Wandering Eyes

One start after losing his rider in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), Eight Rings made amends with a front-end score in the $301,404 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

With his last race six months ago, Nicholas Alexander's homebred Pee Wee Reese flew down the rail in the stretch of the $201,053 Eddie D Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park to pick up his second graded score and first grade 2 event. View the full article

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races, through capsule looks and entries. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Click on links for full BloodHorse preview. View the full article

Bast successfully stretched out to two turns as the daughter of Uncle Mo outlasted grade 3 winner Comical in the $300,351 Chandelier Stakes (G1) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park, earning jockey John Velazquez a milestone win in the process. View the full article

With his last race six months ago, Nicholas Alexander's homebred Pee Wee Reese flew down the rail in the stretch of the $201,053 Eddie D Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park to pick up his second graded score and first grade 2 event. View the full article

One start after losing his rider in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), Eight Rings made amends with a front-end score in the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Sent off the 6-5 chalk to atone for the disaster that was the GI Del Mar Futurity, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Eight Rings (Empire Maker) set a strong pace over a Santa Anita main track that was extremely tiring and therefore got a bit leg-weary late, but proved too tough in Friday’s GI American Pharoah S. American Theorem, by the Triple Crown winner for whom the race is named, chased home the winner from second, while Storm the Court (Court Vision), who was involved in the Del Mar Futurity fiasco as well, took a three-way photo for third. Ridden for speed by John Velazquez, Eight Rings led them along at a good gallop, covering the opening couple of furlongs in :23.72, a full second faster than the pace of the Chandelier S. three races earlier on the program. Still cruising along after a half in a strong :47.06, Eight Rings was given a tap-down crack of the whip nearing the stretch, put a few more lengths on American Theorem and raced greenly inside the final eighth of a mile, but by then had the race in safe keeping. “He’s still not 100% confident in what he needs to do,” said Velazquez. “If he can put his mind to running, he’ll be a dangerous horse.” A $520,000 acquisition by this powerhouse partnership at last year’s Keeneland September sale, Eight Rings was no doubt one of the talking horses of the entire Del Mar meeting when he went out for his Aug. 4 debut. Favored at 3-5 at a 5 1/2-furlong trip that was always going to be too sharp, he nonetheless treated his five rivals with disdain, pouring it on late to score by 6 1/4 lengths, good for a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. The Futurity was to be a mere formality, but it all went wrong out of the chute when he ducked in Drefong-style and dumped Drayden Van Dyke. With blinkers added Friday, he left little doubt as to who the king of the hill is, at least in the west. Eight Rings is the record-extending ninth winner of the American Pharoah (nee Norfolk, FrontRunner) and second in succession following Game Winner (Candy Ride)’s victory 12 months ago. The latter, along with fellow race winners American Pharoah and Lookin at Lucky, each went on to Eclipse Award honors at two. Pedigree Notes: Eight Rings is the 12th Grade I winner for Empire Maker, whose first crop since his repatriation from Japan in 2016 are 2-year-olds of this year. He is the 62nd worldwide black-type winner and 33rd group/graded winner overall and is the third male Grade I winner for Empire Maker, joining fellow Baffert trainees Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister. Storm Cat dams or granddams have produced three of Empre Maker’s top-level winners (In Lingerie, Bodemeister). Eight Rings’s Grade III-winning dam produced a colt by GI Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Tourist (Tiznow) in 2018 and a filly by Pioneerof the Nile this past Apr. 19. Purely Hot was most recently bred to Union Rags. Friday, Santa Anita AMERICAN PHAROAH S.-GI, $301,404, Santa Anita, 9-27, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.41, ft. 1–EIGHT RINGS, 122, c, 2, by Empire Maker 1st Dam: Purely Hot (GSW, $426,905), by Pure Prize 2nd Dam: Wood Not, by Kissin Kris 3rd Dam: Wood So, by Baederwood 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ ($520,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Frederick Hertrich III, John D Fielding & Golconda Stables; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $216,951. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–American Theorem, 122, r, 2, American Pharoah–Mighty Renee, by Maria’s Mon. ($190,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Kretz Racing LLC; B-Sierra Farm (KY); T-George Papaprodromou. $60,000. 3–Storm the Court, 122, c, 2, Court Vision–My Tejana Storm, by Tejano Run. ($5,000 Ylg ’18 FTKFEB; $60,000 2yo ’19 OBSAPR). O-David A Bernsen LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Dan Hudock & Susanna Wilson; B-Stepping Stone Farm (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $36,000. Margins: 6, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.20, 7.30, 19.70. Also Ran: Express Train, Shoplifted, Defense Wins, Fore Left, Nucky, Collusion Illusion. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Eight Rings Makes Amends in the American Pharoah appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bast successfully stretched out to two turns as the daughter of Uncle Mo outlasted grade 3 winner Comical in the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes (G1) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park, earning jockey John Velazquez a milestone win in the process. View the full article

