Wandering Eyes

Don Alberto Stable’s Magic Star (f, 3, Scat Daddy–Meadow Breeze, by Meadowlake) put it all together late and soared to an impressive debut victory at Saratoga Saturday, becoming the newest ‘TDN Rising Star’ on the final race of the Travers day card. Jostled at the break, the 3-2 favorite fell well off the pace in the strung-out field as Hidden Facts (The Factor) was clear through fractions of :23.20 and :47.63. Still with plenty to do and buried in traffic as the field turned for home, Magic Star found a seam to run through and, once she saw daylight, she kicked into another gear, bounding to the lead for a resounding 2 1/2-length victory. She was the fifth winner on the card for trainer Chad Brown. Kelleycanrun (Cairo Prince) was second and Macabre (Hard Spun) was third. The time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.12. Magic Star, produced by GI Matron S. heroine Meadow Breeze (Meadowlake), was a $500,000 KEESEP yearling. She had been working in company with talented Brown stablemates Mascha (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on Oklahoma training turf Aug. 16 XBTV Video) and GI Alabama S. heroine Dunbar Road (Quality Road) (five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on the main track Aug. 3 XBTV Video). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $54,000. O-Don Alberto Stable. B-Betz D J Stables CoCo Burns & Magers (Ky). T-Chad Brown. The post Star Turn in Spa Finale: Scat Daddy Filly Tabbed Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The most successful trainer and jockey of the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) teamed up Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course to add to their records in the turf event with Significant Form scoring a neck victory in a blanket finish. View the full article

The Shark heads down to Southland for Sunday afternoon harness racing this week and washes up at Gore Raceway for a nine race card with plenty of chances and punting opportunities and offers up his thoughts on the day. Race 1 5 Mongolian Marshal: One of many Canterbury raiders for the day and one who comes south with some strong trial form. Strike rate stable that thrives down here. 1 Alta Endeavour: Well bred first starter from a good stable with top driver in the bike, plenty to like about it, especially from the good draw. 2 Vergeofgreatness: Three really good prep runs for this. Will be ready to rock and roll fresh up and looks a live chance in this field. 7 Spirit Of St Louis: Has looked better than average in all his public runs ahead of today’s debut. Always big respect for the stable when they line one up. Selections: 5-1-2-7 Race 2 3 Stick Man: Form behind Arden Roanoke looks good on paper. Handy draw and a pretty even looking field makes things look even better. Game on here. 6 Champers: Got it wrong last time out but the prior form was excellent and outside of the fave here, there’s plenty of chances to get a slice. 8 Iwannadancewitsumbody: Came home like a horse possessed last time out at Addington. Getting better with racing and should be in the thick of things here. 3 Paduka: Some strong efforts in last few runs. Should be better for that one too. Can work forward and give a bit of cheek today. Selections: 3-6-8-3 Race 3 5 Justan’s Sister: Two really good runs since hitting the trotting gait. Must be rewarded with the first victory at short notice. Today looks very achievable. 7 Solsbury Hill: Doing it nicely and was solid last time out at Oamaru. Manners are good too which is always a big bonus in these races. 8 Majicion: Chasing hard behind some handy ones in most recent efforts and went good at Oamaru last weekend. Should be in the fight once again. 1 Girlz N Boyz: Will strip fitter for the first up run and had looked good in trials prior. Can get away from the inside and give them a bit of a fright. Selections: 5-7-8-1 Race 4 1 Shezadawon: Turned the corner in last two starts with two big efforts – both in behind very nice types. Plum draw and should be a big player tody. 3 Major Menance: Handy type back from a spell here with a couple of workouts under the belt. Stable respect and a good chance here today. 2 Opal: Long time maiden, but a handy maiden in saying that. Good form behind some nice types. Shouldn’t stay a maiden for much longer. 4 Loissonya: In great nick and generally jumps and does things right so has to be afforded a good each way chance in this line up today. Selections: 1-3-2-4 Race 5 8 Arden’s Sweetheart: Purdon/Dalgety runner here with Blair Orange in the bike. That gets the attention. Handy trial effort recently too. Yes. 13 Bonny’s Gem: Hasn’t had all the luck in the world since the career began and meets a pretty even looking field here today. Can play a role, even from the draw. 1 Bicton: Down here as a bit of a final throw at the stumps. Comes up with a handy draw and driver wouldn’t come for nothing. Can run in the money. 6 Esther Jaccka: Done a bit wrong on race day so far, but is better than that. Can turn things around here today. Selections: 8-13-1-6 Race 6 2 Noble Mistress: Born again trotter who showed a bit of versatility with strong finishing burst at Oamaru. Things bode well for another good effort here. 3 Anothersuperstar: Humbled last time out, but prior form was excellent and back to the 2200m here. Will look to jump and run and could take some catching. 11 Davey Mac: Enigmatic to say the least. Best version would rock up here and deal the a trotting lesson. Just let us down too often to be confident. 13 Spotlight The Valley: Never far away from them and generally a good beginner so should land handy enough and from there give a sight. Selections: 2-3-11-13 Race 7 8 Storm Prince: Won the Kurow Cup last weekend pretty impressively. This is no harder, just a wide draw to contend with. Can win again. 6 Franco Santino: Closed nicely for third last week at Oamaru. Fast horse when saved for that one run and can get a slice of the pie here today. 7 Smarter VC: Comes in here off the back of a strong victory in a handy field at Addington last time out. Needs to be held up for the one go at them, but a chance again. 2 Candidasa: On speed runner who will look to keep them honest here. Dangerous if allowed own terms but expecting favourites to have measure late. Selections: 8-6-7-2 Race 8 1 Bound To Be Bettor: Meets one of the most even looking fields Southland has seen in recent years. Good draw and good form on the board suggest here’s a chance. 2 First Son: Loves to get on or near the speed and then have one crack at them. The draw makes that a possibility today. Can get a major slice of the pie. 5 Matinee Idol: Got well back but was doing best work late last time out. Tricky horse to follow but a win would be no surprise here in this field. 14 Edie Jaccka: Big run last time out and this isn’t any harder. Just needs to get around them all. Can do it too, especially against this lot. Selections: 1-2-5-14 Race 9 1 Itz A Major Babe: Thought there was a bit of merit in the last start effort after doing some work early. Should find the lead here and give them all something to think about. 10 Betterthanspraying: Not much to offer in a strong field last time out. Better than that and can bounce back to form in this field here today. 12 Fun In The Dark: Generally needs things to pan out for him in his races and if they do so here then there’s no reason why he couldn’t haul them in late. 13 Vin Scully: Williamson sticks with the ship after first up run. There’s some indication in that and it might pay not to leave him out of all calculations. Selections: 1-10-12-13 BEST: 3 Stick Man (Race 2) NEXT: 1 Shezdawon (Race 4) VALUE: 1 Itz Major Babe (Race 9) View the full article

