Wandering Eyes

While others went on the attack in the final turn of the 1 1/2-mile dirt test, Levy Racing's Beach View got a patient ride from jockey Rafael Bejarano, found an opening on the rail in the stretch, and burst away late to win by 4 3/4 lengths. View the full article

The race may have been labeled an allowance, but from the quarter pole to the wire July 25 at Del Mar, two of the best turf sprinters on the West Coast engaged in a top-class duel. View the full article

Avid learner Poon back for more View the full article

Early scratching July 27 View the full article

Collett happy with her Kranji journey thus far View the full article

Singapore to host first International Jockeys Challenge in September View the full article

One year after getting nailed at the wire by Paulassilverlining, Finley'sluckycharm got her Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) victory when she ran down Vertical Oak in midstretch and outkicked her rival by 2 1/4 lengths. View the full article

Despite its hearty $600,000 purse and the fact juvenile champion Good Magic is slated to run a day later at Monmouth Park, the July 28 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course drew just five entrants. View the full article

After a pair of close runner-up finishes in grade 1 turf races, the connections of Sadler's Joy hope a return to the course of his best win gets him over the hump. View the full article

Denied first-place honors last out in the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (G2), Woodford Racing's Engage will step down in class to the $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G3) July 28 at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Woodslane Farm’s Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy), who broke his maiden over the Saratoga turf two summers ago and scored his signature win on it in the GI Sword Dancer S. last August, returns to his favorite course to avenge a loss in the GII Bowling Green S. Saturday, but will have plenty of competition in the extremely deep renewal. Taking the lead into deep stretch of the Bowling Green last year, the chestnut was run down late and finished third, beaten a half-length. Since his Sword Dancer heroics, he has gone just one-for-six, and comes off a tough beat when nailed on the wire to finish a neck second in the GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan S. last out June 9 at Belmont. The 5-year-old finished a neck in front of La Providencia’s Hi Happy (Arg) (Pure Prize) that day and the two will renew their budding rivalry Saturday. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the homebred Hi Happy bested Sadler’s Joy when annexing both the GII Pan American S. and GI Man O’ War S. during the spring. Also returning from the Manhattan are Darby Dan Farm Racing’s Manitoulin (Awesome Again), who ran sneaky well to be fourth at 30-1 after chasing wide and Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber’s Channel Maker (English Channel), who checked in eighth but was beaten just 1 1/2 lengths. Al Shahania Stud America’s Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky), second in the Sword Dancer here last summer, rates a good chance. Taking the GII Monmouth S. May 26, he was a narrow second as the favorite in the GI United Nations S. last out June 30. Highland Sky (Sky Mesa) could be on the verge of a breakthrough. Winless in nine starts since capturing a Gulfstream allowance last February, the gelding got off the schneid with a neck score a Belmont optional claimer June 24. He earned an easily career-best 103 Beyer that day, and the runner-up, Call Provision (Lemon Drop Kid), returned to win a strong allowance last Saturday at Saratoga. View the full article

