Wandering Eyes

See and Shafrizal (five days), Iskandar (four) and Vorster (two) suspended View the full article

Logan and Duric combine for first Success View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–On the morning of Saratoga’s annual Red Jacket Ceremony, honoring a member of the racing community who has made a major impact at the Spa, the TDN‘s Christie DeBernardis caught up with new inductee Bob Baffert. The Hall of Famer reflected on his career, D. Wayne Lukas’s effect on it, his Triple Crown winners and more. Receiving the famous Red Jacket: “I think it is a very important honor. When they first started doing it, I thought, ‘Wow, this is such an honor.’ It is a very private club. I think it is a privilege and an honor to be in the same group as those people. I told Wayne to fluff me up good!” D. Wayne Lukas as a role model and pioner: “Wayne is the one who really encouraged me to try the Thoroughbreds. I remember Wayne, when I was 16, walking into a dusty old track in Arizona. He came in there a cowboy with his fancy trailer with fancy chrome wheels. That is when I said, ‘I want to be like that guy right there.’ He has always been a role model. He opened it up and gave us the confidence when he switched over to try Thoroughbred racing. We would probably all still be there if he hadn’t tried it. So when we came in, people said, ‘Well Wayne did it, so maybe we will give this guy a chance.’ He had a lot of success in the Quarter Horse business and I did too. I, luckily, won everything at Los Alamitos, so I figured I’d try [Thoroughbreds] out. Now, I’m winning all the Thoroughbred races there. We don’t take anything for granted. We just try to keep it going. We think, ‘How can we do better than last year?’ That is our goal to do better than last year.” Baffert’s career, especially his recent string of impressive success: “I’ve been so fortunate. I can’t believe it. I had [American] Pharoah, Arrogate and Justify. You are lucky to even get one like that in your lifetime. Every so often you have to pinch yourself. I have been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to think about what I’ve accomplished. People say to me, ‘Do you realize what you’ve accomplished?’ I say, ‘Well no, not really because once one good horse leaves, you are trying to get the next one in there.’ Maybe one day, 10 years from now, when I am sitting back there and things slow down a little bit, I will think, ‘Damn, you know what, we were in a pretty good run!’ But, we haven’t had a chance to think about it. It is a lot of fun. A lot of work goes into it, but everyone back here [on the backside] works hard. All of these trainers work hard seven days a week. We have just been so fortunate to be able to get those kind of horses. I feel confident when I do get one that we know what to do with it. I am glad I didn’t [have these kind of horses] when I first got in the business. I would have been overwhelmed by them. I remember Thirty Slews, that was my first big horse. I should have won the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Sprint like two years in a row, but I was just figuring out the business. I think he won in spite of me because he was just that good. I think I am a better trainer today than I was five years ago and so on. Racing is trial and error. You learn from your mistakes, so when you do get a good one, you go, ‘Okay, I am not going to do this or I am going to do this.'” Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy): ” One-hundred and 12 days tho, that was pretty incredible. When they are that good at that young age, they are just going to get better. He is just an incredible horse, incredible. I thought Pharaoh was incredible, but this guy, what he did, just incredible. That is why all the players kept waiting, like they did with Pharoah, and saying, ‘Okay, he can’t do it. He’s going to bounce.’ And, boom, he does it. But, we knew he was that good, Mike Smith and everyone knew. It was fun, but it was quick. It didn’t last very long. It was sort of sad not to be able to run him again.” View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Saratoga is arguably the most highly regarded racing venue in the country. Its prestige, history and level of competition are just about unmatched. Part of that history, however, is a reputation as “The Graveyard of Champions.” One of the most famous examples of that is the mighty Secretariat’s loss to Onion in the 1973 Whitney S., which was a Grade II at the time. More recently, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile)’s perfect sophomore season came to a halt at the Spa when Keen Ice (Curlin) surged past the champion late in the 2015 GI Travers S. However, an argument can be made that Saratoga has made as many champions as it has claimed, if not more. This has been especially true in the last five years with three of the last five Travers winners going on to be named champion 3-year-old and two of the last five GI H. Allens Jerkens Memorial S. (formerly known as the King’s Bishop) heros earning the Eclipse as top sprinter. “To put that in perspective, what you have to realize is, the media and a lot of the fan base have very short memories,” said Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. “So, what you do in the fall usually has a little more punch than what you do in the spring, unless you are Justify (Scat Daddy) and win all of [the Triple Crown races]. John Nerud, the Hall of Famer, always said, ‘Championships are made in the fall. They aren’t made in the spring.’ Well if you are going to make a champion, you have to do it here at Saratoga because this is the premiere meet where the world is watching.” Bob Baffert expressed similar sentiments, saying, “The thing about Saratoga is everybody is watching, the whole industry. This is where it happens. If you are going to showcase a horse, it is important to get a win on the East Coast, but if you can get it in Saratoga, it means more because it is probably the biggest platform to showcase a horse. All of these races have so much history and have been won by all the greats.” The Hall of Famer continued, “This is it. This is the top! That is why I shoot for Saratoga in the summer. It is a bigger venue than anywhere else. It is a huge accomplishment if you can win a stake up here.” Lukas campaigned the first of the aforementioned three recent Travers winners to go on to win the Eclipse Award in the regally bred Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song), who won the 2013 edition. Victor of that year’s GII Rebel S., the hulking chestnut was well-beaten in all three Triple Crown races, but began to come into his own at Saratoga, starting with a runner-up effort to that year’s GI Belmont S. winner Palace Malice (Curlin) in the GII Jim Dandy S. Will Take Charge followed that effort with a thrilling late rally to win the Travers, stamping him as a