Wandering Eyes

Trainer Allen Milligan recorded the 1,000th victory of his career in the fifth race Feb. 23 at Oaklawn Park with Soul P Say. View the full article

Connections of a 2-year-old colt christened Tyson Fury (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) hope he can be as much of a knockout on the track as his namesake boxer is in the ring. The former world heavyweight champion has given his blessing to owner Phil Cunningham of Rebel Racing and Newmarket trainer Richard Spencer naming the son of Iffraaj out of the dam Za Za Zoom (Ire) after him. Spencer revealed he and Cunningham approached Fury–who was most recently in action in December when fighting to a dramatic draw with Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles–on the venture when they met him on Saturday. “We met him yesterday, which was great,” Spencer told Press Association Sport on Sunday. “Phil Cunningham is friendly with one of his team, so that is how the link up came about and how we got to meet him. He’s given us permission to name a horse after him, which is great. By the sounds of it Tyson might come up and have a look at the horse and hopefully come to the races. That would be great.” Tyson Fury the horse is highly regarded and has been given an entry in the 2020 G1 Investec Derby. “He’s only a 2-year-old, he’s only cantering, but he’s doing everything nicely,” said Spencer. “He’s got a Derby entry for 2020. We think he’s a nice horse and we rate him. He’s a big horse, so he’s going to need a bit of time. I’d say all being well he’ll be out in the middle of the year.” View the full article

Archie Watson hopes MGSW Soldier’s Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) can make it back-to-back wins at Royal Ascot by claiming a first top-level victory in the G1 King’s Stand S. this coming June. The Lambourn handler has first earmarked an outing in the Listed Westow S. at York in May for the son of Showcasing, who ended last season finishing down the field in the Listed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in November. After providing Watson with his first winner at the Royal meeting in the Listed Windsor Castle S., the Clipper Logistics-owned 3-year-old subsequently claimed victories at Group 3 and 2 level–as well as finishing third on his first start at the top table in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye. Watson said, “Soldier’s Call is back in with me, and I’m very happy with him. He went back to his owners and has done very well–and I think he has strengthened up. He has got a very good mind on him and has gone straight back into a routine very easily. We will probably kick him off in the at the Dante meeting at York in the Westow S., with a view to run him in the King’s Stand S. a month later. I would prefer to start to him off in an easier race against his own age group rather than run him in the [G3] Palace House S. or [G2] Temple S., where he might have a hard race.” View the full article

