Wandering Eyes

Television has proven to be a savior for entities ranging from football to poker, and in New York, it has also been a driving force behind the superlative growth of an Advance Deposit Wagering system belonging to horse racing's biggest circuit. View the full article

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control will look to pick up the second top-level score of his career when he takes on 10 others in the $400,000 Woody Stephens Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1) over seven furlongs June 8 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Television has proven to be a savior for entities ranging from football to poker, and in New York, it has also been a driving force behind the superlative growth of an Advance Deposit Wagering system belonging to horse racing's biggest circuit. 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 returning TDN Rising Star. 2.50 Navan, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 5f 162yT UNITED FRONT (War Front) could hardly have made a more promising debut when fourth in the Olympic Glory Conditions S. on Newbury’s Lockinge card last month. Aidan O’Brien has three engaged in this, but the relative of the leading sprinter and sire Diabolical (Artax) will be hard to beat if handling this easier ground. 3.20 Newmarket, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 6fT DAILY TIMES (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) debuts for her owner-breeder Allan Belshaw and the John Gosden stable and is a notable newcomer as a half-sister to last year’s outstanding 2-year-old Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Also connected to Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and his full-sister Pink Dogwood (Ire), the March-foaled bay is the sole filly taking on nine in the race won 12 months ago by the stable’s Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}). 5.17 Maisons-Laffitte, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, 10 1/2fT DALKEYA (FR) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) starts out for His Highness The Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupre and despite her late introduction has time on her side as a half-sister to the 2015 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic heroine Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}). From the family of Daylami (Ire) and Dalakhani (Ire), the homebred encounters Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s All Grace (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), an Andre Fabre-trained relative of Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill). 5.45 Navan, Cond, €20,000, 3yo, 8fT GODDESS (Camelot {GB}http://thoroughbreddailynews.com/progeny-pps/?sire=Galileo (Ire)#tot) makes her keenly-anticipated return having last been seen finishing last of six as the 4-9 favourite for the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown in July. Earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ status with her 10-length maiden success there a fortnight previously, the granddaughter of Urban Sea (Miswaki) and full-sister to Athena (Ire) and half to the high-class Montjeu (Ire) duo Bracelet (Ire) and Wading (Ire) has two rivals on this reintroduction. The post Observations: June 8, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A trio of colts earned the co-bullet furlong time of :9 4/5 during Friday’s third session of the under-tack preview for next week’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, while a colt and filly set the day’s fastest quarter-mile mark of :20 4/5. Christy Whitman’s Whitman Sales sent out a son of Algorithms (hip 495) to work the furlong in :9 4/5. The bay colt is out of Lignite (Run Away and Hide). “He’s always been a really nice colt,” Whitman said of the speedy juvenile. “He’s incredibly athletic and we expected him to work well, but obviously he worked a little better than expectations. So we are super happy with that and look forward to see how he does in the ring.” The colt was purchased by Jose Garcia Blanco for $14,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. “A client [Garcia Blanco] of ours actually bought the horse,” Whitman said. “But I did see the horse at Keeneland and I really liked him–he has a really athletic, attractive build. So we went in on a partnership on the horse with that client. And he has trained up to expectations. He looked like he was going to be really fast and everything fell into place.” Whitman Sales has been busy through the first three sessions of the under-tack preview, sending out 16 juveniles to work over the OBS track. Whitman has seen uniform conditions throughout to preview. “I feel like the track has been pretty fair,” Whitman said. “It’s the June sale, so there are a whole range of horses and abilities. I think the horse that has the ability to work well has worked well and I think some of the slower times are just going along with the individual that’s turning them in. But I think the track’s been fair and they’ve done a good job managing it.” The June sale gets underway next Wednesday and Whitman is noticing plenty of interest at the barn. “We’ve already had some traffic back at the barn, which is nice to see,” she said. “The sale still has a range of buyers in it. There are definitely some people who are looking for those good horses that didn’t get sold earlier in the year for whatever reason and some, like this particular colt, are just now getting to the sales season. So I think there is a market for all types of horses at this sale.” A colt from the first crop of Bourbon Courage (hip 515), whose two winners to date include a stakes horse, also covered the furlong in :9 4/5. Consigned by Victor Dominguez’s Victory Stable, the bay is out of the unraced Lulu Quatorze, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Lovable Lady (Not for Love) and from the family of Grade I placed sophomore Signalman. He was bred in Florida by Martha Mallicote. Rounding out the trio of furlong bullets was a colt by Overdriven (hip 462), who worked in :9 4/5 for the M R Racing consignment. Bred by William and Annabel Murphy, the bay is out of Lady Buddha (Buddha). Through three sessions, five horses have worked the :9 4/5 bullet furlong time. A filly by Majesticperfection (hip 524) shared Friday’s fastest quarter-mile breeze of :20 4/5. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the chestnut is out of Madera Dancer (Rahy) and is a half-sister to group placed Legends of War (Scat Daddy), who was a $1.35-million purchase at last year’s Tattersalls Breeze Up sale. The filly was bred by DP Racing. Hoppel’s Horse & Cattle Co. sent out a son of Raison d’Etat (hip 609) to work the quarter-mile Friday in :20 4/5. The dark bay is out of Neith (Dynaformer), a half-sister to graded placed Lady Chace (Tiznow) and Grade I placed Big Tiz (Tiznow). Pat Hoppel purchased the youngster for $10,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic October sale. The under-tack show continues through Sunday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The OBS June sale will be held next Wednesday through Friday. Bidding commences each day at 10 a.m. The post Trio Share Furlong Bullet Time at OBS Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FORE LEFT (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Simply Sunny, by Unbridled’s Song) followed his debut victory at Santa Anita May 19 with a black-type win Friday in Belmont’s Tremont S. Favored at 8-5 in this cross country journey, the bay broke on top, cruising along comfortably through an opening quarter in :22.58. Showing the way into the lane the $97,000 KEESEP buy kept on finding, skipping clear to win by three lengths in 1:04.44. NY-bred Theitalianamerican (Girolamo) filled the place spot. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O=-Reddam Racing; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Doug O’Neill. The post Twirling Candy’s Fore Left Wires the Tremont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After breaking well from the outside post, grade 1 winner Separationofpowers had little trouble securing her first victory against older foes in the $250,000 Bed o' Roses Invitational Stakes (G3) June 7 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Sandwiched between Epsom’s Derby meeting and Royal Ascot, Saturday’s action is relatively low-key with Haydock staging the main events in Europe in the G3 Pinnacle S. and G3 John of Gaunt S. The former sees True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) bid to provide the Willie Mullins stable with further ammunition on the flat as she reverts to a mile and a half. The yard had an impressive winner at The Curragh on Friday evening in Micro Manage (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and the 6-year-old mare who used to ply her trade over hurdles has won three listed races on the bounce including on her return in Gowran Park’s Vintage Tipple S. on May 8. “She won well at Gowran on her first run back and we’re hoping she’s capable of stepping up from that,” Mullins’s assistant David Casey said. “She’ll have improved plenty from the run, we think. She’s done nothing wrong and improved all way through last season on the flat, so we think she warrants the opportunity and we’re very happy with her.” Facing True Self are the potentially progressive 4-year-olds Klassique (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who represents Yvonne Jacques and William Haggas and was runner-up in the Listed Daisy Warwick S. at Goodwood on May 4, and the G3 Princess Royal S. scorer Highgarden (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The card’s John of Gaunt over seven furlongs features the track specialist Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) who comes off a win in the course-and-distance May 11 Listed Spring Trophy. Trainer John Quinn has campaigned the 6-year-old expertly and is happy that conditions are ideal again. “We’re very happy with him, he’s in very good form and seems to really like Haydock and cut in the ground,” he said. “It’s a decent race, but he’s in good nick.” Among his opponents are last year’s G1 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the 2017 GI Shadwell Turf Mile hero Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who has lost his way since winning last year’s G2 Hungerford S. and G2 Lennox S. Elsewhere, Royal Ascot clues could be available in Beverley’s Hilary Needler Trophy for 2-year-old fillies which formerly enjoyed listed status and was once won by Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}). The unraced Richard Fahey representative Moon of Love (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is favourite, which suggests she has been showing all the right signs at home. Her owner Peter Swann said, “She’ll probably end up favourite on Saturday, but she is a horse we are very excited about. It’s not going to be easy against horses that have already raced, but Richard likes her a lot.” While there is a lack of black-type action, there is plenty of intrigue in Britain and Ireland. At