Wandering Eyes

After each delivered solid efforts in different graded stakes on the Belmont Stakes Day card, Limousine Liberal and Whitmore will stay at Belmont Park to try the $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) July 7. View the full article

Donnacha O'Brien will be reunited with Saxon Warrior, on whom he won the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown, when the Ballydoyle colt will clash with Epsom hero Masar for the third time. View the full article

Trainer Jay P. Bernardini registered his 1,000th winner July 3 when Pride of Wilko won the second race at Mountaineer Racetrack, Casino & Resort. View the full article

Up the Ante was allowed the walk the dog on the front end all the way into the winner's circle, posting a gate-to-wire 3 1/2-length victory over heavily favored Raging Bull in the $100,000 Manila Stakes at Belmont Park. View the full article

Darley, which has sponsored the G1 Darley Prix Morny-and the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet on the same card-since 2006, has increased its support of French racing by adding support to two Morny lead-ups; the G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin on July 22 and the G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg on July 29. The trio of races has been coined the Darley Series. The breeder of this year’s Prix Morny winner will receive a 2019 nomination to a Darley stallion up to the value of €10,000. If the same horse has won either the Robert Papin or the Cabourg, that value will increase to €20,000. The winning owners of all three races will be invited to the 2019 Darley Stallion Parade. View the full article

The British Horseracing Authority has instituted an additional results verification procedure after a wrong result was posted at Kempton in March. In that instance, an official result was later reversed after a photo finish was more closely examined and the result found to be incorrect. The process, which has been trialled extensively since March, means that an additional line of verification is now in place before the ‘weighed in’ signal is given, whereby the stipendiary stewards on duty are required to verify the finishing order of the winning and placed horses. Should there be a query, a signal is given to the judge on duty to revisit the result until there is agreement between both parties, in which case the provisional result may be amended if it has been given. Brant Dunshea, chief regulatory officer of the BHA, said, “Although the initial situation which caused us to look into results verification was disappointing, the outcome whereby all those affected by the result of a race can have increased confidence in its accuracy is a positive one. I’d like to thank all those who have been involved in the process both within the BHA and externally for their assistance in completing this project, which is now in place for all races run in Great Britain.” View the full article

All-weather track racing is derided as second-rate by some but dirt wins have been the difference in the jockeys’ championship so far and Sunday’s final three races of the season could prove pivotal in the battle between Zac Purton and Joao Moreira. Moreira has had 16 more wins than Purton on the Sha Tin turf (76-60) and Purton 15 more wins than his arch rival at Happy Valley (49-34), but on dirt Purton has a four-win edge (20-16). So it is telling that Purton leads by three wins... View the full article

Bundle Of Energy can notch his maiden victory early next season if his eye-catching effort at Happy Valley is anything to go by. The David Hall-trained three-year-old didn’t show much in his first two starts, basically following the field around in each of those efforts, but that all changed on Wednesday night in the first section of the Class Four Carnation Handicap (1,200m). After being beaten for speed, jockey Ben So Tik-hung settled him back in the field early and it looked like a... View the full article

Soi Phet passed the million-dollar mark in earnings July 4 at Los Alamitos Race Course, but to trainer Leonard Powell, the 10-year-old gelding has always been worth much more. View the full article

Inglis has secured this season’s back-to-back Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for its Everest slot. The Everest, Australia’s richest race with a purse of A$13-million, will be run on Oct. 13 over 1200 metres at Randwick and is open to 12 horses fielded by the race’s slot holders, who have bought in at a cost of A$600,000 apiece. Trained by Anthony Freedman, who also conditions confirmed Everest contender Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Santa Ana Lane missed out on a run in last year’s Everest despite winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., and has this season won the G1 Goodwood H. over 1200 metres on May 19 and the G1 Stradbroke H. going 1350 metres on June 9. “We’re proud and excited to be a part of the whole Santa Ana Lane team as they commence their assault on The Everest this year,” Inglis Deputy Chairman Arthur Inglis said. “Santa Ana Lane has proven himself to be one of Australia’s dominant sprinters. I’m sure I join all here at Inglis in wishing Anthony Freedman and all the connections of Santa Ana Lane every success leading into and in The Everest.” View the full article

