Wandering Eyes

Kentucky sprint star Limousine Liberal has won five of his six stakes victories at Churchill Downs and hopes to carry that success east to Keeneland when he tests 13 foes in the Commonwealth Stakes. View the full article

The American dirt horse is tough, strong, and fast. He’s an athlete. He’s a combination of speed and stamina, bred to race on an unforgivingly hard surface, bred to race at two, bred to break quickly from the gate, bred to run hard early, bred to withstand pressure late. He’s not a pet, though he’s viewed as such by a growing segment of the population. He’s been selectively bred like working dogs, who are as prized for their “prey drive” as he is for his ability to compete. American dirt horses and their sons and daughters may not be as sought after around the world as they once were, but their influence globally is still significant. Sunday Silence (Halo) changed the face of Japanese racing, and he has a son, Deep Impact (Jpn), who is doing even more. Danehill (Danzig) is a ubiquitous presence in Australia and Europe. Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) put New Zealand on the map. Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) and sons and others by Northern Dancer have long dominated Europe. Southern Halo (Halo) was a giant in Argentina. I could go on, but you get the drift. M. V. Magnier, son of Coolmore owner John Magnier and grandson of legendary Irish trainer Vincent O’Brien, said, after the Irish-based stud farm landed Justify (Scat Daddy) last year to stand at its Kentucky affiliate, Ashford Stud: “My grandfather M. V. O’Brien built Ballydoyle off the backs of some brilliant American Classic horses. In Justify and American Pharoah we now have two all-time greats, so we couldn’t be more optimistic about the future.” That about puts the stature of the American dirt horse in perspective. Last year in the pavilion at the Fasig-Tipton yearling sale at Saratoga, Claiborne’s Bernie Sams said, “People don’t come to this sale looking for turf horses. They’re here looking for dirt horses that can win the Kentucky Derby. Sure, there’s more opportunity on turf now, and if they get one that runs only turf, fine, but they mostly want the classic dirt horse. That’s what they’re looking for.” Coolmore and partners found one of those last week when they outbid Stonestreet Farm for the Curlin (Smart Strike) colt at $3.65 million at the Fasig-Tipton selected 2-year-olds-in-training sale at Gulfstream. From the Bernardini mare Achieving–a granddaughter of Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, dam of Coolmore’s Belmont S. winner Rags to Riches–the son of the Hill ‘n’ Dale-based Horse of the Year and Preakness winner was a gorgeous physical specimen with ideal temperament who’d worked in :10 flat but is bred to run all day on dirt. In other words, he’s the prime example of the type of horse that Bernie Sams noted that buyers want, to aim for the American Classics. The development of the American dirt horse mirrored the evolution of our immigrant culture. Imports, like immigrants, formed a bedrock. The breeding industry here was strengthened by importing foreign-bred stock, horses like Sir Gallahad (Fr) (Teddy {Fr}), Bleinheim (GB) (Blandford {Ire}), Mahmoud (Fr) (Blenheim), Nasrullah (GB) (Nearco {Ity}), etc., horses that had raced on turf but were asked to adapt to the American way of racing flat-out from the gate on dirt ovals at sprint distances and up. It was a Darwinian approach: Those that made the transition and assimilated to the ways of a new culture succeeded, and those that didn’t, failed; a microcosm of society at large, where the safety nets then weren’t as large as they are now. Breeders and stud farms were cognizant of continuously infusing new foreign blood to supplement and strengthen the few native strains (imports from a century earlier) and second- and third-generation lines here, and they had the money behind them to buy the best stallions from abroad as America was propelled through a period of economic prosperity after WWll. This process, through decades of being tested on dirt, produced that unique American dirt horse that was distinctly different to its foreign counterparts who raced on turf, at distances longer than here, and in a style of not being seriously asked to run until late in a race. By the time that Vincent O’Brien started vigorously importing North American horses to Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, these differences became widely known. The Americans had more speed and gear changes than their European counterparts, and turf wasn’t a problem for most of them. As a result, they started beating the Europeans at their own game. For example, in the three decades of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, there were 14 North American-bred Epsom Derby winners. By that time, of course, the pendulum had swung, and European stables had the monetary heft to import the best of our horses, and many of those–notably Sadler’s Wells and Danehill, both at Coolmore–went on to become iconic sires and sire makers abroad. Since 2000, only one North American-bred horse, Kris Kin, in 2003, has won the Epsom Derby. The Europeans, with such Classic-siring stallions as Galileo and Montjeu–both Coolmore-based sons of Sadler’s Wells–no longer needed the American dirt horse for Europe as it once had. In fact, there were whispers both here and abroad that the American dirt horse was no longer what it once was, and the global economic meltdown of 2007-2008 was perhaps a symbolic metaphor for its perceived decline. (In recent years there’s been a bit of a renaissance with American-bred progeny of such as War Front, Scat Daddy, and Kitten’s Joy enjoying some European success at levels below the Classics.) The Finger Pointing It’s about at this point that medication such as race-day Lasix became (or became again) the hot-button issue for what ailed American racing and breeding–the equine version of the opioid crisis. You know the story: fewer starts, less stamina, more brittleness, more breakdowns, etc. All this was blamed on the liberal use of the diuretic that was legally available in all racing jurisdictions for the treatment of bleeders suffering from exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage or EIPH. By this time, too, the breeding industry had weathered the advent of synthetic tracks and had rebelled against them, complaining, mostly in private, but powerful circles, that the artificial surfaces were changing the character of the American dirt horse. Santa Anita, Keeneland, Del Mar, and Meydan–with a lack of American support–soon reverted back to dirt, and for some of the elite owners and breeders who had urged surface changes back to dirt, their sights were now solely on Lasix and medication. The Jockey Club, to which many belonged, was charged with leading the fight for medication reform and, specifically, to get federal intervention to ban race-day medication. With friends in high places and the funds to lobby Washington, The Jockey Club through the last several years got various versions of the “Integrity Act” introduced in Congress–none that has progressed past the subcommittee level–and created a wide-ranging PR campaign that equated Lasix with the illegal “drugging and doping” of horses. The Lasix battle has essentially pitted one segment of the industry against another: the group at the top of the pyramid represented by The Jockey Club versus the rank-and-file horsemen plying their trades at the bottom, represented by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA). The internecine warfare, unfortunately, has now had the amplified effect of projecting to the public a culture of “drugging” in the aftermath of the 23 fatalities at Santa Anita, though no follow-up studies have been conducted to pinpoint actual cause. The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, is a major backer, both philosophically and financially, of the Integrity Act, and it has deflected attention away from the dirt racing surface as the cause of the fatalities and has brought the animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to the table in its attempt to effect policy change through a range of measures, including limited use of Lasix and the whip and the banning of several therapeutic medications. However, in PETA, whose stated mission is to end racing, it has a Trojan Horse on its hands that has already turned on TSG and racing. Coincidently–or perhaps through a concerted effort–the latest version of the Integrity Act was also introduced in Congress during the Santa Anita crisis, and The Jockey Club just days ago followed up with a “white paper” urging for the act’s passage and implying that the use of medication was a likely cause of the Santa Anita fatalities. It said, “Improper drug use can directly lead to horse injuries and deaths.” Curiously, what The Jockey Club didn’t publicize in its paper–or hasn’t in its fight to get the Integrity Act passed over the last few years–is important data that it has collected for years through its equine injury database on equine fatalities. Here are The Jockey Club figures of fatalities per 1,000 for Santa Anita from 2009 to 2017. Note the startling discrepancies between the synthetic surfaces and dirt: 2009 (synthetic): 0.90/1000 2010 (synthetic): 0.59/1000 2011 (dirt): 2.94/1000 2012 (dirt): 2.89/1000 2013 (dirt): 2.11/1000 2014 (dirt): 1.57/1000 2015 (dirt): 1.75/1000 2016 (dirt): 3.13/1000 2017 (dirt): 2.27/1000 If The Jockey Club is truly interested in welfare, it should have advocated for a return to the safety of synthetic surfaces along with its agenda for medication reform, and this omission is nothing but an embarrassment in full public view now. PETA and a senator from California have already digested this and have called for a return to the less-fatal synthetic surfaces at Santa Anita. It’s also quite likely that lawmakers considering co-sponsoring the Integrity Act will also now insist on the inclusion of synthetic surfaces in the bill. Now that the genie is out of the bottle, adverse publicity against dirt tracks is snowballing. The other day the Louisville Courier-Journal blasted a headline that read “Churchill Downs is one of the deadliest racetracks in America” and said the home of the Kentucky Derby had a fatality rate of 2.73/1000. High fatality rates, of course, are part and parcel of the culture of American dirt racing–the proving ground of the American dirt horse. It’s what made those that excelled in this rigorous program special and desirable. But it has come at a price, something those involved in the business–including The Jockey Club–have known for decades. But in the current climate, where animal welfare looms so large in society, the future of the American dirt horse may once again be at a crossroads. Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks. View the full article

