Wandering Eyes

Southern California-based jockey Rafael Bejarano rode his 4,000th winner June 15 when he led almost every step of Santa Anita Park's third race aboard Jeffrey Lambert and Paradise Farms Corp.'s Portal Creek and drew off in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm's freshman sire Race Day was represented by his first winner June 15 when his 2-year-old filly Gee She Sparkles won a maiden special weight on debut at Lone Star Park. View the full article

ALL QUALITY (f, 3, Quality Road–Party Chatter, by Pleasant Colony) got up just in time to graduate at first asking at Woodbine Saturday. Running off the fence near the back of the pack through opening splits of :22.42 and :44.94, the $240,000 OBSOPN buy launched a three-wide bid in the lane, determinedly out-nosing Street Zapper (Ghostzapper) on the line. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Gary Barber; B-Fox Straus KY (KY); T-Mark Casse. The post Quality Road Filly Captures Woodbine Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fifteen Hall of Fame riders are expected to attend the sixth annual Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser benefitting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at Santa Anita Saturday, June 22. There will be a free autograph signing from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Paddock Gardens area and a free Silent Auction for all on-track fans from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. adjacent to the autograph signing area. Tickets starting at $65 are on sale at https://www.santaanita.com. Walk-up tickets will be available. The post Hall of Fame Riders Honor Peers at Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FAST SCENE (f, 2, Fast Anna–Scenic Drive, by Empire Maker) became the third winner for her freshman sire (by Medaglia d’Oro) with a wire-to-wire debut score at Woodbine Saturday. Sent off at 4-1 in this unveiling, the dark bay seized the early advantage, registering an opening quarter in :21.82. Putting up a half in :44.65, she had plenty left in the lane, holding fellow firster Wake Up Maggie (Silent Name {Jpn}) at bay by two lengths on the line. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Blazing Meadows Farm LLC & Three Chimneys Farm; B-Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T-Timothy Hamm. The post Fast Anna Filly Wires Woodbine Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Baffert will be represented by half of the field of six sophomores entered for Sunday’s GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Roadster (Quality Road), an impressive winner of the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 6, looks to get back on track for the Hall of Famer after crossing the wire a very disappointing 16th–elevated to 15th via disqualification–in the GI Kentucky Derby. Mike Smith, aboard in his prior four career starts, gets back in the irons. Fellow ‘Rising Star’ Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) followed a facile win in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 2 with a third-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the GIII Sunland Park Derby Mar. 24. He turned back to seven furlongs for a win in the GIII Lazaro Barrera S. last time May 18. California Derby winner and last out off-the-turf Alcatraz S. third Kingly (Tapit) rounds out the Baffert trifecta. The post Baffert Trio Headline Affirmed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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. Today’s Observations features a trio of Ballydoyle bluebloods facing off. 1.35 Gowran Park, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT DELTA DAWN (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of MGSW G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac second Fire Lily (Ire) (Dansili {GB}, is one of three Aidan O’Brien nominees and the mount of Seamus Heffernan. He is accompanied in this seven-runner heat by stablemates Kells (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is kin to four black-type performers out of GI Ashland S. victress Christmas Kid (Lemon Drop Kid); and Mythologic (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who is out of a half-sister to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Coronation S. heroine Gold Splash (Blushing Groom {Fr}) coming back off a debut third behind the ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance of Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) over this trip at The Curragh last week. The post Observations: June 16, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Willie Snaith, so popular in his longtime home Newmarket that he had a street named after him, has died aged 91. Snaith rode his first winner at Newmarket in 1946 and in 1949 was champion apprentice. He rode over 700 winners in his career, the most memorable being Landau in the 1954 G1 Sussex S. for The Queen. He also won the July Cup, Nunthorpe and Dewhurst S. Snaith ceased race riding in 1971 but continued on in the saddle as a work rider for Noel Murless and later his Warren Place successor Sir Henry Cecil. Snaith also became a popular Newmarket tour guide, and