Wandering Eyes

Winning Derby duo takes aim at Raffles on way to Gold View the full article

Incredible to stay? Mom's the word for Bailey View the full article

Early scratchings September 20 View the full article

A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Outwork (Uncle Mo) topped the closing session of Book 4 Wednesday when selling for $220,000 to trainer Keith Desormeaux, who signed the ticket under the name Charles Marquis. Hip 2727 was consigned by Warrendale Sales on behalf of breeders Todd and Chad Frederick and Carl Potter. Warrendale led all consignors with 15 yearlings grossing $965,000. “It is two brothers keeping the legacy going for their dad,” said Warrendale’s Kitty Taylor. “The father, Varrett Frederick, recently passed away. They are very much involved in the business. I sold for the dad, I sold for the grandad. They are great people with a farm in Georgetown and have bred some very good horses.” She continued, “Keith Desormeaux bought the horse and he bought Exaggerator off of us as well. I believe Ciaran Dune was the underbidder. He is a big, strong colt and he sold very well. If they vetted and were big, good-looking colts, you were rewarded.” The yearling colt is out of Westside Tapstress (Lookin at Lucky), who is a half-sister to GSW Discreet Hero (Honour and Glory). Outwork’s first foals have been well received at the yearling sales this year. Ten yearlings by the WinStar stallion sold for $1.075 million at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale, topped by a $300,000 colt. He was also represented by a $500,000 filly at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. “I think people like him,” Taylor said. “They like to buy horses by WinStar sires. They have a great program with good stallions. They don’t overbreed their stallions and their numbers are reasonable. They also support their stallions. He is a first-crop horse and when they see these first-crop horses that look fast, they like to buy them.” A total of 290 yearlings sold for $12,880,500 Wednesday with an average of $44,416 and a median of $35,000. “I thought it was very strong today,” said Taylor. “We sold horses for $150,000, $170,000. Fillies might have struggled a little more than colts in this book. There were end users there, but not quite as many and not as many people there for fillies right now.” The highest priced filly of the session was Hip 2614, a daughter of hot young sire Constitution, whose first crop has hit the ground running on the racetrack this year. Consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales, she was purchased by R.A. Hill and Oracle Bloodstock for $190,000. Keeneland September continues through Sunday with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. The post Outwork Colt Tops Book 4 Closer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Without Catholic Boy, seven horses were entered in the Kelso Handicap (G2), but one of them is cross-entered in another stakes Saturday and another can top that by being in the entries for three races. View the full article

Back from injury, grade 1 winner Glorious Empire (IRE) is entered for his season debut Sept. 21 in the $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) on the turf at Laurel Park. View the full article

In the aftermath of the Illinois Racing Board (IRB)’s verbal grilling of a Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) executive Tuesday over the company’s decision not to seek racino licensure at Arlington Park, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (ITHA) is floating several proposals that could help the corporation that owns the suburban Chicago track demonstrate its commitment to racing in order to secure race dates there in 2020. The mandate that CDI must show a racing-centric commitment was part of an IRB resolution voted on at Tuesday’s annual dates hearing that also included moving back the state’s awarding of race dates to Sept. 24. The one-week delay was deemed necessary by the IRB because of CDI’s controversial and stunning decision last month to intentionally miss a deadline to apply for slot machines and table games at the track. CDI said it would apply for 2020 Arlington dates, plus sports betting, but made no commitment of any kind beyond 2021. In late August, CDI cited the requirement of having to contribute gaming revenues to the Thoroughbred purse account as a competitive disadvantage it did not want to undertake by applying for Arlington’s gaming licensure. But the simmering subplot over the past three weeks has centered around CDI’s ownership stake in a nearby casino and its stated intent to open another, fueling accusations that the corporation used the horsemen’s support to get gaming legislation passed but is now abandoning the idea of operating a racino at Arlington. At Tuesday’s meeting, IRB commissioner Thomas McCauley chastised CDI for lacking “any regard for social responsibility whatsoever” and suggested that the company’s decision not to apply for gaming licensure was a ploy to gain leverage over state lawmakers in negotiations for more a more favorable gaming tax structure, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’ve been going to dates hearings for probably 20 years, and I don’t ever remember one that went quite like that one,” David McCaffrey, the executive director of the ITHA, told TDN via phone Wednesday. “In fact, I would have given out high odds going into the meeting that it would have ended the way that it did. “Essentially, the way I understand it, they gave Arlington a week to come back and show how they are dedicated to the sport of racing in Illinois,” McCaffrey continued. “In all of the questions that board members asked, the root of them all was, ‘What is Arlington’s dedication to racing?'” According to the Sun-Times, the IRB’s McCauley was so incensed over alleged political gamesmanship and CDI’s previous declaration in a press release that it would move its Arlington license to some other location that he rhetorically demanded of Arlington president Tony Petrillo, “Does Churchill think that it owns this [racing] license? Because if they do, I’d encourage you to call them up and let them know that the state of Illinois owns that license, and we as the agents of the state of Illinois have the authority and responsibility to grant a privilege to those who earn it.” Petrillo, at Tuesday’s IRB meeting, mainly toed the corporation’s line (high taxes, a saturated gambling market) in answering queries about what was driving its decision to bail out of the gaming bill it crafted and chaperoned through the state legislature over the past 12 years. According to the Sun-Times, Petrillo testified that Arlington’s profit margin is just 3.6% right now. R. Alex Rankin, the chairman of the board of directors for CDI, did not return a Wednesday voicemail message prior to deadline for this story requesting clarification on CDI’s