Wandering Eyes

Wassergeist two-from-two over course and distance View the full article

Noh suspended, Jerome Tan appeals against $5,000 fine View the full article

Iron Ruler poses for camera at maiden win View the full article

Early scratching August 25 View the full article

Horses' body weights August 23 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings August 23 View the full article

After three years of negotiated stability in the Southern California race dates calendar, significant changes are on the horizon for 2020. Not all parties are happy with the proposed schedule, which has an emphasis on fewer racing dates and was only partially approved on Thursday by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) at its monthly meeting. Santa Anita Park’s 2020 winter/spring meet will still occupy roughly the same block of December-June dates. But the CHRB voted unanimously on Thursday to allow the track to carve out a three-week (12 racing programs) “flex dates” break of no racing if track management encounters severe or potentially horse-harmful weather like it did this year. At the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the 2020 summer meet will still mirror its traditional July-September season. But once that meet is finished, a major switch is that instead of the SoCal circuit going to Los Alamitos–which in 2015 took over the Los Angeles County Fair dates that for decades had been run at now-defunct Fairplex Park–the CHRB approved a plan that calls for racing instead to move directly to Santa Anita, then pick up at Del Mar Oct. 28-Dec. 1. In theory, no Los Alamitos in September means a reduction in the amount of opportunities lesser-caliber horses have to compete on the SoCal circuit. But the tradeoff, as framed by proponents of the newly revised calendar, is that the flexibility that allows for fewer racing dates overall will be a plus for the California racing industry in light of safety and horse population concerns. The higher-profile tracks–Santa Anita and Del Mar–both got the date plans they jointly proposed in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). But officials from both Los Alamitos Race Course and the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) claimed they were left out of some stages of the planning process that involved private meetings among those other stakeholders. They also expressed dismay and frustration that they only found out about the proposed 2020 schedule when it was posted online by the CHRB about 48 hours prior to Thursday’s meeting. As a result, the CHRB split its Thursday vote, acting only upon the Santa Anita and Del Mar portions of the SoCal calendar. Voting on the remaining four weeks that had been allocated in that proposal to Los Alamitos (June 24 to July 7 and Dec. 2-15) was moved to the agenda for the September CHRB meeting. It was not immediately clear in the aftermath of Thursday’s vote what might change over the course of the next month to give Los Alamitos a schedule that more closely resembles its 2019 dates allocation, which is what track officials told the CHRB that they wanted. CHRB spokesperson Mike Marten explained to TDN via phone after the meeting that it is his belief that the board has “no plans to revisit” the vanished Los Alamitos block of September dates that the board awarded to Santa Anita. “We do have a specific concern about racing three additional weeks at Santa Anita immediately upon the close of Del Mar,” said Alan Balch, executive director of the CTT. “We’re talking about changing the calendar and [losing] the opportunity for a different level of horses [to race]. That’s serious.” Jack Liebau, vice president of Los Alamitos, pointed out that his track’s traditional September meet also has value to the state’s industry because it pulls in horses from tracks like Turf Paradise and Emerald Downs that often remain to compete at the larger tracks on the California circuit. Much of the discussion focused on Santa Anita’s mid-meet break. It would be an option, but not a requirement, for Santa Anita, and its necessity and duration will be entirely dependent upon then-current circumstances. If requested by track management, the break would require approval from either the CHRB’s chairman or executive director to go into effect. If no break is deemed to be needed, Santa Anita could race without interruption. CHRB Vice Chair Madeline Auerbach said that when the 2020 proposal with fewer racing dates was first floated at a dates committee meeting earlier this month, the logic of a less-is-more approach appealed to her. “What we talked about was the fact that we would have less racing days at Santa Anita, and the reason that nobody put in a specific time [for the mid-meet break] is because we’re trying to be sensitive to the weather situation [as it relates to] the safety of the horses and the riders,” Auerbach said. “We put in what we like to call “flex dates,” so that they would be racing less days, more amenable to taking days off in between to satisfy not only weather conditions, but conditions around the horse population. “We were very cognizant of the need for the industry to recognize that we have fewer horses available,” Auerbach continued. “We all have come through a very difficult period…. Rather than [leaving it up to the CHRB to mandate safety-related closures] we have given Santa Anita the ability to do it themselves. And if they can’t do it or won’t do it, we can.” Greg Avioli, president and chief executive officer the TOC, explained why his organization supported the 2020 concept. “The thing that we like the most about this calendar is it’s less racing,” Avioli said. “The reality is we continue to be down significantly in the horse population from previous years. We do not believe it’s in the best interest of the sport, the horsemen, or the horses to continue to race every week of the year, so the calendar [that was proposed by Santa Anita, Del Mar, and the TOC] has three weeks less of racing for Santa Anita in their winter/spring meet and also has Del Mar starting effectively two weeks later.” Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein said “from Del Mar’s perspective, the calendar that we’re requesting is based on breaks. We’re requesting a 13-day break prior to our summer meet, and we believe that’s the only way we’ll be able to run five days a week and pay out what we’re estimating to be $500,000 a day in purses.” Aidan Butler, acting executive director of California racing operations for The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, said, “This is a safe calendar. As safe as we can [have it be] at the moment. Horse racing has been through a terrible time. We need to run less. Change is tough. People get frustrated. But the most important thing now is the health, the safety, and the welfare of the horse and rider.” The post Santa Anita Granted Flex Dates; Los Al Loses September Meet in 2020 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Waikato Farms will showcase their stallions this weekend. The annual Waikato stallion tour, organised by the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, will take place this weekend. A bus will be available, however, space is limited. To book a spot or for more information contact Scott Buchanan 0226131631. Saturday – August 24 9.15am Bus leaves NZTBA Office – 9 Anzac Street, Cambridge 9.45am – Valachi Downs (Savile Row, Zacinto, US Navy Flag) + coffee cart 10.50am – Mapperley Stud (Complacent, Contributor, Puccini, He’s Remarkable, Summer Passage) 11.50am – Matamata Racecourse (Ocean Emperor) + Prize Draw 12.20pm – Rich Hill Stud (Proisir, Satono Aladdin, Shocking, Vadamos, Ace High) + lunch 1.45pm – Waikato Stud ( Savabeel, Sacred Falls, Ocean Park, Tivaci, Rock ‘n’ Pop, Ardrossan) 3.30pm – Brighthill Farm (Eminent, Perfectly Ready, Dalghar, Preferment). 5pm – Bus returns to NZTBA Office Sunday – August 25 9.30am Bus leaves NZTBA office 10.10 – Highview Stud (Wrote, Bullbars, Sweet Orange) + coffee cart. 11am – Norwegian Park (What’s The Story, Echoes of Heaven) 11.35am – Windsor Park Stud (Rip Van Winkle, Shamexpress, Charm Spirit, Mongolian Khan, Turn Me Loose, Ragese, Vanbrugh). 12.40pm – The Oaks Stud (Niagara, Darci Brahma, Roc De Cambes) + lunch 1.45pm – Novara Park (Sweynesse, Staphanos) 2.30pm – Cambridge Stud (Almanzor, Tavistock, Burgundy, Embellish) 3.45pm – Bus returns to NZTBA Office View the full article

