Wandering Eyes

A new ownership group is bringing fresh energy to Cambridge Raceway, as the Taylor Street Syndicate begins to make its mark on the track. The Taylor Street Syndicate, established by Cambridge Raceway, was created with the goal of offering everyday people the opportunity to experience the thrill of harness racing ownership. Launched through the popular Taylor Street Club and extended to their friends, the syndicate now boasts around 40 enthusiastic members. Currently, the group owns three horses, and tonight, one of them takes to the track. Amaretto Delight lines up in race 4, the Gregory Equine Mobile Pace (6:44p.m.) The 3-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight is trained locally by Nicky Chilcott and is the first of the syndicate’s horses to make it to the races. The filly made her debut last week at Cambridge Raceway, where she ran a strong second after trailing the leader and darting up the passing lane in the home straight. Syndicate manager Peter McDermott says that moment was a milestone for the group. “We were really pleased. It’s early days, but it’s nice to see her showing a bit of promise. It’s actually taken us quite a while to get our first horse to the races, so our members were pretty excited to see her go around.” While she may not have turned heads early in her education, trainer Nicky Chilcott is encouraged by the filly’s recent development. “She’s probably a typical Bettor’s Delight – she really hadn’t shown me a lot,” Chilcott explains. “But she has improved a huge amount since her last preparation. I was delighted with her first-up run. You wouldn’t get too carried away with it because it was a very sedate pace and 1-2-3 the fence is where they finished. Look, she can only do what she did, and she seems to have come through the run well. She’s probably not going to get the same favours tonight, but we just hope she races honestly and runs home well again.” Peter McDermott is hopeful of a good turnout from syndicate members trackside tonight. “They do turn up, not in great numbers,but I’d say after last week, there will be a few more on course with the hopes that she’ll go one better.” Looking ahead, the Taylor Street Syndicate will be open to new members from January 1st, with anyone interested in harness racing encouraged to get involved. It’s a grassroots initiative helping to grow ownership and build excitement from the ground up — one race at a time. View the full article

As much as the New York Racing Association is offering three graded turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the leader of that division could be one-and-done in the series. View the full article

Godolphin's Think Big stretches his speed beyond 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time in nine months when he faces a high-quality field of older horses in the $175,000 Kelso Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Some of the most influential people in the life of Wayne Lukas-and some of the people for whom he was the most influential–took part in a special TDN Writers' Room podcast in order to pay tribute to `the Coach,' who passed away Saturday night at the age of 89. Lukas worked almost up until his last days in the sport which he revolutionized upon his arrival in the early 1980s. Before it was over, he would win 20 Breeders' Cups, 15 Triple Crown races, five Eclipse Awards as leading trainer, and saw his horses win 25 yeear-end championship awards. But it was the personal side of their interactions with Lukas which the eight guests–Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin, Bob Baffert, Ron Moquett, Christina Bossinakis, John Bellinger, Jerry Bailey, and Gary Stevens–wanted to discuss. “He hired me in January of 1985 to go to California,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who worked as an assistant to Lukas for seven years. “Well, the first thing was he told me to meet him at four o'clock at the donut shop. I said, `four o clock? What do we do at four o' clock?' And then walked Noble Threewitt and Willard Proctor and we grabbed a coffee and donut and we were out of there by before four oclock. We drove to the barn at four and it was dark. And I wondered what we were going to do that early. But it was a set list. He waited to the morning of to do the set list in case it rained and he had to change something. And for the next seven years, it was four in the morning, get up, and go to work.” If there was one area in which McLaughlin failed, it was his penmanship, which Lukas required to be picture-perfect, said Todd Pletcher, who was at the barn around the same time. “He expected his assistants to not only be on top of everything with the horses, but also to have good penmanship,” said Pletcher. “Have you ever seen Wayne Lukas's autograph? I mean, it looks like an artist drew it. And I think that that story speaks to the level of detail that he expected out of people, not just the caring for the horses and the running of the races, but everything around the shed row had to be just perfect.” Jerry Bailey won the 1991 Kentucky Derby for Lukas aboard Grindstone, but had known him since he was a teenager. “My association with Wayne goes probably back 60 years,” said Bailey. “My first interaction with Lukas was when I was a kid in New Mexico at Riodoso Downs. I grew up in West Texas and we used to go up to Riodoso every summer. My dad owned some horses and Wayne was up there training. Wayne has been called a lot of nicknames–Rhinestone Cowboy–but his nickname back then was Mr. Clean, because he had a vacuum between every other stall of the horses and before they would go up to the paddock–because he was bedding on sawdust as everybody was–he would take the vacuum and suck all the dust off of them before they went to the paddock.” John Bellinger, one of his principal owners in his later years, said he'd miss the conversation the most. “Sitting in his office, closing the door, and reminiscing about the past, about what he'd done, who he'd worked with,” said Bellinger. “In those four years, I obtained a PhD in horse racing from Wayne Lukas. He was the coach. He was the professor. He prepped us for the next step going forward and every moment was so special.” In his later years, Lukas was known for allowing young people into the winner's circle after he won a race. One of the first of those was Christina Bossinakis, who asked for his autograph at 19, and 25 years later, was autographing books alongside him as the