Wandering Eyes

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 03/19/2025 Licensee: Curt Ferguson, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 20, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Star Entry, who won at Turf Paradise on 1/25/25. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: Naoise Agnew, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 20, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. Both instances treated as one violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on I don't See Colors on 7/12/23; and Justice or Appeal on 8/2/23. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: James Crotts, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 19, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Jonas' Dream, who won at Turf Paradise on 2/17/25. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: Charles Essex, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 19, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Willing to Burn, who won at Turf Paradise on 1/30/25. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: Paulina Sinnefia, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 19, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on Fast Freeze Kaz on 9/20/23. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: Dimitrios Synnefias, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 19, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. All four instances treated as one violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on Zealous Legacy on 6/15/23; Kaz Munnings on 7/6/23; Athena Beach 4/18/24; and El Policia 6/25/24. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: Jose Aguila, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vet list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Sawyer's Speed on 2/9/25. Date: 03/18/2025 Licensee: Mario Lopez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Sam Stormy, who finished second at Tampa Bay on 2/2/25. Date: 03/17/2025 Licensee: David Geist, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 18, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. All five instances treated as one violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on Diggers Diamond on 11/2/23; Harvey Specter on 3/1/24, 5/10/24, and 6/27/24; and Romantic Gamble on 6/27/24. Date: 03/14/2025 Licensee: Jacinto Lopez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of DMSO–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Hot Princess, who finished third at Mahoning Valley on 2/6/25. Date: 03/14/2025 Licensee: Kimberly Graci, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 15, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a combined fine of $5,500. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time 66 different times between 5/28/23 and 7/5/24; and for an intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on I See the Stars on 2/20/24, and Cricket West on 5/9/24. Date: 03/14/2025 Licensee: Erin Carpio, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 15, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. All six instances treated as one violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on Shoyyookh on 6/28/23; Sir Steele on 7/19/23; Bejuco on 11/22/23, 1/10/24; and Nazareno on 5/31/24, 6/26/24. Date: 03/14/2025 Licensee: Marlin (Joe) Miller, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 15, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. All six instances treated as one violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on Highway Queen on 6/16/23, 7/13/23, 8/16/23, 12/28/23, 1/12/24, and 2/23/24. Date: 03/13/2025 Licensee: Gary Greiner, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Man Overboard, who finished sixth at Pleasanton on 12/18/24. Pending ADMC Violations 03/19/2025, Jabdiel Castillo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Play Ball, who finished seventh at Mahoning Valley on 2/11/25. 03/19/2025, Shivananda Parbhoo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance permitted under certain circumstances–in a sample taken from American Speed, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 1/5/25. 03/13/2025, Andrew McKeever, trainer: Pending vet list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Viley Lane on 2/10/25. 03/13/2025, Mark Glatt, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin and Gabapentin–one banned and one a controlled substance (Class B) respectively–in a sample taken from Vanzzy, who finished second at Los Alamitos on 12/6/24. More on the story here. 03/13/2025, Michael Zalalas, trainer: Pending medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on ATM Awesome on 9/1/23; and Secret Spell on 3/14/24. Violations of Crop Rule Aqueduct Christopher Elliott–violation date Mar. 14; $250 fine, no other information Manuel Franco–violation date Mar. 14; $250 fine, no other information Colonial Downs Weston Hamilton–violation date Mar. 15; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension Xavier Perez–violation date Mar. 14; $750 fine, three-day suspension Jevian Toledo– violation date Mar. 13; $500 fine, one-day suspension Jean Briceno–violation date Mar. 13; $1,500 fine, six-day suspension Weston Hamilton–violation date Mar. 13; $500 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Mar. 13-19 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Puerto Rico Horse Owners Association, Inc. (PRHOA) has agreed to drop a year-old federal lawsuit over allegedly unsafe surface conditions at Camarero Race Track after the owners of the island's only racing venue finally agreed to a long-sought demand by the plaintiffs to allow John Passero, the noted track-safety consultant who once served as the track superintendent at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, to inspect the track. After a Feb. 10-12 inspection by Passero deemed that Camarero's dirt surface “was generally in good condition [and] not suffering at the time of the inspection of the safety issues raised by PRHOA in its complaint,” and after Camarero management agreed to pursue “several recommendations” made by Passero, both the PRHOA and the defendants (Camarero's owners and the Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico) entered into a “confidential” settlement agreement that included jointly dropping the lawsuit. “[I]n view of Mr. Passero's conclusions, there was no need to continue with the instant litigation,” stated a court document jointly filed by plaintiffs and defendants Mar. 13. No further details about Passero's findings or suggestions were documented in the court filings. On Mar. 19, six days after the joint request to drop the lawsuit, the judge handling the case in United States District Court (District of Puerto Rico) signed an order and judgment “dismissing this action with prejudice in its entirety,” further noting that, “No attorneys' fees or costs are levied upon any party. This case is now closed for statistical purposes.” In its initial Apr. 26, 2024, version of the lawsuit, the PRHOA alleged a “present and clear danger” because of a decade's worth of purportedly uncorrected safety issues at Camarero. The group sought $500,000 in horse-injury damages stemming from “dangerous conditions…in particular [in the] final stretch in the mile and one sixteenth area…due to having consistency problems, unevenness, problems of humidity, lack of compaction and lack of effective maintenance, among others.” View from the Camerero grandstand | T.D. Thornton Before initiating its lawsuit, the PRHOA, on Apr. 2, 2024, had filed an “urgent petition” with the gaming commission asking for Passero to be allowed to commence investigatory work on the track surface. But, according to the initial complaint, “To make things worse, on Apr. 22, 2024, making evident its obstinacy and disregard for the well-being of the riders and Thoroughbreds in use of the Racetrack, Camarero answered the Urgent Petition [by] sustaining that since it is a private entity it doesn't have any legal obligation compelling it to share the requested information with third parties and that the revealing reports are confidential in nature and their disclosure is not supported by any legal provision requiring its submittal to PRHOA.” After the lawsuit was filed, both the Camarero owners and the Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico filed responses that didn't specifically contest the alleged safety hazards. Instead, they pleaded that the case should be dismissed for failure to state a claim and because a federal court is not the proper jurisdiction to decide the issue. The PRHOA, in turn, then filed written opposition