Wandering Eyes

Angel Halo seals first Takaoka-Rodd winning combo View the full article

A second toast for Master Of Malibu View the full article

Horses' body weights August 17 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings August 17 View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday’s Insights features maidens from Newbury and Newmarket. 1.50 Newbury, Mdn, £7,400, 2yo, 7fT DESIROUS (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a 700,000gns TATOCT Andrew Balding-trained relative of the Hollywood Turf H.-winning sire Storm Trooper (Diesis {GB}) who bids to build on a debut sixth at Sandown last month. 6.30 Newmarket, Cond, £8,000, 2yo, 8fT WALDSTERN (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) starts out for the John Gosden stable responsible for last year’s winner Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in a race which has also played host to the debuts of Motivator (GB) and Frankel (GB). Gestut Ammerland’s March-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to the recent G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Prix de Malleret scorer Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and faces 12 rivals. View the full article

The 43-year-old trainer set a track record for victories for the third straight year, with Find the Money's hard-fought victory in the eighth and final race marking the conditioner's 66th winner of the meeting. View the full article

Santa Anita Park released its stakes schedule for its fall meet that begins Sept. 28 and in the process also announced it will rename one of its grade 1 race for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. View the full article

Ushering in a new era for American jump racing, the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) will institute high-definition video imagery at all of its race meets beginning next month. “This is indeed a new day for our sport,” said NSA President Guy J. Torsilieri. “Stuart Janney, The Jockey Club’s chairman, recently called for all Thoroughbred races to be broadcast in high-definition, and the NSA will institute the highest-quality video beginning with the High Hope Steeplechase in Lexington on Sept. 23. “The principal beneficiaries will be our stewards, who now will have real-time high-definition images to assure fair and safe racing. Beyond that significant benefit, our race meets will have access to the high-definition video to market their meets and to present steeplechase racing to a larger audience.” Following a competitive bidding process that spanned four months, the NSA has awarded a contract to a new company formed by Steve Hankin, an entrepreneur and business executive with extensive experience in marketing, including social, digital, sponsorships and merchandising, and video equipment and production. “We welcome Steve Hankin to the NSA family,” Torsilieri said. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship as we extend high-definition video capability and everything that it offers to all of our race meets.” The competitive bidding process was facilitated by Al Griffin Jr., chairman of the NSA’s Promotion and Growth Committee, with the assistance of NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo Jr. and Racing Operations Manager Courtney C. Reid. “The potential uses of high-definition video are all but endless,” said Griffin, who is co-chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup. “Race meets and the NSA will be able to live-stream their races on their websites, and they can utilize high-quality video to market their meets year-round. In addition, the NSA website will feature high-quality replays of our races. “In our partnership with Steve and his team, they will be working with the NSA and the individual meets to develop the best approach to bring these efforts to market to support the growth of the sport.” Based in Los Angeles, Hankin is not a newcomer to steeplechase racing. His brother, Mike, is a member of the Bruton Street-US racing partnership and an NSA board member. View the full article

Considering all of the factors working against her, Ollie's Candy probably ran her best race when she came up a neck short in the July 21 San Clemente Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar. View the full article

Press Release The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will introduce a new award to honor the highest-placing TAA graduate and the TAA-accredited organization affiliated with that horse at the Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The award, which will be a $1,500 cash prize and other gifts, will be divided between the rider of the highest-placed TAA horse and the TAA-accredited organization that rehomed or is in the process of retraining that horse. The 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover takes place Oct. 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. “TAA-accredited organizations have been sending their graduates to and have been participating in the Thoroughbred Makeover with much success since its inception,” said TAA operations consultant Stacie Clark Rogers. “The TAA wants to showcase those graduates and to reward the accredited organizations that are successfully transitioning horses off the racetrack and into new careers.” View the full article

