Wandering Eyes

3rd-Haydock, £10,000, Cond, 9-6, 2yo, c/g, 7f 212yT, 1:43.34, g/s. KADAR (c, 2, Scat Daddy–Kaloura {Ire} {MSW-Fr & GSP-Fr, $141,949}, by Sinndar {Ire}), who skipped his intended debut over this course and distance Aug. 10, found a smooth rhythm in fourth after the initial strides. Rowed along with three furlongs remaining, the 5-2 chance came under increased urging inside the final quarter mile and kept on well for five cracks of Clifford Lee’s persuader in the closing stages to deny ‘TDN Rising Star’ Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by 1 1/4 lengths. The dark bay, who was third on the list of highest-priced offerings at Arqana’s May Breeze-Up sale, is the first winner from three runners out of MSW G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Kaloura (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), herself a half-sister to MG1SW sire Kalanisi (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}) and MG1SP G2 Scottish Derby hero Kalaman (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}). Kaloura has also produced a yearling filly and a filly foal, both by Declaration of War, and was bred to Air Force Blue this year. Sales history: $195,000 RNA Ylg ’17 FTSAUG; €700,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,349. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Frank Hutchinson (KY); T-Karl Burke. View the full article

Enable will face a stern assignment on her return to the track at Kempton Sept. 8 after Sir Michael Stoute decided to run King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Crystal Ocean against the superstar filly in the September Stakes (G3). View the full article

Harry Angel will face 11 opponents when he bids to become only the second two-time winner of the Sept. 8 32Red Sprint Cup (G1) at Haydock. 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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses, the latter of which sees the return to action of SW Randonnee (Blame) in the G3 Shion S. Saturday, September 8, 2018 1st-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m FORT WADSWORTH (c, 2, Verrazano–Opulence, by Giant’s Causeway) transitions to the dirt off a promising fourth on his one-mile debut over the local turf course June 16 (see below, gate 3). A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, the bay is the second foal out of an unraced daughter of champion and GI Belmont S. winner Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to fellow Belmont victor Jazil (Seeking the Gold), Breeders’ Cup Marathon hero and Peruvian sire Man of Iron (Giant’s Causeway) and US GSW & Japanese G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft). Mirco Demuro rides. B-Chelston (KY) 5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($121k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT NOIVA (f, 2, Temple City–Malibu Pier, by Malibu Moon) cost the Maeda family’s North Hills Co. Ltd. $475K at KEESEP last fall, easily the most expensive of her sire’s 54 yearlings to sell in 2017. A daughter of a MGSW & GISP dam, the Jan. 26 foal is kin to SW & GISP Coasted (Tizway)–a $1.3 million purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at FTKNOV last fall–and MGSP Malibu Stacy (Tizway). Second dam Blue Moon (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) was a SW in France and runner-up in the GI QE II Challenge Cup for B. Wayne Hughes in her US debut in 2000. Four Star Sales, agent for Spendthrift, consigns Noiva’s full-sister to this year’s KEESEP sale as hip 160. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY) 9th-NKY, ¥19,000,000 ($171k), Allowance, 2yo, 1600mT MEINER ABE (c, 2, Into Mischief–Spring, by Stravinsky) was outside the top three in two tries on dirt to begin his career, but belied odds of 10-1 to graduate in a six-furlong turf test at Kokura Aug. 12 (see below, gate 6). An $85K KEENOV weanling turned $170K KEESEP yearling, the bay is a half-brother to MSW & MGSP Spring Included (Include) and to GISP Pulsion (Include). Meiner Abe’s Verrazano half-sister sells through Four Star as hip 438 at KEESEP next week. B-Robert B Trussell Jr (KY) 11th-HSN, ¥41,800,000 ($377k), Open Class, 3yo/up, 1400m RYONO TESORO (c, 3, Justin Phillip–Town Belle, by Speightstown) won three of his first four outings, including a pair on the dirt, but annexed the Listed Crocus S. in his turf bow Jan. 27 (video, gate 4). Ryono Tesoro is a maternal grandson of MGSW Clearly A Queen (Lucky North) and his Majestic City half-sister sells through Taylor Made as hip 4026 during session 12 at KEESEP. B-Highland Yard LLC (KY) 11th-NKY, Shion S.-G3, ¥66,600,000 ($601k), 3yo, f, 2000mT RANDONNEE (f, 3, Blame–Loure, by A.P. Indy) won her maiden over 2000m at second asking and added a stalk-and-pounce victory in the Listed Sweetpea S. (1800m) Apr. 29 (see below, gate 11) two starts later. A half-sister to SW Do the Dance (Discreet Cat), Randonnee is a granddaughter of French Group 3 winner Loving Pride (Quiet American) and was most recently seen finishing 11th to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m) in May. B-Winchester Farm (KY) –Alan Carasso View the full article

