Wandering Eyes

Brown has four-year-old foursome battle-ready View the full article

Purton hopeful on Legend, more confident on Cruiser View the full article

Pimlico Race Course will once again serve as host for the annual Canter for the Cause, sponsored by the Maryland Jockey Club and The Equiery, to benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Sunday, June 2. In Canter for the Cause, participants have the opportunity to walk, jog, canter or trot their horses over the Pimlico main track. Canter for the Cause runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a cost of $50 per trip. For more information, click here. The post Canter for the Cause Returns to Pimlico June 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Grech & Parkin dispersal added more than a sprinkle of stardust to the final day of the Goff UK Spring HIT/P2P Sale accounting for seven of the top 10 lots and a new record price for a National Hunt horse in training of £620,000. That sum, which was also the highest ever for a horse at Doncaster, was paid for the 5-year-old winning point-to-pointer Interconnected (Fr) (Network (Ger}) (lot 716), who will race for Darren Yates from the stable of Philip Kirby. “It’s a historic day for the sales at Doncaster,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “The company has been going since 1962 and I’ve been working here since 1978 as a bid-spotter. I’ve seen some big days, some wonderful days, but that was just extraordinary.” Darren Yates was in the news earlier this spring at the Goffs Aintree Sale when buying Grade 1-winning chaser Don Poli (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}) for £170,000 on the eve of the Grand National, but this was a big leap in commitment to the jump racing ranks in a week in which treble Grand National-winning owner Michael O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud announced his intention to wind down his operation over the coming years, and, indeed, when another major partnership, Grech & Parkin, is bowing out for the time being. Yates said, “I’m very happy with the horse. I didn’t expect him to make that, but he’s the one we really wanted. For me he’s got Gold Cup written all over him.” From the same dispersal, David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock went to £235,000 to secure the top-priced mare of the sale, lot 709, Lust For Glory (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}). The 6-year-old has won two bumpers and two hurdle races for Nicky Henderson. Henry de Bromhead’s string of young National Hunt mares includes the exciting Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) and Sinoria (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and the Irish trainer will also take charge of recent listed mares’ chase winner Kupatana (Ire) (Westerner {GB}) after Peter Molony of Rathmore Stud bought lot 708 for £210,000. At the conclusion of the two-day horses-in-training sale, which followed a day of stores, the team at Goffs UK was delighted with a strong set of results. Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams said, “Today has been an historic day for Goffs UK and it’s wonderful we have been able to achieve our highest price in the company’s history, and the highest-ever price for a National Hunt horse at public auction. “Yesterday’s point-to-point session was a great success and continued what has been a fantastic year for Goffs NH sales. We are in debt to our vendors, and in particular Mike Grech and Stuart Parkin, who have supported us with some outstanding horses which has led to the sale grounds being among the busiest they have ever been for the last three days. “We would like to wish our buyers all the very best with their stores, pointers and horses-in-training. We have a lot to look forward to as these horses hit the track and, of course, the Doncaster August Sale which will offer the remaining 10 horses in the Grech & Parkin Dispersal.” At the fall of hammer for the two-day sale, 85% of the horses in training offered sold for an average of £22,700 (+13%) and median of £10,000 (-17%). The aggregate was boosted by 45% to £9,143,400. The post Record-Breaking Day at Goffs UK appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following the Lasix dosage reduction protocol that was approved for Santa Anita Park in March, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday voted to approve similar agreements to allow racing secretaries at four other tracks to also establish conditions that will lower the allowable maximum race-day dosage of the drug from 500 mg to 250 mg. Los Alamitos Race Course, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC), the California Exposition and State Fair, and the Alameda County Fair all petitioned for that change to take effect for their upcoming race meets. In order to make that change happen, the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) entered into Lasix-reduction agreements with all four of those venues to satisfy the required horsemen’s group approval as per CHRB Rule 1581, and the California Authority of Racing Fairs similarly gave its permission for the two fairs venues. “This is substantially the same agreement that we reached with the Stronach Group…with one exception: that this does not address, for now, post-2019 Lasix [usage]. This is for this particular race meet agreement, and we support it,” said Greg Avioli, president and chief executive officer for the TOC, when speaking during the agenda item pertaining to Los Alamitos. “Our medication reforms are going to match exactly what’s currently in place at Santa Anita,” said Tom Robbins, DMTC’s executive vice president for racing and industry relations. Each of the four Lasix-related measures passed by unanimous voice vote. Del Mar’s summer