intentions in Illinois. He has also not answered previous queries by TDN seeking comment on the subject, so right now it is anyone’s guess what CDI’s proposal will be next week when the IRB reconvenes to decide Arlington’s fate. Absent any publicly-stated input from CDI, the ITHA’s McCaffrey has several ideas on how the corporation could attempt to save racing at Arlington for 2020. “Short of somehow figuring out how to re-apply for the gaming and to commit to it–and that’s fraught with problems–they could commit to giving half of the proceeds from sports betting to the purse account,” McCaffrey said. “Tellingly, the sports betting bill gives nothing to purses,” McCaffrey added. The other thing they could do is forego their ‘recapture’ that is due [to] them next year. Recapture is this thing in the law that allows a racetrack to dip into the purse account and take money out to transfer it to their side of the ledger. Over the years, Arlington has taken out over $100 million. And next year that payment will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.5 million. If they were to forego that and leave it in the purse account, that would certainly be a demonstration of them showing dedication to racing. That would be huge.” When asked if he thinks that CDI might actually want the IRB not to grant it 2020 race dates so the corporation can get out of the Illinois racing business altogether and reap the profits from selling Arlington to developers while still operating nearby casinos, McCaffrey said he doesn’t think that is CDI’s intent. “I’ve heard that. That’s not from out of left field,” McCaffrey said. “But if that was their intention, then why did they apply for dates? They could have not applied to race in 2020 and just said ‘See ya!'” At Tuesday’s meeting, McCaffrey said, the horsemen “tried to portray a willingness to participate in any way, shape, or form that we can to come up with a good solution.” But the reality is, he added, that unless CDI contacts the ITHA to ask for help in presenting a unified plan before Sept. 24, all the Illinois horsemen can do is wait. “The gaming bill was the long-term solution to bring back Illinois racing,” McCaffrey summed up. “And the craziest part of this whole story is that it was a gaming bill that Arlington helped craft and negotiate. Three years ago it was Arlington that wanted the bill changed to include table games, and they got it. Then they rejected it by not going after their license. That is a real affront to racing, and that is what the racing board called them on at Tuesday’s meeting.” The post CDI Mum On Next Move, But Illinois Horsemen Have Ideas to Preserve Arlington Dates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two siblings competing on the same card is rare enough. Rarer still, two entered in major stakes, but that is the case at Parx Racing Sept. 21 when full siblings Diamond King and Bellafina compete as part of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) card. View the full article

The Irish EBF has revamped its median sires race series for 2020, and it will consist of 24 races with minimum prizemoney of €25,000 and will include a new €200,000 2-year-old median sires race at Naas on Aug. 3 co-sponsored by Ballyhane Stud. The Irish EBF Median Sires Series will have three levels of races, the majority of which will be for 2-year-olds by a sire with an established median price of €60,000 or less and the rest will be divided between a median price of €75,000 or less and €30,000 or less. There will be an allowance of two pounds and four pounds for sires with lesser values in all three levels to benefit 2-year-olds by sires with a lower median sire price. The €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. will be run over six furlongs on August Bank Holiday Monday. It will be open to 2-year-olds by a sire whose median price is not more than €75,000, with allowances for sires whose median price is €50,000 or €25,000 or less. In 2020, together with the Irish EBF Foran Equine Auction Series, there will now be 50 2-year-old races with a minimum prize fund of €20,000 each in the auction/median auction race category, as well as the opportunity to target the €120,000 Foran Equine Irish EBF final in Naas in October. John O’Connor, Chairman of the Irish EBF, said, “With the yearling sales about to start and a number of challenges facing the industry such as Brexit and the phasing out of the Plus 10 Bonus scheme, the Irish EBF board and HRI are delighted to announce a significant boost to the 2-year-old race programme in Ireland for 2020. These races will give fantastic opportunities to horses bought at auction but also give the homebred horse an equal opportunity to compete next year for significant prizemoney. In conjunction with the success of the Foran Equine Irish EBF auction series, we are confident these new enhancements will give all owners and trainers of 2-year-olds something to look forward to in 2020.” Trainer Ken Condon said, “This is such a timely incentive. With the sales season starting next week it will make everyone’s job easier to buy yearlings and provide owners a chance to win significant prizemoney next year.” The post New Opportunities For Irish 2YOs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The two-day Goffs UK September Horses-in-Training and Yearling Sale came to a close on Wednesday with a vibrant horses in training session sending the session’s average to a new record. A total of 176 of the 199 horses offered on Wednesday were sold for a clearance rate of 88% and an aggregate of £2,087,200. The average for the day climbed 9% to £11,859, while the median jumped 7% to £8,000. Cumulatively, 80% of the total lots offered over the two days were sold (233) for a total of £2,355,000, an average of £10,107 and a median of £7,000. There was no comparative yearling session in 2018. Offerings from Paul and Clare Rooney proved very popular on Wednesday, providing three of the top four prices including the sale-topping 5-year-old gelding Now Look At Me (Ire) (Shantou) (lot 301), who was bought by Michael Moore on behalf of trainer Tom George for £75,000. The Rooneys also sold Who’s My Jockey (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 293) to Hamish Macauley Bloodstock for £54,000, and I’m A Game Changer (Ire) (Arcadio {Ger}) (lot 294) to Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott for £50,000. Splitting those was Gigginstown House’s A Toi Phil (Fr) (Day Flight {GB}) (lot 179), bought by Richard Ryan for £70,000. Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams said, “Today’s session provided a strong finish to the September Sale and continued a fine run for our Doncaster horses-in-training sales which are reliably providing lively trade and a trusted outlet for flat and National Hunt owners and trainers. The large drafts from Gigginstown, Paul and Clare Rooney and Shadwell rightly proved very popular with buyers and deservedly they all enjoyed 100% clearance rates. “The moving of yesterday’s yearling session from October’s Autumn Sale to this sale gave vendors a clear date to offer their horses but trade was tough for some and demand was reflective of that market. We now turn our attention to the Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale for which entries are due by the end of the month.” The post Solid Trade At Goffs UK HIT appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New to running racetracks, Aidan Butler, The Stronach Group (TSG)’s chief strategy officer and acting executive director of California Racing Operations, has worn all sorts of suits belonging to all sorts of worlds–horse racing, legal affairs, business management, and technology–that he says have prepared him for the task. He founded a sports equipment company called GuardLab, which specializes in mouthguards, for example. He was managing director of a large litigation law firm called Gilbert’s, its area of expertise in intellectual property–though he isn’t, it should be noted, an attorney. Butler, 42, joined TSG last year, and headed to Santa Anita this spring, when the welfare crisis erupted. Currently living on-site at Santa Anita in a house a stone’s throw from the track’s downhill turf course–which is currently out of racing use–Butler describes himself as a bit of a fixer. “That’s what I do,” he told TDN. “I come in and look at problems and try to take a more modern approach to them.” The question is: what parts of the TSG company is he charged with fixing? In an August TSG press release, it was written that Butler would be “codifying and building on the reforms initiated by The Stronach Group during its Winter meet while continuing to oversee the company’s modernization of the sport in the areas of horse population, ownership and technology.” In the first of this two-part Q&A with TDN, Butler was a little more emphatic. “I’m overseeing everything in California,” he said. In part two of the Q&A, Butler discusses his history in horse racing, and his plans to tackle a depleted horse inventory, boost handle, and lure new owners to the game. The following is an edited version of a broad, discursive conversation. TDN: Tell us about your history in horse racing? AB: I’m a third-generation licensed bookie. Growing up as a kid, I didn’t do summer holidays, I went to the track. First I started counting the money in the bag, then I went to Tic-tac, then I progressed up the chain. After horses I went into legal strategy, into technology, then started my own companies. Why I resonated going back to the game? From a business standpoint, I saw fixed odds coming, sports wagering, like it or not. I understand the game pretty well. I understand horses pretty well. Grew up with them. Grew up around them. I understand that [horse racing] is a business, but I also understand the pageantry of horse racing. And this isn’t a knock at anyone, and certainly isn’t a knock at any of my forebearers, but the pageantry seems to have fallen off a little bit. If you really want to grow [horse racing] out to a new audience, and you really want people to come, what is it they’re going to fall in love with? Fundamentally as a business, you want them to fall in love with gambling. But, that’s not what gets you–it’s the love of the sport, and when it’s done well, it’s a beautiful sport. TDN: What would you tell those breeders, owners, trainers or other industry figures who have invested greatly in horse racing in California–some through many generations–who might be skeptical about someone with limited experience for the position you find yourself in now? AB: I’ve never done this job. But from building businesses, from operating businesses and from managing people, I’ve done a lot of other things in my life, and quite successfully. And so, what I’d want them to know: I understand the issues we face out here. I also understand that without the whole ecosystem working well together, we haven’t got a shot. You can’t ask for trust–only time will tell. Things have to start improving. Then, hopefully people will realize we’re doing the right thing. The issue is, what’s the criteria for success? First and foremost, safety and safe racing. Without that core function of the racing being safe, you’ve got no shot at ever growing this industry. You’ve got to get the public confidence, so we’re not watching races and holding our breaths. Look what just happened at Del Mar. I’m so happy for them, and so pleased it’s doable. TDN: You’ve also to negotiate a revolving door corporate culture at TSG. AB: We’ve had a bunch of turnover at Santa Anita. But Belinda [Stronach] for the last few years has started to now really take over. It’s not a hire and fire culture now. TDN: Are you saying that the horsemen who are tired of seeing that type of corporate culture at Santa Anita can expect to see things change? AB: I can. She’s a modern thinker–she understands how businesses should work. She understands change can be difficult. But she also understands that continuity in business, especially a business that is so symbiotic as this, is so important. Tongue in cheek, if this was eight, 10 years ago, the joke would be, ‘How long has Aidan got?’ But the boss is Belinda, and that isn’t the way she operates. TDN: California is struggling with a heavily depleted horse inventory. This upcoming meet, what would you class as a success in terms of race weeks and field sizes? AB: Inventory will dictate more than it’s ever dictated. If there’s some days with only a few races, so be it. We can only fill what we can fill. If we can prove that we’re running really good races, safe races, that’s how we get to number two, which isn’t a horse shortage, it’s an owner shortage. How do you get new owners back? Confidence in the product. TDN: What part does Santa Anita play in this? AB: You’ve got to welcome [owners] with open arms. I think we can do a better job at embracing what they stand for, and how they help the industry. They tick a lot of boxes for us if done right. TDN: Are you going to spend more on marketing? AB: Marketing is part of it, getting back out there the fun parts of horse racing. But, unfortunately, you’re treated on your success with that. If this isn’t running as well as it can be, even from a safety standpoint, what are you marketing? First off, getting it as safe as it should be. Then you’ve got something to market. When it comes to amenities, with a lot of the spaces, I’m going to start to repurpose them to try to attract more of a group philosophy, and a group philosophy wrapped around ownership. I think that’s a good use of some of the areas we’ve got. And I’m not afraid to fail. I’m going to try to create more excitement. TDN: Can you give specifics? AB: No, not yet–I haven’t spoken to the people I need to speak to. But things like giving a better customer experience. It’s