Wandering Eyes

An open-length victory in the grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 2 at Santa Anita Park was enough to earn Mucho Gusto a place in the top 10 in this week's National Thoroughbred Racing Association top 3-year-old poll. View the full article

LEXINGTON, Ky–The money was there for perceived quality during the first of two sessions of Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale Monday in Lexington. A total of 146 head changed hands on the day for a combined $4,677,200. The average was $32,036 and median was $18,000–both of which compare favorably to last year’s cumulative stats of $28,673 and $10,500, respectively. The buyback rate for the session was 29.5%, compared to 22.7% for the entirety of last year’s sale. A total of 13 offerings reached or surpassed the $100,000 threshold Monday, putting the 2019 renewal on pace to meet or exceed the mark of 24 horses which did the same in 2018. Eight brought $200,000 or better during the entirety of last year’s sale, but only two did the same on Monday. Topping Monday’s session was graded stakes-winning broodmare prospect Cheekaboo (Unusual Heat), who was purchased by K R Japan for $300,000 from the Small Batch Sales consignment as hip 57. The day’s second topper was also the priciest short yearling: hip 191, a daughter of Into Mischief consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services LLC, brought $200,000 from Irish Meadow Stable. “The market was very solid today,” said Fasig-Tipton President and Chief Executive Officer Boyd Browning, Jr. “It’s the same old story–we sound like broken records–the quality offerings were very much in demand, with lots of bidding and lots of activity on those horses. Unfortunately, not every offering at this time of the year is going to be perceived as a real quality offering. But, for the most part, there was a marketplace for virtually every horse that walked through there. So, I thought, all in all, it was a successful day and there’s no question that the market continues to demand quality and is willing to pay for it… I think the stratification continues, and we don’t see any reason in the marketplace, frankly, to give us any indication that it’s going to change in 2019. I think we’ll continue to experience stratification in the marketplace at 2-year-old sales, at yearling sales and the mixed sales in 2019.” There were no repeat buyers among the toppers until the 15th priciest lot, and Browning said he was pleased with the diversity of the buying bench. “There was a broad cross-section of buyers,” he said. “We sold the sale topper to a group from Japan; we had Australian representatives here who bought a few horses; obviously, some folks from south of the border were active in the marketplace; and certainly there was American participation. So, it was a broad and diverse group of buyers today.” The Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale’s second and final session begins Tuesday starting at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.fasigtipton.com. Cheekaboo Heats Things Up Early Grade II winner Cheekaboo (Unusual Heat) woke up a somewhat sleepy sales pavilion early in Monday’s session, garnering a winning bid of $300,000 over the phone from Japanese interests. The ticket was signed as K R Japan. Offered as a broodmare prospect, Cheekaboo was consigned as hip 57 by Small Batch Sales on behalf of Ciaglia Racing. Click for walking video. “We had the reserve a bit less than that, so it was exciting to exceed the reserve,” said Small Batch’s Fletcher Mauk. “We’re super excited for the owners–they did a great job exercising patience with this filly, putting her in the right places and they’ve been rewarded for it.” Hailing from the extended female family of Grade I winners Miss Josh, Royal Mountain Inn and Bit of Whimsy, Cheekaboo was purchased for $55,000 as a Barretts October yearling in 2014. Turned over to trainer Peter Eurton on behalf of Ciaglia Racing, Mike Burns and Sharon Alesia, her signature win was a 23-1 upset of the 2016 GII Honeymoon S. over nine panels of Santa Anita sod. She racked up total earnings just short of $372,000 from three wins and 24 starts. “It was typical of what you’d expect for a Grade II winner in the last sale of the year before the breeding shed opens,” Mauk said when asked about the interest Cheekaboo had garnered during inspection time. “Most of the larger farms were interested in her. They respect the race record; race record says a lot. I think for the sire, she was a bit of an anomaly because she was a bigger-bodied horse than what most people expected from Unusual Heat. So to have that long shoulder, high withers, powerful hip, I think really carried her further than it could have had she been a more typical offspring of Unusual Heat.” Into Mischief Filly Stands Out Among Short Yearlings A filly by commercial powerhouse Into Mischief proved the most popular short yearling Monday at Fasig-Tipton, bringing $200,000 over the phone from Irish Meadow Stable. Bred by the Regan family’s Newtown Anner Stud, she was offered by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services as hip 191. “She’s a lovely filly; a big, strong filly with a beautiful walk,” said consignor Ron Blake. “We were really thrilled with her and hope she grows and develops. We think a lot of her. Anyone that would have her would be very proud to have her. We wish the best of luck to everybody.” Newtown Anner purchased hip 191’s dam Kashami (Mizzen Mast)–who hails from the very productive Dr. John Chandler family of Grade I winners Dynaforce (Dynaformer) and Cetewayo (His Majesty) and millionaire Willcox Inn (Harlan’s Holiday)–for $160,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September sale. She was a maiden special weight winner in eight attempts for Wayne Catalano. Hip 191 is Kashami’s third foal–she produced a now-placed Pioneerof the Nile filly who sold privately after RNA’ing for $240,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale; and a 2-year-old Majesticperfection filly who brought $100,000 at that same auction last term. Hip 191 was bred in Kentucky, and Kashami subsequently visited Kitten’s Joy. Into Mischief has emerged as one of North America’s best sires, both on the track and in the ring, and Blake acknowledged that his name carried plenty of weight in this open sale. “You don’t want to overload them and have too many of them, because the object is to come here and stand out and not be one of 40 or 50 Into Mischiefs–you want to be one of one or two, and have a nice enough horse that everyone wants it,” he said. “We sold a Tiznow [colt] here last year for $260,000; we sold an Into Mischief filly here [in 2015] for $180,000, so every year we try to bring one that we think will stand out a little bit.” Blake said he was pleased with how his consignment had been received overall Monday. “We’ve done pretty well today,” he said. “We sold a Shackleford colt (hip 95) earlier for $70,000–I thought that was good money–so I think overall we’ve been pretty happy with today.” McMahon & Hill Double Down on Frosted Agents Mike McMahon and Jamie Hill picked up their second filly from the first crop of Frosted (Tapit) Monday when they went to $160,000 to scoop up hip 111 out of Stuart Morris’s consignment. They paid $240,000 for a New York-bred weanling filly by the same Darley inmate, also consigned by Morris, at Keeneland November. “He was a great racehorse and a lot of times those great racehorses make good sires,” Hill said of brilliant MGISW Frosted. “I know they bred him to a lot of good mares. It’s the second Frosted we’ve bought, both of them from Stuart, both of them quite a bit of money, one of them was a New York-bred and this is a Kentucky-bred, so we’ve got our bases covered.” Frosted was a clear second–behind only farmmate Nyquist–by first-crop weanling average last year. His 12 foals to sell brought an average of $186,250. Hill confirmed that hip 111 would be part of his and McMahon’s successful pinhook venture. Out of the young multiple stakes-placed mare Enchante (Bluegrass Cat), hip 111 is half to a now 2-year-old Uncle Mo filly who cost $250,000 at Keeneland September. Champion Forty Niner is under her fourth dam. “We knew what the reserve was, and we were right at the reserve–maybe a tick over,” Hill said of the price paid. Of the market overall, he echoed a familiar sentiment: “If you have the right horse it brings the right money, but if you don’t, you’re left with nothing.” View the full article

HIDDEN SCROLL (c, Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O/B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (KY). T-William I. Mott. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Last Start: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, GP, Jan. 26 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Part of the “Wow!” aura surrounding ‘TDN Rising Star’ Hidden Scroll has do with how infrequently trainer Bill Mott sends out debut winners, especially at a mile or over (3% win clip according to DRF stats), and how infrequently Mott cultivates early-season Derby prospects. Winning from post one in the slop at first asking in a 13-horse field is difficult enough, but to see the way this Hard Spun homebred opened up daylight margins through sizzling fractions in his maiden debut on the GI Pegasus World Cup undercard was something otherworldly. His winning time of 1:34.82 blew away the 1:36.22 clocking by older stakes horses five races later, and Mott told TDN‘s Bill Finley the day after the breakout maiden win that because there is no suitable allowance race coming up in the Gulfstream condition book, a stakes shot could be next. “New Orleans, Hot Springs, Tampa, Gulfstream–we know when they are available,” Mott said. “We liked him and I’m not surprised that he won. But you never know when you’re going to see a performance like that–winning by 14 and being eased up.” VIDEO PPS FINISH RACE 1st Maiden View the full article

