Wandering Eyes

Albaugh Family Stable LLC’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ DENNIS’ MOMENT (c, 2, Tiznow–Transplendid, by Elusive Quality) announced himself as a major player in this year’s juvenile colts’ division with a dominating 19 1/4-length maiden victory at Ellis Park July 27. The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate backed up that performance in style Saturday, landing the GIII Iroquois S. with a fair bit of authority to punch his ticket to Santa Anita and the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile the first weekend in November. Pounded into 2-5 favoritism and with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in from New York to ride, Dennis’ Moment, who dumped jockey Robby Albarado at the start of his local debut June 23, was off in good order this time around and was a forward factor from third, three wide without cover, as the Iroquois field raced into the first turn. Traveling on the bridle and in a nice rhythm down the backstretch, Dennis’ Moment was given his cue with about three furlongs to travel and made the lead while being held together nearing the lane. Firmly in front in upper stretch, he opened a daylight advantage passing the eighth pole and was well within his rider’s grasp for the better part of the final sixteenth of a mile, scoring by a two-length margin that could have been at least triple that and in stakes-record time to boot. Scabbard (More Than Ready) finished with interest to be second while no menace to the winner. Lebda (Raison d’Etat) was third home. The Albaugh-owned/Romans-conditioned Not This Time (Giant’s Causeway) won the 2016 Iroquois prior to running second in the Juvenile. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0. O-Albaugh Family Stable LLC; B-Tolo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Dale Romans. The post Rising Star Dennis’ Moment Romps in the Iroquois appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Raiding from California off a distant fourth to Bast (Uncle Mo) in the GI Del Mar Debutante Aug. 31, LAZY DAISY (f, 2, Paynter–Romantic Intention, by Suave) fought back in the final eighth of a mile to decision a resurgent longshot His Glory (Mineshaft) in Saturday’s GII Pocahonta S. at Churchill, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in early November. First to break the line from gate four, Lazy Daisy took the field under the wire and into the first turn, but made the running in the two path, allowing His Glory to slide up underneath her and hold a pace-pressing spot from the rail. Given a bit of rein by Abel Cedillo leaving the three-eighths marker, Lazy Daisy inched in front and it looked at that stage as if His Glory would fail to be a stretch factor. But although James Graham atop the 43-1 longshot was able to tap his filly’s reserves and reassume control at the three-sixteenths, Lazy Daisy had the answers and fought back late to secure the victory. Favored Portrait (Tapizar) sat a perfect trip and had dead aim on the top two turning for home, but was out on her feet at the furlong grounds, though did manage to hang on for a slice. The second graded winner for her sire (by Awesome Again), Lazy Daisy hails from the deeper female family of the good sprinter Valid Expectations (Valid Appeal) and has a foal half-brother by Commissioner. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0. O-ERJ Racing, Great Friends Stable & Tom Mansor; B-John Elder & Paynter Syndicate (KY); T-Doug O’Neill. The post Paynter Filly Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth in Pocahontas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s the inaugural season of SuperCoach stable, so punters are all in the same situation, we’re basically backing a two-year-old maiden race at Birdsville with rain pouring down. View the full article

Believed to have pulled a gluteal muscle, Monomoy Girl is currently at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., where she will continue to be examined. View the full article

Believed to have pulled a gluteal muscle, Monomoy Girl is currently at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky, where she will continue to be examined. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien likes to ensure the road to greatness is paved with Ballydoyle landmines, so Enable can expect to feel the full might of Rosegreen force when she seeks to carve her own bit of history at ParisLongchamp next month. 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. Gerry Dilger: Some horses have very large books and it’s hard to compete, but on the other side, if the farms put up their money for these stallions, and they have to get out in two, two-and-a-half years, you have to consider those guys as well. They’re paying millions and millions for stallions and some of them, as we know, don’t make it. They have to have a shot to get their money back to reinvest. I don’t think 140 is the number. I’d say 150, 160, maybe? Give the breeders or the farms a chance to get their investment back if they can or get most of it back and they can go out there and look for the next prospect. Want to share your opinion? Email suefinley@thetdn.com The post Opinions on the Cap: Gerry Dilger appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dismissed at odds of 23-1 for his racecourse debut, BAMA BREEZE (g, 2, Honor Code–Stella Blue {Fr}, by Anabaa) rallied from the second half of the field to cause a $48 upset to become the fourth winner overall for his freshman sire (by A.P. Indy) and fourth overall Saturday and first on turf and over a distance of ground. Drawn gate one for Corey Lanerie, Bama Breeze settled about third last early on and was one spot behind centerfield entering the final half-mile. Waited with in behind the leading group approaching the stretch, the dark bay was looking for a spot to run at the eighth pole and responded three off the inside with a sixteenth to travel before kicking on nicely to take it by a little more than a length. Bama Breeze’s dam, winner of the G3 Prix Miesque in France and stakes-placed in this country for Fred Seitz and Ted Folkerth, had already produced MSW & GSP Sirius Prospect (Gone West) when she was knocked down to Hunter Valley Farm for $80,000 carrying this foal in utero at Keeneland January in 2017. Stella Blue is the dam of a yearling filly by Noble Mission (GB). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Miacomet Farm; B-Fred W Hertrich (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. The post Honor Code Gets Fourth Winner at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I read your Baffert scopolamine story today. California Section 1859.5 very clearly states that disqualification and purse forfeiture only takes place for Class 1,2 or 3 violations, not Class 4. ARCI drug classifications apply unless otherwise voted by the CHRB Board, but the penalty is determined by California laws and rules. I hope this clears up that question. Chuck Winner The post Letters to the Editor: Chuck Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keep on Truckin (Society’s Chairman) attempts to keep his unbeaten streak intact with a victory in Woodbine’s GI Summer S., a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. An impressive 11 3/4-length winner in a five-furlong race at Woodbine July 7, Keep On Truckin aired by 7 3/4 lengths in the 5 1/2-panel Clarendon S. against fellow Ontario breds Aug. 3 “We had high expectations going into his first start, but watching him in post parade, when he dropped his rider [Eurico Rosa da Silva], we were shocked because he has always been such a composed horse,” explained trainer Catherine Day Phillips. “To continue the excitement, ‘Truckin’ went into the gate and moments later, Eurico came flying out the