Wandering Eyes

Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will put in his final breeze July 19 for the July 27 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets (G2) over the Saratoga Race Course main track. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday’s Insights features the second foal our of multiple Group 1 winner Snow Fairy (Ire) . 2.15 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 7fT IBERIA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of the Ballydoyle trio in a maiden won in recent times by The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Australia (GB) and Pathfork (Distorted Humor). Out of the speedy G3 Renaissance S. winner Beauty Bright (Ire) (Danehill) who is in turn a half-sister to Galileo’s G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Aloft (Ire), the February-foaled bay is joined by stablemate Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of the triple group 1 heroine Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). 6.15 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,300, 2yo, f, 7f 6yT VIRGIN SNOW (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) debuts in the Anamoine silks of her illustrious dam Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) and is the second foal out of that G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks and G1 Irish Champion S. heroine. Trained like her by Ed Dunlop, the March-foaled bay meets nine rivals including the Ed Walker-trained newcomer Divine Summer (Summer Front), a half-sister to the GII Chilukki S. winner and GI Beldame S. runner-up Divine Miss Grey (Divine Park). The post Observations: July 20, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maybe the heat's getting to me, but I've got some contrarian ideas throughout the weekend. View the full article

Mok Zhan Lun seldom makes the headlines, but the soft-spoken trainer was for once basking in the limelight on Friday night after he brought up his 200th winner with New Zealand-bred gelding River Radiance. A former Singapore Training Academy for Racing (STAR) graduate, Mok saddled his first winner Famous Than You on March 26, 2010. While it’s been a long and sometimes grueling journey to reach that milestone, the Singaporean handler was delighted it was behind him and he could now aim for oth... View the full article

The Grand Dame of Saratoga has died. Marylou Whitney, the 93-year-old socialite, philanthropist and racehorse owner whose vivacious personality, boundless generosity, and lavish sense of style helped to define the classy Saratoga experience that has evolved over several generations, passed away on Friday at her Cady Hill mansion in Saratoga Springs, New York, after an extended illness. The exact cause of her death was not immediately announced. But Whitney’s passing was confirmed by both the New York Racing Association and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. At Saratoga Race Course, where Whitney joyfully cheered on her family’s horses for some 60 years from her front-row clubhouse box with distinctive blue seats that matched her racing silks, the action paused after the fourth race as her death was announced to racegoers with a brief tribute and a moment of silence. Whitney’s death comes just two weeks shy of her scheduled Aug. 2 induction in the sport’s Hall of Fame. This breaking story is in the process of being updated. The post Marylou Whitney Passes at 93 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodford Thoroughbreds' venerable Catapult faces five older runners in Sunday's $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T). The son of Kitten's Joy won last year's nine-furlong affair by a neck over rival Sharp Samurai. View the full article

Exciting two-year-old Inferno lived up to his pre-race top billing to saunter to an authoritative win in the fifth and final Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series, the S$250,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) on Friday. An impressive debut winner in the fourth leg, the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale Stakes (1200m) 12 days ago, the Cliff Brown-trained and Michael Rodd-ridden son of Holy Roman Emperor made winning look academic after defying a wide trip without cover to still make ... View the full article

Champion jockey Vlad Duric rode Revolution like the best horse in the field and that was how he finished in the S$70,000 Class 3 Super One 2015 Stakes, a Class 3 race over 1200m in Singapore on Friday night. Whilst he was not the most fleet-footed customer out of barrier No 1, Revolution was allowed to settle worse than midfield on the rails before switching out three lanes to improve around runners as they neared the home turn. Wassergeist loomed on the outside with what looked like a winning b... View the full article