MUCHO GUSTO (c, Mucho Macho Man—Itsagiantcauseway, by Giant’s Causeway) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Michael Lund Petersen. B-Teneri Farm Inc. & Bernardo Alvarez Calderon (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $14,000 Ylg ’17 KEEJAN; $95,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo ’18 OBSMAR; $625,000 2yo ’18 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 4-3-1-0, $234,000. Last Start: 1st, GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Feb. 2 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 14. Newsflash: Bob Baffert has sent out the favorite in every graded dirt stakes for male juveniles/sophomores on the SoCal circuit dating back to September. That’s a span of six races, and he’s now won five of them (including one race when the fave lost but his higher-priced entry won). ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) is the latest to hit the winner’s circle, but the lack of depth in Saturday’s five-horse GIII Lewis S. and a sealed/sloppy surface make it tough to get a true read on where this $625,000 EASMAY colt stands in the pecking order. Mucho Gusto broke alertly, backed off the lead, then targeted the pacemaker all the way down the backside before inhaling that overtaxed rival while in hand midway on the far bend. Mucho Gusto seemed to momentarily stall for a stride or two when set down for the drive three-sixteenths out, then quickly recovered, responding to more energetic rousing while kicking clear to win by a geared-down 4 3/4 lengths. In the post-race interview, Baffert expressed satisfaction that Mucho Gusto got to the next level by learning to relax off the pace. Yet with reference to sidelined ‘TDN Rising Star’ stablemate Tale of the Union (Union Rags), who is also owned by Michael Petersen, Baffert conceded “This was actually the second string here–but he’s a pretty good horse.” VIDEO PPS FINISH RACE 1st GIII Robert B. Lewis S. 2nd GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity S. 1st GIII Bob Hope S. 1st Maiden View the full article

Live Oak Plantation’s Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}), a track record setter in his latest start at Tampa Bay Downs, will get his first two-turn test in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 9 at the Oldsmar oval, trainer Michael Trombetta confirmed to TDN Monday. The homebred was under consideration for the prep for that event, this Saturday’s GIII Sam F. Davis S., but will instead be trained up to the meet centerpiece, with his performance likely to go a long way in determining whether the colt is ultimately pointed for the GI Kentucky Derby. “The Sam Davis would certainly have been a great option for us, but I elected to pass on that to give him a little bit of extra time to prepare properly going into the other race,” Trombetta said. “That would’ve been back in three weeks off a pretty fast race.” That pretty fast race was indeed the swiftest seven furlongs in Tampa Bay Downs’s 93-year history, as Win Win Win overcame a slow start in the Jan. 19 Pasco S. to stop the timer in 1:20.89 while romping by 7 1/4 lengths (video). No horse had ever before run a sub-1:21 seven panels over Tampa’s notoriously deep main track. “It was a lot of fun, we went down for the race and I was expecting him to do well, but did I think he would break the track record? No,” Trombetta said. “He really showed up in a good way.” Now the dark bay prepares for the most important crossroad of his young career, as his connections attempt to figure out whether they have simply a dynamite sprinter or a potential superstar. “I think he should be fine with it, but obviously it’s still a big unknown for us,” Trombetta said. “We haven’t done two turns with this guy yet, but he has four races under him, two [5 1/2-furlong] sprints and two seven-eighths so I think he’s ready to transition over and give it a try.” Trombetta has experience with this specific scenario–training a dazzling sprinter early in his sophomore season who could be Kentucky Derby-bound if he can prove his mettle around two turns–and it’s an experience that actually led the veteran Maryland-based conditioner to saddling the 2006 Derby favorite, Sweetnorthernsaint (Sweetsouthernsaint). That taught him to trust in the talent of his animal above all, something he’ll do again with Win Win Win. “It’s familiar territory,” Trombetta said. “It’s been a while, but I had Sweetnorthernsaint in 2006 and he broke his maiden and ran, if I remember right, a 102 Beyer sprinting at Aqueduct. All those same questions were asked–‘Will he rate?’ ‘Will he go long?’–and all that kind of stuff. I think the good ones can do a lot, and we just have to see if he’s one of those.” View the full article

