Wandering Eyes

Freshman sire Central Banker was represented by his first black-type stakes winner when his daughter Sassy Agnes took the Sept. 8 Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes. View the full article

The Week in Review, by T.D. Thornton The Horseplayers Association of North America (HANA) confirmed to TDN last week that “aftercare grades” for individual racetracks will soon be a new component of the influential Track Rating System that the non-profit bettors’ advocacy group publishes annually. The move is a recognition that horseplayers are increasingly factoring Thoroughbred welfare into their decisions about whether or not to wager upon certain tracks or circuits. But even though Jeff Platt, the president of HANA, is emphatic in his belief that the Track Rating System needs to use its clout to divert betting money away from the worst welfare offenders by letting horseplayers know which tracks rate “A” or “F” in terms of aftercare efforts, he openly admits he is still struggling with the best way to quantify such a subjective and complex issue. In fact, Platt said he’s been so fixated on researching existing aftercare programs and getting the new ratings right that his summer-long tinkering with a “secret sauce” algorithm to quantify his findings is what has caused HANA to be five months late in releasing its entire slate of ratings for this year. Since 2009, the Tack Rating System has ranked how bettor-friendly tracks are based on analytical data points such as takeout rates, field sizes and handle trends (in all, there are more than two dozen sortable categories; you can view the 2017 list here). Bettors, in growing numbers, are seeking out the HANA ratings to get an idea of how much bang they’re getting for their wagering bucks. In addition, HANA has taken credit for initiating several successful pari-mutuel boycotts in recent years, mostly over high takeout complaints. Perhaps as a result, racetrack executives are increasingly aware of (and sensitive to) where their products stand in the HANA ratings. But if HANA is now going to attempt to navigate the slippery slope of quantifying blame or credit for aftercare, can other gray-area subjects of horseplayer relevance be far behind? I asked Platt if HANA is considering taking on other “integrity issues” like the effectiveness and scope of a state’s drug testing, or the competency and transparency of track stewards and commission-level regulators. And if so, how would HANA go about quantifying them? “Yes, those subjects have come up,” Platt said. “And the best answer that we’ve been able to come up with as to how to incorporate those factors into ratings is to possibly crowdsource them.” Crowdsourcing is a digital-age term for polling a large cross-section of the online public to get a more accurate snapshot of a complex environment while (theoretically) empowering and giving a greater voice to individual participants. Platt said the idea of HANA using something like an internet survey to generate meaningful data is a possible future option. The technology exists, he added, to conduct accurate online surveys that make it difficult (but not impossible) for respondents to stuff the electronic ballot box. “Based on our research and reports we get from people on the ground, we’re probably going to be right 85% of the time,” Platt said of HANA’s existing methodologies. “But there are still times that we’re going to get it wrong, because we’re human beings. Yet when you crowdsource something, it’s amazing how much more accurate it can get.” Breaking through on breakage? Another independent group aiming to promote positive changes in the racing industry, the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF), debuted its first significant study last week since forming earlier in the year and officially opening an advocacy office in Lexington Aug. 1. The Sept. 7 release of a white paper titled Penny Breakage–Returning Rightful Winnings to Horseplayers calls for the modernization of rounding pari-mutuel winnings to the closest cent instead of the long-entrenched North American practice of rounding down payouts to the nearest dime. As explained in a Friday story by TDN‘s Bill Finley, The TIF estimates that this outdated form of breakage calculation costs horseplayers some $50 million on an annual basis, and the paper makes a cogent argument for returning this money to bettors instead of allowing bet-takers to hold on to the excess rounding. “Retaining breakage in its current form is an opaque practice at a time when pricing transparency is essential to customers,” the TIF white paper asserted. “It is also an antiquated concept in an age where the modern customer experience has little to do with standing in line to collect cash. Switching to penny breakage is an obvious, but much needed change.” A key point in the study further noted that based on that $50 million per year figure, the TIF estimates that “horseplayers could churn through subsequent bets worth more than an additional $200 million annually, a figure which represents an increase of more than 2% of nationwide handle. The handle generated through additional betting churn would represent the largest single year percentage rise in handle over the last 15 years.” While the white paper on breakage is thorough and well-researched, the real challenge for the TIF will be motivating racetracks and racing commissions to jettison the current format in favor of the more bettor-friendly method. As founding TIF board member Craig Bernick pointed out in a TDN Q&A interview back in May, there is no shortage of good ideas in racing–getting them implemented is the chief problem. The TIF noted that “if the regulatory environment renders it impossible to shift to penny breakage…an alternate course of action to adopting penny breakage could be the establishment of rounding accounts, which serve as a middle ground for breakage.” Thus, payoffs ending in an amount of 49 cents or lower would get rounded down to the lowest whole dollar amount, while payoffs ending in 50 cents or greater get rounded up to the highest whole dollar amount. “This breakage accounting method is applied in Hong Kong without controversy,” the TIF reported. Fundraiser for paralyzed jockey A GoFundMe page has been established for Idaho-based jockey Nikeela Black, who is currently paralyzed from the waist down after a spill at the mixed-meet Eastern Idaho State Fair (aka Blackfoot) on Sept. 2. According to the GoFundMe posting authored by the jockey’s sister, Tereva Black, Nikeela’s mount “somersaulted, obliterating her spine leaving her paralyzed from the ribs down. She also suffered secondary injuries ranging from facial lacerations to a collapsed lung. It is amazing she survived.” Lee Abrams, Black’s husband, told KTVB in Boise that doctors don’t yet know if the paralysis will be permanent. “It sounds like she clipped heels with the horse on the outside of her. She was on the rail, and her horse went down, and we think that she maybe got run over by the horses behind her,” Abrams told KTVB, adding that he believes no video of the accident exists. Black, who also works as an attorney, was named by The Idaho Business Review as one of the state’s “50 Outstanding Women of the Year” in 2015, when she also made the publication’s “Accomplished Under 40” list. Riding selectively on small-track and fair circuits in the West, Black is known for annually racking up high winning percentages despite limited opportunities. She has an 11-2-5 record (48% win) from 23 mounts in 2018. In her latest GoFundMe update on Saturday, Black, who is currently hospitalized in Utah, wrote that she is scheduled for a Monday assessment to see if she can transfer into the renowned neurological rehabilitation program at Craig Hospital in Colorado. “Today was another great day for the books. I was able to do some great PT work including being able to transfer from my bed into a wheelchair for the first time and I took a little tour of the wing including spending some time out on the terrace overlooking the city,” Black wrote. “I continue to be impressed with the level of care and compassion everyone shows and enjoy reading all of your comments and texts, as well as the phone calls and visits. It sounds like Craig Hospital from Colorado will be coming to do an assessment for rehab on Monday. I am hopeful to get accepted into their program and transfer there next week. My heart has been touched by the generosity shown by all. As always, thank you for your prayers and thoughts!” View the full article

