Wandering Eyes

Gunnevera (Dialed In) breezed five furlongs in 1:00, the fastest of 26 works at Gulfstream Park West Saturday morning in preparation for an expected return at Gulfstream Park Friday before a tilt at the Sept. 1 GI Woodward S. at Saratoga. “I’m very happy with his work,” said trainer Antonio Sano. “He galloped out very good.” The seventh in a series of workouts in preparation for a return from a four-month layoff, the workout was the final major move before the 4-year-old marks his return in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming race Friday. Gunnevera, who was last seen finishing eighth after catching a quarter during the running of the Mar. 31 G1 Dubai World Cup, was subsequently freshened in Ocala for two months to give the hoof time to heal before returning to Sano’s Gulfstream Park West stable. Winner of the GII Saratoga Special S. at two, the chestnut recorded wins in the GII Fountain of Youth S. and GIII Delta Jackpot S. early in his sophomore season before adding a victory in Gulfstream’s Tangelo S. in August. He rounded out the season with a runner-up finish in the Spa’s Aug. 26 GI Travers S. followed by a fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 4. In his 2018 bow, he ran third in Gulfstream’s GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 26. View the full article

Cross Counter now joins winners such as Highland Reel (IRE), Ulysses (IRE), and Crystal Ocean (GB), who all won this before going on to greater things. View the full article

