Wandering Eyes

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who resumed riding this month after injury, is excited to ride the upcoming Kentucky Downs meet in late August and early September. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Just after 6:30 on a dreary, rainy Thursday morning, a 4-year-old gelding named Corruption (Medaglia d'Oro), with a long white blaze on his face, stuck his dark brown head out of his stall at Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse's barn on the Saratoga backstretch. Bright-eyed and inquisitive, he gobbled up a peppermint. If he could have spoken, he might have said, 'what's the big deal? I feel fine.” About 15 1/2 hours prior, he wasn't. After winning Saratoga's fourth race on Wednesday and returning to the winner's circle, Corruption, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Harry Colburn, was in distress. It appeared as though he was impacted by Wednesday's 90-degree heat. Corruption fell, got back to his feet but was wobbly for several minutes while a team of racing guardian angels jumped into action. A group effort from Casse's team–as well as members of trainer Miguel Clement's stable, which had two horses in the race–rushed to the aid of the distressed Corruption. So too did jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode Corruption, as well as other jockeys in the race–Irad Ortiz, Jr., Kendrick Carmouche and Dylan Davis. “That was fantastic,” Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “I was just in awe. It was a big negative to see the horse go down like that in front of everyone, but then the love and the positive overrode all of that.” Jose Ortiz said there was never any thought of not helping the struggling horse. After jumping off, he never left Corruption. “That is what we do, we love the horses,” Jose Ortiz said Thursday morning. “I was happy that everyone jumped in and tried to help. We did what we were supposed to do and we basically saved him.” The jockeys rushed buckets of ice to pour on Corruption to help cool him down. Clement and his assistant Lee Vickers pitched in. Trackside hoses were used. Casse said that one of his employees, Amanda Romero, was in tears watching the whole scene unfold. “I told her it was okay,” Casse said. “She said she wasn't crying because of that; she said she was crying because so many people helped. Nobody gets that these horses are like our kids. It hurts. I have had horses with heat exhaustion, but this was pretty bad.” Corruption will have blood work done, Casse said, to make sure everything checks out. Thursday morning, all was good. “It scared the hell out of me,” Casse said. “I am sure it scared the hell out of him.” Consistent Sierra Leone Looking To Score Big in Whitney In his 11-race career, 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) has never run a bad one. Eleven starts: four wins, four seconds and three third-place finishes. Sierra Leone paddock schools Wednesday | Sarah Andrew Trainer Chad Brown hopes the beat goes on for his 4-year-old on Saturday in the $1-million GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. “He is doing great, super,” Brown said outside his office on the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday. Sierra Leone, owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith, has had two starts this year following his win in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, a victory that vaulted him to the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old. He finished second in the GII New Orleans Classic Stakes in his 4-year-old debut and then was second to 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes. Jockey Flavien Prat, who has ridden Sierra Leone in his last six starts, will be on board. Strong finishes are the norm for the late-running Sierra Leone, despite the lack of an early pace. “If the pace is slow with good horses in the race, it's hard to make up ground on good horses,” Brown said. “It looks like there is plenty of speed in (the Whitney); we will see how the track is playing. This track can get a little speedy at times and favor forward horses. I hope that is not the case on Saturday. If the track is playing fair and the pace is honest enough, I think he has a good chance to run his race.” This Whitney will include older horse heavyweights such as 'TDN Rising Star Fierceness (City of Light), White Abarrio (Race Day) and Highland Falls (Curlin). Mindframe is entered but will scratch as long as stablemate Fierceness is ready to go. Brown, who is from nearby Mechanicville, has never won the Whitney. He has started four horses in the race in his career with the best finish coming from Zandon (Upstart), who was second in 2023. “The list is getting smaller of the races we haven't won,” he said. “It is a very prestigious race in Saratoga, where I grew up, and it would be quite an honor to win it. There have been some great