Wandering Eyes

A complaint has been filed in San Diego Superior Court by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and the California Thoroughbred Trainers against Del Mar, which to date, has not allowed the Hall of Fame trainer to start horses at its meet. View the full article

Butter Hut (Interactif) stamped himself as one to watch with a powerhouse, front-running debut victory sprinting over the Indiana Grand turf course last Friday. Listed at 10-1 on the morning-line, he went off at odds of 3-1 thanks to a flashy worktab, which included three bullet drills at Keeneland for trainer Lee Thomas. The 3-year-old Louisiana-bred, owned and bred by Keith Plaisance, earned a gaudy 88 Beyer Speed Figure for the eight-length tour de force. “When you see those works in the morning you get excited, but there’s still so many questions when you’re going into that first race,” Thomas said. “You’re just looking for him to be professional walking over, getting saddled and loading into the gate. Once he broke on top, it was a bit of a relief. It was his race after that. It was great.” Butter Hut has returned to Louisiana while Thomas and Plaisance work on a game plan moving forward. The 34-year-old conditioner currently has 36 horses in training at Evangeline Downs and another eight at Keeneland. “We’re going to take our time and progress with him,” Thomas said. “He’s a Louisiana-bred and came out of the race really well. That’s always the first major hurdle to overcome. We don’t really have a spot picked out for him going forward. He’s got a really great owner in Keith Plaisance and he’s going to let the horse develop and find his own way.” Plaisance is the owner of Pacific Gulf Wire Rope, a leader in the wire rope and rigging industry. He purchased Butter’s Hut’s three-time winning dam Spun Ribbon (Hard Spun), a daughter of the lawnmower Take the Ribbon (Chester House), for $185,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Keith has been very successful down here on the Louisiana racing scene, but he’s trying to branch out now,” Thomas said. “He’s looking forward to putting his horses out there on more of a national level.” Thomas added, “We’re really excited about [Butter Hut] going forward.” Thomas saddled 38 winners from 260 starters in 2018, good for earnings of $794,854 in 2018. He’s already gotten his picture taken 26 times this year. “I really started out training for my mother [Michele Rodriguez] and our family–she owns Elite Thoroughbreds down in Folsom, Louisiana,” Thomas said. “We’ve been branching out from Louisiana. This was our first year that we’ve also run in Texas, Indiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma. It’s been an exciting year.” 3rd-Indiana Grand, $31,000, Msw, 7-12, 3, 4,/5yo, 5fT, :55.80, fm. BUTTER HUT (c, 3, Interactif–Spun Ribbon, by Hard Spun) was off at 3-1 while sporting a very upbeat worktab from Keeneland. He blasted out to the front, led comfortably through an opening quarter in :21.86, and drew off in the stretch to win by a visually impressive eight lengths. Boom Five Thousand (Bullet Train {GB}) was second. The winner’s dam, a daughter of the talented turfer Take The Ribbon (Chester House), had a colt by Custom for Carlos in 2018 and a filly by Bodemeister this year. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $18,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-Keith Plaisance (LA); T-Lee Thomas. The post In Sharper Focus: Butter Hut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A complaint has been filed in San Diego Superior Court by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and the California Thoroughbred Trainers against Del Mar, which to date, has not allowed the Hall of Fame trainer to start horses at its meet. View the full article

