Wandering Eyes

Peter Brant's Quidura (GB) proved too much for her competition Aug. 25, when she lead the entire 1 1/16 miles to win the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Mr Havercamp provided Sean Fitzhenry with a graded stakes victory for his birthday Aug. 25 and punched his ticket to the Sept. 15 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) in the process when he took the $175,000 Play the King Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine. View the full article

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Tatters to Riches may have a ways to go in earnings to get to his $1 million price tag, but he took a significant step in the right direction Aug. 25 in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar. View the full article

With a clean break from the gate and boundless energy, Matthew Schera's Glorious Empire outran the entire field to win the $1 million Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

With a wall of horses in front of him late in the final turn, jockey Joe Bravo didn't have much of a choice in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing. View the full article

TATTERS TO RICHES (c, 3, Union Rags–Poco Mas, by A.P. Indy), the joint second-highest priced offering at the 2017 OBS April sale on a bid of $1 million, remained unbeaten in two starts at three with a first stakes win in the Shared Belief S. Favored at 6-5 off a big-figure allowance score over 6 1/2 furlongs of this track Apr. 4, the May foal broke well from gate five and stalked the pace of Afleet Ascent (Northern Afleet) for the opening 5 1/2 panels. With Tyler Baze riding high in the saddle, Tatters to Riches kicked away with a furlong to travel and was about three lengths clear under the wire. The 11th black-type winner for his sire, Tatters to Riches was also a $60,000 KEESEP yearling in 2016 and hails from the female family of Grade I and Sovereign Award winner Interpol (English Channel) and MGSW turfer Del Mar Show (Theatrical {Ire}). Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0. O-Red Barons Barn LLC or Rancho Temescal; B-Mt Brilliant Farm LLC (KY); T-Jeff Mullins. View the full article

The most versatile 3-year-old of his generation, Catholic Boy bested Mendelssohn by open lengths Aug. 25 to win the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

CATHOLIC BOY (c, 3, More Than Ready–Song of Bernadette, by Bernardini) was ruled out of this year’s dirt Classics after bleeding badly in the GI Florida Derby, and regrouped with victories in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. and GI Belmont Derby in his two subsequent appearances. Possessed of a horse with renewed confidence, the bay ridgling was given a chance back on the main track in Saturday’s GI Runhappy Travers S. and validated connections’ decision with a convincing defeat of pacesetting Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and Bravazo (Awesome Again). Used hard from the 10 hole by Javier Castellano, Catholic Boy showed good early speed, enough to cross down into the two path, where he clocked Mendelssohn through a quarter in :23.16 and a half in :47.81. Given his cue at the 2 1/2-furlong pole, Catholic Boy reeled in the front-runner in upper stretch and pulled readily clear to score with ease. Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John D Fielding, Catholic Boy was offered as a short yearling at the 2016 Keeneland January Sale and was originally led out unsold, but was purchased post-RNA from the Taylor Made consignment by trainer Jonathan Thomas, agent for Robert LaPenta’s Whitehorse Stable, for $170,000. Catholic Boy marks the sixth Travers winner for Javier Castellano, a streak that began with the 7 1/2-length score by Catholic Boy’s broodmare sire in 2006. The winner is kin to a yearling filly by Carpe Diem and a filly foal by Exaggerator. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-0. O-Robert V LaPenta, Madaket Stables LLC, Siena Farm LLC & Twin Creeks Racing Stable; B-Fred Hertrich III & John D Fielding (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. View the full article

The immensely popular gelding Page McKenney (Eavesdropper) has been retired due a tendon injury in his left front. A fixture from Gulfstream to Saratoga and just about everywhere in between for seven consecutive years, the 8-year-old took 13 starts to break his maiden and was claimed for $16,000 at Penn National in 2013. Under the tutelage of Mary Eppler, Page McKenney started moving up from the claiming ranks and eventually won 14 blacktype races. He closed out his career with earnings of $1,905,940 with his biggest scores for owners Adam Staple and Jalin Stable being the 2016 General George S. and the 2018 Salvator Mile S., both GIII events. With 22 victories from 58 career starts, the modern day iron horse’s final race was a third in the GIII Monmouth Cup S. on July 29. Staple said Page McKenney would be rehabilitated at a Virginia or Maryland farm and eventually could be transitioned into a track pony. View the full article

With a clean break from the gate and boundless energy, Matthew Schera's Glorious Empire outran the entire field to win the $1 million Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

