Wandering Eyes

Pink Lloyd could make history July 14 in the $125,000 Vigil Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. Entourage Stable's 7-year-old son of Old Forester would become the only three-time winner of the Vigil if he wins the six-furlong sprint. View the full article

The stakes season for 2-year-old males at Saratoga Race Course kicks off July 13 on a modest note with a field of five lined up for the six-furlong, $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3). View the full article

Trainer William Haggas provided an update on Sea Of Class (Ire) on Racing TV on Friday, describing last year’s G1 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up as “critical but stable” following a career-ending bout of colic on Sunday that required surgery. “She’s what they call critical but stable, but possibly not as critical as she was, according to this morning’s report,” said Haggas. “They always say the nice things, but then say ‘she’s still not out of the woods yet.'” “She’s bright in herself, she’s so tough and genuine, but she’s weak. Her immune system is very low so she’s liable to any possible infection. It’s awful to see, as people who have seen it before know, but this is such a special filly.” The post Sea Of Class Critical But Stable appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton’s July Sale this past week once again highlighted the allure of yearlings by first-crop sires. In particular, Darley’s duo of Frosted (Tapit) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo) had the sale’s co-second-highest lots at $330,000 each, while the WinStar young guns Outwork (Uncle Mo) and Speightster (Speightstown) had the fourth- and fifth-highest sales at $300,000 and $285,000, respectively. Spendthrift’s Brody’s Cause (Giant’s Causeway) had a $240,000 filly, Claiborne’s Runhappy (Super Saver) had a $225,000 sale, and Taylor Made’s Not This Time (Giant’s Causeway) had $200,000 colt in a sale where the average price was $92,183. Although it’s difficult to predict sire success, there’s a reason why buyers wildcat new horses: first crops frequently tend to be the best crops by percentage of black-type winners to named foals. As a general rule, moreover, they are better than second crops. Why? Because, more often than not, stallions tend get their best mares in their first books, relative to stud fee. And if you subscribe to this theory, you understand that there are only a finite number of quality mares at each stud fee price point, and the new horses are getting the lion’s share of them, leaving proven older horses with weaker overall books vis-à-vis the unproven at each level. Aside from the prepotency of some new sires, this can also explain the first-crop successes of such stallions as Medaglia d’Oro (Rachel Alexandra in first crop), Street Cry (Ire) (Zenyatta, Street Sense), and Uncle Mo (Nyquist), to name a few. To illustrate this point, see the accompanying chart below, where the top 20 active leading sires of 2018 by earnings standing in North America are listed with their black-type winners and black-type percentages from named foals in their first two crops. Note that overall their later crops are not as strong as their first ones. Of these 20, 14 (70%) had a higher percentage of black-type winners in their first crops than in their second. This group consists of Into Mischief (17% vs. 11%), More Than Ready (16% vs. 9%), Tapit (15% vs. 8%), Empire Maker (11% vs. 9%), Curlin (9% vs. 4%), Quality Road (6% vs. 5%), Street Sense (9% vs 7%), Speightstown (15% vs. 10%), Hard Spun (12% vs. 11%), War Front (15% vs. 8%), Ghostzapper (11% vs. 8%), Uncle Mo (16% vs. 9%), Congrats (9% vs. 3%), and English Channel (13% vs. 2%). In some cases, the differences between the two crops are minor, but in others there are significant variances. Two sires (10%) had the same percentages in both crops: Lookin At Lucky (7%) and Medaglia d’Oro (11%). Four (20%) had higher yields in their second crops. They are Kitten’s Joy (6% vs. 10%), Candy Ride (Arg) (7% vs. 9%), Flatter (5% vs. 13%), and Malibu Moon (8% vs. 11%). Stallion First Crop BT Winners (%) Second Crop BT Winners (%) Best Crop BT Winners by % (%) Kitten’s Joy 6 (6%) 11 (10%) 4th (16%) Candy Ride (Arg) 8 (7%) 8 (9%) 2nd and 9th (9%) Into Mischief 7 (17%) 3 (11%) 1st (17%) More Than Ready 10 (16%) 9 (9%) 1st (16%) Tapit 14 (15%) 6 (8%) 1st (15%) Empire Maker 10 (11%) 8 (9%) 1st (11%) Curlin 9 (9%) 5 (4%) 5th (15%) Quality Road 7 (6%) 3 (5%) 3rd (13%) Lookin At Lucky 7 (7%) 5 (7%) 1st and 2nd (7%) Flatter 4 (5%) 8 (13%) 2nd (13%) Malibu Moon 5 (8%) 7 (11%) 3rd (13%) Street Sense 10 (9%) 6 (7%) 3rd (16%) Medaglia d’Oro 16 (11%) 11 (11%) 7th (13%) Speightstown 15 (15%) 9 (10%) 4th and 6th (16%) Hard Spun 17 (12%) 11 (11%) 1st (12%) War Front 11 (15%) 5 (8%) 3rd (22%) Ghostzapper 9 (11%) 7 (8%) 3rd (16%) Uncle Mo 25 (16%) 8 (9%) 1st (16%) Congrats 9 (9%) 2 (3%) 1st (9%) English Channel 14 (13%) 1 (2%) 1st (13%) Source: Equineline There are probably some legitimate explanations for the four with better performances in their second crops. Two of them, the A.P. Indy non-stakes-winners Malibu Moon and Flatter, had the least expensive initial fees from this group at $3,500 and $5,000, respectively, and there isn’t a significant difference in the quality of mares in that price range to make a difference. Nevertheless, both horses had big-name backers behind