Wandering Eyes

A criticism often levelled at the racing and bloodstock games is that ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ There is a fair degree of truth in this assertion, but once in a while someone defies the odds by coming seemingly out of nowhere to reach the top of the tree. In Great Britain in the final quarter of the 20th century Martin Pipe rose from obscurity to a position of utter dominance in National Hunt racing. More recently Mark Johnston has risen to the top on the Flat from even less promising beginnings. To appreciate the magnitude of Johnston’s latest landmark–his record-breaking 4,194th domestic winner, reached when Poet’s Society (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) landed the Clipper Logistics H. under Frankie Dettori on the second day of the York Ebor Festival on Aug. 23–it is worth considering the truly remarkable story of his road to success. Born in Glasgow in 1959, Johnston grew up with barely a connection to the sport bar a burning ambition to become a trainer. His idea of getting himself closer to achieving this aim when he left school with moderate grades was to enrol at Glasgow University’s Veterinary School to gain a qualification which he believed might make people view him as someone qualified to look after their horses. He also approached Tommy Craig, a small-time trainer near Dunbar on the east coast of Scotland, to let him ride out on occasions, despite the fact that, as Johnston’s father observed at the time, “Mark’s having problems with his horses. He gets on them and they run away with him all the time.” Johnston, though, was undaunted. Furthermore, he absorbed all the knowledge that Tommy Craig could pass on. Reviewing his unconventional journey to the top, Johnston subsequently observed in his authorised biography (written by Nick Townsend and published in 2006) that “Tommy was always a small, struggling–probably gambling–trainer, but I probably learnt as much about training racehorses there as anywhere else. Tommy trained on the beach. It gave me the confidence that I could do that too. I didn’t feel that, when the time came, I would necessarily need any grass gallops.” Having qualified as a veterinary surgeon, Johnston worked for 3 1/2 years in veterinary practice (in Northern Ireland, near Middlesborough, and at Braintree in Essex). All the while he kept trying to find a position in racing, but to no avail. As he later told Townsend, “I was just looking for a job in the racing industry, in any shape or form. I wrote to trainers, and owners. I applied to be racing manager for Fahd Salman; I didn’t get it, obviously. I phoned Martin Pipe and asked if he needed an assistant. There was nothing advertised. Nothing came of it. I also applied for a job with Sheikh Mohammed, in 1985. I wrote twice and then I went and handed him a letter at Newmarket October Sales. I didn’t get a reply.” Clearly the only options were either setting up his own stable or abandoning his dream. “I was looking for any way to get into the sport, and the most obvious way was to look for a yard to start training.” The drawback, of course, was that Johnston didn’t have any money. He and his wife Deirdre had no more than £1,000 in the bank. This obviously limited their options. It was inevitable that any property which they could buy would be far off the beaten track and in poor condition. Against all odds, they were able to purchase a run-down property in Lincolnshire, comprising a 20-box stable-yard with a three-bedroom house and a flat, for £50,000. (To do this, he borrowed £5,000 from his father for the deposit and then eventually managed to persuade a bank manager to lend them the remaining £45,000). The gallops, following the practice of Tommy Craig, would be the local beach. The next step, of course, was to receive a trainer’s license. That proved to be nearly as problematic as the purchase of the property. Early in February 1987, Johnston fronted the Jockey Club’s Licensing Committee in Portman Square in London. The reasons not to give him a license (not least the fact that, in the minds of the stewards anyway, he didn’t have any gallops) were many. Johnston had felt that his veterinary qualification would work in his favour, but the secretary of the Licensing Committee soon disabused him of that fallacy with the dispiriting observation, “Just because you’re a vet doesn’t mean that you can train a horse!” In fact, the only thing in Mark Johnston’s favour was that Tommy Craig had asked Michael Pope, the President of the National Trainers’ Federation, to support the application. When the stewards eventually and grudgingly told him that he could start off with a license only for National Hunt racing to run jumpers in the winter, Johnston stunned both them and himself with his boldness, replying, “No, thanks. I’m going to give everything to do this. I can’t do it part-time. I need a license for 12 months of the year. Give me a combined license or no license at all.” This tactic worked. “They sent me back out again, called me back in, and basically said OK. Where I got the balls to come out with that I don’t know. But thank God I did!” What would eventually become the Johnston juggernaut was now on the road, albeit still stuttering along in first gear. His first runner, a 9-year-old gelding called General Billy, finished ninth in a 21-furlong handicap hurdle at Towcester on Feb. 17, 1987. His second runner, Rosie Oh, became his first minor place-getter, finishing fourth in a novices’ hurdle at Huntingdon a week later. Better was to come once Flat had resumed in the spring. The stable contained two 2-year-olds, both inexpensively bought and owned by Brian Palmer. One of them, Hinari Video (GB) (Sallust {GB}), won second time out, making all the running over five furlongs at Carlisle on July 1. That was Mark Johnston’s only win in 1987, a tally which increased to five in 1988. It was clear, though, that the remoteness of the stable was a limiting factor as regards his future success. A move to a more mainstream location was required. Financial limitations, however, made such a move problematic, but Kingsley House in the long-established North Yorkshire training village of Middleham was lying empty. Its last two previous owners had both gone bankrupt, and the asking price consequently was low. A deal was done, and the Johnstons moved in. Thereafter the trainer’s ascent through the ranks, which at the time appeared unlikely and in retrospect was inevitable, continued without interruption. Having failed so utterly at the outset to interest Sheikh Mohammed in what he had to offer, Johnston continued to petition the Maktoums for their patronage. In the autumn of 1992 he finally heard the magic words, “It’s Anthony Stroud (who was then Sheikh Mohammed’s principal racing manager) on the phone.” One filly arrived: Pearl Kite (Silver Hawk) who went on to win at York the following year. In the autumn of 1993, a fax from Dalham Hall Stud arrived beginning, “Your yearling allocation is…” Kingsley House contained six Maktoum-owned horses in 1994. Thereafter the total continued to grow. And grow. And grow. The upshot, aside from a never-ending flow of success, was that “suddenly we had customers to whom we sent a bill saying ‘please pay within 30 days’ and they paid sooner! Bad debts became a thing of the past. It helped solve our cash-flow problems. Now we could pay the staff without worrying about it.” The landmarks in Mark Johnston’s training career have been many, provided variously by precocious 2-year-old sprinters and by ageing stayers, and by all types of horses in between. Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on Apr. 30, 1994, was the scene of arguably the Johnstons’ day of days: Mister Baileys (GB) (Robellino) provided the trainer with his first Classic by taking the G1 2000 Guineas and the cheaply-bought and ultra-genuine sprinter Double Blue (GB) (Town And Country {GB}) landed the sprint handicap. The 25 victories (including 11 in stakes company) from 97 starts between 1991 and ’96 of the super-tough sprinting mare Branston Abby (Ire) (Risk Me {Fr}) were all special. Double Trigger (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {GB}) galloped his way into the hearts of the nation by taking the Stayer’s Triple Crown in 1995 and subsequently adding two more Goodwood Cups and two more Doncaster Cups. Royal Rebel (GB) (Robellino) joined Double Trigger in the stayers’ pantheon when taking two Ascot Gold Cups (2001 and ’02). Yavana’s Pace (Ire) (Accordion {Ire}) arrived in Kingsley House in 1998 as an unremarkable 6-year-old handicapper and went on to become the oldest horse ever to win a Group 1 race (a distinction which he still holds) when breaking through in the G1 Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal in Germany at the age of 10 in August 2002. Another famous overseas triumph was provided by Fruits Of Love (Hansel) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba in 1999. Similarly admirable was Jukebox Jury (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who won eight black-type races between 2008 and ’11, his finest hour coming when he dead-heated for the G1 Irish St Leger as a 5-year-old. Attraction (GB) (Effisio {GB}) only joined Johnston’s stable after her famously incorrect conformation made her unappealing to other trainers, but she became the darling of the British Isles between 2003 and ’05 by landing a host of thrilling victories including the G3 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, the G2 Cherry Hinton S. at Newmarket, the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot, the G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket and the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown. Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) established himself as perhaps the most talented horse the trainer has ever prepared when taking the G1 Dewhurst S. in 2004 prior to his switch to Godolphin; while Awzaan (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal) and The Last Lion (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) also showed themselves to be top-class juveniles by winning Group 1 races at Newmarket. Even to this day, many of the stable’s stars have been inexpensively purchased by the trainer. Most notable of several current examples is the high-class juvenile Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), who recently extended his unbeaten run by taking the G2 Qatar Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood, a meeting which Johnston ended as the leading trainer for the 12th time. Johnston bought Dark Vision last autumn for 15,000 gns in Book Two of Tattersalls’ October Yearling Sale. Years ago, Johnston set himself the yearly target of 100 wins and £1,000,000 in prize money, but these benchmarks were soon rendered redundant as the winners (at every level) continued to come with such metronomic regularity that it is now unthinkable that he could endure a season so unsuccessful that he merely passed those totals by a small amount. His charges have become notorious for their ability and willingness to race boldly, frequently and well; and his motto ‘Always Trying’ is as true for the horses as it is for their trainer. The typically determined ‘thou-shalt-not-pass’ triumph of Poet’s Society at, appropriately enough, Yorkshire’s most prestigious meeting was the 4,194th British victory of Johnston’s remarkable career, enabling him to pass the previous record held by Richard Hannon senior. He now ranks as numerically the most successful trainer in the history of British racing. Over the past 31 years no trainer has become more synonymous with hard work, commitment and integrity, or has done more to earn the respect and admiration of racing’s professionals and public alike. The breaking of any record is special. The breaking of this particular record is particularly special. And particularly well timed. The recently published Fitzdares Racing Futures List of racing’s supposedly most influential youngsters has encouraged many cynics to conclude with regret that the summit of the sport is all but unattainable unless one comes into the game already armed with both connections and money. The phenomenal achievements of Mark Johnston provide a perfect counterbalance, reminding us that with talent, hard work and determination, no mountain is too high to be scaled, irrespective of the base-camp from which one has started the ascent. View the full article

