Wandering Eyes

At the same meeting that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a new owner of the state's first track to offer historical racing, it also heard a promise from an official of Kentucky's lone track without the games to have them added by June. View the full article

Robert and Lawana Low won a pair of graded Triple Crown preps at Oaklawn Park a year ago with Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) and the couple’s colors were back in the winner’s circle in Little Rock Monday with the impressive debut of Intrepid Heart (Tapit). The gray sophomore was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after his scintillating 7 3/4-length victory (video) on the GIII Southwest S. undercard. “It exceeded our expectations to be quite honest,” the Lows’ racing manager Jacob West said Tuesday. “We knew he was training well coming into the race. They had split the maiden fields yesterday, so there were nice horses in both groups and we knew that it was going to be a tough test. But even Johnny Velazquez, after he got off of him, came back and said, ‘He handled everything professionally and did it all the right way. He did everything I asked him to do and he go the job done for us.'” Out of Flaming Heart, the youngster is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and Laugh Track (Distorted Humor). West purchased Intrepid Heart on behalf of the Lows for $750,000 at last year’s OBS April sale where the well-bred May foal worked a furlong in :10 2/5. “If you go to these sales and you’re looking for some of the big, two-turn Classic-type horses, when you see a Tapit coming down the lane who has the pedigree that he has, he is going to pique your interest immediately just off the pedigree page,” West said of his initial impressions of the gray colt. “I remember going back to the barn that afternoon after the breeze show had ended and I had a discussion with [consignor] Niall [Brennan]. I trust Niall a lot and I value his opinion and he basically told me that they were just scratching the surface with this horse. West continued, “Everybody knew, with his age and his pedigree, life for him was going to start at a later date. He wasn’t going to be your early, quick 2-year-old. That’s what got me excited. And then physically, he was what we look for in those type of horses. When you put all the pieces together that made up the puzzle that is now Intrepid Heart, early on it was something that got me excited and got my blood pumping. When I called Mr. and Mrs. Low and filled them in on what I’d found and what I had turned the page down on and got excited about, they got excited too and we were lucky enough to get him.” All of those pieces have come together beautifully in the ensuing months, according to West. “Physically, he has come a long way,” West said. “He reminded me of a big baby at the 2-year-old sale and when he stepped into the saddling paddock there at Oaklawn, you could tell that he had turned into a man.” A year ago, Magnum Moon broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park Jan. 13 before being named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ with an optional-claiming victory at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 15. From there, he made the jump to the graded stakes ranks where he won the Mar. 17 GII Rebel S. and Apr. 14 GI Arkansas Derby before running 19th in the GI Kentucky Derby. West admitted Intrepid Heart’s debut win made it easy to start thinking of a return trip to Louisville this year, but he expected trainer Todd Pletcher would take a conservative route with the colt. “We’ll leave that up to Todd Pletcher,” West said of Intrepid Heart’s next assignment. “We let him make those decisions. Knowing Todd’s nature, he is fairly conservative with these types, so he’ll end up going to an allowance and then we’ll go from there. It’s hard not to let a little bit of excitement creep into your body with these types, immediately you just start planning for the future. But Todd Pletcher is the best horse trainer that we’ve seen, arguably ever, and he can bring you back down to earth real quick. And he can point you in the right direction, so we’ll just let him make those decisions.” The Lows are focused on buying two-turn Saturday afternoon dirt horses, according to West. Another promising sophomore who fits that bill is Federal Case (Gemologist), who West purchased for $650,000 on behalf of the couple at last year’s Keeneland November sale. Already a maiden winner at the time, the bay took an optional claimer at Gulfstream Dec. 23. Most recently seventh in the Feb. 2 GII Holy Bull S., he worked four furlongs in :48.97 at Palm Beach Downs Feb. 16. “He is going to have his second breeze since the Holy Bull this coming weekend and we’ll make a game plan after that,” West said. He continued, “Mr. and Mrs. Low are some of the best owners in the game and they know they want two-turn Saturday dirt horses. We were lucky enough with Magnum Moon last year and now we are hopeful we have more this year.” View the full article

Woodbine Entertainment has unveiled its stakes schedule for the 2019 Thoroughbred racing season, highlighted by the prestigious $1-million Queen’s Plate June 29 and the $1-million GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile Sept. 14. Strengthened by the previously announced purse increases for 2019, the $16-million-plus stakes schedule consists of 95 stakes to be contested over the course of the 133-day meet, running from Apr. 20 to Dec. 15. The GI Natalma S. and companion GI Summer S. will follow a stakes-filled Ricoh Woodbine Mile day Sept. 15. The GI Pattison Canadian International will be contested at the height of the fall stakes season Oct. 12. GI The E.P. Taylor S. is among the usual supporting features that day and will serve as the final leg of Woodbine’s new Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in the designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares. Woodbine’s stakes schedule includes a total of 41 graded stakes. Click here to view the complete stakes lineup for Woodbine’s 2019 Thoroughbred racing season. View the full article

