Wandering Eyes

Lonhro Gold goes all the way View the full article

No Fun No Gain shows his serious side View the full article

A Classic and fitting tribute for late owner George Tay View the full article

Finger Lakes Racetrack in upstate New York is again authorized by the state to spend up to $2 million from its casino capital account on a new turf track, according to a budget plan released this week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. View the full article

Anticipating extreme cold, the New York Racing Association has canceled its scheduled holiday racing card at Aqueduct for Monday, Jan. 21. Training at both Belmont and Aqueduct will also be closed Monday. “We made this decision in the best interests of the safety of all participants, and to provide horsemen with ample opportunity to plan the best course of action for their athletes and staff,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. View the full article

Finger Lakes Racetrack in upstate New York is again authorized by the state to spend up to $2 million from its casino capital account on a new turf track, according to a budget plan released this week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. View the full article

Sam-Son firster DESERT RIDE (f, 3, CandyRide {Arg}-Fun in the Desert, by Distorted Humor) produced a stunning turn of foot and sustained a 2 1/2-furlong rally to graduate at first asking Thursday at the Fair Grounds and become the afternoon’s second ‘TDN Rising Star.’ Only fairly away and void of any early speed thereafter, Desert Ride caboosed the field for the opening half-mile beneath Shaun Bridgmohan and raced unhurriedly into the second turn. Pulled out widest of all at the five-sixteenths marker, the bay filly jumped into the bridle and steamed down the center of the turf course to win by a widening margin in the finish. The final time was fractionally faster than that clocked by the 4-year-old Ruffina (Street Cry {Ire}) two races earlier. Desert Ride is the first foal for her dam, herself a debut winner and unplaced in stakes company in her lone subsequent appearance. Fun in the Desert is a daughter of Sam-Son’s Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old filly Eye of the Sphynx (Smart Strike), also the dam of 2009 Queen’s Plate hero and champion 3-year-old Eye of the Leopard (A.P. Indy), MSW & MGSP Hotep (A.P. Indy) and MGSW & GISP Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy). Eye of the Sphynx’s SW half-sister Quiet Cleo (No Louder) was the dam of Sam-Son’s Canadian Horse of the Year Quiet Resolve (Affirmed). Fun in the Desert is represented by the 2-year-old filly Saturday Sun (Sky Mesa) and a yearling full-brother to Desert Ride. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Neil Howard. View the full article

City of Light settled in nicely at Gulfstream Park Jan. 17 on the morning after shipping cross-country from his Southern California base for a scheduled start in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26. View the full article

On a night where four of the seven winners carried Godolphin silks, Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-sister to champion juvenile Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) no less, came from off the pace to win the global powerhouse’s seventh G2 Cape Verdi title at Meydan for trainer Charlie Appleby on Thursday evening. Fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor provided the exacta with Asoof (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). It was the fourth consecutive year the royal blue colours had been carried to victory in the $250,000 1600-metre event and Appleby’s second Cape Verdi, having saddled Certify (Elusive Quality) in 2017. One of three for the Boys in Blue in the featured event of the night, Poetic Charm’s pilot James Doyle wore the blue cap and the 4-year-old filly justified that faith in no uncertain terms. Poetic Charm stayed well covered up in sixth while full of run as Monza (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) led the field down the backstretch. Still showing plenty of zest at the half-way mark, the bay lacked racing room as the septet neared the straight. Monza conceded the advantage to Asoof, who had stalked from second for much of the journey and Poetic Charm burst through a seam to challenge the bin Suroor runner a quarter mile from the line. By the 200-metre mark, Poetic Charm had ground a half-length clear and she stretched away to win by four lengths. Asoof hit the line 1 3/4 lengths in front of Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland), who had rated in midpack and rallied late, while Godolphin’s Victory Wave (Distorted Humor) was another 2 1/2 lengths behind in fourth. “I was a bit short of room for a moment, but once the gap opened, I knew I had the horse underneath me and she picked up in style,” said James Doyle. “She has a lot of speed, this filly, and could win over seven [furlongs/1400m], but the extra furlong and nine furlongs in the [G2] Balanchine should not be a problem.” Added Appleby, “James gave her a peach of a ride in getting her switched off. I was always confident turning in as she was travelling supremely well and has a finishing kick. She put the race to bed nicely. She’s been training a lot better this winter than she was last year. She is a stronger individual and more mature. She’s done that well and I see no reason why she shouldn’t see out the Balanchine as well. That is the only race left over here for the fillies and mares so she’ll have a stab at it. I’m sure she’ll run a pretty big race.” A winner of the Listed Prix de la Couchere at Longchamp on Sept. 5, Poetic Charm would not settle in the Oct. 19 GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. at Keeneland over 1 1/16 miles and ran off the board in her final start prior to her Meydan debut on Thursday. Pedigree Notes… One of 162 black-type winners for her sire and the third group winner for her dam after Teofilo and G3 Derrinstown Stud One Thousand Guineas Trial victress Bean Feasa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Poetic Charm is followed by unraced sophomore colt Just You Wait (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and a yearling half-brother by Dark Angel (Ire). Her second dam is a full-sister to GI Blue Grass S. hero War (Majestic Light) and a half to MGISW Judge Angelucci (Honest Pleasure). Victorian Queen (Victoria Park), the Cape Verdi winner’s third dam, was a two-time Sovereign Award victress as Canadian champion grass horse and older mare in 1975. Speirbhean visited the court of Dubawi once again last spring. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Thursday, Meydan, Dubai CAPE VERDI SPONSORED BY AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS-G2, $250,000, Meydan, 1-17, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:36.46, gd. 1–POETIC CHARM (GB), 126, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Speirbhean (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Danehill 2nd Dam: Saviour, by Majestic Light 3rd Dam: Victorian Queen, by Victoria Park 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. $150,000. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Fr, 10-5-1-0, $244,202. *1/2 to Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ch. 2yo Colt-Eur, Hwt. 2yo Colt-Ire & Eng, G1SW-Ire & Eng, $645,596; and a full to Bean Feasa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Asoof (GB), 126, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Lady’s Purse (GB), by Doyen (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor. $50,000. 3–Furia Cruzada (Chi), 126, m, 7, Newfoundland–Nuestra Machi (Chi), by Hussonet. (180,000gns RNA HRA ’16 TATDEC). O-Avaz Ismoilov; B-Haras Dadinco (CHI); T-Erwan Charpy. $25,000. Margins: 4, 1 3/4, 2HF. Also Ran: Victory Wave, Peri Lina (Tur), Monza (Ire), Mia Tesoro (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart. Video. View the full article

