Wandering Eyes

With the marathon Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training just hitting its 11-hour mark Tuesday, the auction had its fourth million-dollar juvenile when bloodstock agent Donato Lanni bid $1.05 million to acquire a colt by Violence (hip 544) on behalf of Amr Zedan. The chestnut, who galloped during Sunday's session of the under-tack preview, was consigned by Top Line Sales. A $280,000 purchase at Keeneland last September, he is out of A Taste of Red (Street Boss). The post Violence Colt Becomes Fourth Million-Dollar Juvenile in Timonium Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy will have plenty of firepower at his home meeting on Friday, where he will be represented by nine runners, headlined by Nobellem (NZ) (Belardo) in the Positive Signs + Print Rating 75 (1200m). The daughter of Belardo has been in pleasing form for Kennedy, who races her in partnership with his wife Debbie, having placed in her last two starts over 1200m. She has been freshened since her last-start runner-up effort at Wingatui in March, and Kennedy is hopeful of a bold showing from barrier nine. “She should go well,” Kennedy said. “She has been racing well at Dunedin and she is honest. She will probably race outside the leader, there is a bit of speed in that race.” Nobellem will be ridden for the first time by Cambridge-based apprentice Nichola Yuen, and will benefit from her two-kilogram claim. “We have got two-kilo allowance on her which should help,” Kennedy said. “Nichola Yuen looks like a good rider.” Stablemate Red Star Bella (NZ) (War Decree) will also head into Friday in a fresh state, and Kennedy is hopeful of a breakthrough victory in the More FM Maiden (1200m), with the daughter of War Decree having placed in three of her five career starts to date. “Red Star Bella drew one, she races well fresh and will be a good chance,” Kennedy said. “She jumped out the other day and went quite well.” Of Kennedy’s other runners, he believes he has a strong chance in the last, the Speights Rating 65 (1600m). “Cimarron (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Miss Belle (NZ) (Belardo) in the last are probably my other two best runners,” he said. While the racing season is winding down in the south, Kennedy said he does have a couple of younger prospects he is looking forward to next term, including Bobby Mcgee (NZ) (Ancient Spirit). “I have got a nice two-year-old by Ancient Spirit that has had one start for a third,” he said. “She looks like she could have the goods.” View the full article

Star hurdler Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) will make his debut over bigger fences on Saturday at Te Rapa, offering an insight into what his jumping campaign may consist of this season. Among a stable of highly-talented jumpers including The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), Nedwin has established a sterling record of his own, winning two editions of the Wellington Hurdles (3200m), a Waikato Hurdle (3200m) and a Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) over three seasons, amassing over $300,000 in prizemoney. The 10-year-old has one of the country’s highest hurdle ratings, prompting trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal to turn to steeplechasing, at least for now. “We were intending to give him a run over the steeplechase fences at the end of last season, but that didn’t happen,” Nelson said. “If he has a steeplechase run on Saturday, it means we can still go back to the hurdles if we think that’s suitable. “Steeplechasing is the natural progression for him, he’s getting plenty of weight over hurdles so he can have some weight relief on Saturday, and if he goes well, then he might get up there again in the steeplechase ratings. But he’s got to go well first.” The son of Niagara will carry less than 70kg in a jumping race for the first time since October 2022 when he takes his place in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Steeplechase (3900m). Earlier in the meeting, stablemates Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) and Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) will go head-to-head in a strong field assembling for the Jones Trucking Hurdle (2800m). Taika made his debut over the hurdles two years ago and hasn’t looked back since, winning three races and placing in a Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m), Wellington Hurdle (3200m) and Great Northern Hurdle (4200m). His younger counterpart Dictation entered the jumping scene last season and has been similarly impressive, with his three wins only marred by a fall at the final fence of the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) in Christchurch last August, costing him the feature. Both horses appeared on the flat at Rotorua on May 10, and Nelson was pleased with their efforts as a stepping stone to Saturday’s first-up jumping assignment. “I think we got what we wanted with them, they had a good hit-out and they didn’t want to pull up at the end of the race, which would indicate they are ready to go a bit further,” he said. “We took Taika to the jumping trials and they’ve both had a jump here (at home in Hawke’s Bay), they know what they’re doing. “Dictation hasn’t lined up with the big boys before, so we’ll see with him whether we go on to those bigger races. Taika’s shown that he can measure up and he’ll probably come back to the Waikato Hurdles after Saturday.” View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of May 12-May 18View the full article