major player for the second half of the season. He went on to win the GII Pennsylvania Derby and just missed behind his elder Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) in that year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, sewing up the divisional championship. “He was close in the Jim Dandy, but the Travers definitely cemented him as one to watch,” Lukas said outside of his perfectly manicured barn at the back of the Oklahoma training track. “Of course, we threw one in there at Parx in the Pennsylvania Derby, where he lost by only an inch.” This year’s champion 3-year-old male award already belongs to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) as far as most people, including Lukas, are concerned, but the Travers could be an indicator of which sophomore will be a major player in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The famed conditioner hopes he has a sophomore fitting that billing in Travers contender Bravazo (Awesome Again), who has been knocking at the door of a top-level victory with seconds in both the GI Haskell S. and GI Preakness S. “We want to move forward,” Lukas said. “We are more interested in a Grade I on his resume, he doesn’t have that. We are interested in picking up a nice check and a win of this magnitude. I think as far as the Eclipse goes, you can chisel that trophy already. So, we are sitting here trying to do something economically and he is a stud horse, so we are trying to enhance his stud career. There are going to be two others on the ballot [in addition to Justify] to make it official.” “I am hoping I have Horse of the Year too,” quipped Baffert in reference to Justify. Adding, “If you can win here it is huge. It is a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup. You’ve got all the horses still running and still at the top of their game, other than Justify. He is one of the only ones not here. When it comes to the end of the year voting, I think if you see Saratoga, it gets a lot more weight.” Baffert is responsible for the last two Travers winners, Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) and West Coast (Flatter), both of whom went on to be named champion 3-year-old male. Saratoga was also the coming out party for both of these colts, who had previously flashed their talent, but not at the highest level or on the biggest stage, as Baffert called the Spa. “They have to be really good horses to win it,” the conditioner said. “I did it [the first time] with Point Given (Thunder Gulch) [in 2001] after he won the Haskell. It takes a really special horse to win those two races. He is one that could have won the Triple Crown.” He continued, “I like to have [a Travers runner] if I know I can win it. We were looking forward to bringing Justify up here. This town would have been crazy. When I brought Pharoah up here it was crazy. Everyone wanted to see him.” Baffert is without a Travers runner this year, but he does have a pair of Grade I contenders in the Personal Ensign S.-bound Abel Tasman (Quality Road) and Forego contender American Anthem (Bodemeister). “I could have run Abel Tasman at Del Mar, but it wasn’t sexy enough,” Baffert said with a laugh. “The Personal Ensign is huge. There are some good fillies in there. Basically this is the Breeders’ Cup.” He added, “I just love her. She is the barn favorite. She is so sweet. She reminds me of Pharoah. She is a big, long, beautiful filly and she has those ears like Pharoah. One thing about her is she shows up. She is pretty consistent. She is one of the best fillies I have ever trained. She is incredible.” As for American Anthem, who finished third in the Allen Jerkens last term, Baffert said, “American Anthem didn’t like it here last year. He doesn’t like this track and he doesn’t like Del Mar. He really likes Santa Anita and Belmont. Some horses just have their own tracks where they bring it. Then you have a horse like Pharoah and Justify who just bring their track with them.” The year American Pharoah came to Saratoga, the New York Racing Association turned Travers day into a “Super Saturday.” The card has previously included the H. Allen Jerkens, but in 2015 the Personal Ensign, Forego, GI Sword Dancer S. and GI Ballerina S. were moved to Travers day, creating a blockbuster event. “It is almost like a mini Breeders’ Cup,” Baffert said. “Sometimes it can be better than the Breeders’ Cup because these are horses are still fresh and at the top of the game. Sometimes by the fall they are starting to slack off a little bit. It is great racing. People like to see good race after good race after good race.” “I think if your horse is sound and everything it is hard to pass up races of this importance with these purses,” Lukas said. “Saratoga has the ability to give you a barometer as to whether you belong in the Breeders’ Cup.” The Coach added, “Obviously, management has done some research and figured out maybe this is a better way to go than having them all spread out. I’ve talked to racing secretaries and that seems to be the trend around the country. It is probably based on handle and not so much on attendance, because attendance is going to be good anyway, but evidently the handle, nationwide with simulcasting, is affected by that many good races.” Some conditioners are now using Saratoga, especially the Travers day races, as a springboard directly to the Breeders’ Cup. Baffert trained both Arrogate and 2016 Allen Jerkens winner Drefong (Gio Ponti) right up to wins at the World Championships after breakout victories at Saratoga. Drefong, like 2015 Jerkens and BC Sprint winner Runhappy (Super Saver), went on to be named that year’s top sprinter. More recently, trainer Dallas Stewart used this weekend as a final Breeders’ Cup prep for champion Forever Unbridled (Unbridled’s Song). She went right from the Spa to the World Championships without another prep race, winning last term’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff and the Eclipse for top older mare after besting champion Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Personal Ensign. “I think it is tremendous,” Stewart said. “They are great races with great horses and very challenging. The favorites don’t always win here. Next week is the [GI] Woodward and we are using that to get to the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Classic with Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}).” Last year’s Classic winner and Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) prepped for his Championship score with a victory in the Woodward. But, Stewart cautioned that this move is not for everyone. “It depends on your horse,” he said. “If you think you need another one, then you have to go somewhere and get another race. But, the timing is good, so just depends on your horse.” Stewart summed it up, saying, “You have to win. You cant be second.” View the full article

