Wandering Eyes

It has had some knockers from time to time down the years, but Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. is too special a race to become an antiquity and Saturday’s renewal stands tall among some of its real epics. With eight Group 1 victories to her name, Juddmonte’s dignitary Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is the most successful in that sphere to take part in this historic prize since the great Brigadier Gerard (GB) in 1972. While she boasts a different overall profile to that legend of the British turf, she shares his capacity to strike fear and a sense of hopelessness into the opposition due to the metronomic regularity of her triumphs in the world’s great encounters. Already the winner of this in 2017, she could arguably be heading for a treble had she been injury-free last term and there do not appear to be any holes. If the forecast thunderstorms arrive as they did before her first success two years ago, the greater the anxiety for those opposed to what seems an inescapable reality. Very few older horses to have participated since the Brigadier could have lived with her, excepting the likes of Montjeu (Ire) and Harbinger (GB), but she has eight pounds to give away to the G1 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and that changes the horizon. She was almost undone by the younger Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in her second G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but the Tsuis’ ill-fated celebrity was a serious talent and John Gosden reported that Enable was not at the peak of her powers at ParisLongchamp in October. “In the Arc, she wasn’t at her best and was just coming and although she won this with the [weight-for-age] allowance and that was a big advantage, the way she won she probably could have done it without it,” he said. “She is a lady of regal age now and we are inclined to listen to what she says. It is a fabulous race with such depth to it. It’s good-to-firm summer ground with a great growth of grass on it and there is the threat of some rain tonight. This is a big tough race and is meant to be the meeting of the two generations. You need it to happen and we’re glad it is. She’s in great form and we’re confident of a big run.” Aidan O’Brien has run several 3-year-olds in the King George, but no Derby winner since Galileo (Ire) in 2001. There is a sense that Anthony Van Dyck remains unexposed, despite the emphatic defeat he suffered at the hands of stablemate Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh four weeks after his blue riband triumph. He has to improve again and Enable has to underperform for him to win, but this stable has proven time and again that anything is possible with continued application. “He is getting weight, but the weight-for-age is there for a reason,” commented Aidan O’Brien, who is understandably not exuding confidence. “I suppose this was always one of the races the lads had pencilled in for him. It was part of the original plan and we didn’t see any reason to change it after The Curragh. He has always been versatile as regards to ground.” Many view ‘TDN Rising Star’ Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as far more likely to cause the upset, but Sir Evelyn de Rothschild’s admirable homebred keeps having to give weight to the mare and it will take an enormous effort to defy a sex allowance of dubious justification in this case. To go one better than 12 months ago, he has to validate the assessment that he has become a better horse than Enable in the World Rankings. In his favour is that he possesses a granite-like temperament and a rare willingness for combat, plus he hails from the Sir Michael Stoute academy which has turned winning monuments of this nature into an art form over the past four decades. Stoute is still two steps ahead of Aidan O’Brien with a record six successes in this and he will have the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’ S. hero finely-tuned for the rematch. James Doyle, who steered Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) past Crystal Ocean in 2018, has the opportunity to make amends. “It’s a big ride to get,” he said. “It was great to win it for Sir Michael Stoute–his record in these races is unbelievable and what a wonderful man he is to ride for. Going through the history of the horses he has trained is phenomenal. He is one of those trainers you get a buzz from when you get a ride for, so winning another King George for him would be fantastic.” “My fellow’s rating is higher, but it’s hard to crib anything Enable has done,” Doyle added. “He looked very good at Ascot and has been good on each start this season, but at Ascot he looked in a rich vein of form and beat a good filly in Magical, who got somewhere in the vicinity of Enable in the Eclipse. It will be interesting.” In any other year, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Hardwicke S. winner Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) would be considered a live contender, while ‘TDN Rising Star’ Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to have been building towards this moment throughout his career. Defoe’s rider Andrea Atzeni was far from overawed at the track on Friday. “He’s flying at home and everyone is very happy with him,” he said. “I’m very hopeful and not worried about anything.” Andre Fabre will be hoping the forecast thunderstorms do not deliver the amount of rain that is forecast, as the impressive Apr. 28 G1 Prix Ganay winner Waldgeist did not fire on the soft when 4 1/2 lengths behind Crystal Ocean in third in the Prince of Wales’s. “I think going back to a mile and a half and the faster ground will help him,” he said. “Will it be enough to win? Probably not, but I’m sure he is going to run a good race.” The 2017 G1 Japan Cup hero Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) is almost a bit player according to the betting, with his performances when third in the Dec. 23 G1 Arima Kinen and second in the Mar. 30 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic some way beneath what will be required here. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi is aware of the task in hand. “There will be no problems with his fitness and Cheval Grand has the stamina and power. He is the best horse I have trained, but Enable is very strong, a machine,” he said. “The King George has a long history and is very famous in the racing world. It would be one of the high points of my career to win this race.” Ascot’s card gets underway with a tantalising clash between TDN Rising Stars Summer Romance (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Ultra Violet (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. Both cut a dash on Newmarket’s July Course, with the former capturing the June 29 Listed Empress Fillies’ S. over this six-furlong trip and the latter winning by eight lengths on her sole start also over the distance on June 28. There was a suggestion that Ultra Violet’s winning margin was in part due to a bias, so the question will be posed here for Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum’s bay. “Our filly is in good form. She wouldn’t blow you away in her work and she did surprise me a bit [on debut],” trainer Ed Vaughan said. “We now know she’s got the ability, she’ll be fitter for the run and the experience should have brought her on, so we’ll see. We’ll know a lot more about where we stand afterwards.” Godolphin’s Summer Romance has the edge over Ultra Violet in terms of experience and trainer Charlie Appleby is hoping his decision to go back to the races so soon is rewarded. “Summer Romance has progressed with each of her runs and was very impressive on her last start,” he said. “She is versatile about the ground, the trip of six furlongs is ideal for her at the moment and stall seven looks good–there are no negatives. She has won on quick ground and slow ground and with the forecast the way it is, we don’t know what conditions we will be encountering, but we are relaxed about it as she has handled both conditions to date. We are hoping to step her up in trip, but she is showing a lot of natural pace so we have no concerns about sticking to six for the moment.” This is far from a two-filly contest, however, with Paul and Clare Rooney’s May 17 Listed Marygate S. winner Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence) returning after a subsequent setback. “Unfortunately she missed Ascot, as she wasn’t right as she had a dirty scope,” the Rooneys’ racing manager Jason Maguire explained. “She is back healthy again and this is her first start after a bit of a break, but we are hoping for a big run. [Trainer] Dave Evans said this is probably the best he has trained and Dave knows what he is doing.” A clutch of promising novice winners include Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum’s July 4 Newbury scorer So Sharp (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) from the Archie Watson stable and Living In the Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who represents the Clipper Logistics-Karl Burke link. He beat the Marygate runner-up Mighty Spirit (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) over five furlongs at Beverley on July 5 and Frankie Dettori has been booked. “She’s a nice filly and she won nicely at Beverley,” Burke said. “Frankie and Ascot seem to go together quite well, that’s the idea.” Scheduled two minutes after the Princess Margaret is the G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing which is the first pattern race of Deauville’s month-long festival. Among the eight protagonists for the seven-furlong contest is Lady Bamford’s Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), an Andre Fabre trainee who scored by 6 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong maiden at Clairefontaine on July 6 and the June 11 Nantes debut winner Eversweet (Fr) (Sommerabend {GB}), who has her first start in the Team Valor silks for the John Hammond stable. The following G3 Prix de Psyche features an interesting German raider in the June 1 Listed Kronimus Diana-Trial winner Preciosa (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), who takes aim at His Highness The Aga Khan’s June 10 Listed Prix Melisande winner and June 30 G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Edisa (Kitten’s Joy). As the afternoon builds towards the King George, the G2 Sky Bet York S. acts as a strong warm-up with the July 6 G1 Eclipse S. third Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) occupying the hot seat. Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director Chris Richardson is hoping that the progressive 4-year-old can continue on the right road. “Obviously we are hoping he’ll behave and won’t be too daunted by the new experience,” he said of the homebred, who has prompted special measures in the preliminaries before his May 23 G3 Brigadier Gerard S. success and the Eclipse at Sandown. “He’s favourite and a hugely talented horse with plenty of character, but in the nicest way possible. “There is no better trainer than Sir Michael and his team to work on a horse like that and this is a nice opportunity, so hopefully he can keep building.” William Haggas is doing his customary prayers for rain for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s June 18 Listed Wolferton S. winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and said, “The more rain they get the better his chance. If they don’t get enough rain then he might not even run, so we’ll see what happens. I’m very happy with him and there is a possibility they’ll get some rain.” Third in the Wolferton, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has since won the Listed Gala S. under a penalty at Sandown on July 5 and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s racing manager Angus Gold is hopeful he can take another step forward. “He ran a very good race at Ascot on ground that would not have suited and appears to have got over a few little immaturity problems that he had,” he commented. “He is going the right way and we hope he can keep it going.” After the main event, Ascot also stages the Listed Wooldridge Group Pat Eddery S. in which Godolphin are represented by another potentially classy juvenile in Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Successful in a seven-furlong Newmarket novice contest on June 29, trainer Charlie Appleby said of the relative of Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), “Al Dabaran pleased us at Newmarket and has come out of the race well, learning plenty. He deserves this step up in class and hopefully his run will determine what type of races to aim at.” Others in the mix include the July 13 G2 Superlative S. third Maxi Boy (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was off the mark by seven lengths at Chelmsford last time on July 5. Click here for the full fields for Saturday’s group stakes action in Europe. The post Enable Seeks Second King George Crown 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