The introduction in 2015 of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, a championship sprint for three-year-olds, came about because of a misconception, namely that three-year-old sprinters cannot be competitive against their elders and that consequently the three-year-olds should have their own race rather than have to take on the older generations at weight-for-age. This, of course, is nonsense. Second-tier three-year-olds, understandably, are not able to beat top-class older horses at weight-for-age, but for the cream of the crop it has always been very feasible. We don’t have to go back as far as the likes of Marwell (Ire) (Habitat), Habibit (GB) (Habitat) and Dayjur (Danzig) to prove the point; more recent years have thrown up numerous dominant sprinting three-year-olds including the champions Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert), Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}), Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream) and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Another horse who proved the point, albeit without winning, was Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who showed that he could hold his own against high-class older horses as early as the May of his three-year-old season. His second place behind the six-year-old Prime Defender (GB) (Bertolini) in the G2 Duke Of York S. at the York May Meeting in 2010 was an excellent performance, suggesting that he would be a leading contender for top sprint honours during that summer. Sadly, injury prevented him from living up to that promise, but he is now making amends by demonstrating himself to be one of Europe’s best sires of fast horses. Showcasing had been a terrific two-year-old, taking the G2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack S. at York’s Ebor Meeting in August 2009 for his owner/breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah after having strolled home in a six-furlong maiden race at Yarmouth. So good was that Gimcrack win that his third place in the G1 Shadwell Middle Park S. had to be described as a disappointing effort. In the spring of 2010, though, he looked set to put that disappointment behind him. He stood out in John Gosden’s string, a magnificently strong and powerful colt with eye-catching speed. Gosden had no hesitation in pitching him against his elders in the Duke Of York S., a race in which three-year-old runners are rare; and the colt did not let him down, beating all bar one of his 11 vastly more seasoned rivals. Sadly, things went awry after that. Showcasing was one of the leading fancies for an ultra-competitive and cosmopolitan 24-runner renewal of the G1 Golden Jubilee S., but ran terribly, finishing last. His performance in the G1 July Cup was similarly poor when he finished 13th of the 14 runners. He never ran again, reportedly having suffered an injury to a hock. When he was made available for inspection by breeders during the December Sale, he was a pale shadow of the magnificent colt who had turned so many heads in the spring. His hock injury had taken its toll, and it was easy to forget both how good-looking he had been and how much ability he had shown before going amiss. In retrospect, we can say that Showcasing’s stud career is making us not only speculate about just how great a racing career he might have enjoyed had he not injured his hock, but also reflect on the truism that form is temporary but class is permanent. Showcasing lost his form in the summer of 2010, but ultimately he did not lose his class. Many of the breeders shrewd enough to have pinned their faith in him when he started out at Whitsbury Manor Stud have reaped rich dividends as a result. With his form having tailed off so badly and his brilliant Gimcrack victory by now a distant memory, Showcasing was not the most obvious choice for mare owners in the spring of 2011. His fee of £5,000 reflected this. He was clearly not going to be favoured by the cream of the country’s broodmare bands. He was going to have to sink or swim on his own merits. When his first two-year-olds began racing in 2014 (by which time his fee had been reduced by 10%), it quickly became clear that he would not be sinking. The Ger Lyons-trained Capella Sansevero (GB), who had cost 25,000 guineas as a yearling, was the first to advertise Showcasing’s merit. He won over five furlongs on debut at Dundalk in the middle of April 2014 before completing a swift hat-trick by adding victories at Naas and the Curragh, where he became Showcasing’s first stakes winner by taking the Marble Hill S. He made further headlines when being sold for £1.3 million at Goffs’ London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot and then finishing second to The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G2 Coventry S. the next day. He went on to post several more excellent performances later in the year including winning the G3 Round Tower S. and finishing third in the G1 Phoenix S. and he now stands at Bridge House Stud. As the summer of 2014 went on, Showcasing’s run of success continued apace. Toocoolforschool (Ire) had failed to sell at £20,000 as a yearling in August 2013, but 13 months later, he registered a stunningly good seven-length victory in the G2 Mill Reef S. over six furlongs at Newbury, a day after Accipiter (GB) had landed the Harry Rosebery S. over five furlongs at Ayr. By the end of the year, Showcasing was a Group-winning sire in both hemispheres, Showboy (NZ) having got his southern hemisphere runners (conceived at Haunui Farm in New Zealand) off to a swift start by scoring in New Zealand’s principal early-season two-year-old contest, the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Trentham. The following month another member of this crop, Hardline (NZ), landed an even richer prize when taking the Karaka Million at Ellerslie. We see all too many