Though his 83rd birthday is approaching on Sept. 2, D. Wayne Lukas is conceding nothing to age in his 35th summer at Saratoga Race Course. As usual, he arrives before dawn, spends about four hours on horseback during training hours, is enthusiastic about his horses and happy to talk about racing. His stable is no longer the coast-to-coast powerhouse that smashed records, produced champions and put him in the Hall of Fame, but Lukas certainly has not faded away and will have horses in three graded stakes this weekend. For most of two months, Lukas and his 30 head are based at Barn 83, on the northeast edge of the Oklahoma training center that is part of the sprawling Saratoga facility. It is somewhat out of the way and a bit quieter than the atmosphere in the cluster of aged barns closer to the Oklahoma tracks. That is fine by Lukas, who said his mentor and patron John Nerud asked the New York Racing Association to assign him the barn when Nerud stopped training. Barn 83, its grounds tidy and manicured and decorated with flowers, has been the home to most of the Lukas horses that have won 249 Saratoga races, including 64 graded stakes. The foundation of that stakes haul is made up of well-known Grade I races: three Travers, two runnings each of the Alabama and the Whitney, six Spinaways and eight Hopefuls. Lukas has won or shared six Saratoga training titles and has won at least one race in each of his 34 years at Saratoga, an impressive number but far back of the 47-year streak owned by Jonathan Sheppard. During his first summer, 1984, Lukas finished 1-2 in the GI Alabama S. with Life’s Magic (Cox’s Ridge) and Lucky Lucky Lucky (Chieftain) and won the GI Spinaway S. with Tiltalating (Tilt). Following form, Lukas laughs at any suggestion that he might retire. Three years ago, a few weeks after his 80th birthday, he survived a life-threatening cardiac incident while in Philadelphia to run Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) in the GI Cotlillion S. at Parx. The blockages were severe, but Lukas–who had bragged that he was so healthy he never needed to go to the doctor–recovered and returned to the saddle. Seven days a week, 12 months a year, it’s business as usual for Lukas on his personal circuit of Oaklawn Park, Kentucky racing from Churchill Downs and Saratoga. “My energy is good,” he said, smiling. “I stepped on that pony at 5:15 and I stepped off at 9:10. I don’t ever miss a day.” Lukas’s two Triple Crown series runners will return to competition this weekend. The higher-profile of the two, Calumet Farm’s GI Preakness S. runner-up Bravazo (Awesome Again) will tackle Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic (Curlin) in the GI Haskell Invitational Sunday at Monmouth Park. Saturday at Saratoga, Sporting Chance (Tiznow) will make his first start since his sixth in the Preakness in the GII Jim Dandy S. Lukas hopes to get both of them to the GI Travers S. on Aug. 25. Also on Saturday at Saratoga, Lukas will saddle Warrior’s Club (Warrior’s Reward) in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. During the winter, after he won the GII Risen Star S., Lukas predicted that Bravazo could handle the Triple Crown. He did as the only horse besides Justify to make all three races. “He is tough,” Lukas said. “He’s very resilient and he’ll jump right into it. And every day he wants to train. He’s very good on that level. Not all of them are. Some of them, that Triple Crown eats them up.” Lukas expected a better performance than Bravazo’s sixth in the GI Belmont S. after the fine Preakness, but said the Calumet homebred was not knocked out by three races in five weeks. “I think he’s actually better right now,” Lukas said. “I think he’ll run better in the Haskell than any of the other three races.” Sporting Chance gave Lukas a birthday present last year with his win in the Hopeful at 50-1. However, the colt needed surgery to remove a knee chip a few weeks later and wasn’t seen again until mid-February when he finished third in the GIII Southwest S. Both of Sporting Chance’s two wins came at Saratoga. “He’s had some unfortunate things happen to him,” Lukas said. “We’re finding out that you can’t whip on him. The best race he ran was when Luis Contreras rode him and didn’t hit him. He doesn’t want any of that. He definitely has an attitude.” Lukas said he still is high on Sporting Chance–“he’s got some ability”–and figures the Jim Dandy is a spot where he has a chance to redeem himself. Warrior’s Club is owned by one of the partnerships organized by the Churchill Downs Racing Club. He and Lukas have taken the 200 co-owners– each of whom paid $500 to belong–on an exciting and successful ride. He has a 5-5-5 record from 25 starts, topped by a victory in the GIII Commonwealth S. at Keeneland and has earned $622,104. Lukas used his $50,000 budget on a colt who has made a lot of people happy. “It’s been good,” he said. “It’s very satisfying to see what is happening with that.” Lukas also has a 2-year-old filly for the club, She’s Got it All (Warrior’s Reward), who was purchased with some of the purse money earned by Warrior’s Club. She was second in a maiden race on opening day at Saratoga. Of course, the septuagenarian is well aware of the earnings accumulated by the non-profit club and is looking to the future. “If I get the account up $1 million I’m going to go try to buy a serious yearling for the Derby, around $400,000-$450,000,” he said, “which would be the ultimate story.” Most summers, Lukas is quick to tout his crop of 2-year-olds, but he is more reserved this year. “I thought I had some pretty good ones and I’m beginning to think that they are not too hot. I don’t know,” I don’t know. “Calumet bred some nice horses this year and are showing a little something, but I’m guarded a little bit. When you get to be 83, you get a little more guarded. When you are 40, you’re open to the world and going to beat everybody.” To be sure, Lukas still thirsts for the competition that is central to racing and is quick to make the case that the experience that comes with age is so important. “I’m still doing the same thing. You should get better,” he said. “As long as your health is good and you are mentally lucid…” Lukas paused for a moment without completing the sentence then said: “I guess when you get old you don’t know if you’re lucid or not,” and laughed hard. “It’s kind of like the Farmers Insurance: we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” View the full article

