Wandering Eyes

Wassergeist right on target at Kranji debut View the full article

Sun Marshal shines again View the full article

Baertschiger is Friday's King of the Kids View the full article

Horses' body weights June 21 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings June 21 View the full article

Horses’ test results June 17, 18 & 20 View the full article

Gray happy to see Cruiser’s naughty side again View the full article

Early scratchings June 21 View the full article

Thursday’s California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting in Pleasanton was book-ended by the board’s approval of a number of safety-related rules to tighten veterinary and medication practices, plus strident public commentary from anti-racing advocates who continue to call for the banishment of the sport in the wake of 29 horse deaths at Santa Anita Park. In the middle of it all, Frank Stronach, the 86-year-old founder of The Stronach Group (TSG), led off the public commentary session by testifying that he is in full control of the family empire whose nationwide six-track portfolio includes Santa Anita. Frank Stronach alluded obliquely to the $500-million lawsuit he initiated against his daughter, Belinda Stronach, over who truly controls TSG, and repeated assertions he has recently made about Santa Anita’s property needing to be put in a trust to shield it from future development. Without mentioning specifics, Stronach contended that a move to a trust ownership would be a crucial step toward improving equine safety at the track. “I did not buy those racetracks [so] that they could be sold. You see, horse racing is more than the business,” Stronach said. “Horse racing really should be run by a trust, okay? We would like to discuss that, okay? I want to prevent that the tracks [will be] used for development, right? Yes, we can build hotels to improve, yes, as long as it enhances horse racing. But not to the detriment that we shut the tracks. “So that’s one of our commitments,” Stronach continued. “But at the same time, if we come up with a new structure…we must attach a horse racing charter of rights to the structure. And we have to prove to the public that horsemen do care for the horses.” Like a number of the 18 members of the public who signed up for their three minutes at the microphone, Stronach had difficulty articulating his thoughts within that time limit, which was more stringently enforced by the CHRB than it has been at previous meetings. Stronach repeatedly emphasized that he wanted to work with stakeholders, animal rights activists, and CHRB members, admitting that “we still have a long ways to go” to bring about meaningful reforms. He suggested that 1% of betting handle could be used to fund the retirement needs of racehorses. But CHRB vice chair Madeline Auerbach pressed him for more granular details, asking, “What would you do to help the horses? What would you do that we haven’t addressed?” Stronach began his reply by stating that there are two reasons racehorses suffer injuries, overmedication and unsound racetrack foundations. Then, seemingly frustrated, he pivoted back to his family’s very public spat. “I’ve been shut out of TSG, even though I paid for everything,” Stronach vented. “I’m the founder. I’ve been shut out.” Auerbach again asked Stronach to refocus on specifics related to helping horses. “Well to help horses, the one thing you’ve got to prevent is that they break down, okay?” Stronach said. “There’s a number of other things that we could do. Horses are entitled to…at least nine weeks on the farm without [being] locked up in a stall. Those will be all parts of a horse racing charter where we really address the concern.” CHRB chairman Chuck Winner then asked if Stronach was speaking on behalf of TSG or himself. “I represent the actual owners of TSG. I’m the founder, and have a family,” Stronach said, mentioning the support he has from his wife Elfriede, and his son, Andrew. “But is Belinda not the chairman and president?” of TSG, Winner pressed. “Yes, but I don’t want to go into that,” Stronach said. “It’s sad enough [to be involved in a lawsuit with one’s daughter]. I present a proposal–ideas–by the rightful owners. And the court will decide who the rightful owners [of TSG] are. I am speaking as the rightful owner, with the endorsement of my wife and my son.” Andrew Stronach later spoke during the public commentary period. He did not mention TSG or family affairs, and instead limited his comments to his concerns as a breeder about the overmedication of Thoroughbreds. Of the other public speakers who articulated concerns related to the equine welfare crisis at Santa Anita, anti-racing advocates outnumbered pro-racing supporters by a 13-1 margin. Commentary by several other speakers cited both pros and cons, and fell somewhere in the middle on this polarizing issue. Earlier, in a series of unanimous 4-0 votes, the CHRB withdrew its membership from the Association of Racetrack Commissioners International, and agreed to requests from Golden Gate Fields and the Ferndale and Sonoma County fairs that include allowing racing secretaries to establish conditions that will lower the allowable maximum race-day dosage of the Lasix from 500 mg to 250 mg during their upcoming race meets. Those latter approvals match both lower Lasix dosages and longer corticosteroid stand-down times established at other state tracks earlier this year. Two separate rule proposals related to restrictions on shockwave therapy and a requirement for veterinary records for ship-in horses unanimously got advanced to 45-day public commentary periods. Both will need to come up again at a subsequent meeting in order to be fully adopted. The post Stronach to CHRB: ‘Horse Racing Really Should Be Run By a Trust’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” said Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament on Thursday. The Bill, which comes into force on 1 July, opens the starting gate for the transition of the New Zealand Racing Industry into a financially sustainable future. The Bill reconstitutes the New Zealand Racing Board as the Racing Industry Transition Agency, (RITA). RITA will have a new membership and a legislative mandate... View the full article

