Wandering Eyes

The GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth, the final prep for the GI Curlin Florida Derby held March 29, will headline a program laden with nine stakes, of which eight are graded, worth $2.15 million in purses next Saturday. The 79th running of the Fountain of Youth offers qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Burnham Square, the GIII Holy Bull winner, is scheduled to clash with seven other 3-year-olds entered for next Saturday's feature. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is represented in the Fountain of Youth field by River Thames and Gate to Wire, both of whom are scheduled to make their two-turn debuts. Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) is set to make his 2025 debut next Saturday after concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a five-length maiden-breaking score in the GIII Street Sense Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs. Keep It Easy will make his first start of 2025 after winning the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs Nov. 30 in his 2-year-old finale. Ian Pasard, Shining Stable LLC, and Stefania Farms LLC's Neoequos (Neolithic), a sharp optional claiming allowance winner Jan. 23 who was twice placed in Florida Sire Stakes events last season, will make his first start in an open stakes. Leon King Stable Corp.'s McKellen (McKinzie) will seek to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man for trainer Jose D'Angelo. The GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale drew a field of seven 3-year-old fillies for next Saturday's 39th edition of the mile stakes that will offer GI Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Tracy Farmer's La Cara (Street Sense), who captured the GIII Pocahontas at Churchill Downs last year before concluding her 2024 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, enters the Davona Dale off a 6 1/4-length romp in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay. The Queens M G (Thousand Words) will also bring graded-stakes credentials into the Davona Dale having captured the GIII Adirondack last season at Saratoga, where she won the Schuylerville Stakes in her previous start. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Thousand Words is coming off a third-place finish in the GIII Forward Gal Feb. 1 at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut. Rodeo Creek Racing LLC's Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) is slated to make her 3-year-old debut in the Davona Dale after concluding her 2024 campaign with a second-place finish in the GII Demoiselle at Aqueduct. Lugamo Racing Stable LLC's Frida, Just for Fun Stable Inc.'s My Denysse (Neolithic), and Baron Thoroughbreds LLC's Quinn's Promise (Promises Fulfilled) and Madeline's Promise (Promises Fulfilled), round out the field. The GII Gulfstream Park Mile, a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, attracted nine entries including Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), a Pletcher-trainee who hasn't competed since back-to-back second-place finishers in the GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Invitational last year, and Godolphin's Encino (Nyquist), a winner of four of five races for trainer Brad Cox. The post Fountain Of Youth Draws Field Of 8 To Top Stakes-Heavy $2.15M Saturday Card At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hong Kong’s champion galloper almost claimed the world’s richest race on his dirt debut, but was denied by Japan’s Forever Young.View the full article

Multiple grade 3 winner Super Chow, in a change of tactics, steadily ran down Concrete Glory and edged clear to a three-quarter-length victory Feb. 22 in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

By Mike Love Dance Till Dawn is enjoying a purple patch of form right. Yesterday the six-year-old mare made it two wins in a row for driver John Dunn and trainers Jenna and Robert Dunn by impressively taking out the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Cup. “They did run along a majority of the way. I didn’t have to cover any extra ground which was lucky,” said John Dunn. Beginning well from their 10 metre handicap, Dance Till Dawn settled four back the markers and stayed there for the majority of the race. Pacemaker Cardi B broke the field up coming off the back straight leaving Dunn with an opportunity to get off the markers and begin a long sustained run to the line. Tanzania looked a likely winner, but Dance Till Dawn proved too strong at the line to win by a neck with five and a half lengths back to a game Cardi B. A slick overall time of 3:57.2 and a closing half in 56.3 shows the quality of the Art Major mare. “She could’ve run a place in the big mares race a few starts back, but now she’s come out and won her next two, so it’s good for her. “She’s fronted up right from a two-year-old. She’s fronted up against nice two and three-year-olds, and now the good mares. She deserves everything she gets,” said Dunn. With the win, Dance Till Dawn made it two wins in a row after winning at Addington on February 14, and made it career win number 11 with over $280,000 in stakes. Favourite Wish Me Luck settled just beyond midfield before getting into the one-one a lap out but faded as Dance Till Dawn and Tanzania cleared out from their rivals. Other highlights on the programme included debutant Rogue Hero winning race one the Advanced Feed Trot for Ken Ford and Amanda Tomlinson, driven by Clint Ford. The three-year-old Marcoola gelding was the first winner for the sire. Blair Orange drove a treble with Topaz, Luna Dolce and Hilarious Love, with the latter two giving Graham Court a training double. View the full article

