Wandering Eyes

There will still be doubts going forward, but after watching what Peter Redekop's Anothertwistafate did Feb. 16 at Golden Gate Fields, it would be hard for anyone aligned with the horse not to be excited. View the full article

There will still be doubts going forward, but after watching what Peter Redekop's Anothertwistafate did Feb. 16 at Golden Gate Fields, it would be hard for anyone aligned with the horse not to be excited. View the full article

A pair of ‘TDN Rising Stars’, each already graded stakes winners at sprint trips, will tackle two turns for the first time in their respective careers in Monday’s GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn Park. Coal Front (Stay Thirsty), winner of the GII Amsterdam S. and GIII Gallant Bob S. at three, turned in a very disappointing effort first off a 13-month layoff, finishing a distant fifth as the 2-1 favorite in the GIII Bold Ruler H. at Aqueduct last November. Shipped out to trainer Todd Pletcher’s Florida string thereafter, the ridgling bounced back in no uncertain terms with a 3 3/4-length success, defeating next-out King Cotton S. winner Heartwood (Tapit) decisively into this. By a sire who won the GI Travers S. and was a close second in the GI Belmont S. and out of a mare by GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Mineshaft, Coal Front is bred 3×3 to A. P. Indy and should get the trip on pedigree, though he must work out a trip from gate 14. Copper Bullet (More Than Ready) has drawn pole position by contrast as he tries a route of ground. The four-length winner of the GII Saratoga Special S. in 2017, the bay could not have looked any better in winning a second-level Churchill allowance by 3 1/2 lengths Nov. 23, but weakened out to be 11th when last seen in the GI Malibu S. Dec. 26. The bay is a maternal grandson of Louve Royale (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), a stakes winner and Grade III-placed at turf marathon distances. All Out Blitz (Concord Point) ships in from California for this rich event in possession of some sneaky-good form. Second to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) in the Comma to the Top S. at Santa Anita in October, he was a wide-trip fourth in the Zia Park Derby Nov. 21. He exits an allowance tally at Santa Anita going a mile Jan. 6 in which he covered 32 feet (about 3 1/2 lengths) more ground than the runner-up. View the full article

Dwight Pruett’s speedy Gray Attempt (Graydar), who bested five returning rivals in the Jan. 25 Smarty Jones S., will look to see out an additional sixteenth against a formidable field in Monday’s GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn. The Jinks Fires pupil was a second-out winner sprinting at Churchill Nov. 25, and defeated a competitive group in front-running fashion in the six-panel Sugar Bowl S. at the Fair Grounds Dec. 22. He took up his preferred spot at the head of affairs in the short-stretch, one-mile Smarty Jones, and dug in to fend off Steve Asmussen pupils Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) and Boldor (Munnings) in an event that featured minimal changes in position from start to finish. The aforementioned pair are just two of the five Asmussen representatives signed on here. The Hall of Fame conditioner and two-time Southwest winner also saddled late-running (at least of late) Bankit (Central Banker), who had previously just missed to Long Range Toddy in the Dec. 16 Springboard Mile, to a sixth in the Smarty Jones. Asmussen’s most intriguing runner might be Jersey Agenda (Jersey Town). The big-striding dark bay broke through sprinting in the Churchill slop Nov. 24, and got a mile effectively in a local optional claimer Jan. 26. He possesses the speed to, if nothing else, keep Gray Attempt honest up front. Asmussen’s fifth Southwest entrant is Ninth Street (Street Boss), winner of the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta Downs in October and most recently second in that venue’s Big Drama S. Jan. 5. Among the out-of-town shippers is Starlight Racing’s Cutting Humor (First Samurai), a third-out graduate at Gulfstream Park West who received the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 85 for finishing second to well-regarded Bourbon War (Tapit) in a Jan. 18 Hallandale optional claimer. Also invading from Florida is Olympic Runner (Gio Ponti), who romped in a rained-off Gulfstream maiden special weight going this distance Jan. 26. He represents a Mark Casse barn that annexed the Martha Washington S. for the fillies here earlier in the month. Trainer Keith Desormeaux seeks back-to-back Southwests, having scored 12 months ago with My Boy Jack (Creative Cause). That runner used a third in Santa Anita’s GIII Sham S. as a springboard to victory, and Sueno (Atreides)–who annexed Golden Gate’s Gold Rush S. Dec. 1–was second in this year’s Sham. View the full article

