Wandering Eyes

Sol Kumin could win the Triple Crown and see Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl score another grade 1 victory on Belmont Stakes day June 9 at Belmont Park View the full article

Having to overcome a few issues to gain clear running, the victory in the G3 Grand Prix S. by Darren Weir’s Heavenly Thought (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) showed qualities in the colt that will see him right in the finish in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Derby. While the inside barrier may prove more of a hinderance than a positive, it at least gives jockey Brad Rawiller the option of going forward. Successful over 2000m at Randwick on May 26, the John O’Shea-trained Live And Free (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) could possibly start favourite based on his recent form, which would not surprise. Relatively lightly raced with three wins from six starts, the gelding is yet to be tried over 2200m, but his last two efforts outline his staying prowess. The lone filly to contest the race, backing up after her classy performance to take out the G1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) last Saturday, the Chris Waller-trained Youngstar (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has been in red-hot form with four consecutive wins, and if the boys are napping at any stage in the race, she could easily take the win. Unfortunately drawn one of the outside barriers, Heavenly Thought’s stablemate Lucky For All (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) put together three wins before an unlucky effort over 2100m at Sandown, and with an ounce of luck here, he does have winning form over the top selection. View the full article

With three outstanding runners, in fact the only three under double-figure odds, trainer Chris Waller’s chances of winning the G1 JJ Atkins Plate (1600m) look extremely favourable. While the unbeaten The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) comes into the race off two Randwick wins, the well-bred colt is yet to face stakes class, and although not a hinderance as such, his stablemate Lean Mean Machine (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) was an impressive winner last start in the G2 Sires’ Produce S., where he lead home a one-two finish for not only his sire, but trainer as well when Zousain (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) was three-parts of a length back in second. Jockey Corey Brown was effusive in his praise for Lean Mean Machine post-race last start, stating “He’s the real deal, this horse.” Clearly a horse on the up, The Autumn Sun’s last-start length victory over 1400m highlighted that the 1600m should pose no concern, and with his trainer going to $1.3-million at the Inglis Easter yearling sale earlier this year to secure his three-quarter brother, connections must have a very high opinion of their unbeaten colt. Qatar Bloodstock’s Zousain has all the right attributes to turn the tables on Lean Mean Machine, but with the outside barrier to contend with, he may need to make up considerable ground late. View the full article

Victorious in the G1 Stradbroke H. (1350m) 12 months ago, Godolphin’s Impending (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) looks right on track to go back-to-back and capture the 2018 running of the time-honoured race. A winner twice at the elite level already, both at the track and trip, the 4-year-old sat off them last start in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup before dashing home to take the prize, with Bjorn Baker’s 3-year-old filly Champagne Cuddles (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) a little over a length away in third. Dropping from the 55 kgs she carried that day to only 50 on Saturday, whereas Impending only drops 1.5, the weight pull should see a very interesting battle. Matt Dunn’s 4-year-old Care To Think (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) has always been a horse that has been aimed towards the race, and with two good efforts in the Doomben 10,000 and the Kingsford-Smith Cup, the Tim Clark-ridden gelding does have to overcome a wide barrier, but as a get back and run-on horse, his significant weight drop should see him charging late. Searching for his first Stradbroke win, jockey Jeff Lloyd took the ride on the lightly weighted 3-year-old Perast (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), and with the requirement to ride at a weight he hasn’t been at since riding in South Africa, connections must be confident of a forward showing from the multiple stakes winner. With a very good second-up record, the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) is a Group 1 winner over 1600m, and after a very positive fourth first-up in the G3 Glenlogan Park S. coupled with a significant weight drop from that run, the Michael Dee-ridden mare could be a sneaky chance at good odds. In what could be his last run before retiring to stand at Aquis Farm, the Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig-trained Speith (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) ran on encouragingly in the Doomben 10,000 and with the race conditions seeing him carrying 5 kgs less, it should make Craig Williams’s job slightly easier, even though he has drawn the outside barrier. View the full article