We’ve had this year’s first significant shift in the GI Kentucky Derby Top 12 rankings, with a new leader bulling his way to the top of the crop. Expect the thawing trend to continue as the stakes action heats up, with eight high-ranked hopefuls expected to start on either the weekend of Mar. 2 or 9. 1) WAR OF WILL (c, War Front—Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY). T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $175,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 7-3-1-1, $491,569. Last Start: 1st, GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 16 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 19 Next Start: Aiming for GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 23 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on War of Will. KY Derby Points: 10. When War of Will assertively seized the lead three-eighths out in Saturday’s GII Risen Star S., he wrested control of the entire division, vaulting from No. 4 to the top of the totem pole with a well-honed win that showed off his physical prowess and a zeal for reeling in targets. Until last Saturday, the 2019 Derby prep season had been lacking a significant breakout performance; in fact, five of the dozen horses on this week’s list are still awaiting sophomore debuts. But now that we’re approaching March, sharp current form outweighs accomplishments from last autumn, and this €250,000 ARQMAY War Front colt has burst upon the scene with three straight dirt wins after a wide-on-both-turns fifth (beaten only 3 1/2 lengths) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. In each of those solid dirt victories, War of Will gave the impression that he won with something left in reserve, and even though he needs to be kept to task once he hits the lead, he appears to be learning from each experience. “He’s very professional. He does everything the right way,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said after Saturday’s 2 1/4-length score. “He gets out of the gate well. He puts himself where he needs to be, and the rest is up to just getting him to relax.” Trainer Mark Casse, not known for hyperbole, said “I’ve been fortunate to train a lot of good horses, and [War of Will] is one of the best. I think he’s a superstar.” The GII Louisiana Derby is probably next. “I like to run, and we don’t really shy away from anybody,” Casse added. 2) GAME WINNER (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Gary & Mary West. B-Summer Wind Equine (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 4-4-0-0, $1,496,000. Last Start: 1st, GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile , CD, Nov. 2 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI American Pharoah S., SA, Sept. 29; 1st, GI Del Mar Futurity, DMR, Sept. 3 Next Start: GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 9 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 30. ‘TDN Rising Star’ and defending Eclipse Award champ Game Winner remains on the two-prep path to the Derby that has evolved as the hallmark training regimen for Bob Baffert’s A-list sophomores. Will he fire big off the bench in the Mar. 9 San Felipe S.? Has this large-framed, professionally demeanored colt developed across multiple dimensions since we last saw him roughing up the field in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile? Game Winner uncorked a long, relentless “man against boys” type of drive over the Churchill Downs strip to cement championship honors last November. Although the runner-up in that race, Knicks Go (Paynter), has suffered two stinging defeats since, the third-, fifth-, seventh- and twelfth-place finishers in the Juvenile have all come back to eventually add stakes wins to their résumés. Yet an even longer-term stat could prove the most difficult obstacle for this $110,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) colt: Only two Juvenile winners from 34 runnings have won the Kentucky Derby (Nyquist and Street Sense). 3) SIGNALMAN (c, General Quarters–Trip South, by Trippi) O-Tommie M. Lewis, David A. Bernsen, LLC & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). B-Monticule (KY). T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $32,000 Ylg ’17 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 5-2-2-1, $448,990. Last Start: 1st, GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 24 Accomplishments Include: 3rd, GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, CD, Nov. 2; 2nd, GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, KEE, Oct. 6 Next Start: Likely for GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 18. Trainer Ken McPeek currently has two horses on the Derby trail that he picked out as yearlings: Signalman, a $32,000 FTKOCT General Quarters colt, has been firmly entrenched near the top of this list since the rankings debuted in December, and Harvey Wallbanger, a $50,000 FTKJUL Congrats colt, gained a berth on the “on the bubble” periphery after his 29-1 GII Holy Bull S. upset Feb. 2. McPeek now has a nice “problem” in terms of keeping the two separated in prep races, but he told TDN last week that Signalman will likely make his 2019 debut in the Mar. 2 GII Fountain of Youth S. while “Harvey” is likely to wait until the Mar. 30 GI Florida Derby. McPeek described Signalman as “a big bull” whose action resembles a “powerful machine,” and that well-channeled aggression was on full display in Signalman’s last start, which featured a long up-the-rail drive against 13 rivals on a sloppy Churchill surface to win the Nov. 24 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. The betting public though, believes the two McPeek trainees are close together in ability, as both Signalman and Harvey closed at 28-1 odds last week in Pool 2 of the Derby Future Wager. 4) IMPROBABLE (c, City Zip—Rare Event, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd. & Starlight Racing. B-St. George Farm LLC & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $269,520. Last Start: 1st, GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity, LRC, Dec. 8 Accomplishments Include: 1st, Street Sense S., CD, Nov. 2; Next Start: Possible for GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 16 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Improbable. KY Derby Points: 10. Will ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable start next in the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park on Mar. 16? Although not yet confirmed by trainer Bob Baffert, that’s a logical launching pad for this athletic, light-footed $200,000 KEESEP City Zip colt’s sophomore debut. It’s extremely unlikely that Improbable will square off against stablemate Game Winner at any point on the prep path, and Baffert has shipped to win six of the previous nine Rebels. But he has also saddled the beaten favorite in the last two Rebels, so bettor beware. Improbable was the clear-cut victor in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity last time out, and his company line got boosted recently when runner-up Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) came back to win the GIII Lewis S. at 3-5 odds Feb. 2 and third-place finisher Extra Hope (Shanghai Bobby) scored in a first-level allowance Jan 31. Baffert has now won the last five Los Al Futurities, but only two of those winners—Dortmund (Big Brown) and Mor Spirit (Eskendereya)—went on to start in the Kentucky Derby. 