Wandering Eyes

English Affair split horses in late stretch to score a half-length victory over Amboseli in the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (G3T) for fillies and mares Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

In the 41st start of his career, Ara Aprahamian's Life in Shambles earned his first stakes win, using a strong late kick to win the $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

The biggest horse race in Japan, the Japan Cup takes place on Sunday at Toyko racecourse. This Group 1 contest was first run in 1981 and is an invitation-only event. Even though the race comes at the end of the flat season it generally attracts some leading talent from home and abroad. This very valuable contest has proved elusive for Aidan O’Brien and he relies on Irish Derby winner Capri this year. He has only won once this season when taking a weak Group 3, but his standout piece of form is undoubtedly a fifth-place finish behind Enable in the Arc. If he can reproduce this form then he holds leading claims. Race favourite and leading the home defence is Almond Eye, who became the first horse to complete the three-year-old fillies Triple Crown since Gentildonna back in 2012. She never really looked in danger in any these races and is one of the most exciting horses in Japanese racing since the great Deep Impact. Ther raiding party hasn’t lifted the prize since Alkassed took it in 2005 for Luca Cumani and Frankie Dettori. The second European runner is Thundering Blue, who has shown improved form in recent times, by winning two Group races in his last four starts and he was a fine second in the Canadian International when last seen. Although he’s only won three times, he’s on an upward curve and should be taken very seriously. Cheval Grand bids for back to back victories in the race and although he hasn’t won since he’s still shown a good level of form and must hold leading credentials. Other of note include Suave Richard, Satono Diamond and Kiseki. Selection: Thundering Blue The post Japan Cup Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

