Wandering Eyes

Undeated G1 Dewhurst S. hero Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will resume in the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury on Apr. 13, the same route taken by undefeated champion Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) prior to his G12000 Guineas conquest, the Racing Post reported on Wednesday. The John Gosden trainee has been cantering on Warren Hill’s all-weather this week. Off the mark at Sandown in August, Lord Lloyd-Webber’s homebred ‘TDN Rising Star’ added the G3 Solario S. on Sept. 1 and the G2 Champagne S. on Sept. 15 before his Dewhurst triumph. “Too Darn Hot is fresh and well and we are pointing towards the Greenham with him,” Gosden told Racing Post. “Newbury comes before the Craven meeting this year, which is unusual, but affords us a bit more time for recovery before the 2000 Guineas itself. It rarely goes that way but Easter is very late this year.” View the full article

After two years under contract with trainer Hugo Palmer, Josephine Gordon will ride as a freelancer this year, Racing Post reports. “I would like to thank Hugo for taking the plunge and appointing me two years ago which gave me so many opportunities including winning my first group race,” Gordon told Racing Post. “Also I was able to ride in my first Grade I race in the U.S. which is something I’ll never forget. “The plan now is to ride as a freelance this year and I’ve been riding out for a few new trainers lately including Ed Dunlop, who I’ve never ridden work for before. Hopefully I can also still ride for Hugo but it makes sense to keep my options open. It’s the start of the season and everyone is raring to go and it’s a good time to be in Newmarket.” In 2017, Gordon became just the second female jockey to ride a century of winners in a calendar year, her tally wrapping up at 106. That number dropped to 56 last year, however she was also out a month after injuring a hand. View the full article

Knicks Go (Paynter), the upset winner of last year’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity before finishing second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was crowned Maryland-bred Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old male for 2018 at the second-annual Renaissance Awards, held Feb. 12 in Baltimore in recognition of excellence in Maryland Thoroughbred racing and breeding. Knicks Go was bred by Angie Moore, who operates GreenMount Farm in Glyndon, Md. with her daughter Sabrina. Champion 2-year-old filly honors went to GI Frizette S. runner-up Brucia La Terra (El Padrino). Still Having Fun (Old Fashioned), upsetter of the GII Woody Stephens S. at Belmont, was named champion sprinter and champion 3-year-old male; while champion 3-year-old filly honors went to Sunland Park Oaks and GIII Comely S. heroine Blamed (Blame). Two-time stakes winner Laki (Cuba) was named champion older male. Champion older female and champion turf runner honors went to I’m Betty G (Into Mischief), heroine of the Lady Canterbury S. and Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf S. Top steeplechaser went to Dawn Wall (Not For Love). Richard Golden’s Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds was named breeder of the year; Northview Stallion Station’s Great Notion took home his third-straight stallion title; and Casual Kiss, the dam of Still Having Fun, was honored as broodmare of the year. For more information, visit www.marylandthoroughbred.com. View the full article

Tandem bills cross filed in both the Tennessee General Assembly and Senate within the past week are aiming to restore the state’s 20-years-dormant horse racing commission. The sponsoring legislators said this could be a first step in legalizing pari-mutuel betting in the state, which could in turn entice a developer to build a track there. Tennessee has a rich equine history, but the legislature banned horse race gambling in 1905. According to The Tennessean, in 1987 lawmakers approved the Racing Control Act, which legalized pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and created the Tennessee State Racing Commission to oversee tracks. Several venues were proposed, but they either couldn’t survive local referendums or got knocked down in the courts by litigation, and none were built. Without any tracks to license or regulate, the racing commission–which consisted of just one individual for a number of years–was disbanded in 1998. In 2015 lawmakers repealed the Racing Control Act. In 2016 they launched an advisory committee to try and bring a version of it back. Horse racing in Tennessee currently consists of the non-profit Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, which runs a well-attended, one-day, non-betting meet at Percy Warner Park each May. Farther beneath the radar, non-sanctioned Quarter Horse match races exist at Carril de Memphis, an “outlaw” track west of Memphis that openly advertises its schedule of race dates on Facebook. The money flowing across state lines to gambling venues in bordering Mississippi and Arkansas was cited as an impetus to resurrect horse racing in Tennessee. “What I’m trying to do is reactivate the horse racing commission, so maybe if we can induce people to start coming to Tennessee for horse racing, with the sports betting thing, I think it’ll help us,” Rep. Joe Towns, a Memphis Democrat, told the Daily Memphian. “If we do horse racing, we’ll be able to compete, and that’s a different quality of gambler.” A companion bill was filed in the Senate by Democratic Sen. Raumesh Akbari. Yet a third bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Frank Nicely, could also be in the works. The Daily Memphian reported that Nicely had initially tried to introduce his version of the bill in 2018, but that it “stalled because of concerns over the use of certain drugs in race horses and a portion of the bill delaying racing age until 3 years old in contrast to 2 years old in most states.” View the full article

Early nominations for the $1.25-million GI Longines Kentucky Oaks and $1-million Old Forester Turf Classic to be held at Churchill Downs on GI Kentucky Derby weekend May 3 and May 4, respectively, are due Saturday. The cost to nominate at this stage for the Oaks is $200 and $100 for the Turf Classic. Both prestigious events received purse increases for 2019–the Oaks purse was raised by $250,000, while the Turf Classic’s was doubled. Owners and trainers may nominate by calling the Churchill Downs racing office at (502) 636-3806. Forms are available here. A late nomination period for either race–which will require a $1500 payment–will open Sunday and continue through Apr. 13. View the full article

Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) holds an entry for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint up the six-furlong straight course at Meydan Mar. 30, but any realistic chance of making the field for that US$2-million event hinged on his performance the featured Class 1 Happy Valley Trophy H. (1200m) Wednesday evening. Sent off the $6.10 third favourite, the bay made life difficult on himself with a tardy dispatch, but he darted through from between rivals inside the furlong and was shoved across the line first by Alexis Badel for a nifty success. Dropping in grade off a third-place effort in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy H. Jan. 6 in which he reared at the break and was bumped, then was short of room at a critical juncture (video), Wishful Thinker raced last but one for the opening half-mile around the city circuit. But the 5-year-old was stoked up by Badel 400m out and closed off in a race-fastest :22.82 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (video). “It was a fantastic performance from the horse again,” winning trainer Richard Gibson told the HKJC’s David Morgan. “I thought he was the best horse going into the race but he’s pretty unsuited to this track, he loves a straight 1200, so with a bit of luck we’ll be on our way to Dubai.” Added Badel, who now sits on 10 winners and concludes his injury-interrupted winter contract this weekend: “He’s very talented and it’s impossible to say how much he might improve after this. He’s always moving a little bit in the gate, he’s just like this and there’s nothing you can do as a jockey–just try to relax him and focus him because he is his own enemy.” An A$80,000 purchase by Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency out of the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Sale, he was bought back for A$120,000 out of the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale later that year. Raced in Australia as Katsuro, he was a Ballarat maiden winner at second asking for trainer Mick Price and closed that portion of his career with a handicap tally at Moonee Valley in June 2017. View the full article

The New York Racing Association has announced the formation of what it is billing as the Turf Triple Series. The series will consist of three grass races each for 3-year-old males and 3-year-old females and will be worth a combined $5.25 million The series for males will be called the Turf Trinity, and will offer total purses of $3 million. The trio of races for fillies has been named the Turf Tiara and will be worth $2.25 million. “Obviously, American racing is moving in a direction where turf racing is becoming more and more important, said NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza. “NYRA is fortunate to have the resources to do something like this. Before, there was not a set pattern of turf races for the 3-year-old colts or fillies, so I think this helps give those groups some structure and a pattern to follow. At those purse levels, it allows people to make investments in the types of horses that look like they’ll prosper in races like this, whether that means buying horses from overseas or going to the sales looking for horses where it appears they’ll be good on the turf.” The races for males will be run at the same distance as the American Triple Crown dirt races, starting at a mile and a quarter, followed by a mile and three-sixteenths and concluding with a mile-and-a-half race. The two series will begin July 6 at Belmont during the “Stars and Stripes Festival” and with races that had previously been on the NYRA calendar. The boys will run in the $1-million GI Belmont Derby Invitational, while the girls will compete in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, which will carry a $750,000 purse. The purse of the Belmont Derby was cut by $200,000 and the filly race went from $1 million to $750,000. But the reduction in those purses will more than be made up by the addition of the extra races. The series will then move to Saratoga on Friday, August 2 with the inaugural Saratoga Oaks for the fillies. The race will be run at a 1 3/16 miles. The males will have their turn Sunday, August 4 with the inaugural $1-million Saratoga Derby. The series will then move to Belmont for the fall meet. Saturday, Sept. 7 will feature the $1-million Jockey Club Derby for males and the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks for fillies. The Jockey Club Derby, though it will not be a graded race, will be a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Jockey Club Oaks will be run at 1 3/8 miles. Panza said one of the reasons the filly series will end at 11, instead of 12 furlongs, is because the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf is typically run at 1 3/8 miles or shorter. All six of the races will be broadcast on national television, either on the NBC or Fox families of channels. Panza said there will be no bonuses given out this year, but held out the possibility one will be given to any horses sweeping the series in the future. He said the problem is that insurance companies are reluctant to provide coverage for bonuses attached to horse races when they have no data to go on to base the probability of a horse winning all three legs. NYRA will obviously try to attract as many European shippers as possible to New York to take part in the Triple Turf Series. Even though the New York races will be going up against some prestigious and lucrative Group I races in Europe, Panza believes they are well positioned to attract a number of foreign horses. “Usually, starting in July, the European 3-year-olds have to run against older horses and so, in the August and September races, if the European horsemen want to keep their horses running against straight 3-year-olds this will give them to chance to do so. With the Sept. 7 races, the Arc is a month away, so that should give them enough time to go back and run there if they desire. The British Champions Day is in mid-October, so our races are also a good fit for any European stables that want to point for that. We didn’t set these races up specifically to benefit the Europeans We thought with the way we laid the schedule out it was also the best way to go for U.S. based horses. It bodes well for both.” View the full article

