Wandering Eyes

Lure of Everest has kept many runners from shipping to prestigious meet View the full article

With respect to the question posed in Bill Finley’s, “The Week in Review: So, What Would It Take to Appease Animal Rights Activists?” in the Monday, June 3 TDN, a serious answer would be “it depends on the activist.” There are extremists on both sides. One the one hand, there are animal-rights extremists who think consuming honey is cruel to bees. On the other hand, there are horse racing enthusiasts who are shocked and chagrined that 26 horse racing deaths at Santa Anita has received so much “undeserved” attention and were miffed at NBC’s coverage of that during the Kentucky Derby. But the goal should not necessarily be to appease the most hardcore vegan, but potential consumers or voters. I am what many in the animal-rights community might call an oxymoron–an animal rights activist who loves horse racing. I have been around animal rights activist, passed some local animal-rights legislation myself with respect to farm animals, and I know a bit how these people work and think. Some of their positions at first seem extreme, but upon further examination, have some merit; elephants really were being abused by circuses. If anything should put the fear of God into those in the horse racing business, think of Ringling Brothers. Sure, there were factors afoot other than animal rights protesters and the mistreatment of elephants and big cats. Notice a similarity to horse racing–it also has some major business problems other than animal-rights perception problems, such as competition due to new forms of gambling that just didn’t legally exist a few decades back, save for two cities. There is no Massachusetts fair circuit anymore, and that isn’t due to any ban on horse racing. And while there was an occasional local municipality that banned animal circuses or banned elephants used in circuses, there wasn’t much in the way of outright bans. Yet Ringling Brothers is gone and heightened awareness about animal abuse had a lot to do with it. Don’t misunderstand me: outright bans are possible, and I believe Mr. Finley’s piece provided too much comfort. Go to the Grey2K website and you’ll see that 41 states have outright banned dog racing. While the Finley opinion piece downplayed PETA’s willingness to place a question on the ballot, trust me: in a day when most ballot questions are placed on the ballot by companies being paid to gather signatures, many animal rights groups can do it on their own through volunteers only, and they have done just that in Massachusetts more than once. Want to know more? I recommend reading ballotpedia.org’s article of “Treatment of Animals on the Ballot” for a detailed history of the wins and losses of the animal-rights community. If you think a statewide ban on horse racing cannot happen, you are naive. While many do not know it, not because of animal rights but because of opposition to gambling, New York once banned horse racing with the Hart-Agnew Law. In 1894, the New Jersey legislature banned parimutuel betting for a while. A ban is neither unimaginable nor unprecedented. Even though horse racing was eventually legalized again, the Brighton Beach Race Course, Gravesend Race Track, and the Sheepshead Bay Race Track were never able to reopen. This could happen to Santa Anita if there were substantial closures. But the perception that horse racing is cruel to animals might lead to problems other than outright bans. First, like Ringling Brothers, people might simply stop patronizing horse tracks to such an extent that the doors cannot be left open. Second, with an industry that is becoming less and less capable of making it on its own, while there may not be outright bans, state legislatures will to subsidize the industry may wane. Sure, horse racing is an industry that preserves much-desired open green spaces that externalize a benefit which are not reflected in profits, creating “market inefficiencies” justifying state intervention. But this goodwill of preserved open spaces gets destroyed by the perception of animal cruelty. Sometimes ignoring a problem actually works; it can be bad to “chase criticism,” and a public relations problem fades when starved of oxygen and fuel that a response provides. But those in the thoroughbred industry that think that this is one of those don’t-chase-criticism moments could not be more momentously wrong. This is a conflagration that requires really dealing with the problem and improving the situation, and not slick public relations. Here’s the tough love: there are a lot of industry “experts” being paid a lot of money but making some big-league mistakes. These aren’t just PR people, but people entrenched in the industry who aren’t exactly Daniels capable of reading the writing on the wall. Sure, PETA flames the fans, but it is not just about them. It’s about Mr. Joe Six-Pack, Ms. Soccer Mom and Ms. Socially Conscious Millennial and whether they think that horse racing is just too cruel. This industry is losing that battle. The public views these horses as pets or noble athletes. They do not want to see horses die in slaughter houses, so we must make sure they are not sent to Mexico or Canada for such purposes. And there is the whole issue of nurse foals and supposed “throw away horses” when the mare is used for orphaned thoroughbred race