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-SAR, $90,000, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, post time: 1:36 p.m. ET Castleton Lyons’ homebred LEXINTONIA (Malibu Moon) makes her debut for trainer Christophe Clement. The bay filly is the first foal out of graded placed Antonia Autumn (Bernstein), a full-sister to champion Gio Ponti and a half to Grade I placed Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon). Trainer Ralph Nicks sends out Whisper Hill Farm’s Doll Collection (Tapit), a daughter of champion Groupie Doll (Bowman’s Band). The gray filly, who worked three furlongs in :36.89 at Saratoga July 20, will be making her fourth trip to the post and was most recently second going one mile at Churchill June 15. TJCIS PPs 4th-SAR, $90,000, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 2:45 p.m. ET Trainer Bill Mott saddles ACRE (Blame) for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. Out of Greenery (Galileo {Ire}), the homebred juvenile is a half-brother to Grade I winner Lea (First Samurai) and to graded placed Heath (Pulpit). He worked four furlongs in :48.77 (6/13) at Saratoga July 18. The promising Kowalski (Will Take Charge) makes his second trip to the post for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Peter Brant. The bay was a late-closing third in his six-furlong debut at Churchill Downs June 28. TJCIS PPs 7th-SAR, $90,000, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 4:32 p.m. ET HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud was on a major buying spree throughout the juvenile sales this past spring and gets his first starters here with a pair of entrants with trainer Bill Mott. SUL MOON (Malibu Moon) sold for $220,000 after working a quarter in :20 4/5 at OBS March and main-track-only entrant Ghost of the Mambo (Ghostzapper) was purchased for $300,000 after working a quarter in :21 3/5 at that same sale. The two juveniles worked four furlongs in company at Saratoga July 18, with Ghost of the Mambo credited with a :48.44 (4/13) drill and Sul Moon a :49.09 (7/13). Michael Tabor’s Eagerly (American Pharoah), a half to multiple graded placed Thrilled (Uncle Mo), makes his first trip to the post for trainer Todd Pletcher. He worked five furlongs over the lawn at Saratoga July 21 in 1:02.45 (10/22). TJCIS PPs 1st-DMR, $61,000, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 5:00 p.m. ET Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s WRECKING CREW (Sky Kingdom) makes his debut for trainer Peter Miller. The dark bay colt sold for $875,000 after working a furlong in a bullet :9 4/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. He is from the first crop of Sky Kingdom (Empire Maker), who won the 2013 and 2015 GIII Tokyo City Cup S. “He’s doing very well,” Miller said ahead of Wrecking Crew’s debut. “He acts very classy and we think he’s a very nice colt.” Miller also saddles Rockingham Ranch’s Billy Batts (City Zip), who makes his first main-track appearance following three turf outings in Kentucky. He was most recently second stretched out to a mile at Ellis Park July 6. Keith Desormeaux saddles Silverton Hill’s firster Fredericktown (Constitution). The $200,000 KEESEP yearling, out of graded placed Burg Berg (Johannesburg), is a half-brother to graded winner Lombo (Graydar) and multiple graded placed Gray Magician (Graydar). He worked five furlongs in company in 1:02.40 (37/66) at Del Mar. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday’s Insights: Pricey Sky Kingdom Colt Debuts at Del Mar; Saudi Prince Opens Account at Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mare Of The Moment is a TDN feature that looks to highlight the success of a broodmare and give her and her owner recognition for those achievements. In association with the Irish National Stud the mare will receive a personalised headcollar. This month Scarlett Rose (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) is the recipient of Mare Of The Moment. There is a point in the year when mare owners start thinking about their stallion nominations for the following season. Hours can be spent debating the merits of one match over another and sometimes the process can rage on into the season. But for Linda and Reddy Coffey the mating plan for Scarlett Rose for her 2013 cover appeared to be somewhat of an easy decision. On a previous cover with a son of Giant’s Causeway Scarlett Rose produced Formosina (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), a Group 2-winning 2-year-old. It is unlikely they suspected they would make history with their 2014 son of Shamardal, but fast forward to 2019 and history is just what was made. Blue Point (Ire) has been a flagbearer for the Coffeys’ Oaklodge and Springfield House Stud since he was sold as a foal as part of their Tattersalls December Foal Sale draft, adding to the stud’s already successful portfolio of graduates. He made just over double his sire’s covering fee for the year he was conceived (110,000gns) and upon being re-offered as a yearling and subsequently selling to Godolphin for 200,000gns, he entered training with Charlie Appleby where the wheels for an illustrious race career were set in motion. A starter in 20 races from the ages of two to five and a ‘TDN Rising Star’, Blue Point was only out of the frame on three of those occasions. His 11 wins include four Group 1s, of which he recently completed the Royal Ascot double of the King’s Stand S. and the Diamond Jubilee S.–a feat that hasn’t been achieved for 16 years. He is the prime example of what breeders should be aiming to breed when they are mating their mares: a strong, tough, sound horse who tries. His career has eluded to his easy temperament but further proof of a kind nature was shown on his last day at Appleby’s Moulton Paddocks when the trainer’s children were pictured surrounding Blue Point. Although she has already blossomed as a broodmare it is fair to say that Scarlett Rose is now in full bloom and deserving of all praise. Future buds of success could include her Night Of Thunder (Ire) 2-year-old, named Desert Destination, who is in training with Saeed Bin Suroor as well as an Invincible Spirit (Ire) yearling filly set to appear in the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1. She is back in-foal to Frankel (GB) and is sure to be remembered as her history-making son enters his next career alongside his sire at Kildangan Stud for the 2020 season. The post Mare of the Moment: Scarlett Rose appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The DTRC stewards on Monday 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

