Wandering Eyes

Ashvin Goindasamy flourishes an imaginary whip has he guides Lambrusco home at Te Rapa. Under-rated stayer Lambrusco made it three wins in a row when he produced a powerful late sprint to register his first victory in open company when successful over 2100m at Te Rapa. The Samantha Logan-trained Cape Blanco six-year-old backed up a similar performance in a rating 82 grade 2100m event at the venue a fortnight ago with Saturday’s win promising there is more to come. Handled confidently by three kilogram claiming apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy, who reduced his mounts’ handicap to a luxurious 51.5kgs, Lambrusco settled nicely in behind the speed before being angled into the clear early in the run home. Goindasamy suffered a moments anxiety when he dropped his whip at the 250m however he didn’t panic as he guided Lambrusco home under a hands and heels ride to collar pacemakers Suliman and Athena Baby in the shadows of the post. “I was really nervous when he dropped his stick and my heart just dropped,” Logan said. “Ash rode him beautifully and he is a beautifully balanced rider. “He kept him finding the line and the horse is genuine and fit and was able to run over the top of them. “Ash is a really hard worker who rides work for me every morning so he deserves all the success he is getting.” Logan admitted she had underestimated the ability of Lambrusco who she paid $35,000 for from the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2015 National Yearling Sale. “He’s progressing and I obviously underestimated him, thinking he would be a jumper,” she said. “I’ll have to eat my words now although we’ve always had a high opinion of him but being a Cape Blanco, he has taken awhile to develop. “He’s six now and has just switched on, matured and strengthened up.” Goindasamy was feeling a little sheepish when asked to explain where his whip was after the race. “I think it’s (the whip) somewhere in the straight as when I went to flip it forward the wind blew it back,” he said. “I was a little bit worried but he had no weight so I just went hands and heels and got the job done. “When I started pushing him with rhythm and balance, he was loving it and he was flying. “He has come a long way and I’ve stuck with him as he is going to be a good horse.” In just his second full year of race riding, Goindasamy has made a flying start to the new season with the victory placing him temporarily at the top of the National Jockey’s Premiership with seven wins registered already this month. View the full article

Age of Chivalry scored his first win of the season when proving too strong for his rivals in the Blue Star Print Handicap (1400m). The four-year-old son of He’s Remarkable dictated the pace up front under a controlled ride from Damian Lane before accelerating away to win by 1.3L from fellow New Zealand-bred Rox The Castle. “We were a bit worried before the race, he was a bit fresh around the back when we were saddling him,” co-trainer Mathew Ellerton said. “He had his raceday head on aro... View the full article

Fireworks were expected at Te Rapa on Saturday as several of last season’s equine stars kicked off their new spring campaigns in the Gr.2 US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and it was recent Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) placegetter Endless Drama who delivered with a stunning victory. The Tony Pike-trained eight-year-old had been given a short let-up after returning from his Brisbane exertions with Pike mindful of keeping weight off the giant frame of the Lope de Vega entire. That decisio... View the full article

Matamata mare Polly Grey underlined her affinity for the sand based Te Rapa track when she scored comfortably over 1600m on Saturday. The Azamour five-year-old appeared unfazed by tackling rating 82 company for the first time as she cruised clear of her rivals in the last 100m to register her fourth career victory and third from just five starts at the venue. Rider Michael Coleman had a lapful of horse as he asked his mount for a serious effort at the 200m after she had travelled peaches and cre... View the full article

Under-rated stayer Lambrusco made it three wins in a row when he produced a powerful late sprint to register his first victory in open company when successful over 2100m at Te Rapa. The Samantha Logan-trained Cape Blanco six-year-old backed up a similar performance in a rating 82 grade 2100m event at the venue a fortnight ago with Saturday’s win promising there is more to come. Handled confidently by three kilogram claiming apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy, who reduced his mounts’ handicap to a ... View the full article