horses and the foal that caused them to produce milk is dispensed. The solution to these problems is to fix them as best you can and stop blaming PETA. Otherwise, it is over–and I mean that somewhat literally. A June 23, 2017 Fortune Magazine article entitled “Why Animal Cruelty is Bad for Business, said, “The fact is, in today’s economy, businesses are under a microscope when it comes to how they interact with the world around them. Subjugating the treatment of animals beneath other commercial concerns may have made business sense in centuries past; but today, that doesn’t fly.” That’s spot on and the wave of the future. SeaWorld has stopped using orcas at its theme parks. According to Fortune Magazine, “Walmart–along with Kroger, McDonald’s, Burger King, and hundreds more–have commanded the cage-free conversion [of hens], announcing policies to switch 100% of the eggs they sell to cage-free within the next few years.” Voters and consumers want horse racing to be less cruel. Adopt or perish. –Rinaldo Del Gallo, III, Attorney at Law The post Letter to the Editor: Adopt or Perish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A filly by City Zip turned in the fastest furlong breeze and a colt by Daredevil had the fastest quarter-mile work during Wednesday’s first under-tack preview session ahead of next week’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Consignor Mark White sent out hip 199 to earn the bullet furlong time of :9 4/5. The filly by City Zip is out of Court Appeal (Candy Ride {Arg}), a half-sister to Grade I winner Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot), graded winner Hear the Ghost (Ghostzapper) and stakes-winning and Grade I-placed Closing Bell (Tapit). She was a $7,000 Keeneland September acquisition. “We were delighted with the work,” said White, who is consigning the filly on behalf of North Carolina-based client J D Osgood. “I knew she was fast, but I didn’t know she was that fast. I thought she would go in :10 or :10 1/5 and the track was getting a little slow when she went up there, with the heat out here. So I was absolutely delighted with her.” White said of the filly, “She is not overly big, but she’s like a Quarter Horse. She’s as wide as she is tall. She has a butt on her that is the width of the shedrow and she is built for speed.” White has had the filly since December and he has been impressed by her development. “We were thinking of taking her to the April sale, but I didn’t get her until December and she was a little immature,” he said. “I have another filly for the same guy, so we decided rather than pushing them, we’d take our time and get her to June. As fast as she is, she could have gone to April or June, but the extra five weeks has done her the world of good.” White, who was longtime farm manager for Another Episode Farm, is consigning only two horses to auction this year. He also sent out a filly by Hard Spun (hip 74) to work a quarter in :21 2/5 Wednesday at OBS. “I was a farm manager for Another Episode Farm for 12 years and then Johanne Everard sold the farm, so I kept a few clients and went out on my own,” White explained. “I’m not a big, big guy, I just have six or seven horses every year. These are the only two I’m selling this year, the rest all go to the racetrack.” A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Daredevil (More Than Ready) (hip 100) turned in Wednesday’s fastest quarter-mile work of :20 3/5. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the dark bay juvenile is out of Bible (U S Ranger) and from the family of Corinthian. He was purchased for $72,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July sale by Ciaran Dunne’s Redwings pinhooking partnership and had originally been targeted at the OBS April sale. Click for ThoroStride video inspection. “He is a nice horse, he’s always been a nice horse,” Dunne said. “We had huge expectations going into April with him. He had a little curb right before his final work, so he made the decision for us that we had to wait for here. We pinfired the curb and gave him some time. He’s had two breezes since, both of which have been out of this world, so we weren’t surprised by this work.” Wavertree has had success offering offspring by first-crop sires this spring, notably selling a $1.2-million son of Liam’s Map at the OBS April sale. “We have always tended to play in that market,” Dunne explained. “Usually, they are the ones that they’ll let you buy. The proven stallions go to the end-users and we need to take chances on horses that are unproven. We just stick with the physical that works for us.” The under-tack preview show continues through Sunday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The sale will be held next Wednesday through Friday. Bidding begins each day at 10 a.m. The post City Zip Filly, Daredevil Colt Swiftest at OBS appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Not only does Rushing Fall have the talent to tower over the Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) field, her speed elevates her chances in a largely paceless line-up in the one-mile turf test. View the full article

It's not often that two full brothers race against each other, let alone in back-to-back stakes. But then again, the success of their Pennsylvania-based sire and the partnership that owns and bred them is unusual to say the least. View the full article

