Wandering Eyes

The training track at Santa Anita will, as expected, re-open for training Friday morning, after veteran track superintendent Dennis Moore evaluated the surface Thursday. According to California Thoroughbred Trainer president Jim Cassidy, horses will be restricted to jogging and galloping only–no breezes. The hours of operation have been extended, and the track will remain open until 11:00 a.m. in order to lessen the bottle-neck of horses expected on the track Friday, said Cassidy, who added that it’s still up in the air as to when workouts will resume on the track. A press release by the Thoroughbred Owners of California stated that expanded training on the training track could resume “as early as next week.” The track was off limits for training Wednesday and Thursday morning after Santa Anita announced Tuesday evening that both the main and training tracks were closed. The decision was in response to two more fatalities at the track over the weekend. This brought the total of equine fatalities since the start of the Santa Anita winter-spring meet to 21. None of those catastrophic injuries were sustained over the training track. A number of trainers have already shipped some of their horses to Los Alamitos or San Luis Rey Downs to train. Roughly 350 stalls were reported available at Los Alamitos, and between 50-70 at San Luis Rey Downs. According to trainer Richard Baltas, he’s taken 9 “pretty nice” horses to San Luis Rey Downs, where he also keeps a string. “These horses are ready to roll–I need to work them,” he said. Peter Eurton told TVG that he was sending 15 horses to Los Alamitos on Thursday to train, including Giant Expectations, who was originally scheduled to run in the San Carlos S. this weekend. John Sadler told the TDN he’ll get “creative” if workouts are restricted on the training track for a period of time. “I’ll probably work some of my horses at Los Alamitos,” he said. Sadler typically maintains a string of between 25-35 horses at Los Alamitos. “It’ll be on a case-by-case basis,” Sadler added. Santa Anita announced Thursday that Moore and the University of Kentucky’s Mick Peterson had begun extensive testing of the one-mile main track. Though before the “formal process of testing [could] begin,” Moore and Peterson had requested that Santa Anita personnel “[harrow] and [aerate] the track which has been saturated due to recent rains.” There is currently no news on when the main track will re-open for training and racing. However, California Horse Racing Board commissioner Alex Solis told the TDN Wednesday that the picture could be much clearer by next Monday, by which time Moore will have had more time to conduct his tests. “We’re working hard on finding solutions for the safety of the horse and the rider,” he said. View the full article

Santa Anita Park announced March 7 that consultants Dennis Moore and Mick Peterson began "extensive testing" of its main track Thursday, but that the two experts "do not have a timetable for completion of the testing and evaluation." View the full article

Michael Trombetta is one of a number of trainers of aspiring 3-year-olds looking for success, but also looking for questions to be answered this time of year, as he sends out his young star Win Win Win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). View the full article

Thunder Snow rumbles back into action March 9 at Meydan as the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) highlights the "Super Saturday" card that serves as a preview of the March 30 Dubai World Cup night program. View the full article

The Texas Thoroughbred Association’s Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will feature a catalog of 135 hips, up from 106 last year, for this April’s sale. The under tack show is set for 10 a.m. Sunday, Apr. 7 at Lone Star Park, with the auction to take place there Tuesday, Apr. 9 at 12 noon. The catalog features offerings from nationally successful stallions like Kitten’s Joy, Malibu Moon, Uncle Mo and Union Rags. All sale graduates will be eligible for the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, run in divisions for fillies and colts/geldings at $100,000-estimated apiece this summer at Lone Star. “Our consignors have really stepped up again this year and continue to bring better quality 2-year-olds, and I think the list of stallions in this catalog really proves that,” said Sales Director Tim Boyce. “I’m looking forward to seeing what these horses do in the under tack show.” The interactive catalog, which will include photos and videos after the undertack show, is now online at www.ttasales.com. The auction will also be broadcast live on the website. View the full article