Juglall flies out for more Durban July joy View the full article

Pike booked for another Derby mission View the full article

Only Win in his winkered sights in Derby View the full article

A Breeders' Cup bid and a crack at Triple Crown winner Justify are on the line for Mendelssohn July 7 in the $300,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. View the full article

The Coral-Eclipse is the undoubted centrepiece at Sandown this Saturday. This Group 1 contest ran over 1m 2f has been won by some elite thoroughbred down through the years, with racing greats such as Sadler’s Wells, Giant’s Causeway and more recently Golden Horn. This year’s race has a slightly open look to it, with Epsom Derby winner Masar is likely to start favourite but his form has a somewhat suspect look it however which I know is a strange thing to say about a Derby winner. However, from nine career starts Masar has only won four times and the placed horses in the Derby have slightly left the form down. Charlie Appleby’s son of New Approach is justifiably favourite but at the likely skimpy odds, I’m willing to take him on. John Gosden’s Roaring Lion was a hugely impressive winner of the Dante this season when he pulverised a smart field. This run was in the middle of creditable efforts in both the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. The Eclipse trip looks ideal for the son of Kittens Joy and I expect him to fight out the finish. Hawkbill represents the older generation as the highest rated non-three-year-old in the race. The Godolphin colt has been well below form on both his British starts this season and with the lively underfoot conditions not ideal, Charlie Appleby seems to have a stronger candidate for win purposes with Masar. Saxon Warrior is the most intriguing horse in the race, the 2000 Guineas winner was been spoken about as a viable triple crown contender at the beginning of the season following victory in the Racing Post Trophy on his final start as a three-year-old. The son of Deep Impact ran in both Derbys this month including a third-place finish at the Curragh behind Latrobe last weekend when looking a non-stayer. This drop back in trip should suit Saxon Warrior and if he shows no ill effects from his recent excursion he must pose a major danger to all. Aidan has said he’ll wait until deciding if Saxon Warrior takes his place in the line-up: “It’s possible that Saxon Warrior will run in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday. He ran a very big race in the Irish Derby less than a week ago, and while he’s come out of that very well we’re going to leave it until the last minute before making up our minds about whether he’ll run”. Happily is my idea of the winner even though she has yet to get her head in front this season. However, all three starts this year have been In Group 1 contests and a staying on finish behind Laurens in the Prix De Diane suggests this trip is optimum. She was a dual Group 1 winning two-year-old who’ll be receiving weight from all her rivals, couple this with Aidan O’Brien’s enviable track record with fillies and I think Happily can emerge victoriously. Selection: Happily The post Coral-Eclipse Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Maryland-bred juvenile filly No Refunds (Buffum) became the first horse to earn her owners a bonus as part of the Virginia-Certified Residency Program when she broke her maiden at Laurel Park on Saturday. The program rewards winners of non-Virginia restricted races at Mid-Atlantic racetracks (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware) with 25% purse bonuses after they have maintained residency in the state of Virginia for any consecutive six-month period prior to Dec. 31 of their 2-year-old year. No Refunds, who is trained by John Salzman, Jr. on behalf of Bird Mobberley, was sent to Stephanie Nixon’s Horseshoe Hill Farm in Ashland, Virginia last July in order to become eligible for the program. “They normally would send horses in September or October but because of the new program, they sent them earlier,” noted Nixon. “I’ve been breaking horses for the Salzmans for the last 15 years. They are my main client and beyond that, we’re just good friends. Their business over the years allowed me to build a new barn at the farm.” View the full article

Up the Ante was allowed the walk the dog on the front end all the way into the winner's circle, posting a gate-to-wire 3 1/2-length victory over heavily favored Raging Bull in the $100,000 Manila Stakes at Belmont Park. View the full article

