-
Posts
124,583 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
2
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Store
Gallery
Everything posted by Wandering Eyes
-
Icarian Dream. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Ciaron Maher remains optimistic about Icarian Dream’s prospects of delivering him a third Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) victory, despite the filly being handed a wide draw in barrier 21 for Saturday’s $3 million feature. The accomplished trainer has already tasted success in the prestigious event with Away Game and Coolangatta, and has had his sights set on another triumph with the $300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale acquisition. Icarian Dream impressed in her last outing with a commanding win in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm. “It’s been the plan for Icarian Dream pretty much her whole career to get her back here, and last start, she was quite dominant,” Maher told Racing Queensland. “It’s not ideal, but barrier draws are often overdone I feel. The main thing is she is well and has done everything right – so I’m happy with her preparation going in.” Maher acknowledged the challenge posed by the wide draw but remained confident in his filly’s readiness. “We’ll have to sit down and nut out the race as to how we think it will unfold. “No doubt it’s going to be more difficult from out there, but she should be spot on and ready to run a big race.” He also highlighted the importance of acclimatisation, a strategy that has worked well for him in the past. “We wanted to get her up here nice and early, as we’ve done in previous years to acclimatise and get her into the swing of things, and so far, so good.” Horse racing news View the full article
-
Qali Al Farrasha will contest the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Classy mare Campionessa has flown the flag for Te Akau Racing at the top level for a number of years, but on Saturday at Trentham, her younger stablemate Qali Al Farrasha will get her time to shine contesting the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m). The Te Akau homebred mare was among the top staying fillies last term, placing in the Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m) and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), earning her a tilt at the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. While she didn’t fire in her season finale, Qali Al Farrasha has made a firing four-year-old return, winning at Ellerslie before recording narrow placings at Te Rapa and Pukekohe, the latter to Nereus in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m). “She’s not very big and doesn’t carry a lot of condition, but she’s very game,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the mare in partnership with Mark Walker. “I thought her runs this time around have been very good, she goes out there and tries hard, which her record reflects. “She’s freshened up nicely and we were planning to go to the Rich Hill Mile (Group 2, 1600m) last week, but she got quite a few points from the Counties Cup and would’ve been carrying 56.5kg. We elected to wait and she’s got 53kg in a pretty even field on Saturday, and she’s got a nice barrier, which gives us options.” As reflected in the market with horse racing bookmakers, the field for this year’s edition is relatively even, with Marotiri Molly currently on top at $5. However, the big mover early has been Qali Al Farrasha, shortening from $21 to $12 with BlondeBet. Bergerson, while knowing the size of the task, has faith his charge is more than capable of figuring in another elite-level finish at Trentham. “She hasn’t missed the top three many times in her career and she raced well at Wellington in the Oaks,” he said. “It’s a big ask at Group One level now, but we think she’s up to it.” Horse racing news View the full article
-
Silent Is Gold (inside) during an exhibition gallop at Otaki on Monday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Stephen Gray experienced plenty of highs with Silent Is Gold when training in Singapore, and he is excited to begin a new chapter with the gelding when he makes his New Zealand debut at Trentham on Saturday. The six-year-old son of Star Turn won seven races in Singapore for Gray, up to Class 1, and was placed in the Singapore 3YO Sprint (1200m), Kranji Sprint (1200m) and Singapore 3YO Classic (1400m), and earned more than S$390,000 in prizemoney. With the closure of racing in Singapore last year looming, Gray elected to return to New Zealand and was asked to take Silent Is Gold with him by owner Chin Hien Tan, who continues to race the gelding in partnership with Gray and his wife Bridget. Silent Is Gold won a 1000m trial at Foxton last month and readied for his weekend assignment with an exhibition gallop at Otaki on Monday, and Gray is excited to see what his charge can do on raceday in New Zealand. “It is quite sentimental,” said Gray, who trains in partnership with his father Kevin. “The owner was a lovely guy and a good owner of ours. He sent him over with us when we left. He wanted to send him to New Zealand and try him and give him a good home afterwards. “We are really excited for the weekend, it’s cool to get him back from Singapore. He has trialled up well and he looks fantastic. He will probably improve with a run, and a first run at Trentham is never easy. “He is not a Group One horse, he is a Group Three type of horse, he is pretty sharp and he tries hard. He was pretty nippy over there (Singapore), but you wouldn’t say he was the best sprinter in Singapore, but he was always thereabouts. “We just want to win a race and have a bit of fun.” Silent Is Gold will jump from barrier eight and will have the benefit of apprentice jockey Toni Davies’ three-kilogram claim, bringing his allocated weight down to 57kg. “It is good to have young Toni on, she is a rider that has got a really good future,” Gray said. “We are a bit fortunate down our way, we have got two or three really good apprentice jockeys.” Horse racing news View the full article
-
Santa Anita opened its track Thursday morning to limited training–just joggers and gallopers for most of the morning. For the Santa Anita backstretch community, it was a slice of normality as the extent of the damage caused by the wildfires that have ripped across Los Angeles this week began to set in. “I've lived there half my life, almost. My daughter was born there. It's where she grew up. All of our memories together. I was just telling her, 'all of your medals and trophies for all the years you danced, everything's gone,'” said Deedee Anderson, whose home in Altadena–one of the communities in the San Gabriel Mountain foothills most affected by the fires–was destroyed. Anderson is a long-time staple of the Santa Anita backstretch. She's a former exercise rider and now the owner of a successful equine therapy business, whose clients include trainers like Michael McCarthy. “We got out and the cats out, except one,” Anderson said, of her husband, 16-year-old daughter and pets. “I'm between despair and utter devastation and sadness and guilt and regret. Why didn't I load up this? Why didn't I load up that? Honestly? I thought at the worst we'd have some smoke damage. It would be no biggie. I grabbed a few things. My laptop. My machines–my equipment so I can continue to have a business.” Anderson said she and her neighbors were evacuated Tuesday night. She listened into the police scanner in the early hours of Wednesday morning as the fire worked its