Wandering Eyes

Hillwood Stable's multiple graded stakes winner Post Time (Frosted) was named 2024 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, champion older male and champion sprinter when last season's champions were announced the week of Feb. 24 on the MHBA's social media accounts. Trained by Brittany Russell, Post Time won last year's GII Carter Stakes and GIII General George Stakes. On the board in all 15 career starts, with nine wins, the 5-year-old has earned $1,227,910 on the racetrack. Other Maryland champions announced last week include: champion 2-year-old male: Studlydoright (Nyquist); champion 2-year-old filly: Shkhara Fire (Friesan Fire); champion 3-year-old male: Mindframe (Constitution); champion 3-year-old filly: Call Another Play (Audible); champion older female and turf runner: Future Is Now (Great Notion); and champion steeplechaser: Who's Counting (Vancouver {Aus}). The late R. Larry Johnson was named Maryland Breeder of the Year. Vielsalm, the dam of Post Time, was the state's leading broodmare, and Great Notion earned his ninth consecutive title as Maryland Stallion of the Year. The 2024 champions will be honored at the eighth annual Renaissance Champion Awards, a collaborative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. This year's awards dinner will be held Apr. 11 at Laurel Park's Terrace Dining Room. Tickets may be purchased at MarylandThoroughbred.com. The post Post Time Named Maryland 2024 Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first mare has scanned in foal to GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner More Than Looks (More Than Ready–Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday), Lane's End announced Monday. The mare, Spirited Storm (Stormy Atlantic), is owned by Tag Stable, and is the dam of graded-placed Uncaptured Spirit (Uncaptured). In addition to last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, More Than Looks also won the 2023 GIII Manila Stakes and was second in both the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes and GI Fourstardave Stakes in 2024. More Than Looks is standing his first season at Lane's End for $15,000. The post First Mare Reported In Foal to More Than Looks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darby Dan Farm has unveiled a Breeder Reassurance Plan which will provide breeders a 60-day window of financial security to provide insurance should a foal face an unforeseen challenge during its first two months. Instead of the standard 48-hour stand-and-nurse payment deadline after the birth of a live foal, Darby Dan will extend the payment window by 60 days, specifically protecting breeders in the unfortunate event of foal mortality within that period. The time frame aligns with the foal's most delicate stage of development. “We recognize the inherent risks and anxieties that breeders face, particularly in those critical first 60 days of a foal's life,” said Darby Dan's stallion director Stuart Fitzgibbon. “This plan isn't simply about extending payment deadlines, it's about providing a safety net, a buffer against the financial burden that can accompany the loss of a foal. We are essentially sharing the risk with our breeders during this crucial window.” Fitzgibbon continued, “While we cannot control all the ancillary costs associated with breeding and raising horses, we can offer this vital layer of protection. This initiative underscores our commitment to supporting breeders and fostering a stronger, more secure breeding environment.” Darby Dan's 2025 stallion roster is led off by Flameaway and proven sire Dialed In, as well as a trio of newly arrived Grade I winners: Blazing Sevens, Gufo, and Shirl's Speight. The roster also includes Bee Jersey, Country House, Higher Power, Modernist, Tale of Ekati, Tale of Silence, and Title Ready. More information on the Darby Dan Breeder Reassurance Plan can be found at www.darbydan.com. The post Darby Dan to Offer Breeder Reassurance Plan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Since the last installment of this column, the No. 1-ranked contender, First Resort (Uncle Mo), has been declared off the Triple Crown trail because of a hairline fracture, and no fewer than four other top 12 horses were bet down to favoritism but lost points-awarding graded stakes. Even after this past Saturday's trio of preps for the GI Kentucky Derby, trying to figure out a new pecking order remains challenging, like trying to coax clarity out of chaos. 1) CITIZEN BULL (c, Into Mischief–No Joke, by Distorted Humor) 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-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $675,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime record: MGISW, 5-4-0-1, $1,421,000. Last start: WON Feb. 1 GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. I am generally keen to hammer home the stat that GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winners rarely win the Kentucky Derby, because the fact that there have been only two such occurrences in 40 years (Street Sense 2007, Nyquist 2016) is too daunting a historical trend to downplay. Yet here we are approaching the nine-week mark to the first Saturday in May, and I've got Citizen Bull newly installed in the top spot. What gives? Simply put, this $675,000 KEESEP son of Into Mischief stands out right now because he's a proven commodity with the speed-centric profile that won every Derby between 2014 and 2021. Befitting of the “Bull” in his name, this is a big, strong, heavy colt who takes pressure and produces impressive torque through an advanced gear range while displaying even-keeled maturity. At age two, this Bob Baffert trainee twice wired two-turn Grade I stakes under non-favored circumstances. After being crowned the Eclipse Award divisional champ, his sophomore debut in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes was a front-running pummeling at 9-10 odds despite a bobble at the break and never being roused for full run. Off that 98 Beyer Speed Figure, the Apr. 5 GI Santa Anita Derby is next. Underscoring how difficult it is just to make it into the Kentucky Derby–let alone win–with a juvenile champ, if you look back at Baffert's history with 2-year-old Eclipse Award winners (Vindication, Midshipman, Lookin At Lucky, American Pharoah, Game Winner and Corniche), only three of those six colts ended up starting in the Derby. Of those, American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, while Lookin At Lucky was sixth in the 2010 Derby and Game Winner was fifth in 2019. 2) JOURNALISM (c, Curlin–Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) O-Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-3-0-1, $338,880. Last start: WON Mar. 1 GII San Felipe Stakes. With three straight scores around two turns, including the GII Los Alamitos Futurity and GII San Felipe Stakes, this $825,000 FTSAUG son of Curlin is rounding into an all-business stalker already capable of detonating a triple-digit Beyer. The scary-good thing about the 108 fig Journalism was credited with over 1 1/16-miles at Santa Anita last Saturday is that that number was likely earned over a distance that will end up being well short of this colt's ultimate comfort zone. Off at 3-1 odds, Journalism broke running from post two, but Umberto Rispoli quickly conceded the lead to the 2-5 favorite and $3.2 million FTSAUG colt Barnes. As the San Felipe's opening quarter-mile splits of :23.71 and :23.60 percolated under intensifying pressure, Rispoli eased Journalism back to fourth at the fence. A half-mile out, this colt willingly responded to cue to advance inside of rivals, marching forward with metronomic precision. Barnes tried to give his pace-pressers the slip three-eighths from home and looked quite capable of doing so. But Journalism responded to that attempted breakaway by letting fly with a relentless outside drive that set up a three-deep sweep off the final turn and had him zeroing in on the highly hyped fave at the head of the lane. Barnes still had 2 1/2 lengths on Journalism cresting the eighth pole, but this colt's long, confident uncoiling was well-timed by Rispoli. Journalism smartly came over the top at the sixteenth pole, then