them–B. Wayne Hughes for Malibu Moon and Claiborne for Flatter–and it’s notable that Malibu Moon’s third crop (13%) is his best to date while Flatter’s second crop (13%) is his best. Candy Ride entered stud for $10,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale after a year away from the track and with an Argentine pedigree that would have given some breeders pause, and he was probably a harder sell his first year after he’d receded from memory than he was in his second, when he was active in the shed, was around to be viewed, and was once again remembered as a top-class horse. His second and ninth crops (both 9%) are his best to date. Kitten’s Joy, a turf champion for Ken and Sarah Ramsey at their Ramsey Farm, wasn’t a commercial proposition when he initially entered stud. He was self-made by the owners, who bought and claimed mares for him. They probably bought better stock each subsequent year after the first, and they took advantage of various state breeding programs and found greater non-dirt opportunity during a time when synthetics and turf were on the rise to increase the horse’s black-type chances. Kitten’s Joy’s fourth crop (16%) is his best to date, and he’s now at Hill ‘n’ Dale under commercial management and yet may exceed his high-water mark. The other 14 (with perhaps the exception of Congrats, who started off in Florida) were straightforward commercial horses at their respective fees. Stud farms recruit quantity, quality, and precocity for these types more vigorously than they do for older horses because the goal is to get young stallions off the mark as quickly as possible and hope they have a say in the major 3-year-old races. Stud managers know that a poor showing with their first 2-year-olds is a difficult hole for a young horse to dig out from, especially as every subsequent year will usually lead to lesser results until they become established enough to renew interest. In fact, almost half (nine, or 45%) of these 20 stallions’ first crops have been their best to date by percentage of black-type winners to named foals. This group includes Into Mischief, More Than Ready, Tapit, Empire Maker, Lookin At Lucky, Hard Spun, Uncle Mo, Congrats, and English Channel. Another five (25%)–Quality Road, Malibu Moon, Street Sense, War Front, and Ghostzapper–have their third crops as their best to date. There is an explanation for this anomaly: by the second year at stud, first-crop foals are arriving, and by the third breeding season breeders have seen what a horse is throwing. Exceptional foals and weanlings will rekindle interest, and this, coupled with reduced fees that are common in the third year, can bolster a third book significantly enough to sometimes surpass the quality of a first book, especially in terms of physical matches. In fact, Curlin’s third crop yielded a higher percentage of black-type winners than his first crop (11% vs. 9%) and he could have been included with this group except for the fact that his fifth crop tuned out to be his best, percentagewise. CURLIN’S LATE RUN It’s the rare stallion that can survive the first two or three crops without a high percentage of early black-type winners to foals and then emerge later as a major force, but Curlin is one such example. The celebrated Horse of the Year began his career at Lane’s End in 2009 for a $75,000 fee a year or so after the global economic meltdown of 2007/2008 had devastated the bloodstock industry. His first crop raced in 2012 and his first 2-year-old winner appeared in, of all places, Russia–not a great harbinger for success. Because the early Curlins were mostly late developers, the stallion eventually ended up with nine black-type winners from his first crop (9%), but not before his fee had dropped to $25,000 by 2013, his fifth year at stud and his first season of 3-year-olds. The foals conceived in that fifth year, when, along with the next year, his fee was at its lowest, ended up producing his best percentage (15%) to date, as noted earlier, although his third and fourth crops contained 11% and 10% black-type winners to named foals, respectively. By June of 2013, Curlin’s first-crop son Palace Malice had won the Gl Belmont S. This started a six-year streak through 2018 that saw Curlin sire either a winner or a placed horse in a U.S. Classic race, and Curlin’s reputation as one of the best Classic sires in North America was firmly established. Relocated to Hill ‘n’ Dale for the 2016 breeding season after John Sikura and partner Craig Bernick’s family purchased 20% of the horse, Curlin has ascended to elite status and stood this year for $175,000, fourth highest in North America, behind War Front, Tapit, and Medaglia d’Oro. Curlin’s story is notable because his first-crop numbers didn’t fully define the stallion he would become, yet for the purposes of this story, his first-crop numbers were still pretty good, and they were better than his second crop (9% vs. 4%). Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks. The post Taking Stock: First Crops of Sires are Potent appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pink Lloyd could make history July 14 in the $125,000 Vigil Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. Entourage Stables' 7-year-old son of Old Forester would become the only three-time winner of the Vigil if he wins the six-furlong sprint. View the full article