“My experience especially in New York is that horsemen care and they have, in most cases, been fully prepared to help cover the costs of rehab. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, but we are heading in the right direction. New York racing has a lot to be proud of.” We caught up with the very busy Lisa Molloy in East Greenbush, NY which has been the home of ReRun, a non-profit organization rehabilitating, retraining and adopted off-track Thoroughbreds for the past three years. TAN: I remember when ReRun first started in the 1990s. How did you come to be involved with ReRun? LM: I first met Lori Nagel one of the co-founders of ReRun when ReRun was just getting started. I was working for New Vocations and we would work events at Turfway Park. In 2012, when I left New Vocations, I started training and adopting out horses for various other programs including The Exceller Fund, Akindale and ReRun. By 2013, ReRun was having difficulties and I was notified by the board they intended to close the program. I told them I could not let that happen and I took over. I closed all but two farms, replaced the board of directors with respected industry insiders and reworked the entire organization from the ground up. Today we are one of the most successful Thoroughbred adoption and rehab programs in the country and we are the largest in New York. TAN: You have experience with horses in many disciplines. Tell us how your background helps you to understand and connect with Thoroughbreds? LM: I started riding at age four and started galloping National Hunt horses at 15. I had the privilege to work for J.G. Fitzgerald, who was one of the biggest and most successful National Hunt trainers in Europe. He trained Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Forgive N Forget and Minnehoma, who went on to win the Grand National. By 18, I was riding works on Androma, who won two Scottish Grand Nationals and the Whitbread. I moved to the US at 20 with two suitcases and $400 and basically took any job I could find. I worked with AQHA World Champion cow and roping horses in MS before moving to Texas to work for Bob Perry Quarter Horses, home of the legendary Zippo Pine Bar. It was during the advent of shipped, chilled semen and embryo transfers. Joe, Jeanne and Terry Swader, who were the managers at BPQH, were my mentors and I credit them with teaching me so much from foaling mares to critical care of sick foals. Upon returning to England, I was the assistant manager at Littleton Stud, home to two two-time Cartier Horses of the Year, Lochsong and Persian Punch. I then worked for Mary Hambro, one of the most respected people when it came to sales prep before going on to work for the Queen’s racing manager, John Warren. TAN: How did you apply your experience to your work with OTTBs? LM: I was never very good at sports and never paid much attention at school, but I was good at riding. As a kid, I had success showing horses and especially jumpers. I worked hard, never saw my gender as hurdle, and the most important thing–I asked a lot of questions about how successful people did things and why.I took what worked for me and developed my own protocols. I created a very successful rehab program based on my experience working with some of the top horses in the world. ReRun’s adoptable horses are presented in a manner that would not be out of place in the show world and would also gain the approval of the Queen’s racing manager. TAN: Describe Rerun’s location in NY. LM: Our piece of heaven on earth? I found the property three years ago and it is a world class, custom-built show horse facility with every amenity needed for what we do. We have 48 stalls, a 100 x 200 indoor arena, an outdoor arena, Eurocizer and 17 paddocks and fields on 21 acres. Earlier this year, local businessman Brian Hart donated the facility to ReRun, which is incredible when you think where we were at five years ago. TAN: How has moving just outside of Saratoga helped the organization? LM: We are ideally located at the junction of I-90 and I-87 and central to all tracks in New York. Due to our close proximity to the interstate, it is exceptionally beneficial to shippers in the winter months getting horses in and out. I also feel we are a little removed from the cluster of charities seeking funding in the county and we have a whole different revenue stream here in the Capital district. We are very accessible for visits from members of the gaming commission and other legislative bodies based in Albany. TAN: How many Thoroughbreds are you placing annually? LM: It’s steadily grown every year–usually, we are successfully placing more than 80 horses a year. TAN: Do you have a recent favorite story about horses you have placed? LM: Fear That (Ice Box)–he was locally bred by Chris Shelli and trained by Nick Zito and over time, his persona caught up with his name. He retired with a bow and he was just an unhappy and sour horse. A young lady in her late teens called me and wanted to adopt him and I told her, “Nope–he’s way too much for horse for you.” But she was relentless and after speaking to her father, I let her take him. This past weekend he won the green division, not only at that show but also the year-end circuit award for the green division. I am so proud of them both, especially of her. She is the epitome of what this is all about. TAN: Is ReRun maintaining any permanent retirees? LM: We have a sanctuary farm in Maryland which is home to 11 horses including Breeders Cup contender Azar and Hurricane Maria survivor Toy Cannon. Here in New York, we have Saratoga Snacks, West Hills Giant and of course Most Happy Fella. While not a sanctuary program, we make every effort to care for those horses accepted into the program that ultimately are not viable for adoption. TAN: Have you seen changes in the last 5 years in the way that the horses are coming to you? LM: Although 70% of our intake has some form of prior injury, nice, sound, clean horses are what initially bring people to the program. As we continue to prove ourselves with our success, more sound horses are retired to us. After I left New Vocations, Nick Zito was our main and most vocal supporter and he brought a lot of owners and trainers to us. They retire horses with us in mind. Owner Jeff Treadway was also remarkable–he has stuck with ReRun through thick and thin and always donated exceptionally nice horses to the program. The moment one horse leaves, I have a horse to replace it. We also continue to take horses for Take the Lead and when possible will try to assist other programs as needed. Michael Imperio said although there are programs all over, it’s tough finding programs to take injured horses or those that have the capability to take horses needing specialized rehab and that is our niche. He and his wonderful wife have been instrumental in helping get the word out to other New York owners. TAN: Do you see a difference in the horses themselves? LM: Horses are retiring a lot earlier then they would have 10 years ago. Overall, we are seeing fewer catastrophic injuries or if they have suffered a major injury, the connections are making efforts to get the horse surgical intervention or rehab immediately so that the horse can still go onto another career. My experience especially in New York is that horsemen care and they have in most cases been fully prepared to help cover the costs of rehab. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, but we are heading in the right direction. New York racing has a lot to be proud of. TAN: Have industry groups like Take the Lead and TAA changed your business model at all? If so, how? LM: Take the Lead is a godsend because the horses are evaluated at the track by a vet, they come with a stipend, and they facilitate surgeries for those requiring it. They also are part of Take2, which encourages the participation of Thoroughbreds at rated shows and that is always a good thing. Both TCA and TAA have always been very good to ReRun and although I constantly strive to adhere to the highest possible standards, it’s nice to know those standards are reviewed, appreciated and ultimately awarded with accreditation. I think it helps keep people on their toes which isn’t a bad thing. When trying to be successful in anything, criticism, anger and insults are not your enemy, apathy is. Accreditation removes a great deal of that. TAN: If you could be granted three wishes about Thoroughbred racing, what would they be? LM: As an industry, I wish we did more to counter the negative outside influences that seek to destroy and end horse racing. Instead of ignoring them, address the misinformation which they propagate. The British racing industry has been very successful with the introduction of The Horse Comes First–I wish we had something like this: www.thehorsecomesfirst.com. I would like to see a euthanasia fund and more efforts made to educate owners that euthanasia is not the enemy. If you cannot afford to keep your old broodmare, are unable to and cannot guarantee a safe retirement, don’t give them away on Facebook or Craigslist. The hardest thing to do in many cases can be the right thing. I would like to see a bigger levy added to the foal registration fee that ultimately goes to the TAA. Another $50 per foal would net over $1 million–that’s huge for us receiving funding from the TAA TAN: You have a fundraiser coming up. Tell us about it. LM: We have our annual fundraiser every year on the last Tuesday of the meet. For years, we did a big cocktail party and it was hugely successful. But as with everything I do, I like to evolve and change to keep things fresh. So, this year it’s Jeans and Boots on Tuesday August 28 at 6:00 p.m. at a different venue, Saratoga National. I have been assisted with the new format by Robin Malatino of beautiful Sugar Plum Farm. She has poured her creativity and inventiveness into this event, so it is not to be missed. We will have live music, new exciting ways to support and raise money, and chef-inspired ‘smores around the fire pit. We are excited about our special guest Edgar Prado along with our host, The Beast of Belmont, NYRA’s Anthony Stabile. Click here for information. Diana Pikulski is the Editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network, a searchable database for all thoroughbreds available for adoption from organizations and individuals across the US and the Caribbean. 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Saratoga Racecourse hosts the Grade 1 $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes which is run over one mile and two furlongs this Saturday and welcomes eleven runners which include one filly set to partake among the rest of the field of colts. Last year’s winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Good Magic is the favourite. The son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin, is trained by Chad Brown and is set to be ridden by Jose L. Ortiz. The three-year-old won the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes on his last outing at Monmouth Park last July by an impress three-length victory. Connections will be confident that the one mile and the two-furlong trip will suit the colt and after his latest strong performance, he holds leading claims. Prior to his win in the Haskell, Good Magic has won the Blue Grass Stakes, finished second in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness Stakes. This form behind Triple Crown winner Justify looks very strong, Mark Casse’s stable star Wonder Gadot is another strong contender and is set to be steered by Irad Ortiz Jr. The Gary Barber-owned runner is the only filly in the race and with her current consistent form she will be a danger to all in the race. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro defeated male rivals in two of Canada’s most prestigious three-year-old races in the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Wonder Gadot is the first filly to run in the Travers since 1979. La Rotha was the last filly to win the Travers back in 1915. Can Wonder Gadot break the 103-year colt-winning streak? It may just be possible with this strong game filly. Son of More Than Ready, Catholic Boy will be one to watch as the colt has returned to the winners’ circle on his last two outings. He won impressively at Belmont in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes and previous to this winning the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes at the Belmont track last June. The Jonathan Thomas-trained Chad Brown has a double hand on the card and another big player set to run for the trainer is Gronkowski. The son of Lonhro, has some strong form this season with figures of 2111 to his name and although the three-year-old changed trainer from Jeremy Noseda to Brown only last June, connections are hopeful Gronkowski can continue his impressive form to leave his mark on the results of the Travers contest. Others to watch include Steven Asmussen-trained Tenfold who is set to be ridden by Richardo Santana Jr and Vino Rosso who is trained by Todd Pletcher ridden by John R. Velazquez. Selection: Wonder Gadot The post Travers Stakes Preview: Can Magic make it another Good performance? appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

