Wandering Eyes

Gunmetal Gray (c, 3, Exchange Rate–Classofsixtythree, by Include), runner-up to Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI American Pharoah S. last September and a well-beaten fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile most recently, turned in a powerful stretch rally to deliver a career high in the GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita. Off at odds of 7-2, the gray caboosed the field through fractions of :23.46 and :46.95. He began to enter the picture on the turn for home, came widest of all as they straightened and came flying down the center to win by a length. Sueno (Atreides) finished second; Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) was third. Godolphin’s highly regarded ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coliseum (Tapit), a blowout maiden winner at Del Mar Nov. 17, never factored after a slow break. Sales history: $85,000 RNA yrl ’17 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo ’18 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0. O-Hollendorfer, Pear Racing & West Point; B-Lee Pokoik (Ky); T-Jerry Hollendorfer. View the full article

Webster springs big upset at comeback race View the full article

Time Lord lives up to hype second-up View the full article

Wijaya scores for rare Koh-A'Isisuhairi combination View the full article

Evil Roadster keeps ball rolling for Kok View the full article

Horses' body weights January 6 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings January 6 View the full article

Stronach Stables' millionaire homebred Something Awesome breezed Jan. 5 for the first time since arriving in South Florida ahead of his next scheduled assignment, the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Mihos (c, 3, Cairo Prince–Feline Flatline, by Lion Heart), tabbed as a ‘TDN Rising Star’ off a six-furlong maiden breaker at the Big A at second asking Nov. 24, surged late to get the money in Saturday’s Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park. Drawn widest of all in this field of six, the 5-2 chance trailed the group in the early stages. The bay made a four-wide middle move into a :45.42 half-mile, took the overland route on the far turn and kept on coming in the stretch to grind out a neck victory over Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy). Garter and Tie (Brooks ‘n Down) finished third. Heavy favorite Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), last seen finishing second in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 6, was a disappointing fourth. The final time for a mile was 1:37.56. Sales history: $320,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1. O-Centennial Farms; B-Wayne, Gray & Bryan Lyster (Ky); T-James Jerkens. View the full article

Preparations for the Jan. 26 GI Pegasus World Cup continued Saturday with a bevy of stakes horses working across the country. Leading the fray, likely Pegasus favorite and 2018 Horse of the Year finalist Hronis Racing’s Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) covered six furlongs in a bullet 1:13.40 at Santa Anita (VIDEO, Courtesy XBTV). Winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs Nov. 3, the John Sadler trainee recorded the fastest of 18 works at the distance Saturday. “He galloped out (seven furlongs) in (one) :27.41,” said trainer John Sadler, who had assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard for the drill. “He worked really well, just like himself…He went great. I like to think he’s on the same pattern he was before he won the Pacific Classic.” In regards to the next step, Sadler added, “He might work seven furlongs next Saturday, or possibly three quarters in company and gallop out. That will be the biggest work of the series, next Saturday.” Accelerate is scheduled to ship east Jan. 21. Also preparing at Santa Anita, City of Light (Quality Road), who defeated Accelerate in the GII Oaklawn H. last April, went five furlongs for Michael McCarthy in a bullet 1:00, fastest of 102 drills at the distance. The 5-year-old won the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in his latest start Nov. 3. On the East Coast, 2017 GI Florida Derby winner Audible (Into Mischief) completed five furlongs in 1:01.45, ranking fourth of eight horses at Palm Beach Downs yesterday (VIDEO, Courtesy XBTV) .Campaigned by China Horse Club, Head of Plains, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm, the won four of five starts before finishing third in the GI Kentucky Derby last season. The Todd Pletcher pupil most recently finish second in Gulfstream’s GIII Harlan’s Holiday Dec. 15. Also priming for the Pegasus in Southern Florida, multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera (Dialed In), third in the 2018 Pegasus and runner up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, breezed six furlongs in 1:15.20 at Gulfstream Park West. A recent arrival to the Gulfstream Park equine colony, Stronach Stables’ Something Awesome (Awesome Again), accompanied by Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, negotiated a mile in 1:42 over Gulfstream’s main track. Prado will ride in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus (YOUTUBE VIDEO). “I had another horse at the half-mile pole and they finished together,” explained trainer Jose Corrales. “He did it very comfortable. Everything looks good.” It was the first work for Something Awesome since going 1 1/8 miles in 2:01 at his home base of Laurel Park Dec. 15. He shipped to Gulfstream on Christmas Day and has been getting acclimated to his surroundings. “I don’t care about the time; I just care about the horse and how he reacts and how he finishes and how he comes back,” Corrales said. “He’s handled everything very, very good. Everything is good so far.” Something Awesome won five of his first six starts since joining Corrales in the fall of 2017, including victories in the seven-furlong GIII General George S. and GII Charles Town Classic at nine furlongs. While the field for this year’s Pegasus on the main track appears to be locked down, the $7-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational continues to take shape. Corrales was also represented Saturday at Gulfstream with another Stronach homebred, multiple graded placed Unbridled Juan (Unbridled’s Song). The 7-year-old went seven furlongs in 1:04.44, the 40th fastest of 44 moves at the distance Saturday. Winner of his two most recent starts, including Laurel’s Richard W. Small S. Nov. 10, he is under consideration for the, the richest grass race in North America. “He did OK. Everything is good with him,” Corrales said. “I think with the way he’s training, he can compete in that kind of race.” Also targeting the Turf, Accelerate’s John Sadler-trained stablemate dual Grade II winner Catapult (Kitten’s Joy), who ran second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile last out, worked six furlongs in 1:14 Saturday at Santa Anita. The move was the fourth fastest of 18 at the distance Saturday. View the full article