5) DREAM MAKER (c, Tapit–To Dream About, by Monarchos) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O/B-John C. Oxley (KY). T-Mark Casse. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $72,850. Last Start: 1st, Allowance/Optional Claiming, FG, Feb. 9. Next Start: Possible for GII Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 9 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Dream Maker muscled his way onto the Top 12 with a commanding first-level allowance win at Fair Grounds Feb. 9, but this Tapit-sired John Oxley homebred stamped himself as a potential Derby contender way back on June 7 when he circled the field in a Churchill Downs MSW and won going away to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status in his career debut. In the interim, he was fifth (but only beaten 4 3/4 lengths) in the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga, then lost all chance at the break of the GI Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland when he stumbled and clipped heels as the beaten favorite. Given some time off, Dream Maker bulked up in all the right places, and despite racing three wide on both turns under mild restraint in his 1 1/16 miles return try, he opened up easily under light coaxing, winning by 8 1/2 lengths and galloping out like he wanted more. His stamina-centric pedigree traces to six-time Grade I winner and Eclipse Award winner Beautiful Pleasure, and trainer Mark Casse has indicated that stakes starts in the GII Tampa Bay Derby and GII Blue Grass S. could comprise this colt’s prep path to Louisville. 6) CODE OF HONOR (c, Noble Mission {GB}–Reunited, by Dixie Union) O/B-W. S. Farish (KY). T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $70,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 2-1-1-0, $146,750. Last Start: 4th, Mucho Macho Man S., GP, Jan. 5 Next Start: GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 4. In the week before the Breeders’ Cup, I was certain that Code of Honor was going to be the worthy “wiseguy” upset play in the Juvenile based on his adversity-overcoming second at 14-1 in the GI Champagne S. But this Noble Mission (GB) homebred spiked a temperature and scratched the night before the race, setting off a frustrating two months that have clouded this talented colt’s true potential. Trainer Shug McGuaghey backed him out of a planned start in the GII Remsen S. when he was not satisfied with Code of Honor’s energy level, then when the colt failed to fire as the 4-5 beaten fave in the Jan. 5 Mucho Macho Man S., McGuaghey took part of the blame by saying he hadn’t trained him aggressively enough. Code of Honor has had six published works since—three of them bullets—and this chestnut once again looms as a compelling dark horse betting-wise in what is shaping up to be a very deep Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 2 at Gulfstream Park. 7) HIDDEN SCROLL (c, Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O/B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (KY). T-William I. Mott. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Last Start: 1st, Maiden Special Weight, GP, Jan. 26 Next Start: Possible for GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Even though we’ve now had a few weeks to digest ‘TDN Rising Star’ Hidden Scroll’s otherworldly career debut on the GI Pegasus World Cup undercard, you will be forgiven if you still don’t know what to make of it. It was a freakishly fast one-turn-mile (based on both raw final time and confirmed by several flavors of speed figures) for a first-timer breaking from the one hole in the slop against a deep-on-paper 13-horse field. Judging by the 8-1 odds that day, few prognosticators saw the 14-length, eased-up win coming. Presumably, some of those same bettors saw fit to hammer this Hard Spun-sired Juddmonte homebred to 7-1 in Pool 2 of the Derby Future wager. Even Juddmonte’s U.S. manager, Garrett O’Rourke, admitted to TDN last week that Hidden Scroll’s futures price is “a little bit crazy given that he’s only run one race.” He added that although it’s not “a 100% commitment,” the coming-up-loaded Fountain of Youth S. could be the colt’s next start. 8) VEKOMA (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Mona de Momma, by Speightstown) O-R. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables. B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY). T-George Weaver. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $151,250. Last Start: 1st GIII Nashua S., AQU, Nov. 4 Next Start: Possible for GII Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 2 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. This undefeated $135,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) colt merits respect based on his 2-for-2 juvenile season that culminated with a win in the GIII Nashua S. last November. But like several other unraced-in-2019 horses who lost positions on this week’s list, he has been leapfrogged in the rankings because it’s been nearly four months since we’ve seen what he can do in afternoon action. Vekoma had his head cocked to the grandstand and was on the wrong lead for a bit in that one-turn mile GIII Nashua S. win. And considering he’s a May 22 foal without two-turn experience, he could be in a bit over his head seasoning-wise if he goes in the Fountain of Youth S., which has three horses ahead of him on this week’s Top 12 (Signalman, Code of Honor, Hidden Scroll) considering that spot. Another option could be the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 9, which would be yet another one-turn mile, but with the advantage that Vekoma has already run well over Aqueduct’s main track. 9) INSTAGRAND (c, Into Mischief—Assets of War, by Lawyer Ron) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-OXO Equine LLC. B-Stoneway Farm (KY). T-Jerry Hollendorfer. Sales History: $190,000 Ylg ’17 FTKJUL; $1,200,000 2yo ’18 FTFMAR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $144,000. Last Start: 1st, GII Best Pal S., DMR, Aug. 11 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0. Intrigue has shadowed Instagrand since this $1.2 million FTFMAR co-sales-topping son of Into Mischief was taken out of training by his owner after winning his maiden and the GII Best Pal S. by a combined 20 1/4 lengths. It’s now been six months (and eight published works) since his last start, and no one in this ‘TDN Rising Star’s’ camp has revealed where or when he’ll next surface in the entries. Santa Anita’s stable notes over the weekend mentioned in passing that the San Felipe S. could be a target race, which would set up a “best in the west” showdown between champ Game Winner and this precocious colt, who would have been the likely favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile had he started. Bettors remain bullish about Instagrand’s chances on the first Saturday in May, crunching him to 10-1 in each of the first two Derby Future Wager pools. 