in 2004 he was appointed MBE on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to horse racing and the community in Newmarket. Snaith’s wife Silvia died in 2012 but he is survived by two sons, John and Derek. John told Racing Post on Saturday, “Dad passed away last night in West Suffolk Hospital. He’d had cancer and they operated on him, but we lost him. “We’ve lost an icon really, and he was the sort of man who would speak the same to a person if they had a pound in their pocket or ten million. The girls in Tesco and Waitrose loved him as he would tell them the old stories and it would take him four hours to come back from the shops with a pint of milk and a loaf of bread. He loved the fact that Tesco was on the road named after him and he opened both stores that have been on that site. They offered him £3,000 to open the last one and he gave half of it to the Red Cross and the other half to the Injured Jockeys Fund.” The post Popular Former Jockey Snaith Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Labelled “Monsieur Diane” by France Galop, Alain de Royer Dupre has ‘TDN Rising Star’ Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) to further enhance that reputation in Sunday’s G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly. Unbeaten and the winner of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp on May 26, His Highness the Aga Khan’s relative of his star sire Siyouni (Fr) looks to extend her trainer’s record tally of six successes in this 10 1/2-furlong Classic. Stamina and the potential for quick ground are concerns, if requisite class is not and her trainer is taking nothing for granted. “The Prix de Diane Longines course requires more stamina than that of the Saint-Alary,” he commented. “I just hope that the track won’t be as quick as on the day of the Jockey Club. When three track records are broken in one day, it means that the track is riding very fast, and that can leave its mark on the horses. There is stiff opposition, the race isn’t won yet. Siyarafina has a lot of speed and she is also very athletic. She is easy to ride in her races and can be ridden in any fashion. She is ready for Sunday.” Re-opposing Siyarafina is another ‘TDN Rising Star’ in Teruya Yoshida’s Commes (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was 1 1/2-lengths second to that rival in ParisLongchamp’s Prix du Louvre conditions race over a mile on Apr. 22. Subsequently beaten a nose by Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) when runner-up in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches back at that venue on May 12, she bids to provide Jean-Claude Rouget with a Chantilly Classic double following the exploits of Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) a fortnight ago. Rouget, who is on de Royer-Dupre’s tail with four renewals, also has Ecurie Philippe Segalot and Martin Schwartz’s May 20 G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Jean-Louis Tepper, Gerard Augustin-Normand and Ecurie des Charmes’ May 1 G3 Prix Penelope scorer Cartiem (Fr) (Cape Cross {Fr}) and Denford Stud’s Ebony (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was second to Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in a course-and-distance conditions race on May 17. Samuel de Barros’s Channel had last year’s G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Wonderment (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) back in fourth on that occasion and rates as a live contender, while the British representation is to be respected with the May 15 G3 Musidora S. first and second Nausha (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}) both unexposed types from the powerful Roger Varian and John Gosden yards, respectively. Elsewhere on the card, Jean-Louis Bouchard’s G3 Prix des Chenes winner Anodor (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) sports blinkers for the first time in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac Longines following a return seventh in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp on May 12, and Godolphin have a strong representation in the G2 Prix Hocquart Longines. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has to get back to his Listed Criterium du FEE success at Deauville in August, but Charlie Appleby is hoping this mile-and-a-half trip might aid his cause. “The step up to a mile and a quarter saw some improvement from Al Hilalee on his last start,” he said. “We are hoping that another step up in distance will produce further improvement.” The G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines offers the opportunity for Haras de Saint Pair’s May 26 G1 Prix d’Ispahan third Trais Fluors (GB) (Dansili {GB}) to enjoy a confidence boost. The post All Eyes On Siyarafina In The Diane appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year’s G1 Investec Derby hero Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) will make his first start since the blue riband in next Saturday’s G1 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot, opting for that 12-furlong contest as opposed to the 10-furlong G1 Prince of Wales’s S. three days earlier. Jockey James Doyle