Dr. William (Bill) McGuire Ph.D. will join the team at Sequel New York as assistant manager, the farm announced Friday. “Dr. Bill McGuire comes to us from Arkansas State University where he was an instructor in Animal Science,” said Sequel’s Becky Thomas. “Not only does he have a Ph.D. in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and a Masters in Reproductive Physiology, he is a very skilled horseman. We are very lucky and happy to have him on the team alongside Farm Manager Teri Brown.” Added McGuire: “I am very excited to be working with such a great team of individuals at such a first class farm. While I will definitely miss my students, the opportunities for them to complete internships at Sequel will be an unequaled learning experience.” The post McGuire Joins Sequel as Assistant Manager appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Disqualified from first in her debut, Crystalle looms as one of the betting choices in the $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) Sept. 29 at Belmont Park. View the full article

A competitive field lines up for the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 29, with five entrants that contended 3-year-old classics earlier in the season, including West Coast invader Mucho Gusto, who has been dubbed the 8-5 morning-line favorite. View the full article

Bet like a mortal lock into 1-5 favoritism for Friday’s GI Chandelier S. on opening day of the fall/winter/spring meeting at Santa Anita, Baoma Corporation’s Bast (Uncle Mo) had to work for it, but ultimately got just the better of pacesetting ‘TDN Rising Star’ Comical (Into Mischief) to take the ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies five weeks down the line. The Chus’ Alluring Star (Exchange Rate) was runner-up in the 2017 Juvenile Fillies after leading into the final furlong, while the couple’s Drefong (Gio Ponti) won the GI Sprint the last time the Breeders’ Cup was held at Santa Anita back in 2016. Those who took the skinny price on the $200,000 Keeneland November purchase turned $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling were surely looking for a repeat of Bast’s latest, an 8 3/4-length drubbing of seven overmatched rivals in the GI Del Mar Debutante Aug. 31, with Comical third. But it wasn’t meant to be. Away without incident from the four hole in a compact field of six, Bast was three wide into the clubhouse turn racing off the flank of Comical, with the rail-drawn 9-2 second favorite Been Studying Her (Fast Anna) holding her position at the fence. Content to sit three wide the trip, Bast remained under a long John Velazquez hold into the final half-mile before edging closer to Comical at the entrance to the second turn. Niggled along three-eighths out, Bast appeared to be going the better of the two on the business end, but Comical proved a stubborn rival, making the chalk work for every inch before going down to a narrow defeat. Bast covered 31 feet more than the runner-up, according the Trakus. K P Dreamin sat a good inside trip and finished willingly for third while no menace to the top pair. Leucothea (Midshipman) swerved a couple of strides out of the gates, casting Norberto Arroyo, Jr. to the ground. “Down the backside she was going nice, then turning for home, John was like, ‘Come on baby, we’ve got to go,’ and she wasn’t going,” said Bob Baffert, winning this race for the 11th time. “He thought she would respond, but I think this will get her ready for the next one. “This is a very demanding, deep, heavy race track. Not only do you have to be really good, you have to be ready..The Chus are really excited and we’ve been really lucky together, winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Drefong, so they’ve already had a champion. They’ve been great supporters of mine. I really think this race is going to move Bast up, so I feel pretty good about it. You’re supposed to get tired first time two turns. But she got the job done.” The victory marked a record 661st in graded company for John Velazquez, bettering the previous mark set by Jerry Bailey. “This means a lot. [Jerry Bailey] is a guy who I rode with for so many years and have looked up to for so long. It’s incredible,” the rider commented. Pedigree Notes: Bast is the first foal from her dam, a half-sister to GSW & GISP Mananan McLir (Royal Academy), SW & GSP Big Sur (Malibu Moon) and SW Chaming N Lovable (Horse Chestnut {SAf}), dam of GISW Fault (Blame) and GSP Betweenhereandcool (Unbridled’s Song). As pointed out by Chris McGrath in a recent column, Bast–who was bought back on a bid of $290,000 with this filly in utero at Keeneland November in 2016–carries Arch 3×2 (Uncle Mo is out of Playa Maya, by Arch). Laffina is the dam of a colt from the first crop of California Chrome that the Chus paid $325,000 at the recently concluded Keeneland September sale. It was the most expensive of 27 yearlings by the two-time Horse of the Year at the auction. Laffina is the dam of a filly foal by Pioneerof the Nile and was most recently covered by Ghostzapper. Friday, Santa Anita CHANDELIER S.-GI, $300,351, Santa Anita, 9-27, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:46.10, ft. 1–BAST, 122, f, 2, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Laffina, by Arch 2nd Dam: St Lucinda, by St. Jovite 3rd Dam: Majestic Nature, by Majestic Prince ($200,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $500,000 Ylg ’18 FTSAUG). O-Baoma Corporation; B-BlackRidge Stables LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R. Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $372,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Comical, 122, f, 2, by Into Mischief 1st Dam: Kayce Ace, by Tiznow 2nd Dam: Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman 3rd Dam: Grande Dame, by Zen ($100,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-ERJ Racing, LLC, Gary Barber, Dave Kenney, Madaket Stables LLC & Westside Racing Stable; B-Susan Casner (KY); T-Doug F. O’Neill. $60,000. 3–K P Dreamin, 122, f, 2, by Union Rags 1st Dam: Litigating, by Point Given 2nd Dam: Mediation (Ire), by Caerleon 3rd Dam: Redeem Herself, by General Assembly ($100,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $170,000 2yo ’19 OBSAPR). O-Karl Pergola; B-Vegso Racing Stable (FL); T-Jeff Mullins. $36,000. Margins: NK, 3, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.20, 11.60, 17.60. Also Ran: Been Studying Her, Buyer’s Remorse, Leucothea. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Uncle Mo’s Bast Repeats in Chandelier appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caulfield Stakes winner Benbatl (r) has won at his first start since his Cox Plate 2nd to Winx. Caulfield Stakes winner and Cox Plate runner-up Benbatl has scored a dominant win in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket. Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is now eyeing Group One options on Champions day at Ascot for the five-year-old. Having been off the track since chasing Winx home in the Cox Plate in October, the Oison Murphy-ridden Benbatl belied his 4-1 price to beat 6-5 favourite King Of Comedy by five lengths over 1600m. “It was a hard season for him last year and he ran in many races, starting in Dubai. We talked to Sheikh Mohammed and decided to give him a break to start him at this time of year,” bin Suroor said. RaceBets make Benbatl their 7-1 second-favourite from 14-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 19, while Betfair cut him to 8-1 from 10-1 for the Champion Stakes on the same card. “We will keep the options open and I want to speak to the boss,” bin Suroor said. “We will be looking at Group One races for him and we could take him to Ascot for the QEII or the Champion Stakes and there is also a race for him in Germany. After that I want to take him back to Dubai and run him in the big races there. “He is a solid horse that has always tried really hard. Talking to Oisin he said he would have no problem being kept at a mile or going back to a mile and a quarter, but he showed plenty of speed. “In the stable there is always a star and he is one of them. He is a Group One winner in the past and we are looking to keep him happy and healthy for the future.” The post Benbatl dominant in Newmarket return appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Nature Strip (right) has won the Group One Moir Stakes at The Valley. Nature Strip has bounced back from his last-start failure with a performance of sustained speed to win the Group One Moir Stakes at The Valley and press his claims for a spot in the $14 million Everest. Coming off a fourth placing in the Concorde Stakes when he over-raced, Nature Strip began well from the inside barrier in Friday night’s 1000m-dash and was able to hold the inside advantage under James McDonald to eventually lead. The track record holder over the course and distance from last year’s McEwen Stakes, Nature Strip kicked strongly around the turn and was able to hold off a gallant Miss Leonidas by a short neck. Everest-bound Sunlight closed strongly late to finish the same margin away third. Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller quipped the Group One win might “stop all the knockers”. “He’s a popular horse,” Waller said. “We seem to get more criticism with him than we ever got with another certain horse (Winx) that was probably our last Group One winner here. “That’s racing, everyone has got their opinions. He’s a good horse. “He’s ridden well and today he just stepped away well. James didn’t panic he just got there gradually and it was a good race. “You think punters get frustrated, well owning a horse and training a horse when you’re running in these types of races, it’s a bitter pill to take when you don’t quite get it right. “So I think it’s a good reward to everybody and I hope the punters had something on as well and got a bit back from last start when apparently I did everything wrong.” Waller hopes Nature Strip secures a spot in the $14 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19. “I don’t think 1200 metres is a problem,” he said. “I’d say we’ll just see what unfolds in the next few days. If he doesn’t get an invite for The Everest I guess the Schillaci Stakes is the logical choice.” The winner of the Schillaci at Caulfield on October 12 will be offered the Melbourne Racing Club’s Everest slot. Trainer Shaun Dwyer said Miss Leonidas ran a great race while Sunlight’s trainer Tony McEvoy could not hide his delight over the mare’s performance. McEvoy said he would run Sunlight in Saturday week’s Gilgai Stakes at Flemington, two weeks before The Everest at Randwik. “I’m pumped,” McEvoy said. “I feel like I’ve won the race. “The risk was the 1000 metres tonight and that’s all that’s cost her the race.” The post Nature Strip wins Group One Moir Stakes appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Ex-English horse Captain Cook (r) has won his first Australian race in the JRA Cup at The Valley. The Chris Waller-trained import Captain Cook has landed his first Australian win at his third attempt, edging out Sully by the barest of margins in the Grp3 JRA Cup at The Valley. Captain Cook’s victory by a nose in Friday night’s 2040m race denied the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable a winning treble at the meeting, with Sully’s runner-up finish coming after wins by Barcali and The Holy One. Waller said it was a deserved win for the former English horse who finished fifth in a 1600m-handicap at Caulfield and second in the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m). “It was close. Very exciting,” Waller said. “I think it was a well-deserved win. The horse has been knocking on the door without a lot of luck and he had to do it the hard way today. “Our intention wasn’t to lead but Linda (Meech) took the initiative to go forward when it looked like she was going to get caught wide. So well done to her.” Waller indicated the $400,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (2025m) was an attractive option for the seven-year-old gelding’s next start. The post Captain Cook wins Grp3 JRA Cup narrowly appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Loving Gaby (left) has pounced late to win the Group Three Scarborough Stakes at The Valley. Exciting filly Loving Gaby has made an impressive spring return at The Valley, beating a quality field in the Group Three Scarborough Stakes. After a busy first preparation during the autumn in which she contested four of the five Australian Group One races for two-year-olds, Loving Gaby had taken time to come to hand before making her return in Friday night’s 1200m-race against her own age and sex. With Damian Lane aboard, Loving Gaby ($6) raced wide and rounded the field, beating Exhilarates by a long head with a short neck to Villami. Loving Gaby is being aimed at the Group One Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares on November 2 at Flemington. Her co-trainer Ciaron Maher was full of praise for the filly who won the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes on debut at Caulfield in February before finishing sixth in the Blue Diamond, fourth in the Golden Slipper and second in both the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes. “She was still a bit soft tonight but that’s what good horses do,” Maher said. “To do what she did as a two-year-old in her first preparation, really they just don’t do that if they are not exceptional. I think she is. “She has come to the races tonight against a pretty slick field. She’s not fully fit yet and had to do it the tough way having no favours in the run. “They just seem to find that extra bit, the good horses.” Maher and co-trainer David Eustace made the late call to run the filly in Friday night’s race after she galloped at The Valley on Monday morning with Lane aboard. “Damian gave her the nod that he thought she would be pretty right to go and that she could get away with it, being a fraction underdone,” Maher said. The post Loving Gaby makes winning return at Valley appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Princess Jenni has made a winning return to The Valley in the Stocks Stakes. Australasian Oaks winner Princess Jenni has shown her class with victory in the Group Two Stocks Stakes at The Valley. Having her second start as a four-year-old after a successful three-year-old season, $3.90 favourite Princess Jenni hit the line strongly in Friday night’s 1600m race for mares’ to score by three-quarters of a length. New Zealand mare Rondinella ($8) also finished well for second after being held up rounding the home turn while Oceanex ($5.50) came from back in the pack for third. The David Brideoake-trained Princess Jenni is unbeaten at The Valley having also won the Group Three Alexandra Stakes (1600m) in March on her way to the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in May. “She’s taken that next step which is always hard to do,” Brideoake’s assistant trainer Alex Woodhams said. “You worry when they come into their four-year-old year and get up into open age races but she’s shown tonight that she’s taken that step.” The Group One Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2 for fillies and mares is the likely spring target for Princess Jenni, although connections have kept her in the entries for the $5 million Cox Plate at The Valley. Woodhams believes Princess Jenni still has more furnishing to do and said the plan had always been to give her a relatively light spring preparation before turning attention to next year. “She’s got a big frame there but she just needs to finish filling out,” he said. “There’s still plenty more to come.” Jockey Damien Oliver agrees, saying Princess Jenni will be even better again in the autumn. “I think if we just keep her to the mares’ races in the spring we’ll get the benefit out of that in the autumn,” Oliver said. The post Princess Jenni wins G2 Stocks Stakes appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