8th-KEE, $81K, Alw/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3yo, 1 1/16m, 4:57 ET Robert and Lawana Low’s INTREPID HEART (Tapit) was highly regarded heading into his debut Feb. 18 at Oaklawn and did not disappoint, surviving a speed duel and still drawing away powerfully in the stretch to a 7 3/4-length romp (video). That was plenty good enough for a ‘TDN Rising Star’ designation and the handsome gray returns as the likely favorite in a two-turn allowance/optional claimer Friday at Keeneland. Picked up for $750,000 at OBS April, the Todd Pletcher trainee is a half to MGSW/GISP freshman sire Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and GSW/GISP Laugh Track (Distorted Humor) out of MSW Flaming Heart (Touch Gold). He shows three interim breezes at Palm Beach Downs, capped by a five-furlong move in 1:01 1/5 (3/6) Mar. 29. The competition is stiff, however, headed by Town and Country Racing and Spendthrift Farm’s Get the Prize (Candy Ride {Arg}). Sold for $410,000 at OBS March, the bay scored a wire-to-wire victory going six furlongs on debut Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds, earning a field-high last-out Beyer of 87. Trained by Al Stall, Jr., he’s out of a half-sister to GSW Nothing But Fun (Dixie Union), with champion Ajina (Strawberry Road {Aus}), MG1SW Bahri (Riverman) and MGISW and supersire Quality Road (Elusive Quality) further back in the female family. Two other high-priced purchases look to get back on track as well in Joseph Allen and Peter Brant’s U S Navy Cross (Curlin) and Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun It (Tapit). The former, a $550,000 KEESEP buy, came from well back to graduate at first asking Sept. 29 at Belmont before running a well-beaten fourth in the GIII Nashua S. He shows an upbeat Payson Park worktab for trainer Chad Brown, punctuated by a half-mile spin in :50 flat (2/33). The latter, narrowly the second-highest lot when hammering for $2.6 million at KEESEP, broke his maiden impressively Dec. 22 at Fair Grounds and was most recently 12th after setting a fast pace in the GII Risen Star S. TJCIS PPs View the full article

With qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on the line, a short but spicy field of six sophomore fillies will contest the Gazelle Stakes (G2), headed by graded winner Positive Spirit and last-out stakes winner Espresso Shot View the full article

I imagine if you are reading this, we share something in common–the love of horses and horse racing. Like me, you may even make your living and provide for family by working in this industry. When I get the TDN Alerts at night that another important governing body is calling for an end to racing or to shut down the track, I feel sick to my stomach and can’t sleep. And then I get up in the morning and read/listen to the finger pointing and infighting within the industry. The “blame game” must stop immediately and we can either work together to make smart decisions that reflect the world we live in and survive, or we can continue to fight with one another about who’s right and who’s wrong. We must recognize and embrace meaningful change to protect and care for the horse. I believe it is crucial we address these three issues immediately: 1. The “Riding Crop” Within the industry, we can continue to refer to this item as a “riding crop.” The reality is 99% of the general public believes it is a whip. Within the industry, we can continue to say it is cushioned, is used to make noise and does not hurt or injure the horse. The reality is 99% of the general public asks, “Why do you allow the jockeys to beat the horse coming down the stretch?” In those infrequent instances when a jockey’s safety is in question, its use is certainly legitimate and justified. The usage in those instances can be evaluated by a panel of knowledgeable and experienced horseman such as Alex Solis, Ramon Dominguez, Pat Day and certainly many others. Otherwise, its usage must stop. 2. Aftercare Our industry has made progress in recent years to address this issue, primarily through the formation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and the efforts of countless, dedicated adoption and rescue organizations. However, the current funding mechanisms are not adequate to address the issue. All constituents and participants throughout the industry must provide mandatory funding to solve this issue–racetracks, owners, breeders, sales companies, trainers, jockeys, and other organizations. We must be able to clearly demonstrate that our industry cares about Thoroughbreds after their time at the racetrack is completed. 3. Medication and The Horse Racing Integrity Act Lasix is unquestionably been the biggest dividing force within our industry in recent years. I personally have two strong beliefs: (1) The use of Lasix has NOT caused the current crisis associated with the recent breakdowns; (2) Our current medication system and policy is NOT working. Accordingly, I encourage and implore the horsemen (HBPA), the major racetracks (TSG, CDI, NYRA, Del Mar, Keeneland and Oaklawn) and RCI to provide leadership to make substantial and meaningful changes to the existing rules and regulations to improve equine safety and health by the end of 2019. The status quo is not acceptable, nor sustainable. If such change does not occur by December 31, 2019, each and every participant within our industry should support federal legislation. Accordingly, to the current supporters of The Horse Racing Integrity Act, the issues facing our industry are larger and more significant than the Lasix issue. I implore you to work with all facets of the industry to address these other meaningful and more threatening issues facing our industry. All of us should be able to support and endorse increased transparency with regard to the administration of medication throughout the life of the Thoroughbred horse. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” It provides an opportunity to do things you may not have been able to accomplish before. We should embrace this moment to implement positive change as an industry and each of us has a personal responsibility to do so beginning today. View the full article