back. Despite his performances, we remind ourselves he’s still a 2-year-old, and he’s bound to make mistakes.” An injured Emma-Jane Wilson, who was aboard for the gelding’s latest start, will miss the ride, but Eurico Rosa Da Dilva, who was aboard for the chestnut’s debut, will ride. “On Sunday [Sept. 8], Emma-Jayne was hurt riding one of our horses,” explained Day Phillips. “She broke her clavicle and a couple of fingers. The irony of ironies is that now that Emma can’t ride him, Eurico is available to ride him. Bizarre is the best word. Eurico came in [Monday morning] to breeze Keep On Truckin. The breeze went very well and Eurico was delighted to be back on him. There’s no way I ever would have predicted all of this to happen.” Proven Strategies (Sky Mesa) is one of three juveniles entered in Sunday’s race. Also entered are Cucina (Northern Afleet) and Secret Stash (Ire) (Mukadram {GB}), who is cross-entered in the GI Natalma S. later in the card. Proven Strategies was fifth in his career debut going 5 ½ furlongs on the synthetic June 29 before finishing in the same spot–beaten only two lengths–while stretching to 8 ½ furlongs on the Saratoga turf July 27. Well meant in the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore S. Aug. 16, the dark bay had to settle for second behind fellow DJ Stable runner Another Miracle (American Pharoah). Todd Pletcher is represented by Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Mystic Lancelot (Into Mischief), who took his debut by three lengths going 5 ½ furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 15. John Velazquez, in tow that day, gets back on board this time. The post ‘Truckin’ Into Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With 11 group races across Ireland, France and Germany on Sunday, the only problem for onlookers is what to look forward to most and also where to look with at some stages only 10 minutes between some of the leading contests. Picking out the star turn is almost impossible, with Godolphin’s elite 2-year-old Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) unable to hog the limelight from two Oaks winners who take each other on in Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Star Catcher (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), and then there is the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). It is a measure of the elevated standard in evidence that the clash between the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and G1 St Leger hero Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is not the main attraction. In a season during which Godolphin have hit the heights with their 2-year-olds, Pinatubo is bordering on the exceptional already having put up a performance that almost guarantees champion juvenile status when taking Goodwood’s G2 Vintage S. by five lengths July 30. That was an improvement on his impressive success in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot June 22 and Charlie Appleby is understandably optimistic as he bids to justify odds-on favouritism in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. “Pinatubo’s form is faultless and we have been aiming him at this race since he won impressively at Goodwood on his latest start,” he said. “He has been very straightforward at home and we have been pleased with his preparation. He’s not doing anything different to what he was doing earlier in the summer. He’s not a brilliant workhorse, but he seems to produce his A-game in the afternoons. He is an exciting colt and I feel that they all have him to beat.” While it is not exactly do-or-die, in some ways the National showdown with Pinatubo is vital for Ballydoyle who put the reputation of their star 2-year-old colts Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) on the line. Ryan Moore is on the former, who treads a familiar path for the stable having won the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 25 and G2 Futurity S. over this course and seven-furlong trip last time Aug. 23. Arizona is a colt of considerable substance himself, having won Royal Ascot’s G2 Coventry S. June 18 and he can easily be forgiven a comeback fourth on unsuitably heavy ground in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville Aug. 18. “Armory is in good shape,” commented Aidan O’Brien, who has won this 11 times. “Nobody wants to see easy races–they all want to see the good horses clash. You win some and lose some. You learn if you have to improve or if you are good enough.” At ParisLongchamp, the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille stands at the centre of the “Arc trials” card and with the pair of 4-year-olds well short of the required standard this is set to be one for the Classic generation. John Gosden has run out of options to keep his aforementioned Oaks winners Anapurna and Star Catcher apart and Frankie Dettori has had to face the unenviable scenario of getting off his Epsom heroine in favour of Anthony Oppenheimer’s Star Catcher. Her defeat of Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 20 and G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh a month later is probably marginally superior to Anapurna’s eclipse of Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the May 31 Epsom Classic but it would not have been an easy choice. Samuel de Barros’s June 16 G1 Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is also engaged and is remarkably one of a total of seven European Classic winners due to run on Sunday. Meon Valley Stud’s Mark Weinfeld said of Anapurna, “It has been a long wait since Epsom. We were originally going to run her in the Yorkshire Oaks, but there didn’t seem much point when we saw Enable was going there. We’re just hoping she runs well now, she’s had a long break. I don’t think she’ll be staying in training, that’s not the plan at the moment anyway. We haven’t entered her in the Arc. We’ve got the Fillies and Mares race at Ascot on the agenda, but she’s also got an entry in the Prix Royallieu as well.” Anthony Oppenheimer said of Star Catcher, “She’s going very well and I think her chances are pretty obvious–she’s got a good chance. There are two Oaks winners there, lots of good horses, and they all seem to be rated about the same. She’ll like the ground, she’s really well, she’s had a long rest and Dettori is riding. I’ve spoken to Frankie and he’s very pleased with her at home, but it is a very difficult race–all the top fillies in Europe really, a very exciting race.” Peter Brant’s Sottsass is one of the most notable, having beaten Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in convincing fashion in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly when last seen June 2. While the form of that renewal is mixed, there has been enough subsequent evidence to suggest it was at least an average edition but with little serious opposition in the G2 Qatar Prix Niel this should be a stress-free reintroduction for the Rouget trainee. There may be more substance in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy, where TDN Rising Star Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) returns from battle in England to meet the Japanese interest Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}). Unfortunate to be met with rain-softened ground when third in the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. at that venue July 27, Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park’s 5-year-old remains more than just an underdog for the Arc contender and an ideal warm-up here could be all-important. Back at The Curragh, the G1 Comer Group Irish St Leger sees the return to the fray of Kew Gardens who is up to the trip over which he recorded his last success in Doncaster’s St Leger 12 months ago. Runner-up in