The Holy One has earned a tilt at the Group One Caulfield Guineas with his win in the Stutt Stakes. A crack at the $2 million Group One Caulfield Guineas looms for The Holy One after the colt’s frontrunning victory in the Group Two Stutt Stakes at The Valley. The Holy One brought up an early double for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable on Friday night’s Moir Stakes program after the win of fellow three-year-old colt Baracali in the opening race. Ridden by Brett Prebble, The Holy One led all the way in the 1600m race to register his first stakes win at his fifth start having previously won at Echuca and Sandown this campaign. Busuttin believes The Holy One will be even better next autumn but confirmed the plan was to give the colt his chance in the Guineas over the same distance at Caulfield on October 12. “You’ve just got to have a go at the Caulfield Guineas,” Busuttin said. “He’ll meet better horses but there’s two million reasons to have a go. “He’s a colt. “He’s definitely more of a staying horse on pedigree but if you look at him there’s not much to him and we didn’t want to get him up over ground this time in.” After kicking clear around the home turn, The Holy One ($9) held on to defeat Vegas Knight ($4.80) by half a length with Conqueror ($6.50) a close third. The Holy One is $26 for the Caulfield Guineas. The post Caulfield Guineas aim for The Holy One appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter has entered pre-export quarantine at Newmarket in England. Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter has entered pre-export quarantine in England ahead of his trip to Australia to defend his title. He was one of 17 horses to enter quarantine in Newmarket and County Tipperary in Ireland on Thursday for their two-week quarantine. They are due in Melbourne on October 12, but one will need to stay at home as there are only places for 16 horses. A total of 38 internationally trained horses are scheduled to undergo quarantine at Werribee in preparation for Melbourne’s spring carnival. Japan’s Suzuka Devious was the first to arrive on Tuesday with a further three due on Friday night, including last year’s Melbourne Cup third placegetter Prince Of Arran, and three Godolphin horses trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Another 14 horses, including Lindsay Park purchases Constantinople and Cape Of Good Hope, are due on Saturday with three more Japanese gallopers, Mer De Glance, Lys Gracieux and Kluger, to arrive on Tuesday. Aidan O’Brien and his son Joseph, trainer of 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling, have 10 horses in the latest quarantine batch between them. Among the Aidan O’Brien horses is Ten Sovereigns who flies directly to Sydney to contest The Everest and will be housed at Canterbury Racecourse. * Horses entered pre-export quarantine in the UK and Ireland Ten Sovereigns – Aidan O’Brien Cross Counter – Charlie Appleby Master Of Reality – Joseph O’Brien Ispolini – Charlie Appleby Il Paradiso – Aidan O’Brien Hunting Horn – Aidan O’Brien Marmelo – Hughie Morrison Magic Wand – Aidan O’Brien Southern France – Ciaron Maher and David Eustace Twilight Payment – Joseph O’Brien Norway – Aidan O’Brien Latrobe – Joseph O’Brien Mohawk – Aidan O’Brien D’bai – Charlie Appleby Downdraft – Joseph O’Brien *Walton Street – Charlie Appleby *Setting Sail – Charlie Appleby * only one will travel, unless another horses listed does not The post Overseas competitors enter quarantine appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Gem Song can cement his Epsom Handicap claims when he runs in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. The usually reserved Kris Lees believes punters continue to underestimate Gem Song and he is looking to the horse to prove his point in the next two weeks. While the four-year-old is an early favourite for Saturday’s Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, Gem Song remains at $15 for the $1 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick seven days later. A Group Three winner, the four-year finished on the heels of the placegetters in Kenedna’s Group One Doomben Cup in May and was a fast-finishing third behind highly regarded pair Arcadia Queen and Trope when he resumed in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) earlier this month. “I think he’s a little bit under-rated, I think he’s a really smart horse,” Lees said. “He’s got a good record and deserves a couple of runs now in better company.” Lees had been in two minds whether to run Gem Song in the Shannon Stakes but when the field came up light with eight starters he opted to roll the dice. The trainer expects Gem Song to cement his Epsom Handicap claims in Saturday’s race and has no qualms backing the horse up in the Randwick Group One. “Small field, it doesn’t look a high pressure race so I don’t think it will take too much out of him and he has handled the back-up before,” Lees said. Brenton Avdulla will have his first race ride on Gem Song at Rosehill and has been booked for the Epsom Handicap mount at 52kg. The jockey has also been locked in to partner the Lees-trained In Her Time in next month’s $14 million The Everest, testing his mount for the first time in a 900 metre jump out at Newcastle on Tuesday. “He came up and rode her so it was a good chance for him to have that ride on her,” Lees said. “She was put under a bit of pressure and she responded well so all is in order.” In Her Time is scheduled to have a barrier trial on Tuesday week before resuming in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19. Lees also confirmed Graff would race next in the Silver Eagle (1300m), a new race to be run at Randwick a week before The Everest. The post Gem of a horse on Song for spring appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