to dismissing the case. “The lack of action by the Commission and its members [in] in concert with Camarero [constitute] an illegal violation of PRHOA and its members' civil rights, in violation of the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution and 42 USC section 1983. Said acts and omissions are grossly negligent or intentional and taken in reckless disregard and deliberate indifference of the rights of PRHOA and its members,” the PRHOA's June 24 filing stated. The PRHOA had claimed that despite several years of official complaints lodged to address the alleged safety issues, the gaming commission and track management purportedly ignored the horse owners' repeated calls for safety upgrades. The PRHOA also cited a history of cancelled racing and training on both dry and wet tracks dating to 2016. The post After Long-Sought Independent Inspection, Camarero Horsemen Drop Lawsuit Over Alleged Track Safety Issues appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be onsite during Florida Derby Week as they partner with 1/ST RACING and are designated the beneficiary of a golf tournament, according to a press release from the non-profit on Thursday. TAA will be honored with a named race on the Mar. 29 Derby undercard. Following the running of the race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections including a TAA gift bag. A representative from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be host the winners of the “Off to the Races” VIP Experience online benefit auction. 1/ST RACING has donated the Florida Derby Day VIP Experience where the winners will enjoy premium dining, access to the paddock, and much more. Finally, TAA will be the beneficiary of the Florida Derby Charity Golf Tournament. Hosted by 1/ST RACING, the event will be held on Monday, Mar. 24 at the Plantation Preserve Golf Course. Interested participants can contact Stacy Nicks at Gulfstream Park by email or phone: stacy.nicks@gulfstreampark.com or (954) 457-6284. The post TAA To Benefit From Florida Charity Golf Tournament During Gulfstream’s Big Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton A big form guide to Cambridge’s Night of Champions is in Australia not New Zealand this weekend. That’s because megastars Leap To Fame, Don Hugo and The Locomotive all step out for their final lead-up races before crossing the ditch. Leap to Fame, a clear favourite for the $1m Race by betcha at Cambridge on Friday, April 4, will start from the outside (gate six) against just five rivals in a 1660m free-for-all at Albion Park on Saturday night (11.25pm). “He needed a run so it wasn’t a month between races and this timing works ideally,” trainer-driver Grant Dixon. “He normally comes through his races really well, but the Miracle Mile took a bit out of him. He lost a bit of weight. “I don’t know if it was a combination of the travel and sitting parked in a 1min48sec mile, but we knew he’d had a run. “That’s why we wanted to get him back home where he thrives, rather than go early to NZ, which we had talked about. “He’s bounced back well and is booked on a flight across to Auckland on Sunday week.” Don Hugo and The Locomotive will step-out at Menangle on Saturday night. In contrast to Leap To Fame, Don Hugo’s trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said his pacer had blossomed since the Miracle Mile win last Saturday week. “He’s unreal. He’s pulled up better than ever,” he said. “He’s really in the zone and now fully matured as a five-year-old.” Don Hugo will have to overcome an outside draw (he will start from gate 10) in a 1609m free-for-all (11.02pm). Against that, his rivals are very much second-tier open-class pacers like Terry (gate four), Tay Tay (five), Im The Falcon (seven), Kingmaker (eight) and Kanena Provlima (nine). “I’m glad this race held up, it’s perfect to have this run two weeks out from the Cambridge race,” McCarthy said. “It will be great to get back to NZ. It’s a really exciting time in the industry over there at the moment, there seems a real buzz.” McCarthy is looking forward to Don Hugo’s third clash with Leap To Fame with the scoreline at 1-1. “Can’t wait. He’s a great horse Leap To Fame, but we’ve shown we can beat him now and my horse just continues to get better and better,” he said. The Locomotive, one of the big guns for the $650,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge, will start from gate eight in a 1609m free-for-all at Menangle (11.32pm). He is in the unfamiliar situation of having been beaten at his past three starts, the most recent when fourth after sitting parked outside Keayang Chucky in the Group 1 Hammerhead Trotters’ Mile at Menangle on Miracle Mile night. The enigmatic London To A Brick, who showed his best with a second in the Hammerhead, looks The Locomotive’s biggest rival from gate four. View the full article

It’s Friday night and the two big money Harness Million races will highlight action at Alexandra Park and Addington tonight. Boom three-year-old Marketplace will start at short odds in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final for the Colts and Geldings as will Stella Rouge in the $150,000 Fillies’ Final while topliners Republican Party, Don’t Stop Dreaming and Mo’unga are among the top chances in the Group 2 Auckland Co-op Taxis 300-3000 Free For All. Down south at Addington one of the must see races will be Race 8, the $30,000 Bob Rochford Memorial Seddon Districts Final Trot (8.10pm) where Paul Nairn has two runners, as well as a rare pacer in Race 7. Stars expected to shine on Friday Night Lights at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin The gloves are set to come off at Alexandra Park tonight. And that means punters can bet with confidence that the biggest names going into Harness Million night will be the biggest names coming out of it. The two NZB Standardbred Harness Million races see odds-on favourites in Stella Rouge (R5, No.5) and Marketplace (R6, No.4) with the draws and respect to justify their returns while the City Of Auckland Free-For-All has far more intrigue with two of New Zealand’s best pacers Republican Party (8) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (11) drawn poorly in a field of depth. But two of the most compelling factors for punters to consider tonight are intent and improved fitness. Several harness stars have resumed over the last month and been driven conservatively, their trainers and drivers facing a growing conundrum as high level racing is so fast these days few horses are ready to be driven aggressively while fresh up. They could be, and maybe would even win, but give a horse a headache fresh-up and you often have a lesser horse in the months ahead. So the conservative approach was taken with both Marketplace and Republican Party last Friday and while both sets of connections stated pre-race they would be looking to drive their stars with one run, they still started favourite. But with the pipe-openers out of the way tonight punters can expect some more aggression on the big guns tonight. Marketplace has looked a bit special for the last six months and he will undoubtedly head forward from barrier 4 tonight, with trainer Regan Todd suggesting last Friday’s sit-and-sprint had brought him on both fitness-wise and mentally. His quest has been made all the easier following the midweek scratching of Rubira with a leg injury. Republican Party could face a more complicated road to the winner’s circle in the Auckland Co-op taxis 300-3000 City Of Auckland Free For All after drawing the outside of the front line and trainer Cran Dalgety says son Carter, who drives the Auckland Cup winner, has two options. “He can pull back and end up behind all the other big name horses or he can work forward and get in front of them,” says Dalgety. “I am not saying he has to try to lead but I don’t see the point in pulling back behind the horses you are most worried about.” Dalgety says Republican Party’s storming late run from last has also tightened him up so he is the horse to beat in a tricky field as you could make a case he is the best pacer in New Zealand right now. Punters should expect improvement though from Chase A Dream (No.1), who badly needed the run last Friday while Don’t Stop Dreaming will be rock hard fit in his first start for new trainer Hayden and Amanda Cullen but is one of the most difficult horses in New Zealand to predict. The Cullens also hold a strong hand in the Fillies Harness Million with Winelight (R5, No.1) and Arafura (2) drawn well but Stella Rouge still deserves to be clear favourite. She jogged her last 400m when beating older horses last Friday and has genuine x-factor and the hind