In a division where strength and muscularity are vital, it is perhaps a surprise that the still-developing 3-year-old generation have fared so well in Newmarket’s G1 Darley July Cup with eight verdicts over the elder sprinters since the brilliant Stravinsky in 1999. In fact, in that 20-year period some of the race’s stellar winners have come from that age group, with Mozart (Ire) following on from that fellow Ballydoyle celebrity in 2001 and preceding one of the very best in Oasis Dream (GB) by two years. The latter was responsible for the 2015 renewal’s 3-year-old hero Muhaarar (GB), one of a weighty trio alongside Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and US Navy Flag (War Front) to have conquered in the last four runnings. This time, the onus is on Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to lead the way after his impressive success in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Bouncing back to the form of his G1 Phoenix S. and G2 July S. triumphs in 2018 in the Royal Ascot highlight, Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited’s bay was handed greater gravitas on Friday when the filly that trailed over eight lengths behind him in that June 21 contest, Royal Intervention (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), took York’s G3 Summer S. Trainer Martyn Meade, who can be forgiven for trying Advertise over a mile with the lure of the May 4 G1 2000 Guineas proving too difficult to resist, is happy that he has his stable kingpin in the right niche now but admits to being in the dark as to how the generations match up. “Three-year-olds do have a good record in this, but it is a tough ask, by far the toughest race of his career so far,” he said. “He’s going into unknown territory, taking on the older horses. Some of the older ones can be in and out of form, but when they are on-song they take a bit of beating. On balance, we’ve just got to throw him in and hope he puts his best foot forward. He’s won on the track last year and has come on since then, so I hope he can pull it off. It’s about how you perform on the day.” Although it is a long time since Sir Michael Stoute won the July Cup, during the period 1981 to 1987 the master of Freemason Lodge was successful three times with Marwell (Ire), Green Desert and Ajdal. Perhaps his greatest opportunity since comes with Saeed Suhail’s Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead), who would undoubtedly already be a Group 1-winning sprinter had his way cleared a fraction earlier in the June 22 Diamond Jubilee S. Devouring the ground late on there, the 5-year-old was in front of the tiring Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) a stride after the line and the Royal meeting’s sensation Danny Tudhope retains the ride. “I wasn’t expecting him to run so well at Ascot, but I think Sir Michael was–he had every confidence in the horse,” the owner’s racing manager Bruce Raymond commented. Raymond, who rode the 1967 July Cup winner Forlorn River (GB), has doubts about the undulations for the former Kevin Ryan-trained chestnut who joined his new stable in summer 2017. “I’m not so sure about the track,” he added. “He made his debut on the Rowley Mile and was only just beaten. It was soft ground that day and led us into thinking for a while that he needed it, but he doesn’t. This season he’s worked like a different horse–he only works on his own, but he’s moving beautifully. He used to be keen early, but he’s not now. He’s a relaxed horse and I don’t really need to say what a good job Sir Michael has done with him–his whole demeanour has changed.” In the past, the July Cup was the reserve of the classy individuals and too much of a bridge for sprint handicappers to gap, even those who had won prestige events such as Royal Ascot’s Wokingham. Now that such handicaps are becoming ever-more competitive, it is only a matter of time before one manages to do the double and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Cape Byron (GB) (Shamardal) is unexposed at this trip. The way the 5-year-old travelled through the Wokingham on June 22 on his first start over this distance suggests he is within touching distance of a Group 1 sprint. Officially rated just six pounds off Advertise and Dream of Dreams, the homebred who was third in the 2017 Listed Prix le Fabuleux over nine furlongs only needs another leap forward to be involved. “I thought his Wokingham win was comprehensive in a very competitive handicap carrying a large weight. It was a group performance in some description,” trainer Roger Varian said. “Whether it was a Group 1 performance, he probably needs to improve again to win a July Cup. You could argue he is still unexposed at the trip and I think a stiff six furlongs like Newmarket should be tailor-made for him. “If you are looking at Royal Ascot form, I thought Advertise was very impressive and you give him a lot of respect, because he is a dual Group 1 winner now and he could bring the classiest form into the race. There are some nice horses in the race, but you could argue there is not a sprinter stamping his authority on the division at the moment. It is a open year, so you could say it is a nice year to have a runner in the race.” Of the other 3-year-olds engaged are the Ballydoyle TDN Risings Stars Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), with the former needing to raise his game despite being a G1 Middle Park S. winner. His