is therefore free to continue his association with Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Prince of Wales’s. Trainer Charlie Appleby said the decision was made after Masar galloped on Saturday morning. “We were very pleased with Masar’s work this morning, and we thought the right option for him is the Hardwicke,” he said. “It’s his first start since the Derby, and with the rest of the season ahead of us, we just felt it would be a tough assignment in the Prince of Wales’s, with the way that race is shaping up. The Hardwicke is a lovely race, and we know the conditions should suit him. It looks the right option to start his 4-year-old career.” The post Masar Opts For Hardwicke 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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The sixteen fillies in Sunday’s G1 Prix de Diane run the range from blueblooded homebreds from France’s best nurseries, to relatively inexpensive auction purchases. GRAND GLORY (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}-Madonna Lily {Ire}, by Daylami {Ire}) Grand Glory, who has won two of her three starts and picked up a black-type placing in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai on Mar. 10, was a €18,000 private sale at Arqana’s October yearling sale. O-Albert Frassetto, John D’Amato & Mike Pietrangelo. B-Elevage Haras De Bourgeauville. T-Gianluca Bietolini. ENTITLE (GB) (Dansili {GB}-Concentric {GB}, by Sadler’s Wells) Entitle has the heaviest family burden riding on her shoulders in this field, being a half-sister to her owner/breeders Horse of the Year, dual G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, triple Oaks, G1 King George and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The dam, Concentric, is a full-sister to the dam of the same operation’s globetrotting Group 1 winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}). O-K Abdullah. B-Juddmonte Farms. T-John Gosden. SIYARAFINA (FR) (Pivotal {GB}-Siyenica {Fr}, by Azamour {Ire}) Race favourite and unbeaten Group 1 winner Siyarafina is a typically blue-blooded Aga Khan homebred. Her stakes-winning dam is a half-sister to the operation’s Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) and his Group 1-winning half-sister Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Under the third dam is the four-time Group 1 winner Slickly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). O-H H The Aga Khan. B-Haras De S.A. Aga Khan Scea. T-A De Royer-Dupre. CHANNEL (IRE) (Nathaniel {Ire}-Love Magic {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) Channel, the winner of maiden and conditions races in her last two outings, was bought privately by Meridian International from her breeder for €18,000 at Goffs Orby before returning €70,000 at Arqana’s May sale when bought by Bertrand le Metayer out of the Mayfield Stables draft. Channel is out of a winning daughter of the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), herself a half-sister to triple Oaks winner Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). It is also the family of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}). O-Samuel De Barros. B-Kilcarn Stud. T-F-H Graffard. NAUSHA (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Nazym {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) Homebred Nausha, who bested Entitle in the G3 Musidora S. last out on May 15, is out of an unraced three-quarter sister to G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Listen (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Sequoyah (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), both multiple stakes producers and the latter most famously the dam of Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo). It is also the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). O-Nurlan Bizakov. B-Hesmonds Stud Ltd. T-Roger Varian. EBONY (FR) (Le Havre {Ire}-Ennaya {Fr}, by Nayef) Bought from Arqana’s August yearling sale by trainer Jean-Claude Rouget from Capucines for €160,000, Ebony is out of a half-sister to Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), winner of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and G1 Coronation S. in 2015. O-Denford Stud. B-E Puerari, Mme A Gravereaux Et Al. T-J-C Rouget. ETOILE (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}-Milena’s Dream {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}) Incidentally bought for the same price from the same consignment by the same trainer as her aforementioned stablemate Ebony, Etoile owns three wins from four starts including a last-out victory in the G3 Prix Cleopatre. O-Ecurie Philippe Segalot & Martin S Schwartz Racing. B-Mme P Ades-Hazan, Mme G Henochsberg & P Fellous. T-J-C Rouget. CARTIEM (FR) (Cape Cross {Ire}-Mintaka {Fr}, by Zamindar) Another bought by Jean-Claude Rouget for a relatively reasonable sum is Cartiem, who was plucked out of the Mezeray draft at Arqana October for €140,000. The last out G3 Prix Penelope winner is from the family of the triple Australian Group 1 winner Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). O-J L Tepper, G Augustin-Normand & Ecurie Des Charmes. B-R Shaykhutdinov, Haras