Wandering Eyes

Track conditions and course scratchings July 20 View the full article

Horses' body weights July 20 View the full article

Early scratching July 20 View the full article

Special King keeps up solid form with another win View the full article

Three from three for red-hot Rodd View the full article

Tesoro Privado stamps his class first-up View the full article

Glengallon a Highly Recommended find for Tan View the full article

Early scratchings July 22 View the full article

Already a two-time turf stakes winner, Woodbine newcomer Got Stormy headlines a field of eight 3-year-old fillies entered in the $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) July 21. View the full article

Trainer Wesley Ward was unable to secure a deal with the remaining slot-holders for the A$13-million The Everest in Sydney in October, meaning that GSW and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. third placegetter Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) will remain in Kentucky for the balance of the season, with the Breeders’ Cup the long-term goal. “No deal,” Ward confirmed. “We had him in quarantine trying to secure a spot. It was all working out great. When I came back [from Royal Ascot], we put him in Ashford in a beautiful spot and we had a couple of weeks to try to find something. But [the slot-holders] didn’t see the little bit of a break as a positive, they seemed to have viewed it as a negative. James Ross from the ATC worked hard to try to sell it, but we’re staying home. It didn’t materialize and I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.” Bound For Nowhere, winner of the GIII Shakertown S. earlier this season, is back in the Ward shedrow at Keeneland and will build up to a return to the races come September. Australia’s loss could be Kentucky Downs’s gain. “He’s trained beautiful the last couple of days and I’m really looking forward to the next couple of starts he’s got,” Ward said. “I’ll breeze him in about a week’s time and we’ll look at either the [$750,000] Tourist Mile [Sept. 1] or the [$500,000 Kentucky Downs Turf] Sprint [Sept. 8] and then on to either the [GI] Shadwell Mile or I might stick to sprinting. With Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) retired, he moves up into the number one spot for sprinters.” Though his Breeders’ Cup destination–Mile or Turf Sprint–will hinge on his upcoming performances, Ward said that would be the end of the line for 2018. “Win, lose or draw, he’ll do exactly what he did last year. He’ll get the winter off an I’ll try to have a 5-year-old campaign with him,” the conditioner said. “He’s very lightly raced, I own him and so I can call the shots with him. I’ll start him back in the spring again, hopefully he has a big Keeneland and we’ll decide if he’s still worthy or good enough to go back to Ascot again. He’s one guy I think can do it.” View the full article

The hold Monomoy Girl already has over her fellow sophomore fillies can become a vice grip if she keeps to her usual routine in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course July 22. View the full article

Ron Paolucci, who won owns more than 120 horses and was the second leading owner in the U.S. last year in wins with 159 victories, has decided to leave the sport. The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form. Paolucci, whose horses ran under the name of Loooch Racing Stables, likes to do things his way and that led him to make several unconventional moves that rubbed some people the wrong way. In 2017, two of his horses were barred from racing because officials did not believe they belonged in the race. He entered May B (Werblin) as a rabbit for his top horse at the time, War Story (Northern Afleet) in the GI Woodward S., but the entry was not accepted. The stewards ruled that the horse was scratched because they believed May B was not entered with the intent of winning. Some two months later, the Breeders’ Cup would not allow Paolucci to enter Heavenhasmynikki (Majestic Warrior) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies because she had never raced before. “I was an outsider looking in in my first year in racing,” he said. “Now, I realize it was all about politics. This is a game that says it wants guys like me. But it really doesn’t. I speak my mind, run where I want to, I don’t believe in the politics. Just because something isn’t done, it shouldn’t mean you can’t do it. If it’s going to grow, this is a game that needs people like myself who think outside the box.” Paolucci said he had been wavering on whether or not he should remain in the horse business for quite some time, and that a July 9 race at Thistledown was the breaking point. He ran an entry with Game Over (Mineshaft) as the much stronger half. At odds of 1-5, Game Over won by 1 3/4 lengths. But the stewards disqualified him, ruling that his entrymate Chromium (Vronsky) was ridden in a way to interfere with Game Over’s competition. Chromium’s rider Luis Rivera received a 30-day suspension. “They questioned Luis dozens of times, kept asking him what did they tell you to do, how did they tell you to ride the race?” Paolucci said. “Game Over was 1-5. He didn’t need any help. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I think they gave Rivera 30 days because he didn’t tell them what they wanted to hear. They wanted him to say that I cheated and set this up. I won’t let anyone defame my name like that.” Paolucci’s horses are spread around the country with several different trainers. He said he will continue to race some expecting that they will get claimed away. Any horses he still owns in the fall will be sold at either Fasig-Tipton’s November sale or at an Ohio mixed sale in December. Paolucci, who is from the Cleveland area, started with Standardbreds in 2011. A year later, he began building his Thoroughbred stable. In the first two years he owned horses he tried to compete mainly at the top level and had little success. He changed his strategy and became a top owner at the Ohio tracks while maintaining a few classier horses that raced elsewhere. He said once he started concentrating on Ohio racing, his stable became profitable. “I was making money–that’s an anguishing part of this decision,” he said. “I did very well in Ohio and that became the backbone of my operation. In my first six months in the sport, I got my butt kicked. I couldn’t compete with these big guys. I came back home and put together a financial plan where I could make a profit. I didn’t get rich off of it but was making a decent living.” Paolucci’s greatest success came with Ria Antonia (Rockport Hrabor), who was placed first through disqualification in the 2013 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. He also owned War Story through much of his career. War Story has earned $2.6 million. “I learned a lot from the day I started,” he said. “I like to think I evolved as an owner. I know that I don’t know everything, but I tried to do my best and to help the sport. It’s not a sport that wants help. I’m done.” View the full article