co-author of their book, Sermon on the Mount. “He was my idol,” she said of their meeting, which she credits for her long career in horse racing. “I admired him so much that if he had brushed me off or had done anything that made me feel not welcome, I honestly think I may not be in horse racing today. So I'm really appreciative of that moment with him.” Ron Moquett, a dear friend of Lukas's later in life, recalled a time when Lukas was driving him back and forth to a meeting on icy Arkansas roads. “He just keeps going faster and faster, and I said, `Wayne, I don't want you driving like this. I don't want to die.' And he says, `why are you so worried about dying?' I said, `because the headline tomorrow would read `World-Famous Hall of Fame Trainer Wayne Lukas and Passenger Killed in Car Wreck.' I said, `they won't even say my name.' He laughed the rest of the way home.” Lukas was instrumental in the career of jockey Gary Stevens, and for Stevens, picking out his fondest moment between the pair was a simple one. “I've got a drone shot, a picture of Wayne leading me and Oxbow into the winner's circle at Pimlico,” he said. “I've got my left hand on Wayne's shoulder and he's got this humongous smile on my face. That's how I'm going to remember Wayne.” For Bob Baffert, who was with Lukas from the Quarter Horse days right up until the past few weeks, the pain of his loss is raw. Baffert recently posted a tribute on social media that ended with, “I hope I made him proud.” “I really had a hard time with it last week when I first heard about it,” he said. “I'm still dealing with it.” The TDN Writers' Room is presented by Keeneland; the guests of the week are sponsored by Gainesway. The rest of the show is sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, WinStar, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Click here to watch the show. Click here to listen to the show. The post Writers’ Room Devotes Entire Podcast to Wayne Lukas Tribute appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the earliest clues for next year's Triumph Hurdle may well have been on show at Arqana on Wednesday when the highly-touted Zekret (Fr) was purchased on behalf of a leading Irish owner to continue his career with Joseph O'Brien. The Zarak colt boasted smart form in France for trainer Andre Fabre on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing and was last seen running respectably – only beaten a little over three lengths – in a Group 3 contest at ParisLongchamp over 1m3f. It was ace agent Alex Elliott, working alongside Nicolas Bertran de Balanda [NBB Racing], who purchased Wednesday's sale-topping colt. He said, “An obvious horse for us. A juvenile hurdle campaign will be his main aim but obviously he has a lofty Flat rating and he could come back and go over both codes. Initially, the main aim is jumping and he will go to Joseph O'Brien.” Elliott added, “I suppose it's debatable about whether he will be gelded or not. Look at the Zarak horse, Nietzche Has, who won the Juvenile Finale Hurdle at Chepstow last year – he's a stallion now. So we will see how he takes to the job and whether we think gelding can improve him or not. But he looks like a horse who will handle soft ground. He will have a bit of a break now but hopefully he is an exciting juvenile hurdler going forward. “Nicky [Bertran de Balanda] and I have a good record when we work together. We bought Teahupoo, A Plus Tard and a few more. Hopefully this guy can be another one to do us proud.” Despite wildcard Juwelier (Wootton Bassett) being bought back at €1.1 million, it proved to be a lively day two session of the Summer Sale at Arqana with 19 horses selling for six figures or more. Interestingly, Highflyer Bloodstock and Paul Nicholls teamed up to spend €500,000 on two potentially smart jumps prospects – €300,000 purchase Gold Cast (Telecaster) and €200,000 buy Pourquoi Pas Papa (Manatee). Meanwhile, bloodstock agent Jason Kelly was one of the busiest buyers in town. As well as signing for two horses on behalf of Tony Elliott's Rogues Gallery for a combined sum of €162,000, Kelly landed the Listed-winning sprinter Toyotomi (Fr) (Blue Point) for €335,000. All told, Kelly spent €733,000 on seven lots. BBA Ireland's Mick Donohue was another familiar face to get in on the action. The Jerome Reynier-trained three-year-old filly Konada (Toronado), who boasts Listed form and an unexposed profile, was snapped up by O'Donohoe on behalf of Middle Eastern clients with lofty targets. He explained, “She was one we targeted and we're delighted to get her. We bought her on behalf of an existing Middle Eastern client and, to be honest, when the catalogue for this sale came out, she was the one we wanted. She's a very consistent filly on the track and, when we saw her in the flesh, she matched up physically to what we wanted. She could be aimed at something on Saudi Cup night next year. A race like the Neom Turf Cup could be right up her street. Delighted to get her.” Albeit the Wednesday session boasted a beefed up catalogue compared to 12 months previous [41 more horses sold], the overall figures were impressive. The €6,988,500 aggregate was up by 31% on last year while the €47,220 average represented a 11% rise and the median climbed €8,000 to €20,000. The clearance rate was also up by 8% to 82%. The post Joseph O’Brien To Train 520k Arqana Top Lot Who Could Be A Triumph Hurdle Dark Horse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following the GI Belmont Stakes, the month of June is traditionally a little quieter in the graded ranks as the sport revs up for Saratoga and other summer racing. This year and last, Saratoga has been in the spotlight early as host of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival while Belmont Park undergoes reconstruction. Fifteen of North America's graded races were held at the Spa over that extended weekend this year. Canadian racing rejoined the graded picture in June, with five of the 35 graded races for the month in North America held at Woodbine. That meant 30 were in the U.S., with half of them held at Saratoga. Another two races, the Pennine Ridge and Soaring Softly Stakes, were scheduled as graded at the Spa but downgraded due to a surface switch. Ten of the 35 were Grade I events, with seven carded as Grade II, and another 18 as Grade III. Six of the Grade Is ran on dirt; the other four were on the grass. Overall, 18 of June's 35 graded races ran on the main track, 14 on turf, and three on Woodbine's