Navan, Ballydoyle’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Goddess (Camelot {GB}) reappears in the closing Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over a mile which will be her first start since her flop in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown in July. Newmarket’s six-furlong novice contest for 2-year-olds sees the half-sister to Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Daily Times (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), debut for owner-breeder Allan Belshaw and John Gosden. The post Pinnacle Highlight On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sacred Sham became the second product of former top Singapore mare Mexican Rose to score a win at his dam’s old hunting ground on Friday night. Laurie Laxon’s multiple Group-winning mare was first represented by daughter Mexican Gal at Kranji in 2014. Though the daughter of Encosta De Lago was not quite a chip off the old block, she did perform creditably for the same connections – Jupiter Stable and trained by Laxon – with four wins and four placings from only 16 starts. Whether Sacred ... View the full article

Saturday's blockbuster program at Belmont Park features eight grade 1 stakes races, climaxed by the Belmont Stakes Presented By NYRA Bets, and including the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, without a doubt the race of the year for older males so far. View the full article

Last weekend’s G1 Investec Derby runner-up Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) could bid for Classic compensation in the G1 Irish Derby on June 29. “The Irish Derby was our first discussion on Monday, depending on how the horse is,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan. Madhmoon found just Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) too good after perhaps hitting the front too soon at Epsom, and Gold suggested that a mile and a quarter may be ideal for the horse down the road. “We have the option of coming back to a mile and a quarter with him, but if we do that the obvious race is the Eclipse, which we’d have to supplement for anyway and it would be a third trip over to England and Sheikh Hamdan may want to keep him in Ireland,” he said. “The obvious race for Madhmoon is the Irish Champion S.–I think he’s tailor-made for that–but nobody can say he didn’t stay, because if the winner hadn’t run he’d have won a Derby. “From my own point of view he made up his ground so quickly between three and one out that he’d be more effective at a mile and a quarter, but that is only my personal view–I’m not saying he didn’t stay, otherwise he wouldn’t have been placed. He stumbled at the path and Chris Hayes said that just lit him up a little bit earlier than he wanted and he went and hit the front– he’d have loved to have waited a bit longer.” The post Madhmoon Likely For Irish Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ELMONT, NY – A highly anticipated showdown in the final leg of the Triple Crown, a Met Mile for the ages and ideal spring weather are all on the menu for Saturday’s blockbuster GI Belmont Stakes program. And if that’s somehow not enough, there are six other Grade I races on tap on the loaded 13-race card. The top two choices in the main event–War of Will (War Front) and Tacitus (Tapit)–will get a very good look at each other breaking from the two outside stalls when they spring the latch for the 151st renewal of the Belmont S. at 6:37 p.m. The Gary Barber colorbearer looks for his second Classic victory following a powerful 1 1/4-length defeat of Everfast (Take Charge Indy) in the GI Preakness S. three weeks ago. The striking bay, eighth across the line and elevated to seventh after losing all chance on the turn for home in the GI Kentucky Derby, will be the only sophomore to contest all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. War of Will also won the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S. earlier this term. “I think he’s put on 40-50 pounds and that’s what we’ve been looking for,” trainer Mark Casse said of War of Will’s condition since the Preakness. “We kind of know everyone in the field by now. I tend to just worry about my horses and not anybody else’s. If the pace is slow, he’ll probably be on the lead. If it’s quick, hopefully he’ll sit behind the pacesetters.” The blue-blooded Juddmonte homebred Tacitus, meanwhile, winner of this year’s GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby and GII Wood Memorial S., closed smartly from far back to cross the line fourth-elevated to third-in Louisville. “Had Tacitus won the Kentucky Derby, I suppose we would have taken a chance at the Preakness, but we didn’t feel like we wanted to run him back in two weeks,” said Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who collected his first Kentucky Derby win with Country House (Lookin At Lucky). “Generally, going a mile and a half they won’t be further back. If anything, we will be closer. We hope he goes a good mile and a half.” While the top two have trained all week in the Big Apple like they’re ready to put on a show, there are eight other rivals standing in their way. Trainer Todd Pletcher will have two upset chances with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Intrepid Heart (Tapit) and Spinoff (Hard Spun) to register his fourth Belmont win. The former adds blinkers following a disappointing third after stumbling at the start while making his stakes debut in the local GIII Peter Pan S. May 11. Spinoff, runner-up in the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, reported