Wandering Eyes

Leica Lucy leaves the field in her wake winning Sunday’s Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Leica Lucy displayed exactly why she is the overwhelming favourite for the upcoming $1 million Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with a fourth-straight Group victory in Sunday’s Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m). An unstoppable force out of the Central Districts, Leica Lucy was a winner on debut and Robbie Patterson, who trains her out of New Plymouth, stamped her as an Oaks filly from that moment forward. After a narrow second to Wingman at the following start, Leica Lucy has not been beaten since, dominating her way through the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). There was little doubt from punters that she would continuing her winning stampede in the Oaks dress rehearsal, shortening from an opening quote of $1.50 into $1.22 with horse racing betting sites, with her closest rival Connello closing at $10. After getting on-toe in the parade, Leica Lucy was a consummate professional at the barriers and jumped away positively, with regular rider Craig Grylls holding his position on the inside to land on the rail trailing the leader in Prestissimo. A moderate tempo quickened as the field neared the home turn and Leica Lucy was travelling like the winner a long way out, and when Grylls let her go at the 250m, it was game over, the filly charging clear to score by an extending 3.5 lengths to an honest Myakkabelle. Other meritorious runs with the upcoming Oaks in consideration came from third and fourth placegetters Dubai Gold and Thrilling. 2025 Group 2 Lowland Stakes Replay – Leica Lucy https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Trentham-2025-Group-2-Lowland-Stakes-02032025-Leica-Lucy-Robbie-Patterson-Craig-Grylls.mp4 Grylls had already steered home One Bold Gigolo for Patterson earlier in the meeting, and when it comes to Leica Lucy, he has the upmost praise for the filly. “I didn’t have to use her as such (at the start), but just dig to hold my spot because they were going to rush around,” he said. “As you’ve seen before the race, she got quite worked up today, but as soon as she jumped out of the barriers, she comes straight back to you and switches off. I was able to get off (the rail) and she’s improving all the time, that was even better than last time. “She does it without really being asked too, I was pretty soft on her but she just loves it and runs through the line.” While Patterson has trained the likes of Coventina Bay, Puntura and One Bold Cat to top-flight victories in recent years, he holds Leica Lucy in the highest regard as the best horse to come out of his successful operation. “She’s not even screwed down yet, she’s an unbelievable horse and I’ve never had one like it,” he said. “I think she’ll be screwed down in three weeks’ time, that’s been the goal since the day she won her first start and I’m looking forward to that. “We all know she’s going to Chris Waller’s, and you know what, Caulfield Cup maybe next year, or the Queensland Oaks this year, she is the real deal.” The Oaks will be Leica Lucy’s final appearance for Patterson before she heads across the Tasman to join the Waller powerhouse, with the million-dollar feature being run back on the champagne turf on March 22. “I can’t plod her along, I’ve purposely left her a little bit fresh and I know I can’t leave her too fresh, because you can’t win an Oaks behaving like that,” Patterson said. “I’ll tighten up the screws a little bit on her, but even if I stuff up, she makes up for it on her ability.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced the 2024 finalists for various horsemen and horse of the year awards that will be presented as part of this year's Renaissance Awards dinner, scheduled for this spring.View the full article

Godolphin's Sovereignty, who surged from last to first to capture the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 1, met his connections' expectations and then some while emerging as an exciting Triple Crown prospect.View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, March 3. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for March 3, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions 10 Again! – Cairns & Narrogin Bet & win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Price Boost – Boost your odds for bigger payouts! Fixed Win, Multi & Same Game Multi bets. In the Punters Toolbox. May not be available on certain days. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any Race. Any Runner. Any Odds. Get a Bonus Back if your Multi loses by a specified number of legs. Fixed odds only. Eligible customers only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Boost ‘Til You Boom Get your racing boost back if you don’t win. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Daily Exotic Boosts Boost your exotics by up to 20%. Available on Exactas, Quinellas, Trifectas & First Fours. Excludes Quaddies. Eligible customers only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for March 3, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Michael Lund Petersen's Maysam (f, 3, Game Winner–Sefani, by American Pharoah) shot out to the early lead and set the pace before outlasting favored Supa Speed (Justify) in a stretch-long battle to the wire to win the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita Sunday. The 3-2 shot was tracked by even-money Supa Speed as she strolled through fractions of :23.45 and :47.74. The favorite rolled up to engage the pacesetter at the top of the lane and there was nothing between the two fillies down the stretch, with Maysam just getting her nose down when it counted most. Maysam earned the 'TDN Rising Star' designation with a six-length debut victory going 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita Jan. 24. She was heavily favored while making her second start in the one-mile Sunland Park Oaks last time out, but came home a distant sixth. Maysam was a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase and sold for $500,000 at last year's OBS March sale. She is the third black-type winner for her sire Game Winner. Sunday, Santa Anita FASIG-TIPTON SANTA YSABEL S.-GIII, $98,000, Santa Anita, 3-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.62, ft. 1–MAYSAM, 120, f, 3, by Game Winner 1st Dam: Sefani, by American Pharoah 2nd Dam: Seacrettina, by Sea of Secrets 3rd Dam: Sha Hearah, by Dehere 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star' ($140,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $500,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Seclusive Farm LLC, Chester & Anne Prince (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $98,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Supa Speed, 122, f, 3, Justify–Elfin Queen, by American Pharoah. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($460,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA); T-John W. Sadler. $20,000. 3–Howin, 120, f, 3, Gun Runner–Flora Dora, by First Dude. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($550,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Baoma Corp; B-Coffee Pot Stables (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $12,000. Margins: NO, 6HF, 20. Odds: 1.50, 1.00, 3.50. Also Ran: Just as Fancy. Scratched: Cipriani, Hey Jessie. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. What a race!! #5 MAYSAM ($5.00) outdueled Supa Speed in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. This win earned her 37.5 Kentucky Oaks points. Maysam is sired by @LanesEndFarms' Game Winner. She was ridden by @JJHernandezS19 for @BobBaffert. pic.twitter.com/ATuRP6sQuy — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 2, 2025 The post Game Winner’s Maysam Just Holds on in Santa Ysabel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ted Bowman of Hot Springs' Speed King (Volatile) is being pointed to the GI Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles Mar 29, trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said Sunday morning. The grey will be looking to rebound from a 10th-place finish in the GII Rebel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 23. Speed King, who broke from post 10, was beaten 15 lengths by Coal Battle after chasing a hot pace. “I think there were a lot of variables in it,” Moquett said. “My main thing is the horse is sound and happy. Coming out there going wide, we thought we didn't need to use him too much to go with the pace. The way the track was playing, that was the exact opposite. We should have used him enough to get over to the good part of the track and not be wide around the first turn. It seemed the like rail was probably the spot to be. Not saying that's the reason we lost, but it seemed like it would have been a lot easier on the horse.” Speed King, who ranks 11th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 25 points, collected 20 points for a wire-to-wire one-length victory in the GIII Southwest Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25 at Oaklawn. The Southwest was Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. The Arkansas Derby will award 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The post GSW Speed King Pointed