10) SUPER STEED (c, Super Saver–Totally Tucker, by Elusive Quality) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Michael Pressley & Steed Jackson. B-Mike Pressley (KY). T-Larry Jones. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-1-0, $364,500. Last Start: 1st, GIII Southwest S., OP, Feb. 18 Next Start: Possible for GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 16 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10 Don’t put too much emphasis on Super Steed’s outlandish $126.60 winning mutuel in Monday’s GIII Southwest S. Granted, this Super Saver homebred deserved to be a double-digit price after a blah seventh at 6-1 on opening day at Oaklawn in the Smarty Jones S. But considering he was a well-heralded ‘TDN Rising Star’ facing five of the same foes from that race while stretching out to a distance that better suits his pedigree, wasn’t a tenfold increase in his odds a bit out of whack? When this colt broke his maiden against an allowance field at Churchill Downs Nov. 24, trainer Larry Jones likened him to the talented Southwest S. winner he conditioned in 2009, Old Fashioned. In the post-race interview on Monday, Jones explained away Super Steed’s loss as the fave in the Dec. 22 Sugar Bowl S. by saying the colt wasn’t quite feeling right, and he attributed the Smarty Jones S. defeat to racing against the grain of a “merry go round” speed bias that hampered this come-from-behinder’s true running style. Moving forward, there’s lots of upside here. Just don’t expect 62-1 again in the near future. 11) MUCHO GUSTO (c, Mucho Macho Man—Itsagiantscauseway, by Giant’s Causeway) ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Michael Lund Petersen. B-Teneri Farm Inc. & Bernardo Alvarez Calderon (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $14,000 Ylg ’17 KEEJAN; $95,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo ’18 OBSMAR; $625,000 2yo ’18 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 4-3-1-0, $234,000. Last Start: 1st, GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Feb. 2 Next Start: Uncommitted Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 14. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mucho Gusto gets lost in the shuffle within Bob Baffert’s deep stable of Derby contenders, but he’s won three of four lifetime starts and his only defeat was to odds-on stablemate Improbable in the Los Al Futurity. This tall, still-growing $625,000 EASMAY two-time stakes winner from the first Mucho Macho Man crop is progressing more rapidly than his sire, who didn’t register his first stakes win until start number seven (eight years ago last week in the Risen Star S.) prior to running third in the 2011 Kentucky Derby and competing in all three Triple Crown races. Mucho Gusto’s 4 3/4-length, geared-down win in the slop over only four other rivals in the GIII Lewis S. doesn’t provide many face-value handicapping clues to help judge his true Derby chances, but his connections have indicated that they are pleased with how he’s learning to relax off the pace, making Mucho Gust a work in progress who could turn out to be a sneaky-good sort if he peaks at the right time this spring. 12) MIND CONTROL (c, Stay Thirsty–Feel That Fire, by Lightning N Thunder) O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) & Madaket Stables LLC. B-Red Oak Stable. T-Gregory Sacco. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-1-0, $323,400. Last Start: 1st, Jerome S., AQU, Jan. 1 Next race: GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 9 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10. Mind Control remains on target for his next expected assignment, the Mar. 9 Gotham S. With three wins from five starts, the only poor showing in his past performance block is a trip-troubled seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was also his only two-turn attempt. Because the Gotham is a one-turn mile, it’s unlikely to provide major evidence as to whether this homebred Stay Thirsty colt will be up for the task of ten furlongs on the first Saturday in May. His sire won the 2011 version of the Gotham (run over 1 1/16 miles on the former inner track), and although Stay Thirsty ran twelfth in the Derby, he subsequently finished second in the GI Belmont S., won both the GII Jim Dandy S. and the GI Travers S., and ran third in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Mind Control’s dam—also a Red Oak homebred trained by Greg Sacco—was a listed stakes victress who won three times from eight lifetime starts, all at six furlongs. “We’re happy where he is with his training and where he’s at physically,” Sacco said Friday. “The two months [off] is beneficial and we’re coming in with a fresh, strong horse for the Gotham.” On the bubble (alphabetical order): Avie’s Flatter (Flatter): Six Palm Meadows works for presumptive Canadian juvenile champ aiming for Tampa Bay Derby. Bourbon War (Tapit): Possible for the deep Fountain of Youth S. after closing at 31-1 in Derby Future Wager Pool 2. Country House (Lookin At Lucky): Green but game when closing late behind War of Will in Risen Star S. Galilean (Uncle Mo): On to a graded stakes start after roughing up state-breds in California Cup Derby. Global Campaign (Curlin): 2-for-2 half to MGISW Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) could try Tampa Bay Derby next. Growth Engine (Tapit): Feb. 10 two-turn MSW winner at Gulfstream merits a shot against tougher competition. Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate): Deep-closing SoCal hopeful currently ranked sixth on Derby points leaderboard. Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats): Last-to-first upset winner of Holy Bull S. likely to aim for GI Florida Derby at nine furlongs. Knicks Go (Paynter): Dropped out of the Top 12 rankings after no-excuse fifth in GIII Davis S. Mihos (Cairo Prince): ‘TDN Rising Star’ back breezing at Palm Meadows with possible eye on Florida Derby or GII Wood Memorial. Nolo Contesto (Pioneerof the Nile): Recent Santa Anita maiden winner awaits a stakes start. Sueno (Atreides): Only horse gaining on winner when second in Monday’s Southwest S. Tax (Arch): Prevailed in three-horse Withers S. photo and likely to await 9f Wood Memorial. Well Defined (With Distinction): Won Tampa’s Davis S. at 7-1 in mild upset to become fourth also-ran out of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to win a subsequent stakes. Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}): Likely to stretch out in Tampa Bay Derby off track-record score over seven furlongs in Pasco S. View the full article

