Wandering Eyes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jose and Irad aren’t the only ones with the last name Ortiz that should be on your radar this summer at Saratoga. Up-and-coming trainer John Ortiz (no relation) will saddle his first starter in New York when he tightens the girth on the overachieving Honey Bunny (Tapizar) in Wednesday’s GII Honorable Miss H. at the Spa. “It feels great to come out here and represent my whole barn, my owners and my crew,” Ortiz, 33, said back at ‘Horse Haven’ on the Oklahoma backstretch on an overcast morning after getting on a handful of runners for his buddy and fellow trainer Ray Handal. “It’s a very special moment.” Born in Colombia and raised in New York, Ortiz is the son of former rider Carlos Ortiz. It didn’t take long for the married father of two to find his way onto the backstretch. “I always wanted to be a jockey and follow in my dad’s footsteps, but that didn’t work out. I’m too big and too hungry,” the slender Ortiz, still sporting his black safety vest, said with a laugh. “This is something that’s been in my family for a long time. I was introduced to it at a very young age.” Just 16 at the time, Ortiz’s first job at the racetrack came for Bill Mott and he worked his way up the ladder to eventually serve as an assistant to the Hall of Famer. Stints under trainers Graham Motion and Barclay Tagg followed, and, after serving as an assistant to Kellyn Gorder, Ortiz ventured out on his own in 2016. “I chose to follow around some top trainers and learn what I could from them-you know, do what the good guys do,” Ortiz said. From 267 starters in 2018, Ortiz posted a record of 53-39-44 (20% winning percentage) and earnings of $1,454,894, including his first graded victory in Keeneland’s GIII Sycamore S. with Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}). He’s already saddled 28 winners from 170 starters this year, good for earnings of $1,031,590, through Monday’s action. The Louisville-based conditioner currently trains 33 head. “Right now, we’re very comfortable at 30,” Ortiz said when asked about goals for his stable. “It gives me just enough to keep me occupied. When I was an assistant for Kellyn, we used to run about an 80-horse barn. I do expect to grow bigger, but it all depends. I want to make sure that I do it the right way. I don’t want these horses getting away from me. I’m very involved. I ride my own and I check my own every day. We have a handful of 2-year-olds that we’re very happy about, too.” Ortiz has a pretty nice 5-year-old mare to be happy about as well. The aforementioned Honey Bunny, claimed for just $16,000 last spring, capped a five-race winning streak with a tally in Churchill’s GIII Winning Colors S. May 25. The Hooties Racing LLC, WSS Racing LLC and Brent Gasaway colorbearer finished with interest to check in a close fourth–beaten only 1 1/4 lengths–to the reopposing ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) in the Roxelana S. beneath the Twin Spires June 22. “Honey Bunny was very special from the beginning,” Ortiz said of the 14-time winner. “We had just finished winning a race at Oaklawn. We dropped the claim and it was a 12-way shake. We happened to win that, so that in itself was a victory. She’s a filly that has her own personality and attitude. It’s her way or the highway–and believe me, I ride her enough to know.” Honey Bunny, drawn in post three with Joel Rosario slated to ride, will face five rivals in the Honorable Miss. She is listed at 10-1 on the morning line. A good performance Wednesday could extend her stay in upstate New York for the GI Ketel One Ballerina S. Aug. 24, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. “She’s blossomed into this beautiful mare and she knows how to win now,” Ortiz concluded. “We came here to take a shot. I think we can compete with the horses here.” The post A ‘Sweet’ Debut on Tap for Ortiz Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

South Australia-based stallion Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}–Mona Em {Ire}, by Catrail) will shuttle from Cornerstone Stud to Rancho San Miguel in California for the 2020 breeding season, it was announced Tuesday. Europe’s champion freshman sire in 2016, the 9-year-old has been well represented in the States, with nine winners from 13 runners, including four stakes winners. Included in that group has been Beau Recall (Ire) and Madam Dancealot (Ire), both multiple Grade II winners and Grade I-placed and both successful on the Southern California circuit. “The statistics in America were becoming quite freakish so the United States became the next natural home for him in the Northern Hemisphere,” said Sam Hayes of Cornerstone Stud. “”The team at Rancho San Miguel share our excitement regarding Sir Prancealot’s obvious potential and we are most grateful to Adrian Gonzalez from Checkmate Thoroughbreds who made the introduction and brokered the deal.” “We are very excited to bring Sir Prancealot to the U.S. and more specifically to California,” said Gonzalez. “It’s amazing to think that this horse began his stud career in Europe, moved to Australia and now his top runners are running in the U.S. With his statistics, he could arguably be the most useful stallion in the world. He’s been the big fish I’ve been after my whole career and I’m thrilled to syndicate him and begin selling shares immediately. Sam Hayes has been incredible to work