Tapeta surface. A total of 28 individual stallions sired the 35 graded winners. Constitution and Into Mischief each had three individual winners, while Medaglia d'Oro, Street Sense, and the late Uncle Mo each doubled up. Airdrie Stud stallions had a particularly good June, with four members of their roster siring graded winners during the month. Three stallions–Into Mischief, Medaglia d'Oro, and Street Sense–not only sired graded winners, but also had sons sire graded winners in June. The 35 winners were represented by 30 broodmare sires. Uncle Mo led the way with three, while Bernardini, Distorted Humor, and Ghostzapper each had two. Darley's Street Sense held the distinction of both siring a Grade I winner and serving as the broodmare sire of a Grade I winner. Godolphin and WinStar Farm were the only breeders to double up on graded stakes for the month, giving 33 individual breeders graded winners. Thirteen were homebreds, some with additional partners added. Among graded winners sold at public U.S. auctions, Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy) was the least expensive at $30,000, although Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) and Mo Plex (Complexity) each RNA'd for $27,000 as yearlings. Both later sold for under six figures as OBS 2-year-olds in training. Deterministic (Liam's Map) was the highest-priced public U.S. buy at $625,000 with Funtastic Again (Funtastic), Mindframe (Constitution), and Cash Call (McKinzie) right behind him at $600,000 apiece. In the trainer ranks, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, and Cherie DeVaux all tripled up for the month, while Brad Cox and Bill Mott each got two. Twenty-seven individual trainers got their charges to the winner's circle for graded wins in June. Two weeks after taking over his late father's stable, trainer Miguel Clement got his first Grade I win with Deterministic in the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes. The post 35 Graded Races in June: What Did We Learn? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS–After Baeza's (McKinzie) lackluster third-place finish in the GI Belmont Stakes last month, trainer John Shirreffs wasn't convinced his horse was as bad as he showed at Saratoga Race Course. Shirreffs is keeping the faith and will ship Baeza back to Saratoga for a date in the $500,000 GII Jim Dandy on July 26. “It seems like all roads lead to Saratoga,” Shirreffs said by phone from California Wednesday afternoon. “So far, it's the only race that has been under discussion with [owners] Mr. [Lee] Searing and Mr. [Robert] Clay.” Baeza came to the Belmont with plenty of hype after his third-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby and a second in the GI Santa Anita Derby. In six career starts, Baeza has just a maiden win, but has shown plenty of potential. Shirreffs thought that potential would shine through in the Belmont, but he finished 6 1/2 lengths behind Sovereignty (Into Mischief). Journalism (Curlin) was 3 1/2 lengths in front of him. “I did not expect him to run that way at all,” Shirreffs said. “We were expecting him to run more like he did in the Kentucky Derby and maybe do a little bit better. I really don't know what led to that.” Since the Belmont, Baeza has worked twice at Santa Anita. His most recent move was a bullet (1/66) four furlongs in :46.40 last Friday. Shirreffs said if Baeza performs well in the Jim Dandy, he would keep the colt in Saratoga for a return trip in the GI Travers on Aug. 23. “I think he is as good as any 3-year-old in the country,” Shirreffs said. “I just want hm to prove it.” One potential snag in the Jim Dandy plan is who will ride Baeza in the Jim Dandy. Flavien Prat was his jockey in the Belmont and the Kentucky Derby. Shirreffs said that he was told by Prat's agent Brad Pegram that Prat would be in California to ride Nysos (Nyquist) in the GII San Diego Handicap on July 26 if trainer Bob Baffert opts to run the 4-year-old in that spot. Locked Gets His Turn To Shine For Pletcher Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is hoping that Friday's $400,000 GII Suburban is a lock. That's because Locked (Gun Runner), one of the talented trio of older horses living in his barn, is running in the 1 1/4-race for 4-year-olds and up. Locked schooling in Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Pletcher has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to older horses. Besides Locked, he can see Mindframe (Constitution) and Fierceness (City of Light) down his shedrow. Mindframe stamped himself as the leader of the division last weekend when he won the GI Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs; Fierceness was last seen finishing second in the GI Met Mile at Saratoga on Belmont Day. Now, it's Locked's turn. “It's back to a distance that he is at his best at,” Pletcher said outside his office on the Oklahoma Training Track. “He has had some good wins, but I think the [GI] Santa Anita Handicap was his best effort.” Locked, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, won the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap by 8 1/2 lengths under jockey Jose Ortiz, who will be ride on Friday. Locked is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the field of eight. In his last start, Locked finished fourth in the GII Alysheba at Churchill Downs on May 2, beaten 6 3/4 lengths by Fierceness. That race was run at 1 1/16 miles. Fierceness set a track record (1:40.66) while Locked was screaming for more distance. “If you look at it, they went slow fractions [:24.39, :48.31] and then they had a track record,” Pletcher said. “Usually, track records are set with fast paces. [Locked] was trying to close ground into horses that went soft fractions early and then they set a track record. Kind of an impossible scenario.” While Pletcher awaits Locked, he can sing the praises of Mindframe, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC. He ran his record to three wins in three starts this year at three different distances. The Stephen Foster was run at 1 1/8 miles; the GI Churchill Downs seven furlongs and the GII Gulfstream Park Mile. For his career, he has five wins in seven starts; last year he was second in the GI Belmont and GI Haskell following a maiden and allowance wins. Pletcher now must decide what comes next for Mindframe. He already has Fierceness, also owned by Repole Stable, pointed to the prestigious $1-million GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 