Alana Cameron first win Smarter VC. Patience paid off for Alana Cameron when she produced an ice cool steer to notch her the first win of her driving career with Smarter VC at Addington on Friday night. The reinswoman showed poise beyond her 18 years of age to notch win number one in just her ninth career drive behind the 8yr-old trained by her partner, Matt Purvis. Smarter VC produces his best when saved for one late dash and Cameron allowed him to do that by not resisting any temptation to work the pacer in to the clear before the home turn. It was not until the Washington VC gelding rallied hard under Cameron’s urgings and crossed the line in front that the junior driver realised the magnitude of what she had achieved. “It was definitely more special than I thought it would be, I was so relieved after the line,” the junior driver said. Cameron and Purvis work together at the trainer’s Woodend Beach stable. Purvis has been the main supporter of the aspiring reinswoman’s career, so far, and she was able to reward his faith with her impressive drive behind Smarter VC. “He has a really good supporter, which has been absolutely fantastic,” Cameron said. “And it helps that I get to work the horses at home, so I know them a bit better.” Cameron said her lineage meant she was destined to be involved in harness racing. Her Grandfather, Ray Souness, was formerly a trainer and her parents, Paul and Vicki Cameron, have been involved in the sport as breeders and owners. “Mum and Dad bred horses and Grandad trained horses, so I was pretty much bred in to the industry whether I liked it or not.” Cameron said. There have been no complaints from Cameron that she has found herself working in the sport. That is because she feels she has found her calling. “I am loving it, absolutely loving it and I am very lucky to call it a job,” the reinswoman said. Driving her first winner meant Cameron ticked off the goal all young drivers strive to achieve first in their careers. With the talent she has shown already, her next goal could be chased down at short notice. “I have ticked the first goal off, which was to get a winner, which was good.” “Maybe I will aim for five wins for the season.” “I will just try to keep learning and try not to get in to the stipes’ room too many times.” “And just take something good from every drive and move forward from the bad ones.” Cameron has one chance to notch her second career win over the weekend. She drives Paul’s Verdict in a junior drivers event at Oamaru on Sunday. View the full article

Monbet and Marcoola. When it comes to Monbet, Greg Hope is sick of talking to the media. For the best part of three years now, he has done his best to answer regular questions about the recovery and progress of the former Horse of the Year that has suffered setback after setback. It got to the stage that he started to think talking to the press when Monbet was nearing a public return was a bad omen. So often after commenting on an impending return to the trials, the horse would go amiss or suffer a setback. But then, when Monbet was struck down again in March – and this time nearly died – after finally making a race track return, Hope started to wonder whether it was just the racing gods at work. So, this week, after both Monbet and stablemate Enghien returned to the trials at Rangiora, he was finally willing to talk to the press about his stable stars. Monbet, the 2016 New Zealand Horse of the Year and two-time Trotter of the Year, has raced just once since winning the Dominion Handicap in November of 2016. After numerous setbacks – too many to list – he returned back in March, finishing mid-pack on a Sunday at Addington. But the stable’s relief was short-lived. “About a week later he developed an infection in his leg that went right through his body,” Hope told HRNZ. “At one stage we were frightened he was going to die. “We ended up running every antibiotic known to man through him and that eventually got on top of it.” So, it was back to square one – again for Hope and wife/training partner Nina. It’s hard to complain when a horse has won you over $770,000 but you get the impression Hope was at the end of his tether. “One day we’ll be able to write a book about him. We’ll call it ‘The Trials and Tribulations of Monbet,” he quipped. “It will be a best-seller.” Enghien, a former two and three-year-old Trotter of the Year, hasn’t been seen since the Harness Jewels at Cambridge in June of last year. He missed his entire five-year-old season. “He had a little strain on a fetlock so we played it safe, really. “Just to make sure it didn’t end up being a problem long term we played it on the side of caution. “He’s good as gold now after a long, slow build. It’s probably been five months since he came back in to work.” Enghien, in the hands of Ben Hope, won the four-horse trial, getting over the top of In Sequence and Hey Yo in the shadows of the post. Monbet sat last, on his stablemates back, and was allowed to run to the line under his own steam for regular driver, Ricky May. Greg Hope, speaking 24 hours after the trial, was suitably pleased with everything. “Ricky jumped off Monbet and said he felt awesome. “They both pulled up well and I gave them a light jog this morning (Thursday). “They’ll trial again next week and then we’ll have a look at a race for them.” That won’t be easy. “They’re so high in the handicaps, we really need a free for all because I don’t want them chasing off long marks. “Enghien is rated 100 and Monbet is a 127.” Hope said he enquired about getting Monbet’s rating reduced given it was approaching three years since his last win, but that fell on deaf ears. Enghien is the more forward of the two, and with a slightly more palatable rating, he might be the first one seen on race night. “Based on what we’ve felt, Enghien is slightly more forward than Monbet, and their heart rates reflect that, too. “There is nothing like a good run or two under the belt and hopefully we can get those runs before the other good ones hit the track.” Don’t for a second think either horse will have lost their edge, either. “I’ve got no doubt they’re both as good as anything running around at present. “I know they’ve had a long time off the scene and are going to need a race or two to see the best, but it’s still there.” As for driving engagements when they inevitably clash, Hope says May will get the pick of the two and son Ben will drive the other. “We are lucky that we own Monbet ourselves and our partner in Enghien, Richard Dellaca, is very relaxed about it, too.” View the full article

