Wandering Eyes

Frankie Dettori is riding like it’s 1996 and he transferred that golden feeling down the reins to Anthony Oppenheimer’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Star Catcher (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Thursday’s G2 Ribblesdale S. After winning rides in the Norfolk and Hampton Court, the meeting’s winningmost jockey was on the right one of the Gosden quartet and rode with total confidence sitting a few lengths off the strong pace. Sent to the front two out, the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial S. third stayed on powerfully to deny the G1 Epsom Oaks third Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths, with fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Sparkle Roll (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) 1 1/4 lengths in third. 1–STAR CATCHER (GB), 126, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Lynnwood Chase, by Horse Chestnut {SAf}) 2nd Dam: Lady Ilsley, by Trempolino 3rd Dam: Sue Warner, by Forli (Arg) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (240,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA). O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Studs (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £121,927. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, £134,990. *1/2 to Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), GISW-Can & MGSW-Eng, $680,268; and Pisco Sour (Lemon Drop Kid), GSW-Eng & Fr, $412,610. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Sea the Stars’ Star Catcher Wins the Ribblesdale, Frankie now 3-for-3 on Royal Ascot Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One of Sir Michael Stoute’s works-in-progress, TDN Rising Star Sangarius (GB) made a significant stride forward to lead home Fox Chairman (Ire) and a one-two for his sire. Keen early after a fast break, Frankie Dettori was able to restrain him in behind the moderate pace and he needed all of his considerable muscularity to get out of a hole in the straight but once in front 1 1/2 down the 13-2 shot opened up his raking stide to secure an emphatic success. King Chairman, who ran into traffic as he had last time in the Listed Dee S., ran on strongly to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind. 1–SANGARIUS (GB), 126, c, 3, by Kingman (GB) 1st Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker 2nd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, £104,331. *1/2 to Emergent (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), GSP-Ire. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Kingman One-Two In the Hampton Court As Sangarius Impresses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This week is a recap of the 1969 United Nations Handicap won by Hawaii. The recap, which ran in the Sept. 20, 1969 magazine, written by Dave Hooper, carried the headline: "Hawaii's Fun at Atlantic City." View the full article

Thursday’s G2 Norfolk S. was robbed of Maven (American Pharoah) after Wesley Ward opted to swerve the encounter due to the ground, but it may have witnessed something out of the top drawer as the heavily-backed A’Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) broke his maiden under Frankie Dettori. Electric from the stalls before being steadied behind the pace, the 5-1 shot who had been second at Ripon June 5 hit the front approaching the furlong pole and hit the line a neck ahead of Ventura Rebel (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}). A’ALI (IRE), c, 2, Society Rock (Ire)–Motion Lass (GB), by Motivator (GB). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£35,000 Ylg ’18 GOUKPR; £135,000 2yo ’19 GOFBRE). O-Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Simon Crisford; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, £56,865. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Society Rock Colt Takes the Norfolk appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

