Wandering Eyes

Massachusetts lawmakers, who were back the Statehouse in an informal session Aug. 2, passed a bill in the House of Representatives and the State Senate to restore the legality of live horse racing and simulcasting in the state. View the full article

Wild Illusion, who narrowly failed to give the stable an Oaks and Derby double, made all to claim the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1). View the full article

Wild Illusion (GB), who narrowly failed to give the stable an Oaks and Derby double, made all to claim the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1). View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. will welcome nearly a dozen of the sport’s top jockeys back to Saratoga Race Course for the fifth annual Jockey Legends Day, presented by Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing, Sunday, Aug. 5. Top riders scheduled to attend include Cash Asmussen, Angel Cordero, Jr., Robbie Davis, Ramon Dominguez, David Erb, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Richard Migliore, Nick Santagata and Jose Santos. The legendary jockeys will participate in a special autograph session from noon to 1 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Room Porch. Autographs will be available with a suggested $10 donation to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The riders will also be honored during a special trackside presentation following the day’s fifth race. View the full article

Glorious Goodwood is already done with its group 1 races, but there is fascinating fayre still on offer on Friday where the G2 King George Qatar S. boasts a genuine top-level performer in Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Shadwell’s five-furlong specialist was undone by Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot last time June 19, but over this fast strip he is a lethal presence despite the penalty he carries for his career-best success in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Chantilly in October. His return win in Haydock’s G2 Temple S. May 26 was marked by an uncharacteristally slow break and it may be that he has taken time to come to himself this term. “The impression I’m getting is that Charlie [Hills] is happier with him than he’s been in a while,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s racing manager Angus Gold commented. “I don’t think he was at his best at Ascot, personally. I know he went hard, but he got very tired and he’s gone hard before and picked up again. He’s got plenty of speed and if he’s back to his best, he’s going to take a bit of beating.” On Tuesday, Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) provided the first clue as to the merit of the G1 July Cup when winning the G2 Lennox S. here and just a nose behind him in that July 14 Newmarket feature was Ballydoyle’s Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy). His success in the G1 Phoenix S. over six furlongs at The Curragh in August remains a solid piece of form, with U S Navy Flag (War Front) back in fourth and Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore are unflinching in their belief in him as a sprinter of the highest order. Another of last year’s juveniles to make his mark over sprint trips was Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), who returns to the course and distance of his G3 Molecomb S. success at this festival. In beating the five-furlong Curragh specialist Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and King’s Stand third Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G3 Sapphire S. at the Kildare venue last time July 22, he puts himself firmly in the frame here and trainer Karl Burke thinks there is improvement to come. “It’s a tough race and there’s certainly plenty of speed in there. It’s one of the most competitive renewals of the King George I can remember,” he said. “Battaash is going to be very hard to beat, but you should never run scared of one horse and our lad is in great form. I think he’ll strip a little bit fitter for the run in Ireland. I would say the start will be the key to the race.” Redemption Mission For Eminent… One of 2018’s most keenly-anticipated runners was Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), but after three unplaced efforts Friday’s G3 Bombay Sapphire Glorious S. has a last-chance saloon feel to it for Sir Peter Vela’s G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano winner and G1 Irish Champion S. third. Having finished with a benign heart issue in the May 11 G2 Huxley S. at Chester, he was outclassed in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot June 20 and tame at the finish of Ascot’s G2 Summer Mile July 14. “I think his last run proved he can’t compete over a mile at that level, so we’re going to try him over a mile and a half and see what happens,” trainer Martyn Meade explained. In the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S., the June 22 G1 Coronation S. runner-up Threading (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) sets a clear standard. A maiden winner at this festival 12 months ago, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s G2 Lowther S. winner is probably just happy to be away from Newmarket, where she has endured her career’s only below-par efforts, most recently when sixth in the July 13 G1 Falmouth S. “It is a nice race for her. She ran well at Ascot, but because she has been a bit in and out that is why we’ve dropped in class, to get her confidence back a bit,” trainer Mark Johnston said. “She is great, but she has always been great at home.” In the G3 L’Ormarins Queens Plate Oak Tree S., William Haggas has a strong hand with Lael Stable’s One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a daughter of Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who took the G3 Molecomb S. and was runner-up in the G3 King George S. at this meeting, and Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum’s Listed Kilvington S. winner and G3 Summer S. runner-up Pretty Baby (Ire) (Orpen). Charlie Appleby will be hoping that Godolphin’s July 14 Newmarket handicap scorer Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) can gain black-type as a half-sister to Teofilo (Ire). View the full article