A Raving Beauty heads a trio of entrants for trainer Chad Brown in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

A bronze sculpture of Hall of Fame rider Julie Krone was unveiled during a private at the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame July 18. The piece was gifted to the museum by Krone, Linda Stinson and her husband, Michael. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Stinson began work on the sculpture in July 2016 before completing it in September 2017. It was subsequently sent to a foundry for finishing last October and was completed in July. The winner of over 3000 races and $90 million in purses, Krone was the first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. Krone was the first woman to win a Triple Crown race, the 1993 GI Belmont S. with Colonial Affair and a Breeders’ Cup race, the 2003 GI Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled. “On behalf of the Museum and its Collections Committee, we are thrilled to share our newest acquisition with our visitors,” said Victoria Reisman, the Museum’s curator. “To have a likeness of the first woman inducted into our Hall of Fame exhibited in our Sculpture Gallery is an absolute honor for us. We want to thank Julie, Linda and Michael for this wonderful gift to our collection.” Stinson, who earned a Masters Degree in Art from University of Dallas, served 20 years as an advertising designer before pursuing sculpture at the Scottsdale Artist School. Other racing projects by Stinson include likenesses of two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome and unbeaten New Mexico-bred Peppers Pride. “It has been 25 years since Julie Krone rode to victory in the 1993 Belmont S., the only time in history that a Triple Crown race was won by a female jockey,” said Stinson. “This spectacular accomplishment was just one of so many record-setting achievements in her career. You could say Julie shattered the ‘glass ceiling’ on the back of a racehorse. In working with Julie on her portrait in bronze, I wanted to create another permanent reminder of her extraordinary life.” View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Moonlit Promise gives trainer Josie Carroll another shot at a Seaway Stakes repeat in the co-featured grade 3 event Aug. 26 at Woodbine. View the full article