to Arkansas Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As the fifth anniversary of my father's passing approaches on March 4, I can't help but reflect on the past few years and all we've accomplished in his name. Because of each of you, whether you've donated to the foundation or attended our annual golf tournament, helped a young person in their career endeavors in the industry, or simply regaled a fond story of my dad, you have supported us to achieve our most basic goal – to keep his memory alive. On behalf of myself, my mom Erin, my siblings Joseph and Grace, we are grateful to you for the blessings that have come from what was the hardest moment of our lives. In 1979, a young and ambitious man from Co. Clare headed down the runway which would lead him to America, nearly taking two steps back with every foot forward. What was meant to be a six-month stint in Kentucky led to a lifetime of trial and tribulation, friendships turned into family, and an abundance of happy memories along the way. Without his courage and positive attitude, the path he paved for himself, and many others, would not have come to fruition in the way that it has. Our foundation began as the brainchild of a few of his closest friends, with the dream of providing a scholarship to a young man or woman to attend the Irish National Stud, the world-renowned thoroughbred breeding management course that counts Gerry Dilger as a graduate of the Class of 1977. Because of your support, we have been able to dream bigger and provide scholarships to young people on both sides of the Atlantic. We are currently supporting four students attending the Irish National Stud: a young man from America, a young woman from Columbia, and two Irish citizens from Co. Meath. Additionally, at the end of 2023, we envisioned providing a full-time year-long placement on a prominent stud farm to a student wanting to gain experience in Kentucky, and thus, in 2024, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Experience was born. This opportunity allows a student of qualifying equine programs in Ireland to experience our breeding and foaling season, yearling and weanling preparation, and annual sales at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton, under the guidance of well-respected horsemen in Kentucky. Since then, we've brought five outstanding young men and women to experience America and the industry within Kentucky. Between providing scholarships to the Irish National Stud and Kentucky, we have granted 32 scholarships to young men and women to further their education and experience. None of this could have been possible without the help of our many partners both in Kentucky and Ireland. We express our deepest gratitude to Gabriel “Spider” and Aisling Duignan of Springhouse Farm and Paramount Sales; Adrian Regan, Fergus Galvin, John Wade, and Tony Hegarty of Hunter Valley Farm, who've graciously accepted our students each year to learn from some of the best the industry has to offer. Your generosity and commitment to the next generation has enabled us to continue my dad's passion for mentoring young people each year, like himself, who embody the values of hard work, integrity, kindness, a drive for expertise, and an unwavering good spirit, just as he instilled in those who once came through Dromoland Farm. In Ireland, we are indebted to Cathal Beale and Anne Channon of the Irish National Stud, who have welcomed our mission with open arms to provide educational opportunities and hands-on experience to those eager to learn and progress in their careers. The teams at our partner institutions have promoted our scholarship opportunities to their students each year, providing us with diverse and talented applicant pools. Without their support, we wouldn't be able to provide such wonderful international experiences as we do today. From the bottom of our hearts, many thanks to each of you for helping us open doors for the next generation. Lastly, I cannot express enough gratitude towards the members of our board and our volunteers, who volunteer their time, energy, and expertise out of their busy schedules to help us carry on my dad's legacy. To Boyd Browning, Lesley Campion, Padraig Campion, Pat Costello, Aisling and Spider Duignan, Stuart Fitzgibbon, Dermot Joyce, Robbie Lyons, Liz Moloney, Adrian Regan, and Mike Ryan; you have played an important role in the Dilger's lives throughout the years and are greatly appreciated. Without each of you, we could not continue to offer young men and women a “leg up” in this industry, just as my dad did for over 26 years. Your kindness, generosity, and love have carried this foundation and our family for the last five years, and for that I am eternally grateful. How lucky are we to call each of you not only our closest friends, but family. To my mom, Erin, thank you for your inspiring courage and constant strength as we navigate each new chapter of life with our foundation and family. I am incredibly proud to be a part of an industry that shows kindness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the future generation of horsemen and women like no other. Your support and contributions are changing the lives of young people every day, creating a promising, bright future for our industry and the generations to come. It is something so remarkable that I've been fortunate to see firsthand over the last few years. Thank you for allowing us to keep my dad's memory alive, continue his passion for mentoring others, and fulfill our biggest dreams. The post Letter to the Industry: Claire Dilger on Behalf of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rubylot emerged from a cavalry charge down the Sha Tin Racecourse straight March 2 to capture the Hong Kong Classic Cup, middle leg of the Hong Kong Derby series.View the full article

Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Speed King is being pointed to Oaklawn Park's $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 29, trainer Ron Moquett said March 2.View the full article

It was a day to remember for Michael McCarthy March 1 at Santa Anita. He won four races on an 11-race card including the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) with Formidable Man, San Felipe (G2) with 3-year-old Journalism and Buena Vista (G2) with Liguria.View the full article

Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who closed from last to first to capture Saturday's Coolmore GII Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, emerged as an exciting Triple Crown prospect in the first start of his 3-year-old season. “We were sort of hoping that was the way the race would pan out,” Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock Michael Banahan said Sunday. “We didn't really know if he'd have enough ground to actually catch the horses on the lead with his running style, especially with the way the track seems to play for speed at Gulfstream. We were really just looking for a good run. To actually have as good a run as we had and win the race was fantastic.” Sovereignty, who was unraced since breaking his maiden in the Oct. 27 GIII Street Sense at Churchill Downs, picked up 50 qualifying points for the May 3 GI Kentucky Derby with his neck decision over previously undefeated River Thames (Maclean's Music). The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth served as a final prep for the 1 1/8-mile $1-million GI Curlin Florida Derby, which will offer 100 Derby points to the winner Mar. 29 at Gulfstream. “[The Florida Derby] will certainly be in the mix. It will probably suit him a little bit better with the configuration of the track for the longer distance race, as well,” Banahan said. “It will certainly come into play, for sure. It's a while away, but it will come up quickly.” Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty, who is in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 60 points, already locked up a berth in the Run for the Roses with his impressive Fountain of Youth effort. “We're hopeful he can stay healthy and well and we can roll on to the next race down the road,” said Banahan, who said the son of Into Mischief 'looked to be in great shape' following his eye-opening performance. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Sunday that WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s River Thames exited the Fountain of Youth in good order. Ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the 2-1 second betting choice chased the pace before taking command in mid-stretch, only to be caught late by Sovereignty. “We're happy with the trip he got. I thought Johnny made a good decision when he took him outside of [the pace],” Pletcher said Sunday. “The only thing is we felt like late in the race, he kind of lost focus a little bit. 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.” River Thames was making his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth after stamping himself a TDN Rising Star when winning his Jan. 11 debut before returning to easily win an optional claiming allowance Feb. 1 during the Championship Meet. “When you put things into perspective, seven weeks ago he was an un-started maiden,” Pletcher said. “He's come a long way in a short time.” Pletcher said he and WinStar's Elliot Walden 'will play it by ear' concerning River Thames' next start. Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC's Burnham Square was never a factor as the 9-5 favorite in the Fountain of Youth, in which he raced evenly to finish fourth by a neck. Trainer Ian Wilkes reported by text that the son of Liam's Map was 'good' Sunday. Burnham Square was seeking his third straight victory of the Championship Meet, during which he broke his maiden by nine lengths Dec. 28 and captured the Feb. 1 GIII Holy Bull by 1 3/4 lengths. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. indicated he was pleased with Neoequos' (Neolithic) third-place finish in his first start around two turns in the Fountain of Youth. “It was a good run,” he said. “Distance was a question mark going in, and it probably is a question mark, but he did get a really good Beyer. He got a 94 Beyer. Originally, I was going to cut him back, but I might give him one more try. It's the Florida Derby. It's home. Why not? I might give him one more try but I want to see how he does the next couple weeks” Joseph was also pleased with C2 Racing Stable LLC and Mathis Stable LLC's The Queens M G (Thousand Words), who exited her 2 3/4-length triumph in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale at Gulfstream. “She bounced out well and all being well she's going to go to the Gulfstream Oaks,” said Joseph, whose trainee earned 50 qualifying points for the May 2 GI Kentucky Oaks. Asked if the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks on the Curlin Florida Derby undercard would be an issue for the filly has yet to start past two turns, Joseph said, “Two turns for her I don't think is a problem. Although she's won those 4 1/2-furlong races and sprints early on, she's always a filly who, when she works, is very steady. I think that will work to her favor. I don't think distance is a problem for her.” The post Connections of FOY Finishers, led by Winner Sovereignty, Reflect and Assess What’s Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael McCarthy enjoyed the kind of day most trainers could only wish for last Saturday at Santa Anita. He won four races on an 11-race card including the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile with Formidable Man (City of Light), GII San Felipe with 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin) and GII Buena Vista with Liguria (War Front). “It was a memorable day,” McCarthy said Sunday morning. “I'm just very pleased for my guys at the barn. It takes a lot to have a day like yesterday. It was a real team effort.” In addition to McCarthy's three graded stakes tallies, he also ended the day with a win in the 11th and final race, an allowance on turf, with Phosphorescence (Fr) (City of Light). McCarthy said he celebrated the massive day by joining family and friends for a dinner out. “It was nice to unwind, have a good meal and reflect on a really good day,” McCarthy said. Leading McCarthy's quartet of winners was Journalism, who was making his 3-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, a Kentucky Derby prep. The colt came from off the pace under Umberto Rispoli and won going away by 1 3/4 lengths. “We expected certainly a solid effort coming off a short layoff,” said McCarthy. “I think you saw yesterday when he straightened through the lane, he started to find his gears.” Journalism is owned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta. He previously won the GII Los Alamitos Futurity when making his stakes debut in December. Journalism now has 47 1/2 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, which is historically enough to get him in the starting gate for this year's Run for the Roses. McCarthy said the GI Santa Anita Derby on Apr. 5 is the “most likely scenario” for Journalism's return. Formidable Man, also ridden by Rispoli, earned his second Grade I win in the Kilroe Mile. In November, the now 4-year-old colt won the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. “He's a proven Grade I caliber horse. I think his performance yesterday was the best we've seen from him and that was a world-class ride from Umberto,” McCarthy said. Owned by William K. Warren Jr. and Suzanne Warren, Formidable Man earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure. As for what's next, McCarthy said “we'll kind of take it easy with him for the next 10 days to two weeks” before deciding. He mentioned potentially the GIII American Stakes at a mile on turf on Apr. 20 at Santa Anita as a potential lead-in to the GI Shoemaker Mile on May 26. Liguria won the one-mile Buena Vista on turf by a head under Flavien Prat. It was her second start following a 15 1/2-month layoff and second start for McCarthy after being transferred from trainer Chad Brown. In her comeback Feb. 1 in the GIII Megahertz, Liguria was third beaten three lengths. “You always worry coming off an extended layoff like she did that they may bounce second time back off quick rest. But she has been so professional with everything she does. She does everything with purpose,” McCarthy said. Owned by Alpha Delta Stables, the 5-year-old may make her next start in the GI Gamely going 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 26 at Santa Anita. The post Journalism, Formidable Man Lead Banner Day for McCarthy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Tenma (Nyquist), Alpha Bella (Justify)–who was scratched from last Saturday's GII Buena Vista on turf in favor of this weekend's GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on dirt–and royally-bred Eagles Flight (Curlin) were among several notable workers Sunday at Santa Anita. Tenma worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Bob Baffert. Most recently, the filly won the GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 2. She is being pointed to the GII Santa Anita Oaks on Apr. 5. Winner of last season's GIII La Prevoyante at Gulfstream, Alpha Bella drilled four furlongs in :47.0 seconds for trainer John Sadler. The 5-year-old mare is among 13 fillies and mares nominated to Saturday's Beholder Mile. Eagles Flight, half-brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, worked four furlongs in :47.40 seconds. It was his fourth work since being scratched from an allowance Feb. 2 at Santa Anita due to what trainer John Sadler reported at the time was “a small foot issue.” He broke his maiden by 2 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita last May before returning to be second in an allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita Jan. 4. Also working for Baffert was Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), whose been sidelined since winning December 2023 when winning the GI Malibu. The 5-year-old horse drilled four furlongs in :48.0 seconds. Trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill's workers included Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), winner of the GI Malibu Dec. 26, and Grade I winner Mixto (Good Magic). Raging Torrent worked five furlongs in 1:00.60. Mixto, most recently finished fourth in the GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.80. Among trainer Phil D'Amato's workers were Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words), who most notably finished second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November at Del Mar. She worked five furlongs in 1:01.60. Vodka With a Twist most recently finished third in the GII Starlet Dec. 17 The post Grade I Winner Tenma, GSW Alpha Bella, ‘Rising Star’ Eagles Flight Lead Santa Anita Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton New Zealand’s hopes of adding to its proud Miracle Mile strike look even slimmer after the barrier draw. Kiwi prospects were dealt a blow when NZ’s two best-performed pacers, Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming, failed to qualify for Saturday night’s $1m feature at Menangle. Pleasingly, lesser fancied pair Tact McLeod and Sooner The Bettor did make the cut. But the barrier hasn’t helped either of them, especially the emerging Tact McLeod. While the Mark Jones-trained pacer has terrific gate speed, he will start from gate six and with loads of gate speed underneath him. Driver Anthony Butt, who produced a gem to overcome a wide draw and finish second on Tact McLeod in his qualifier last night, has lots of thinking to do about his tactics this week. Don Hugo, Captain Ravishing and even old boy Max Delight all have strong gate speed and are drawn inside him. Sooner The Bettor fared better from gate four and will come into three, but still have likely early leader Don Hugo drawn directly to his inside. At least Sooner The Bettor should be able to comfortably slot into the running line and remember, he did run a booming second to Leap To Fame when an outsider last year. Tact McLeod is a $18 chance and Sooner The Bettor is $51 in post-draw markets. Leap To Fame, despite drawing wide again, just holds favouritism at $2.40 over Don Hugo, who fared best in the draw of the big guns. Leap To Fame drew eight, but will move into seven. He won from seven last year and became the first pacer in the history of the great race to win from a draw wider than six. Swayzee’s barrier two draw went from great to problematic when second emergency, Bulletproof Boy, drew one. It means Swayzee will start from one and his lack of early speed will almost certainly see him crossed and driver Cam Hart needing to get away from the inside at all costs on the great stayer. The 2023 Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave provided another “wow” moment of the draw. With barriers only one and nine remaining, he drew nine. It hurts his chances and also caused a potential headache for Swayzee. MIRACLE MILE BARRIER DRAW : $1m Group 1 Menangle Saturday night. 1. Bulletproof Boy (2nd emerg) $35 2. Swayzee – Cam Hart – $4.20 3. Don Hugo – Luke McCarthy – $2.50 4. Sooner The Bettor – Gavin Fitzpatrick – $51 5. Captain Ravishing – Jack Callaghan – $8.50 6. Max Delight – Will Rixon – $71 7. Tact McLeod – Anthony Butt – $18 8. Leap To Fame – Grant Dixon – $2.40 9. Catch A Wave – Kate Gath – $9 10. Sure Thing Captain (1st emerg) – $101 View the full article