horses, some champion horses, some Hall of Fame horses that have run in this race. We are happy we are in it, and we have one of the main contenders.” Johannes Ships East to get Season Started A year ago, trainer Tim Yakteen thought his then 4-year-old Johannes (Nyquist) had done enough to win the Eclipse Award for top Male Turf Horse. It wasn't enough. Johannes on the track Wednesday | Sarah Andrew In the closest vote of any of the 2024 Eclipse categories, Johannes was nipped 89-81 by Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Rebel's Romance won five of six starts last year. Johannes also won five of six in 2024, the lone loss coming by three-quarters of a length to More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. “It was a letdown, disappointing,” Yakteen said Thursday morning on the Saratoga backstretch. “It is what it is. I'm not going to dwell on it. I was more disappointed for the horse and the connections. In this game, you just want to keep looking forward.” Yakteen, based on the West Coast, shipped Johannes east to get his 2025 season started. Johannes is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday's $750,000 GI Fourstardave at a mile on the inner turf course. He is owned by Joe and Debby McCloskey's CUYATHY LLC. One of the reasons for coming cross country is that the Fourstardave is part of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' challenge series. The winner of the race gets an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1. “And we are pretty limited in California with the number of Grade Is (on turf),” said Yakteen, who will be starting his first horse ever at Saratoga. “We are just hitting the reset position and starting again.” This will only be the second time in his life that Johannes is running outside California. He was fifth, beaten two lengths in the GII American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day 2023. Johannes, who will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, has won four of five starts at a mile and Yakteen is hoping for a firm course. His horse does his best running on that condition, too, “He just does everything with ease,” Yakteen said. “He is a good work horse in the morning and replicates that in the afternoon.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Corruption All Good Day After Heat Incident appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-Saratoga, $90,000, (S), Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.85, my, 4 1/2 lengths. GRAZIE (f, 2, Modernist–Ascot Walk, by Daaher) became the fourth North American winner from the first crop of her sire (by Uncle Mo) with a convincing debut success at soggy Saratoga. Off as the 14-5 second choice, Grazie was part of a four-way scramble for the lead through the opening furlong before poking through from between rivals to take up the running heading into the turn. Chased around the bend by 1.15-1 favorite Tuthilltown (Classic Empire), Grazie responded when asked while racing on her incorrect lead and drew clear in the final eighth of a mile to take it by 4 1/2 lengths. Encantar (Solomini) was up for second ahead of Tuthilltown. A half-sister to Regaled (Mohaymen), GSP, $179,510; and to Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), SW & GISP, $456,520, Grazie was purchased for $37,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling Sale last October and blossomed into a $310,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic graduate following an energetic gallop during her under-tack preview (video). The winner, whose dam was purchased by co-breeder Michael Slezak for $5,000 with this foal in utero at Keeneland November in 2022, has a yearling half-sister by Redesdale. Modernist is also the sire of the colt Laman Sapsan, a wide-margin winner on debut at Nal'chik in Russia on July 26. Sales history: $37,000 Ylg '24 EASOCT; $310,000 2yo '25 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Repole Stable; B-Michael Slezak & Kaylee M Platt (NY); T-Todd A Pletcher. Grazie is a debut winner in R6 at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher with @luissaezpty aboard! pic.twitter.com/Le4Npfq1RG — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 31, 2025 The post Modernist Filly Grazie Dominates On Saratoga Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), a perfect three-for-three this term, headed by a win in the GI American Turf S. at Churchill Downs, will be heavily favored in Friday's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S., a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores at Saratoga. A winner of six-of-seven career starts, the lone blemish on Zulu Kingdom's resume is a seventh-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. The 6-5 morning-line favorite, campaigned in partnership by Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael J. Caruso, enters off a win in the GIII Manila S. at the Spa July 