With just a handful of first-crop yearlings in the recent Fasig-Tipton July Sale, Exaggerator’s leading sales colt was a chestnut out of Radiant Ruby (Tale of the Cat), knocked down for $170,000 to North London Bloodstock. He has five yearlings entered in the upcoming Saratoga sale. As a Classic winner who won or placed in nine graded stakes, five of them Grade I, there was never a doubt Exaggerator (Curlin) would look mighty good in a stallion barn. It was announced WinStar Farm acquired the horse’s breeding rights soon after he’d won the 2016 GI Santa Anita Derby by open daylight. It was an inspired move as it turns out the big bay was just getting started. He would reward WinStar’s faith in his ability with a runner-up finish in the GI Kentucky Derby prior to a 3 1/2-length score in the GI Preakness S. Exaggerator would later go on to take the GI Haskell Invitational S. “We’re very excited about that horse,” said WinStar’s director of bloodstock services, Sean Tugel. “He was just one of those great, sturdy, sound horses that showed up at every dance.” Exaggerator gave a strong hint of that iron constitution as a juvenile when he shipped from coast-to-coast, winning at three of the five tracks he set foot on, breaking his maiden at Del Mar prior to notching victories in the GII Saratoga Special S. and GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. “He is a horse that, not only did he have the talent and the speed as a 2-year-old,” said Tugel, “but he continued to mature and became an elite 3-year-old, as well.” By the time he retired, Exaggerator had competed at 10 different racetracks around the country and, after breaking his maiden, ran in 13 consecutive graded events before retiring sound. He is Curlin’s highest earner and was one of only two horses in 2016 to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"First Yearlings for Exaggerator","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/348204923.sd.mp4?s=09b1c20f4f4aa36059cd0ab10ffe3c634fd3823a&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/347398193.sd.mp4?s=27e3fc65e99865b057730cd4eb771d5895c56d35&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} “He’s got [this] unbelievable profile where he’s kind of [a] throwback horse, and a rough, sturdy horse,” said Tugel. Elite sire Curlin has had a number of young sons new to the stallion ranks in the past couple of years, but Tugel said Exaggerator has a refinement not often seen. That’s showing up in his foals as well. “They’re nice-framed horses that stand over a lot of ground,” added Tugel. “They have great limbs on them.” The post First-Yearlings Sire Exaggerator a “Throwback Horse” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Saratoga, $90,000, Msw, 7-19, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:09.78, ft. SWEET KISSES (f, 2, Carpe Diem–True Kiss {SW, $115,418}, by Is It True) settled for second behind last week’s narrow GIII Schuylerville S. runner-up Kiss the Girl (Into Mischief) downstate June 12, and parlayed that experience into a graduation tally Friday as the slight 5-2 second choice. Away well and perched just off the speed in third behind an opening quarter of :22.45, the bay was asked for a bit more from Jose Ortiz into the bend to assert three deep. She poked a head in front at the head of the lane, and leveled off from there to put 2 1/4 lengths on her competition at the line. Finite (Munnings) out-nosed Mrs. Danvers (Tapit)–who made a big move to reach contention after totally missing the break–for second. Sweet Kisses, the second winner for her first-crop sire (by Giant’s Causeway), is half to Tiz Kissable (Tiz Wonderful), GSP; and One True Kiss (Warrior’s Reward), MGSP, $231,459. Her dam, a half to GISW Silver Max (Badge of Silver), produced a Runhappy colt last term and a full-brother to Sweet Kisses this season. Sales history: $170,000 RNA Ylg ’18 FTKJUL; $290,000 Ylg ’18 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $65,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Johns Martin, Bill J. Rucker, Robert G. Hahn, Jess J. Englehart & Josh Allen; B-Charles Muth & Patrick Murphy (KY); T-Jeremiah C. Englehart. The post Carpe Diem Filly Comes Through at Second Asking at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A heatwave gripping the Eastern two-thirds of the United States has forced the cancellation of racing at several venues in the midwest and eastern parts of the country Saturday, while officials at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago will allow racing to go forward as planned with heat protocols in place. With heat indices forecast to be around 110 degrees, Finger Lakes announced Thursday that Saturday’s program would be scrapped. The track announced Friday that the $150,000 New York Derby and $75,000 New York Oaks would take place Wednesday, July 24. Saratoga officials also announced the cancellation of Saturday racing on Thursday, with the Saturday card to be shifted to Sunday as is, with the GIII Shuvee S. capping the program. Delaware Park, Laurel and Parx will also be closed Saturday. Live racing scheduled for Saturday at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, was cancelled Friday, with the expectation that both the air temperature and heat index would exceed that of Friday, when racing was also called off. Track officials are optimistic of opening for business Sunday. Belterra Park in greater Cincinnati will also be closed. In a tweet Friday afternoon, Arlington officials declared that racing would go on as scheduled Saturday and Sunday afternoon, following protocols provided by state veterinarians that were created by the US Olympic Organization and by the US Polo Association for equine competition in high heat. According to the post, “horses are under diligent observation of private, state and track veterinarians and are under the constant care of professional racehorse trainers who have made the decision to race.” Additional protocols provide for water, cooling stations, drinking stations, limiting the amount of time on the track and extra staff. The post Heat Continues to Wreak Havoc Across the Country appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Morning-line favorite Summer Sunday will have her work cut out for her in the $175,000 Royal North Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine as she face Australian-bred Oleksandra for the first time in the six-furlong sprint. View the full article