Oaklawn Park, which has frequently mad mid-meet increases to purses in recent years, announced its first purse bump for the 2019 meet Wednesday. All overnight purses have been increased retroactive to the Feb. 14 card, which drew last Friday. Maiden special weights and open allowances have received $6,000 increases to $83,000 and $87,000, respectively. Purses for claiming races with a claiming tag of $16,0000 or more, maiden claimers at the $20,000 level or higher, and starter allowances have all been raised by $3,000. All other purses will get a $2,000 hike. “We’re off to a fantastic start because the fans have responded to great weather and great racing,” President Louis Cella said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the response we’ve gotten in support of our new race dates. We opened later and had one of the best opening weekends in 10 years… We are mindful of the fact that bigger purses bring in the best horses and human athletes, which in turns brings out the fans. Our goal is to have the richest and most competitive racing product in the country between January and early May.” Oaklawn pushed the start of its meet back this year by about two weeks, opening Jan. 25 and racing through Saturday, May 4. Arkansas HBPA President Bill Walmsley added, “I think from a horsemen’s perspective this shows that the late start has been successful and was a wise decision. The horsemen are already reaping the benefits in the form of this purse increase so quickly in the season. It is both unexpected and appreciated.” View the full article

Kenny Rice's The Horse Racing Show will serve up a weekly personality and information driven video podcast, hearing from and telling the stories of the people in the industry from an entertaining and unique perspective. View the full article

8th-SA, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 5 1/2f OGGONIS (Animal Kingdom) summoned $750,000 from OXO Equine’s Larry Best at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, making him the most expensive progeny from his young sire, and he debuts in this spot for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer. Out of an unraced half-sister to GSW Indian Firewater (Indian Charlie), the bay enters off a bullet six furlongs in 1:15 flat (1/6) at Los Alamitos. Also making his career bow in this test is Jerry Moss homebred Duchamp (Curlin). The John Shireffs pupil is out of GISW Tarlow (Stormin Fever) and is a half to SP Katie’s Garden (Elusive Quality). TJCIS PPs View the full article

With Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats)’s 25-1 upset of the Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. At Gulfstream Feb. 2, trainer Kenny McPeek finds himself with two horses on the Derby trail, including Signalman (General Quarters), winner of last fall’s GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill. How will he keep the two apart, and how is Harvey doing since his Holy Bull win? Christina Bossinakis checked in with McPeek at Gulfstream. CB: He has a great name. How did he get his name? KM: Harold Lerner picked the name out. You know, Harold always is coming up with unique stuff and he’s a great client to have horses with because he has a lot of fun with it. He loved that name. We also named another one, in the same crop, Dewey Cheatum and Howe from the old Three Stooges episode. But he enjoys the process of naming the horses and I give him complete credit there. He’s been a horse that’s done everything right from the beginning. Even when he sprinted at Saratoga, he had a nice second that day, and when we got two turn races in him at Churchill over the fall, he looked like a horse that was going to be a horse that fit in some of the three-year-old stakes. We gave him a little break. The break seemed to help him get a little bigger and stronger, and certainly the last win that he had at Churchill helped his confidence, and (last) Saturday’s race was huge, just was a real thrill. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Ken McPeek on Harvey Wallbanger","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/316593696.sd.mp4?s=3fa4ece052368752f028ab01b14040cb20289ed6&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/281298649.sd.mp4?s=ee6eaaf5a60404c11cbfc4c6a8103380dc9620bc&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} CB: How did you get this horse? KM: I bought him as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton in July. I typically work a lot of those auctions. That’s been kind of my MO for years. I work Fasig July, typically August also, the Keeneland September, come back to the Fasig October sale. I’ve specialized in yearlings for decades. Most people realize that Curlin was the best yearling I probably ever bought, and Take Charge Lady, but to me young horses are the best way to go. I enjoyed developing him, and he was one of them that looked like he was a good value at the time. CB: What did you see from him from his last race as a 2-year-old to the Holy Bull? KM: Well, in his last work here, prior to entering in the Holy Bull, he sat on the outside of another horse and really put him away the last eighth of a mile. We typically try to keep our young horses together and match them so that they’re equals, and we don’t like one outworking the other one, but that particular morning, he was so keen to go on, my regular rider, Danny Ramsey, he just dropped his hands and Harvey went right on. At that moment, I called Harold and I said, “I really think I’d rather run in the Holy Bull. We’d even thought about going to Tampa. I told him, I said, “I think he’s good enough right now to go ahead and pull the trigger, because he’s as good as I can get him. I’ve only got to lead him over a few hundred yards here and if he’s good enough, great. We’ll learn something. If he isn’t, then we’ll learn something.” So, certainly, we learned a lot. CB: And what did you see in the body of the Holy Bull? KM: He understood what he was supposed to do, and I think that was key. He’s certainly got nice turn of foot and his female line’s Distorted Humor, which adds a nice speed injection to the top line. I do a lot of that. When I buy yearlings, I’ll look at the pedigree and see if it looks like there’s some speed in there somewhere, because you’ve got to have turn of foot to win high-level races. In his case, he just cruised along early and punched when he needed it and the result was obviously a good one. CB: What’s the plan with him now? KM: I’m leaning towards just waiting for the Florida Derby. I’ve got another really nice colt here, Signalman, and the plan with him has been either the Fountain of Youth or the Tampa Bay Derby, but I’m probably leaning towards the Fountain of Youth with Signalman. And, with Harvey, he fired such a big shot with a long layoff there, I think that waiting for the Florida Derby might be a smart move, because I think it gives him a chance to get a little bigger and stronger. He’ll have to punch his Derby point ticket that day, but I think that’s doable. I’m a little concerned about running [Harvey Wallbanger] back in the Fountain of Youth and then coming back again in the Florida Derby and I might have squeezed him a little dry by spring. It’s what you might call a high-level problem. We’re going to let him tell us. At this point, he had a great day training today. It feels good. But, right now, the Florida Derby would be the next spot. CB: You mentioned Signalman. Can you contrast and compare these two colts? KM: You know, Harvey’s a much smaller horse than Signalman. Signalman’s a big bull, hits the ground a little harder than Harvey. Harvey really floats over the ground but Signalman is just a powerful machine. He certainly stamps himself as a serious prospect. The problem now is to keep them separated. I had this problem years back when I’d had Harlan’s Holiday and Repent and ended up with Sarava winning the [GI] Belmont [S.], so keeping these kind of horses separated is a good problem to have, and we’re going to try to do that. Nine-tenths of it is keeping them healthy, and then if you can make the race, you’ve got to get the lucky trip. The runners that I’ve had in the past, Tejano Run was second for me in 1995, and in all honesty, I thought it wouldn’t take me so long to have won that race. We’ve kind of been around the bullseye with it a little bit. Harlan’s Holiday went off the favorite, and I believe we misjudged the pace that day. If I could have that as a do over, I would have loved to have had it. But, it’s a learning process. I’m 56. It’s not supposed to be easy. You try to find these kind of horses, whether you’re working an auction or you’re training on a daily basis. These are the kind of horses that we thrive for, and give you energy to get up every day. View the full article

