Wandering Eyes

Multiple Grade I winner Diversify (Bellamy Road) returned to the worktab for the first time since last September with a three-furlong move in :37.00 (4/41) Saturday over the Belmont training track. Owned by Ralph and Lauren Evans, Diversify won the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. and 2018 GI Whitney S. for late trainer Rick Violette. Saturday was the 6-year-old gelding’s first work for new trainer Jonathan Thomas. “I was really surprised,” said Thomas. “He’s a quiet horse galloping in the morning and I thought he’d maybe need a little slow three-eighths [work] and he ended up breezing in :37, very well on the muscle. He came back to the barn and cooled out quickly. I thought maybe we were off schedule just because it took us a while to get him going. But from what I saw today, I think we’re, if not on schedule, maybe even head of schedule.” Violette’s longtime assistant Melissa Cohen recently joined Thomas’s barn to head his New York division. “Rick did a tremendous job with this horse and we’re the beneficiaries of Rick and Melissa’s hard work,” Thomas said. “We’re just honored to have him and hopefully we can continue his good work.” Also working for the Thomas barn Saturday was last year’s GI Travers S. winner Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), who went five furlongs in 1:02.19 (1/5) over the inner turf course and in company with stakes winner Osare (Medaglia d’Oro). Catholic Boy is possible for Saturday’s GII Dixie S. at Pimlico. “The Dixie is possibly a soft target,” Thomas said. “We’re going to talk to the owners and our other partners about some other options. We could, off of that, from what I saw today possibly be ready for the Dixie. We’ll know in a couple of days. We’d love to target races like the GII Suburban and even the GI Whitney or GI Woodward would be massive targets. The fact that he’s been productive as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old in Saratoga, to do something nice up there this summer would be great.” Osare, a half-sister to champion Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song), may make her first start since winning the Dueling Grounds Oaks last September in the May 18 Searching S. at Pimlico. “I was really pleased with her,” said Thomas. “They’re both targeting the same weekend and both coming off of big breaks. They coincided from a training schedule perspective. While I thought he was maybe getting the better of her on the dirt the past two weeks, I thought she more than held her own on the turf today. She breezed really well.” Thomas continued, “There’s the Searching at Pimlico going a mile and a half and there’s an allowance race here at Belmont on Sunday. We’ll look at both spots and see which makes the most sense and then target, we’ll see what happens.” The post Diversify Back on Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features the latest progeny of the great mare Goldikova. 2.25 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT DARALIMI (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) bids to extend a purple patch for His Highness The Aga Khan and strike at the first time of asking over the trip at which his dam Daryaba (Ire) (Night Shift) captured the 1999 G1 Prix de Diane. Mikel Delzangles introduces the half-brother to the 2009 G1 Hong Kong Vase winner and Group 1 producer Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk) in an all-male encounter which also includes another son of a Diane heroine in Le Baryton (Fr) (Australia {GB}). Out of the 2002 winner of that Chantilly Classic, Bright Sky (Ire) (Wolfhound), he carries Robert Ehrnrooth’s colours for the Pascal Bary stable. 3.00 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT GOLDIKA (IRE) (Intello {Ger}) is the latest progeny out of the brilliant Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) who unsurprisingly represents the Freddy Head stable. By the Wertheimers’ G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero who stands at Cheveley Park Stud, she is also a half-sister to the 2017 G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Terrakova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). In an intriguing affair, she encounters several bluebloods including Haras de la Perelle’s Restless (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), an Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained half-sister to the GI E. P. Taylor S. winner Reggane (GB) (Red Ransom). 3.35 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, f, 8fT FOUNT (GB) (Frankel {GB}) did her illustrious parents proud with a winning debut at Chantilly last month and is kept in light company for now by Andre Fabre. Khalid Abdullah’s daughter of the high-class Ventura (Chester House) is up against another potentially smart customer in the LNJ Foxwoods-owned €450,000 Arqana August graduate Aviatress (Ire) (Shamardal), an Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained half-sister to the graded-stakes performers Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Marbre Rose (Ire) (Smart Strike) who beat the subsequent listed winner Tifosa (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) on her sole start at Chantilly in November. The post Observations: May 13, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm’s Global Campaign (Curlin) exited his win in Saturday’s GIII Peter Pan S. in fine shape and possibilities for his next start include the June 8 GI Belmont S., the June 22 GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown and the July 6 GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont. “He’s a very talented horse and it was good to see him get that behind him,” Stanley Hough said of the ‘TDN Rising Star.’ “Everything is on the table. I wouldn’t say which spot necessarily he should go. It could be the Belmont or the Dwyer or the Ohio Derby. There’s a lot of options right now. He’ll go back to Churchill, he’ll leave [Monday] and get there Tuesday, and we’ll take it a day at a time. Obviously, the Belmont would be a great thrill, I just can’t say we’re pointing towards that way.” Tracy Farmer’s Sir Winston (Awesome Again), a late-closing runner-up in the Peter Pan, will now target the Belmont S. “He’s a unique horse,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He doesn’t have a whole lot of speed and he’s kind of at the mercy of everyone else in the race, but he’ll run all day.” The post Connections Mull Options for Global Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Robert Baker and William Mack’s Market King (Into Mischief) has been added to the list of contenders for Saturday’s GI Preakness S. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the bay colt was third behind Omaha Beach (War Front) and Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Mar. 16 GII Rebel S. and was most recently 11th in the Apr. 6 GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. The decision to target the Preakness came after Market King worked five furlongs at Churchill Downs Saturday in 1:00.40 (3/31). “He’s training excellent,” Lukas said. The addition of Market King pushes the expected Preakness field to 12 horses, the largest field since 14 competed in 2011. He joins previously confirmed Preakness contenders: Alwaysmining (Stay Thirsty), Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy), Bodexpress (Bodemeister), Bourbon War (Tapit), Improbable (City Zip), Laughing Fox (Union Rags), Owendale (Into Mischief), Signalman (General Quarters), War of Will (War Front), Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) and Warrior’s Charge (Munnings). The post Market King Joins Preakness Fray appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Maryland Jockey Club's racing office confirmed May 12 that Market King, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, will be entered in the 144th $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. View the full article

Regardless of whether or not you believe Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) should have been disqualified from the GI Kentucky Derby, how long did it take before you realized the controversy had “lawsuit” stamped all over it, with the potential to be tied up in the courts for years to come? For me, it was the 15-minute mark of the prolonged 22-minute foul claim adjudication. Considering what was at stake and that the entire spectacle was unfolding live on national TV, that was the tipping point when it dawned on me that it didn’t matter which side lost the Churchill Downs stewards’ decision–either way, litigation was likely to follow. Gary West, who co-owns Maximum Security with his wife, Mary, initially took the high road in describing the post-race sting of his Derby DQ. In particular, when I read that West told Daily Racing Form, “We’ll get up tomorrow morning, the sun will come up, and everything will be fine,” I thought such level-headed commentary was likely to propel him to a Sportsman of the Year award for grace and humility in the face an emotionally painful defeat. More importantly, West’s diplomacy had the potential to spare our industry yet another high-profile crisis in a year that has already been overburdened by them. But by the time the sun did rise May 5, West apparently changed his mind. The day after the Derby, West began talking about challenging the decision in court, and he appeared on a national TV show first thing Monday morning to vent his displeasure with the DQ. A Monday appeal to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) was rejected by the agency almost immediately, on the grounds that stewards’ decisions about in-race fouls are “final and not subject to appeal.” As West and his attorneys mulled a course of action–no lawsuit has been filed as of deadline for this column–the various press interviews he gave yielded a motley assortment of circumstantial excuses that pinned blame for the far-turn crowding everywhere but on Maximum Security and jockey Luis Saez. West said on the “Today Show” that the “greedy organization” known as Churchill Downs was partly at fault for allowing 20 horses to enter the Derby, which allegedly contributed to the chaos. Puddles and depressions on the wet racing surface also reportedly played a role. West later told The Blood-Horse he would “bet a million dollars” that what appears to be a photographer standing