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and Saratoga Casino Hotel will partner on a cross-bred, day-night daily double comprised of Saturday’s GI Diana S. and the $260,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, the premier race for Standardbreds at Saratoga Harness. The Toga, Toga Daily Double, hosted by NYRA, includes a $1 minimum wager and will be available on-track at both Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Harness, as well as through NYRA Bets, ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Post time for the Diana, the 10th of the day’s races at Saratoga, is approximately 5:55 p.m., while the Gerrity will be off at 9:05. Past performances for the Joe Gerrity Jr. will be included in the Post Parade program, while PP’s for the Diana will be included in the Saturday program at Saratoga Harness. View the full article

Having already made solid impressions separately and together, Bano Solo and stablemate Whiskey Echo will come together as their connections look to get a serious read on where they stand in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

The Jockey Club reminds stallion managers to submit their Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) for the 2018 breeding season no later than Aug. 1. “To ensure that the breeding statistics we release in the fall are as accurate as possible, we request that RMBs be submitted by Aug. 1,” said Matt Iuliano, executive vice president and executive director of The Jockey Club. Stallion managers who turn in their completed RMBs by the Aug. 1 deadline are among the first to receive their Stallion Service Certificates, which facilitates the timely registration of foals of 2019. RMBs may be submitted electronically at registry.jockeyclub.com or alternatively, a form is available by email, fax or mail by contacting inquiries@jockeyclub.com. View the full article

Still Having Fun (Old Fashioned), who took full advantage of a suicidal pace to record a 13-1 upset of the GII Woody Stephens S. on the Belmont S. undercard June 9, is being aimed towards an appearance at Saratoga in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. Aug. 26, trainer Tim Keefe told the Laurel notes team Thursday. Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Terp Racing LLC, the Maryland-bred won a pair of stakes over the winter in Maryland and was runner-up to Mitole (Eskendereya) in a sloppy-track renewal of the Chick Lang S. May 19, but came from 10th in the Woody Stephens to post a 1 1/4-length victory over Engage (Into Mischief). Still Having Fun was under consideration for the one-mile GIII Dywer S. July 7 and for the 6 1/2-furlong GII Amsterdam S. at the Spa July 28, but will resume in the Jerkens. “He’s doing great right now,” Keefe said. “He came out of the last race super. He still goes out six days a week, je just does a lot more jogging. It’s a little bit more relaxing. I haven’t breezed him since the race; I may do something maybe this weekend or next weekend with him. I’ll kind of let him tell me.” Explaining the rationale for training up to the Jerkens, Keefe added, “We decided to skip the Amsterdam and I didn’t want to go as far as a mile in the Dwyer. The horse has been consistently running every month since he started last November, so we thought it would be a good time to just back off slightly and get him freshened and ready for the race at Saratoga.” 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. Friday’s Insights features a full-sister to MGISW Avenge (War Front). 2.00 Newbury, Cond, £10,400, 2yo, 7fT SHERIFFMUIR (War Front) was a $995,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling who debuts in the silks of Princess Haya of Jordan for the John Gosden stable. A full-sister to the winner of the last two renewals of the GI Rodeo Drive S., Avenge, the April-foaled bay meets another with immediate relations who made an impact at the top level in Lady Rothschild’s Thorn (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a Roger Charlton-trained son of the same connections’ G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk). 2.30 Newbury, Cond, £10,400, 2yo, f, 6fT MAGNETIC CHARM (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is another notable Godolphin-bred who races for The Queen, being a half-sister to the G2 Dahlia S. and G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal). William Haggas introduces the April-foaled bay against Lady Bamford’s Love So Deep (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a Richard Hannon trainee whose dam Soinlovewithyou (Sadler’s Wells), a half to Duke of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill) and Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), cost 950,000gns at the 2010 Tattersalls December Sale. View the full article