2. “We have to keep it in play,” Pletcher said about Mindframe and the Whitney. “You hate to run two horses like that against one another, but you also have to manage each horse's career for what is best for each horse.” If it is decided that Mindframe won't run in the Whitney, Pletcher said Plan B would be for the colt to compete in the $1-million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Aug. 31. Sovereignty Gearing Up For Return In Jim Dandy It's time for Sovereignty (Into Mischief) to get busy again. The GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes champ is back on the work tab for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Last Friday, Sovereignty had his first work since the Belmont as Mott allowed his stable star to stretch his legs on the Oklahoma Training Track (four furlongs in :50.85). Sovereignty on the track in Saratoga | Sarah Andrew The next goal is the Jim Dandy at 1 1/8 miles on July 26. That would be the only race Mott would target for Sovereignty, whose summer end game goal is the GI Travers on Aug. 23. Sovereignty, owned by Godolphin, has won three of four starts this year. In the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, he defeated the favored Journalism, who was favored in both races. Mott, standing outside his office at the Oklahoma Training Track, said there would also be the option of training Sovereignty up to the Travers, but that would only happen if the horse could not make the Jim Dandy. “Anything can happen,” Mott said. “You never know. He could get a fever, he could get a skin rash, he could grab a quarter. It's day to day. It is always day to day. We are going to put him on a regular schedule and see if we can get him to the Jim Dandy.” Since the Belmont, Mott sees nothing but a healthy horse in Sovereignty. The colt has stamped himself as the best 3-year-old in the country after winning two legs of the Triple Crown. “We have had high expectations for him for a long time,” Mott said. “But having hopes and dreams and expectations is different from actually doing it. Those things are all in our minds. Right now, his record is his record.” The post Shirreffs Says Baeza Will Head East for Jim Dandy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Zulu Kingdom, whose only defeat in six career starts came in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), looks like an odds-on favorite in the $200,000 Manila Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-olds July 4 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

After finishing second best to a filly in his first start in a stakes, Blinging It Back will try again—this time strictly against the boys.View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – There was far more than a simple change of address for trainer Cherie DeVaux when she was assigned Barn 83–for decades the Saratoga base for legendary D. Wayne Lukas–for this summer's racing season. In addition to dealing with the daily demands of managing her large stable, DeVaux, a rising star in the sport, has embraced her new roles: historian and preservationist of an important corner of the barn area on the sprawling Saratoga Race Course grounds. Within a day or two of DeVaux moving her stable into the barn, the Lukas family announced that Lukas, 89, was retiring from racing and entering palliative care. She reacted with eloquent social media posts on June 23: “….With his recent retirement from training due to health, we've been entrusted with taking over this space for the summer. But it doesn't feel like just taking over a barn. It feels like entering a cathedral of greatness. “As I walked the shedrow this morning, I kept thinking about the horses that stood in these very stalls–champions whose names helped shape the sport. And then I sat in the office he left behind, at his desk, and stared at the empty chair. I wondered what he thought about in those quiet early hours. How many dreams began right there with a legal pad and a coffee? Sarah Andrew photo “Wayne didn't just train horses. He set a standard. He built a legacy that inspired generations, myself included. And while the tack room may bear a new name this summer, his spirit lingers in every inch of this place. “Honored doesn't begin to cover it. Grateful. Humbled. Inspired. We'll do our best to honor what he built here-one horse, one morning, one moment at a time.” Six days after DeVaux made that post, the Lukas family released the news that he had died on June 28. DeVaux learned of his passing while sitting in his former office, a small building about 20 yards across from the 32-stall barn. Another touching social media followed. In that office Tuesday morning, DeVaux said that it is not typical of her to make those type of public statements. “I'm not really an emotional person, personally or professionally, but I think that, when you're moved to something…” she said, her voice trailing off. “I am not tone deaf either. Can't come in here and just pretend like I'm going to be the new czar of Barn 83. I just felt like it was necessary to say something. I felt it and I felt like it was emotional enough to share.” DeVaux now conducts her business from a well-ordered separate space, one of just a few on the grounds, that is something of a Lukas museum. “When we first came in here, this office was left like they were coming back,” she said. “They had every intention of coming back here. It wasn't like last year they thought, 'Oh, well, maybe we're not going to come back.' This office was set up. And you can see there's still pictures of Wayne and his wife and sentimental things that will still be there. His own handwriting right there, about Winning Colors. Those things will stay. There are things I just don't feel comfortable moving. I have to make my own traditions and make it my own, but still feel the need to honor what has been left here.” Among the memorabilia on the walls, just to the right of the door is Lukas's note that says Winning Colors is the only Kentucky Derby winner to break its maiden at Saratoga. Lukas made his debut at Saratoga in 1984, but was not in Barn 83 in the early years. Longtime Lukas assistant Randy Bradshaw said Wednesday that he first set up Barn 83 for Lukas when Is It True and Open Mind were 2-year-olds, which was 1988. DeVaux, 43, was born in Saratoga Springs while her parents operated their standardbred stable at Saratoga Harness, but the family moved when she was of kindergarten age. She left college at SUNY Albany