Volpe Veloce stepped out in a trial earlier this week. Matamata trainer Graham Richardson will head to Sydney with Group One winner Volpe Veloce after her pleasing performance at the Taupo trials when second behind More Wonder on Wednesday. “She was flying, it was good to see,” Richardson said. “She is just happy in her work.” The winner of last year’s Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) has pleased Richardson with the way she has returned this season and she will attempt to add another Railway title to her tally after a Sydney spring campaign. “She’s definitely bigger and stronger,” he said. “She’s got a bit of middle about her now and she is fully developed. “She will be off to Sydney now for two or three starts and then head fresh into the Railway. “We haven’t confirmed which races she will contest yet, but there are options on September 7, 14 and 21.” Richardson said he has some nice horses coming through the stable, including a two-year-old colt by Vancouver and fillies by Epaulette and Manhattan Rain which were impressing him, in addition to three-year-old trial winner Red Hussar. The Matamata horseman was also looking forward to the return of five-win mare La Mia Stella, while Group One place-getter Tiptronic was likely to have a quiet trial at Te Teko next week as he furthered his spring preparations. View the full article

Officials at Churchill Downs have released the schedule for the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby, Presented by Woodford Reserve,’ which is set to kick off with the running of the GIII Iroquois S. at the home of the Derby Sept. 14. The ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ features a series of 35 races that award a sliding scale of points to the top four finishers. The total number of points-earning races remain the same as last year. The Iroquois kicks off the 19-race “Prep Season,” featuring races at distances at a minimum of a mile between September and February. Each of these “Prep Season” races is worth 10-4-2-1 to the first four home. Sixteen races comprise the “Championship Series” events, most offering 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers. The most meaningful of these final Derby preps carry a 100-40-20-10 scale, including the GII Louisiana Derby, G2 UAE Derby, GI Florida Derby, GII Wood Memorial S., GII Toyota Blue Grass S., GI Santa Anita Derby and GI Arkansas Derby. In addition to the primary ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ series, there are feeder series in Europe (seven races) and Japan (four races) that award the top points-getter an automatic berth in the Derby. A similar series remains in place to qualify for the GI Kentucky Oaks. There will be 30 races along the ‘Road to the Kentucky Oaks’–15 ‘Prep Season’ races, beginning with the GII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Sept. 14–and 15 ‘Championship Series’ races. Click here for the various schedules. The post Churchill Announces ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lubaya. The sale of Lubaya in gavelhouse.com’s most recent thoroughbred auction set a new price highlight for the site. A regally-bred daughter of Rip Van Winkle, Lubaya’s appeal was not lost on bidders with plenty of early interest in the Group placed mare who was offered as a breeding and racing proposition in light work. This interest led to a record sale price of $255,000, surpassing the $211,000 paid for Ampin who was sold in foal to Savabeel in June 2017. “These types of results reinforce the fact that gavelhouse.com is a brilliant tool for trading bloodstock at all ends of the spectrum and we’re grateful for every opportunity we get to demonstrate this,” commented gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin. “There’s no stress on the animal with them able to remain at home and there’s every opportunity for buyers to complete their due diligence by inspecting them and completing vet checks to mitigate risk.” Bred by Doug and Robyn Phillips and Windsor Park Stud, Lubaya was a Karaka Premier Sale yearling graduate bought by trainer Roydon Bergerson for $85,000 with her name a fitting one being Swahili for ‘young lioness’. A daughter of the Generous mare Lioness she is a half to dual Group One winner Lion Tamer and a full to Group performer Let Me Roar. Lubaya as a yearling Among the top classic fillies of her generation, the three-time race winner earnt herself a place in the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas field and at her last start she added valuable black-type to her page with a third placing in the Gr.3 Manuwatu Breeders Stakes. Such is the faith in her racing ability and developing maturity, the successful purchasers have decided to continue to race on with the now five-year-old mare rather than retire to the breeding barn immediately. Martin said she was pleased with the auction and the interest in gavelhouse.com sales which continues to grow. “In addition to Lubaya there were a number of quality mares traded this week and it was also pleasing to see good money being spent on mares to stay in New Zealand,” she said. “As always, the auction also drew plenty of interest from across the Tasman with two from the broodmare section heading offshore in Encore Encore and Elfee.” View the full article

Laekeeper will be ridden by Shaun Fannin in the Corson Maize Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. A consensus between a trainer and his first-choice jockey will see talented jumper Laekeeper contest Saturday’s Corson Maize Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie with a new rider. Shaun Fannin will ride topweight Laekeeper for the first time after Morrinsville trainer Simon Rees and regular rider Emily Farr agreed she should ride last-start Riccarton winner Abacus for New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler. Farr has ridden Laekeeper in all but two of his 14 hurdle starts, winning four times on the Keeper eight-year-old gelding, among those wins was last year’s Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton which led to placings in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton, last year’s Corson Maize Hurdle (3100m) at Te Aroha and Great Northern Hurdles (4200m), also at Te Aroha. However, Farr had parted company with Laekeeper in both the Sydenham Hurdles and Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton earlier this month, the only two times he has failed to place in jumping contests. “He’s really