Kia Joorabchian's AMO Racing teamed up with the newly formed Memo Racing partnership to acquire a filly by Girvin (hip 368) for $1.1 million during the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in Timonium Tuesday. The filly was the third to reach seven figures at the auction and was the second on the day from the Wavertree Stables consignment. Kerri Radcliffe, bloodstock agent for Memo Racing, signed the ticket on the filly, who she said would be trained by Chad Brown. Out of Scarlet Dixie (Broken Vow), the dark bay filly worked a furlong last week in a co-fastest :10 1/5. She had been purchased for $240,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The post AMO, Memo Team up for $1.1-Million Girvin Filly at Midlantic Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni continued his buying spree at the juvenile sales this spring, going to $1 million to acquire a colt by Into Mischief (hip 334) Tuesday at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Mouni, who is purchasing horses for a partnership of Libyan owners, also purchased a pair of colts for $700,000 Tuesday. The colt, who worked a furlong in a co-fastest :10 1/5 last week, was consigned by Kings Equine on behalf of his breeder, Spendthrift Farm. He is out of stakes winner Quick Flip (Speightstown) and is a half-brother to graded winner Following Sea (Runhappy). Mouni made a pair of seven-figure purchases from the Kings Equine consignment at last month's OBS Spring sale. The post Into Mischief Colt Second to $1 Million at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three veterans and three more lightly raced distaffers are set to meet in the Santa Margarita, including Splendora and Seismic Beauty from the Bob Baffert barn.View the full article

Junior Alvarado was granted a stay of suspension on Tuesday while the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) begins the process for hearing his newly-lodged appeal for allegedly using his whip two times above the six-strike limit when winning the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief) May 3. Alvarado is facing a fine of $62,000 and a two-day suspension if the infraction is upheld. The rule infraction is HISA-based, but the Churchill Downs stewards were in charge of interpreting and reporting purported violations of it. The severity of the sanction–believed to be the second-largest monetary penalty ever imposed on a United States jockey–was triggered because of a “multiplier effect” related to a previous one-strike-over-the-limit whip infraction that Alvarado had incurred within the past 180 days, on Dec. 1, 2024, also at Churchill Downs. HISA Rule 2283 (c)(1) mandates the doubling of what otherwise would have been a $31,000 financial hit (10% of the jockey's winning purse) and a one-day suspension. In a number of published interviews over the past several weeks, Alvarado has maintained that several of the over-the-limit strikes he purportedly administered to Sovereignty were actually instances of him fanning the colt with the whip without making contact. Sovereignty wins! pic.twitter.com/5xJkjxcxIN — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 3, 2025 Those actions, Alvarado has said, were meant to encourage the colt to run faster without actually hitting him. HISA's rules explicitly permit that type of whip usage, stating, “A jockey may show or wave the crop to the Covered Horse without physically contacting the Covered Horse.” In a May 10 interview with Daily Racing Form's Dave Grening, Alvarado had said that when he attempted to explain the fanning actions to the three Churchill stewards (Barbara Borden, Brooks “Butch” Becraft and Tyler Picklesimer) at a May 8 initial video conference hearing on the matter, his account of what happened was met with silence by the stewards. In addition, Alvarado told Grening, “They made me count the times that I had contact with the horse. When I asked [them] if they could count where they think I had contact, they didn't.” Alvarado's suspension had been slated to be served May 29 and 30. Alvarado can first contest his HISA charges before an internal adjudication panel. A secondary step would be to appeal to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A third option might be litigation in the court system. The post Alvarado Appeals Derby Whip Violation Penalties appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority report released May 20 that covers the first quarter of 2025 suggests horse racing is seeing consistently better safety numbers under its oversight.View the full article

Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Starlust is set to prepare for Royal Ascot in the May 24 Temple Stakes (G2) at Haydock as he embarks on his final season before going to stud in Australia.View the full article

A perfect 3-for-3 in turf sprints, Shisospicy has proven herself among the classiest 3-year-old fillies in America. Now, the daughter of Mitole is scheduled to take her talents across the pond to Royal Ascot in the June 20 Commonwealth Cup (G1).View the full article

The story of Saturday's Temple Stakes contender American Affair is very much a family affair for Lanarkshire trainer Jim Goldie, with his deep knowledge of the pedigree and the devotion of his granddaughter, Alex, both playing their part in the spectacular rise of a five-year-old who started last season with a BHA mark of just 70. Five wins later, American Affair is now up to a rating of 105 after he coasted to victory in another big-field handicap at York last week, producing the sort of performance which suggests the son of Washington DC won't be out of place when he tries his luck in Pattern company for the first time at Haydock. “I thought he would win, but he was probably even more impressive than I expected,” Goldie says of that stroll on the Knavesmire. “The handicapper has given him a fair whack, which I must say was fair enough. He looked a Group horse among handicappers, didn't he?” That he most certainly did, with no prouder person in York after that display than Alex, who was all smiles when leading American Affair back in to unsaddle. Clearly, all has been forgiven after she suffered a broken collarbone in a fall from her pride and joy earlier this year, an accident for which her grandfather is happy to accept his share of responsibility. “That was probably grandpa's fault,” he chuckles. “I was on the road next to the gallop in my tractor and he dived off the gallop at the sight of it. But when you're working with racehorses, that's just a badge of honour, a broken collarbone. Both dad and grandpa were on the scene very quickly and identified the problem. She was not amused, but que sera. I think she was more frustrated that other folk were getting to ride her horse! She's always been very sweet on him.” Now fully recovered, Alex has reclaimed her place as American Affair's regular rider at home, no doubt enjoying the thrill of riding the horse described by Goldie as “one of the fastest we've trained”. “At home he rarely comes off the bit,” says the man whose back catalogue of talented sprinters includes the likes of Orientor and his best son, Jack Dexter, not to mention Hawkeyethenoo. “He won his maiden over seven furlongs, of all things. We probably got him wrong to start with. He's a five-furlong horse and we were running him at the wrong trip. He's always had so much speed and he improved a lot when we started running him over five. The Sunday Series was a godsend to him last year, because they put on a lot of nice races at five furlongs. “Now we're running him over his right trip, he's easy to ride because they're inclined to take him along and he settles and finishes his races better. Flat, galloping tracks seem to suit him and, the faster they go, the better he is. He can quicken off a very fast pace. We'll keep him to five for as long as we can and the [G1] Prix de l'Abbaye is a race that might suit him later in the year.” American Affair lands the day-two opener! The progressive five-year-old beats 17 rivals to land the £60,000 Lindum York Handicap for @PMulrennan and @JimGoldieRacing @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/INAgFAEqMe — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 15, 2025 In the meantime, Goldie is excited to see what American Affair is capable of when he comes up against some of the best sprinters Britain and Ireland has to offer at Haydock, before taking on the world in the G1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. “At the moment he looks very special,” he sums up. “And Paul [Mulrennan, jockey] says he's still a big baby. He's still looking about him and is a bit green, so there might be more to come. How much more, we'll find out. “It will be interesting on Saturday. I imagine Karl Burke's horse [Night Raider] will be the hare and we'll be the hound. I'm looking forward to it and, hopefully, we end up in top hat and tails and can go on to Ascot with him. I think, win, lose or draw on Saturday, we'll probably go down that route. There are no obvious handicaps to go for, so we may as well go in at the deep end.” The whole Goldie family is clearly intent on enjoying the journey with American Affair, one which began for its patriarch back in September 1997 when he bought a Safawan yearling for 8,200gns. Subsequently named Class Wan, she won two races for the yard as a juvenile but, more pertinently, now appears in the pedigree of American Affair as his grandam. For good measure, Goldie also trained American Affair's dam, the six-time winner Classy Anne, the dam sire, Orientor, and five of Classy Anne's siblings. “Aye, I know the family well,” he says in typically understated fashion, before delivering a fascinating history lesson which takes us everywhere from Ayrshire to Japan. “The