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more enervating pace in New York racing this year than the one that developed on the June 9 GI Belmont S. undercard in the GII Woody Stephens S. The race, a typical landing spot for 3-year-old colts who have shown speed but not the stamina required to compete in the Triple Crown series, had all of that speed on that display, as the leader clicked through a quarter-mile in :21.46 and a half in :43.68. Saturday, several of the pace actors from that day will return in the GII Amsterdam S. hoping for an easier early tempo and thus, a more successful outcome. Leading the vanguard in the Woody Stephens was Robert Baron’s Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), who pulled off an 18-1, frontrunning shocker in the GII Fountain of Youth S. in March. Setting a scorching pace in the GI Florida Derby, he backed up to finish last and was 15th in the GI Kentucky Derby after leading Triple Crown winner (Justify) through the first half-mile. Considering how hard he had to run at Belmont, the $37,000 Keeneland September pickup ran a remarkable race to finish third. Chasing from second in the Woody Stephens and ending up a neck behind Promises Fulfilled on the wire was World of Trouble (Kantharos). Capturing his debut against $25,000 maiden claimers by 14 lengths last August at Gulfstream, the bay was second in the Florida Sire Affirmed S. in September and romped by 13 3/4 lengths in the Pasco S. Jan. 20 at Tampa. Tried around two turns in the GII Tampa Bay Derby, he flattened late to finish third. Courtlandt Farms’ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Strike Power (Speightstown) turned heads when romping by eight lengths with a 102 Beyer in his unveiling last December at Gulfstream, and he followed that up with a more workmanlike score in the GIII Swale S. Second behind Promises Fulfilled in the Fountain of Youth, he was one spot in front of that one when eighth in the Florida Derby, but was well-beaten by his familiar foe when eighth in the Woody Stephens. Woodford Racing’s Engage (Into Mischief) is the only one of the four coming out of the Stephens hoping for a repeat. Sitting far enough back to get a bit of a breather that day, the $550,000 OBS March purchase rallied to be second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Promises Fulfilled. The Chad Brown pupil has yet to be out of the exacta in six starts. View the full article

The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park have assembled a catalogue of 119 head for the upcoming Texas Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale, it was announced Wednesday. The auction will be held Aug. 27 at noon local time at the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion on the grounds of Lone Star Park. The catalogue includes 90 yearlings and 29 weanlings and broodmares. Many of the weanlings and broodmares are consigned by the Estate of Ed Few. The noted Texas breeder and owner passed away earlier this year. “I think the quality of the catalogue has ticked up a notch this year,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We had two Texas-breds sell at this auction for $100,000 apiece last year, and that really proved that the market is still vibrant here for horses in Texas and around the region.” For an online catalog and live video on sale day, go to www.ttasales.com. View the full article

