Wandering Eyes

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

‘TDN Rising Star‘ Battle of Midway (Smart Strike–Rigoletta, by Concerto), the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero, reportedly broke down at Santa Anita Saturday morning. Blood-Horse was first to publicize the news, with co-owner Don Alberto Stable Racing Manager Fernando Diaz-Valdes initially indicating to the publication that the outlook was bleak before later reporting that the 5-year-old had been euthanized. Bred in Kentucky by Erik and Pavla Nygaard’s Thor-Bred Stables LLC, the $410,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling was runner-up in the 2017 GI Santa Anita Derby and a longshot third behind Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) in that year’s GI Kentucky Derby. After earning a first graded success in the GIII Affirmed S., he added an open-lengths tally in the Shared Belief S. and belied odds of 14-1 to upset Sharp Azteca (Freud) in the Dirt Mile at Del Mar. Returned to the barn of Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer after getting just five of 60 mares in foal at his co-owners’ WinStar Farm, Battle of Midway won three of his five appearances, including the GIII Native Diver S. in November and a gritty defeat of fellow ‘Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) in a sloppy renewal of the GII San Pasqual S. Feb. 2. He had since been green-lighted for a run in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 30. This story will be updated as further information becomes available. View the full article

Battle of Midway broke down during training Feb. 23 at Santa Anita Park and his life is currently in serious jeopardy, according to Fernando Diaz-Valdes, racing manager for co-owner Don Alberto Stable. View the full article

The first juvenile race won’t be run until the end of next month but the buzz and feedback on the stock of young stallions always starts early, and Fitzdares has already opened a market on the first-season sires’ championship. We’ll be asking a number of horsemen and women for their opinions over the coming weeks and today, bloodstock agent Cathy Grassick gives us her view. TDN: Who do you think will be leading first-season sire? CG: More than ever it is very difficult to single out one horse from the pack due to the increased number of first-season sires this year. While Muhaarar (GB) is a gorgeous horse with exceptional talent, he was at his best, in my opinion, at three and this combined with having Linamix (Fr) as his broodmare sire makes me think we might not see the best of his progeny until the second half of the year. I have high hopes for Gutaifan (Ire) to emulate his sire, Dark Angel (Ire), as he was a very good 2-year-old himself and he has a fantastic number of 2-year-olds to run for him. TDN: Did you see/purchase many by first-season sires at the yearling sales? CG: This year, more by chance than design, I did not actually purchase any yearlings by first-season sires but I did see a large percentage of their yearlings offered at the major sales in Europe. I was particularly impressed by the yearlings by Gutaifan as they looked very athletic individuals and I really like his pedigree. Hot Streak (GB) was another horse who really appealed to me after seeing the quality of his yearlings. We break a number of yearlings here at Newtown Stud every year and my pick of the first-season horses that have been through our hands was a Golden Horn (GB) filly. I think that his stock will be very interesting to follow later in the year. TDN: Which stallion do you think will go on to be the best of this intake? CG: I would love to have the crystal ball to answer that question! It’s a hard one to call with so many horses to choose from but I think Muhaarar, Golden Horn and Gutaifan all have all the right ingredients: the pedigrees, performances and support of good books of mares, and I can see them all being well-established sires of the future. View the full article

He slipped out of conversation for the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after fading out of the Classic Mile last month but Frankie Lor Fu-chuen hasn’t given up on Superich just yet.Whether he can excel over 1,600m, let alone the Derby distance, remains a query, but Lor says a big showing in Sunday’s Class Two Fu Tai Handicap (1,600m) will ensure the March 17 showpiece remains on the radar.“We are still thinking about it, the owner thinks that if this time he runs a good race, then maybe,” Lor said… View the full article

He entered the season knowing he had to lift his game to guarantee his licence but things could not have gone much worse so far for Alvin Ng Ka-chun, however he returns from injury on Sunday determined to turn things around.Ng has been stuck on the sidelines since fracturing his ankle during trackwork in October and is yet to ride a winner after 48 meetings this term, far less than ideal after being put on notice by the licensing committee.After his two-win return last season was, not… View the full article