meet dates request also gained CHRB approval on Thursday, and track executives outlined several items of interest to horsemen. “Regarding training, as we started a couple of years ago, we’re going to continue with ‘workers only’ for the first 10 minutes after the first two renovation breaks. We’re also going to continue with our program of keeping our numbers down to a manageable number of horses stabled at Del Mar,” said Robbins. “For the first time ever, on [GI] Pacific Classic Day, we’re going to offer five stakes races,” said David Jerkens, the DMTC racing secretary, adding that “we’re happy to report a purse increase across the board at all levels for the upcoming summer meet.” Although the actionable agenda items unfolded swiftly and with little drama, just like at the previous CHRB meeting in April, the earlier public commentary part of the meeting was once again dominated by anti-racing activists who spoke out against the sport and/or called for an outright ban on horse racing. On several occasions during 72 sometimes-volatile minutes of public comments, Winner had to impose order upon anti-racing speakers by asking them to refrain from personal attacks on individual CHRB commissioners. Winner also had to verbally warn jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. after the journeyman California rider used a portion of his allotted three minutes of commentary to make disparaging remarks about women, including one sexism-charged statement likening the anti-racing protesters to female Thoroughbreds that he rides in races. “Fillies, they liked to be loved, they like to be talked to very sweet. I’m sure you like that, right you women?” Arroyo asked sarcastically, drawing audible gasps from the audience. “Because all I see here is a bunch of single women criticizing what we do here.” Later in the meeting, just prior to adjournment, Winner announced there would be a policy change for future CHRB meetings aimed at keeping public commentary more concise and civil. “Going forward, the public comment period will be held as the last item on the agenda [instead of the fourth], and the reason is so that people can have the opportunity to hear what has happened during the course of the meeting, so that when they make their public comments they can tale that into consideration,” Winner said. “This is what’s done at most legislative hearings and other boards, and we think it’s appropriate to do it here.” The post CHRB Extends Lasix Reduction to Other Tracks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), off since a disappointing sixth-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, is slated to make his 5-year-old debut in the GII True North S. June 7 as part of the GI Belmont S. Racing Festival. Owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, Catalina Cruiser won his first four career starts in ultra-impressive fashion, including the GII Pat O’Brien S. last summer at Del Mar. “He’s coming back really well,” Sadler said. “There’s nothing for him at Santa Anita that fits in the schedule and he had a great work last week. He’s probably one of the best looking horses in training right now, so hopefully we go over there and make a good showing.” The post Catalina Cruiser to Return in True North appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ellis Park will offer the highest purses in the track’s 97-year history at its 2019 summer race meet, including a record nine stakes that could be worth at least $100,000 each. Purse money and supplements for Kentucky-bred horses are projected to average $330,000 a day at the 29-date meet that runs June 30 through Labor Day. With the KTDF bump, the GIII Groupie Doll S. for fillies and mares Aug. 11 will be worth $125,000. Five turf stakes will be held Aug. 4 on the second annual Kentucky Downs Preview Day, largely funded with purse money transferred from Kentucky Downs to Ellis Park in an agreement with the Kentucky division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “We have made purse increases across the board, including our maiden races going up from $42,000 to $50,000 for Kentucky-breds, which are the vast majority of our horses,” said racing secretary Dan Bork. “We understand that to keep horse owners in the game, they have to have at least a shot to make money or break even, whether they have stakes horses or those racing at the bottom level. Kentucky horse racing is back on an upward trajectory, and Ellis Park is an important cog.” The post Ellis Park Offering Record Purses at 2019 Summer Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board approved its support of SB 469, a bill that would allow the CHRB to immediately suspend a license to conduct a race meeting if needed to protect equine health and welfare, at its May 23 meeting at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

In this ongoing series in the TDN, current Godolphin Flying Start trainees catch up with the program’s graduates. Today Samantha Cripps sits down with Brianne Sharp, Market Research Coordinator at Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. SC: How did you get into horseracing? BS: My interest in racing was first sparked when I was 16. My mom and I were channel surfing one day and we happened upon the 2003 Belmont Stakes. I hadn’t seen a horse race before and had never been particularly interested in horses. Funny Cide was going for the Triple Crown. The television coverage was fantastic. It really drew me in. We cheered for Funny Cide to win. Even though he got beat, I had experienced the thrill of racing and I was hooked. From that day on, I read everything I could to learn about horse racing. That summer there was a show on CBS every Saturday called the “NTRA Summer Racing Tour,” showing the major races from across the country. I