Wandering Eyes

11th-Belmont, $80,000, Msw, 7-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.12, fm. FOOLISH LIVING (f, 3, Medaglia d’Oro–Fully Living {MSP, $172,417}, by Unbridled’s Song), dispatched at 9-2 in this career bow, raced back off the pace in seventh through :23.52 and :47.65. Patiently handled by Javier Castellano, the $650,000 KEENOV buy was swung out five wide in search of running room turning for home. Unleashing a powerful late turn of foot, she charged to the lead in the final sixteenth with Charreada (Kitten’s Joy) mirroring her strong late rally, but Foolish Living was a neck clear at the line. The winner is the first foal out of Fully Living, who has since produced the unraced juvenile Night on the Town (Street Sense), who summoned $425,000 from bloodstock agent Steve Young at last term’s Keeneland September Sale; a yearling colt by Nyquist; and a 2019 filly by Medaglia d’Oro. Foolish Living hails from the family of champion Halfbridled (Unbridled) and MGSW millionaire Lu Ravi (A.P. Indy). Sales history: $650,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Old Oak Farm & Ashview Farm (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. The post Pricey Medaglia d’Oro Filly Scores in Belmont Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fresh off a successful career debut in mid-June at Woodbine, 2-year-old Fast Scene returned to the Toronto Tapeta July 6 and delivered as the even-money favorite in the $100,000 My Dear Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs. View the full article

Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing's Concrete Rose romped to a 2 3/4-length win in the $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 6 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Jockey John Velazquez may have dropped his whip in the stretch, but that was probably the last thing he needed to guide Code of Honor to victory in the $245,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3). View the full article

Due to a shortage of entries, there will be no daytime thoroughbred racing Thursday, July 11 at Los Alamitos. View the full article

A spiffy set of blinkers, some class relief, and plenty of time to prepare put Jaywalk in a perfect position to sparkle, and the champion juvenile filly of 2018 did just that July 6 in the $288,000 Delaware Oaks (G3). View the full article

The Karl Burke-trained MG1SW Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) will not take part in the July 12 G1 Falmouth S. after picking up a slight injury to her left hind owner John Dance announced via Twitter on Saturday. Instead, the 4-year-old will point to the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville on July 28. She was second in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury in her 4-year-old bow on May 18, and was a last out sixth in the June 18 G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. Dance tweeted, “Sorry to report that Laurens has picked up what we hope is a niggle yesterday [Friday] and thus hasn’t been confirmed for the Falmouth S. She’ll have an easy week, be reassessed and we’ll make a new plan from there.” Burke, speaking after enjoying a winner at Haydock on Saturday afternoon, added, “She’s just got a little niggle on her left hind, a slight reaction to a curb. She cantered this morning, cantered beautifully, but an hour later she wasn’t 100%. This has been brewing over the last 48 hours. She’s too valuable an animal, too good [to risk]–she owes us nothing. So as much as it hurts to miss out on a chance of a Group 1, we’ve taken the right decision. John was fully supportive of that, if anything more than I was–he was pretty adamant we should skip it, and we hope we’ll get her right for the race in Deauville [G1 Prix Rothschild] in three weeks. It’s not a serious injury in a long-term scheme–it’s just at the wrong time.” The post Laurens to Skip Falmouth with Minor Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing's Concrete Rose romped to a 2 3/4-length win in the $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 6 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Henley's Joy upset the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 6 at Belmont Park, flying home to reward backers with a solid payoff at odds of 20-1. View the full article

HENLEY’S JOY (c, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Blue Grass Music, by Bluegrass Cat) hadn’t tasted victory since last December’s Pulpit S., and had finished behind three of these same foes when fourth last out in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. June 1, but he belied 20-1 odds when it mattered Saturday. The chestnut stalked the pace up close, and outkicked Social Paranoia (Street Boss) in the lane to prevail by 3/4 of a length in 1:58.29. Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) completed the trifecta. Henley’s Joy becomes the 13th Grade I winner for top turf sire Kitten’s Joy. Sales history: $20,000 yrl ’17 EASOCT; $50,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 11-4-3-0. O-Bloom Racing Stable LLC. B-Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey (Ky). T-Michael Maker. The post Kitten’s Joy’s Henley’s Joy Upends Belmont Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey John Velazquez may have dropped his whip in the stretch, but that was probably the last thing he needed to guide Code of Honor to victory in the $245,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3). View the full article