A pair of top-class mares offered in foal to two of Europe’s leading stallions are among the first entries for the 2019 Goffs London Sale in association with QIPCO, scheduled to take place on the eve of the opening of the Royal Ascot meeting Monday, June 17. Klawervlei Stud-bred Just Sensual (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}–Consensual {SAf}, by Camden Park) won half of her 12 starts at home, including the 2016 G1 Cape Fillies Guineas en route to being named champion of her generation that season. A daughter of fellow champion and G1SW Consensual, Just Sensual will be consigned to the London Sale by The National Stud is offered in foal to Frankel (GB). Murasaki (GB) is a daughter of top sire Dubawi (Ire) and is out of Michita (Dynaformer), impressive winner of the 2008 G2 Ribblesdale S. at the Royal meeting and also placed at Group 1 level in the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks and in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. New England Stud will consign the 4-year-old filly, who is carrying to Invincible Spirit (Ire), sire of G1 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia (Ire). Goffs has confirmed several entries for the Horses In Training section of the sale, which will be announced Tuesday with the final catalogue to be released next week. In addition to Royal Ascot bound two-year-olds and international racing prospects offered in absentia, a select number of breeding stock will also be catalogued and will be present at the sale itself. For additional information, visit www.goffslondonsale.com. The post First Entries Announced for Goffs London Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Many people in the racing and breeding world will have been saddened to learn of the death of Trevor Jones on Wednesday morning at the age of 72. An immensely talented photographer, Trevor moved from general sports photography, initially with Sporting Pictures in the 1970s and then Allsport, to specialise in horseracing. He completed a stint on the Racing Post and became the retained photographer for Pacemaker in 1990, later filling that same role for International Thoroughbred. During this time he also made a name for himself in the bloodstock world through his imagery of many of the world’s leading stallions. In a style which is now considered to be the norm for stallion promotion, Trevor played a major part in moving stallion photography away from the traditional conformation shot to more informal images captured in the paddocks. In an era in which photography underwent rapid technological transformation, from film to digital, Trevor was always ahead of the curve on the technical front. His mastery of this element of his field was coupled with an expert eye which captured many a key moment in racing over the last four decades. One So Wonderful wins the Juddmonte International from Faithful Son and Chester House As a young picture editor on Horse & Hound, I knew I could call on Trevor’s office, run so efficiently by his wife Gill and, in later years, with expert assistance from Laura Green, and almost certainly find just the image needed to bring a page to life. Later, we had a closer working relationship on Pacemaker magazine, and I would regularly find an excuse to escape London to visit Trevor’s office just outside Newmarket, knowing that I’d find a warm welcome from Trevor and Gill, not to mention their collection of dogs, which they both adored. Many enjoyable hours were spent rummaging through his files, which remain to this day an important photographic history of the sport in the modern era. From the heat of the battle on the racecourse, to a beautifully observed moment of calm on a stud farm, Trevor’s pictures stand as testament to his great talent. Moreover, to those of us fortunate enough to have worked alongside him, he will remain in our memories as a man whose gentleness was a refreshing counterpoint to the competitive sphere in which he plied his trade with considerable skill. Henry Cecil in his rose garden The accompanying photographs were two of Trevor’s favourites. In an interview in Pacemaker back in 2001, he said of the shot depicting One So Wonderful (GB) beating Faithful Son and Chester House in a tight finish for the 1998 Juddmonte International, “This image to me is about six athletes: the three horses and their three riders. They’ve fallen into a rhythm and I like the way they are synchronised and striving for the line.” The other photograph shows one of Trevor’s favourite members of the racing tribe, Henry Cecil, at home in his beloved rose garden. Cecil, whose fondness of flamboyant clothes was almost equal to his ability as a racehorse trainer, was a photographer’s gift, and there was no better man to capture his colourful character than Trevor Jones. His eye for a picture, and his friendship, will be much missed. The post Remembering Trevor Jones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The multiple graded-stakes winning Arklow (Arch) looks to be America’s best hope in claiming Friday’s two-mile GII Belmont Gold Cup over a trio of European invaders. Since the Brad Cox pupil broke his maiden over the turf course as a 3-year-old in April 2017, he has strung together eight in-the-money finishes in his last 14 starts, including victories in the 2017 GII American Turf S. and