Bob Fortus, the long-time turf writer for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, died Tuesday. He was 69. His death was confirmed by the Times-Picayune, which reported that Fortus was seriously injured when struck by a car in March near the Fair Grounds Racetrack. The article noted that Fortus’s death was a result of complications suffered from the accident and that he died at the Capitol House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Times-Picayune report revealed that Fortus suffered several broken bones and was in a coma for weeks, and had to undergo two operations to stop bleeding in his brain. Fortus, who covered the Fair Grounds beat, as well as the nation racing scene, worked for the Times-Picayune from 1980 until he was laid off in 2012. “What Bob was passionate about, he was really passionate about,” said Doug Tatum, a former Times-Picayune sports editor. “He didn’t go halfway on things. He was immensely passionate about horse-race coverage. He took pride in it, in being the source in New Orleans for horse racing news.” Fortus, who was quick with a laugh and had an easy-going manner, earned several awards during his career. He was named to the Fair Grounds Press Box Hall of Fame in 2011. Two years later, he won the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters’ Walter Haight Award, which honors “career excellence in turf writing.” “I don’t think we can overstate his love for horse racing,” said fellow turf writer Gary West, a close friend who has written for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News and ESPN, told the Times-Picayune. “He had a real passion for racing and for horses. I think he realized how unselfish the horses are and how pure the sport is. In my view, he saw clearly what horses are doing when they race. They’re defining themselves. Even the lowliest horse out there was making an effort. He was defining himself.” Before getting into sportswriting, Fortus taught statistics, first at Washington State University, then at Tulane University. He earned three degrees from the University of Michigan, an undergraduate degree in mathematics and master’s and doctoral degrees in statistics. Survivors include his companion, Cherish Van Mullen. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The post Turf Writer Bob Fortus Passes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Breeders’ Cup and FanDuel Group, parent company of TVG, have entered into a comprehensive multi-year sponsorship agreement making TVG and FanDuel the official Wagering Partners of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The agreement also gives TVG and FanDuel official partner status for four of its business units: Advanced-Deposit Wagering (TVG) as well as sports betting, daily fantasy sports and on-line casino, all of which operate under the FanDuel brand. TVG will become the name-in-title sponsor of the $2-million GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the $2-million GI Breeders’ Cup Mile and will produce the Breeders’ Cup Players’ Show, which is a live wagering-focused telecast of the World Championships that is sent to simulcast outlets around the world. “We are excited to be back working with TVG and the FanDuel Group. TVG has been a long-time supporter of the Breeders’ Cup and a good friend to the horse racing industry,” said Craig Fravel, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup. “We are equally excited about putting the very best in international Thoroughbred racing in front of a new wave of sports bettors and our partnership with TVG and FanDuel is a big part of that plan.” Kip Levin, CEO of TVG and COO of FanDuel, said, “We are looking forward to not only enhancing our ability to cover the Breeders’ Cup races themselves, but to devote more coverage and promotion to the lead-up through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In Series. This is a great opportunity to bring horse racing and the Breeders’ Cup front and center to our sports betting and daily fantasy customers as well and to introduce horse racing’s championship event to the next generation of racing fans.” The post Breeders’ Cup, FanDuel Announce Sponsorship Agreement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

OXO Equine’s Rowayton (Into Mischief), most recently a troubled third in the July 6 GIII Dwyer S., will make his next start in the July 26 Curlin S. at Saratoga. “He was supposed to breeze this morning, but the rain set that back,” said trainer Don Chatlos. “He’ll breeze on Friday. The race for him is the Curlin and I only wanted one breeze in between for him.” Rowayton, twice Grade I placed as a juvenile, made his sophomore debut with an impressive allowance victory June 6 at Belmont Park. He was boxed in traffic before finishing a good third behind Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) in the Dwyer. “That trip is what won us the allowance race, but probably cost us second in the Dwyer,” said Chatlos. “I can’t take anything away from Code of Honor. He ran huge that day.” How Rowayton handles the nine-furlong Curlin will determine which route he takes later in the summer. “We can judge from there if it’s the [Aug. 24 GI Runhappy] Travers S. [at 10 furlongs] or the [Aug. 24 GI] Allen Jerkens next [at seven furlongs],” continued Chatlos. “We can always cut back to the seven furlongs if we think the mile and an eighth was too much for him.” Graded stakes winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Instagrand (Into Mischief), also owned by Larry Best’s OXO Equine, is back in training with Chatlos after having a chip removed from his left hind ankle following an eighth-place finish in the May 4 GIII Pat Day Mile. “Instagrand got in here on Saturday. He’s just jogging right now. He wants to do more, but we’ll take our time and let him tell us when he’s ready,” said Chatlos. “We’ll let him get ready on his own and if that means Belmont fall meet, that’s fine.” Instagrand won last year’s GII Best Pal S. and was third in the Mar. 9 GIII Gotham S. and Apr. 6 GI Santa Anita Derby before the Pat Day Mile. Chatlos also has a bevy of Best’s high-priced juveniles readying for racetrack debuts. Forever Poe (Colonel John), an $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May purchase, turned in a three-furlong breeze in :35.02 at Belmont July 6. “He will probably work here this week,” said Chatlos. “He had a shin that was bugging him and we didn’t want to press on him.” Madison Parc (Curlin) worked four furlongs in :48.87 (14/80) at Saratoga Sunday. The $420,000 Fasig-Tipton November weanling purchase is a half-sister to Best’s GISP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Brill (Medaglia d’Oro). Chatlos expects the New York-bred filly to be ready to make her debut in about three weeks. Mundaye Call (Into Mischief), purchased for $950,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, worked four furlongs in :49.98 (45/80) at Saratoga Sunday. “Jose Ortiz worked her the same day as Madison Parc and she went a little slower, :49 and change,” Chatlos said. “He let her gallop out faster than she worked. He was just getting a feel for her. He’ll work her out of the gate on Sunday.” Also on the Saratoga grounds is Snap Chap (Into Mischief), a $1.2-million Keeneland September yearling purchase. “We have Instagrand, which is a play on Instagram, and this one is named Snap Chap,” said Chatlos. “He looks the part for sure. He’s a ways away from a work, but he’s a nice-looking horse.” Snap Chap is out of the unraced Gaudete (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Munnings (Speightstown). The post Best Runners Eye Spa Engagements appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine's $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) attracted 10 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the inner turf July 20, and a strong pair from the U.S. is set to face off with two tough locals. View the full article