GLORIOUS EMPIRE (g, 7, Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}–Humble and Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) was given a perfect front-running ride by Julien Leparoux and kicked home hardest of all to pull a 15-1 upset in Saturday’s GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga. Friendless in the markets despite his last-out, front-running dead-heat victory in the track’s GII Bowling Green S. July 28, Glorious Empire was ridden for gate speed and had to work fairly hard through a quick opening sectional of :23.16, but the brown gelding came back nicely to Leparoux, who managed to slacken the pace dramatically over the next six furlongs. They Sword Dancer field reached halfway in 1:13.88, with Glorious Empire dictating from Bowling Green dead-heater Channel Maker (English Channel), and that duo raced more or less in lockstep off the home turn. But with plenty left in the tank, Glorious Empire accelerated sharply into the final furlong and a half and shaded 23 seconds for the ultimate quarter-mile to win comfortably in the finish. Channel Maker held the place spot ahead of GI Manhattan S. hero Spring Quality (Quality Road), who lacked a late kick in third. Glorious Empire is the 13th Grade I/Group 1 winner for his successful dual-hemisphere stallion and second in the United States, joining Rich Tapestry (Ire). Holy Roman Emperor has been represented by additional top-level scorers in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Germany and Brazil. Lifetime Record: 23-9-0-3. O-Matthew Schera; B-Patrick Grogan; T-James L Lawrence II. View the full article

Sent off at overlaid odds relative to his achievements, WHITMORE (g, 5, Pleasantly Perfect-Melody’s Spirit, by Scat Daddy) worked out a perfect ground-saving journey beneath Ricardo Santana, Jr., got through a gaping hole off the final corner and outfinished heavily favored City of Light (Quality Road) to register an 8-1 upset in the GI Forego S., earning a berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint in the process. The chalk was off perhaps a half-step slowly and was consigned therefore to a four-deep trip down the back as Whitmore drafted kindly in behind. City of Light was poised to go, but came very wide into the lane, and Whitmore took full advantage, driving through at the fence, opening a bit of a lead and then holding sway as City of Light made up inches late. Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal), who defeated Whitmore in the GII Belmont Sprint Championship last month, was a late-on-the-scene third. Whitmore is the third Grade I winner for his sire and the second (first in the US) produced by a daughter of the late Scat Daddy. El Picaro (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky x La Sinverguenza) was recently named champion 2-year-old turf male in Chile. Lifetime Record: 22-11-5-2. O-Robert V LaPenta, Ron Moquett & Head of Plains Partners LLC; B-John Liviakis (KY); T-Ron Moquett. View the full article

Hard-knocking Whitmore surged to the front off the final turn and turned back a challenge by multiple grade 1 winner City of Light in the stretch to earn his first career top-level win in the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1). View the full article

1.35 Curragh, Debutantes, €17,500, 2yo, 7fT CIRCUS MAXIMUS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of three Ballydoyle bluebloods assembled for this newcomers’ event and the pick of Ryan Moore. Flaxman Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s February-foaled bay is the first foal out of the demoted G1 Matron S. winner Duntle (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). He is joined by Fresno (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a rare runner for the stable in the George Strawbridge silks who is a son of his brilliant multiple Group 1 winner and triple Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and Susan Magnier’s colour-bearer Globe Theatre (War Front), a son of the 2012 G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). View the full article

Hall of Famer Mike Smith felt the rail was playing better Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course, which made an easy four-wide victory in the $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) by Marley's Freedom even more impressive. View the full article

Favored to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a first victory in the GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga, MARLEY’S FREEDOM (f, 4, Blame–Relaxing Green, by Formal Gold) was content to race out wide, but came to pacesetting Finley’sluckycharm (Twirling Candy) in upper stretch and kicked it into another gear to score by about four lengths. Settled in about fifth, within range, but about four off the inside in the run to the turn, the $35,000 Keeneland September purchase was scrubbed on to take closer order at the five-sixteenths. Spun about four deep into the lane, Marley’s Freedom took her independence from her rivals with a furlong to come and reported home a much-the-best winner. The lightly raced Still There (Union Rags) bobbled at the break, but recovered to race just behind the leaders and was game in second, while the pace-pressing Lewis Bay (Bernardini) picked up her fifth career Grade I placing in third. Marley’s Freedom is the third top-level winner for her Claiborne-based stallion and second this season, joining Santa Margarita S. romper Fault. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-0. O-Cicero Farms LLC; B-Jack Swain III (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

Just like their last meeting at Saratoga Race Course, Abel Tasman and Elate dueled to the wire in the stretch in the $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 25. View the full article