Last Saturday’s trio of graded stakes preps on the GI Kentucky Derby trail didn’t make much of a dent in the Top 12 rankings, and most of the top guns are awaiting March starts for their 2019 debuts. But the lower tier of this week’s edition of the standings is percolating with intrigue as we await the first major blockbuster performance of the season that will (eventually) upend the pecking order. 1) GAME WINNER (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Gary & Mary West. B-Summer Wind Equine (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 4-4-0-0, $1,496,000. Last Start: 1st, GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile , CD, Nov. 2 Next Start: GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 9 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 30. When trainer Bob Baffert aims a top sophomore on a two-race prep path prior to the Kentucky Derby, he’s not just thinking about the Derby itself. The two-time Triple Crown-winning conditioner’s longer-term intent is to prepare his A-list candidates for the rigors of three Classic races in a five-week span, and last week Baffert was able to tick off a list of qualities that ‘TDN Rising Star’ Game Winner has in his favor that could enable that plan to come to fruition. In an XBTV shred row interview, Baffert said this $110,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) colt possesses a large physical frame, a good mind, and a demeanor that doesn’t ruffle easily when going about his business in the mornings and afternoons. “The good ones, they know they’re good. He’s like a man against boys when he walks into the paddock,” Baffert said while the newly crowned juvenile champ insistently nudged him for pocketed treats. “I think he has enough foundation in him now,” Baffert explained, noting that the colt’s three published workouts so far in 2019 have been interspersed with plenty of two-mile jogs. Game Winner is still more than a month away from his next start in the GII San Felipe S. on Mar. 9, which presumably would be followed by a try in the GI Santa Anita Derby on Apr. 6. 2) SIGNALMAN (c, General Quarters–Trip South, by Trippi) O-Tommie M. Lewis, David A. Bernsen, LLC & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). B-Monticule (KY). T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $32,000 Ylg ’17 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 5-2-2-1, $448,990. Last Start: 1st, GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 24 Next Start: GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 18. On Saturday, one month prior to his anticipated 2019 debut, Signalman breezed four furlongs in company in :46.53 (2/73) at Gulfstream Park, accelerating on cue at the half-mile pole after spotting a rail-running workmate a three-quarters length head start before the duo finished up on even terms. The move was the second of four planned breezes prior to the GII Fountain of Youth S., and trainer Ken McPeek–who later that afternoon upset the GII Holy Bull S. with 29-1 Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats)–liked what he saw from this $32,000 FTKOCT General Quarters colt. “He’s a big powerful horse,” McPeek said. “He’s extremely smart, and for a big horse he’s fast. His last race [a rail-skimming win in the Nov. 24 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S.] I really liked. We asked him for speed early and he did that, then he overcame a bunch of traffic. You have to do that in May, don’t you? You have to work through traffic, and he seems to understand what to do. It’s a good position to be in right now.” 3) IMPROBABLE (c, City Zip—Rare Event, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd. & Starlight Racing. B-St. George Farm LLC & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $269,520. Last Start: 1st, GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity, LRC, Dec. 8 Next Start: Possible for GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 16 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Improbable. KY Derby Points: 10. Improbable, like stablemate Game Winner, is on Baffert’s two-prep path to the Derby, and his most logical next-race landing spot is the GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Mar. 16. When XBTV asked last week about this $200,000 KEESEP City Zip colt’s top traits as a Derby candidate, Baffert replied, “His athleticism. He’s light on his feet.” But Baffert also admitted that he initially wondered if Improbable was bred to be a Classics contender because “most of the City Zips are going to be turf sprinters or whatever.” So far, this has not been the case with Improbable, who sports a 7 1/4-length Breeders’ Cup undercard romp in the Street Sense S. and a two-turn crushing of five overmatched rivals in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity. “This guy, I think he’s got the right body that can carry him,” Baffert said. But despite two daylight-margin stakes wins, an open question is how Improbable will handle deep-stretch adversity, because he has yet to have to fight off any sort of late-race challenge beyond the maiden ranks. 4) WAR OF WILL (c, War Front—Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY). T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $175,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-2-1-1, $251,569. Last Start: 1st, GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 19 Next Start: Aiming for GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 16 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on War of Will. KY Derby Points: 10. Even though it’s already February, War of Will is the only horse to have raced in 2019 to be ranked within the first seven positions of the Top 12. The season so far has been lacking in eye-catching sophomore debuts, but there is little doubt that this turf-pedigreed $298,550 ARQMAY War Front colt belongs in the top tier based on his four-length manhandling of a decent crew in the Jan. 19 GIII Lecomte S. The impressive effort is likely to act as a deterrent to some wannabe Derby contenders whose connections might have thought the New Orleans prep route would be a path of least resistance, and War of Will will start as the deserving favorite if he runs as anticipated in the Feb. 16 GII Risen Star S. Remember, this was a juvenile whose first four races were all on grass, and he was beaten only 3 1/2 lengths as a maiden in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. “I think he’s a better dirt horse, although with a better trip in the Breeders’ Cup he could have been a Breeders’ Cup winner,” trainer Mark Casse said last week. “But it was probably a blessing because had he won the Breeders’ Cup, it would have been much tougher to try him on the dirt. Sometimes things happen for a reason.” 5) VEKOMA (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Mona de Momma, by Speightstown) O-R. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables. B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY). T-George Weaver. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $151,250. Last Start: 1st GIII Nashua S., AQU, Nov. 4 Next Start: Possible for GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. It’s been a 2-for-2 thrill ride for Vekoma so far (who shares a name with a roller coaster manufacturer), but a tough assignment looms as this $135,000 KEESEP colt nears his 2019 debut, which will come about four months after his GIII Nashua S. score last November. “We’re still targeting the [Mar. 2] Fountain of Youth, or possibly the GIII Gotham the following weekend,” trainer George Weaver told TDN on Sunday. “But he’s made good progress and we’re happy with him. He’s a seriously talented horse. We need him to stay sound, and we need him to get over there and do his job. He hasn’t gone two turn yet, and that’s going to be the big question mark with regard to the Triple Crown. But he’s by Candy Ride (Arg), so he should be able to get two turns. Hopefully we’ll get the answer we’re looking for.” As a May 22 foal, Vekoma did look a little light on seasoning in the stretch runs of his first two races. As for his next race, the Fountain of Youth is likely to lure the most “loaded” field. But the presumably softer Gotham is a one-turn mile, so it wouldn’t answer the all-important two-turn question right away. 6) INSTAGRAND (c, Into Mischief—Assets of War, by Lawyer Ron) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-OXO Equine LLC. B-Stoneway Farm (KY). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. Sales History: $190,000 Ylg ’17 FTKJUL; $1,200,000 2yo ’18 FTFMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $144,000. Last Start: 1st, GII Best Pal S., DMR, Aug. 11 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Although his dossier of workouts continues to expand–six published drills since Dec. 30, including a :59 five-eighths (2/35) at Santa Anita on Friday–the heavy-with-intrigue tale of Instagrand remains largely unchanged (at least publicly) since the unorthodox decision to back off from training last September. Owner Larry Best reportedly wanted a more robust sophomore season out of his $1.2 million FTFMAR investment after this Into Mischief colt won his debut and the GII Best Pal S. by a combined 20 1/4 lengths, but no commitment has been announced for Instagrand’s 2019 coming-out party. We can speculate, though: Instagrand is nominated to Saturday’s seven-furlong GII San Vicente S. (entries close Thursday). There appear to be no suitable dirt allowance races for 3-year-olds in the current Santa Anita condition book that runs through Feb. 18. The Feb. 16 Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds is worth mentioning (because the Best-owned, Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Instilled Regard shipped for that race last year), and Instagrand got an early-bird nomination to the Risen Star by virtue of being an early nominee to the GII Louisiana Derby. Figuring out where and when this two-race sensation might pop up in the entries could end up being more of a challenge than handicapping his chances of winning when he does finally race. 7) KNICKS GO (c, Paynter—Kosmo’s Buddy, by Outflanker) O-KRA Stud Farm. B-Angie Moore (MD). T-Ben Colebrook. Sales History: $40,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $87,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-2-1-1, $672,515. Last Start: 11th GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 24 Next Start: GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 9 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 18. There’s no doubt that Knicks Go has proven credentials. The main question he has to answer in his 2019 debut this Saturday is whether or not he was a 2-year-old overachiever who peaked in two huge races (a 70-1 wire job in the GI Breeders’ Futurity S. and a 40-1 second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile). Prior to breezing a half mile in :48 on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs (4/64), his :58.40 five-eighths bullet (1/39) on Jan. 26 was the final serious work for the GIII Sam F. Davis S., and last week trainer Ben Colebrook admitted that move was “probably was a little faster than we planned.” But, he added, “Knicks Go did it really easy. He finished up with good energy and galloped out strong. We had given him some time off after his last start and he had put on some weight since, so he needed a serious work. He was savaging his feed tub later on.” This $87,000 KEESEP Paynter yearling looms as the likely chalk in the Davis–a stakes in which faves have gone down in defeat in five of the last seven runnings. 8) CODE OF HONOR (c, Noble Mission {GB}–Reunited, by Dixie Union) O/B-W. S. Farish (KY). T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $70,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 2-1-1-0, $146,750. Last Start: 4th, Mucho Macho Man S., GP, Jan. 5 Next Start: Aiming for GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 4. Code of Honor is in regroup mode following a subpar showing at 4-5 odds in the Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 5. I consider him a factor moving forward based primarily on his 14-1 adversity-overcoming second in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont Park last autumn, but also because his owner/trainer tandem doesn’t send horses down the Derby trail unless they believe they have a legitimate candidate. In the wake of this Noble Mission (GB) homebred’s Gulfstream defeat, trainer Shug McGuaghey said he would be conditioning Code of Honor a touch more aggressively, and to that effect the colt fired a bullet 1:01 five-eighths last Tuesday at Payson Park (1/12).We’re still about a month out, but the Fountain of Youth S. is shaping up as a pretty salty affair, with at least three contenders within this week’s Top 12 considered possible for that Mar. 2 stakes. 9) HIDDEN SCROLL (c, Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker) O/B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (KY). T-William I. Mott. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Last Start: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, GP, Jan. 26 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Part of the “Wow!” aura surrounding ‘TDN Rising Star’ Hidden Scroll has do with how infrequently trainer Bill Mott sends out debut winners, especially at a mile or over (3% win clip according to DRF stats), and how infrequently Mott cultivates early-season Derby prospects. Winning from post one in the slop at first asking in a 13-horse field is difficult enough, but to see the way this Hard Spun homebred opened up daylight margins through sizzling fractions in his maiden debut on the GI Pegasus World Cup undercard was something otherworldly. His winning time of 1:34.82 blew away the 1:36.22 clocking by older stakes horses five races later, and Mott told TDN‘s Bill Finley the day after the breakout maiden win that because there is no suitable allowance race coming up in the Gulfstream condition book, a stakes shot could be next. “New Orleans, Hot Springs, Tampa, Gulfstream–we know when they are available,” Mott said. “We liked him and I’m not surprised that he won. But you never know when you’re going to see a performance like that–winning by 14 and being eased up.” 10) MUCHO GUSTO (c, Mucho Macho Man–Itsagiantcauseway, by Giant’s Causeway) O-Michael Lund Petersen. B-Teneri Farm Inc. & Bernardo Alvarez Calderon (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $14,000 Ylg ’17 KEEJAN; $95,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo ’18 OBSMAR; $625,000 2yo ’18 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 4-3-1-0, $234,000. Last Start: 1st, GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Feb. 2 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 14. Newsflash: Bob Baffert has sent out the favorite in every graded dirt stakes for male juveniles/sophomores on the SoCal circuit dating back to September. That’s a span of six races, and he’s now won five of them (including one race when the fave lost but his higher-priced entry won). ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) is the latest to hit the winner’s circle, but the lack of depth in Saturday’s five-horse GIII Lewis S. and a sealed/sloppy surface make it tough to get a true read on where this $625,000 EASMAY colt stands in the pecking order. Mucho Gusto broke alertly, backed off the lead, then targeted the pacemaker all the way down the backside before inhaling that overtaxed rival while in hand midway on the far bend. Mucho Gusto seemed to momentarily stall for a stride or two when set down for the drive three-sixteenths out, then quickly recovered, responding to more energetic rousing while kicking clear to win by a geared-down 4 3/4 lengths. In the post-race interview, Baffert expressed satisfaction that Mucho Gusto got to the next level by learning to relax off the pace. Yet with reference to sidelined ‘TDN Rising Star’ stablemate Tale of the Union (Union Rags), who is also owned by Michael Petersen, Baffert conceded “This was actually the second string here–but he’s a pretty good horse.” 11) MIND CONTROL (c, Stay Thirsty–Feel That Fire, by Lightning N Thunder) O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) and Madaket Stables LLC. B-Red Oak Stable. T-Gregory Sacco. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-1-0, $323,400. Last Start: 1st, Jerome S., AQU, Jan. 1 Next race: GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 9 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10. Mind Control had a schedule switch since our last update, with his connections opting out of last Saturday’s GIII Withers S. at nine furlongs in favor of the Mar. 9 Gotham S. at a mile, which would be his fifth career one-turn race from six starts. On Sunday, this homebred Stay Thirsty colt breezed four furlongs at Belmont Park (14/103), his third published work at that distance since a capable, wire-to-wire annexation of the Jerome S. on Jan. 1. Last summer, the speed-centric Mind Control dueled his way to a frontrunning score in the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga, then spiked a fever that forced a scratch from an October stakes start at Keeneland. A poor shipping experience combined with a bad gate break hampered his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (his only two-turn try). Mind Control is likely to remain focused on a path that points him to the GII Wood Memorial on Apr. 6, because his status as a Grade I winner triggers a bonus that raises the Wood purse from $750,000 to $1 million. 12) MIHOS (c, Cairo Prince–Feline Flatline, by Lion Heart) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Centennial Farms. B-Wayne, Gray & Bryan Lyster. T-James Jerkens. Sales History: $320,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-1, $108,880. Last Start: 5th, GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Even though this $320,000 KEESEP Cairo Prince colt finished fifth in Saturday’s puzzling renewal of the Holy Bull S., Mihos retains a tenuous grip on the No. 12 spot in the rankings. The reason? To me, this ‘TDN Rising Star’ represents the best chance out of anyone from that race to still be a relevant Derby candidate three months from now. A 29-1 pick-up-the-pieces winner beat out an unfathomable 128-1 runner-up (both still have proving to do), and the 9-10 fave Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) never fired despite a perfect trip. “He came out real good. He’s acting good, but it’s disappointing that he didn’t like being in that crowd down the backside and all that dirt hitting him,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens told TDN on Sunday. “He [backed] out of there bad on the far turn, but then he made a nice, even run at the end once he was clear. We were afraid of that–he didn’t get a lot of bouncing around in his first few races. But he certainly got it [Saturday]. We’ll give him a little time. We’re not going to run back in the Fountain of Youth. But as far as sticking around for the [GI] Florida Derby or going up for the Wood Memorial, we’ll just have to figure it out. We still think he’s a nice horse. He acts like a classy sort, so I think he’ll take it in and respond to it.” On the Bubble (in alphabetical order) Avie’s Flatter (Flatter): Likely Canadian juvenile champ training at Palm Meadows and aiming for Tampa Bay Derby. Bourbon War (Tapit): Pointing for return to graded stakes company after solid allowance win; difficult task looms if he goes in deep Fountain of Youth. Coliseum (Tapit): A more focused effort in this Saturday’s GII San Vicente S. could launch this headstrong ‘TDN Rising Star’ back into Derby-level contention. Gray Attempt (Graydar): All-out wire job in the short-stretch Smarty Jones S. on opening day at Oaklawn. He’s fast, but can he last over longer distances? Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate): Second in the Lewis S.; keeps racking up Derby points with off-the-pace closing kicks. Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats): Last-to-first rail-skimming move upset the Holy Bull S. at 29-1; might await 9f Florida Derby. Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief): ‘TDN Rising Star’ had no obvious excuse despite sweet stalking trip and ideal pace scenario in Holy Bull S. after expending plenty of energy with pre-race antics. Nolo Contesto (Pioneerof the Nile): Recent Santa Anita maiden winner scratched out of last Saturday’s Lewis S. when track came up sloppy. So Alive (Super Saver): Todd Pletcher-trained half to Vino Rosso (Curlin) won Tampa allowance with blinkers added; fired bullet Sunday at Palm Meadows for expected start in Saturday’s Davis S. Tax (Arch): Distance-pedigreed stalker won three-horse photo in Saturday’s Withers over so-so crew; could await 9f Wood Memorial. Win Win Win (Hat Trick (Jpn)): Set new track record for seven furlongs in 7 1/4 length Pasco S. romp at Tampa last time out. View the full article