Keeneland is readying for its 2019 Spring Meet with two employment events aimed at filling more than 2,000 seasonal positions: a Hiring Center that opens Feb. 25 and a Job Fair Mar. 9. Staffing covers Food and Beverage Service, Parking and Security, The Keeneland Shop, Admissions, Programs, Track Maintenance and Guest Services for the Spring Meet, which covers 17 days of racing from Apr. 4-26, and Keeneland’s annual Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby celebrations May 3-4. “Keeneland offers seasonal staff the opportunity to work with a talented group of professionals, hone your own individual skill set and be part of a uniquely Kentucky tradition,” Keeneland President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Thomason said. View the full article

Gallery Racing’s champion sprinter Runhappy, currently standing at Claiborne Farm, will return in 2019 as title sponsor of the GI Travers S. and GI Metropolitan H., in addition to sponsoring FOX Sports’ year-round national television coverage of NYRA, it was announced Tuesday. Additionally, at Saratoga, Runhappy will be the title sponsor of the GI Hopeful S. The 2019 Belmont Park spring/summer meet will also see the second running of the $150,000 Runhappy S. “Team Runhappy considers it an honor and privilege to sponsor these prestigious and storied races,” said James McIngvale of Gallery Racing. “It is also our pleasure to support the expansion of the outstanding television programming as we continue to extoll the virtues of the living legend, Runhappy.” View the full article