Joe Pickerrell and Courtney Roberts have seen their business as Pick View LLC grow steadily since they started their Ocala-based operation in 2011, and they enter the 2019 2-year-old sales season off their strongest year yet as consignors. They’ll offer five juveniles–all colts–at next Tuesday and Wednesday’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March sale. The couple met at the College of Central Florida while working towards degrees in Equine Business Management. Pickerrell, the son of breeder and trainer Bill Pickerrell, grew up on his family’s farm in Ohio before moving to Ocala in 2007 to attend school and work for Joanne Crowe at Crowes Nest Farm Inc. Roberts, a Miami native, has a background in barrel racing. Pickerrell had already started an equine transport business–Pick View Transport–while in college, and Pick View offered its first consignment of five at the 2012 OBS April Sale. That group grossed $374,000, including a $220,000 top-priced colt. Pickerrell and Roberts have used the proceeds from that sale and subsequent ones to invest in both land and more horses. “We purchased two farms in Ocala from proceeds from horse sales,” Pickerrell said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have some really good clients who support us and trust us with their investments. Not only has that given us the opportunity to purchase a couple pieces of property, but it’s given us the chance to grow our business in other ways.” Pick View owns a portion of the former Cashel Stud Farm Property. “It’s an historic piece of property that a lot of champions have come off of,” Pickerrell said. “The ground is good, the horses do really well there and they’re really happy there. It’s just a good place for young horses.” Past Pick View graduates include Big Changes (Midshipman), a $170,000 OBS April grad of 2014 who has won 10 times and racked up $522,000 in earnings. The graded stakes-placed veteran is a five-time stakes winner, most recently in January’s Sunshine Millions Turf S. at Gulfstream. “He’s seven years old and still running,” Pickerrell said. “He’s kind of sentimental to us, because he’s a homebred for us, which is something we don’t do a whole lot of, but we still own a lot from the family and it’s nice to see him doing well for Brad Cox.” More recently, Pick View sold its priciest horse yet at the 2018 March sale. Forloveofcountry (Sky Mesa) was an $87,000 OBS October pick-up who blossomed into a $300,000 pinhook score after a :21 1/5 move. Campaigned by Doubledown Stables and conditioner Jimmy DiVito, he broke his maiden on the stretch-out and switch to grass at Del Mar last July and annexed a main-track Churchill optional claimer in November. He takes on older foes in a lucrative two-turn allowance at Oaklawn Friday. While Pick View has done well in terms of pinhooking profit, it also seems that Pickerrell and Roberts are leaving something left for the end users. From its 2018 2-year-old sales crop, 17 Pick View graduates started at two, and 14 were winners. “We ended up around a 200% return on investment for our partners, and the results are speaking for themselves at the racetrack there, with horses that guys are able to go right on with,” Pickerrell said. “To have 14 different horses win 2-year-old races, we’re pretty proud of that.” Pick View has a crop of 30 2-year-olds altogether this season. “The number of horses is similar compared to last year, but we focused on a little higher quality for this year,” Pickerrell said. “We invested a bit more money and tried to focus on some individuals who we thought were Classic kind of colts. We mainly bought colts this year–we didn’t buy a whole lot of fillies–but we do have a couple of fillies going to the sales who clients sent us.” What do Pickerrell and Roberts look for at the sales? “We’re looking for scope and substance in these colts,” Pickerrell said. “We want horses who are going to have the ability to perform on Saturdays when the races start to stretch out a little longer. That’s kind of what we’re excited about going forward from last year’s crop, too–we feel like the horses we sold will be better as 3-year-olds, so the best might be yet to come from that crop.” When asked about stand-outs among Pick View’s March consignment, Pickerrell first mentions hip 325, a son of GI Belmont S. winner Palace Malice who was purchased for $160,000 at Keeneland September. The Feb. 4 foal is out of a full-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner More Than Real (More Than Ready). His dam was a $400,000 Keeneland April 2-year-old herself and was an open-length Belmont Park maiden special weight winner later that season. “He’s out of a full-sister to a Breeders’ Cup winner,” Pickerrell said. “He’s a really fancy, really good-training colt. People I’ve talked to said Palace Malice was a really good work horse and a really good-training horse. We’ve got two Palace Malices at the farm and they’re both really serious about their training.” Pick View will offer another colt by a Classic winner in hip 432, a son of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver out of a mare who was third in the 2010 Sam Houston Distaff S. behind the dam of superstar Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song). The $150,000 KEESEP yearling hails from the extended female family of Grade I winners Speightstown and Mani Bhavan. Hip 432 will breeze Saturday. “We’ve got a Super Saver colt who’s really nice,” Pickerrell said. “He’s out of a stakes-placed mare, he’s Pennsylvania-bred and he’s probably going to be the best-looking on the end of a shank. He’s a very, very outstanding physical.” Looking ahead to subsequent sales, Pickerrell said, “We’re pretty excited about Miami–we’ve got a Tapit colt [at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream] out of Enchanted Rock who’s pretty special.” The $190,000 Fasig-Tipton October pick-up is a half to GISW Verrazano (More Than Ready), et al from an extremely productive Emory Hamilton family. When asked about overall expectations for the 2-year-old market, Pickerrell noted that buyers seem to have done their homework early this year. “Just from interest at the farm, as far as before the sale goes, we had more visitors early this year than we’ve ever had before,” he said. “That’s encouraging. People are calling and networking and trying to get out and see these horses at the farms, and that’s a great thing, because a lot of these horses may or may not showcase themselves as well as they can at the sale for whatever reason. So, these guys who get to see the horses early at the farms, I think they have a leg up on the competition among buyers.” View the full article