Du Mezeray S A & C Clement. T-J-C Rouget. NOOR SAHARA (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}-By Invitation, by Van Nistelrooy) Noor Sahara, a €140,000 Arqana October yearling bought by Chantilly Bloodstock from Coulonces, is out of a half-sister to G2 Flying Childers S. winner Land of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), now better known as the dam of the dual champion and five-time Group 1-winning sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}). Land of Dreams has also left Queenofthefairies (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and multiple group winner Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard. B-Southacre Bloodstock. T-F Chappet. CALA TARIDA (GB) (Garswood {GB}-Capsicum {GB}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) Last year’s G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Cala Tarida is a half-sister to the listed-winning Red Onion (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}), from the family of Group 1-winning sire Neatico (Ger) and last year’s listed-winning No Needs Never (Ire) (No Nay Never). O-Mme Marie-Joelle Goetschy. B-T De La Heronniere. T-F Rossi. AMARENA (FR) (Soldier Hollow {GB}-Amouage {Ger}, by Tiger Hill {Ire}) Unbeaten stakes winner Amarena was purchased privately by Masaaki Matsushima after winning the Listed Prix de la Seine at Longchamp on May 4. The filly is a half-sister to German listed winner and G2 German 2000 Guineas third Acadius (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}). O-Masaaki Matsushima. B-K Hoffman. T-S Kobayashi. PARAMOUNT (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}-Pagua {Ire}, by Zamindar) Paramount, winner of both starts at two but twice beaten this year, was a €140,000 Arqana August yearling purchase by owner Prime Equestrian from the Monceaux consignment. Her unraced dam is a half-sister to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Paita (Ger) (Lagunas {GB}) and G2 Preis Der Diana winner Pirika (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Also appearing under the second dam are the likes of G3 Prix d’Hedouville winner Pirika (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), multiple group winner Pas De Deax (Ger) (Saddex {GB}) and Italian Group 1 winner Potemkin (Ger) (New Approach {Ire}). O-Prime Equestrian S.A.R.L. B-Ecurie Des Monceaux, Framont Limited Et Al. T-C Ferland. WONDERMENT (IRE) (Camelot {GB}-Wiwilia {GB}, by Konigstiger {Ger}) Last year’s G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Wonderment was a €60,000 purchase out of the Arqana October yearling sale by Tina Rau and Nicolas Clement from the Hotellerie draft. She is out of Switzerland’s champion 2-year-old filly Wiwilia from the family of Grade I winner Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) and Classic winners like Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), as well as this year’s G1 Prix Ganay winner Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). O-Mme Stella Thayer. B-M Wurtenberger & R Stockli. T-N Clement. MORNING DEW (FR) (Dabirsim {Fr}-Fancy Diamond {Ger}, by Ransom O’War) After going unsold at €16,000 as a foal at Arqana’s December sale, Morning Dew found a home with George Mullins for €105,000 at the following year’s October yearling sale. She turned that into €145,000 for Mocklershill at the Arqana May breeze-up sale when bought by Paul Harley Bloodstock. O-Charles Wentworth. B-Mat Daguzan-Garros & F Bragato. T-N Caullery. PLATANE (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}-Modestie {Fr}, by Nayef) A homebred for Wertheimer et Frere, the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Platane hails from one of the most prolific families to grace the French turf in recent years. Her second dam, Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon), is a half-sister to the great mare Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), as well as her Group 1-winning half-sister Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and the five-time Group 1-placed young sire Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere. T-C Laffon-Parias. COMMES (FR) (Le Havre {Ire}-Leaupartie {Ire}, by Stormy River {Fr}) Commes, a daughter of the G3 Prix de Psyche winner Leaupartie (Ire) (Stormy River {Fr}), looks to give new owner Teruya Yoshida a quick return on investment after he purchased her privately following her last-out nose second to Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches on May 12. O-Teruya Yoshida. B-Franklin Finance S.A. T-J-C Rouget. The post 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

Martin Harley is determined to squeeze every last drop out of his Hong Kong stint after being told his contract won’t be renewed for next season, with the Irishman eagerly awaiting his first ride for champion trainer John Moore on Sunday.The news he was not required in Hong Kong beyond mid-July was compounded when he couldn’t get even a single ride at Sha Tin last weekend, but Harley is content in the knowledge he is doing everything in his power to succeed.“It was a bit quiet, it was a little… View the full article