4th-LRL, $40K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 2:40 p.m. ET Glen Hill Farm’s CONFIDENTLY (War Front) makes her career bow in this spot for trainer Tom Proctor. The bay is a half-sister to champion and top Coolmore sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie); and a full-sister to Group 1-placed Could It Be Love. TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

Emulating Godolphin’s only prior winner of Goodwood’s G1 Nassau S., Zahrat Dubai (GB) (Unfuwain), ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) came back from a mile and a half to make all under a tactical masterclass from William Buick and take Thursday’s Qatar-sponsored highlight by two lengths. Sending a clear signal with late fades when runner-up in the June 1 G1 Epsom Oaks and G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 21, the 4-1 shot was allowed to use her lengthy stride on the rolling Sussex Downs and relished the experience, first cracking the disappointing 15-8 favourite Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and keeping up the gallop all the way to the line, where the July 1 G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Urban Fox (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) edged out Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for second by a short head. Rhododendron, who was in trouble a long way from home, trailed in last of the six runners to compound Ballydoyle’s current spell of ill fortune. “Perhaps she’s a bit quicker than we first thought,” Buick said. “In the Oaks, she got outstayed and it was the same at Royal Ascot. In both races, she travelled beautifully and it was very smooth today. She’s a high-quality filly and it was lovely to confirm it again. Charlie [Appleby] just said to get her into a rhythm and she pricked her ears in front and picked it up gradually. She has just been running over the wrong trip and on pedigree she is only going to progress.” Appleby added, “She was as well as she had been all season and although the quicker ground was a concern but it wasn’t as quick as at Ascot. Dropping back in trip was going to help and he used that stamina from a half mile out. I’m very fortunate to be in this position and everyone is enjoying a stellar season. This is where Godolphin should be.” WILD ILLUSION (GB), f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Rumh (Ger) (SW-Eng), by Monsun (Ger) 2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB) 3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 7-3-2-1, £680,498. *1/2 to Really Special (GB) (Shamardal), SW-Eng & SP-UAE, $108,180. View the full article

He may not be the flashiest individual to emerge from Ballydoyle, but Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never) is one of those grinders who can be under-estimated and his labours proved more than enough to garner Goodwood’s G2 Qatar Richmond S. Justifiably supported into 5-2 favouritism on the back of a third in Royal Ascot’s five-furlong G2 Norfolk S. June 21 and success in the Listed Tipperary S. also over that trip July 5, the Evie Stockwell-bred half-brother to the MGISW Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) pressed the pace early with Ryan Moore intent on leaving no rival unruffled. Forging ahead from the quarter pole, the bay stayed on in determined fashion to score by a length from the G3 Anglesey S. winner Marie’s Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), with a neck back to the G2 Coventry S. fifth Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in third. “He’s a very fast horse and I was left in front too soon, but he’s very game and keeps grinding,” Moore said. “He ran a good race in the Norfolk and doesn’t need to go any further than six. He has a marvellous action and saw it out well.” LAND FORCE (IRE) (c, 2, No Nay Never–Theann {GB} {GSW-Eng & MGSP-Ire, $143,999}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). (€350,000 Ylg ’17 GOFORB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Mrs Evie Stockwell (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £113,420. SW-Ire, 6-3-0-3, £164,709. *1/2 to Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), MGISW-US, $827,102. View the full article