the GIII Kentucky Turf Cup Sept. 8. Owned by Dongel Racing, Joseph Bulger and Peter Coneway, Arklow concluded his 4-year-old campaign with an encouraging fourth to the brilliant filly Enable in the Nov. 3 GI Breeders Cup Turf. In the bay’s first try of 2019, he unseated his rider at the start of a Apr. 5 Keeneland optional claimer before turning in a career best performance in the May 11 GI Man ‘O’ War S. Arklow posted the highest Beyer Speed Figure of his career, earning a 105, when just failing to catch Channel Maker (English Channel) by a neck at the wire after unleashing a powerful stretch run. “On paper, we think he’s as good as the best there is in the country, but the mile and quarter is a little shorter than he would like so we decided to give the Belmont Gold Cup a whirl,” Donegal Racing’s Jerry Crawford told the NYRA notes team. “There’s a little fear of the unknown in going this long but he’s showing signs of being able to get the two miles and we know that he likes the turf at Belmont.” Leading the European contingent is Luke Comer’s Raa Atoll (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Previously trained by John Gosden, the 4-year-old was transferred into Comer’s barn and triumphed off a 10-month layoff in the May 12 G2 Comer Group International Oleander Rennen S. at Hoppergarten (Ger). The race was contested over the same grueling two-mile distance of the Gold Cup. Sheikh Mohammed’s Mootasadir (GB) (Dansili {GB}) boasts a six-for-nine lifetime record, including a win in the Sep. 28 G3 Recruit Island Diamond S. over the Dundalk (Ire) synthetic. Hugo Palmer conditions the colt, who captured his first two starts of this year routing over synthetic surfaces before failing to threaten when sixth in the May 17 G2 Matchbook Yorkshire Cup at York (GB). The Alessandro Botti-trained Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) has twice proven victorious over the two-mile distance this year, albeit on a synthetic surface, including a Mar. 7 allowance score at Chelmsford (GB) two starts back. The post Arklow Takes On European Trio in Belmont Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

ELMONT, N.Y.–Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) is not the first Japanese runner to enter the GI Belmont S. In fact, he is the third in the past four years alone, following Lani (Tapit) in 2016 (third) and Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) in 2017 (scratched race day with a foot issue), but the Katsumi Yoshizawa homebred hopes to become the first from his country to win the Test of a Champion Saturday. In addition to the $1.5 million Belmont purse, Master Fencer is also eligible for NYRA’s $1 million bonus, offered to any Japan-based horse to win the Belmont S. “This is very, very rare to just participate in the Triple Crown races for Japanese horse trainers,” conditioner Koichi Tsunoda said through translator Mitsuoki Numamoto outside of Nick Zito’s Barn 12 as Master Fencer was bathed and had his legs thoroughly cold hosed while surrounded by a slew of press. “It was because of many people’s support that we made it here. Winning would repay a debt of gratitude for the many people surrounding me.” Master Fencer tuned up for Saturday’s affair with an easy five-panel breeze in 1:01.28 (3/3) (video) under jockey Julien Leparoux on the Belmont main track Wednesday morning after the renovation break. Things went much smoother this time after a much publicized stumble during his previous workout May 29, when he went the same distance in 1:01.48 with his regular exercise rider Yosuke Kono aboard May 29 (video). “[Master Fencer] didn’t change his lead in the stretch [instead staying on his left one], but [Leparoux] said he didn’t want to lose momentum for the breeze. He was traveling well. He didn’t want him to have a stressful work. He just wanted him to breeze without any issues like the last breeze.” Breaking his maiden at third asking at Japan’s Hanshin Racecourse Dec. 23 and followed suit with a win at Kyoto Jan. 14. He finished fourth in the Hyacinth S. Feb. 17 and completed the exacta in the Fukuyura S. Mar. 31, both of which are on Japan’s Road to the Kentucky Derby. With the Japanese horse ahead of him in points declining the Derby invite, the chestnut accepted his spot in the Run for Roses and closed strongly to be sixth after running last most of the way. (He originally crossed the line seventh, but was promoted to sixth after the DQ of Maximum Security {New Year’s Day}). Master Fencer trained at Keeneland following his Derby effort and shipped to New York May 24. Tsunoda, who is also a former jockey, said his charge has settled in well at Belmont. “He had been training and eating well at Keeneland and even here at Belmont,” the trainer said through Numamoto. “I hope he will run much better than he did in the Derby. This will be a smaller field, just 10 horses including him. It is much easier to chase other horses, so if he could save ground, he will probably show us that great late kick in the stretch. Distance doesn’t matter.” Belmont’s main track is known as “Big Sandy” for a reason. When asked how Master Fencer has been getting over the surface in Elmont, which is much deeper than what he had trained over at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, Tsunoda said, “We wanted Julien [Leparoux] to experience how he moves on this