home 18th at 52-1 over the sloppy going in the Derby. “[Spinoff] has trained, to me, consistently with some of the horses that we’ve run in the Belmont over the years that have performed well, and I’m hoping he catches a fast track and gets to prove how good he is or is not,” Pletcher said. As for Intrepid Heart, Pletcher added, “I really think this horse needs blinkers, he’s so worried about what everybody else is doing instead of what he should be doing.” Japanese raider Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}), runner-up in Nakayama’s Fukury S., has received plenty of attention off his rallying seventh-he was moved up to sixth via disqualification-on the First Saturday in May, while Bourbon War (Tapit), a punchless eighth in the GI Preakness S., attracts Hall of Famer Mike Smith for the first time. The post Big Field Ready for ‘War’ in Belmont Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

VALID POINT (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Goldbud, by Buddha) took his record to two-for-two with a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy performance at Belmont Friday. A debut winner going a mile at Gulfstream Feb. 10, the $140,000 KEESEP buy was given a 7-5 chance to repeat in this first try against winners. Stalking from second early as Jerome Avenue (Speightstown) clocked splits of :24.26 and :48.17, the bay could have the leader whenever he wanted him and blew by that foe in the stretch, rolling clear to a seemingly effortless 4 1/2-length score. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Mike Ryan; B-Westwind Farms (KY); T-Chad Brown. The post Scat Daddy Colt Romps to Rising Stardom at Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Mark Casse believes his longtime owners John and Debby Oxley put in a good word for him with Tracy Farmer when the latter was looking for a trainer. View the full article

The betting spoke volumes for The Curragh’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden on Thursday and 15-8 favourite Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) duly obliged supporters with an authoritative display to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status at the first attempt. The bay had already made a splash when securing the second-highest price–€900,000–at last year’s Arqana August sale and maintained his high profile in some style in the seven-furlong contest. Lope Y Fernandez was settled in a handy fourth after an alert getaway. Making smooth headway from halfway, he was shaken up to lead approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly under mild coaxing in the latter stages to hit the line an impressive 3 3/4 lengths clear of Kipling (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with 1 1/4 lengths back to Mythologic (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in third. The result was yet another Curragh trifecta for Aidan O’Brien, who indicated the winner and stablemates are now possibles for the June 22 Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot. “All three are three lovely horses and you’d be delighted with him,” the trainer said. “Seamie [Heffernan] was very happy with his horse [Kipling] and Wayne [Lordan] was very happy [with Mythologic] as well. The winner could be a Chesham horse and so could the other two. I’d say the winner is nice, he picked up well and travelled well throughout the race. Donnacha [O’Brien] was very happy with him.” Lope Y Fernandez becomes the fourth winner from as many runners produced by Listed Ladybird S. runner-up Black Dahlia (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and he is full to a yearling colt and Listed Prix La Sorellina, Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie and Listed Prix Occitanie placegetter Al Hayyah (Ire). The bay is also half to G2 Vintage S. victor Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead) while his dam is the leading performer for Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr victress South Rock (GB) (Rock City {Ire), who in turn is the best representative out of a winning half-sister to dual G1 Lockinge S. hero Soviet Line (Ire) (Soviet Star). 2nd-Curragh, €17,500, Mdn, 6-7, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:28.55, g/y. LOPE Y FERNANDEZ (IRE), c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire) 1st Dam: Black Dahlia (GB) (SP-Eng), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: South Rock (GB), by Rock City (Ire) 3rd Dam: South Shore (GB), by Caerleon 1ST-TIME STARTER. Sales history: €900,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €10,780. O-Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Lope de Vega Colt Earns Rising Stardom in Curragh Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ELMONT, N.Y.