As her sire did in 2009, Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) carried the Tsui silks with genuine swagger to collect one of the York Ebor meeting’s trio of group 1 races, the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday. Winning with impressive panache in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh July 21, the chestnut was the 7-4 favourite this time and James Doyle sat as quiet as he had in Kildare in rear throughout the early stages. Letting all rivals play their cards first in the straight, she was launched on the lead 1 1/2 furlongs out and had too much speed for the 4-year-olds Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who followed at 2 1/4-length and length intervals. “That was sensational–she surprised me today as it’s a front-runner’s track here and she had a bit to do, but she was devastating,” trainer William Haggas said. “She didn’t half pick up when he asked her and she’s doing really well. I thought at The Curragh you could see every rib, but you could only see a couple today. She’s a bit of a tail-swisher and all that, but she came to the races today and stood like a rock to be saddled and is as cool as a cucumber. She’s a very late foal and didn’t come to me until December and usually I don’t really like that but they felt she needed time. She’s not in the Arc, but I think Mrs Tsui will go for it if we want to.” SEA OF CLASS (IRE), f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Holy Moon (Ire) (SW-Ity, $161,048), by Hernando (Fr) 2nd Dam: Centinela (GB), by Caerleon 3rd Dam: New Generation (Ire), by Young Generation (Ire) (170,000gns Ylg ’16 TATDEY). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Razza Del Velino SRL (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-James Doyle. £198,485. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 5-4-1-0, £470,232. *1/2 to Charity Line (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f & G1SW-Ity, $454,242; Final Score (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), G1SW-Ity, $435,934; Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f, MGSW & G1SP-Ity, $497,183; Wordless (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $148,264; Back On Board (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), GSP-Ity, $176,250; and Magic Mystery (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}), SP-Ity. View the full article

