Wandering Eyes

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's three GI Kentucky Derby preps–the GI Santa Anita Derby, GII Wood Memorial S. & G2 UAE Derby–and Tuesday's postponed GI Toyota Blue Grass S. GI Toyota Blue Grass S. – I'm banking on a big performance from Chancer McPatrick, who should move forward nicely off his runner-up effort while making his sophomore debut in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby. Despite just a field of seven entered, there figures to be plenty of pace (East Avenue sporting first-time blinkers, the rail-drawn River Thames and wire-to-wire Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty all want to be forwardly placed) for last year's head-turning, come-from-behind GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. winner to close into. Chancer McPatrick will be much more in his comfort zone (and tighter with a race under his belt) taking back and making one run after sitting much closer than he prefers in the Tampa Bay Derby. Selection: #6 Chancer McPatrick (7-2). GI Santa Anita Derby – Journalism established himself as the horse to beat on the first Saturday in May with a top-shelf win with a flashy 108 Beyer in the GII San Felipe S. and is a deserved favorite in this compact, but very talented field of five. Hard not to love how the son of Curlin finishes off his races and he could potentially take another leap forward as the distances continue to increase. Should be a fantastic showdown with last year's champion 2-year-old and last-out GIII Robert B. Lewis winner Citizen Bull, who will be the one to catch on the engine here. Excited to see what the blue-blooded Baeza can do as well off his breakthrough maiden win at third asking. Selection: #1 Journalism (6-5). GII Wood Memorial S. – Captain Cook could still be any kind and has been training with a purpose for Rick Dutrow, Jr. since his fantastic track-and-trip score in the Withers. He's drawn well on the inside, is tactical enough to secure a favorable trip beneath Manny Franco and certainly wouldn't mind the wet weather in the forecast, either. Statesman is a very interesting longshot to consider after punching home impressively for back-to-back wins at Tampa. There is other speed on paper, but the rail-drawn, morning-line favorite Rodriguez scares me the most if he's able to shake free early. Selection: #2 Captain Cook (7-2). G2 UAE Derby – This race absolutely goes through Flood Zone, who couldn't have been more impressive while making his first start for Wathnan Racing and Brad Cox in the GIII Gotham S. He'll be heavily favored (and rightfully so) for this two-turn debut. I'll attempt to get a little cute here though and take a swing on Heart of Honor (GB). He has plenty of experience at Meydan (4-2-2-0), closing impressively for runner-up finishes in the G3 UAE Two Thousand Guineas and Al Bastakiya, and wants every bit of this 1 3/16-miles distance. Would be some spot for Honor A. P. to collect his first graded/group winner. Let's see if we can sneak Dragon (Jpn) into the gimmicks at a big number, too. He's gonna really appreciate this added ground, especially after resenting the kickback in the Hyacinth. Selection: #6 Heart of Honor (GB) (4-1). The post Handicapping the Kentucky Derby Preps: Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, UAE Derby & Wood Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stellenbosch and Sixpence look to make a mark for the 4-year-old generation in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 6 at Hanshin Racecourse.View the full article

Betting on Thoroughbred racing in the United States continued to drop through the first quarter of 2025, with overall wagering declining 3.28% to $2,505,271,758, largely due to a 5.17% reduction in race days.View the full article

Keeneland announced April 4 the launch of artificial intelligence technology within the Keeneland Race Day App, making it the first race track to offer AI-driven insights to enhance the fan experience.View the full article