6th-Ellis, $49,880, Msw, 7-6, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.14, fm. FIGHTING SEABEE (c, 2, Summer Front–Broke N Dixie, by Broken Vow), away at 7-1 for a barn that has won more than its fair share of two-turn turf races for 2-year-olds at the Pea Patch over the years, broke alertly and grabbed a spot at the rail in fourth as the field strung out and the leading trio zipped away. He advanced handily while scraping paint into the lane, tipped off the fence at the head of the stretch and kicked away convincingly while never seriously being asked en route to a two-length tally. Pace attendee Billy Batts (City Zip) held second. Fighting Seabee becomes the second winner for his first-crop sire (by War Front). He is the only listed foal for his unraced dam, herself a daughter of stakes winner Blushing Dixie (Dixie Union). Sales history: $105,000 Ylg ’18 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. The post Summer Front Colt Scores Convincingly at the Pea Patch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-Ellis, $49,880, Msw, 7-6, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.14, fm. FIGHTING SEABEE (c, 2, Summer Front–Broke N Dixie, by Broken Vow), away at 7-1 for a barn that has won more than its fair share of two-turn turf races for 2-year-olds at the Pea Patch over the years, broke alertly and grabbed a spot at the rail in fourth as the field strung out and the leading trio zipped away. He advanced handily while scraping paint into the lane, tipped off the fence at the head of the stretch and kicked away convincingly while never seriously being asked en route to a two-length tally. Pace attendee Billy Batts (City Zip) held second. Fighting Seabee becomes the second winner for his first-crop sire (by War Front). He is the only listed foal for his unraced dam, herself a daughter of stakes winner Blushing Dixie (Dixie Union). Sales history: $105,000 Ylg ’18 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. The post Summer Front Colt Scores Convincingly at the Pea Patch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FAST SCENE (f, 2, Fast Anna–Scenic Drive, by Empire Maker)cruised to an impressive 2 1/2-length victory on debut here June 15, and became the first black-type winner for her first-crop sire (by Medaglia d’Oro) with an even sharper tally in Saturday’s My Dear S. Backed down to even-money favoritism, the dark bay split horses early to seize command and dominated from there, streaking home 3 1/2 lengths to the good of first timer Justleaveitalone (Creative Cause). She stopped the clock in 1:05.15. Sales history: $32,000 RNA yrl ’18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Blazing Meadows Farm LLC & Three Chimneys Farm LLC. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Ky). T-Timothy Hamm. The post Fast Anna Gets First Stakes Winner at Woodbine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing's Concrete Rose romped to a four-length win in the $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 6 at Belmont Park. View the full article

JAYWALK (f, 3, Cross Traffic–Lady Pewitt, by Orientate) is back! Adding blinkers, the champion juvenile filly took the field wire-to-wire for a dominant score in the GIII Delaware Park Oaks Saturday. Taking up her preferred position at the head of affairs, the 7-5 second-choice ticked off early fractions of :24 flat and :47 3/5. Challenged by favored Fashion Faux Pas (Flatter) briefly turning for home, the gray quickly dismissed that rival and rolled clear to win for fun in 1:43 1/5. Jaywalk won the Eclipse Award as 2018’s top juvenile filly after dominant scores in both the GI Frizette S. and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. A disappointing fourth as the favorite in the GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream on seasonal bow Mar. 2, the $190,000 KEESEP buy was third when heavily bet again in Keeneland’s GI Ashland S. Apr. 6. She crossed the line sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks last time May 3, but was disqualified and placed last for coming out at the start and causing Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile) to fall. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-1. O-DJ Stable & Cash is King; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY); T-John Servis. The post Champion Jaywalk Returns to Winning Ways in Delaware Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CONCRETE ROSE (f, 3, Twirling Candy–Solerina, by Powerscourt {GB}) kept her unbeaten season going while reaching a career best in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Installed the 5-2 second choice behind Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) despite having bested that one handily in the GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill May 3, the dark bay tracked longshot Japanese invader Jodie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) before kicking away in the stretch and running the score up to about four lengths. Coolmore representative Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) kicked on to be second over Cambier Parc (Medaglia d’Oro). Jodie was fourth. Newspaperofrecord was extremely tough to handle early, attempting to get out multiple times and interfering with several rivals, and faded to last. Sales history: $19,000 RNA wlg ’16 KEENOV; $20,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP; $61,000 2yo ’18 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-0. O-Ashbrook Farm & BBN Racing LLC. B-Ron Patterson (Ky). T-George R. Arnold II. The post Twirling Candy’s Concrete Rose Dominates in the Belmont Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CODE OF HONOR (c, 3, Noble Mission {GB}–Reunited, by Dixie Union), last seen crossing the wire third and promoted to second in the GI Kentucky Derby May 4, made good on even-money favoritism Saturday to take the GIII Dwyer S. with authority. Second in the GI Champagne S. over track and trip last October, the chestnut annexed the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Mar. 2 but was third behind Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in the GI Xpressbet Florida Derby Mar. 30. Content to caboose the field early, he uncorked a powerful move to pick off foes into the lane and cruised away a 3 1/2-length winner, stopping the clock in 1:35.81. Final Jeopardy (Street Sense) completed the exacta. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-1. O/B-W S Farish (Ky). T-Claude R McGaughey III. The post Noble Mission’s Code of Honor Returns to Winning Ways in the Dwyer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dual Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Enable made a successful return to action in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) July 6 at Sandown, scoring by three-quarters of a length under Frankie Dettori to extend her winning streak to 10. View the full article