A Distorted Humor colt breezed the fastest quarter during the first of three under-tack shows for next week’s OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, while six juveniles tied for the quickest eighth of a mile. Hip 142 was the lone youngster to stop the clock in :20 3/5 for his quarter-mile move. The half-brother to MSP Glamoride (Ide) is consigned by Greg and Karen Dodd’s Southern Chase Farm, Inc. Five horses shared the eighth-of-a-mile bullet of :9 4/5: Hip 24, an Irish-bred daughter No Nay Never consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stable (video). Hip 31, a Florida-bred son of Take Charge Indy from Top Line Sales LLC, Agent I (video). Hip 49, a de Meric Sales, agent VI-consigned filly from Verrazano’s second crop (video). Hip 81, a son of Justin Phillip offered by Patrick Hoppel’s Hoppel Horse & Cattle Co., Inc. (video). Hip 134, a filly by freshman sire Wicked Strong consigned by Mayberry Farm, Agent V (video). Hip 140, a first-crop filly by Karakontie (Jpn) from All Dreams Equine (video). Additional breeze shows will be held Friday (hips 193-384) and Saturday (hips 385-577) starting each day at 8:00 a.m. For complete information, visit www.obssales.com. View the full article

The $500,000 GIII Indiana Derby scheduled for July 13 once again headlines Indiana Grand’s upcoming racing calendar. The Shelbyville, Indiana oval will hold 120 days of live racing from Tuesday, Apr. 16 through Wednesday, Nov. 6. A total of 35 stakes worth more than $4.3 million are scheduled, with the majority of them being held on Wednesdays. The Saturday, July 13 Indiana Derby program will feature five other stakes, including the GIII Indiana Oaks. Purses for the evening card will be in excess of $1.1 million. “We are anticipating another great season of racing at Indiana Grand,” said Kevin Greely, director of racing. “Our track maintenance crew has been working all winter long on a $700,000-plus track renovation project for our one-mile dirt course. Having this type of investment in our racing program by our new owners, Caesars, is a great way to kick off our 17th year of racing at Indiana Grand.” Racing at Indiana Grand will be conducted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday with a 2:15 p.m. post time and on Saturdays with a 6:15 p.m. first post. For the complete 2019 stakes schedule, visit www.indianagrand.com. View the full article