It’s universally understood that horse racing is a roller coaster. You’re on top, you’re on the bottom, you’re back on top, again, and things never do travel in a straight line. But perhaps no trainer has experienced such a wild swing of fortune within such a short period of time as Jerry Hollendorfer did Saturday. Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) broke down during a morning workout Saturday at Santa Anita and had to be euthanized. It’s a terrible thing when any horse breaks down, but all the more worse when it’s a horse of Battle of Midway’s stature. He won the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and finished third in the GI Kentucky Derby in career that also saw him capture the GIII Affirmed S. He was retired to stud at the end of 2017, but had fertility problems and was returned to Hollendorfer’s barn. He to action late last summer and launched a six-race campaign that included three wins, most notably the GIII Native Diver S. and a hard-fought score over the highly regarded McKinzie (Street Sense) in the GII San Pasqual S. Feb. 2. He was preparing for the Dubai World Cup, where he certainly would have been among the favorites. Hollendorfer has been around a long time, which means he’s been through this before. It happens to all trainers. It’s not that he’s become hardened or used to horses breaking down; he’s realized the only way to stay sane in this sport is to always try to keep an even keel. “Nobody says much here. We’re kind of a quiet barn,” he said Sunday morning. “But the feeling was there and it was recognizable. We deal with it the best we can. When a terrible thing happens, there’s nothing you can do about it. You can continue to dwell on it or you go ahead and try to do your very best. We chose to keep going. We’re not quitters.” Maybe that’s because you know the next highlight, the next joyride, is right around the corner. Back in February of 2018, Hollendorfer claimed a then 4-year-old filly named Vasilika (Skipshot) for $40,000. There was nothing remarkable about her career up to that point. She was a solid upper-level turf claimer, but had never run in a stakes race. Twenty-one days later, she made her debut for Hollendorfer and finished second, but it was an improved effort and a sign of things to come. She won her next eight starts, including the GI Rodeo Drive S. The streak ended when she was fourth in the GI Matriarch S. Dec. 2, but she rebounded to win the GIII Megahertz S. Jan. 21. She was favored in Saturday’s GII Buena Vista S., and even though there was a pall cast over Hollendorfer’s barn, he and his team knew this was no time to get swallowed up in their sorrow. Vasilika did what she usually does. She won by 1 1/2 lengths. Since the claim, she is 10 for 12 with five graded stakes wins. It’s not too early to project that she is Eclipse Award material. “The whole barn was down because of what happened with Battle of Midway,” Hollendorfersaid. “So it made up for it a little bit, but it doesn’t erase the big blow of losing Battle of Midway. It certainly helped. Any time something negative happens, anything that comes along that is positive always helps. We know these horses get hurt and sometimes have to be euthanized. It’s just a part of what we do, but it doesn’t make it any easier that we know that.” Hollendorfer is among the last people who would brag about what has been a terrific accomplishment, his handling of Vasilika. Again, it’s about never letting yourself get too high or too low. “It was a real good claim,” he said. “I can’t remember all the good claims we’ve made but certainly she would be among the best. We try to keep a low profile in my barn. If we do something well, we accept that, and if something goes wrong, we accept that also. We’re not too big on bragging about our accomplishments.” A lot has been made of the fact that three horses had to be euthanized at Santa Anita over a 16-hour period. During training hours Saturday, an unraced horse named Just Forget It (Old Topper) also had to be put down. Hollendorfer refused to blame the track. “If I would have thought there was anything wrong with the track, I certainly wouldn’t have worked Battle of Midway yesterday,” he said.. “I worked some other horses, too, including Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate), who I’m preparing for the [GII] San Felipe. You can pick anything out and criticize it, but before you go out in public and say something you should have all your facts in line. I don’t have enough facts to tell you the track is bad. I worked a lot of horses today and will work more tomorrow. I wouldn’t take any out to that track if I thought they weren’t going to make it back to the barn.” The World’s Unluckiest Jockey Jockey Jorge Calderon hadn’t won a race at the current Delta Downs meet. He didn’t win any races anywhere in 2018 either. In fact, the last time Calderon won a race was in 2013. Not that he hadn’t had plenty of chances. If you start with 2014, Calderon had lost at least 247 straight races. So imagine his joy Friday night at Delta Downs when he booted Wildly Grand (Grand Appointment) across the wire two lengths ahead of his nine rivals. The thrill of victory? No, it turned out to be the agony of defeat. The stewards ruled that Calderon’s mount ducked in nearing the sixteenth-pole causing another horse to check. She was placed fourth in what was a fairly obvious call. And poor Calderon is highly unlikely to get the mount back as Wildly Grand was claimed by trainer Dale White Sr., who does not use the snake-bitten jockey. The World’s Hottest Jockeys The Ortiz Brothers, particularly Irad, lit up Gulfstream last week. From Sunday Feb. 18 through Saturday’s card, they combined to win 30 of the 70 races run at the track. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, they won 18 of 35 races–or more than half the races carded. While Jose is having a good meet, Irad is on a mission. During the six racing days last week, he, alone won 21 races, including a six-bagger on Monday. View the full article

