Wandering Eyes

2nd-Saratoga, $90,000, Msw, 7-27, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.38, ft. LEXINTONIA (f, 3, Malibu Moon–Antonia Autumn {SW & GSP, $215,941}, by Bernstein), armed with a sharp three-furlong bullet breeze from the gate in :36 2/5 over the Oklahoma track July 17, got to the front early Saturday and never looked back, racing home a two-length debut winner. Prompted by Rapido Gatta (Adios Charlie) while reeling off an opening quarter in :22.51, Lexintonia remained in front as 5-2 Quasar (Orb) joined her through a half in :45.73. Narrowly ahead turning for home, the Castleton Lyons hombred left Quasar behind in the stretch as Rapido Gatta re-rallied, but it was too little too late as Lexintonia crossed the wire in front. Quasar held on for third over 5-2 chance Doll Collection (Tapit), who broke poorly and ran on well to finish fourth. Final time for the six furlong event was 1:10.38. The winner’s dam is a half-sister to two-time champion grass horse and champion older horse Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), earner of over $5 million. A debut winner herself going a mile on the Belmont grass for these same connections, Antonia Autumn has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Curlin, a yearling colt by Speightstown and a filly foal by Malibu Moon. She was bred back to More Than Ready. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O/B-Castleton Lyons (KY); T-Christophe Clement. The post Malibu Moon Firster Scores at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wendell Fong, 3-for-3 with a stakes win at six furlongs, will face the question about how much an additional half-furlong matters in the $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Superstar Enable demonstrated astonishing guts and class July 27 to fend off Crystal Ocean, the highest-rated horse on the planet, in an epic edition of the QIPCO King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot. View the full article