Genuine Reward (Rahy), a son of GI Kentucky Derby-winning filly Genuine Risk (Exclusive Native), was euthanized Aug. 16 at Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, KY. He was 25 years old. Though Genuine Reward never made it to the races–he underwent colic surgery as a foal, had breathing problems as a yearling, and bucked his shins multiple times–he entered stud at Meadowville Farm in The Plains, Virginia, and later at Eagle Point Farm in Ashland, Virginia, before heading to Wyoming to become a polo stallion with the American Polo Horse Association run by Perk Connell. Genuine Reward was retired and located for sale by author Laura Hillenbrand, who sponsored his placement at Old Friends. After failing to produce a foal from 1983 through 1992, Genuine Risk dropped Genuine Reward May 15, 1993. The mare’s only other live foal was Count Our Blessing (Chief Honcho), born in 1996. “He was such a sweet horse, and a tremendous fan favorite, as you might imagine,” said Old Friends president Michael Blowen. “We were so honored to add him to our roster. Our thanks go out to Laura Hillenbrand and Perk Connell for letting Genuine Reward spend his last years with us.” View the full article

The University of Louisville is seeking nominations for the 29th annual John W. Galbreath Award, given annually since 1990 to “honor entrepreneurial leadership that has had a significant and positive impact on the equine industry.” Past winners of the award, named for the visionary Darby Dan Farm owner, include Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, former Churchill Downs President Tom Meeker and noted equine veterinarians William Rood and Thomas Riddle. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 5. For further information, call 502-852-7617 or inquire by email at equine@louisville.edu. View the full article

With 14 juveniles entered, the $100,000 Skidmore Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf will feature a contentious group looking to notch a stakes victory Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Officials at Santa Anita Park have released the stakes schedule for the upcoming fall meeting, with 26 black-type events set to take place. The schedule features seven ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup, four of which will be run Saturday, Sept. 29, including the GI American Pharoah S. Formerly known as the FrontRunner (nee Norfolk) S., the local prep for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was won in 2014 by the Zayat homebred, who annexed the 2015 Triple Crown. “It’s really an honor to have Santa Anita name this race for him,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He trained at Santa Anita and following the FrontRunner in 2014, he obviously went on to do some great things. Hopefully, some of his babies will have the opportunity to run in this race in the years to come.” For the first time, the track will stage a limited number of five-furlong turf races, beginning with the $100,000 Speakeasy S. Oct. 6, a ‘Win and You’re In’ contest for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs Nov. 2. The 2018 autumn meet sees the return to the schedule of six stakes, all run at Del Mar last season: the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies; the $70,000 Lure S., the $100,000 GIII Sen. Ken Maddy S.; the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile; the $200,000 GII Goldikova S.; and the $200,000 GII Twilight Derby. Also returning to Santa Anita is the GII City of Hope Mile, which was last contested in 2016. Click here for the complete fall stakes schedule. View the full article

Del Mar, Keeneland and Santa Anita are all scheduled to make announcements tomorrow related to the host sites of future Breeders’ Cup World Championships events. The tracks, which have all played host to Breeders’ Cups in recent years, would presumably be named the hosts of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 World Championships. Santa Anita has a news conference slated for 1:00 p.m. ET, while Keeneland will follow at 3:00 p.m. ET and Del Mar at 5:30 p.m. ET. Keeneland and Del Mar hosted their first Breeders’ Cups in 2015 and 2017, respectively, while Santa Anita has been a regular in the host site pipeline, welcoming the event nine times previously and most recently in 2016. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday’s Insights features maidens from Newbury and Newmarket. 1.50 Newbury, Mdn, £7,400, 2yo, 7fT DESIROUS (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a 700,000gns TATOCT Andrew Balding-trained relative of the Hollywood Turf H.-winning sire Storm Trooper (Diesis {GB}) who bids to build on a debut sixth at Sandown last month. 6.30 Newmarket, Cond, £8,000, 2yo, 8fT WALDSTERN (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) starts out for the John Gosden stable responsible for last year’s winner Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in a race which has also played host to the debuts of Motivator (GB) and Frankel (GB). Gestut Ammerland’s March-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to the recent G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Prix de Malleret scorer Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and faces 12 rivals. View the full article

A series of announcements regarding host sites for the next three editions of the Breeders' Cup World Championships are expected Aug. 17 at Santa Anita Park, Keeneland, and Del Mar. View the full article