fourth placing when heavily favoured for the Commonwealth Cup raises question marks and it could be argued that the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Fairyland ran a better race than him when a close-up fifth in the G1 King’s Stand S. also at Royal Ascot on June 18. Her record over this trip reads four wins and a third placing from five starts, with her sole defeat coming in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot 2018 when she beat all rivals on the far side only to lose out overall to two who raced near the stands. Add to that the fact that Seamie Heffernan is in the Evie Stockwell colours that have proven so lucky for him in the past and she rates a serious threat. Another with solid form at six furlongs is the Gredleys’ Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose best performance came over this course and distance when winning the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. by seven lengths a year ago. Also successful in the G1 Prix Morny, the homebred was runner-up in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh on May 26 and seventh when too much use was made of her in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on June 21. “Probably her most impressive performance came at the July meeting in the Duchess of Cambridge S., which proves she is very effective on the track,” trainer Michael Bell commented. “I think she is in very good form and I’m expecting a very good run.” On the undercard, the G2 bet365 Superlative S. is fascinating fayre as the 2-year-old colts with 2000 Guineas pretensions step forward to be counted. Charlie Appleby, who collected 12 months ago with Quorto (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), saddles another son of the 2004 winner of this in King’s Command (GB), who warmed up by winning the same six-furlong novice contest as Quorto on June 21. A half-brother to the stable’s much-vaunted Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal) from the family of Lonhro (Aus) and Niello (Aus), he got going late to claim a narrow win on debut and Appleby has the best juvenile seen out so far in Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) to measure him against. “I was very pleased with his first run there over six, because we always thought that seven furlongs and potentially further will be his forte,” he said. “He will have learnt plenty that day. He travelled well and although he got outpaced, once Kerrin [McEvoy] gave him the come-along, he picked up well.” Aidan O’Brien was due to bring the impressive Curragh maiden winner Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to this but instead brings another son of Galileo in Year of the Tiger (Ire), who got off the mark over this trip at Naas a week ago. Previously seventh behind Pinatubo in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot on June 22, the son of Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) bids to follow where the stable’s Royal Lytham (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) led in Thursday’s G2 July S. in putting an unplaced Ascot run well behind him. He is joined by a clutch of well-regarded unexposed types such as Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s June 7 Haydock scorer Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}) from the Kevin Ryan stable, King Power Racing’s Richard Hannon-trained Mystery Power (Ire) (No Nay Never) who was also a winner at Haydock on June 22, and China Horse Club, Ballylinch Stud and Clipper Logistics’ June 14 Sandown scorer Shared Belief (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Hannon has high hopes for Mystery Power, who beat the same rival that Juan Elcano had in Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) on his sole start and that form was given credence when the runner-up went on to score by seven lengths last week. “Mystery Power ran a very nice race first time out on soft ground at Haydock and he has come on for the run,” he commented. “The Mark Johnston horse which finished second behind him won at Chelmsford the other day, so it gives the form a nice boost. He has improved a lot for that first run. I think the track will suit him and the better ground should suit him more as well.” Elsewhere, the G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot sees last year’s winner Beat the Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) defend his crown following a career-best second in the June 18 G1 Queen Anne S. over the straight mile. He has to give three pounds to all, including Ahmad Alotaibi’s Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) who was already capable of smart form before his gelding operation but who has subsequently won the Listed Pavilion S. over the straight mile here on May 1 and Epsom’s G3 Diomed S. over an extended mile a month later. “He ran a hell of a race in the Queen Anne and I would have settled for that beforehand, given his run in the Lockinge,” Beat the Bank’s trainer Andrew Balding said. “We know he goes on the round course at Ascot, having won the race last year, so it is just a case of keeping our fingers crossed.” In the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at Maisons-Laffitte on Saturday, Godolphin’s Inns of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) returns to six furlongs following his impressive win over five in Chantilly’s G2 Prix du Gros-Chene