Fancy Dress Party (f, 3, Munnings–The Schvagen, by Matty G), perfect in a pair of previous sloppy track wins, including an optional claimer at Churchill Nov. 24, registered a career-high in Saturday’s Glitter Woman S. at Gulfstream Park. The 4-5 favorite forced the issue from an outside second, gained command on the far turn and wasn’t for catching in the stretch, drawing clear to score by five lengths. Horologist (Gemologist) was second; Brunette Princess (Bodemeister) was third. The final time for six furlongs was 1:11.81. Sales history: $280,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-LNJ Foxwoods; B-Douglas S. Arnold (Ky); T-Ben Colebrook. View the full article

Oh Susanna bested familiar foe Lady in Black, but Legal Eagle fell short of a record-tying win in grade 1 action Jan. 5 at Kenilworth with Breeders' Cup starting spots on the line. View the full article

8th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2f T, 3:39 p.m. ET Todd Pletcher unveils StarLadies Racing’s $700,000 KEESEP buy PROSPERITE (Pioneerof the Nile) in this test. A daughter of MGSP Woodford Belle (Arch), the bay hails from the family of MG1SW Well Armed (Tiznow). Christophe Clement sends out a well-related firster in Mrs. Got Rocks (Lemon Drop Kid). Out of MGSW Akronism (Not For Love), the Robert S. Evans homebred is a half to Grade II winner Have At It (Kitten’s Joy) and the SP dam of MGISW Bellafina (Quality Road) and MSW & MGSP Diamond King (Quality Road). TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

On Jan. 5 at Santa Anita Park, Hall of Fame rider Victor Espinoza was back aboard a horse for the first time since his nearly catastrophic injury at Del Mar over the summer. View the full article

12:40 Plumpton This race looks between the two at the top of the weights and likely to be at the head of the markets. Brandon Castle put in a taking performance when winning on hurdles debut over course and distance last month, battling well to beat an odds-on shot and pulling over twenty lengths clear […] The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Sunday 6th January appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

1st-MEY, AED165,000, Mdn, NH/SH3yo, 1600m, 1:40.81, ft. MOSHAHER (c, 3, Goldencents–Miss Valiant, by Valiant Nature) tossed his hat into the local Classics fray with a dominant debut display. First away, bay colt was outrun and settled fifth for the opening quarter mile, then pulled Pat Dobbs up towards the front to sit three deep on the pace. Given his head leaving the 600-metre marker, Moshaher put pay to front-running Weld Aldar (GB) (Universal {Ire}) in upper stretch and stayed on strongly through the final furlong to defeat Lacienegaboulevard (Shanghai Bobby) by 6 1/4 lengths. “We were very hopeful coming into the race, because his work at home has been exceptional, but you just never know if they will reproduce that,” winning trainer Doug Watson said. “He did not trial, as he arrived a bit late, but we did work him out of the gates and he did everything right. We think he is a nice horse, so it is nice to see him win like that first time out.” The winner, produced by a half-sister to 2001 GI Mother Goose S. winner Fleet Renee (Seattle Slew), is kin to Valtrus (Lemon Drop Kid), SP, $249,329; and Fearsome (Speightstown), SW, $209,973. Sales history: $55,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $87,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $26,958. VIDEO O-H and B; B-Darlene & Jeff Wahman (KY); T-Doug Watson. View the full article