Phil Cunningham, owner and founder of Rebel Racing, has enjoyed success at the top level since getting involved in racehorse ownership. In 2014 he founded Rebel Racing and is now embarking on the hard task of making a stallion as G2 Coventry S. winner Rajasinghe (GB) (Choisir {Aus}) gets his new career underway. Phil recently sat down with the TDN’s Alayna Cullen to discuss his passion and the support he is throwing behind Rajasinghe. TDN: Phil, firstly, why horse racing? How did you get involved in it? Phil Cunningham: Seems such a long time ago now. I’m 50 the next year, so I think I probably got involved when I first left college. Dad had had a few horses before that. And then when I first started work, I got a few mates together and we bought our first horse as a syndicate, a great way to get involved with racing. The horse was called Cool Temper (GB), trained by Jack Banks, So yeah, it all seemed a long time ago, and obviously things, very fortunately for me, have gone well since. TDN: You have been quite a lucky owner. It’s fair to say that you’ve enjoyed success at the top level. Just tell us a little about the success you’ve had. PC: Yeah, a very luck owner. Obviously, the big horse would be Cockney Rebel (Ire) (Val Royal {Fr}), he won the English and the Irish Guineas in 2007, a super, super horse. But prior to that, in 2005, we had the second in the Guineas with Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque {Ire}). The Guineas was always my favorite race as a racing fan and we had the fourth in Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire})’s Guineas with Slim Shadey (GB) (Val Royal {Fr}) which was the first horse I ever bred. Flat racing is my passion, but I’ve obviously lived the dream of a Cheltenham winner with Cinders And Ashes (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) as well. Then, obviously, I got more involved and, I suppose, lived the dream in setting up our own training operation. Richard (Spencer) joined us only three years ago and we won the Molecomb last year, the Coventry the year before and this year’s team look like they could be even more promising. Definitely larger, so if the law of numbers applies, then yeah, we’re in for a good year. TDN: You mentioned winning the Coventry S. Of course that was with Rajasinghe who is now standing at The National Stud. Why did you decide to stand him there? PC: I’ve always had quite a close affinity to the Stud. Obviously, Cockney Rebel stood here when he first started his stud career. I love the place, it’s local, and so we get to continue to see the horse. But it really came from meetings with Tim Lane who’s been very supportive of our organization, a great friend of [trainer] Richard [Spencer]’s, and I think he’s done a tremendous job. TDN: And just to go back to his Coventry win, what impressed you most about it? PC: Well, I think from a very, very early stage, Richard picked him out as the one that looked a bit special. I think at only 28, I think Richard is, I believe one of, if not the, youngest trainer of a Royal Ascot winner. Which was absolutely brilliant and well-deserved for all of his hard work. But the way in which the horse did it, he got checked at the start, didn’t have the clearest sort of run through and pretty much had to run up the middle of the track on his own, which probably wasn’t the fastest part of the track as it proved throughout the whole of that meeting and to beat the track record, it was a dream, an absolute dream. TDN: You’ve announced a rather interesting incentive program for breeders using Rajasinghe. Can you tell us a little more about it? PC: I think the interesting part from not coming from a racing background myself gives us the ability to look at things a little bit differently and from speaking to the guys, Tim, Joe, and Mark, that are involved in managing the horse for us, the issue that breeders are facing at the moment, especially at the level of the market that we’re looking at, is that some people are concerned about the future economy in and outside of the bloodstock side of things. So I thought, ‘Well if we can balance that with what we’re trying to achieve, which is obviously in our first season get as many runners on the ground as possible, why not give them a guarantee of the money back should the horse not reach a price in commercial sales at the at the foal or the yearling stage?’ So what we’re trying to do is encourage breeders to come in and support our confidence. A little bit different I believe. We’ll see what comes from it, and hopefully we’ll have a super success story behind us in years to come. Like Kodiak, which would be the similar sort of dream to what we’re trying to obtain from Rajasinghe. TDN: You mentioned you have a breeding operation, are you sending any mares to him? PC: Yes, I’m breeding some mares myself. I’ve got 10 or 12 mares myself, of which eight of them are going to the horse and we’re going to, hopefully, obtain the best progeny that he produces for ourselves. So we’ll be viewing them all at the sales ring with the tremendous team that we have that includes Richard and Bobby [O’Ryan]. TDN: Earlier you said that you are hoping this year will be a good year for the team and one of the headline acts should be Rumble Inthejungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). How is he and what are his targets this year? PC: He’s a magnificent hose, I’ve never seen a horse with such a great temperament. He really was the flag bearer for us last year. Obviously now that we’re in partnership with Cheveley Park, who are fantastic people to deal with, the final decision will be with them, but I think the G1 Commonwealth Cup has always been on the agenda and he will probably have one of two prep runs. TDN: Finally is there any other horse we should be looking out for this year? PC: I think Thrilla In Manila (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), who’s entered in the G1 2000 Guineas, really could be anything. He’s definitely one to keep on the right side of, and we hope to see him in the Greenham, which is looking like it’s going to be quite a hot race. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Phil Cunningham on Rajasinghe (GB)","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/328411070.sd.mp4?s=72c42f3c64961fd159e847ed07d9377beab99248&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"","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