to start her racing career 21 years ago and worked on the staffs of two other Saratoga-area natives, the late Chuck Simon of Ballston Lake, and multiple Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown of Mechanicville. She started her own business in 2018 with eight horses and celebrated her first victory in her 29th career start. Her success and purse earnings have improved markedly every year and she jumped from $5.5 million in earnings in 2023 to $10.2 million in 2024. Entering this week, the start of the second half of the year, she has $3.98 million in earnings and is winning at a 22% rate. DeVaux has 21 graded stakes wins, five of them Grade I. DeVaux was stabled on the backside of the main track at Saratoga and said she rarely came near out-of-the-way Barn 83, which is the farthest on the grounds from the finish line of the main track. Since her horses typically visit the Oklahoma training track daily, she was interested in being stabled closer to that facility but only if she could get a barn with a covered shedrow. Barn 83 fit both criteria and she accepted the offer from New York Racing Association officials to relocate, even though it meant following a legend who set the standard for success on the track, but for tidy barns decorated with flowers. A photo of Wayne and Laurie Lukas left in the office at Barn 83 at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew “I thought it was really neat, obviously,” she said. “You can't come in here and not feel like a special honor. You come into these places, and you think about the horses that have come through here and been in these stalls. You just think about how pristine it has been. Then you think, 'Oh no, now I have to emulate some of that.' We're trying to, but it's going to be a process for us.” DeVaux said that longtime Lukas assistant Bas Nicholl, who has taken over the Lukas stable, has sent her images of how Barn 83 has looked in recent years. She understands that with the four-day Fourth of July meet that opens Thursday and the launch of the 40-day meet on July 10, there will be visitors stopping by the Lukas-turned-DeVaux barn and grounds. “That's why I'm trying to get all my flowers in order and clean it up,” she said. “But, it's a big undertaking. Wayne had a whole staff dedicated to getting the barn set up before we even got here and this is our first year, so we've got to come up with our own system. We're personally ready, but we're getting there as far as getting it set up and just having it as esthetically pleasing as we can.” In her communications with Nicholl, DeVaux asked him to send up a Lukas Stable sign that she hopes can be part of a Lukas memorial garden on the site. She has an order in for an American flag to put on the flag pole in front of the barn. Since they often competed on the same tracks, DeVaux said she did get to know Lukas a little bit. “I had conversations in passing,” she said. “I first started my career in 2004 and I was in Kentucky, and anyone who knows me would find it profound that I was intimidated by him, but I was. In my own career, we spent some time just waiting for races and in the horsemen's lounge and chatted a bit. Very friendly. I obviously had an immense amount of respect for him. He was just so nice and genuine, just a genuine person.” So many great horses were located in Barn 83 during Lukas's time there and DeVaux is hoping to find out which stalls standouts like Winning Colors lived in. Her intention is to put some of her top runners and 2-year-old prospects like Zenyatta's final foal, Nyume, and the Lady Eli colt, Dr. Ange, in those spaces. She has reached out to Saratoga veterans like Daily Racing Form photographer Barbara Livingston and welcomes help for anyone with some knowledge to share. Sarah Andrew DeVaux acknowledged that it felt a little weird to be sitting in what had been Lukas's chair in the office. “The first time I really sat in the chair is when I wrote that post,” she said. “I walked around the barn and it was hot as blazes. It was that hot, hot, 90-something day, and that's when I sat and wrote that. It's a bit emotional, but we don't really get the luxury of, like, sitting there, really thinking about things, because I have to-do lists all over the place. Here. One here. One here. So you just get a few moments to think about it, and then it's fleeting, and then you think about it again. Then it's kind of you get to really think.” DeVaux said she is comfortable handling two responsibilities at Saratoga. “I have my own career that I'm trying to do,” she said, “but I still want to make sure that I'm not just brushing away a memory of a person that deserves to be recognized and memorialized for many years to come.” The post DeVaux Honored to Follow Lukas at Spa Barn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Alice Haynes' stable star Cairo, who finished a career-best third at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) June 17 at odds of 100-1, is set to spend the rest of the summer in the United States with some ambitious targets on his agenda.View the full article

If you're one of those fans who can't get enough of Saratoga racing, then 2025 is your kind of year. And maybe 2026 will be as well. But don't get spoiled. View the full article

Promising two-year-old filly Flawless Fusion (lot 20) took top billing at the Tattersalls Online July Sale when selling for 140,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock from Jim Bolger's Glebe House Stables. A daughter of Dawn Approach and the dual Listed-placed mare French Fusion (Harzand), from the family of the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment, Flawless Fusion made an encouraging start to her career when filling the runner-up spot on last month's debut. “She caught the eye at Leopardstown,” Blandford Bloodstock's Stuart Boman said of that performance. “Irish maidens are so competitive and she closed very well. When you are buying from Jim Bolger, you know these horses have not only been produced well but they have also been bred with meticulous care. It can be hard to find horses that are lightly raced that have exhibited a high level of ability. Ultimately, she looks to be good value when compared to the breeze-up or yearling prices. She has already shown potential and hopefully she goes on for new connections.” Elsewhere in the sale, the complete dispersal of the estate of legendary Irish trainer Kevin Prendergast attracted great interest, with all 10 lots offered