Instead of stretching out farther in the Travers Stakes (G1), Flameaway will cut back to 1 1/16 miles in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) Aug. 25 at Parx Racing. View the full article

Day three of the Ebor Festival welcomes the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes to York Racecourse. Ran over five furlongs, this year’s race has sixteen runners and is open to horses two years and older. Will strong contender and favourite, sprinting superstar Battaash claim another Group 1 prize under Jim Crowley? Or will it be Charles Appleby’s stable star Blue Point that will return to the winner’s circle? How about Michael Dods four-year-old Mabs Cross? William Haggas is a big supporter of the Ebor Festival and runs Muthmir who is another name to keep an eye on. Half-brother to sale topper Marsha, Julie Camacho-trained Judicial is another big name among entries who is set to make his debut at Group 1 level. Mabs Cross is certainly a talking point in the betting market. The daughter of Dutch Art has a consistent form and on the filly’s last outing she finished third in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last month. However, the Ebor Festival will be the filly’s first time running at York. Jim Crowley is set to ride the favourite, Charles Appleby’s superstar Battaash in the Group 1 challenge and he will be the horse everyone is striding out to beat. The son of Dark Angel has an impressive form and has finished 121 on his last three outings after having his wind done last November. The four-year-old last ran at York this time last year but had trouble loading when finishing fourth in the same contest. With the huge improvement in his form, he will take all the beating. Fan of the Festival, William Haggas stable is represented by the ever-green Muthmir. The son of Invincible Spirit has a consistent form to date and he has finished in the top five on all of his starts in 2018 but he is now eight years of age and Haggas commented in a recent interview with Racebets: “He’s in great shape. He wants the fast ground to be at his best, so we’ll be watching the weather. He’ll run his usual good race but the likes of Battaash look tough to beat.” Judicial is the older half-brother to Elite-owned Marsha, who toppled the odds-on Lady Aurelia in a photo-finish to land York’s sprint feature last year, with Battaash fourth after proving difficult to load. The six-year-old will be reunited with Luke Morris on Friday, who rode Marsha at York for Sir Mark Prescott. Aidan O’Brien runs four in Sioux Nation, Declarationofpeace, Washington DC and Battle of Jericho. It will be all eyes on Battaash for the Nunthorpe Stakes. Selection: Battaash Kelly’s Dino and Ben Curtis winning The JGR Handicap at AscotSky Bet Handicap The Sky Bet Handicap kicks off day three of the four-day racing Festival. With a full field of twenty runners going to post, this one mile and four furlongs challenge could be anybody’s race. Yet there is some stand out names that are certainly worth discussing prior to making moves on the betting market. Sir Michael Stoute’s inmate Melting Dew is set to be ridden by Ryan Moore. The four-year-old has been going from strength to strength and although he has to contend with a five-pound rise which asks even more of the four-year-old it seems he may just be up to rising to the challenge. Charlie Appleby-trained First Nation is another strong contender in the race. The son of Dubawi improved over the season in some competitive handicaps and connections will be hopeful the four-year-old will have come on since his last appearance on the track. Ben Curtis takes the ride aboard Karl Burke-trained Kelly’s Dino. The five-year-old won when last seen in the JGR Handicap at Ascot at the end of last month. Others to watch include Ralph Beckett’s Pacify and Tim Easterby-trained Mukhayyam. Selection: Kelly’s Dino Stradivarius (Andrea Atzeni,right) beats Torcedor (Colm O’Donoghue) in the Goodwood CupWeatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes The second race to grace the York track on Friday is the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes. A competitive field of eight runners go to post in the two and a half mile furlongs challenge and it is set to be an exciting and strong race. The name on everyone’s lips surrounding the Lonsdale Cup Stakes is Stradivarius. John Gosden’s crack stayer has a seriously impressive form and with Frankie Dettori doing the steering, the four-year-old will be hard to beat. His form this season is currently 111 and having won Cup races at York, Ascot and Goodwood this season connections will be hopeful the son of Sea The Stars will be out to make it four in a row and in the process pick up a £1 million bonus. Another contender is Ed Dunlop’s stable star Red Verdon who will be ridden by Jim Crowley. The five-year-old has placed second on his last four outings and will be going all out to beat the favourite. Ballydoyle’s only representative Idaho will be ridden by stable jockey Ryan Moore and is another to keep an eye on in the betting market for each wy players. The five-year-old finished in third place to Stradivarius at Goodwood last month. Selection: Stradivarius Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes The Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes hosts a field of nine runners and is open to colts and geldings who are two years of age. Ran over six furlongs it welcomes some interesting competitors. Ryan Moore partners the favourite, The Irish Rover. The son of No Nay Never is a big player in the race and on his last outing finished third in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Connections will be hopeful the rising star will continue to improve enough to take the title at the York track. Shine So Bright is another player in this and William Buick takes the ride on the Andrew Balding-trained colt. The progeny of Oasis Dream looks set to run another big race after his last outing witnessed the two-year-old finish in third place to a strong field in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. Oisin Murphy is having a fantastic week at the Festival and has already won the Juddmonte International aboard Roaring Lion. The Irish man will mount Legends Of War who is trained by John Gosden for this Group 2 challenge. Connections of the son of Scat Daddy will be eager to see an improvement in the colt that allows him to nab the spoils. Other names to watch out for include Richard Fahey’s Space Traveller and Charles Hills Chuck Willis. Selection: Legends Of War The post Ebor Festival Day Three Preview: Can Sprinting Superstar Battaash Seize The Day? appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status in her May 7 unveiling at Naas, annexed a stellar renewal of The Curragh’s May 26 Listed Marble Hill S.–accounting for subsequent G2 Railway S. hero Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy) and G2 Richmond S. victress Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never)–and went postward for Thursday’s G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York coming back off a first defeat in Royal Ascot’s June 22 G3 Albany S., hitting the board in a third straight start at six furlongs. The January-foaled bay was away sharply and established an early lead. Easing to race underneath the stands’ side rail by halfway, the well-backed 6-4 favourite came under when first tackled and then headed by The Mackem Bullet (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) either side of the eighth pole and felt the full persistence of Ryan Moore in the dying embers to regain the initiative by a nose on the line for a career high. “She’s been off since [Royal] Ascot, where she ran a very good race in the Albany, and I thought we’d won as her head was in the right place at the line,” commented Moore. “She had a good trip, it was very smooth and there’s more to come from her. She’s a lovely, scopey filly and I’m sure she’ll be a better 3-year-old.” Trainer Aidan O’Brien, whose resume was short of a Lowther win until now, added, “[Owner] Mrs [Evie] Stockwell has liked her from day one and thinks she’s a very special-looking filly. She’s very classy, has lots of early pace and is brave too. Mrs Stockwell had it in her head that she would come here and then go for the [Sept. 29 G1] Cheveley Park [S. at Newmarket].” Reflecting on a recent virus which has afflicted the stable’s fortunes in recent weeks, O’Brien continued, “It was in all three of our yards and was as bad as we’ve had at Ballydoyle. I think we’re at the other side of it now and the year is not over yet, but if there is a relapse the season is over.” Fairyland is one of three winners from as many runners out of Queenofthefairies (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and she is kin to MGSW G1 Irish 1000 Guineas placegetter Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Muhaarar (GB). Queenofthefairies is an unraced daughter of G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 King George S. victress Land of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), herself the leading performer for G3 Molecomb S. winner Sahara Star (GB) (Green Desert), and she is thus a half-sister to dual European champion and MG1SW sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}) and stakes-winning G3 Arc Trial runner-up Into The Dark (GB) (Rainbow Quest). Thursday, York, Britain SKY BET LOWTHER S.-G2, £225,000, York, 8-23, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.23, g/f. 1–FAIRYLAND (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Queenofthefairies (GB), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert 1ST GROUP WIN. (925,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Mrs Evie Stockwell, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £127,598. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 4-3-0-1, $232,827. *1/2 to Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Aus, $283,187. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–The Mackem Bullet (Ire), 126, f, 2, Society Rock (Ire)–Elkmait (GB), by Trade Fair (GB). (£9,000 Ylg ’17 GOUKSI). O-B Robe; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Brian Ellison. £48,375. 3–Queen Jo Jo (GB), 126, f, 2, Gregorian (Ire)–River Song, by Siphon (Brz). (£11,000 Ylg ’17 GOUKPR; 68,000gns 2yo ’18 TATBRE). O-Roger Peel; B-Bearstone Stud Ltd (GB); T-Kevin Ryan. £24,210. Margins: NO, 2, NO. Odds: 1.50, 25.00, 16.00. Also Ran: Firelight (Fr), Little Kim (GB), Orange Blossom (GB), Stage Play (Ire), Flawless Jewel (Fr), Angel’s Hideaway (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