on June 2. Previously, the dual Group 1 runner-up who took this 12 months ago had won the Listed Prix Servanne over this course and distance on Apr. 26 and sets a lofty standard at a venue he is at home at. “Inns of Court is in great form and has run well before at Maisons-Laffitte, including winning this race last year,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said. “We are hoping for a good performance, which will put him on course for the [Aug. 4] G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.” He meets Sutong Pan’s Gold Vibe (Ire) (Dream Ahead), who is yet to recapture the form of his close second in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp in October. The post Advertise Faces Cup Challenge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In no-doubt-about-it fashion, Patrick Kwok’s Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) was named Horse of the Year in Hong Kong for the second straight year in ceremonies held Friday evening at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Friday evening. In becoming the eighth horse in the modern era to land the top honor back-to-back, the 6-year-old gelding was providing trainer John Moore with a remarkable seventh straight HOTY award, joining Military Attack (Ire), Designs on Rome (Ire), Able Friend (Aus), Werther (NZ) and the late Rapper Dragon (Aus) going back to the 2012/2013 season. Beauty Generation was unopposed in also being crowned Champion Miler for the second year running as well as the award for Hong Kong’s Most Popular Horse of the Year. Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd., Beauty Generation compiled a perfect record over eight runs in 2018/2019, successfully defending his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile before adding the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) before annexing the G1 FWD Champions Mile. With nearly HK$85 million in the bank, he has surpassed former Moore trainee and Horse of the Year Viva Pataca (GB) as the leading money earner of all time, with the $100-million mark within reach as he stays in training at seven next season. The Tony Cruz-trained Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) became the fifth horse to be named Champion Middle Distance horse and Champion Stayer in the same season. The 5-year-old also faced the starter eight times in 2018/2019, becoming the first in Hong Kong history to complete the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase/G1 Champions & Chater Cup double, each over 2400m. He proved his versatility with a victory in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and was runner-up in the G1 QE II Cup at the metric 10 furlongs. A model of consistency throughout his career and never out of the top three in 21 starts, the John Size-trained Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) was named Champion Sprinter. Third in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, he achieved a belated Group 1 success with a defeat of Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January and added a second top-level success in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in April. He was also second to Beauty Generation in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Fellow Size trainee Champion’s Way (Aus), also a son of the late Hinchinbrook, went from a rating of 52 to 108 in winning six of his seven starts and was named Champion Griffin in addition to Most Improved Horse. He closed the season with a popular success in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy H., a rare group win for a 3-year-old, and looms one of the top chances in the 2020 Classics. With 166 riding wins and a chance to tie or break Joao Moreira’s record of 170 in a season, Zac Purton was named Champion and Most Popular Jockey. Of the 12 international Group 1 events contested in Hong Kong, Purton had his picture taken no fewer than seven times, including the two aforementioned wins on International Day. During the season, the Aussie ex-pat joined the retired Douglas Whyte as the only riders to win 1000 Hong Kong races and he also set a single-season earnings record (HK$233.4 million) with Sunday’s closing-day program to come. The post Beauty Generation Gives Moore a Seventh Straight HOTY in Hong Kong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pink Lloyd could make history in the $125,000 Vigil Stakes (G3) July 14 at Woodbine. Entourage Stables' 7-year-old son of Old Forester would become the only three-time winner of the Vigil if he wins the six-furlong sprint. View the full article

A field of 5 line up for Saturday’s GIII Sanford S., Saratoga’s opening stakes race for juvenile colts and the horse to beat is arguably Charles Bartlett and Greg Pappas’ Raging Whiskey (Bourbon Courage). Previously trained by Luis Mendez, the bay rallied from the back of the pack to grab third in a May 19 maiden special event at Santa Anita that has already produced two prominent juvenile stakes winners in Fore Left (Twirling Candy) and Phantom Boss (Shackleford) this season. Fore Left became one of the early leaders of the juvenile division upon his impressive victory in Belmont’s June 7 Tremont S. while Phantom Boss annexed the Churchill spring meet’s GIII Bashford Manor S. June 29. Raging Whiskey found the winner’s circle June 2 in a decisive front-running performance before changing hands in a private