selling for an aggregate of 241,800gns. Most popular was the unraced juvenile Mergus Serrator (lot 115), who went the way of James Fyffe for 58,000gns. The son of Masar is out of a full-sister to the Listed winner and Group 1-placed sire Whitecliffsofdover. Also finding favour was the unraced two-year-old filly Speckled Brown (lot 116), who was bought by agent Nick Bell, acting on behalf of Windlestone, for 56,000gns. A daughter of Prendergast's Classic winning-sire Awtaad, she is a sibling to three winners and comes from the family of G1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Chorist. Of the 102 lots offered, 62 sold for a total of 677,000gns and at an average of 10,919gns. Unsold lots remain available and offers can be made through the Make An Offer facility on the Tattersalls Online website. Enquiries can also be made by phone or via email at tattersallsonline@tattersalls.com. The post Flawless Fusion Headlines Tattersalls Online July Sale at 140,000gns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 07/01/2025 Licensee: James Nicholson, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 2, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Sheer Dominance, who won at Parx Racing on 5/17/25. Date: 07/01/2025 Licensee: Natalie Cowan, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Beauty Bolt on 5/2/25. Date: 06/30/2025 Licensee: Manuel Alejandro Chavez, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 1, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a total fine of $1,500, $500 for the Class C Controlled Medication Rule Violation, and $1,000 for the Class B Controlled Medication Rule Violation; imposition of a total of 3.5 Penalty Points, 1.5 Penalty Points for the Class C Controlled Medication Rule Violation, and 2 Penalty Points for the Class B Controlled Medication Rule Violation. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of Caffeine and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)-Class B and C controlled substances respectively-on Moringa during the race period dated 5/1/25. Moringa did not make a start that day. Date: 06/27/2025 Licensee: Ricardo Vega, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. A final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Regalpains, who finished fourth at Parx Racing on 5/13/25. Date: 06/26/2025 Licensee: Brittany Russell, trainer Penalty: A written reprimand. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (GastroGard)-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Magico on 5/20/25. Pending ADMC Violations 07/01/2025, Marcelino Salas, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Diclofenac-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Yammy Yammy Bella, who finished second at Parx Racing on 5/28/25. 06/30/2025, Gary Contessa, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a Class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Answer the Call on 5/21/25. 06/30/2025, Jonathaniel Badillo, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of Capsaicin-a Class B controlled substance-in samples taken from Spotten Bull, who won at Parx Racing on 5/21/25; and finished second at Parx Racing on 5/28/25. 06/27/2025, Carlos Perez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a Class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Navy Cross, who won at Gulfstream Park on 5/16/25. 06/26/2025, Ray Handal, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of Dexamethasone-a Class C controlled substance-in samples taken from Makeyourmoment, who finished fifth at Aqueduct on 4/23/25; and in a sample taken from Valtellina, who won at Belmont at the Big A on 5/16/25. The post National Regulatory Weekly Rulings – June 26 – July 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It is 40 years since Steve Cauthen guided the brilliant Pebbles to a memorable victory in the Eclipse Stakes and the legendary jockey revealed that, if given the opportunity to ride any horse at Sandown on Saturday, he would not look beyond the race favourite Ombudsman. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman took his form to a new level when running out an impressive winner of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. That came on just the sixth start of the four-year-old's career and Cauthen said Ombudsman shaped like a colt that has the scope for further progression and is his main pick for the showpiece event. He said, “I watched Ombudsman winning at Royal Ascot and I was very impressed. He is an unexposed type that has raced just six times so he could be hard to beat. He's the one I'd go for.” When you think of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, great horses like Pebbles are spoken about in the same breath of Sea The Stars, Nashwan, Giant's Causeway and more as the most memorable winners. Of course, Cauthen broke new ground aboard Clive Britain's outstanding racemare, given she became the first of her sex to win the 10f contest. Cauthen remembered, “I had gone to Henry's [Cecil] and had obviously ridden a lot for Sheikh Mohammed, including the [fillies'] Triple Crown aboard Oh So Sharp. So I ended up getting on Pebbles for the Eclipse and I can remember she was working really well in the build-up to the race. She was a super filly. It wasn't a big field but it was a quality race and she beat Rainbow Quest quite easily. Over 10f, I felt we had more speed than he did, and it worked out that way. We made the running and, entering the final two furlongs, I asked her to pick up and she picked up good to win comfortably in the end. It was a brilliant performance.” Cauthen added, “I was always happy to make the running, especially if you were on the best horse and in small fields like that. Unfortunately I lost the ride aboard Pebbles in the Champion Stakes because I had to ride Slip Anchor. Pat [Eddery] got on her that day and he ended up beating me in the Breeders' Cup Turf as well! But those were great times and I was very fortunate to ride some great horses – particularly fillies. “I rode Pebbles, Oh So Sharp, In The Groove, Triptych, Cormorant Wood , Time Charter – just some fantastic fillies and Pebbles ranked right up there. I always say that Oh So Sharp was the best I rode. What she did in the Oaks, beating a filly like Triptych [by] six lengths in a canter, was a damn good performance. But I rated Pebbles right up there with all the other good fillies that I rode.” Cauthen won just about everything there is to win in Europe throughout his glittering