Following Tuesday’s equine influenza update and fixture rescheduling, the British Horseracing Authority and Animal Health Trust continued to work through the night until 1 p.m. Wednesday in order to clear as many runners as possible for Wednesday’s four fixtures. Of 195 confirmed declarations, 12 horses from 10 yards have been withdrawn as a precaution from Wednesday’s action due to the BHA not receiving notification in time for that horse or yard to be considered free of the equine influenza virus. Five of the 12 had been withdrawn at the time of Tuesday’s update, with the other seven being marked as non-runners with the reason given as “other”. Among those affected were trainers who had runners at the Feb. 6 Ayr fixture where an infected horse had competed. The BHA is working with those trainers from the affected yards and the Ayr yards will be given the all-clear as a group, not singly after the BHA receives word from the Animal Health Trust. “The teams at the BHA and AHT are working round the clock to analyse tests and clear horses to run,” said David Sykes, Director of Equine Health and Welfare for the BhA. “The controls that we have put in place were deemed as necessary to avoid unnecessary risk of spreading the virus and were a pre-requisite in the decision to allow racing to return. Without these measures, and the new six-month vaccination rule, we would not have been able to resume racing today. “We appreciate that this means some trainers will miss out in the very short term, but the only alternative would have been to keep the entire sport on hold. We are working swiftly to get test results processed and clear trainers to run. We’re grateful for the patience and understanding our trainers are showing for this essential process.” The process for Thursday’s declarations is being handled in the same manner, as the BHA checks through Wednesday’s declarations to see if any runners need to be withdrawn or require further test results to be received before clearance is given. Beginning on Thursday, the declarations procedure will return to normal, returning to a 48-hour declaration process for Flat races. Declarations for Saturday, Feb. 16 Flat races will start at 10 a.m. local time on Feb. 14. View the full article

Colonial Downs and the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association have each pledged $15 per starter at the 2019 Colonial Downs meet to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Colonial Downs will hold 15 live days of racing with opening day Aug. 8 and closing day Sept. 7. “Colonial Downs Group is delighted to add life to Thoroughbred aftercare. The horse allows us to practice our labor of love and reminds us Virginians that ‘Racing is for Lovers,'” said John Marshall, senior vice president and general manager of Colonial Downs. Frank Petramalo, executive director of the Virginia HBPA, added, “We at the Virginia HBPA know the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the role that TAA plays in our industry. We are proud to support our horses through the work of the TAA and its accredited aftercare organizations.” Colonial Downs has also put the self-service AmTote Charity Terminal 2.0 to use, which offers horseplayers the opportunity to make donations to the TAA from winning tickets. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is grateful for Colonial Downs and the Virginia HBPA for supporting our equine athletes,” TAA president Mike Meuser said. “These funds will help the TAA support our 70 accredited organizations that retrain, rehome, and retire thousands of Thoroughbreds.” View the full article

Oaklawn Park is again increasing all overnight purses, some by as much as $6,000, effective with the Feb. 14 card. View the full article