history of racing is probably my favourite subject,” he begins. “At New Hall Stud, or Hall Stud as it was at the time, they had three mares. They had a mare called Jay Gee Ell, another called Cal Norma's Lady, and they had Ayr Classic [the dam of Class Wan]. I basically bought everything out of Ayr Classic, because I thought that was the best mare, and I bought one out of Jay Gee Ell. “But in the history of racing, Cal Norma's Lady is significant, especially in Japan, because she is the granny of [seven-time Group 1 winner] Gentildonna. The dam was Donna Blini, the Bertolini mare who won the Cheveley Park and was sold to Japan where she bred Gentildonna. “Then there was another mare out of Cal Norma's Lady called Little Book, who I trained and was rated in the 50s. Because of her sister she got into Deep Impact and managed to produce a Japanese Derby winner [Roger Barows]. Somebody text me afterwards and said, 'Did you know you trained the mother of the Japanese Derby winner?'. I had no clue!” He continues, “Jay Gee Ell bred Friar Tuck, who won the big three-year-old sprint handicap at York. All three mares were very successful, but Cal Norma's Lady was obviously the jewel in the crown. “I bought the Ayr Classics, and there were a lot of good ones, but they were all a bit mad. Then I bred from Class Wan. She loved soft ground and was very useful, but she was never that sound and was inclined to do backflips and stupid stuff like that. On her day she was quite talented.” Formerly owned by Gordon Thom and his family, New Hall Stud in Ayrshire now belongs to Kenny Alexander and is home to his champion racemare Honeysuckle as the powerful owner-breeder aims to produce the next wave of National Hunt superstars. As for Goldie, his father had much lower expectations when he first started breeding horses with a young Jim at foot, simply hoping to breed a few point-to-point winners. “When we started then, I would never have guessed that we'd breed a sprinter like this,” Goldie says of American Affair, who he owns in partnership with Barraston Racing. “John McGrandles [of Barraston Racing] has always been interested in his breeding, so I basically gave him the mare [Classy Anne] and I let him choose the stallion. Unfortunately, we lost the mare, but that's what happens, isn't it? When I bred Jack Dexter, the bloody mare never got back in foal and I spent a fortune trying. “I've been doing this a long time and every day is a school day. I've been training for over 30 years and I've been breeding for over 50. Actually, probably nearer 60–and I'm only 70!” The post American Affair: A Sprinter Nearly Six Decades in the Making appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 First Quarter Metrics Report, released Tuesday by HISA, shows racing-related fatalities largely on par with previous averages. The first quarter, which runs from Jan. 1-March 31, saw racetracks operating under HISA's umbrella report 0.85 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts, consistent with the 0.84 fatalities reported through the same period last year. Additionally, this first quarter's 0.85 represents a 37% decrease compared to the 1.35 fatalities per 1,000 starts from two years ago through the same time frame. This also is 5.6% lower than the aggregate racing-related fatality rate of 0.90 per 1,000 starts for the 2024 period. For the first time, HISA is also publishing data on fatalities' subclassifications: musculoskeletal injury, sudden death and other causes (i.e., traumatic injury not related to musculoskeletal injury). 94% percent of the racing-related fatalities recorded though the first quarter were attributable to musculoskeletal causes, with 3% to sudden death and 3% to other causes. From a training standpoint, the same first quarter of 2025 reported 0.73 training-related fatalities per 1,000 workouts. Of the training-related fatalities recorded this quarter, 76% were attributed to musculoskeletal causes, 20% to sudden death and 4% to other causes. “We're proud of the progress we've made as an industry and of the hard work being done every day to make Thoroughbred racing safer–but we also recognize that the work is far from finished, especially in training environments,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We must continue pushing forward with the same sense of urgency and commitment when it comes to workouts, as well as races. Our responsibility to protect the welfare of horses and riders must be upheld every day, in every barn and on every track.” 