Wandering Eyes

Tony Cruz capped off a superb week for his stable with a fantastic Sha Tin double on Sunday to keep pace in the trainers’ premiership. The legendary trainer ran riot at Happy Valley on Wednesday by securing a treble and was in no mood to slow down at Sha Tin, with He Was You winning the opening Class Five Chai Wan Kok Handicap (1,200m). It was an all-the-way success for the Angus Chung Yik-lai-ridden five-year-old, who got off the mark at the ninth attempt by a cosy two lengths. Things got even...View the full article

David Hayes has emphatically dismissed rumours suggesting Ka Ying Rising is in doubt for Saturday’s The Everest (1,200m), calling it the “biggest load of c**p I’ve ever been involved in”. The rumour mill ran wild on social media on Sunday, with many speculating the world’s best sprinter might not run in the A$20 million (HK$100 million) sprint at Randwick in Sydney. Long the hot favourite for the world’s richest race on turf, Ka Ying Rising drifted considerably in Australian fixed-odds markets...View the full article

Talented stayer What A Charma (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) brought his heavy track form onto an improving surface at Rotorua on Sunday when claiming the major spoils in the $80,000 Staphanos Classic (1950m). The eight-year-old by Jimmy Choux found career-best form through the winter and early spring, winning the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) in June before a string of solid performances in open grade, including a last-start third behind Diamond Jak on Matamata Cup Day. The inclusion of class mare Val Di Zoldo meant much of the Staphanos field were compressed down to 54kg, including What A Charma, who closed an $11 hope after the scratchings of favoured runners Bozo and Bosch. In the hands of Lynsey Satherley, What A Charma got over to the rail swiftly from an inside draw and settled midfield, finding a good rhythm while Opera Belle and Electric Time contested the early lead. The first pair had the field strung right out along the back straight, Satherley remaining patient on her charge before coming out to avoid traffic on the home turn. One of the favourites in Rosetown Princess swept up to take the lead at the 200m but Gigi and What A Charma were surging down the centre of the track, the latter just having the edge late to kick clear by half a length. His trainer and co-owner Mark Irwin was rapt with the performance, particularly considering the track came back to a Soft7 through the day. “He’s a lovely old horse and he always tries, that’s the main thing,” Irwin said. “Lynsey did a great job on him today. “He went pretty well last start so I thought I’d back him up, he’s won here at Rotorua before. He loves his work and was as good as he’s ever been this week so we thought we were in for a bit of a show if it was wet. “It dried up a bit but he grew another leg today.” Bred by Chouxmaani Investments Ltd, What A Charma was purchased for $15,000 by Charma Heights at the Karaka May Sale in 2018 from the draft of Seaton Park. Raced by Irwin and Cynthia and Craig Horn, the gelding has now won over $173,000 with five wins in 35 starts. “I’m friends with Darrell Hollinshead and he’s a Hollinshead breed, and he always thought he would take time,” Irwin said. “We’ve given him that time and it’s been a good thing.” View the full article

Join Guy Heveldt, Emily Bosson and Aidan Rodley as they look back at the racing week including the Barneswood Farm Stakes from Ashburton, Group 1 glory at Caulfield and even the champ Ka Ying Rising arriving at Randwick. Weigh In, October 12 View the full article

Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) favourite Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) warmed up for her next feature assignment with an exhibition gallop between races at Taupo on Friday. The Darci Brahma filly has had two starts as a three-year-old this season for two Group Three victories, capturing the Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on August 16 and the Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 20. Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are building her towards next Saturday’s Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, which will be her final lead-up for the 1000 Guineas three weeks later. The TAB rates Tajana a $3.50 chance for the Riccarton classic, sharing favouritism with Lollapalooza. “I was delighted with her gallop at Taupo on Friday, it was exactly what we were hoping for,” Ritchie said. “With four weeks between races, we decided not to trial her with this unfortunate run of wet tracks we’ve been having for trial meetings. We thought a day out at Taupo would just tighten her up that little bit to have her ready to go in the Soliloquy next Saturday. “We weren’t chasing time, but she dragged George Rooke down the straight and past the finish line. Even when she was cantering back, George had a bit of trouble easing her up. She went past the birdcage and up the straight a little bit. It shows she hasn’t lost any of her eagerness to run. “We think she’s all set for the Soliloquy, while still leaving that 10 percent of further improvement up our sleeve leading into the 1000 Guineas. That’s the right race for her and her grand final for this preparation. With three weeks and a flight in between times, we think she’ll be right where we want her to be.” Tajana is now likely to be the only 1000 Guineas representative for the Ritchie-Murray stable, with impressive last-start Te Rapa winner Transcend (So You Think) set to do her future racing in Australia. With the TAB Racing Club’s disbandment, Transcend has been purchased by MyRacehorse and will be transferred into the stable of Michael Freedman. “The MyRacehorse team has bought her and she’ll be flying out on Monday,” Ritchie said. “We’ll just wait to make sure she gets on the plane before withdrawing her from the 1000 Guineas. “It’s a shame to see a talented filly like her go, but she’s been a good flagbearer for the stable. “We understand that MyRacehorse will increasingly introduce themselves into New Zealand racing in time, which has to be a positive for our racing domestically – especially if it keeps classy fillies like Transcend in this country in the future.” Meanwhile, classy four-year-old Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) has gone out for a spell before being set for the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 24. The Tivaci gelding won last season’s Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and finished second in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). He stepped up to Group One