Thorougbred Breeders Australia is behind a new industry Fast Track training programme that will see the first batch of 15 trainees enter the workforce across Australian stud farms next week. The group has spent the last three weeks at TAFE, Scone, one of Australia’s largest vocational education and training providers, learning about the theoretical side of the business and on Monday they will commence full time positions on major farms. The next step will see the trainees return to TAFE in late November for another three-week training block as they work towards achieving a Certificate III qualification in Horse Breeding. “Farms across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to find good workers so we felt TBA should take a leadership role in recruiting these people,” commented TBA chief executive Tom Reilly. “The course was designed to create a career pathway for those who already had a background with horses but maybe didn’t know that breeding could provide them with a job.” Sledmere, Godolphin, Kitchwin Hills, Davali, and Holbrook in the Hunter Valley, as well as Victoria’s Three Bridges and Mill Park in South Australia are among the farms taking trainees and John Kelly of Newhaven Park, who was involved in the selection process, thinks the course will prove invaluable for the breeding industry. “I’ve no doubt that Fast Track has been able to attract youngsters by creating a pathway and the TBA has ensured all participating farms are going to make an effort to develop these trainees and bring them along so that they stay in the industry for the long term,” he said. View the full article

One of the least experienced in the line-up for Goodwood’s G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. and without any black-type experience, Cheveley Park Stud’s Pilaster (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) proved that raw class can overcome with a tenacious defeat of fellow 3-year-old Maid Up (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in a pulsating finale to the newly-promoted staying test for fillies and mares. Heavily-supported into 11-4 second-favouritism based on the time aspect of her impressive six-length success in a 12-furlong novice contest on Kempton’s Polytrack July 4, the homebred tracked the honest pace in sixth initially under rookie sensation David Egan. Taking time to find top gear as Maid Up ran her down with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the bay belied her greenness to stay in the game and prevail with the final thrust of her head. At the line, a short head separated the pair, with fellow promising young jockey Rob Hornby just losing out on the runner-up before an inquiry into late interference allowed the result to stand. “She stays well, but I thought the ground was on the quick side for her,” Egan said before learning that he would keep his biggest success to date. “She’s only had three runs in her life, but stuck her neck out.” Trainer Roger Varian added, “She was all class and all guts, as I don’t think she was loving the ground but overcame.” PILASTER (GB), f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Portal (GB), by Hernando (Fr). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £170,130. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, £192,772. View the full article

The Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes is the highlight for the fillies and mares on day 3 at Goodwood. Wild Coco made the race her own by winning it in 2012 and 2013 under Tom Queally. This year’s race has a host of good fillies in the field, chief of which is Luca Cumani’s, God Given. This dual Group 3 winning daughter of Nathaniel has had a light yet fruitful campaign this year. Ryan Moore takes over the steering duties from Jamie Spencer which may bring about more improvement. Roger Varian runs the thrice raced Pilaster following two impressive victories on the all-weather at Chelmsford and Newcastle by two and six lengths respectively. She looks very progressive and could just be anything. Frankie Dettori has his first ride of the week on Precious Ramotswe for John Gosden who has less than two lengths to find with God Given on their running in the Lancashire Oaks. This distance should suit, and a big run can be expected. Selection: God Given Tipperary LAND FORCE and Donnacha O’Brien win the Listed Coolmore Pride Of Dubai Tiperary Stakes.The Group 2 Richmond Stakes which has been won by Richard Hannon Snr and junior on six occasions in the past ten years, with the likes of Dick Turpin (2009), Harbour Watch (2011) and most recently Mehmas (2016). The sole Hannon representative for this year’s contest is Neverland Rock who was third in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket on his last start and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, he may make it seventh win in eleven years. Land Force heads the market following a listed victory at Tipperary when last seen, prior to this he was an eye-catching third in the Norfolk. This form received a timely boost with Rumble Inthejungle impressively winning the Molecomb yesterday. Another horse with Norfolk form in the book is Clive Cox’s Konchek who finished fifth in the Ascot contest. He doesn’t have much to find with his rivals and following another credible effort in the Group 2 July Stakes, Adam Kirby’s mount holds strong claims. Others to note include Windsor Castle runner-up Sabre, the form of which was slightly let down yesterday and the newly acquired Shine So Bright. The post Goodwood Festival & Galway Preview – Thursday appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Goffs UK have released the catalogue for their Premier Yearling Sale which will take pace in Doncaster Aug 28-29. The sale has enjoyed Classic success this year courtesy of 2016 graduate Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), whose win in the G1 Prix de Diane was her third at the top level since being acquired by Salcey Forest Stud for £220,000 at Goffs UK two years ago. Last year’s graduates have also being flying the flag with distinction, among them being G2 Arqana July S. winner Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and this week’s G3 Molecomb S. winner Rumble Inthejungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Goffs UK have been increasing the quality on offer at this sale each year and managing director Tony Williams is confident this month’s catalogue will not disappoint and commented, “2018 is shaping up as a big year for the Premier Sale following three record years of sustained growth and outstanding results. The results in the ring have also been exceptional following what have been excellent catalogues and we are delighted to say, once again, that this year will offer the finest Premier catalogue in the sale’s history. We have been extremely well supported by our consignors who have sent us some wonderful yearlings and the comments from our inspection team are that the quality is first-class.” Some that catch the eye on pedigree are; lot 19 a colt by Kodiac (GB) out of Group 1 placed Lady Darshaan (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who has already produced a stakes winner in Lets Go (Street Cry); lot 44 is another yearling out of a Group 1 placed mare in Lottie Dod (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and this filly is by Dark Angel (Ire); lot 176, a colt by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) out of Group 1 winner Quiff (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) whose 2-year-old Fulminate (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) made a stylish winning debut for Ger Lyons and Juddmonte Farms recently; lot 256 an Exceed And Excel (Aus) half-sister to two stakes winners; lot 318 a colt by Dark Angel (Ire) out of G3 Ballyogan S. winner Age Of Chivalry (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who has bred three winners from four runners; and lot 471 a colt by Siyouni (Fr) out of the stakes winner Gemstone (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Some interesting lots representing stallions with their first crop of yearlings for sale include; lot 20 a colt by Gleneagles (Ire) out of the stakes winner Lady Eclair (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who has already bred a stakes winner, Al Malhouf (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) from just two runners; and lot 131 a colt by Muharrar (GB) who is the first produce out of MGSW New Providence (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). Shadwell’s Muharrar is also the sire of lot 497, a filly out of G2 Lowther S. winner Infamous Angel (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). View the full article