OFF THE RECORD (c, 3, Distorted Humor–Savvy Star, by Medaglia d’Oro) drew in as an MTO for this debut after heavy rains soaked the track through the first half of the day Wednesday and earned his diploma in the slop with a decisive score. Displaying several bullet works at Keeneland this spring, he was given a 2-1 chance to kick off his career on the right hoof in this affair, which was scratched down to five. The bay kept close tabs from a joint second as the Azrael (Cross Traffic) registered opening splits of :22.57 and :45.65. Drawing even with the pacesetter at the top of the stretch, Off the Record splashed away to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:24.50. Sales history: $295,000 RNA 2yo ’18 FTFMAR; $150,000 yrl ’17 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-WinStar Farm (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. The post Distorted Humor Colt Scores in Sloppy Spa Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation will co-host a cocktail reception, reading, and book signing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame with author Patrick Smithwick as he launches his new book Racing Time: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Liberation. The event, which coincides with the 22nd running of the G1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase at Saratoga Racecourse, begins at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public. In addition to the book signing and reading by the author, there will be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. There is no charge for the reception; RSVPs are welcome at www.trfinc.org/racing-time. The post TRF to Co-Host Book Launch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Castle Hill Gaming, which provides state-of-the-art gaming products to casino gaming facilities across the United States, has joined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Based in Charlottesville, Va., Castle Hill boasts over 120 game titles, offered in both mechanical and video reel formats, for its historical horse racing (HHR) machines that are based on the results of previously run horse races. The company’s HHR machines are GLI-approved for operation in Castle Hill’s home state of Virginia, and already in use at casinos and gaming facilities in Oklahoma, Washington, and Texas, among other states. “We thank Castle Hill for its support of the NTRA and look forward to working with their team as they expand their gaming portfolio into horse racing and historical racing,” said NTRA Chief Operating Officer Keith Chamblin. The post Castle Hill Gaming Joins NTRA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Steve Byk, host of “At the Races” on Sirius XM, is partnering with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to send one NHC Tour member to Las Vegas to compete in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) next February. The “Beat Byk NHC Challenge” will run from July 20-Sept. 2. Byk will pick a horse in one stakes race each Saturday and Sunday and listeners can log in to www.ntra.com/beatbyk/ where they will be able to either use Byk’s selection to win the featured race or try to beat Byk by selecting another horse. All who correctly select the winning horse in each round advance to a September NHC online qualifier limited to winning participants from the weekly promotions. Participants can win up to three entries into the September online qualifier based on how many times they qualify during the promotional period. The winner of the “Beat Byk” Online Qualifier in September will then represent “At the Races” at the 2020 NHC, which will take place in the Bally’s Events Center from February 7-9. In addition, any participant who “Beats Byk” in any of the weekly contests will be able to join the NHC Tour for a special offer of $1 for the remainder of the 2019 NHC Tour. Those who “Bet with Byk” and win a spot in the NHC online qualifier by picking the winner will be required to join the Tour ($50 annual membership good through Jan. 31, 2020) to be eligible to win the NHC spot. The post NTRA, Byk Team to Offer NHC 2020 Spot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association