Queen Maxima, featured earlier this week on these pages and last seen Jan. 23 registering a facile 3 1/2-length score versus allowance company on the downhill turf course here, put forth a similar display over a sixteenth shorter in her return to stakes competition in Saturday's Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita. Second last Sept. 28 in the Unzip Me Stakes to Toupie (Uncle Mo), who proved victorious in the GIII Las Cienegas Stakes Jan. 19, Queen Maxima, sent off at 3-10, drubbed her five foes after biding her time for the opening four furlongs. Angled three-wide into the stretch, she was given her cue by Juan Hernandez and swept past the pacesetter Ma Rae's Girl before going on to a 3 1/2-length tally. Hernandez, who has now ridden her to three consecutive wins since the Unzip Me, said, “She broke really good and I was in a really good spot saving ground on the inside. [Trainer] Jeff [Mullins] told me to ride her with confidence because she was ready to run. I trusted him and trusted my filly. She is press button. You ask and she takes off in two jumps. She did the rest on her own.” Queen Maxima's dam, a four-time winner, has also produced the unraced 3-year-old Gunnevera colt Florida Chrome. She has no reported foals since. WISHING WELL S., $100,500, Santa Anita, 2-22, (C), 4yo/up, f/m, 6fT, 1:07.81, fm. 1–QUEEN MAXIMA, 122, f, 4, Bucchero–Corfu Lady, by Corfu. ($40,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC; B-Saul Rosas (FL); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0, $210,900. 2–Ma Rae's Girl, 120, f, 4, Mendelssohn–Isla, by Unbridled's Song. ($40,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Seymour Jukie and Jack Stable LLC; B-Crosshaven Bloodstock (KY); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. $20,000. 3–Laulne (Fr), 124, f, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lady Francesca (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (€750,000 2yo '23 ARARC). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Panic Stable LLC, Gerard Augustin-Normand, Robert V. LaPenta, and William Strauss; B-Franklin Finance S.A. (FR); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000. Margins: 3HF, 2 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.30, 39.30, 6.50. Also Ran: Stay and Scam, Miss Roberts (GB), Arctic Breeze. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Queen Maxima wins the Wishing Well Stakes@JJHernandezS19 pic.twitter.com/gTX56qa5Jz — Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) February 22, 2025 The post Bucchero’s Queen Maxima Wins Wishing Well appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Extreme Choice—Newgate Farm's subfertile sensation—has done it again, with his son Devil Night's stirring victory in the Feb. 22 Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) once again showcasing the stallion's ballistic siring prowess.View the full article

Group 1-placed Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Jpn}) died in a training accident in Dubai earlier this week, owner Edward Ware announced on X. The 6-year-old gelding had won the G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan in January, and finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Saturday's $20-million G1 Saudi Cup second Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Jebel Hatta there on Jan 24. He was trained by the father-son training duo of Simon and Ed Crisford. “Terrible news yesterday that the magnificent, brave and talented Poker Face passed away after an accident in training in Dubai,” Ware posted. “He was being prepared for Super Saturday.” Bred by Rockhart Trading, the bay was a 95,000gns purchase out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 by Richard Frisby Bloodstock and went on to be a dual group winner in France, a multiple stakes winner in England, and place five more times at group level throughout his career. His record stands at 21-8-7-0 and $704,096 in earnings. The post Jebel Hatta Second Poker Face Dies At Six appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Fair Grounds, $54,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000), 2-22, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:08.97, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. MONTALCINO (c, 4, Take Charge Indy–Upstager, by Distorted Humor), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after an authoritative six-length tally over a furlong further Oct. 4 at Keeneland, showed abundant speed from the gate to win in a similar fashion under his regular pilot Jose Ortiz. The winner of his Sept. 1 seven-furlong unveiling at Saratoga was last seen in his local debut Nov. 28 when he was reeled in by the slimmest of margins by the accomplished GSW and millionaire Miles Ahead (Competitive Edge) in the Thanksgiving Classic Stakes. Freshened since, the 1-5 favorite in this field of five controlled the pace from the outset and prevailed by 5 1/2 lengths over Deer District (Oscar Performance). His unraced dam, who hails from the female family that produced Drosselmeyer, winner of the 2010 GI Belmont Stakes and the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has a yearling City of Light filly and was bred to Army Mule for this term. Sales History: $410,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $198,043. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Twin Brook Stables, Runnels Racing and Henley Farms Inc.; B-Henley Farms Inc. (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. The post Take Charge Indy’s ‘Rising Star’ Montalcino Sharp at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jastar Capital, Polivka Equine Holdings, and Timothy Madden's White Rocks grabbed the lead at the break and never looked back, securing a victory in the $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park Feb. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.View the full article

5th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-22, 3yo, 5fT, :54.74, fm, 4 lengths. PIVOTAL MOMENT (c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Tipping Point, by Speightstown), third as the favorite after getting steadied at the start in his unveiling sprinting over the Aqueduct turf June 23, proved well worth the wait as the 9-5 favorite here. Adding blinkers and Lasix for this, he was outsprinted in sixth early, launched an eye-catching, sweeping move on the far turn and continued on in very impressive fashion down the stretch to win by a geared-down, four lengths. Proudly Hailed (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) was second. The winner is a half to Blame J D (Blame), SW, $300,919; a 2-year-old filly named Missy Moosey (Mendelssohn); and a yearling filly by Mo Town. Tipping Point was bred to Maximus Mischief for 2025. Sales history: $90,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $330,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $52,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Bouchey & Steven Rocco; B-James W. Matheney (KY); T-Christophe Clement. Pivotal Moment and @bravoace impressively score in the 5th race for @clementstable. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/0GKVk2s0f3 — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) February 22, 2025 The post Bolt d’Oro Colt Earns Diploma in Style Over Gulfstream Lawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Just as her arch nemesis has disappeared, Practical Magic must contend with another smart trotter. The in-form mare heads to the second day of Cromwell’s big weekend of harness racing seeking a deserved win after four second placings. The last three of those have come at the hands of the rejuvenated Hidden Talent, who has proven to be unstoppable over the past month. While trainer Phil Williamson rates Practical Magic ($4.40) a strong hope of breaking through in Race 9, the Anderson Park Motel Handicap Trot (4.28pm) for a thoroughly deserved win, he knows she has another classy contender to overcome. “I think Eurokash ($1.90) is the one to beat but our mare is definitely the hardest horse for him to beat,” Williamson said. “He has to give us 30m which is a good advantage to us.” Practical Magic has been a great find for the Williamson stable over summer, placing in nine of her 12 starts. While she has put in a few rough steps in some of her stronger efforts, she only seems to be getting more fluent. “I think she is getting confidence in herself and confidence in her gait.” “She has shocked us with how she has kept improving.” “Her form was just OK but she has just kept getting better and better.” Williamson starts three horses in Sunday’s feature trot at Cromwell with Jimmy Carter and Majestic Love stepping out alongside Practical Magic. Jimmy Carter has been on his best behaviour in his last two starts, but he’s only produced fair fourth placings for a horse of his ability. “His run on Friday was pretty ordinary by his standards and I couldn’t really put a finger on why.” “It is good to see him doing things right, but he would need to go better than that if he was going to be a chance on Sunday.” Majestic Love made an early error at Cromwell on Friday and will need to improve her manners to feature on day two. Our Pinocchio will attempt to go one better than his second placing on day one when backing up for Williamson on Sunday. There are plusses and minuses as the seven-year-old approaches his second start in three days. “He isn’t the best traveller, so being up here is an advantage for him.” “But he is a big, lean machine so the back-up is not ideal for a horse like him.” “He went a good race on Friday, the race was run upside down a bit and he was beaten by a horse off the pace.” “He would have to be an each way chance again.” Williamson also starts his maidener Didn’t Di, who looks a place chance after being checked on day one. View the full article

The 12th race at Oaklawn Feb. 23 will mark the debut of JRita Young Thoroughbreds' Mayor. The gelding is named after the late Van Buren, Ark., mayor Allen Toothaker, father of Spendthrift Farm's Mark Toothaker.View the full article