way through the community, street by street, towards her home. “I want to be stoic about it and reflect and be philosophical. Like, what's the silver lining? Well, I did have too much stuff. I did have a cluttered house from all the years I've lived there and raised a kid there,” she Anderson. “My house was very charming. It was in a beautiful area,” she added. “I loved it. I don't know if we'll ever go back. We'll see. But it means a lot that so many people have checked in. It means a lot that people like Michael [McCarthy] have reached out and gone, 'take all the time you need for you and your daughter.' It's good to know that I have support.” By Thursday afternoon, several fires continued to burn in the Los Angeles region. The Eaton Fire is the wildfire that has most impacted the communities surrounding Santa Anita Park. It has so far claimed at least five lives, and has spread to more than 10,600 acres, according to Cal Fire. Tuesday night and on into Wednesday, the Eaton Fire licked across foothill communities like North Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre where many of the backstretch workers live, causing mass evacuations. Unusually strong Santa Ana winds coupled with tinder-dry conditions have made this particular event especially treacherous. Because of the high winds and the smoke, training at Santa Anita was cancelled Wednesday morning. There was also some damage to the backstretch property. Trainer Leonard Powell reported that a portion of his barn roof had partially blown off. As the winds dropped slightly Thursday, compromised air quality from the heavy smoke has become the main obstacle to operations at Santa Anita. With that in mind, Santa Anita has been distributing N-95 masks and protective eyewear to backstretch and frontstretch personnel. Track management have also told the horsemen and women that, if anyone chose, it would assist them in evacuating horses to other licensed facilities. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has developed a protocol for what activities are permitted at its facilities when the air quality is compromised, an ultimate decision on which is determined by the track's general manager and the state's equine medical director. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a numerical standard developed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At 2:00 pm PT Thursday afternoon, the AQI for Arcadia was 198, which is considered unhealthy. When the AQI is more than 175, the options are to cancel live racing, cancel official workouts, and to prohibit galloping, breezing, and anything more strenuous than a jog. On Thursday afternoon, track management announced that it had postponed Friday's racing program until next Thursday, Jan. 16. due to the forecast of poor air quality in the region. “We also want to respect the impact that this tragedy has had on many of our community, including our horsemen and women and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires. By proactively moving the races, it gives our horsemen and women, horseplayers, fans and our team the opportunity to plan accordingly,” wrote Santa Anita general manager, Nate Newby. A decision on this weekend's racing program, which includes Saturday's 11-race California Cup program, will be made on Friday. The racing office also alerted trainers Thursday that there will be no official workers Friday morning, and that a decision about what training activities will be allowed (like jogging or galloping) will be made at 4:30 am PT Friday morning. In the meantime, many in the backstretch community have been finding out whether they still have homes to go back to. Eoin Harty | Horsephotos California Thoroughbred Trainers president Eoin Harty was evacuated from his north Sierra Madre community late Tuesday night. Harty returned to his house midway Wednesday morning. It was still standing. But a tree at the end of his garden was ablaze. He doused it with a hose and stayed on into the night to stub out any other potential fires and to protect the property from looters combing the fire-stricken area. “I've been sat up there trying to protect the porch, basically,” said Harty, Thursday morning. Emergency services had cordoned off his street but there was no other police presence keeping an eye on the homes last night, he said. “I think I might have been the only person on my street last night. It was eerily quiet and pitch dark. I left this morning when it was dark, and so, haven't really surveyed what has happened or is happening today,” he said. “You've got the fallout from the wind, so you've got the tree limbs and crap everywhere. Then you've got the smoke and ash falling on top of that,” he said. “I think I'm in a state of shock today. Yesterday, it was just reacting to the facts and the situation. But today it's starting to sink in just what the f@#* is going on here,” said Harty, who added that he'll once again stand guard outside his home tonight. “I'll be wielding my little league baseball bat at them,” he said, of any looters. “It'll be like Pee-wee Herman chasing down a villain.” Phil D'Amato | Horsephotos For trainer Phil D'Amato, his is more a sense of relief. “We've averted disaster, thanks to the fire department and the forestry service. They acted quickly and I'm extremely grateful,” said D'Amato. D'Amato lives in a home abutting the mountainside north of Santa Anita. He said he was evacuated Tuesday night but returned to his home yesterday to see if it was still standing. When he arrived, he said, the flames were perilously near creeping down the hillside towards him home (see the video above). The emergency services arrived just in the nick of time, he added. “The cut down all the trees and all the potential fuel to the fire, knocked out anything that got into my backyard,” said D'Amato. Had they not, his home would likely have been lost, he said. “I think so–it was getting really hot, fast and furious there,” said D'Amato. “It was a surreal experience.” 8am pic.twitter.com/XeZ6UqXwlm — John W. Sadler (@johnwsadler) January 9, 2025 The post Los Angeles Wildfires: As Threats To Santa Anita Recede, Reality Bites appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
Orchestral. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A series of outstanding performances at Ellerslie last summer underpinned an award-winning three-year-old season for Orchestral, and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood hope Sunday’s first-up run will set her up for more of the same in 2025. The top-class daughter of Savabeel scored a stunning Ellerslie treble in last year’s $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). She powered home from the back half of the field to win each of those features with ease, racking up a combined winning margin of more than 11 lengths. Orchestral carried on to Sydney and added the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), which James and Wellwood had also won the previous year with Prowess. Orchestral’s exceptional three-year-old season came to an end with a third placing in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m). James and Wellwood went into Orchestral’s four-year-old spring with high hopes, but she was unplaced in all of her three appearances. She resumed with an eighth over 1400m at Ellerslie in September, followed by a strong-finishing sixth in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and a very disappointing 12th in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). “For whatever reason, she didn’t show her best