There was a head between Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) at the end of Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. in a race that will be talked about for years to come. Sent off the 8-15 favourite, the dual Arc heroine sat eighth early, gave first run to the Stoute stalwart and went a head up two out. That margin stayed the same all the way to the line, with Frankie just waving his whip and not applying it. Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was two lengths away in third. 1–ENABLE (GB), 130, m, 5, by Nathaniel (Ire) 1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler’s Wells 2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) 3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl, by Ile de Bourbon O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £708,875. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, MG1SW-Fr, G1SW-Ire & GISW-US, 13-12-0-1, £9,141,226. *1/2 to Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSP-Fr; and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSP-Eng. The post Enable Wins Epic King George Encounter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The top three finishers in the June 1 GII Santa Maria S. at Santa Anita, led by winner La Force (Ger) (Power {GB}), will face off again Sunday in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar, a “Win and You’re In” event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Runner-up to champion Unique Bella (Tapit) in this event last year, La Force was second in the GI Zenyatta S. in September and off the board in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November. The dark bay kicked off 2019 with a well-beaten second behind Paradise Woods (Union Rags) in the Apr. 27 GII Santa Margarita S. After romping by eight lengths in the Santa Margarita, Paradise Woods completed the exacta last time in the Santa Maria. The dual Grade I victress was winless in three starts in 2018 and was transferred from Richard Mandella to John Shireffs this season. Last in the Santa Monica to kick off this season, she was third in the GI Beholder Mile S. June 2. Santa Maria third-place finisher Just a Smidge (Into Mischief) was sixth in the GII Great Lady M. S. at Los Alamitos July 6. Her last visit to the winner’s circle was in a Feb. 7 allowance and she was off the board in both the Beholder Mile and Santa Margarita. Beholder Mile heroine Secret Spice (Discreet Cat) also returns in this spot off a runner-up effort in the GI La Troienne S. at Churchill Downs May 3. Prior to her top-level triumph, she finished third behind Just a Smidge in the aforementioned Feb. 7 test. Also worth a look at a price is Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), who won the GII Summertime Oaks in her lone start on dirt last summer. Missing by just a neck in both the GII San Clemente S. and GI Del Mar Oaks on turf last term for previous trainer William Morey, she was off the board in the grassy GI Gamely S. May 27 and improved to be second in the GIII Wilshire S. on the Arcadia lawn last time June 22. The post Santa Maria Top Three Rematch in Clement Hirsch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey agent turned lawyer specializing in equine-related issues, Drew Mollica has helped the TDN navigate through the complexities of the Jerry Hollendorfer situation. On Friday, he sat down with the TDN and explained where the case is going, what may happen next and why the granting of preliminary injunction to Hollendorfer, which will allow him to continue racing at Del Mar, was a major victory for the Hall of Famer. TDN: People may not realize that the legal fight may not be over, that a preliminary injunction only opens up a window for Hollendorfer to race until the case is ultimately decided in the courts. What are the next steps and what should people expect? DM: By winning the temporary injunction, the judge had to make three findings. One is irreparable harm. Hollendorfer is being irreparably harmed every day because he can’t race and he cannot get those days back. He was irreparably harmed. He also had to balance the weighing of the equities. Who is it more fair to, Del Mar or Hollendorfer? It is more fair for Hollendorfer to race because Del Mar is less injured by allowing him to do so. The key thing the judge said when issuing the ruling is that Hollendorfer has a likelihood of winning on the merits. The judge said, “You know what, I’m going to give him this injunction.” Injunctions are not easy to get. It’s a high standard in any sort, and not just in racing. It’s a high bar. So, he’s already cleared an Everest-like hurdle. By winning the temporary injunction, he’s far ahead of the game when it comes to ultimately winning the case. At the end of the day, I think it’s a big win. Unless Del Mar really wants to fight, they might fold their tent because what are they going to hang their hat on? The guy has a valid license. Unless there’s something that no one knows that’s so damning and could be used against him…and if there is something so damning, why didn’t the state act against him? TDN: If Del Mar does not fold its tent and fights this, what happens next? DM: I’m not versed in the arbitration clause of the horsemen’s contract. I do believe they have to arbitrate the arbitrary and capricious nature of why Hollendorfer is out and the others are in. Remember, there is a contract in place between the horsemen and Del Mar. I’m not well versed in every aspect of that contract, but I do believe the judge could order them to arbitrate the issue of Hollendorfer’s exclusion. That would take place through the normal course of litigation, which is discovery, exposition. I don’t see Del Mar doing that. If a judge upholds the temporary restraining order, by the time they have the arbitration the meet will be over. The wheels of justice move very slowly. Time is on Hollendorfer’s side. TDN: What about Santa Anita? With this victory, is Hollendorfer any closer to being reinstated there? DM: No one has even litigated or even addressed the Santa Anita issue. Do the California horsemen have the same sort of contract there that they have with Del Mar? I’m not sure. If they do, it’s a very similar case. The issue that we as horse lawyers have is private exclusion of someone with a valid license. They hang their argument around “we are private actors, we can throw you out.” But that is an end around the facts of a person having a valid license. If you have a New Jersey driver’s license, does that mean you can’t drive on certain streets? The case law that is against them is that there is a terrible case in the federal courts called “Crissman vs. Dover Downs.” That decision said, after years of litigation, the appellate court of Delaware said there is no connection or nexus between private racetracks and the government. We as private practitioners hate that decision. That decision is flawed and it allows racetracks to make an end around against someone with a valid license. Racetracks are tied at the hip with states and tied together at every level. TDN: Then doesn’t that decision confirm that racetracks have the right as private property owners to throw out anyone they want? DM: As practitioners we do not believe racetracks are private, that they are an arm of the state. The guy who walks into a restaurant and gets thrown out for a random reason doesn’t have a license to be a restaurant eater. If the state had given him the license to be a restaurant eater, that license cannot be taken away without due process and to do so is arbitrary and capricious. TDN: What case law backs up your point? DM: Barry vs. Barchi. It is the most important case in the history of racing. The United States Supreme Court said not only do you have a license as a trainer, owner, jockey, but you have a property interest in that license. Property interests cannot be taken from you without due process of law. Racetracks have said you may have a property interest but we are private property and we can exclude you. But if you are the only game in town like Del Mar and you can’t run there, your license is useless. You can’t do anything with it. Prior to Barry vs. Barchi, your racing license was thought of as a privilege and they said they’ll throw you out if we want to. When that case was won it changed the way we do business. TDN: It seems like the two cases you mention send conflicting messages. So far, whether or not a racetrack can throw someone out without due process, what is the conventional wisdom among legal circles? DM: It’s been answered in a matter that we believe is ill-conceived. If the state has given you a license and says you are allowed to race and are competent to do so there’s a matter of anti-trust. Our biggest issue, when you allow private actors to say your license