The big race in America this weekend takes place at a unseasonably rainy Saratoga with the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes worth €600,000 a prep for the Travers. We have enlisted American expert Jeremy Plonk to preview the big race. The Lead: The final piece of a 3-stakes Saturday puzzle at the Spa, the G2 […] The post Big USA Race Preview – The Jim Dandy Stakes appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

When the dust finally settled on a topsy-turvy and controversial Triple Crown, it appeared that Gary Barber’s War of Will (War Front) came out of the scrum with a slight lead in the race for champion 3-year-old male. After last weekend’s heroics from Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational though, the GI Preakness S. victor will likely have to match that salvo with an impressive performance of his own in Saturday’s GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga to stay at the division’s forefront. Starting his sophomore season with convincing scores in the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S., War of Will faltered as the favorite when ninth in the GII Louisiana Derby and was placed seventh in the GI Kentucky Derby after being involved in the infamous far-turn incident. He bounced back to pick up a well-earned score in the Preakness, but with a chance to take a firm grip on the championship chase, only beat one horse when finishing a flat ninth in the GI Belmont S. Given a few weeks off after that, he’s breezed four times in preparation for this nine-furlong test, highlighted by a local five-panel work in 1:00.43 (5/29) July 13. “He’s good and he’s ready,” trainer Mark Casse told the NYRA notes team. “The best way to describe it is that he’s in a good place. We’re happy. A lot of times, a trainer will say, ‘I wish I could have done this or that.’ That’s not the case here. I’m happy with him. It’s up to him now.” Also firmly in the conversation for top 3-year-old colt while needing a strong showing to stay there is Juddmonte Farms’ consistent Tacitus (Tapit). A second-out victor last fall at Aqueduct, the late-running gray kicked off his sophomore season with scores in the GII Tampa Bay Derby and GII Wood Memorial S. before running a good third in the Run for the Roses. Marooned in an outside draw in the Belmont, he ran a winning race as a valiant runner-up, covering 65 more feet than rail-skimming winner Sir Winston (Awesome Again) according to Trakus while only getting beaten a length. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Global Campaign (Curlin) will try to make some noise in the second half of the season starting here. Opening his account with a pair of easy open-lengths tallies this winter at Gulfstream, the $250,000 KEESEP grad was fifth after chasing a fast pace in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 2 in Hallandale. Taken off the Triple Crown trail, he resurfaced in the GIII Peter Pan S., where he chased a fast pace and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths over Sir Winston. Passing on runs in the Belmont and GIII Ohio Derby, the bay shows three Saratoga breezes in preparation for this engagement, capped by a five-furlong spin in 1:01.53 (2/12) over the main track July 20. Tax (Arch) looks for his first victory since capturing the GIII Withers S. Feb. 2 at Aqueduct. A $50,000 claim by trainer Danny Gargan last October at Keeneland, the gelding completed the exacta behind Tacitus in the Wood and was 14th in the Derby before checking in a pace-chasing fourth in the Belmont. The post War of Will, Tacitus Try to Match Maximum Security in Jim Dandy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodslane Farm’s Grade I winner Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy), third by a half-length in the GII Bowling Green S. in both 2017 and 2018, will get a chance to break through in the 11-furlong event as one of a host of contenders in a 13-horse war while making his 6-year-old debut Saturday at Saratoga. Parlaying his Bowling Green third in 2017 into a conquest of that summer’s GI Sword Dancer S., the chestnut was fourth in both the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational and Breeders’ Cup Turf to close out his 4-year-old campaign. Scoring his most recent victory in the GII Mac Diarmida S. last March at Gulfstream, the homebred nevertheless acquitted himself well in several big races at five, running second in both the GI Man O’ War S. and GI Manhattan S. and third at 37-1 behind superstar Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) when last seen in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Turf. “He’s doing great. He’s training really