weight-for-age level this spring and was beaten by 2.9 lengths when seventh in the Proisir Plate (1600m), then crossed the line 3.2 lengths behind the winner Waitak when sixth in the Howden Insurance Mile (1600m). “He’s gone for a break,” Ritchie said. “We thought he was a touch unlucky in both of those weight-for-age races. In saying that, against that level of opposition, he probably needed absolutely everything to go his way in order for him to be competitive. “We just thought pushing on for another spring Group One race over 2040m in the Livamol would be foolish. So he’ll have three weeks out now, and then we’ll prepare him for the Aotearoa Classic with a couple of lead-up runs. “It’s a mile, against his own age, for $1 million at Ellerslie, so it really looks like the best race for him this season. Further down the track, I think he’ll develop into a real weight-for-age horse. “Horses like El Vencedor and Waitak have shown that these geldings often only reach their peak as weight-for-age performers when they’re five or six years old. If we’re patient with Tuxedo, I’m hoping it might be a similar story with him.” View the full article

Always a consistent runner in the 3-year-old turf filly circuit, Lush Lips broke through for a signature victory in the $665,300 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 11.View the full article

Ten champions were crowned Saturday in Kentucky at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The event offered over $139,000 in prize money awarded out across 10 equestrian sports. The winners included: Barrel Racing: Battle Born (More Than Ready), trained by Elizabeth King (Junior), bred by WinStar Farm, owned by Robert D. Shelburne. Competitive Trail, sponsored by Godolphin: Vestal's Gap (Bullsbay), trained by Nathan Bowers, bred by Sterbenz Racing LLC, owned by Sterbenz Racing LLC. Dressage, sponsored by PTHA's Turning For Home: Patou Road (Quality Road), trained by Mary Riney, bred by RanJan Racing, Inc., owned by RanJan Racing, Inc. Eventing, with support from Phoenix Performance Products: Sekt (Mendelssohn), trained by Amy Faison, bred by Genet Racing LLC, owned by PTK LLC. Field Hunter, sponsored by Masters of Foxhounds Association: Street Ready (More Than Ready), trained by Kara Lee, bred by Earle I. Mack, LLC, owned by Michael M. Hui. Freestyle, with support from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: Bandon (Speightstown), trained by Jacquelyn Dickey, bred by Moyglare Stud Farm LTD, owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, CHC, Inc., Gandharvi, LLC, Schwartz, M., Dubb, M., Ten Strike Racing, Bakke, J., Titletown Racing, LLC, Kuever Racing, LLC, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Winners Win and Caruso, Michael. Polo, sponsored by the United States Polo Assocation: Qia (Mendelssohn), trained by Buck Schott, bred by Judy Hicks, owned by Judy Hicks. Ranch Work, with support from Juddmonte Farm: Miz Mosler (Mosler), trained by B.J. Heffelfinger, bred by W. Robert Bailes. Show Hunter, with support from Beyond the Wire: Mentha (American Pharoah), trained by Rachel McMahan, bred by KatieRich Farms. Show Jumper, with support from Excel Equine: Late Night Cruiser (Catalina Cruiser), trained by Rebekah Vernon, bred by Jay Goodwin, Meredith Krupp, John Hess, William Hess and Spendthrift Farm, owned by Blick Stables and Passion Racing Club. The post Champions Crowned At 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With a resume of graded stakes-placed experience anchored by a runner-up try in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and a 10-for-10 lifetime record at Laurel Park that included a 17-length blowout in an open-company stakes there last month, Post Time (Frosted) figured to deserve his formidable 1-10 favoritism in the six-horse feature on Saturday's 40th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million program for the offspring of stallions standing in Maryland. But even though the 12-time winner enjoyed a decided advantage on paper in the $150,000 Classic Stakes over 1 1/8 miles, the 5-year-old could not overcome being asked to rate from the back behind dawdling early fractions of :24.98, :50.31 and 1:15.14. By the time the late-striding gray dropped down to the trail and began to fully uncoil at the head of the lane, the closer-to-the-pace Barbadian Runner (Barbados) had already popped off the fence from his rail-skimming stalking spot and out to the three path to accost the wilting pacemaker in front of them. Post Time and Sheldon Russell came over the top at the eighth pole and led tenuously for a sixteenth of a mile. But all the while the wide-and-driving Barbadian Runner and Forest Boyce were building better momentum. BARBADIAN RUNNER ($14.60) and Forest Boyce flew down the lane right by heavily favored Post Time by in the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic at @LaurelPark. Henry Walters trains the 3YO gelding for AJ Will Win Stables LLC. Play the Sprint: https://t.co/URG4G3PdG0 pic.twitter.com/Ezue3M6yMh — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 11, 2025 A late surge inside the final half a furlong propelled the 3-year-old gelding to victory by three-quarters of a length as the 6-1 second favorite in 1:51.09 over the “fast” main track. While Post Time took the brunt of the betting, Barbadian Runner had credentials, too: Back in January and February, the Shamrock Farm-bred sophomore who races in the colors of AJ Will Win Stables had won a pair of $100,000 open stakes at Laurel that briefly put him in the orbit of being a candidate for the GI Kentucky Derby. Yet Barbadian Runner's spring and summer campaign ended up being more realistically mapped out, and it resulted in victories in both the May 31 $90,000 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park and the Aug. 22 $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes at Charles Town, with three second-place finishes in other mid-Atlantic stakes in between. “The way he developed over the summer just took him to a new level,” said trainer Henry Walters. “Back in the spring, he didn't have the [speed] numbers then that it would have taken to do this. He's gotten progressively better. The race at Charles Town, [Boyce] never had to hit him at all. So it's the only comfort zone I had going into this race, knowing he had more in the tank in that race; he never got tired. So the mile-and-an-eighth was a question, but he answered it today. “I'm speechless right now,” Walters said. “I mean, for him to not only win this race, but to beat a horse like Post Time, is incredible. I knew he would break sharp today. The only thing I told Forest