is not worth the piece of plastic it is written on, that’s not constitutionally sound because you own an interest in that license and you are owed a hearing. They say they only throw out the bad actors, but that’s not true. They could throw you out because they don’t like your cologne. Lawyers in my field fight this tooth and nail because we do not believe what racetracks have done is constitutional. We are up against it. When [Meadowlands owner] Jeff Gural threw out [trainer] Lou Pena, he based it on Crissman, and we hate Crissman. TDN: If, at the of the day, Hollendorfer prevails, how could this be a game changer? DM: The facts in this case are a little different than they would be in some others because the California trainers have a contract with Del Mar that says they cannot ban a trainer in good standing without a hearing in front of an arbitrator. We in New York, with a very weak horsemen’s association, don’t have such a thing. Our horsemen’s association in New York gives the horsemen no protection. That contract is a game changer for Hollendorfer. We need that here in New York. Between NYTHA and NYRA, there is no protection from keeping this from happening. Remember, NYRA barred him too, and that’s a disgrace. NYRA’s actions against Jerry Hollendorfer should have been attacked by the New York horsemen from the first moment NYRA said what it was doing. TDN: Back to Santa Anita. If The Stronach Group digs its heels in and says he cannot race at Santa Anita or Golden Gate, how much harder will it be for him to be reinstated there versus Del Mar? DM: One step at a time, but if he prevails at Del Mar, he has a big leg up on getting back at Santa Anita. Jerry is such a victim here and it is so patently wrong what they have done to him. His very capable lawyers will deal with this, but their first battle is with Del Mar. A victory here certainly gives them a leg up on a victory there. TDN: What do you make of Del Mar’s argument that they are running a business, Hollendorfer has became a radioactive figure and, God forbid, should one of his horses breakdown during the meet, it would do untold damage to DMTC’s reputation, brand and it would have a negative impact on their business? DM: Jerry has had a bad run of luck and when you couch the question the way you did that is a bad result. But every time a racehorse walks on to the racetrack, every time a jockey accepts a mount, we assume the risk that tragedy can happen. It would be very bad luck if lightning hit that tree again and he had a breakdown at Del Mar, but you have to consider that an act of God. Go for Wand was sound. So was Ruffian. They broke down. It was horrific and terrible. I’m here to say that Jerry Hollendorfer, when he starts running again at Del Mar, will do everything according to Hoyle. Two vets will examine those horses before they go out. That’s an argument about optics. But let’s talk about reality. Do you really think Jerry Hollendorfer would send a horse out there wanting it to get killed? But due process and a person’s life are not about optics. The process here has been thrown out the window because of optics and optics do not carry the day. Does the whole picture of Hollendorfer’s career say horse killer? Of course not. The post Is Hollendorfer on His Way to Being Reinstated? Legal Expert Drew Mollica Has the Answers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saratoga’s GII Amsterdam S. has attracted a competitive field of 12 sophomore colts for Sunday’s renewal, many of whom are exiting Belmont’s GI Woody Stephens S. June 8. While that race’s winner Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) has opted to train right up to the Aug. 24 GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., runner-up Nitrous (Tapit) will line up as one of the favorites Sunday. Tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ at the Spa last year, the gray opened his sophomore account with a win in the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Jan. 27. Fourth in Oaklawn’s Gazebo S. Mar. 23, he won the Bachelor S. in Hot Springs Apr. 27 prior to his effort in the Woody Stephens. “He got a favorable setup in the Woody Stephens and I think Ricardo and Steve have figured out the way he wants to be ridden,” David Fiske, Winchell’s racing and bloodstock manager, told the NYRA notes team. “It looks like he’s a closing sprinter, so he seems to have done well the past three races or so. He just needs some pace in front of him. Typically, that’s not a problem at Saratoga. Hopefully, he can get up on Sunday.” Fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honest Mischief (Into Mischief) did not fare as well in the Woody Stephens, finishing sixth after traveling wide in the lane. Second to Soldado (Verrazano) on debut at Gulfstream Feb. 2, the bay romped by eight lengths next out at Keeneland Apr. 6, earning a 97 Beyer in an effort impressive enough to convince Chad Brown to send him right into Grade I company in the Woody next out. Shancealot (Shanghai Bobby) put his perfect record on the line as he makes his first foray into black-type company Sunday. A debut winner in Hallandale Feb. 16, he resurfaced four months later at Monmouth Park, wiring an optional claimer by 6 1/4 lengths June 23. Mark Casse sends out an intriguing pair in unbeaten Super Comet (Super Saver) and Strike Silver (Violence). Super Comet was named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a good-looking debut score at Churchill Downs June 2 and followed suit with an optional claimer triumph there just 19 days later. A close second in the GIII Sanford S. here last summer, Strike Silver won Keeneland’s Indian Summer S. on the grass last season. He made his first two starts on the lawn this term, including a third in Belmont’s Paradise Creek S. May 25, and was fourth after setting the early pace in the Woody. “I thought his maiden win was really impressive because he got away a little slow,” Casse said of Super Comet. “He was running seven eighths, which is always difficult for a first-time starter, but he kind of had to rush up and he was wide and I figured he might flatten out a little bit and run third or fourth, but he took off which was amazing. I came back and ran him a little quicker than I would like, especially off of that effort, but it aligned well with the Amsterdam, so I already had that race in mind. Hopefully, his biggest race is his next one.” The post Full Field Set for Amsterdam appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of the least experienced in the line-up for Saturday’s G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. at Ascot, Saeed Manana’s Under the Stars (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) had the right material to belie odds of 25-1 and register a first black-type success for her sire who had also caused a shock in these colours in the 2000 Guineas. Anchored in last early by PJ McDonald having missed the break from the stall nearest the stands, the bay who had won with panache after a similarly tardy start on debut over this six-furlong trip at Ripon July 8 was soon comfortably in touch with Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence) too keen in front. Arriving to tackle fellow outsider Aroha (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) inside the last 75 yards, the homebred who failed to make more than 6,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 3 Sale asserted to score by a half length, with Living In the Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) a head away in third. “The best thing about her is her attitude and she probably gets that from her sire,” trainer James Tate said. “She doesn’t do too much at home and doesn’t worry about anything. We didn’t really know what she had under the bonnet, but we got a glimpse there and it’s exciting.” UNDER THE STARS (IRE), f, 2, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Jumeirah Palm Star (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). O-Saeed Manana; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-James Tate; J-P J McDonald. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £32,216. The post First Black-Type Winner For Night of Thunder In the Princess Margaret appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Godolphin's James Cummings has trained more stakes winners than Chris Waller this season but Sydney's premier trainer has come out on top in the final black-type race for the year. The Waller-trained Seaway (NZ) (Ocean Park) has given the stable its fifth win from seven runnings of the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Cummings has ended the season with 61 stakes wins to Waller's 54 with the latter well ahead in the Group One count with 18. While Waller is internationally ... View the full article

