Wandering Eyes

Quadcopter hands pilot CC Wong first win as a senior View the full article

Rodd remembers Bush Padre as he hits win No 300 for Freedman View the full article

Walker-Woodworth come up with right Choice of tactics View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings July 12 View the full article

Horses' body weights July 12 View the full article

Duric stood down for Friday meeting View the full article

Early scratchings July 12 View the full article

Freedman eyes Derby Dozen with party of five View the full article

Comical gave owner Erik Johnson the first half of a personal daily double, winning the July 11 Schuylerville Stakes (G3) on Saratoga Race Course's opening day. Now it's up to the Colorado Avalanche team. View the full article

Comical gave Erik Johnson the first half of a personal daily double. Now it's up to the Colorado Avalanche. View the full article

A 6-year-old horse at Fort Erie Racetrack was saved during a dramatic rescue Thursday morning after falling into a sinkhole on the backstretch caused by a broken water main. Mr. Changue (Gottcha Gold), trained by Ken Albu for Tom Passero, was grazing when the ground gave way. The incident did not happen close to the actual track. Along with the help of horse people and the Fort Erie Fire Department, the horse was rescued safely and unharmed. Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the track, which is owned and operated by Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium, said key members of the racetrack’s maintenance, security and racing office staff have been trained to manage these types of situations through programs such as the Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training. “The safety of our horses is always a priority,” Valiquette said. said. “We would like to thank our horse people, staff, and local fire department for assisting with the safe rescue.” Mr. Changue has raced five times this year and has posted a win and two thirds and earnings of $8,831. Overall, the horse has career earnings of six wins in 42 starts and earnings of $92,184. Fort Erie is the site of the annual Prince Of Wales S., which will be run July 23. The Prince of Wales is the second leg of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Canadian Triple Crown and has a purse of $400,000. The track just announced a 5% increase in purse scale for the remainder of the 2019 season. It also announced a 20% increase for all of the races on the Prince Of Wales card. This year the Canadian Triple Crown has a $500,000 bonus if a horse wins all three races, which includes the Breeders’ S. Aug. 17. One Bad Boy (Twirling Candy), trained by Richard Baltas for owners Savjay Racing LLC, Greg Hall and Brooke Hubbard, won the Queen’s Plate, the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, and is being pointed to the Prince Of Wales. The post Horse Saved at Fort Erie After Falling Into a Sinkhole appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A policy of sourcing thoroughbred talent from this side of the Tasman has produced rich rewards this season for Australian owner John Fiteni. The Queenslander hit headlines earlier this year with a superb Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) victory by his lightly-raced stayer Surprise Baby, and his colours were to the fore again at Flemington last weekend as Miss Mandito took out the Leilani Series Final (1400m). “We’ve had a pretty good run,” Fiteni said. “I’ve got between 15 to 18 horses in wo... View the full article

The Breeders' Cup announced July 11 the election results to its Board of Directors by the 44 Breeders' Cup Members. View the full article

COMICAL (f, 2, Into Mischief–Kayce Ace {SP, $151,190}, by Tiznow), named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after an impressive debut victory, took the lead in deep stretch and held on late to capture the GIII Schuylerville S., leading a one-two finish for her sire. Unveiled May 26 at Santa Anita, the $100,000 KEESEP buy survived an early pace battle and sped clear to a six-length victory to earn her ‘Rising Star’ badge. Off as the 31-10 second choice here as late money poured in on stablemate Shippy (Midshipman), the bay came away smoothly but was ridden along by Javier Castellano to track longshot pacesetter Integral (Algorithms) with Shippy to her inside through a :22.54 quarter. Overhauling the frontrunner in early stretch as Shippy advanced to the inside, Comical gradually turned back her stablemate and inched away inside the sixteenth pole, only to have to dig in and repel Kiss the Girl (Into Mischief) by a neck on the wire in 1:11.66. Shippy was close behind in third. The victress, the 24th graded stakes winner for Into Mischief, is out of a SP full-sister to 2008 GI Travers S. hero Colonel John. She has half-sisters by Candy Ride (Arg) from each of the last two seasons and an unraced sophomore half-sister by the same sire named Liquorice Marilyn who hammered to Peter Brant for $500,000 at KEESEP. Sales History: $100,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $129,000. O-ERJ Racing, LLC, Gary Barber, Dave Kenney & Madaket Stables LLC; B-Susan Casner (KY); T-Doug O’Neill. The post Comical Tops One-Two Finish for Into Mischief in Schuylerville appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The three graded stakes offered on Million Preview Day July 13 at Arlington International Racecourse feature a number of runners who appear to be moving forward. View the full article