well, extremely well actually,” Rees said. “I had the situation where Emily had another ride and we agreed she should take that ride and we’ll see how Shaun goes on him. We’re very thankful for all the work Emily has done with him. “Shaun is very keen to ride him. We’re hopeful he can race well. He’s fit and well but a lot depends on how the ground is.” Ellerslie was rated a heavy 11 on Thursday, conditions Laekeeper has handled well in the past, though his most recent wins have been on slightly better slow 9 and heavy 10 tracks. TAB bookmakers have Wellington Hurdle (3400m) winner No Tip as a $3.70 favourite ahead of Laekeeper and Bay Rocker at $4.60. Rees said safely through Saturday’s race Laekeeper would again contest the Boutique Body Corporates Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) at Ellerslie on September 7. Fannin will also partner Saturday’s CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) favourite Raisafuasho at Ellerslie. Meanwhile, Rees will seek a hat-trick of wins with Maestro Blu in the ITM Winstone Wallboard Gib 1800 at New Plymouth on Saturday, suggesting a win could springboard the Mastercraftsman five-year-old into Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) contention at Riccarton in November. Maestro Blue followed a 3 1/4-length Te Aroha maiden win with an even easier 4 1/2-length Riccarton Rating 65 win earlier this month and looks well placed in Saturday’s special conditions maiden. “I felt he was nicely placed and we’ve got a bit of weight relief from the apprentice,” Rees said in reference to Mubs Kareem’s 4kg allowance. “We really like him. He’s going well and he worked pretty well this morning too. Long-term we’d like to go back to Riccarton in November and get him over a bit more ground. I think he’ll stay pretty well. He’s probably looking for 2000m now.” View the full article

TVG’s Morning Line program will feature the return of host Ken Rudulph and the addition of handicapper Matt Bernier. The in-studio program starts the network’s domestic racing coverage from the East Coast on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Rudulph was a part of the original broadcast team when TVG debuted in 1999. In 2011, he left the network to become the host of “Good Morning Sacramento” in his hometown. “I have never met or spoken to Matt Bernier in my life but I am super excited to work with him,” Rudulph said. “He’s really smart and has a unique and very valuable take on each race. He always finds things that no one else can see, illuminating them in a way that’s highly intellectual but not pretentious.” Bernier comes to TVG while currently serving as a handicapper and reporter for NBC’s horse racing coverage, and in the past served in a similar role for Daily Racing Form. “I’m excited to be joining TVG as we head into the Breeders’ Cup, one of the most action-packed times in the racing calendar, and to partner with a pro like Ken,” Bernier said. “TVG is the industry leader in providing quality analysis, and I look forward to bringing my handicapping work to the TVG audience.” The post Rudulph, Bernier to Join TVG Broadcast Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite conceding eight or more pounds to more experienced hurdlers at a longer distance, Winston C easily won the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-1), pulling clear by six lengths at the furlong pole and romping home by 8 3/4 lengths. View the full article

Saratoga Race Course is special ground for Hudson River Farms owner Edward P. Swyer. The Albany, N.Y., area developer lives in Saratoga Springs, and he loves to run his horses at the town’s historic racetrack. He came close to the winner’s circle last year when Iranistan (Einstein {Brz}) finished second in the GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Hurdle S. and third in Saratoga’s steeplechase showcase, the GI New York Turf Writers Cup Hurdle H. This year has been better, much better. On July 25, Swyer went to the winner’s circle after his Winston C (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Smithwick. He was sufficiently confident going into Thursday’s New York Turf Writers that he took several friends with him into the paddock before the race. Bringing along a gaggle of friends can be an embarrassing disaster, but not this time. Winston C, trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Thomas Garner, duplicated his victory in the 2 1/16-mile Smithwick and widened his winning margin to 8 3/4 lengths in the 2 3/8-mile New York Turf Writers. “Saratoga is special, and winning a race at Saratoga is very special,” Swyer said. “That photo, with my friends in the winner’s circle, was very special.” Swyer had acquired Winston C in the spring after he was shopped to the Sheppard team by Garner and his bloodstock partner, Noel Fehily, a now-retired jockey who had spotted the five-year-old when riding him to a maiden victory at Wincanton in January. When he bought Winston C, Swyer was thinking that maybe this would be his Saratoga horse. Winston C had finished third in his first U.S. start, a novice stakes in Nashville in May, before the Sheppard crew in Pennsylvania applied the spit and polish to him for the Smithwick. He looked terrific for the Smithwick and perhaps more muscled when he went onto the yielding inner turf course for the New York Turf Writers. Swyer had reason for confidence. Even though Winston C was conceding at least eight pounds to more experienced competitors, he had beaten all seven of them in the Smithwick and was pulling away from them at the line. Saratoga’s bettors liked him a lot, too, almost at 1-2, and he paid $3.10 to win. Unlike the Smithwick, Winston C was closer to the early pace, roughly six lengths behind Buttonwood Farm’s pacesetting All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger), bred and trained by Sheppard. “They [Winston C and Garner] were just a tad closer earlier this time,” Sheppard said. “It was probably a little slower pace, and he was able to have some closer contact with the leaders.” Garner tipped Winston C to the outside on the final run down the backstretch and allowed his smooth-jumping mount to draw closer to the leaders as the field jumped the final fence. Harold A. “Sonny” Via’s Hinterland (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}), who had been third in the Smithwick for trainer Jack Fisher, struck to the lead a few strides past the last fence with Winston C to his outside. The five-year-old’s superior speed kicked in on the far turn, and Winston C swept past Hinterland approaching the stretch. As Hinterland tired, Riverdee Stable’s Gibralfaro (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Belisarius (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) hooked up early in the lane. Neither would call it quits, and they were still going at each other as they flashed by the finish line. Fisher-trained Gibralfaro never allowed Belisarius to get past him and prevailed by a nose. The New York Turf Writers’ $90,000 first-place purse raised his National Steeplechase Association earnings to $190,000 from three Stateside starts. Swyer indicated that his ultimate goal for Winston C is the $450,000 GI Grand National at the Far Hills Races in New Jersey Oct. 19. The Grand National competition may be supplemented with European talent, as it usually is, but Garner believes Winston C has a shot. “He’s such an honest, classy little horse,” he said. “I think there is a lot more to come from him. He’s still improving.” Thursday, Saratoga NEW YORK TURF WRITERS CUP H., (NB) $150,000, Saratoga, 8-22, 4yo/up, 2 3/8mT, 4:38.16, yl. 1–WINSTON C (IRE), 154, g, 5, Rip Van Winkle (Ire)–Pitrizza (Ire), by Machiavellian. (80,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 55,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT; 30,000gns 4yo ’18 TATFEB). O-Hudson River Farms; B-Patrick F. Kelly (IRE); T-Jonathan E. Sheppard; J-Thomas Garner. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 20-7-1-6, $277,893. *1/2 to Vilasol (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), GSP-Ire, $239,861. 2–Gibralfaro (Ire), 144, g, 7, Dalakhani (Ire)–Ronda (GB), by Bluebird. (€12,000 RNA Ylg ’13 AR13; €28,000 5yo ’17 TATIAS). O-Riverdee Stable; B-Sarl Darpat France (IRE); T-Jack O. Fisher. $27,000. 3–Belisarius (Ire), 142, g, 8, Montjeu (Ire)–Lasting Chance, by American Chance. O-Brous Stable LLC, Gary Barber & Wachtel Stable; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Kate Dalton. $15,000. Margins: 8 3/4, NO, 11. Odds: 0.55, 5.80, 15.00. Also Ran: Hinterland (Fr), All the Way Jose, Modem (GB), No Wunder (GB), Peppay Le Pugh (Ire). Scratched: Portrade (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Winston C Romps in N.Y. Turf Writers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2019-20 winter-spring meet at Santa Anita will include three weeks down time, 12 race days to be determined, under a plan approved Aug. 22 by the California Horse Racing Board at its regular meeting in Del Mar. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, August 24, 2019 4th-NII, ¥9,550,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m PARIS TESORO (f, 3, Declaration of War–Patricias Prospect, by A.P. Indy) is out of an unraced full-sister to perennial leading sire Malibu Moon and a half to MGSP Positively (Distorted Humor) and to SP Mutually Benefit (Dynaformer), dam of SW & MGSP Compelled (War Front). Sold in utero for $60K at Keeneland November in 2015, Paris Tesoro was a $25K KEENOV weanling turned €80K Arqana August yearling. She tries the dirt for the first time Saturday. B-A Bayle, C Bigheart, S Gross et al (KY) 5th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($126k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m GRAZIE DUO (JPN) (f, 2, Tonalist–City Wells, by City Zip) is the first foal from his dam, third for Shel Evans in the 2015 GIII Ontario Colleen S. before selling for $140K with this foal in utero at KEENOV in 2016. Hailing from the family of Evans’s GI Pattison Canadian International S. upsetter Marsh Side (Gone West), Grazie Duo is the first Japanese runner for this Classic-winning stallion. City Wells is the dam of a yearling colt by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and a filly foal by Drefong. B-Okada Bokujo 5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($126k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT SAIMON HAROLD (c, 2, Maclean’s Music–Cocoa Cowgirl, by Cowboy Cal), a $13K purchase as a yearling out of last year’s Fasig-Tipton October sale, matured into a $60K juvenile after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat for this year’s OBS March Sale. The April foal, who has attracted the services of top jockey Mirco Demuro, descends from the family of Grade II-winning 2-year-old Dance Master (Gone West). B-Dream Walkin’ Farms Inc (KY) Sunday, August 25, 2019 11th-SAP, Keeneland Cup-G3, ¥77.3m ($726k), 3yo/up, 1200mT ASTER PEGASUS (c, 3, Giant’s Causeway–R Heat Lightning, by Trippi), a Group 3 winner last season (video, gate 6), has found his best form at three in his last two appearances, finishing a nose second in listed company in May ahead of a runner-up effort in the G3 Hakodate Sprint S. when last seen June 16 (see below, SC 11). Aster Pegasus, a $150K KEESEP acquisition, is out of the 2010 GI Spinaway S. winner, who cost Stonestreet $1.6 million at KEENOV in 2013. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY) The post Notable US-Bred & Sired Runners in Japan: Aug. 24 & 25, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a son of French Group 1 winner Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}). 2.05 Newmarket, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, f, 7fT FASHION ROYALTY (GB) (War Front) lines up for her owner-breeder Andrew Rosen and is a full-sister to the G2 Vintage S. winner War Decree. The April-foaled granddaughter of Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) is introduced by Roger Charlton against two Godolphin runners including the Saeed bin Suroor-trained newcomer Tomouh (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of the G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Sundrop (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). 3.15 Newmarket, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT PRINCE IMPERIAL (Frankel {GB}) represents Khalid Abdullah and Sir Michael Stoute who enjoyed success in this 12 months ago with a newcomer who would go on to notoriety in Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), whose ill-fated daughter Contingent (GB) by Frankel was successful on her juvenile debut, the March-foaled bay has Tom Queally in the saddle as he meets nine opponents including a trio from Godolphin. Among them is the Charlie Appleby-trained Never Alone (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-brother to the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who cost 1.2million gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale. 4.15 York, Mdn, £70,000, 2yo, 7fT MOLATHAM (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) is sure to start a warm order for his “Convivial Maiden” which is the richest race of its kind in Europe and which has played host to the likes of Stravinsky in the past. A neck second to Thursday’s electric winner Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) at Ascot last month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s chestnut is a full-brother to the smart Persuasion (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) from the family of the sire Evasive (GB). 5.10 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, 7fT VICTORY ROAD (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is one of a fascinating trio of Ballydoyle newcomers and is closely related to the Listed Queen’s Vase winner and G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a half to the contrastingly fast group winner Beauty Bright (Ire) (Danehill) who is responsible for the stable’s G2 Futurity S. protagonist Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is joined by fellow Rosegreen representative Monument Valley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-brother to Main Sequence (Aldebaran) who carries the Niarchos colours, while also in the line-up is the Jessie Harrington-trained Aesop (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), a half-brother to Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) and Creachadoir (Ire) (King’s Best). 