Basilisk. New Zealand-bred five-year-old Basilisk recorded his first win since March last year when successful in the Class 5 Division 1 race over 1400m at the Singapore Turf Club on Friday night. “I rode this horse at his last start and he ran on quite well (fifth to Leo),” jockey Joseph See said. “I galloped him over the week and Leslie (Khoo) put me back on. “I knew he had a chance when he overtook Noh’s (Senari) horse (Born To Win) at the top of the straight. I gave him a tap, I knew he had a second burst and he won well.” Trainer Leslie Khoo was delighted he was the one to have provided See with that liberating first win back returning from a second lengthy one-year ban for a handling charge. “It’s good for Joe. He rode the horse well at his last start and I have put him back on,” said the Singaporean trainer, who was himself a top jockey in the 80s. “I told him to settle him midfield and let him finish off in the straight. The 1400m suited him better than the 1100m of his last run.” A five-year-old by Battle Paint purchased out of Millfield Stud’s 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Select draft, Basilisk was bringing up his second win in 24 starts for prizemoney that has now tipped over the S$120,000 mark for his owner Tan Le En.-STC View the full article

Coming Through. Trainer Desmond Koh had a spring back in his step on Friday night, and a wide smile, of course. A double is always a welcomed result for any trainer, more so when it’s a two-from-two, but the Singaporean handler was hoping the perfect score signalled something more significant – a turnaround in his fortunes. It had not been all beer and skittles for Koh this year. Besides a low win count – only five before August – and a lowly 24th spot on the log, runners had been scarce as well. But with his loyal band of owners, spearheaded by Macau businessman Cheng Ting Kong of Sun Bloodstock Racing Stable, not to mention his Singapore Derby-winning owner Tan Huat Stable of Chase Me (ridden by the great Joao Moreira for his only Singapore Derby win) fame (2012), Koh has regrouped with the injection of new blood into his string. The first pin of his brace, Coming Through in the S$20,000 Open Maiden race over 1100m is one of those new kids on the block, and aptly-named as well. Raced in Tan Huat’s famous yellow colours, the El Hermano four-year-old might have been at his Kranji debut, but putting in a professional turn, he gave the legion of backers who took him at his short odds of $9 no anxious moments as soon as Noh Senari sent him forward. Enjoying a soft lead throughout, Coming Through was off and gone the moment he was stoked up for his run at the top of the straight, going on to score with his head on the chest by three lengths from Golden Kid (Simon Kok Wei Hoong). Star Fiftytwo (John Sundradas) ran third another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.07secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack. Jockey Wong Chin Chuen – who during his apprenticeship days forged a formidable alliance with Koh a couple of years ago – had to flex his muscles a bit more on Koh’s second winner in the S$50,000 Class 4 race over 1100m, but still landed the spoils in style, coming from worse than midfield to gun down Justice Light (Joseph See) by one length. In a reversal of role, given the more awkward alley this time, Lim’s Passion (Benny Woodworth), who won his only race by leading three runs back, steamed home from the rear to run third another 1 ½ lengths away. Northern Sun ($23) clocked the winning time of 1min 5.4secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack. Koh could not remember the last time he led in a double (it was actually not that long ago, Sun Peeker and Sun Princeps, on April 24, 2018), but he was certainly in a punny mood as he toasted to his success at the Champagne Room. “I’ve been ‘chasing and chasing’ that win for so long. It’s about time,” said Koh in a subtle nod to his Derby winner. “It’s been a tough season. Winners have been rare, but I have to thank my owners who have supported me right through, in good times and bad times. “We’ve had to renew our stock. We have around 10 new horses on board and Coming Through is one of them. “He came as a three-and-a-half year old, but I’ve given him all the time he needed to mature. I don’t like to rush my horses. “On his barrier trial form (win with Noh up on July 30), I was expecting a forward run tonight, and he didn’t disappoint. We’ll have to wait and see how he goes at his next starts to have a better idea of his worth. “As for Northern Sun, he’s been knocking on the door. I’ve been grinding more work into him, and he won a nice race tonight.” A six-year-old by deceased stallion Northern Meteor, Northern Sun has now scored two wins and placed eight times from 28 starts for prizemoney fast approaching the $150,000 mark for Mr Cheng. -STC View the full article