KILDARE, Ireland—Two years ago the Goffs November Sale benefited from the major Wildenstein dispersal and then 12 months ago some well-credentialed mares going under the hammer to dissolve the partnership between the China Horse Club and John Magnier. This time around, a lack of star names, some high-profile withdrawals and resulting shortfall in range of buyers led to a more sobering set of returns. Despite there not being the usual depth of participants, the top transactions of the day still reflected the international draw of the Irish sales, with leading lots scattered among buyers from China, Japan, Spain and France. The clearance rate rallied to 79% as higher-profile mares took to the ring later in the day and 169 of the 215 offered found a new home. The aggregate was less than half that accrued last year at €6,074,900 (-54%) and the average fell in line with that to €35,946 (-47%), while the median dropped by 26% to €20,000. Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments has been a major investor at Goffs in recent years and, though absent this time, purchased the day’s most expensive lady for €350,000 through BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe. The 6-year-old She’s Complete (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) (962), a former stakes winner in California, was sold carrying her second foal by Sea The Stars (Ire) having produced a Golden Horn (GB) colt in 2017. “Mr Zhang is over in Japan at the moment but we thought that this mare was very nice physically and she was a 2-year-old stakes winner on the turf. Her Golden Horn yearling sold for 200,000gns and has gone to John Gosden. It’s obviously a lovely cover to Sea The Stars, breeding back into the family.” It’s a family which has certainly proved worthwhile to repeat in matings. She’s Complete’s third dam Anatevka (Ger) is also the dam of Allegretta (GB) who, among her other accomplishments, gave birth to Sea The Stars’ dam Urban Sea (Miswaki). Donohoe had earlier signed on Zhang’s behalf for the young Shamardal mare Wassail (GB) (903), sold carrying a foal by the National Stud freshman Aclaim (Ire) for €75,000. Rifa Mustang Returns The Chinese-owned Rifa Mustang Europe was active throughout the session, ending up with two well-credentialed mares to add to a burgeoning broodmare band. These included Lost In Silence (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (970), now four, who was a winner at two for Dermot Weld and owner-breeder Moyglare Stud. Sold this time last year for €65,000 to the Irish National Stud, she was then covered by that farm’s flagship stallion Invincible Spirit (Ire) and returned to make a swift profit when knocked down for €220,000. The covering sire has already worked well with the immediate family as Lost In Silence’s Grade 2-winning half-sister Speaking Of Which (Ire) is a daughter of Invincible Spirit. “We’re at the start of building up a broodmare band in Europe,” explained Rifa Mustang’s European representative Peter Hensey, who was working the sale with his Australian counterpart Robert Roulston. The duo also went to €140,000 for 3-year-old filly Moons Of Jupiter (956), a winning daughter of War Front and the 10-time winner Daisy Devine (Kafwain), whose victories include the GI Jenny Wiley S. “She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree but there are no plans yet regarding her breeding career,” Hensey said. Sinndar’s Sister A First For Spanish Buyer A tussle between French and Spanish interests ensued in the purchase of the Aga Khan mare Simawa (Ire), an Anabaa half-sister to the dual Derby and Arc winner Sinndar (Ire). Bertrand Le Metayer made a pretty determined attempt from the buyers’ pit but sitting across the ring from him was Francisco Bernal, who had bought the previous day’s top-priced Kingman (GB) foal for his unnamed Spanish client and backed that up with making the first broodmare purchase on her behalf. Sold as lot 977 and carrying to the dual Guineas winner Gleneagles (Ire), the 13-year-old fetched €210,000 and will now become a boarder at Haras du Quesnay in Normandy. “My client wants to breed and race in France,” he said. “Until recently she was only involved in sport horses but now she bought four Thoroughbreds and this was the mare she wanted. She may be covered by Motivator next year.” Simawa was herself a winner and listed-placed as a juvenile and has produced the listed winner Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and Group 3-placed Summaya (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). The Aga Khan Studs draft returned a total of €742,000 for 11 fillies and mares sold through the first session. Muirin Makes Early Waves Muirin (Ire) (799), a daughter of Born To Sea (Ire) who was fourth in last year’s G1 Moyglare Stud S., led early trade when sold through Baroda & Colbinstown Studs for €210,000. Laurent Benoit of Broadhurst Agency stood alongside Paul Shanahan while conducting the bidding and had the final say over Paul Hensey of Rifa Mustang Europe. Muirin, bred by Sunderland Holdings and a winner on debut for Eddie Lynam, is a daughter of Group 3-winning sprinter Girouette (Ire) from the Haras du Quesnay family of Villadolide (Fr) (Anabaa). Sunderland Holdings also featured as the buyer of lot 957, Niku (Ire), a 3-year-old High Chaparral (Ire) half-sister to the Group 1 winner and dual Arc-placed Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has recently been retired to Haras du Logis. With a top-class runner by Sea The Stars in the immediate family, the appeal to the stallion’s owner Ling Tsui is obvious, and her representative John Clarke said after signing the ticket at €140,000, “It’s likely she’ll start with Sea The Stars, or she might go to France to visit Born To Sea (Ire).” Cloth Of Stars was far from the only draw on the page. Niku’s dam Strawberry Fledge (Kingmambo) is a full-sister to the Oaks winner Light Shift who has already produced the multiple Group 1 winner and young sire Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while another Group 1-winning half-sister Shiva (Hector Protector) is the dam of listed winner and G2 Prix Corrida runner-up That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality). I’m Yours, Saxon Warrior Among the mares in the first book of this year’s QIPCO 2,000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) is likely to be the regally-bred listed winner I’m Yours (GB) (980). The 7-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and champion racemare Rebelline (Ire) (Robellino) was sold by her breeder Moyglare Stud for €210,000 to Katsumi Yoshida of Japan’s Northern Farm. Offered with a cover to Darley freshman Ribchester (Ire), the mare has a 2-year-old Dark Angel (Ire) filly to race for her named Coco Blanco (Ire), as well as a yearling filly by Free Eagle (Ire) and a colt foal by Iffraaj (GB). The next mare in the ring (981), also from Moyglare and a daughter of Invincible Spirit, was Last Jewel (Ire), an unraced half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Profound Beauty (Ire) (Danehill). Knocked down to Fozzy Stack for €195,000, agent Mick Flanagan signed for the 5-year-old, who is carrying her second foal by Ulysses (Ire). Cottonmouth For O’Connor The 14-time winner and treble Italian Group 1 winner Dylan Mouth (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) retires to Yorkshire’s Worsall Grange Stud for 2019 and his accomplished dam Cottonmouth (Ire) (Noverre) (931) took to the ring on Thursday in the Kilmaglish House Stud draft. John O’Connor, a successful breeder in his own right alongside his duties as manager of Ballylinch Stud, went to €120,000 to ensure that the 14-year-old mare, who is carrying to Exceed And Excel (Aus), would join the ranks of his Limefield Stud. A prolific winner herself, with 12 victories to her credit including the G3 Premio EBF Terme di Merano, Cottonmouth has produced five winners, with listed scorers Per Un Dixir (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Henry Mouth (Ire) (Henrythenavigator) adding to Dylan Mouth’s vast black-type haul. “She’s a proven racemare, a proven producer and in foal to a very good stallion, and I like all that about her. She’s not the youngest but she looks very well in herself,” O’Connor said. Another familiar name which appeared on the buyers’ sheet on a number of occasions on Thursday was that of Ana O’Brien, who signed for five fillies and mares including the Niarchos family’s Lustful (GB), a Maxios (GB) grand-daughter of the great Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}). Sold as lot 948, the 3-year-old filly is out of an unraced sister to recent G2 Herbert Power S. winner Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and sold for €22,000. The final session of fillies and mares begins at 10am today. View the full article