has pledged $25,000 to Mercy House of Saratoga, a new non-profit created to provide temporary residences for a wide range of people in need. The funds will be put toward the construction of a 6,000 square-foot suite of rooms to serve backstretch workers from Saratoga Race Course, within a four-story, 30,000 square-foot building to be built on Washington Street by Bethesda Episcopal Church. The suite will be dedicated to the late Rick Violette, longtime president of NYTHA and a tireless advocate for the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST). “NYTHA is pleased to support Mercy House’s development of accommodations for backstretch workers who are being helped by BEST for counseling, recovery and recuperation,” said Joe Appelbaum, president of the NYTHA Board. “We believe that Mercy House will help further BEST’s mission, which is to meet the health and social welfare needs of the backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course through alcohol or substance use counseling and other assistance.” Construction of the $9-million building, at 26-28 Washington Street, is expected to begin in the coming year. The post NYTHA Pledge to Mercy House Honors Violette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Mark Tompkins, best known for winning the 1993 G1 St Leger with Bob’s Return (Ire) (Bob Back), will retire at the end of the month after 40 years with a license. Tompkins went close to winning the G1 2000 Guineas in 1996 when his Even Top (Ire) (Topanoora {Ire}) was beaten a short head by Mark of Esteem (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), and his clientele included Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench, for whom he won the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. and the Lincoln H. with Smokey Oakey (Ire) (Tendulkar). “I’m 68 and have decided to retire, I’ve not been very well and it’s getting harder and harder for everybody,” Tompkins said. “I’ve been training since 1979 and trying my best–we’ve had good horses and good owners, but it gets harder to find the good horses. They are with a small pool of trainers. A bit like Luca [Cumani, who retired in 2018], I’ve got my stud and will live there. “It’s been great, we’ve done it for 40 years and had a fantastic time,” he added. “We’ve one or two to run, but I’ll certainly finish at the end of the month. A few will go to James Eustace, my former assistant, my owners know him so hopefully a few will go there.” The post Trainer Tompkins To Retire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SKY OF HOOK (c, 2, Tapiture–Ambitious Dancer, by Latent Heat) became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit) with a victory in the Rick Violette S. on a rain drenched Wednesday at the Spa. Opening his account with a narrow score against fellow Empire-breds at Belmont May 10, he was 9-1 in this step up to stakes company. Perched in a two-wide third early, the chestnut kept a watchful eye on the leaders through a :22.75 opening quarter and a :46.60 half-mile. Listentoyourheart (Afleet Alex) tried to run away with it in the lane, but Sky of the Hook had him in his sights and closed steadily over the soupy surface in the driving rain to get up for a narrow score in 1:13.17. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-EV Racing Stable; B-EV & NC Corp (NY); T-Rudy Rodriguez. The post Tapiture Gets First Stakes Winner in Rick Violette S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Christophe Clement unveils a half-brother to world record-setting turf sprinter Disco Partner (Disco Rico) in fellow Patricia Generazio homebred FLY FLY AWAY (First Samurai). The gray was bred in New York like his elder sibling who is a multiple graded stakes winner and earner of over $1.4 million in the Empire State. TJCIS PPs The post July 18 Insights: Half to World Record Setter Debuts at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Blindwillie McTell, a three-time winner of stakes for New York-breds, will stretch out to a route for the first time when he starts in the $150,000 New York Derby July 20 at Finger Lakes Racetrack. View the full article