More than any other day this week, the fourth course of Royal Ascot’s feast is heavily-flavoured with Ballydoyle spice as the operation dominate the betting markets for the three biggest races of Friday afternoon with a trio of their very finest 3-year-olds. First up is the G1 Epsom Derby third Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who could arguably turn out to be the stable’s best middle-distance colt by the end of the season and looks an archetypal “banker” in the G2 King Edward VII S. If he delivers, the bookies have just minutes to prepare for another haemorrhage of their cash as ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) steps out for the G1 Commonwealth Cup. In a sequence of events that seems almost coordinated, then it falls on the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to bring up a treble that will prove catastrophic for those who lay the odds. Is Royal Ascot ever that simple? Standing in the way of Japan is the exciting Pondus (GB) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), while Ten Sovereigns has to deal with fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Hermosa meets Juddmonte’s thrilling prospect Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal). That is leaving out several other high-class or potential high-class runners that are not here to just make up numbers, but Aidan O’Brien is accustomed to high-stakes poker play. Where Hermosa is concerned, judging what she achieved at Newmarket on May 5 and at The Curragh three weeks later is not entirely straightforward. One view is that the full-sister to the epically-tough Hydrangea (Ire) has yet to even reach her peak as a May foal, while the other is that she won a moderate renewal of the 1000 Guineas before exploiting a pace bias from a highly favourable draw in Kildare. Whereas Hermosa satisfies the ardent form-follower in every way, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Jubiloso is a totally unexposed individual whose capabilities remain unknown. Successful over six furlongs on debut on Chelmsford’s Polytrack Apr. 25, she went to Newbury for a seven-furlong novice contest May 17 and blitzed rivals who are fair performers and no more. What we do know from the limited evidence is that she is remarkably straightforward for one so inexperienced and relishes racing as did her dam Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). She came here six years ago to be third in the G3 Albany S. and is a half-sister to Frankel (GB), so to say that the sky is the limit for Jubiloso is not in any way outlandish. Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is another who we know possesses star quality, as she proved when beating Angel’s Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by seven lengths in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. which is possibly the finest piece of 2-year-old filly form from 2018. The Gredleys’ homebred proved that she does stay a mile when second to Hermosa in the Irish Guineas and that was her seasonal debut so any amount of improvement is possible from the bay who also took the G1 Prix Morny. Three times in the last eight years French-trained fillies have proven successful in the Coronation, but there is a general sense that Godolphin’s unbeaten Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) has to improve despite being a G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner. The homebred relative of Raven’s Pass handled heavy ground when beating the subsequent G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Commes (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in that May 12 ParisLongchamp Classic, has come a long way in a short space of time and has Polytrack form which counts for a lot here. Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented, “Henri-Alex Pantall is very happy with Castle Lady. He feels that she has improved since the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and is at her optimum racing weight. The ground doesn’t seem to be too much of an issue for her. She won on heavy last time out, but it was good in the Prix de la Grotte. It’s a big test and it will be only be her fourth lifetime start, but she fully deserves to take her chance, having already won a Classic.” While the lure of the Commonwealth Cup was not enough to draw Coolmore away from a tilt at the G1 2000 Guineas with Ten Sovereigns, last year’s G1 Middle Park S. is still in attendance despite that spring diversion. His performance in a renewal of the May 4 Newmarket Classic rendered confusing due to another of the famous field splits that occur there from time to time was highly creditable and the fact that he was backed with real confidence beforehand suggests he has come through the winter the right way. “He travelled so well in the Guineas, he ran a great race but this was the trip he was very comfortable at last year so you’d imagine he’ll be happy,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He was still in front on his side in the Guineas until late on, having been up there all the way so we were actually delighted with him.” Jaber Abdullah’s Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) has to be top-class on the evidence of his authoritative success in the May 25 G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock, even allowing for the fact that this race’s long-time ante-post favourite Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) failed to give his running. In contrast, one of his main opponents Jash was far from convincing when winning the seven-furlong Listed King Charles II S. on his seasonal bow at Newmarket May 18. Simon Crisford had been at pains to explain how long it had taken for the Shadwell representative to come to hand this year and the runner-up Azano (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) has since won the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac, so there could be a big leap up to come from the talented juvenile of 2018. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s second colours are sported by Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who also had the black cap on when taking Newbury’s Listed Carnarvon S. over this trip May 18. Angus Gold, their owner’s racing manager, is intrigued by the duo. “Jash is a light-framed horse and normally they don’t want it too soft,” he said. “He is an interesting horse. In my opinion, he doesn’t look like an out-and-out sprinter as he is a big, long, leggy horse who looks to go over a distance of ground. He took a long time to come right this spring, so we have only been able to get one run into him and have not been able to experiment enough to say one way or the other. But he was only just beaten in the Middle Park last year, so I can’t argue that he is not a six-furlong horse so we will see in the Commonwealth Cup if we are right about this trip or of we need to go further in time. “I’m sure the race at Newmarket has brought him on. I’m sure Simon will say this as well, but he looked poor all spring and I was worried about him and he didn’t look right when he ran. I saw him 10 days ago and he has absolutely turned a corner. He has blossomed in his coat and looks really well now. I’m sure he is in a better place now. Khaadem, for me, is bred to be a sharp horse and looks it. I think he is a talented horse. He is buzzy and we have just got to keep on top of him. I think Khaadem will handle a bit of easier ground–whether it stretches his stamina, that is another matter–but in terms of underfoot conditions he would handle that.” Starting the card is the G3 Albany S., in which Wesley Ward looks to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Nayibeth (Carpe Diem) to give him the first winner of the week from his last representative. For the British, the terminology of “Keeneland maiden special weight” is by now accepted into the Ascot vernacular for they know that means prepare for a display of pace rarely seen before America’s intrepid explorer started coming here. Merriebelle Stables and Dr Ramon Tallaj’s half-sister to the GIII With Anticipation S.-winning sire Soldat certainly showed that Apr. 17 and there has been talk about her all week. Ward is doing nothing to dampen enthusiasm. “She’s always been my favourite of all my 2-year-olds from when we started breezing them early on,” he said. Nayibeth faces Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who holds the distinction of having beaten Wednesday’s G2 Queen Mary S. winner Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) in a Newmarket maiden over this trip on debut May 18. Later in the afternoon, The Queen’s Magnetic Charm (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) heads the weights for the Sandringham H. after William Haggas decided to bypass the G1 Coronation S. Her defeat of the Coronation protagonist Twist ‘N’ Shake (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ S. at York May 17 represents strong form, but connections will want the ground to dry out as much as possible in the lead-up. “I’ve had no luck for Her Majesty the Queen at Royal Ascot yet, but to try to win a race there would be big stuff for us and we try hard to do so,” Haggas commented. “She won well at York and they put her up five pounds. I couldn’t have her in better condition and that’s my view. I liked her last year and she never really got her ground. She doesn’t want it too soft, as she loves quick ground. She stays well, so hopefully they will go a good gallop.” Sheikh Mohammed’s vintage maroon-and-white silks will be sported in this by Sheikha Al Jalila’s pair of Nonchalance (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Whimbrel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), with the latter particularly impressive when defying a wide draw to break her maiden over a quarter mile further on Chelmsford’s Polytrack June 6. In a twist on Thursday, Charlie Appleby confirmed Tuesday’s G1 King’s Stand S. hero Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) for Saturday’s G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Bidding to emulate the remarkable feat of Choisir (Aus) in 2003, the 5-year-old was instantly promoted to favouritism after Appleby stated, “It was always in the back of our minds that we might do this, but we didn’t want to say too much after Tuesday’s race because we wanted to see how he came out of it. He was obviously entered in both races and he seems to have taken the King’s Stand well. He had some light exercise this morning and looks great and has eaten up–he’s doing all the things you’d want him to do if you’re thinking about running again a few days later. After discussing it with His Highness, we decided we’d declare him and it still gives us another 48 hours to check everything is fine with the horse. We think he deserves to take his chance.” The post The Sacred Trinity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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In a coup for the King family’s Brighthill Farm, Group One performed son of Frankel, Eminent, will retire to their Tauwhare property for the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $8,000+GST. Eminent becomes the first son of the all-conquering Frankel to retire to stud in the southern hemisphere. Raced by Sir Peter Vela, in conjunction with Hubie De Burgh, Eminent won three of his 14 career starts, prepared predominantly by Martyn Meade before transferring to the care ... View the full article