New Zealand’s Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA), the body charged with overseeing the restructuring of New Zealand racing has secured a new deal which sees Flutter Entertainment’s Australian market subsidiary Sportsbet launch live streaming of races driving new audience engagements. The partnerships will see Sportsbet host live streams of New Zealand thoroughbred and harness racing fixtures, with further coverage of greyhound racing events, which will broadcast across Sportsbet wagering properties. Supporting the live pictures partnerships, Tabcorp, the long-term broadcast and wagering partner of the New Zealand TAB, will act as the intermediary deliverer of the content. TAB general manager for media and international Andy Kydd said: “The new deal involves Sportsbet taking live vision of all three codes of New Zealand racing, getting our racing in front of a big new audience in the Australian market that we’ve never been in, while bringing in a new revenue source for the industry. “Sportsbet is the largest corporate bookmaker in Australia by a stretch and the second-biggest operator in the market behind Tabcorp. “We are very grateful to Tabcorp for delivering the vision to Sportsbet, their biggest competitor in Australia.” Following a deal between RITA and Betfair, another Flutter-owned brand, it will see Betfair agree to pay product fees to the TAB in return for offering odds on New Zealand racing. As part of wider efforts to revitalise New Zealand racing scene, RITA and NZ Racing management have confirmed that further partnership are being negotiated with Australian stakeholders. -SBC News View the full article

New Zealand-bred five-year-old Basilisk recorded his first win since March last year when successful in the Class 5 Division 1 race over 1400m at the Singapore Turf Club on Friday night.“I rode this horse at his last start and he ran on quite well (fifth to Leo)," jockey Joseph See said."I galloped him over the week and Leslie (Khoo) put me back on. “I knew he had a chance when he overtook Noh’s (Senari) horse (Born To Win) at the top of the straight. I gave him a tap, I knew he had a seco... View the full article

Trainer Desmond Koh had a spring back in his step on Friday night, and a wide smile, of course. A double is always a welcomed result for any trainer, more so when it’s a two-from-two, but the Singaporean handler was hoping the perfect score signalled something more significant – a turnaround in his fortunes. It had not been all beer and skittles for Koh this year. Besides a low win count – only five before August – and a lowly 24th spot on the log, runners had been scarce as well.But wit... View the full article

New Zealand’s Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA), the body charged with overseeing the restructuring of New Zealand racing has secured a new deal which sees Flutter Entertainment’s Australian market subsidiary Sportsbet launch live streaming of races driving new audience engagements.The partnerships will see Sportsbet host live streams of New Zealand thoroughbred and harness racing fixtures, with further coverage of greyhound racing events, which will broadcast across Sportsb... View the full article

Duric, TH Koh, Shafrizal suspended and other findings View the full article

Monstrodamous became the first winner for freshman sire Curlin to Mischief when he won a Golden Gate maiden claiming race Aug. 16 by three lengths. View the full article

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races, capsules and entries. View the full article