Thursday, Salisbury, Britain SHADWELL DICK POOLE FILLIES’ S.-G3, £46,500, Salisbury, 9-6, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:15.01, g/f. 1–YOURTIMEISNOW (GB), 126, f, 2, by Charm Spirit (Ire) 1st Dam: Maid For Winning, by Gone West 2nd Dam: Maid for Walking (GB), by Prince Sabo (GB) 3rd Dam: Stinging Nettle, by Sharpen Up (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (120,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Boyce Bloodstock & Mrs C E Percival (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-Andrea Atzeni. £26,370. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $44,304. *1/2 to Hors de Combat (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), MGSP-Eng, $319,042; and Stroll Patrol (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Lady Aria (GB), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Dot Hill (GB), by Refuse To Bend (Ire). (125,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Michael Bell. £9,998. 3–Come On Leicester (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Graphic Guest (GB), by Dutch Art (GB). (€80,000 Ylg ’17 TIRSEP; 360,000gns 2yo ’18 TATBRE). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Philip & Mrs Jane Myerscough (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £5,003. Margins: HF, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 4.00, 8.00, 4.50. Also Ran: Firelight (Fr), No Way Jose (Ire), Orange Blossom (GB), Roxy Art (Ire), Scintilating (GB), Usra (Ire). Scratched: Burmese Waltz (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

By Daithi Harvey Lambourn trainer Harry Dunlop has enjoyed many successful forays across the English Channel, most recently when Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) bounced back to form to claim a major win in the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain at Deauville last month. Dunlop is planning some more pot hunting with Neil Jones’s home-bred with the G2 Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend the next port of call. “He’s come out of Deauville really well. We’re very happy with him and the plan is to hopefully run him in the Prix Dollar. That’s the mile-and-a-quarter Group Two,” the trainer said. The sky seemed the limit for Knight To Behold when he beat Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the Listed Betfred Derby Trial S. at Lingfield in May but the wheels came off the wagon slightly on his next two starts in the Derbys at Epsom and The Curragh, defeats which Dunlop attributes to a lack of stamina. “He won the Derby Trial at Lingfield so well beating Kew Gardens, whose form since has been very good. Basically he didn’t stay the mile and a half. We changed a few things around with him, put cheek pieces on him and things, and it’s got him right back to form,” he added. View the full article