Ed DeRosa of TwinSpires.com takes on TDN’s Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap each prep race leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets–highest bankroll after Arkansas Derby/Lexington day wins. DeRosa: Saturday – Kingly (+$150) was second best in the El Camino Real Derby, Owendale was eighth in the Risen Star. Bankroll: $680. GIII Southwest S. – In the Southwest, there is a lot of pace, including from Smarty Jones S. winner Gray Attempt. There was some concern about him handling two turns, and while that was no problem last out, the waters seem to get deeper here with added distance and pace pressure. The rail helps, but I still see him as vulnerable. Instead, we’ll take Smarty Jones runner-up Long Range Toddy, who showed some poise tracking the speed last out and made a sustained run before coming up short in the short stretch. The set up here should benefit him this time. Selection: #10 Long Range Toddy (10-1) Sherack: Saturday – Scratched into King of Speed, who endured a nightmare trip in the El Camino Real Derby, but finally got one in the win column with heavily favored War of Will in the Risen Star. Bankroll: $580. GIII Southwest S. – He won’t have an easy time of it up front, but I just can’t stay away from Jersey Agenda after a pair of very game and visually impressive front-running tallies. The son of Jersey Town thrived under pressure in both of those wins, including his two-turn debut going a mile in Hot Springs last time Jan. 26. This is a very nice horse. Selection: #5 Jersey Agenda (5-1) DiDonato: Saturday – Anothertwistafate (+$350) dominated at Golden Gate, but Dunph gave the impression that he’s probably best around one turn. Bankroll: $850. GIII Southwest S. – I liked Super Steed too much last time in the Smarty Jones to not give him one more chance here at a price. He really didn’t run a step, but much of that may have had to do with race dynamics. Obviously, the mile configuration helps horses with speed, and it didn’t hurt to be close to the pace early in the meet. The Smarty Jones chart is very telling–it was a total merry-go-round race with almost no passing. With this event over 1 1/16 miles, and plenty of speed signed on, Super Steed should have a much better chance. Selection: #6 Super Steed (20-1) Click here for Southwest Ultimate PPs from Brisnet.com. View the full article

Off a four-length romp in the Jan. 19 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Gary Barber's War of Will came back Feb. 16 and blew away his competition in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). View the full article

Tom Durant's Silver Dust rallied on the turn, was clear in the stretch, and won the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3) Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The son of Tapit got the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.46. View the full article

Breeze Easy's Late Night Pow Wow wasn't going to get her ninth straight victory without a fight. Spiced Perfection made sure of that in the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3) Feb. 16 at Laurel Park. View the full article

Pin Oak Stable's homebred Synchrony shook off the cobwebs Feb. 16 and secured his second straight Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T) victory by 1 1/4 lengths in a game season debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. View the full article

Dr. Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress returned to her top 2-year-old form in her sophomore debut, crushing her rivals in the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. She earned 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

WAR OF WILL (c, 3, War Front–Visions of Clarity {Ire}), a convincing winner of last month’s GIII Lecomte S., backed up that effort with another nice tally in Saturday’s GII Risen Star S. Marooned out in the 14 hole, the even-money choice lost minimal ground into the first turn as he ran up to sit a pace-pressing trip. He made his move perhaps slightly early to take over heading for home, and kept finding in the long Fair Grounds stretch to defeat green ‘TDN Rising Star’ Country House (Lookin At Lucky) by two or three lengths in 1:44.59. Longshot Roiland (Successful Appeal) juiced up the trifecta. Sales history: $175,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1. O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (Ky). T-Mark Casse. View the full article