5.40 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, 8fT AMHRAN NA BHFIANN (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) cost Coolmore 1.3million gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale by virtue of the fact that he is a full-brother to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) from the family of New Approach (Ire). Wayne Lordan is on Ballydoyle’s January-foaled bay, as Ryan Moore has opted for the Leopardstown maiden runner-up Cabot Hills (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a son of Peeping Fawn (Danehill) while they encounter the Jessie Harrington-trained Gold Maze (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who at 550,000gns was his sire’s top-priced colt from his first crop. The post Observations: Aug. 23, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A pair of graded winners from the barn of trainer Jimmy Jerkens have taken to the Oklahoma training track over the past few days as the ready for a return to stakes company in the final two weeks of the meet at Saratoga. Tuning up for his upcoming start in the GI Woodward S. Aug. 31, Centennial Farms’ GII Suburban H. hero Preservationist (Arch) went three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.30 Thursday morning. “He went in 1:13 and galloped out in [1:]26 and change. It was good,” Jerkens said. “We’re probably going to run in the Woodward, God willing. He’s six years old now and with these Grade 1s, you’ve got to see if they can do it.” A veteran of just nine career runs, the $485,000 Keeneland September purchase defeated Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) by an authoritative 4 1/2 lengths in the Suburban, but he weakened to finish fourth to ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) after setting a strong pace in the GI Whitney S. when last spotted Aug. 3. “I didn’t agree with the tactics used, but what are you going to do? He took a shot and it didn’t work out, but we’ll see,” Jerkens said. The conditioner also confirmed that Green Light Go (Hard Spun), last-out winner of the Aug. 10 GII Saratoga Special S., would make his next start in the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. Sept. 2. Jerkens had contemplated waiting for the GI Champagne S. at Belmont Oct. 5. “We’re probably going to run in it,” Jerkens said. “We might as well. He’s doing good. It keeps him on a schedule. I think two months is a long time to sit on one and then run a mile. It doesn’t seem to make much sense. The proof will be in the pudding. We’ll see how he does.” Green Light Go returned to the worktab for the first time since winning the Special this past Tuesday, working an easy half-mile in :50.48 at Oklahoma. The post Spa Notebook: Jerkens Runners Gearing Up for Next Appearances appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Michael Trombetta doesn’t understand it either. Some horses don’t develop and run their best until they are five or maybe six. But it seems beyond the realm of possibility that a horse would find their best form at nine, which is exactly what has happened with the recent Maryland-bred stakes winner English Minister (English Channel). “It s the million-dollar question,” the trainer said. “What he’s doing, there’s no doubt it’s very unusual. I can’t explain it.” English Minister won the Aug. 17 Find S. at Laurel for Maryland-breds. It was his first stakes win and he ran a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. In his previous start, he won an optional claimer at Laurel by three lengths, earning a 95 Beyer, tying the best number of his career. After starting his career with a four-for-50 record, he has now won four straight races. “He’s always been a classy individual,” Trombetta said. “We’ve had him for several years now, since he was a 2 year-old. He came out running good this year and training well. He gets the winters off. Maybe his vacation, combined with being fresh, and maybe he found some of his old spirit. He’s running hard.” Though he rarely won, English Minister, who is owned by his breeder Bob Meyerhoff, was one of those horses who did just enough to keep giving himself another chance. Through his 8-year-old season, he had earned $427,615 and had hit the board in three stakes for Maryland-breds. “The owner never got frustrated,” Trombetta said. “He’s very patient. Even if he was a little slow to win, he always made more than enough to pay his expenses, so everybody was fine with him.” English Minister was zero-for-9 in 2018, but Trombetta said it was a lost season because it was a particularly rainy year and it seemed that every time he entered the veteran the race either came off the turf or the turf was soft, which he does not like. Desperate for a spot, he even ran him in a claiming race, a $50,000 claimer at Belmont in October. But there were no takers. That was his last start of the year before he was given his annual winter break. Trombetta said that over the winter and when the horse returned to serious training this spring, he really didn’t notice anything different about him. “There was nothing terribly out of the normal with him,” he said. “He always acts and trains well. He always shows up. He might have had a hard time finding the winner’s circle in some of those races, but he always comes running and puts in a good effort.” The year started in typical fashion for English Minister. He ran in a “non-winners of two other than-optional claimer” allowance at Laurel and finished an even fourth. His Beyer number was a 77, one point higher than in his final start as an 8 year-old. His next two races were in allowance races at Presque Isle, where he won both, but his best Beyer number of the two was an 81. He then stepped up into tougher allowance company at Laurel and won the grass race by 2 1/4 lengths, earning a 95 Beyer. It tied his highest Beyer, which had come in a Feb. 13, 2016 allowance race at Gulfstream, where he was fourth. It was also a sharp departure from the numbers in the 70’s and 80’s he had been consistently running since his 7-year-old season. Knowing how well his horse was doing, Trombetta pointed for the $75,000 Find S. for Maryland-breds and went into the race with confidence. The reward was a maiden stakes win at age nine. “It was a very important race for me to win with him,” he said. “I had it on my radar for some time because I thought it was a race where he had a good chance of winning. To pull it off was really exciting.” Trombetta is so confident that English Minister can maintain his current form that he’s shopping for an open-company stakes race. “There are only so many Maryland-bred turf races left out there,” he said. “We’re running a little short on the calendar. It’s almost September, so we only have a couple more months on the turf, so there aren’t a lot of options out there for him.” The race he is considering is the Sept. 21 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup. “I know an open-company race like that will be a lot harder than what he’s been running in, but I think he’s up to it,” he said. Some time in the late fall he will be given his winter break and will continue to be pampered. As one might expect, he has become a barn favorite. “He’s probably one of the coolest horses we’ve ever had in our barn,” Trombetta said. “He’s at Fair Hill and he loves to go outside every day. We put him in the paddock every morning. He’s completely different than the rest of the herd.” As for next year, Trombetta sees no reason not to bring English Minister back at 10. But he also knows, even as well as the horse is running now, age will have to catch up with him at some time. “I wonder about (next year),” he said. “The age is up there, there’s no doubt about that. We’ll just have to evaluate him after he spends his winter off and see if it’s worth coming back and trying to hone in on a couple of select races. We won’t be greedy with him, but if he’s up for it I don’t see why we wouldn’t give it a try.” They always say age is just a number. English Minister hasn’t figured out he’s nine and not supposed to be what he’s doing, running like a 4 year-old. Can the 10-year-old version be a case of more of the same? For a horse who has already defied conventional wisdom, why not? The post English Minister Hitting His Peak…At Age 9 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing on the New York circuit is never short of Chad Brown runners. Saratoga Race Course's $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (G2T), which drew a field of nine fillies and mares, is no different as the leading trainer has three entered. View the full article