quarters that produce a good horse’s acceleration. “She has turned into a stunning filly,” says driver Tim Williams. “She has the looks and the ability to match it and she felt great last week. “I am happy with barrier 5 because she doesn’t have to lead to win and she is one of the fastest horse I have driven.” Nairn lines up rare pacer at Addington By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s trotting master is looking to add another string to his bow at Addington tonight. Paul Nairn, the most feared trainer of trotters in the country, will debut his two-year-old pacer Lookin Snazzy in Race 7. Nairn has trained 425 winners in New Zealand since lining up his very first horse in 1983 and 423 of those wins have been in trotting races. Even his two career pacing wins both came with a trotter, with Outamyway being dual-gaited and winning two races as a pacer on the West Coast in between winning two Harness Million Trots. “The first horse I ever started back in 1983 was actually a pacer and I have had a couple since,” says Nairn. “I had a couple of owners keen to get a pacer and I went to Dancingonmoonlight to look at a yearling last year and I saw this horse in the paddock. “He was a bit small back then and had been passed in at the sales but I liked him and I rang Bob Butt and he told me it was a good family so we bought him.” Lookin Snazzy has grown a bit since, not much, but showed he has ability when coming from last in a four-horse field to down subsequent Addington winner Special Occasion on February 5. “He is a lovely little horse,” says Nairn. “I wouldn’t mind having a few more pacers if they are like him.” The son of Bettors Delight is being thrown in the deep end against juveniles from Team Telfer, the Purdon and Steven Reid but Nairn says his job is not much different from taking a baby trotter to the races for the first time. “I think we are all in the same boat, we all hope we have a nice horse and we will find out.” Nairn has his more traditional hand in the $30,000 Bob Rochford Memorial Seddon Districts Trot, with Tu Tangata and Masterly facing very different challenges. Tu Tangata starts on the front line and Nairn suggests he has been luckless lately, although that has also seemed the theme of Tu Tangata’s life. “If he can get away a bit quicker that will be a big help because he can be a bit sluggish early,” he told HRNZ. “Masterly has been going good races up against the very best trotters and he ran on well last start without having much luck either. “It is a big ask off the 30m handicap but only having 11 in the field should help him.” Earlier in the night Lakelsa returns after her last-start Group 1 success in the NZ Breeders when she takes on the boys in a slippery little 1980m race which could see them run some quick sectionals. 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 weekend running at Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses: Saturday, March 22, 2025 2nd-HSN, ¥10,600,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m GYLFI (JPN) (c, 3, Nyquist–Maedean, by Tapit) is the first foal from her dam, a $450,000 Keeneland September yearling who would go on to win the 2019 Tempted Stakes and subsequently finish runner-up in that year's GII Demoiselle Stakes. Acquired for $500,000 with this colt in utero at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, Maedean is a daughter of GI Belmont Oaks Invitational placegetter Summer Solo (Arch), whose five winners also includes Canadian multiple Grade III winner Solo Album (Curlin). The French stakes-winning third dam Summer Solstice (Ire) (Caerleon) produced SWs Summer Breezing (Langfuhr) and Adirondack Summer (Thunder Gulch) as well as the dam of three-time Grade I winner She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). O-Insel Racing Co Ltd; B-Mishima Bokujo; T-Ryuji Okubo 5th-CKO, ¥10,600,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600mT AURA EXERT (JPN) (c, 3, American Pharoah–Aunt Hattie {Ire}, by Camelot {GB}), a distant third on dirt debut to the impressive Taisei Dorado (Jpn) (American Pharoah), tries the turf for the first time in this spot. Aunt Hattie, a stakes-placed daughter of French Group 2 and U.S. Grade II winner Spring Star (Fr) (Danehill), was knocked down for $300,000 at Keeneland November in 2021, and Aura Exert more or less repaid that investment when fetching better than $305,000 at the JRHA Select Foal Sale in July 2022. O-Masanobu Habata; B-Kosho Bokujo; T-Kenichi Fujioka Sunday, March 23, 2025 3rd-HSN, ¥10,600,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m G T PHARAOH (JPN) (c, 3, American Pharoah–Eqho, by Giant's Causeway) is out of a mare who earned her first black-type in the 2019 Latonia Stakes in her penultimate U.S. start, then amassed a record of of 4-3-3 from 10 starts in Puerto Rico, including a stakes win, for earnings of nearly $70,000. Polo Green Stable signed the ticket on Eqho at $30,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton February Sale and she was bred to this Triple Crown winner prior to her export. O-Toshihiko Tabata; B-Hidaka Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi The post Nyquist Son Of Maedean Set For Hanshin Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With six winners from 13 runners in the past fortnight, few stables are in better form at present than that of Adrian Murray, who now has his sights set on biggers targets in the coming weeks with three of those winners, including last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Arizona Blaze (GB). The son of Sergei Prokofiev kicked off his three-year-old season in the best possible fashion at Dundalk last Friday, when giving weight and a comprehensive beating to his five rivals in the Horse Racing Every Friday Until 11th April Race. At the line he was four and a half lengths clear of his closest pursuer, having made every yard of the running in the hands of David Egan. Arizona Blaze is yet to race beyond six furlongs, but Murray is now considering a step up in distance with the Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar-owned colt, who also won the G3 Marble Hill Stakes and finished third in the G1 Phoenix Stakes, both at the Curragh, in a nine-race juvenile campaign. “He was very impressive and did it very well,” the County Westmeath trainer said of Arizona Blaze's Dundalk win. “He's a class horse and proved he's trained on. I think there will be plenty of improvement in him, too. “I think he'll go for a Guineas trial next. We're not sure if he'll stay seven furlongs or a mile as he as an awful lot of speed, but we're going to give it a go and try him over seven furlongs in one of the trials. That will hopefully tell us a lot about what the campaign will be for him over the summer.” Another recent Dundalk winner for whom Murray has big plans is Titanium Emperor (Ire), who ran to a high level for a newcomer when beating stable-mate Spicy Margarita (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}) by three lengths to win the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Patton Race earlier this month. Back in third on that occasion was the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), making his first appearance since filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October. It might be dangerous to take too a literal reading of that form, but Titanium Emperor is clearly a colt of significant potential for the Amo team, who went to 220,000gns to secure him at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. “He's a good horse, a very nice horse,” Murray said of the son of Night Of Thunder (Ire), whose siblings include the multiple Group winners My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). “I don't know where we'll go next, but he's hopefully a Royal Ascot horse as well for down the road. We'll try to pick up a race or two before then and see where we get to, but I think he's a very nice horse. “On that debut performance you would definitely think he is a Group horse and he's cracking. You'd like to think he will be running in some of the nicer races when we get to Ascot.” Royal Ascot is also a likely destination for Power Blue (Ire) after his victory on the opening day of the Irish Flat season at the Curragh on Sunday, providing his first-season sire, Space Blues (Ire), with a breakthrough winner as he won the Castle Star At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden by three and three-quarter lengths. It was a third consecutive victory in the race for Murray, after those of Bucanero Fuerte (GB) in 2023 and the aforementioned Arizona Blaze last year. Both those horses went on to finish placed at the Royal