stallions who enjoy notable success in their first year before falling off the radar shortly afterwards. We didn’t have to wait too long in 2015 before finding out that Showcasing was not going to be one of them. Plenty of his first crop were showing that that they were progressing well as they matured, including Prize Exhibit {GB} who had won two of her seven starts at two in the UK in 2014 and been Group 3-placed. In 2015, she won two graded stakes in California and was Grade I-placed, and then she went on to further graded stakes success in both 2016 and ’17. At the same time, Showcasing’s second crop of juveniles were doing as well as his first runners. Tasleet (GB) was the first member of Showcasing’s second crop to excel. He took the Rose Bowl S. at Newbury in July 2015 before going on to ever greater glories, taking the G3 Greenham S. as a three-year-old and the G2 Duke Of York S. at four. Whatever he could do, though, his contemporary Quiet Reflection, it turned out, could do better. Representing the same owner/trainer combination of the Ontoawinner Syndicate and Karl Burke as Toocoolforschool, she turned out to have been a wonderful bargain for the £44,000 which her owners had paid for her at Goffs UK’s Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale in the spring of 2015. She won by five lengths over five furlongs on debut at Hamilton in the summer before taking two stakes races in the autumn: the Shadwell Stud / EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery S. at Ayr and the G3 Dubai Cornwallis S. at Newmarket. She started her second season with a sparkling hat-trick in G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly, the G2 188Bet Sandy Lane S. at Haydock and the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. An excellent third place behind Limato (Ire) Tagula {Ire}) in an 18-runner G1 Darley July Cup was followed by her second Group 1 victory (and her first against older opponents) when she won the G1 32Red Sprint Cup S. at Haydock. She gained a further laurel as a four-year-old, taking the G3 Renaissance S. at Naas. The success of Showcasing’s first juveniles had seen his fee raised in 2015 from £4,500 to £15,000. Quiet Reflection’s repeated displays of excellence, plus good wins from several other Showcasing horses, more than justified this move and then ensured further increases. In 2016 Showcasing stood for £25,000, and his fee has been £35,000 since then. The big wins recorded by his progeny in 2016, besides those registered by Quiet Reflection and Tasleet, included the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) won by Conselice (GB); while his successes in the antipodes included the G3 Gunsynd Classic won by Cylinder Beach (NZ). The following year proved even more cosmopolitan, with Showcasing’s highlights of 2017 outside the British Isles including the Juddmonte-bred Projected (GB) taking the G2 Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup S. on the east coast of the USA while Prize Exhibit was still thriving in the west; the victory of Bee Bee (NZ) in the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe in Singapore; numerous big wins in New Zealand including the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. victory of Xpression (NZ) and the G3 Stewards S. triumph of Carnival (NZ); and stakes triumphs in France for De Bruyne Horse (GB) and Maximum Aurelius (GB). This year has seen Showcasing’s status rise to a higher level still. His current three-year-olds were conceived at a fee of £4,500, while his first horses conceived at higher fees are still aged only two. These three-year-olds include G3 Prix Djebel winner Dice Roll (Fr), a place-getter in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains; while his juveniles are headed by G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and G2 Arqana July S. winner Advertise (GB) and Soldier’s Call (GB), whose triumphs so far include both the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot and the G3 Prix d’Arenberg at Chantilly. The most obvious common denominator between the bulk of Showcasing’s winners is speed, but it is not the only one: in general, they seem to be tough, genuine horses who thrive on their racing. That he should be so marked an influence for speed is easy to understand when one considers his pedigree, over and above the form which he showed. He hails from one of Juddmonte’s most notable sprinting familes, descending from his third dam Andaleeb (Lyphard), who was a very smart filly for Prince Khalid Abdullah when trained by Jeremy Tree. Like her GI Kentucky Oaks-winning dam Bag Of Tunes (Herbager {Fr}), Andaleeb was actually a middle-distance performer, taking the G3 Lancashire Oaks in 1988. However, sent to Prince Khalid Abdullah’s brilliant miler Warning (Known Fact), she produced the 1993 G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Prophecy. Prophecy turned out to be an excellent broodmare. One of her several high-class offspring was Showcasing’s dam Arabesque (GB) (Zafonic), who herself was a stakes-winning sprinter. Arabesque can share the credit for Showcasing’s speed with his sire Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert). Her other offspring include Showcasing’s stakes-performed sprinting full-sisters Bouvardia (GB) and Tendu (GB), as well as Camacho (GB) (Danehill) who won the Sandy Lane S. in 2005 and is now well established as a reliable source of fast horses, including his current stars Teppal (Fr) and Signora Cabello (Ire), successful this year in the G1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the G2 Queen Mary S., respectively. With his roll of success continuing to expand so quickly and with so many well-bred younger sons and daughter still to come, it is easy to envisage that Showcasing’s already-remarkable ascent up the stallions’ ranking is far from over. View the full article