A pair of grade/group 1-placed 3-year-olds will meet under the lights Friday, Feb. 8 at Turfway Park in the $75,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes when colt Somelikeithotbrown takes on the filly The Mackem Bullet. View the full article

The Kentucky Equine Education Project will host its annual KEEP Day in Frankfort Feb. 12. The event provides KEEP grassroots members, industry leaders and horse breed associations an opportunity to share with state legislators the importance of horses to their districts and to the state’s economy. It will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Senate Caucus Room, Room 265 in the Capitol Annex. KEEP is a not-for-profit grassroots organization created in 2004 to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky’s signature multi-breed horse industry. View the full article

The hearing into the show cause notices issued against licensed trainers Darren Weir and Jarrod McLean on Feb. 1, 2019, was concluded by the Racing Victoria stewards on Monday morning, Feb. 4, Racing.com reported. The charges brought against the duo will be heard on a yet to be determined date by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, but stewards have indicated they will seek a four-year ban for Weir. Submissions were made on behalf of both trainers by their legal representative, with Weir not contesting the three charges issued against him under AR 175(hh)(ii) for possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse; and the charge issued against him under AR175A for conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing. McLean will be contesting his single AR 175(hh)(ii) charge and a charge under AR175A. After deliberating, the stewards will now request that the RAD Board hear and determine the charges laid against Weir at the earliest opportunity, but due to the severity of the charges, stewards will be seeking a four-year disqualification, of which Weir was appraised prior to deciding not to contest the charges. Weir will not be able to nominate horses for any races or official trials and any acceptances from Weir’s yard will be withdrawn by order of the stewards. Weir will not be able to accept with any of his nominated horses and any horse currently nominated for a race, but not accepted, must be transferred to another trainer with the approval of the stewards if the owners still wish to compete in that race. Finally that Weir must also divest himself of any registered ownership interest in a registered horse, prior to that horse being permitted to accept for any race. Regarding McLean, significant conditions were also imposed until the RAD Board has heard and determined the charges. McLean will not be able to receive any horses to train that were in the care of Weir as of Jan. 30, 2019, but subject to the condition stated above, McLean will be permitted to continue nominating and accepting horses for races and official trials. Racing Victoria Executive General Manager-Integrity Jamie Stier said in a statement, “This is a complex matter and the stewards were determined to be thorough and give due consideration to the submissions made, their legal advice and the ongoing investigations. Darren Weir is facing serious charges of possessing three electrical apparatus and conduct prejudicial to the interests or image of racing. He has advised the stewards that he will not contest those charges which have drawn considerable negative publicity to the sport. “To that end, stewards have requested that the RAD Board expedite the hearing of Mr. Weir’s charges at which point they will be seeking a four-year disqualification. Until such time as the RAD Board convenes to hear and determine Mr. Weir’s charges, the stewards have imposed strict conditions on his licence that ensure he is not permitted to enter or race any horses as a trainer or owner. “On the basis that Mr. McLean advised the stewards that he will contest the charges against him, significant conditions have also been imposed on his operation until such time as the charges have been heard and determined by the RAD Board. In reaching these positions on the show cause notices, the stewards note that investigations remain ongoing and that they reserve the right to act upon any new evidence that comes to hand during the course of those investigations.” View the full article