sale after being RNA’d for $120,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Sale. The Maryland-bred joins the barn of top conditioner Doug O’Neill as he takes the starting gate in the Sanford. Breaking just to the outside of Raging Whiskey is Donald Dizney’s homebred Cucina (Northern Afleet). Trained by GI Preakness and GI Belmont S. winning trainer Mark Casse, the bay recorded a race-highest 75 Beyer Speed Figure when gamely capturing an off-the-turf maiden special weight June 21 at Belmont. By Your Side (Consitution), a $240,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale, enters the Sanford looking to become the first stakes winner for his red hot freshman sire. The Anderson Stables’ runner prevailed over a contentious field of maidens in his June 14 Churchill debut for conditioner Eddie Kenneally. The post Raging Whiskey Heads Sanford Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year’s champion 2-year-old colt Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg})–last seen crossing the line sixth after a well-documented wide journey in the GI Kentucky Derby–couldn’t have landed in a better spot to reboot his sophomore campaign versus three overmatched rivals in Saturday’s GIII Los Alamitos Derby. A perfect four-for-four in 2018 led by a hard-fought victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ finished second in a pair of prior runs this term-the split-division GII Rebel S. Mar. 16 and GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 6. Game Winner’s worktab is lined with bullet workouts for his return, capped by a six-furlong move in 1:13 (1/11) at Santa Anita July 6. The bay will race with blinkers on for the first time since his eye-catching debut victory at Del Mar last summer. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has saddled three out of the last four winners of this race, including a victory for these same connections with champion West Coast in 2017. He will also tighten the girth on the well-bred Kingly (Tapit), most recently fifth in the GIII Affirmed S. in Arcadia June 16. The post Only Three ‘Game’ to Face Returning Champ in Los Al Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After bouncing back with an impressive performance in the ‘Win and You’re In’ GII Fleur de Lis H. beneath the lights at Churchill Downs June 15, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) is the clear-cut horse to beat in Saturday’s GII Delaware H. The Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider homebred captured this demanding 1 1/4-mile contest in style in her seasonal debut in 2018, then was placed on the shelf following an ultra-game second to champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) in a roughly run renewal of the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga. Elate was somewhat disappointing in a pair of prior efforts this term behind the streaking Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn, including a third-place finish in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 14. The 5-year-old fired a five-furlong bullet in 1:00 4/5 (1/13) over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga June 28. Hall of Famer Bill Mott also saddled the brilliant Royal Delta to back-to-back wins in this race in 2011-12. The ‘Assiniboia Assassin’ Escape Clause (Going Commando), beaten just a nose in the Apple Blossom, was fourth, beaten 11 lengths, in the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 8. Last term’s GI Juddmonte Spinster S. heroine Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) completed the exacta behind Elate in the Fleur de Lis. The post Elate Back to Defend Her Title at Delaware appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some intrigue was added at the post-position draw for Saturday’s night’s $500,000 GIII Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand, as the two contenders expected to take the bulk of the play drew the two widest posts in the 11-horse group. While Mr. Money (Goldencents) and Math Wizard (Algorithms) still figure to take some beating, the uncertainty added opens the door for several better-drawn rivals in the 1 1/16-mile test. Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Money was entered in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile off of a maiden victory last fall and acquitted himself well, running fourth behind champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) at 41-1. Unable to make a dent on the Triple Crown trail when seventh in the GII Risen Star S. and fifth in the GII Louisiana Derby, the $130,000 KEESEP buy was rerouted to the GIII Pat Day Mile S., which he won authoritatively by 5 1/4 lengths over Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze), who returned to upset the GI Woody Stephens S. Backed down to 3-5 in the GIII Matt Winn S. June 15, the bay didn’t disappoint, skipping clear to a 6 1/2-length romp. A versatile sort, he likely will have to use his early speed to get over from the 11-hole here. Math Wizard, claimed for $16,000 from trainer Daniel Sanner when third behind Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in that one’s debut romp Dec. 20 at Gulfstream, was plucked from Antonio Sano for the same price out of a 6 3/4-length maiden score Jan. 6. Paul Kopaj bumped the horse up into a $25,000 seller, where he won by 18 1/2 lengths and was claimed once more by Saffie