got to be really fine-tuned. Now, it’s great selling really beautiful food over there, but how does that cross over to our core customer, making sure that core customer is serviced in the best possible way? You’ve got the guys and the girls who want to buy a hot dog and watch the ponies, and then, you’ve got the people who want to put on a nice jacket and come out. I think there are varying degrees of experience, based on what you want to get out of the day. And I use the word pageantry a lot. What makes horse racing fun for you? For me, I want to see the horses, and you’ve got to get the interaction piece back again. It’s in our DNA, that we’re attached to these animals. What has that to do with operating a racetrack? It has everything to do with the fundamentals of the experience. So, if the public understands the horses better, they’ll understand racing better. You’ve got the people who understand horse racing, and the people who don’t. But the one thing they all share: they love horses. TDN: One thing that Tim Ritvo emphasized when he took the helm here back in 2017 was the company’s bottom line. He told the LA Times, “I can tell you that the facility is underperforming based on the property value. This place is worth, at a minimum, half-a-billion dollars. We don’t get anything close to 4 or 5% back.” Are profits still the driving factor? AB: Let me put it this way, Belinda has made the statement a number of times–not an outward statement, an inward statement to myself and other management: we’ve got to make sure horse racing is fixed. Whatever that takes. If that takes a little bit of a [financial] setback, that takes a little bit of a setback. If you don’t do it right, it’s dead in a few years anyway. So, doesn’t it warrant the time and effort to get it right? Then, you look at: is the business as profitable as it should be? TDN: Has she given you a timeframe before she wants to see results? AB: No–she’s basically like, ‘Either we do it properly or we don’t do it at all.’ If you know Belinda, she’s adamant to fix this. However long it takes, that’s what it takes. There is the reality that the business needs to make money. You don’t do it unless it’s your hobby–it’s a lot of work for a hobby. And now, the business model will have to change. I know a few people who may or may not be smarter than me believe that may not be doable. But, there’s always another way to do things. TDN: What are they telling you? And who do you mean by ‘they’? AB: The old guard: that more racing leads to more handle, more profit. An argument I could make is: less racing but of better field size and more competitive equals better handle. Transparency of safety protocols. Transparency of horse health equals confidence in gamblers, equals better handle. It isn’t just a formula of run more. Maybe a smarter long-term solution may be to look at what has worked in other places, and that field size and competitiveness is another driving factor. TDN: With other tracks offering such alluring purses, how do you propose to keep and maintain the horse inventory? AB: Sometimes in a game of chess, you’ve got to give a piece away. Sometimes you’ve got to keep it. The difference between this and a game of chess, you’ve got to keep the game going forever. The aim is here, if they’re shipping them out to run in a race, that’s one thing. If they’re moving them out [en masse] to run, that’s another. Taking a step back at what we were just talking about: the tracks have got to do a much better job at helping the folks who are trying to recruit. If you’re a trainer, you should have a little bit of carte blanche with what the tracks do. Get the [owners] in. But that kind of thing gets lost in the sauce when you’re concentrating on the nuts and bolts. Look, we’re not dead in the water by a long shot. We’re looking at a bunch of things to make [purses] up. Sponsorship. Sports wagering. TDN: Del Mar has reaped dividends for its aggressive recruitment of out-of-state barns. Is that something you’ll be doing, too? AB: Yeah, we want to attract more horses. Yeah, we want bigger field sizes. But I think, making sure the guys and girls that are out here day-to-day already, we’ve got to make sure they’re good. Make sure they’ve got every opportunity. It’s a little bit of a work in progress. I wish a part of me could do everything day one. TDN: What are your targets for this upcoming meet? AB: I’m hoping we have a super-safe meet. I’m also a realist, that when you have a lot of horses running around, a lot can go wrong. But we’ve done everything we can to make sure everything’s as safe as can be. The post TDN Q&A: TSG’s Aidan Butler on Santa Anita, part 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When buying at sales or privately, owners always strive for the Saturday horse, one capable of competing in a track’s best races. For some part-time and full-time Saratoga Springs, N.Y., residents, it’s important to have a horse capable of running at Saratoga Race Course. Any day will do. Edward P. Swyer, a longtime steeplechase owner and a Saratoga Springs resident, always likes to have a horse that fits Saratoga. Last year, he had a very nice one, Iranistan (Einstein {Brz}), who finished second in the GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Hurdle S. and third in the GI New York Turf Writers Cup Hurdle H. When offered the opportunity to purchase a promising U.K.-based hurdler named Winston C (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) for his Hudson River Farms operation this past spring, Swyer was thinking Saratoga. Winston C arrived a little rough around the edges and had a decent debut, finishing third by less than a length in the Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle, a race for jump-racing newcomers known as novices for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The Hall of Fame trainer’s crew in Pennsylvania put a high gloss on Winston C, and Swyer decided to skip the next logical start, Saratoga’s Jonathan Kiser Novice S., and go straight to the top level in the Smithwick. He caught a large field, mostly older and more seasoned, and beat them handily July 25. Four weeks later, essentially the same field tried him again at 2 3/8 miles, and he trounced them by 8 3/4 lengths. Swyer and his friends went to the Saratoga winner’s circle not once, but twice. Winston C. had a great Saratoga meet, and he was the first horse to win both of Saratoga’s big hurdle races in 20 years. But championships largely are decided in the fall, and a new group of well-rested competitors await him in Thursday’s GI Lonesome Glory Hurdle H. at Belmont Park. Winston C is the 160-pound highweight for the 2 1/2-mile Lonesome Glory, and he will be favored. But the competition will be distinctly tougher than his summer forays at Saratoga. Bruton Street-US’s Scorpiancer (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}) has an Eclipse Award to