–Tracy Farmer has been in the game a long time, since the seventies, and in all that time, he has accomplished quite a lot. The Kentucky native won two renewals of the GI Whitney S. (2005 and 2008) with Commentator; won the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and a slew of other graded stakes with Albert the Great; and won several other graded events with Sun King and homebred Sir Shackleton. The one thing Farmer has yet to accomplish in his 40 plus years in horse racing is capturing a Triple Crown race, but he hopes that will change Saturday when his homebred Sir Winston (Awesome Again) runs in the GI Belmont S. “It would be awesome, awesome again,” Farmer quipped when asked what it would be like to win the Triple Crown’s final leg. Farmer grew up on a farm in Kentucky and always loved horses, especially Thoroughbreds. He and his wife Carol operate Shadowlawn Farm in Midway, K.Y., where they have over 30 mares and he has another 35 or so in training with Mark Casse, a mix of homebreds and auction purchases. “I was raised on a tobacco farm, but I always loved Thoroughbreds, so I got in the business in like ’76 or something like that,” Farmer said. “We race most of our homebreds. Sometimes we sell some. It is according to the financial condition of our operation. This year we bought quite a few, so it is always changing.” Sir Winston is a second generation Farmer homebred. The Navy veteran purchased his second dam Affirmed Dancer (Affirmed) as a weanling for $150,000 at Keeneland November. She was a stakes winner and produced Sir Winston’s graded stakes-winning dam La Gran Bailadora (Afleet Alex). “She is a graded stakes-winning mare by Afleet Alex out of an Affirmed mare,” Farmer said. “I bred her to Awesome Again and here we are.” When asked about the colt’s name, the owner of Oxmoor Automobile Group and Tracy Farmer Enterprises, said, “I am a historian. I read Winston Churchill, so I named him Sir Winston in honor of Winston Churchill. Naming horses is a very difficult process.” Sir Winston broke his maiden at third asking on the Woodbine synthetic Sept. 12 and was third in the GIII Grey S. there next out Oct. 21. He came back to win that venue’s Display S. Dec. 8 and was fourth behind the re-opposing Tax (Arch) when making his seasonal bow in Aqueduct’s GIII Withers S. Feb. 2. Off the board in the Mar. 9 GII Tampa Bay Derby and Apr. 6 GII Toyota Blue Grass S., the chestnut completed the exacta in the GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont last time May 11. “He ran a 100 Beyer,” Farmer said of the Peter Pan. “If he hadn’t done that, he would not be in the Belmont. You never know. In the situations we have had him in, like the stake he won in Canada, he just went. He is a horse that likes to close fast. He is bred to run all day along.” Sir Winston will have to face the likes of Tampa Bay Derby and GII Wood Memorial S. winner Tacitus (Tapit) and his stablemate and GI Preakness S. victor War of Will (War Front) Saturday, among others. When asked about Sir Winston’s strategy for Saturday’s Test of a Champion, Farmer said, “We just have to play it as it opens up. That will be up to the jockey. [Joel] Rosario rode him last time. He understands him and works him, so we will see. It is horse racing, so you never know. He is bred for the distance, has a good jockey and is doing well, so we will see.” He added, “Someone said, ‘You think you can win that Belmont? This is another farm owner I saw at the country store. I said, ‘I don’t know, but I have a better chance than you do because I at least have a horse in the race.'” As the saying goes, you have to be in it to win it, so Farmer and Sir Winston will take their best shot at Belmont glory. The post Longtime Owner Seeks Career High in Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If it’s a turf Grade I in New York–or most other jurisdictions, for that matter–the race likely goes through trainer Chad Brown. That will certainly be the case when the conditioner saddles four of the 10 entrants in Saturday’s GI Manhattan S., a race won by the stable in four of the last seven years. Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) is perfect in four starts since returning from a 14-month vacation and has assumed the mantle of America’s best turf horse. Impressive in his Dec. 22 allowance comebacker at Gulfstream, he relished the easy underfoot conditions to land the $7-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 26. Taken out of his best game when necessarily ridden close to the pace in the GII Muniz Memorial H. at Fair Grounds Mar. 23, he gutted it out to score by a nose and exits a half-length defeat of longshot Qurbaan (Speightstown) in the GI Old Forester Turf Classic on Derby Day May 4. Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) takes in the Manhattan for the second year in a row, having hit a major traffic jam in the final furlong before settling for sixth, beaten a length 12 months ago. He atoned for that luckless effort with a half-length victory in the GI Arlington Million, but was second to loose-on-the-lead Channel Maker (English Channel) in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and seventh in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf, each time over ground softer than he prefers. The going went against him when only fifth to unheralded barn companion Olympico (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in defense of his title in the GIII Fort Marcy S. May 4, but a sounder surface enhances his chances and he could offer some pari-mutuel value. The last of the Brown quartet is GI Hollywood Derby hero Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who has spun his wheels a bit in two starts against older horses this season. He adds blinkers for this appearance and also looms a bounce-back candidate. The post Manhattan Runners Have Brown To Down appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Brad Cox is no stranger to Grade I success on the Belmont S. undercard, having sent out the likes of champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) to win the GI Acorn S. last June. While that barn superfilly misses Saturday’s GI Ogden Phipps S. and is being pointed for a later-season campaign, the Cox barn will have its chance to shine Saturday afternoon in the GI Just A Game S. in the form of Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), the first of the afternoon’s eight top-level races at Belmont Park. Winner of the 2018 GII Royal Heroine S. over Saturday’s one-mile trip, Beau Recall was transferred to the Cox shedrow late last season and won the Blushing K. D. S. and New Orleans Ladies’ S. around a runner-up effort to future GIII Gallorette S. winner Mitchell Road (English Channel), the half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky). Dismissed at better than 10-1 in the GII Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill May 4, Beau Recall had it all to do from last behind a slow pace, but she came with a stinging rally to outfinish Got Stormy (Get Stormy) by 1 1/4 lengths, with Daddy Is A Legend (Scat Daddy) a head away in third. The once-beaten Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) will attempt to give trainer Chad Brown a third consecutive score in the Just A Game, following on the victories from Antonoe (First Defence) and A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) the last two years. Winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2017, the $320,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling closed her sophomore season with a front-running tally in Keeneland’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. The bay made her 4-year-old debut back in Lexington a winning one, holding off stablemate Rymska (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Got Stormy in the GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. The post In-Form Beau Recall Steps Up In Just A Game appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twelve months removed from his fourth-place effort as the favorite in the GII Woody Stephens S., the versatile World of Trouble (Kantharos) looms one of the afternoon’s strongest favorites in the Jaipur Invitational S., bumped to Grade I status for the first time this year. The winner earns an expenses-paid berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint this November. A stakes winner on dirt early last season, the Florida-bred tacked on a pair of black-type turf sprints before running entirely too well in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint only to drop a heart-breaking decision to defending champ Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic). He’s run the table in four tries since, returning to the main track to annex an oddly run GI Carter H. Apr. 6 at Aqueduct ahead of a facile 3 3/4-length success in the GII TwinSpires Turf Sprint on the Derby undercard May 4. New York-bred 7-year-old Disco Partner (Disco Rico) makes a Jaipur appearance for the fourth consecutive season, having finished a neck second to stablemate Pure Sensation (Zensational) in 2016 before proving best in 2017 and again in 2018, stopping the timer in a slick 1:06.74. Third and better than seven lengths behind World of Trouble at Churchill last fall, the Generazio homebred exits a ninth to the Royal Ascot-bound Imprimis (Broken Vow) and Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) in Keeneland’s GII Shakertown S. Apr. 6. Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) has proven before that she can mix it with the boys, having defeated male rivals in the 2018 GIII San Simeon S. down the hill at Santa Anita. Far too strong for her peers in the Feb. 16 Wishing Well S. in Arcadia, the Gary Barber colorbearer owns the single strongest piece of form in the field owing to her runner-up effort to Godolphin’s Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 30. Upset at 9-10 in an off-turf renewal of the GIII Monrovia S. May 26, Belvoir Bay can be in the thick of this providing the quick turnaround and cross-country ship haven’t taken anything out of her. The post World of Trouble Looms Large In Upgraded Jaipur appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Though it technically plays second fiddle to the GI Belmont S. some two hours later, Saturday’s running of the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. is arguably the race of the year, with a mixture of horses proven at trips of a mile and further taking on some progressive types with best form up to the eight-furlong distance. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ McKinzie (Street Sense) looms the betting choice as he attempts to give trainer Bob Baffert his second Met victory in three years (Mor Spirit, 2017). The $170,000 Keeneland September bargain is perfect in two appearances around one turn, including an eye-catching 4 3/4-length success in the GI Malibu S. last December. Runner-up back at two turns in the GII San Pasqual S. and the GI Santa Anita H., the bay looked in some trouble when buried down inside in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill May 3. Eased back and into the clear for the drive, he blasted away to defeat admittedly overmatched foes by 4 3/4 lengths. Having drawn gate two here, it will be interesting to see what sort of trip he works out beneath two-time Met winner Mike Smith. Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) returns to the scene of his near-miss effort in last year’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup as he tries a mile on dirt for the first time since finishing second in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge-R2 in January 2018. A resilient third to champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic in November, the homebred was a short horse when a distant second in Round 3 of the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge (2000m) but came on for the effort to become the first to go back-to-back in the G1 Dubai World Cup when last spotted Mar. 30. Christophe Soumillon flies in for the ride. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Coal Front (Stay Thirsty), also victorious on World Cup night, can be a major player at bettable odds from the one hole. A determined winner of the GIII Razorback H. when trying two turns for the first time at Oaklawn Feb. 18, he was consigned to a tough trip from a wide gate in the G2 Godolphin Mile, but he raced handy to the pace and pulled out just enough late to account for course specialist Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Mitole (Eskendereya), by the sire of the aforementioned Mor Spirit, is very much the now horse in this year’s Met, but has some questions to answer as he stretches out to the mile. Laid off following a towering defeat of subsequent Grade II winner Still Having Fun (Old Fashioned) in the Chick Lang S. last May, the bay earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure in defeating GII True North S. hopeful Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. and successfully negotiated seven-eighths of a mile with a stalk-and-pounce score in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 4. The Met is a ‘Win and You’re In’ challenge race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The post Met A Supporting Act in Name Only appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Abel Tasman (Quality Road) rallied to win the 2017 GI Acorn S., she became the first winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks to double up in the race since Bird Town (Cape Town) accomplished the feat some 14 years prior. Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) followed suit in last year’s Acorn and Serengeti Empress (Alternation) will look to keep the streak in tact Saturday afternoon at Belmont. Winner of last year’s GII Pocahontas S. by a Rachel Alexandra-like 19 1/2 lengths, the bay faltered to be seventh in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and she was sent to the Big Easy for a break. Powerful winner of the Grade II race named in honor of the 2009 Horse of the Year in February, Serengeti Empress bled and trailed in as the favorite in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, casting doubt on her ability to make the Oaks field. But she gave connections all the right signs and backed it up with a pillar-to-post success on the first Friday in May. That is the good news. Jose Ortiz has taken the unusual decision of jumping off the filly that gave him his first Oaks to stick with Three Chimneys Farm’s Guarana (Ghostzapper). A homebred daughter of Magical World (Distorted Humor) whose second dam Pleasant Home (Plesant Colony) upset the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Belmont in 2005, Guarana splashed onto the scene–quite literally–romping home to graduate by 14 3/4 eased-down lengths in the slop at Keeneland Apr. 19 to become a no-brainer ‘TDN Rising Star.’ The further female family includes 1993 Acorn and Triple Tiara winner and 1994 Hempstead H. (i.e. Ogden Phipps) winner Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}). The field’s biggest Beyer Speed Figure belongs to California raider Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), who defeated a next-out winner when breaking her maiden (89 BSF) at first asking at Santa Anita Apr. 12 before earning a 97 Beyer when just missing at odds-on in a first-level allowance May 11. Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza has the call on the homebred half-sister to the good 3-year-old colt Papa Clem (Smart Strike). Serengeti Empress, Ce Ce and GIII Beaumont S. victrix Fancy Dress Party (Munnings) should go a good gallop and could set things up for some longshots from off the speed. Jeltrin (Tapizar) caused a 51-1 upset of champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) in the Mar. 2 GII Davona Dale S. over Saturday’s trip, while Bell’s The One (Majesticperfection) came with a rails run to complete the exacta at 23-1 in the GII Eight Belles S. May 3. The post Oaks Winner Faces New Shooters in Acorn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

No trainer has left a more indelible mark on Belmont weekend than the great Woody Stephens, whose five consecutive victories in the Test of a Champion from 1982-1986 is a mark not likely ever to be eclipsed. The former Riva Ridge S. was renamed in Stephens’s honor in 2006 and the event received a further compliment when it became the third age-restricted Grade I sprint for sophomore males for this running. And the seven-furlong heat has a decidedly open feel. Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) is the nominal favorite and one of two previous top-level scorers in the race, having won Saratoga’s Hopeful S. last summer. Well-beaten in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he bounced back to take the one-mile Jerome S. on New Year’s Day, but connections wisely elected not to press on to a Triple Crown campaign and have programmed the Red Oak runner for one-turn spots. An unlucky second in the GIII Gotham S. at the mile trip Mar. 9, he cut back to this distance and overcame a bit of stretch herding to best Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GIII Bay Shore S. at the Big A Apr. 6. Chad Brown won the 2015 Woody Stephens with March (Blame) and that he has entered Klaravich Stable’s Complexity (Maclean’s Music) off the layoff here can be taken as a confident sign. Accorded ‘TDN Rising Star’ status off