A Raving Beauty heads a trio of three entrants for trainer Chad Brown in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

2.20 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, 6fT GIOTTINO (Scat Daddy) was the second highest-priced juvenile at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale at 775,000gns and he debuts for Ballydoyle. With Michael Hussey booked, the suggestion is that the February-foaled bay from the family of Fusaichi Pegasus is the least expected winner of the trio from the stable amongst 20 runners. View the full article

Even by the high standards he established for himself two seasons ago, trainer Chad Brown is having a Saratoga meet that may go down as one of his most dominating. View the full article

Santa Anita Park will begin offering a 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six wager Friday, Sept. 28, opening day of its 22-day Autumn Meet. The prospect of a life-changing score will be in play immediately, as Santa Anita will guarantee a pair of one-day only Rainbow Pick Six jackpot pools, a $250,000 pool opening day, Sept. 28 and a $1-million jackpot pool Saturday, Sept. 29. In the event there are no single ticket winners, 70% of the pool is paid to those tickets with the highest number of winning horses and 30% is carried over to the jackpot pool, less takeout. “The Rainbow 6 has proven to be a smash hit at Gulfstream, helping to generate bigger purses and larger fields in the long term,” said Tim Ritvo, COO for The Stronach Group. “The Pick Six has obviously been an incredibly popular wager here in California, dating back four decades. Unfortunately, the two dollar minimum and other factors, have rendered it far less popular over the past few years.” View the full article

Despite shaping up as one of the deepest sprint races of the Del Mar summer meet, the GII Pat O’Brien S. looks likely to lose a pair of Grade I winners by the time the field lines up Saturday afternoon. Undefeated Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), fresh off a runaway victory in the July 21 GII San Diego H., figures to be the one to beat in the seven-furlong test, while the chestnut’s most significant rivals–Roy H (More Than Ready) and Ransom the Moon (Malibu Moon)–are increasingly likely to bypass the race given their a long-term goal of the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs Nov. 4. “Ransom the Moon is not going to run,” confirmed Phil D’Amato, who trains the two-time winner of the GI Bing Crosby S.. “We’re going to look at either the [GI] Santa Anita Sprint Championship [Oct. 6] or the DeFrancis Dash (Sept. 15 at Laurel Park). I really just want to run him in one [Breeders’ Cup] prep. If I run him now, it’s sitting on him for 10 weeks before the Breeders’ Cup and that’s a long time for the horse..The spacing is just so much better for those other races to have him ready to give 100 percent against the best horses in the world.” Trainer Peter Miller cited similar concerns regarding Roy H, runner-up to Ransom the Moon in the July 28 renewal of the Bing Crosby. Roy H was victorious in five of six starts last terms, including a win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which was contested at Del Mar. He won the GII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita Feb. 3. “The horse is doing fine, I think he’d win the race,” Miller said. “But winning [this] race is not the end game. If it’s going to cost me winning the Breeders’ Cup, that’s not a good trade off. So, I think we’re going to be prudent..I’m not afraid of any of those horses. We don’t duck anybody. But seven-eighths of a mile could knock him for a loop, and two months in front of the Breeders’ Cup, I don’t think that’s very smart.” Miller added, “The only caveat to all of that is if the race fell apart and tons of scratches.” The winner of his sole race last season going six furlong at Santa Anita in October, Catalina Cruiser was shelved until returning with a comfortable win in against optional claiming company at the Arcadia oval May 19. Favored while facing five others in the 8 1/2-furlong San Diego, Catalina Cruiser made short work of his rivals, including Grade II winner Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky). The red hot Drayden Van Dyke, who is hitting at a 40% clip on the dirt with trainer John Sadler, gets back aboard. Drawing the outside post is Battle of Midway (Smart Strike), winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at this venue last November. Also last term, the Don Alberto and WinStar runner finished second in the GI Santa Anita Derby and third in the GI Kentucky Derby before cutting back to win the 8.5-furlong GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita in June. Later that summer, he won the six-furlong Shared Belief S. at Del Mar before a runner-up effort in the GIII Ohio Derby Sept. 24. Closing from off the pace to take the Mile, the millionaire has been working steadily for this return, including a productive six furlong work in 1:12.8 Aug. 18. View the full article