Visually, there was a lot to like about Sovereignty's last-to-first score in Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Godolphin homebred by Into Mischief closed with a flourish from well back after giving up four paths of real estate on the far turn. He needed to make up four lengths on an in-the-clear leader with one furlong remaining over Gulfstream's short-stretch configuration for 1 1/16-miles races (finish line at the sixteenth pole), and Junior Alvarado expertly timed this Bill Mott trainee's kick to earn a neck victory over no-quit 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music). The win established that Sovereignty's maiden-breaking score over stakes company in his last start, the Oct. 27 GIII Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, was legit. And it stamped the colt as a formidable, still-developing closer as the distances on the GI Kentucky Derby trail get longer. The Fountain of Youth tally marked the second straight race in which Sovereignty was patiently parked in last before circling the field, and in neither stakes was he scraping bottom, stamina-wise, as he accelerated under the wire. But assessing the Fountain of Youth moving forward, other aspects of the race will be harder to quantify. That's because two days before the big Mar. 1 card that featured the middle leg of the track's prominent series of graded stakes for 3-year-olds, news broke that Gulfstream management, effective immediately, was going to be adding significant “run-up” distance to the start of two-turn races on the main track. Run-up distances are one of those difficult-to-fathom “only in horse racing” concepts. Think of it as extra real estate added to the start of a race between where the starting gate is placed and the spot on the track where the first horse triggers the timing beam to begin the official clocking of the published distance of the race. The well-respected Pat Cummings, who studies such peculiar nuances of the sport and has, for the better part of several decades, cogently advocated for righting a number of long-established industry practices that don't make any sense, argued as far back as 2014 in a Thoroughbred Racing Commentary piece titled “Time for a Change: Why North America Must Stop Perpetually Mistiming Races” why run-up distances are a bad idea. “It isn't fraudulent, but without any particular malice, it is perpetually misleading,” Cummings wrote. “Basically, no track on the continent is benign to the scourge of run-up. The fact that run-up distances differ from track to track-a function of course design, safety considerations, turf rail positions, grass management, or just plain old habit (the “that's where we always put the gate” argument)-makes its presence in racing even more difficult to comprehend.” Racing jurisdictions in other countries don't use run-up distances, Cummings wrote 11 years ago. And neither do motor sports or human running sports. Yet if North American racing absolutely must have run-up distances, why not at least make an effort to keep them consistent at each track or to simply publish the total amount of ground that will be covered from when the gates open? That's why Gulfstream's mid-season switch is difficult to understand. Gulfstream has added 85 feet to the start of all 1 1/16-mile dirt races (on top of the previously established 80 feet, for a total new run-up of 165 feet). That equates to 55 yards between the starting gate and timing beam-exactly one quarter of one furlong. For nine-furlong dirt races, which previously had 70 feet of run-up, 53 feet will be added, for a total of 123 feet of run-up. In a Feb. 27 article, Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch quoted Bill Badgett, the executive director of Florida racing operations at Gulfstream, in reporting that “the change was made at the behest of the local jockey colony as it gives horses a little longer distance to travel before they enter the clubhouse turn,” and that “safer conditions for horses and riders” was a primary concern, along with “potentially negat[ing] some of the disadvantage of drawing outside posts in races run at those distances.” The safety reasoning is understandable. Who can argue against accident prevention? But Gulfstream reconfigured its main track from one mile to nine furlongs in 2005. After 20 years, management suddenly decided that changing the run-ups was so imperative that it needed to implement the switch even after a Grade II stakes at one of the affected distances had already been drawn? Gulfstream is in the middle of what it bills as its “championship” meet, and waiting until the end of the current season to change the run-up distances would have at least provided consistency in comparing the internal fractions and final times of route races, especially those involving the current crop of Derby aspirants. Although Gulfstream management did not state so, perhaps the outcome of the Jan. 25 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes factored into the decision. In that 1 1/8-miles race, the 9-5 favorite, 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) had drawn the dreaded 11 spot in the starting gate, with the Form previewing the race by noting in a headline that the colt had been “marooned” in a post position that had yielded only three winners at nine furlongs in the last 18 years. Locked ended up being caught wide around both turns in the Pegasus, finishing second, and there was significant post-race speculation that the wide draw had cost him a better chance. As the racing gods would have it, on Saturday, the same day that Gulfstream was running its first stakes race with the elongated run-up distances, Locked was all the way across the continent in California, demolishing the GI Santa Anita Handicap field by 8 1/2 lengths as the 7-10 favorite. Now back to Sovereignty: It's a fair point to say that horses have no idea what the run-up distance is. The gate opens, they run, the race unfolds, and they finish wherever they finish. But handicappers (and people who buy and sell racehorses) spend considerable time sifting through the aftermath of data trying to make sense of how to rank those performances and races. In Sovereignty's case, you can factor in the new run-up distance-more than double what his Gulfstream peers had been dealing with-and twist it any way you want to either upgrade or downgrade his effort. For example, you could say that without those added 55 yards tacked onto the 1 1/16-miles distance, there's no way that Sovereignty would have caught River Thames. Or you could argue that the relatively quick internal splits into which Sovereignty closed-the first three quarters were clocked in :23.12, :23.95 and :23.61-were timing artifacts of the longer run-up. (It's expected that early fractions will be quicker in any given race with a longer run-up, because horses are moving along at a faster clip before the timing beam gets activated.) To put those fractions into perspective, until Saturday's Fountain of Youth, out of the first 16 Derby qualifying stakes run at 1 1/16 miles in 2024-25, no race produced three opening quarter-mile splits each run in sub-24 seconds. (Although later on Saturday, the GII San Felipe Stakes was subsequently clocked with three opening quarters run in 23 seconds and change. The run-up distance for 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita is 85 feet.) Sovereignty's final time of 1:43.12 doesn't appear out of whack with historical norms. In fact, it's the exact same clocking that 'TDN Rising Star' and 2-year-old champ Forte ran in the Fountain of Youth two years ago. But making Sovereignty's speed or pace figure for the effort was tricky, regardless of which brand of numbers you go by. In addition to having a new run-up distance that doesn't mesh with the previous par times, the Fountain of Youth was also the only two-turn dirt race on the card at Gulfstream on Saturday, adding another layer of complexity to dialing in the correct number. His Beyer Speed Figure came back preliminarily as a 98, a 12-point rise off his rating in the Street Sense. If you've read this far, maybe you're wondering if it's really worth spouting off for 1,500 words about run-up distances. You'd be correct if you said there are bigger problems in the sport that need fixing right now. But it's important to get the little things right, too. And