It’s been a quiet winter for Frank Cooney and Tate Hopkins, one of the few commercial training setups left in Auckland’s west. In fact, before last night’s mile double at Alexandra Park, they hadn’t had a winner since March and had barely had any starters since then. “It’s been a quiet time since Misty Memory went to America and even now, we are only doing eight,” said Hopkins. But while their team may be small, it’s full of quality. Half-brother and sister, Solid Gold and Diamondsrbettor, proved that with dominant front-running wins fresh-up, both in the hands of James Stormont. For Solid Gold, now five, it was a continuation of a promising career that, to date, has netted seven wins and nearly $90,000. Of note on Friday night was that Cooney and Hopkins had removed the ‘go-straights’ off him and, now liberated in his gait, he set the track alight with a 55.3 last half. “He’s always been a really nice animal and over the last 12 months he’s really matured and strengthened up a lot. “He had been working good heading in to the race and with his gate speed we were pretty confident.” There is nowhere to hide now, last night’s win taking him to a rating 87 and that means races like the Spring Cup and Holmes D G come on to the radar. A lack of genuine open class horses in the north means probably only Star Galleria, On The Cards and Mach Shard would be added to last night’s field in coming weeks. “We’re hopeful that he might be able to measure up in races like that,” said Hopkins. “I’m not 100 percent sure if we will go in that direction but we will have to give him his chance from the standing start sooner or later. Year younger half-sister Diamondsrbettor cleared maidens with a five-length demolition in the night’s opening maiden, at what was just her third career start. “She took a little bit of time to come to it and then got crook as a three-year-old so we pulled the pin and tipped her out. “Being such a big filly, it was always going to be beneficial for her. “She’s always shown us that ability and we do have high hopes for her.” Both horses are out of the Falcon Seelster mare Aquileia, an unraced daughter of imported American mare T A Sportsplex. Cooney had a lot of success with the latter after importing her in 1998, the Artsplace mare leaving nine winners from 12 foals, numerous selling for good money in the sale ring as yearlings. Aquileia is one of two T A Sportsplex daughters Cooney is breeding on with, the other being the race-winning Real Desire mare, Diamonds Forever. Aquileia qualified in 2013 but never raced, owing to injury. “She had a lot of ability but suffered a paddock injury before we got to race her,” said Hopkins. “But she’s left us a couple of nice horses to go on with so I guess it all worked out in the end.” View the full article