Thunder Snow rumbles back into action March 9 at Meydan as the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) highlights the "Super Saturday" card that serves as a preview of the March 30 Dubai World Cup night program. 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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses, including an intriguing Sunday allowance at the former venue in which a pair of unbeaten US-breds take on a Group 3-winning son of the late Giant’s Causeway who switches to the dirt for the first time: Saturday, March 9, 2019 4th-CKO, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m ERZULIE (f, 3, Graydar–Miss Luna, by Henny Hughes), a $70K purchase at KEESEP in 2017, is a maternal granddaughter of In Her Glory (Miswaki), third to Sky Beauty and Educated Risk in the 1993 GI Acorn S. In Her Glory is the dam not only of the stakes-placed Seattle Slew full-siblings Seattle Glory and Combanchera, but also of Sambuca Classic (Cat Thief), whose son Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) was champion of his generation with wins in the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2016 before adding the GI Arkansas Derby and a runner-up effort in the GI Preakness S. in 2017. B-Springland Farm (KY) 4th-NKY, ¥11,400,000 ($102k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m PIONEER BAROWS (c, 3, Cairo Prince–Dattts Lady Di, by Proud Citizen) is a half-brother to SP Lindy (War Front), the dam of La La Chrysaor (Speightstown), who won his maiden by over 10 lengths as first asking in January. Produced by a half-sister to Grab Your Heart (Deputy Commander), a four-time stakes winner in Japan and earner of better than $2.4 million, Pioneer Barows was a $110K KEENOV weanling, a $175K KEESEP buyback and a $400K graduate of last year’s FTFMAR sale (breeze video). B-Bret Jones (KY) Sunday, March 10, 2019 10th-CKO, ¥34,200,000 ($307k), Open Class, 3yo, 1400m A pair of promising and undefeated US-breds and another who is already a Group 3 winner highlight this salty test Sunday afternoon. MONT PERDU (f, 3, Cairo Prince–Spanish Post, by Flatter) is perfect in her two trips to the races, having won her maiden by five lengths at first asking last November (video, gate 4) before scoring by 3 1/2 lengths when last seen Jan. 13 (see below, gate 13). A $115K FTNAUG yearling and $325K FTFMAR purchase, the bay was bred in New York by Bluewater Sales and Three Diamonds Farm. TIMING NOW (c, 3, Tapit–Her Smile, by Include), a $750K KEESEP purchase, is unbeaten in his two runs to date, a four-length graduation Jan. 5 (video, gate 8) ahead of a two-length score over this surface Feb. 2 (video, gate 11). Yutaka Take retains the mount aboard the son of Grade I winner Her Smile, who was bred in the Bluegrass by Larry and Karen Doyle’s KatieRich Farms. Making his dirt debut–and bred nicely for it–is ASTER PEGASUS (c, 3, Giant’s Causeway-R Heat Lightning, by Trippi), a $150K KEESEP grad who won the G3 Hakodate Nisai S. on turf last July (video, gate 6). A son of the 2010 GI Spinaway S. victress, Aster Pegasus was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC. View the full article