Legendary Newmarket-based trainer Luca Cumani saddled his last runner at Wolverhampton on Thursday evening before heading into retirement. The 2-year-old filly Swansdown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), carrying the colours of his family’s Fittocks Stud, was a fast-finishing second on her fourth outing as the 6-5 favourite in a nursery handicap. “It’s a shame we didn’t manage to go out on a winner, but it was only a little race and the important thing is that we managed to have a Group 1 winner in our final year [God Given won the Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle earlier this month]. This filly finished well. She is bred to appreciate further and I’m sure she’ll step up to a mile and a half next year.” With Cumani’s Bedford House stables due to be sold early next year, Cumani and his wife Sara will move across Newmarket to live and work at Fittocks Stud. Asked if it could take him a while to adjust, Cumani said, “It might do, but I’m lucky that I’ve got another job to go to and something else to focus on. We’re going to Australia in January, so we’ll move after that.” View the full article

6.15 Kempton, Cond, £6,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Merry Fox Stud Ltd’s GENEVA SPUR (Distorted Humor), a Roger Varian-trained debutante, is a homebred half to G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin victor Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Her rivals include Cheveley Park Stud’s hitherto untried Queen’s Sceptre (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), from the Sir Michael Stoute stable. View the full article

Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro-Magic Mission {GB}, by Machiavellian), Godolphin’s 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, will enter stud at Darley Japan next year, the global breeding operation announced on Thursday. The 5-year-old Talismanic, who also won at Group 2 and 3 level in France for trainer Andre Fabre and was second to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Vase, was retired from racing last week. Darley Japan President Harry Sweeney noted that Talismanic has Japanese connections in his pedigree; Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), the dam of superstar Japanese racehorse and sire Deep Impact (Jpn), appears under the third dam. That branch of the family also includes another leading sire in Black Tide (Jpn). “We are really excited to have Medaglia d’Oro’s best turf son, Talismanic, in Japan,” said Sweeney. “He has a wonderful pedigree, his exceptional sire has sent out numerous winners in a variety of races and his family has produced many big-name horses. He is extremely attractive with a gorgeous body, and we are looking forward to introducing him to our clients in Japan.” View the full article

Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}), who won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac less than 24 hours after being bought by Martin Schwartz for €390,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale in October, will make a quick return to the ring at Arqana’s December Sale after being supplemented as a wildcard (lot 160). In her lone subsequent start after the Boussac, Lily’s Candle beat two home in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. A further Group 1 update on the page has come from Lys Gracieux (Jpn), who appears under the second dam and won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Japan. Three further lots were supplemented on Thursday: Diana Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 150), a full-sister to German champion and Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret (Ger) who is group-placed herself; Noblesse Oblige (Ity) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (lot 180), a leading 2-year-old filly in Italy who won this year’s G3 Premio Dormello and is from the immediate family of G3 Jersey S. winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains second Le Brivido; and the Group 2-placed Moonlight In Paris (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) in foal to Siyouni (Fr) (lot 120). View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost Was a perfect day to celebrate my 100th winner in Hong Kong with my beautiful girlfriend, my brother and his girlfriend. Thank you Starlight and all people who made this possible – @umbyrispoli Umberto Rispoli is one of the most popular characters in Hong Kong racing and he is also one of the great success stories – a testament to hard work and... View the full article