It is a quarter of a century since the Camacho family first guided the Elite Racing Club into the world of breeding racehorses. Former trainer Maurice took charge of the small handful of reasonably-purchased fillies and mares from which a Group 1 dynasty has sprung at Star Cottage in Malton. Now, with Camacho’s daughter Julie and her husband Steve Brown at the helm of this dual breeding and training operation, it seems appropriate that their first-ever chance of a top-class winner could be reaped from the seeds of an inspired investment by an ownership group which provides an interest for thousands of members nationwide. Although Judicial (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) was not raised at Star Cottage, he is a direct product and were he to follow on 12 months after the victory of his half-sister Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York, the story would seem to have been taken full circle. “My father-in-law has always had mares for Elite and the main mare we had here was Kalinka (Ire) (Soviet Star),” Brown explained. “She passed away a few years ago but bred [multiple Group 1 winner] Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire} and a lot of the family tree goes back to her. She bred mares like Baralinka (Ire)(Barathea {Ire}), who bred Marlinka (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), who bred Marsha and Judicial.” “It’s a good lineage but it all started from a couple of mares and the success that Elite have had in terms of breeding good horses has never really been looked at in detail, in my opinion. What they achieved with a relatively small amount of mares is amazing. The likes of [G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner] Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Tribute Act (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus} have come along too, all from a few mares. If you think what the big operations are trying to do with hundreds of mares, it’s a fantastic story.” Maurice handed the key to the yard to his daughter and son-in-law back in 1998, having taken over a licence himself from his stepfather WA ‘Charlie’ Hall, a renowned jumps trainer. Recently, he also endowed the broodmare side of the business to the couple. “Dad did say he was going to retire but he’s still very much involved,” Julie said. “I enjoy it, it takes your mind off being totally focused on the racing,” added Brown. “We have good staff and make decisions between us. Elite have two mares here at the moment – Affinity (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and Kind Of Hush (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). Affinity is a daughter of Kalinka, so the line continues. We have some mares for other clients, some of whom are friends of my brother-in-law Matt Camacho. Martin Hughes and Michael Kerr-Dineen have a couple and Johnny Allison has a share in one with us.” Duties are shared between the two of them but Julie tends to monitor the gallops with Brown, a former assistant to Luca Cumani and usually the spokesperson, remaining in the nerve centre. “I’m more in the background, but I don’t mind it that way,” Julie explained. “There’s a lot more labour involved than there used to be, so we both muck in.” There have been plenty of lean times over the years, with annual tallies often dwindling to low single-figures. Recently though, in a North Yorkshire scene which seems to grow increasingly competitive, Judicial has been spearheading quite a revival. Along with Elite, owner-breeders such as David Armstrong and Geoff and Sandra Turnbull have joined a stable which tends to number fewer than 30 and is concentrated upon the Flat. “We’re having our best-ever year, our previous best was 17 last year but we’ve surpassed that and are already onto 19 winners and nearly £200,000, aided and abetted by Judicial’s success,” Brown said. “Three years ago we changed our routine totally, and it’s been a steady progression from there. We feel as though it’s been helpful. We keep everything very simple and don’t have masses of horses. Of course, we get things wrong, but we hope to get more right than wrong.” Julie added: “Dad bought Star Cottage 37 years ago after we moved from Towton, and he used to have a few jumpers along with majority Flat. He won the Mackeson Gold Cup in his first season with Clear Cut and had some good ones like Avro Anson. We do have a dual licence but none of our owners are really interested in the jumps, and I get very nervous watching them anyway.” The use of heart-rate monitors has been a useful innovation but there has been one particularly interesting amendment made to their regime. “We use the public gallops in Malton and to ride them up there, which we used to do, would take an hour and a half round. So now we warm them up at home, box them up to the gallops, they do their exercise, come home and are turned out,” Brown revealed. “It’s an odd one really, but they seem much fresher and happier doing that. An hour and a half is quite a long period to ride a horse each day, especially in modern times. Those days of two or three lots a morning are gone, and you’ve got to adapt to keep up.” Judicial was originally with Roger Charlton and has made his way up in incremental levels though handicaps and conditions races. Now six, he was collared by fellow northern star Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G3 Palace House S. in the spring and finally struck at the same level when fending off fellow veterans Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Mirza (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Coral Charge at Sandown. “There were one or two incidents of poor behaviour down at Beckhampton and Roger, in fairness to him bearing in mind this was a horse who won his first three races as a 2-year-old, suggested he might be happier in a small yard with some turnout,” Brown explained. “When he moved up, Roger was forensic in the detail of what we might and might not do, and most of it has proven to be accurate. Fortunately it worked out well but it’s his third season with us to get to this stage.” “We had a slight issue with him before he was going to go and run in Ireland, his blood picture wasn’t 100%, so we sidestepped that. He came back to full health very quickly and has been training well since.” “All the main protagonists are having a run here and there and we thought we’d go there nice and fresh. Racing in the weather we’ve had, such a dry, sustained period, can take a little bit more out of horses than normal. We wanted to go to York in peak condition.” Judicial is not the only one of the family in training from a network which has gained ever more credence since the sale of Marsha for a European public auction record 6-million gns to Coolmore’s MV Magnier at Tattersalls last December. Their 4-year-old half-sister Marseille (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) has been one of the few disappointments this term for the yard but there could be higher expectations from Judicial’s juvenile full-sister Loretta (Ire). Brown reports that Marlinka currently resides at Furnace Mill Stud and is in foal to Frankel (GB). “Marseille won and was placed last year but just hasn’t gone on this year,” he said ruefully. “That’s horses I’m afraid, and I do hope we can get her back. She’s never going to be the level of Judicial, I feel, but she’s a winning half-sister to a Group 1 winner so there’s a residual value and I think the likelihood is that Elite will breed from her.” “The 2-year-old’s a nice filly. We got her to about three-parts speed and she shows promise but she’s a little immature so we’ve eased back on her now. She may run towards the end of the year. There are some similar traits but she’s quite a different model.” It will be a different proposition for Judicial against the likes of Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), but his worth to Star Cottage–even if he is a gelding–is assured. “My dad had a lot of good horses but he never had a group winner,” Julie concluded. “Judicial was our first-ever group winner and will be our first Group 1 runner. We know it will be tough but he deserves his chance.” View the full article