The buzz around Hronis Racing's Accelerate entering the summer meet at Del Mar in 2018 is starkly different to a year ago, when the son of Lookin At Lucky upset Arrogate in the San Diego Handicap. View the full article

The Retrained and Remarkable Challenge, a program launched just this past March with the goal of placing 100 eligible retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds into qualified new homes and second careers in a 10-month period, is halfway towards its goal after a 50th horse was adopted. “This unique program is designed to highlight everything these horses can do once they retired from the track,” Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford explains. “Through the R&R Challenge, we hope to debunk myths surrounding racehorses, as well as educate equine enthusiasts on common race-related injuries and stable vices, encouraging a better understanding of what will or will not be a limiting factor in a second career.” Horses that are part of the Challenge are eligible for a shipping credit of $500 and are also eligible to compete in Challenge-specific classes at the 2019 New Vocations Charity Horse Show Series, which will offer up to $5,000 in cash and prizes. “Innovative programs like the R&R Challenge are encouraging more prospective horse owners to consider adoption when acquiring a new horse,” said Christy Counts, President of The Right Horse Initiative. “We are thrilled that 50 adopters have already found their Right Horse through the Challenge and look forward to celebrating more successful matches.” For information about the Retrained and Remarkable Challenge, visit www.newvocations.org. View the full article

The catalog for the Equine Sales Company’s Select Yearling Sale, to be held in Opelousas, LA, Thursday, Sept. 6, is now online at www.equinesalescompany.com. A total of 219 horses have been cataloged for the single-session sale, including the progeny of Louisiana’s four top stallions by earnings-Star Guitar, Astrology, Half Ours and Custom for Carlos-as well as those by Kentucky-based English Channel, Goldencents and Shackleford, to name a few. “This year’s catalog is about the same size as the 214 head we had last year, but we’ve seen the quality continue to grow each year, and we have nearly 30 different consignors for this sale so I think we are going to have a strong selection of yearlings,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director. “We’ve also launched an improved website to make it easier for consignors and buyers to access the sale catalog and other sale information.” View the full article