With a broodmare band approaching 20, Craig Bennett’s Merry Fox Stud boards mares at Fittocks Stud in England, Ireland’s Ballylinch Stud and also at Haras du Buff in France. “All the mares are already in situ in the respective countries in which they will be covered this season,” says Bennett’s matings advisor Gary Hadden. “It’s extra important in the year of Brexit but Craig likes to have all the mares in the country where the stallions are so he is not travelling young foals.” Among the jewels of this particular collection are Time Control (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and Annabelle’s Charm (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who provided Merry Fox Stud with something of an annus mirabilis in 2014 when represented by the Group 1 winners Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor) and Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), respectively. The Moyglare Stud S. winner Cursory Glance, who had also struck in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot in her breeder’s colours, has joined her mother at stud and is in foal to Frankel (GB), to whom she will return this year. “She is obviously very special to Craig,” says Hadden. “His best day’s racing was winning the Albany with his wife and mother both at the races. She was an exceptional filly and we hope that she can become a foundation mare. It’s no real brainwave going to Frankel—he was brilliant and so was she.” Time Control, whose Dubawi (Ire) yearling filly sold for 700,000gns to Godolphin last year, was rested in 2018 and is booked to visit Sea the Stars (Ire), whom Hadden believes will be a good match physically. “He also has great form over Sadler’s Wells mares,” he says. “We’re following a tried and tested route.” Another member of the family, Cursory Glance’s half-sister Willow View (Lemon Drop Kid) was unraced but has made a good start as a broodmare with her first foal, Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), winning on debut for Chad Brown in America in January. Bennett has sent a full-sister to the 3-year-old into training with Roger Varian, and the mare is in foal to Siyouni (Fr) with a visit to Frankel on the cards. Annabelle’s Charm, meanwhile, is in foal to Dark Angel (Ire) with a booking to Kingman (GB). “She is quite a big mare so we have to be careful about which stallion we send her to,” Hadden notes. “Of course Kingman is a close relative to Oasis Dream, who is the sire of Charming Thought.” Also booked to Kingman is the maiden Dancing Breeze (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), a stakes-placed half-sister to the Group 3 winner Future Generation (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of Godolphin’s multiple group-winning stayer Bruntland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “She is from the family of Cassandra Go (Ire) and we’re trying to give her a good start. Craig has to be commercial; there’s such polarization towards the best stallions but we’re very much trying to produce a racehorse first,” explains Hadden. Posterity (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), the dam of Dancing Breeze and Future Generation, is also among the Merry Fox broodmare band and, currently in foal to New Approach, she is one of a limited book of mares who will be visiting Cheveley Park Stud’s start veteran Pivotal. “Pivotal mares are so successful and we’d love another daughter of Posterity. Craig is trying to build families and you can give yourself a leg-up by using a well proven broodmare sire,” offers Hadden. Bennett enjoyed many good days at the races with his homebred multiple stakes winner Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and has given his full-sister Yellow Band (Ire) every chance at stud. She is in foal to Frankel and will visit Dubawi this season. The operation is heavily backing Siyouni and has four mares booked to him. The quartet is comprised of Passing Parade (GB), a Cape Cross (Ire) half-sister to the top-class sprinter Regal Parade (GB) who is carrying to New Approach. Liffey Dancer (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), a sister to Listen (Ire), in foal to Distorted Humor, is another booked to travel to Normandy, as is her stakes-placed daughter Pichola Dance (Ire) (Distorted Humor), and the listed winner Alsace Lorraine (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway), whose dam is a half-sister to 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (Ire). “With Passing Parade it’s no major surprise that we’re trying to emulate the cross which produced Laurens (Fr),” says Hadden. “We tried three or four times to buy shares in Siyouni. He suits so many different mares and different lines. From early on both he and Lope De Vega (Ire) have looked special. Their numbers have looked very good and I think Lope De Vega will continue to climb the ladder.” With that in mind, the listed-placed Pecking Order (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}), who hails from the Aga Khan’s ‘S’ family, is in foal to Lope De Vega and will return to him, while Arkadina (Ire), a Danehill half-sister to the dam of Aclaim (Ire) and from the family of Montjeu (Ire), is another in foal to Lope De Vega. She is booked to visit Derrinstown’s Tamayuz (GB) this season, while her Group 3-winning daughter Guilty Twelve (Giant’s Causeway) is currently in Japan where she is in foal to Deep Impact (Jpn) with a return visit planned. Soofiah (GB) (King’s Best), a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner Sajjhaa (GB), joined the Merry Fox team three years ago when bought from Godolphin. She was sent to Invincible Spirit last year and will now visit Showcasing (GB). “We were attracted to her because she is by King’s Best. We love that Kingmambo blood and we’ve gone for proven stallions with her,” notes Hadden. They have taken the unproven route with Pontenuovo (Fr) (Green Tune), however. The G3 Prix de Cabourg winner was rested last year and is booked to Juddmonte’s newcomer, Expert Eye (GB). Finally, Craig Bennett entered into partnership with Newsells Park Stud last December when buying the G3 Prix Penelope winner Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) for 900,000gns at Tattersalls, and she will visit the champion sire Galileo (Ire). View the full article