Queen Victoria had a problem–the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, had taken a pioneering interest in the merits of Irish fillies. The 19-year-old prince had begun a brief but passionate dalliance with Nellie Clifden, an Irish actress, while he was spending 10 weeks with the Grenadier Guards in Kildare. A concerned Queen decided hastily to arrange a visit to Ireland to check on the future king, and a military procession was ordered on the plains of Ireland’s military headquarters, The Curragh. It was 1861 but The Curragh had a familiar problem–it badly needed a new stand. The Queen’s stand was hurriedly erected, and The Curragh military procession formed a centrepiece of an 11-day visit to Ireland. The warm welcome was The Curragh’s first marketing coup. In 1868, Queen Victoria’s government enacted The Curragh of Kildare Act which preserved the use of The Curragh for horse racing and training forever more. In a few short months, The Curragh will welcome patrons back, 158 years later, to another new stand. This, make no mistake, is the defining moment of this generation for the Irish bloodstock industry. Costing over €72 million, it now stands as a gravity defying vision and a testament to the support of its investors: Coolmore, the Aga Khan, Moyglare Stud, JP McManus, Godolphin, the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland. Beyond the glimmering cantilevered venue itself, what has gone under the radar has been the complete overhaul of The Curragh gallops funded by the overwhelmingly generous support of Eva Maria-Bucher Haefner of Moyglare Stud. The stated aim is to return The Curragh training grounds to what they once were and what they should always be: the definitive place to train horses in Ireland. But build it and they’ll come? The Curragh is about to find out. A recent ticket price increase by the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ireland’s largest spectator sport (one spot ahead of racing), should cause The Curragh management to take stock. The GAA increased ticket prices by 33% in a sport where 2018 attendance receipts were already down by 14%. The Football Association of Ireland also ended up in crippling stadium debt which is not expected to be repaid until the end of 2020 when their over ambitious plan to sell year 10-year tickets for up to €32,000 fell flat on its face. Cash in or reach out? We do not know yet what approach Curragh management will take. Regrettably, if you wanted to buy hospitality at the new Curragh for your nearest and dearest this Christmas, you would have been disappointed. The Curragh does not release its ticket offerings until Feb. 28. Ahead of that announcement, it is clear that the Irish public wants and expects value. But what do the investors want from The Curragh development? I’d suggest something very simple: people to go racing. They have invested to protect the legacy of the sport they love in Ireland, not to extract profit from Irish racegoers—that goal is achieved if people come, and continue to come, in increased numbers to The Curragh. Let’s hope that Feb. 28 is a date of celebration for racegoers. To have the masses embark on that journey along the N7, as anyone who has seen Jumps Girls will understand, perhaps The Curragh needs some girl power. Last year due to innovative and committed marketing, the All-Ireland ladies’ football final attracted an incredible 50,141 spectators (16,000 more than the 2016 figure). This made it the highest-attended women’s sport final in the world. It was also nearly 10 times the attendance for the Irish Derby at The Curragh in 2018 during its redevelopment. The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) sets the marquee example for The Curragh in empowering growth in a minority Irish sport. Helen O’Rourke, CEO of the LGFA, sent a letter to every club prior to the 2018 final that could more aptly described as a rallying cry. It plainly stated a message that should resonate with Irish racing stakeholders: “Increased attendances… at the All-Ireland final, ensure benefits…. right across the board, if we can get more people through the gates of the various grounds, this immediately creates more media attention and makes our product even more attractive to potential sponsors”. It asked that clubs used the day to “build tradition that for all of our members, the All-Ireland finals in September represent an annual trip” and commit to bringing “30 people or more” from each club. The LGFA is acutely aware that a rising tide lifts all boats. Racing can learn from the collective ownership message of the LGFA in the importance of creating a success story of the new Curragh and the benefits it can bring to everyone. There will be teething problems that initially present themselves (ParisLongchamp may remind The Curragh to build a few more bathrooms) and the challenges outside Curragh management’s control (including the worrying trend of Racing TV’s inability to show live races on a busy day). However, this should not shake Irish racing from effective planning for what a precious opportunity we have. The marketing success of the LGFA has sparked a strikingly simple but compelling wider plan for Irish women’s sport to which racing should pay attention. The all-inclusive movement 20×20 aims to shift Ireland’s cultural perception of women’s sport by 2020 with: 20% more media coverage of women in sport by the end of 2020; 20% more female participation by the end of 2020; and 20% more attendance at women’s games and events by the end of 2020. This coordinated planning and grassroots-up approach is what Irish racing needs. Why accept regression and stagnation when others see opportunity for sport? In a world of increased urbanisation, if people can’t see racing, they won’t want to be part of racing. The Curragh needs to reward those who stayed with them during the redevelopment with discounts to the new Curragh. The Curragh needs to reinvent how they engage with a booming Dublin and attract a new generation. Could the railway station that fell into disuse in the early 2000s be revitalised (even Queen Victoria could get a railway built direct to the back of her stand in 1861)? The Curragh needs to see itself for what it now is, a world-class sporting venue, a venue that can boldly attract people to the track. It should not be an ever-diminishing after-thought in the media landscape, but without determined optimistic planning that’s what it may become. Today, the only legacy of the old Curragh that remains is the Queen’s Room. Repositioned brick-by-brick overlooking the parade ring to welcome winning connections for generations to come. If you ever get the chance to venture into the Queen’s Room, look out the oddly low window. That was so that diminutive Queen Victoria could cast a watchful eye over the Prince of Wales during the procession (and who could blame her for making sure of his whereabouts?). Today’s Curragh has its window of opportunity. Let’s hope we have the 20×20 vision to grasp it. What do you think? Reach out to @JackCantillon or Jack@Tinnakill.com and Gary King at garyking@thetdn.com. View the full article