Saratoga opens its doors for opening day of the historic track’s 40-day summer stand Friday, with the GIII Schuylerville S. and GIII Lake George S. anchoring the initial card. The premier meet, which runs through Labor Day, will host a total of 69 stakes events worth a record $18.85 million in purses. As has been the case in past years, much attention will be devoted to the race for the trainers’ title, which once again features an expected battle between the powerhouse stables of Todd Pletcher and Mechanicville, New York native Chad Brown. In 2017, Pletcher’s 40 wins bested Brown’s 39, turning the tables on the results of the 2016 season, which saw Brown put a brief halt to Pletcher’s prevailing dominance at the Spa. The Texas native emerged victorious at Saratoga in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 prior to reclaiming the title in 2017. Brown, meanwhile, is considered by many to be the favorite in 2018 with a stable loaded with talent, particularly for the meet’s ample turf opportunities. That forte figures to be on full display in Saturday’s featured GI Diana S., where Brown will send out the trio of Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), New Money Honey (Medaglia d’Oro) and A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). The jockey’s race could prove equally intriguing, with the Ortiz brothers–Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz, Jr.–establishing themselves as mainstays atop the New York Racing Association standings in recent years. Younger brother Jose Ortiz has captured the Saratoga title each of the last two seasons, but his older brother claimed a title of his own in 2015. As a preface to this year’s Saratoga meet, Irad claimed the riding title at the 54-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet. Saratoga Stars by Mike Kane While we know that Saratoga is an important meeting, since we keep score in sports, a quick review of the numbers shows that a high percentage of North America’s champions and elite performers compete at the Spa every summer. Last year, eight of the 11 Eclipse Award winners–including Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg})–made at least one start at Saratoga Race Course. Two of the no-shows were injured when the 40-day meet was held, and Sprint champ Roy H (More Than Ready) did not leave California in 2017. An ankle issue will keep Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy)–certain to be the 3-year-old male titlist and Horse of the Year–from Saratoga, but it is a very safe bet that plenty of other champs will race at America’s oldest track before the meet closes on Labor Day, Sept. 3. They certainly did last year: –53 of the 159 horses that competed in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar–33%–made at least one start at Saratoga. –Six of the 13 Breeders’ Cup winners–46%–went to the post at the meet. A seventh, GI Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), trained at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown and was scheduled to make her debut on the final day of the season, but was scratched when the race came off the grass. –11 of the 13 Breeders’ Cup races had at least one Saratoga veteran finish in the top three. Fourteen of the 39 horses–36%–that hit the board in the Breeders’ Cup raced at Saratoga. –Eight of the 20 horses that started in this year’s Kentucky Derby had “Sar” in their past performances. Half of the eight Preakness runners and three of the 10 in the Belmont came through Saratoga, as well. –Gun Runner was the 10th of the 17 Horses of the Year this century to race at least once at Saratoga during the year they were honored. Three others competed at the Spa at some point. And Gun Runner, who won the GI Whitney S. and GI Woodward S. last summer, was the eighth straight winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic to run at the Spa. Making the Most of It The quality of racing at the 40-day Saratoga meet is arguably unparalleled, and although the meet only spans less than a month-and-a-half on the calendar, it is possible for in-form horses to register multiple wins at the meet. Last year, trainer Linda Rice’s charges Voodoo Song (English Channel) and New York’s Finest (City Zip) posted respective records of 4-for-4 and 3-for-3 over the Saratoga turf. Both 4-year-olds return for this year’s meet off winning efforts: Voodoo Song captured the Forbidden Apple S. at Belmont last Saturday, while New York’s Finest dominated a Monmouth allowance event July 13. In total, 28 horses won multiple races at Saratoga in 2017, with GI Diana S. entrant and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Proctor’s Ledge (Ghostzapper) among the most prominent names, having won both the Lake George and GII Lake Placid S. “Live” Racing Returns The 2018 meet also marks the return of NYRA’s widely acclaimed “Saratoga Live, Presented by Claiborne Farm,” which features 2 1/2 hours of live coverage from the Spa on nearly every day of the meet. The program airs nationally on Fox Sports 2 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. ET. 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 Hakodate Racecourse, where the first pattern event of the season has attracted a son of the late Giant’s Causeway, who was a smart first-out winner at the venue: Saturday, July 21, 2018 11th-HAK, ¥34,620,000 ($304k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200mT A $125K acquisition out of the 2016 Keeneland September Sale, MOZU SUPERFLARE (f, 3, Speightstown–Christies Treasure, by Belong to Me) has more than earned her keep, with three wins from eight runs and earnings of over $363,000. The half-sister to GSW Sacristy (Pulpit) most recently took a course-and-distance test by a half-lengths June 16 (see below, gate 16). The extended female family includes GISW Purge (Pulpit). B-Alpha Delta Stables LLC (KY) Sunday, July 22, 2018 1st-HAK, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1200mT MANORAM (f, 2, Temple City–Mykukubird, by With Distinction), a $19K KEESEP purchase last fall, is also punching above her weight, with two placings from three starts, including a near-miss third as the favorite behind Shonan Ariana (GB) (Frankel {GB}) going this track and trip July 7 (video, gate 4). The April foal is out of a winning half-sister to Central City (City Place), a SW and runner-up in the GII Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. B-Tooth and Kent Inc, Elise Handler & Matthew Schering (KY) 11th-HAK, Hakodate Nisai S.-G3 ($521k), 2yo, 1200mT ASTER PEGASUS (c, 2, Giant’s Causeway–R Heat Lightning, by Trippi) will look to make it a perfect two-for-two to begin his career, having belied debut odds of 9-1 to score by 2 1/2 lengths in a 1200-meter newcomers’ race June 24 (see below, gate 6). A $150K KEESEP graduate, the chestnut is out of Robsham Stables’ 2010 GI Spinaway S. winner and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up, who was purchased by Stonestreet for $1.6 million in foal to Bernardini at KEENOV in 2013. R Heat Lightning’s half-sister Chocolate Coated (Candy Ride {Arg}) was second in last year’s GIII Autumn Miss S. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY) View the full article