career in the saddle and explained how the Eclipse at Sandown was always a race that excited him greatly. He concluded, “I think the Eclipse is a great race because you tend to get good horses who have run in the Derby coming back in trip. If they can do that, it tends to heighten their stud value and therefore it's usually a very well-supported race by all of the top outfits and this year's edition looks a very good one.” The post Steve Cauthen Backs Ombudsman For Eclipse Glory 40 Years On From Pebbles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The initial draft of supplemental entries added to the upcoming Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age includes offerings from Estate of D. Wayne Lukas, according to a release Wednesday. In total, Fasig-Tipton has catalogued an additional 11 entries to the July Selected HORA sale, which will be held on Tuesday, July 8 in Lexington, Kentucky. Mulholland Springs will serve as agent for the five Lukas Estate offerings. The offerings include two unraced 2-year-olds by Essential Quality and Liam's Map that were selected and purchased by Lukas. The new supplements are catalogued as hips 355-365: Princess Indy (Hip 355): A stakes winner at two, she's a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Super Chow, and out of a half-sister to Grade I winners Carina Mia and Miss Match (Arg). Consigned by Taylor Made Sale Agency, agent. Back Ring Buzz (Hip 356): Two-year-old daughter of Hard Spun won her most recent start at Gulfstream on June 27 despite a troubled trip. Consigned by Taylor Made Sale Agency, agent. Perfect Figure (Hip 357): Stakes placed at two, she's a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Wizard of Westwood from the family of Grade/Group 1Iwinners Danon Kingly and West Coast. Her third dam is champion Caressing. Consigned by Elite, agent. Victory Music (Hip 359): Two-year-old daughter of Maclean's Music won her debut at Churchill Downs from the rail on June 29 in wire-to-wire fashion. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent. Waco (Hip 360): Stakes placed at Oaklawn at three last year, he is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes placed Flying Private. Consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent for the Estate of D. Wayne Lukas. Going Steady (Hip 361): Three-year-old winning daughter of Constitution is out a half-sister to stakes winner and stakes producer Stronger Than Ever. Her female family includes GISWs Rail Trip, Palace Malice, and Justin Palace. Consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent for the Estate of D. Wayne Lukas. These entries will also be available in the Equineline sales catalogue app. Printed versions will be available on the sales grounds at sale time. The post D. Wayne Lukas Estate Offerings Included Among Supplemental Entries for F-T July Selected HORA Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A memorial service for Barry Hills, one of Britain's most successful, skilled and respected trainers, who died last week at the age of 88, will be held at St Michael and All Angels Church in Lambourn on Tuesday, July 8. The service will begin at 11am, with additional parking available on Crowle Road, opposite Windsor House Stables. The post Details Announced for Barry Hills Memorial Service appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The version of President Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by the Senate earlier this week contains a tax provision that could see gamblers pay more in taxes than they win-a change that could have ramifications for horse racing's bottom line. In the Senate's version of the bill, deductions for gambling winnings will be limited to 90% of annual losses. Currently, gamblers can deduct 100% of wagering losses (below a net profit) for any given year. As NBC Sports describe it, “$100,000 in winnings against $100,000 in losses will be treated for tax purposes as if the losses were only $90,000.” The specific language in the bill can be found at section 70114, “Extension and modification of limitation on wagering losses.” “It is a big deal,” said Tom Rooney, CEO and president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), who pointed to the possible impacts on horse racing revenues through gambling dollars throughout the sport, and especially those jurisdictions with no supplemental revenues. Rooney said he's working with representatives from other key gaming entities to petition lawmakers on the issue, including the American Gaming Association. “We've let it be known to our friends on the hill that our sport is generated by the people that play the horses. And, if they're dissuaded in any way to do that, it's going to hurt our sport,” said Rooney. The House is currently voting to concur their version of the bill with the Senate. While no new language can be added, verbiage can be stripped. A previous version of the bill in the House contained key tax provisions that would have been detrimental to many horse racing stakeholders. But Rooney said that they were able to remove that through lobbying efforts. “Whether or not they can change language this late in the game is very tough,” said Rooney, about efforts to strip the latest gambling tax language from the current iteration of the bill. “People ask, why are they moving this gambling tax from 100% to 90%, it's because of revenue, and just trying to find money wherever they can,” said Rooney. Independent analysis of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill found it would increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next ten years. This story will be updated… The post Gambling Tax Changes in “Big Beautiful Bill” Could Hit Bettors, Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has urged the sport to collectively lobby the Government to back British racing and axe a proposal from the Treasury which could hit racing's finances to the tune of £66m in lost income. Those figures were published by the BHA for the first time on Wednesday, highlighting the potentially catastrophic consequences of the proposal to hike tax on horserace betting by bringing existing online betting duties into one single rate. At a time when affordability checks and the lack of a sustainable central funding model are already posing a significant threat to racing's finances, it is feared by the BHA that a tax hike for bookmakers in the Autumn Budget would further jeopardise the future of the sport in Britain. “Economic