form in that spring campaign,” James said. “She had a hard run first-up, and then to be fair to her, she was very unlucky in that second run. But her performance in that last race was a bit of a head-scratcher. “We gave her a break after that and I’m super happy with her in the lead-up to Ellerslie this weekend. She’s looking great. “The 1400m will absolutely be short of her best distance this weekend and there’s a fair bit of improvement left in her. We don’t need her to be peaking for this race.” James is looking forward to taking Orchestral back to Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting again on January 25 in search of another million-dollar prize. “She’ll go to the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) next,” he said. “After that, she’ll probably continue to race in New Zealand through until the autumn. We can race for such incredibly good money on home soil now, with the stakes and bonuses, that there’s no need to look further afield.” Horse racing bookmakers rate Orchestral a $3 favourite for the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic. She is also prominent in the market for the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8, where she sits on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind dominant $1.70 favourite Snazzytavi. Orchestral is at the same $6 quote with Neds for the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), which is one of four Group One races run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. The Aotearoa Classic, Herbie Dyke Stakes and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes are all qualifying races for the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series, which will award bonuses of $300,000, $150,000 and $50,000 for the three highest point-scorers at the conclusion of the 12-race series. Horse racing news View the full article
-
Orange with a host of good chances at Nelson today
Wandering Eyes posted a topic in BOAY Racing News
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Sideshow Bruce has come a long way in a short time and today he’ll have to take another big step up. The Robert Stuart-trained Sweet Lou four-year-old has had three wins and a second in four career starts and at 7.09pm will carry local hopes in the day’s feature at Richmond Park, the $25,000 Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Cup. The country’s top driver Blair Orange will again drive Sideshow Bruce after guiding him to a winning double at Westport on Boxing Day and December 28. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how he goes,” says Orange, “this will be the hardest field he’s raced and it will be interesting to see how he shapes up and we’ll get a line on where he’s at.” It will also be Sideshow Bruce’s first standing start. He’s drawn one over the 3000 metres and is currently a $10 fifth favourite, behind Rakero Rocket, Who’s Delight, Xlendi and Built For Glory. Rising star Rakero Rocket was an impressive winner of the first ever four-year-old Group 1 The Christian Cullen at Addington on December 6 while Orange is mindful of the Bob Butt trained and driven Xlendi. “Xlendi’s off the front and no slouch.” Orange has a full book of 11 drives today at one of his favourite places. “I love Nelson , I could retire there,” says Orange, “and it’s a lovely track, everyone gets their chance.” Orange looks to have plenty of chances himself. “They look a pretty even lot and there’s a few there with a bit of luck can be winning or in the money,” says Orange. Among them Nellie Doyle has won a trial for trainer Tim Trathen ahead of her resumption, Lasa has been in good form for Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, and the likes of Racingmissgracie, Light Me Up and Just Holla have all been well backed. And Orange is upbeat about the chances of the Paul Nairn-trained El Conqueror in the Jack Behrns / Joe Hill Tribute Handicap Trot at 7.34pm after he had two seconds at Westport and a fifth at Reefton between Christmas and New Year. “I think this is a winnable race for him. He was a bit flat on the last day at Reefton the way the track was playing but we were pretty happy with both days at Westport.” Blair Orange’s Nelson drives : Race 1 – 3.13pm – Racingmissgracie Race 2 – 3.47pm – Light Me Up Race 3 – 4.23pm – Nellie Doyle Race 4 – 4.57pm – Lasa Race 5 – 5.22pm – Just Holla Race 6 – 5.49pm – Kawactus Race 7 – 6.17pm – Bella Lindenny Race 8 – 6.42pm – What A Minx Race 9 – 7.09pm – Sideshow Bruce Race 10 – 7.34pm – El Conqueror Race 11 – 8.03pm – Follow Your Dream Orange wrapped up his seventh consecutive drivers’ premiership at the conclusion of the 2024 and has had five wins so far in 2025 to be second equal, two wins behind leader Matthew Williamson. View the full article -
Top End trainer Ella Clarke was named recipient of the 2025 Racing Women of the Year award in the NT/WA category at the Magic Millions Racing Women Awards dinner at the Gold Coast last Friday. (Picture: Caroline Camilleri/Darwin Photography Professionals) It has been a big week for Darwin trainer Ella Clarke. Last Friday night, she was named as the 2025 Racing Woman of the Year in the combined WA/NT category at the Magic Millions Racing Women Awards dinner held at The Star Casino on the Gold Coast. Launched last year, the function recognises the outstanding national success and achievements by women in the Australian thoroughbred industry. “Meeting some of the biggest female names in racing, it was just an honour and exciting to share the room with them,” Clarke said. Ella Baird from Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory nominated Clarke for the award, while TRNT chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole helped with her final presentation. The 28-year-old heads home on Friday night to prepare for Saturday’s meeting at Fannie Bay. Apart from attending to her horse Style And Grace, Clarke will also prepare Hazlewood, Global Wonder, American Jazz, Influential Jack, Change Is Coming and Bel Suono for her dad Gary. Gary, the Top End and Country premiership’s leading trainer, and wife Sharlene arrived on the Gold Coast on Tuesday for the Magic Millions meeting on Saturday, as well as the horse sales. Click here for HorseBetting’s full preview of Magic Millions Day 2025. Ella hopes that former Victorian mare Style And Grace, a five-year-old by Impending, can make it three wins from seven starts when she takes on 0-64 opposition over 1300m. “Style And Grace has gone quite well – she has only missed out on prizemoney twice,” she said. “It’s a small field of six on Saturday, but there’s still speed in the race and there’s some good horses. “American Jazz has found his feet again, he’ll be hard to beat. “Tommy Logan is going for the hat-trick with Queen In The North – she’s one to beat as well.” Kick-starting her training career on October 2, 2021, Ella had her first win at her next meeting three weeks later with Son Of Utred. Since then, it’s been 23 wins and 32 minor placings from 100 starts at Fannie Bay. Wild Beau, Pop Magic, Debating, Hotim English and Point Loma complete Ella’s stable. Wild Beau broke the 1100m track record in December, Pop Magic won the $40,000 Wet Season Series Final (1200m) on Australia Day last year, and Debating starred as a three-year-old last season. The young trainer had success on Darwin Cup Day in 2023 when Ironedge won the 2050m consolation race for horses that missed the Cup. To be considered for the trophy and a $10,000 scholarship at the Magic Millions Racing Women’s big night, Clarke had to answer questions and stipulate how best she would spend her cash prize. “I’ve been learning about the post-race recovery for horses in hot weather, I just wanted to develop my skills and knowledge,” she said. “One thing I have been researching a lot was pulse therapy, I really want to go down that road.” Horse racing news View the full article