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Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC's Burnham Square (Liam's Map), who last captured the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.05 (2/13) Saturday morning at Palm Meadows in preparation for next Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. The Ian Wilkes-trained colt finished the workout at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County on even terms with stablemate Into Champagne (Into Mischief), who finished second in the GII Davona Dale Stakes and third in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks last year, before galloping out with energy. “It was a solid five-eighths in 1:01,” said Wilkes. “He galloped out good. I loved the gallop-out. He galloped out really well. All good! He came off the track happy.” At Palm Beach Downs, CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC's 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) and Donegal Racing's Gate to Wire (Munnings) breezed a half-mile in company in :49.50 (11/22) Saturday morning for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. River Thames is scheduled to make his two-turn debut in the Fountain of Youth while Gate to Wire is also set to make his two-turn debut next Saturday after upsetting the seven-furlong Swale by nine lengths on the Holy Bull undercard. St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Thoroughbreds' Keep It Easy (Hard Spun) also tuned up for the Fountain of Youth with a half-mile breeze in :48.72 (37/115) at Gulfstream Park. The Dale Romans-trainee is slated to make his 2025 debut next Saturday after taking the Ed Brown Stakes to finish out 2024. The post Holy Bull Winner Burnham Square Leads Fountain Of Youth Workers Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stop me if you've heard this one before. Japanese-trained runners dominated the Saudi Cup meeting, landing the big race itself and a clean sweep of the turf races, while peppering results elsewhere on the card with placed finishers. A little sprinkling of European spice was added to the mix in the French breeding of the G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup winner Shin Emperor (Fr), whose heritage is shared by Christophe Lemaire, rider of the G2 1351 Turf Sprint winner Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) but now just as much a son of Japan as of France. Irish native and British champion jockey Oisin Murphy got in on the act, too, when delivering Byzantine Dream (Jpn) for the turf hat-trick in the G2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, but this was as much as the European raiders could claim credit for as Japan came out on top across the range of distances. In six years of the Saudi Cup meeting, Japanese horses have now won 50 per cent of the runnings of the 1351 Turf Sprint, Red Sea Turf Handicap, Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Saudi Derby, while the Neom Turf Cup has gone Japan's way twice. Moreover, Forever Young (Jpn) and Panthalassa (Jpn) have struck gold in two of the last three runnings of the G1 Saudi Cup, making Yoshito Yahagi the outstanding trainer of the meeting with six victories to his credit. Alan Carasso was on the scene in Riyadh for TDN and has a full report here on the epic Saudi Cup battle between Forever Young and Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire). The meeting had started well for Yahagi when he landed the Howden Neom Turf Cup for the first time with Shin Emperor. From first electing to buy the Siyouni (Fr) colt for a sale-topping €2.1 million at Arqana in August 2022, Yahagi, the most intrepid of all the Japanese trainers, hasn't shirked a battle with the perky chestnut. Expectations were high from the outset – after all, Shin Emperor is a full-brother to the Arc and Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr) – and indeed this penultimate foal of the celebrated Ecurie des Monceaux matriarch Starlet's Sister (Ire) has deliverered in each of his three seasons in training to date. Runner-up to future G1 Arima Kinen winner Regaleira (Jpn) in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at two, Shin Emperor, already a Grade 3 winner on only his second start, went on to run third in last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) before being beaten only a length when third in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes behind Economics (GB) and Auguste Rodin (Ire). He finished last year with yet another high-class performance to be second by a neck in the G1 Japan Cup. Gritty is the only way to describe his hard-earned victory in Riyadh. Setting out to make the running, he was pestered most of the way on the lead by Trustyourinstinct (Ire) and, as the chasing pack fanned across the track in the home stretch, Shin Emperor briefly looked under threat of attack from a clutch of European runners. His tenacity could not be matched, however, and Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), the winner of last year's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis who has subsequently switched from the Lerner stable to Fawzi Nass, eventually finished best of the rest to take second up the rail from from the Joseph O'Brien-trained fellow Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “We planned to go to the front,” said Shin Emperor's jockey Ryusei Sakai, whose day would only get better. He added, “I knew I was going to win.” Yahagi was similarly bullish. “Shin Emperor was definitely the best horse in the field,” he said. “With 200 metres remaining, I was convinced he would win.” The trainer added that the Dubai Sheema Classic is next on