After a second group 1 in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp for the son of Whipper, Recoletos now holds strong claims to be considered the best older horse over a mile in Europe. View the full article

No less than he should be, John Greathouse III is a big believer in pedigree. “In the end, I’ve got to have a reason for somebody to turn down the catalog page and say this is one I need to go and see,” he says. “If the horse lacks paper, I’m not interested. They’ve got to have some family there.” Greathouse, after all, is himself a living testament to the horseman’s faith in heritability-whether through nature or nurture. His grandfather, the first John, was a celebrated Bluegrass hardboot who bred a Kentucky Derby winner soon after founding Glencrest Farm in the 1950s. The second John, a boy of 16 when Venetian Way won in 1960, is still on hand with that famously astute eye of his; but it is the third John who has increasingly supervised Glencrest since the premature death of his uncle, David, in 2013. David was a founding partner of Four Star Sales and their barn is where Greathouse has been busy showing horses in the run-up to the Keeneland September Sale. And the reason for seeking him out is Hip 621, selling Wednesday: a Verrazano (More Than Ready) filly out of the Malibu Moon mare, Akron Moon. For it was at this sale last year that breeder Joe Minor of JSM Equine submitted (through Taylor Made, who share his consignment) a Quality Road (Elusive Quality) filly out of the same mare. She stalled at $220,000, so Minor took her back to try again at the breeze-ups. He was handsomely vindicated when she brought $800,000 from Kaleem Shah at Fasig-Tipton’s Florida Gulfstream Sale. “In fairness, Joe had a lot of conviction about the filly all the way through,” Greathouse recalls. “He stayed strong on her and I think had a little seller’s remorse even after selling her, because of how much he loved her from the beginning. She was a big, scopey filly, with a lot of athleticism, very light on her feet. And the right attitude, like all the good race fillies I’ve been around: tough but not ignorant. She had a huge walk on her, and got out there and was very willing. She looked like that Classic horse.” And that is no less than she appeared in winning the GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar and then, on Labor Day, the GI Del Mar Debutante S. over the same track. Greathouse has since been talking to one of the partners in the filly. “And he said that every time he sees her, she gets bigger and longer,” he reported. “She looks like she’ll run all day, the way she galloped out: like she wants two turns already. Knock on wood, she can win the Juvenile Fillies at the Breeders’ Cup.” Even as it stands, Bellafina extends a record of remarkably consistent achievement by Glencrest graduates. Greathouse is still only 34, but has already had a series of elite performers through his hands. In his very first year after returning full-time to the farm, in fact, the family pinhooked none other than Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie). “He was a big, gangly horse, wasn’t all finished yet,” he recalls. “I always liked the way he moved, there were a lot of things you could like about the horse: he just wasn’t the finished product. Since I’ve been at Glencrest, the last ten years or so, I think we’ve had six Grade 1 winners and ten Graded stakes winners overall. And that’s with two yearling barns, 27 stalls-so I generally won’t prep any more than that. We’ve been blessed to have our hands on so many nice horses.” Incredibly, in fact, this modest supply line has produced both the highest juvenile Beyers of the summer: Bellafina leading the fillies with her 94 in the Sorrento, and Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) reaching 96 when breaking his maiden by 15 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream last month. He had been bought by Greathouse’s cousin Deuce as a weanling, at the Keeneland November Sale for $35,000. He failed to meet his reserve back here last year and was sold for just $42,000 at OBS in March. “We’re traders,” shrugged Greathouse. “For the most part, my program is: we buy to resell. Win, lose or draw, we generally bring them here to find a new home. We do the best we can with what we have. We sold Haveyougoneaway (Congrats) for very little. Al’s Gal (English Channel), another Grade 1 winner, didn’t turn a profit either. “Trophy Chaser was a handy little colt, just had a few issues at the time that stopped him turning a profit. But you know what, I’m very proud he’s turned out the way he has. Because that’s what gives me the most pride, seeing the horses turn out on the racetrack. When you’ve had some conviction about an animal, when you’ve thought: ‘Gosh, this one’s special.’ Trust me, I’ve been wrong plenty of times. But when they do prove you right, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.” The first John started the farm on parcels of land put together by his father on the back of the automobile loans he had introduced to this part of the world. In his time both Wavering Monarch and Clever Trick stood here and, while the retirement of Military (Danzig) means that there is no longer a Glencrest stallion, subsequent generations of Greathouses have diversified and dovetailed their responsibilities to keep the surname synonymous with the brand. The third John, admittedly, had little expectation of doing so during his college days at the University of Kentucky. But after his father hit upon those good racing fillies, Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) and Panty Raid (Include), the whole thing clicked with Greathouse and he enrolled on the Irish National Stud course. While enthused by that exposure to a different racing culture, he still treasures the schooling he received closer to home. “I was very young when my grandfather got sick, so I can’t say I learned a lot from him,” he said. “But the way things have been run on the farm were run that way 100 per cent because of him. Now I’ve changed a few things, because if you’re not constantly evolving, I think you’re getting left behind. But things that have worked, you don’t want to change too much. I’ve been so fortunate to have teachers like my uncles and my father.” Uncle Allen helps with the broodmares. Dad helps browse the foal sales. No less than ever, then, Glencrest remains a family affair. One cousin, Bucky, annually runs 600 or 700 steers through the 860-acre farm; while Deuce, who notably found Tepin (Bernstein) for Robert Masterson and has just returned from the Arqana August Sale with an $850,000 American Pharoah filly, is bringing business to the equine side through his agency and syndication ventures. Deuce bred TDN ‘Rising Star’ Legit (Curlin), impressive winner of both his starts this spring. The family has always done especially well with fillies. The ill-fated multiple Grade I winner Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) was even allowed to take her chance against colts in the Derby. It is the fillies, of course, who especially warrant a good page when Greathouse seeks up to a dozen pinhooks every year. “We can’t always afford the nice big ones, but we’ve tried to become a bit more aggressive,” he said. “And, if you can pick holes in any of them, they will always have the paper. My dad taught me early on that if there’s no paper, there’s no horse. Or if they can’t walk, that’s my other big criterion, I’m not going to have a lot of interest. Hopefully, the physical matches the pedigree, and you get rewarded. I’ll sacrifice sire for female family every time. There’s a few stallions, like Tapit (Pulpit) or Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday), that have upgraded the mares they’ve been bred to. But most can’t do that. It’s when you’ve got some paper there, that’s when you get runners.” Greathouse stresses that the farm, though family-run, is not exclusive family business; that Glencrest welcomes outside clients such as Minor, whose Verrazano filly receives a warm endorsement. “She has a lot of class,” he said. “And she’s got the right attitude. I love the way she moves. I think highly of the stallion and she’s a well-balanced, medium-sized horse. Very athletic. I think she’ll be a runner.” And with her updates, of course, the one thing she has going for her now is that first imperative: a page. Yet the irony is that a Greathouse grounding, for many, would itself represent all the family a horse might need. “In the end, you hope if you show people you’re raising a good horse, they’ll come buy a horse,” Greathouse said. “Regardless of some conformational faults it may have. There are plenty of good farms-Clarkland, or guys like Frank Penn-where they’re farmers that raise nice horses. And that’s kinda our niche, too. We’re not the big farm with all the stallions. But we try to do it all: to make the best of our land we can, keep them outside as much as possible, lay down bone, give them the important things that help provide the foundation of a good racehorse. “I think Glencrest is a farm you can always rely on to do it the right way. To take care of the animals the right way. I have one gentleman, Gene Guy, who has worked with us for 45 years. I don’t think many people can say that of their farm managers. Another, Ricky Evans, has been there 30 years. And that shows in the horses. It shows on the racetrack. “It’s competitive. There are a lot of guys that do it, a lot of sharp guys that do it. We will bid on 50 horses a year to buy ten. I’m just fortunate to be at that threshold-and you just hope you can keep getting it right, and keep playing the game.” View the full article