kind of sand track. As you can see, he is not very skillful in changing his leads and I don’t want anything to happen between the races, so because of that we asked Julien to get on. I am not pessimistic about the deeper sand.” If all goes well Saturday, this may not be the last time racing fans see Master Fencer on American soil. “I would have to talk to the owner, but we may go to the Breeders’ Cup,” Tsunoda said before walking off to inspect his colt’s legs as the sophomore received lots of love from Kono. The post ‘Fencer’ Hopes to Be First Japanese ‘Master’ of the Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After returning to good health in time to post an upset victory in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), the connections of Serengeti Empress hope the filly can build on that success June 8 in the $700,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN’s Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. In this edition, La Chancla (Uncle Mo), a troubled fourth on debut at Churchill Downs, is highlighted. Previous runners featured in this column include: MGISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway) and MSW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). La Chancla (f, 3, Uncle Mo-Mama Tia, by Carson City) doesn’t figure to remain in the maiden ranks for long off an encouraging fourth-place finish on debut at Churchill Downs May 30 (video). Working bullets for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 2/5 (1/6) at Keeneland May 24, she was off as the 2-1 second choice in her six-furlong unveiling. The LNJ Foxwoods colorbearer was bothered badly at the start and spotted the field several lengths from her rail draw. Ninth through a sharp opening quarter in :21.46, the bay began to pick off rivals with a flashy move on the turn for home. She continued to rally down the lane and finished up with good interest widest of all to cut the final margin to 2 1/4 lengths. La Chancla brought $775,000 from LNJ Foxwoods advisors Alex Solis II and Jason Litt as an OBS March 2-Year-Old after breezing a quarter in :21 2/5 from the Eddie Woods consignment. She was previously a $200,000 KEESEP yearling. “We always thought that she was a talented filly who has the chance to be special,” LNJ’s Jaime Roth said. “We had high expectations for her first start and were all very impressed with her run after a very sluggish start. Not sure yet what the plan is–probably Saratoga–but we’ll leave that up Rodolphe.” La Chancla is a half-sister to Southern Honey (Colonel John), GSW, $223,017; Cali Thirty Seven (Eskendereya), MSW, $271,060; and Shangroyal (Shanghai Bobby), MSP, $190,569. She was bred in Kentucky by Atlas Farm and Conor Doyle. The unraced mare Mama Tia is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Runway Model (Petionville), the dam of MGISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense). As defined on UrbanDictionary.com, La Chancla “is a flip-flop or slipper that can be thrown by Latina females when angered by their significant other.” Care to explain, Ms. Roth? “Her name is quite funny,” Roth concluded. “Her mom’s name is Mama Tia and we knew she had some attitude, so my wife suggested La Chancla.” The post Second Chances: La Chancla appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first two finishers in the May 11 GIII Beaugay S. at Belmont, led by the extremely promising winner Homerique (Exchange Rate), will re-engage and stretch out to 1 1/4 miles in Friday’s GII New York S. at Big Sandy. An impressive debut winner at Chantilly last spring, Peter Brant’s Homerique was third, beaten just a neck, two starts later in the G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Annexing the G3 Prix de Psyche next out, she was seventh against males in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp before earning a career high when third in the G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines Oct. 7 at Longchamp. Transferred to the Chad Brown barn after that, she made an auspicious North American debut when closing into a slow pace to capture the Beaugay, circling the field and running her final five-sixteenths in an absurd :27.40 to get up. The gray tuned up for this stretchout with a five-furlong breeze over the local turf in 1:01 2/5 (7/10) June 1 (video). Second choice on the morning line is Homerique’s stablemate Competitionofideas (Speightstown). Owned by Klaravich Stables, the $325,000 Keeneland September graduate rallied from last to first to take the GI American Oaks going this trip Dec. 29 at Santa Anita. She also ran a fast late fraction (:27.66) to grab the runner-up spot in the Beaugay, but enjoyed a ground-saving ride unlike her barnmate that day. The most likely upsetter of the Brown train appears to be Stronach Stables’ Holy Helena (Ghostzapper). The 2017 Queen’s Plate S. heroine, she picked up victories in the GIII The Very One S. and GII Sheepshead Bay S. last season and was fifth in this event. Winless in six starts heading into this year’s The Very One, she rallied determinedly to defend her title by a head. The post Beaugay Top Two Rematch in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There were few more exciting horses last summer than Hronis Racing’s Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), but after going four-for-four to start his career, the chestnut went