University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Mick Cronin is enjoying his participation in the Slam Dunk Racing partnership. View the full article

It’s been a long time between drinks for Flameaway (Scat Daddy), who hasn’t won since the GIII Sam F. Davis S Feb. 18, but he has faced tougher than he’ll find here in Saturday’s GIII Smarty Jones S. at Parx. Second in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 28 to the GI Runhappy Travers S.-bound Tenfold (Curlin), Flameaway has been knocking heads with some of the best of the sophomore division and should appreciate the break from the division’s stars. Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward) may be his biggest challenge, as he holds the highest Beyer Speed Figure (94) in the field and earned it at the same distance with a win July 14 in the GIII Indiana Derby. Title Ready (More Than Ready) is often in the mix, but was beat last out by Axelrod when third in Indiana and hasn’t won since an Oaklawn allowance Feb. 1. Undefeated First Mondays (Curlin) merits a look as he hasn’t set a foot wrong since his June 28 debut and will face stakes company for the first time. View the full article

The Breeders’ Cup, in conjunction with the Breeders’ Cup Festival and the Kentucky Derby Museum, today announced that D. Wayne Lukas, who has accounted for the most wins for a trainer in Breeders’ Cup history, will be honored with the Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville. The event will also herald the Museum’s new $6.5 million expansion and renovation project, which includes a new exhibit dedicated to celebrating the career of Lukas. The presentation of the award is a part of the week-long series of Breeders’ Cup Festival of events and attractions in Louisville in support of the 35th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs, Nov. 2-3. “Wayne’s career migration from coaching sports to his extraordinary mastery of training Thoroughbred champions and record-breaking achievements has been truly remarkable over the past 40 years,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “Wayne still holds the mark for Breeders’ Cup wins by a trainer and for that record of achievement and in recognition of his contribution to the development of so many trainers of the next generation, we are especially proud to present him with the Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award.” Lukas has trained 24 Eclipse Award winning horses, and three of those were voted Horse of the Year: Lady’s Secret in 1986, Criminal Type in 1990 and Charismatic in 1999. He has won the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Trainer on four occasions (1985-’87 and 1994). Lukas was inducted into Thoroughbred Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first ever to be honored by both institutions. Lukas’ official biographical anthology–Sermon on the Mount–is set for release next month. “We are honored to celebrate the storied career of D. Wayne Lukas, not only with this prestigious award, but also with the grand unveiling of the brand-new wing at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Guests attending will have the first chance to explore the D. Wayne Lukas exhibit that is a highlight of our multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project. It will be a memorable evening saluting one of the icons of the racing industry. We are looking forward to sharing it with Wayne and everyone in attendance,” Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO Patrick Armstrong said. The Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award is presented periodically to an individual who has displayed outstanding achievements both a sports related activity and in Thoroughbred racing. Previous recipients of the award have been champion professional golfer Gary Player and renowned broadcaster, the late Dick Enberg. Ticket information for the reception honoring is available at www.breederscupfestival.com View the full article