Cash is King LLC and LC Racing’s Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) has been ruled out of Saturday’s GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park following a sub-par work in Hallandale Sunday morning. “The horse didn’t breeze too good, so he is out of the Fountain of Youth,” trainer Butch Reid told the Gulfstream press office. “He just kind of went through the motions. The jockey wasn’t happy with the way he galloped out. All things considered, we’re going to go back to the drawing board and look for another spot.” Maximus Mischief breezed a half-mile in :49.02 under jockey Jose Ortiz at Gulfstream Park Sunday. An 8 3/4-length debut winner at Parx last September, Maximus Mischief was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a six-length allowance tally Oct. 20 and he became a graded stakes winner with a 2 1/4-length victory in the Dec. 1 GII Remsen S. He suffered his first loss when third in the Feb. 2 GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. in his Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm’s Global Campaign (Curlin), named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after a 1 1/16-mile allowance victory at Gulfstream Feb. 9, remained possible for the Fountain of Youth after working five furlongs in 1:01.85 (4/9) at Palm Meadows Sunday. “He went in company, but it was a nice, controlled work,” said trainer Stanley Hough. “We were happy with it.” Hough both the Fountain of Youth and the Mar. 9 GII Tampa Bay Derby were under consideration for Global Campaign’s next start. “He likes this track [Gulfstream] and it’s close to home, so we’re leaning toward that way, but we’ll talk it over,” Hough said. “Global worked good and came back good, so I think he’s prepared to go either place. We’re going to see how the week goes and try to do the best thing for us and the horse. As far as the work today, it was very satisfying.” Also at Palm Meadows Sunday, last year’s juvenile filly champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) put in her final work ahead of her sophomore debut in next Saturday’s GII Davona Dale S., going four furlongs in :50.55 (22/31). “She worked this morning and went good,” trainer John Servis said. “Everything went perfect. The race is Saturday, so I was just letting her stretch her legs a little bit and put a little wind in her. She came out of it good and looks fine.” Owned by Cash is King and D.J. Stable, Jaywalk has been away from the races since winning the Nov. 2 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She also won last year’s GI Frizette S. most recent trip to the post. View the full article

All is now set for the Jockey Club’s showcase event at Conghua Racecourse next month after Saturday’s full dress rehearsal.It was cold, wet and windy for the set of five barrier trials as the Jockey Club replicated all that happens on a race day – perfect conditions given it is just about the worst-case scenario for the event on March 23.Everything from the parade, to the broadcast, to post-race speeches and welcoming of VIPs was simulated to iron out any issues ahead of the big day.The track… View the full article

Australian jockey Zac Purton showed he is the undisputed king of Hong Kong racing, turning in a career-best day which saw him take home six winners at Sha Tin on Sunday.With rival Joao Moreira suspended, Purton flexed his premiership muscle to punters with the dominant performance, taking his season total to 78 – 26 clear of his nearest rival.Such has been the rich vein of form Purton finds himself in, his last 38 rides have returned 16 winners.The stunning day out sees Purton join the likes of… View the full article

Tianchi Monster catapulted himself into BMW Hong Kong Derby calculations at Sha Tin on Sunday and trainer Chris So Wai-yin hopes the four-year-old’s 2,000m form will work in his favour in his bid to get a start in the prestigious race.Tianchi Monster’s fast-finishing victory in the Class Three Tai Hing Handicap (2,000m) will push his rating up to somewhere in the mid-to-high 80s, putting him in the bottom bracket of Derby hopefuls.“The owner told me earlier this season that we would aim for the… View the full article

The traditionally measured Tony Millard couldn’t hide his excitement after Refined Treasure’s victory at Sha Tin on Sunday and the trainer believes now is the time to put the “fragile” speedster on the fast track to Group racing.Refined Treasure couldn’t have been more impressive in winning the Class Two Sam Shing Handicap (1,000m) after striking trouble in the run and Millard was effusive in his praise.“The way he won today, he shouldn’t have won but he’s just that good that he wins,” he said… View the full article

The emotion and importance of Vasilika's victory in the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) Feb. 23 at Santa Anita Park cannot be fully appreciated without the proper context. View the full article

Luck took a backseat to talent Feb. 23, when Daniel McConnell's homebred Prince Lucky drew off in the stretch to win the $100,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park by six lengths. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star‘ Dream Maker (Tapit), who returned from an October absence to romp by 8 1/2 lengths in a two-turn allowance at the Fair Grounds Feb. 9, turned in his first timed workout since that effort zipping a half-mile in :47.80, the best of 111 moves at the distance Saturday morning in New Orleans. A homebred for John Oxley, he is expected to make his next appearance in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 9. “He worked beautifully this morning,” David Carroll, who oversees the Mark Casse Fair Grounds string, said. “It was just very smooth and very professional. The track was a bit quick this morning. He did it in hand and his gallop out was beautiful. He came back, cooled out great. We’re very happy with him.” A pair of unplaced efforts in the GI Hopeful S. and GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity called a premature halt to his freshman campaign, but those efforts were a distant memory when striding home as much the best two weeks ago. “He hasn’t regressed from his race at all,” Carroll said. “He’s just been very professional with what he’s doing. [Jockey] Florent [Geroux] was very impressed with him. Right now it’s just a matter of keeping him happy. He’s plenty fit enough. We have a great crew and everyone takes pride in their job. We’re having a good meet and everyone’s in a good mood. All the horses are doing well.” The Casse barn is also represented by leading GI Kentucky Derby candidate War of Will (War Front). View the full article