Jockey James Doyle will partner G1 Princes Of Wales’s S. hero Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 27, Racing Post reported on Wednesday. His regular pilot, Frankie Dettori, has chosen instead to stay aboard dual Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Courtesy of his Prince Of Wales’s score, Crystal Ocean has been ranked at 127 in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, four points better than Enable. It will be Doyle’s first ride aboard the Sir Michael Stoute trainee and world’s highest rated horse. “He is riding Crystal Ocean in the King George,” Doyle’s agent George Baker told Racing Post. “I spoke to Sir Michael’s office at the weekend and it was confirmed yesterday.” The 5-year-old entire is riding a three-race winning streak, having struck in the G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown on Apr. 26 and in the May 18 G3 Aston Park S. prior to his Royal Ascot score in the Prince Of Wales’s S. The post Doyle Gains ‘Ocean’ Ride in King George appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As horse racing's second season begins to unfold, Gary West has more reasons to focus on the future than virtually anyone else involved in the sport. View the full article

The life of an international bloodstock agent is often portrayed as a glamorous one featuring high-stakes transactions, attending top class race-meetings, and wining and dining well-heeled clients. However, the opposite is often the case for many agents with constant travelling, disappointing racehorses and a lack of well-heeled clients a more regular scenario. One agent who must take some responsibility for the former image is Michel Zerolo, whose Oceanic Bloodstock has been the signature for a glittering array of high-end bloodstock purchases in the last decade. While operating at the top end admittedly gives one a better chance of being associated with Group 1 horses, one first has to earn a reputation and develop a track record in order to be awarded a shot at the big time, and Zerolo has certainly earned his stripes. His purchases have been at the forefront again this summer with the half-siblings Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) both winning at the top level in the GI Diana S. at Saratoga and G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, respectively. Despite such success, Zerolo is far from resting on his laurels and taking time out to speak to the TDN he said, “You are only as good as your last purchase so you have to keep looking for the next star. However, Sistercharlie has been brilliant and continues to be so and I am really looking forward to seeing Sottsass again. His main aim is the Arc but he will have to come through his trial first.” While five-time Grade I victor and Eclipse Award winner Sistercharlie was purchased privately by Zerolo on behalf of Peter Brant before she finished second in the G1 Prix de Diane in 2017, her younger brother was acquired at the yearling stage at Arqana from the Ecurie des Monceaux draft for €340,000. “The fact I had just bought Sistercharlie for Peter, we had to go and look at him closely and we just loved the horse. Sottsass is a different type to his sister, while I have to admit that Siyouni is quite close to my heart. I owned his grandfather Polar Falcon–he won a Group 3 in my colours in 1991–before selling him to Cheveley Park Stud. I had also bought the dam of Polar Falcon Marie D’Argonne (Fr) about 35 years ago so I have a long history with the family,” he said. Florida based Zerolo is now helping Peter Brant develop a similar association with the family of Sottsass as Brant currently owns all four progeny of racing age of the mare Starlet’s Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). In addition to the aforementioned high achievers, Brant also has care of the G3 Prix Bertran de Tarragon winner My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) and her unraced juvenile half-brother now called Radiant Child (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), a €400,000 acquisition at Arqana last year. The investment in the family has so far been rewarded in spades and further investment should not be ruled out with Starlet’s Sister’s fifth produce, a colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus), catalogued in the August Sale at Arqana as lot 21. Zerolo and Brant have formed a formidable partnership in recent years and current results show what is possible when financial clout meets bloodstock acumen. While the pair have been acquainted for quite a while it is only the last couple of years that Brant took advantage of Zerolo’s judgement of horse flesh. “I knew Peter casually from his prior horse life around 25 years ago and then we reconnected when he decided to return to racing in a serious way. One thing led to another and he kindly gave me a chance to buy some horses for him, the first one being Sistercharlie,” Zerolo explained. While no doubting her talent, that first acquisition could easily have had a less celebrated outcome as Zerolo added, “When Sistercharlie come to the States from France she developed a serious bout of pneumonia and she did well to recover from that. She had another touch of it this winter and to again come back and win the Diana proves what an amazing horse she is. She is so tough and classy.” As well as operating Oceanic Bloodstock from Miami (where he calls home) Michel Zerolo has maintained strong links to his native France through Haras des Capucines, the commercial breeding farm he owns along with Eric Puerari and another more recent investor. With 43 yearlings, the farm has more lots catalogued in the Arqana August Sale than any other consignor and between that and inspecting yearlings with his bloodstock agent hat on, Zerolo will be kept busy for the next month at least. “Absolutely it will be busy. We have the largest draft on offer and I have also been busy inspecting other yearlings in advance of the sale. I went to see all the Monceaux yearlings last week, including the Fastnet Rock out of Starlet’s Sister who is a lovely colt.” But how did Zerolo get to where he is today, with a thriving commercial farm and an enviable list of blue chip clients? “I am a long time in the game at this stage, over 40 years,” he said. “I initially did some stints with a couple of trainers as that was