In a hearing Friday at Alameda County Superior Court, the judge pushed back until Aug. 30 a decision as to whether Jerry Hollendorfer can once again stable and race his horses at the Pacific Racing Association’s (PRA) Golden Gate Fields facility. “It’s too complex for the judge to make a decision today,” said Darrell Vienna, who represented the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) in the hearing via court call. “That’s probably the best thing–there were probably a couple hundred pages. There’s no chance for her to look at that in the time she had,” Vienna said, adding that the judge’s staff attorney would also be reviewing the documents. Hollendorfer and the CTT filed a 65-page complaint for emergency relief Monday of this week in the Alameda County Superior Court, seeking either a Temporary Restraining Order or a Preliminary Injunction against PRA, which operates The Stronach Group (TSG)-owned Golden Gate Fields. According to Vienna, TSG submitted a roughly 150-page filing Thursday night. TDN has yet to review TSG’s filing. “She [the judge] was concerned about whether the harm that Jerry was sustaining was truly irreparable, and she was concerned about the owners being involved–what was their position,” Vienna said, about the judge’s comments during the roughly 25-minute hearing. “She wanted to know [whether there] was a breach of contract, and we believe there was. And there’s going to be additional briefing, and so, by next Friday, we get to write and submit additional briefs.” In the interim, said Vienna, Hollendorfer will not be able to stable and race his horses at the Bay Area track. “That’s my understanding,” he said. Live racing at Golden Gate Fields resumed Aug. 15. Back in June, Santa Anita management told the trainer to remove his horses from TSG-owned facility, along with some 60 horses from Golden Gate Fields. The action was taken after four Hollendorfer-trained horses were catastrophically injured at Santa Anita during a six-month period, along with two at Golden Gate. The Paulick Report identified the Golden Gate fatalities as occurring in November of last year and January of this year. During this time, Hollendorfer has had no formal regulatory ruling against him. Friday’s ruling follows a flurry of recent actions that hitherto had amounted to a swift reversal of fortunes for the trainer. On Thursday, the DRF reported that the trainer is once again permitted to run horses under his name at New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks. In late June, NYRA appeared to bar Hollendorfer from stabling and racing horses at its facilities, after which, Hollendorfer’s assistant, Don Chatlos, took over training duties in New York for the horses owned by Larry Best. In the article, Patrick McKenna, a NYRA spokesman, is quoted as saying, “Jerry Hollendorfer is a licensed trainer in New York State who is permitted to ship in and enter horses to race at all NYRA tracks including Saratoga Race Course.” Last month, a judge at the Superior Court of San Diego granted the trainer a preliminary injunction against Del Mar, giving him permission to stable and race horses under his name at the Southern California venue, the facility having barred him from doing so prior to the start of the meet. TDN has reached out to TSG for comment and will update the story with any response given. The post Judicial Decision on Hollendorfer and Golden Gate Fields Postponed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In a case of whodunnit, Monmouth-based trainer Aparna Battula has been denied a stay of a suspension issued by the New Jersey Racing Commission after investigators found several hypodermic needles and vials in her tack room July 29. However, Battula, a former jockey who came to the U.S. from India, said a disgruntled employee she had only recently fired planted the needles and vials without her knowledge. She said the employee then called in an anonymous tip to Monmouth Park security and told them to search Battula’s barn. “It was one of my friends that I went to school with and she was working for me and we were having trouble with her over the last month leading up to this,” Battula said. “I had people warning me about her, that she was acting jealous of me, even though I was close to her family and we were friends for a long time.” Battula said that she had a particularly busy day July 28 with two horses entered and the employee “was not being very helpful.” “A week before that I told her that if she didn’t step up, I’d have to let her go,” Battula continued. “She was really mad at me. That Sunday [the 28th], I was in the process of running horses, trying to get my job done, trying to get horses cooled out and she wasn’t being helpful. I told her she had