About a year ago, RRP executive director Kirsten Green mused about a future in which we might see a headline such as “Leading sire X has prolific influence on track and beyond, produces record number of 5* starters.” A year later, that's almost exactly the headline I just got to write, which is thrilling as a fan of both racing and equestrian sport: the late Malibu Moon, inarguably an influential sire of Thoroughbred racehorses, is also leaving a lasting impact on equestrian sport. Malibu Moon's three starters are contesting the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S: in lay terms, this is the second highest level of competition available in the sport of eventing, easiest described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider combinations first perform a dressage test, in which accuracy of prescribed maneuvers and quality of movement are paramount. Next, they compete cross-country, a grueling test of stamina and courage as horses thunder over miles of undulating terrain and footing, navigating over large solid fence. In the final phase, combinations tackle a show jumping course in an arena, a challenge of accurate footwork and nimbleness. Out of a total of 12 full Thoroughbreds entered in the 4*, Malibu Moon has sired a quarter of them. As of press time, there are 66 horses entered in total in the 4* (this number will drop in coming weeks: riders may only compete on two horses, so some have made multiple entries in advance to finalize later). Therefore, Malibu Moon has sired 4.5% of the entire 4* field. For context, only one other stallion has sired more entries, and we had to go across both the 5* and 4* divisions to find him: Diarado, a Holstein warmblood stallion approved across multiple breed registries, recognized worldwide as a top sire of horses in multiple arenas. In 2024, Diarado was recognized for the third year in a row as the top sire for the sport of eventing by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses. Diarado is represented in the 5* by three offspring, and in the 4* by one. Yeah, you read that correctly: the only stallion to sire more Kentucky Three-Day starters across both levels than Malibu Moon is literally the top ranking stallion in the world for that job. And yet as I scroll through social media and racing publications, I see… nothing. What Malibu Moon has achieved here, albeit perhaps somewhat by accident, is a remarkable achievement in equestrian sport. One could argue, reasonably, that equestrian sport simply isn't on the radar of the racing industry. And siring a string of horses who are competitive at the upper levels of a challenging sport completely separate from racing doesn't do much for a stallion's rankings in the Thoroughbred sire lists, nor improve the commercial appeal of his offspring. One could even argue that flaunting success in a totally different sport than racing might lessen a stallion's appeal as a sire of potential racehorses. Malibu Moon | Sarah Andrew But this achievement doesn't diminish a bit of Malibu Moon's legacy–if anything, it enhances it. It paves the way for the Thoroughbred industry to celebrate everything it's doing right in producing athletes. Because this is not a coincidence: these three Malibu Moons didn't just happen to end up here, contesting one of the highest levels of what is viewed as one of the most physically demanding horse sports, after they already had racing careers. Horses don't get to the 4* level by chance: they are in rigorous physical and mental training to handle the pressure of this kind of competition. Any breeder or stallion owner should be proud to have a horse reach this level. Looking back at Kirsten's article from last year, as much as I'm thrilled to be celebrating the achievements of Thoroughbreds in sport, I am reminded how much work we still have to do. We've certainly showcased the athleticism and trainability of the Thoroughbred in careers beyond racing through our work at the Retired Racehorse Project, but the next step looks clear: we as an industry need to better measure the impact of the breed in equestrian sport. While researching the bloodlines of the Kentucky Three-Day entrants, it became apparent that most, if not all, of the horses entered do have some amount of Thoroughbred blood in their pedigrees. But when a Thoroughbred is bred to a warmblood, the resulting foal is considered a warmblood, and the Thoroughbred's contributions–the stamina, speed, and heart–are generally overlooked. Thoroughbred ancestors are not always identified by breed in a horse's pedigree as recorded by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). The same is true in the American Quarter Horse Association, which generally sets the standard for the majority of western sport disciplines: Thoroughbreds are a viable outcross, but those foals are considered Appendix Quarter horses–and can “earn” their way into becoming full Quarter horses via competitive performance, which further erases the Thoroughbred influence. The AQHA recently announced its own free pedigree service, in which the Thoroughbreds in a Quarter horse's pedigree are only subtly identified via the last two digits of their year of birth–not their breed. (To its credit, AQHA did acknowledge our suggestion that Thoroughbreds be better identified in this pedigree service.) While the goal of the Thoroughbred industry is not necessarily to breed sport horses, with all the unique trappings of individual disciplines within that sport horse industry, the Thoroughbred industry does generally pride itself on breeding athletes. It's high time that we honor the achievements of Thoroughbreds in spaces other than racing. In no other aspect of the horse industry will you find animals intentionally and carefully bred and produced for one specific job so often transitioning with relative ease to another, vastly different from that original purpose–let alone to the upper levels of those new sports. Isn't that worth celebrating? The Retired Racehorse Project is following the progress of the total of 16 Thoroughbreds entered in the 5* and 4* divisions at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event on April 24-27. Learn more about the Thoroughbred entrants on the RRP's website. –Kristen Kovatch Bentley, the Retired Racehorse Project The post Letter To The Editor: Malibu Moon Is Second-Most Prolific Sire Of Kentucky Three-Day Event Starters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The final weekend of major preps for both the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks got a few extra days tacked on as significant rain around Lexington pushed Keeneland to delay their spring racing features back to Monday and Tuesday next week. While the races will be missed as part of Saturday's action, there is certainly no void as Santa Anita and Aqueduct both offer their final stops on the Road the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile GI Santa Anita Derby features a small yet mighty field with trainers Bob Baffert and John Shirreffs each sending out a pair to try and tackle Michael McCarthy's GII San Felipe Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) who put up a 108 Beyer Speed Figure when upsetting previously undefeated Baffert runner Barnes (Into Mischief) in that March 1 effort. “I let him run a little bit down the lane with a solid gallop-out (in his last work going five furlongs in 1:01.40),” said McCarthy of Journalism. “He did everything we asked of him. We'll keep him in his regular routine going into the race–nothing special.” Journalism hitting the track ahead of the $500,000 (GI) Santa Anita Derby. The 6/5 morning line favorite, recently purchased to stand at stud by global racing magnate Coolmore, seeks to head into the Kentucky Derby with a victory. #SantaAnitaDerby pic.twitter.com/KDNKkx0pyF — Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) April 4, 2025 The Santa Anita Derby will be the last west coast test for Eclipse Award-winning juvenile Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) who kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a strong win in the February's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes and now seeks what would be his third career Grade I win following the GI American Pharoah and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year. Shirreffs brings in a pair of longshots in maiden winner Baeza (McKinzie) and Westwood (Authentic) who is still looking for his first win in what will be his fourth start. Baffert will also feature across the country in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, having shipped in rail-drawn 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) who will race without blinkers after trailing home third in the San Felipe. “He showed a big run,” said Baffert. “I think he's a nice horse that just needs to mature mentally and physically. Hopefully, he breaks well, gets into a nice rhythm and we'll see what happens. Mike Smith will go up to ride him and he's very good on those types of horses. I think he's very talented. He just needs to break well and get a good trip. He's been doing well. He came back and worked well, and I thought the Wood would be a good spot for him.” He'll face a much larger field Saturday of 12 (before the scratches of longshot Bear Claw Necklace {Lord Nelson} and Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Hill Road {Quality Road}). Lined up just outside of Rodriguez is Richard Dutrow's 'Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) who took the listed Withers Stakes in his last effort Feb. 1. Captain Cook | Sarah Andrew “He's doing good… very good,” said trainer Rick Dutrow of Captain Cook. “Two days after he ran, he seemed like he came out of it good. It was noticeable, and he's been following it up every day with good training, good breezing and good living. He put in a big run going one mile and an eighth, which was tough, and he nailed it. We set him up for another two-turn race and it happened to be this race in two months, which is beautiful because I love time.” Undefeated two-for-two Grande (Curlin) ships from Gulfstream for Todd Pletcher off a win over the distance facing optional claimers Feb. 27 while another perfect runner, Passion Rules (Friesan Fire) also jumps into stakes company for the first time for Brad Cox. GIII Gotham favorite Sand Devil (Violence), who wound up second March 1 in his first defeat, breaks mid pack for Linda Rice. “It's a big, bulky tough field,” said Rice. “I would think we will be forwardly placed, although maybe not on the lead and let's see how he likes the mile and an eighth. I'm hoping he'll like the off track as it looks like we'll have one–and that, of course, is an unknown as well.” The delayed GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, pushed from Saturday to Tuesday, features four 'TDN Rising Stars' including last-out GII Fountain of Youth runner up River Thames (Maclean's Music) and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) who adds blinkers off a disappointing 3-year-old premier in the GII Risen Star Stakes as the favorite Feb 15. That pair is joined by Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), who ran second in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby to Owen Almighty (Speightstown), and longshot Admiral Dennis (Constitution) who was sixth in the GII Rebel Stakes Feb. 23. “The distance is always a concern,” admitted trainer Brian Lynch of Owen Almighty. “I think he will relish a possible off track and that is a thing that might be in his favor.” Ian Wilkes ships up Burnham Square (Liam's Map) who upset the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 but finished fourth as the favorite in the Fountain of Youth. “He made some mistakes in the Fountain of Youth but he did some good things, too,” Wilkes said of Burnham Square. “He came running down the lane and galloped out good.” A trio of 100 point races closes out the Road to the Kentucky Oaks this weekend with Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Keeneland all featuring. The GIII Gazelle Stakes in New York is a showcase between Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who has hit the board in each of her last three graded attempts but is still seeking her first win since breaking her maiden at Kentucky Downs last September, and Pure Beauty (Malibu Moon) who jumps into stakes company for the first time in a field largely void of graded stakes experience. River Thames | Ryan Thompson “As she developed, she turned into a dirt horse,” said owner John Capek of Ballerina d'Oro. “She broke her maiden on the turf at Kentucky Downs, and that's a bit of a strange track there. I think it was the right choice to switch her to the dirt. She's done very well in her two starts over it, and we're looking forward to getting her back on a little longer stretch out here around two turns. I think it's in her wheelhouse.” Todd Pletcher keeps Vanilla Sundae (Gun Runner) races out of her stall after romping by 15 3/4 lengths to break her maiden Feb 27 while Saffie Joseph Jr. ships Early On (Union Rags) in off a second in the Virginia Oaks March 15. Bob Baffert brings in two runners for the GII Santa Anita Oaks in Silent Law (Tiz the Law) who races for the first time since Jan. 5 and the nearly-undefeated Tenma (Nyquist) who won her first start back in the GIII Las Virgines Stakes Feb. 2 and yielded her only defeat when third in last year's GII Oak Leaf Stakes. No Bad Beats (Midnight Storm) jumps into stakes company for the first time for Chief Stipe O'Neill as does Madame Secretary (Constitution) for Richard Mandella. Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) makes her 3-year-old debut off a third in last year's GII Starlet Stakes and a game second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for Phillip D'Amato. Pushed from Friday to Monday, the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland has Shadwell Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings) look to get back on track after finishing third in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn in her seasonal bow. She'll line up outside of La Cara (Street Sense) who took the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa before finishing second in the GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream March 1. The field also includes Supa Speed (Justify), who ships in for John Sadler off a nose defeat to 'Rising Star' Maysam (Game Winner) in the GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes March 2, and Running Away (Gun Runner) who took the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct in her 2025 debut Jan. 18. Kenneth McPeek ships in Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) who won the Martha Washington Stakes two back but disappointed in the Honeybee at Oaklawn Feb. 23. Older fillies and mares go seven furlongs in the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes at Keeneland Tuesday with plenty of talent lined up including GSW/GISP Emery (More Than Ready), My Mane Squeeze (Audible), 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISP Scylla (Tapit), 'TDN Rising Star' and Carousel Stakes winner Justique (Justify) and GII Inside Information Stakes winner Mystic Lake (Mo Town), many of whom have taken turns beating one another last year. The boys go the same distance one race earlier in the GIII Commonwealth Stakes. Cherie DeVaux brings in 'TDN Rising Star' Montalcino (Take Charge Indy) who drew inside of Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) and Whatchatalkinabout (Dialed In). Keeneland will hope to keep its turf racing intact with the weather delays. The GII Shakertown Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, sees much of the speed drawn inside with Run Carson (Maclean's Music), Our Shot (Kantharos) and Arzak (Not This Time) drawn side by side on the rail. European shipper Rogue Lightning (Kodiac {GB}) enters off a win in the G3 Dukhan Sprint while Steve Asmussen ships in a turf debuter in Valentine Candy (Justify) who has earned seven figures on the dirt and now tries the grass. Emery | Sarah Andrew Earlier in the card at Keeneland, the 3-year-old fillies in the GIII Appalachian Stakes go the two-turn mile led again by the inside runners (and Mark Casse stablemates) in GIII Florida Oaks winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) and GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes winner Vixen (Vekoma). The Florida Oaks runner up Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) also reappears here for Brendan Walsh. Monday sees the 3-year-old colts go 1 1/16 miles on the grass (weather permitting of course) in the GIII Transylvania Stakes. In an open wagering field, Mi Bago (Vekoma) stands out as the Colonial Liam Stakes winner (his third straight stakes win) at Gulfstream March 1. Two-time winner Scipio (Caravaggio) comes in off a win in the Baffled Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 16 and drew outside of Columbia Stakes runner up Regan's Wit (Authentic) who won big over this distance at Fair Grounds two back. Keeneland's new opening day, now Sunday, features the GII Beaumont Stakes with 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the main track. GIII Forward Gal Stakes winner Eclatant (Into Mischief) drew the rail for Brad Cox with two-time stakes winner G W's Girl (Munnings) drawn just outside for Greg Compton. Forward Gal runner up (and Cox stablemate) Stunner (Girvin) also looks to turn the tables while Godolphin homebred Verity (Nyquist) gets back on the main track off a pair of wins on the Tapeta at Turfway. Older horses at Aqueduct feature in the GII Carter Stakes with near-perfect runner Quint's Brew (Mosier) leaving Laurel for the first time to face GIII Tom Fool Stakes winner Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) and Maximus Meridius (Maximus Mischief). Other racing held this weekend includes the down-the-hill GIII Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita while Aqueduct hosts the GIII Distaff Stakes. The post Santa Anita, Aqueduct Star As Mother Nature Rains On Keeneland’s Parade appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The number of race days was lower and so was wagering compared to a year ago in March, according to information released by Equibase on Friday. Total wagering of $931,202,013 on races during the month represented a 4.20% decrease over the same period from 2024, while available purses of almost $98 million were lower by 4.23%. The figure of over $93 million for paid purses in March was also down by 4.84%. As for the total number of race days, they decreased from 285 to 263 (-7.72%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,403 in March 2024 to last month's tally of 2,266 (-5.70%). Average field size in March was higher from over a year ago when it was 7.54, and checked in at an average of 7.71 runners, an increase of 2.33%. Average daily wagering increased by 3.82% to $3,540,692 and the average available purse number per race day was up 3.78% to $375,113 from the figure of $361,463 in 2024. When it comes to the year-over quarterly figures (Jan.-Mar.), through wagering on U.S. races in 2024 registered at over $2.59-billion, while this year the amount is $2.505-billion (-3.28%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post March Economic Indicators: Wagering Down Over Fewer Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite a massive contingent of Japanese horses set to contest the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup night card in the UAE on Saturday, a strong field of 15 is still set to line up at the recently renovated Hanshin Racecourse back home in Japan. With a berth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes on the line, Sixpence (Jpn) is hoping to follow in the hoofsteps of his sire 11 years after Kizuna (Jpn) won the Hanshin showpiece. Leaving from stall 10, the four-year-old has won his last two starts, and five of his six lifetime starts. He set a new course record of 1:44.80 in the 1800-metre G2 Nakayama Kinen in early March, defeating Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}). Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, “I think it shows what a talented horse he is, being able to win the Nakayama Kinen in record time after returning from a break and being about 80% ready. He's been at Northern Farm Tenei, and on his return to the stable, his hooves are in good condition and things have been as expected with him.” Last year's Oka Sho heroine Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is not only one of Sixpence's biggest rivals, but also his stablemate. She has been raced exclusively in top-level company in her last five starts and enters this test cutting back from a third-place run over 2400 metres in the G1 Hong Kong Vase in December. “It was tough for her last time in the Hong Kong Vase, having to race wide throughout the race,” said trainer Kunieda. “She's been a bit unlucky in her last two starts. We've had this race in mind for her next, and since returning from a spell at the farm, she seems to be in good condition.” Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has been winless in three starts since taking the 2024 Osaka Hai, but he also hasn't been missing by far. Third in the G1 Takarazuka Kine in June, he was sixth to Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and finished his campaign with a fourth in the G1 Arima Kinen over 2500 metres. “On his return to the stable, he's already put in some good training, on the flat and also uphill,” said trainer Hiroyuki Uemura. “He's not fully switched on yet, but his workload's been good so far.” Both Yoho Lake (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Lord Del Rey (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) enter on the back of wins in the G2 Kyoto Kinen and the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai, respectively and could also be dangerous from posts seven and 13. The post Sixpence Aiming To Get Richer In Osaka Hai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland has launched new AI technology within the Keeneland Race Day App, making it the first racetrack to offer such a mechanism in order to enhance fan experience, the organization said in a Friday release. Racing enthusiasts will have access to real-time data, predictive analytics and deeper insights during the meet. The introduction of AI technology reflects Keeneland's ongoing commitment to innovation. Fans can experience these new features by downloading or updating the Keeneland Race Day App. Generative Insights are available for April 6-8. “Keeneland is always looking for ways to enhance the fan experience,” Keeneland Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Christa Marrillia said. “Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned handicapper, this AI-driven feature will provide valuable, real-time analysis to help you make the most of your day at Keeneland.” The post Keeneland Race Day App Now Features Generative AI Insights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Previews by Alan Carasso, Brian Sheerin, Adam Houghton & Heather Anderson DUBAI, UAE — After Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) overcame a torrid trip to take out the G2 UAE Derby some 373 days ago, big-spending Japanese owner Susumu Fujita boldly commented: “Looking forward, I would like to underline that I would like to win the Dubai World Cup.” If ante-post markets are to be believed, those dreams are likely to become reality under the Saturday evening lights at Meydan Racecourse, as Forever Young is expected to jump a short-priced favourite in the 2000-metre contest, now scheduled for 9.30pm local time. The World Cup is a newly added qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic this coming November. Having finished third in two of America's greatest races–the GI Kentucky Derby and the 2024 Classic–the well-traveled colt was a deserving winner of the G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Ohi Racecourse in late December, easily accounting for Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) and defending champ and 2023 World Cup hero Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}). Trained by the effervescent Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young looks to become the first to do the G1 Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup double after defeating Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in an unforgettable renewal of the Riyadh centrepiece six weeks ago and just the second to win the UAE Derby and World Cup in consecutive years (after Thunder Snow {Ire} in 2017-2018). While Laurel River (Into Mischief) has been ruled out of a title defence, trainer Bhupat Seemar is still represented by pair of runners. Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge here in January, but faded tamely into 12th after racing with the early gallop in the Saudi Cup. He will need to break cleanly from the inside stall for Mickael Barzalona to have any chance. Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the selection of stable rider Tadhg O'Shea. The Deva Racing runner was second in the Al Maktoum Challenge, but powered clear to win the G2 Al Maktoum Classic over Saturday's course and distance on Super Saturday Mar. 1. He is likely to be put into play straight away from barrier 10. “Imperial Emperor is improving,” said Seemar. “He likes this track and I like his draw. He's won from draw 13, so we should be alright in 10. He's honest as they come and he's very uncomplicated. He's a jockey's dream.” A quintet of American horses make up the balance of the field, led by Rattle N Roll (Connect). An impressive winner of the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup to earn a Saudi Cup berth in January, the chestnut ran on well for fifth in a deceptively good effort behind Forever Young and gets to try the equivalent of 10 furlongs for the first time on Saturday. Any pace ahead of him would enhance his chances. Jockey William Buick took the six-year-old for a test drive on Thursday. “He felt good,” Buick said. “Kenny was keen for me to sit on him and [exercise rider] Danny [Ramsey]…says he's been taking him on a bit. He's fresh and he felt very comfortable on the track. He was quite strong with me this morning, but he feels super. He's a really good ride to pick up and I'm looking forward to it.” Mixto (Good Magic) is one of two in the race for trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill, who sent out the popular Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) to a runner-up effort behind Country Grammer (Tonalist) in 2022. The GI Pacific Classic upsetter, to be ridden by four-time World Cup winner Frankie Dettori, is joined by his GII San Pasqual Stakes-winning stable companion Katonah (Klimt), the mount of Silvestre de Sousa. Wathnan Racing's five-time graded winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) exited a distant third in the GI Santa Anita Handicap March 1, but also rates an each-way place chance if the pace hots up. A Grade III winner at ages three and four, Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) finds a near-impossible spot for his seasonal debut and is first-up for seven months, having finished eighth in the Pacific Classic. –Alan Carasso Rattle N Roll | JCSA Rebel's Romance Bids for Back-to-back Sheema Classics Big-race jockey William Buick has hailed Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as “a horse of a lifetime” as the seven-year-old bids to do something that hasn't been done before in landing back-to-back Dubai Sheema Classics. This is the first edition that is a GI Breeders' Cup Turf “Win and You're In”. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Rebel's Romance defied odds of 25-1 to run out an authoritative winner of this race 12 months ago. No horse has ever won two Dubai Sheema Classics, but then again not many horses with the profile of Rebel's Romance, who has also won twice at the Breeders' Cup, have taken up the challenge. Buick said, “I've never been involved with a horse quite like Rebel's Romance, with his personality, character and his ability. He's taken me and so many people all around the world. After he won in Qatar last time, which was a challenging weekend for everybody, I said he was the horse of a lifetime and he really is.” Buick added, “He's a throwback to the early days of Fantastic Light and Daylami (Ire) and all of those horses who travelled the world for Godolphin. When Sheikh Mohammed set the operation he wanted it to be a global brand and to compete in all of the top races across the world–and that's what Rebel's Romance is doing. He's certainly Godolphin's best horse at the moment. He's taken it to another level really and it's amazing that at the age of seven he still retains all of his enthusiasm and ability.” Rebel's Romance will need to be nothing short of his best to beat the Francis Graffard-trained Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who put in a spellbinding performance to win the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last season. Calandagan went on to chase home City Of Troy (Justify) in the Juddmonte International before filling the runner-up spot once again in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Graffard explained that he resisted the temptation to travel with the four-year-old during the winter, opting instead to get an international campaign underway in Dubai this week. He said, “Very happy with the horse. He travelled last Friday and he travelled well. We decided to be gentle on him after the Champion Stakes last year. We decided not to go to the Breeders' Cup or Hong Kong with the view to starting him here this season as a four-year-old. He's quite a feminine horse, quite a light-framed horse, but he looks really well and is easy to train.” Graffard added, “When you have this calibre of horse you need to look abroad and to all of these big international meetings. Obviously the Arc is not on the agenda for this horse because he is a gelding so I don't think we'll see this horse in France this year. He will travel a lot and this race is already a big target so we will see how he runs. We focus on this race and then we will pick a programme.” The Dubai Sheema Classic provided the scene for one of the most extraordinary performances in the history of this meeting when Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) streaked clear of his rivals in 2023. This year, the Japanese challenge appears to be headed by the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who comes into the contest off the back of a cosy success over the reopposing Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) in the G2 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia. –Brian Sheerin Rebel's Romance | Dubai Racing Club More History At Stake For Romantic Warrior Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) might have opted out of the Dubai World Cup and a rematch with his Riyadh conqueror Forever Young, but certainly nobody can accuse his connections of shirking a challenge as they continue their Middle East adventure with a tilt at the $5 million G1 Dubai Turf, a GI Breeders' Cup Mile “Win And You're In” for the first time. Already the world's highest-earning racehorse of all time, Romantic Warrior will break yet more new ground should he defeat his 10 rivals at Meydan on Saturday, as it would see him register the 11th Group 1 victory of his remarkable career, a new record for a Hong Kong-trained horse. He is currently tied on 10 with old rival Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who raced exclusively at Sha Tin in his 31-race career, whereas Romantic Warrior is a top-level winner in no fewer than four different countries. Crucially, Saturday's track and trip has already been a happy hunting ground for the seven-year-old, after he lowered the course record for 1,800 metres on the Meydan turf when winning January's G1 Jebel Hatta by four and a half lengths, despite being only “85 per cent fit” according to trainer Danny Shum. “The horse loves it here and he is very happy,” Shum added of Romantic Warrior's well-being since his painful defeat in the Saudi Cup. “I wanted to cry after that race. Forever Young was very strong, but the third horse [Ushba Tesoro] was 10 lengths behind. So, he [Romantic Warrior] has done a great job already. He's taken my team everywhere–Australia, Japan, Saudi and Dubai. “This time [in the Dubai Turf], the main dangers are the Japanese horses. James [McDonald, jockey] will ride him wherever he's comfortable. He's got natural speed, so it all depends on the pace. He's very flexible.” Romantic Warrior has a quartet of Japanese-trained runners standing in his way, headed by last year's Dubai Sheema Classic third Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was also the Japanese Triple Tiara heroine of 2023. She is joined in the line-up by last year's G1 Mile Championship winner Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), as well as the 2023 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup scorer Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who was beaten two and a half lengths when fourth behind Soul Rush at Kyoto. Leading the European challenge is defending champion Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), who was chased home by a pair of Japanese runners when successful by a short head 12 months ago. Jerome Reynier's six-year-old will appreciate the return to turf at Meydan, having finished down the field behind Forever Young and Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup last time. Karl Burke's Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) also reopposes Romantic Warrior after he finished third in the Jebel Hatta, before faring best of the rest behind Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Singspiel Stakes. That was an 11th career win for Nations Pride, a four-time Group 1 winner in three different countries, but trainer Charlie Appleby fears his charge might be playing for places behind the Hong Kong Horse of the Year. “Nations Pride heads into a tough renewal of the Dubai Turf in good order,” Appleby told Godolphin.com. “The plan was to give him a confidence boost in the Singspiel Stakes and it appears to have done the trick. He has been enjoying himself out in Dubai and goes into this as a player, although realistically more for the places rather than the win.” Of the rest, Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is yet to make the breakthrough in Group 1 company, but he showed his top-class potential on multiple occasions in 2024, notably finishing third in the Juddmonte International at York, behind only City Of Troy and leading Dubai Sheema Classic fancy Calandagan. “I think he's strengthened again from three to four,” trainer Clive Cox said of his runner. “His form last year was hugely consistent throughout and he ran in what was recorded as the best race in the world [the International at York]. It's a hugely competitive field, and we're very respectful of the opposition from all over the world, but it's exciting to be able to come and take part with a horse of this calibre.” –Adam Houghton Romantic Warrior | Hong Kong Jockey Club Who Will Shine In the Golden Shaheen? It is very much an us-versus-them proposition in Saturday's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, as the Bhupat Seemar-conditioned Tuz (Oxbow) seeks to become the third horse to record consecutive victories in the 1200-metre dash while facing arguably the best horse he's ever seen in the form of American champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster). The Golden Shaheen offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November. It has been nothing but blue skies for Tuz this season in Dubai, with four wins from as many trips to the races, including the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday, when the $7,000 Keeneland September yearling bargain became the first horse to sweep the local sprint series. On that occasion, he easily accounted for Japan's American Stage (Into Mischief)–whose older half-brother Super Chow (Lord Nelson) also lines up here–and the veteran Eastern World (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Straight No Chaser has drawn outside in nine and is likely to pour the pressure into Tuz, the expected pacesetter from gate five from the word go. The two have similar running styles–speed enough to fight out strong fractions and stamina enough to be around at the finish nevertheless. When last seen in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on February 22, it was