RacingPost NAP 16:05 Newcastle If you’re one for statistics you’ll struggle to see past Sunset Flash in the sixth race on the card at Newcastle. Trainer David Lanigan has a 100% strike rate with runners here at the venue this year and in-form jockey James Doyle also has a 100% strike rate when teaming up with the Newmarket trainer in 2018. An encouraging 4th placed effort on the horses debut is something the young filly can certainly improve upon. Not given the best of rides last time when having too much to do she still showed glimpses of promise none the less. A drop down to seven furlongs seems a positive step and being given a decent draw in stall 4 is also advantageous. Although there’s an obvious threat in the top weight Ticklish who has already claimed a racecourse victory the numbers point towards Lanigan’s charge who seems set to go much better this time around. SUNSET FLASH (WIN) – NAP RACEBETS Alternative Bet 20:30 Wolverhampton Jockey Oisin Murphy seems to possess the Midas touch of late and he climbs aboard former course and distance victor Staffa at Wolverhampton this evening. He’s been pretty poor this season but seemed to turn the corner when finishing a very credible 3rd at Windsor last month. A return to Wolverhampton where the horse is unbeaten is an encouraging change of scenery and although the yard aren’t going great guns of late the horse looks to be back on the right track. The ultra consistent Waneen is likely to be there or thereabouts in the closing stages and fellow course and distance victor Roy’s Legacy could pose a threat if anywhere near his best. Of the remainder Toni’s A Star looks the one who’s got the ability to put our selection to the test if Staffa fails to deliver tonight. STAFFA (WIN) (N/R) Market Rasen: 12:25 – Dandolo Du Gite (WIN) 12:55 – Queen Of The Wind (WIN) 13:25 – Aaron Lad (E/W) 14:00 – Lisdoonvarna Lad (E/W) 14:35 – Sands Cove (WIN) 15:05 – Hope’s Wishes (WIN) 15:40 – Winningseverything (WIN) Thurles: 12:35 – Mrs Lovett (WIN) 13:05 – Alpha Des Obeaux (WIN) 13:35 – Irish Lass (WIN) 14:05 – On The Mill (E/W) 14:40 – Trump Sixteen (E/W) 15:10 – Cailean’s Angel (E/W) 15:45 – Osmotic (WIN) Wincanton: 12:45 – Mr Mulliner (E/W) 13:15 – Zubayr (WIN) 13:45 – Capeland (WIN) 14:15 – Rhythm Is A Dancer (WIN) 14:45 – Hoover Feever (WIN) 15:20 – Asking Questions (WIN) 15:55 – Now Look At Me (WIN) Newcastle: 13:20 – Indianapolis (WIN) 13:55 – Donnachies Girl (WIN) 14:25 – Kirtling (E/W) 14:55 – Jalmoud (WIN) 15:30 – Big Kitten (WIN) 16:05 – Sunset Flash (WIN) – NAP 16:35 – Orion’s Bow (E/W) 17:05 – Haighfield (WIN) Wolverhampton: 17:30 – Swansdown (WIN) 18:00 – Cantiniere (WIN) 18:30 – Finoah (WIN) 19:00 – Hit The Beat (WIN) 19:30 – Moon Song (WIN) 20:00 – Laieth (WIN) 20:30 – Staffa (WIN)* 21:00 – Alexis Carrington (E/W) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Thursday 22nd November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Australian jockey Tye Angland plans on becoming a gun for hire in Hong Kong, hoping his “hit and run” mission on Sunday will act as a launching pad towards next month’s Longines International Races. The 29-year-old spent four seasons in Hong Kong where he rode 139 winners before returning home to Sydney in 2014, but retains a keen interest in racing here. Angland returns for a one-off meeting on Sunday to help cover a jockey shortfall and has shown he still has strong... View the full article