4. “I think two-turn turf races at the middle distance there's always a lot of close finishes, but he has a lot of natural heart and ability,” said trainer Chad Brown, who looks for a record-extending eighth victory in this event. “He's a natural competitor when it comes down to the wire.” Brown continued, “A mile, mile and a sixteenth–right now–is what I think he wants to do. We'll see as he gets a little older (about stretching out). He's coming into the race great. He's training well.” Luther (GB) | Sarah Andrew Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}) cuts back in distance after rallying for third while making his U.S. debut for trainer Charlie Fellowes in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. at Saratoga July 4. Clever Again (American Pharoah), a sharp, front-running winner of the Hot Springs S. at Oaklawn Mar. 30, switches to grass for trainer Steve Asmussen after an eventful ninth in the GI Preakness S. May 17 and disappointing sixth in the GIII Ohio Derby June 21. The post Zulu Kingdom Headlines National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 49-year-old conditioner swept both ends of the stakes doubleheader on the first Saturday of the meet, winning the Wickerr Stakes with Almendares and then the San Clemente Handicap (G2T) with Thought Process.View the full article

Due to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms in the area, the remainder of the July 31 live racing card, races 6-9, at Delaware Park has been canceled.View the full article

Twice classic-placed Tacitus got his first winner as a sire when his 2-year-old filly Tacit Value was victorious July 31 at Delaware Park. View the full article

Jose Santos Jr., the son of 2003 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Funny Cide's rider Jose Santos, is the agent for Christopher Elliott, son of 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones' rider Stewart Elliott.View the full article

Six 2-year-old fillies will try the 6 1/2-furlong distance for the first time.View the full article

Despite a turf pedigree, the 2-year-old took to the dirt to give the trainer her first win at the Spa.View the full article

Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), unraced since springing a 13-1 upset in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 2, is nearing a return. “We're hoping we see him at Del Mar,” owner Kosta Hronis said. “If there's a race for him there that he fits in, that's what we're gonna shoot for. We'll see how he does and go from there. The focus is Breeders' Cup. If he can handle the Classic, that would be the ultimate goal.” Full Serrano has posted four workouts for trainer John Sadler since returning to the worktab this summer, most recently breezing four furlongs in :48.40 (17/51) at Del Mar July 28. “He just had some little issues that came up,” Hronis said. “Nothing big. Just for his own good we thought, 'it's probably the perfect time of the year to give him a nice break since our focus is Breeders' Cup. Let him get back and good and healthy.' He never left the barn. He didn't have to go any place. He's been under John's care the whole time.” Kosta Hronis | Benoit Photo A listed stakes winner and also graded stakes placed for former trainer Diego Pena in his native Argentina, Full Serrano made three starts on these shores last term. An optional claiming winner in his U.S. debut going a two-turn mile at Del Mar Aug. 3, the dark bay ran very well in defeat staying on for second while stretching to 1 1/4 miles in the GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic S. Aug. 31. He trained up to the Breeders' Cup after spiking a fever and missing an intended start in the GI California Crown at Santa Anita. “John has a good relationship with those people there and (Full Serrano) became available,” Hronis said. “So, we jumped on him. He was modestly priced and we thought we'd take a chance with him. Turned out to be a really really good racehorse. He had a little tiny issue and missed the Awesome Again, so we decided to cut him back to the Mile for the Breeders' Cup. He did his job there and showed everybody he's a racehorse. We're probably back on that same pattern hoping to go to the Classic.” Full Serrano wins the $1 Million @bigassfans #BreedersCup Dirt Mile! Congrats to all connections! #BC24 pic.twitter.com/bFDCtg3olx — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 3, 2024 The post BC Dirt Mile Upsetter Full Serrano Gearing Up for Return, ‘Focus is Breeders’ Cup’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms in the Wilmington area caused officials to cancel the remainder of the races at Delaware Park Thursday. Racing was abandoned following the fifth of nine scheduled races at the track. Live racing is scheduled to resume at Delaware Park Friday. The post Storms Cancel Delaware Park Racing Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade I winner Preservationist (Arch–Flying Dixie, by Dixieland Band) died in Korea July 19, according to Korea Racing Authority records. The news was first reported in the U.S. by Paulick Report. Racing for Centennial Farms and trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Preservationist won the 2019 GI Woodward Stakes and GII Suburban Stakes. He hit the board in nine of 11 starts, with six wins and earnings of $1,084,550. He began his stud career at Airdrie Stud and sired 2024 GIII Peter Pan Stakes winner Antiquarian, who has gone on to finish second in this year's GII Suburban Stakes and GIII Blame Stakes. Preservationist is also the sire of stakes winners In a Jam, Band of Gold, and Diakonissa. His son Chunk of Gold earned a spot in this year's Kentucky Derby with runner-up efforts in the GII Louisiana Derby and GII Risen Star Stakes. He was also second in the GIII Ohio Derby. The 12-year-old Preservationist relocated to Korea last December. The post Preservationist Dies in Korea appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Grade I winner Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief–Violent Wave, by Violence) has been retired from racing and will begin his stud career at Lane's End Farm, the nursery announced Thursday. “We've had a history of success with Malibu winners standing at Lane's End with the likes of City of Light, Twirling Candy, and The Factor, which played a big role in bringing Raging Torrent here,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish. “His ability to stretch his front-running speed to a mile and win a prestigious race like the Met, in addition to his international success, makes him an exciting prospect for breeders.” Raging Torrent was third in the 2023 GIII Best Pal Stakes as a 2-year-old, and he won last year's GI Malibu Stakes and GII Pat O'Brien Stakes as a 3-year-old. He traveled to Dubai to take his 2025 debut in the G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan for new owners Yuesheng Zhang and Craig Dado, and he returned stateside to win the GI Metropolitan Handicap in his final start in June. On the board in 10 of 14 starts, Raging Torrent won seven times and earned $1,797,400. Raging Torrent will be available for inspection at Lane's End beginning with the start of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The post Raging Torrent to Stand at Lane’s End appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mercante, scratched from the June 28 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs after trainer Brian Knippenberg was dissatisfied with the gelding's preparation, returns Aug. 2 in the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park.View the full article

A field of seven older fillies and mares will get their chance to earn grade 1 status and an expenses-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 2 at Del Mar. View the full article

Despite the unconventional start, 6-5 favorite Whirl made all and stormed to a brilliant five-length victory in the mud leaving Cercene behind, while See The Fire, runner-up last year, came up short again.View the full article

4th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:52 p.m. ET. John Stewart's Resolute outfit went to $550,000 during Keeneland September to acquire BLUE MADAME (Dubawi {Ire}). The Chad Brown trainee is the first foal out of English & French Group 1 stakes winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Ire}), who is a half-sister to French MSW Casterton (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and is herself out of the full-sister of dual U.S. champion grass horse High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Making the races is Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale grad Scratch It (Tapit), a $490,000 buy now owned by Fergus Galvin, Mrs. M.V. Magnier and Linda Shanahan. Trained by Brad Cox, the filly is out of MGSW Carolyn's Cat (Forestry). The mare claims GSW Mufajaah (Tapit), whose own offspring includes $975,000 OBS grad Feminism (Curlin). Klaravich's Tax Holiday (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is trained by Chad Brown. Her dam is a half-sister to G1 Juddmonte International Stakes hero Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase Stakes victor Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Last but not least, Mike Repole's stable has homebred Miss Picky (Uncle Mo) headed to the post under the care of Todd Pletcher, who trained the filly's dam MGSW Always Shopping (Awesome Again) and her grand dam SW Stopshoppingmaria (More Than Ready). Entered as an 'also eligible' is Miss Picky's stablemate Uncatchable (Not This Time). Repole bought the filly for $525,000 at the Keeneland September Sale. The 2-year-old's dam is SW Catch My Drift (Pioneerof the Nile) who is responsible for SP Strava (Into Mischief), MGSW Bishop's Bay (Uncle Mo) and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby champ Catching Freedom (Constitution). TJCIS PPS 6th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 4:02 p.m. ET. Bred & owned by Calumet, Turf Star (Caravaggio) is set to be unveiled for trainer Graham Motion. The colt's dam–dual winner of the GIII Matchmaker Stakes–is Starstruck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has eight foals, six to race and as many winners. Her roster includes Daisy Flyer (Mshawish), the recent come-from-behind winner of the GIII Lake George Stakes. Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) was 'Insighted' for his debut at the Spa on Sunday July 13, but was scratched after the race was taken off the turf. The $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale purchase returns here for trainer Wesley Ward. TJCIS PPS The post Friday’s Racing Insights: Daughter Of Dubawi Blue Madame On The Mark At The Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Everett Dobson has been on the job as the Chair of The Jockey Club for only a matter of days, but there's no doubt that he has his finger on the pulse. Making his first keynote speech at the Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing on Thursday in Saratoga Springs, Dobson spoke of the many positive trends he sees with the sport, but he wasn't afraid to delve into the negative issues that still plague racing. “Racing has never been safer for our horses and jockeys,” Dobson said. “The Jockey Club will continue to strongly support HISA, and we need look no further than the news we all read this week from Thistledown, where concerns about safety prompted HISA to decisively step in.” When The Jockey Club first started keeping track of equine fatalities in 2009 through its Equine Injury Database, the number was 2.0 deaths per 1,000 starters. In 2024, the number was 1.11, a decline of 44.5%. An owner and breeder, Dobson also spoke of the major capital projects at racetracks such as Belmont Park and Pimlico and the vast increase in the number of hours networks like Fox and NBC now devote to racing. Griffin Johnson, the social influencer who became a part owner of Sandman (Tapit) through West Point Thoroughbreds, took part in a Q & A session in which he talked about how he was able to reach his more than 14 million followers on social media to tell the story of Sandman and why Johnson became so enamored with the sport. He is planning to do more social media campaigns that go beyond Sandman and take a deeper dive into the sport. “I want to really educate Gen Z about what else this sport has to offer,” Johnson said. “I'm going to go to the Keeneland sale and show them what goes into it. I'm going to go to the backstretch at another track. I'm going to show them what goes on at Del Mar. You have to keep doing that over and over and over again. It's not a one-year plan, it's not a two-year plan. In my head, this is a 10 to 20-year plan.” Dobson focused on two troubling trends, the decline in handle in 2023 and 2024, and the declining foal crop. “It is perhaps the most concerning trend that affects the growth of our sport today,” he said. “If we are serious about growing this sport, reversing the decline in foal crops is essential.” While the foal crop has declined, so has the number of racetracks, Hollywood Park, Calder, Arlington, Golden Gate Fields, et. al. Gulfstream may soon be added to that list. “The Jockey Club remains concerned about the future of some of our most important racetracks, particularly in regions of the country that are deemed to be important to the overall health of the sport,” Dobson said. On the subject of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW), Dobson said, “I further recognize the deep divide on the matter of computer assisted wagering, or CAW, and plan to use my position to better understand the issue and try to help the industry strike the right balance that ensures growth, but does not disenfranchise the retail bettor. I look forward to my discussions with the interested parties and working towards practical solutions.” Steve Kornacki, the chief data analyst for NBC News and a huge horse racing fan, told how he got interested in the sport. It was an uncle who took him to the now shuttered Scarborough Downs harness track in Maine. “When I think about it, there's a lot of overlap between my interests in elections and my interest in horse racing,” Kornacki said. “In each case, there's a tantalizing puzzle. Here's a field of candidates or here's a field of horses. How do they stack up against each other? What are the relevant variables? Who could win? Who should win? Who can't win? Who might have a better chance than anyone seems to realize.” Shawn Smeallie, a lobbyist and the founder of ACG Advocacy, spoke of the strides the sport has made in Washington and how the sport staved off provisions in the One Big Beautiful Act that would have disallowed offsetting horse racing losses with investment income. He also asked the sport