After putting on a show in last summer’s GI Coaching Club American Oaks, Abel Tasman (Quality Road) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) co-headline Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Abel Tasman, last year’s champion 3-year-old filly, has only gotten her picture taken once since outslugging Elate by a head in that aforementioned thriller last summer, running away with a 7 1/2-length tally in Belmont’s GI Ogden Phipps S. June 9. Elate emerged from the CCA Oaks with a pair of wins at the highest level-the GI Alabama S. here Aug. 19 and the GI Beldame S. over older horses Sept. 30. She began her 4-year-old campaign with a facile win in the GII Delaware H. July 14. Both fillies took on their elders in last fall’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, with Abel Tasman rallying to finish a strong second while Elate tired to fourth. “We’re sending the big mare to take on Bill Mott,” Hall of Famer Bob Baffert said of Abel Tasman. “Bill’s been braggin’ on her and that means he’s got her sharp and ready to go. [Abel Tasman’s] doing fine, right on schedule. If she just runs the race she did in New York last time, we’re in good shape.” Mott added, “They were a head apart here last year, so it should be a good race. She’s run well this year, so we have reason to believe she is doing well.” View the full article

Evan Arkwright has been appointed Racing Manager of Curragh Racecourse, a new role that he will take on in the coming months. Arkwright currently serves as commercial manager of Curragh Racecourse, a role he has been in since 2002. Arkwright has previously held management roles with Weatherbys Ireland and Emirates Racing Association. “I am excited about the new challenges that this new role will offer and thank the Board of Curragh Racecourse Ltd for the opportunity,” he said. View the full article

Good Magic (Curlin) 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}). He talks to the TDN’s Patty Wolfe about why a win here would be extra special. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Chad Brown on Saratoga and the Travers","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/286565793.sd.mp4?s=0a01a11720827ab8132e6f59c58b599908ab8488&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/281450008.sd.mp4?s=6b70148b60135ef053e5f9b5d20fb7c8e881cffa&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

Even if Stradivarius wasn't at his best and victory in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York was rather more scrambled than might have been expected for a 4-11 favorite, a win is a win—and this win meant a £1 million bonus. View the full article

The field for the $200,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) Aug. 25 at Del Mar won't be as full as it appears in the entries, but the quality should be there to challenge Hronis Racing's undefeated Catalina Cruiser View the full article

Black-type races come thick and fast on Saturday, but it is the Sky Bet Ebor which is the main focus as the enhanced £500,000 storied handicap closes out the action at York. Born in 1843, Europe’s most valuable handicap, which next year gets even richer, has taken on a new dimension due to the ongoing obsession with the Melbourne Cup and the renewed emphasis on the staying division which was in evidence at this track only on Friday. The combination of owner Tony Bloom and trainer Willie Mullins has struck fear into the bookmaking fraternity and they are running scared of the partnership’s potentially well-handicapped Stratum (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who crept in at the bottom of the weights on Thursday. Successful in Newbury’s valuable JLT Cup over an extended two miles July 21, he faces a clutch of black-type performers such as the G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner Teodoro (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and G3 John Porter S. scorer Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in a race that has drastically changed in nature over the years. “He looks to have a fantastic chance,” Patrick Mullins said. “You have to have luck in running, but we’re more than happy with him and we’re really looking forward to the race.” As far as the European Pattern is concerned, there are eight group races on Saturday with the G2 Ladbrokes Celebration Mile at Goodwood the most important in terms of status but not necessarily in reality, with the usual suspects lining up headed by the July 14 G2 Summer Mile winner Beat the Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}). He was fifth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood at the start of the month and the runner-up in that contest Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) is sent to York instead by Sir Michael Stoute. Back over the seven-furlong trip over which he has delivered his two most impressive performances when winning the 2017 G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood and Royal Ascot’s G3 Jersey S. June 20, Khalid Abdullah’s homebred will be a short price to take the G3 Sky Bet City of York S. despite the presence of the 2017 GI Shadwell Turf Mile hero and July 31 G2 Lennox S. runner-up Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the June 30 G3 Chipchase S. scorer Above the Rest (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}). “There was an uncertain forecast at Goodwood, they weren’t sure how much rain they were going to get, so we felt he was more sure of better ground at York,” explained Teddy Grimthorpe. “He must have fast ground, we think, so he runs here instead. He ran very well at Goodwood, I thought. A faster pace would have suited him there, but he stayed on and proved that he’s on his way back. I think he’s probably as effective over a mile as seven furlongs and we’ll be looking at races like the [G1] Prix du Moulin [at ParisLongchamp Sept. 9] and the [G1] Prix de la Foret [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 7] if all goes well.” Also at Goodwood, the G3 Ladbrokes Prestige S. sees George Strawbridge’s July 26 Listed Star S. winner Look Around (GB) (Kingman {GB}) pit her wits against some potentially smart fillies in the race won last year by the subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Trainer Andrew Balding said, “Look Around was good at Sandown and she is a filly that we like a lot. She is still sort of learning, but hopefully she will run well.” William Haggas saddles The Queen’s Magnetic Charm (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a Godolphin-bred half-sister to Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) who beat the subsequent winner Winter Light (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) by 3 1/4 lengths over six furlongs at Newbury Aug. 7. Haggas said, “I liked her when she won at Newbury, she won well there. I think she wants further, so this might prove a good trip for her. She’s got a bit to find with a few of them, but it was nice to see the second win, albeit at Brighton, recently.” View the full article