Backstretch workers assembled Thursday morning at Santa Anita in a joint effort to plead their case to the media that their community would suffer irreparable damage if racing were to go away in Southern California. A Santa Anita official estimated the number of people taking part in the rally as around 400, but the radio station KFI reported that there were “more than 100” Santa Anita employees who were on hand. They achieved at least one major goal, as virtually every English and Spanish language television station and newspaper in Southern California covered the event. The event was organized by Oscar de la Torre, who describes himself as a social activist and said he became concerned about the possible plight of backstretch workers, many of whom are Hispanic, after learning about threats by politicians and others to close Santa Anita because 29 horses to date have died during the current meet. He said he has never worked on the backstretch of a racetrack. “I thought it was very powerful for the workers and their families to finally have a voice in the future of this industry,” de la Torre said. “The backstretch workers at Santa Anita, they are the invisible foundation of the horse racing industry and they deserve to be protected as much as the horses they also love and protect. When I heard about the problems at Santa Anita I contacted a friend of mine, trainer Hector Palma, and he introduced me to the backstretch workers and I heard their stories and saw the concern they had about losing their livelihoods. I decided this was a social justice issue that needed attention. “I think we need to extend the compassion that we have for the horses to the humans. The goal should be to protect both. This is a very vulnerable population of people, the people who work on the backstretch of this racetrack. There are already 59,000 homeless people in the City of Los Angeles. We do not want to shut down Santa Anita and further contribute to that social problem.” Beyond backstretch workers, several others were spotted in the crowd offering their support, including some of the circuit’s most high profile trainers. The list includes Bob Baffert, Doug O’Neill, John Shirreffs, Mark Glatt and Jeff Bonde. The list of speakers included Jairo Lopez, whose father has worked on the Santa Anita backstretch for 35 years and he, himself, has worked there during recent breaks from school while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree. Speaking first in English and then repeating his statement in Spanish, Lopez, who is a student at Cal-State Long Beach, said he never would have been able to seek a college education if not for horse racing. “Thanks to this job [working on the backstretch for O’Neill], I have become a responsible person who has learned to always do the best he is capable of doing,” he said. “It is thanks to this job and these people that I am the person I am today and without them showing me the support and pushing me forward I wouldn’t be where I am at right now. I got accepted to eight of nine universities that I applied to, but decided I wanted to stay locally. I picked Cal State Long Beach so that I could continue to work at the racetrack and support my family and help my dad.” According to de la Torre, Lopez would not have been able afford college if not for the money he himself earned working on the backstretch and the money his father saved during his many years working in racing. He said Lopez’s goal is to become a police officer. Santa Anita management issued a press release applauding the efforts of the workers. It read: “Backstretch workers comprise the backbone of the racing industry and have been a willing partner in implementing the reforms we have proposed at Santa Anita Park–and the California Horse Racing Board implemented–during the course of this meeting. Support from these backstretch workers is a testament to the commitment from within the industry to modernize our sport. We look forward to working with the hundreds of backstretch workers at Santa Anita Park as we continue to move the industry forward and educate Californians on how impactful horse racing is to the state.” Video of Thursday’s rally can be viewed on XBTV here. The post Santa Anita Backstretch Workers Rally to Support SoCal Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1.15 Chantilly, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, 8fT REPERTOIRE (GB) (Bated Breath {GB) represents Khalid Abdullah and Andre Fabre and is a half-brother to the high-class trio of Byword (GB) (Peintre Celebre), Proviso (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}). His Highness The Aga Khan’s Nirmali (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is an Alain de Royer Dupre-trained son of the dual group 3 winner Narniyn (Ire) (Dubawi) who was also placed in the G1 Nassau S. and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The post Observations on the European Racing Scene: June 21, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This past Monday was the fifth and final week of the ACTT Naturally Teen Leadership program for selected high school