His road to Damascus was the one to Devon and Exeter steeplechases. It was during the petrol crisis of 1973, people were sharing car journeys whenever possible, and the trainer for whom Philip Blacker was riding that day said that they would be picking up one of the owners. She turned out to be a sculptor named Margot Dent. A few weeks ago Blacker stood up to give the eulogy at Dent’s memorial service. She had lived to 103 and, though her sight had failed in the end, she had been able to continue giving Blacker lucid counsel in his second profession. “Let me tell you about the most important day of my life,” he began. “The day I met Margot Dent.” At the time Blacker was still in his early twenties, and riding against a generation of devil-may-care hardheads. Though he had never even picked up a piece of clay, he had long been intrigued by sculpture—and here was this woman, full of evangelical zeal for her vocation, insisting that he give it a try. The following summer, Blacker went to stay with Dent and her husband and was given an initiation into the rudiments of the craft. Dent had been a pupil of John Skeaping, who would become something of a hero for Blacker. Skeaping’s own induction technique was cheerfully inclusive. “Sculpting is easy,” he would say. “Say you want to make an elephant. You just take a chunk of wood, look at it carefully, and then take away the bits that don’t look like an elephant.” Unsurprisingly, Blacker would focus on a different type of quadruped. On retirement in 1982, indeed, it turned out that he found himself ploughing a field left fairly fallow since John Hislop had persuaded Skeaping to make the bronze of Brigadier Gerard in the Rowley Mile pre-parade ring at Newmarket. Click here to read more in TDN Weekend. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Philip Blacker on Red Rum","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/272667888.sd.mp4?s=1cf1cfac008d6c73d4cffde5b9c881f511f25c19&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/279154609.sd.mp4?s=96a8338ab6e29eb62c78165f819311f37967fbda&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} View the full article

An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido in the early hours of Thursday morning. The event happened 68km south east of Sapporo and early reports indicate at least nine people have died with hundreds more injured and trapped by debris . There was also widespread structural damage to homes and buildings, with flights at Sapporo and New Chitose Airports also disrupted. The affected area is close to many of Japan’s major Thoroughbred breeding operations such as Northern and Shadai Farms, in addition to the Northern Horse Park, host of the JRHA Select Sale among others, though there have been no reports so far of any studs or horses in the region being adversely affected. View the full article

By Daithí Harvey Peter Nolan Bloodstock is a consignment that has shot to prominence at national hunt sales in what seems a very short space of time and Nolan is hoping his first big flat consignment at Tattersalls Ireland’s Ascot Yearling Sale next week will be a springboard to a greater presence at similar sales in the future. The Wexford man will offer a draft of 10 colts at the second edition of the Ascot Sale held on Tuesday and was encouraged by the success he had at the inaugural auction last year to go armed with a stronger batch this time around. “Both numbers and quality are up this year,” Nolan said. “I brought one to the sale last year and got on well and I thought there were plenty of customers there if I’d had a better type of horse for them. The team in Tatts actually asked if we would support the sale last year and we did and myself and a few clients of mine were happy to give it a good go again this year with a bigger and better draft.” With such a packed British and Irish yearling sale calendar and with plenty of choice nearer home one could question the wisdom of why Nolan is entrusting such a big draft to such a fledgling sale. “The yearling crops are getting big again and I think you have to give a lot of thought as to what sale to bring your yearling. I worked for Joe Foley for five years and he always maintained it is better to be a big fish in a small pond. That was the number one thing he taught me so I hope I am applying that principal well,” he said. Among Nolan’s draft next week is a son of No Nay Never, arguably the season’s most exciting first season sire whose initial crop his headed by recent G3 Round Tower S. winner Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and lot 84’s pedigree also received a timely update when his half-sister Bandola (Ire) (Requinto {Ire}) broke her maiden at Ripon at the end of August, thus becoming the dam’s first winner from her first runner. “The No Nay Never belongs to Geoff Turnbull’s Elwick Stud and he is a lovely horse. I buy a good few mares for Geoff who is setting up quite an impressive breeding programme headed by his own stallion Mondialiste [a dual Group 1 winning son of Galileo {Ire}]. He also has a very nice Acclamation (GB) colt (lot 145) who should do well. They are probably close on being [Tattersalls] Book 2 type horses. I hope he sells well for Geoff as he is supporting the sale with some nice horses.” Nolan continued, “From the home team we have a nice Poet’s Voice (GB) colt (lot 54). He has a lightish pedigree but he is a really nice horse and lot 31 who is a lovely colt by Society Rock (Ire). Both stallions are having a good year so hopefully they will be well received.” Although Nolan served his early apprenticeship with Coolmore before finishing his education in Ballyhane Stud it was the national hunt sector that he focussed on when he branched out on his own eight years ago. “It was the fact I am based in the heart of jumps country here in Wexford was why I started out in that sphere. In my first year I sold two very good horses in John’s Spirit and Holywell and it grew from there. We topped two national hunt sales this year so that end of it is going well.” Nolan probably spends as much time at various sales as he does at home but it is an environment he feels just as comfortable in. “I enjoy the sales and I enjoy the adrenaline flow of selling a horse. I get a great kick out of say, selling a horse for €20,000 for someone that really needs that 20 grand just as much as selling a really expensive horse.” Recalling his initial foray as his own boss Nolan explained, “Before I went out on my own I thought there was a niche in the market around here and that there would be enough of a local horse population to get a business off the ground. The first year I started I think I sold 30 horses and I reckon we will put around 180 horses through our hands this year. So it’s significant growth in eight years and the flat side of things looks like it will get busier. I’ll have at least 20 foals to offer at Newmarket in December so that side of things is definitely ramping up. To be honest the principles are the same when consigning flat or national hunt horses. Between the five years I spent in Coolmore and the other five with Joe [Foley] I got to know all the flat buyers anyway so it has been a fairly seamless transition.” Nolan’s commitment to this growth in business has seen him purchase some land in his native Oylegate and build a new house and stables with all the relevant facilities required for further expansion. “We are in the midst of it now with stables built and more in the offing. It was a green field site so I could develop it the way I wanted to. I’d definitely like to increase our flat presence at sales, although gradually. The biggest factor, and I’m not unique in this, is getting staff and it would probably be easier to keep a roster of full-time staff if we were consigning at the majority of sales. At the moment I’m probably doing 80% of the prepping myself. It’s early mornings and long evenings but that’s what it takes.” Having scaled the heights of the jumps sector Nolan will now be hoping to see some of his flat sales graduates go on to greater things on the racetrack in the coming years. “Selling horses is so much about reputation. I remember when I started out David Minton gave me some advice that I take with me to this day. He said, ‘I don’t mind you selling me a slow horse but don’t sell me an unsound horse’. That is so true, you are only as good as your word, if you don’t have a good reputation you won’t build a business in selling horses.” That integrity should stand Nolan in good stead as he goes about increasing his flat profile and also in the short term next week at Ascot when he offers the second biggest draft in the sale. “They’re a good bunch, there are plenty of what you call ‘proper 2-year-olds’ among them. The No Nay Never is a bigger type of horse that should make a 2-year-old and more and his sire couldn’t be doing any better. This sale will be a test of the market; saying that there was plenty of trade there last year and I thought it was a sale that was worth supporting with a better type of horse. Let’s hope we are right.” View the full article