UNDERWOOD STAKES 1800m, $750,000, weight-for-age at Caulfield HISTORY * First run in 1924 when won by Whittier NOTABLE WINNERS * Whittier (1924-25); Phar Lap (1931); Ajax (1938-39-40); Tobin Bronze (1966); Rain Lover (1970); Bonecrusher (1986); Jeune (1994); Octagonal (1996); Northerly (2001-02); Weekend Hussler (2008); So You Think (2010); It’s A Dundeel (2013); Bonneval (2017) * Waitangirua and My Brown Jug dead-heated for first in 1980 TALKING POINTS * The winner of the Underwood is eligible for a $1 million bonus if they go on to win this year’s $5 million Cox Plate at The Valley * Last year’s winner Homesman and 2016 winner Black Heart Bart are both aiming to become the first horses since Northerly in 2001 and 2002 to win the race twice * The Chosen One’s co-trainer Murray Baker is aiming for his fifth Underwood victory having won with Bonneval (2017), It’s A Dundeel (2013), Lion Tamer (2011), The Phantom (1990) * West Australian gelding Gatting will be chasing a second-consecutive Group One win after his upset victory over Mystic Journey in the Makybe Diva Stakes * Of the 13 runners, 10 are Group One winners with only Yucatan, Super Titus and The Chosen One yet to win at the highest level WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING: “The Underwood this year is looking like a race that will suit him and give him a great chance to add another Group One to a truly great record” – Hartnell’s trainer James Cummings “I think we will see a better performance on Sunday” – Humidor’s co-trainer David Eustace “I thought it was a pass mark at The Valley and hopefully she can improve going up in trip” – Eustace on Kenedna “He’ll certainly be a couple of lengths better off for having that run, but I think he’s still a run away from going to the races with a little bit of confidence of giving the race a shake” – Gailo Chop’s trainer Matthew Williams “He over-raced last start and I thought backing him up over 1800 metres with a faster tempo would be good” – Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes on Super Titus The post What you need to know about G1 Underwood appeared first on BOAY Racing News. View the full article