near the quarter pole was “an unauthorized person” who could have spooked the Derby field as it charged for home. For good measure, why not blame an apparent victim too? By the end of last week, West had accomplished this by claiming it was War of Will (War Front) who actually hit Maximum Security multiple times from behind. This alleged recklessness, West said, triggered the chain-reaction bumping involving Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) and, to a lesser degree, winner-by-DQ Country House (Lookin At Lucky). Rival jockeys and trainers began to verbally hit back at West’s assertions, largely denying his claims. West told the Paulick Report he had a frame-by-frame video of the Derby that would provide “indisputable evidence” to exonerate his horse. And in keeping with the technological spirit of the times, jockey Saez allegedly baited the Churchill stewards with a critical post-DQ Twitter comment, then deleted it from his account. Racing has always yearned for increased mainstream exposure. This is about as lowest-common-denominator as it gets in the American news cycle. The threat of a federal lawsuit? Check. Public officials (KHRC stewards) who refuse to explain their actions in detail? Check. Inflammatory TV talk show sound bites? Check. Victim-blaming? Check. Social media sniping? Check. The only sensational item missing right now is an elaborate conspiracy theory, but it’s too early in the process for that. Juicy conspiracies tend to evolve and mutate over time–give it a few years. And yes, “years” is the operative term. When Peter Fuller, the owner of Dancer’s Image, sued (unsuccessfully) over the disputed DQ of his horse from the 1968 Derby because of a post-race drug positive, the case was batted about in the courts until 1973. Maybe the spate of recent controversies in the sport has dulled our senses. But let’s not forget that it’s now been back-to-back Triple Crown races in which a horse owned by West has been involved some sort of in-race brouhaha. Last June, with the Triple Crown on the line in the GI Belmont S., the West-owned long shot Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway), an uncoupled stablemate of Justify (Scat Daddy), was sent for speed while taken very wide into the first turn before abruptly cutting down to secure a position to the outside of Justify’s flank. It appeared to some observers that Restoring Hope was acting as a “wing man” or “blocker” to escort the on-the-lead Justify. Rival horse owner Mike Repole implored the New York Racing Association (NYRA) stewards to investigate possible jockeys’ collusion based on the rider of his own horse, Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy), not following instructions to vie for the lead in conjunction with Restoring Hope acting more like “an offensive lineman than a racehorse trying to win the Belmont.” The NYRA stewards never launched an investigation, and no jockeys or horses from that Belmont S. were sanctioned for race-riding violations (West, at the time, expressed dismay with Restoring Hope’s tactics, and said he had “no earthly idea” what jockey Florent Geroux was attempting with such an unorthodox strategy). But this is the key point that shouldn’t get lost in the shuffle: The NYRA stewards faced criticism for their non-investigation in the 2018 Belmont S. on the basis that they officiated a Triple Crown race differently than, say, an ordinary Thursday winter race at Aqueduct. And now, here we are nearly a year later, and the juxtaposition is that the Churchill stewards are themselves drawing criticism because they did, in fact, make a perceived “by the book” DQ when they took down Maximum Security’s number. In their post-race statement, stewards Barbara Borden, Butch Becraft and Tyler Picklesimer referred to their unprecedented Derby decision as being a product of “our typical procedure.” So the question is, what do we want from stewards who adjudicate important American races? Flexibility in making decisions based on the gravity of the situation? Or zero-tolerance standardization that makes no distinction between a Triple Crown race and a nondescript maiden-claimer? Some legal sports bookmakers who took bets on the Derby made an attempt to please disgruntled customers by either refunding bets on Maximum Security as a “push,” or paying off on his first-across-the-line status as if he had been the official winner. Even TwinSpires, Churchill Downs’ own online wagering platform, gave $10 win wager refunds as part of its weekly “Bad Luck Board” promotion that attempts to console players for tough beats. And in anticipation of the looming legal court battle, the website Sports Betting Dime has reported that one bet-taker has posted proposition odds on “Will Maximum Security win his appeal and be declared Kentucky Derby champion?” That money line has “No” as the overwhelming favorite (bet $1,200 to win $100), with “Yes” the decided underdog (bet $100 to win $600). Whichever side you’re inclined to bet in the Derby lawsuit, be prepared for it to take a good long while before that wager gets inked in the history books as official. The post The Week in Review: Derby Litigation Circus Could be a