The first two staging posts on the European yearling sales circuit could hardly be in greater contrast. And certainly some of those makin’ whoopee at Le Drakkar last weekend may prove a little harder to find in downtown Doncaster next week. In the town’s Victorian heyday, of course, the Turf’s greatest achievers and characters would convene here with no less hilarity. These days, however, people move on from Deauville knowing that the party’s over. No more calvados, no more langoustines: time to get to work. And that fits well with the sleeves-rolled-up stock on offer at Goffs UK. Trainers love this sale, because they know they’ll find businesslike animals. The sort that will do a job, the sort to crack on. Above all in the opening two sessions of Arqana’s August Sale, in contrast, the catalogue has an aristocratic feel. These yearlings drive their sports cars along the seafront, smoking cigars. As such, as with all boutique sales, it would be wrong to leap to dogmatic conclusions about any incipient trends. Yes, the third day and then the v2 sale together give a broader foothold. But the data, so early in the calendar, remains too contingent on incidental factors. Whether one or other among the big players happens to be in town, for instance; and, above all, just the relative standard of the sample selected from this year’s crop. Certainly it would be invidious to read too much into the performance of the first yearlings presented to market by new sires. Simply to have a physical admitted to the weekend sessions should be considered a feather in the cap. And if one or two more commercial types happened to have a presence, later in the sale, then they really won’t begin to reach their core market until next week and beyond. That said, the industry’s fatuous obsession with first-season sires–despite the fact that almost all of them will never again stand at so high a fee, nor achieve so high a sales average–is such that it feels necessary to record at least how they dipped their toes into the water. That exercise is more likely to prove deceptive, however, if you rank the rookies (as is conventional) by average sale price. Because one of the first imperatives, going to market, is obviously to shift your stock. Discounting those lots that fail to meet their reserve, then, distorts a sire’s performance. True, from time to time the failure to sell might reflect the reluctance of a breeder to part with a cherished prospect, and the posting of an extravagant reserve. But not very often. If you’re trying to get an early handle on the market’s receptivity, it’s surely more instructive to include the rejects. It might seem unfair, equally, to combine results from August and v2 sales. Clearly you’re not comparing like with like. But for what it may be worth, let’s just rank them according to the way they were received, at whatever level of the market–that is, by the average achieved per animal presented. The guy at the top is a case apart. American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile)’s sales debut in his homeland has already been spectacular, from his weanlings last year to Saratoga this month. Of the pair of fillies sold here, one–from a deep turf family–was bought by her sire’s owners in a fascinating gesture of faith in his potential to overcome transatlantic parochialism; the other, however, is to be exported back to the land of her father. Muharaar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), similarly, maintained his pitch from the foal sales this side of the water. Those who were able to get a mare to him continue to reap the benefits of the conservative fee set by Shadwell. The most expensive sire of the intake was Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who has to pay his way at twice the fee. Three of his eight yearlings here did not meet their reserve, but one of those reached €370,000, so let’s not be in any hurry. Having said that, Coolmore wasted no time in moving the tee closer to the hole for Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), giving him an immediate cut from €60,000 to €40,000. He looked after himself pretty well, in that context, moving on seven of eight while punching on level terms with Golden Horn. Incidentally, the data for this table is Arqana’s. Revisiting the results, it seems that Gleneagles actually found a new home for all eight but with two sales, not one, listed as “amiables”; Muhaarar, equally, moved his sixth lot on as a private sale. So that adds another caveat to those already made. To show how fragile all this data is, in fact, you need only consider Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}): of his pair, he shifted one for €200,000, while the other raised only €15,000. Very early days, then, one way or another–and everything still to play for. As for the market overall, a lot of vendors felt that even hefty sales were made on thin ice: that there were very seldom more than a couple of hats in the ring. On the face of it, that might seem consistent with a couple of conspicuous absences. Last year, for instance, Sheikh Hamdan was in town and headed the buyers’ list with nine at €2.4-million. This time Shadwell didn’t play at all. The well-documented difficulties of Markus Jooste, meanwhile, also took something out of the equation compared with 2017. Conversely, however, Al Shaqab bounced back from anonymity last year to divide MV Magnier and Godolphin on the buying podium. A look at those spending €1-million or more shows not only that there were more of them–11, compared with nine last year–but also that they accounted for more of the market, at 47% of ring sales. This table shows that the elite spenders achieved almost exactly the same footprint as 2016; and that it was actually last year when the equivalent sector accounted for fewer lots (47, compared with 66) and for a lesser share of the market (38%). Having already cautioned against reading too much into a boutique sale so early in the calendar, we should resist treating slippage in the overall indices as evidence of a European plateau in the bloodstock boom. Nonetheless it is worth adjusting those figures already published, based on ring sales, and incorporate the “amiables” transactions recorded separately by Arqana. That improves the effective clearance rate, for one thing, and of course the aggregate. But the table below, covering all years since the introduction of the V2 sale, shows that this is the first time that both August and v2–between them measuring a wide spectrum of the market–recorded a simultaneous drop in average. Nor was it a marginal one in the case of v2, perhaps the first of many sales to share the pain of burned fingers among breeze-up consignors this spring. If so, it will provide a wholesome reminder of the help those guys have been giving yearling values. Again, it’s early days. But for both sales to take a step back together is a curious straw in the wind. View the full article