It would be a case of ‘may the best junior driver win’ in the feature pace at Gore on Sunday. Storm Prince and driver John Morrison will clash with Franco Santino and Mark Hurrell and Smarter VC and Alana Cameron in the 2200m event. Franco Santino will attempt to get one back on Storm Prince after last weekend’s Kurow Cup. Storm Prince bounced back to his best form when pinching a break on Franco Santino, who was back in the pack and stuck in traffic, before running in to fourth placing. Drawing barrier 8 sees Storm Prince start outside both of his main rivals. Franco Santino will be in barrier 6 and Smarter VC in barrier 7. Hurrell said he may choose to make full use of his superior draw with the Nathan Williamson trained Franco Santino. “He got too far back in the Kurow Cup,” the junior driver said. “It might be a case of us taking the bull by the horns and going straight to the front and seeing if the others can catch us.” “I will talk to Nathan about it and see how he wants the horse driven.” The step back from 2600m to 2200m could also help Franco Santino turn the tables on Storm Prince. The 5yr-old has shown a good turn of foot in sprint races, including winning a mile event (1609m) in 1.52.0 “He has always had a good turn of foot,” Hurrell said. “I am looking forward to driving him and seeing how he goes.” Storm Prince’s victory came after he had not had a public appearance in over a month. Morrison said he expects the Paul Court trained pacer to strip an even fitter prospect on Sunday. “He was really good the other day and he will probably improve off the run a bit because he was fresh up” the junior driver said. “Paul is happy enough with him.” Morrison said he will approach that scenario with an open mind. “We will just have to make up our mind early and see what everyone else is going to do.” Its unlikely that Smarter VC will run the gate if trainer Matt Purvis’ recent comments are anything to go by. Purvis said before the pacer’s last start the horse is at his best when being driven for one run. That is exactly how Cameron steered him in his last start at Addington and those tactics paid off when Smarter VC helped her notch her first win. Storm Prince, Franco Santino and Smarter VC look much better placed than their five rivals in race 7 on Sunday. Their mid 70s ratings mean their opposition give away a decent handicapping advantage by starting on level marks from behind the mobile. Veteran and in form trotters Noble Mistress and Anothersuperstar look set to at least fight out the start of Sunday’s feature trot. The rejuvenated Noble Mistress will shoot for a hat trick of wins in the 2200m handicap for trainer-driver Matt Anderson. The 8yr-old began quickly before going on to win at Oamaru last weekend. Anothersuperstar also began quickly, before she tired from the 400m, in a stronger event over 2600m at the same meeting The Ricky Allen trained 12yr-old looks better suited over 2200m on Sunday. Though it remains to be seen whether Noble Mistress and Another Superstar fight out the finish, the speedy beginners look almost certain to be two of the fastest horses in to stride. View the full article