well coming into this race,” trainer Tom Albertrani told the NYRA notes team. “It’s been a long lay-up, but it was always our intention to give him a little break after the Breeders’ Cup and not run at Gulfstream Park and try to have him ready for the Manhattan. We hit a couple of minor hiccups along the way, but now we’re here and he’s doing good. We hope to have a good summer and fall campaign with him.” Chilean G1SW Ya Primo (Chi) (Mastercrafstman {Ire}) makes his North American debut for the omnipotent Chad Brown barn. Scoring just twice in his first six races, the bay caught fire this year in his native land, racking up 4 1/2-length successes in the G2 Copa Juan S. Jackson and G1 El Derby before a 3 3/4-length triumph in the prestigious G1 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano Mar. 10. The gray has trained steadily on both surfaces at Saratoga going back to May, finishing preparations with a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.55 (13/22) on the Oklahoma turf July 21 (video). Multiple Grade I victor Channel Maker (English Channel) figures to vie for favoritism. Finishing in a dead heat for the win with subsequent Sword Dancer hero Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in last year’s Bowling Green, he powerfully annexed the Joe Hirsch two starts later. Off the board in his next three, he rebounded with a conquest of the Man O’ War May 11 before flattening to fourth behind division leader Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) in the Manhattan last out June 8. The post Sadler’s Joy Returns in 13-Horse Bowling Green appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was little doubt as to the talent level of Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt’s Mitole (Eskendereya) last year, when he was blitzing through nearly every sprinter that dared challenge him at his home base of Oaklawn. The questions that lingered, if any, were about the colt’s ability to stretch out his speed and replicate his stellar performances against top competition. He answered both of those, emphatically, in back-to-back Grade I victories this spring, and he’ll look to make it three top-level tallies in a row as a heavy favorite from the rail draw in Saturday’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga. Announcing himself with a 10-length maiden romp last February in Hot Springs, Mitole suffered his most recent defeat when second in the Gazebo S. there one start later. Back on track with a seven-length allowance/optional claiming triumph, he cruised by nine lengths in the Bachelor S., then 6 1/4 lengths in the Chick Lang S. at Pimlico before a splint injury sidelined the bay for the remainder of his sophomore campaign. Returning off an over 10-month break with another facile allowance/optional claiming success Mar. 2 at Oaklawn, he repeated in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 13. Then came the acid test, in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 4, where Mitole passed with flying colors, sitting off the speed and drawing clear to a 3 1/2-length score. Sent a route of ground for the first time in the star-studded GI Metropolitan H., he was brilliant once more, dueling on a sizzling pace and holding sway late to best MGISW ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) by three-quarters of a length. His main rival is defending Vanderbilt champion Imperial Hint (Imperialism), who looks to get back on track after three straight losses, an uncharacteristic interruption of form for the 12-time winner. Carrying a five-race win streak into the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, he was a good second to champion Roy H (More Than Ready) and promptly won four of five to start his 5-year-old campaign. Unable to match Roy H again, however, when third in last fall’s renewal of the Sprint, he filled the same slot at 1-5 in the Pelican S. Feb. 16 at Tampa and once again rounded out the trifecta in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen last out Mar. 30. Mr. Amore Stable’s Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) stands a chance if the pace heats up. Upset winner of the GIII Sanford S. here two summers ago, he was a good third despite a wide journey in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. over this track last August and annexed the GIII Gallant Bob S. after that. Capturing the Runhappy S. in his second 4-year-old start May 11 at Belmont, the bay was no factor when fifth in the Met Mile last out. The post Streaking Mitole Draws Rail in Vanderbilt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wendell Fong, a perfect 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