was just save ground. Pace can make the race, and it was a slow pace. He was able to stay close, and he got the jump on Post Time turning for home. It was a gutsy performance on his part.” With three wins by his progeny on the eight-stakes portion of the program, including a sweep of the 2-year-old stakes, the stallion Great Notion increased an already remarkable Maryland Million streak to 16 years: His offspring have now won at least one stakes in every running of the Maryland Million since 2010. Great Notion has been the state's leading stallion by progeny earnings every year since 2018, and is once again the sizable leader in money won so far this season. In the $100,000 Nursery Stakes for 2-year-old males, second-time starter Big Cuddle (Great Notion), who had rallied from sixth and last as the favorite to win his only previous start, a Sept. 11 maiden special weight at Delaware Park, again had to pass 'em all to muscle out a three quarter-length win. After breaking last in a field of 13, Yedsit Hazlewood patiently guided the 7-10 favorite to a prime outside position that enabled the colt to spark into a strong drive three furlongs out. After cornering for home in the six path and then having to shift off the heels of a rival in upper stretch, Big Cuddle was still fifth at the eighth pole. But he dug in with purpose once set down to deliver the victory in 1:12.10 for six furlongs. Big Cuddle | JIm McCue/MJC Bred by Two Legends Farm, the 2-for-2 son of Great Notion is owned by Pocket 3's Racing and trained by Gary Capuano. In the companion $100,000 Lassie Stakes for 2-year-old-fillies, Slewperstitus (Great Notion) similarly executed a victory from well off the tailgate under Jevian Toledo. This 4-5 favored, Robert Bailes-trained, Great Notion-sired homebred for Nancy and Eric Rizer prowled from the back of the pack, advanced under light coaxing on the far turn while four deep, then launched into an impeccably timed, length-of-stretch grind-down to prevail by a neck in 1:12.23 for six furlongs. In the $125,000 Turf Stakes over nine furlongs and “firm” conditions, Coringa (Practical Joke) went off favored for the sixth straight race, even though the 4-year-old gelded son of Practical Joke has a penchant for finishing second (seven times in 13 lifetime starts going into Saturday's race). Jockey Mychel Sanchez established command straight from the start, and an all-business Coringa responded determinedly to constant pace pressure, displaying a visually arresting turn of foot inside the final furlong before being ridden out late to win by 1 1/4 lengths at 13-10 odds in 1:47.82. Bred by R. Larry Johnson and owned in partnership by Clarke Ohrstrom, Gregory Kilka, Awestrike Racing and Benjamin Gowans, Coringa earned his fourth lifetime victory for trainer Michael Trombetta. He has never finished worse than fourth through 14 starts. In the $125,000 Ladies Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn, the 11-1 Worth a Dime (Mosler) was still last a quarter mile from home before Jorge Ruiz guided her big white blaze through the pack in mid-stretch. The 3-year-old homebred for Nancy Lee Farms ripped the race wide open at the eighth pole and burst clear late to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths for trainer Tim Keefe in 1:41.90. The victory was the second from six lifetime starts for Worth a Dime. Making her second start off a six-month layoff in the $100,000 Distaff Stakes at seven furlongs, Onyx Ten (Street Magician) earned her fourth win in a 2025 campaign that also includes two open sprint stakes victories at Laurel back in the spring. The 3-year-old filly sat patiently in the back third of the field, split horses several times weaving through traffic on the turn, then kicked clear in the three path turning for home. She built up enough impetus to have the race in her control by the eighth pole and ended up winning by 1 3/4 lengths at 6-1 odds in 1:24.34. Onyx Ten is a homebred for Frank Sample. Gary Capuano trains, with Hazlewood winning a second stakes race (fourth tally overall) on the Oct. 11 card. In the $100,000 Turf Sprint Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs, Had to Have Him (Force the Pass), who was third in this Maryland Million stakes last year and was exiting an open-company stakes victory over this same course at six furlongs last month, sat patiently behind a three-way go and drove home four wide off the turn to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:02.47 as the 7-5 second favorite under Toledo. The 4-year-old gelding was bred by Wes Carter. He hasn't been off the board in five starts this year for owners Gracie Mae Stables and Great Lake Stable, with John Salzman training. In the $100,000 Sprint Stakes at six furlongs, Slam Notion (Great Notion) was confidently handled behind dueling leaders, then adeptly put them away in deep stretch to register a 5-2 win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:10.17. The stakes victory was the second of the day for the same homebred connections as Slewperstitus in the Lassie Stakes (the Rizers and trainer Bailes). It was the third stakes score of the afternoon for both jockey Toledo and sire Great Notion. The post Barbadian Runner Upsets 1-10 Fave In Maryland Million Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Always a consistent runner in the 3-year-old turf filly circuit, Lush Lips broke through for a signature victory in the $665,300 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 11.View the full article

French import Les Reys took to the synthetic track at Woodbine and defeated her stablemate Gal in Rush with a well-timed, ground-saving trip in the Oct. 11 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3).View the full article