Mares in foal to Le Havre (Ire) were the order of the day during the final session of Arqana’s February Sale, with four of the top eight lots sold carrying to the Haras de Montfort & Préaux resident. Admittedly the trade dropped to a more workmanlike level on Wednesday but the opener had been a blockbuster, breaking new records for turnover and top price for the mixed winter sale of broodmares, short yearlings and horses in training, and ensuring that the Deauville sales scene sprang to life in vibrant fashion. Irish bloodstock agent Cathy Grassick didn’t manage to tick off every item on her shopping list but she did ensure that the top lot of the day will be joining the broodmare band at Carisbrooke Stud in England, which is owned by Grassick’s longstanding client Yvonne Jacques. “The sale was really strong and there seems to be more buoyant trade through to a lower level in France, perhaps because of the premiums system,” noted Grassick. It took a bid of €72,000 to secure lot 368, the 13-year-old mare Mark Of An Angel (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), who in her racing days notched black type when third in the G3 Silver Flash S. Of her three winners to date, the most accomplished is Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy {Ire}), whose three victories include the GIII Santa Barbara S. in the US and the G3 Park Express S. in Ireland. “I love the fact she’s a black-type performer herself and has produced a black-type performer,” said Grassick. “She’s by a very good broodmare sire in Mark Of Esteem—that line through Darshaan is so strong—and she’s out of a Rainbow Quest mare. The fact that she’s an outcross for Danzig makes her appealing.” The appeal of the foal she is carrying was also significant, given that Le Havre’s first dual Classic winner, Avenir Certain (Fr), is out of the Mark Of Esteem mare Puggy (Ire). Grassick also signed for the most expensive yearling of the session (lot 308), a National Hunt-bred filly by Authorized (Ire)—sire of last year’s Grand National winner Tiger Roll (Ire)—and a half-sister to the Cheltenham Festival winner Very Wood (Fr) (Martaline {GB}). “The Authorized filly is for an Irish client who will reoffer her at the store sales,” the agent added. “She’s a half sister to a Grade 1 winner and is out of a Cadoudal (Fr) mare, so that’s very interesting from a filly’s perspective—she has everything going for her.” Boulogne-based breeder Eric Feurtet, whose stud is named in honour of the dual Grade III-winning Le Havre filly Rymska (Fr), stepped in to buy the second-top lot of the day, another well-credentialed mare in foal to the same stallion. Lot 381, Salomon (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), is a daughter of the listed winner Farfala (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), herself a sister to the Group 1 winners Fragrant Mix (Fr) and Alpine Rose (Fr). Since her retirement to stud in 2011, Salamon, sold by La Motteraye Consignment for Gerard Augustin-Normand, has been mated exclusively with her former owner’s stallions at Haras de Montfort & Préaux, including seven visits to Le Havre, by whom she has already produced the multiple winners Saane (Fr) and Barou (Fr). “She will join my broodmare band which consists of 16 mares,” said Feurtet. “She is in foal to Le Havre who has been very lucky for me as he is the sire of Rymska, the first horse I ever bred.” The demand seen on the first day remained strong throughout the second session which recorded a clearance rate of 83%. The rate for the sale as a whole was just one point higher, with 354 of the 420 horses offered finding a buyer. Another €1,395,000 was added to the tally on Wednesday. This was down on the corresponding session last year but that will not have worried the Arqana team overall, with the sale’s total aggregate being up by 85% at €5,289,000. As noted in yesterday’s TDN, this was largely owing to the dispersals of stock from the breeding operation of the late Marquesa de Moratalla, which provided the record-breaking €500,000 top lot Graciously (Ire) (Shamardal), and from Issam Fares’s Haras de Manneville. The sale’s average rose by 50% to €14,922 and the median from €4,000 to €5,500. View the full article

Thursday marks the return of Godolphin’s 2018 G1 Kings Stand S. victor Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the $250,000 G2 Meydan Sprint at Meydan. Second in this 1000-metre contest last year, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ was a gate scratch out of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night, and was a third most recently in the Aug. 24 G1 Nunthorpe S. at York. “He has been training well,” Appleby said. “His preparation for the race has gone well. He should come forward off the race like he did last year, though. He is eight pounds clear of the others in the field, is a Group 1 winner and likely the horse to beat.” Sheikh Hamdan’s MGSW and G1 Oakleigh Plate runner-up Faatinah (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) won a Jan. 3 handicap over this course and distance, and was third last out in a similar Jan. 24 affair. The third race on the Meydan card is the 1600-metre $200,000 G3 Firebreak S., and the Doug Watson-trained duo of 2018 G3 Burj Nahar victor Kimbear (Temple City) and SW Muntazah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) leave from stalls five and seven, respectively. The former ran third in the Dec. 6 Listed Garhoud Sprint, and went one better in the wake of North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Jan. 10 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 with Muntazah third. “He ran a great race last time and North America is obviously an exceptional horse, but we thought that even though he was second, we were expecting a bigger run,” Watson explained of Kimbear. “The next day, we found a quarter crack and he had overreached badly. Since then, though, we’ve had a nice clean run with him and obviously we think a lot of him.” 2018 winner, MGSW Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) returns to defend his title and leaves from gate one. Successful in the G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup Night, last March, he ran ninth in the Al Maktoum Challenge R1. The rapidly improving Jan. 25 G3 Jebel Ali Mile hero Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) also lines up. Rounding out the three group races carded for Thursday is the G2 Balanchine over a grassy 1800 metres. Godolphin’s Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was four lengths clear of fellow royal blue colourbearer Asoof (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) when dominating the G2 Cape Verdi over 200 metres shorter. “She’s been doing well,” Appleby said of the half-sister to Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “She hasn’t done much work since her win and has been taking it easy. We believed the mile to be her optimal trip, but she galloped out well in the Cape Verdi. Nine to 10 furlongs is unknown territory, so we will try and see what happens.” Cape Verdi third and Chilean champion Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland) is looking to return to the winner’s circle and saluted going this trip over the main track in the 2017 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2. View the full article