City of Light settled in nicely at Gulfstream Park Jan. 17 on the morning after shipping cross country from his Southern California base for a scheduled start in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26. View the full article

1st-GPX, $43,000, Msw, 3yo, (S), 6f, post time: 11:45 a.m. ET Todd Pletcher saddles firster AMNESTY (Speightstown) for WinStar Farm and China Horse Club. The first foal out of graded stakes winner Brazen Persuasion (Indian Charlie) sold for $650,000 after working a furlong in :10 1/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. TJCIS PPs 7th-SAX, $55,000, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 6:04 p.m. Thor-Bred Stable’s homebred ADARE (Medaglia d’Oro) debuts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Out of Ocean Goddess, the dark bay colt is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Ocean Knight (Curlin) and graded stakes placed Nero (Pioneerof the Nile). Bob Baffert sends out Speedway Stable’s Scalper (Uncle Mo). The $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream purchase (:10 1/5) was sixth as the 6-5 favorite going 6 1/2 furlongs in his Dec. 26 debut. Baffert also saddles the debuting Dessman (Union Rags) for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum. The bay colt, a half to multiple stakes winner Renaisance Frolic (Paynter), was purchased for $750,000 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream (:21 1/5). TJCIS PPs View the full article

Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) was a standout from the beginning, selling for $3 million at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as a half-brother to Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) and Beholder (Henny Hughes). He delivered on the racetrack as well, winning the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf as well as the G2 UAE Derby. He stands his first season at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in 2019, and we caught up with Coolmore’s Robyn Murray to talk about his initial book and how he’s settling in. TDN: Obviously, a big part of the reason why he was a $3-million yearling was his pedigree, but he’s got the physical as well. RM: He’s one that the pedigree doesn’t really need too much of an explanation. He’s by Scat Daddy and a half-brother to the young, hot sire Into Mischief and four-time champion Beholder as well. Hence, it’s an incredibly deep pedigree. He’s also a gorgeous, gorgeous horse. He’s a fantastic mover, with plenty of quality. He really is a fantastic individual. He’s got incredible conformation and plenty of quality leg underneath him. He’s a very scopey individual, and a beautiful, beautiful mover as well. All things that you want to see and the breeders that have been out to see him have absolutely loved him. TDN: How is his initial book coming along? RM: The demand that we’ve had from breeders has been absolutely phenomenal, and to the point where he’s been fully booked now for a little while, so it’s really exciting. TDN: And being a son of Scat Daddy, a horse that you had here, I’m sure that helps with his demand. RM: Yes, absolutely. Of course, Scat Daddy is much missed, not just here but all over the world. Also we have No Nay Never (in Ireland), who was champion first-season sire in Europe. Caravaggio, who has been very popular there, he’s having his first foals this year and they now have Sioux Nation as well. Scat Daddy has been incredibly important for us and for so many people that wanted to breed to him before he passed, so it’s great to have his sons. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Mendelssohn Settles In at Ashford Stud","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/311526456.sd.mp4?s=83fa6359d3ab3ec797e6d7a982515e4b254e1950&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/309965206.sd.mp4?s=6d8e03a79bc2384fde9aad3bdc40a32dd024b555&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} TDN: How does his body of work on the track predispose him to doing well at stud? RM: He was a very versatile horse, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and then going down to Meydan and winning the UAE Derby by 18 1/2 lengths in a phenomenal performance. Then he came over and raced in the States with a second in the Travers, and a third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. So he’s proved himself on turf and then has been magnificent on dirt as well. I think that versatility has really appealed to the breeders. Obviously Scat Daddy was a very versatile sire himself, having the likes of Justify over the classic distances, and then the likes of Caravaggio, No Nay Never and Lady Aurelia. TDN: How has he adapted to life on the farm? RM: He came straight here after the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, so he’s been here about (six) weeks now. He’s settled into life here fantastically. He’s got a beautiful, beautiful temperament. They’ve test-bred him and all has gone well so far. He’s starting to fill out a bit, put a bit of weight on. He’s settled in fantastically. View the full article