Epsom’s G1 Coronation Cup when last seen May 31, he is unbeaten at further than a mile and a half but he will have to be at a peak to contend with Cross Counter. When they met in York’s G2 Great Voltigeur S. last August, Kew Gardens was warming up for the Doncaster Classic under a five-pound penalty for his G1 Grand Prix de Paris success and was 1 1/2 lengths behind the Godolphin gelding as they filled second and third. Aidan O’Brien sees Kew Gardens as a stayer and said, “Kew Gardens is in good form. He went a little bit wrong on us, so we had to stop with him. He is back in good shape and is ready to start. He stays very well and gets a good trip. We were looking forward to going for the Gold Cup with him this year, because we thought he was a tailor-made Gold Cup horse. I would think he would get further than two miles and I don’t know if he would be quick enough for the Melbourne Cup.” After the Voltigeur, Cross Counter went on to annex the Melbourne Cup on his next start and there was no disgrace in his subsequent attempts to dethrone Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 20 and July 30 G1 Goodwood Cup. Charlie Appleby is relishing this test. “He’s a horse who always travels well during his races and I think coming back to a mile and six will suit him,” he commented. “He’s run two very solid races since he came back to Europe–finishing fourth in the Gold Cup and third at Goodwood. If he brings that level of form to the table on Sunday, he’s going to be a major player. I’m hoping for a good run and hopefully it will be nice springboard before going back to Melbourne.” This prize also features the 2017 G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger hero Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has failed to fire all season, and last year’s Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who has also operated at a more modest level since his finest hour. At the other end of the distance spectrum, the sprinters have their turn in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five with Martyn Meade trying to get that elusive top-level victory for Aquis Farm’s Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) before she retires. She was just 3/4 of a length behind Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when runner-up in the G2 King George S. at Goodwood Aug. 2 and that form might be good enough. “Obviously she’s had to adjust to a different training routine over here–in Australia they train them at the track, but she’s actually probably well-suited to how we train here,” Meade explained. “She’s not really a typical sprinter–she’s pretty laid-back. Her run at Goodwood was excellent. I think the ground and track will be fine for her at The Curragh and she’ll then likely go to the Prix de l’Abbaye.” Eddie Lynam is an expert in this field and he has built Lady O’Reilly’s 4-year-old Soffia (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) into a forthright sprinting star over the past four months. Going from a first black-type win in the Listed Sole Power Sprint S. over this trip at Naas May 19 to a narrow success in the six-furlong G3 Ballyogan S. here June 7, she made a leap forward with a 3 1/2-length defeat of the solid yardstick El Astronaute (Ire) (Approve {Ire}) in the G2 Sapphire S. over this track and trip July 21. As a result of that performance, she has the edge over last year’s G1 Prix de l’Abbaye heroine Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who was only third in this 12 months ago. “This has been the plan and it certainly helps we don’t have to take on Battaash,” Lynam said. “It’s going to be tough, but I’d be very happy with her.” With Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) and Battaash out of the way, this may represent the ideal opportunity for Soldier’s Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to grab that Group 1 success he looks capable of. While he was only fourth behind Soffia in the Sapphire, he lost a shoe on that occasion and he is better judged on his performances either side when third in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 18 and runner-up in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 23. Jessica Harrington’s cast of 2-year-old fillies have carried all before them in 2019 and the Niarchos Family’s unbeaten Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) looks to maintain the run in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Getting going late to take the G2 Airlie Stud S. over six furlongs here last time June 28, she will benefit from this extra distance according to her trainer. “She’s all set for it and you’d hope the step up to seven furlongs will suit her,” she said. “She’s not run for a while. I hope she’s the one to beat but you never know, because there are one or two in there who have just won maidens.” Stamina for this trip on this stiff circuit is not guaranteed for the June 21 G3 Albany S. winner Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who was runner-up to Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) in Newmarket’s G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. when last seen July 12. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s chestnut was staying on strongly up the hill there and trainer Roger Varian is hoping the distance will pose no problem. “I am hopeful of her staying the seven furlongs and very happy with her condition,” he said. “The Curragh should be no problem, but we have to find out about the seven furlongs and it is a stiff seven furlongs there. That said, she is a similar type of filly to Cursory Glance, who won the Moyglare for us in 2014, having also won the Albany. She boasts some of the best juvenile filly form and has strong credentials in the race, even if it is always a hot race at The Curragh.” Also on The Curragh card is the G2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford S. where TDN Rising Star Goddess (Camelot {GB}) faces her toughest test having won the nine-furlong G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. here Aug. 30. Her rivals include His Highness The Aga Khan’s Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) who looked a potential Group 1 performer when capturing the G3 Give Thanks S. over 12 furlongs at Cork Aug. 17. She bids to provide Dermot Weld with a fourth consecutive renewal and a fifth since 2014. Team Valor’s Loveisthehigherlaw (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is one of the day’s “dark horses” and it is difficult to gauge the level of her ability at present after promising wins in minor events at Cork May 10 and Killarney Aug. 22. The post Champion Feast on Super Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Already the winner of the G1 Fillies’ Mile and G1 Pretty Polly S., Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez’s Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) made it a trio of top-level contests in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. at Leopardstown. Tracking Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in a share of third early, the 10-1 short was delivered by Wayne Lordan to swamp that rival and Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole and stay on for a 3/4-of-a-length verdict over the latter. The even-money favourite Laurens was only fourth. 1–IRIDESSA (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Ruler of the World (Ire) 1st Dam: Senta’s Dream (GB), by Danehill 2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino 3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr) O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O’Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €206,500. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 10-4-0-2. The post Ruler of the World’s Iridessa Wins the Matron appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LNJ Foxwoods' grade 1 winner Covfefe is set for the Sept. 21, $125,000 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs—likely her final start in advance of the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. View the full article