Goodwood’s evening meeting conjured up a new TDN Rising Star as Michael Pescod’s Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) showed the kind of potential to give Richard Hannon something to dream about during the winter months. Highly-regarded by his trainer, the bay raced in mid-division early with Rossa Ryan animated in the saddle. Taking time to organise in the straight, the 10-1 shot was given a slap with the whip inside the final furlong and responded with a strong surge to overwhelm Fox Premier (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and hit the line with 1 1/4 lengths to spare as fellow newcomer Aussie Nugget (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) finished a further length back in third. “He was always going to be a back-end two-year-old and I didn’t think he knew enough to win first time out,” Hannon said. “This looked quite a nice race and he looks smart. He did one gallop when Mr Pescod came to see him and he went past the gallop and nearly ended up in my kitchen! He took off again past the line here. We’ll take our time, as he’s not the most mature horse mentally but ultimately we think he’s a good horse and he will go to those good races. We are trying to get more of these later types and although I’d like to think we have more like him I’m not sure we do.” FLOATING ARTIST (GB) (c, 2, Nathaniel {Ire}–Miss Kenton {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,622. *1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Mr Michael Pescod; B-Canning Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon. Sales history: 14,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; 80,000gns Ylg ’17 TAOCT. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Florida industry groups have lined up to oppose a plan by Churchill Downs Inc. to end Thoroughbred racing at its Calder property, a move that could cost horsemen around $10 million a year in purses generated by slot machines at Calder Casino. 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

3rd-Newmarket, £8,000, Cond, 8-24, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:25.21, g/f. SANGARIUS (FR), c, 2, by Kingman (GB) 1st Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker 2nd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) Something’s afoot if a Sir Michael Stoute-trained newcomer bears the full weight of the ring and, despite the slender margin of victory, Sangarius lived up that collateral billing and justified 11-8 favouritism with aplomb. The homebred bay was well away from the outside gate and occupied a midfield berth through the initial fractions. Exhibiting a flicker of greenness when angled into open runway approaching the quarter-mile marker, he quickened impressively to tackle Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) passing the eighth pole and kept on powerfully for one flick of James Doyle’s persuader up the hill to deny that rival a neck in ultimately cozy fashion, becoming the ninth winner for his freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Sangarius is the fifth foal and second scorer produced by a winning half-sister to G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual stakes-winning G2 Prix Niel second Ideal World (Kingmambo). He is kin to G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial third Emergent (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and a yearling colt by Frankel (GB). His second dam, MG1SW European and US champion Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), is a daughter of storied blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and thus a full-sister to MG1SW champions Cacique (Ire), Intercontinental (GB) and Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill), and a half-sister to GI Beverly D. S. and GI Matriarch S. victress Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert) and G2 Prix du Muguet-winning sire Dansili (GB) (Danehill). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,632. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article