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Outside of Modesto, CA, Julie Baker, founder of Healing Arenas, is launching a new project for first responders through EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). The new program is part of an already ambitious roster of EAGALA programs that Healing Arenas offers veterans, families of veterans anx at-risk youth. Baker also takes the time to retrain Thoroughbreds as police horses and showcases her off-track Thoroughbreds as ambassadors for the racing industry at the state capital in Sacramento. This year, she competed at the Retired Racehorse Project in Lexington, KY and earned 16th place out of 81 entries in the freestyle class. Baker also works full-time as an EMT and is in her 12th　year on the emergency squad. Her go-to EAGALA horse is Florida-bred Viva Pentelicus (Pentelicus). Foaled in 1996, he raced 96 times and earned $347,464. He broke his maiden at Hawthorne running for John Franks and Steve Asmussen and was retired at age nine to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) from Remington Park after finishing second by a neck. Over a seven-year career, he hit the board 45 times. He has been in Baker’s program since 2012. “He is the best therapy horse we have,” says Baker. “He is all business and doesn’t strive to get the most attention as some horses do. You have to work for it, meaning you have to be honest and genuine in your expressions and that is exactly how horses help people. We are so grateful to the TRF for providing him.” In some ways, Viva Pentelicus’s life is still like that of a racehorse. Every week he gets on a trailer and goes to work at a program. “He does his job. He is a pro and a champ,” said Baker. “When people hear how much money he won, they are amazed because he is a small horse. It adds to his effectiveness in building self-esteem and confidence.” Healing Arenas is located in Stanislaus County, three hours south of the Camp Fire that has claimed at least 81 lives as of this writing. The smoke has blanketed the area. It is not only a health hazard, it is a constant reminder of the devastation happening to fellow Californians just hours away in addition to the traumatic effect it is having on the fire fighters, EMS, law enforcement, the recovery effort as well as other first responders. Baker’s new pilot program will be certified as a continuing education course for first responders and will focus on resilience in your job, with your family and in your life. Baker credits her ability to serve on the ambulance for so many years to her work in EAGALA. “There is still a stigma within this population about asking for help,” Baker said. “The program will be a judgment-free place and the horses will break the ice as participants and the facilitators watch the horses’ behavior with each other in the herd. The work will progress from there. It is exactly what this population needs right now. Like veterans, they need comfort, confidence, and a safe place to explore their own questions of resilience. The horses are completely non-judgmental. There is no stigma here–just a benefit for accepting what you are feeling.” Viva has had a busy year as the Healing Companions’ team　explored other new areas for EAGALA services. The horses are in the middle of a fully funded　pilot program for a local organization that helps survivors of human trafficking where, once again, Viva was the shining star in the program. “There is such a need for this population and　Viva read the participantsperfectly,” Baker said. “He was the epitome of patience and acceptance of everything that these young people were going through.” For more information, contact Julie Baker at www.healingarenas.org or healingarenas@gmail.com. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the　Thoroughbred Adoption Network, a searchable database and information source for those seeking off-track thoroughbreds to adopt. View the full article

It was a nightmarish day for chalk at Zia Park Nov. 21, as a card full of stakes on "Land of Enchantment Day" featured only one winning favorite. View the full article

Owner Aron Wellman and trainer Michael McCarthy didn't have grand plans for Ohio when they put the $50,000 claim in for the Brazilian-bred June. 10 at Santa Anita Park. They just wanted some action for the upcoming Del Mar summer meet. View the full article