By Adam Hamilton It was the biggest upset at Melton in decades. Leap To Fame’s stunning defeat last night rekindled memories of the night Courage Under Fire’s unbeaten streak came to an end at Moonee Valley on January 22, 2000. It was just Leap To Fame’s 14th defeat in 71 career starts and his first in his past 10 starts. Things looked good in the run when Grant Dixon was able to quickly work around and take Leap To Fame to the lead. But the first worrying signs came when Dixon had to really shake-up the champ on the home bend. Just after fighting off Miki Pins, who trailed him, remarkable veteran Bulletproof Boy unleashed a huge finishing burst from three pegs and snatched victory right on the line. It was a superb training performance from Scott Ewen with the rising 11-year-old Bulletproof Boy at his first run back from a spell. While it’s just one run, Leap To Fame’s defeat has certainly given hope to his rivals in next week’s Victoria Cup and next month’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup. X X X Keayag Zahara’s breathtaking first-up win may force connections to rethink NZ Cup Week plans. The trip was a real longshot before the awesome four-year-old mare reminded everyone just how good she is with last night’s mesmerizing Dullard Cup win. While Inter Dominion and TAB Trot winner Arcee Phoenix led, Keayang Zahara was last and 40m off the lead with a lap to run. It didn’t matter. Keayang Zahara sustained an 800m sprint, in a sub-55sec split, to run straight past Arcee Phoenix and win running away by almost six metres. It was her 16th win from just 17 starts and her first run since being for the first time when second at Menangle on May 10. Driver Jason Lee stressed how much improvement she still had to come. She’s now set to back-up in next Saturday night’s Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint and another win will surely make Addington almost irresistible. She would take what looks like an already amazing Cup Week to another level. X X X Kiwi raider Joyride found the task of sitting parked for much of the race beyond her in a heat of the Victoria Oaks last night. In a peg dominated race, she tired late for fifth behind Jess Tubb’s emerging filly Golden Shooz, who trailed leader and favourite Let Her Roll and easily ran her down late. The Cran Dalgety-trained Joyride still qualified for next Saturday’s final. In the first heat, Beach Diamond led throughout to beat a gallant Soho Americano in a real sprint home with closing splits of 54.3 and 27.7sec. X X X TAB Eureka runner-up Fox Dan looks the hardest to beat in a strong Victoria Derby after last night’s three qualifying heats. The colt joined the underrated Storms Collide to give Emma Stewart and young gun driver Ryan Sanderson the first two heat wins. Former Victorian and now Menangle-based Mick Stanley added some spice to the series when he led throughout on the untapped San Paolo Simba to easily win the third heat. “He’s as good a horse as I’ve had since Rock N Roll Doo burst onto the scene,” Stanley said. Of the beaten brigade, My Ultimate Barney and Hesitate were solid in heat one, Fate Awaits and the very tough Captain Perfect ran well in heat two, while Final Deadline and Cigano were solid in heat three. X X X Former Kiwi marvel Minstrel looked as sharp as ever posting his 28th win in a powerhouse Gloucester Park free-for-all last Friday night. Second-up from a spell and able to work to the front, the rising nine-year-old never looked in danger as he cruised to a 5.6m win over fellow former Kiwi pacer Gee Heza Sport in a 1min54.9sec mile rate for 2130m. Minstrel blasted home in 55.2 and 26.7sec, making it impossible for the stars coming wide from midfield and chasing in Mister Smartie (third) and Never Ending (fourth). Despite his age, Minstrel looks on target to win his second WA Pacing Cup at his fifth start in WA’s most iconic race. He won last year, ran third in 2023, seventh in 2022 and fifth in 2021. The $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup is at Gloucester Park on December 12. View the full article

6th-Santa Anita, $61,000, Msw, 10-11, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:37.83, ft, 8 1/4 lengths. SUPER CORREDORA (f, 2, Gun Runner–Super Simple, by Super Saver), a debut fifth to subsequent GISP La Wally (Constitution) at Del Mar July 19, was the distant runner-up to next-out GI Del Mar Debutante winner Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) Aug. 9 and was stretching out as the second betting choice at 2-1 by about $1,000 to Misstrial (Constitution). In behind the leaders in the run to the clubhouse turn, the $400,000 KEESEP yearling was forced to take some evasive action and that might have fired her up a bit, as she pulled her way to the front turning down the backstretch. Overtaken to her inside by Sounds Lucky (Tiz the Law) and content to track from second, Super Corredora eased to the front approaching the five-sixteenths, but Misstrial looked ready to tackle her nearing the stretch. That challenge never materialized, as Super Corredora went through her gears and cruised home to win it by a space. The winner's dam was purchased by Woodford Thoroughbreds for $300,000 in foal to Volatile at Keeneland November in 2021 and is kin to another half-dozen winners out of MSW & GSP Simplify (Pulpit), including SW Optionality (Gun Runner) and SW Simple Surprise (Cowboy Cal), the dam of MGISW sire Gunite (Gun Runner) and recent GIII Iroquois Stakes hero Spice Runner (Gun Runner). Sticking with the Gun Runner theme, Super Simple produced a colt by Taiba this season and was bred back to the aforementioned Gunite. Sales history: $400,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $53,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Spartan Equine Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert C Gardiner & Michael W Olszewski; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-John W Sadler. “Could not have been more impressive…” A big day for @westpointtbred as #4 SUPER CORREDORA romps in Race 6 at @santaanitapark. @HIBerrios in the irons on the Gun Runner (@Three_Chimneys) filly for @sadlerracing. pic.twitter.com/EHhJOTrLgl — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 11, 2025 The post Gun Runner Filly Super Corredora Romps In Two-Turn Bow at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stepping into graded company for the first time, Love Cervere used a powerful turn of foot to outfinish her fellow 3-year-old fillies and win the $175,000 Glen Cove Stakes (G3T) Oct. 11 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

The New York Racing Association has canceled live racing Oct. 12 at Aqueduct Racetrack due to a powerful coastal storm forecast to bring extremely high winds and heavy rainfall to the New York City metropolitan area.View the full article