Superstar jockey Joao Moreira will quit Hong Kong racing at season’s end to go to Japan and prepare for the rigorous tests required to become the Japan Racing Association’s third full-time foreign rider. With the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s licensing committee scheduled to meet on Friday, Moreira has withdrawn his application to ride in the 2018-19 season in a move that will shock the racing world. Moreira will apply for a short term Japan Racing Association (JRA) licence, just as... View the full article

In this ongoing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses: Saturday, June 9, 2018 5th-Hanshin, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT KYUDOKUN (c, 2, Into Mischief–Air France, by French Deputy), a $90K KEESEP acquisition, is a debuting half-brother to MGSW Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz), GSW Overdriven (Tale of the Cat) and to Super Phoebe (Malabar Gold), whose daughter Got Stormy (Stormy Atlantic) took out last Saturday’s Penn Oaks. The deeper female family includes MGSW & GISP Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), dam of GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire}) and MGSW Mohaymen (Tapit). B-Mount Joy Stables Inc (KY) 9th-Tokyo, ¥28,600,000 ($260k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2100m RESONATOR (c, 4, Blame–Bluegrass Sara, by Tabasco Cat) went on a three-race tear in late 2016 into early 2017, capped by an easy allowance victory at Hanshin in April (video below, gate 9). A close fourth in the Listed Japan Dirt Derby, he races first up since December. A $130K KEESEP yearling, Resonator hails from the family of GSWs Street Babe (Street Sense) and Richwoman (Successful Appeal) and GISW Videogenic (Caucasus). B-Hubert Vester (KY) WATCH: Resonator winning at Hanshin last April Sunday, June 10, 2018 5th-Tokyo, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT DANON CITY (JPN) (c, 2, Medaglia d’Oro–City to City, by City Zip) is out of a mare who won four American graded events on the turf for Will de Burgh, Mark DeDomenico and part-owner/trainer Jerry Hollendorfer–including the 2012 GII John C. Mabee S. (video)–before being purchased by K I Farm in utero for $775K at KEENOV in 2015. The March foal’s female family includes multiple Canadian champion Rainbow Connection (Halo). B-K I Farm –Alan Carasso View the full article

The curtain came down on the marathon Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast on Thursday, and records were returned for the cumulative average and clearance rate. The gross surpassed A$140-million, while the average for the sales of weanlings, yearlings, broodmare and racehorses was A$89,039. The clearance rate finished at 83%. “To have a gross again over $140-million is a phenomenal result,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “The National Breeding Stock Sale has once again proven itself as the number one sale of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.” “So many people have played their part in making this year’s National Sale such a success. The vendors, their staff, buyers, the transport companies and drivers, strappers, change over crew and wait staff at the complex should all be congratulated.” “But I really must pay tribute to the Magic Millions team who have stepped up to the plate and shown incredible dedication from the lead up to this massive event until today. It was a huge team effort and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts.” Thursday’s action featured Book 2 of the three-day yearling sale, as well as a small offering of racehorses. Queensland studs sold the three top-priced yearlings, headed by Grandview Park’s Red Element (Aus) colt (lot 2198) who was picked up by the Macau-based owner and trainer combination of Jason Tam and James Moore for A$90,000. Eureka Stud sold the day’s two highest-priced fillies, both by its standout first-season sire Spirit of Boom (Aus). Lot 2115 was selected by Tony Sears for A$50,000, while The Last Stride took home lot 2159 for A$40,000. A small offering of racehorses saw Godolphin sell the 16 top-priced lots, headed by the 3-year-old gelding Nathula (Aus) (Sepoy {Aus}) (lot 2349), a recent Warwick Farm placegetter. He was bought by Hong Kong’s Bridle Bloodstock for A$165,000. Asian connections scooped the second-highest priced offering as well, the 3-year-old Exceed and Excel (Aus) gelding and two-time winner Thrilled (Aus) (lot 2376), who is headed to Singapore after being bought by Constance Cheng for A$120,000. View the full article