with and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work together with him and Cornerstone Stud. With Rancho San Miguel, we’ve had tremendous success promoting Danzing Candy in his first two seasons at stud. Clay Murdock along with his staff at Rancho San Miguel, will give us the best opportunity to properly introduce Sir Prancealot as a new and unique offering to the U.S. breeding market.” San Miguel’s Clay Murdock added, “Sir Prancealot gives California breeders a spectacular opportunity to be involved with a stallion that has Grade I stakes performers from a limited number of starters.” A stud fee has yet to be determined. For season and share info, contract Adrian Gonzalez (805) 720-5395 or Clay Murdock (805) 610-2290. The post Sir Prancealot to Reverse Shuttle to California appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Persian King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) could miss the remainder of his 3-year-old campaign, according to trainer Andre Fabre. Persian King was a one-length victor at ParisLongchamp on May 12, but was unable to make it a Classic double in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 2, settling for second behind Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Fabre said after that effort that Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbreds’s flagbearer would get a break before targeting Deauville’s August meeting, but he revealed on Tuesday, “Persian King will not be running at Deauville. He is having some rest as he was sore after his last race.” Fabre said it is a “remote possibility” that Persian King will race again this year, but that he is more likely to wait for a 4-year-old campaign. Fabre has plenty to look forward to this fall, however, with fellow 3-year-olds Impulsif (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Slalom (Fr) (Intello {Ger}). Impulsif won his third straight race and his stakes debut in the July 21 G3 Prix Messidor and will target the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein the possibly the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, while Slalom, a half-length second to Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, is likely to show up in the G2 Prix Niel on Arc trials day. The post Persian King Could Miss Rest Of Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – In roughly 24 hours in early July, Richard Migliore’s summer at Saratoga schedule changed from a bit too relaxing to a far more comfortable mighty busy. First came a phone call from Kentucky-based jockey Chris Landeros, arranging for Migliore to be his agent at Saratoga. The next day, Migliore, 55, was offered several assignments for the expanded Saratoga Live television programming produced by the New York Racing Association. Suddenly, a week before the meet launched, the retired jockey and TV veteran had two more gigs to go with his work for Fasig-Tipton and Sport of Kings Media. “I’m doing a lot,” Migliore said, smiling, and promptly repeating the four words. Indeed. As the rainy and chilly spring in the Northeast finally gave way to summer, Migliore fretted that he would not have much reason to spend a great deal of time at a track he first visited as a 14-year-old in 1978. His duties as Fasig-Tipton’s New York field representative would require him to be in the city prior to and during the sales, but Migliore said he wanted and needed more to do throughout the 40-day meet. Landeros delivered nicely when he decided to commit to riding the entire Saratoga season for the first time. Migliore had spoken with Landeros–whom he met in 2007 when they were riding at Del Mar–about giving Saratoga a try prior to the Kentucky Derby. As Saratoga neared, he figured that the 31-year-old rider would spend the summer at Ellis Park. The situation changed when Landeros called and Migliore became a rookie jock’s agent. Migliore said that during that summer more than a decade ago at Del Mar he thought the teenaged Landeros showed promise. “Jockeys know the other riders that can ride,” Migliore said. “Just because a guy isn’t winning doesn’t mean he can’t ride. It’s about opportunity. He was a young guy just not getting any opportunity. But I loved the way he positioned himself in a race. He saw the race but he just didn’t have the horse to take advantage of things.” The connections continued through the years. Landeros and Migliore’s son, Joe, who now works for West Point Thoroughbreds, have long been friends. As his career progressed, Landeros moved from the Southwest to the Kentucky circuit, where he met and married trainer Ian Wilkes’s daughter Shelby in 2016. Migliore said he paid attention as Landeros matured and improved. “I watched him at Gulfstream this past winter–he had a tremendous meet–and I know he made inroads into some of the New York outfits,” Migliore said. “When he got a Derby mount this year, I heard that he was talking about potentially coming to Saratoga for the summer. So I called him up to congratulate him and wish him luck in the Derby and I just kind of threw it out there.” Migliore chuckled as he recounted the conversation. “I said, ‘I heard that you might be coming to New York for the summer. I don’t know if you’d bring your agent along or not, but if you don’t and you need someone to represent you…I never aspired to be a jockey’s agent, but I’d like to represent you because I really have a lot of confidence in your ability