One year, five months, and five days. The difference in time between the two defining moments in a lifetime of racing, the birth of Sheikh Mohammed and John Magnier. To understand tomorrow’s racing pioneers, where does it begin for our two greatest? Sheikh Mohammed rode bareback races with his friends on the sands of Jumeirah Beach and John Magnier took charge of his family farm aged 15 after the untimely death of his father. Today, where will the defining moment of inspiration be for the next generation? I haven’t seen Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk at Golden Gate Fields lately. As a society we are moving away from generations whose parents or grandparents may have been on a farm and through urbanization, society’s connection with the horse will be challenged. We need to re-engage the masses with the sport we love. That is why I believe our future may not be embodied in a person’s singular brilliant vision, but in our pivot as an industry to ever involving the many not the few in the journey of the racehorse. Write down the goals you’d like to achieve in racing. That win at your local track. Prevailing in the race you sponsor. Go on, put it down–that Triple Crown victory. How much easier, how much economic sense and how much more fun it would be to do it with others. Racing is grasping the opportunity–syndicates are up 43% in Ireland this year according to HRI and Australia registered almost 80,000 owners in 2017 up from 68,000 just five years previously. Yet it cannot be understated, nurturing this positivity globally and capturing the collective is the greatest challenge racing faces today. In today’s social media empowered society, using the right tools, the many can now beat the mighty. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a 28-year-old part-time bartender when she decided to launch her bid for Congress. Her rival for the Democratic nomination was Joe Crowley, one of the most powerful political figures in the country. The Ocasio-Cortez campaign could only spend $194,000 to the Crowley campaign’s $3.4 million. However, Joe was old politics, Alexandria knew how to play a different game to a new generation that racing now needs to learn. Nearly 75% of her donations were small individual contributions, while less than 1% of Crowley’s contributions were. Just as racing must, she empowered those that were small but no less passionate to amplify her message on social media. She understood the superior impact a passionate pack can have over a powerful person in the digital age. Against all odds, she is now set to be the youngest women ever elected to Congress. Racing, by harnessing a collective connection like Ocasio- Cortez, can redefine how to gain interest in the sport. Instead of being dependent on powerful interests, racing needs that pathway for that passionate pack to be involved. In Australia, our undoubted most thriving racing nation, more than half their owners are over 50 according to the latest Racing Australia Fact Book. It’s important we find building blocks of involvement to allow those in their 40s, 30s and even 20s to consider horse racing ownership as a tangible option. These generations wouldn’t blink in renewing their sports teams’ season tickets or continuing their Spotify subscription. Done right, racehorse ownership has an incredible stickiness–once you’re in, you’re in for life. However, it’s greatest challenge is getting that initial flirtation. Racing needs a swipe right. A bareback race down Jumeirah Beach might not still produce our greatest global pioneer (might also be a bit busier now), but we must innovate relentlessly to find the new tap into this generation. Our greatest challenge should be a piece of cake. Innovative tiers of the capital structure’s cake can reflect what the participants truly want from a racehorse. SF Bloodstock selling their racing rights to Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners in Justify (Scat Daddy), but retaining the breeding rights is a prime example–the high-risk, long-term yield-chasing breeding rights retainers supported in their pursuits by the thrill-seeking but perhaps more financially cautious lease holders. A global sales ring can always guarantee one thing–a glum breeder after their pride and joy failed to meet their expectations. Farmers for generations have innovated around this issue by forming a co-op of the many so that if their crop was below expectations or suffered a veterinary issue, their neighbour would help them out. A breeder’s cooperative repackaging horses together embodies that capital innovation and it is needed. This can deliver a more risk adjusted and fun result for their owners who have put so much into their development only to be disappointed in the ring. Three Group 1 winners at Royal Ascot didn’t sell as yearlings at the Tattersalls October Sales–Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). While those were raced on by their breeders, more can be done to play a more active role and take this forgotten talent pool to the races. We have been focused too long on selling the private plane. Racehorses, as has been noted on many a gallop, are like aeroplanes. On most planes, there’s first class, business and economy on the plane you’re on for a reason. To accomplish our goals, perhaps, racing should look between the goals too. Real Oviedo was a maiden claimer of a Spanish football club, rarely in the top flight of Spanish football. In 2006, a man named Alberto González took a controlling share in the club–he proceeded to not pay taxes, buy a team bus that didn’t fit in the grounds the team played in and disappeared into the night. Oviedo found itself in need of €1.9 million or the club would be foreclosed–robbing the proud northern Spanish city of their mediocre but beloved side. Where to turn then? The people themselves. A special fan-focused, social-media focused share issue was launched. In two weeks €1.93m worth of shares were bought by more than 20,000 people in more than 60 countries. What’s more, the story caught the attention of Carlos Slim, one of the richest men in the world. He invested an extra €2 million and has continued his investment since then. Extreme wealth and the passionate fan cheering the same horse, now that’s a story that should get our attention. Like Oviedo, racing needs to create opportunities to involve the public. A syndicate can be set-up with the expressed intention to raise funds to accomplish an audacious goal like win the G1 Melbourne Cup. Opportunities certainly arrive, ante post favourite Withhold (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) cost just £170,000 at the Tattersalls Horse in Training sale and Ian Williams’s contender Magic Circle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) was a snip at £70,000 a year later. Under this year’s new prize-money system, connections receive $150,000 if they finish in the top 12, let alone take home the winner’s A$4 million in prize-money and trophies worth $250,000. A runner in the Melbourne Cup? That’s a crowd we all want to be in. Ultimately, journeys together–not alone–can take you special places. Just ask WinStar, China Horse Club, SF Bloodstock, Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing. That day at Belmont, they knew something the rest of the crowd didn’t. Frank had it wrong. If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere. To win in New York, Frank had to start with “we”. Start with the many not the few. It’s not a difficult decision to Justify. View the full article

Willie John (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who had won with panache on debut for Markus Jooste and China Horse Club and the William Haggas stable at Yarmouth in October, became headline news when selling to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum for 1.9million gns at Tattersalls February but had needed time and patience to make his debut for that partnership. Anchored in a share of fourth by Andrea Atzeni early, the even-money favourite was delivered to lead passing the quarter pole. From there, it was very straightforward and the bay was smooth en route to a five-length dismissal of Hidden Depths (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). From an amazing Meon Valley Stud dynasty, the winner is a half-brother to the sprinter Dreamfield (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who in the last two months has failed narrowly to land one of the biggest gambles in Royal Ascot’s Wokingham H. in recent history before finishing a highly respectable sixth in the G1 July Cup. The dam is the G1 Pretty Polly S. and G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a half-sister to the G2 Prix de la Nonette scorer and G1 Prix de l’Opera runner-up Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Their half-brother Emaraaty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a 2.6million gns Tattersalls October joint-topper in 2016 and has shown useful form for John Gosden, while the third dam is the 2003 G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic). This is also the family of this year’s Listed Feilden S. winner Mildenberger (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and last year’s G3 Sovereign S. and G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner Ballet Concerto (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Varian also signed the docket at 2.6million gns for a colt by Emaraaty’s sire Dubawi (Ire) at Tattersalls October. He is now named Prince Eiji (GB), while Izzi Top also has a yearling filly by Muhaarar (GB) and a colt foal by Frankel (GB). 3rd-Doncaster, £5,800, Cond, 8-4, 3yo/up, 10f 43yT, 2:10.83, g/f. WILLIE JOHN (GB) (c, 3, Dansili {GB}–Izzi Top {GB} {G1SW-Fr & Ire, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, $734,076}, by Pivotal {GB}) Sales history: 325,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT; 1,900,000gns HRA ’18 TATFEB. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $11,066. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. View the full article