By Daithi Harvey Its probably fair to assume that when John Gosden chose the G3 September S. at Kempton on Saturday as the comeback run for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), he would have been surprised if the brilliant filly wasn’t the highest rated performer in the 5-runner field. That accolade belongs to Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), rated a pound superior to the Juddmonte filly and surprisingly pitched in by his trainer Sir Michael Stoute to form an intriguing and unexpected clash in what is normally a relatively minor race in the European pattern. Frankie Dettori has never been beaten on Enable and he resumes the partnership on Saturday and the five-time Group 1 winner is well treated by the race conditions, receiving 8lbs from Crystal Ocean. The mile and a half event on Kempton’s Polytrack will be shown live on ITV Racing at 2.05pm. View the full article

Talented youngsters Pakistan Friend and Aerohappiness kick off their campaigns at Sha Tin on Sunday, but the results from the first two meetings suggest only one can win. With the break between seasons seemingly getting shorter and shorter, so far there has been one key ingredient for horses tasting success at the start of the new term – residual fitness. Of the 18 winners so far, all of them raced in the last six weeks of the 2017-18 season while 12 competed in the final two weeks. It... View the full article

Here we address your thoughts, questions and statements from the previous meeting. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost With Joao Moreira leaving, even though Zac Purton has won the Jockey Challenge twice, it seems the locals are having a better chance to ride a better horse, it’s good news for them – @Ian__Sham The sample size is incredibly small, but certainly the early results suggest the locals have benefited the most from the Magic Man’s move to Japan.... View the full article