Peter Redekop’s Anothertwistafate (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Imprecation, by First Defence) set all the pace and came home a resounding victor of the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Saturday. The 6-5 favorite broke on top, was pressed by Kingly (Tapit) through fractions of :23.39 and :49.09, but shrugged off that foe at the top of the lane and sailed home unchallenged to win by 10 lengths. He completed the nine furlongs in 1:50.38. Kingly was second and More Ice (More Than Ready) was third. Anothertwistafate was a lackluster ninth on debut at Santa Anita, but has not put a hoof wrong since returning to his home base at Golden Gate. He graduated by four lengths in his second start Dec. 9 and was a five-length winner of a Jan. 4 optional claimer last time out. A $360,000 OBS June graduate, Anothertwistafate is out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat). Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $94,545. O-Peter Redekop B C Ltd. B-Pursuit of Success (Ky). T-Blaine Wright. View the full article

Champion racehorse Beauty Generation has reinvigorated trainer John Moore as he enters the twilight of his illustrious career. Last season was the 68-year-old’s worst in Hong Kong since 2004-05, managing to chalk up just 33 wins, of which Beauty Generation accounted for five. With 32 winners already this season, Moore paid credit to his superstar six-year-old who has been the stable “flag-bearer” to the world. “Any trainer, anywhere in the world that picks up a world-... View the full article

Grey flash Zac Kasa strikes first-up View the full article

Poly sparks Revolution up for another win View the full article

Fame Star thanks to Duric View the full article

Toosbies too good at maiden win View the full article

Horses' test results February 16 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings February 17 View the full article

Horses' body weights February 17 View the full article

Early scratchings February 17 View the full article

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who looks to be holding a hot hand for upcoming graded events in Florida, sent his two star sophomores, Signalman (General Quarters) and Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats), to work Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park. The GII Kentucky Jockey Club winner Signalman breezed five furlongs in 1:00.11 (3/37). He is targeting the GII Fountain of Youth Mar. 2. “He worked good. I was happy with it,” said McPeek. The GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull winner Harvey Wallbanger went a half in :50.67. He is being pointed to the GI Florida Derby Mar. 30. “It was an easy half,” said McPeek. “It was his first work since the race. He’s done everything right.” Another top McPeek runner, GI Alcibiades S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Restless Rider (Distorted Humor), got her first piece of work this season. She went three panels in :39.47. View the full article