Abel Tasman (f, 4, Quality Road–Vargas Girl, by Deputy Minister) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (f, 4, Medaglia d’Oro–Cherry, by Distorted Humor) put on a show at Saratoga last summer in the GI CCA Oaks, with the former posting a head success after surviving a claim of foul by Jose Ortiz aboard Elate. It was deja vu all over again in Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S., but in the end, Abel Tasman-favored at 3-4–got just the better of Elate following an enervating stretch run and survived yet another lengthy debate in the stewards’ room. Content to sit back in fourth early as 55-1 She Takes Heart (Wilburn) threw down fast fractions, Abel Tasman was allowed to roll forward, as is her custom, to take up the running passing the midway stage and a half in :46.62. Still clear on the turn, with Ortiz sitting hard against Elate and waiting to release the brakes, Abel Tasman was in front turning for home, but was tackled in earnest at the three-sixteenths. Racing a few lanes apart into the final eighth of a mile, Abel Tasman appeared to drift out and Elate towards the inside, brushing first before exchanging a bump. Abel Tasman hit the wire about a neck to the good, as Ortiz appealed to the judges two strides past the wire. After a handful of minutes, no change was made and the result allowed to stand. The final time of 1:47.18 took 0.78 seconds off the previous 9-furlong stakes record established by Quick Mischief in 1992. The Personal Ensign was contested over 10 panels from 1995-2011. Lifetime Record: 14-8-4-0. O-China Horse Club International Ltd & Clearsky Farm; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

2nd-SAR, $85k, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, post time: 1:33 p.m. ET Don Alberto’s homebred MADDING CROWD (Giant’s Causeway) makes her first trip to the post for trainer Bill Mott. The filly is out of graded stakes winner My Gi Gi (E Dubai). Chad Brown saddles firster Miss Rombauer (Scat Daddy), who sold for $375,000 after working a furlong in :10 2/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale. She is out of a full-sister to graded stakes winners Winding Way (Malibu Moon) and Kauai Katie (Malibu Moon). Blahnik (Bernardini), a $575,000 OBS March graduate, will look to improve on a lackluster 10th-place effort sprinting over the main track in her July 20 debut. TJCIS PPs 5th-SAR, $85k, 2yo, f, 6f, post time: 3:15 p.m. ET Godolphin homebred ENLIVEN (Ghostzapper), a daughter of multiple Grade I winner It’s Tricky (Mineshaft), debuts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The filly is a half-sister to GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and GIII Gotham S. winner Enticed (Medagalia d’Oro). Rodolphe Brisset sends out Magic Cap Stables’ firster Wheedle (Flatter), a $350,000 FTSAUG yearling. TJCIS PPs 4th-DMR, $60k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 6:30 p.m. ET Michael Lund Petersen’s pair of bullet purchases from the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale debut for trainer Bob Baffert. TALE OF THE UNION (Union Rags) was purchased for $925,000 after working a furlong in a bullet :10 flat, while Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) was a $625,000 purchase in Timonium after working a quarter in a bullet :21 1/5. Paddy Gallagher saddles first-timer Harmon (Cairo Prince), a $500,000 purchase by agent Jamie McCalmont on behalf of Jon Kelly at OBS March (:10 1/5). He is out of Summer Shade (Stephen Got Even), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Hot Summer (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs View the full article

Promises Fulfilled lived up to his billing in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes presented by Runhappy (G1) when he took the heat early from Gidu and kept going en route to leading a 1-2 sweep for trainer Dale Romans. View the full article

A market firmer in the closing minutes, Robert Baron’s Promises Fulfilled (c, 3, Shackleford-Marquee Delivery, by Marquetry) took some early heat from Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and despite setting a sharp pace, rebroke at the eighth pole and kicked on gamely to become his Darby Dan-based stallion’s first Grade I winner in Saturday’s GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga. After opening at 5-2, the $37,000 Keeneland September yearling was available at 2-1 for a time, but was ultimately bet well under his morning line and was favored at 6-5 at the off. Away without incident from the one hole, the last-out winner of the GIII Amsterdam S. looked to be the chief speed of the Jerkens, but Gidu would not allow Promises Fulfilled a breather as he chased from his saddle towel. Able to dispense of that rival, trying dirt for the first time, Promises Fulfilled cut the half-mile in :44.34, but looked in some danger as Engage (Into Mischief) revved up to his outside into the stretch. Seven Trumpets tried to make a run inside entering the final furlong, but Promises Fulfilled had an extra gear and pulled clear late to take it by 1 1/4 lengths. Seven Trumpets completed the Dale Romans-trained exacta at 32-1, while Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Adventure) rallied late into third. Denali Stud offers Promises Fulfilled’s yearling Tiznow half-brother as hip 1075 at the upcoming Keeneland September sale. Lifetime Record: 9-5-0-2. O-Robert J Baron; B-David Jacobs (KY); T-Dale Romans. View the full article