would look forward to it all week. By the time the Breeders’ Cup rolled around, I knew all the horses and I was a die-hard fan. The next year I followed Smarty Jones and he became my all-time favorite horse. So when he retired, I asked my parents if we could take a summer vacation to Kentucky to meet him at Three Chimneys. We drove from Arkansas to Lexington and spent a week visiting all the farms and seeing horses that I had only read about or watched on television. It was a surreal experience. I knew after that week that one day I wanted to move here and be a part of this industry. At one of the farms, I picked up a brochure for the Kentucky Equine Management Internship, which sounded incredible. I decided to pursue it after college to try to get my foot in the door. I eventually learned about the Godolphin Flying Start program, and I made that my long-term goal. SC: What is your role at Godolphin? BS: I am the Market Research Coordinator for the stallion department at Jonabell Farm. The majority of what I do is research and data analysis, keeping track of Darley stallions’ progeny, finding facts and statistics to use in our stallion marketing, and helping with social media. I have always loved statistics and working with data, so being able to combine that with horseracing is the perfect job for me. Over the past couple of years I’ve developed more of an interest in computer science and writing code, which has helped me a lot in doing research. I also give tours here at Jonabell, which I really enjoy, and I’ve recently joined the Horse Country Board. SC: Is it important to get new fans for the industry? How do you feel we can do this? BS: To attract new fans, we have to evolve and improve our public image going forward. In my opinion, the number one public perception issue is the whip. I think eventually, we’re going to have to stop using it. It’s inevitable, and we can either wait until we are forced into it, or we can be proactive about it. I’ve talked to many people who are turned off by whipping and find it hard to watch horseracing because of it. It’s very hard to convince people that these horses love to run; their next question is always “then why do you have to whip them?” I think phasing out whipping would bring a huge amount of positive press to the industry, which is something we desperately need right now. SC: How do you think Horse County is helping get new people involved? BS: As someone who came to Kentucky many times as a tourist before working here, I am very passionate about tourism and welcoming visitors. Several farms, including Jonabell, have been doing tours for years, but we never promoted it. It wasn’t even on our website. You had to call the farm directly and ask for a tour, so very few people knew about it. Horse Country is now doing the work of promoting equine tourism in Kentucky and getting the word out to people that you can visit the horse farms. The Bourbon Trail had 1.4 million visitors last year, so there are huge numbers of tourists coming to the area. We just need to find a way to make them aware that they can also visit a horse farm while they’re here. If we can get them onto the farm, we can educate them about our industry, show them how well the horses are cared for, and answer the questions they have about welfare, safety, aftercare, etc. We can convert people and create new fans through tours. We just need to get them here. SC: Why should someone apply for Godolphin Flying Start? BS: There are so many reasons. You get to meet and have lectures from the best people in the business. And you learn so much from the other people in your group. Spending two years with 11 other people who share a similar passion but have such varied backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise is one of the best parts of the course. Not only do you make lifelong friends, you also have a network of people all over the world. The program really opens your eyes. You come out of the program with a good overall understanding of how the industry works around the world. There is nothing else like it. SC: What is your educational background? BS: I did the evening MBA program at the University of Kentucky. It was a great experience and I’d highly recommend it. It gave me a general understanding of the various business disciplines with classes in marketing, finance, accounting, strategy, etc. I found the statistics and IT classes particularly useful for my current role. I was one of only two people from the horse industry among the 40+ students in my program, so it was also great to spend time with and learn from the other students from so many different industries. SC: What is your biggest piece of advice for someone who is applying for the Godolphin Flying Start? BS: Make sure you have a passion for the industry first. If you don’t have a passion, it’s not going to be the right fit for you. If you have the passion, my advice is to read every book you can get your hands on. When people ask me for advice on how to prepare to apply for Flying Start, I always send them a reading list of books and articles. You can learn so much about the industry–racing, breeding, pedigrees, history, funding, economics. The more you learn, the better prepared you’ll be. Samantha Cripps is a Michigan native with a Certificate in Horse Management from Michigan State University. Before the GFS program, she was a veterinary technician for Dr. Benjamin Stivers at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. The post Flying Start Q & A With Brianne Sharp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The California Horse Racing Board approved its support of SB 469, a bill that would allow the CHRB to immediately suspend a license to conduct a race meeting if needed to protect equine health and