Yes I Am Free (c, 3, Uncaptured–Yes It’s Valid, by Yes It’s True), a game debut winner over the Gulfstream lawn Jan. 17, stayed perfect in Saturday’s $75,000 Texas Glitter S. in Hallandale. The 2-1 shot chased on the inside from fourth through a :21.41 opening quarter, tipped out three deep at the top of the stretch and kicked clear down the lane to win by a half-length. Jackson (Kantharos) was second; Gladiator King (Curlin) was third. The final time for five furlongs was :56.21. Sales history: $135,000 2yo ’18 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Gary Barber; B-Sherry R. Mansfield & Kenneth H. Davis (FL); T-Mark Casse. View the full article

Candace Coder-Chew has been unanimously elected as the president of the board of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a non-profit that provides funding for the retirement of California-raced Thoroughbreds. Coder-Chew, previously vice president of the organization, was nominated by her predecessor Howard Zucker, whose term expired in January. “I am more than honored to serve as President of CARMA with a team of dedicated and passionate industry professionals that make up CARMA’s board of directors,” said Coder-Chew, wife of Santa Anita-based conditioner Matthew Chew. “CARMA, and its critical mission of supporting Thoroughbred aftercare and aftercare awareness, has been near and dear to my heart since its inception. To begin this month, we have designed a new campaign titled OWN. RACE. RETIRE. This will be the common thread through our existing programs designed to increase awareness and promote inclusiveness with both the horse racing industry and the general public. I am looking forward to working with our talented board and staff to see the organization reach its fullest potential,” she said. “There is no one who deserves this title more than Candace,” said CARMA’s founder Madeline Auerbach. “She dedicates so much time to this organization and our mission. CARMA has seen tremendous growth over the last several years and I am confident Candace will continue that upward trajectory.” View the full article

Santa Anita Park has announced it will be offering maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds beginning April 18 and 19 and that it will present a pair of 2-year-old stakes on closing day. View the full article

Officials at Santa Anita have announced that the track will write maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds beginning Apr. 18 and 19 and that the track will offer a pair of five-furlong stakes, each worth $75,000, for the juvenile set on closing day of the winter/spring meet June 23. The Landaluce S. for fillies and the Santa Anita Juvenile S. were last contested in 2017. In the spirit of cooperation and to offer a more comprehensive and cohesive 2-year-old product, Santa Anita has struck an agreement with Del Mar that will allow juveniles who race in Santa Anita maidens to have preference to enter like races at the seaside oval when it opens its 2019 season July 17. “We want to sincerely thank [racing secretary] Tom Robbins and his team at Del Mar for recognizing the importance of granting those maidens which have started here preference in terms of their ability to run later in the summer,” said P.J. Campo, executive vice president, racing division, for The Stronach Group. “All told, this is a comprehensive approach that will serve all of us well.” He continued, “In consultation with all of our stakeholders…we realized that we need to work together to provide more opportunities to race, market and sell our juvenile horses, who truly represent our future.” Added Robbins: “What we’re essentially doing is giving those two-year-olds that run in maiden special races in May or June, Cal-bred or open, preference when entering any maiden special or maiden claiming races at sprint distances on the main track here for the first 10 days of racing this summer. These horses will have automatic preference over those horses that did not race at Santa Anita.” Campo also expressed his support and excitement for the Fasig-Tipton 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale that will take place at Santa Anita June 5. Fasig-Tipton has stepped in to fill a void created by the exit of Barretts from the sales calendar. “Having Fasig-Tipton come here for their June 5 sale is tremendous news for our horsemen and fans as well,” said Campo. “They are going to be offering top-quality horses and we’re going to be offering more races to run in, including of course our brand new stakes on June 23.” Horses for the sale will begin arriving in late May and will be stabled in temporary barns near the seven-furlong chute, which will provide easy access to the main track. “All of us at Fasig-Tipton are very excited to launch our inaugural 2-year-old sale at Santa Anita June 5,” said Boyd Browning, President and CEO, Fasig-Tipton. “Santa Anita is the perfect venue for both buyers and sellers and the sale should provide a boost for 2-year-old racing in California.” View the full article

Graded stakes winner Signalman breezed five furlongs in 1:01.75 at Gulfstream Park Feb. 23, turning in a "solid" tuneup for next Saturday's $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). View the full article