Undefeated no more. LUSH LIPS (GB) (f, 3, Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Lamyaa {GB}, by Arcano {Ire}) hit the final sixteenth in front and refused to let the previously undefeated Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) reel her back in en route to glory in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland Saturday. Sitting cozy behind the front-running Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the 8-1 shot simply waited for that rival to come back to her with less than a quarter mile to go and inherited a winning advantage over Laurelin who was charging in the final yards but was never going to get by in the end. After just missing by a half-length in the GI Del Mar Oaks, this is the first Grade I win for Lush Lips. Lifetime Record: 10-4-4-0. O-Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, LLC, Shanahan, Mrs. Paul and Magnier, Mrs. M. V.; B-The Pocock Family; T-Brendan P. Walsh. Sales History: £82,000 ylg '23 GOFFUK. LUSH LIPS! She wins the G1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup @keenelandracing for @brenpwalsh and @Tyler_Gaff. pic.twitter.com/7nxjqJOZgi — World Horse Racing (@WHR) October 11, 2025 Saturday, Keeneland QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP S. PRESENTED BY DIXIANA-GI, $665,300, Keeneland, 10-11, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.01, gd. 1–LUSH LIPS (GB), 121, f, 3, by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) 1st Dam: Lamyaa (GB), by Arcano (Ire) 2nd Dam: Divine Grace (Ire), by Definite Article (GB) 3rd Dam: Grey Patience (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB) 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. (£82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, LLC, Mrs. Paul Shanahan, and Mrs. M. V. Magnier; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $387,888. Lifetime Record: 10-4-4-0, $769,510. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Laurelin (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Zarak (Fr) 1st Dam: Bari (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire) 2nd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic 3rd Dam: Yawl (GB), by Rainbow Quest 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€160,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Newstead Stables LLC; B-M. H. Dixon & Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-H. Graham Motion. $125,125. 3–Opulent Restraint (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Significant Form (MGSW, $817,216), by Creative Cause 2nd Dam: Church by the Sea, by Harlan's Holiday 3rd Dam: Witness Post, by Gone West O-Stephanie Seymour Brant; B-White Birch Farm Sc (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $62,562. Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 8.61, 2.34, 11.48. Also Ran: Fionn, Candy Quest, Daisy Flyer, Simmering (GB), Destino d'Oro. Scratched: Will Then. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Lush Lips Hands Laurelin A First Defeat In Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday, Cologne, Germany, post time: 15:35, WETTSTAR.DE – PREIS DES WINTERFAVORITEN-G3, €155,000, 2yo, 8fT Field: Dalyan (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Gostam (Ger) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Guevara (Ger) (Alson {Ger}), Lommi (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Next Emerald (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Nitaro (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Somi (Ire) (Magna Grecia {Ire}), Spezialist (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}). TDN Analysis: Last month's G3 Zukunfts-Rennen victor Gostam puts his perfect two-for-two record on the line and sets a lofty standard in Germany's premier juvenile contest. His opposition includes Listed Junioren-Preis third Dalyan and the once-raced Somi, who impressed when shedding maiden status over this course and distance last month. Peter Schiergen, who saddles fellow maiden winners Guevara and Zukunfts-Rennen sixth Nitaro, is three shy of Heinz Jentzsch's record nine renewals. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Gostam Aims To Defend Unbeaten Record In Winterfavoriten appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 150th running of the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) was also a landmark for rising force Yulong Investments, who put established superpowers Coolmore and Godolphin in the shade when Gewan sprang a 25-1 upset at Newmarket Racecourse.View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Silawi at Woodbine. Dubawi Gelding Claims The Canadian International Wathnan Racing's Silawi (Dubawi) earned his first top-tier win in the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine on October 4 (video). Bred by Wertheimer and Frere, he is trained by Hamad Al Jehani. Sold for €380,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale in 2023, the five-year-old gelding is also a winner of the G3 Winter Hill Stakes. A son of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Silasol (Monsun), he is a full-brother to the stakes-winning Silius, as well as the multiple group-placed Fasol. Silasol has a juvenile Night Of Thunder colt, a yearling Kingman colt and a filly by Churchill born this year. Darley's Dubawi has sired 63 Grade/Group 1 winners worldwide with Silawi his latest such luminary. Eighteen of them have struck in North America. Wathnan's Immensitude Wins For Lawman G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon winner Immensitude (Lawman) won during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on October 2 for Bill Mott (video). The Wathnan Racing runner was bred by Isabelle Corbani. Paul Nataf picked up Immensitude for €80,000 as an Arqana October yearling, however she raced in Corbani's silks for trainer Stephane Wattel through her Tarragon win. Her dam Ma Petite Poule is a half-sister to G3 Prix du Lys hero Remus De La Tour (Stormy River). Nestled under the fourth dam is standout producer Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge), while closer up is the stakes winner Lindy (Le Havre), second in both the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes. Immensitude's two-year-old half-sister Villa d'Este (Iffraaj) has yet to race and her half-brother by Hello Youmzain brought €130,000 from SAS Le Marais during Arqana's August Yearling Sale earlier this year. Lawman, who stands at Haras du Mazet, has sired nine winners from 21 runners (43%) in North America. The Tulip, a winner of the Listed Luther Burbank Handicap, and dual Group/Grade 1 victress Just The Judge are his only stakes winners there. Dark Angel Veteran Ekes Out Woodford Tally Khaadem (Dark Angel), who races in the Fitriani Hay colours, got the job done by a neck in Keeneland's GII Woodford Stakes on October 4 (video). Trained by Charlie Hills, the nine-year-old gelding was bred by Yeomanstown Stud, where his sire stands. A 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, the son of White Daffodil is a dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes hero. Already a full-brother to the multiple group-placed Log Out Island, Khaadem also has a Supremacy half-sister who sold to Jamie Osborne for 100,000gns post-sale during this week's Book 1 sale at Park Paddocks and a weanling half-sister by Chaldean. Dark Angel is the sire of 113 stakes winners, 66 