up in flames at odds-on in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He’ll make his much-anticipated return and debut as 5-year-old in Friday’s GII True North S. at Belmont. Victorious on debut in October of 2017 at Santa Anita, the $370,000 Keeneland September purchase repeated in an optional claimer there last May and had his coming-out party when romping by 6 3/4 lengths in the GII San Diego H. July 21 at Del Mar. He added to his legend with a similarly easy score in the GII Pat O’Brien S. Aug. 25, but faded to finish a well-beaten sixth at 9-10 at Churchill Downs. The John Sadler trainee shows a half-dozen works at his Arcadia base in preparation for this comeback, capped by a half-mile spin in :47 3/5 (3/37) June 2. Courtlandt Farms’ Strike Power (Speightstown) returns to the big stage looking to reclaim the cachet he earned last winter at Gulfstream. An eight-length debut graduate to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors in December of 2017, he scored in the GIII Swale S. next out and was a good second stretching out in the GII Fountain of Youth S. The wheels fell off after that though, as he could manage no better than fourth in his next four outings and was beaten by double-digit lengths each time. Laid up for nearly eight months and dropped into optional claiming company when resurfacing Apr. 25 at Gulfstream, the homebred looked much like his old self, going wire to wire in a five-length score that produced a 101 Beyer, easily Strike Power’s best output since the 102 he earned in his unveiling. Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) looks to avenge a tough beat from last year’s True North as the most accomplished runner in the group. Missing by a neck to the brilliant MGISW Imperial Hint (Imperialism) in the 2018 renewal, the gelding was runner-up by the same margin in the GII Belmont Sprint Championship before picking up his first Grade I success in the Forego S. Aug. 25 at Saratoga. Completing the exacta behind champion Roy H (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, he debuted as a 6-year-old with a conquest of the Hot Springs S. before running into the streaking buzzsaw Mitole (Eskendereya) when second in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. and fifth in the GI Churchill Downs S. last out. The post Catalina Cruiser Returns in True North appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The owners of any horse sweeping Canada’s 2019 Triple Crown will receive a C$500,000 bonus as part of a deal reached with Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG). OLG will return as the title sponsor of the race series for Canadian-sired 3-year-olds, comprised of the June 29 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine, July 23 Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie and the Aug. 17 Breeders’ S. back at Woodbine. “Woodbine Entertainment is thrilled to continue our partnership with OLG as we work towards raising the prominence of Canada’s Triple Crown,” said Jonathan Zammit, VP of Thoroughbred Racing Operations. “The prospect of a Triple Crown champion generates buzz around the sport and bringing back the incentive of a lucrative bonus will help to fuel that excitement.” The post Bonus to be Offered for Canadian Triple Crown Sweep appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is offering the public the opportunity to purchase permanent commemorative bricks in the Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Courtyard. Sales of the bricks will last from now through December and the bricks will be unveiled in the summer of 2020. Two sizes are available: 4″ by 8″ red bricks for $100 and 8″ by 8″ grey bricks for $250. Red bricks feature three lines of engraving with a maximum 12 characters per line, while grey bricks offer six lines with up to 12 characters per line. For more information or to order, visit www.racingmuseum.org/buy-brick or call (518) 584-0400 ext. 109. The post NMRHOF Selling Personalized Bricks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zac Purton is riding so well, the biggest challenge for trainers is trying to book him.The Australian booted home another four winners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, meaning he has now collected 25 from the past six meetings at an astonishing 48 per cent strike rate (and is one away from 1,000 Hong Kong victories in his career).But while Purton is dominating the competition on the track, he has created another one off it – the race for trainers to secure his services, such is his demand… View the full article