On Feb. 10, Scott Coles, a 34-year-old futures trader from suburban Chicago, took down the most prestigious handicapping tournament in the country, the NTRA’s 20th National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. It was an unlikely result. In a room full of seasoned tournament pros and lifelong handicappers–many of whom started playing well before Coles was born–it was a relative neophyte who won the NHC’s $800,000 first prize. Coles has only been handicapping seriously since American Pharoah’s Triple Crown run and has been playing tournaments for less that three years. But Coles’s victory was notable for another reason: he represents the demographic racing desperately needs to attract. That is, he’s a young, tech-savvy urban professional with some disposable income who is interested in the competitive and puzzle-solving aspects of horse playing. Last week, Coles sat down with the TDN and chatted about his profession, his handicapping, and why he thinks racing needs to push tournaments more. LM: You’re two weeks removed from the NHC. What’s changed? Coles: Ha, my bank account is the easiest answer. I get to finally get rid of a massive student-loan debt, which will be a big relief. I am trying to just keep doing what I have always done in my life, but I also have a huge opportunity to represent this game for the next year. I have done a lot of interviews, podcasts, radio shows, etc., and am just trying to enjoy it while I plan the rest of the year. LM: Was there a score during the NHC that you were particularly proud of? SC: I think I was most proud of my game plan. I knew I wouldn’t be anywhere near the best handicapper at the tournament, with so many legends of the game competing. However, I knew that I could use a lot of programs and attack it from a different angle. I used everything from short fields and short prices to keep accumulating points that I didn’t think others would be going after. I was also proud of winning after dropping to ninth place with six races left to go at the final table. LM: How were you first introduced to handicapping? SC: I just watched the Triple Crown on TV starting in high school, and then I got really serious the last 5-plus years and really wanted to improve and do the work. I finally discovered the tournament world later in 2016 and really started putting my focus on getting better at tournament play. LM: You currently work as a futures trader. Talk, if you would, about the details of the work you do, and if you’re able to transpose some of your skills to handicapping. SC: I am part of a group of day traders inside of a big firm, and we trade a variety of different products for short periods of time. We are constantly coming up with ways to use research, apps and tools to make smarter decisions and capture opportunities in the markets. Horse racing is a natural transition to make. Tournaments are especially similar when you have to play so many races each day. You have to process as much information and data as you can as quickly as you can to make an optimal decision. LM: You mentioned playing poker. Are there some aspects of poker tournaments that you think racing tournaments could learn from? SC: I don’t play as much anymore, but I was very serious about it in college and law school. I think finding a way to get on TV more helps promote the game a ton. When you see someone win on ESPN, it inspires people to play. More tournaments, or some sort of lower stakes series that people can play in, would be another idea. There will be a lot of thought and talk about how to draw more players as the year goes on. LM: Racing often struggles to reach the younger demographics. As someone who grew up outside the business, what do you think racing does well? What do you think racing needs to improve on? SC: I think racing provides great opportunities for people that know about it. It is such a great game. I think racing needs to find a way to get more people involved and really push tournaments. I don’t think enough people know tournaments are out there and what they are. I didn’t even know about them until 2016, and I was betting a lot before that as a casual player. If it wasn’t something I ever saw advertised, given how involved I was, it is hard to think that the average person knows about these opportunities. LM: What products do you typically use when handicapping? SC: I use Timeform US and the DRF Formulator, or just the Racing Form, depending on the day. I started using STATS Race Lens during the NHC, and I think that is going to be a great complementary product going forward for me. LM: A big point of contention recently is data access and cost. Do you think increased information at low or no cost plays a role in attracting new horseplayers? Or is that something that comes in after someone is hooked? SC: I think it might help someone who at least has some interest in the sport, but I think the main objective is to get people to the races or aware of the opportunities in tournaments that could be very similar to the poker or daily fantasy tournaments that they are already playing anyway. LM: Have you considered owner and/or breeding horses? Does that world seem utterly foreign, even for someone who handicaps regularly? SC: Ownership interests me quite a bit. Breeding is pretty foreign to me, and I don’t know as much as I would like to about either, despite handicapping as much as I do. Scott Coles Miscellany.. Favorite music: Hip-Hop/Rap, Country and most mainstream in between. I’m all over the place Last book you read: The Complete Handicapper, by James Quinn Favorite horse: American Pharoah (I Love Romance and Fiery Lady quickly moving up my list after the NHC wins in the (last two races) Favorite athlete outside of racing: Past: Michael Jordan. Present: Tom Brady and Odell Beckham (on the field at least) What are your hobbies outside of handicapping?: Anything sports related (both watching and playing)/poker/ hanging out with family and friends as much as I can. View the full article