Central Districts raider Lucyinrio produced a gritty effort at Ruakaka on Saturday to take out the main race of the day, the Trigg Construction sponsored open 1200m. The stakes placed seven-year-old mare produced her usual trademark gutsy effort as she raced away in the closing stages of the contest after sitting outside the pace in the five-horse field for most of the journey. Rider Trudy Thornton punched Lucyinrio to a clear advantage with 200m to run and she maintained that break on her rival... View the full article

Former top-class flat performer Gallante demonstrated his undoubted jumping ability when he ploughed through the Awapuni mud to capture the Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdles (2900m) on Saturday. The 2016 Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner joined Graeme, Debbie and grand-daughter Bailey’s Team Rogerson training partnership in late 2017 after being purchased from former owner Lloyd Williams. The Montjeu gelding showed his prowess over the fences when winning his hurdle debut at Te Aroha last August befo... View the full article

An inch-perfect ride from Ryan Elliot has seen progressive galloper Hanger return to the winner’s enclosure when successful over 1400m at Ruakaka. The O’Reilly gelding had been in indifferent form since winning first-up over 1200m at Awapuni back in January. A disappointing last start-performance at Te Rapa back in April saw trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood give him time to get over that run and some impressive trackwork during the week had them confident of a bold showing. Allowed t... View the full article

Hong Kong is a place with many temptations and it can be tough to maintain a structured diet, but for star jockey Chad Schofield and Hong Kong rugby captain James Cunningham succumbing to the city’s delights is not an option.Not too often, anyway, and especially not for Schofield, who rides as light as 115 pounds (52.1 kilograms) and has to be ready to race twice a week for all but six weeks of the year.It’s not quite as stringent for Cunningham, who weighs in at around 108kg but can regularly… View the full article

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). For full preview, click race link. View the full article

Safeer springs a mini upset despite bad gate View the full article

CK Ng suspended for four days View the full article

Acrobat a perfect send-off for Clark View the full article

Horses' body weights June 15 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings June 15 View the full article

Early scratchings June 15 View the full article

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training concluded with a bang Friday in Ocala, as a filly by Into Mischief brought a sales record final bid of $900,000 from Larry Best’s OXO Equine. The juvenile was consigned by Top Line Sales on behalf of Carlo Vaccarezza. The price bettered the auction’s previous record of $800,000, which was set by a City Zip colt in 2016. “We are happy with the results of the sale, we set a record for the highest-priced horse and we increased our gross,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said. “The June sale has evolved. This isn’t your father’s June sale. I think it bodes well for OBS as a whole and that consignors can have confidence that, no matter what sale they bring their horse to, they’ll have the opportunity to get what it’s worth.” Through three sessions, OBS sold 609 juveniles for a gross of $21,493,300. The average of $35,293 rose 8.6% from 2018 and the median was up 13.3% to $17,000. During the 2018 June sale, 530 head grossed $17,231,000 for an average of $32,511 and a median of $15,000. The performances of June graduates on the racetrack have encouraged buyers to shop the auction with confidence and successful transactions in the ring have emboldened consignors to target the sale with their late-developing juveniles, according to OBS President Tom Ventura. “We’ve had [GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner] Goldencents and [Grade I winner] Celestine and Stormy Liberal, a two-time Breeders’ Cup winner, come out of the June sale, so the sale has made huge strides,” Ventura said. “People come here thinking they can find something of any quality. And now we’ve had a horse that sold for $900,000, who three months ago was in our sale and didn’t bring $400,000 in March, was bought back, and that horse blossomed and people were rewarded for it. I think we’ve gotten past that stigma a while ago of it being the last sale of the year. I think the consignors just put the horses where they are ready to go and sometimes it’s the second time through, but more often we are seeing the first-time horses going through the sale. I think that’s certainly the direction this sale has been going.” With 160 horses reported not sold, the cumulative buy-back rate was 20.8%. At the 2018 sale, the buy-back rate at close of business was 21.8% and that figure fell to 20.3% with the addition of post-sale transactions. “It was evident that there was a lot of activity for the moderately priced horses,” said Ventura. “In comparing the buy-back rate, right at this moment, it’s a little difficult, although we’re