in that sense, providing accurate measurements of very basic data points like race distance and timing matter very much. For an alternate (and better informed) perspective, I'd point you in the direction of an insightful post authored by longtime clocker Bruno De Julio, who wrote last week in his blog, Racingwithbruno, that although “the masses are clamoring” over “the dramatic uproar over the run-up distance for the Fountain of Youth,” the run-up distance “is not the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe, nor is it going to change the course of history.” But, as De Julio-who has more than three decades of clocking experience at major tracks-noted later in his post, the real issue worth considering is not the run-up distance itself, but whether or not the starting gate will actually get placed where the published run-up distance says it should be. “At tracks like Gulfstream Park, where inconsistencies in gate placement and run-up distance, traditionally, have not been adequately addressed over the years, this can lead to false data that impacts both racing strategy and the betting landscape,” De Julio wrote. “Accurate timing and proper documentation are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring that the data used for analysis and handicapping is trustworthy.” The post Sovereignty’s Win Was Legit, But Gulfstream’s Run-Up Distance Change Makes it Harder to Quantify appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dog Penalties OPAWA NOAH | Christchurch 24 February; marring (2nd offence); stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. QUINTIS BALE | Christchurch 27 February; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. The post 24 February – 2 March 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

There are four horse racing meetings set for Australia on Monday, March 3. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Port Macquarie. Monday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – March 3, 2025 Port Macquarie Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 3, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Recommended! 4 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Rider Penalties W Pinn | Taupo 26 February; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 1 March). R Hutchings | Taupo 26 February; medical clearance required. M Cartwright | Waikato Trials 25 February (heard Taupo 26 February); failed to provide medical clearance; fined $200. S Mxothwa | Waverley 28 February; use of whip; fined $350. S Mxothwa | Waverley 28 February; careless riding; suspended 9-14 March inclusive. C Campbell | Otago 1 March; careless riding (2 charges); suspended 10-29 March inclusive R Muniandy | Otago 1 March; careless riding; suspended 2-9 March inclusive. M McNab | Marton 2 March; careless riding; suspended 9-21 March inclusive. Trainer Penalty S Marsh | Matamata 1 March; late rider declaration; fined $150. Horse Penalties SASSY LASS | Matamata 1 March; lame; veterinary clearance required. BELLA VOCE | Matamata 1 March; late scratching on veterinary advice; veterinary clearance required. STRANGE LOVE | Matamata 1 March; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. SABRINA HALL | Matamata 1 March; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. YOUNG DIVA | Taupo 26 February (heard Matamata 1 March); unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. CHOUX MACHER | Otago 1 March; late scratching after becoming fractious in barriers; must complete trial. HAVARTI | Marton 2 March; epistaxis; stood down for 3 months and veterinary clearance required. The post 24 February – 2 March 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties A Pyers | Manawatu 25 February; use of whip; suspended 26 February – 11 March inclusive. R May | NZ Metropolitan 25 February; out of position at start; fined $100. R Houghton | NZ Metropolitan 28 February; failed to drive to finish of race; suspended 1-14 March inclusive. B Ford | Rangiora 2 March; drove in a manner capable of diminishing chances; suspended 3 March – 4 April inclusive. Trainer Penalty D McCormick | Non-raceday dated 25 February; presented incorrect horse for trials meeting; fined $600. Horse Penalties JACCKA BAYLIS | Manawatu 25 February; lacerations to hind legs; veterinary clearance required. ESSENCE OF EASTON | NZ Metropolitan 25 February; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. ONELOVEONELIFE | NZ Metropolitan 25 February; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. KAWACTUS | NZ Metropolitan 25 February; broke in running; must complete trial. DOWNTOWN ORLANDO | NZ Metropolitan 25 February; broke in running; must complete trial. SON OF THE CLEANER | Winton 27 February; broke in running; must complete trial. VELOCITY JET | Winton 27 February; broke in running; must complete trial. IT AIN’T ME BABE | Auckland 28 February; entrapped epiglottis; veterinary clearance required. PLAYOFFS | NZ Metropolitan 28 February; broke in score up; must complete mobile start trial. SENIOR CONSTABLE LIZ | Rangiora 2 March; broke at start; must complete standing start trial. RUBY TUESDAY | Rangiora 2 March; refused to score up; must complete mobile start trial. Protest RUBY TUESDAY | Rangiora 2 March; displayed unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. The post 24 February – 2 March 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

With less than five weeks remaining to Dubai World Cup night at the sprawling Meydan Racecourse Apr. 5, the American challenge for the $12-million main event is coming together, with at least two U.S.-based middle-distance gallopers targeting the 2000-meter contest. Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has come out of his distant third-place effort to 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap in good order and connections have accepted an invitation to the World Cup, Case Clay, Wathnan's U.S. advisor, confirmed Sunday. “Will pow-wow with [trainer] Brad [Cox] again, but Hit Show is doing well and he ships well,” Clay commented. In his only other appearance this season, the 5-year-old ran home strongly from the back of the field for an impressive victory in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Louisiana Stakes at the Fair Grounds Jan. 18. Wathnan is also set to be represented in the G2 Godolphin Mile by Cagliostro (Upstart), who finished well to just lose a photo for third in the G3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday at Meydan, having finished third in his first local appearance, the G3 Firebreak Stakes Jan. 24. “We were proud of Cagliostro coming on at the end of the Burj Nahaar just like he did at the end of the Firebreak,” Clay said, adding that longer trips might be in Cagliostro's future as he gets on in age. Rattle N Roll (Connect) remains in Riyadh following his running-on fifth behind the World Cup-bound Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and likely G1 Dubai Turf favorite Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Feb. 22 G1 Saudi Cup. Trainer Ken McPeek confirmed that the World Cup is squarely the plan, pending an official invitation from the Dubai Racing Club. “He came out of the race super, we haven't been officially invited,” the conditioner said. “This horse has never had the chance to run 10 furlongs. He was going to get excluded from the Kentucky Derby, so didn't get to run there, and then got excluded in the Classic and that race would have set up for him. “I thought his run in Riyadh was a good run,” McPeek continued. “He didn't get beat far for third and three or four jumps past the wire, he collared those, so we're anxious and hopeful we get the invite and we're preparing to take a shot at it.” McPeek said that Rattle N Roll ships to Dubai one way or the other this coming Friday. “They've given us clearance to come to Dubai and train, but no invitation yet,” he said. Locked is unlikely to proceed to Dubai, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman said via text on Sunday morning. “Not ruling anything out, but likely to stick to our guns and focus on a domestic campaign,” Wellman said. A pair of Dubai-bound runners breezed on either side of the continent Sunday morning. At Santa Anita, GI Malibu Stakes hero Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) went five furlongs in 1:00.60 (7/66) in preparation for an appearance in the G2 Godolphin Mile. Trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill has twice saddled the winner of that event, including Two Rivers Over (Tamarkuz) last March. Fergus Galvin, a U.S. advisor to Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing, confirmed that Nakatomi (Firing Line) will return to the desert for a second try at the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. The 6-year-old, a troubled third to Tuz (Oxbow) in the 2024 running, breezed a half-mile in a bullet :47.20 (1/47) for trainer Wesley Ward at Payson Park Sunday morning. Also awaiting Nakatomi in the Golden Shaheen is G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner and 2024 champion sprinter Straight No Chaser (Speightster). Raging Torrent this morning at Santa Anita. pic.twitter.com/bRXg6AHJ4H — Chief Stipe O'Neill (@DougONeill1) March 2, 2025 The post U.S. Dubai World Cup Team Taking