his international wish list for Shin Emperor and it was no surprise to hear that Yahagi is also considering appearances at Ascot and York. Japan then landed the one-two in the 1351 Turf Sprint when the similarly tough filly Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) outgunned long-time leader Win Marvel (Jpn) (I'll Have Another) in the dying strides. Trained by Yoichi Kuroiwa, Ascoli Piceno, a granddaughter of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Listen (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), was the class act of the field, having landed the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies before finishing second last year in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). The Sunday Racing team celebrates Ascoli Piceno's win | JCSA “Today the track is very, very fast, so the horse in front was difficult to catch up with, but she battled bravely,” said Christophe Lemaire. “It was a shorter distance than she usually runs over, but she follows easily in a race and today, being fresh, she was straight into a good rhythm and I knew that she was going to produce a great performance.” Oisin Murphy may not enjoy quite the same level of adulation as that given to Lemaire but he is nonetheless immensely popular with Japanese racing fans after several stints riding in the country and having won the Japan Cup in 2019 aboard Suave Richard (Jpn). His standing is now doubtless greater still after a perfect hold-up ride on Kazumi Yoshida's four-year-old Byzantine Dream (Jpn (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) for what was ultimately a bloodless victory over David O'Meara's fast-finishing Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and 2023 St Leger winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who was the sole Ballydoyle representative at the meeting. Like Ascoli Piceno, Byzantine Dream was bred by Northern Farm, while Forever Young was bred by the associated Northern Racing, ensuring a memorable day for Katsumi Yoshida's powerful operation. Byzantine Dream and Oisin Murphy | JCSA “These are very famous colours and it was great to wear them and get on him,” said Murphy. “He had a good run in the Japanese St Leger, only beaten four lengths, and that was good enough here. “He has a great turn of foot and I never had to touch his mouth on the run around and that always helps. From the time we went by the winning post the first time, as long as I did everything right, from there he was going to win.” It all sounds so easy really. Japan's four winners will take home roughly $14 million between them, and with seven of the 17 Japanese-trained runners managing a top-three finish at King Abdulaziz racecourse on Saturday, it's little wonder that confidence continues to run so high. The post Fab Four Continues Japan’s Extraordinary Run in Riyadh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-GP, $94k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:20p.m. ET Debuting on the Gulfstream grass for Bregman Family Racing, Athaliah (Gun Runner) will go to post from the George Weaver barn. The $480,000 KEESEP grad is out of graded-placed Divine Elegance (Uncle Mo), a half-sister to the dam of multiple Grade I-placed Standard Deviation (Curlin). This is the extended female family of GI Kentucky Oaks victress Believe You Can (Proud Citizen). To her outside is Uncommon (Quality Road), a half-sister to MGSW Fast Boat (City Zip), who hails from a busy, extended French Group 1-winning and placed family. The Robert Evans homebred will head out for trainer Christophe Clement. The farthest out is Theravada (Tapit), racing in the colors of Winter Quarter Farm and Allen Schubert. She is out of MGSW & MGISP Cambodia (War Front), who is a half-sister to the dam of MGSW Danse Macabre (Army Mule) and SP Pretty Liam (Liam's Map). This is the immediate family of three-time South African champion sprinter MG1SW-SAf Overarching (Arch), herself dam of G1SW Lady of the House (SAf) (Dynasty {Saf}). TJCIS PPs 5th-OP, $110k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:02p.m. ET A $1.1-million KEESEP purchase, Cornucopian (Into Mischief) goes to post here for trainer Bob Baffert. A half-brother to a fleet of accomplished siblings, namely 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper), GSW Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile), and 'TDN Rising Star' SW & GSP Magic Dance (More Than Ready), the colt hails from the line of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold). This is the immediate female line of MGISW Point of Entry (Dynaformer) and MGISW Pine Island (Arch). The morning line has him tabbed at 2-1 odds. TJCIS PPs 4th-FG, $52k, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6f, 3:15p.m. ET Unveiling for Qatar Racing in this Fair Grounds maiden is HEAVENLY SUNSET (Constitution), a three-quarter sister to GISW Valiance (Tapit), and who is herself out of a Grade I winner named Last Full Measure (Empire Maker). She is an $850,000 KEESEP purchase in 2023 and brings a steady worktab at Payson Park for trainer Brad Cox. The morning line has her tabbed at 7-2 odds. To her inside is Mostly Mischief (Into Mischief), a $550,000 KEESEP pick up by MKW Racing and Breeding, trained by Michael Stidham. Though late to the party, she has been showing encouraging signs in the morning, including a co-bullet move Feb. 