Wandering Eyes

Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 16:00, BETFRED OAKS-G1, £573,150, 3yo, f, 12f 6yT Field: Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Elwateen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Go Go Boots (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Revoir (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Wemightakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Desert Flower has possibly stronger credentials than stablemate Ruling Court for getting the Newmarket-Epsom Classic double done and she has proven time and again that she is a top-class filly, but this is further than she wants to go in an ideal world which opens it up. Minnie Hauk will get the trip alright, as she proved at Chester, but she has already been beaten by Wemightakedlongway at two and that G3 Salsabil Stakes winner is a strong stayer who is underestimated due to having suffered a few defeats along the way. When ridden forward, she is a force to be reckoned with and has vital experience to call on should it get tough. Revoir has the pedigree to shine here and is a scary prospect for the big guns to face, being so unexposed and promising. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 14:40, BETFRED CORONATION CUP-G1, £450,000, 4yo/up, 12f 6yT Field: Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). TDN Verdict: None of these could hope to get near the kind of sectionals produced by Calandagan at York last summer and provided the ground doesn't deteriorate, he is the class act. Continuous is possibly here to set the kind of crazy pace he carved out in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time, but the faster he goes the more the French raider will like it. Giavellotto is another who can produce high-class fractions when the heat is on and could pose the main threat, while Jan Brueghel has yet to prove that he can live with these type of rivals over this trip. Green all year in 2024, he is going to have to man up big time here. [Tom Frary]. Saturday, Epsom Downs, post time: 15:30, BETFRED DERBY-G1, £1,604,000, 3yo, c/f, 12f 6yT Field: Al Wasl Storm (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), Damysus (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Green Storm (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Midak (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), New Ground (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Nightwalker (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Pride Of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Rogue Impact (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Ruling Court (Justify), Sea Scout (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Stanhope Gardens (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Tornado Alert (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Tuscan Hills (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: With rain about, albeit not a great deal, this is not going to be a fast-ground Derby and with such a large field the emphasis could be more on stamina than ever. If that is true, it will suit the G3 Chester Vase winner Lambourn who has the ideal draw in “lucky” stall 10 and who may just have been hiding his true light under a bushel so far. If he's in the mix, the likes of Midak and Lazy Griff may not be too far away and this could be one of those renewals where the principals aren't quite what they are cracked up to be. There are stamina doubts surrounding Ruling Court, Delacroix and The Lion In Winter but none surrounding the G2 Dante winner Pride Of Arras. His York performance was very strong and it is impossible to ignore all his ideal credentials for this race. Possibly underestimated due to the fact that he is not trained at Ballydoyle or sports Godolphin silks, he is under the care of Ralph Beckett who has proven time and again that he knows exactly how to train a top prospect. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Epsom Downs, post time: 13:30, THE NYETIMBER SURREY STAKES-Listed, £75,000, 3yo, 7f 3yT Field: The Waco Kid (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Diego Ventura (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Rebel's Gamble (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Francisco's Piece (GB) (Mayson {GB}), Hallasan (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Glamis Road (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saqqara Sands (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). TDN Verdict: The race that kicks it all off and the furious downhill ensures that pace will be key. TDN Rising Star Formal showed an abundance of that when with Sir Michael Stoute last year and while the wheels have come off on her two Group-race tests, she retains a lot of potential and is pitched at a meeting at which Cheveley Park like to have success. Diego Ventura has a penalty for his latest win in ParisLongchamp's Listed Prix de Pontarme, while the Listed Radley Stakes runner-up Saqqara Sands might need this return. [Tom Frary]. The post Black-Type Preview: Godolphin Duo Eye Classic Doubles At Epsom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Now that the line-ups have been confirmed for the Derby and Oaks, the wait has become one of merely hours for connections and fans of the protagonists alike. An intense period of final planning and preparation, of intermittent reverie. With the current century a quarter of the way though its course, there is little sign that the Epsom Classics have lost any of their draw for the big operations and the lists assembled for Friday and Saturday's Betfred-sponsored tests are testament to that. Since 2000, overseas interests–mainly Irish–have held sway an astonishing 15 times in the Derby and 10 times in the Oaks, making the races almost a pipedream now for the shrinking influence of the traditional British stables. While the first empire of Ballydoyle enjoyed six great days in the Blue Riband, they were spaced out over a period of 20 years whereas Aidan's second wave has seen a relative tsunami of triumph in the beloved monument. Responsible for 15 of the 26 most recent winners of the Derby and Oaks, the Rosegreen stable's pre-eminence is beyond anything imaginable in modern-day sport. Such is its domination of the peak action of the next two days, the operation has accomplished a true synonymy with the occasion. Think Derby, think the Magnier navy blue, the Tabor blue-and-orange, the Smith purple-and-white. There is no doubt that Godolphin have made a concerted effort in recent times to interrupt the flow of Derby winners back to Ballydoyle, with Charlie Appleby breaking the hegemony twice since 2018, while John Gosden has interfered once in the Blue Riband and on an impressive four occasions in the Oaks. Since 2012, just six stables have been responsible for the winners of the two Classics with Dermot Weld, Ralph Beckett and the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute the outliers. Looking at Saturday's Derby, there are no surprises there at all. Ballydoyle, Godolphin, the Gosdens and Ralph Beckett account for nine of the first 10 in the betting, with the only exception being the French colt running in the silks of the late Aga Khan IV which the 2025 edition honours. Barring a sizeable upset, current trends will continue until next year at least. Luckily, the romance associated with the 2,000 Guineas-Derby double lives on and the onus is on Ruling Court to become the first since Camelot in 2012 to bring it home. Bidding to extend the 100% Derby of Justify after City Of Troy 12 months ago, Godolphin's leading hope has an unusual profile as a breeze-up graduate without a black-type win at two who was campaigned initially this year in the desert. What he does have is an admirable temperament, the perfect racing attitude and draw and a big-race jockey who with each passing year grows in stature. His pedigree sends mixed messages, but on the whole the mile-and-a-half is probably within his compass and he may have a slight class edge over his peers. Strangely, it is Godolphin's main man who has the Coolmore sire and Coolmore's chief runner who flies the flag for Darley's number one stallion, with Dubawi's Delacroix leading the line for Ballydoyle. The son of Tepin has been one of the yard's creepers, with his juvenile campaign lacking major pizzazz despite the high points of winning an Autumn Stakes and running a close second in the Futurity Trophy. He comes here via the Galileo route of Leopardstown's Ballysax and Derby Trial, where he looked to have taken a step forward much as his full-sister Grateful did with each passing month last term. It is interesting that Aidan O'Brien is allowing Lambourn to take his chance, with the son of Australia needing to find just over two lengths on his stablemate from their running in the Ballysax. He would be a strange Derby winner, having won his Stakes race at two at the French provincial track of Craon and having made heavy weather of that too. Taken to Chester last month, he proved ample stamina in the Vase with old lethargy giving way to new zest. Are we in for another Ruler Of The World or Wings Of Eagles-style awakenings here? Last of the Ballydoyle trio is the difficult-to-weigh-up The Lion In Winter, who dealt with Ruling Court so efficiently in a telling renewal of York's G3 Acomb Stakes in August. Subsequently plagued by setbacks, his comeback effort in that track's Dante told us little other than he remains a free-running type not typical of his sire Sea The Stars. That would normally put off Derby backers, but it is hard to easily dispel the memory of the aura that he carried last summer and he remains the race's quandary. While The Lion In Winter was disturbing the stable's flow of success in the Derby trials, New Bay's Pride Of Arras was signalling his insurgence into the Derby picture with a Dante display which is impossible to fault. All boxes are ticked when it comes to the Aykroyds' homebred, from ability to athleticism to potential to requisite stamina and were he housed at Ballydoyle he would be favourite for this year's renewal. Ralph Beckett's 3-year-olds really started to blossom at the time of his York breakthrough and there is much more to come from this colt. Of the outsiders, the Gosdens' Damysus looks a live one for Wathnan Racing given how impressively he finished off in the Dante. The son of Frankel will love this step up to a mile and a half, while the Chester Vase runner-up Lazy Griff appeals as an ideal type to outrun his odds and get into the frame. By Protectionist, he would be a distinctly uncommercial winner of the race for Charlie Johnston but if there is one fairytale horse in this year's line-up it is the one who sports the colours of the Middleham Park Racing syndicate. Will The Flower Wilt Or Bloom At Epsom? Friday's Oaks fits all the trends outlined above, with Godolphin's 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower taken on by three Ballydoyle cohorts headed by Frankel's Listed Cheshire Oaks scorer Minnie Hauk. Like Ruling Court, Desert Flower is no surefire stayer at the trip, with the daughter of Night Of Thunder out of Promising Run who was at her limit at a mile and a quarter. Almost certainly capable at that distance, the unbeaten homebred heads into the unknown here without the pedigree credentials of the operation's previous Guineas-Oaks winner Kazzia but her ability should take her most of the way. What Minnie Hauk achieved at Chester and fellow Frankel representative Giselle achieved in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial is uncertain, but the former is from the Juddmonte family of an Irish Oaks heroine in Wemyss Bight and has this mile-and-a-half in her DNA. Giselle beat two others in her prep, but in doing so looked an Oaks filly through and through while the stable's other