It took time for trade to gather pace on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale, as the six-figure mark was reached belatedly at 6 p.m. The obliging parties were Gassim Mohammed Ghazali and the Richard Fahey-consigned Mr Diamond (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), with Wednesday’s leading buyer outbidding Jamie Lloyd of Meah Lloyd Bloodstock for lot 507 at 100,000gns. Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock works in tandem with Ghazali at the sales and commented on their latest acquisition. “He had excellent form, particularly when finishing third last time out to Awe (GB), who finished fourth in the Britannia S. next time out, before being sold to Hong Kong,” Douglass said. “We also like to buy from Richard Fahey, as he’s very honest.” As the skies glowed pink and the crowds thinned, the top price was matched by lot 619, Train To Georgia (Scat Daddy), successful on debut in March and subsequently second last month. Consigned by Tuite Racing on behalf of owner Matt Morgan, the 3-year-old gelding is now bound for Dubai, according to winning bidder Tariq Mubarack, racing manager for Al Rashed Racing. “We saw him win and we were impressed,” Mubarack said. “He’s a good-looking horse, we’re a fan of Scat Daddy and hopefully, he can be a carnival horse.” Mubarak explained that Al Rashed Racing is relatively new to the horse racing game and has 10 horses in training in the UK, primarily with Peter Chapple-Hyam but also with Richard Hughes and Richard Fahey. Their stable includes the Richard Hughes-trained winner Hareeq (GB) (New Approach {GB}), debut fifth Kassab (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and 140,000gns buy Mellad (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), fourth on both his starts for Fahey. Following an opening day which saw figures rise across the board, a quieter Thursday saw the aggregate fail to reach last year’s record high, coming in at 3,218,300gns. As a result, the average of 18,931gns represented a fall of 7%, though the median posted an 8% increase at 13,000gns. Despite a certain lack of excitement, prices very much satisfied consignors judging by the impressive clearance rate of 95%–almost on par with last year. With one day of trade remaining, cumulatively the average is up 8% at 23,139gns and the median sits 20% above last year’s final figure at 12,000gns. Staying closer to home than the six-figure sales is Current Option (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 544) after William Haggas’s improving charge was knocked down to Stephen Thorne at 85,000gns. A graduate of Godolphin Flying Start, Thorne assists Irish trainer Ado McGuinness, who is enjoying a career-high run of form, and explained that the son of Camelot would race for a partnership of Shamrock and Dooley Thoroughbreds. “It’s the most expensive horse I’ve ever bought,” said Thorne. “I hope he’s lucky. He was an outstanding physical and was my pick of the sale. Looking at his races, he’s still learning and he came highly recommended by several people.” Current Option certainly looks progressive, placed on both his 2-year-olds starts and his first two as a 3-year-old, culminating in a 2 1/2-length win in a seven furlong novice stakes last month. The Dooley side of the partnership comprises three brothers sharing that surname, hailing from Manchester but very much familiar with Irish racing. Their horses with McGuinness include Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who finished a close fourth last time out in a premier handicap at the Irish Derby Festival. Thorne secured another son of Camelot soon after, going to 60,000gns for Politicise (Ire) (lot 548), also offered by Haggas’s Somerville Lodge. Bernard Kantor’s homebred had shown more precocity than Thorne’s other purchase, having won as a juvenile, and he showed promise this season when finishing third in the Royal Mile H. in April. Haggas earlier had waved goodbye to Crystal Tribe (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who posted back-to-back wins over 10 furlongs since the catalogue went to print, and fetched 82,000gns as lot 543 for his updates. The successful buyer was Jamie Lloyd, the British-based half of Meah Lloyd Bloodstock who revealed that the 3-year-old will join Jeff Mullins’s stable in California. “He seems very progressive and looks in front of the handicapper,” said Lloyd, adding, “He will race at Del Mar and will hope to capitalize on the ‘Ship And Win’ bonus, where imports receive a 40% prize money boost. If he won a conditions race there, for example, he could stand to win $90,000.” Jamie Lloyd has proven form buying for Mullins at Tattersalls, having paid 95,000gns for another dual winner in Battle Of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) back in 2008. He went on to capture three graded prizes for Mullins and owner Michael House, his placed efforts including a second in the GI Hollywood Derby. Underbidder of the day’s top lot, Jamie Lloyd bought two during the course of the evening, the other being Frontman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 527) from the Juddmonte draft for 80,000gns. Catalogued as unraced, the 3-year-old colt has run twice since, including when narrowly beaten in a mile maiden. Trained by John Gosden, he is a half-brother to G1 Nassau S. heroine Winsili (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and is now destined for Qatar, where he will be trained by Stefano Ibido for Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri. Fearsome (GB) (Makfi {GB}) attracted interest during the more subdued morning session when selling as lot 372 for 80,000gns outside the ring, having initially been bought in. Offered by trainer Nick Littmoden, the 5-year-old posted four successive wins over the winter, after gaining his first win over hurdles in October. The price of 80,000gns was also paid by Sultan al Ammaj for listed winner Barys (GB) (Kodiac). Offered by The Castlebridge Consignment as lot 562, Nurlan Bizakov’s homebred colt was trained by Archie Watson to achieve an official rating of 100. Roger Varian offered another popular Hesmonds Stud graduate in Sezim (GB) (Dansili), who followed up on four placings when scoring at Chester last time out. Ali Al-Hadidi bought the 3-year-old, lot 569, for 70,000gns and will be hoping he progresses to stakes level, as three of his siblings did. Albert Finney (GB) is Bahrain-bound after the son of Kingman (GB) was knocked down to Oliver St. Lawrence, acting on behalf of Fawzi Nass, for 70,000gns. The 3-year-old was offered as lot 520 by John Gosden’s Clarehaven Stables, previously home to horses owned by Albert Finney himself. The actor thoroughly enjoyed horse racing and owned breeding rights to Seattle Slew, while his Thoroughbred namesake boasted two career wins and a BHA rating of 84. Looking beyond the name, St. Lawrence commented on his purchase: “He’s a horse with a nice profile and a good rating, so hopefully he will suit racing in Bahrain. He likes firm ground, which is essential for us.” The post Two Top Six Figures At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big things were planned for Game Winner this year after his undefeated freshman season, but the Candy Ride colt is winless in three starts in 2019 although his connections still have big plans for him. View the full article