to come together on HISA. “With the recent Supreme Court decision to not review HISA anytime soon, my hope is that HISA's opponents will move on to other, more pressing matters,” he said. “Indeed, the continued and relentless litigation only contributes to one of the few legitimate concerns about HISA–its cost. My understanding that the legal bills are well into the millions. Let HISA be the law of our land, and our industry, and let's work to make it the best it can be.” Representing their company Fastbreak Pro, John Stewart and Dr. Ryan Kelley explained how they have developed models to keep races from around the country overlapping one another. He said that using the company's model can increase handle by $30 million annually. The Round Table concluded with Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, Environmental Science Advisor, New York Yankees, and Glen Kozak Executive Vice President, Operations and Capital Projects, New York Racing Association, providing data on how climate change has led to a troubling increase in the number of race days canceled each year. The average number of cancellations rose from 68.5 per year between 2015 and 2018 to 85.5 per year from 2021 to 2024. The highest year on record was 2023, with 103 cancellations. The post At The Jockey Club Round Table, the Focus is on What’s Going Right and What’s Going Wrong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Where else but Del Mar would a South American mare named for an exotic surfing site make her North American debut? That's what's in store Aug. 2 for Hronis Racing's Little Hidden Port in the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1).View the full article

The nine Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame finalists are Bee Bee Bee, Brilliant Brass, Cathryn Sophia, Caveat, Cherokee's Boy, Eighttofasttocatch, Heros Reward, Include, and Smart Angle.View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Friday at Saratoga, Ellis Park and Del Mar. Friday, August 1, 2025 Ellis 5, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 2:44 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Dewi's Denali (Violence)-AE, OBSAPR, 105,000, :10 1/5 C-1880 Bloodstock, agent; B-Kelsey Danner Rare Eclipse (Yaupon), FTMMAY, 60,000, :10 3/5 C-Wavertree Stables Inc (C Dunne), agt; B-Three Diamonds Farm Street Beast (Street Sense), OBSAPR, 85,000, :10 2/5 C-Eddie Woods, agent; B-Davant Latham, agent Stunning Sapphire (Win Win Win)-AE, OBSAPR, 230,000, :10 C-Shooting Star Sales LLC; B-Niki Goodwin, agent Saratoga 6, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 4:02 p.m. Brooklyn Styles (Munnings), OBSAPR, 140,000, :10 1/5 C-Niall Brennan Stables, agent; B-Case Clay T'bred Management Del Mar 3, $80k, 2yo, 5fT, 8:02 p.m. Sendit Mo (Yaupon), OBSMAR, 180,000, :9 4/5 C-Paul Sharp, agent; B-Tom Kagele, M M, agent The post Summer Breezes Sponsored By OBS: Friday, August 1, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality), winner of the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness Stakes, leads a class of seven who will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Friday morning. The champion 3-year-old of 2004, the lone selection in the contemporary category, joins racehorses Decathlon, Hermis and trainer George H. Conway, who were chosen by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee; and Edward L. Bowen, Arthur Hancock, III, and Richard Ten Broeck, who were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. The induction ceremony will be held at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion beginning at 10:30 a.m. Friday and will be broadcast live on the museum's website, www.racingmuseum.org. Emceed by Tom Durkin, the event is open to the public and free to attend. The post Smarty Jones Leads 2025 Hall of Fame Class to be Inducted Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 47 sires will be represented at next week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Here's a breakdown of how many yearlings each stallion has cataloged, along with a closer look at some of the individuals boasting Grade I pedigrees. First-Crop Yearling Sires: 29% of Catalogue Corniche: 2 Cyberknife: 3 Drain The Clock: 1 Epicenter: 4 Flightline: 9 Golden Pal: 8 Idol: 1 Jack Christopher: 3 Jackie's Warrior: 7 Life Is Good: 9 Mandaloun: 2 Mystic Guide: 1 Olympiad: 5 All eyes will be on the first crop of yearlings from Horse of the Year Flightline, a million-dollar graduate of this sale back in 2019. Fresh off a successful JRHA Select Sale, where his three yearlings there averaged over $1.18 million, the Lane's End sire will send nine to Saratoga. Among those, Hip 34 is a half-sister to this year's GII San Vicente winner Barnes (Into Mischief), Hip 102 is a half-sister to the late Grade I winner Cave Rock (Arrogate) and Hip 118 is a colt out of Stonestreet's Grade I winner and producer Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union). Ranked