Overnight rainfall of 2.3 inches has forced NYRA to cancel the final two races of the Aug. 4 card at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

West said he hopes West Coast will be ready for the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. If not, the Nov. 23 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill would be the next option for the Flatter colt. View the full article

What looked a trappy four-runner renewal of Goodwood’s G3 Qatar Gordon S. turned out to be anything but as Godolphin’s Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) bossed the contest to put the G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) firmly in his place. This race has long served as a trial for the G1 St Leger, but the winner will be unable to run in the Doncaster Classic as he is a gelding. Coming off a success in Ascot’s Woodford Reserve H. July 14, the 7-4 second favourite was allowed to stride to the front soon after the start by William Buick. Always comfortable there, he readily drew clear of the 6-4 market-leader Dee Ex Bee from before the furlong pole and hit the line in course record time with 4 1/2 lengths to spare, with Bombyx (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) eight lengths behind in third. “That was a lovely performance from him and he’s not the finished article yet,” his rider said. “He stays in training and it will have opened a lot of doors for him now. He’s very talented and is only going to improve. We went an even gallop and it was not a falsely-run race by any means and he quickened from the front and was relentless to the line.” CROSS COUNTER (GB), 127, g, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Waitress, by Kingmambo. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, £129,365. View the full article

1st-SAR, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, post time: 1:00 p.m. ET INTO MYSTIC (Into Mischief) was knocked down to the Spendthrift braintrust for $650K–the third priciest of her sire’s 40 juveniles to sell this season–after breezing an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 on the synthetic track ahead of this year’s OBS April Sale. The May 2 foal is out of a Medaglia d’Oro half-sister to Grade III-winning sprinter Savorthetime (Gilded Time) and GSW & GISP Rogue Romance (Smarty Jones). Mo Wheels Up (Uncle Mo) was purchased in utero by Scott Dilworth for $120K at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale and was a $160K buyback at KEENOV the following year. Her once-beaten dam Smarty Deb (Smart Strike) was a treble stakes winner in the Pacific Northwest and is responsible for SW Finallygotabentley (Bernardini) and MGSP Wild About Deb (Eskendereya). Phipps homebred Dance Club (Candy Ride {Arg}) is the most recent foal to make the races from 2002 champion juvenile filly Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), the dam of MGSP Revved Up and herself adaughter of four-time Grade I winner My Flag (Easy Goer). Undefeated champion Personal Ensign (Private Account) features as the third dam, which also includes the likes of GISW Mr Speaker (Pulpit), recent GIII Dixie S. winner Fire Away (War Front) and GISWs Miner’s Mark (Mr. Prospector) and Traditionally (Mr. Prospector). The wildly successful Candy Ride/Storm Cat cross has resulted in the likes of champion Shared Belief and HOTY Gun Runner. TJCIS PPs 1st-ELP, $42K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, post time: 1:50 p.m. ET KAZIRANGA (Candy Ride {Arg}) is a son of MGSW & MGISP Teammate (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to top sire War Front (Danzig), who was snapped up by Calumet Farm for $575K carrying this foal in utero at KEENOV in 2015. Kaziranga is a half-brother to SW Team of Teams (Elusive Quality) and GSP Team Colors (Street Cry {Ire}). Pole Setter (Take Charge Indy), a son of 2007 GI Spinaway S. winner Irish Smoke (Smoke Glacken), cost $15K at FTKFEB in 2017 and $50K as a FTKOCT yearling before fetching $220K (2/20) at this year’s OBSAPR sale after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 1/5. TJCIS PPs 7th-GP, $65K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, post time: 3:52 p.m. ET FULL SWING (Verrazano) gets her career started for owner Michael Tabor and trainer Todd Pletcher, who also campaigned the filly’s Grade III-winning dam Excited (Giant’s Causeway). The latter, who has already bred SW & MGSP Thrilled (Uncle Mo), is a daughter of SW Path of Thunder (Thunder Gulch), a full-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff upsetter Spain and also the dam of SW Wait Til Dawn (Giant’s Causeway). TJCIS PPs 2nd-DMR, $60K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 5:30 p.m. ET DER LU (Orb), a $170K purchase out of last year’s FTSAUG sale, stopped the clock in :21 flat at this year’s FTFMAR sale and was purchased by Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp. for $900K (1/26). The filly’s dam Taboo (Forestry) produced SP Smartly Agree (Smart Strike) and is a daughter of GISW Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), the dam of top sire Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway), MGSW Destin (Giant’s Causeway) and MGSP Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway). TJCIS PPs –@EquinealTDN View the full article