Commes (Fr) is the latest daughter of Le Havre (Ire) bound for Japan, with Jour de Galop revealing that Teruya Yoshida has purchased the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches runner-up privately. Racing as a homebred for Gerard Augustin-Normand, Commes earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status with a three-length debut win at Deauville in August and has been second in three subsequent outings, including when beaten a nose by Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Pouliches. Yoshida also purchased privately Le Havre’s La Cressonniere (Fr) and Avenir Certain (Fr), both winners of the Pouliches and the Prix de Diane, which is Commes’s next target on June 16. Yoshida also races the Mar. 10 G2 Hochi Hai Fillies’ Revue winner Pourville (Jpn) (Le Havre {Ire}), who he bought in utero of the Group 3-winning Kenhope (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) for 480,000gns in 2014. The post Commes Headed To Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) has had an easy spell since tearing a muscle while beating just one home in the G1 1000 Guineas on May 5, and trainer John Oxx revealed on Wednesday that last year’s G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner is being aimed at the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September. “She’s making gradual progress. She’s been confined to walking exercise for a month and we’re coming to the end of that now, so we’ll see how we go from here,” Oxx said. “We think it [the torn muscle] happened about three furlongs out, and she just went backwards then. It’s disappointing, but these things happen.” “It’s a slow process, and she hasn’t been given the all-clear to step up her work yet,” added Oxx of the Sonia and Anthony Rogers homebred. “These things take time and we’ll just have to be patient. She will recover all right and hopefully it will be soon enough, but we haven’t set any deadline for her to run. The Matron S. is a Group 1 target we have in mind for her, but how we get there–whether we can get one or two runs into her beforehand–we’ll just have to see how she progresses.” The post Matron The Plan For Skitter Scatter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Should all go smoothly in the lead up, Japanese racing fans can expect to have two rooting interests in this year’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with G1 Tenno Sho Spring and G1 Kikuka Sho victor Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) joining this year’s G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Roger Barows (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) as a contender from the East. Connections of Fierement have said the 4-year-old will have to perform well in the G2 Sapporo Kinen on Aug. 18 to get on the plane, but should he make it to ParisLongchamp stamina certainly won’t be a concern; his two Group 1 wins have come over 3000 and 3200 metres. The post Japanese Duo In Line For Arc appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In-form jockey Tommy Berry is poised to keep his winning momentum rolling when he heads to Eagle Farm for a strong book of rides on Stradbroke Handicap day. Berry booted home a double at the track two weeks ago then returned to Sydney last Saturday and made it an afternoon to remember with a four-winner haul, each of them for different stables. The Chris Waller-trained Queensland Derby favourite Nobu is arguably the best of his rides. The three-year-old has hit his straps since returning to Aust... View the full article

The latest gavelhouse.com fortnightly New Zealand auction features a special consignment with six-time New Zealand Breeder of the Year winners Waikato Stud offering a draft of 27 unreserved weanlings for sale. The Matamata-based nursery comprise a big chunk of the 83-Lot catalogue, with x-rays for each of their entries available for viewing in the New Zealand Bloodstock online repository. Waikato Stud’s famous hospitality and progressive approach to selling their stock sees the team set to ho... View the full article

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock currently sits on 30 wins for the season and he is on a mission to equal his previous best tally of 40 wins set in the 2001/02 season. The Taranaki horseman has just under two months to secure 10 wins, but he believes he is taking enough firepower into the winter months to achieve his target. “The team is going really well,” Sharrock said. “I’d love to get 40 (wins). I think 40 was my best year. “We have got a bit of work to do, we have go to get 10... View the full article

Group Two performer Our Intrigue will head to the spelling paddock after her unplaced run in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday. The Tony Pike-trained three-year-old was heading into the race off the back of a winning performance over 2200m at the Sunshine Coast last month, but Pike said the Oaks test may have been a race too far for his filly. “She probably just came to the end of her preparation,” he said. “She’s going to head to the spelling paddock, she has be... View the full article

The Tony Pike-trained The Bostonian will be attempting to keep his unbeaten Queensland streak alive when he contests the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Jimmy Choux has won all five of his starts in the Sunshine State, including two successive Group Ones this campaign and Pike is hopeful for a third this weekend. The Bostonian surprised many pundits when taking out the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) as a $41-shot when fresh-up last month, before ... View the full article

Matamata Stud Farm Valachi Downs will welcome three-time Group One-winning sprinter U.S. Navy Flag to their stallion roster for the forthcoming breeding season. “There has never been a sprinter of this elite-level stand at stud in New Zealand, let alone with the incredible pedigree U.S. Navy Flag possesses,” Valachi Downs General Manager Jonathan Scully said. “We are beyond delighted to offer this precocious speed sire to breeders.” A son of top international sire War Front, U.S. Navy F... View the full article