Shape appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In response to the recent New York Times negative and factually incorrect article on the horse racing industry, I would argue that we, as an industry need to change our tack. The New York Times piece pulled three angles–animal cruelty, human exploitation, and the time honoured 'the rich are stealing your money.' How can any story based on such a narrative fail from raising temperatures? This was born out in the comment section at the end of the article, despite the quick action taken by Light Up Racing and Vicki Leonard to defend our sport, along with Bill Finley and Ray Paulick who both gallantly stepped up to try to restore our equilibrium. Was the damage control sufficient to hold back the growing momentum of unfavourable public opinion? I would charge that, worldwide as an industry we are not in good shape, and never will be until, we as an industry can relate to your everyday person on the street. We have the most wonderful game on the planet. It's unique, it's filled with passion and passionate people who care deeply for their horses. It's a high octane, adrenaline charged, globally connected industry. Our issue is that despite all our efforts we have yet to make substantial inroads into an evolving society. It has been said that a “Racehorse can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time.” I believe they can do even more than this, by creating a synergistic collaboration with Equine Assisted Services and Horse Racing. Thoroughbreds have already entered this field, and are making a huge difference in many different sectors across the board, not least of all in mental health and wellness. At a minimum an alliance between the two would: Enhance Public Perception: Integrating racing with equine therapy shows a commitment to society and horse welfare, helping to counter negative perceptions of the industry. It positions racing as a responsible, caring sector that values the horses not just for their athletic ability but, as being essential partners in human development, their bond with humans is both practical and emotional, making them one of the most important animals in history as living beings with significant value in post-race life. Expand Audience Reach: By aligning with EAS, racing reaches a broader, more diverse audience, including those who may not typically engage with the sport. This includes individuals interested in therapy, animal welfare, and community programs, thus broadening the appeal of racing and attracting new supporters who care about the horses' lives beyond the track. Foster Sustainability: The alliance with EAS also introduces sustainability into the racing industry, demonstrating how horses can transition into new roles after their racing careers. This helps secure the future of racing by showing that the sport is evolving and adapting to new standards of animal care and public expectations, while at the same time, demonstrating how horses have an integral role in society, perhaps more now than ever. Expand the Role of Horses in Society: This collaboration redefines the role of horses, expanding their presence and importance in society. Beyond entertainment and sport, horses become part of social change and healing, providing a profound sense of purpose for animals that have served the racing industry and benefitting individuals who may not have had access to such transformative experiences. What steps can we take to create this alliance? We, that means everyone can look at programs such as ABIJAHS at Canterbury Downs in Minnesota, and explore the possibility of similar programs being created, or existing ones around the country which could be paired to the different racetracks as a way to increase exposure and support for both the facility and racing. Familiarise yourselves with programs such as Stable Recovery, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's prison program, and Liskennett Equine Assisted Activity Centre in Ireland to learn first hand, the impact equine assisted services are having, and the science as to how and why it is so effective. And why governments around the world are taking note. Encourage racetracks, sales companies, equine suppliers, farms, owners and trainers to align with accredited EAS programs in their own geographical locations. We have a unique opportunity here to make a difference by changing the narrative. So let's begin by educating ourselves and spreading the word. Useful links for further information: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance http://thoroughbredaftercare.org PATH International http://pathintl.org Horses for Mental Health https://horsesformentalhealth.org Suzi Prichard-Jones is the author of BYERLEY, The Thoroughbred's Ticking Time Bomb and founder of the Byerley & Godolphin Conservation Project. The post Letter to the Editor: Change of Tack appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Legion Racing's Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) overcame a stumble at the start to post a rallying score in Saturday's Listed Busher Invitational, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack. In victory, the Whit Beckman trainee secured 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, joining stablemates Simply Joking (Practical Joke)–campaigned by Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner and Berkels0813–and Grantley Acres' homebred Her Laugh (Practical Joke) as contenders for the 'Lilies for the Fillies' on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs. In Saturday's one-turn test, Drexel Hill was returning from a third-place finish in the one-mile and 70-yard Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds. “It was a little bit of a gamble on the cutback, but we got it figured out and hopefully when we get her back around two turns it won't be so gut-wrenching,” Beckman said. “The first half-mile of the race didn't go the way we were hoping between the break and her lack of enthusiasm down the backside–it wasn't real comforting going to the turn, but it took a 180 on us and things went the right way from there. The $50,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase launched her career at Woodbine with four starts over Tapeta for trainer Barbara Minshall, including a six-length graduation in November sprinting seven furlongs. “Early on she wanted to pull to the inside just slightly and that kind of bit gives a little more control on the steering,” Beckman explained. “In her first start for us, she put herself in a bad spot and it was tough to get her off the rail. “We made a couple equipment adjustments in the Silverbulletday to add blinkers and a different bit,” Beckman continued. “I thought we kind of overshot the mark, she got a little too keen in the Silverbulletday and put herself really close – closer than I anticipated. In her training between this race and the Silverbulletday we pulled the blinkers off, and she was working really well, super relaxed and doing everything comfortably on her own, so we didn't think the blinkers were going to be necessary in the Busher.” Beckman confirmed that Drexel Hill exited the effort in good order and will ship back to Turfway Park Monday. According to Beckman, the nine-furlong GIII Gazelle on Apr. 5, a 100-50-25-15-10 Oaks qualifier, appears likely. “We've got nine weeks to the Oaks and ideally, you'd like to give her another start,” Beckman said. “We'll see how she reacts when we get her back home. An extra eighth of a mile going around two turns should give her a little more time to work everything out.” Beckman said that Simply Joking [20 points] will look to extend her record to 3-for-3 in either the GII Fantasy [100-50-25-15-10] on Mar. 29 at Oaklawn or the GI Central Bank Ashland [100-50-25-15-10] on Apr. 4 at Keeneland; while Her Laugh [20 points] will point to the GII Fair Grounds Oaks [100-50-25-15-10] on Mar. 22. The post Drexel Hill Exits Busher in Good Order, Targets Oaks Qualifier Gazelle Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual Hong Kong champion trainer David Hayes immediately set his sights on the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby in three weeks' time with Rubylot (Aus), following a stellar performance from the son of Rubick (Aus) to win Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin. Settled at the rear of the field with only one behind through the early stages, Rubylot and Brenton Avdulla tracked Mickley (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) into the straight, before angling into the clear and accelerating powerfully with a race-best 22.30-second sectional for the final 400 metres of the 1,800-metre contest. Atoning for a luckless sixth in the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile on his previous start, Rubylot overhauled the winner of that race, My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), to win by three quarters of a length in a time of 1:46.29, with the fast-finishing Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) the same distance further back in third. In clinching the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Rubylot improved his record to six wins and eight placings from 18 starts for his