extended with gusto past a tiring (but still very much trying) Barnes. Trainer Michael McCarthy said the Santa Anita Derby is the “most likely scenario” for Journalism's next race, setting up a potential showdown between the top two contenders on this list. 3) SOVEREIGNTY (c, Into Mischief–Crowned, by Bernardini) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-2-1-0, $388,800. Last start: WON Mar. 1 GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. Despite being impressed by Sovereignty's circle-the-field score in the Oct. 27 GIII Street Sense Stakes, I was concerned that he wouldn't be fully cranked for last Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. The betting public must have thought similarly, because this Godolphin homebred by Into Mischief was let go slightly north of 3-1 in the wagering, the third choice in a field of six. Sovereignty broke off robustly without a pony in his pre-race warmups, looking very much full of himself prior to the race. Once the gates opened, he was content to lope along at the back of the pack, saving ground while the pacemakers clicked off brisk splits of :23.12, :23.95 and :23.61 (although Gulfstream's new run-up distances likely factored into the seemingly quick fractions). Junior Alvarado gave up four paths of real estate on the far turn in order to position Sovereignty in the clear, and although the colt had built serious momentum, he still needed to make up four lengths on a staying-on leader with one furlong remaining over Gulfstream's short-stretch configuration for 1 1/16-miles (finish line at the sixteenth pole). Sovereignty's late burst through a final quarter in :25.75 and a last sixteenth in :6.69 enabled him to get his neck in front of second favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) in the final few jumps. This colt punctuated his well-timed winning move with a strong gallop-out. In the aftermath of the victory, Sovereignty's connections were non-committal about a next race. Sovereignty last to first in the Fountain of Youth | Coglianese 4) BARNES (c, Into Mischief–All American Dream, by American Pharoah) O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $3,200,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $249,000. Last start: 2nd Mar. 1 GII San Felipe Stakes. If you were brazen enough to bet Barnes at 6-1 in the January pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, you were probably baking into that price point the idea that along the way, he would win his first two-turn attempt in March. That didn't happen in last Saturday's San Felipe Stakes. But the runner-up effort by this $3.2 million FTSAUG colt by Into Mischief is still likely to turn out to be a very useful progression point along his career arc. Barnes, at 2-5 odds, forged to the front, handled internal pace pressure, then gave Journalism a run for his money between the quarter and sixteenth poles before coming up short by 1 3/4 lengths. And hey, how many losing efforts by 3-year-olds in early March have you ever seen that register a jolting 105 on the Beyer scale? “He was driving really well,” jockey Juan Hernandez said. “He was comfortable and doing really well. Honestly, we just got beat by a great horse. This is his first time going two turns and I think he ran great even after Journalism ran past me.” Despite the lofty expectations from Barnes's career outset (he debuted at Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving Eve, winning over 5 1/2 furlongs, then pulverized four rivals in the seven-furlong Jan. 4 GII San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita), the guess here is that this colt has earned a spot on trainer Bob Baffert's travelling team and will next be pointed for the Mar. 29 GI Arkansas Derby, which is annually one of the Hall-of-Fame trainer's prime prep-race targets. Baffert's A-list colts usually get first crack at competing over their home track at Santa Anita for their final nine-furlong Kentucky Derby preps. But I can't envision Baffert running both Citizen Bull and Barnes in the Santa Anita Derby. Any sort of early-speed hookup that would result from their similar running styles would only play to the stalk-and-pounce expertise of Journalism. 5) CAPTAIN COOK (c, Practical Joke–Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie) 'TDN Rising Star' O-St. Elias Stable; B-Marylou Whitney Stables, LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. Sales history: $410,000 2yo '24 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $188,256. Last start: WON Feb. 1 Withers Stakes. We're a quarter-century removed from the last time that any Kentucky Derby parlayed a win in the the GII Wood Memorial Stakes into a blanket of roses. Fusaichi Pegasus was the last to do it, and you have to go back nearly another two decades prior to that to find the next closest colt, Pleasant Colony in 1981. But a road to Louisville that goes through New York might suit 'TDN Rising Star' Captain Cook just fine. He'll have two months of rest between starts if he goes as planned in the Apr. 5 Wood, and he'll bring two wins over the Aqueduct surface into that race. This Practical Joke colt ($410,000 KEENOV HRA) out of Rick Dutrow, Jr.'s barn generally has a relaxed attitude but displayed locked-in focus when orchestrating a 2 1/4-length, 94-Beyer victory over nine furlongs in the Feb. 1 Withers Stakes. Bet to 7-5 favoritism, Captain Cook broke a beat slow then stalked the leaders while three wide on both turns. He took the lead at the quarter pole, and in the stretch swatted back a late challenge to edge clear under purposeful urging. The only horse to race back out of the Withers since then, the sixth-place finisher Uncle Jim (City of Light), won and was claimed out of his next start, a $50,000 starter/optional claimer in which he improved his Beyer by 15 points. 6) SANDMAN (c, Tapit–Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) O-D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables; B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. Sales History: $1,200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSP, 7-2-1-2, $444,595. Last start: 3rd Feb. 23 GII Rebel Stakes. The Feb. 23 GII Rebel Stakes was Sandman's fourth stakes and fifth try at a mile or longer. But his third-place finish didn't equate to the progress-to-the-next-level type of performance that was expected of him as the 5-2 favorite stepping up off an adversity-overcoming, runner-up effort in the GIII Southwest Stakes one month earlier. Still, the prep has to be considered useful in the grand scheme of the overall Derby picture, and Sandman will next target the Arkansas Derby. “I thought he ran really well. Actually, exceptionally well,” trainer Mark Casse said of this $1.2 million OBSMAR colt by Tapit. “The winner was impressive, [but] we lost the race, probably, in the first hundred yards…We were hoping to be five or six lengths back. Instead, we were 15. I think it was a great effort to only get beat a couple of lengths.” Although Casse termed the Oaklawn track “speed-biased,” a better descriptor for the 12 races that afternoon might be “speed- slanted.” Yes, there were two wire-to-wire winners and five who scored from right up next to the pace. But three stalkers and two closers also won coming from farther back, and the winner of the Rebel, Coal Battle (Coal Front), made up eight lengths from midpack. You'd think the Rebel's fast pace (two opening quarters of :22.47 and :23.25) would have aided Sandman's closing kick, but that was not the case. He did look good weaving through inside traffic entering the far turn, then stalled briefly three-eighths out before Cristian Torres tipped him outside. That move was almost the mirror-opposite of the big run Torres got out of Sandman in the Southwest, when given the choice of darting through at the rail or swinging wide, Torres chose the narrow inside passage. In the Rebel, he closed capably through the lane, but simply had too much work to do to reel in Coal Battle. 