As an owner/breeder of both flat and National Hunt horses, a seller at public auction and stallion farm, Cheveley Park Stud has its fingers on a lot of pulses in the Thoroughbred business, and indeed David and Patricia Thompson’s operation enjoyed notable successes in all these areas in 2018. In their own silks they enjoyed pattern-race wins with the likes of Angel’s Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Pilaster (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) and Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who they sold as a yearling, won the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and the G2 Arqana July S. On the stallion front, Pivotal (GB) continued to cement his legacy as a sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire; young stallions Intello (Ger), Mayson (GB) and Garswood (GB) had promising results on the track and Twilight Son (GB) had encouraging returns with his first foals at the sales. Progress doesn’t happen looking backwards, however, and Cheveley Park is set to cover just under 160 of its own mares this year. “About 40% will go to outside stallions, and 60% go to our own stallions, of which we have eight,” said the stud’s Managing Director Chris Richardson. “We have a busy season ahead. We have 10 foals on the ground and another 100 to foal in the coming months, so we have plenty to look forward to.” In running through some of Cheveley Park’s mating plans for 2019, Richardson began with one of the stud’s brighter stars on the racecourse in recent years, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “Starting with one of the mares who has foaled we have Persuasive, who won the G1 QEII beating the colts,” Richardson said. “She had a very nice Frankel filly so we’re delighted to have a filly out of a mare like that. She foaled on Jan. 18 and she goes back to Frankel.” Another Grade I-winning mare, the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), visits Dubawi (Ire) for her second covering, as does her dam Queen’s Best (GB) (King’s Best). The latter was rested last year so will not have a foal of 2019. One of the more recent additions to the Cheveley Park Stud stallion roster is the Niarchos-bred G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Coral-Eclipse S. winner Ulysses (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Cheveley Park supported him with 50 mares in his first season last year and will send around 40 this year. Visiting the horse in both years will be a pair of mares bought for seven figures from the U.S. in 2017. “We have a nice mare that cost $2-million at Fasig-Tipton called Mesa Fresca (Sky Mesa), who we bought in foal to War Front,” Richardson said. “We have a very nice yearling filly by War Front out of her, and she’s the dam of the GI Del Mar Oaks winner Harmonize. She is in foal to Ulysses, and goes back to him. “Fools In Love (Not For Love), who is the dam of Seahenge, winner of the G2 Champagne S., is currently in foal to Ulysses and goes back to him,” Richardson added. “We paid $1-million for her at Keeneland so we’re looking forward to seeing her foal in due course. “We’re very keen to support our young stallion Ulysses, who I think is very exciting, bred as he is. We sent some nice mares to him last year and we’re looking forward to seeing the foals. We have a few on the ground already: we have a very nice filly by him out of another mare we bought in America called My Hope. She is by Afleet Alex, we paid $525,000 for her at Keeneland and she’s a half-sister to a colt called Carve, who was a multiple stakes winner in the States and it goes back to the family of Bound, Archipenko, Blame; it’s a great family. “Ulysses covered 115 mares in his first season so we’re looking forward to seeing plenty more foals on the ground in due course,” Richardson said. “He had six Group 1 winners visit him last year and the dams of eight Group 1 winners, along with over 30 stakes-producing mares.” The Cheveley Park team are also awaiting Ulysses foals this season out of the dams of the aforementioned Regal Reality and Advertise. Both mares will visit outside sires after foaling; Regal Realm (GB) (Medicean {GB}) is booked to Caravaggio (Ire), while Furbelow (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Advertise’s dam, returns to his sire, Showcasing. Another outside stallion Cheveley Park will patronize this year is Shadwell’s popular sprinter Muhaarar (GB), who has his first runners in 2019. “Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the G1 Sun Chariot S. and G1 Falmouth S. winner, is in foal to Ulysses and goes to Muhaarar,” Richardson said. “Her first foal is a Dubawi colt that has gone into training with Sir Michael Stoute and he’s called Inherent. So we have a bit of action coming through on that.” Joining Regal Realm on the trip to Ireland will be Infallible (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of black-type winners Veracious, Intimation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Mutakayyef (GB). She returns to the latter’s sire, Sea The Stars (Ire). Richardson noted that Veracious remains in training with Sir Michael Stoute. After enjoying so much success with its stallion barn flagbearer Pivotal, Cheveley Park is supporting his leading son in France, Siyouni (Fr), with the 2017 G2 Rockfel S. winner Juliet Capulet (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for her first covering. “Siyouni is an interesting son of Pivotal, which brings me on to Pivotal, who has just turned 26 years of age,” Richardson said. “He covered 53 mares last year, only eight of them were not in foal, so his fertility last year was exceptional for a horse of his age. We have just under 50 mares booked to him again this year so hopefully all being well he’ll continue to breed a few select mares. He’s such a phenomenal sire-he’s produced champion sprinters to Classic mile-and-a-half winners. He’s a sire of sires and now as a broodmare sire he’s taking all before him. We have a mare who is a daughter of Islington that we bought last year called Angel Vision, and she visits Pivotal this year. She’s currently in foal to Dark Angel.” Richardson noted that Cheveley Park’s other ‘elder’ statesman-although he is nine years Pivotal’s junior-Dutch Art (GB) is under a bit of a fertility issue cloud after returning some concerning figures end of last year. He will be closely monitored during the early part of the season but it could be that the six younger members of the roster may need to take up the baton. In addition to Ulysses those include Intello, who in addition to Regal Reality had G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Intellogent (Ire) and dual Group 3 winner Young Rascal (Fr) from his first crop of 3-year-olds last year. In an agreement with Intello’s owners the Wertheimer brothers, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner has thus far alternated every second season between Cheveley Park and Haras du Quesnay in France. He is at Cheveley Park this year and will be visited by Troarn (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the full-sister to Almanzor (Fr) bought by Cheveley Park for €600,000 at Arqana December in 2017. Garswood is an interesting prospect heading into his first year with 3-year-olds, having sired two stakes winners last year off an opening £7,000 covering fee. Lethal Force has been a reliable source of winners but is still looking for that first stakes winner to raise his profile further, while Mayson has sired five stakes winners from four-figure fees from three crops of racing age. The youngest members of the roster are Group 1-winning sprinters Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) and Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). “Garswood is a son of Dutch Art, a very good-looking horse and a horse we bred. He had two stakes winners in France last year so we’re hopeful that he can build on that going forward,” Richardson said. “We have Lethal Force who has lots of winners but probably just needs a good stakes horse. Mayson is teetering on the verge of making that big step up. He had another phenomenal year last year. Twilight Son, we were delighted with his first foals, they sold extremely well averaging nearly £30,000, which is treble his stud fee. They look really rather similar to his sire Kyllachy; his stock were always considered to be real trainers’ type horses and hopefully Twilight Son can emulate that. “We have Unfortunately, who was a champion Group 1-winning 2-year-old in France by Society Rock, who once again could rekindle what Cheveley has always been associated with, which is speed stallions.” As an added incentive for breeders to use the G1 Prix Morny winner Unfortunately, Cheveley Park is offering a £10,000 bonus to the breeder of Unfortunately’s first 2-year-old winner from his first crop. The breeders of all 2-year-old winners from his first crop will receive a free return. One could imagine that a reputation of producing precocious sprinters in a market that is increasingly craving such could put Cheveley Park on the front foot, but Richardson said the stud is actually looking to diversify its portfolio in the interest of its own racing ambitions and the greater good of the business-hence the introduction of stallions like Ulysses and Intello. “Pivotal has been a prime example of the fact that most good horses that stay need to have some speed,” Richardson said. “That’s one thing that he’s been able to introduce to the industry and his legacy will live long as a result of it. It’s worked for us and there’s been a number of people to say, ‘Cheveley has always been associated with sprinters, stick with it, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.’ But we’re conscious with our own breeding program for the future. We want to have the opportunity to be running in mile-and-a- quarter, mile-and-a-half races and competing on a more international front, as we have done as an example with Queen’s Trust coming to the Breeders’ Cup.” Factors such as Brexit and the extreme polarization in the breeding stock market last year mean that breeders face some uncertainties heading into the season, and Richardson said it will be important to control numbers and focus on quality. “I think we’re all very aware of the fact that we are facing some challenging times, especially in the UK,” he said. “There are a lot of uncertainties over Brexit, which is something people are genuinely nervous about. The economy is indicating quite a lot of potential concerns going forward and we have to bear all those things in mind. “The markets were very selective, it’s certainly challenging times, but I think the important thing is we have to remain focused on controlling numbers. Within the industry there are a lot of people suggesting they want more fixtures, more races, more runners, which frankly is going to be difficult to maintain because there are only so many breeders and owners that can accommodate the number of horses that are being bred. We have to be conscious of the fact that we don’t want to get back into a scenario where we’re suffering from overproduction. In the States, there is a wealth of people who are prepared to invest in racing and breeding, and the markets are much more sustainable, whereas in Europe it’s much more a delicate balance. I think the industry has to be careful. There is plenty of work going on behind the scenes with regards to prizemoney issues, and we’re also trying to encourage people to have a longer-term view, using more middle-distance stallions, which I think is important for the future of the industry. It’s not all about the commercial angles or precociousness. We do need to be looking at the industry with a long-term view, hence why we’ve tried to diversify into a few more middle-distance stallions.” With a diverse portfolio of young stallions and a strong band of top-quality broodmares working for them, Cheveley Park Stud has plenty of reasons to be optimistic heading into 2019 and beyond. View the full article