Vocal advantage in gate one may speak volumes View the full article

Rodd not making title be-all and end-all View the full article

Early scratching November 23 View the full article

The sky-high odds Knicks Go has provided his backers are about to become a thing of the past as the son of Paynter figures to be the clear favorite Nov. 24 in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation will launch its annual holiday online auction Friday. The 10-day auction will begin at 5 p.m. ET., and will conclude Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. ET. The auction will be conducted on eBay at https://www.ebay.com/usr/thoroughbredretirementfoundation. Among the items up for auction is memorabilia featuring legendary horses like Secretariat, Cigar, Seattle Slew, John Henry and Ruffian, and programs from racetracks like Saratoga, Belmont Park, Keeneland, Aqueduct, Delaware Park, Monmouth Park and Del Mar. There are also halters available that were worn by 2000 GI Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and champion sire Tale of the Cat. For more information, or to donate an auction item, please contact auction organizer, Chelsea O’Reilly chelsea@thoroughbredretirement.org or call the TRF at (518) 226-0028. 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. Thursday’s Insights features a pair of Godolphin colourbearers. 2.55 Newcastle, Mdn, £10,400, 2yo, 10f 42y (AWT) Godolphin’s JALMOUD (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), one of two contenders from the Charlie Appleby nursery, is a homebred son of G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and thus a full-brother to last term’s G1 Fillies’ Mile third Magic Lily (Ire). He is joined by stablemate Moonlight Spirit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a grandson of G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks and GI Flower Bowl Invitational victress Kazzia (Ger) (Zinaad {GB}). View the full article

3rd-AQU, $62K, Msw, 2yo, (S), 6fT, 12:50 p.m. ET Linda Rice unveils a full-brother to her GI Fourstardave H. victor Voodoo Song in fellow Barry Schwartz homebred WORTH A SHOT (English Channel). Voodoo Song found his niche when switching to the Rice barn, rattling off four wins on the Saratoga lawn last summer, including the GIII Saranac S., and adding two more black-type scores this term in the Forbidden Apple S. and Fourstardave. The brothers are out of stakes winner Mystic Chant (Unbridled’s Song), a half-sister SW & MGSP Mystic Soul (Bahri), who is the dam of SW & MGSP Encryption (Exchange Rate). TJCIS PPs. 10th-LRL, $40K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:13 p.m. ET Graham Motion unveils a half-brother to juvenile champion and GI Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in STILL DREAMING (Flatter). The $460,000 KEESEP buy, who also hails from the family of GISW Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap), enters off a five-panel bullet at Fair Hill in 1:01 flat Nov. 15. TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

Godolphin Racing's Lady Montdore will look to build on her strong start since arriving from France when she competes in the $400,000 Long Island Stakes (G3T) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Judge Lanier Racing's Conquest Mo Money—runner-up in the 2017 Arkansas Derby (G1) and Sunland Derby (G3), and a Preakness Stakes (G1) runner in the same year—has been retired from racing and will begin his stud career, trainer Miguel Hernandez said. View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Gronkowski will be looking for his first win in North America when he makes his return to racing in the $200,000 Discovery Stakes (G3) Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Phoenix Thoroughbred’s Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), purchased after four straight synthetic-track wins, showed his affinity for dirt with a big second in the GI Belmont S. Two dull efforts against top-class company later, the dark bay will dip into Grade III territory against a pair of up-and-coming sophomores while looking for his first graded tally in the Discovery S. Saturday at Aqueduct. Breaking his maiden last November at Chelmsford for Jeremy Noseda, Gronkowski annexed his first three outings as a 3-year-old, culminating with a score in the 32red Burradon S. to punch his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby. Forced to pass on a Run for the Roses due to an infection, he pointed for the Belmont and came within 1 3/4 lengths of upsetting Justify’s Triple Crown bid at nearly 25-1. He made no impact, however, when eighth in the GI Travers S. next out and only fared mildly better to be sixth against elders in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup last out Sept. 29 at Belmont. Shortleaf Stable’s Plainsman (Flatter) has come to hand quickly since being transferred from William Van Meter’s outfit to the Brad Cox barn over the summer. Sixth in the GI Arkansas Derby this spring, the $350,000 Keeneland September graduate finished third in a Saratoga allowance in his first start for Cox Sept. 1 before romping by 6 3/4 lengths at Belmont Sept. 27 and doubling up with a half-length success at this oval Nov. 3. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable teamed up to go to $725,000 for Life’s a Parlay (Uncle Mo) at KEESEP, and, after debuting with a third at 9-5 Jan. 6 at Gulfstream, the bay scored a sharp victory there three weeks later. Shelved for over eight months following that, he returned with an allowance success Oct. 13 at Belmont and will try two turns for the first time here. View the full article