Hall of Fame rider Victor Espinoza was back aboard a horse for the first time Jan. 5 at Santa Anita Park, since his nearly catastrophic injury at Del Mar over the summer. View the full article

Global Campaign (c, 3, Curlin–Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy), a half-brother to MGISW Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro), kicked off his career with a sharp victory at Gulfstream Saturday afternoon. The bay showed no fewer than four bullet moves on the worktab, headed by a five-furlong drill in 1:00 2/5 (1/21) at Palm Meadows Dec. 29 and was off as the even-money favorite. The $250,000 KEESEP yearling broke well and forced the issue from the outside while hard held in second. He gained command under his own restraint on the far turn, kicked for home in complete command while racing on his left lead, and switched over in midstretch to win by a geared-down five lengths. Growth Engine (Tapit) was second. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:24.49. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Sagamore Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (Ky); T-Stanley Hough. View the full article

Do It Again (SAf) Twice Over {GB}) confirmed his G1 Vodacom Durban July victory was no fluke with a win in the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate-a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile–at Kenilworth on Saturday. The 2019 edition of the race had been billed as the race of the year, with dual Horse of the Year Legal Eagle (SAf) (Grey’s Inn) attempting to win the race for the fourth time, thus tying with the record set by Pocket Power in 2010. Out to prevent that dream was Do It Again, Group 1 winner Undercover Agent (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) and star newcomer Rainbow Bridge (SAf) (Ideal World). When all four recently met in the G2 Green Point S., Legal Eagle prevailed by a nose with 0.15 lengths covering the four. Joining the mix was Mike de Kock’s 3-year-old colt Soqrat (Aus) (Hussonnet), winner of the G1 Cape Guineas on Dec. 15 After seeing Rainbow Bridge suffer under the false pace in the Green Point, trainer Eric Sands promptly entered a pacemaker for the Queen’s Plate in the form of the 7-year-old Amazing Strike and as expected, jockey Greg Cheyne bounced the gelding smartly out of the gate and set off at a blistering pace down the 1600m of the summer course. Rainbow Bridge sat comfortably in the pack, just in front of Do It Again and Legal Eagle, while Undercover Agent and Soqrat chased after the hare. Coming into the home straight, Undercover Agent appeared to be going the best and briefly held the lead once Amazing Strike threw in the towel. His lead was however short-lived, as Soqrat stormed up to take charge. Legal Eagle sparked briefly, but it was Do It Again, demonstrating an incredible turn of foot, who flew up to take up the duel with Soqrat. Do It Again was not to be defeated and crossed the line in front with a neck separating the two. Rainbow Bridge finished 2.75 lengths back in third, with Legal Eagle in fourth a further length back. Do It Again now heads for the G1 Sun Met (2000m) on Jan. 6 and according to trainer Justin Snaith, “he will be a hard horse to beat.” Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE-G1, R1,500,000, Kenilworth, 1-5, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:37.29, gd. 1–DO IT AGAIN (SAF), 132, g, 4, by Twice Over (GB) 1st Dam: Sweet Virginia (Saf) (MGSW-SAf), by Casey Tibbs (Ire) 2nd Dam: Millie Bovana (SAf), by Royal Prerogative (GB) 3rd Dam: Modern Millie (SAf), by Oligarchy O-N Jonsson, B Kantor & W J C Mitchell; B-Northfields Stud (SAF); T-Justin Snaith; J-Richard Fourie. R937,500. Lifetime Record: 10 starts, 5 wins, 4 places, R4,285,000. *1/2 to Strongman (Saf) (Stronghold {GB}), SW & GSP-SAf, MGSW-HK; and Vilakazi (Saf) (Visionaire), GSP-SAf. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Soqrat (Aus), 121, c, 3, Epaulette (Aus)–Elzeeza (Aus), by Hussonet. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd (AUS); T-Mike De Kock. R300,000. 3–Rainbow Bridge (SAf), 132, g, 4, Ideal World–Halfway To Heaven (SAf), by Jet Master (SAf). O-Estate Of The Late M C Gerber; B-Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein (SAF); T-Eric Sands. R150,000. Margins: NK, 2 3/4, 1. Odds: 4.50, 5.00, 3.20. Also Ran: Legal Eagle (SAf), Undercover Agent (SAf), Snowdance (SAf), Hat Puntano (Arg), Infamous Fox (Aus), Amazing Strike (SAf). Scratched: Buffalo Bill Cody (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO. View the full article