his credit, earned in 2017, and he won the GI Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle S. for the second time in May. He also is a member of a red-hot Jack Fisher stable. Bruton Street-US and Fisher also will field the 2017 novice champion, Moscato (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), who won the GII Temple Gwathmey Hurdle H. in April before finishing third, beaten a length and a head, in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois. The Lonesome Glory also will feature three horses flying under the radar. Irvin S. Naylor’s Bedrock (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) finished a tired sixth in the Smithwick in his initial U.S. start, but he has decent overseas credentials and should benefit from the Saratoga experience. Sharon Sheppard’s Redicean (GB) (Medicean {GB}), also trained by Leslie Young, won the Kiser and then showed that he has some speed when fourth in the John’s Call S. at Saratoga. Wendy Hendrik’s Surprising Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) runs best on a limited racing schedule, and trainer Ricky Hendriks has given his mother’s multiple stakes winner a long break after finishing second in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois May 11. The post Winston C Faces Test in Lonesome Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association is filing a request with the New York State Gaming Commission seeking approval to scrap plans to shift the final three weeks of the Belmont Park meet to Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Nice to see that the people who count–the ones who actually spend the dough, that is, as opposed to impudent bystanders who tell them how much better we could do it–don’t have time for that glib prejudice against older producers, whether mares or stallions. In making the daughter of a 23-year-old mare the most expensive yearling filly in Keeneland September history, however, they set a far more significant challenge to assumptions that are shared a good deal more widely. In fact, you might say that the $8.2 million paid for Hip 498 last week requires professional horsemen everywhere to ask fresh questions of themselves–above all, if they are in the habit of relying on anything purporting to be a ‘system’ or formula. No doubt some people will try to persuade you that Leslie’s Lady has produced Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn because her own genetic contribution has been upgraded respectively by two grandsons (Harlan’s Holiday, Henny Hughes) and one great-grandson (Scat Daddy) of Storm Cat. (Two of them, indeed, through the same son of Storm Cat, Hennessy.) But we still await coherent justification for simultaneously treating the influence of Mendelssohn’s 15 other great-great-grandparents as too infinitesimal to be relevant. Happily, the extraordinary contest for her daughter by American Pharoah, obviously from another sire-line altogether, shows due recognition for the merits of Leslie’s Lady herself. After all, it’s not as though she can represent some kind of genetic void, meekly surrendering her 50% maternal stake in inherited material to a superior partner. So the big question is: whatever it is that she has brought to the equation, where does it come from? Leslie’s Lady is by Tricky Creek out of a Stop the Music mare. Her granddam was by One for All. These names are as left-field as–well, actually, as left-field as those of the sires responsible for the first three dams of American Pharoah: Yankee Gentlemen, Ecliptical and Tri Jet. At a time when the industry is contemplating formal control of stallion books, perhaps these largely forgotten contributors can renew our respect for the potency of variegation. Admittedly the “hybrid vigour” famously sought by Bull Hancock was something he pursued by importing elite stallions from Europe, rather than by seeking outcross blood in New Mexico. But the principle is the same. The ageing Tricky Creek had been transferred from California to New Mexico a few months before the Mitchell family of Clarkland Farm gave $100,000 for his 10-year-old daughter Leslie’s Lady (in foal to Orientate) at her owner’s dispersal at Keeneland in 2006. She had improved her original value ($8,000 short yearling, $27,000 September yearling) with a stakes success at two, albeit besides that bit of dash her principal virtue on the track had been hardiness: she made nine, 12 and seven starts across her three seasons. This was consistent with such little distinction as Tricky Creek (himself a Grade II winner at two, three and four, through 37 starts) had achieved at stud–namely, as a source of exceptional soundness. One study, late in his career, placed him fifth among active national sires by percentage of starters-to-foals; and seventh, by starts-per-starter. That’s pretty impressive, for an elderly stallion standing for $2,500 at Running Horse Farm, Albuquerque. So nobody should discount his influence on his granddaughter Beholder’s rare achievement of winning Grade I races at two, three, four, five and six. Though Tricky Creek obviously never earned much commercial opportunity, he was entitled to prove a conduit for class as well as toughness. His dam Battle Creek Girl (by His Majesty, whose other distinctions as a broodmare sire include Danehill) produced no fewer than 15 winners, six at stakes level. (One of these was Canadian champion Wavering Girl {Wavering Monarch}, subsequently dam of Grade I winner Military {Danzig}). And she was also a half-sister to the dam of the wonderful Soaring Softly (Kris S.), Tricky Creek’s third dam being the Darby Dan foundation mare Soaring. You’ll find Soaring in exactly the same slot in the pedigree of Saint Ballado (and therefore also of his brother Devil’s Bag) and as fourth dam of Rahy and Singspiel. At one point, in fact, Sheikh Mohammed gave $5.3 million for a Kingmambo half-brother to Tricky Creek as a yearling at Keeneland. So while he appeared to be on his way to oblivion by the time he reached New Mexico, aged 20 but without even 20 stakes winners, it remained perfectly feasible for the embers of his family’s quality to be stoked by his progeny. That process, moreover, is mirrored somewhat in the mare who gave him Leslie’s Lady. Crystal Lady was by Stop the Music, who earned a long Gainesway career when awarded the Champagne S. at the expense of Secretariat, out of a half-sister by One For All to Grade I winner Roanoke (Pleasant Colony). Their dam was by the great Sea-Bird out of a highly accomplished runner in Patelin (Selima S., Alcibiades S., Schuylerville S.)