The first Racehorse Retraining Symposium was organized by Steuart Pittman in 2009 as a clinic for people and organizations wanting help in transitioning Thoroughbreds from racing to second careers. At the time, Carolyn Karlson was a business school professor and as well as a trustee of the University of Maryland. She also owned her first racehorse, Ave Ravina. Karlson was already thinking about what her post-racing options would be for the mare. She befriended Pittman and his wife Erin, invested in their mission and became a donor, corporate officer and driving force behind what is currently known as the Retired Racehorse Project and the annual Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium. I caught up with Karlson who now lives in Saratoga Springs to talk about the unique concept and its evolution: DP: What is the Thoroughbred Makeover and how many people participate? CK: In 2012, the first Thoroughbred Makeover was held. It featured 26 horses and trainers in ten riding disciplines. In 2018, a record 780 trainers accepted to compete. The deadline to file applications for 2019 was Wednesday so the 2019 numbers are not yet in. All horses start with no post-racing training. The trainers chronicle their progress through social media over the nine months after they have been selected to enter. It culminates in a weekend of competition, education and collaboration. DP: Why did you start with 26 entries at the first Thoroughbred Makeover? CK: It was December 2012 and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting had just taken place. The country was reeling from the tragedy. Twenty six people died. I heard a commentator on television suggest that everyone go out and complete 26 acts of kindness. So, I donated $26,000 to the RRP and said let’s retrain 26 horses. By funding 26 trainers with $1,000 each to participate in a training competition, we created the first Thoroughbred Makeover. We were thrilled that Pimlico agreed to host the inaugural event and we are forever grateful to them. DP: Why did you make the move to the Kentucky Horse Park? CK: The turnout and level of interest was more than we anticipated and more than any racetrack and even most equestrian competition grounds can handle. We moved the Makeover to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. because we wanted to be in a nationally recognized facility for all disciplines. For instance, rather than simulate a cross country course in the track in-field, we needed a real cross-country course as well as the great indoor facility. DP: You must be thrilled with the profound footprint RRP has made in the Thoroughbred world, both on and off the track, since its launch. Where is RRP in its intended trajectory? CK: I love seeing the descriptors “RRP Eligible” or “TBMakeover-Eligible” all over the internet. It is in discussion groups as well as in ads for Thoroughbreds to let people know that the horse fits the criteria for the upcoming Thoroughbred Makeover. They have become recognized terms. Everybody is talking about the Makeover and that has put the Thoroughbred sport-horse in the spotlight like never before. Plus, as a professor of entrepreneurship, I see it as a model for how to grow a business. We grew in a completely organic way and formed strong bonds among the people who make up our ever-growing base. We as the RRP grew up with social media. We are the same age as Instagram. So, we would always instantly embrace every change and development in social media and that has paid off. Right now, we have 160,000 Facebook followers and thousands more on Instagram and Twitter, and those followers are all following our trainers. The strong sense of sharing in the process from start to finish, culminating with everyone meeting at the Makeover is a dynamic that is fueling enthusiasm and increased participation every year. And it is a platform to enhance the service we provide. DP: What has surprised you thus far on the journey with RRP and as a Thoroughbred owner who is so vested in aftercare of Thoroughbreds? CK: It’s fascinating to see not just how RRP has evolved over the past 10 years but also to see how the entire Thoroughbred industry has changed in dealing with the issue. Rescue is not in a word in the RRP lexicon. We have always come from the perspective that Thoroughbreds can stand on their own as a coveted competitor in many disciplines. We exist to empower Thoroughbreds and their natural ability to excel in all disciplines and have value. We want people to see them as capable and desirable not in need of rescue. Now, throughout the entire racing industry, the emphasis is off of rescuing Thoroughbreds and focused on refining aftercare of Thoroughbreds. DP: Are you satisfied with how the racing industry supports RRP and the Makeover? CK: The relationship is