7) RIVER THAMES (c, Maclean's Music–Proportionality, by Discreet Cat) 'TDN Rising Star' O-CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC; B-CTR Stables, LLC (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales history: $200,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG. Lifetime record: 3-2-1-0, $164,400. Last start: 2nd, Mar. 1 GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. This New York-bred by Maclean's Music ($200,000 SARAUG) delivered a decent second-place try, beaten only a neck by Sovereignty, in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. After winning his first two starts at six furlongs and over a one-turn mile at Gulfstream, this 'TDN Rising Star' initially flashed speed in his first try around two turns, but after pressing the pace on the inside through the first turn, John Velazquez backed him off and switched him outside of the leader on the backstretch. Nudged along to re-engage with three furlongs left, River Thames was ridden to get after the in-hand 14-1 leader, and he wrested control off the final turn. Once clear he stayed on reasonably well despite what appeared to be a brief mental lapse, but that momentary stray from concentration might have contributed to Sovereignty nailing him in the shadow of the wire. Given his relative lack of experience, the effort was commendable. “The only thing is we felt like late in the race, he kind of lost focus a little bit,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He pricked his ears. I don't know if he was looking at the big screen or footprints on the track or exactly what made him lose focus for a minute, but he ran a really good race.” 8) PATCH ADAMS (c, Into Mischief–Well Humored, by Distorted Humor) 'TDN Rising Star' O-CHC Inc., Siena Farm LLC, WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Lifetime record: 3-1-0-1, $132,125. Last start: 4th Jan. 25 GIII Southwest Stakes. 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) exploded onto the scene with a 10 1/2-length blowout going seven-eighths at 58 cents on the dollar in start number two in a Churchill maiden race Nov. 30, but he got a stern reality check in his first race around two turns and against winners when fourth in the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes. Now he's in the redemption lane of the Derby road and considered probable to be entered Wednesday in this Saturday's GIII Tampa Bay Derby. You need to apply a realistic dose of forgiveness to his odds-on fourth at Oaklawn to give him a shot moving forward. This homebred for co-owner WinStar Farm bobbled at the break, failed to get involved in the early pace (on a day when eight of 11 winners over that track raced on or just behind the lead), then made a middle move but ran out of steam in the stretch, getting brushed aside brusquely by the more authoritative Sandman. One concern about the quality of the Southwest field is that six horses have since run back out of that race (five in stakes), and only one has hit the board. Patch Adams breezed a bullet five-eighths in 1:01.40 (1/11) at Payson Park Mar. 1, his fourth published workout since the Southwest. 9) COAL BATTLE (c, Coal Front–Wolfblade, by Midshipman) O-Norman Stables LLC; B-Hume Wornall & Jay Adcock (KY); T-Lonnie Briley. Sales history: $70,000 Ylg '23 TTAYRL. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-5-0-0, $1,188,875. Last start: WON Feb. 23 GII Rebel Stakes. Coal Battle ($70,000 TTAYRL) has earned the tag of “overachiever” within the Top 12 at this stage of the season. He has now strung together four straight stakes scores (Beyer progression 76-84-84-91), starting with modest stakes at Delta Downs and Remington at age two prior to punching above his weight with victories in the Smarty Jones and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn to launch his sophomore campaign. In the Rebel, this son of Coal Front broke running from the rail, settled back to lead the second flight in a strung-out field of 13, started rolling four furlongs out, tipped to the outside for his far-turn bid, then hit another gear under minimal urging between the five-sixteenths and quarter poles. Confronting the pacemaker in upper stretch, Coal Battle raced unfocused for a few strides while gawking around, but made the lead under left-handed urging to reel in that foe and win by 1 1/4 lengths. Although stabled at Oaklawn, trainer Lonnie Briley has mentioned, but has not yet committed to, the Arkansas Derby for this colt's next start. Coal Battle | Coady Media 10) 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 '23 KEESEP. Lifetime record: 4-1-2-1, $122,800. Last start: 3rd Mar. 1 GII San Felipe Stakes. Rodriguez was seriously outhoofed by both Journalism and his stablemate, Barnes, in the San Felipe. But even though he was 11 1/4 lengths behind those foes while finishing a distant third, I wouldn't pull the plug on his Derby chances just yet. This 'TDN Rising Star' by Authentic came away from the gate with in-hand speed, and while in the process of edging closer to put pressure on Barnes in the early stages, Rodriguez got prompted to move a bit faster than Flavien Prat might have liked when a keyed-up 45-1 shot ranged up to his outside entering the backstretch, necessitating that Rodriguez, too, had to quicken stride to maintain position between rivals. He shadowed Barnes as best as he could through the far turn and into upper stretch, but when it was clear he would not finish close to the top two, Prat didn't hammer on him. Although this Bob Baffert trainee hasn't run back to his big-fig (100 Beyer) maiden win over a mile at Santa Anita Jan. 4, his runner-up try behind the No. 1-ranked Citizen Bull in the Feb. 1 Lewis Stakes was also better than it looks, because Rodriguez made two moves, overcoming a mid-race momentum stall before getting outkicked by his much more experienced champion stablemate. This $485,000 KEESEP colt is a May 20 foal, so a little bit later development curve might be reasonably expected. 11) CHANCER McPATRICK (c, McKinzie–Bernadreamy, by Bernardini) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Flanagan Racing; B-Rigney Racing, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $260,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $725,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). Lifetime record: MGISW 4-3-0-0, $535,000. Last start: 6th Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Chancer McPatrick ($260,000 FTKJUL, $725,000 OBSAPR) won his maiden, the GI Hopeful Stakes, and the GI Champagne Stakes in succession last season prior to a lackluster sixth in the Breeders' Cup as the second fave for the Juvenile. Trainer Chad Brown then gave the son of McKinzie time off to have “a tiny flake” surgically removed from a front ankle, and Brown admitted earlier in the winter that it would be a challenge to get this colt back in Grade I form in time for the spring Classics. The first step on that path will likely come Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, which Brown won last year with Domestic Product. A decent finish over 1 1/16 miles at Tampa could lead to a berth in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland at nine furlongs. Chancer McPatrick's style at age two was to rally from off the pace. He was last or next-to-last in the early stages of all four starts. 