students from Mechanicville High School just outside of Saratoga Springs, NY. During the five-week program, funded by Thoroughbred trainer and alumnus Chad Brown, the students learned about body language, assertive versus aggressive behavior, and the predator-prey relationship between horses and people. The goal at ‘graduation’ was to connect with their horses while at-liberty (no halters or leads) in the round pen. “The goal of the at-liberty exercise is to put all of the sessions together and build the bond with the horse which signifies that the horse is seeking solace or safety with you as their leader,” said Valerie Buck, who conducts the program. “This helps teens in countless ways as the horse accepts them and chooses to be right with them up-close and nowhere else.” These teens were chosen by their two guidance counselors because of problems in communication, socialization or depression, or because they were experiencing some difficulty at school or home. For week five, it was warm enough to be outside using the outdoor round pen where grass and other distractions make the connection exercise more challenging. Yet, the teens showed real skill in reading their horses’ body language and adjusting their own accordingly. “Over the five weeks, we do exercises to teach communicating with clarity and intention as well as how your energy affects others and how to control it,” said Buck. “In the end, when all the lessons come together and the horse attaches himself to the teen, it is very emotional.” At first, Brandon, who has been teamed with Harlem Rocker for the full five weeks, had trouble using his energy to send his horse to the outside of the round pen. Once he figured it out, the Thoroughbred dug in and showed his graded stakes winner style as well as a few aerials. “Trust him,” instructed Buck. “Just drop your shoulders and ask him to come in.” Brandon softened his shoulders, asked for a hind-end yield and Harlem Rocker trotted right up to him and then followed Brandon around like a puppy. “He was so confident and calm,” said Suzanne LeForestier, school psychologist who was in attendance at the program for most weeks. “I am so proud of him.” “It helps that these are really cool racehorses, ” said Buck. “The students’ time here is like nothing else that they ever experience. It has an impact. They learn awareness of healthy boundaries and to help them find mutual respect among their peers, parents and teachers. They learn better communication skills and how to work out conflicts and situations with a more rational approach.” One teen said of the program: “From going to the horse farm I see a different me–like a calm, focused, determined me. I think the horses helped bring that out of me and helped me find it. This experience also teaches people like me that if you are focused, you can do anything, like build trust with an animal. I now realize the horses aren’t just animals, they are kind of like people. I say this because they have feelings, they learn right from wrong. They need to build trust and helped me in the right direction, just like people do. So, going to the farm was not just a grade it was a way to find your true self and what you’re capable of doing” Brandon, when asked what part of the program he liked best, he replied: “I liked every part of it.” Brandon hopes to volunteer at Long Shadows Farm this summer to learn more about horses and keep working on his horsemanship skills. For more information, go to www.acttnaturally.org or contact Valerie Buck at Valerieabuck@gmail.com. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network. The post On Aftercare: School Is Out and Horsemanship Is In appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If Friday is half as exciting as Thursday was, we are in for a real treat. The Albany opens events where Daahyeh looks like the one to beat. She was an impressive winner at Newmarket on debut where she beat Queen Mary winner Raffle Prize easily. Wesley Ward is still awaiting success this week but […] The post Royal Ascot Preview – Day 4 appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Runnin'toluvya looks to continue the form that won him the Charles Town Classic (G2) in April when he faces six in the Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth Park June 20 View the full article

Sir Winston, winner of the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), will get time off in Ocala, Fla. because of a minor ankle issue and will not contest the summer 3-year-old races, trainer Mark Casse confirmed June 20. View the full article

Alastar Thoroughbred and Michael Valdes' Storm the Hill is scheduled to make her seasonal debut in the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) June 22 at Santa Anita Park, a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares she won last year by 1 1/2 lengths. View the full article