The following is a statement from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute partner, Luke H. Fallon, DVM, in response to a lawsuit filed Feb. 7 in the Fayette Circuit Court alleging Hagyard has been falsifying the dates that radiographs were taken on some horses about to be sold at Keeneland since 2006. The lawsuit filed on February 7 in Fayette Circuit Court regarding several Hagyard Equine Medical Institute veterinarians is without merit. All of us at Hagyard are disappointed by the claims made by Tom Swearingen. Mr. Swearingen’s claim that Hagyard intentionally destroyed radiographs, and his suggestion this was done to cover something up, is not true. The fact is the radiograph units used by Hagyard take digital images, and those images are then transferred from the mobile radiograph unit with a limited storage capacity to a computer server, similar to how someone might download a song or other digital information. The radiographs are stored on Hagyard’s servers in the exact condition as they were taken on the mobile radiograph unit. Kentucky regulations require radiographs to be maintained for five years. Hagyard’s servers maintain radiographs longer than required by regulations. It is true that some images were misdated by several days to fit within the sale requirements. Upon becoming aware of the issue in early 2018, our members unanimously decided to self-report the findings to the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners (“KBVE”). The review by the KBVE was thorough. The KBVE acknowledged “there was no evidence that any radiograph taken [by a Hagyard veterinarian] did not accurately reflect the condition of the horse” for sale purposes. Nevertheless, it should never have happened. We have taken measures to ensure it never happens again. The problem originated as a workflow issue to generate a large volume of diagnostic quality images and prepare reports following multiple reviews of the images for each yearling entered into the Keeneland sale. Each set of repository x-rays requires a minimum of 36 separate images. Radiographs are usually taken on the farms where the horses are located, which requires that experienced farm personnel gather the horses, veterinarians travel from farm to farm to take the radiographs, and personnel maneuver and hold a 1,000- pound animal in place while multiple radiographs are taken. All of this is accomplished while taking into account the safety of the horse and personnel. Repository x-rays for yearling sales are designed to identify developmental changes that have occurred over the initial 15 to 21 months of the horse’s life. In a yearling, those developmental changes will be revealed regardless of whether a radiograph is taken 21 days, or several additional days, prior to sale. That is why there is no standard in the industry as to how long before a sale a yearling should be radiographed. Keeneland requires that it take place within 21 days for its September sales, and 15 days for its January sales. Yearling sales by other companies allow varying periods of time, upward of 40 days prior to sale. Regardless, Keeneland’s requirements should have been followed, and we regret they were not. Again, we have taken measures to prevent this issue from ever occurring again. Hagyard will therefore vigorously defend itself and the industry from the claims of Mr. Swearingen. We recognize that accurate and reliable information from veterinarians is important to all stakeholders in the business of buying and selling horses. As a leader in the industry, we will do everything we can to ensure the integrity on our part of the process moving forward. I have been a Hagyard veterinarian for twenty-two years. My great-great grandfather founded the practice in 1876 and I am the fifth generation of my family to work at Hagyard and am honored to be a part of the horse industry. For 143 years, Hagyard has been known for the highest quality services to the horses and our clients. We continue to be a pioneer in equine veterinary medicine. Hagyard is proud of its history and work and is gratified for its place in the thoroughbred industry. Luke H. Fallon, DVM View the full article