Straight No Chaser buried down inside of the speedy Jasper Krone (Frosted)–a scratching from the Golden Shaheen–but he swatted him away and went on to a clear-cut victory. But connections are under no false illusions and know Saturday's race will present a stiffer test. “This is a new surface for us, a new challenge,” said trainer Dan Blacker. “I've watched his win in the Golden Shaheen last year and we respect that horse a lot. Bhupat [Seemar, trainer] does a great job and he's on his home turf–I think that's the main thing. We'll just have to see who's best on the big night.” —Alan Carasso Tuz | DRC/Erika Rasmussen Rapidly-improving West Acre Holds Leading Claims for the Group 1 in Al Quoz George Scott's West Acre (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has been something of a revelation in Dubai and the Newmarket trainer says he is hoping that his rapidly-progressive sprinter can continue his improvement by bagging a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Al Quoz Sprint. West Acre has landed back-to-back successes over the minimum trip at Meydan in Group 2 and Group 3 sprints respectively. He is yet to score over 6f but Scott is quietly hopeful that the young sprinter has even more in his locker and says he is expecting a big performance. Scott said, “It's been a special journey up until this point. I always thought a huge amount of him, he trained like a very good horse and it's well documented he had a bit of a setback so we were slightly cautious as to where he'd end up. “The idea was that he'd miss most of his two-year-old season and therefore have a campaign here, so it wasn't an afterthought and he's just thrived out here. “In the Blue Point he was exceptional, you just don't often see a performance like that out of the blue, he broke the track record, then a different type of performance in the Nad Al Sheba, where he showed a gritty attitude. Hopefully we're able to race on a nice fast racing surface and that should see the best of him.” Scott added, “Both times he ran over six furlongs he had legitimate excuses and Callum Shepherd [jockey] has been very pleased with him. His breeding, his stride pattern and cadence wouldn't suggest he's an out-and-out five-furlong horse either. Although I think it's not going to be a problem for him, I'd like to see him do it, and it would open up some more doors as well. “I'm not going to sit here for one second and say he's going to be able to improve from what he's done in his last two starts but if he matches that, he should be in the mix. What he's got in his favour is this is his home turf. He has it all to prove at this level, he hasn't proved himself to be a Group 1 performer and a lot of these horses have. It's going to be a fascinating race.” Fellow Newmarket trainer George Boughey holds major claims with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) bidding for that all-important breakthrough Group 1 success. Coolmore swooped to land the dual Grade 1 runner-up at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 3 million gns last year and connections are quietly confident of a bold showing on her seasonal return. Meanwhile, the John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) brings genuine top-class international form to the table being a smart sprinter back in Hong Kong while the Ed Bethell-trained Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) is not out of things if reproducing his best form. Bethell said, “He cantered well today and he's bright and happy so hopefully he'll go well. [It's been] a long time off the track though, so we'll see. He's been working nicely at home and it's just nice to be part of it. It's wide open, I think any one of them could win, in fairness. Across the board ratings-wise, they're all pretty similar bar Audience, but obviously he's got his rating from a different distance.” –Brian Sheerin West Acre | Dubai Racing Club From The Gotham To Glory In UAE Derby? The $1 million G2 UAE Derby features a field of nine, and is worth a total of 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Series (100-50-25-15-10). Anchoring the three-year-olds on rankings is the Brad Cox-trained Flood Zone. The son of Frosted broke his maiden at second asking over 6 1/2 furlongs in January and then took the GIII Gotham Stakes on March 1 for Big Frank Stable, Enrico Ascione, Guy Mancini, Veb Racing Stable and trainer Victor Barboza, Jr. before being privately purchased by Wathnan Racing and sent to Cox. He will leave from stall five and has Florent Geroux in the irons. Naturally, Japan has a strong hand in the 1900-metre dirt affair having won the past three years and four times overall. They send a quartet of colts this term including Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and Dragon (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). The former is a winner over 1600 metres at Tokyo earlier this year, and was fourth–one better than Dragon–to the talented Luxor Café (American Pharoah) in the Listed Hyacinth Stakes in February, a qualifier for the Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby. G3 Saudi Derby runner-up Shin Forever (Complexity), has already had a warm-up in the Middle East, and leaves from stall seven under Akira Sugawara. As chronicled in Friday's TDN, Saffie Osborne could become the first female rider to win a race on Dubai World Cup night with a victory aboard Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.). The bay is a consistent sort, and, after taking second in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas in January, was a too-good-to-lose second to Galactic Star (Improbable) in the Listed Al Bastakiya on February 21. Osborne, whose father Jamie won this race with Toast Of New York (Thewayyouare) in 2014, said “It's huge. Eleven years ago Toast Of New York won the UAE Derby. I was sat on the sofa at home, I was only 12, so it's quite cool to think that 11 years on we'd be back here.” –Heather Anderson Flood Zone | Sarah Andrew Mufasa Makes UAE Bow In Godolphin Mile The $1 million G2 Godolphin Mile has been reduced to 14 runners after both Cagliostro (Upstart) and Meshtri (Medaglia d'Oro) were scratched earlier in the week, but that doesn't necessarily make it any easier to solve, with virtually every horse in the field appearing to have a chance of sorts. In a wide-open contest, Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke) must be considered one of the more interesting contenders on his first start for Bhupat Seemar, having been bought privately after his defeat of White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park in December. Mufasa is likely to go forward from stall 10, though he almost certainly won't have things all his own way at the head of affairs, with the likes of Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) and No Lunch (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also expected to be prominent granted swift exits from stalls eight and 13, respectively. Raging Torrent, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, was last seen winning the GI Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December and will be trying to provide trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill with a second consecutive victory in the race after that of Two Rivers Over (Tamarkuz) in 2024. “It's a real honour to have a horse that's classy enough to travel to meetings like this,” said O'Neill. “We circled the Godolphin Mile after the Malibu. Having Frankie in the saddle, arguably one of the best of all time, it's a great asset. He knows him well, he's worked him and won on him, so it's definitely a big plus.” No Lunch features in a three-pronged attack from France–along with the Nicolas Caullery-trained pair Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio De La Plata) and King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire})–after three straight wins on the all-weather in France, while last year's G1 February Stakes winner Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is another key runner from Japan on the card. Adding further to the international flavour is Hong Kong raider Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah), another horse who could be involved in the early pace battle with James McDonald in the saddle. “James has said that it is a track where being on speed and on the rail is important,” said trainer Frankie Lor. “From gate two, I think he will lead early and we are happy to take up the running on our own. If someone else wants to lead we are happy to sit behind them. It's great to be here and hopefully this might be the first of a couple of opportunities to travel with him.” –Adam Houghton Mufasa | Lauren King/Coglianese Photography Scorching Heat Another Dynamic for European Runners to Navigate Gold Cup Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant trainer to William Haggas, has admitted that the scorching temperatures in Dubai will represent a whole new challenge for Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), with the six-year-old set to make her debut for her new connections in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. All of the races on Dubai World Cup night have been pushed back due to what some weather forecasters are predicting highs of 38 degrees celsius on the day. The Dubai Gold Cup is one of the first races on Saturday's card, due to take place at 5.10pm local time, and Haggas says that the weather will present an added challenge for their new recruit. “We've been mainly going up to the training track early in the morning and we're happy with the horses,” she said. “Both travelled [the stable also runs Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the Dubai Turf] and settled in well. Obviously the weather has been very hot and we've got the filly running in the two-mile race earlier in the day, which is going to be quite tough but it's the same for all of them. But we're happy with the two of them and fingers crossed.” Term Of Endearment joined the Haggas stable after being snapped up by Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong operation for 1.3 million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She had won four of her 10 starts for Henry de Bromhead, including at Group 2 level. Saturday will represent the mare's first time running outside of Europe. Aidan O'Brien's sole representation in Dubai on Saturday, Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), is fighting it out for favouritism in the race with the John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). Continuous was last seen finishing third in the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Ryadh while Trawlerman arrived in Dubai a fresh horse. Last year's Gold Cup runner-up at Royal Ascot is one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the Dubai Gold Cup, with Saeed Bin Suroor, this meeting's most successful trainer, readying a two-pronged attack with Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Speaking about the nine-year-old Dubai Future, Suroor said, “He's improving in the mornings. The way he won the Nad Al Sheba Trophy was easy and we thought we would give him a chance over two miles in the Dubai Gold Cup. It will open up options for us in Britain-staying races like the Gold Cup. I hope he can stay sound. “He's going well and you have to remember African Story was a seven-year-old when he won the Dubai World Cup and Prince Bishop was an eight-year-old.” He added on outsider Passion And Glory, “He likes a right-handed track like at Ascot and Bahrain, but last time he finished strong and good to finish second and it made us think this race would really suit him.” Meanwhile, the Coolmore camp appear to be happy with how Continuous has settled into his surroundings, and are expecting a good performance from the 2023 St Leger winner, with racing manager David Keegan saying, “He has travelled over well and is in good form. It's a competitive race as you would expect, it's great to have a runner over here. Hopefully he can put in a good performance.” –Brian Sheerin Term Of Endearment | Liesl King/DRC The post Forever Young Favoured To Complete Desert Double In Dubai World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