By the time he made his second start at two, No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) had already established himself as a transatlantic success, breaking his maiden at Keeneland on the dirt, and winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot in his next outing. By the time he won the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville two months later, his quality and versatility was well-established. No Nay Never has gotten off to a similarly strong start in the breeding shed as well, finishing the year as Europe’s top first-crop sire with a Group 1 winner in Ten Sovereigns (Ire). We caught up with Coolmore Ireland’s Director of Sales David O’Loughlin to talk about the Kentucky -bred’s universal appeal. TDN: How did Coolmore first get involved with No Nay Never? DO: No Nay Never was pinhooked by Paul Shanahan and Timmy Hyde as a foal and they brought him to Keeneland September, and Wesley Ward bought him for Ice Wine Stable. They retained a piece of him from the sale, so there was always a Coolmore connection to the horse. Wesley let the guys know very early on as a 2-year-old that this horse was special, that he was showing an awful lot. He won at Keeneland in April and he came on to Ascot then for the Norfolk S., which he won in blistering style over five furlongs. He destroyed the field. He went on then to Deauville for the Prix Morny, which is the premier French juvenile race over six furlongs. The great debate that morning was the ground because there was a lot of rain over in Deauville that weekend, and Wesley was very worried about running him. After much reflection and a little push from Paul Shanahan, he ran the horse and again he destroyed the field. He was very impressive and Wesley gave him a break after that, and he didn’t run again as a 2-year-old. TDN: How important is that crossover appeal to a stallion today? DO: Look, he’s typical of what’s happening in the world now. He’s an international horse: he ran on dirt, he ran on Polytrack and he ran on grass. He ran on two continents, and that’s the way our world is going now. There’s more and more international racing, and he’s thriving on it. His first crop has just turned three, but he’s had runners and stakes horses on all the surfaces already. They’ve done well in Europe on turf and poly and they’ve done well in America. I’d envision that’s the way it’s going to be. He’s an international horse. [Scat Daddy’s death] was such a loss to us and most Europeans have only woken up to Scat Daddy in the last few years, but it’s amazing how fast they are, and how suited to turf racing they are, as well as dirt. He got Justify, obviously, but he gives all the options. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Leading Second Crop Sire No Nay Never","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/321799167.sd.mp4?s=9582702f4cc56cc4b17e7640e581e37a29fc4714&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/321963331.sd.mp4?s=1f234d9a63eda9620c935764f8a32bdbf4dc5225&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} TDN: Why was the decision taken to stand him here in Ireland rather than in America? DO: His best form was in Europe at the Prix Morny and at Ascot, and we didn’t have a son of Scat Daddy so I suppose that’s why we came this way, but it’s a small world now. We can move horses between the continents. I remember when Scat Daddy died there was discussion of whether we should move No Nay Never to America then, but we kept him here thankfully, and he couldn’t have done much better with his first crop: six stakes winners, 14 black-type horses. He’s sired the best 2-year-old colt in Europe, the fastest anyway, in Ten Sovereigns. He’s undefeated and he’s either going to go to the Guineas or go to the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot, go the sprinting route. Aidan will decide that in the next few weeks. It was incredible that he won a maiden, a Group 3, and a Group 1 in just over a month. It’s a very hard thing to do; it’ll take a special horse to do that. TDN: As you said, his first crop was so successful; he led the list in almost every category in North America and Europe. What do you expect from his 3-year-olds? DO: He trained on himself; he ran [second] in the [GII] Swale S. at Gulfstream. As a 3-year-old, he had a little knock coming out of that, but he came back in the autumn and he won at Keeneland very impressively [in the GIII Woodford S.]. He went on to the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and he was just run out of it [when second]. He was a little bit unlucky; a horse came on the other side of the track he wasn’t aware of, and he would’ve thought he won the race. So he did train on, and he’s a big scopey horse, and he gets big scopey horses. No Nay Never is very typical of Scat Daddy and his progeny are very much in that mold, and with the variety of mares you got over here [in Europe]–he would’ve got a lot of Danehill-line mares, a lot of Sadler’s Wells-line mares, so we would expect that to be a factor in them training on, too. We’re sitting here now in the first week in March but he’s had a very, very impressive winner in Dubai already, couldn’t have won any better, so all the signs are he’s on for a great year. TDN: What is he like physically, and what sort of mare does he work best with? DO: A lot of breeders who saw him at the races would remember that he’s a particularly big 2-year-old. He’s probably fully grown at two, he’s about 16.1. He looked all of it if not more as a 2-year-old, but he’s filled out. He has a great hind part to him, great hind leg. Good front legs, he’s a lot of quality, and a lovely dark color. He’s nearly black. He’s a very attractive horse, and he’s always been an easy horse to sell in the yard. [His progeny] are pretty much peas in a pod–the size, scope, strength. Good movers, plenty of quality. He’s been an easy horse to sell all along; pedigree-wise he’s a very interesting horse for European breeders in particular because he’s a cross for Danehill and Sadler’s Wells-line mares, and so many of the mares in these parts are bred that way and already an awful lot of his good horses are out of Danzig-line mares. It’s early days, and I think we’ll learn a lot more in the next year or two. He couldn’t have made a better start, he’s €100, 000 and he’s booked out. He was standing here for €17,500 for his first three seasons, so he’s made a huge leap and he’s getting a fantastic book of mares in his fifth crop. Nearly all of the leading breeders in Europe are using him. So it’s going to be interesting to see how he does with the more Classic-type mares. View the full article

Thunder Snow (IRE) rumbles back into action March 9 at Meydan as the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) highlights the "Super Saturday" card that serves as a preview of the March 30 Dubai World Cup night program. View the full article

