10 1/2 lengths. Sales history: $115,000 Ylg '24 FTKJUL; $325,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. O-West Point Thoroughbreds; B-Nancy Stone (FL); T-Mark Casse. Curtain Call opens up and dominates in the opener at Saratoga under @jose93_ortiz for trainer @markecasse! pic.twitter.com/AmybSBHR4y — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 12, 2025 The post Call for an Encore! Tiz the Law’s Curtain Call Gives the Saratoga Crowd a ‘Rising Star’ Performance 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 Sunday at Saratoga and Ellis Park. Sunday, July 13, 2025 Ellis 5, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 2:44 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Argos (Nyquist), OBSMAR, 165,000, :20 3/5 C-Majestic, agent; B-David S Romanik Gelato (Twirling Candy), OBSAPR, 250,000, :10 2/5 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-D J Stable LLC Saratoga 6, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 4:02 p.m. Brooklyn Styles (Munnings), OBSAPR, 140,000, :10 1/5 C-Niall Brennan Stables, agent; B-Case Clay TB Management The post Summer Breezes: Sunday, July 13, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article