Kentucky sprint star Limousine Liberal has won five of his six stakes victories at Churchill Downs and hopes to carry that success east to Keeneland when he tests 13 foes in the Commonwealth Stakes. View the full article

Following the $35-million Dubai World Cup night card, there have been several changes to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, but Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), City of Light (Quality Road) and Winx (Aus) (Street Cry (Ire) all remain at the top of the chart with a rating of 125, while Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) remains in fourth at 123. Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who landed the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic over Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) (119) on Mar. 30 is now in fifth with a mark of 122, while his Godolphin compatriot Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), who won the G1 Dubai World Cup for the second consecutive year, was given a mark of 121, good for sixth. Dubai World Cup bridesmaid Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) has moved into a joint seventh at 120 with G1 Al Quoz Sprint hero Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal). G1 Dubai Turf heroine Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) moves up to 119 in her 4-year-old bow, and in Japan, Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was also measured at 119 after winning the G1 Osaka Hai. Godolphin’s Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) also rose to that mark after winning the G1 Ranvet S. And G1 Tancred S. with a week in between. View the full article

Kentucky sprint star Limousine Liberal has won five of his six stakes victories at Churchill Downs and hopes to carry that success east to Keeneland when he tests 13 foes in the Commonwealth Stakes View the full article

THE WHIP As a trainer for nearly 40 years and being foaled instead of born, I have seen many changes in our sport, both good and bad, but to the best of my memory, I have never seen the turmoil we are facing today. It is my belief that there are many things within our sport that could be improved on, but none more vital than the issue of whipping. Having spent many of the past 40 years bearing witness to spectators taking in the sport, sometimes for the first time, I can speak first hand of the commentary often relayed about the use of whipping in our sport. Nothing feels more contradictory to me than watching a jockey whip and whip our equine athletes, often asking them to give more than they have to offer, only to show affection once they pass the finish line. I believe that, like in many other equine disciplines, jockeys should be allowed to carry a whip, but with restrictions. I believe that the whip should never be allowed to come above their waist, except when switching hands, and should be used as a tool of guidance–not excessive encouragement. I know this is only one of the major issues our sport currently faces, but it is my belief that it will be one of the most effective ways to remind the public that we care and love these equine athletes. And I believe it is what will be best for our sport moving forward. Sincerely, Mark Casse View the full article

Beauty Generation (NZ), City of Light and Winx (AUS) [all at 125] remain tied for the top spot in the second edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2019, while several Dubai World Cup Night performers have joined the rankings. View the full article