12) FLOOD ZONE (c, Frosted-Curls for Girls, by Curlin) O-Wathnan Racing; B-Al Figliolia Westburystables, LLC (FL); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $24,000 RNA Ylg '23 OBSWIN; $72,000 RNA 2yo '24 OBSMAR; $45,000 2yo '24 OBSOPN. Lifetime record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $203,800. Last start: WON GIII Mar. 1 Gotham Stakes. The 2-for-3 Flood Zone (Frosted) won Aqueduct's GIII Gotham Stakes at 17-1 last Saturday in his first start for trainer Brad Cox following a private purchase after having gone through the sales ring three times ($24.000 RNA OBSWIN, $72,000 RNA OBSMAR, $45,000 OBSOPN). He broke fourth, led leaving the backstretch chute for the one-turn mile, then backed off the action when two inside rivals wanted the lead. One of them was the 7-5 favorite, and Flood Zone re-engaged him on the far turn, took command, but lost that lead in upper stretch. Then this colt surged again inside the final sixteenth to drive clear for a 3 1/4-length win. Flood Zone had previously raced out of the barn of trainer Victor Barboza, Jr., who saddled him to a second-out, 5 1/4-length victory against Florida-breds while sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs Jan. 4 at Gulfstream. Flood Zone's 98 Beyer is what earned him a spot within the Top 12. That looks like a legit fig considering Aqueduct ran four straight races on Mar. 1 at a mile, and this colt's Gotham clocked fastest of the quartet, most notably 0.67 seconds quicker than the winning time for the Stymie Stakes for older males and 1.84 seconds faster than the Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Flood Zone winning the Gotham | Sarah Andrew The post TDN Derby Top 12: Upheaval In The Ranks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Chip Montgomery sits down with TDN to discuss his 2025 mating plans for Haymarket Farm. The 2025 mating season will be a milestone for Haymarket Farm, as, for the first time, all of our mares will be based in central Kentucky, rather than on our farm in Simpsonville. It was such a competitive disadvantage being located outside of the core nucleus of the terrific vets, farriers, et al, that serve our farms and in this day, we need all the economic help we can get! You ask what we're doing with the physical Haymarket Farm… we're making hay! Ctimene (16, Consolidator–Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo) to be bred to National Treasure. The matriarch, this half-sister to Tampa Bay Derby winner Odysseus (Malibu Moon) and to the dam of GI American Oaks winner Decked Out (Street Boss), is the dam herself of this year's GII San Pasqual Stakes winner Katonah (Klimt). She went to Mitole for this year and [we're] trying to breed another like Katonah by trying another son of Quality Road. Physically a good match, too. Good tohave Around (5, Good Samaritan–Ctimene, by Consolidator) to be bred to Complexity. An unplaced daughter of Ctimene and thus a half to Katonah, Good tohave Around is due to Proxy this year. I'm using my Complexity share here and bringing speed to the family for her second foal. Strategerized (5, Justify–Mexican Hat, by Street Cry {Ire}) to be bred to Vekoma. This beautiful, tall Justify mare with just one eye does well at the farm and is due to Annapolis with her first foal any day. She's from the immediate family of Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) and GISW Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun), so we're hoping for a two-turn horse with speed. She suits Vekoma physically. Supernatural (10, Ghostzapper–Favorite Feather, by Capote) to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro. This mare is a half-sister to SW/GISP Featherbed (Smart Strike), who produced both GIII Illinois Derby winner Dynamic Impact (Tiznow and GIII Sanford Stakes winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo). She's also out of a half to the dam of GISW and $3-million earner Albert the Great (Go for Gin). She's due to Liam's Map this year and she produced a $200,000 KEENOV colt by Epicenter last year. We're hoping to come up with one like East Avenue by using that same cross (Medaglia d'Oro out of a Ghostzapper mare). Hebah (Ire) (11, Sea The Stars {Ire}–Lia {Ire}, by Desert King {Ire}) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro. A recent private purchase, this Shadwell mare will be served well with the mass and size of Bolt d'Oro. With big crops coming, winners on dirt and grass, he has a great shot at being successful. She's due this year to Cody's Wish after producing a Medaglia d'Oro filly last year. This is the family of G1 Prix de Diane Hermes-French Oaks winner Latice (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}), as well as MG1SW Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Designing (10, Mizzen Mast–Joop, by Zilzal) to be bred to Annapolis. Designing is a half-sister to MGSW/GISP Redding Colliery (Mineshaft) and SW/MGSP Joopy Doopy (Gilded Time). I am using my share for Annapolis here as I love these stallions that can be used (I believe) for both dirt and grass. Designing is by Mizzen Mast who was himself a Grade I winner on dirt and grass. Annapolis has a great dirt family, but his notoriety is on grass! The post 2025 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift Farm: Haymarket Farm and Chip Montgomery appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher has accepted a seven-day suspension imposed by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after a horse from his barn tested positive for betamethasone. “After learning of the allegation, Todd conducted an internal investigation and discovered he and his team followed all timelines and protocols as laid out by HISA,” Pletcher's attorney Drew Mollica said. “Despite this fact, the test seems to show a trace amount was discovered in the system of the horse, and rather than litigate, Todd made the prudent choice to accept the penalty and move on, putting this matter behind him and getting on with the business of the Triple Crown trail.” The Pletcher-trained Vassimo (Nyquist) tested positive for the drug, a long-acting corticosteroid with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties, after breaking his maiden Dec. 14 at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old colt returned to win a Tampa Bay Downs allowance Jan. 17 and was most recently fourth in the GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. Pletcher's suspension will begin Mar. 4. In addition to the suspension, Vassimo will be disqualified and his winning purse forfeited and the trainer will be assessed a $1,000 fine and 1.5 penalty points. The post Pletcher Accepts Seven-Day Suspension for Betamethasone Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With a view overlooking the massive renovation of the Keeneland paddock, professional equine investigators soaked up the latest techniques in the trade and engaged some of the most pressing issues across racing during the first day of the 29th annual Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) Training Conference on Monday. The ORI is a member organization which is composed of investigators who hail from jurisdictions across the U.S. and includes an international cadre as well. The conference's purpose is to create a resource where these shoe leather detectives can safely exchange ideas in a series of professional sidebars and listen to a range of speakers who present on cutting-edge topics. Beyond the training, even more significant is the support that fellow investigators provide to one another as they aim to better protect equine athletes. Emphasizing the gravitas of integrity across jurisdictions, this year's two-day Keeneland conference drew 110 attendees. Sponsored by entities from the Breeders' Cup and The Jockey Club of America to individual track operators like NYRA and PENN Entertainment, the event was chaired by Dr. Stuart Brown, Keeneland's director of equine safety. “The ORI structure really promotes these guardians of this great sport and it is a pool of knowledge for those in attendance,” said Dr. Brown. “The combined expertise in this room really reflects what this organization has steadily built for nearly three decades.” Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) opened the conference and welcomed the participants. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) | Katie Petrunyak “This industry runs deep and my family has been intimately tied to the sport here at Keeneland” he said. “Our intention when we created the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act was always about uniformity,” he said. “I am confident that we are headed in the right direction and as you look around this room, I am pleased to see how investigators come together.” The agenda covered a variety of equine-related initiatives on the first day. Lisa Lazarus, the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority's (HISA) chief executive officer, offered a rundown of current operations and she emphasized during her talk the essential role played by investigators employed by state racing commissions. “At the beginning we were just getting into how it was all going to work with state regulators and their investigations, but it has really gelled and we have hit our stride,” Lazarus said. “The trust continues to be strong and we just broke that big Pennsylvania investigation. That was absolutely through collaboration and the efforts of those professionals at the state level.” Giving an international perspective was Head of Raceday Stewarding & Integrity France Galop Samuel Fargeat, who gave a survey of how he and his team regulate some 226 racecourses across France. Covering a hot-button issue in American Quarter Horse racing, Dr. Angela Pelzel-McClusky who is a National Equine Epidemiologist with the USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, covered how identification and testing of exposed horses to equine infectious anemia (EIA) cases in the United States can destroy a backside and beyond. ORI Program | Katie Petrunyak “Tracing how these cases develop comes to us through research and it is an intricate process,” said Pelzel-McClusky. “EIA cases can balloon very easily. Strengthening our ties to local investigatory agencies will help us identify poor practices, so we can stamp out a debilitating disease like this one.” Kyle McDoniel, president and chief operating officer of Equibase, discussed some of his company's initiatives in rolling out a new biometric data collection system that is a fingerprint for how any horse moves. The Monday slate included a talk about jockey health and wellness, which was introduced by HISA's National Medical Director Dr. Peter Hester. Finally, a dual-presentation on how investigators ensure equine safety and security on major racing days was made by Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Officer Dora Delgado and Dr. Will Farmer, Churchill Downs's equine medical director. “When we created the Breeders' Cup Equine Security Team, we had the very best come from across the country to work with us during what is a major week of racing,” Delgado said. “They know horses and trainers from their own jurisdictions, and in turn they take information home. The whole process fosters fraternity and such a positive move for this industry through networking.” During the evening, the group held its awards banquet where the organization's lifetime achievement prize–named for longtime investigator John F. Wayne–was earned by Chris Gordon, the Head of Security & Investigations for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. An ORI raffle was held in support of Keeneland's Backside Chaplaincy with investigator Billy Fryer donating a Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle and program signed by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez. ORI's 29th meeting continues from Keeneland on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The post Gravitas Of Integrity The Focal Point During Investigator Conference At Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A seven race meeting at Cambridge today will kick off another busy harness racing week. The meeting, starting at 4.18pm, will include the latest round of the Metro Series heats for the pacers and trotters. Action then heads south to Oamaru tomorrow ahead of a Friday double-header at Auckland and Westport and then the weekend meetings at Invercargill on Saturday and Reefton on Sunday. So Mystifying returns in Metro Series heat at Cambridge By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Raceday temperament will play a big part in how So Mystifying goes in her return to the races in the Garrards Horse And Hound Metro Series Heat 1 Mobile Trot (5.59pm) at Cambridge this evening. The Father Patrick five-year-old hasn’t raced since November and has not been to the trials ahead of her race day resumption. “She has the ability and it just depends on her mood on the day,” says Emily Johnson who drives the mare for trainer Sean McCaffrey, “hopefully she’ll behave herself.” “From the draw (7) we will go back.” Johnson drove her in her only success so far, at Cambridge in August last year and drives her regularly at home. “She’s a top three chance in that field and one to watch in the next few starts.” So Mystifying is a $7.50 fifth favourite, with Eagle Hanover the top pick at $4. Johnson will also drive one of the outsiders Pass Code for trainer Tim Hall in Race 6, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Metro Series Heat 1 Mobile Pace (6.24pm) The Gold Ace four-year-old was fourth in her last start on the grass at Hawera, with the combo winning at Otaki on January 19. “We will roll forward and see where she lobs.” The Jeremy Young-trained Mantra is a $4.60 favourite The top four from both Metro Series heats will qualify for the two $35,000 finals at Alexandra Park on March 21. Another round of heats will be run at Alexandra Park on March 14. Johnson has three drives on the day, starting with Highview Rockn Roll in Race 3, the Wednesday Quiz Night at the Clubhouse Handicap Trot. The 10-year-old has been a great performer for trainer Donald Cossey and won three starts ago for Johnson at Otaki. “She loves to be on the pace and just keeps rolling,” says Johnson, “she’s a tough old girl.” She’s currently at $5, with Castana a $2.50 favourite. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a half-brother to a champion racemare. 14.52 Newcastle, Nov, £6,300, 3yo/up, 6f (AWT) The Gredley Family's 160,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 buy STARDROP (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-brother to six-time elite-level winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The James Owen-conditioned debutant encounters two prior winners in this four-runner affair. The post Half-Brother to Inspiral Set For Newcastle Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale begins Wednesday, harkening the opening of the juvenile sales season, it will find the Hidden Brook Farm team hard at work to locate the newest prospects for its racing partnership. Among the gems the team has uncovered in Ocala in recent years are Hidden Connection (Connect) and Nay Lady Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never). Both enjoyed graded success on the racetrack before attracting seven-figure price tags when reoffered at auction at the conclusion of their racing careers. “Knights Templar (Exploit) was the first partnership horse that we bought to race,” recalled Hidden Brook's Dan Hall. “We actually bought her and raced her with Ed Seltzer.” Knights Templar, purchased for $80,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, went on to win the 2005 GIII Mazarine Stakes and was named that year's champion 2-year-old filly in Canada. The Hidden Brook partnerships are more about a passion for the game than a business plan for the farm. “It's not a big portion of our business,” Hall said. “We don't count on it to affect our bottom line. We just enjoy the sport, the racing, all facets of it.” He continued, “The way [the partnership] has grown and kept going is basically by word of mouth from our partners that have been happy and have enjoyed doing it with us. They share with friends and families and they come on. We don't go out of our way to market ourselves. We are buying anywhere from two to five a year, either as yearlings or as 2-year-olds.” Over the years, the partnership has chosen to focus on purchasing fillies with an eye towards resale when their racing days are over. “When we first started out, we did a little bit of both, but the residual value on a colt, there is none, unless it is a real stallion potential,” Hall explained. “We just decided to stick with the fillies. So sales revenue is a big part of our success story. A Grade III-winning colt isn't really worth anything at the end of the day and a Grade III-winning filly could be worth $200,000, $300,000 or $400,000.” Hidden Brook purchased Hidden Connection for $85,000 at the 2021 OBS June sale. “We had some money left over, so we were still shopping in June,” Hall said of finding Hidden Connection late in the sales season that year. “Fortunately we found her and it all worked out great.” The filly immediately began to repay the partnership, winning her debut at Colonial Downs by 7 1/2 lengths and attracting a new investor when Black Type Thoroughbreds purchased a 40% interest based on a value of $600,000. “We did take some money off