evolving and has made great strides recently. RRP’s message is very positive and that is good for the entire Thoroughbred industry. Adding Jen Roytz to the team has been invaluable. Her connections to racing have opened up many new partnerships and we are becoming part of the fabric of the racing industry. We have two new groups of sponsors. They are sales consignors and Thoroughbred owners. The sponsoring consignors are donating a percentage of their sales commissions to the RRP. That recognition of a second career during the earliest transactions of a racehorse’s life feels very positive. It was a turning point for us. Similarly, when Chocolate Martini’s owners donated a percentage of her earnings as she raced, we felt that we had started to make a new impact in the racing industry. We were also thrilled last year to show a video at the Breeders’ Cup, explaining the program and announcing the winners. Finally, we feel it is important to recognize the racing connections of the Makeover horses as well as the breeders and thank them. DP: What adjustments have you made along the way that you didn’t necessarily expect? CK: We are good at introspection. We have evolved as we learned things. For instance, we changed the eligibility criteria because we learned that the horses need more than the initial 100 days with which we started. And, we don’t ask that the trainers pick their category right away. We learned that as you go through the training process, horses may show you that they belong in a different discipline than you were first imagining. DP: Why are the criteria so important? CK: We need parameters to keep the focus on horses transitioning from racing at the time that they leave racing. DP: How do you see the future in terms of your growth potential and relationship to other aftercare organizations? CK: Our mission is different enough that we anticipate staying independent but continuing to collaborate wherever possible and advantageous to the horses. We are not ‘residential’ in any way but we see the need and appreciate the organizations that do specialize in the care of retired horses. Our model has paired well with groups like Canter, Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue, New Vocations and many others on a state level. Every year additional organizations enter horses and we are as thrilled as they are with the positive exposure it brings for their horses and programs. DP: Has the journey over the past 10 years caused you to rethink the ultimate goal? CK: Highlighting that window right after racing has kept the focus on the mission which is helping horses transitioning from the track, increasing their value in second careers and educating people about their worth and ability. So, the result has been exactly what we hoped. Owners and trainers in racing are thinking more often about their horses’ value in a second career and retiring more horses sooner and more sound. DP: Are there changes in store for 2019? CK: In 2019, we are incorporating a college and club team division. We tried it out last year and it was a success, so we are putting a larger focus on it this year. It is a way for the college equestrian teams and equine departments, as well as high school and local riding clubs to work with the Thoroughbred industry and it will open up a new way to attract young people to Thoroughbreds as riding horses, as well as introduce them to Thoroughbred racing. We also are encouraging all college equestrian programs and clubs to set up information booths in the vendor section of the Makeover. It is especially exciting to me because of my involvement in colleges and work on behalf of college students. We are going to continue to pursue new ways to educate the public about the versatility, talent and value of Thoroughbreds. They have the ability to touch everyone. The youngest trainer in last year’s Makeover was 12 and the oldest was 70. Making-over a Thoroughbred is not only a labor of love, it is an entrepreneurial activity and trains people for many other careers. Growing is definitely in the plan and in the future. We will be expanding data collection services of useful information about pedigree and confirmation and how they translate into success in a second career. DP: How can people and organizations support the RRP and Thoroughbred Makeover? CK: Joining the organization is one way. If you join, you receive our great magazine. Donating to the organization or sponsoring a class at the Makeover is another meaningful way to help. We also need volunteers for the Thoroughbred Makeover weekend, which is Oct. 2-5, 2019. For information about the Retired Racehorse Project and the Thoroughbred Makeover, visit: https://www.retiredracehorseproject.org. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network. View the full article