Joseph, Jr. He’s taken no such chances with the chestnut and the colt rewarded him with a fourth at 64-1 in the GII Wood Memorial S. Fourth again in the Oaklawn Invitational S. May 4, he ran huge when removing blinkers in the GIII Ohio Derby, making an early move and duking it out all the way to the wire with tripped-out favorite and likely GI Runhappy Travers S. contender Owendale (Into Mischief) before falling a half-length short. Runnymede Racing’s Alwaysmining (Stay Thirsty) and Willis Horton Racing’s Lone Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) will both try to rediscover past form. The former, who won six straight races at Laurel between October and April, backed up to finish 11th in the GI Preakness S. and was third at even-money last out in the Easy Goer S. at Belmont. The latter, upset victor of the GII Rebel S. Mar. 16, was off the board in the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Kentucky Derby and no match for Math Wizard when a well-beaten third in the Ohio Derby. Gray Magician (Graydar), distant runner-up to Alwaysmining in the Miracle Wood S., improved to be a close second in the G2 UAE Derby, but was last of 19 in the Run for the Roses. He figures to be forwardly placed in a race lacking abundant speed. That potential dearth of pace could cost Roiland (Successful Appeal). The late runner passed 11 horses to be third at 69-1 in the Risen Star behind Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky) and Preakness hero War of Will (War Front). He was last seen running a fast-finishing fifth in the Oaklawn Invitational. The post Mr. Money, Math Wizard Draw Outside in Indiana Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) makes her highly anticipated seasonal bow Saturday in Saratoga’s prestigious GI Diana S., which was the start of a three-race win streak for her last term that culminated in an Eclipse award. Kicking off last term with a win the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland, the bay came up a head short to stablemate Fourstar Crook (Freud) in the GII New York S. last June before taking the Diana by a nose. Following suit with a win in Arlington’s GI Beverly D. S. in August, she refused to be denied yet again in the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf Nov. 3. Sistercharlie is one of four strong contenders for trainer Chad Brown, who has won the last three renewals of this test, and four overall, with Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) (2011), Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) (2016), Lady Eli (Divine Park) (2017) and Sistercharlie (2018). Her biggest competition comes from her own shedrow in the form of once-defeated MGISW Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), who earned a Breeders’ Cup victory of her own in 2017 as a juvenile. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ is two-for-two this term thus far with victories in the Apr. 13 Jenny Wiley and June 8 GI Just A Game S. at Belmont last time. Brown saddles another filly who is two-for-two this season in Homerique (Exchange Rate), who, like Sistercharlie, carries Peter Brant’s colors. A Group 3 winner in France, the gray captured Belmont’s GIII Beaugay S. May 11 and GII New York S. June 7. Brown and Brant will also be represented by longshot Thais (Fr) (Rio de La Plata), who was last seen finishing fourth in Aqueduct’s Plenty of Grace S. Apr. 14. Rounding out the field is the Bill Mott-trained Mitchell Road (English Channel), victress of the GIII Galorette S. last time at Pimlico May 18 and Graham Motion pupil Secret Message (Hat Trick {Jpn}), heroine of Woodbine’s GII Nassau S. May 26. The post Sistercharlie Returns in Diana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Taking time to come to herself this term, TDN Rising Star Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) found her feet when it mattered most to provide Sir Michael Stoute with a record-equalling sixth renewal of the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket. Sent to the front from the outset by Oisin Murphy and initially kept away from the rest, Cheveley Park Stud’s homebred had to battle late as One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) arrived on the scene but proved equal to the task and hit the line with a neck to spare at odds of 6-1. The heavily-backed I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was only third. 1–VERACIOUS (GB), 133, f, 4, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Infallible (GB) (GSW & MG1SP-Eng, $314,279), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Irresistible (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Polish Romance, by Danzig 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Oisin Murphy. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 10-3-0-4, £311,680. *1/2 to Mutakayyef (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, GISP-Can, $940,999; and Intimation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-Fr, SW & MGSP-Fr, SP-Eng, $145,189. The post Frankel’s Veracious Takes the Falmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After dominating the domestic scene for the past two seasons, trainer John Moore has confirmed he wants to take his champion Beauty Generation onto the world stage next year.To the shock of absolutely no one, the superstar was crowned the 2018-19 Hong Kong Horse of the Year, the highlight of the Jockey Club Champion Awards at the Ritz-Carlton on Friday night.It is the second season in a row the son of Road To Rock has captured the top gong, the first to do so since Ambitious Dragon (2010-11 and… View the full article