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — As he begins his quest for a third training title at Saratoga Race Course, Chad Brown is well aware that he will be measured against himself. It’s a tough assignment. Brown claimed his first title in 2016, and finished second, 40-39, to perennial champ Todd Pletcher in 2017. During the rain-soaked 2018 meet, when 50 races were washed off the turf — the surface where Brown dominates — he ran away from the competition with a record-setting 46 victories. Pletcher was next with 19 wins. Success at Saratoga is a big deal for every trainer. For Brown, 40, who grew up in Mechanicville, 15 miles from the historic track, there is even more incentive, or pressure, to perform well. He makes no secret that a primary focus of his now massive stable is the 40-day Saratoga season, which opens on July 11. During an interview in his office in the Horse Haven barn area across Union Avenue from the track, the three-time Eclipse Award winner smiled and acknowledged that the goal is for a repeat of 2018. “We are realistic about the prospects of doing it again. It’s not easy to do,” he said. “A lot of things have to go your way, you know, from keeping your horses healthy, to the weather, to racing luck. A lot of factors go into having a really good meet, a record-breaking meet. “But that said, we are flush with a lot of talented race horses right now and maybe we got a lot of the rain out of the way. You would think the law of averages would bring us to a better weather pattern into the meet. Last year, we had a remarkable meet, but, man, the first week to two weeks were very wet, particularly the first week. The fact we were still able to have the meet that we had with so much wet weather we had was really remarkable. It’s probably unrealistic to think that we can go eight weeks all with good weather. That is part of it; we have a lot of turf horses. I am sure there are some areas where we won’t do quite as well, but there are some other areas where we might do better at when you put the whole meet together.” In 2016, Brown never seemed able to relax, even when it was clear that he was on his way to the first title. The 2017 trainers standings were decided on the final day. But last year he said he was able to enjoy what he and his team were accomplishing. “During the meet, especially the last couple weeks of the meet, I, personally, tried to slow things down as much as I could to try and take it all in and appreciate the success of our operation, of all of our hard-working staff that were really getting their personal gratification about succeeding, about winning,” he said. “That meet last year, like all the meets before it, was a result of long-term preparation by our team. And to see it coming together, successfully, I did stop and observe this and appreciate it as much as we could. We all know we can’t stop time. Things are going to keep moving forward every minute, every hour, every day. I feel I got a lot of satisfaction out of it. I don’t have any regrets about how much I appreciated it, how much I enjoyed it last year.” In late May it was announced that Brown had agreed to a $1.6 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor for violations that included failure to pay overtime to some of his employees. The settlement figure was for back wages, liquidated damages and penalties. Part of the agreement, Brown said, is that he is prevented from talking about the case. “I can’t comment on it, unfortunately,” he said. “I just want to move on from it.” This is Brown’s 12th full season as a trainer after working for five years for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who he considers his mentor. With little to show in his nascent career, Brown’s request for Saratoga stalls in 2008 was initially turned down by NYRA. He did manage to pick up some, though, and won with the first horse he saddled, Star Player (Tale of the Cat), in the first race on opening day. By season’s end his stats — six wins from 18 starts and 50% in the money – were yielding attention and new clients. According to Equibase, Brown has 282 career wins from 1,100 starts at Saratoga, 25.6%, and his runners have been on the board at a 58.9% clip. Brown has 29 graded stakes wins at Saratoga, nine of them in Grade I races, and a total of 59 stakes wins. Chad C. Brown Total Statistics at Saratoga through 7/2/2019 Year Starts Wins Seconds Thirds Earnings 2018 171 46 35 28 $ 4,428,772 2017 158 39 33 26 $ 4,358,465 2016 164 40 35 23 $ 4,889,285 2015 142 31 21 23 $ 2,655,834 2014 98 23 15 14 $ 1,905,604 2013 87 24 14 18 $ 2,277,378 2012 95 29 21 13 $ 1,978,093 2011 75 22 16 4 $ 1,185,194 2010 56 17 8 5 $ 537,630 2009 36 5 5 6 $ 273,208 2008 18 6 3 – $ 199,616 Total 1,100 282 206 160 $ 24,689,079 Much like Saratoga itself, Brown understands he is graded against his previous accomplishments, especially at his home track, where he became a fan of the sport. “I have accepted that as being part of professional sports. So, I don’t think there is anything unfair about it,” he said. “I think another way to term is: it’s a challenge you accept when you enter a profession like this in professional sports. If you are successful and running a championship team or championship organization, you are often expected to keep raising the bar, or at the very least, repeat. I accept that as part of the deal.” Two of Brown’s stable stars, Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) and defending champ Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) are headed to the GI Arlington Million and won’t race at the Spa. Bricks and Mortar has returned from a career-threatening injury to win five straight races, three of them Grade I stakes. Brown said it was possible that Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), third behind Bricks and Mortar and Robert Bruce in the GI Manhattan, may run in the Million or the GI Fourstardave, also Aug. 10 at Saratoga. The unbeaten GI Acorn winner Guarana (Ghostzapper) is a candidate for the GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 20 and, if she handles the 1 1/8 miles, could go on to the GI Alabama Aug. 17. Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) is on course for the GI Diana — which Brown has won four times, the last three in a row — July 13. He estimated that about two dozen of his 80 2-year-olds are likely to race during the Saratoga meet. Once again this summer, Brown aims to be on top of the Saratoga trainer’s standings when the meet ends Sept 2. “I am confident that we are in a very good position because we have a deep bench of talented, healthy horses, knock on wood, right now that I can see having good meets here,” he said. “The advantage of doing it this many years in a row is like a golfer going to a certain course every year. You have certain courses that you know. For us, I am not going to say I know this course better than anyone but I am doing this a little while now and I know this course very well. I know every hole that is coming. I know where the fairways are and how the greens flow. So, I try to adapt my game, my roster, to what is about to happen.” The post Brown Aims for Third Title at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prolonged heavy rain and lightning forced the cancellation of seven races. View the full article