The 3-1 third wagering choice to the Tapit ‘TDN Rising Star’ duo of 6-5 Gun It and 3-2 Cornacchia, the latter’s stablemate OWENDALE (c, 3, Into Mischief–Aspen Light, by Bernardini) traveled best of all into the lane and stayed on well for a one-length defeat of 13-1 Frolic More (More Than Ready) Thursday at Fair Grounds. Able to box-seat the race from third as Gun It went forward from his widest draw to press the pace of 80-1 Felipe (Justin Phillip), Owendale was guided off the inside and into a stalking position from second approaching the half-mile marker. Gun It led clear around the far turn, but Owendale had the move covered and Cornacchia appeared dangerous three deep, but Owendale claimed the chalk with relative ease inside the quarter pole and held sway to take it by 1 1/4 lengths. Gun It was an alibi-free third, with a gap back to Cornacchia, who raced freely in this first two-turn voyage and had little to offer in the final furlong. A maiden winner trying a distance of ground for the first time at Indiana Grand back in September, Owendale was an allowance fourth at Churchill Oct. 28 and was exiting a second-place effort behind GIII Lecomte S. hopeful Tackett (Limehouse) over course and trip Dec. 22. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-1. O-Rupp Racing; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad Cox. View the full article

The 48th Annual Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group, will air live on TVG, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Thursday. Hosted by Jeannine Edwards and highlighted by the announcement of the 2018 Horse of the Year, the Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held Thursday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. ET in the Sport of Kings Theatre at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla. TVG is in more than 45 million homes nationwide and also available via DirecTV Now, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. The Racetrack Television Network (RTN) also will make the Eclipse Awards available across all of its platforms, including Roku. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, January 19, 2019 1st-KYO, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m BASIN STREET (c, 3, Curlin–Judith Basin, by Danzig), bred on the same cross as champion Good Magic, debuted with a course-and-distance fourth last November and improved to be a close runner-up over this trip at Hanshin when last seen Dec. 22 (see below, gate 9). A $72K Keeneland November weanling, $110K KEESEP yearling and $250K OBS March juvenile, the May foal hails from the extended female family of champion A.P. Indy and fellow Classic winner Summer Squall et al. Christophe Lemaire adds to the colt’s appeal. B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY) 2nd-KYO, ¥11,400,000 ($105k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m AVANCE (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Above Heaven, by Mr. Greeley) gets his career started for owner/breeder Dr. Masatake Iida, who acquired the bay’s second dam–2007 GI Alabama S. winner Lady Joanne (Orientate)–for $1.6 million in foal to Tiznow at Fasig-Tipton November back in 2009. Lady Joanne is a daughter of Broodmare of the Year Oatsee (Unbridled), whose other distinguished produce include treble GISW Shackleford (Forestry), MGSWs Baghdaria (Royal Academy) and Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex) and SW & MGSP Stephanoatsee (A.P. Indy). Avance was offered twice at public auction, but was bought back on bids of $145K at FTSAUG in 2017 and at OBS April last spring. B-Dr Masatake Iida (KY) 4th-KYO, ¥11,400,000 ($105k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m FUTURE BASS (JPN) (f, 3, Discreet Cat–Backseat Rhythm, by El Corredor) is the first Japanese-foaled runner for her dam, whose US-bred 4-year-old son Swing Beat (Tapit) is a three-time winner from seven starts in Japan. Backseat Rhythm, who carried the colors of Paul Pompa, Jr. to victory in the 2008 GI Garden City S., is a half-sister to Frankel’s Kiss (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who at €770,000 was the second highest-priced lot at last year’s Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. B-Shadai Farm Sunday, January, 20, 2019 5th-CKO, €11,400,000 ($105k), Newcomers, 3yo, 2000mT MONUMENT KING (c, 3, Creative Cause–Overvalued, by Forest Grove) fetched $500K as a KEESEP yearling in 2017, easily the most expensive yearling from the first few crops of this successful young sire. The February foal is the first produce for his dam, bred by Brereton C. Jones and raced successfully in Western Canada by Canmor Farms, with four black-type victories to her credit at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Overvalued is a half-sister to GSP Our Majesty (Majesticperfection), SW I Spy Wolfie (Chief Three Sox) and SP Montana Banana (Formal Gold). B-Brereton C Jones (KY) WATCH: Basin Street finishes second at Hanshin Dec. 22 View the full article

