Wandering Eyes

Hronis Racing’s Catalina Cruiser (c, 4, Union Rags-Sea Gull, by Mineshaft) was the only one of a trio of John Sadler entrants to ultimately go postward in Saturday’s GII San Diego H. at Del Mar and the lightly raced justified his trainer’s confidence with an effortless eight-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race. Sent off the even-money favorite in his two-turn and stakes debut, the chestnut colt set the temp while under a snug hold. Comfortably in charge through fractions of :23.07 and :47.20, he snuck clear into the stretch and glided away with ease. He completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.95. Dr. Dorr (Lookin at Lucky) was second and Dabster (Curlin) was third. Catalina Cruiser, a half-brother to graded stakes winner Eagle (Candy Ride {Arg}), debuted with a 2 1/4-length victory at Santa Anita last October and took a six-furlong allowance by that same margin in Arcadia May 19. The colt was a $370,000 KEESEP yearling. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $183,600. O-Hronis Racing LLC. B-W S Farish (Ky). T-John Sadler. View the full article

When Gusty Wind drew off to win the fifth race at Gulfstream Park July 21 by 3 3/4 lengths, Jerry Bozzo broke his own record as the oldest trainer to win a Thoroughbred race. View the full article

When Gusty Wind drew off to win the fifth race at Gulfstream Park July 21 by 3 3/4 lengths, Jerry Bozzo maintained his status as the oldest trainer to win a Thoroughbred race. View the full article

Skywalk wins KRA Trophy while Today signals better future for Korea View the full article

Macau Group 2 winner finally opens Kranji account View the full article

Cool Cat shows yet again retirement is not an option View the full article

Kranji Gold scores maiden win in five-way thriller View the full article

Mo in store for Brown's youngster View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings July 22 View the full article

Horses' body weights July 22 View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher celebrated his seventh triumph in the Sanford Stakes (G3) July 21 when Starlight Racing's Sombeyay caught Strike Silver at the wire to prevail by a neck in the six-furlong test. View the full article

Peter Brant's Sistercharlie needed every bit of the Saratoga Race Course stretch and all of her class to notch her latest grade 1 triumph July 21 as she nailed 15-1 longshot Ultra Brat on the wire to take the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1T). View the full article

Peter Brant’s Sistercharlie (Ire) (f, 4, Myboycharlie {Ire}-Starlet’s Sister {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), the even-money favorite, just got her nose in front of Ultra Brat (Uncle Mo) on the line to win the GI Diana S. at Saratoga Saturday. The bay filly raced near the back of the field early, took closer order down the backstretch and was some six wide at the top of the stretch before determinedly reeling in Ultra Brat under a perfectly timed ride by John Velazquez. A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), forced to steady sharply in traffic nearing the stretch, bravely re-rallied to get up for third. The time for the 1 1/8-mile race was 1:46.26. Sistercharlie has made a habit of close finishes since coming to the U.S. last July. She closed stoutly to miss by just a neck to New Money Honey (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI Belmont Oaks while making her stateside debut last summer. She resurfaced to win the Apr. 14 GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland before missing by just a head when second in the June 8 GII New York S. last time out. Lifetime Record: 9-5-3-0, $1,151,403. O-Peter Brant. B-Ecurie Des Monceaux. T-Chad Brown. View the full article

Starlight Racing’s Sombeyay (c, 2, Into Mischief-Teroda, by Limehouse) overtook Strike Silver (Violence) in the shadow of the wire to win Saturday’s GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga by a neck. The bay colt, sent off at 5-2, settled just off the pace under a snug hold as favorites Strike Silver and Bano Solo (Goldencents) battled on the lead through fractions of :22.26 and :45.49. As Bano Solo began to tire along the rail with a furlong to run, Strike Silver took command, but Sombeyay was finding his best stride and closed strongly to just get on top on the line. He completed the six furlongs in 1:10.35, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a record-tying seventh Sanford victory. Whiskey Echo (Tiznow) was third and Bano Solo fourth. Sombeyay, who aired by 6 1/4 lengths in his 4 1/2-furlong debut at Gulfstream Park Apr. 27, closed well after stumbling at the start to be second in the June 8 Tremont S. at Belmont Park. A $125,000 KEENOV weanling, Sombeyay was purchased by Starlight’s Frank Brothers for $230,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $144,000. O-Starlight Racing. B-J D Stuart & Mueller Farms (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

In a brilliant start that sent him away on top, Waterville Lake Stable's homebred Sea Foam ran gate-to-wire to win the $150,000 New York Derby July 21 at Finger Lakes. View the full article