Aheadbyacentury (Midnight Lute) finished second behind the talented filly Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen’s Plate S. on the Woodbine synthetic June 30 and the Prince of Wales S. over a sloppy dirt track in Fort Erie July 24. With that rival in Saratoga training up to another start against males in the GI Travers S. next weekend, Aheadbyacentury hopes to be the one in the winner’s circle for the final leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Breeders S. on the Woodbine turf. Winless so far this term, the bay closed out his juvenile campaign with a pair of victories, including the Coronation Futurity S. on the local synthetic. Even though he won’t be saddling Wonder Gadot in this test, Mark Casse will still be represented by Neepawa (Scat Daddy), who broke his maiden on turf at Gulfstream at the start of this season. He has not found the winner’s circle again since, but was most recently third in the nine-panel Toronto Cup over this course July 28. Sam-Son Farm homebred Say the Word (More Than Ready) was sixth in the Queen’s Plate, but graduated by 4 3/4 lengths two starts prior going 1 3/16 miles on the lawn at Keeneland Apr. 27. Also worth consideration is Stronach Stables homebred Hot Cash (Ghostzapper), who enters off a decisive maiden win on the Woodbine main track July 27 in his first outing for Michael Doyle after going winless in six starts for Jimmy Jerkens. View the full article

Bonita Bianca came three wide around the turn and powered past Swing and Sway and Picco Uno in deep stretch to take the $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes for New York-bred fillies Aug. 16 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Saturday, August 18, 2018 10th-NII, ¥28,600,000 ($258k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m HONEY JADE (f, 4, Harlan’s Holiday–Hard Hat, by Hard Spun) has finished in the top two in five of her seven career appearances on the dirt, including a handy defeat of future GSW Matera Sky (Speightstown) in a January allowance at Kyoto (video, gate 13). A $130K FTKUJL yearling turned $300K FTFMAR breezer, the dark bay is out of a half-sister to GISW Albert the Great (Go For Gin), MSW Sheer Bliss (Relaunch) and SW Watch The Bird (Rahy). B-John P Hicks, William D Hart, Dr Jerry Bilinsky & John Murdza (NY) Sunday, August 19, 2018 1st-SAP, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 2yo, 1500mT SPOKANE TESORO (f, 2, Scat Daddy–Nimue, by Speightstown) makes her second career trip to the races, having finished a respectable fifth on track-and-distance debut July 28 (video, gate 1). Spokane Tesoro, a half-sister to Royal Ascot SP Isomer (Cape Blanco {Ire}), was a $275K RNA out of last year’s Keeneland November sale before selling for $340K at FTSAUG last summer. Her dam is a half-sister to Go Rockin’ Robin (Distorted Humor), winner of the GII Peter Pan S. in 2003. B-Summerhill Farm (KY) 6th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($121k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT BOSTON TESORO (f, 2, Temple City–Spirited Away, by Awesome Again), a half-sister to MGSW Prospective (Malibu Moon) and cost $130K at last year’s KEESEP sale. Second dam Cape North (Capote) produced Spirited Away’s SW full-brother Fufty Too (Speightstown), while third dam North Sider (Topsider) was a three-time GISW at the races. Leading rider Keita Tosaki takes the call. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY) View the full article

Sassy Siena (Midshipman) seeks redemption in Saturday’s GIII Monmouth Oaks after a pair of disappointing efforts. Heroine of Oaklawn’s GIII Fantasy S. this spring, the dark bay was bought into by the China Horse Club and Zayat Stables prior to a sixth-place finish behind stablemate Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 4 and was seventh as the favorite last time in the GIII Iowa Oaks July 5. John Oxley’s Gio Game (Gio Ponti) has been knocking heads with tougher rivals in New York in her last two outings and should benefit from the class drop here. Third behind Monomoy Girl and GIII Indiana Oaks victress Talk Veuve to Me (Violence) in Belmont’s GI Acorn S. June 9, the Mark Casse pupil was fifth to divisional leader Monomoy Girl last time in Saratoga’s GI CCA Oaks July 22. Todd Pletcher seeks his fifth win in this event and second with a daughter of his champion Uncle Mo with Repole Stable’s Mo Shopping. Winner of Delaware’s Light Hearted S. June 6, the homebred checked in third last time in that venue’s GIII Delaware Oaks July 7. View the full article

Genuine Reward, one of two live offspring produced by Kentucky Derby (G1) winning-filly Genuine Risk, was euthanized Aug. 15 at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., where he had been pensioned since 2015. View the full article