World Pool truly lives up to its name on Saturday, featuring 13 races at Meydan for Dubai World Cup Day and at Randwick for the first round of The Championships. Seven races from Dubai will be globally commingled, including all five Group 1contests, meaning that punters from more than 28 jurisdictions will be able to bet with World Pool. The action from Meydan follows Doncaster Mile Day in Sydney, with World Pool returning for a second year on day one of The Championships, which features four Group 1 races. World Pool ambassador Ryan Moore will be in action in Australia with three rides for Chris Waller. For the first time, two World Pool Moment of the Day awards will be given out on the same day, with a standout performance from both Meydan and Randwick set to be chosen. The grooms of both chosen horses will receive a winners' cheque of HK$40,000 (£4,000/AU$8,000) as well as entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year competition for the chance to win a VIP trip to Hong Kong in 2026. Sam Nati, head of commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “Dubai World Cup Day from Meydan and Doncaster Mile Day from Randwick are two special fixtures in the global racing calendar and we're delighted to once again be making the meetings available to our global customers. “The stars will truly be out this weekend, and we can't wait to see champions like Forever Young and Romantic Warrior return to the track on a day that's sure to draw the eyes of the racing world.” The post Lucky 13 for World Pool on Stellar Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road, presented by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

It wouldn't quite be fair to say that the team around Facteur Cheval (IRE), who is owned by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, were anonymous in the week building up to the 2024 Dubai Turf (G1T). View the full article