to leave.” Battula said the employee showed up the next morning, the two exchanged words and before the employee left, Battula believes she planted the syringes in the tack room. Battula said she was too busy with her morning work to focus on what the ex-employee had allegedly done. “I have 11 horses in training, I gallop all my horses,” Battula said. “We start early. I was just going about my whole routine. She wasn’t there so everyone else had to do extra work and we were all busy trying to get horses out. I had horses tacked up to go to the track. It never hit me or occurred to me what was going on. She put them in the office. I never thought she would do something so drastic.” Battula said the employee admitted to other workers in her barn that the “disgruntled employee” admitted planting the syringes. Battula’s lawyer, Karen Murphy, identified the ex-employee as Maria Cardone. It is illegal for a trainer to possess needles and regulated or illegal medications on the backstretch. However, in an e-mail sent to the New Jersey Racing Commission, Murphy argued that Battula was not actually in possession of the illegal items because she had no idea they were in her tack room since they were put their by Cardone. “I write FIRST to respectfully demand that you make a correction concerning the attached ruling which inaccurately states that Ms. Battula ‘by her own admission, did possess in her occupied premises on the grounds of Monmouth Park….over 30 hypodermic needles and syringes as well as over 80 vials of injectable substances,'” Murphy wrote. “There was NO such admission. Rather, the testimony established that one of your licensees [Maria Cardone], who refused to appear in person at the administrative hearing, planted two bags in Ms. Battula’s tack room in retaliation for having been fired the day before. As you are aware from that same testimony, at no time did Ms. Battula ‘possess’ any prohibited items on the premises of Monmouth Park.” What also has yet to be determined, and may go a long way toward deciding Battula’s fate, is what was actually in the syringes. In its ruling, the New Jersey Racing Commission wrote that a “number of injectable substances” were sent for analysis. The ruling continued that Battula will have a hearing before Board of Stewards “once the confiscated items have been analyzed and the results reported to the New Jersey Racing Commission…” The Board of Stewards may see the case completely differently if the vials contained something as innocuous as vitamins or legal therapeutic medications versus a more serious class of illegal drugs. It is not known how long it will take before the results of the tests are received by the racing commission. “Nothing that is out there is what it people are making it out to be,” Battula said. “Karen told me they are trying to make an example out of me. They just want to look good. According to them, I’m nothing, so I’m an easy person to throw under the bus.” Battula is 3 for 25 on the year while racing primarily and seven of 75 during her career. The post Jersey-Based Trainer Denied Stay After Syringes Found in Tack Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ANOTHER MIRACLE (c, 2, American Pharoah–Retraceable, by Medaglia d’Oro) took to the turf with aplomb, winning Saratoga’s Skidmore S. in his first try on grass Friday and becoming the second black-type winner for his Triple Crown-winning freshman sire (by Pioneerof the Nile). Battling favored Montauk Daddy (Daddy Long Legs) early, the 5-2 shot was content to sit second as the chalk sped clear, clocking an opening quarter in a sharp :21.82. The bay closed in on Montauk Daddy as the half went up in :44.05 and was forced to go out wide as his betting rival moved out a few paths in mid-stretch. Another Miracle swept past Montauk Daddy in the final sixteenth and charged clear to score in 1:01.61. Proven Strategies (Sky Mesa), co-owned by Len Green, nipped Montauk Daddy for second. Co-bred by Len Green’s DJ Stables, the Greens bought out their partners for $210,000 at Keeneland September. Second to recent GII Saratoga Special winner Green Light Go (Hard Spun) on debut at Belmont July 4, he returned 20 days later to wire an off-the-turf affair at the Spa. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0. O-Len & Jon Green; B-Betz/J Betz/CHNNHK/DJ Stables/Lamantia/Coco/Ram (KY); T-Gary Contessa. The post Another Miracle Becomes Second Stakes Winner for American Pharoah appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Seven of the eight graded stakes to be run Saturday, August 17 take place at either Del Mar or Saratoga Race Course, the lone outlier the Monmouth Oaks (G3) where Jaywalk looms odds-on against four opposing 3-year-old fillies. View the full article