second in his division last year by weanling average, WinStar's Life Is Good will have nine yearlings on offer including Hip 209, the half-sister to dual Grade I winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate). Coolmore's Jack Christopher was represented by the $350,000 sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale and his nine yearlings there averaged $162,778. Two of Spendthrift's first-crop sires, Cyberknife and Jackie's Warrior, also contributed to the list of toppers at the July Sale with a $330,000 yearling and a $310,000 yearling, respectively. Second-Crop Yearling Sires: Charlatan's $1.5 million colt at the 2024 Saratoga Sale | Fasig-Tipton 5% of Catalogue Charlatan: 5 Maxfield: 2 Yaupon: 3 The race for leading first-crop sire is just getting started, but Spendthrift's Yaupon carries the torch going into August with eight winners on the year. Meanwhile Charlatan took the crown for leading freshman yearling sire by sales average last year, led by a $1.5 million colt sell in Saratoga. Maxfield has seen five seven-figure sales from his first two crops including a $1.25 million OBS March graduate. It's anyone's race, but these three young sires have proven they can produce the kind of individual that can get to the Saratoga stage. Third-Crop Yearling Sires: 6% of Catalogue McKinzie: 3 Tiz The Law: 2 Vekoma: 5 Volatile: 1 McKinzie at Gainesway Farm | Sarah Andrew Last year's leading freshman sire by earnings, winners, blacktype winners and blacktype horses, Vekoma has continued the trend this year. McKinzie is not to be outdone, though, and is making noise with the likes of his top earner Baeza, plus GI Coaching Club American Oaks victress Scottish Lassie and Curlin Stakes winner Chancer McPatrick. Established Sires: 60% of Catalogue Blame: 1 Bolt d'Oro: 1 Candy Ride (Arg): 1 City of Light: 2 Constitution: 6 Curlin: 4 Good Magic: 5 Gun Runner: 10 Into Mischief: 10 Justify: 7 Liam's Map: 3 Maclean's Music: 3 Medaglia d'Oro: 3 Munnings: 4 Not This Time: 12 Nyquist: 7 Omaha Beach: 1 Oscar Performance: 2 Practical Joke: 2 Quality Road: 6 Speightstown: 1 Street Sense: 4 Tapit: 3 Twirling Candy: 1 Uncle Mo: 11 Violence: 3 War Front: 1 Not This Time was responsible for the sale topper of last year's Saratoga Sale when a colt out of stakes-placed Kayce Ace (Tiznow) sold for $3.4 million to Zedan Racing and he'll lead the way this year with the highest number of progeny on offer. The Taylor Made sire will send 12 through the ring including the half-sister to champion Jackie's Warrior (Hip 14), a filly out of dual Grade I winner American Gal (Concord Point) (Hip 38) and the half-brother to GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes victress Union Strike (Union Rags) (Hip 66). $3.4 million Not This Time colt tops the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale | Fasig-Tipton Uncle Mo's 11 Saratoga yearlings will be among the penultimate crop to reach the starting gate for their late sire, who passed away last December at the age of 16. Hip 103 is the half-brother to GI Del Mar Futurity victor Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) and Hip 191 is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup champion Battle of Midway (Smart Strike). Gun Runner was represented by 10 seven-figure yearlings last year, including a $1.9 million filly in Saratoga. This year, he'll send a trio of Saratoga yearlings out of Grade I producers: GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes victress Time and Motion (Tapit) (Hip 7), dual Grade I winner Paradise Woods (Union Rags) (Hip 175) and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) (200). In addition, Hip 37 is the half-brother to MGSW First Captain, who brought $1.5 million in Saratoga in 2019. Now one of five stallions in history to produce three Kentucky Derby winners after the success of his son Sovereignty, Into Mischief is well on his way to earning a seventh champion general sire title. His 10 Saratoga yearlings include Hip 123, a son of GI Cotillion victress It Tiz Well (Arch) and Hip 163, a son of another Cotillion winner in I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings), but the biggest star for Into Mischief will likely be Hip 165, the half-sister to MGISW Journalism (Curlin) bred by Don Alberto. The filly's dam, Mopotism (Uncle Mo), passed away suddenly just before her first foal stormed home to win the GI Haskell Stakes. A Grade II winner herself, Mopotism leaves just four foals behind in Journalism, a 2-year-old Tapit colt owned by Flying Dutchmen, this yearling filly and a filly by Flightline born this year. After producing four Grade I winners and receiving a stud fee bump from $85,000 to $175,000, Nyquist has continued his upward trajectory this year with seven graded winners including GII San Diego Handicap winner Nysos, Royal Ascot victress Crimson Advocate and GI Preakness and GI