Irish Flame carries the Taranaki colours of black and gold to victory at New Plymouth. Taranaki representative Irish Flame scored provincial bragging rights when he took out the day’s feature race at New Plymouth, the New Plymouth ITM Interprovincial Challenge (1600m). The John Wheeler-trained Zed gelding defied the determined challenge of Scaglioni to score by a neck with gallant pacemaker Centre Attention fighting on doggedly to hold third. The capable five-year-old, who holds a nomination for all three of the Group One features at the upcoming Bostock New Zealand Spring Racing Carnival at Hastings, had been building nicely in recent starts with punters backing him in to start second favourite for the contest. Handled confidently by Craig Grylls, Irish Flame settled nicely in midfield before commencing a move at the 600m mark. Sent to the outside by Grylls, Irish Flame hit the front in the final stages before holding out Scaglioni who had tracked him throughout. Wheeler was a notable absentee from the meeting, although for a very good reason, as he attended his stepdaughter Krystal’s wedding in Fiji. “I’m over here for my step-daughter’s wedding but managed to hear most of the races,” Wheeler said. “It sounded like a good win by Irish Flame and he probably deserved that. “He’s always been a good horse but it wasn’t an easy task in a pretty competitive field. “He’s nominated for Hastings next week but I doubt whether he will run. “I think it is more likely that we will have a look at the Windsor Park Plate (Gr.1, 1600m) on the middle day there instead.” Irish Flame took his career record to six wins from 25 starts including the Gr.3 Phoenix Park 2YO Classic (1200m) on his home track as a two-year-old. Miss Lizzie and Bridie Ansell hold out Te Toro Pearl to score a brave win at New Plymouth Race Images – Peter Rubery Earlier on the programme evergreen eight-year-old Miss Lizzie continued her recent purple patch of form with a gritty all-the-way win in the open 1300m contest. The Anna Clement-trained mare collected career victory number seven, with five of those coming in her last six starts, when she defeated Cambridge raider Te Toro Pearl and race favourite Art Deco in the hands of apprentice Bridie Ansell. Ansell made good use of her four-kilogram claim as she set Miss Lizzie alight from barrier rise and said catch me if you can to her rivals. Four lengths clear at the top of the straight, Miss Lizzie looked all-out at the 100m but dug deep to hold out her challengers and score by half a length in her open grade debut. “She has done us so proud in the last five or six starts,” Clement said. “Bride has been riding her a treat. “I was getting a little bit worried as I was thinking maybe she’s gone too early, but she has fought on well. “There won’t be too many more (starts) before she goes out and then we will bring her back for next year.” View the full article

Lacustre and Shaun Phelan clear the last fence as they head to victory at Ellerslie. The Samantha Logan-trained Lacustre laid down the gauntlet to his steeplechasing rivals heading to the prestigious Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) in a fortnight with a comprehensive victory in Saturday’s major dress rehearsal, the CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) at Ellerslie. Logan has bided her time with Lacustre who hadn’t been sighted in the winner’s enclosure since winning a maiden steeplechase at the venue on Great Northern day in 2017. The Postponed eight-year-old has been thereabouts in most of his starts since then and enhanced his burgeoning credentials for the Northern with an eye-catching run for third in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase back in June. Handy throughout for rider Shaun Phelan, Lacustre jumped proficiently in mid-field before being sent forward by Phelan as the field climbed the famed Ellerslie hill with 1000m to run. Lacustre and outsider Kokanee Gold scooted down the hill and jumped the last fence together before Lacustre forged clear in the final stages to win by five lengths from a fast finishing The Arabian Duke with Kokanee Gold battling on bravely for third. “This is just fantastic and my best moment in racing,” Logan said. “This horse is a marvel and so is Shaun Phelan who gave him a great ride. “We’ve set him for this race for the last two years. Craig Thornton used to train him and when he gave up, he gave him to me thankfully and said if I did my job right, he could win the Pakuranga Hunt Cup. “We waited and didn’t do much with him last year, messed around and got his jumping right and waited for Ellerslie. Laekeeper in full flight as he heads for the winning post at Ellerslie Kirstin Ledington “It’s just huge to come back here and get this done. “He (Thornton) developed the horse through from a two-year-old so is just as much to thank as me. “The owners have been patient and are a great bunch of hunting people so to get it on a hunt day is huge. “We will just tick him over now and if we get the same happy horse on Northern day then he will go just as well.” A patient ride by Shaun Fannin saw topweight Laekeeper take out the days other feature jumping contest, the Corson Maize Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3350m). Having his first ride on the Simon Rees-trained Keeper gelding, Fannin timed his winning bid to perfection after settling well off a red-hot speed in the early stages. Fannin bided his time in second-last position before setting off after the leaders with 800m to run. Race favourite No Tip adopted similar tactics and the pair took over at the top of the Ellerslie home straight. Laekeeper was travelling better than his rival as he stepped the final two fences in grand style to defeat No Tip with King Oberon battling on well to take third. “It was a great run and a great ride by Shaun, Rees said. “Everything went perfectly. “He (Laekeeper) wanted to win and he went for it. “He relaxed beautifully today so we will now go on to the Great Northern (Hurdle).” The Network Visuals Great Northern Steeplechase and Boutique Body Corporates Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) are the headline events at the Ellerslie meeting on September 7. View the full article