of them at the group/graded level. His 17 winners at the highest level include current Gainesway freshman sire Raging Bull, who won the Hollywood Derby and Shoemaker Mile, as well as the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes. It Takes A Village… Village Voice is now a stakes winner in three countries after her tally in the GIII Waya Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meeting for Resolute Racing and Chad Brown on October 5 (video). Bred by Malih Al Basti, the daughter of Zarak and the Street Sense mare Sensible Way raced for Mrs P. K. Cooper and was trained by Jessica Harrington throughout her European career, good for a win in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at three, as well as the G3 Prix de Flore. The Listed Prix des Tourelles went her way last September and she was fourth in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes that October prior to selling for 1.3 million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale to John Stewart's operation. Her dam's last reported foal is a four-year-old filly by French Navy. Second dam Nasheej (Swain) struck three times at group level and was also third in the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Fillies' Mile. The fourth stakes winner for her Aga Khan Studs' sire in the U.S., Village Voice is also one of seven winners from 11 to race there (64%). Another For Resolute At Keeneland Resolute Racing's Kuwaitya (Soldier's Call), stakes placed in both France and the UK, won a Keeneland contest by a half-length for trainer Riley Mott on October 5 (video). Part of the Ballyhane breeding programme, the third foal out of Smooth Sailing (Bated Breath) is a full-sister to G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint second Muqtahem. A 29,000gns Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling, the Refai Alghraiban-owned bay won at second asking over the Lingfield all-weather in April of 2024 for Alice Haynes and signed off her European career with a third in the Listed St Hughs Stakes in August. Originally an 92,000gns buy-back at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale, she made her way Stateside. Her dam has the unraced gelding Smooth Genesis (Elzaam) and fillies by Soldier's Call and Sands Of Mali born in 2024 and 2025 yet to come. Her granddam, Royal Confidence (Royal Applause), won the Listed Sceptre Stakes and was third in the G2 Rockfel Stakes, while third dam Never A Doubt (Night Shift) landed the G2 Prix Robert Papin and this is the clan of the late Group 1 sire Acclamation. Ace Stud resident Soldier's Call is the sire of two winners from four runners in the U.S. (50%). Internationally, his three stakes winners are anchored by G3 Prix Eclipse heroine Dawn Charger. Sottsass Colt Wins In New York Peter Brant and Tony Shafrazian's Dirand (Sottsass) graduated during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on October 5 for Chad Brown (video). An 110,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling when purchased by Tony Shafrazi, he was bred by Brant's White Birch Farm. The half-brother to American champion Uni (More Than Ready) counts the unraced Maimiti (Dubawi) as his year-younger half-sister. Their dam Unaided (Dansili) had a colt by Paddington this spring. This family includes multiple group winner Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) and Australian G1 Underwood Stakes and G1 Turnbull Stakes hero Sir Delius (Frankel). Formerly based at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, Arc hero Sottsass stood at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan this season. He has a trio of winners from five U.S. runners (60%). Galiway Gelding Wins At Santa Anita Michael McCarthy trainee Maaz (Galiway) ran out a two-length winner in his fifth lifetime start for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, Sabby Racing and Michael House on October 3 (video). The SCEA du Domaine de Malerai-bred gelding previously won over the Wolverhampton all-weather in February for trainers Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole for Urloxhey Racing. Fourth in the Listed La Jolla Handicap in August among his four starts in the U.S., the €41,000 Osarus September yearling made €72,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in May when catching the eye of Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock and Insole. The third foal, second runner and first winner for his winning dam Exceedingly Diva (Exceed And Excel), the gelding has juvenile and yearling full-sisters named Al Inaya and Ride The Wave. The female family traces to the multiple stakes winner Sarayir (Mr. Prospector), a half-sister to G1 Derby winner Nashwan and Nayef, who won the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes. Haras de Colleville's Galiway has sired 16 stakes winners worldwide. From just five runners in the U.S., he has sired two winners to date (40%). Sioux Nation Filly Stars At Keeneland Owned by Jamie Lamonica's Coast Racing and Larry Rodgers, Raiding Party (Sioux Nation) sailed to a two-length debut win at Keeneland on October 3 (video). Trained by Brendan Walsh, the chestnut was bred by Barry Moorhead. She cost just €19,000 as a Goffs November foal and bloomed into a €50,000 Goffs Orby yearling with Brendan Heeney buying for Coast Racing. The daughter of War Empress (War Command) is related to the stakes winner Irish Rookie (Azamour), who was second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and third in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes. Coolmore Stud's Sioux Nation is credited with 21 stakes winners worldwide with G1 Queensland Oaks winner Socks Nation his best. In Canada, his Oujda won the Listed Sweet Brian Too Stakes, while in the U.S., his Behind Enemy Lines won the Listed Cutler Bay Stakes and was second in the GII Penn Mile Stakes. Repeat Winners Gold Phoenix is just as lethal at seven as he was earlier in his career, and he added another graded tally in the GII John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita on September 27 (video). The son of Belardo is trained by Phil D'Amato for Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify. Sunglow (No Nay Never) prevailed in a Santa Anita allowance on September 28 (video). Racing for Diamond T Racing, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing and Mrs. Paul Shanahan, the three-year-old filly is trained by John Sadler. Another repeat winner was Slick (Oasis Dream), who races for similar connections to Gold Phoenix minus Agave Racing, and won at Santa Anita on September 28, also for D'Amato (video). Frankel's Asbury Park built on his Saratoga