The Osarus La Teste Breeze-Up Sale catalogue, consisting of 93 lots, is now available. The sale will begin at La Teste Racecourse beginning at 12:30 p.m. local time on Apr. 11, with the breezes scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the previous day. Of the lots on offer, 83 are eligible for owners’ premiums in France and all of the breezes may be viewed live at www.france-sire.com. Individual breeze videos will be posted at www.osarus.com later on. A wide variety of 64 sires are represented, with the highlights including an Epaulette (Aus) half-sister to GISW Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) as lot 7; lot 41, a son of Le Havre (Ire) out of the SP Changeable (GB) (Dansili {GB}); a Dansili (GB) colt (lot 45) out of a full-sister to G1SWs Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); a colt by Siyouni (Fr) (lot 25) out of a half-sister to G1SW Morandi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}); lot 36, a son of Mastercraftsman (Ire) out of Italian Group 3 winner Blessed Luck (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}); and a colt by Dream Ahead out of a Siyouni half-sister to MG1SW Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) as lot 83. View the full article

8th-TAM, $22K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:30 p.m. When West Point Thoroughbreds and Robert Evans went to $230,000 for EGYPTIAN STORM (Pioneerof the Nile) at the 2017 Keeneland September sale, her year-older half-brother Justify (Scat Daddy) had yet to step foot on the racetrack. Fast forward to present day and the bay filly, who makes her career bow at Tampa Wednesday just 367 days after her champion half-brother made his debut, is now the sibling of the reigning Horse of the Year, whose historic six-race campaign culminated in a Triple Crown and a pair of Eclipse Awards. In addition to the mighty Justify, who is breeding his first mares this season at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, the Christophe Clement pupil is also a half to GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense), who also stands his first season this term at Sequel New York. Gainesway homebred Indigo Gin (Lemon Drop Kid) also makes her debut in this salty maiden. She is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Lady Bingo (Ire), who is a daughter of GISW Sharp Lisa (Dixieland Band) and a full-sister to Irish Highweight Housesofparliament (Ire) and Group 1 winner Foundry (Ire). Mike Stidham unveils e Five Racing’s $375,000 FTSAUG buy Strange Design (Ghostzapper). Her unraced dam is a daughter of GISW Runup the Colors (A.P. Indy) and a half-sister to MGSW Revolutionary (War Pass). This is also the family of Grade I winners Mineshaft (A.P. Indy), Dickinson (Medaglia d’Oro) and Little Belle (A.P. Indy). Todd Pletcher saddles a first timer from a family he is familiar with in Pep (City Zip). The chestnut is a half-sister to SW & GSP Orbolution (Orb) and their dam is a half to GISW turfer Jack Milton (War Front) and GSW Peace Preserver (War Front), all three of which were trained by Pletcher. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Catriona Bissett, who works for Nick Alexander of Kinneston Stables, was crowned Employee of the Year at the 2019 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards in London on Monday night. The event was hosted by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with the Racing Post. Bissett, known as ‘Catch’, was presented with her trophy by Sir Anthony McCoy at an event at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge, in front of a specially-invited audience from across the racing industry. She was given a cheque for £30,000, half of which is to be shared among her colleagues. Bissett also won the Leadership Award for her work as assistant trainer to Alexander at his base in Fife, Scotland. Brough Scott, chairman of the judging panel, said, “The panel’s job was tougher than it has ever been this year with some extraordinary displays of stories of dedication, commitment and hard work among this year’s finalists. However, we had to reach a final decision and Catch is a hugely deserving winner for all the work she has done in developing and mentoring other members of the team at Kinneston.” “For Catch to be named Employee of the Year when our sport employs 6,000 people who work so hard to provide first class care to our horses is a fantastic achievement,” said BHA Chief Executive Nick Rust. “We are grateful to all of the staff who work day in day out to ensure that the horses who take part in British racing are provided with a level of care and quality of life that is virtually unsurpassed by any other domesticated animal. These awards are our opportunity to say thank you to all of them, on behalf of the sport and on behalf of our horses.” Sophy Scott from Mark Johnston’s yard took the David Nicholson Newcomer award, while Stewart Gosnell, who works for Richard Hughes, was successful in the Rider/Groom category and Andrew Snell of Cheveley Park Stud landed the Stud Staff award. John Bottomley was rewarded for his years of service to the sport, most recently with Ollie Pears, with the Dedication to Racing award. Andrea O’Keeffe was also honoured with the Rory MacDonald Community award for her contribution to developing training programmes in place across the racing industry. View the full article