Tax breezed a half-mile in a bullet :47.33 the morning of Aug. 16 in preparation for the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Officials at Fasig-Tipton have announced that a total of 285 predominantly California-bred yearlings have been cataloged for its California Fall Yearlings Sale to be held Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. “Fasig-Tipton is excited to conduct our first yearling sale since we have returned to the California marketplace,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Our inaugural 2-year-old sale at Santa Anita this past June was an excellent launching point, and we look forward to building on that success in the yearling market. There is quality sire power in this catalogue, from both leading sires in California and nationally,” added Browning. The catalog is now available online and will be accessible via the Equineline sales catalog app. Print catalogs will be available by the beginning of next week. The post Fasig-Tipton Catalogs 285 For California Fall Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The GI Runhappy Travers S. took a bit of a hit Thursday with news that Gary and Mary West’s duo of ‘TDN Rising Star’ and Eclipse Award winner Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and last-out GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. hero Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) would be skipping the race. But the ‘Midsummer Derby’ remains a compelling affair and a pair of its likely entrants tuned up Friday at Saratoga. Particularly with those aforementioned defections, Tax (Arch) should be one of the betting selections on the strength of his 3/4-length defeat of Tacitus (Tapit) in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 27. Owned by R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill), Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable, the gelding broke off behind workmate Nan’s Plan (Kantharos), slipped through inside of a galloping horse at the entry to the stretch and skipped home well in hand, covering four furlongs in a bullet :47.33 (1/63) (XBTV video) over the Saratoga main track Friday morning. Irad Ortiz, Jr. was in the irons. “We tucked him in behind a horse and we got some other company in the middle of it and he went to the rail and just went right on about his business. I was really happy,” said trainer Danny Gargan. “Irad said he’s getting stronger and bigger and faster. We’re really happy with how he’s doing. He seems to be blossoming at just the right time. He was bucking and squealing coming off the track. It was a big-time work. He worked in :47[.33], and out three-quarters in 1:12.4. “He looks great after the work,” Gargan continued. “This is the fittest we ever had him. This winter we missed a lot of training due to weather and a few things here and there, but he’s fit now. I don’t know if we can win the Travers, but we’re going to show up and run good.” Claimed for $50,000 out of a victory in his two-turn debut at Keeneland last October, Tax was third in the GII Remsen S., but rebounded to win the GIII Withers S. ahead of a runner-up effort to Tacitus in the GII Wood Memorial S. Never truly factor in the GI Kentucky Derby and fourth in the GI Belmont S., he sat off the pace set by War of Will (War Front) in the Jim Dandy, ran to the front in upper stretch and held sway late from the slow-starting Tacitus. Endorsed Likely For Travers… Godolphin’s Endorsed (Medaglia d’Oro), a strong second to Highest Honors (Tapit) in the restricted Curlin S. July 26, was pronounced a likely starter for the Travers after drilling a half-mile in :48.33 (12/63) over the Spa main track Friday morning (XBTV video). “He worked really well and has been doing great since the Curlin and at this time are pointing to the Travers as long as he jogs up well tomorrow,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. The conditioner admitted that Thursday’s developments helped put some wind in his sails. “We were looking at it strongly, but it helps to know that two of the [potential] favorites aren’t running. We’re doing very well and excited about the prospects,” McLaughlin said. Joel Rosario, who guided Endorsed to his first-level allowance victory at Belmont June 23, has the call for the Travers. Mind Control Hoping Lightning Strikes Twice… Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stable’s Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) is set to return to the site of his finest career moment when he contests the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. on the Travers undercard Aug. 24. Victorious in the GI Hopeful S. last summer, the bay earned Kentucky Derby points when landing the Jan. 1 Jerome S. and when a game runner-up in the GIII Gotham S., both going Aqueduct’s one-turn mile. Foregoing the Triple Crown races, Mind Control has since raced exclusively at seven furlongs, winning the GIII Bay Shore S. Apr. 6, finishing a troubled eighth to Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) in the GI Woody Stephens S. June 8 and a neck third when hampered in Laurel’s Concern S. July 14. “The last two starts have been disastrous,” trainer Greg Sacco admitted. “In the Woody Stephens, he stumbled to his face and then he got bumped at the quarter pole. The last trip wasn’t much better at Laurel. He was blocked the whole stretch it seemed. The main thing is, he came out of those races well. You don’t always have the racing luck, which you need, hopefully we’ll have some racing luck in the Allen Jerkens.” Mind Control, who ships to Saratoga Aug. 21, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at his Monmouth base Aug. 10 and is scheduled to breeze back Saturday. The post Spa Notebook: Tax, Endorsed Breeze Towards ‘Midsummer Derby’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year Stormy Liberal used a pair of narrow wins on the five-furlong course at Del Mar, including a score in the Green Flash Handicap, as foundation to a four-race win streak that ended with a second straight Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint triumph. View the full article

The Great Day, runner-up in the Arlington Handicap (G3T) last out, will make a third attempt to break through in a stakes in the United States Aug. 17 in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T). View the full article