and I know that you belong at this level. And I think I might be able to be of help getting in some doors.'” Landeros did take Migliore up on his offer to work together at Saratoga. Despite their late start, Landeros had a record of 2-2-2 in 19 mounts through the first nine days of the meet. “I was supposed to come last year and I felt like I needed one more year under my belt and then go back to Gulfstream,” Landeros said. “I figured we’ll go after a couple of years at Gulfstream because it’s a lot of the same people. It worked out good. I had a great winter, a successful winter. I won a lot of stakes. And here we are.” Prior to this summer, Landeros had ridden seven times at Saratoga, six of them for his father-in-law. In the most recent three racing days he had a total of 10 mounts, one for Wilkes and the rest for seven other trainers. Landeros won Sunday’s 10th race Sunday on Borracho (Uncle Mo), who Migliore figures is stakes-bound for trainer Rusty Arnold. Migliore’s distinguished riding career ended abruptly at 4,450 victories with a serious fall in January 2010. Eight months later, he began working as an analyst for HRTV and accepted a multi-task position with NYRA in February 2011 that included TV, handling the apprentice jockey program and working on marketing projects. But weary of the commute from his farm in the Hudson Valley town of Millbrook, Migliore left NYRA in the summer of 2017 to take a post with XBTV, which built a studio in his house. “I was driving 200 miles a day, five days a week,” he said. “That was 1,000 miles a week without running errands, just to and from work. That was getting to me. Then I saw an opportunity of a better balance for me of XBTV, which was great while it lasted. They say, ‘All good things come to an end.'” Migliore was let go in November during a shakeup of personnel by the Stronach Group. He had an usually quiet winter with his family on the farm, indulging his new passion for hiking, second-guessing his decision to leave NYRA and thinking about what was next. “After the fact, I learned that if I had communicated better with NYRA that the commute was becoming that much of a demanding, arduous routine that they would have tried to modify my schedule so I wouldn’t get worn out,” he said. “But I didn’t realize that and I didn’t communicate that, which is too bad. But along came this opportunity and I took it.” Though Migliore told Tony Allevato, the executive producer of NYRA TV, that he hoped to return to television, he figured that the NYRA lineup was set with retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens on the team. “But then I was contacted in the spring if I would be interested in doing a block of shows at Belmont. We made a deal,” Migliore said. “That went very well at Belmont. It felt like I jumped right in and didn’t miss a day.” No sooner than Migliore had made the arrangement with Landeros on a new venture, NYRA called and asked he was able to work on some of its Saratoga programs. He did not hesitate to accept what he expects will be 15 shows. “I didn’t want to turn that down because there have been a lot of exciting things going on,” he said. “They are continually adding hours. I think next year there are even more hours. So I don’t want to preclude myself from being a part of that as it grows. I like doing TV. I think I’m fairly good at it. I like talking about horses. I like saying something and someone will come up to me the next day and say, ‘I never thought of it like that.’ You open up someone’s mind to a different perspective.” With his new intense workload, Migliore is on the go every day. He’s an agent for a jockey trying to grow his business at a tough meet, the co-host of Sport Of Kings Media’s three weekly podcasts, a field rep for Fasig-Tipton, a TV commentator making a weekly 200-mile commute back home to check on the farm. It’s a good fit. “During the idleness of the winter, I realized about myself that I don’t idle well,” he said. “That was the most time off that I’ve had without being injured. I need purpose. I kind of need structure. I need to have things to go after and plan.” The post Busy Saratoga for Migliore appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After successfully defending her title in the GII Delaware H. July 13, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) will set her sights on the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 24. The two-time Grade I winner finished second, beaten a neck, to champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) in a roughly run renewal of the 1 1/8-mile contest at the Spa last year. Currently a perfect three-for-three for Hall of Famer Bill Mott at the Classic 1 1/4-mile distance, including a runaway win in Saratoga’s prestigious GI Alabama S., the Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider 5-year-old homebred earned a free berth to this fall’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita following a victory in the ‘Win and You’re In’ GII Fleur de Lis H. beneath the lights at Churchill Downs June 15. Any chance we see Elate take on males in either the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup or GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at her preferred trip later this year? “We are going to take it one race at a time,” Claiborne President Walker Hancock responded. “Right now, she is pointing towards the Personal Ensign, and