welfare, at its May 23 meeting at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Officials at Colonial Downs have announced a $1.8-million stakes program for the track’s first meeting since 2013, scheduled for Aug. 7 through Sept. 7. Through an investment from the Colonial Downs Group, the track will offer daily average purse money of at least $500,000, which will comprise an approximate $7.5 million in total purse money allocated towards the season. “As a native Virginian, it is exciting to be part of a strong team effort bringing racing back to Colonial Downs,” said Jill Byrne, former on-track and on-camera personality who serves as Colonial Downs’ Vice President of Racing Operations. “We are dedicated to the horse racing industry and making a positive impact in all aspects of it. We’ve received so much interest and support from horsemen, patrons, media and industry leaders and look forward to providing a fantastic racing experience for everyone.” The stakes schedule is highlighted by the GIII Virginia Derby, a $250,000 event at nine furlongs on the turf and is the anchor of an Aug. 31 program that also features the $150,000 Virginia Oaks (Listed) and a pair of added-money heats for 2-year-old males and fillies. The Colonial barn area is slated to open July 25 and the condition book and stall application are available at www.colonialdowns.com. “We are excited to welcome back horsemen to race at Colonial Downs with a highly competitive daily purse structure and comprehensive stakes schedule,” said Colonial Downs Racing Secretary Allison De Luca. “We offer a strong turf racing program with the widest grass course in the country that holds up extremely well to all weather conditions along with our 1 1/4-mile main track allowing us to provide a broad base of race options.” The post VA Derby Highlights Colonial Stakes Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Grech & Parkin dispersal added more than a sprinkle of stardust to the final day of the Goff UK Spring HIT/P2P Sale accounting for seven of the top ten lots and a new record price for a National Hunt horse in training of £620,000. That sum, which was also the highest ever for a horse at Doncaster, was paid for the 5-year-old winning point-to-pointer Interconnected (Fr) (Network (Ger}) (lot 716), who will race for Darren Yates from the stable of Philip Kirby. “It’s a historic day for the sales at Doncaster,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “The company has been going since 1962 and I’ve been working here since 1978 as a bid-spotter. I’ve seen some big days, some wonderful days, but that was just extraordinary.” Darren Yates was in the news earlier this spring at the Goffs Aintree Sale when buying Grade 1-winning chaser Don Poli (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}) for £170,000 on the eve of the Grand National, but this was a big leap in commitment to the jump racing ranks in a week in which treble Grand National-winning owner Michael O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud announced his intention to wind down his operation over the coming years, and indeed when another major partnership, Grech & Parkin, is bowing out for the time being. Yates said, “I’m very happy with the horse. I didn’t expect him to make that but he’s the one we really wanted. For me he’s got Gold Cup written all over him.” From the same dispersal, David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock went to £235,000 to secure the top-priced mare of the sale, lot 709, Lust For Glory (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}). The 6-year-old has won two bumpers and two hurdle races for Nicky Henderson. Henry de Bromhead’s string of young National Hunt mares includes the exciting Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) and Sinoria (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and the Irish trainer will also take charge of recent listed mares’ chase winner Kupatana (Ire) (Westerner {GB}) after Peter Molony of Rathmore Stud bought lot 708 for £210,000. At the conclusion of the two-day horses-in-training sale, which followed a day of stores, the team at Goffs UK was delighted with a strong set of results. Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams said, “Today has been an historic day for Goffs UK and it’s wonderful we have been able to achieve our highest price in the company’s history, and the highest-ever price for a National Hunt horse at public auction. “Yesterday’s point-to-point session was a great success and continued what has been a fantastic year for Goffs NH sales. We are in debt to our vendors, and in particular Mike Grech and Stuart Parkin, who have supported us with some outstanding horses which has led to the sale grounds being among the busiest they have ever been for the last three days. “We would like to wish our buyers all the very best with their stores, pointers and horses-in-training. We have a lot to look forward to as these horses hit the track and, of course, the Doncaster August Sale which will offer the remaining ten horses in the Grech & Parkin Dispersal.” At the fall of hammer for the two-day sale, 85% of the horses in training offered sold for an average of £22,700 (+13%) and median of £10,000 (-17%). The aggregate was boosted by 45% to £9,143,400. The post Record-breaking Day At Goffs UK appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Led by the $250,000 Virginia Derby (G3), Colonial Downs today announced its 2019 stakes schedule for the 15-day race meeting, Aug. 8-Sept. 7, which will include $1.8 million in stakes purses as flat racing returns to Virginia. View the full article

Ellis Park will offer the highest purses in the track's 97-year history at its 2019 summer race meet, including a record nine stakes that could be worth at least $100,000 each. View the full article