the table when she broke her maiden as a 2-year-old, which we have done a few times, where we could sell a piece, but still remain in control, just because of the obvious risk of the game,” Hall said. “We think it's wise to tell our partners to do that.” In her second start, Hidden Connection won the GIII Pocahontas Stakes and in her third start, she finished fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She ultimately hit the board in an additional five graded events, including a runner-up effort in the 2022 GII Fair Grounds Oaks, and earned $851,808. Sent through the sales ring at the 2024 Keeneland November sale, the 5-year-old mare sold for $1.5 million to Spendthrift Farm. Teaming up with First Row Partners to increase its buying power, the Hidden Brook partnership acquired Nay Lady Nay for $210,000 at the 2018 OBS March sale. “Nay Lady Nay breezed well enough, she galloped out well, we liked her on the end of a shank,” Hall said of the filly's appeal. Nay Lady Nay would go on to win the 2019 GII Mrs. Revere Stakes and 2020 GIII WinStar Matchmaker Stakes and finished third in that year's GI Flower Bowl Stakes. Along the way, her year-younger full-brother Arizona (Ire) won the 2019 G2 Coventry Stakes and was twice Group 1-placed. After earning $485,180 on the racetrack, Nay Lady Nay returned to the sales ring at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale where she sold for $1.7 million to Juddmonte Farms. “We got really lucky there,” Hall said of the result. “Her full-brother emerged after we bought her and her sire went on to become very successful after we bought her. And she was obviously a good race horse herself. We were fortunate that everything came together and we ended up with that very good result at the end of the day.” Now on the eve of another juvenile sales season, Hidden Brook is back at it again. After a four-day breeze show Wednesday through Saturday, the OBS March sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday. “We are coming up to the 2-year-old sales now, so we recently sent out a mailing to fund raise for this particular partnership,” Hall said. “So depending on how much money we raise, we will buy one or two fillies at the 2-year-old sales and whoever is in that partnership will own a piece of each of them.” “We raise our money beforehand,” Hall continued. “I know some other models don't. They buy the horse and then mark the horse up and then attempt to sell it off. We don't. We raise it beforehand. And by doing that, we don't have this big mark up. We just charge a 5% purchase commission and a 5% selling commission at the end of the day. That's it. There is no mark-up.” Of a price threshold, Hall said, “I think $280,000 is the most we've ever spent on a horse. We are typically in that $100,000 to $250,000 range. A lot depends on whether our group is partnering with another group where we might stretch a little bit. In recent years, we have taken that partnership and maybe partnered with another partnership, just to give us a little more buying power, a little more strength.” Hall expects to find plenty of competition when he goes to raise his hand at OBS next week. “I think it will be more of the same that our market has been in all facets,” he said. “The good ones will be hard to buy. It's our job to keep looking and see if we can find another Hidden Connection.” Still, Hall said the partnerships are about more than just their results on the racetrack and in the sales ring. “A big part of it for me is the friendships we've made, getting to know these people, their families and their kids, that I wouldn't have gotten to know without these partnerships,” he said. “That's the best part about it for me.” The post Hidden Brook Team Ready to Restock at 2-Year-Old Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Danny Shum says there's a chance Romantic Warrior could return to the Saudi Cup (G1) in 2026 for a potential rematch with Forever Young.View the full article

Justifying (Aus) (Justify) became his dual-hemisphere stallion's third Hong Kong winner with a dazzling debut display down the 1000-meter straight course in Sunday's opening race at Sha Tin Racecourse. An A$100,000 graduate of the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the bay was led out unsold for the same amount at that year's Inglis Ready2Race [Breeze-Up] Sale and was turned over to trainer Vincent Nolan for his initial racetrack prep. The late October foal put his talents on full display when landing a soft-ground jumpout by five lengths at Benalla north and east of Melbourne last April and soon was bound for the riches of Hong Kong, where he joined the yard of noted trainer Caspar Fownes. Sent up to the Hong Kong Jockey Club's satellite training facility on the Chinese mainland at Conghua in early 2025, Justifying led throughout to win an 800-meter turf trial in January (video), added another a few weeks later over the metric five furlongs (video) and was the $2.60 favorite (8-5) for his unveiling on Sunday. Drawn four, Justifying was quickly into stride for Luke Ferraris, who was able to cross down onto the stands'-side rail after a couple of hundred meters. Always going strongly up front, he quickened up beautifully with about 300 meters to travel and crossed the wire a 3 3/4-length winner (video). The final time was :55.67, nearly a full second inside of the standard time for Class 4 over the distance. “He's a very fast horse and he's got a long way to go because he's still quite immature,” Fownes told the HKJC's Leo Schlink. “I gave him two trials and normally I'd give them a few more but he looked to be ready to come to the races. He's a pretty straightforward horse, he showed a lot of speed and I think he's quite exciting.” Justifying is out of a full-sister to multiple Australian sprint group winner and Group 1-placed Montana Flyer (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), and Justify's two other local winners also descend from Danehill-line dams, namely by Fastnet Rock (Aus) and Redoute's Choice (Aus). Hong Kong Jockey Club handicappers gave Justifying a hefty 11 pounds for the victory, which means he will face Class 3 gallopers next time off a mark of 63. Smashed 'em! Justify gelding Justifying wins comfortably on debut at Sha Tin with @LukeFerraris and Caspar Fownes… #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/Osvhnp29u8 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 The post ‘He’s A Very Fast Horse’: Justify Gelding Justifying Impresses On HK Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nine lots have been added to the Tattersalls Online March Sale, which is scheduled to take place between the hours of 11am on Tuesday, March 4 and 11am on Wednesday, March 5. The full catalogue is available to view here. The Olly Murphy-trained Dexterity (Ire) (Shantou) is one of the most notable additions following his seven-and-a-half-length victory in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las on Friday. The eight-year-old will be offered as lot 103 by Murphy's Warren Chase Stables, while Bletchley Storm (GB) (lot 96), a four-time winner by Night Of Thunder (Ire), is another potential highlight among the wildcards. The Spencer Sales-consigned five-year-old is out of the Listed-winning hurdler Mystery Code (GB) (Tobougg {Ire}). The post Nine Wildcards Added to the Tattersalls Online March Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first mare bred to 2023 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future (Curlin–Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road) has checked in foal, Claiborne Farm announced Monday. The mare, My Way (Unbridled's Song), is the dam of nine winners from 10 to race, and is a half-sister to graded winners Academy Award (Secretariat), Good Mood (Devil's Bag), and Statuette (Pancho Villa). Bright Future won five of 11 career starts and earned $947,940 for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher. In addition to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, he also won the 2024 GIII Salvator Mile Stakes. Bright Future stands for $12,500 at Claiborne Farm. The post First Mare in Foal to Bright Future appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The horsemen's organization representing Thoroughbred owners and trainers at Gulfstream Park is rejoining the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association as an affiliate.View the full article