depending on how it goes, that will dictate where she goes the rest of the year. The Jockey Club Gold Cup has been discussed.” The post Personal Ensign Next for Elate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William and Corinne Heligbrodt, Heider Family Stables and Madaket Stables’ ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) will spot five rivals anywhere between three and nine pounds as the 123-pound highweight in Wednesday’s GII Honorable Miss H. at Saratoga. The tough-luck loser of last year’s GI Test S. and also runner-up in the GII Prioress S. at the Spa last summer, the 4-year-old was a handy Oaklawn allowance winner on her seasonal debut Mar. 3, but she did not look entirely comfortable when a well-beaten second to Louisiana-bred Ours to Run (Half Ours) in a sloppy renewal of the Carousel S. Apr. 6. Those who still believed got 11-1 in the GI Humana Distaff S., a race in which Mia Mischief defeated the classy Marley’s Freedom (Blame) by 1 3/4 lengths, and she exits a hard-fought, 3/4-length success in the June 22 Roxelana S. at Churchill. On that occasion she defeated big-figure GIII Miss Preakness S. winner Covfefe (Into Mischief) into third. Chalon (Dialed In), caught on the wire in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, has an imposing record of 4-2-1 from seven tries over Wednesday’s six-furlong trip, including a popular two-length victory in the Skipat S. on the Preakness S. undercard May 17. She was a latest second to last year’s Test winner Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) after being bumped at the start of the seven-furlong GIII Bed O’Roses S. at Belmont June 7 and gets three pounds from the likely favorite. “She came back from her last race in good shape and we’ve been aiming for this one,” Delacour said. “I like this spot better because it fits better than seven [furlongs]. She’s been training well heading in and I’m excited to see her back. It looks like she’s back in good form and ready to try again this year.” Former claimer Ours to Run carries a six-race winning streak into this first graded foray and has won eight straight on the main track. Perfect in three outings this season, she annexed Delta’s Premier Night Matron S. Feb. 9 and the Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle S. May 25 around her open-company tally at Oaklawn. John Velazquez takes the call for trainer Larry Jones. The post Mia Mischief The One to Beat in Honorable Miss appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Red Baron's Barn's Itsinthepost will transfer from the lawn to Del Mar's main track July 24 when he faces six others in the $100,000 Cougar II Handicap (G3). View the full article

The newly revised Rules of Racing, effective Sept. 1, are now available online, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. Feedback from a cross-industry working group has been incorporated into the new Rules, which are now easier to understand for both participants and the wider public. Workshops will be available to industry participants to familiarize themselves with the new Rules, and any further amendments that will be introduced. Several notable changes which have been approved by stakeholders, the Rules committee and the BHA Board are as follows: A simplification of the inside information provisions that prohibits the passing of inside information outside of those who own, train or care for the horse even without reward or benefit in kind Certain requirements in the new Horse Welfare and Management Manual are now on the Responsible Person rather than just the Trainer The requirement to carry speed sensing devices is now included as a Rule, rather than being printed in individual race conditions. Devices must therefore be worn whenever provided by the racecourse on race day. Any new rules will be announced separately. The post Revised Rules of Racing Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s true that the bloodstock world can be preoccupied with the success or failure of first-season sires. The lack of immediate success can condemn some stallions and it can also put undue pressure on others far too early in their careers. Just like any horse race, the race to become a top sire frequently changes complexion in the course of the first two to three years. And that’s fine as long as it fits with expectation. Some stallions will blaze a trail in the first three months and join the many also-rans when their true ability is fully exposed. Our table of all freshmen sires since 2000, ranked by individual winners to July 21 in the season, clearly demonstrates the mix of precocity and class. Gutaifan (Ire)’s 15 winners so far is just one shy of were his grandsire Acclamation was in 2007 and identical to the number his sire Dark Angel had in 2011. All the sires on our table can be considered fast starters, but for the vast majority it was always going to be their only time in the spotlight. Later in year one and during years two and three as the focus turns away from precocity and points inexorably towards quality, most stallions fall by the wayside, to be replaced by the next generation of shooting stars. Of the 25 fast starters between 2000 and 2018, over two-thirds ended up with a stakes winner to runner percentage of less than 5% and as many as 12 could not even manage 3%. Moreover, the vast majority failed to improve their mares. And don’t forget, we are looking only at