Omaha Beach (War Front) turned in his final piece of work for next Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship Friday morning in Arcadia, drilling an eye-catching half-mile in :46.80. It was the fastest of 32 moves at the distance by over three seconds. After breaking off at about the 4 1/2-furlong point, Omaha Beach galloped along outside of stablemate Magic Rate (Exchange Rate) before drawing on even terms at the three-eighths pole. With a pair of slower-moving workers to the inside of the track nearing the stretch, Omaha Beach was forced out into about the five path, but he leveled out beautifully once straightened away and finished full of run before galloping out strongly. “Real sharp,” was the assessment of trainer Richard Mandella on the Fox Hill Farms runner, unraced since his victory in the GI Arkansas Derby this past April. “I had him going the half in :46 flat. He went five-eighths but it was more of a sharp half and kind of out in five-eighths. He went in company, but he caught four others that were in front of him. “When he broke off, there was a bunch of them quite a ways in front of him and he caught all of them. He couldn’t look better in my eyes.” Scratched on the eve of the GI Kentucky Derby-for which he was the morning line favorite–with an entrapped epiglottis, Omaha Beach underwent a corrective procedure and returned to training in July. He missed potential appearances in the Shared Belief S. towards the end of the Del Mar meeting and the GIII Ack Ack S. before being rerouted to the Sprint Championship, where he is scheduled to face GII Amsterdam S. romper and GI H. Allen Jerkens S. third Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby). The post Omaha Beach Tunes Up at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With Breeders' Cup five weeks away, the first Saturday of autumn is a prime window for final preps, and the "Big Three" fall tracks—Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park—have multiple stakes programs with important preps lined up. View the full article