runner Whirl represents the highly successful Wootton Bassett-Galileo cross and was out on her own at the end of the Musidora. Julian Richmond-Watson's homebred Revoir lost out to Pinatubo's Qilin Queen in Newbury's Listed Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes last month, but in the process greatly enhanced her Oaks prospects. A daughter of Study Of Man from the family of the 2008 winner of this Classic, Look Here, she looks tailor-made for this race on paper but surprisingly Ralph Beckett is not completely convinced about the distance. “You would think the step up in trip will probably be in her favour. There are stamina influences on her page, but I have slight reservations in the fact that [the dam] Regardez didn't stay a mile and a half, she got a mile and a quarter well,” he said. “This filly is a slightly different character and is more laid-back than her mother was, but we are taking it on trust.” “I think she should come forward for the run at Newbury. I felt it was a good starting point, but she was still pretty green through the race. I liked the way she went through the line. Look Here winning the Oaks when we were at Whitsbury is a big part of what is going on here now. It's been 17 years and it's been a big joy to train the family–it's been a privilege.” There is a chance that Cayton Park Stud's Wemightakedlongway has been underestimated given the way she relished aggressive tactics in Navan's G3 Salsabil Stakes in April. The daughter of Australia comprehensively beat Minnie Hauk when also making all in her Cork maiden in October and it is possible that the runner-up has made significantly more progress in the interim, it is not a given. Calandagan's Coronation… So unlucky to come up against City Of Troy at York last summer, Calandagan has ideal conditions to flourish in Friday's G1 Betfred Coronation Cup. While the Aga Khan Stud representative has been subsequently undone in the G1 Champion Stakes and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, the son of Gleneagles is the class act here with his Juddmonte International sectionals so strong. “I suppose the only real doubt is handling the track and he's probably never run on anything like Epsom before,” racing manager Nemone Routh said. “He's a very balanced horse and we imagine he is going to be okay, but you never know until they get there and run. This has been the plan for a while and we hope he's in great form.” Aidan O'Brien has nine of these to his name and saddles the last two winners of the St Leger in Jan Brueghel and Continuous, with the latter seemingly utilised as a pacemaker at present. Second on his return in the G3 Alleged Stakes, Jan Brueghel will have to run out of his comfort zone if Calandagan is on song. Mastercraftsman's G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Giavellotto and the Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me shore up this year's renewal, with the latter expecting to need the reintroduction. “She was always a big girl and in that sense not much has changed,” Ralph Beckett said of the daughter of Nathaniel. “This looked a good starting place for her. It looks a deep renewal and she'll have to go a bit, but she's been away for gallops a couple of times this spring and they've gone well, so I couldn't be happier. Inevitably she'll need the match practice, but this leads us into the year.” “I'd like to get her in against her own sex at some point,” he added. “The Yorkshire Oaks is the obvious one but France Galop, in their wisdom, moved the Prix Vermeille so there is only 17 days between the only two fillies' Group 1s over a mile and a half in Europe, which makes life somewhat complicated. Those two races are high on her agenda.” The post Ruling Court And Delacroix Go Toe To Toe In Betfred Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Grade 2-placed mare Paggane caught the eye of Charles Shanahan and topped the Tattersalls Online June Sale for 100,000gns on Thursday. Consigned by Willie Mullins's Closutton Stables as lot 87, the daughter of Muhaarar sports wins under both codes. Second in the Listed Paddy Power EBF Novice Hurdle at Cork, her greatest claim to fame is a second in the G2 Dawn Run Novice Chase. She is a half-sister to the listed winner Pennymoor by Frankel, and to the Classic-placed California Dreamer (Mehmas). Shanahan said of the mare who will stay in training with an eye to Cheltenham, “She caught our eye in the sale, especially after California Dreamer placed in the Irish 1000 Guineas. She has been bought for an existing partnership and we potentially will have some other partners coming into her. She has run some very good races this year, and, no matter what happens, she will be a very valuable broodmare for the future.” For the Tattersalls Online Breeze-Up Session, a filly by Maclean's Music (lot 29) took pride of place, selling post-sale for 33,000gns to Derek Passant after not meeting her reserve in the ring. She was consigned by M. C. Thoroughbreds. “The facilities at Dundalk and how the sale was run by Tattersalls was all absolutely brilliant,” said M. C. Thoroughbreds' Micky Cleere. “It's like all the breeze up sales, if you have what they want, you will get it sold.” The day's highest priced breeze-up colt was a Silky Thoroughbreds-consigned son of Starman (lot 2), who sold to Sean Grassick Bloodstock for 31,000gns. Out of a half-sister to G1 Derby great Authorized, the bay is also related to the Wertheimer top-notcher Solemia (Poliglote). Overall, 72 lots sold (64%) for a gross of 907,542gns. The average was 12,605gns and the median was 6,000gns. The post Paggane Breaks Into Six Figures As Tattersalls Online Ends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

During the running of the ninth race–the Mount Vernon Stakes–at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday, the Todd Pletcher-trained SW Whatlovelookslike (English Channel) was pulled up and on Thursday the 6-year-old was humanely euthanized, according to a press release from NYRA VP of Communications Pat McKenna. The wearer of saddle cloth 10 was pulled up by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. after sustaining an injury to the right hind. The mare was immediately attended to by on-track veterinarians, who stabilized the injury and transported the Barry Schwartz-owned runner to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Although surgery was considered, a CT scan on Thursday revealed severe fractures to the right-hind condyle, pastern and sesamoid. The extent and complicated nature of the injuries did not allow for surgical intervention. As a result, and upon the recommendation of attending veterinarians, Whatlovelookslike was humanely euthanized at the hospital. The post Whatlovelookslike Euthanized after Being Pulled Up At The Spa Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The field for the GI Belmont Stakes, ranked in “likeliest winner” order. 1) JOURNALISM (c, Curlin–Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 7-5-1-1, $2,838,880. Last start: WON May 17 GI Preakness Stakes. For most handicappers, the decision to bet on or against Journalism will come down to whether you think he's still riding an upward arc after three demanding Grade I races that yielded wins in the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness Stakes, plus a near-miss second in the Kentucky Derby. But it's also reasonable to speculate whether those exerting efforts within a span of six weeks will make their toll evident in the third jewel of the Triple Crown, even after an additional three weeks of rest. So which is it, still-evolving and dangerous or vulnerable as the 8-5 morning-line fave? The bet here is that Journalism will be up to the task, and that on Saturday we will see a tough, rugged colt thriving under a steady workload at the highest level of the sport. Momentum is the crux of the argument surrounding Journalism, who enters the 10-furlong Belmont-at-Saratoga after having left no doubts about his ability to fight for position and muscle his way out of tight spots. As if that wasn't enough, the out-of-nowhere burst of acceleration this Michael McCarthy trainee uncorked in the final 100 yards of the Preakness–when he looked too far back to win–added another dimension to Journalism's well-developed skill set. But jockey Umberto Rispoli will need to call upon every bit of tactical torque that this $825,000 FTSAUG colt by Curlin can muster if they are to win the Belmont Stakes, which stacks up as the most difficult field Journalism has ever encountered. In the Santa Anita Derby, Journalism secured the rail, eased into fifth, ranged to within two lengths of dueling pacemakers, then got trapped on the fence on the far turn, with Rispoli needing to shoulder aside a rival before running hard through the lane to win by three-quarters of a length. In the Kentucky Derby, Journalism was unfazed by minor crowding at the break, asserted himself inside, edged to the three path six furlongs out, then picked off most of the field before throttling into a higher drive 3 1/2 furlongs from the finish. Five wide off the turn, he snatched he lead a furlong and a half out, then was immediately accosted by Sovereignty (Into Mischief). Journalism stayed on well under urging, outrun by 1 1/2 lengths behind a talented winner who executed a better-timed move. By now the entire racing world has witnessed the smash-and-grab stretch run of the Preakness, which saw Journalism burst through a barely clearable hole amid rock 'em, sock 'em bumping. Even though the post-Preakness focus has been on Journalism overcoming the rowdy stretch run, the most telling takeaway might be Rispoli admitting post-win that he had a difficult time getting his colt interested down the backstretch and around the far turn, and that he “just didn't have the horse” at the quarter pole. Journalism did his best running in the final furlong and a half, when it counted. But he's going to have to mentally engage much earlier in the Belmont Stakes, which will feature faster and stronger waves of challengers. 2) SOVEREIGNTY (c, Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-3-2-0, $3,672,800. Last start: WON May 3 GI Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty prevailed in the Derby after a minor shuffle at the start, settling fourth from last while in the clear and enjoying as clean a trip as was possible over the sealed/sloppy Churchill surface. This Into Mischief-sired homebred for Godolphin worked his way up outside, aggressively shadowed Journalism's far-turn move while five deep, then angled to the seven path for the drive with dead aim on that favorite. Sovereignty ranged up on even terms with Journalism three-sixteenths out, and when Journalism dug in and responded, that challenge emboldened Sovereignty, who levelled off with purposeful, powerful strides, relishing both the mud and being roused for full run. Trainer Bill Mott said post-win that Sovereignty emerged from the Derby with a small pastern scrape, most likely inflicted by a rival when leaving the gate. But the primary decision for opting out of the Preakness had more to do with wanting this colt to be fully dialed in for the Belmont Stakes, with a five-week cushion between starts. Mott's win percentage at all levels over the past five years is 16% from 3,142 starts. With horses racing back from layoffs between 33 and 37 days, he's won at a 15% clip from 391 starters. He's made 31 Grade I starts with layoffs of that span over the past five years, winning with seven (23%). The most recent was Sovereignty himself, who won the Kentucky Derby 35 days after running second in the GI Florida Derby. There's no way of knowing if Sovereignty's 12-point Beyer Speed Figure jump between late March and early May was attributable to significant, next-level development or if he simply relished a wet track