ABR's Mike Curry previews the field for the Santa Anita Oaks (G2).View the full article

In a week where the world’s best horses, jockeys, and trainers are on show, few have attracted more attention than James McDonald, whose partnership with Romantic Warrior has brought him to the Dubai World Cup meeting for the first time. View the full article

Bob Ehalt previews the field for the April 7 Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.View the full article

The Jockey Club announced that the 2025 edition of the Fact Book is available in the Resources section at jockeyclub.com.View the full article

Stellenbosch and Sixpense look to make a mark for the 4-year-old generation in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 6 at Hanshin Racecourse.View the full article

The 2025 edition of The Jockey Club's Fact Book is now available in the resources section of the organization's website, according to a press release from that entity on Friday. The online Fact Book is a statistical and informational guide to Thoroughbred breeding, racing, and auction sales in North America, which is updated quarterly. Later this year, many of the statistics will begin to be updated on a weekly basis, and new statistics will be added. The Jockey Club is continually seeking ways to provide information in novel formats concerning the Thoroughbred industry. Please email Shannon Luce, vice president, Communications, with your ideas: sluce@jockeyclub.com. The 2025 State Fact Books, which feature detailed breeding, racing, and auction sales information specific to numerous states, Canadian provinces, and Puerto Rico, are also available on The Jockey Club website. The State Fact Books are updated monthly. The 2025 edition of The American Racing Manual will be available as part of the Fact Book in the coming weeks. The post The Jockey Club 2025 Fact Book Available appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin It was worth the wait. It may have taken Leap To Fame a little longer to get to New Zealand than harness racing fans would have liked but it took him a lot less time to get around Cambridge than his rivals would have liked in Friday night’s Race by Betcha. The magnificent Queensland pacer was supposed to make his New Zealand debut in the New Zealand Cup back in November but missed that iconic race with a blood complaint. He came to Cambridge on Friday night and turned the $1million Race by Betcha into something iconic instead. The six-year-old and his trainer-driver Grant Dixon were on a mission, a mission to turn the 2200m race into a fight, survival of the fittest, or bravest or greatest. “Larry” as he is known, was all three. Dixon had to take his medicine early as every horse drawn inside him wanted to head forward and he was forced back to last but with cover as first Republican Party, then Don’t Stop Dreaming and eventually Merlin worked to sit parked outside Don Hugo, who had led effortlessly from the start. While they were all happy to hand up the dreaded park position, when Dixon got there he saw it as a launching pad for a one-lap attack on the leader. Dixon, usually quiet in the cart, was all motion and motivation, asking Leap To Fame to go faster. And then a bit faster. He wanted to know, maybe wanted us all to know, who could go the fastest for the longest. At the 500m Don Hugo looked for a few seconds as if he was sneaking away. Larry reeled him back in on a string made of sheer guts. Once they were eyeball to eyeball at the top of the straight it was Don Hugo who blinked first, Larry set sail for the post and Chase A Dream and Merlin chased. They did not gain. At the line Australia’s best pacer has recorded one of the most stunning wins of any code in this country, a thing of beauty by the beast. It was win 50 for Leap To Fame from 63 starts, he heads home with the promise to return for this year’s New Zealand Cup, a promise rival trainers hope he will break. “That was a great relief,” said Dixon, who was driving his first ever winner in New Zealand. “I had a lot of people telling me how to drive him and I just wanted to turn it into a staying race. “I got up in his [Don Hugo’s] face and it paid dividends.” Leap To Fame’s national record time of 2:33.6 was 1.5 seconds inside the previous record, a 1:52.4 mile rate on a wet night when the Australians emphatically continued their recent domination of New Zealand’s best horses. That put a smile on owner and slot holder Kevin Seymour’s face. “I was thrilled he could come here and beat the very good local horses and show everybody here how good he is,” said Seymour. While there were no excuses for those beaten behind the harness hero, Chase A Dream was brave in second and has put his career back on track in the last week while Merlin was excellent in third, probably performing to at least the same level as when he won The Race last season. Don Hugo punctured to run fourth after being Larry’s punching bag for the second lap after setting the record speed for the first. And as is so often the case in big races, one horse has its moment of arrival and on Friday night that was Pinseeker, flashing late into fifth, beating home five horses he wouldn’t have been considered as good as just a month ago. He was by his standards he was a star. At this level they are all stars. But they are stars who on Friday night found themselves trapped in the Larryverse. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The legend of “Larry” went next level in tonight’s $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge’s Night of Champions. Leap To Fame, affectionately known as Larry, had to go three wide and then sit parked before overwhelming arch rival Don Hugo in a new track record. Trainer Grant Dixon wouldn’t let Don Hugo out of his sight and the pair went to war with 600 to go. Despite getting a tough trip Leap To Fame was too tough when it mattered. It was an incredible performance. Don Hugo just couldn’t stay with the champ with Chase A Dream second and defending champion Merlin third. Remarkably it was Leap To Fame’s 50th career win from just 63 starts including the Inter-Dominions and the Miracle Mile. First out first home. That was the way Australian visitor Arcee Phoenix won tonight’s $600,000 TAB Trot on Cambridge’s Night of Champions. Arcee Phoenix was fourth in the race last year and tonight Chris Svanosio, known as Snooze to his mates, wasn’t mucking around at the start. He went to the lead as leading Kiwi Oscar Bonavena sensationally galloped out of contention. Not As Promised did the same. Arcee Phoenix then dictated the tempo, and never really looked like getting beaten. “It’s great to come here and win,” said Svanosio. Queen Elida was a huge improver in finishing second. Her earnings took her past the million dollar mark, as did fourth placed Muscle Mountain. Favourite The Locomotive sat parked throughout and was brave in finishing third. It was the second consecutive Australian win in the big race, following Just Believe’s triumph last year. In the support races, Kimberly Butt won the second edition of the Dorothy Cutts Invitational. She got the perfect passing lane trip with 18-to-one shot Ohoka Achilles to down favourite Iron Brigade. Trained by Owen Gillies it was the Art Major 10-year-old’s ninth win. Dorothy Cutts was on course to make the presentation. She made history when she became the first woman ever to win a full totalisator race in this country, at Cambridge in 1979. The night also featured an extra special moment for Cambridge Raceway Chief Executive Dave Branch. The Night of Champions has been a huge undertaking for Branch and his team but he was trackside with a big group of supporters as the eight-year-old gelding went to the front and starved off the challenge of Castana and favourite High Energy. He is in the ownership group that races Romeo Foxtrot. The gelding, who is trained by Dave’s mother Susan Branch, made it career win number 12 in the Charlie Hunter Northern Championship Final Handicap Trot. Without You upset hot favourite Beside Me in the Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes 3YO Semi final while Bettors Anvil got home, paying $20, as he led and held on the 3YO Colts and Geldings Semi Final from Greased Lightnin and hot favourite Got The Chocolates. More to come View the full article

By Michael Guerin The patience of one man and passion of another put Arcee Phoenix in the position to win the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on Friday night. The Victorian trotter led home an Australian-trained trifecta for the second year running in the slot race after working his way to the front in a bizarre opening 200m. Arcee Phoenix has never been a fast beginner but trainer-driver Chris Svanosio declared his hand pre-race saying he had to go forward on him and try to lead the 2200m mobile event, seeing that as his best chance of beating favourite The Locomotive. He, nor anybody else, could have predicted the obstacles that nearly derailed that plan. Another of the Australian reps Not As Promised galloped at the mobile sped away to start the race, hardly ideal as he was directly to the outside of Arcee Phoenix, who didn’t need any distractions as he was trying to trot fast but keep his cool. Then seconds later the second favourite Oscar Bonavena went into a wild gallop just metres to Arcee Phoenix’s left, Svanosio having to carefully avoid him as Oscar Bonavena was eased wide and effectively out of the race. Somehow Arcee Phoenix ignored them both as best he could and rolled to the front, from where his only danger was the trailing Queen Elida, who threatened in the home straight but never looked the winner, with The Locomotive a brave third after sitting parked. For all the drama the final result was almost effortless for Arcee Phoenix, who has previously contested this race and two other Group 1s at Cup week in Christchurch and finished fourth every time. Those trips and the experience gained were part of Svanosio teaching Arcee Phoenix to be a racehorse. He has learned his lessons well. He had a good teacher. “This is amazing,” said the Victorian of his national record run. “To grow up watching these big trotting races in New Zealand and even be a part of them is very special. “But to win it with this horse and to see him overcome those early distractions means the world to me. “He was having a good look at them at the start, especially Oscar when he galloped, but he held together. “I have always thought he was a good front runner but I haven’t been able to get him there as often as I would like because of teaching him to race early on. “He is an awesome horse, he was just jogging in front but in the home straight I just wanted the line to come up.” As popular as the victory will be for Svanosio and his stable star it was also the ultimate triumph for one of trotting’s most deserving ambassadors in slot owner Duncan McPherson. McPherson owns Aldebaran Farms in Victoria and 15 years when the very existence of trotting as a gait in Australia was under threat, with the gait even being dropped as part of the Inter Dominions, McPherson never lost faith. He loves trotters and has travelled the world and spent a fortune trying to build ties between Australia, New Zealand, North America and the trotting stronghold of Sweden. For him, a man who fought for trotting when others wanted it shrunk or gone all together, to dance and hug in the Waikato rain on this Friday night was as sweet as payback comes. “I love trotting and to do this with this horse and a great mate in Ash Haynes, who owns him, it doesn’t get any better,” he said. Or any more deserved. View the full article

First out first home. That was the way Australian visitor Arcee Phoenix won tonight’s $600,000 TAB Trot on Cambridge’s Night of Champions. Arcee Phoenix was fourth in the race last year and tonight Chris Svanosio, known as Snooze to his mates, wasn’t mucking around at the start. He went to the lead as leading Kiwi Oscar Bonavena sensationally galloped out of contention. Not As Promised did the same. Arcee Phoenix then dictated the tempo, and never really looked like getting beaten. “It’s great to come here and win,” said Svanosio. Queen Elida was a huge improver in finishing second. Her earnings took her past the million dollar mark, as did fourth placed Muscle Mountain. Favourite The Locomotive sat parked throughout and was brave in finishing third. It was the second consecutive Australian win in the big race, following Just Believe’s triumph last year. In the support races, Kimberly Butt won the second edition of the Dorothy Cutts Invitational. She got the perfect passing lane trip with 18-to-one shot Ohoka Achilles to down favourite Iron Brigade. Trained by Owen Gillies, it was the Art Major 10-year-old’s ninth win. Dorothy Cutts was on course to make the presentation. She made history when she became the first woman ever to win a full totalisator race in this country, at Cambridge in 1979. The night also featured an extra special moment for Cambridge Raceway Chief Executive Dave Branch. The Night of Champions has been a huge undertaking for Branch and his team and he was trackside with a big group of supporters as the eight-year-old gelding went to the front and starved off the challenge of Castana and favourite High Energy. He is in the ownership group that races Romeo Foxtrot. The gelding, who is trained by Dave’s mother Susan Branch, made it career win number 12 in the Charlie Hunter Northern Championship Final Handicap Trot. Without You upset hot favourite Beside Me in the Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes 3YO Semi final while Bettors Anvil got home, paying $20, as he led and held on in the 3YO Colts and Geldings Semi Final from Greased Lightnin and hot favourite Got The Chocolates. View the full article