KILDARE, Ireland–The Irish flat sales season gets underway on Tuesday with the two-day Goffs February Sale, which features something for everyone; with yearlings, 2-year-olds, horses in training, breeding stock and a smattering of National Hunt-bred horses thrown into the mix. While a slimmer catalogue of 158 fewer horses means the sale will struggle to match last year’s €4.8-million aggregate, the reduced numbers should hopefully help maintain a healthier clearance rate than the 65% attained in 2018. Last year’s sale posted an average of €14,392 and a median of €6,650, while the top lot was the Jim Bolger-offered Glamorous Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who was purchased by Ballylinch Stud for €280,000. The 6-year-old subsequently added more black type to her CV when second in two listed races in the Ballylinch silks last year and Bolger offers another highly rated 6-year-old on Wednesday that should interest buyers. Stellar Mass (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a 105-rated entire, is offered by Glebe House Stables as lot 333. The multiple stakes winner posted some smart efforts last summer including when second to Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G3 Ballyroan S. and he was also runner-up to Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 International S. at The Curragh. Day one provides an opportunity for pinhookers to get stuck in and with potentially just a seven-month turnaround to the autumn yearling sales, there ought to be plenty of traders keen to avail of that short window. An early yearling of interest could be lot 10 from Moyglare Stud. The colt by Teofilo (Ire) is out of the prolific stakes winner She’s Our Mark (GB) (Ishiguru), who has bred two winners from three runners. Her third runner Titanium Sky (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) finished an eye-catching fifth on debut in a 2-year-old maiden at Gowran last September and with an entry in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, the Dermot Weld-trained filly could provide a significant pedigree update throughout this season. Dark Angel (Ire) has been a friend to many pinhookers and breeders over the last number of years and an opportunity to acquire a full-brother to the speedy Easton Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) presents itself with lot 22 from Drumachon Stud. The April born bay is also the only yearling by the Morristown Lattin stallion in the sale. Another whose pedigree could improve is lot 32, a filly by Estidhkaar (Ire) from Milltown House Stud. She has a 200,000 gns 2-year-old half-brother by Society Rock (Ire) to run for her in the Shadwell colours this year while Very Excellent (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), a half-brother to the dam Sunny Days (Ire) (Areion {Ger}), looks a winner waiting to happen judged on his debut at Dundalk last week. The first foals of Derrinstown Stud stallion Awtaad (Ire) were very well received last year and lot 82 from Deer Forest Stud has plenty going for him on pedigree. The colt is out of G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Aoife Alainn (Ire) (Dr Fong), who has a perfect breeding record to date with three winners from three runners including Dr Richard Kimble (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), a three-time winner last year in England. With one withdrawn, last year’s leading first season stallion No Nay Never is left with just one yearling on offer and lot 93 is a filly from Grenane House Stud out of the stakes performer Barzah (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who has produced two stakes performers among five winners in total. Another interesting yearling from Moyglare Stud is lot 110, a colt by Australia (GB) out of a Dream Ahead half-sister to 10-time MSW Tha’ir (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Darley stallion Night Of Thunder (Ire) has his first runners this year and his yearlings made up to 260,000gns at the sales last autumn. Lot 143 is the pick on pedigree of his pair of yearlings offered on Tuesday and is a half-brother to the stakes winner Champagne Or Water (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}), from the family of Irish Classic-placed and Australian group winner Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The Richard Fahey trained 10-year-old Gabrial (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) came from his sire’s first crop and has amassed over a million Euros in prize-money in his eight seasons of racing. His half-brother by Mehmas (Ire) is offered by Meadowlands Stud as lot 153. Coolmore stallion Starspangledbanner (Aus) has three yearlings catalogued with two of those coming from Airlie Stud. They include lot 195, a colt out of the French stakes winner Lungwa (Ire) (One Cool Cat). Wednesday will see 2-year-olds, horses in training and breeding stock enter the ring and the interesting maiden mares that could prove popular include lot 318, Vrai (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), offered by Baroda & Colbinstown. The 3-year-old was placed as a juvenile in France and as well as being a half-sister to G2 Railway S. winner Lilbourne Lad (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) her now 2-year-old half-sister by Gleneagles (Ire) sold for 300,000gns to Alex Elliott last October. Lot 343, Shareva (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) from the Aga Khan Studs, is another young mare with sound credentials. Her dam Shareen (Ire) (Bahri) was a Group 3 winner and has bred two high-class fillies in dual G2 Blandford S. winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G3 Singspiel S. winner Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Six lots later Grenane House Stud offer It’s A Wish (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as lot 349. The 4-year-old was placed twice on the track but is a full-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Signs Of Blessing (Ire). A few mares to be offered with attractive coverings include lot 373 from Godolphin, the stakes placed winner Elshabakiya (Ire) (Diktat) who is due to Dark Angel, while Baroda & Colbinstown offer lot 380, Myopic (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). The 6-year-old produced a colt foal by Kodiac (GB) last year and is due to the same stallion in the middle of March. Towards the end of the sale Daddy’s Gal (lot 457) should pique some interest being an unraced daughter of Scat Daddy. Her dam Moon River Gal (Malibu Moon) was a winner in America and she has a 2-year-old filly by American Pharoah waiting in the wings. There are also a number of supplementary lots added to the sale and they include lot 140A from Ballintry Stud. This is a yearling colt by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of Fly On The Night (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), who was champion 2-year-old in Italy in 2015. View the full article

After a winning NAP yesterday to round off a week of winners the Picks From The Paddock team are back to give their best bet of the day and a tip for every race NAP OF THE DAY 17:55 Wolverhampton Arcanada boasts an excellent all-weather record having won four from six on synthetic surfaces, including […] The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Monday 4th February appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Yusoff, Shafrizal suspended View the full article

Early scratching February 6 View the full article

British-bred A Bit Special successfully stepped up to graded company, taking the $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T) comfortably Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Repole Stable homebred Always Shopping, under a perfect trip engineered by meet-leading rider Manny Franco, made her stakes debut a winning one in the $100,000 Busanda Feb. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Long debated but handily rejected over the years, the New York Racing Association is now backing a longer meet, at least for 2019, during its annual Saratoga Race Course racing season. View the full article

A BIT SPECIAL (GB) (f, 3, Mukhadram {GB}) notched the first graded stakes win of her young career with a decisive stalk-and-pounce score in Sunday’s GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream Park. Having already captured the Our Dear Peggy S. and Wait a While S. over the Hallandale turf Sept. 29 and Dec. 8, respectively, the daughter of Mukhadram (GB) ran her overall record to four-for-five with her latest success. Securing a stalking position around the first turn as Eyeinthesky (Sky Mesa) showed the way through an opening quarter-mile in :23.92, she settled down the backstretch but was asked to match a bid from Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) to her outside approaching the far turn. Cued up to go after the leader on the bend, she seized control entering the stretch under confident handling by jockey Julien Leparoux. Kept under a brisk hand ride late, A Bit Special widened late to win comfortably. A Bit Special was a first-out maiden winner sprinting five furlongs over the Gulfstream turf Aug. 19 and rallied from last to be second, a neck behind the winner, in the Sept. 1 Sharp Susan S. From there, she returned to the winner’s circle with a three-length victory in the Our Dear Peggy before kicking off the Championship Meet in style in the Wait a While. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $194,035. O-Linda Shanahan, Mrs. M V Magnier & J P Magnier; B-Lindum Partnership (GB); T-Patrick L. Biancone View the full article

Trainer Shelbe Ruis indicated Feb. 2 that she felt track management at Santa Anita Park put undue pressure on her to run 3-year-old colt and scheduled first-time starter, C Falls, on a wet track she felt was unsafe. View the full article

Champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir could relinquish his licence before a Racing Victoria hearing to determine whether he should be allowed to continue training. View the full article

Repole Stable’s homebred Always Shopping (f, 3, Awesome Again–Stopshoppingmaria, by More Than Ready) earned her first career victory with a 1 1/2-length tally in the Busanda S. at Aqueduct Sunday. Sent off at 2-1, the bay filly settled off the pace as Filly Joel (Dialed In) took the field through fractions of :23.76 and :47.50. She reeled in the pacesetter in upper stretch and strode clear in the final furlong, completing the nine furlongs in 1:38.31. Filly Joel was second and Afleet Destiny (Hard Spun) was third. Always Shopping, fifth on debut at Saratoga last July, was runner-up behind Filly Joel going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Oct. 25 and missed by just 3/4 lengths when second going one mile at Aqueduct Dec. 14. Out of Grade I placed Stopshoppingmaria, Always Shopping is a half-sister to stakes winner and graded placed Mo Shopping (Uncle Mo). Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-0, $92,000. O/B-Repole Stable. T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