Haskell runner-up Gosger. He will have seven yearlings on offer in Saratoga. Among other notable entries, Quality Road's six yearlings include the full-brother to champion and sire National Treasure (Hip 10). International sire sensation Justify will see seven yearlings led by Hip 29, the half-brother to Breeders' Cup champion Caravel (Mizzen Mast). The Saratoga Sale takes place August 4 and 5. Hips 1-109 go through the ring on Monday. Hips 110-222 will sell on Tuesday. View the full catalogue here. *Please note that this story was last updated on July 31. Numbers will likely change prior to the start of the sale. The post The Sire Primer: Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Florida breeding program has a long and proud history that we all recognize is a major component of the racing industry in the state. Traditionally, we have been the strongest of the regional (non-Kentucky) programs, ranking ahead of California and New York despite our year-round racing program not being up to par with those two locations. Yet when The Stronach Group (TSG) took control of South Florida racing years ago, that status as a third-place racing state changed as our purses and handle numbers all trended upward while New York's were flat, and California's dropped. While experiencing some growing pains as the horseman and racetracks transitioned away from a Calder-dominated schedule to an exclusively Gulfstream year-round product, the quality of South Florida racing on a yearly basis has improved. Yet the Florida-bred program and desirability of Florida-breds in the open market has not seen any gain and as evidenced by this year's huge decrease in the number of Florida-breds foaled, the entire program seems to be floundering. These aren't opinions, these are facts. Major reforms need to be made to the Florida-bred program including all facets; the sire stakes, the open Florida bred stakes program, the Florida bred overnight race program and the FOA. We all need to work together; the breeders, the stallion farms, the racetracks, the owners and trainers and even the sales companies to create a Florida-bred program that is competitive with other state-bred programs, that rewards the breeder and owner of a good horse, that gives horsemen ample racing opportunities and creates demand for our product, the Florida-bred racehorse. What should we do? It's imperative that we take bold steps to remake the Florida-bred program. The time is now to refocus on building the Florida-bred brand. We need to create a racing program that rewards horsemen who buy or breed Florida-breds, that rewards the Florida breeders, that rewards the stallion owners and provides the racetracks and our betting customers with competitive content to wager on. First, there must be an emphasis on creating the foundation of any strong state-bred program, overnight racing. We must work together with the tracks to come up with Florida-bred restricted maiden and allowances races to develop horses to feed into our stakes program. We should strive to have Florida-bred stakes of some variety each month. This will give our horsemen targets to point to, our breeders more opportunities to get black type, and allow our horsemen and breeding groups more opportunities to promote the positive aspects of breeding and racing Florida-breds. There is still a place for the sire stakes races; however, we would be better served with more of those races better dispersed throughout the calendar. Grass races should be added to the sire stakes schedule as well as turf events are now our most popular types of races and are more likely to generate bigger fields and higher handle that the racetracks are looking for. The current overall Florida-bred program is ineffective, unpopular, and losing customers every year. Losing a percentage of your foal crop is a crippling blow to any state-bred program and unless drastic changes are made, what leads anyone to believe this trend won't continue? It's past time for the FTBOA, FHBPA, the TBHBPA and the racetracks to come together to fix this problem and make breeding and owning Florida-breds popular again. YEAR MARES BRED STALLIONS 2012 3,155 154 2013 2,994 159 2014 3,024 158 2015 3,057 145 2016 2,865 134 2017 2,311 125 2018 2,078 117 2019 2,078 121 2020 1,842 104 2021 1,626 84 2022 1,552 86 2023 1,478 75 2024 1,329 63 2025 963 61 That's a decline of 76%. Solution? The solution is very simple, OBS is a well-managed organization with an established infrastructure that should take over the FTBOA. They should sell or rent the FTBOA building, and use that money for breeders' awards. We need to restructure the breeding program in Florida; we cannot afford the decline to fewer than 900 mares and 61 stallions, the highest stud fee of which is $6,500. The post Letter To The Editor: Florida Breds, A Broken Program Or Just A Rudderless Ship? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article