maiden success in June in a big way with a victory in the GII Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on October 4 (video). The Peter Brant and St. Elias Stable-owned colt is trained by Chad Brown. No Nay Hudson stepped up and won the GII Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine on the same day as the Canadian International (video). The No Nay Never gelding is owned by Andrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable and trained by Wesley Ward. Breath Away (Bated Breath), who races for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and Marc Levine, added her first graded stakes win in the GII Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine (video). She is trained by Miguel Clement. A new stakes winner for the Making Waves cohort was Phil D'Amato trainee Later Than Planned (Cotai Glory). The Speakeasy Stakes went her way in the silks of Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify at Santa Anita (video). The post Making Waves: It’s All Silawi In Canada appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Keeneland, $106,535, Msw, 10-11, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.17, gd, neck. MAP OF THE MOON (f, 2, Liam's Map–Malibu Pride, by Malibu Moon) became the latest in a string of long-price debut winners for this owner and trainer, scoring here at 9-1. The $200,000 Keeneland September grad was content to drop out to the latter third of the field as fellow firster Lady Jancis (Speighstown) and favored third-time starter Triskelion (Leinster) exchanged blows through an opening couple of furlongs in a strong :21.31. Asked to improve with a wide run around the turn, the dark bay filly challenged about four off the inside at the furlong grounds and kept on bravely as Yaudacity (Yaupon), in from the also-eligible list, made a race of it late. In the space of five days during the Kentucky Downs meeting, NBS's Ground Support (Army Mule) returned a confounding $203.20 to her backers winning over a mile first time out, while Repentless (Violence) lit up the tote to the tune of $52.16 when graduating over seven furlongs. For good measure, Ground Support added last weekend's GIII Miss Grillo Stakes at odds of over 12-1. Ground Support and Repentless were ridden by Adam Beschizza, Map of the Moon by Axel Concepcion. The winner's dam is a full-sister to MSW & GISP By the Light, herself the dam of two-time Grade I winner By the Moon (Indian Charlie) and GSP Wonderful Light (Tiz Wonderful). Silesia Farm purchased Malibu Pride for $35,000 at the 2016 Keeneland January Sale and her foal of 2024, a colt by Cyberknife already named Nawar, fetched $100,000 at KEESEP last month. Malibu Pride is due to Taiba for 2026. Sales history: $200,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $63,085. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-NBS Stable; B-Silesia Farm & Dr Hartmut H Malluche (KY); T-Kelsey Danner. MAP OF THE MOON ($20.22) takes to the turf and wins on debut at @keenelandracing with @a_concepcion16 up for trainer @kelseyjdanner and owner NBS Stable. Another winner by @LanesEndFarms' Liam's Map. Bet Keeneland with @FanDuel Racing. https://t.co/9KTJWl3WMw pic.twitter.com/FhnbzmGVV7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 11, 2025 The post The Debut Hits–And Big Prices–Keep On Coming for NBS, Danner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's live racing at Aqueduct has been called off ahead of a coastal storm due to impact the area, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) said Saturday. The day's featured race, the Carle Place Stakes, will be brought back one week later, Oct. 19 with entries to be taken Wednesday, Oct. 15. The National Weather Service has placed New York City and surrounding areas under a wind advisory beginning Sunday at noon, with current NWS forecasts calling for sustained winds of 25-35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting, and wagering is available here. The post Aqueduct Calls Off Sunday Racing Ahead Of Coastal Storm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cavalieri (Nyquist), the undefeated filly who figured to be one of the top choices in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, will pass the race, reports trainer Bob Baffert. Baffert made the announcement while being interviewed on FanDuel TV on Friday by Joaquin Jaime. Baffert did not give Jaime many details. Cavalieri is undefeated in five starts and her 5-for-5 record includes a win in the GI Beholder Mile and the GII Zenyatta Stakes, which was supposed to be her final tuneup before the Breeders' Cup. Baffert did tell Horse Racing Nation that Cavalieri will not be retired. With 2024 Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) also unlikely to start in this year's Distaff, the roll of favorite may fall to another Baffert-trained horse, Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo). The Maryland-bred is coming off a win in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. The post Cavalieri Out Of Breeders’ Cup Distaff 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. – Leading Horse of the Year candidate Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continued his preparations for the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a strong gallop on a brisk Saturday morning at Saratoga. “He'll breeze tomorrow, then hopefully one more time before he leaves,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said back by his barn during the break. “We've been on schedule. We mapped out a little, potential schedule for him and it's gone pretty well so far. He's been doing great.” With the rising sun, morning mist and fall foliage providing a magnificent backdrop over the Oklahoma, the GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI Travers Stakes winner began to make his way to the track beneath exercise rider Jimmy Quispe at 6:45 a.m. The striking Godolphin 3-year-old homebred had a nice bounce to his step jogging the outer rail while ponied by longtime Mott assistant and his regular work rider Neil Poznansky. Given plenty of time to take in the scene–can you blame him?