-
Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Friday, January 10. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for January 10, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Double Winnings All Races at Pakenham Get DOUBLE WINNINGS paid in BONUS CASH for your first bet on each race at Pakenham. Applies to Win, Place & Top 2/3/4 markets (excludes SRM). Max bonus $50. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts Elevate Your Prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Same Race Multi | Select 2-4 runners in the same race to get bigger odds Available from approx 8:30am local track time on race day. Availability dependent on field size. Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for January 10, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article
-
A New York Appellate Court has dismissed a complaint from two New York State taxpayers, Jannette Patterson and John Di Leonardo, who sought on behalf of PETA to prevent the state from loaning NYRA the $455 million it plans to use to rebuild Belmont Park. The court, the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, was ruling on an appeal from the plaintiffs whose complaint was dismissed by an Albany County court in October of 2023. With the filing of the original lawsuit PETA said, in a statement, that it was “hoping to prevent a shady deal to fund a private entertainment business with money from New York taxpayers.” The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that the appropriation violated the New York Constitution's prohibition on giving of lending public funds in aid of a private undertaking. According to a ruling issued Thursday, “the court ultimately denied plaintiffs' application for a preliminary injunction, granted judgment in defendants' favor and declared the appropriation to be constitutional. Given that this action has been rendered moot, the appeal must be dismissed.” The court addressed a situation in which the work to tear down the original Belmont Park and build a new facility was already well underway. “As general principle, courts are precluded from considering questions, which, although once live, have become moot by passage of time or change in circumstances,” the ruling read…” In cases involving construction projects, various factors are considered, including how far the construction work has progressed towards completion, whether the work was undertaken in bad faith or without authority and whether the substantially completed work cannot be readily undone without substantial hardship.” “…extensive work has been performed that could not be undone without substantial hardship, as the former quarter-mile, long grandstand has been demolished. Belying any claim that the construction has been undertaken without authority or in bad faith, NYRA has obtained all the necessary regulatory approvals.” The court also noted that it would have been impractical for NYRA to seek a loan from anyone else other than the state. “While plaintiffs contend that NYRA and the state defendants could pursue other public or private funding mechanisms, such claims are speculative and unsupported by the record,” the ruling read. The new Belmont is expected to be ready in time to host the 2026 GI Belmont Stakes. “The transformation of Belmont Park will secure the future of thoroughbred racing in New York State, create thousands of good jobs and drive tourism to Long Island and the region for decades to come,” NYRA spokesperson Patrick McKenna said. “NYRA is pleased with the court's decision, and we look forward to opening a world-class racing and entertainment destination in 2026.” The post PETA Backed, Last Ditch Effort To Stop Belmont Rebuild Shot Down By Appellate Court appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, welcomed last month 2003 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town (Cape Town) and 2009 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Stone Legacy (Birdstone), the nonprofit via a release on Thursday. Bird Town is the first Kentucky Oaks winner retired to the farm. Both horses were donated to Old Friends thanks to the generosity of Marylou Whitney Stables. “Under any circumstances, Old Friends would be honored to welcome these two accomplished mares,” said John Nicholson, Old Friends's president and CEO. “The fact that they come to us from the Marylou Whitney Stables means that their arrival carries an even deeper meaning for us. We were so saddened by the recent unexpected passing of John Hendrickson. He and his wife Marylou Whitney were not only towering figures in Thoroughbred Racing, they were stalwart supporters of Thoroughbred aftercare in general and Old Friends in particular.” The post Old Friends Welcomes Kentucky Oaks Alums Bird Town, Stone Legacy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
A filly born at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington, Kentucky is the first reported foal for champion 2-year-old colt Forte (Violence). Gravy (Collected–Flawless Diamond, by Saint Ballado), a $160,000 2024 Keeneland November purchase by Darby Dan client Gary Holland for Kamden Favorites, had a dark bay filly Jan. 8 at 6:00 p.m. ET. “She is a flashy filly with plenty of leg, we are thrilled with the result, especially as this is the mare's first foal,” said Darby Dan Farm Manager Charlie McKinlay. Forte, winner of the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2022, also took home that same year the GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. Forte covered 196 mares to date and is set to stand the 2025 season for $45,000 S&N at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington. The post First Foal Reported For Champion Forte Is A Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this extended weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 11, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($75k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m QUEEN'S CHOCOLAT (JPN) (f, 3, Tiz the Law–Ahh Chocolate, by Candy Ride {Arg}) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for her dam, a two-time graded winner going long on the dirt for Stoneway Farm and trainer Neil Howard and sold with this filly in utero for $300,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. This is the female family of three-time GIII Arlington Handicap hero Rahystrada and his Grade III-winning half-brother Lone Star Sky. B-Queens Ranch Ltd Sunday, January 12, 2025 5th-CKO, ¥11,850,000, ($75k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m BILLIONAIRE BOY (c, 3, American Pharoah–Theworldweknow, by Speightstown) looks to become the third winner from as many starters out of a half-sister to Marylebone (Unbridled's Song), winner of the GI Matron Stakes at two and subsequently responsible for 10 winners, including SW Bow Bells (Giant's Causeway) and an additional three stakes horses. Theworldweknow was purchased in foal to Constitution for $160,000 at KEENOV in 2020 and was exported to Japan in 2023. B-Crown Farm USA (KY) Monday, January 13, 2025 5th-NKY, ¥11,850,000 ($75k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m ADVANTES ROAD (JPN) (c, 3, Munnings–Enchanting Kitten, by Kitten's Joy), purchased by the JS Company for $100,000 carrying this colt at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, is out of a winning full-sister to Csaba, a three-time graded stakes winner on the main track; and Kitten's Queen, a stakes winner and Grade I-placed runner who has produced the Japanese multiple stakes-placed Today Is the Day (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The 4-year-old half-sister to Advantes Road, Public Assembly (More Than Ready), was purchased by Abbondanza/TMSA-Medallion out of the Horses of Racing Age at last year's KEENOV sale. B-Hattori Bokujo The post Tiz the Law Represented By First Japanese Runner Saturday at Chukyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