Former Hong Kong racecaller Richard Hoiles is centre stage this week during the much famed Royal Ascot meeting but it was not always a straightforward route for the Englishman.While he always loved racing, Hoiles was once destined for a career full of numbers, as a qualified accountant.However, finding that “young hard-nosed strategic analysts” were not the flavour of the month when the recession hit in 1992, he looked elsewhere for a career change and says modestly he “stumbled and fluked” his… View the full article

“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” says Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament today. 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

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.Day one Royal Ascot HKJC simulcast hold (with the “world pool” included) up from average HK$27.2 million per race in 2018 to HK$37.3 million per race – @chapeauxxThe “world pool” concept – which commingles totes from 10 countries around the globe and is hosted by the Jockey Club – kicked off at Royal Ascot this week and seems to be going along well.The idea is that… View the full article

Tony Cruz admits two-time Group One winner Time Warp’s best days are likely behind him but remains confident that if the six-year-old gets his own way he can be right in the finish in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) at Sha Tin.After winning at Group Three level early in the season and finishing third in December’s Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup, Time Warp’s form has dipped considerably, with his lead-at-all-costs racing style failing to deliver results.“He’s been pretty… View the full article

A new era in international racing got off to a strong start on day one of Royal Ascot (June 18) with the Hong Kong Jockey Club reporting a significant increase in turnover compared to the corresponding day in 2018. In partnership with Ascot and Totepool, the HKJC has created the first ever pari-mutuel-based World Pool in which overseas wagers from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the USA are commingled into Hong Kong’s pools directly or via Totepool to ensure maximum liquidit... View the full article

The Nigel Tiley-trained Riodini kicked-off his raceday career in perfect style at Counties on Thursday, winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) and securing the $8,000 bonus for his connections. The two-year-old son of Proisir headed into the race off the back of a 935m trial win at Cambridge last month and Tiley was pleased with his first-up effort, winning by three lengths over Sai Fah, with a further three lengths back to Ruby Negroni in third. “He got to the line very well. I t... View the full article

The Keith Opie-trained Ticket to Ride secured her fourth career victory at Counties on Thursday when taking out the Lone Star Pukekohe 1600. There was an early injection of speed in the race, with four horses contending for the lead. After initially sitting parked, jockey Darren Danis pressed forward to take control of the race at the 900m. Ticket to Ride went clear in the straight to record a 2-1/4 length victory over Rippin, with Tipical a further half a head back in third. Opie thought his ma... View the full article