Gary Barber’s popular WONDER GADOT (Medaglia d’Oro) will make her seasonal bow in a third-level allowance Friday at Oaklawn Park. Establishing her quality with a pair of graded stakes wins as a juvenile, the $325,000 OBS April buy came tantalizingly close to a GI Kentucky Oaks victory when coming up a half-length short to eventual division champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). Heading north of the border after that, the dark bay easily conquered males in both the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales S. before fading to finish 10th in the GI Travers S. She was last seen running ninth in the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and shows five workouts since, most recently going five furlongs from the gate here in 1:01 2/5 (4/21) Feb. 24. Trainer Mark Casse told the Oaklawn notes team that with a good return run in the one-mile event, Wonder Gadot will be pointed to the track’s GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 14. “That’s why she’s there, if everything goes well,” he said, adding, “A mile is maybe just a touch on the short side for her, but given her time off and everything, I think it’s perfect. It’s a good spot for us to get going. Hopefully, it leads to bigger and better things down the road, but it’s a nice beginning for the year.” TJCIS PPs View the full article

While his victory in the Road to the Kentucky Derby conditions stakes March 6 at Kempton Park will not put Jahbath squarely on a path to the Kentucky Derby (G1), the two-length win likely has earned him a trip to Dubai. View the full article

While his victory in the Road to the Kentucky Derby conditions stakes March 6 at Kempton Park will not put Jahbath (GB) squarely on a path to the Kentucky Derby (G1), the two-length win likely has earned him a trip to Dubai. View the full article