The Mark Casse-trained daughter of Get Stormy cleared seven rivals with ease and drew off to score by two lengths under a confident ride from Patrick Husbands in the $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) July 21 at Woodbine. View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent graded stakes winner Vino Rosso out for his final work in preparation for the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) July 28, covering four furlongs in company over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma training track July 21. View the full article

(CORRECTED RESULT) 5th-Ellis, $42,680, Alw, 7-21, (NW2L), 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19.34, ft. PROFOUND LEGACY (f, 2, Proud Citizen–El Fasto, by El Prado {Ire}), a full-sister to 2012 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can (GISW, $1,280,324), romped home by 7 3/4 lengths in her debut at Emerald Downs for trainer Mike Puhich and owners Mark DeDemenico and Muddy Waters Stable. Adding a pair of new owners to the mix and transferring to trainer Ian Wilkes for this second start, the 4-5 favorite sat just off a three-way battle on the front end behind fractions of :22.81 and :47.01. She surged to the lead with an eye-catching four-wide move approaching the stretch and strode home the easiest of winners. She came under the wire under wraps and 4 1/2 lengths in front of Princess Athena (Majestic Warrior). Puhich signed the ticket on the winner at $110,000 at last year’s KEESEP sale. She RNA’d for $145,000 after working a furlong in :10 3/5 at the Barretts April sale. El Fasto, a half-sister to 2004 GII Schuylerville S. winner Classic Elegance (Carson City), produced a colt by Cairo Prince in 2017. Not bred back last year, she was bred to Creative Cause this year. Click for the Equibase.com chart. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $35,975. O-Turf Stable Racing, Six Column Stables, Mark DeDemenico, LLC & Muddy Waters Stables LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. View the full article

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet’s Nitrous (c, 2, Tapit-Speedinthruthecity, by City Zip), who missed by just a neck when second behind Saturday’s GIII Sanford S. contender Strike Silver (Violence) in his June 14 debut at Churchill Downs, graduated in emphatic style Saturday at Saratoga to earn the ‘TDN Rising Star’ designation. Sent off the 4-5 favorite, the gray colt zipped out to the early lead and set fractions of :22.00 and :45.66 before striding clear for an authoritative four-length victory. He completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.70. Puttheglassdown (Violence) gave chase down the stretch, but was clearly second best and Most Mischief (Into Mischief) was third. Nitrous worked a furlong in :10 1/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale two months ago, but was withdrawn from the auction. He is the first foal out of Winchell Thoroughbreds’ multiple graded stakes placed Speedinthruthecity, who also has a yearling filly by Tapit and was bred back to that stallion this spring. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $61,200. O-Winchell Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables. B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. View the full article

Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Kristizar (Tapizar–Jackpot Joanie, by Giant’s Causeway) underscored her impressive debut win at Ellis July 1 with another eye-catching victory at the Henderson, Kentucky oval Saturday. Rated just behind pacesetters and last-out winners Princess Athena (Majestic Warrior) and Premium Passion (Proud Citizen) through an opening quarter in :22.81, Kristizar gained command after a half in :47.06 and increased her lead from there, strolling home a six-length winner in 1:19.34. Kristizar is a half to GSP Taxable (Tapit), an earner of $223,561. O/B- Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $51,000. 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. Sunday’s Insights features a maiden from The Currgah 1.45 The Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, f, 6fT MONA LISA’S SMILE (War Front) is the first foal out of the 2001 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) in a three-year period. Sporting Diane Nagle’s silks, the April-foaled half-sister to former Ballydoyle luminary Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill) is joined by two others from Rosegreen with Ryan Moore on the experienced Fire Fly (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to Gustav Klimt (Ire). View the full article

William Haggas and James Doyle upset the Ballydoyle party with a late run by Sea of Class to deny Forever Together in the Darley Irish Oaks (G1), completing a hat trick for the jockey on a rare foray to Ireland. View the full article

William Haggas and James Doyle upset the Ballydoyle party with a late run by Sea of Class (IRE) to deny Forever Together (IRE) in the Darley Irish Oaks (G1), completing a hat trick for the jockey on a rare foray to Ireland. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Kevin Carmona notched the first win of his career at Gulfstream Park July 21, when he guided 30-1 longshot Art Major to victory from off the pace in the day's first race. View the full article

Saratoga Race Course will host Military Appreciation Day on Wednesday, July 25. All United States military service members and veterans with valid military ID or proof of service will receive free grandstand admission. Additional events and exhibitions are planned and a number of military-related organizations will be represented, including JDog, the day’s presenting sponsor. “The New York Racing Association is honored to recognize the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States military,” said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. “Whenever I am asked to name my favorite day of the meet, my answer is always the same: it is the day during which we thank those who have given so much to preserve and protect our nation and our freedom.” For more on the day’s events, visit nyra.com. View the full article