Santa Anita Park has postponed Friday's Jan. 10 racing program until next Thursday, Jan. 16. due to the forecast of poor air quality for the San Gabriel Valley after the devasting impact made by the Eaton Fire in the Los Angeles area, the track said in a press release on Thursday afternoon. The California Horse Racing Board has approved this proactive rescheduling of the 10-race card. The races will be run with the horses previously entered in the post position order originally drawn. “While Santa Anita continues to remain well outside of any active fire area, the smoke from the wildfires is affecting all of Los Angeles County,” said Santa Anita's General Manager & SVP Nate Newby. “We also want to respect the impact that this tragedy has had on many of our community, including our horsemen and women and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires. By proactively moving the races, it gives our horsemen and women, horseplayers, fans and our team the opportunity to plan accordingly.” A decision on this weekend's racing program, including Saturday's 11-race California Cup program, will be made on Friday. On Wednesday morning, Santa Anita began distributing N-95 masks to all backstretch and frontstretch personnel as well as protective eyewear because of the smoke from the Eaton Fire. Though Santa Anita was never in any imminent danger from the fire, the track has offered assistance to trainers who wished to voluntarily evacuate their horses to another CHRB facitlity. Click here for TDN's coverage of the Eaton Fire. Thank u to everyone that's reached out the last few days. All the calls & texts mean a lot. My family evacuated Tuesday night, but thankfully we are safe and the house is ok. Horses at Santa Anita are healthy. Sadly many families in our area lost everything pic.twitter.com/4Eqf1Qs7RZ — Dan Blacker (@dan_blacker) January 9, 2025 The post Santa Anita Park Postpones Friday Racing Until Next Thursday, Jan. 16 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
With 50 horses stabled at Payson Park Training Center this winter for the first time in his two-decade career, the 2020 and '21 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox now has a geographically easier time targeting Florida races. On Wednesday, Cox won with his first Tampa Bay Downs starter since 2019. And since Nov. 30, he's compiled a 1-3-0 record from six starts at Gulfstream Park, where he started only 50 runners over the past five years, generally by shipping in from his customary bases at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park, where he still has stalls. With horse-training duties wrapped up at Payson on Thursday, Cox was squeezing in a bit of personal conditioning prior to boarding an afternoon flight from Fort Lauderdale to New Orleans when TDN called to ask about his decision to keep a division in Florida this winter. “I'm walking through the airport right now just trying to get some steps in,” an on-the-move Cox told TDN before delving into an explanation about his stabling shift. “We needed a place to prepare horses on the dirt, and there's not a lot of [winter] options,” Cox said. “I wanted a place where I didn't feel obligated to race anywhere. I just wanted a place where we could train. I'd never been to Payson, but heard nothing but good things about it from people like Bill Harrigan, Elliott Walden, and a lot of other guys. And obviously, Bill Mott and Christophe Clement have been there for long, long time, so that says a lot about it. “We've got a lot of nice horses, and they can't all end up at New Orleans or Hot Springs,” Cox continued. “Payson is also a place where we're not going to get interrupted too much with regard to weather. Obviously, they're going to get some rain. But look, right now at Oaklawn [where a snowstorm has KO'd racing for the upcoming weekend] it's a little tough, and trying to keep a horse on a [GI Kentucky] Derby trail or [GI Kentucky] Oaks trail, it's hard enough without having to avoid closures and stuff like that.” Gulfstream is a 90-mile straight shot south from Payson, while Tampa is nearly 200 miles to the northwest on the opposite coast. Brad Cox | Sarah Andrew John Hancock, a Constitution-sired 3-year-old colt who is a half-brother to the 2020 GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes victress Speech, was bet to 8-5 favoritism for his Jan. 8 debut at Tampa. He was a bit antsy in the gate prior to the start, hopped at the break, accelerated to a clear lead, then drew off in the stretch when challenged prior to being put under wraps by jockey Samy Camacho for the final 70 yards. “That was like riding a machine. I didn't ask him 100%, just a little bit at the quarter pole, and after that I was on cruise control,” Camacho told the Tampa media team after the win. Owned in partnership by Siena Farm, CHC, Inc., and breeder WinStar Farm, John Hancock won by three lengths. His 1:09.45 time for six furlongs (.78 seconds off the track record) equated to an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. “I thought he performed very well,” Cox said. “Really well-balanced horse. I think based on pedigree and the way he travels, he can stretch [in distance]. I'm not sure where we'll land. We'll talk with the WinStar team and Elliott Walden, but I think the Sam F. Davis [Stakes Feb. 8 at Tampa] is a spot that we're going to nominate to and take a look at; give him an opportunity to stretch out.” Cox has his second Tampa starter of the season, Gin Gin (Hightail), entered as a main-track-only 3-5 favorite in Friday's ninth race, a one-mile allowance/optional claimer. Gin Gin has not raced since finishing twelfth in the Kentucky Oaks last May. Cox has a pair of high-priced sophomore firsters entered at Gulfstream on Saturday: Vanderbilt (Into Mischief) a $1.1-million KEESEP colt, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the fourth race over six furlongs. Wild Conqueror (Authentic), an $875,000 KEESEP colt, is 4-1 for the seventh race at one mile. The post Stabling 50 At Payson For First Time, Cox Takes Closer Aim At Florida Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) will honor Frank Taylor and the Stable Recovery Program with the Special Eclipse Award for service to the Thoroughbred industry at the Resolute Racing 54th Annual Eclipse Awards Dinner and Ceremony at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 23, according to a press release from the NTRA on Thursday. Taylor, along with Stable Recovery CEO Christian Countzler, is the driving force behind that organization and the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship, two programs that work in tandem to take recovering addicts, give them the ongoing support they need, and find them meaningful employment in the Thoroughbred racing industry. “This program has changed so many people's