Like the former Mark Johnston luminary Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}), Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) was able to defy a penalty for her G2 Queen Mary win in Friday’s G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket. On the front end from the outset, the 9-2 shot never looked like being reeled in by the 5-4 favourite Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and gave generously for Frankie Dettori to win by 1 3/4 lengths, with TDN Rising Star Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) a head back in third. “She’s very smart–I can’t believe she won over five,” Dettori said. “She saw out the six very well and has improved. It was an amazing performance and she’s got lots of scope.” 1–RAFFLE PRIZE (IRE), 129, f, 2, by Slade Power (Ire) 1st Dam: Summer Fete (Ire) (GSW-Eng, $125,102), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Tamarillo (GB), by Daylami (Ire) 3rd Dam: Up and About (GB), by Barathea (Ire) O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, £121,117. The post Slade Power’s Raffle Prize Wins the Duchess of Cambridge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Newmarket Open Weekend has been renamed the Henry Cecil Open Weekend as part of a three-year deal supported by a group of previous owners of the late legendary trainer. The weekend will this year be held Sept. 21 and 22. Since the return of the open weekend to Newmarket in 2012, over a quarter-million pounds has been raised for local and racing charities, and the charitable aspect of the event will continue. Charlie Fellowes, chairman of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said, “We are thrilled to have the support and to be associated with such an iconic figure in racing. The Henry Cecil Open Weekend is about celebrating his life, raising money for some very worthwhile local causes, and offering racing fans the opportunity to see behind the scenes. We are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors here in September.” The post Open Weekend To Honour Cecil appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s a pretty quiet weekend with just the four runners on Sunday but that’s just the time the year. The horses continue to run well which is fantastic and we might just be able to add to our growing tally this weekend. Sunday Horse: Smoki SmokaTrack: Stratford – 2:25Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies He’s been quite disappointing on […] The post Donald McCain Blog – Sunday Runners appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

We have a great weekend of action ahead of us with the open looking July Cup the undoubted headliner, where Advertise bids to back up his Commonwealth Cup victory. Beat The Bank bids for back to back wins in the Sumer Mile and Gold Mount could be the answer in the Silver Cup at York. […] The post Weekend Preview – Stoute Dreaming of July Cup Glory appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Tina Comignaghi picked up a double at Phar Lap Raceway on Tuesday, securing her 100th career riding win. The South Island hoop recorded her 99th win aboard Miss Ricky Bobby in the More FM Sprint (1200m). Later in the card Comignaghi was able to kick home Rainman to win the Hardgrave Decorating Mile (1600m) aboard Rainman for employers John and Karen Parsons, to bring up a century of wins in the saddle for the 29-year-old. Indentured to the Parsons, Comignaghi is in her fifth se... View the full article

Rich Hill Stud shuttle stallion, Satono Aladdin, a son of champion sire Deep Impact, has made a good impression on buyers with his first foals sold at the JRHA Select Sale at Northern Horse Park this week. With four foals from the first-crop of the Group One winning miler going under the hammer, they sold up to 56,000,000yen (NZ$773,295) and averaged 40,500,000yen (NZ$559,258). Satono Aladdin won on debut as a two-year-old and was Group Three-placed as a juvenile before training on to dual Group... View the full article

A bargain broodmare and a birthday present from Nick and Anne-Marie King to one of their sons produced an outstanding result for Brighthill Farm in Thursday’s Listed Grafton Cup (2350m). The race was won by Kiwi stayer Sacred Day, who seized on an inside run at the top of the straight and outfought Sopressa and Vaucluse Bay in a tight three-way battle to the finish. The other New Zealand runner, multiple stakes-winning mare Igraine, was just behind them in fourth. Sacred Day is trained in Camb... View the full article

It has been a week of sunshine and beaches for Catherine Cameron. The Cambridge trainer has been enjoying a holiday in Hawaii this week, but will return to New Zealand in time to watch Copper Mine and Light Shadow compete at the Northland beach township of Ruakaka on Saturday. “I’ve been in Hawaii for a week,” she said. “So I am going from one beach to another. We’ll get home, have enough time for a few hours’ sleep and then head to Ruakaka. “It won’t be quite as nice, but I hope... 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 to provide the other half. View the full article

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