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's River Boyne has established himself as a top 3-year-old turf horse in Southern California, but he'll have to take on upstart Oceanside Stakes winner Restrainedvengence in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap (G3T). View the full article

Woodworth suspended for two days View the full article

Raging Bull found enough footing and class to produce the optimal result in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T), rallying from well off the pace to nail Maraud by a nose at the wire Aug. 3. View the full article

Investec Derby (G1) runner-up Dee Ex Bee has an excellent opportunity to record a victory for the first time this season and test his credentials in the four-runner Qatar Gordon Stakes (G3) Aug. 4, the final day of Glorious Goodwood. View the full article

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II could not be at Belmont Park June 8 to watch her 4-year-old homebred colt, Call To Mind, win the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (G2T). View the full article

Sent off the 5-2 favorite, Raging Bull (Fr) (c, 3, Dark Angel {Ire}-Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley) left it for very late, but managed to claw back the soft-ground loving Maraud (Blame) in the final jump to take Friday’s featured GII Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Raging Bull was allowed to get his feet under him and settled in the latter third of the field early on, as Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) pulled his way into a long lead on the backstretch despite the pleadings of jockey John Velazquez. The latter, returning from a good sixth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 22, still led over the easy going as heads were turned for home, but Maraud, winner of the GII American Turf in similarly soft conditions in May, came with a rails run and had first crack at Gidu. Ride A Comet (Candy Ride {Arg}) rallied up outside of Maraud, but Raging Bull found his best stride down the center of the track and was shoved across the line first by Joel Rosario. The win was the fourth consecutive in the race for trainer Chad Brown and a second straight for Joel Rosario, who rode Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway) to the win last year. The victory completed an international stakes double for Dark Angel, whose son Battaash (Ire) was the impressive winner of the G2 King George S. at Goodwood earlier in the day. Raging Bull is the 29th graded/group winner for his sire. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0. O-Peter M Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd; T-Chad Brown. 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. Saturday’s Insights features a daughter of German Group 1 winner Temida (Ire). 3.15 Newmarket, Cond, £8,000, 2yo, f, 7fT DIVINE JUSTICE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a notable debutante for Godolphin, being a 390,000gns TATOCT daughter of the G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern heroine Temida (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}). Charlie Appleby saddles the April-foaled bay, whose rivals include Sheikha Al Jalila Racing’s July meeting debut third New Jazz (Scat Daddy), a $550,000 KEESEP member of the John Gosden crew. 3.30 Doncaster, Cond, £5,500, 3yo/up, 10f 43yT WILLIE JOHN (GB) (Dansili {GB}) makes his long-awaited debut for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, having been sold by Markus Jooste and China Horse Club for 1.9million gns at Tattersalls February. Successful on his sole start at Yarmouth in October, the Roger Varian trainee is a son of the G1 Pretty Polly S. and G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) whose half-brother Dreamfield (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was sixth in the G1 July Cup last month. 4.15 Goodwood, Mdn, £30,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT FOX POWER (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was sought after at the latest Tattersalls October Sale before 450,000gns was paid by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Richard Hannon has charge of the son of the listed-winning Zenella (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), who faces 10 rivals including the June 23 Listed Chesham S. fourth Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by a pair of runners as he seeks his third victory in the $100,000 Alydar Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Boujie Girl's connections are thinking a little bit bigger for they gray filly and attempting a rare score in the $200,000 Sorrento Stakes (G2) Aug. 5 at Del Mar. View the full article