analysis commissioned by the BHA shows that aligning the current 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing with that of online games of chance – currently taxed at 21% – by harmonising all remote gambling duties, could hit racing's finances to the tune of £66m in lost income via the Levy, media rights and sponsorship,” read a press release issued by the BHA. “This is because operators are likely to seek to mitigate significant tax rises through cutting bonuses, reducing advertising and marketing budgets and increasing prices. “Should the Treasury seek to raise the proposed single duty rate further to help balance the books, the impact on racing's finances would be devastating, with a projected £97m loss at a tax rate of 25%, a £126m loss at 30% and a £160m loss at 40%.” The release added, “This would put thousands of jobs at risk and severely impact towns and rural communities across the country. It would also hamper British racing's world-leading work on equine welfare.” This rallying cry comes ahead of the launch of 'Axe the Racing Tax', a BHA-led public campaign against the proposal which will be rolled out over the summer. In the meantime, the BHA is encouraging everyone involved in the sport to write to their local MP to call on Ministers to urgently rethink proposals. The Treasury's consultation closes on July 21, before it considers its options ahead of the Budget this autumn. Brant Dunshea, acting CEO of the BHA, said, “It is vital that everyone working in racing, the media and bettors fully support and promote this campaign. The Government's consultation on harmonising online betting duties, if followed through, poses one of the gravest risks to racing the sport has ever seen. “It will punch a huge hole in racing's finances, risk thousands of jobs across Britain and threaten the future of the country's second most-popular sport and a cherished national institution. “From now until the Budget we will be hammering home a very simple message to MPs, Peers and the Government on behalf of millions of racing fans. It's time for the Government to back British racing and axe the racing tax.” The post BHA Issues Rallying Cry Against ‘Devastating’ Tax Hike Proposals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By anyone's standards, Jose Ortiz had an outstanding week, posting a remarkable 16 wins from 40 mounts and earning his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs with 63 wins.View the full article

Mikki Fight took advantage of Forever Young's absence to land the Teio Sho July 2 at Oi Racecourse and could be a candidate for Japan's international dirt-racing brigades.View the full article

A series of 25 free handicapping contests exclusively for subscribers of Race Lens, Equibase's interactive past performance product, is returning in 2025.View the full article

Familiar Thoroughbreds from the 3-year-old stakes scene will line up to contest the July 5 Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Besides Chunk of Gold, Coal Battle, and Publisher, the race includes dual stakes winner Instant Replay.View the full article

6th-SAR, $90k, Msw, (R), 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 3:53 p.m. ET Though written as an auction maiden, this contest is also open to horses bred in New York and IRON ORCHARD (Authentic) looks to capitalize on the opportunity on the first day of the Fourth of July Festival in Saratoga. The Apr. 22 foal is a daughter of the late dual stakes-placed Onebrethatatime (Brethren), who was purchased by Pine Ridge Stables in foal to Audible for $150,000 at Keeneland November in 2020. The dam, a half-sister to GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes heroine Wonderlandbynight (Sky Mesa), is also responsible for the 3-year-old filly Backcheck (Not This Time), a maiden winner at Aqueduct June 13. From the deeper family of Grade I winner Exaulted and Ogygian, Iron Orchard is bred on a variant of the very successful cross of Into Mischief over Distorted Humor-line mares. The filly was bought back for $97,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Sale and was sold for $78,000 at FTKOCT before fetching $500,000 at this year's OBS April Sale (see Summer Breezes). TJCIS PPs 2nd-ELP, $100k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:19 p.m. ET BEWITCHINGLY (Into Mischief) draws the fence for this debut for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner/breeders Barry and Judith Becker, who acquired the Grade III-winning dam Lady Ten (Rock Hard Ten) for $250,000 at Keeneland November in 2016. The colt she was carrying at the time became Nucky (Ghostzapper), who belied odds of 35-1 to take the 2019 GI Del Mar Futurity and she has also produced the stakes-placed Tea N Conversation (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $400,000 KEESEP graduate. Bewitchingly was led out unsold at last year's September sale at that same level. Run On States (Yaupon) was RNAd for $115,000 at last year's FTNAUG sale but improved into a $200,000 OBS March breezer (see Summer Breezes) this spring. The Jan. 23 foal is out of a winning daughter of 2016 GI Mother Goose Stakes heroine Off The Tracks (Curlin) and the third dam produced MGSW Concord Point (Tapit), now a successful sire in Korea. TJCIS PPs The post Thursday Insights: NY-Bred Authentic Filly Headlines Spa Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Thursday at for opening day at Ellis Park and Saratoga, which hosts the first of four days of the Fourth of July Festival. Thursday, July 3, 2025 Ellis 2, $100k, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:19 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($) Cold Case (Tiz the Law), OBSAPR, 150,000 C-Cortez Racing & Sales, agt; B-Jeff Mackor, agt Keith Johnston Cue the Drama (Complexity), OBSAPR, 325,000 C-Cesar Loya Training & Sales, agent; B-Corbin Blumberg, agent Run On States (Yaupon), OBSMAR, 200,000 C-Blake-Albina TB Services, agent; B-Stone Bridge Farm Saratoga 6, $90k, 2yo, f, (R), 5 1/2f, 3:53 p.m. ET Dolce Vino (Omaha Beach), OBSAPR, 20,000 C-Grassroots Training & Sales; B-Keri Brion, agent Iron Orchard (Authentic), OBSAPR, 500,000 C-Grassroots Training & Sales; B-Bill Childs & Mark Stanton Probable Choice (Improbable), OBSAPR, 45,000 C-Grassroots Training & Sales; B-Bob Novak Two by Two by Two (Rock Your World) OBSMAR, 50,000 C-Goldencents Thoroughbreds; B-Michael Dubb The post Summer Breezes: Thursday, July 3, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article