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-BEL, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 5fT, post time: 1:30 p.m. ET KARAK (Karakontie {Jpn}) looks to become the first winner for freshman sire and GI Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Karakontie when she makes her debut against the boys in the grassy opener at Belmont Saturday. The Wesley Ward-trained filly commanded a $375,000 price tag after blitzing an eighth in :9 4/5 at the OBS March Sale. Owned by Breeze Easy LLC, she is a half-sister to stakes winner Aqua Frio (Uncle Mo). “She’s a very beautiful filly,” Ward said. “She’s by a first-year sire with a great pedigree and she shows an affinity for grass. The owners were successful last year with [unbeaten G2 Norfolk S. heroine and $200,000 OBSMAR purchase] Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) and we’re just looking to duplicate that purchase at the sale.” Ward will also be represented by fellow first-time starter No Nay Maybe (Ire) (No Nay Never). The gelding is out of the Group 3-placed mare Al Ihsas (Ire) (Danehill) and comes from the family of group stakes winners Windsor Palace (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Battle of Marengo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Rabatash (Johannesburg). TJCIS PPs 5th-GP, $65k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, post time: 2:49 p.m. ET CLASSIC GIRL (Candy Ride {Arg}) lines up for her career debut Saturday sharing the same John Oxley/Mark Casse connection as her champion 2-year-old half-brother and 2016 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). Classic Girl retrieved a final bid of $775,000 at the 2018 FTSAUG Sale. Her 4-year-old half-brother Exclamation Point (Concord Point) recently finished second in the Oaklawn Mile S. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday’s Racing Insights: Classic Empire Half-Sis Debuts at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Charitable Impact Group (CIG) will host the second annual ‘Run For Glory’ Belmont S. handicapping event Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Garden City, NY. The event will benefit Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) and the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) will be the co-beneficiaries. NBC’s Kenny Rice and Donna Barton Brothers will emcee the event which will also feature expert handicappers, including NBC racing analyst Randy Moss. Also expected to be in attendance are jockeys John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Jose Ortiz and Triple Crown-winning jockey Jean Cruguet. Trainer Todd Pletcher will also share his insights. Tickets can be obtained at www.cigevents.org. The post Second Annual ‘Run For Glory’ to Benefit Thoroughbred Charities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After 13 straight starts on turf in which he picked up some stakes placings but failed to earn a trip to the winner's circle, a move to dirt in his previous start saw Hronis Racing's Cistron deliver the top effort of his career. View the full article

Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge stable is in a rich vein of form at present and so it was perhaps inevitable that Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) would provide a 10th renewal for the yard in Sandown’s G3 Matchbook Brigadier Gerard S. on Thursday. Trying this 10-furlong trip for the first time after a comeback third in the Apr. 26 G2 Sandown Mile, Cheveley Park Stud’s homebred was fractious at times in the preliminaries and free to post but settled just enough in the expert hands of Ryan Moore in the race. Keeping tabs on the 11-8 market-leader Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) as they tracked the pace set by Elwazir (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the 9-4 second favourite allowed his chief rival first run but brushed him aside with a furlong remaining en route to an impressive 3 3/4-length success in a smart time. Matterhorn had three lengths to spare over the well-regarded third-placed Danceteria (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), lending the form a solid look not too far shy of Group 1 standard. 1–REGAL REALITY (GB), 126, c, 4, by Intello (Ger) 1st Dam: Regal Realm (GB) (MGSW-Eng, $116,452), by Medicean (GB) 2nd Dam: Regal Riband (GB), by Fantastic Light 3rd Dam: Regal Rose (GB), by Danehill O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-3, £129,774. The post Intello Colt Swoops For Brigadier Gerard Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 10-furlong Charles Whittingham Stakes drew a field of seven older horses but no obvious standouts for the Santa Anita turf test to kick off the holiday weekend. View the full article

Turf veterans Eddie Haskell and Brandothebartender appear to have an edge in turf-sprint experience heading into the May 25 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, the latter of which also plays host to the G1 Tokyo Yushun, the world’s most valuable Derby: Saturday, May 25, 2019 11th-KYO, ¥72,000,000 ($657k), Open Class, 3yo, 1200mT MARIA’S HEART (f, 3, Shanghai Bobby–Maria’s Dance, by Maria’s Mon) debuted on dirt, defeating champion Good Magic (Curlin)’s half-brother Best Magic (Speightstown) Jan. 14, and most recently switched to the turf to remain unbeaten Apr. 13 (video, gate 5). Led out unsold at Keeneland September ($52K) and at OBS October ($42K) in 2017, the May foal fetched $75K as an OBSAPR breezer the following spring. Maria’s Heart is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GISW Roadster (Quality Road) and to GISW Ascend (Candy Ride {Arg}). The further female family includes GISW Cat Moves (Tale of the Cat) and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Hootenanny (Quality Road). B-Sally Andersen (FL) Sunday, May 26, 2019 5th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($125k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m AVANCE (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Above Heaven, by Mr. Greeley) graduated at first asking in January (see below, gate 9) before finishing a well-beaten second to arguably Japan’s best 3-year-old dirt horse, the undefeated Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), next time out. Bought back on bids of $145K at FTSAUG and at OBSAPR, the bay colt is out of an unraced daughter of 2007 GI Alabama S. winner Lady Joanne (Orientate), a half-sister to GI Preakness S. hero Shackleford (Forestry), MGSWs Baghdaria (Royal Academy) and Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex) and SW & MGSP Stephanoatsee (A.P. Indy). B-Dr Masatake Iida (KY) 6th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($125k), Allowance, 3yo, 1200mT TOP SOLISTE (f, 3, War Front–Moth {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) finished second in four of her first six trips to the post but finally got over the hump last time out, overcoming a double-digit gate to post a head victory at Fukushima Apr. 13 (see below, gate 14). Produced by Moth, third to Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) and Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in the 2013 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, the $650K KEESEP yearling is bred on the same cross responsible for the likes of top-level scorers Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag. B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY) The post Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: May 25 & 26, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Many of the German Group races get plundered by English raiders with Godolphin taking two of the seven Group 1 races last season. That being said there were some stand-out performances from home-based horses in 2018. The Group action has begun already this season and bearing that in mind I have taken a look at […] The post Best Racehorses In Germany – 2018 appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. 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 the top-priced colt from this year’s Craven sale. 2.45 Haydock, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 6fT VISIBLE CHARM (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the latest big-money Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up graduate to hit the track and was the second highest lot behind stablemate Divine Spirit (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and the top-priced colt at 575,000gns. Charlie Appleby introduces the half-brother to the GI Canadian International hero Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a field that includes Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}), a Roger Varian-trained half-brother to Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 3.55 Haydock, Novice, £7,500, 2yo, f, 6f 212yT BYZANTIA (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) is the first progeny by the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning sire to race, aptly in the colours of her breeder Anthony Oppenheimer for the John Gosden stable. Out of a speedy listed scorer, the January-foaled bay meets Godolphin’s Sacred Dance (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a 650,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate who is a half-sister to the dual listed-winning and multiple group-placed Awesometank (GB) (Intense Focus). 4.45 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 6fT PRECIOUS MOMENTS (IRE) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate who is a half-sister to the G2 Curragh Cup winner Sword Fighter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and is the pick of Ryan Moore over two other Ballydoyle stablemates. This is the race that the stable won with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) last year and fellow newcomer Love Bracelet (War Front) is related to that filly, being out of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). The post Observations: May 24, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Top Louisiana-breds will be in the spotlight at Evangeline Downs May 25 for Louisiana Legends Night. View the full article

American Anthem (Bodemeister) makes his 2019 stakes bow in Saturday’s GII Triple Blend S. The Bob Baffert trainee scored two of his last three stakes victories at Santa Anita, including a narrow win in last summer’s GII San Carlos S. in which he earned a sparkling 105 Beyer Speed Figure. Following that huge effort, the WinStar Farm and China Horse Club colorbearer checked in sixth in the GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar July 28 before being benched for the next 10 months. He made his return to the races with an encouraging second-place finish in a one mile optional claimer on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard. An intriguing prospect contesting his first stakes attempt is Doubledown Stable’s The Hardest Way (Uncle Mo). The 5-year-old scorched six furlongs in 1:09.63 for trainer Ron Ellis in an optional claimer at Keeneland Apr. 6, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103. In that race, the bay was making his first start in 13 months after being privately purchased from Five Hellions Farm and William Peel III. Cistron (The Factor) enters off an emphatic score in Santa Anita’s GII Kona Gold S. Apr. 20. The John Sadler-trained bay had made 13 straight starts on the turf prior to that 5 1/4-length victory. The post American Anthem a Strong Contender in Triple Bend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article