After two heady days at York’s Ebor festival, Friday’s card is arguably the best of the four over the week with the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. taking centre stage. In a fascinating encounter between Shadwell’s Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the sponsors’ Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never), with last year’s runner-up Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) thrown into the mix, this renewal of the ultimate flat speed test stands up to some of the recent gems the Knavesmire faithful has witnessed. In 2017, Battaash did everything wrong in the preliminaries before finishing fourth and whereas his behaviour was vastly different when coming back 12 months ago, the result was the same. Angus Gold remains unconvinced that there is a York hoodoo hanging over the operation’s star. “I see no reason why York wouldn’t suit him,” he said. “I can’t have the theory that he doesn’t act on the track. It’s not a track like Epsom, which some horses can’t take. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t handle it.” Bringing up a treble of wins in Goodwood’s G2 King George S. last time Aug. 2, Battaash was described as a more settled, mature individual after that and the fact that he is drawn in one should be of no concern. Of the six times he has been drawn on the extremes in black-type company, he has won five with the other being the latest edition of the G1 King’s Stand S. where Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) stumbled alongside him and took him out of the race from the outset. “He was very good at Goodwood again,” Gold added. “He’s very quick and tries to burn them off in the early part of a race, but he’s not always going to win. It’s a very high-class race. Ten Sovereigns is a very good horse and there are plenty of other good ones in there. It will just be interesting to see how he gets on.” ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ten Sovereigns comes here with stamina assured, having finished a close-up fifth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 4 before reverting to six to be a below-par fourth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 21 and take the G1 July Cup by storm at Newmarket last time July 13. Like the stable’s former sprinting luminaries Stravinsky and Mozart (Ire), he is attempting to follow up over this slick five after that stiff six-furlong examination. Aidan O’Brien is unconcerned about the shortening up. “We’ve no doubt about speed, he has loads of it, he shows that in his work and the clock shows that as well,” he commented. “We felt he learned a lot at Ascot in the 3-year-old race and felt he’d progressed into the July Cup. That would have made him faster and sharper again and we were very happy with him. He’s in good form and seems to have come out of his last race really well.” Mabs Cross was denied by the narrowest of margins by Alpha Delphini (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}) here last year before winning the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp in October. Third behind Battaash in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock May 25 and fourth in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot June 18, David Armstrong’s 5-year-old is nevertheless the one of the front trio who is proven on the track. “She’s gone in a bit under the radar this year, but obviously Ten Sovereigns and Battaash are going there in great form having won their last races,” trainer Michael Dods commented. “She’s got a score to settle after last year, being beaten a nose. Battaash just looks more relaxed to me this year. I watched him closely at Haydock and Ascot and on the TV at Goodwood and he’s definitely more relaxed than in the past. Ten Sovereigns was very impressive in the July Cup, so it will be interesting.” On the supporting card is the G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup, but as it hosts Bjorn Nielsen’s Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) it becomes practically the headline race as the finance department of the sponsors prepare to write out a second £1-million cheque. If there were any remaining doubts that he is practically unbeatable after the June 18 G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, they were resoundingly silenced with another high-class display in the G1 Goodwood Cup last time July 30. He had the measure of the re-opposing Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) on both occasions and seems to have more in hand than the three pounds he is forced to give away here. Trainer John Gosden is happy with where the 5-year-old is at present. “The old boy is fine, it’s a good field with Dee Ex Bee in there again so it will be a proper race–we know it’s not going to be easy for him,” he said. “He did struggle in it last year, no doubt about that. It is quite a lot of races [making up the million bonus], but they are spaced well and he has already been to York once this year for the Yorkshire Cup. He’s a scrapper, though, the kind of guy who you’d want on your side in a barroom brawl, he’d be right there with you until the end.” Dee Ex Bee is another who likes to roll up his sleeves and trainer Mark Johnston is unafraid that another beating could be on the cards. “Where else do you go, what can you do, we’ve got to take him on again as that is what racing is about,” he said, while Dermot Weld saddles Moyglare Stud’s Falcon Eight (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who remains an unknown quantity. Successful under Frankie in the Listed Esher S. over two miles at Sandown July 6, the homebred full-brother to Thursday’s Listed Galtres S. winner Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and half to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}) and Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) is in deep. “He is the most incredibly lazy horse, he’s probably the most laid-back horse you’ve ever seen,” Fiona Craig, breeding adviser to owners Moyglare Stud Farm, said. “I’m sure if you let him gallop along at the back, he’d pull up and stand and eat grass! Stradivarius is one of the best stayers we’ve seen in several years and Dee Ex Bee is as tough as they come. With our horse I think it’s a question of how fast he’s learning compared to the ability that we think he has. Pat Smullen has done an awful lot of work with him at home, teaching him to race, and any success he has will be largely down to him.” In the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S., Richard Hannon will be hoping that ‘TDN Rising Star’ Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) can bury the disappointment of