the route I originally wanted to go down. But then I went to Ireland where I worked for the Aga Khan briefly before moving to Sir Douglas Clague’s Newberry Stud. Then through Michael Osborne I went to America where I worked for Spenthrift Farm and then I worked briefly for a French-based bloodstock agent, acting as his liaison in America before I eventually branched out on my own. That was in the early 80s.” Zerolo’s first big break when he started out as a solo agent came through the late Bobby Frankel. Recalling how that association came about Zerolo said, “I didn’t know Bobby back then but I saw him at the Fasig Tipton sale and he was training some French horses that I knew at the time and we just got chatting and he mentioned if I saw anything I liked to send it his way. A while later I called him about a horse called Al Mamoon who was in training in America at the time and he was the first horse I sold him. He went on to be a multiple graded stakes winner and it opened up a lot of doors for me. Meeting Bobby was certainly a pivotal moment in my career and I bought a lot of racehorses and several yearlings for him in the years that followed.” Working alongside such a training legend as Bobby Frankel was bound to enable Zerolo to develop relationships with influential owners and a fruitful alliance he forged later in his career was with Martin Schwartz. The pair combined to buy some household names, including Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger), the six-time Group/Grade I winner who would later become the dam of Frankel’s first top level scorer Soul Stirring (Jpn). More recently Zerolo purchased Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) on behalf of Schwartz at last year’s Arc Sale for €390,000. Twenty-four hours later the Freddy Head-trained filly won the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp and two months later Lily’s Candle was sold to Katsumi Yoshida for €1.1-million. “That was a good touch, yes that was fun,” Zerolo said with a slight chuckle before adding more seriously, “Martin has been a great, trusting client and friend and we have enjoyed some great times together.” Zerolo has carved out a highly successful, long career in what can sometimes be a fickle industry. Reputation and integrity are things that can take years to build but minutes to lose and in that respect Zerolo has played the long game to a tee. “You have to be responsible when you are spending someone else’s money and I think it is also a relationship business. You can only have so many clients and I admire my colleagues who seem to be able to manage 10 or 12 different clients; I don’t think I could do that.” The phrase ‘success is where opportunity meets readiness’ also comes to mind when Zerolo speaks about his career, which, despite being well into its fourth decade, is certainly flourishing. The post Starlet Siblings Shining For Brant, Zerolo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last month’s Sandringham H. winner Thanks Be (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) will join the ranks of turf fillies expatriated to the stable of Chad Brown following the announcement that the 3-year-old filly would join the trainer’s New York-based string. The Blood-Horse reported that Thanks Be was sold by Emma Capon to Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Wonder Stables, and agent Brad Weisbord confirmed the new ownership group to the TDN. Thanks Be made headlines at Royal Ascot for supplying trainer Charlie Fellowes as well as jockey Hayley Turner with their first wins at the Royal meeting, and Fellowes said that while he will miss her in the yard, he expects her to excel in the U.S. “She’s flying to New York to continue her racing career in America,” said Fellowes. “She’s hopefully going to have a long and successful career over there. She’s a very talented and tough filly. She gave me the greatest day of my training career to date and I will never forget her. “She will suit their style of racing and I hope she will be a real success for her new owners.” The post Thanks Be Headed To Chad Brown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Everyone loves awards – here’s some unique ones from the 2018-19 Hong Kong racing season.Best ride: Douglas Whyte – Uncle SteveWhile it was not a winning ride, Whyte’s effort on John Moore’s first-starter needs to be seen to be believed.It was Whyte’s final ride in an illustrious career and he was dealt a seemingly impossible hand with barrier 14 but somehow managed to park the four-year-old midfield on the rail by the time the turn had come.Uncle Steve and Whyte were carrying the weight of the… View the full article

Horowhenua horseman Chris Rutten has confirmed the sale of dual Group One winning two-year-old, Yourdeel, to Hong Kong. Prepared by Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards, Yourdeel fashioned an impressive record of four wins and two placings from his six juvenile starts for Rutten and fellow owners John Norwood and Rod Preston. The Dundeel gelding joins an esteemed honour role of top racehorses selected by Rutten, which includes Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old of his year Vespa, Karaka Million 2YO ... View the full article

Promising galloper Helena Baby has won four of his six career starts and will get his first opportunity at stakes level at New Plymouth on Saturday when he contests the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m). Bell is pleased with his gelding heading into Saturday and believes the $2.40 fixed odds favourite is well in at the weights. “He is working very well,” Bell said. “He will have 53kg, so it is no surprise he is one of the favoured runners.” While Helena Baby could add a first stakes... View the full article

Enigmatic gelding Gold Ambition gets a chance to win his first stakes race on Saturday - three years after many thought he would be an elite-level winner. An impressive last-start win has earned Gold Ambition a chance in the Listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Despite a slow early pace, Gold Ambition came from near last to win a 1600m benchmark race at Doomben and once again showed on his day he has terrific final burst. However, to say Gold Ambition has had a varied career would... View the full article

Glasgow ready to go View the full article