–with the boss watching nearby from the rail, Sovereignty broke away from the pony with good energy on the backstretch and galloped under a nice hold while displaying those massive strides of his three weeks out from the main event at Del Mar. Sovereignty out for a spin over the Oklahoma at sunrise Saturday pic.twitter.com/UKHLAYLChz — Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 11, 2025 Sovereignty has breezed four times since his 10-length Travers romp over next-out GIII Oklahoma Derby winner Bracket Buster (Vekoma), including a pair of five-furlong breezes in 1:02.82 Sept. 28 (3/3) and in 1:01.44 (1/1) Oct. 5. His latter move was his first in company, breezing with 3-year-old stablemate Playa Del Mar (Into Mischief), a last-out maiden winner at Ellis Park Aug. 22. He'll have company again tomorrow, Mott said. “It was funny,” Poznansky said. “He worked in 1:02 4/5 the other day and Bill commented, 'You know, that was Cigar. Every time you worked him five-eighths by himself, 1:02 4/5… 1:02 4/5.' He said that (Hall of Fame rider Jerry) Bailey tried to shake him up one morning and all Cigar did was throw his head at him! Sovereignty doesn't quite do that. But he's kinda the same way.” Mott nodded his head and added of the once-in-a-lifetime Cigar, “1:02 and change. 1:03, that was it.” Mott continued, “(Sovereignty)'s not what you'd call a brilliant work horse. I've had horses that breeze like–whew, look at that! He does his work, but he only does what he has to do. He gives you the impression that there's probably more there. You work him with another and he hits the wire, and he's like, 'Ok, I'm done.'” Sovereignty was still a maiden at this time a year ago before graduating with authority while making his two-turn debut in the GIII Street Sense S. at third asking at Churchill Downs Oct. 27. He was highlighted in these same pages following a late-running debut fourth on the Travers card last summer. Sovereignty | Sherackatthetrack “Just watching his first race, even though he was fourth, it was pretty impressive for a horse finishing fourth,” Mott said. “It was an impressive fourth if there is such a thing.” Sovereignty will ship to Southern California Oct. 22 and have his final breeze for the Classic at Del Mar, per Mott. The mouth-watering line-up for the $7-million centerpiece could potentially feature a rematch between last year's top three finishers Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), Fierceness (City of Light) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}); two-time Grade I winner in 2025 Mindframe (Constitution); record-setting GI Santa Anita Handicap winner Locked (Gun Runner); and top sophomores Journalism (Curlin) and Baeza (McKinzie). Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Mindframe and Locked are all 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard.' “If they all turn up healthy and well, it will be a Classic for the ages,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said by phone from Kentucky. The post Sunrise at the Spa with Sovereignty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RANCHO SANTA FE (c, 2, Tapit–Family Tree, by Smart Strike), a homebred for Gary and Mary West, ran his record to two wins from as many trips to the races with a cozy success in a two-turn allowance Saturday afternoon at Keeneland. A debut winner going the one-mile configuration at Ellis Park on Aug. 24 and thereby possessing a key experience advantage over favored Infiltrate (Oscar Performance), who was trying a route of ground for the first time, the 23-10 second pick was bustled along by Florent Geroux to take up a forward position and was forced a bit wide into the first turn by a wayward rival to his inside. Four off the inside passing the five-eighths, the homebred advanced a few positions and was at the hind quarters of Infiltrate entering the second turn. Rancho Santa Fe edged out to his right at the quarter pole and was vigorously ridden as the chalk clung to the lead turning for home, but he was kept to his task and had a margin of about 3/4 of a length at the line. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Gary & Mary West (KY); T-Brad Cox. RANCHO SANTA FE ($6.60) is 2 for 2 after after taking Race 3 at @keenelandracing under @flothejock. The son of Tapit (@Gainesway) is trained by @bradcoxracing and owned by Gary and Mary West. Watch live coverage from Keeneland on @FanDuelTV, presented by @TMStallions. pic.twitter.com/12VaVzjRz8 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 11, 2025 The post Tapit Colt Rancho Santa Fe Makes It 2-2 in Keeneland Allowance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Laurel Park staged the Maryland Million program on Saturday, and arguably the best Maryland-bred filly in training, The Estate of the Late R. Larry Johnson's Future Is Now (Great Notion), will have every chance to surpass the $1-million mark in career earnings when she defends her title in Sunday's $400,000 GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland. Since she is bred outside of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the 5-year-old races for just a $300,000 pot, and she'll jump favored to win for the fourth time in five starts this season. The fresh-up winner of the GIII Giant's Causeway Stakes over this course and distance back in April, she dropped a half-length decision to pacesetting Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the June 5 GII Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga. She has since bounced back to add the GIII Caress Stakes July 19 and the Aug. 15 Smart and Fancy Stakes, both at the Spa, and her ability to sit just off the speed in a race that appears chock full of it could be telling. Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the ride for the first time. Pipsy never got near the front in the Caress and ran into some trouble in the stretch on top of that and she returns to sex-restricted competition off a respectable fifth in the GII Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30. The fleet-footed Luna Louska (Complexity) is perfect in three tries on the grass and carries a four-race winning streak into this graded stakes debut. All-the-way winner of the July 4 Clarskville Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis, the 3-year-old filly was virtually unchallenged in defeating far classier competition in the Sept. 13 Floral Park Stakes at Aqueduct. The pace does seem very much on, however, with the likes of In Our Time (Not This Time) also expected to add fuel to the fire. Time To Dazzle (Not This Time) completed the exacta for her sire underneath In Our Time in a Sept. 10 allowance at Kentucky Downs and would need to improve some to win this, but she does appear to possess the right running style and should be coming at them late. The post Future Is Now Should Get Franklin Stakes Run To Suit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following an Oct. 11 work at Keeneland, BBN Racing and trainer Vicki Oliver are considering a start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar for Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner Bracket Buster.View the full article