Victory in the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) sets up the prospect of the 4-year-old challenging to become the first ever winner of the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million if he can add the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York to his prior victories this season in the G1 Gold Cup and G2 Yorkshire Cup. The very existence of such a valuable bonus owes much to the generosity and idea of the sponsor, but also to a longer-running campaign to try to reinvigorate the breeding and racing of staying-bred horses in Britain. Back in February 2015, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) published the findings of a special study on the future of the British stayer, highlighting its concerns about the demise in production of this sector of Thorougbreds so beloved by the racing public but often overlooked in an increasingly speed-orientated yearling market. Over the last two years, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), led by Director of International Racing and Racing Development, Ruth Quinn, has been working on a number of incentives for potential breeders and owners of stayers, not least through significant enhancement of the staying programme and increased prize-money for these races. TDN‘s European Editor Emma Berry spoke with Ruth Quinn this week to hear how the BHA’s work in this field is progressing. EB: How well has the stayers’ project been received by the racing industry in general? RQ: it’s a subject which finds all of us facing in the same direction. Everybody supports it. Everybody’s behind it. That’s different to everybody voting with their feet, clearly, but we are all pretty much saying the same thing, which is terrific. That doesn’t happen very often in racing. EB: How did you go about deciding on the changes to the programme? RQ: I had lots of meetings with trainers throughout the second half of 2016 on the back of the consultation process that I started in 2015. They’re all hugely supportive and offered lots of advice, lots of different opinions about what they would want to see in terms of race programme and alterations. Whether and to what to degree any of that will translate into a change of behaviour [at the sales], I don’t know. It’s too early to tell. EB: You’ve talked about this being a long-term project, with results not really able to be properly assessed until 10 to 15 years down the line, but are you encouraged by any early findings? RQ: I do think the data is much better than most people would expect. It’s great that in 2017, of the horses who won black-type races over 13 furlongs or more, 90% ran as 2-year-olds and 60% won at two. I think that would surprise a fair few people, though I’m very much aware that every year is different, and that data is probably going to be volatile. EB: With a number of measures already in place, such as doubling the number of 10-furlong 2-year-old maidens and upgrades to staying contests such as the Goodwood Cup and Queen’s Vase, what’s your next step? RQ: What I’d quite like to do, in as much as we’re all able to do so, is try and work on persuading people to actually start breeding, buying, pulling these horses out of the box at the sales and actually having a look at them. Some of those horses are beautifully bred, and only two or three people will ask to look at them at the sales. I think we are providing a pretty strong message already, bearing in mind we only started trying to improve the race programme in the last two years. It’s reminding people that this kind of horse can be around for a number of years if that’s what they want. There are also options to sell on, either abroad or for jumping, much more than you would have with an average sprinter. EB: How do you get that message across, especially at this year’s yearling sales, for example? RQ: Anything we can do to increase the prize-money of these races will give us the biggest chance of getting owners and trainers to change their behaviour, and so will helping the TBA to find an effective and meaningful breeders’ incentive to get people to patronise middle-distance sires more. That’s going to be something that will drive breeders’ behaviour. We’re going to be producing a leaflet detailing all the improvements to the stayers’ programme and prize-money increases which will be available for the sales. We’ve got to keep trying to find different and effective means to tell people about this. EB: Recent data shows that average prize-money increases have been much greater in the longer-distance races, with a runner in the 11-13f or 14f+ categories in 2017 typically earning 70% more than a runner in a sprint race. These increases presumably needed backing from racecourses? RQ: We have a commitment from racecourses to continually invest in this new programme up until at least 2020. Now obviously, this time next year or a lot earlier than that, probably late spring of 2019, we’ll start the negotiations to get a financial package in place beyond 2020. If it looks like there is no positive change in behaviour of any shape or form two years from now, then we’ll start the process again and be asking people, ‘Well, okay, this isn’t working. What might work instead? But hopefully, we won’t have to do that because I think we’ve pretty much put in place already or are hoping to put in place very shortly everything that everybody asked for. It’s something that we’ll obviously monitor constantly. I have it in mind to do another big industry focus in 2021, and then at five-yearly intervals. But a marked improvement in the race programme and a marked improvement in the prize-money available for these horses in a short period of time is the kind of message we need to be getting out there. EB: Finally, how did the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million come about? RQ: One of the things that came out of the questionnaire sent out in 2016 was the suggestion to have a big bonus scheme linking some of the key cup races, and there was a very positive response to that. Weatherbys Hamilton obviously sponsors the Lonsdale and they came to us and said they’d been putting some ideas together. We talked back and forth about some of the races that they were looking to include. The BHA was very supportive but Weatherbys Hamilton needs a lot of credit for actually pulling it off. EB: And now we could be looking at the £1 million bonus being won in the first year… RQ: Absolutely. In the first year, to have a horse with clearly a live chance going into the final leg is brilliant. Hopefully [Stradivarius] will win, but even if something went wrong, it’s still been a really good story for year one. View the full article