3rd-Belmont, $72,750, Msw, 9-9, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.23, sy. AURELIUS MAXIMUS (c, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–La Reina, by A.P. Indy) was a high-priced RNA at Keeneland September last year and made his debut carrying the burgundy and gold colors of Stonestreet Stables July 28 at Saratoga. He closed respectably that day to finish third in a six-furlong maiden heat and was pounded down to 3-5 favoritism to graduate in this sloppy affair. Away without incident, he secured an ideal spot locked on the outer flank of well-backed Empire of War (Declaration of War) through a half-mile in :48.07. Moving willingly to the front soon after that juncture, the bay opened up a sizable advantage turning into the stretch and never looked back, bounding home 7 3/4 lengths in front of stablemate Fullness of Time, who closed from last to round out the exacta. Empire of War flattened out and settled for third. The winner’s dam La Reina (A.P. Indy), winner of the GIII Tempted S. and a half-sister to GISW Brahms (Danzig), is responsible for Chief Havoc (Giant’s Causeway), GSW, $192,300; and Special Event (Arch), MGSP, $108,330; as well as a yearling filly by Bodemeister. She was bred back to More Than Ready this spring. The winner’s second dam Queena (Mr. Prospector) was voted champion older mare in 1991. Sales History: $625,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $51,450. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bolton, George & Leidel, Peter; B-Martell Bloodstock & Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. View the full article