–a name you’ll find along the bottom line of several very good horses, including as third dam of GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies S. winner Pleasant Stage (Pleasant Colony) and fifth dam of I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley). On the face of it, with zero graded stakes winners close up, Leslie’s Lady has had to make her own pedigree. In fact, she made her own appearance at the Keeneland September Sale as Hip 3567! Her dam Crystal Lady, acquired in utero in a transaction worth just $8,000, was diminutive, if correct; and apparently of such limited ability that she was once claimed for $5,000. But the Leslie’s Lady fairy tale actually has roots in plenty of good blood. I can’t pretend to know precisely which genetic strands combined by Tricky Creek and Crystal Lady have entwined so productively in Leslie’s Lady. But I do know that there is an overall mesh of quality, once you look beyond an immediate family that appears to corroborate the pedestrian status of the sires involved. Just look, for instance, at the eight mares listed in her fourth generation. All four who owe their presence in the pedigree to sire sons were able to underline their class by a wider distinction. Quill, for instance, had earned her mating with Northern Dancer (which produced One for All) as a champion on the track; Flower Bowl produced not only Tricky Creek’s damsire His Majesty but obviously Graustark as well; Shenanigans, likewise, was dam of Ruffian as well as Tricky Creek’s grandsire Icecapade; while Nothirdchance, dam of Stop the Music’s sire Hail to Reason, was a good enough runner to win the Acorn S. And the other four mares, as already noted, similarly include a couple whose merit has serial proofs, in Patelin and Soaring. These eight mares’ various partners, moreover, percolated Classic blood by the gallon: Darby Dan’s European monsters Ribot and Sea-Bird, for instance; Northern Dancer, his father Nearctic, and his son Nijinsky; Turn-to and Tom Fool; and, the one curveball, Better Bee. He’s pretty well off the map now, but a record of 20 wins in 89 starts looks very much like the seams mined by Tricky Creek for that trademark soundness. One way or another, then, there’s plenty of noble blood to be dredged across the whole channel. By all means, stick to your sire-lines–if you really think such a coarse tool can interpret the myriad genetic variations that cause even full siblings to be as very different as we know they can be. But remember that the man who bred Leslie’s Lady, David E. Hager II, did so because he felt that the leggy Tricky Creek could help little Crystal Lady build up a foal. He plainly knew that a good match is, first and foremost, a physical one. Of course, we can seek performance balance too. And the whole premise for spending all this money on the foals of Leslie’s Lady is that something, demonstrably, works more repeatably in this particular genetic package than in nearly any other. But that does not warrant extrapolating any cardinal rules about why that should be, beyond the single one acknowledged by all sensible horsemen–namely, that there are no rules. That is no counsel of surrender. Ultimately, in fact, Leslie’s Lady sets a wonderful example. She commends diversity. And she reminds us that the commercial failure of stallions does not necessarily neutralize the class latent in their genes. So long as the foundations are sufficiently wide and deep, qualities that lie dormant for a generation or two can still be revived by our instincts, our industry and–above all–our luck. The post 8.2 Million Reasons to Spread Genetic Credit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a half-brother to Group 1 winner Here Comes When. 2.20 Yarmouth, Novice, £7,500, 2yo, 8f 3yT CARLOS FELIX (Lope de Vega {Ire}) debuts for Darren and Annaley Yates and is a half-brother to the G1 Sussex S. hero Here Comes When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and G2 Park Hill S. runner-up Melodic Motion (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Bought by trainer David Simcock for €700,000 at the Arqana May Breeze-Up, the April-foaled chestnut was the third-highest priced juvenile to sell there and will have to show that raw ability to master a trio of experienced Godolphin representatives from the Gosden, Appleby and bin Suroor yards. The post Half To Here Comes When Starts Out At Yarmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Catholic Boy has a slight rear suspensory issue that will prevent the 4-year-old stallion prospect from running Sept. 21 in the $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park. View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Catholic Boy has a slight rear suspensory issue that has temporarily sidelined him and will prevent the 4-year-old stallion prospect from running Sept. 21 in the $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park. View the full article

Although Raymond Mamone waited 42 years for a grade 1 winner to come along in Imperial Hint, he sure knows how to handle a high-caliber horse. View the full article

Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), who became her sire’s first Grade I-winning daughter with a victory in this year’s Humana Distaff, will be offered by Elite Sales at the Fasig-Tipton November Night of the Stars on November 4. The four-year-old filly is owned by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Heider Family Stables and Madaket Stables. She has been trained by Steve Asmussen from the outset of her career. Following Mia Mischief’s Humana Distaff win, where she defeated Grade I winners Marley’s Freedom (Blame) and Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger), she defeated GI Test winner Covfefe (Into Mischief) in the Roxelana S. at Churchill Downs. Mia Mischief broke her maiden by 16 ¼ lengths at Keeneland in October, 2017. At three, she took the Purple Martin S. at Oaklawn by 8 ¼ lengths before winning the GII Eight Belles at Churchill Downs. She went on to run 2nd, beaten a neck, in the GI Test S. at Saratoga, after a stretch long duel with multiple Grade 1 winner, Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}). Mia Mischief is out of the Speightstown mare Greer Lynn, who is set to deliver a War Front foal in 2020. “Speed is our thing and Mia Mischief is one of the fastest we’ve ever owned,” said co-owner Bill Heiligbrodt. “Not only is she fast, but Corinne and I also recognized her as a superior physical, offering size and scope, placing her at the top of our list of Into Mischief offspring. We’ve won two Tests and Mia’s nose defeat kept us from our third. Derby Day is special; the Humana Distaff is special. We’ve run numerous superstar fillies in the Humana Distaff and were not able to get it done before Mia. It was a celebration we’ll never forget.” “Mia Mischief is a superstar by the hottest stallion in America. She was a brilliant two-year-old, three-year-old and four-year-old, finishing first or second in 13 of 17 starts. She beat the best and she did it with blazing speed in a devastating style,” said Elite Sales’ Bradley Weisbord. She has earned just shy of $1 million. The post Mia Mischief to Sell at Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Amidst