Lone Star Park will host The Paddock Foundation’s fourth-annual Roses to Ribbons Old Fashioned Horse Fair on Saturday, July 7. The event will feature Thoroughbred racehorses who are ready to be retired and retrained for second careers. Horses will be available for inspection in the saddling paddock with respective sellers available to privately negotiate prices. For more information contact the Texas Thoroughbred Association at (512) 458-6133 or visit facebook.com/thepaddockfoundation. 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. Thursday’s Insights features a half-brother to MG1SW Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). 5.50 Tipperary, Cond, €16,000, 2yo, 7f 100yT SOUTH PACIFIC (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the €1-million purchase Coolmore made at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale who debuts in a race Ballydoyle have won on four of the last seven occasions. The half-brother to the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and G1 Criterium International hero Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) and G1 St James’s Palace S.-winning sire Most Improved (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) meets his twice-raced stable companion Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-brother to Highland Reel (Ire) who was fourth when odds-on to re-opposing Bolger homebred Copia Verborum (Ire) (Vocalised) at The Curragh last month. View the full article

Synchrony will have the main target on his back when he faces 11 others in the 1 3/16-mile Arlington Handicap (G3T) July 7 at Arlington International Racecourse. View the full article

The second day of the Arqana Summer Sale resulted in a solid day of trade and Coolmore sire Mastercraftsman (Ire) sired the top two lots-Listed Derby du Languedoc winner Esteve (Ire) (lot 395) and MSP Masterpiece (Fr) (lot 389), who are both bound for Qatar after agent Gerard Larrieu stepped in on behalf of Shael bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. Offered by Jean-Claude Rouget and Andre Fabre, respectively, Esteve brought €445,000, while Masterpiece made €345,000 a few lots earlier. Gonzeville (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (lot 273), a half-sister to G1 French 1000 Guineas heroine Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}) out of Jummana (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), was the star of the day for breeding stock. The Haras de Montfort & Preaux-consigned mare caught the eye of Crispin de Moubray, who bid €150,000 to secure the 6-year-old in foal to Recorder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). “She is going to stay in France but unfortunately I can’t name my client,” said Moubray. “This is a family I have known for a long time as I bought the dam Jummana as a yearling on behalf of Maurice Lagasse and advised him with the matings all along. I notably chose Camacho because Jummana is a very big mare who needs to visit smaller stallions–and the result was Teppal.” At the conclusion of the two-day stand, 280 lots had found new homes (73.7%) from 380 offered, good for €7,479,700. The average was €26,713 (-4.2%) and the median was €12,000 (-33%). During the second session on Wednesday, which consisted of breeding stock and horses in training, the gross was €4,078,000 and the average was €25,573. View the full article

Sassy Sienna (Midshipman), winner of Oaklawn’s GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 13 over last weekend’s Queen’s Plate romper Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) makes her first start since finishing sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 4 in Thursday evening’s GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows. Cosmic Burst (Violence) also boasts strong Arkansas form, having annexed the GIII Honeybee S. Mar. 10 before finishing fourth in the Fantasy. She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality) was off the board in both the GII Rachel Alexandra S. and GII Fair Grounds Oaks over the winter, but could enter this return to graded company with a bit more confidence after taking a Churchill optional claimer June 3. Testing One Two (Star Guitar) finished a spot ahead of She’s a Julie and behind eventual Kentucky Oaks heroine Monomoy Girl when fifth in the Rachel Alexandra. She’s since taken a pair of Louisiana-bred stakes events by daylight. Terra’s Angel (Drosselmeyer) narrowly bested Hold Her Tight (Proud Citizen) in the local prep for this, the June 7 Panther S. Rayya (Tiz Wonderful), winner of the G3 UAE Oaks in March and 13th in the Kentucky Oaks, did not make the trip from Bob Baffert’s Santa Anita base and is expected to scratch. The result of this race will appear in Saturday’s newsletter. View the full article

Though the $700,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) is listed as a grade 2 stakes, it features a grade 1 lineup. View the full article

A partnership is the wave that will carry Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin into the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) on July 7 with a powerful hand covering three of the leading contenders in the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes. View the full article

A partnership is the wave that will carry Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin into the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) on July 7 with a powerful hand covering three of the leading contenders in the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes. View the full article