The impressive winter form of three-year-old Tavirun has continued at Caulfield, with the gelding taking a distance rise in his stride to claim his third-straight win at the track. After victories over 2000m at his previous two starts, Tavirun stepped up to 2400m for the first time in Saturday's Mypunter.com Handicap and had a jockey change with apprentice Teo Nugent taking over from Nikita Beriman so that he could claim 3kg from the 59.5kg impost. Tavirun ($3.50) enjoyed a nice trail behind the... View the full article

Successful in the first two-year-old race of the season back in September, Cambridge colt Sai Fah proved his durability when he took out the season’s final black-type feature, the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday. The Stephen Marsh-trained galloper had indicated he was in fine fettle for the late- season challenge when successful over 1100m at Te Rapa seven days ago. National Jockey’s premiership leader, Lisa Allpress took over in the saddle from Michael Coleman... View the full article

Trainer Nick Bishara capped off a wonderful 2018/19 racing season with a winning double at Rotorua on Saturday including taking out the day’s feature event, the RSA Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) with Verry Flash. Fresh from taking out the race prior to the feature with promising four-year-old mare Cherry Lane, Bishara was confident he could make it a winning double with Verry Flash who had finished an unlucky third at Te Rapa in his most recent run. Bishara retained his faith in apprentice Rebec... View the full article

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Click on links for full preview. View the full article

For Glen Kozak and his track maintenance crew, it was a perfect storm. View the full article

