Wandering Eyes

Rodd back in winner’s circle with Fireworks View the full article

Late gap sees Koonta rush home in nick of time View the full article

Clements excited with Real Success after brave win View the full article

WS Chan suspended four days View the full article

Horses' test results August 10 View the full article

Mr Malek lives up to promise with smashing win View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings August 11 View the full article

Horses' body weights August 11 View the full article

Early scratchings August 11 View the full article

Chad Brown pulled off a major hat track at Arlington International Racecourse Aug. 10 when the country's leading turf horse Bricks and Mortar swept to his sixth consecutive victory in the Arlington Million XXXVII (G1T). View the full article

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Bricks and Mortar (h, 5, Giant’s Causeway-Beyond the Waves, by Ocean Crest) continued his domination of the turf division, surging late to victory in the GI Arlington Million and giving trainer Chad Brown a hat trick of Grade I wins in Chicago Saturday. The 5-year-old, the 1-2 favorite, settled well back in the field as Bandua (The Factor) set all the pace. Trapped behind a wall of horses at the top of the lane, Bricks and Mortar found a seam to run through, shadowing the rally of Irish invader Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was first to overtake the pacesetter. But Bricks and Mortar was unleashing a devastating late kick to earn his fourth Grade I win of the year by 3/4 lengths. Magic Wand was second and Bandua was third. Lifetime Record: 12-10-0-2, $4,903,650. O-Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence. B-George Strawbridge Jr (Ky). T-Chad Brown. The post Bricks and Mortar Gives Brown the Arlington Hat Trick in Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Valid Point stepped from allowance company to the sport's top level Aug. 10, and remained undefeated with an impressive victory in the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1T) at Arlington International Racecourse. View the full article

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Mike Ryan’s Valid Point (c, 3, Scat Daddy-Goldbud, by Buddha) gave trainer Chad Brown his second Grade I win on the card with a late-charging score in the GI Secretariat S. at Arlington Saturday. The 5-2 shot settled well off the pace as The Last Zip (City Zip) and Crafty Daddy (Scat Daddy) battled on the front end. Valid Point was tipped out to the center of the course at the top of the lane and rallied stoutly to win going away by one length. Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy) was second and The Last Zip held for third. Valid Point, sidelined by injury as a 2-year-old, debuted a winner at Gulfstream Park in February and was making his stakes debut off a June 7 optional claimer at Belmont Park. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $376,400. O-e Five Racing and Michael Ryan. B-Westwind Farms (Ky). T- Chad Brown. The post Valid Point Makes a Statement in Secretariat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Brant’s reigning Eclipse Award-winning turf distaffer Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), sent off the prohibitive 2-5 chalk, made history Saturday at Arlington Park, becoming the first in the 30-year history of the GI Beverly D. S. to record multiple victories while easily establishing a new mark for 9 1/2 furlongs over a very firm turf course. It was the fifth consecutive win in the race for trainer Chad Brown–one of which came via DQ–and his sixth overall dating back to 2011 when Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) gave him his first. With stablemate and last year’s third placegetter Thais (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) signed on as her pacemaker, Sistercharlie had only top European 3-year-old filly Fleeting (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) behind as Thais opened up a sizable advantage, covering the opening quarter-mile in :22.76 and the half in an unsustainable :46.23. Thais carried that long lead into the far turn after six panels in 1:09.66, but in the meantime, John Velazquez had slipped Sistercharlie a bit of rein and they improved three wide into third on the swing for home. Shaken up only hands and heels as she quickly found top gear approaching the final furlong, Sistercharlie swooshed past her spent rabbit soon after and quickened clear. Awesometank (GB) (Intense Focus) raced closest to the runaway leader for the bulk of the race and could offer no resistance to Sistercharlie, but held for a valuble Grade I placing. Competitionofideas (Speightstown), inside the eventual winner, down the backstretch, followed her move into the stretch, but could do no better than third. Fleeting, runner-up to Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. and in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks, came with a late rally from the tail to be fourth. A Group 3 winner and second in the G1 G1 Prix de Diane in 2017 while under the care of Henri-Alex Pantall, Sistercharlie was a four-time Grade I winner in 2018, following her half-length defeat of stablemate Fourstar Crook (Freud) in this event with a tough neck decision over Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Allowed to train on into a 5-year-old season, Sistercharlie prepped for this title defense with a 1 3/4-length defeat of ‘TDN Rising Star’ and fellow Brown trainee Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in the GI Diana S. at Saratoga July 13. Pedigree Notes: One of four top-level winners–two each in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere–and one of two Beverly D. winners (Euro Charline {GB}) for her sire (by Danetime {Ire}), Sistercharlie is a half-sister to Sottsass, winner for Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm of this year’s G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Starlet’s Sister, a full-sister to French Group 3 winner Leo’s Starlet, is also a half-sister to SW & GI/G1SP Anabaa’s Creation (Ire) (Anabaa), dam of SW Create a Dream (Oasis Dream {GB}). Sistercharlie is a half-sister to the 2-year-old colt Radiant Child (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), purchased by Brant for €400,000 out of the 2018 Arqana August Yearling Sale, a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus) that is cataloged as lot 21 at Arqana next week and a filly foal by Dubawi (Ire). The post Twin Beverly D. Wins for Sistercharlie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After already accomplishing a repeat victory in the Diana Stakes (G1T) this year, Sistercharlie made history Aug. 10 at Arlington International Racecourse as the first two-time winner of the $600,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1T). View the full article

Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stable's Got Stormy beat the boys Aug. 10 in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, and did so in remarkable fashion. View the full article

Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stables’s Got Stormy (f, 4, Get Stormy-Super Phoebe, by Malabar Gold), who trainer Mark Casse called his next Tepin, strode clear to a course-record setting victory over the boys in the GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga Saturday. Coming back on just a week’s rest after winning the Aug. 3 De La Rose S., the chestnut filly settled off the pace as longshot Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) opened a clear lead through rapid splits of :22.66 and :44.61. As the pacesetter began to falter, Got Stormy was finding her best stride, gliding to the lead and pulling away to a three-length victory. She completed the mile in 1:32 flat to become the first female winner of the Fourstardave. Raging Bull (Dark Angel {Ire}) was second and favored Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) was third. Lifetime Record: 15-7-1-3, $785,078. O-Gary Barber & Southern Equine Stables. B-Mt Joy Stable, Pope and Marc McLean, et al. T-Mark Casse. The post Got Stormy Reigns in Fourstardave appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the marquee race of the meet, the $1-million GI TVG Pacific Classic just seven days down the road, a number of hopefuls for the 10-furlong feature got in their final serious works at Del Mar Saturday morning. Trainer John Sadler could send out as many as three runners in the Pacific Classic, including Campaign (Curlin), who will actually be cutting back in distance after annexing the GIII Cougar II H. over 12 furlongs July 24. With jockey Rafael Bejarano in the irons, Campaign was given 1:04 flat for five furlongs before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.80. Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro), a latest second as the favorite in the restricted Wickerr H. at a mile on turf July 21, covered six furlongs in 1:13.40. “An impressive work, [leading jockey Flavien] Prat was very happy with him,” Sadler said of the Higher Power exercise. “Campaign went a little slower but he finished up well and Bejarano was happy with him.” Hronis Racing’s Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) made it two wins from as many starts when taking out the GII San Diego H. at a mile and a sixteenth July 20 and went five furlongs in 1:00 flat in splits of :24.40, :35.40 and :47.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 flat. Connections could yet bypass the Classic in favor of a title defense in the seven-furlong GII Pat O’Brien S., a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. “Catalina Cruiser went really well and I’ll come out with what my plan is for him maybe tomorrow,” Sadler said. Pavel (Creative Cause), runner-up to the Sadler-trained Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in last year’s Classic, went a half-mile in :49.40 Saturday morning. Mario Gutierrez has the call on the well-traveld 5-year-old, a latest third to Preservationist (Arch), in the GII Suburban S. at Belmont July 6. “He galloped out with great energy and we’re very happy with him,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. Draft Pick, a son of 2003 Classic winner Candy Ride (Arg) and exiting a third to Catalina Cruiser in the San Diego, galloped five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.60 for trainer Peter Eurton. The post Del Mar Diary: Several Tune Up for Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GREEN LIGHT GO (c, 2, Hard Spun–Light Green, by Pleasantly Perfect), backed down to 3-2 favoritism off a 3 1/4-length debut score downstate July 4 that earned him a field’s best 84 Beyer Speed Figure, proved best of a promising group in Saturday’s GII Saratoga Special S. as he drew off emphatically by some five lengths. Racing without Lasix, the Stronach homebred was away second last and moved up to sit in fifth early as a hot pace developed. Saving all the ground tucked just behind the speed through :21.71 and :44.16 splits, he swung out heading for home and wore down pacesetter Tuggle (Point of Entry) before being geared down late and stopping the clock in 1:15.68. Second choice Noose (More Than Ready) rallied from far back to take place honors from Tuggle. Green Light Go had been further flattered when the runner-up from his unveiling, Another Miracle (American Pharoah), came back to score here July 24. He prepped for this with a pair of bullets at the Spa, including a :46 1/5 (1/26) move over the main track Aug. 6. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Stronach Stable. B-Adena Springs (Ky). T-James A Jerkens. The post Hard Spun Colt Impresses in Saratoga Special appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zayat Stables’ Gozilla (c, 2, Flatter-Atlantic Dream, by Stormy Atlantic), the 3-5 favorite, skipped clear down the lane to score a front-running debut victory and earn the ‘TDN Rising Star’ tag. The chestnut colt hopped at the break, but recovered quickly to take the lead and cut out fractions of :22.46, :45.55 and :57.38 and sailed clear in the final furlong to score by six lengths, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.59. Ox Bridge (Oxbow) was second and Sprawl (City Zip) was third. Gozilla was a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase and RNA’d for $395,000 at this year’s OBS April sale. Atlantic Dream is a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Icy Atlantic. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $54,000. O-Zayat Stables. B-Wildwood Farm & Indian Creek (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. The post Flatter Colt Storms to Rising Star Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Norman Weisbord, father of former TDN publisher Barry Weisbord and well-known to the racing industry through his role in the Matchmaker Breeders Exchange, died Saturday morning at his home in Tom’s River. He was 95. Norm and Gladys (Gottlieb) Weisbord were married for 70 years. Born in Philadelphia June 11, 1924, he was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific theater, and followed his own father into the printing and stationery business after the war. For the bulk of his professional career, he ran the Plymouth Incorporated stationery business, which made and sold stationery for retail sale. He expanded the business into school supplies, and subsequently acquired the license to print school supplies for the Peanuts products. “My dad made stationery and school supplies running a business my grandfather started,” Barry Weisbord recalled. “I spent some time working there. After working on the racetrack one semester, Al Goldberg and I headed to Aqueduct to get jobs and learn. My father gave his blessing to us and informed Mr. Kelley we were `worth his attention.’ Dad knew nothing about the racetrack but ended up supporting us by visiting and coming racing often, and even owning some horses with his friends. We always felt his full support.” Years later, after he sold his business, he and Gladys spent time in Kentucky helping their son run Matchmaker. “We were young,” said Barry Weisbord, “and we needed some business acumen. He and my mom were only too happy to come and help.” “He got involved, and very happily,” said Gladys. “He loved meeting all of the new people in a new industry. What he brought was the ability to run a business, and run an office.” The couple had lived most of their lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, but when the American Championship Racing Series started in 1991, they relocated to New Jersey, again so that Norm could help out. In the early days of the TDN, he would often be found standing in front of the row of fax machines early in the morning making sure that people who hadn’t received a fax the night before got their “resend” in the morning. Weisbord became very involved in his Greenbriar Woodlands community in Tom’s River, and was elected as president of the men’s club and the camera club, and was very well known and respected in the community for his fairness and levelheadedness. Weisbord is survived by his son, Barry, daughter Ellen, wife Gladys and five grandchildren, including Brad Weisbord of BSW Bloodstock and Elite Sales, and one great-grandchild. He is predeceased by two days by his daughter Harriet, who passed away Thursday. The family will hold a graveside service Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Memorial Park, 2701 Old Lincoln Highway in Trevose, PA. The post Norm Weisbord Passes at 95 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features the debut of filly from the same family as Showcasing (GB). 2.00 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f (AWT) FEMINA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuts for the Wertheimers and Carlos Laffon-Parias and is the latest progeny out of the G2 Prix de Malleret winner and G1 Prix de l’Opera third Legerete (Rahy) whose best so far is the multiple group-placed Pilote (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). In opposition is Khalid Abdullah’s Silver Palm (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), a Henri-Francois Devin trainee whose dam is a full-sister to the prominent sire Showcasing (GB). The post Observations: Aug. 11, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-Sar, $90k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:42 p.m. ET MUNDAYE CALL (Into Mischief) was acquired by Larry Best’s OXO Equine for $950,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale. The blue-blooded filly hails from a deep family of Grade I winners, including the GI Belmont S.