Prairie Meadows announced the hiring of two racing officials for the upcoming 2025 racing season. Eric DeCoster has been hired as the Thoroughbred Racing Secretary and Kelly McReynolds has been hired as the Starting Gate Starter.View the full article

The intruders drove down the middle of the Rowley Mile until veering off right at around the nine-furlong start and smashing through the stands' side running rail to make their escape.View the full article

Kendrick Carmouche has been named the winner of the 2025 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award after a nationwide vote by his fellow riders. The award, which has been presented annually by Santa Anita Park since 1950, honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport of Thoroughbred racing. “Twenty five years of living as a professional jockey and living as a son to a jockey, this award means that the pavement that I have put down in the industry has been shown to a lot of people and they've seen me grow over the years,” said Carmouche. “I'm just honored, very honored. I just wish my dad would be here to notice. He was one of the biggest influences that got me into the sport. He is well missed. This is one of the things that we accomplish along the way to show our gratitude. Not only to my dad, but my wife and kids, my mom, brothers and sisters. Just accomplishing so many things along my career.” Carmouche began riding at age 16 and won his first race at Evangeline Downs in his home state. The son of jockey Sylvester Carmouche, Jr., he became a dominant force at Parx where he won four straight riding titles and seven overall. He has made New York his base since 2015 and won riding titles at Aqueduct during its 2020 fall meet and 2023 spring meet. Carmouche will be honored with the Woolf Award in a winner's circle ceremony at Santa Anita this spring. The post Kendrick Carmouche Wins 2025 George Woolf Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was announced on Monday that last year's outstanding miler Charyn (Ire) has had his first mares confirmed in foal. The dual Listed scorer Game Theory (Ire) (Aussie Rules) was among the first mares to visit Charyn at Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Preaux. She has since been scanned in foal, along with the multiple Listed-placed Helens Well (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), whose Listed-winning dam is out of a half-sister to Green Desert. Tony Parker's Infinity Nine reportedly have a majority stake in Helens Well. Charyn, who completed a hat-trick of Group 1 victories in 2024 when winning the Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, stands his first season at Montfort et Preaux at a fee of €35,000. The post Champion Miler Charyn has First Mares Scanned In Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first two mares bred to GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate–Smart Shopping, by Smart Strike) have checked in foal, Gainesway announced Monday. Checked in foal to the new stallion are Above the Sun (Bernardini), who is owned by Three Times A Charm and is boarded at Collier Mathes's Chesapeake Farm, and stakes winner Queen of God (Paynter), who is owned and boarded at Todd and Angela Lewis's Westbrook Stables. In addition to the Preakness, Seize the Grey won the 2024 GI Pennsylvania Derby and GII Pat Day Mile Stakes. He is standing his first season at Gainesway for $30,000 LFSN. The post First Mares Checked in Foal to Seize the Grey appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I am writing this letter in response to the article on the New York Times opinion piece, “In a Lengthy Guest Essay, the New York Times Advocates Ending Subsidies to Racing,” published in the March 1 edition of the TDN. The Times article has caused me and our industry pain from the untruths that are spoken within it. But I'm going to take a slightly different view here–let's see what is true in the article and what we need to do about it as an industry. Light Up Racing is doing a good job as an organization doing something proactive to put the good word out there about horse racing, and I appreciate their efforts. This article in no way is criticizing anyone but instead is trying to rally the troops to do something that needs to be done. I have a question: do we want the health of our industry to rely on income from gaming products that have little to do with horse racing? If so, we are in pretty good shape as long as our current financial arrangements stay in place in each state. If those financial arrangements start to go away, what will happen? The truth in the article is that our current customer is the horse bettor and our customer base is dying. What has led to this? Our industry does not have an entity that has authority or the incentive to be hyper-focused on serving our horse-betting customers and identifying and creating new ones. There are four elements to marketing which all of you know: product, price, place, promotion. That order they are listed in is important. Where our industry has failed, because of the lack of entrepreneurial zeal and the lack of incentive, is we have not tried to grow our customer base as any entrepreneur should if they expect success. Compare us to Apple–the ultimate marketing company–and the way they constantly anticipate what their customers want, and meet their changing desires with new products. An example of this follows. Our product offering to the gambling customer has a narrow focus. Racetracks and ADW's currently offer only bets that are based on knowledge and intellect. There's a different type of customer that we have not offered any products to. The other gaming entities have out-marketed us in developing products such as the slot machine, the lottery and other ways to bet for fun or to fulfill a desire–the hope that you can change your life with a single bet. Our industry has not looked at that segment of the market as a possibility to substantially grow our revenue. Therefore, we have developed none of those types of bets, which make up a large part of the revenue from gaming activities. This is problematic because we have used other nonintellectual bets from gaming entities that are not focused on the horse. What are the consequences of this approach? Less interest in horse racing? If you look at other major sports, most of the substantial revenue comes from eyeballs (TV and sponsorship revenue). We are losing our fan base (customer) and we are not focusing on what the sports fan and the gambler want. Let's look at our current situation. Who is developing our new product offerings? We have racetracks that have long been the customer-facing organizations, and the advance-deposit wager companies who are interfacing with customers. Oftentimes, these racetracks are looking at their real estate as a profit center, and the casino business sometimes is their main business. They are not looking to grow horse betting as their main source of revenue. I'm not being critical of the racetracks. If you're a public company, you are responsible to your shareholders and you must do what's best for them. The answer must come from bright minds who own horses and who see an opportunity and want to make a difference. The people that own the most horses have the most to gain and the most to lose. One truth about these people is that most of them make their money from different industries. They are in this sport to enjoy it and not looking at it as a job to bring profits into their organization or their families. Think of a young entrepreneur starting his own company and betting his livelihood on whether it makes it or doesn't. That's the kind of incentive we need to build within an organization that's going to be customer-facing and thinks about nothing day and night but what the customer wants. They would develop products with the right pricing, in the right place and with the right promotion of our offerings. This is what I saw as being true about the Times article–we