One year after the San Diego Handicap (G2) served as his coming-out party, Catalina Cruiser returns to the 1 1/16-mile test at Del Mar as one of the stars of the handicap division. View the full article

Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), a rallying second from far back in last term’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff beneath the Twin Spires, kicks off her 5-year-old season in Sunday’s GIII Shuvee S. at Saratoga. A close second in this race last year, the 2018 Chilean Horse of the Year registered a career high in this country capturing the GI Beldame S. at Belmont Park in the fall. “That day she ran really, really well,” jockey Jose Ortiz of Wow Cat’s Distaff runner-up effort to champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). “I wish I could have been a little closer. She was also a little wide going into the first turn, so I decided to take her back. I go out on the same set as her in the morning and she looks very good.” She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality) posted a hard-fought win in the GI La Troienne S. May 3, then finished a close third behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) going this distance in the GII Fleur de Lis June 15. She’s a Julie was a well-beaten second in last summer’s GI Alabama S. at the Spa. Electric Forest (Curlin), a half-sister to young sire Maclean’s Music (Distorted Humor) and graded winner Kentuckian (Tiznow), returns after posting a first stakes success in Keeneland’s GIII Hilliard Lyons-Baird Doubledogdare S. Apr. 19. The post Wow Cat Returns in Shuvee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Drawn gate 15 in a field of 16 for Friday’s S$250,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe S. at Singapore’s Kranji Racecourse, Barree Stable’s Inferno (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) had to do it tough, but stamped his authority on the race in the final furlong and a half to defeat fellow Australian-bred Rocket Star (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) by a sound two-length margin. The duo had crossed the line in the same order in the Magic Millions 2YOS In Training Sale conditions event 12 days prior. Inferno broke on terms, but drifted back into a midfield position while trapped out three and four wide into and around the turn. Given a bit of rein nearing the entrance to the straight, he quickly descended on the leaders at the 300m while drifting in a bit, then accelerated away despite having to cover the extra real estate on the bend. Rocket Star raced in the latter half of the field and hit the line nicely to be second ahead of Hotshots Slam (NZ) (Swiss Ace {Aus}) in third. “I just wanted to keep him out of trouble early,” said winning jockey Michael Rodd, who bagged a four-timer Friday. “There were a lot of quick horses on my inside. I was three and a half wide, but he switched off so easy for me. He just rested out there and just travelled, he was never under pressure.” The winner will get a rest and could target the age-restricted Saas Fee S. (1200m) Nov. 10. The 81st worldwide black-type winner for his sire, Inferno carries Danehill 2×3 and hails from the extended family of that sire’s paternal dual Group 1-winning granddaughter Lotteria (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). Spina Rosa, who sold for A$75,000 in foal to So You Think (NZ) at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, foaled a filly by the Coolmore stallion that spring and was most recently covered by Shamexpress (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). Friday’s Results: AUSHORSE GOLDEN HORSESHOE S., S$250,000 (£147,051/€163,760/A$260,729/US$183,854), Kranji, 7-19, 2yo, 1200mT, 1:10.76, gd. 1–INFERNO (AUS), 121, g, 2, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) 1st Dam: Spina Rosa (Aus), by Redoute’s Choice (Aus) 2nd Dam: Gypsy Geena (Aus), by Woodman 3rd Dam: Rose Reward (NZ), by Sir Tristram (Ire) 1ST STAKES WIN. (A$10,000 Wlg ’17 MGLMAY; NZ$140,000 Ylg ’18 NZBJAN). O-Barree Stable; B-Westbury Stud Ltd (NSW); T-Cliff Brown; J-Michael Rodd; S$148,750. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, S$188,913. 2–Rocket Star (Aus), 121, g, 2, Star Witness (Aus)–Tragic Moment, by Pivotal (GB). (A$190,000 RNA Ylg ’18 MMGCYS; A$130,000 2yo ’18 MMOCT). O-Rodolfo Gualberto Mendoza. S$53,125. 3–Hotshots Slam (NZ), 121, g, 2, Swiss Ace (Aus)–Derrydane (NZ), by Danehill. (NZ$180,000 Ylg ’18 NZBJAN). O-Ghgygs Stable. S$26,875. Margins: 2, NK, NK. Winner’s Odds: 2.40. Also Ran: Count Me In (NZ), Big Hearted (Aus), Beer Garden (NZ), War Frontier (NZ), Admiral Winston (Aus), No Regrets (NZ), Mister Dynamo (Aus), Tell Me (NZ), Achieved More (Aus), Boom Shakalaka (Aus), Charming Diamond (NZ), Golden Dash (Arg), Beauty Diva (NZ). Scratched: Glenafton (NZ), Water Rocket (Arg), Thai Boy (NZ). Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO. The post Inferno Defies Wide Trip in Aushorse Golden Horseshoe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A pair of grade 1 winners in Wow Cat and She's a Julie lead an especially deep edition of the $200,000 Shuvee Stakes (G3) July 21 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