Once a grade 1-placed sprinter on dirt in California, Jazzy Times was moved to the grass after owner/trainer Wesley Hawley claimed the horse in May, and the Discreetly Mine gelding has won two of his past three starts. View the full article

Tan and See happy with Maximus drawing nine in Korea View the full article

Clements takes Quarter Back along same Loving You path View the full article

Lim's Lightning ready to rumble again View the full article

Lim's Samurai spelling in Malaysia, touch-and-go for big races View the full article

McDonald injured, replaced by Berry in PGI Jockeys Challenge View the full article

With summer racing in the books and the industry’s focus shifting to Lexington and next week’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the list below highlights some of the promising, maiden-winning juveniles with siblings catalogued in the first book of that marathon auction. It does not include runners who have already competed in stakes company and is not exhaustive. FEEDBACK (f, Violence–Honest Answer, by Tale of the Cat) O-Klaravich Stables, Inc. B-Wolverton Mountain Farm LLC & Cameron Wheeler (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $85,000 wnlg ’16 KEENOV. This Chad Brown-trained newcomer was named a ‘TDN Rising Star‘ for an extremely impressive debut tally going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt at Saratoga Aug. 12 (Chart|Video). She showed good early speed to attend the pace, and kicked away from her competition very easily in the lane to run up the score to eight lengths. One would have to expect to see her in a race like the GI Frizette S. next time. Feedback’s half-sister by Street Sense will be consigned at Keeneland by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XXXI as hip 23. Graded-stakes-placed dam Honest Answer is a half to two other graded-placed runners as well as two other dams who in turn produced black-type horses. This is the female family of the likes of Grade I winners I Ain’t Bluffing and Borrego. FOG OF WAR (c, 2, War Front–Say {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) O-Peter M. Brant. B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $400,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. Unveiled by these powerful connections turf sprinting at Saratoga Aug. 13, Fog of War defeated a very strong-looking field with a powerful late rally in a driving rain to get up by a neck. The runner-up was $425,000 OBSMAR graduate All About It (Violence), while $725,000 fellow KEESEP grad Current (Curlin) completed the trifecta. Fog of War’s full-brother (hip 371), a May 8 foal, is consigned by Gainesway, Agent XXXIII. Dam Say, a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in her native Ireland, is also responsible for the two-for-two recent Sir Henry Cecil S. winner Naval Intelligence (War Front). The colts’ second dam is MGISW Riskaverse (Dyanformer), who was purchased at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton November sale for $5 million. GRACEFUL PRINCESS (f, 2, Tapit–Havre de Grace, by Saint Liam) O/B-Whisper Hill Farm (KY). T-Ralph E. Nicks. Out of Horse of the Year and $10-million FTKNOV purchase Havre de Grace, this Ralph Nicks pupil went right to the front and never looked back going seven panels at the Spa Sept. 2 (Chart|Video). Timber Town consigns a full-brother to the winner as hip 8 on behalf of Many Pope’s Whisper Hill. In addition to their supremely talented dam, Graceful Princess and hip 8 hail from a deep and classy family that includes the likes of Plugged Nickel, Christiecat, Riskaverse and Tonalist. GUNMETAL GRAY (c, Exchange Rate–Classofsixtythree, by Include) O-West Point Thoroughbreds & Hollendorfer LLC. B-Lee Pokoik (KY). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. Sales history: $85,000 RNA yrl ’17 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo ’18 OBSMAR. Third behind highly regarded ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GI Del Mar Futurity show horse Roadster (Quality Road) going six furlongs at Del Mar July 29, this grey colt appeared to relish two turns when he showed improved speed en route to a 6 3/4-length romp going a mile back in San Diego Aug. 22 (Chart|Video). He earned a solid 89 Beyer Speed Figure for that effort. Gunmetal Gray’s Uncle Mo half-sister will be offered through the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment as hip 782. Dam Classofsixtythree got up late for third in the 2010 GI Ruffian Invitational H. at Saratoga. She produced an American Pharoah filly this spring before being bred back to Gun Runner. MAGIC ON TAP (c, 2, Tapit–Aubby K {GISW, $435,004}, by Street Sense) O/B-Summer Wind Equine (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Backed down to 4-5 first up Sept. 1 while looking to become the latest in an