In conjunction with Tom Hall's Look Back feature in BloodHorse Daily, BloodHorse.com each Thursday will present historic race stories from the pages of the magazine. View the full article

Gray-Boss's Magic wish Derby was now View the full article

Infantry ready to shoot for the Moonbeam View the full article

Tougher tune but Kiss Your Song still smacking lips for third win View the full article

Clements hopes Drone can soar back up again View the full article

Officials at the Breeders’ Cup in conjunction with Churchill Downs have announced that there will be future wagering on this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Wagering will be conducted in three separate pools, the first of which will accept wagering on the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic and GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff from Aug. 24 through Aug. 26. The Classic pool will close at 6 p.m. ET on the 26th and the Distaff at 6:30 p.m. ET. Both pools will include 23 individual betting interests and a 24th to encompass all others. The second of the three pools will include the GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sire Future Wager and will open Aug. 31 through Sept. 2. The third and last of the betting pools will take place Oct. 5 through Oct. 7 and will encompass a second Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager and the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. “Working together with our partners at Churchill Downs, we look forward to expanding the Breeders’ Cup wagering product for our fans with three exciting future wagering opportunities prior to this year’s World Championships,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. Acclerate (Lookin At Lucky), blow-out winner of the GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 25, was made the 4-1 favorite in the first Classic pool, ahead of Eclipse Award winner West Coast (Flatter) on 9-2. Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), the country’s top sophomore filly, rates as the 7-2 favorite in the Distaff, ahead of the 4-1 about Abel Tasman (Quality Road), who runs in this Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro), who takes on the boys in Saturday’s GI Travers S., is a 5-1 chance. Complete information on the Breeders’ Cup Future Wager is available at www.BreedersCup.com/Future-Wagers. View the full article

After her clear victory in the Honorable Miss Stakes (G2) July 25, Finley'sluckycharm will try to add to her Saratoga Race Course success Aug. 25 when she faces an expected eight other fillies and mares in the Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1). View the full article

In the crowded filly and mare sprint division, Carl R. Moore’s Finley’sluckycharm (Twirling Candy) will have a chance to separate herself when she goes postward as the likely favorite in Saturday’s GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga. A winner 11 times in 17 starts, the dark bay narrowly earned her first Grade I tally when scoring by a nose in the GI Madison S. Apr. 7 at Keeneland. Fading to fourth in the off-track GI Humana Distaff S. after that, she ran away in the final furlong to capture the GII Honorable Miss H. here July 25, avenging a neck loss in the same event last year. Alpha Delta Stables’ Lewis Bay (Bernardini) has only been out of the trifecta one time in 15 outings and she scored arguably her most impressive victory to date last out when cruising by 5 1/2 lengths in the GIII Bed O’ Roses S. June 8 at Belmont. Bob Baffert, who has yet to add the Ballerina trophy to his collection, ships in Cicero Farms’ Marley’s Freedom (Blame) with a big shot. Second in the GII Santa Monica S. this spring, the bay was transferred from Bob Hess, Jr.’s barn before airing by 7 1/4 lengths in the GIII Desert Stormer S. and earning a field-best 105 Beyer May 27 at Santa Anita. The bay followed that up with a more workmanlike success at 1-5 in the GII Great Lady M. S. July 7 at Los Alamitos. View the full article

Woodslane Farm’s 2017 GI Sword Dancer S. hero Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy) looked like he was home free in the GI Manhattan S. June 9 at Belmont, until a hulking gelding came charging down the center of the track to nail him on the wire at 18-1. He’ll be a much shorter price this time around, but Augustin Stables’ Spring Quality (Quality Road) is back to try to break the chestnut’s heart again as he tries to defend his title in Saturday’s Sword Dancer at Saratoga. Since upsetting at 7-1 in the $1-million event last Travers Day, Sadler’s Joy has managed just one victory, capturing the GII Mac Diarmida S. Mar. 3 at Gulfstream. Fourth as the favorite in the GII Pan American S. after that, he finished a close second in the GI Man O’ War S. and Manhattan before running third in the soft-turf GII Bowling Green S. here last out July 28. Spring Quality has been off since his Manhattan upset, but was progressing strongly before that. Running a good fourth as 23-1 in the GII Knickerbocker S. first time on turf last October, he scored at 12-1 in the GIII Red Smith H. and was second in the GIII Fort Marcy S. in his seasonal debut May 5 at Belmont. He’s drilled steadily for this return, first at trainer Graham Motion’s Fair Hill base and later locally, finishing preparations with a five-furlong move over the Oklahoma turf in 1:02 4/5 (6/9) Aug. 20. Three Chimneys Farm’s Funtastic (More Than Ready) will try to prove his last effort wasn’t a fluke. Moving forward steadily this term, the gray broke through with a wire-to-wire upset at 23-1 in the GI United Nations S. last out. The dead-heat winners of the Bowling Green also re-oppose here. Matthew Schera’s Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) got an easy lead over the boggy going and appeared destined to pull the 22-1 shocker, but Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber’s Channel Maker (English Channel) closed relentlessly to get on even terms with that one hitting the wire. View the full article