Big horse, big name, big impact. “When he ran, you know, he was almost larger than the screen,” says David O’Farrell, remembering his eagerness to bring The Big Beast (Yes It’s True) to Ocala Stud. Sure, it remains very early days. The stallion only recently had his first runner. But that was a winner at Churchill, keeping up the momentum from his dynamic debut at the 2-year-old sales this spring-headlined, from a $6,000 cover, by an $850,000 filly at OBS March. And while first impressions can’t always last, the fact is that The Big Beast is only the latest talent harnessed to the unique model, and unique experience, of the O’Farrell family. Last year, they launched Uncaptured (Lion Heart), whose opening salvo of three black-type winners was bettered only by Cross Traffic (Unbridled’s Song). In 2017, another son of Lion Heart, Kantharos, had opened for business in Kentucky after a flying start here in Florida. The lore that went into putting these stallions on the map extends beyond six decades, since O’Farrell’s grandfather brought Rough’n Tumble down from Maryland to transform the Sunshine State’s contribution to the bloodstock industry. Few today would dream of trying to emulate the O’Farrells, now that so many specialist consignors buy yearlings specifically to pinhook as 2-year-olds. But having spent so long perfecting their own system, and developing the facilities and the broodmares to sustain it, Ocala Stud remains consistently able to make a stallion’s reputation by the precarious means of breeding for 2-year-old sales. “These pinhookers, they’re sharp horsemen, some of the best in the game,” O’Farrell says. “They’re hand-selecting their athletes, where we get what the good Lord gives us! We’re going on mating decisions and hoping for the best. So it’s increasingly difficult for an operation like ours, relying on homebreds by our own, regional stallions. “So we’re fortunate to be able to be relevant and compete. And it’s very rewarding when you lead over a homebred in a market that has become so highly competitive. You walk by Eddie’s, you walk by Niall, you walk by Nick [i.e the consignments of Messrs. Woods, Brennan and De Meric]. And you see they’ve got Tapits and Malibu Moons and War Fronts. And we’ve got our Adios Charlies, our Big Beasts, our Prospectives. “So you know you’re up against it. But we feel confident in our stallions. We breed our best mares to our young stallions. Most of our 2-year-olds are have been foaled, raised, broken, and trained at Ocala Stud. And we feel like we can control the whole upbringing of that horse, and sell a finished product that’s ready to go on.” There is, to be fair, a chicken-and-egg element. The model is only sustainable precisely because the farm’s track record means that confidence can be shared by the market. You only have to look at the signatories to that $850,000 docket: David Ingordo, for Lane’s End Bloodstock on behalf of West Point and partners. “She was just an exceptional individual, perfect from day one,” O’Farrell says. “We knew all along that she could be a very good filly. But you can never expect a result like that. It’s a mare you could have confidence in, a mare that’s produced runners. But it’s not a blue-blooded pedigree, it’s regional breeding and a $6,000 stud fee.” Juvenile sales, of course, are liable to produce the odd flash in the pan. But The Big Beast has followed through at every level of the market. During the same OBS March session, a colt sold for $450,000 after a :9.60 breeze; while other youngsters made $230,000 and $205,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic and OBS April auctions, respectively. “The Beast,” says O’Farrell, shaking his head happily. “He’s perfect. He’s a horse we’ve been high on from the outset, and let’s hope the momentum continues. He’s such a fun horse, given his name, his size, his talent. Yes It’s True had been very successful in Florida, so he was a horse we were really drawn to. We feel very fortunate that the Lieblongs gave us an opportunity.” Having hit the ball out of the park as early as March, The Big Beast was able to profit from an overnight spike in demand, with 109 mares through his door so far, after covering 57 last year. It was a similar story last year with Uncaptured, who bucked the usual nervous trend of that tricky fourth season with a staggering 173 mares. “That’s very rare,” O’Farrell notes. “As popular as he was in his first two years, he was even more so in his third and fourth. And I’ll tell you, just talking with colleagues that also stand stallions, in Kentucky or here, it’s become increasingly difficult to get mares even in the second book. You’re on the bubble already. So for a horse like Uncaptured to have such confidence from breeders, that just speaks volumes in today’s world.” Traffic continued unabated this time round: in fact, Uncaptured’s book was full virtually by Christmas. But a rising tide floats all boats, and the trickle-down helped the whole roster. To take just one example, Adios Charlie. “He’s kind of the blue-collar, value play,” says O’Farrell enthusiastically. “The best bargain around, really. His problem was that he had to be retired after the Sunshine Millions Classic in January. Timing is everything with stallions, and January is a horrible time to retire: you’re too late to get started, and it’s too long to the next season. “But we liked the horse. So Dad calls Stan Hough and says, ‘Look, set him up here. We know we’re going to get a late start. But we’ll breed a dozen good mares to him, and what he lacks in quantity, we’ll give him in quality.'” From barely a couple of dozen named foals, Adios Charlie mustered a $675,000 filly at OBS March. And she won her first two starts impressively. Unfortunately, she was in Japan by then. Moreover the stallion’s follow-up hit, a $420,000 colt at the April Sale, also disappeared from the radar. He did not make his debut until he was four, albeit he subsequently made up for lost time as Patternrecognition, winner of the GI Cigar Mile last December. “He had fives stakes winners last year,” O’Farrell says. “If you’re trying to breed a racehorse, earn money, he’s a working-man’s stallion. Average earnings index as good as there is. He’s a really solid, promising stallion. But he had to do it the hard way. And those are the ones you have a lot of respect for.” The breed-to-breeze program is obviously ideally suited to the kind of stallions that have trademarked ‘Florida speed.’ But while The Big Beast was a standout prospect, as a GI King’s Bishop S. winner out of a Deputy Minister mare, the O’Farrells know that they sometimes have to think outside the box. Hence, for instance, the arrival of a two-turn type in Girvin (Tale Of Ekati) to complement the inevitable core of speed in the broodmare band. “But remember Girvin won first time out,” O’Farrell stresses. “Going six furlongs, [one minute] 10-and-change, up on the pace. So he had speed, and he was precocious. And he’s out of a Malibu Moon mare, whose first foal Cocked And Loaded (Colonel John) won on debut, going 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland. “Yes, he’s a classy horse that wanted a Classic distance. But if you look at his pedigree, and really read between the lines, he’s a horse I’m confident could do well in the 2-year-old market. I think anywhere, whether it’s Florida, Kentucky, New York, you have to have speed. You just hope the speed carries.” It’s not as though the farm has ever only dealt in a single dimension. Ocala Stud stood the sires of consecutive post-time favorites for the Kentucky Derby–Concerto with Bellamy Road in 2005 and then Sweetsouthernsaint with Sweetnorthernsaint. O’Farrell, who shares day-to-day management of the farm with his brother Joe, credits their father Michael for imaginative recruitment to the roster. “Montbrook was by Buckaroo,” he remarks. “Buckaroo never had another son worth a nickel. Notebook was by Well Decorated. Trippi, by End Sweep. Even when we stood Kantharos, Lion Heart had been hauled off to Turkey. In Florida, the reality tends to be we either get a superior racehorse that’s a little light on pedigree, or a really well-bred one that’s light on performance. But it’s an inexact science, and a lot of emphasis should be put on the bottom side.” And the realities of the market are such that the Florida stallion who breaks the chains of prejudice can end up, like Kantharos, walking away altogether–in the footsteps of Mr. Prospector, among others. O’Farrell’s ultimate goal is to have a top-class stallion stay in Florida. But he remains realistic. “One of our owners asked whether it was bittersweet that Kantharos left,” he recalls. “And I said, ‘Not really–I hope we do the same thing for you.’ If they do well enough to move to Kentucky, that means they’ve been successful, and breeders have profited from supporting them. So I look at it as a positive. We’ve gladly assumed the role of stepping-stone. While we like to have equity in our stallions, it’s the owners that grant us the opportunity to get their horses’ careers started and I understand the economics. “Take Stonestreet, they’ve been wonderful to us. Florida breeders had an opportunity to breed to Kantharos for a number of years. And when he went to Kentucky, for three times the money, the folks that bred to him his last couple years here will have benefited when they had weanlings or yearlings to sell.” Moreover as Kantharos went through the revolving door, Stonestreet sent Rachel Alexandra’s son Jess’s Dream (Curlin) through the other way. They knew that whatever a young stallion’s potential, here is a firm that will make sure he reaches it. After all, the O’Farrell family came here the same year Needles put Florida on the Thoroughbred map in the Kentucky Derby. From the first Florida crop they delivered by Rough’n Tumble, moreover, emerged the nation’s top juvenile filly of 1959, My Dear Girl, subsequently dam of In Reality, who tussled repeatedly with Rough’n Tumble’s son Dr Fager. “A lot of the reason why we’re here today is Rough’n Tumble,” O’Farrell reflects. “He was kind of the foundation for Florida breeding, kick-started the whole thing. But then there was also my grandfather, who was a big time promoter, and held the first commercial 2-year-old sale at Hialeah Park in 1957. He erected tents and sold 16 head, I think, for an average of $5,200. And the horses were bred like billy goats. “In those days, horses sold on pedigree. And we didn’t have pedigree that could make us a living. We had to prove our pedigrees. He felt like he could put the effort and time and expense into them and prove that some horses could outrun their pedigree. It was kind of a gimmick, at the time, but we have sold our entire crop of 2-year-olds ever since. He was a pioneer, and it’s amazing how that whole game has changed.” One of the turning points was Chapel Royal, a homebred son of Montbrook who made $1.2 million before proving one of the top juveniles of his generation. Equally, there had been challenges along the way–but these we’ll leave to O’Farrell’s father, who talks us through the farm’s remarkable history in the second half of this feature, which we’ll run next week. One way or another, the legacy of achievement is also one of confidence; of faith in a tried-and-trusted program. “It’s just what we do,” O’Farrell says with a shrug. “We try not to deviate too much. We stick to what we do best. You know, there’s some horses I’m sure we could capitalize on, as yearlings, that don’t turn out to be the 2-year-olds that you’d hoped. But then there’s others we could cull that, once you put tack on them, they turn out to be the runners. “So you can overthink it. We just stick to our game plan. Buyers know that when they come to our consignment, they have an opportunity to buy the very best horse we have to offer; the opportunity to buy the worst; and everything in between. “It’s a unique operation, and a well-oiled machine now. We’ve been doing it a long time. It would be almost unthinkable, in today’s world, to set up a comparable program, numbers-wise. Because it’s a huge investment. If you’re selling homebred 2-year-olds, you’ve got a