Wandering Eyes

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

Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) faces arguably his biggest test of the season as he cuts back to 1400 metres for the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin. It was 12 months ago that Beauty Generation, exiting a below-par seventh in the G1 Stewards’ Cup, atoned for that effort with a gritty head defeat of the progressive Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in this event. He would go on to win the G1 Champions Mile to clinch year-end honours and has not tasted defeat since, including imperious wins in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December and in this year’s Stewards’ Cup (as the $1.15 chalk) last time out. While it is true that Beauty Generation is a far superior animal to this time last year, so, too, is Beat the Clock, and he comes into this rematch on the heels of a tough-as-nails success in the G1 Centenary Sprint Prize Jan. 20, besting dual G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) by a neck. The John Size yard is also represented by the talented Conte (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), who was no match for Beauty Generation in the Stewards’, but returns to the trip over which he won the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup H. two starts back. Despite the formidable competition, Beauty Generation’s trainer John Moore remains supremely confident. “It’s a fraction on the short side for him when you’re going in against Beat The Clock and Conte–this is probably their most preferable distance,” he told HKJC’s David Morgan. “But this horse, he is who he is, and I don’t think John Size will be wanting his two to take him on, they’ll sit and sprint.” Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) looks to make it three wins on the hop in the co-featured G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m). The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) victor took advantage of an ideal set-up to easily account for Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) in the G3 Centenary Vase H. (1800m) Jan. 27. Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) looks to defend his title in the race in which he broke the two-minute barrier last year, but will have to avoid a speed duel, even if trainer Frankie Lor has suggested that his full-brother and 2018 Hong Kong Cup winner Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko) would not engage early. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) has yet to finish in the top three this season and was a latest fourth over an insufficient mile in the Stewards’ Cup. In an attempt to shake things up, trainer Tony Cruz reaches out for Tommy Berry, who partnered Pakistan Star en route to victory in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup. View the full article

After nearly a seven-month absence, Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza will return to the saddle Monday at Santa Anita. He’s been named to ride Gallantlystreaming (Ire) in the first race for Hronis Racing, LLC and trainer John Sadler. The 46-year-old has been sidelined due to a fractured vertebra in his neck which was sustained in a morning workout at Del Mar July 22. “At first, I thought I was done, I really did,” Espinoza said. “At that point, I was thinking this is it, that my health has to come first and I was thinking about, ‘What am I going to do with my life?’ But about three months ago, it kind of happened overnight. I started feeling better and I felt like I could make it back. I’m ready. It’s good for me to know that I’m 100% and I can come back now and do my job.” View the full article

Hard Not to Love (f, 3, Hard Spun–Loving Vindication, by Vindication), a half-sister to Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) debuted with a front-running three-length victory Saturday at Santa Anita and became the second ‘TDN Rising Star’ of the afternoon. The 3-1 shot stepped right out to the early lead, zipped through fractions of :21.96, :44.77 and :56.85. She shrugged off the upper-stretch challenge of Flat Out Joy (Flat Out) and was easily the best to the wire, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.58. Over Emphasize (Overanalyze) was third. Hard Not to Love was a $400,000 KEESEP yearling. In addition to Canadian champion Wonder Gadot, she is also a half to stakes winner and graded stakes placed Solemn Tribute (Medaglia d’Oro). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Mercedes Stables, Scott Dilworth, David & Dorothy Ingordo & Steve Mooney. B-Anderson Farms Ont. Inc (On). T-John Shirreffs. View the full article

For the second consecutive year, Hronis Racing LLC was recognized as leading owner via total purse earnings by the Thoroughbred Owners of California. Hronis Racing also led all owners by number of California wins and number of stakes wins. Reddam Racing LLC brought home the award for most California starts. Hronis Racing runners earned a total of $3,838,910 in California last year, with 40 victories from 253 starts, including 12 stakes wins. Reddam Racing made 300 California starts in 2018 for earnings of $3,000,690. Both winners will be recognized at TOC’s Annual Meetings at Del Mar Racetrack Saturday, Aug. 10 and at Golden Gate Fields Saturday, Oct. 19. View the full article

Spendthrift Farm and Town and Country’s Get the Prize (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Hondo’s Way, by Giant’s Causeway) strode home a dominant three-length winner of his debut at Fair Grounds Saturday. The bay colt, an 8-1 shot, was away well and was soon at the head of affairs, setting fractions of :22.04 and :45.73 with New Frontier (Speightstown) in close attendance. He extended his advantage down the lane and continued to find more even as Bourbon Calling (Dialed In) closed late for second. New Frontier was third. The time for the six furlongs was 1:09.85. Get the Prize, a $125,000 Keeneland September yearling, sold for $410,000 after working a quarter in :21 flat at last year’s OBS March sale. His dam is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Nothing But Fun (Dixie Union). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $25,800. O-Spendthrift Farm & Town and Country. B-Diamond A Racing Corp (Ky). T-A Stall, Jr. View the full article

3rd-OP, $93K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 3:08 p.m. Todd Pletcher unveils a half-brother to his former pupil, MGSW and GI Belmont S. runner-up Commissioner (A.P. Indy), in INTREPID HEART (Tapit). Purchased for $750,000 at OBS April after breezing in :10 2/5, the gray is also a half to GSW & GISP Laugh Track (Distorted Humor); and the dam of Pletcher-trained brothers Vino Rosso (Curlin), winner of last term’s GII Wood Memorial S., and GSP ‘TDN Rising Star’ So Alive (Super Saver). The Robert and Lawana Low colorbearer is out of the Touch Gold mare Flaming Heart, a two-time stakes winner and GSP. Also debuting in this spot is Calumet Farm homebred Good as Money (Uncle Mo). The Steve Asmussen pupil is a son of two-time Canadian champion and millionaire Financingavailable (Kiridashi). TJCIS PPs View the full article

KARAMA (f, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Safarjal {Ire}, by Marju {Ire}) entered this debut with some hype, and came out of it with the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction. Pounded down to 9-5 despite a pedigree that seemed to lean particularly to turf, she zipped right out to a clear advantage through opening splits of :22.42 and :45.07. The homebred was still in command past the quarter pole, and was always doing plenty to fend off High Road (Quality Road) by about four lengths in 1:23.19. Karama hails from an extremely deep female family that includes highest-level winners like Nashwan, Nayef, Ghanaati, Lahudood (GB). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Shadwell Stable. B-Shadwell Farm LLC (Ky). T-Michael V Pino. View the full article