incredible string of high-class 2-year-olds unveiled by his Hall of Fame conditioner during the Del Mar meet, this well-bred gray seemed like he was still figuring things out while floating clear by 2 1/2 lengths at the end of 6 1/2 furlongs (Chart|Video). The horse he beat had been a close third on debut, and was 6 3/4 lengths clear of the third finisher, with another 6 1/4 lengths back to the fourth horse. Lane’s End will sell Magic on Tap’s Medaglia d’Oro half-sister, already named Twenty Four K, as hip 667 next week. Dam Aubby K crushed her competition by 15 1/2 lengths first out at Belmont as a juvenile, and annexed the GI Humana Distaff two seasons later. She sold for $2.4 million to Summer Wind Farm carrying Magic On Tap at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Her now 3-year-old Tapit colt Principe Guilherme brought $600,000 at that same sale, and was second in this year’s GIII Lecomte S. MR. ANKENY (c, 2, Into Mischief–Intelyhente, by Smart Strike) O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC. B-William Duignan & Tranquility Investments Limited (KY). T-Dale L. Romans. Sales history: $350,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP. These connections have run some good ones at Ellis in recent years, including Grade II winner/GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Not This Time (Giant’s Causeway), and Mr. Ankeny could be another one with a future. Third first up under the Twin Spires in June, he went one better behind subsequent Ellis Park Juvenile S. winner Tobacco Road (Quality Road) over an additional furlong July 29. He only won by a neck over that same track and trip Sept. 2, but he was very game in victory and earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure that compares favorably to most of the Ellis baby races run at the recently concluded meet (Chart). Paramount Sales, Agent LV will present an American Pharoah half-sister to Mr. Ankeny (hip 47) at KEESEP. Dam Intelyhente is a full to MGSW Bel Air Beauty, who in turn produced Canadian champion sprinter Stacked Deck (First Samurai). She herself is the dam of impressive debut winner and subsequently stakes-placed Count Alexander (Scat Daddy). PROUD MANDATE (f, 2, Strong Mandate–Proud Dame, by Proud Accolade) O-Nick Sanna Stables LLC. B-Nancy C. Shuford (KY). T-Keith Nations. Sales history: $62,000 wnlg ’16 KEENOV; $35,000 2yo ’18 OBSOPN. This speedy bay filly likely flew under the radar a bit given her debut came in a rained-off Monmouth maiden, but she showed serious speed to grab the early lead and clear off by six lengths at the wire (Chart|Video). She also showed some speed, if not some immaturity, when covering an eighth in :10 1/5 at OBS June. Hunter Valley Farm picked up Proud Mandate’s Candy Ride (Arg) half-brother for $185,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale, and will re-offer him next week as hip 314. Winning dam Proud Dame is out of stakes-winning juvenile Galadriel (Ascot Knight), who has produced eight winners including GSW/MGISP juvenile Concave (Colonel John). SLIMEY (f, 2, Quality Road–Argue, by Storm Cat) O-Madaket Stables LLC & Hat Creek Racing. B-Stone Farm (KY). T-Brendan P. Walsh. Sales history: $35,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP; $95,000 RNA 2yo ’18 OBSAPR. Fifth from far back while sprinting on the Indiana lawn Aug. 14 for a barn that very rarely wins first out, Slimey was hard ridden early in a rained-off heat Sept. 5 before dropping back. She came alive again late down the center of the track to get up in the waning stages in a head-turning performance (Chart). Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm will offer a full-sister to the winner (hip 655) next Thursday. Their unraced second dam Verbal (Kingmambo) was an $800,000 acquisition. This is a female family that includes European champion Rainbow View, Grade I winner No Matter What, E Dubai, et al. STELLAR AGENT (f, 2, More Than Ready–Lawn Party, by Medaglia d’Oro) O-Madaket Stables LLC, Steve Laymon, Martin Scheinman & Roger Kaplan. B-Hargus & Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm, LLC (KY). T-Jorge R. Abreu. Sales history: $175,000 yrl ’17 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR. Stellar Agent, dismissed at 13-1 sprinting over good Saratoga turf Aug. 31, scored by 3 1/2 lengths first up despite being herded significantly when making her move in the lane. She leveled off very well once clear (Chart|Video). Hip 114 is a Pioneerof the Nile half-brother to Stellar Agent who will be consigned by Warrendale Sales, Agent XXXI. Stakes-placed dam Lawn Party sold for $335,000 carrying Stellar Agent, and second dam Fiery Pursuit (Carson City) was a Grade II winner. This is the female family of Grade I scorers Flanders, Surfside and Air Force Blue. View the full article