There's no other way to say it: Do It Again did it again July 6 at Greyville Racecourse in South Africa, winning the iconic Vodacom Durban July (G1) for the second straight year. View the full article

MONTAUK DADDY (c, 2, Daddy Long Legs–Snow Fashion, by Old Fashioned) settled for second in a sloppy off-the-turfer here June 21, and was 3-1 to go one better and provide his sire (by Scat Daddy) with a first Northern Hemisphere winner. Attending hot splits of :21.50 and :44.97, the chestnut started to shake free heading for home and proved not for catching from there, crossing the line two lengths to the good of a fast-finishing Time for Trouble (English Channel). He stopped the clock in 1:08.87. Daddy Long Legs started his stud career off auspiciously in Chile, but was brought to Kentucky for the 2016 breeding season by Taylor Made Farm. Sales history: $160,000 2yo ’19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0. O-Chris Fountoukis & McCourt Racing. B-Jennifer A. & Gillian K. Johnson (FL). T-Linda Rice. The post First Northern Hemisphere Winner for Daddy Long Legs Comes at Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Now that connections are sure they have found the ideal metier for ‘TDN Rising Star’ Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), his opponents in Sunday’s renovated G1 Prix Jean Prat had better watch out. Last year’s champion juvenile has gone from Derby prospect to ultimate miler to now seven-furlong sprinter-miler in the space of just a month and a half, but his talent almost certainly remains undiminished. He looked to have that freak quality as he romped through the G3 Solario S., G2 Champagne S. and G1 Dewhurst S. at two and despite his stout pedigree he has proven hard to peg down distance-wise until now. It is taken as read that the soft ground that prevailed at Royal Ascot undermined him when fading late to be third in the June 18 G1 St James’s Palace S. and quick conditions over this straight seven there should be no call for excuses. Godolphin have stacked three against the Lloyd-Webber homebred, with the Charlie Appleby-trained ‘TDN Rising Star’ Space Blues (Ire) another Dubawi who has steadily reverted to this trip. Successful in Epsom’s Listed Surrey S. May 31 and runner-up in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 22, he has emerged from the Royal meeting in top order. “He has shown plenty of pace this season and we felt that he deserved a crack at a nice prize over this trip,” his trainer said. “It will be his first Group 1 start, but he won’t look out of the place in the line-up. If he can continue his improvement, he should be involved in the finish.” Saeed bin Suroor also drops Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) to seven after three out-of-the-frame efforts at a mile so far this term. While the form of his G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere success at ParisLongchamp in October gives mixed messages, he is considered better than his latest ninth in the St James’s Palace and Saeed bin Suroor is expecting a turnaround. “We have been disappointed with Royal Marine so far this year, but we are looking forward to seeing how he goes over seven furlongs,” he commented. “His last piece of work went well and this looks the right race for him. I am hoping for a better result from him this time.” Chief among the home representation is Gerard Augustin-Normand’s Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was runner-up to Godolphin’s third runner here Munitions (War Front) over this trip in the G3 Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 10 but reversed the form as they finished fourth and ninth respectively in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 12. Unraced on ground good or faster, the Yves Barberot-trained colt who was also third in the G1 Criterium International at Chantilly in October needs to find improvement to make a serious impact. Hamburg are celebrating the 150th running of the G1 IDEE Deutsches Derby, where Gestut Ittlingen’s Laccario (Ger) (Scalo {GB}) occupies favouritism after impressive successes in Dusseldorf’s Listed Derby-Trial May 26 and the G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne June 10. On the latter