A pair of grade 1 winners in Wow Cat (CHI) and She's a Julie lead an especially deep edition of the $200,000 Shuvee Stakes (G3) July 21 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

The Frankie Dettori show, which diverted to Killarney midweek, moves on to The Curragh on Saturday with ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Star Catcher (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) the key actress in the G1 Kerrygold Irish Oaks. Untried in Classic company unlike some of her contemporaries, Anthony Oppenheimer’s homebred proved her quality with a defeat of the G1 Epsom Oaks third Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in a strong renewal of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 20. Staying on powerfully at the end of her first try at a mile and a half, the half-sister to the GI Canadian International hero Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid) is poised to take on the Irish fillies on their home soil. “Star Catcher seems in good form, but she’s got to take on the very best now,” Dettori said. “Her home work has always been good and Ascot wasn’t a surprise to us, because she has taken a good step forward every time she ran. She’ll have to do that again to feature in the finish on Saturday, but at the moment all the home work has been very good and I can’t wait to get back to the Curragh again.” The re-opposing Fleeting is joined by fellow Ballydoyle representative Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was a neck behind Star Catcher’s stablemate Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when second in the May 31 G1 Epsom Oaks and was the hot 11-10 favourite coming here for the G1 Pretty Polly S. last time. In the event, she was no match for the impressive winner Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) when third in that June 28 10-furlong test and looked in need of this trip. “I thought Pink Dogwood ran very well the last day in the Pretty Polly, but she is going back up in trip again,” commented Aidan O’Brien, who is looking for a sixth renewal. “Fleeting seems to be fine since Ascot and everyone is happy with her.” Fourth at Epsom was Waverley Racing’s Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who arrives here a fresh filly with Ralph Beckett’s stable jockey Harry Bentley on board. The same connections’ Antonia de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) beat the subsequent Listed Prix Thiberville winner Star Terms (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by four lengths in the Listed Abingdon S. over 10 furlongs at Newbury June 13. Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) took that race en route to victory here 12 months ago and it would be no surprise if she emulates her as she is a still-unexposed filly who could be top-class. “Both fillies are in good form and the drop of rain they’re getting will help,” Beckett said. “Their recent work has been up to scratch and they are going into the race in good shape. Manuela De Vega would look the one at this stage, but it might be a different story come Saturday night. On the evidence we’ve seen so far, I think Harry has chosen right but my record at predicting these things is not the best. I’m much happier with Antonia De Vega now than I was going to Newbury, so we’ll see.” The Curragh’s card also sees ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pistoletto (War Front) come back after a short break in the G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey S. Two-for-two over five furlongs at Tipperary Apr. 25 and Naas May 19, the brother to the high-class Avenge injured himself in the stalls before the latter hard-fought success so remains an exciting prospect. Fellow Ballydoyle runner Mount Fuji (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) never threatened in the G2 Norfolk S. over five at Royal Ascot June 20 and is bound to appreciate this extra furlong and 63 yards as he bolsters the stable challenge for a 12th renewal. Mick Halford saddles Sammy Hon Kit Ma’s June 28 course maiden winner Roman Turbo (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and he said, “He was running at the Curragh on Derby weekend, so we didn’t necessarily think he’d win first time up but he had been pleasing us. He’s a nice horse and he’s gone