meeting–Bucanero Fuerte was third in the G2 Coventry Stakes, before Arizona Blaze filled the same position in the G2 Norfolk Stakes–and their trainer is already leaning towards a tilt at the Coventry with his latest winner. “He's a very nice horse and he was probably the most impressive of my three winners in that race,” Murray added. “He just kept on going and David [Egan] said the further he went the better he was. “The Coventry would be the long-term plan with him, but the horse will tell us between here and then–we're hoping he'll get there. He'll go to the Listed race [First Flier Stakes on Monday, May 5) next.” The post In-Form Murray Outlines Plans for Stable Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the second time at the current Oaklawn Park meet, jockey Rafael Bejarano has been fined $200 for misjudging the location of the finish line in a one-mile race. At Oaklawn, one-mile races end at the sixteenth pole under the track's long-established configuration for races at that distance. In this second instance of the season, Bejarano actually won the third race Mar. 16 by a length aboard 8-5 favorite Moon Over Choctaw (Malibu Moon). But according to the stewards' ruling, the 42-year-old jockey kept riding past the first wire at the sixteenth pole, and his penalty included “striking his mount after the finish” as Bejarano continued to drive the 3-year-old filly to the second wire. Back on Jan. 25 in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes, Bejarano was fined $200 for mistiming his ride on 6-1 closer Henro (Collected). In that stakes, Bejarano drove his mount after the official finish like there was still half a furlong to go. Henro finished fourth, beaten a neck for third and 3 1/4 lengths for the win. It was not clear at deadline for this story whether Bejarano, a veteran jockey of 22 years who has been riding regularly at Oaklawn the last three seasons, plans to appeal his second fine of the year. He is currently second in both earnings and victories at the current Oaklawn meet. The post Despite Winning, Bejarano Again Fined for Misjudging Oaklawn Finish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The venerable gelding Gold Phoenix, one of Southern California's top turf route performers over the last couple of years, begins his 2025 campaign in the $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Lea Farms' 5-year-old multiple graded-stakes winner Super Chow put in his final breeze March 19 at Gulfstream Park ahead of a scheduled start in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) April 5 at Meydan Racecourse. View the full article

Pleasant Acres Stallions has introduced a Florida-Bred Excellence Program with three financial options designed to give Florida breeders flexibility and support for the 2025 breeding season. The program's three options are: DOUBLE PLAY, LIFETIME STAY: Allows breeders to choose a preferred stallion from a selection of five standing at Pleasant Acres and then breed one or more mares in consecutive years (2025-2026) to that stallion, pay stud fees within 30 days of foals standing and nursing, register the foals with The Jockey Club, and then receive a lifetime breeding right to the selected stallion, offering one breeding season annually at no cost, beginning in 2027. The stallions offered in the program are: Doppelganger, Mr Fisk, Simplification, Chess Chief, and Curlin's Honor. PROCEEDS PRIORITY PROGRAM: Allows for the deferment of stud fee payments until the foal sells–whether as a weanling or yearling–with all fees to be paid by Dec. 31, 2027. This program is designed to help breeders maintain positive cash flow during crucial foal development periods and aligns payments with sales revenue. 25/25 SAVINGS SUCCESS: Offers an immediate 25% reduction on published 2025 breeding fees for Bodexpress, Chess Chief, Curlin's Honor, Doppelganger, Gunnevera, Leinster, Magic on Tap, Mr Fisk, Neolithic, Simplification, and Verifying, if fee is paid in full within 30 days of foal standing and nursing. “We recognize that successful breeding programs require both exceptional bloodlines and smart financial planning,” said Christine Jones, Director of Stallion Services at Pleasant Acres Stallions. “Our new Florida-Bred Excellence Program demonstrates our commitment to supporting breeders with solutions that make sense for their operations, whether they're looking for long-term breeding rights, flexible payment terms, or immediate savings.” The post Pleasant Acres Unveils Savings Programs to Support Florida Breeders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Group 1 fixture at the Curragh on Saturday, May 24, featuring the Irish 2,000 Guineas, has been added to the World Pool schedule for 2025, with all races on the card set to be globally commingled. Another change to the schedule comes at Newbury on Saturday, May 17. All seven races on the card, including the G1 Lockinge Stakes, will now be part of World Pool, up from five in 2024. The World Pool, the largest globally-commingled horse racing pools, was created and is powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). In total, there will be 24 World Pool fixtures in the first half of 2025, with bettors from over 28 countries able to bet into the same pools on those given days. Sam Nati, head of commingling at the HKJC, said, “We are already looking forward to what will be a busy Q2 for World Pool as we anticipate our return to the UK and Ireland for 2025, and we're delighted to have stengthened our offering with a new race day added at the Curragh and to have extended Newbury's Lockinge card to a full World Pool meeting. “We're committed to adding the best races from around the globe to the World Pool calendar, so extending our involvement in Lockinge day and taking in the Irish 2000 Guineas is an exciting development. We look forward to bringing these new races to our global customers as well as returning to some of our best performing meetings at Royal Ascot and on Derby day.” For the second year, the World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys' Championship will begin on 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket (Saturday, May 3), with the winning rider of each World Pool race throughout the season earning points determined by the World Pool SP of their mount. The championship will run until British Champions Day at Ascot (Saturday, October 18) when a prize of £50,000 will be given to a charity of the eventual winning rider's choice. Last year, Billy Loughnane claimed the top prize and donated the £50,000 to the Christy Lambe Foundation. The post Irish 2,000 Guineas Card Added to World Pool Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NBC Sports will present live coverage of the GII Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on CNBC and Peacock. The hour-long program will also feature coverage of the GII Fair Grounds Oaks and the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks from Turfway Park. Ahmed Fareed will host Saturday's coverage alongside analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss. The Louisiana Derby begins three consecutive Saturday afternoons with Kentucky Derby prep coverage live on CNBC and Peacock, continuing with the GI Florida Derby and GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 29 and the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 5. The post NBC Sports Road to the Derby Coverage Continues Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unraced since finishing second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) is nearing his 4-year-old debut, which will most likely come in the May 4 GIII Westchester S. at Aqueduct. His comeback was put on temporary hold because he was turned out for 60 days after undergoing an elective surgical procedure on a hind ankle. He had his first published workout this year when breezing three furlongs in :36.23 Mar. 13 at Palm Beach Downs. “He's come back very well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “What we are thinking at the moment is the Westchester on May 4 at Aqueduct. Hopefully, that will be a lead-in to the Met Mile. The important Grade I's this summer and fall are what we are targeting. “He had a little surgical procedure on a hind ankle that took place a couple of weeks after the Breeders' Cup. He needed a recovery period after that, but since then everything has gone according to plan.” Fierceness, the 2023 champion 2-year-old male, is one of many Pletcher-trained stars that will be returning to the track shortly. Another is 'TDN' Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), who won the Mar. 1 GII Gulfstream Park Mile. It was his 