1st-Dieppe, €18,000, Mdn, 6-7, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:05.10, sf. TUDO BEM (FR) (c, 2, Sommerabend {GB}–Boulba d’Alben {Fr}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) earned minor prizes in his first three starts, including a last-out fourth tackling six panels at Angers May 24, and raced in a handy third through halfway here. Coming under pressure to challenge inside the two pole, the 22-5 comfortably dominated in the closing stages and hit the line four lengths in advance of Primeravez (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Shamardal). Half-brother to the yearling colt Bene Bene (Fr) (Zanzibari), he is the also the first scorer from three runners for Boulba d’Alben (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ore}), herself a winning daughter of G3 Prix du Petit Couvert-winning French highweight Wixon (Fr) (Fioravanti). Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-1, €19,020. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O/T-Mathieu Boutin; B-Mathieu Boutin & Mme Carole Sineux (FR). View the full article

Jack Wong Ho-nam heads into Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin needing just one win to outride his five-pound claim and Garlic Yeah looks a solid chance of giving him the milestone victory in the Class Four Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap (1,800m). Wong returned to Hong Kong from a stint in New Zealand in 2015 and while not attracting the same headlines as some of his contemporaries at times, he has proven to be a dependable conveyance since. The 24-year-old has been the quiet achiever of the local... View the full article

After a slow start to his career, Deal Maker looks capable of putting a win on the board soon after a strong showing at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The four-year-old struggled in three starts earlier this season, but he looked a different horse in his first run for new trainer Benno Yung Tin-pang. Yung has taken his time with Deal Maker – his previous appearance at the races was on February 18 – and it looks to have paid off. Derek Leung Ka-chun took the ride in the Class Four... View the full article

Freedman all set for Stewards' test View the full article

Lerner, Finnegan, Poon, Lim newly-licensed; 18 jockeys and 17 apprentice jockeys renewed View the full article