Godolphin’s Fair Maiden (Street Boss) has proven dominant in her two latest trips to the post and attempts to win at the highest level in Woodbine’s GI Natalma S., a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 1. A first-up fifth going 4 ½ furlongs over the Arlington synthetic June 23, the hombred aired by 14 1/4 lengths at that venue July 21 before trying the turf for the first time in a soggy renewal of Woodbine’s 6 1/2-panel Catch a Glimpse S. Aug. 17. A 7 1/2-length winner that day, she gave her trainer Eoin Harty plenty of reason to ponder bigger things for the filly. “After that, the Natalma became a prime consideration for her,” admitted Harty. “At this time of year, there are a lot of opportunities for 2-year-olds but she got over the course up there really well.” Fair Maiden has breezed twice at Arlington since the Catch A Glimpse, the latest a five-furlong move in 1:02 Sept. 10. “She didn’t work that fast but she worked very well,” said Harty. In regards to stretching out, he added, “I really don’t think she’ll have distance limitations, especially when it comes to a mile.” Emma-Jayne Wilson, who piloted Fair Maiden in her win at Woodbine, was injured in a spill last Sunday. Flavien Prat gets the call in the Natalma. The consistent Walk In Marrakesh (Ire) registered three consecutive victories this summer, including a narrow score in the Listed EBF Star S. at Sandown July 25. The Mark Johnson trainee finished a credible third in her most recent start over the soft going in the seven-furlong G2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville Aug. 17. Mark Casse saddles three in this test–Diamond Sparkles (War Front), Coach Lori (Cairo Prince) and Secret Stash (Ire) (Mukhadram {GB}).Diamond Sparkles, a second out winner at Thirsk in July, was subsequently purchased privately by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber. “She’s a really nice filly,” said Casse. “Her race in England looks very good, and she’s been training well over there, so I would expect her to run well.” Both Brereton Jones homebred Coach Lori, who won at first asking in a five-furlong test Aug. 3, and Secret Stash enter the Natalma off of wins. “She got away a little slow, and I didn’t think she had any chance at all, and she was able to get up and win,” Casse said of Coach Lori. “She’s come back and trained about as good as any 2-year-old filly we’ve ever had.” Secret Stash, purchased privately by Gary Barber after winning second time out in her native Ireland, will be making her North American debut in the Natalma. “We’ve had her in Kentucky for a while,” explained Casse. “We tried to run her in a stakes [Aug. 31] at Kentucky Downs, but unfortunately she didn’t get in. So, this is Plan B.” The post Iron Maiden Headlines Natalma appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Leopardstown’s G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. proved one for the fillies on Saturday, as Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) led home stablemate Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with the Japanese mare Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) an unlucky fourth. After three seconds in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S., G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks, the 11-10 favourite was perfectly positioned in second early by Ryan Moore who asked her to seal victory passing two out. Staying on strongly, she prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths with a head back to Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for another Ballydoyle one-two-three. Deirdre, who was denied a run in the straight, finished strongly down the outer. 1–MAGICAL (IRE), 130, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) 3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €712,500. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng & GISP-US, 19-8-6-0. *Full to Rhododendron (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GISP-US, $1,786,763; and Flying The Flag (Ire), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. The post Irish Champion Success For Magical appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was all Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Saturday’s G1 William Hill St Leger at Doncaster as Khalid Abdullah’s homebred made light work of the task to provide his sire with a second British Classic and the first in these silks. Heavily-backed into 5-6 favouritism, the G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner was anchored towards the rear early by a confident Frankie Dettori as the pace proved predictably strong. Angled towards the stand’s side once straightening for home, the grey produced a telling surge to gain command passing the two-furlong pole and his rider was looking around for non-existent dangers in the last furlong. At the line, the unbeaten colt had recorded a new course-record time as he sauntered to a 2 1/4-length success from Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}), with Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a head away in third. 1–LOGICIAN (GB), 127, c, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Scuffle (GB) (SP-Eng), by Daylami (Ire) 2nd Dam: Tantina, by Distant View 3rd Dam: Didina (GB), by Nashwan 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £396,970. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, £514,013. *1/2 to Suffused (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSW-US, GISP-Can & SP-Eng, $697,248; and Battlement (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng. The post Leger Glory For Frankel’s Logician appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Entering Saturday’s G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. as the 1-2 favourite, TDN Rising Star Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) had his reputation on the line but he duly emerged from the Leopardstown contest as a leading Derby hopeful. Having beaten the subsequent winner Shekhem (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) by 3 1/4 lengths in a Curragh maiden Aug. 30, the full-brother to Japan (GB) broke fast and was free without cover in the hands of Ryan Moore before settling behind the pace in a share of fourth. Enjoying a clear run turning in, he led with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and stayed on to defeat Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. “He might race again, as he’s three weeks ahead of where Japan was at the same time but the lads will see,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said. “He has a lovely mind and that is also Japan’s main strength.” MOGUL (GB), 129, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Shastye (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Danehill 2nd Dam: Saganeca, by Sagace (Fr) 3rd Dam: Haglette, by Hagley 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (3,400,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €88,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €103,800. *Full to Japan (GB), G1SW-Eng & Fr, GSW-Ire, $1,601,770; Secret Gesture (GB), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr & Ger, GISP-US, $746,427; and Sir Isaac Newton (GB), GSW-Ire, SW-Eng & GSP-Aus, $403,231; and 1/2 to Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}), SW & MGSP-Aus, $403,286. The post Galileo’s Mogul Takes the Champions Juvenile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saddled with a three-pound penalty in Saturday’s G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster as a result of his win in York’s G2 Gimcrack S. Aug. 23, TDN Rising Star Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) defied the extra burden with a neck defeat of Royal Crusade (GB) (Shamardal). Held up last of the quintet early by Pat Dobbs, the 6-5 favourite cruised to the lead approaching the furlong pole and was in control when jinking right near the line. “A lot of two-year-olds stop here because of where the finish line is–angled off to where they came out,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “The way he travelled there is what we see at home and Pat said you probably wouldn’t want to hit the front too soon. All the big races are opportunities for him now and David and Patricia Thompson have a very good horse.” 