LEXINGTON, KY – Keeneland’s 13-session September Yearling sale begins Monday with an adjusted format and upbeat outlook, but with a slightly delayed start time. The auction will begin at 1 p.m., two hours later than originally planned, during its first four sessions after heavy rains delayed inspections Sunday. The weather was the story of the day Sunday at the Keeneland sales barns as the second full day of showing was impeded by heavy rains as the remnants of tropical storm Gordon trekked through the Lexington area. “Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about the weather,” said Hunter Valley Farm’s Adrian Regan as the rain cascaded outside Barn 27. “It’s unfortunate for everyone, sales company, consignors, buyers, and it has definitely slowed traffic this morning. But buyers are showing plenty of determination out there and they are still shopping.” Hunter Simms of Warrendale Sales agreed that, after a day of busy showing Saturday, the action had definitely slowed down Sunday. “The weather hasn’t been helpful and we’ve had to hold some shows in the barn,” Simms said. “I think buyers have been slow to make it from barn to barn because of the weather–they just don’t want to walk outside because they’ll get soaked. Saturday was our first day of showing and it was good. We showed over 1,200 times for the 19 horses that we had. So we were very busy all day. I think people had an outlook on the weather and knew there was some potential rain and knocked a lot of it out yesterday.” In announcing the two-hour delayed start time early Sunday afternoon, Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said, “We want to give buyers sufficient time to inspect the horses in Book 1. The current heavy rain is making their work today extremely difficult and putting them behind schedule to review Book 1, which has cataloged 989 horses. This revised start time will allow them to catch up.” The marathon September auction comes on the heels of a record-setting renewal in 2017, and similarly strong returns at last month’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, as well as the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale. “As our sales team travels all over the U.S., and around the world for that matter, we try to get a gauge of what’s that pocketbook feeling like? Are folks stepping up their share of wallet for the September sale? It certainly feels that way,” said Elliston. “Not only at the top end, if you’re allocating five or six million dollars for a $500,000, $750,000, or million-dollar yearling–we’re also seeing the $200,000 budgets turn into $350,000 and $400,000 and I think that will lead into Books 2, 3, 4, even into 5 for that matter.” While last year’s sale featured just one extra-select Book 1 session, the 2018 auction will consist of four Book 1 sessions with a total of 989 yearlings catalogued. Books 1 and 2 last year contained 1202 offerings. Followed by a dark day Friday, each remaining session will begin at 10:00 a.m. A total of 4,538 yearlings are catalogued for the largest auction in the world of its kind. Consignors were taking a wait-and-see approach to the tweaked format of the September sale, but there was agreement that the expanded Book 1 had already attracted plenty of foot traffic to the sales barns. “I’ve yet to make up my mind totally about the new format,” Regan said. “But the one thing I would say about it right now is that it has definitely brought a lot of people to town. Showing has been very, very strong throughout the weekend. The traffic, European, Japanese and Americans, is very strong.” Of the action at his Four Star Sales barns, Kerry Cauthen said, “It’s been very good–very steady and solid, but not overrun. There are a lot of horses here on the grounds, so buyers are obviously all across the grounds, which keeps it from getting jammed up in one place. I think all of the right people, and some definite new faces, are here and people seem to be excited to get into action.” While buyers dealt with the logistics of seeing close to 1,000 horses spread from one side of the Keeneland sales grounds to the other, the four-day Book 1 brought plenty of faces through Warrendale’s barn 24. “There is a broad spectrum of buyers here and it allows people to shop at all different levels,” Simms said of the format. “I don’t know if the buyers necessarily like being spread out from one side of the grounds to the other with some vacant barns in between, but I think it’s just something that everyone has to work with Keeneland and figure it out. They’ll figure it out and tweak it so everyone is happy with it.” Simms is expecting a strong marketplace at Keeneland over the next two weeks. “July and Saratoga were both healthy sales with lots of money floating around,” he said. “I think everybody seems to be here shopping, so I think it should be a good sale. There is a horse for everybody here.” While maintaining some caution, Cauthen also expects a healthy marketplace. “It’s hard when you see such nice animals and so many impressive pedigrees to not get a little carried away,” Cauthen said. “But my job is to always say, ‘Keep your feet on the ground and let the market decide.’ But I would tell you that I think the market is going to be very solid and that it will be very active.” Last year’s sale was topped by a $2.7-million Tapit full-sister to GISW Cupid. Consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales, Agent XI as hip 69, she was signed for by Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. The same consignment will offer a half-sister by American Pharoah this year as hip 306, while Clarkland Farm will offer a half-brother by Medaglia d’Oro to the 2016 September topper, the $3-million Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), who was also purchased by Magnier, as hip 120. A total of $307.8 million changed hands 12 months ago at a record average of $120,487 (+23.3% year over year) and median of $57,000 (+42.5%). The RNA rate was 25.2%. Thirteen youngsters eclipsed the $1-million mark, with 119 bringing $500,000 or more. Among the long list of Keeneland September grads to go on to graded glory this year was none other than undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star‘ and Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), who was purchased at the 2016 September sale for $500,000. Last year’s champion juvenile Good Magic (Curlin), second to Justify in the GI Kentucky Derby, cost $1 million at the same sale. Both horses will have half-siblings go through the sales ring at Keeneland this week, with Glennwood Farm offering a Will Take Charge colt out of Justify’s dam Stage Magic (Ghostzapper) as hip 443 and Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency offering a half-sister by Super Saver to Good Magic as hip 957. The sale’s standout graduates are not limited to the early books, Elliston was quick to point out. “Let’s not forget, the [GI Kentucky] Oaks winner, Monomoy Girl (Tapizar),” said Elliston of the $100,000 acquisition, who is a perfect four-for-four this term with additional wins in the GI Ashland S., GI Acorn S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks. “There are quality animals at reasonable prices, if you want to call $100,000 a reasonable price. It sounds pretty reasonable when you go on to win in excess of million dollars in three Grade Is.” Super sires Tapit (97 catalogued) and War Front (34 catalogued) have dominated headlines in recent renewals of the September sale, but there’s a new big name on the block this year in Bob Baffert’s other Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah. The 2015 Horse of the Year saw his first-crop weanlings last year bring an average of $446,250–2.75 times the next freshman sire–and his 15 yearlings to sell so far this year have averaged $643,605. The Coolmore resident has 81 yearlings catalogued at Keeneland September and is part of a very strong crop overall of freshman sires. “He covered a really nice book of mares, and our inspection team suggests that he’s stamping them with his capability, or at least his conformation in terms of how they look; they look exceptional,” Elliston said of American Pharoah. “They were very well-bred by Coolmore and the folks that had those mares, and let’s keep that average he’s been putting up in place. I think his best offerings are going to come here in these 81, and we are very excited to get it going with Hip 1.” The sale will be streamed live at www.thetdn.com. For more information, visit www.keeneland.com. View the full article

Due to a deluge of rain Sunday morning as storms swept across the Bluegrass State, Kentucky Downs canceled Sunday’s card, the penultimate of the five-day meet, and has rescheduled all 10 races for Wednesday afternoon. “Unfortunately, due to the early morning rain showers and predicted showers throughout the day, we are canceling the card,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs senior vice president and general manager. “We felt it wasn’t going to be safe for our riders and horses, and safety is our number one priority. So we are moving the races from today to Wednesday.” With little rain overnight and no precipitation at the time, Kentucky Downs officials announced very early Sunday morning that the track would run as scheduled. That changed two hours later when a downpour hit. “We apologize for the inconvenience, and we know there were horses in transit,” Nicholson said. “But with so many horses–as well as people from out of town–having shipped in already, we wanted to give it every chance to run. We were hoping the storm would miss us, as it did Saturday, and with our course being firm the day before and very little rain overnight, we felt there was a chance to run. Obviously that changed, and there is no sign that the rain is going to let up until this evening. The good news is that the forecast is good for Wednesday, as well as for our closing card on Thursday.” View the full article