Team Brown hopeful of good run from Cup duo View the full article

“Inside the Winner’s Circle, Presented by Keeneland” is a series showcasing graduates of the Keeneland September sale that have gone on to achieve success on racing’s biggest stages. When the brilliantly talented Unique Bella (Tapit) reported home a 2 1/4-length winner in the GI Beholder Mile S. Saturday at Santa Anita, the accomplishment represented the latest payout on an exercise in patience for Don Alberto Stable, the nom de course for the Solari family of Chile, which has gradually ramped up its presence in American racing in recent years. Unique Bella has carried the banner for the stable over the past two seasons, with her top performances stamping her as one of the most talented Thoroughbreds in training and a force to be reckoned with in the distaff division. Unique Bella’s career has unfolded with a series of bumps in the road, however, forcing Don Alberto manager Carlos Heller of the Solari family to readjust the stable’s expectations and goals numerous times. With Don Alberto advisor and racing manager Fernando Diaz-Valdes speaking on his behalf, Heller told the TDN that Saturday’s victory was an important step towards a successful 2018 campaign. “We’re very happy to start on the right foot,” Heller said of the filly’s win in the Beholder, which righted the ship after a poor break from the gate in the Apr. 13 GI Apple Blossom resulted in a second-place finish as the heavy favorite. “She did what she’s supposed to do and broke well in the Beholder. We were a little concerned because the fractions were quite fast–they went :22, :44, 1:09, 1:22–but she proved that she’s a very special filly.” A daughter of leading stallion Tapit out of GI Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled’s Song), Unique Bella had every right to be special from day one. Heller recalled how the eye-catching gray was instantly on the team’s radar upon their arrival to the 2015 Keeneland September sale. “We love Tapit, of course,” Heller said. “She was a nice, powerful filly coming from a nice female line. The mother was a Grade I winner and the second dam was a [two-time] graded stakes winner. We looked at her and immediately liked the filly. I said ‘I’m going to go for it,’ and the rest is history.” Because Unique Bella was offered very early in the September sale as Hip 8, Heller and Diaz-Valdes did not have a difficult time securing the Pennsylvania-bred for a seemingly reasonable $400,000. “She was quite early, and there weren’t too many people there at that moment,” Heller said. “You never know.” When Unique Bella joined Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s string in Southern California, however, the Don Alberto team instantly knew they had a talented filly on their hands, according to Heller. Nevertheless, her physical prowess–a muscular frame towering well over 16 hands in height–proved to be somewhat of an obstacle in the earliest stages of her career. Hammered down to 3-10 favoritism for her five-furlong career debut at Santa Anita in June 2016, Unique Bella broke from the gate last of six horses and closed belatedly to finish second behind eventual MSW sprinter Chalon (Dialed In). While the setback and the subsequent five-month wait for her second start undoubtedly required patience, Heller said Unique Bella ultimately proved better for the experience. “Immediately, she started showing a ton of class,” Heller said of the filly’s earliest days with Hollendorfer. “But she broke badly at the starting gate [in her debut]. She was huge at that moment, she was over 16-2, 16-3. She was training phenomenally, but that debut race was only five furlongs. We were a little disappointed, of course. But in her second start at Del Mar, she proved what we were all thinking. Everyone was on the same page that she was training very well and had a ton of ability. She showed us this since day one.” With her career successfully jump-started after her November 2016 graduation at Del Mar, Unique Bella reeled off a dominant string of victories over increasing distances at Santa Anita in the GII Santa Ynez S., GII Las Virgenes S. and GIII Santa Ysabel S. Having won the three races by a combined 18 1/2 lengths, the fleet-footed gray appeared poised to claim her first Grade I win in the Santa Anita Oaks as a springboard to the important GI Kentucky Oaks in early May. But as fate would have it, Unique Bella developed a shin injury in late March, forcing Don Alberto’s plans to be put on hold once again. It would be nearly seven months before their stable star made it back to the races. During that time, a handful of fillies she soundly defeated in the winter months at Santa Anita went on to achieve at a high level–namely Abel Tasman (Quality Road), who captured the Kentucky Oaks as well as the GI Acorn S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks; and stablemate It Tiz Well (Arch), who progressed throughout the summer to annex the GI Cotillion S. in September. If patience was the name of the game, Heller and company could at least take solace in the apparent confirmation that Unique Bella more than belonged in Grade I company. “We were sad because she was doing very well,” Heller said of Unique Bella at the time of her shin injury. “Unfortunately, we had to miss the Santa Anita Oaks first. We had to stop on her because we wanted to have a nice filly for the future…We knew what we had because we had beaten all those nice fillies.” Unique Bella finally returned to the races in Santa Anita’s Oct. 8 GIII L.A. Woman S. over 6 1/2 furlongs in an attempt to sharpen her for a try in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint less than one month later at Del Mar. She drubbed the field at 2-5 odds in the L.A. Woman, but ultimately was unable to play catch-up and finished a tiring seventh at the Breeders’ Cup. “What happened last year was that we started a little bit late,” Heller explained. “For one reason or another, we didn’t do well, but we know she was training well.” Don Alberto’s enduring faith in Unique Bella was confirmed in late December, when the filly finally earned her first Grade I victory in the La Brea S. at Santa Anita. That win secured an Eclipse Award for champion female sprinter of 2017 and opened the door for new goals in 2018. While nobody would suggest that Unique Bella’s career has progressed smoothly or without speed bumps to date, the brilliance of her top performances have been a guiding light of sorts for her connections as they plot a path toward the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November. “That’s what we’d love to do and that’s where we’re heading,” Heller said of the World Championships. “At the moment, we’ll probably go to the [July 29 GI] Clement Hirsch, maybe the [Aug. 25 GI] Personal Ensign, then the [GI] Zenyatta and the Breeders’ Cup. That’s what we’re mapping out. We have to go one step at a time. She’s doing pretty well, she’s more calm and we’re all happy, so hopefully we show we have a nice filly for the rest of the year. Worst come to worst, she’s a great broodmare prospect for us.” View the full article