Never-say-die Bullbars mare Te Toro Pearl has Cambridge trainer Jon Miller daring to dream big ahead of Saturday's Listed Ultimate Ford And Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m). Miller will produce his stable star in the weight-for-age fillies and mares feature not only with the aim of winning but also with a view to assessing her prospects for next season's Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. Entries for the first Group One race of the new season close on July 16 and provided Te Toro Pearl conti... View the full article

The Racing Reform Bill has now entered its third reading in parliament and is, in the main, receiving cross-party support. What is the bill about? The Messara Report was commissioned in April 2018 to look at the status of the thoroughbred racing industry in New Zealand and provide recommendations for possible reform of the industry.The Racing Reform Bill is the first of two law-making responses that would put into effect some of the report’s key proposals. These proposals w... View the full article

Kelvin Tyler is hoping to spoil the favourites' party in Saturday's Greenwood Amberley Cup (1600m), suggesting his pair The Bumper and Lil Miss Swiss are in prime order to cause an upset in the Riccarton feature. Tyler, who trains at Riverton with his daughter Aimee, has already won the Amberley Cup twice, with Timy Tyler in 2015 and Lochan Ora the following year, and believes improving Bullbars five-year-old gelding The Bumper and proven Rip Van Winkle five-year-old mare Lil Miss Swiss are in t... View the full article

Taranaki Racing Inc. today announced that the second running of the $101,000 ITM Winter Challenge may not be run as programmed on Saturday 24 August.At this stage nine of the 14 slot holders from the initial year have replied to the club that they do not wish to participate in 2019. Club CEO, Carey Hobbs, commented “Unless the club can confirm 14 slot holders by the 19th of July, the race will be reprogrammed as a $30,000 Special Conditions Maiden run over 1400m, with no sl... View the full article

It's hardly a surprise that Chad Brown has a strong hand in the $300,000 United Nations Stakes (G1T). The three-time Eclipse Award winner has already won the grade 1 turf stakes three times, and he's well represented in the upcoming June 22 edition. View the full article

Epic Racing's Valedictorian leads a field of six the $150,000 Eatontown Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park June 22. The consistent mare hit the board in seven straight races before her last outing and will look to rebound in the 1 1/16-mile turf feature. View the full article

7.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, 8fT ARTHUR’S KINGDOM (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) is one of two from Ballydoyle in this six-runner affair and an intriguing newcomer as a half-brother to the triple GI Canadian International hero Joshua Tree (Ire) by Camelot’s sire Montjeu (Ire). Joining the €260,000 Goffs Orby graduate is stablemate Toronto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-brother to Canford Cliffs (Ire) who was fifth over seven furlongs here last month, while they meet Jon Kelly’s Hint of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a 115,000gns TATOCT Jessie Harrington-trained son of the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Rosenreihe (Ire) (Catcher In the Rye {Ire}) 8.30 Lingfield, Novice, £5,800, 2yo, 6f (AWT) CHEROKEE MIST (City Zip) was a $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase by Godolphin whose dam is a half to the multiple graded-stakes scorer and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gamble’s Ghost (Ghostzapper). Charlie Appleby lines up the May-foaled chestnut colt against Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s similarly-unraced filly Top Class Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a Richard Hannon-trained €240,000 Goffs Orby buy whose listed-placed dam is connected to Bungle Inthejungle (GB). The post Observations on the European Racing Scene appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maven, the first winner in the United States for American Pharoah, was scheduled to make his stakes debut June 20 when he faces an expected 14 other juveniles in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. View the full article