political unrest in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Jockey Club opted to cancel Wednesday night’s race meeting at Happy Valley Racecourse. A release issued by the Club stated that the meeting was cancelled “in view of the imminent threat to the safety of racegoers, jockeys and employees, and to the welfare of racehorses.” The release noted that a “thorough risk assessment” was run before the decision to cancel. “Our concerns are tied to potential social unrest in the vicinity tonight, the very real threat of a disturbance or possible violence at Happy Valley Racecourse, and uncertainty regarding transportation in and around Happy Valley and Causeway Bay for racegoers, jockeys and employees and horses entering or leaving the racecourse throughout the evening,” a Club spokesperson said. “This is a very difficult and most unfortunate decision to make, but public safety is of paramount importance to the Club. We hope the racing community and the Hong Kong public will understand our reasons for doing so.” The post Happy Valley Races Cancelled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Editor’s Note: The Jockey Club has asked for public comment on their proposal to cap at 140 the number of mares a stallion can breed annually. In this ongoing series, we will publish the perspectives of breeders, stallion farms and others on the proposal. Matt Bowling, Bowling Bloodstock First and foremost I think we can all agree that that the safety and well-being of the horse should come first. With that being said, I’ve seen no data, studies, or empirical evidence provided by those in favor of limiting books to 140 mares that supports this premise. It’s an extremely slippery slope that has major implications to the economy of our business. The consensus has always been that we, as a breed, don’t use Artificial Insemination (AI) because we don’t want certain stallions breeding an almost unlimited number of mares. If we limit books to 140, then what’s the reason for not going to AI? If the health and well-being of the horse is truly a motivating factor, then that would naturally be the next step, as we know AI is not only safer for the stallion but the human handlers as well. Many regional programs already have much better breeders and stallion awards than we do in Kentucky. If we are shipping semen, does it really matter if the horse even stands in Kentucky anymore? I’ve also heard others say that they don’t want to breed to a stallion that breeds 200+ mares, as there are too many at the sales grounds when they go to market. The beauty of a free market society is simply this: you don’t have to. It’s your business decision to breed to whatever stallion you want for whatever reasons. If you are right, you’ll be rewarded. I also believe limiting books in hopes of increasing genetic diversity is misguided as well. If a horse like Into Mischief breeds 100 fewer mares, the assumption is they are all going to be bred to a different sire line – when in fact, the opposite is probably true. With breeders obsessed with getting an “A Nick,” wouldn’t they still try to go to something in the same sire line? I feel like The Jockey Club’s time, energy, monies, and focus should be spent on the much more pressing issues our industry is facing today. The opening line in Pat Forde’s article that is front page on Yahoo today is, “Go ahead and mark down 2019 as the beginning of the end of horse racing.” Our industry is gasping for oxygen, yet our biggest discussion is whether or not to splint a pinky toe as we watch it die. The post Opinions on the Cap: Matt Bowling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who sprung a 10-1 upset when beating Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) home in Sunday’s G1 Irish St Leger, is done for the year, according to trainer Dermot Weld. “Search For A Song came out of her race well, but is finished for the year,” he said. “She has done us proud, and we look forward to a serious campaign next year.” Moyglare Stud’s homebred 3-year-old filly made a winning debut on May 30 and has been highly progressive since. Second in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial on June 26, she was fourth in the G1 Irish Oaks three weeks later before shipping to Britain to take York’s Listed Galtres S. on Aug. 22. She led all the way at The Curragh to win the Irish St Leger by 2 1/4 lengths. Weld also offered an update on another 3-year-old filly he sent out to victory at The Curragh on Sunday, The Aga Khan’s Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), winner of the G2 Blandford S. “Tarnawa came out of her race equally well and has three options: the [G1] Fillies & Mares [S.] at Ascot in October, the [GI] EP Taylor in Canada and the [G1] Prix de l’Opera on Arc day. We’ll decide which one nearer the time. Both fillies did us proud.” The post Search For A Song Done For The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taylor Made Farm has purchased the second slot in the Pitons Cup, days after a syndicate of Todd Pletcher, Sol Kumin and bloodstock agent Brad Weisbord were confirmed as Pitons Cup participants. “Taylor Made is honored to participate in the inaugural Piton’s Cup,” said Mark Taylor, Vice President of Marketing and Public Sales Operations for Taylor Made. “We see Saint Lucia as a new emerging market for American horses. We fully embrace the vision of providing economic opportunities for the people of Saint Lucia as well as our core customers which are American breeders. “We have seen in America how well the Pegasus World Cup has been received and know that The Everest has been immensely popular in Australia,” Taylor continued. “A high-profile race in the Caribbean that is more affordable to most racing fans is very appealing and we wanted to be a part of that,” Taylor added. “We weren’t surprised to see some of the smartest guys in our industry move quickly here. We would be surprised if there wasn’t traction. The template works and when you have it in a lifestyle location like Saint Lucia there really is a lot of appeal.” The $150,000 Pitons Cup will help launch horse racing at the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club on 13th December 2019. The post Taylor Made Acquires Pitons Cup Slot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bulletin was quick to find success on the racetrack, posting victories in his first three races, all turf sprint stakes. And after two losses, the he is entered for his first start on the main track in Parx Racing's $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes. View the full article