1–THREAT (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Footstepsinthesand (GB) 1st Dam: Flare of Firelight, by Birdstone 2nd Dam: Shiva (Jpn), by Hector Protector 3rd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) (100,000gns Wlg ’17 TATFOA). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-La Lumiere Partnership (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Pat Dobbs. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, £253,143. The post Footstepsinthesand’s Threat Adds the Champagne To His Tally appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Four-year-old gelding War Diary (GB) (Declaration of War) (lot 1), winner of a premier handicap at The Curragh on his fourth start in June, for Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez and trainer John Murphy, topped the boutique Goffs Champions Sale on Saturday when knocked down to trainer Mick Halford for €200,000. Five horses were offered in the parade ring prior to the start of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown Racecourse, with two finding new homes. In addition to War Diary, Murphy also sent out the winning 2-year-old Think Big (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) (lot 5), who was picked up by Charlie Gordon-Watson for €100,000. “The Champions Sale is set up to give a unique opportunity to owners of quality flat horses, to showcase their horses in front of an international audience,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “We judge our flat boutique sales by different standards in that vendors are delighted if they sell for a good price, but equally are not overly disappointed if they do not sell. That was very much the case today, the two that sold, sold very well and the three that did not will race on for their existing connections and we wish them all well. The Goffs Champions Sale provides Goffs with another showcase on the international stage and has a bright future.” The post War Diary Tops Champions Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Curragh Racecourse is set to host the second leg of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend and has another stellar line up of thrilling Group racing to provide entertainment for any racing and punting fan alike. Moyglare ”Jewels” Blandford Stakes The Group 2 contest is run over one mile and two furlongs and is open […] The post Preview: Longines Irish Champions Weekend – Sunday at the Curragh appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Jockey Blake Shinn will be set for a club-imposed holiday after Sunday’s meeting but trainer John Moore is looking to send him off in style.Shinn will miss three meetings after Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting due to suspension after impressing during his short time in Hong Kong and will jump aboard Moore’s Styling City in the Class Two Tailorbird Handicap (1,200m).The four-year-old has been placed in Group Three level but has not raced up to his high standards since running in the Group One Centenary… View the full article

Wednesday night’s Happy Valley meeting was a drought-breaker of sorts for champion jockey Zac Purton.The record-breaking Australian left the meeting without a winner for the first time in 147 days, putting in context his dominance of Hong Kong racing in recent times.Purton had gone 26 meetings straight with at least one win, with many yielding several more.With the arrival of fellow Australian Blake Shinn and Joao Moreira no longer riding as a stable jockey, the riding ranks have become much… View the full article

The restoration of full quarantine measures between Hong Kong and Australia has suffered a setback with Australian government officials unable to settle on a date to tour the Jockey Club’s Conghua racecourse in mainland China.Officials from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) had originally planned to tour the Conghua facility this month but the Post can reveal that trip will not go ahead as scheduled.DAWR requires a final inspection of the facility to sign-off… View the full article

Led by a chestnut son of Union Rags sold for $1 million, the Sept. 13 fourth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was a huge day for the Farish family's Lane's End. View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Brian DiDonato LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale lost none of its momentum following a dark day, with the two-session Book 2 opening with strong trade Friday in Lexington. The day was dominated by the Farish family’s Lane’s End Farm, which consigned the day’s top three lots, and four of the top five, including the $1-million session topper by the farm’s Union Rags, while Lane’s End stallion Quality Road was responsible for two of the day’s top four offerings. The buying triumvirate of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Racing, largely shut out of a competitive Book 1, purchased, along with various partners, five lots, including the million-dollar topper, a $900,000 son of Quality Road and a $800,000 Curlin colt. “It was a solid start to Book 2,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “We made a concerted effort with Book 2 this year to trim the numbers a little bit. We catalogued 367 horses, compared to over 410 last year. Our goal was to continue to keep the quality from Book 1 up as high as we could as we go into Book 2 and the numbers reflect that that worked very well.” During Friday’s session, 221 yearlings sold for $54,229,000. The average was $245,380 and the median was $210,000. With 94 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 29.84%. While the revamped format of the September sale makes year-to-year comparisons inexact, Keeneland released figures comparing Friday’s opening Book 2 session, and the auction’s fourth overall, to the 2018 opening Book 2 session, which was the auction’s fifth overall session. Last year’s fifth session saw 284 yearlings gross $51,049,700. The average was $179,752 and the median was $140,000. The buy-back rate was 22.40%. A total of 16 yearlings sold for $500,000 or over Friday. “It was very vibrant and the last hour and a half was spectacular,” Russell said of Friday’s trade. “But I thought all during the day, we saw some buyers left over from Book 1 and buyers buying a lot more horses than they could do in Book 1.” In a Book 1 dominated by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, SF/Starlight/Madaket purchased just two lots during the first part of the week. But the partners jumped into action with both feet Friday. “I’m sure there are other people in the same position,” said SF’s Tom Ryan. “If we are pushed back, it must be the same situation for most others. It’s amazing when you see Sheikh Mohammed fly in here with his entourage. It’s great for the market and for the business, but it also makes it hard to compete.” The Mayer family’s Nursery Place had its biggest sales