Long Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“There are a lot of horses there”, commented Aidan O’Brien in his typically understated way in reference to Ballydoyle’s Epsom Derby hand after the relatively easy G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. success of Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) at Leopardstown on Sunday. Uncovering which of the yard’s plethora of contenders for the blue riband will come out on top looked difficult before this, but now that the impressive Apr. 6 G3 Ballysax S. scorer has produced another convincing prep performance it is becoming a fascinating conundrum. Held up towards the rear early by Donnacha O’Brien as the stable’s Blenheim Palace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) provided a distant bullseye, the 2-5 favourite required his customary nudging three out but once in the straight with dead aim on his pacemakers began to come into his own. Comfortably on top from a furlong down, the bay lowered his head and drove to the line for a 2 1/2-length success over Blenheim Palace in a manner that suggests Epsom’s mile and a half will bring out the best in him. “We’re delighted with him–he has a lazy way of racing, but is able to make up ground very well and Donnacha was very happy he was going to get there,” the Ballydoyle handler said after greeting the colt who maintained his 100% record in Britain and Ireland’s Derby trials in 2019. “He went to the line very well and the plan in the spring was always these three races for him, the two trials and then Epsom. He is out of a fast mare and has a lot more speed than you’d think. It’s more laziness than anything that makes you think he needs much further, but we hope he’ll get a mile and a half.” Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland DERRINSTOWN STUD DERBY TRIAL S.-G3, €100,000, Leopardstown, 5-12, 3yo, 10fT, 2:09.18, g/y. 1–BROOME (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Australia (GB) 1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB) 2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer 3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr) (€120,000 RNA Ylg ’17 GOFOR; 150,000gns Ylg ’17 TATDEY). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Donnacha O’Brien. €59,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 7-3-2-0, $259,337. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Blenheim Palace (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Meow (Ire), by Storm Cat. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Liberty Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €20,000. 3–Sovereign (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Devoted To You (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €10,000. Margins: 2HF, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 33.00, 7.00. Also Ran: Rakan (GB), Buckhurst (Ire), Guaranteed (Ire), Pythion (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Australia’s Broome Adds To Ballydoyle Epsom Assault appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin’s royal blue was the colour at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, with the unbeaten filly Castle Lady (Ire) (Shamardal) adding to the earlier Classic success of Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) when shading the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Not much had been gleaned from her decisive wins on Chantilly’s Polytrack Mar. 14 and the G3 Prix de la Grotte over this track and trip a month later other than the fact that she possessed class. That was confirmed here, along with an as-yet undiscovered tenacity as this came down to a bare-knuckled fight to the line. Doing too much trapped wide without cover for at least the first three furlongs, the 5-2 favourite was held together by Mickael Barzalona and had enough in reserve to kick to the lead just before the furlong marker. Set upon by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Commes (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) soon after, the homebred rallied gamely to hang on by a nose, with the British runner East (GB) (Frankel {GB}) putting up a taking G1 Prix de Diane trial 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “She’s a lovely filly, but still lacks experience as this was only her third run,” commented trainer Henri-Alex Pantall, who was gaining a deserved slice of the action as one of Sheikh Mohammed’s long-serving faithful. “I feel she won more safely than the margin suggests. I think she idled a bit in front because of that lack of experience and she hadn’t had one take her on before now. I was already thinking of this before the Prix de la Grotte and while I was not worried about the ground, I was more maybe about the trip which is her limit. She’s not in the Diane and anyway I don’t think she’ll stay that trip but she is entered at Royal Ascot in the [June 21 G1] Coronation S., so that’s most probably where she will go next.” Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France THE EMIRATES POULE D’ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-12, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:40.91, hy. 1–CASTLE LADY (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Shamardal 1st Dam: Windsor County, by Elusive Quality 2nd Dam: Ascutney, by Lord At War (Arg) 3rd Dam: Right Word, by Verbatim 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Henri-Alex Pantall; J-Mickael Barzalona. €285,700. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €338,200. *1/2 to Top Score (GB) (Hard Spun), SW-UAE, SP-Eng & Tur, $422,848. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Commes (Fr), 126, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Leaupartie (Ire), by Stormy River (Fr). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €114,300. 3–East (GB), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Vital Statistics (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (€315,000 2yo ’18 GBMBR). O-East Partners; B-Mitaab Abdullah (GB); T-Kevin Ryan. €57,150. Margins: NO, 1HF, HF. Odds: 2.50, 10.00, 4.10. Also Ran: Imperial Charm (GB), Matematica (Ger), Watch Me (Fr), Rocques (Fr), Coral Beach (Ire), Suphala (Fr), Silva (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post More Classic Joy For the Boys In Blue As Shamardal’s Castle Lady Takes the Pouliches appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Testing conditions at ParisLongchamp on Sunday created by a deluge of rain meant that equine pyrotechnics were unlikely despite the presence of Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains’ hot favourite duly won, but it was more a case of a thankless task being carried out in professional manner as Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s TDN Rising Star delivered a first Classic success for his exhilarating sire. Patiently ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot in a share of fourth on the rail, the imposing bay who was hammered into 1-2 favouritism was sent up the inner as the cutaway came in the straight. Sinking into the ground to a degree as he earned the lead with 250 metres remaining, he nevertheless kept on strongly and willingly to the line to score by a length from the similarly game Wertheimer representative Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal), with the British raider and 28-1 outsider San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) a head away in third. “The ground didn’t help, as he has a beautiful action but he showed courage,” commented Andre Fabre, who was collecting a seventh edition.” On top of his ability and consistency, he’s also a game horse built more for Cheltenham! He’s in all those big races, but the [June 2 G1 Prix du] Jockey Club [at Chantilly] is very tempting. It looks like he’ll stay another quarter of a mile.” Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France THE EMIRATES POULE D’ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-12, 3yo, c, 8fT, 1:38.98, hy. 1–PERSIAN KING (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Kingman (GB) 1st Dam: Pretty Please (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire) 2nd Dam: Plante Rare (Ire), by Giant’s Causeway 3rd Dam: Palmeraie, by Lear Fan 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Godolphin & Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Dayton Investments (Breeding) Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €342,840. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 6-5-1-0, €462,092. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Shaman (Ire), 128, c, 3, Shamardal–Only Green (Ire), by Green Desert. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €137,160. 3–San Donato (Ire), 128, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Boston Rocker (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (500,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Roger Varian. €68,580. Margins: 1, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 6.40, 28.00. Also Ran: Graignes (Fr), Duke of Hazzard (Fr), Van Beethoven, Anodor (Fr), Senza Limiti (Ire), Munitions, Simply Striking (Fr). Scratched: No Needs Never (Ire), Never No More (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post First Classic Victory For Kingman as Persian King Prevails appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Twenty-year-old apprentice jockey Hazel Schofer will have fond memories of her raceday debut after kicking home a pair of winners on her home track at New Plymouth on Saturday. Indentured to local trainer Allan Sharrock, the softly spoken Schofer produced a confident display aboard Tavi Mac to record her inaugural win at just her first ride on a raceday before bringing up a double when scoring on Collinstreet in the last race of the day. In between times she finished second on class mare Art Dec... View the full article

Ardmore trainer Nick Bishara’s year just keeps on getting better after promising stayer Verry Flash returned to winning form with a victory at Rotorua on the weekend. Four-year-old Zed gelding Verry Flash started the golden run for Bishara and his co-owner and breeder Don Goodwin, when he broke his maiden status at Avondale just over 12 months ago. He went on to win three of his next four starts during the winter to stamp himself as a horse with real potential. Shortly after Verry Flash won hi... View the full article