4-year-old debut. “Mindframe came out of the Gulfstream Mile in good order and right now we are strongly considering the Churchill Downs Handicap,” Pletcher said. “It's seven furlongs on Derby Day and is a Grade I. As you know there are limited Grade I opportunities and we feel the horse is versatile enough to handle multiple distances. That's why we are thinking seven-eighths might work.” Mindframe accomplished a lot in a short period of time last year, finishing second in the GI Belmont S. in just his third lifetime start. He followed that with another runner-up finish in the GI Haskell S. “He always trained really, really well,” Pletcher said of the Maryland-bred. “When you look at what he did as a 3-year-old, going from an allowance race at Churchill and then just getting beat in the Belmont and Haskell, it shows that we asked a lot of him in a short period of time. He was relatively inexperienced while we were doing that. That showed me that he is a special talent. Now, we have to get the Grade I and keep building from there.” Mindframe is owned by the partnership of Repole Racing and St. Elias Stables. Repole is the sole owner of Fierceness. Will Pletcher be able to keep his two 4-year-old stars apart before the Breeders' Cup? “We'll have to play it by ear,” Pletcher said. “Mike [Repole] owns all of one and half of the other, so we will try to keep them apart as much as we can. There could be a situation, like, say, in the Whitney, where we might run the two of them against one another. We hope we'll have those decisions to make.” Some five or six weeks ago, it appeared that Pletcher might not have a starter in this year's GI Kentucky Derby. But a trio of his 3-year-olds have developed quickly and Pletcher, if things break his way, could be well represented in the Derby. 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) won his first two starts before finishing second, beaten a neck in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Grande (Curlin) is 2-for-2 and is coming off a win in a Gulfstream allowance. Disruptor (Gun Runner) romped in a Mar. 1 maiden at Gulfstream, winning by 9 1/4 lengths. “They'll all breeze on either Friday or Saturday and that will firm up their spots,” Pletcher said. “Right now, if everything goes according to plan the most likely scenario is that Disruptor will go in the Florida Derby, River Thames in the Blue Grass and Grande in the Wood Memorial. We're not there yet. But we're looking a lot better than we did a month ago.” The post Pletcher Maps Out Plans for His Stable’s Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) has received a £321,000 grant from the Racing Foundation and the John Pearce Foundation for its project, 'Improving the Framework to Support Horses' First Step Out of Training', the charity announced on Thursday. The project is being delivered in partnership with HEROS and the funding will cover its costs for one year, allowing RoR to continue its work in ensuring the welfare of former racehorses transitioning to second careers. David Catlow, managing director of RoR, said, “We are extremely grateful to the Racing Foundation and the John Pearce Foundation for their generous support. This grant is critical in enabling us to build a solid framework for the aftercare of racehorses. It is important to note that this is bridge funding for just one year. The long-term sustainability of this project relies on a collaborative funding model from the racing industry, which we are working hard with the industry to secure.” As part of the launch, a short film has been created detailing the project's aims and the difference it will make for horses and the industry. The film is available to watch here. The post RoR Project Receives £321,000 Grant appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes hero Rosallion (Ire) is back and is being pointed towards the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. One of the stars of the 2024 Flat season, Rosallion has not been seen since getting the better of Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a pulsating edition of the St James's Palace. However, speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, his trainer Richard Hannon said the colt was training well and on course for a race the stable last won with Night Of Thunder (Ire) in 2015. Hannon said, “Rosallion couldn't look any better. Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) is going great. We've got Stem (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), we've got Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB})–loads to look forward to. He's [Rosallion] going to go to the Lockinge.” The post ‘He Couldn’t Look Any Better’ – Rosallion To Return In The Lockinge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Texas Thoroughbred Association's Texas Summer Yearling Sale will be held Aug. 26, beginning at 10 a.m., at Lone Star Park. A limited mixed session will follow the yearling session. “We've already had people asking about the yearling sale, so we are pleased to get the date set and start preparing for another successful auction,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “The yearling sale has produced some tremendous racehorses over the years, including the latest example in Coal Battle.” A $70,000 graduate of the 2023 yearling sale, Coal Battle is already a millionaire and currently tops the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings after taking the GII Rebel Stakes last month at Oaklawn Park. The consignment deadline for the yearling sale is June 24 and forms are now available online. The TTA will host its 2-year-olds in training sale Apr. 2 at Lone Star Park, with an under-tack preview Mar. 31. The post Texas Summer Yearling Sale Set for Aug. 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Always ready to open up a lane with a crisp pass or poised to hold for the last shot by spreading the floor, Fasig-Tipton announcers Jesse Ullery and Frank Alosa form a March Madness-like backcourt as they host the latest digital sale on the auction house's platform. For Ullery it is all about channeling the excitement of an online sale with his partner and informing would-be buyers about something they may not have heard. In other words, have a seat on the couch and stay awhile. “I don't know that any of us thought that it was going to be like this as quickly as it has materialized,” said Ullery. “But when we made the investment to start doing the consignor interviews and build out the studio, it just took off. It's part Manning Cast with some our our own personal references thrown in for good measure and we will talk about everything from pedigrees to country songs.” On Tuesday, the pair emceed yet another successful broadcast during the March event which saw 100 head on offer and 88 sell through the virtual ring. With a strike rate of 85% and a total gross of $3,627,500, the format is doing more than just advancing to the next round–it's a Cinderella. A huge part of that growth rests squarely on the dynamic ability of Ullery and Alosa–especially if 'overtime' is in effect–because in lieu of a traditional 'caller' it is their job to maintain the tempo and keep tabs on multiple 'shot clocks' as the time on all of them wind down. “Jesse and Frank are consummate professionals,” said Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “I joke with Jesse about how he is the busiest guy at Fasig-Tipton, and the edition of Frank came along at the perfect time.” Running the platform going on three years, Fasig-Tipton built an in-house studio in Lexington, Kentucky last April with spots for Ullery and Alosa behind the camera. Normally you will find the pair trading chair positions on the stand next to the auctioneer during any given in-person Fasig-Tipton sale. Tradition dictates that the announcer's role is to introduce the horse as they enter the ring by reading from the pedigree chart. To be sure, that takes finesse and a certain deftness when it comes to time management, but rarely do they have the opportunity to expound on a hip. Ullery and Alosa during a broadcast | courtesy of Fasig-Tipton During a Fasig-Tipton online sale like they one that just closed, elaborating is everything. Like a point guard, Ullery brings the ball up the court while Alosa sets a screen or two as he waits to handle the rock. Neither of them knows exactly which pieces of information that they compiled beforehand will be useful, but Aaron said that the chemistry the two have built both professionally as colleagues and privately as friends is what works. That type of trust on-air goes a long way to helping the team achieve their goals. “I've known