pretty much on par. As we keep adding post-sales, I think it will be very comparable to last year.” Ventura also saw the demand for horses right through to the end of the 1,059 catalogued head. “Just being out back in the last 25 or 30 hips, there were still people scrambling to buy horses,” Ventura said. “So it wasn’t like we were finishing in an empty building. So that was good to see.” Wavertree Stables was the auction’s leading consignor with 19 sold for $1,465,000 and OXO Equine, with its sole, sale-topping purchase, was the leading buyer. Bloodstock agent David Ingordo saw plenty of positive trends at the June sale and attributed some increased activity at the lower middle end of the market to the New York Racing Association’s recent unveiling of a series of races restricted to 2-year-olds purchased for $45,000 or less. “I like to buy a few for myself at a little bit of a cheaper level and take a shot,” Ingordo said. “I’ve found it hard for a decent lower-priced horse in the $50,000 to $100,000. They were hard to buy. With what Saratoga did with the $45,000 purchase price or under, there is a lot of activity here with people trying to buy those horses. So you see a lot of people stopping at $45,000. It’s competitive here for decent horses.” Ingordo also observed a difference in what buyers and sellers think of as “middle market horses.” “Something that should be said about the ‘middle market’–there is a price that we want to buy horses at. It’s a value that you give them, but they still have to jump through the hoops. They have to vet cleanly and have a good physical. There are a lot of people who want to buy horses in what we call the middle market. What the buyers want them to bring and what we as sellers want them to bring are different things. And sometimes when you make those match, you get a high clearance rate.” But consignor Eddie Woods continued to see a weakness in the middle market and he found buyers more reluctant to buy horses with issues during the season’s last juvenile sale. “It’s the same only worse here,” Woods said. “As the year has gone on, I think when you get into June, you run into a lot of horses with issues that, at this time of the year, people don’t want to mess with. Early in the year, they’ll take little things because you have time to recover. But they are only here for the perfect ones. We had the Puerto Ricans here, they needed to replenish their stock, and they created a great bottom in the market.” Woods agreed the trends he saw at the sales this spring will effect his decision-making process going into the yearling sales. “There will be no more, ‘Well, if he works ok, we’ll be all right.’ because we won’t be,” Woods said. “He has to be the real deal. It’s not necessarily the pedigree; he has to have the shape and sire power. Pedigree deems how much you spend for them and how much you get them for them. But you need sire power and the shape and the good video is so much more important now. But those horses that you say, ‘We’ll take a punt with him,’ there will be no more of them because we’re here in June with them now and it’s not going so good.” Into Mischief on Top Again Larry Best’s OXO Equine added another sale topper to its roster after bloodstock agent John Dowd went to a June record $900,000 to acquire a filly by Into Mischief (hip 748) during Friday’s final session of the OBS June sale. The result was another pinhooking success for Carlo Vaccarezza, who purchased the filly for $375,000 as part of his initial pinhooking venture at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. She was consigned by Top Line Sales. The filly, bred by Allen Poindexter, is out of the unraced Rosemonde (Indian Charlie), whose first foal Rowayton (Into Mischief) was purchased by Best for $320,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in 2017. The colt finished second in last year’s GI Del Mar Futurity and was third in the GI American Pharoah S. He was victorious in his sophomore debut in a highly rated Belmont allowance last Thursday. “She’s a very nice filly, and obviously we have her full-brother and we really like him, so it made sense,” Dowd said. “She was a standout. She obviously was a March filly that happened to be back in June and she’s a really nice filly.” The juvenile RNA’d for $400,000 after working a furlong in :10 1/5 at the OBS March sale. “She did everything right in OBS March,” said Top Line’s Torie Gladwell. “She was just a heavy filly and she still looked like a big, immature baby. And then she just got better and better and ended up coming here.” Top Line and Vaccarezza followed a similar path with a son of Into Mischief who sold for $710,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale after RNA’ing for $575,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. That colt was a $265,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. “She was just like the Into Mischief we had in Maryland,” Gladwell said. “Those big horses are hard to get ready for the early sales, Miami and March, and we liked them both enough not to give them away and it ended up working out.” Gladwell said there was no concern about bringing the filly back to the last 