Off their spectacular seasons, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) victor Accelerate and Triple Crown winner Justify, along with standout filly Monomoy Girl, were announced Jan. 5 as finalists for the 2018 Eclipse Awards' biggest prize: Horse of the Year. View the full article

As horses of racing age continue to attract increasing interest at public auction, a pair of owners will look to capitalize with offerings carrying recent graded stakes updates into the Keeneland January Horses-of-All-Ages Sale next week in Lexington. During Monday’s first session of the four-day sale, Marc Detampel will offer GIII Commonwealth Turf S. third-place finisher Marzo (Medaglia d’Oro) through the Hunter Valley Farm consignment and Stuart Morris will consign recent GIII Mr. Prospector S. third-place finisher Heartwood (Tapit) Tuesday. Marzo Could Pay Dividends for Detampel Marc Detampel, who has been an active player buying at horses-of-racing-age sales in recent years, will be looking to capitalize on a timely investment when he sends graded stakes placed Marzo (Medaglia d’Oro) (hip 397E) through the sales ring as part of the Hunter Valley Farm consignment Monday in Lexington. Marzo is a son of stakes-winner Spring Party (Smart Strike), a half-sister to Grade I winner Emcee (Unbridled’s Song) and to the dam of Constitution (Tapit). A $1-million Keeneland September purchase in 2016, the dark bay made just two starts and was well-beaten in both in the fall of 2017. He went through the sales ring at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July Horses-of-Racing Age-Sale and was purchased by Detampel for $35,000. “I buy a number of horses out of these horses-of-all-ages sales,” Detampel said. “We look for horses that we think we can improve, either by gelding them or by adding blinkers, so they have some potential. In general, we are looking for horses that have only made a few starts. Once they’ve made eight, 10, 12 starts, they kind of are what they are. When they’ve only made a couple, you still don’t know what they can be.” Marzo, gelded after his purchase last July, broke his maiden over the turf at Ellis Park in September in his first start for Detampel. He hinted at more to come with a third-place effort over a yielding Churchill turf in the Nov. 10 GIII Commonwealth Turf S. and a runner-up effort in the off-turf Woodchopper S. at Fair Grounds Dec. 29. “With Marzo we saw a horse who could potentially run on any surface,” Detampel explained. “We thought he had the versatility, which he certainly has. You can enter him on the turf and, if it comes off, you feel fine. Especially when you are racing down in New Orleans in the winter, it’s nice to have those horses who can run on the off track as well.” Of the decision to supplement Marzo to the January sale, Detampel said, “Marzo has exceeded our expectations. We bought him at the right price and now we have a chance to take some money off the table. I certainly buy and sell a lot and my stable turns over quite a bit from year to year–Fergus Galvin from Hunter Valley really is my guy and makes a lot of the buying and selling decisions. We buy a lot out of those sales and we see what those racehorses go for. This is one where we thought we can take a nice profit.” Detampel, a Chicago-based managing director at the consulting firm A&M, first became involved in racing some eight years ago. “My neighbor, John Wade, owns a part of Hunter Valley Farm,” Detampel said. “I was talking to him and I became curious as he was talking about it. I started to go to Lexington and to Hunter Valley with him and he introduced me to Fergus. I became good friends with Fergus and he became a mentor, a guy who guided me in racing, and still does. I just fell in love with it.” Over the years, Detampel’s racing stable, which currently numbers some 20 head, has evolved. “When I started, I was claiming horses,” he said. “I loved the action, I loved to have horses running. And claiming was a quick way to get in the game. You claim a horse, you can run it in two or three weeks. But as I got into it more and was doing more claiming, you also realize half the horses either have a throat issue or a chip in the knee, a chip in the ankle–obviously you don’t get to vet them before you claim them. Even if the horse looks good on form, it’s just a roll of the dice if you’re getting a sound horse with a good throat. So I thought it was time to get out of the heavy claiming. Detampel continued, “At the racing sale, you can vet and you can really look at the horse. So that became a more attractive option.” In the last two years, Detampel has become more active in the yearling market. “If you buy a yearling with a good pedigree, anything is possible,” Detampel said. “In terms of upgrading the quality of