a popular and highly rated debut victory at the Spa Sept. 3, the bay led past every pole en route to a three-length defeat of the slow-starting and future Classic-placed Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) in the GI Champagne S. the following month. Complexity dropped out of contention abruptly as the 13-5 second choice in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but has trained forwardly over the Oklahoma training track for this return to action. The Brown barn is also set to be represented Honest Mischief (Into Mischief–Honest Lady), named a ‘Rising Star‘ off an eight-length maiden score on the Toyota Blue Grass undercard Apr. 6 (his 97 Beyer bettered the 94 earned by Vekoma in the Blue Grass). Oaklawn Park form is on display in the Woody Stephens in the form of Bachelor S. first- and second-place finishers Nitrous (Tapit) and Landeskog (Munnings), respectively. The former, third to Mind Control in the Hopeful, came from sixth in the field of eight to take the Bachelor by a widening 1 3/4 lengths, while Landeskog, who defeated a next-out stakes winner on his Mar. 31 debut in Hot Springs, set blazing fractions of :21.31 and :44.26 and held well for second, well clear of the talented and much more seasoned Gray Attempt (Graydar) in third. Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) looks interesting on the cutback in trip. A good second to War of Will (War Front) in the GIII Lecomte S. in January, he exits a sound runner-up effort from a high draw in the one-mile GIII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill May 4. He needs to pick up his feet some, but the price will be right and the race should be run to suit. The post Sophomore Sprinters Go Seven in Woody Stephens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Though it has attracted just five distaff routers, Saturday’s GI Ogden Phipps S. does not lack for intrigue, with Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) the one to beat, but facing legitimate challengers inside and out. Never out of the top three in a nine-race sophomore campaign, Midnight Bisou won this track’s GII Mother Goose S. by six lengths in her debut for the Steve Asmussen barn and three starts later was put up to the victory over champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Cotillion S. A good third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the dark bay is perfect in three tries this season, including a last-out score as the 9-10 favorite in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 14. Just behind in the Oaklawn centerpiece was Western Canadian darling Escape Clause (Going Commando), who bid between horses and was just touched off at the wire when in receipt of five pounds. A winner of 20 of her 31 lifetime appearances, the Manitoba-bred blasted away from her rivals to win Santa Anita’s GIII La Canada S. by 5 1/2 lengths in January and added a 7 1/4-length victory in the Harry Henson S. at Sunland Park Mar. 24. Escape Clause is one pound better off at the weights with Midnight Bisou under the conditions of the race. Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) has turned a corner this year at five, posting a pair of Beyer Speed Figures that top the 101 career best for Midnight Bisou. The dark bay turned in an eye-catching performance in the seven-furlong GIII Distaff H. Apr. 5, streaking away to defeat the solid Pacific Gale (Flat Out) by 7 3/4 lengths. Pounded into 30 cents on the dollar for the GII Ruffian S. going a sloppy one-turn mile May 5, the homebred once again kicked on the afterburners in the stretch to best ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pacific Wind (Curlin) by 6 3/4 powerful lengths. The winner of the Phipps earns a fees-paid berth into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November. The post Phipps No Gimme For Midnight Bisou appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

MAGIC DANCE (f, 2, More Than Ready–Magical World, by Distorted Humor) didn’t garner much attention in wagering to be let go at 8-1, but she hogged the spotlight in the stretch to follow in big sis Guarana (Ghostzapper)’s hoofsteps and earn the ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod. Perched three deep off a :22.60 opening quarter, she ranged up to challenge heavily bet fellow firster Josie (Race Day) in upper stretch and pulled clear of that rival en route to a promising five-length score in :57.70. Josie held second. The aforementioned Guarana aired by 14 3/4 lengths in the Keeneland slop Apr. 19 for Three Chimneys and Chad Brown. She is favored at 2-1 on the morning line for the GI Acorn S. at Belmont Saturday. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. The post More Than Ready Miss Follows in Big Sis Guarana’s Hoofsteps to Garner Rising Stardom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DOUBLE ORB (c, 3, Orb–Impassionit, by Include) sprung the upset in Belmont’s opener Friday, graduating on debut at odds of 12-1. Dueling Just For One Day (Will Take Charge) for control from the getgo, the duo clocked early splits of :22.23 and :45.46. Shaking free of his foe in the lane, Double Orb rolled clear to win as he pleased by 4 1/2 lengths. The Chad Brown-trained pair of Ahead of Plan (Big Drama) and Per Capita (Tapit) finished second and third, respectively. The final time was 1:21.77. Sales history: $55,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Wind Hill Farm (FL); T-Steve Asmussen. The post Orb Colt Springs the Upset in Belmont Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article