Alward. In-form jockey Ryan Maloney got plenty of credit when much travelled Alward broke through for his first win in nearly two years at the Gold Coast. The Chris Waller-trained Alward ($6.50) got upon the fence to beat his stablemate Vaucluse Bay ($3.20) by a nose in the William and Elsie Morgan Open Handicap (1800m). Alward did his early racing in France before being sold to Australian interests as a possible Cups-type horse. He showed plenty of promise making it four wins from five starts when he won at Randwick on October 7, 2017. However, Alward had not won since and had been struggling in Melbourne before Waller elected to send him to his Gold Coast stable. Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer said Alward had been unlucky at his first start in Queensland when unplaced at Doomben two weeks ago. “He ran into some bad interference in the straight but he still ran on well and it was a good pointer to this,” Shailer said. “Both our horses have run well today but they have probably found the right class in Queensland and will stay here. “The difference today was a great ride from Ryan (Maloney) who is in very good form.” View the full article

Jasmine Fawcett guides Back In A Flash to a comfortable victory at Ellerslie. Progressive mare Back In A Flash provided owner Grant Kingsford with the perfect birthday present when she underlined her wet track credentials in emphatic fashion at Ellerslie on Saturday. Having her first run back from a short mid-winter break, the Keith and Gavin Opie-trained five-year-old treated her rating 82 rivals with contempt as she breezed on by in the home straight to score by a comfortable three and a half length margin in the 1200m opening event. The victory took the mare’s career record to six wins from just 12 starts with Gavin Opie pleased to see her bounce straight back to the winner’s enclosure after her form tailed off a little towards the end of her last campaign. “We thought she was quite forward as, despite having a break, she had plenty of residual fitness under her belt,” he said. “We knew the track would be a testing Heavy 11 which made the race more like 1400m which was also in her favour. “I did have a slight concern when she seemed to be struggling a little on the point of the home turn but we know she normally hits a flat spot in her races so that was it. “Once Jasmine got her balanced and let her go, she just swept past them and did it pretty comfortably with petrol left in the tank.” Opie is keen to return to Ellerslie in a fortnight to test the mare in open company before heading towards a black-type challenge after that. “We weren’t too sure what our next move would be until after today, so now she has won it gives us a little more certainty,” Opie said. “That should take her out of the rating 82 grade so we will be back here in a fortnight for an open 1400m. “Safely through that we are looking at the Taranaki Breeders (Gr.3, 1400m) at Hawera in early October to see if we can get some black-type for her. “That would be a great thrill for her owners, Grant and Joanne Kingsford, although today will be special as it’s Grant’s birthday. “She delivered a birthday present last year when she won at New Plymouth on the same day so to do it two years in a row is quite special.” View the full article

Tavisan never looked in doubt after hitting the front at The Valley. Taking advantage of a track suiting horses racing on the pace, Tavisan landed a betting plunge with an all-the-way win at The Valley. Tavisan was backed from $3.30 into $2.35 favouritism before taking out the Ranvet Handicap under a well-judged ride from Ben Melham. Melham had no hesitation in taking Tavisan to the front before kicking clear on the home turn in recording a two-length victory Epic Grey ($11). “It was a race that was always going to map well for him,” Melham said. “He was controlled going through the breeze, got into a beautiful rhythm and he does have a bit of class about him. “He’s relatively lightly-raced and still learning and he’s got good upside.” While Melham is confident Tavisan can race to a higher level, Mick Price, who trains the gelding in partnership with Mick Kent junior, is in no rush to test Tavisan against top level competition in his four-year-old year. Tavisan collected three stakes-race placings as a spring three-year-old before being gelded after one run in the autumn. Saturday’s victory was his second since the gelding operation. Price said he would prefer to race Tavisan through his grades and get a good return for the gelding’s owners. “I think with the prize money available, it’s better for the owners and a better return for them to pick your way through the right races,” Price said. “We’ll just place him where he can win and get a good return from him.” View the full article

The slimmest of nostrils separated Midnight Bisou and Elate at the line in the $651,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course, and it took a review of the photo to decide the winner. View the full article