2-year-old auction of the year. “June is a great sale,” she said. “That horse was vetted by five or six of the right guys who had plenty of money to buy her. So there is definitely money at the June sale.” Juveniles by Into Mischief have caused fireworks at several 2-year-old sales this spring. A filly by the Spendthrift stallion topped the Midlantic sale at $1.8 million when selling to Michael Lund Petersen. Best paid $1.5 million for another daughter at the Gulfstream sale and a colt by the sire topped the OBS April sale when bringing a final bid of $1.3 million from Team Casse. Other highlights from Vaccarezza’s spring include an Uncle Mo filly purchased for $410,000 as a yearling who sold for $525,000 and a Candy Ride (Arg) filly purchased for $300,000 in 2018 who brought $675,000, both at OBS March. At the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, Vaccarezza sold an American Pharoah colt for $775,000. He had purchased the youngster for $235,000 in Saratoga. The Italian restaurateur and trainer was quick to give credit for his success to the Gladwells. “I just have to thank Jim and Torie Gladwell,” Vaccarezza said. “They helped us a lot. There are a lot of good people who helped us.” Of hip 748, he added, “We did the right thing to take her out of the earlier sale. She has bloomed with the extra months. The extra time really let her show off her talent. I really loved her. She breezed phenomenally. Jimbo and Torie Gladwell did a phenomenal job and it paid off.” Torie Gladwell, in turn, gave all the credit to Vaccarezza. “Carlo has had a fantastic year,” she said. “He did an excellent job picking these horses out. We kind of stood back and let him do his job and had confidence in him. We are thankful to have him.” The filly’s $900,000 price tag was a new high for Top Line Sales. “We’ve never sold a horse for a million–that’s the closest we’ve ever gotten to a million,” Gladwell said. “I am probably still shaking.” Asked if he planned to return to the yearling sales this year, Vaccarezza said, “We will–the thing is sometimes it’s hard. You have to do a lot of homework and you have surround yourself with good people. Jim Gladwell and John Shaw really helped us a lot. So we have a really good team and hopefully we can duplicate this next year.” Vaccarezza took a moment to remember J.J. Crupi, who passed away last month. “Crupi and I were friends and I’m sorry he’s gone,” he said. Ghostzapper Filly a Score for Delvalle John Connelly’s Stetson Racing, which enjoyed recent graded stakes success with GII Black-Eyed Susan S. winner Point of Honor (Curlin), added another filly to the stable with the $600,000 purchase of a filly by Ghostzapper (hip 914) Friday in Ocala. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding from the back of the pavilion, saw off a determined Susan Montanye, who was doing her bidding on behalf of Twin Creeks Racing a few rows away while on the phone, to acquire the filly. The filly was consigned by Gayle Woods on behalf of Eric Delvalle, who purchased the youngster for $67,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. Out of Tizahit (Tiznow), the filly is a half to Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), who was second in last week’s GI Ogden Phipps S. She worked the co-bullet three-furlong time of :32 3/5 during last week’s under-tack preview. Woods was visibly emotional while receiving congratulations after the transaction. “I’ve had a really bad year,” she said. “I haven’t sold anything well. So this was huge. This was a really good way to finish the season. She is a beautiful filly. She has so much class. I thought she’d make $400,000 or $500,000, maybe six if the right people got into it. And it happened.” The filly was the lone horse Delvalle pinhooked this year and bettered his previous best sale result. The Panamanian sold Wolf Man Rocket (Mineshaft) for $550,000 at the 2014 OBS April sale. “I broke my record,” Delvalle said. “It was $550,000 and now it’s $600,000.” Of the filly’s appeal last fall, Delvalle said, “When I saw her, she looked very attractive and with good conformation. Come Dancing had won a stakes at Saratoga when I bought this one, but it wasn’t in the catalogue when I bought her. And then Come Dancing started to run better and better and better. So you need luck, of course.” Delvalle added, “And I have to thank Gayle Woods. She did a tremendous job with her. This filly was born May 6, so Gayle decided to go to this sale instead of April. And she made the right decision.” Lanni admitted the juvenile was an obvious choice. “She obviously has a great pedigree and I think she came out here and worked a good three-eighths,” he said. “It was her first sale and I liked that they gave her the time to get here.” Into Mischief Colt to Howg Randy Howg, standing out back with trainer Robertino Diodoro and bloodstock agent Nick Hines, added a colt by Into Mischief to his racing stable when going to $325,000 to acquire hip 782 Friday at OBS. Hines signed the ticket on behalf of Howg/BG Stable/Big Tuff. “Randy Howg and I went over and looked at him last night and we liked what we saw,” Diodoro said. “So we had ‘Sarge’ [Hines] on it first