under favorable Derby pace circumstances. Maybe a bit of both. But make no mistake: This colt can reliably be counted upon to uncoil with a long, sustained, well-focused run. Sovereignty has honed a commanding, visually appealing way of taking control of his stretch drives, exhibiting a touch of gravitas first evident in October of his juvenile season when he ran up the score against a very good field in the 1 1/16-miles GIII Street Sense Stakes. Sovereignty | Sarah Andrew 3) BAEZA (c, McKinzie-Puca, by Big Brown) O-C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. Sales history: $1,200,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISP 5-2-1, $648,500. Last start: 3rd May 3 GI Kentucky Derby. Baeza, who has yet to win beyond the maiden ranks, figured to be the “wiseguy” play in the Belmont Stakes from the moment he crossed the finish wire third in the Derby. He was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths by Sovereignty and Journalism, and was finishing with a flourish despite breaking from the far outside 19 post after having drawn into the race as an also-eligible. This $1.2-million KEESEP colt by McKinzie was agitated in the walk-up and in the Churchill Downs paddock, but by no means did he come completely unraveled despite the huge crowd and chaotic surroundings. Baeza was parked widest first time through the lane and cornered outside onto the backstretch. He was on the move trying to follow mid-race advances of Journalism and Sovereignty, but rather than chasing them out wide, Flavien Prat opted for the three path, which saved real estate but necessitated having to deal with far-turn hemming and bumping before Baeza cut loose with a five-wide swoop into the stretch. Under left-handed urging, Baeza floated out a rival to claim the path he wanted, then locked into a determined drive for the final furlong as the only runner gaining ground on the Derby's top two. He galloped out on even terms with Sovereignty and Journalism. In his previous race, the Santa Anita Derby, Baeza stalked outside, got first run at the pacemaker, then led between the three-sixteenths and sixteenth poles before losing focus for a few strides in deep stretch and getting collared by the more-seasoned Journalism. Reportedly, Baeza lost his right front shoe at some point in that race. Baeza draws inevitable comparisons to his two older half-brothers, the 2023 Kentucky Derby champ Mage and the 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch. As a May 13 foal, it's no surprise Baeza is poised to bloom a bit later than his siblings, especially considering trainer John Shirreffs is known for a patient, pragmatic approach. As an imposing stalker who's just now figuring out the timing of his moves, Baeza is capable of blowing the Belmont Stakes wide open if he can make an aggressive first run at the pacemaker that affords him a few lengths of separation before the closers get rolling. 4) RODRIGUEZ (c, Authentic-Cayala, by Cherokee Run) 'TDN Rising Star' O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Kingswood Farm & David Egan (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $485,000 Ylg KEESEP '23. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $522,800. Last start: WON Apr. 5 GII Wood Memorial Stakes. Like Baeza above, Rodriguez, a May 20 foal, also hasn't come close to peaking yet at this stage of his career. This 'TDN Rising Star' by Authentic is coming off a breakout-race wiring of the GII Wood Memorial Stakes in which trainer Bob Baffert removed blinkers and added jockey Mike Smith. The result was the fastest nine-furlong clocking in any points-awarding Derby prep stakes since 2022, and the second time in his five-race career that Rodriguez has broken the triple-digit Beyer barrier (100 in his Jan. 4 maiden win and 101 in the Apr. 5 Wood). Baffert and Smith believe that taking the blinkers off this $485,000 KEESEP colt allows him to be a more comfortable free-runner because he can better see what's around him. A caveat from Wood Memorial day is that early speed was the prevailing winning profile at Aqueduct that afternoon: six of 13 main-track races were won wire to wire, plus four by forwardly placed horses who either dueled or forced the fractions. Rodriguez drew post four, but had to scratch from the Kentucky Derby because of a foot bruise. The issue was minor, but lingered long enough to derail aspirations of running in the Preakness. Having drawn post three for the Belmont Stakes with the only other projected speed of the race in gate five, the pace should be Smith's to control. Baffert has repeatedly said in the lead-up to the Belmont Stakes that Rodriguez will come out running. Although flashes of brilliance have been there during his West Coast campaign, Rodriguez finished 11 3/4 lengths behind Journalism the only time they met back in March, and he has yet to put together back-to-back efforts that prove he belongs at the top of the crop. But he does have upside at 6-1 on the morning line: A bet on this front-running colt is essentially a gamble that you believe previous efforts to try and rate Rodriguez can be safely discounted, and that, like his speed-centric, later-to-mature champion sire, his best races will be in the back half of his sophomore season. 5) HILL ROAD, (c, 3, Quality Road-Exotic Notion (Arg), by Lemon Drop Kid) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Amo Racing USA; B-Lynch Bages LTD & Camas Park Stud (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-2, $336,496. Last start: WON May 10 GIII Peter Pan Stakes. Hill Road campaigned in Ireland as a juvenile, winning his debut in 'TDN Rising Star' fashion and finishing seventh in a Group 1 stakes before shipping to Del Mar and running a surprise third at 61-1 odds in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. This $350,000 KEESEP colt by Quality Road was later transferred from trainer Adrian Murray to Chad Brown. Hill Road was a best-of-the-rest third (84 Beyer) in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, then spiked a fever that kept him out of further Kentucky Derby prep action. Hill Road resurfaced with a well-timed, off-the-pace winning move into a softened-up speed duel to take the GIII Peter Pan Stakes (94 Beyer) May 10 at Aqueduct, scoring by three-quarters of a length and finishing up under a hand ride despite not switching leads. Irad Ortiz, Jr. picks up the 10-1 mount from Flavien Prat, who has opted to retain the ride aboard Baeza. 6) CRUDO (c, Justify-Blossomed, by Deputy Minister) O-Bobby Flay and James Ventura; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $520,000 RNA Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $130,148. Last start: WON May 17 Sir Barton Stakes. Crudo is talented but lightly raced, falling into the “taking a shot” category for the Belmont Stakes. After leading late but capitulating to fourth as the 9-10 favorite in his Gulfstream six-furlong debut Feb. 8, this Todd Pletcher trainee wired a seven-eighths MSW field by 7 1/4 lengths as the .44-1 fave at Keeneland Apr. 19. Crudo then aimed for the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard, and romped home by 7 1/2 lengths at 7-2 odds going 1 1/16 miles, leading at every call. Crudo's Beyer Speed Figure pattern is 68-82-84. There is no published par figure for the 10-furlongs-at-Saratoga version of the Belmont Stakes, but half the field this year has already at least once topped 100. As co-owner Jimmy Ventura quipped to TDN earlier in the week, “The good news is that Crudo can't read the numbers.” John Velazquez has been aboard for all three of Crudo's starts and will ride again on Saturday. Post five gives him the option of pressuring likely leader Rodriguez from the outside. Crudo | Sarah Andrew 7) HEART OF HONOR (GB) (c, Honor A. P.-Ruby Love (Chi), by Scat Daddy) O-Jim & Claire Ltd; B-David Redvers Bloodstock (GB); T-Jamie Osborne. Sales history: 35,000gns Wlg '22 TATNOV; €42,000 Ylg '23 GOFSEP; €160,000 2yo '24 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: GSP, 7-2-4-0, $400,919. Last start: 5th May 17 GI Preakness Stakes. Prior to shipping over for the Preakness, trainer Jamie Osborne indicated that Heart of Honor (GB) would likely remain stateside to also target the Belmont Stakes, simply because there are no major dirt races in Europe or the Middle East for this colt at this point in the season. So if you view the Preakness as a tune-up try, it's reasonable to expect improvement from this son of Honor A.P. On May 17 at Pimlico, Heart of Honor was fractious at the gate, broke slowly, raced in last for most of the 1 3/16-miles trip, then swung wide for the drive to pick off tiring horses. The Preakness was also 23-year-old jockey Saffie Osborne's first ride in the United States. She is not booked on any Saratoga mounts leading up to the Belmont Stakes. Heart of Honor won two one-mile dirt allowance races at Meydan Race Course earlier this year after debuting with a second-place finish in England at Southwell on an all-weather surface. He was then second in three Dubai stakes: the UAE 2,000 Guineas, the Al Bastakiya Stakes, and the G2 UAE Derby, in which Heart of Honor was beaten a nose by Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong), who came out of that race to run last in the 19-horse Kentucky Derby. Heart of Honor | Sarah Andrew 8) UNCAGED (c, Curlin-Dark Nile, by Pioneerof the Nile) O-WinStar Farm LLC and Repole Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC; T- Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $105,450. Last start: 6th May 10 GIII Peter Pan Stakes. Uncaged has the distinction of being the only Belmont Stakes entrant to have already won a race at Saratoga. He prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths in his Aug. 3 debut last summer, a six-furlong sprint over a sealed/muddy surface at 5-1 odds. In fact, if the weather comes up wet on Saturday, note that both of this son of Curlin's lifetime victories have come over muddy tracks. His other score was a one-turn mile allowance/optional claimer at Aqueduct in April, a race that has yet to yield a next-out winner. Trainer Todd Pletcher has explained this $450,000 KEESEP colt's uninspiring sixth in the May 10 Peter Pan Stakes as an instance of Uncaged not being able to handle kickback he endured with a rail-running trip. Luis Saez rides Uncaged for the first time in the Belmont Stakes. The post TDN Belmont Stakes Preview: Showdown at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Led by Breeders' Cup winners Fierceness (City of Light) and White Abarrio (Race Day), a talented field of five will line up for Saturday's GI Metropolitan Handicap on the stacked GI Belmont Stakes program at Saratoga. TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack takes a closer look at the pedigrees of all five of the runners entered in the stallion-making race. #1 FIERCENESS (c, 4, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt & MGISW, 10-6-1-1, $4,315,320. O-Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness is one of two Grade I winners for young Lane's End stallion City of Light, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. City of Light's sire Quality Road won the 2010 Met Mile and is also the sire of the race's 2024 winner National Treasure. Mike Repole paid $200,000 for Fierceness's second dam Nonna Mia (Empire Maker)–named in honor of his grandmother–at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. She was a talented 2-year-old in her own right, breaking her maiden by 12 lengths at second asking at Belmont Park before finishing third to stablemate Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) in the 2009 GI Frizette Stakes. Nonna Mia, a close relative of MGSW sire Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile), was an immediate hit in the breeding shed, first producing the multiple stakes-placed Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor) before a mating with Uncle Mo resulted in Outwork, the 2016 GI Wood Memorial S. hero. Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2023, was produced by her third foal, the 11-year-old mare Nonna Bella, a daughter of Repole's 2011 GI Travers S. hero Stay Thirsty. Nonna Bella has also produced last year's GIII Futurity S. winner Mentee (City of Light), who set a track record going five furlongs on debut at the Big A last spring. Her 2-year-old filly Nonna's Love (Caravaggio) was a debut third at Keeneland this spring. Nonna Bella is also responsible for a colt by Uncle Mo of 2024 and a filly by Curlin of this year. Legendary 1994 Met Mile winner Holy Bull is the sire of Fierceness's third dam. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher saddled the aforementioned Quality Road to a win in the 2010 Met Mile as well as 2014 winner Palace Malice. Fierceness's loaded resume includes wins in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the 2024 GI Curlin Florida Derby and GI Travers S. and a track-record setting performance in the GII Alysheba S. in his 4-year-old debut on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. He was also a too-good-to-lose second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Fierceness is a perfect three-for-three at the Spa. #2 WHITE ABARRIO (h, 6, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) Lifetime Record: MGISW, 21-10-2-3, $6,971,920. O-C Two Racing Stable LLC, Gary Barber & La Milagrosa Stable LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Sales History: $7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. White Abarrio, a $7,500 OBS Winter yearling turned $40,000 OBS March 2-year-old (:10 2/5), is the lone graded winner for Race Day, a MGSW son of Tapit. The mighty Tapit is the sire of Met Mile winners Flightline (2022) and Frosted (2016). White Abarrio | Sarah Andrew Race Day previously stood at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, but was exported to Korea prior to the 2021 season. The Spendthrift Farm-bred White Abarrio is one of 11 graded winners–two at the top level–for the all-conquering Into Mischief as a broodmare sire. The unplaced Catching Diamonds, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Spendthrift, produced White Abarrio as her first foal. A half to MGSW-UAE and MSW-U.S. Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy) and to the dam of GSW & GISP Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief) and GSW Eclatant (Into Mischief), she is also responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Yaupon and a Taiba colt of this year. Four-time Grade I winner White Abarrio, hero of the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, has lined up in this race two previous times, finishing third downstate at Belmont in 2023 and a well-beaten fifth over this course last year. The 2023 GI Whitney S. winner is perfect in two starts this term, winning Gulfstream's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Jan. 25 and GIII Ghostzapper S. Mar. 29. #3 CASTLE CHAOS (g, 7, Palace Malice–Queen Victoria, by Flatter) Lifetime Record: MGSP, 22-3-6-5, $476,277. O-Sanford J. Goldfarb, Nice Guys Stables, Robert N. Falcone, Jr., John D. Fielding & Beast Mode Racing LLC; B-Dragon Slayer Stable (KY); T-Robert N. Falcone, Jr. We won't take too deep of a dive on the gelded Castle Chaos, a son of the race's previously mentioned 2014 winner Palace Malice, who is responsible for six graded/group winners worldwide. A longshot fourth in this race last year, Castle Chaos will be a huge price once again this weekend following a fourth-place finish in the Knicks Go Overnight S. at Churchill Downs May 3. He's been a fantastic claim by trainer Rob Falcone and owner Sandy Goldfarb, who dropped a $75,000 slip on him out of a runner-up effort on debut at Saratoga back in 2021. #4 JUST A TOUCH (c, 4, Justify–Touching Beauty, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: GISP, 7-3-3-0, $440,778. O-Qatar Racing LLC, Resolute Racing & Marc Detampel; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales History: $170,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Just a Touch is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, already the sire of eight top-level winners worldwide. He was produced by the Tapit mare Touching Beauty, winner of the 2010 GIII Comely Stakes at Aqueduct and an $800,000 Keeneland November purchase by Don Alberto in 2014. Her first foal was the stakes-placed gelding Corps of Discovery (Unbridled's Song). She has a 2024 Mandaloun colt and a 2025 Justify filly in the pipeline. Leading sire Tapit has also achieved a tremendous amount of success as a broodmare sire, led by Horse of the Year and 2023 Met Mile winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) and 2023 GI Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo (Arrogate). The Justify x Tapit cross has also produced Champions Dream, one of 24 graded/group winners for Justify. After RNA'ing for $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, the Don Alberto-bred Just a Touch brought $125,000 from Scanlon Training & Sales as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling, then $300,000 from Hunter Valley Farm's Fergus Galvin, who serves as an U.S. advisor to co-owner Qatar Racing's Sheikh Fahad, after breezing in a bullet :9 4/5 as an OBS April 2-year-old. Just a Touch, a fantastic second behind subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in last year's GI Blue Grass S., kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a pair of jaw-dropping allowance wins at Fair Grounds Mar. 1 and Keeneland Apr. 19. #5 RAGING TORRENT (c, 4, Maximus Mischief–Violent Wave, by Violence) Lifetime Record: GISW-US & GSW-UAE, 13-6-1-2, $1,247,400. O-Yuesheng Zhang & Craig Dado; B-Rodney J. Winkler & Alfonso Mazzetti (KY); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. Sales History: $27,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $75,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Raging Torrent, winner of the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26 and G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Apr. 5, is one of three graded winners and the first top-level winner for Maximus Mischief, a Spendthrift-based son of Into Mischief. He is the lone starter from his winning dam Violent Wave (Violence), who was claimed by Equinox, Inc. for just $6,250 out of her career finale at Gulfstream Park in 2018. Raging Torrent | Sarah Andrew Violent Wave, a $150,000 KEESEP yearling and a half-sister to GSW The Nth Degree (Distorted Humor), was offered with Raging Torrent in utero at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale, but was led out unsold on a bid of $27,000. Raging Torrent was himself bought back for the same price by breeders Rodney Winkler and Alfonso Mazzetti at Keeneland September in 2022, and it was Mark Davis's name (Steve Rothblum, agent) on the ticket when he fetched $75,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale (:10). The first daughter of Violence to produce a Grade I winner, Violent Wave is also the dam of the unraced 3-year-old colt Contra Mundum (Honor A.P.), a $55,000 RNA at KEESEP in 2023, and the 2-year-old filly Layan (Collected), a $47,000 KEENOV weanling. Violent Wave was bought back for $575,000 in foal to Up to the Mark at the 2024 KEENOV sale. The post Pedigree Power: Fierceness, White Abarrio Top Field of Five for Stallion-Making Met Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 22nd New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Presented by Heider Family Stables raised over $184,000, according to a press release from the organization. Proceeds from the event go directly to support New Vocations' efforts to rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses. New Vocations' annual show brought together over 150 retired Thoroughbred racehorses from 14 different states, showcasing the versatility of the breed. Both familiar faces and new exhibitors competed in a variety of classes, including dressage, hunter, jumper, in-hand, Western, and pleasure. New additions to this year's show included an Adult Lead Line Class, Egg and Spoon and Ride-a-Buck classes, and In-Hand Invitational Championship. “New Vocations is proud to have launched the first all-Thoroughbred horse show in the country. It's been incredibly rewarding to watch the event grow and become a key part of our mission to showcase the Thoroughbred's versatility while generating critical funds for our program,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director. “We're deeply grateful for the generosity of our sponsors–many of whom are Thoroughbred owners, breeders, and industry organizations. Their continued support allows us to host a meaningful and successful show year after year.” Show highlights included: – The premiere of an In-Hand Invitational Championship class, won by Radiant Child (Ire), owned by Jean Bickley. – Competitive and well-attended War Horse classes, all of which were sponsored by 100% Racing. – The crowd favorite Open Hunter Derby, won by Atticus, owned by Annabelle Axinn and ridden by Mandy Lynch. At the show's exhibitor party, New Vocations presented several Thoroughbred Specialty Awards recognizing the following entrants: – Oldest Thoroughbred competing–Mr. O.E. owned by Denise Talley, born on 5/13/2001. – Youngest Thoroughbred competing–Briny Breezes, owned by Zoey Faulkner, born on 4/11/2022. – Thoroughbred sold for the highest price at auction–New Vocations graduate Greyes Creek, owned by Amanda Tucker, sold for $850,000 at the OBSMAR 2YO Sale in 2018. – Thoroughbred with the most career starts–King's House, owned by Lara Anderson, with 119 starts. – Thoroughbred with the highest earnings–Twisted Tom, owned by Paul Smith, with $939,135. – Highest Speed Figure–New Vocations graduate Diamond Bachelor, owned by Alison Andrews, with an Equibase speed figure of 115. – Lowest Speed Figure–tie between Dogster, owned by Camden McGlamery, and Around the Moon, owned by Terry Jones, both with Equibase speed figures of 2. – The most recently raced Thoroughbred–Lautrec, owned by Paige Gifford, raced on 3/3/25. Dates and additional details for the 2026 New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show will be available at newvocations.org/events and on New Vocations' social media channels as they become available. The post New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Show Raises Over $180,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Downs will debut a new sports book at The Mint Gaming Hall Kentucky Downs–the home of the historical racing entertainment complex, in Franklin, Kentucky, according to a press release from Circa Sports, the operators of the site. The new 21-and-over venue will feature an 80-foot-wide LED screen, a 31-foot-wide odds board and over 5,100 square feet of space. “After operating in Kentucky for a year, introducing a sports book of this caliber to the region marks a significant milestone for Circa Sports,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Sports. “Along with Kentucky, we're also seeing tremendous excitement from fans in Tennessee–especially in Nashville. Together with The Mint, we're creating a high-tech betting destination that will bring a new level of live-viewing excitement for customers across both states.” Fans at Circa Sports's new state-of-the-art book can enjoy: 80-Foot Viewing Experience: Fans can watch all the game-day action on an 80-foot-wide LED screen, complete with a 31-foot-wide odds board displaying real-time lines and updates. Premium Seating Options: Guests can relax in comfort in one of 113 stadium-style seats, luxury recliners or three tiers of booth-style seating. Flexible Betting Access: The Circa Sports Kentucky sports book will feature five staffed betting stations, including an ADA-accessible station, and four self-service kiosks. Three self-service kiosks will be located within The Mint Kentucky Downs casino for convenience. Live Broadcast Studio: A VSiN (Vegas Stats & Information Network) broadcast studio will be housed within the book, where live on-air talent, analysis and game-day content will be captured daily. Founded in Las Vegas, VSiN provides coverage across major sports through broadcasts, podcasts and digital content, all designed to inform and empower the betting audience. Johan Mirkovic, The Mint Gaming Hall Kentucky Downs' vice president and general manager said, “The Circa Sports Book adds yet more amenities for our guests enjoying The Mint Gaming Hall's gambling, entertainment and dining options. This region, spanning the Kentucky-Tennessee border, is a true sports enthusiast's haven. The upcoming Circa Sportsbook will elevate the experience, offering the area's premier viewing venue for all your favorite sporting events–no matter where you are.” Click here to watch the video with The Mint Gaming Hall Kentucky Downs's Johan Mirkovic and The Mint properties' co-director of marketing John Wholihan. The post Kentucky Downs To Open Region’s Largest Sports Book At The Mint Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' for her Churchill debut Apr. 30 in which she became Yaupon's first winner, SASSY C W (f, 2, Yaupon–Sassy Miss Sue, by Tiznow) also became her sire's first black-type winner in gate-to-wire fashion in the Astoria Stakes. A step slow from the gate, it was only a matter of strides before the 2-5 favorite was on the lead and not for catching, coming home under wraps under a motionless Jared Loveberry to stay perfect in her young career. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Patricia's Hope LLC and Wilson, Carolyn; B-Harun Kahraman; T-Larry Rivelli. Sales History: $30,000 wlg '23 KEENOV, $190,000 ylg '24 KEESEP, $375,000 2yo OBSMAR '25 Sassy C W ($2.90) blows the break and then blazes home in the Astoria Stakes under jockey @jareth16. The 2-year-old daughter of @spendthriftfarm Stallion Yaupon is now 2-for-2 for trainer Larry Rivelli. pic.twitter.com/nScYk4lfDq — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 5, 2025 The post ‘Rising Star’ Sassy C W Much The Best In The Astoria appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Marc Chan's homebred G2 Golden Fleece Stakes winner Green Impact (Wootton Bassett), who defeated G1 Derby favourite Delacroix twice last year, went postward for Thursday evening's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown returning off a G1 2000 Guineas sixth and bounced back in style to claim a second black-type success in the nine-furlong contest. The 11-8 favourite asserted for an early advantage and set an even tempo through halfway. Holding sway throughout, he was driven to subdue TDN Rising Star Azada (Siyouni) approaching the final furlong and found extra to withstand the late challenge of Currawood (Acclamation) by a half-length in game fashion. Azada finished three lengths adrift in third. Green Impact is the first of two foals and lone performer out of a half-sister to multiple Group-placed G2 Flying Five second Alphabet (Lawman) and the stakes-winning duo Mirage (Oasis Dream) and Amnesia (Invincible Spirit). Amnesia, in turn, is the dam of multiple stakes winner St Anthony (Noble Mission). The January-foaled bay's second dam Applauded (Royal Applause) is a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Power (Oasis Dream), GI E P Taylor Stakes heroine Curvy (Galileo) and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes victrix Thakafaat (Unfuwain). Green Impact, whose fourth dam is Group 3-winning matriarch Glatisant (Rainbow Quest), is kin to a yearling colt by Siyouni. Green Impact back in business @LeopardstownRC @Jessica_Racing pic.twitter.com/2pa5rfHoSa — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2025 The post Wootton Bassett’s Green Impact Digs Deep for Glencairn Triumph, Punches Irish Derby Ticket 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, 6-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.25, fm, 4 lengths. CURLIN'S ANGEL (f, 4, Curlin–Sabrina's Angel, by Scat Daddy), dismissed at 15-1 in this belated debut, was away slowly from her outside post, but recovered quickly and rushed up to midpack before being taken in hand to settle near the back of the field through pedestrian splits. Tipped out three wide approaching the stretch, she exploded down the lane and soared home four lengths in front. Favored Time Stone (American Pharoah) got a head in front of Key Actress (Mo Town) to be second. The winner is a half-sister to Mischievous Angel (Into Mischief), SP, $261,050 and has a weanling half-brother by Practical Joke. Sabrina's Angel is a half-sister to GI Florida Derby winner Audible (Into Mischief). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. O-Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Parkland Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. WHAT A DEBUT The 4-year-old Curlin's Angel ($32.60) swallows up and destroys the field in race 2 at Belmont at Saratoga under jockey @DavisJockey for trainer Jorge Abreu. pic.twitter.com/Dn6bcjoFtP — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 5, 2025 The post First-Time Starter Curlin’s Angel Blows By Late In Stylish Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-SAR, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 7f, 12:16 p.m. RESURGE (Constitution) is the latest offspring to the races for Juddmonte out of the champion mare Close Hatches who has already produced this runner's three-quarter Tapit siblings–Tacitus, 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla and Batten Down. Close Hatches herself is a full-sister to SW/MGISP Lockdown who has found success as a broodmare as well by producing dual champion mare Idiomatic (Curlin). The blue-blooded family also includes G1 Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas victor Siskin (First Defence). Amongst those lined up to oppose her is Endorse (Curlin), a $375,000 Repole Stable purchase out of KEESEP in 2023 who is a half-sister to SW/MGSP Jace's Road (Quality Road). She joins Lost Horizon (Into Mischief) for Peter Brant, a daughter of Chilean Horse of the Year Wow Cat (Chi) who came to White Birch Farm for $1.7m from FTKNOV in 2019. They join the rail-drawn Godolphin homebred Ragtime (Union Rags), a half-sister to GSW Snowbell (Tapit). TJCIS PPS 1st-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 12:45 p.m. One the juvenile front, Spa Prospector (Authentic) sold for $450,000 at KEESEP last year and is a half-sister to both GISP Alys Beach (Omaha Beach) and MSP Praying (Vekoma). This is also the family of GSW Hidden Connection (Connect) who went Spendthrift's way for $1.5m at KEENOV last year. TJCIS PPS The post Friday Insights: Daughter Of Close Hatches Leads Loaded Saratoga Maiden Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Florida-bred filly MYTHICAL (f, 2, St. Patrick's Day–Lailoni, by Brethren) took it right to the boys from the first jump out of the gate to wire the field in a stylish Tremont Stakes victory to open the Thursday card at the Belmont at Saratoga meet. An impressive 8 1/2-length winner on debut facing her own gender at Gulfstream, the Arindel homebred ran this field off their feet and took Blinging It Back (Volatile) gate to wire over the 5 1/2 furlongs in a final time of 1:03.57. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Arindel; T-Jorge Delgado. MYTHICAL with an impressive victory in the Tremont Stakes to kick things off on Day 2 of the @BelmontStakes Racing Festival. The daughter of St Patrick's Day broke on top and never looked back wiring the field for trainer Jorge Delgado and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. pic.twitter.com/UHzSV5h5nN — NYRA Bets (@NYRABets) June 5, 2025 The post Mythical Romps Over The Boys In The Tremont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The number of race days was higher and so was wagering compared to a year ago in May, according to information released by Equibase on Thursday. Total wagering of $1,445,615,184 on races during the month represented a 2.97% increase over the same period from 2024, while available purses of over $122 million were lower by 1.56%. The figure of over $118 million for paid purses in May was also down by 1.45%. As for the total number of race days, they increased from 359 to 365 (+1.67%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,958 in May 2024 to last month's tally of 2,933 (-0.85%). Average field size in May was down a tick from over a year ago when it was 7.10, and checked in at an average of 7.09 runners, a slight decrease of 0.14%. Average daily wagering increased by 1.28% to $3,960,590, but the average available purse number per race day was down 3.18% to $336,247 from the figure of $347,292 in 2024. When it comes to the year-to-date figures, through May of 2024 wagering on U.S. races came in at $4.920 billion, while this year the amount is $4.829 billion (-1.85%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post May Economic Indicators: Wagering Up Over More Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maryland's Fair Hill Training Center will replace its seven-furlong Tapeta Footings track this summer, an upgrade from one of the synthetic surface's earliest installations to the company's newest iteration Tapeta 13. Work is slated to begin in mid-July and take approximately six weeks, depending on weather and other factors. Fair Hill, home to approximately 700 Thoroughbred racehorses in 18 privately owned barns, was founded in 1983 with a seven-furlong wood-chip track and upgraded to include a one-mile dirt track shortly thereafter. The wood chips were replaced 19 years ago with Tapeta, a synthetic training surface consisting of silica sand, wax and fibers created by former trainer Michael Dickinson, who established Tapeta Footings in 2005. Funds acquired via condominium fees, state grants and a business loan will pay for the project. “It's been a 2 1/2-year project,” said Buddy Jones, co-owner of two barns on the property and spearheaded the funding effort. “A lot of people did a lot of work to get here, and we're excited about the future. Fair Hill has a big economic impact in Cecil County and the state, and that was an important point to keep in mind. We're grateful to the barn owners, the state of Maryland, Tapeta Footings and everyone who helped make this a reality.” Construction steps will include removal of the existing footing, a thorough examination of and repairs to the porous asphalt base, blending of the new material on site and finally installation of the new surface on the same footprint inside the dirt oval. Unlike the nearly black Tapeta 1, the new version is lighter in color and does not use rubber as part of the formula. “The Tapeta has held up well and we've been pleased with it, but we felt it was time to replace it,” said trainer Graham Motion, a Fair Hill barn owner and a member of the association board. “We breezed a lot of good horses on that track. We're excited about it. It will be one more piece to training at Fair Hill.” The Tapeta replacement also comes with the recent re-opening of the Fair Hill turf course for training on state-owned property adjacent to the training center. The one-mile course, rebuilt and redesigned in 2019-20. “I think it's spectacular,” Motion said of the turf. “It will be great to have it when we're replacing the Tapeta, but I think it's genuinely exciting for Fair Hill as a whole. To add access to that to everything else here is great. It's already a great place to train horses and it's getting better.” The post Fair Hill Training Center to Upgrade Tapeta Surface appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kick