the better first-season sires here. There are, however, stallions that can manage to be both precocious and long-lasting. The Irish National Stud’s Invincible Spirit (Ire) had a table-topping 18 winners to his name by this stage in 2006, one ahead of another ultimately successful sire in Iffraaj (GB), who set a record for winning first-season youngsters with 38 in 2010. Cape Cross (Ire) also combined a fast start with ultimate longevity: he had 12 winners by this point and went on to sire Sea The Stars (Ire) and Golden Horn (GB). And it looks very likely that No Nay Never will follow the same path. He too had 12 individual winners by this time and he’s just sired the winners of the G1 July Cup and G2 Superlative S. Significantly, his strike rate stands at 11.2% stakes winners to runners, the best of this group. Let’s see if he can stay the right side of 10% which could very much depend whether he’s a sire of pure sprinters or sprinter-milers. The lack of a stakes winner at this point is not significant. Cape Cross hadn’t yet sired a stakes winner, while Invincible Spirit (listed winner Bahama Mama {Ire}) and Dark Angel (listed winner Lily’s Angel {Ire}) had only one apiece. So there is still ample time for the likes of Night Of Thunder (Ire), who had produced the best winners-to-runners strike rate of any freshman sire with 20-plus runners in the past 20 years with 12 winners in 2019 from only 22 runners (55%). And you can be certain there are more progressive types waiting in the wings. What this table tells us more than anything else is that there’s a keen commercial demand for all types of stallions, ranging from the fast-starting winner getters to the traditional Classic sires and all points in between. The post A Historical Look At First-Season Sires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Osarus’s La Teste September Yearling Sale received a timely boost on the weekend when Soffia (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) won the G2 Sapphire S. at The Curragh. Her half-sister by Myboycharlie (Ire) (lot 270) is one of 277 yearlings catalogued for that sale Sept. 3 and 4, for which the catalogue was released on Tuesday. There are 72 yearlings catalogued out of black-type mares or black-type producers, including the very first filly through the ring, lot 1, a Literato (Fr) half-sister to Itsinthepost (Fr) (American Post {GB}), the winner of seven graded races in the U.S. A few hours later comes lot 75, a Bated Breath (GB) filly out of the listed-placed Anjella (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), who has already produced the listed-placed Stable Genius (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Aramhes (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), twice a winner at three this year. Other highlights are likely to include lot 228, a Thewayyouare half-brother to G1 Del Mar Oaks winner Fatale Bere (Fr) (Pedro The Great); lot 247, a Kendargent (Fr) colt out of G1 Prix Vermeille winner and multiple stakes producer Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}); and lot 274, a Le Havre filly out of listed winner Rivabella (Fr) (Iron Mask). The post Soffia Sister Set For Osarus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s becoming a habit that every week we are speaking about John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. Frankie gave us a masterclass of a ride on Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday; it was poetry in motion to watch. While Frankie may well have been on the best filly, I had a feeling very early in the race that it was over. He just completely controlled the race from the moment he left the stalls. He appeared as anxious as any of the others to get a lead but when that didn’t work out Frankie went to Plan B straight away and took control of the race. This is a huge factor when it comes to a stable jockey’s position, which Frankie effectively has at John Gosden’s yard. When you have a great understanding and trust between jockey and trainer that can make a real difference on the big occasion and I thought it was very evident that Frankie very much reverted to Plan B, and Plan B won the race. In day-to-day races it is maybe not quite so important and you can play around with your tactics a bit more, but on the bigger days you don’t necessarily want to be the one who is cutting out the running. However, if you are on the best horse and you have the judgement to ride the race as you like, then it is the best place to be. It was very apparent on Saturday that being in front, controlling the race, was the right thing to do and in my opinion it was the deciding factor. The ride was superb and it is a pleasure to watch a jockey at the peak of his powers at the age of 48. In my days as stable jockey to Dermot Weld, he was always very happy for me to go to the front on most horses if I felt that was the right thing to do. I think we won a lot of races doing that which we may not have won otherwise, but the majority of trainers would prefer the horses to get a lead in a race. At the result of that, it ties riders down to instructions and you can’t switch to Plan B as easily as you might want. That’s where it makes a difference in being an appointed stable jockey and having the confidence to go and do what you feel is right. The stable jockey position seems to be dying out and jockey retainers appear now to be more owner-orientated. Of