thing this morning to get him vetted. We saw him again this morning and we talked to a couple of people who saw him earlier in the year. Between watching the videos and when it was all said and done, Randy and I, and including Sarge, we thought he was the best horse in the sale.” Diodoro trained 2017 GII Oaklawn H. winner Inside Straight (Super Saver) for Howg. Hip 782, who worked a quarter-mile last week in :21 1/5, is out of graded placed Sea Level Drive (Malibu Moon). He was consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm. Bred by Green Lantern Stables, the juvenile sold for $165,000 at the 2018 Keeneland January sale. Halcyon Hammock’s Hal Hatch purchased him for $285,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. The colt RNA’d for $375,000 after working a furlong in :10 2/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. Diodoro admitted he was relieved to be able to purchase the colt. “I was actually scared it was going to go a little higher than that. So we were happy to get him,” he said. “This was our ninth one we got [at the June sale] and we’re hoping to get a couple more before we head to the airport.” Belladonna Adds Another Filly David Ingordo has been shopping the 2-year-old sales this spring looking for fillies for the Belladonna Racing partnership and the bloodstock agent added another juvenile when bidding $290,000 for a daughter of Kitten’s Joy Friday in Ocala. Named Sunset Kitten, hip 721 was the first to go through the ring at the final session of the June sale and was consigned by Eddie Woods on behalf of breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey. “We’ve bought some fillies over the last three or four sales,” Ingordo said. “The first crop is all 2-year-olds that we’ve bought at the sales that we think can run and then have some residual value. The business model was to buy fillies, race them and then offer them back in the market, hopefully when they have black-type. We bought horses that hopefully are competitive at a high level. We know it’s a numbers game, so we bought a quantity of quality. Mostly proven sires with a mix of a couple first-season sires we liked.” The filly is out of Reachfortheheavens (Pulpit) and is a full-sister to multiple Grade I winner Real Solution and graded-placed Ava’s Kitten. Both of those runners were trained by Chad Brown and the juvenile will be conditioned by former Brown assistant Cherie DeVaux. “I love Kitten’s joy,” Ingordo said of the filly. “He is a top-class stallion, but he’s a little bit of an unsung hero commercially. And the cross clearly works. Cherie DeVaux is getting the horse and she has experience with both the full-siblings, so it made sense.” Woods said of the juvenile, “She is a lovely filly. She’s a typical Kitten’s Joy and she has pedigree. We’ve had two or three out of the mare and they are all pretty straightforward horses. She was a classy filly to be around.” “The Ramseys decided to move her on,” Woods continued. “They have plenty of the family.” Belladonna Racing now numbers six juveniles. “Of the Belladonna Racing people, 90% never owned a horse before and they are people of means that can go on and do this in a partnership or in a bigger scenario on their own,” Ingordo said of the partnership group. “We have a lot of young people who are in the 30 to early 40s bracket that have disposable income who want to do this.” The partnership also includes a daughter of Bayern (hip 580) who was purchased for $350,000 at the Fasig Midlantic sale. A quartet of fillies were acquired at the OBS April sale: a Twirling Candy filly (hip 109) purchased for $335,000; a Curlin filly (hip 708) purchased for $250,000; a Lea filly (hip 890) purchased for $190,000; and a Munnings filly (hip 750) purchased for $90,000. Stay Thirsty Filly an Emotional Score The Hemingway Racing and Training Stables team shared some tears and hugs in the back walking ring after selling a filly by Stay Thirsty for $160,000 to Emerald Sales. The juvenile had been purchased by Lawrence Hobson for $1,500 as a weanling at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. “They are really lovely people and new to the horse business,” Michelle Hemingway said of Hobson and his wife Lori Hurt. “They bought Johanne Everard’s old farm [Another Episode Farm]. [Hobson] wanted to get into the game and he was going to buy weanlings and sell yearlings. Unfortunately, just after he bought these horses, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. “I was lucky enough to be introduced to them through Taylor Made, which is who they bought a lot of horses from. And Taylor Made has just been so wonderful to me–they’ve made my business to be honest with you. So they were introduced to me and they asked if I could help them with these horses and they needed direction.” Hobson, who was founder of Falcon L&L Transportation, passed away last October. “When her husband passed, I became even more involved and I tried to be a good support system for her and do whatever we could,” Hemingway said. “No one deserved this result more than she did.” The post OBS June Sale Ends With a Bang appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article