The money poured in on Joel Politi’s Serengeti Empress (Alternation) in the 10 minutes or so leading up to the start of the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds, as she tumbled from around 7-2 to be off as the 9-5 post-time favorite. The money proved right on, as the $70,000 Keeneland September yearling, making her seasonal debut and first start since finishing a very well-backed third to champion Jaywalk (Graydar) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs Nov. 2, was able to establish a fairly soft lead on a track that was playing kind to speed going both short and long and shot away from her rivals in the stretch to score by 4 1/2 lengths. Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}), a latest fourth to Needs Supervision (Paynter) in the Jan. 19 Silverbulletday S., rallied for second ahead of Eres Tu (Malibu Moon). The Rachel Alexandra offered points along the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 50-20-10-5 scale. There appeared to be enough speed signed on inside and outside of Serengeti Empress, but the chalk jumped straight into the bridle and led into the first turn from the rail-drawn Sandpiper S. romper Molto Bella (Violence) and Liora out three deep. Racing perhaps a touch keen through the middle stages, Serengeti Empress switched off nicely for James Graham to cut six panels in a fairly easy 1:12.45 and it was game over for all intents and purposes. Held together into the lane, she was shaken up with three-sixteenths of a mile to travel and ran out the easiest sort of winner. Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), the second choice off her win in the GII Demoiselle S. settled about midfield, but called it a day on the turn and trailed in. Needs Supervision raced four deep, no cover on the backstretch, was wide on the final bend and rallied mildly to be fifth. A debut winner at 1-5 at Indiana Grand on Independence Day, Serengeti Empress was fourth in the GIII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga July 20 before thrashing 10 other juvenile fillies by 13 1/2 lengths in the Ellis Park Debutante Aug. 19. She was in a race of her own in the GII Pocahontas S. Sept. 15, kicking home by a Rachel Alexandra-esque 19 1/2 lengths, but it was back down to earth on Breeders’ Cup Friday. Pedigree Notes: One of two graded winners for her Pin Oak-based sire and former ‘TDN Rising Star,’ Serengeti Empress is the lone foal from her dam, a daughter of Argentinian Group 3 winner and UAE Oaks third Love Dancing, who was bought back on a bid of $34,000 carrying the filly at Keeneland November in 2015. Havisham was reoffered back in foal to Alternation at KEENOV in 2016, hammering for $12,000, and produced a full-sister to Serengeti Empress in 2017, her last listed produce. Saturday, Fair Grounds RACHEL ALEXANDRA S.-GII, $198,000, Fair Grounds, 2-16, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.74, ft. 1–SERENGETI EMPRESS, 122, f, 3, by Alternation 1st Dam: Havisham, by Bernardini 2nd Dam: Love Dancing (Arg), by Salt Lake 3rd Dam: Le Midi (Arg), by Fitzcarraldo (Arg) ($25,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Joel Politi; B-Tri Eques Bloodstock, LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss; J-James Graham. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, $327,870. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Liora, 122, f, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Giant Mover, by Giant’s Causeway. ($175,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Coffeepot Stables; B-Dell Ridge Farm, LLC (KY); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $40,000. 3–Eres Tu, 122, f, 3, Malibu Moon–It’s True Love, by Yes It’s True. O/B-Edward A. Seltzer & Beverly Anderson (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $20,000. Margins: 4HF, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.90, 23.60, 25.00. Also Ran: Street Band, Needs Supervision, Oxy Lady, Molto Bella, Positive Spirit. Scratched: Bell’s the One, Chasing Yesterday. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

After a near seven-month absence, Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is scheduled to return to the saddle Feb. 18 at Santa Anita Park aboard Gallantlystreaming in the first race for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. View the full article

In the form of the high-class imports Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}) and Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), trainer Frankie Lor holds a strong hand in the 2019 Classics series in Hong Kong, and those two gallopers are well clear on ratings heading into Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin. Following a good third to loose-on-the-lead Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) in a Class 2 over 1600m Jan. 6, Lor reached out to jockey Hugh Bowman to ride Furore in the Classic Mile Jan. 27 and the decision paid dividends when the bay muscled his way out and charged home to best perfect-trip Mission Tycoon (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), with Ka Ying Star clinging on for third after setting the majority of the pace (click for a story on Furore from Sunday’s TDNAus/NZ edition). Dark Dream traveled three wide for the opening 1200 metres after leaving from a high draw and was about to launch his bid in earnest when a chain reaction caused by Furore saw him bumped soundly. He still wound up nicely down the centre, getting home in :22.38, but only good enough for fourth. The toughest-luck story in the Classic Mile belonged to Harmony Victory (Brz) (Public Purse), who was slow to begin and last of the 14 into the final 400m. He was also inconvenienced by the incident in the stretch and was snatched up off Dark Dream’s heels 350m out, but was actually home 0.01 faster than his rival to finish a deceptively good fifth. New to the Classic series are Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), winner of three straight, including a course-and-distance Class 2 win over Helene Leadingstar (Aus) (Wanted {Aus}) Jan. 20; and Red Warrior (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), owned by former HKJC Chairman Ron Arculli and a good-looking Class 2 winner at Happy Valley Jan. 30. Joao Moreira rides. WATCH: Furore wins the Hong Kong Classic Mile View the full article