the right way since.” Following the Anglesey is the G2 Paddy Power Minstrel S. over seven furlongs and Frankie has sound claims of the ideal Irish Oaks warm-up on Sultan Ali’s Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Flawless so far in 2019, the imposing 4-year-old enters off wins in the Apr. 27 Listed King Richard III S. at Leicester and the G3 Prix du Palais-Royal at ParisLongchamp May 30 and trainer James Tate is hopeful he can continue the trajectory. “He’s in great form this season and the Curragh is pretty straight with a right-handed dog leg which I think will really suit,” he said. “I don’t think ground bothers him now he’s four. He’s won on soft and good-to-firm and it looks like it will be roughly good from what I can read into the situation.” Joining Hey Gaman from Britain is Ross Harmon’s June 8 G3 John of Gaunt S. winner Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), who is also unbeaten this term with all starts having come at Haydock. “I’m very happy with him–it’s another step up, but he’s in very good form and we’re hoping for a big run,” trainer John Quinn commented. “The forecast has come in his favour, he will need the rain, but there is quite a bit forecast through Friday so as long as it’s good ground or easier he’ll run.” Newbury’s fixture kicks off with an intriguing edition of the Listed bet365 Steventon S. in which the 3-year-old colts Fox Chairman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Pondus (GB) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) go head-to-head. The former was runner-up to Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot June 20, while Pondus was only sixth in the G2 King Edward VII S. at that meeting a day later. Trainer James Fanshawe is hoping Hubert Strecker’s Pondus can get back in the swing, having looked c colt with a bright future when winning novice contests over this 10-furlong trip at Nottingham May 10 and Sandown May 30. “He was a little bit keen at Ascot and didn’t get home, but before then he was very progressive over a mile and a quarter,” he said. “We’re dropping him back to that distance and he seems in good form.” Fox Chairman’s trainer Andrew Balding said, “We’re really happy with him. He ran well at Ascot and has been in good form. I think James Fanshawe’s horse has got lots of untapped potential as well, so it will be an interesting race.” Fanshawe is also looking to stable stalwart The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) to fly the flag in the G3 bet365 Hackwood S. which the 7-year-old captured three years ago. Sixth in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot last time June 22, last year’s G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner needs a confidence boost. “We’re coming back in class a little bit and will see how we get on,” his trainer said. “He ran very well at Ascot. It’s the first time he gets in a group three without a penalty this year, so we decided to go this route.” First and second in the Listed Carnarvon S. over this course and distance on the Lockinge card May 18, Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) re-oppose in the Hackwood with the former on a salvage mission having finished seventh in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 21. Trainer Charlie Hills is expecting better from Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s 3-year-old and said, “I think he was a little bit under the weather last time at Ascot, but we’ve been pleased with him the last couple of weeks. I don’t think he’ll mind the the rain.” In the Weatherbys Super Sprint, the June 20 G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Ventura Rebel (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) will be a warm order in the valuable prize while Newmarket’s key race is the Listed Aphrodite Fillies’ S. in which Kin Hung Kei, Qatar Racing and Laurent Dassault’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Sparkle Roll (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) sets the standard after her third placing in the Ribblesdale. The post Catch The Star In Kildare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With extreme heat expected across a wide swath of the United States this weekend, a number of tracks have decided to cancel or postpone racing. View the full article