15 over the surface when she went four furlongs in :47 flat (1/129). Her unraced dam is a half-sister to MGSW Seductively (Thunder Gulch), the dam of Japanese group winner Mitono O (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}). TJCIS PPs 10th-GP, $94k, Msw, 4yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 5:20p.m. ET Bred as royally as royalty tends to go, Richly Deserved (Justify) is by a Triple Crown winner and out of GI Belmont Stakes heroine Rags to Riches (A. P. Indy) and who will debut from the far outside in this Florida nightcap. While late to get going, his last six works have shown promise as four have been bullets on both surfaces at Palm Meadows Downs. He is a half-sibling to a two-time champion in Hungary named Rhett Butler (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The June foal goes to post wearing the colors of Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor for trainer Todd Pletcher. To the inside of that one is $450,000 KEESEP buy Chandigarh (Speightstown), who goes to post for trainer Chad Brown and owners Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta. TJCIS PPs The post Feb. 23 Insights: Son of Rags to Riches Debuts in Florida, Elite Pedigrees on Display appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In a race worthy of its title as the richest Thoroughbred horse race in the world with a $20 million purse, a resilient Forever Young edged Romantic Warrior in a thrilling Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.View the full article

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — Susumu Fujita's FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) (c, 4, Real Steel {Jpn}–Forever Darling, by Congrats) grabbed Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the shadow of the winning post to win a spine-tingling renewal of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, a race that did not deserve a loser. Forever Young was part of a four-way scrum for the early lead with anticipated front-runners Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Al Musmak (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) as James McDonald tucked Romantic Warrior–having his first go on a dirt track–just in behind. With positions mostly unchanged approaching the end of the back straight, McDonald took the bold decision with fully half the distance yet to cover of angling out around longshot Defunded (Dialed In) and was consigned to a five-wide run around the turn. Nevertheless, Romantic Warrior traveled on the steel, quickly moved up to them and poked his head in front, with Ryusei Sakai and Forever Young left a bit flat-footed one off the fence at the head of the lane. Romantic Warrior went clear and they were partying in Wan Chai, but as he displayed when blousing out Book'em Danno (Bucchero) at the finish of last year's G3 Saudi Derby, Forever Young loves a fight, and he began pegging back the margin with time ticking away. James McDonald was hard at work on Romantic Warrior and said post-race that the 7-year-old 'was not stopping', but Forever Young proved narrowly better on the day in a race that won't soon be forgotten. Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), last down the back, picked up the pieces late for third, picking up more Saudi prizemoney after just losing his own heartbreaker 12 months ago. The final time for the 1800 meters was 1:49.12, which breaks the previous record of 1:49.50 set by Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in 2024. Japanese runners swept the last four races on the card. Sales history: $720,603 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL. Lifetime Record: 10-8-0-2, $14,248,207. O-Susumu Fujta; B-Northern Racing; T-Yoshito Yahagi. FOREVER YOUNG #フォーエバーヤング!!! He let Romantic Warrior go by and then ran him down late in the $20,000.000 @TheSaudiCup (G1)! The Real Steel colt takes the #WAYI @BreedersCup Classic race for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Jockey Ryusei Sakai brings the big one home for Japan! pic.twitter.com/cEBhyw8g5Z — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025 The post Forever Young Nips Romantic Warrior In An Epic Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In racing as in life, good things come to those who wait. And while we have had to endure an extra 24 hours for Sunday's rescheduled GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the wait may just prove worth it as a full, competitive field of 3-year-olds line up with 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby on the line. The top three runners from the GIII Southwest Stakes face each other once again Sunday with Speed King (Volatile) taking top billing back on Jan. 25 over a hard-closing Sandman (Tapit) who caught the eye with his runner-up finish after breaking sideways and nearly dropping jockey Christian Torres at the start. “Take nothing away from the winner, but, yes, I think we would have won with a clean break,” trainer Mark Casse told the TDN Writers' Room this week of Sandman. “I knew going in that we were going to find out whether he was a man or a boy. I think he proved he was a man. We all know that a lot of horses, even a lot of good horses, are not able to be to overcome what he was able to overcome. So I don't know about everybody else, but I came away from the race extremely impressed.” The trio