Trainer Steve Asmussen will ship promising 3-year-old Wicked Indeed west for a stakes try in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Sunland Park. View the full article

Karis Teetan is in the form of his life and the Mauritian is determined to let the good times roll as he goes into Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting.Teetan is on target to smash his previous best of 52 winners in a season, having already amassed 50 just past the halfway point of this term.A top-three finish in the jockeys’ championship is all but certain for Teetan, who has had more rides than any other jockey on the table.As tempting as it is, the 28-year-old said he would not set any targets… View the full article

Champion jockey Zac Purton gets a rare opportunity to enter the closed shop of John Size-trained horses at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.Size’s stable jockey Joao Moreira will miss his first meeting since returning to Hong Kong in December after stewards suspended him for a total of six meetings from three different incidents, meaning Purton will ride promising type Champions Way and also Har Har Heart.Champions Way impressed on debut last month, racing greenly but still saluting with a fast… View the full article

Super Steed launched an eye-popping move in the far turn of the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on his way to a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners' Coal Front held off Copper Bullet to win the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) by a neck on Presidents Day at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

A graded stakes figures to be on the horizon for California-bred Galilean after he toyed with four other state-breds Feb. 18 on his way to an easy victory in the $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners' Coal Front held off Copper Bullet to win the $500,000 Razorback Stakes (G3) by a neck on Presidents Day at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

Cameo Blue Diamond ride for Vorster before permanent Australian move View the full article

Boss to ride for Te Akau in NZ Derby View the full article

Looking smart In The Black View the full article

She's a Julie returned to the winner's circle Feb. 18, speeding away in the stretch of the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

SUPER STEED (c, 3, Super Saver–Totally Tucker, by Elusive Quality), completely ignored off a puzzling seventh in the Smarty Jones S. here Jan. 25 and off at 62-1, uncorked a huge move on the turn and kept finding to upend Monday’s GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn. Sueno (Atreides) came flying to cut it close at the wire, finishing about a length back. Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) rounded out the trifecta. The winner, a ‘TDN Rising Star’, romped by six lengths at Churchill Nov. 24 but was fourth behind Smarty Jones winner and Southwest favorite Gray Attempt in the Sugar Bowl S. sprinting at Fair Grounds Dec. 22. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0. O-Mike Pressley & Steed Jackson. B-Mike Pressley (Ky). T-J. Larry Jones. View the full article

A graded stakes try figures to be on the horizon for California-bred Galilean after he toyed with four other state-breds Feb. 18 on his way to an easy victory in the $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Talented ‘TDN Rising Star’ COAL FRONT (r, 5, Stay Thirsty–Miner’s Secret, by Mineshaft), marooned out in the 14 hole for his first try around two turns, overcame the wide draw and a torrid pace duel to fend off fellow ‘Rising Star’ Copper Bullet (More Than Ready) in Monday’s lucrative GIII Razorback H. Longshot Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), who might’ve blown up the tote if he hadn’t gotten stuck behind foes when making a strong bid, settled for third at 70-1. The winner, last seen annexing the GIII Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream Dec. 22, stopped the clock in 1:43.45. Sales history: $575,000 2yo ’16 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-0. O-Robert V LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners. B-Michael Edward Connelly (Ky). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article

In his first race in nearly seven months, Racing Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza put Hronis Racing's Gallantlystreaming in good position early then rallied to a second-place finish in the first race Feb. 18 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article