result Friday when a colt by Quality Road sold for $900,000. That sale capped a perfect six-for-six day for the operation. “It is a bull market, as they say,” Griffin Mayer said. “Today shows it. I thought we had a nice group, but this very much exceeded my expectations.” The Keeneland September sale continues with a final Book 2 session Saturday and continues through Sept. 22 with bidding beginning daily at 10 a.m. Patience Pays Off for Courtlandt Don Adam’s Courtlandt Farm has been active once again at Keeneland September, and saved its biggest purchase so far for last at the end of Friday’s session in the form of a $975,000 filly (hip 923) by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and out of a half-sister to the dam of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Lane’s End consigned the Mar. 27 foal on behalf of Dixiana Farms, which had purchased the bay for $290,000 in utero at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. “She was our top horse, even out of Book 1,” said Courtlandt’s Farm Manager Ernie Retamoza, who was joined for the bidding process by trainer Mark Hennig. “We thought she was Book 1 quality, obviously, with that family, American Pharoah. What can you say? She’s definitely the type of horse Mr. Adam’s looking to buy. We were hoping it wouldn’t go to the million, so we feel great getting her for the number that we did. She’s just the type of horse Mr. Adam’s looking for.” Courtlandt has purchased 10 head at KEESEP ’19 for a combined $5.72 million, including three buys Friday for $1.86 million total. “It’s strong on the ones we were after, I’ll tell you that,” Retamoza said of the market. “We did what we wanted to do in Book 1. We were saving a little for this book, and particularly this filly, so I think we pulled it off.” Hip 923’s dam Momentary Magic (Indian Charlie) was a $230,000 September graduate herself and eventual Gulfstream Park maiden special weight winner, but was claimed out of her final career outing for $40,000. She is out of GISP Magical Illusion (Pulpit), who in turn is the dam of GSP Stage Magic (Ghostzapper), who produced Justify and GSW The Lieutenant. An American Pharoah filly from another hugely important female family topped Book 1 at a record $8.2 million. —@BDiDonatoTDN Quality Road Colt for Durant Tom Durant added a colt by Quality Road to his racing operation when bloodstock agent Josh Stevens made a final bid of $950,000 to acquire the yearling from the Lane’s End consignment at Keeneland Friday. “Quality Road is one of the best out there now,” Stevens said after signing the ticket on the yearling. “Tom bought a couple at the 2-year-old sales this year and he’s obviously looking for horses who are Derby prospects–like everybody else out here. We tried on some early and we just realized how strong it was going to get. After a couple of days of watching the prices, we just decided, let’s find a couple that we really love and go after them. Tom gives me the orders and I follow them.” The yearling (hip 646), bred by W. S. Farish and Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership, is out of Storm Showers (Storm Cat). His second dam is graded winner Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold) and his third dam is blue-hen mare Weekend Surprise (Secretariat). “The horse was just an elite physical; he had a great walk on him,” Stevens said. “He had everything you wanted to see in a physical. He was really well put together. He just has that look to him–a horse that can run early, but can stretch out and get you into those races you want to get into.” Of the yearling’s deep roots at the Farish family’s operation, Stevens added, “If you look at what Lane’s End has done over the years, if you see a nice colt at Lane’s End’s consignment who was raised there, you know what they are capable of getting to down the road. That gives you a little bit more excitement when you see these type of horses and you know they’ve been raised at the best farms possible in Central Kentucky.” Durant’s three purchases at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale included a $530,000 colt by American Pharoah (hip 350). At the OBS April sale, Stevens went to $275,000 to secure a filly by the Triple Crown winner (hip 725) on Durant’s behalf. Stevens agreed the market has been highly competitive at Keeneland this week. “When you look at the paper and you look at the physicals and you appraise them, right now in the market, you might as well double that,” Stevens said. “There are a lot of guys who haven’t signed their names yet at this sale, so you know there is plenty of money left. If you want to get horses like this, you have to step up and pay for them.” @JessMartiniTDN Lane’s End Offerings, Stallions Dominate Lane’s End couldn’t have had a better day than it did Friday, both as a consignor and with its stallions. Lane’s End consigned four of the day’s five top lots, and the remaining member of the top five was a son of Lane’s End phenom Quality Road. The Versailles-based operation led all sellers with 29 yearlings bringing $9.45 million. “They lined up well for us,” said Lane’s End’s Bill Farish at the end of the session. “We just had some really good horses on this day, and it was great to see a couple of our stallions represented there at the top with Union Rags and Quality Road. Both of them had great days–not just our [consignment], but other people’s.” A colt by Union Rags was the day’s session topper at $1 million, while Quality Road produced colts for $950,000 and $900,000 and was the day’s leading sire by average with more than one sold at $495,625 (eight total for $3,925,000). “His mare books got better and better and better, and this [crop of yearlings] is still [the product] of $35,000 stud fee mares,” Farish said of Quality Road, who had another $900,000 colt sell during Book 1 and is currently third on the 2019 general sires list. “Next year’s $70,000, and then the next year is $150,000, so I think he’s really going to be one of the top tier commercial stallions.” As for the strength of the Book 2 market, Farish said, “It was crazy. I don’t think we’ve ever seen more vetting on any day of the sale than we saw for today. I think a lot of the agents and lookers were trying to catch up, and they might’ve vetted more horses than they normally would because they had so many horses to see. It was incredible. I think the video scoping has really helped. They can get it done faster and get around a lot quicker.” —@BDiDonatoTDN Career Day for Nursery Place The Mayer family, which has been consigning horses under its Nursery Place banner for decades, enjoyed its biggest success in the sales ring Friday at Keeneland, selling a colt by Quality Road for $900,000. “I owned this horse in partnership with my dad [John], my brother [Walker], my uncle [Happy Broadbent] and my two best friends,” Griffin Mayer said after congratulating the SF/Starlight/ Madaket team on the purchase of hip 851. “So this was really special. He has always been a really nice horse. Coming in here, we knew he was nice, but over the last couple of days, it became evident how popular he was.” The yearling is out of stakes-placed Hot Spell (Salt Lake) and is a half to stakes winner Saratoga Heater (Temple City). The partnership purchased Hot Spell, in foal to Morning Line, for $85,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January sale. “This partnership has about eight mares together,” Mayer said. “It’s kind of new in the last three or four years, we started buying some mares. [Hot Spell] had already had a stakes horse at the time in Saratoga Heater, so that brought our attention to the mare.” Since being acquired by the Nursery Place partnership, Hot Spell has produced stakes placed Malocchio (Orb), who sold for $190,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale. Quality Road had two of the top four sellers during Friday’s session. Of the decision to send the mare to the Lane’s End stallion, Mayer said, “We really went out to Lane’s End with this horse in mind. This mare had a really good Orb, but she was just a hair short on leg and we went out and saw Quality Road and said, ‘This is the perfect fit for this mare.’ When the foal got on the ground, I wasn’t expecting that–he was awesome.” Confirming the colt was the highest-priced Nursery Place consignee, Mayer said, “We had a baby bring $850,000 here a couple of years ago. But this one is great.” The colt’s sale capped a big day for Nursery Place, which sold all six sent through the ring Friday. The group included a $350,000 son of Air Force Blue (hip 840) and a $250,000 daughter of Hard Spun (hip 841). “We’ve had a great day, we’ve gone six-for-six,” Mayer said. “It was a great day for the Nursery Place team. Our guys do a phenomenal job at the farm and they all come up here and work with us at the sales and I can’t thank them enough for the good work that they do.” @JessMartiniTDN SF, Starlight, Madaket Continue Building Their Empire The powerful conglomerate spearheaded by SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables was perhaps slightly quieter than might have been expected during Book 1 of the Keeneland September sale, but sprung into action Friday, first securing an Empire Maker ridgling for $775,000 and eventually ending up with four of the top six lots and five in total once the day was done, including the session-topping $1-million Union Rags colt (hip 920) from the Lane’s End draft. The partnership purchased three colts for $1.61 million during Book 1, but still had some work left to do to match the $11.43 million outlay made last year on 24 Classic-leaning colts, all purchased with the plan of turning them over to two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert. The group purchased a pair of yearlings at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for a combined $985,000. “It’s the same group–Baffert calls us the Avengers. Everyone has a role and everyone adds value,” said SF Bloodstock’s Tom Ryan after agent and Baffert buyer Donato Lanni signed the ticket on hip 763. In response to a comment about the group’s relative lack of purchases during Book 1, Ryan said, “It wasn’t for the lack of not trying. It’s a very strong sale. There are a lot of high-quality horses on the market and a lot of money around for them. And it’s come from all over the world.” The partnership’s first group of purchases are 2-year-olds of this year, and include ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Eight Rings (Empire Maker), who turned in one of the most impressive performances by a juvenile this season when taking his Aug. 4 Del Mar unveiling by 6 1/4 lengths, only to duck in and lose his rider at 1-2 odds in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity. “One thing we know right now is that Eight Rings is a very talented horse. All we know about [hip 763] right now is that he’s a very athletic horse,” Ryan said when asked to compare the two. “He’s just balanced, [has a strong] shoulder–the way his hind end ties in. He’s a beautiful horse… These kind of horses are generally quite obvious. It doesn’t take you a long time to pick them out. He was very well raised, too. He comes from a very good farm in Lantern Hill, he has a beautiful pedigree. There’s no reason not to get excited about him.” SF, et al. paid $900,000 later in the session for hip 851, a Quality Road colt consigned by Nursery Place and made their biggest splash of the session right at the end, securing the lone million-dollar yearling of the day in hip 920, a G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.-bred chestnut from the family of Grade I winners Dream Deal, Creme Fraiche, Clear Mandate, Strong Mandate and Romantic Vision. “When pedigree comes together with physical and they work well veterinary wise, that’s where we are at,” Ryan said of the session topper. “He’s a big, obvious horse and the competition was strong for him all over the ring as far as I could see. We found ourselves in a position where that’s what we had to give if we wanted to buy him.” Overall, the partnership spent $3,975,000 to be leading buyer. Others involved with the group are Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding and Ben Goldberg and Elliott Friman’s Golconda Stables. They were represented last week by dominant Los Alamitos debuter Mo Hawk (Uncle Mo), who cost $400,000 12 months ago. —@BDiDonatoTDN Stonestreet Joins in For Curlin Colt Just when it seemed like the partnership involving SF Bloodstock, Starlight, Madaket, et al couldn’t get any more powerful, Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet joined in with them to partner on hip 900, an $800,000 son of Curlin. The grey was consigned by Lane’s End on behalf of breeder Paul Pompa. “We’re very happy to have [Stonestreet] in–they’ve done a great job with Curlin to make him the stallion he is today,” said SF’s Tom Ryan as Donato Lanni signed the ticket and with Bob Baffert, Banke and her advisor John Moynihan and SF’s Gavin Murphy close by. “He’s just a big, powerful horse. Unbridled’s Song is a great broodmare sire, there’s plenty of depth to the pedigree and there was clearly loads of competition for him.” Hip 900 is the first foal out of Lyrical Moment (Unbridled’s Song), a $500,000 OBS June graduate of 2015 who broke her maiden on the Belmont turf at three. She hails from the female family of GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles (Unbridled’s Song). Stonestreet’s 2019 GIII Doubledogdare S. winner Electric Forest is the lone graded winner so far bred on the Curlin–Unbridled’s Song cross. —@BDiDonatoTDN Perfect ‘Storm’ for Sullivan, Shoemaker Longtime owner/breeder Mary Sullivan typically isn’t one to spend much time in the spotlight, or to sell her horses, but Lantern Hill Farm’s Suzi Shoemaker picked a good time to convince her to give the latter a try. Out of a half-sister to the dam of this year’s GIII Beaugay S. and GII New York S. winner and GI Diana S. third Homerique (Exchange Rate), the Sullivan-bred Classier (Empire Maker), offered as hip 763, garnered the attention of SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables to sell for $775,000 during Friday’s Book 2 opener. Florida-based Sullivan co-bred and co-campaigned hard-knocking Grade I-winning millionaire Kiri’s Clown in the mid-90s, and more recently bred and raced three-time Grade I winner Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic). Now standing at Crestwood Farm, Get Stormy has gained some momentum this season thanks in large part to the exploits of his 4-year-old daughter Got Stormy, who bested the boys in Saratoga’s GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 10 and is the morning-line favorite to repeat the dose in Saturday’s GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile. “This is the first colt that I’ve been allowed to sell by his, breeder Mary Sullivan,” Shoemaker revealed. “She has raced and bred for many years–she bred and raced Get Stormy–and he is emerging as a good sire with low numbers and modest mares. She’s a very modest person herself. She doesn’t seek publicity. She never sells and I managed to talk her into selling this horse. Like all breeders, we end up with too many horses on our training and boarding bills, so I asked her to sell him and she did and he was perfect in every way… Homerique is a filly who obviously has a lot of class… There was just a lot of sizzle in the pedigree. It was definitely a perfect storm.” Sullivan paid $300,000 for Classier’s dam Class Will Tell (Bernardini) at the 2013 