Capable wet track performer Art Deco put the first win on the board of her current campaign when she out-finished her rivals to take out the Courtesy Ford Handicap (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday. The Allan Sharrock-trained six-year-old had finished in the money in her first four outings this season including a runner-up finish in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) at her last start back in June. Handled capably by apprentice rider Hazel Schofer, Art Deco enjoyed the 3kg weight reduction of her 60... View the full article

Alberta sire Declassify was represented by his first winner July 26 when Dark Cloud Racing's Tucker Time aired by seven lengths in a four-furlong maiden special weight at Marquis Downs. View the full article

For La Force to secure what has proven an elusive grade 1 win in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes July 28 at Del Mar, she'll have to defeat a familiar foe in Paradise Woods and other talented runners. View the full article

Bill Farish couldn't find a nearby piece of wood, so he laughed and then banged his fist lightly against his head in a gesture to ward off the racing gods. View the full article

Bill Farish couldn't find a nearby piece of wood, so he laughed and then banged his fist lightly against his head in a gesture to ward off the racing gods. View the full article

Dual Hong Kong Horse of The Year Beauty Generation was named the Horse of the Year at the Cathay Pacific Group One Awards Dinner, hosted by the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, at Sky City Hamilton on Friday night. The six-year-old son of Road to Rock was undefeated this season, recording a Hong Kong record of eight wins this term, four of those at Group One level. He also set a new all-time prizemoney record of HK$84.7 million (NZ$16.1 million) and earned ... View the full article

The DTRC stewards July 22 slapped trainer Marcus Vitali with a one-year suspension and a $2,500 fine for "interfering with and impeding an investigation." View the full article

HIGHEST HONORS (c, 3, Tapit-Tap Your Feet, by Dixieland Band) may have been the less fancied of the Chad Brown duo, but he was the one still running on in the end to earn his black-type badge in the Curlin S. at Saratoga Friday. Sent off at 4-1 with his unbeaten stablemate Lookin at Bikinis (Lookin at Lucky) favored at even-money, the Farish homebred was reserved at the back of the pack as his barnmate carved out opening splits of :24.23 and :49.36. Given the cue by Jose Ortiz on the backstretch, the gray made rapid progress to draw alongside the leader in tandem with Endorsed () turning for home. Lookin At Bikinis tried to battle back from the rail, but Endorsed and Highest Honors had more momentum as they knocked heads in the four and five paths, respectively. Highest Honors dug deep in the final strides to push clear of his stubborn foe and score by 1 1/2 lengths, making him the 124th black-type winner for his leading sire. Endorsed filled the place spot and Lookin At Bikins hung on for third. A neck second on debut sprinting at Keeneland Apr. 20, Highest Honors earned his diploma by a length next out when stretched to 1 1/16 miles at Belmont June 1. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0. O/B-W.S. Farish (KY); T-Chad Brown. The post Tapit’s Highest Honors Takes the Curlin S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The newest inductees to the Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame are 1950s Sagamore star Social Outcast (Shut Out) and 1970s turf champion Youth (Ack Ack). The selections were made by a committee formed by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) and the Maryland Racing Media Association (MRMA). “Social Outcast and Youth are worthy additions to the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame,” said MRMA president Frank Vespe. “Among the best of their generations, they proved over and over that Maryland-breds can compete with any horse, anywhere.” Considered one of racing’s greatest geldings of the 1950s, Social Outcast was a Alfred G. Vanderbilt/Sagamore Farm homebred who retired as the nation’s second-richest gelding and the richest runner bred in Maryland. Youth was a top French performer who won two North American Grade I races within two weeks to cement his 1976 Eclipse Award as champion turf horse. In addition to the Eclipse, he was also named 1976 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. “It is really nice to recognize these stars of the past. As the MHBA celebrates our 90th year, it is a special time to reflect on all of the great Maryland-bred horses that have romped in our fields and raced at our tracks,” said MHBA’s executive director Cricket Goodall. “Each year the new Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame inductees allow us to reminisce and to daydream.” Both horses will be celebrated during a ceremony on Maryland Pride Day Aug. 17 at Laurel Park. For more information, see www.mdthoroughbredhalloffame.com. The post Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Inducts Social Outcast and Youth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tiz a Slam will attempt to win the $175,000 Nijinsky Stakes (G2T) Sunday at Woodbine for a second straight year. Last season, Tiz a Slam delivered a gate-to-wire victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf test. View the full article