Jockey Huber Villa-Gomez won his 2,000th career race when Cozar's Queen went gate to wire to win the second race at Presque Isle Downs on July 18. View the full article

After a couple of quiet Saturday’s its great to have runners at Market Rasen and Cartmel where the courses have put on some really good money. The highlight of the week so far has certainly been Noah And The Ark winning at Ffos Las on Thursday. It was my only runner at the course and […] The post Donald McCain Saturday Runners appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

A diverse mix of shippers and local hopes will line up in the one-mile GIII Ontario Colleen S. for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Woodbine. One of only two graded/group winners in the field, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Seek and Destroy (Verrazano) has been given the slight nod on the morning line at 5-2. Off the board in her first two tries last summer at Saratoga, she graduated by daylight in an off-the-turfer Oct. 8 at Belmont and repeated in the washed-off Chelsey Flower S. there 20 days later. Getting back on the grass in her sophomore bow, the $425,000 KEESEP grad pulled a 10-1 upset in the GIII Soaring Softly S. May 18 at Big Sandy and was third after setting the pace in the Wild Applause S. last out in Elmont June 22. A trio of Woodbine-based runners appear to pose the biggest threats to the favorite. Sister Peacock (Real Solution) debuted for a $32,000 tag here last October and won off by five lengths before repeating by 7 1/2 lengths in an optional claimer Nov. 7. Suffering her only two beats when second in a pair of starter stakes over the winter at Gulfstream, she returned home with a sharp score in the Star Shoot S. Apr. 21 over the Tapeta and doubled up in the William D. Graham Memorial S. back on grass June 8. Joey Gee Thoroughbreds’ Speedy Soul (Souper Speedy) looks for her fourth stakes score and first in non-restricted company. Winner of her first two last summer, including a tally in the Muskoka S. in which she rallied from 13th, she was sixth behind Sister Peacock making her sophomore bow in the Star Shoot before annexing the Ontario-bred Fury S. May 12. Third as the favorite in the Woodbine Oaks June 8, she scored convincingly in the Bison City S. last out June 30 and will try turf for the first time here. Stronach Stables’ Holyanna (Point of Entry) looms as the pedigree play off a promising debut victory. A half-sister to MGSW and Queen’s Plate heroine Holy Helena (Ghostzapper), the dark bay was unveiled going a sixteenth further on the Etobicoke turf June 22 and cruised to a 4 1/4-length triumph. The post Interesting Mix in Ontario Colleen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fans at Monmouth Park for Saturday’s GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational will be treated to a look at a multiple Grade I winner on the undercard, as Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing’s Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) towers over seven rivals in the GIII Molly Pitcher S. Never out of the trifecta in 15 outings, the dark bay captured the GI Santa Anita Oaks before running third in last spring’s GI Kentucky Oaks. Romping in the GII Mother Goose S., she rebounded from a dull third in the GI Alabama S. to best champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) via disqualification in the GI Cotillion S. She is undefeated in four starts as a 4-year-old, following up victories in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. and GII Azeri S. with back-to-back Grade I triumphs in the Apple Blossom H. and Ogden Phipps S. last out June 8. Fifth behind her that day was Pacific Wind (Curlin), who looks for her first score since last May’s GII Ruffian S. at Belmont. She was off the board in her next two before finishing third in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. and GIII Go For Wand H. to close her 4-year-old account. A distant runner-up while defending her Ruffian title, she was unable to make any impact when trailing throughout in the Phipps. Stonestreet Stables’ lightly-raced Electric Forest (Curlin) looks to take a step forward for Chad Brown. A good-looking debut winner last April at Keeneland, the homebred was sixth in a Churchill optional claimer and shelved for the next six-plus months before returning with an allowance tally Nov. 17 at Aqueduct. Runner-up in the GIII Rampart S. Dec. 15 at Gulfstream, she picked up her first stakes tally in