Big things were planned for Game Winner this year after his undefeated freshman seasons, but the Candy Ride colt is winless in three starts in 2019 although his connections still have big plans for him. View the full article

Trainer Catherine Day Phillips trains a pair of 4-year-old Curlin fillies, morning-line choice Katie Baby and Dixie Moon, for Woodbine's Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) July 13 at 1 1/16 miles. View the full article

Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm, Alan Cooper of Niarchos Family/Flaxman Holdings Ltd. and Bret Jones of Airdrie Stud were each elected to serve a four-year team on the Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors, Breeders’ Cup announced Thursday. Beck and Jones were re-elected. “We are pleased to welcome Alan Cooper as a new Director to the Breeders’ Cup Board and congratulate Antony Beck and Bret Jones on their re-election,” said Fred Hertrich III, Breeders’ Cup Chairman. “On behalf of all of us, we also extend our thanks and appreciation to Dan Pride for his dedication and commitment to the Breeders’ Cup during his time as a Director.” Following the election voted on by 44 Breeders’ Cup members, the Board of 14 Directors is as follows: Barbara Banke, Stonestreet Stables; Antony Beck, Gainesway Farm; Alan Cooper, Niarchos Family/Flaxman Holdings Ltd.; William S. Farish, Jr., Lane’s End Farm; Craig Fravel, President & CEO of the Breeders’ Cup; Walker Hancock, Claiborne Farm; Fred Hertrich (Chairman), Watercress Farm; Bret Jones, Airdrie Stud; Anthony Manganaro, Siena Farm; Clem Murphy, Coolmore Stud; Gavin Murphy, SF Bloodstock; Mike Rogers, The Stronach Group; Alex Solis II, Solis/Litt Bloodstock and Elliott Walden, WinStar Farm. The post Beck, Cooper, Jones Elected to Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Catherine Day Phillips trains a pair of 4-year-old Curlin fillies, morning-line choice Katie Baby, and Dixie Moon, for Woodbine's Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) July 13 at 1 1/16 miles. View the full article