Saturday’s G2 Missile S. at Randwick is shaping up to be an informative contest with Godolphin’s Kementari (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) fancied to make a bold bid for success on his first start since running unplaced in the G1 Star Doncaster Mile in April. “This is a really important test for him,” trainer James Cummings said on Thursday. “He’s done well in his break and looks ready to race as a stronger version of himself this campaign. While he’s not yet fully wound up he’s nevertheless capable of running very well fresh. While I can’t see him being completely at his best, I think the horse is in great shape and ready to run a very good race.” Kementari logged an impressive stakes hat trick earlier in the year headed by a win in the G1 Randwick Guineas in April before running third to Winx (Aus) (Street cry {Ire}) in the G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill. Dropping back to six furlongs on Saturday, Kementari will face some stiff opposition from some well established sprinters like Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) and She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) and Cummings feels he should be a bit wiser about future targets after the race. “This field is a good enough test for him to see what sort of performance we can get from him at 1200 metres at this stage of his career,” he added. Bjorn Baker is hoping Music Magnate’s best days aren’t behind him as he bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort last time at Meydan in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. “I’m confident he has still got it,” Baker told Racing And Sports. “It’s a strong field and whether he can beat the young horses coming through I don’t know. But he is as well as ever. He’s still a group horse and he is very good fresh and he has won his two trials leading into this,” he added. View the full article

Naughty Tiger didn't save any ground in the turn, but her impressive acceleration negated the trip and she won the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes Aug. 1 at Del Mar. View the full article

'Bigger and stronger' Debt Collector ready for take off in Jumbo Jet View the full article

Better go from Noah expected over 1800m next week View the full article

Freedman-Moor duo unfazed by Mr Clint's low-key trial View the full article

Kranji star stayer Quechua dies of colic View the full article

Bold expectations ahead for Thruster View the full article

Early scratching August 3 View the full article

The two-day live racing festival planned for Suffolk Downs Aug. 4-5 will be scratched unless Massachusetts lawmakers can come up with a quick remedy. View the full article

Paul Pompa Jr.'s Your Love overtook Heavenly Score and Come Dancing in the stretch and held off a late-charging Cairenn to win the sixth running of the $100,000 Shine Again for fillies and mares 4 and up Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

After airing by 6 1/2 lengths in Belmont’s GII Suburban S. July 7 with a gaudy 110 Beyer Speed Figure, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Diversify (Bellamy Road) looks like the one to beat in Saturday’s GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. winner bounced out of that effort so well-he fired a bullet five-furlong move in :59 (1/48) at the Spa July 29-trainer Rick Violette, Jr. decided to ditch his original plan of awaiting the GI Woodward S. Sept. 1. He is the 7-5 morning-line favorite. “I was very concerned after the Suburban. He had run such a huge race that I thought that four weeks might be too quick,” Violette said. “But he kept making a liar out of me. He ate well, trained well and breezed awfully well on Sunday. Sometimes, when your horse is doing good, you’re supposed to run.” Fellow Empire-bred for the ages Mind Your Biscuits (Posse), a two-time G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner, makes his highly anticipated route debut. The chestnut fell just a nose short in a thrilling renewal of the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. on the GI Belmont S. undercard last time. “I expect him to be much closer with Diversify coming drawn out in the six, and [they’re] giving us six pounds. It’s a short run into the first turn, and if Diversify gets hung wide, he gets hung wide,” trainer Chad Summers said. “I’m as confident as I can be. Everything he’s always shown me over his entire career is that he can do it, and until he can’t, I’m not going to think he can’t.” Tapwrit (Tapit), a well-beaten fifth as the 3-1 favorite in the Suburban, looks for his first victory since last year’s GI Belmont S. Backyard Heaven (Tizway), a breakthrough winner of Churchill’s GII Alysheba S. May 4, looks to rebound after a disappointing sixth as the 4-5 chalk in the GI Stephen Foster H. June 16. View the full article