Marc Tacher’s Lovely Luvy (f, 2, He’s Had Enough–Realgoodlookin, by Unbridled’s Song) became the fourth winner for her freshman sire with a front-running debut victory at Gulfstream Park Thursday. The gray filly, a $32,000 OBS October yearling turned $70,000 OBS April purchase, was sent off at 2-1 and went quickly to the lead, setting fractions of :22.53 and :45.76 before kicking clear at the top of the lane en route to an easy five-length victory. She completed the six furlongs in 1:11.59. Favored South of France (Quality Road) was second and Hill Valley (Brethren) was third. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,000. O-Marc Tacher. B-Rustlewood Farm Inc (Fl). T-V Barboza Jr. View the full article

Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) seemed unbeatable when reeling off four impressive victories to start her career, but she will look to rebound in Saratoga’s GII Lake Placid S. Saturday after suffering the first loss of her career last time in the GIII Edgewood S. Winner of the GIII Jessamine S. and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last term, the bay picked up where she left off at the start of this season, capturing the GII Appalachian S. over a yielding course at Keeneland Apr. 8. The Chad Brown trainee tasted defeat for the first time when run down late by Toinette (Scat Daddy) in Churchill Downs’s Edgewood when last seen May 4. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ enters off a best-of-17 five panels over the Oklahoma turf in 1:00 4/5 Aug. 10. Brown sends out another talented runner in Significant Form (Creative Cause). Winner of the GIII Miss Grillo S. last year, the gray opened her sophomore account with a dominant score in the Memories of Silver S. at Aqueduct Apr. 22. Second in the GIII Wonder Again S. June 7, the $575,000 OBSAPR buy was fourth next out in the GI Belmont Oaks July 7. Thewayiam (Fr) (Thewayyouare) checked in second in the Appalachian after a trio of stakes score in Gulfstream’s Ginger Brew S., GIII Sweetest Chant S. and GIII Herecomesthebride S. Missing by a neck in the Penn Oaks June 2, the bay was a respectable second behind European invader Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Belmont Oaks. “I think she’s been remarkable,” said trainer Graham Motion. “She just seems like she handles whatever you put in front of her and she’s so tough. In the mornings, she’s very straightforward. She’s just a very tough competitor.” ‘TDN Rising Star’ Daddy is a Legend (Scat Daddy) completed the trifecta in the Edgewood and was fourth next out in the Wonder Again S. Skipping the Belmont Oaks, the dark bay got the Saratoga meet off to a good start with a victory in the GIII Lake George S. on opening day July 20. “I think she belongs in this race and hopefully we trained her well enough that she can get the distance and get the win,” said trainer George Weaver. “She won the Lake George on firm turf, so if it was up to me, I’d like it firm, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be.” View the full article

4th-Leopardstown, €17,500, Mdn, 8-16, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:45.36, g/f. MADHMOON (IRE) (c, 2, Dawn Approach {Ire}–Aaraas {GB} {MGSP-Ire}, by Haafhd {GB}), who started as the 9-2 second favourite, tracked the leading trio throughout the early stages. Unleashed wide to collar Ballydoyle’s 4-9 favourite Sydney Opera House (GB) (Australia {GB}) at the furlong pole, the homebred surged to an emphatic 2 3/4-length success from that half-brother to Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}). “We were worried he’d be green, but his pedigree and class came through and he looks like he could be a decent horse,” jockey Chris Hayes said. “He could come back or step up in trip–he just feels like class.” Trainer Kevin Prendergast added, “We always thought he could gallop and that he was good, but we had never really asked him to go that fast before. He was on the grass in the spring but not during the summer, just the all-weather gallop and so will improve. He’s a grand horse who is a little bit tricky, but he keeps galloping.” This is a family that is well known to Prendergast, with the dam and second dam under his care along with several other immediate relatives. Aaraas was placed twice in group 3 company in the Killavullan S. here at two and the Blue Wind S. as a 3-year-old. She is a half to the G3 Silver Flash S. runner-up Alshahbaa (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire}) and the listed-placed pair Daymooma (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Asheerah (GB) (Shamardal), all of whom plied their trade from the same stable. The latter went on to produce the best Prendergast has had in a long time in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), while her dam Adaala was third in this venue’s G3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial. The dam has the unraced 3-year-old filly Simsimah (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), but was barren last year to Teofilo (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $12,232. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (IRE); T-Kevin Prendergast. View the full article