The 2018 class of inductees to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame may have been light on contemporary stars, but the ceremony more than made up for that by highlighting the history of Thoroughbred racing. View the full article

A competitive group of fillies get their chance to assert themselves in the 3-year-old sprinting ranks in Saturday’s GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga. Standing atop the nine-horse affair is 3-1 morning line choice Heligbrodt, Heider Family Stables and Madaket Stables’ Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), who reeled off consecutive victories in Oaklawn’s six-furlong Purple Martin S. Mar. 24 followed by a front-running score in the May 4 Eight Belles S. over seven eighths at Churchill Downs. Prompted throughout the early going in the 6 1/5-furlong GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont, the Steve Asmussen trainee succumbed to pressure late, finishing fifth, beaten two lengths. The speed specialist draws the seven hole here. Klaravich Stables’ Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}), the sole Grade I winner in the field, recorded her career high coming from off the pace in Belmont’s GI Frizette S. over a mile Oct. 8 before flattening to fourth the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Mov. 4. Shelved for the remainder of the season, the Chad Brown trainee reappeared with a trouble-ridden, yet productive, fourth in the Victory Ride. Jose Ortiz, who has been aboard for all five prior starts, get the call and looks poised to take advantage of this speed-laden affair. Brown is also represented by Peter Brant’s Alter Moon (Alternation). A debut winner at Gulfstream in January, the bay finished off the board in a pair of Gulfstream stakes before coming home second in the seven-furlong Game Face S. Apr. 21. Facing easy in a June 3 allowance at the Hallandale oval June 3, Alter Moon was an easy five-length winner last out in the Azalea S. June 30. Javier Castellano makes her acquaintance for her Grade bow. Carl Moore’s Classy Act (Into Mischief), runner up in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. in February, was an easy winner in a short test over seven-eighths at Churchill in June before finishing a neck behind winner Dixie Serenade (Uptowncharliebrown) in the Victory Ride, leaving in her wake Separationofpowers and Mia Mischief in her wake. View the full article

Heavenly Prize, along with 12 Pillars of the Turf, are inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Aug. 3 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. View the full article

Select Sales Agency will be launching a new initiative, donating $5 to Retired Racehorse Project per horse sold at public auction during the 2018-2019 sales season. Select Sales will also offer their clients the opportunity to donate, and will match those donations up to $10 per horse. “We feel that this strikes a good balance between being proactive in promoting the RRP while also being cognizant of the costs associated with selling horses at auction,” said Andrew Cary, partner in Select Sales. “Our clients’ charges will not be raised. There are a number of outstanding Thoroughbred aftercare programs in our country and we are excited to be helping out such worthy causes.” Select Sales offered 472 horses at public auction in 2017, with 358 selling for a combined total of $24 million. “It started with a conversation between me and Jen [Roytz, executive director of RRP] and morphed into an initiative with all the partners in Select trying to be proactive and cutting-edge with a new bold agreement putting retiring Thoroughbreds and their aftercare in a much-needed spotlight,” said Carrie Brogden, RRP board member and partner in Select Sales. “We at Select Sales realize that the responsibility that comes with breeding and having Thoroughbreds does not stop on sale day.” Other sales companies that have pledged their support to this initiative include Buckland Sales Agency, Hidden Brook Farm and Ashview Farm. View the full article