There is abundant action across Europe on Sunday, but with eyes to the horizon it is The Curragh’s card which intrigues the most as some budding Classic prospects are tested in the G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. and G2 Debutante S. In the former prize, Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is widely expected to provide Aidan O’Brien with a 12th renewal and follow in the steps of the likes of Giant’s Causeway, Hawk Wing, Gleneagles (Ire) and Churchill (Ire). Off the mark by eight lengths over a mile at Killarney July 15, the half-brother to the G1 Railway S. winner Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) went back to this seven-furlong trip to annexe Leopardstown’s G3 Tyros S. by 4 3/4 lengths 11 days later. Joined by the stable’s Aug. 10 Listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. winner Christmas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and June 17 Cork maiden scorer Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), he faces the July 1 course-and-distance maiden one-two Klute (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Guaranteed (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Klute’s trainer Jessica Harrington said, “He’s in good form and the form of his maiden has worked out well. We’ve been happy with him since and we’ll find out where he stands in the pecking order.” In the Debutante, Lady Kaya (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) enjoys the limelight after her emphatic 10-length success in this venue’s Loder Irish EBF Fillies Race at this seven-furlong trip Aug. 12. Trainer Sheila Lavery is ready for the biggest day of her training career. “She’s all set to go. We’re very happy with her,” she commented. “She’s just been cantering away. We haven’t done a whole lot with her since her last run, but she’s in good form. We’ll give it a go. There’s no point waiting for anything easier while she’s in good form.” Aidan O’Brien looks for a 13th edition with a trio of highly promising fillies headed by the authoritative Aug. 11 Cork maiden winner Zagitova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and this looks one of the strongest renewals for some time. Joseph O’Brien saddles a live contender in the impressive July 17 Killarney maiden winner Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}), while proven pattern-race form is on show via the July 26 G3 Silver Flash S. scorer Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy). Sylvester Kirk may have found an ideal opportunity for stable star Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) to gain a first black-type success in the G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville, having finished runner-up to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the June 1 G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom an third in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud a month later. Standing in his way is last year’s winner Tiberian (Fr) (Tiberius Caesar {Fr}) and Godolphin’s Aug. 11 Listed Prix Nureyev winner Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and trainer Charlie Appleby is looking at continuing his purple patch at this meeting. “He goes into the Sunday’s race in good order and this is a step up again for him,” he said. “He ran well at Newmarket over a mile and five furlongs, so is pretty versatile as regards to distance.” In the G3 Prix de Meautry Barriere, Teruya Yoshida’s Coeur De Beaute (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) brings Classic form into focus having been second in the May 13 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp while Andre Fabre runs the unexposed Juddmonte blueblood Vanbrugh (First Defence) off a course-and-distance conditions success Aug. 3. Back at The Curragh, Jim Bolger reintroduces last year’s G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. hero and TDN Rising Star Verbal Dexterity (Ire) (Vocalised) in the G3 Manguard Plus Royal Whip S. View the full article

Nick Alexander’s Just Grazed Me (Grazen) will put her unbeaten record on the line when she tackles open company for the first time in Sunday’s GIII Torrey Pines S. at Del Mar. The Phil D’Amato trainee romped home a 6 1/4-length debut winner over fellow Cal-breds going 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita June 24. She returned to take the seven-furlong Fleet Treat S. at Del Mar July 29 and will be adding an extra furlong in the Torrey Pines off a best-of-63 drill in 1:00 flat Aug. 17. Jay Em Ess Stable’s Aunt Lubie (Uncle Mo), who opened her career with a pair of starts in Arcadia this spring, graduated at the Torrey Pines’ track and distance when scoring by 1 3/4 lengths Aug. 10 for Richard Mandella. Also coming off a win over track and trip is Zayat Stables’ Lemoona (Lemon Drop Kid), who graduated at Aqueduct last December for trainer Bill Mott, returned to take a July 27 optional claimer for Richard Baltas last time out. View the full article

1st-Newmarket, £8,000, Cond, 8-25, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.86, g/f. JASH (IRE) (c, 2, Kodiac {GB}–Miss Azeza {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}), sent off the well-supported 15-8 favourite, raced behind the early leaders and took time to organise running down the “dip”. Flashing his tail when the whip was applied but in total command after striking the front 1 1/2 furlongs out, the bay who holds an entry in the G1 Middle Park S. on the Rowley Mile here Sept. 29 drew away to register an impressive 4 1/2-length success from Dazzling Dan (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). The dam, who has a yearling filly by No Nay Never to come, also won on her debut but was retired after twice refusing to race. She hails from the family of the G1 Fillies’ Mile and GI Yellow Ribbon S. heroine Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), whose daughter Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made her own headlines as the winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. Sales history: €88,000 Wlg ’16 GOFNOV; 185,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,647. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-William Pilkington (IRE); T-Simon Crisford. View the full article

The New York Racing Association welcomed four-time Eclipse Award-winning and two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert to the Walk of Fame at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article