owners, the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate, while taking his earnings to HK$14.5 million. Now, all roads lead to the Hong Kong Derby, which Hayes last won in 2003 with Elegant Fashion (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}), who was the first filly to triumph in Hong Kong's most-coveted race since Corvette (Aus) (Biarritz {Ire}) in 1976. “It would be very nice [to win another Hong Kong Derby],” said Hayes. “It's been a long time. It's one of the races everyone in Hong Kong wants to win. To my eye, he [Rubylot] was the strongest late and that's a good sign stepping up to the 2,000 metres. Being a Rubick you were always concerned, but he's out of a Dubawi mare and stoutly-bred on the dam side. “You always look at this race to find the closers and that's a good pointer to the Derby. I don't think anyone ran home faster than him today. It was a brilliant sectional.” The victory of Rubylot was the first leg of a treble on the card for jockey Avdulla, who was the still cursing the poor luck the pair endured when they finished sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. “Hayesey had the horse [Rubylot] spot on,” said Avdulla. “He had a nice run through and I was confident at the 250 [metres] he was going to get the job done. I've got no doubt if he drew a gate in the [Hong Kong Classic Mile] he would have gone very close. I was just back in no man's land and he still ran on well, so I was confident enough to stick with him to come to 1,800 metres. “I thought the draw [barrier eight] was a little bit tricky again and, ideally, I would have been a bit closer. But it just didn't look any good after 50 [metres] so I just rode him quiet and my only decision was whether I go inside Mickley or around him. I just felt I was going good enough to get Mickley out of the way when I cornered and to his credit the horse found the line really well.” Pedigree Notes Bred in Australia by Woodpark Stud, Rubylot sold as a two-year-old for A$100,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale. He is the third winner from four runners out of the Dubawi (Ire) mare Emirates Comfort (Ire) who, in turn, is out of the GI Beverly D. Stakes and G2 Prix de Malleret heroine Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Whilst Emirates Comfort retired as a a three-race maiden, Royal Highness is the dam of seven winners, including the G2 Prix Dollar and G2 Prix Hocquart scorer Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). This is also the family of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Yibir (GB) and the triple Group 1 winner Wild Illusion (GB). They are both by Dubawi (Ire) and out of the Listed scorer Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), whose dam, Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), is a Group 3-winning half-sister to Royal Highness. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-Listed, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 3-2, NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:46.29, gd. 1–RUBYLOT (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Rubick (Aus) 1st Dam: Emirates Comfort (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire) 2nd Dam: Royal Highness (Ger), by Monsun (Ger) 3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (A$100,000 HRA '22 INGOCT). O-HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate. B-Woodpark Stud (Aus). T-David Hayes. J-Brenton Avdulla. HK$7,280,000. Lifetime Record: 18-6-3-5, HK$14,546,001. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–My Wish (Aus), 126, g, 4, Flying Artie (Aus)–Set The Tone (Aus), by Reset (Aus). O-Ada Che Xiao Hong, Suki Tang Xianfang & Ruby Hui Like Sea. B-Mr. J Langridge (Aus). T-Mark Newnham. J-Luke Ferraris. HK$2,730,000. 3–Johannes Brahms (GB), 126, g, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Illaunmore, by Shamardal. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Yau Kwok Fai. B-Chasemore Farm (GB). T-Pierre Ng. J-Karis Teetan. HK$1,495,000. Margins: 3/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 135-10, 42-10, 15-1. Also Ran: Packing Angel (NZ), Steps Ahead (Aus), Stunning Peach (Ire), Packing Hermod (Aus), Californiatotality (Aus), Cap Ferrat (Aus), Divano (Aus), Mondial (SAf), Sky Trust (Aus), Noisy Boy (Aus), Mickley (Ire). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs, and sectional timing. VIDEO. The post Derby Next for Rubylot after Dominant Hong Kong Classic Cup Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

During 2019, we were fortunate to have Pat Smullen as a regular and immensely popular columnist for TDN. The struggle the former champion jockey faced in his life at that stage never coloured the effort and enthusiasm he put into reporting his weekly thoughts and valuable insights on racing. One aspect that really shone through was how much he was dedicated to encouraging the younger members of the weighing-room, not to mention boosting the profile of the sport as a whole. That determination to help others was seen again in his efforts to raise funds for Cancer Trials Ireland. At the Irish Champions Festival of 2019, some €2.6 million was raised through the Pat Smullen Champions Race and other events surrounding the weekend. Exactly 12 months later, Smullen died, but his vital fundraising work has been continued by his family and the dedicated committee of the Pat Smullen Pancreatic Cancer Fund, which has subsequently raised almost €1 million more, largely through the annual charity race day run in the jockey's name at the Curragh, which was launched in 2021. “Our aim is to make it to a million this year,” says Smullen's widow Frances Crowley, who has been the driving force behind ensuring that the funding for trials now being conducted continues to help others afflicted by cancer. “Every year for the past few years, we've tried a few different things. But we have the charity race that worked really well and we're starting to put out a call now for people to think about if they'd maybe like to do it. And we have the the Curragh to Curragh cycle ride, which is 100 kilometres, and actually it's a really feelgood occasion as well. “A lot of the riders in the charity race have ridden in memory of somebody or for somebody, and Pat usually organises a bit of nice weather for us as well.” She continues, “Whenever we have a meeting with the board of the Pat Smullen Fund, you just come away thinking, 'Wow, to be involved with these people who are so brilliant at what they're doing.' It gives you a bit of a kick to go and do it all over again for another year.” Hannah Smullen with the mosaic of her father at the Curragh | Racingfotos From an original idea by Smullen's oncologist Ray McDermott, in 2024 Professor Grainne O'Kane was appointed to the Pat Smullen Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at University College Dublin (UCD). Described by Crowley as “scarily impressive”, O'Kane is already making an impact in this role. “Just to see it making such a big difference is humbling,” says Crowley. “With patience and time, Grainne is really able to work on trials, on bringing trials to Ireland. I do think it's going to make a huge difference to pancreatic cancer. It gathers its own momentum through her, and it does more even than what the Pat Smullen Fund can achieve. She puts things in motion and we get investment from other places with that, and it brings more trials to Ireland. It's amazing really, and I think Pat just wanted it to go directly to the people who knew what to do with it, straight to the medical profession.” Crowley says that the focus has been placed on the genetic aspect of the disease and in trying to establish which people may be more predisposed to being afflicted by pancreatic cancer. “There's never going to be a big cure, we're never going to stop it,” she says. “But, certainly with pancreatic cancer, if you catch it early you have a better chance of treating it. “If you can reach that group of people and you're giving them help with screening, it actually could do a huge amount that way, by catching it early so that these people don't get into a life-threatening situation.” Clearly, the regular updates on the progress being made in the trials has not only a galvanising effect on fundraising efforts, but offers some solace to the Smullen family, as does the ongoing response from their many friends in racing. “The racing community has been amazing,” Crowley says. “They are the people who have supported us, and that's where all the money is coming from at the end of the day. The Breeze-up Consignors Association sponsored the charity race last year because a lot of their families had been touched by cancer. People have been so good.” Pat Smullen aboard Free Eagle at Royal Ascot | Racingfotos Smullen's name lives on at the races in more ways than one, and this year sees the launch of the Smullen Series by the Irish EBF. The 18-race series is for juveniles and three-year-olds with the intention of providing a progression for those horses bred more for middle distances. It includes a new two-year-old listed race at Naas, named the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes, and the €200,000 Gowran Classic. Crowley says, “It's lovely to see Pat's name continue to be honoured and being recognised, so we're