lives,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Not only does Stable Recovery give recovering addicts a second chance, but the racing industry is fortunate to find very capable and talented horsemen as a result. Dependency is an issue that affects everyone, one way or another.” Taylor got the idea for the program several years ago, from local Lexington restaurant DV8 that employed only individuals in recovery. After learning about their success, he explored whether a similar model could work within the horse industry, especially because of the therapeutic attributes of horses. “I went to my brothers, told them about this idea and said I wanted to try it,” Taylor said. “After a lot of discussion, we decided on a 90-day trial period–and five years later it has been nothing but positive.” Billy Major at Taylor Made | Sara Gordon He launched the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship, a 90-day program that helps men learn the essential tools needed for working on a Thoroughbred farm. Then along with Countzler, Taylor rolled out Stable Recovery, a program to provide a safe and stable living environment, along with a 12-step program, for men in early recovery to regain control of their lives. The peer-driven therapeutic community allows men to live, work, and recover together, while helping each other grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. While participating in the Stable Recovery program, residents attend the School of Horsemanship at Taylor Made Farm. They receive training and on the job experience in several different facets of the Thoroughbred industry by the very best in the business at Taylor Made. Stable Recovery then provides employment opportunities at participating strategic partners in the Thoroughbred industry–if participants possess a willingness to learn and a strong work ethic. Participants are able to attend the program entirely free of charge. The project was launched and was initially self-funded by the Taylor family. Since then, they have received an outpouring of support from the local community, and across the US and the world, and have been able to involve not only other horse operations and racing entities in the program, but also are expanding their curriculum to help individuals with other interests. Now the program is funded approximately 80% by private donations and 20% by state and federal grants. “Our success rate is three times better than national average–I think there's several reasons for that,” said Taylor on the success of the program. “One, they're getting exposed to a horse, which is an amazingly therapeutic animal. Two, it's a military type of operation, and they're held very accountable. We have high expectations, and we require maximum effort from our participants each and every day. Three, they're in a natural setting and are exposed to a lot of hard work, which is good for people. And finally, they are in a very controlled environment with a strict daily schedule. All these things combined give us a little advantage over other places, and it's working.” More than 100 individuals have graduated from the program. When asked what this program means to him, Taylor said, “I feel like this program has been like a spiritual journey and that God has had his hands on it every step of the way. This program is solving a lot of problems–the addiction problem, the imprisonment problem, the homelessness problem, the labor problem in the sport, and on top of everything, it's reuniting families. It's just so good on so many levels, and I'm very proud of that.” The TDN has covered Stable Recovery's rise–the most recent article can be accessed by clicking here. The post Frank Taylor And The Stable Recovery Program To Receive Special Eclipse Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano's multiple Grade I winner White Abarrio (Race Day) breezed Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park ahead of his next scheduled start in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25. With regular exercise rider Vicente Gudiel aboard, White Abarrio went four furlongs in 47.81 seconds over the main track, the fastest of 23 horses at the distance. It was the first work for 5-year-old earner of more than $5.2 million since his runner-up finish in the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes Dec. 28. “We were kind of looking for a steady kind of half with a long gallop out, and it kind of went beyond our expectations,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “It went really, really well. He worked super with an even longer gallop out than we wanted, but he did it the right way. We're very pleased with where he's at. If he can hopefully stay this kind of form into the Pegasus, he'll be very tough.” Making his first start in 168 days, White Abarrio romped by 10 1/4 lengths in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance Nov. 22 at Gulfstream to set him up for the Mr. Prospector. Also at seven furlongs, he got off slowly and raced far back before making a dramatic late run to come up 1 1/4 lengths short of multiple graded-stakes winner Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke). “Obviously you always want to win, but you try to look for the positives in every situation,” said Joseph. “We felt like we ran a winning race without winning. He got a lot of education as far as taking dirt and it was a gallant effort. He's in good order right now. We need it to continue like this and we feel like we're bringing a horse in with a very good chance.” White Abarrio will put in his final work next week for the Pegasus. “We worked today so it gives us options,” he said. “Now we can work next week anywhere between Thursday and Sunday. We'll kind of decide next week when we're going to do it.” Joseph's other Pegasus candidate, Daniel Alonso's multi-millionaire Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), is scheduled to put in his penultimate work Friday morning. Following his sixth-place finish in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 2, the 5-year-old has breezed four times since mid-December at Palm Meadows. The post MGISW White Abarrio Posts Work For Pegasus World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
1st-Gulfstream, $50,000, (S), Msw, 1-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.84, fm, 1 1/2 lengths. MO HARMONY (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Leslie's Harmony, by Curlin) finished sixth at a well-backed 5-2 on debut sprinting on the all-weather here Dec. 1. Adding Lasix, stretching to two turns and trying turf this time, the 6-5 favorite broke in and bumped with a rival at the start and was checked hard in traffic and shuffled back into seventh passing the wire for the first time. An inside sixth through a half mile in :46.68, she hit the gas on the far turn, came rolling four wide at the top of the stretch and kicked home to graduate by 1 1/2 lengths over Abundant Love (Kitten's Joy). The winner is a half to Scotland Yard (Quality Road), Ch. Miler-KSA, SW-KSA, $879,468. After producing fillies by Not This Time in 2023-24, Leslie's Harmony was bred to Justify. Leslie's Harmony is a daughter of Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady (Tricky Creek), who, of course, produced Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn. Sales history: $225,000 RNA Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $30,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Happy Alter. Mo Harmony and @luissaezpty deliver in the first race at #GulfstreamPark! pic.twitter.com/CAzEIcT2El — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) January 9, 2025 The post Well-Related Uncle Mo Filly Graduates Over Gulfstream Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
The GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies winner and leading candidate for Eclipse 2-year-old filly honors, Immersive (Nyquist–Gap Year, by Bernardini), will be given some time off due to bone bruising, according to a Thursday post on Godolphin's website. The homebred and Brad Cox trainee–who also won the GI Spinaway Stakes and GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes–will likely be off until summer. Godolphin's Director of Bloodstock, Michael Banahan, said, “Brad [Cox] wasn't happy with the way she was moving so she came home for diagnostics that confirmed the issue. While obviously unfortunate, she had a flawless 2-year-old season and we will give her the time she needs and look forward to seeing her back in the summer.” Immersive wins the $2 Million @NetJets #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies on #FutureStarsFriday at @delmarracing! Congrats to all of her connections! pic.twitter.com/4tKPMmjo7z — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 1, 2024 The post Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Winner Immersive Sidelined With Bone Bruising, Off Until The Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
Value Sires For Kentucky Part 7: The Big Guns
Wandering Eyes posted a topic in The Rest of the World
Obviously this is too wide a category, at $60,000 and upwards, to be always comparing like with like. And really those at the very apex have earned their monster fees by excellence too blatant for contention. Most of that will instead be reserved for those sires that remain somewhat more accessible, relatively speaking–especially given the Uncle Mo-sized hole that has tragically appeared in this sector. La creme de la creme is divided between a trio in the evening of their careers–Into Mischief, Curlin, Tapit–and those aiming to supplant them, led by Gun Runner, Justify and Not This Time. None needs introduction but let's just remind ourselves that it was actually CURLIN who proudly topped the 2024 yearling averages at $585,636 for 55 of 66 sold. (At this level, of course, many programs will gladly retain horses if the price doesn't match their expectations.) He actually slipped out of the top 10 on the general sires' list, but had another three Grade I winners and his 5.2% graded stakes scorers (to starters) was unmatched. INTO MISCHIEF, whose rise has been underpinned by exceptional libido and fertility, received 193 mares last year–aged 19, and charging $250,000! He processed 60 of 82 yearlings at $552,500 en route to a sixth consecutive championship, breaking his own prizemoney record. He'll soon overtake Tapit as the richest stallion in American history, and his stakes percentages have advanced with the caliber of his mares. No established/active stallion, indeed, beat the 7.6% clip at which he produced another 36 black-type winners (five Grade I) in 2024. Into Mischief has no fewer than four of T.D. Thornton's opening Derby Top 12. Into Mischief | Sarah Andrew The venerable TAPIT is being respectfully managed, confined to 79 mares last year at $185,000. His diminishing output told at 27th in the general sires' table but he still got six graded stakes winners (including a 32nd Grade I scorer) at basically the same clip as Into Mischief's 17. (They respectively fielded 186 and 475 starters!) This remains a modern great, whose latest yearlings brought $442,030 for 33 of 41 sold. GUN RUNNER broke into the top three at the sales, averaging $525,987 for 82 of 97 sold (conceived at half his current fee of $250,000). He also got closest to Into Mischief's total, with four Grade I winners among 24 graded stakes performers, representing a superb 9.4% of starters. The only horse to beat that (25 at 9.8%) was the still younger JUSTIFY, who'll have both quantity and quality behind him in the years ahead. Only neighbor Practical Joke exceeded Justify's latest book of 256. He processed his yearlings (conceived at his bubble fee of $100,000) at $326,254 for 59 of 76 sold. Value remains a factor at this rarefied level, too, and NOT THIS TIME must be the pick even at $175,000, up from $150,000. His yearlings, conceived at just $45,000, graduate from the monster crop he assembled as an emerging star, and no fewer than 132 entered the ring. Of these, 113 sold at $357,787, up sharply from $287,025 the previous year. The real quality is yet to cycle through, with the next crop conceived at $135,000, but Not This Time continues to produce at stellar ratios. Remember Epicenter, Up to the Mark and now Cogburn all resulted from $15,000 covers. GOOD MAGIC has joined Man o' War and Gallant Fox as the only sires of a Classic winner in each of their first two crops. Obviously he must divide some credit with the mare who produced both, but Dornoch was only one of three Grade I winners in 2024 and that pretty well vindicated his hike to $125,000. Admittedly his new fee eroded his 2024 book to 138 (179 the previous year) but the 61 of 77 yearlings sold from his fourth crop at $226,618 were conceived at just $30,000. Good Magic has absolutely earned fidelity, pending his upgraded matings coming through on the track. Good Magic | Sarah Andrew The big mover for 2025 is NYQUIST, after four Grade I winners in 2024, soaring to $175,000 from $85,000–at which fee we put him on our podium last year. It feels a long time ago, now, since he mustered a single graded stakes winner the year after winning his 2020 freshman title. That caused him to be throttled back to $55,000–but the resulting yearlings soared to $293,959, for 65 of 86 sold, a six-figure increase on the previous crop. After various peaks and troughs, we'll just have to see where the graph-line settles. QUALITY ROAD had a bumpy couple of years at $200,000 and sensibly returns to the $150,000 fee at which he conceived his latest yearlings. These made $303,009 for 51 of 61 sold, rather a slide since topping the averages in 2021 (second in 2022); while he only mustered 109 and 82 mares during his two years at an inflated fee. He kept himself in the game on the racetrack, however, as many as eight of his 10 stakes winners in 2024 obliging at graded level (notably in the GI Met Mile). His lifetime indices remain excellent. His celebrated new neighbor FLIGHTLINE will do well to put together a resume like that, but trades at the same fee in preparing to launch his first yearlings. However astonishing his talent, we obviously have no idea whether he can replicate it. But eight weanlings certainly capitalized on his glamor, vindicating a $200,000 introductory fee with the eye-watering average of $655,896. LIFE IS GOOD is meanwhile down to $75,000 from an opening $100,000, despite eight of just a dozen weanlings fetching $325,625. His second book held up strongly (186 after 192). CODY'S WISH, who shared Elite Power's outlier Curlin speed, opened for business last year at $75,000 but takes the familiar second-year trim to $65,000 despite being fully subscribed for his debut (165 mares). MCKINZIE was so warmly received, in mare traffic and then at the sales, that he maintained a $30,000 fee through to the appearance of his first juveniles last year–and he's now up to $75,000 after two of them won Grade Is, missing the freshman title by cents. Curiously, these two remain his only stakes scorers, and his winner ratio falls below those around him in the freshman