“You’ll have to wait until he gets out of school for the day,” isn’t your typical response when requesting an interview with a racing manager whose stable just won a graded stakes race at Santa Anita, but then it quickly becomes apparent that John Del Secco isn’t your typical high school senior. Del Secco, who manages the racing stable of his father David, celebrated his biggest win to date when Sparky Ville (Candy Ride {Arg}) surged past a pair of highly touted runners from the Bob Baffert barn to win the GII San Vicente S. by the length of his nose Sunday in Arcadia. Sparky Ville had acquited himself well in previous graded assignments–finishing second in the GII Best Pal S. and third in the GIII Bob Hope S. last year–but the San Vicente wasn’t the initial plan for the chestnut gelding. “We wanted to go in the Baffle S., a $75,000 race, but it only got three horses and they weren’t going to write the race back,” Del Secco explained. “[Trainer Jeff] Bonde and everyone at the barn was talking about how we would basically be the fifth horse in the San Vicente. We thought, if we run third, it would be a $24,000 check. That’s still pretty good.” With all eyes on Baffert ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Coliseum (Tapit) and Dessman (Union Rags), it was Sparky Ville closing fastest off all through the mud to earn the first graded victory for Del Secco DCS Racing (video). “The horse blew our minds,” the younger Del Secco admitted. “It was a beautiful ride by [Joel] Rosario. We were elated, to say the least. I don’t even know how to explain it, because you’re so filled with adrenaline and I was jumping up and down and screaming.” Despite the excitement, the race was one of the few that Del Secco has missed seeing in person. “Ninety nine percent of the time I go to the track, but I had actually volunteered at this soup kitchen that day,” Del Secco said. “So I watched the race on the T.V. I was screaming at the T.V. and jumping up and down. My sisters came running down the stairs thinking something was wrong.” Del Secco added with a chuckle, “I think I have to volunteer now in the soup kitchen every time one of my horses race.” An 18-year-old senior at De La Salle High School in Concord, California, Del Secco has spent the better part of weekends and summers for the last four years at the Jeff Bonde barn at Golden Gate. “My dad always took me to the fairs up in Northern California and we always bet on them,” Del Secco said. “Then in freshman year in high school, I got a job at the track with Bonde. And it took off from there. I work for him up at Golden Gate. I handle everything that needs to be handled with my dad’s stuff and then every day I don’t have school, I go out there and learn as much stuff as possible.” Del Secco is committed to having his future based in the racing and breeding industry. “Once I get out of high school, I’m going to go to University of Kentucky and major in equine science,” he said. “That’s the plan. To make a career out of it. Breeding seems nice, but I may also want to train.” Sparky Ville isn’t the only stakes-winning sophomore in the Del Secco racing stable. With 12 horses in training, the operation also includes King of Speed (Jimmy Creed), who won last year’s Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. and Zuma Beach S. and was 12th in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The colt goes postward in Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. Asked what it would be like to have back-to-back weekends of success with the two sophomore standouts, Del Secco said, “In such a short amount of time, it would be a very fun experience.” Del Secco gives his father, David, who is owner of the concrete core drilling company Del Secco Diamond Core & Saw, Inc., credit for helping him live out his dream. “My dad supports me a lot,” Del Secco said. “He’s the most supportive person. It’s just me and him–partners in crime, we’re going to take over the world sort of thing. We bond over horse racing. We’ve done it for about four years and it’s been an absolutely thrilling ride. There is nothing like winning a race. In the short term, we’ve had quite an amount of success.” Both King of Speed and Sparky Ville were purchased at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, but the acquisition of Sparky Ville almost didn’t happen. “We had already bought three and we thought we were done,” Del Secco recalled. “Taylor Made has the RNA barbecue sale and Bonde went to that. He called me back a couple hours later and said, ‘I know we’re done, but I’m looking at this horse and they want $90,000. I know you guys said you’re done, but I really like this horse.’ So we were able to get him $90,000.” Del Secco continued, “We like to go to the Keeneland September sale. We usually buy one at the Pleasanton sale to support our local grassroots, but we spend all of our money at the Keeneland sale. We don’t have the millions or hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy pedigree and looks, so we look for the athlete, the conformation before anything.” In addition to the 12 horses in training, the Del Secco racing operation currently includes four broodmares and foals. Del Secco said the plan is to expand the band in the coming years and race the foals. As for where Sparky Ville will start next, Del Secco said pragmatically, “He’s a seven-eighths horse, a mile is pushing it. So it’s going to be hard [finding a spot for him]. Santa Anita doesn’t have a lot until May, so we may have to ship a little bit and see what’s out there. We’ll see how he’s training. King of Speed will race in the El Camino Real Derby and he’s the more Classic-distance horse for us.” Del Secco acknowledged his age sometimes causes people to do a doubletake, but he’s found plenty of support to match his ambition. “A lot of people have been really supportive of me, because you don’t see a lot of 18-year-olds in the game,” he said. “Especially since I wasn’t born into it. But the game and the adrenaline rush is like nothing else. It’s so hard to win a race, but when you do, it’s so rewarding.” View the full article

The bookmaker Fitzdares has released prices on the first-crop stallions vying for the 2019 Champion First-Season Flat Sire title. Shadwell’s MG1SW sprinter Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) holds pride of place among the 11 priced stallions. “Our early favourite in a most open market is Muhaarar, an exceptional sprinter, we can expect to see plenty of classy types,” said Glyn Warne, Head of Antepost and International for Fitzdares. “Dual Guineas winner Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), from an outstanding family, looks an obvious candidate, while Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will not be short on numbers. However yearlings by Tweenhills’ Hot Streak (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) obviously made a very good impression at the sales and we look forward to seeing plenty of precocious types. He could be the market springer. It will be great to see Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire})’s progeny on track but probably at the back end of the year. There are so many exciting new sires, let’s hope it’s an outstanding season.” View the full article

Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys for America's Best Racing as they travel the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). View the full article

In light of the positive response to the Belmont Derby (G1T) and Belmont Oaks (G1T), the New York Racing Association is taking the next step forward by launching a pair of Triple Crown series, one for 3-year-old males and one for sophomore fillies. View the full article

Richard Gibson, Alexis Badel and Wishful Thinker have done all they can to earn a ticket to Meydan for the World Cup meeting – now it’s just up to the decision makers at the Dubai Racing Club to give them an invite. The talented sprinter put in a Herculean performance to win the Class One Happy Valley Trophy (1,200m) on Wednesday night, coming from last and weaving between rivals in the straight to land the prize and keep the Dubai dream alive. Gibson has had an assault on the Group... View the full article

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 185 entries for The Gulfstream Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training, to be held on Wednesday, Mar. 27, in the racetrack’s walking ring, it was announced Wednesday. The sale will begin at 2 pm, while the under tack show is scheduled for Monday, Mar. 25, beginning at 9 a.m. “2019 marks our fifth year at Gulfstream Park, and quality results on the racetrack and in the sales ring have generated our strongest catalog to date,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “This year’s main catalog is 17% larger than last year’s, and the depth of quality is outstanding.” The sale’s recent stakes-winning graduates include Grade 1 winners Audible (Into Mischief), Bellafina (Quality Road), Dream Tree (Uncle Mo) and Fourstar Crook (Freud), as well as current GI Kentucky Derby prospects Instagrand (Into Mischief) and Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief). “The racetrack success of Gulfstream sales graduates has been highly impressive,” continued Browning. “In just a short time, sales graduates have claimed the sport’s biggest races from coast-to-coast, including the Kentucky Derby and the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Interestingly enough, sales grads have also captured Gulfstream’s GI Florida Derby twice, the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, and the GII Holy Bull S.–races won over the very same dirt surface in which they breezed during our sale’s under tack shows.” Fasig-Tipton will also offer a supplemental catalog once again this year. Supplemental entries will be accepted on an approval basis. The catalog is now available online and will also be available via the Equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogs will be available from Fasig-Tipton offices beginning this Friday, Feb. 15. View the full article