William S. Farish's Code of Honor became the first grade 1 winner for his sire, Noble Mission, when he surged to victory with a strong rally in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

W S Farish’s Code of Honor (c, 3, Noble Mission {GB}–Reunited, by Dixie Union) stormed to the lead in deep stretch to score an authoritative victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. Saturday at Saratoga. The chestnut colt, a 4-1 shot, settled well off the pace as favored Tacitus (Tapit) and West Coast invader Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) exchanged blows on the front end through fractions of :23.11, :47.26 and 1:11.21. The two pacesetters began to tire down the lane and exchanged bumps as Code of Honor was moving best of all, powering to the lead en route to a 2 1/2-length victory. Tacitus was second and Mucho Gusto third. The time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:01.05. Code of Honor won the Mar. 2 GII Fountain of Youth S. and was third in the Mar. 30 GI Florida Derby. He was promoted to second after finishing third in the GI Kentucky Derby and was most recently a 3 1/4-length winner of the July 6 GIII Dwyer S. Lifetime Record: 8-4-2-1, $1,965,820. O/B-W S Farish. T-Claude McGaughey III. The post Code of Honor Powers Home First in Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence's Annals of Time put his impressive turn of foot to good use in the $850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course, surging home late to pick up his second grade 1 win. View the full article

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Annals of Time (h, 6, Temple City–Lemon Haze, by Distant View) stormed to the lead in the dying strides to win the GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga Saturday. Annals of Time settled well back as Ya Primo (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) set the pace. Asked to quicken rounding the final bend, the 5-2 favorite was angled to the center of the course at the top of the lane and began picking off foes, surging to the lead late for a 3/4-length tally. Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy) was second and Channel Cat (English Channel) was third. The time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:27.50. The win was the fourth on the Travers Day card for trainer Chad Brown. Annals of Time won the 2016 GI Hollywood Derby, but made only one start in 2017. Making his first start off a 21-month layoff, the bay was second behind Gidu (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) in a June 7 optional claimer at Belmont and he was returning to the graded ranks following a 4 1/2-length victory in a 1 3/16-miles optional claimer at Saratoga July 24. Lifetime Record: 8-5-2-1, $920,300. O-Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence. B-Monticule (Ky). T-Chad Brown. The post Annals of Time Puts Chad Brown in Winner’s Circle Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bloom Racing Stable and Madaket Stables’ Midnight Bisou (f, 4, Midnight Lute–Diva Delite, by Repent) just got her nose in front of a stubborn Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) in the final jump to win the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Saturday. The victory kept Midnight Bisou’s perfect 2019 record in tact, while handing Elate her second straight heart-breaking Personal Ensign defeat. Midnight Bisou trailed the field early and Elate took up a stalking position as longshot Coach Rocks (Oxbow) took the field through fractions of :23.46 and :47.88. Elate darted to the lead entering the stretch with Midnight Bisou shadowing the 4-5 favorite’s move. Elate was able to open a clear advantage in upper stretch, but Midnight Bisou reeled her in and the two went head-to-head down the lane before the 8-5 second choice just got the edge on the line. She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality) was third. The time for the nine furlongs was 1:47.92. Midnight Bisou, third in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, opened 2019 with a win in the Jan. 27 GIII Houston Ladies Classic. She added wins in the Mar. 16 GII Azeri S., Apr. 14 GI Apple Blossom H., June 8 GI Ogden Phipps S. and, most recently, July 20 GIII Molly Pitcher S. Lifetime Record: 17-11-3-3, $3,290,000. O-Bloom Racing Stable & Madaket Stables. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. The post Midnight Bisou Right on Time in Personal Ensign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The slimmest of nostrils separated Midnight Bisou and Elate at the line in the $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course, and it took a review of the photo to decide the winner. View the full article

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Mitole bounced back from a loss in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) to win the Aug. 24 Forego Stakes Presented by Encore Boston Harbor (G1) at Saratoga Race Course by three lengths. View the full article

Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was perfect in two prior starts at Goodwood, including a personal best in the Aug. 2 G3 Thoroughbred S. going one mile at the Sussex venue last time, and continued in his rich seam of form with a game victory in Saturday’s G2 Ladbrokes Celebration Mile over the same course and distance. Reined back to track the leaders in third after an alert getaway, the 3-1 second favourite was angled off the fence for a clear passage inside the two pole and kept on relentlessly under a final-furlong drive to outpoint Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 3/4-of-a-length. “I spent all night on my tablet going through the form and working out how the race would pan out and I didn’t sleep very well,” admitted rider Rossa Ryan after securing the biggest success of his fledgling career. “I was pretty confident I would get to Oisin Murphy [on Happy Power], but I could see Rab Havlin [on Turgenev] and others in the corner of my eye. He dug deep for me and has concentrated a lot more since they put the headgear on.” Trainer Paul Cole, who registered his first win in the contest, added, “He didn’t show that form early in the year as he had a bit of a seedy toe. He was not finishing his races because he was feeling it, especially at Haydock [in May] when his shoe came off. He was a bit unlucky not to win two listed races last year and met a lot of trouble at the last meeting where his turn of foot got him out of trouble. This race was not really run to suit as it was too slow and he was difficult to settle, but I’ve no complaints. I just thought when he gets out then he will go and he did.” Pedigree Notes Duke of Hazzard, half-brother to a yearling filly by Teofilo (Ire) and a 2019 filly by Siyouni (Fr), is the first of three foals and lone performer out of a winning half-sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Palace Episode (Machiavellian) and to the dam of MG1SP G2 Debutante S. victress Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley) and G3 Abu Dhabi Championship second Janszoon (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). His unraced third dam Royal Run (Wavering Monarch), herself a half-sister to the dam of MGISW US champion Lady Eli (Divine Park), produced GI Kentucky Derby second and MGISW sire Tejano Run (Tejano) and GII Jersey Derby-winning sire More Royal (Mt. Livermore). Saturday, Goodwood, Britain LADBROKES CELEBRATION MILE S.-G2, £133,750, Goodwood, 8-24, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:37.47, gd. 1–DUKE OF HAZZARD (FR), 124, c, 3, by Lope de Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: With Your Spirit (Fr), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 2nd Dam: Palace Weekend, by Seattle Dancer 3rd Dam: Royal Run, by Wavering Monarch (€130,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Runnymede Farm & Catesby W Clay (FR); T-Paul Cole; J-Rossa Ryan. £75,850. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Fr, 15-5-3-2, $340,297. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Turgenev (GB), 124, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Tasaday, by Nayef. O-HRH Princess Haya of Jordan; B-Godolphin (GB); T-John Gosden. £28,756. 3–Happy Power (Ire), 124, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Tamarisk (Ger), by Selkirk. (625,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £14,392. Margins: 3/4, HD, 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 10.00, 4.00. Also Ran: Skardu (GB), Beat Le Bon (Fr), Nyaleti (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Duke of Hazzard Goes Back To Back appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Mitole bounced back from a loss in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) to win the Aug. 24 Forego Stakes Presented by Encore Boston Harbor (G1) at Saratoga Race Course by three lengths. View the full article

A slow start did nothing to hamper Come Dancing's quick finish in the $480,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Mind Control surged late to win the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes presented by Runhappy (G1) by a nose over Hog Creek Hustle Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course. Shancelot, the 1-5 favorite, was another nose back in third. View the full article

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Mitole bounced back from a loss in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) to win the Aug. 24 Forego Stakes Presented by Encore Boston Harbor (G1) at Saratoga Race Course by three lengths. View the full article

A slow start did nothing to hamper Come Dancing's quick finish in the $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Red Oak Stables and Madaket Stables’ Mind Control (c, 3, Stay Thirsty–Feel that Fire, by Lightnin N Thunder) just got his nose in front on the line to best Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) and pacesetting favorite Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby) in a dramatic finish to the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Saturday. Mind Control, a 10-1 shot to earn his second Saratoga Grade I event, settled just off the pace as Shancelot was in control through fractions of :23.15 and :45.58. The favorite looked home free after three-quarters in 1:09.01, but a trio of rivals suddenly loomed boldly to threaten the speedy bay in the final strides and it was Mind Control whose nose was first to the wire. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:21.43. Mind Control won the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga last summer. He captured the GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct in April and, after an eighth-place effort in the GI Woody Stephens S., was a close-up third in the July 14 Concern S. at Laurel last time out. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-1, $830,000. O-Red Oak Stable & Madaket Stables. B-Red Oak Stable (Ky). T-Gregory Sacco. The post Mind Control Snags Jerkens in Final Jump appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article