occasion, the homebred dealt a blow to the ego of Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist) who had previously beaten Stall Salzburg’s Quest the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the May 1 G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich. Following that eclipse, Quest the Moon went to ParisLongchamp to capture the G3 Prix du Lys in authoritative fashion May 26 and that may represent stronger form than his domestic efforts. The post Hot Property appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It took 19 years, but the Justin Snaith-trained Do It Again (SAf) (Twice Over {GB}) and Richard Fourie rewrote the record books as Do It Again became the first horse since 2000 to record back-to-back victories in the R4,250,000 G1 Vodacom Durban July. The Twice Over gelding, carrying top weight of 60kg, fought a fierce duel with Rainbow Bridge (SAf) (Ideal World) and Gavin Lerena down the home straight to prevail by 0.4 lengths with Twist Of Fate (SAf) (Master Of My Fate {SAf}) in third a further 1.3 lengths back. The winning time was 2:15.04 on a good track. Unfortunately the tote favourite, the Mike De Kock-trained Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), became unsettled in the barriers and reared, dislodging jockey Anton Marcus. The colt injured himself slightly in the process, leading to him being scratched by the course vet. Once the field had been reloaded and sent on their way, Fourie settled Do It Again midfield, with Lerena positioning Rainbow Bridge slightly ahead, two off the rail. Return Flight (SAf) (Pomodoro {SAf}), leading the field from the jump, set a brisk pace through the first turn and into the back straight. Coming around the final turn, Fourie started moving the long- striding Do It Again through the field in order to give the gelding a clear run up the middle of the track. Lerena meanwhile had found the perfect gap on the rail and deftly sent Rainbow Bridge through and into the lead. With both horses drifting inward, they ended up locked in a duel in the final furlong, with neither prepared to give an inch. It was a bobbing of heads until Do It Again proved that his 2018 win was no fluke as he slowly inched clear of Rainbow Bridge. Once in front, Fourie wasted no time in celebrating, standing in his stirrups and waving his whip in salute. After winning the 2014 Vodacom Durban July in the boardroom, Fourie was delighted to finally win the race on the racetrack. “At least I got my own victory lap this time”, he quipped. Quite rightly he took full advantage of that victory lap trotting Do It Again down to the 300 metre mark while waving to the crowd, before cantering back. Fourie was full of praise for Do It Again, saying, “he is simply remarkable. He is such a smart horse. He is very intelligent and he definitely has a big-match temperament.” Snaith said he always believed that Do It Again was capable of a repeat victory despite having to carry top weight of 60kgs. “I am very sorry for Sheikh Hamdan, the owner of Hawwaam. I would have preferred to win the race fair and square, but I was never worried about my chances of winning the race,” he said. “This is the best horse in South Africa.” When asked whether Do It Again could be heading overseas, Snaith replied that it could be a possibility. “If the exports open up, anything is an option. However his owners like racing in South Africa and for now we are going to have glass of champagne and enjoy the moment. Then I think we are going to put him away for a bit before getting him ready for next season.” Winning owners Nic Jonsson and Bernard Kantor were on hand to lead their champion in and could not contain their delight. Kantor explained that while he felt happy beyond belief, the victory was tinged with sadness after the death earlier this year of part owner Jack Mitchell. “It is however absolutely remarkable to win it twice in a row, but he is a truly special horse”, he added. Do It Again, by Twice Over out of the Casey Tibbs (Ire) mare Sweet Virginia (SAf), was recording his seventh victory and his fourth Grade 1 win, taking his earnings to R8,410,000. The post Do It Again In July Repeat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article