Horses based in Japan had won three of the four combined runnings of the Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) and Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m) since their introduction in 2016 and the country’s strike rate was improved further still when London Town (Jpn) (Kane Hekili {Jpn}) romped home to successfully defend his title in the Cup and when Group 1 winner Moanin (Henny Hughes) scraped home first in the Sprint Sunday at Seoul Racecourse. It was deja vu all over again in the Korea Cup, as London Town was well into stride from his high draw and showed speed enough to press second favourite Cheongdam Dokki (To Honor and Serve) through honest fractions. Yasunari Iwata allowed London Town to take up the running entering the far turn and the pair drew away effortlessly down the center to score by a pole. The lightly raced Dolkong (Afleet Alex) rallied up the fence for second, with the venerable Clean Up Joy (Purge) an honest third. Moanin was backed into 8-5 favourtism for the Sprint, but lagged well behind early as Perdido Pomeroy (Pomeroy) established a good tempo after an alert break from the inside barrier. Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir) attended the pace three abreast and looked to be doing the best of anything in upper stretch, but Joe Fujii got after Moanin at the 300m mark and, despite racing on his incorrect lead, clawed home first. Hong Kong’s surprisingly well-backed Fight Hero (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) was a gallant second ahead of the fast-finishing Doraonpogyeongseon (Kantharos). Sunday’s Results: KEENELAND KOREA CUP (NB), KRW1,000,000,000 (£689,615/€766,888/A$1,238,457/US$891,418), Seoul, 9-9, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:50.6 (NTR), gd. 1–LONDON TOWN (JPN), 126, h, 5, Kane Hekili (Jpn)–Fairy Banyan (Jpn), by Honour and Glory. (¥9,504,000 Ylg ’14 HOKSUM). O-Toru Makiura; B-Matsuura Bokujo; T-Kazuya Makita; J-Yasunari Iwata; KRW570,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, 27-8-3-0, $2,335,324. 2–Dolkong, 126, c, 4, Afleet Alex–Swampoodle, by Broken Vow. ($52,000 Ylg ’15 FTKOCT; $35,000 2yo ’16 OBSAPR). KRW210,000,000. 3–Clean Up Joy, 126, g, 7, Purge–Greta’s Joy, by Joyeux Danseur. ($1,400 Wlg ’11 KEENOV; $7,000 Ylg ’12 FTKOCT; $14,000 2yo ’13 OBSJUN). KRW130,000,000. Margins: 15, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 0.70, 10.60, 48.30. Also Ran: Cheongdam Dokki, Forest Ranger (Ire), Cheonji Storm (Kor), Tosconova Cat, Maximus, Dynamic Dash, Great King, Dongbang Daero, Places to Go, Final Boss (Kor), Riven Light (Ire). Scratched: Ennobled Friend. VIDEO KEENELAND KOREA SPRINT, KRW700,000,000 (£482,535/€536,780/A$866,952/US$623,995), Seoul, 9-9, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:11.5, gd. 1–MOANIN, 126, h, 6, Henny Hughes–Giggly, by Distorted Humor. ($90,000 Ylg ’13 FTNAUG; $335,000 2yo ’14 OBSMAR). O-Yukio Baba; B-Empire Equines LLC (NY); T-Sei Ishizaka; J-Kanichiro Fujii; KRW399,000,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, 21-8-2-2, $2,576,748. 2–Fight Hero (GB), 126, g, 7, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Jarhes (Ire), by Green Desert. (€3,000 Ylg ’12 ARQOCT). KRW147,000,000. 3–Doraonpogyeongseon, 126, h, 5, Kantharos–Smartybegone, by Smarty Jones. ($14,000 Ylg ’14 OBSAUG; $50,000 2yo ’15 OBSAPR). KRW91,000,000. Margins: HD, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.60, 4.20, 8.50. Also Ran: Chublicious, Ace Korea, Wild Dude, Wonder Bolt, Geuma Rapid (Aus), Zentenary, Perdido Pomeroy, Today (Kor), Morning Daero, King Malpic (Fr). VIDEO View the full article

After a Deauville festival spent chasing the tails of the British juveniles in all of the group prizes, French pride was restored at ParisLongchamp on Sunday as Jean-Louis Bouchard’s acquisition Anodor (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) also defended his unbeaten record successfully in the G3 Prix des Chenes. Off the mark on his sole start in a 7 1/2-furlong contest at Deauville Aug. 7, the even-money favourite found himself in front from the break with Aurelien Lemaitre keen to save something for the finale. Not pressed throughout, the bay was able to kick in midstraight and earn a straightforward two-length success from Insandi (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) for a one-two for the sire. “This was a test and he did extremely well,” trainer Freddy Head said. “He was very relaxed in front and is a horse with a lovely temperament and a very nice kick. We’ll see how he comes out of this, but I don’t want to over-race him as a two-year-old as I’m convinced he’ll be much better at three. Of course, we have to consider the [Oct. 7 G1 Prix] Jean-Luc Lagardere, as it is the logical next race but we don’t have to run there. It could be that we’ll save him for next season, but we’ll see in the next two weeks.” Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX DES CHENES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-9, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:41.12, gd. 1–ANODOR (FR), 128, c, 2, by Anodin (Ire) 1st Dam: Decize (Fr), by Kentucky Dynamite 2nd Dam: Ourika (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 3rd Dam: Chanteleau, by A.P. Indy 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€32,000 RNA Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Mme Frederic Head; B-I D Fair (FR); T-Freddy Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €53,500. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Insandi (Fr), 128, c, 2, Anodin (Ire)–Insan Mala (Ire), by Bahhare. (€42,000 RNA Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Mohammed Karimine; B-Jan Krauze (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €16,000. 3–Shaman (Ire), 128, c, 2, Shamardal–Only Green (Ire), by Green Desert). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €12,000. Margins: 2, 3/4, NK. Odds: 1.00, 33.00, 2.90. Also Ran: Court Poet (GB), Pappalino (Fr), Peronne (Fr), Al Tariq (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Callan Murray is one tough cookie so a broken nose wasn’t going to stop him from missing any rides. The 22-year-old is thrilled to be back in Hong Kong, but the season opener is one he will remember for all the wrong reasons. Not only did the South African cop a two-meeting suspension and miss out on a winner, he had to make a quick trip to hospital after the meeting for a couple of bouts of surgery. Murray’s mount in the fourth race, Corre Rapido, headbutted him and while he was... View the full article