There is a camaraderie at any racetrack that you seldom find in other sports or businesses–not only among the trainers who show up at an unfamiliar venue with a horse box and one or twofour-legged lifelines to the sport; not only among the riders who check into a new jockey’s room with a duffel bag, a helmet, a whip and a dream. Sometimes it doesn’t work out for the unfamiliar names of trainers and jockeys. And many times they end up as regulars in any number of different roles at your favorite racetrack. Angel Cordero, Jr. was a top rider. Now he books mounts all over the world for John Velazquez, who is riding here at Royal Ascot this week. I remember Buddy Martens, an exercise rider in his own right, who operated the elevator for the NYRA when he gave up riding horses. And Buddy’s son, George Martens, just happened to ride the winner of the Belmont S. in 1981 on Summing. So it was not that strange to have conversation with Charlie Tipthorn in the Press Box at the Royal Ascot meeting on Wednesday. Charlie now works in the security department for the most famous racetrack in the world, but the conversation quickly turned to recently departed trainer Rick Violette, Jr. Back in 1990 Charlie was an aspiring steeplechase jockey who was exercising horses here in England. In the spring, after the jump season was slowing down, times were tough and jobs were infrequent. Charlie, at 18, lied to his parents and told them he had a job in the United States. There was no job. He took all of his savings and bought a ticket to New York. Charlie said he spent almost every penny he had on a hotel the night he arrived and a taxi to Belmont Park the next morning. At the Belmont Park stable gate, the Pinkerton guard in charge told him he was “a mad Englishman to arrive with no job.” But, he was given a three-day pass to find work. He was “an odd bird,” with English riding boots and clothes. That is where Rick Violette changed the course of the life for Charlie Tipthorn. He hired the youngster as an exercise rider. With his first paycheck, Tipthorn bought a set of American riding gear, and settled in on the backstretch in Elmont, New York. Charlie was devastated when I told him that Rick had passed away last October. The outpouring of respect was overwhelming. Tipthorn said that Violette was the most focused person in any backstretch to the needs of his horses, and a deep commitment to the men and women who are the backbone of racing. He called his association with Violette a miracle of his life and a teacher on being strict and determined in whatever he did. Charlie moved back to England later that year. He worked for trainers Guy Harwood, Nicky Henderson and others. He did ride in steeplechase races here in England, but that profession was short lived, as the weight factor cut his riding days short. Nine stone (126 pounds) became impossible. But not the influence of Rick Violette. Not just for the more than 800 races won. Not just for the more than 32 graded stakes winners he conditioned. Not just for the humor, wit, compassion and intelligence he brought to his industry quests. And not just for his extraordinary work as president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. But for all of that and more, on July 17 this year at Saratoga the first Rick Violette Stakes for 2-year-olds with a purse of $100,000 will be presented. Rick’s influence and example reaches much farther than the racetrack at Saratoga. The post Letter from Ascot: Violette’s Influence Still Felt Across the Pond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-Indiana Grand, $35,100, Alw, 6-19, (NW1X), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m 70y (off turf), 1:41.11, gd. MORE ROSES (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Flattermewithroses {SW}, by Flatter) romped by 5 3/4 lengths in an off-the-turf event over this course-and-distance on debut May 14 and was hammered down to 3-5 favoritism to repeat in this scratched down, rained-off affair. Hustling straight to the front yet again, the $380,000 FTKNOV buy set unpressured early fractions while running off the rail on a clear lead. Showing the way into the stretch, the bay cruised clear to win as she pleased by six lengths over French Legacy (Midnight Lute). Stakes winner Flattermewithroses is also responsible for the unraced juvenile filly Merneith (American Pharoah), who summoned $600,000 at OBS March after breezing in :20 4/5; a yearling colt by Exaggerator; and a Classic Empire filly born Mar. 2 of this year. Sales history: $380,000 Wlg ’16 FTKNOV. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $38,100. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-LNJ Foxwoods; B-Copper Water Thoroughbred Company, LTD. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. The post Uncle Mo Filly Remains Perfect at Indiana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After punching her ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff with an impressive performance in Saturday evening’s ‘Win and You’re In’ GII Fleur de Lis H. beneath the lights at Churchill Downs, a title defense in the GII Delaware H. July 13 could be next for ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro). “Ideally, we will run in the Delaware H. and then the [GI] Personal Ensign [at Saratoga Aug. 24] if she is doing well and takes us there,” Claiborne President Walker Hancock said. “Obviously, she has a free entry to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, so that will be the year-end goal as of now.” Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider homebred faced the starter only twice in 2018, impressively capturing the 1 1/4-mile Delaware centerpiece in her seasonal debut followed by a painful second to champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) with a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure in a roughly run renewal of the Personal Ensign. She was forced to sit out last year’s Distaff after popping a splint. Elate was somewhat disappointing in a pair of prior efforts to kick off her 5-year-old campaign going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn, finishing second in the GII Azeri S. Mar. 16 and third in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 14. The winner of both of those races Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) added a jaw-dropping score in the GI Ogden Phipps on the GI Belmont S. undercard. “We’re very glad to see her back in top form,” Hancock said. “Clearly, 1 1/16 miles is too short for her, which explains her flat performances in Arkansas this spring. If the race was that far the other night, she would’ve been third again so we will keep her at nine furlongs or longer the rest of the year.” The post Familiar Course Plotted for Elate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article