7th-SAR, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:34 p.m. ET This loaded-looking maiden special weight features a number of pricey auction buys and a couple of homebreds from prominent connections. The most expensive of the group was Justice of War (Strong Mandate), a $60,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling turned $550,000 OBSAPR juvenile after a :10 flat breeze with a very strong gallop out. The Alex and JoAnn Lieblong colorbearer would be trainer Streve Asmussen’s sixth juvenile winner at the Saratoga stand. Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) almost looks like a bargain on paper as a $400,000 KEESEP yearling. Out of Grade II winner and MGISW Promenade Girl (Carson City), he is a half to ‘TDN Rising Star’ and MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini). Cousin Pete, a member of Yes It’s True‘s final crop, provided another nice pinhooking score. A $20,000 KEENOV weanling and $52,000 Fasig July yearling, he garnered a winning bid of $320,000 at OBS April after showing off a big, eye-catching stride through an eighth in :10 2/5. He hails form the extended female family of MGISW Riskaverse (Dynaformer). Fullness of Time (Flatter) is a half to the recently deceased GSW/GISP sprinter Bobby Abu Dhabi (Macho Uno). The $270,000 September yearling is coupled in the wagering with fellow Klaravich/Chad Brown representative Ahead of Plan (Big Drama), who will have to draw in from the also-eligible list. The Florida-bred colt brought a gaudy price tag of $475,000 considering his pedigree after stopping the clock in :10 flat at OBS April. Shug McGaughey-trained Phipps homebred Fabulous Fun (Distorted Humor) is out of MGSW/MGISP Boca Grande (A.P. Indy) from the family of the likes of Grade I winners Sky Beauty, Pleasant Home, Point of Entry, Pine Island, et al. Mucho (Blame) has reportedly been working well since finishing second on debut behind GIII Sanford S. third Whiskey Echo (Tiznow) downstate June 10. The Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider-bred Bill Mott pupil is a half-sister to GSW Size (First Samurai). His crowded page includes the likes of Nureyev, Archipenko and Blame himself. TJCIS PPs —@BDiDonatoTDN View the full article

The catalogue for the Oct. 2-3 Goffs Orby Sale, featuring 11 yearlings by champion sire Galileo (Ire), is now available online. The two-day stand sees a slimmed-down catalogue, as 418 yearlings go under the hammer on Oct. 2-3 versus 468 in 2017. Past graduates include this year’s G1 Investec Oaks victress and €900,000 Orby graduate Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose full-sister (lot 318) will be offered by Ballylinch Stud; as well as classy juveniles Angel’s Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the G3 Princess Margaret S. after being knocked down for €390,000 last September; and Thursday’s G2 Qatar Richmond S. victor Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never), purchased for €350,000 at the same sale. An Australia (GB) half-sister to Land Force is among the Oak Farm Stables draft as lot 127 and the duo are also half-siblings to MGISW Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Other yearlings by Galileo include The Castlebridge Consignment’s lot 61, a half-brother to G1 Middle Park S. hero Astaire (Ire) (Intense Focus), a filly (lot 144) out of a full-sister to champion and MG1SW Mozart (Ire) (Danehill) and a son (lot 374) of G1 English/Irish 1000 Guineas bridesmaid Lightning Thunder (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). Glenvale Stud offers lot 165, a full-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Alice Springs (Ire). Among the many other top pedigrees slated for the sale are: a half-sister (lot 109) to G1SW Signs of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by Muhaarar (GB) from the draft of Barronstown Stud; lot 161, a son of Frankel (GB) out of two-time Grade I winner Adoration (Honor Grades) from The Castlebridge Consignment; an Airlie Stud-consigned Dark Angel (Ire) half-brother to G1 Darley Dewhurst S. victor Intense Focus (Giant’s Causeway) (lot 254); a Kitten’s Joy full-sister (lot 317) to GISW Kitten’s Dumplings and two other black-type winners; and a colt (lot 386) by standout second-crop sire Camelot (GB) out of Madeira Mist (Ire) (Grand Lodge), the dam of MGISW Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) from Hollyhill Stud. “We are thrilled with the support we have received from vendors this year as we have been entrusted with a truly world class selection of yearlings,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Several leading breeders have sent us more of their best than ever and we cannot wait to present this amazing group of yearlings to potential purchasers from home and abroad. Forever Together is the epitome of what the Orby represents and aspires to each year, and her own sister is just one of an incredible group of yearlings that would grace any catalogue anywhere, resulting in a selection of which we are very proud. We specifically set out to zone in on true quality this year and so have tightened the catalogue with the result that our 418 colts and fillies will set a very high standard and allow purchasers to focus on consistent class across the two days.” In 2017, the Orby Sale grossed €40,702,500, with an average of €109,122 and a median of €65,000. A total of 373 yearlings found new homes, including the €1.6-million sales topper, a son of Frankel (GB) out of Belesta (GB) (Xaar {GB}). Sessions for the 2018 sale begin at 11 a.m. on Oct. 2 and 10 a.m. local time on Oct. 3. The Orby Sale is followed by the Oct. 4 Goffs Sportsman’s Sale, with the latter sale’s catalogue available online on Aug. 8. View the full article