Up team in Australia has launched a new Breeding Hub to tackle misinformation head-on, following the public backlash after the death of Black Caviar last year when much of what was shouted about the breeding industry was said to be incorrect. “We saw, very aggressively and loudly, possibly for the first time, that there was a lot of criticism towards the breeding industry, and a heck of a lot of misinformation came along with that,” said Nathan Skrivanic of Kick Collective, who is part of the Kick Up team that spearheaded the effort to put together the hub. “When the particularly controvsial ABC article came out, we had a lot of people calling asking Kick Up to help address the lies that were being told. However, all our work needs to be anchored with real information – stats and science – and we'd created that for racing only. It became clear that a resource to correctly communicate about the complexities of breeding, simplified in a way the public could understand, was also very urgently needed.” The Breeding Hub breaks down the information into four sections, focusing on foaling, broodmares, raising and weaning foals, and the process of conception itself. Each section contains several blogs that go more in-depth into relevant topics. Kick Up relies on sponsorships to put resources together, while Kick Collective doubles the impact by matching sponsors with in-kind resources. Skrivanic credits international thoroughbred owner Rick Gold, recipient of the 2024 Thoroughbred Owners of California's Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, for his regular contributions to the organisation. “Rick has fallen in love with the Australian industry, and despite actually being based in California, he is our biggest sponsor. His generosity has provided the base funds to ensure we can keep ticking over each year,” Skrivanic added. The project has also received widespread support from across the industry, including hefty donations from Godolphin Australia, Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association and OTI Racing, amongst others, and collaboration with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. For more information about Kick Up's Breeding Hub, click here. The post New Breeding Hub Launched on Kick Up Platform appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 261 selected yearlings for The July Sale, to be held Tuesday, July 8, at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. The sale will begin at 10 AM. To view the catalog, click here. “We are excited to lead off yearling sales season with a quality catalogue of precocious, selected yearlings,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “July continues to be at the top of all major North American yearling sales in a variety of performance statistics. It's a sale all yearling buyers need to focus on or risk missing major opportunities.” The sale's graduates include Chancer McPatrick, winner of last year's GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. and Carson's Run, who captured last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. The sale is also responsible for GSWs Black Forza, Chop Chop, Federal Judge, Maysam, Non Compliant, Shisospicy, Taking Candy and Three Technique. The sale opens with the Freshman Sire Showcase (Hips 1-94), highlighting the offspring of first-crop yearling sires. “This year's crop of Freshman sires is a very exciting group, and they are well represented by some outstanding individuals in July,” noted Browning. “There is also a great mix of proven sires as well, making this a very attractive catalogue.” Nominations are also now open for the July Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, which will be held immediately following the conclusion of the yearling sale, Tuesday, July 8. Fasig-Tipton will accept nominations up until sale time; however, to be included in the catalogue's initial release, entries should be finalized by June 13. The July Sale catalogue will also be available via the equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogues will be available by June 9. The post 261 Yearlings on Offer, Catalogue for The July Sale Available Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Colloquial (Vekoma), the 6-1 fourth choice on the morning line for Saturday's Grade I $500,000 Woody Stephens at Saratoga, will be withdrawn from the race, according to his trainer, George Weaver. “Since his last breeze, he hasn't been moving on the track to our satisfaction,” said Weaver. “He's been jogging and galloping but just not moving one-hundred percent. He's not hitting the ground the way we would like. We don't have time to get really concrete diagnosis done (before the race). We're going to get it done, but we don't feel he should run this weekend.” Weaver was asked if he was disappointed in the turn of events. “He is one of the most talented horses I have ever had,” Weaver said. “We have been looking forward to this race for a long time. It's a disappointment, but I have been doing this long enough that I have been disappointed before and I can take it. He's one of the best horses I have ever trained. He reminds me a lot of his sire, Vekoma.” Owned by Harrell Ventures LLC and Starlight Racing, the three-year-old Colloquial has won both of his 2025 starts, an Aqueduct maiden special weight on February 7 , and Keeneland's Lafayette Stakes on April 7. He was second in his debut on June 15, 2024 at Aqueduct, before an eight-month absence from the races. The post Colloquial Out of Woody Stephens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For so long now we have been used to the Galileo factor at Epsom, and while none of his final small crop of 13 has made the line-up for the Derby or the Oaks, we still find his name all over the place on the pages of this year's runners, merely starting to shuffle back a bit in the generation game. Galileo's sons Frankel, Australia and Circus Maximus each have at least one runner in the Derby, and Frankel and Australia also have Oaks runners. Eight of the 19 Derby runners and seven of the nine fillies in the Oaks have a dose of Galileo blood. The more significant influence is of course Galileo's dam, Urban Sea, who, through her other Derby-winning son Sea The Stars, can be found in the pedigrees of 19 of the 28 runners in the two Epsom Classics, and in the case of Nightime Dancer and Tuscan Hills she is there twice, top and bottom. Sea The Stars has two Derby runners – Sea Scout and The Lion In Winter – both bred by his own breeder, the Tsui family's Sunderland Holding. His son Affinisea is the sire of Al Wasl Storm, and Sea The Stars is the broodmare sire of two runners in the Derby and Qilin Queen in the Oaks. What must be acknowledged is the increasing influence of Dubawi through a range of his sons. No fewer than four of those – New Bay, Too Darn Hot, Night Of Thunder, and Ghaiyyath – account for six Derby runners, while Dubawi is himself represented by Delacroix. It is a particularly noteworthy achievement for Ghaiyyath to have his first-crop sons Stanhope Gardens and Nightime Dancer in the Derby field, Ghaiyyath himself being out of Galileo's first ever Classic winner back in 2006, Nightime. Dubawi of course provided last year's Oaks winner, Ezeliya, and is the broodmare sire of 2021 Derby winner Adayar. Of the Derby sires for this year's race, only Frankel, Sea The Stars and Justify have sired a previous winner: Adayar, Harzand and City Of Troy respectively. Frankel has also supplied two Oaks winners in Anapurna and Soul Sister, while one of the early top-liners for Sea The Stars was his Oaks-winning daughter Taghrooda. The late Deep Impact has been represented at Epsom by Derby winner Auguste Rodin and Oaks winner Snowfall, and Deep Impact's son Study Of Man has a runner in each Classic this weekend: Rogue Impact and Revoir. Aside from Coolmore and Godolphin, the only other breeder to be represented in the Derby and the Oaks is Annemarie O'Brien, with Tennessee Stud and Wemightakedlongway. Both are trained by her son Joseph, and in the case of the latter, the filly's sire Australia was also ridden by Joseph O'Brien to win the Derby, trained of course by his father and Annemarie's husband, Aidan. Some family. BETFRED DERBY Al Wasl Storm Affinisea – Dearborn (Martaline) Breeder: Gavin Wallace Yes, on the face of it, Affinisea, who ran only twice at four and five, and whose best winner to date is the Grade 2-winning hurdler Hollygrove Cha Cha, shouldn't really have a runner in the Derby. But when you frame it differently, and consider that the stallion is by Derby winner Sea The Stars and a half-brother to Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune (by Galileo) then it starts to look a lot less unusual. Al Wasl Storm, a €7,000 purchase at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Foal Sale, is his unraced dam's first offspring. The mare's family is pretty short on black type, but he will certainly see out the trip while others may fall short. He coped readily with the tight turns of Chester when making all to win his maiden there in May, and he had a spin around Epsom in last week's gallops morning, but will need to show significant progress. Al Wasl Storm is one of two runners for Ahmad Al Shaikh | John Hoy Damysus Frankel – Legerete (Rahy) Breeder: Newsells Park Stud & Merry Fox Stud The Dante runner-up was also present for Epsom's Derby gallops morning last week and looked right at home on the track at a click below racing pace. We know Frankel can get a good one at just about any distance, and Legerete was herself a Group 2 winner over 1m4f who has produced two Listed winners over a mile among her eight winners. The extended family also includes Arc runner-up Aventure and Prix Saint-Alary second Audubon Park. Legerete is now 21 but has a colt on the ground this year by Classic sire Nathaniel, and is back in foal to him. This colt is at least named to succeed as, in Greek mythology, Damysus was said to be the fastest giant, and his name translates to 'conqueror'. Delacroix Dubawi – Tepin (Bernstein) Breeder: Tepin Syndicate Tepin, an $8 million purchase at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale, and a winner at the Breeders' Cup and Royal Ascot among her 13 triumphs, died two years ago at the age of 12 and her loss is looking increasingly lamentable. Her third foal, Grateful, a daughter of Galileo, won last season's G1 Prix de Royallieu and now her final foal Delacroix is co-favourite for the Derby. He has romped through two Derby trials in Ireland over 10f and while the extra two furlongs are a step into the unknown, there is cause for hope that he will take it in his stride. Green Storm Circus Maximus – Banimpire (Holy Roman Emperor) Breeder: Banimpire Syndicate Ahmad Al Shaikh has pulled off the feat of having two Derby runners bought collectively for €19,000, for this colt was a €12,000 Goffs Orby purchase and is now rated 107, having won at Yarmouth last September before placing at G1 and G2 level. Admittedly, the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud featured only three runners, the winner being Tennessee Stud, and those first two home will line up for the Derby. Green Storm is from the first crop of Circus Maximus, who now resides solely in New Zealand at Windsor Park Stud after three seasons of shuttling between there and Coolmore in Ireland. His dam Banimpire was a classy racemare, winning the G2 Ribblesdale and being beaten a short-head by Blue Bunting to finish second in the Irish Oaks. She's a half-sister to the dam of Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment and is out of the 1m4f Listed winner My Renee. Lambourn Australia – Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy) Breeder: Coolmore His dam was beaten a short-head when second in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes and appeared