Trainer Tony Pike had a feeling his class sprinter, The Bostonian, was in the sort of form to run the race of his life in Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). A strong final gallop in the hands of raceday rider Michael Cahill during the week suggested the Jimmy Choux four-year-old was back to his best and so it proved as he defied race favourite Osborne Bulls. “He seems to really come right at this time of the year and Michael said his work on Tuesday was simply sensational,” Pike said.... View the full article

Mr. Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire improved his Belmont Park record May 11 when he rolled home a clear winner in the six-furlong, $150,000 Runhappy Stakes. View the full article

Mr. Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire improved his Belmont Park record May 11 when he rolled home a clear winner in the six-furlong, $150,000 Runhappy Stakes. View the full article

Mr Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire improved his Belmont Park record May 11 when he rolled home a clear winner in the six-furlong, $150,000 Runhappy Stakes. View the full article

Oakview Stable's Lanier entered the $100,000 Hanshin Cup (G3) at Arlington Park May 11 with four runner-up stakes efforts on his resume, and Saturday he finally notched his first stakes score with a clear run down the middle of the all weather track. View the full article

Bruton Street-US’s Scorpiancer (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}) is back. He’s back at the top level, and on Saturday he returned to the winner’s circle after prevailing in the G1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Steeplechase S. for the second time in three years. A world of difference separated those two efforts, though. He all but danced over the finish line in 2017 and was throttled down to win by 16 lengths. On the strength of that victory and a prior win in the G2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap, he was voted the year’s Eclipse Award as steeplechase champion. Scorpiancer sat out the rest of the 2017 season, and all of 2018. His trainer, Jack Fisher, sent him out for the Temple Gwathmey on Apr. 20, and the now 10-year-old was pulled up, a tired horse. Maybe, just maybe, he didn’t have the old fire. On Saturday, however, under muggy and occasionally rainy skies at Nashville’s Percy Warner Park, Scorpiancer proved that the fire still burns brightly. Unlike in 2017, this time Scorpiancer and jockey Sean McDermott had to dig deep down to get past a dead-game Surprising Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) and win by one gritty length. Bruton Street-US’s Moscato (Fr) (Hernando {Fr}), the impressive Temple Gwathmey winner after also missing the 2018 season, finished a hard-closing third, a head behind Wendy Hendriks’ Surprising Soul. Buttonwood Farm’s All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger) finished fourth in a field of six. Scorpiancer ran the Calvin Houghland Iroquois’ three miles–America’s longest hurdle stakes race–in 5:43.80 on turf rated as good. Bruton Street’s third starter, Jaleo (Ger) (New Approach {Ire}), went out at the break, but All the Way Jose wanted the lead more and seized the front end after the first few fences. He led by as many as six lengths as the field passed under the finish line for the first time, with Surprising Soul and jockey Ross Geraghty shadowing him. Scorpiancer and Moscato were at the back as the field turned into the backstretch run the final time, and McDermott moved his mount to the outside while reducing All the Way Jose’s advantage slightly. The serious running began on the uphill run to the stretch. As All the Way Jose began to tire ever so slightly, Surprising Soul gained the lead in the stretch, and Geraghty pressed him over the last two fences. Scorpiancer advanced on the outside, came into close contention two out, and was on even terms with Surprising Soul over the last. They battled for several strides until Scorpiancer edged away from his game opponent and proved that he was back to the top level of jump racing. CALVIN HOUGHLAND IROQUOIS HURDLE S., (NB) $150,000, Percy Warner, 5-11, 4yo/up, 3mT, 5:43.80, gd. 1–SCORPIANCER (IRE), 158, g, 10, Scorpion (Ire)–Janebailey (GB), by Silver Patriarch (Ire). (€26,000 3yo ’12 GOJUN). O-Bruton Street-US; B-Mrs Mary O’Connor (IRE); T-Jack O. Fisher; J-Sean McDermott. $90,000. Lifetime Record: Champion steeplechaser, 20-7-5-4, $545,360. 2–Surprising Soul, 158, g, 7, Perfect Soul (Ire)–Elusive Surprise, by Elusive Quality. ($9,000 4yo ’16 FTKFEB). O-Wendy W. Hendriks; B-Charles Fipke (ON); T-Richard J. Hendriks. $27,000. 3–Moscato (GB), 158, g, 8, Hernando (Fr)–Alba Stella (GB), by Nashwan. (€42,000 Ylg ’12 GOFORB). O-Bruton Street-US; B-Miss K. Rausing (GB); T-Jack O. Fisher. $15,000. Margins: 1, HD, 13HF. Odds: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00. Also Ran: All the Way Jose, Jaleo (Ger), Gibralfaro (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart. The post Scorpiancer Scores Second Calvin Houghland Iroquois Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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