NYRA Bets is offering a $1-million single-ticket bonus for the Late Pick 5 during Saratoga starting Saturday, July 13, the New York Racing Association announced Thursday. Saratoga’s Late Pick 5 is now open to all horseplayers across North America, but only NYRA Bets customers placing their bets through their NYRA Bets account will be eligible for the $1-million bonus. Starting with Saturday’s 11-race card, highlighted by the GI Diana S. and GIII Sanford S., NYRA Bets customers will be eligible for a $1-million single-ticket bonus in the event that a NYRA Bets account-holder is the sole winner of Saratoga’s Late Pick 5. For additional information on the NYRA Late Pick 5 and eligibility details for the $1 million single-ticket bonus please visit NYRABets.com. The post NYRA Bets to Launch $1-Million Single-Ticket Bonus for Late Pick 5 at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After an impressive performance at Royal Ascot, Crystal Ocean (127 rating) has taken over as the highest rated horse in the world in the fifth edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2019. 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. Today’s Observations features a full-brother to G1 Irish Oaks heroine Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 4.10 Newmarket, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT AL SUHAIL (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts in an intriguing July meeting maiden won on four of the last seven occasions by a Godolphin representative. Sporting the royal blue first colours this time is this 1.1million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, whose half-brother Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was unraced at the time of his purchase but has since gone on to win the G2 Dante S. Charlie Appleby introduces the February-foaled son of the G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) in a contest that features runners from the major stables. They include Ballydoyle’s Kipling (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-brother to the Irish Oaks heroine Seventh Heaven (Ire) and half to the G1 Middle Park S. winner Crusade (Mr. Greeley) who was second to TDN Rising Star and subsequent Listed Chesham S. runner-up Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) on his sole start at The Curragh last month, and two newcomers from the John Gosden yard. They are Shadwell’s Eshaasy (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}\fs21plain ), a half-brother to the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James’s Palace S. hero Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), and Khalid Abdullah’s Tsar (GB) (Kingman {GB}), an April-foaled half-brother to the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Alpha Bravo (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The post Observations: July 12, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday’s action at Newmarket centres around the fillies and mares, with the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. the main attraction with a typically small but select field. Lael Stable’s One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) tries a mile again after her fine effort when third in the June 18 G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. Arriving with a strong run that looked like a winning one only to fade in the last 100 yards, the homebred who overcame a wide draw to capture the seven-furlong G1 Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp in October is almost certain to be played much later by James Doyle. Tactically, that could be a tricky task but stablemate Beshaayir (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) blazed a trail when beating her in the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. over this trip at The Curragh on May 25 and she could prove the vital pace factor again. “She ran a marvellous race at Ascot and she’s in very good form,” trainer William Haggas said of One Master. “I wasn’t planning to run here, but there were so few entries. We’re not quite sure she got home at Ascot, so we will have to be careful but she’s in good form. I’m very happy with her.” Of Beshaayir, he added, “She’s done very well since the [Curragh] race. We’re very happy with her and this has always been on our radar since she won a Group 2.” Ballydoyle’s I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has yet to fire this term, but she showed what she is capable of when running Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) to a neck when runner-up in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot in October and gave the impression she was starting to click into gear. Second to Beshaayir in the Ridgewood Pearl, she was third behind another Haggas trainee in Move Swiftly (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at the Royal meeting last time June 19. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will have to settle better than she did when fourth there, while the Roger Varian-trained pair Qabala (Scat Daddy) and Mot Juste (Distorted Humor) represent the Classic generation receiving nine pounds from their elders. Qabala, who had Mot Juste 1 3/4 lengths back in second in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket on Apr. 16, was well ahead of her when third in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5, but only ninth in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh three weeks later and has been rested since. “I have to stick with what I said before Newmarket in that I didn’t think there was much between them,” Varian said of the 3-year-olds. “The Nell Gwyn showed there wasn’t much between them and the 1000 Guineas run didn’t reflect their true ability. I think Mot Juste is a better filly than her run in the 1000 Guineas. On race form, you would have to put Qabala ahead of Mot Juste but to watch and get to know them every day, there is not much between them.” Of Qabala’s run in the Irish 1000 Guineas, he added, “I think that everything that could go wrong went wrong for her. She was slow away and got messed around early in the race. The race was dominated by being handy and the winner was a good filly that made all. We are looking forward to getting her back on track and she should be suited by conditions, hopefully. Even her third in the 1000 Guineas reads quite well I think in the context of this race, so we are looking forward to running her.” In the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., it is intriguing that Mark Johnston has opted to saddle the June 19 G2 Queen Mary S. winner Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) under a three-pound penalty rather than take up the G2 Prix Robert Papin option. Second to the subsequent June 21 G3 Albany S. winner Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) over this trip on the Rowley Mile here on May 18, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s homebred has made great strides subsequently and it is not inconceivable that she can give the weight away. Charlie Johnston, assistant to father Mark, said, “I think it looks a deep renewal, certainly tougher than the colts’ equivalent [the July S.]. You’ve got a crossover between the Albany form and the Queen Mary form and it’s going to be a tough race. It’s a tough ask for our filly, especially with the penalty, but if we wanted to stay in this country there weren’t really any other options in the medium term, so we’ll let her take her chance.” Roger Varian said of Daahyeh, “Later on in the year there is the Lowther, which is a speed test over six furlongs and she is in the Moyglare, a stiff test over seven. It was a big performance at Ascot and probably the first time she had been in a race, because she won comfortably first time up at Newmarket. She looked like she would get snagged inside the final furlong at Ascot, but she got a neck down and it was only then that the penny really dropped. She got in a race and won quite tidily on the line. I think the Duchess of Cambridge looks a strong race, but she is a good filly.” Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s Daahyeh is reopposed by the Albany runner-up Celtic Beauty (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is still a maiden despite two big efforts in pattern-race company. Godolphin’s TDN Rising Star duo Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Divine Spirit (GB) (Kingman {GB}) reappear after the Royal meeting, with the former having fared better when finishing in the wake of Raffle Prize and Kimari (Munnings) when third in the Queen Mary. Divine Spirit was the greater inconvenienced by the slow ground there and has a chance to shine as she did on her five-furlong Windsor debut on May 20. The post Falmouth The Feature On Day Two appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article