Horseman Ron A. Felix, who trained horses in South Florida and Detroit Race Course in Michigan, died Wednesday at the age of 80 in Miami. A multiple stakes-winning trainer, Felix retired from training in 1987 to become the racing manager for Team Canonie Stable, which won 40 races in seven years in the early 2000s. View the full article

The seventh annual Totally Thoroughbred Horse Show, presented by Beyond the Wire, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 at Pimlico. The show has been moved from its original date of July 7 due to heavy rains the past month. Canter for the Cause will still take place on its original date, July 8, on Pimlico’s main track. All proceeds from Totally Thoroughbred Horse Show ticket sales and entry fees will benefit Beyond the Wire, the Thoroughbred aftercare program launched in 2016 by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. Since 2012, the Totally Thoroughbred Horse Show has offered more than $95,000 in prize money and raised more than $67,000 to benefit Maryland Thoroughbred aftercare charities. View the full article

ELMONT, NY – Well before unbeaten Triple Crown hopeful Justify (Scat Daddy)’s highly anticipated early afternoon arrival from Kentucky–more on that in a bit–there were plenty of GI Belmont Stakes runners out stretching their legs for routine gallops during early training hours on a beautiful Wednesday morning on Long Island. The Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Vino Rosso (Curlin) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) were out at 6 a.m. sharp without their Belmont S. saddle towels on as the rising sun attempted to make its way through partly cloudy skies. With the legendary D. Wayne Lukas riding shotgun aboard his stable pony, GI Preakness S. runner-up Bravazo (Awesome Again) wasn’t far behind the Pletcher duo entering the track about a minute or two later. Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen), winner of the Belmont’s traditional prep GIII Peter Pan S., stood by the rail by the clubhouse gap and took in the somewhat surprising serene scene at 6:15 a.m. You can expect a much different atmosphere here in the coming days, that’s for sure. Hofburg (Tapit), the 9-2 second-choice on the Belmont S. morning-line, entered through the tunnel accompanied by a pony after taking a tour of the paddock at 6:55 a.m. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tijori, the first winner for champion 3-year-old colt and freshman sire Will Take Charge, really made her presence felt during this early timeslot as well. The striking chestnut, a $525,000 OBS March purchase by Kaleem Shah this spring, headlines Thursday’s Astoria S. after airing in a Santa Anita maiden special weight for Simon Callaghan last month. Streaking European invader Gronkowski (Lohnro {Aus}) was the final of the Belmont contenders spotted training on the main track, galloping in a pair of black blinkers after the break just before 9 a.m. There was plenty of activity in the picturesque Belmont paddock just before noon, too. With trainer Chad Summers keeping a close eye on his every move, school was in session for popular New York-bred Mind Your Biscuits (Posse). The two-time G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s prestigious GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes led dual Classic winner Justify off the van to the familiar sound of clicking camera shutters in front of a packed house at Barn 1 just after 2 p.m. Just as he did in Baltimore, Barnes passed the baton to Baffert, who walked the big horse under the shedrow as the slew of media in attendance continued to snap away. “He was, like, ‘Let’s get it on,'” Baffert said during a 15-minute press conference once Justify settled in. “He got off the van and he was dragging me around there and all the horses in the barn were all screaming and yelling–he got their attention somehow. It’s almost like they were greeting him. It’s a pretty cool feeling.” Baffert concluded, “You’re in New York. The place is going to be rocking.” View the full article