your stable, yearlings give you more upside than claiming horses, who have the advantage that you can run them right away and have a lot of action. So it’s been just a shift in philosophy.” In addition to Galvin, Detampel gives plenty of credit to trainers Ben Colebrook, Brad Cox, Eddie Kenneally and Marzo’s conditioner Brendan Walsh. With their guidance, Detampel’s stable tied with perennial leaders Ken and Sarah Ramsey and G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. as top owners at the Keeneland spring meeting last year. In addition to Marzo, the stable was represented in 2018 by multiple stakes placed Siem Riep (Tapit) and graded stakes placed Princess Princess (Discreet Cat). Asked about his involvement beyond the racetrack, Detampel said, “I do pinhook, mainly yearlings to 2-year-olds. I have a Liam’s Map right now with David Scanlon. On the breeding side, Hunter Valley is obviously huge into broodmares and I get involved a little bit with that. I’m involved mainly through buying fillies with really good pedigrees that have residual value as broodmares, buying a yearling or a 2-year-old filly, racing her, and then at some point selling her in foal.” As someone who is active buying racing prospects himself, Detampel thinks Marzo will have plenty of appeal to potential buyers at Keeneland. “I think two things really stand out with Marzo,” Detampel said. “Number one, he can run on any surface. That gives you a lot of flexibility. And number two, he has finished second quite a bit and has all his conditions. So he’s running good numbers, he has his conditions, shows he can compete at the stakes level and has had a couple tough seconds. If I’m looking to buy, I am thinking that’s great. I want to see a horse that has lost by a neck or a length, rather than winning by a neck or a length, because he still has those conditions. Marzo still has his 1X condition, which, looking at his form, you have to feel like he is going to knock off his 1X whenever you want to go for that condition.” Chapman to Test Market with Heartwood When trainer James Chapman purchased Heartwood (Tapit) (hip 795) for $75,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton July Horses-of-Racing-Age Sale, the well-bred gray had a Churchill maiden win to his credit from five trips to the post. Running in the colors of Chapman and Stuart Tsujimoto since then, the now-5-year-old entire is a multiple stakes winner and multiple graded stakes placed. He will go through the Keeneland January sales ring off a runner-up effort in the Nov. 22 GIII Fall Highweight H. and a third-place finish in the Dec. 22 GIII Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream Park. “He was just a really good-looking horse who looked like he had a lot of potential,” Chapman said of Heartwood’s appeal in the summer of 2017. “He always, from when I first got him, showed he was going to be a nice horse. He’s just gotten better and better.” Heartwood, a $500,000 weanling at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale, is a son of multiple stakes winner and graded stakes placed Maple Forest (Forestry). “He is there, but we’re not going to give him away,” Chapman said of Heartwood’s January engagement. “He’s there to see if he brings decent money. If he does, he’ll find a new home. If not, we’ll just keep going on with him.” Chapman will also offer War Ballad (Declaration of War) (hip 603) through the Stuart Morris consignment at Keeneland next week. The 3-year-old filly, who RNA’d for $5,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Turf Yearling Sale, is a two-time winner and a granddaughter of multiple graded stakes winner Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley). “She’s a really nice, well-bred filly who should be a really nice 3-year-old,” Chapman said of the dark bay. “We bought her at a nice price and she’s done well for us, so we’re just moving her on.” Chapman agreed the January sale provided horsemen with a useful opportunity. “Keeneland does a really good job with the sale,” Chapman said. “It’s nice because I do this for a living. So it’s nice to have ways to move money around.” Chapman, who trained two-time G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Caller One (Phone Trick), is now based in Lexington and, while he has 40 horses in training, his operation isn’t limited to racing. “We do everything,” he said. “We do babies–the 2-year-old thing has gotten a little bit dicey–but we buy weanlings to yearlings and run horses. We do whatever, but I try not to breed. When you can go to Keeneland and buy those nice horses for reasonable prices, less than the stud fees, I try to not breed.” The Keeneland January sale will be held Monday through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. View the full article

Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), Triple Crown hero and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) and the exceptional 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) will battle it out for hotly contested and much-debated Horse of the Year honors as the finalists for the 2018 Eclipse Awards in 12 equine and 5 human categories were revealed Saturday morning. Accelerate, whose owner Hronis Racing was among the three finalists in that particular division, won six of his seven outings in 2018, including a wide-trip success in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Justify’s rise to glory in 2018 was nothing short of sensational, going from a February maiden score to become the second Bob Baffert-trainer runner in four years to win the Triple Crown, albeit in the remarkable space of less than four months. But for a somewhat questionable disqualification in the GI Cotillion S., Monomoy Girl would have amassed a perfect record in 2018, with marquee victories in the GI Kentucky Oaks, the GI Acorn S. and GI CCA Oaks ahead of a brave success in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. All three are also well-positioned to be named unanimous champions in their individual divisions. The complete list of Eclipse Award finalists is as follows: Horse of the Year Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) Justify (Scat Daddy) Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) 3-Year-Old Male Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) Justify (Scat Daddy) McKinzie (Street Sense) 3-Year-Old Female Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) 2-Year-Old Male Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) Improbable (City Zip) Knicks Go (Paynter) 2-Year-Old Female Bellafina (Quality Road) Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) Male Sprinter Imperial Hint (Imperialism) Roy H (More Than Ready) Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) Female Sprinter Finley’sluckycharm (Twirling Candy) Marley’s Freedom (Blame) Shamrock Rose (First Dude) Male Turf Horse Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) Female Turf Horse A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) Older Dirt Male Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) City of Light (Quality Road) Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) Older Dirt Female Abel Tasman (Quality Road) Marley’s Freedom (Blame) Unique Bella (Tapit) Steeplechase Jury Duty (Ire) (Well Chosen {GB}) Optimus Prime (Fr) (Deportivo {GB}) Zanjabeel (GB) (Aussie Rules) Breeder Mike Abraham John D Gunther WinStar Farm LLC Owner Peter Brant Hronis Racing LLC Team Justify Apprentice Jockey Reylu Gutierrez Weston Hamilton Edgar Morales Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Jose Ortiz Mike Smith Trainer Steve Asmussen Bob Baffert Chad Brown View the full article

With a group of media members surrounding trainer John Sadler in the Santa Anita Park grandstand at about 6:45 a.m. PT Jan. 5, a white-haired onlooker couldn't help but make his way over to see what was up. View the full article