23,167 unique Covered Horses either recorded a published workout or made a start in a Covered Race in the first quarter of 2025, meaning that the total racing–and training–related fatality rate for the Covered Horse population was 0.35%. The full report can be viewed here. The post Racing-Related Fatalities Largely On Par With Previous Averages In New HISA First-Quarter Report appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Who were the five fastest maiden winners based on the Beyer Speed Figures this week? We counted them down. 5. Varney, PIM, 5/17, 1 1/16 miles Beyer Speed Figure-86 (c, 3, by Vekoma-Summer of Fun, by Include) O-Talla Racing, Spendthrift Farm and St. Elias Stables, B-Spendthrift Farm, T-Bob Baffert, J-Flavien Prat. Yet another first-crop winner for Spendthrift's ascending stallion Vekoma, Varney's wire-to-wire score on the Preakness undercard was unique for several reasons. He was the fifth next-out winner to emerge from the Santa Anita Apr. 6 maiden sprint won by Goal Oriented. One race before that, he was pulled up on the first turn while battling for the lead in a one-mile maiden race when he was checked and apparently took a bad step. And you seldom see Flavien Prat ride as aggressively from the gate as he did on this one–but Varney made a clear lead and that all-in strategy paid off. 4. Camp Hale, CD, 5/18, 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure: 88 (g, 3, by Mo Town-Magic Hour, by Awesome Again) O/B- Whitham Thoroughbreds (Ky), T-Ian Wilkes, J-Brian Hernandez Jr. Yes, he was still a maiden. Camp Hale finished second in his debut, just ahead of Patch Adams. He was second to Guns Loaded, winner of the Mucho Macho Man next time out, then second again behind Grande, the soon-to-be Wood Memorial runner up. Since he was hanging in there against stakes types, he was rewarded with a crack at the Sam F. Davis and checked in a respectable fourth. And finally, he was second to Invictus, who just ran third at 1-to-2 odds in the Sir Barton. If you don't succeed at first.. 3. Stars and Stripes, BAQ, 5/17, 1 mile (3rd) Beyer Speed Figure: 91 (c, 3, by Not This Time-Pearl River, by Quality Road) O-Frassetto Stables, B-Pam & Martin Wygod, T-Bill Mott, J-Jose Lezcano. Mott isn't known for striking with first-timers, but this one closed with encouraging strides for 3rd behind a duo (see below) battling in fast time. His dam Pearl River and second dam Ain't She Sweet were unraced, which may have suppressed his yearling price ($100,000 at Keeneland September 2023). But wade a little deeper into the Wygod family tree and the picture brightens: Ain't She Sweet is a full-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Sweet Catomine and Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (aka Distaff) winner Life Is Sweet. 2. Duration, BAQ, 5/17, 1 mile (2nd) Beyer Speed Figure: 96 (g, 4, by Mitole-Smile More, by Tiznow) O-Klaravich Stables, B-Upson Downs Farm & Louis W. Wright (Ky), T-Chad Brown, J-Dylan Davis. The Apr. 19 maiden race at BAQ already looks like a key one. That day, Seth Klarman's promising debuter Strategic Focus rallied past Hop Sing and his stablemate Duration to win with a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, which was verified and even exceeded here. This time and last, Duration cruised up to Hop Sing like a winner at the quarter pole and couldn't quite get past him. Duration was slow to come around but the 4-year-old now has improved his Beyers in each of his six starts. His dam, Smile More, had a modest career but is a half-sister to two-time Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive. 1. Hop Sing, BAQ, 5/17, 1 mile (1st) Beyer Speed Figure: 96 (g, 4, by Curlin-Sweet Assassin, by Tapit) O-Gold Square and Tami Bobo, B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky), T-Jose D'Angelo, J-Ricardo Santana Jr. Could Hop Sing become a “Bonanza” for his owners? The gray gelding got off to a slow start, but he's coming on strong as the game winner of this fast maiden mile. Off for 11 months after his debut second, then another four months after his comeback race, his Beyer Speed Figure pattern since is 85, 88 and now 96. He looked beaten two furlongs out last Saturday when Duration stormed alongside with a full head of steam, but he dug in and doggedly kept his head in front. Given that lofty figure, jumping into stakes company somewhere wouldn't be surprising, and with his pedigree, he should be as good or better around two turns. It a stretch battle, Hop Sing gets the win in R6 at Belmont at the Big A! @JFDangelo trains and @RSantana_jr was in the saddle. pic.twitter.com/FrBNHje3RB — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 17, 2025 The post Fastest Maidens for the Week of May 12- 18 Presented By Taylor Made appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Junior Alvarado, fined $62,000 and suspended two days for violating riding crop rules in guiding Sovereignty to victory in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, appealed the sanctions May 19, and a stay has been granted.View the full article