Continuing our series in which current Godolphin Flying Start trainees catch up with the programme’s graduates, Niall O’Connor sits down with Gerry Duffy, stud manager at Godolphin’s Stonerside Farm in Paris, Kentucky. NO’C: You studied mechanical engineering at university; why horse racing? GD: I like to tell people, when I wasn’t on a tractor or a mower, I was on a horse. My plan was to get a professional degree, make a living in that and keep the horses as a hobby. I was getting close to graduating and was applying for engineering jobs while I was working at Dr Ryan’s Lyons Demesne in Kildare. Dr Ryan had just purchased Castleton Lyons in Kentucky which highlighted to me the opportunities to travel. Suddenly staying working with horses became more interesting than engineering and I realised there could be more opportunities in the industry than I was previously aware of. NO’C: Godolphin Flying Start was in its early years when you gained a place on the course; what attracted you to apply? GD: It was in its infancy and the first class hadn’t yet graduated but from what I saw and read it seemed like the best way to learn about the industry. I knew if I was going to further my career, I needed to further my education and Godolphin Flying Start was the best way to do that. I had no expectation of being selected when I sent off my application but luckily enough, I gained a place and graduated in 2007. NO’C: Furthering your education seems to be a feature of your life to date–you studied an MBA after the course. How has that helped you in your career? GD: It’s helped me greatly. I’m a bit of a nerd for leadership training, and certainly further education is central to what I do. I would probably describe myself as knowing a little bit about a lot of things, but there is always more to learn, be it in the classroom or on the job. What’s great about the MBA program is that you’re learning about so many things that are relevant to the situations you’re facing at work. It allows you to put the theory into practice and is very relevant. When you’re in this industry you eat, sleep and breathe Thoroughbreds, so being able to meet people from different industries with different perspectives and ideas is extremely beneficial. NO’C: How do you feel Godolphin Flying Start helped prepare you for your career to date? GD: For a young person wanting to get into this industry, it’s better than winning the lottery. You cannot buy the experiences, the education, and the people you meet through Flying Start. I have the utmost admiration for Clodagh Kavanagh and what she’s done with the course; along with Joe Osborne they have really developed it into a leadership programme that in my opinion is unrivaled globally, regardless of the industry. The programme has changed since I was on it, and the standard of graduate has gone up exponentially–graduates are coming off the programme with a real handle on how leaders think and have a clear idea of how they can influence positive change in the industry. It’s the most amazing opportunity and the biggest winner is the industry itself as we have graduates that are thinking about how we can move the industry forward, rather than just moving themselves forward. It’s yet another example of Sheikh Mohammed’s unconditional support of the industry and one which I will be forever grateful. NO’C: You didn’t take long upon graduating the course to earn a senior position for Godolphin in Ireland. Tell us about that. GD: When I graduated, Darley/Godolphin was still undergoing a great degree of expansion. I was fortunate to secure a nominations position in the USA, which was a terrific opportunity to meet so many people, being at the sales and races with a view to networking and selling nominations. Following that I had an opportunity to be part of the team at WinStar which was fantastic. They’re pretty much second to none in terms of what they’ve achieved and to have been a small part of it was wonderful. While at WinStar, Joe [Osborne] approached me about returning to Ireland and the prospect of getting more involved with other aspects of the farm outside of nomination sales was very appealing. Working alongside both Joe and Jimmy [Hyland] was hugely rewarding and I guess it’s been one of the things that has been very beneficial to me; working under great people and being able to take bits of what they do and apply them as I see fit. NO’C: What prompted your move back to the U.S.? GD: Bobby Spalding and Dan Pride called me and told me Bobby was stepping aside from his role at Stonerside and they felt I might be the right guy to take the helm. I had to think about it but I felt that I had accomplished a lot in Ireland, had the impact I desired and was ready to do something different. I’m more of a systems/business guy than a hands-on horseman, so coming in after a man of the calibre of Bobby Spalding was certainly intimidating. I was lucky enough that one of the things Bobby left was an amazing team of people, and I’m able to be the glue that pulls it all together. Hopefully we can build on the success the farm has previously had and even further expand upon it. If I didn’t believe we could, I would be the wrong man for the job. NO’C: How different is it working back in the U.S. having returned from Ireland recently? GD: There’s obviously a lot of differences day-to-day between the U.S. and Ireland but there are actually more similarities than differences. Our focus at Godolphin is on high performance and my role is to get everyone performing to their maximum potential. People are similar the world over, the same things motivate them as much as they demotivate them. It’s well known that an engaged, happy workforce is a productive one so a lot of my focus is on keeping everyone engaged and doing the best they can. NO’C: Name one Godolphin stallion that you’re excited about for the future. GD: It has to be Frosted. He was such a talented racehorse and his sire Tapit is one of the leading sires in the U.S. Physically he is the perfect stallion: well-balanced, well-conformed, good size. He has all the ingredients to be a top stallion and we’re supporting him well with our own mares so he has every chance. I’m a little bit biased in that he was a Stonerside homebred, and we still have his dam Fast Cookie whom everyone here has a soft spot for. NO’C: What is the industry doing well right now? GD: One of the best things currently is that people are getting together and are more willing to acknowledge that we have to work tirelessly to keep our industry relevant. There are sustained efforts, be it aftercare, encouraging young people or tackling perception. There is a realisation that we’re up against tough competition with regards to providing a product that’s both entertaining and engaging to the masses, and there are a lot of people working hard to come up with solutions to those challenges. Equally, there are a lot of people who see it as someone else’s responsibility, but I think we all need to be doing our bit. There is momentum there and I’m very hopeful, with the minds that we have involved. The most encouraging thing to me is when I come across young people that are bright, intelligent, have ideas and want to get involved in this game. That assures me that we’re going to be a lot better going forward than we have been, so I think it’s an exciting time for the game. NO’C: And our biggest challenge? GD: The biggest challenges haven’t changed greatly. The biggest thing is getting and maintaining the public’s engagement with the sport. We no longer have a monopoly on the gambling dollar and it is harder to get people to the tracks. Remaining relevant is our biggest challenge. NO’C: Finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in the industry? GD: I think it’s important to note that I didn’t grow up in the Thoroughbred industry, which I think some people feel is a prerequisite to success. It certainly helps to grow up in it as you’re gaining a lot of experience before, say, someone like me, but it’s not a barrier to entry. I have three ingredients that determine success: work ethic, positive attitude and common sense. My advice would be to follow what you’re passionate about. You won’t be fully committed or engaged in something you aren’t passionate about, and without that commitment, progression and success won’t happen. Couple that passion with a positive attitude and a bit of common sense and anything can happen. View the full article

Sixties Song, an easy winner of the 2017 Longines Latinoamericano (G1) at Valparasio, is back for a repeat bid March 10 at Club Hipico de Santiago. The $500,000 race, at 1 1/2 miles, is South America's richest race. View the full article

Gary Barber's Power Gal will try to build on her impressive Martha Washington Stakes win when she stretches out a bit more in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee Stakes March 9 at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

AHEAD of the Cheltenham Festival, RaceBets ambassador Donald McCain shares his Cheltenham Festival memories where he has tasted victory on 6 occasions. First Cheltenham Memory? My first proper memory of Cheltenham was when I led up for Oliver Sherwood in the Triumph Hurdle. I believe he finished about midfield with Simon Sherwood on him, the […] The post Donald McCain – Cheltenham Memories appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Mark Casse will try and move two more contenders up the ladder on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when he sends out two in the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. View the full article