It may not have the box-office appeal that it would have had Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) shown up, but there remains plenty of intrigue and an array of storylines in Saturday’s 11-horse GI Travers S. at Saratoga. And whoever leaves with their colors being painted on that famous canoe will have wholly earned it. Leading the charge in the 149th running of the Midsummer Derby is a champion, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables’ Good Magic (Curlin). Breaking his maiden in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall to earn Champion 2-Year-Old Male honors at the Eclipse Awards, the $1-million Keeneland September buy started his sophomore campaign slowly with a well-beaten third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 3 at Gulfstream. Rebounding with a score in the GII Blue Grass S. Apr. 7 at Keeneland, he chased his fellow chestnut Justify when second in the GI Kentucky Derby and fourth in the GI Preakness S. With that colt out of the picture, Good Magic stamped himself as the 3-year-old to beat in the second half of the season with a comfortable three-length tally in the GI Haskell Invitational last out July 29 at Monmouth. Good Magic will try to give trainer Chad Brown, who has won just about everything but the Travers and the Classics, his first victory in the Saratoga meet centerpiece. The native of nearby Mechanicsville will also start the second choice on the morning line, Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}). Unbeaten in four synthetic starts after starting his career 0-for-2 on turf last fall, the dark bay finished full of run to be second at 24-1 in the GI Belmont S. in his Stateside and conventional-dirt bow June 9. “They’ve been training terrific, thankfully,” Brown said of his dynamic duo. “Both horses have trained over this track particular well. They are coming off strong works heading into the Travers. I’ve been trying to win this race for a while now. To have the top two choices in the race, you can ‘t be in a better position than that, but it’s a strong field and either of these horses will have the run their ‘A’ race to win, for sure.” Plenty of eyes will be on Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) as she bids to become the first filly to win the Travers since Lady Rotha in 1915. The last one to even contest the race was Hall of Famer Davona Dale, who finished fourth in 1979. A two-time graded stakes winner as a juvenile, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ spent most of this season running second and third, including a close runner-up finish to likely champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Kentucky Oaks. Adding blinkers facing males for the first time in the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine June 30, the dark bay responded with a 4 3/4-length romp, and she scored a similarly easy victory in the Prince of Wales S. July 24 at Fort Erie. Her connections passed on an easier spot against other fillies in Saturday’s GI Alabama S. to take a shot in the Travers. “There were a few reasons,” trainer Mark Casse said of that decision. “One, Gary Barber is never afraid to step out of the box. She gets five pounds. We got an extra week off the Prince of Wales, and, voila. We’re all right with trying to make history.” Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) will hope the third time is the charm on American dirt. Coming to the U.S. to take the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November, the $3-million KEESEP buy punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with an 18 1/2-length tour de force in the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 31 at Meydan. Never involved in Louisville, he was eased to finish last, and faded to be a well-beaten third as the favorite in the GIII Dwyer S. last out July 7 at Belmont. Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) looks to build on his impressive and diverse resume. Victor of the GIII With Anticipation S. over the local turf last summer, the bay dominated the GII Remsen S. on the Aqueduct main in December. Unable to find the mark in two dirt outings early this season, he returned to grass and knocked off division leader Analyze It (Point of Entry) twice after appearing beaten by that foe in both the GIII Pennine Ridge S. and GI Belmont Derby. “You only get so many chances as a 3-year-old to run a mile and a quarter on the dirt,” said trainer Jonathan Thomas. “I think early on [this season], he was going through a bit of a growth spurt. Now, we’re bringing a bit of a maturer, stronger young horse. We kind of owe it to him and the clients to give him a shot.” Like the favorite, a trio of runners who spent the spring chasing Justify are back to try to put their stamp on this division. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tenfold (Curlin), third in the Preakness and fifth in the Belmont, got back on track with a win in the local GII Jim Dandy S. July 28 despite drifting out badly in the stretch. Third that day was Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Vino Rosso (Curlin), who, after finishing ninth in the Derby, took a bold run at Justify on the far turn of the Belmont before flattening to finish fourth. Calumet Farm’s Bravazo (Awesome Again) also hopes for his moment in the sun after finishing sixth in the Derby, second in the Preakness, sixth in the Belmont and second in the Haskell. View the full article

On Aug. 25, Spring Quality will shoot for his second top-level triumph against nine challengers in the $1 million Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) going 1 1/2 miles at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

On Aug. 25, Spring Quality will shoot for his second top-level triumph against nine challengers in the $1 million Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) going 1 1/2-miles at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Looking to secure her third straight stakes win and fourth overall victory this season, Team Valor International's La Sardane (FR) will be the lone filly on the field when she headlines the $175,000 Play the King Stakes (G2T) Aug. 25 at Woodbine. View the full article

Fresh off a sharp victory in the GI Longines Just A Game S., Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) looked poised to capture another Grade I tally in the Diana S. at Saratoga opening weekend. At least, until the quarter pole, when she began to encounter traffic trouble and checked sharply off heels. Boxed in through the stretch after that, she had to settle for third behind fellow Chad Brown trainee Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). Saturday, she’ll get another shot at Spa glory as the likely favorite in the GII Ballston Spa S. Second in the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio last October at Capannelle in Italy, the gray was privately purchased after that and made an auspicious Stateside debut with a three-length victory in the GIII Beaugay S. May 12 at Belmont. Parlaying a sweet stalking trip into her Just A Game score June 9, A Raving Beauty shows a trio of bullet works over the local Oklahoma training turf since her eventful Diana run, capped by a five-furlong spin in 1:00 3/5 (1/23) Aug. 16. Brown also saddles two other runners in the Ballston Spa, giving him half of the six-horse field. Martin Schwartz’s Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) became a Grade I winner with a score in the GI Matriarch S. last November at Del Mar, but the now 6-year-old mare hasn’t had quite the same punch this season, running fifth as the favorite in the GII Hillsborough S., third in the GI Jenny Wiley S. and fourth, again as the public’s choice, in the Just A Game. Rounding out the Brown trio is Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a narrow second to champion Lady Eli (Divine Park) in last year’s Diana, who most recently finished another close runner-up in a Belmont optional claimer July 15. P K Siu’s Indian Blessing (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}), not to be confused with the two-time American champion filly, makes her North American debut in this spot. Victress of the G3 Sparkasse Holstein Cup July 4 at Hamburg in Germany, the chestnut was last seen running third, beaten less than a length at 20-1, in the G3 Lormarins Queens Plate Oak Tree S. Aug. 3 at Goodwood. View the full article

A Harbor the Gold full-brother to Washington champions Del Rio Harbor and Couldabeenthewisky as well as SW Sippin Fire was hammered down to Will Brewer, agent, for $85,000 to top Tuesday’s WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale. The colt, cataloged as hip 68, is a son of Bahati (Horse Chestnut {SAf}), Washington’s Broodmare of the Year in 2015. Ron Crockett signed the ticket at $55,000 on the day’s top-priced filly, a daughter of Girolamo–Courtroom Charmer (Tribunal). A half-sister to MSP Cariboo Road (Cahill Road), the April-foaled dark bay is out of a half-sister to champion Washington-bred 2-year-old filly Best Judgement (Demons Begone). Of the 95 horses to go through the ring, a total of 75 were reported as sold (21.1% RNA) for an average of $13,227 and a median price of $7,500, each of which represent slight gains from 2017. For complete results, visit www.washingtonthoroughbred.com. View the full article

D J Stable and Cash is King’s Jaywalk (f, 2, Cross Traffic-Lady Pewitt, by Orientate) strode home an authoritative winner of the White Clay Creek S. at Delaware Park Wednesday to become the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Unbridled’s Song). The 8-5 shot settled off the pace, rallied four wide into the stretch and reeled in pacesetting favorite Congrats Gal (Congrats) to win by two lengths. She completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04 2/5. Jaywalk was second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ and subsequent GIII Schuylerville S. runner-up Nonna Medeline (Candy Ride {Arg}) in her June 23 debut at Monmouth Park before graduating by a front-running 7 1/2 lengths at Parx July 24. The gray filly, a $190,000 KEESEP yearling, is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and graded placed Danzatrice (Dunkirk). Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $64,200. O-D J Stable & Cash is King LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds; T-John Servis. View the full article