course it’s the owner’s choice as to who rides their horses, but when you look at the relationship between Frankie and John you can see it’s very strong, and as a result of the confidence that they have in each other at the moment it is making a difference when it comes to winning big races. When you have a trainer saying to you, as John Gosden did to Frankie ‘Here’s a blank canvas, go out and paint your own picture’, that gives you so much confidence and that has to be a huge factor in the jockey then going out and doing the right thing. Time Is Of The Essence This year’s Oaks and Derby show that it’s time now to have sectional timing brought in on Irish racecourses. It would have been very interesting, both for spectators and punters, to see what the sectional times were in both races, which saw two very good rides from the front. The technology is available and we have to move forward. We really should have that information given to us throughout the racing day. There’s no better judge of pace than Frankie Dettori and it would have been great to be able to analyse, furlong for furlong, just how he actually controlled the race. We only have to look back at the July Cup and Aidan O’Brien’s interview afterwards, in which he was able to tell us that Ten Sovereigns was able to do :11 seconds per furlong for four furlongs. That information is clearly crucial to him as a trainer and it’s common sense to have that sort of information more widely available. The pace of races wins races. Like anything in life, as a jockey you can learn about pace but it is very much intuitive. I know Frankie Dettori wouldn’t have been counting every second in his mind as he went through each furlong at the Curragh. That was all done on natural feel and him dictating the race to suit his filly. Yes, of course you can educate yourself and sharpen yourself up by going out to America to ride against the clock on the track, and that’s all very helpful, but if you don’t actually have that feel for pace I don’t think you can ever learn to be really good at it. An important part of it is getting your horse to relax and that’s where it comes down that old saying of having good hands. Frankie Dettori has beautiful hands, as does Ryan Moore, and that’s the difference. If you look back to the days of Lester Piggott, you never saw horses running keen with Lester. If you’ve got good hands the horses will relax and if a horse is relaxed, he will do everything right, i.e. breathing and conserving energy. On Song Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill) has been a super broodmare for Moyglare Stud and it was pleasing to see her daughter Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) run a promising race in the Oaks to finish fourth. After a furlong into the race, while it was great to watch Frankie ride it was frustrating if you had an interest in any other horse in the race because there was just that awful feeling that Frankie was in charge. Search For A Song long ran a beautiful race, however. She was just a little bit keen early on but it was only the third start of her life and once she relaxes and starts to breathe properly I think there’s a huge race in her. It was very encouraging the way she ran to the line and nearly got up for third. Everybody was very pleased with the run and there’s a lot to look forward to with the filly in the future. Making A Comeback – For One Day Only! I’m really looking forward to being back in competitive action later this year on the Curragh in a charity race that I’m organising against some former top-class jockeys during the Longines Irish Champions Weekend. I was very keen to do something to raise awareness and to give something back to the carers and the people who have looked after me over the last 15 months throughout my illness. I’ve been back riding out and the Longines Irish Champions Weekend committee has given me a great opportunity and a platform over the two best days of racing in Ireland. I can’t wait to get back to ride at the fabulous new facility that is the Curragh, even though it is just for one final time. The most important thing is to raise some much-needed funds for Cancer Trials Ireland and there’s also the Longines Irish Champions Weekend dinner on the Saturday night at the Shelbourne hotel in Dublin. That takes place every year, but this time we are going to incorporate it into the charity to try to raise extra funds. It should be a really exciting weekend. The race may be being run in my name but that doesn’t mean I will sit back and be polite and let someone else win. I’ll be putting the squeeze on a lot of people that I know, especially Dermot Weld, to supply me with a horse with a good chance of winning. I think everyone will be very excited when the line-up of ten jockeys for the race is announced later this week. It’s a field of very competitive riders and I would like to think that the competitive streak is still in me. My return to fitness is going well. There’s no substitute for riding, of course, so I’ve been doing as much of that as I can without overdoing it. I must admit I need to do a little bit more work in the gym, so that’s going to be happening in the near future. Having the opportunity to ride in a race again is something very special and I’m very grateful to the committee, and of course the Curragh team, for allowing me to do that. It may be for charity but I still want to win. The post The Pat Smullen Column: Trainer-Jockey Relationship So Important 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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Rock Island Line’s win in the Revital Fertilisers 1400 at New Plymouth on Saturday will live long in the memory of Lisa Latta. The Rock ‘n’ Pop gelding’s victory was the 950th for the Awapuni conditioner and pushed her career earnings over the $20 million mark. Latta was pleased with the run and is hoping the rising five-year-old will make the final field for the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton next Saturday. “We were a little bit concerned with how heav... View the full article