Frank a long time and we work well together,” Ullery said. “We are cut from the same cloth. We both enjoy being air traffic controllers and commentators all at the same time. In my former life as a track announcer I had to instantly forget a batch of horses because the next race was coming up. Well, here I have to remember them because a particular sale could still be active, but that is what makes this so fun.” Where things get tricky for the duo is when clocks come down to the wire at once. The pressure of the buzzer looms. Ullery and Alosa are forced to pick and roll which lot has the potential to be extended into an overtime situation. Based on each other's facial expressions and intonations they have developed a rapport. “We want this to operate just like an in-person sale,” said Alosa. “It's a live broadcast so you have to be on your toes as time is expiring and know which lots are in overtime. We want this to be something that everyone can tune into, even if you aren't actively bidding, and that is what makes digital sales so special. You can be anywhere and hopefully we are a bit informative and entertaining along the way.” On Fasig-Tipton's site viewers can watch Ullery and Alosa offer commentary and be on the couch for what is constructed to be a convivial atmosphere. Of course, this is serious business as the seconds peel away, but both said that they understand what is at stake for those involved. “Fasig-Tipton is always going to try to find ways to be innovative and grow the sport just like we are with our digital platform,” said Ullery. “I mean we're the oldest sales company in North America for Thoroughbreds, and here we are selling horses online. So, that impetus is going to lead to something special and we are going to see where this takes us.” R Harper rose topped the Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale | Lauren King After a record-setting one-horse flash sale for the site earlier this month which saw Champion Female Sprinter Soul of an Angel (Atreides) go for $2.6 million, Tuesday's March sale was once again chock full with different options. Leading the way was GSW R Harper Rose (Khozan) who brought $400,000 and MGSW Spirit Wind (Bahamian Squall) was sold post-RNA for $500,000. As the year anniversary approaches for Ullery and Alosa, the platform's unique approach continues to grow. Aaron said he expects the announcers to find more undiscovered territory. “When we put this team together with Jesse and Frank, then added key I.T. and A.V. support with Isaac Wagner and Thad Kesten we knew we had something special brewing,” Aaron said. “We're basically on new ground. I mean, no one else is doing this when it comes to live broadcasting. I get messages from our customers all the time and they talk about how much they enjoy watching the sale closings with these guys.” Armed with a succinct alley-oop to his partner, Ullery and Alosa continue to diversify the Fasig-Tipton Digital space. The backcourt will be at it again when the next sale hits Apr. 3-8 as this Cinderella story continues. The post Ullery And Alosa Turn Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale Into Cinderella 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, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. A flashy 93 Beyer Speed Figure didn't accompany a diploma for Bakster Farm's Pursuitneversleeps (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Fashion Factor, by The Factor), who had to settle for second on debut in a quickly run maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park Mar. 15. Off as the fourth choice at odds of 6-1, the Dale Romans-trained Pursuitneversleeps broke alertly from his rail draw. He was immediately guided to the outside by Junior Alvarado and in chase mode as the well-meant first-time starter Here Comes Francis (Improbable) ripped through fractions of :22.29 and :44.81. Three lengths back in second with a quarter of a mile to go, Pursuitneversleeps began to cut into Here Comes Francis's advantage in the stretch and finished with interest in a field-best :12.75 while shrinking the winning margin to 1 1/2 lengths. It was another 10 1/4 lengths back to the third-place finisher. The final time for six furlongs was a sharp 1:09.57. Fellow 3-year-old Rolando (Vekoma) covered the same distance in 1:10.57 while capturing the Hutcheson Stakes four races earlier on the program. “When horses run like that first time out for me, I call them great prospects,” owner Jim Bakke said. “I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.” He continued, “We're gonna run him back in a maiden special, maybe even on Derby Day at Churchill. He needs a little gap between that race and his next one, for sure.” Pursuitneversleeps, a $125,000 KEENOV weanling turned $250,000 KEESEP yearling, was bred in Kentucky by Ghostzapper Syndicate, Scarteen Stud and Barry Donworth. His sire Ghostzapper is responsible for 105 stakes winners worldwide. Pursuitneversleeps was produced by Fashion Factor, a winning half-sister to GSW & GISP and dynamite producer Graeme Six (Graeme Hall). Fashion Factor brought $50,000 from co-breeder Scarteen Stud at the 2019 KEENOV sale. “Dale has been very positive on the horse ever since he was a 2-year-old,” Bakke said. “We had to stop on him and give him 60 or 90 days off. We started him back up and Dale thought he'd run big this past Saturday. And that's what he did.” The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Here Comes Francis, with @luissaezpty, reaches the wire first in race 8 for trainer @VictorEBarboza. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/T1z5LOojgs — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) March 15, 2025 The post Second Chances: Pursuitneversleeps – ‘Dale Thought He’d Run Big This Past Saturday and That’s What He Did’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the first major 2-year-old sale, OBS March, now in the books, it's time for some predictions. We asked the experts who their pick is for leading freshman sire and also asked them for a “sleeper pick” or a stallion that will perform beyond expectations. Here's what they had to say: Jimbo Gladwell Top Pick: Charlatan, Standing for $50,000 in 2025 at Hill 'n' Dale Ten percent of the horses I've had on the farm are by Charlatan, so I am a Charlatan fan. They are really smart horses that have trained well and done everything right for me. Then we got them over to the sale and they sold really well for us. Sleeper Pick: By My Standards, Standing for $5,000 in 2025 at Spendthrift The one sleeper I have is By My Standards. I've got one of them and he is a really good colt. I only have the one to go off of, but he's a really good one. Ramiro Restrepo Top Pick: Maxfield, Standing for $40,000 in 2025 at Darley The buzz horses at OBS were Charlatan, Maxfield and Yaupon. I saw a lot of nice babies by all three. We bought a Maxfield filly for $1.25 million. She looked so much like her sire and was a classy individual. Maxfield had a ton of talent and there were a lot of expectations. I think that will carry over into his progeny, so he will be my top pick. Sleeper Pick: Leinster, Standing for $2,500 in 2025 at Pleasant Acres Stallions For a sleeper pick, there was a Leinster filly who sold for lot of money ($400,000) that Donato Lanni bought for the Three Amigos group and Bob Baffert. Donato has bought an uncountable number of Grade I winners. For him to dip into the pool of a lower-end freshman sire and make that kind of investment, that catches your eye. There was also a lot of buzz for Independence Hall. People liked their physicality and the way they worked. In March they have to be ready to come and play ball. Later on in the year, I start looking for value, but not so much now. There are bigger catalogues and more opportunities later on. Leinster | Sarah Andrew Dave Scanlon Top Pick: Yaupon, Standing for $25,000 in 2025 at Spendthrift Before the sale I would have definitely said Yaupon and I still think there will be a lot of big Yaupons to come in the remaining 2-year-old sales. There are a large number of them. You go through the catalogue and basically everybody had a good Yaupon. Charlatan got off to a good start and we'll be seeing more. But I think we've seen a lot of his higher-end offspring sell already. So I look for Yaupon to make up a lot of ground. There are a lot of them and there are a lot of good ones coming. I am biased because I have a real top-quality Essential Quality. We paid a good amount of money for him and he looks like he's going to be a really good horse. So I think you'll see Essential Quality do well as well. Sleeper Pick: Beau Liam, Standing for $6,000 in 