The Longines Irish Champions Weekend was everything that we had hoped for and more. There’s no question that there was the biggest buzz at the Curragh since it reopened, not because of me but because of what we were trying to achieve, and there was an electric atmosphere for the charity race. It was something really special and hopefully that atmosphere will return again to the Curragh in the very near future. It shows what a brilliant facility it is once given the chance. Eva Bucher-Haefner generously gave her suite at the Curragh for all the riders in the race and their families, so we had a great day and that spilled on to dinner in the evening. You would have sworn that AP McCoy had won the Gold Cup, he was absolutely buzzing. The way he celebrated the win, that’s what the public came to see, and he made it a special day, as did all the lads. We won’t know the final figure raised for Cancer Trials Ireland for a little while but what I can say right now is that I really do appreciate everyone getting involved and donating, whether it was one euro or one pound, every penny helped. I really am hesitant to single out people to thank for their donations but there was a handful of people who made significant donations which obviously will make a huge difference to the charity. Eva Bucher-Haefner and JP McManus got the ball rolling with significant donations. On the night of the dinner, Sheikh Hamdan announced through his manager of Derrinstown Stud, Stephen Collins, that he had donated €500,000 to the charity and Sheikh Mohammed is also making a donation. Taking all that into account we have now broken the €2 million barrier. Words fail me, but in the words of the people at Cancer Trials Ireland, it’s a game-changer, and for the organisation to say that to us makes the whole thing worthwhile. That wouldn’t have happened without the incredible generosity of the general public, of the stable staff, my fellow jockeys and everyone within the racing and breeding industry. I started out working as a stable lad and I know how hard-earned the money is and the work that goes into getting those horses looking so well. For the stable staff to have donated their best turned-out prizes and some of their winning bonuses was something that really touched me. I had a dream at the beginning that we would be able to donate €1 million to the charity and I think people thought I was a bit crazy, so then we thought if we made €500,000 that would be brilliant, but to end up with what we have gathered here is just mind-blowing. The most important thing I want people to know is that every single cent goes to Cancer Trials Ireland for their vital work in pancreatic cancer trials. Loads of people gave up their time and everything was sponsored—from the cups that were sold to the dinner on Saturday night—everything was covered and the sum now going to the charity is going to make a huge difference. Hopefully it’s a good thing, not just for Cancer Trials Ireland and for awareness, but also for the Curragh racecourse as well. It was a tiring weekend but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Some Great Racing Too It was very important for the whole weekend that the spoils were somewhat evenly divided. Yes, there was some domination from the O’Briens on the Saturday but it hasn’t always been that way recently—it has actually been a tough meeting for Ballydoyle in the past couple of years—and it just proves that it’s swings and roundabouts in this game. Magical (Ire) with a very deserving winner of the Champion Stakes. Most horses would have had their hearts broken by running behind Enable (GB) but she came back and put up a fantastic performance. Full marks to Ballydoyle and to the mare herself. I desperately wanted to see Deirdre (Jpn) win but she just didn’t have the rub of the green in the race. I think the best horse won but it would have been nice to have seen Deirdre have a bit more luck and to finish second. The performance of the weekend was undoubtedly Pinatubo (Ire). It was a devastating performance. I spoke to William Buick after the race and when a jockey’s immediate reaction is that he’s lucky to have the horse, then I think that tells us all about what Pinatubo means to the Godolphin team and the quality of horse they have. I don’t think we’ve seen a performance from a 2-year-old as dominant as that for a long time. Dare I say it, but there was a little bit of a feel of Frankel about it. It’s unfair to a young horse to compare him to Frankel, but to beat proper horses with the ease that he did, and the distance he put between himself and them in the last furlong made it a performance that will live long in the memory. It’s very difficult to keep a young horse going right through the season like that and everyone will be asking whether or not he will train on, but he looks a big, scopey horse. The quotes from Charlie Appleby seem to imply that he is not a flashy worker in the mornings. I love that in a good horse, though it can be a little bit daunting as you have to take things a little bit on trust as you go to the races. But having a laid-back demeanour will give him every opportunity to keep improving and progressing. Hopefully that will stand him in good stead for next year. Looking to next season, if you had to have one horse from all the 2-year-olds we’ve seen so far, you wouldn’t look beyond Pinatubo. It’s great to see Godolphin with a very good horse and it was brilliant to see William Buick back in full health and riding a Group 1 winner. Song Hit The Right Note I’ve been riding Search For A Song (Ire) in her work a lot this year and I’ve said before in this column that I hold her in very high regard. Dermot Weld is just extremely good when it comes to this type of horse. I was very hopeful that she would run into a place and get black type in a Classic—that would have been a big result and we would have taken that before the race. But as Dermot has shown with these staying horses, they get better and better with time, and he has proved that again with this filly. Everything went wrong in the race, and Chris Hayes would be the first to admit to that. Search For A Song can be keen and she likes to get on with it. They went very steady and she was just far too keen. I don’t know if Chris had much choice in the matter but letting her go to the front was the right thing to do as she ended up in the right place in the race as there was still a lack of pace. She undoubtedly has a lot of ability and fortune sometimes favours the brave. That move to get to the front and to be left alone in a slowly-run race played to her advantage and she kept galloping to the line. She will race on next year but obviously to have a filly of that quality to go back to Moyglare Stud eventually is what it’s all about for any breeding operation. To have a Galileo filly with Classic-winning form, who will hopefully add to that next year, is hugely exciting for the future. It was fantastic to have a filly in the Moyglare colours win the final Classic of the year for Eva Bucher-Haefner. For me personally it topped off an amazing weekend. The post The Pat Smullen Column: €2 million and counting… appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article