The NFL's Chicago Bears have shifted their focus back to Arlington Heights, the site of the old Arlington Park racetrack, for a new stadium, the Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday. According to the report, the team will not seek state funding for the stadium itself but would “likely seek state funding for infrastructure”. The Bears, who currently play at Soldier Field, were previously looking at a site on the Chicago lakefront. New Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia told the SBJ that “much work remains to ensure that the village's and team's goals can be met,” but “discussions that have ramped up in recent months are 'headed in the right direction.'” The post NFL’s Chicago Bears Show Renewed Interest In Arlington Site For Stadium appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday, Toulouse, France, post time: 14:47, DERBY DU LANGUEDOC-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, 12fT Field: Kirchner (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Flying Free (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), Espoir Avenir (Fr) (Montmartre {Fr}), Ponderado (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Killary King (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}), The Sheriff (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), Senorito (Fr) (Elarqam {GB}), Scottie The Hottie (Ire) (Persian King {Ire}), Croquis (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Pinatubo is starting to show that he can get middle-distance performers and Croquis is one of the better ones, having finished second in the 12-furlong Listed Prix de l'Avre last month. Flying Free comes in off a fluent win at Toulouse and is the least-exposed in the line-up. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete field. The post Black-Type Analysis: Can Croquis Give Wertheimers Toulouse Glory? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 25 colts remain in the June 7 £1.5-million G1 Betfred Derby (In Honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV) at the latest scratching stage. Part of a seven-strong Irish-trained contingent is The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars), who is still the narrow 5-2 favourite, for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, despite running sixth in the G2 Dante Stakes behind 4-1 chance Pride Of Arras (New Bay), who is trained by Ralph Beckett. Other colts carrying the Coolmore partners' colours include G3 Leopardstown's G3 Derby Trial Stakes winner Delacroix (Dubawi), who is also 4-1; G3 Chester Vase hero Lambourn (Australia); Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes scorer Puppet Master (Camelot), and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett), who is trained by O'Brien's son Joseph. Godolphin has two in the race, the G1 2000 Guineas hero and 7-2 second choice Ruling Court (Justify) and the fourth-place finisher Tornado Alert (Too Darn Hot) for trainers Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor, respectively. Second in the 2000 Guineas and third in the Dante Stakes, Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) has also stood his ground for trainer James Owen. John and Thady Gosden saddle two, with Dante second Damysus (Frankel) remaining in the field. Oaks Field Reduced To 14 After the latest scratching deadline, 14 fillies remain in the £550,000 G1 Betfred Oaks, held the day prior to the Derby at Epsom Downs. Standout G1 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder) is as low as 15-8 for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. Second choice in the wagering at 9-2 is Listed Chester Oaks victress Minnie Hauk (Frankel), one of six in the race for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien. Sixth in the G1 1000 Guineas was fellow Frankel filly and multiple top-level winner Lake Victoria, who is aiming to round into form for the Epsom contest. Kingman's January, bridesmaid to Desert Flower in the Guineas, is also entered, as are stablemates Giselle (Frankel), a winner of the Listed Oak Trial Fillies' Stakes and 6-1, and G3 Musidora Stakes winner Whirl (Wootton Bassett), at 8-1. Another from Ireland is G3 Salsabil Stakes heroine Wemightakedlongway (Australia) for Joseph O'Brien. Shadwell's Falakeyah (New Bay) for trainer Owen Burrows is 5-1. She is unbeaten in two starts, including the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on May 4. The one-two from the Listed Childwickbury Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes are also pointing to the Oaks in Quilin Queen (Pinatubo) for Ed Walker, and Revoir (Study Of Man) for Ralph Beckett. The post The Lion In Winter Anchors 25 Derby Entries At Latest Scratching Stage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) will make her next start at Royal Ascot in the June 20 G1 Commonwealth Cup, according to Morplay Racing's post on X Tuesday. The X post also confirmed that the dual stakes winner will run for Morplay in partnership with Qatar Racing. Trained by Jose D'Angelo, the grey won her career debut at Gulfstream by 16 1/4 lengths last season before finishing third in Churchill's Fern Creek Stakes. This term, she was runner-up in Oaklawn's Mockingbird Stakes before winning her next three, including Keeneland's Limestone Stakes in April and the GIII Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill May 10. A $100,000 Keeneland January purchase is 2023, she resold for $200,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling sale later in the season. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Shisospicy to Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