Yeomanstown Stud resident Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire} became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Rod Millman-trained debutante Anthelia (Ire) broke through going a shade over five furlongs in Friday's Happy Birthday Lynn Cullimore British EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes at Bath. Squeezed for room at the break and racing off the tempo in seventh through the early fractions, the 18-1 chance made rapid headway into contention once past halfway and swooped late to easily outpoint Canyouhearthedrums (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}) by an ultimately comfortable 2 1/2 lengths. Anthelia is the latest of seven reported foals and second scorer produced by Listed Rose Bowl Stakes third All On Red (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}), herself a half-sister to the stakes-placed Applecross (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). The January-foaled bay, whose third dam is Listed Sweet Solera Stakes and Listed Rose Bowl Stakes third Halloa (GB) (Wolfhound), hails from the family of GI Secretariat Stakes and G1 Cox Plate-winning sire Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Anthelia with an impressive run to win the Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes at Bath to get off the mark! Lewis Edmunds | Rod Millman pic.twitter.com/zK6j6kWeR9 — The Horse Racer (@OlliCarter) April 4, 2025 The post Yeomanstown Stud’s Freshman Sire Supremacy Off the Mark at Bath appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Everyone recognizes that with the glut of entertainment options today, it's harder and harder to provide experiences that really wow people. In the old days, a trainer would accept a horse from an owner, and hope to never hear from him again, or, to quote an old Charlie Whittingham adage, “Treat owners like mushrooms. Keep 'em in the dark and feed 'em horse manure.” Those days are gone, and racing syndicates are now taking the game one step beyond mere communication—not only providing a constant stream of videos, trainer messages, and other information—but providing experiences that enhance and deepen a member's appreciation of the sport, and their bond with racing. That's good news for racing, and good business for everyone. Medallion Racing, a Taylor Made Farm partnership group that invites partners to invest in biannual groups of horses—they're currently on Medallion V—has taken the concierge and experience theory to the ultimate extreme. Matt LeTexier retired this week after a 30-year career at NAPA Auto Parts, and just in time; this year, he will participate in Medallion's Derby handicapping seminar, Kentucky Oaks owners' suite, trip to Deauville for the Arqana August sale with a healthy dose of sightseeing, and has just returned from their spring trip to Ireland. Medallion is also arranging a trip to Royal Ascot, and a suite at the Breeders' Cup for members of the partnership. “One of the reasons we invested with Medallion and Taylor Made were the European experiences,” said LeTexier, part of Medallion V, who went on the Ireland trip with his wife, December, and nephew Josh Tangen. “So when this opportunity came up, we were all over it.” On the trip, the partners visited trainer Donnacha O'Brien at his facility in County Tipperary to learn about the European style of training. “We had access to his yard, and went out two different mornings to watch them breeze,” he said. “We jumped in the Range Rover with him, and rode alongside the horses as they were running. It was kind of magical.” December LeTexier, Josh Tangen, and Matt LeTexier at Naas | courtesy Medallion Racing They also toured Coolmore with a special guide. “We had a great visit at Coolmore where M.V. Magnier gave us a tour. That was amazing. He showed us their stallions and walked us around the farm and to the breeding shed and through the museum. He was great. That's the kind of experience that just wouldn't happen without the relationships that the Taylor Made team has there.” The group also visited Ballydoyle, stayed at the Cashel Palace, dined at Mikey Ryan's, and spent a day at Naas Racecourse with their chairman, Dermot Cantillon. “Part of my retirement plan was to get involved in horse racing, and this has just really helped facilitate it,” said LeTexier, who looks forward to one day racing his own horses under the name of Pegasus Farms. Medallion V currently consists of two horses—both of which won last weekend. Grand Job (Justify) was second last out in her 2025 debut in the GIII Royal Delta Stakes, and won an allowance at Gulfstream Friday. Public Assembly (More Than Ready) won an allowance at Santa Anita. The plan, said Phillip Shelton, Medallion's racing manager, is to expand the group to 8-12 horses. Each partner in each individual Medallion unit owns a piece of every horse in the group. Medallion IV included two-time Royal Ascot winner Porta Fortuna and the multiple graded stakes-placed Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words). LeTexier and Tangen at Donnacha O'Brien's training facility in Tipperary | December LeTexier photo Shelton said that over the past few years, he has been traveling to Europe to sales and to visit the horses that Medallion has in Europe, like Porta Fortuna. “I thought I'd put it out to people, and just see if anybody wanted to go.” As it turned out, they did. The group included the LeTexiers and Tangen, and other Medallion partners Steve Weston and Jimmy Lee. Lee, who has been in four Medallion partnerships, also owns horses on his own and with other partnerships. “If you tried to develop this on your own, it would never happen,” said Lee. “You'd never get there. The level of folks in the horse racing business that I met on this trip alone is mind-boggling to me. You're getting to meet the O'Briens, Donnacha is going to train a horse for us in the group, we go to Coolmore and M.V. comes out and meets us in the parking lot and walks with us and chats with us. We had dinner with Donnacha one night, dinner with Fozzy Stack, and dinner with Paddy Twomey. Being able to see how each one does their own thing and learn and sort of get to know the people instead of just reading their names in the paper, that's cool. Just getting in the game to have that level of access is really almost unheard of. It was really, really, impressive.” “It's an appealing thing to get to experience,” said Shelton. “And that's what we're trying to do—leverage our resources and our connections. The mission statement of Medallion is an exclusive ownership opportunity at the highest levels of Thoroughbred racing. That's what we're selling. We don't want 200 partners. It's a smaller group.” What he's learned organizing these events, he says, is that money is a motivating factor, but time is almost as much so. “The more of your own free time you have to invest in planning, figuring things out, the more of a deterrent it is,” he said. “Here, everybody sends me their flight information, and as soon as you land, everything else is taken care of.” They plan shows and events, dinners and racing. The upcoming Deauville experience will offer guided tours of the D-Day landing sites and a trip to Le Mont Saint Michel, among other things. They will also visit stud farms, and accompany Shelton to inspect yearlings in the mornings. The motivation? “How can we make it as easy as possible for people to say yes?” asked Shelton. The bottom line? “I think it's a huge selling point for us,” said Shelton. “The great thing about all of these partnerships is that they're allowing you an opportunity that you cannot get on your own.” For LeTexier, the behind-the-scenes peek at racing was the secret sauce that will draw him further into the game. “For me, specifically, I'm just trying to soak it in and learn as much as I can about the business and how we can go about building our Pegasus Farms team along with them,” he said. “It has been a great experience here thus far, early on, and we're looking forward to what's ahead. You can't think of better partners, for sure.” Lee agrees. “It would be hard to be disappointed with this group,” he said. “It has exceeded everything they promise. And the guys at Taylor Made are as good a guys as you'll deal with in the industry.” The post `It Has Exceeded Everything They Promise’: Medallion, Where Racing Meets Hospitality appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article