Two months ago, Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tenfold (Curlin) came less than a length from upsetting Justify (Scat Daddy)’s bid for history. Saturday, with the undefeated Triple Crown winner now retired from racing, the lightly-raced homebred will be one of five sophomore colts looking to forge to the front of their division in the second half of the year starting with the GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga. A blowout winner on debut Feb. 9 at Oaklawn, Tenfold repeated in an optional claimer there Mar. 18 before running fifth in the GI Arkansas Derby. Undeterred, trainer Steve Asmussen sent his charge to Pimlico for the GI Preakness S., where he finished up strongly to be third, beaten three-quarters of a length. He couldn’t get that close to Justify in the GI Belmont S., however, finishing fifth, beaten 7 1/4 lengths. Fourth at Big Sandy was Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Vino Rosso (Curlin). Also two-for-two to begin his career, the $410,000 Keeneland September gradaute finished third in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and fourth in the GII Tampa Bay Derby before taking the GII Wood Memorial Apr. 7 at Aqueduct. Ninth with a wide journey in the GI Kentucky Derby, the chestnut took a run at Justify on the far turn of the Belmont before fading in the stretch. Winchell and Asmussen will also start ‘TDN Rising Star’ Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}), making his first Stateside dirt start in five months. The bay started his career four-for-five, including scores in the Big Drama S. at Delta and Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland, but finished a well-beaten third in the G2 UAE Derby and was fifth on turf in the Mystic Lake Derby last out June 23 at Canterbury. 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. Today’s Observations features some high-profile sales purchases by Godolphin and Coolmore. 1.50 Sandown, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, 7fT BEATBOXER (Scat Daddy) was a $650,000 KEESEP buy for Godolphin, with John Gosden training the February-foaled bay for Princess Haya of Jordan. From the family of the GIII Turfway Breeders’ Cup S. winner Miss Fortunate (Deputy Minister) and her GIII Dallas Turf Cup-winning full-brother Trial By Jury, he tackles nine rivals on this debut. 6.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €10,780, 2yo, 8fT EMINENCE (IRE) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was a 425,000gns TATOCT purchase by Coolmore, a rare one by the sire, but he obviously had all the right material at the sales. Out of a half to the stayers Shaneshill (Ire) (King’s Theatre {Ire}) and Far Cry (Ire) (Pharly {Fr}), he will need a thorough test in time. View the full article

Jockey Andrea Atzeni has been called up to replace Frankie Dettori on Without Parole in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1), but by the time the acceptors are released July 26, the Frankel colt may no longer be the big-race favorite. View the full article

Injured jockey Victor Espinoza is making progress at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, according to his agent Brian Beach. View the full article

An additional five entries have been accepted for the Goffs UK Goodwood Sale after racing at Glorious Goodwood on Aug. 1, bringing the total to 12-three broodmares, eight horses-in-training and a breeding right to Showcasing (GB). Last weekend’s G3 Anglesey S. winner Marie’s Diamond (Ire) (lot 4), a 2-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand (GB), heads the latest round of entries, and trainer Mark Johnston said, “we rate Marie’s Diamond very highly and see him as a potential Guineas horse at this stage.” Also signed on are the winning and multiple group-placed 4-year-old mare Perfect Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 1); the placed 2-year-old colt Flying Dragon (Fr) (War Command) (lot 7); listed winner and G2 German 1000 Guineas second Malakeh (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) (lot 11); and the 7-year-old mare Weeping Wind (GB) (Oratorio {Ire}) (lot 12), a half-sister to Group 1 winner He’s Your Man (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who will be offered with a Harzand (Ire) colt foal at foot. View the full article

Raymond Mamone’s diminutive 5-year-old Imperial Hint (Imperialism) came into last fall’s GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint on a five-race winning streak and nearly extended that to six before dropping a one-length decision to eventual champion Roy H (More Than Ready) at Del Mar. Two more wins later, he gets another shot at his first Grade I in Saturday’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga. Dominating a Parx optional claimer in December of 2016, the dark bay repeated in the Fire Plug S., the GIII General George S., the GIII Smile Sprint S. and the Donald LeVine Memorial S., the last effort coming with a 109 Beyer. Comfortably annexing the Florida-bred Sprint S. in his seasonal debut Mar. 25 at Tampa, he suffered a rare defeat when sixth in the GII Churchill Downs S. before gutting out a game victory in the GII True North S. last out June 8 at Belmont to run his record to an impressive 10-for-16. One of two other graded stakes winners in the field is Churchill Downs Racing Club’s Warrior’s Club (Warrior’s Reward), who has enjoyed a breakout 4-year-old campaign. Upsetting the GIII Commonweatlh S. at 23-1 Apr. 7 at Keeneland, he legitimized that effort when second by a head at the same price in the Churchill Downs. Second-last in the GI Metropolitan H., he comes in off of a third in the Kelly’s Landing S. June 30 in Louisville. Woodford Racing’s Switzerland (Speightstown) spent the first seven starts of his career burning money, but has turned the corner this term. Losing at 2-5, 9-10, 2-5, 4-5, 7-2, 9-5 and 2-1 at three, he finally broke through in the Aqueduct slop Feb. 16. Transferred from Chad Brown to Steve Asmussen’s outfit after that, he has reeled off three straight comfortable tallies, including a 3 1/2-length score in the GIII Maryland Sprint S. when last seen May 19 at Pimlico. View the full article

The Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) will have its purse raised to $12 million for 2019 and total prize money for the Dubai World Cup card increased to $35 million, it was announced July 25. View the full article

ABL Stable, Bossone, Donnelly and Schnoor’s Golden Brown (Offlee Wild), winner of the GIII Kent S. over the Delaware Park turf July 14, will attempt to transition back to a route of ground on dirt in Sunday’s GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational, trainer Pat McBurney said Wednesday. The New Jersey-bred began his career sprinting on dirt with two wins from five tries, but recently hit his best stride on the grass with a close runner-up finish behind GSW Irish Strait (English Channel) in the restricted Dan Horn S. June 17 prior his win in the Kent. “He has performed so well on the grass that the only way I’d consider trying him on the dirt again right now is in this race. Monmouth Park is home and it’s the Haskell,” said McBurney. “If you’re going to try long on the dirt for the first time this would be the race. That being said, he has actually performed well on the dirt and, though they’ve been in sprint races, his sheet numbers are equally as good as what he has run on the turf.” Golden Brown will be McBurney’s third Haskell starter. Just Call Kenny (Jump Start) was sixth in 2014 and Cable Boy (Jump Start) was fifth in 2007. View the full article

Jockey Andrea Atzeni has been called up to replace Frankie Dettori on Without Parole in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1), but by the time the acceptors are released July 26, the Frankel colt may no longer be on the big-race favorite. View the full article

Justify, the undefeated winner of the 2018 Triple Crown, has been retired from racing, according to a press release distributed by his connections July 25. View the full article

China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm’s Justify (Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper), ‘TDN Rising Star’ and undefeated winner of the 2018 Triple Crown, has been retired from racing and will have stud plans finalized at a future date. The colt retires with a perfect six-for-six record and earnings of $3,798,000. “Justify had some filling in his ankle, and he is just not responding quick enough for a fall campaign,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect. Without 60-90 days, I can’t be definite.” “He is an incredible horse and we are very disappointed he can’t run again,” said WinStar Farm’s Kenny Troutt. “All things happen for a reason, and we are blessed to have raced him to be the 13th Triple Crown winner in history.” Justify’s rise to the top of the game came in a remarkably short period of time. The hulking chestnut captured his seven-furlong debut at Santa Anita Feb. 18 and he quickly added a second win in an optional claimer at the Arcadia track Mar. 11. After that, it was on to the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7, where he scored by an emphatic three lengths as a prep for the Kentucky Derby. On the first Saturday in May, Justify attended a fast pace and kept finding, striding home 2 1/2 lengths in front in the Churchill Downs slop. After a hard-fought half-length victory over Bravazo (Awesome Again) in the GI Preakness S. May 19, Justify ran into the record books, becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner with a comfortable 1 3/4-length win in the GI Belmont S. June 9. The Bob Baffert trainee returned to his California base and has been residing at Del Mar in recent weeks. He is scheduled to parade Saturday at Del Mar after the day’s fourth race. “The timing is bad for another start in 2018, and therefore, we have to retire him,” said WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden. “Like American Pharoah, we can’t take the risk of running Justify as a four-year-old. We all wanted him to finish his career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but it was not meant to be. As has been reported, there is a possible sale to Coolmore in place, but that won’t be finalized until a later date. We are excited to share him with our fans starting the middle of August after he gets acclimated.” This story will be updated. View the full article