-winning siblings Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy). The Don Chatlos pupil recorded a 1.00 3/5 (1/24) bullet drill out of the gate here at the Spa Aug. 4 (Click for XBTV Video) in preparation for her debut. Harlem Heights (Bernardini) will attempt to follow in the hoofprints of her highly esteemed siblings when she takes her place in the starting gate just to the inside of Mundaye Call. The Phipps colorbearer is a half-sister to multiple Grade I-winning turf star and sire Point of Entry (Dynaformer) and the ill-fated Grade I victress Pine Island (Arch). Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the bay has been breezing consistently over this surface, including a July 21 half-mile out the gate in company in :49 flat (32/101) (Click for XBTV Video). Trainer Bill Mott sends out Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s homebred Plea (Lea) in this field of 10. The bay is out of the outstanding broodmare Praise (Mr. Prospector), the dam of prominent stallions Congrats (A.P. Indy) and Flatter (A.P. Indy). Praise is a half-sister to Grade I victor Eastern Echo (Damascus). Recent July 27 GII Jim Dandy S. winner Tax (Arch) and July 13 Grade II Delaware H. heroine Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) spring from this illustrious family as well. TJCIS PPs 4th-Dmr, $61k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 6:30 p.m. ET A highly touted group of juvenile fillies will line up for the fourth event on Sunday’s Del Mar card. The impeccably bred AMERICA’S SURPRISE (American Pharoah) was snatched up by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for just $325,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Sale. She boasts the same trainer/rider connections of Jerry Hollendorfer and Mike Smith as her half-sister Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro), a dual Eclipse Award Champion and nine-time Grade I winner. Songbird was undefeated as a juvenile, capturing three consecutive races before capping her 2-year-old season with a tour-de-force victory in the 2015 GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. Inspiressa (The Big Beast) turned heads after a :20 4/5 quarter-mile breeze at this year’s OBS March sale and became the most expensive filly at the sale after fetching $850,000 from West Point Thoroughbreds and Anthony B. Sandbrook. The imposing filly has turned in several sharp workouts for trainer John Sadler over this track, including a bullet :35 1/5 (1/27) three-eighths out the gate July 18. Her dam Lucky Trip has produced an outstanding seven winners from seven runners to race. Breaking from the outside of Inspiressa is the Richard Mandella trained-Superstition (Ghostzapper). An $850,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale, the dark bay is a full-sister to Grade III victress Gloryzapper and a half to graded stakes performer Banree (Macho Uno). She blitzed three-eighths out the gate in :36 1/5 (1/16) July 29 at this oval. TJCIS PPs The post August 11 Insights: Blue-Blooded Juvenile Fillies Debut at Del Mar, Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Tumbling Sky (c, 2, Competitive Edge-Tareks Dream, by Distorted Humor), a $200,000 FTMMAY juvenile purchase, attended a quick pace and had enough left late to graduate on debut Saturday at Saratoga. The 2-1 shot sat just off Irish Front (Summer Front) zipped through fractions of :21.84 and :44.94. Tumbling Sky took charge at the top of lane and, while Bellavia (Honor Code) gave chase late, he held on well to win by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.86. Famished (Uncle Mo) closed for third. Favored Kittansett (American Pharoah) stalked in fourth while racing along the rail, before tiring down the lane. Tumbling Sky is the seventh winner, and second of the day, for his freshman sire (by Super Saver). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $54,000. O-Corinne & William Heiligbrodt. B-George E Bates Trustee (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. The post Tumbling Sky Another Winner for Competitive Edge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone will be honored on TVG Pacific Classic day at Del Mar Aug. 17 when she will be presented with the prestigious Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award after taking part in a book signing of “One Sweet Ride,” written by her husband Jay Hovdey about her 2003 season at the seaside oval. That year featured her victory aboard Candy Ride (Arg) in the Classic. Krone, the only woman to have won a Triple Crown race and first woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race, will be joined for the book signing by Candy Ride’s part-owner Jenny Craig and Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally. Also in the gathering will be Hall of Fame riders Mike Smith, Kent Desormeaux, Alex Solis and Victor Espinoza. The Pincay Award goes annually to those who have served the sport “with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction.” The post Krone to Be Double Honored Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article