The New Orleans’ route to the Kentucky Derby kicks off with the GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds Saturday and a competitive field of 14, plus one also-eligible, has been entered for the one-mile-and-70-yard race. Imperial Racing’s Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry), who will break from post 12, is the tepid 9-2 morning-line favorite. The Brendan Walsh trainee graduated going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland Oct. 7 and was closing late when he came up a neck short of Signalman (General Quarters) in the Nov. 24 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. over a sloppy track last time out. “It looks like he’s good enough,” Walsh said of Plus Que Parfait. “He seems to like this track. He’s worked well on it and I believe that the long stretch will suit him. Just like any of them this time of year, he still has a lot of questions to answer, but I think he’s a pretty nice horse. There’s plenty of stamina in his pedigree.” Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Money (Goldencents) broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs Sept. 28 before running a creditable fourth as a 41-1 outsider in the Nov. 2 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last time out. The bay colt will break from post four and is 5-1 in the Lecomte. Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle a pair of Winchell Thoroughbreds homebreds in the Lecomte. Wicked Indeed (Tapit), a 12-1 shot, won on debut at Fair Grounds Nov. 30 and was third behind the reopposing Tackett (Limehouse) over a track-and-trip optional claimer Dec. 22. Tight Ten (Tapit), 8-1 on the morning line, was a debut winner at Churchill June 28. Second in the Aug. 12 GII Saratoga Special and again in the Sept. 15 GIII Iroquois S., the bay colt is coming off a troubled ninth-place effort in the Nov. 2 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. View the full article

Tweenhills Stud has added a trio of intriguing additions to its roster in 2019, and one of those is Australian shuttler Zoustar (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}). The Group 1-winning sprinter has got off to an excellent start Down Under with just a year and a half with runners, with highlights including a trifecta in last year’s G1 Coolmore Stud S., a Magic Millions 2YO Classic victory and juvenile group-race wins by Lean Mean Machine (Aus) and Zousain (Aus). Tweenhills hosted a media day to show off Zoustar on Thursday, and the TDN‘s Alayna Cullen spoke with farm owner/manager David Redvers about the horse. AC: You’ve brought up Zoustar, who is already well proven Down Under, from Australia. Tell us a bit about the horse. DR: We met Zoustar for the first time immediately after he won the Coolmore Stud S. himself, and we were immediately taken by his enormous presence. His physicality, his actions–a truly beautiful horse, he was. We bought into him at that stage with the hope of running him at Royal Ascot; he was a favourite for the [G1] Diamond Jubilee S. Sadly, that didn’t happen. He got a knock when he was in training over here, in the immediate run-up to the race. We took the decision at that stage that we would let him start his career at stud in Australia, and we wouldn’t bring him up to the Northern Hemisphere unless he was a prudent success. We had no idea just what a prudent success he would be. We are extremely fortunate to bring a horse of his caliber here. AC: He started out brilliantly as champion first-season sire in Australia and he’s built on that this year. Can you recap his season so far in Australia? DR: Last year he was champion first-season sire in Australia by a wide margin. I think he broke all records when it came to prize money for a first-season sire. And this year he’s followed on in exactly the same fashion. His horses have trained on spectacularly well. I think it’s pretty fair to say that he’s about A$2-million clear on second-season prize money, and the last time I looked, he was the leading sire of 3-year-olds in Australia as well. So he has gone from strength to strength. He’s had a huge book of mares in Australia, but has turned up here looking fresh and ready to go. [Editor’s Note: as of 1/17, Zoustar is Australia’s leading sire of 3-year-olds for the season with A$3,164,050, with his own damsire Redoute’s Choice in second]. Obviously, the highlight to date has been the historical one-two-three, the trifecta, in the Coolmore Stud S., which has been the stallion-making race in Australia. It’s the race that he won himself, that Northern Meteor won, Encosta de Lago won, so he’s got a fair family tradition, and obviously this year, Sunlight, Zousain, and Lean Mean Machine took up the one-two-three, which as far as we know has never been done before. It’s hugely exciting to be involved with a horse of this incredible ability, and potency as a sire. Already this year with his 2-year-olds, we’re seeing some serious action. Sun City won a Group 3 in late December but unfortunately had to sit out the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, for which he was favourite, because of an infected joint. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Australian Sensation Zoustar New To Tweenhills","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://vimeo.com/311947554","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} AC: What sort of reception has Zoustar been given by European breeders? DR: It’s always very difficult with an Australian horse, and people not getting the opportunity to see him until he gets here. Many people will remember him because we paraded him at the first Goffs London Sale, and they loved him then. Anybody with any sort of Australian slant has booked him months ago, and those that came to see him [in the few days after his arrival] all booked him immediately. So we’re now absolutely brim-full with mares. He’s got a limited book. I think we’ve kept back about five spaces for very special mares. I look forward to showing him to everybody, because they need to see this horse. He’s a genuine breed-shaper. View the full article

Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s Roy H (More Than Ready), who likely cemented a second straight Eclipse championship with his victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs last November, will make his 7-year-old debut in the GII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita Saturday. The Peter Miller trainee opened his 2018 campaign with a win in the six-furlong race before a third-place effort in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Returned stateside, he was second in the July 28 GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar before winning his second straight renewals of the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct. 6 and Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 3. Roy H, 4-5 on the morning line, breaks from post seven in the seven-horse field. Multiple graded stakes winner Kanthaka (Jimmy Creed) has been working strongly as he looks to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since last May. The West Point Thoroughbreds’ colorbearer won the GII San Vicente S. in his third career start last February before a third-place effort in the GII San Felipe S. and a sixth-place finish in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. scuppered any Derby aspirations. He went to the sidelines after winning the May 12 GIII Lazaro Barrera S. and was a troubled eighth while making his return in the Dec. 26 GI Malibu S. last time out. Kanthaka, 4-1 on the morning line, worked a best-of-101 five furlongs Jan. 11 at Santa Anita in 1:00 flat. Hronis Racing’s St. Joe Bay (Saint Anddan), who won the 2017 Palos Verdes, was claimed for $62,500 last May before finishing second in the June 23 GII San Carlos S. and he was fifth after setting the pace in the Bing Crosby. The 7-year-old gelding, 6-1 on the morning line, is coming off a five-furlong allowance tally at Los Alamitos Dec. 14. View the full article

Mrs J. V. Shields and E J M McFadden’s COUNTRY HOUSE (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Quake Lake, by War Chant) completely bombed the start when veering in sharply from gate one, but the chestnut was given a patient ride from the tail thereafter by Javier Castellano and saved his best for last en route to a three-length graduation and ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors. Making his sophomore debut and first appearance since a runner-up effort going a mile over a laboring Aqueduct main track Dec. 1, Country House spotted his rivals the better part of 10 lengths once straightened away and remained out of the frame down the backstretch as 15-1 Ownitifyouwantit (Midshipman) set a modest pace. Called upon while five or six deep on the turn, he continued to make eyecatching progress leaving the quarter pole and finished up full of run and straight and strong for the victory. He covered 40 feet more than the runner-up according to Trakus. Country House is cleverly bred, as second dam Shooting Party (Sky Classic)–raced by the late Shields to a runner-up effort in the 2001 GI Garden City Breeders’ Cup S.–was responsible for Lookin At Lucky’s overachieving son Breaking Lucky, a Grade III winner on synth and three times Grade I-placed on conventional dirt. Country House is the last produce for Quake Lake, who died in 2016. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0. O-Mrs J V Shields & E J M McFadden; B-J V Shields Jr (KY); T-Bill Mott. View the full article

Skyler's Scramjet and Gold for the King, who have each won four times at the Big A, will duke it out against three foes in the Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct Jan. 19. View the full article

In this new series, we ask agents and others who book a lot of mares for their clients which sires might be flying slightly under the radar in this breeding season. Who might be getting overlooked in the rush for the new, hot thing? Read on. Peter Bradley, Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC SKY MESA, Three Chimneys, $15,000 Sky Mesa is a horse I like because he is a sire that can get racehorses on any surface, as a sire of Grade I winners on turf, dirt, and Polytrack, having sired horses such as General Quarters and Sky Diva. He is great value at $15,000. At age 19, he is represented by 65 black type winners and four champions. In the auction ring, he provides breeders with access to a great pedigree with a lot of upside in his sales results. In 2018, his yearling average was just over $43,000, but saw high-end prices of $275,000 and $220,000 during the sale season. He also passes on the precocity he displayed as a racehorse as seen through a colt selling at OBS March in 2018 for $300,000. It is also no surprise that daughters of Sky Mesa have found success in the auction ring and the catalogue page. Hailing from one of the great sire and broodmare sire lines in A.P. Indy, Sky Mesa has seen his broodmares sell for prices up to $2,000,000 in recent years. View the full article