the GIII Hilliard Lyons-Baird Doubledogdare S. last out Apr. 19 at Keeneland. The post Midnight Bisou Lays Over Molly Pitcher Crew appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Marcus Stables’ Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) has made her bones as a sprinter thus far in her young career, but the Wesley Ward trainee ships across the country and stretches out as a lukewarm morning-line favorite in a wide-open renewal of Saturday’s GII San Clemente S. at Del Mar. A first-out victress last spring at Keeneland, the bay faded to 13th in Royal Ascot’s G3 Albany S., then returned to the States to post a 10-1 upset of the Bolton Landing S. last August at Saratoga. Tenth against males in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, she was a good second after chasing a fast pace in the Limestone Turf Sprint S. in her seasonal debut Apr. 12 at Keeneland before running an even fourth in the GIII Soaring Softly S. last out May 18 at Belmont. Maxim Rate (Exchange Rate) pulled a 28-1 shocker in her career bow Feb. 16 at Santa Anita and proved that was no fluke with a nose second in the GIII Providencia S. there Apr. 6. Scoring as the favorite in the GIII Senorita S. May 4, she looks to rebound from a disappointing fifth in the GIII Honeymoon S. June 1. Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man) tries open stakes for the first time looking to extend her unbeaten turf record. Runner-up in the California-bred Generous Portion S. and Golden State Juvenile Fillies S. as a juvenile, she went wire to wire in the California Cup Oaks in her grass bow and repeated in an open optional claimer June 16 at Santa Anita. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ Keeper Ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute) also comes in riding a win streak. Winless in three dirt efforts as a 2-year-old, she graduated by open lengths when switched to synthetic Apr. 7 at Golden Gate and repeated in a mile off-the-turfer there May 18. Stepping on the lawn for the first time in an optional claimer June 9, the gray set a fast pace and kept on going to score at 11-1 while setting a course record for 1 1/16 miles at the Bay Area oval. The post Stillwater Cove Stretches Out in San Clemente appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hronis Racing’s Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), undefeated in two starts to that point, had his coming out party with a 6 3/4-length romp in the GII San Diego H. on opening weekend last summer at Del Mar. He will attempt to repeat that feat as a heavy favorite in Saturday’s renewal of the seaside oval’s annual prep for the GI Pacific Classic. Debuting in October of 2017 with a sharp off-the-pace success, the chestnut proved both his talent and versatility when annexing a Santa Anita optional claimer in front-running fashion with an eye-popping 107 Beyer last May. Dominating four rivals in the San Diego, he passed on the Pacific Classic and instead scored an easy 7 1/4-length victory in the GII Pat O’Brien S. Suffering his only defeat when sixth at odds-on in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, he returned off a seven-plus month layoff to get up late by a half-length in the GII True North S. last out June 7 at Belmont. The 5-year-old has drilled sharply at his Arcadia base in the interim, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 (1/50) June 29. Gary Broad’s Core Beliefs (Quality Road) looks like the main danger adding blinkers for Peter Eurton. Third to Triple Crown champion Justify (Scat Daddy) in last spring’s GI Santa Anita Derby, the bay annexed the GIII Ohio Derby two starts later. Off the board in his next two, he kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a 9-1 upset of the GII New Orleans H. Mar. 23 at Fair Grounds, but regressed to finish a well-beaten sixth in the GI Gold Cup S. May 27 at Santa Anita. Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky), a distant runner-up to Catalina Cruiser in the 2018 San Diego, tries to rediscover the form that saw him post back-to-back triple-digit Beyers last spring when romping in the GII Californian S. and finishing second to champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in the Gold Cup. So far this year, the 6-year-old gelding was second in the GII San Carlos S. and third in the GII Kona Gold S. around one turn at Santa Anita. The post Catalina Cruiser Aims for San Diego Encore appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article