3rd-BEL, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, post time: 3:03 p.m. ET A maiden befitting the start of the Belmont S. festival features a gaggle of well-bred firsters. Phipps homebred COVER STORY (War Front) is a son of MGSW & GISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), making her a half to Grade I-winning turfer Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), MSP Reflecting (Elusive Quality) and SP Browse (Medaglia d’Oro). Second dam Get Lucky (Mr. Prospector) was the dam of Daydreaming’s Grade I-winning full-brother Girolamo, GSW & GISP Accelerator (A.P. Indy) as well as Supercharger (A.P. Indy), dam of GI Kentucky Derby Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) and GSWs Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d’Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). Mybigitalianfriend (Union Rags), a half-brother to GISW Currency Swap (High Cotton), has been training well at Momouth Park for her debut; Jay Em Ess homebred Acting Chipper (Street Sense) is out of GSW & MGISP Acting Happy (Empire Maker), herself a daughter of GISW I Ain’t Bluffing; and Cosita Mia (Distorted Humor) is out of an unraced daughter of champion Flanders (Seeking the Gold), the dam of fellow Eclipse Award winner Surfside (Seattle Slew). TJCIS PPs 1st-CD, $51K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 5:00 p.m. EDT DREAM MAKER (Tapit) gets his career started for owner/breeder John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse and has pedigree power in his corner, as he is a full-brother to last year’s GI Del Mar Oaks winner Dream Dancing and a half to GSP Sky Dreamer (Sky Mesa), the dam of UAE G3 winner Kimbear (Temple City). Second dam Beautiful Pleasure (Maudlin), a sister to MGISW Mecke, won the 1999 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff for Oxley and trainer John Ward. Fluminense (More Than Ready) was hammered down for $410K at KEESEP last year, the fifth most expensive of 52 yearlings by his sire to sell. He is out of a half-sister to five black-type winners, including MGSW & MGISP Out of Control (Brz) (Vettori {Ire}). TJCIS PPs 4th-SA, $59K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, post time: 5:08 p.m. EDT GIZA GODDESS (Cairo Prince) fetched $200K as a KEESEP yearling from West Point Thoroughbreds and Mercedes Stable and is out of a half-sister to MGSW The Pamplemousse (Kafwain) and SW American Lady (Stormy Atlantic), the latter of whom is the dam of a Pioneerof the Nile colt that fetched $850K at OBSMAR this year. TJCIS PPs 7th-SA, $61K, Alw/Opt. Clm., 3yo, f, 6f, post time: 6:47 p.m. EDT Three Chimneys Farm homebred AMADA RAFAELA (Distorted Humor) got pounded into 7-10 favoritism for her track-and-trip debut May 5 and made that look like value when storming home to graduate by 8 1/4 lengths en route to the ‘TDN Rising Star’ badge. Same as he did with ‘Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) following his barnstorming debut success, trainer Bob Baffert elects to remove the blinkers for this first start against winners. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Wonder Gadot, who has been holding her own against the best of her set south of the border, returns to friendlier confines June 9 for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented By Budweiser. View the full article

Back-to-back Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winner will look for his first at the one-turn-mile distance in the June 9 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park. View the full article