yearling, you’ve got a foal, and you’ve got to breed the mare back. It’s a lot of output and three years before you can get any return. “Two-year-old sales used to be primarily for Florida-breds, for cheaper pedigrees; nowadays it’s very high stakes. These sales have probably matured more than any other segment in the industry in the last 10 years. But it’s been good to us, and we stand by our product.” The post Ocala Stud’s Big Hopes for Another Kantharos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the first Democratic debate next week, and the 2020 election seemingly nearer than that date, one marvels at how big this sport is in this small country. One reason is because of Queen Elizabeth II. Hard to imagine that she has been coming to this race meeting every year, in person for 47 years! And she is not just a spectator, but an owner. Hey, she loves the game, just like her mother did. Word is, like her mum, she also wagers. And she has had 23 winners at this Royal Ascot meeting alone, and could add to that total before Saturday evening. Wouldn’t it be great if our country’s leaders loved our game? They could learn a lot from the courage and stamina of our four-legged stars. They could learn a lot from the humility of the top owners and trainers. The weather cleared Thursday afternoon, but the first announcement brought a cloud over my handicapping. Wesley Ward had one of the favorites for the G2 Norfolk S., but because of all the rain Wednesday, he scratched Maven (American Pharoah) because of the soft ground. Ward will keep the 2-year-old on the continent for a race in France next month. With the defection of Maven, it was an easier task for jockey Frankie Dettori to win the opener on A’Ali (Society Rock {Ire}). Then Frankie took the second race, the G3 Hampton Court S. on Sangarius (Kingman {GB}). When I was at Santa Anita I noticed a pattern that when jockeys won two races, they seemed to ride a greater percentage of winners that day going for the hat trick. A study then showed that something good happens in the mind and body of a rider going for their third winner of the day. They are on the top of the game, both mentally and physically. The winning percentage for that jockey jumps to almost double for consequent rides. It happened immediately for Dettori. He won the third race, the G2 Ribblesdale S. (the Ascot Oaks) with Star Catcher (Sea The Stars {GB}) for trainer John Gosden. Star Catcher paid $11.90 to win on Twinspires.com. Not bad for a must play. In my limited study, jocks going for their fourth winner of the day find their percentages drop. But that was not the scenario for Frankie. The 48-year-old phenom won the signature event of the meet, the G1 Gold Cup on Stradivarius (Sea The Stars {GB}) again for Gosden. He had no room until the home straight, then the canny Italian found a seam to burst through. Magnificent horsemanship for 2 1/2 miles. It might be the smallest actual trophy of the meet, but it means the most. The Queen handed out the hardware, beaming and laughing as she greeted the trainer and jockey. It was Frankie’s seventh victory in this historic event. You can imagine how great the percentages are against a rider winning five-of-five any day. The man of the moment looked to be a hero again, but in the fifth, with less than half a furlong to go, Harry Bentley on Biometric (Bated Breath {GB}) caught Dettori and won the Britannia S. (Class 2). In 1878 Freddie Archer was the only rider in history to win five races in one day of The Royal Meeting. On Thursday in the finale, The King George V S. (Handicap) (Class 2) trainer Aidan O’Brien finished 1-2-3 at the winning post, with South Pacific (Galileo {GB}) leading the team home. Frankie finished far, far back, even though he was clearly the star of the day. I have witnessed many Triple Crowns and many Breeders’ Cups, but I have never felt an entire racetrack behind a rider like today. It seemed no matter what your bet, you wanted Frankie to win that fifth straight race. Two more days of the Royal meeting to go, but this is a day all race fans will never forget. And neither will Frankie. The post Letter From Ascot: The Queen & Frankie Dettori appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sir Winston, winner of the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), will get time off in Ocala, Fla. because of a minor ankle issue, and will not contest the summer 3-year-old races, trainer Mark Casse confirmed June 20. View the full article

Stakes-placed Faraway Kitten will take aim at his first stakes win when he faces an expected seven other 3-year-olds in the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby June 22 at Canterbury Park. View the full article

There’s a lot to play for among the young sires, as seven of the field are the offspring of first-season stallions, including a daughter of Gleneagles, who had his first Royal Ascot winner on Wednesday. Sophomore No Nay Never, who provided the winner of the Coventry S., Arizona (Ire), on Tuesday, has another three chances of a winner from this race. Alabama Whitman (GB) (Ivawood (Ire) – Mutoon (Ire), Erhaab) Unsold when offered by breeder Robert Pocock of Stringston Farm at the foal sales and later bought for £18,000 by Bobby O’Ryan and trainer Richard Spencer at the Goffs UK Silver Yearling Sale. Second on her sole start on May 27. Aroha (IRE) (Kodiac (GB) – Surrey Storm (GB), Montjeu (Ire)) A €68,000 Goffs November Foal Sale purchase from breeder Ballinacurra Stud by Robert Sinclair and Anna Sundstrom of High Valley Equine, who out her into training after buying her back at the Premier Sale for £45,000. Still a maiden after three runs. Back To Brussels (Ire) (Starspangledbanner (Aus) – Big Boned, Street Sense) A €105,000 Goffs Orby purchase by De Burgh Equine for the D Keoghan & Partners Partnership who was then sold privately to Phoenix Thoroughbred after winning her maiden at Navan in late April. Dam was a listed winner over six furlongs in America. Celtic Beauty (Ire) (No Nay Never – Keystone Gulch, Gulch) Still a maiden but recently third in the G3 Coolmore Stud Sprint S. for Ken Condon, she was bred by Lynch-Bages and sold for €52,000 to Dermot Farrington on behalf of David K Kelly at the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale. Chili Petin (City Zip – Cat’s Claw, Dynaformer) The Hat Creek Racing team returns to bid for more Royal Ascot glory with this once-raced Keeneland winner who was a $32,000 Keeneland September buy for Cornwell Bloodstock. Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath (GB) – Affluent (GB), Oasis Dream (GB)) Has run once and won once, significantly beating Wednesday’s G2 Queen Mary S. winner Raffle Prize (GB) over six furlongs at Newmarket. Bred by John Deer, she was bought by Oliver St Lawrence for Fawzi Nass at the Goffs UK Premier Sale for £75,000 and has subsequently been switched to the ownership of H H SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Diligent Deb (Ire) (Due Diligence – Kummel Excess (Ire), Exceed And Excel (Aus)) Another Oliver St Lawrence buy, this time for €55,00 from the Goresbridge Breeze-up just a month ago. Bred by Hyde Park Stud, she made a winning debut on June 10. Exceptional (GB) (Dutch Art (GB) – Expressive (GB), Falbrav (Ire)) With one winning start to her credit, this Cheveley Park Stud homebred is a full-sister to the seven-time winner and 100-rated Don’t Touch (GB). Exclusively (GB) (Showcasing (GB) – Sweet Cecily (Ire), Kodiac (GB)) Dam was a smart listed winner at two and Exclusively was a winner first up at Redcar in early April. Bred by Newsells Park Stud, she was bought for 90,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 2. Fleeting Princess (GB) (Dandy Man (Ire) – Queen Of The Tarts (GB), Royal Applause (GB)) A 6,500gns foal from Salcey Forest Stud, and then a €16,500 Tattersalls Ireland yearling purchase by Jamie Browne who was later withdrawn from the Mocklershill draft at the Goffs UK Breeze-up. Dam is a half-sister to the Group 2-winning sprinter Assertive (GB). Galadriel (GB) (Dutch Art (GB) – Handbell (Ire), Acclamation (GB)) Fourth on her only start in the listed Marygate S. Homebred by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid out of a sprint-winning mare from the family of Army Of Angels (Ire) and Serious Attitude (Ire). Get The Look (IRE) (Brazen Beau (Aus) – Confidente (Ire), Awesome Again (Can)) Bred by Mattock Stud, the first foal of her winning Wertheimer-bred dam; beaten 19 lengths when last on June 4 debut. Graceful Magic (GB) (Gutaifan (Ire) – Magic Escapade (Ire), Azamour (Ire)) Another to have made just one successful start, winning at 33-1 on May 30 for her breeder Dr Scott Kimber. Jm Jackson (IRE) (No Nay Never – Kawn (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux (GB)) A maiden after two runs, but has black type after finishing runner-up to Flippa The Strippa (GB) in the National S. Bred by Charles Shanahan and sold by Glenvale Stud for €58,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale to Kilbride Equine. Kemble (IRE) (Kodiac (GB) – Cherrington (Ire) (Lope De Vega (Ire)) Marked as sold for €100,000 as a foal but she still races in the colours of her breeder Richard Kelvin-Hughes, who bought her dam, an unraced half-sister to Toronado (Ire), for 140,000gns as a yearling. Five-length winner of a Windsor maiden on May 13. Last Surprise (IRE) (No Nay Never – Beta Tauri, Oasis Dream (GB)) A 72,000gns purchase from the Catridge Stud draft at the December Yearling Sale, she won nicely on debut at Lingfield. Bred by Mr and Mrs C Booth and Mrs S Cammidge, she is from the good Niarchos family which includes Bago (Fr) and Maxios (GB). Lil Grey (Ire) (Starspangledbanner (Aus) – Vera Lilley (Ire), Verglas (Ire)) Bred by the Grassick family’s Newtown Stud and sold to trainer Sheila Lavery for €12,000 at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale, the great grand-daughter of the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Lavinia Fontana (Ire) ran a good second on debut before breaking her maiden on June 7. Lorelei Rock (Ire) (Camacho (GB) – Laureldean Lady (Ire), Statue Of Liberty) Won on debut on May 11 and then beaten seven lengths by Sunday Sovereign (Ire) on her only other start, she was bred by Paddy and Peter Kelly of Ballybin Stud, who sold her at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale for €40,000 to Powerstown Stud. She then breezed at Ascot, where she was bought for just £10,000 by Hamish Macauley and trainer Michael O’Callaghan. Moon of Love (Ire) (Kodiac (GB) – Moon Club (Ire), Red Clubs (Ire)) A £30,000 yearling at Goffs UK, she joined the Oaks Farm Stables breeze-up team to return to Doncaster, selling for £140,000 to the Cool Silk Partnership. Bred by Canice Farrell, she was third on her only start in the Hilary Needler Trophy. Nayibeth (Carpe Diem – Le Relais, Coronado’s Quest) A $230,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling, bought by Ben McElroy from Denali Stud, who consigned her on behalf of breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holding. The half-sister to GII Fountain Of Youth S. winner Soldat (War Front) was an impressive winner on her Keeneland debut on April 17. Precious Moments (Ire) (Gleneagles (Ire) – Tarbela (Ire), Grand Lodge) A three-parts-sister to Queen’s Vase winner Sword Fighter (Ire), she was sold for breeder Lynch-Bages