In a short period of time, Preservationist has made enough noise to establish himself as a major force in the handicap division, but a victory in $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Sept. 28 could put him atop the older horse division. View the full article

I have been asked many times for WinStar’s position on the Jockey Club’s proposed cap of 140 mares for stallions. While WinStar values free markets and what they stand for, we believe it is in the best interest of the horse racing industry to implement this cap. There are multiple layers to this discussion, but when you break it all down, it becomes clear that a narrowing of the gene pool, supply and demand ratios, and creating a competitive market are the most significant factors. From a genetic standpoint, we are producing half the number of foals (40,000 in 1989 to 20,000 in 2019) and by doubling the numbers of mares bred to specific stallions, it causes a narrowing of the gene pool. I am not a genetic expert, but I don’t believe this is good. From a supply and demand standpoint, having 75% of the Book 1 come from 15 stallions is not a good economic model. We live in a market that must have competitive owners and breeders. We can’t compete against ourselves. We are similar to other sports leagues because we have a “bubble market” whereby we need competitors. If the Lakers or the Patriots were able to capitalize on their revenue sources without regard for their fellow teams, eventually they would run out of teams to compete against. They understand this at the league offices. They have found ways to spur on competition within a framework of balanced guidelines. We need each other. Thirty years ago, there were 44,000 foals, 20 stud farms to house them, and yearlings were bringing millions of dollars. Today, there are 21,000 foals, 6-8 viable stud farms, and sales are healthy without being exorbitant. In the last 18 years, the number of stallions has dropped by 53%. The cap would provide an opportunity to limit supply, creating even better demand for the top stallions and more demand for younger ones, to spread mares out over more stallions to provide diversity, and to create a chance for others. A distinction WinStar has versus other farms that have weighed in on this discussion is it has the potential to impact us negatively. Most stud farms are for the side of the ledger that fits their business philosophy. We have a few stallions that breed 140+ mares, and we will have to adjust like everyone else. But I believe we all need to forego our own agendas and rally behind things that improve our industry as a whole. Without us all, we have no game. I might add this is a WinStar position and may not reflect the opinion of our shareholders. In closing, I would like to bring up one last consideration. At some point, like the catastrophic breakdowns earlier this year, attention will be focused on the humane aspect of breeding these horses and how many times we are breeding them each day. The limit on stallion covers allows us to take a proactive stance as an industry before an onslaught of negative media comes our way. The post Opinions on the Cap: Elliott Walden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article