Air Strike (Street Sense) and Cistron (The Factor) finished a head apart in the seven-panel GI Triple Bend S. May 25 and they rematch Saturday in Del Mar’s GI Bing Crosby S., as well as meet a few new faces, in hopes of securing a spot in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint S. Air Strike, who broke his maiden decisively in his lone previous start at Del Mar, was securing his first graded success in the Triple Bend off a fourth in the GIII Steve Sexton Mile S. Apr. 28. Meanwhile, Cistron entered the Triple Bend off a 5 1/4-length triumph in the GII Kona Gold S. in Arcadia Apr. 20. Recruiting Ready (Algorithms) ships in from the East Coast off a close third to recent GII San Diego H. victor Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) in Belmont’s GII True North S. June 7, an effort that earned him a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. Winner of the GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. in March, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ was fourth in Keeneland’s GIII Commonwealth S. in April and was second in Belmont’s Runhappy S. May 11. GIII Smile Sprint S. runner-up Jalen Journey (With Distinction) makes his first start for Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen and trainer Peter Miller since topping the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale at $510,000. Prior to his June 29 effort, he rattled off three consecutive daylight wins at Gulfstream for conditioner Kathleen O’Connell. Miller also sends out Line Judge (Spring At Last) off a solid score in the Kellys Landing S. at Churchill Downs June 29. The post Triple Bend Top Two Return in Bing Crosby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Tanya Jonker secured an early treble at Phar Lap Raceway on Friday. She was victorious aboard the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Liam in the opening race before riding home Wynmore to a 2-1/2 length victory in the Equine Veterinary Services Sprint (1200m) and Bluey’s Chance in the McIntosh Catering Handicap (1200m) for Kenny Moore. Jonker was delighted to get a winning double for the Rangiora trainer and said the win aboard Wynmore was particularly special for an absent ... View the full article