Horses with speedier-than-not profiles seemed to excel over the Al Rayyan turf course during the three-day HH The Amir Sword Festival, and jockey Olivier Peslier took full advantage Saturday, easing the locally owned French King (GB) (French Fifteen {Fr}) down onto the fence passing the stands for the first time and controlling the pace throughout en route to a comfortable 1 1/2-length success in the featured HH The Amir Trophy. Fellow French raider Royal Julius (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) stayed on for second ahead of Ballydoyle’s Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who raced prominently, but lacked a decisive late kick. Hunting Horn was one of the first away, but Peslier had a handful of horse beneath him and allowed French King to gradually make his way towards the front, establishing a fairly soft lead with a circuit to travel. Allowed to bowl along on a loose rein through the middle stages, French King shook off some mild pressure from the outposted Raymond Tusk (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), pinched a break off the home corner and proved not for catching. Royal Julius came from a position worse than midfield to grab second in the dying strides. It was the third win in the feature race for Peslier. A winner of four of his 12 outings in France, including a quartet of stakes placings in his sophomore season, French King also carried Peslier to a six-length victory in the non black-type Swiss Derby (2400m) at the Frauenfeld track last June. The third stakes winner from the first two crops of his sire, victorious in the 2011 G1 Criterium International, French King is out of a daughter of German Group 3 and French listed winner Marine Bleue (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}). Marina Piccola is the dam of the 3-year-old colt Marzuq (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and produced a full-brother to French King in 2018. Saturday’s Results: H.H. THE AMIR TROPHY PRESENTED BY LONGINES, $1,000,000, Al Rayyan, 2-23, 4yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.12, fm. 1–FRENCH KING (GB), 126, c, 4, French Fifteen (Fr)–Marina Piccola (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Halling. *1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€50,000 Wlg ’15 ARQDEC). O-H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Umm Qarn Farms; T-Henri-Alex Pantall; J-Olivier Peslier; $570,000. Lifetime Record: MSP-Fr, 14-5-2-4, $706,868. 2–Royal Julius (Ire), h, 6, Royal Applause (GB)–Hflah (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). (25,000gns Wlg ’13 TATDEF; €40,000 Ylg ’14 ARQAUG). O-Mme Jade Prescillia Angelini; B-Old Carhue Stud; T-Jerome Reynier; $220,000. 3–Hunting Horn (Ire), c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Mora Bai (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock; T-Aidan O’Brien; $110,000. Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 3/4. Also Ran: The Blue Eye (GB), Es’hail, Raymond Tusk (Ire), Duke of Dundee (Fr), Noor Al Hawa (Fr), Pazeer (Fr), Alhazm (Fr), Giuseppe Garibaldi (Ire), Veranda (Fr), Heshem (Ire), Liam the Charmer. WATCH: French King makes all in HH The Amir Trophy View the full article

French runners stormed to a 1-2 finish in the $1 million H.H. The Emir's Trophy Presented by Longines at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 23 as American hope Liam the Charmer tired late and was virtually eased home. View the full article

Signalman (General Quarters), third-place finisher in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a last out winner of Churchill’s GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 24, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.75 (15/44) at Gulfstream Park Saturday. He is slated to kick off his sophomore campaign in next Saturday’s GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. “It was a nice solid workout,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “We wanted a maintenance breeze. We didn’t want to work too fast at this point in the season. We still have a couple months for the big races. This is a prep. This will be his first race of the season. This is a nice horse. He galloped out good.” Signalman worked in company with Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats), whom McPeek saddled for a 29-1 upset victory in the GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull at Gulfstream Feb. 2. Harvey Wallbanger was also clocked in 1:01.75. “We’re going to wait on Harvey,” McPeek said. “He still needs to get a little bigger and stronger for that next step. We’ve got plenty of time. We’re going to wait probably for the [GI] Florida Derby [Mar. 30].” Dale Romans-trained Fountain of Youth nominees Everfast (Take Charge Indy) and Admire (Cairo Prince) also breezed at Gulfstream Saturday morning. Everfast, runner-up at 128-1 in the Holy Bull, worked five furlongs in 1:02.52 (30/44). Admire, fifth in the GIII Withers S. Feb. 2, covered the same distance in 1:00.82 (7/44). “I’m not sure which one is running, but I’ll figure it out in the next day or two,” Romans said. “They both worked well enough to run.” View the full article