Back in the Bluegrass state for the first time this season, Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschenider's Lull will return to Kentucky Downs to defend her title in the Sept. 8 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T). View the full article

Rory Babich and Donna Barton Brothers have joined the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation’s Board of Directors. Babich currently assists in the operation of St. Elias Stables and prior to that served as CEO and President of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Former jockey Brothers is the COO of Starlight and Star Ladies Racing. TIF will release their first in-depth industry report later this week. View the full article

Kentucky Downs and the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association have each pledged $5 per start at the five-day 2018 Kentucky Downs race meet to go to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is grateful to Kentucky Downs and the Kentucky HBPA for supporting our equine athletes. These funds will help the TAA support our 64 accredited organizations that retrain, rehome, and retire thousands of Thoroughbreds,” said TAA president John Phillips. View the full article

The Kentucky Equine Education Project released a white paper outlining their position on legal sports wagering in Kentucky. It details what will be critical to allow for a successful implementation of sports wagering in Kentucky, following the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling in May that struck down the previous law that limited sports wagering to just a few states. Click here to view the paper. View the full article

Always Dreaming, winner of the 2017 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), has been retired from racing and will join the stallion ranks at WinStar Farm, it was announced Sept. 5. View the full article

Last term’s GI Kentucky Derby and GI Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister–Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand stud at WinStar Farm for a 2019 fee of $25,000. “He was brilliantly fast, and he has everything you want in a stallion–looks, pedigree, and performance,” said WinStar’s Elliott Walden. “We dream about the Kentucky Derby every day, but the race I really liked was the Florida Derby. When I saw the teletimer, I was amazed. We are excited to add a potentially breed-shaping stallion from the Unbridled line, which has proven to be today’s preeminent classic sire line.” Purchased by bloodstock agent Steve Young for $350,000 at Keeneland September, Always Dreaming was initially campaigned by Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables, MeB Racing Stables and St. Elias Stables. Hitting the board in his first two outings for Tony Dutrow in New York, the dark bay was transferred to Todd Pletcher and won his first two races for the seven-time Eclipse winner last winter, after which West Point Thoroughbreds and Siena Farm bought in. Always Dreaming took his win streak for Pletcher to the next level with an impressive score in the Florida Derby and followed suit decisive victory over a wet track at Churchill on the First Saturday in May. Off the board in the GI Preakness S., he was third in the GII Jim Dandy S. and called it a season after a disappointing effort in the GI Travers S. last August. Bought into by WinStar, China Horse Club and SF Bloodstock for his 4-year-old season and stallion career, Always Dreaming was winless in three starts in 2018, with his best effort being a second in the GII Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile S., and he retires with a record of 11-4-2-2 and earnings of $2,415,860. “He was one of the most athletic horses I have ever trained,” said Pletcher. “He has a terrific bounce to him. I compare him to a panther, a fluid mover.” Bred by Santa Rosa Partners, Always Dreaming is out of GSW and GISP Above Perfection, who also produced Grade I winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union). Click here to view a roundtable discussion on Always Dreaming, featuring Pletcher, Young and owners Vinnie Viola and Anthony Bonomo. View the full article