really grateful for the Smullen Series and the new listed race in Naas. “It's quite appropriate as Pat was associated with so many good middle-distance or staying horses, like Harzand, Fascinating Rock, Vinnie Roe and Rite Of Passage.” Crowley was a decent former amateur rider herself – not to mention a Classic-winning trainer – and both she and Smullen are being followed in this regard by their children. Hannah and Paddy have already ridden in the race in their father's memory on the Pat Smullen Charity Race Day, with their younger sister Sarah, a budding eventer, giving it consideration for when she is old enough to compete. “We are putting out the call for expressions of interest for this year's race now, and we usually get oversubscribed. I must give special mention to Charlie O'Neill, who raised a huge amount last year, I think he raised €40,000 on his own,” Crowley says. With Hannah and Paddy Smullen both now holding amateur licences, Crowley recently resubscribed to a training licence, but anyone hoping to see the talented trainer of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Saoire and Grade 1-winning chaser Moscow Express (Ire) back on the racecourse more regularly should brace themselves for disappointment. “It was really just for fun,” she says at the family's Brickfield Stud in County Offaly. “The kids wanted to see what it was like to train one and bring one to the races. But do you know what? I actually love breeding. I actually love the mares and the foals and bringing the foals to the sales. My heart's not in the training any more.” Brickfield is home to eight mares, and its graduates include last year's G2 Queen Mary Stakes third Maw Lam (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). “That was just so exciting, having a runner at Royal Ascot that we bred. I don't even feel that I need to own them,” she continues. “We have a few now this year, that's the first crop of a bigger bunch of foals that we sold. They're all two-year-olds now, so that's going to be exciting. “But, look, it's good to have the option of the trainer's licence because maybe in the future I think this place would suit getting a little two-year-old going. But I have no aspirations to start training again.” Smullen and Crowley at Brickfield Stud with Bobbi Grace, dam of Maw Lam Hannah Smullen, whom her mother describes as “very focused, very like Pat”, is now in her final year reading law at Trinity College Dublin, while Paddy is treading a path that their father knew so well by riding out for Dermot Weld before school. Sitting alongside his mother and regularly contributing to the conversation with reminders about horse names and pedigrees, he is clearly the next member of the family likely to be forging a full-time role in the racing business once his studies are over. As lunch wraps up, he and Sarah are dispatched into the yard to exercise the resident small string of one racehorse and a few eventers. “I'm just keeping fit and keeping my foot in the door,” Paddy says of his riding-out duties. “[Dermot Weld]'s been very good to me and given me a few chances so far, so hopefully more to come. I will go back into Gordon Elliott's during the summer as well; Gordon gave me the spin in the charity race.” Paddy has been fleshing out his knowledge with an obligatory stint of bidspotting at Goffs, as well as leading up for neighbours Ringfort Stud at the sales and completing work experience at Kildangan Stud. His mother, meanwhile, talks of him becoming an accountant. We'll see who wins that battle. He says of his mornings at Weld's Rosewell House on the Curragh, where his father was stable jockey for 20 years, “They're all very nice to me in there. And Tom Daly, the head lad, even drops me over to school afterwards.” As Paddy rides away on his eventer, the initials PJS on the back of his hat silk in the colours of Moyglare Stud, it's hard not to think of the person missing from this scene. But, in so many ways, Pat Smullen is still very much around, not least in the continued drive to raise funds in his name to help others to live for longer. That's a legacy every bit as important as any Group 1 winner he ever rode. Details of this year's Pat Smullen Charity Race Day, which takes place at the Curragh on Saturday, August 30, can be found here. Budding riders wishing to participate in this year's race should email charityrace@curragh.ie and further details about the Pat Smullen Pancreatic Cancer Fund can be accessed via this link. The post ‘The Racing Community Has Been Amazing’: Frances Crowley Lauds Support of Pat Smullen Fund appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There is one moment that still sticks out to April Mayberry from Zenyatta's time at her family's farm in Ocala. From the day the daughter of Street Cry (Ire) arrived at Mayberry Farm, she was straightforward but not necessarily a standout. That is, until the future superstar had her first breeze. Mayberry's mother Jeanne instructed rider Ronaldo Rodas to take it easy, let the filly follow behind four or five other 2-year-olds and see how she handled it. As the story goes, in a move that would later become her trademark, Zenyatta started picking off horses one by one as they came down the stretch. “I remember my mother saying that we either had one really good horse or a lot of bad ones,” Mayberry recalled. “As it turned out, the other ones that were breezing were no slouches, but she just galloped past them like, 'See you around' and that's something that will always stand out because that was a moment where you're like, 'Oh man, she's something special.'” Over the past nearly two decades since, Zenyatta has been an integral part of the Mayberrys' lives. The Hall of Famer is one of their most accomplished graduates and whenever the Mayberrys are in Kentucky, they make a point of visiting the mare at Lane's End Farm. Nymue and Ronaldo Rodas during a morning of training at Mayberry Farm | Katie Petrunyak The Mayberrys have also brought up all of Zenyatta's progeny. Over an oftentimes troubled breeding career, the champion has produced only four horses of racing age to date. Two of those have made the starting gate, though neither found the winner's circle. After foaling a War Front filly in 2023, Zenyatta was retired from breeding at the age of 19. This year, the Mayberrys are relishing a bittersweet chapter in their story with Zenyatta as her daughter Nymue, the War Front filly who is the last of Zenyatta's progeny, undergoes the breaking and training process at Mayberry. With her dark bay coat and a striking blaze, Nymue bears a strong resemblance to her dam. When she arrived at Mayberry Farm this past October, the team there learned that, like Zenyatta, this filly has a strong personality. “She has the characteristics and the mannerisms of her mother,” said Mayberry. “Zenyatta was pretty straightforward. She liked to train. She went out in her paddock, ate grass, went in, ate, and then slept. She was a little bit like a cat that says, 'Pet me' and then, 'Okay now I'm bored of you.' It's the same thing with this filly. She loves attention and then when she's done, she's like, 'Okay now I want to go eat. Leave me alone.' She's very smart and easy to do everything with, so it's pretty exciting so far.” Zenyatta and Nymue in 2023 at Lane's End | Sarah Andrew Ronaldo Rodas, who broke Zenyatta back in the day, has also started all of her sons and daughters. He echoed the sentiment that Nymue shares some similarities with her dam. “I'm happy with her,” he said. “I enjoy every day that I get to ride her. When I take her to the track, for those 15 or 20 minutes I am happy. I hope she can be a good one. She's like her mother. She's got a good mind, so sweet, and she's a nice mover.” Most mornings, Nymue enjoys turnout time with her paddock mate, a Jimmy Creed filly, before going out to the track for training. The Mayberrys are in no hurry with the June-foaled filly. “She's done everything right and we have to keep remembering that she's a very late foal,” said Mayberry. “She's on pace with everybody else on the farm, so we're just letting her tell us where she wants to go next. There's no rush and I am a big believer in letting them tell us what they need and what they want.” Shuggy (outside) trains at Mayberry Farm | Katie Petrunyak This is hardly the final chapter in the Mayberry's association with Zenyatta. Along with Nymue, this year's crop at Mayberry Farm includes Shuggy, the first foal out of Zenyatta's oldest daughter Zellda (Medaglia d'Oro). The April-foaled Twirling Candy colt is named after Lane's End farm manager Todd Claunch's dog Shug. “He's a typical boy,” reported Mayberry. “He's a little rough and tumble and a little more rambunctious, but he loves to train so that's always a plus. They have to want to do it and he certainly seems like he wants to do it.” While the Mayberry team is looking forward to seeing more of Zenyatta's “grandchildren” in the coming years, they can't help but hope that first, Nymue might be able to build upon Zenyatta's legacy on the racetrack. “I don't know,” reflected Mayberry. “Maybe she saved the best one for last.” The post Best for Last? Zenyatta’s Final Foal On Track at Mayberry Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article