2025 at Airdrie Stud My under-the-radar pick is Beau Liam. I have heard a lot of good things about him. We have one and paid a decent amount of money for him, but nothing crazy. I think he's going to do really well. Eddie Woods Top Pick: Charlatan My pick is Charlatan. They have a great shape to them and all appear to be good-minded. They are easy to be around. They train well, they are quick enough. You see the Speightstown creeping out of a lot of them, which isn't a bad thing at all. They're just smooth horses. Sleeper Pick: Beau Liam The sleeper? How about Beau Liam. I only have a couple of them but I've seen a couple of others that I like quite a bit. But the two that I have are very elegant, are good movers and are very smooth. I don't know how quick they'll be but they're very classy acting. Carrie Brogden Top Pick: Yaupon It's a toss up between Charlatan and Yaupon and, honestly, I had started hearing about them during the January OBS sale when I was down there. There were some outliers and freshmen sires that brought really good money, but as a general group the Charlatans and the Yaupons stood out. There were some Maxfields that sold great, but the majority of those were bought by end users since they were so expensive. The Essential Qualitys were expensive and the majority of them were bought by end users. There was good chatter about both those sires. As far as from the 2-year-old sale, I would say overall Yaupon was on top. Everyone seems to have a good one, across the board. Sleeper Pick: Rock Your World, Standing for $5,000 in 2025 at Spendthrift Rock Your World is my sleeper pick. I shouldn't be completely surprised because he is a son of Candy Ride (Arg) and if you look at how Candy Ride has done as a sire of sires, it's pretty incredible. They weren't super-expensive horses. Especially on the day there were headwinds, I thought they acted very determined in their breezes despite the conditions. I feel like a lot of times that's in their genetics. Corbin Blumberg Top Pick: Charlatan In terms of who will be the leading freshman sire, I think Charlatan is a pretty exciting choice. Based on the March sale, there were some really exciting horses by him and it was not just their pedigree. I thought physically they were really impressive. They had a lot of substance. I thought they were an impressive group, which is what you would have hoped for from him. He was really fast and was also able to stretch his speed for the Starlight, Madaket, SF Racing team. Sleeper Pick: Uncle Chuck, Deceased My under-the-radar pick is Uncle Chuck. I thought there were some really nice Uncle Chucks around. He was a really good-looking horse that Donato bought. A bunch of them made my list to go look at after the breeze show. I also looked at a bunch of them back at the barn. I thought a lot were good looking. We didn't buy one. They didn't quite make our list. But I wasn't expecting to go look at as many as I did. As a Florida stallion, he should have plenty of runners. Maxfield -Eyeinthesky-colt-_OBSMAR25_PRINT-credit-OBS.jpg" alt="" width="1155" height="840" /> 2-year-old by Maxfield who sold for $1 million at OBS March | OBS Niall Brennan Top Pick: Maxfield It's still a bit early in regards of the first 2-year-old sale. There are the freshman sires that stood out at the yearling sales, Charlatan and Maxfield and Yaupon. It seems to be a good crop. I don't think there's anybody that has disappointed. I am impressed with the Maxfields. We had a very nice filly by him at the sale that sold for $200,000. I have a few at the farm for clients that will race them. They are very nice. The yearlings were quite consistent, all well-grown, well-developed yearlings and they still appear the same as 2-year-olds. They have a lot of class. They are smooth on the racetrack. They shouldn't be early. I wouldn't expect them to be winning at five furlongs. But they are light on their feet and are mature. They will have some speed, but will definitely be two-turn horses. So you see more of them in the fall. The Charlatans are very nice too. The ones we have are quite impressive and they are training forwardly. They may be obvious picks but I think those two sires stand out. Sleeper Pick: Essential Quality, Standing for $50,000 in 2025 at Darley I'm not sure he's under the radar, but I also like Essential Quality. They weren't as obvious right out of the box. They were all over the place. Different colors, sizes, shapes. Not much consistency. I am biased because I had Essential Quality as a yearling, but he was a heck of a nice horse. I have several that are really starting to develop. He's under the radar in the sense that people aren't talking about him, but I think they are going to be runners. Ciaran Dunne Top Pick: Charlatan For us, based on OBS, it would be Maxfield. But having said that, we only had two Maxfields and both were in that sale. Probably the horse we've been most impressed with among our horses at the farm is Charlatan. We have some of those that we really like that will be sold at later sales. Sleeper Pick: Leinster My sleeper horse is my own personal favorite, Leinster. They breezed very well at OBS and one filly sold super well. I think he's a horse who could surprise a lot of people. We raced him and we still own him. So we've got quite a few of them. We bred 20-something mares to him. So we have quite a few of them, which we are planning on racing. The post Who Will Be the Leading Freshman Sire? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) announced on Thursday that its chief executive, Claire Sheppard, is to step down in the autumn following eight years in the role, with the recruitment process for a new CEO already underway. “While working at the TBA, I am very proud of what the organisation has achieved for British breeders and the industry over the last eight years,” read a statement from Sheppard, who has been responsible for developing initiatives such as the Great British Bonus Scheme during her time in the role, as well as having to navigate the breeding sector through Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. “I am extremely grateful to the TBA's loyal and highly knowledgeable team who have taught me so much during my tenure and have been extremely fortunate to work alongside two committed chairmen over that period, including Philip Newton and former chair, Julian Richmond Watson. I am very grateful to them, and to all the TBA trustees for the ongoing support they have given me.” Sheppard added, “It has been a huge privilege to lead the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association during what has been a period of real change and challenge for the industry as the sport develops and implemented shared strategies for a sustainable future. While there are still significant challenges ahead, I am confident we are moving in the right direction, and I will be leaving the TBA with the right chair, team and trustees to navigate these. “I wish the board every success in the future to ensure the contribution made by the breeding sector are supported and acknowledged at both government and wider industry level as fundamental to the growth and future sustainability of this wonderful sport. “The TBA chief executive role is incredibly rewarding, however I feel the time is right for me to step back from a full-time career. I will remain with the TBA until a suitable replacement has been identified and to allow for a smooth transition.” TBA chairman Philip Newton said, “The TBA has been very fortunate to have had Claire Sheppard's dedication and expertise at the helm for the past eight years. She has championed the interests of the breeding sector with determination and persistence, navigating challenges in a complex stakeholder and political environment. “Leading an organisation at the top of any sport requires total commitment, focus, and enormous amounts of energy, and Claire has delivered all of these. I, and the TBA Board, would like to thank her and wish her all the best in the future.” The post Claire Sheppard to Step Down as Chief Executive of the TBA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Classy Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix will return for another crack at the $650,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 4. Excited connections cemented a deal with Duncan McPherson to race in the Aldebaran Park slot, just as they did last year. Arcee Phoenix was one of four Victorians who contested last year’s TAB Trot, finishing fourth behind Just Believe, Callmethebreeze and Queen Elida. Queen Elida will also return, while Im Ready Jet looks likely to give Victoria a third