“Inside the Winner’s Circle, Presented by Keeneland” is a series showcasing graduates of the Keeneland September sale that have gone on to achieve success on racing’s biggest stages. It’s rare that you could call the 2-year-old male champion “overshadowed” before he even makes his first start as a sophomore, but that was the case for e 5 Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables’ Good Magic (Curlin) when he returned to the races early this March. A few weeks earlier, WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing unveiled their highly-touted 3-year-old colt Justify (Scat Daddy) to a devastating maiden win at Santa Anita and the colt’s trainer, Bob Baffert, threw gasoline on that fire by saying his goal was to get the potential superstar to the GI Kentucky Derby. Good Magic started his campaign with a so-so third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 3, and by the time the Derby rolled around, even with a victory in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. added to his accomplishments, the colt was a virtual afterthought. This was hard to imagine, for reasons going all the way back to when Good Magic sold for a cool $1 million to Edwards at Keeneland September in 2016 (click here to watch sales ring video). The yearling, bred and raised by Stonestreet, was quickly bought back into by the legendary outfit after e 5’s Bob Edwards and his bloodstock agent Mike Ryan made the winning bid, showing confidence that their chestnut was destined for big things. “Mike susses out horses for me, he’s got the eye for talent that I do not have,” Edwards said. “Stonestreet talked to Mike and said, ‘Look, if Bob buys this horse, we’d love to take half of it.'” Spending that much money on a yearling, especially a colt, was a new frontier for Edwards. But taking that plunge was facilitated by knowing Stonestreet was invested in Hip 845‘s success. “My typical business model is to buy well-bred fillies,” he said. “I go in on a colt every now and then, but obviously never a million-dollar colt. It was nice to have a partner behind me, and obviously they knew the horse well enough, and if they were going to back it up, that made it a lot easier.” Good Magic debuted on the GI Travers S. undercard last August at Saratoga and ran second as the 3-4 favorite. With the big 2-year-old races quickly approaching as summer turned to fall, trainer Chad Brown decided that progressing the colt through his conditions was a luxury time couldn’t afford, and entered him in the GI Champagne S. without a victory under his belt. “That’s kind of my history, I didn’t win a traditional maiden until I won four stakes races, so the progressions that Chad has done for me over the last few years haven’t been typical,” Edwards said. “If you’re at Saratoga and you get a later start, it’s tough to go conventional because the season kind of crams up at the end. We felt the horse was training really well and felt he deserved to be in that spot, and he showed everybody that he earned it.” Running a bang-up second after tracking a scorching pace in the Champagne, Good Magic was sent on to the Breeders’ Cup, where he scored an 11-1 upset and broke his maiden in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He entered the race winless and exited it the de facto 2-year-old champion. Fast forward to the Kentucky Derby, where Good Magic tracked Justify and made a bold run at him on the far turn, to where the pair was practically insperable at the head of the stretch. The favorite asserted himself from there though, and kicked away to score by 2 1/2 lengths, with Good Magic just holding second over late-running Audible (Into Mischief). Two weeks later in the GI Preakness S., he hooked up with Justify again, this time much earlier in the running, and the two sparred until deep stretch, when Justify edged away from his rival before holding off a pair of closers to set up his date with destiny in the GI Belmont S. Good Magic, after running bravely along the rail in the rain-soaked, fog-covered test, faded just a bit late to be fourth while beaten only a length on the wire. While beaten on the square by a generational talent, he acquitted himself very well in his two Triple Crown efforts. “Any other year, we would’ve won at least one of those races,” Edwards said. “I couldn’t have been happier. The horse has tremendous heart. His constitution, the way he trains, the way he shows up, the way he is mentally. He’s almost like a puppy, you can walk right into his stall, you can take him out, you can pet him, you can sit down with him. There’s something special about him that I haven’t seen in the other horses that I’ve had, and I’ve had some really good luck. Whether it’s the Hard Spun side, the Curlin side, that mix, it is magical.” With his Triple Crown conqueror now retired, Good Magic had a chance to stamp himself as the 3-year-old to beat in the second half of the year Sunday at Monmouth Park and delivered in spades, scoring by an easy three lengths in the GI betfair.com Haskell Invitational. Once again, he finds himself at the top of the mountain, awaiting the next challenger. “There’s a little pressure,” Edwards said of his colt returning to that perch. “He’s got to respond to what we ask him to do. He came out of the race great and he’s in Chad’s hands. My training license is long-expired, and I rely on Chad to campaign and position him properly. He’s a taskmaster and a condition-book artist and he’s looking at all these later races to figure out what the best fit for him is.” View the full article