his defeat by Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood Aug. 1. Also runner-up in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 18, Cheveley Park Stud’s colour-bearer sets a clear standard. The stud’s managing director Chris Richardson said, “He’s been consistent so far. He ran a blinder at Royal Ascot and then ran a very good race at Goodwood. He seems to keep progressing and we’re glad we avoided the Prix Morny last weekend. In due course we hope he’ll get further, but for now we’re happy to stick to six furlongs and we’re hoping he’ll go close.” Earle Mack and Les Boyer’s unbeaten Malotru (GB) (Casamento {Ire}) faces a stiff task in the Gimcrack, but he was authoritative in success in the G3 Premio Primi Passi at the San Siro June 23 and warrants respect, while TDN Rising Stars Repartee (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Pistoletto (War Front) will be dangerous if able to put recent defeats behind them. The former, who sports Sheikh Mohammed Obaida Al Maktoum’s silks, was a disappointing fourth in the Listed Rose Bowl S. over this six-furlong trip at Newbury July 19, while Pistoletto was sixth when the 9-4 favourite for the G3 Anglesey S. over slightly further at The Curragh on his return from a break July 20. Friday is an important day for the 2-year-olds as after the Gimcrack The Curragh stage the G2 Debutante S. and G2 Futurity S. In both, Aidan O’Brien looks to have strong claims with the impressive July 25 G3 Silver Flash S. winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) heading a four-pronged attack on the Debutante and the July 25 G3 Tyros S. scorer Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also topping a quality quartet from Rosegreen in the Futurity. Love had the Niarchos Family’s Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) back in third when breaking her maiden at Leopardstown July 11, but that half-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was subsequently impressive over this seven-furlong trip at the Galway festival Aug. 2. Alpine Star’s trainer Jessie Harrington also saddles Stonestreet Stables’ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who beat Love by a neck on debut over this course and distance June 27 before finishing last of eight in her wake in the Silver Flash. “We had a complete disaster with her at Leopardstown,” she said. “I think maybe the ground was a bit too firm for her, but we’ve always thought a whole lot of her and the ground will be lovely there tomorrow evening.” Of Alpine Star, she added, “We were delighted with her at Galway–it was a natural progression. They are two very nice fillies. They’ve never worked together, so we’ll just have to see.” In a fascinating encounter, Ger Lyons saddles a duo for Newtown Anner Stud Farm, with the July 20 G3 Anglesey S. third Soul Search (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) having finished in between Love and Alpine Star previously in that Leopardstown maiden. Armory appears to be Ballydoyle’s leading 2-year-old colt at present, but he meets more competition than when a five-length winner of the Tyros and one of his rivals is Sammy Hon Kit Ma’s Roman Turbo (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Unbeaten after his first serious test in the Anglesey, he steps up in trip but trainer Mick Halford is hoping for a bold show. “He is undefeated, won twice at the track and is inching up in trip–the step will definitely suit him,” he commented. “He’s been training really well, so we are happy to put him in there. The only thing I am a bit worried about is the ground. He is a beautiful-moving horse, so I would not be confident of him handling if it was soft.” Simon Kwok’s Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) is also two-for-two, having beaten the subsequent G3 Acomb S. runner-up Harpocrates (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. over 7 1/2 furlongs on heavy ground at Tipperary. He helps to make up a fascinating line-up to this year’s Futurity, with impressive maiden winners Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Geometrical (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) joined by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who was runner-up and third behind Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot June 22 and G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood July 30, respectively. The post Nunthorpe Anchors Friday Bonanza appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Enable treated us to a great race yesterday and there could be similar scenes of celebration if Stradivarius lands back to back Lonsdale Cup’s and in the process scoops his second £1 million bonus. Gibbs Hill is the class act in the York handicap and if he can put his poor run in the Northumberland […] The post York Preview – Day 3 – The £1 Million Race appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–The owner’s lounge at Aqueduct was practically shaking on a chilly Sunday in December as Jerry Zaro rooted for his homebred Blindwillie McTell (Posse) with everything he had. “C’mon, Willie,” he yelled repeatedly, practically driving the gelding across the finish line himself to a maiden win in the NYSS The Great White Way S. He was overcome with emotion, his eyes glassy, as he hugged his trainer Linda Rice and his wife Lucy. That turned to jubilance in the winner’s circle as he greeted his colt, patting his neck with enthusiastic praise as he told the bay how much he loved him. But, as all of us in racing know, the sport is full of the highest highs and the lowest lows and Zaro has experienced both. It took one of those lows, a career-ending injury to Zaro’s mare Bold Child (Flatter), to give him the high he experienced that December day thanks to her son Blindwillie McTell, who has added two more stakes wins to his resume since. The attorney hopes to experience another high Friday when Blindwillie McTell runs in Saratoga’s Albany S. as part of New York-Bred Showcase Day, which offers six stakes worth $1.5 million in purses. Zaro first got into racing through friends in 2000 and it was love at first sight. A few years later, a Flatter filly named Bold Child would take his passion and participation in the game to a new level. “I was fascinated by the game, smitten from the very first minute,” Zaro said. “I tried to learn as fast as I could. It is a process. I am still learning daily. I knew absolutely nothing at that time. One of the nice people in racing, Tim Hills, a trainer at Monmouth Park, who had a box next to mine, called me one day and said he had a terrific filly at Timonium in Maryland and asked if I wanted to participate and I said yes. That was Bold Child. She was immediately a star on the racetrack. She broke her maiden in her first start and then we put her in the Sorority S. and she finished second.” Bold Child was given a breather after that race in September 2007 and returned to the races at Monmouth Park in May of 2008, which would end up being her final start. “In her comeback race [eight months later], she was injured by another horse,” Zaro said, his tone somber as he explained the incident. “The front hoof of that horse cut her rear suspensory. She was a big closer and around the far turn, where she usually made her move, she just hung. Jockey Stewart Elliott jumped off just past the wire and I knew something was wrong. I ran back to the barn area and the first thing I heard the vet say was, ‘She will never run again.’ It was heartbreaking for Tim, for me. I decided I wanted to spend whatever it was to keep her alive. We did and I turned her into a broodmare.” Though Zaro lived and primarily raced in New Jersey at the time, he took Bold Child to New York to partake in the state’s lucrative breeding program. He even used New York stallions to make his homebreds eligible for the NYSS races. “I’ll tell you, it’s fantastic,” Zaro said of the New York-bred incentives. “I was originally in Monmouth County, right by Monmouth Park. I saw the purses there and then the purses in New York. When Willie won his races, all these checks started to come in and I said, ‘By God, this is amazing.’ Not only do you get a 30% check as the breeder, but if you are also the owner you get a 20% check, so you get a 50% bonus if, like I am, you own and breed. It’s a great program. I also think the New York circuit is the premiere circuit in the country and we have to do all we can to protect it and enhance it.” Bold Child proved to be pretty talented in the breeding department as well, producing five winners from five foals to race. “As each foal dropped, they were better and better,” Zaro said. “I combined my two loves, racing and Bob Dylan. I named every single one of my horses after a Bob Dylan character, lyric or song title. They all won, at least one race.” Bold Child’s fourth foal Duquesne Whistle (Posse) had everyone who worked with him along the way singing his praises and he proved them right when he made it to the racetrack. Zaro had big dreams for his colt, but two summers ago, right here at Saratoga, a sudden illness took all of those dreams away. “We finally got something really good when I moved to Linda [Rice], a horse named Duquesne Whistle,” said Zaro. “I had been following Linda. I was fascinated by the idea that way before women were getting the much more equal status they deserved, Linda was winning a training title at Saratoga.” The New Jersey resident continued, “He was an absolutely magnificent specimen and he was doing great. He broke his maiden and won his a-other-than. We had him at Saratoga [in 2017] and in 36 hours he went from being a perfect specimen to being dead. It was devastating to me and I gave Bold Child away as a nurse mare. I said, ‘I can’t bear this.’ It was crushing.” About a year and half later, Duquesne Whistle’s full-brother Blindwillie McTell came along and revived his owner’s dreams and passion for the game in a big way. “Everybody who had worked with him had said, ‘He will be useful, but he is no Duquesne Whistle,'” said Zaro. “We ran him [on debut] on a horribly rainy day [in November at Aqueduct] and he finished second to Le General and, for a time, Le General was getting all of the New York headlines because he was just amazing.” He continued, “Linda said, ‘You know, that was a hell of a run.’ Next thing you know, Linda says she is entering him in a $150,000 New York Stallion Series stake, the Great White Way. I said, ‘Linda, he didn’t even break maiden yet and you’re putting him in a stakes race?’ I had never run in a stakes race [with a homebred]. She said, ‘Yes, I think he can be competitive here.'” Rice was right. Blindwillie McTell splashed clear in the stretch to take The Great White Way S. by 2 1/2 lengths (video). “The track was soup and he just crushed the field,” Zaro said. “It was my first stakes victory and it was just the most thrilling thing.” Lost in the thrill of the win, it was a remark from Rice that reminded Zaro he had given away the golden goose that provided him with this great moment. He only had two more of Bold Child’s progeny left in the now-2-year-old Blackjack Davey (Posse) and the yearling colt Thunderbird Cafe (Freud). “In the winner’s circle, Linda said, ‘Now we really have to think about who we are going to breed the mare back to,'” Zaro said. “I just turned white. I called the people I had given Bold Child to and they couldn’t have been nicer. They said, ‘Sure, we get it.’ They gave her back and she is now in foal to Laoban.” He added, “We have a yearling on the ground by Freud because they moved Posse out of the country. If Blackjack Davey, who is a full-brother to Blindwillie McTell runs well, we will go to a Kentucky stallion next year. Everybody who has worked with Blackjack Davey has said he may even be better than Willie.” Blindwillie McTell captured the NY-bred Rego Park S. in his next start at Aqueduct Jan. 13 and was second in the NYSS Times Square S. in Ozone Park Apr. 20. The gelding returned to winning ways in a salty renewal of the Empire-bred Mike Lee S. going seven panels at Belmont May 27 (video) and was most recently fourth when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes July 24. The biggest question facing the bay colt Friday is distance as he navigates nine furlongs for the first time. “In January, Linda put him in the Rego Park S.,” Zaro said. “He won that race and in his next start, he finished second. He avenged that loss by winning the Mike Lee S. at seven furlongs and beat the only two horses that had ever beaten him. Then we brought him up to Finger Lakes and he finished not a bad fourth. We have no conditions left, so we have nowhere to go, but the Albany. We have to try this mile and an eighth and try to give him the best chance.” Win, lose or draw Friday, Zaro will surely be rooting on his beloved “Willie” with everything he’s got and will be waiting for him after with a big pat and smile. The post Zaro Singing a New Song Thanks to Blindwillie McTell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-ELP, $50k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 5:42 p.m. ET A field of nine promising juveniles lines up in the fifth event at the Pea Patch Friday afternoon. West Point Thoroughbreds and Robert Masiello teamed up to purchase CALVARY CHARGE (Honor Code) as a yearling for $375,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale. The bay is a son of a budding freshman sire (by A.P. Indy) and his dam is a half-sister to four stakes winners, including GISW Adieu (El Corredor) and GSW Direct Line (Tiznow). Palace Coup (Bernardini) is out of the Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Eye of the Sphynx (Smart Strike), who has proven to be a successful broodmare for Sam-Son Farm, producing Canadian champion 3-year-old colt and Queen’s Plate victor Eye of the Leopard (A.P. Indy), MSW & MGSP Hotep (A.P. Indy) and MGSW & GISP Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy). Fun in the Desert (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to Palace Coup, is the dam of ‘TDN Rising Star’ Desert Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), the heroine of the June 8 Woodbine Oaks and Aug. 10 Wonder Where S. Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out the coupled entry of Life On the Road (Street Sense) and Jungle Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Life On the Road will be making his debut for Phoenix Thoroughbreds. The $450,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase springs from the family of MGISW Marlin (Sword Dance {Ire}), GISW and sire Stormello (Stormy Atlantic) and GSW and sire The Pamplemousse (Kafawain). Jungle Runner, a homebred for Calumet Farm, will be seeking to rebound from his sixth place debut finish July 27 over this oval. TJCIS PPs The post August 23 Insights: Pricey Honor Code Colt Debuts at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article