A 2-year-old colt by Merit Man brought top price of $60,000 at Wednesday’s California Thoroughbred Breeders Association January Mixed Sale in Pomona. In all, 81 head sold during the one-session auction for a total of $589,300. The average was $7,275 and the median was $4,000. The buy-back rate was 33.6%. The CTBA hosted the January sale as a transitory auction between the now-defunct Barretts, which ceased operations at the end of 2018, and the upcoming Fasig-Tipton sales. Frank Veiga, as agent for trainer Bob Hess, Jr., made the winning bid on the sale-topping juvenile (hip 110), who was bred by Terry Lovingier and was consigned by his Lovacres Ranch. The dark bay colt is out of multiple stakes placed Seaside (Aldebaran), who was purchased by Lovingier while in foal to Can the Man for $5,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. The mare’s Can the Man colt sold for $30,000 at the 2017 Barretts August Yearling Sale. Hess, who trained Merit Man, also purchased a 2-year-old filly (hip 138) by the 9-year-old stallion for $30,000 from the Lovacres consignment Wednesday. “I haven’t seen them yet,” Hess said of the two juveniles. “I’m down at Gulfstream with horses, so my dad [trainer Bob Hess, Sr.] drove down from Golden Gate. I had him look at all the Merit Mans in the sale. I trained Merit Man and he’s done well with his initial crop, so we were trying to focus on all the Merit Mans. My dad identified the two that we bought as the two best ones in the sale.” Hess continued, “We bought them for a group of clients that my father and I both work with. My dad will get both of them ready up at Golden Gate and then we would hope to debut them sometime in early summer at Santa Anita or Del Mar.” A debut winner at Del Mar as a 2-year-old in 2012, Merit Man won the Tim Conway S. at Santa Anita before being nosed out of the win when second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint. He won the Spectacular Bid S. at Gulfstream in 2013 and was third behind subsequent GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb (Malibu Moon) in the GI Florida Derby. “Merit Man was precocious, he won early,” Hess said of the 9-year-old stallion whose first foals are three. “And then he ran a good third to Orb going 1 1/8 miles in the Florida Derby. A lot of his horses have a great mind and they have his speed, but they also have his laid back attitude. I’m looking forward to getting a few more Merit Mans and luckily we picked up two yesterday.” A large portion of the CTBA January catalogue was made up of 2-year-olds and three of the sale’s top four prices were for juveniles. Hess sees advantages to buying juveniles before the 2-year-olds in training sales season gets underway in March. “I feel like it’s a great buyers market, buying a 2-year-old in January,” he said. “Once they go down the lane in :10 and change, or now :9 and change, then you’ve got to pay through the teeth. I feel like we stole both of these and I’m sure there were a bunch of other great buys because they didn’t get to preview, which I think is better for the horse and better for the buyers. Maybe the seller takes it through the teeth when they sell them early, but there is a lot of risk involved with getting them ready for a 2-year-old sale. So I think it’s a win-win for all parties.” View the full article

David Armstrong has been appointed the new chief executive of the Racecourse Association (RCA) and will take up the role full-time on Mar. 11, the organisation announced on Thursday. Previously, Armstrong served as the Group Chief Executive of Wasps Holdings where he oversaw the club’s transition to becoming the largest rugby club in the world by revenue. Earlier in his career Armstrong served in senior positions with PepsiCo, Compass Group, Diageo and Lonrho, and was also a racehorse owner with William Muir. “I am delighted to welcome David Armstrong as Chief Executive of the RCA and to the sport of horseracing,” said RCA Chairman Maggie Carver. “David brings extensive and valuable experience across the sports and leisure industries as well as a background in finance. I am confident David will be a vital asset in the future development of racecourses as well as the sport as a whole. The full RCA team is looking forward to welcoming him and to working together.” Added Armstrong, who will remain Chairman of Pentathlon GB, Non-executive Director of Wasps Holdings and Advisory Board member at Oakwell Capital, “I am delighted and honoured to be joining the RCA at such an important time in the evolution of the sport. I hope I can bring my varied experiences from across the sporting landscape to bear in developing our racecourses and the sport in general.” View the full article

Thoroughbred owner/breeder and philanthropist Phyllis Mills Wyeth died Monday at the age of 78, according to a statement released by the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art, of which Wyeth was a long-time supporter. Wyeth passed away with her husband and acclaimed painter Jamie Wyeth by her side. Born in New York City to the late James and Alice du Pont Mills and raised in Middleburg, Virginia, Wyeth became involved in racing through her family and achieved her greatest success as the owner/breeder of Union Rags, a fourth-generation homebred and winner of the 2012 GI Belmont S. Devil’s Bag and Gone West rank among the other success stories that were products of the Mills family breeding program. Wyeth majored in political science at Finch College and later attended the Columbia School of Social Work, eventually working for U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy and later in the Kennedy White House. In 1968 she married Jamie Wyeth and the couple took up residence on the Wyeth family’s 240-acre Point Lookout Farm on the Pennsylvania-Delaware border. Away from the racetrack, Wyeth dedicated her time to environmental conservancy in addition to serving as an advocate for the arts and the rights of the disabled. Funeral services will be private. This story will be updated. View the full article