April Mayberry, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed partnership, went to $1 million to secure a colt by Nyquist (hip 79) early in Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The chestnut colt, who worked a furlong last week in :10 2/5, is out of Deja Vu (Giant's Causeway) and is a half-brother to stakes winner and Grade I placed Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon). He was consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables and was purchased as part of Dunne and Paul Reddam's Red Wings pinhooking partnership for $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The post Nyquist Colt Brings $1 Million at Fasig Midlantic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After four years with the bloodstock team at Arqana, Mario Gussago has this week joined Sumbe as nominations and racing manager. The Italian native previously had a long stint in Newmarket, spending five years with Marco Botti as travelling head lad and another three as second assistant to Roger Varian. “I never wanted to train so I was looking to work on the other side and I am so grateful to Arqana,” says Gussago. “They've been so good to me, and not many other people would have given me this opportunity. Freddy [Powell], Ludo [Cornuel] and Eric [Hoyeau] took a chance on me and invested much time in teaching me the ropes. I know that I have been a lucky person to have been put in this position and thanks to them I have a new opportunity – I am very conscious of that.” Gussago worked his final day at Arqana at the company's breeze-up sale before starting his new role with Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe on May 19. “It was a very pleasant surprise to receive a phone call from Tony Fry, and then I met with Nurlan Bizakov and they offered me a job,” he says. “I knew the Sumbe team as I spent some days racing with them when I was at Roger's and then when I came over here that was roughly the same time that they bought the two studs in France, and now they are full on with five stallions and plenty of mares.” Those five stallions who now fall under Gussago's remit are Charyn, Mishriff, Angel Bleu, Golden Horde, and Bizakov's homebred Belbek. He continues, “I must admit that it is a dream job as I love going racing, but I will also still be very involved with the bloodstock side, dealing with the horses in training and our sales consignments in the July and autumn sales. Last December Sumbe had a big draft at the [Arqana] sale. “And then during the season there will be the nominations, so there will be a bit of everything. I'll also team up with Tony to have a look at the horses at the yearling sales. I loved doing that when I was working for Roger.” Sumbe is continuing its flagship sponsorship of the Prix Morny card during Deauville's August meeting, having taken over from Darley in 2023 in a five-year deal. “I couldn't ask for a better moment to join the team, especially with Charyn as our new flagship stallion,” says Gussago, who grew up near Milan without a racing background, despite his best friend being the former amateur rider and now French-based Classic-winning trainer Mario Baratti. “We grew up together. Our grandfathers were best friends so in a way it felt like destiny,” he says. “I went to university and didn't know what to do so I went to learn English in England and Mario was working for Marco Botti and they were looking for staff. I started mucking out and then travelling horses for him and now 12 years down the line here I am.” The post Mario Gussago Joins Sumbe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite being defeated by Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Journalism's Preakness Stakes (G1) triumph has lifted him back to the No. 1 spot in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old Poll.View the full article

Graded stakes-winning trainer Larry Demeritte, who inspired many in battling cancer while training 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) starter West Saratoga, died May 19 in Louisville, Ky., according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. He was 75.View the full article

Larry Demeritte, whose inspiring story of battling cancer and making it to the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby captivated racing, passed away Tuesday evening after a lengthy battle with blood cancer. He was 75. A native of the Bahamas, Demeritte was the first Black trainer to saddle a horse in the race for 35 years. Demeritte's father was a trainer in the Bahamas and his son was often at his side when he was running or training horses. Demeritte said that he watched the Kentucky Derby every year on television and that is what inspired him to come to the U.S. to train. With the dream of someday running in the Kentucky Derby, he moved to the U.S. in 1976 and began training in 1991. He made that dream come true when he saddled West Saratoga (Exaggerator) in last year's Derby. The horse finished 12th, but Demeritte was fond of telling people that just making it to the Derby was a huge accomplishment. “It was incredible,” said family friend Tony Wilson. “Larry used to talk about when he was a kid