rounds out with Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) who also came running at the end to earn his third straight graded stakes placing after coming second in the GIII Street Sense and third in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club last year. Trainer Bob Baffert ships in Madaket Road (Quality Road), a runner he thought so highly of that he debuted him in the GIII Bob Hope Stakes where he ran a game second to 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner) (who will scratch from this spot due to a fever) before breaking his maiden next-time out and running third to Eclipse-winning stablemate Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Rail-drawn Coal Battle (Coal Front) comes in off three straight wins including the first of the local preps at Oaklawn in the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 4 along with the Springboard Mile where he defeated Speed King Dec. 13. “After the (Smarty Jones), we go to the test barn, get back to the barn with him, and he's bucking and kicking down the shed row,” trainer Lonnie Briley said of Coal Battle. “Next day, it was like he didn't even run.” Another on a three-race streak is Louisiana-bred Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wicked One) for Dallas Stewart while 'TDN Rising Star' Hypnus (Into Mischief) makes just his second start for trainer Kenneth McPeek after impressing over the Fair Grounds slop at long odds Jan. 18 while Brad Cox, who won the Rebel last year with 'Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), brings out another 'Rising Star' in Admiral Dennis (Constitution). Muhimma | Sarah Andrew Cox also features strongly in the GIII Honeybee Stakes, a Kentucky Oaks points race, earlier in the card with 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings) drawing the rail in an attempt to stay perfect off her win in last year's GII Demoiselle Stakes Dec. 7. “Super talent,” said Cox. “Been good from Day 1. We'll see where she takes us, but she's obviously shown the ability to win from the 1 hole already, in a large field at Aqueduct.” The top two finishers of Oaklawn's local prep, the Martha Washington Stakes, also reappear here as Kenneth McPeek's Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) led in 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISP Quietside (Malibu Moon) over course and distance Jan. 25. Talented juvenile Quickick (McKinzie), last seen third behind Eclipse-winning filly Immersive (Nyquist) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, reemerges here off two straight Grade I placings to round out 2024 (she was also second to Immersive in the GI Darley Alcibiades). Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro) makes her third start for Michael McCarthy after debuting for the late Ben Cecil at Del Mar in November. She took the Santa Ynez Stakes Jan. 5 after running second to Tenma (Nyquist) in the GII Starlet Stakes last year. Older horses feature in the GIII Razorback Handicap which includes the return of Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense {Ire}) for Brad Cox. The 5-year-old last trailed home seventh in the GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga last summer but previously took both the GIII Essex Handicap at Oaklawn and the GII Alyshebe Stakes at Churchill last year. “He's training really well,” Cox said. “Obviously, he's proven over the racetrack. I'm excited about getting him started.” He's drawn inside of Baddest Good Boy (Bernardini) for Norm Casse who makes his stakes debut Sunday and brings a perfect two-for-two record in both over the local surface. Readers will recognize plenty of familiar names in the field including: MGSW/GISP Red Route One (Gun Runner), GI Preakness third Creative Minister (Creative Cause), GSW/MGISP Skinner (Curlin) who makes his second start for Cherie DeVaux, and GSW/MGISP Crupi (Curlin) for the partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable. First Mission | Horsephotos “He's doing really well,” DeVaux said of Skinner. “Came out of his last race and trained forwardly. We didn't have him all that long, prior to his start. Hoping he puts in another good effort for us. His (speed) figures are kind of steady where they are, but I think there's room for improvement as he matures and he has matured.” The post Weather-Delayed Rebel Promises Southwest Rematch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Straight No Chaser's brilliance, on display in winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last fall at Del Mar, shone similarly in the Saudi Arabia desert when he romped in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saudi Cup day.View the full article

Jastar Capital, Polivka Equine Holdings, and Timothy Madden's White Rocks grabbed the lead at the break and never looked back, securing a victory in the $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park Feb. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).View the full article