table; on the other hand, his six black-type performers also included another pair placed at Grade I level. Looks like his good ones can be very good, and he duly topped the second-crop averages at $156,159 for 88 sold of 100. A national high of 277 mares locks in catalogue competition, but it's easy to understand a continued vogue for PRACTICAL JOKE at $75,000 (up from $50,000). With a $30,000 stallion son starting out, he's leading the Into Mischief pack (again ninth in the general sires' table, his seven graded stakes winners including two elite scorers at Saratoga) and his black-type ratios are highly respectable given the sheer volume of his output. Having averaged $156,901 for 82 of 97 yearlings (conceived at $35,000), at this fee he'll obviously need continued momentum to sustain his sales offering. Studmate MUNNINGS continues in a correction after a single season at $100,000 in 2023, now $65,000 from $75,000. If he overshot somewhat at six figures, he looks pretty fairly priced now. While 68 of his 98 yearlings sold at $174,558, down a little on the previous year, on the racetrack he maintained a top 10 foothold via another 14 stakes scorers. These arrive at a lifetime clip of 8.6%, and now include an unbeaten GII Remsen Stakes winner. So long a wiseguy pick, Munnings has arguably now found his niche as a rock-solid second-tier stallion. Now turned 26, CANDY RIDE (ARG) is sire of 19 Grade I winners and two top six stallions. That makes him one serious horse to be standing at $75,000 and he maintained standards in 2024 with another seven graded stakes winners. He's suffering the same neglect as so many older sires, his latest yearlings down to $140,546 (43 of 52 sold) from $200,657 the previous year. But class should never go out of fashion. Which makes the same fee about the great WAR FRONT feel almost insulting. Still $250,000 as recently as 2020, he has long required restrained management of his books and his diminishing footprint might nourish the illusion that his powers may be waning. But overall his ratios are simply off the charts: one-in-four named foals a stakes horse, one-in-six a graded stakes performer, one-in-30 a Grade I winner. Like Hard Spun, he offers priceless access to Danzig, who was himself actually 24 when conceiving War Front. For a breed-to-race program, War Front is unmissable, even if his commercial profile is no longer robust enough to complement that status. War Front | Sarah Andrew VALUE PODIUM Bronze: CONSTITUTION Tapit–Baffled, by Distorted Humor WinStar Farm, $110,000 Our pick at this level last year duly broke into the top five in the general sires' list. If he did so with breadth, rather than garish headliners, remember that his 2024 sophomores were still only conceived at $40,000 yet included two placed in Triple Crown races. The next bunch were sired at $85,000, thanks to his breakout star Tiz the Law, and the market has bought into the whole project enthusiastically: his last three crops of yearlings averaged $244,242, $281,125 and last year $330,171 for 64 sold of 81. It just feels like the quality is going to cycle through over the next couple of years, after which he might leave even this fee behind. Silver: TWIRLING CANDY Candy Ride (Arg)–House of Danzing, by Chester House Lane's End Farm, $60,000 As intimated at the outset, this horse isn't really competing directly with the superstars. But you'd hardly know it, looking at the general sires' list, where Twirling Candy climbed to a giddy sixth. He has got here by unobtrusive, consistent achievement, hitting this fee in 2022 only by steady increments from $10,000 (when sending out his first runners in 2015). Yet Iscreamuscream in 2024 became his ninth Grade I winner. As the steady upgrading of his mares filters onto the racetrack, he could also keep progressing in commercial clout: his latest yearlings retailed at $143,894 for 78 of 104 sold. This was the leading domestic earner on grass in 2024, but his versatility as a runner is echoed by sons having won dirt Grade Is as varied as the Bing Crosby Stakes, Preakness and Santa Anita Handicap. His fourth dam is actually the result of allowing Alydar to cover the dam of his nemesis Affirmed, and the seeding of the family to that point has persuasive balance: dam by the beautifully bred Chester House, second dam by Danzig, third by Seattle Slew. Gold: MEDAGLIA D'ORO El Prado (Ire)–Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper Darley, $75,000 Gold by name, gold by nature. We've noted with a due affront a couple of other veterans at this fee. But the difference with this paragon is that even now he keeps producing, both on the track and in the ring. His book doubtless requires sensitive management nowadays, but breeders who share the self-fulfilling prejudice against ageing stallions are being offered strong grounds to repent. From his latest juveniles Medaglia d'Oro produced Grade I winner East Avenue, firmly on the Classic trail along with unbeaten GII Golden Rod Stakes winner Good Cheer. And he's still getting gorgeous horses, too, retailing 29 of 38 yearlings at $290,068. His career record actually remains uncannily in step with Into Mischief, whose bigger books mean that they have fielded almost precisely the same number of starters (1,412/1,402) despite four fewer crops. Both have 80 graded stakes winners and 52 Grade I performers; while the senior stallion has 156 graded stakes horses against Into Mischief's 154. The one and only reason Medaglia d'Oro has sunk to this undignified level is ageism. If anything, access if anything should cost you more, not less. Hurry while stocks last! The Breeders Speak: Peter Bradley, Bradley Thoroughbreds Gold: MCKINZIE Street Sense–Runway Model, by Petionville Gainesway Farm, $75,000 Peter Bradley | Keeneland Even though his stud fee more than doubled, McKinzie may be the best bang for the buck at $75,000 this season. A Grade I winner at two, three and four, he completed his racing career at five with a Grade II win. His precocity, soundness and class are all evident in his first crop to race. Narrowly missing out on the Champion First-Crop Sire title, he has already produced four Grade I performers including Grade I winners Chancer McPatrick and Scottish Lassie. His yearling average topped $150,000 off a $30,000 stud fee and is certain to improve with the success of his first crop to race. Silver: LIFE IS GOOD Into Mischief–Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor WinStar Farm, $75,000 Life Is Good was one of the best racehorses of his generation, despite having to compete in the shadow of Flightline. This horse is an A+ physical and is stamping his foals with balance and quality. With a weanling average of $325,625 and a median of $325,000 in 2024, Life Is Good offers plenty of value at a $75,000 stud fee. He bred 378 high-quality mares across his first two books, giving him every opportunity to succeed at stud. Two years from now, $75,000 could look very inexpensive. Bronze: CANDY RIDE (ARG) Ride the Rails–Candy Girl (Arg), by Candy Stripes Lane's End Farm, $75,000 Candy Ride provides great value for the breeders whose focus is to produce top quality race horses at a reasonable fee. He is as underrated as they come and no other stallion at this price point can boast a resume with 19 Grade I winners and as a sire of sires, has a list that already includes Gun Runner, Twirling Candy and newly crowned Champion First-Crop Sire, Vekoma. The post Value Sires For Kentucky Part 7: The Big Guns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article