The weather forecasts played a big part in Grahame Begg's decision to keep Romancer closer to home to run at Caulfield rather than travel him interstate. Begg had also nominated Romancer for Saturday's Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) in Sydney at Rosehill, but a wet forecast in Melbourne he decided Saturday's Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1400m) was the best option. "The weather prediction was for the rain here and that's what he relishes, getting soft ground," Begg said. Romancer has had three... View the full article

The Superior Court of San Diego has granted trainer Jerry Hollendorfer a preliminary injunction, which will allow him to resume racing at Del Mar. In issuing the ruling, the court wrote: “Plaintiffs have submitted sufficient evidence for the court to conclude that Mr. Hollendorfer will suffer irreparable harm if an injunction is not issued. Mr. Hollendorfer has been a licensed Thoroughbred owner and trainer for approximately 40 years. This is his only occupation and his principal income is derived from participating in races. Mr. Hollendorfer asserts that if he is excluded from the Del Mar Fairgrounds and/or Los Alamitos Racetrack, he will have lost the opportunity to engage in his occupation and will face imminent loss of business.” The court ruling noted that since Del Mar’s ban of Hollendofer had been made public, he has lost approximately 40 horses. However, most of those horses were turned over to his former assistant, Dan Ward. It was not immediately clear if they would now be returned to Hollendorfer’s care. According to attorney Darrell Vienna, who is representing the co-plaintiffs in the case, the California Thoroughbred Trainers, the two parties are still scheduled to meet in the San Diego court Friday and Del Mar can contest the ruling. However, he did not expect the judge to change his mind. “The ruling looks to be pretty well thought out,” he said. “We appear to be on solid ground,” Vienna said. A preliminary injunction does not mean the battle is over for Hollendorfer. If Del Mar wants to continue the fight to keep Hollendorfer from racing, the next round in court will take place later this year. A preliminary injunction is not a final ruling. Vienna thought that would not happen until October, or well after the current meet concludes. Racing returns to Del Mar in November for the Bing Crosby meeting. In response to Hollendorfer’s complaint that he be reinstated, Del Mar filed court papers defending its actions in which its lawyers called Hollendorfer a “radioactive PR risk” after six horses of his has to be euthanized earlier this year, four of them at Santa Anita and two more at Golden Gate Fields. The post Hollendorfer Granted Preliminary Injunction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hastings trainer John Bary will take a trio of runners north to Taumarunui Racing Club’s meeting at Arawa Park on Saturday and he expects a bold showing from each of his runners. Three-year-old filly Louboutin will be looking to make it three wins on end when she lines up in the Taumarunui & Districts RSA 3YO (1400m). The Kevin Hickman-owned daughter of Jimmy Choux has thrived in the heavy going this winter, winning two of her three starts on the surface and placing in the other, and Bary said... View the full article

Woodworth makes chance ride on Safeer count View the full article

Yusoff, CS Chin suspended View the full article

Freedman Excels with century of winners View the full article

Soldado back to winning ways View the full article

Adipson off the mark at third try View the full article

Horses' body weights July 26 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings July 26 View the full article

Merlion Trophy-bound Bold Thruster to trial next Thursday View the full article

Early scratchings July 28 (Updated) View the full article

An excited Clayton Chipperfield is preparing for the biggest day of his training career with favourites in both New Zealand features on Saturday. Chipperfield will produce London Bound as a $2.50 favourite in the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki, while Obsessive is a $3 favourite in the RSA Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m) at Rotorua. "They are putting the pressure on me making both of them favourites," Chipperfield quipped. "I've only had Our Sequoia in a Waikato Guineas (Gr.2, 200... View the full article