In the first of a series, Tom Frary looks back at the standout British-trained juveniles of last season and considers who will be most prominent during their key Classic season. I was listening to the BBC World Service the other day and the programme in question was about unpredictability, with an established fund manager explaining how they operated in such a volatile, changing environment. “It’s touchy-feely,” he confided to the reporter and that struck a chord. I think the same synonym can be applied to the torchlight search during this darkened section of the year for the boutique Thoroughbreds of the forthcoming season. Of course, all will point to 2018’s benchmark performer, the chief of the ‘TDN Rising Stars’, Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), as the peak of the pyramid. Rightly so, as this latest and best product of the increasingly remarkable Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) was head and shoulders above his peers throughout a busy two-month period. It is not so much guess-work where this vibrant runner is concerned, as he’s already passed the age-old test of the Dewhurst with honours, over the same strip as the Guineas on ground which was way too fast for him. That was as good a performance in that examination as I’ve seen since Frankel (GB) in 2010, and if he isn’t out of the same kind of category I’ll be amazed. Dar Re Mi is becoming one of those legendary broodmares and it’s as if each mating with the gilt-edged Dubawi is raising the bar. He has everything and I’m sure after he wins the Guineas he’ll stay a mile and a half too. His sister Lah Ti Dar (GB) found the St Leger too sharp in September and Too Darn Hot could even be Triple Crown material, as he is the right type of intelligent racehorse who can adapt quickly and he has plenty in hand on his contemporaries. Aside from 2019’s “good thing”, another ‘TDN Rising Star’ who is sure to make a considerable impact is Shadwell’s Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who just succumbed to fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) in a proper renewal of the Middle Park. Jash is a top-class sprinter in the making and he was simply brilliant at Salisbury the time before the Middle Park. Connections are keen to have a tilt at the seven-furlong Greenham, so the Guineas is on their minds and with the top-class Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and her daughter Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the family it is understandable. However, the Commonwealth Cup seems more his bag and it would be no surprise to see him excel there and reverse 2-year-old form with Ten Sovereigns. Another with speed as his forte is ‘TDN Rising Star’ Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who went to the sidelines soon after upstaging Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. There were shades of Dawn Approach (Ire) in that ‘lone ranger’ performance, but the Juddmonte homebred is from a precocious family and it is a concern to me that both Helleborine (GB) (Observatory) and Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}) failed to build on excellent juvenile performances. Kingman’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Sangarius (GB) looks to have more distance to run to these eyes, hailing from the dynasty of Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and belonging to that unrivalled nursery of Sir Michael Stoute’s. Although he was well beaten in the Dewhurst, some of Freemason Lodge’s great runners of the past were similarly tried without distinction in the leading juvenile contests as much for the education as the bare result. His dynamic debut performance in a novice contest on Newmarket’s July Course was one of my enduring memories of last season and I fully expect him to ultimately prove the second-best horse to emerge from the Dewhurst in time. Godolphin’s epic 2018 season was just the beginning, with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Quorto (Ire) another Dubawi set to hit the heights and carry on the operation’s new wave. His efforts in the Superlative and the Vincent O’Brien National S. mimicked those of his sire’s and the son of the Oaks-placed Volume (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) could be the one to provide the true line to how good Too Darn Hot truly is next term. Charlie Appleby also has two other ‘TDN Rising Star’ sons of that standard-bearer in the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage scorer Al Hilalee (GB), a son of the classy Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) who is open to any amount of improvement, and the impressive Nottingham maiden winner Space Blues (Ire), who is out of the G2 Challenge S. winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre). Saeed bin Suroor also has a golden ticket in Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), who oozes class. At Doncaster on his second start, he performed heroics to beat subsequent ‘TDN Rising Star’ Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and he carried on the momentum when collecting the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day. His trainer has proven he retains all of his guile and ability with the likes of Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) and Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) throughout a recent quiet spell in his initially explosive career, and Royal Marine is a colt who can continue his resurgence. Where the “touchy-feely” stuff comes in concerns the darker types and there is one who excites in the William Haggas-trained colt Skardu (GB) (Shamardal). Sent off at 33-1 for his debut in a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket in September, Abdulla Al Khalifa’s homebred chestnut performed heroics to come from a compromising position and win with authority. He is a son of Diala (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) who interestingly was tried in the 1000 Guineas by this yard off a similar maiden win. The same stable has the filly Rainbow Heart (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), Sunderland Holding’s daughter of the G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Sea of Heartbreak (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) who was an eight-length scorer over the same track and trip in October to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status. Where the fillies were concerned, the Gredleys’ Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) retains pole position among the Brits in a category overwhelmed by the Irish with her scintillating success in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket’s July meeting leaving a burn on the collective memory. The relative of the high-class User Friendly (GB) threatens to stay the Guineas trip well on pedigree and was coming back at the end of the Fillies’ Mile. Despite her defeat in the G3 Princess Margaret S., the Ed Walker-trained Royal Intervention (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) remains a fascinating prospect, with the half-sister to Gorella (Fr) (Grape Tree Road {GB}) having previously excelled in Newmarket’s Listed Empress S. Ralph Beckett has some smart fillies once again and Dancing Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) cut a real dash when off the mark at Doncaster on debut in October, while Roger Charlton has a live prospect in Andrew Rosen’s Fashion’s Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). She took a seven-furlong Newbury conditions event on her sole start, which is often a pointer to bigger things, and as a descendant of the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Next Gina (Ger) (Perugino) could turn out to be a genuine Oaks contender. Our next Winter Warmers installment will reflect on the top juveniles in Ireland in 2018. View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Australian import Furore did not set the world alight with his debut Hong Kong run but it was enough for one prominent trainer to declare him as his pick for this season’s Derby. The high praise was earned after the four-year-old was posted wide for most the 1,400m trip last month against a strong pace and fought on well to finish seventh. Dealt no favours with a wide draw on that occasion, Furore will again have to do it the hard way from barrier 13 when he... View the full article