in the Bahamas and watched the Derby on TV. He said his goal was to one day run in a Triple Crown race. That horse getting to the Derby was very instrumental in keeping him going. He was an incredible, incredible guy.” West Saratoga was an unlikely candidate to take his trainer to the Derby. Demeritte bought him as a yearling at Keeneland September for just $11,000. “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget,” he often told reporters. But West Saratoga was not your average $11,000 horse. He broke his maiden in his fifth career start and then won the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs. With a third-place finish in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and a second-place finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks S. as a 3-year-old, he had amassed enough points to get into the Derby. Demeritte was very religious, which came in handy while he was battling his illness. “I never leave my house without giving thanks in the morning,” he told NBC prior to the Derby. “Just waking up is a gift and that is very important to me.” During the same interview he talked of how his daily routine and his love for his horses and the sport, kept him going. “Why lay in bed and feel sorry for yourself when you can watch a horse gallop around the track. That gives you a rush you can't get anywhere else,” he said. Wilson said that Demeritte was surrounded by friends and relatives when he passed away. “He went peacefully, Wilson said. “As sad as it was, Larry was prepared to meet his maker. He was a very religious guy. I don't know anybody who had a bad word to say about him. There was no reason to. He was such a good guy and a very dear friend of mine, as he was with a ton of people.” Thanks to a horse named Maximus Pride (Maximus Mischief), it looked like Demeritte might return to the Derby in 2026. Maximus Prime ran second in the Kentucky Juvenile S. in his most recent effort. Demeritte had 184 winners from 2,138 starters. The post Trainer Larry Demeritte Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Orton will leave his position as general manager of Vinery Stud and pursue his own endeavors in the Thoroughbred industry. Arriving at Dr. Thomas Simon's Vinery Stud in 2000, Orton would go on to shuttle influential dual hemisphere stallions More Than Ready and Southern Halo. Over time, Vinery would also stand prominent sires Red Ransom, Mossman, All Too Hard, and Testa Rossa. The stud also has young stallions Exceedance, Hawaii Five Oh and Ole Kirk to look forward to. Orton told the TTR AusNZ, “I've thought about it for a while now, and now is the right time. “Now that the sale of Vinery Stud has been finalised, it's an appropriate time to take the opportunity to step away and focus on my own thoroughbred farm and bloodstock portfolio. “This is something that I'm very keen to do, however, it was most important that I leave at a time when the Vinery Stud operation is in a great place, with exciting young stallions coming through and a robust client base with strong broodmare portfolios to ensure the continued success and growth of the business. “I have about 200 acres between Newgate and Darley, and it's time to enjoy the farm and everything else that comes with it. I've been very fortunate with the people I've worked with, with Arrowfield and the Messaras, and Tom Simon at Vinery.” “Peter was instrumental in helping us develop the first Arrowfield, which was at Jerry's Plains, what later became Coolmore, and then the second Arrowfield, where we currently reside,” said Arrowfield's John Messara. “In the early days, he was also instrumental in that property.” Orton was also involved in the career of shuttle stallion Danehill at one point, as well. “Those stallions have made a huge impact. I remember Danehill stopping off the truck for the first time, and seeing More Than Ready in the tie-up stalls in New York,” Orton recalled. “To go back to that level, you do really connect with them big time, personally and physically. I have great memories of those two stallions and what stallions they were.” Vinery is now comprised of an ownership group of including Ananda Krishnan, Gerry Harvey, Steve McCann and Alan Green. Current Vinery Stud shareholders Katie Page and Steve McCann also paid tribute to Orton. “Over his 25 years leading Vinery, Gerry [Harvey] and I have been the beneficiaries of Peter Orton's peerless expertise, wise counsel and vision, both personally and professionally,” said Page. “Peter, to say we are so grateful to you and to Adele is such an understatement. Our great friendship and mutual respect continue beyond the farm, and we look forward to seeing you in January.” McCann added, “Peter has for many years been one of the most respected thoroughbred experts in the country and has made a tremendous contribution to both Vinery and the broader industry. I would like to thank Peter personally and on behalf of all of our clients and current and past shareholders.” The post Peter Orton To Leave Vinery After Quarter Century Tenure appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article