averse to racing beyond 5f, but Australia has done plenty of lifting here when it comes to stamina and Lambourn is already proven at the trip, having beaten Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase. Gossamer Wings is one of 10 winners for her dam Lavender Baby, four of which earned black type in America, including her full-sister, the Zia Park Oaks (9f) winner Lavender Chrissie. Lazy Griff Protectionist – Linarda (Rock Of Gibraltar) Breeder: Gestut Westerberg If Lazy Griff defies his long odds to win, he would be the first Derby winner since 1906 to be sired by a Melbourne Cup winner after Spearmint, by Carbine. Bred at Gestut Westerberg, outside Frankfurt, by Peter and Aline Rodde, he was bought as a yearling at BBAG for €75,000 and is a full-brother to the G3 Bavarian Classic winner Lambo. Their Danish-bred dam won the Swiss 1,000 Guineas. This trip will be no problem. Midak Footstepsinthesand – Minya (Sinndar) Breeder: Aga Khan Studs In a year in which the late Aga Khan is honoured at Epsom, it is not only good to see his operation with a Derby runner in the supplemented Midak, but also fitting that the G2 Prix Greffulhe winner is out of a mare by Sinndar, the Derby hero of 2000. Minya had plenty of stamina herself, twice winning over 1m6f, and her dam Minatlya, is a sister to the high-class stayer Manighar, a treble Group 1 winner in Australia. This unbeaten colt is an intriguing addition to the race and certainly should not be overlooked, especially when considering the excellent form of his trainer Francis Graffard. New Ground New Bay – Gaining (American Post) Breeder: Juddmonte Farms The second of the French supplementary entries, New Ground is the second foal of his dam, who won the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air before earning further black type in America. Stamina doesn't appear to be a concern, as the colt was pitched straight in over 1m2f for his juvenile debut, which he won. He may well appreciate the rain which is likely to fall over the next few days at Epsom. Nightime Dancer Ghaiyyath – Stella d'Italia (Sea The Stars) Breeder: GCE Farm Not only inbred to Urban Sea 4×3 through Galileo and Sea The Stars, Nightime Dancer also has the same repetition of Colorado Dancer in his pedigree through the colt's paternal great grandsire Dubai Millennium and his half-sister Ragsah, the dam of Stella d'Italia. Proven over the distance but will need to take another big step forward. Nightwalker and Damysus at the Epsom gallops morning | John Hoy Nightwalker Frankel – Sleep Walk (Oasis Dream) Breeder: Juddmonte Farms As discussed in this week's Seven Days, this is a family in the news of late, with Sleep Walk's half-sisters Suffused and Alienate appearing over the weekend as the dams of group winners Sunly and Estrange. Another half-sibling of Sleep Walk is Logician, the winner of the St Leger in 2019 and also by Frankel, making him a close relation of this colt. Bated Breath and Cityscape also feature in the family. Pride Of Arras New Bay – Parnell's Dream (Oasis Dream) Breeder: Mr & Mrs David Aykroyd The Dante winner impressed many on only his second start and another furlong and a half should be within his grasp. His dam won over a mile and a half, and her dam is a sister to the St Leger winner Brian Boru (Sadler's Wells), while Derby and Arc winner Workforce is also a family member. Rogue Impact Study Of Man – Just So (Galileo) Breeder: Eric Chen Yet another winner of the St Leger pops up in this family as Rogue Impact's dam Just So is a once-raced half-sister to Mukhadram, their dam Magic Tree being a half-sister to Godolphin's 2009 winner of the final Classic, Mastery. Rogue Impact beat Al Wasl Storm when breaking his maiden over this trip at Lingfield in April but was later last of the six runners in the Derby Trial back at that track. He clearly has ability and stamina, and he is bred along very similar lines to 2023 winner Auguste Rodin, but this is likely to overface him at the stage of his career. Ruling Court Justify – Inchargeofme (High Chaparral) Breeder: Nursery Place, Manfuso & Wilhite The 2,000 Guineas winner is by the sire of last year's Derby winner out of a mare by the 2002 winner and hails from the same Inchmurrin family as The Lion In Winter. Grade III-placed in America, Inchargeofme is a sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Johann Strauss and is a granddaughter of the Listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes winner Incheni. Sea Scout Sea The Stars – We Do Xin (Shamardal) Breeder: Sunderland Holding Already a winner over course and distance in the Blue Riband Trial, Sea Scout's pedigree holds further Epsom claims in that his granddam Moonshadow is a full-sister to Lordship Stud's Oaks winner Love Divine, later the dam of St Leger winner Sixties Icon. His dam was unraced but has already produced an Australian Listed winner from an earlier mating to Sea The Stars. Stanhope Gardens Ghaiyyath – Pure Art (Dutch Art) Breeder: Tulpark Ltd He's yet to go beyond a mile but there is reason to hope that Stanhope Gardens will cope with the step up. His Barnett-bred dam Pure Art may be by a sprinter but she won over 1m2f herself and is a half-sister to Godolphin's Romsdal, who was third in the Derby and runner-up in the St Leger. Their granddam is the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Pure Grain. Tennessee Stud Wootton Bassett – In My Dreams (Sadler's Wells) Breeder: Mrs Annemarie O'Brien Could Wootton Bassett collect a third Classic of the season? Tennessee Stud was a Group 1 winner over 1m2f on heavy ground last year and has been in action just once this year when third to Delacroix in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. His dam made no impact in two starts but is a Sadler's Wells half-sister to the great Rock Of Gibraltar. The Lion In Winter Sea The Stars – What A Home (Lope De Vega) Breeder: Sunderland Holding Like Ruling Court, he is from the family of Inchinor, and his dam was a 94-rated mile-and-half winner and half-sister to the Irish Oaks runner-up Venus De Milo. He'll need to settle better than he did at York but stamina shouldn't be an issue. Tornado Alert Too Darn Hot – Bint Almatar (Kingmambo) Breeder: Godolphin Fourth in the 2,000 Guineas behind Ruling Court, he's a half-brother to the G1 Metropolitan winner Just Fine (Sea The Stars). His dam won over a mile and is a half-sister to the classy Master Of The Seas, who was just touched off in the Guineas and later won the Breeders' Cup Mile. Bit of a stamina question mark. Tuscan Hills Night Of Thunder – Taqleed (Sea The Stars) Breeder: John Richard Wheeler Oaks winners as his second and third dams should help his cause, as does having the Derby-winning half-brothers Sea The Stars and Galileo in the second and third generations of his pedigree. Taqleed was unraced but her first foal was a Listed-winning juvenile in Italy. The stiff mile of Pontefract was within his range when winning the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at two but he'll need to improve on his comeback run when seventh in the Dante. BETFRED OAKS Desert Flower Night Of Thunder – Promising Run (Hard Spun) Breeder: Godolphin Stamina will be the only question mark for this champion two-year-old who is already a Classic winner. She certainly has the physique of a middle-distance filly even if her page doesn't guarantee that she will be. Her Brazilian Grade 1-winning granddam Aviacion may come to her rescue here as she is by a son of Shirley Heights and won over the distance herself, as well as producing the Lillie Langtry Stakes runner-up Arabian Comet and a couple of National Hunt winners. Elwateen Dubawi – Tawkeel (Teofilo) Breeder: Shadwell Estate Company A supplementary entry after finishing fourth in the 1,000 Guineas, Elwateen is the first foal of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Tawkeel who is herself a granddaughter of the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Joanna, by High Chaparral. Has to be respected for her gritty run at Newmarket on only the second start of her life but not guaranteed to stay. Giselle Frankel – Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) Breeder: Coolmore & White Birch Farm The Lingfield Oaks Trial winner is the first foal of the very smart miler Newspaperofrecord, herself a daughter of the G3 Sceptre Stakes winner Sunday Times. The latter's half-sister Question Times is the dam of the Irish Derby winner Latrobe and Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood, both of whom are by Camelot. Go Go Boots Night Of Thunder – Hertford Dancer (Foxwedge) Breeder: Highclere Stud & Mrs Michelle Morris Her fourth dam Rafha certainly made her mark, both as a Classic winner herself in the Prix de Diane, and as the dam of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. The Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff is also from the same family, through Rafha's daughter Acts Of Grace, but it is another daughter, the Empress Stakes winner Massarra, whose line leads to Go Go Boots. Her dam Hertford Dancer won the Lingfield Oaks Trial for John Gosden but missed Epsom for Ascot and a third-placed finish in the Ribblesdale. Go Go Boots has some improvement to find but looks progressive. Minnie Hauk Frankel – Multilingual (Dansili) Breeder: B V Sangster A granddaughter of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Zenda, Minnie Hauk's dam is a half-sister to Kingman and has already produced the G2 Summer Mile winner Tilsit (First Defence). A €1.85 million yearling from the Goffs Orby Sale, she bids to become the second winner of the Oaks bred by Ben Sangster after Dancing Rain. Oasis Dream also features in this signature Juddmonte family. Qilin Queen Pinatubo – Seagull (Sea The Stars) Breeder: Mrs T Mahon It is only six years since Pinatubo was tearing down the Epsom straight lickety-split to win the Woodcote en route to becoming champion juvenile, and now here he is with his very first Oaks runner. He never quite managed to win at a mile, but his daughter has already coped admirably with the 1m2f of the Childwickbury Stud Sillies' trial at Newbury, in which she beat Revoir by a short-head. That stamina doubtless comes from her dam, a 1m4f maiden winner for Lady Rothschild and a half-sister to the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime (dam of Ghaiyyath). She is representing the red-hot stable of Ed Walker. Qilin Queen, right, and Revoir, centre | Racingfotos Revoir Study Of Man – Regardez (Champs Elysees) Breeder: Lawn Stud From the second crop of Study Of Man, Revoir represents a family which has been nurtured by former TBA chairman Julian Richmond-Watson for generations, a member of which had already graced the winner's circle after the Oaks. That was Look Here (Hernando) in 2008, who became the first Classic winner for Revoir's trainer Ralph Beckett. Look Here's sister Look So (Efisio) was a four-time winner and though she accrued no black type herself has been the better broodmare. Her son Scope won the G1 Prix Royal-Oak while Revoir's dam Regardez was a Listed winner and has produced the G3 Fred Darling winner Remarquee (Kingman). Wemightakedlongway Australia – Dont Ask Me At All (No Nay Never) Breeder: Mrs Annemarie O'Brien It perhaps bodes well that she is by a Derby winner, who was himself by a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner. Annemarie O'Brien has a long history with this family as Wemightakedlongway's third dam Queen Titi was owned and bred by her and trained at Ballydoyle to win at Listed level. The mare later produced the Dewhurst winner Beethoven along with this filly's grandam Ask Me Nicely (Fastnet Rock), a moderate maiden. The dam Dont Ask Me At All was unraced but as this is her first foal she is well on her way to atoning for that. Wemightakedlongway looked smart and straightforward in her all-the-way win in the Salsabil Stakes, giving the impression that another two furlongs would be within her scope. Whirl Wootton Bassett – Salsa (Galileo) Breeder: Coolmore The first foal of Salsa, a mile maiden winner who is out of the speedy and classy Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal) and thus a sister to three Group 1 winners in Hydrangea, Hermosa and The United States. Whirl looked impressive in winning the Musidora easily, a performance which should help to allay some doubts as to her reserves of stamina. The post Page Impressions: Examining the Derby and Oaks Pedigrees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), the world's highest-rated sprinter, has been confirmed as an intended runner in the A$20 million G1 The Everest after the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) finalised a deal to secure the Australian Turf Club's slot for two years. Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising was last seen winning the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in April, beating Japanese ace Satono Reve by over two lengths to gain his 12th consecutive win. “I'm absolutely thrilled it's been finalised,” Hayes told the South China Morning Post on Thursday. “And I'm thrilled the club has organised the best deal possible for the owner, which is the most important thing for me.” Outlining the details of the agreement, the HKJC's executive director of racing, Andrew Harding, added, “The club has entered into an agreement with the ATC for rights to use its The Everest slot. “For this year, the Club will use the slot to enable Ka Ying Rising to take part in The Everest. In future years, we will use the slot to either facilitate a Hong Kong horse running or to target Australian or New Zealand sprinters to come onto the Hong Kong International Races after The Everest.” The richest turf race in the world, The Everest is scheduled to take place at Randwick on Saturday, October 18, with Hayes yet to decide whether Ka Ying Rising will have a run on home soil before travelling to Australia. The HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup, a race he won last year, has been identified as a potential stepping stone. “I'm going to work him as if he's heading towards [the Chief Executive's Cup],” said the Australian-born trainer. “Last year I went into it with one trial, but this year if he runs he'll probably go into with two trials. “If he doesn't run, he'll have an exhibition gallop. But in the back of my mind I'm wary that when The Everest hits he'll be six months without a run, which is a long time.” The post Hayes “Thrilled” as HKJC Secures The Everest Slot for Ka Ying Rising appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Entain’s New Zealand and Australia boss Dean Shannon is stepping down. He will depart the company by June 30 and will be replaced in the interim by former Tabcorp executive Andrew Vouris. Shannon says the decision to leave was to allow the business to enter a new phase, declaring “it was the right time for change.” In 2023, with Shannon at the helm, Entain began a 25 year strategic arrangement with the TAB to run its business in this country. Last year it added betcha to its portfolio. “We acknowledge the resignation of Dean Shannon with both gratitude and respect,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele. “Dean’s leadership has played a pivotal role in navigating New Zealand racing through a time of transformation and uncertainty. His vision and strategic focus helped lay the foundations for a modernised wagering landscape, and it’s no coincidence that New Zealand is now one of the few countries in the world showing positive wagering results.” Shannon has been with Entain since 2019 and as well as shaking up the business on this side of the Tasman he helped build it into one of Australia’s largest online bookmakers. It had almost 2 million customers last year with a market share of 17 per cent. A highly popular figure, Shannon leaves Entain following the recent departures of fellow executives Lachlan Fitt and Cameron Rodger. He is also a huge supporter of harness racing in this country. Among the many horses he owns under his Montana Park banner are the likes of glamour pacers Merlin and Sooner The Bettor. “Dean’s contribution, especially in aligning innovation and a growth mindset has left a lasting mark on the industry,” says Steele, “As we look ahead, we do so from a position of renewed strength thanks in no small part to the groundwork he helped establish. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.” Entain has already started the process to find a new CEO. View the full article

Siobhan Sheridan was announced as the Irish Racing Excellence Award winner at the 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, supported by Godolphin, which took place at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge on Tuesday evening. Sheridan, who is the Yard and Foaling Unit Manager for Olive O'Connor Bloodstock in Redcross, County Wicklow, received a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau, plus a cash prize of €5,000, with another €2,500 going the way of her employer to be used for the benefit of her work colleagues. She received the flagship award after seeing off competition from the seven other individual Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners, which were announced back in April. In addition, Roscommon Racecourse, won the Racecourse Award, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association, for the facilities they offer stable staff. “I am completely stunned to have won the Irish Racing Excellence Award,” said Sheridan, who has worked on stud farms for almost 30 years. “It's hard for me to put into words how much it means and it will take a while to sink in. I am so blessed to work with Olive and work with such good people around me–that means the world to me. “For those of us working in yards, to be seen and recognised like this is so special and it really highlights all the aspects of the work we do, all for the love of the horse. I'm very grateful to Godolphin and all the sponsors to demonstrate through the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards how amazing our industry is.” The Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards are run in conjunction with the Irish Stable Staff Association, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the Racing Post and equuip – Horse Racing Ireland's education and training department. Joe Osborne, managing director, Godolphin Ireland, said, “The 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony was yet again a wonderful celebration of the great people within our industry. All of us at Godolphin extend our congratulations to the recipients and our gratitude to their colleagues who nominated them.” The post Siobhan Sheridan Takes Top Accolade at Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is full steam ahead to the Group One The Everest (1,200m) for a “thrilled” David Hayes and Ka Ying Rising after the Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed on Thursday it has acquired a slot for the A$20 million (HK$102 million) sprint on October 18. Talk of Ka Ying Rising heading to The Everest has been bubbling away for most of the Hong Kong season and slot negotiations got under way months ago, with Hayes pleased the deal has been locked away. “I’m absolutely thrilled it’s been finalised and I’m...View the full article

Trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne are aware of the transition horses must make from their three-year-old year to their four-year-old season. A case in point is Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) who has won five of his 16 starts but has gone winless through his four-year-old year to date. The Paynes are hoping that will be rectified on Saturday when Bold Soul runs in the TAB We’re On (2520m) at Flemington. Bold Soul had an exceptional start to his racing career, starting with a maiden win at Donald in November 2023, graduating to city success at Flemington two starts later before heading to Tasmania where he won the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m) and the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) Later in the campaign, Bold Soul was taken to Adelaide when he was placed in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), won the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) before a midfield finish in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m). In all, Bold Soul raced nine times through his three-year-old season for five wins and was unplaced in just one of those outings. Bold Soul’s four-year-old season has been a contrast with the gelding filling a place just once in his seven outings. That was at Ballarat last December, although Michelle Payne said the signs were there at Caulfield last Saturday that Bold Soul was about to return to winning form. Payne has had a lot to do with Bold Soul over his brief career, travelling him to Tasmania last year and staying on with him in Adelaide. “I think sometimes when they go from those three-year-old years and then racing up against those older horses as four-year-olds, it can take a little bit of time to level out,” Payne said. “But he’s getting stronger all the time. “He’s been building up and his last run was really good. He was back for a long way, and he hit the line well and he’s getting to a distance that should suit him. “He’s also going to like a bit of give in the ground.” Payne said as part of Bold Soul’s conditioning and strengthening, the four-year-old has done some jumping at her brother’s Plumpton property. “They always do a bit of jumping out there. They love it,” she said. By Cambridge Stud’s Group One winning son of Savabeel, Embellish, Bold Soul is the last foal of the now retired Singspiel mare Twin Soul and was bred by Lou Te Keeti. Bold Soul was sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Yearling Sale for $20,000 to Wanganui horseman Hamish Auret and subsequently relocated to Payne’s Victorian operation. View the full article

New Zealand-bred sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has secured a coveted slot in the A$20 million The Everest (1200m), the world’s richest turf race. The announcement follows his undefeated season in Hong Kong, culminating in a commanding victory in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on April 27, marking his 12th consecutive win. Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising’s Australian campaign is strategically planned to include two major races in Sydney this spring. The four-year-old son of Shamexpress is set to debut in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18, followed by the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill two weeks later. A$1 million bonus is on offer for any horse that clinches both races. Bred by Fraser Auret under his Grandmoral Lodge banner, Ka Ying Rising is out of the Per Incanto mare Missy Moo. The winner of a Levin jumpout for Marton-based Auret, Ka Ying Rising was sold to the Lindsay Park team and would go on to win a trial in Australia prior to his export to Hong Kong, Ka Ying Rising will race for new slot-holder the Hong Kong Jockey Club which is understood to have negotiated a lease arrangement for the Australian Turf Club’s slot. Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes had been anticipating Ka Ying Rising’s Everest selection and is already planning the wo-start Sydney spring campaign for the world’s highest-rated sprinter. “I’ve had stables at Randwick before and always had a good relationship with the club (Australian Turf Club) so I’m pleased that it seems likely the Hong Kong Jockey Club has come to a deal with them,” Hayes said. “Now we can concentrate on getting Ka Ying Rising ready for The Everest.” View the full article