Keeneland September sale. Hailing from the female family of Group 1 winner White Moonstone and Grade I winner Desert Stormer, she graduated in the last of her 12 career starts in a Gulfstream maiden special weight going a mile on the dirt in 2016. “This whole year has been kind of magical for Mary,” Shoemaker said. “Because she doesn’t sell, the fact that we were able to have such a great sale for her is just a great thrill for me professionally… This colt has a 2-year-old full-brother in training with Ian Wilkes, and normally Mary just races. Tom Bush also trains for her, and she races everything. But, over the years, I’ve seen horses who maybe would fit a sales program and tried to suggest it, and not gotten anywhere, but this year she said, ‘Okay. Let’s give this one a try.'” Classier’s brother is named Make a Classic. Class Will Tell produced a Tiznow colt earlier this term and was bred back to Union Rags. —@BDiDonatoTDN Team Shoplifted Take Another Home The team buying on behalf of Robert Clay’s Grandview Equine, Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stables and the Roth family’s LNJ Foxwoods was back in action Friday, striking for a $700,000 Speightstown colt out of the graded-placed ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Tokyo Time (Medaglia d’Oro). The well-bred bay was consigned as hip 679 by Gainesway, Agent XXIV on behalf of breeder Emory Hamilton. “He’s a beautiful colt, lovely pedigree, raised on a spectacular farm,” said agent Jason Litt after signing the ticket. “We’ve had a lot of luck buying from Gainesway and with something raised on Helen Alexander’s farm (Emory Hamilton’s sister). He was just the classic ‘checks all the boxes’–beautiful mover, lovely type. We’re happy to have him.” LNJ campaigns the flashy GI Longines Test S. heroine Covfefe (Into Mischief), who was bred by Alexander and her mother Helen Groves. “It was good,” Litt said of the price paid for hip 679. “When you’re signing the ticket, you’re always feeling pretty good. If you’re crying when you’re buying, that’s never a good sign. So, we’re pretty happy.” Litt said competition remained tough at the start of Book 2 and that he didn’t expect it to get much easier. “There are some lovely horses,” he said. “There’s still good stuff, and there will be some good stuff for the rest of the sale. There’s still quality and plenty of people here with money.” Grandview, Cheyenne and LNJ co-campaign 2-year-old ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Shoplifted (Into Mischief), who was second in Saratoga’s GI Runhappy Hopeful S. as part of a Steve Asmussen-trained trifecta Sept. 2. The colt was an $800,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream buy signed for by Gatewood Bell’s Cromwell Bloodstock. Bell signed for the $950,000 Twirling Candy half-brother to Grade I winners Ascend and Roadster purchased by this same group Wednesday. Tokyo Time is a half to graded winners Hungry Island (More Than Ready) and Soaring Empire (Empire Maker), and the colt’s already jam-packed page got even more cramped thanks to the exploits of a son of another half to Tokyo Time–Preservationist (Arch) took the GII Suburban S. this July and added the Aug. 31 GI Woodward S. since the catalog was printed. This is the female family of Grade I winners Chic Shirine, Queena, Keen Ice, Somali Lemonade and Verrazano. —@BDiDonatoTDN McIlroy, Callaghan Right on the Money for Empire Maker Colt Agent Ben McIlroy and trainer Simon Callaghan stretched to secure an Empire Maker colt (hip 638) for $550,000 on behalf of a racing partnership early in Friday’s Book 2 opener. The Feb. 6 foal was consigned by Denali Stud, Agent XLIX on behalf of breeder Don Alberto Corporation. “Obviously, he’s by a top-class stallion in Empire Maker out of a mare by a great broodmare sire in Bernardini,” McIlroy said. “He’s a top physical from great breeders–there wasn’t a whole lot no to like.” Don Alberto paid $625,000 for winning dam Spare Change (Bernardini)–an eight-length Saratoga maiden special weight romper at two for her breeder Phipps Stable–in foal to Distorted Humor at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. Spare Change herself is a daughter of MGISW Finder’s Fee (Storm Cat) and granddaughter of GISW Fantastic Find (Mr. Prospector). A stakes-placed half to Spare Change produced GSW/MGISP Feathered (Indian Charlie), whose Tapit colt was a $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad last month. Yearlings out of Bernardini mares have been in high demand this week. Among the high-priced sellers with Bernardini on their bottom side have been a $1.2-million Curlin colt, a $1-million Union Rags filly, a $900,000 Quality Road colt and a $500,000 Quality Road colt who sold just a few hips before hip 638. The Darley resident is the broodmare sire of 2019 Grade I winners Serengeti Empress (Alternation) and Dunbar Road (Quality Road) as well as the versatile MGISW Catholic Boy (More Than Ready). “That was definitely a [factor in the colt’s appeal],” McElroy said. “And on top of that it was Bernardini over Storm Cat [on the dam’s side], which is another good cross. Those were factors, but it was mainly about the physical. He was one of the best physicals today by a top sire. That’s where we valued the horse and that’s where we got him… that was our last bid. That’s where I thought he would be. Maybe we got a little lucky because he was in early in the sale today. More times than not, you’ve got to go a few extra bids, but we got him right where we wanted.” Later in the session, another son of Empire Maker out of a Bernardini mare sold for $775,000 to SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables (see more on hip 763 above). Hall of Famer Royal Delta is among the most noteworthy products of the Empire Maker–A.P. Indy (Bernardini’s sire) cross. —@BDiDonatoTDN Encore for Imagine and Applauding Marne Fauber and Heidi Cecil’s Imagine purchased the mare Applauding (Congrats) in foal to Curlin for $100,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale and was rewarded for the purchase when that Curlin filly sold for $475,000 to Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. The mare’s second Imagine-bred foal, a son of Distorted Humor (hip 728), nearly matched his half-sister when selling for $400,000 to trainer Ken McPeek during Friday’s session of the Keeneland September sale. “Honestly, when I first bought her, I was trying to get a Curlin and she was in foal to Curlin,” Fauber said of the now 10-year-old mare’s appeal. “But she was just a nice, pretty mare, she was very well-balanced. She was good all the way around. I thought I had a bargain when I was buying the mare for what I got her for when the stud fee was more than that at the time.” Applauding has a weanling filly by Curlin and was bred back to the Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion this year. “We might offer the weanling in November, but I’m not sure,” Fauber said. “We are doing pretty well with the yearlings, so far.” The Imagine broodmare band currently numbers just three head, but Applauding is the only member acquired specifically as a broodmare. “We do a lot of the 2-year-old-in-training horses, so the other mares that we have, for whatever reason, couldn’t get sold,” Fauber explained. “But they are really well-bred, so we decided to breed them. I am happy with all of them.” Fauber continued, “We have some racing, but they are racing because they didn’t sell. The plan is to sell. Whenever we buy weanlings, we offer all of them as yearlings. We don’t hold anything back. Everything goes to the sale and whatever doesn’t go, just stays in the program.” @JessMartiniTDN The post Keeneland Book 2 Opens With Vibrant Trade appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article