are a business without energy to give the customer what they want. Therefore, we are non-essential, Yes, we provide jobs and infrastructure and that is great but those too are diminishing and will continue to diminish if we don't have customer focus. Who are our industry's real customers? The people that watch our sport and the people that buy our gambling products. We need to figure out the products our customers want. Then we need to price the product competitively, present the product at the right place and then start to promote a product we know through research that people like. In my opinion, we need an industry structure that will create exciting products to bring new customers, an entity structure full of innovation and full of zeal to do the best for the customer and create new revenue for purses and the members of this entity. This will take like-minded industry organizations (who want to put the thoroughbred at the center) to come together and select a great, qualified leader that can make a great deal of money based on performance. We have access to some great business minds–some of the world's most successful people love and participate in Thoroughbred racing. Many of our problems will be solved if this happens. We have greatly improved our safety with HISA and we are doing much better in taking care of retired racehorses. We now must collaborate and work together to figure out how to build a customer-focused structure to make our sport profitable and bring it back to relevance. I appreciate you reading and hopefully this will inspire collaboration and bring forth energy that can make our sport everything we know it can be! The post Letter To The Editor: The Truth In The New York Times Article appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After nearly dying as a foal, Demolisher carried owners and breeders Kenneth and Resia Ayres on an incredible journey to be crowned 2024 Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Horse of the Year.View the full article

Prairie Meadows has hired two new racing officials, Eric DeCoster and Kelly McReynolds, for the upcoming 2025 racing season, the track announced Monday. DeCoster, a recent graduate from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program & Animal Sciences, has been hired as the Thoroughbred Racing Secretary and McReynolds, who joins the team with around 40-plus years of experience in horse racing, has been hired as the Starting Gate Starter. “Eric really impressed me with his knowledge, abilities to support his decisions, and to get the job done at a high level when he joined our team in the office last season, and with him joining our experienced crew already in place, the sky's the limit for Eric,” said Prairie Meadows Vice President for Racing Derron Heldt. “Kelly brings so much to the table with his experience, dedication and proven ability as a horse race starter in the industry and I feel confident that he will continue to provide a high level of integrity and fairness that we've had over the years with Tom Benjamin,” Heldt added. The 2025 live racing season with 80 race days, begins with 20 days of Thoroughbred-only racing from May 9-June 14 followed by a mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule of 60 race days from June 15-September 27. The post Prairie Meadows Hires Two New Racing Officials Ahead Of 2025 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

European champion sprinter Bradsell (GB) has had his first mares scanned in foal, the National Stud reported on Monday. The mares in foal include the former George Scott trainee Final Rendezvous (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), a half-sister to the G3 Pinnacle Stakes winner La Lune (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), and the winning Iffraaj (GB) mare Lady Eleanor (GB). Lady Eleanor is one of eight winners out of the dual Listed scorer Firenze (GB) (Efisio {GB}), with the others including the Listed winner Harry's Bar (GB) and the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint third Mazzini (GB), both by Exceed And Excel (Aus). National Stud general manager Joe Bradley said, “Bradsell is being strongly supported in his first season with over 120 mares booked in to date. He has settled into stud life beautifully and is a really exciting addition to our roster.” The post First Mares In Foal Reported for Star Sprinter Bradsell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The horsemen's organization representing thoroughbred owners and trainers at Gulfstream Park is rejoining the National HBPA as an affiliate, the group announced Monday. The board of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, North America's largest group representing thoroughbred owners and trainers, unanimously approved re-admitting the organization currently called the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen. Known as the Florida HBPA for years, the South Florida group left the National HBPA in 2019. “Our full board had serious discussions about the request of the South Florida horsemen to return as an affiliate,” said National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback. “Everyone seemed very encouraged and felt as if now would be the time for them to return because of the ongoing issues in Florida. Our board members are convinced there is strength in numbers and working together is the best way to assist not only individual state affiliates but horsemen across the country.” The Gulfstream horsemen's association is under new leadership since the decoupling issue exploded in early January, when a track ownership's representative told horsemen the track would race three more years if the horsemen didn't fight the decoupling legislation and could close sooner if they did object. The Gulfstream representative said the track wants to build a casino and hotel on the property. Horse owner Tom Cannell now is the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's president, with fellow owners Adam Lazarus and Chester Bishop the vice presidents. The organization has more than 5,000 members, Cannell said. “Since the decoupling issue has hit the fan, we thought it was in our best interest to be under the umbrella of a national group,” he said. “We were members of the HBPA for years. We decided last week that if the opportunity presented itself, we'd look to get back into the HBPA. “We're looking forward to participating. Anything National would like of us, all they have to do is pick up the phone and call. We certainly respect Eric and the group. We share a lot of the same views. It just felt right” to rejoin. The South Florida horsemen would bring to 24 the number of National HBPA affiliates in the United States and five in Canada. Coincidentally, the annual HBPA Conference was held last week in Safety Harbor, near Tampa. The affiliates include the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA, which is the representative for owners and trainers at the Oldsmar track and is separate from the Gulfstream horsemen's association. Cannell and Bishop attended the HBPA Conference Tuesday at Hamelback's invitation. The National HBPA Full Board approved the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's membership at its meeting Thursday. The National HBPA was the first national organization to join the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association (FTBOA) in actively working to defeat decoupling legislation, which is HB 105 in the Florida House and SB 408 in the Florida Senate. The National HBPA, FTBOA and Tampa Bay HBPA quickly signed on with the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI), an industry collaborative created last month to provide funds and resources for protecting live racing, starting with South Florida. The Gulfstream Park horsemen joined TRI soon thereafter. The South Florida affiliate will continue to be separate from the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA. “The two of us have remained independent over the years, and we respect them and wish them the best,” Cannell said. The post Gulfstream Horsemen’s Organization To Rejoin The National HBPA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article