He was 1-4 for Saturday’s G3 Betway Winter Derby, so anything other than a smooth winning performance from George Strawbridge’s Wissahickon (Tapit) would have caused consternation and the likeable chestnut let nobody down in the Lingfield showpiece. Always coasting comfortably in fourth under Frankie Dettori, the son of the GI Del Mar Oaks heroine No Matter What (Nureyev) had only stablemate Court House (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) up ahead turning for home as he was coaxed into animation. Mastering his barnmate at the top of the straight, he stretched to a 3 1/4-length success as the third-placed Pactolus (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) languished a further 3 1/2 lengths away. Bar one blip when ridden too aggressively as he finished eighth in a competitive 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting last July, Wissahickon’s record has been exemplary and he is a colt clearly going places. Few horses can win Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire H. by 3 3/4 lengths, but the homebred managed that with a degree of ease in September and was kept on the go to garner the Dec. 22 Listed Quebec S. over this course and distance. Returning Feb. 2 for the Listed Winter Derby Trial, he was emphatic there and carried on that momentum to provide his amazing dam with another pattern-race success. On all evidence, he is going to be a serious contender for the major Grade I races when the switch to the States inevitably happens, possibly later this year as was mooted by John Gosden after his previous win. For the immediate future, Wissahickon faces a choice of two contrasting tests, according to his trainer. “We could freshen up and wait for the [Apr. 19] Easter Classic and that would be the logical thing to do, but there’s some talk about World Cup night in Dubai, so we’ll see,” he told the Racing Post. “We have to be invited to Dubai–we wait for them–but I think if Wissahickon did go we would be talking about the Sheema Classic, over a mile and a half. He’s rated high enough and I think either a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half would be fine now that he switches off so well.” Pedigree Notes No Matter What’s record is illustrious. She has produced this stable’s star distaffer Rainbow View (Dynaformer), European champion 2-year-old filly as a result of her triumphs in the G1 Fillies’ Mile and G2 May Hill S. who later annexed the GI Matron S. at Leopardstown and GIII Gallorette H. in the States; the GIII Arlington H.-winning sire Just As Well (A.P. Indy), who was runner-up in the GI Arlington Million, GI Northern Dancer Turf S. and GI Gulfstream Park Turf H.; the GIII Bewitch S. and GIII All Along S. scorer Winter View (Thunder Gulch); and Utley (Smart Strike), who captured the GII Dixie S. A half-sister to the GII Suburban H. and GII Dwyer S.-winning sire E Dubai (Mr. Prospector) from the family of this stable’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality), she has a yearling colt by Temple City. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Saturday, Lingfield, Britain BETWAY WINTER DERBY S.-G3, £100,000, Lingfield, 2-23, 4yo/up, 10f (AWT), 2:01.28, st. 1–WISSAHICKON, 126, c, 4, by Tapit 1st Dam: No Matter What (GISW-US & SW-Fr, $185,726), by Nureyev 2nd Dam: Words of War, by Lord At War (Arg) 3rd Dam: Right Word, by Verbatim 1ST GROUP/GRADED STAKES WIN. O-George Strawbridge; B-Augustin Stable (KY); T-John Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 10-8-1-0, $339,409. **1/2 to Rainbow View (Dynaformer), Ch. 2yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Ire at 6.5-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Ire, GSW-US & GISP-Can, $1,129,814; Just As Well (A.P. Indy), GSW & MGISP-US, $859,582; Utley (Smart Strike), GSW-US & SP-Eng, $466,598; and Winter View (Thunder Gulch), GSW-US, $328,909. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Court House (Ire), 126, c, 4 , Dawn Approach (Ire)–Crossanza (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€38,000 RNA Wlg ’15 GOFNOV; €200,000 Ylg ’16 GOFORB). O-H. R. H. Princess Haya of Jordan; B-Nanallac Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £21,500. 3–Pactolus (Ire), 126, g, 8, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Gold Marie (Ire), by Green Desert. (€5,000 RNA Wlg ’11 GOFNOV; €10,000 Ylg ’12 GOFSPT; 21,000gns 2yo ’13 TATHIT; 28,000gns RNA HRA ’17 TATHIT). O-T W Morley & Mrs J Morley; B-Tom McDonald (IRE); T-Stuart Williams. £10,760. Margins: 3 1/4, 3HF, HD. Odds: 0.25, 14.00, 40.00. Also Ran: Big Country (Ire), Chiefofchiefs (GB), Master The World (Ire), Hathal. Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

8th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, 3:28 p.m. Stronach homebred CASH AGAIN (Awesome Again) makes his career bow for trainer Jimmy Jerkens in this spot. Out of Grade I winner Collect the Cash (Dynaformer), the bay is a half to another Grade I winner in Stately Victor (Ghostzapper) and SP runners Smart Penny (Smart Strike), Hot Cash (Ghostzapper) and Money My Honey (Red Bullet). TJCIS PPs View the full article

Battle of Midway, the 2017 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner, was euthanized Feb. 23 after he broke down during a training session at Santa Anita Park, according to Fernando Diaz-Valdes, racing manager for co-owner Don Alberto Stable. View the full article