This is the first installment of a new series where TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley examines intercontinental trends in the Thoroughbred business. Gary Barber’s War Of Will (War Front), who ran away with the GIII Lecomte S. at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans last month, may represent a deviation from the norm in being a legitimate GI Kentucky Derby contender from a decidedly turf pedigree, but when it comes to European pinhooks sourced from Kentucky’s yearling sales, he is just the latest in a long line of successes. War Of Will’s page is one that would stand out in any sale catalogue; by America’s most expensive advertised stallion, he is out of the Niarchos Family’s French listed winner Visions Of Clarity (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), who had already produced the G1 National S. winner Pathfork (Distorted Humor), now at stud in South Africa, and the listed-winning Tacticus (A.P. Indy). Visions Of Clarity is a half-sister to the brilliant miler Spinning World (Nureyev). Grade/Group 1 winners Chimes of Freedom, Aldebaran and Good Journey appear under the third dam. Offered by Lane’s End as agent for breeder Flaxman Holdings in Book 1 of Keeneland September in 2017, War Of Will was led out unsold at $175,000. That’s when former jumps jockey and Irish-based breeze-up consignor Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm stepped in. “I had seen the colt at the sale so when I noticed he was bought back I went to see him again,” Williamson said. “I thought he was too good to be unsold, and when I went back to see him I liked him. I had my vet check him over. I had bought a couple of horses from Maria Niarchos over the years, and I went to the Niarchoses’ and we came to an agreement and I purchased him privately.” War Of Will was then off to Oak Tree Farm in Co. Meath with a Declaration of War colt Williamson had purchased three days later for $80,000. “We were delighted to have such a well-bred colt,” Williamson said. “He’s a fine, big horse, and he was a bit tall so maybe he looked to some European people like he might need a bit of time, but he was straight into the swing of things here and we never had a problem with him. He was always very easy to deal with and a great-actioned horse with a fantastic temperament. We liked him all the way through.” After a few months in the Oak Tree school of breeze ups, War Of Will and his Declaration of War buddy crossed the water once again and ended up at Arqana for that firm’s May Breeze Up Sale. Justin Casse, who has had considerable success buying future racehorses out of European sales, signed for War Of Will at €250,000, while Blandford Bloodstock bought the Declaration of War colt for €60,000. Casse said that being a War Front, War Of Will was on his radar before he even touched down in France, and while the horse’s breeze and physical more than matched expectations, he admitted he did not see the horse as a dirt prospect. “His pedigree is phenomenal; it just flies off the page,” Casse said. “On top of that I have a client with a soft spot for War Front with Mr. Barber. One of the first horses we bought together was [Grade I-winning turf miler by War Front] Jack Milton, and since then we’ve had two other War Fronts that were graded stakes winners and listed stakes winners. I’ve had some success with the sire, so I had put special attention this horse based on that. “When he breezed he put in a phenomenal breeze, he was just a beautiful mover. Its unofficial timing when you’re at the European breeze ups, but his time was in the top five or seven. More importantly, he was a very efficient mover. He was a very imposing colt. To look at him you wouldn’t necessarily think he was fast because of how big he is. He stands over a lot of ground especially for a War Front out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. You wouldn’t necessarily think he’d have a lot of size and scope to him, but he did, and he had the speed to go with it.” Turned over to Casse’s brother, trainer Mark Casse, War Of Will showed promise in four starts on the turf last summer and fall, even picking up a Grade I-placing in Woodbine’s GI Summer S. behind Fog Of War, another son of War Front. But it was when he switched to the dirt after a fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf that he came to life. He broke his maiden by five lengths going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24, and won the Lecomte on Jan. 19 over the same distance by four lengths. Casse said his brother and Barber had been tempted by last October to try the horse on the dirt after he worked well over it, but rather than throwing him into the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile they gave him one more shot on the grass first. “I honestly could have never imagined he’d be a dirt horse,” Casse said. “I just thought all along the whole thing screamed turf, but now of course there’s been so many people dissecting his pedigree and pulling the dirt parts out.” Those dirt parts include War Of Will’s half-brother Tacticus who, after nine starts on the turf and all-weather in Britain, transferred to the U.S. and won a pair of listed races over 1 3/4 miles and 1 5/8 miles. Those performances are in sharp contrast to those of their half-brother Pathfork, the unbeaten winner of the seven-furlong G1 National S. in Ireland at two who failed to train on in one start each at three and four. Though he was transferred to California to trainer John Sadler at four, he was never tried on the dirt. Another member of the family to have defied a turf-heavy heritage is Aldebaran, the American champion dirt sprinter who, in yet another twist of irony with this family, is now best known as the sire of American champion turf horse Main Sequence, who won four Grade Is over a mile and a half in 2014. Williamson admitted he doesn’t know a lot about dirt form, but he did reveal that during his time at Oak Tree Farm, War Of Will trained willingly over every surface he was presented with. “While he was here he’d get through soft ground, and he was better on quicker ground, but he showed a lot of ability over everything we breezed him on,” he said. “Even though he was a very good-actioned horse, I think ability gets you through a lot.” So, to summarize, while there were tiny clues that look much bigger in hindsight, all involved parties say they had little to no premonition that War Of Will would materialize into a fine dirt animal. The element of this story that is much less surprising is that Williamson was able to pluck War Of Will from Keeneland and pinhook him in France with success. It has become increasingly popular to see European agents combing the Kentucky sales and taking home youngsters even by sires that wouldn’t have obvious European appeal. At the same Arqana May sale that War Of Will went through, American sires were plentiful among the top sellers. Even aside from the stratospheric Scat Daddy, who had three of the top 10 sellers from his final crop, other successful pinhooks by American sires in the sale included a More Than Ready colt bought by Brendan Holland of Grove Stud for $160,000 at Keeneland September and sold on for €525,000; a $235,000 Exchange Rate filly sold by Willie Browne’s Mocklershill for €400,000; and a $77,000 Arch filly sold by Powerstown Stud for €270,000. A colt by Data Link, a son of War Front, who is a three-quarter brother to War Front’s dirt Grade I winner The Factor, was a $70,000 buyback at Keeneland but also ended up in the hands of Willie Browne and sold for €180,000 at Arqana. The previous month, seven of the top 10 at the Tattersalls Craven Sale were American-bred pinhooks. The top three, again, were by Scat Daddy, but others included a 575,000gns Street Sense colt (now named Bye Bye Hong Kong and group-placed) that was bought privately by Jim McCartan of Gaybrook Lodge at Keeneland September after RNA’ing for $70,000; a More Than Ready filly who RNA’d at Keeneland for $45,000 before being bought privately by Katie Walsh of Greenhills Farm and sold at Tattersalls for 500,000gns and a colt by Animal Kingdom bought by Tally-Ho Stud for $200,000 at Keeneland and sold by that group for 420,000gns to American owner Kaleem Shah. Stormy Atlantic has always done well enough in Europe, and he had a $72,000 colt turn to 240,000gns for Brendan Holland. One of the pinhooks of the century took place at Arqana in May of 2017 when Willie Browne and Jim McCartan’s Street Sense colt bought at Keeneland for $15,000 was purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for €1.4 million. That colt, now named Walk In The Sun, is an example of what sticking around for the later books can get a pinhooker: he was sold on day seven of Keeneland. Trainer Robert Cowell, similarly, stuck around until day nine in 2017 to pick up a Dialed In colt for $35,000, and he very nearly pulled off a fairytale story when the colt, named Pocket Dynamo, was second by a nose in last year’s G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot. Although he was not a pinhook, the poster-child for U.S.-bred success in Europe last year was Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy). Like War Of Will, Roaring Lion went through the ring on opening day during Book 1 of Keeneland September-incidentally, about three hours after last year’s American Horse of the Year Justify went through–and was bought by David Redvers for $160,000. Redvers has been quoted describing Roaring Lion as the best-looking and best-moving son of Kitten’s Joy he’d ever seen, so surely at $160,000 he slipped through the cracks? Well, it’s possible that his combined dirt and turf pedigree could have confounded some, and with so much choice among the almost 4,500 catalogued at Keeneland September alone, they had plenty of opportunity to look elsewhere. Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Farm, which raised and sold Roaring Lion, told the TDN in July, “Year after year, it’s such a unique thing with the volume of quality that’s there. It gives buyers a chance to find a world-class horse at a reasonable price. If you work the sale and you know what you’re looking for-and you’ve got to find your spot-there’s nothing like Keeneland September for buyers across the world and in America.” Williamson concurred that the chance to unearth a War Of Will, or a Roaring Lion, makes shopping astutely at Keeneland September worthwhile. “It can happen with the numbers in Keeneland, and I think this is a typical example that you can maybe afford a colt with a pedigree like him, and then he’s eligible for a worldwide market,” he said. “War Of Will ended up in France and then he ended up back in America again all in the space of a few months. It shows you what can happen in the world we’re living in. That’s what you’re hoping for, is a horse with a good pedigree that maybe doesn’t tick everyone’s box, but he did for us.” View the full article