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II could not be at Belmont Park June 8 to watch her 4-year-old homebred colt, Call To Mind, win the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stake (G2T). View the full article

With Saratoga approaching, trainer Jimmy Jerkens, 59, was hit with the very last thing he needed, chest pains that led to a trip to the emergency room that led to heart surgery. Surgeons had to insert stents to clear blockages. The surgery took place in early July and, as expected, Jerkens’s doctor told him he needed to change his habits. More exercise, a better diet, less stress and a lighter work schedule. The problem is, there’s no way to be a successful trainer on the New York circuit and, especially at Saratoga, unless you put in extraordinary hours and push yourself. So, for Jerkens, Saratoga 2018 will be about more than winning races. He must manage his health situation. But trainers work seven days a week, maybe 12 hours a day. This will not be easy. “When you’re in a competition like this, you don’t want to let anything slip if you can help it,” he said. “You have to keep participating and you have to keep thinking all the time. It takes a lot. Every day you have to observe your horses and communicate with the owners. It’s more than a full time job. It has to be your whole life or else I can’t imagine how you can get very far.” Jerkens is, of course, the son of the late Allen Jerkens, one of the legendary figures in New York racing history. (For more on Jerkens’ relationship with his father and his memories of the time he beat Secretariat in the GI Whitney click here). His father was leading trainer at Saratoga from 1971 through 1973 and the younger Jerkens, already assisting his father, still remembers what it took to win those titles. “I just remember relentless work,” he said. “It was only a four-week meet then and it seemed like we were running four or five a day. It was just incredible.” From his father, he learned that you could not win unless you went at maximum speed at all times. The lessons paid off as the younger Jerkens has become one of the top trainers on the New York circuit. After working for his father for more than 25 years, Jerkens went out on his own in 1997. He’s won 69 graded stakes races and has been particularly productive at Saratoga, where he has won two runnings of the GI Travers S., the GI Woodward S., the GII Jim Dandy S. and the GII Bernard Baruch S. One race he has not won is the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., formerly known as the GI King’s Bishop S. Obviously, he’d be thrilled to win a Grade I race named after his father, but he isn’t confident it will happen any time soon. “It would mean a lot to win that race, for obvious reasons,” Jerkens said. “But I just don’t seem to get that type of horse (3-year-old dirt sprinters) in my barn. We were third one year with a nice horse named Desert Key (E Dubai) in 2008 (when the race was still named the King’s Bishop). I don’t think I’ve run in it since.” He doesn’t have many stars in his barn this year but was expecting a productive and healthy Saratoga. That changed the instant his started to feel severe chest pains. “I wasn’t really feeling well for a while, but I kind of ignored it because it tends to happen to you a lot in this business,” Jerkens said. “You get run down and tired in this business. But then one night I had these horrible chest pains.” He was back at the barn four days later, but says that’s not as crazy as it might seem. “You can sit in the barn and observe things, instead of sitting at home,” he said. “I backed off on the physical part. I used to take horses out in the afternoon myself, and they’d be tugging on me and rearing up and stomping at me. I haven’t gotten back to doing that yet. But I’d like to get back to taking them out myself.” Not that Jerkens is ignoring his doctors. He says he’s lost 15 pounds since the heart scare and is trying to learn to delegate more responsibilities to his help. That hasn’t been easy. “I would like it if I could delegate more things to other people,” Jerkens said. “But I’m the kind of guy who likes to do everything myself, which I realize isn’t a realistic approach. I like to do things my way and that’s the only way I know. I just don’t know how realistic it is for me to change much more than I was before this happened.” He is on medications, but says they have made him less energetic. Jerkens wants to be healthy, but it’s clear that his desire to be a winning horse trainer is even more important. Most of the successful trainers are like that. Training comes first, before family, vacations, sleep and general relaxation. The hours they put in are excessive. Jerkens will try to change as much as he can, but don’t expect much to be any different. “You are who you are,” he said. View the full article