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — Recently crowned champion sprinter STRAIGHT NO CHASER (h, 6, Speightster–Margarita Friday, by Johannesburg) was forced to absorb plenty of pressure from his outside in the form of the fleet Japanese galloper Jasper Krone (Frosted), but looked to have his measure at every stage, put him away approaching the stretch and powered home to take out Saturday's G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. The victory earns the 6-year-old a fees-paid berth into the 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race in which he capped his championship campaign in 2024. Away alertly from a high gate, the handsome dark bay led through the opening strides, but the bald face of Jasper Krone pressed forward to make the lead, as expected, with Straight No Chaser stuck down inside for the run to the turn. A horse with a well-documented 'light mouth', Straight No Chaser was under a light hold traveling extremely well passing the 400-meter pole and kept on very well for the victory. The locally based Muqtahem (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) raced reasonably handy to the pace and claimed second ahead of Japan's Gabby's Sister (Jpn) (Apollo Kingdom) in third. Sales history: $110,000 2yo '21 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: 11-7-0-1, $2,616,300. O-MyRacehorse; B-John Eaton & Steve Laymon (KY); T-Dan Blacker. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia RIYADH DIRT SPRINT-G2, $2,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-22, NH/SH3yo/up, 1200m, 1:11.16, ft. 1–STRAIGHT NO CHASER, 125, h, 6, by Speightster 1st Dam: Margarita Friday, by Johannesburg 2nd Dam: Smile Maker, by Capote 3rd Dam: Desireux, by Fappiano ($110,000 2yo '21 FTIMAY). O-My Racehorse; B-John Eaton & Steve Laymon (KY); T-Dan Blacker; J-John Velazquez; $1,200,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Male Sprinter-US, GISW-US, 11-7-0-1, $2,616,300. *1/2 to Hangover Saturday (Pomeroy), SW-US, $106,875. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Muqtahem (Ire), 125, g, 4, Soldier's Call (GB)–Smooth Sailing (GB), by Bated Breath (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£27,000 Ylg '22 GOFAUG; £60,000 2yo '23 GOFAPR). O-Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah; B-Ballyhane (Ire); T-Thamer Aldaihani; J-Muhammad Aldaham; $400,000. 3–Gabby's Sister (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Apollo Kingdom–Ange d'Etoile (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn). O-Kazuhiko Nagashima; B-Apollo Thoroughbred Club (Jpn); T-Kazutomo Mori; J-Christophe Lemaire; $200,000. Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 3. Also Ran: Halaa, Saodad (KSA), Ancestral Land (GB), Remake (Jpn), Power Of Beauty (Ire), Jasper Krone, Chikappa (Jpn), Igniter (Jpn), Nonesense. VIDEO. HOW IMPRESSIVE WAS STRAIGHT NO CHASER?!?! He did not mess around in the $2,000,000 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) at @TheSaudiCup. @dan_blacker trains the @MyRacehorse stallion. @ljlmvel piloted him perfectly. Congrats to all the connections! Play the next: https://t.co/ebKi95dING pic.twitter.com/dvbN7cO4Z7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025 The post Champion Straight No Chaser Far Too Classy In Riyadh Dirt Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars YEE CHEONG GLORY - R10 (14) Impressed in his debut win and can salute again Jay Rooney JUNEAU PRIDE - R8 (8) Consistent type who looks hard to beat on his laststart second Trackwork Spy SKY JEWELLERY - R3 (2) Looks to be spot on for his Sha Tin debut and should be too strong late Phillip Woo SKY JEWELLERY - R3 (2) Has shown very good potential in his two runs and is the one to beat Shannon (Vincent Wong) SHAMUS STORM - R1 (7) Ran well for second place on debut and will be hard to beat from a good draw Racing Post Online JUNEAU PRIDE - R8 (8) Progressive youngster who should continue his climb up the ratings Tom Wood SHAMUS STORM - R1 (7) Impressive run on debut, looks tough to roll this weekendView the full article

He required most of the long straight at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, but in the end, GOLDEN VEKOMA (c, 3, Vekoma–Sticks Wondergirl, by Stevie Wonderboy) called on his class to grab Japan's dirt debutant Shin Forever (Complexity) with just under 100 meters to race and inched away to add Saturday's $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby to his prior success in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas across in Dubai Jan. 24. Settled midfield through the early exchanges as the undefeated Japanese filly Myriad Love (Jpn) (New Year's Day) and Shin Forever made the running, Golden Vekoma was sent in between Japanese runners at the 600 meters and had the now lone leader Shin Forever within his sights approaching the straight. The Japanese galloper, a grass maiden winner at first asking last year, had a kick and carried a clear advantage into the final furlong, but, racing on his incorrect lead, Golden Vekoma grabbed him with time ticking away and went on to prevail. Sales history: $145,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $1,068,145. O-Mohammed Ahmed Ali Al Sabousi; B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY); T-Ahmad Bin Harmash. He had to dig deep but GOLDEN VEKOMA was able to grind out the win in the $1,500,000 Saudi Derby (G3) at @TheSaudiCup. The three-year-old son of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by A Bin Harmash. @connorbeasley9 gave a brilliant ride. pic.twitter.com/hc3FR4XwfZ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025 The post Vekoma’s Golden Vekoma Guts It Out in Saudi Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article