He has broken through the ranks, forcing his way into whatever gaps–however fleeting, however narrow–are incautiously left open by more established rivals. To the point that there’s now no knowing how far he might go. And that’s just the horse. But much the same holds true of Danny Gargan, who claimed a gelded son of Arch at Keeneland last fall and tomorrow saddles him for the GII Wood Memorial S., presented by NYRA Bets, at Aqueduct: this squat, pugnacious figure, who has lived and worked on the back side all his life, but has been training barely five years. Because for all the blue-collar credentials they appear to share, both Gargan and Tax have an inborn eligibility for a race that could catapult them into the front rank of contenders for the Kentucky Derby itself. Tax has no less aristocratic a pedigree than you would expect of a horse bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider. His dam, by the great broodmare sire Giant’s Causeway, is out of Yell (A.P. Indy), who ran third in the GI Kentucky Oaks, herself a half-sister to Roar (Forty Niner) out of half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero. As Gargan says, it’s just as well Tax had been cut because otherwise he would never have been running for a $50,000 tag. But Gargan’s own background amply qualifies him to have turned Tax into the street-fighting winner of the GIII Withers S. in February. Gargan was only four when his father was killed in an automobile accident. But he grew up surrounded by people who had known and respected Danny Gargan Sr., rider of the 1973 Kentucky Oaks winner Bag Of Tunes (Herbager {Fr}). People like Nick Zito, Mark Hennig and Merrill Scherer took him under their wing. Besides working for trainers, Gargan had a stint as a jockeys’ agent, and was doing a little trading in young horses when P.J. Campo urged him to start up his own barn. He did so with just two horses, but within a couple of years had announced himself with the $16,000 claim Divine Miss Grey (Divine Park). Over the past two years she has earned close to $1 million, crowning her improvement last fall with a Grade II success and second-place effort in the GI Beldame S. Gargan’s barn is now up to around 40 horses, but he expects to add another 20 juveniles. There is always something of a revolving door, of course, for a trainer who has made his name in the claiming division. But Tax’s graduation towards the elite could be a game-changer for the Gargan brand. If so, he will never forget weighing up this well-connected debutant, then trained by Ben Colebrook, on a simulcast from Churchill last September. “We’re always looking for young talent,” Gargan explains. “So I looked at his pedigree, and thought this looks like a horse who wants to go long on the grass. He ran a pretty good race that day, for a big horse. I didn’t think he’d be a sprinter but he finished second [over 6 1/2f]. Then he popped up at Keeneland in a maiden 50, going long, and I jumped on a plane to claim him.” It might have been a wasted journey, but Gargan came out on top in a seven-way shake. Going home, he resolved to transfer Tax to turf at Belmont or Aqueduct. “But when we breezed him, he went so good we decided to try him on the dirt,” he recalls. “His first work was okay, then I gave him Lasix for the second work and he worked tremendous.” So much so that Tax–with a nudge from Gargan’s old friend Kiaran McLaughlin–was supplemented to the GII Remsen S. for his barn debut. Tax finished third, and Gargan said that he could have been second if ridden to do so. “We were probably a little too aggressive trying to go after the winner,” he says. At that stage, of course, the horse had barely been with him for a month and Gargan stresses his debt to Claiborne and also Colebrook for laying such a solid foundation. “He was in great shape when I got him,” he says. “You know, we’re having lots of problems with young horses because they’re not raised right. But this horse, his bones are amazing, he’s sound; credit to Claiborne, they’ve bred and raised an unbelievable animal, a beautiful horse with a great dosage.” But if Tax was a maturing young horse anyway, he evidently responded to a winter regime that sounds a little more demanding than most. “I do train my horses pretty aggressive,” Gargan concedes. “I train every day, I gallop a lot, I breeze fast when I work. Anyway, he’s handled it, thrived on it. We thought we’d win the Withers. He had kind of a rough trip, he stumbled really bad at the start, then got stuck down inside. But he’s a big, game horse, he’s not scared of other horses, he actually relishes the competition. He got checked on heels for a minute and you’re just hoping a rail opens, and finally he pushed his way through. And once he did, Junior [Alvarado] said he had a lot more horse: he was like, ‘Where’s my buddies?'” WATCH: Tax finishes strong to win the Withers That relish for action equips Tax ideally for the chaos of the Derby, not least with that deep pedigree behind him. In fact, whatever happens in the meantime, Gargan already has the GI Belmont S. in the back of his mind. “He’s bred to get the distance in these longer races,” he reasons. “It’d be awesome if we could just run one-two-three in the Wood and could go to the Derby, because he’ll get the mile and a quarter and a lot of horses won’t. And they’re not salty like him, either. He likes to mix it up. He’s a tough horse, a big, strong horse. And he’s not a deep closer that needs to have it set up for him. He has tactical speed, can make the race unfold for himself. If no one shows speed, he can be speed. But he will rate. “And he’s moved forward. He’s had a couple of really big works. The other day he went :47.80 just galloping in company with a nice horse, and then galloped out way in front of him in 1:01, 1:14 and change. So we expect him to be super live in the Wood.” One of the tenets of Gargan’s regime is that a horse will get more even from a :49 work in company than from blitzing :46 solo. He notes how Bob Baffert and Chad Brown like to work horses together, and when he was a young assistant to Zito they did it all the time. That’s a typical glimpse of the mentoring behind Gargan, and a reminder that this is not some fellow who has just risen without trace. “I was lucky as a kid,” he says. “I worked with some good people. A lot of people knew my dad, they liked him and liked me and wanted to help. Maybe I should have started training sooner, but you look back and I wasn’t ready mentally. The jock’s agent thing, that helped me. It taught me the value of a horse, and the value of winning.” As such, Gargan’s antennae are constantly flicking across the horse population. Divine Miss Grey, for instance, came to his attention just in assessing the opposition in the parade ring, when starting one of his first decent horses at Aqueduct. She looked as good as ever on her recent return and Gargan is toying with the GIII Top Flight H. next. “I don’t breeze her nearly as much as a horse like Tax,” he says. “Just at day-to-day training she’s hard on herself, the hardest horse in the barn to gallop. She’s a real handful. My assistant Orlando has done a tremendous job with her. She stays wherever he’s at and if she goes somewhere, I send him with her. Now, Tax is a fun big old happy boy, much easier to train.” And there’s a big old happy crew around him, too, making the ride all the more enjoyable: Lucas Stritsman of Corms Racing Stable, Hugh Lynch, Dean Reeves and Randy Hill. (Hill and Stritsman are also in Divine Miss Grey.) “Randy’s a bigger-than-life type character, he brings the party,” Gargan says. “This group, they’re a lot of fun. And that’s what I have to try and provide as well: to make it fun. You can’t disappoint people every week. They want to win, or at least to run good. So you have to run horses where they belong, and can’t be scared of a claim. And you go on rooting for the horse, if you do lose one. I like being a guy people can improve off me too. As well as the guy that gets lucky and improves off somebody else, once in a while.” Gargan isn’t the only smart investor with a stake in Tax’s performance. At the Keeneland November Sale, Charles Fipke bought his dam for just $50,000, in foal to a son of his sire in Blame. Gargan, grinning, pointedly remarks how he would love to train her offspring. But even if Tax reaches his limit in the Wood, there would be no sense that his trainer has yet done the same. “People are taking notice,” Gargan admits. “I feel blessed because I’ve gone on the grass, the dirt, short or long. I don’t know why. It’s not like I do anything different, anything special. But we’ve some big opportunities coming: a few new clients coming aboard, more horses, better horses. Tax has helped, for sure, the phone’s been ringing a little more. But I’m still going to claim horses here and there. You’ve got to keep fighting, keep looking, keep working at it. “Claiming young horses, that’s my thing, I think they have a chance to develop and get better. And to have Divine Miss Grey and then come back now with another one? There’s guys that have been training for years haven’t had that luck. So to end up with two horses like this is pretty fun. Because there’s a lot of luck involved in this game. You have to do the right thing by the horses, have to be patient, but it takes a lot of luck too. And this is like a one-in-100 type horse.” View the full article