Trainers have faced this dilemma since the beginning of time. A very good horse turns in a lackluster performance and, afterward, you can’t find any major excuses for why they failed to show up. So, what do you do? In the case of Butch Reid and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief), the answer is scratch your head, come up with a new plan and just hope things turn out better next time. With two major preps for the GI Kentucky Derby run over the weekend in the GII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream and the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita, the biggest story of the weekend was not who won, but who lost. Three for three coming in, including a cakewalk victory in the GII Remsen S., Maximus Mischief was considered the top 3-year-old candidate based in the East and, perhaps, the only horse out there who could keep Bob Baffert out of the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle. About 45 minutes before the race, his credentials looked even stronger than they did 24 hours earlier as Tax (Arch), who was third in the Remsen, won the GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct. But the storyline changed dramatically in Saturday’s Holy Bull as Maximus Mischief finished third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. While such a narrow loss might ordinarily not be that alarming, that’s not the case with this one. The horse was not good. He was under a stiff drive from jockey Jose Ortiz at the half-mile pole to get past 12-1 shot Epic Dreamer (Orb) and then couldn’t hold off late rallies from winner Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats) and runner-up Everfast (Take Charge Indy). Consider: Harvey Wallbanger (terrific name for a horse, by the way) was coming off a maiden win in his fourth start and he recorded a 64 Beyer that day. He was 29-1. Everfast was beaten 12 1/2 lengths in a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream in his previous start. He was 128-1. It was clearly the worst performance of Maximus Mischief’s career. “We’ll give him a mulligan,” Reid said. “We certainly haven’t lost any faith in him. We know he’s a really good horse. Those kinds of things happen.” Reid went over the colt from head to toe and while he found a few minor issues, none that really explained why his horse didn’t show up. “He was fine this morning,” Reid said Sunday. “But he was a little tired. He’s usually a little more chipper in the mornings. He was quiet. He ate up his dinner last night and was cold and tight everywhere, so all those boxes were checked. But since he was tired I must not have had him as tight as I thought I did.” Reid said the colt also acted up before the race, something he had not seen him do before. “It was a combination of things,” he said. “He got a little excited pre-race. He raised some hell on the way over there and was a little broke out and did have some flank sweat going, which I didn’t like to see. I don’t know what it was, but something had him off his game yesterday.” Reid’s plan had been to skip the GII Fountain of Youth S. and go right to the GI Florida Derby. With Maximus Mischief likely getting little out of his race Saturday, Reid has decided to change things up and will not give the horse the layoff he had planned on. The Fountain of Youth is now his likely next start. “We were talking about that with [owners] Chuck [Zacney] and Glenn [Bennett] this morning,” Reid said. “The Fountain of Youth is back in play. It was a good two months between races and he was extra fresh going into race and I think that ended up taking a bit away from him. I’d love to find a race five or six weeks from now, and the Fountain of Youth might be right in his wheelhouse.” The Holy Bull could not have been a stranger race. It featured two horses in Maximus Mischief and Mihos (Cairo Prince) that the pundits considered serious Derby threats. Some were also high on the Todd Pletcher-trained Federal Case (Gemologist) The other six entered looked like nothing more than filler. Mihos was fifth and Federal Case seventh. So should we all just draw a line through the race? Probably. Baffert and His Bench Sometimes it looks like Bob Baffert is Duke and everyone else is Kennesaw State. The eighth guy on his bench is better than the competition’s best player. Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) is not his best 3-year-old. He is not his second best 3-year-old. He may not even be his third best. But he was good enough to win the Robert B. Lewis, and win it easily. Under Joe Talamo, he rolled to a 4 3/4-length win over GIII Sham S. winner Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate). What was most impressive about the victory is that he rated this time. In his prior three starts he had shot to the lead, a tactic that failed when he tired in the stretch and finished second in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity. Talamo had him relaxed and sitting in third before he took over nearing the top of the stretch. While Eclipse Award winner Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) still merits the No. 1 spot among the Baffert team of 3-year-old prospects, few will be surprised if Improbable (City Zip) turns out to the better of the two. His resume looks that much better after the Lewis. He whipped Mucho Gusto at Los Alamitos, drawing off to beat him by five lengths. It’s the only time Mucho Gusto has lost. TIF Has Spoken. Will Anybody Listen? The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation released its third white paper last week and it was a sobering one. An organization created by Craig Bernick to act as an industry think tank, it tackled the issue of sports betting and how it is likely to affect horse racing going forward. The paper concluded that if racing doesn’t make major changes, sports betting has the potential to greatly diminish racing’s total handle. The authors wrote: “While sports betting has long existed in an unorganized fashion, its legalization will swiftly lead to a massive development of supporting infrastructure–including marketing, data services and customer management–that will transform the competitive landscape of the gaming industry. Racing’s existing customers, including our best customers, will be wooed by fabulously funded sports betting agencies, while future generations of potential customers will be avalanched by customized fixed-odds betting products Adding to this competition for bettors, the cost of a sports bet is significantly lower than horse racing’s takeout, typically two-to-three times cheaper.” It’s hard to argue with any of their conclusions, particularly when it has become apparent that only a small handful of racetracks, perhaps only Monmouth and Delaware Park, will receive any additions to their purse accounts due to sports betting. The TIF concludes that if you can’t beat them, join them–that some of the primary reasons why sports betting is more popular than betting on horses is because, with sports, the takeout is so low and the odds are fixed. Calling on horsemen’s groups to lead the charge, the TIF says racing has to start taking a serious look at getting rid of the pari-mutuel system and switching over to fixed odds. Lowering takeout is also necessary. These are smart people and they’re right on target on this matter. But this is horse racing, where you could get 10 industry leaders in the same room and they wouldn’t agree on what to have for lunch. I hope the TIF keeps pounding away on the major issues that dominate the sport, but I will forever remain skeptical that their voice is more than just a voice in the wilderness. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky Winter Mixed sale, the last major breeding stock sale before the 2019 breeding season, will take place Monday and Tuesday in Lexington, KY. A catalogue of 528 head will be on offer, with hips 1-274 going through the ring Monday starting at 10:00 a.m. and the remaining offerings selling Tuesday starting at the same time. “There’s always a strong market at this sale for maiden mares with a little bit of pedigree or race record; there’s always a stallion’s book that needs a some extra mares; someone’s always got an extra season or share out there that they need a mare for, and that has always been a source of strength in this part of the market,” said Fasig-Tipton Executive Vice President Bayne Welker when asked about expectations heading into the auction. “I think we saw a lot of strength in the foal market [in 2018] and that will continue on into the short yearlings–there has been quite a buzz for those, so I think we’ll see quite a bit of scrambling for those at the top.” The 2018 edition of the auction saw slight year-over-year increases compared to 2017, with 364 head changing hands for a combined $10,436,800. The average was $28,613 and median was $10,500. The RNA rate was 22.7%. When asked to compare this year’s catalogue to last year’s, Welker said, “It’s very similar to any open February sale we’ve had in absence of having a marquee horse or a dispersal to tag on to it–it’s about what you’d expect. There’s been a lot of hustling around and some very good entries that have come in the supplemental part of the catalogue and I think a lot of that’s due to the strength of the market. People have taken the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, let’s put a pretty good short yearling in here.’ Or they’ve been able to find a decent kind of broodmare prospect to put on offer that the market gravitates towards this time of year.” Last year’s sale topper was racing or broodmare prospect Girl Talk (Medaglia d’Oro)–a supplemental entry and the last horse through the ring as hip 574–who brought $310,000 from Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds. Consigned by Craig and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud on behalf of Ramona Bass LLC and Cheyenne Stables LLC, the daughter of MGSW One Caroline (Unbridled’s Song) was fresh off a runner-up finish in Aqueduct’s Ladies H. “Supplemental entries play a big part, especially in February, but in a lot of our sales,” Welker said. “It’s been very instrumental and a very key part of our market in February.” A total of 52 supplemental entries were added to the original catalogue for 2019, including Tamarack Girl (Discreet Cat) (hip 523), a half-sister to top GI Kentucky Derby contender Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief), winner of the GII Remsen S. in December and third in this past Saturday’s GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. The priciest short yearling at the 2018 sale was a Tiznow colt (hip 419) purchased by Jack Johnston for $260,000 out of the Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services consignment. The colt brought $575,000 from Alex and JoAnn Lieblong later last season at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Another FTKFEB ’18 purchase who provided her buyer with a solid return on investment was GSP Moana (Uncle Mo) (hip 319). Purchased for $220,000 by Roderick Wachman Bloodstock from Bluewater Sales as a racing or broodmare prospect, she was put in foal to Into Mischief and resold for $500,000 at Fasig-Tipton November. “I think it does,” said Welker when asked if he thought positive subsequent results for purchases out of this sale last year might make prospective buyers shop the 2019 renewal a little harder. “People look at the market pretty hard as a whole, and this is the last stop in the mixed market and the last stop at which people will be able to buy a broodmare prospect, broodmare or short yearling, so it’s one of those things where sometimes need and necessity help drive the market a little bit further than if it was at a different spot on the calendar.” For more information, visit www.fasigtipton.com. View the full article

Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott Akman and Paul Braverman’s Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats) emerged from his breakout victory in Saturday’s GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. in good order, trainer Ken McPeek said Sunday morning. The colt, who was dismissed as a 29-1 chance in the 1 1/16-mile event, rallied up the rail to score by a length over fellow longshot Everfast (Take Charge Indy). “He came back fine, no problems,” McPeek said. “He’s definitely matured and he showed a lot of killer instinct yesterday. He had a couple races as a 2-year-old where he didn’t put horses away when he had a chance to. I think the win he had in the fall got him some confidence, and hopefully this one takes him to the next step.” Harvey Wallbanger finished second in each of his first three career tries in maiden races in Kentucky, before breaking through with his first victory in a maiden heat at Churchill Downs Nov. 17. McPeek said the colt will be nominated to both the GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 2 and the GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby Mar. 30, with the Florida Derby firmly circled on the calendar as his likely final GI Kentucky Derby prep. McPeek added that his GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. winner and MGISP Signalman (General Quarters) remains on track for a start in the Fountain of Youth, where he could meet Holy Bull beaten favorite and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief), who flattened out late to finish third. “He came out of the race very well,” said trainer Butch Reid. “He was a little tired this morning, so maybe I didn’t have him quite as tight as I thought I did. He came out of it fine and ate up his dinner last night but walked a little quiet this morning. I’m going to say he gets a lot out of that race yesterday and it’s going to set him up perfectly for the next spot.” View the full article