It’s been quite a week here at Bankhouse, as you all know with the outbreak of the equine flu in the yard and with another case of it being reported at Simon Crisford’s yard in Newmarket. There seems to be no apparent link between our two yards, so it’s just two individual cases. The flu […] The post Donald McCain Blog – Yard Update appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The search for the ‘next big thing’ in the sire ranks is a pursuit that engages participants and observers at every stage of the bloodstock business. Be it picking out a favoured stallion prospect soon after they retire to stud or having seen their first foals, yearlings or runners, the process is often an ongoing one. However, for all that many like to make fast judgements of sires based on their first foals or yearlings, the first really pertinent evidence we get as to which sires will make it is the racecourse performance of their first crop of 2-year-olds. Of course, recent history has shown us that a sire’s first crop performing poorly as 2-year-olds is not the complete disaster it might be considered, with Nathaniel (Ire) bouncing back from an unremarkable first year with runners to establish himself as a high-class sire less than a year later. That said, exceptions such as that are rare, particularly so amongst stallions that are expected to breed a sharper type of horse. With that in mind, now is a good time to examine how the first-season sires of 2018 fared. This was a competitive group, with there being 14 stallions based in Britain and Ireland that had 75 or more 2-year-olds to represent them. For the sake of comparison, there were 10 such stallions in 2017, 13 in 2016 and eight in 2015. It is also worth noting that there was more depth in the upper end of the market than is often the case, with five individual stallions having covered their first crop at a published fee of €20,000 or higher. Here is how they fared in order of the percentage of their runners that ran to a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 85 or higher. Due to the fact that RPRs are omitted for some runners in France, horses who stood their first season in that country are not included on this list. Those that certainly sired horses in this realm, however, include France’s leading first-season sire Anodin (Ire), sire of 20 winners and two stakes winners, and Olympic Glory (Ire), sire of 21 winners and one stakes winner. The obvious starting point based on the analysis is No Nay Never (Coolmore). He was the headline performer when the yearling sales of 2017 were analysed in this space and he delivered on the expectations surrounding him in no uncertain terms. He made a fast start to the season and there was no slowdown as the year progressed, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Ten Sovereigns (Ire) putting the icing on the cake when winning the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in September. For over 30% of his runners to have hit RPR85+ and over 10% to hit RPR100+ is remarkable. In the time I have been conducting this brand of analysis, only Frankel hit such heights with his first crop of 2-year-olds. As with any sprinting sire that makes a fast start, the next question they have to answer is whether their progeny train on. Only time will tell for sure, but with so many of No Nay Never’s most high-profile runners having plenty of physical scope, the odds would look to be in his favour in this regard going into the 2019 season. With his fee having rocketed to €100,000, he will now be out of the reach of many breeders, but it will be fascinating to see whether his progeny can keep up the exceptionally fast pace they set in 2018. The most expensive sire that had his first runners in 2018 was Juddmonte’s Kingman (GB), and he was another that lived up to expectations. His progeny wouldn’t have been expected to have been as forward as those of No Nay Never and that is reflected in his lower runners-to-foals percentage, but those that did make the track made a strong impression. The performance percentages of his runners were well over double the average, with his first crop producing some really exciting 3-year-old prospects including Calyx (GB) and Persian King (Ire). Kingman’s progeny will be widely expected to progress as 3-year-olds, so his reputation could well continue to grow in 2019. The second-most expensive sire amongst this group was another Coolmore stallion, Australia (GB), and his was an interesting season to examine. While it would have been fair to expect his offspring to be more backward compared to both Kingman and particularly No Nay Never, it may come as a surprise to some that he actually ended up having slightly more runners than both those sires. In terms of the performance of those runners, while his RPR85+ percentage was not as far above average as one might have expected, that he produced more RPR100+ performers than all bar No Nay Never is notable. With those four RPR100+ runners, three of which achieved RPRs in excess of 110, being slightly more exposed sorts that don’t have particularly high profiles, the merit of what Australia achieved in siring them in his first crop may fly slightly under the radar. Of all the first-season sires of 2018, Australia’s progeny should improve notably as 3-year-olds and he can be expected to advance his credentials in 2019. In terms of the first-season sires with lower profiles going into 2018 that enhanced their reputations, Gregorian (Ire), who stands at the National Stud, performed the best of sires standing at the lower end of the market that had their credentials examined with an above-average sample size of offspring. Given that Gregorian himself trained on very well and produced some of his most notable efforts as a 5-year-old, hopes will be high that his progeny can progress with age and continue to raise his profile as a sire. Just to briefly broaden this discussion, regular readers will know that I produce an analysis of the yearling sales every year. It is an interesting exercise in assessing the predictive ability of such analysis by reviewing the column on the extreme right of the above table. That reveals what rank each sire held in my yearling sale analysis of 2017 when ordered by their median price as a multiple of their stud fee plus fixed production costs. Of course, it won’t work out every year, but presenting the data in this manner suggests that the yearling buyers by and large were spot on with their assessment of the progeny of first-season sires in 2018. That will be something worth bearing in mind when the analysis of last year’s yearling sales appears in the weeks ahead. View the full article