Having won two of the four prior runnings of the GIII Wonder Again S., and three of four renewals of the race it serves as a springboard to–the GI Belmont Oaks–it shouldn’t come as a surprise that trainer Chad Brown looks tough in Thursday’s edition of the former. The Eclipse Award-winning trainer will saddle three in the Wonder Again, led by 8-5 morning-line chalk Significant Form (Creative Cause). Taken down for interference after a head-turning victory at the Spa first out in August, the Stephanie Seymour Brant colorbearer bypassed a return to maiden ranks and officially earned her diploma in this venue’s GIII Miss Grillo S. Oct. 1. Fourth to stablemate Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf out at Del Mar Nov. 3, Significant Form resurfaced at Aqueduct Apr. 22 to romp in the Memories of Silver S. by 6 1/4 lengths. She’ll stretch out an additional sixteenth here. “She was able to change tactics and go to the lead [last time], which I don’t think is a preferable way to run, but with no pace in the race, she did it and drew off nicely,” said Brown. “She ran terrific. I think the longer [distance], the better for her.” Brown’s other two are Mighty Scarlett (Scat Daddy), a last-out Keeneland graduate going 1 3/16 miles in fast time Apr. 27; and Altea (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was third beaten a head in her Stateside debut in the Mar. 10 GIII Florida Oaks. That import was most recently fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in Churchill’s GIII Edgewood S. May 4. Third in the Edgewood was ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Daddy is a Legend (Scat Daddy), who finished one spot behind Rushing Fall. She took Del Mar’s GIII Jimmy Durante S. Nov. 25. La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) merits a look based on that Edgewood form. She was second in her first U.S. start in a Keeneland allowance Apr. 11 behind Edgewood winner Toinette (Scat Daddy). The fourth finisher in that allowance was another Brown pupil who took an optional claimer here last month. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday’s Insights features a daughter of G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). 5.45 Leopardstown, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, f, 7f 25yT SECRET THOUGHTS (War Front) is one of two high-profile debutantes for Ballydoyle in this race won by the stable’s subsequent G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and last year by September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). She is the first foal out of this establishment’s Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), a winner of that Curragh Classic herself whose half-sister Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) recently won the Listed Cheshire Oaks. Joining her is Fire Fly (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third and G2 Superlative S. winner Gustav Klimt (Ire) and other top-level performers Mars (Ire) and Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). 5.55 Sandown, Cond, £7,000, 2yo, f, 5f 10yT HEARTWARMING (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) runs in the colours of Hot To Trot Racing, who will be hoping that lightning can strike twice after their G2 Queen Mary S. success with this newcomer’s half-sister Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) last year. Clive Cox introduces her in a contest full of potential talent including Cheveley Park Stud’s Vivionn (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a 500,000gns TAOCT RNA who is a full-sister to the recet G3 Sandown Classic Trial runner-up Ispolini (GB) and half to the useful Playful Sound (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}). From the excellent middle-distance family of Nathaniel (Ire), it is fascinating that Sir Michael Stoute starts her over this trip which is much too sharp on pedigree. View the full article

The lightly raced son of Curlin out of the Tapit mare Temptress will be making just his fifth start June 9 in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), but owner Ron Winchell has no reservations about running the colt back on three weeks' rest. View the full article

3rd-Kempton, £10,000, Cond, 6-6, 3yo/up, 7f (AWT), 1:25.54, st/sl. RED MIST (GB) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}–Red Dune {Ire} {SP-Eng & Ger, $112,848}, by Red Ransom), who was second to the recent G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains runner-up Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Listed Washington Singer S. over seven furlongs at Newbury in August and fourth in the G2 Champagne S. also at that trip at Doncaster in September, wasted no time in stamping his authority on affairs with front-running maestro Silvestre de Sousa quick to galvanise. Never in any danger, the 8-15 favourite had six lengths to spare over Skydiving (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}) at the line. The winner, whose half-sister Feedyah (Street Cry {Ire}) was runner-up in the 2014 G3 UAE Oaks, is out of the smart seven-furlong performer Red Dune who was bought for €1.05million at Goffs in 2006. Her dam Desert Beauty (Ire) (Green Desert) is out of the high-class Ballymacoll racemare and broodmare Hellenic (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) responsible for Islington (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), Greek Dance (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and Mountain High (Ire) (Danehill). Also connected to the G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Australian Cup and G2 Princess of Wales’s S.-winning champion Fiorente (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), Red Dune has a 2-year-old filly by New Approach (Ire) named Neesaan (GB) and a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire). Lifetime Record: SP-Eng, 4-2-1-0, $26,244. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Simon Crisford. View the full article

Dual classic winner Justify was the first horse off a large Brook Ledge Horse Transportation van at 2:10 p.m. June 6 at Belmont Park. View the full article