Ninety-six 3-year-olds remain engaged in the June 1 G1 Investec Derby following the latest declaration stage. The 4-1 favourite Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of 16 left in for two-time Derby-winning trainer John Gosden, and is joined from Clarehaven by maiden winners Baltic Song (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Dubai Warrior (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Humanitarian (Noble Mission {GB}) and Questionare (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The ever-powerful Ballydoyle has 25 entries, headed by the current 14-1 second favourite Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and third choice Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) at 16-1. Godolphin won last year’s Derby with Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), and while Sheikh Mohammed’s stable has four of the current top 11 in the betting, none of those are yet nominated to the Derby. Godolphin has just two nominated 3-year-olds at this point, and both are unraced. Prominent in the betting for Godolphin are Quorto (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at 16-1; and Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), Beyond Reason (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Line of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at 33-1. View the full article

This week is a recap of the dead-heat win by Lure and Devil His Due in the April 4, 1992 Gotham Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. The recap, written by Jenny Kellner, ran in the April 11, 1992 magazine and carried the headline: "The Battle Ended in a Draw." View the full article

GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) has had his first mares scanned in foal. Those confirmed in foal thus far include Group 3 winner Precious Gem (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and stakes producers Lausanne (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and Ombre (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Expert Eye stands at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud for £20,000 and will cover a full book of 140 mares including 12 of Juddmonte’s own mares. View the full article

With the official start of the flat season right around the corner, and the Classics following closely after that, thoughts will soon be fully turned to the latest 3-year-old crop, and who will feature in this summer’s key races. In a deviation from the norm, a filly who is likely one of the most anticipated turf 3-year-olds this year is tucked away not in a European yard, but is rather gearing up beneath the winter sun across the Atlantic in Florida. Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was a 200,000gns purchase from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017 by Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables, who had trainer Chad Brown and bloodstock agent Mike Ryan on the grounds in Newmarket. The bay filly went unbeaten in three starts last year, beginning with a 6 3/4-length maiden-breaking performance at Saratoga that saw her crowned a ‘TDN Rising Star‘. Newspaperofrecord would justify that tag with a 6 1/2-length romp in the GII Miss Grillo S. on the grass at Belmont Park five weeks later, and wrapped up the season with one of the most impressive performances on Churchill Downs’s two-day Breeders’ Cup card, winning the GI Juvenile Fillies’ Turf by 6 3/4 lengths. Newspaperofrecord is wintering at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Florida, and Brown said the filly has recently begun to step up her work in anticipation of a seasonal return in the GIII Edgewood S. going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Churchill Downs-the same track over which she won at the Breeders’ Cup–on Kentucky Derby weekend. “Newspaperofrecord has done well over the winter,” he said. “We gave her a little break after the Breeders’ Cup, and she just got back to the work tab this past week. She’s doing well. “Like most of the horses going from two to three, she’s gotten a little bit bigger, a little stronger. She’s put on a little bit more weight. I’m happy with her development.” Newspaperofrecord’s 2018 performances suggested she should be able to hold her own against any of her generation trained in Europe, and Brown said a trip to Royal Ascot is “under consideration.” “We haven’t made any decision at all regarding that,” Brown said. “I figure we’ll just get her back to the races at Churchill and see how she does, and it’s something that we’ll consider, but I definitely haven’t decided on it.” Last month, the New York Racing Association announced that it would this summer launch a $5.25-million series of six turf races-three each for 3-year-old males and fillies-that will be branded as a Triple Crown and Triple Tiara on the turf. Brown said the Turf Triple Series will “definitely” factor into his considerations for Newspaperofrecord. “It’s definitely under consideration,” he said. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, and we certainly want to participate in it, particularly with this filly–it’s very attractive, and it’s something I’ll be discussing with her owner, Seth Klarman.” Newspaperofrecord was one of six yearlings purchased by Klarman’s Klaravich Stables at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017. Klarman returned to purchase 10 more last year. View the full article

Somelikeithotbrown has been dubbed the morning-line 8-5 favorite for the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 9 at Turfway Park. View the full article