5th-SAR, $85,000, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, post time: 3:14 p.m. ET A live-looking field of 10 juvenile fillies will line up in this loaded maiden special weight. Todd Pletcher will saddle first-time starter BLAHNIK (Bernardini), a $575,000 OBS March purchase by Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners after gliding through an eighth in :10 1/5 at the under-tack show. Lyrical Lady (More Than Ready) was also in high demand at that same auction, bringing $625,000 from Phoenix Thoroughbred III. She worked a quarter in :20 3/5 at the breeze show. Steve Asmussen trains. Live Oak Plantation’s Winandyourin Gin (Into Mischief), a $290,000 OBSMAR graduate (:10), debuts for Mark Casse. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Last year’s G1 Golden Rose S. third Menari (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) will contest the A$13-million The Everest on Oct. 13 in the Max Whitby and Neil Werrett slot after they struck a deal with owner George Altomonte, according to published reports. Trained by Gerald Ryan, Menari was one of the more exciting 3-year-old sprinters in the spring but underwent a corrective throat surgery following his Group 1 placing and then sustained a suspensory injury that knocked him out of the autumn, and so has not been seen since September. “Gerald has all the confidence in the world that he’s come back in terrific shape,” Whitby told Racenet. “He’s very bullish about the horse. He’s had a couple of setbacks in the past but Gerald’s sure his wind isn’t going to be an issue and we’re happy to have him.” Whitby and Werrett took second in last year’s Everest with Vega Magic (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). “He’s got a real X-factor,” Whitby added of Menari. “We could have gone back to Vega [Magic] but I was determined to get some fresh blood this year and this is a sprinter that has the makings of something special. George [Altomonte] has had his share of good horses and he’s got a bit rap on him.” There are three slot holders still to announce their horse for The Everest: GPI Racing, Greg Ingham and Andy Williams Bloodstock; James Harron Bloodstock and the Australian Turf Club. View the full article

A review of the first six months of the year in Ireland shows that while ownership is up from this same period last year, racecourse attendance is down. The number of new owners compared to this time last year is up 19%, while the number of syndicates is up 44%. This is likely aided by an increase in prizemoney, which is up 4.4%, or €1.2-million. Also up are race sponsorships (7%) to €3.722-million. Bloodstock sales have seen a 1.6% rise compared to the first half of 2017. “Horse Racing Ireland is actively involved in encouraging new owners and retaining our existing ownership base,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. “Last year’s report by Deloitte into the economic impact of the racing and breeding industry in Ireland confirmed owners to be the chief source of funding in Irish racing. Our Ownership Department in Horse Racing Ireland markets the benefits and attractions of racehorse ownership in Ireland, and continues to assist trainers with marketing support. I welcome the recent introduction by the Ownership Department of a new online leasing section.” Attendance figures were likely affected by the poor weather that ravaged the early part of the year and caused 25 meetings to be cancelled or rescheduled. While racecourse attendance was down 2.3%, attendances in May were up 10% on last year. Betting was also down both on-course (-13.9% for the Tote and -11.5% with bookmakers) and off-course (-37.7%), and Kavanagh admitted that while the poor weather to start the season could have impacted these figures, but that a change in the public’s betting habits is mostly to blame. “We noted at this time last year that on-course betting figures remained under significant pressure and the figures released today continue to reflect the challenge facing all on-course operators, both Tote and bookmakers,” he said. “The weather-affected programme in quarter one will have impacted heavily on both but a change in betting habits has made the most telling contribution.” “In relation to the Tote, legislative changes in Israel restricting gambling has had a serious impact on the Tote’s overall turnover,” Kavanagh added. “Tote Ireland are continuing to adapt their product online in response to market demand and their on-course presence remains an intrinsic part of the race-going experience, as is the case with the on-course bookmakers. The Association of Irish Racecourses is sitting down with the bookmakers presently to discuss their business model and see where changes can be made.” After noting some of the positive highlights of the season thus far, like the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival in February and Jessica Harrington, Ken Condon and Joseph O’Brien all winning their first Classics, Kavanagh looked ahead at the challenges presented by Brexit. “A number of challenges remain following Britain’s decision to leave the EU and Brexit continues to be a huge source of concern for our industry,” he said. “There are issues around movement of animals between Ireland and Britain–and movement north-south within Ireland–as well as the threat of tariffs and trade barriers. All of this is in sharp focus for the industry in Ireland because we are a long-established exporting country for horses, 80% of which go to Britain. We continue to work very closely with our European counterparts, including the BHA and France Galop; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Department of Foreign Affairs both here and in Brussels to achieve a workable solution for racehorses and breeding stock after Britain leaves the EU.” View the full article