The John Bell-trained Helena Baby has been the star find of winter racing in New Zealand, with Saturday’s Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) triumph his most significant to date. The four-year-old gelded son of Guillotine romped home to an easy five and a half-length victory at Taranaki dishing out a galloping lesson to his more seasoned rivals in his first start in open company. Helena Baby has fashioned an impressive record in his short career, having only commenced racing in March of this year. The... View the full article

Just days after relocating to Cambridge from her former Opaki base, Kylie Little will aim to kick off her northern training career on a high at Rotorua on Saturday. Little will saddle last-start Parliamentary Handicap (2200m) winner Trisha Lea in the RSA Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), while impressive debut winner Easy Habit will line up in a supporting race. “Trisha Lea’s been doing really well since Trentham, she just about pulled my arms out galloping around Cambridge this morning,” Littl... View the full article

Star Emperor takes on the big boys View the full article

Jumbo Jet to relaunch Sky Rocket View the full article

Updates on Stewards' follow-ups to Friday and Sunday meetings View the full article

Horses' test results July 20 & 22 View the full article

Saratoga is the logical jumping-off place for hurdlers imported to compete in summer-fall championship races, and three newcomers will make their debuts July 25 in the A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes (NSA-G1). View the full article

Graydar (Unbridled’s Song–Sweetest Smile, by Dehere) has been relocated to Linda Madsen’s Milky Way Farms in Temecula, California. The stallion had previously stood at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky. “There aren’t many Grade I-winning sons of Unbridled’s Song and we are very excited to bring one of Graydar’s caliber to California,” said Madsen. “He was an accomplished racehorse and a dominant performer on the track. He is passing on his looks, speed, and class, and two of his best horses have had success in California. He is a perfect complement to our roster.” Graydar, winner of the 2013 GI Donn H., GII Kelso H., and GII New Orleans H., is the sire of this year’s Smarty Jones S. winner Gray Attempt, as well as graded stakes winner Lombo. He is also the sire of this year’s G2 UAE Derby and GIII Indiana Derby runner-up Gray Magician and recent stakes-winning filly Wondrshegotthundr. The post Graydar to Milky Way Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following approval July 22 from the Virginia Racing Commission, Colonial Downs plans to offer low takeout rates on wagers for the upcoming Colonial Downs race meeting scheduled to open Aug. 8. View the full article

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Tacitus continued his preparations July 22 for an expected start in the July 27 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

The Maryland Jockey Club opened its eighth off-track betting facility Monday at Long Shot’s sports bar in the Clarion Inn Frederick Event Center. The opening of Long Shot’s comes 10 months after the MJC expanded its network of off-track betting sites to the MGM National Harbor, a luxury resort, retail, dining and entertainment venue in Oxon Hill and it joins facilities at Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Greenmount Station in Hampstead, Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, GBoone’s Events Center in Boonsboro and Hollywood Casino in Perryville, as well as the Riverboat Restaurant in Colonial Beach, Va. The post MJC Opens Eighth OTB Site appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Colonial Downs, following approval Monday from the Virginia Racing Commission, has announced take-out rates for its upcoming meeting. During its 15-day race meeting, which begins Aug. 8, the track will have a win, place and show take out of 16%. Exacta, trifecta, superfecta and early and late daily doubles, Pick 3s and Pick4s will have a 20% takeout rate and the Pick 5 will feature a promotional 12% takeout. “Our team at Colonial Downs Group has worked diligently to be widely inclusive with the revival of Thoroughbred racing in Virginia and we have left no industry group behind,” said John Marshall, Colonial Downs Group Executive Vice President. “Today we advocate for the driving force behind live racing everywhere–the horseplayers. Today more than ever, optimal take-out rates are essential ingredients to a successful race meet. We thank the Virginia HPBA for its support in this effort.” The post Colonial Downs Announces Take-Out Rates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article