Vasilika will try for her third graded stakes win in as many starts this season when the 5-year-old daughter of Skipshot breaks from the rail in the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 6 on the Santa Anita Park turf. View the full article

Backed down to second favoritism for this one-mile firsters’ test, His Highness The Aga Khan’s Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) dominated late proceedings after exhibiting an impessive turn of foot to justifiably earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status at the first attempt. The homebred bay broke in mid division and employed patience throughout, settling under cover off the pace in eighth. Inching ever closer in the straight, the 29-10 chance eased into a clear path with 350 metres remaining and quickened smartly for minimal persuasion inside the final furlong to easily account for Wishfully (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by an impressive two lengths. Siyarafina, who holds entries in the May 26 G1 Prix Saint-Alary and June 16 G1 Prix de Diane, is the second foal and scorer for MGSP Listed Prix de Bagatelle victress Siyenica (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) and she is a half-sister to a 2-year-old filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a yearling colt by Golden Horn (GB). Siyenica, herself out of a stakes-winning half to MG1SW sire Slickly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), is kin to three black-type performers headed by G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) and MG1SW British and French highweight Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). 4th-Saint-Cloud, €25,000, Mdn, 4-4, unraced 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:47.79, sf. SIYARAFINA (FR), f, 3, by Pivotal (GB) 1st Dam: Siyenica (Fr) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $102,865), by Azamour (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sichilla (Ire), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Slipstream Queen, by Conquistador Cielo 1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €12,500. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Fukushina, Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses, including a pair of US-conceived horses out of mares that sold for seven-figure pricetags at Fasig-Tipton in 2015: Saturday, April 6, 2019 2nd-FKS, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1150m L’OR RAFFINE (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d’Oro–Reneesgotzip, by City Zip) is the first produce for her dam, a two-time graded winner and multiple Grade I-placed on the dirt and runner-up in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Racing in the colors of Teruya Yoshida, L’Or Raffine was offered in utero at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where Reneesgotzip was hammered down for an even $1 million. Her subsequent produce include a 2-year-old Deep Impact (Jpn) filly and a yearling filly by King Kamehameha (Jpn). B-Shadai Farm 5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($123k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m SPACECRAFT (JPN) (c, 3, Tapit–Starship Truffles, by Ghostzapper) was also offered in utero at FTKNOV in 2015 and was also scooped up by Shadai for $1.5 million. The gray is the first Japanese-bred foal for his dam, victorious in the GI Princess Rooney H., and made a successful racetrack debut, landing a 1900m dirt maiden at Chukyo Mar. 10 (see below, gate 8). Starship Truffles is the dam of a yearling filly by dual Group 1-winning miler Mikki Isle (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and is due to Deep Impact this year. B-Shadai Farm Sunday, April 7, 2018 2nd-NKY, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 1800m DOVER TESORO (c, 3, Union Rags–Miss Emilia, by War Front) is the first produce for his dam, a half-sister to MSW & GSP War Officer (Grand Slam), SW Doo Lang (Pulpit) and MGSP Danceland (Tapit). The colt’s GSW third dam Wandering Star (Red Ransom) was responsible for G1SW War Command (War Front) and GSW Naval Officer (Tale of the Cat). A $135K Keeneland November weanling, Dover Tesoro hammered for 210K gns (about $288K) as a Tattersalls October yearling. B-Chadds Ford Stable LLC (KY) 5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($123k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m LA LA CHRYSAOR (c, 3, Speightstown–Lindy, by War Front), a $325K KEESEP purchase, suggested that he could be his sire’s next Japanese superstar when stretching clear to graduate by 10 1/2 lengths as a short-priced favorite at first asking at Kyoto Jan. 12 (video, gate 5). His stakes-placed dam RNAd for $320K with the colt in utero at KEENOV in 2015. Speightstown’s Japanese-based US-bred Matera Sky was a pace-pressing second to X Y Jet (Kantharos) in last weekend’s G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. B-Ranjan Racing Inc (KY) View the full article

With qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks on the line, a short but spicy field of six sophomore fillies contest the Gazelle Stakes, headed by graded winner Positive Spirit and last-out stakes winner Espresso Shot View the full article

There’s no name attached to the Grand National more so than the McCain family and Donald McCain shares his memories of the great race including Red Rum, Amberleigh House and Ballabriggs We’re geared up for the Grand National….are you? Find all the latest Grand National offers here: https://www.racebets.com/en/horse-racing/home The post Donald McCain Grand National Memories | Racebets appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

2nd-Lyon-Parilly, €18,000, Mdn, 4-4, unraced 2yo, 4 1/2fT, :57.40, hy. ASK ME NOT (IRE) (c, 2, Anjaal {GB}–Dangerous Duo {Ire}, by Intikhab) was quickly into stride and raced prominently through the initial stages of this first go. Scrubbed along when slipping back at halfway, the well-backed 6-5 chalk regained momentum under pressure to lead with 300 metres remaining and kept on strongly for continued coaxing inside the final furlong to score by an ultimately comfortable 3/4 of a length from Love Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), becoming the first winner for his Rathasker Stud-based freshman sire (by Bahamian Bounty {GB}). Half to a yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire), he is the first foal produced by an unraced daughter of Serene Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself an unraced half-sister to G3 Winter Derby-winning sire Tranquil Tiger (GB) (Selkirk). Sales history: 5,500gns RNA Wlg ’17 TATFOA; €2,000 Ylg ’18 GOFNOV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €9,000. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Mme Theresa Marnane; B-M J Halligan (IRE); T-Matthieu Palussiere. View the full article

Unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) will shuttle to Coolmore Australia for the 2019 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, where he will stand for a private fee. Justify will stand alongside fellow Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. “Justify was a phenomenal racehorse who re-wrote the history books through his achievements on the track. It is an absolute privilege to stand him at Coolmore Australia alongside our other Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who has already been so well supported by Australasian breeders” said Coolmore Australia Principal, Tom Magnier. “Scat Daddy was an incredible sire who has made an instant impact as a sire of sires and we look forward to standing his best son in Jerry’s Plains.” View the full article

He has recently taken on one of the most closely followed horses in Hong Kong but affable trainer Paul O’Sullivan says he does not feel any extra pressure racing Pakistan Star.The social media sensation will have his first start for his new handler after the high-profile stable move from Tony Cruz earlier this year but O’Sullivan maintains he is flying blind until he sees what his new galloper can produce on the track.The six-year-old lines up in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) at Sha… View the full article

This week is a recap of the 1965 Santa Anita Derby victory by Lucky Debonair at Santa Anita Park. The recap, written by Robert Hebert, carried the headline: "Lucky Debonair Deals Decisive Defeat to Favored Jacinto in $100,000 Santa Anita Derby." View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.Shades of the late “Uncle” Johnny Cruz’s go like the clappers and hope for the best riding style by the two apprentices in race four – @FastTrackHKThis sort of thing happens every time a new 10-pound claimer enters the ranks. It is so regular you can almost set your watch to it.The genesis, of course, is because the instructions to the inexperienced youngsters are… View the full article

The McCain Family is synonymous with the Grand National. We’ve asked Donald a few questions to test his knowledge on the biggest races of the year. How did you do against him? Grand National Quiz Which horse won the first Grand National? Charity Lottery Troytown Regal How many fences are jumped in the Grand National? […] The post Take the Donald McCain Grand National Quiz! appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Jaywalk seeks redemption off a fourth in the March 2 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, while Restless Rider is getting a late start to her 3-year-old season. Both have worked in company with Kentucky Derby hopefuls. View the full article

A week after Gary and Mary West won a key Road to the Kentucky Derby race in the East with a former claiming horse, the owners will cheer ahorse at the other end of the Derby path spectrum in champion Game Winner. View the full article