runner this year. Im Ready Jet is raced by Pat Driscoll, who used his slot on the sidelined Callmethebreeze last year. Driscoll and trainer Andy Gath are awaiting Im Ready Jet’s second-up race at Melton on Saturday night when she clashes again with Queen Elida in the Group 1 Sumthingaboutmaori Mares’ Trotting Free-For-All (2760m). “At this stage she’s booked and going, but we’ve got the luxury of seeing how she goes this week before absolutely locking things in,” Gath said. Back to Arcee Phoenix and he showed signs of his best form when a good third to Keayang Chucky in blistering time in the Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle last Saturday week. The Chris Svanosio trained gelding faces a small but select field in the City Of Melton Scotch Notch Memorial Trot (1720m) at Melton on Saturday night. Arcee Phoenix is a $2.20 second favourite to turn the tables on Keayang Chucky (gate six, $1.85) from their Hammerhead clash. “We’ve had a handshake agreement with the Arcee Phoenix team for a while now and locked it all away this week,” McPherson said. “He ran such a great last year in a stronger race (TAB Trot) and we’re confident he’ll be right in the finish again.” Australia looks set to have five of the eight runners in the TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 4. Along with the three Victorians, NSW-trained Inter Dominion winner The Locomotive has a slot and the connections of emerging Queensland star Not As Promised are believed to be close to landing on a deal. Earlier this week boom New Zealand trotter Bet N Win confirmed his place in the line-up. He will run in the slot owned by the Breckon Racing Syndicate, brothers George and Andrew Breckon, Richard Cole and the Odds On Syndicate. The winner of 11 from 19, Bet N Win was bred by Breckon Farms, with the Breckon Racing Syndicate part of the horse’s large ownership group. He is a $2.70 favourite on the futures market on the TAB, following his narrow but very impressive win over Muscle Mountain in last Friday’s Group 1 Fred Shaw Memorial New Zealand Trotting Championships at Addington. View the full article

Every month HRNZ selects a Breeder and Owner of the Month award. It is chosen randomly with the only proviso being that your horse must have won a race during the month. In February Brian and Marie Borcoskie were picked as “Breeders of the Month” following Tessamae’s win at Rangiora on February 6 and Rodney and Deirdre Stewart were selected as “Owners of the Month” after Hayley Mhor’s win at Alexandra Park on February 28. Breeder of the Month : Brian and Marie Borcoskie For the Borcoskies Tessamae’s win was especially poignant. “It’s always very satisfying to win any race and especially so on this occasion as Brian passed away (on March 7, 2025),” says Marie, “so this was to be his final win.” While Brian and Marie bred Tessamae she is trained and was driven by son Brent Borcoskie. The Borcoskies were on course for the Amberley Trotting Club’s meeting at Rangiora for what was Tessamae’s maiden win. The family has a long association with the club, having served on the committee. Brian also served as president and patron. They have bred many horses over the years including Silk Brocade who won the Ladyship Mile at Harold Park in Sydney as well as the 1999 New Zealand Premier Mares Championships at Addington and Brownie who won nine in this country between 2008-2012 and 17 overall. More recently they also bred Jaffa Josh (Auckland Reactor – Silk Rose) who won 20 races, mainly in the USA. Owner of the Month : Rodney and Deirdre Stewart The Stewarts were also on course to see Hayley Mhor’s victory at Alexandra Park. “After 22 starts, some of which were close seconds and thirds, it was gratifying to see her win,” says Rodney Stewart. The Stewarts have had an interest in a number of horses, either individually or with others, and have raced them predominantly at Alexandra Park and Cambridge. The best of the horses were four-race winner In A Frenzy, Eyres Abovetheground (5 wins) and Kip Keino who had 11 wins on both sides of the Tasman. “Sunny Pegasus (2 wins) is also now competing with distinction as a show horse.” “We were roped in to harness racing by Richard and Julija Brosnan being part of the syndicate ownership of In A Frenzy,” says Stewart, “we intend to continue owning and racing horses having two yearling geldings by Marcoola and Locharburn at a farm we have an interest in.” Congratulations to this month’s winners and your plaques are on their way. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As popular victories go Ambleside Drive’s win at Addington last night was right up there. At start number 62, the Auckland Reactor five-year-old mare finally broke through in Race 2, the Book Now for Owners Night 28th March Mobile Pace. For the Robertson family who bred, train and race the mare, it’s been a long time coming. Her debut was at Motukarara in April 2022. “I was starting to lose the faith,” said Peter Robertson who trains in partnership with son Mitchell. He told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race, “we’ve always known she had the ability to win the race and it never worked out.” Pre-race Robertson was concerned about backing up Ambleside Drive after a tough fourth at Motukarara last Sunday. But she started the outright favourite and performed accordingly. From the mobile driver John Dunn got the one-one early before pressing on to the lead at around the 1600 metre mark. She was three lengths clear with a lap to go. “Every horse has their day and today is the day for Ambleside Drive – she’s too good, ” said commentator Andy McCook as she held to win by just over a length. Dunn was clearly elated to get the elusive win for a horse that had had 22 previous placings. “She has had some ragged runs and a few placings along the way before this win,” said Dunn, “I love winning races like that.” And he wasn’t alone. The Robertsons had no shortage of well-wishers after the race though Peter Robertson wasn’t getting too hyped up. “I wouldn’t get too excited but it’s good she has won one anyway.” A double on the night with Ann Sophie and Jaccka Baylis took Michael House to 44 training wins for 2025. He is leading the premiership by 24 from Steve and Amanda Telfer. Another feature last night was Matt Purvis training the quinella in the Majestic Horse Floats Mobile Pace with Almighty Clever (Blair Orange) and Oneloveonelife (Carter Dalgety). View the full article

Ciaron Maher is backing in the class of Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto) ahead of his Valley debut in Saturday’s $1 million William Reid Stakes. A new fresh-is-best approach has seen Maher stick to a sprinting path with the son of Per Incanto, having only started below 1200 metres once before his last-start Oakleigh Plate win – when he also won fresh first-up in the spring. Maher said he has no concerns about the powerful finisher navigating the tight circumference at The Valley. “I think he’ll be second half of the field and making his run through them, so you always need a bit of luck,” Maher admitted. “Last start when you see them run the last furlong the quickest of all their sectionals in the race, it’s pretty exciting. “When you see them do what he did – he ended up winning easy in the Oakleigh Plate – he was very strong through the line and gets an extra 100 metres. “The Valley is obviously tighter and a different set-up, but he certainly is still on the up.” Jimmysstar has not only won both 1100-metre races he has contested but also his only 1200-metre event – his maiden win at Wanganui in April 2023. Jimmysstar won’t be on his own at his first start around The Valley as Rey Magnerio, Benedetta, Stretan Angel, Reserve Bank and Arabian Summer will also get their first looks in a field of nine. Maher said the five-year-old who drew barrier 2 could in fact be handier to the speed given the small field. “That certainly works for him,” Maher said of sprinting off a hot speed. “But I’m sure he is not one-dimensional either – he has led a race at Flemington and just got pipped on the line. “So we tell ourselves that, but I am sure a little bit further will suit him and if they do only go slow he will just be a bit closer.” As for what could be next on his radar? “The Quokka was thrown around, there’s the T.J. Smith, I thought the Queensland program would really suit him, but it depends what he does on Saturday,” he said. Maher will also saddle up Thousand Guineas winner Another Prophet in the Sunline Stakes, the progressive Shanwah tackles the Alister Clark Stakes and Just Like Gaby will look for valuable black type in the Don Casboult Classic. View the full article