Impressing on the second of two wins in a seven-furlong Clairefontaine conditions race July 30, Rocques (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) was able to translate that form to a tough renewal of the G3 Prix d’Aumale at ParisLongchamp on Sunday and maintain her perfect sequence. Always close to the 2-1 favourite Ceratonia (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) on the front end, the 12-5 second favourite was travelling best in the straight and when committed by Pierre-Charles Boudot approaching the furlong pole settled the result instantly. At the line, the bay who sports the Gerald Augustin-Normand silks had 3/4 of a length to spare over Godolphin’s raider. “She had shown plenty of quality on her first two runs and I had no worries about her staying this mile,” trainer Fabrice Chappet said. “She remains unbeaten and has all the makings of a top-class filly, so the logical next race is the [Oct. 7 G1 Prix] Marcel Boussac.” Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX D’AUMALE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-9, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:40.51, gd. 1–ROCQUES (FR), 126, f, 2, by Lawman (Fr) 1st Dam: Regina Mundi (Ire) (SP-Ity), by Montjeu (Ire) 2nd Dam: Delauncy (GB), by Machiavellian 3rd Dam: Casey (GB), by Caerleon 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€60,000 Ylg ’17 AROCT). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand, Ecurie du Gave & Alain Jathiere; B-San Paolo Agri-Stud SRL (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €75,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Ceratonia (GB), 126, f, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Rumh (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €16,000. 3–La Feve (Fr), 126, f, 2, George Vancouver–Marcela Howard (Ire), by Fasliyev. (€7,500 Ylg ’17 ARQNOV). O-Bruno de Montzey, Kevin Tavares & Sandra de Montzey; B-Bernard Fernand Leclere & Mme Raymonde Leclere (FR); T-Bruno de Montzey. €12,000. Margins: 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 2.40, 2.00, 41.00. Also Ran: L’Ecriture (GB), Isalys (Fr), Devant (Fr), Dezba (GB), Place Rouge (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Runner-up to Europe’s leading miler Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 12, SARL Darpat’s Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) gave the Niarchos homebred further credibility by taking Sunday’s G1 Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp. Held up in customary fashion behind the mid-division by Olivier Peslier, the 23-10 favourite was delivered with unerring timing to catch the 3-year-old filly Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the shade of the post and score by a head, with the strong-finishing 3-year-old colt Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “A top-class filly beat him last time and this was a proper group one race on firm ground which he likes,” trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias commented. “It was a great ride from Olivier Peslier and if he goes to Ascot it will be for the [Oct. 20 G1] Queen Elizabeth II and then the Breeders’ Cup.” Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €450,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-9, 3yo/up, c/f, 8fT, 1:36, gd. 1–RECOLETOS (FR), 129, c, 4, by Whipper 1st Dam: Highphar (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr) 2nd Dam: Pharatta (Ire), by Fairy King 3rd Dam: Sharata (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) O/B-SARL Darpat France (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Olivier Peslier. €257,130. Lifetime Record: 13-7-1-1, €1,098,563. *1/2 to Castellar (Fr) (American Post {GB}), MGSW-Fr, $160,165. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Wind Chimes (GB), 122, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Militante (Ire), by Johannesburg. (€130,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €102,870. 3–Expert Eye (GB), 125, c, 3, Acclamation (GB)–Exemplify (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. €51,435. Margins: HD, 1 1/4, SNK. Odds: 2.30, 7.70, 6.30. Also Ran: Plumatic (GB), Lightning Spear (GB), Without Parole (GB), Homerique, Wootton (Fr), Royal Julius (Ire), Intellogent (Ire), Oriental (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu rocketed to the top of the jockeys’ championship with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday but the 28-year is adamant he won’t be checking the rankings any time soon. Ho booted home Happy Sound and Go Public to remain the only jockey to ride a winner at all three meetings so far this season and his four victories put him above star riders Zac Purton and Karis Teetan on the table. “I never check the ranking, I just check my horses and check how they run and if they... View the full article

Hong Kong’s Fight Hero could only manage a courageous second in the Korea Sprint on Sunday but trainer Me Tsui Yu-sak thinks he has seen enough to warrant another overseas raid. After jumping from the outside barrier, Fight Hero was forced to travel five-wide throughout but found plenty in the straight to push Japanese horse Moanin – the short favourite – all the way to the line, falling short by a nose on the deep Seoul sand. “This performance was far better than I... View the full article

Hong Kong racing’s newest bromance is off to an inspired start after Karis Teetan and Tony Cruz joined forces to collect a hat-trick winners at Sha Tin on Sunday. The duo struck early, taking out the Class One Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1,400m) with Romantic Touch before snatching the next two races with Circuit Number Two and Supreme Witness. Before the start of the season, Cruz approached Teetan about partnering his superstar Pakistan Star, establishing a relationship that had barely... View the full article

Trainer Robertino Diodoro completed the Canadian Derby (G3)-British Columbia Derby (G3) double for the second straight season when Sky Promise won the Hastings Park feature Sept. 8. View the full article

The 84th running of the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity went to Patricia's Hope's Big Drink of Water, the second straight stakes win for the juvenile son of Soldat. View the full article

Gas Station Sushi has always shown talent, but the way she won the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course Sept. 8 not only showed something new, but also something special. View the full article

When jockey Joe Bravo perfectly timed a long drive by Proforma to help the Munnings gelding to his first graded stakes win in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T), it backed the advice the New Jersey-based rider gave the connections. View the full article

Rallying off the rail from the back of the pack to settle in second at the top of the stretch, Arklow held to fend off a late challenge from Bigger Picture to win the $750,000 Kentucky Downs Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T). View the full article

Yulong Xiongyin makes all this time View the full article

Richebourg leaves bad barrier manners at home for impressive debut win View the full article

Fire Away, another bullet for Titanium View the full article

Horses' test results September 7 & 8 View the full article