for 500,000gns by Glenvale Stud at Tattersalls October Book 1. Her sire had his first stakes winner, Southern Hills (Ire), at Ascot on Wednesday. Separate (GB) (Cable Bay (Ire) – Miss Moses, Gulch) A winner on her third start on June 1, she was sold through breeder Geoffrey Guy’s The Glanvilles Stud for 14,000gns as a foal and pinhooked by John and Jake Warren, who sold her on to Peter and Ross Doyle for £30,000 at the Premier Sale. Victory today would not only be notable for her first-season sire but also for her breeder, who is more readily associated with National Hunt horses and has been represented by Grade 1 winners Sam Spinner (GB) and Honeysuckle (GB) in the last two jumps seasons. Seraphinite (Ire) (Gutaifan (Ire) – Ellasha (GB), Shamardal) Last on debut and first on her second start, this quick learner was bred by Yeomanstown Stud who sold her to her trainer Jamie Osborne for 30,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 3. She was unsold at £240,000 at the Goffs London Sale on Monday. Silent Wave (GB) (War Front – Secret Gesture (GB), Galileo (Ire)) On paper, one of the best credentialed fillies in the field, being the first foal of the Oaks runner-up and G2 Middleton S. winner Secret Gesture, whose brother Japan (GB) also runs at Ascot on Friday in the G2 King Edward VII S. The mare was bought for $3.5 million at Keeneland by Godolphin and her daughter made a taking debut when winning at Goodwood on May 25. So Wonderful (War Front – Wonder Of Wonders, Kingmambo) With a very similar profile to Silent Wave, So Wonderful is not just by the same sire but also out of an Oaks runner-up who went on to be placed in both the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. Bred by Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt, she was beaten half a length when second on debut and has since been fifth at Group 3 level. The post The Albany Stakes: where did they come from? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, 5fT, 4:45p.m. LNJ Foxwoods, Cheyenne Stables and Robert Clay joined forces to acquire $500,000 KEESEP buy INVADER (War Front), who makes his career bow in this test for trainer Wesley Ward. A son of GSW Say (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the bay is a full-sibling to GI Summer S. winner Fog of War and stakes winner Naval Intelligence. His second dam is MGISW and multimillionaire turf distaffer Riskaverse (Dynaformer) and this is also the family of two-time Eclipse winner Havre De Grace (Saint Liam) and MGISW sire Tonalist (Tapit). Shug McGaughey sends out a firster with plenty of pedigree in Stuart Janney homebred Cloudbased (Orb), who is a half-brother to GISW turf runner Data Link (War Front). Their stakes-winning dam Database (Known Fact) is a full-sister to MSW Vespers, who produced GISW Hymn Book (Arch).This is also the family of champion Caledonia Road (Quality Road). Jeremiah Englehart trains fellow firster Tuggle (Point of Entry) for August Dawn Farm, but McGaughey conditioned most of his deep Phipps-bred family. The $160,000 FTSAUG buy shares bloodlines with the likes of champion Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold) and Grade I scorers Good Reward (Storm Cat), Dancing Forever (Rahy), Persistently (Smoke Glacken), Furlough (Easy Goer) and Fantastic Find (Mr. Prospector). Another newcomer of interest in this salty baby race is Montauk Daddy (Daddy Long Legs), who is the first North American starter for his sire by Scat Daddy. The chestnut was led out of the ring unsold at OBS April after breezing in a snappy :20 3/5, but was picked up by conditioner Linda Rice for $160,000 post sale for Chris Fountoukis and McCourt Racing. He displays a speedy series of drills since arriving at Rice’s Belmont base, most recently firing a five-panel bullet in 1:01 3/5 (1/9) on the Belmont training track June 16. TJCIS PPs The post Ward Unveils Full-Brother to Fog of War appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DAY FOUR at Royal Ascot is when the ladies take centre stage on the track with three of the six races for the fillies. I think we could see some very good performances this year with the likes of Hermosa coming into the day with strong form. Hopefully we can find a good few winners […] The post Kieren Fallon Royal Ascot Preview – Day 4 appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The bookies are running for cover at Royal Ascot as Frankie Dettori made it 4-for-4 on Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with the brilliant chestnut registering back-to-back wins in the G1 Gold Cup. This was dubbed as a better renewal than last year, but Bjorn Nielsen’s millionaire made it look easy as he followed the pace set by Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}), pounced on him and the 66-1 shot Master of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) approaching the furlong pole before being coaxed to a comfortable length success over the former. 1–STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 128, h, 5, by Sea the Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Private Life (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Bering (GB) 2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells 3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II (330,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 16-11-1-2, £1,991,031. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Ger, $121,198; Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-Eng, $167,081; and Magical Eve (Ger) (Oratorio {Ire}), SP-SAf. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Frankie 4-or-4 As Stradivarius Takes the Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article